We are the choices we make. Good guy? Bad guy? We decide that every day until our last day. On this week's podcast, we’re exploring how heroism and villainism mingle in Lavender Jack, the pulp adventure from cartoonist Dan Schkade. We’re considering when to swim with society and when to swim against it, and how comic book vigilante justice too often forgets its own messaging.

Lavender Jack, originally published on Webtoon, is where Schkade cracked the comic strip medium, preparing him to take over Flash Gordon, where he now lives daily. We discuss why these pulp adventurers appeal so profoundly to him, and how their tales can be told with a contemporary bite.

It’s the perfect discussion to prepare us for next week’s plunge into San Diego Comic-Con, where we’ll be moderating three panels and attempting to interview all the comic book celebrity guests. We’re in plug-goblin-mode during the intro, barely containing our excitement for the year’s biggest comic book event. If you thought our July 2026 coverage was already intense, oh boy, strap in.

Lavender Jack is written, illustrated, and lettered by Dan Schkade. It’s colored by Jenn Manley Lee. Volume One is currently available from Dark Horse Comics, and you can expect Volume 2 on September 29th. Make sure you’re following Dan Schkade on Instagram and Bluesky.

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