Jef UK talks with writer Fred Van Lente about his work on Amazing Spider-Man, Incredible Hercules, Archer & Armstrong, G.I.JOE, his craft, and how he broke into professional comics. Then, playwright Crystal Skillman discusses her play Geek!, and the New York City, Off-Broadway scene.

This episode of the Trip City Podcast was produced by Chris Miskiewicz and Jeffrey Burandt. Subscribe for free on iTunes, comment, and rate us 5 stars!

Trip City Northwest correspondent Ryan Alexander-Tanner talks to Pulitzer-Prize nominated, nationally syndicated political cartoonist Matt Bors, who recently released his first collection of comics, Life Begins at Incorporation, after a successful Kickstarter campaign.  The discussion includes Bors’ early life as a fanboy, his growing political awareness, his obsessive work ethic, future career plans, and how he may or may not rather be penciling X-Men.

The Trip City Podcast is produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Seth Kushner and Ryan Alexander-Tanner

Seth Kushner talks to Gregory Benton, who has has been making comix since 1993. He cut his teeth on the political anthology World War 3, moving on to writing and drawing stories for Nickelodoeon, Vertigo, DC Comics, Disney Adventures, Watson-Guptil, Entertainment Weekly, as well as contributing to numerous alternate-press comix anthologies. A graphic novel, Hummingbird, was published by Slave Labor Graphics in 1996. Gregory has also produced numerous limited-edition mini-comix. Hopefully you have some. His illustrations have appeared in The New York Times, The Village Voice and Fortune, among others. Most recently, his book B+F was awarded the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art’s inaugural Award of Excellence at MoCCA Fest 2013. An expanded version of B+F will be published in the autumn of 2013 through Adhouse Books in the USA and Editions ça et la in France.

[Gregory Benton and his art for B+F]

Seth also chats with Eric Skillman, a Brooklyn-based graphic designer, who mostly designs DVD packaging at his day job with The Criterion Collection.  He also deigns books, including Leaping Tall Buildings: The Origins of American Comics by Christopher Irving and Seth Kushner for powerhouse Books and Tales of Sand by Jim Henson and Ramon Perez for Archaia, for which he won an Eisner Award.  Eric also writes comics, including the graphic novel Liar’s Kiss, drawn by Jhomar Soriano for Top Shelf and the webseries SUCKERS, drawn by Jorge Coelho and appearing in monthly installments here on TRIP CITY.

[Eric Skillman reflects]

The Trip City Podcast is produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Seth Kushner and Dean Haspiel.

Photography by Seth Kushner

Dean Haspiel talks to Danny Fingeroth, who edited and wrote many Marvel Comics from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, which included Spider-Man, The Avengers, Iron Man, Daredevil, What If?, Darkhawk, and Dazzler. Danny also wrote several books such as Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and The Creation of the Superhero, and The Stan Lee Universe (with Roy Thomas). They also discuss Danny’s career as a comics writing teacher, curator, and organizer, and his new series of Comic Book Roundtable’s at the Soho Gallery of Digital Art launching April 10th.

This episode of the Trip City Podcast was produced by Dean Haspiel, Chris Miskiewicz, and Seth Kushner

Fingeroth photos by Dean Haspiel

(Danny Fingeroth drew BATMAN in Dean Haspiel’s sketchbook on April 7th, 2013)

Chris Roberson’s career as a comics writer and founder of the digital comics publisher MonkeyBrain is sometimes overshadowed by his controversial exit from DC Comics over creative differences and his well-documented moral aversion towards the Before Watchmen project.  TRIP CITY Northwest correspondent Ryan Alexander-Tanner was all too willing to ask about these intriguing subjects of controversy during their interview but ultimately left with a clear understanding of Roberson as a creator who would much rather focus on his love of producing innovative and high quality work.  Roberson’s wife and business partner, Allison Baker, sat in on the conversation and occasionally chimed in to demonstrate that she’s the brains behind the monkey.

The TRIP CITY Podcast is produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Ryan Alexander-Tanner and Seth Kushner

Photo by Kevin Church

TRIP CITY Northwest Correspondent Ryan Alexander-Tanner interviews cartoonist Zack Soto, curator of the popular webcomics collective studygroupcomics.com and writer/artist of The Secret Voice.  Their conversation covers a range of topics, including the benefits of working on short stories, digital illustration programs like Manga Studio and drawing digitally vs. drawing on paper, Soto’s fine arts and printmaker backgrounds, the formation of the study group web comics collective, and Soto’s complex and ever-evolving relationship with the sprawling narrative of THE SECRET VOICE.

The Trip City Podcast is produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Seth Kushner and Ryan Alexander-Tanner.

