This week on the Capes and Tights Podcast, Justin Soderberg welcomes author Alice Openshaw to the program to discuss her debut novel On The Killer’s Trail and more!

Openshaw was a librarian and an adult education English teacher before turning to writing. After living in rural Maine for 30 years Alice moved Cape Cod, Massachusetts where she resides today with her husband and cat. Openshaw is set to release her debut novel, On The Killer’s Trail, this November 17 from Crooked Lane Books.

#307: Alice Openshaw – Author of On The Killer’s Trail

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This week on the Capes and Tights Podcast, Justin Soderberg welcomes author Jonathan Edward Durham to the program to discuss his novel Winterset Hollow and more!

Durham studied literature at William and Mary while pursuing a degree in neuroscience, and now writes to bridge the wonder of his favorite childhood books with the pop sensibilities of the classic thrillers he grew up with. His debut novel Winterset Hollow hits bookshelves everywhere on October 6, 2026.

#306: Jonathan Edward Durham – Author of Winterset Hollow

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This week on the Capes and Tights Podcast, Justin Soderberg welcomes back Paul Eaton of Galactic Comics and Collectibles to discuss the 1995 film, Casper.

Casper is a kind young ghost who peacefully haunts a mansion in Maine. When specialist James Harvey arrives to communicate with Casper and his fellow spirits, he brings along his teenage daughter, Kat. Casper quickly falls in love with Kat, but their budding relationship is complicated not only by his transparent state, but also by his troublemaking apparition uncles and their mischievous antics.

Released on May 26, 1995 and recently celebrated its 30th anniversary (now 31st) its a fun movie for the spooky season. The film was written by Sherri Stoner & Deanna Oliver, directed by Brad Silberling, and stars Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle, and Malachi Pearson.

The movie is based on the character, first created in 1945, for the short film The Friendly Ghost directed by Isadore Sparber. He has also appeared in many other films, comics, books, and more over the years. He is even the mascot of Harvey Comics. Pearson, who voices the title character in the feature film, has voice the friendly ghost more than any other actor (4 times).

Available to stream on Amazon.

#305: Casper Movie Review

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This week on the Capes and Tights Podcast, Justin Soderberg welcomes author Kevin Johnson to the program to discuss his novel ‘Twas The Night and more!

Johnson is a horror author who grew up reading Goosebumps and roaming the spooky aisles of the nearest Blockbuster Video. He studied Creative Writing at Florida State University and currently lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife and a rambunctious long-haired miniature dachshund named Pepper. ‘Twas The Night is his debut novel.

#304: Kevin Johnson – Author of ‘Twas the Night

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This week on the Capes and Tights Podcast, Justin Soderberg welcomes comic writers Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly to the program to discuss Star Trek: The Last Starship, You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive, Dungeons & Dragons, and more!

Lanzing and Kelly, also known as Hivemind, are an Eisner-nominated and New York Times bestselling writing duo known for their work that spans across television, comics, novels, podcasts, and feature films. In comics, you may have read stories they have scribed for Star Trek, Star Trek: Year Five, Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty, Guardians of the Galaxy, NYX, Thunderbolts: Doomstrike, Batman Beyond: Neo-Year, One Bad Day: Clayface, Gotham City Garage, Joyride, and more!

More recently the writing duo has been hard at work on Star Trek: The Last Starship, which had it’s first volume drop in trade paperback on September 8, 2026 from IDW Publishing, as well as the IDW Dark title You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive hitting shelves in October 14, and Dungeons & Dragons at Dark Horse coming November 4.

#303: Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly – Star Trek: The Last Starship

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This week on the Capes and Tights Podcast, Justin Soderberg welcomes The Lawrence Brothers to the program to discuss The Lawrence Brothers: Detective Agency and more!

Joey, Matt and Andrew have been a part of Hollywood since the 1990s and likely part of your childhood. That might be Joey as Oliver in Oliver & Company or Joey Russo on Blossom, Matt as Chris Hillard from Mrs. Doubtfire or Jack Hunter from Boy Meets World, Andrew as Theodore J. Detweiler from Recess or Vinnie Nasta from The Kids from Room 402, or even the entire crew in Brotherly Love. However, more recently the brothers have been hard at work on their own graphic novel, which fitting features themselves.

