Comic Geek Speak Podcast - The Best Comic Book Podcast

Just in the nick of time, with days to spare, it's time for Previews! Ian, Murd and Chris crack open Image Catalog Issue 8, DC Connect issue 46, Marvel Previews Vol 6 issue 30, and Diamond Previews issue 426 as their sources of selections, with comics mainly set for May 2024 release. Highlights include Jonathan Hickman and Sanford Greene's Doom, Garth Ennis' return to Nick Fury, Space Ghost is back at Dynamite, Mark Russell's Death Ratio'd, Remender and Posehn's Grommets, I Can Count to Ten and much more! (2:51:23)

A second podcast release in a week? Just like old times! And this one is much anticipated indeed. Chris, Murd, and Ian give their nominations for the CGS Best of 2023 Awards, along with the choices made by YOU, the listeners! Who will be selected in each of the sixteen categories as our favorites? Listening in will solve that question for yas. And once you do, you'll have until Sunday, April 7th at 11:59pm ET to get your final ballots in to bestof@comicgeekspeak.com; please vote in at least 12 of the sixteen categories to have your ballots properly counted. Happy voting! (2:40:51)

The countdown to Comic Geek Speak's 20th Anniversary begins here! What better way to start the celebrations than to announce early plans for a gathering in Reading, Pa. for March 2025! Listen in to hear how we are hoping to involve you, the listeners! And then Peter, Pants, Shane and Bryan continue the geek topics with: Broadway Geek Speak, a rousing trivia segment led by Pants based on Overstreet Price Guide comic values (it’s fun and challenging, believe us!), the Oscars, digging into recent issues of the Energon Universe (Void Rivals, Duke, Cobra Commander and Transformers), Gone by Jock, Thundercats from Dynamite, the Marvels, Neil Gaiman's Heritage art auction, reactions to the X-Men: From the Ashes title announcements and more! (2:11:56)

Peter and Adam return to the Crisis Tapes to begin their in-depth coverage of Crisis on Infinite Earths issue 7. The main feature of this episode is a breakdown of the iconic cover by George Pérez as well as some of the many homages it has spawned over the years. We then cover the first five pages of this double-size shocker in grand Footnotes style. Along the way, listen in for Crisis Fun Facts, thoughts on the Crisis related toy figures from McFarlane Toys, untold stories we'd like to see, and other DC Comics continuity tidbits. (3:01:01)

A more fitting episode couldn't possibly have been recorded on the day of CGS' nineteenth anniversary. Artist extraordinaire Dave Wachter, a man who has been a guest, friend, and listener since 2005, comes on to discuss his latest book, Uncanny Valley, with Chris, Shane, Murd and Ian. They also talk how Dave first got into comics and then subsequently got back into them in the 2000s, his recent run on Punisher and getting to design the new legacy version of the character, Planet of the Apes the movie and getting the draw the comic set in the new movie universe, an undying love of 80s cartoons and pop culture, some Super Show memories, and so much more. Plus, Murd dishes on Superman: Meshi, Ian makes his prediction come true and gives thoughts on Madame Web, Muddle the Murd and more! (1:52:31)

Pants and Peter cover various topics such as: Old Pants Speak, a Tom King signing in Baltimore, January’s Original Art Expo in Orlando, behind the scenes info on the 52 weekly comic series, recent Comic Link results, trivia from the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, Newsstand vs Direct Market covers, current reading including Gotham City Year One, Dawn of DC, and Green Arrow, as well as older titles such as From Hell, an update on Pants’ TV watching, and more! (1:37:40)

Shane, Murd and Ian are here to bring you this month's Previews! Image Catalog Issue 7, DC Connect issue 45, Marvel Previews Vol 6 issue 29, and Diamond Previews issue 425 are the books this month, with comics mainly set for a April 2024 release. Highlights include the return of Disney's Hercules, a reboot for Deadpool, Brainiac returns for a Superman crossover, RoboForce is back, and bunches of other tantalizing comics. (2:36:43)

