Welcome to Geektown

It has been a rough few weeks for the comic book industry, with news of abusers and other bad actors coming into (or back into) the light. I want to stand with and support those who were brave enough to come forward, and so this episode is a statement on that subject, as well as the ongoing issue of minority representation in comics, and its relation to Black Lives Matter.

Dungeons and Dragons has been seen played in many TV shows and movies. But, what did they get right, and what was totally wrong? A curious listener wants to know specifically about the “Advanced Dungeons and Dragons” episode of Community, and Kurt obligingly breaks it down for her.

Let’s talk D&D Conventions! Well, not Conventions, but conventions, aka the social expectations one is likely to find when they first sit down at a table to play D&D, or other role-playing games. A new listener is afraid to start playing, and Kurt is here to assuage those fears, and let her (and you) know how you should behave at your first (and subsequent) session.

In this recurring feature, we look at the various heroes that have replaced the original, and what happens to them after their tenure is over. Maybe it’s because he’s a sidekick and not (usually) a solo hero, but Robin is one of the few cases where the original never actually came back. Instead, we’ve had a parade of Robins, which we’ll discuss in this episode.

In the fourth and final portion of this multi-episode interview, Kurt wraps up his talk with comic book writer/game writer and producer/college professor Evan Skolnick with some listener questions, mostly about the video game industry.

In part three of this multi-episode interview, Kurt continues his talk with comic book writer/game writer and producer/college professor Evan Skolnick, getting into his video game work, after briefly discussing his time at Acclaim Comics and the comic boom and bust of the 90s.

In part two of this multi-episode interview, Kurt continues his talk with comic book writer/game writer and producer/college professor Evan Skolnick, this time focusing on the comic book writing portion, with special emphasis on his two-year stint on The New Warriors, but we also talk about writing licensed books and running the company softball team..

In the first part of this multi-episode interview, Kurt talks to comic book writer/game writer and producer/college professor Evan Skolnick about the earliest part of his career, up to his editorial stint at Marvel Comics.

For the first anniversary of the podcast’s release, Kurt’s favorite hero Speedball was introduced. On this 2nd-Anniversary episode, we introduce the rest of his teammates in the New Warriors, or at least the members of the team when it was first formed, plus a little bit about why the “Heroes for the 90s” continue to be re-read by fans 30 years later.

No, I’m not just repeating the episode number again, but spelling it out. 52 (or Fifty-Two) was an important work in the DC Universe, so much so that the number keeps popping up in DC Lore ever since. This year-long weekly series was the first in a few that DC did, but is the only one that really left a lasting impact. Because this is Episode 52, I decided to go into more detail on this story, int...

Nick Fury started out as a square-jawed white Sergeant with adventures taking place in World War II. So, how did he go from that to the Samuel L. Jackson look-alike we see today, running a super-spy agency? That’s the question that gets asked and answered in this week’s episode.

How much back reading is required to get into comic books today? Elyse (of the OHotMU or Not? podcast) wrote in to ask this question among others. We look at how comic story lengths have changed over time, and how continuity has become a more important factor in the tales of today.

A continuation of last episode, where we discussed Marvel characters based outside the United States, this time we turn our attention to DC, and what heroes they have created who originate from a (non-fictional) foreign country. I apologize in advance if I get any of the pronunciations wrong. I did my best, but I’m not perfect!

Although most Marvel comic book stories are based in United States (and even more specifically New York), there are heroes in many other countries in the Marvel Universe. We take a look at a few of them, trying to avoid the ones completely based around a stereotype of that country (except maybe Kangaroo). Let’s romp around the world and check out the international heroes of Marvel!

Being non-comic readers (for the most part), but having to deal with things in the comic book world, I was curious to find out if the ladies from the OHotMU or Not podcast had questions they needed answered about comics. And they delivered! Two questions were answered last episode and now we finish them off with questions from Shotgun and Emelie!

Being non-comic readers (for the most part), but having to deal with things in the comic book world, I was curious to find out if the ladies from the OHotMU or Not podcast had questions they needed answered about comics. And they delivered! Two questions were answered last episode and now we finish them off with questions from Shotgun and Emelie!

Being non-comic readers (for the most part), but having to deal with things in the comic book world, I was curious to find out if the ladies from the OHotMU or Not podcast had questions they needed answered about comics. And they delivered! Two questions coming this week, and two more next episode!

We’re comparing two giants of pop culture again, but not in the comics or sci-fi realm. This time, we’re looking at musical theater. Stephen Sondheim fans often disparage Andrew Lloyd Webber. Why the vitriol, and how different are the two composers anyways?

Another in the recurring feature, where we look at other characters who have taken on the superheroic identity from another, both how that occurred and what happened to them after the original comes back. The Smashing character known as The Hulk is under the spotlight this time.

Vin Diesel has a new movie coming out next February titled Bloodshot, based on the Valiant Comics character. But, what is Valiant Comics, and what makes it any different from Marvel or DC? From the early 90s up to the current stable of titles, we look at the history of Valiant Comics/Entertainment.

After hearing a little about Batwoman from last episode, a listener has a question on the various Bat-ladies, and how to tell them apart. We dive into the history of Batgirl and Batwoman from the 1950s all the way to the present.

In anticipation of this year’s massive Crisis on Infinite Earths TV event, we get caught up on the main characters of all of the Arrowverse shows, so that you’ll be ready even if you don’t normally watch all of them.

We look at some of the more bizarre tussles between heroes and villains. That includes when Superman fought an ultra-powerful Joker, and Acts of Vengeance, including the “Cosmic Spider-Man” story.

Inspired by a Twitter conversation, Kurt dives into the strange and twisted history of Donald Blake, the original secret identity of Thor. Who was he, and where did he go?

Marvel/Disney just announced that She-Hulk will be getting her own show on Disney+. But, who is She-Hulk, and what would such a show be about? Kurt dives into the distaff counterpart of Bruce Banner, and what makes her so compelling a character in her own right.