Two True Freaks

Thirty years ago, I begn collecting comics for the first time. Now, I'm taking you back to those days with "Origin Story," a comics podcasting miniseries where I will look at all of the comics I bought in 1986-1987 in "real time."

In this first episode, I take a look at the book that started all of this, which is a crossover that every kid would have loved to see play out because they had already been playing the crossover in their basements and bedrooms with their toys. I'm talking about Marvel Comics' miniseries G.I. Joe and The Transformers. This time around, I will summarize and review issue #1 of the series.

Please don't forget to leave feedback at the Pop Culture Affidavit Facebook page and check out Pop Culture Affidavit for the show notes.

Thanks for joining us for the eighth episode of Cast Protection - a Stranger Things podcast. In this episode Jonathan Crites, Chris Tyler and Dave Atteberry recap the last episode of season 1 of this great Netflix original and discuss the various influences on this show and finish up the first round of discussion for the inaugural outing for the show and begin speculating on what's around the corner in season 2. This isn't the last episode of our show, so stick around! If you like the show, leave us a review on iTunes and shoot us an email at [email protected]. Facebook, find us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/274523039596769/ and on Twitter @CastProtection. Join us next time for fan theory, conspiracy and speculation!

Out in the black, there's plenty of folks you shouldn't turn your back on. None more enticing though than a fine figure of womanhood offering to hold a man's plough. Yes, Saffron's back with a score so large it's too much for one to tackle so she ups and offers a truce to Mal and the crew. Can she be trusted? Or will Mal be left with naught but the clothes on his back? It's TRASH, the 11th episode of FIREFLY.

This week Bingestorm (86th World's Greatest Detective) digs up evidence that they have at least one fan as we read a listener's email. Over on season one, episode six of Agents of SHIELD a peripheral tie in with the first Avengers movie gives the team a potentially fatal challenge to solve and on the third ever episode of Arrow we meet our first big DC baddie as Oliver Queen must stop the assassin Deadshot. Bonus natural cricket sounds live from Hair Metal Hero's abode makes for a calming Weekly Heroics. Don't forget kids, only you can prevent lonely inbox syndrome. Email us at [email protected]

Starting this week, Magnus launches the Unfinished Business megaseries!

Honestly, how many times have your heard your emperor wrap up an episode with words to the effect of "I don't know when but at some point I'll come back to this"? But invariably next week's episode is about some other subject. It's almost enough to make you think His Excellency has ADD or something.

Well, this megaseries is where all that starts getting put right.

In this week's ball-cloning episode, Magnus talks about another Star Wars prequel. The last time this subject came up was back in episode #99 which was dedicated to the Phantom Menace.

This week, that subject gets revisited as His Excellency turns his gaze to Attack of the Clones. How good is it? How bad is it? And can it be just one or the other?

Much ink and many words have beeen spilled over the Star Wars prequels in general and Attack of the Clones in particular. But rest assured, you've never heard anybody talk about Attack of the Clones the way Magnus does.

Stones are overturned, plot developments are analyzed, character motivations are critiqued and a director's vision is studied.

You think you've heard it all with Attack of the Clones? Think again!

So what more do you need? Start listening right now! Nobody wants a visit from Padme and her giant mouth, right?

Due to the deluge of ass-kickery this week, unfortunately there just wasn't time for listener feedback this week. But don't cry about it because there's more coming in the future!

Patience! The vast backlog of feedback will be addressed in due time. Fear not!

In the meantime, though, don't let the lack of feedback this time get you down! You can still offer your feeble effort at tribute! You humble serfs are always welcome to kiss your benevolent leader's ring. Corrupt DiManzocorp interns are ready, willing, able and eager to accept your bribe to present your meager missives to your wise emperor. The email address to use is [email protected] as the other seems to be having technical problems.

In an another sublime act of truly unprecedented charity, your emperor permits you lowly rabble to suggest topics for a future episode. Thus, petitions may be sent to [email protected] for DiManzocorp interns to review, whereupon your leader might consider thinking about the possibility of potentially discussing whatever you have in mind some day. And that's a promise!

Join Hope Mullinax and Chris Honeywell for THE MANDALORE PLOT - the 12th episode of season two of Star Wars - The Clone Wars! Make yourself comfortable as this episode goes into OVERTIME! Get ready - because there will be - KICK ASS DUCHESSES - CLONE KITTY NAMES - THE MOST HORRIFYING COSPLAY AT LURMICON - PROOPS - HOPE'S EVIL LAUGH - IMPRESSIONIST MANDALORIAN ART - BUG BURNING FEEDBACK and MUCH MORE in this, the CLASSIEST podcast EVER CONCEIVED!

More con talk! I wrap up my coverage of the 2016 Baltimore Comic-Con by sitting down with Professor Alan to talk about our experience at this year's convention. We discuss con prep, creators we met, what we bought, and what we thought. Then, join me, Stella, and The Irredeemable Shag for a conversation over Mexican food during Shag's recent visit to Charlottesville. Plus ... listener feedback!

Show notes and pictures are available at Pop Culture Affidavit, which is also where you can see regular weekly blog entries about the randomness that is pop culture.

Recapping episode 12 of season two and Brain, Beth and Scott are joined by Sara Tonin who has been the caretaker of the Rosarito Beach Hotel all along, but she's been relaxing in the Jacuzzi for the last few episodes. The crew at the Hotel are making it home and hopefully turning down a few more rooms as the may soon have more reservations. Over at La Colonia, desertions are happening from Alejandro's happy cult and he isn't happy. Nick learns who wears the pants in his new relationship and Ofelia is off on a trip down memory lane. Don't look back or you'll turn into a pillar of stupid this week on your Fear the Walking Deadcast!

Scott and Bill were off on "assignment", so Paul was stuck looking for substitute co-hosts. Gene Hendricks and Chris Tyler stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park. Listen in to hear them review three very different books.

It's The Big Five-Oh! Earth Destruction Directive hits a major milestone in this, the FIFTIETH EPISODE! And what better way to celebrate than by watching one of the most beloved daikaiju films of all time, Rodan! When strange goings on start happening in a deep underground mine, the malevolent culprit is revealed to be the giant insect known as the Meganuron... but what the miners don't know is that an even more terrible beast waits to be revealed: Rodan, the Flying Monster! PLUS: See Godzilla laid low by SHIELD and... captured?! Is that even possible?! Plus news, emails, and a new sponsor! So get in on the action and download the show right now!