GateCrashers

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Cruisin' into the Dawn of DC with Joshua Williamson Mar 08, 2023

Show notes

With DC Comics entering a new chapter as a whole, it was about time that we were once again joined by one of the main architects of the universe, Joshua Williamson. Our first two deep dives into the DC Universe cruised through the Infinite Frontier and dived into the Dark Crisis before it started. With each interview, we had the chance to talk about what DC's universe was going to look like for the time ahead with Joshua. We talked about all the series he was working on and what some of the major characters were up to. This time is no different.

Joshua Williamson and Dan dig a bit into post Dark Crisis questions about how it feels with the series wrapped. Joshua talks about how he feels after writing a Crisis and how others who have penned them before have felt similarly. We get into the theme of legacy which was a hot topic of conversation in our last interview. Discussion of Nightwing's place in the world and the most important Robin, Damian Wayne, comes up as well.

Joshua Williamson is current at the helm of the self titled Superman which recently launched as a new number 1. The series has been a huge hit with the book returning to print at the time of our interview. Joshua answers the burning question that everyone has been DYING to know... Who is Superman's canonical favorite AEW wrestler? The depth of the answer may shock you. They also talk about the title itself and Jamal Campbell's incredible art. Joshua talks about the discussion Campbell and he had about how large Clark Kent would be outside of the costume.

We get the chance to talk about the upcoming Green Arrow series which is the heroes first title in some time. Joshua gives some of his essential runs that he loves. We also talk about some of the returning characters who have been absent from the DC Universe for some time.

As a capstone, Joshua gives a taste of whats to come in Knight Terrors which is DC's horror event coming this summer. Joshua drops some teasers of whats to come. But confirms the amount of involvement that Sandman, Wesley Dodds, has in the event.

The Gang Talks Rocky and Creed Mar 03, 2023

Show notes

Ethan, RJ, and Jon step into the ring to discuss the Rocky/Creed franchise. During their time spent going the distance, they discuss how this series truly is for everyone, as well as discussing Ethan's first time viewing the series. They also give truly terrible Stallone impressions, heap praise onto the Creed films, and discuss why certain people on this website/podcast from the Philly area should definitely watch it cough Dan cough.

They also spend time revealing RJ's family's connection to the original Rocky, which 80s action star would be a good opponent for Stallone in the ring, and visit an alternate timeline where 7 year old Apollo Creed killed 7 year old Rocky's dad.

So catch those chickens, get your baby oil ready, and lift your arms up in victory, it's time for the Eye of the Tiger.

Be sure to check out our review of Creed III which is the best sports anime film of all time.

Dennis Culver Talks Unstoppable Doom Patrol Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

The Doom Patrol are a DC Comics team that are very near and dear to many readers. From the iconic runs with the greatest creative teams of their generations to a television show with a huge following, people cannot get enough of the Doom Patrol. But since the end of the Young Animal Doom Patrol run, the team has been pretty widely absent from their original home of comics but that is changing in March! DC Comics is bringing the Doom Patrol back with Unstoppable Doom Patrol. The series is being written by Dennis Culver, with art by Chris Burnham, colors by Brian Reber, and letters by Pat Brosseau with Ben Abernathy as editor.

The series FOC cut off is Sunday March 5th so make sure to tell your store you want to add this to your pull list. If you don't have a local store, check out Third Eye Comics who ships internationally!

On this epsiode, we got the chance to sit down with Dennis Culver to discuss the series and his approach to these characters. Dan and Dennis talk about where the Doom Patrol fits into the full spectrum of the DC Universe. Previously, the team has always been in the DC universe but has never really been involved. They aren't the Justice League or any team that you see at the forefront of every story. But now with this series, the team is going to find their footing in the foreground of the DC Universe and what their place is.

Dennis Culver and Dan also talk about the new designs for the team. Dennis explains the meaning behind them and the reason they are using an orange color rather than the classic red. It's a great bit of information that gives insight into who the team is now. One of the major themes of the series seems to be moving past a found family into building a community which is a main theme of the conversation as well.

Alex Kugelman Talks Don't Trip Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

On this episode we are joined by Alex Kugelman who is award winning writer and director who's written jokes for the People's Choice Awards, and The Oscars. His scripts have ranked on The Black List, his films have won awards at Indie Shorts Fest, Tuscan Film Fest and LA underground Film fest and he's worked on productions for Netflix, Warner Brothers and Blumhouse. He joins us to discuss his currently running Kickstarter for his film Don't Trip.

