GateCrashers

Latest Episodes:

The Legend of Korra Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

After the success of Avatar: The Last Airbender, show creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko decided to tell the story of the next Avatar; headstrong 17-year-old Korra of the Southern Water Tribe. Set seventy years after the concluding events of Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra catapulted watchers into the future of The Four Nations to see the mark Team Avatar left on their world, including the creation of Republic City, Aang's crowning achievement. Premiering April 14th, 2012 on Nickelodeon, The Legend of Korra ran for four seasons and expanded upon the world and lore of Avatar in new and exciting ways. Clearly ahead of its time, The Legend of Korra was the first show on Nickelodeon not programmed for Nick at Nite to show a same-sex relationship. From representation, to the addition of futuristic tech and Pro-Bending, Legend of Korra found a way to entice both new and old fans alike.

On today's episode, Jon, Scarlett, and Ashley enthusiastically venture once again to the Four Nations to discuss the sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra. GC's own Team Avatar DO THE THING and dive into topics such as the show's surprisingly dark themes, the villains, comparisons between the two shows, how Nickelodeon really screwed over the creative team mid-way through the series' run, and more! The trio also discuss some of The Legend of Korra comics and the recent news surrounding Avatar Studios. Coincidentally, the studio announced its formation the week after our Avatar: The Last Airbender episode dropped.

Whether you're a huge Avatar fan, or looking to discover more about it, today's episode is the perfect opportunity to explore this incredible world.

On this episode we cover:

The Legend of KorraBook 1: Air Book Two: Spirits Book Three: Change Book Four: Balance

Solar Opposites Interview with Cast and Producers Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

I will take every chance I get to spread the good word of the Solar Opposites. Luckily Disney and Hulu were kind enough to set up some interviews with the cast and producers for a Solar Opposites Interview! Solar Opposites has returned for a third season on Hulu with the series only pushing the boundaries of animation further and further.

Solar Opposites is about a team of four aliens escape their exploding homeworld only to crash land on Earth. They are evenly split on whether Earth is awful or awesome. Korvo (Justin Roiland) and Yumyulack (Sean Giambrone) only see the pollution, crass consumerism, and human frailty while Terry (Thomas Middleditch) and Jesse (Mary Mack) love humans and all their TV, junk food and fun stuff. Their mission: protect the Pupa, a living super computer that will one day evolve into its true form, consume them, and terraform the Earth.

The first half of the interview is with returning guest Mike McMahan, co-creator of Solar Opposites and creator of Star Trek Lower Decks. The last time we spoke, Mike was preparing for the Christmas special to be released. The episode was a wild ride itself but season 3 cranks the volume even louder. Josh Bycel, producer of shows like Psych and Happy Endings, joins us this time to talk about how working on the show this season has been.

The second half of the episode features the youngest Solar Opposites, Yumyulak and Jesse who are voiced by Sean Giambrone, from The Goldbergs, and Mary Mack who has my favorite voice on Earth (sorry everyone else). We talk about their sibling dynamic on and off the screen. Mary talks about how the Wall has become it's own thing and feels like it could be it's own thing soon enough.

DC Mech Interview Jul 08, 2022

Show notes

On this episode full of winners, Dan and Jake interview the DC Mech writer, Kenny Porter, and and artist, Baldemar Rivas! They discuss the upcoming DC Mech coming July 26th, 2022. Jake gets to gush over Gundam as one of the inspirations for the series. We seriously recommend you check out this new six issue series after listening to this DC Mech interview.

Also discussed is the DC Round Robin, a tournament that sees a new mini series chosen by fan voting. This contest been going on since 2021! Baldemar was on the first winning creative team as artist for the series Robins, with Tim Seeley, Robins is available now on the DC Universe Infinite app and in printed single issues.

Kenny Porter is the winning writer for the 2022 Round Robin with his pitch for Superboy, art by Jahnoy Lindsey!. This series has not been published yet so keep your eyes on upcoming solicitations to know when its available!

After both contests concluded in victories Jake supported he proudly admits to being smug and will continue to be smug when his top pick wins next year's Round Robin.

Other titles you can pick up from our guests:

Kenny Porter: Fearless from Scholastic, Yakuza comic from Sega, Barnstormers from Insight Kids, Dog Days of Summer, Batman Urban Legends, Comics Cursed Cavalcade, A Very Dc Halloween, New Year's Evil, The Doomed and the Damned, Superman Man of Tomorrow all out from DC Comics.

Baldemar Rivas: Unearth out from Image comics, Robins DC Comics, and other projects visible at http://baldemarrivas.com

Oh and to end this description on an important note. Sandwiches were unique choices and our guests should feel proud of that and their stellar first issue of DC Mech so check out the episode and the issue when it drops so we can talk about it!

