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 Gavin Stephens 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.

Some bad news for all you Gavin fans out there. Gavin Stephens will be unable to appear on BIB until the end of the summer. But fear not! He will return in September. In the meantime, Andrew keeps bringing you the goods from the four-colour world of comics with some special friends to help him along the way. Returning once again will be last week’s panel of awesome: Sammy Younan of Girth Radio and the newly christened Young Boy James (who sounds a fair bit like Mr. Green, but whatever). What magical series will they be talking about this week? The answer does not lie in magic but in science……Black Science if you will.

Black Science is an Image title that launched back in November of 2013. Since then, 22 issues have hit the comic stands (with issue #23 out today!) and nothing has ever been the same. From the hyper-kinetic storytelling style of Rick Remender to the Frazetta-like illustrations of Mateo Scalara to the aggressive colours of Dean White, there is nothing quite like this graphic series. The story of a group of scientists lost as they travel through various dimensions is nothing new in the realm of sci-fi and pulp fiction. What makes this book special is the complex characters that Remender and co. have offered up for us as they travel through exotic and hostile environments. Find out what Andrew and his guests have to say about this modern 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 hosts Andrew Young and Gavin Stephens 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.

Another week without Gavin. I know, big surprise, right? I guess you should just expect that until we tell you to stop expecting it. Anyways, the show must go on and all that. Once again, Andrew’s brought in a panel of comic geeks to fill in for his missing co-host. Joining Andrew this week is the returning Mr. Green (who gets a new name this episode) as well as a special guest who has not been heard by the Bloodbath audience since December of last year: Sammy Younan. Sammy is the program director and one of the hosts of the Girth Radio podcast network. He joins us once again to provide some extra fan wisdom on a topic that has affected many a mainstream fanboy and fangirl in different ways.

This week, we talk about the rise and fall of The New 52. Back in 2011, DC Comics took a gamble and launched a publishing initiative that would change the face of their comic universe FOREVER! Apparently, forever is about 5 years. They brought 52 titles without the weight of the company’s previous continuity, changing out some of the comics as they went. They did find levels of success with this move at first, but would once again end up the Number Two seller in the world of comicdom. So they left The New 52 as they entered: in 2nd place. Take a listen as we dissect what went wrong on this very special 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 Gavin Stephens 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.

Another week without Gavin. But that don’t mean that there can’t be any Bloodbath! So once again, we’re shaking things up a bit as we take a trip into the vault of Andrew’s many interviews with comic creators from the past few years. This week, we bring you two great ones that took place at Fan Expo Canada, an annual convention that takes place at the end of the summer in Toronto. Over the years, Andrew’s gotten to meet and chat with a bunch of great writers and artists and this week, we revist two of those meetings!

First up is an interview from last year’s Fan Expo where Andrew caught up with one of Marvel’s best writers, Charles Soule. This was just before the release of the current Daredevil and Uncanny Inhmans series. Charles talks a little bit about both books as well as his work on She-Hulk and the Lando miniseries he did with Alex Maleev. He also gives the answer to a very important question. What Question? Take a listen and find out.

The Second Interview is from the 2014 Fan Expo when Andrew spoke with up and coming comic artist Michael Walsh. At this time, Walsh was in the middle of his run on Secret Avengers (written by Ales Kot) and he gives us some detailed insight into the making of that comic series. There’s also talk of representation in fiction, paper vs. digital and death in comics. Michael gives a number of great answers here so you’ll want to hear this delightful interview.

We’re back to the usual format next week, so enjoy these interviews in the meantime on this week’s 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 Gavin Stephens 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 folks, it’s another week without Gavin. I know, I know, I miss him too. But fear not as we’ve still got show for ya! Filling in once again will be two guys that Andrew works with on a regular basis. Joining him are Mr. Green (aka his co-host from Geek Hard) and Kris Johnson (co-writer of the New Comics blog for this very site). This merry band of three is ready to talk comics and make you feel all happy inside from it.

This week, we take a look at a series that launched from the House of Ideas…..that’s Marvel in case you weren’t familiar with the nickname. Returning as a duo after many years a part, Power Man and Iron Fist is once again a title on the comic racks. Written by David Walker with artwork by Sandford Greene, the new series has taken both Luke Cage and Danny Rand back to their roots, taking on thugs, mobsters and some pretty weird super powered types on the streets of New York. Listen as we take look at the first, 4 issue story arc of Power Man and Iron Fist and also talk about the history of these two characters and their everlasting friendship. It’s all coming your way on a BRAND 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 Gavin Stephens 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’re shaking things up once again. Our very own Gavin Stephens is still away on assignment but filling in for him is not one but TWO special guests. One man co-hosts the show Geek Hard every Friday with Andrew. The other co-writes a comics blog titled New Comics every Tuesday with Andrew. They are Mr. Green and Kris Johnson. What will happen when two men step in to share one man’s job? A lot of calamity, that’s for sure.

This week we take a trip back to 1986 to look at a book that is heralded for taking comics into a darker, more mature realm. Watchmen, written by Alan Moore with art by Dave Gibbons, is considered one of the greatest comic series of all time. It’s influence is visible in comic books to this day. It’s considered by critics and fans as the hallmark of quality. But can it really be seen as a masterpiece in the modern era? That’s what we aim to figure out.

