Episode Thirty-Three - The God Phoenix

The Mod/Emma Peel Wonder Woman. (C) 2016 DC Comics

0:56 - @TKD_117 returns to talk about his recent trip to Mexico for the 2nd Anniversary @Caralucha show, including the Hechicero/Cavernario vs Black Terry/Bestia 666 and Flamita vs Mascara Dorada matches. We talk about some other recent indy lucha, including Hechicero vs Virus. We also discuss the AAA Lucha World Cup, the always frustrating CMLL booking and more. As always, your source for great indy lucha footage is @BlackTerry. Tweet him for his match lists. For more lucha news, check out Como Estaz with @luchablog and @robviper & Luchaworld with @therealfredo and @vandaldrummond.

43:45 - Magazine contributor Matt D discusses DC Rebirth and a possible shift for a brighter storytelling outlook for DC. We talk about the metatextual nature of the issue and which books we are excited about going forward (hint: listen to episode 32 of the podcast). We also discuss some of the lucha matches covered earlier with TKD. We end with discussion of the two new Marvel superhero movies and was Movie Zemo really such an affront to his comics counterpart?

As discussed in the pod,  Arena Coliseo Monterrey -- Negro Casas vs Rey Hechicero

Technical note: During the interview with Matt, I left my desk fan on and the interview is a little wind-tunnely.  Apologies if it is distracting. 

Episode Thirty-Two - Fantastic Foxes

That's not Old Hickory. From the Lazarus Source book. (C) 2016 Greg Rucks & Michael Lark.

1:19 - the return of Greg Rucka (@ruckawriter). First up, comics chat, including the new Gotham Central omnibus (co-written with Ed Brubaker) (@brubaker), the Lazarus HC (co-created by Michael Lark (@michaellark66) and Lazarus source book, the Black Magick TPB (co-created by Nicola Scott (@nicolascottart), returning to Wonder Woman with Scott and Liam Sharp (@liamrsharp) and doing Star Wars books and comics. (20:36) Then futbol talk recorded during the Bayern Munich vs Atletico Madrid Champions League semi-final. We talk Leicester City winning the Premier League, improper winners, Champions and Europa League predictions, the Portland Timbers and other MLS news and more.

Episode Twenty-Nine - R.U.Ready

Leonard F Chikarason (@lfchikarason) from the Longbox Heroes podcast (@longboxheroes) returns to talk about luchador Pentagon Jr (@pentagonjunior) wrestling in Cleveland for AI Wrestling (@aiwrestling), wrestle border crossing stories, previewing the Wrestlemania 32 card in Dallas and story lines moving forward, including a potential brand split involving NXT. We also look at some new comics, including Batman/TMNT, The Astonishing Ant-Man 6 by Nick Spenser (@nickspenser) & Annapaola Martello and Vision by Tom King (@tomkingTK) & Gabriel Walta (@ghwalta). We end with a discussion of the changes made recently to Marvel Puzzle Quest and how gameplay has been since they were implemented. 

Episode Twenty-Six - Kaiju-Go-Go-Go

Our Author Theory series continues with the award-winning creator @zandercannon. We discuss his @onipress series Kaijumax, recently out in trade paperback, how he came up with the idea of a giant monster/prison drama mash-up, tropes of both genres, which analogues have and will eventually shpw up in the book, is his son the model for the kid in the comic and doing audio commentaries for each issue. We also discuss his past work including working with Alan Moore on Top Ten and Smax the Barbarian, doing licensed books involving Star Trek and Transformers, getting his start on the Tick spin-off series The Chainsaw Vigilante and will we every see more issues of The Replacement God. Also we discuss on industry issues like print vs digital, monthly issues vs the trade for reader, retailers and creators, process podcasts, and a story about how there was almost a dueling 24 hour comic showdown between Zander and @billwillingham that would have taken place at @captainbluehen comics in the late 1990s. 

Episode Twenty-Five - The Fickle Finger of Fate

Part three of our Author Theory series continues today with veteran comics and animation writer J.M. DeMatteis (@jmdematteis). We discuss the new DC Animated movie Batman: Bad Blood, which he scripted., as well as some of his other work in animation including Justice League Unlimited and The Brave and the Bold.  Following that, it's a long discussion about his comics work: scripting all-ages comics, artistic freedom in the late 1980s and a number of his past and current titles, including Doctor Fate, The Defenders, Greenberg the Vampire, Moonshadow, Mercy, Seekers into the Mystery, The Adventures of Augusta Wind, Captain America, Weird War Tales and Justice League 3000/3001. There is also some JLI talk sprinkled throughout the show.  We also talk about his upcoming work on both the new Scooby Doo comic and the new Be Cool, Scooby Doo cartoon.

