Ka-pow!

It's way past time for an episode all about comic books, so that's what Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast is giving you this week.  We've got some reviews for books we've been enjoying lately, a few news items and a bit of industry dirt.  Plus - because no one demanded it - the return of our "One Job" segment! Length - 01:22:54 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:04:27 - ONE JOB Deciding the single most iconic role for the Queen of Halloween, Jamie Lee Curtis.  (Spoiler: It's not "Halloween.") - 0:39:55 - COMIC BOOK NEWS Solving puzzles in the pages of two current "Captain America" books, Dark Horse becomes the fourth major publisher to leave Diamond Comic Distributors, a funny gimmick for the 20th anniversary of "Invincible," cancellation of "Superman" title provides food for trolls, DC hints at 13 new Golden Age characters and more "Watchmen" ties, Alan Moore definitely for sure done with comics and a sample of some recent releases including "Batman: One Bad Day," "Miracleman: The Silver

Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast may not be the most advanced entertainment algorithm in the world but we've got a pretty good idea of what's got people talking, so join J.O.R.D.A.N., C.L.I.F.F. and S.E.T.H. as we discuss the latest Disney+ content, a new teen-targeted horror anthology and more. Length - 00:57:52 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:01:30 - TV RECAPS & REVIEWS Marvel releases retro Halloween special "Werewolf by Night," the conclusion of "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" pulls the rug out from under us, trying to build enthusiasm for "House of the Dragon," "The Midnight Club" provides more Mike Flanagan spookiness on Netflix, "Andor" keeps building on its complex and nuanced corner of the "Star Wars" universe, "Quantum Leap" expands its sci-fi scope, reality game show "The Mole" returns and season one of "Welcome to Wrexham" concludes with a pulse-pounding final match.

Like fanboy sultans being fed nerdy grapes by the fistful, we are living in a pop culture utopia.  Therefore Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast tries to never feel ungrateful for the abundance of content crafted specifically to pander to us and our increasingly fickle tastes.  Even when something is terrible, we just move on to the next thing.  So here are all the "next things" on our list this week! Length - 00:59:37 Language - PG-13.  (Contains adult language.) - 0:00:45 - MOVIE NEWS Netflix's "Father Stu" plummets to the bottom of our yearly lists, dark and divisive "Blonde" explores the fame and objectification of Marilyn Monroe and Tom Hanks goes all out for "Elvis." - 0:11:05 - CROSSING THE STREAMS Two competing series "House of the Dragon" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" each offer quality fantasy television, NBC's reboot of "Quantum Leap" honors the original with a compelling central mystery, season five of "Cobra Kai" keeps giving us what we want from this show, the first trailer for "

Anecdotes abound as Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast reminisces about all the places we've traveled in the past month, including the world-famous Mothman Festival, meeting a legend at the Cincinnati Comic Expo and taking in a one-of-a-kind concert.  Then stay tuned as we dive into the recent Disney+ Star Wars and Marvel offerings! Length - 00:59:18 Language - PG-13.  (Contains adult language.) - 0:28:20 - ANDOR Our first impressions of the deliberately-paced "Star Wars" prequel spinoff starring Diego Luna. - 0:44:05 - SHE-HULK: ATTORNEY AT LAW The divisive superhero sitcom nears its end with a long-awaited cameo and a savage last-minute twist.

New shirts.  Twerking superheroes.  Pooping statues.  Calls to overthrow capitalism.  This episode takes a few turns.  The "why" isn't always where you think, but the most incisive and irreverent television reviews are always right here at Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast.  Pop some popcorn and enjoy it with your bestie. Length - 01:08:38 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:06:33 - DISNEY DOINGS Cliff highlights all the early D23 Expo announcements, including an awkward new statue of Walt. - 0:22:48 - CROSSING THE STREAMS Jordan's subscriptions to Paramount+ and Showtime come to an end just as he finished "The Offer" and "Yellowjackets," "Beavis and Butt-Head" continues its run of great new episodes, Prime cancels comic adaptation "Paper Girls," true life prison drama "Black Bird" on Apple TV+, celebrity-adjacent game show "Claim to Fame" wraps up its first season, "Untold" Netflix documentaries tackle fascinating recent subjects, soccer docuseries "Welcome to Wrexham" leaves us wanting m

