The guys get into Frank Miller’s 300, from its brutal Spartan swagger to the underappreciated magic Lynn Varley brought to every inch of the page. John is out today, but David is joined by special guest and fill-in co-host Chase Marotz to talk about Miller’s later art style, the historical homework behind Thermopylae, and why this book still feels like a giant opera made of sweat, shields, and testosterone. Before the main event, they hit the news wire: Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto on Avengers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #300 moving monster numbers, Dark Horse recognizing its workers union, and Shaquille O’Neal teaming with Archie Comics. Then things get beautifully stupid with Sugar Bomb, Tom the Dolphin, Bart Sears, Juan Jose Ryp, and the kind of superhero book that could only come from trying to make your office mate laugh and/or quit. By the end, Frank Miller’s 300 looks less like a frozen artifact and more like the battle line between classic craft, creator obsession, and full-throttle comic book weirdness.

“Frank Miller’s art has really become sort of outsider-esque.” — David on how Miller’s later style has grown on him

“It’s the ultimate indie comic win.” — David on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hitting issue #300

“One in a million thing happened to one in a million dude.” — Chase on Kevin Eastman and the Turtles phenomenon

“I’ve never seen somebody have the ability to humanize a dolphin.” — David on Juan Jose Ryp drawing Tom in Sugar Bomb

“This is the story that I was waiting to tell until I knew I was good enough to tell it.” — David quoting Frank Miller on 300

[00:42] – Miller Goes Outsider: David kicks off the episode by connecting Frank Miller’s current art style to the outsider comics conversation that’s been circling the show.

[03:07] – Avengers Gets a Real Creative Swing: David and Chase react to Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto relaunching Avengers, with cautious optimism and a few Batman-induced headaches.

[08:08] – Turtles Print Money Again: TMNT #300 jumps to 200,000 units, and the guys break down why legacy numbering is ridiculous, brilliant, and very much still alive.

[11:42] – A Hard Turn for Persepolis: David and Chase pause for Marjane Satrapi, reflecting on why Persepolis still hits with force and humanity.

[13:28] – Dark Horse Recognizes the Union: The guys give credit where it’s due while keeping one cynical eye open about what comes next.

[15:25] – Shaq Walks Into Archie Comics: Shaquille O’Neal’s new comics project gives David the perfect excuse to shout out Stephanie Williams and Ray-Anthony Height.

[19:32] – Enter Sugar Bomb and the Dolphin Menace: Chase explains Sugar Bomb as a cynical cyborg superhero with a perverted dolphin sidekick, which is somehow only the beginning.

[30:57] – 300 Returns to Battle: David and Chase revisit Frank Miller’s 300 and immediately zero in on Lynn Varley’s massive contribution to the book’s power.

David Hedgecock (https://funtimego.com) - The Corner Box Co-Host

John Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - The Corner Box Co-Host

The Corner Box (https://www.thecornerbox.club) - Official Website

Frank Miller (https://frankmillerpresents.com) - The legendary cartoonist behind 300, Sin City, The Dark Knight Returns, and the whole Spartan blood-and-thunder centerpiece of this episode

Lynn Varley (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynn_Varley) - The Eisner-winning colorist whose watercolor work on 300 gets a well-earned victory lap from David and Chase

Chip Zdarsky (https://www.zdars.co) - Writer discussed for his upcoming Avengers work and past Daredevil/Batman runs

Marco Checchetto (https://www.marvel.com/comics/creators/11748/marco_checchetto) - Artist paired with Zdarsky on Avengers and a longtime Corner Box favorite

Kevin Eastman (https://fan.kevineastmanstudios.com) - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator, praised here as the ultimate indie comics success story and an all-around great dude

Peter Laird (https://peterlairdstmntblog.blogspot.com) - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator, part of the original DIY comics miracle behind TMNT

Marjane Satrapi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjane_Satrapi) - Creator of Persepolis, remembered here for the power and humanity of her landmark graphic novel

Stephanie Williams (https://stephaniecomics.com) - Writer of Shaquille O’Neal’s Archie Comics project and a friend of the show David wants back on the mic

Ray-Anthony Height (https://www.ray-anthonyheight.com) - Artist on Shaq’s Archie project, praised by David as a hard-working comics talent getting a bigger spotlight

Juan Jose Ryp (https://www.instagram.com/juanjoseryp) - Sugar Bomb artist whose character acting, especially with Tom the Dolphin, basically hijacked David’s heart

Bart Sears (https://www.bartsearsart.com) - Artist behind Sugar Bomb’s initial designs and the upcoming guest for the Ominous Press/Brutes and Babes conversation

Rolo Maeda (https://www.instagram.com/rolomaeda) - Interior artist on Super Kaiju Rock and Roller Derby Fun Time Go, shouted out during the Funtime Go Kickstarter break

Zack Snyder (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zack_Snyder) - Director of the 300 film adaptation and the source of several side quests in the conversation

James Gunn (https://www.dc.com/talent/james-gunn) - Mentioned through the Dawn of the Dead connection and his current DC film universe role

300 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/300_(comics)) - Frank Miller and Lynn Varley’s five-issue Dark Horse series that anchors the main discussion

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles) - The indie comics phenomenon discussed through TMNT #300, Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, and the Frank Miller connection

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #300 (https://idwpublishing.com) - The legacy-numbered milestone issue David says pushed massive sales and brought the Turtles back into the spotlight

Avengers (https://www.marvel.com/comics/series) - The Marvel flagship title discussed through the new Zdarsky/Checchetto relaunch

Daredevil (https://www.marvel.com/comics/characters/1009262/daredevil) - Referenced through Zdarsky and Checchetto’s previous work and the TMNT/Miller creative lineage

Batman (https://www.dc.com/characters/batman) - Comes up through Zdarsky’s run, Zur-En-Arrh confusion, and Miller’s larger creative legacy

Persepolis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persepolis_(comics)) - Marjane Satrapi’s landmark graphic novel, discussed as a major work worth revisiting

Dark Horse Comics (https://www.darkhorse.com) - Publisher of 300 and the focus of the workers union discussion

Dark Horse Workers United (https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/dark-horse-workers-united) - The labor effort discussed after Dark Horse voluntarily recognized the union

Archie Comics (https://archiecomics.com) - Publisher behind Shaquille O’Neal’s new comics project with Stephanie Williams and Ray-Anthony Height

Vengeance Unchained: The Legend of Black Caesar (https://archiecomics.com) - Shaq’s Archie Comics project discussed as a surprising non-superhero announcement

Super Kaiju Rock and Roller Derby Fun Time Go (https://funtimego.com) - Funtime Go’s high-end hardcover graphic novel series currently running its Book 3 Kickstarter

Sugar Bomb (https://funtimego.com) - David and Chase’s chaotic superhero project featuring Sugar Bomb, Tom the Dolphin, and a growing murderers’ row of artists

Ominous Press (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ominous_Press) - Bart Sears’ publishing venture, teased for next week’s wild Brutes and Babes/Monument Edition conversation

Brutes and Babes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Sears) - Bart Sears’ Wizard-era how-to-draw feature and the springboard for next week’s Ominous Press episode