How Artist Stephen R. Bissette Brings Dinosaurs Back to Life with "TYRANT" with Lighthouse

We analyze the creative process and scientific research behind the legendary dinosaur epic "Tyrant" with comic book icon Stephen R. Bissette. This session explores the technical mechanics of self-publishing and the meticulous reference work required to bring a Tyrannosaurus rex to life with prehistoric accuracy. DATE: 4/7/2026 TIME: 8:00 PM EST HOST: Buddy Scalera CO-HOST: Mike Fasolo GUEST: Stephen R. Bissette https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/comicslighthouse/bissette-tyrant-deluxe-editions Bissette—renowned for his work on "Swamp Thing" and "Taboo"—shares professional insights into his archival excavation of "Tyrant" for the new Lighthouse publishing editions. We also evaluate the role of professional networking, the evolution of the comic book industry since the 1990s, and the importance of legal representation for creators. KEY EDUCATIONAL TAKEAWAYS Archival Excavation: The technical process of scanning and curating 30-year-old original art for modern "Artist’s Editions". Scientific Illustration: How Bissette utilized Society of Vertebrate Paleontology symposiums and direct contact with fossil records to ground his narrative in realism. Self-Publishing Economics: A look back at the 1990s distribution landscape and the financial realities of independent publishing. The "Huckster" Mentality: Essential life lessons in retail magic and marketing yourself at conventions to build a dedicated fanbase. Creative Privacy: How to establish a professional studio environment to facilitate "deep work" and long-form storytelling. FEATURED CREATORS Stephen R. Bissette: Legendary artist/writer of "Swamp Thing" and creator of "Tyrant". Jim Rugg: Lead designer for the Tyrant Kickstarter project and co-host of Cartoonist Kayfabe. Chris Stevens: Publisher at Lighthouse known for premium packaging and crowdfunding success. FEATURED WORKS TITLE: "Tyrant" PUBLISHER: Lighthouse (Collected Edition) / SpiderBaby Graphix (Original) CREATORS: Stephen R. Bissette (Writer/Artist) SPECIAL FEATURES: "The Gizzard" footnotes and the "Tyrant in Slumberland" one-pager. YOUTUBE CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction to the prehistoric world of Tyrant 05:48 - The Legacy of Swamp Thing and Taboo 09:22 - Why Bissette finally said "yes" to the Tyrant collection 13:54 - Behind the Scenes: Excavating 30 years of flat files 20:42 - Paleontology vs. Pop Culture: Correcting the Flintstones 27:20 - The Economics of 90s Independent Publishing 34:10 - Narrative Cues: Planting visual clues in the Cretaceous forest 44:27 - The Miracle of Recovered Art: Murphy Anderson III 53:09 - Inking Masterclass: Elbow drawing and light table tips 01:25:05 - The One Piece of Advice Steve wishes he received earlier ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SERVICES Tyrant Kickstarter: Support the deluxe collected editions and jigsaw puzzle on Kickstarter. Paleo Pop: Access Steve’s prehistoric pop culture articles on Amazon. https://amzn.to/4tz1bHJ Monster Sketchbooks: Find "Thoughtful Creatures" and "Brooding Creatures" in print-on-demand. https://amzn.to/4tTuPrJ SOCIAL LINKS Comic Book School Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/comicbookschool Stephen R. Bissette on Blue Sky: @srbissette.bsky.social Lighthouse Publishing: https://www.instagram.com/comicslighthouse/ SOCIAL LINKS * Comic Book School Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/comicbookschool * Deanna Destito Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deannadestito * Mike Fasolo's Substack: https://mikefasolo.substack.com