Gobbledygeek

Don't you just hate it when you're a superhero who saves the world and then gets zapped to a shitty little farm town in another dimension that you literally cannot leave? In Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston's Dark Horse series Black Hammer, Abraham Slam, Golden Gail, Barbalien, Talky-Walky, Colonel Weird, and Madame Dragonfly sure do. For this month's Four-Color Flashback, Paul and Arlo discuss the recently concluded "main" storyline of Lemire and Ormston's ever-expanding creation, consisting of Black Hammer issues #1-13 and Black Hammer: Age of Doom issues #1-12. From a backwater farm to the furthest reaches of time and space, our heroes explore every facet of the superhero genre. Along the way, they confront the metatextual realities of comics storytelling--and the just plain textual fact of aging.

Next: we have no plans.

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 02:33:48

• 00:00:37 - Intro
• 00:02:14 - Black Hammer
• 02:29:10 - Outro / Next

THE MUSIC

• "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville" by R.E.M., Reckoning (1984)
• "How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down On the Farm" by Andrew Bird, Soldier On (2007)

THE LINKS

• "Black Hammer, an Indie Comic, Gets a Major Film and TV Deal" by George Gene Gustines, The New York Times

• "How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm? BLACK HAMMER and the end of the 'farm story'" by Joe Grunewald, The Beat

• "Jeff Lemire Returns to His Favorite Black Hammer Character for Colonel Weird: Cosmagog with Tyler Crook" by Grant DeArmitt, Newsarama

No one, especially not Alan Moore, ever really wanted a Watchmen sequel. Which is exactly why handing the reins to Damon Lindelof, who has a history of disorienting and upsetting expectations, is a stroke of genius. Last year's HBO series, spearheaded by Lindelof, is a bold, startling continuation of Moore and Dave Gibbons' graphic novel masterpiece--so of course, after talking about the book, Paul, Arlo, and reformed podcaster Greg Sahadachny had to discuss the TV show. The gang talks about the ways in which Lindelof subverts and pays tribute to Moore and Gibbons' work; how Lindelof built a writers' room with people who were not like him; the show's provocative exploration of race and authority; whether or not the show sticks the landing; and much, much more.

Next: due to one scheduling kerfuffle after another, we've got another Four-Color Flashback for you! Paul and Arlo will discuss Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston's Black Hammer.

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 02:32:50

• 00:00:30 - Intro
• 00:05:40 - Sturgill Simpson's A Good Look'n Tour
• 00:28:28 - Watchmen
• 02:28:25 - Outro / Next

THE MUSIC

• "Turtles All the Way Down" by Sturgill Simpson, Turtles All the Way Down (2014)
• "Best Clockmaker On Mars" by Sturgill Simpson, Sound & Fury (2019)

THE LINKS

• "The Case for Reparations" by Ta-Nahesi Coates, The Atlantic

• "Watchmen Gave Us All the Answers" by Kathryn VanArendonk, Variety

• "HBO's Watchmen Captures the Spirit of the Graphic Novel Better Than Anything Else" by Princess Weekes, The Mary Sue

• "The Real Black History Hidden Within HBO's Watchmen" by Karama Horne, SyFy Wire

• "The Incendiary Aims of HBO's Watchmen" by Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker

• "Stephen Williams goes behind the scenes of the emotionally devastating and technically dazzling 'This Extraordinary Being.'" By Joanna Robinson, Vanity Fair

• "How 'Watchmen' Pulled Off One of the Best TV Seasons of the Decade" by Adam B. Vary, Variety

• "Olivia Hooker, one of the last survivors of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, dies at 103" by Deneen L. Brown, Los Angeles Times

• "Following Watchmen, 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Added to Oklahoma Curriculum" by Adreon Patterson, CBR

• PETEYPEDIA

• The Official Watchmen Podcast - website - iTunes

After a year of pointedly discussing no superhero stories, Paul and Arlo revive Four-Color Flashback for a new decade with the big kahuna of all superhero stories: Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' 1986-87 maxi-series Watchmen. Aided by emotional sherpa Greg Sahadachny, once and future host of The Debatable Podcast, the boys openly admit there is no new light to shed on perhaps the most analyzed comic book of all time--then get to shedding. What's it like reading Watchmen in 2020? In the wake of Damon Lindelof's TV sequel? The gang finds that, like all great art, Watchmen has not changed in the 33 years since its run wrapped, but we have. In a world where fascism seems much more tangible, where superhero fiction reigns supreme, Moore and Gibbons' work has taken on a renewed sense of meaning. The gang discusses the book's formalist genius; our heroes' utter contempt for those they claim to save; why, for a certain type of reader, Rorschach is a morally just idol; and plenty more.

