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.

It’s another creator spotlight on this week’s Back Issue Bloodbath! Over the past 5 years, Kelly Thompson has been producing stellar work for The House of Ideas! Her work at Marvel has been high octane fun! It’s no secret she’s a favourite here at Geek Hard, winning our Comic Creator Guest of the Year for 2019! We’ve also covered her work on Bloodbath a number of times. We’ve talked about Hawkeye and Captain Marvel! We even covered her Sabrina the Teenage Witch miniseries! This time around we talk about all that and more!

From the West Coast Avengers, to Nancy Drew, to Mr. & Mrs. X. No stone is left unturned. Okay….there are a few stones. Most of the stones are turned, though. Most. We even talk a bit about Kelly’s upcoming Black Widow run! April can’t come fast enough for that!

Join Andrew and Petula as they take a look at the many comic contributions of Kelly Thompson. And in case you’re wondering, yes, Andrew does talk about his love of Jeff the Landshark! It’s all coming your way on an ALL NEW, ALL DIFFERENT Back Issue Bloodbath. This one’s got the sass meter turned up to eleven!

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: 03/13/20 – We review Bloodshot. We talk with actor Genevieve Kang of Locke & Key. We also talk with comic creator Tana Ford of Marvel’s Silk and Berger Books LaGuardia.

Show Notes:

We talk with actor Genevieve Kang who plays Jackie on the series. She’ll be on to chat about making the show and more! Genevieve Kang is an enigmatic talent that draws audiences in with her self-possessed confidence and charm. Genevieve’s first role was a guest star on the Nickelodeon series “Romeo!”, playing opposite Lil Romeo. A slew of TV appearances soon followed including Guillermo del Toro’s “The Strain” and Global TV’s “Private Eyes” opposite Jason Priestley. Genevieve’s most recent credits include working opposite Carla Gugino in the HBO/Cinemax series “Jett” and playing the recurring role of Patty Yang in season one and two of the YouTube Premium series “Impulse”. Genevieve also had a recurring role on Freeform’s hugely popular series “Shadowhunters”. In 2020 Genevieve can be seen in the film RUN THIS TOWN with Ben Platt and Damian Lewis and in the feature film NOSE TO TAIL.

Our review of Bloodshot starring Vin Diesel, Eiza González and Sam Heughan. After he and his wife are murdered, marine Ray Garrison is resurrected by a team of scientists. Enhanced with nanotechnology, he becomes a superhuman, biotech killing machine – Bloodshot. As Ray first trains with fellow super-soldiers, he cannot recall anything from his former life. But when his memories flood back and he remembers the man that killed both him and his wife, he breaks out of the facility to get revenge, only to discover that there’s more to the conspiracy than he thought.

We also talk with comic artist and writer Tana Ford! Tana is best known for her work on Silk for Marvel and LaGuardia for Dark Horse. She was scheduled to be on to promote her upcoming appearance at this year’s Toronto Comicon. However, due to the current worldwide pandemic that event was cancelled. You can, of course, check out her online store to get some amazing work or request a commission by Tana here. Tana Ford is an artist and writer best known for her 12-issue run on Marvel’s Silk starring Cindy Moon. Her first graphic novel Duck! won the Queer Press Grant in 2010. The sequel Duck! Second Chances was a Lambda Literary Award finalist in 2014. Tana came in 2nd place for the 2019 HUGO Award for her work on Nnedi Okorafor’s Black Panther: Long Live the King. She teamed up with Nnedi again on LAGUARDIA (Dark Horse) where she got to work with legendary editor Karen Berger of the Berger Books imprint. Tana has drawn for Silk, The Amazing Spider-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, New Warriors, Jem and the Holograms, Star Trek, Black Panther, and Livewire.

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!

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.

Sometimes, all you need for a good time is fast track, a nice bike and a whole lotta Crush! This week on Back Issue Bloodbath, we take a trip to the raceway at Nova Honda to talk about Motor Crush! If you like motorcycles, racing and colourful characters, this is a series for you. Domino Swift is one of the top racers in the sport. She’s also involved in illegal street racing to win some rare and valuable contraband: Crush. Crush is a performance enhancement drug that makes your bike go faster. Human consumption is a big no-no. This stuff will kill a person almost instantly….all except for Domino, that is.

