Comic Geek Speak Podcast - The Best Comic Book Podcast

We got Comic Talk--right here on Comic Geek Speak!--with a capital 'C' and that rhymes with 'P' and that stands for Peter Rios, who joins us on this episode for a lively chat about about our recent CGS group outing to see his production of 'The Music Man'! After that, we engage in a bit of Shop Talk and Con Talk, congratulate Tom King, mourn Gene Wilder, question whether rumors of 'the death of comics journalism' might be greatly exaggerated, and just generally let it alllll hang out. See what good can come of our original episode plans falling through! (56:55)

It's Ladies' Month (oh, what a month!) for Off the Racks, as the Geeks analyze three July releases featuring female protagonists: Betty & Veronica #1 from Archie, Faith (ongoing) #1 from Valiant, and Batgirl & The Birds of Prey: Rebirth #1 from DC. Plus bonus reviews, and a Muddle the Murd! (1:11:52)

TV shows continuing on in comics; the 46th edition of the Overstreet Price Guide; spoiler-filled talk on Ghostbusters, Star Trek Beyond, Batman: The Killing Joke movie, and Batman vs Superman ultimate edition. All these topics and more tonight on Comic Geek Speak. (1:16:14)

If you say it three times it will appear - Previews, Previews, Previews! Time to go through the August catalog for items shipping to stores starting in October. (1:18:23)

A double-stuffed catch-up round of Off the Racks, giving overdue attention to select releases from May and June: DC's Future Quest #1, Valiant's 4001 AD #1, IDW's Tales from the Darkside #1, and issues #0 and #1 of Marvel's Civil War II event miniseries. (1:10:53)

The Con-of-all-Cons has come and gone, and Pants was there! Hear the full account of his experiences at Comic-Con International 2016 in San Diego, interspersed with news items and announcements from the con. Plus a sidebar (with SPOILERS) on the controversial Batman: The Killing Joke animated movie, and a can't-miss 'Pants on the Floor' with Julie Benson and good ol' Uncle Sal. (The secret word is 'Stegron'!) (1:26:11)

It's Previews time! We go through the July catalog for items shipping to stores beginning in September. (1:37:58)

Whosoever downloads this podcast, if they be worthy, shall possess the knowledge of... Thor in the Silver Age! Chris Eberle spins the titanic tale of how Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and friends permanently expanded the definition of what superhero characters and stories could be, by incorporating the ancient mythology of the Norsemen into the modern mythology of Marvel Comics. Hearken to the origins of Marvel's Mighty Thor, his fabled homeland of Asgard, and his friends, foes, and family, and wonder at his earliest adventures, which take him from the streets of New York to the furthest reaches of space! Cosmic grandeur awaits! (3:02:02)

Bryan Deemer (yes, THAT Bryan Deemer!) weighs in on DCU: Rebirth #1. Murd and Pants recap their trip to Heroes Con 2016. Bryan, Murd, and Chris swap true tragic tales of water damage. Pants sings the Collection Reorganization Blues... with a descant singing the praises of Brian K. Vaughan! Oh, those Geeks--what WON'T they squeeze into a Comic Talk episode? (1:18:33)

Marvel-maven Chris E.'s statement on the controversial climax of Captain America (2016) #1, our reviews of X-Men: Apocalypse, and a call for audience participation in the observance of Jamie D's Golden Jubilee: all of the above are packed into this compact edition of Comic Talk! (43:06)

Save some room for Previews! We go through the June catalog for items shipping starting in August. (1:05:28)

Get set for '70s-style space-opera (IDW's Micronauts #1), '90s-style sci-fi/horror (DC's Bloodlines #1), and an ultra-contemporary take on 'jungle action' (Marvel's Black Panther #1) in this edition of Off the Racks! Plus bonus reviews, including Chris Eberle's thoughts on DCU: Rebirth #1! (1:16:41)

It's the time of the Preacher! We're amazed it's taken us this long, but CGS is finally initiated into the holy orders of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's epic 1990s Vertigo series, a rip-roaring saga of over-the-top violence, off-color humor, social and religious satire, and good ol' Western grit. It's the tall tale of Jesse Custer, a small-town Texas preacher who's touched by the renegade hybrid essence of Heaven and Hell themselves and sets out on a 'search for God' like no other! Get the CGS perspective on the first three story arcs of the original Preacher comic, from old hands and neophytes alike, to enhance your AMC viewing experience! (1:52:57)

Extra! Extra! Hear all about the Geeks' reactions to the brand-redefining deluxe 80-page special DC Universe: Rebirth #1, recorded on said special's day of release! The joy! The tears! The hope! The skepticism! The theories! The RIOS!! If you listen to only one episode of Comic Geek Speak today, it MUST be this one! (1:26:55)

In which the premature passing of Darwyn Cooke is marked and mourned by the Geeks; the new logo of DC Comics is analyzed by a professional graphic designer (and two mere laymen); a Murd is Muddled; and idle chatter is exchanged on the subject of comics recently read. Listen in good health! (1:19:06)

A Previews episode with a difference! First a Free Comic Book Day 2016 recap and a dip into the CGS Mailbag; THEN the monthly catalog breakdown (May edition, for items shipping starting in July) you've come to know and love. (1:53:26)

There's no internal strife among the Geeks in this rundown of Marvel Studios' Captain America: Civil War--we all loved it! We sift through the nebula of MCU stars, old (Cap; Iron Man) and new (Black Panther; Spider-Man), appearing in the film, and revisit our favorite lines, moments, plot twists, Easter eggs, etc. Of course, SPOILERS abound! Whose side are YOU on? If it's the side of awesomeness, download this episode pronto! (1:16:26)

The forces of oblivion press on across DC Universe timespace, from World War II Markovia to the American Old West to 30th Century Metropolis, as more heroes meet their doom! Meanwhile, your hosts share some speculation about the upcoming DC Rebirth special event! (3:06:45)

Fifty years after his daring debut, T'Challa, warrior-king of Wakanda, known throughout the Marvel Universe as the Black Panther, receives the royal treatment from CGS! Prof. Chris Eberle, holder of the T'Chaka Chair in History at Wakanda Polytechnic, outdoes himself in this episode, providing exhaustive background on the Panther's friends and foes, the culture and geography of his realm, and the narrative highlights of the past half-century of his adventures. Long Live the King! (3:30:45)

We've got a full house of five Geeks for this one, and special guest Julie Benson makes six! We talk to Julie about her upcoming gig as co-writer of Batgirl and the Birds of Prey for DC, and then the conversation goes a-wandering, from TV talk to this year's Eisner Awards nominees to a brief history of CGS promotional buttons! How many hoots can you handle?! (1:57:58)