Choice Media Pod

What happens when one of DC's most fascinating characters is reimagined as something truly monstrous? In this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I explore the dark reimagining of Poison Ivy in Absolute Batman #17–18 . The Absolute Universe takes familiar DC characters and pushes them in unexpected directions. For Pamela Isley, that means taking her traditional connection to plant life and expand...

Before Peter Jackson brought Middle-earth to the big screen, Rankin/Bass introduced a generation of viewers to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien with their 1977 animated adaptation of The Hobbit . For many of us, this charming made-for-TV movie was our first journey into Middle-earth. It was the beginning of my lifelong appreciation for Tolkien's writing. On this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, we'...

What happens when a Saturday morning cartoon takes a trip into Lovecraftian horror? This week on the Choice Media Podcast, I take a closer look at The Dweller in the Depths , a memorable episode of the original Transformers animated series written by legendary comics author Paul Dini. Featuring ancient threats, mysterious Trans-Organics, energy vampires, and zombified Transformers, the episode off...

After ten weeks of chaos across Gotham City, Batman: Bad Seeds reaches its conclusion! In this episode I review the three issues that bring the crossover to a close: Harley Quinn #67, Poison Ivy #49, and Batman: Bad Seeds: Sunrise . Harley Quinn's psychedelic journey through Gotham becomes an unexpectedly moving reflection on her relationship with Ivy, complete with hallucinations, wild imagery, a...

The Bad Seeds crossover is hurtling toward its conclusion, and Gotham is running out of time! This week on the Choice Media Podcast, I dive into four issues as Poison Ivy’s plan to transform Gotham pushes the city toward catastrophe. In Batwoman #8 , Kate Kane and Huntress must put aside their differences to survive a deadly encounter with Vandal Savage’s mercenaries. Catwoman #92 finds Selina Kyl...

Indiana Jones may be the hero of Raiders of the Lost Ark , but is Marion Ravenwood the secret ingredient that makes the adventure so memorable? On this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I revisit Steven Spielberg's 1981 classic and discover a new appreciation for Karen Allen's terrific performance as Marion. From his childhood memories of seeing the film in a Vermont movie theater to watching i...

What happens when you take one of the most famous stories in Greek mythology and tell it through the eyes of the god of war? On this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I explore Ares: The Bringer of War , George O’Connor’s graphic novel from his Olympians series. What began as a look at one of my least favorite Greek gods became perhaps my favorite retelling of Homer’s Iliad . Building on my pre...

Gotham City is being overrun by Poison Ivy's killer plants, but what happens to the people who aren't Batman or members of the Bat-family? On this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I explore Gotham Central #2, where Jim Gordon and his fellow officers are caught in a nightmare as Gotham's plant invasion turns a subway into a death trap. With serial killer Victor Zsasz on the loose, corrupt cops...

On this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I explore Aphrodite, Goddess of Love , George O’Connor’s 2014 graphic novel about one of the most fascinating figures in Greek mythology. Aphrodite may be the goddess of love and beauty, but her stories are about much more than romance. They explore jealousy, obsession, rivalry, and the sometimes irrational choices people make when desire takes hold. I...

In 1991, a young Police fan from rural Vermont got the chance to see Sting perform live at the University of Vermont Gymnasium. More than three decades later, that concert remains an unforgettable memory. On this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I look back at Sting's Soul Cages tour, recalling a night filled with memorable performances, psychedelic visuals, and a spectacular closing stretch t...

This week on the Choice Media Podcast, I look at Batman #14, “Home Invasions,” and Batgirl #24 as the Bad Seeds crossover event pushes its characters to their limits. In Batman #14, Batman turns to Mr. Freeze as he searches for a way to stop Poison Ivy's transformation of Gotham. Meanwhile, Verity Pennyworth faces an invasion of her own at Pennyworth Manor, as she continues establish herself as Ba...

