GateCrashers

Latest Episodes:

Annual 4: Batman Themed 4th Anniversary Party Nov 18, 2022

Show notes

Today is the fourth anniversary of GateCrashers. It has been four years of incredible experiences every single day. What started as a small podcast project between Dan, Jake, and Mike with the goal of helping people get into DC Comics has blossomed into something much bigger.

GateCrashers is now a full website with multiple podcasts and a lot more coming soon. We've interviewed some of the biggest creatives in the comics industry and beyond to have conversations about life, love, and art. The podcast has had multiple musical numbers and a full musical. It's been full of laughter and bits since day one.

GateCrashers is a place where so many people who have never written or had the chance to speak about things that bring them joy get the chance to do just that. Everything we do is rooted in the mission that we want everything to be approachable and accessible for everyone. We want to help you find something to fall in love with. Life can be hard and sometimes you need to escape into the worlds we talk about on the site and show. GateCrashers is so much more than it was at the start with three people sitting in their bedrooms talking about the Justice League.

Today's episode is a special unscripted celebration of the man who got both Dan and Jake into DC Comics which started this whole thing. The late great Kevin Conroy brought Batman to generations of kids who needed a hero that could inspire them to be more and do what is right in the world.

You don't need superpowers to make a difference. Just a big heart and the desire to create a brighter world around you any way you can.

Thank you for being here with us. Thank you for the constant support of the listeners and readers. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting this thing that has brought me so much joy. Don't ever let anyone say you aren't capable of doing something. Even if it seems hard, just ask for a hand and we can get in those gates together.

I don't know where we will go from here but I can promise it won't be boring.

Thank you.

Wiper Interview with John Harris Dunning Nov 16, 2022

Show notes

On today's episode, we are joined by writer and journalist John Harris Dunning to discuss his new graphic novel Wiper from Dark Horse Comics. This was a rare early morning interview with Dan and the energy is very different as they get into the book, John's inspirations, and many topics.

Wiper follows Lula Nomi who is a Wiper--a private detective who guarantees complete discretion. A memory wipe after every job sees to that. When she is hired by enigmatic robot Klute she thinks the case is the answer to all her problems. But there's something oddly familiar about Klute--and the more she investigates the disappearance of journalist Orson Glark, the more she suspects that he's somehow connected to her own past . . . Lula must face her greatest fears to learn what happened to Glark . . . and the truth about herself.

In our conversation, John discusses some of the major themes of the book and its exploration of identity. John and Dan get into the construction of the world of Wiper. It's a story that has an optimistic view of the future which is rare in cyberpunk type settings which makes it a truly unique science fiction story.

John discusses the making of Wiper in depth with how he and artist Ricardo Cabral worked together to construct their world. He also talks about how they collaborated with their colorist Brad Simpson so everyone was in sync on the overall vibe of the world. The end product is an incredibly dense but beautiful world that frames linger on to draw you into their world.

John gives insight into his life and influences from growing up in South Africa that can be seen in the comic itself. It's one of the most eye opening conversations we have had on the show that brings such insight into someone's craft especially on a book like Wiper.

Tom King and Mitch Gerads Talk One Bad Day: The Riddler Nov 11, 2022

Show notes

The Killing Joke is a comic that ended up steering the trajectory of the character of the Joker almost permanently after it came out. For better or worse, the story of the day the Joker finally went too far has stuck with audiences. In the comic the Joker says this line:

All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That's how far the world is from where I am. Just one bad day.

The Joker, The Killing Joke (1988)

But what if other members of Batman's rogues had their one bad day? With DC's series of Batman: One Bad Day, we are now getting to see what those are from some of the biggest names in the industry.

The series kicked off with Tom King, Mitch Gerads, and Clayton Cowles telling the story of The Riddler's one bad day. Tom King and Mitch Gerads are a Eisner Award winning duo who's previous joint work on titles like Mister Miracle, Strange Adventures, and more has cemented them as giants in the industry.

