Ink and Imagination

Welcome to the first proper episode of Ink & Imagination, brought to you by Those Two Geeks. In this episode, we look at the early days of DC comics and their ties to organized crime. The first unofficial episode can be found under Those Two Geeks 323.

For further reading, the book Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic
Book covers the subject in more detail, both of Superman's creators and about Harry Donenfeld. 

Music by Nicholas Panek from Pixabay

Ink & Imagination 001: DC Comics and The Mob

Welcome to Ink & Imagination, brought to you by Those Two Geeks.

What do Superman, the X-Men, and countless beloved comic book heroes have in common? They’re all stories shaped by the immigrant experience. In this episode, we explore how refugees and immigrants, both the real creators behind the comics and the characters they brought to life, defined the very foundations of the medium. From Siegel and Shuster’s refugee Superman to the international roster of the X-Men, comics have always reflected the struggles, hopes, and resilience of those seeking a new home. Join us as we uncover the human journeys behind our modern mythology; and ask what our world would look like if those borders had been closed.

Music by Nicholas Panek from Pixabay

Ink & Imagination 002: Heroes Without Borders (Immigration & Refugees in Comics)

Welcome to Ink & Imagination, brought to you by Those Two Geeks.

In 1949, Canada passed one of the most unusual censorship laws in modern history: the Fulton Bill, which made “crime comics” illegal.

This episode dives deep into the fears, politics, and moral panics that fueled the legislation. We’ll explore how juvenile delinquency became a national obsession, how comics became an easy scapegoat, and what happened when Canadian Parliament decided to step in. Along the way, we’ll compare Canada’s hardline stance with the U.S. response, from Fredric Wertham’s Seduction of the Innocent to the Senate hearings and the Comics Code Authority.

From silenced Canadian creators to the collapse of a local industry, this is the story of how fear reshaped comics on both sides of the border;  and what it cost us in art, imagination, and freedom.

For further reading, visit the Crisis of Innocence page. 

Music by Nicholas Panek from Pixabay

Ink & Imagination 003: Paper, Panic & Protection: Canada’s Comic Book Crackdown

Welcome to Ink & Imagination, brought to you by Those Two Geeks.

Britain in the 1970s was a nation in crisis; economic decline, strikes, and youth rebellion. In this turbulent era, comics reflected the clash between tradition and rebellion.

This episode explores the fading legacy of The Hotspur, one of the great boys’ papers of the mid-century, and the explosive rise, and fall, of Action, the short-lived but notorious comic dubbed “the comic the parents hate.” With its blood-soaked shark (Hook Jaw), violent street gangs (Kids Rule O.K.), and gritty working-class football strips, Action thrilled kids and horrified parents, sparking a moral panic that forced its withdrawal after just 36 issues.

But Action didn’t die in vain. Its rebellious spirit lived on in 2000 AD, paving the way for Judge Dredd, the British Invasion of comics in the 1980s, and the transformation of the medium worldwide.

From patriotic soldiers to punk-inspired antiheroes, this is the story of how British comics in the 1970s captured a society on the edge and changed comics forever.

Music by Nicholas Panek from Pixabay

Ink & Imagination 004: No More Heroes: British Comics in the 1970s

Welcome to Ink & Imagination, brought to you by Those Two Geeks.

In this episode, we dive into the life and legacy of Will Eisner, one of comics’ true visionaries. Best known for The Spirit and for pioneering the “graphic novel,” Eisner also became a tireless advocate for creator rights in an industry that often exploited its talent. From his own struggles with publishers to his pivotal role in reshaping how artists and writers claimed ownership over their work, we’ll explore how Eisner’s fight helped pave the way for the conversations, and protections, that define comics today.

Music by Nicholas Panek from Pixabay

Ink & Imagination 005: Will Eisner and the Fight for Creator Rights

Welcome to Ink & Imagination, brought to you by Those Two Geeks.

In the first half of our two-part special on creator rights, we explore how Jack Kirby, the artist who helped dream up the Fantastic Four, Thor, the X-Men, and countless others, reshaped the DNA of modern comics while fighting for the credit and ownership he was too often denied.

We’ll revisit the legendary Fantastic Four #48–49, where a simple note became one of the most profound stories ever told in comics, and follow Kirby through the heartbreak and triumph of a lifetime spent creating worlds he didn’t own.

This is the story of the man who built universes and the system that tried to keep his name out of them.

Music by Nicholas Panek from Pixabay

Ink & Imagination 007: Creator Rights Part One: Jack Kirby, The King of Comics

Welcome to Ink & Imagination, brought to you by Those Two Geeks.

In the second half of our Creator Rights special, a new generation takes up Jack Kirby’s fight, and nearly burns the industry to the ground doing it. It’s the 1990s. Comic book artists like Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, and Rob Liefeld are household names, outselling even their publishers. Tired of seeing their creations owned by corporations, seven superstars walk out of Marvel and form Image Comics. A publisher built on a single rule: “The creator owns the creation.”

This episode explores how Image Comics changed the balance of power, how greed and hype pushed comics to the brink, and how the fight for creator rights reshaped the medium in both triumph and tragedy.

Because every rebellion has its price, and every artist’s freedom comes with a fight.

Music by Nicholas Panek from Pixabay

Ink & Imagination 008: Creator Rights Part Two: Image, the Speculator Boom, and the Crash

March 26, 2008, the launch of Graphic Policy. Born out of an interest in doing some more creative writing than what was allowed at work, the site began as a look at comic books, especially of those with political themes. Most importantly, the site was founded on three ideas:

    Transparency – the site would disclose all conflicting relationships, and most importantly disclose when materials were provided to the site for free from publishers, studios, etc., so that you the readers could make an informed decision.
    Open – the site is open to anyone to contribute. We want to provide a safe place for people to add their voice to the comics community and a platform to do so.
    Progressive – this site prides itself on being progressive. Both when it comes to inclusion of individuals (see #2), but also ideas, not just here but in the industry as a whole. We don’t tolerate harassment, bigotry, shaming, or bullying of any sort, as we feel the safer individuals feel to express their ideas, and the greater the diversity of those doing so, the better the industry is.

The site has morphed over the years from its “political roots,” to generally covering the comic industry with previews, reviews, interviews, and general convention coverage. It then morphed again digging into industry demographics, and becoming the leader for that information. In August 2011, the website went to the airwaves to launch Graphic Policy Radio which has aired ever since and then a second podcast Those Two Geeks among numerous other specialty podcasts. The site has evolved into what you see today to cover not just comics, but also movies, television, games, fashion, and technology, while keeping its “geek” roots.

Ink and Imagination

GraphicPolicy