Casual Comics Cast

Casual Comics Cast: Halloween Comics, Indie Author Hustle, and MCU Doomsday Breakdown! Join Joe and Erik for a packed episode as they gear up for Halloween! First, the guys jump into horror comics with a deep dive into Mark Russell’s Cereal from Ahoy Comics—a surprisingly dark, tragic, and clever gothic tale featuring classic breakfast cereal monsters. Next, co-host Erik K. Hale breaks down the re...

This episode kicks off Halloween season with a deep dive into Marvel’s new "Midnight Universe"! In this episode, we review: Midnight X-Men #1 (John Hickman & Matteo DeFonte): A gothic take on mutantkind featuring a tense multi-faction conflict, Nightcrawler acting as a liaison, and a vampiric mutant group known as "Empyres". Midnight Spider-Man #1 (Philip Kennedy Johnson & Scietronc): A da...

Pilot of new format! I'm talking to author Erik Hale (All the Brittle Pieces) about his comics journey - his earliest reads, his first comic loves, and which comics have inspired his current work as an author.  We're working through this format, and if people like it, we'd love to welcome more creators to discuss their current projects through the lens of the comic books that shaped their lives. ...

Join Joe and Erik on the Casual Comics Cast as they dive into the world of synthozoids, artificial intelligence, and suburban tragedy! In this episode, we revisit Tom King’s acclaimed 2016 comic book series, The Vision . We explore its tragic themes, the complex dynamic of the Vision's self-created family (Virginia, Vin, and Viv), and how the story grapples with the human condition, identity, and...

Casual Comics Cast: Summer Wrap-Up & Fall Preview! Joe and Erik are back after a busy summer to catch up on all things comics, movies, television, and gaming! In this episode, the guys dive into a rapid-fire review of the summer's biggest pop culture moments and discuss what they are looking forward to this fall Summer Recap The State of Marvel and DC Comics Spider-Man: Brand New Day: A recap...

With the highly anticipated Supergirl movie fast approaching, we are diving deep into the source material and the characters set to shake up the DC Universe. In this episode, we break down Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s masterful comic book run, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow . We discuss its unique "True Grit in space" western vibe,and what may translate to the screen vs. what we expect will change....

Join Joe and Erik on the Casual Comics Cast for a break down of the premiere of the new live-action Spider Noir series on Prime Video, starring Nicolas Cage. We discuss the show's authentic film noir stylings, the debate between watching in black-and-white versus color, and how the series differs from its comic book origins. Then, the conversation then shifts to a "grab bag" of Spider-Man history,...

In this episode, we dive deep into the gritty world of Marvel’s The Punisher. Following the release of Punisher: One Last Kill on Disney+, Joe and Erik break down how the new special bridges the gap between the Netflix series and the broader MCU. Then we discuss The Punisher in comics. From his 1974 debut in Amazing Spider-Man #129 to Garth Ennis's definitive "Max" run and even the bizarre "Franke...

On this episode of the Casual Comics Cast we explore the decades-long intersection of video games and comic books. With Mortal Kombat 2 hitting theaters, we look back at the revolutionary impact of the original 1992 arcade game—from its controversial "photorealistic" gore to its legendary '90s industrial soundtrack. Plus, why is it so difficult to turn a hit video game like Street Fighter or Morta...

The Summer of "Super" Whether you're a lifelong "Superfan" or you're still wondering where to start, this episode is your gateway into the world of Krypton's finest! Join us as we break down the upcoming DC "Summer of Supergirl" event and revisit the most influential Superman comic book runs. In This Episode: Summer of Supergirl: In preparation for the new DC Supergirl movie, DC is presenting the...

In this episode, we dive deep into the gritty streets of Hell’s Kitchen. We’re breaking down the high-stakes drama of the second season of Daredevil: Born Again and discussing why this version of Matt Murdock feels more vulnerable—and dangerous—than ever. In addition, Erik shares his recommended, related reading for comic fans - Jimmy Palmiotti's latest take on the horned vigilante in the mini-ser...

What if the world's greatest villain was also its most effective leader? In this episode of the Casual Comics Cast , Joe and Eric dive deep into the massive Marvel crossover event, One World Under Doom . We’re breaking down the shift from the vampire-infested chaos of Blood Hunt to a new global status quo where Victor Von Doom reigns supreme as Emperor. Whether you’re a long-time reader or just a...