Tom King and Mitch Gerads portrayal of The Riddler is a dark and calculated turn by the silly man in the green get up that pushes the character to the limit with a beautifully crafted story and artwork to match. It's a story that dives deeper into the character himself but defines his origins with more gravitas and weight than he was previously given. This story has the makings to be the definitive Riddler story for years to come.

On this episode, Tom King and Mitch Gerads come on to dive deeper into the story, the art, and the themes of the book. This episode is filled to the brim with SPOILERS so please read the issue before listening to this in depth discussion. It's a great conversation discussing the duo and the story they got to kick off the One Bad Day series with.

The comic is available anywhere you get your comics. If you do not have a local comic shop, be sure to check out Third Eye who will hook you up.

Alien Nov 09, 2022

Show notes

"In space, no one can hear you scream." Those were the words emblazoned across posters in 1979 when Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror, Alien, debuted in theatres; birthing more than 40 years of terror. And that's what we're here to discuss on today's podcast as Dan, Ethan, and first-time host Quinn gather together to talk all things xenomorph.

The discussion this week includes diving deep into the themes of Alien, why it is such an iconic film in both sci-fi and horror circles, the iconic production design that created such a unique environment for the Nostromo crew to be hunted through by the titular alien, and some fun bits of trivia from filming.

We also dig into James Cameron's equally iconic Alien follow-up, Aliens. This includes regaling Dan with the legendary story of Cameron's original pitch to 20th Century Fox and how the title became pluralized. There's also talk of the new characters introduced in Aliens, including the deeply missed Bill Paxton's Hudson, the corporate asshole Burke, and the beloved android Bishop.

Following on from Aliens, we look at the unfairly maligned Alien 3, why it secretly rules, and is well worth a reappraisal. There's also discussion on the series' first time grappling with religion and how someone can hold their faith in the face of an alien presence. Then we briefly touch on the fairly maligned Alien: Resurrection and how a film this…not great gets made (hint, it's got something to do with the creator of Firefly).

To close off, we dive into Ridley Scott's return to the franchise he kicked off with his one-two punch of prequels Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. This includes talk on the relationship between creator and creation, more exploration of faith in the Alien franchise and how science and faith co-exist or more often don't, and why Michael Fassbender's David is not just the best character in the franchise, but maybe one of the best creations of the last decade.

So make sure to listen in as we join up with a squad of marines on a black ops operation run by the Weyland-Yutani corporation for a feature-length bug hunt.

Titans Interview at NYCC Nov 08, 2022

Show notes

On a very special New York Comic Con special episode of GateCrashers, Dan got the chance to chat with the Titans. Yes, you read that right. Dan spoke with a few members of the cast of the HBO Max show Titans which is the adaptation of multiple versions of the Teen Titans. With GateCrashers starting as a DC Comics-centric brand, this was a very surreal moment for Dan. Getting to shake the hands of Nightwing, Superboy, and Beast Boy was not something he ever thought he would get to do nor do many other people get that same chance. Check out our Titans Interview episode anywhere you download podcasts as we chat about how far the actors have come and season 4 in general.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Nov 02, 2022

Show notes

On today's episode, Cidnya and Jake look at the strange world of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure! The pair talk about the saga of the Joestar family as they battle the lingering evil of Dio Brando and the relics that resulted in his rise to power. Primarily dealing with the first six JoJos of the franchise and briefly touching on the seventh and eighth protagonists of the series.

Beginning in England they talk about the start of the feud as Jonathan Joestar learns of villainous intents of his foster brother Dio Brando that leads the former to the power of Hamon to battle the latter's newfound vampirism! After discussing the body-snatching shenanigans, the two talk about the pulpy adventure of wild misogynistic trickster Joseph Joestar as he takes of the beings behind vampirism, the mighty Pillar Men!