The Lawrence Brothers  have toyed around with their own take on the Hardy Boys by creating a detective agency with a Hollywood twist. A darkly funny graphic novel that reimagines them as reluctant heroes battling a conspiracy that’s warping the very fabric of fame. Set against the surreal backdrop of a corrupted Hollywood, The Lawrence Brothers: Detective Agency is a satirical fever dream about identity, memory, and the absurdity of pop culture.

Think Scooby Doo meets Barry meets Bojack Horseman. Except instead of searching for criminals they are searching for lost child stars… with cameos from some of your favorite actors from the 90s! The graphic novel hit shelves at bookstores everywhere and a comic shop near you on September 29, 2026 from Z2 Comics.

#302: The Lawrence Brothers

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This week on the Capes and Tights Podcast, Justin Soderberg welcomes author Kiersten White to the program to discuss Something is Killing the Children: Hope is a Knife, and more!

Kiersten White is the #1 New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning, and critically acclaimed author of dozens of books for readers of all ages, including The House of Quiet, the And I Darken trilogy, the Sinister Summer series, the Camelot Rising trilogy, Star Wars: Padawan, Hide, Mister Magic, Lucy Undying, The Fox and the Devil, and Hiding from the Dark: A Star Wars Horror Novel.

Her books have been published in over twenty territories, been Indie, Publisher’s Weekly, USA Today, and Sunday Times bestsellers, and her novel The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein was an NPR best book of the year pick. Other accolades include the Utah Book Award, the San Diego Book Award, a Rainbow List Top Ten pick, a YALSA Teen Top Ten pick, an Evergreen Book Award, a Florida Teen Reads winner, and spots on many other regional and national lists.

White’s latest novel, Something is Killing the Children: Hope is a Knife, which she co-authored with James Tynion IV, hits bookstores everywhere on October 13, 2026. The first-ever prose novel based in Tynion’s Slaughterverse.

#301: Kiersten White – Something is Killing the Children: Hope is a Knife

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It’s here. The 300th episode of the Capes and Tights Podcast and with this, Justin Soderberg welcomes writer, director, actor, comedian, and podcaster Kevin Smith to the program to help us celebrate in fitting fashion!

Kevin Smith came to prominence with the low-budget comedy Clerks (1994), which he wrote, directed, co-produced, and acted in as the character Silent Bob of stoner duo “Jay & Silent Bob.” Jay and Silent Bob have appeared in Smith’s follow-up films Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Clerks II, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Kevin has also directed and produced films such as Cop Out (2010), the horror film Red State (2011), and the horror comedies Tusk (2014) and Yoga Hosers (2016), the first two films in the True North trilogy. More recently he has written and directed Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019), Killroy Was Here (2022), Clerks III (2022), and The 4:30 Movie (2024).

In the world of comics, Kevin Smith is known for his runs on DC’s Green Arrow and the recently released Bizarro; Marvel’s Daredevil, Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past, and recently released Spider-Man / Hulk: Fire and Brimstone; Dynamite Entertainment’s Green Hornet and The Bionic Man; and Dark Horse’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation, as well as writing comics under his imprint at Dark Horse with Quick Stops and Maskerade. It was recently announced Smith will be penning the first-ever Marvel / Star Wars crossover event, Star Wars / Marvel: Hope Assembles, which debuts in January 2027.

Kevin Smith has been podcasting on a regular basis over a number of different shows as part of his Smodcast platform since the early 2000’s. Some of his more notable shows have been Fatman Beyond with co-host Marc Bernardin; Hollywood Babble-On with co-host Ralph Garman; Jay & Silent Bob Get Old with Jason Mewes; and more!

