Gobbledygeek

You can't go home again. But you can return to the creator-owned post-apocalyptic fantasy saga that captivated comics readers for 40 twisted, beautiful issues. That's exactly what Jeff Lemire did last year with Sweet Tooth: The Return, a sequel miniseries that takes place three whole centuries after the original Vertigo series' ending. Considering that ending was perfect, does The Return need to exist? Paul and Arlo aren't so sure. They discuss what The Return adds (or subtracts) from the greater narrative, the book's alleged Twin Peaks influence, the story's many "It's like poetry, it rhymes" moments, and why you shouldn't fuck around with elephants. Plus, they start things off by chatting about why Netflix's Sweet Tooth is a great adaptation.

NEXT: Eric...Sipple? Does anyone know who this is? Why is he talking to us? Oh god.

BREAKDOWN

00:00:50 - Intro

00:03:24 - Netflix Sweet Tooth adaptation

00:15:50 - Sweet Tooth: The Return

01:17:13 - Outro / Next

MUSIC

• "Living Underground" by Nico Vega, Nico Vega (2009)
• "The Elephant" by Pete Seeger, Birds, Beasts, Bugs & Fishes (Little & Big) (1998)

GOBBLEDYCARES

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

• Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
• Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/
• Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
• Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/
• Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/
• Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/
• Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

After a two-year absence--thanks, global pandemic!--the Marvel Cinematic Universe makes its return to the big screen with the long-awaited Black Widow. And we do mean long-awaited: it's been 11 years since Scarlett Johansson made her debut as Natasha Romanoff, and only now, after we've seen Nat die in Avengers: Endgame, does Black Widow get a solo movie. Paul and Arlo are joined by pop culture fan and academic Tanya Cochran to discuss whether or not Cate Shortland's film was worth the wait. There's talk of trauma, family dramedy, falling debris, and how much Arlo absolutely loves David Harbour as Red Guardian.

NEXT: Sweet Tooth returns, again, in Sweet Tooth: The Return for our next Four-Color Flashback.

BREAKDOWN

00:00:50 - Intro / Guest

00:05:50 - Black Widow

00:26:48 - SPOILERS

02:04:47 - Outro / Next

MUSIC

• "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Think Up Anger (feat. Malia J) (2015)
• "American Pie" by Don McLean, American Pie (1971)

GOBBLEDYCARES

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

• Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
• Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/
• Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
• Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/
• Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/
• Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/
• Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

Gobbledygeek's very own MCU TV brain trust reconvenes somewhere in the multiverse, as post-production supervisor to the stars Michael Holland joins Paul and Arlo to discuss Michael Waldron and Kate Herron's Loki. The gang untangles the kooky timeline shenanigans, falls in love with the incestuous narcissism at the heart of the Loki/Sylvie relationship, find themselves wowed by Owen Wilson, and ponders where the show's timey-wimey finale leaves the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Plus, Arlo likes Blade Runner now, and there's some Space Jam: A New Legacy trash talk.

NEXT: the MCU returns to the big screen with Cate Shortland's Black Widow.

BREAKDOWN

00:00:42 - Intro / Guest

00:17:50 - Main Topic

01:56:30 - Outro / Next

LINKS

• Michael's Page - Holland Imaginarium

MUSIC

• "Fly Like An Eagle" by Steve Miller Band, Fly Like An Eagle (1976)
• "Very Full" by Tom Hiddleston, Loki: Vol. 1 (Episodes 1-3) (Original Soundtrack) (2021)

GOBBLEDYCARES

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

• Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
• Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/
• Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
• Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/
• Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/
• Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/
• Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

Nature is healing. For this month's Four-Color Flashback, Paul and Arlo conclude the post-apocalyptic journeys of The Boy and the Big Man with Jeff Lemire's Sweet Tooth: Deluxe Edition - Books Two and Three. The remnants of humanity fight tooth and nail for survival against the paws and claws of the human/animal hybrid children, who only seem to be increasing in number. Which begs the question, Whose apocalypse is this, exactly? The boys discuss the obvious influence of Lost on the book, whether or not Lemire should have thrown back a certain Fish, the series' beautiful finale, and how horses are just really tough to draw.

NEXT: could be Loki, could be low-key.

CORRECTION

Paul and Arlo rave about Jeff Lemire's use of watercolors throughout Sweet Tooth. That praise should actually be reserved for brilliant colorist José Villarrubia. Sorry, José!

