Mark Bluestein of Alamo Drafthouse St. Louis returns to Mostly Superheroes to talk cult classics, repertory programming, and why older films often outperform new releases. From Twin Peaks and The Evil Dead to D&D nights, Kevin Smith stories, and the power of moviegoing community, this episode pulls back the curtain on modern cinema culture.

00:00:00 – Studio intro, honorific jokes, Alamo schedule setup

00:05:00 – Repertory titles outperforming new releases, Twin Peaks sellout surge

00:10:00 – David Lynch deep dive, Twin Peaks theatrical history

00:15:00 – January lineup wrap‑up: Hard Boiled, Twilight parties, movie‑party culture

00:20:00 – Transition into February preview, Elvis tease, rep‑title strategy

00:25:00 – February lineup planning, Big Show concept, early blockbuster hints

00:30:00 – Crafting‑and‑movies series, Phantom of the Opera, reptile joke, Interview With the Vampire

00:35:00 – Big Show blockbusters revealed: There Will Be Blood, The Shining, Gladiator, The Dark Knight

00:40:00 – Interstellar, summer movie ramp‑up, Marvel slate, Endgame rerelease + Doomsday setup

00:45:00 – Trailer philosophy, avoiding spoilers, Marvel marketing critique

00:50:00 – Community events, trivia nights, charity taps, Alamo as community hub

00:51:00 – Closing reflections on Alamo experience, theater quality, programming philosophy

Subscribe and support our indie podcast at www.mostlysuperheroes.com

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we take a deep look at Our Friend, Martin (1999), the powerful animated film that introduces young audiences to the life, leadership, and moral courage of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The film follows two middle school friends who are magically transported through time, meeting Dr. King at pivotal moments in his life. By blending animation with real historical events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, Our Friend, Martin makes civil rights history accessible, personal, and deeply human.

We discuss why this film still matters today, how it communicates the principles of nonviolence, equality, and compassion, and why its message extends far beyond the classroom. Featuring an extraordinary voice cast including Ed Asner, Angela Bassett, LeVar Burton, Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Samuel L. Jackson, James Earl Jones, Oprah Winfrey, and Dexter King as the voice of his father, the film stands as a rare and thoughtful piece of historical storytelling.

This episode explores the lasting lessons of Dr. King’s legacy and reminds us that progress is not just something we study from the past, but something we carry forward through our own actions every day.

Enjoy and Support our Indie Podcast at www.mostlysuperheroes.com 

This week on Mostly Superheroes: Friday LIVE!, Logan Janis runs through urgent St. Louis tornado relief efforts, exclusive movie news from Alamo Drafthouse, and what’s coming next on the podcast. From repertory screenings and early movie reviews to upcoming guests and community events, this is your quick-hit guide to the weekend.

Timestamps & Topics:

00:00 – Welcome to Mostly Superheroes & Friday Live intro

00:45 – What Friday Live is & how to watch/listen each week

01:53 – St. Louis tornado relief update & call for community help

02:20 – Danni Eickenhorst (HUSTL Hospitality) tornado recovery message

04:32 – How to get involved with ongoing tornado relief efforts

04:57 – New 2026 interview: Pizza Battle & wrestling talk with Andy Taylor

05:38 – Exclusive movie access thanks to Alamo Drafthouse & Allied Global Marketing

06:20 – Major Alamo Drafthouse St. Louis repertory news (The Dark Knight!)

06:47 – Tease: possible celebrity appearance at a local theater

07:47 – Early, spoiler-free movie reviews from Scotty Scoop

08:52 – Netflix throwback recommendation: Hit and Run (2013)

09:38 – Upcoming events, conventions & insider screenings

10:07 – Future podcast guests & interviews preview

12:00 – Fan voicemail line, newsletter & ad-free episodes

12:43 – Supporting the indie podcast, sponsors & deals

13:24 – Final sign-off & Friday wrap-up

Tune in and subscribe to our indie podcast and support the show at

Pizza Babble is back on Mostly Superheroes to launch Season 7 with a wide-ranging conversation about pizza, indie wrestling, and St. Louis culture. Andy breaks down how his platform grew beyond food reviews into spotlighting local wrestlers, restaurants, and real community stories.

