Podcasts Archives - Geek Hard

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Petula Neale as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

We’re living in unprecedented times. A global pandemic has changed our way of life and no part of society has gone untouched. One virus has crippled our way of life. This sounds like the opening lines of a comic book but it’s the truth. And just like everything else, COVID-19 has affected the comic industry. Diamond Comics Distribution, the main distributor of weekly comics to the direct market, closed its doors for several weeks. Comic shops, some operating under restrictions and mandatory shut downs, were without new product. DC Comics scrambled to find new ways to get comics to the stores. Other companies stopped production, waiting to see what would happen next. For a number of weeks, it was uncertain where and when new comics would arrive.

While Diamond has reopened for business and some shops are now allowed to operate, this is just the first chapter for the comics industry. What does the future hold for the medium? Are digital comics in a better position in this current climate? These questions are rolling around the minds of many fans, including us!

This week, Andrew and Petula look at the future of comic shop and its chances of survival. They also suggest new strategies to get product to their customers and what product to focus on. Fans still need comics in a pandemic world and we discuss how to get them on the latest episode of Back Issue Bloodbath!

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you. And be sure to join our Facebook page for exclusive content. Support us on Patreon.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

Originally Aired: 05/22/20 – We review Snowpiercer. We talk with actor Meaghan Rath of Hawaii Five-O and also with actor Phillip Lewitski of Utopia Falls

Show Notes:

FRIENDLY PANDEMIC REMINDER: Wash your hands (<20 seconds), cough/sneeze into your elbow, stay 6 feet apart and only go outside if it’s essential. Also, thank essential workers and DON’T HOARD!

We talk with actor Meaghan Rath! Meaghan was a regular guest on Geek Hard between 2011 and 2016! Earlier this year, we announced that Meaghan was the winner of our “Guest of Decade” honour on the Froggy Awards! She joins us to accept the award. She’ll also tell us all about her adventures on Hawaii Five-0 and more! A dynamic and versatile performer, Meaghan Rath is an award-nominated actress and producer best known for her role as Sally Malik in the adaptation of the popular U.K. television series Being Human. Rath starred in the comedy Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life and has appeared in recurring roles on New Girl, Secrets & Lies, and the crime drama Banshee. Rath produced and starred in the indie feature film Three Night Stand. The film is available on video on demand. She also played Tani Rey for three seasons on Hawaii Five-0.

Our review of Snowpiercer starring Daveed Diggs, Jennifer Connelly and Mickey Sumner. Set more than seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland, Snowpiercer centers on the remnants of humanity who inhabit a perpetually moving train, with 1001 cars, that circles the globe. Class warfare, social injustice and the politics of survival play out in this riveting television adaptation.

We also talk with actor Phillip Lewitski. Phillip is one of the stars of Utopia Falls, which is available for streaming on Hulu and CBC Gem. He’ll be on to chat about his work on the series and more! Born in Canada, Phillip Lewitski comes from a French, Ukrainian, and Mohawk ancestry. His heritage is a strong part of his identity and he strives to learn and explore his cultural roots. He grew up playing the piano, violin, and drums, with drumming being a way to connect with his Mohawk culture. He is a huge advocate for mental health and volunteers his time working with youth struggling from abusive homes, domestic violence, and drugs. At age 19 he published a book, Inside My Head, documenting his experiences growing up with hope to impact other teens struggling with life’s ups and downs.

It was a great show!

Geek Hard is brought to you by Durham Escape Rooms! If you’re looking for a fun time in the Toronto area, make a trip out to 1121 Dundas Street East, Unit 9 in Whitby. Bring your friends, family or co-workers and solve puzzles and clues in an exciting escape experience. Find out more info HERE!

Geek Hard Extra:

Plus exclusively for our $4/month+ Patreon supporters, our latest Geek Hard Extra episode we take a look back on actor Ewan McGregor’s career.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

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Geek Hard Logo – Candice Hibbard and Rich Robbins Technic...

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Petula Neale as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

When it comes to the greatest Wolverine stories, many fans would point to his encounters with Sabretooth or the Wolverine mini by Claremont and Miller. There’s no contesting that those stories are great. But there are a few hidden gems out there that still stand up today. This week on Bloodbath, we talk about one of those gems: Blood Debt, written and drawn by Steve Skroce.

