The Secret Origins of Mint Condition

Show notes provided by Arco EspositoImagine for a moment that's it's May 1984 and you're at your comic book spot on a Wednesday picking up your favorite books and you see something that is both exciting and alien (pun intended)! You spy the cover of Amazing Spider-Man #252 and do a double take! Who is this on the cover in a black costume?! Where is the red and blue Spider-Man we all know and love?! Well that's how it was for a generation of spidey fans who were witness to the greatest costume change in comics history! And what a change it was! How else can you describe all that came from this momentous occasion?? Well listen in as James, Joe and Spidey lover Arco go into detail how they were personally affected by it as well as the Marvel universe overall! Some things are too good to keep to ourselves and we are pleased to share our Black Costume love with you all!

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso It's been some time since they guys have been at the sports desk, but the world of pro sports never slows down and the guys "pulled a hammy" trying to catch up.But don't worry their time on the IL has concluded and they are back on ice for this episode on the current state of the NHL.   Chris and Joe execute an odd man rush past the blue line in anattempt to score a winning report on the current NHL Playoffs, the crash and burn that was The New York Rangers 2024/2025 season (Joe is still in a state of shock), and the rise of the PWHL.   It's a fun-filled hour where the boys "light the lamp" on thefastest game in town. So sit back, be cool, and don't get up to grab a snack--you might miss a "breakaway"!

Show notes provided by Joe PelusoAt Thanksgiving in 1986, Paramount Pictures released a sci-fi, comedy,pirate adventure, caper film with the little title of: "Star Trek IV:The Voyage Home". It was an immensely popular (and financiallysuccessful) departure to what had come before! Amongst Trekkers theworld over, this is still considered the best Star Trek film evermade. And your hosts, James. Josh, Jack, and Joe concur.     Without almost out of control child-like joy the guys recount,relay, and reaffirm why this film is such a classic. With unbridledenthusiasm--bordering at times on sheer lunacy--the boys relive thisunique cinematic experience. From the rag tag crew agreeing to returnto Earth to face the music, to the trip back to present day SanFrancisco, and ultimately saving mankind once again from itsshortsightedness, the boys are so invested in this film they arepractically part of the crew tagging along on this grand adventure.Had Dr. McCoy been present for this recording he would have sent themall to the sick bay for a full psychiatric evaluation.    And for you film buffs, play close attention as Josh and Jack fillin much of the back story on how this addition to the Star Trek canonreached fruition.    As the episode draws to a close it's clear the inertial dampenersare off line as the guys bounce from scene to scene, and are alsounable to reframe from firing off the many quotable lines from thefilm. At this point it's abundantly clear the hump back whales neednot fear these silly humans. But once you listen to this latestoffering of the podcast you will understand why the guys were so giddyfor sixty plus minutes. And like Spock, at the film's conclusion--Youwill feel fine.

Show notes provided by Joe PelusoWorld's collide! World's die! Time and space merge unleashingapocalyptic chaos! And in the middle of it all are the greatest heroes and villains in the known universe! In advance of the coming void, new heroes debut to try to halt the coming cosmic disaster. The "old guard" is thrown into the breach where they find themselves battling forces of nature, time tossed Triassic terrors, and unknown heroes!It's time once again to join your hosts James, Keith, and Joe as they revisit the DC Comics universe shattering classic tale of "The Crisis on Infinite Earths"!     The issues discussed and dissected in this segment are: #'s four, five, and six. And the first thing that becomes abundantly clear is that the artwork of George Perez, with the addition of Jerry Ordway's inks, gets even more spectacular! The guys drool over this artistic tour de force and drill down on the sheer magnitude of characters put to page, and the skillful storytelling techniques employed to delineate such a feat.     And what else can be said about the writing chops of MarvWoflman, other than he puts the reader on his back as he rockets you through the vast DC Universe with surprises and shocks at every neck snapping turn!

Happy May the 4th listeners. This year your hosts James, Josh, John and Toby look back on Episodes I, II and III.

Show notes provided by Joe PelusoWhat do you get when you take a police procedural, mix it with science fiction and super-heroes, throw in social and political overtones that reflect modern society--and--call it an origin story? You get one guess--and it has nothing to do with a dead planet named Krypton. Give up? Well, the answer is Timothy Truman's three issuemasterpiece--HAWKWORLD.    Join you hosts Keith and Joe for another installment of "Thinking Out of the Longbox With Keith" as the boys strap on their Nth metal wings and fly into an adventure of dynamic discovery of one of DC's seminal characters--Hawkman. The later half of the decade of the 1980's saw many DC icons reimagined for a modern age as the Crisis on Infinite Earths opened the door to new, fresh version of Superman, Wonder Woman, The Batman, The Flash, Green Arrow, and the "wingedwonder" from the Planet Thanagar!    Truman's Hawkworld is a gritty, commentary on the abuse of power, and how it can tear apart an individual who has had his life mapped out for him. Katar Hol is a man fighting demons of the heart and mind, as well as those that prey on the less fortunate in the real world.The guys discuss the themes and tones such a world would impose on one man, and how he must fall from grace to eventually conquer all his demons so that he may become the beloved Silver Age version of Hawkman.    And as they extol the virtues of Truman's dynamic and nuanced writing, they fairly flip their minds when they profusely praise his incredible art.    This is a book the guys have been wanting to wax poetic about for a long time. We feel sure you will enjoy the discourse of this somewhat overlooked gem from comics best decade.And that classic exclamation "Look up in the sky!"--takes on a whole new meaning after reading Hawkworld!

