Tag: Spider-man

Pop Culture SquadCast – Live: Episode #163 with Special Guest Phillip Kennedy Johnson

Pop Culture SquadCast – Live: Episode #163 with Special Guest Phillip Kennedy Johnson

Join Bob and Mike as they chat about current Pop Culture events. Superstar comic writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson will return to the SquadCast and talk about Midnight, Marvel Comics’ latest big initiative. It is sure to be a great conversation.

We hope you enjoy the conversation.

If you don’t catch it live, you can watch later.

 

With Further Ado #396: Student Winner #2 – Who Is the Best On-Screen Spider-Man?

With Further Ado #396: Student Winner #2 – Who Is the Best On-Screen Spider-Man?

As we wind our way through this years crop of student guest-hosts for this column, we present you with a classic pop culture conundrum from Miguel Brand.

Who Is the Best On-Screen Spider-Man?

By: Miguel Brand

It’s only April, and yet here we are again, just months away from a new Spider-Man movie hitting our screens as Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Marvel’s newest movie in the Tom Holland era of Spider-Man. With the movie hitting the big screen on July 31st, many fans are left speculating as to whether this is the last we see of Tom in the webbed suit, or if it is, in fact, the start of another trilogy. No other live-action Spider-Man has seen the set of a fourth solo film, with Tobey Maguire having done three and Andrew Garfield two films respectively.

Additionally, Tom’s movies have proven to be some of the most financially successful of the franchise, with Spider-Man: No Way Home grossing $804,793,477 in its lifetime, almost double that of the next highest-grossing film in the franchise (Tobey Maguire’s first Spider-Man film, which grossed $403,706,375). With each new release starring Holland, a wave of commotion erupts as fans across the globe once again argue as to their favorite, or the “best” Spider-Man. Well, after consulting multiple sources across the internet, I considered several different factors to possibly come to an answer for this never-ending debate. One that hopefully satisfies geeks and casual fans alike. Continue reading “With Further Ado #396: Student Winner #2 – Who Is the Best On-Screen Spider-Man?” →

So Long and Thank For The Fish, Man 105: One Player Gamer, Continue?

So Long and Thank For The Fish, Man 105: One Player Gamer, Continue?

As I’ll occasionally nod off on the couch on a Friday or Saturday night — I’m an old man, shut up — I will find myself awaking the next morning to the sounds of my children quietly booting up some early morning video games. It always makes me smile a bit before ambling back upstairs… as I used to notoriously do the same in my home as a wee lad. Of course, back in those days, I didn’t have any screen time limitations, just the blunt-force trauma of trying to play any Nintendo game for longer than thirty or forty minutes before needing to rage quit in a huff. I’m looking at you, underwater level of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 

* And yes, eventually I got the Game Genie™, and was able to beat the game, and many others. But in my heart, like so many, I always felt the failure.

Nowadays, the video game landscape feels nefariously foreign to me. Whereas I once kept tabs via errant copies of Nintendo Power and EGM, and their eventual successors on the internet of the early 1990’s… I now glaze over the entirety of the video game section of the modern department store. Walking into a GameStop is never for me these days, and attempting to shop for any of my wards is a fool’s errand. Doubly so because all of their video game systems have the ability to simply purchase and download games directly from the internet. Who needs IRL shopping, bruh? Continue reading “So Long and Thank For The Fish, Man 105: One Player Gamer, Continue?” →

Brainiac On Banjo: Hulking Out

Brainiac On Banjo: Hulking Out

“Anger can make you old, yes it can. I said anger can make you sick, children… oh Jesus, anger destroys your soul” From Anger, written by Marvin Gaye.

I love our language. Honestly, I have gotten into many long discussions with several different professors about the use of one word over the other. I strongly believe our language is a living, ever-evolving function of our lives.

For example, the phrase “Hulking out” is known to and used by people who have never experienced the literary character upon which that phrase was based. These days “Hulking out” is used to refer to a person losing control or unnecessarily going over the top. Why, it’s even been used as a reference to our president du jour.

Making contributions to our language is nothing new to the comics art field. Certainly, those phrases made popular in media adaptations of comics still rattle though our conversations, such as “look up in the sky” and “holy ANYTHING.” Come to think of it, the phrase that predicates “Hulking out” is “You’re not going to like me when I’m angry.”

