Category Archives: Comic Review
Comic Books for Casual Readers: Death of Dr. Strange + One Star Squadron
If you are interested in comic book, but overwhelmed by the selection at your local comic book shop or online, you’re not alone. Starting out (or re-starting after some time away from the hobby) is intimidating. With most Marvel and DC titles having decades of continuity, it can be hard to know where to jump in.
Recently, we’ve been covering more titles that we hope are good starting points for casual comics readers. We’re reading new comics and offering reviews from comic book newcomers and novices to help you answer the question “What’s a good comic book for casual readers”?
On this episode, we are reviewing two titles:
Death of Dr. Strange #1 (Marvel Comics)
Written by: Jed Mackay
One Star Squadron #1 (DC Comics)
Written by: Mark Russell
We discuss not just how good and fun these comics are, but how much will new readers be able to enjoy the books. You can listen to the Casual Comics Cast on your favorite streaming platform, or at the link below.
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/casualcomicsguy
We hope you’ll join us!
- 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 – Ep 238: Marvel’s Civil War
In the vein of our popular “Secret Wars” series recap, we’re talking about the comic series that inspired the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s “Captain America: Civil War”.
This 7-issue mini-series published in 1999 ignited the debate on “who watches the watchmen” in Marvel Comics, as a tragic event leads to attempted government regulation on the actions of super-powered individuals.
The series features almost every Marvel hero (and villain) including Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, the New Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and the Thunderbolts!
And now we’ve read it – so you don’t have to!
Join us as we review Marvel’s Civil War!
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/casualcomicsguy/episodes/2021-07-24T07_43_57-07_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 220 – Birds of Prey (and blahblah Harley Quinn)
On this episode, Michael and I are joined by our resident DC Comics “expert”, Ryan as we try and get our arms around Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey.
- We’re covering TV, comics, and movies with discussions on:
- The most recent DC Comic “Birds of Prey” one-shot, written by Brian Azzarello
- The confusingly (re-)named movie “Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey”
- And, “Joker’s Favor”, the first appearance of Harley Quinn, which happened on the TV show, “Batman: The Animated Series”
We’re discussing all these and more, so settle in and enjoy the show.
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/casualcomicsguy/episodes/2020-06-21T14_03_04-07_00
Cheers!
- CCG
Casual Comics Cast – Teen Titans
I’ve got to say, this was one of the more fun assignments we have taken on. The Teen Titans have undergone so many transformations across so much different media, that it was cool to share that with some comics rookies, like Pat and Michael. (And – yes – for you Pat fans, he’s back for this episode)
This episode, we’re hitting on:
Titans, Episode 1 – The deadly serious, all grown up version of the super team – available on the DC app and Amazon Streaming
New Teen Titans #1 – The “new” team (which is much closer to the team you know) introduced in November 1980, by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. Published by DC Comics
Teen Titans Go!, season 1, episode 1 – The silly, super-immature version of the team from Cartoon Network.
You can listen to the whole show at the link, which is right here:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/casualcomicsguy/episodes/2020-05-25T13_00_05-07_00
I want to pause for a minute and thank our listeners. It’s been a weird world lately, and this hobby has kept us sane throughout an odd time. We’re looking forward to recording in the same room again, someday soon.
But, until then, CHEERS comics people!
- CCG
Casual Comics Cast 216 – More Secret Wars, plus Web of Spiderman and a Classic Wonder Woman / Cheetah comic
In our continuing quest to bring you some comics to catch up on while you’re in quarantine and waiting for new comics, we’re continuing our discussion of Marvel’s Secret Wars.
On this episode, we chat about issues #7-9 – including the introduction of a new Spider-Woman and Spiderman’s now famous “black suit”.
As part of the “Joe’s Got Issues” series, we’ve got Web of Spiderman #1 – continuing the alien symbiote saga from Marvel’s Secret Wars.
Plus, Wonder Woman vol. 2, #7 – Featuring the first appearance of Barbara Minerva – the Cheetah from the upcoming DC blockbuster “Wonder Woman 84”.
All of these are available digitally, from Comixology / Amazon, so we hope you’ll read along and enjoy!
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/casualcomicsguy/episodes/2020-05-08T09_19_05-07_00
Cheers!
- CCG
Casual Comics Cast Ep. 213 – Easter Edition – DC’s Fables, Marvel’s Hawkeye – Virtual Book Club
On the Easter edition, we discuss the most famous Rabbit Super Heroes in comics history.
That’s right. Rabbits who are also super heroes. That’s a thing that happened in comics.
Plus, while we’re all on lockdown, it seems like a good time to dig into the back issues, finally reading the trade paperbacks we’ve had on our shelves, meaning to read (or re-read), but have never had the time. We’re discussing:
- Fables – DC Comics. Written by Bill Willingham
- Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon – Marvel Comics. Written by Matt Fraction
And, with Ryan sitting in, you’re going to get more actual, real DC Comics knowledge than usual on this time around.
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/casualcomicsguy/episodes/2020-04-12T17_47_20-07_00
Settle in, have a beverage, and enjoy the show!
Cheers!
- CCG
New Podcast! Episode 212 – Dredd, Wonder Woman, Sabrina, and More
Hey, folks – hope you’re hanging in there. This week, Pat’s back!
And, We’ve got some recommended watching and reading to get you through the week.
- Dredd (2012) starring Karl Urban
- Wonder Woman: Blood (2011), written by Brian Azzarello
- The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina – the Netflix show and the comic –
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/casualcomicsguy/episodes/2020-04-05T14_16_54-07_00
Thanks for listening!
Cheers,
CCG
Casual Comics Cast Ep 211 – More New Comics – Robin 80th Anniversary, Judge Dredd, and More
This week, join us and our special guest – Batman Super-fan, Ryan – as we discuss more new(ish) comics to catch up on during your Corona lockdown:
- Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular – DC Comics
- Fantastic Four: Marvels Snapshot #1 – Marvel Comics
- Legion Of Super-Heroes #5 – DC Comics
- Transformers vs Terminator #1 – Dark Horse Comics
And our hot comic pick of the week – Judge Dredd: False Witness #1 from IDW
Plus, a bunch of the other nonsense you’ve come to know and love.
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/casualcomicsguy/episodes/2020-03-29T16_50_18-07_00
Cheers – and stay safe!
- CCG
Casual Comics Guy 