BREAKDOWN

00:00:55 - Intro / Guest

00:04:40 - Main Topic

01:47:23 - Outro / Next

LINKS

• The End of 'Sweet Tooth': A deep dive with Jeff Lemire about wrapping up his acclaimed comic book saga by Jeff Jensen, EW.com

• Damon Lindelof Interviews Jeff Lemire, Part I by Jeffrey Renaud, CBR

• Damon Lindelof Interviews Jeff Lemire, Part II by Jeffrey Renaud, CBR

• Man Gets Ass Kicked By Deer

MUSIC

• "(Nothing But) Flowers" by Talking Heads, Naked (1988)
• "Nature Trail to Hell" by "Weird Al" Yankovic, In 3-D (1984)

GOBBLEDYCARES

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

• Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
• Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/
• Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
• Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/
• Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/
• Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/
• Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

For Norma Desmond, the pictures got small when words stole her mystique; for Alan Swann, it was when his drunken antics got him downgraded to the boob tube. They're both stand-ins for larger-than-life stars past their prime, Norma in Billy Wilder's scathing Sunset Blvd. (1950) and Alan in Richard Benjamin's cozy My Favorite Year (1982). In our latest Geek Challenge, Paul and Arlo discuss these fallen idols and how their respective movies take much different approaches to a mentor/mentee relationship. The boys break down the ways in which both films echo real-life Hollywood legends; praise Gloria Swanson's arch turn as Norma and Peter O'Toole's thinly veiled take on Errol Flynn; pine for dead monkey funerals; and wonder what things would be like if Jessica Harper ruled the mob.

NEXT: on this month's Four-Color Flashback, we conclude the post-apocalyptic adventures of Gus and Jeppard in Deluxe Editions 2 and 3 of Jeff Lemire's Sweet Tooth.

BREAKDOWN

00:00:40 - Intro / Guest

00:06:28 - Sunset Blvd.

00:52:15 - My Favorite Year

01:28:56 - Outro / Next

LINKS

• Sunset Boulevard at 70: We're All Norma Desmond Now by Tom Joudrey, The Guardian

• Sunset Boulevard: The Original Hollywood Exposé by Tony Sokol, Den of Geek

• Sunset Boulevard - Filmsite Movie Review

• Sunset Boulevard - Roger Ebert's Review

• My Favorite Year: A Mirror for Errol Flynn & Peter O'Toole's Hellraising by Richard Monetti, Den of Geek

• 'Lord Jim' and 'Great Catherine' in 'My Favorite Year' by Ben Yagoda, Movies in Other Movies

• My Favorite Year - Cineaste Review

MUSIC

• "Mama Said Knock You Out" by LL Cool J, Mama Said Knock You Out (1990)
• "Celluloid Heroes" by The Kinks, Everybody's in Show-Biz (1972)

GOBBLEDYCARES

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

• Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
• Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/
• Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
• Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/
• Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/
• Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/
• Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

You know what they say: Parenting is hard, especially when you're undercover KGB operatives masquerading as a suburban American couple. As Paul, Arlo, and special guest Wesley "Wezzo" Mead dive into season 2 of Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields' modern classic The Americans, they discover all the ways child-rearing is difficult for Philip and Elizabeth Jennings. This includes concealing your secret identity; setting up a decoy aunt; keeping your kids out of the church; and shielding them from the dreaded "spurtsposition." Plus, Paul and Wezzo rock out to the new Fratellis album and share some nice words about Ted Lasso.

NEXT: it's My Favorite Year to take a stroll down Sunset Blvd. on a new Geek Challenge.

BREAKDOWN

00:01:16 - Intro / Guest

00:14:17 - Main Topic

01:51:00 - Outro / Next

MUSIC

• "Twilight Zone" by Golden Earring, Cut (1982)
• "Here Comes the Flood" by Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel (1977)

GOBBLEDYCARES

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
• Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
• Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/
• Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
• Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/
• Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/
• Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/
• Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

Imagine a world where a global pandemic killed millions and changed society forever. Spooky stuff, huh? Well, take a break from reality with this month's Four-Color Flashback: Sweet Tooth: The Deluxe Edition - Book One, comprising the first 12 issues of Jeff Lemire's offbeat breakthrough about a little deer boy and the post-apocalyptic hell that awaits him in the wilds of Nebraska. Along the way, he meets a Frank Miller-style tough guy named Jepperd, who seems to be the grizzled protector to Gus' naive innocent. It's a little more complicated than that, of course. Paul and Arlo discuss Lemire's weird, idiosyncratic artwork; the way he uses the faces and especially the eyes of his laconic characters to convey so much; and how the new Netflix adaptation is radically different.

NEXT: dust off that mail robot, it's time for The Americans season 2 with British secret agent Wesley "Wezzo" Mead.

BREAKDOWN

00:00:47 - Intro / Banter

00:19:38 - Sweet Tooth: The Deluxe Edition - Book One

01:37:00 - Outro / Next

LINKS

• Sweet Tooth Filmmaker Jim Mickle on Reimagining the Apocalypse by Matthew Dessem, Slate

• Why Sweet Tooth Created a Friendlier Apocalypse by Alec Bojalad, Den of Geek

MUSIC

• "My Father's House" by Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska (1982)
• "Out of the Woods" by Taylor Swift, 1989 (2014)

GOBBLEDYCARES

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

• Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
• Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/
• Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
• Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/
• Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/
• Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/
• Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

On a new freestyle episode, Paul and Arlo spend the whole podcast telling you about other podcasts you should be listening to instead (and one you should not). You see, Paul has descended into true crime madness, his paranoia reaching heretofore unseen levels as he falls asleep to the sounds of violence. There are also serial killers following him. Elsewhere, Arlo's vestigial nose twin stalks the night, plotting his revenge. Oh, and Arlo provides a really detailed recap of an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia for some reason.