Of course, there’s that other Marvel phrase that started its invasion of our consciousness about, oh, 63 years ago that, after about a half-dozen Spider-Man movies, became a genuinely standard cliché: with great power, obviously, comes great opportunity.

One of the best — and oldest — of such references may be apocryphal. I sure hope not, but, then again, I long have been in the business of printing the legend. So go know. I’m here to rat out the hot dog. Continue reading “Brainiac On Banjo: Hulking Out” →

With Further Ado #310: Stick It to Me!

With Further Ado #310: Stick It to Me!

I’m a bit of a throwback: I still use a paper planner to organize my days. The Leuchtturm1917 notebook has become my go-to. I use it for both planning and note-taking. In order to jazz it up each day, I often put stickers on the pages. The idea is that if I can make my daily to-do list more interesting to look at, I’ll focus on it more and -ultimately- accomplish more.

The Marvel Sticker Anthology from DK, a division of Penguin Random House, is a delightful book. This little hardcover (It’s 7” x by 8.88”) is packed full of stickers featuring Marvel characters. Most of it is “real art” from real artists. So, if you want an Iron Man sticker, for example, you can choose a figure from your favorite shell-head artist , including Gene Colan, George Tuska, Bob Layton, Jack Kirby, or Gil Kane.

And it’s not just figures and headshots – they also include logos, select panels from select issues and even corner boxes! Continue reading “With Further Ado #310: Stick It to Me!” →

New Number Ones: New Comics Series and Specials Coming the Week of 3/20/24

New Number Ones: New Comics Series and Specials Coming the Week of 3/20/24

Welcome to the New Number Ones!

Each week we bring you the list of new series and special editions coming this week. We are highlighting what you need to put in your cart at the comic shop or digital marketplace.

We have an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers of some of the cool new comics that are coming out this week. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

While there is not a huge amount of new series this week, there are some very interesting ones on this list. We have books on this week’s list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Humanoids, Inc., and Boom! Studios.

We will bring you reviews of these debut issues as they come out, and don’t forget to use the comments section to let us know what you think of this list.

New Series
New One-Shots and Special Editions


New Series This Week 


Dawnrunner #1
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Ram V
Art by Evan Cagle & Dave Stewart
Letters by Aditiya Bidikar
Cover Art by Cagle

A century ago a portal opened over Central America and the Tetza that came through changed our world. Now the world bends all its effort to making the Iron Kings-great mechs that must battle the Tetza for humanity’s continued survival in gladiatorial combat. Anita Marr is the greatest of the pilots and is chosen to pilot a new prototype that could change the tide in humanity’s favor. An all-ages sci-fi epic from rising stars Ram V and Evan Cagle.

Release Date: March 20, 2024

PCS NOTES: This solicitation, cover, and title have me excited.


Dune: House Corrino #1
Boom! Studios
Written by Kevin J. Anderson & Brian Herbert
Art by Simone Ragozzone & Dan Jackson
Letters by Ed Dukeshire
Cover Art by Raymond Swanland

House Corrino, once the deadliest House in the known universe as the Imperial family, set up the final pieces leading into the events of Dune and the fall of House Atreides.

While conflicts escalate between the Fremen and House Harkonnen on Arrakis, the Bene Gesserit keep a close eye on Jessica’s pregnancy, and House Atreides takes part in the plan to seal Ix’s fate…

Release Date: March 20, 2024 Continue reading “New Number Ones: New Comics Series and Specials Coming the Week of 3/20/24” →

New Number Ones: New Comics Series and Specials Coming the Week of November 15, 2023

New Number Ones: New Comics Series and Specials Coming the Week of November 15, 2023


Welcome to the New Number Ones!

Each week we bring you the list of new series and special editions coming this week. We are highlighting what you need to put in your cart at the comic shop or digital marketplace.

We have an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers of some of the cool new comics that are coming out this month. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

We have books on the list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, IDW Publishing, Dynamite Entertainment., and Boom! Studios.

One thing to remember, we continue to measure the “comic week” as Wednesday. #NCBD is Wednesday.

