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.

It’s another special episode as Andrew has another guest co-host. Green Arrow superfan Elspeth McRobb joins Andrew to talk about Green Arrow, of course! The two take a look back on a career resurgence for the character that came in the year 2001. This was the year that Kevin Smith brought Ollie Queen back from the dead.

With the help of artists Phil Hester and Ande Parks, Kevin Smith relaunched the Green Arrow title providing 2 story arcs and 15 issues. In the first story arc, Quiver, Smith brought GA back to Star City and reestablished him among the DC pantheon of heroes. He also worked in a freaky child killer and a demon or two. The second story, The Sounds of Violence, introduced a new villain with a love for things that go bump in the night. Or clang. Or bang. Any sound will do, really.

Take a listen as Andrew and Elspeth dissect the comic run of Kevin Smith and see if it still holds up today. If you’re a fan of Green Arrow, you don’t want to miss this very special 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: 06/07/19 – We review Dark Phoenix. We also talk with Lisa Berry of Slasher: Solstice. We also talk with Vasilios Filippakis of FAK YAASS.

Show Notes:

We talk with actor Lisa Berry. Best known for her appearances on Supernatural, Lisa has popped up on many of your favourite t.v. shows. She’ll be on to talk Slasher: Solstice, the latest season of the Slasher series, available now on Netflix. Lisa Berry is an accomplished Canadian stage and screen actor who has worked extensively across North America. A fan favourite, Lisa is a constant presence in the film and television landscape with major recurring roles in popular television series Bad Blood as “Nellie Bullock”; Supernatural as “Billie” (a.k.a “Death”); Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments as “Cleophas Garroway”; and Continuum as “Nolan”. Her TV credits also include Mr. D, Lost Girl, XXIII: The Series, 19-2, Against the Wall, The Firm and Combat Hospital. Lisa starred opposite Laurence Fishburne in the 2013 sci-fi thriller The Colony and as “Candace Cranston”, in Lionsgate’s 2017 reboot of The Power Rangers.

Our review of Dark Phoenix now in theatres starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence. This is the story of one of the X-Men’s most beloved characters, Jean Grey, as she evolves into the iconic DARK PHOENIX. During a life-threatening rescue mission in space, Jean is hit by a cosmic force that transforms her into one of the most powerful mutants of all. Wrestling with this increasingly unstable power as well as her own personal demons, Jean spirals out of control, tearing the X-Men family apart and threatening to destroy the very fabric of our planet. The film is the most intense and emotional X-Men movie ever made. It is the culmination of 20 years of X-Men movies, as the family of mutants that we’ve come to know and love must face their most devastating enemy yet — one of their own.

We also talk with actor and writer Vasilios Filippakis. Vasilios’s new series, FAK YAASS, is set to premiere on OUTtv on June 17th. He’ll be on to tell us all about the series and more! Born and raised in Tecumseh, Ontario Vasilios Filippakis is an actor and creator. He is a graduate of the Theatre Studies program at York University. His acting training ranges from improv at Second City to on-camera work with Suzanne Bastien, At The Creative Space. He can be seen in his guest star role guest star appearance in Shadowlands on OUTtv Canada. He can also be seen as the lead in The Lone Paddler, an award-winning feature film, as well as Anselmo in Under the Influence. Vasilios is extremely excited to share FAK YAASS with the world. This is a comedic tribute for how far his family has come.

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 early review of Jessica Jones Season 3’s first 8 episodes.

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:

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 is a “very special episode” of Back Issue Bloodbath as it kicks off a month of guest co-hosts on the podcast. For the next 5 episodes, Andrew’s got some special guest co-hosts. This time around, Andrew is joined by his original co-host, comedian Gavin Stephens! Gavin was on the show through 2015 and 2016. These days, he hosts Master Race Debaters, a podcast that tackles racism in Canada. But he’s back on Bloodbath to help Andrew dissect a comic that’s been hailed as the GREATEST COMIC STORY OF ALL TIME: The Dark Phoenix Saga.

Written and Drawn by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, The Dark Phoenix Saga is the crown jewel of X-Men stories. Overcome by the power of the Phoenix Force, Jean Grey transforms into the godlike Dark Phoenix. Over the course of 9 issues, Jean becomes one of the most powerful villains the Marvel Universe has ever known. The events of this saga affect X-Men stories to this day, almost 40 years later. The final issue of the story is not without controversy as editor Jim Shooter forced the creators to change the ending.

Take a listen as Andrew and Gavin look back on The Dark Phoenix Saga and discuss why the story has come back to haunt the X-Men again and again for the last 4 decades. It’s all waiting for you on the latest episode of 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: 05/31/19 – We review Godzilla: King of the Monsters. We talk with actor Sydney Meyer. We also speak with writer Tini Howard.