Show notes provided by Arco EspositoSecret Wars Part 2Having just watched the Masters on tv, I find that is the perfect analogy for this podcast, though in this case we will say that we now enter the back 6 of the masterful Secret Wars limited series! You heard us introduce you to the concepts and ideas behind Marvels first 12 issue opus, and here we will tie it all with a bow, giving insight on not only the rest of the story, but key moments like the Death of the Wasp, the introduction of the New Spider Woman, and of course we can't forget the very first appearance of Spider-Man's black costume! Sprinkle in some conversation about writer Jim Shooter and a little talk about the fantastic artist Mike Zeck and we have ourselves a great ending to this two part podcast! Join James, Joe, Chris and Mint's very own Marvel historian Arco as we bring you back to the middle of 1985 and the finale of the story line that started it all for many kids of the 80's and beyond!

Show notes provided by Joe PelusoLife has many joys, and not the least among these is, of course,friends. And when you get to share in the success--and the realization of a friend's dream--the manifestation of that joy is heart-warming.    Join your hosts James, Chris, and Joe in welcoming back to the podcast Richie Garofalo and a little gem he has created called: " The Mighty Little Lumberjack and the Enchanted Forest". Richie's first enterprise into the children's market is the tale of the restoration of a forest through the efforts of the titular hero and his wonderful friends. Yes, Mack (The Mighty Little Lumberjack) takes on the mighty task (working in concert with nature) to bring beauty and joy back into his world.    The guys discuss the creation of the book from its initial stages through the processes that brought it to fruition. In further detail, Richie describes how this labor of love was both educational and inspiring. The final product is a mini "tour de force" that any adult (or older sibling) would be proud and pleased to read to a child.    After reading this wondrous fable that recounts the true spirit of cooperation, and the admiration of nature's beauty, I am positive that I speak for both my co-hosts when I say our love and admiration for Richie is as expansive as Mack's enchanted forest.

Joe and Keith Wrap Up Season 1 of Dexter: Original Sin

Show notes provided by Arco EspositoAs comic book fans we all have a particular favorite era that we can either remember fondly or relate to in some way that makes it a bit more special than others. However, has there ever been a time in comics history that has graced the medium with as many memorable, and dare I say even legendary, characters as the run between Fantastic Four #44 through #66?? The Marvelous Marvel Minds of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby gave us the classic debuts of the Inhumans, The Black Panther and he would soon be called Adam Warlock! Classic villains such as Klaw and Doctor Doom would also feature prominently in a few stories but nestled in between all this grandeur was the piece de resistance, the jewel in what many call crowning glory of all that is Marvel: THE COMING OF GALACTUS! That's right! The world devourer and his herald The Silver Surfer made their way to Earth in a three issue arc, #48-50, and comics were forever changed. For how can mere mortals even comprehend let alone fight against a virtual force of the universe?! Stan and Jack showed us the way and in doing so literally opened up the universe and all its wonderful characters to us. Join James, Joe and Arco, your guides through all that is Cosmic Marvel and listen in to the awe, joy and appreciation of how the Earth almost being literally eaten turned out to be one of the greatest stories ever told!

This weeks podcast  is a classic “Secret Origins” episode where we get to talk to a customer of Mint Condition. This podcast was created to build community and as a way for the the customers of Mint Condition to reconnect and this weeks guest is a part of the reason this store became a place to not just buy comics and cards but to hangout and make friends for your host James and John. Join James and John and guest Toby Bengelsdorf who was one of the first friends James and John made at the store, that started to knit together the community we now have on the podcast. This is a wide ranging conversation talking about CCG, Star Trek, Star Wars and more. 

Thoughts on Daredevil Born Again: Episodes 1 & 2

Show notes provided Joe PelusoWorlds will live! Worlds will Die! And the DC Universe will never be the same!" That was the slogan--the catch-all that DC comics showcased in all their books in late 1984 for the coming company-wide event of 1985 that would make comic book publishing history! Characters, past events, time-lines, origins, and fifth years of publishing history, in an ever-expanding universe, was about to implode!    Join hosts, James, Keith and Joe as they rocket into themultiverse and try to stay ahead of the wave of destruction unleashed by master storytellers Marv Wolfman and George Perez. It was time for a change, and for twelve issues hitting the shelves every month in 1985, that change was steaming toward a cataclysmic and transformational conclusion of unprecedented proportions!    Beautifully illustrated by the great George Perez, Marv Wolfman's scintillating script came to life in the most shocking, awe-inspiring way. Tragedy, self-sacrifice, and mind-blowing super-heroics assaulted the senses of avid DC fans for an entire year! To the devoted reader, it was the equivalent of discovering "the lost city of gold"!   The boys deep dive into the first three issues with recollections, reviews, and raucous remarks that will delight and inform. If you have never read this seminal work, or are coming back to it after a period of time, join the guys as they are buffeted from one reality to the next as only this special medium of entertainment could exert! But be forewarned, there are spectral shadows of unspeakable peril that will terminate some of your favorite super-friends! Themultiverse is no place for the faint of heart!

