The Secret Origins of Mint Condition: Comics, Movies, TV, Sports, Gaming and more

Show notes provided by Jack Adrien From its humble beginnings selling textile remnants, three brothers founded Hassenfeld Brothers in Providence, Rhode Island, in late 1923. Some six decades later, and more than a few corporate evolutions, its corporate decedent, Hasbro Industries, found it easier to promote its toy and entertainment products (e.g., comic book publication) directly to its prime cu...

In this week’s episode of the podcast, we are excited to welcome comic book artist Drew Moss to the show. Drew has worked for IDW, Image, Marvel, Dark Horse Comics, Dynamite comics and more. Doing art for such properties as The Crow,  Red Sonja,  Vampirella, Star Wars Adventures, Gargoyles: Dark Ages, and more. He is also the current artist on ThunderCats. This is a wide ranging in conversation wi...

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso It's summer on Long Island and the heat and the humidity have taken hold! But can even a dew point of over 70 degrees keep the Mint faithful from visiting 664 Port Blvd? "Neither snow nor rain nor HEAT" shall deter the avid pop culture enthusiast from storming through that back door to discuss comics, TV, film, card games--and sports! Thousands flock...

Show notes by Joe Peluso Before you listen to our latest episode of The Secret Origins of Mint Condition you might want to do some yoga, meditate, smell some flowers, or download that "white noise" app on your phone. What follows is an 80 minute discussion, and total geek-out by James, Richie, and Joe as they converse, cogitate, and consider their favorite "modern" comic book a...

X-Men 97 Season 1

Show notes provided by Jack Adrien For more than thirty-five years, author Michael Jan Friedman has built a successful career as a writer of more than 80 fiction and non-fiction franchise novelizations and expanded universe stories including  Star Trek ,  Star Wars ,  Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman ,  Predator ,  andAliens , some of which have appeared on  The New York Times  Bes...

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso    As summer approaches, and Joe can't get the darn AC to work efficiently, it's once again time to throw the back door to Mint wide open! Naturally a cool breeze would be welcomed, but more importantly are the "cool" Mint faithful who come through that portal to engage in convivial conversations and rousing remarks.     Join your hosts James. an...

We made it to episode 200. Thank you to everyone who has listened and followed us to help us get to this point.  A year and a half in the making we find ourselves finally back at StarFleet headquarters for our 200th episode to wrap up the long awaited Star Trek the Motion Picture episode. While the tribunal is not all together a final judgement is rendered on this movie. Join the crew of James, Jo...

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso  Spring has sprung, and the back door to Mint Condition Comics and Baseball Cards is wide open! Wafting in on the balmy breeze with the tree and grass pollen, are our friends who gather to discuss the pop-culture issues of the day. And bursting forth like the seasonal perennials are your hosts James, Keith, Joe, and Adrienne ready to greet the four-color faithful....

Show notes provided by Arco Esposito Picture it; it’s 1990, you’re Todd McFarlane and you just put out the comic that would solidify you as a household name while also selling a record 2.5 million issues! Nothing can beat that feeling right? Unless of course you’re Jim Lee and Chris Claremont and it’s 1991, because then you say “hold my beer” and release the best selling comic OF ALL TIME with the...

Show notes provided by Jack Adrien Nearly forty-seven years ago and premiering in only forty-three theaters across the United States, George Lucas introduced the world to his epic space opera,  Star Wars . And while the movie opened on Wednesday, May 25, 1977, Memorial Day weekend, the movie’s catchphrase has thenceforth marked May 4 as National Star Wars Day. Inspired by the Buck Rogers science f...

Show notes provide by Joe Peluso The Godfather Part II, Top Gun: Maverick, Superman II, Star Trek: The Wrath of Kahn, The Dark Knight, and of course, The Empire Strikes Back! All classic movie sequels. Films you were glad you came back for! So why not a podcast sequel that makes you come back for more thrills? Why not a second hour of fun conversation with one of the brightest stars in the pop cul...

