Shows
The Terrible AnvilComics Karma - Episode 14 with Lauren Weinstein and Tom HartIn episode fourteen and our finale of this season of Comics Karma, we welcome back Michael Aschner after MISSING his deadline and quitting another project, but after lots of processing and discovery. We talk about those artistic and personal discoveries on this episode. Plus Michael shows us how using AI to be silly helped him turn agony to laughter.Give it a listen ! This is the end of this season! Get full access to How to Make a Graphic Novel at sawcomics.substack.com/subscribe2025-06-271h 05
The Terrible AnvilComics Karma - Episode 13 with Lauren Weinstein and Tom HartIn episode thirteen of Comics Karma, Lauren tries real life, and then we talk with the amazing Dante Gabriel Hookey who asks what comics mean, why are we telling stories, are we connecting at all, and what does empathy have to do with it?This one goes deep! Give it a listen ! And come back for more. We’ll be answering a different student each week for a few more weeks! Recorded at SAW on Zoom Thanks for listening! As always, you can participate live, by joining us...2025-06-2240 min
The Terrible AnvilComics Karma - Episode 12 with Lauren Weinstein and Tom HartIn episode twelve of Comics Karma, Lauren talks about an editor helping slash away at unneeded parts of her memoir. Then we invited Falling expert, Jim Hamilton to talk about social media, and finding one’s audience and being seen. I think we settle in on: do the thing that’s working and don’t worry about the thing that’s not working! Meanwhile, you’ll hear stories about life and death, about broken bones, about Nascar and more! Get full access to How to Make a Graphic Novel at sawcomics.substack.com/subscribe2025-06-1245 min
The Terrible AnvilComics Karma - Episode 11 with Lauren Weinstein and Tom HartIn episode eleven of Comics Karma, Lauren is finishing up her 2nd to last chapter and we welcomed SAW member (and EISNER NOMINEE!) Pam Wye, who has been working on a stunning memoir, Water I Have Loved, a project that has been serialized in Mutha Magazine for may years. Pam wanted to talk about traumatic sense memory in comics, and we discussed the difference between a feeling and a narrative memory, and we discussed the role of adult and child, and her she serves both roles, as her main job is art teacher in New Jersey high...2025-06-091h 00
The Terrible AnvilComics Karma - Episode 10 with Lauren Weinstein and Tom HartIn episode ten of Comics Karma, Lauren is back from her art adventures and finds herself in balancing art and “real life.” (Hint: cleaning toilets isn’t that bad.) Then we welcomed SAW member Michael Aschner. We talked about finishing our work, about why Michael has loads and loads of unfinished work on his computer, and we talked at length about adult diagnoses of ADHD. Give it a listen ! And come back for more. We’ll be answering a different student each week for a few more weeks! Recorded at SAW on Zoom...2025-05-301h 02
The Terrible AnvilComics Karma - Episode 9 with Lauren Weinstein and Tom HartIn episode nine of Comics Karma, Lauren calls in from Yaddo, where she is in a totally intense headspace and is finishing a chapter with the luxury of not having to worry about daily, ordinary tasks. We caught up with her for an hour to talk about this experience. Then we welcomed SAW member Janice Goldberg, to talk about imposter syndrome, and about when it’s ok to take a break on a very intense, personal story. This led to a discussion about “telling our story” vs daily therapeutic aspects of drawing and writing, about catharsis, about improv...2025-05-2256 min
The Terrible AnvilComics Karma - Episode 8 with Lauren Weinstein and Tom HartIn episode eight of Comics Karma, Tom and Lauren talk to Robert Danberg, who has been a student for so long, practicing and growing for so long, he wants to know, What is my path from Student to Author? We really explored the usual path of becoming published. Turns out the MFA Poetry World has more gatekeepers than we do in comics. Robert is hitting that point where he knows when something is finished, now he just needs to make the thing, put it into print, bind, it post it whatever, and build a network. We give...2025-05-0956 min
