Podcasts Archives - Geek Hard

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Sammy Younan 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.

What do magic, a canary cry, fishnets and Paul Dini all have in common? They’re each a part of the original graphic novel Black Canary and Zatanna: Bloodspell. Released in 2014, this one-shot hardcover told an out-of-continuity tale pairing Dinah Lance and Zatanna Zatara to solve a magic themed crime caper. A number of women involved in a heist gone wrong from a year before are ending up dead. Canary and Zatanna have to get to the bottom of this mystery before more blood is spilled. But this blood has been spelled! What? (That made a bit more sense in my head.) A Bloodspell ties this all together.

Join Andrew and Sammy as they take a look back on this graphic novel five years on. Written by the award winning Paul Dini and drawn by Joe Quinones, the dark subject matter of this story is balanced out by some fun action and colourful characters. Does this balance work on the page? Find out what we think on the latest episode of Back Issue Bloodbath. To quote Sammy, “It’s magic, baby!” So what are you waiting for? NETSIL OT TI THGIR WON!*

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!

*Listen to it, right now!*

Originally Aired: 07/12/19 – We review Stuber. We talk with Dani Kind about Workin’ Moms and The Banna Splits Movie. We also talk with The PDX Broadsides about Relatable Content.

Show Notes:

We talk with actor Dani Kind to talk about her roles on Workin’ Moms, Wynonna Earp, and MORE! Toronto based actress Dani Kind stars in the series regular role of ‘Anne’ in CBC’s half-hour comedy series Workin’ Moms starring writer/producer Catherine Reitman. Kind can also be seen guest starring as ‘Mercedes Gardner’ on SyFy’s hit series Wynonna Earp, as well as starring in the upcoming horror The Banana Splits Movie (coming to digital, Blu-ray and DVD this August).

Our review of Stuber now in theatres starring Dave Bautista, Kumail Nanjiani and Mira Sorvino. When a mild-mannered Uber driver named Stu (Kumail Nanjiani) picks up a passenger (Dave Bautista) who turns out to be a cop hot on the trail of a brutal killer, he’s thrust into a harrowing ordeal where he desperately tries to hold onto his wits, his life and his five-star rating.

We also talk with The PDX Broadsides. They just released their latest album, Relatable Content, and they chat about that and more! The PDX Broadsides, a Portland OR pop-folk trio, have been playing music together since 2011, and have become known for their harmonies and clever writing. The Broadsides love things, and as a result, many of their songs are about the things they love. Turns out those things are basically nerdy. The PDX Broadsides have played around the country in venues large and small. They’ve performed at conventions including Dragon Con, OryCon (as musical guest of honor), Rose City Comic Con, and GameStorm, or you may have seen them play in shows with The Doubleclicks, Marian Call, or Molly Lewis. They have received two nominations for the Pegasus Awards for Excellence in Filk. For more info on The PDX Broadsides or Relatable Content, check out their website.

It was a great show!

Geek Hard Extra:

Plus exclusively for our $4/month+ Patreon supporters, our latest Geek Hard Extra episode we give our Spoilerific review of Stranger Things Season 3 including our differing opinions about the mid-credits teaser.

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“Winter is Coming” by The PDX Broadsides“Lost at Sea” by The PDX Broadsides“Girl’s Gotta Do” by Jill Barber“Bad Motivator” by Fox and the Law“Come Sail Away” by Styx“The Air That I Breath” by The Hollies“Let The Wild Rumpus Start” by The PDX BroadsidesClosing Music “Kelly’s Heroes” by Black G...

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Sammy Younan 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, Sammy’s back! We bid farewell to guest host month and welcome back Sammy Younan for some fun comic book analysis and shenanigans. He returns just in time to join Andrew for a look at Cover, a miniseries from the minds of Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack!

Released under the Jinxworld imprint (Bendis’s creator-owned line at DC Comics), Cover is the story of artist Max Field and his unlikely entry into the world of espionage. Who better to be a spy than a comic creator? They travel around the world to conventions on the regular. It’s an ordinary practice. And that’s why Max is the best choice for a job in the intelligence community. It’s an incredible tale with some amazing artwork that stands out as some of the best that Mack has ever produced.