Released in 2000, right around the time that the first X-Men movie hit theatres, Blood Debt is a tale of family and betrayal. Logan makes a trip to Japan to check in on his adopted daughter, Amiko, and is dragged into a war between siblings over control of the criminal underworld. Wolverine is played a pawn in their game. That’s not a position Wolvie is used to playing. But he’s the best there is at what he does. What he does isn’t pretty, but it sure is entertaining! He’s down but never out. He takes the fight to this warring clan and then some! He’s Wolverine, dammit!

Join Andrew and Petula as the dive deep into Blood Debt. It’s a great stand alone story that delivers the violence and honour that any Wolverine fan would love. A strong story with beautiful visuals that pull you into the Wolvie’s world. Not a bad way to spend a half hour. It’s all coming your way on an ALL NEW, ALL DIFFERENT Back Issue Bloodbath. If you’re looking for a Bloodbath, Blood Debt delivers.

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you. And be sure to join our Facebook page for exclusive content. Support us on Patreon.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

Originally Aired: 05/15/20 – We review Capone. We talk with actor Paul Amos of Homecon and also with actor Natalie Sharp of The Flash.

Show Notes:

FRIENDLY PANDEMIC REMINDER: Wash your hands (<20 seconds), cough/sneeze into your elbow, stay 6 feet apart and only go outside if it’s essential. Also, thank essential workers and DON’T HOARD!

We talk with actor Paul Amos. Paul is best known for his work on Lost Girl and the Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate video game. He’ll be on to talk about the upcoming Homecon: Second Edition. It’s a virtual convention that takes place online, offering panels on Twitch and one-on-one zoom chats with some of your favourite actors! The Second Edition of Homecon happened May 16th and 17th. Paul Amos is an actor from Wales, UK. On arriving in Canada Paul spent a couple of years with the Stratford Festival Of Canada. Since then he has developed an impressive resume of TV credits. He’s worked on several projects including Combat Hospital, Warehouse 13, Degrassi goes to Hollywood, Mudpit, She’s the Mayor, Casualty, and the animated web series adaptation of Captain Canuck. Paul is best known for his recurring characters Dr.Roberts in Murdoch Mysteries and Vex in the Showcase/Syfy hit Lost Girl. Also, released in October 2015 Paul plays the lead role of Jacob Frye in Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate. For more on Homecon: Second Edition, check out their website and follow them on Twitter, Instagram and  Facebook.

Our review of Capone starring Tom Hardy, Linda Cardellini and Matt Dillon. Once a ruthless businessman and bootlegger who ruled Chicago with an iron fist, Alfonse Capone was the most infamous and feared gangster of American lore. At the age of 47, following nearly a decade of imprisonment, dementia rots Alfonse’s mind and his past becomes present. Harrowing memories of his violent and brutal origins melt into his waking life. As he spends his final year surrounded by family with the FBI lying in wait, this ailing patriarch struggles to place the memory of the location of millions of dollars he hid away on his property.

We also talk with actor Natalie Sharp. Natalie recently appeared in two episodes of The Flash as Sunshine, a brand new character created for the television series. Natalie Sharp is a Canadian actress, singer and songwriter from Vancouver BC. TV credits include Loudermilk, You Me Her, Motive and Supernatural. Other screen credits include several collaborations with her brother, director Alexander Sharp; playing lead and principal roles in his films, including Impasto, which was nominated at the Playhouse West Film Festival in Los Angeles. Online, Natalie co-wrote and stars as “Stretch”, alongside Michelle Creber’s “Speedy” in their YouTube variety series, Speedy & Stretch. She also appears in several music videos including Note to God and Spies in the Night.

It was a great show!

Geek Hard is brought to you by Durham Escape Rooms! If you’re looking for a fun time in the Toronto a...

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Petula Neale as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

This week on Bloodbath, we take a trip back to 2003 to see the return of one of DC Comics’ staple super teams: The Teen Titans! Geoff Johns, along with artist Mike McKone, breathed new life into the franchise by combining it with another. Members from both the Titans and Young Justice banded together to form a new team in San Francisco. The result was a few great years of Teen Titans tales! On today’s episode, we look at the first story arc of the series, A Kid’s Game.