Following the events of "Blood Hunt", The Marvel Comics Universe has been reshaped by the shock-and-awe assault on global power of Earth's new Sorcerer Supreme - Doctor Doom! In this episode, we're covering the highly anticipated "One World Under Doom" event. We start by recapping the crucial storylines from Ryan North's amazing Fantastic Four that led to this moment, then delve into the first iss...

Sometimes the best podcasts happen on the spur of the moment! This week, we're ditching the script, and I'm chatting with Jeff about his passion for Mego action figures. From superhero classics to sci-fi gems, Jeff shares his collecting journey and drops some fascinating bits of Mego history. Tune in for Part 1 of this impromptu Mego-mania! 

In this special episode, we're celebrating the start of football season with a Fantasy X-Men draft! Two die-hard Marvel fans battle it out, using their encyclopedic knowledge to build the ultimate mutant teams. Who is the consensus #1 pick? Who's got the inside scoop on lesser-known heroes as sleeper picks? Tune in for laughs, friendly rivalry, and all the X-Men action you can handle!

With the end of the "Krakoan Age" in Marvel Comics, we invite you to embark on an epic journey into the groundbreaking series where it all began, "House of X" and "Powers of X"! Before we launch our recap of the series, with notes and commentary to guide casual comics readers through the complex storyline, this introductory episode lays the groundwork for new and returning X-Men fans alike. We'll...

 Calling all X-Men fans! Join Joe and Erik as they delve into the exciting new Disney+ series, X-Men '97. This show isn't just a reboot of the classic 90's cartoon; it's a direct continuation, bursting with the same action, heart, and iconic animation style with a fresh update. We'll explore the legacy of the original series and how X-Men '97 picks up the story.   And, of course, no X-Men adventur...

Wolverine's on a mission of love and vengeance. He hunts for his lost flame Mariko, only to find her caught in a web of Yakuza power plays and ninja intrigue. Fists fly, blades clash, and sparks ignite with the deadly assassin Yukio. Can Logan navigate a foreign underworld, tame his berserker rage, and rescue Mariko before it's too late? Prepare for a whirlwind of romance, betrayal, and savage act...

Step into the wayback portal with us as we go back to 1982 and revisit the four-issue Marvel mini-series "Hercules: Prince of Power". Hercules lived mostly on the margins of the Marvel universe, but he (and the Greek Pantheon) get a fun and funny showcase in this series that sees the Lion of Olympus exiled from his home... into space? This era of Marvel comics was a formative time in the industry...

It's the most wonderful time of the year - we're reading holiday comics from the Distinguished Competition (DC Comics) We've got anthologies, we've got one-off specials starring Plastic Man (of all heroes), and a surprising holiday special from December 2023 that turned out to NOT be a one-shot. We've got: JLA # 60 by Mark Waid and Cliff Rathburn DCU Infinite Holiday Special by Bill Willingham, Jo...

In this mildly spooky episode, we're catching up on Season 2 of the Disney+ Series "Loki" And, we've got reviews of a couple of NEW Marvel titles: Werewolf by Night #1 (2023) - DEREK LANDY (W) • FRAN GALÁN (A)  Spine Tingling Spiderman #1 -  SALADIN AHMED (W) • JUAN FERREYRA (A) 

Join me with special guest host Erik Hale as we get ready for Halloween by revisiting the Marvel monster-verse, exploring BLADE: The Vampire Hunter We're covering Blade Comics spanning three distinct eras: Tomb of Dracula #10 (1973) - Blade's first, groundbreaking appearance Blade: Sins of the Father #1 (1998) - Classic 90s Marvel movie tie-in Blade #1 (2023) - The new adventures of Blade in Marve...

With football season comes fantast football. And - at the Casual Comics Cast - a Fantasy Avengers Draft. Listen in as we get a scenario for the Avengers to tackle and draft our fantasy Avengers Teams. Who drafted the better team? Listen in and let us know! Plus, we discuss the new Fantastic Four series from Ryan North - a great place for new comic fans to jump in and catch up on Marvel's First Fam...

In this installment, we're talking: Trailer for Kraven: The Hunter Review of Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse Comic Review of the latest Guardians of the Galaxy series from Marvel And, more of the other stuff you've come to know and love.

With The Flash zooming into cinemas, it's our last chance to discuss our hopes, fears, and other expectations for the last pre-James Gunn film in the DC movie universe.  And, we've already covered a few Supergirl comics, but in anticipation of the film, we're going back in time to read and review some Supergirl comics from DC comics history.