Category Archives: Casual Comics Guy
Batman: Fear State
Holy missing posts, Batman! I just realized that I’m behind on updating the Casual Comics blog with the latest podcast news.
At the wrap of the cross-title Batman mega-event, “Batman: Fear State”, we tasked our best Bat-buddy, Ryan with reading the full series and talking to us about it. The main story appears in Batman #112 – #117, and was almost immediately collected in a trade paperback.
We discuss how accessible this book is for casual comics fans and talk about some of the things you might need to know in order to enjoy the story.
Also, we dive into the limited series, “Superman ’78”, which picks up the direct continuity from the “Superman” movie, starring Christopher Reeves and Margot Kidder. We talk about the book with an eye toward how fans of the original movie might find the new comic series. (Spoiler: We think it’s pretty great)
Listen in at the link below – or find the episode on your favorite podcast listening app. We’re almost everywhere at this point – Spotify, Apple Music, Google… you name it.
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/casualcomicsguy/episodes/2022-01-13T15_59_13-08_00
Cheers!
- CCG
Casual Comics Cast – Ep 240: Spider-Man Life Story (and more)
Our resident Spidey fanatic – Marc – joins this episode to discuss the graphic novel “Spider-Man Life Story”, written by Chip Zdarsky with art by Mark Bagley.
This unique take on the legendary Marvel hero follows Peter Parker from the origin of Spider-Man in 1962 through the next through the six decades of his life placing the major milestone events in Marvel continuity and Spider-man’s own legendary exploits into the era when they actually happened in Peter’s single lifetime.
Plus, we rank our own “Sinister Six” – the six best/coolest/most essential villains in Spider-man’s gallery of rogues.
Listen wherever you find your favorite podcasts – Apple, Google, Spotify, whatever… Or, you can use the link below.
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/casualcomicsguy/episodes/2021-11-06T08_07_18-07_00
Casual Comics Cast – Giant Size X-Men Edition
We’re back with another podcast and a discussion of everyone’s favorite mutant squad: The X-Men
On this episode, we discuss our favorite X-Men characters and review:
Giant Size X-Men #1 (1975) – the introduction of the “new” X-Men that we all know and love.
Astonishing X-Men vol. 1 (1995) by Joss Whedon – a more modern take on the X-Men from the fan favorite creator.
Plus, we talk about which of our X-Men are our favorites and play an X-Men version of “Date, Marry, Kill”.
We hope you’ll join us from your favorite podcast platform or at the link below.
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/casualcomicsguy/episodes/2020-09-28T17_22_50-07_00
Cheers!
- CCG
Casual Comics Cast Ep 228 – The Batman w/Special Guest 97.1 The Fan’s Timmy Hall
In this episode, we’re talking about the new trailer for THE BATMAN with Timmy Hall, host of the Buckeye Show on 97.1 the Fan.
Topics discussed include:
- The Batman Trailer
- The seminal comic book, The Killing Joke
- The previous Batman films from – Nolan, Burton, and yes – even the Schumacher films.
And, Timmy Hall selects his Marvel Cinematic Universe All-Star squad – the top 5 heroes he’d want at his back if he had to face down Thanos in a rematch.
Cheers!
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/casualcomicsguy/episodes/2020-09-06T12_42_57-07_00
Casual Comics Cast – New Comics, Whackpackers, and apologies to Batman
This episode is recorded in front of a live studio audience.
No kidding, we really do have a live studio audience. His name is Ryan and he’s here to talk about Batman. And to correct last episode’s disparaging remarks about a classic DC character – Leslie Thompkins.
This week, the Casual Comics Cast reviews of the following comics and beers:
• Red Sonja and Vampirella meet Betty and Veronica number eight, by Dynamite Comics
• Quantum and Woody number one, by Valiant Comics
• All Luck Comics number one, by All Luck Comics
• Skittley Bittley Bop, from Hoof Hearted Brewery
• Opera Cream Stout from Platform Beer Company
• And Bierwolf, from Great Lakes Brewing Company
Plus, other comic-related nonsense!
So, settle in with your favorite beverage and enjoy the show!
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/casualcomicsguy/episodes/2020-02-03T15_17_25-08_00
Casual Comics Preview and Hot Picks– Week of January 22, 2020
A couple of quick housekeeping items before I get to the Hot New Comics of the Week:
I was promised help this week from my podcast mates. They did not deliver. And, thus, these picks are once again the sole responsibility of me – your friendly Casual Comics Guy. I’ll take all the blame (and of course, the accolades) on these picks.