The formation of this team is a rocky one with many fights, disagreements and miscommunications along the way. There’s also more than a few instances of Justice League members being straight up dicks! That’s what make this story stand out. Much like the Marv Wolfman and George Perez stories from the 80s, A Kid’s Game takes risks unseen in DC stories for a long time.

Join Andrew and Petula as they dive deep into the first arc of Geoff Johns’ Teen Titans. They also hint on other great moments from later in the run and look specifically at the effects the series had on two characters in particular. It’s all waiting for you on an ALL NEW Back Issue Bloodbath. Enjoy!

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you. And be sure to join our Facebook page for exclusive content. Support us on Patreon.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

Originally Aired: 05/08/20 – We review Disney Gallery: Star Wars The Mandalorian. We talk with writer Jimmy Palmiotti of Kill Pop! and also with actor Kai Bradbury of Motherland: Fort Salem.

Show Notes:

FRIENDLY PANDEMIC REMINDER: Wash your hands (<20 seconds), cough/sneeze into your elbow, stay 6 feet apart and only go outside if it’s essential. Also, thank essential workers and DON’T HOARD!

We talk with comic creator Jimmy Palmiotti who returns to the show to talk about his latest Kickstarter campaign for the new comic, Pop Kill. Co-created by Dave Johnson, Pop Kill is an adults-only comic book. Former Siamese Twins own the top competing cola companies and are in an all-out war for industry dominance. Dina Deluxe, a scientist working for Popso Cola, has just invented a cola that stays carbonated longer! The head of Fizz One Cola activates Jon Pyle, an oversexed mercenary, to take care of her. His orders are to get to switch sides or get rid of her. Things get way complicated from there. The Kickstarter is for Issue #1 of Pop Kill and has a bunch of great incentives. We’ll find out more this Friday! Jimmy Palmiotti is a multi-award winning comic book creator with a wide range of experience and background in advertising, production, editorial, film writing, production, media presentation and video game development. Just a few of his clients include Nike, Disney, Warner Brothers, Lion’s Gate, Fox, and New Line, 2KGames and THQ Nordic. Co-founder of such companies as Event Comics, Black Bull Media, Marvel Knights and the current PaperFilms, where he is partners with Amanda Conner, Justin Gray, Frank Tieri and Paul Mounts. Created and co-created numerous series including: The Big Con Job, Retrovirus, Creator Owned Heroes and Painkiller Jane. For more on Pop Kill, check out the Kickstarter campaign HERE!

Our review of Disney Gallery: Star Wars The Mandalorian starring Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni and more. In Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian a new eight-episode documentary series, executive producer Jon Favreau invites the cast and crew to share an unprecedented look at the making of the series that quickly became a pop culture phenomenon after premiering last November. Each chapter explores a different facet of the first live-action Star Wars television show through interviews, never-before-seen footage, and roundtable conversations hosted by Favreau himself.

We also talk with actor Kai Bradbury. Kai plays Gerit, a male witch on the new Freeform series Motherland: Fort Salem he talks about that and more! Kai Bradbury is an up and coming actor who can be seen in Freeform’s new series Motherland: Fort Salem as Gerit, a male witch who strikes up a whirlwind relationship with ‘Tally Craven,’ played by Jessica Sutton (The Kissing Booth). The show reimagines history where witches ended their persecution 300 years ago by cutting a deal with a burgeoning U.S. government to fight for their country as powerful soldiers. Kai kicked off his career with Amazon’s The ...

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Petula Neale as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

The world is going through some dark times right now. So we thought we raise spirits by talking about a hero that beams optimism like the sentinel of liberty that he is! This week’s review is of The Adventures of Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty. Created by Fabian Nicieza and Kevin Maguire, The Adventures of Captain America is a 4 issue, prestige format miniseries released in 1991. It retells the origins of Steve Rogers and his date with the super soldier serum. We see his first encounter with the Red Skull, the introduction of Bucky, and all the other touchstones of Cap’s early days. It’s a celebration of the star spangled Avenger in a time before the Avengers!