Next: we continue watching the Watchmen with a discussion of Lindelof's HBO show.

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:50:43

• 00:00:21 - Intro
• 00:04:00 - Watchmen
• 01:47:43 - Outro / Next

THE MUSIC

• "Desolation Row" by Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
• "Cosmic Charlie" by The Grateful Dead, Aoxomoxoa (1969)

THE LINKS

• "In 1986, Watchmen skewered the way we love superheroes. It's still as relevant as ever." by Alex Abad-Santos, Vox

• "Watchmen's Fearful Symmetry: (almost) frame by frame" by Pedro V. Ribeiro, Medium

• Sam Hamm's Batman Script

The geeks speak! Gobbledygeek has been resurrected via cloning or Force magic or some shit, and to kick off season 11, Broken Magic author and The Deli Counter of Justice co-creator Eric Sipple has lightspeed-skipped on over to discuss Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker. After adoring The Last Jedi, the gang approached this supposed final film in the Skywalker Saga with heavy amounts of skepticism--well-earned, depending on who you ask. They discuss the mystical, magical malarkey behind Palpatine's return; how director J.J. Abrams and writer Chris Terrio are uniquely suited to not deliver a satisfying conclusion; the oodles of fan service; what the film's final scene means for the legacy of Star Wars; and more. Plus, they talk about The Baby Yoda Show AKA The Mandalorian.

Next: it is January 29, 2020. Paul and Arlo are discussing Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen for a Four-Color Flashback. I am tired of this world; these people.

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 02:35:50

• 00:00:00 - Intro
• 00:02:35 - The Mandalorian
• 00:28:52 - Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
• 02:31:20 - Outro / Next

THE MUSIC

• "Fanfare and Prologue" by John Williams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2019)
• "Finale" by John Williams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2019)

THE LINKS

• "Why 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Pissed Off Fans" by Matt Singer, Screencrush
• "The Last Jedi dared to put the philosophy of Star Wars in the foreground" by Siddhant Adlahka, Polygon

• "The Rise Of Skywalker, And How Star Wars Is Junk" by Chuck Wendig, Terribleminds

• "Rey's revelation in 'Rise of Skywalker' changes Star Wars for the worse" by Chris Taylor, Mashable

• "How 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' Failed Kylo Ren and What It Could Have Learned from 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'" by Hoai-Tran Bui, SlashFilm

• "Rote and Cowardly, The Rise of Skywalker Sets a Dangerous Precedent" by Jeffrey Zhang, Strange Harbors

• "STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Has A Ben Solo Problem" by Lindsey Romain, Nerdist

• "There's No Such Thing as a Great Star Wars Movie" by Edoardo Ranaboldo, CBR

• "The Rise of Skywalker Makes It Clear Star Wars NEEDS Rian Johnson" by Anthony Gramuglia, CBR

• "'Star Wars': Still With Us, but No Longer Above Us" by Owen Gleiberman, Variety

• "Proof That Luke Skywalker's Story Got the Proper Ending: King Arthur" by Eric Diaz, Nerdist

• "Dark Star Rising: How Adam Driver's angst and brooding intensity made the world fall in love with a 'Star Wars' supervillain" by Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone

• "The Rise of Skywalker Allowed Toxic Fandom to Win" by Sergio Pereira, CBR

• "Star Wars: Did The Skywalker Saga Bring Balance to the Force in the End?" by Hannah Collins, CBR

• "The Greatest Trick Star Wars Ever Played Was Making Us Think It Was About Redemption" by Susana Polo, Polygon

'Twas the season 10 finale of Gobbledygeek, when all through the podcast,

Zombies were shuffling, Scottish dancers aghast.

John McPhail's Anna and the Apocalypse was the topic du jour,

In hopes that Paul and Arlo would discuss the songs, the jokes, and maybe some more.

The movie does not foster too much discussion, alas;

While instead, talking about Christmas plans and getting high, our hosts have a blast.

Paul in his kerchief and Arlo in his cap,

Have settled their mics for a long winter's nap.

Next: merry Christmas and happy New Year. We'll see you in 2020.

