X-Ray Vision

On this episode of X-Ray Vision, Jason Concepcion and Rosie Knight fight the Covenant! In the Airlock (3:45), Jason and Rosie dive deep (deeeep) into the world of video game adaptations, including recapping and discussing the new Halo series on Paramount+, and the games they’ve been playing (well all know Jason’s only playing one game right now). In the Hive Mind (52:55), X-Ray Vision is thrilled to welcome comics writing legend Grant Morrison to the show to explore their time on Batman, X-Men, their origin story with comics, as well as their thoughts on writing comics vs. TV and the creative process. In Nerd Out (1:47:30) a listener pitches us on Final Fantasy 4 Free Enterprise and in the Endgame (1:49:53), Jason and Rosie pick their top three video game adaptations.

Tune in every Friday and don’t forget to Hulk Smash the Follow button!

Nerd Out Submission Instructions!

Send a short pitch and 2-3 minute voice memo recording to [email protected] that answers the following questions: 1) How did you get into/discover your ‘Nerd Out?’ (2) Why should we get into it too? (3) What’s coming soon in this world that we can look forward to or where can we find it?

Follow Jason: twitter.com/netw3rk

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PLUGS:

Rosie’s IG, website, author archive, & Letterboxd.

Oliver’s IG

The Listener’s Guide for all things X-Ray Vision!

Halo: The Fall of Reach - Written by Eric Nylund, published 2001, and serves as a prelude to the first Halo game. Available here.

Batman: Arkham Asylum (aka A Serious House on Serious Earth) - Written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Dave McKean. Grant wants a critical reappraisal of their iconic comic, what do you think?

Jan Švankmajer - Grant cited this pioneering Czech filmmaker and avant garde artist, especially his work with stop-motion and puppetry, as one of the principal inspirations for Arkham Asylum. Among Svankmajer’s best known works are Conspirators of Pleasure and Alice.

Animal Man - The Grant Morrison run began in 1988 with penciller Chas Truog and covers by Brian Bolland and ran until issue #26. This is the series where Morrison first popularly explored concepts that have defined their work since: questioning the nature of reality, writing so-called ‘metafiction,’ and more.

Hyperobjects - As defined by Timothy Morton: “Hyperobjects are objects which have a vitality to them but you can't touch them, like race or class, or climate change. Their effects may be experienced even if they cannot be necessarily touched.”

Steve de Souza’s interview in the Guardian about filming Street Fighter with a “coked out of his mind” Jean-Claude Van Damme.

For a transcript of this episode visit crooked.com/xrayvision

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Live from Austin, it’s X-Ray Vision! On this episode, Jason Concepcion and Rosie Knight perform a live show at South by Southwest! First in Previously On (1:29), Jason and Rosie discuss the upcoming Moon Knight series and the newly released trailer for Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel. Then in the Airlock (37:05) Jason and Rosie rank and reason out their top three Multiverses while exploring the historical and narrative importance of the multiverse device across fiction and comics. And finally, Jason and Rosie answer questions from the mailbag and from their live SXSW audience (55:44).

Tune in every Friday and don’t forget to Hulk Smash the Follow button!

Nerd Out Submission Instructions!

Send a short pitch and 2-3 minute voice memo recording to [email protected] that answers the following questions: 1) How did you get into/discover your ‘Nerd Out?’ (2) Why should we get into it too? (3) What’s coming soon in this world that we can look forward to or where can we find it?

Follow Jason: twitter.com/netw3rk

Follow Crooked: twitter.com/crookedmedia

PLUGS:

Rosie’s IG, website, author archive, Letterboxd, + Cougar & Cub comic.

The Listener’s Guide for all things X-Ray Vision!

Ms. Marvel (2014) Created by editors Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker, writer G. Willow Wilson, and artists Adrian Alphona and Jamie McKelvie – Khan made her first appearance in Captain Marvel #14 (August 2013) before going on to star in the solo series Ms. Marvel, which debuted in February 2014.

Days of Future Past (1981) Chris Claremont, John Byrne, Terry Austin – a storyline in Uncanny X-Men issues #141–142.

Cube + Cube film series (Canadian series: 1997, 2002, 2004, Japanese remake: 2021) original directed by Vincenzo Natali.

Into the Spider-Verse (2018) – sequels coming in October 2022 & 2023.

DC Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985) by Marv Wolfman & George Perez – followed by Infinite Crisis (2005–2006) and Final Crisis (2008–2009).

Secret Wars (2015) by Jonathan Hickman, Esad Ribic – The storyline involves the destruction of the Marvel Universe and various other alternate universes.