Minions Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

What do Dan McMahon and 75% of the middle aged women on Facebook have in common? They love the Minions. They think about these little yellow freaks constantly. Today, that love is being put on record as Dan and Ethan go off the rails to talk all about Despicable Me and Minions.

We dive head first into the history of the Minions with a rowdy reading of the timeline of their journey to Gru. Dan reads Minion memes he finds on Google while trying not to die from some of the things he reads. If you're looking for the most joyous celebration of the denim loving, banana worshiping, goggle wearing little angels then this is the place for you.

Listen as Dan tries to list of what other films the outrageously talented voice casts have starred in. The choices may shock you. Also Alan Arkin is alive which Dan only found out after this was recorded. With jam packed voice acting, the films also sport some of the best soundtracks in any kid's film. The newest album was produced by Jack Antonoff of Bleachers fame and producing every major pop start in the past 10 years as well.

Have you seen Dan's review of Minions: The Rise of Gru where he revealed his truest minion self for the rising of Gru? If you haven't be sure to check it out here. If you catch him at any con soon, he may also be sporting the outfit as well. Coming from a man who saw Despicable Me 2 in theatres more than 3 times, none of this should be a shock.

If you've been on the fence because of the weird mom memes, please give the Minions another chance. They've got big hearts, bright eyes, and humor that's worth it's weight in gold.

What We Covered:

Despicable Me 1 & 2Minions

Spoilers for Minions 2: Rise of Gru at the end of the episode

Our Flag Means Death Jun 29, 2022

Show notes

In Our Flag Means Death, sailing the open seas meant freedom for many in the 1700s, and that could not be more true than it is for real-life pirate captain Stede Bonnet, the Gentleman Pirate! Running away from his life and family among the colonial elite of British Barbados, Stede builds a boat, hires a crew, and fails miserably as a pirate captain… that is until he meets the infamous Blackbeard!

To celebrate the last week of Pride, Amanda and Patrick find themselves sailing the high seas, where they stay mostly on topic as they discuss the breakout queer pirate comedy Our Flag Means Death from HBO Max! Join us as we delve into our favorite moments, characters, and themes of one of the best-executed queer shows on television today. Come listen as they talk about the subtle ways this show keeps important topics light and how empowering it is to see a wide variety of actual queer folk (actors and characters) represented onscreen. Patrick delves into his roots as a history major to bring you some fun facts from the history of Atlantic piracy, while Amanda screeches about kissing, Mary's post-Stede life, and how showrunner and creator David Jenkins fights queerbaiting head-on.

With a second season recently announced, Amanda and Patrick talk about what they're looking forward to in the new season. Their love for all things Taika Waititi is evident as they gush over the powerhouse cast that includes the likes of Rhys Darby, Vico Ortiz, Con O'Neill, Nathan Foad, Leslie Jones, and Samson Kayo. Later, Patrick declares himself firmly pro-pirate, while Amanda brings up other notable ways this show creates an inclusive space.

So join us as we set sail in search of some booty (and love) on this edition of GateCrashers! Spoiler Warning: this episode discusses the first season of Our Flag Means Death in its entirety in the second half of the episode.

Cover art by Liana Kangas.

Stranger Things: Stranger Theories Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

A dark cloud has hung over the town of Hawkins for the past few years, and things are certainly not getting any brighter. The line between our world and the upside down thins as an old, yet familiar enemy run's out the clock on the youth of this formerly quiet town.

We settle in as our GateCrasher hosts Ethan, Jon, and RJ find themselves venturing into this Netflix behemoth, only to find themselves trapped in a realm that does not take so kindly to trespassers.

On the heels of a spell-binding first half of Season 4, and merely a week away to its culmination, it's time to sit back and listen to our crew discuss Stranger Things and even stranger theories.

Season 4 opens on a town that is attempting to move past its tragic mall fire, and the familiar faces we have grown to love, trying to get on with their lives after the defeat of the Mind Flayer. However, some are having a harder time to acclimate than others.

Our group is dealing with some tragic losses, Max is grieving Billy, Joyce is missing Hopper, and Eleven is struggling in a life without her 'Dad' and her powers. In customary Stranger Things fashion, the Duffers waste no time in introducing this season's Big Bad, the Dream-Killer himself, Vecna. Don't worry, through the darkness comes the light, with another addition to this season's cast, our Hellfire Club President and Guitar Hero, Eddie Munson. This season leans heavily into the realm of horror as our band of misfits face their toughest opponent yet, with everyone holding their breath until the season finale on July 1st.

