This week, let’s take a look back at our season all about the superhero movies of the 2000’s (or at least 2000 - 2004) and hand out some awards! It’s our semi-annual Blinkie Awards! Topics include: Best and Worst Villain, Most Dated Moment and of course our season MVP. Also, why are our awards called the Blinkies anyway? Listen along and find out!

This week, the Pop Culture Historians wield great power responsibly once again by breaking down Sam Raimi’s superhero follow-up, SPIDER-MAN 2! Topics include: whether this is the greatest superhero movie of all time, the near replacement of Tobey Maguire by Jake Gyllenhaal, and Ryan’s review of the movie from his 2004 LiveJournal. Suit up and listen along with us!

This week, the Pop Culture Historians exact revenge on 2004’s THE PUNISHER! Topics include: John Travolta’s career, a surprisingly well-done fight sequence, and the Drowning Pool song that closes THE PUNISHER out.

This Halloween, the Pop Culture Historians return from the dead to review 1984’s GHOSTBUSTERS and 1988’s BEETLEJUICE! We first explain where we’ve been this whole time before diving into these two seminal 80’s classics (that both had legacy sequels this year). Topics include: is Michael Keaton annoying? How great is Rick Moranis? What’s the difference between a bodega and a convenience store? It’s showtime!

Just in time for DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE, it’s our episode all about X2! Marvel at the increased scope from Part 1, revel in the pulpy performance from Brian Cox, and be astounded at the in-costume fight the cast had with director Bryan Singer. Be a god among insects and listen along with us!

This week, the Pop Culture Historians are seeing red! We dive back into the filmography of Guillermo del Toro and break down 2004’s HELLBOY! We discuss how well Ron Perlman’s first round in the horns holds up after two decades. We also, somehow, discuss Star Trek: Nemesis and Arrested Development. Listen along with us as we march forth through our chronological look at the superhero film genre!

This week, the Pop Culture Historians get booksmart with 2003’s THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN! Also known as LXG, this 2003 Sean Connery vehicle raises an interesting question: what happens when a movie is less interesting than the chaos that created it? Topics include: the feud between Connery and director Stephen Norrington, the horrible Dorian Gray one-liners and the filmography of Sam Mendes.

This week, we dive right into one of the more divisive superhero flicks of the 21st century. Ang Lee’s 2003 HULK movie is of the wildest swings the genre has ever offered, but is Eric Bana’s lone turn in the purple pants a boom or a bust? Listen and find out what we thought! Hint: we’re split!

This week, we cook in Hell’s Kitchen. It’s time to dive into 2003’s DAREDEVIL! Marvel as we compare the theatrical and director’s cut! Awe at the multiple Evanescence needle drops! Be mystified at the chemistry between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner!

This week, we reach new heights with Sam Raimi’s 2002 SPIDER-MAN! It broke box-office records in 2002 and set the stage for superhero cultural dominance for decades to come, but how does Tobey Maguire’s first run in the suit stack up in 2024? Spoilers: SPIDER-MAN is still spectacular. Listen along as we break down the winding production history as well as explore the question: has anybody done it better since?