Comic News Insider

In our 48th episode of COMIC BEAT INSIDER (CBI), Jimmy and Heidi MacDonald ( The Beat Chief) welcome back The Beat staff writers Edie Nugent and Ricardo Serrano Denis. For March, the theme will be "movies that were ahead of their time" which can take on a number of meanings. This week, we talk the 2013 Bong Joon-ho sci-fi film SNOWPIERCER . How practical were the special effects? Why did they cove...

Reviews: BRZRKR #1, Crime Syndicate #1, Demon Days X-Men #1, Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters, Nocterra #1, Debris series debut, The Flash s7 premiere, WandaVision season finale, Raya and the Last Dragon Jimmy recruits some of his favorite audio reviewers again. Thanks to Melissa, Jon, Marta, Ashley & Ricky. Always such insightful and great reviews and the powers that be at CNI appreciate them so...

Jimmy gets regular CNI reviewers/good friends Marta & Steph to join him for a lengthy discussion about WANDAVISION . This is one of those discussions that you and a few friends have after seeing something and break it down. So yes, spoilers will happen. Come back when you've seen it! We go over the whole series and break down that finale. How did grief play into it all? Is Wanda a criminal? What's...

Jimmy gets regular co-host and friend Jon Hoche to join him in a chat about Disney's new animated film RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON . This is one of those discussions that you and a few friends have after seeing a movie and break it down. So yes, spoilers will happen. Come back when you've seen it! (The spoiler-free review will be on the regular format CNI released on Tuesday). We break down the movie...

In another unplugged interview, Jimmy is joined by good pal, playwright, TV writer, screenwriter, martial artist and all around bad ass QUI NGUYEN! He is the co-wroter of the new hit Disney animated film RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON . They talk about his journey from the NYC stages to Hollywood. And, of course, they mostly chat about the new film. How did the Raya project come together? What personal...

In our 47th episode of COMIC BEAT INSIDER (CBI), Jimmy and Heidi MacDonald ( The Beat Chief) welcome back Erin Crosby in a non-musical role. For March, the theme will be "movies that were ahead of their time" which can take on a number of meanings. This week, we talk the 1999 superhero comedy film MYSTERY MEN .  For March, the theme will be "movies that were ahead of their time" which can take on...

Reviews: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Faith One-Shot, Future State: House of El One-Shot, Stray Dogs #1, Superman and Lois series premiere, The Walking Dead season 10 mid-season premiere, Bigfoot Family, Tom & Jerry Jimmy recruits some of his favorite audio reviewers again. Thanks to Melissa, Jon, Marta, Ashley, Emily & Monica. Always such insightful and great reviews and the powers that be at CNI ap...

In our 46th episode of COMIC BEAT INSIDER (CBI), Jimmy and Heidi MacDonald ( The Beat Chief) are reunited with the State Fair crew of friends Erin Crosby ( Forbidden Broadway ) and Kerri Jill Garbis ( Evita, Singing in the Rain ) to discuss the 2017 modern musical film THE GREATEST SHOWMAN . What did it take to get this film greenlit? Is it okay that it was not a biopic & only inspired by Barnum's...

In another unplugged interview, Jimmy is joined by new author, YouTuber, actor, filmmaker, KPop fan & fellow Filipino Paul Bacera! He's the author of a new illustrated children's book called ISDAMAN: THE LITTLE FILIPINO HERO as well as the host of his YouTube channel THE ASIAN THEORY. Just a  heads up, there was a bit of a delay during the recording. It's all good! Still a great interview! They di...

Reviews: Hollow Heart #1, Savage Vol. 2 #1, X-Men: Legends #1, Young Hellboy: The Hidden Land #1, Flora and Ulysses film Comics are going back to the well! Jimmy recruits some of his favorite audio reviewers again. Thanks to Melissa, Jon, Marta, Ashley and Ricardo. Always such insightful and great reviews and the powers that be at CNI appreciate them so much. Let us know if you've read and/or watc...

In our 45th episode of COMIC BEAT INSIDER (CBI), Jimmy and Heidi MacDonald ( The Beat Chief) are joined by friends Erin Crosby ( Forbidden Broadway ) and Trish Mulvihill (comics colorist) to discuss the 1949 Gene Kelly musical film ON THE TOWN . How different is this from the stage musical? Just how many dream ballets are there? Can Jimmy gush over Vera-Ellen throughout the whole recording? Was th...

Reviews: Black Hammer Visions #1, Orcs #1, Radiant Black #1, Black Lightning s4 premiere Happy Valentine's Day, lovers! CNI brings you the love once again. Jimmy recruits some of his favorite audio reviewers again. Thanks to Melissa, Jon, and Ashley. Always such insightful and great reviews and the powers that be at CNI appreciate them so much. Let us know if you've read and/or watched what we rev...

In our 44th episode of COMIC BEAT INSIDER (CBI), Jimmy and Heidi MacDonald ( The Beat Chief) are joined by friends Erin Crosby ( Forbidden Broadway ) and Kerri Jill Garbis ( Evita, Singing in the Rain ) to discuss the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical film STATE FAIR . What did the panel think of one of Jimmy's old favorites? Why would you stand up on a rollercoaster? Is Wayne kind of a jerk? H...

