Comic Dudes Podcast

The Comic Dudes return to the DC Animated Movie Universe to discuss Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay. After sharing a few comic-book and collecting updates—including a conversation about Exquisite Corpses—Dave, Erik, and Matt review the film and compare its ratings from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Letterboxd, and Common Sense Media.

The discussion covers Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and Bronze Tiger; the movie’s R-rated violence and gore; its profanity and sexual content; and the brief nudity that prompted a closer look. The hosts also debate whether Hell to Pay genuinely pushes the boundaries of an adult animated DC movie or holds back, especially in how it depicts violence and gore. Spoilers are discussed.

Links:

• Watch The Movie
• DCAMU Watch List
• Read Exquisite Corpses
• Read Suicide Squad Comics

Dave, Erik, and Matt fight their way through one of the most debated stories in Marvel canon. They break down the full nine-issue saga and argue over what makes it legendary: the slow corruption of Jean Grey, the emotional devastation for Cyclops, Wolverine's defining badass moments, and the story's lasting moral weight. They also get into the controversial editorial choice to kill Jean, the impact of Claremont and Byrne's writing, and how much of the book's power comes from its tragedy.

By the end, the conversation is about more than one comic arc - it's about what makes an X-Men story emotionally unforgettable versus just historically important.

Links:

• Read The Dark Phoenix Saga
• Fandom Entry
• NYCC 2026
• Exquisite Corpses
• Mezco Toys

Dave, Matt, and Erik are back in the DC Animated Movie Universe with sharp takes on Terra, Deathstroke, Nightwing, Starfire, Beast Boy, Damian Wayne, and Brother Blood. They discuss the movie’s most uncomfortable relationship, and zero in on the action scenes, family dynamics, and comic lore that make this one feel more like reading a comic book than watching an animated movie.

Key discussions:

• Why this movie feels more brutal and more sexually charged than its rating suggests
• How the team compares this adaptation to the original comic story and other DCAMU entries
• Why Beast Boy, Starfire, and Nightwing stand out here
• The panel’s thoughts on Brother Blood, Damian Wayne, and the movie’s most uncomfortable scenes

Links:

• Watch Teen Titans The Judas Contract
• Read the comic story the movie is based on
• Brother Blood (comic book history)
• Titans (current series Dave references)
• Kevin Smith's Podcast

Dave, Matt, and Erik revisit Chris Claremont and John Byrne’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, along with the surrounding issues in the collected edition. They discuss the dystopian future ruled by Sentinels, Kitty Pryde’s role in the story, and how this classic two-parter helped shape X-Men time-travel stories. The conversation also gets into what still works—and what doesn’t. The hosts praise the story’s influence and fast-moving plot, while debating its heavy narration, the extra material in the collection, and character choices that feel uncomfortable today.

Links:

• Bobby Drake's Sexuality
• Read Days of Future Past
• Watch Days of Future Past (it's the only good Fox movie)
• Chris Claremont's X-Men Run Reading Order

Forty years later, Transformers: The Movie is still an animated gut punch. We revisit the 1986 cult classic to unpack why it hit so hard, why it still hits, and how a toy-driven cash grab accidentally became one of the boldest kids' movies ever made. What starts as a nostalgic celebration quickly turns into a deeper conversation about childhood, shock, and what the franchise means to us and so many others.

We dig into the movie's stacked cast, its unforgettable soundtrack, and the wild choices that made it feel bigger, darker, and way more emotional than anyone expected from a cartoon based on selling toys.

If you grew up with Transformers, love 80s animation, or just want to hear three fans argue passionately about why a robot movie can feel like childhood trauma and triumph at the same time, hit play and roll out!

Links:

• Transformers episode of The Toys That Made Us
• Energon Universe from Skybound/Image Comics
• Watch the movie here
• Transformers Action Figures
• IMDB

In this episode of our X-Men “Let’s Read” series, we revisit God Loves, Man Kills, the landmark Chris Claremont story that pits the X-Men and Magneto against Reverend William Stryker’s violent crusade. We break down the book’s themes of religious extremism, prejudice, and marginalized identity, while debating its art, its most iconic moments, and whether the story still holds up today. A thoughtful, high-energy discussion for X-Men fans looking for a deeper take on one of Marvel’s most influential stories.

Links:

• Marvel.com
• GoodReads
• Kitty Pryde
• Read God Loves Man Kills

Summary:

Is Spiderman Brand New Day the MCU at its best, or its absolute worst? Opinions are divided, and strong, in this discussion about the 38th (!!!) MCU film. We also go through box office stats, character consistency, and the movie's connection to the broader MCU.

Resources:

• Box Office Mojo
• IMDB
• Rotten Tomatoes
• Common Sense Media

It's time for another Let's Read!

Join us as we explore the chaos and brilliance of X-Men: Mutant Genesis by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee. Discover the genius behind Jim Lee’s art — from his jaw-dropping Magneto splash pages to his contributions as a co-plotter — and why that visual storytelling still resonates today. You'll learn how this period’s intense dialogue, despite being dense and sometimes overwhelming, created a visceral reading experience that helped define the '90s mutant era.

We also dig into the cultural impact of this run — from the heavily stylized artwork to its nostalgic influence on everything from cartoons to video games. Hear why the complex storytelling and convoluted timelines might be a barrier or an entry point depending on your perspective. Whether you’re a die-hard X-Men collector, a newcomer overwhelmed by the chaos, or a casual fan wanting to understand the roots of your favorite characters, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most pivotal chapters in X-Men history.

Resources:

X-Men Mutant Genesis on Amazon

Jim Lee on Instagram

Jim Lee's Marvel Work

Chris Claremont's Marvel Work

Summary

In this episode we explore the depths of DC's animated movies, focusing on Justice League Dark, its themes, animation quality, and characters. We share critic and audience reviews to kick off, with our personal ratings coming at the end.

We also have some comic talk in this episode, with a farewell to an LCS near and dear to our hearts and some props to DC for what they've been doing right (while Marvel just been getting it all wrong).

Resources

• Hellblazer vol 1
• Justice League Dark Comics
• Swamp Thing Comics
• Justice League Dark IMDB
• DCAMU Watch Order
• Books Galore (RIP)

Summary

In this episode we kick off our X-Men Let's Read with a discussion of Old Man Logan by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. We cover the comic’s alternate-future setting, major plot points, and the creative choices that shape its tone and pacing. Like all Let's Read episodes, the conversation is split into The Good and The Bad but we also discuss our favorite and least favorite characters (like we did with The Boys). New for this Let's Read series - we also rate out of 5 stars at the end to compare to GoodReads scores and each other.

Resources

• Old Man Logan by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven on Amazon
• Marvel Unlimited official streaming comics service
• Old Man Logan Reading Order from How To Love Comics
• GoodReads Best of the X-Men list
• Old Man Logan story summary on Marvel Fandom wiki