Tag Archives: Ian Levenstein

Podcast

Comic Timing Episode 251 – Here’s To You, Peter David

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Ian, Kris and Raph gather this episode to discuss a multitude of topics. The going trend of this episode is people being in the right place at the right time and becoming legends unexpectedly. Said topics include the passing of one of our favorite creators, Peter David, and some great recommendations of his many works, all the new projects revealed out of Netflix’s Tadum event, including Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, Wake Up, Dead Mam: A Knives Out Mystery and One Piece Season 2, spoilers on the end of the most recent season/series of Doctor Who, the unexpected Batman/Deadpool crossover and the kerning of the new Batman logo’s font, subsequent logo talk on the X-Men and how long the logo we know has been in use, Marvel’s new fighting game with Arc System Works, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, Ian reviews the Jim Henson Idea Man and Stan Lee documentaries available on Disney+, Kris goes through her journey through Claremont-era X-Men, Raph enjoys some Ultimate X-Men and the Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods documentary, and Ian hates on Marvel’s TVA miniseries, is so-so on H2sh, and loves Absolute Martian Manhunter. Finally, before the episode wraps, we break the news on Diamond Distributors cancelling all Penguin Random House orders for books set to release after June 25th.

And here’s the YouTube video version:

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. Video versions of most episodes are at http://youtube.com/@comictimingpodcast, so go ahead and subscribe if you haven’t already done so.

You can also follow Comic Timing on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners! Finally, you can join in on the conversation at our Comic Timing Fans group on Facebook, which is a great place to hang out and talk comics.

Follow Ian on Bluesky, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi. Brent posts regularly to YouTube on his channel, BK’s Bullets and can be found on Bluesky; Raph is on Twitch at RaphDoesStuff, Instagram, and Bluesky. Kris is lampbane on Bluesky, here’s the article Kris wrote about the comic book industry in 2020, and you can check out her various other works at http://linktr.ee/krisnaudus.

Thanks for listening, we’ll catch you next time, and as always, there’s always time for comics!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:06:03 — 116.4MB)

Podcast

Comic Timing Presents: Back to the Bins Episode 663 – Decade of Heroes

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This week, we’re running the latest Gold Team appearance on Paul Spataro’s Back to the Bins podcast! Episode 663 of the podcast features Paul, Ian, Chris Eberle, Adam Murdough and Shane Kelly discussing four books from their reading past; Fantastic Four #55 (Silver Surfer and The Thing action), Batman #232 (Ra’s Al-Ghul’s first appearance), Supreme #41 (Alan Moore’s reboot issue), and Fantastic Four (1998) #60 (Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo’s first issue). Some great comics conversation ahead of you, so do enjoy!

And if you’re interested in Kickstarting Steve Bryant’s Shaken and Stirred graphic novel, here’s the link for that!

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. If you’d like to give a one-time donation to the show, that can be done over at https://paypal.me/iamscifi. You can also follow Comic Timing on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners! Finally, you can join in on the conversation at our Comic Timing Fans group on Facebook, which is a great place to hang out and talk comics.

Follow Ian on Bluesky, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi. Brent is on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kossinab, and he posts regularly to YouTube on his channel, BK’s Bullets.

Thanks for listening, we’ll catch you next time, and as always, there’s always time for comics!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:04:51 — 79.3MB)

Podcast

Comic Timing* Episode 249* – Thunderbolts* Movie Review*

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The Blue Team of Ian, Brent, Raph, Donovan, Brandon, Kris and Jamal are back at it to talk about Marvel’s conclusion to Phase Five, and the unexpected tentpole of what’s to come, Thunderbolts*. Spoilers abound as they discuss the nuances of the film as well as the team’s comic book origins, who the heck Bob is, how Marvel subverted our expectations in more than one way and how they made us care about these particular characters through the exploration of mental health, the joy that is Florence Pugh, Pullman and Russell: TNG, the father daughter relationship between Alexi and Yelena, how MCU Contessa is basically just Victoria Hand, where we rank this in post-Endgame movie releases, the thoughtful dickery that is John Walker, Congressman Bucky, and tons more*.

*Okay fine, we address the asterisk and how even that has multiple meanings.

We also start with thoughts on this year’s Free Comic Book Day and FBCD in general, discover a new library of comics you can read from the library via the Comics Plus app, and we conclude with some recent reads!

And here’s the video version:

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. Video versions of most episodes are at http://youtube.com/@comictimingpodcast, so go ahead and subscribe if you haven’t already done so.

You can also follow Comic Timing on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners! Finally, you can join in on the conversation at our Comic Timing Fans group on Facebook, which is a great place to hang out and talk comics.

Follow Ian on Bluesky, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi. Brent posts regularly to YouTube on his channel, BK’s Bullets and can be found on Bluesky; Raph is on Twitch at RaphDoesStuff, Instagram, and Bluesky. Kris is lampbane on Bluesky, here’s the article Kris wrote about the comic book industry in 2020, and you can check out her various other works at http://linktr.ee/krisnaudus. Donovan is on Bluesky, writes for DC’s blog and The Batman Universe, and check out his podcast, Questions: We Don’t Have Answers. Brandon is on Bluesky and Twitch, and will be running a panel at Kaiju Brooklyn on May 31st! And finally, Jamal is https://bsky.app/profile/jamaligle.bsky.social, https://www.instagram.com/jamaliglecomics/ and of course https://jamaligle.com/.

Thanks for listening, we’ll catch you next time, and as always, there’s always time for comics!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:59:29 — 113.3MB)

Podcast

Comic Timing Special: Diamond Distributors Update and Re-airing Ep 179 – There’s Always Time For Collecting Comics!

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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 Ad Populum. He also gives props to Comic News Insider on their 1600th episode, and to Charlito for his amazing print he created for CGS’ 20th.

Then, we transition into Episode 179, which was the first time Chris Eberle, Adam Murdough and Shane Kelly appeared on Comic Timing as a group! They join Ian and Brent in a full conversation on collecting comics that remains quite relevant today, nine years later.

Time stamps:

Diamond Distributors updates: 0:03:32

CNI 1600 and Charlito’s print: 0:11:57

Episode 179: 0:15:26

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. Video versions of the show, as well as occasional shorts and other goodies are available at https://www.youtube.com/@comictimingpodcast.

Follow Comic Timing on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@comictimingpodcast and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners!

Finally, we have a Facebook Group that is thriving nicely. If you’d like to join, do so!

Follow Ian on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/i_am_scifi, on Bluesky, Threads, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi.

Thanks for listening as always, we hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season, and we will catch you all next time! And as always, there’s always time for comics!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:12:41 — 85.4MB)

Podcast, Previews

Comic Timing Episode 248 – April 2025 Previews

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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 quick comments on Lunar’s catalog for TwoMorrow’s content, and a little bit of Penguin Random House’s very hard to read catalog. As for the usual suspects, we have Image Catalog Issue 6, DC Connect issue 59, Marvel Previews Vol 6 issue 43, and Diamond Previews issue 439, with books mainly set for June 2025 release. Highlights include Dynamite’s fever dream known only as Thundercats Powerpuff Girls, Brian K Vaughn and Nico Henrichson’s Spectators, Image’s foray into oversized with their Jim Aparo’s DC Classics Artist’s Edition, the conclusion of Michel Fiffe’s Copra, a whole lot of Godzilla in various forms as IDW, Marvel AND DC all get in on the game, Mark Waid’s New History of the DC Universe, the temporary return of Rainbow Rowell’s Runaways, Top Shelf’s It Rhymes with Takei, and so much more.

Time stamps:

Diamond acquisition talk: 0:01:41

It Rhymes with Takei: 0:09:26

Image Comics: 0:12:56

Dynamite: 0:46:05

Titan: 0:58:50

DC: 1:06:57

Marvel: 1:44:41

Back of the Book: 2:24:42

Two Morrows: 3:01:34

Manga: 3:03:13

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. Video versions of the show, as well as occasional shorts and other goodies are available at https://www.youtube.com/@comictimingpodcast.

Follow Comic Timing on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@comictimingpodcast and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners!

Finally, we have a Facebook Group that is thriving nicely. If you’d like to join, do so!

Follow Ian on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/i_am_scifi, on Bluesky, Threads, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi.