Don't Trip is a horror/comedy feature film about a struggling screenwriter who falls into a dangerous relationship when he befreiends a powerful producer's eccentric son.

Alex and Dan discuss the choice of Kickstarter for Don't Trip and the freedoms it allows. They discuss how films like this may not be made when it comes to the typical Hollywood film making process. They also talk about Alex's approach to horror and what horror experiences have stuck with him the longest.

The also talk about how Steven Spielberg had no idea what E.T. was going to be until that little freak showed up on set day one. From there they let that little wrinkly freak do whatever he wanted and bam, blockbuster.

GO SUPPORT THIS MOVIE.

Return to Seoul Interview: A Discussion with Davy Chou and Park Ji-Min Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

Return to Seoul, directed by Davy Chou, starring Park Ji-Min, tells the story of Freddie, a young adoptee woman born in South Korea and raised in France. In a moment of inertia, the free-spirited protagonist decides to travel on her own to South Korea for the first time in what will become a search for identity, where she will try to discover not only her roots but herself. Picked up by Sony Classics for distribution after critical acclaim, Return to Seoul opened its wide release on February 17th, and if you have the opportunity to see it, don't doubt for a second that it will be worth it. I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down and talk with both the director and protagonist of the film in the following interview.

given Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

Happy Valentine's Day from all of us here at GateCrashers! Join Patrick and Amanda as they talk about the queer romance anime given!

Content Warning: this episode repeatedly references homophobia, depression, and suicide.

given, released in 2019 and finally receiving an English dub in 2022, follows high schooler UENOYAMA Ritsuka, a guitar prodigy, as he meets fellow student SATŌ Mafuyu, who has a guitar but doesn't know the first thing about playing or maintaining the instrument. Their relationship quickly develops into something more, with Mafuyu even joining Ritsuka's band with college students NAKAYAMA Haruki, the bassist, and KAJI Akihiko, the drummer. Soon it is discovered that Mafuyu can sing, and feelings begin to develop between Mafuyu and Ritsuka.

In this episode, Patrick and Amanda talk about how wholesome this story of young, queer love is, and how happy it makes them feel despite some of the more stressful, dramatic parts of the story. They discuss the English dubbed performances from some prolific anime voice actors, which ranks among some of the best dubbed performances. They discuss the dynamics of Mafuyu and Ritsuka's relationship, as well as the feelings developing between Haruki and Akihiko. The supporting cast is discussed including Ritsuka's sister and his friends, as well as Mafuyu's old friends from his previous school.

The hosts discuss the importance of queer stories like given, and with Valentine's Day upon us, how nice it is to have stories that show the characters truly in love with each other. They also discuss how universal this story feels due to the manga and anime's use of shōnen-style characterizations despite it technically being a BL josei.

So come join Amanda and Patrick as they jump into romance with the boys in the band!

Warning! This episode contains spoilers for the first season of given and the corresponding issues of the manga.

Stephen Graham Jones Interview Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

Slashers are my comfort horror. I love slashers and have since I was too young to see them when they played late at night on HBO. So many of them follow certain tropes that everyone knows. One of which is the sequel. The sequel always has to be bigger, better, and more violent. But with Stephen Graham Jone's sequel to My Heart is a Chainsaw, all of that is true but it's so much more with Don't Fear the Reaper. Stephen Graham Jones stopped by for an interview about the trilogy, slashers, and sandwiches.

Stephen Graham Jones talks about the creation of his story and the character of Jade Daniels. Jade Daniels is someone who struggles with her own identity which we get into. She believes that she isn't final girl material which is fitting for her but something that is very sad when you remember what a final girl is.

Dan and Stephen Graham Jones get into the creation of the town itself and what inspired some of the choices that went into the town and Indian Lake itself.

Stephen Graham Jones is also a college professor which Dan asks about in relation to how it helps him with his own writing.

We also spend some time talking about horror itself. Stephen tells Dan which horror scene has stuck with him the longest which gives Dan some post interview homework to watch.

