This week gets fun when R.C. Samo of FanboyNation.com joins David and John to talk Marvel’s Burbank move, Steve Wacker’s new editorial role, and what gets lost when the House of Ideas leaves Manhattan. They kick around the real human cost of a cross-country move, the danger of comics becoming movie leftovers, and why Daniel Warren Johnson’s Transformers worked because somebody let an artist swing for the fences. The movie detour gets into bad live-action remakes, Sonic’s near-disaster design, and Supergirl’s rough launch. And was Iron Man the Snow White of the MCU. Back in the shops, the crew gives Jae Lee’s M1: Monster Racing League a serious look, wrestles with page rates versus ownership, and agrees on one sacred rule: pay the people making the comics. Robert also brings the heat for Patrick Zircher’s Solomon Kane, while David proves that “supporting local comic shops” can mean buying every Badrock cover in sight.

Captions:

• “What’s he going to do, hop from car to car in 405 traffic?” — Robert on Spider-Man’s new Burbank-adjacent reality
• “You make a comic book to make a comic book, period.” — David on why comics cannot be movie leftovers
• “Sometimes the passion project’s worth more than the bigger paycheck.” — Robert on Jae Lee’s M1: Monster Racing League work
• “As long as people are getting paid in comic books, God bless them.” — David on creator compensation
• “It was like Bad News Bears meets Supergirl.” — Robert on the film’s vibe
• “Iron Man is the Snow White of the MCU.” — Robert on the blueprint every later superhero movie followed

Splash Page

• [03:30] – Burbank, Here We Come: Marvel’s move and Steve Wacker’s incoming editor-in-chief role hit the table.
• [06:27] – The Human Toll: John zeroes in on the staff asked to uproot their lives or walk away.
• [10:17] – The 52 Miracle: Why Wacker’s management of the weekly series still earns industry awe.
• [17:11] – Let Comics Be Comics: David makes the case against treating print stories like screen leftovers.
• [31:26] – The Remake Assembly Line: Robert calls out live-action retreads that bring nothing new.
• [34:02] – Sonic Dodged a Bullet: David recounts the Sega/Sony disconnect behind the original movie design.
• [40:17] – Snow White in a Repulsor Suit: Robert drops the episode’s most dangerously persuasive MCU analogy.
• [40:48] – Monster Racing League Roars: Jae Lee’s layouts, page-rate questions, and a gorgeous new Image book.

Support the Corner Box

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

R.C. Samo (https://fanboynation.com) - Fanboy Nation host and the guest bringing reporter instincts, movie opinions, and indie-comic enthusiasm.

Dive Deeper Into the Back Issue Bin

Steve Wacker (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Wacker) - Incoming Marvel editorial leader discussed for his comics and animation experience.

Jae Lee (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jae_Lee) - Acclaimed artist behind M1: Monster Racing League and the central creator-compensation conversation.

Robert Windom (https://imagecomics.com/comics/list/creator/robert-windom/releases) - M1: Monster Racing League co-writer whose ownership of the work sparks the business discussion.

Patrick Zircher (https://titan-comics.com/c/2236-solomon-kane-the-serpent-ring/) - Writer-artist praised for bringing serious visual firepower to Solomon Kane.

Daniel Warren Johnson (https://www.danielwarrenart.com/) - Cited as the creator whose Transformers run shows what happens when an auteur gets room to work.

James Gunn (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Gunn) - The filmmaker whose DC rollout and Supergirl oversight get a spirited once-over.

Marvel Comics (https://www.marvel.com/comics) - The discussion’s main pressure point: relocation, editorial succession, creator compensation, and comics as source material.

52 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/52_(comics)) - Steve Wacker’s massive weekly-series editorial achievement, with Keith Giffen, Grant Morrison, Mark Waid, and Greg Rucka in the mix.

M1: Monster Racing League #1 (https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/m1-monster-racing-league-1) - Jae Lee and June Chung’s new racing series, praised for its art, color, and sharp page design.

Seven Sons (https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/seven-sons) - The earlier Jae Lee and Robert Windom Image collaboration that frames the ownership question.

Solomon Kane: The Lion Errant (https://titan-comics.com/comics/series/507-solomon-kane/) - Patrick Zircher’s new Solomon Kane chapter, singled out for its striking art.

Challengers Comics + Conversation (https://www.challengerscomics.com/) - David’s Chicago retailer of choice and a reminder to support comic shops.