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Podcast

Comic Timing – Episode 69

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Thanks yet again to About Heroes for the awesome image!

Batman: Gotham Knight and The Dark Knight are discussed here! Juan De Jesus and Raph Soohoo from Geeks Unite! return to discuss the films with Brent and Ian and we actually manage to be somewhat serious about half the time. Why so serious? We also have an audio comment sent in by Chris Chavez, otherwise known as Equinox, who could not join us as he was out of town. Good times to be had in another 3 hour epic!

Comic Timing is sponsored by Heroes Corner. All first time Heroes Corner users can enter the promo code CTROCKS to receive an additional 5% off their first order with the site, and make sure to check out their Double Down Trades Special. Buy one trade at regular discount, you receive the second trade for 50% off! And if you use this as part of the Summer Special, buy two trades of a character and get the single issue for that character free, you get a free comic too! And finally, the Comic Timing books of the month are as follows:

Captain Britain and the MI-13 #6 – New story arc begins here! – 40% off (HC price: $1.79 / retail: $2.99)

Supergirl #34– Jamal Igle debuts as new series artist! – 40% off (HC price: $1.79 / retail: $2.99)

Hellboy: In The Chapel of Moloch #1 – Mike Mignola return to write and draw Hellboy in this very special one shot! – 75% off! (HC price: $0.75 / retail: $2.99)

Make sure to get these issues so you can listen to the newly named Comic Timing: Review Corner episode when it comes out in October!

You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com, and please vote for us at Podcast Alley and Digg us at Digg.Com. And of course, if you can, please donate to the HERO Initiative effort if you can. Every little bit helps!

We shall see you next week for our delayed Half Hour Wasted Crossover episode. Thanks for listening, thanks for downloading, and enjoy!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:57:43 — 92.1MB)

Editorial

Rant Timing #10: Secret Invasion vs. Final Crisis – Up Til Now

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Secret Invasion vs. Final Crisis – Up Til Now

VS.

After all the people who said Secret Invasion wasn’t “going anywhere,” I’m chuckling a bit now. Issue 3 was better than Issue 1 and has more answers than Issue 2, but it’s still not a story. It’s a jumble of ideas down on the page barely strewn together sequentially. How man characters are in this book already, and why should we care about Montoya or Turpin or Supergirl at all? Supergirl shows up for three seconds talking to her cat and that makes her the cover girl for the book? Mary Marvel looks nothing like her past self, and even a goth makeover can’t make somebody look THAT different.

Seriously, give me Skrulls over Final Crisis. At least the Skrulls I can understand. Maybe by Issue 7 I’ll look back on Final Crisis and say, “OH! So THAT’s what it was? Well, interesting.” I don’t see that happening. When comparing Batman: RIP to Final Crisis, I think Morrison is overextending himself by including so many characters in Final Crisis. I shouldn’t have had to read Requiem to care about Martian Manhunter’s death scene, which was given three sentences in the main book. I shouldn’t have to read about a character returning who should have stayed dead, because everyone and their cousin and their cousin’s CHILDREN all accept Wally West as the speedster of the DCU. How is going back to a previous generation for the second time in five years solving anything? How is this growth? It’s not. It’s rehashing. That is what makes Marvel’s present different from DC’s present. Marvel is looking at the past and breeding a future with a status quo that will stick. DC is looking at the past and…well, waving at it, asking it to come over for tea and reminisce for a while about the old days. Then they get to talking just enough that the past is back, and present is no longer relevant.

Yes I’m a sore Kyle Rayner fan and yes I’m a sore Wally West fan. But thing is, so are most of the people my age. So are a bunch of younger and older fans. Give us SUBSTANCE, DC, not subtext and hidden messages mixed in with rehashing and reshaping. Please. For me.

Podcast

Comic Timing – Episode 68

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Nanananananana Batman! Batman! Batman! Nanananananana…Batman!


Thanks to About Hereos for the image. Had to include it!

This episode, we do our Batman Movie Retrospective. We equals Juan De Jesus and Raph Soohoo of Geek Unite!, Chris Chavez alias Equinox, Leroy John Rivera alias Ziggo of Comic Tube, and Brent Kossina and myself. We go from the 1989 Batman movie all the way to Batman Returns, Batman Forever (And Ever And Ever….), Batman and Robin, and Batman Begins. We discuss what we would have done different, ratings for each movie, what we adored, The Ice Age, Alicia Silverstone and her voluptuous behind, and plenty more. On Episode 69 we shall delve into Gotham Knight and Dark Knight, so stay tuned for that! And for those of you brave enough to partake in it, a contest is announced this episode. You have been warned.