The Terrible AnvilComics Karma - Episode 7 with Lauren Weinstein and Tom HartIn episode seven of Comics Karma, Tom and Lauren talk to Kayte Young who spent a year on an 18 page comic, and is wondering, if this piece took so long, how am I ever going to finish my book? This episode went deep, as Lauren described “un-fact-checking” with her old friends, and what it’s like to time travel as you make a memoir. We agreed Kayte needed new energy, new ready-for-it, excited-to-be-working energy, and she’s got it. Give it a listen ! Get full access to How to Make a Graphic Novel at...2025-05-0152 min
The Terrible AnvilComics Karma - Episode 6 with Lauren Weinstein and Tom HartIn episode six of Comics Karma, Tom and Lauren talk to Emil Wilson, who knows something is pretty good, maybe good enough, but wants to know at what point it's FINISHED. What’s holding him back from calling it done? “Is it perfectionism?” He asks. “Is it control? It it connected to who I am and wanting to present the best version of myself? Is it me ‘not wanting to let go?’ "Lauren, calling in from Ireland where she is secretly spying on her old high school friends, gives great advice as always, and Tom tells a story about...2025-04-2544 min
The Terrible AnvilComics Karma - Episode 5 with Lauren Weinstein and Tom HartIn episode five of Comics Karma, Tom Hart and Lauren Weinstein are talking about comics and addressing students’ questions directly. Tom and Lauren talk to Jeannie Mecorney, who is telling a story of a troubled childhood, but she also caused trouble for her children as a result. How do you tell this story? Lauren as always, gives great advice, about drawing some work with no intention of showing it to anyone, and Tom recommends a couple approaches to bringing the children into the process. Give it a listen and come back for more. ...2025-04-1843 min
The Terrible AnvilComics Karma - Episode 4 with Lauren Weinstein and Tom HartEpisode 4 - I'm making a Frankenstein's monster of identity and memory. How do I do it?! With guest SAW member Dusty McGowan!In episode four of Comics Karma, Tom and Lauren talk about to Dusty McGowan, a genuine therapist! -who is having a crisis of identity.Dusty is doing a comic about a toy he remembers from his childhood but seems to be a figment of his imagination. Or is it? Is this a story about a toy or about identity or what? We get into it, giving therapy to the therapist!Lauren...2025-04-1039 min
The Terrible AnvilComics Karma - Episode 3 with Lauren Weinstein and Tom HartIn episode three of the newly christened Comics Karma, with Tom Hart and Lauren Weinstein are talking about comics and addressing students’ questions directly.Tom and Lauren talk about their own work, and in the case of Lauren - a project that has taken more than 20 years, and then they welcome Lynn Bernstein, who has been doing a fascinating memoir about series of events in her marriage over 30 years ago. Lynn wants to know how to not feel the awful feelings she was feeling then, while revisiting these moments in her memoir. She also doesn’t want to o...2025-04-0437 min
The Terrible AnvilComics Karma - Episode 2 with Lauren Weinstein and Tom HartIn episode two of the newly christened Comics Karma, with Tom Hart and Lauren Weinstein are talking about comics and addressing students’ questions directly.Tom and Lauren talk about their own work, and in the case of Lauren - a project that has taken more than 20 years, and then they welcome Sally Charette, who has been working on a long story about her long-lived parrot, Dodger, but she has other ideas too.We talk about all of these things. We talked about life, death, politics, loss and rowing and crew! Lauren gave us the metaphor of...2025-03-2744 min
The Terrible AnvilSequential Artists Workshop Talk - Episode 1 with Lauren Weinstein and Tom HartWhile the Terrible Anvil takes a break, Tom Hart and Lauren Weinstein are taking the reins to talk about comics for a few weeks, and to address students’ questions directly.Tom and Lauren talk about their own work, and in the case of Lauren - a project that has taken more than 20 years, and then they welcome Brandon Hankins, whose webcomic Autumn Wing is delightful, fun and sincere. We love it.Brandon wants to know how to define success, how to keep going, how to know if it’s right to want validation, and...2025-03-2151 min