(45:10) - Instead of reviews, some podcast recommendations, inclduing @mondaynightbraw by @fromthesublime and @garyrodger, Between the Sheets by @kriszellner and @davidbix, @luchaworld, Como Estas by @luchablog and @robviper, @housetoastonish by Al Kennedy and @ifdestroyed, @longboxheroes by @lfchikarason and @rowkerthejoker, @jeffmarek vs @wyshynski, Football Weekly from the Guardian, The Game Podcast by The Times (UK) and @meninblazers. 

Episode Twenty-Four - Touchez Pas Au Chocolat

In the second of our Author Theory series, (01:19) Colleen Coover (@colleencoover) and Paul Tobin (@paultobin) join the show to talk about their award-winning comic Bandette, its origins and influences. We also talk about all-ages comics and their work on them, past work including Batman '66, Marvel Adventures and I Was the Cat. We also talk about Paul's forthcoming novel, The Genius Factor: How to Capture an Invisible Cat, out March 1.  Then we talk soccer, including the MLS Champion Portland Timbers and NWSL Portland Thorns, Barcelona vs Real Madrid, the pantomime villain behavior of Jose Mourinho and the dilemma of liking players on teams you can't stand.

(47:35) In the second segment,  we have reviews of two new outstanding Marvel titles: Illuminati by Josh Williamson (Williamson__Josn) and Shawn Crystal (@shawncrystal) and The Vision by Tom King (@TomKingTK) and Gabriel Hernandez Walta (@ghwalta).

Episode Twenty-One - Busted Heads by Von Doom

Todd Rowker (@rowkerthejoker) from the Longbox Heroes podcast (@longboxheroes) returns to the podcast to talk about the Doctor Who 2015 Xmas special and how it compare to past episodes. We also talk season 9 as a whole, favorite moments and what might be in store for next season. We also talk about some Patrick Troughton era episodes. Then, we talk Secret Wars 8 and the showdown between Doctor Doom and Thanos (two of Todd's favorite characters). We also discuss the year in comics, including our favorite Battleworld books, some of the new Marvel titles, the Shazam Convergence book, the amazing output from Image, the Archie reboot and the greatness this year of both Jason Aaron (@jasonaaron) and Brian K Vaughn. You can hear more of Todd's "Best of 2015" Picks on this week's Longbox Heroes podcast coming later this week. 

Episode Twenty - Beside the Seaside

An extended vacation over the holidays means extra podcasts. Today, we're joined by Iain Hepburn, host of the From the Sublime (@fromthesublime) podcast to talk about (3:50) Partick Thistle Football Club and their potentially nightmare-inducing mascot Kingsley, (7:55) the NXT UK tour (he was at the Glasgow and Blackpool house shows), (17:13) contemporary comic book TV shows including Arrow, the upcoming Heroes of Tomorrow and the recently-released Jessice Jones. We also chat about classic British TV, both (24:02) British Sci-Fi and (35:55) British comedy and all the connections between the shows (Is there really an episode of Randall & Hopkirk, Deceased featuring Brian Blessed, Nick Courtney and Roger Delgado?) and (41:18) season 9 of Doctor Who.  There's even talk about Iain's former podcast, the gone-but=not-forgotten (47:40) Thumbcast  and the year-end episode of From the Sublime.

Episode Eighteen - The Author Theory 1

Hopeless Savages Break (C) 2015 Jen Van Meter

1:20 - Comics writer Jen Van Meter (@hopelessjen) discusses her @Onipress graphic novel Hopeless Savages Break. We talks about working with artists Meredith McClaren (@inquitousFish) and Christine Norrie (@christinenorrie) on the new book, past volumes of the series drawn by Norrie, Chynna Clugston Flores (@chynnasyndrome) and Bryan Lee O'Malley (@radiomaru), future stories, (9:56) her @ValiantComics series drawn by Roberto de la Torre The Death-Defying Doctor Mirage and (14:00) writing the Injustice Gang back in 2006 in JSA Classified. (17:00) We also talk about the MLS championship won last week by the Portland Timbers & the crazy plays in the match, (24:45) the Timbers being featured in Greg Rucka's (@ruckawriter) Stumptown and (28:10) life as a comics pro living in Portland.

30:55 - Yahoo Sports hockey editor of the Puck Daddy blog and the co-host of Marek vs Wyshynski podcast Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) discusses his new book Take Your Eye Off the Puck, its origin and contents, including chapters on fancy stats and cutting edge technology. (43:09) We also talk the current NHL Season, the hot start by Dallas, the slow start by Pittsburgh and Anaheim and Detroit post-Mike Babcock. Then we talk nerd culture, featuring (47:16) the just-finished season of Doctor Who, (57:19) binge TV watching and spoiler culture, (1:01:15) the resurrected MST3K and (1:07:15) new comics, including Saga, Batman and the new Marvel Star Wars books. 