Looking back on the book, it’s obvious that this series had a great influence on the Captain America: The First Avenger film. There are character designs that are directly lifted from the book and put onto the screen. This series will make you want to watch the movie again!

Join Andrew and Petula for a look back that proves there were good comics in the early nineties! The Adventures of Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty is the book that any Cap fan would want to read. So listen to our review and then go read this comic. It’s worth your time and dollars!

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you. And be sure to join our Facebook page for exclusive content. Support us on Patreon.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

Originally Aired: 05/01/20 – We review Arkansas. We talk with actor Rachel Skarsten of Batwoman and Homecon 2.0 and also with actor Amanda Joy of Second Jen and more.

Show Notes:

FRIENDLY PANDEMIC REMINDER: Wash your hands (<20 seconds), cough/sneeze into your elbow, stay 6 feet apart and only go outside if it’s essential. Also, thank essential workers and DON’T HOARD!

We talk with actor Rachel Skarsten! Rachel plays Alice on Batwoman but is also recognized for playing Elizabeth I of England on Reign and Tamsin on Lost Girl. She’ll be on to talk about Homecon: 2nd Edition. Homecon is a convention you can attend from the comforts of your own home! The first Homecon was a major success and they’re doing another one on May 16th and 17th. Rachel talks about this and more. Rachel Skarsten danced for the Royal Academy of Dance for 12 years, earning her Elementary Level with distinction in 1999. At 16, she won the role of superhero Black Canary in the WB series Birds of Prey. She moved back to Los Angeles in 2008 and returned to acting with arcs on Flashpoint, The Listener and The LA Complex. Rachel played Tamsin in the supernatural crime drama series Lost Girl, Andrea in Fifty Shades of Grey, and Queen Elizabeth I in the CW series Reign. Rachel plays Alice on Batwoman on the CW.

Our review of Arkansas starring Liam Hemsworth, Clarke Duke and Vince Vaughn. Kyle (Liam Hemsworth) and Swin (Clark Duke) live by the orders of an Arkansas-based drug kingpin named Frog, whom they’ve never met. Posing as junior park rangers by day, they operate as low-level drug couriers by night under the watchful eye of Frog’s proxies. Their world is then upended after one too many inept decisions, and Kyle, Swin, and Johnna find themselves directly in Frog’s crosshairs, who mistakenly sees them as a threat to his empire.

We also talk with actor, writer and producer Amanda Joy. Amanda is one of the creators and stars of the comedy series Second Jen. The series about two second-generation millennials and inseparable best friends who move in together to prove to their immigrant families, and themselves, that they can make it on their own. We chatted with Amanda about the series back during the summer of 2018. Amanda returns to tell us about the upcoming third season. She’ll also be on to talk about how she’s spending her quarantine. Amanda Joy is a second-generation Filipino-Chinese-Canadian. She is an actor, screenwriter, and filmmaker based in Toronto. Past roles include leads in the films Virtual Hitman (Official Selection Festival de Cannes 2016), Devil’s Mile, and Disconnection, as well as recurring roles on Degrassi, and Anxietyville. For her improvised performance in the short comedy The Talk, she took home gold at ACTRA’s 24-hour Film Competition. Joy is an alumna of the WGC’s Diverse Screenwriters’ Program. She is a member of The Beaverton’s online writing staff. Other writing credits include The Magpie Bridge, Hunter’s Chance, Quota, and Dig to China (Official Selection Toronto International Short Film Festival 2015). She has worked short-lived stints as a diamond runner and portable hot-chocolate dispenser (true story). Joy is a Ryerson Dean’s Prize Winner, Merit Scholar, and dual Ontario Arts Certificate holder for music, and filmmaking.

It was a great show!

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Petula Neale as they get down and dirty in the four-colour world of comic books, focusing on classic stories, new issues, comic creators and hot button topics.