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:32:00

• 00:01:18 - Intro
• 00:04:32 - Main Topic
• 00:48:05 - Holiday plans / Season 10 wrap-up
• 01:28:50 - Outro / Next

THE MUSIC

• "Break Away" by Ella Hunt, Sarah Swire & Malcolm Cumming, Anna and the Apocalypse (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2018)
• "It's That Time of Year" by Marli Siu, Anna and the Apocalypse (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2018)
• "Human Voice" by Cast from Anna and the Apocalypse, Anna and the Apocalypse (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2018)
• "Hollywood Ending" by Cast from Anna and the Apocalypse, Anna and the Apocalypse (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2018)

THE LINKS

• Zombie Musical (Original Short Film)
• Ryan Gosling Won't Eat His Cereal
• "The tragic, triumphant story behind zombie-musical Anna and the Apocalypse" by Clark Collis, EW.com

It took Brás de Oliva Domingos so long to find out, and he found out. What, if anything, he found out is the central question of Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá's 2010 Vertigo series Daytripper, subject of our final Four-Color Flashback for 2019. You see, Brás writes obituaries for a São Paulo newspaper--and at the end of most chapters in this book, he dies. Twin writers/artists Moon and Bá pave the way for an existential journey along the many turning points of a life, from the imperceptible to the unmistakable. Paul and Arlo discuss Daytripper's hint of magical realism; the coherent, airtight structure that grounds the book's absurdity; how the series' hopeful attitude brushes up against horrific tragedy; Moon and Bá's distinctive (though not so distinctive we know who is penciling and/or inking what!) art style, accentuated by master colorist Dave Stewart; and more.

Next: on the Gobbledygeek season 10 finale, Christmas gets twisted with John McPhail's 2018 horror-comedy-musical Anna and the Apocalypse.

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:32:47

• 00:00:42 - Intro
• 00:06:30 - Main Topic
• 01:26:40 - Outro / Next

THE MUSIC

• "Day Tripper" by Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66, Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 (1966)
• "Circle of Life" by Carmen Twillie & Lebo M, The Lion King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1994)

THE LINKS

• "'Daytripper' Explores The Quiet Moments That Shape A Man's Life. And His Death(s)" by Glen Weldon, NPR
• "Daytripper (Review)" by Chris Mautner, The Comics Journal
• "INTERVIEW: Fábio Moon & Gabriel Bá Part 2: A Daytripper Retrospective" by Alexander Lu, Comics Bulletin

The Cloud burst, and for forty days and forty nights, all of our secrets rained down. In the not terribly distant future world of Brian K. Vaughan, Marcos Martin, and Muntsa Vicente's 2013-15 series The Private Eye, the Internet is a distant memory and anonymity is now the foundation of American society. Of course, our hero is an amoral paparazzo-slash-private investigator whose job is to dig up those old secrets; of course, this leads him into a world of trouble. For the penultimate Four-Color Flashback of 2019, Paul and Arlo discuss Vaughan's clever utilization of noir tropes in the post-Internet age, Martin's dynamic pencils/inks, Vicente's eye-popping colors (this is one noir that doesn't hide in the shadows), their radical pay-what-you-want self-publishing platform Panel Syndicate, and the big philosophical question at the heart of the book: is the Internet worth it?

Next: for the final Four-Color Flashback of the season, we get existential with Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba's Daytripper.

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:31:30

• 00:00:22 - Intro
• 00:04:10 - Main Topic
• 01:27:00 - Outro / Next

THE MUSIC

• "Private Eyes" by Daryl Hall & John Oates, Private Eyes (1981)
• "This Masquerade" by The Carpenters, Now & Then (1973)

THE LINKS

• Panel Syndicate

• "The Private Eye: A Damn Good Comic About How the Internet Changes Us" by Evan Narcisse, Kotaku
• "An Internet Comic About Post-Internet Life Imagines All Our Privacy Nightmares Come True" by Mark Peters, Slate
• "Cloud Burst: A Review Of Brian K. Vaughan's Futuristic Comic Noir, The Private Eye" by Andrew Jones, Digital America

Ever have a job so shitty, it haunts you years (or even decades) down the line? Paul and Arlo have, and it's called Gobbledygeek! Hey-o! In all seriousness (?), Paul recounts a traumatic experience at Shakey's Pizza and Arlo is filled with regret over his time at the right-wing call center InfoCision. Cue flashbacks to high school football teams ravenous for wings and evil televangelists separating the faithful from what little coin they carry. Speaking of the latter, Arlo laments Kanye West's evangelical turn on Jesus Is King. Elsewhere, Paul watches TV, including Succession, Primal, Daybreak, Watchmen, and Modern Love; and braves crowds of drunken revelers at shows for Bastille, Joywave, Trampled by Turtles, and The Avett Bros.