TRIP CITY Northwest Correspondent Ryan Alexander-Tanner interviews comics creator Farel Dalrymple about his life and times as a professional cartoonist. Dalrymple discusses his progress on his ambitious next graphic novel, The Wrenchies, to be released by First Second upon its completion. They also discuss attitudes towards collaboration, work-for-hire, print vs. digital, serializing work vs. premiering it as a completed graphic novel, Dalrymple’s artistic origins as a student at SVA and a founder of the Meathaus comics movement, his collaborations with Jonathan Lethem on Omega: The Unknown and with Brandom Graham on Prophet, and the subjective nature of success, and lots more!

The TRIP CITY Podcast is produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Seth Kushner, Dean Haspiel and Ryan Alexander-Tanner

Farel Dalrymple photo by Arther Smid
 

Farel Dalrymple illustration by Ryan Alexander-Tanner

At this past fall’s Baltimore Comicon, Dean Haspiel had the great fortune to talk to Mark Waid, one of his favorite genre writers in comic books, the day after he won several Harvey Awards for his brilliant revamp of DAREDEVIL for Marvel Comics. Accompanied by Seth Kushner and Christina Whalen Blanch, they discuss Mark’s now infamous controversial 2010 Harvey Awards keynote speech about the future of digital comics, putting his money where his mouth is with the digital comics platform Thrillbent, and Christina’s upcoming web-series. They also discuss what makes a Mark Waid comic, his relaunch of THE HULK for Marvel Comics, and on which franchise characters Mark would like to collaborate with Dean.

Seth Kushner sits with cartoonist Stephen Destefano at his home in Hoboken, NJ, where they have a casual conversation about Stephen’s work on the revered ‘Mazing Man for DC Comics in the 80s, his career in animation where he worked on such shows as Ren and Stimpy, Batman: The Brave and the Bold and many more.  Also discussed were Stephen’s 2010 Fantagraphics graphic novel Lucky in Love, and the recent collaboration between Stephen and Seth on Seth’s webcomic series SCHMUCK.  Finally, Seth grills Stephen on current comics and his reactions are frank and hilarious.

This episode of The Trip City Podcast was produced by Dean Haspiel, Seth Kushner, and (Mark Waid’s Nemesis) Chris Miskiewicz.

Photography by Seth Kushner

[Christina Whalen Blanch & Mark Waid]

On Friday, December 7th, 2012, Dean Haspiel had a great conversation with fellow Brooklynite and artist, Michael Arthur, the heir apparent to Al Hirschfeld, who was America’s premiere theater & arts caricaturist and a major influence. They discuss how they first met, the impact of the brush pen, and a fascinating overview of Michael’s career, which includes being a research assistant to theater historian Oscar G. Brockett, drawing intimate rehearsals for American Ballet Theater, and the Martha Graham Dance Company (among others), meeting Stan Lee, getting published in the NY Times and Vanity Fair, his role as “Toxy Goodwater” with indie-rock folk art collective, Balthrop, Alabama, becoming the archival artist for Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater in NYC, and the confirmation that Whoopi Goldberg gave to him.

Please be sure to check out the Live Reaction Art of Michael Arthur, too!

–Dean Haspiel

Photographs by Dean Haspiel

This episode of the TRIP CITY Podcast was produced by Dean Haspiel, Chris Miskiewicz, and Seth Kushner.

At this past fall’s Baltimore Comic Con, Dean Haspiel had the great fortune to talk to Frank Quitely, one of his favorite comic book artists of the 21st Century, while he drew a “Robin” commission. They discussed what other franchise characters Frank would give the same treatment he gave to ALL-STAR SUPERMAN [answer: HULK], what informs and influences his work, isolating the perfect graphic moments to obtain narrative suspense, his desire to write and delve into memoir, his love for symmetry and balance, abandoning ink for digital finish, and his upcoming collaborations on JUPITER’S LEGACY with Mark Millar, and PAX AMERICANA with Grant Morrison. Alas, the conversation was cut short when Harvey Award winning colorist and mutual friend, Jose Villarrubia, swung by to steal Frank away for their panel.

[Joe Keatinge photo by Stephanie Cooke]

Cartoonist and new Trip City northwest correspondent Ryan Alexander-Tanner interviews comics writer Joe Keatinge about his experiences as a comics writer.  Their conversation covers his range of work both as an independent writer of books like HELL YEAH and GLORY for Image comics and his more mainstream efforts for Marvel comics, MORBIUS and AMAZING SPIDER-MAN.  Their exchange addresses the ins and outs of a career in comics and the shifting attitudes of a working professional in the field as a career develops, plus much more!

