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.

If you were responsible for making a record of the most important comics of all time for future generations to look back on, what stories would you choose? Let’s say a time capsule, holding only comic books and trades, was being placed in the ground, not to be opened for a thousand years. What comics would go in? You can’t put in your entire collection. There’s only room for a certain amount of issues. So what stories are vital to telling the world a thousand years from now what the current age of comic books was all about? That’s the question we attempt to answer this week.

Join Andrew and Sammy as they root through the comics of the bronze and modern eras to pick the premium grade books to represent the industry. There’s a lot of in depth analysis and argument regarding what comics are worthy. You might be surprised at what books make the grade. Take a listen and find out. Then let us know if we’re wrong and what books you think should be in the Comic Book Time Capsule. It’s another wild and wacky look at sequential art 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.

This week, we take a look back on a series that took Marvel to the streets and exposed the seedy underbelly of the 616 Universe: Alias. From the mind of Brian Michael Bendis with artwork from Michael Gaydos and covers by David Mack, Alias was the first series of the Max Imprint (Marvel’s mature reader line which debuted in 2002). The series followed Jessica Jones, a former superhero turned private eye who worked cases that were a bit above the skills and experience of your regular detective. Although she left her superhero life long ago, there are many elements from that world that keep popping up in her day to day interactions. The book was a new perspective on the world of those with superpowers, showing that not everyone wants to put a cape and is probably one of the darkest books that Bendis has ever written for The House of Ideas.

Join us as we explore the world of Alias and talk about what made it different from other comics of its era. Fair warning, there are a number of mature themes discussed regarding the series, especially when talking about the first issue. We get a little more blue than usual. Don’t worry, we don’t linger. But we do get pretty in depth regarding the comic. It’s all waiting for you 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.

It’s been awhile since we talked DC comics on Back Issue Bloodbath. Guess it’s time we correct this by taking a look at Wonder Woman. Since it’s Rebirth re-launch, the book has been getting critical praise. Greg Rucka has been brining us two issues a month: a story set in current time drawn by Liam Sharp and a “Year One” adventure retelling the origin of the Amazon with art by Nicola Scott. Two titanic tales of Wonder. Who can say no to that? The current story focuses on Wonder Woman questioning her identity. Her memory is muddled and she’s having trouble finding her way back home to Themyscira. Will she find her way home and will she be happy with what she finds when she gets there? Rucka is presenting some interesting questions and there’s a number of different ways the story can go.

Join Andrew and Sammy as they discuss the current Wonder Woman title, dissecting the pros and cons of this new era. Plus, find out about Sammy’s unbridled hate towards traditional love interest Steve Trevor. The guy’s been in WW comics for years and Sammy just can’t see why. Take a listen to hear this rant and more on an ALL NEW 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.

This week, Andrew and Sammy take a look back on the career of another great comic creator that left this world far too soon: Steve Dillon. Steve passed away on October 22nd of this year due to complications from a ruptured appendix. A fantastic artist that was able to convey personal emotions and cinematic sensibilities in his work, Dillon got his first big break in comics drawing the Hulk Weekly Magazine for Marvel UK. He would eventually make his way across the Atlantic and work for DC, Marvel and more. He is best remembered for his for his colaborations with writer Garth Ennis on Hellblazer, Preacher and Punisher. He has become synonymous with Frank Castle as his take on The Punisher has become iconic in the eyes of the fans.

With an unbridled energy and emotional impact, Steve Dillon’s work has touched many and he will truly be missed. In a year where many great artists from various fields have passed on, this one adds to the sting of 2016. On the day he passed, the comics community mourned loudly with many a creator speaking highly of the man online. Join us as Andrew and Sammy pay their respects to this great illustrator and reminisce on the many comics he’s created and their effect on fandom.

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 books have produced a wide variety of colourful characters throughout the years. Some have become iconic while others have carved out a cult following. Marvel and DC have built their companies on fans’ attraction to many interesting creations over decades like Batman, Spider-Man, Superman and The X-Men to name a few. But not all characters are hits. Some never find an audience while others have moments of greatness within a sea of mediocre stories. This brings us to the topic for this week’s Back Issue Bloodbath: Creator vs. Character! Which is more important?

In this current day and age of the direct market, the internet comics community, and social media interactions between writers and artists and their fans, it’s easy to see how comic creators have become more important. When comics first came out, there was no promotion of the folks that made them. Now a book can be sold to an audience on the creative team alone, no matter the character. At the same time, Geoff Johns’ Aquaman wasn’t as big of a hit as Scott Snyder’s Batman. If the creator was all that was needed to sell a comic, shouldn’t the two have been on par in sales? Join us as we discuss the merits of creator and character alike 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.

