This week on Giant Sized Violence, comic writer and editor David Mariotte discusses his extensive work on beloved franchises such as Transformers, Sonic the Hedgehog, Power Rangers, and Godzilla. He shares insights into his creative process, the challenges of editing multiple IPs, and the importance of exploring themes of identity and gender in comics. David also highlights his involvement in the upcoming anthology, Samidoon: Comics for a Free Palestine, and expresses his hopes for future projects, including potential crossovers and personal writing endeavors.

This week we're joined by Shawn Pryor (Kentucky Kaiju The Gamer) to discuss his recently released book, Kaiju Unleashed! The book is a comprehensive guide to giant monsters in film, television, comic books, videogames, and elsewhere, and we manage to cover just about all of it!

We reminisce on childhood memories of Power Rangers, Ultra Seven, and Godzilla films, and connect over our shared childhood frustrations with the Ultraman SNES games.

Kaiju Unleashed is available now and it could be the perfect gift for the Toku fan in your life!

https://www.amazon.com/Kaiju-Unleashed-Illustrated-Strange-Beasts/dp/0760392897

Hey folks, it's been a minute since my last episode, and I wanted to share a few updates. I've been dealing with a flooded studio, the difficulties of starting a business as a convention vendor, and then there's the recently elected existential threat facing the trans community...

I have a few thoughts I'd like to share, and I want to set expectations regarding the status of both my shows and our release schedule going forward. This episode isn't all doom and gloom though. I'm a firm believer that our reality is constructed by the stories we tell ourselves and each other. So in a situation like this, I think it's time we tell a better one. I'm just one trans gal with a couple podcasts, but the one thing I can give to you all is a story. A story about how we face these next 4 years together, and come out stronger regardless of what's thrown at us.

Be safe out there friends, and thank you for listening.

Music Credits for Today's Episode:

Our intro song, "Push" and our outro, "Fine," are both by the incredibly talented Rockstar & Elise, you can check out both songs on their EP "The Future" on BandCamp and other platforms: https://rockstarelise.bandcamp.com/album/the-future-ep 

In celebration of winning "Episode of the Year" and "Best Production" at the Iowa Podcast Awards, we're re-releasing one of the most unique and psychedelic podcasts we've ever made, It's Morphin' Time! This was Tomi's coming-out episode that was originally published on the Giant Sized Violence feed back in February of 2023, which we're excited to share  in both podcast feeds!

The updated version of the episode includes a new intro and outro, and some exciting updates about recent and upcoming projects that we'd love our listeners to get involved with!

Original Description:

In this deeply personal episode, we'll be covering highlights of the last year, commemorating the heroes we lost,  and walk through Tomi's experience of finding their voice through heroes like the Power Rangers. Along the way, they recount their story of their own psychedelic experience that led to a life-changing realization. For the first time in our show's history, we also incorporate music to accompany the story! Join us for a journey through loss, transformation, and self-discovery. It's Morphin' Time!

Music Used:

You’re an Ace Kid

By DEMONDICE

you're an ace, kid- DEMONDICE

Enchantment

By Nora En PureNora En Pure - EnchantmentThe Greatest Pac-Man Victory in History

By Aesop Rock

The Greatest Pac-Man Victory In History

The Starting Line

By Neil Cicierega

Neil Cicierega - The Starting Line

Clouds

By Sunny and Gabe

https://youtu.be/Dlv4Uh3zxw8?si=eBZlXelX78HJMeoW

Welcome to the Internet

By Bo Burnham (aixva remix)

Bo Burnham - Welcome to the Internet (aixva remix) 

All Eyes on Me (OriginTori remix)

By Bo Burnham

https://on.soundcloud.com/neWVC3kBXD5Jz34K6 

Space Monkey Mafia

By Neil Cicierega

Neil Cicierega - Space Monkey Mafia

Still Here

By Girl Talk

Here's the Thing

AhHa

By Nate Ruess

https://youtu.be/daaQkKU7AGw?si=ooYWa7s_QXPaOAWw 

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Original Theme)By Ron Wasserman

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Full Theme Song

Megazord (feat. ProbCause & Chrishira Perrier)

By GRiZ

MEGAZORD - GRiZ (feat. ProbCause & Chrishira Perrier) (Official Visualizer)

Legend of the Power Saurus

By Victorius

Legend of the Power Saurus

We Need a Hero (Piano Version)By Ron Wasserman

Ron Wasserman - We Need a Hero (Piano Version)