The TRIP CITY Podcast is produced by Dean Haspiel, Ryan Alexander-Tanner, Seth Kushner, Chris Miskiewicz

Photos by Seth Kushner

On Friday, November 9th, 2012, Dean Haspiel sat with cartoonist, filmmaker, provocateur, Josh Simmons to discuss THE FURRY TRAP, his new collection of psycho-sexual-horror stories published by Fantagraphics Books. They also talked about Josh’s comix career which includes his book projects HAPPY, HOUSE, and JESSICA FARM. Plus, sharing beds with other cartoonists, sexual circus acts, erections, exploitation films, the strategy and importance of surreal pornography, the evocative powers and value of horror, and his commitment to comix.

Watch Josh Simmons horror movie, THE LEADER.

This episode of the Trip City Podcast produced by Dean Haspiel, Chris Miskiewicz, and Seth Kushner.

Seth Kushner sits with pornstar Stoya.  The interview was conducted with Seth in a chair and Stoya laying in her bed next to him,  Listen for Seth getting understandably flustered, as they discuss her career in porn and having sex on camera, the business and realities of porn, and on how she provides advice about sexual myths and body image through social media.  Also, be sure to view Seth’s CulturePOP Photocomix profile on Stoya.

Listen for the chirping birds in the background as Seth also interviews artist and Mistress of Magic Katelan Foisy at NY’Cs Gramercy Park.  They talk about Katelan’s gypsy nature, her paintings, her history with witchery and tarot, her artistic crew, her role in Cynthia Von Buhler’s Speakeasy Dollhouse and the recent collaboration between Katelan,  Seth and Chris Miskiewicz.  View at gallery of Katelan’s work at La Gitana: The Art of Katelan Foisy.

The TRIP CITY Podcast is produced by Chris Miskiewicz

Photography by Seth Kushner

Seth Kushner sits down with Sean Howe, author of the new book, Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, from Harper.  The two long-time comics fans talk about Sean’s years of exhaustive research into Marvel Comics history, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, the their favorite comics and creators growing up, the comics they enjoy today and much more.

[Bryan Lee O'Malley photographed at Chinatown Fair arcade]

Jef UK has a short and sweet talk with Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley, who was in town for New York Comic Con.  Bryan talks about the Scott Pilgrim movie, the new Scott Pilgrim color editions from Oni Press and more.  The interview was conducted at a Chinese restaurant and listen for when Seth Kushner causes the waitress to spill Bryan’s soup!

[Jef UK interviews Bryan Lee O'Malley]

The TRIP CITY Podcast is produced by Chris Miskiewicz

Photography by Seth Kushner

In this episode of The Trip City Podcast Chris Miskiewicz sits with British cartoonist, writer, and graphic novelist Nick Abadzis for an in depth interview about his twenty-five years of working in comics, including his graphic novel Laika which has, to date, been translated into eleven different languages around the world, and his latest book, Hugo Tate, which has been described as “a road movie from Hell.” Nick currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

For more info, visit: http://www.nickabadzis.com/

To read more of Nick’s work on Trip City click the following links:

Subterranean Stories on Trip City

Perfect Imperfect on Trip City

Soviet Psychedelia on Trip City

This weeks featured closing track is “Refrigerator” by the multi-media award winning artist Haik Kocharian. Go to iTunes to download more of Haik’s music.

Photo by Seth Kushner

This week on the Trip City Podcast, Jef UK and filmmaker Amy Finkel talk to legendary musician and outsider artist Daniel Johnston about his first ever graphic novel, Space Ducks: An Inifinite Comic Book of Musical Greatness, available now from BOOM! Studios.

[Jef UK and Amy Finkel interview Daniel Johnston. Photo by Seth Kushner.]

Continuing the music meets comix mashup, Chris Miskiewicz talks to Jef UK and JTR3, members of the sci-fi rock group Americans UK, and the three discuss the band’s upcoming musical releases, their comic books, and crack wise about a variety of topics.

[Jef UK portrait by Seth Kushner.]

This episode of the Trip City Podcast was produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Jeffrey Burandt, and Seth Kushner. Subscribe for free on iTunes, comment, and rate us 5 stars!

First up, Dean Haspiel sits with comedian/actor, Angry Bob, at the Remedy Diner in the lower east side of New York City and discusses Angry Bob’s comedy roots and origins, and so much more. Plus, you get to sit with Dean and listen to Angry Bob unleash unholy brown hell on the final night of Reverend Jen’s Anti-Slam at the Bowery Poetry Club! If you’ve never had the opportunity to experience the NYC alt-comedy scene, here’s your chance.