DC All In and DC Absolute Update with Joe and Keith

Show notes provided by Joe PelusoFamily dramas have been a TV staple almost from its inception with such classic offerings as Bonanza,The Waltons, Little House of the Prairie, 7th Heaven, and Friday Night Lights. Engaging storylines with well-rounded characters, often making their way through a troubled world that can often be cruel and unforgiving. We watch with rapt attention because we are entertained, but more importantly we are informed about our own lives and families. But what if your household is ledby Earth's Greatest Protector, and his partner, the best investigative journalist on the planet? Is their family life a cakewalk? Are there no sleepless nights in their home?   Join hosts James, Joe, and returning guest Adrienne as they examine the unique family drama of "Superman and Lois".   Can the awesome super-powers of The Man of Steel protect his family and friends from the trials and tribulations of living in small town America? Does the pursuit of truth on the printed page threaten to sunder relationships with close family members and treasured friends?   How do you raise twin teenage boys when the heritage of their alien dad courses through their veins? Adolescence is hard enough to navigate without having to adjust to lasers blasting from your eyes and hearing a major chunk of the discord that fills the air? Mom and dad's "careers" often need to take a backseat from the distress of an entire planet when your children are experiencing extraordinary "growing pains".   Mix all the chores of parenthood with super-villains, alieninvasions, averting planetary catastrophes, and being vilified for daring to print the truth, and you know what a typical day is like for Clark Kent and Lois Lane.   This is live action Superman at its finest, but more importantly,this TV show is a tour de force in the presentation of a familydrama.It will pull on your heartstrings as it rekindles the memories of love, devotion, and unbreakable bonds that form the backbones of our American families!

Show Notes Provided by Arco Esposito One of the words that has entered our lexicon in the last decade is “generational”, which denotes something that happens rarely per generation. In the world of comics we can all name favorite stories that have touched us in the best of ways, but how many of them can be said to have actually changed the industry itself? Action Comics #1, Detective Comics #27, Fantastic Four #1… the standard bearers of stories that have shaped our beloved medium. However, can we ever doubt that Giant Size X-Men #1 also belongs on that list? How can it not? All one has to know is that Marvel STOPPED printing original X-Men stories from Issue 67-93, giving us only reprints of earlier stories. With the release of 1975's Giant Size X-Men, the world was introduced to the new team, a cast of colorful characters we had never seen before (or in Wolverines case, only once before) and with them came the adventures made us fall in love with them. Join James, Joe and myself, Arco, your humble bastion of mutant knowledge as we pay homage to the beginning of what current and future comic lovers will no doubt look back on as the day the X-Men truly arrived.

Show notes provided by Joe PelusoOnce upon a time you had to go to the movies to see the trailers forupcoming films. Now all you gotta do is grab your favorite hand-helddevice and ask Google or Siri to call it up for you. And of course,there are those numerous reaction videos (Some longer than the filmsthey're reacting to.) With all that said, if you really want the scoopon Marvel/Disney's new Daredevil offering or James Gunn's new Superman film, all you have to do is join James and Joe (Your Mint Men ofMessaging) to deliver the low-down on what's hurtling your way fromthe vast genre-verse.    In this current "back of the store chat", the boys run the gamutfrom" Supes" to "nuts" (Diamond Comic Distributors) as they review,report, and reconcile some the important issues of the day that aremaking the rounds in the pop culture universe.    Will Spider-Man pop up in Daredevil Born Again? Will James Gunnstraighten out Kal-El's stigmatism in post-production? How will thefall of Diamond Comic Distributors affect your local LCS? Have youheard of Dogman, and why is it eating Marvel and DC's lunch? And hasJoe traded in his maniacal obsession for the inept Nets of the NBA fora lunatic lashing of the NFL? He might be off his meds again.    You can't swing an Omnibus (and if you can, more power to you)without hitting a plethora of topics covered in this episode. As we'vestated once or twice before, bring a score when you come through theback door for this segment. If for no other reason, you might want toshow it to an NFL ref or umpire that you're watching them. Let it goJoe. MLB Spring Training has started!

