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Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon!NEWSSuperman gets a U.S. Coin—Batman and more coming soonDC Comics adds new 'DC Pride 2025' story and shares detailsTMNT Tuesday #13: TMNT: Shredder series announcedNew 'Criminal' graphic novel announced for August 2025: 'The Knives'Even more IDW comics coming to Webtoon with weekly release scheduleGet hype: Marvel releases new 'Imperial' #1 teaser'Star Wars: Tales from the Nightlands' horror series arrives September 2025Diamond finds a homeJames Tynion IV sets 'Exquisite Corpses' 2025 tourOur Top Books of the WeekDave:Ultimate Spider-Man #16 (Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checcheto)Heavy Metal Magazine #1 (Various)Chris:We're Taking Everyone Down with Us #2 (Matthew Rosenberg, Stefano Landini)Nights #15 (Wyatt Kennedy, Luigi Formisano)Standout KAPOW moment of the week:Chris - Joker "Hammer Scene" from Batman/Superman World's Finest 2025 Annual #1Dave - Godzilla vs. Los Angeles - Gabriel HardmanTOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKChris: Absolute Green Lantern #2 (Al Ewing, Jahnoy Lindsay)Dave: Absolute Superman #7 (Jason Aaron, Carmine Di Giandomenico)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Red Sonja Attacks Mars #2 (Joseph Michael Linsner)Chris: Captain Planet #1 (Mark Spears Main Cover)Interview: Al Ewing talks Detective Comics 2025 Annual #1 - Out April 30 1. You stepped in for Tom Taylor on this annual—can you walk us through how that came about? Was this a story you had to write quickly, or did you have some room to breathe and make it your own? 2. The story kicks off with a classic locked-room mystery—an impossible murder in a high-tech safe room. What drew you to that kind of puzzle, and how did you approach building a detective narrative worthy of Batman?3. There's a moment where Batman's costume subtly shifts from black to blue once he's in London. Is that just a visual cue, or is there something more symbolic going on there?4. What's your take on the annual format? Do you see it as a chance to tell something self-contained and weird, or a pressure cooker to do a lot in a single oversized issue?5. You're working with a trio of incredible artists—Stefano Raffaele, John McCrea, and Fico Ossio. How did you decide who handled which parts of the story, and what did each artist bring to the table stylistically?6. This annual flirts with the idea of Batman not just solving crimes but confronting the nature of reality. How far is too far for Batman, in your mind, when it comes to stories that push past the physical world?7. UK mythology and angels? John Dee's magic - Elizabethan 8. Maybe the most important question of them all, what is Batman's favorite tea and how does he take it?
Today, May 1st 2025, is Comic Timing’s 19th Anniversary. To celebrate, we’re re-airing our 10th anniversary episode! But first, Ian gives updates on Diamond Distributors incredibly tumultuous sale process, including Alliance Entertainment terminating its purchase, suing Diamond over false representation, and the final winner of the bankruptcy being a combined bid by Universal Distribution and … Continue reading Comic Timing Special: Diamond Distributors Update and Re-airing Ep 179 – There’s Always Time For Collecting Comics! →
Back at it again with that Previews magic! To start, Ian and Murd talk the final final final (for now) results of the Diamond Distributors purchase, as Alliance Entertainment has officially closed the deal after a last minute attempt at shenanigans by Diamond and their secondary bid. Then we delve into the multiple catalogs, including … Continue reading Comic Timing Episode 248 – April 2025 Previews →
Alliance Entertainment is suing Diamond Distributors after their winning bid to buy the financially strapped company. Why??? We do our best to get to the bottom of what is going on in this toy grading, and comic book/toy distribution fiasco! What do YOU think about this turmoil? Let us know in the comments below! Industry of Comics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j907NpeySzc&list=PL6VxB7cIoh3bB8nxgP2v5Xg2uZoTlmmNi
We're doing something different for this episode. In between our regular panels on great graphic novels lies the gutter (get it?). And in the gutter this week, Diamond Distributors, who once held a monopoly on delivering comic books to readers, just filed for bankruptcy. What does this mean for comics? What even is “distribution?” Jeff, Jam, and JD are here to let you know, in our first mini episode on topics behind the scenes in comics. Music by Sleuth. Our next episode will be on "Our Dreams at Dusk" by Yuhki Kamatani.
MUCH ADO about GAIMAN and DIAMONDThursday Comics #231from the Library of Graphic LiteratureJanuary 23rd, 2025Welcome to the return of Thursday Comics with issue #231 and the sweet megapixies of comic book media, Wallace Ryan and Dennis Osbourne!!!In this episode, we discuss the Gaiman sitch and the collapse of Diamond Distributors. THIS episode is really for MATURE READERS ONLY!!! WARNING, WARNING, WARNING!!!! OFFENCE DANGER!!! Thursday Comics theme by Bill BrennanNO AI USED in the production of Thursday Comics where you get REAL writers, artists and creators.#thursdaycomics #comicbooks #graphic novels #omnibus #confessions #bookreviews #graphicnovelreviewsTHURSDAY COMICS Mailbox (Send us your comments)
Ahoy, nerds! Welcome to episode 152 of Up Yours with More! This week, MODOK and BC are joined by the one and only Homer J. to discuss comic book and pop culture headlines, the top 10 books from last week, and books they're excited for this week. Also, given the recent news about Diamond Distributors, Homer grabs the mic and gives a first-hand account of the fabled distributor wars of the the 90's. It's another Homer's History, so pay attention, chumps! You just might learn TikTok is Dead Never Mind…It Got Better Captain America Popcorn Bucket CAT Batman Boots - New Shoes for the Shop? Daredevil Trailer Switch 2 Trailer GTA VI is gonna be how much? NM SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!! Distributor Wars Diamond Files for Chapter 11 Verge Article Amount Diamond Owes to Creditors Diamond No Longer Distributing Image Find Us Online at the Following Outlets Website :: upupandawaycomics.com YouTube :: youtube.com/@upupawaycomics Facebook :: facebook.com/upupaway and facebook.com/uuablueash Instagram :: instagram.com/upupawaycomics Twitter :: twitter.com/upupawaycomics
It's a new Previews for a New Year! Covering comic coming attractions for March 2025, we give our recommendations for books from DC, Marvel, Image, Boom, Dynamite, Clover Press and others. And there's plenty of Comic Talk along the way as well as we cover Diamond Distributors filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, speculate on the future of small and indie publishers, give quick reactions to Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong and Marvel's Star Wars line of books, chat about the CGS Studio getting an overhaul, CGS Year 10 trivia and even more in our revamped Previews format! (1:08:56)
Tonight on GeekNights, we review Ryan North's Fantastic Four (2022). It's kind of fantastic. In the news, Diamond Distributors is dead and AnimeNEXT appears to be dead.Related LinksForum ThreadFantastic Four (2022)Discord ChatFantastic Four (2022)Bluesky PostFantastic Four (2022)Things of the DayRym - The Union Pacific Big BoyScott - Landing the Nostromo
Download for Mobile | Podcast Preview | Full Timestamps ABDL Babyfur Community Denounce PoE 2 Cheater Metal Gear Solid Boss Group Tier List Playing Videogames With Other People Looking at Mai Respectfully Diamond (Distribution) Are Not Forever Watch live: twitch.tv/castlesuperbeast Go to http://heroforge.com/ and use code CASTLE to get 5% off all orders of physical miniatures. - Go to http://shopify.com/superbeast to sign up for your $1-per-month trial period. - Go to http://mandopodcast.com/beast and use code BEAST to get $5 off a Starter Pack. - Go to http://rocketmoney.com/superbeast to cancel your unwanted subscriptions with Rocket Money. Street Fighter 6 - Mai Gameplay Trailer Final Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their alts Marvel Rivals devs promise a new hero every month-and-a-half to “keep everyone excited” Marvel Rivals devs warn fans future seasons will be substantially smaller than Season 1 Nintendo Reportedly 'Sent Lawyers' to Genki's CES Booth Over Switch 2 Mockup Devil May Cry crossover is coming to Fortnite "soon", leakers tease Diamond Distributors files for bankruptcy [][][][][] [][] [][
Ulie and panelists Drew Bittner, Julian Lytle and Philip "Black Gorbachev" Jean Pierre discuss the announcement of Ming-Na Wen's Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Image Comics leaving Diamond Comics Distributors. Featuring the official FF review of, "The Little Mermaid."
More of the Interview with Ian... "We pick up where with left off with Ian talking about the 'Art of Gibson' book and why Diamond Distributors rejected it and then onto listeners questions. Enjoy."
On this episode Derek is joined by comic book pulishers/writers Mason Mendoza & Christopher Reda from Critical Entertainment. They take us back to their adolescent roots and talk about what pop culture properties made them fall into the geek world and the road that eventually led them to start their own comic book company Critical Entertainment llc! Now they're a part of Diamond Distributors and everyone can order their books to enjoy. Find out more about their library of selections at: https://www.criticalentertainmentla.com/
Tonight on GeekNights, we review Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. It might be the best cinematic animation ever made. It's the longest animated film every produced by an American studio at 140 minutes. It's a classic for all time. Everyone should watch it immediately. You will never see Rym and Scott this giddy about anything. That aberration alone warrants that you must watch this film as soon as possible.In the news, the American northeast is a dangerous hellscape currently, Hayao Miyazaki's "How Do You Live" hits theaters July 14th and there will be no trailer, and Image Comics leaves Diamond Distributors.
Long overdue, I have a sit down with Derek "Lonzo Starr" Allen CEO of Konkret Comics and Creator of Akolyte. Issue 5 is bringing us slightly closer to the end of the first Arc and in the Indie World that can be huge. Akolyte in his inception was built on prophecy as a symbol of the Supreme. After his earlier issues on Earth, we finally see him reaching new heights traveling the galaxy. We also talk about the trajectory of his company Konkret Comics, and his new of distribution through Diamond Distributors and what a company like his shows in comparison to Milestone Comics who laid out a Blueprint.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-faqs-project-hosted-by-james-grandmaster-faqs-boyce/donations
Original broadcast date April 1, 2021. The original podcast post is here: https://pixelatedgeek.com/2021/04/binary-system-podcast-260-comic-con-diamond-bojack-horseman-and-lore-olympus/ As we slooooowly (dear lord so slowly) move out of the pandemic (KNOCK WOOD) other, less horrific news is taking its place in the weekly SitRep. In this episode the news is about a certain ship that got stuck in a canal and our hearts https://twitter.com/jsrailton/status/1374438210315513864?s=20, about Marvel kicking Diamond Distributors https://www.thenewestrant.com/2021/03/marvel-leaves-diamond-for-penguin.html to the curb (including what one comic retailer https://www.artoffiction.com/HouseOfSecrets/ thinks about it) and how San Diego Comic-Con is planning a convention. This year. On Thanksgiving weekend https://twitter.com/BinarySystemPod/status/1376237664110714883?s=20. Folks are Not Pleased. After that, since Kathryn's finished season two of Bojack Horseman, we have to jump right into that wonderful weirdness, before wrapping up with the most recent two episodes of Lore Olympus. (It's been great to get some backstory on Minthe, but here's hoping next episode we find out what the heck's going on with Artemis?) This week's outro is a clip from Electronic Evolution by TeknoAXE. Here's the US Vaccine Tracker on Twitter that we mentioned. https://twitter.com/USVaccineCount Here's last week's WandaVision fanart gallery. https://pixelatedgeek.com/2021/03/binary-system-fan-art-gallery-wandavision/ And here's the Welcome To Night Vale twitter feed, they're always fun. And weird. And fun. https://twitter.com/NightValeRadio Looking for a present for that hard-to-shop-for person? Want to buy them (or yourself) a square foot of a castle in Scotland? Look no further! You can support the restoration of Dunan's castle, legally call yourself Lady or Laird, AND if you use http://www.scottishlaird.co.uk/#_a_2gk to get there, you can support this podcast too! If you want to follow along with Fanart Fridays, check us out on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and Instagram!
