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Chip Zdarsky Talks Public Domain Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

On this episode, Chip Zdarsky pulls no punches. He's dishing out tough love left and right. But actually we're doing a deep dive on his newly release trade of Public Domain. Public Domain started on his substack but is now in print with Image comics.

In Public Domain, Syd Dallas is responsible for pop culture's greatest hero: THE DOMAIN! But his sons Miles and David have a complicated relationship with both the creation and their creator. Can they convince their dad to fight for their family's legacy?

Chip Zdarsky and Dan go through the first volume of the series to talk about it all. We spend some time talking about his substack and the community he built there. It's the first time on the show we've had the chance to discuss the platform move with one of the big names who switched over. We discuss if the community is built more on past fans or if it actually attracted new ones.

Chip Zdarsky gets into the real meat of the book which heavily revolves around the comic book medium itself. The story itself deals with creator rights and royalties so we take some time to really get into that with discussions about creator owned work versus doing something for the big 2.

We talk about the development of the series and it's characters. The topics of family and the dynamics of the creators of the series share with one another.

We also get into how Chip Zdarsky did everything for this book and what it was like as a creator to do something solo. Chip talks about his collaborators of the past and talks a bit about the process of making Sex Criminals with Matt Fraction.

We also get into his Spider-Man, Batman, and Daredevil work but we try to stay to discussing Public Domain which you should pick up now from Image!

Yuri!!! on Ice! Jan 11, 2023

Show notes

Just in time for the height of the figure skating season, Amanda and Patrick are here to talk about 2016's Yuri!!! On Ice, the critically acclaimed sports anime about the world of professional figure skating and the blossoming of queer love! That's right, you read that correctly: this is an anime about queer love and if you don't agree, we would like to know what anime you are watching…

Anyway… join this week's hosts as they discuss how this is not just one of the best sports anime ever made, but one of the best anime to ever come out of Japan. Just ask Amanda who watched it five times back-to-back! Amanda proceeds to yell about her favorite feral skate, Yuri Plisetsky, while Patrick prompts a discussion on the absolutely banger of an opening credits song. They discuss the importance of the very real romantic relationship between Yuri Katsuki and his coach and idol, Russian legend Viktor Nikiforov, and the lack of subtlety in it despite claims to the contrary.

Patrick talks about the impact this anime has had on real life Olympic-level professional figure skating, including use of the music from the anime in competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Amanda and Patrick also talk about the broader cast of characters–from Kazakhstan's Otabek Altin to Thailand's Phichit Chulanot–while Patrick talks about just how talented they all are in the context of how the Grand Prix of Figure Skating is conducted in the real world (with only a little bit about how Adam Rippon was robbed of an individual medal at the 2018 Olympics).

So come and join Amanda and Patrick as we talk about the highs and lows of figure skating (real and animated), queer love, and the beauty of Yuri!!! On Ice!

Dan Slott and Dan Talk Spider-Man Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

On the first episode of 2023, it's a brand new day with our super sized Dan Slott interview to thwip the year off right! Dan Slott was was the captain of the Amazing Spider-Man series for around 10 years at Marvel Comics which is unheard of in modern comics. With Dan deciding it was time to put the mask back on with his recent Spider-Man #1, we decided it was time to finally get him on the show!

Dan and Dan go deep into the character of Spider-Man for nearly 2 hours. Dan Slott discusses his Spider-Man origin story with a tale from his childhood. His sandwich answer is also a ton of fun and as a creator who constantly deals with controversy, he decides to bring up the "is a hot dog a sandwich" topic right at the top of the show.

Dan gets the chance to discuss social media with Dan Slott and how he handles it with his reply section essentially always being a war zone no matter the topic. Dan talks about how it effects him and what he does about it.

The two also discuss Slott's change of heart on the fat jokes that Spider-Man would use in his run with some time passed. They talk about the topic and the effect of jokes that you cannot see unless you look from another perspective.

Dan gives the origin story of Spider-Island and how the event came to be. We also talk about the burden of writing a book that comes out multiple times a month. Dan talks about the effect it had on his other series and the help of Christos Gage to always get things into the end zone.