Show Notes:

We talk with actor Sydney Meyer. Sydney has appeared on numerous television shows, most recently in the final season of Shadowhunters! Sydney will be on to chat about her upcoming projects, Departure and V-Wars, both of which are scheduled to be released later this year. Sydney Meyer was born and raised in London, Ontario and moved to Toronto, Canada when she decided to pursue acting. Sydney has amassed a significant body of work in several film and television productions including THE EXPANSE, SAVING HOPE, LEVEL 16 and DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION. Her first big break came when she was cast as Helen Blackthorn in the highly popular supernatural drama television series SHADOWHUNTERS. It was with this project that she experienced firsthand the power of a strong fandom for a television show. Coming up next, Sydney is set to star in the new high-octane conspiracy television series DEPARTURE that follows the mystery of Flight 716, a passenger plane that vanishes over the Atlantic Ocean.

Our review of Godzilla: King of the Monsters now in theatres starring Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown. Members of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When this ancient super-species thought to be mere myths-rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.

We also talk with writer Tini Howard! Tini was last on the show in the fall of 2017. Since then, she’s worked on a number of great titles and has signed an exclusive contract with Marvel Comics. She’ll be on to talk about her current work on Thanos and Age of Conan: Belit as well as the GLOW comic for IDW. Plus there will be some wrestling talk as she is a big fan.

It was a great show!

Geek Hard Extra:

Plus exclusively for our $4/month+ Patreon supporters, our latest Geek Hard Extra episode we discuss Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and AEW’s Double or Nothing show and its impact.

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 Ear Park” by Department of Eagles“Fire Meets Fate” by Ruelle“Spiral” by Elephant Music“Godzilla Theme” by Bear McCreary“Godzilla” by Bile“The Next Voyage” by CF0$Closing 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.

This week on Bloodbath, we kick off a new quarterly segment on the show! We’ve celebrated many comic creators on the show before. But what about creative teams? Writers and Artists have built up amazing track records on the comic racks in tandem. Some have co-created characters and story lines that are still referenced in comics to this day! Back Issue Bloodbath proudly presents our new regular feature: Dynamic Duos!

This first Dynamic Duo is considered to be the team that made the X-Men the coolest kids on the block: Chris Claremont and John Byrne! Claremont and Byrne worked together on the Uncanny X-Men from issue 108 to issue 143. During that time they told the captivating Dark Phoenix Saga as well as the unforgettable Days of Future Past story lines. But that’s not all they did together.

Take a listen to find out about their work on such titles as Iron Fist and Marvel Team Up, as well as their all but forgotten 6 issue run on JLA in 2004. While both amazing creators apart, Claremont and Byrne created magic as a team with stories that are still worth reading today. Check out our tribute to this dynamic duo on the latest 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: 05/24/19 – We review Brightburn. We talk with writer Chip Zdarsky. We also speak with artist Erica Henderson.

Show Notes:

We talk with writer Chip Zdarsky! Chip is currently writing up a storm for the House of Ideas with his current runs on Daredevil, The Invaders and Spider-Man: Life Story. Chip talks about these series and more! For those of you that missed it, here’s a classic interview I did with Chip and a bunch of other creators in a Hotel bathroom. For more on Chip, check out his website.

Our review of Brightburn now in theatres starring Elizabeth Banks, David Denman and Jackson A. Dunn. What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister? With Brightburn, the visionary filmmaker of Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither presents a startling, subversive take on a radical new genre: superhero horror.

We also have Andrew’s interview with artist Erica Henderson from this past month at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival! Erica is best known for her work on Squirrel Girl for Marvel Comics and Jughead for Archie Comics. Currently, her art can be seen in the pages of Assassin Nation, a limited series written by Kyle Starks for Skybound at Image. She tells Andrew about this comic 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 Quentin Tarantino and spoiler culture, Marvel Studios/Georgia and more!

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 “Daydreamer” by Kate Kelly“Daredevil Theme Song” by Anastasia Soina“Spider-Man ‘90s Animated Theme (Epic Version)” by L’Orchestra Cinématique“I’m Very Special” by Timothy Williams“Bad Superman” by Scouting for Girls“Fight to Survive” by Stan BushClosing 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 always important to protect your rep. But what if you have a reputation for being an ass? There are a few comic creators, very successful ones, that are known for some particularly bad behavior. If you’re caught doing this a number of times, you’ll always have that reputation in the eyes of the fans. Some creators would want to get away from bad press. Others don’t care, as long as they’re still making money. Does anybody truly care about their bad reputations?

This week, Sammy presents the case for five comic creators – Todd McFarlane, Salvidor Larroca, Dan Slott, John Byrne and Neal Adams – to see if they’ve truly earned their bad reputations. Andrew gives his two cents on each as well. Sammy will present the evidence and the pair will decide what category they fall under from three choices:

* Classy – The creator is victim of a false narrative.* Gassy – Depends on what day of the week you bump into them.* Assy – The Creator has rightfully earned their bad reputation.

Find out where each of these creators fall on this very scientific scale. Andrew even shares a couple of stories about meeting some of these creators at conventions. Take a listen as Back Issue Bloodbath brings you another classy episode all about Bad Reputations!

