The Source Material Comics Podcast

In this episode of SNAP Material, Jesse and Evan look back at two months' worth of Marvel Snap unlocks to reveal their favorite new cards, variants, and surprises from the latest seasons. From Jeff the Baby Dolphin, Cosmic Ghost Rider, and Jim Hammond to stunning artwork by Peach Momoko, Dan Hipp, Terry Dodson, and more, the hosts celebrate the cards that stood out while sharing stories of incredi...

The summer fun continues on SNAP Material as Jesse and Evan dive into everything happening during Marvel Snap's Beach Bash event! The duo breaks down the latest batch of cards, including Jeff the Baby Dolphin(!?), Venus, Monstro, Jubilee (Silver Surfer), Namorita, Triton, Quicksand, and more, sharing which new additions impressed them the most and which ones found a home in their favorite decks. A...

In this episode of the Unspoken Issues Podcast, Jesse Starcher and Chris Armstrong dive into a unique corner of 90s comic culture: Wizard Magazine’s infamous “½ issues.” After a fan poll ended in a dead heat, the hosts break down two standout examples—Divine Right #½ and Spider-Girl #½—offering a fascinating look at how publishers used these promotional comics to hook readers during the peak of th...

In this episode of Source Material: War Journal, Jesse continues his chronological journey through The Punisher with issues #8 and #9, where Mike Baron and new series artist Whilce Portacio usher Frank Castle into a darker, more defining era. As Frank investigates a deadly mix of Wall Street corruption, serial murder, and organized crime, Jesse examines how these issues expand the Punisher's war b...

"'96 Number Ones" rolls on with YOUR pick for our podcast discussion! In this episode of Unspoken Issues, Jesse Starcher and Chris Armstrong venture into one of the most unexpected corners of 1990s comics with Friends of Maxx #1 by Sam Kieth. Despite the connection to The Maxx, this isn't a superhero story at all—it's an emotional, slice-of-life relationship drama centered on Dude Japan and Mickey...

In this episode of Source Material: War Journal, Jesse reviews The Punisher #6 and #7, following Frank Castle as his investigation into organized crime uncovers a deadly conspiracy involving toxic waste, international terrorism, and stolen plutonium. Along the way, Jesse discusses the series' evolving formula, the memorable landfill setting of issue #6, and the introduction of Rose Kugel, a vigila...

In this episode of Source Material Comics Podcast, Jesse and Mark dive deep into issues #6–11 of Drax (2015), unpacking a story that challenges everything we think we know about Marvel’s most literal-minded destroyer. What begins as a straightforward rescue mission quickly evolves into something far more introspective, as Drax delays his obsessive hunt for Thanos to protect a group of abducted chi...

In this episode of Source Material, the crew dives deep into Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the critically acclaimed DC Comics series by Tom King that’s set to inspire the upcoming DC film under James Gunn’s leadership. What starts as a simple “read-before-the-movie” discussion quickly evolves into a layered conversation about trauma, heroism, and what it really means to carry power responsibly. Ra...

In this episode of Source Material: War Journal, Jesse examines The Punisher #4 and #5, a two-part story that introduces one of Frank Castle's most important allies, Microchip, while pitting the Punisher against the dangerous cult leader Reverend Sammy Smith. As Frank infiltrates the Church of the Saved, he uncovers a web of manipulation, violence, and fanaticism that draws inspiration from real-w...

This episode dives into the 2015 Drax series (issues #1–5), co-written by CM Punk and Cullen Bunn, delivering a cosmic story that’s equal parts brutal, humorous, and unexpectedly heartfelt. What begins as a straightforward mission—Drax setting out once again to kill Thanos—quickly turns into something far more layered. Stranded on a remote world, Drax finds himself caught in a mystery involving mi...

Jesse and Evan dive into Marvel SNAP's upcoming Marvel Beach Bash season (sorry, we called it "Beach Blast"), breaking down every new card, location, keyword, and strategy heading into the summer update. From Jeff the Baby Dolphin and Venus to the newest Atlantean arrivals, the guys share their first impressions, theorycraft potential deck builds, discuss which cards might make the biggest splash...

In this episode of Source Material War Journal, Jesse continues his journey through the original Punisher ongoing series with a deep dive into The Punisher #3, "The Devil Came from Kansas." Frank Castle finds himself crossing paths with Colonel Joseph Fryer and the New American Revolution, an extremist paramilitary organization funding its hateful agenda through violent crime. Jesse breaks down th...