Next: TBD.

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:39:58

00:00:33 - Intro

00:01:12 - We are NOT sponsored by the Gobble meal delivery service

00:07:30 - Cold pizza and really, really hot wings

00:14:43 - Way too much about InfoCision

00:43:48 - Not nearly enough about some great new TV shows

00:54:08 - More than a little bit about Succession

01:07:20 - Unfortunately, we discuss the new Kanye album

01:15:30 - A Popeye's chicken sandwich interlude

01:17:15 - Back to Kanye (and controversial comments on Beyonce)

01:24:31 - Lastly, Paul's been to some concerts

01:37:05 - Outro / Next

THE MUSIC

"This Fucking Job" by Drive-By Truckers, The Big To-Do (2010)

"Blastoffff" by Joywave, Blastoffff (Single) (2018)

THE LINKS

"Charitable donations benefit telemarketers" by David Evans, The Washington Post

Gobble meal kit delivery service (who is NOT a sponsor of our show)

Our favorite thing is Gobbledyween, so to close out this year's frightening festivities, Paul and Arlo are breaking from the norm to discuss Emil Ferris' 2017 graphic novel My Favorite Thing Is Monsters. Joining them for this first Gobbledyween/Four-Color Flashback crossover is their The Deli Counter of Justice collaborator Eric Sipple. The gang marvels at Ferris' stunning art (all done in ballpoint pen!), attempts to process the numerous threads in this first of two planned volumes (sexuality, duality, and reality, oh my!), draws unexpected parallels to Art Spiegelman's Maus (a FCF entry just this past August!), and so much more (no parenthetical necessary!). We promise there are monsters.

Next: and I'm freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, free Gooooobbliiiiiiin'.

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:42:55

00:00:44 - Intro

00:03:20 - My Favorite Thing is Monsters

01:36:51 - Outro / Next

THE MUSIC

"Wild Thing" by The Troggs, From Nowhere (1966)

"Good Monsters" by Jars of Clay, Good Monsters (2006)

THE LINKS

"The Holocaust, Art, Chicago & Sickness: A 3,500-Word Interview with My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Mastermind Emil Ferris" by Hillary Brown, Paste

"'My Favorite Thing Is Monsters' Is A Dazzling, Graphic Novel Tour-De-Force" by John Powers, NPR

"My Favorite Thing Is Monsters - Review" by Andrea Crow, Lambda Literary

"Emil Ferris: 'I didn't want to be a woman - being a monster was the best solution'" by Sam Thielman, The Guardian

"My Favorite Thing Is Monsters - Review" by Paul Tumey, The Comics Journal

"When Everyone's a Monster, No One Is: The Ugly Everyday in My Favorite Thing is Monsters" by Em Nordling, Tor.com

"My Favorite Thing Is Monsters is a brilliant, eye-opening graphic novel debut" by Oliver Sava, AV Club

"The Bite That Changed My Life" by Elly Fishman, Chicagomag.com

Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme: the rich have always sucked off the poor, and podcasting icon Greg Sahadachny has always joined Gobbledyween for the most ridiculous and outrageous pick of the season. This time, Paul and Arlo have chosen to torment Greg with Brian Yuzna's 1989 satire Society, which is a dumb teen sex comedy until--well, until it isn't. The gang discusses the film's subtext and/or screaming neon text; Screaming Mad George's "surrealistic makeup effects"; how the movie surprisingly rewards repeat viewings; and the film's unlikely parallels to Lynch, Friedkin, Polanski, and a whole buncha other pretentious arthouse weirdos.

Next: Gobbledyween comes to a close as Broken Magic author Eric Sipple joins us to discuss Emil Ferris' graphic novel My Favorite Thing Is Monsters.

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:14:44

00:00:45 - Intro

00:03:42 - Society

01:09:00 - Outro / Next

THE MUSIC

"The Eton Boating Song (feat. Helen Moore)" by A.D.E.W., Mark Ryder & Phil Davies, Society (Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1989)

"Society Is My Friend" by Kurt Vile, Smoke Ring for My Halo (2011)