But, do take a moment to listen to the podcast if you haven’t yet. And feel free to leave comments in the web zone below.
Casual Comic Picks of the Week
Frankenstein Undone #1
OK – it’s the first issue in a series. Just the right time to get on board with the comic. The Frankenstein myth is also an easy gateway into an unfamiliar title.
Frankenstein Undone #1, Dark Horse Comics. By Mike Mignola, Scott Allie, Ben Steinbeck, Brendan Wagner.
Mignola takes on Frankenstein! Frankenstein’s creator lies dead in the icy grip of the Arctic, and the monster searches for a new purpose. Just as he thinks he’s found one with a group of unlikely companions, disaster strikes–and the monster is catapulted out of Mary Shelley’s novel and into the world of Hellboy. Bridging Mary Shelley’s original Frankenstein novella and Mike Mignola’s Frankenstein Underground, this series brings together Mignola, Scott Allie, Ben Stenbeck, Brennan Wagner, and Clem Robins for an all-new horror adventure in the far north.
I’m not familiar with Mignola’s “Frankenstein Underground”, but he’s got an excellent track record for interesting gothic tales. Oh, so many years ago, I loved Fred Saberhagen’s “The Frankenstein Papers”, and the solicit for this comic gives me the same chills.
Clue TPB Candlestick
I’ve heard a ton of great things about this series from the fine gentlemen over at the Two Headed Nerd podcast. If you don’t already listen, you should.
Also, in running down my top movies of 2019, I find myself putting “Knives Out” easily in the top 5. So, maybe it’s time for the reinvention of the murder mystery genre.
Clue Candlestick Trade Paperback, IDW Publishing. By Dash Shaw
Who did it? How’d they do it? And where? Answer these classic questions and solve the mystery in this graphic novel based on the timeless detective game. Cartoonist auteur Dash Shaw unleashes his murderous imagination on the quirky, thrilling, and mysterious world of Clue! Ripe with puzzles, secrets, and lies, everyone’s a suspect in this suspense-filled whodunit! Was it Miss Scarlet in the conservatory with the lead pipe? Suspicions mount as bodies start piling up.
More than 50% of my interest is from the raves that this got from the THN podcast. Now that it’s in a collected edition, sounds like the perfect time to pick it up.
Red Sonja and Vampirella Meet Betty and Veronica #8
That’s a lot of characters from a lot of different universes all packed into one comic. How did they get through seven issues without me knowing about this title? Guess it’s my lack of ability to get to the comic shop every week.
Red Sonja and Vampirella Meet and Betty Veronica #8, Dynamite Entertainment. By Amy Chu , Maria Sanapo , Fay Dalton
Ever wonder how Red Sonja and Vampirella could make it to Riverdale to hang out with Betty and Veronica? Now you’re about to find out! But to do so, you’ll have to travel deep into interstellar space, for the answer lies not on Earth, but on Drakulon! And the revelation is TWICE as bananas as you could imagine!
Did I ever wonder… I absolutely did as soon as I read the title. If it was only as bananas as I could imagine, I might just wait. But it’s apparently TWICE as bananas as I can imagine. And that’s pretty darn bananas. Count me in for this issue.
I’m going to go ahead and assume that there’s no exaggeration going on here, and that this book is 2x as much craziness as I can imagine and name “Red Sonja and Vampirella Meet Betty and Veronica #8” as my Casual Comics Hot Pick of the Week!
Until we meet again… Cheers!
- CCG
Out of Context Comic Panels – Not the Cinco de Mayo edition
As a casual comics fan, one of my favorite things is just how ridiculous comic books used to be.
Marvel Comics are now the backbone of a multi-billion dollar entertainment industry.
Had you asked me 30 years ago whether this would ever be possible, even on my most optimistic day the answer would have been a resounding “No!”
And to illustrate why my answer would have been so definitive, I present to you “out of context” comic panels. For example, look at these actual panels from an actual comic published by Marvel.
Quick recap to add just a smidgen of context. The two characters in the first panel are:
Doctor Doom: Archenemy of the Fantastic Four – probably their greatest nemesis. His powers include – Super-intelligence (like Iron Man level or greater), an army of robots at his command, ruler of a sovereign nation (Latveria), and mastery over the dark arts of magic.
Namor (aka – The Sub-Mariner): Sometime villain, Sometime hero appearing in comics since 1939. Ruler of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. His powers are that he’s super-tough, super-strong, and can breathe underwater and fly.
These two major villains – both rulers of their own kingdoms – are fighting over a “sea horn” that is hanging from a drop ceiling like one in a cheaply finished basement.