For a transcript of this episode visit crooked.com/xrayvision

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of X-Ray Vision, Jason Concepcion and Rosie Knight visit Crime Alley! First in Previously On (2:05), Jason and Rosie discuss release date changes to Warner Bros’ schedule as well as the new teaser for Disney’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series. In the Airlock (7:19) Jason and Rosie rank and reason out their top five Batman adaptations. Then in the Hive Mind (28:08), Jason and Rosie welcome Hollywood legend, Batman super-fan, and theatrical Batman executive producer and originator Michael Uslan to detail his time at DC, Batman’s cinematic origins, give some Hollywood advice, and tell stories of his extraordinary life with comics. And in the Endgame (1:21:51), Jason and Rosie rank the top three times we’ve seen Thomas and Martha Wayne murdered in various Batman adaptations.

Tune in every Friday and don’t forget to Hulk Smash the Follow button!

Nerd Out Submission Instructions!

Send a short pitch and 2-3 minute voice memo recording to [email protected] that answers the following questions: 1) How did you get into/discover your ‘Nerd Out?’ (2) Why should we get into it too? (3) What’s coming soon in this world that we can look forward to or where can we find it?

Follow Jason: twitter.com/netw3rk

Follow Crooked: twitter.com/crookedmedia

PLUGS:

Rosie’s IG, website, author archive, Letterboxd, + Cougar & Cub comic.

The Listener’s Guide for all things X-Ray Vision!

Batman’s Batman: A Memoir from Hollywood, Land of Bilk and Money – Michael Uslan’s second memoir. Available wherever books are sold, including here.

The Boy Who Loved Batman – Michael Uslan’s first memoir. Available where books are sold, including here.

For a transcript of this episode visit crooked.com/xrayvision

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of X-Ray Vision, Jason Concepcion and Rosie Knight send up the Bat Signal! First in Previously On (2:47), Jason and Rosie discuss a casting in Sony’s Kraven, the imminent arrival of Netflix’s Marvel shows (and of course Agents of Shield) on Disney+, how Hollywood is reacting to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and what some newly released funko pops might tell us about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In the Airlock (13:24) Jason and Rosie dive deep (deeeep) into Matt Reeves’ The Batman, discussing what sets the film apart from previous iterations, why it’s so good, and offering a variety of recommendations for folks to read, watch, and play after they see The Batman (55:28). In this chapter of the Omnibus (1:25:05), Jason explores science-fiction’s relationship with war and vice versa. In the Hive Mind (1:37:29), Jason and Rosie are joined by comedian and podcaster Pete Holmes to discuss The Batman and in the Endgame (1:52:32), Jason and Rosie pick the craziest villain from Batman’s Rogues Gallery to see in a future Batman installment.

Tune in every Friday and don’t forget to Hulk Smash the Follow button!

Nerd Out Submission Instructions!

Send a short pitch and 2-3 minute voice memo recording to [email protected] that answers the following questions: 1) How did you get into/discover your ‘Nerd Out?’ (2) Why should we get into it too? (3) What’s coming soon in this world that we can look forward to or where can we find it?

Follow Jason: twitter.com/netw3rk

Follow Crooked: twitter.com/crookedmedia

PLUGS:

Rosie’s IG, website, author archive, Letterboxd, + Cougar & Cub comic.

The Listener’s Guide for all things X-Ray Vision!

Batman: Year One (serialized as Batman #404-407 in 1987) – written by Frank Miller, illustrated by David Mazzucchelli. 

Batman: The Long Halloween (1996-97) – Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale, which directly led to Batman: Dark Victory & Catwoman: When in Rome by the pair in the late 90s & early 2000s.

Batman: Earth One Vol 1-3 (launched overall in 2010, Batman’s came out in 2012) – Written by Geoff Johns, art by Gary Frank.

Batman: Ego & Other Tails (2000) – Darwyn Cooke & Paul Grist.

Batman: Hush (2002-03) – Jeph Loeb & Jim Lee

Batman: The Telltale Games (2016) – point & click adventure game by Telltale Games and distributed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment under its DC Entertainment label.

Batman: Arkham Games (2009 - present) – developed by Rocksteady Studios and WB Games Montréal. 

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) – Animated film directed by Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm and written by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko, and Michael Reaves.

Batman: The Animated Series (1992-95, 85 episodes total) – By Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Mitch Brian and Eric Radomski, starring Kevin Conroy.