Comic Timing is sponsored by Heroes Corner. All first time Heroes Corner users can enter the promo code CTROCKS to receive an additional 5% off their first order with the site, and make sure to check out their Double Down Trades Special. Buy one trade at regular discount, you receive the second trade for 50% off! And if you use this as part of the Summer Special, buy two trades of a character and get the single issue for that character free, you get a free comic too! And finally, the Comic Timing books of the month are as follows:

Captain Britain and the MI-13 #6 – New story arc begins here! – 40% off (HC price: $1.79 / retail: $2.99)

Supergirl #34– Jamal Igle debuts as new series artist! – 40% off (HC price: $1.79 / retail: $2.99)

Hellboy: In The Chapel of Moloch #1 – Mike Mignola return to write and draw Hellboy in this very special one shot! – 75% off! (HC price: $0.75 / retail: $2.99)

Make sure to get these issues so you can listen to the newly named Comic Timing: Review Corner episode when it comes out in October!

You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com, and please vote for us at Podcast Alley and Digg us at Digg.Com. And of course, if you can, please donate to the HERO Initiative effort if you can. Every little bit helps!

We shall see you next week for our take on Gotham Knight and Dark Knight, and the week after for the airing of our delayed Half Hour Wasted Crossover episode. Thanks for listening, thanks for downloading, and enjoy!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:03:13 — 93.3MB)

Podcast, Rogues Gallery

Comic Timing – Episode 67

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Time to talk Brand New Day! Chris Gallo, otherwise known as Webhead, returns to Comic Timing as we all discuss the first few months of the thrice monthly Amazing Spider-Man. Is it doing the job it set out to do? Is Brent digging it? is Ian grooving to the beats of the brain trust? Can Chris stand the change? Listen to find out!

Comic Timing is sponsored by Heroes Corner. All first time Heroes Corner users can enter the promo code BROOKLYN to receive an additional 5% off their first order with the site, and make sure to check out their July 1776 Special. For every 17.76 spent, you get a comic book on them! And finally, the Comic Timing books of the month are as follows:

Avengers: Initiative #17 – extra 10% off the already listed discount of 40%. CT listeners will save 50% off retail (CT price: $1.79 / retail: $2.99)

Blue Beetle #31– extra 10% off the already listed discount of 40%. CT listeners will save 50% off retail (CT price: $1.79 / retail: $2.99)

Back to Brooklyn #1 – because Bob and Sam of Heroes Corner like the Beastie Boys’ No Sleep Till Brooklyn (and I’m from Brooklyn) this gets an additional 35% off the already listed discount of 40%. This gives CT listeners the title for 75% off retail (CT price: $0.75 / retail: $2.99)
Enter Comic Timing Special Discount in the Notes for your order to get these extra discounts!

You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com, and please vote for us at Podcast Alley and Digg us at Digg.Com. And of course, if you can, please donate to the HERO Initiative effort if you can. Every little bit helps!

We shall see you in a few days for our review of Wanted, and next week for our Half Hour Wasted Crossover episode. Thanks for listening, thanks for downloading, and enjoy!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:46:50 — 55.6MB)

Geekspeak Report, Podcast

Geekspeak Report – Episode 7

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Here we go with more Geekspeak Report! Part 4 of the Co-host Challenge brings Lorrie Thomas, alias thomalo, of the Comic Book Road Show onto the program to take her swing at the co-hosting duties. Topics discussed on this episode include:

Our next and last contestant in the Geekspeak Co-Host Challenge is The Marvelous Patric! Make sure to let us know what you thought of Lorrie in her episode, and I thank her yet again for being on the show.

As always, you can e-mail us at speakgeekspeak@gmail.com, and make sure to check out The Geekspeak Report forum.

Thanks for listening, thanks for downloading, and we shall see you next time!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:13:50 — 69.2MB)

Podcast

Comic Timing – Episode 66: 22 Pages #5

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Time to talk Invincible Iron Man #1 with Sean Cummings of Codename: Power, Chris Chavez alias Equinox (happy birthday, buddy!), Brent Kossina and Ian Levenstein. 22 Pages #5 is here, as we dissect the issue in question, while relating it to that Iron Man movie that came out not too long ago. Is the second title needed? Does it do the job of bringing in new readers? Find out here!

Comic Timing is sponsored by Heroes Corner. All first time Heroes Corner users can enter the promo code CTSAVES to receive an additional 5% off their first order with the site, and make sure to check out their Juno June Special. All books involving strong female leads are 46% off this month! And finally, the Comic Timing books of the month are as follows:

Amazing Spider-Man #568 (JUN082306): The first John Romita Jr. issue of Amazing in quite some time!
Booster Gold #11 (JUN080216): Chuck Dixon’s fill-in two issue storyline begins here!
Doctor Who: The Forgotten #1 (JUN084045): Pia Guerra of Y: The Last Man on art for a brand new Doctor and Martha journey!

