Back Issue Bloodbath Archives - Geek Hard

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Sammy Younan as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

When it comes to comic companies producing A-List material, there is no stronger force on the market today than Image Comics. They’ve become the ultimate sandbox for big name creators to play in. One such creator is writer Greg Rucka who’s currently four years into his run on Lazarus. A creator-owned title drawn by Greg’s former Gotham Central collaborator Michael Lark, Lazarus takes place in a not too distant future where the world has been divided between the 16 wealthiest families who have claimed countries and continents as territories. Each family has a Lazarus, a champion and military leader who protects their family. The comic focuses on Forever Carlyle, the Lazarus for the Carlyle family. Political Intrigue, physical and mental manipulation, civil war. All are touched upon in the pages of Lazurus.

Join Andrew and Sammy as they talk about why this is one of their favourite titles on the comic racks today. They also try to give an overview of the intricate and wide cast of characters that make up this series. If you like Greg Rucka and Michael Lark (and why wouldn’t you? They’re AWESOME), you’ll find something to enjoy between the covers of Lazarus. Give the latest episode of Back Issue Bloodbath a listen and find out more!

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

 

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Sammy Younan as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

Danny Rand. The Immortal Iron Fist. A Living Weapon from the city of Kun Lun who can harness the chi of Shou-Lao the Undying to make his fist like that of iron. One of the coolest Marvel characters from the 70s is getting some attention as of late. He’s got a Marvel Netflix series dropping in March as well as a brand new comic written by Ed Brisson. It’s nice to see him getting the love as that has not always been the case. Since his debut, Iron Fist has had a hard time getting over with mainstream comic book fans…with a few small exceptions. One of those exceptions is a comic from the mid 2000s written by Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction simply titled The Immortal Iron Fist.

Featuring artwork by David Aja and Travel Foreman, Immortal Iron Fist was the perfect revamp for a character who hadn’t really had an upgrade in 30 years. Taking the facets of the series that fans loved (mainly his mystical origins from a fabled city), Brubaker and company redefined the character by giving his super power a rich history. With new characters introduced (like Orson Randall and the Immortal Weapons) and old characters reinvigorated, the series became an instant cult classic that many cite as the greatest Iron Fist story. Join Andrew and Sammy as they look back on this fantastic series.

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

 

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Sammy Younan as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

Comic Book Movies are all the rage these days! Since the early 2000s, Hollywood has been mining many a comic property in hopes of a box office blockbuster. Whether it be super hero fare from the Big Two (Marvel and DC) or various genres or characters from smaller publishers, there has been an abundance of adaptations. Some are close to the representation we see in the comics. Others are similar in name only. This brings up a very interesting question: Should a comic-to-film adaptation be GOOD or RIGHT? Is it more important for a film to remain accurate in its storytelling so that it is “true to the characters” or should the top priority be to make an enjoyable film?

Join Andrew and Sammy as they try to decipher this riddle by looking at all that has come before. Taking a look back at both box office bombs that stayed true to the story (Dredd, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) and successes that compromised on character (Spider-Man, The X-Men franchise), the guys give their honest opinion on just how important it is to be both GOOD and RIGHT. Will we answer this un-answerable question? Find out on an ALL NEW episode of Back Issue Bloodbath. Take a listen RIGHT NOW!

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

 

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Sammy Younan as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

This week, we bring you another comic creator spotlight with our look on the career of Gail Simone. Starting first as comics journalist and moving into working with the “Big Two” (Marvel and DC for those that don’t know), Gail has become an A-List talent in the industry. She is arguably the most important female creator of all time as she has always been a positive voice for feminine issues in comics. With a catalogue that includes work on Deadpool, Action Comics, Wonder Woman, Red Sonja, Batgirl, Birds of Prey and The All New Atom, Gail is probably best known for her work on Secret Six, a ragtag group of “C-List” villains turned good guys that have had three separate series since 2006. With a rabid fan base and active use of social media, it’s hard not to know about what’s going on with Gail Simone these days.

Join Andrew and Sammy as they look at the many works of Gail Simone, sharing some of their favourites (and some of their not so favourites). If you’re a fan Gail’s, be sure to listen and let us know what your choice picks are from her plethora of stories. But for now, kick back and relax as we talk comics on an ALL NEW episode of Back Issue Bloodbath.

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Sammy Younan as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

The Man of Steel. The Man of Tomorrow. Clark. Superman is known by many names. A character that’s been around for almost ninety years, Supes has been called many things from a symbol for truth, justice and the American way to a big, blue fascist. He’s also been shown in many roles such as a mild-mannered reporter and a leader of the Justice League. Comic creators have explored many different avenues with the character since his creation in 1938, but only recently has the role of father been introduced. These days, in the pages of Superman, written by Peter Tomasi with artwork by Patrick Gleason, Clark and Lois are raising their own super-son, Jonathan. Jon’s powers are beginning to manifest and a whole new set of growing pains are setting in. But with a Super-Dad, these changes should be easy, right?

Join Andrew and Sammy as they take a look at the first 12 issues of the Rebirth Superman series. Is it as great as all the critics are saying? Does it give new perspective to the Superman character? Is it a high octane adventure comic the likes that hasn’t been seen from Big Blue in awhile? Find out the answers to these questions and more on an ALL NEW episode of your favourite comic book podcast, Back Issue Bloodbath.