This is the 300th numbered episode of the Capes and Tights Podcast. Launched on August 8, 2021 in Bangor, Maine by co-founders Soderberg and Adam Morrisette, the Capes and Tights Podcast has faithfully released at least one-episode per week. Over five years, the Capes and Tights Podcast has gone on to host 196 different guests, reviewed 63 movies and 13 television programs all from their studio in Maine.

#300: Kevin Smith – Clerks, Quick Stops, Green Arrow

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This week on the Capes and Tights Podcast, Justin Soderberg welcomes author Richard Chizmar to the program to discuss his Boogeyman series including his final installment, Killing the Boogeyman, and more!

Chizmar is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Amazon, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author best known for his collaborations with Stephen King on Gwendy’s Button Box and Gwendy’s Final Task, as well as sole writing the middle book Gwendy’s Magic Feather. He has also authored The Boogeyman series with Chasing the Boogeyman, Becoming the Boogeyman, and Killing the Boogeyman. Recently he co-authored a best-selling book with his son W.H. Chizmar entitled Widow’s Point: The Complete Haunting.

The bestselling author is also the founder/publisher of Cemetery Dance magazine and the Cemetery Dance Publications book imprint. He has edited more than 35 anthologies and his short fiction has appeared in dozens of publications. Chizmar’s work has been translated into more than fifteen languages throughout the world.

#299: Richard Chizmar – Author of Killing the Boogeyman

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Let’s kick is off by saying there are six highlights and those are the frequent guests, those on four or more times, of the podcast, which we focused on in our first Countdown to 300 post. Not to mention the other guests who have been on three times as well. We have had a ton of fun over the first 300, so here are just some of the hits.

Our First Real Guest – Dana Snyder

Only nine episodes into the podcast, we were able to sit down with voice actor Dana Snyder for Episode 10. The circumstances were unique and of course, in our infancy, were not fully prepared for the conversation.

Snyder was a guest at the Bangor Comic & Ton Con (now Queen City Expo), which in 2021 took place at the Bangor Mall. While at the event his agent called to let him know that he was asked to record for a significant role, but would have to do so pretty much immediately. Myself and co-founder Adam Morrisette were in attendance doing a few live recordings from the shell of a former GameStop. BCTC owners, Jay Cochran and Will Hesketh, approached Adam and Justin, who had the equipment, to ask if we would lend a hand and help Snyder record his voice overs.

This entire experience is one that we somewhat go over on Episode 10: Dana Snyder, but is also been on the back burner to discuss once more in a future episode. But after helping Snyder with his voice over, Dana graciously agreed to be a guest and the following day setup with us in that GameStop to record our first actual guest. October 2021. A big day for us and hopefully Snyder opts to return in the future to discuss this all over again with a bit more detail.

WATCH  or  LISTEN

Is This Real Now? – Eliza Clark

Okay, so we lucked out with right place, right time for getting Dana Snyder to be a guest on the Capes and Tights Podcast, but it was only four episodes later on Episode 14 when we were able to secure a discussion with screenwriter Eliza Clark.

Co-founder Adam Morrisette and I had discussed the first three episodes of the television adaptation of Y: The Last Man on a bonus episode in mid-September which caught the attention of showrunner and executive producer Eliza Clark. Shooting our shot, we reached out and Eliza graciously accepted. Again, not seasoned at all, we fumbled through the episode but it was that moment forward that we knew we could likely secure great guests within the comics and pop culture medium and this could be something.

Sadly, Y: The Last Man was cancelled not long after our episode aired. However, Clark, who has also worked on Extant, Animal Kingdom, The Killing, Rubicon, and more, returned to the podcast in 2023 to discuss the WGA Writers Strike. Eliza, you are always welcome to come back and discuss whatever floats your boat. As an early guest, you are forever welcome! Maybe we can chat Durango?

WATCH  or  LISTEN

Somehow Booked Skottie Young

If anyone knows me, they know I am a huge Skottie Young fan with five tattoos on my left arm to prove it. So, from the start it was always a goal of mine to host Skottie on the podcast at some point and to do so after just over 100 episodes, joining us for Episode 101, was a serious highlight.