With the nazi cyborg and the power of Hamon firmly behind them, Cid and Jake kinda talk about how the most popular part, "Stardust Crusaders" is far from the best but introduces elements to set it apart as Joseph introduces his grandson Jotaro Kujo to the concept of a Stand as they fight and defeat Dio, himself, once and for all. But while our hosts did not care too much for the crusaders, they both agree that Joseph's illegitimate son Josuke Higashikata and "Diamond is Unbreakable" as he and his friends live a semi-normal life while also investigating a serial killer and an ancient stand-giving arrow once owned by Dio! Breaking from Japan, our hosts found themselves in Italy discussing Giorno Giovanna, the son of Dio (well his head on Jonathan's body) as he rises through the ranks of the Italian underworld learning more about the properties of the arrow! Lastly the main JoJo our episode covers is Jolyne Cujoh, daughter of Jotaro, as she battles Father Pucci, Dio's disciple and priest at the Green Dolphin State Prison, in the final installment of the original JoJo universe! Jake briefly talks about his excitement for the reboot universe and to see Johnny Joestar collect the body parts of Jesus Christ.

Also Jake investigates what happened to his brother after the events of GateSlashers 2, in the laziest way possible.

For more of Jake talking about JoJo click here for his review of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R, and for the context of the opening of GateSlashers 2 click here!

Evil Dead Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

Another year of GateSlashers comes to an end as Dan and Jake make it back to the GateCrashers HQ to face off against the Grave Robber. Jordan joins Dan to discuss The Evil Dead franchise. Jordan does sound like a deadite after recovering from every type of illness that can make your throat hurt but he didn't back down from grabbing his chainsaw to help to see if this series is for you.

Jordan and Dan end this year's GateSlashers with one of their favorite franchises. Jordan talks about his entrance into the franchise which shocked Dan because it is unlike any he has heard before. Dan talks about his parties where they'd watch the film and how Bruce Campbell dunked on him as a teenager.

The Evil Dead franchise is known for its blood, gore, and most of all for its humor. Jordan discusses some of the filming techniques used by Sam Raimi that were born from having nearly no budget to make their vision come true. Dan talks about their practical effects and unique monsters for the franchise. They also discuss which of the entrances into the series are for different people. Dan gushes about how much he loves the television version of Ash is his favorite.

What we covered:

The Evil Dead

Evil Dead II

Army of Darkness

The Evil Dead

Ash vs Evil Dead

Evil Dead (The Video Game)

Outside the normal episode, today is the finale of GateSlashers II: I Want to Believe. Dan and Jake call in some help from Ethan to help them translate the Necronomicon to send the Grave Robber from wherever he came from. We reveal the origin of the GateCrashers biggest foe as monsters, demons, and all sorts of evil threaten to destroy the world. Will the GateCrashers stop the ultimate threat before it's too late or will GateSlashers really be forever? Find out today!

(Make sure to stay till the end... we have taken enough pages out of the DC book. Thought we'd take one from Marvel's...)

Chainsaw Man Interview with Ryan Colt Levy Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

Amanda sits down with voice actor and friend of the pod Ryan Colt Levy once again, a year after his original GateCrashers debut. Together, they discuss Ryan Colt Levy's role as the English voice actor of Denji, the eponymous protagonist of Chainsaw Man, one of the most highly anticipated anime of the fall season, if not of 2022.

Check out the video interview here!

After being in production from MAPPA since December 2020, the anime adaptation finally launched on Crunchyroll October 11, 2022 in North America. Adapted from the Japanese manga series of the same name by mangaka Tatsuki Fujimoto, which began its serialization in 2018, Chainsaw Man follows 16-year-old Denji who, in order to pay off his deceased father's debts, becomes a devil hunter. Alongside his only friend in the world, a devil pup with a chainsaw for a head named Pochita, the duo slay horrific creatures until, after a job gone wrong, Pochita and Denji fuse together to become the devil-human hybrid, Chainsaw Man. As a greater evil lurks overhead, Denji learns how to navigate the world with his newfound power, he meets friends and foes alike on his quest for belonging, human connection, and good food.

