In part two of the June 2025 edition of Snap Material, Jesse and Evan return with an insightful and entertaining breakdown of the current Marvel Snap meta, new unlocks, and the rollercoaster of reaching (or nearly reaching) Infinite rank. This episode dives deep into the recent dominance of Move and Destroy decks, the rise and minor fall of Hercules, and how recent balance updates—like Cerebro getting a +3 boost—are shaking up strategy and deckbuilding creativity.

Evan shares his journey through several decks this season, from experimenting with Strange Supreme and Silver Surfer variants, to an unexpected hero: Agent Venom. Meanwhile, Jesse discusses his own push toward 90, recounting highlights like his Xorn-Scream-Kingpin combo and rediscovering Prodigy’s value in movement-based builds. 

The pair also run through their latest unlocks with enthusiasm—from Baby Galactus to pixel variants, and from steampunk Forge to an overflowing collection of Venom art. They wrap up the show with a surprise twist: the sudden appearance and disappearance of unreleased cards Hellion and Mercury, sparking theories and laughs in equal measure.

Welcome back to Snap Material! In this action-packed June 2025 episode, Jesse and Evan dive into the thrilling "New X-Men" drop that landed in Marvel Snap last month. They kick things off with a deep analysis of Esme Cuckoo, exploring why she’s a decent utility card—especially in Silver Surfer builds—but doesn’t quite move the needle in most matches. The hosts discuss whether she’s more “deck filler” than “game changer,” and offer ideas for creative synergy.

Then it’s onto Surge, the undeniable standout of the season. With her repeatable cost/power buff mechanic, she’s quickly proven to be a staple across multiple decks. Evan breaks down his experience chaining value plays using Gilgamesh, Thor, and Beta Ray Bill, while Jesse praises her versatility and low downside. Whether you're optimizing order of play or just slotting her into a flexible list, Surge is the real MVP.

The episode also highlights experimental deck-building around Prodigy, Elixir, and Xorn. Prodigy’s back row text-copying ability led to some massive combos (Odin chaos, anyone?), while Elixir prompted a fun but frustrating discussion at revive synergy—especially when paired with Misery and Fire Hair. Jesse found Xorn's move synergy a blast, setting up Vulture for surprise power swings and pondering unexpected combos with Kingpin and Magneto. The duo closes with takes on the two new featured locations: Pit of Exile and Genoa, evaluating their meta impact and strategic nuance.

In this action-packed episode of the Unspoken Issues Podcast, Jesse, Evan, and Chris take a nostalgic dive into one of Marvel's most delightfully chaotic storylines: The Amazing Spider-Man's six-part "Round Robin: The Sidekick's Revenge"! Covering issues #353–358 from 1991, the crew shares memories, hot takes, and plenty of laughs as they revisit a time when superhero crossovers were loaded with guest stars, questionable puns, and pure '90s energy.

Join the discussion as Chris reveals why this story was a must-cover for him, reminiscing about his childhood love for Darkhawk and Amazing Spider-Man. Meanwhile, Jesse experiences the entire saga for the first time, offering fresh reactions to everything from Mark Bagley's early artwork to Al Milgrom’s dialogue—some of which lands... and some of which definitely doesn't! Evan brings the humor, wondering aloud how Moon Knight ever thought training a sidekick was a good idea.

The trio unpacks the Secret Empire's ridiculous amount of hidden bases, marvels at the sheer amount of accidental victories and botched plans, and laughs about Spider-Man's worst one-liners. From Punisher’s stealth antics to bagel jokes that aged like fine (or maybe not-so-fine) wine, this episode is a love letter to a wonderfully over-the-top era of Marvel comics.

The journey comes to an explosive end! In this episode of the Source Material Comics Podcast, hosts Mark Radulich and Jesse Starcher close out their deep dive into Sons of Anarchy: Redwood Original by tackling issues 9-12. The stakes are at their highest—Jax Teller has been kidnapped, the club is out for blood, and Clay is forced to make a desperate move to bring him home. But as the dust settles, one thing is clear: Jax has fully embraced the outlaw life, and there’s no turning back.

