Strip! – Philosophers, Gods and Monsters

By John Freeman on January 7, 2010

In the first of this month’s shows from the Strip! podcast team on ResonanceFM and online about the portrayal of masculinity in American comic books, Alex Fitch talks to writer Fred Van Lente about penning the adventures of undead superheroes in Marvel Zombies, bringing to light the exciting adventures of Action Philosophers from Aristotle to Derrida and co-writing Tales of the Incredible Hercules which depict the travails of the Classical demi-god on modern day Earth and beyond.

Fred is the New York Times bestselling author of Incredible Hercules (with Greg Pak) and Marvel Zombies 3 & 4, as well as the American Library Association award-winning Action Philosophers. His other comics include Comic Book Comics, MODOK’s 11, X Men Noir and Amazing Spider-Man.

Wizard magazine nominated him for 2008 Breakout Talent and he’s been called “one of the most idiosyncratic and insightful new voices in comics.”

The interview was recorded at Gosh! comics in Great Russell Street, London following a signing by the writer.

• Strip! – Philosophers, Gods and Monsters airs at 5pm, Thursday 7th January, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast soon after transmission at www.panelborders.wordpress.com

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.