Sidebar Forever

It’s Spooky Season, and Adrian has never seen Sinners—Ryan Coogler’s fantastic vampire film set in the Jim Crow South—so here we go! Released in April 2025, Sinners became one of the year’s surprise hits, a box office success built around an original screenplay. The film stars Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twins who return to their Mississippi hometown to open a juke joint—only to find thems...

Every creative person has that one work their audience considers the ultimate creation—their masterpiece. On today’s pod, we had a blast digging into some of our favorite comic creators’ defining works. We talk about legends like Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and Neal Adams, along with later giants like Frank Miller, Bill Sienkiewicz, Mike Mignola, and many more. Is a masterpiece a single...

As die-hard cinephiles, we all have those legendary films that somehow slipped under our radar. This week, we’re finally tackling some of our biggest blind spots. Join your hosts as we review a trio of iconic, must-see movies we definitely should have seen by now—but somehow hadn’t. Dwight sat down with Goodfellas (1990), Martin Scorsese’s mafia masterpiece. Swain checked out Fight Club (1999), Da...

The Fantastic Four: First Steps has finally hit theaters, and you know we had to jump in with our instant reactions! The film stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel’s First Family, and we had plenty to say about their performances, the story, and all the delicious fan service moments sprinkled throughout. (Spoiler alert: Galactus finally looks awesome!) W...

Look! Up in the sky... it’s Sidebar Forever! On this episode, we react to the latest Superman film — written and directed by James Gunn, and starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. We dive into our expectations going in, what worked (and what didn’t), the clear influence of All-Star Superman on the film, and how well support...

The Showcase of the Immortals was upon us once again as WWE’s Wrestlemania 41 was unleashed this past Easter weekend. While there was little to rival the extravaganza of last year’s Wrestlemania XL/40, Dwight and Adrian do discuss the sterling highlights as well as the match-ups that could have turned out better — or in some cases not at all! We close discussing the link between professional wrest...

Daredevil: Born Again has arrived, and we have thoughts! Join us as we break down the return of Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio as Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk, welcome new faces like Nikki M. James and Clark Johnson, and question some of the show’s biggest choices. Why did the series sideline Foggy, Karen, and even Bullseye so quickly? Do the exposition dumps and breakneck pacing undercut the s...

With Daredevil: Born Again premiering on Disney+ in March, now’s the perfect time to revisit everyone’s favorite blind superhero. On this episode, we explore Daredevil's comic book origins, spotlighting legendary creators like Gene Colan, Frank Miller, and John Romita, Jr., whose work helped define the character. But we don’t stop there — we also trace Daredevil’s evolution on screen, from Ben Aff...

This week on the pod, we’re taking a stroll down memory lane to revisit the early days of the show. We reflect on some of the greatest gifts we've received as hosts—ranging from original artwork and swag, to unforgettable moments on the mic and memorable experiences with guests and listeners. Dwight remembers meeting and interviewing the late, great Bernie Wrightson, Adrian recalls gifts he receiv...

This week on Sidebar Forever, we're diving into the surprising ways Christmas shows up in films, comics, and television shows that aren't about the holidays. From Die Hard and Trading Places, to comic book one-shots like Wanted: Santa Claus—Dead or Alive, to 30 Rock's infamous Ludachristmas episode, we're exploring how the festive backdrop amps up the drama, comedy, and chaos in unexpected ways. W...

On today's episode, we explore characters in film who are consumed by the pursuit of greatness at any cost. We delve into modern hits such as Whiplash, Black Swan, and The Prestige, while also revisiting classics like Sunset Boulevard, Amadeus, and Basquiat. Our discussion centers on Hollywood's fascination with extreme ambition, the toll it takes on these characters' personal lives and mental hea...

On this special episode, we honor the extraordinary legacy of actor James Earl Jones, a voice that defined generations. From his groundbreaking roles in Dr. Strangelove and The Great White Hope, to his unforgettable performances in The Lion King and Coming to America, Jones left an indelible mark on cinema. But without question, his most iconic role was as Darth Vader in the original Star Wars tri...

Gear up for a blast from the past as we time travel to the 1980s and draft our favorite action movies. It’s like the NFL Draft, but with iconic action flicks! Your hosts battle it out over five categories to assemble their ultimate teams. Once a film is picked, it’s off the board—no repeats allowed. The categories are: Solo Man on a Mission: One man versus all the bad guys like Commando and Die Ha...

