TALKING SMALL PRESS COMICS: REMEMBERING LARNED JUSTIN

The June 2025 Talking Small Press Comics is a touching one, where host Steve Keeter recalls and commemorates his dear friend and fellow host, Larned Justin (seen below in one of his euphoric moments), who left us last month. 

The episode even incorporates actual footage of dear Larned, making it a must-see for all who have called the man a friend, having enjoyed his warmth and pleasing, indie-comics analyses. 

Later in the episode, Steve highlights several new, small-press releases: Mike Jones' Yeet Presents #65 (featuring a new Silver & Stream/Suzie Steam story by Shane Luttrel, Steve Shipley and Doug Curtis), Ken Baily's bold and muscular Mighty Energy Girl, Clark Dissmeyer's endearing Mushy the Mushroom, Ken Leach's clever Alpha Toons, John Yeo Jr.'s adult-based Jenny Dunnigan: Paladin #2; and a revealing overview of Steve Willis' comics in current circulation. 

Check out this very special installment at 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCtHTE-osH4

TALKING SMALL PRESS COMICS #82 & #83 WITH STEVE & LARNED (FELLRATH INTERVIEW)

Steve Keeter & Larned Justin have dispatched two, new episodes of the informative Talking Small Press Comics, and as presumed, there's much to absorb and enjoy. 

For #82, the fellows interview Phoenix Productions writer/editor/publisher Tom Fellrath on his old-time, small-press, Crowdfunded, review program, FANzine Live.

For #83, they delve into David Malker's trippy Time Force; Dave Hingley's comedic Windbreaker & Space Crash; Shane Luttrell's stupendous Suzie Steam; Steve Willis and friends' fascinating In Search of the Missing Story and the good-natured Blind Hank the Dog and Dog the Cat. 

Tune in for a double dose of big-time, small-press banter at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzkxVUIlBIM

&

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy_A03PjBos

TALKING SMALL PRESS COMICS #81: STEVE & LARNED'S LABOR-OF-LOVE GEMS

Talking Small Press Comics #81 is another tasty one, so full of so many enjoyable tidbits, as hosted by the always avid Steve Keeter and Larned Justin.  

Shot before Christmas, #81 delves into a slew of end-of-the-year treats, which were concocted to uplift the next. 

First up is Larry Johnson's Tales of the Broken B #6 (see Bizarrechats, December 2024 post), which makes excellent use of its ghostly, gypsy ingredients. This is followed by Keith Newsome's most inventive (and most personal) submission to Tom Fellrath's strange times six called "Renaissance Man." Then there's Jason DeGroot's heroic, good-cause Shelter Dog! (with endearing contributions by Larned Justin, Teri S. Wood and John Muller); Micah Liesenfeld's satirical and flavorful (patrons' only) Mustard Comix; Dale Martin/Mid-South Cartoonists' hilarious and offbeat The Good, the Bad & the Sketchy #10 & #11; Steve Keeter's clever, "jam"-led curation, Slithers of Light; plus Clark Dissmeyer's cute-as-a-button (er, rather fungus) Mushy's Twelve Days of Christmas!

Enjoy all the stimulating, small-press details at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taTNX22LJLU&t=648s

TALKING SMALL PRESS COMICS #80, WITH KEETER & JUSTIN

Steve Keeter and Larned Justin give a rundown of three new comics/periodicals in Talking Small Press Comics #80.

For this installment, the guys promote Joe Ely Carrales III's latest submission of The Improbable Girl and the Wonder Kitty; Ken Leach's Christian-comic overview, Alpha 'Toons; and Main Enterprises' Tales of Greek Mythology #1, delving into each submission to celebrate its contents. 

Tap in for all the artistic updates at 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5bcaMedKos

TALKING SMALL PRESS COMICS #78 & #79 WITH LARNED & STEVE

 

There's more worthy chatter from Steve Keeter &  Larned Justin with another set of installments for Talking Small Press Comics #78 & #79.

For #78, the gents welcome special guest Dale Martin, legendary creator of Watusi the Talking Dog. Martin details his vast, small-press career, as he covers such significant, team-up creations as The Good, the Bad & the Sketchy. 

For #79, Steve and Larned delve into the sprightly powerhouse (Fantastic) Yeet! Comics #62; Micha Lisenfeld's impassioned, true-life A-T Walker; and more of Steve Willis' zany Cranium Frenzy. 

Watch #78 at  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgZzKbKIo9M&t=3276s

and #79 at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTyg_79U0mI

TALKING SMALL PRESS COMICS #76 & #77 WITH STEVE & LARNED

Steve Keeter and Larned Justin kick it into high gear with back-to-back, Talking Small Press Comics episodes. 

For #76, the fellows discuss Dale Martin's hilarious Watusi the Talking Dog (now on its forty-fourth issue), as well as the science-fiction based, The Good, the Bad & the Sketchy (to which Martin contributed); Joe Ely Carralas' superheroic The Improbable Girl and the Wonder Kitty; The House of Harley's Monty Python-ish Ugly Mug; and last but not least, Steve Willis' mind-pounding Cranium Frenzy. 

For Episode #76, the guys tap into Chuck Bunker's pugnacious Pieman vs Bridezilla and his mirthful Muffin Man; Rick Bradford's tongue-in-cheek Wag Rag; a space-sheriff-sprung Yeet Presents curation (with artwork by Steve Shipley); and Ken Leach's Tales from the Morgue, which pays special tribute to King Kong.  

For Episode #76, visit 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnfFyz4aHBo

and for #77 ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNDfuFPdHbQ

TALKING SMALL PRESS COMICS #74 & #75

Small Press Comics Episodes #74 & #75 are geared up for viewing, with Larned Justin and Steve Keeter hosting the former, and Justin & Jason DeGroot covering the latter.

For #74, Larned & Steve chat about what led them to enter the small-press sector, based on the Silver Age exploits of DC, Marvel and Warren, and the myopic, company politics that may have daunted them, if not for their indomitable, creative spirits. Dav Pilkey's Cat Club Comic Book Influences and Mark Andrew Smith/James Stokoe's Sullivan's Sluggers are placed under the favorable spotlight later in the installment.

For #75, Larned and Jason reveal the latter's exciting, new project, Shelter Dog, which manifested through the assisting talents of Larned, Teri S. Wood and John Muller. In relation to the Shelter Dog, Jason speaks of those special ways that animals uplift and soothe our souls. (Copies and proceeds of Shelter Dog will be donated to various shelters throughout the country.) 

Listen/watch #74 at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJZ3P0xwjNo&t=91s

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ypro0R9cUw&t=29s

Listen/watch #75 at