Hey we're back again! Carrie decides to keep her horror streak alive while dipping into YA with this week's main subject, Vera's Ghost. There's mixed feelings which leads to some good discussions. The CDB Crew also talk about the Shortbox October Book Fair, Wizard World closing their doors, and Diamond Distributors hiring a new President. The Crew then continues their conversation from last week about Substack since even more news, good and bad, has been released during the last week. Other comics discussed on this episode: Chibi Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis by Julia and Stan Sakai (IDW); Ordinary Gods #1-2 by Kyle Higgins, Felipe Watanabe, Frank Willam, and Clayton Cowles (Image); and Let's Make Dumplings! A Comic Book Cook Book by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan (Ten Speed Press) Donations for Haitians in need: http://www.projecthope.org Donations for Afghani Refugees: http://women.org For more places to give aid: https://twitter.com/Ilhan/status/1427372674024628225 Comics Deserve Better is a weekly podcast hosted by Brian, Carrie and Darci which covers the world of Independent Comics. For a list of episodes, socials and emails, and to request a topic for a future episode please visit comicsdeservebetter.wordpress.com. (Episode Artwork by Vera Brogsol)
This week, Phil and Justin sit down to discuss how ordering from a comic shop differs from other means, and how to navigate the limited information before a comic is released to gauge if it's something you'll like. They also discuss the benefits of having a subscription list with your local comic shop, as well as briefly discussing other methods for purchasing and reading comics. (Editor's correction: The recent Batman/Fortnite comic mentioned during this episode was originally priced at $4.99 rather than $8, and the trending price on eBay was at $45 rather than $120, although there is at least one instance of a consumer paying $117 for a copy of a first printing. Regardless, the large shift in price made it a timely example to discuss.) Ordering resources: Comic Shop Locator - https://www.comicshoplocator.com/ Diamond Distributors product guide - https://www.previewsworld.com/catalog WebToon - https://www.webtoons.com/en/ Comixology - https://www.comixology.com/ Support the show: Rate and review the show in your favorite podcatcher! Email us! thecomicwonk@gmail.com! Follow us on Twitter! @thecomicwonk Join our Discord server! https://discord.gg/QYmVsaj9cj Give us your monies for extra content! https://www.patreon.com/thecomicwonk --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
There can be only one, but Highlander's had a surprising number of media adaptations and spin-offs over the years. We take a look at all of them and even get some behind-the-scenes gossip about the infamous comic book tie-in: Highlander 3030. ----more---- Episode Transcript Episode 05 [00:00:00] Mike: It's fine. It's fine. I'm not bitter. Mike: Welcome to Tencent Takes, the podcast where we make comics trivia rain like dollar bills on Magic Mike night. My name is Mike Thompson and I am joined by my cohost, the mistress of mayhem herself, Jessika Frazer. Jessika: Muahahaha! It is I hello, Mike. Mike: Hello. If you're new to the podcast, we like to look at comic books in ways that are both fun and informative. We want to check out their coolest, weirdest and silliest moments, as well as examine how they've been woven into the larger fabric of pop culture and history. Today, we are traveling through time and talking about the 35 year legacy of one of the strongest cult franchises around, Highlander. But [00:01:00] before we do that, Jessika, what is one cool thing that you've watched or read lately? Jessika: My brother has some copies of classic Peanuts Comics, and it's so much fun. It's good, wholesome, fun. And Snoopy- related media always makes me nostalgic. And Mike you've mentioned before that we're in California in the San Francisco Bay area, but fun fact, I live right near Santa Rosa, which is the home of the Peanuts creator Charles Schultz when he was alive. So there's a museum there and an ice skating rink. Mike: Yeah. Jessika: Which is super awesome And Snoopy on ice was huge when I was a kid. And that is definitely the place I also learned to ice skate. By the way, they throw a mean birthday party, just saying, not right this second. Not this second. [00:02:00] We should do it is what I'm saying. Mike: We should do it for ourselves. Jessika: No, that's what I'm saying. Oh, I don't have children. Mike: But we do. Jessika: Yes, they can come with us, like they're invited. Mike: I mean, are they? Jessika: Look at you hesitating. Mike: We took the kids to the Peanuts museum right before the lockdowns happened. that really Jessika: That's really lovely that's nice got to do that. Mike: There’s a lot of cool stuff to do. It's really interactive. It's also just a really fascinating experience because there's so much about the Peanuts during their, what 50 year run give or take. It may not have been that long. It may have been 30 or 40, but it was a long time, and I really dug it, like there was a lot of cool stuff, so yeah . And also the cool thing about Santa Rosa is they've also got all those Snoopy statues all over town too. Jessika: They do. Yeah. All the [00:03:00] Peanuts characters actually. Cause they, the Charlie Browns and the Lucy's now and the Woodstocks. Yeah they're all over the place. But that used to be something fun we could do as a scavenger hunt, and actually that's something you guys could still do even with the lockdown. Cause most of them are outside is just find that list of where all the Snoopy's or whatever character is and go find them all. Cause we did that at one point, like as an adult, obviously. Well, what about you, Mike? Mike: The complete opposite of something wholesome. Jessika: Perfect. Mike: We didn't actually have the kids for a few days. They were with their dad and we couldn't find anything new to watch. So, we wound up bingeing the entire series of Harley Quinn on HBO Max. Jessika: Oh, you’re ahead of me then. Damn you. Mike: This is my third time going through the series. We've just gotten to the point where we turned it on when we want to watch something that's kind of soothing in a way, even though it is not a soothing TV show. But I still am [00:04:00] having these full on belly laughs where I'm breathless at the end and it's just, it's so smart and funny and absolutely filthy with the violence. And then there are these moments of sweetness or genuine reflection, and it's just so damn refreshing. I was never much of a Harley fan, but this show and then the Birds of Prey movie really made me fall in love with that character. Also side note, Michael Ironside who played General Katana and Highlander II. Jessika: Yeah. Mike: He shows up in Harley Quinn doing the voice of Darkseid, which is a character he's been voicing since the nineties when he first started doing it for the Superman animated series. Jessika: Oh, damn. Mike: So, just a little bit of symmetry there. Mike: All right. So before we begin, I have to say that this episode wound up being a rabbit hole full of other rabbit holes that I kept going down. So, I want to give a little credit where it's due for a ton of my research. I really wound up leaning on two books: John Mosby's Fearful Symmetry [00:05:00]; and A Kind of Magic: The Making of Highlander by Jonathan Melville. Likewise, there's a YouTube series called Highlander heart hosted by Grant Kempster and Joe Dilworthand, and an associated Facebook community with the same name that were just invaluable for my crash course. And finally, I want to give special, thanks to Clinton Rawls, who runs Comics Royale, and Matt Kelly for taking the time to chat with me because they didn't have to, and they provided me with some really useful information for this episode. Jessika: Yeah, I'm super excited about what lies in store. What's really funny is I've actually, I feel like a kid before it test. Mike: Right? Jessika: like I'm a little nervous because I've been cramming so hard for this Mike: We both have. Jessika: No, you, especially you, especially like you should be much more nervous than me, Mike. No, I’m just kidding, please don't take that on. Oh, but yeah, no I'm super excited and really ready to talk about all of this stuff and learn more because I've just been consuming the media and the [00:06:00] comic books. But, you’re going to give me some back knowledge that's gonna blow my brain and I'm excited. Mike: Oh, well, I'll try to live up to that high expectation. Let's assume that you didn't know what the topic of this episode was. And if someone asked you what cult property from the 1980s. Spawned five movies, two TV series, a Saturday morning cartoon, an anime film, several video games, multiple tabletop games, audio plays, roughly a dozen novels, and four okay, technically six different comic books. What would your first answer be? Jessika: Oh, goodness. What's funny is probably not Highlander. I'd probably I would say like Batman, honestly, Mike: Yeah I would've gone with something along the lines of G.I. Joe. Jessika: Oh, yeah. Mike: Or some weird Saturday morning cartoon, something like that. I never would have guessed Highlander. I never would have assumed that. but it's just, it's really surprising to see how [00:07:00] much has been generated out of this initial movie. Were you fan of the movies or the show before we started bingeing everything for this episode? Jessika: So I was actually a fan of the show via my dad who had it on hadn't watched the films before, because I was born in 1986 fun fact. Mike: Right. Jessika: I was born when this thing was sent into the world. We both were at the same time, apparently. I didn't have that exact experience of growing up watching it, but he definitely had the TV show on in the nineties Mike: Okay. Jessika: So that was what I was familiar with and I loved it and I would run around chopping things; I'd be at work, I was actually like when I got older I'd be like, there can only be one, and I’d like have to like swipe at someone. Mike: It’s such an iconic line. Jessika: iIt is! it transcends. Absolutely. Mike: Yeah. I was pretty young when the movie came out and the show was how I became aware of it. And then when the show was airing, I was in high school. And then I became [00:08:00] aware that there was a movie that had inspired it. And so I was able to rent that when I was old enough to be trusted, to go rent movies on my own by my parents. Back when we couldn’t stream everything. Jessika: Oh my gosh. Mike: And there were rewind fees, Jessika: Oh, my gosh. Be kind rewind. Mike: Speaking of things from the eighties: it’s funny we'll talk about it later on, but the show really brought in, I think a lot of people that otherwise wouldn't have been fans. Before we start talking about the comic books, I really want to take a few minutes to talk about all the media and content that spun out of Highlander because it's a lot. And it was honestly in a couple of cases, really surprising. I didn't know about half of this stuff before I began researching for the episode, and then. Like I said, it was just constant rabbit holes that kept on leading me down more and more research paths. And it was really fun. But I want to talk about all this now. Jessika: Perfect. This is exactly what we're here for, and I think that people want to hear it too. [00:09:00] Mike: I hope so. Okay. So why don't you summarize Highlander? If you had to give an elevator pitch, Jessika: The film follows the past and present of Connor MacLeod, an immortal who is just one of many vying to be the sole victor in an age old battle, where in the end, there can only be one. Like very simply a lot more to it, but like how much of an elevator pitch. Mike: I think that's pretty simple. It's about an immortal who basically keeps on fighting his way through history and there's these really wonderful catch phrases that get us hooked. The movies got actually a really interesting origin story of its own. It was written by this guy named Gregory Widen when he was in his early twenties. That was when he wrote the initial screenplay. But he had already had a really interesting life up until then. He was one of the youngest paramedics in Laguna Beach at that point in [00:10:00] time. And then he went on to become a firefighter while he was still a teenager. By 1981, he'd also worked as a DJ and a broadcast engineer. And then he signed up for a screenwriting course at UCLA and he wrote this feature length script called Shadow Clan. And it would go through a number of changes before it became Highlander. But the core theme of an immortal warrior named Connor MacLeod wandering across the centuries is there. He wound up getting introduced to producers Bill Panzer, and Peter Davis who decided to option the film. And then they hired the screenwriters, Larry Ferguson and Peter Bellwood to rework the script into what we eventually had wind up in theaters. And once the movie was green-lit, they brought in Russell Mulcahey to direct it. And I vaguely knew that Mulcahey had been doing music videos before this, for the most part, he had one other cult movie ahead of time. It was a horror movie, I think, called Razorback. But I didn't realize which music videos he'd been making until I started doing all [00:11:00] this research. So I'm going to give you a small sampling and you're going to tell me if you've heard of these. Jessika: Okay. Sure sure sure. Mike: Okay. The Vapors “Turning Japanese”. Jessika: Uh, yeah. Mike: Yeah, okay. The Buggles “Video Killed the Radio Star”. Jessika: Wow. Yes. Mike: Duran Duran Duran’s “Rio”. Jessika: Wow. Mike: And Elton John's “I'm Still Standing”. Jessika: Yeahwow. That's actually a variety of characters. Mike: Right? But also those all really iconic music videos. Like not only songs, but music, videos cause those were all in the very early days. And the dude's entire portfolio is just iconic. If you think about the music videos that really defined the genre Jessika: Yeah, sometimes you just got it, I guess. Huh? Mike: He has a lot of those music video elements. A lot of times in the movie, it feels like a music video, like when Brenda's being chased down the hall by the Kurgan and it's got all that dramatic lighting, or that opening shot where they're in the [00:12:00] wrestling match and you see the camera flying through everything. Jessika: Yes! Mike: That was wild. That was really unusual to see camera work like that back then. The movie was distributed by 20th century Fox. And I think at this point, We'd be more surprised of 20th century Fox did a good job of marketing weird and cool, because they really botched it. They wound up forcing cuts to the movie that created really weird plot holes because they didn't feel that audiences needed it or what would understand it, and they wanted to make it simpler, but it really made things more confusing. European audiences on the other hand, really embraced the film because they got a much better version. So case in point, I'm going to show you the two main posters for it. This is the American poster for the movie. Jessika: Mmhmm. Oh, wow, he’s scary. Wow wow wow, okay. Before I even say any of the words, what you first see is Connor [00:13:00] MacLeod, but it's this awful grainy picture of him. He looks like there's something wrong with his face, which he shouldn't necessarily. And he looks like he's about to murder someone. He's like glaring off into the distance. And at the top it says, Oh, it's in black and white, by the way. at the top it says, He fought his first battle on the Scottish Highlands in 1536, he will fight his greatest battle on the streets of New York city in 1986. His name is Connor MacLeod. He is immortal Highlander! Credits at the bottom, rated R, absolutely rated R. Mike: Also, I feel like featuring original songs by Queen does not get the billing that it should. Jessika: I agree. I jammed my way through that film and this just the whole series, [00:14:00] actually the whole franchise I jammed my way through. Mike: Yeah. And if you listen to the kind of Magic album that is basically the unofficial soundtrack to the movie, and it's so good I don't know how they got those perpetual rights to Princes of the Universe, did. Every time I hear that song, I get a little thrill up my spine. All right. So here's the poster though for the European release. Jessika: All right. So, Ooh, this is totally different. This is Whoa. This is way more exciting. Okay. First of all, it's full Color, my friends, right in the middle in red it says Highlander right under it “There can only be one” in yellow. Oh it's amazing. There's a little sticker at the bottom that says featuring original songs by queen. Look it, trying to sell it, I love it. And then there's Connor MacLeod in the center of the screen [00:15:00] dramatically head back eyes closed screaming his sword thrusts forward and behind him is the Kurgan, oh my gosh so good. It's so - Oh, and a backdrop of New York city. All in lights. It's beautiful. Mike: Yeah. It’s one of those things where basically, that documentary that we watched seduced by Argentina, they talk about that where they're just like 20th century Fox fucked us. Jessika: And I didn't realize how much until, because I did watch that as well. And I'm like how bad could it be? But I that's pretty bad. It's a pretty big difference. It's like watching, that'd be like going, expecting to see like psycho or something. Mike: Honestly, I keep on thinking of Firefly and Fox and how they just totally botched the marketing for that show and then the release, and issues with Joss Wheden aside. Jessika: Yeah. Mike: It’s one of those [00:16:00] things where again, it's a really beloved cult property with a really devoted fan base, even, 5 years after it was released, shit, almost 20. Jessika: And I do love Firefly, again, Whedon aside. Mike: I do too. Jessika: And it makes me a little sad think about it because it had so much potential. Mike: Yeah. Jessika: Oh, it's so rough. It's rough to see. Mike: Yeah. What were your overall thoughts on the movie now that you've seen it because you hadn't seen it before this, correct? Jessika: No. I had only