Casual Comics Cast

Sometimes the best podcasts happen on the spur of the moment! This week, we're ditching the script, and I'm chatting with Jeff about his passion for Mego action figures. From superhero classics to sci-fi gems, Jeff shares his collecting journey and drops some fascinating bits of Mego history. Tune in for Part 1 of this impromptu Mego-mania! 

In this special episode, we're celebrating the start of football season with a Fantasy X-Men draft! Two die-hard Marvel fans battle it out, using their encyclopedic knowledge to build the ultimate mutant teams. Who is the consensus #1 pick? Who's got the inside scoop on lesser-known heroes as sleeper picks? Tune in for laughs, friendly rivalry, and all the X-Men action you can handle!

With the end of the "Krakoan Age" in Marvel Comics, we invite you to embark on an epic journey into the groundbreaking series where it all began, "House of X" and "Powers of X"!

Before we launch our recap of the series, with notes and commentary to guide casual comics readers through the complex storyline, this introductory episode lays the groundwork for new and returning X-Men fans alike.

We'll discuss the state of the X-Men universe before Jonathan Hickman's arrival, exploring pivotal storylines and creative teams that paved the way. You'll learn about the unique dual narrative structure of "House of X" and "Powers of X," and how to approach reading these intertwined stories.

Whether you're a longtime mutant enthusiast or just curious about the hype, if you want to begin unraveling the last FIVE years of X-Men comics, this podcast is your essential guide to understanding the seismic shift that redefined the X-Men. 

Join us for an introduction to the key concepts, characters, and controversies that will help make "House of X" and "Powers of X" more enjoyable for casual readers.

And, if you're interested in what you hear, please stick around for our future podcasts recapping these first key stories in the X-Men Krakoan Age.

 Calling all X-Men fans! Join Joe and Erik as they delve into the exciting new Disney+ series, X-Men '97. This show isn't just a reboot of the classic 90's cartoon; it's a direct continuation, bursting with the same action, heart, and iconic animation style with a fresh update.

We'll explore the legacy of the original series and how X-Men '97 picks up the story.  

And, of course, no X-Men adventure is complete without the roster of heroes. We'll meet (or reacquaint ourselves with) Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm, Wolverine, Rogue, Beast, and more.

Want to delve deeper after the episode? We'll point you to other X-Men media you might enjoy, from comics for new readers to classic storylines that inspired the show. 

Wolverine's on a mission of love and vengeance. He hunts for his lost flame Mariko, only to find her caught in a web of Yakuza power plays and ninja intrigue. Fists fly, blades clash, and sparks ignite with the deadly assassin Yukio. Can Logan navigate a foreign underworld, tame his berserker rage, and rescue Mariko before it's too late? Prepare for a whirlwind of romance, betrayal, and savage action in this iconic story that forged Wolverine's legend!

In addition, we test the hosts' knowledge of this classic Marvel character with a super-quiz.

Step into the wayback portal with us as we go back to 1982 and revisit the four-issue Marvel mini-series "Hercules: Prince of Power". Hercules lived mostly on the margins of the Marvel universe, but he (and the Greek Pantheon) get a fun and funny showcase in this series that sees the Lion of Olympus exiled from his home... into space?

This era of Marvel comics was a formative time in the industry and the Hecules mini-series is just one of many from the decade that spotlights the fun and accessibility that was threaded through comics at the time. 

Reviewing "Hercules: Prince of Power" (1982) #1-4
Writing and Art: Bob Layton

It's the most wonderful time of the year - we're reading holiday comics from the Distinguished Competition (DC Comics)

We've got anthologies, we've got one-off specials starring Plastic Man (of all heroes), and a surprising holiday special from December 2023 that turned out to NOT be a one-shot.

We've got:
JLA # 60 by Mark Waid and Cliff Rathburn
DCU Infinite Holiday Special by Bill Willingham, Joe Kelly, Kelley Puckett, Tony Bedard, Greg Rucka
Batman / Santa Claus: Silent Knight by Jeff Parker and Michelle Bandini

Plus, all our Christmas wishes for the DC universe for 2024!

In this mildly spooky episode, we're catching up on Season 2 of the Disney+ Series "Loki"

And, we've got reviews of a couple of NEW Marvel titles:
Werewolf by Night #1 (2023) - DEREK LANDY (W) • FRAN GALÁN (A) 
Spine Tingling Spiderman #1 -  SALADIN AHMED (W) • JUAN FERREYRA (A) 

Join me with special guest host Erik Hale as we get ready for Halloween by revisiting the Marvel monster-verse, exploring BLADE: The Vampire Hunter

We're covering Blade Comics spanning three distinct eras:
Tomb of Dracula #10 (1973) - Blade's first, groundbreaking appearance
Blade: Sins of the Father #1 (1998) - Classic 90s Marvel movie tie-in
Blade #1 (2023) - The new adventures of Blade in Marvel comics

And, Erik discusses his new novel "All the Brittle Pieces", the first book in the Forgotten Child series. You can find Erik (and his book) online at erikkhale.com

With football season comes fantast football. And - at the Casual Comics Cast - a Fantasy Avengers Draft. Listen in as we get a scenario for the Avengers to tackle and draft our fantasy Avengers Teams.

Who drafted the better team? Listen in and let us know!

Plus, we discuss the new Fantastic Four series from Ryan North - a great place for new comic fans to jump in and catch up on Marvel's First Family. And, we review the first issue of Marvel's X-Men crossover event, "Sins of Sinister".