Our 300th episode drops on September 23, 2026 featuring Kevin Smith, as we countdown to 300, we wanted to be sure to say thank you to a few special people who have been integral to our continued success. While each and every guest, listener, agent, press contact, marketing director, and so on are important to us, a few really fought for us along the way.
While we have hosted a number of authors, writers, artists, actors, filmmakers, and more, we have mainly been a home to those who create comics. Therefore we have been in close contact with a few comic book publishers and their press and marketing teams. In addition to those I are going to discuss below, I wanted to thank Kelly Then for the amazing help along the way, David Harper for setting the example of how to produce an amazing comic book podcast, Gibran Graham for early help reviewing films and guidance in the book market, my wife Taylor Soderberg for always being willing to make sure I have the time to record no matter what time of day or night and being my first cheerleader when something amazing happens, and those who I am spacing on at the moment.
One of our biggest supporters, and the person to help us commandeer our 300th episode guest, Kevin Smith, has been publicist Kaitlyn Nash from Dark Horse. Nash has been one of the first people I reach out to when looking for a new comic creator for the podcast. Kaitlyn is always excited to help and offers up their knowledge of who would work best for us and what I can expect on the horizon. Nash has been able to connect us to some of our favorite comic creators over the years and has never made us feel like we are asking too much. I truly do not think we would be at episode 300 without the help of Kaitlyn and hope that we can work closely together for the next 300 episodes.
One that really has been an immense help over the years has been IDW Publishing’s Senior Publicity Manager Gregg Katzman. When it makes the most sense to host a guest from IDW’s direct market single issues, Gregg is always there to help us make the connection. With this we have become a trusted spot for said guests as well as for reviews of upcoming issues. Katzman has even been gracious enough to join the podcast to discuss the world of publicity at IDW and comics in general. With great kindness, Gregg is always will to discuss what we can do to make sure those out there know about what comics are on the horizon.
Another under the IDW Publishing umbrella is IDW Publishing’s Book Publicist Kim Estlund. Similar to Katzman, Estlund has been able to wrangle those looking to help promote their collected edition. Kim has been there to communicate and facilitate guests in the book market of IDW and Top Shelf Productions. An amazingly kind and wonderful individual, Kim is always willing to make the connection that matters.
It’s been amazing to work directly with some publishers, but sometimes you need that connection and friend who helps with a number of various publishers and independent creators. Melissa Meszaros, owner of Don’t Hide PR, has been a huge help in discussing comics with creators from Mad Cave Studios, Image Comics, and more. Melissa has been a wonderful friend and always willing to see what fits best. Like the previous three, we would not be at 300 without Meszaros’ tremendous help and we appreciate all she has done.
More recently I have been lucky to work with Margot Wood, VP of Book Market Sales at Image Comics, for the help in connecting me to some of the great creators at Image Comics. Discussing the collected edition of series with guests is a more recently addition to the podcast and Margot has been a big help with that. Always willing to accommodate and work with my annoyance along the way. It’s been great to add a few Image Comics creators to the list of guests and for the most part that is Margot’s doing.
Of course, this Countdown to 300: Special Thanks wouldn’t be complete without a special thanks to my original co-host and the co-founder of the Capes and Tights Podcast, Adam Morrisette. We launched the podcast in 2021 and Adam was along for the ride from the start, but due to some uncontrollable circumstances had to move back on, halfway across the country. It became more and more difficult to make things work remotely, so Morrisette gracious bowed away and allowed the podcast to blossom. I know I have said we wouldn’t be at 300 without these people, but it’s with 100% certainty we wouldn’t be here without Adam and his friendship. We keep trying to figure out a good time for Adam to guest host with me once again, and I am determined to make it happen eventually. Until then, thank you Adam for all you did to help launch this podcast.
Now, the final person I am going to gush about is my friend, my daughter’s Godfather, and owner of Galactic Comics and Collectibles, Paul Eaton. It was early on in the podcast when I asked Eaton if he’d be willing to do some various episodes with me. Over the years these episodes have become more regular and morphed into our weird movie reviews and annual comic wrap-ups. Paul has been a true friend on the podcast and behind-the-scenes, another cheerleader for our success as well as a practical co-host of the program. Eaton has stayed around through some truly horrible films and is always game for the next one, even if his wife Liz continues to say “what crap is Justin having you watch this time?” Outside of myself, Paul has been the most common face on the podcast and that is something I do not take for granted. Again, there is no Capes and Tights Podcast without him and hope he is a big part of it moving forward.
Thats a lot of brown-nosing with my friends, colleagues, and guests, but hell it was worth it. No single person is why we are here today, but truly a perfect storm of all I have mentioned and those who I have not. In the end the BIGGEST thanks I need to make is to you, the listener, the reader, the follower, the supporter, the critic. If no one listened, I would still show up, but thankful people tune in every week and pushes me to make it better, with more fun guests, more stupid movies, and more from the world of comics, books, movies, tv, and beyond. This is BY-FAR not the end, but as we are about to hit 300, it seemed like a good time to be thankful. I hear the playoff music starting, I will leave you with this…