Bluish

By Animal Collective

Animal Collective - Bluish (Official Video)

Survive

By Lane 8 (feat. Channy Leaneagh)

Lane 8 - Survive feat. Channy Leaneagh

Gratitude

By Above & Beyond

Oliver Smith Remix: Above & Beyond and anamē feat. Marty Longstaff - Gratitude (Oliver Smith Remix)

Split Bootleg Remix: Above & Beyond and Gardenstate feat Marty Longstaff - Gratitude (SPLIT Bootleg)

OriginTori Remix: https://on.soundcloud.com/WkPXkDoyuGKGe6kZ8

Komm: Süsser Tod

By Shiro Sagisu, Arianne, Hideaki Anno, lyrics removed by Yordle

Komm, süsser Tod (M-10 Director's Edit Version) - Instrumental [Removed Vocals]

In honor of Transformers Day, we're publicly releasing our Patreon exclusive Transformers 4x40th Anniversary Special!

We did a deep dive into the Transformers franchise! To celebrate the series' 40th Anniversary (and the theatrical re-release of the first 4 episodes of the original cartoon) we'll be looking into the first 4 installments of 4 different incarnations of the robots we all know and love!

This week's coverage includes:

Transformers G1 (1984): Episodes 1 - 4

Marvel's Transformers: Issues #1 - 4

Transformers: Animated (2007): Episodes 1 - 4

Skybound's Transformers: Issues #1 - 4

Big news and big changes incoming!

My first comic, When We Transform, launches on Kickstarter this Thursday, August 1st! Sign up to get notified at launch by going to WhenWeTransform.com or by visiting our pre-launch page on Kickstarter! If you're a fan of the comics we cover on either of our podcasts, you're going to love this book!

I'm also hosting my first ever live panel at FlameCon in New York City on August 17th! Come see "Transcending Comics: A Trans & Non-Binary Comic Creators Q&A" featuring panelists like Maia Kobabe, Jay Edidin, Kim Wang, Dan Falco, and Ben Kahn!

Also, be on the lookout for our upcoming Patreon for Keymaster Collective, our parent company encompassing Transcending Comics, When We Transform, Giant Sized Violence, and our other ongoing creative projects and collaborations!

This week, we're joined by writer and tabletop game designer Sarah Kennedy to talk about one of our favorite comics, Kaijumax by Zander Cannon! Kaijumax is a highly acclaimed kaiju-prison drama comic, unlike anything we've seen before. It's chock full of fun Tokusatsu references, and plays with the tropes of both prison dramas and monster movies in ways we never would have imagined.

Our guest, Sarah Kennedy, has worked on over 70 tabletop games, including Sentai & Sensibility, RPGs for Power Rangers, GI Joe, and Star Trek, as well as Werewolf the Apocalypse. She also has a Tokusatsu inspired comic of her own that she's working on that we can't wait to see come to life!

To celebrate Free Comic book Day 2024, we're doing a special cross-posted episode of Transcending Comics and Giant Sized Violence. Eri and Tomi go back and forth discussing their free comic picks, and have a quick discussion on a great graphic novel find, Princess Knight by Osamu Tezuka (to be covered in a future episode of Transcending Comics).
Eri's Picks:
Monster High
Mad Magazine: FCBD 2024 Special Edition
Unico: The Awakening

Tomi's Picks:
Gatchaman #0
UltraDuck
Energon Universe Special

This week, Giant Sized Violence is joined by James Santana, writer of the ongoing Kickstarter comic, World of Nebulon, and cohost of the Android's Amazing Podcast!

James is here to tell us a bit about the upcoming book, as well as his other comics work on titles like Super Group and the Unknown Heroes anthologies. He's also starting a comics studio, Toku USA, dedicated to tokusatsu-inspired indie-comics, which will likely be of interest to listeners of this show!

You can back his book, World of Nebulon, right now on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1935627238/world-of-nebulon-preview-book/rewards?ref=discovery_location

Today on our show we welcome Brian Buccellato, the prolific comics writer and colorist currently writing books like Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong, Midlife (Or How to Hero at Fifty), and No/One!

We dive into his creative process and his origins in the comic book industry, as well as the lessons he learned on previous books like Flash and Injustice.

Join us as we explore Brian's debut in the world of Tokusatsu comics, and his incredible ongoing independent books!