Despite doing the podcast for several years and being extremely lucky to bring on some fantastic guests, I always see myself as a small fish in a big pond. I am happy the podcast continues to grow, but I am fine not being one of those Big Comicbook Podcasts. I am more interested in introducing fans to comics and creators, no matter how “BIG” they are, that are not on their radar.
The 250th episode of the podcast is right around the corner, and like any comic fan, I like to make a big deal for the anniversary shows… in my own way
. I try to take a tongue-in-cheek approach because I find it amusing how publishers will go through hoops to market anniversaries. I mean, has only REALLY gone and done the math to see if the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man 1000 is actually the 1000th issue?
Hence, the title “Road to” for today’s column, which is right around DC’s Rebirth stuff years ago. They seemed to use a lot. And, while I could have lined up any number of creators (Heck, I am Barry Kitson and Maggin for two Superman shows right before that show!) to tout that show, I went low-key, in a way.
Instead, I brought on Bobby Nash and Joe Crowe, both of whom have been on the show before. They know their comic lore every time they come on the show. I now use software with some AI tools for all the shows. It usually makes for quick editing, cleaning things up, and making everyone look their best.
Again, usually. I know from experience that the software hates editing the shows when the three of us are involved. These shows are always fantastic, but we often pitter-patter back and forth, and the software has a hard time keeping track of things. It’s not uncommon for the program to crash when the three of us are working, and we have to pick up where we left off.
And, I know, you’re wondering where the heck Cal just fit into all of this? Decades ago, I used to watch Looney Tunes every Saturday morning, and there was this one cartoon that always stuck with me. Over the decades, I still remember bits and pieces. Odd, how things stick, and others don’t, huh?
There was a bit where Cal jumps in front of different backgrounds and changes his color to match the background. When he gets to a plaid background, poor Cal freaks out and says something like, “I can’t!”
I have often used the Cal joke in real life over the years. And, that visual pop-up whenever my software has to edit a Nash-Crowe-myself show. Out of curiosity. I went to some AI tools with: I remember an old Looney Tunes cartoon —a bit with a chameleon changing colors in front of screens. Bring up anything on your end?
And, I was surprised that it found a bit about that particular cartoon! It was from “Unnatural History” way back in 1959. Cal the Chameleon, who jumps through various backgrounds and changes colors. He’s then challenged to match a wild, multi‑colored plaid screen. He strains, shakes, tries every trick he’s got… and finally throws his hands up and yells, “I can’t do it!! I just CAN’T do it!!!”
There are a lot of pros and cons to using AI these days. Creators, at all levels, should be concerned about AI replacing them and ripping them off, given how some AI poaches on creative work. And, I do hope that more guardrails get put in place to protect creators.
But, also, if used the right way—AI, like the Cal example, can be used to find or do research that might have been harder or impossible even a few years ago. I do use AI for lots of things, including background when getting ready to bring a guest on or talk about certain comics.
In the end, for me, it’s more about creating articles and shows that get fans into more comics and creators. For the comic book industry to continue to grow, fans need to read beyond the latest hot comics and creators.
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