We will bring you reviews of these debut issues as they come out, and don’t forget to use the comments section to let us know what you think of this list.

New Series
New One-Shots and Special Editions


New Series This Week 


Alien #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Declan Shalvey
Art by Andrea Broccardo & Ruth Redmond
Cover Art by Javier Fernandez

EVERYONE WILL HEAR YOU SCREAM! In deep space spins a world infected by the universe’s greatest killers. Most people—sane people—would construct a barrier thicker than the hulls of ten Nostromos and leave it to rot. But where most people see a death trap, Weyland-Yutani sees the biggest payout in the history of civilization. And if it costs a few human lives to secure? Those come cheap here. Corporate corruption, personal betrayals and extraordinary violence—Declan Shalvey and Andrea Broccardo’s next and greatest Alien story starts here!

Release Date: November 15, 2023


The Deviant #1
Image Comics
Written by James Tynion IV
Art by Josh Hixon
Cover Art by Hixon

As snow falls over Milwaukee in 1972, a blood-stained Santa Claus commits unimaginable atrocities against young men. Fifty years later, a troubled young writer interviews this so-called “Deviant Killer,” who still maintains his innocence from behind bars. And as Christmas approaches once again, the past returns, wielding a sharpened ax. Eisner-winning writer JAMES TYNION IV (W0RLDTR33, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH) and acclaimed artist JOSHUA HIXSON (The Plot, Children of the Woods) unite for a pitch-black holiday horror story.

Release Date: November 15, 2023

PCS NOTES: This looks like a nice holiday treat for horror fans from a great creative team. Continue reading “New Number Ones: New Comics Series and Specials Coming the Week of November 15, 2023” →

Brainiac On Banjo: He’ll Save Every One Of Us!

Just a man with a man’s courage. You know he’s nothing but a man, and he can never fail. No one but the pure at heart may find the Golden Grail! – “Flash” written by Brian May.

He’s everywhere! He’s everywhere!!!

No, I’m not talking about the return of Chickenman, although that would be welcome. Lucky for us, Rich Koz went on to bigger things. I’m taking about the man who was not comics’ first great space hero, but he was by far the best. Certainly the best drawn, with the best villain ever, anywhere. Born 90 years ago next January 7th, he was the creation of master comics artist Alex Raymond, and for over three decades, he ruled the worlds of heroic fantasy.

Flash Gordon was created as a newspaper comic strip. I assume you’ve read about newspapers online somewhere; comic strips were a feature in most of them except for the New York Times, who were too cheap to buy color presses back in the 1890s so they got all snooty about it and made it a thing. These comics told their stories on a daily basis. We still have newspaper comic strips but only four still tell continued stories, five if you count the brilliant Prince Valiant weekly. The rest are all about the tiresome adventures of misanthropomorphized two-dimensional talking animals. All newspaper extant have pretty much the same selection of funnies, as they were once known back in the days of newspaper competition. Continue reading “Brainiac On Banjo: He’ll Save Every One Of Us!” →

Trailer Recap: Blue Beetle, Across the SpiderVerse, Barbie, Ahsoka, and one more.

Trailer Recap: Blue Beetle, Across the SpiderVerse, Barbie, Ahsoka, and one more.

What a huge week in trailer releases this has been!?! All of my nerdy fanboy nerve endings are buzzing with anticipation for some of the amazing geeky productions that are headed our way. While there are already a couple of big movies on the horizon like this week’s Super Mario Bros and May’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol.3 along with June’s The Flash, there are some very cool things coming up right behind them.

Blue Beetle

The first trailer that I came across this week was for the Blue Beetle movie that releases August 18th from director Angel Manuel Soto staring Xolo Maridueña as Jamie Reyes. While this is the last piece of DC Studios content that is not 100% under authorship of the new regime of James Gunn and Peter Safran, we are hoping it sticks and is the type of tone that we get from the new DC Universe. It has an excellent mix of seriousness, humor, responsibility, and hope. Those are what I am looking for in superhero stories.

Continue reading “Trailer Recap: Blue Beetle, Across the SpiderVerse, Barbie, Ahsoka, and one more.” →