[Angry Bob and Dean Haspiel. Photo by Seth Kushner]

For our second half of the show, Jef UK interviews comedian Brooke Van Poppelen, and the two discuss her origins performing stand-up, always hustling to get to the next gig, her transitioning to writing for television, and all the blogs, one-woman-shows, and hangovers in between.

[Brooke Van Poppelen. Photo by Laina Karavani]

The TRIP CITY podcast is produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, Seth Kushner and Jeffrey Burandt.

[Angry Bob Death Gaze. Photo by Seth Kushner]

Jeff Newelt, AKA JahFurry, interviews Aline Kominsky-Crumb and her best friend / artistic collaborator Dominique Sapel. Aline Kominsky-Crumb is an American underground comics artist, and wife of cartoonist Robert Crumb. Dominique Sapel is a multidisciplinary artist living and working in the South of France. They were both in NY for the opening of “Miami Makeover: Almost Anything for Beauty”, an exhibit at The Museum of Comic & Cartoon Art. They “set out to entirely re-imagine their body image. Donning new outfits, wigs, jewelry, nails, makeup and padding in just the right places, the two artists remade themselves in the image of a modern Miami woman.”

 [Dominique Sapel, Cookie (subject), Aline Kominsky-Crumb, art from the exhibition by Kominsky-Crumb and Sapel]

[Alex Rae & Thor Parker of Midtown Comics]

Jef UK interviews Thor Parker and Alex Rae about their upcoming reality show, Comic Store Heroes, debuting on the National Geographic Channel, Friday, 7/13/12, at 8 PM. Comic Store Heroes uses America’s largest comic book retail store, Midtown Comics, as a backdrop to follow the lives and passions of comic book store employees and patrons. The group also discuss selling your old comics, creating a space for fans to interact with pros, and the success or failure of bundling digital download codes with print books in brick-and-mortar stores.

[Kushner & Irving at their book launch at powerHouse Arena, 4/12, the cover to Leaping Tall Buildings]

Dean Haspiel sits with author Christopher Irving and photographer Seth Kushner to discuss the origins of their new book, Leaping Tall Buildings: The Origins Of American Comics, a love letter to the comic book industry.  The book tells the  history of comics through 75 creator profiles including; Art Spiegelman, Stan Lee, Grant Morrison, Harvey Pekar, Joe Simon, Fran Miller, Brian Michael Bendis, Jamie Hernandez and many more.

[A look inside Leaping Tall Buildings]

The TRIP CITY podcast is produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, Seth Kushner and Jeffrey Burandt.

Photographs by Seth Kushner.  Kushner & Irving photo by Joseph Eisenstein. Miskiewicz photo by Miskiewicz.

Author Chuck Klosterman is interviewed by Ron Scalzo, who guest-hosts and guest-produced this episode.  Topics discussed include Klosterman’s latest novel The Visible Man; his books Killing Yourself To Live, Fargo Rock City, Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs; his love of watching football; the finale of the ABC TV series Lost; current shows he admires like AMC’s Breaking Bad; Guns N’ Roses and Radiohead; his writing philosophy and much, much more.

The featured song is  “Not For You” from the album If It Takes All Night by The Head Set.

Plus, a new anxiety-ridden edition of “Ronnie’s Story,” relating to Chuck Klosterman.

Special thanks to BookCourt, Brooklyn’s premiere independent bookstore.

Be sure to view Seth Kushner’s CulturePOP Photocomix Profile on Chuck Klosterman, based upon this interview.  Pick up Chuck Klosterman’s works here.

[Ron Scalzo interviews Chuck Klosterman at his Brooklyn home]

The TRIP CITY podcast is produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, and Seth Kushner.  This episode is guest-produced by Ron Scalzo.

Photographs by Seth Kushner.

Comics legend Jim Salicrup is the editor-in-chief of the all ages publisher Papercutz, which publishes Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Bionicle, Geronimo Stilton, The Smurfs, and The Three Stooges,  among other titles. But he might be best known for working twenty years at Marvel Comics where he edited books such as The Uncanny X-Men, Fantastic Four, Avengers and the entire Spider-Man line, culminating with the creation of Spider Man #1 by Todd McFarlane which sold over 3 million copies.

Jim sat with Chris Miskiewicz for an in depth interview giving his insight on what it was like to work in the classic Marvel Bullpen with creators such as Stan Lee and Jim Steranko, as well as a general overview on comics over the last 40 years, and where that market has gone and is going.

The TRIP CITY podcast produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, and Seth Kushner.

Photographs by Seth Kushner.

Dean Haspiel and writer, Tim Hall, interview comedian/writer/performer, Lizz Winstead, who is best known for co-creating THE DAILY SHOW, and they discuss her life and career and her new book, LIZZ FREE OR DIE.

