There’s plenty of movie & TV talk mixed in with thoughts on comics and the comics industry. Tom loves Skyscrapers of the Midwest. Chris loves Skyrim. Sal hates the Packers.

Happy New Year!

Have a great end to your 2011!

In the Summer of 2005, Christopher Neseman and Brion “Sal” Salazar, friends and fellow comic book fans, visited a comic book convention. While there, Chris, an avid listener of podcasts, decided to flex his journalistic muscles, and interviewed many comic book professionals, while Sal, a budding alcoholic, got drunk with Paul Jenkins and Ed Brubaker.

Later in the evening (after many drinks) Sal, impressed with the interviewing skills of Chris’, mumbled something about them doing there own podcast. Chris ignored this drunken babble, and interviewed Rick Remender and Tony Moore in the hotel bathroom.

Many months later, Chris and Sal were at a bar in Chicago with some other comic fans talking about comics. Once again (after many drinks) Sal suggested they do their own podcast. Chris called him daft and went on one of his many, now-famous, Queen & Country rants.

In January of 2006, Chris told Sal about the New year’s epiphany he had had, and how he came up with the brilliant idea of producing a comic book podcast. Sal quietly smoked his cigarette and stared at Chris in disbelief.

Shortly thereafter, Chris and Sal met Tom Katers through a comic book message board. Tom came on the show and was immediately asked to join the cast full time. Tom’s love of the Silver Age and all things monkey, combined with his charm and humor, made him a perfect compliment to the show.

In early 2007, comic book superstar Skottie Young began listening to the program and decided to drop in on the fun. Skottie’s insight, edge and attitude was a perfect compliment to the show and soon he became a regular part of the cast. Skottie did eventually leave the showand created a non-comic book podcast with his girlfreind Casey.

Over the years, there have been many guests, friends and listeners appear on the show. Some of the names include Mike Norton, Tim Seely, Phil Hester, Ande parks, Dave Wachter, John Siuntres, John Byrne, Gene Colan, Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka, Gail Simone, Nicola Scott, Jason Aaron, Denny Oneil, Marc Guggenheim, Rick Remender, Tony Moore, Simon Oliver, Jonathan Hickman, Hilary Barta, Steve Bryant, Pat Loika, David Price, David Peterson, Jimmy Palmiotti, Vince B, Matt Sommers, Brent Schoonover, Ivan Brandon, Jamie McKelvie, Roy Thomas, Zeb Wells, Christos Gage, Brian Pulido, Josh Middleton, Mike Oeming, Brian Bendis, Wil Pfiefer, Matt Fraction, Sean McKeever, Steve Niles, Steve Rude, Carmine Infantino and others. Keep listening as there are sure to be more in the future.

How do I listen to the Show? There are many ways to listen to the Around Comics podcast. First, you can download the .mp3 file directly from the website and listen to it on your computer, using a program like Quicktime, Windows Media Player or any .mp3 player. A link to the latest show is always available on our home page, as well as a link to previous episodes. You can also transfer the file to any portable .mp3 player like an iPod, Zune or Rio. In addition, you can subscribe to the show through Itunes, MyYahoo, Odeo, Podnova or any other podcast feed reader. Or, you can also listen to the show with our streaming media player on each episode page on the site.

What is a Aggregator? An Aggregator is a RSS feed reading application that will automatically update and download the show as new episodes are available. That way you don’t have to download each file as they come out, the feed reader will do it for you. There are many different podcast feed readers available online.

What is your show about? The Around Comics podcast is a round table of comic book fans, professionals and journalists who get together and talk about comics. While comics, graphic novels, trade paper backs and and the writers and artists behind their creation is the main focus of the show, conversations can and often do go off in completely other directions. Fun, intelligent, and educational, you never know what a new show may offer, but it will be sure to keep you entertained. Previous guests on the show include John Byrne, Ed Brubaker, Jason Aaron, Jeffrey Brown, Phil Hester, Ande Parks, Tony Moore, Steve Niles, Greg Rucka, Richard Starkings and others. In-studio panel members feature a revolving cast of freinds including Mike Norton, Hilary Barta, Skottie Young, John Siuntres and more. Recorded from Dark Tower Comics and Collectables on Chicago’s North Side, Around Comics is a fresh, entertaining and often hilarious look at the world of comic books and the fans that love them.

Who are you guys? Christopher Neseman, Brion Salazar and Tom Katers are three friends and longtime comic book fans from Chicago, that love to talk about comics. With the advent of pod casting, they decided to offer their thought and opinions to anyone that wanted to listen. They are not comic book professionals, or professional journalists, just three guys that like to hear themselves talk about comics. Over the years, the lineup has changed.

How often does a new show come out? Whenever we feel like doing it.

How long are the shows? Longer than an hour, no more than four.

Does this cost anything? No. The Around Comics Podcast is completely free.

Can I be on the show? We are always looking for panel members and contributors. If you would like to be on the show, send us an email at info at aroundcomics dot com. Please include your name, what city you are from as well as the topic(s) you would be interested or able to talk about. If you are a comic book creator, please tell us what books you have worked on, and in what capacity.

What is that song you play at the beginning of your shows? The song is entitled “The Hell Raisers”, and is an original song created by composer Syd Dale. The song was released on the LP “The Sounds of Syd Dale in 1966, and was used as the theme for the Doris Wishman film “Another Day, Another Man.” When she made the movie Wishman got it from a stock music library album. The only current recording of the song that we know of is on the very rare and out of print CD THE SOUNDS OF SEDUCTION from Australian company SHOCK RECORDS.

Ryan Browne joins Chris and Sal for a winding and wandering conversation about comics, the comics industry, the language of comics and… why Die Hard is one of the greatest movies ever.

Listen in to find out how Ryan knows everyone in the industry and how he will eventually take over the Earth with the awesome that is God Hates Astronauts & his new book, Blast Furnace. And Sal loves Trains.

It’s a busy night at Challengers Comics + Conversation as Chris and Sal welcome Mike Norton, Sean McKeever, Josh Elder, Paul Mounts & Tony Akins to the show.

Mike and Sean talk about being reunited for Marvel’s Fear Itself: Youth in Revolt and working on their co-created character Gravity again. Things get more and more hectic as the show moves along and the crowd grows for this evening of comics, art and plenty of beer.