Frank Miller on Frank Miller

Frank Miller on Frank Miller

Author: Brad & Lisa Gullickson July 1, 2026 Duration: 1:09:50
No one is more surprised than we are. Frank Miller, the legendary comics maker behind Daredevil: Born Again, Ronin, Batman: Year One, Sin City, and The Dark Knight Returns, which celebrates its fortieth anniversary this year, joins us this week to discuss his career as he filtered it through his new memoir/self-help book, Push The Wall: My Life, Writing, Drawing, and The Art of Storytelling. His latest creation floored us. Broken into sixteen lessons, Push the Wall sees Frank Miller excavate his past to understand his pursuit of storytelling. He attempts to explain his rebellious nature and a need to throw himself against opposing forces, but in the process, reveals the awesome, unbeatable power of change. He treats the reader as his mentors did, like Neal Adams and Dick Giordano. Push the Wall works not only as motivation for the struggling artist, but also for the struggling human. The aggression and fascination for violence are present, but more importantly, Push the Wall contains a great softness or vulnerability. Frank Miller is not a creator who doubles down on past mistakes; he admits regret and offers encouragement to everyone who must fail to grow. We’re beyond delighted to have Frank Miller on the podcast. We discuss how “The City” was the first to change him, why The Dark Knight Returns should not be the template for all Batman stories, and whether or not Robocop 2 is an essential ingredient in his vocation. Push the Wall: My Life, Writing, Drawing, and the Art of Storytelling arrives in bookstores everywhere on July 14th. Make sure you’re following Frank Miller on Instagram and his website. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Watch Matt Fraction in The Stacks Previously on CBCC: Klaus Janson on Daredevil, The Dark Knight Returns, and More Jim Rugg's 1986 Zine Comic Book Film Club: Punisher: War Zone at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia on 7/12 at 5:00 PM. Co-Sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Comic Book Club: The Complete Persepolis at Meanwhile...Coffee in Herndon, Virginia, on 7/5 at 3:30 PM Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @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 Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. This Week's Sponsors The Future is Calling! 2000 AD is the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, with new issues published every single week! Every 32-page issue of 2000 AD brings you the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, and more. Get a print subscription to 2000 AD and it’ll arrive to your mailbox every week - and your first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! The charming town of Orchard has everything you could ever need: walkable streets, friendly residents, and no escape. But why would you want to leave? The world outside is a nuclear wasteland! It's much better to stay in the warm confines of Orchard and ignore the deep secrets it holds. After all, it's a safe place to live. Free on Webtoon, Winston Gambro’s A Safe Place to Live is the dystopian horror comic you’ve been waiting for. It’s Severance meets Archie. Support human-made art!. If you are a fan of the legendary artwork of Michael Turner, y

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: 50

Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast
Podcast Episodes
SDCC Preview Night: Christopher Cantwell on Star Trek [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:48
Today, we’re bringing San Diego Comic-Con International to you, our beautiful listeners. Writer Christopher Cantwellreturns to the show for a boisterous Star Trek celebration. On September 23rd, IDW Publishing is relaunc…
Christian Ward on The Forever Home [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:11
The grownups killed the world. To escape destruction, Henry built The Forever Home. Inside, his family enjoys existence, protected by the poisonous elements outside. One catch: their time is compressed. For every twenty…
Dan Schkade on Lavender Jack [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:27
We are the choices we make. Good guy? Bad guy? We decide that every day until our last day. On this week's podcast, we’re exploring how heroism and villainism mingle in Lavender Jack, the pulp adventure from cartoonist D…
Kenny Porter and Tyrell Cannon on Operation Iron Coffin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:10
No hard sell required with this one. Operation: Iron Coffin #1 is in shops today, courtesy of IDW Publishing. It’s concocted by our new favorite comic book dynamic duo, Kenny Porter and Tyrell Cannon (with letterer Shawn…
Julio Anta and Daniel Irizarri on Beast of Boriken [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:09
It’s fantastic when a comic gives you a jolt. Beast of Borikén, written by Julio Anta and illustrated by Daniel Irizarri, delivers a great prod, stimulating your brain to run numerous scenarios on and off the page. It’s…
Ben Wheatley on Judge Dredd, Judge Dee, and 2000 AD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:17
With a little help from filmmaker Ben Wheatley, our 2000 AD obsession kicks into high gear this week. The filmmaker behind such brutally banger movies as Kill List, A Field in England, High-Rise, and this year’s Bob Oden…
Live from HeroesCon 2026: Kyle Starks and Chris Schweizer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:45
Live from HeroesCon 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina, we’re celebrating the beautiful kinship between cartoonists Kyle Starks and Chris Schweizer, the industry’s most notable BFFs. Their meet-cute occurred ten years ag…
Che Grayson on Absolute Catwoman 1 (Full Spoilers) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:25
Look what the cat dragged in. Absolute Catwoman #1 is out now wherever rad comic books are sold, and we’re joined this week by co-writer Che Grayson to discuss the first issue in detail. Yes, this is another full spoiler…
Jadzia Axelrod on Justice League Dream Girls (Full Spoilers) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:32
It’s time to witness what you were previously denied as a reader. Jadzia Axelrod returns to the podcast, talking full spoilers about her new weekly DC Pride event series, Justice League: Dream Girls. Done in collaboratio…