Created by Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart, and Babs Tarr, Motor Crush was first released in the spring of 2017. Since then, 11 issues (now collected in 2 trades) have made their way to the comic stands. At first glance, the book has strong Fast and Furious vibes. But the series is more than that. Part Sci-Fi, Part Family Drama, part feast for the senses, this series has shades of The Warriors, Speed Racer, Akira and more!

Join Andrew and Petula as they get their motor running and talk about Motor Crush. It’s a good way to spend your time.

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: 03/06/20 – We review Onward. We talk with actor Connor Jessup of Locke & Key. We also talk with Toronto ComiCon organizer James Armstrong.

Show Notes:

We play Mr. Green’s recent sit down with actor Connor Jessup from Netflix’s Locke & Key for a fun interview! You will hear that interview in its entirety. Connor Jessup was born in Toronto, Canada. An actor since the age of eleven, he is best known for his role as Ben Mason in TNT’s sci-fi series Falling Skies and as Taylor Blaine in the Emmy-winning ABC drama American Crime. Other notable roles include an early stint on the Discovery Kids series The Saddle Club, and acclaimed lead performances in Blackbird and Closet Monster. Jessup is also a writer, director and producer. He directed the documentary A.W. A Portrait of Apichatpong Weerasethakul for the Criterion Collection, and has written and directed several shorts — including the ghost drama Boy and the fantasy drama Lira’s Forest.

Our review of Onward starring Tom Holland, Chris Pratt and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, go on a journey to discover if there is still a little magic left out there in order to spend one last day with their father, who died when they were too young to remember him.

We also talk with Toronto Comicon organizer James Armstrong. James has been a longtime friend of the show. We’ve been long time supporters of the local convention scene here in Toronto. Catch our interview with James to find out more about Toronto Comicon 2020, taking place March 20 to 22 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Tickets are available HERE!

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 discuss the new Batmobile and the Covid-19 festival shutdowns.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

Production Credits:

Geek Hard Logo – Candice Hibbard and Rich Robbins Technical Production – Gary LaBarr, Recorded at the Reality Radio 101 StudioHosts/Producers – Andrew Young & James Green

Music Credits:

Opening Music “Eterna Teen” by Mark Holman“In the Morning” by Thrush Hermit“Flake” by Fidlar“Echo” by Clavvs“Carried Me with You” by Brandi Carlile“Magic” by The Cars“Trust Me” by Jim JohnsonClosing Music “Kelly’s Heroes” by Black Grape

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.

Anyone who’s listened to even one episode of Bloodbath already knows that Andrew is a big fan of Daredevil. So it’s no surprise that we’re talking about the Man Without Fear once again. And like most times, we’re covering an iconic run of the masked vigilante’s comic series. It just so happens that the run in question is still ongoing! This week on Bloodbath, we’re looking at the current run of Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky.

Close to the beginning of his run, Chip made an appearance on Geek Hard to talk about his work on DD. The man spoke of the reverence he has for Matt Murdock and the character’s history. That reverence is on great display in the ripping yarn he’s weaving. The story focuses on the duality of Matt and his greatest rival, Wilson Fisk, the former Kingpin and current mayor of New York. The series has all the touchstones of a classic Daredevil story but from a fresh angle. It’s a real treat for DD fans old and new!

Join Andrew and Petula as they take a deep dive into the first 16 issues of Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky. You’ll need all your five senses to truly appreciate this one. That’s a lie. You only need your hearing. If Daredevil were here, he would know it was a lie by listening to my heartbeat. You probably know it’s a lie by using common sense. Hear more interesting tidbits of knowledge like this one on an ALL NEW 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: 02/28/20 – We review The Invisible Man. We talk with actor Jeff Teravainen of Utopia Falls. We also talk with actor Hallea Jones of Locke & Key.

