Episode 32: Christmas Comics and Sean's Long Box

Its the most happiest time of the year! Sean gets time off and takes a long box worth of comics up on vacation with him and he tracks down his favorites of the nearly 100+ comics he read! We also discuss our favorite christmas comics and what makes them so hap hap happy! Bryton Sampson guest hosts for and MIA John. Its pretty intense you may need to pack an extra pair of pants.

In this short film DC Comics resdient Badass Lobo is sent to track down Jolly old Saint Nick. Prepare for the glorious Yuletide Ultra Violence!

Episode 31: Fart Party

Could this be? After reading a few comics recommended by Sean, Henny's girlfriend is now reading comics of her own will. One of her favorite being "Fart Party" by Julia Wertz. This indie comic is a look into life in San Francisco as seen through a beer guzzling, bike riding, sarcastic artist. Filled with humor and heart ache it's a perfect match for those who don't like men in tights, flying around, and picking fights.


Sean's Pick
Marvel Visionaries: Walter Simonson "The Mighty Thor"(starts at 10:00)
There has been much critical acclaim over this series and Sean takes the time to sit down and give it a read. Surprised that this series withstands the sands of time and is just as interesting and relevant today as it was when it was written, Sean give it his stamp of approval. Writer-artist Walt Simonson throws all preconceived notions out the window and over a two-and-a-half-year span produced epic adventure that held an ever-growing readership in thrall.

Simonson weaves a complex series of adventures that shuttle mercilessly from the golden spires of fabled Asgard to the streets of New York City to the farthest stars in the Universe. The entire pantheon of the Aesir was completely reimagined through Simonson's powerful images, becoming both more contemporary while retaining their regal, mythic trappings!!

CREATORS: STORY BY: Walter Simonson/ ART BY: Walter Simonson


Jonas' Pick
Blackest Night #5(starts at 28:00)
"Geoff John's is the most powerful man in comic books!" Jonas cries from on high. " Things usually slow down in the middle of a series instead of going completely bonkers. Geoff Johns is changing the DC universe forever! If you are not reading this book you are insane, or you live in a cave."

CREATORS: STORY BY: Geoff Johns / ART BY:Ivan Reis, Oclair Albert, Joe Prado



Special Guest Bryton's Pick
Chew #7 (starts at 38:45)
It is easy to call "Chew" a one-trick pony. Based on a crazy concept that seems good for one or two issues it can all be said in one sentence. "Chicken is illegal and guy can eats stuff and be a psychic". There is so much more to this scif-fi thriller, they keep piling on more and more weird twists that have yet to be explained. Aliens from space, an author that writes tastes, and chew doing good old fashioned police work? What will they come up with next?

CREATORS: STORY BY: John Layman /ART BY:Rob Guillory

Henny's Pick
Blackest Night: Flash #1 (starts at 52:09)
Sean loves this comic! Starting off with the cover being an ode to Ethan Van Sciver's cover of Flash Rebirth #1. To the fact that Rogues are back baby!

The story takes place shortly after Hal Jordan leaves Earth in an attempt to shut down the Black Lanterns. Left with the fate of the Earth on his shoulders, Barry Allen is spreading the word about the Black Lanterns, making his allies aware of the threat posed by these resurrected acquaintances.

CREATORS: STORY BY: Geoff Johns / ART BY: Scott Kolins

Best Of 2009 Categories!

Let the violent controversy ensue!

Here are the categories for the upcoming 2-part BEST OF 2009 show! They won't be released until 2009 has officially come to an end, but you better start thinking right now, my little Warriors!

BEST OF 2009!!!