Enter Comic Timing Special Discount in the Notes for your order and receive a additional 10% off on these items!

You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com, and please vote for us at Podcast Alley and Digg us at Digg.Com. And of course, if you can, please donate to the HERO Initiative effort if you can. Every little bit helps!

We will see you next week for our thoughts on Brand New Day over the first few months of the major Amazing Spider-Man change. Enjoy!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:13:21 — 70.2MB)

Podcast

Comic Timing – Episode 65

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Episode 65 of Comic Timing finally arrives! This time, Jon Hook of Komicskast spinoff show The BOP joins the conversation, along with Sean Cummings, Travis Earls and Andrew Quick of Codename: Power as we discuss Comic Book Theory. What makes comic books tick? Can a comic work if the artists and writer are on different pages, or do we need a hive mind to get great content? How do you stop separate a bad comic book movie from a good one and learn from those mistakes for future efforts? Listen in and see what we have to say!

As of this episode, Comic Timing is sponsored by Heroes Corner. All first time Heroes Corner users can enter the promo code CTSAVES to receive an additional 5% off their first order with the site, and make sure to check out their Juno June Special. All books involving strong female leads are 46% off this month! And finally, the Comic Timing books of the month are as follows:

Amazing Spider-Man #568 (JUN082306): The first John Romita Jr. issue of Amazing in quite some time!
Booster Gold #11 (JUN080216): Chuck Dixon’s fill-in two issue storyline begins here!
Doctor Who: The Forgotten #1 (JUN084045): Pia Guerra of Y: The Last Man on art for a brand new Doctor and Martha journey!

Enter Comic Timing Special Discount in the Notes for your order and receive a additional 10% off on these items!

You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com, and please vote for us at Podcast Alley and Digg us at Digg.Com. And of course, if you can, please donate to the HERO Initiative effort if you can. Every little bit helps!

We will see you next time with our 22 Pages review on Invincible Iron Man #1, and there will be a Geekspeak Report released as well. So thanks for listening, and thanks for downloading!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:14:25 — 68.4MB)

Editorial

Rant Timing #9: DC Stop Dixon Around

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RANT TIMING #9: DC Stop Dixon Around

When asked about Frank Tieri’s fill-in issues on Batman & The Outsiders, which tie-in with the Batman R.I.P. storyline, Chuck had some very simply words to say on his message boards.

I am no longer employed by DC Comics in any capacity.

Now to speculate, I assume Chuck had some not so friendly words to say about the direction Morrison is taking Batman and got the brunt of it. As an alternative, perhaps DC was not thrilled with the direction his titles were going and canned them? This takes Chuck off of Robin, Batman & The Outsiders, and the Booster Gold fill-in issue he is doing, issue #11, will be one of his last pieces done for the company. And what does this do to Storming Paradise? Does this mean it will receive a new writer midway through the miniseries, or has Chuck completed it?

I like to think nice things about a company, I really do. I like to stay positive about comics, but when something like this occurs, it get me wondering a bit. Like everywhere else in the world, higher ups and editorial will like what they like, and dislike what doesn’t work for them, even if the fans seems to be digging it. Devin Grayson is another person who unceremoniously received the axe from DC, and her reasoning, according to sources back when her upcoming Batwoman title first got canned, was questioning editorial. Is there such a thing as maintaining opinion inside of a company without being ostracized for it? Not to bring up Grant Morrison again, but his comments about Countdown seemed to imply that editorial mandate made that series happen, and now he has to adjust his scripting accordingly to match with what was put out. Will he get the axe too? If he does, certainly will have an either further backlash amongst the fan community than getting rid of Dixon did. Which is why it will probably not occur, or else DC becomes the bad guy. Heck, I’m even reminded of when Mark Waid was unceremoniously removed from Fantastic Four by Bill Jemas over at Marvel. Wieringo left the title in protest and fans refused to pick up another FF issue until they got their team back; eventually Marvel caved, righting their mistake and moving Roberto Aguierre-Sacasa and then newcomer Steve McNiven’s Fantastic Four work back into a separate title, where it was originally going to be in the first place.

Where will Chuck Dixon wind up after this? I’m hoping Joe Quesada pulls a George Steinbrenner and gobbles him up for Marvel by offering him something huge, because a man like him deserves to be writing. Right now, other than DC I see one title on his schedule, which is Frankenstein for Dabel Brothers. I would crave seeing Chuck Dixon’s work on a title like Amazing Spider-Man or Avengers: The Initiative. For now though, we are simply left without a new team on Robin and are unsure as to whether there will be a Batman & The Outsiders after issue twelve. Am I perturbed? You betcha.

