Needless Things

Recorded live on Dragon Con’s American Sci-Fi Classics track, this special episode brings together a wild cast of podcasters, performers, and lifelong fans for a full table read of the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends episode “The Bride of Dracula.”

When Count Dracula hypnotizes Angelica Jones and carries her off to Transylvania, Spider-Man and Iceman launch a globe-spanning rescue filled with monster-movie mayhem, superhero banter, and delightfully over-the-top narration.

Before and after the performance, the panelists share how different cartoons, comics, toys, movies, records, and video games introduced them to Spider-Man—and why Peter Parker remains such a relatable hero across generations. The conversation also highlights the creative community behind the event, Dragon Con’s charity drive for Hope Atlanta, and plenty of recommendations for fellow fans. Expect nostalgia, comedy, audience stories, and one very jet-black jet.

Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends!

“The Bride of Dracula” or “The Transylvanian Connection”

Written by Jack Mendehlson

Gary Mitchel - PETER PARKER/SPIDER-MAN

Kristian Allen - BOBBY DRAKE/ICEMAN

Rebeccah Wood - ANGELICA JONES/FIRESTAR

Charles Kelso - COUNT DRACULA

Noel Wood - BRUNO THE WOLF-THING/CAPTAIN/MS LION

Kevin Cafferty - FRANKENSTEIN/AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER/COPILOT

Dave West - NARRATOR

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Thirty years after Resident Evil first opened the doors to survival horror, the Needless Things crew reunites for a lively follow-up to their standing-room-only Dragon Con panel. Dave welcomes Keith, Beth, Ryan Cadaver, and Nicole Ghouled Cadaver for a wide-ranging conversation about the franchise’s roots in Sweet Home, its most iconic sounds and scenes, and the essential ingredients that make a game feel unmistakably Resident Evil: tense exploration, puzzle-driven progression, scarce resources, memorable monsters, deep lore, and the welcome relief of a save room. Along the way, the group revisits favorite characters and overlooked heroes, debates the series’ shifts from the classic trilogy to the action-heavy fourth through sixth entries and the first-person terror of Resident Evil 7, imagines new games centered on Rebecca, Ada, Marvin, and Raccoon City, and shares plenty of personal gaming memories, side quests, and laughs. Whether you have been with S.T.A.R.S. since the mansion or are just entering the survival-horror world, this episode celebrates how Resident Evil keeps reinventing itself without losing the tension, weirdness, and evil science at its core.

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New York Comic Con 2026 Toy News & Highlights

Dave West is joined by Ryan Schweck and Kristian Allen for a recap of the non–G.I. Joe toy news surrounding New York Comic Con 2026. The trio weighs rising prices, collecting limits, and whether the latest reveals are truly worth the shelf space while covering Mattel’s DC relaunch, McFarlane Toys, Marvel Legends, Star Wars Black Series and Vintage Collection, NECA, Nacelle’s Star Trek line, Super7, Fresh Monkey Fiction, Mezco, and indie projects from Wandering Planet Toys. Standouts include Nacelle’s wonderfully deep-cut Star Trek releases, Black Series Squid Head, Super7’s Peanuts Deluxe figures, holiday Leatherface, and an eclectic assortment of horror and pop-culture collectibles. Mattel’s return to DC inspires cautious optimism, while premium pricing, uneven finishes, and costly exclusives draw plenty of sharp criticism. Along the way, the hosts share their personal best-in-show picks and ultimately celebrate NECA’s variety, value, and imaginative licensing in a funny, candid, and nostalgia-fueled conversation for serious collectors and curious toy fans alike.

HUGE thanks to Toynewsi.com and Toyark.com for allowing us to use their fantastic photos from SDCC 2026! Be sure to visit both sites for full galleries!

ToyArk NYCC coverage: https://www.toyark.com/2026/10/09/nycc-2026-toy-and-action-figure-coverage-round-up-601332

Toy News International SDCC coverage: https://toynewsi.com/index.php

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For merchandise, go to... https://www.teepublic.com/user/needless-things ______________________________________________________________________________________

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While this interview came about as a companion piece to the Kyle Higgins interview on Needless Things Podcast 526, the episode is a compelling solo piece in and of itself.

Michael Nie has ben working in the film industry for over twenty years and as a cinematographer has experienced many facets of the film business. Listen in as Dave and Michael discuss his creative journey, working with Kyle Higgins, how he approaches projects and fellow filmmakers, and the upcoming GI Joe/Tomb Raider comic from Skybound and Image Comics.

Michael on IG

Michael Online

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KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE. RAIDING IS THE OTHER HALF!

G.I. JOE and LARA CROFT meet for THE FIRST TIME EVER in an all-new limited series from superstars KYLE HIGGINS (RADIANT BLACK) and ELENA CASAGRANDE (Black Widow) that reveals the classified connection between these pop culture icons.

Lara Croft has explored some of the most dangerous locations on Earth, but nothing as treacherous as Cobra Island.

For this adventure, she’ll need the help of her old acquaintance, Shipwreck, and several squads of Joes to mount a dangerous expedition into the heart of the island to recover a treasure that’s been hidden there for decades. One that Destro and Baroness will do anything to get their hands on first...

Kyle Higgins is a Harvey and Eisner award-nominated #1 New York Times best-selling comic book author and filmmaker known for his work on DC Comics’ Batman titles as well as his critically-acclaimed reinventions of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Ultraman, and his creator-owned series Radiant Black, NO/ONE, Deep Cuts, Moon Man and The Massive-Verse— a creator owned superhero universe at Image Comics.

Kyle is the founder and creative director of Black Market Narrative. He specializes in building immersive multi-narratives across mediums.

Listen in as Dave and Kyle discuss creativity and creation, the path of a comics career, and of course the new G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO/TOMB RAIDER miniseries from, Skybound and Image!

Kyle on Instagram

Kyle Online

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Join Dave, Beth, and Nicole & Ryan Cadaver as they discuss Hollywood's newest laff riot, Resident Evil! Is it way too goofy or just goofy enough?

From the mind of visionary filmmaker Zach Cregger (Weapons, Barbarian) comes a thrilling — and terrifying — reinvention of the Resident Evil franchise. In an all-new story, Resident Evil follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.

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Musician, toy collector, artist, and costume designer(!) Doktor Ross Sewage returns to the Needless Things Podcast!

Listen in as Dave and Ross talk about his most recent project Knights of Unicron and so much more!

Find Ross Sewage online:

Knights of Unicron LIVE at SDCC

DOK SEWAGE Toy Photography on IG

Music

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Dave is so, so tired. But he has to tell you about his time at Dragon Con 2026.

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Shaun Hatton is part of the musical project RUMBLEFRENZ! You can check out their newest album, WE EXIST IN THE REALM OF INFINITE POSSIBILITIES, the third RUMBLEFRENZ album, featuring nine tracks to continue accompanying you on your journey through space and time.

This album was recorded in 2026 after a trip back from the year 1997.

Listen in as Dave and Shaun talk Transformers, music, and video stores(!) on the newest episode of the Needless Things Podcast!

RUMBLEFRENZ on Bandcamp

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Lenny Panzica has spent the last few years leading a team that has been revitalizing the GI Joe brand. The GI Joe Classified Series is responsible for bringing about a new golden age of collecting and entertainment for Joe fans, both new and lifelong.

Now Lenny is embarking on a new mission - to work with the amazing creative talent at Boss Fight Studio to bring new dreams, worlds, and visions to life.

Listen in as Dave and Lenny talk toys, music, and life on the newest episode of the Needless Things Podcast!

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