This week on The Snap Material Podcast, Jesse and Evan dive straight into the latest season of Marvel Snap, breaking down the highs, lows, surprises, and strange little interactions from the Daredevil: Crimson Twilight season. The episode kicks off with a detailed look at Shadowlands Daredevil, the season pass card that quickly became more than just a thematic centerpiece. Evan shares how Daredevi...

In this episode, Mark and Jesse dive into Marvel’s Drax the Destroyer: Earthfall—a four-issue cosmic story from 2005 written by Keith Giffen with art by Mitch Breitweiser. What begins as a simple premise quickly turns into something much stranger: a prison transport filled with some of the galaxy’s worst criminals crashes in the isolated town of Coot's Bluff, Alaska. With no Avengers, no Fantastic...

After 14 issues of chaos, carnage, and nonstop conflict, Source Material reaches the explosive finale of Maximum Carnage. In this climactic episode, the story narrows its focus to its core rivalry—Venom vs. Carnage—as the two symbiote titans unleash everything they have left in a brutal, personal showdown. With Spider-Man caught in the middle once again, the final chapter strips away the excess an...

As Source Material barrels toward the conclusion of Maximum Carnage, Parts 12 & 13 deliver some of the most emotionally charged and thematically ambitious moments of the entire saga. With New York City fully engulfed in chaos and the heroes pushed to their absolute limits, the story begins shifting away from pure spectacle and back toward its core message: hope versus hate. But getting there i...

Source Material barrels forward into Maximum Carnage Parts 10 & 11, where the chaos reaches a tipping point and the lines between heroes, villains, and civilians completely collapse. With Carnage’s reign of terror still gripping New York, the growing roster of heroes—now including Captain America, Iron Fist, Deathlok, and Firestar—struggles to bring order to a city that seems determined to tea...

The back half of Maximum Carnage kicks off in explosive fashion as Source Material dives into Parts 8 & 9—where the action intensifies, the themes deepen, and the cracks in the story start to show. With a carefully laid trap at the orphanage that shaped Cletus Kasady’s twisted psyche, the heroes finally gain the upper hand against Carnage. Armed with sonic weapons and Firestar’s devastating he...

The chaos reaches a fever pitch in Source Material as the crew dives into Maximum Carnage Parts 6 & 7, where the battlefield expands and the cast of characters grows even larger. With the arrival of Morbius and Deathlok, the story leans fully into its crossover madness, bringing together heroes, anti-heroes, and monsters in a desperate struggle to contain Carnage’s ever-growing reign of terror...

The stakes continue to rise in Source Material as the crew breaks down Maximum Carnage Parts 4 & 5, where alliances form, tensions explode, and Spider-Man faces one of his toughest moral dilemmas yet. With Carnage’s twisted “family” expanding to include Demogoblin, the violence in New York escalates to terrifying levels. What begins as another chaotic clash quickly evolves into a full-scale wa...

The chaos escalates in this follow-up episode of Source Material as the crew continues their deep dive into Maximum Carnage, tackling Parts 2 and 3 of this sprawling Spider-Man saga. What starts as a brutal alleyway beatdown quickly spirals into something much bigger, as Spider-Man finds himself overwhelmed, outmatched, and increasingly sidelined in his own story. With broken ribs and mounting pre...

We head back to 2015 with a re-air of where we finally dive headfirst into one of Marvel’s most infamous crossover events: Maximum Carnage. Jesse, Jason, and Benjamin kick off a deep discussion on the origins, impact, and sheer insanity of Carnage. From nostalgic comic shop memories to autographed collector’s items, this episode blends personal fandom with critical analysis as the hosts revisit th...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Source Material War Journal. In this episode, host Jesse takes a deep dive into the first two issues of Marvel's 1987 ongoing Punisher series, written by Mike Baron with art by Klaus Janson. What begins as a straightforward look at Frank Castle's war on drugs quickly reveals itself as a surprisingly layered crime thriller built on Vietnam-era connections, un...

In this episode of Unspoken Issues, the crew continues their deep dive into 1996’s most notable comic book debuts, turning their attention to the fan-voted winner: Batman: Black and White #1. What begins as a simple poll result quickly unfolds into one of the most compelling and artistically rich discussions of the series so far. With nearly half the vote, this anthology classic proves it’s more t...

In this hilarious and deep-cut-filled episode of the Source Material Comics Podcast, the crew dives into one of the most underrated corners of Star Wars storytelling: Tag and Bink Are Dead. What starts as a simple comic review quickly turns into a celebration of absurd humor, obscure lore, and the joy of discovering hidden gems in a galaxy far, far away. Join Jesse, Chris, and Evan as they explore...