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso Hey PILGRIM strap on  your web-shooters and get ready to sling back to the "swingin' sixties" and join James and Joe as they trek down to that special corner once again, and this time are transported back to the spring of 1966. What's so special about this tie-dyed season? What fantastic forces dropped them in the flower-power era? Would youbelieve everyone's favorite "friendly neighborhood" superhero?     Appearing on newsstand and spinner racks across the nation, in May and June of that year were issues #39 and #40 of THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN--and Peter Parker's life would never be the same again!    It's the classic two-parter that delivers monumental mayhem, and the most awesome avalanche of senses-shattering thrills when Spidey and his arch nemesis--The Green Goblin--throw down for a raucous rumble that rocks The Big Apple!     This one has it all: action, mystery, suspense, soap opera,comedy--and calamity! James and Joe employ their "spidey-senses" to bring you an inciteful, fun review of two--just two--comic books that quantified who our favorite "web-head" was back when. And then, how this adventure informed the choices made decades later by Sam Rami and others, as the kid from Queens swung onto the big screen.     Stan Lee, and newly arrived penciler, John Romita Sr.create amarvelous masterpiece of four-color ferocity that will blow your mind!      We think this trip to that special corner was well worth thetrip.So to quote  Stan "The Man"--ENJOY!!!

Celebrate the Lunar New Year 2025 with your SOMC hosts James and Josh Murray as they talk about one of their favorite movies Big Trouble in Little China.

Join your hosts James, Joe and Chris as they enter the multiverse to talk about Deadpool/ Wolverine. We talk about the amazing acting, the character moments, if we want to see these characters return and more.

Show notes by Joe Peluso Keith and Joe are back with special guest Dylan for the second part of his "Secret Origin". And this time around they are treated to a master class on Manga! Once again Dylan informs and entertains, with youthful enthusiasm and insight, as he educates and elucidates the merits of the medium's differences and similarities with "western" comics.    From the not for the faint-of-heart "Berserk" to the moreapproachable "Naruto", your two hosts get a "Shonen Jump" sized tour of the world of Manga. Keith and Joe ask questions about themes, packaging, influences, availability and vision concerning this form of graphic storytelling that is growing exponentially here in the US. And like hall-of-famer Derek Jeter, Dylan fields their questions with skill and grace.    And stick around for the end as the two" old guy"s (You need to know dendrochronology to guess Joe's age.) make some non-Manga recommendations to Dylan. It's a fun-filled hour of  Eastern and Western comics talk that we think you will thoroughly enjoy!

Show Notes provided by Joe Peluso Okay SUPERmaniacs July 11th will be here before you know it! And wewill be ready to"look up!". James Gunn's new SUPERMAN movie is comingat us faster than a speeding bullet. In this episode your hosts James,and Joe take an x-ray look at the teaser trailer that hit before theHolidays.What did we think? What were we looking for? What did we seethat surprised us? Superman/Clark. Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, The DailyPlanet, Metropolis, Smallville, The Fortress of Solitude--KRYPTO theSuperdog!!! We got fleeting, but eye-popping glimpses, of all that andmore!    Will we once again believe "a man can fly'? Is this Superman readyto dazzle a new generation of fans with heroic saves and mind-blowingaction?    And most importantly will the "infant from Krypton" grow to be aman of hope and aspiration? Lot's of questions--right? There's a lotriding on this film. The new DC Studios has to deliver. I know what Iwant from this film. Me, and yes the whole world--more thenever--needs "a friend".   UP! UP! AND AWAY!!!

Show Notes provided by Joe Peluso Unlike the New York Yankees in this year's World Series, New Year's at 12:00AM is the only time it is acceptable to drop the "ball".    Ringing in the new year is always accompanied with a "sober" look back at the highlights of the past dozen months. But with your ever faithful Mint crew of James, Chris and Joe, the recollections are dialed down to the world of Pop Culture. And by dialed down we don't mean insignificant or trivial. Quite the contrary, we shout from the highest spires in fabled Asgaerd the accomplishments of men and women who strive to entertain, educate and amuse us within the confines ofpure, unadulterated fantasy!     With gusto, and a magnum of Dom Perignon 1995 in hand (We're kidding, it's more like a Welch's Grape Juice Box), the boys list their favorite pop offerings from the previous year. "Deadpool and Wolverine", "Absolute Batman", "Only Murders in the Building" (sounds like my old East New York neighborhood), and X-Men'97 are but a few oftheir prodigious picks for 2024.  But the list, like the beat, goes on. So stick around for the fullhour and see if your favorite pop culture choices made our enormous enumerations!   Oh, and when that ball drops in Times Square at midnight lets hope the are no Yankee ball players responsible for catching it! What a mess that would be!   HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR MINT FRIENDS AND FAITHFUL! May you find peace, health, and prosperity in 2025!

HO! HO! HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!" The plus-sized man in red from the far north is getting ready to venture out once again and spread some CHEER. We know all us mere mortals are on his list, but what does Santa have in that voluminous bag that could brighten up the day ofour favorite pop-culture characters?     Join your hosts, James, Chris, Jack and Joe as they get to playSanta in this special Holiday gift-giving episode. The guys rack their brains, raid their bank accounts, and bend time and space to try and find the perfect gift for the "man or woman (and maybe a monster or two) who has everything".    From the pages of your favorite comic, to the far reaches of the Alpha Quadrant, through the time barrier and the closing of the fourth wall, the boys have found that special gift for heroes, sports legends, caregivers and children of all ages.    And in an episode where there are many lists, the perfunctorypoaching gives way to--hopefully--a new MInt tradition- piggybacking!What? You gotta listen folks.   Sit back, relax with a hot cup of cocoa and let us send all of yousome love, laughs, and fun.Once again--PAX IN TERRA.

