The Ultimate Tom King Helen of Wyndhorn Interview

Today's podcast with Tom King is a conversation we eagerly anticipated the moment we finished the first issue of Helen of Wyndhorn. From its earliest panels, illustrated brilliantly by Bilquis Evely, colored by Matheus Lopes, and lettered by Clayton Cowles, we knew this saga of grief, self-discovery, magic, and adventure would occupy large, permanent portions of our imaginations. We merely waited for it to conclude, reveal its full magnificence, and find a proper hardcover release worthy of its contents. We then needed to dissect everything with Tom, our friend and frequent guest. Dark Horse Comics has now collected Helen of Wyndhorn into a hefty hardback that will undoubtedly lure new readers to its sumptuous narrative, and we're ready to dive into its pages and go full-spoilers with its author. Before we even hit record, Tom King was happily pouring over this story with us, recalling his initial intentions for the tale and comparing them to his current perspective. Helen of Wyndhorn reteams King with his Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow cohorts, but it's a saga that took almost three times as long to complete, and that effort proudly reveals itself in every line, word, and pixel. The book is often sold as "Conan the Barbarian meets The Wizard of Oz." Sure, those influences are preset, and we discuss them, but it's a book that thrives on gothic romance and real-life heartache, too. When we first meet the title character, she's more than adrift; she's devastated and on the verge of destruction. Her father, pulp author CK Cole, is dead and gone. Her grandfather hires a governess to drag her back to his estate. What she discovers there will change everything she knows about her father as well as reality itself. And her journey toward purpose awoke something in us. Something that's evolving even as we write these words. How big or significant must an action be for it to be heroic? To continue this conversation beyond the podcast, follow Tom King on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Tom King on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow Tom King and Ryan Sook on Black Canary: Best of the Best Support Your Local Comic Shop - Episode 2 - Now Or Never (San Diego, CA) Married to Singles: Michael Schwartz on Darkhold: Iron Man Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 3/09 at 5:00 PM for Josie and the Pussycats, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. 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.