Best Comic Book Series:

Best Hero:

Best Villain:

Best New Series (1st issue came out in 09):

Best Mini Series:

Best Indie Comic:

Best Comic Adaptation (movie, videogame, TVshow):

Best Writer:

Best Artist:

Biggest Disappointment (dropped!):

Best Storyline:

Most Excited for 2010 comic or comic related:

Best Single Issue:

Best Wild Card Choice!:

Best Cover Artist:

Best Cover:

Best Comeback:

Best Colorist:

Best Moment:

Episode 30: Green Monk

Boy oh Boy!!! It's a humdinger folks! We're especially lucky this week to have special guest artist and creator Brandon Dayton of the indie comic Green Monk in the Warriors Den (TM) to chat about his process and the in's an out's of pushing your own ideas. Also what happens when you really don't know who happens to be writing Superman comes up to say hi. You really don't want to miss out! Check out Green Monk and be sure to help support creator-owned comics.

Jonas's Pick
Flash Rebirth #5(starts at 1:00)
2009's Spike TV scream award winner GEOFF JOHNS Best comic book writer presents! Whew that's a mouthful but it's on every DC Cover... THANKS DC! The greatest threat to face the Flash Family in decades stands revealed! A new hero will step into an old speedster's boots! And Barry Allen will make the ultimate sacrifice: his life! Oh yeah, you read that right, but you'll never believe just what it means! They always say nothing will ever be the same, but trust us, this one will rewrite the history books!

CREATORS: STORY BY: Geoff Johns / ART BY: Ethan Van Sciver

Henny's Pick
Adventure Comics #4(starts at 10:50)
Oh snap! Another Geoff John's book? Really, I couldn't have anticipated that!? So Henny likes this book but hates this book? I'm still unclear about a lot of our picks as of late but Superboy Prime is actually reading a copy of Adventure Comics #4 as are you so your reading a book about Superboy Prime reading the book your holding. It sounds like an out of body experience to me. But he does seem to have a pretty well organized collection of comic books and quite a lot of action figures so I have to cut him some slack. Tha'ts weird superheroes collecting superhero comics? Yea... I dunno.

CREATORS: STORY BY: Geoff Johns / ART BY: Jerry Ordway, Clayton Henry

John's Pick
Rasl TPB #1(starts at 17:50)
Finally something not from DC. Jeff Smith creator of Bone
has been kinda put out of commission with a hand injury that has forced him to really slow his output on books and that's why RASL comes out so infrequently but believe it or not its on a schedule and its just a really messed up schedule. Rasl's an inter-dimesional art thief traveling to and fro in the cosmos with seemingly little issues who has to travel to parallel worlds to save the people he loves.

CREATORS: STORY BY: Jeff Smith / ART BY: Jeff Smith

Sean's Pick
Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai(starts at 22:09)
With the 25th anniversary of the black and white versions of Stan Sakai's antropomorphic samurai ninja the celebration kicks off with the series first ever original painted graphic novel. Miyamoto Musashi, is a wandering swordsman on a warrior's pilgrimage, selling his services from time to time as a bodyguard ("yojimbo") to make his way. Over the course of Sakai's long-running series, Usagi's stories have found inspiration - occasionally direct inspiration - in the films of Akira Kurosawa and the manga "Lone Wolf and Cub." Anyone even remotely interested in Japanese feudal culture should check it out.

CREATORS: STORY BY: Stan Sakai / ART BY: Stan Sakai

Episode 29: Superman: Love Him or Hate him?

Whether you love him or hate him its hard to deny the Man of Steel his due. The comic industry wouldn't be where it was if it wasn't for the Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster creation. We discuss his "boring" rep and the reasons to follow the Superman franchise. We even discuss the Superman mythos and the titles that have followed up on superman's cape like Invincible, Irredeemable and others.

Jonas's Pick
Booster Gold #26 (starts at 1:00)
Well DC's masterfully crafted plan to make us buy more books because of the Blackest Night crossover has worked perfectly and ensared Jonas into buying yet another monthly title to his hold. We talk about the whole 25th century concept and math far beyond my comprehension. I hate math. So we talk about that and the history of Booster Gold and Co-Ed showers. Need I really say more? Your not going to want to miss our perfect evaluation of the future. Henny sums it up perfectly at 5:26.