Teenage heartthrob Jef UK talks to author Charles Soule about his upcoming Image Comics collection 27: Second Set, his recently announced graphic novel Strange Attractors from Archaia Entertainment, and his Slave Labor Graphics series Strongman, as well as the pride and pitfalls of making it as a writer in the first decade of the new millennium. Read Charles’ comic Sal & Chrys on Trip City by clicking HERE.

(Tim Hall, Lizz Winstead, and Dean Haspiel)

(Charles Soule)

(Charles Soule and Jeffrey Burandt aka Jef UK)

The TRIP CITY podcast produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, and Seth Kushner.

Photographs by Seth Kushner.

In Episode 13 of the TRIP CITY podcast, guest host Ron Scalzo talks with Brooklyn-based band Burlap To Cashmere, where such topics discussed include the band’s history, the advantages and disadvantages of being independent artists, and more.  Also, we present three of the band’s original tracks from their self-titled sophomore album.

[Ron Scalzo interviews Burlap To Cashmere]

Then, Seth Kushner talks with Ron Scalzo about their long personal history, Ron’s indie record label Bald Freak Music, his music projects Q*Ball, Hooper and Return To Earth, his ‘A Dozen Movies…’ series at Trip City, and baldness.  Also, a brand new song by Q*Ball featuring Chris Pennie, “A*Pathetic Song.”

[Steven Delopoulos, John Philippidis & Theodore Pagano]

Photos by Seth Kushner.  The TRIP CITY podcast is guest produced by Ron Scalzo.

In episode 12 of the TRIP CITY podcast, we present a recording of the “Harvey Pekar Tribute” from last year’s Miami Book Fair, featuring Harvey Pekar’s wife, Joyce Brabner, Cleveland artist, Joseph Remnant, The Pekar Project & Cleveland editor, Jeff Newelt, and The Quitter & American Splendor artist, Dean Haspiel. Plus, an interview with Zip Comics publisher of Cleveland, Josh Frankel, and a story about his “worst date ever.”

Please make sure to check out Dean Haspiel’s “Anatomy of an American Splendor cover,” and Seth Kushner’s CulturePOP on the late, great Harvey Pekar.

Harvey Pekar portrait by Seth Kushner. 

The TRIP CITY podcast produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, and Seth Kushner.

[Josh Frankel and Chris Miskiewicz at HANG DAI Studios]

In this episode of the TRIP CITY podcast, Chris Miskiewicz interviews Danish writer and graphic novelist, Palle Schmidt, about his work in comics and fascination with noir. Followed by Palle and Danish artist, Peter Snejbjerg [of Starman and DC/Vertigo Comics fame], having an in depth discussion about the current Danish comics market. Also, Jef UK interviews Scott Ogden about self taught “outsider” artists, their personal influences, and Scott’s company, Make Skateboards.

Debuting this week is Chris Miskiewicz and Palle Schmidt’s supernatural detective webcomic, THOMAS ALSOP in “The Case of Dead Uncle.”

Plus, a new song by American UK:  “Stoop Sale.”

 [Scott Ogden on the roof of HANG DAI Studios in Brooklyn, NY]

Palle Schmidt is the writer/artist of The Devils Concubine published by IDW.

Photographs by Seth Kushner.

The TRIP CITY podcast produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, and Seth Kushner.

Seth Kushner interviews cartoonist, Becky Cloonan, about her new work on Conan The Barbarian for Dark Horse Comics, her self-published mini-comic Wolves, collaborating with writer, Brian Wood, and more!

Pals since high school, Dean Haspiel sits down with writer/filmmaker, Larry O’Neil, and they talk about their early rebellions, their passion for comic books and movies, the business of making comic books and movies, FEAR CITY; their one and only, lost & found, comix collaboration, and Larry’s latest short film, TRONT’S QUEST, the sensuous and provocative tale of a Dungeons & Dragons game gone wrong.

And our featured closing track is “Bigdate” from the Brooklyn based band, The Divide.

The TRIP CITY podcast produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, and Seth Kushner.

Becky Cloonan photo by Seth Kushner

[Dean Haspiel & Larry O'Neil at HANG DAI Studios, 2/28/2012. Photographed by Seth Kushner]

Dean Haspiel has a candid conversation with actress/playwright/filmmaker, Halley Feiffer, the daughter of famous satirist/playwright/cartoonist, Jules Feiffer, and writer/actress/comedian, Jenny Allen, and they discuss Halley’s career, the differences between theater and film, and what it means to let your kitchen faucet drip. And, check out Halley’s brilliant short play, Thank You So Much For Stopping.