Back in March, during a time before we all were quarantined to our homes, there was a place called a movie theatre. Believe or not, the last big film to hit the cinema before it closed up was a superhero movie. It wasn’t a Marvel or DC film. No sir! Valiant Comics released their first live action film on an unsuspecting public. Bloodshot, starring Vin Diesel, opened on March 13th. And then COVID-19 caught up with this side of the world and theatres were shut down for the foreseeable future. Bloodshot is now available for rental online. While the film went unnoticed, the comic book it’s based on has had some of the greatest comic stories of the past several years. We take a look at one of those great stories on this week’s Back Issue Bloodbath: Bloodshot Reborn!

Written by Jeff Lemire, Bloodshot Reborn began in 2015, directly following events that happened in The Valiant miniseries. We previously reviewed The Valiant on the show. This episode is a companion piece to that episode. Bloodshot is human again, free of the nannites. He’s alone, confused, and generally failing at life. He’s out of the game, but not for long. Random men infected by nannites start to kill innocents and only Bloodshot can stop them. Thus begins Ray Garrison’s journey taking him to places both far away and deep within his mind.

Join Andrew and special guest co-host Adam Sikora for an in-depth look at Bloodshot Reborn.

Have an idea for a certain topic we should cover? Have an indie comic book you’d like us to review? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Back Issue Bloodbath” in the subject line. We’d love to hear from you. And be sure to join our Facebook page for exclusive content. Support us on Patreon.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

Originally Aired: 04/24/20 – We review Extraction. We talk with actor Tim Rozon of Vagrant Queen and also with artist Rags Morales of Identity Crisis and more.

Show Notes:

FRIENDLY PANDEMIC REMINDER: Wash your hands (<20 seconds), cough/sneeze into your elbow, stay 6 feet apart and only go outside if it’s essential. Also, thank essential workers and DON’T HOARD!

We talk with actor Tim Rozon. Tim is best known for his portrayal of Doc Holliday on Wynonna Earp. Right now, you can catch him as Isaac on the SYFY/CityTV show Vagrant Queen. He talks about Vagrant Queen and more. Tim Rozon’s first major role was playing Tommy Quincy for four seasons on the teen drama series Instant Star for TeenNick and CTV. He was then cast as the series lead Alex Caine, playing a gang infiltrator, in Befriend and Betray. Recent series leads include two seasons playing Mutt Schitt on the CBC/Netflix comedy Schitt’s Creek; and playing Doc Holliday for three seasons on Wynonna Earp. Last year Tim played the series regular role of RCMP Constable Carson Myers, stand up lawman and love interest, on the CBC series Diggstown opposite Natasha Henstridge and Vinessa Antoine. This year, Tim plays Isaac, lawyer turned space rogue, in Vagrant Queen. 

Our review of Extraction starring Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal and Shivam Vichare. A black-market mercenary who has nothing to lose is hired to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord. But in the murky underworld of weapons dealers and drug traffickers, an already deadly mission approaches the impossible.

We also talk with comic artist Rags Morales. Rags has worked in comics for many years at various companies, including DC and Valiant. He illustrated Identity Crisis, James Robinson and Geoff John’s Hawkman run, the New 52 relaunch of Action Comics, and others. Recently, he did a story a two-issue story in Bloodshot Rising Spirit. He talks about his work in the comics industry and more! A veteran of the comic industry, Rags began his career with DC Comics in 1989 with the TSR licensed book Forgotten Realms. His first superhero series was “Black Condor.” He has since worked on countless titles for DC, most notably “Identity Crisis”. Other notable projects include long runs on “JSA,” “Hawkman,” not to forget “Batman/Superman,” “Nightwing,” The New 52 and “First Wave.” Rags has also worked with Valiant, Dark Horse, and Marvel Comics. Rags is also a former teacher at the Joe Kubert School of Cartooning and Graphic Art. He lives in eastern Pennsylvania. For more information on convention appearances and commissions for Rags Morales contact his agent at Eva Ink Artist Group at:  [email protected].

It was a great show!

Geek Hard is brought to you by Durham Escape Rooms! If you’re looking for a fun time in the Toronto area, make a trip out to 1121 Dundas Street East, Unit 9 in Whitby. Bring your friends, family or co-workers and solve puzzles and clues in an exciting escape experience. Find out more info HERE!

Geek Hard Extra: