Comic Geek Speak Podcast - The Best Comic Book Podcast

A brief announcement of the passing of our beloved colleague and brother-in-arms, Jamie Dallessandro.

A beautiful dream recurs, as our comics-conscious conventicle recongregates for the second in a series of Book-of-the-Month episodes devoted to Neil Gaiman's Sandman. In the second volume, 'The Doll's House,' interludes set in the past afford us precious glimpses into the past doings, dealings, and dalliances of Dream; while, in the present, Morpheus stalks a few of his wayward subjects and contends with a dangerous 'dream-vortex'... named Rose. Let the Geeks be your Gaiman-gushing guides on this tour through the tiny, fragile rooms of the human imagination! (1:52:10)

Moon madness, macrocosmic misadventure, and mechanical men abound in our monthly sampler of recent-release reviews (with SPOILERS!). But first, a special announcement from an assembled throng of Geeks, concerning the health and welfare of one of our own.... (1:58:02)

'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' is already being called one of the best superhero movies made to date--now hear what WE have to say about the Shield-Slinger's second cinematic sortie! (Hint: it's pretty complimentary.) But be warned, if you enter this battlefield, expect to come under heavy SPOILER-fire! (1:13:55)

In Spring, a young Geek's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of Previews! We go through the April catalog for items shipping to stores starting in June. (1:26:42)

The Avengers' 50th Anniversary year may be over, but the fun continues as CGS follows through on its plans to discuss, in some detail, the Avengers Forever maxiseries, a sprawling, eras-spanning, action- and exposition-packed celebration of Avengers history! Download this 'Book of the Month' episode, covering the first half of the maxiseries, and learn why Avengers Forever is, in a peculiarly literal sense, one of the greatest Avengers stories of 'all time'! (2:37:30)

Here Comes... a new series of CGS Spotlight episodes devoted to Daredevil, in honor of ol' Hornhead's 50th Anniversary! In our first installment, encapsulating Daredevil's first eight years in comics, we address DD's milestone first appearance, his visual development, his early rogues' gallery, his turbulent non-romance with Karen Page, his frequent interactions with (and conspicuous similarity to) Spider-Man, his long-lost twin brother(??), and everything else that defined Daredevil in the Silver Age. Presented by Murdock Scholar Chris Eberle, Prof. Emeritus of Daredevil Studies Kevin Moyer, and the rest of the CGS University faculty! (2:12:41)

Reintroducing the 'Introducing!' format, in which we shine the CGS spotlight on the first appearances of three characters, all sharing some common trait or feature, from three different publishers and decades. Taking 'Androids' as our theme, we investigate the inorganic origins of three synthetic superstars: the Silver Age Red Tornado; Jack Kirby's X-51, the Machine Man; and that small-press sensation of the '90s, Scud the Disposable Assassin! If you're in the mood for all-out android action (and origin analysis), these are the droids you're looking for! (1:38:17)

Returning to a time-honored but long-neglected CGS tradition, we the Geeks use questions and suggestions solicited from the listening audience to help us concoct our signature blend of Comic Talk. Along the way, our friend and fellow 'caster Ian Levenstein offers a review of the new, Charles Soule-written She-Hulk series, and we sound off on 'Muppets Most Wanted' (with our very special guest star, SPOILERS! Yaaaaaaay!). (1:32:58)

It's the right time of the week for Comic Talk, and neither snow nor rain nor swollen tongue (Jamie's) will stay these Geeks from entertaining you with their comics-correlative conversation! This episode contains the usual listener feedback and trivia; some TV talk (with SPOILERS!) vis-a-vis 'The Walking Dead,' 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,' 'Arrow,' and the primetime special 'Marvel: Assembling a Universe'; Shane's reaction to his first taste of Ed Brubaker's Captain America; and other trifles. (1:22:14)

Join us as we welcome back one of the very first comics professionals ever to make a guest appearance on CGS: colorist Brian Miller of Hi-Fi Color Design! Brian talks to us about the state of the comics-coloring art; the several series he's working on for DC Comics; his excitement for Free Comic Book Day; and his popular instructional guide to coloring, now back in circulation courtesy of Kickstarter! If you're an aspiring comics colorist, you could do worse than listen to what Brian has to say! (1:24:15)

Pants makes another guest appearance to share a few stories from the London Super Comic Convention. Then, we 'pick a little, talk a little' about assorted listener correspondence, recent comics news items, and trivia questions. Like the episode title says, it's 'Comic Talk'! (1:43:54)

New Warriors #1 from Marvel. One-Hit Wonder #1 from Image. The Royals: Masters of War #1 from DC/Vertigo. One unanimous BUY; one unanimous BORROW; and one unanimous PANTS. Which is which? Listen and find out! Then, stay tuned for mini-reviews of Dynamite's Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #1 and the first issue of the latest Fantastic Four series. (1:43:02)

Time to stop and smell the Previews! We go through the March catalog for items shipping to stores starting in May. (1:50:57)

In addition to the dependably geeky gallimaufry of news, trivia, and good-natured banter you've come to expect from a 'Comic Talk' episode, this installment of CGS has a little something extra to offer: PANTS! Our old pal and former producer Brian 'Pants' Christman joins us by phone to chat about his contribution to a recent episode of the Letterman show, among other topics. It's a hoot-and-a-half! (1:26:18)

The ballots are in, the results are tallied, the champagne is chilled and the Geeks are in place! The time has finally come to announce who and what the hosts and listenership of Comic Geek Speak have chosen to acknowledge as comic books' 'Best of 2013'! It's quite possibly the second awards show you'll experience this week! (55:53)

Following a brief intermission, we reconvene to wrap up our extended examination of the Fantastic Four in the Silver Age, from the introduction of the Black Panther to the birth of Franklin Richards to the dissolution of the storied Lee/Kirby partnership in 1970. Also, a few words about the Human Torch feature in Strange Tales, and the 1967 Hanna-Barbera F.F. cartoon! (1:33:49)

Chris and Murd recently made a guest appearance on the Back to the Bins podcast, where they joined host Paul Spataro in scrutinizing a pair of hand-picked back issues: one Marvel, one DC, both at least ten years old. Here's the result! (1:23:08)

Face Front, True Believers! Now begins a year-long exploration of the first family of Marvel Comics: the Fantastic Four! Adjunct professor of Marvel history Chris Eberle, teaching assistant Adam Murdough, and prize pupil Jamie D unite to bring you the reasonably complete lowdown on 'The World's Greatest Comic Magazine' through all the ages of its existence! First up, the first half of the all-important Lee/Kirby run of the Silver Age, including everything from the team's first appearance through the Galactus Trilogy, plus a passel of pedagogical propaganda pertaining to the pulsatin' pre-history of Marvel Comics itself! (2:46:10)

The Geeks go for the gold in this episode, as they list and discuss their favorite characters, vintage and recent, who have served as members of the world's first superhero team: the Justice Society of America! (1:35:03)