Creators: STORY BY: Dan Jurgens (also incidentally the artist for Superman #75 the issue where superman dies) / ART BY: Dan Jurgens, Mike Norton, Norm Rapmund

John's Pick
Ultimate Spider Man #3 (starts at 12:48)
After praising X-Men Forever for its masterfully mangled storytelling I've finally dropped it from my hold FOREVER. The most difficult pick of the week for me to have chosen so far and after nearly 6 minutes of talking about the books I read I hated. My default pick of the week was this one. Its hard not to like. But Sean hates Peter Parker's JNCO jeans and Gwen Stacey's eyebrow ring. I think since David LaFuente is spanish born and resides in London he may not have a really solid grasp of what's cool and hip and with it. We also rant forever about the Punisher Max new reincarnation and how it may or may not be living up to our expectations. I also dropped the X-babies. Sad.

Creators: STORY BY: Brian Michael Bendis / ART BY: David LaFuente

Henny's Pick
Anchor #2 (starts at 24:10)
THE ANCHOR. Holy warrior, unholy war. Freak of nature, beast of burden, hulking outcast, medieval prize fighter, Viking raider... God's own leg-breaker.
Cataclysmic action, quirky humor, and profound pathos for fans of HELLBOY and THE GOON. A new BOOM! ongoing series, brought to you by Eisner Award-nominated writer/artist Phil Hester (GREEN ARROW, SWAMP THING, THE COFFIN, FIREBREATHER, THE DARKNESS) and fan-favorite artist Brian Churilla (REX MUNDI, THE ENGINEER, CREEPY).

Creators: STORY BY: Phil Hester / ART BY: Brian Churilla

Sean's Pick
Amulet #2 (starts at 32:30)
I'm reading this and refuse to look up anything about it to write about it. So you should too.

Oh yea Will Smith bought the rights to Amulet and is putting his kids in it.

Episode 28: Let's Talk Comic Shop!

Join us as we discuss our favorite comic shops and the things we love and hate about the stores we patronize!

Jonas's Pick
Invincible presents Atom Eve and Rex Splode #1 (starts at 1:00)
Join us as we ruin the entire Invincible storyline for Sean Leslie! (who reads the book in trades) and give away every single spoiler in the next few issues!
Picking up right where the first ATOM EVE miniseries left off! See the secret origin of Rex Splode! See what shaped him into the man who tragically sacrificed himself in the Invincible War. Witness his first meeting with Atom Eve and learn their stunning secret!

Creators: STORY BY: Robert Kirkman / ART BY: NATE BELLEGARDE & BILL CRABTREE

Sean's Pick
Sweet Tooth #3 (starts at 9:30)
Having recently gotten back his sketch and signed copy of Sweet Tooth #1 Sean is on the Lemire loving bandwagon!

Hunters, cultists, mutants and shantytown pimps all want a piece of Gus, the boy with deer antlers. All that stands between them and him is Jepperd, a killer from the apocalyptic wasteland with motivations of his own. As Gus goes out into what's left of the world, he'll find out that no one is quite what they seem.

Creators: STORY BY: Jeff Lemire / ART BY: Jeff Lemire

John's Pick
Freak Angels (starts at 11:30)
Short of comic money? WEBCOMICS are the answer! Or you can actually spend your hard earned money and buy the third trade thats just been released about the FreakAngels.
Twenty-three years prior to the inciting action of “FreakAngels,” twelve children were born at the exact same moment, each with pale skin, purple eyes, and a unique but decidedly superhuman ability. Seventeen years later, the world as we know it came to an end. Six years after the apocalypse, 11 of the 12 FreakAngels do what they can to make life easier for the remaining inhabitants of the now-flooded, future London.

Creators: STORY BY: Warren Ellis / ART BY: Paul Duffield

Henny's Pick
Green Monk (starts at 22:18)
Green Monk follows the adventures of a Monk cast out of his order, wandering a mythical Russian countryside. His only companion is a magical blade of grass that draws him into a brutal struggle against a terrifying foe.