seen the TV show and probably rightfully so, because that was much less violent. I mean, much less graphically violent. They were still beheading motherfucker every episode, but, versus the film, which is like blood and like half a head and wow, there, it goes the head. But I actually really liked the movie. It was adventurous, it was thrilling and told a fairly cohesive and interesting storyline which unfortunately had an ending. But it still took us on an emotional journey. [00:17:00] Mike: Yeah, and I feel the same way. Jessika:: And how all the camp that I love from the 1980s and the special effects are just chefs, kiss love it. Mike: There is something so wonderful about the special effects from the 1980s, because they're so earnest all the time. And at the same time they look so cheesy by comparison now. Jessika: But you can tell they were trying so hard. It's almost like a little kid who's just learning to finger paint and they walk up and they're like, I did this thing. It's so good. You're like, it is really good. It's really good for where you're at. Mike: Yeah, exactly. Highlander is very much a quintessential eighties film to me, and there's both that nostalgia factor, but also it's a pretty tight little film. It doesn't really try to do anything too grandiose or too world-building because I don't think they expected to really make the sequels that they wound up doing. Which speaking of which we should discuss the sequels. [00:18:00] Mike: Like, I feel like you can’t discussion without talking about the sequels. And honestly the first time I ever heard of Highlander as a brand really was when I was visiting family in Texas And we were watching a Siskel & Ebert episode where they were thrashing Highlander II. Jessika: Dude, Siskel and Ebert I'm sure hated this. This does not surprise me in the least. Mike: I don't remember much about it, I just remember being like, oh Sean Connery's in a movie, well that's cool. Because my parents had raised me on all of the Sean Connery James Bond movies. Jessika: Yeah casting, come on. Why? Why? They had a French dude playing a Scottish guy and a Scottish guy playing a Spanish Egyptian guy. It's. Mike: I believe label was a Hispaniola Egyptian. They kinda darkened up Sean Connery a little bit too. I'm not sure. Jessika: It felt that way. I was just hoping he had just been under the tanning beds, but no, I think you're right. [00:19:00] Mike: Highlander II was definitely the most infamous of the sequels. And I mean a huge part of that is because it had such a batshit production and there’d been so many different versions of it. It was so bad that Russell Mulcahey reportedly walked out of the film premiere after only 15 minutes. There's this great documentary that you and I both watched on YouTube, it's split up into a bunch parts, but it was a documentary they made for the special edition of Highlander II. Jessika: Yeah. Mike: It was the third release of the movie that they put out because the first one was basically the bonding company for the films. Investors took over the production and assembly of the movie due to the fact that Argentina, where they were filming. And they had gone to Argentina because a, it was gorgeous, but B because it was supposedly going to be a third of the cost Jessika: Yeah. Mike: To make a movie there than it would elsewhere. Argentina’s economy collapsed and went through hyperinflation. And as a result, everything just went haywire. But they went back years later and they not only recut the [00:20:00] movie, but they refilled or added in certain scenes I think four or five years later. And then on top of that, they did the special edition a few years after that, where they redid the special effects. And I don't know it's kind of funny because it's not a bad movie now. It's not terrible. I feel it's an enjoyable film in its own way. But it's also funny where you watch that documentary and they're talking about the stuff that they're so proud of. Russell Mulcahey was talking about how proud he was of that love scene. I'm using this in quotes, love scene between Virginia Madsen and and Christopher Lambert where they just decided to do it up against the wall of an alley? Jessika: That’s always an interesting choice to me. Like you really cannot wait. Mike: Yeah. And then he was like, I thought that was a really hot scene. And I got to sit there and I'm like, I don't, I can't view this through the lens of, a 20 something guy in the 1990s. I don't know what my interpretation of it would have been then, [00:21:00] but watching it now watching it for the first time when I was in my twenties and the, in the early aughts, I just was like, this is weird and sorta dumb. And also they don't really have a lot of chemistry, but okay. Jessika: Yeah, it just kind of happens. They're just like, Oh, here you are. Mike: Yeah Right I don't know. At the same time it was cool to see they did all those really practical, special effects where they actually had them whipping around on the wires on like the weird flying skateboards and stuff. I thought that was cool. Jessika: I thought that was neat too. And how he was like, yeah, I actually got on top of the elevator and he was excited. Now he got on top of the elevator. Mike: And then they basically just dropped it down, like that's wild. So how about Highlander three? Jessika: Ahhh… Mike: Yeah, that’s kinda where I am Jessika: It’s very forgettable in my book. Mike: I feel like you could wipe it from the timeline and no one would care. Really, it felt like a retread of the first movie, but with the shittier villain in a way less interesting love story. honestly, it was a bummer because Mario [00:22:00] Van Peebles, the guy who plays that the illusionist I can't even remember his name. It was that forgettable. Jessika: Yeah, no, I can't either. Mike: Mario van Peebles is a really good actor and he's done a lot of really cool stuff. And it just, it felt like he was the NutraSweet version of the Kurgan Jessika: I like that. Yes. Yes. Mike: All of the mustache twirling, none of the substance. Jessika: It leaves a little bit of a weird taste in your mouth. Mike: Right. Splenda Kurgan! Moving on Highlander, Endgame. Jessika: What I do like about this film is that in both the TV series, as well as the film, there is the actual crossover. Connor shows up in Duncan's world and Duncan shows up in Connor's world and there is that continuity, which is good. And I do appreciate that because, before I got into this, I assumed that the character was interchangeable and we were just seeing different actors James [00:23:00] Bond situation. And when I went back and realized like, Oh no, he's his own character, they're blah, you know. Mike: I dunno I saw this in theaters I love the show and I appreciated that it felt like an attempt to merge the movies in the series and of the movies, I feel like this actually has the strongest action scenes. There's that bit where Adrian Paul faces off against Donnie Yen. And I was like, that's gotta be really cool to be able to sit there and show your kids much later in life: hey, I got to do a martial arts scene with Donnie Yen and he didn't kill me in the movie. that's pretty dope. Jessika: Yeah. Mike: Again, it felt underwhelming. It just wasn't all that interesting. And also I spent years being mad at that movie because the trailer brought me into the theater expecting something way different than what we were going to get Jessika: Okay. And I don't know that I saw the trailer. Mike: It has, it has a bunch of scenes with Magic where Connor and Duncan jumped through a portal [00:24:00]. Jessika: What? Mike: And a sword gets thrown at Jacob Kell and he catches it midair. And then he does something else where he's holding a sphere where you see Connor's face screaming and then it shatters. Jessika: What’s with all this weird, extra scene stuff in these trailers. I don't understand. Mike: Yeah, it turns out that this hasn't, this has never really been officially confirmed, but reading between the lines yeah, it’s been confirmed. They basically filmed extra scenes just to make it more appealing for people. So they would show up to the theaters. Like they filmed scenes, effectively they filmed scenes just for the trailer the director when he was asked about it in Fearful Symmetry. He basically said, yeah, I know there was some stuff that they filmed for marketing afterwards, and I wasn't involved with that. And then I think it was Peter Davis that was asked about this for the book. And he basically said, Oh, this is a really standard practice. People, or accompanies [00:25:00] film stuff for for marketing purposes all the time. And that's where he left it. Jessika: Oh, okay. to know. Mike: I was really grumpy about that, but that said I've softened a little since then. Do we even want to talk about the Source? Cause I feel like that's something that we shouldn't talk about in polite company. Jessika: No pass. Mike: Okay. Jessika: It happened? Mike: It happened, it was a thing that happened that was going to be a trilogy. They were planning to make that into a trilogy of movies. Jessika: Ohh rough times. Mike: Oh it's real bad. I don't think you were able to watch this, but Highlander, the search for vengeance. It's the anime. Jessika: No, I couldn't find it. Mike: Yeah. It's not available for streaming and it really it's really a bummer because it's actually pretty good. I'm not quite sure how to qualify it because it's not a live action movie and it doesn't star Duncan or Connor, but it's a full length anime. It's a full length movie in its own right. It focuses on Colin MacLeod who he’s [00:26:00] an immortal, who's technically part of the MacLeod clan. He's born as a Roman Britain and then he's adopted into the MacLeod clan after he fights alongside them later on. They keep on doing this. They keep on going back to dystopian SciFutures, which I kinda like, Jessika: I love, bless their little hearts. Mike: Yeah. A lot of the story actually takes place in this post-apocalyptic 22nd century, New York. And I haven't seen this in about a decade because it's not available on streaming. I don't have the DVD anymore. I really should pick it up before it goes out of print. But the movie fucking slaps. It was directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, he was really big in the nineties. He did Ninja Scroll and Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust. He's known for really cool looking movies that are also really violent at the same time. Like you look at his characters and you're like, Oh yeah, no, they all look interchangeable because they're also similar one movie to another, Jessika: Oh, I see. Mike: But they're really cool. And the movie was written by David Abramowitz, who was the head writer [00:27:00] for the TV show. So it felt like a pretty legit Highlander story. Honestly, if we had to talk about this and ask which of these movies or the sequels were our favorites, I would probably say the Search for Vengeance. Because I loved it so much, but since that wasn't a theatrical release, we'll exclude that and you didn't get to watch it. Of the sequels, which did you enjoy most? Jessika: Mike, why don’t you go first. Mike: Okay. I'm a little torn, I guess I enjoyed Endgame mainly because it feels like part of he in quotes, real Highlander story, I guess it's the least terrible of the sequels. And it brought in my favorite characters. The final version of Highlander II, is I don't know. I don't hate it. It honestly feels like a cool dystopian cyberpunk story with some bizarre Highlander lore shoehorned in, but at the same time, it's not the worst thing I've ever watched. How about you? Jessika: Funny [00:28:00] enough, I was going to say Highlander II, but maybe just a bit more so if it were its own standalone movie and not try to be a part of the Highlander franchise. The idea of the shield is super interesting and I think they could have elaborated more on the lead-up and the resolution of that issue rather than having to also make it about the Immortals in their forever game. Mike: Yeah, I agree. How do you feel about moving onto the TV series? Jessika: Oh, I am pro. Mike: Okay. I personally feel like this is the property that sucks all the air out of the room when you're talking about Highlander. Jessika: Oh no. Mike: Yeah, I mentioned that this is how I really got introduced to the brand. I started watching it in high school, around season three, which was when it was really starting to get good. The first two seasons I feel were kind of when they were ironing out all the rough spots. But I wound up watching it through the end. So if you're listening to this podcast and you have never seen the [00:29:00] show Highlander, the series ran for six seasons, which is a good length of time for any TV show. And it followed the adventures of Duncan, who was another member of the MacLeod clan. He was a distant cousin of Connor. And the show bounced between Seacouver, which is a fictionalized version of Vancouver in Paris. And it basically retcon things so that the original movie didn't end with The Quickening, but that the battle between the Kurgan and Connor was it's implied, it was the start of The Gathering. That's my interpretation of it. Jessika: That was what I got too. Mike: Yeah. And Christopher Lambert, he shows up in the pilot to help set things up and get them moving. But I think that's the only time we ever really seen him on the show. Jessika: Correct. He's really just an intro. He's in that first episode only. Mike: You have rewatched it as a have I . We haven't watched the entire series all the way through, but we've watched a lot of episodes. Jessika: Correct. Mike: How do you feel [00:30:00] it measures up today? compared to that nostalgic view that we had before, Jessika: I had a lot of fun watching it, actually. definitely super cheesy. I don't love all of the characters I watched a lot of the first season, then I bounced around I think I did the top, like 25 on a list that you sent me. But Duncan’s just so codependent sometimes with his characters and it's like the one time the Tessa goes on a hike by herself, she gets kidnapped by an, a mortal and it’s like, oh my God, she can't even go on a fucking hike, are you joking me? And the one time he goes to the store by himself, he gets kidnapped and it's like, oh, come the fuck on you guys. Mike: Yeah, I feel like it generally holds up pretty well. It's a little uneven, but when it hits , it really hits. And it's a lot of fun. And considering that it was a relatively low budget show on basic cable in the early to mid-nineties, there's a lot of stuff that has aged way worse. [00:31:00] Jessika:: Absolutely. It exceeded my expectations on the rewatch, for sure. Mike: Yeah, and I have to say that one really cool thing about Highlander is it's got a really large female fan base. And I suspect that the show is really responsible for that. Jessika: I would agree. There's a few reasons. Mike: Are six of those reasons. Duncan's abs? Jessika: Like 10 of those reasons are all the times he gets surprised in a bathtub. I know I messaged you while I was watching them, because I was like Duncan got surprised in a bathtub again. Mike: I don't remember which episode it was, but there's one where he is surprised while he's in a bathrobe and he's got, it's not even tighty whities, it’s like a bikini brief, and watching that, I was just sitting there going, thank you for this gift. Thank you. Thank you for this visual treat that you have given us in the middle of my very boring work day. Jessika: It’s [00:32:00] also that there are such a wide variety of female characters. I would say, Iit’s not just the other female person he seeing or whatever, the love interest, there are other female Immortals and they a lot more frequently than they do in the films. I can't recall if they have any female immortals in the films. Mike: They do in Endgame. Jessika: Okay. