Gobbledygeek

Welcome, boys and girls, to another off-the-cuff, scriptless episode. After a little bit of getting’ to know you banter, the boys randomly decide to talk about why we geeks are so drawn to works of fantasy and science-fiction. They also say some words about the latest wave of DC Comic’s New 52, AJ shares his thoughts on the films Our Idiot Brother and Horrible Bosses, and Paul waxes rhapsodic on Another Earth. But of course what we all care about here are the boys thoughts on the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #1 (hint: they dig it), and Ultimate Spider-Man #1, which includes them mocking the %#$& out of “valued reader” Jimmy Champane and “formally happy Marvel true believer” Douglas Maxfield. Good times.

Paul and AJ have already told you what movies you're going to watch this fall, but what about those nights when you feel like staying in and staring slack-jawed at your television screen? Well, ladies and germs,we've got you covered! The boys discuss a number of new shows--sci-fi dramas like Terra Nova and comedies like New Girl, starring the glorious angel that is Zooey Deschanel--and returning ones--from Community to Boardwalk Empire. Now you have no excuse not to be as anti-social as humanly possible. You can thank us later! Plus: Paul reviews more DC New 52 books; AJ tells you why you need Spotify in your life; we've got the second half of last week's Formspring question; and a listener e-mail.

Hello Gobblers! In honor of this Labor Day holiday, the boys did absolutely no work to get this podcast ready. No news. No predetermined topic. Just two geeks chatting and ranting, freestyle…like nerdy, talentless Flava Flavs. Thrill as the boys complain about George Lucas! Marvel as they complain about the debut of the DC New 52! (See what I did there?) Roll your eyes as they conflate adorable actress Karen Gillan and adorable (?) writer Kieron Gillen! They saw some movies and say some things about ‘em; they pimp some local record stores; they sing the praises of Direct Comic Book Service (http://www.dcbservice.com/) and InStockTrades (http://www.instocktrades.com/)…PLEASE SPONSOR US!

Gather 'round, boys and girls! The leaves will soon be falling from the trees; snow can't be too far off after that. After long, strenuous days of leaf-blowing and snow-shoveling, what better way to take respite than by going to a movie? Well, luckily for you, Paul and AJ have got your fall/winter itinerary covered: they discuss 65 (!) movies coming out from September through January, from blockbusters like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to arthouse flicks like The Artist, from sure-to-be-awful movies like The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 to sure-to-be-awesome movies like Carnage. As August comes to a close, pour yourself a mug of hot cocoa, wrap yourself in a parka, and fantasize about all the moviegoing you'll be doing the next few months.

Next: Maaaaybe TV previews?

Have you ever been inexplicably, powerfully moved by a scene in a film? Has there ever been a moment in your favorite television series that captivated you beyond all explanation? Have you found yourself so strongly identifying with a paragraph, page or chapter in a book that you feel as though you’ve been forever transformed? Paul and AJ have, more times than they can count. Hear just some of the scenes from pop culture that have spoken to them over the years. Also, AJ sees The Smurfs and lives to smurf the smurf (but just barely.) And our Formspring page is being ridden like a two dollar whore lately, giving us more questions than the boys could possibly answer… but they give the ol’ college try anyway.

Next: 2011 Fall/Winter Movie Preview

Everything old is new again. Hollywood insists that there are no new stories to tell. This week, Paul and AJ wander through the desert of pop culture and discuss the ups and downs (mostly downs) of prequels and reboots, looking for the rare oases of creativity. Also, Paul spends way too long saying not nearly enough about the latest reboot, Rise of the Planet of the Apes. And the boys wrap it all up with a slew of Formspring questions.

Next: Your guess is as good as ours.

For the latest Geek Challenge, the boys challenged each other to watch two

very different Westerns: Clint Eastwood's classic 1976 outing The Outlaw

Josey Wales for AJ, and the Coen Brothers' 2007 award-winner No County for

Old Men for Paul. One is an epic tale of revenge, filled with Indians and

shoot-outs and starring the Spirit of the West himself. The other is a

bleak modern Western featuring a frightening force of nature ripping

through anyone in his way. How does the Challenge turn out? How often does

Josey Wales spit? How dorky is Anton Chigurh's hair? These questions, and

probably not others, will be answered in this week's gobble-rific Geek

Challenge! Plus: news, the boys' joint review of Captain America: The

First Avenger, and too many Formspring questions!

Next: Something to do with Apes?

San Diego had its annual expo/trade show/clusterfuck from July 20-24, Comic-Con International, and while the Gobblers weren't actually on hand, they discuss some of the biggest comics, movies, and TV news to emerge from its seething bowels. Oh, and some nifty cosplaying. (Also some pathetic cosplaying. But we're trying to be positive here.) Plus: news and Formspring questions!

Next: "No Country for the Outlaw Josey Wales."

Captain America has arrived to some very positive buzz, but not all superhero adaptations fare so well. Paul and AJ are here with their official list of the 5 Worst Superhero Adaptations...but to console your inevitable sense of despair, they've also got the 5 Best Superhero Adaptations. Tights, capes, laser beams, and nipples are all on display. Merely a day's work for our intrepid Gobblers.

Next: Comic-Con 2011!

‘Nuff Said.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen: the C-Word! We're talking about canon, of course. (And its dirty little sister, continuity.) These two words, and fan reaction to them, have defined a lot of fandom. How do you react to the supposed reality of a fictional story? Is it fluid? Who has the right to decide where canon begins and ends? These questions and more are blathered on about by Paul and AJ this week. Plus: news, AJ's review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, and Formspring questions.