Seth Kushner & Amy Finkel traveled to New Jersey to the Chiller Theater, a nostalgia fan convention, and they talked with such stars as Burt Young from Rocky, Carol Spinny, the puppeteer and voice behind Sesame Street’s Big Bird, the kids from  the original Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, Frank Vincent from The Sopranos, and many more. Also, be sure to view, Icons of Pop, Seth’s gallery of photographic portraits of all the cool stars they met including Martin  Landau, Bruce Dern, and many others.

Our featured closing track is “ND Passerby” by the band, Late Cambrian.

The TRIP CITY podcast produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, and Seth Kushner.

[Halley Feiffer and Dean Haspiel]

[Richard Kiel aka "Jaws" from the James Bond films with Amy Finkel]

Photographs by Seth Kushner

In TRIP CITY podcast #8, Dean Haspiel conducts an interview with author, Jonathan Vankin, and they discuss his years as a journalist and writer, his time shepherding literary graphic novels as a senior editor at Vertigo/DC Comics, his thoughts behind conspiracy theories and whether or not man truly walked on the moon, and the unproduced screenplay he wrote for Japanese filmmaker, Takashi Miike. Dean also talks to singer/actress, Kirsten Holly Smith, who has devoted herself to researching, writing, and producing her musical about the legendary Dusty Springfield, where she sings a live version of “Son of a Preacher Man” in the confines of Hang Dai Studios. The podcast also boasts four poems by two New York poets, Caits Meissner and Tishon, from their first collaborative book, The Letter All Your Friends Have Written You, as well as, a spoken-word performance of Chris Miskiewicz’  “Nineteen Year Old Polish Girl Down the Block ,” accompanied by the music of Vezio Bacci [of the London band, Big Linda].

Please be sure to check out This weeks TRIP CITY highlights

Seth Kushner debuts The Schmuck Diaries with “Mein Roommate,” a 4th Reich ridicule to his monthly Schmuck comix series, and also offers “My Youth In Comics,” a Personal Pop essay. Dean Haspiel delivers two Room Tone stories and wonders when to say goodbye in “The Last Time,” and, while on crutches, confronts a deranged GG Allin in “Body English.” Jef UK drops another installment of Time Bum with art by Paul Ahern, and debuts his new monthly comic series, Thomas The Headless Boy, with artist Aaron Bir. Chris Miskiewicz emits two Signals [his spoken-word series] with the Philip K. Dick inspired, “Which You?” and reveals the reason why he types in public with  “The Writer.” Plus, new installments of Dan Goldman’s Gringo-in-Brazil essay series, Toucannui, Jen Ferguson’s urban fable, Metrollpolis, Ron Scalzo’s A Dozen Movies That Scared The Shit Out Of Me, Revisited – Part 4: Pinocchio, with gorgeous art by Rick Parker, Jennifer Hayden takes us for a “Night walk” in S’Crapbook, and the final episode of  Jonathan Vankin’s Please Don’t Change The Facts, memories of a mercenary journalist at the world’s largest newspaper, with art by Simon Gane.

The TRIP CITY podcast produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, and Seth Kushner.

–Vankin & Smith portrait by Seth Kushner

In this episode of the TRIP CITY podcast, Dean Haspiel interviewed his father/author/archivist, James Haspiel, during Thanksgiving last year, and they talk about James’ friend, the late, great Marilyn Monroe. They contrast MM’s impact on society 50-years after her death and James tells a moving story about a 12-year old Wisconsin boy. Also, Seth Kushner talks to author/cartoonist, Bob Fingerman, about his latest novel, Pariah, and they look back at his graphic novel, Beg The Question, and discuss “speculative memoir.” Plus, “Film Noir,” an unpublished song from the vaults of the psychedelic rock band, Swinger 8.

This weeks TRIP CITY highlights:

Ever wonder what happened to those Pro Wresting giants from the 1980′s? Seth Kushner knows in, “Wrestling with Big Fat Freddy,” while the second installment of poet/author, Sandra Beasley’s Modern Alice, keeps TRIP CITY tumescent with ”Knock Knock.” Plus, “The Magical World of Shrinq’I'Dinqs” by Krista Dragomer.

Dean Haspiel drops two prose pieces from his Room Tone series;  “The Icebox” and “Fire Man.” Plus, a personal profile on his mother, Barbara Haspiel: Saving Souls and Protecting Lives, which makes the perfect compliment to Seth Kushner’s CulturePOP: James Haspiel – The One and Only.