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso DC Comics had its Rebirth.Dexter had its New Blood.Star Trek had its Next Generation.    So why can't The Secret Origins of Mintcondition have some fresh blood? Join your hosts Keith and Joe as they introduce a young man with some incredible takes on our pop culture universe. From the Sam Rami Spider-Man movies, to the MCU, and the OG Superman Christopher Reeve flicks, Dylan gives us an original spin on these films and their franchises. But he doesn't stop there as he presents a verbal treatiseon The Man of Steel's persona that will blow you back to Krypton!    Dylan's incredible nuanced critiques of all things pop culturewill educate, elucidate, and energize your preconceptions of Superman, Spider-Man, Star Wars, and the DCAU.    What follows is a fun-filled hour of all things nerdy (with Keithand Joe being the kings) by an insightful, intelligent young man whogets it. The future is in good hands. Or to put it another way:"Second star to the right and straight on till morning".

Join James, Josh and Patrick Louie as they celebrate 40 years of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The look back on the comics, the cartoons, toys and movies that have made this franchise last for so long. Also you will here an fantastic story at the end where Patrick got meet one of the creators and their creation. Turtle Power!

The Secret Origins bridge crew of James, Joe, John, Josh and Adrienne head into the Nexus to look back on Star Trek: Generations.

In this back of the store edition, join your hosts James, Joe and Keith as they go all in for DC's All In Initiative and the Absolute Universe. They give you the high's and the low's of the what DC has released so far and give you there hopes for the future and the picks you should looks for.

Shows notes provided by Joe Peluso Thanksgiving is the time of year when we open our doors and our hearts, and invite family and friends to join us in a day ofreflection and fun. Familiar faces gather around a formal setting to dine on a sumptuous feast. But what would happen if the distraction of the day wasn't Cowboys/Lions, but instead, fully realized versions of our favorite pop culture characters? Who would you proffer an invitation? Would it be a Super-Hero, a member of Star Fleet, a denizen of Tolkien's magical realm, or someone from a galaxy far, far away?    Join your hosts, James, Chris , and Joe for the fourth (Yes,fourth!) annual Mint Thanksgiving Episode, and learn who these whackos would invite to their holiday tables to break bread with. The crazy"uncle" is staying home this year, but his replacement could be a riotous raconteur, a quick-tempered short guy (who brings his own cutlery), or a mystic master.    But know this, friends, the entire roster of The Justice LeagueUnlimited could show up and there would still be room for TheMint Condition faithful. It's simple. We love you, and we want to share our blessings with you.

Join James, Josh and John as they dive into the series that was Star Wars: The Acolyte.

Show notes provided by Arco Esposito Secret Wars Podcast 1984… it wasn't just a creepy book or an awesome Van Halen album. It was also the year that gave comic book aficionados their first 12 issue limited series, MARVEL SUPERHEROES SECRET WARS! Yes folks, today your friendly neighborhood Mint Condition boys bring you a podcast that will not only tickle your nostalgia bones, but also make you long for cheap tie in toys! Secret Wars was the seminal yet controversial series that brought all of our favorite heroes and villains together in a slugfest across the universe! Not only that, it introduces us to Spider-Man's black costume/Venom! On a personal note, issue #11 was also the very first comic that Mint's X-men X-pert Arco Esposito ever bought! So listen in as James, Joe, Chris and Arco break down the first half of the series while also discussing what it meant to them and comics history! (Mint Condition employee action figures not included)

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso Mint hits the road! In our inaugural episode of the Mint RoadShow. Our roving correspondent Keith Tarnowski brings us the news and views from the recent Baltimore Comic Con. Along with co-host Joe, Keith shows us some of the wonderful treasures he procured at the Con,a cache of choice comic goodness not to be hidden but proudly displayed.    Also, Keith met and got to spend quality time with comic pros Scott Kollins, Tod Dzago, Alex Saviuk, Dan Jurgens, and Tony Harris!    So sit back and get ready to see some cool stuff, and also to be regaled with stories about Keystone and Central Cities, the tragic demise of Iris West, an Impulse and Batman mashup, Jack Knight, Opal City and digging through long and short of it (that boxes) to findthat elusive trade or comic book.    Where will the Mint Road Show stop next? That's easy: Wherever good comics and classy creatives gather to bring out the little kid in all of us.

In our 2024 Halloween edition we talk about one of our favorite movies for this time of year "The Nightmare Before Christmas".