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I thought there was, there were some in there, but that’s tailing into, I mean yeah. Mike: Yeah. And the Source had them too, but meh. Jessika: Oh yeah. Mike: I will say that the show was pretty good about writing pretty strong female characters, I felt. Jessika: Yeah. Mike: And we'll talk about Amanda in a little bit, but I have to say that I really liked how she was written and how Elizabeth Grayson played her through the original series and then her own afterwards. I dunno. I, what do you think is the sexiest thing about Duncan MacLeod? I'm curious. Jessika: He seems [00:33:00] really like trustworthy, but like and sexy trustworthy. It's like, he'd be the dude. I called if some guys were fucking with me. Mike: Yeah. Jessika: Yeah. Mike: I kept on thinking about how there's this Tumblr post that's been going around the internet, regularly, and it's this discussion about which Disney men women find the sexiest guys always thinks it's Gaston. Jessika: Oh lord, why? Mike: It’s that male power fantasy thing where they're just like, oh no, like he's like really charming. And he's really muscly. And the counterargument from women is usually A no Gaston sucks and B we all like Roger from 101 Dalmatians. Jessika: Oh yeah. Roger. Mike: Which, Roger is very much my personal role model. The dude's a talented musician, he loves animals and he's got that great, a snark where he literally is trolling the villain when she comes to his house with a motherfucking trombone from upstairs [00:34:00]. And I think Duncan's a little like that. Like he's cultured and he's worldly and he's got this wicked sense of humor. And he's also the type of dude who has no problem reciting poetry in public or making his partner breakfast in bed. Jessika: Yeah, absolutely. Mike: So it just it was something that came to mind while I was rewatching all this stuff. Jessika: Yeah. just as like a wholesome guy. Mike: Right? Jessika: He always has good intentions. So that's actually what it feels like. He's always coming at things with good intentions. Mike: Yeah, and he's not perfect, but he's always trying to do the right thing, which I really appreciate. Jessika: Yeah. Mike: What was your favorite episode? Jessika: I went back and forth. I really like the Homeland episode, and like I said, I've really only watched a good chunk of most of season what I would say, and then so kind of bounced around, but season four, episode one. It was really sweet to see [00:35:00] Duncan take the obligatory trip back to his Homeland to pay respects. And it also had a good lesson in not judging a book by its cover as the main character assumes that Duncan is just an ancestry tourist, which was super interesting. She was super hating on it but I was like this is interesting instead of visiting what once was literally his home during formative years. So it was just such a wild thing to see her be like, what are you doing near those graves? And he can't really be like, they were my parents because you cannot even read them. They are so old. Mike: The funny thing is I didn't rewatch that episode during our refresher, but I remember watching that episode when I was about 15 or so. Because it's stuck out to me. Jessika: It’s really good. And of course, Duncan, he always has a good intention. The whole reason he went back was because he figured out that somebody had been [00:36:00] pilfering graves Mike: Yeah. Jessika: And he had to return what was in this grave. Mike: I know he's making the rest of us look bad. So mine is, it's unusual suspects. It's from season six, which I feel is actually pretty weak season overall. And it's this really silly one-off episode, starring Roger Daltry of the Who fame. He plays Hugh Fitzcairn, which is a character that he shows up in plays a couple of times throughout the series. And at this point in time in the story, he was dead, but it's a flashback to the 19 teens or 1920s. 1920s, because it ends with the stock market crash, but it's a take on the British country, house murder, mystery genre, and it's really fun. And it was just this really refreshing moment of levity after what I felt our run of really heavy, and in my opinion, not very good episodes. The end of season five and the beginning of season [00:37:00] six are all about Duncan confronting this demon named Aramon and it's weird and it's not very good. And I really don't enjoy it. This is all my opinion. I'm sure that I'm insulting some Highlander fan who absolutely loves this, but it's a fun episode in its own. And then it's a good moment after one that I didn't really enjoy. And so it's got that extra refreshing bonus. I just, I want to note, it's really funny to me how intertwined Highlander has always been with rock and roll and music in general, because they had Mulcahey who do it, doing all these music videos and stuff. And then they kept on having musicians show up as guest stars. I think it was there's a character named Xavier St. Cloud, I think who was played by one of the guys from, again, I think, Fine Young Cannibals? Jessika: Yeah, I think I actually watched that episode. Mike: I think he was using nerve gas to kill people. Jessika: Yes I did watch that episode. That was a wild one. Yeah. Mike: Yeah, and I think he shows up later on too. [00:38:00] I can't remember but anyway, I really appreciate that they gave Roger Daltry of all people, this character, and he just really had fun with it and they kept bringing him back. Jessika: Yeah. He was a good character every episode he was in my other favorites was the one where they had Mary Shelley and he was in that one too. I believe. Mike: I think so. Yeah. No, it was, the series was really fun, and I liked that we can sit there and pull all these episodes just from memory that we really liked. Jessika: Absolutely. Mike: So season six , they were trying to find a new actress who could carry her own Highlander show. And so they tested out a bunch of different actresses in season six and gave them either really strong guest appearances, or they were basically the main character for episodes. But they wound up not going with any of them. They went with Elizabeth Grayson and gave her the Raven where she reprised her roles Amanda. Did you watch any of that? Did you get a chance to? Jessika: I watched the [00:39:00] first and the last episode of season one, I can only find the first season. Is there only one? Mike: There’s only one season, it didn’t get picked up again. Jessika: Oh then there you go. Then I could have only, I know I was scratching my head. Worried about where else do I find this? Mike: Well, and it ends on a cliff-hanger. Jessika: Yeah, exactly. That's where I was like, let's go. Mike: It ends with Nick becoming immortal. Jessika: Oh, see, I didn't quite finish it. Cause I was hurriedly setting it up in the background. Mike: Yeah it was fine. I thought Elizabeth Grayson is really charming in that role, but at the same time, there wasn't a lot of chemistry initially between Amanda and Nick, I felt at the very beginning. Jessika: I agree, not in the first episode. Mike: By the end of the season, it was there, and I think they were also, as is the case with most shows first seasons, they were trying really hard to figure out what they wanted to do. And so originally it was a cop show with an immortal, which there are certainly worse pitches that I've heard. Jessika: Yeah. No, I agree. Mike: But yeah. sad that it didn't get to go further [00:40:00] Jessika: I'm tempted to go back and watch all of these things. I may have to do a pallet cleanse of something different. I may have to go back to my Marvel watching. Mike: On top of this, there was a Saturday morning cartoon called Highlander, the series or Highlander, the animated series, and it was set in the future. It's in a weird alternate timeline. It stars another MacLeod. It's fine It's a Saturday morning cartoon. I didn't even care enough to really go back and watch it because being that great. They did some interesting stuff. Like they brought Ramirez back if I remember, right. And then they also had a thing where instead of beheading other Immortals, the main character had an ability where he could be voluntarily given their power. Jessika: Oh. Mike: So he had all of their knowledge and power. And again, it’s again in a dystopian future where another immortal has taken over the world. Jessika: Wow. They just love their dystopian future. Mike: They really do. But yeah, it's fine. I think it's streaming on Amazon prime. I was just so focused on everything else that I didn't get a chance to go and [00:41:00] rewatch it. Jessika: Huh, good to know. Mike: We're going to go over all the other various pieces of media real quick. and then we've got one side tangent and then we're going to go through comic books, but. Jessika: I'm so excited. Mike: Books, Highlander wound up having a pretty substantial literary footprint. The original movie had the official novelization. There wasn't really anything after that until the show came out and then the show had 10 novels and an anthology and an official behind the scenes kind of book called the Watchers Guide and it's full of essays and interviews and photos. And since then, there've been a couple of non-fiction books, like Fearful Symmetry, which is about everything Highlander related. And it's almost like a textbook, but it's pretty good. And then there's also A Kind of Magic, which is more focused on making of the original movie. And those are both actually really good. I liked them a lot. They were really easy to read. [00:42:00] There were audio plays, which I keep on forgetting audio plays are a thing at this point, but it's by this company called Big Finish in the UK. They do tie-in audio dramas for television properties. Most famously they do Dr Who. They wound up doing two seasons of audio plays. The first had Adrian Paul reprise his role as Duncan and they take place after the series ended. And then also after the events of Endgame, you can't really find them anymore. Because they just, the license expired so they aren't selling them as far as I'm aware. Jessika: That's super interesting though. Dang. Mike: Yeah. And then the second season focuses on the four horsemen Immortals, remember Jessika: Okay. Mike: Do you remember them? Jessika: I sure do. Mike: Because we were talking about this a little bit, but it was all about Methos and the other guys that he hung out with when he was effectively, a comic book villain who would've if he’d had a mustache to twirl, he would have done it. Jessika: So quickly. Yes. Mike: I thought that was really interesting. There were a couple of people in the Highlander Heart [00:43:00] group who talked about it and they seem to really like them. I can't comment, but it was really neat. Games, this is the one that's really interesting. Highlander actually has been turned into a number of games over the years. There's a couple of tabletop games we're going to breeze through. So there was two different card games in a board game. One of the card games was released back in the nineties, it was a collectible card game. And this was right when Magic: The Gathering was really hot and everybody was trying to get in on that action. And then recently there's a new one called Highlander: The Duel. And it's a deck-building game where you play as Connor or the Kurgan going up against each other. And just a couple of years ago, there was a board game that got kick-started, it was in 2018 and it's this fast paced game for two to six players. The reviews across the web were pretty positive. And again, it's one of those things where it's Immortals battling for that mysterious prize. Jessika: Yeah. Mike: But it's cool. Jessika: Nice. Mike: I’m actually pretty surprised [00:44:00] we never got like a tabletop RPG because they are not precious about applying the license for Highlander to stuff. I'm amazed that nobody went to them and said, Hey, we can make this cool historical RPG where we sorta start having players wake up and then they have flashbacks or whatever. And Jessika: Yeah Oh that would have been cool Yeah Mike: Right? But yeah we never got anything like that which I was really I actually that was the one thing I expected and was surprised to see that we never got. Okay. So we're going to go into mini tangent with video games even though they aren't technically related to comics. The first game for Highlander was a 1986 tie-in release for home computers. It was a really simple fighting title. It wasn't well received. It was apparently pretty bad. So after that the animated series had a tie in called Highlander: Last of the MacLeods. It was released on the Atari Jaguar CD console. If you remember that. Do you remember the Atari Jaguar? Jessika: Oh my god, no. I don't. [00:45:00] Mike: It kinda got lost in the shuffle in the early to mid nineties of all the different consoles that were coming out. But you can find footage of this on YouTube and it's one of those early 3d games. And so it got a lot of praise for his exploration elements and animated video sequences, but it also got a lot of criticism for its controls in combat. After that there was actually going to be an MMO called Highlander, The Gathering. And it was in development by a French studio called Kalisto entertainment, which was honestly weird because Kalisto's catalog up until now were mostly middling single-player games. They'd gotten famous for a series called Nightmare Creatures, but they also did a Fifth Element racing game on PS2 that I had and was actually pretty fun. Anyway, Kalisto went bankrupt before the MMO could come out. Jessika: Oh! Mike: And none of the folks who, yeah, that's video games. Jessika: Fair enough. Mike: So they went bankrupt. The MMO hadn't come out yet. And the folks who wound up with the rights afterwards just decided to kill the project. There's [00:46:00] one other game. That's become the source of a lot of speculation. And it's only known as Highlander: The Game it basically came about because Davis Panzer productions that's, the guys who own the rights to Highlander, and SCI, which was this holding company that owned a bunch of video game groups. They decided to ink a deal, to make a Highlander game. They announced that they basically had done a partnership back in like 2004, 2005. And at the time SCI owned Eidos who was the publisher that gave us Tomb Raider. So they were a pretty big name. The game itself was formally announced by Eidos in 2008 and the development was being handled by another French developer called Widescreen Games. It was going to be an action role-playing game. It would star a new Immortal named Owen MacLeod. The story was going to be written again by David Abramowitz and that added some [00:47:00] serious legitimacy to the project for fans. Actually, why don’t you read the summary. Jessika: Would love to my pleasure. Summary: Owen is captured and enslaved by Romans who force him to compete as a gladiator. During this time, Owen dies only to come back to life. Methos, the oldest living immortal approaches Owen to be his mentor. He teaches Owen about the game and how he and other Immortals can only be slain by beheading. As with other immortal MacLeods Owen is pursued throughout his life by a nemesis. This enemy proves to be extremely powerful. One that Owen is unable to defeat Owen learns of a magical stone, fragments of which are scattered all over the world. Throughout the game, Owen embarks upon a quest to recover these fragments and restore the stone in an attempt to gain the power to overcome his foe. [00:48:00] So dramatic. I love it. Mike: What's Highlander without any drama? But that sounds rad right? Jessika: Oh, it sounds amazing. Mike: The game was announced with a trailer in 2008 that really only showed some of the environments from different eras and then it ended with an image of Owen, but it looked promising. And then there wasn't much else after a couple of years of pretty much nothing but radio silence, Eidos wound up canceling the game and that's where a lot of the speculation has started. There's not a lot of information on Highlander: The Game. I keep waiting for one of those gaming history YouTubers to get ahold of an old dev kit and then do a video with a build, but that hasn't happened yet. So really it's all kind of speculation and wishful thinking about what could have been. And it also seems like some of the details are getting muddied as time goes on. Like Fearful Symmetry talks about the game of it but they [00:49:00] have the segment. And again I want you to read this. Jessika: Sure sure. The gam was so far along in its development stages that segments including backdrops and some of the gameplay options were presented at a Highlander Worldwide event in Los Angeles 2006 and got a very positive reaction. The beautifully rendered backdrops were almost movie quality and included the likes of Pompei, a dark forest in the Highlands, New York, and Japan as gameplay locations and introduced us to another MacLeod, Owen, the same surname but a much earlier vintage. Mike: Yeah, so, I think Mosby is a little overly enthusiastic about all of this, and this is because I think Mosby doesn't have much familiarity with how game development works. It sounds like they had concept art on display and were discussing gameplay [00:50:00] rather than showcasing a build of the game. Concept art and design discussions are things that happen very early in game development. But if you're an outsider, looking in this stuff could easily be interpreted as things being much further along than they were. Jessika: Ah. Mike: Yeah. Now that said, I did work in video games for almost a decade, and a few of my coworkers were actually involved with Highlander the game. Jessika: What? Mike: Every one of them over the years has told me the cancellation was a mercy killing. And again, this is from multiple sources, so I'm not going to name or identify because, I don't want to make things awkward for them. But basically the game was garbage . It's not really surprising to hear cause widescreen never really made a good game, the best reception that any of their titles got was just kinda mixed. But earlier this week, I actually called one of my friends. Who'd been [00:51:00] attached to the project because I wanted to get more information about this game before we recorded. Jessika: We need to get you a new shovel, you dug so deep for this. Mike: With both hands. But, they confirmed what I've been hearing from other people the gameplay itself wasn't just bad. It was boring. The biggest problem was it didn't know what kind of a game it wanted to be. Basically, it was trying to do everything all at once. There were a bunch of traversal elements, which didn't really make a lot of sense. Like why would you climb a Manhattan skyscraper when you're a roided out dude with a sword? Couldn't you just take the elevator? Or I don't know the stairs? There was going to be a bunch of Magic elements in the gameplay, which, isn't really, that's not really a thing in Highlander. There's that fantasy element because we're talking about Immortals who can't die unless you cut off their heads, but generally Magic isn't a part of the accepted Canon. And then the combat, what they were aiming to do something like [00:52:00] God of war, which was really big at the time. But, it wasn't great. My friend also pointed out that Owen looked like a bodybuilder, but his fashion sense was from that industrial metal scene of the late nineties, which neither of those things really fits with the Highlander aesthetic because Adrian Paul was arguably the most in shape of the Highlander actors. But even that was, he was a dude who was like, yeah, I could achieve that if I was really good about my diet and then just worked out aggressively but not like Hugh Jackman does for his Wolverine roles. Jessika: Yeah, yeah. Mike: So I'm going to send you a screenshot of what Owen looked like in the key art the initial title it does. Jessika: What? It looks like Criss Angel. Mike: Right. And they're trying to recreate that iconic pose of The Quickening from the first movie that Connor does at the very end where he's getting raised up and, by the rails of Lightning, or the wires [00:53:00] of lightning. Jessika: Yeah, I get what they were trying to do. Mike: Yeah,I wanna know, what the fuck is up with those weird straps with rings that are going down his legs. Jessika: I don't really know, I was trying to figure that out myself. So just so that everyone can really get the picture that we're getting here and you'll, you might understand why