Mark Russell On 'Polis', Protopias, And 'X-Factor' Lost Stories AIPT Comics podcast

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Mark Russell on 'Polis', Protopias, and 'X-Factor' lost stories

5d ago 1:23:46

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NEWS

New ‘X-Men Hellfire Gala Vigil’ #1 costume designs revealed
Marvel Comics Solicitations August 2025!
1. Doctor Strange #450 milestone issue!
2. Venom symbiote increases the danger in 'Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe' #2
3. Marvel teases a rock will save the Marvel universe in 'Fantastic Four' #1
4. Ultimate Hawkeye scores one-shot in September 2025
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Find Krypto’s Golden Biscuit, win a trip to the ‘Superman’ premiere
New space opera ‘Red Vector’ announced for August 2025
Skybound reveals new Act 4 Wally Wood and Hellboy Artist Editions

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

Amazing Spider-Man #4 (Pepe Larraz, Joe Kelly)
Into the Unbeing (2024): Part Two #4 (Zac Thompson, Hayden Sherman)

Alex:

Absolute Flash #3 (Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles)
Doom Academy #4 (Mackenzie Cadenhead, Pasqual FerryJoao M.P. Lemos)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex - Fantastic Four #34 (Ryan North, Cory Smith)

Dave - Robowolf #1 Jake Smith

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Alex: We’re Taking Everyone Down With Us #3 (Rosenberg, Landini) and Magik #5 (Allen, Peralta)
Dave: Mr. Terrific Year One #1 (Al Letson, Valentine De Landro)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: Absolute Wonder Woman #8 (Stephanie Hans)
Alex: Martian Manhunter #3 (Shawn Crystal Variant)

Interview: Mark Russell Interview:

Polis is out this week from AWA, can you tell us what it’s about?
Polis is part of The Protopias Collection. Could you elaborate on the concept of 'protopia' and how it influences the narrative and themes within Polis?
How did your collaboration with artist Laci and colorist Marco Lesko shape the visual storytelling of Polis? Were there specific elements you emphasized to bring the floating city of Miragua to life?
AWA Studios future projects?
On the reverse side your X-Factor run has also had satirical elements from current events like social media and corporate negligence, are there any other themes you explored in X-Factor I’m missing?
There’s some new mutants in X-Factor as well, went went into creating them with Bob Quinn?
Your run on X-Factor balanced biting commentary with genuine emotional depth—was there a theme or character arc you didn’t get to fully explore in the ten issues that you wish you had more time with?
Out May 07, each issue of Vanishing Point is a standalone story—how did that format influence the way you approached worldbuilding and character development in the first issue, particularly with Jim’s psychological arc?
The story captures the emotional toll of isolation and obligation in a haunting way—were there any personal experiences or real-world parallels that shaped Jim’s descent or the overall tone of the series?

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