I have learned a lot over the past five years of podcasting and one of those things is that sometimes a creator is MUCH more of a benefit to you as a guest than you are to them. Young would be one of those guests. While Skottie is always promoting variant covers and more, his work pretty much sells itself and with his tremendous following does need this little podcast to help him promote his stuff. So, in the end, this was a time of a creator looking out for the little guys and tossing us a bone so I could chat with a comic book idol of mine.

Our goal is to have Skottie return to the podcast in the future, but only time will tell.

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Iconic Creators – Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev

Of course when you start a podcast you have an unrealistic bucket list of possible guests, but it’s when you are over 100 episodes when the list starts to become more of a reality. On my bucket list from the start was Brian Michael Bendis, one of my favorite comic writers, if not my all-time favorite. Working with the fine folks over at Dark Horse (yes, looking at you Kaitlyn), I was able to sit down for a discussion with Bendis for Episode 141. Bonus, another legend also showed up…Alex Maleev.

Bendis is one of the reasons I read comics today. Falling in love with his Marvel work in the early 2000s, falling in love all over again with his House of M and Secret Invasion stories, and then continue to love his independent work over the years. Getting the chance to sit down with a living legend such as Bendis was an opportunity I will never forget. Discussing books such as Masterpiece at Dark Horse, in addition to touching on his work at Marvel was just a fitting experience that I hope I get to do again.

Getting to cross off Bendis from our bucket list was an accomplishment that just pushed me further into attempting to book more of my favorites in the world of comics. The addition of the super talented Maleev was icing on the cake. It’s after this episode when I set sights on crossing the next big name off the list and the next, and the next.

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Tim Jacobus Discusses My Childhood Frights

In the failed attempt to setup a nice Goosebumps Week, I was successfully able to discuss the iconic books from my childhood with one of the key contributors, Tim Jacobus on Episode 204. Sometimes in the attempt to get one guest, you end up with a guest that you may enjoy the conversation with even more and with this episode that was just the case.

Jacobus is the legendary artist behind the iconic covers of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps. From the books such as Welcome to Dead House, The Haunted Mask, One Day at HorrorLand, The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena, and more, Tim was what originally sold us kids on wanting to read these terrifying tales. When getting them at the Scholastic Book Fair or reading these books under my covers I never in a million years did I think I would have an amazing conversation with the visionary cover artist. We know, no matter how the story was on the inside of a Goosebumps book, the art on the front grabbed your attention!

Following the episode I had to get a sketch of Ghost Beach cover to add to the collection of artwork, comics, movies and more in the Capes and Tights studio and is one of my favorite pieces of art. Tim, you are always welcome to come back!

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Legendary Actor and Writer – Tim Blake Nelson

Sometimes you have to wait for the perfect time to host a guest on your podcast, this was the exact way I was able to have a discussion with actor and writer Tim Blake Nelson on Episode 260.

Nelson is a fan-favorite actor in such films as O Brother, where art thou?, Holes, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: Brave New World, and more. Which made him a person I would love to chat with, discuss Marvel Cinematic Universe and more. However, it wasn’t until 2025 that I knew he was also an accomplished author, this made me want to chat with him even more.

Getting in touch with some bigger, more famous guests, is still tough even approaching 300 episodes. It takes the right time, right place to do such a thing. Excited to read his novel Superhero, I was able to host Tim to discuss the release of his book and squeeze in a couple questions about working on Marvel films and more. It was a nice blend of writing and acting discussion and allowed me to talk with such a talented person.

Whether its the next book or the next film, Tim Blake Nelson is always welcome to join us!

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Eight Billion Reasons Why – Charles Soule and Ryan Browne

There are guests that have a vast history of work to why the reason I would love to chat with them, plus those who are only recently getting started. It’s the former and the latter when it came to discussing stories with Charles Soule and Ryan Browne on Episode 113. Soule has been one of my favorite authors and comic writers over the years and Browne’s illustrations always strike a chord with me. The perfect combination to discuss Eight Billion Genies.