Reviews: Chained to the Grave #1, Deep Beyond #1, Fear Case #1, Luna #1, Specter Inspectors #1, Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #1, Space Sweepers Jimmy recruits some of his favorite audio reviewers again. Thanks to Melissa, Jon, Marta, Ashley and Emily. Always such insightful and great reviews and the powers that be at CNI appreciate them so much. Let us know if you've read and/or watched...

In our 43rd episode of COMIC BEAT INSIDER (CBI), Jimmy and Heidi MacDonald ( The Beat Chief) are joined by Erin Crosby ( Forbidden Broadway ) and Dan Fogler ( Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ) to discuss the 1973 classic rock opera film JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR . What are some of our favorite moments? What was changed from the stage version? Was it all a ruse to leave Ted Neeley behind? Wher...

Reviews: Future State: Batman/Superman #1, Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #1, Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #1 by, Riverdale Presents: Southside Serpents One-Shot, Resident Alien (SyFy) s1 premiere, Snowpiercer s2 premiere Jimmy recruits some of his favorite audio reviewers again. Thanks to Melissa, Jon, Marta, Ashley and Emily. Always such insightful and great reviews and the pow...

In our 42nd episode of COMIC BEAT INSIDER (CBI), Jimmy and Heidi MacDonald ( The Beat Chief) are joined by Qui Nguyen ( Raya and the Last Dragon ) and Randall Trang ( Rollergirl and the Flying Sidekick ) to discuss the 1973 classic Bruce Lee film ENTER THE DRAGON . Why is this considered one of the best martial arts films of all time? What other big kung fu stars make cameos/appearances? Did Lee a...

In another unplugged interview, Jimmy is joined by cartoonist/actor/stuntman/educator Randall Trang. They talk about his comics work ( ROLLERGIRL AND THE FLYING SIDEKICK ), acting, stunt work, being a martial arts master/instructor, life as an educator and more. They also swap acting/stage combat tales, fave comics growing up and who they think is the best all around fighter out there in the enter...

Reviews: Future State: Catwoman #1, Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #1, Future State: Shazam #1, Abbot 1973 #1, Batwoman s2 premiere, Riverdale s5 premiere Jimmy recruits some of his favorite audio reviewers again. Thanks to Melissa, Jon, Marta, Ashley, and Emily. Always such insightful and great reviews and the powers that be at CNI appreciate them so much. Let us know if you've read and/or w...

Jimmy participated in an online press junket for the upcoming SyFy show RESIDENT ALIEN . The show " is a twisted and comedic fish-out-of-water story that follows a crash-landed alien named Harry (Alan Tudyk) who, after taking on the identity of a small-town Colorado doctor, slowly begins to wrestle with the moral dilemma of his secret mission on Earth -- ultimately asking the question, 'Are human...

In our 41st episode of COMIC BEAT INSIDER (CBI), Jimmy and Heidi MacDonald ( The Beat Chief) are joined by user experience designer/content strategist/graphic recorder Deb Aoki to discuss the hit 1992 Jackie Chan film SUPERCOP . We also discuss the first 2 POLICE STORY films in the franchise. Why did Michelle Yeoh come out of retirement for this film? Just how insane is the fight choreography & st...

Reviews: Future State: Dark Detective #1, Future State: Justice League #1, Future State: Kara Zor-El: Superwoman #1, Future State: Superman/Wonder Woman #1, HAHA #1, The Last Witch #1, Space Bastards #1, Star Wars: The High Republic #1, WandaVision Jimmy recruits some of his favorite audio reviewers again. Thanks to Melissa, Jon, Marta, Ashley, Emily and Steph. Always such insightful and great rev...

Jimmy is joined by good friend/CNI news anchor/reviewer Emily Edwards to discuss the third season of COBRA KAI . We break down the season and that finale and yes, spoilers will abound. Does Miguel pull through after last season's finale? Will Johnny and Daniel ever get over their differences? What former Karate Kid movie cast members show up? Why haven't half the kids been arrested yet? Who had th...

In our 40th episode of COMIC BEAT INSIDER (CBI), Jimmy and Heidi MacDonald ( The Beat Chief) are again joined by cartoonist/actor/stuntman/educator/tae kwon do instructor Randall Trang to discuss the cult hit 1978  Shaw Brothers film FIVE DEADLY VENOMS . How did the cast come together? Where did they learn all of those acrobatics & kung fu? What's our favorite fighting style in the film? Is it bet...

Reviews: Future State: Harley Quinn #1, Future State: The Next Batman #1, Future State: Superman of Metropolis #1, Future State: Wonder Woman #1 Jimmy recruits some of his favorite audio reviewers again. Thanks to Melissa, Jon, Marta, and Ashley. Always such insightful and great reviews and the powers that be at CNI appreciate them so much. Let us know if you've read and/or watched what we reviewe...