Batman: Cataclysm / Batman: No Man’s Land (1998-99) – written by numerous, outlined by Jordan B Gorfinkel.

Batman: Zero Year (2013-14) – Scott Snyder & James Tynion IV.

Batman 72 Vehicles & People by Francesco Francavilla

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/x-ray-vision

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of X-Ray Vision, Jason Concepcion and Rosie Knight get a hug from an eagle! First in Previously On (2:07), Jason and Rosie discuss casting news, including the Sonyverse’s Chameleon and MCU’s Blade, how immersed Paul Dano got in his Riddler role, and the release of more Thor: Love and Thunder Legos and what that might tell us about phase 4 and 5 of the MCU. In the Airlock (29:57) Jason and Rosie dive deep (deeeep) into HBO Max’s Peacemaker, discussing James Gunn’s trademark style, Peacemaker season 2, and the historical precedents for DC / Marvel creative crossovers. In the Hive Mind (1:22:24), Jason is joined by Peacemaker star Chukwudi Iwuji for a charming conversation about working with James Gunn, acting from the page, his father’s burgeoning cinephilia, and trying to keep up comedically with John Cena (plus how that opening dance sequence came together). In Nerd Out (1:41:22) a listener pitches us on Amazon Prime’s The Legend of Vox Machina and the webseries Critical Role that inspired it. And in the Endgame (1:44:48), Jason and Rosie name their favorite villain turned hero.

Tune in every Friday and don’t forget to Hulk Smash the Follow button!

Nerd Out Submission Instructions!

Send a short pitch and 2-3 minute voice memo recording to [email protected] that answers the following questions: 1) How did you get into/discover your ‘Nerd Out?’ (2) Why should we get into it too? (3) What’s coming soon in this world that we can look forward to or where can we find it?

Follow Jason: twitter.com/netw3rk

Follow Crooked: twitter.com/crookedmedia

PLUGS:

Rosie’s IG, website, author archive, & Letterboxd.

The Listener’s Guide for all things X-Ray Vision!

A-Force – Marvel’s first all female team of Avengers; debuting in 2015, created by writers G. Willow Wilson and Marguerite Bennett and artist Jorge Molina, and appearing in an alternate universe during 2015’s Secret Wars before being folded into the main continuity. It was critically lauded, but canceled in 2016 due to poor sales. Available on Marvel Unlimited.

A Death in the Family – A 1988 storyline written by Jim Starlin and penciled by Jim Aparo, with cover art by Mike Mignola, and infamous because readers could call two 900 numbers to decide whether Jason Todd, aka Robin, would live or die. Serialized in Batman #426-429 and considered one of the most important Batman storylines for pushing the character’s series and tone in a darker direction. Available on Amazon.

Rosie’s Rec – Arrive in My Hands by Trinidad Escobar, available from Black Josei Press. 

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of X-Ray Vision, Jason Concepcion, Rosie Knight, and Jason Mantzoukas settle in and talk comics! That’s right, it’s time for another installment of X-Ray Vision’s Comics Corner. First in Previously On (2:30), Jason and Rosie spend a little time unpacking a few recent news stories, including the rebirth of Paramount and some of the Super Bowl trailers; then Jason and Rosie dive deep (deeep) into the latest trailer and poster from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, offering plot and story theories, speculating on characters, and backing all of it up with extensive comics lore. In the Hive Mind (52:23), Jason Mantzoukas joins Jason and Rosie to review and recommend tons of comics, including what everyone is reading right now, some favorite comics for kids, and their back issue/quarter-bin pick, aka the comics they happened to stumble upon and fall in love with. In Nerd Out (1:41:27) a listener pitches us on alternative movie posters and in the Endgame (1:44:09), Jason and Rosie choose their mutant power.

Tune in every Friday and don’t forget to Hulk Smash the Follow button!

Nerd Out Submission Instructions!

Send a short pitch and 2-3 minute voice memo recording to [email protected] that answers the following questions: 1) How did you get into/discover your ‘Nerd Out?’ (2) Why should we get into it too? (3) What’s coming soon in this world that we can look forward to or where can we find it?

Follow Jason: twitter.com/netw3rk

Follow Crooked: twitter.com/crookedmedia

PLUGS:

Rosie’s IG, website, author archive, & Letterboxd.

The Listener’s Guide for all things X-Ray Vision!

Our Pull List for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness:

X-Men: Trial of Magneto – 5 issues; written by Leah Williams, art by Lucas Werneck, August 2021. Available here. 