In this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I look back at “House & Garden,” the classic Batman: The Animated Series episode written by Paul Dini and directed by Boyd Kirkland. This was one of the most intriguing Poison Ivy stories: Gotham is experiencing a series of crimes involving poisonous plants and wealthy bachelors, but Ivy insists she has been rehabilitated, married, and living a happ...

On this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I take a look at Amy Chu and Clay Mann’s Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death , DC’s 2016 limited series that finally gave Poison Ivy her own starring vehicle nearly 50 years after her debut. This series explores Pamela Isley as a scientist and mother becoming entangled in a murder mystery, with stolen research, mysterious threats, and rapidly growing pl...

🌿 New episode of the Choice Media Podcast! This time, I’m talking about Poison Ivy: Circle of Life and Death , Amy Chu and Clay Mann’s 2016 limited series that gave Ivy her first solo comic after 50 years. A murder mystery! Plant-human children! Ivy as a scientist and a mother! Catwoman! Swamp Thing! And a whole lot of complicated feelings about whether the series quite sticks the landing. I enjo...

Poison Ivy crashed out in the first week of Bad Seeds. So what happens next? Poison Ivy #46 has the Queen of May facing some hard truths, about her situation and herself. She's picked herself up off the ground-- where does she go from there? I discuss.

I'm a big fan of horror stories, and this time I'm rolling with five classic Haunted House stories: Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson Hell House by Richard Matheson Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco Return to Hell House by Nancy Collins Usher's Passing by Robert McCammon I want folks to read this classics, so I go light on the spoilers. The focus is really on the premise and a general sens...

Hades isn't the sort of game I normally play, but it's probably the best new game I've picked up this year, with a great mix of action, myth, characters and replay value. I chatted this recent classic with the scholars of Nibelheim, during our larger discussion about shipping in games.

Watching the 2025 Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman show with my son and it's fantastic. But I'm pretty sure he prefers the astronomical cheese of the original Spider Man cartoon from the 60s. I discuss both.

We are halfway through the 10-week Bad Seeds crossover event, and week 5 belonged to Harley Quinn. The good news is that she wants to get back together with Poison Ivy. The bad news is Gotham is falling apart and everyone needs her help. I discuss. I also respond to a Redditor who was worried about the state of the Harlivy ship, and I share my theories on how this couple will be central to the fin...

After lengthy hiatus, the Choice Media Podcast welcomes back the Scholars of Nibelheim, my bluesky friends FACTs (@ damned-writer.bsky.social ), Alex (@ gwentchamp.bsky.social ) and Wander (@ wandererssong.bsky.social ). We discuss Final Fantasy 7—the game that launched a thousand shipping wars, along with the history of shipping and it gets things twisted on social media sometimes. We also looked...

My recaps of the Olympians series by George O'Connor continues with the volume dedicated to Artemis, Goddess of the hunt.

The 10-week Bad Seeds Crossover event rolled into week 4 with four comics extending the story. The highlight of this week was probably Batman confronting Vandal Savage in an aerial race against time, but we also got to see Batwoman, Catwoman, and Nightwing get into the action. It was good. I discuss it.

Any fan of serial fiction probably has that era with their favorite character where the starts aligned. For me, that was New 52 Ivy, which took the best of her assorted past and compiled it into a truly badass and legendary woman. This episode was inspired by reading the Everybody Loves Ivy saga, plus Heroes in Crisis and the Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy limited series, and I give my recap on those...

The third week of Bad Seeds was a tie-in with Gotham Central. I wasn't sure what to expect with this title, and was pleasantly surprised to find it centered former Commissioner Jim Gordon on patrol car duty and investigating a big case-- while a familiar figure from his distant past makes unwelcome return. It was a fun read!

A fumble is one of the most painful plays in football, and when it comes to fiction, there's no tougher pill to swallow than the hero dropping the ball with a fantastic love interest. We've all been there, and this episode I share the five that stayed with me the most. I also tried to label them and put them into a larger context of stuff you'll see over and over again. Let me know if you have any...