Gobbledygeek

In which our daring duo defies devilish dentists. In all sincerity, here's a big fat content warning: if, like Paul and Arlo, you are one of the 5-15% of adults with dentophobia, we talk about the dentist. A whole bunch. From childhood orthodontic nightmares to phantasmagoric periodontics of the present day, the boys discuss in (perhaps excruciating) detail their toothy troubles. Plus, if that doesn't turn you off of the whole damn enterprise, there's also talk of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World in IMAX, Netflix's take on The Umbrella Academy, and a belated discussion of seasons 2 and 3 of AMC's Preacher adaptation.

Next: Higher. Further. Faster. Captain Marvel.

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 01:22:12

00:02:23 - More HTTYD (on IMAX this time)

00:10:00 - Dentophobia (CONTENT WARNING!)

00:45:24 - Netflix's The Umbrella Academy

00:56:00 - Arlo finally watched AMC's Preacher

01:15:36 - Outro / Next

Paul and Arlo return to the land of Berk one last time for a discussion of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Joining them is their fellow dragon rider (and The Deli Counter of Justice co-editor) Eric Sipple. The gang discusses their journey through the years with Hiccup and Toothless, whether or not the supporting cast weighs the series down, writer-director Dean DeBlois' original intentions for the villain, and their differing interpretations of the conclusion.

Next: enter the void.

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 02:28:10

00:00:37 - Intro / Disclaimer (Paul is emotional and broken and in therapy ABOUT these films!)

00:08:26 - Main Topic (Non-Spoiler)

00:42:23 - SPOILERS

02:23:17 - Outro / Next

In honor of Black History Month, Paul and Arlo are discussing John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell's March for their second Four-Color Flashback of 2019. This three-volume set, published from 2013-16, follows Rep. Lewis from his days raising (and baptizing) chickens in Pike County, Alabama, to standing side-by-side with leading figures of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. The boys discuss how their whiteness both helps and hinders the discussion, their admiration for Lewis' adherence to the tenets of nonviolent resistance, why comics are uniquely suited to convey a story of such historical import, and Nate Powell's genius use of lettering.

Next: who knows! Join us for the ride. If you dare.

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 01:43:01

00:00:34 - Intro / Disclaimer (We're white.)

00:06:45 - Main Topic

01:38:37 - Outro / Next

This week finds Paul and Arlo being a coupla ding-dong daddies as another musical Geek Challenge is summoned from a mail-order spellbook. First, Paul challenges Arlo to Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Robert Stevenson's 1971 follow-up to Mary Poppins. Then, Arlo forces Paul to endure Rob Marshall's 2002 Best Picture winner Chicago. Witchcraft and murder...this one's got it all. The boys discuss Bedknobs and Broomsticks' unlikely connection to The Island of Dr. Moreau, whether or not Chicago deserves its reputation as one of the weakest Best Picture champs, and why Paul refuses to pay Rent.

Next: after a week off, we're back for our second Four-Color Flashback of 2019, discussing March by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell.

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 01:40:46

00:01:56 - Banter (But we swore we wouldn't do this anymore!)

00:11:51 - Bedknobs and Broomsticks

00:51:55 - Chicago

01:36:10 - Outro / Next

For Four-Color Flashback 2019, Paul and Arlo are venturing beyond the realm of superheroes and into the wide world of comics many Americans never visit. To first appreciate comics, though, it's important to understand their capabilities. There's nowhere better to turn than Scott McCloud's seminal 1993 tome Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. It's an academic, analytical study of the comics form--but it's also a friendly, entertaining, flat-out fun read. Paul and Arlo discuss why everyone should read Understanding Comics, how it influenced the way they read comics, the concept of closure, and the digital revolution.

Next: witchcraft, murder, and all that jazz in a musical Geek Challenge. Arlo must watch Disney's 1971 Angela Lansbury vehicle Bedknobs and Broomsticks, while Paul is tasked with 2002's Renee Zellweger showcase Chicago.