House of M – 8 core issues with some crossover arcs; written by Brian Michael Bendis & illustrated by Olivia Coipel, June 2005. Available here.

Illuminati – The series with writing by Bendis that segues into Jonathan Hickman’s New Avengers run. Available here.

Marvel Zombies – 5 issue limited series; written by Robert Kirkman, art by Sean Phillips, covers by Arthur Suydam, 2005. Available here.

Savage Land – Chris Claremont’s Uncanny X-Men, beginning with Uncanny X-Men #94 and ending with Uncanny X-Men #279 when Claremont left Marvel in 1991. Available on Marvel Unlimited.

Young Avengers - by Jamie McKelvie and Kieron Gillen; America Chavez was introduced in 2011's Vengeance #1 by Joe Casey and Nick Dragotta.

Rosie’s Shuma-Gorath Nerdist Article.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of X-Ray Vision, Jason Concepcion and Rosie Knight saddle up a rancor! First in Previously On (2:05), Jason and Rosie talk about Amazon’s LOTR and more Super Bowl Sunday trailers we might expect, Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi poster drop, Futurama’s return on Hulu, and offer some Random Recommendations. Then in the Airlock (15:18) they dive deep (deeeep) into the epic finale of The Book of Boba Fett, discussing what we might expect from future Star Wars stories, critiques of Boba Fett, and the exploration of politics and people at the heart of the Star Wars universe. In Nerd Out (1:10:40) a listener pitches us on Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files novels. And in the Endgame (1:13:47), Jason and Rosie give the Medal of Yavin to one character each in the Book of Boba Fett.

Tune in every Friday and don’t forget to Hulk Smash the Follow button!

Nerd Out Submission Instructions!

Send a short pitch and 2-3 minute voice memo recording to [email protected] that answers the following questions: 1) How did you get into/discover your ‘Nerd Out?’ (2) Why should we get into it too? (3) What’s coming soon in this world that we can look forward to or where can we find it?

Follow Jason: twitter.com/netw3rk

Follow Crooked: twitter.com/crookedmedia

PLUGS:

Rosie’s IG, website, author archive, & Letterboxd.

The Listener’s Guide for all things X-Ray Vision!

The Absolute Book by Elizabeth Knox. Available from Bookshop.

Devil House by John Darnielle. Available from Bookshop.

From the Journals of Obi-Wan Kenobi – Written by Jason Aaron & Dash Aaron; the trade paperback was released in November, 2020 and chronicles Obi-Wan’s life on Tatooine as he protects Luke from the shadows and tries to stay under the radar of the Empire, but still seeks to stop injustice. Available from Comixology. 

The Wire – The iconic HBO series from former police beat reporter David Simon; each season expanded the scope of the narrative, starting with the Baltimore PD and the drug trade before dramatizing the docks, city politics, education and more. Available on HBO Max.

Rosie’s Interview with Matt Reeves on Amazon’s ‘Tales from the Loop’

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of X-Ray Vision, Jason Concepcion and Rosie Knight square off in Mos Pelgo! First in Previously On (2:05), they discuss the upcoming Halo series on Paramount+, the character posters from Amazon’s upcoming Lord of the Rings series, and the casting of Dakota Johnson as Madame Web. Then in the Airlock (22:08) they dive deep (deeeep) into Book of Boba Fett chapter 6, offering theories for the finale as well as analyzing the dichotomy of Jedi and Mandalorian philosophies. In the Omnibus (1:09:55) Jason surveys the post-apocalyptic genre. In the Hive Mind (1:22:25) Patrick Somerville, the writer and creator of HBO Max’s Station Eleven, joins Jason to unpack the series, examine human connection and genre, and probe the role of the internet in our collective consciousness. In Nerd Out (1:59:57) a listener pitches us on the spooky oeuvre of Mike Flanagan, particularly Midnight Mass. And in the Endgame (2:03:36), Jason and Rosie choose a ‘Station Eleven,’ a piece of art/media that has fundamentally shaped them.

Tune in every Friday and don’t forget to Hulk Smash the Follow button!

Nerd Out Submission Instructions!

Send a short pitch and 2-3 minute voice memo recording to [email protected] that answers the following questions: 1) How did you get into/discover your ‘Nerd Out?’ (2) Why should we get into it too? (3) What’s coming soon in this world that we can look forward to or where can we find it?

Follow Jason: twitter.com/netw3rk

Follow Crooked: twitter.com/crookedmedia

PLUGS:

Rosie’s IG, author archive, & Letterboxd

The Listener’s Guide for all things X-Ray Vision!