To wrap the episode, we discuss the Spider-Man and Doctor Who crossover that almost happened with story details of what the series could've been. Dan also talks about his upcoming Doctor Who comic and how it all came to be.

5 Festive Films to Light Up Your Holiday Spirit Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

The stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a special one in our house, as we make it a priority to slow things down and focus on time with our family. Aside from all the gifts to be bought, the stockings to be hung, and the lights to be wrestled with, we make it a point to sit and enjoy our favorite holiday films. This list has been truncated over the years as not everything made for the holidays requires a yearly re-visit (see the Hallmark Channel), but the ones that have stuck around deserve their place. Is our list for everyone? Probably not. Do we care? Definitely not. We just figured everyone else has words on the matter, so why not us? If it helps, we're consistently on the big man's nice list, so our choices are not to be taken lightly. Either way, time to light that fireplace, spike the eggnog, and embrace our own holiday classics.

Shop Around the Corner (1940)

RJ: Looking back, I cannot believe the amount of convincing my wife needed to do before I would watch this film. My hesitancy was based in the fact the film was in black and white, and also a romantic comedy. Thankfully, I found my spot on the couch and enjoyed the undeniable likeability of Jimmy Stewart, and his chemistry with co-star Margaret Sullivan. Even the story was deeper than two people looking for love, but rather a complex look at the interpersonal relationships of co-workers. This is a great film to watch with the fireplace on, a bottle of wine, and the person you love next to you.

Ashley: I find something so comforting about Jimmy Stewart's voice, so it's no wonder this is the first of two Jimmy entries on this list. Listen in to find out why I think you'll love this one as much as I do.

Arthur Christmas (2011)

RJ: This film was a wonderful surprise, as the first time we watched it was simply because we had watched everything else in our holiday rotation. I was absolutely floored by the animation style and the stellar voice-cast. The story is absolutely charming as well, plenty to keep parents and children alike entertained. The ending alone is enough bring out the kid in all of us.

Ashley: I love Arthur Christmas. From the voice cast to the heartwarming script, this holiday film about Santa's second son is a must-watch every Christmas.

The Holiday (2006)

RJ: My mother and I went to see this in late December 2006. I was home from college and she was my usual movie date as my dad typically picked films as the ideal place for a nap. Now, neither of us are fans of Cameron Diaz, nothing personal, perhaps it's genetic, but it didn't change are outlook on how much we enjoyed this film. Years later, and it's now one I can share with my wife. My love for it really lies with the pairing of Kate Winslet and Jack Black, but I think Jude Law does a promising job of balancing out my outlook on Diaz. Another one to sit down, laugh, and split a bottle a wine with the one you love.

Ashley: This film was a grower for me. I don't remember loving it in 2006 or feeling compelled to watch it yearly in the early 2010's. Now, this film occupies a nostalgic piece of my heart. Either that, or I'm vicariously living through Cameron Diaz as she spends her winter holiday snowed in at a cozy English cottage. There's so much to love about this low-stakes Christmas romantic comedy, earning it a coveted spot on my yearly re-watch list.

Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

RJ: There are so many reasons I love this film, and I will overlook the biggest one, as it was the one playing the same day our son was born, but let me give you the other two. First, Michael Caine is a phenomenal scrooge, who plays the whole thing as a serious actor, even when he's speaking to someone who can only say "Meep Meep Meep." That is the true tale of talent. Secondly, Steve Whitmere is my Kermit and his role of Rizzo the rat is irreplaceable. I accept no substitute. This is the definitive version of The Christmas Carol.

Ashley: I'll echo RJ's earlier statements; this is the best version of The Christmas Carol. From the music to the casting of Sir Michael Caine, everything about this movie makes it feel like Christmas to me. Also, this has one of the few cinematic outings of my favorite Muppet, Bean Bunny.

It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

RJ: Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. I am lucky to have a wife like Mary Bailey because everyone needs someone who is there to love and support you through everything life has to throw at you. George should have realized from the beginning, that the best thing to ever happen to him was finding her, but then that would be a much shorter film. Either way, this is the definitive film to watch to get into the holiday spirit.