It's Comic Talk time once more! Shane, Murd, Ian and Chris start things off with some show announcements, including the launch of the Best of 2023 Awards nominations, then go into the mass exodus of artists from Cadence Comic Art. Then, Murd and Chris give their thoughts on Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, with some spoilers within (12:22-30:54), then Ian and Chris give their thoughts on Marvel's latest Disney+ offering, Echo (spoiler free) and Ian goes all What If...? Other topics include birthday comic related birthday gifts, Chris catches up on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Shane goes World of Toys on GI Joe Classified, Bat-Communicators, and new Macfarlane Toys Batman and Robin and DC Superpowers revivals. Plus recent reads such as Murd finally finishing reading the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, Bizarro's return in Action Comics 1061 and Zorro's return in Zorro: Man of the Dead, Shane concludes Human Target and catches up on Wonder Woman, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Transformers, Cobra Command

IT'S A MADHOUSE!!! We finally make a monkey out of you, as we return for another entry in our Retro Movie Review series, this time with Chris' choice, the original Planet of the Apes. This classic Rod Serling and Franklin J. Schaffner science fiction opus crafted a franchise that is still cooking 56 years later. Murd, Ian, Chris and Shane discuss the minutia of the film itself, the world building, Charlton Heston's impossible to match gravitas, the relationship between Zira and Cornelius, beards making you look smarter, some trivia you may not know, and so much more. I love you, Dr. Zaius! (1:53:37)

It's the first Previews of 2024! Chris, Murd and Ian bring forth a doozy of a read-through of Image Catalog Issue 6, DC Connect issue 44, Marvel Previews Vol 6 issue 28, and Diamond Previews issue 424, clocking in at nearly three hours of choice selections, with books mostly set for a March 2024 release! Highlights include Biker Mice From Mars, The Last Mermaid splashes onto shore, Greg Weisman brings us The Spectacular Spider-Men, Zdarsky's Batman goes deeper into Zur-En-Arrh territory, Matzoh Man, more Bizarro, and so much more! (2:57:31)

Bryan, Peter, Shane, Kevin and Adam gather to discuss: Colonoscopy Geek Speak, the defunct Warner Bros. Studio Store, Where were you when Superman died?, Golden Eagle memories, G.I.Joe 301, Low by Remender and Tocchini, Killadelphia by Barnes and Alexander, '90s X-Force comics, Happy Days 50th Anniversary trivia, an in-depth review of Ultimate Spider-Man 1 by Hickman and Checchetto, celebrating 25 years of Batman Beyond, Earth X and Batman No Man's Land, raving about Godzilla Minus One, Peter Jackson's King Kong, Zom 100 by Aso and Takata, and a quick post-outro chat with Pants! (2:08:21)

One last episode before the year concludes, as Murd, Shane, Chris and Ian go through the various December Previews catalogs, with books mostly set for a February 2024 release date. This spans Image Catalog Issue 5, DC Connect issue 43, Marvel Previews Vol 6 issue 27, and Diamond Previews issue 423. Highlights include the new batch of Free Comic Book Day issues, the return of Thundercats (HOOOOOOO!), a bunch of Omnibuses that are way too heavy for Shane, a Howard Chaykin book so good they don't need to describe it, Ultimate Black Panther, Joker's origin by way of Zdarsky, and tons more where that came from! Enjoy, and see you in 2024 for more! (2:46:01)

Reach deep into the toe of your stocking and you'll find the last delicious morsel of this classic of Christmas literature as read by Murd, in which L. Frank Baum describes how dear old Santa Claus overcame the last few obstacles (including Death itself!) in his neverending quest to make all the children of the world happy at Christmastime. Happy Holidays from CGS! (31:54)