Wade Wilson is back and he’s brought the Ol’ Canucklehead with him! Join us as we review the absolute bonkers ride that is Deadpool & Wolverine. We unpack why this film isn't called Deadpool 3, Hugh Jackman’s epic return as our favorite mutton-chopped Canadian, each and every surprise cameo, and all the box office records it's breaking as Marvel Studios' first R-rated movie. Plus, we debate wh...

Join us on today's pod as we dive into the murky waters of fan service or ‘Stan’ service to paraphrase one Marshall Mathers. From comic book adaptations to controversial casting choices like Hugh Jackman as Wolverine to artistic liberties taken such as the racially-diverse Norse gods in the Thor films, we explore where fandom expectations clash with creative vision. Should creators prioritize fan...

    On this episode, Adrian recorded audio from a panel featuring writer/artist/raconteur Howard Chaykin at HeroesCon 2024 this past weekend.  Moderated by Chris Brennaman of Infinite Realities Comics in Tucker, GA,  the panel follows Chaykin discussing his career, the true origin of his series ‘Black Kiss’, Gil Kane, personal transformation and much more. And hey, stay until the end to hear Howar...

When it comes to creativity, inspiration is often taken from the works of others. But where do we draw the line between influence and outright copying? Join us on this thought-provoking episode as we ponder the age-old debate: When do imitation and homage become stealing? From comic book artists like Todd McFarlane and Rob Liefeld, to filmmakers such as Brian De Palma and Quentin Tarantino, to mus...

In the third installment of our ‘5 Comics That Explain’ series, we G-ride to the 1990s. The conversation includes Spawn #1 and the meteoric rise of Image Comics, the death (and inevitable return) of Superman in issue #75 and the ‘Bad Girl’ craze led by scantily-clad characters such as Lady Death and Shi. We also cover the landmark mini-series DC’s ‘Kingdom Come’ with the sterling art of Alex Ross;...

On this episode, Dwight and Adrian review WRESTLEMANIA XL! As longtime wrestling fans, we totally ‘mark’ out on the Grandest Stage of Them All! Titles change! Heroes and villains return! And will Cody Rhodes survive the onslaught of the Universal Champion Roman Reigns, The Rock and the combined might of the Bloodline faction?

Be it aliens, clones, or dystopian futures, we love us some science fiction. On today's podcast, we take inspiration from movieweb.com by compiling a list of nine underrated sci-fi movies. Terrific films like The Brother From Another Planet, Soylent Green, The Hidden, Equilibrium, and The Girl with All the Gifts are a few of the overlooked gems that make up our final list. We also ask questions on...

This week, we travel to a galaxy far, far away and ask the question: With all the films, TV shows, animated shows, comics, novels, and video games out there, is there too much Star Wars? Don't get us wrong, of course, we love the Star Wars Universe to pieces. But depending on which adaptation or spinoff you're talkin' about, mileage can vary. The Mandalorian and Andor were well received, but Obi-W...

With our second installment in this series, we jump to the 1980s. In the conversation, we discuss massive crossover events such as Crisis and Secret Wars, the rise of X-Men Mania, and the British Invasion in the form of anthologies like Warrior and 2000 AD. We also cover the phenomenon that was and is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as well as books that led us into the next decade like Alan Moore's...

Frank Castle a.k.a. The Punisher debuted in February 1974 in the pages of The Amazing Spider-Man #129. Almost 50 years to the month, we celebrate Castle as a figure, not just within comics, but one who has also been adapted to film, TV, and animation. On the pod, we discuss Don Pendleton's The Executioner who was the original inspiration for The Punisher, actors who have portrayed the character li...

In the wake of this year’s Super Bowl, we have our first ever Superhero Movie Draft! We’ve prepared our 1st Round Picks in the categories of Sequels, Teams, Non-Marvel/DC, Solo and the Billion Dollar Club! It promises to be a humdinger with steals, surprises and alley-oops! As always, thanks for listening!

On this episode, we discuss the music, the movies, television, comics and personal memories from the year Kyle Reese came back to save humanity - 1984!