It was no secret in 2022-2023, that Eight Billion Genies was not only of my favorite comics, but a consensus around the comic community as well. The eight-issue story dealing with wishes and the repercussions of said wishes was fascinating on so many levels, wonderfully written and excellently illustrated. Luckily, after talking with Browne about joining the podcast, he was able to convince Soule to also join us. Fittingly, the two were getting together to discuss their next project together, unbeknownst at the time, that would eventually be Lucky Devils. So, one of the rare times we talk to two guests in the same location.

You can see why these two work so well together as they riffed off each other and discussed their crafts in ways that really surprised me. Getting the chance to discuss one of your favorite comics with two of your favorite creators is always a blessing and this was no different. Browne return with another fellow favorite creator Kyle Starks for Episode 174, but still trying to convince Soule to return again in the future.

Okay, so I guess its not Eight Billion Reasons Why, but still.

WATCH  or  LISTEN

Patrick Horvath Discusses My Favorite Comics of Recent Years

Following up on getting the creator of one of your favorite comic series in recent years to discuss said comic with you…Patrick Horvath joined us for Episode 202, then came back for Episode 232, and again for Episode 290. All to discuss Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees and following up with Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring.

When I first read Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees I was blown away, but so was a ton of readers and speculators. The comic blew up. People wanted everything from the series and, at the time, I figure the same would go for the creator. It wasn’t even on my radar at the moment, he was too hot at the moment and was going to be swarmed by media. Thankfully, IDW Publishing was able to make things work, so much so that we discussed the single issues and had Patrick return only 30 episodes later to discuss the trade and the possibility of a sequel. After the fantastic time we had, I wasn’t going to leave it there and when the first issue of Rite of Spring was about to drop, Horvath came back!

Now, IDW Publishing and Horvath have announced a third series in the title, so Patrick you are now required to return in 2027 to discuss Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: The Summer and the Fall. It’s just tradition at this point.

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The Unreleased Fantastic Four Movie with Alex Hyde-White

Again, sometimes the right current marketing plan helps you get a random, yet wild guest. Example, Alex Hyde-White‘s appearance on Episode 83. During the build-up to the publication of his book In the Volume: My Life in Film and TV, Hyde-White was gracious enough to join the Capes and Tights Podcast to discuss his life as well as the unreleased 1994 Fantastic Four film.

Alex starred as Dr. Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic in the first adaptation of the Fantastic Four in a feature film, which was set to release in the mid-1990s but never hit screens outside of a bootlegged copies around the world. This opportunity fell into my lap and I am forever grateful for it. This Fantastic Four film is iconic and legendary around the world of superhero movies, the story behind its creation and the mystery behind why it was never released. Getting to chat with one of the actors who was onset is another level of podcasting. Hyde-White has been around Hollywood for years and his book was a wonderful trip through time, but talking Fantastic Four was a blast.

Funny enough, in preparation for the conversation I had Paul Eaton of Galactic Comics and Collectibles watch the 1994 Fantastic Four film and discuss it on a podcast episode. Eaton was unaware I was about to talk with Alex and was very critical of the film, which he rightfully should be, but was none too happy with me after letting him know Alex was up next! Oh well, we got the most honest discussion out of Paul.’

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Aaron B. Koontz Talks TV Adaptation of One of My Favorite Comics

One of my all-time favorite comics is Revival by writer Tim Seeley and artist Mike Norton. Of course I was pumped when they announced the show had been optioned for a television adaptation, but what I never guessed is that I would be discussing it with the creator and showrunner, Aaron B. Koontz on Episode 235.

I had previously had the chance to discuss comics with Seeley, but never was able to discuss much of Revival. So when the show approached, I had figured I would reach out to Tim to see if he wanted to join. Then, I said…why not see if Koontz would discuss the show, figuring like other times with these situations that I would get no response or the person of interest would be too busy. Not the case, Aaron was gracious enough to join us on the podcast and discuss the ins-and-outs of making such a fantastic first season.

Now, Tim you are always welcome to discuss Revival with me, bring along Norton as well, but really Aaron you are welcome to join us again when we EVENTUALLY get word of a second season.

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