Show notes provided by Arco Esposito Are you a Godzilla fan? What am I saying of course you are duh!! You're here because your Kaiju fanhood is unquestioned and you have been living your best monster loving life this past year with the release of Toho's Godzilla Minus One and Legendary's Godzilla X Kong! Well we here at The Secret Origins Of Mint Condition share your love of all things Godzilla so we are proud to present you with this special podcast today which compares and breaks down these two awesome films! Join James and his trusted monster hunters Shareef And Arco as they deep dive into the depths of Japan's and Hollywood's near simultaneous odes to your favorite lizard and his destructive (but cute) friends!! Whether your into the Monsterverse or just into wanton destruction, we are here for it and all the monster madness that comes with them!

Before Freddy, before Jason, before Michael Myers, there was the original horror movie franchise the universal monsters. Although by today's standards, they may not seem as scary, these legendary figures inspired the monsters and the horror movies of today. While not scary to a modern audience, each one of them was a dive into deeper parts of humanity and represent universal arch types that we still write stories about today. Joining your host James, Joe, Chris, and Josh as they enter the castle, Dracula or Frankenstein and share their thoughts about why these classic monsters still live on today.

In this episode James and Joe talk about: The return of Jim Lee and Geoff Lobe to Batman, DC Absolute Power, initial impressions of Agatha All Along, The Penguin, big new for Superman and Lois final season, what we have been reading, and recommendations.

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso Horror, mysticism, spiritualism, psychology, philosophy, and a touch of quantum physics, put them all together, stir passionately until a murky broth is formed, and you will have concocted a classic comic entitled "The Saga of the Swamp Thing". Join your hosts James, Chris, Joe, and returning guest, Josh Murray for a deep dive into a marshland of mayhem that could only come from the mind of Alan Moore. "Anatomy Lesson"-- comprising issues 21-27--of Saga of the Swamp Thing, redefines the titular character, and more importantly, elevates mainstream comics to a new level of enlightened storytelling. Aided and abetted by draftsmen Stephen Bissette and John Totleben, Moore crafts a monumental tale of horror told on an intimate scale that begs the question of what it means to be human. The boys bring their A-Game as they critique this highly praised seminal story. Questions are raised, theories are discussed, and allusions abound as the insightful analysis branches off into as many bulrushes as one could encounter in the swamp. A word to the wise: Stay on the shore. Don't delve into the cloudy and cloying confines of the swamp. Alan Moore and his Swamp Thing could be lurking.

With their flight suits on and proton packs charged, The Secret Origins crew is back in the firehouse to talk about Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Join your hosts James, Joe and Chris as they trap ghosts while also giving their thoughts and reflections on this movie and where is stands in the Ghostbusters franchise.

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso Just in time for the MLB Playoffs and the impending start of the NHL Season, the boys are back with their raucous and rousing reports on all things Baseball and Hockey! Join hosts Chris and Joe as they attempt to "go yard" and slip "the biscuit" past the goalie. The guys will bring you up to speed on who's making the playoffs and what skills and advantages the teams have to wield in order to win The Commissioner's Trophy. Joe makes a surprising pick on what two teams will make it to the Fall Classic; including a dark horse squad the league should not sleep on. And then it's time to hit the ice with status updates, roster moves, and predictions for the new Hockey season. Who is best positioned to score Lord Stanley's Cup at the end of the most grueling campaign in pro sports? Chris details it all! And after spinning out of the way of errant four-seamers up and in, or surviving a bombastic boarding that spills bloodied teeth onto the ice, the guys give an unexpected, and somewhat, scathing account of the current NFL. You better duck, the flags will be flying! So ice that pitching arm down after throwing 110 pitches to the killer offense of The Phillies, and try to avoid those "majors" when you clash with The Lightning. Do that and you might see your favorite team take home a championship. It's why we watch, cheer, boo, scream, and sometimes, at the end of a wild season, are brought to tears of happiness. The Trophy and The Cup are might be coming home.

Joe and Keith do a deep dive into the TV show Dexter. Taking about the original series, Dexter: New Blood and the upcoming prequel series Dexter: Original Sin. Just a note if you haven't watched Dexter there a spoiler's ahead.

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso Bruce Wayne/Batman is now in his 85th year! That's amazing! Thousands of tales have thrilled the legion of fans who have followed The Caped Crusader from the crime infested back alleys of Gotham to "apocalyptic" worlds populated by monstrous fire pits!  Mobsters, super-villains, demons and aliens have all met defeat atthe gloved hands of The Dark Knight. On countless occasions, brainsover brawn has won the day for this fearless crimefighter. Thesuperstitious cowardly lot of deviants and skels fear his rage andwrath, and quiver and quake at his awesome visage framed against anunforgiving moon. He is an "urban legend" that melts into the shadows when his grim work is painfully accomplished.  But there was a time when this "creature of the night" was still learning how to hunt down his prey. A time in the shrouded past when his nights were fluid andfraught with decisions and actions that did not always lead tovictory.   Join your host, James, Chris, and Joe as they explore one of TheBatman's seminal undertakings--the thirteen issue opus--"Batman: The Long Halloween"! The brainchild of writer/editor Archie Goodwin, this story is the direct sequel to "Batman: Year One". It is populated by a cadre of career criminals and freaky fiends who would turn Gotham into a warzone.Creators Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale weave a tale of villainy and viciousness, danger and deceit that will leave guessing to the very end!   As the seasons come and go, leading from one harrowing holiday tothe next, the body count mounts and the fledgling Batman continues to be stymied by the Holiday Killer. Seamlessly and artfully accompanied by the stylish renderings of Tim Sale, "Batman:The Long Halloween" is a classic tale that builds to a fever pitch. It belongs on the bookshelf of all Batman aficionados.. It is one of the truly greathighlights in the 85 year career of The Dark Knight!