Matt, Shane, Murd, Chris and Ian convene with merriment, as it is time for this year's Cornucopia! Plenty to discuss in this one, including the merits of VHS, Special and Unspecialized Star Wars, the alternate fate of Jason Todd released after all these years, the official death of Comixology as an app, Belgian comic book acquisitions in the form of The Adventures of Blake and Mortimer, a spoiler-filled discussion of The Marvels (27:48-1:08:00), the potentially perilous Sony adaptation of Madame Web and Kraven, and more! More includes Shane diving into recent GI Joe acquisitions in a World of Toys segment, a mention of Sina Grace's new all-ages Superman book, Superman: The Harvests of Youth, Matt gives thoughts on Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and listening to recent episodes of Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum's Talkville podcast, Ian reviews volume 1 of Daniel Warren Johnson's Do a Powerbomb and the conclusion of Hickman's Ultimate Invasion, streaming media such as Gen V, Invincible and Netflix's The Killer,

Bryan, Peter, Shane, Pants and Adam gather to discuss: Cuisine Geek Speak, Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns cover debate, some recent local conventions, Hiroshi Sumi’s Voice of a Star Wars Fan short film, holiday ornaments, Star Wars: Dark Empire from Dark Horse by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy, Dave Filoni's promotion at LucasFilm, Dr. Who 60th Anniversary specials, Adventures of Captain America by Fabian Nicieza and Kevin Maguire, more Energon Universe talk, CGS History for November and December, Bryan's thoughts on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, various TV Talk including Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Moonlighting, Three's Company, the passing of Norman Lear and more! (2:01:40)

To me, my X-Men! The Speakers of Geek discuss their Top 5 favorite X-Men of all time. There is plenty of crossover between lists, an amazing Murdoughnian surprise as one would expect, and some other unique choices along the way. Get some training in in The Danger Room, grab yourself a belt with an X on it, and practice your Claremontian narration! (1:59:38)

What's more festive than gathering round a table with turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing and pumpkin pie? Previews, of course! Murd, Chris and Ian gorge themselves on Image Catalog Issue 4, DC Connect issue 42, Marvel Previews Vol 6 issue 26, and Diamond Previews issue 422, with books mostly scheduled for release in January 2024. Highlights include some new Garth Ennis, Greg Pak's Lilo & Stitch, Jason Aaron's Superman, the return of a very different Ultimate Spider-Man, and tons more; enough for seconds, even. We are thankful to you for listening, and may this fill you with as much joy as leftovers do the next day! (2:19:45)

Flash back to last year's Anime NYC 2022, just in time for this year's Anime NYC. Interviews include manga translator for books such as Cat + Gamer and Marvel's Demon Wars, writer Zack Davisson, as well as artist Robert Wilson IV from Oni Press' Heartthrob, Vault's Barbaric: The Harvest Blades, Bitch Planet issue 3, and a bunch of posters for bands such as Metallica and Weird Al! We then flash forward to New York Comic Con 2023, with artist and creator extraordinaire, Mr. Jamal Igle, a discussion of The Harvey Awards, Death Note: The Musical, attending the Steve Ditko panel, and so much more. (1:28:32)

Adam and Peter complete their examination of the CW's live-action version of Crisis on Infinite Earths! Covering the final two chapters - in Arrow and in Legends of Tomorrow - topics include the origin of the Monitor, Oliver Queen's ghostly transformation, the final battle against the Anti-Monitor, even more surprising cross media cameos (including Marv Wolfman himself), the new Prime Earth and more! We also explore the Paragons Rising tie-in stories from the Crisis on Infinite Earths 100 Page Giant comics. (2:59:16)

As Marvel begins republishing this long in limbo property, we here at Comic Geek Speak gather together to discuss the first twelve issues of the 1979 classic the Micronauts! With the help of Ryan Drost of the Star Joes Podcast we cover the history on the original toy line, what led Bill Mantlo to the comic book series in the first place, who Marvel nearly had draw the title before Michael Golden signed on, the many comparisons to Star Wars, and so much more. So do you best to avoid miniature ships as they whiz through your front yard, secure Muffin, time travel with The Time Traveler, be cautious of Baron Karza and his Body Banks, and try not to get turned into a cyborg or a centaur, because this one is a doozy! (1:58:31)