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso   Webster defines selfish, "as devoted to or caring for oneself". But when you are a New York Times Bestselling Author, you might be inclined to redefine selfish as "fun". And that's exactly what Michael Jan Friedman has done with his most recent Kickstarter launch--Self*Ish. It's the card game that brings out the best of our worst side.   Join your hosts James, C...

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso There is a wonderful quality of pop culture that we have referenced many times before on this podcast that bears repeating: The ability to bring together people who share a common interest. Forging new friendships over a discussion about magic in ancient Atlantis, or--more importantly--reconnecting with old friends via the marvels of modern technology.    Once aga...

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso If you are a resident of the New York/Metropolitan area, you may be aware of the numerous "regional sports" networks that keep us entertained and informed. One of those networks exclaims: "Get your New York Sports here!"     If you are a fan of this podcast and are familiar with our "back of the store chats", you may have tuned in to...

Show Notes provided by Joe Peluso Episode art proved by Richie Garofalo Episode edited by Adrienne Garofalo "Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane!--No! It's another Superman origin!" Just before the onset of the ill-conceived New 52 Reboot, DC Comics tapped Geoff Johns and Gary Frank to delivera post-Infinite Crisis retelling of The Man of Steel's beginnings. Pa...

Show notes provided by Arco Esposito "Up from the depths, 30 stories high..." if you heard those lyrics and a fond memory came to mind then you are most likely 50+ years of age (sorry) and most definitely a fan of the king of the monsters, Godzilla!! Join James and his Mint Condition Kaiiu Crew of Arco Esposito and Shareef McIntosh as they happily take on the monster task of discussing a...

Show Notes provided by Joe Peluso "Now there's something you don't see every day, Martha."    "What's that, Jonathan?'    "A city of floating castles above Ben Hubbard's farm."    The workaday world of the mundane meets the majestic heroic happenings of Asgard in the now-classic first arc of J.Michael Straczynskl's run on The Mighty Thor!    Join th...

Show Notes Provided by Joe Peluso   "Avengers Assemble!"  "Titans Together!" "It's Clobberin' Time!" And of course--"UP! UP! AND AWAY!" The summons has been issued, and the back door to Mintcondition Comicshas been unbolted! Furiously flying in from all the corners of Port Washington are those stalwarts of salutations, James, Chris, and Joe to heroic...

Show Notes provided by Joe Peluso   Who spends a Billion Dollars on two ballplayers in the offseason to "improve" their team? Which two Tir-State area Hockey teams are going to be either buyers or sellers at the trade deadline? What--if anything--can be done to keep professional athletes off the IL? And who are the current "keglers" setting records in the 2024 PBA season?     L...

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso It's a hot and humid New York July day, in the summer of 1974. You have just graduated high school and are getting ready to attend your first semester of college in September. But first things first! This week's new comics are out on the stands. The stands on this day is located at the intersection of Lefferst Bvld. and Jamaica Aves in Queens NY. Among the books y...

In honor of this year's Chinese New Year that celebrates the year of The Golden Dragon. The SOMC crew of James, Chris and Joe talk about one of the most iconic movies of all time "Enter the Dragon". Of course no conversation about Enter the Dragon could be complete with out talking about it's star the legendary Bruce Lee.

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso Greeting cards, sweets, flowers, and jewelry are some of the items exchanged by couples on Valentine's Day.  But if you're a Super-Hero couple living life in a comic book universe your wedding day might be crashed by Doctor Doom and The Sub-Mariner, Lex Luthor, Magneto, or even Bluto! Just ask Lois and Clark, Peter and Mary Jane, or Scott and Jean and they...

Show Notes provided by Arco Esposito Every once in a generation pop culture is treated to a truly momentous event that changes the landscape as we know it. One such moment began with Marvels second mutant revolution, 1975’s Giant Size X-men #1! Here we were treated with new and interesting characters, mostly for the first time. Who would have thought that one throw away character introduced a year...

Show Notes provided by Joe Peluso      "POW!" "BAM!" "ZAP!" The incredible iconography that best represented the bombastic battles that were willfully waged across the pulse-pounding pages of the Silver Age of Comics! Hop on your comic treadmills and join Richie and Joe for a raucous race back to the swingin' sixties as they pay tribute to the men and women who br...