Dan Goldman launches, TOUCANNUI, his “Gringo in Brazil,” bi-weekly non-fiction series, and Jonathan Vankin delivers two more parts of his 5-part series, “Please Don’t Change The Facts – Memoirs of a Mercenary Journalist at the World’s Largest Newspaper.” Finally, there are new episodes of Nick Bertozzi’s LAD ZEPPELIN,  Nick Abadzis’ SUBTERRANEAN STORIES,  Americans UK madness from Jef UK, and a couple more spoken-word Signals from our TRIP CITY podcast producer, Chris Miskiewicz.

The TRIP CITY podcast produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, and Seth Kushner.

Bob Fingerman portrait by Seth Kushner

[James Haspiel and Dean Haspiel in Brooklyn, NY on Thanksgiving Day, 2011]

 [Chris Miskiewicz doing what it takes to produce the podcast. Photo by Paul Bosche]

This week at TRIP CITY, Jef UK interviews author, Jonathan Lethem, about his new book collection, The Ecstasy of Influence: Nonfictions, Etc., and previous works. We also interview cartoonist, Joe Infurnari, about his new graphic novel, MUSH! Sled Dogs With Issues! [in collaboration with The Colbert Report writer, Glenn Eichler], and discuss his process and Yale arts roots. Plus, brief interviews with cartoonists who attended the 2011 Brooklyn Comics & Graphics Festival, and our featured closing track “Hotel Room” by Swinger Eight.

This weeks TRIP CITY highlights:

Seth Kushner launches his new comix series, SCHMUCK, with artist, Kevin Colden, who will also be posting a new episode of BABY WITH A MOHAWK.

Author, conspiracy theorist, and comix writer/editor, Jonathan Vankin, debuts his weekly, 5-part series, “Please Don’t Change The Facts – Memoirs of a Mercenary Journalist at the World’s Largest Newspaper,” with illustrations by artist, Simon Gane.

Also, “Back on Nervous Street,” a comic collaboration by Jonathan Lethem & Dean Haspiel, Time Bum #1 by Americans UK, and a new S’CRAPBOOK comic by Jennifer Hayden. Plus, much more.

The TRIP CITY podcast produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, and Seth Kushner.

[Dean Haspiel, Jonathan Lethem, Jef UK, & Seth Kushner at Hang Dai Studios in November, 2011]

[Joe Infurnari at Hang Dai Studios post Spanish food meal]

[Chris Miskiewicz craps out our latest podcast]

Jonathan Lethem portrait by Seth Kushner

TRIP CITY Podcast #5 highlights Dean Haspiel’s couch interview with cartoonist, Dan Goldman, from October, where they discussed Dan’s comics career, his process,  the digital revolution, and the future.  This holiday special was broadcast “live” from the Trip City Xmas Party at the top of Hang Dai Studios. The party features “Christmas Murderer” by Jef UK, a “live” performance by Americans UK where they played jams from their album, “Live From Another Dimension,” an intimate interview with a famous theoretical physicist, an impromptu lesson about how to get an Emmy Award in “How To In Two,”  and the debut of the band, The Something of Hope, with their Xmas song, “And so this is ChrisMis.”

Please view the Dan Goldman gallery and RED LIGHT PROPERTIES: A Series of Tubes.

The TRIP CITY podcast produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, and Seth Kushner.

Dan Goldman portrait by Tomas Rangel

TRIP CITY Podcast #4 highlights Krista Dragomer‘s interview with Miranda July at Hang Dai Studios from November, where they talked about her new non-fiction book, It Chooses You (McSweeney’s, 2011). Krista and Miranda also discuss art fears, feminist art-makers, and dirty limericks.  Other topics discussed:  Miranda’s most recent film is The Future (2011), which she wrote directed, and stars in. Her previous film, Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005), which won a special jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival and four prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, including the Camera d’Or. Her fiction, which has appeared in The Paris Review, Harper’s, and The New Yorker; her collection of stories, No One Belongs Here More Than You (Scribner, 2007), which won the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award. Her videos, performances, and web-based projects, which have been presented at sites such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum and in two Whitney Biennials.

Seth Kushner interviews Krista Dragomer about her sound art, her graphic novel project, THE OPEN, interviewing Miranda July, and more.

Dean Haspiel interviews nomadic poet/writer, Sandra Beasley, about her memoir DON’T KILL THE BIRTHDAY GIRL: TALES FROM AN ALLERGIC LIFE, and she gives an intimate performance of her poem, “Vocation,” from her book,  I WAS THE JUKEBOX, and talks about her new TRIP CITY series, MODERN ALICE, debuting this week with her story, “Hot For Santa.”

Plus, the Edison Woods single, “Dance me to the End of the World” from The Wishbook Singles.