This guy Brandon Dayton Drew a page a day and came out with such an amazing product you really have to pick one up. Brandon works for EA Salt Lake as a concept artist and owes his entire career to Henny.


Creators: STORY BY: Brandon Dayton / ART BY: Brandon Dayton

Episode 27: General Comic Discussion

Since Henny was out of commission for a few weeks and so many great titles are coming out, we felt we had to try to catch up and talk about some of our faves that haven't made it into the podcast lately (and quite a few that have, we discuss in more detail).

Jonas gets goosebumps as he and Henny talk about the current situation of The Walking Dead and the dark psychological turn that it's been taking and how its become not as visually graphic but more disturbing.

Sean is loving the Dark Horse one-shots such as Abe Sapien that seem to be the answer to the DC and Marvel ongoing Dark Reigns and Blackest Nights.

We discuss the Dark Reign series and how it seems to be wearing thin on nearly all of us. Is it possible to have a backlash from a series? If I see Dark Reign on a title anymore' I'm not as prone to buy it now. I may actually shy away and so do the rest of the Warriors at this point, with Dark Reign lasting over a year now and no clear end in sight. We discuss, The Seige, The Seige: Embedded and the Fall of the Hulks which will start the Red Hulk ongoing series.

I've been reading the Scott Pilgrim series and have to second Bryton and Sean's nomination of Scott Pilgrim as an awesome must read. Its up to the 5th trade and has provided me with plenty of laugh out loud moments which I feel are way to few and far between in comics these days (at least the ones I've been buying. Spawn never makes fart jokes anymore, sigh....) and I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this one and am looking forward to the new movie coming out soon.

We talk about noobs and BRB and how my sweet sister-in-law is painfully unaware of nerd acronyms. Happy Anniversary Brother! Who will never actually listen to the podcast since we don't discuss Rob Liefeld (other than every episode).

Henny and Jonas discuss the series as it's progressed so far and how after nearly dropping the title, Henny is loving the newest "SHEBANG" issue that con-artists from Brazil swindled him into buying it.

Joshua Dyson the writer of the series is also writing the Vertigo Unknown Soldier series that Sean has been really enjoying. I can't bring myself to read it because it's so issue heavy and serious.

Jonas has finished the second trade of Air and is even more in love with this twisted ongoing series of the Blythe family. With a run of only 5,000 issues we demand that you pick up the series now!

Episode 26: Dropped

Well, I'll be damned. It's episode 26. And guess who's Back? Trevor Rimmasch joins us for another episode of Trevor's Tyrade! Oooh, what bargain basement comics has Trevor found for the mere cost of a quarter, for our enjoyment?

Jonas's Pick
Cowboy Ninja Viking#1 Starts @ 1:00
Jonas loves-slash-hates this comic? It's still a bit hazy if he likes this because he swears he won't be picking up issue #2 or any others. Is it a poor man's version of a poor man's version?
Dr. Ghislain is the creator of a program that that trains people suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder to become killers known as Triplets. Duncan, living his life as a Cowboy, a Ninja, and a Viking, is one of these Triplets and remains Ghislain’s greatest success, even if he/they want to kill the good doctor. When another Triplet goes rogue, Ghislain and Duncan must put aside their differences to track him down.

Creators: STORY BY: A J Lieberman / ART BY: Dave Casey Riley Rossmo

Henny's Pick
Spider-Woman #2 Starts @ 5:50
After a 3 week hiatus of comic buying for Henny, his pick of the month is Spider-Woman. Bendis and Maleev unveil a big new chapter in the life of Jessica Drew as she heads to Madripoor to do S.W.O.R.D.'s dirty work. Based on the ground-breaking motion comic and featuring all new material. And guest starring Spider-Man!!