The Virtual Memories ShowEpisode 618 - The Guest List 2024Twenty-two of this year's Virtual Memories Show guests tell us about the favorite books they read in 2024 and the books they hope to get to in 2025! Guests include Roland Allen, Shalom Auslander, Laura Beers, Sven Birkerts, Mirana Comstock, Leela Corman, Nicholas Delbanco, Benjamin Dreyer, Eric Drooker, Randy Fertel, Sammy Harkham, Frances Jetter, Ken Krimstein, Jim Moske, Robert Pranzatelli, Jess Ruliffson, Dmitry Samarov, Dash Shaw, David Small, Benjamin Swett, Maurice Vellekoop, and D.W. Young (+ me)! • More info at our site • Support The Virtual Memories Show via Patreon or Paypal and via our e-newsletter2024-12-231h 03
The Virtual Memories ShowEpisode 601 - Jess RuliffsonComics journalist Jess Ruliffson joins the show to talk about the origins of INVISIBLE WOUNDS (Fantagraphics), her collection of stories from veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but we wind up talking about guys' butts, among other things. We get into her focus on male vulnerability, the Tim Hetherington photos that led her to make Invisible Wounds, the differences between soldiers who enlisted pre-/post-9/11, what it's like to come home from war with no idea what to do next, and the new comics she's making with her husband, Ernesto Barbieri, about his work as an ICU...2024-08-201h 52
The Terrible AnvilHow To Make Comics Forever!Our very last episode of The Terrible Anvil (Season One) was recorded this week! With Tom and Jess together in the same room! We tried to tie a bow around the business of comics by offering ideas on HOW TO KEEP GOING (FOREVER), AKA making your own sustainable comics practice amidst inner/outer turmoil and also remembering to wash the dishes. A big takeaway from this episode: CELEBRATE SMALL WINS! Other thoughts from the call: * Forming bonds with others and keeping each other going is a great form of sustainable accountability 2024-06-0358 min
The Terrible AnvilDialogue and Writing for ComicsLast week we recorded the penultimate episode of The Terrible Anvil, this time discussing scripts, dialogue, and writing for comics! Art (slightly adapted) from Jess Ruliffson!The words we use and how they are arranged on the page can guide readers' understanding of our comics and influence how they feel about a story and its characters. But how do you pick the right words? How much is too much dialogue? How can you make sure readers understand your text the way you intend? Tune in for answers to these questions and more from...2024-05-291h 06
The Terrible AnvilColor in Comics!This week on the Terrible Anvil, we parsed one of Jess's favorite topics: COLOR!!(Watercolor illustration by Jess!)Here's a quick look at our tips for approaching color (in comics or otherwise) as a newbie: * Pick just one color at first, especially if working in a new medium/with new tools. If that's not interesting, try two colors, maybe three. By using limited color palettes you will gain confidence and figure out what works with color!* Are you color confused? Color curious? When in doubt, think about CONTRAST! Jess's hot take...2024-05-1859 min
The Terrible AnvilMedium Rare: Analog, Digital, and Everything In BetweenComics itself is a medium and practice. But it also can be host to lots of different working mediums: traditional comics materials, new digital tools, watercolor, printmaking—whatever your heart desires! How do you choose yours?(Watercolor illustration by Jess Ruliffson)What medium feels gratifying, what feels satisfying, what is too labor intensive right now? Maybe you are still learning a new medium, and figuring out how to make short experiments to get fluent and/or fast. Try practicing it every day—returning to the "terrible anvil of daily deadlines" to establish your style! Hy...2024-05-111h 04
The Terrible AnvilDealing with Criticism in ComicsThis week on the Terrible Anvil we talked about CRITICISM! Criticism and rejection are inevitable parts of the creative process—so how can we make them more bearable? Jess Ruliffson and Tom Hart share their advice on when (and who) to ask for feedback and how to go about it, offer tools for managing your inner critic, and discuss how to distinguish between constructive feedback and unhelpful criticism. This episode of the Terrible Anvil is chock-full of relatable anecdotes and practical tips, so give it a listen!And join us next ep...2024-05-081h 04
