Robservations with Rob Liefeld

We are always entertained in sports when our favorite athletes pop off at each other and comic books has a rich history of testy rivalries as well. We look back on some of the more bitter vitriol exchanged by rivals of a competitive era. We have more beef to grill than a cattle rancher! 

The DC Dilemma continues to confound their cinematic universe but a new Chief promises a new hope as James Gunn plots the future of the DCU. We look forward rather than back, towards what is to come and examine the shape a fresh Superman might take! Also, a Jack Kirby acknowledgment! 

Comic Book Movie Mayhem is upon us! The past year has not been kind to either Marvel or DC as films from both studios struggle to regain their peak box office performances. We examine the state of the comic book movie, starting with the MCU. What does Marvel’s recent track record tell us going forward, what created the disconnect in the first place and most importantly, have they already found the path way towards their next break thru smash! 

From Comics to Cosby, Springsteen to Super Heroes, the comic books, television, movies and music of a stellar year! Plus, the cult classics and the secret of Spider Man’s black costume! 

Fresh franchises reached blockbuster status! Ghostbusters & Indiana Jones battled it out at the top of the charts! Gremlins, Karate Kid, Police Academy found the spotlight! Marvel’s Secret Wars series dominated the comic book scene and Spider Man was Back In Black! An incredible year of big swings and bigger hits! 

Celebrating two titanic talents, Kubrick & The King! The comic book adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s landmark film, 2001 A Space Odyssey, arrives 8 years after the movie compelled audiences all across the globe. Produced by Marvel Comics, It was written & illustrated by Jack “King” Kirby who pushed the concept far beyond Kubrick’s initial film and inspired characters that populate and are published in the Marvel’s Universe to this day.

As Deadpool:Badder Blood #1 arrives in stores, Rob takes you behind the scenes of his latest work. From initial concept to finished page to the shelves of your local shop, this episode provides a comprehensive study of how a comic book is brought to reality.

The battle for chart dominance was never as competitive as it was in the late 80’s, early 90’s! Rob shares dozens of market reports from retailers from 1989-1990. Batmania rocked the industry, Marvel storms back! The future was unfolding in front of our eyes, the market expanded at a rate that it struggled to contain! Spider Man! Batman! X-Men! Wolverine! Punisher! Guardians Of The Galaxy!

As a Writer’s Strike grinds Hollywood, we strike back at Artificial Intelligence with part 2 of our A.I. series! Industry experts weigh in as the growing concern over A.I. continues! What does the future hold for the entertainment that we celebrate and enjoy as the threat of machines and the greed of corporations increases! 

Our journey through 1983 continues as Marvel’s Canadian Super Team takes Flight, breaking records in the process. The British Invasion hits the music scene launching dozens of new acts to instant stardom! Michael Jackson & The Police battle for dominance atop the charts! Prime time soaps are all the rage! As entertaining a year as they come! 

As Variety questions where are the stars of tomorrow, we look at the year where Super-Stars were born! Tom Cruise! Eddie Murphy! Michael Keaton! Matthew Broderick! The movies of 1983 launched them into stardom! At Marvel, Beta Ray Bill dominates! The Morlocks make their move! 

We continue our foray into the year that was 1979! The movies, tv, music & comic books that impacted pop culture! Stan Lee returns to Marvel to introduce She-Hulk, Scott Lang becomes Ant-Man! Project Pegasus shakes the Marvel Universe! Michael Jackson goes Off The Wall, Supertramp has Breakfast In America and AC/DC takes the Highway To Hell! Don’t Take The Long Way Home, catch up on Robservations now! 

Another banner year in our decades series! 1979 is spectacular! Superman! Alien! Star Trek! James Bond goes to outer space! You will believe a man can fly! Following the success of Star Wars, Marvel goes all in all licensed comics!

Avengers! X-Men! Marvel’s top titles for the past 4 decades! The ties that bind these two franchises run deeper than you can imagine! We examine characters, creators and events that unite them over the ages! 

1985 was a banner year for Pop Culture! DC had a Crisis! A new Arthur was crowned King! Marty McFly went Back To The Future! Live-Aid rocked 2 continents! John Rambo returned and Rocky goes to Russia! What a year! We celebrate it all! 