A very special thank you to listener Rob Gaudette for suggesting the comic series for this episode.

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

 

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Sammy Younan as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

This week, we take another trip in the way-back machine to a simpler time in superhero comics: 1984. This was the year that Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars first hit the comic shelves and changed the industry as we know it. Never before had Marvel had all their heroes face all their villains in a winner-take-all throwdown between good and evil. Originally launched as a comic tie-in to a new Marvel toyline at Mattel, the book would go on to be a sales leader for the year and take both Marvel and DC down the big crazy road that is the Comic Event Book! While the book is now iconic, one can’t help but notice the silly name, which Writer Jim Shooter explained was the result of a Mattel focus group. Silly name or not, the title has become considered one of Marvel’s greatest miniseries. But should it still be considered as such?

This week, Andrew and Sammy take a look at Marveil Super Heroes Secret Wars and debate on whether it should still hold a spot among the greatest Marvel comics of all time. With art by Mike Zeck, there’s no denying that it still looks awesome. Has it aged well? That’s the question we try to answer on an ALL NEW Back Issue Bloodbath.

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

 

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Sammy Younan as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

Every hero needs a villain. In the case of comic book superheroes, they need A LOT of villains. There always need to be new antagonists to fight. New nemesis to foil. New obstacles in the path. Because of this, bad guys are churned out at an alarming rate. The high volume leads to villain fatigue. We either get a bad guy that feels too generic to leave an impression or a tried and true villain that loses its luster due to overexposure. Why do so many villains end up being a write off?

This week, Andrew and Sammy take a look at Bad Guys. We talk the good, the bad and the ugly of the cape and mask crowd and attempt to decipher why great villains are great and so many do not live up to their standards. We also look at how a creator can take a “lame” villain and turn him into a winner. It’s all in the story, kids. A villain is only as weak as the writer that’s writing them. Join us as we dissect the anatomy of a villain and build it back up again in our own image. All this and more is waiting for you on an ALL NEW episode of Back Issue Bloodbath.

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

 

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Sammy Younan as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

Back in 1987, DC Comics was going through a great deal of changes. In the fallout of Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC’s first (but definitely not last) major comic event book to reset their continuity, many a comic title was getting revamped, retooled or rebooted. In the case of the Justice League, the title was put in the hands of Keith Giffen, J.M. Dematteis and Kevin Maguire and nothing would ever be the same. The trio took this comic to where it had never been before, riding the line between a high humour book and an action/adventure epic. Using what some may consider “second or third string” heroes, the creative team carved out a very special place for themselves in DC Comics history. The series was met with a strong fan following and had a successful run into the mid-90s. But all good things come to an end……and are reborn again?

In 2003, Giffen, Dematteis and Maguire were given another run with the characters they had so much fun with almost 2 decades before. The result was a 6 issue miniseries, Formerly Known As The Justice League, where the band gets back together to work as heroes for the common man, The Super Buddies. Lead by Maxwell Lord, the team consisted of Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Ralph and Sue Dibney, Fire, Captain Atom and new recruit Mary Marvel. Was this series a nostalgic return to glory or a retro mess? Find out as Andrew and Sammy look back at Formerly Known As The Justice League on an ALL NEW Back Issue Bloodbath.

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

 

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Sammy Younan as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

Bond. James Bond. Is there a name better known in pop culture when it comes spy stories? 007 has always had a license to kill and he’s assassinated the box office on multiple occasions with a highly celebrated film franchise. You may not know this but the character started out as the star of a book series. It’s only fitting that Bond return to the world of literature with this great new comic from the good folks at Dynamite Entertainment.

Written by Warren Ellis with illustrations from Jason Masters, this is the first James Bond comic to be published in 20 years and is fully authorized by the Estate of 007 creator Ian Flemming. While there are some flourishes from the movie universe, this is straight up, old school Bond set in a modern era. Ellis is planning to follow the timeline set in the original novels, so expect to see less gadgets and more bad-assery ahead. If you’re looking for exploding pens and the like, take that shit somewhere else. Join Andrew and Sammy as they take a deep dive into the first story arc of the comic series: VARGR. They also take a dip into the waters of the second arc, EIDOLON, which reintroduces Spectre with a more militant tone. All coming your way on an ALL NEW Back Issue Bloodbath.

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Sammy Younan as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

Christmas is a special time. A time of customs and traditions. For Andrew, those traditions include reading a sleigh-full of Christmas comics. Every year, Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and more provide good fanboys and girls Holiday inspired comics. As Sammy will attest, most of these comics are not very good. In fact, a lot of them make you want to say “HUMBUG!” But leave it to the Bloodbath boys to find just the right comics to celebrate this very festive season.

Join Andrew and Sammy as they look back through Christmas Comics Past, name checking some very special DC and Marvel Holiday specials. Sammy remembers when the Punisher made his list and checked it twice. Andrew reminisces about that time Kitty Pryde fought a demon on Christmas Eve. There’s talk of The Goon’s first Christmas issue and Sammy even finds a way to work in talk of stockings……fishnet stockings. I know, not necessarily the yuletide cheer you were looking for. But hey, Andrew makes it all better with his tribute to the Winter Soldier: Winter Kills One-Shot. It’s a Christmas Miracle! Even Larfleeze gets his due. All part of a very special holiday edition of your favourite comic book podcast, Back Issue Bloodbath. Have a happy holiday, one and all.

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!