Show Notes:

We talk with actor Jeff Teravainen! Jeff can be seen on the CBC Gem and Hulu series Utopia Falls. He’ll be on to chat about the show and more! Jeff Teravainen is a Toronto-based actor who was born in Oshawa, Ontario. After years of being the lead singer and bassist for the award-winning band, THE LIFE, the acting bug caught up with him and he decided to pursue it full time. He began to slowly build his career on camera while his voice career exploded. In 2015, he landed his biggest role yet as series regular Lieutenant Anders on the hit sci-fi show DARK MATTER about six people in the dystopian 27th century who wake up on a deserted spaceship with no memory of who they are or what they’re doing there. Jeff has since continued to expand his film and television credits starring in THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES alongside Kurt Russell, MOMMY’S LITTLE PRINCESS, and PLAYED. 

Our review of The Invisible Man starring Elisabeth Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Harriet Dyer. Trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist, Cecilia Kass escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding, aided by her sister, their childhood friend James and his teenage daughter. But when Cecilia’s abusive ex commits suicide and leaves her a generous portion of his vast fortune, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turn lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia’s sanity begins to unravel as she desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.

We also talk with actor Hallea Jones! Hallea is one of the stars of Locke and Key, now streaming on Netflix. She talks about acting on the series and more! Hallea Jones is an actress and singer-songwriter from Toronto, Canada. It wasn’t until the award-winning hit Canadian television series DEGRASSI: NEXT CLASS held an open call at her high school, Earl Haig Secondary, that she thought of pursuing acting as a professional career. In 2017, Hallea would sign with a talent agent and book roles in major film and television productions including WORKIN’ MOMS, THE HOT ZONE, THE BOYS, and LET IT SNOW. Hallea can be seen in the new supernatural horror series LOCKE & KEY based on the comic book series created by Joe Hill. Hallea plays the character of Eden Hawkins, the quick witted, confident and outspoken Queen Bee of the town. 

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 discuss the career of writer/director Kevin Smith.

If you’re gonna geek out, 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.

Ever pick up a comic, look at the sexy cover and think, “maybe this is a bit too sexy for a comic about Emma Frost going to boarding school”?

They always say you should never judge a book by it’s cover. In comics, the opposite is usually the case. Cover art is designed to be eye-catching. The publishers want you to see the cover on the comic racks and pick it up. Some of the most dynamic artists in the business create some of the most interesting and exciting cover art. Sometimes, that’s at the expense of the comic art inside. The cover shows off a woman in a provocative pose but the interior is a regular story with no sexual connotations. While the cover is alluring, it makes it hard to read on the subway without getting strange looks.

Join Andrew and Petula as they talk about some of the most famous comic covers that have made them feel like pervs while reading in public. The works of Greg Horn, Jim Balent, and Adam Hughes are covered. There’s also a look back on the cover controversies of Frank Cho from a few years ago. It’s all coming your way on a very pervy edition of Back Issue Bloodbath. Enjoy the show!

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: 02/21/20 – We review The Call of the Wild. We talk with actors/writers/producers Evany Rosen and Kayla Lorette of New Eden. We also talk with comedian Gavin Stephens of the Uncolonized Podcast.

Show Notes:

We talk with actors Evany Rosen and Kayla Lorette. Evany and Kayla are the creators and stars of New Eden, the true-crime mockumentary series about a women’s cult. The series is now streaming on Crave. They talk about the making of the series and more. Spanning the 1970s, 80s and 90s, New Eden tracks the beginning and end of a feminist utopia based out of small-town B.C. Though Katherine Wryfield (Lorette) and Grace Lee (Rosen) have good intentions for the group of ladies they assemble, the community quickly devolves into drug-addled, alien-goddess worshipping chaos and murder. The show includes documentary-style interviews circa 1991, found footage from the 1970s, news reports, Court TV, and even a Forensic Files style episode.

Our review of The Call of the Wild starring Karen Gillan, Harrison Ford and Cara Gee. Buck is a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life gets turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon in the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail-delivery dog sled team, Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime as he ultimately finds his true place in the world.