After a week of internet problems, Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast is back and way behind on our favorite shows as usual.  So join us for recommendations and reviews on some of the latest small screen offerings, as well as a piece of major gaming news and a few terrifying tales of childhood trauma at the movies! Length - 01:36:26 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:07:10 - YEAH YOU KNOW ME Deciding the perfect songs we'd use as our "entrance music" and the first movies we remember scaring us out of our wits. - 0:25:35 - TV RECAPS & REVIEWS "Better Call Saul" concludes its run with a masterful final season, Prime's "A League of Their Own" series addresses race and sexuality in ways the movie never could, sports docuseries "Welcome to Wrexham" an underdog soccer story, "TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons" delves into the rumors surrounding the fitness icon, AMC's "Dark Winds" depicts a 70s-era murder mystery within a Navajo population, subversive sitcom-skewering

Don't leave your television viewing choices up to a cold, mysterious algorithm.  Leave them to Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast!  We have tons of shows to catch up on this week and several of them are even pretty good, so listen in as we swing from sex rooms to sitcoms, dark dreams to dumb-ass duos, animation, reality, documentary and at least one that completely defies description. Length - 01:25:01 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:01:00 - TV RECAPS & REVIEWS Netflix teaches us the ins and outs of "How to Build a Sex Room," Neil Gaiman's dark fantasy series "The Sandman" makes its long-awaited TV debut, 80s teens take a trip through time in comic adaptation "Paper Girls," discovering mother / daughter dramedy "Better Things" after its run on FX, "The Old Man" sends Jeff Bridges on the run from his past, "Claim to Fame" a guessing game with relatives of big stars, backstabbing and blindsides on the 24th season of "Big Brother," "The Offer" chronicles the complicated production of "Th

We've been going places!  Specifically, North America's largest gaming convention, Gen Con and America's mightiest toy show, Power-Con.  After detailing all the excitement of these recent road trips, Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast dives into movie news, gauging our anticipation for a ton of Comic-Con Marvel reveals, streaming some animated comedies, catching a handful of terrific indies in the theater and reviewing the biggest monosyllabic sci-fi flicks of the summer, "Nope" and "Prey." Length - 01:25:09 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:30:55 - MOVIE NEWS Recapping the biggest news and trailers revealed at this year's Comic Con International San Diego, mapping out Marvel's "Phase Five" timeline, "Predator" prequel "Prey" has everyone talking, Jordan Peele's "Nope" is a sci-fi cinema spectacle, "Bullet Train" is a fun action film packed with familiar faces, B.J. Novak writes and directs comedic murder mystery "Vengeance," "Marcel the Shell with Shoes On" adapts Jenny Slate's heartwarmin

The explosive final session of Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast's "Kids on Bikes" RPG adventure has arrived!  Our GM Seth has steered all the action to this moment, as friend of the show Jesse Starcher of the Source Material Comics Podcast joins noob gamers Cliff and Jordan for the last chapter of "Grave Decisions."  A horde of demons is approaching small town Marietta, Ohio in the early months of 1988, leaving Sam, Robert and Conrad precious little time to assemble an army of their own to face them in the last chapter, Episode Four: "Good Morning, Vietnam" Part Two. Length - 02:32:23 Language - R. (Contains adult language.)  

It's time for a special behind-the-scenes bonus episode of Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast!  These are the sorts of casual "cutting room floor" extras you normally only get by becoming a Patron, full of uncensored, unedited conversation before and between our recording sessions.  This time, our excitement revolves around Jesse Starcher of the Source Material Comics Podcast finding an amazing auction full of rare vintage toys hiding in our own back yard. For more perks, check out our Patreon page at www.patreon.com/youdownwithkpp Length - 00:25:18 Language - R.  (Contains adult language.)

Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast's inaugural "Kids on Bikes" RPG adventure is nearing its end.  In this first half of the final session, Sam, Robert and Conrad take a field trip to Fenton Art Glass.  But what they encounter in the sleepy city of Williamstown, West Virginia in 1987 might just scare the pants off of them!  Listen in as our resident GM Seth guides Jesse Starcher of the Source Material Comics Podcast and rookie gamers Cliff and Jordan toward the conclusion of "Grave Decisions" with Episode Three: "Good Morning, Vietnam" Part One. Length - 02:11:15 Language - R. (Contains adult language.)

Remember when all we had all summer were boring old reruns?  No more!  Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast returns to wrap up our discussions on four of the biggest television series of the season.  And to help, we kept Jesse Starcher of the Source Material Comics Podcast around to add his perspective. Length - 00:52:55 Language - R.  (Contains adult language.) - 0:02:49 - TV RECAPS & REVIEWS A phenomenal fourth season of "Stranger Things" concludes on Netflix, "The Boys" pushes the superhero envelope in season three, engaging family drama makes up for so-so story in Disney+'s "Ms. Marvel" and more apocalyptic time-travel shenanigans on "The Umbrella Academy."