The Terrible AnvilCollaboration in ComicsThis week we talked all about creative collaboration! [Note: We had a couple technical difficulties this episode, and there’s a bit of silence from 52:14 to 52:38!]Comics can often be a solitary endeavor, but you'll find lots of ways to collaborate with other people—be it editors, writers, artists, colorists, copy editors, designers, publishers or co-creators! Collaboration in any art form can be a great way to breathe new life into the creative process. They can be scary or uncomfortable if you're used to having total control over your creative projects, or this shar...2024-04-301h 01
The Terrible AnvilStarting Over in your ComicsThe Terrible Anvil Episode Fourteen: Starting OverHi, Friends!This week on The Terrible Anvil, Tom Hart and I dug deep on the topic of STARTING OVER. We noted there's a few different types of starting over:1) Restarting an old, old, project2) Starting a new project after you finish one you've been working on (or even working in a series or across multiple comics pages)3) Completely rethinking a project you have sunk a lot of enthusiasm and hours intoHave you ever started over? Tom said he sorta started over in his appro...2024-04-301h 04
The Terrible AnvilStyle: How do you get it?This week we talked STYLE! How do you make your own artistic style? How long does it take? Do you need to stick to one at all? We go over these questions and more as we unpack what role style plays in cartooning and our expectations around our work. We also revisit topics like moving past our inner critics, forging daily creative routines, and staying curious about the possibilities of our work. As always, a nice mix of philosophy and practicality! Join us next week as we talk about...2024-04-141h 05
The Terrible AnvilFinding Joy and Sustainability in ComicsThis week we got rather philosophical here at the Terrible Anvil podcast! We tackled lots of big ideas, but circled back again and again to finding joy in the hard parts of comics (and within the confines of capitalist markets). We also discussed drawing inspiration from the world around us. Zooming out can get us out of our heads and give our work room to breathe. But our power to tell stories comes from within us too! We go over ways to tap into our own creative energy, even when we've reached a state of burnout. Finding ways to...2024-04-0859 min
The Terrible AnvilBackground Music (How, When, and Why to Draw Backgrounds)..This week on The Terrible Anvil, we talked about BACKGROUNDS! When and How and Why to draw them, maybe also hopefully indirectly answering Oneita's great questions from the pre-call post over in Comics FLOW and PUBLISH:"Personally love backgrounds and I like having them in my comics but I tend to get lost between deep perspective and foreground objects. I’m not wanting to take away from my characters but I also want to have more than a blank throwaway type environment. I’m often weighing how much detail in the background? How do I make my...2024-04-0258 min
The Terrible AnvilBackground Music (How, When, and Why to Draw Backgrounds)This week on The Terrible Anvil, we talked about BACKGROUNDS! When and How and Why to draw them, maybe also hopefully indirectly answering Oneita's great questions from the pre-call post over in Comics FLOW and PUBLISH:"Personally love backgrounds and I like having them in my comics but I tend to get lost between deep perspective and foreground objects. I’m not wanting to take away from my characters but I also want to have more than a blank throwaway type environment. I’m often weighing how much detail in the background? How do I make my...2024-03-3058 min