Let it turn out that Dixon chose to leave DC under his own volition, please. I want to think nice things about the companies I read comics from. Can you do that for me, DC? Oh, and how about someone awesome writing Robin to wash this bad taste out of my mouth too. That would be nice.

Time to go cry into a bowl of ice cream, mourning Dixon’s exit. I think Rocky Road would be a fitting flavor.

Editorial

Rant Timing #8: HULK SMASH PUNY MOVIE!

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Rant Timing #8: HULK SMASH PUNY MOVIE!

So as I was leaving Midtown comics last Friday, a dude was hanging out fliers for a Hulk screening taking place either on Wednesday or Thursday. Since I had no idea if I could leave work early on Wednesday, I chose Thursday. Sure, this meant I’d have to leave the Yankees game a bit early, but I saw the bulk of the game so no worries. Although they came back to win after I left, which might be some kind of sign.

Anyway, got to the theater around 4:30, way ahead of the 5:15 deadline and waited on line for a bit. They gave me a survey to fill out, and handed me my ticket. Once Kris arrived she got on line to get her ticket and then joined me afterward, and into the theater we went. Inside, we got a song and dance routine by the theater manager, who was there to tell us how much we would love the movie, and that we got to be the third audience to see the movie in NY, and according to him, anywhere. He then graced us with an interesting bit of news. As opposed to nto being able to bring in camera phones, ALL electronic devices would not be permitted inside. iPods, mp3 players, phones and camera phones alike. They let me keep my digital wristwatch however, so now I can spread my wristwatch video all over the internets! Mwahahaha! Okay, so maybe not.

We get in there, and sit down for an hour and a half before the actual movie begins. Luckily I had some Chase comics with me from the mid-90’s to read to pass the time, and Kris had her jPod. Interesting enough, they let me take my water bottle in with no hassles. Guess they didn’t care about concession sales at a preview screening?

Once the excruciating wait ended (which was alleviated by the dudes sitting next to us being friendly, hi Sean guy I’ll probably never see again), it was time for movie! Advantage of preview screening: no trailers! Woo! Now I won’t give away any spoilers, but I will give out the basics. The opening credits do the job of retconning the first movie (“So it’s a sequel AND a remake?”), allowing the movie itself to begin without long exposition. The special effects were far superior to those in Hulk, and although there were one or two moments where it looked like a video game on a big screen, it got the job done as best it could.

Ed Norton is Bruce Banner. He gets the calm yet creepy nature down, and always appears as if he is one step away from going over the edge. A lot of the plot can lend itself to Bruce Jone’s early arc on The Incredible Hulk, and aspects such as meditation techniques and anger control are present. Both Stan Lee and Lou Ferrigno, with Stan’s appearance actually adding to the plot in a very…amusing fashion. Liv Tyler, while big lipped as always, plays Betty Ross the way she should be played. Vulnerable yet strong, compassionate yet hard-boiled. And Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky? Well, let’s just say he loves being the military for all the wrong reasons. Jim Segulin of Raging Bullets will have major issues with his haircut and unshaven beard however. That ain’t regulation!

The last scene…DAMN. My showing played it before the credits so I assume it will do the same for the major release, but if it doesn’t, stay til the end just in case! Marvel continues to do the right thing with their properties, and the big green giant whose cereal is getting soggy now has a movie to call his own that doesn’t leave you scratching your scruffy beard in confusion. I give it 4 PUNY HUMANS out of 5.

Go see this movie, people, they did it again!

Podcast

Comic Timing – Episode 64

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The Heroes Corner episode is here! Bill of Just Bills Comic Drawerbox, Brian (Lobo) of Kryptographik, Brent and I talk with Sam and Bob of Heroes Corner to discuss their business plan, what gave them the idea to start an online ordering company, how discounts work when dealing with Diamond, and plenty of other juicy topics. So give it a listen to learn more about one of the newer companies on the scene!

This episode is also part of the podcast theme week which has been underway all week long, as various comic book podcasts cover a variety of Diamond Distribution related topics. Much thanks to Check of Comic Related for compiling a list of all the participants, and make sure to listen to whatever podcast suits your fancy!

You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com, and please vote for us at Podcast Alley and Digg us at Digg.Com. And of course, if you can, please donate to the HERO Initiative effort if you can. Every little bit helps!

Thanks for listening, thanks for downloading, and see you folks soon!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:47:43 — 51.8MB)