Mark and Jesse break down the action-packed conclusion, from Jax’s brutal fight for survival to Clay’s ruthless power plays. They discuss the strengths and missteps of the series, including a finale that left them with more questions than answers. Was Jax’s rescue satisfying? Did the comic truly add depth to his character? And most importantly—was this really the prequel fans wanted?

So, saddle up for one last ride through Redwood Original and find out if this prequel was a worthy addition to the SOA legacy!

It’s time to dive into the "dark times" of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cinematic legacy in this hilariously honest episode of Unspoken Issues! Jesse Starcher and Chris Armstrong tackle the notorious TMNT III—the film that sent the turtles back in time…and possibly sent fans running in the opposite direction. Often mistaken for the beloved arcade game Turtles in Time, this 1993 misfire left many questioning whether the franchise had lost its shell. But does the comic book adaptation redeem the movie’s clunky animatronics, generic villains, and missing Foot Clan? The guys are here to find out.

Jesse and Chris walk through the movie and the Archie comic adaptation scene by scene, pointing out everything from awkward time travel mechanics to Splinter’s budget Chuck E. Cheese vibes. They compare the story beats, missing wet willies (you read that right), and surprisingly bloodless action scenes, even digging into whether the adaptation makes the film slightly more digestible. There’s also room for some praise—namely for Corey Feldman’s return, some fun splash pages from Chris Allan, and the standout panel of Michelangelo rescuing Yoshi from a fire.

To cap it all off, Jesse takes listeners on a laugh-filled tour through the TMNT III soundtrack—one of the most “minimal effort” soundtracks of the '90s, featuring recycled pop hits, questionable remixes, and a bizarre rap gem courtesy of Loose Bruce.

The future is now in Part 3 of Snap Material as Jesse Starcher and Evan Bevins crack open the brand-new “New X-Men” season in Marvel Snap, which dropped on May 6, 2025. With fresh cards, game-altering abilities, and thought-provoking strategies, Jesse and Evan break down each new character and how they fit into the ever-evolving Snap meta. From the flexible potential of Esme Cuckoo to the power chain antics of Surge, this episode digs into the mechanics, the comic lore, and how players might integrate these new cards into effective, competitive decks.

Jesse floats strategies for pairing Prodigy with Iron Man and Living Tribunal, while Evan analyzes the back-row copying mechanics and highlights how Prodigy may become a Swiss army knife for synergy-rich setups. Elixir offers fresh utility to destroy archetypes, and Xorn brings disruptive move potential that could flip control of the board—if used cleverly. The duo also debate which of the new batch has true staying power, and which might just be flashier in theory than in practice. Wrapping up, Jesse and Evan explore the newly introduced locations—Pit of Exile and Genosha—and how they’ll impact lane control and deck design. .

In Part 2 of this special Snap Material episode, Jesse Starcher and Evan Bevins return for an in-depth meta discussion on all the sweeping changes that hit Marvel Snap during the “What If…?” season. The conversation kicks off with a deep dive into Snap Packs—a major shakeup to the game’s card acquisition system. With Spotlight Keys now converted into tokens, the guys break down what this means for players, how it’s impacted their collections, and whether this new method improves the odds of scoring that elusive Series 4 or 5 card. Spoiler: Jesse came away with 14 new cards!

The episode also explores the season's deck trends, with move decks dominating the ladder thanks to strong support from cards like Topaz, Fan-Fei, and Hydra Stomper. Jesse shares his continued success with his Namora deck and a renewed appreciation for the High Voltage challenge, while Evan reflects on the design nuances that made certain move cards more viable. Plus, the guys weigh in on Agamotto's mixed impact and celebrate the introduction of his long-overdue shirted variant. 

