The Summer of 1978, The DC Explosion was coming, until all of the sudden, it wasn’t. In one fell swoop, the plans for an aggressive expansion of the DC Comics line, more story, more pages, was crushed! Re-named The DC Implosion, an unexpected line wide cancellation came from on high, directed by Warner Bros. top management, an epic publication scale back like nothing seen before or after. 17 titles abruptly canceled, over before it began, writers and artists left scrambling for work. An industry in upheaval! Was it the end of an era or the beginning of an all new revolution?

June 25, 1991, Marvel Comics releases X-Force #1, created by Rob Liefeld, a fresh take on Marvel’s Mighty Mutants, selling a record shattering 5 million copies. 30 years later, Cable, Deadpool and the rest have gone on to become staples of the comics industry, stars of games, movies, cartoons and toys. Rob reflects on the battles to bring X-Force to life as well as the road that led to this momentous 30th anniversary celebration.

But for a crazy twist of fate, the All-New X-Men almost appeared as DC characters in a DC Comics spin-off with radically different origins! Storm! Nightcrawler! Wolverine! Thunderbird! What almost wasn’t!

Action in comics! Where’d it go? Where’s it been and most importantly, where’s it all headed? We kick off with Hot Topics asking what happened to all the action in comic books?  Once a staple of every comic book, the trend has gone away from action oriented stories and Rob shares with you the inspiration…

The Brits have arrived! Alan Moore arrived fresh from English shores with Marvelman, Swamp Thing & Watchmen, each met with thunderous acclaim and comic books were never the same! Grant Morrison soon followed and the Age of The British Writer was here to stay! Rob looks at the rivalries and the impact the British Invasion of the 80’s has on modern day comics and beyond! Also, Hot Topics takes on She-Hulk, Titania & the rise of the Expert Level Influencer!

By 1974, Marvel had raced past DC Comics as the most popular and successful brand of comic book entertainment. Seeking to expand awareness and establish a presence in the burgeoning book market, Marvel pacted with prominent publisher, Simon & Schuster, who went on to produce a blockbuster line of Marvel trade collections under their Fireside label. These first of their kind collections featured accessible entry level stories of Marvel’s most popular characters. Fireside books placed Marvel in libraries all over the country, further enhancing Marvel’s growing profile. Fireside created the first ever original graphic novel by re-teaming Jack “The King” Kirby and Stan “The Man” Lee in a collaboration that produced an epic original Silver Surfer story! Rob recounts the history of Marvel & Fireside as he experienced it in real time!

Who is on the Mt. Rushmore of comic books? Rob isn’t shy about sharing who he believes deserves the hollowed honor, the legends that demand recognition above all others. We break it down as All-Time Greats as well as era’s. The Seventies? The Eighties? Is there a modern day candidate? What’s the criteria anyway? Get those fighting hands up as this is bound to get heated!

It’s the End Of The World as we know it! Audiences have a longstanding love affair with Post-Apocalyptic themes and scenarios. Depictions of Armageddon and the aftermath have been famously explored on screens big & small in Planet Of The Apes, Walking Dead and recently, A Quiet Place. Rob examines the comic book explorations, expansions and exploitations of popular apocalyptic worlds!

Marvel’s famous Wall-Crawler has had no shortage of amazing artists depict his legendary adventures! Todd McFarlane! Steve Ditko! John Romita Sr! Erik Larsen! Gil Kane! Who defines your Spider Man? Who is your favorite Spidey illustrator? Rob breaks down the distinct influence of each artist and provides his top 5 Spider Man artists of all time!

Working on legendary and storied franchises provides career opportunities like no other. None bigger than Batman. How long do you stay, when do you parlay the exposure into the next big thing? Rob looks at the art, practice and negotiation of the Signal Boost!