Views From The Longbox Version 2.0

After Michael comes clean about something he really didn't mean to do in the first place and entices you to come back to the blog this weekend for some kind of contest the fifth (is it the fifth, it's probably the fifth) installment of the Mike and Shag Show gets underway. This time Michael and Shag discuss the big events coming up in 2008 because they like to be Timely about such things. Topics include Final Crisis, Secret Invasion, Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Dark Knight and other comics, movies and television series coming up this year. This has to be the best Mike and Shag Show yet especially since it is the shortest.

It is a pretty mixed bag this week as Michael is once again solo. His return to one man podcasting begins with a list of his favorite comic book couples and then goes right into a battle to the death with a plug in for his audio editing program. After that Michael gives his reasons for not renewing his contract with DC Comics as one of their Official Fans and how he may become an Official Marvel Zombie. All this and about ten minutes of reader mail. How's that for trying to get back into the swing of things?

The third and final part of the talk Michael had with webmaster and podcast host Brad Douglas. This one is a little over an hour, but as always since it is not Michael talking and talking and talking by himself it should be fine. This time out Michael and Brad finish up their Hulk discussion, talk about some of the other Marvel books Brad is reading, go over the DC books Brad has read over the year (all two of them), get into BRAND NEW DAY a little bit and even go through some very obscure comic related trivia. So sit back, relax and enjoy this final installment of the Mike/Douglas Show.

In this second part of the Mike/Douglas show Michael continues his coversation with Brad Douglas, webmaster of the Spider-Man Crawlspace and host/ringleader of that site's podcast. This week Brad talks a little bit more about his day job before listing his favorite Spider-Man writers and artists. Michael also laments how easier it is to be a Spider_man fan than a Superman fan, at least on a merchandising level. All this and a little bit on the Incredible Hulk television series as well.

Wecome to the first "official" episode of the year Michael is joined by Spider-Man Crawlspace Webmaster and Spider-Man Crawlspace Podcast ringleader Brad Douglas to talk a whole lot about (surprise, surprise) Spider-Man. They also discuss how Brad became a comic book fan, where he buys his comics and Brad's day job as a reporter for a local (at least for him) NBC affiliate. All of this and a special appearance by Michael's dog because the microphone picks up a lot.

Mike and Shag are back, this time to talk about comic book movies. Which were good, which were bad and which should have never been made? Among the films discussed are Spider-Man, X-2, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Daredevil, Superman: The Movie, Hulk and many more. All this and a podcast pick of the week. It's kind of long but hey, it's been about two weeks right? Right?

An hour's worth of holiday cheer. Yes, it is Christmas time and Michael has answered the call with the first annual Views From The Longbox Christmas Super-Hero Spectacular. For your listening enjoyment Michael present three yuletide stories featuring Superman, Batman and Robin and Wonder Woman. Also Michael relates a few of the comic book related presents he has received over the years and there is also some music thrown in for good measure. Views From The Longbox wishes to extend to all of the listeners a Merry Yule, a Happy Holiday and a very Merry Christmas.

Following a slightly more compressed opening theme Michael gives you a slight history lesson that you are no doubt already aware of. After another installment of Out of Context Theater Michael discusses some of the realizations he has made lately and why he's been buying comics the way he has in the past few weeks. Then it is reader mail and the big announcement of who won the first big contest. More fun than a copy of BLOODSTRIKE #1, but then again what isn't?

Back after two weeks Michael finally has the theme song he always wanted to use. Then there's another installment of Out of Context Theater before Michael gets into why the fifty-cent box is all about some awesome. Afterwards Michael dips into reader mail. Yup, it's an exciting episode this week. Enjoy.

Not exactly work safe again this week, but that's because it's the November edition of The Mike and Shag Show. This month Mike and Shag look at some of the best comics from the mid to late eighties. Listen as they go through some of their favorite books from DC, Marvel and Eclipse Comics. Shag even participates in this week's Out of Context Theater and the Podcast Pick of the Week. The audio quality on this one is surprisingly good and Michael has worked out some other techincal issues, so despite being an hour and a half this week's installment goes down easy.