Show notes provided by Jack Adrien How does a rejuvenated science fiction franchise follow arguably the best installment in its long-standing television and movie series? Well, if it's the decades-long Star Trek franchise and following Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan's (Khan's) critical and commercial success, Paramount Pictures greenlit for producer Harve Bennett to write a sequel the day after Khan opened. But how would that work? We watched and mourned Mr. Spock's heroic sacrifice to save the Enterprise and her crew, marking the “death” of not only one of the franchise's most beloved and well-known characters, but also a character that embodies the science fiction genre. And Leonard Nimoy, the actor who brought Mr. Spock to life, had long expressed his frustration with the weight of playing the character, most notably in his first autobiography released in 1975, I Am Not Spock. With Khan, did Paramount grant Nimoy's wish? Whereas Star Trek: The Motion Picture rebooted the franchise for cinema audiences, Khan reintroduced a memorable antagonist from one of the series' first season episodes. Although the third film in the Star Trek film franchise,Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (Search) marked the second part of what many consider a three-film story arc – beginning with Khan released in 1982 and ending with 1986's Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (Voyage) – that shows how the original series characters accept aging in the franchise's world building. Within this loose narrative trilogy, Captain James T. Kirk met his son, David Marcus – neither of whom had met before – and Kirk witnessed the death of his best friend, Mr. Spock, in Khan. And in a startling reversal, rogue Klingons kill Kirk's son and Mr. Spock is “resurrected” in Search. Memorably, to save his life and those of his crew, Kirk must kill the franchise's most central character in Search: The USS Enterpriseitself. Nestled as the story-arc's midpoint, Search allowed the Star Trek franchise to mature and move beyond its television series roots. Released three years before the successor television series in the franchise, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Search delivers on poignant story arcs for its characters, particularly William Shatner's portrayal of Kirk. As Paramount released more films over the years, the fandom (i.e., Trekkies) settled on an “Odd-Even Rule” (i.e., the even-numbered films are often considered better than the odd-numbered ones). But that shorthand has often overlooked and underrated Search's significance to the franchise. Foremost, Search marks Leonard Nimoy's motion picture directorial debut, deftly balancing action, humor, and tension. Nimoy later garnered acclaim for his direction of Voyage and Three Men and a Baby, respectively. Further, Search formally introduced the grammar, syntax, andvocabulary for the Klingon language. The constructed language gained greater notoriety when its creator, Marc Okrand, and Pocket Books published The Klingon Dictionary in 1985. Moreover, Nimoy cast Christopher Llyod against type as the primary Klingon antagonist, Commander Kruge, and whose standout performance paved the way for his later iconic role as Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy. Lastly, Kirk's destruction of the USS Enterprise over the Genesis planet in Search would later introduce the USS Enterprise-A in Voyage, the replacement for the destroyedstarship, creating a legacy of distinguishing successor ships of the line with the next letter in the alphabet that has endured in the franchise.  Join the Mint Condition crew of James, Joe, John, Josh, and Jack as we go behind the scenes and discus Search's history, our impressions when we saw the movie, and where the movie fits in the Star Trek film franchise today. Moreover, we discuss alternative castings and storylines, and does Search disprove the Odd-Even Rule. Because the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many.

We have made it through another year of podcasting and to celebrate we dive into something that has been talked about few times on this show. Almost 50 years ago a fanzine was created by a group of friends. This fanzine was called Outlooks it featured interviews some of comics top talent including Neal Adams, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman and more. It also featured reviews, opinions and artwork from some of the great talents of the time. One of Outlooks creators was our own Joe Peluso but also joining us is returning guest and another part of the Outlooks creative team Jim Chadwick. We hope you enjoy this episode and thank you for being a listener. 

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!" Richie Garofalo (not Michael Corleone) referring to James, Chirs and Joe after they wax poetic about Nightwing and Batman/Superman:World's Finest, in the latest Book Club Edition episode.   The Fab Four are back to ponder, pontificate, and pursue the merits of two of DC Comics' best-selling current ongoing books:Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo's Nightwing and Mark Waid and Dan Mora's Batman/SupermanWorld's Finest.    The boys do a deep dive into the inaugural runs on these two very popular comics. The themes of family, friends, and fun are explored in detail. Who's there to pick up Dick Grayson up when he falls? Who made Dick the hero and man he is today? How deep is the friendship betweenBruce and Clark? And how does Mark Waid remember all those obscure characters from the annals of DC Comics' past?    And with the current run of Taylor and Redondo's Nightwing  coming to an end, along with Waid and Mora moving over to Justice League Unlimited, who will be taking the reins of these two fan-favoritetitles?    As for Richie, now that he is partially back in the "famiglia" of current "fumetti" readers, will he buy the books monthly or go the Perel route and wait for the trades?