It's a credit to the cast, the writing, and the directing of Stranger Things, that even though we are now into the 4th year of this show, our group has rallied behind the idea that Season 4 may be its' best yet. With the recent announcement of the series ending after Season 5, we all can't help but wonder what is in store for this lovable cast of characters. Now, the discussion of these past 7 episodes may go off the rails a bit, but trust us, our love for this series is what shines through all the chaos. So, put on your favorite song, and come journey into the upside down.

Star Wars Celebration Jun 22, 2022

Show notes

A few weeks ago, Dan and Ethan made the long trek to California to celebrate all things A Galaxy Far, Far Away at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim. Not only was Dan incredibly lucky to attend the convention as a member of the press, but it was also the first time Dan and Ethan got the chance to meet in the flesh-realm.

Braving a convention center packed with tens of thousands of Star Wars fans, and a days excursion to the planet Batuu in the star system known only as Disneyland, Dan got the chance to sit down at Star Wars Celebration and interview a host of people involved in the making of this iconic franchise, including:

The architects of Star Wars: The High Republic; Charles Soule, Cavan Scott, Claudia Gray, Justina Ireland, and Daniel José Older.
Star Wars: Brotherhood author Mike Chen.
Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith author Adam Christopher.
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi writer Christopher Cantwell.
Star Wars audiobook narrator Marc Thompson.
And a very special guest to answer our famous sandwich question...

Also in today's podcast, Dan and Ethan discuss their favorite moments from Star Wars Celebration. Why In-N-Out Burger is not all it's made out to be. All that, and a minor tangent to discuss Robocop legend Kurtwood Smith.

GWAR Interview with Pustulus Maximus Jun 21, 2022

Show notes

GateCrashers has interviewed a huge array of guests from artists to Tony winners to New York Times Best Selling authors but nothing can measure up to one of the scum dogs of the universe, GWAR. The Intergalactic conquerors/band known as GWAR have released a new album entitled "The New Dark Ages" that is available to stream now on all platforms. The physical CD will be released on July 15th along with the tie in comic GWAR: In the Duoverse of Absurdity from Z2 comics. The vinyl and cassette versions of the album release on September 16th via the band's own Pit Records.

Dan sat down with guitarist Pustulus Maximus to have a deep conversation from a range of topics. One of the major themes of the album is the loss of truth and the belief in lies. One of the tracks "Mother Fucking Liar" lays out the bands feelings on the subject very well. They speak about the impact of the lack of trust in science and how the human race has essentially doomed itself and continues to chose to do so.

Dan checks in on the "War on Gwar" from the previous album to see how that rages on. Pustulus talks about performing for live audiences after some time away in isolation, spoilers everyone is a hell of a lot hornier.

Pustulus also dives into a bit of a conversation about what cancel culture is and a human's ability to grow as a person over time which should be nurtured rather than stomped out.

Be sure to check out Gwar's new album "The New Dark Ages" right fucking now.

DC Pride Interview with Marissa Louise Jun 15, 2022

Show notes

We are joined by colorist Marissa Louise to chat about her work on the Nubia story "Confessions" in this year's DC Pride anthology! We chat about her approach to color, her signature color, and her recent work on the Black Manta mini series. Marissa also gives some resources for how you can help out the LGBTQIA+ community which are all linked on our website!

Welcome to Jurassic Park Jun 08, 2022

Show notes

It all started with a mosquito stuck in amber and ends with Dinosaurs reclaiming the Earth. Welcome to Jurassic Park! As the Jurassic Park series ends its second trilogy with Jurassic World Dominion, Dan decided to invite Mike to his newest endeavor on Isla Nublar.

Tune in for a retelling of the original film Jurassic Park if it starred a handsome, thick, charming, funny, and modest founder named Dan McMahon. He once again drags his friend Mike into his crazy scheme which unfolds into a night from hell filled with prehistoric predators. (Shout out to John Williams for helping taking an audio play from an 8 to an 11. We owe it all to you.)

Mike talks about when he first saw Jurassic Park when he was around 10 and the effect it had on him. Dan explains how he watched the film way too young almost every day at his grandparents. It is one of the rare occasions when Dan had a film committed to memory. They both regale about the time they saw the film together with a live orchestra. An extremely memorable but muggy experience.

On the actual episode we cover Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, and Jurassic World: Battle at Big Rock. We discuss our love of dinosaurs. Dan reveals how Jurassic Park influenced his fraternity pregame playlist. Mike doesn't let Dan forget to talk about scores. Oh, Dan talks at length about theme parks and the logistics surrounding them. Turns out, he's really into them and wanted more of that in Jurassic World. They both gush about practical effects and the weight of dinosaurs in Jurassic Park.

"God creates dinosaurs, God destroys dinosaurs. God creates Man, Man destroys God. Man creates dinosaurs."

"Dinosaurs eat Man..... Woman inherits the earth."

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