Edison Woods a staple of the Williamsburg music scene is the music project of Julia Frodahl, who grew up in an odd little town in Northern California with an unusual population of two-step saloons and Wurlitzer organs. Edison Woods is a mini-orchestra that includes many textural sounds, strings, reeds, piano. The band has released four albums since 2001, has enjoyed collaborations with wonderful artists including Simon Raymond (Cocteau Twins) and Mark Van Hoen (Slowdive, Mojave 3), and has also written original music scores for artists including Mimmo Paladino, Joey McKneeley, and Katie Workum .

Here’s a link to the Edison Woods music video for “Last Night I Dreamt I would Last Forever” off of the album Nest Of Machines.

Go to Itunes for a complete list of Edison Woods past and present albums.

Special thanks to Krista Dragomer, Dean Haspiel, Seth Kushner, Sandra Beasley, Juliet Litman, Miranda July, Edison Woods, and BookCourt, the premiere independent book store in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, NY.

Please view Bleeding the Dream: Film Stills from a movie project by Krista Dragomer & Rashin Fahandej, and a graphic novel excerpt from The Open, by Krista Dragomer & Beatrice Marovich.

The TRIP CITY podcast produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, Seth Kushner, and Krista Dragomer.

Miranda July photos by Seth Kushner

TRIP CITY Podcast #3 highlights Dean Haspiel’s interview with artist Jen Ferguson, Ron Scalzo’s new “Ronnie’s Story,” Dean Haspiel and Jen Ferguson’s interview with cartoonist Ben Katchor, and the Americans UK single, “Inappropriate Words To Your Mother” off of the album Luxuria by Americans UK.

Brooklyn artist, Jen Ferguson, and cartoonist, Dean Haspiel, interviewed renaissance cartoonist, Ben Katchor, at Hang Dai Studios on September 21st. Jen and Dean discussed Ben’s early NY Press comix, his transition between ink and digital, and his latest project, “Up From The Stacks,” which debuted at The New York Public Library with musician, Mark Mulcahy, this past Fall. But, first Dean has a brief conversation with Jen Ferguson about her art.

Special thanks to Jen Ferguson, Dean Haspiel, Seth Kushner, Jeff Burandt, Ben Katchor, and BookCourt, the premiere independent book store in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, NY.

View a gallery of Ben Katchor’s work.

View a gallery of Jen Ferguson’s work.

The TRIP CITY podcast produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, and Seth Kushner.

Photo by Seth Kushner

TRIP CITY Podcast #2 highlights Seth Kushner’s interview with filmmaker Amy Finkel, Ron Scalzo’s new “Ronnie’s Story,” Amy Finkel and Dean Haspiel’s exclusive interview with musician/actor/author Henry Rollins, and the Americans UK single, “Jobs: We Don’t Have Them,” off their album, Rocktronic.

Documentary filmmaker Amy Finkel (FUREVER) and cartoonist, Dean Haspiel, conducted an exclusive interview with Henry Rollins on October 13th for TRIP CITY. Rollins discusses his music career and his new book, Occupants, a full-color book of photographs taken in Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Northern Ireland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and elsewhere over the last few years.

This interview was conducted at BookCourt, the premiere independent book store in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Special thanks to Amy Finkel, Dean Haspiel, Seth Kushner, Tresa Redburn, Mike Magnuson, Zack Zook, BookCourt, and Henry Rollins.

A note about the Henry Rollins interview: The interview begins abruptly, mid-conversation. Henry was saying something interesting about his new show on National Geographic (“Animal Underworld,” coming out next Spring), so we began recording as we thought everyone would enjoy listening in.

The TRIP CITY podcast produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, and Seth Kushner.

Photo by Seth Kushner

TRIP CITY Podcast #1 highlights a round table interview with the TRIP CITY founders, Chris Miskiewicz’ New York Comicon 2011 report, Ron Scalzo’s “Ronnie’s Story,” graphic novelist, Dan Goldman’s exclusive interview with filmmaker, Michael Moore, and the Americans UK’s single “You Can’t Kill The Americans UK.”

Comics author Dan Goldman (whose works include SHOOTING WAR, the nonfiction graphic novel 08: A GRAPHIC DIARY OF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL and his current haunted real-estate series RED LIGHT PROPERTIES) conducted this exclusive interview with Michael Moore on October 7th for Trip City. Touching on Moore’s new book HERE COMES TROUBLE, unchecked capitalism and the #Occupy movement, this interview was conducted at BookCourt, the premiere independent book store in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Special thanks to Seth Kushner, Dean Haspiel, Josh Frankel, Zack Zook, BookCourt, and Michael Moore.

Photo by Seth Kushner

The TRIP CITY podcast produced by Chris Miskiewicz, Dean Haspiel, and Seth Kushner.

Behind-the-scenes of the podcast.