It’s time to shine the spotlight on the talented ladies that blazed the trail for women in comic books! We honor the pioneers that paved the way! Names behind such classics as Super Friends! Star Wars! Aquaman! Sandman! Elfquest! Glory! Power Man! X-Men and many more! 

IMAGE UNITED combined the talents of 6 of the most popular artists of an era, each of them drawing on every page, sometimes every panel for over 60 consecutive pages! The most ambitious project attempted in the history of comics! We talk the inspiration, the execution and the obstacles in pulling it all off! 

With multiple Comic Book and Pop Culture Shows popping up every weekend, Rob shares some of his own Convention experiences and some cautionary tales along the way! 

An episode focusing on the process of finishing and embellishing comic book art! Breakdowns! Layouts! The  construction of pages we love and the craft with which they are made is our focus in this edition of Making Comics! 

Once again into the breach with the rarest of rare 1991 Frank Miller interview’s from L.A. Weekly. Frank has conquered comics and talks his achievements with Dark Knight, Daredevil, Hard Boiled, Martha Washington & Elektra! 

A very special episode discussing the Rise of Artificial Intelligence and its growing influence on music, movies and art. Deep Fakes! Midjourney! Rob shares his own experiences with A.I. art as well as his belief why mankind will prevail! 

Two comic books representing two separate factions of fans, each struggling to sell enough copies to stave off cancelation, combined to achieve success neither comic had experienced before! Marvel’s Power Man & Iron Fist checks all the boxes! It’s like Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder with lots of martial arts! 

Rob takes you back to that fateful night in November 1978, the one and only showing of The  Star Wars Holiday Special! We examine the culture of the 1970’s variety show format that informed the special as well as why access to anything Star Wars was at such a premium! Plus, Boba Fett! Life Day! Itchy! Lumpy! All that make-up on Luke Skywalker! 

We visit a rare Frank Miller interview from 1982 and go inside the mind of an absolute master of the craft. From his early days learning from Neal Adams to the origins & inspiration for Elektra to Miller’s portrayal of violence, this one is packed with drama and insight! Learn why he Miller sought to differentiate Daredevil from Spider Man & Batman! Also - the birth of Marvel’s lucrative royalty system! 

Taking it all the way back to 1992 and THAT controversial cover and THAT controversial creator and THAT controversial interview! Or was it?? All hands on deck for Liefeld Vs. Wizard Vs. Marvel Vs. Image! 

Since it’s inception, Star Trek has been prominent in tv, movies, comics & toys. Rob looks at his own journey with Star Trek across the decades and tells you why the best Star Trek comic book features the X-Men! 

What era you first encounter an artist can establish how you feel and relate to their work. Rob shares a rare comic that provided multiple first encounters with talents that would go on to be super-stars! Also, The Comic Book & Collectible Marketplace! 

The comic that saved Marvel! The original Marvel comic book adaptation of Star Wars gets the full Robtopsy examination! The historical relevance of the comic book Stan Lee didn’t want to publish is revealed! How taking a chance on an unknown “Space Opera” turned the fortunes of a publishing company on the brink! The scenes that didn’t make the film, the legendary creators and much, much more!

Superman is racing towards the Public Domain as fast as a speeding bullet? When he arrives, if he arrives, what exactly will be available? Rob is sharpening his pencils in anticipation of creating his own Superman adventures, should you? 

A discussion of the fire that sparks conflict and ignites creativity! 

As Marvel celebrates 60 years of The X-Men, Rob looks back on the first ever X-Men spin-off, The New Mutants. From an early 80’s interview, discover Chris Claremont’s initial outlook for the book and its inspirations as well as lost storylines & characters that were never realized! 

Another Robtopsy is performed, this time on one of the greatest runs in the history of comic books! As The X-Men fight to survive Magneto and later, the dangers of The Savage Land, multiple historical achievements are unlocked! This period of the X-Men set the stage for all that followed and remains a favorite among both casual fans and die-hards! Rob examines all the milestones by this storied creative team!

Welcome to the Madness of March! There’s no basketball or gambling involved but a revelation of serious comic book cornerstones that were achieved during the month of March across the decades! Spider Man, Batman, Flash and more! Get ready to count it down with Rob!