Amanda and Ryan Colt Levy, fresh off a whirlwind New York Comic Con, dive headfirst into what it's like being cast as the lead role for such a sought after property, the intersection of comedy and horror, the importance of well-drawn characters, the history of chainsaws, and the thrill of a new project.

You can purchase physical copies of Chainsaw Man wherever you buy your manga or read the entirety of part one and catch up on the new weekly serializations of part two on the Viz Media and Shonen Jump mobile apps. The sub of Chainsaw Man is streaming on Crunchyroll now; the dub is set to begin uploading starting Tuesday, October 25.

Stephen King: Nightmare Royalty Oct 19, 2022

Show notes

One day you might find yourself on a lonely stretch of road in the state of Maine, with a destination that doesn't show on any map. You do not listen to the friendly gas station attendant who tells that you'll find nothing there, but trouble. Even the waitress at the cozy diner asks why anyone would want to visit such a place. But, you've never been one to turn down an adventure, be it fool-hardy or not. However, upon arrival, you realize your grave mistake, a second too late of course. Welcome to a world created by Bangor's favorite author, for everyone knows, all roads lead to Stephen King.

In this episode, Jon and RJ will take you through the dark and twisted literary universe of Stephen King. Now, not all of his work is strictly horror as you will see in our selected picks from his 60+ novels and short stories. It's actually quite difficult to focus on our individual 'Top 5' to culminate in a selected list of 10 pieces of work that give readers new and old, something to enjoy:

Salem's Lot [1975]

The Shining [1977]

The Stand [1978]

Dark Tower: The Gunslinger [1982]

Desperation [1996]

Under The Dome [2009]

11/22/63 [2011]

Joyland [2013]

Doctor Sleep [2013]

Revival [2014]

To round out this episode Jon and RJ took time examined the highs and lows of King's film adaptations, and there were some tremendous works of art, and absolute piles of shit to be found. Albeit, some of this can be attributed to some of King's extraneous drug and alcohol use, but neither Jon nor RJ can excuse the creation and follow through of Dreamcatcher.

Dan and Jake make it to Maine before dealing with a killer clown from outer-space in part III of GateSlashers: I Want to Believe.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to continue on our GateSlashers journey please enjoy our X-Files episode or our Devilman Crybaby episode! We hope you enjoyed this journey into the mind of Stephen King, until next time constant reader, stay scared.p

NYCC Hulu Animation Interviews (The Paloni Show, Koala Man, and Solar Opposites) Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

For the first of a few New York Comic Con special interview episodes, we have the entire line up of Hulu's adult animation slate. I was lucky enough to sit down with the creators, producers, and voice actors of the best shows the world has to offer. Hulu has been offering a wide arrange of incredible animation and doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon with testing out many new things like holiday specials and more.

First up is Koala Man! This show doesn't premiere until early next year on Hulu. I was lucky enough to chat with some of the people who make it happen. I can't say much but the first episode is an absolute riot and I cannot WAIT till you all see it. The first interview is with the creator Michael Cusack and actress Demi Lardner who discuss their Australian experience and wrestling Hugh Jackman. The second interview is with co-showrunners with recent co-host Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit who discuss superhero tropes and The Simpsons effect on animation.

The second interview is with two of the minds behind the Hulu Halloween special The Paloni Show. This hour long special is available now to stream. It's absolutely hilarious but is one of the strangest and horrifically bold pieces of animation in a long time. It strives to push the limits of comedy and horror into the absurd. It's a must watch. I spoke with Ben Bayouth and Zach Hadel who both worked on the show. Zach co-created the show Smiling Friends with Michael Cusack for Adult Swim as well.

Our final interview is with multiple time guest Mike McMahan and executive producer Danielle Uhlarik to talk about one of my favorite shows Solar Opposites on Hulu. We get the chance to talk about the last season, Hulu itself, and the strength of Disney's legal teams. It's public news now but Mike revealed they have been picked up for season 5 during our interview as well!

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