Join us as Andrew, Green and Kris talk about the lives of Dr. Manhattan, Rorschach, Silk Spectre and Nite Owl and discuss if their stories are relevant today and if DC will ever let them rest. It’s all waiting for you 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 Gavin Stephens 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 change things up a bit with a couple of comic creator interviews. In the many years that Andrew has been doing Geek Hard, he’s gotten the chance to chat with a number of fantastic writers, artists, editors and publishers. So as a special treat, he’s gone into the vault and found a couple of interviews that any comics fan would get a kick out of.

First up is an interview from the summer of 2014 where Andrew got to chat with the one and only Ed Brubaker on the stairs of The Pilot, a local bar in Toronto. This was around the time that Ed’s 5 year deal with Image had been announced and was coming to the end of his Fatale series. The conversation focuses mainly on Noir fiction, but also dabbles with the idea of Brubaker writing an Archie book.

 

The second Interview is from earlier this year at the Toronto ComiCon where Andrew got to sit down with comics legend Jim Shooter and talk about Secret Wars, the history of event books, the relevance of continuity, what really happened in regards to “The Dark Phoenix Saga” and More! Knowledge is dropped in this here interview and we all get to take a trip down memory lane to way comics were in the 80s.

 

We should return next week to our usual format. For this week, enjoy these comic creators talking about what they love 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 Gavin Stephens 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.

Throughout the history of mankind, the times that are most recorded in mythology and song are those of great deeds and fantastic adventure.

This week on Back Issue Bloodbath, Gavin and Andrew take a look back on one of the greatest adventurers from all of fiction: Conan. To get a bit more specific, they’re talkin’ about the great run that Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord had with the character on the comic series put out by Dark Horse in the mid-2000s. Conan made a big splash back onto the scene in 2004 and this series was both a critical and commercial success. Taking an approach that brought the Cimmerian back to his roots, Busiek and Nord were able to retell the classic stories featured in the Robert E Howard books while adding in original adventures as well. For longtime fans of the character, this was a golden era in Conan comics not seen since the days of Roy Thomas/Barry Winsdor Smith.

Gavin and Andrew discuss why the series was a success and what it is about the character that speaks to comic fans. Sit back and listen as we take you to a far off land of legend and wonder 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 Gavin Stephens 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’s installment of Bloodbath takes a bit of a sombre tone as Andrew and Gavin take a look back on the career of the recently deceased Darwyn Cooke. Gone far too soon, Darwyn passed away on May 14th of this year following a bout with aggressive cancer. An accomplished cartoonist, Darwyn got his break in the world of superheroes as a storyboard artist for Batman: The Animated Series. He would get attention in the comics world after the release of his graphic novel Batman: Ego and would continue to produce many memorable DC series. From Catwoman to New Frontier to his contributions  to the Before Watchmen event, Cooke provided amazing stories of adventure that would pay tribute to the comics he grew up with in the 60s. In more recent years, Darwyn did some phenomenal work for IDW, adapting Donald Westlake’s Parker series in graphic novel format.

Darwyn was one of a kind both as an artist and as a character in the comic industry. Not one to mince words, Darwyn was open and honest about what he thought was wrong in the world of sequential art and storytelling. He told it like it was. A classic, stand up guy who always stood strong on his convictions. He will be greatly missed. Andrew and Gavin talk about the great works the man has left us with in the latest edition 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 Gavin Stephens 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.

One of the greatest things about being a fan in this day and age is our ability to communicate with other fans and creators almost instantly. Unfortunately, that can be a bad thing sometimes as well. What happened a few weeks ago is a great example of this. After the reveal of Captain America being a Hydra agent, the internet blew up and took their passionate comments to the extreme. This explosion of comments led many to examine the concept of fan entitlement. Many have chimed in over the past two weeks, some claiming that fandom is broken and others citing the problem to be the reactionary environment of the internet. Even Geek Hard’s own Brent Chittenden had a few things to say. This week, Andrew and Gavin give their thoughts on the matter.

Listen as the guys take a look at fan reactions to announcements and reveals from the past year and try to make some sense of it all. When does commentary and criticism go too far and lead to death threats and bold declarations? What’s the appropriate level of passion for today’s fan? These questions and more will be addressed on an ALL NEW edition of your favourite comic book podcast, 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 Gavin Stephens 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.

After a one week hiatus, Back Issue Bloodbath RETURNS! This week, Andrew and Gavin will be taking a look at Deadly Class, a title from Image Comics that follows street kid Marcus and a group of deadly teenagers as they make their way through Kings Dominion, a high school that breaks all the rules…..because it’s a school that teaches kids to kill. The sons and daughters of mobsters, assassins and killers from around the world learn the finer points of murder and mayhem at this secret school hidden in San Francisco. Written by Rick Remender with artwork by Wes Craig, this book has had 20 issues out so far (with issue 21 hitting comic stands today!) and things are really heating up in the latest story arc, Die for Me.

What will Andrew and Gavin have to say about Deadly Class? Will this title be a strong recommendation? Or will it make Gavin’s shit list (currently the home of the most recent Black Canary series)? The only way to find out is to give the show a listen. If you’re looking for some comic analysis with more than a few jokes thrown in, you’ve come to the right place. Do yourself a favor – sit back and enjoy two guys talking about one of the most interesting Image titles out there. Go ahead, give the latest Bloodbath 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!