Creators: STORY BY: Brian Michael Bendis / ART BY: Alex Maleev

Sean's Pick
Noir: A collection of Crime Comics Starts @ 11:03
With crime comics quickly becoming a bona fide phenomenon, it is only natural that the company that published one of the touchstones in the genre would want a piece of the action. Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of the prolific author’s more praised works. It is also one of the books that really helped put Dark Horse on the map. Now 17 years after the seminal noir graphic narrative was launched, Dark Horse brings it's fans Noir: A Collection of Crime Comics.

Creators: STORY BY:
Brian Azzarello
Ed Brubaker
Alex de Campi
Matt and Shawn Fillbach - 'The Fillbach Brothers'
Rick Geary
Paul Grist
David Lapham
Jeff Lemire
Ken Lizzi
Dean Motter
Chris Offutt
M. K. Perker
Gary D. Phillips

ART BY:
Gabriel Bã
Eduardo Baretto
Matt and Shawn Fillbach - 'The Fillbach Brothers'
Rick Geary
Paul Grist
Joëlle Jones
David Lapham
Jeff Lemire
Jose Angel Cano Lopez - 'Kano'
Fãbio Moon
Dean Motter
M. K. Perker
Hugo Petrus
Sean Phillips

John's Pick
Punisher #1 Starts @ 13:50
Jonas sums this up so: "The Punisher sees himself on the list and kills himself" There we spoiled the whole thing for you. Actually nothing like that even happens so I swear it's awesome. Probably the best fight scene in a comic ending with the title character getting his ass handed to him, I've ever seen.
Legendary artist John Romita Jr. returns to The Punisher, joined by regular series writer Rick Remender for this, the most ferocious battle of Frank Castle's life. Plus, a preview of the next exciting chapter of the Punisher. Make mine FrankenCastle!

Matt Page you're wrong.

Creators: STORY BY: Rick Remender / ART BY: John Romita Jr.

This rules, I can't remember where I found it online though, so kudos whoever knows us Wednesday Warriors so well...

Hallow-wieners

We have been running a little late on our podcast, but have no fear, new episodes should be posted this week! But until then, enjoy some of the Warrior's Halloween Costumes!

First off, we have Sean Leslie as Zombie Spider-man!

Rod as Snake Pliskin

Henny and Ally as Scooby and Shaggy

And finally, the always creepy Tim and Jonas as "Dudes attending an Eyes Wide Shut orgy party"

Episode 25: Halloween

Henny's out of town again and lucky for us Matt Page is available to help us chat about all things creepy in comics. We go over some of our favorite halloween (creepy horror spooky kinda) comics.


Jonas's Pick
The Last Days of American Crime #1 Starts @ 2:00
Jonas finally decides to put all his differences aside and pick up a Radical published comic for the first time ever.

The U.S. government has perfected a broadcast signal that will extinguish criminal thoughts. Enter fifty-four-year-old burnout, Graham Brick, a grifter who, with only 10 days before the signal goes live, discovers the crime of the century that he’d been planning suddenly transformed into the last crime in American history—if he can pull it off.

Robot6 at CBR interview Rick Remender Here. It's also got some cool previews of Tocchini's character sketches nice work and one to look out for.

Creators: STORY BY: Rick Remender / ART BY: Greg Tocchini

John's Pick
Violent Cases Starts @ 6:38
I still am stunned this is the first book put out by award-winning author Neil Gaiman and the artist Dave McKean. Set only in the memory of its author, (who looks like Neil) this brillant short story meanders through levels of recollection surrounding a childhood injury. After dislocating his arm, a young boy is taken to see a doctor - an aged osteopath who was once the doctor of legendary gangster Al Capone. Gorgeously illustrated in mixed media by Dave McKean, Violent Cases is a sensuous and thought-provoking meditation on our memories.

Also hear my memory of someone stealing my pillow in the middle of the night (why do I have a strawberry shortcake pillowcase Sean?)