Age of Rebellion Comics – Written by Greg Pak and running from April 2019 through June 2019; featuring iconic characters like Han Solo, Leia, Grand Moff Tarkin, and more. “The Trial of Dagobah” written by Marc Guggeinheim was featured in Age of Rebellion Special #1, available on Marvel Unlimited.

Journey to the West – Originally published in the 16th century and attributed to Wu Cheng’en; according to Britannica: “In addition to the novel’s comedy and adventure, Journey to the West has been enjoyed for its biting satire of society and Chinese bureaucracy and for its allegorical presentation of human striving and perseverance.” This version has a foreword by acclaimed comics artist Gene Luen Yang.

Young Jedi Knights Novel Series – Written by Kevin J. Anderson & Rebecca Moesta and first published in 1995. The first novel in the series is Heirs of the Force and the final is Crisis at Crystal Reef. Available in a few different places secondhand, including here.

Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie – “And you yell to yourself and you throw down yer hat / Sayin', ‘Christ do I gotta be like that / Ain't there no one here that knows where I'm at / Ain't there no one here that knows how I feel / Good God Almighty / THAT STUFF AIN'T REAL’” – Full lyrics here & Dylan’s 1963 performance in New York here.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of X-Ray Vision, Jason Concepcion and Rosie Knight take a trip on a Corellian Freighter! First in Previously On (2:09), Jason and Rosie briefly discuss the new Star Wars game announcements, resolving computer problems for the upcoming issue of the fantastic Image series The Good Asian (that everyone should check out), and the return of the acclaimed series Saga (with no spoilers). In the Airlock (16:27) Jason & Rosie dive deep (deeeep) into the latest episode of Book of Boba Fett (aka Ch. 1 Book of the Mandalorian). In Nerd Out (54:18) a listener pitches us on the television classic Babylon 5. And in the Endgame (57:17), Jason and Rosie play Mando Kart, racing Rainbow Road with only their wits & their choice of Star Wars character, vehicle, weapon, & glider to guide them.

Tune in every Friday and don’t forget to Hulk Smash the Follow button!

Nerd Out Submission Instructions!

Send a short pitch and 2-3 minute voice memo recording to [email protected] that answers the following questions: 1) How did you get into/discover your ‘Nerd Out?’ (2) Why should we get into it too? (3) What’s coming soon in this world that we can look forward to or where can we find it?

Follow Jason: twitter.com/netw3rk

Follow Crooked: twitter.com/crookedmedia

PLUGS:

Rosie’s IG, author archive, & other awesome work!

The Listener’s Guide for all things X-Ray Vision!

The Night Comes For Us – Written and directed by Timo Tjahjanto in 2018, who is also known as half of the acclaimed filmmaking duo The Mo Brothers, along with Kimo Stamboel. Available on Netflix.

Larry Niven - Hugo, Nebula, & Locus award winning author of Ringworld; available on Bookshop.

Babylon 5 – Streaming on HBO Max. 

Message from Space (1978) – As referenced & recommended by Rosie in the stinger of this episode. Full film available here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of X-Ray Vision, Jason Concepcion and Rosie Knight gorge on human flesh! First in Previously On (2:13), Jason and Rosie briefly discuss the Microsoft/Activision acquisition, Amazon’s Lord of the Rings teaser, Marvel’s Moon Knight trailer, and the first three episodes of HBOMax’s Peacemaker. In the Hive Mind (29:01) Jason Mantzoukas (How Did This Get Made, Big Mouth, and more) returns to the show to discuss Book of Boba Fett and the Harry Potter Reunion. Then in the Airlock (1:22:07) Jason C. & Rosie dive deep (deeeep) into Showtime’s Yellowjackets. In Nerd Out (1:52:37) a listener pitches us on Super Sentai. And in the Endgame (1:56:24), Jason and Rosie try to survive the Canadian wilderness.

Tune in every Friday and don’t forget to Hulk Smash the Follow button!

Nerd Out Submission Instructions!

Send a short pitch and 2-3 minute voice memo recording to [email protected] that answers the following questions: 1) How did you get into/discover your ‘Nerd Out?’ (2) Why should we get into it too? (3) What’s coming soon in this world that we can look forward to or where can we find it?

Follow Jason: twitter.com/netw3rk

Follow Crooked: twitter.com/crookedmedia

PLUGS:

Rosie’s IG & Polygon piece

HDTGM on EarWolf

The Listener’s Guide for all things X-Ray Vision!

IGN’s How They Made It for Amazon’s LOTR

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.