We talk viral videos, wrestling promotions, Kansas City food trips, the International Pizza Expo in Vegas, and why supporting local creators actually matters.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations about movies, events, food, wrestling, and St. Louis culture.

Timestamps

The Truman Show (1998) starring Jim Carrey is one of the most prophetic films ever made. In this episode of Mostly Superheroes, Logan Janis revisits the film for the 20+ time, breaks down why it still hits harder than ever in the age of reality TV and social media, and shares myth-busting insights from screenwriter Andrew Niccol via the British Film Institute.

We start spoiler-free, then dive deep into themes, performances, production secrets, and why this movie feels even more relevant today.

🎬 Directed by Peter Weir

Watch / Listen / Support:

00:00 – Iconic Opening Quote

Sources:

British Film Institute https://www.bfi.org.uk/interviews/how-we-made-truman-show-20th-anniversary 

IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120382/ 

Mostly Superheroes is back for Season 7.

Host Logan Janis kicks off 2026 with a reintroduction to the show, the crew, and what’s ahead this year—movies, comic books, pop culture, mental health advocacy, and what’s happening in St. Louis and beyond.

This episode sets the tone for a weekly podcast featuring:

Film & TV conversations (Marvel, Stranger Things, Avengers: Doomsday)

Comic books, books, and nerd culture

Local events, food, breweries, and festivals

Interviews with creatives, artists, and industry voices

Honest conversations about mental health and balance

Mostly Superheroes is an independent podcast recorded in St. Louis and supported by listeners, patrons, and community partners. New episodes weekly.

Subscribe, support, and learn more: www.MostlySuperheroes.com  

We’re wrapping 2025 with our favorite movies of the year! 🎉 Featuring Better Man, Captain America: Brave New World, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, F1, The Naked Gun, A Minecraft Movie, Superman, Materialists, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Friendship, Predator: Badlands, Fantastic Four: First Steps, Eddington, Bugonia and more.

Join us as we countdown our Best Movies of 2025! Thanks again to Allied Global Marketing, Alamo Drafthouse, Ronnie’s BBQ Theater, Marcus Theaters, and High Point Max Movies for sending us to screenings all year.

Our picks include Better Man, Captain America: Brave New World, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, F1, The Naked Gun, A Minecraft Movie, Superman, Materialists, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Friendship, Predator: Badlands, Fantastic Four: First Steps, Eddington, and Bugonia. Listen to our full review and find out which movie topped our 2025 list!

Support us: www.mostlysuperheroes.com/support 

We’re talking comic books, real books, digital reading, and how we actually consume stories in 2025.

From diving deep into Marvel Unlimited to cracking open physical comics from Epic Panels, we break down what’s working, what’s frustrating, and why reading order matters more than people admit. The conversation jumps from the Ultimates line and Ultimate Wolverine to Invincible’s Battle Beast, Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell, and why some comics are just not made for casual reading.

00:00 Intro – Getting Back Into Comics (Digital vs Physical)

We also get into:

Why Marvel Unlimited is great… and where it falls short

The Ultimates run and why it feels destined to end badly

Invincible, Battle Beast, and power scaling done right

Old-man superheroes, brutal endings, and earned tragedy

How reading habits differ (single issues vs full arcs)

Audiobooks, Audible goals, and giant fantasy commitments

This is a loose, honest conversation about reading for joy, context, and obsession — not checking boxes.

In this episode of Mostly Superheroes, we break down our Best of Music and Live Events from 2025 — from Spotify Wrapped chaos and shared family playlists to unforgettable concerts, Vegas Sphere shows, WrestleMania, GalaxyCon, and more.

We talk favorite artists (Radiohead, Coheed and Cambria, Kid Cudi, Taylor Swift), debate Spotify vs Amazon Music, recap incredible live shows across St. Louis and beyond, and reflect on the pop culture moments that defined our year.

🎵 Music

00:00 – Best Music of 2025 kicks off