The Terrible AnvilLower Your Expectations and Reach Your Comics Goals!Hi, Friends!This week's episode of The Terrible Anvil was streamed LIVE on YouTube (I dunno if we will do that regularly, but if you've been wanting to catch a live call and aren't part of the SAW Comics FLOW + PUBLISH group, check that page out. It's also where we archive the video recordings!)Ok, what did we talk about this week? EXPECTATIONS!A few episodes back Tom said: "There are a lot of reasons to feel bad while making art. Most of those are expectations of results, expectations, rewards"There wer...2024-03-271h 04
The Terrible AnvilHow To Table at Comics Conventions—And Make Friends!The Terrible Anvil Episode 9 - How to Win Friends & Influence People (TABLING at Conventions!) In this episode we talk about some of the most social fun one can have as a cartoonist: TABLING! Tune in for tips on navigating comics conventions, zine fairs, and press expos of all seasons and sizes. Learn about attending conventions to share your work, expand your network, have fun, and see what's out there in the world of comics. Whether attending, volunteering, tabling, speaking in a panel, or hosting your own, we've got you covered! 2024-03-2252 min
The Terrible AnvilMonetizing Every Moment of Waking Existence on Instagram (What Could Go Wrong?)This week we talked about navigating social media to promote your work and make money as a cartoonist—from networking and building your audience, to avoiding burnout and fielding harsh feedback. The internet can be a lovely way to connect with friends and family, make new connections, support fellow cartoonists, and publish your comics. There are great benefits to serializing a webcomic or routinely sharing your work. But social media can also be a source of pressure, discouragement, and creative doubt. Do you need to move to NYC and gain a million followers on...2024-03-091h 02
The Terrible AnvilI Pitched a Book and Now I Feel Terrible!This week Jess and I continued our discussion of PITCHING, and about feeling weird and lousy and under pressure and low boundary and high maintenance and under the gun and everything else!Tune in next week to for Episode 8 of The Terrible Anvil: Monetizing Every Moment of Waking Existence on Instagram (What Could Go Wrong?) I believe a transcript will be posted with this!?Cheers’ y’allHere’s some random thoughts we hitWe talked about both creators and publishers creatin...2024-03-0456 min
The Terrible AnvilHow to Pitch Your ComicsIn this week's episode of The Terrible Anvil we talked about pitching your work—whether short-form comics or book proposals—and getting published as a comics artist.Some really great ideas from the chat that we hope to touch on in episode seven (a sort of sequel, with maybe more of a focus on BOOK pitching.)Tom mentioned the expectations of what a book contract or publishing project will do for usSally mused: If we're not bankable, maybe we're MORE relevant.Tom shared a link to CHILL SUBS, where you can look f...2024-02-261h 05
The Terrible AnvilHow I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love LetteringThis week’s Terrible Anvil we talk about CHOOSING IDEAS and then LETTERINGWe talked a lot about IDEAS as SPELLS, and that ideas assert themselves. And Ideas are invitations to act. But they don’t all have to be acted upon. They come and they go.We answered from the crowd: If you have too many ideas whirling around your head, what's a good way of picking one out to work on? andHow do you reconcile what’s in your head and what you put on paper?2024-02-181h 02
The Terrible AnvilThe Terrible Anvil - Episode 4Episode 4 - Building the Dream Castle Today on Episode Four of The Terrible Anvil, we tried to tackle the topic of making a sustainable creative physical space and habits to make work. And as usual we veered off topic and expanded and waxed philosophical on all the different types of "castles" creatives build: the physical workspace, the vision for the work itself, the audience you hope to reach. I (Jess) also am editing a book (The Bootlegger's Guide to Comics!) and we took a topic from the early draft wondering: What's...2024-02-1057 min
The Terrible AnvilThe Terrible Anvil Episode 3Episode 3 - On Early Drafts We had THREE topics that were somewhat braided together: * A thought Jess had: Become more interested in DOING what you're doing than KNOWING what you're doing. * A quote I wrote down: "I often find myself writing long meandering first drafts, that drift around a bit before settling down into a state of baffling indecision." - George Saunders * (and a quote Tom had handy): "Write down everything that happens in the story, and then in your second draft make it look like you knew what you were...2024-02-0251 min