On this week’s Bloodbath, we take a look at a creator that has been a staple of mainstream comics for the past 30 years: Mark Waid. Known best for his nostalgic style and fleshed out characters, Waid has been producing comics at Marvel and DC for a long time and has remained an A-Lister on the scene. He’s had memorable runs on The Flash, Captain America, JLA and Daredevil. Last week, we gave our thoughts on his current work on Black Widow with Chris Samnee. This inspired us to take a closer look at the man and his body of work.

While not always consistent in his storytelling, the man exudes passion in everything he writes. Sometimes this brings us beloved comic tales like Kingdom Come, Tower of Babel and his creator owned comics Irredeemable and Incorruptible. But then other times, it’s lead to stories like The Kingdom, the failed sequel to Kingdom Come. Hypertime anyone? Through the ups and downs, one thing has remained abundantly clear: Mark Waid loves writing comics. Join us for our critical retrospective on Mark Waid and his many comic contributions, right here 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.

The New Era continues as Andrew and Sammy take a look at one of the best current Marvel titles, Black Widow by Chris Samnee and Mark Waid. Now with seven issues out on the stands, Black Widow delivers a thrilling adventure where the action is fast and furious. Samnee has done some of his best work to date on this title, with Waid letting the art tell most of the story. In a visual medium, it’s great to see a book that illustrates the power of the illustrations. Andrew and Sammy take a look at this art driven book and break down the current take on Natasha Romanoff that Waid and Samnee are exploring.

For the past few years, in both the comics and film properties, the Black Widow has been traveling on the path to redemption, trying to remove the “red” from her “ledger”. This book decides to step back from this concept and focus more on the “living weapon” aspect of the Widow’s makeup to show why she’s got the skills to hang with Gods and Super Soldiers and Millionaire Geniuses. The result is one of the best spy comics of the past decade. Take a listen to find out why this is one of the best books of the year 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.

It’s the dawn of a new era on Back Issue Bloodbath as Andrew welcomes his new co-host, Sammy Younan to the fold. Long time listeners of Bloodbath will recognize this energetic chap as he’s been a series regular throughout the summer. Sammy is also the program director at Girth Radio, a podcast network that sports music and talk shows for all different tastes. He’s also the host of My Summer Lair, a podcast which features guests of the nerdy variety. We’re very happy to have Sammy as the new permanent co-host….especially for this week’s topic.

This week, we take a look back on the 1986 Punisher miniseries, Circle of Blood. The first solo series for everybody’s favourite vigilante, Circle of Blood would feature a number of great creators including Steven Grant, Mike Zeck and Jo Duffy, putting their stamp on the character and defining him for the 80s generation. It was the first mainstream Marvel book to bring in risque subject matter such as sex, suicide and the murder of a child. It was also the defining artwork of Zeck’s career. Join us as we travel back to the mid 80s and dissect this Punisher classic!

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 host Andrew Young and special guests 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 to a Kelseys near to get our comic talk on as Andrew is joined once again by a panel of “comic experts”. Returning for another kick at the can are BIB regulars Young Boy James and Mr. Kris Johnson. The topic for this episode is one that all three have strong feelings about: The Revival of Image Comics!

Once known for 90s schlock comics full of big pecs, big tits an big guns, Image has rebuilt, redesigned and reclaimed its place at the comic book table. Beginning with the rise of Robert Kirkman and leading to the shift in publishing to make the company all about the creators and their passion projects, Image has been on a roll for the past decade at producing top quality books. Almost every major creator has had a book at Image in the last 10 years. It’s also become the proving ground some of the industry’s brightest new stars.

Take a listen as we dissect the shift in publishing that lead to this renaissance as well promote some of our favourite series. You may find out about a book you’ve never heard of but really want to check out. (Spoiler: That happens to Kris in this episode.) It’s all waiting for you on this week’s 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 host Andrew Young and special guests 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.

Well, what do you know? Back Issue Bloodbath has made it to 50 episodes! Whoda thunk it? It may have been a bumpy ride so far, but along the way, we’ve managed to revisit some classic stories and pay tribute to some awesome creators. And we’re not stopping anytime soon. This week, Andrew is bringing you a character spotlight that seems fitting with the content on the Geek Hard website in recent weeks. We’ve talked about his Netflix Television series both on our radio show and in print. We’ve looked back at the various moments in the character’s history. It’s only right that this week, we take a look at the Hero for Hire himself, LUKE CAGE!

Joining Andrew this week is the golden ray of sunshine that is Young Boy James and the comics professor (and co-writer of Geek Hard’s New Comics Blog) Kris Johnson. Listen as these three men look back on the comic life of the former Carl Lucas, talking about some of their favourite moments while critiquing some of their least favourite. If there’s a dude that’s gone through more gimmick changes and retreads over the years, I couldn’t tell you. Luke Cage has had some pretty funny things happen to him in the comics. He’s also been involved in some of the most interesting stories in the history of the Marvel Universe. Take a listen and find out the full story of the man with unbreakable skin 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!