it's taken me so long to describe it. I had to take it all in first. Mike: Yeah, it’s a ride. Jessika: It’s all very monochromatic. And the background is of course, a cut of the statue of Liberty, the backdrop of parts of New York that I'm sure aren't even next to each other, which is always funny. And then what is this? Is this the new guy, or is this supposed to be Duncan? Mike: Yeah, this is the new guy, Jessika: It’s Owen. Mike: Yeah. It's Owen. And then Connor and Duncan were supposed to appear, supposedly. I know Peter Wingfield was recording his lines for Methos. Jessika: Well, if they haven't killed off Methos that makes sense. And I don't know in the series if they have, and maybe Duncan makes [00:54:00] sense if he hasn't died yet, but. Mike: Yeah they can't kill off Methos, Methos was my first gay crush. Jessika: Yeah. He's. Slightly problematic in a couple episodes, but he's a great character overall. But he's very Chriss Angel, he's wearing like a trench coat and that has to be some sort of a lace undershirt or something. Mike: lAnd he’s got like a weird really, like baggy leather pants. Jessika: Yes. Which cannot be comfortable. It's doing this weird pooching thing in the front. Mike: Yeah, and then I think I saw another screenshot where it looks like he's wearing skater shoes tennis shoes as well. Jessika: Oh, Vans Off the Wall, man. Mike: Just once I want to see a MacLeod in the movies with a good fashion sense. Jessika: Yeah, I mentioned that I wanted to cosplay as Duncan, which overall would be a great idea. But then I was looking through his outfits and I'm like, what do I wear? Do I wear this weird white tank top with these like acid wash jeans [00:55:00] and a belt? Or is this the one where I'm wearing like five shirts and a long jacket? Is it that day? Mike: You know who he looks like that guy, Canus. Jessika: Yes! Yes, does. He has the lace shirt and everything. Mike: And the dog collar. Jessika: Oh my god, it was so funny. I told you, I think it was trying to be edgy. Mike: Yeah, and instead it comes off as really queer-coded. Jessika: It really does though. I know, my little queer brain was like bling. Mike: Yeah, It feels like they weren't really getting the essence of what Highlander actually was and who these guys were, because usually the Highlander characters are a little bit more believable and ordinary because that's the whole idea is that they're walking among us and we have no idea unless they tell us. Okay. On top of all this. So remember how I mentioned that trailer was just showcasing environments for the [00:56:00] game. Jessika: Yeah. Mike: There was a reason for that. The reason was that they couldn’t get the character models to work. Jessika: Oh! Mike: So the shot of Owen at the end it's actually just animated key art it's the same it's the same art that you just saw. It's that image. It was just slightly animated. And then they released a couple of screenshots for the game, but apparently they were really heavily photo-shopped well, beyond industry standards. So, it was one of those things where, this was a turd and it needed to be flushed. And it finally did. But Widescreen went under about a year after the game was formally announced. They were working on another big project and apparently that got taken away, and as a result, it just caused the studio to implode. By this point in time Square Enix the guys do all the final fantasy games had bought Eidos and they formally canceled it. We're not sure why exactly, my guess is that it was probably, they just looked at cost it would take to finish this game and then the [00:57:00] amount that it would need to sell in order to be profitable or to meet their sales expectations for it and they just thought it wasn't worth it. But yeah, my friend actually said they were embarrassed to work on it and they would have been fine even if it had been an average game, but it was just bad. Even one of those kind of middling average games, I think that would have been fine, that would have lived up to the Highlander bar. Finally, there's that Highlander game that spark unlimited was working on. I never even heard a whisper about this until. We watched that episode of Highlander Heart focusing on video games, and they brought Craig Allen on to talk about the project. Based on what we know now, I think this might be why Square Enix was holding onto the rights for another year after they shut down Highlander, the game, just because they had this other title, theoretically in development or very early development. Based on the footage that they have, it looks like they had at least done enough development work to put together a vertical slice that they could show for pitch [00:58:00] purposes and at conventions. But I thought it was really promising looking overall. What did you think? Jessika: I thought it did look really interesting the game play itself I did like the idea of having a female Highlander. That being said, they had this whole concept about what Craig Allen was calling beautiful damage. Mike: Yeah. Jessika: And it was this whole thing about, oh it was the first female Highlander and her looks go when she gets damaged, and that's her whole motivation is to stay pretty. And I just, that gave me a huge headache, and it of course was super male-gazey I mean, the game itself seemed that way. Mike: It was weird because I would love to see women and Highlander being built a little bit more like warriors, like a little bit more muscly, which would be in keeping with people who battle across the centuries. [00:59:00] They don't need to be super jacked like the Amazons in Wonder Woman, but making them look like stick thin suicide girl, punk rock chick from the late aughts. Didn't quite gel with me. I understood what he was talking about though, because that was the thing where they were starting to do permanent cosmetic damage in video games. That was something that was really big in the Batman Arkham games. Every time that you got knocked out, you'd come back and you'd have a little bit more of your outfit chipped apart. So, after a while Batman's looking pretty ragged and you realize maybe I'm not as good at this game as I think I am. Jessika: Yeah And the concept itself is really interesting It just I guess was the way it was phrased by this person. And it very much was he was so proud of the fact that it was the first Highlander female in a video game. And then everything was just like so incredibly sexist. I was excited that I wasn't Mike: We're also viewing it, with the lens of 2021 at this point. At that time, [01:00:00] that was before they had relaunched Tomb Raider, in 2013, 2014, where they made her much more realistic. She was still very fit, but she wasn't the Lara Croft that had generated a lot of criticism. I think possibly, I don't know, but I hope that it would have been marketed a bit differently if it had been done today. That said we also don't know exactly what it would look like as a final product. Jessika: Oh absolutely, yeah. Mike: It’s, I agree. It's a little bit problematic viewed through the current lens. At the same time, like a lot of the Highlander properties when it was being done, I think it was kind of just par for the course. Jessika: Yeah, fair enough. But, I did like the idea of having a female Highlander and having her have a whole story regardless of whether it's the first one to be completely [01:01:00] tragedy laden which was the other comment like her experience a ton of loss because she's female and experiences empathy unlike the male characters. Mike: I really didn't like that. Actually. I thought that was. I mean the, the whole thing where they were saying we wanted to focus on lifetimes of tragedy as opposed to enjoying multiple lives. And I'm like, that's the whole purpose of Highlander. That's what I really like is when you sit there and you watch them having fun and doing all this interesting stuff. Jessika: Women aren't allowed to have fun, Mike. Mike: Apparently. Jessika: We just have to have lives full of tragedy and pining for people that we've lost in our lives. Mike: Well, yeah. And we all know that the dudes don't have feelings, so we just, you know, go on and enjoy things. Jessika: That does suck that Hugh they don't give men the ability to have that capacity or give them the the credit to have that capacity. Mike: I will say, I am sorry that this one didn't get further along the development [01:02:00] stages, because it certainly seemed like it had a lot more promise than the title that was canceled right before it. Jessika: Yes, the gameplay itself looked more interesting, it looks more complex, it easier to navigate. What they were showing us was really intense. Mike: I really liked that whole idea of being able to view the environments in two different eras. It reminded me a lot of another Eidos game called legacy of Cain soul river, where there was a spiritual world and then a physical world. And you could flip back and forth between them, which was kind of cool. Jessika: Oh, that’s neat Mike: Yeah. I dug that. I liked the idea of exploring the same environment in two different areas. I thought that was really neat. Jessika: Yeah. Mike: Let's move on to Comics. Jessika: Sounds great. Mike: Okay, so, I’m curious. When do you think that Highlander got big enough to get a comic book? Jessika: I don't know maybe late nineties Mike: 2006. Jessika: Wow [01:03:00] That's later than I had expected. Mike: Yeah. There wasn't a comic adaptation of the movie when it came out, which is weird, there wasn't one here in the States. Highlander Heart, in their YouTube podcast, noted there was a series of five newspaper comic strips that were published as part marketing promotion. The hosts weren't entirely certain if they're exclusive to Europe or not. I don't know. I haven't been able to really find much reference to it. After the movie came out, though there was a two-part comic adaptation in Argentina. It was published through El Tony Todo Color and El Tony Supercolor they were sibling comic anthology magazines, and here's the weird twist. It looks like this was an unlicensed adaptation. Jessika: Mmhm, interesting. Mike: So now we're going to take another side tangent. The important thing that you need to know is that Argentina had just come out of a brutal military dictatorship that came about as part of Operation Condor, which is this horrific program the United States was involved in. And it isn't really taught about in high school history, at least it [01:04:00] wasn't when I was going through high school and I went to a pretty good one. did you ever learn about that? I'm curious. Jessika: No, I did not. Mike: Okay I'm giving you an extremely TLDR read of this, but basically this was a program in the seventies and eighties when the US backed military dictatorships across South America. So our country helped these groups, kidnap, torture, rape murder, thousands of political opponents, like Argentina was especially brutal. There were literally death squads, hunting down political distance across the country. It was a really horrific time. I want you to read this summary of what was going on during that time, actually. Jessika: Give me the really fun stuff I see. Mike: Sorry. Jessika: No you're good. It is estimated that between - 9,000 and 30,000 that's a huge span. Mike: I know, it’s such a margin of error I don't understand. Jessika: Lack of record taking will get you there quick, I think. I'm going to start over, but we’ll leave that in. It is estimated that between [01:05:00] 9,000 and 30,000 people were killed or disappeared, many of whom were impossible to formally report due to the nature of state terrorism. The primary target, like in many other South American countries participating in Operation Condor, were communist guerrillas and sympathizers, but the target of Operation Condor also included students, militants trade, unionists, writers, journalists, I don't love this, artists, and any other citizens suspected of being left-wing activists - well take me the goddamn way away. Mike: Right. Jessika: Including Peronist guerillas. I don't love that. Mike: No it's really awful. And based on that list of targets, it's not surprising that there was a lot of media suppression during this time. Democracy returned to the country in ’83, and there was this explosion of art across the mediums. Argentine Comics [01:06:00] saw this Renaissance period. A lot of them though, weren't really licensed and let's be honest. It's not like there's an internet where IP owners could monitor stuff like this and shut it down when they learned about it. There was also this drastic comics increase in the area due to create or publishing Zines because the eighties was the decade where personal computers suddenly became commonplace and all of a sudden pe
Dennis and Jay are joined by Eric from Kowabunga Comics to discuss a host of topics regarding the current state of the comics retail business. How will Marvel's move from Diamond Distributors to Penguin Random House affect the business? Can Diamond survive without the business of the Big Two? How might this affect smaller publishers? Also, a discussion on Kowabunga's store exclusive issues of Shadowman from Valiant and Star Wars War Of The Bounty Hunters Alpha from Marvel. Eric talks about the process of getting a store exclusive and how it differs between publishers.You can support this show by visiting our merch store, or by leaving us an Apple Podcasts review.
Dennis and Jay are joined by Eric from Kowabunga Comics to discuss a host of topics regarding the current state of the comics retail business. How will Marvel's move from Diamond Distributors to Penguin Random House affect the business? Can Diamond survive without the business of the Big Two? How might this affect smaller publishers? Also, a discussion on Kowabunga's store exclusive issues of Shadowman from Valiant and Star Wars War Of The Bounty Hunters Alpha from Marvel. Eric talks about the process of getting a store exclusive and how it differs between publishers.You can support this show by visiting our merch store, or by leaving us an Apple Podcasts review.
As we slooooowly (dear lord so slowly) move out of the pandemic (KNOCK WOOD) other, less horrific news is taking its place in the weekly SitRep. In this episode the news is about a certain ship that got stuck in a canal and our hearts, about Marvel kicking Diamond Distributors to the curb (including what... The post Binary System Podcast #260: Comic-Con, Diamond, Bojack Horseman, and Lore Olympus first appeared on Pixelated Geek.
Layoffs, ditching Diamond Distributors... what the hell is happening at DC Comics? Where to find Rob: Personal Twitter: @Knowby BEHOLD! The Geek to Geek Media Network: Visit our website for info on all of our podcasts, streamers, bloggers and more, as well as links to our Discord and Slack servers where you can connect with us and the rest of the Geek to Geek community! GeektoGeekMedia.com
Season 4 Episode 26: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Get Your Geek On! -- The Malice Corp Geek Enthusiasts and Nerd Aficionados talk about what they've been doing since last episode. What you should be checking out, and what you should stay far away from? - 1:18 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Hey What Happened!? -- We don't always catch everything, and sometimes we need to take a look back. This week we had a friend and originator of the All Things Nerd podcast join the show after not seeing him for 2 years. So we need to catch up, and ask BCON "Hey What Happened!?" - 6:19 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: What The Upfronts - TV Pilots -- The Malice-Casters try to guess what a new TV Show coming to our TV Sets is about based on show title alone. - 13:06 -- This weeks shows: 1. The Lincoln Lawyer 2. Good Sam 3. Housebroken 4. The Cleaning Lady -- Let us know what you thought each show was about in the comments. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Nerd News: -- Michael Keaton Returning to the Role of Bruce Wayne and Batman: If you think Keaton was the best Batman. Get your bat diapers on because he's apparently returning to the role for the upcoming Flash film. Not only will he appear in Flashpoint, but he's rumored to come on as a Nick Fury style role that will seem him appear in multiple DC Comics / Warner Bros films. - 22:36 -- DC Comics Leaves Diamond Distribution: A landslide move in the world of comic books. DC Comics decided enough is enough, and took 30% of Diamond Distributors business away, but who's the bad guy here? - 37:08 -- The Magic School Bus Is Getting A Live Action Movie: Elizabeth Banks will be producing, and starring as Ms Frizzle. Thoughts on another 90's children's programming property being made into a film with Elizabeth Banks? - 43:33 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Somebody's Gotta Talk About It! The weird, odd, and funny stories that need to be talked about -- Kentucky Friend Chicken Has A Video Game Console Coming: We all assume it's a joke, but KFC revealed the trailer for the KFConsole. A next gen system that will rival PS5 & Xbox 1X. - 51:49 -- The Baby Yoda Bop It Toy Is Coming: In the "yeah they're making that news" Hasbro is coming out with a Bop It toy that requires you to bop, smack, or punch The Child. - 1:00:01 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Where to find more All Things Nerd Content: -- One Link to Get It All: https://linktr.ee/AllThingsNerd -- (Host) Mest 5150: https://twitter.com/Mest_Malicecorp -- Bearded Master: https://twitter.com/ABeardedMaster -- Masonic Vader: https://twitter.com/MasonicVader :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: #Batman #MagicSchoolBus #KFCONSOLE #AllThingsNerd #Podcast #Twitch #Geek #Nerd #Popculture #Comedy #Funny #NerdNews #GeekNews
This week, Todd and Dan discuss comic books and DC's recent departure from Diamond Distributors. Never forget the Shame Bell.
Mike, MC and Rambo discuss the recent DC Comics/Diamond Distributors split, the issues with the CW Arrowverse including Hartley Sawyers’ disgusting Twitter activity. They also discuss the problem with male actors, comedians and other media personalities being purposefully rude, crass, and edgy to garner a following.