The Terrible AnvilThe Terrible Anvil - Episode 2Episode 2 - Lean into the worst In the Comics FLOW + PUBLISH group we asked around: how do you lean in when the going gets weird? What parts are EXTRA UNFUN, and how do you navigate it?Helen asked about deadlines. Oneita asked about guilt. Virginia asked about backgrounds. We spoke on all these topics, as well as the role of ritual and community in answering these three questions. We cooked up ideas on how to make a home there in the ruins, being okay with badly-drawn hands, what to...2024-01-261h 02
The Terrible AnvilThe Terrible Anvil - Episode 1How do you make comics without all the frustration? Without feeling lousy and inadequate all the time? With the Terrible Anvil of daily deadlines! And a community, and mindset shift about what it means to make comics and art. Jess Ruliffson and Tom Hart are working through the whole process, one piece at a time, turning frustration into fun and glee.Episode 1 - What Part of Comics is the Hardest?Recorded at SAW on Zoom What is The Terrible Anvil? Tom and I were bantering one day on a call and...2024-01-1555 min
Comic News InsiderEpisode 1384 - MOCCA: Hyesu Lee/Jess Ruliffson! The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MOCCA) Festival was over the weekend and Jimmy attended both days. He did some interviews w/ some amazing creators! In this episode, you'll hear from creators Hyesu Lee and Jess Ruliffson. Hyesu talks about her journey from South Korea to London to Brooklyn, doing a NYC Subway mural, her upcoming graphic novel and more. Jess discusses her new book INVISIBLE WOUNDS as published by Fantagraphics, what it was like seeking out and talking to the vets who provide the stories, teaching comics, and more. 2 great creators in 1 podcast! 2 more MOCCA i...2023-04-0532 min
Comic News InsiderEpisode 1383 - Magical MoCCA Missive!Reviews: The Ambassadors #1, Harley Quinn vol. 4 #28, Dungeons & Dragons Saturday Morning Adventures #1, Rocketman & Rocketgirl #1, Riverdale s7 premiere The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MOCCA) Festival was over the weekend and Jimmy attended both days. He gives his recap here talking about the overall show from setup to exhibitors to atmosphere to interviews and more. He also teases the interviews he got that you'll hear later this week split up into 3 episodes. Great talks with Hyesu Lee, Noah Van Sciver, Jess Ruliffson, David Reuss, Ashling Tu and Vyolet Jin. All amazing creators! As usual, Jimmy recruits some o...2023-04-0436 min
Manifesto!Episode 42: The Transmogrifications of Gary LeibPhil is joined by Peter Catapano, of the New York Times, and graphic novelist Jess Ruliffson to discuss Peter's essay on the life and work of cartoonist Gary Leib
The Manifesto:
Peter Catapano, “I’m Going to Make a Fire”: The Transmogrifications of Gary Leib
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/im-going-to-make-a-fire-the-transmogrifications-of-gary-leib/
The Art:
Gary Leib's animation for The Stone
https://vimeo.com/148232540
Leib's animations for the Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/opinion/01leib_bio.html
Other:
Pre-order Peter's forthcoming book, Question Everything
https://wwnorton.com/bo...2022-04-111h 09
The Comics AlternativeEpisode 194: Reviews of The Odyssey of Sergeant Jack Brennan, Bird in a Cage, and Hellbound LifestyleThis week The Comics Alternative's blog editor, Paul Lai, joins Derek to discuss three recent titles. They begin with Bryan Doerries's The Odyssey of Sergeant Jack Brennan (Pantheon). Illustrated by a variety of artists -- Jess Ruliffson, Joëlle Jones, Justine Mara Andersen, Dylan Macon's, and Nick Bertozzi -- the book brings Homer's classic into contemporary contexts. On the eve of their return home from Afghanistan, Marine Corps sergeant Jack Brennan shares with his men the epic tale by applying it to their own lives as soldiers. Within this frame narrative, Doerries recounts Odysseus's various attempt to return home, each one...2016-06-2900 min