Ashley: It's a Wonderful Life is not just my favorite Christmas movie, it's one of my favorite films ever made. I've watched this Frank Capra classic every year for as long as I can remember. It just feels entwined with the holidays for me and with the person I've become.

Avatar Dec 16, 2022

Show notes

In 2009, James Cameron looked at his record breaking film Titanic's box office success and whispered to himself in his castle in the sky that "it's not enough". In that moment, he released Avatar which to this day is the highest grossing motion picture of all time. No amount of Avengers, Spider-Men, or Hamlet adaptations can hold a candle to the piles of money that Avatar raked in. But since, the film has fallen far from the favor of many film goers. They make cheap comparisons of this herald of technology, world-building, and mote that is Avatar.

But with Avatar: The Way of Water coming, Dan decided to seek out a co-host that was so in tune with Avatar that he speaks the language and runs the biggest fan community dedicated to the film. Seth Wright agreed to join him on his journey back to Pandora to see if this time he would enjoy the film when he was one of the staunchest hold outs there was on Earth. Now, Dan has been reborn as a big blue ball of Na'vi love.

You may know Seth and his community (Kelutral which means life tree in the tongue of the Na'vi) from their appearance on the show How To with John Wilson on HBO. Their community thrives as a place where people have found their place of belonging with other fans of the series that goes so far past just a fan group. It's why we asked him to be on the show because despite the teasing they receive, their community thrives on connection and learning.

With Seth being one of the foremost experts on the world of Pandora, he gets to answer well thought out and intergral questions about the series from Dan like "Do they have nipples?" and "how do I say fuck?". The hard hitting journalism we are known for.

Prepare yourself, we are heading back to Pandora.

Talkin' Batman/Spawn with Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

If you have a pulse, you know the names Spawn and Batman. The two behemoths of the comics world are completely unavoidable. Both have spawned films, tv shows, video games, cartoons, and countless toys. Batman and Spawn are back together in Batman/Spawn #1, on sale now from DC Comics.

We are joined today by Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo to talk about the new crossover. Todd and Greg are joining forces once again to tackle the characters they have had a huge impact on the comics industry. Getting to chat with two of the biggest names in comics is an absolute honor for the show. It's even better that they're both extremely funny together.

Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo talk about their tenures on both characters. They chat about the evolution of the characters since they last crossed paths in the 90's. Each brings a unique perspective to the characters with their times with them. Todd talks about getting to write Batman.

Greg Capullo talks about which version of Batman's costume they included in the series and why. But we do get a chance to talk about the greatest bat suit of all time, his Rebirth redesign of Batman's suit. He talks a bit about how he is sad that it went away so quickly. (We are all sad about this, it's the best suit ever.)

With these two characters having the most iconic capes in comics, we talk about the use of capes in panels. We also talk about the size of their capes and how they both approach that. Dan also asks if Batman has a little bit of cape envy from Spawn having the best cape in comics. It's not about the size of your cape, it's about how you use it.

Todd McFarlane talks about the evolution of Spawn as a character and as a brand. With the recent line expansion of the Spawn Universe, we talk about the extended rosters and teams that share the universe. Todd touches a bit on if they are included in the series as well. Dan finds an excuse to talk about Haunt as usual.

Batman/Spawn #1 is on sale now at your local comic book shops and anywhere you get your comics!

Interview with a Scream King Josh Ruben Dec 07, 2022

Show notes

Comedy as a genre relies very heavily on timing to deliver jokes at a full impact. Horror also relies very heavily on timing as well to deliver jump scares or truly unsettling scenes. So it makes sense a lot of great comedy writers and actors can make the leap from one genre to the other or straddle the line. That is exactly what College Humor heavy hitter Josh Ruben has done. He has moved over from being Precious Plum's Mama to being the king of Shudder.

On today's show, Josh Ruben chats with Dan about just that. Horror and Comedy are two huge tentpoles of this conversation. They talk about Josh's super power of timing in his acting and directing films like Scare Me and Werewolves Within.

Josh Ruben talks about a few horror scenes that have stuck with him since they first buried themselves into his mind. The range of the scenes is very interesting that leads to a brief side bar about Joe Dante and spitting puppets.

