Fri, 29 June 2018
Paul and Arlo continue to swing through this year’s superheroic Four-Color Flashback to discuss Spider-Man: Origin of the Hobgoblin, joined by FreakSugar managing editor Jed Waters Keith. This early ‘80s story, primarily written by Roger Stern and drawn by John Romita Jr., finds Peter Parker faced with the emergence of a horrific new villain in the grotesque figure of the Hobgoblin. Who is this masked man? Who knows! In true Parker fashion, Spidey tries to unmask Hobby while snapping pix for the Bugle and juggling his crazy love life. The gang discusses the convoluted behind-the-scenes drama surrounding the Hobgoblin’s identity, the evolution of JRJr, how Peter Parker is kind of a huge ladies’ man for being such a dork, and more. Plus, Paul attended this year’s Slayage conference, while Arlo and Jed are reading a whole mess o’ comics.
Next: Jurassic World 2: Even Assic-er.
THE BREAKDOWN 00:00:00 - 00:42:55 - Intro / Banter 00:42:55 - 02:12:27 - Main Topic 02:12:27 - 02:15:35 - Outro / Next Week |
Wed, 20 June 2018
After 14 long years, the Incredibles are back. The superhero film landscape has changed drastically in that time--but, blissfully, Brad Bird and his retro supers have not, as they teleport and babysit their way through another round of domestic struggles. Paul and Arlo discuss how Incredibles 2 inverts and deepens the themes of the first, why this is some of the finest superhero action ever committed to film, how Jack-Jack avoids Minion-ization, and why Bird and his films are not Randian. Plus, Paul plays a game of Tag, Arlo takes in a service at First Reformed, Paul keeps getting mistaken for Thanos, Arlo is obsessed with Guillermo del Toro, and Paul goes all Cloak & Dagger. Next: this year’s superheroic Four-Color Flashback continues as Jed Waters Keith joins us to discuss Spider-Man: Origin of the Hobgoblin.
THE BREAKDOWN 00:00:00 - 00:36:17 - Intro / Banter 00:36:17 - 01:02:20 - Main Topic (Non-Spoilery) 01:02:20 - 02:00:57 - Main Topic (SPOILERS) 02:00:57 - 02:03:22 - Outro / Next Week |
Fri, 15 June 2018
Even with a spoonful of sugar, Paul finds this week’s Geek Challenge hard to stomach. You see, he has invited Arlo to watch Robert Stevenson’s delightful 1964 classic Mary Poppins, in which a magical Julie Andrews and an accented Dick Van Dyke dance their hearts out while unlocking the joy hidden within a stuffy banker. In return, Arlo has forced Paul to endure Agnieszka Smoczynska’s 2015 goth music video The Lure, in which there is little magic but plenty of pain, blood, and desperation as two virginal maneating mermaids come of age. They’re both musicals, they’re both about women, and...that’s about where the similarities end. Some men just like to watch the world burn, and Arlo appears to be one of them. Plus, lots of great trailers; Sense8, Legion, and Westworld broaden sci-fi TV’s horizons; Brian Michael Bendis’ time with Spider-Man comes to an end; and Arlo finally watched Guillermo del Toro’s debut feature Cronos. Next: after 14 years, The Incredibles 2.
THE BREAKDOWN 00:00:00 - 00:45:30 - Intro / Banter 00:45:30 - 01:26:02 - Mary Poppins 01:26:02 - 01:57:02 - The Lure 01:57:02 - 02:00:00 - Outro / Next Week |
Sun, 10 June 2018
Everyone loves aural after a wedding. An aural document of said wedding, that is! That's right, Arlo and Amber tied the knot, and Paul was on hand to witness the entire drunken event. So are Joseph Lewis, completing the Three Heathens reunion; Kenn Edwards, whose new EP rules; longtime friend of the show but first-time guest Darryl James, who challenges Arlo to a Buffy trivia quiz; and newbie Gabe Hochstetler, who finds himself the sole positive voice during a brief review of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Video game bars, shots, impolite tailors, shots, poorly choreographed “Gangnam Style” dances, shots, impromptu mowing, and oh yeah, shots. It was a wild ride, and you are formally invited. Next: let your magical umbrellas take you to Romania for a musical Geek Challenge featuring Mary Poppins and The Lure.
THE BREAKDOWN 00:18:51 - Part One (Arlo and Paul chillin’ out.) 00:29:31 - Part Two (Joe arrives - The Three Heathens ride again...in a basement, in recliners.) 01:25:19 - Part Three (Kenn, Darryl, and Gabe join the gang for a post-bachelor party Solo: A Star Wars Story review, and Darryl challenges Arlo to a Buffy the Vampire Slayer trivia challenge.) (And Tom says hi.) 02:30:02 - Part Four (Arlo and Paul reconvene a week later to put a bow on the whole affair.) 02:33:43 - Outro / Next Week |