Episode Nineteen - Cretinous Humanoids

01:56 - Former wrestling manager Scott Bowden (@KFriedRasslin) from Kentucky Fried Rasslin talks the passing of Tommy Gilbert: his career as a wrestler, referee & head of the Gilbert Family with sons Doug and Hot Stuff Eddie Gilbert. We also talk how Eddie turned Scott from ref to manager, Nick Bockwinkel in Memphis and his famous match with Jerry Lawler, Dream Machine Troy Graham, the funeral for the Bruise Brothers, the all-too-brief brief Koko Ware & Bobby Eaton tag team and more.

30:37 - Matt D talks Bockwinkel, his matches in the AWA and other territories, the Dragon Lee vs Kamaitachi feud in CMLL, (49:21) the season finale of Doctor Who, (51:20) comics talk including Art Ops, Doctor Strange, Guardians of Infinity, Spidey, The Vision, Black Knight and Paul Cornell's work at Marvel, James Robinson's work on the Uncanny Avengers Annual, Scarlet Witch, Airboy and Leave It to Chance and (1:03:50) some slighty-spoilery talk about Marvel's Jessica Jones TV show.

Episode Seventeen - What's a Cubit?

The Goddamned. (c) 2015 Golgonooza Inc and rmGuéra.

The Mark Millar/Phil Hester era Swamp Thing. (c) 2015 DC Comics. Cover by John Totleben

Sargon sketch by Mark Millar at 1996 SD Comicon.

The second part of our interview with Longbox Heroes (@LongboxHeroes) co-host and wrestling commentator Leonard F Chikarason (@LFChikarason), held over from last show. We talk about (!:05) the revival of Mystery Science Theater 3000, when you realize a piece of popular culture is no longer for you, (17:50) Jason Aaron (@jasonaaron) and r.m. Guéra's The Goddamned, Thors and Secret Wars, changing art styles at Marvel and DC, (35:01) a discussion of the Mark Millar (@mrmarkmillar) and Phil Hester (@philhester) run on Swamp Thing, reminiscing about 90s DC buried treasures like Chase, Chronos and Primal Force and (43:09) commiserations and strategies for Marvel Puzzle Quest.

Our planned talk about the late Nick Bockwinkel with magazine contributor Matt had to be postponed due to holiday scheduling issues. It will take place on an upcoming episode.

Episode Sixteen - Facacta Schnooks

It's an Old School Howard Stern Show Tribute episode. Lots of talk about Cookie Puss, Larry Fine Marge Schott, the jetty, apologies, Ham Hands Bill and more. We put the explicit tag on just to be safe, so if you might be offended, we won't mind if you sit this one out.

1:20 - Richard Deitsch (@RichardDeitsch) from Sports Illustrated talk Stern Show and sports media including co-hosting Prime Time Sports in Toronto with Bob McCown (@fadoobobcat), PTS without Stephen Brunt, is John Shannon polarizing to listeners?, US vs Canada sports talk philosophies, calls vs no calls on sports talk. We also talk about his SI Media Podcast interview with Paul Heyman, his eras of wrestling fandom, wrestling journalism, Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON), Frank Deford and the National, the death of Grantland, Blazer Con and love for the Men in Blazers (@meninblazers) and more.

36:12 - Leonard F Chikarason (@LFCHikarason) talks old school Stern, when he started listening, the Negligee and Underpants Party video tape, Jackie era vs Artie era and we list some of our favorite bits.  Note: We ran long with Leonard, so the rest of his interview, talking comics, wrestling, Marvel Puzzle Quest and the Longbox Heroes (@Longboxheroes) podcast will be in the next episode, posting in a few days.

Episode Fifteen - Heaven Knows Their Recipe

 (0:55) - Roger Bennett (@rogbennett) from the Men in Blazers (@meninblazers) talks about the upcoming Blazer Con this weekend in New York City, the line-up of futbol heavy hitters attending, a conference vs a convention, the implosion of Chelsea, the season so far for Everton, the late Howard Kendall and more,

(16:40) - Magazine contributor Matt D returns to look at the world of popular culture. We talk the season so far for Doctor Who, the Zygon Invasion [episode recorded before the Zygon Inverson aired], the greatness of Peter Capaldi and what could be in store for the season finale. We also talk new comics, including what's caught our eye from the "post-Secret Wars" Marvel books (New Avengers, Spider-Man, Iron Man,...), Greg Rucka (@ruckawriter) and Nicola Scott (@NIcolaScottArt) and the first issue of Black Magick from Image, Gail Simone's (@gailsimone) new Vertigo book and just what is Marvel's best book right now? Hint: It doesn't take place in the 616. Also some quick wrestling talk about what the WWE will do after Seth Rollins' injury forced his being stripped of the world title and what's going on in NXT.