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 01:18:46

00:00:46 - The history (and future) of FCF

00:05:20 - Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art

01:14:51 - Outro / Next

We're back, babies! Gobbledygeek returns for its 10th season--though not its 10th anniversary, get your math right--with our hosts doing the bare minimum to keep this thing afloat. The centerpiece is an anxiety-fueled story about chicken wings, for gods' sakes. Meanwhile, Paul went to Disney World again and lived to tell the tale. Arlo has thoughts on Jason Reitman directing the next Ghostbusters film. Beards are soothed. Y'know, the usual. Plus, Paul has seen Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse once for each season of the show!

Next: Four-Color Flashback 2019 gets off to an early start, as our year of non-superhero fare kicks off with Scott McCloud's non-fiction classic Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art.

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 01:12:26

00:01:55 - New year, new show

00:04:30 - Paul's Walt Disney World trip

00:19:18 - Anxiety

00:39:00 - Beard Spa / Scalp Camp

00:44:17 - Jason Reitman's Ghostbusters

00:57:15 - More about Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

01:02:56 - New Deliverse project?

01:09:08 - Outro / Next

Paul and Arlo swing into the Gobbledygeek season 9 finale with a discussion of the latest (and possibly greatest?) Spider-Man movie, Into the Spider-Verse. Popping in from an alternate dimension where "Curtis" has two s's is their pal Nate Curtiss. The gang discusses how the movie nails the characterizations of Miles Morales and Peter Parker, its dazzling visuals, the film's message of inclusion, and moviegoers' animation biases. Plus, Paul and Arlo both make important announcements, and we discuss Miles in both the Spider-Man PS4 game and his own new comic book.

Next: if we're legally allowed to say this, That's all, folks! Happy holidays and we'll see you next year for season 10!

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 01:59:00

00:03:05 - Banter

00:22:19 - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

01:01:50 - SPOILERS!

01:55:28 - Outro / Next

This year's superheroic Four-Color Flashback comes to a close as the Visions of Virginia move into their house at 616 Hickory Branch Lane, Arlington, VA, 21301. In Tom King and Gabriel Hernandez Walta's The Vision, the synthezoid Avenger creates his own family in an effort to achieve normalcy--and watches as his efforts fail, early and often. Joining Paul and Arlo to discuss one of the decade's best comics is FreakSugar contributing editor Jed Waters Keith. The gang discusses the foreboding on every page; King's watchmaker precision; Walta's subtle emotional modulations; and how by denying his emotions and refusing to learn from his mistakes, the Vision is as human as any of us. Plus, Arlo still hasn't gone on a poop cruise; and Paul wants to Die while reading Winter Soldier.

Next month: this bizarre roller coaster ride of a season ends with a discussion of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

THE BREAKDOWN

00:00:00 - 00:48:21 - Intro / Banter

00:48:21 - 02:14:34 - Main Topic

02:14:34 - 02:20:56 - Outro / Next

Ollie, draw back your bow and let your arrow go straight to that killer's heart. For the penultimate Four-Color Flashback of the year, and the final DC installment of our Age of Heroes project, Paul and Arlo head to the asphalt jungle of Seattle as Oliver Queen stalks his street punk prey in Mike Grell's 1987 miniseries Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters. As was common practice in the '80s, Grell reimagined the character of Green Arrow as grimmer, grittier, and existing in a real world full of boobs and blood. The boys discuss why Grell, by and large, does not really pull this off; the two really interesting moments of subversion he does manage; his stellar, sketchy, detailed artwork; and Dinah Lance's near-fridging. Plus, the boys honor Stan Lee; Arlo cooks up some groovy spaghetti with the new White Album set; Paul needs a Bodyguard; and things get horrifying with The Immortal Hulk and Outer Darkness.

Next: happy Thanksgiving! Paul and Arlo return next month to close out the Age of Heroes with Tom King and Gabriel Hernandez Walta's The Vision, joined by their pal Jed Waters Keith.

Jazz hands, everyone! It's time for a new episode of the new era of Gobbledygeek, which is either painfully self-indulgent or--well, there is no other option, BUT. Paul and Arlo freestyle about why they're freestyling, discuss how perspectives on art change, extoll the complicated virtues of Miles Davis and Queen, and become flummoxed at the hyper-realistic minutiae of Red Dead Redemption 2.

Next: back to your regularly scheduled podcast with a Four-Color Flashback discussion of Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters.