Comic Book Historians
Hosted by Comic Book Historians
A video docuseries and podcast where author Alex Grand shares archival clips and conducts long-form interviews about the history of the comic book industry.
Comic Book Historians is a multi-format project dedicated to preserving the medium's history. The YouTube channel often presents short, curated clips of archival footage featuring legends like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Will Eisner, using these moments as a jumping-off point for discussion or to promote Grand's book. The podcast also features comprehensive, long-form biographical interviews where Grand and co-hosts speak with iconic creators like Roy Thomas, Jim Starlin, and Dave Gibbons about their entire careers.
“The channel uniquely balances two formats: quick, digestible historical clips for casual browsing, and deep, career-spanning interviews that serve as primary-source oral histories for the comic book industry.”
Who hosts this show
Alex Grand is a comic book historian and author of the book "Understanding Superhero Comic Books," published by McFarland. His YouTube channel and podcast feature a mix of content, including audiovisual docuseries, career-spanning interviews with comic professionals, and curated historical footage. Grand is a regular panelist at events like San Diego Comic-Con and has been featured in various publications and documentaries for his expertise.
Credentials & credits
- Author of "Understanding Superhero Comic Books" (McFarland & Company)
- Panelist at Comic Con International: San Diego, Wonder Con, and San Diego ComicFest
- Bachelors in Visual Arts
- Published in The Jack Kirby Collector, Alter Ego, and The Comics Journal
- Host of LEGO ART: Spider-Man
Other ventures
- Comic Book Historians Patreon
- Comic Book Historians Facebook group
- Motion Comics on Amazon Prime
- Journey Into Mexico comic book series
- Hashman graphic novel
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01#jackkirby fought #mobsters in the #1940s.Jun 27, 2026 · 59s
- 02#stanlee despised #teenage #sidekicks in #superhero #comicbooks In 2002Jun 24, 2026 · 35s
- 03#StanLee and #WilliamShatner talk #comicbooks and #culture in #2002.Jun 20, 2026 · 38s
- 04#billstout designed the #1987 #heman #mastersoftheuniverse #film.Jun 17, 2026 · 3 min
- 05#JimLee talks his #superhero #comicbook #influences in #1994.Jun 13, 2026 · 55s
- 06#jimlee talks about the #1990s #superhero #comicbook #boomJun 10, 2026 · 56s
- 07#toddmcfarlane talks #marvel #spiderman #comics in #1990Jun 6, 2026 · 52s
- 08#ImageComics creators talk #comics #art in 1992May 2, 2026 · 9 min
Notable episodes
- 01Roy Thomas Biographical Interview 2023 by Alex Grand
A comprehensive, friendly interview with Stan Lee's direct successor, covering his entire career from creating his own comics as a child to his legendary runs on Conan and The Avengers.
- 02Jim Starlin Biographical Interview 2024 part 1 by Alex Grand
An in-depth conversation with the creator of Thanos, Drax, and Gamora, where he discusses his Vietnam service, the influence of death on his work, and his complex history with Marvel Comics.
- 03#ImageComics creators talk #comics #art in 1992
Rare archival footage from "Stan Lee's Comic Book Greats" showing the future founders of Image Comics (Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld) collaborating on a drawing and joking about their future.
What you'll be asked on this show
Alex Grand's interviews are deeply researched and chronological, functioning as a career biography. He typically opens by establishing the guest's significance before asking about their earliest childhood memories related to comics. He guides guests decade by decade, often using his own knowledge to prompt specific anecdotes about key collaborators, editorial decisions, or creative frustrations. Grand's questions are detailed and fact-based, designed to build a comprehensive oral history rather than to challenge or provoke. He often cedes the floor for long stretches, allowing the creators to tell their stories in their own words. The interviews conclude by asking the guest to reflect on their legacy.
The show has two primary formats. One is a "clip-and-comment" style, where host Alex Grand presents short archival videos, often to promote his book. The other, more prominent format is a long-form biographical interview. In these, Grand (often with a co-host) guides legendary creators through their life stories chronologically, from childhood influences to their most famous works and beyond.
Questions Comic Book Historians keeps coming back to
12 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when Comic Book Historians reaches for it.
origin
2- Q.01
“What were your earliest memories of comics as a kid?”
Grand often opens his biographical interviews with this question to establish the guest's origin story as a fan.
- Q.02
“How old were you when you created your own first comic?”