We also talk with comedian Gavin Stephens. He has guested on Geek Hard many times over the past decade. Gavin was the original co-host of our comic-book centric podcast, Back Issue Bloodbath. These days, Gavin hosts The Uncolonized Podcast with fellow comic B. Black. The show gives a funny and blunt take on race, politics, and pop culture from a Canadian perspective. Gavin talks about the show and more. Gavin Stephens is a stand-up comedian known for his (really) quick wit and stream of consciousness comedic style. He has been featured in Montreal & Toronto’s Just For Laughs Festivals, as well as the Cape Town Comedy Fest, and Austin’s SXSW. Gavin appeared on CTV and the Comedy Network in The Buzz, Comedy Inc., and on CBC’s Debaters and The Baroness Von Sketch Show. When he’s not performing or hosting the Uncolonized Podcast, he can be found practicing his knitting or cheering on the Raptors. His perfect day includes watching cartoons, reading comic books and watching indie wrestling.

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 discuss the Dan DiDio’s departure from DC Comics on Friday afternoon from out of nowhere.

If you’re gonna geek out, 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.

It’s no secret that Kevin Smith is a comic book fan. Ever since the release of Mallrats in 1995, Smith has been a flag-waving fanboy for the House of Ideas and the Distinguished Competition. It wasn’t long after that that Kevin’s love of comics lead to a notable side career writing for both companies and more! This week on Bloodbath, we look back on the career of Kevin Smith in comics!

In the world of comics, Kevin’s biggest contribution is still 1998’s Guardian Devil story that launched the Marvel Knights‘ Daredevil series. Kevin also made a splash at Oni Press that year, bringing characters from his View Askew films to the comics page. Clerks‘ Dante and Randal had 3 one shots. Jay and Silent Bob got their own miniseries that was later released as a graphic novel called Chasing Dogma. Our journey starts all the way back at this exciting year and takes us to present day.

Join Andrew and Petula as they look at the many comics written by Kevin Smith. His Green Arrow Run. The plans and eventual fallout with the Black Cat. His unfinished Batman story from the past decade. It’s all covered here on the latest episode of Back Issue Bloodbath. Give it a listen!

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: 02/14/20 – We review Locke & Key. We talk with Kate Drummond of Utopia Falls and Praneet Akilla of October Faction.

Show Notes:

We talk with actor Kate Drummond! Kate’s new series, Utopia Falls, debuts on CBC Gem and Hulu on February 14th! She’ll be on to talk about the program and more. Kate Drummond is an award-winning Canadian actor working in film, television, voice-over, stage and video games.   Her passion for storytelling has taken her both in front of, and behind the camera. She made her writing and directorial debut with feature film, Go Fish, currently streaming on Amazon Prime in Canada, USA and the UK. Kate is well recognized as the villain fans love to hate, Agent Lucado, in the first 2 seasons of the hit series, Wynonna Earp. Kate can be seen in the new series, Utopia Falls, available on February 14th on CBC Gem and Hulu. 

Our review of Locke & Key starring Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup and Emilia Jones. After their father is murdered under mysterious circumstances, the three Locke siblings and their mother move into their ancestral home, Keyhouse, which they discover is full of magical keys that may be connected to their father’s death. As the Locke children explore the different keys and their unique powers, a mysterious demon awakens — and will stop at nothing to steal them.

We also talk with actor Praneet Akilla. Praneet plays Phillip Mishra on the Netflix show, October Faction. We’ve chatted with both J.C. MacKenzie and Gabriel Darku from the show previously. Praneet will be on to tell us more secrets about this fun genre series. Praneet Akilla is a fast-rising star who was born in Mumbai, India and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He currently can be seen in his first big breakout role starring as Phillip Mishra in the new Netflix series October Faction following the adventures of a retired monster-hunter and his family. Praneet will also star in the new theatre production Cipher at the Arts Club in Vancouver from February 9th till March 7th, 2020 as well as the ancient Indian mythology epic Mahabharata which will be making its run at the 2020 Shaw Theatre Festival from August 15th till September 15th, 2020. 

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 toy collecting.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

Production Credits:

Geek Hard Logo – Candice Hibbard and Rich Robbins Technical Production – Gary LaBarr, Recorded at the Reality Radio 101 StudioHosts/Producers – Andrew Young & James Gr...