Episode Thirteen - Two Minutes for Murder

1:04 - The return of Jeff Marek (@jeffmarek) from Hockey Night in Canada and the #MvsW podcast who talks Live Audio Wrestling, helping Trish Stratus (@trishstratuscom) get into the WWF, the new NHL season, 3 on 3 in OT, prospects for the Maple Leafs and Red Wings, rookie seasons for Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, will expansion to Las Vegas and/or Quebec City happen, the MvsW podcast, the start of the major junior season, Blue Jays fever and more.  

29:42 - And a brief look at some popular culture news, including the start of Doctor Who season 9, the new Doctor Who spin-off Class, CMLL Anniversary fallout, Los Ingobernables t-shirts for sale at lucha shop dot com, Waid/Samnee move to Black Widow, the conclusion of Zander Cannon's (@zander_cannon) first arc of Kaijumax, Hechicero (@_reyhechicero) poses with new Odessa Steps Magazine, Podcast Day shout-outs and more.

Episode Twelve - Time Has Come Today

Happy New Doctor Who Season Everyone!

1:02 - Todd Rowker (@rowkerthejoker) from Longbox Heroes (@longboxheroes) talks classic Doctor Who, watching on PBS, new Who, Peter Capaldi as the Doctor, future companions, Marvel's Secret Wars and Battleworld comics, the greatness of the new Archie by @markwaid and @fionastaples, the awesome craziness of Weird World, the sustained quality of @jasonaaron, @ruckawriter and Brian K/ Vaughan and more.

1:00:52 - Matt D talks new Who, the future of Steven Moffat as show runner, the next companion, his article on @chilangamaskin1 for Odessa Steps Magazine issue 5, CMLL Anniversary show predictions and more.

Episode Nine - To Catch a Shadow

1:04 - Rob Viper (@RobViper) discusses his recent trip to Mexico to see Lucha Libre. We talk about AAA Triplemania, Rey Misterio vs Myzteziz, the upcoming CMLL Anniversary show, the finals of En Busca de un Idolo, Cara Lucha (@caralucha), Chilanga Mask, the great Black Terry Jr (@Blackterry), the long history between Odessa Steps Magazine, El Doctor Alquimia (@doctoralquimia)  and Highspots (@highspots), the fabulous Jeff Marek (@jeffmarek) [listen to episode 3], the Toronto Blue Jays, the Toronto Maple Leafs, getting The Cubs Fan (@luchablog) to Mexico in September, the Luchaworld pod with Fredo Esparza (@therealfredo) and Vandal Drummond.

48:06 - Matt D discusses the Bayley phenomenon (@itsBayleyWWE) and appealing to a non-traditional wrestling demographic, NXT Takeover in Brooklyn this Saturday, the Ant-Man movie, Lazarus by Greg Rucka (@ruckawriter) [listen to episode 2] and MIchael Lark (@MichaelLark66), Weird World by Jason Aaron (@Jason Aaron) and Mike Del Mundo (@deadlymike) and more En Busca de un Idolo talk.

Episode Eight - Doomed is Your Soul

DOOM DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR REVIEWS

1:08 - Joe Gagne from Joe vs the World discusses wrestling podcasts, wrestling video games, Chikara, the New Japan G1 tournament and more.

23:22 - A round table discussion recorded live at Denny's to discuss the new Fantastic (in name only) Four movie, with Leonard and Todd from Longbox Heroes and Jason from Podvacacy. A few salty words get thrown in here, but can you blame us? 

Episode Seven - And Be a Villain

This week's show mainly features talk about the passing of Roddy Piper. There is also some lucha talk, remember Eric Caiden from Hollywood Book and Poster and a great discussion about Southern Basterds from someone who lives near the real Craw County. Look for a follow-up post with some of the videos posted that were discussed in the show. Thanks for listening.

1:09 - So Cal wrestler Vandal Drummond talks Roddy Piper in LA, the passing of Hollywood Book and Poster owner Eric Caiden, the Luchaworld podcast, and the greatness of Negro Casas.

38:10 - Wrestling historian and radio host Karl Stern talks Piper in Georgia and the Carolinas, reminisces about Nature Boy Buddy Landell and explains the accuracy and greatness of Jason Aaron and Jason Latour's Southern Basterds comic book.

1:16:36 - Matt D talks Piper in Portland, TCM August Under the Stars and recent lucha libre.

Episode Five - The Devil's Conquistadors

Our pre- San Diego Comic-Con episode. Veteran comics writer Steven Grant discusses the con in the old days (Cortez Hotel), the WWE Japanese special, how his 2 Guns comic became a film starring Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington and comics vs Hollywood.  Steve "Dr Lucha" Sims discusses Comic-Con from the perspective of an 18-year resident, the evolution of the Gaslamp district, going to see lucha libre in Tijuana in 2015 and the continuing disappointment of CMLL's Busca de un Idolo tournament this year.