The two get the chance to talk about some of the techniques and shots from Scare Me. The use of lightning is a hot topic in the interview. Josh also talks about how he is his hardest critic. It's an interesting look at how someone who is directing themselves views their performance.

They also got to chat about his most recent performance in A Wounded Fawn. Josh talks about how his background in comedy helped him push himself into a much harder performance as the audience will see in the film now available on Shudder. The film is a deeply unsettling but incredible next step for Josh as an actor.

Josh also talks about his upcoming graphic novel DARLA coming next year with Invader Comics. The premise sounds incredible so keep your eyes open for that one coming early 2023!

Talkin' Deadpool with Alyssa Wong Nov 30, 2022

Show notes

Deadpool goes by many monikers such as the Merc with the Mouth, Ryan Reynolds, the best X-Men, and so many more. With the major shifts all over the Marvel universe, where does Deadpool even fit these days? Well! Good thing you're here because we've got some answers on that because we're joined by Alyssa Wong! They are the writer of Deadpool's brand spankin' new series available now from Marvel Comics!

Alyssa and Dan start off their dive into Deadpool by talking about what really matters most to the character and the world, Carly Rae Jepsen. They speak about music and it's influences during the writing process of the series. We also semi-confirm that Deadpool probably listens to Ninja Sex Party.

Alyssa talks about Deadpool's identity as they talk about the person behind the mask. The series will be bringing a different side of the character to the forefront to explore different themes. Despite only having 1 issue on stands, Deadpool #1 gives us a look at how Wade Wilson sees himself in the scheme of things and how he views who he is currently. We also discuss his thoughts on his place in a Krakoa world.

The series brings som every big horror elements to the character in it's debut issue. Alyssa talks about their relationship with horror and introduces Dan to a new manga that you get to hear his brain try to wrap itself around. It's a look at Alyssa's relationship with body horror and gives a glimpse at what may be to come for Deadpool.

We also got a chance to chat about the new enby character Valentine Vuong and their importance of being seen on page. Alyssa and Dan discuss all of the new characters introduces in Deadpool #1 because they are something truly incredible to behold.

They also get a bit into their other series Doctor Aphra and what she's up to in the Star Wars universe!

Steven Universe Nov 23, 2022

Show notes

Join us at GateCrashers as Adair and Nikki record in scenic Beach City, Delmarva and delve into the world of Rebecca Sugar's television series Steven Universe and all the things that make this show more than just an animated series with a fantastic soundtrack. Steven Universe was divided into three distinct parts; Steven Universe the series (5 seasons), Steven Universe the Movie and a concluding limited series entitled Steven Universe Future which concluded in 2020.

5000 years after a great war of Gems, we meet Steven, a half boy half gem who lives with the "Crystal Gems" Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl who were friends of his mother Rose Quartz and fugitives from a great interstellar empire. Together the four live in (what appears to be) an abandoned temple on earth after the Gems rebelled against Homeworld alongside Rose. The story follows Steven's adventures, whether he is fighting monsters, developing friendships or learning to control his own powers.

In our conversation we discuss Rebecca Sugar's unique take on a Cartoon Network series and their decision to include complex dynamics and obstacles as the characters grow with the series. We look at the running themes of LGBTQ inclusivity, healthy interpersonal relationships, familial identity, depiction and developing awareness of mental illness and growth beyond trauma and abuse. Not to mention looking at the beautiful world built inside the show with original songs accompanying the changing circumstances and experiences of Steven and his community of found family.

Rian Johnson Interview at PFF 31 Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

At this year's Philadelphia Film Festival, I was lucky enough to attend as press which meant I got the chance to chat with Rian Johnson. The sequel to Knives Out called Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery played at the festival. The film itself is an incredible follow up to the first film with an outstanding ensemble cast. Rian Johnson only dives further into the world of mysteries. The sequel brings the series investigator Detective Blanc, played by the incredible Daniel Craig, back for another adventure.

I got the chance to chat with Rian Johnson for a bit about Detective Blanc, Daniel Craig's role in helping further the characters development, and the framework of this film's mystery.

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