AIPT Comics Podcast Episode 355: Christos Gage: How to build a Battleworld (and let artists cook)

On this week’s AIPT Comics Podcast, we’re going full craft-nerd with a deep-dive interview you will not want to miss: Christos Gage joins us to unpack the making of Battleworld. We get into how the project came together (“Hank Pym and Marcus To” were basically the magic words), what it’s like playing with timelines instead of planets, how he balances deep-cut fan service (Starbrand! New Universe! CrossGen!) with accessibility, and why he built those text-heavy “tech pages” as a love letter to Marvel history.

Gage also talks about collaborating with Marcus To, using Korvac as the unseen architect behind the chaos, and sneaking in an entirely new Venom from another dimension while still keeping the story self-contained. If you’re into process—scripts, artist trust, and when not to over-explain the “science” of superheroes—this convo’s a feast.

We’ve also got a loaded news rundown this episode: Dani Moonstar finally gets her first solo series drenched in magic and monsters, Marvel is blowing up the X-Men status quo to rebuild the wildest mutant school yet, and the Fantastic Four are literally crashing into Planet of the Apes in a crossover five decades in the making. Over in the land of bonkers mash-ups, Archie meets Evil Dead as Riverdale goes full Deadite, and Image/Top Cow resurrects a Lovecraft classic with a twist that’ll blindside horror fans.

You can stream the AIPT Comics podcast below or find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

AIPT Comics Podcast Best Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. The Infernal Hulk #1 (Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Nic Klein)
2. Escape #4 (Rick Remender, Daniel Acuna)

Chris:​​

1. Devil on My Shoulder #1 (Kyle Starks and Piotr Kowalski)
2. DC K.O. #2 (Joshua Williamson, Javier Ferndandez, Scott Snyder, Xermanico, et al.)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Cemetery Kids Run Rabid #4 (Zac Thompson and Daniel Irizarri)

Dave: Absolute Batman #14 (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)

In our judging by the Cover segment, Dave picks Luciano Vecchio’s Wiccan cover, while Chris can’t get over Jorge Corona’s DC K.O.: Superman vs. Captain Atom #1 cover!

Check them out below.