NEXT: everybody gets a sweet tooth now and then. We'll have 12 of them as we discuss the first two volumes of Jeff Lemire's Vertigo series Sweet Tooth for this month's Four-Color Flashback.

MUSIC

• "Murderer" by Buju Banton, 'Til Shiloh (1995)
• "Every Breath You Take" by The Police, Synchronicity (1983)

GOBBLEDYCARES

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

• Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
• Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/
• Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
• Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/
• Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/
• Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/
• Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

The Four-Color Flashback, that most venerated non-Gobbledyween tradition, has been around in some form for nearly all of this podcast's 11 years. And yet--we've never discussed manga, the world's most popular comics format. Paul and Arlo have decided to rectify that with the first volume of Inio Asano's Goodnight Punpun, the surreal exploration of one young boy's troubled adolescence. Punpun Punyama has a crush on the new girl at school, stays with his hipster uncle because of his abusive dad, hears the voice of God, and is beginning to familiarize himself with the art of self-pleasure. Oh, he and his whole family are also rendered as simple little cartoon bird and/or ghost people, while the world around them is drawn in gorgeous detail by Asano. The boys share their limited experience with manga, Arlo enjoys weird vagina monsters, and Paul has an epiphany.

Next: free(style) as a bird(boy).

BREAKDOWN

00:00:55 - Intro / Guest

00:04:58 - Main Topic

01:16:40 - Outro / Next

LINKS

• Goodnight Punpun: A Masterpiece of Millennial Fiction by Jamie Redgate, Books & Bao
• Goodnight Punpun and Good Morning Depression by John Smith, Ani-Gamers
• Manga Review: Goodnight Punpun by Jack Poskus, NEIU Independent
• Goodnight Punpun is the Strangest Manga of the Year (and One of the Best) by Tom Speelman, Comics Alliance
• The Depths of Despair: Oyasumi Punpun Manga by Lumi(?), Lumi Reviews Things

MUSIC

• "Baby Blue" by Fishmans, Kuuchuu Camp (1996)
• "Iko Iko" by The Dixie Cups, Chapel of Love (1964)

GOBBLEDYCARES

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
• Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
• Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/
• Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

Paul, Arlo, and returning guest Michael Holland aren't in Westview anymore. For its second TV series, the Marvel Cinematic Universe returns to more conventional superheroics. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is the Captain America sequel we've been waiting for, filled with stellar action sequences, resonant character work, and a twisty-turny plot. The gang debates how well that last element works, but one thing they can all agree on: director Kari Skogland and head writer Malcolm Spellman do their cast justice, bringing depths to Sam and Bucky we haven't gotten to see on the big screen. Other topics of discussion include just how relatable the Flag Smashers are, Madripoor's splashy MCU debut, Sharon Carter's heel turn, and how Wyatt Russell makes an insufferable character sufferable.

NEXT: he's not exactly a falcon, but he is a weird little bird-boy. For the first Four-Color Flashback discussing manga, Paul and Arlo take a look at Inio Asano's Goodnight Punpun: Vol. 1.

BREAKDOWN

00:00:44 - Intro / Guest

00:05:05 - Main Topic

02:05:00 - Outro / Next

LINKS

• Captain America's Legacy Isn't the Shield, It's Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes by Jess Bacon, Inverse
• Falcon Watch: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Finale Reminds Us Why Steve Gave Sam the Shield by Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue
• Marvel Has Big Plans for Julia Louis-Dreyfus by Joanna Robinson, Vanity Fair
• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Shooting a Psychological Thriller About the Legacy of the Shield by Bill Desowitz, Indiewire
• The Falcon And The Winter Soldier's Most Challenging Scenes To Film, According To The Cinematographer by Erik Swann, Cinemablend
• Carl Lumbly Defines What Makes a Good Captain America by Anthony Breznican, Vanity Fair
• The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: Emily VanCamp and Erin Kellyman on Sharon Carter's Role as the Power Broker by Christine Dinh, Marvel.com
• Falcon and Winter Soldier: Baron Zemo Fixes Marvel's Most Notorious Problem by Eric Francisco, Inverse

MUSIC

• "Trouble Man" by Marvin Gaye, Trouble Man (Soundtrack) (1972)
• "Fly Like an Eagle" by Steve Miller Band, Fly Like an Eagle (1976)

GOBBLEDYCARES

• Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
• Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/
• Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
• Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/
• Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/
• Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/
• Register to vote: https://vote.gov/