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: 05/17/19 – We review John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. We talk with artist Adam Gorham of Punk Mambo. We also speak with artist Terry Huddleston.

Show Notes:

We talk with artist Adam Gorham. Adam’s been a long time friend of the show and has even won an award for it. Adam talks about Punk Mambo, the current comic series he’s working on with writer Cullen Bunn for Valiant. (He might also have a few things to say about The Punisher and J. Jonah Jameson taking a rocket into space!)

Our review of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum now in theatres starring Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry and Ian McShane. After gunning down a member of the High Table — the shadowy international assassin’s guild — legendary hit man John Wick finds himself stripped of the organization’s protective services. Now stuck with a $14 million bounty on his head, Wick must fight his way through the streets of New York as he becomes the target of the world’s most ruthless killers.

We also speak with artist Terry Huddleston. Terry has made beautiful renditions of some of your favourite comic book and cartoon characters with his Icons series and the like. A few years back, Terry would wax poetic about the minutiae of pop culture on Terry Knows Movies, a series he did for the Geek Hard Youtube channel. This episode he joins us to talk about art, convention appearances and the state of some of your favourite movies and television shows. It gets heated as Terry spars with Mr. Green over Game of Thrones and a certain character.

It was a great show!

Geek Hard Extra:

Plus exclusively for our $4/month+ Patreon supporters, our latest Geek Hard Extra episode we discuss fan entitlement to movies and TV shows like Star Wars and Game of Thrones.

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 “Sabotage” by Brass Against featuring Sophia Urista“Punk Mambo” by A Sound of Thunder Tales“Supersonic Rocketship” by The Kinks“John Wick Medley” by Le Castle Vania“John Wick Sings a Song” by Aaron Fraser-Nash“Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey DangerClosing 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.

Brian Michael Bendis is one of the most prolific comic creators of the modern era. After a long and successful run at the House of Ideas, he now makes his home at the Distinguished Competition. It’s hard to believe that at one time, he was an indie darling best known for crime comics. But that was Bendis in a nutshell back in the late 90s. His work even caught the eye of Hollywood back in the day. None of his comics were every made into movies, but they definitely were optioned for them. Which brings us to our comic this week: Fortune and Glory!

Fortune and Glory: A True Hollywood Comic Book Story was written and drawn by Bendis and released as a three part series and then graphic novel by Oni Press in 2000. The comic is a retelling of Bendis’s own experiences in the world of development limbo at various Hollywood studios. Now back in print at Jinxworld, we thought it was the right time to re-visit this now classic funny book. Or in Sammy’s case, read it for the first time.

Join Andrew and Sammy as they delve into Brian Michael Bendis’s cartooning days with their review of Fortune and Glory. It’s coming your way on an all new Bloodbath!

A special thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of Fortune and Glory: A True Hollwood Comic Book Story, available now. Pick up yours today.

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: 05/10/19 – We review Pokemon Detective Pikachu. We talk with actor Supinder Wraich of The 410. We also speak with musician Brigit O’Regan aka Violin Girl.

Show Notes:

We talk with actor Supinder Wraich returns to the program to talk about The 410, a new digital series available on CBC Gem. The show follows a South Asian female and aspiring influencer, who turns to a life of crime to bail her truck driver father out of prison. Supinder created, co-produced and stars in the series. She talks about this and more! Supinder Wraich was born in Chandigarh, India and raised in Toronto, Canada. Her first big break came when she was cast in the Emmy award-winning web series GUIDESTONES. Supinder has amassed a significant body of work in several film and television productions including HUNTER’S MOON, TEXTUALITY, THE BORDER, DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION, SAVING HOPE, COMBAT HOSPITAL, ROOKIE BLUE, COPPER (BBC), HAVEN, THE BEAVERTON, INCORPORATED, THE STRAIN, and THE GOOD DOCTOR. Coming up next, Supinder stars in THE 410, available now on CBC Gem.

Our review of Pokemon Detective Pikachu now in theatres starring Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton. Ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son, Tim, to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry’s former Pokémon partner, wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth Detective Pikachu. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to work together, as Tim is the only human who can talk with Pikachu, they join forces to unravel the tangled mystery.

We also speak with musician Brigit O’Regan to promote her upcoming appearance at MegaCon Orlando! Brigit is known from viral videos. Brigit O’Regan is a violinist/fiddler with 22 years of practice and 12 years of professional, freelance performance under her belt. After being strictly classical for many years, she rebelled at a young age and now is most known for her Top 40 Pop, Rock, Hip-Hop, Fiddle and Bollywood. She is also known as “Violin Girl” by over 3.4 Million people due to the success of her FanExpo and ComicCon videos. Over the past few years, she has discovered and built upon her unique gift of instant improvisation, stemming from a “cross-wiring” of the brain called synesthesia. Solo and with groups, she has performed around the world, playing to crowds of up to 17,000 in world-class venues.

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 insane announcement from Disney this week of their next 8 YEARS of releases.

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 & J...