Finally, it’s time to compare collection hauls. From Dan Hipp art to obscure and wild variants like Absorbing Man the speakeasy bouncer and pixel Watcher, Jesse and Evan showcase their newest additions—and reminisce about which variants made the cut and which got benched. It’s a celebratory, detail-rich wrap-up of one of Snap’s most transformative seasons.

In this powerhouse episode of Snap Material, Jesse Starcher and Evan Bevins return (a bit later than usual!) to unpack all the excitement, strategy, and surprises from the April 2025 Marvel Snap season: "What If…?" From the highs of Infinity Ultron to the experimental chaos of Strange Supreme, this episode is packed with card insights, meta shifts, and some genuinely unexpected curveballs. Jesse and Evan kick things off with their thoughts on the season’s inspirations from the animated What If…? series, including card breakdowns for Captain Carter, Goliath, and Kahhori, as well as how they fared in the meta. 

The duo dives into a vibrant discussion around the new back-row mechanic and how key characters like Peggy Carter and Goliath support (or struggle with) the evolving playstyles. They go deep on the powerful but complex Infinity Ultron, the utility of Strange Supreme, and the unexpectedly strong move-centric synergy introduced by surprise cards like Topaz, Fan-Fey, and Batroc the Leaper. Evan offers valuable deck-building advice while Jesse keeps the energy high, dissecting what worked and what fell short in their personal experiences this season.

The road to redemption is never easy—especially for Jax Teller. In this episode of the Source Material Comics Podcast, Mark Radulich and Jesse Starcher continue their deep dive into Sons of Anarchy: Redwood Original, covering issues 5 through 8. Jax is lost, spiraling into booze and regret after being kicked out of SAMCRO. But when a deadly enforcer starts gunning for the club, Jax sees his chance to prove himself—and he’ll risk everything to take it. 

Mark and Jesse break down the high-stakes action as Jax goes head-to-head with the feared assassin hunting the club, Clay scrambles to fix the mess he created, and the Sons find themselves pinned down in a brutal ambush. With sharp analysis, dark humor, and plenty of SOA knowledge, the guys explore how Clay’s ruthless decision-making sets the stage for bigger conflicts and why Jax’s reckless need for approval keeps pushing him deeper into club life.

But just when things seem settled, a shocking cliffhanger changes everything. Jax is kidnapped, the club is left scrambling, and the tension is at an all-time high. Will Jax survive? Will SAMCRO be able to hold it together? Buckle up for another wild ride through the Sons of Anarchy universe—this one’s a game-changer.

In this jam-packed episode of Unspoken Issues, hosts Jesse and Chris Armstrong dive deep into a green-tinted blast from the past—Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze. From the moment Jesse asks, “Have you ever seen a turtle get down?” to nostalgic trips to old theaters and VHS rentals, this episode is a heartfelt celebration of Turtlemania in the early '90s. The duo shares vivid memories of childhood summers, walks to comic stores, and the magic of seeing TMNT on the big screen—paired with action figures, GI Joes, and of course, the infamous Vanilla Ice “Ninja Rap.”

But it’s not just about the movie—this episode takes it further by dissecting the comic book adaptation published by Archie Comics. Jesse and Chris break down the differences between the film and the comic in painstaking detail, from the toned-down violence to the creative liberties taken with dialogue, visuals, and the portrayal of beloved characters like Keno and Super Shredder. They even uncover long-misunderstood lines (yes, Michelangelo’s “all the good ones end in ‘O’” finally gets clarified) and unexpected appearances—like a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo by Michael Jai White.

The episode is also loaded with deep-cut TMNT trivia, soundtrack reviews (you’ll never hear “Ninja Rap” the same way again), and some serious admiration for a single comic panel featuring a stuck mutant turtle. Whether you're a lifelong Turtlehead or just nostalgic for the early '90s, this episode delivers a mutant-sized helping of pop culture commentary, laughter, and surprisingly deep dives into obscure comic lore. And don’t worry—yes, they talk Turtle ween.