Join Andrew and Sammy as they look at this miniseries and discuss the reinvigoration of Bendis’s career. There’s even talk of Brian’s near brush with death! It’s all waiting for you on the latest episode of Back Issue Bloodbath. This mission, if you choose to accept it, is to listen to the episode RIGHT NOW! Don’t blow your cover!

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: 07/05/19 – We review Spider-Man: Far From Home. We talk with Zoe Belkin about Isabelle. We also talk with Deandra Tan of Nika Comics about Signals.

Show Notes:

We talk with actor Zoë Belkin by phone about her latest film, Isabelle. It’s a psychological horror thriller starring Adam Brody and Amanda Crew. Zoë Belkin is a Canadian actress best known for her role as the reporter Rebecca Harper in the Canadian teen comer teen buzz TV series The Latest Buzz. Belkin has starred in such films as Kiss and Cry, Darken, Carrie, Perfect Sisters, Deadly Inferno, Salem Falls, The Story of Luke, and Isabelle. She has appeared on “Degrassi: The Next Generation”, “Breakout Kings”, “Overruled”, “Aaron Stone”, “Rookie Blue”, “Ransom”, and “Flashpoint.”

Our review of Spider-Man: Far From Home now in theatres starring Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson and Jake Gyllenhaal. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man must step up to take on these new threats in a world that has changed forever. Peter faces new challenges and along the way tries to enjoy his European vacation until Nick Fury recruits Peter and a new hero calling himself Mysterio. They team up with Spider-Man to stop our Earth from being destroyed by the Elementals from another Earth.

We also talk with cartoonist Nika Comics (aka Deandra Tan). Nika will be on to talk about her latest comic, Signals, and more! Nika (aka Deandra Tan) is a DC-based writer and artist whose current webcomic Signals is serialized on tapas.io and Patreon. Deandra draws, writes and reads voraciously in her free time. She enjoys eating grilled cheese and napping. In Signals, Mel Song is an unlikely fit for a crack investigator; in her downtime, she loves watching soap operas in her pyjamas, eating instant ramen, and internet shopping. But she has one secret weapon: the ability to read minds. For more on Nika, check out her Patreon.

It was a great show!

Geek Hard Extra:

Plus exclusively for our $4/month+ Patreon supporters, our latest Geek Hard Extra episode we give our Spoilerific review of Spider-Man: Far From Home.

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“Psychic Detective” by Lazy $amson“Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell“Isabelle” by Greg Johnson“Vacation” by The Go Go’s“Spidey Theme” by Michael Giacchino“Figure It Out” by Brass Against featuring Liza ColbyClosing 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 Sammy Younan 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 the final episode of Guest Host Month as Andrew and his brother (and FUN FAIR co-host), Nathan Young, talk about a comic franchise near and dear to their hearts: The Avengers! It’s no secret that over the past 15 years The Avengers went from just another super team to mainstream icons! The movies had a lot to do with that. But the comics went from a single title to a eclectic line of books in various shapes and sizes. That begs the question, “Did this Franchise expansion ruin The Avengers?” Andrew and Nathan attempt to find the answer.

Starting at the birth of New Avengers in 2005, Andrew and Nathan follow the timeline to the introduction of additional Avengers titles, charting from two titles, to four titles, to seven titles. They look at the commercial success and the creative merit of each book and share their findings.

If you’re a fan of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, you might be interested in this short history lesson on the evolution of this super team and it’s impact on the comics market. Even if you’re not, it’s an interesting look on the effects of overexposure on the comic racks. Take a listen. You might learn something 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: 06/28/19 – We review Yesterday. We talk with Arden Alfonso of Sorry For Your Loss. We also talk with Lex the Lexicon Artist about Special: A Mob Psycho 100 EP.

Show Notes:

We talk with actor Arden Alfonso. Arden appears in the comedy Sorry For Your Loss, now playing in select theatres across Canada and coming to Crave this Fall. She’ll be on to chat about this film and more! Arden Alfonso is an actress and singer, born and raised in St. Andrews, Manitoba. Her first taste of performing kicked off when she starred in a local production of Annie. She began acting professionally and then moved to Los Angeles to study music at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. In 2016, she released a debut single “Living Memories”.  Arden has since moved back to Canada where she has turned her focus to classical music while collecting a strong portfolio of titles as an actor including USA Network’s “Damnation”, the feature film I STILL SEE YOU, and YouTube Premium’s series “Wayne”.  Up next you can catch Arden in the new dark comedy feature, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

Our review of Yesterday now in theatres starring Himesh Patel, Lily James and Sophia Di Martino. Jack Malik is a struggling singer-songwriter in an English seaside town whose dreams of fame are rapidly fading, despite the fierce devotion and support of his childhood best friend, Ellie. After a freak bus accident during a mysterious global blackout, Jack wakes up to discover that The Beatles have never existed. Performing songs by the greatest band in history to a world that has never heard them, Jack becomes an overnight sensation with a little help from his agent.