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso  It's time for another "back of the store chat", and James and Joe have a full slate of pop culture topics to discuss, dissect, and disseminate. Curated from Comic-Con, D23, and other reliable sources the conversation focuses on Robert Downey Jr.'s return to the MCU, leaked trailers of upcoming CBM's, an AbsolutePower/All In DC Comics update, and a host of speculations ranging from multiple Dooms (that's Victor) to Arrowverse alums guesting in the final season of Supermanand Lois! PHEW!! That is a lot of ground covered.    This one moves quickly. We think Wally West would be impressed with our  verbal velocity! Oh, take notes if you so desire, there might be a pop quiz. But don't fret, just by being a loyal BOTSC listener you have already passed.

Join Joe and Keith as they dive into the two books that started the Unnamed Universe and kicked off the Ghost Machine label created and overseen by comics creator Geoff Johns.

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso "Elementary, my dear Watson" The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 1939    "May the force be with you." Star Wars 1977    "You're gonna need a bigger boat." Jaws 1975Movies: We love 'em, we hate 'em, but as Americans we can't live without them.Whether we want to admit it or not, cinema is one of the outside factors that shape our lives. Knowing this (or more likely just taking a stab in the dark), your Mint hosts James, Chris, Josh and Joe share their thoughts and feelings on the "movies that made us". What follows is an insightful, informative, and often-times amusing hour of knownand obscure films that the boys shamelessly cop to as having affected their lives! Don't worry as there is "no crying in baseball" there will be no tears shed as these lists are laid bare.   From Ghostbusters to The Big Lebowski, from Forbidden Planet to Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the films discussed will give you an exhaustive insight into the guys you never knew you wanted--or needed.   It's all in fun, folks. And make sure you stick around for the"lightning round" finale of bad films that have left lasting effects on your lovable lunes.

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso  It's been some time since Chris and Joe have reported in with their usual "not so brief" sports shorts, but the guys have made it back to desk and are ready to drop the puck on the NHL Finals and take a swing at midseason MLB. What follows is an hour of discussion, dissection, and near derangement (Joe loses it on the current state of the NewYork Yankees) that is sure to inform and entertain.   So sit back, turn off ESPN, YES, and SNY, and listen to the boy's passionate ponderings of the "sandbox" we fanatics call professional sports!

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso   As we approach the "dog days of summer" where the heat and humidity turn the tarred streets of NYC into taffy, we can find some solace from the elements in the back of the store at MINT CONDITION!Join your hosts James and Joe as they preview the All-In DC Initiative being spearheaded by Scott Snyder and Joshua Wiiliamson, a first reaction to the new Captain America: Brave New World trailer, speculative thoughts on the upcoming Fantastic Four film, the MCU easing up on released content, and a return to Robinson's and Harris"STARMAN. PHEW! That's a potpourri passel of palliative perusings!Sorry, my inner Stan Lee broke free for a moment there. But then these "back of the store chats" do resemble those great Marvel Bullpen Pages of the 60's and 70's.    Summer, comics, and friendly conversation--in other words--FUN!

Show notes provided by Arco Esposito Hey remember in 2008 when Marvel FINALLY had a hit comic movie with Iron Man and we were all happy they finally figured out how to translate the comics to the screen? Well as awesome as that was, you'd be forgiven for thinking that was the first hit film to show our beloved hero's on the silver screen! Go back 8 years earlier and a little movie called the X-MEN premiered and it kicked off the golden age of comic movies that we have been enjoying for almost 25 years! With over 15 films in the mutant franchise, FOX's X-MEN universe showed the world that you can make good comic films (not you X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE!) and if not for those early successes, we may not have had the MCU as we know it today! So come along as we sing the praises of the now defunct Fox universe of Marvel's mutant mavericks, and recall our favorite, and not so favorite, moment!

Show Notes Provided by Keith Tarnowski “For my father, for my city…I have to…try to be a hero” – Jack Knight  Join hosts Keith and Joe for a “Thinking Outside the Long Box with Keith” episode where we visit Opal City,  the home of the great superhero Starman!  After many years fighting the good fight, both solo and with the Justice Society of America, Starman retires, and his son takes on the mantle to become Opal City's new champion.  Does he have what it takes to live up to his father's legacy?  Or will personal tragedy and an assault on his city be too much for the young hero to bear?    Find out as we talk about the very first story arc of the 1994 STARMAN series written by James Robinson and beautifully illustrated by Tony Harris and others.  Enjoy the ride as we delve into the beginning of this comic book masterpiece "Sins of the Father"!