Creators: STORY BY: Neil Gaiman / ART BY: Dave Mckean

Special Guest Matt Page's Pick
Daredevil: Return Of The King Starts @ 25:30
Matt likes this book just because its the last run of Brubaker! Rude. "Return of the King" is a five-issue Daredevil story arc appearing in Daredevil (vol. 2) #116-119 & 500 (the volume being renumbered). We also talk about the retarded numbering system being used by Marvel's seemingly random numbering policy. After the woman he loves and her children are killed by the Hand led by Lady Bullseye, the Kingpin returns to the United States and teams up with Daredevil to take down their common foe.

Creators: STORY BY: Ed Brubaker / ART BY: David Aja Michael Lark

Sean's Pick
DHouse of Mystery, Halloween Annual Starts @ 35:30
48-page annual contains a framing story by the regular HOUSE OF MYSTERY creative team of writer Matthew Sturges and artists Luca Rossi and Jose Marzan Jr. Also included is a series of short stories from a few regular Vertigo titles including HELLBLAZER by Peter Milligan, Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini and MADAME XANADU by Matt Wagner, Amy Reeder Hadley and Richard Friend as well as a special MERV PUMPKINHEAD tale (the first in over 8 years!)by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham and Kevin Nowlan! In addition, you'll be treated to a yarn spotlighting the upcoming new monthly series I, ZOMBIE by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred!

We also talk about 30 Days of Night and the second trade Dark Days.
• The Junji Ito Manga Uzumaki
• Andrew Crosby and Jason Alexander's Damn Nation
• Eric Powell's The Goon
• Mike Mignola's Hellboy
• Daniel Bremerton's Nocturnals
• John J. Muth's Dracula.

Then the whole podcast breaks down into twilight giggling.
Shoot us now. Sorry.

Also if your so inclined you can join us now on facebook
Or if you prefer even more obnoxious means of communication we are also on twitter!

Episode 24: Locke & Key

Jonas's Pick:
WormWood Starts @ 1:03
Just when John Constantine was starting to be a bit rumpled, along comes another nattily dressed smart-ass who does business with the unholy darkness; this time, he's a little closer to being one of them. Templesmith's Wormwood is a preternaturally cheery corpse with an ever-present cigarette and pentagram tattoo on his forehead to match the psychotic grin. In this debut, the gentleman corpse comes across a plot by a cabal of demons to infiltrate the world of humans and generally lay waste to it all in the nastiest way possible.

Ben's Flickr Photostream is pretty awesome and offers some real insights into his process well worth checking out.

Creators: STORY BY: Ben Templesmith / ART BY: Ben Templesmith


Sean's Pick:
WormWood Starts @ 8:13
Nick Fury and a long-dormant spy now reactivated continue their top secret mission while the kids get in way over their heads as they go up against members of the Dark Avengers and the Thunderbolts...and while no one else is looking, HYDRA's grand plans continue to unfold. All that and Ares is finally reunited with his son - watch the sparks fly!

Creators: STORY BY: Johnathan Hickman / ART BY: Alessandro Vitti


Henny's Pick:
DareDevil #501 Starts @ 12:52
In 1964, Stan Lee and Bill Everett unleashed one of Marvel’s longest running titles on the comic reading public, The Daredevil! A young boy blinded by a terrible accident but compensated by gaining extraordinary abilities, he has been in continuous publication since his first issue in 1964. Last month he celebrated his 500th issue, and this week we look at issue 501 and a new creative team.

Creators: STORY BY: Andy Diggle / ART BY: Roberto De La Torre


John's Pick:
CRIMINAL The Sinners #1 Starts @ 16:49
I'm not going to say anything more about how amazing this series is buy the damn thing.

Surebeatsworking is Sean Phillips blog go check it out if your not sold by my review here. He is so flipping talented its scary folks. The covers alone sell this book for me check out #4! Seriously go buy this or Incognito or even the first CRIMINAL trade Coward.

Creators: STORY BY: Ed Brubaker / ART BY: Sean Phillips