Shane waxes eloquent (ok, he might rant mildly) on several aspects of the mainstream comic book industry including the direct market business model, variant covers, multiple characters with the same name, and constant status quo changes (plus the overuse of the word “iconic” these days, which isn’t comics-related but Shane kvetches about it anyway). A mini-review and comparison of DC’s Absolute Universe and Marvel’s Ultimate Universe (which one does Shane like best). Doctor Who has been back on the air for 20 years! A sincere shout-out to Toby Hadoke. An ailing Doctor Who super fan, lost episodes of Who, and the use of AI. D&D 2024: is it a new edition or not? (and no one seems to really be talking about D&D 2024 to be honest). The tariff war’s effect on game publishers and vague predictions and hopes for the future. A tribute to friend of the show Tony Dutra, now sadly gone. 

Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #282 - 4/26/2025

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SHOW NOTES

DC’s Absolute Universe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_Universe

Marvel’s Ultimate Universe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_Universe 

Toby Hadoke Patreon https://www.patreon.com/TobyHadoke 

Ailing ‘Doctor Who’ superfan spends fortune to recreate 97 lost episodes to see ‘complete’ series before he dies https://nypost.com/2025/04/13/entertainment/ailing-doctor-who-superfan-spends-fortune-to-recreate-97-lost-episodes-to-see-complete-series-before-he-dies/ 

DnD 5e to 2024 DnD Transition Guide and Change Log: Everything That’s Different in the New 2024 Player’s Handbook https://rpgbot.net/dnd-2024-5e-transition-guide-and-change-log-everything-thats-different-in-the-new-players-handbook/ 

Jeremy Crawford and Chris Perkins to Leave Dungeons & Dragons' Design Team  https://screenrant.com/jeremy-crawford-chris-perkins-leaving-dnd-interview/ 

Tariffs affecting games https://www.catalystgamelabs.com/news/tariffs-rolling-against-american-game-publishers 

What Game Publishers Are Saying About The Tariffs https://www.enworld.org/threads/what-game-publishers-are-saying-about-the-tariffs.712717/ 

How Will The New Tariffs Affect TTRPG Prices? https://www.enworld.org/threads/how-will-the-new-tariffs-affect-ttrpg-prices.712698/ 

Do Tariffs Apply To RPG Books? Maybe, Maybe Not! https://www.enworld.org/threads/do-tariffs-apply-to-rpg-books-maybe-maybe-not.712908/ 

Wizards of the Coast Says That China Tariffs Will Have Minimal Impact on D&D https://www.enworld.org/threads/wizards-of-the-coast-says-that-china-tariffs-will-have-minimal-impact-on-d-d.713072/ 

Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode 252: The Wit and Wisdom of Troll Lord Games https://shaneplays.com/wit-and-wisdom-of-troll-lord-games-castles-and-crusades-rpg/ 

Tony Dutra: GURPS! – Radio Show / Podcast Ep. 40 https://shaneplays.com/gurps-radio-show-podcast-ep-40/ 

Tony Dutra: Game Master / Dungeon Master Tips & Panel Discussion! – Radio Show / Podcast Ep. 70 https://shaneplays.com/game-master-dungeon-master-tips-panel-discussion-radio-show-podcast-ep-70/ 

Tony Dutra: RPG News Blast! – Radio Show / Podcast Ep. 105 https://shaneplays.com/rpg-news-blast-radio-show-podcast-ep-105/ 

Tony Dutra: How To Create A GURPS Character https://shaneplays.com/how-to-create-a-gurps-character/ 

Tony Dutra: How To Play GURPS https://shaneplays.com/how-to-play-gurps-rpg-tutorial/ 

Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Desktops-History-Computer-Role-Playing/dp/1138574643/