Thanks for listening as always, we hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season, and we will catch you all next time! And as always, there’s always time for comics!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:10:09 — 132.7MB)

Podcast

Comic Timing Episode 246 – What is Modern Comic Book Art Anyway?

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Ian, Brent, Kris and Donovan return for the back half of their recent marathon recording. This time, Kris and Ian give their thoughts on the first nine issues (aka what was available on Marvel Unlimited at the time) of Gail Simone’s Uncanny X-Men run, based on varying degrees of response from different portions of the Interwebs. Does the run feel like the X-Men according to two longtime readers of the franchise? Will we someday remember the names of Calico, Deathdream, Ransom and Jitter outside of this run? The verdict is still out. We then deviate into a eye-opening conversation of what actually makes comic book art “modern” by today’s standards in the eyes of the “Youths,” and just how much color theory can make that determination. Finally, we conclude with some recent reads.

Time codes:

Kris and Ian talk Gail Simone’s Uncanny X-Men: 0:02:57

What makes comic art “modern?”: 0:25:00

Recent reads: 0:49:51

And here’s the YouTube version with full video:

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. You can also follow Comic Timing on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners! Finally, you can join in on the conversation at our Comic Timing Fans group on Facebook, which is a great place to hang out and talk comics.

Follow Ian on Bluesky, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi. Brent posts regularly to YouTube on his channel, BK’s Bullets and has a Bluesky of his own now due to peer pressure; Kris is lampbane on Bluesky, and you can check out her various other works at http://linktr.ee/krisnaudus. And Donovan is on Bluesky, writes for DC’s blog and The Batman Universe, and check out his podcast, Questions: We Don’t Have Answers.

Thanks for listening, we’ll catch you next time, and as always, there’s always time for comics!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:03 — 44.3MB)

Podcast, Previews

Comic Timing Episode 242 – February 2025 Previews

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Just in the nick of time, February’s Previews episode is out! And this one…took some doing. For one thing, for the first time, we made the executive decision to skip Diamond’s Previews catalog (with the exception of two Dynamite entries at the end of the episode). And how did Murd and Ian manage to still put out a nearly three-hour episode without the Diamond catalog? THEY FOUND A WAY. That way includes the Lunar Distribution catalog, and Penguin Random House’s offering, along with the usual Image, DC and Marvel catalogs. Here’s a link to where Ian grabs the catalogs monthly, and here’s a link to Penguin Random House’s offerings as well. Highlights include Dan Slott’s first Superman issue as the Summer of Superman begins, six Silent Interlude issues of G.I. Joe, Golden Rage: Mother Knows Best, Godzilla versus friggin Spider-Man AND the latest Amazing Spider-Man relaunch, Craig Thompson’s Ginseng Roots, and so much more. And please, Penguin Random House, start separating your catalog into individual publishers rather than single issues and then collections, that’d be great, thanks.

Here’s the video version for you all:

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. You can also follow Comic Timing on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@comictimingpodcast and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners! Finally, you can join in on the conversation at our Comic Timing Fans group on Facebook, which is a great place to hang out and talk comics.

Follow Ian on Bluesky, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi. Brent is on Bluesky, and he posts regularly to YouTube on his channel, BK’s Bullets.

Thanks for listening, we’ll catch you next time, and as always, there’s always time for comics!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:48:13 — 120.0MB)

Podcast

Comic Timing Episode 241 – Who Is Driving? Brent is Driving? How Can This Be?!?

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While Ian is busy adulting, Brent takes the wheel and drives this episode of Comic Timing in the host chair! He’s joined by Kris and Brandon as they discuss Kris’ non-spoiler thoughts on Captain America: Brave New World and the Alamo Drafthouse experience, Kris Krisplains Anime™ to Brent and talks some Dandadan in the process, and there’s some related convo on Invincible Season Three and the comparison to the comics. Then Ian joins in on the backhalf and Brandon touches a bit on his personal Diamond woes at the comic shop, the Thunderbolts* Superbowl trailer, recent reads such as Alice in Borderland and how the live action might be better than the manga, The Bronx Nobody Knows, Brent’s read Radiant Black Vol 1 and 2 after our Review Corner episode inspired him, One Hand and Six Fingers by Ram V, Ian gives his take on Kite-Man: Hell Yeah! and more.

