Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"And the fact that this story and it like more than so many others has burned itself into like our consciousness and the way we tell stories about aliens. Like all of that deeply fascinates me." — James Tinian IV
"But the actual I feel like opens skeptic understands that your brain can examine something. It's like also like when you're tripping. Like if you notice, if you've ever seen something, I've never seen something photorealistically in front of me when I'm tripping. But I have seen things that then my I then have chased down in my brain to sort of give shape to and that sounds like a lot of what happens in these types of people who experience a phenomena." — Ben Kissel
"But the real thing is the way I cleanse my system is I write these comic books. Like it is just like it's taking all of the abstract like anxiety in my head. And it's just channeling it out into into projects that I think look beautiful." — James Tinian IV
The episode features an in-depth conversation with comic book writer James Tinian IV, focusing on his acclaimed works "Blue Book" and "Department of Truth." The discussion begins by exploring the collaborative nature of comic book creation, with Tinian emphasizing the importance of trusting artists and allowing for their interpretation, contrasting this with the hyper-detailed approach of some legendary writers. He explains his process involves establishing the "vibes" and core ideas of a story before diving into detailed plotting, often using personal doodles to convey specific emotions or concepts when words fail.
A significant portion of the conversation revolves around Tinian's "Blue Book" series, which delves into UFO encounters, particularly the Betty and Barney Hill abduction case. Tinian discusses his approach to adapting such stories, aiming for a direct and compelling narrative, while acknowledging the inherent contradictions and mysteries within the accounts. He highlights the choice of artist Michael Avon Oming for the Betty and Barney Hill story and touches upon the cultural impact of UFO lore, influenced by events like the X-Files boom and the "satanic panic" of the 1990s. The episode also examines the enduring fascination with the Betty and Barney Hill star map and the various interpretations, including skeptical analyses from figures like Carl Sagan.
The conversation then shifts to Tinian's "Department of Truth," a series that explores the idea that conspiracies become real if enough people believe them. Tinian describes the show's premise as a government department tasked with policing these reality-bending conspiracies, and how this concept is deeply rooted in his exploration of the nature of reality, belief, and governmental control over history. He shares his personal fears about the spread of misinformation and "thought viruses" in the modern digital age, drawing parallels to real-world events and the psychological impact of such phenomena. The discussion touches on Tinian's transition from writing for established IPs like Batman to focusing on his own creator-owned horror projects, which he finds more personally gratifying and artistically liberating.