Sidebar Forever

By Hosted by Dwight, Swain & AdrianTV & Film Arts Visual Arts

Sidebar Forever episodes

December 28, 2020 EPIC METAL: A Tribute to Epic Illustrated and Heavy Metal | SIDEBAR FOREVER
Today’s episode is an epic lovefest for two of the greatest science fantasy magazines ever published: Epic Illustrated and Heavy Metal.
Like an entire generation of readers, Dwight and Swain became huge fans of Epic and ‘Métal Hurlant’ back in the mid 80s. The most revered science fiction, fantasy and comic book storytellers of all time were featured in their hallowed pages: Moebius, Michael Moorcock, Jim Starlin, Wendy Pini, Boris Vallejo, Luis Royo, Jon J. Muth, Richard Corben, Jo Duffy, Enki Bilal, Marie Severin, Jeffrey Catherine Jones, H.R. Giger, Simon Bisley, Pepe Moreno, Harlan Ellison, the Hildebrandt Brothers and many, many more.
In the conversation, Dwight and Swain give their first impressions of the magazines, namecheck their favorite artists from that era, and of course, discuss the 1981 ‘Heavy Metal’ movie as well as a one-time rumored David Fincher/James Cameron produced sequel.
The hosts of Sidebar Forever are of the opinion that Epic Illustrated and Heavy Metal closed the gap between amazing book cover paintings and amazing comic book art. They were tastemakers and showed the world what great fantasy stories could, and should be.
By the way, four decades later, Heavy Metal magazine is still being published.
As always, thanks for listening to the podcast. For more episodes of the show, visit us at sidebarforever.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson
57 min
December 14, 2020 WB & HBO Max: THE NEW NORMAL? | SIDEBAR FOREVER
‘Wonder Woman 1984’ was among several blockbuster films scheduled for release in early 2020 that ended up delayed due to low theater attendance.
Over the last few weeks, its parent studio Warner Brothers announced that not only would it be releasing ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ on Christmas Day via theaters and HBO Max, but it would do the same thing with its entire slate of 2021 releases.
So starting on December 25th, you can see movies like ‘The Matrix 4’, ‘The Suicide Squad’ and ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ in your local cinema as well as from the comfort of your own home.
This struck us as a real game changer for the moviegoing experience and worthy of discussion. Will other studios like Universal and Disney follow the Warner Bros. model? Will megaplex theater chains like AMC and Regal become relics of the past? And what does a move like this mean for the kinds of films filmmakers can and want to make?
For more episodes, subscribe to us at sidebarforever.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson
1 hr 5 min
December 11, 2020 Sidebar Classic - RICHARD CORBEN
On December 10, 2020, we, just as legions of fans across the world, were devastated by the news of the passing of Richard Corben. Corben was stated to have passed following heart surgery a week prior on December 2.
In tribute to this monumental creator, we wanted to re-present an episode dedicated to Corben from our archives.
Originally broadcast on April 17, 2015, this episode was for a segment that we called ‘Shine On’ spotlighting artists who may not have been widely appreciated and unsung as ‘household names’ so to speak.
And Corben was obviously beyond worthy.
Please enjoy our humble retrospective on Corben’s career and art that broadened, titillated and ultimately inspired the imaginations of generations of fans and artists worldwide.
For more episodes, be sure to subscribe to sidebarforever.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson
56 min
December 07, 2020 Top 5 MOST 80s Movies | SIDEBAR FOREVER
What’s the most '80s thing you can think of?

Colorful leg warmers and headbands?

Odd slang like "grody" and "tubular?"

Pop metal bands with big hair and tons of makeup?

On today’s episode, we each made a 'top 5' list of the most 80s movies we could think of. Not necessarily our favorites from that era, but ones that really exemplify the decade for good or ill.

Fame, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo's Fire, Beat Street, and Top Gun are just a few of the films we celebrated from the 'decade of greed'.

"I know, right? Gag me with a spoon!"

Thanks for listening to this "super not-serious but awesome totally-awesome" episode of Sidebar Forever!

For more episodes, subscribe to us at sidebarforever.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson
1 hr 28 min
November 25, 2020 What We're Thankful For | SIDEBAR FOREVER
It’s that time of year when we reflect on what we have, where we are and give thanks. Yes, today, it's a very special Sidebar Forever.

Just kidding.

But not really.

Dwight suggested the three of us sit down, take a look back at 2020, and make note of some things for which we’re truly grateful. He tells a story about a scene from 'Guardians of the Galaxy 2' that he relates back to his late father.

Adrian discusses losing his own dad earlier this year, as well as being there for his mom.

Swain celebrates mentors and surrogate parents via the films 'Antwone Fisher' and 'Jingle Jangle', the new Netflix Christmas special.

And believe it or not, amidst the deep reflection, we managed to get a few chuckles in there to lighten the mood.
Another thing we're thankful for is you, our listeners. We appreciate you checking in with us each episode and following us wherever you get your podcasts.