Our latest episode of Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast involves two epic tales.  In the first, Seth recounts his recent journey to one of the best comic conventions in the country, Heroes Con in Charlotte, North Carolina and the multitude of legends he was able to rub elbows with.  And then we spend the rest of the show reviewing Marvel's space viking action comedy, "Thor: Love & Thunder!" Length - 01:14:58 Language - PG-13.  (Contains adult language.) - 0:29:10 - THOR: LOVE & THUNDER Our SPOILER-heavy thoughts on Taika Waititi's second superhero spectacle, how the villainous Gorr compares to his comic book counterpart and whether we need a concrete "plan" for where the MCU is heading to enjoy these things or not.

Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast is back for the second session of our "Kids on Bikes" RPG adventure!  This time out, it's the weekend of the Sternwheel Festival in small town Marietta, Ohio in 1987, but with so much supernatural chicanery afoot, Sam, Robert and Conrad may not survive to see the famous fireworks show.  So follow along with "Grave Decisions," Episode Two: "Who Ya Gonna Call?"as GM Seth guides Jesse Starcher of the Source Material Comics Podcast, gaming newbies Cliff and Jordan - and a super surprising guest player! - on the next leg of our nostalgic 80s escapade. Length - 03:28:01 Language - R. (Contains adult language.)

"Star Wars" fans have been waiting a long time for an Obi-Wan Kenobi prequel to reveal what the Jedi master was up to between the tragedy of Episode III and the new hope of Episode IV.  Now, thanks to Disney+, we have it!  And Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast has a SPOILER-filled review of the entire series along with another ambush Top Ten List of Cliff's favorite music from the saga.  Yub Nub! Length - 00:54:04 Language - PG-13.  (Contains adult language.)

Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast kicks off our inaugural RPG session of "Kids on Bikes!"  It's the Labor Day weekend of 1987 in small town Marietta, Ohio and for Sam, Robert and Conrad all they have on their minds are bike races, parades and fair games.  Will a little mysterious green goo and a spooky cemetery ruin their holiday fun?  Tune in to "Grave Decisions," Episode One: "First Settlement" as GM Seth guides our guest Jesse Starcher of the Source Material Comics Podcast and gaming newbies Cliff and Jordan on a nostalgic adventure through their own back yards! Length - 02:30:02 Language - R. (Contains adult language.)

Our pal Jesse Starcher of the Source Material Comics Podcast stuck around after a long night of gaming to help us at Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast review some of the amazing television shows currently streaming into our homes on a non-stop basis.  No one person can keep up with everything on the air... but four persons can come pretty close! Length - 01:13:25 Language - PG-13.  (Contains adult language.) - 0:02:10 - CROSSING THE STREAMS Dropping in on Hawkins with the long-awaited return of "Stranger Things," the debut of a relatable new hero in "Ms. Marvel," "The Boys" is the perfect satire for our superhero-saturated times, the third season of "Barry" wades into even murkier morality, HBO's "The Time Traveler's Wife" blends relationship drama with a sci-fi conceit, Jon Bernthal leads a team of crooked Baltimore cops in "We Own This City" and Adam Sandler shines in the underdog sports story "Hustle" on Netflix.

Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast goes where we've never gone before... role playing games!  Inspired by our love of "Stranger Things," listen as we dip our toes into the world of "Kids on Bikes," a collaborative world building RPG set in a 1980s small town full of big mysteries.  In this first episode, total noobs Cliff and Jordan learn a few of the basics and create our characters with help from Jesse Starcher of the Source Material Comics Podcast and our resident GM and all-around Poobah, Seth. Length - 01:05:52 Language - PG-13. (Contains adult language.)

And now for the conclusion to our countdown of the twenty greatest time travel films of all time!  If you thought Part One was combative, Part Two ratchets up the tension even more, edging closer to the top with fewer and fewer chances to make sure our personal favorites secure a spot on the list.  So join Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast and our special guest Jesse Starcher of the Source Material Comics Podcast as we reveal picks #10-1 and celebrate the classic sci-fi movies that have impacted us the most. Length - 02:02:07 Language - PG-13. (Contains adult language.)

In a list that's been long in the works, we decide on our definitive picks for the twenty greatest time travel films of all time!  In Part One, we lay out the rules and reveal our choices for #20-11.  Things get contentious right away, as we each immediately begin jockeying to get our favorites included, so set your watches to join Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast and our special guest Jesse Starcher of the Source Material Comics Podcast as we scour the past, present and future to assemble our latest and greatest movie countdown! Length - 01:25:21 Language - PG-13. (Contains adult language.)