We also talk with hip hop artist LEX the Lexicon Artist! LEX makes high-energy ego rap like her 2018 album Raging Ego and her 2019 EP Special, inspired by the anime Mob Psycho 100. She talked about these albums and more! LEX the Lexicon Artist is Taiwanese-American rapper, writer, and creator Alex Sun Liu. Plagued with self-repression, neurotic ambition, and delusions of grandeur, Alex created LEX in 2016 to shield polite society from her most socially unacceptable attributes, by redirecting them onto the stage instead. With a comically narcissistic persona and a domineering stage presence, LEX delivers surgically precise rapid-fire raps about nerd culture, personal identity, and the depths of the human mind. LEX is ugly and real and speaks to the minds of misfits everywhere. A larger-than-life portrait and complete self-expression of one 5’4’’ Asian nerd, LEX is the freshest new rapper you’ll hear – “not in spite of being a nerd, but because of it.” For more on LEX the Lexicon Artist, check out her music.

It was a great show!

Geek Hard Extra:

Plus exclusively for our $4/month+ Patreon supporters, our latest Geek Hard Extra episode we discuss the 30th Anniversary of Batman ’89.

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

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Sammy Younan 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 continue guest host month as Andrew is joined this week by his brother Nathan Young. This team-up isn’t a first time thing for them as they co-host Geek Hard’s Youtube series FUN FAIR, a show that’s pokes fun at pop culture. But there’ll be no poking fun here. Instead, we’re popping claws to dig into The Death of Wolverine!

The Death of Wolverine is a four issue miniseries by Charles Soule and Steve McNiven released in the Fall of 2014. “Logan has spent over a century being the best there is at what he does…but even the best fade away eventually.” Wolverine’s healing factor has burned out. He doesn’t have long to live because of it. This is the perfect time for his enemies to strike. And strike they do.

Many names and places from Wolvie’s past appear in the series. There’s also a number of scenes where the ol’ Canucklehead gets to go stabby-stabby on some of his biggest foes. But was it a fitting “end” to a character we all knew was going to be back? Or was it just a cash grab (because we all knew that Wolverine was coming back)? Find out as Andrew and Nathan do a deep dive into this miniseries on an ALL NEW Back Issue Bloodbath. We’re the best we are at what we do and what we do is read comics!

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: 06/21/19 – We review Toy Story 4. We talk with Kyle Stevens of Kirby Krackle. We also talk with Velvet Duke of Personal Demon Hunter.

Show Notes:

We talk with nerd rocker Kyle Stevens. Better known as the frontman of Kirby Krackle, Kyle’s about to the hit the road for a west coast tour to celebrate 10 years as a band! Kyle will be on to talk about that and more! Kirby Krackle is an internationally touring nerd-rock artist featuring the music of songwriter and performer Kyle Stevens. Since 2009, Kirby Krackle has been known the world over as the go-to artist for heartfelt songs dedicated to the best in comic books, video games, and geek-culture with YouTube videos totalling over 3.5 million views and has been featured on MTV, iO9, Boing Boing, Gizmodo and more. Today also marks the release of Kirby Krackle‘s latest single, I Love You 3000! Inspired by the famous line from Avengers: Endgame, the song is the perfect anthem to sum up a parent’s love for their child. You can hear the song in its entirety on tonight’s Geek Hard.

Our review of Toy Story 4 now in theatres starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Annie Potts. Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the gang embark on a road trip with Bonnie and a new toy named Forky. The adventurous journey turns into an unexpected reunion as Woody’s slight detour leads him to his long-lost friend Bo Peep. As Woody and Bo discuss the old days, they soon start to realize that they’re worlds apart when it comes to what they want from life as a toy.