And if you live here in the States, please have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson
45 min
November 16, 2020 We Option Our Favorite Comics Into TV Shows & Movies | SIDEBAR FOREVER
You’ve heard of fantasy football, right?
Today, we option our favorite comic book stories and turn them into television shows and feature films.
OK, let us explain. Back around 2008, Hollywood was optioning comic book IPs left and right. The success of shows like 'Smallville' and 'The Walking Dead' to movies like '300' and the 'X-Men' franchise had the suits champing at the bit for ripe comic properties. Out of that era, we got some good stuff (A History of Violence, Ghost World, RED) along with a few stinkers (The Spirit, Painkiller Jane, the Blade TV show).
So for sh*ts and giggles, the three of us each pick a story, cast it with actors, hire creative departments, and produce it into a film or television show.
So imagine a world with an 'Uncanny X-Men' movie starring Rutger Hauer as Magneto and Grace Jones as Storm? Or an 'Invaders' TV show featuring William Zabka as the original Human Torch and Ralph Fiennes as Baron Blood? Or an adaptation of 'Sandman Mystery Theatre' starring James McAvoy as Wesley Dodds and Emilia Clarke as Dian Belmont? We GO there.

*And hey, be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for original concept art created exclusively for this episode by Dwight and Adrian!*

As always, thanks for listening to Sidebar Forever. Don't forget to subscribe to the show here on sidebarforever.com or wherever you get your podcasts!
1 hr 30 min
November 06, 2020 "Stay Alive, Jessica Hyde!" - Review of Amazon Prime’s UTOPIA | SIDEBAR FOREVER
What have you done today to earn your place in this crowded world?

Dwight and Swain are here to do a short review of the Amazon Prime series ‘Utopia’, written and executive produced by Gillian Flynn of 'Gone Girl' fame.

‘Utopia’ is a story about a band of obsessed comic book fans knee-deep in a conspiracy theory-turned-real that could lead to a literal Armageddon. On the episode, Dwight and Swain explain how they came to the show, break down a few characters like Jessica Hyde, Arby, and the nefarious biotech engineer Kevin Christie (played by John Cusack), as well as comment on the "dangers" of putting out a TV show about a pandemic in the middle of a pandemic.

By the way, the version of ‘Utopia’ we're reviewing today is the American adaptation. The original cult favorite was created by Dennis Kelly and aired on Channel 4 in the U.K. back in 2013.

As always, thanks for listening and don’t forget to subscribe to the show on sidebarforever.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson
50 min
November 02, 2020 A Tribute To Sean Connery | SIDEBAR FOREVER
On this episode, Dwight and Adrian pay tribute to Sir Sean Connery. Connery passed away on October 30, 2020 and we wanted to take the opportunity to reflect upon his imprint on cinematic history.
While most will forever regard Connery as THE definitive James Bond in beginning the titular franchise, his filmography is rich with other roles equally as memorable.
From James Bond to an aged Robin Hood to espousing ’The Chicago Way to commanding a Russian nuclear submarine, Connery will be forever remembered for the incredible charisma and authority that he brought to the screen.
As always, thanks for listening and don’t forget to subscribe to the show on sidebarforever.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson
46 min
October 30, 2020 Vampires: The Undead Over the Decades | SIDEBAR FOREVER
On this special Halloween-themed episode, we chose a topic we could truly ... sink our teeth into. Vampires have been a go-to in the horror genre since the 1922 silent film 'Nosferatu' and they show no signs of going to that eternal sleep.
From Bela Lugosi to Christopher Lee to ‘Fright Night’ and ‘The Lost Boys’ to ‘Buffy’ and ‘Blade’, all the way to modern day with things like ‘Twilight’ and ‘What We Do in the Shadows’, people dig these bloodsucking creatures of the night.
But as the writers and directors (and mediums) have changed, so has the popular image of the vampire.
Is this how the undead have managed to survive all these years?
Thanks for checking out the podcast and don't forget to subscribe to the show here on sidebarforever.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Lastly, the pandemic has a lot of us keeping it close to the house this Halloween. And with good reason --it's scary out there. To our listeners and friends who do decide to venture out this Saturday, please be safe. And definitely wear your mask!

SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson
1 hr 20 min
October 23, 2020 ''The Boys' Season 2 Review | SIDEBAR FOREVER
Hughie, Marvin, Frenchie, Kimiko and Butcher have returned for season two of Amazon Prime’s hit streaming series ’The Boys’. With more heroism (and carnage) at the hands of the vainglorious Supes, and more ingenuity (and infighting) from our ragtag squad of anti-Supes. And we three are here to chop up all of it!
On this episode, we start with major takeaways, do a short dive into new characters like Stormfront and Lamplighter, and praise Antony Starr’s nuanced portrayal of the powerful yet broken Homelander. Also addressed in the conversation are the elements of Nazism and racism that have come to the fore, as well as a few of our critiques of season two.
And of course, we couldn’t skip over that epic season finale beatdown! Girls get it done, right?
As always, thanks for listening and please subscribe to the show here on sidebarforever.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson
1 hr

About Sidebar Forever

From the publisher's feed

Podcasting since 2007, the new iteration of the Sidebar podcast features even more entertaining and off-the-wall discussions on comics, art, and other pop culture topics.