Matinee Heroes

Before Thanos became the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s resident universe-threatening problem, Jim Starlin was drawing Hulk stories on a homemade desk while stationed in the Philippines. Recorded live at San Francisco Comic Con in Oakland in June 2018, this conversation traces the psychology class that inspired Thanos, the surprise of seeing Josh Brolin bring him to life, and the storytelling tricks behind The Infinity Gauntlet. Jim also explains how a grease-stained paper bag changed a Captain Marvel story, why he rescued Adam Warlock from a box of old comics, and what made The Death of Captain Marvel so personal.

“I think there’s three Thanoses. Basically, there’s mine, which is the best.” — Jim Starlin

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When a single mother and her two sons move to the seaside town of Santa Carla, they discover a deadly secret. As the older brother falls in with a mysterious gang, his younger brother learns the terrifying truth: the town is crawling with vampires. With help from two self-proclaimed vampire hunters, the brothers must save their family before they become the newest members of the undead.

Craig and Elisabeth talk 80s vampires, oily saxophonists, billionaire actresses and the movie “The Lost Boys” on this week’s Matinee Villains.

Show Notes

Real estate agent Thomas Hutter travels to Transylvania to meet the mysterious Count Orlok, unaware of the darkness awaiting him. Meanwhile, his young wife Ellen is haunted by disturbing visions and an overwhelming sense of dread. As an ancient evil begins to stir, their lives become entangled in a terrifying nightmare of obsession, fear, and the supernatural.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Blake Casselman talk about types of vampires, adapting classics, uncomfortable films and the movie “Nosferatu” on this week’s Matinee Villains!

Show Notes

Nine-year-old Frankie lives in a small town haunted by a serial child killer. When a Halloween prank leaves him locked inside his school, Frankie witnesses the ghostly reenactment of the killer’s first murder. Guided by the victim’s restless spirit, Frankie sets out to expose a murderer who may be closer than he thinks.

Craig, Elisabeth and Alan talk about children’s horror, ghosts, tonal mishmashes and the movie “Lady in White” on this week’s Matinee Villains!

Show Notes

In modern-day San Francisco, a mysterious vampire shares the extraordinary story of his 200-year existence with a young reporter. His journey through the centuries is filled with love, betrayal, and an endless struggle with his dark nature. As he recounts his past, he reveals the loneliness and torment of living forever while the world around him changes.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Annie Bulloch talk about depressed vampires, 1990s queer culture, vampiric werewolves and the movie “Interview with the Vampire” on this week’s Matinee Villains!

Show Notes

Dylan McDermott has built a career by refusing to stay in one place for very long. From leading-man roles to complicated villains, television dramas to comedy, he has continued to find new ways to challenge both himself and the way audiences see him.

Recorded live at FanX Salt Lake, Dylan joins me to talk about the people and experiences that helped shape that career. He shares what it was like being a young actor opposite Clint Eastwood in In the Line of Fire, watching Sally Field work on Steel Magnolias, and why working with producers like Ryan Murphy has given him the freedom to keep reinventing himself. And for the first few minutes, we also get a visit from his rescue dog, Otis.

“I think when I was a young actor I was trying to prove to you that I was a good actor, and now I don’t care about that. I only like it for me now.” – Dylan McDermott

Want more exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes stories from the people who bring your favorite characters to life? Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your favorite podcasting platform for more behind-the-scenes stories and exclusive interviews.

Retired safecracker Gal Dove is enjoying a peaceful new life in Spain with the wife he adores. His paradise is shattered when the volatile Don Logan arrives with an offer Gal desperately wants to refuse. Don is determined to drag him back to London for one last big score—whether Gal likes it or not.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Derek McCaw talk about sociopaths, saying “I love you”, British tanning and the movie “Sexy Beast” on this week’s Matinee Villains!

Show Notes

To celebrate Matinee Heroes reaching 500 episodes, we’re revisiting another milestone from the show’s history. This special Encore Presentation brings back Episode 375: Field of Dreams, originally released on April 6, 2024. Craig Price and Alan Cerny look back at the 1989 classic about baseball, faith, family, and following a dream even when no one else understands it. Along the way, they discuss getting through dark times, the enduring magic of baseball, and just how sweet James Earl Jones really was. As Matinee Heroes’ 375th episode, Field of Dreams marked the final major milestone on the road to 500 and makes a fitting Encore Presentation as we celebrate how far the show has come.

Alan and Craig discuss the faith around baseball, getting through dark times, how sweet James Earl Jones really is and the movie “Field of Dreams” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

To celebrate Matinee Heroes reaching 500 episodes, we’re revisiting another milestone from the show’s history. This special Encore Presentation brings back Episode 250: They Live, originally released on October 23, 2021. Craig Price and Alan Cerny are joined by Derek McCaw of Fanboy Planet to look back at John Carpenter’s 1988 cult classic, a sharp blend of science fiction, action, horror, and social satire. Originally released as part of Matinee Villains month, the episode also marked Matinee Heroes’ 250th episode, making They Live the perfect halfway-point milestone to revisit on the road to 500.

A wanderer without meaning in his life, discovers a pair of sunglasses capable of showing the world the way it truly is. both the media and the government are comprised of subliminal messages meant to keep the population subdued, and that most of the social elite are skull-faced aliens bent on world domination. With this shocking discovery, Nada fights to free humanity from the mind-controlling aliens.

Craig, Alan and guest Derek McCaw (@fanboyplanet on twitter) discuss how the world is stacked against you, FanX and Fantastic Fest, our 250th episode and the movie “They Live” on this week’s Matinee Villains!!

To celebrate Matinee Heroes reaching 500 episodes, we’re revisiting another milestone from the show’s history. This special Encore Presentation brings back Episode 125: Batman, originally released on May 18, 2019 and recorded live at Comicpalooza. Craig Price and Alan Cerny are joined by Heather from Nerdy Bitches to look back at Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman, the film that helped redefine the superhero movie for a new generation. Recorded in front of a live convention audience, the episode captures the energy, humor, and larger-than-life atmosphere that made this one of Matinee Heroes’ most memorable early live shows.

Having witnessed his parents’ brutal murder as a child, millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne fights crime in Gotham City disguised as Batman, a costumed hero who strikes fear into the hearts of villains. But when a deformed madman who calls himself “The Joker” seizes control of Gotham’s criminal underworld, Batman must face his most ruthless nemesis ever while protecting both his identity and his love interest, reporter Vicki Vale.

Alan, Craig and special guest Heather (@NerdyBitchesPod on twitter) talk dual identities, wasted resources, Nerdy Bitches and the movie Batman Live! from Comicpalooza on this week’s Matinee Heroes.