This week on Super Skull Nick and Curtis discuss the passing of Dennis O’Neil, DC Comics’ separation from Diamond Distributors, and the placing of bets on the 2020 Eisner nominees.We are not asking for donations for the podcast at this time; instead we ask that you check out these lists of organizations that deserve your money and attention:https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/https://nymag.com/strategist/article/where-to-donate-for-black-lives-matter.htmlOur Recommendo’s this week are:- Death Stranding (the video game)- Monster Train (the video game)Link Dump!- Dennis O’Neil Passes Away at 81- DC Cuts Ties With Diamond- Inside The DC Diamond Split- 2020 Eisner Nominees
The grand reveal of PlayStation 5 comes with much to discuss. Same for Destiny 2 as the resilient series shows what might be the future of the games-as-service model. And Keith and Mikkel discuss what the DC and Diamond Distributors breakup means for comics, and what you need to know. That and more, This Week In Nerd News. This episode of This Week In Nerd News is sponsored by Wiretap, the Chrome extension that makes Netflix social. Watch with your friends, anytime, no scheduling needed. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher Follow Black Nerd Problems on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
On today’s show:-TMZ provides coverage on a number of important current stories including the Rayshard Brooks murder in Atlanta, the George Floyd murder in Minneapolis, the Breonna Taylor murder in Louisville and several more police misconduct incidents.-Arrow actor Stephen Amell’s ongoing dispute with a neighbour turns… sh*tty.-DC Comics and Diamond Distributors extend part of their […]
Jim Viscardi of comicbook.com joins us to talk comics and the (more interesting than it sounds) distribution shakeup in the comics industry. Josh Flanagan goes on several crankytime rants, and Conor Kilpatrick can't let go of a certain book. Running Time: 01:30:58 Pick of the Week: 00:02:07 - Daredevil #20 Comics: 00:13:43 - The Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular 00:18:01 - Nightwing #71 00:20:08 - Batman: Secret Files #3 00:27:37 - Miles Morales: Spider-Man #17 00:36:18 - The Flash #755 00:40:03 - Legion of Super-Heroes #6 Patron Pick: 00:44:44 - Adventureman #1 Patron Thanks: 00:57:08 - Trae Sanford 00:58:26 - Mark Campbell 00:59:50 - Jeffrey Penland Comics Industry News: 01:03:55 - With DC Comics breaking ties with Diamond Distributors, there's a lot of stuff up in the air, and Jim helps us make sense of it. Also: Please consider voting for Bill Sienkiewicz: Revolution, Vol. 1 for Best Collection in the Tripwire Awards! Brought To You By: • Mack Weldon - Mack Weldon makes fantastic premium men's underwear and essentials. Go to MackWeldon.com and get 20% off your first order using promo code IFANBOY • iFanboy Patrons - Become one today for as little as $3/month! Or make a one time donation of any amount! • iFanboy T-Shirts and Merch - Show your iFanboy pride with a t-shirt or other great merchandise on Threadless! We've got eight designs! Music: "Devil's Brigade" Dropkick Murphys Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The guys are joined by local comic book entrepreneur Donal Juengling to discuss the state of DC comics and Diamond Distributors. They also get into the art of collecting the art of collecting comic books. Join us for an insider conversation about the comic book industry.
Tonight on GeekNights, we review the uninspired Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 anime on Netflix. It's... a show. Honestly, you're better off just dusting off your old Stand Alone Complex DVDs. In the news, Black Lives Matter, racist status are getting pulled down the world over, DC Comics ends its relationship with Diamond Distributors, and Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts is a decent kids' show.
Chad and Zach get down to business with rumors on the future of Batwoman, the current debacle between DC and Diamond Distributors, Hartley Sawyer's firing at the CW, some MCU rumors, some DCEU rumors, and a bit of X-Men talk as well!
Today on the program will be a short bonus episode to discuss some breaking news: DC has announced that it will be cutting ties with Diamond Distributors. In a statement from DC”: “After 25 years DC and Diamond Comic Distributors and are ending their long-standing relationship. Moving forward, comic book retailers can obtain their DC The post Collected Edition: Bonus Episode: Diamond in the Rough appeared first on The Collected Edition.
The brothers McGinity welcome Jarett Charowsky, owner of Comic Factory IV on to the show. They talk about their exposures to their first comics like MAD Magazine, Heavy Metal, the Star Tribune comics, Classics Illustrated, comics digests, our first comic book stores and road trips to buy comics. They cover Archie Comics, comic collecting, Red River Books, the Invaders, Captain Carrot, Western Comics, West Coast Avengers, The Shroud, Graveyard Shift, how Jarett got his own shop and naming it, how Seanorama stumbled upon Comic Factory IV, the Cheers atmosphere, the Scoob movie and Hanna Barbera, Power Pack, the Super-Skrull, Diamond Distributors, You can find Jarett's store on Facebook here: Physical Location 306 Notre Dame Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba #thepaperbacks #thebonaduces #unionjack #captainbritain #winnipegsmallbusiness #supportlocalbusiness #comics #marvel #dc #image #darkhorse Website: [www.seanmcginity.ca](http://www.seanmcginity.ca) Meet The Geeks: @seangeekpodcast on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @fastfretfingers on Instagram @ToddGeeks Tech Talk on Facebook @the_real_meet_the_geeks on Instagram Support this podcast
The brothers McGinity welcome Jarett Charowsky, owner of Comic Factory IV on to the show. They talk about their exposures to their first comics like MAD Magazine, Heavy Metal, the Star Tribune comics, Classics Illustrated, comics digests, our first comic book stores and road trips to buy comics. They cover Archie Comics, comic collecting, Red River Books, the Invaders, Captain Carrot, Western Comics, West Coast Avengers, The Shroud, Graveyard Shift, how Jarett got his own shop and naming it, how Seanorama stumbled upon Comic Factory IV, the Cheers atmosphere, the Scoob movie and Hanna Barbera, Power Pack, the Super-Skrull, Diamond Distributors, You can find Jarett's store on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Comic-Factory-IV-200852743280651/ Physical Location 306 Notre Dame Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba #thepaperbacks #thebonaduces #unionjack #captainbritain #winnipegsmallbusiness #supportlocalbusiness #comics #marvel #dc #image #darkhorse Website: www.seanmcginity.ca Meet The Geeks: http://mtgcomic.thecomicseries.com/ @seangeekpodcast on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @fastfretfingers on Instagram @ToddGeeks Tech Talk on Facebook @the_real_meet_the_geeks on Instagram
The brothers McGinity welcome Jarett Charowsky, owner of Comic Factory IV on to the show. They talk about their exposures to their first comics like MAD Magazine, Heavy Metal, the Star Tribune comics, Classics Illustrated, comics digests, our first comic book stores and road trips to buy comics. They cover Archie Comics, comic collecting, Red River Books, the Invaders, Captain Carrot, Western Comics, West Coast Avengers, The Shroud, Graveyard Shift, how Jarett got his own shop and naming it, how Seanorama stumbled upon Comic Factory IV, the Cheers atmosphere, the Scoob movie and Hanna Barbera, Power Pack, the Super-Skrull, Diamond Distributors, You can find Jarett's store on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Comic-Factory-IV-200852743280651/ Physical Location 306 Notre Dame Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba #thepaperbacks #thebonaduces #unionjack #captainbritain #winnipegsmallbusiness #supportlocalbusiness #comics #marvel #dc #image #darkhorse Website: www.seanmcginity.ca Meet The Geeks: http://mtgcomic.thecomicseries.com/ @seangeekpodcast on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @fastfretfingers on Instagram @ToddGeeks Tech Talk on Facebook @the_real_meet_the_geeks on Instagram
Heroes Asylum talks about the replacement of Kate Kane as Batwoman and other latest news of the week from the Comic Book world
Let’s start the week in a big way, kids!-Harry Potter author JK Rowling is up for cancellation after doubling down on harmful another transphobic rant-Minneapolis City Council has voted to dismantle their police department-Black Lives Matters protesters in the UK have torn down the statue of a 17th century slave trader-DC Comics have ended their […]
Intro: DC drops Diamond Distributors!! Reading With Coley: Coley brings you a tragic tale in this excerpt from Edgar Allen Poe Imagine If....you became your character in your favorite video game!? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/houseofm/support
Heroes Asylum talks about the replacement of Kate Kane as Batwoman and other latest news of the week from the Comic Book world
The Talkers squawk about DC Comics' boss move away from Diamond Distributors as a possibly ill-timed 'F-U' to local comic book shops everywhere while everyone seems to have fallen in love with DC Universe's STARGIRL live-action series. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/black-tribbles/message
Nix opens the show with a shoot on WWE's Backlash PPV and then goes on to talk about the break-up between DC Comics and Diamond Distributors, a new actress AND new character for CW's Batwoman, Sony postpones its PS5 event for Black Lives Matter, an incoming asteroid and much more.
Co-hosts Peter Verra and Eric Holzmann welcome BOF Alum, Let's Go podcast show host, and digital artist extraordinaire Justin Kowalski to the show to help them wade through a sea of DC topics, including David Ayer's Suicide Squad Cut, anticipation for Wonder Woman '84, DC Comics breakup with longtime Diamond Distributors, and the internet reputation of former DC Entertainment CCO and famed writer Geoff Johns! The guys also give their opinions on the theater going experience in the era of the coronavirus, as well as go back in time and talk about Shaquille O'Neal's 1997 adaption of "Steel"!
The Talkers squawk about DC Comics' boss move away from Diamond Distributors as a possibly ill-timed 'F-U' to local comic book shops everywhere while everyone seems to have fallen in love with DC Universe's STARGIRL live-action series.
Wow hot stuff this week! We're doing fan theories regarding popular TV and film, everything from Inception to Star Wars, the Joker to Indiana Jones dying in a fridge. Plus news of the week covering Godzilla VS Kong, more Alien movies, Batwoman gets recast in an unexpected way, The New Mutants becoming a trilogy, a Bane Solo movie, strange casting for WandaVision, good news for comics, Tenet is still releasing maybe and Upgrade gets a sequel. Thanks for watching.Help support the show at https://patreon.com/mrsundaymovies for early videos, choosing topics and more!Prime Mates video with special guests: https://bit.ly/30iDvPmSuggestible podcast: https://aca.st/cf053a00:00 The Start01:38 Godzilla vs. Kong rating.04:45 Future of Alien franchise.08:55 New Batwoman character.11:37 New Mutants trilogy?13:40 Bane's solo movie pitch.19:45 Quicksilver actor joins WandaVision.23:04 DC cuts ties with Diamond Distributors.26:40 TENET release update.27:20 Upgrade sequel in the works.29:00 Fan Theories Hot Stuff Sexy Dads01:10:35 What We Reading/What We Gonna Read01:15:15 Letters It’s Time For LettersJames' Twitter ► http://twitter.com/mrsundaymoviesMaso's Twitter ► http://twitter.com/wikipediabrownPatreon ► https://patreon.com/mrsundaymoviesTWP Itunes ► https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-weekly-planet/id718158767?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4TWP Direct Download ► https://play.acast.com/s/theweeklyplanetTWP YouTube Channel ► https://goo.gl/1ZQFGHAmazon Affiliate Link ► https://amzn.to/2QbmwGjT-Shirts/Merch ► https://www.teepublic.com/stores/mr-sunday-movies See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This week the crew discusses Darwyn Cooke's adaptation of Richard Stark's Parker: The Oufit. Non-comics topics include: the state of the world, DC leaving Diamond Distributors, and all the other stuff we did this past week.Please send in some comments with your own thoughts on Parker and next week's bookclub book POWER MAN AND IRON FIST Vol. 1 by David F. Walker and Sanford Greene.Email: comicmarauderspod@gmail.comInstagram: @comic_maraudersTwitter: @comicmarauders
DC Cuts Ties with Diamond Distributors, Eisner Nominations, New Pokemon Animation in the style of Looney Toons, Elizabeth Klaviter Becomes Co-Showrunner on Clarice. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
When we decided to combine the April and May Mailbag episodes we weren't anticipating May turning into being 6 months long. Obviously we have the elephant in the room to deal with: The Snyder Cut is real!! Ok not really. Apparently Snyder has been lying to us all and his "Snyder Cut" wasn't actually done. But because it's a clown show over at WB when it comes to DC live action movies, he was able to get WB to reverse their earlier decision and now his "Snydercut" Justice League film will be released in 2021 on HBO Max. Sure, it might cause an additional 30 - 80 million dollars to complete but what's the harm right? It's not like this reverses the positive strides the DCEU was making to move on from the terribleness. It's not like it's a dumb decision that gives into a fanbase that also overlapped heavily with the problematic GamerGate and ComicsGate shit heads. Nope. Nothing like that. Tune in as Kriss & Dpalm have a few thoughts about this recent development along with some other topics, including Dpalm putting on his dancing shoes to dance on the potential grave for Diamond Distributors. It's a fun show everyone. Strap in Topics: Emails Marvel Studios moving towards Young Avengers? Apparently there was some news from WB/DC that generated a bunch of email comments. Wonder what that was.... Topics WB reverses course on the SnyderCut Turns out Snyder lied and the "SnyderCut" isn't done It's gonna cost how much? What is WB's end goal/plan for its DC movies? Ruby Rose is Not Coming Back to Batwoman The Death of Diamond? Kriss and Dpalm record the Mailbag at the end of every month. If you want to send in your own questions and thoughts, email us: Mailbag@MTRNetwork.Net Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Follow us on Twitter: @Dpalm66 @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account! Our shirts are now on TeePublic: https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network
No Pink Spandex – Episode 331: Review of Power Rangers Beast Morphers Season 2 Episodes 3 & 4 (1:45:15, 74 MB) [MP3 Direct Download] Show Notes Hosted by: Lisa J, Jer, Spy, and Brandon Topics: Recorded on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. We discuss the news including comic delays with Diamond Distributors and how that affects the industry. Then [...]
Guest: Mike Lopesz is an Educator, Speaker, Artist, Wappingers School Board Trustee & Co-Founder of Incredicon & IncrediKids! Show Runner: 00:03:00 Virtual Cons 00:05:00 Distribution Woes 00:08:00 Hollywood Report on Diamond Distributors 00:11:00 Taking Advantage of time at home 00:16:30 Everyone is producing Content 00:18:30 Ingram Sparks 00:20:15 Localization 00:23:30 GUEST Youtube Video Version: https://youtu.be/DulgUU1lJLs Guest Previous Episode with Writer Josh Emmitt https://youtu.be/Dr5geJ4eNNY
On this issue of The Comic Section, we talk Doom Patrol Season 2 comes to HBO Max June 25th. The CW acquires the rights to DC Universe show “Swamp Thing”. Ryan Murphy announces American Horror Story Spin-off. The Sandman adaptation is coming to Audible starring James McAvoy and a all star cast July 15th. The original Broadway production of Hamilton will stream exclusively on Disney+ July 3rd! A new release date has been announced for The New Mutants film currently set to hit theaters August 28th. We preview new trailers from Stargirl, HBO Max, Ju-On Origins, Adventure Time: Distant Lands. We review the shows "Solar Opposites", The Office: Some Good News, & Castlevania Season 3. Little Xio gives us updates from Diamond Distributors, and our local comic and game stores. Tune in!
A new edition of The Comic Bookies Podcast is here. Coming off of a full NFL draft, friend of the show Russell stops by for his analysis and opinion on certain teams and players. We also touch on episodes 3 & 4 of 'The Last Dance.' We also have a few fan questions to answer. On the comics side we get some great news from Diamond Distributors. And Mike and Sean discuss some 'what if's' in upcoming movies, TV shows and comic books. Come quarantine with us!! This episode is brought to you by Treasure Island Comics in Fremont, CA.
Steve Geppi appeared on YouTube a few days back to talk about the state of Diamond Distributors and the comics world. I'm not going to respond point by point here, but he said a few things that prompted me to say a few things. So here we go! The Steve Geppi YouTube Interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgN-JmPP0aM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgN-JmPP0aM) My review of "Venezia", by Lewis Trondheim and Fabrice Parme, is a great book. https://www.pipelinecomics.com/venezia-hilarious-italian-rom-com-farce/ (https://www.pipelinecomics.com/venezia-hilarious-italian-rom-com-farce/) John Siuntres interviews Rob Liefeld on the Word Balloon podcast: http://wordballoon.blogspot.com/2020/04/comics-rob-liefeld-talks-snake-eyes-ekp.html (http://wordballoon.blogspot.com/2020/04/comics-rob-liefeld-talks-snake-eyes-ekp.html) John Jackson Miller will tell you how big the comics industry is: https://www.comichron.com/yearlycomicssales/industrywide/2018-industrywide.html (https://www.comichron.com/yearlycomicssales/industrywide/2018-industrywide.html) Diamond to Re-Open on May 20: https://www.newsarama.com/49966-diamond-to-resume-comic-book-distribution-on-may-20-report.html (https://www.newsarama.com/49966-diamond-to-resume-comic-book-distribution-on-may-20-report.html) Learning French: I'm trying out DuoLingo (https://www.duolingo.com/courses/fr) for learning French. Let's be friends! Full Show Notes: PipelineComics.com/47 (https://PipelineComics.com/47) Facebook Page: PipelineComics.com/facebook (PipelineComics.com/facebook) Follow me on Twitter: Twitter.com/pipelinecomics (https://my.captivate.fm/dashboard/Twitter.com/pipelinecomics) Become a Pipeline Patron: PipelineComics.com/patreon (https://my.captivate.fm/PipelineComics.com/patreon) Email Me: augie@pipelinecomics.com Support this podcast
Tonight on Geeknights, we review the Beastars anime. It's pretty great. If you're looking for a dark psychosexual thriller that somehow evokes both Revolutionary Girl Utena and Sanctuary, this is the show for you! In the news, Japan Post has suspended international mail to many countries, if the Olympics are delayed past 2021 they will be canceled instead, Diamond Distributors plans to resume operations on May 20th, Ducktales season 2 is pretty good, and Tomm Moore's highly anticipated Wolfwalkers is still coming, but it might be an Apple exclusive stream.
Listen in on this special "Quarantine" edition of Blerd's Eyeview as I talk about SDCC 2020 being cancelled, Diamond Distributors getting started back up and much, much more!! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chris-gulley1/support
Listen in on this special "Quarantine" edition of Blerd's Eyeview as I talk about SDCC 2020 being cancelled, Diamond Distributors getting started back up and much, much more!! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app (https://anchor.fm/app) Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chris-gulley1/support (https://anchor.fm/chris-gulley1/support)
The things I let Chillmonger talk me into...* Should Kibblesmith's "New Warriors" characters get a free release due to the controversy they've created?* Disney+ is 400x more popular than Disney projected... because of the X-Men?* Alterna Comics disowns Diamond Distributors.* We discuss Ronda Rousey's comments on "fake fighting".* Mark Hamil disowns Star Wars?* Chillmonger talks me into taking a "comic book nerd" test. How did we each score?Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/comicbookuniversity)
On today’s show the guys talk about Ezra Miller, allegedly, choking a fan, Diamond Distributors delivering to comics and some LAME superheroes. DM us on Instagram @recpodcast. Erik and Roman are two, lifelong friends that love to talk about movies, TV and comic books. Roman also has aspirations to run his own comic book store and wants to connect with as many comic book and film lovers out there. Listen in as we discuss what’s new, happening and coming up.
*Please bear with us as we move plaforms. In the interim, listen to the latest installment of Afronerd Radio's Mid Week in Review (MWIR) airing tonight at 7pm easter, The issues being covered are: more trials and tribulations concerning NYC's handling of the COVID-19 crisis, including a new report that now Blacks, POC and folks in the lower economic strata appear to be disproportionately affected by the virus (nope..melanin is not a buffer); BET gives their response to the COVID pandemic via a televised effort; more stories of citizens that are refusing to practice social distancing and the confrontations that are ensuing because of it; noted publishing icon, Earl Graves, Sr., founder of Black Enterprise passes at 85; legendary Soul singer/musician, Bill Withers also expires; a FL comic shop is fighting the lack of deliveries from Diamond Distributors by taking on new comics from outside publishers and creators; what streaming shows are you viewing during your quarantine? (Dburt is obssesed with The Good Fight); perhaps we will finally get to that season one finale of Star Trek: Picard; Sen. Bernie Sanders suspends his Democratic presidential campaign making room for Joe Biden to close the deal; AMC theater woes-Call LIVE-646-915-9620
The Literary Vandalism Episode. John goes down the rabbit hole. 'Chris, close the door!'. John has bought the latest 'Judges' and 'Deadworld' books. The collapse of Diamond Distributors and the end of the comic book industry in it's current form. Boring Old Picard. Julia Child. The Adventures of Hershey Before She Wuz Dead!
News We start with a update on what is going on in the comicbook industry including the temporary shut of Diamond Distributors, the reaction of the comicbook companies to said shutdown, a possible solution, and where we see the industry going. Michael had us make a choice between two stories for his weird news. We won't spoil it here, but you need to here these choices. Comics We had two books that we were able to get advance reviews of before the comicbook world did a bit of an implosion. We start out talking about Spy Island #1 from Chelsea Cain. Then we move on to Ludocrats #1 from Image Comics. We ran out of time last week so we went back and decided to check out the trade of Canto from IDW Publishing. Overall a good week for comics despite the lack of many new comics to read. Comics Agenda is hosted by Michael (Twitter@mokepf7) and Greg (Twitter@Comicsportsgeek). We discuss new comicboook releases each week, in addition to news, movies, and tv.You can reach us on Twitter @TheComicsAgenda or email us at TheComicsAgenda@gmail.comSubscribe, Rate, Review
Is the comic book store dead? Bryce and Hamby discuss the latest news of Diamond Distributors not releasing new comics to shops during the crisis, what happens to the shops and customers? What if the customers all start shopping online and don't come back? And when will things be normal again? Should companies like Sony be planning for "normal" when we don't if we will go to the movies the same anymore. All this and more!
Your local comic book monopoly, Diamond Distributors, stops delivering to your local comic book shop so Keith and Mikkel give advice on how you can step up your support. Also, One Day at a Time has a triumphant return on its new home at Pop TV. Finally, Keith and Mikkel discuss anime news for the quarantine season. All that and more, This Week In Nerd News. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher Follow Black Nerd Problems on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
In #393, we cover the recent theatrical delays and early release of comic book movies due to Coronavirus, Diamond Distributors pausing new books from hitting comic stores, we review Transformers Vs. Terminator #1, and more! MAD CAVE RELIEF FUND: Made Cave GoFundMe (GoFundMe) As always, we appreciate your constructive Feedback, Suggestions, and Questions. You can also leave us an audio question on SpeakPipe. Thank you for the continued love and support! Enjoy the show. Daniel and Kelli Podcast Awards 2019 || Games & Hobbies (Winner) Podcast Awards 2017 - 2018 || Games & Hobbies (Nominated) Official Site SUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / Stitcher / iHeartRadio / TuneIn / Overcast FOLLOW US: - Twitter | @ReasonsImBroke and @PalpaKelli - Instagram- Pinterest- Tumblr - Facebook - Discord Lounge - YouTube Channel SUPPORT THE POD: Getting $1's worth of entertainment and information each month? Support us on Patreon or visit our TeePublic storefront! SPREAD THE WORD: If you're enjoying the show, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rating and a review! Each one helps new Brokettes discover the podcast. Donate to Hero Initiative to help comic creators in need. CREDITS: Opening/Closing Jingles - Alex Scott Show Logo By - Jeff Quigley
Diamond Distributors / Alliance Game Distributors are closing their doors for the length of the pandemic. Game stores were already having tough times surviving. This might be the final straw. https://www.diamondcomics.com/Home/1/1/3/597?articleID=241552&fbclid=IwAR1jNsd0iKfcdUmG1YsesVyMFlA41acv74vZFnxFJxXRXqXIuxiaKv1kmAM enkar's Tavern Discord Server https://discord.gg/XnarbJq Tenkar's Tavern Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/tenkarstavern/ Voicemail # (347) 509-5168 Support The Tavern www.amazon.com/shop/eriktenkar (affiliate link) https://ko-fi.com/tenkar https://www.patreon.com/tenkarstavern tenkarstavern.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tavernchat/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tavernchat/support
Coronavirus shuts down the comic book industry! Wonder Woman 1984 release pushed back! Ahsoka Tano coming to Mandalorian season 2! Plus, the gang review Rugboy’s movie pick, The Fisher King, discuss America’s favorite superhero and most wanted superpower and more! Be a part of the show! Send us a message: speakpipe.com/jockandnerd Voicemail: (312) 248-4376 (312-248-HERO)... The post JAN 321: Diamond Distributors Shuts Down – The Fisher King (1991) Review (03/29/20) appeared first on The Jock and Nerd Podcast.
Mark and Sean are back for this edition of The Comic Bookies podcast!! Diamond Distributors has closed its doors for the foreseeable future. But we have plenty of books to get into this week. And what's going to happen to our summer Blockbusters and streaming spectaculars? Looks like the NFL draft will not be moved (for now). And we have some updated Super Bowl futures to discuss. All of this and more on this brand new, Year 2 starting issue of The Comic Bookies podcast. And we are brought to you by Treasure Island Comics in Fremont, CA.
Well things have gotten weird, and fast! Hamby says it best on the podcast this week "it's almost like we survived Thanos snap, all of a sudden everything is different". We talk about the first week plus of social distancing, being sent home from the office as a precaution and how quickly things have accelerated since last we cast almost two weeks ago. The Olympics have now postponed a year, how does that affect NBC's plans to launch their streaming network? Movie theaters have closed and quickly movies like Onward and Bloodshot are available at home. Black Widow, Wonder Woman 1984, New Mutants, Mulan, and more have all postponed, when will they just be released on digital? Diamond Distributors are not delivering comics to retailers during this crisis, is this the unofficial end of brick and mortar stores selling print comics? Lots of questions this week that we just don't get a chance to discuss, but we set the table for more to come. Be safe, stay home.
This is episode 31 of the Pam Sowder Podcast, with your host, Pam Sowder! Pam has over 2 decades of field and corporate experience and was voted one of the most influential women in direct selling. She helps match the daily needs of distributors to everyday life challenges. Today’s episode is an exciting one! With Pam today, is a team that is absolutely rocking it in direct sales. They’re a group of beautiful women with It Works from all over the U.S. that are a fantastic example of showing how to take your business to the next level! One of Pam’s guests today is Cassie Westlund. She’s 24 years old and joined when she was 20. She’s went from broke college student, working multiple jobs, living paycheck-to-paycheck to living extremely well-off and leading a successful team at It Works. In this week’s episode, four amazing women from Cassie’s team join her to talk about their own backgrounds with It Works, how they’ve gotten successful through the business, and how they’ve overcome daily challenges and have stay inspired. Nicole Hassinger is a Presidential Diamond and has been in the business for a little over three years. She joined with the goal of making a couple extra hundred dollars a month but then she caught the vision and it turned into so much more. Emily Wirsing is 24 and has been in the business for a little over three years and is also a Presidential Diamond. As a student, she was lost — but now, with It Works, she’s excited and has a plan. Lindsay, 24 as well, joined It Works in 2015. Before this business, she says she was the typical broke college student working four jobs — and now, she’s a Triple Diamond and cannot wait for what’s to come. And lastly (but certainly not least), Nayara Ribeiro also joins the conversation. Nayara has been with the business for four years but feels like she just joined yesterday with how excited she still is! Originally a broke college student, she quickly saw the potential in the business and so she jumped right in and ran with it. Join Pam and Cassie’s team for today’s inspiring conversation! Key Takeaways [:30] About today’s episode! [:50] Cassie Westlund introduces herself to the show. [1:54] Cassie’s perception of It Works when she first started out. [2:48] What being a millennial means to Cassie. [3:03] Has working with It Works helped Cassie come out of her shell? Was she shy when she first got started? [3:45] How did Cassie promote so fast in the business? [7:13] Nicole Hassinger, a part of Cassie’s team, introduces herself. [9:07] How Nicole stays motivated and inspired. [11:37] How did it feel to give back to her family, financially? [13:14] Emily Wirsing introduces herself and her background in the business. [14:29] What it means to Emily to be a “mass enroller.” [15:59] What kind of people Emily looks for when enrolling. [18:12] When Emily is talking to a brand new potential, how does she talk to them over text and convey her excitement? [20:14] Lindsay Brighindi introduces herself, talks about her background with It Works, and what took her so long to originally get started in the business. [23:05] How did Lindsay overcome her doubts around the business? [24:55] How Lindsay inspires her team and keeps them in the game. [27:02] Nayara Ribeiro introduces herself next! [28:06] How did Nayara become so successful in the business? [30:35] Nayara reflects on where she was before It Works and where she is today. [33:05] Has Nayara ever been in a funk? And if so, how does she get out of it? [34:32] What Nayara journals about. [36:03] Bringing it back to Nicole, Pam asks: what do you do if your friends and family are not supportive of your business? [40:11] Emily’s advice for self-development. [43:39] Lindsay talks about when she first started seeing success in her business. [47:09] How Nayara got through obstacles during her journey. [52:55] Where Cassie sees herself and her team over the next five years. Mentioned in this Episode It Works Dream Life Daily Journal: 30 Days to Jumpstart Your Best Life, by Denise Walsh Continue on your Adventure Find more episodes on PamSowder.com/Listen Reach out to her at: PamSowder.com/Connect Reach out on Social Media! Follow Pam @ItWorksPam on Twitter — Tweet her and use #askpam #pamsowder!
Mike Horn is responsible for some of the most accurate and detailed licensed collectibles of all time. His career has included early comic conventions to buying for Diamond Distributors to forming Palisades Toys and beyond. He has manufactured and distributed 100’s of original and IP products including action figures, statues and printed items. He is also a proud inductee to the Pop Culture Hall of Fame! Today we discuss his early involvement with a growing comic convention scene and the crossroads between comics and toys. He shares the stories behind Palisades' Muppet figures and play sets. I ask him about the experience of being inducted in the Pop Culture Hall of Fame. Finally he takes us inside his new venture Global Strategic Development. Find out more about Golden Strategic Development - http://blog.gogsd.com/ Check out Mike and all the inductees at the Pop Culture Hall of Fame - https: -//www.popculturehall.com/ Thank you all for subscribing. Don’t miss an episode!
It's the first episode of the new year, and for the January Previewsshow the Two Guys decide to try something different: invite a third person to join them in discussing the current Previewscatalog. This week Sterg and Derek are joined by Troy-Jeffrey Allen who works with community outreach at PREVIEWSworld. And given Troy's association with Diamond Distributors and the ins and outs of their monthly catalog, he's able to provide insights and additional commentary that results in an extra special discussion. And as you might expect, the addition of a third conversant makes this episode longer than usual...as if the guys' monthly Previews shows weren't long enough. Among the many publishers and titles that Troy, Sterg, and Derek highlight are: Image Comics - Little Bird#1, Assassin Nation#1, and Black Magick: The First Book of Shadows Dark Horse Comics - Invisible Kingdom#1, Black Hammer '45: From the World of Black Hammer#1, Astro Hustle#1, Bad Luck Chuck #1, Moonshadow: The Definitive Edition, and Emanon Vol. 1: Memories of Emanon DC Comics/Vertigo - Dial H for Hero #1, Second Coming #1, and Detective Comics#1000 IDW Publishing - Impossible, Inc., Enola Holmes: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady, Violette around the World Vol 2: A New World Symphony!, and Highwayman BOOM! Studios - Firefly: Bad Company#1, Ronin Island#1, The Grand Abyss Hotel, Black Badge Vol. 1, and Midas Abrams ComicArts - A Fire Storyand Nobody's Fool: The Life and Times of Schlitzie the Pinhead Abstract Studios -Strangers in Paradise XXV Vol. 2: Hide and Seek AdHouse - The Freak Aftershock Comics - Dark Red #1 and Out of the Blue Vol. 1 Albatross Funnybooks - The Goon#1 Archie Comics - Sabrina the Teenage Witch#1 Avery Hill Publishing - Ismyre Candlewick Press - The Iliad Cave Pictures Publishing - The Blessed Machine#1 Dead Reckoning - The Night Witches Drawn and Quarterly - Clyde Fans Box Set Slipcase Edition, Palimpsest, and Kitaro Vol. 6: Kitaro's Yokai Battles Fantagraphics Books - 3D Sweeties, James Warren, Empire of Monsters: The Man behind Creepy, Vampirella, and Famous Monsters, Is This How You See Me?, and Alienation First Second - The Breakawaysand Kiss Number 8 It's Alive - D-Day: From the Pages of Combat Lion Forge - Stiletto No. 1: Officer Down, Haphaven, and Gang of Fools NBM - The Rolling Stones in Comics Papercutz - The Only Living Boy Omnibusand The Only Living Girl Vol. 1: The Island at the Edge of Infinity Pegasus - Goya: The Terrible Sublime Quirk Books - Giraffes on Horseback Salad Rebellion/2000AD - Fran of the Floods SelfMadeHero - Blossoms in Autumn, Guantanamo Kid: The True Story of Mohammed El-Gharani, and Lomax: Collectors of Folk Songs Silver Sprocket - Magical Beatdown#1 Titan Comics - Life Is Strange Vol. 1 University Press of Mississippi - The Comics of Rutu Modan Vault Comics - Queen of Bad Dreams#1 Dempa Books - Super-Dimensional Love Gun Kodansha Comics - Gleipnir Vol. 1and Love in Focus Vol. 1 A BIG THANKS to Troy-Jeffrey Allen for his contributions to this episode! Be sure to keep up with the good people at PREVIEWSworld, and check out Troy on PREVIEWSworld's weekly YouTube show!
MEET BRIAN THE INTERN. I can't believe we never mentioned him before, but he's been here all along, setting up our mics and wiping our asses. We pay the sucker in 'experience'--can you believe that? Anyway, this one's a whirlwind of topics. Adam, the Wine Boi, teaches us how to grift radio prizes. Blake catches up on the Marvel films and there are MAJOR SPOILERS FOR INFINITY WAR and other older Marvel movies so just don't. We talk about the battle for colorful rocks and how this one jerk, Thanos, can suck the joy out of an audience with a snap of his fingers. Also: Toy Journalists, and HOW DO THEY AFFORD ALL THOSE WONDERFUL TOYS??. An evil doll shared universe (and more Chucky). Kingdom Hearts. More beef with busts. PETER DINK. Blake doesn't understand horror movies. What are Scary Dolls? FOAM TONY THE INCREDIBLE LIFESIZE IRON FRIEND ($1300 USD). Jurassic Park toys are back, baby. Chewbacca and Greedo's Buddy Road Trip Comedy (TM--a spec script Adam wrote as an over-imaginative child). BIG BAD TOY STORE IS HAVING A MOTU CLASSICS SALE AND THESE FIGS ARE JUST MUST-HAVES. The 4 quadrants of collecting. And finally...UPCOMING TOYS AND COLLECTIBLES OF NOTE IN PREVIEWS MAGAZINE. Thanks, Diamond Distributors! Again, **INFINITY WAR SPOILERS AHOY**
MEET BRIAN THE INTERN. I can't believe we never mentioned him before, but he's been here all along, setting up our mics and wiping our asses. We pay the sucker in 'experience'--can you believe that? Anyway, this one's a whirlwind of topics. Adam, the Wine Boi, teaches us how to grift radio prizes. Blake catches up on the Marvel films and there are MAJOR SPOILERS FOR INFINITY WAR and other older Marvel movies so just don't. We talk about the battle for colorful rocks and how this one jerk, Thanos, can suck the joy out of an audience with a snap of his fingers. Also: Toy Journalists, and HOW DO THEY AFFORD ALL THOSE WONDERFUL TOYS??. An evil doll shared universe (and more Chucky). Kingdom Hearts. More beef with busts. PETER DINK. Blake doesn't understand horror movies. What are Scary Dolls? FOAM TONY THE INCREDIBLE LIFESIZE IRON FRIEND ($1300 USD). Jurassic Park toys are back, baby. Chewbacca and Greedo's Buddy Road Trip Comedy (TM--a spec script Adam wrote as an over-imaginative child). BIG BAD TOY STORE IS HAVING A MOTU CLASSICS SALE AND THESE FIGS ARE JUST MUST-HAVES. The 4 quadrants of collecting. And finally...UPCOMING TOYS AND COLLECTIBLES OF NOTE IN PREVIEWS MAGAZINE. Thanks, Diamond Distributors! Again, INFINITY WAR SPOILERS AHOY
Buying monthly comics and comic shops can be hella confusing largely thanks to how comic distribution works. Last week, monopolistic supplier Diamond Comics Distributors announced a big change to how consumers will buy books. Justin and Jacob discuss their experience buying comics different ways. What are the benefits and drawbacks of monthly single issues, digital comics and trades? And more importantly: where is the business going next? RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM. Produced by Mitchell Thompson.
Reviews: Locke & Key: Head Games #1, Amazing Spider-Man #583 (Kind of...), Battlestar Galactica (Latest episode) On this historic day, the guys record their 175th inaugural episode. Jimmy chats about his trip to his hometown of Jacksonville with tales of cougars, Jesus ties and old friends. News includes the resolution of the Watchmen film dispute, Diamond Distributors new deal, Veronica Mars movie, free The Uniques comic and more. Lance Fensterman, show manager for the upcoming New York Comic-Con, joins us to discuss some of the exciting events and guests he's got for the show. Also, check out the special deal from Audible over on the left! New York Comic-Con is around the corner and we chat about our confirmed guests and planned events in the Podcast Arena. Once again, CNI will be doing a charity raffle and this year it will benefit The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund!
This latest show has been delayed but I've now finished up the show notes finally! This weeks show has Densha Otoko from CMX Manga, DNAngel from ADV and Kimagure Orange Road from Animeigo which may win this hamsters vote for the best old school anime I've seen this year(tying into joint first place with Giant Robo) and the dodgest dancing this side of Miami Vice....... Anywho if you need to contact me with hints, questions, comments, requests for reviews and anything else then drop me a line @: eeeperschoice- at -gmail.com eeeperschoice- at -podomatic.com Eeeper's Choice Podcast Eeeper's Choice Voicemail Also at GoogleTalk Voicemail @ eeeperschoice- at -gmail.com Please note that all images (excluding Show Artwork included in the mp3) unless otherwise stated are the respective copyright and trademark of their respective owners and licensers. No copyright infringement is meant or implied. News CPM will re-release four titles with reduced prices on January 30: Black Jack DVD Collection 1 ($29.95), Ichi The Killer: Episode Zero ($14.95), Time Bokan ($9.95), and Hammerboy ($9.95). Satoshi Kon's next film Paprika is screening at 10 a.m. at Laemmle's Grande 4-Plex in downtown Los Angeles through Sunday. This screening makes the film eligible to be nominated for an Oscar.I've checked out the ANN page on Paprika. It's as good a synopsis as there is on the film so far.(P.S.: I know I was late with this news clip but I was too F***in' tired to edit it out!) ADV Films has officially announced their license to SGT Frog, which includes merchandise and gaming rights as well as other areas (everything but the manga). Separately, Diamond Distributors has relayed that ADV has announced that Volume 1, which is listed in the December Previews for a February release, has been rescheduled for later in 2007. A new trailer for Makoto Shinkai's upcoming Byousoku 5 Centimeter movie trilogy is now online. The films will be released next spring in Japan. The official site for Gonzo's Master of Epic anime series is now online. The show premieres next January in Japan. With grateful thanks to the ANN Reviews Densha Otoko Densha Otoko or Train Man is supposedly based on a true story but with all things Internet related I'll let you decide. I found it to be a nice read while commuting so if you like your heroes nerdy but not Harem Heroic then this could be the title for you. It doesn't have a UK based publisher as far as I know so you'll have order it State-Side for now. DNAngel DNAngel was the title I got back into Anime and Manga after an almost ten year absense. And I know what some fans and listeners will say 'He chose That Title to come back to!?!' but it's the perfect title to show some who's been away from the Crusade for a while. Not terribly bad, not great just a little bit non-engaging. The manga is longer but has way more Shoujo elements to it than the TV series. Kimagure Orange Road KOR is fast becoming a favourite of mine but it's purely an acquired taste. If you can't stand 80's anime this may not be your bag but then if you never watch 80's anime then your not being a true Otaku are you? If you don't like it then you don't like it. Animeigo did a fantastic job translating it but they recently lost the license by that I mean that is that the Japanese label that controls it just recently brought out their own boxset in Region 2(Japan) land with better image and sound quality. In other words We're not letting you produce any more of this DVD while we bring out our outrageously priced version that the fans in Japan must buy rather than pick up your nice, cheap version.....As I said before Animeigo did a fantastic job. Here's the web page for their liner notes on the TV series. Animeigo regularly bleed for their customers and so many of us ignore the fact that back in the day they were the ADV and Funimation of their day. They just annouced their next license here. Eriko Hara's(Hikaru) ANN pageHiromi Tsuru's(Madoka) ANN page Tohru Furuya's(Kyosuke) ANN page Finally here's some images from KOR (Please note ALL images taken from Kimagure Orange Road are for review purposes only and no copyright has been taken away from the owners or implied) Madoka. The Heroine of the story.I think.. Kyosuke. Our Hero. Poor unlucky bas*&!d A quiet moment between Hikaru and Kyosuke. It can't last. Told ya. Kyosuke getting the job at ABCD from Master. Good Times. Good Times..... Promos This Week: R5 Central Ninja Consultant Weekly Anime Review(WARP) Fast Karate For The Gentleman Anime World Order I'm going on a short break to recharge the batteries so the next show won't be out for two weeks. But on the next show I'll be reviewing two manga titles, Infinite Ryvius based on the series by SUNRISE and Legal Drug by CLAMP and the truly awesome OVA series Giant Robo! Chuala Boola or what!?! Eh, eh!?! Ah, I don't know why I bother...
MEET BRIAN THE INTERN. I can't believe we never mentioned him before, but he's been here all along, setting up our mics and wiping our asses. We pay the sucker in 'experience'--can you believe that? Anyway, this one's a whirlwind of topics. Adam, the Wine Boi, teaches us how to grift radio prizes. Blake catches up on the Marvel films and there are MAJOR SPOILERS FOR INFINITY WAR and other older Marvel movies so just don't. We talk about the battle for colorful rocks and how this one jerk, Thanos, can suck the joy out of an audience with a snap of his fingers. Also: Toy Journalists, and HOW DO THEY AFFORD ALL THOSE WONDERFUL TOYS??. An evil doll shared universe (and more Chucky). Kingdom Hearts. More beef with busts. PETER DINK. Blake doesn't understand horror movies. What are Scary Dolls? FOAM TONY THE INCREDIBLE LIFESIZE IRON FRIEND ($1300 USD). Jurassic Park toys are back, baby. Chewbacca and Greedo's Buddy Road Trip Comedy (TM--a spec script Adam wrote as an over-imaginative child). BIG BAD TOY STORE IS HAVING A MOTU CLASSICS SALE AND THESE FIGS ARE JUST MUST-HAVES. The 4 quadrants of collecting. And finally...UPCOMING TOYS AND COLLECTIBLES OF NOTE IN PREVIEWS MAGAZINE. Thanks, Diamond Distributors! Again, **INFINITY WAR SPOILERS AHOY**