Batman: City of Madness - The Ultimate Christian Ward Interview

Batman: City of Madness - The Ultimate Christian Ward Interview

Author: Brad & Lisa Gullickson September 24, 2024 Duration: 1:17:55
Racing on the heels of Batman Day, we celebrate eighty-five years of the Caped Crusader by finally digging into one of our recent favorite Dark Knight stories, Batman: City of Madness by Christian Ward. Technically, this is our third conversation with Ward about this particular story, but it's the first one where we can dig into it page-by-page, going full spoilers and properly exploring its characters and themes. The hardcover is now available from DC Comics, so please grab your copy, snuggle up with it, and venture into the Gotham Below with us. Batman: City of Madness spent years percolating inside Christian Ward's imagination. It extends from his infatuation with an iconic work, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on a Serious Earth. It operates like a spiritual sequel but comes jammed with personal touches that only Ward could contribute. Our worst selves will argue for their survival. That's just one revelation we land upon while chatting with Christian Ward in this episode. We discuss the initial Gotham Below concept by starting at its end, the purpose of mirroring Batman and his rogues, and how it ideologically prepares readers for his newly announced Two-Face series, which will drop on December 4th. Continue this conversation with Christian Ward by visiting his Website and following him on Twitter and Instagram. Other Relevant Links: Our First Chat with Christian Ward About Batman: City of Madness Patreon Exclusive: Christian Ward on Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on A Serious Earth The Comics Courrier Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page Pots and Panels: A Comic Book Anthology Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page The Pots and Panels Website Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Ever wonder what keeps Lois Lane and Clark Kent together, or why the Joker and Harley Quinn’s dynamic is so endlessly dissected? That’s the kind of territory you’ll find in Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast. Hosted by real-life married couple Brad and Lisa Gullickson, this isn’t just a rundown of famous pairs. Instead, they use their own relationship as a lens to examine the loves, feuds, and complicated bonds that define our favorite characters. Each episode feels like a lively conversation between two passionate fans who happen to share a life, digging into the psychology, history, and narrative impact of relationships across comic book publishing and wider pop culture. You’ll hear them analyze everything from classic Golden Age partnerships to the messy modern entanglements in contemporary graphic novels, always with a mix of deep knowledge and genuine curiosity. This podcast offers a uniquely personal and thoughtful way to engage with the stories you love, moving beyond powers and plot twists to ask what these fictional connections really say about us. Tune in for a smart, often funny, and always insightful look at the heart of the narratives.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Christian Ward on Event Horizon Inferno [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:06
Before Christian Ward joins us for a full-spoilers conversation about Event Horizon: Inferno, we get lost in a lengthy discussion about Stephen King’s The Stand. We promise, however, that both stories tie nicely together…
Franklin Jonas and Curt Pires on Fireborn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:56
It’s a topic we discuss a lot. When you love comics, you eventually want to make them. Curt Pires heard Franklin Jonas professing his love for the medium on a podcast. Immediately, he recognized a kindred spirit. Pires i…
Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill on Death to Pachuco [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:18
Comics don’t just happen. Artists will them from nothing. As you’ll hear from Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill in this week’s podcast, comics arrive at your local comic book shop through tremendous persistence and imagin…
Zoe Tunnell on Seven Wives [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:33
Here’s an episode we’ve wanted to have for a while. Zoe Tunnell joins the podcast this week to discuss her new IDW Crime series Seven Wives and examine how easy it is to fall into cult-like behavior. As massive fans of (…
Klaus Janson - Episode 350 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:09
Okay, it’s time to press pause on your life and press play on this week’s episode. Klaus Janson is an icon. He’s worked in comics for over fifty years, radically shaping characters like Daredevil and Batman, while workin…
Ethan Young on Demon Run [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:25
You love to see it. Cartoonist Ethan Young (Dragon Path, Nanjing: The Burning City) places a huge bet on himself. He’s reclaimed the rights to his main character from the graphic novel series The Battles of Bridget Lee,…
David Dastmalchian on Through [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:31
To create is to submit. Here’s my story, this is me. Filmmaker, actor, and comic book writer David Dastmalchian returns to the podcast this week. He’s discussing his new graphic novel Through, made in collaboration with…
Simon Roy on A Star Called the Sun [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:26
We’re all the product of our influences. Cartoonist Simon Roy, on this week's podcast discussing his new short story collection, A Star Called the Sun, refers to his influences as "foundational mulch." We dig into a bunc…
Stephen R Bissette, Jim Rugg, and Chris Stevens on Tyrant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:11
When observing comic books, the miracles come in big or small ways. This week on the podcast, we’re discussing a resurrection we previously thought unimaginable. Stephen R Bissette, who gained legendary status working on…