Actually, they’re not fighting over the horn, simply whether Doom should “toot” said horn. And once he does, this somehow makes him laugh “Ha-Ha!” and then immediately claim mastery over the entire world.
There’s so much more going on here that I could spend too much time analyzing. But, I won’t. I’m just going to leave this filed under “Out of Context Comic Panels” because these make me happy to be a casual comics fan.
Cheers!
– CCG
The Greatest Captain America Panel of all Time
Greetings, people. Happy Independence Day. You’re about to see the best panel in the long, storied comics history of the greatest American super hero (Captain America, obviously).
It’s been a long while since my last post. Life has been hectic, but it’s time to get this party bus back on the road.
If you’ve been listening to the Two Headed Nerd Podcast, you may be clued into the ways I’m thinking about bringing this blog and the related podcast back to life. If you haven’t, I’d highly recommend listening to all their content, because it’s one of the best comic book podcasts around. Stay tuned for further announcements.
In the meantime, in honor of the 4th of July, I’ll leave you with my favorite panel in Captain America’s history. The Two Headed Nerd Podcast has a feature call “The Onomatopoeia of the Week”. In this instance, the combination of the dialog and the onomatopoeia creates a magical blend.
Cheers!
- CCG
Casual Comics Cast
You might ask yourself where I’ve been since the last update. I’ve been asking myself the same question.
Part of the answer is this – I’ve been working on a new podcast!
The other 90% is laughing at old DC comics panels out of context.
Here’s “episode zero” of the new “Casual Comics Cast”, created with my co-host Mo.
A little bit about the podcast:
As you know, I know a lot about a very little cross-section of comics culture – Marvel comics, especially from the 80s and 90s, comic book movies and TV, and whatever I luck across on the comics racks on the occasions when I do get to hit the local comic book shop.
Mo knows even less – but she really wants to learn. So here’s the question… can someone who is really new to comics – including the movies and TV shows – get “into” comics, or is it still too exclusive and difficult to navigate?
We’ll explore a multitude of topics, but we’d love your comments and feedback on our pilot, wherein we try and figure out how to make a podcast a thing while also talking about the trailer for “Suicide Squad”.
Click here to listen to Episode Zero!
Please post comments below. We’re looking for your help in shaping the future of the podcast.
Thanks!
- CCG
Casual Comics Rewind Review: Vision and the Scarlet Witch #2
Vision and Scarlet Witch #2 – “Faith of our Fathers” delves further into the complicated back story of the Scarlet Witch and her “father” Robert Frank. Turns out he’s not really their father, but Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver have been keeping that on the down low.
Four awesome things about this issue:
- The super couple just hangs out around the house in their full-on superhero gear. (To the delight of teenage boys because… Wanda in costume? Hubba, hubba…)
- They have a huge supercomputer with a teleconnection to the moon in the living room of an otherwise nondescript home in the suburbs. In fact, it’s quite near the covered porch where Jarvis is enjoying a spot of tea after the altercation in the last issue.
No danger, just my dad at the door. Better be sure I’m wearing the full costume, though, while I talk to my brother who is ON THE MOON!
- Robert Frank still actually thinks he’s the father of Wanda and Pietro. Quicksilver’s power is super speed. So was Frank’s when he was a hero in the 50s known as… wait for it… “The Whizzer”. Wanda and Pietro have never told Frank he’s not really their father. But face it, I couldn’t bear to bring heartache to an old man who still goes by “The Whizzer” either.
- Wanda and the Vision get around town via taxicab – even though one can fly and the other can teleport.
The issue starts out, wonderfully, in media res. The splash page shows the Vision, arm melted into a twisted slag. The guy can turn hard as a diamond or completely intangible. The sight of the Vision – in pain, arm smoldering brings immediate intensity to this issue.
Who knew this was even a thing that could happen?
Via flashback, the readers come to see just how Vision got into this mess. And, delightfully, it involves more family drama.
Robert Frank has another son, Nuklo, a 32 year-old nuclear beast with the mind of a child. Frank wants the Vision and Scarlet Witch to help him take back custody of his abandoned child from the research facility where he is being kept.
Once again, the art is wonderfully ahead of its time for a comic of this era – minimalist, yet striking use of lines and shading. And, the non-linear storytelling really works – helping parcel out more complex backstory and the emotional trauma while maintaining tension.
You all know that Vision and the Scarlet Witch have a special place in my heart. Rereading the stories convince me that the Marvel miniseries I knew and loved still hold up today.
– CCG
Casual Comics Guy 