And here’s the video version:

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. You can also follow Comic Timing on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@comictimingpodcast and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners! Finally, you can join in on the conversation at our Comic Timing Fans group on Facebook, which is a great place to hang out and talk comics.

Follow Ian on Bluesky, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi. Brent is on Bluesky, and he posts regularly to YouTube on his channel, BK’s Bullets; Brandon is at https://bsky.app/profile/thedabbadon.bsky.social and https://www.twitch.tv/thedabbadon. Kris is lampbane on Bluesky, and you can check out her various other works at http://linktr.ee/krisnaudus.

Thanks for listening, we’ll catch you next time, and as always, there’s always time for comics!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:56:36 — 69.5MB)

Podcast, Review Corner

Comic Timing Episode 239 – Review Corner: Radiant Black, Volume 1

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A long-awaited episode from the before-times finally makes its way from deep space and into your ear holes! And with it, a return to the long-dormant Review Corner format of Comic Timing episodes. The foursome of Ian, Chris Eberle, Adam Murdough and Shane Kelly get their hands on Kyle Higgins and Marcelo Costa’s epic introduction to the Massive-verse, Radiant Black! This first volume covers the first six issues of the book, as Nathan moves back home just in time to accidentally come across a Radiant, granting him ever-growing gravity abilities. With the assistance of his best friend Marshall, he tries to figure this all out, while also figuring himself out. And if you think that’s the whole of the story, there’s a lot more where that came from! For instance, who is Radiant Red? And what villains are trying to track these new heroes (?) down and make their power their own? So much to uncover, so much to learn, and we are ready to dive right in!

And here is the video version of the podcast:

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. Video versions of the show, as well as occasional shorts and other goodies are available at https://www.youtube.com/@comictimingpodcast.

Follow Comic Timing on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@comictimingpodcast and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners!

Finally, we have a Facebook Group that is thriving nicely. If you’d like to join, do so!

Follow Ian on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/i_am_scifi, on Bluesky, Threads, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi.

Thanks for listening as always, we hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season, and we will catch you all next time! And as always, there’s always time for comics!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:23 — 45.5MB)

Podcast, Previews

Comic Timing Episode 238 – January 2025 Previews

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Our first episode of the New Year is officially here! Chris Eberle, Adam Murdough and Ian are here to go through this month’s various Previews catalogs, Image Catalog Issue 3, DC Connect issue 56, Marvel Previews Vol 6 issue 40, and Diamond Previews issue 436, with books mainly set for March 2025 release. Before the trio get into the books at hand, listen for a full discussion of the news that broke this week that may very well affect future editions of this very show: Diamond Distributors has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. We discuss the potential ramifications of the news (since we recorded Image is now officially going Lunar-only after this month’s order cutoff date), is there is a way out of this for Diamond post-filing, and we are of course incredibly happy to have a former shop owner in Mr. Eberle to help sort through it all.

Then, as we pivot to the catalogs, highlights include Robert Kirkman’s return to the Invincible Universe with Battle Beast, Hush 2 at DC, Assorted Crisis Events make Murd and Ian quite happy, Godzilla vs Fantastic Four, David F. Walker’s return to Bitter Root, new Mouse Guard from David Petersen, the first Solomon Kane series in 15 years by Titan, and so much more!

Time stamps:

Diamond bankruptcy conversation: 02:41

Image Comics: 16:28

Boom Studios: 43:05

Dynamite: 48:03

Titan Comics: 54:34

DC: 1:02:04

Marvel: 1:29:58

Back of the Book: 2:04:01

And here’s the video version of the episode:

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. Video versions of the show, as well as occasional shorts and other goodies are available at https://www.youtube.com/@comictimingpodcast.

Follow Comic Timing on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@comictimingpodcast and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners!

Finally, we have a Facebook Group that is thriving nicely. If you’d like to join, do so!

Follow Ian on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/i_am_scifi, on Bluesky, Threads, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi.

Thanks for listening as always, we hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season, and we will catch you all next time! And as always, there’s always time for comics!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:55:27 — 123.3MB)