Introducing The Robtopsy! Where we examine and dissect a particular body of work, revealing its historical & cultural impact! The patient this week is The Fantastic Four of the 1970’s, a far different version from any that had come before! Sue Richards was no longer a member, she was divorcing Reed and an Inhuman had taken her place! The author was celebrated for ending the Silver Age of comics, ushering in a more adult and mature era. There is much to discuss in this very special edition of Robservations! 

It’s a double bill as we examine the origins of todays most popular trope, the grizzled warrior,  the young ward and the treacherous journey across dangerous terrain! The Last Of Us! The Mandalorian! Road To Perdition!! Bonus - Comic Book Feuds:Barry Smith, Part 3! No One Is Safe! 

The 90’s was a time of Femme Fatales! Women Warriors ruled the charts pushing the big brawn to the side as fans favored a new age of Lady Liberators! Witchblade! Lady Death! Shi! Avengelyne! Glory! Plus - Major Podcast Announcement! 

Today it’s a time for reflection as we give respect to “The Source” expanding our awareness of Marvel & DC comic book tropes and their various origins! We discuss the X-Men’s infamous “Outback” era and how it compares to other periods in Marvel Mutant History! 

It’s time for our annual Macho Awards! Join as we celebrate the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Batman! Joker! Top Gun! Yellowstone and so much more! 

A look at the very best twists and turns in the history of comic books & movies! An in depth study at the “Plot Armor” that provides the best payoffs! Marvel! DC! Image! Star Wars! X-Men! Batman! Invincible! 

Rob breaks down how the cinematic treatment of comic books and their extraordinary success over the last two decades have taken characters from the cellar all the way to the penthouse! Little known titles have become household names! 

30 years ago, Marvel teamed with James Cameron, fresh off his blockbuster T2 success, to make a Spider Man film that never happened. Rob performs the autopsy of how it all fell apart! Learn why the greatest movie never made failed to materialize! 

The filming of a series of ground breaking new videos hosted by Stan Lee provides the backdrop for an announcement that would change comic books forever! 

We launch our Then & Now series with a spotlight on industry Titan, Todd McFarlane! From a rare 1993 interview Todd shares his views on Variant covers, Spin-Offs and Cross-Overs. Many of these opinions are in stark contrast to McFarlane practices of 2023, find out what has changed and why! 

We wrap up our series with even more Manga Madness, examining many of the works influenced by the Mighty Manga Boom. BATTLE CHASERS! WARLANDS! SOUL SAGA!! Also, we reveal untold secrets from Heroes Reborn, the original plans prior to the disruption from the Marvel Bankruptcy of 1996!

It’s time to talk about Manga! The popularity of Manga & Anime continues to surge, especially with young audiences. Rob takes you back to the 80’s as Manga first broke thru with western audiences in mainstream hits like Akira! Appleseed! Ghost In The Shell! Bastard! A new generation of Manga influenced artists took the 90’s by storm!

Stephen King is one of the most celebrated authors of our time, one of the most accomplished imaginations in all of pop culture! While many of his works have been adapted in comic book format, none come close to this classic work from Marvel in the 80’s! 

Marvel & DC have a long history with shirtless warriors, Killraven, Kamandi, Tor, Claw, Ka-Zar among the many who have struggled to stay relevant! Towering talents such as Neal Adams, Joe Kubert, Jack Kirby, John Buscema and more have contributed, trying to break the trend, with decidedly mixed results! The Struggle Is Real!! Plus - an update on the comic book marketplace! 

Batman! The most popular comic book character of all time, his look and appeal have been shaped by a number of visionary talents across the decades. Rob names the legendary artists who have defined his look and portrayal, bolstering his popularity over the years. 

We wrap our most recent Comic Book Feuds as the popular Marvel and X-Men illustrator known as Barry, continues to take on the world, comic books and beyond! Paul McCartney, John Buscema, Steranko and more are caught in his critical sights! Just how grumpy can one man be? Prepare to find out! 

Who’s Barry you ask? Barry’s road to stylistic influencer took decades, but once he arrived, his presence at Marvel was staggering. Barry goes off on everyone in the first of a two part interview excerpt. Also, James Gunn takes over DC Films, what should we expect?