This question explores the guest's transition from fan to aspiring creator during their childhood.
backstory
1- Q.01
“What was your entry into the mainstream comics industry like?”
Used to pivot from the guest's early life and fandom into their professional beginnings.
relationships
2- Q.01
“What was it like working with [a specific editor or artist] on that project?”
He frequently asks about specific collaborations to get behind-the-scenes details on famous comic runs.
- Q.02
“What was your relationship like with Stan Lee?”
Given Stan Lee's central role, this question is frequently asked of creators from that era to gather different perspectives.
craft
1- Q.01
“Can you talk about the creation of [a specific character]?”
This is a key question used to get the definitive story behind iconic characters like Cable, Drax, or Gamora.
industry
3- Q.01
“What were your thoughts on [a major industry event or controversy] at the time?”
Grand uses this to place the guest's personal story within the larger context of comic book history.
- Q.02
“What led to your departure from [Marvel/DC] during that period?”
This question addresses pivotal career changes and the professional conflicts that often drove them.
- Q.03
“Did you feel a sense of competition with [another creator or company]?”
This question explores the rivalries and market forces that influenced creative decisions.
personal
1- Q.01
“How did [a real-world event, like a parent's death or war] influence your work?”
He asks this to connect the creator's personal life experiences to their fictional storytelling.
future
1- Q.01
“Looking back, how do you view your legacy and your contributions to comics?”
A common closing question that prompts the guest to reflect on their overall career and impact.
technique
1- Q.01
“How did you develop your artistic style and what were your influences?”
A standard question for artists to deconstruct their technique and inspirations, often referencing Kirby, Ditko, or Kane.
Signature segments
- · Long-form biographical interviews
- · Curated archival footage of comic legends
- · Promotion for the host's book, "Understanding Superhero Comic Books"
- · Chronological, career-spanning interview structure
- · Multi-part interview series with a single creator
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are almost exclusively foundational creators in the comic book industry, often from the Silver, Bronze, and Modern ages, such as Roy Thomas, Jim Starlin, Dave Gibbons, and Rob Liefeld. The show focuses on securing extensive interviews with living legends.
- Jim Leeon #ImageComics creators talk #comics #art in 1992
- Will Eisneron #jackkirby fought #mobsters in the #1940s.
- Stan Leeon #stanlee despised #teenage #sidekicks in #superhero #comicbooks In 2002
- Rob Liefeldon Rob Liefeld Biographical Interview Part 1 by Alex Grand (2024)
- Jim Starlinon Jim Starlin Biographical Interview 2024 part 1 by Alex Grand
- Roy Thomason Roy Thomas Biographical Interview 2023 by Alex Grand
- Dave Gibbonson Dave Gibbons Biographical Interview 2024 by Alex Grand & Mike Alderman
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The host's book, "Understanding Superhero Comic Books," is the most frequently promoted item, mentioned in descriptions and on-screen. The channel also has a Patreon for direct audience support.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch Comic Book Historians
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People also ask
- Who is the host?
- The host is Alex Grand, a comic book historian and author of the book "Understanding Superhero Comic Books".
- What is the show's format?
- It's a mix of short videos showcasing archival footage of comic creators and very long, in-depth biographical interviews with industry legends.
- Is this a video or audio podcast?
- Both. The primary content is on the Comic Book Historians YouTube channel, with audio versions available on podcast platforms.
- How often are new episodes released?
- The YouTube channel posts short clips several times a week, while the long-form audio interviews are released roughly monthly.
- How can I support the show?
- You can support the show via their Patreon or by purchasing the host's book, "Understanding Superhero Comic Books".
- Does the host interview guests?
- Yes, while many short videos are curated clips, the flagship content of the podcast consists of long-form, career-spanning interviews conducted by Alex Grand.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Comic Book Historians (podcast) | Listen Noteslistennotes.com
- [02]Understanding Superhero Comic Books | McFarland & Companymcfarlandbooks.com
- [03]Comic Book Historians | YouTube Channelyoutube.com
- [04]Alex Grand – Author Bio | Audible.comaudible.com
- [05]Roy Thomas Biographical Interview 2023 by Alex Grand | YouTubeyoutube.com
- [06]Jim Starlin Biographical Interview 2024 part 1 by Alex Grand | YouTubeyoutube.com
- [07]Dave Gibbons Biographical Interview 2024 by Alex Grand & Mike Alderman | YouTubeyoutube.com
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