A lot of the interview revolves around slashers as Jones got to craft his own with Dark Mill South. Dan asks what got Stephen to the point of chosing the most iconic part of a slashers whole gimmick, their weapon. Plus we discuss the world's number one celibacy advocate Jason Voorhees and Jones favorite parts of the series.

The People's Joker Interview with Vera Drew Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

The People's Joker is a masterpiece. It's a rude queer coming of age story unlike anything I've ever experienced. Watching the film let me see stories that I personally couldn't experience and see perspectives outside my own. With the film being a satire of so many characters I've known my whole life, it was wonderful to get to see them used as tools to tell this story. The director and co-writer Vera Drew said something during the post Q&A that has stuck with me since. She spoke about how she made this film for young her because she really needed something like this.

Something about that hit me hard because it's a film that hasn't been given the ability to find those people who need it. When people create art often times it what they want to see without realizing how many more people need to see it as well. No one knows how many nerdy kids are struggling with their identity out there in the world who fear what will come of becoming who they want to be. I truly hope this film finds the people who need it because as much as it is crude and funny, it's a story of discovery and becoming your authentic self.

I didn't review the film because I don't think I'm equipped to do it. I don't have the insight and a cis man going on about his thoughts on something like this isn't something I truly want to read either so why would you?

Instead, I reached out to Vera Drew to come talk with me about the film. We talk a lot about comedy, art and their experiences. We also talk about bologna and Joel Schumacher for a long time.

What we don't talk about is the legal circus surrounding the film so do not click play expecting that. Instead listen and support Vera so the people who could benefit from seeing a movie as deeply personal and as queer as The People's Joker.

Vera's Patreon Vera's Twitter

Invincible Featuring Robert Kirkman Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

In this week's episode, Dan, Jake, and Ashley dive into the superhero world of Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker's Invincible. The first story we covered for GateCrashers was another one of Kirkman's co-creations called The Walking Dead but this story is a little different. This coming-of-age superhero tale follows teenager Mark Grayson as he navigates high school, love interests, and a burgeoning set of super powers. Luckily Mark, aka Invincible, has someone he can look up to. Mark's dad is Omni-Man, the most powerful being on the planet. Between his super hero dad and his loving mom, Mark's life seems pretty easy. But nothing is ever that simple.

Kirkman and Walker's Invincible shines with storylines and characters hell bent on delivering the realities of a humanity infused with super-beings. It never shies away from the grotesque and gore, all while retaining humor and grounded characters. Invincible, set in the Image Comics Universe, began publication on January 22, 2003. Over 15 years, it concluded its run with 144 issues in early 2018.

In 2021, Invincible got a second life and new set of super fans when Amazon Prime adapted the comic series for its streaming service. Invincible, now an animated series, has met with critical and fan acclaim due to its stellar voice cast and improved adjustments to the source material. Starring the vocal talents of Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, and J.K. Simmons to name just a few, the world of Invincible is fleshed out by some of the most recognizable voices in the business.

In this episode, the Robert Kirkman himself joins Dan for an interview to discuss his favorite sandwich and what it's like to adapt your own work for a different medium. The gang also discusses the difference between early characterizations in both interpretations, how the show gets it right, and how Invincible's superhero story is groundbreaking in the wider lexicon of other cape content.

Join us for our thoughts on Invincible the super hero, but stay for our off-the-rails dissection of Omni-Man. This is one you don't want to miss!

Michael Cusack Talks YOLO: Silver Destiny Jan 20, 2023

Show notes

With the premiere of the YOLO: Silver Destiny coming this Sunday to Adult Swim, the creator of the of the show Michael Cusack stops by to chat!

You may know Michael Cusack from his other shows such as Koala Man which is available to watch now on Hulu. Or his other highly popular show Smiling Friends also from Adult Swim and streaming on HBO Max.

Michael is well known for his absurdist brand of humor and Dan asks if he ever finds himself pushing into the territories of horror with his work. Michael explains a bit about his approach to humor and creating programs such as this. We also get into the shows unique Australian identity and how something like that comes baked into a program when the team mostly hail from there.

The show is a wonderful blend of comedy and absurdism as two girls just try to make their way in the world. The rest of the show is streaming on HBO Max if you need to catch up which I highly suggest you do as it can breach a bit more into serialization at points. Another topic which we do cover is writing for serialized series versus loose serialization.

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