We also talk with comedian & performer Velvet Duke. Velvet has been on the show previously to promote his sketch troupe, The Dandies. This time, he’ll be on to talk about his one man show, Personal Demon Hunter, playing at the Toronto Fringe Festival on July 3rd to 13th and the Victoria Fringe Festival on August 21st to September 1st. Personal Demon Hunter is Velvet Duke’s first solo comedy production. Velvet Duke is a queer black male entertainer. Personal Demon Hunter is his exploration and confrontation of anxiety through a mixture of storytelling, music, stand up and improvised comedy. This production will contain moments of good-natured audience interaction. Velvet is the co-founder of The Dandies and creator/producer of their long-running Holodeck Follies, an improvised Star Trek show. He is also the creator of INTERSECTION, a diversity-themed storytelling show, and OverDude, the improvised rock duo.

It was a great show!

Geek Hard Extra:

Plus exclusively for our $4/month+ Patreon supporters, our latest Geek Hard Extra episode we discuss the big comic based news of the week – JJ & Henry Abrams writing Spider-Man. Plus the official news that DC is cancelling Vertigo, DC Ink and DC Zoom imprints by 2020.

If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

Production Credits:

Geek Hard Logo – Candice Hibbard and Rich Robbins Technical P...

Welcome friends to Back Issue Bloodbath, a comics-centric podcast presented by Geek Hard. Join hosts Andrew Young and Sammy Younan 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.

What’s better than one Green Arrow episode? Two Green Arrow Episodes! GA super-fan Elspeth McRobb joins Andrew once again to talk about another tale of the emerald archer. Listen as they take a trip back to the early 2000s to talk about arguably the best Green Arrow story of all time: The Archer’s Quest!

The first comic story written by novelist Brad Meltzer, The Archer’s Quest follows the recently resurrected Ollie Queen and his former ward, Roy Harper, as they go across the country and collect a few important items. Part nostalgic roadtrip, part daring adventure, this story digs deep into the character of the always stubborn Green Arrow. It also features the artwork of Phil Hester and Ande Parks, two comic creators that will always be remembered for their GA Contributions.

Join Andrew and Elspeth as they look back on The Archer’s Quest and see if still holds up as an amazing Green Arrow tale. They also give their thoughts on the issues that followed this classic arc. The perfect companion piece to last week’s episode, this week’s show continues to pour on that GA love. Give it a listen and enjoy your life.

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: 06/14/19 – We review Men In Black: International. We talk with David Lewis of the new Child’s Play movie. We also talk with Kevin Hanchard of Hudson & Rex.

Show Notes:

We talk with actor David Lewis, who’s in the upcoming Child’s Play remake which hits theatres on June 21st. David will be on to talk about that and more! David Lewis is a notable and reputable actor with a diverse and extensive resume. Having appeared in a boundless number of projects, David’s talent is one to make note of this year. David stars opposite Aubrey Plaza in the horror flick of the summer, CHILD’S PLAY. David hit early success in his career landing roles in FOX’s “The X-Files”, Showtime’s “Stargate SG-1”, and ABC’s “The Outer Limits”.Some of David’s more notable film roles include DOOR TO DOOR, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL and PAYCHECK. He has also appeared on “The Good Doctor”, “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency”, “Altered Carbon”, “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” “Supernatural”, “Smallville” and many more.

Our review of Men in Black: International now in theatres starring Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson and Kumail Nanjiani. The Men in Black have expanded to cover the globe, but so have the villains of the universe. To keep us safe, decorated Agent H and determined rookie M join forces — an unlikely pairing that just might work. When aliens that can take the form of any human arrive on Earth, H and M embark on a globe-trotting adventure to save the agency — and ultimately the world — from their mischievous plans.

We also talk with actor Kevin Hanchard. He currently stars on the CityTV police procedural Hudson & Rex, which follows a cop and his former K9 unit dog partner. Kevin plays Superintendent Joe Donovan on the series which was recently renewed for a second season. Kevin was on to talk about Hudson & Rex and MORE

It was a great show!

Geek Hard Extra:

Plus exclusively for our $4/month+ Patreon supporters, our latest Geek Hard Extra episode we discuss the first four episodes of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season six.

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“Lottery” by Jade Bird“Child’s Play Theme” by Bear McCreary“Best Friend” by Royish Good Looks“Men In Black” by Will Smith“The Day Is My Enemy” by The Prodigy“Who Let The Dogs Out” by Matt MulhollandClosing Music “Kelly’s Heroes” by Black Grape