Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mark the end of our year-long Four-Color Flashback discussion of Neil Gaiman's epic fantasy series The Sandman. On hand to discuss Vol. X: The Wake with Paul and AJ are all of their past Sandman guests: Broken Magic author/The Deli Counter of Justice cohort Eric Sipple; The Debatable Podcast host Greg Sahadachny; and Wanna Cook? authors K. Dale Koontz and Ensley F. Guffey. The six of them discuss Morpheus' wake, its many attendees, Daniel's ascendance as the Dream King, and the series' three epilogues. This episode? Well, it's the stuff dreams are made of.

Next: for the final episode of 2014, you'll get to hear Paul, AJ, Eric, Thomas Dorton, and Alyssa Herron doing a Deli Counter of Justice reading at Rickert & Beagle Books in Pittsburgh, PA.

Direct download: Episode_211.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:38pm CDT

This Christmas season, put a little love in your heart with Paul and AJ as they revisit Richard Donner's 1988 reworking of A Christmas Carol, Scrooged. This year's Twisted Christmas entry stars none other than AJ favorite Bill Murray as soulless TV exec Frank Cross, who is visited by a number of very annoying spirits who try and pummel him into living life to its fullest. The boys discuss Murray's manic-to-dry range, what we're supposed to make of Frank's (and even Scrooge's) character arc, and the interesting decision to cast Carol Kane as the sound of nails on a chalkboard given form. They also invent the mental breakdown Donner surely had on set. This is a weird one. Plus, there's talk of those Star Wars and Jurassic World trailers, if you're into that sort of thing.

Next: an all-star jam band of our Sandman compatriots takes place, as the gang turns to the final volume of Neil Gaiman's epic, Vol X: The Wake.

Direct download: Episode_210.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 8:58pm CDT

All good things got to finish some time. Paul and AJ have reached the climax of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, in its penultimate installment, Vol X: The Kindly Ones. As Morpheus' strict adherence to rules proves to be a cage of his own making, the Furies come down upon his head, wreaking havoc in the Dreaming and tying together many of this epic series' loose ends. Meanwhile, Lucifer plays piano, Rose meets Jack (non-Titanic edition), Matthew lacks pennies, and Lyta's hair drinks most of the water. It's been a hell of a ride.

Next: the boys get in the twisted Christmas spirit with a look back at Scrooged.

Direct download: Episode_209.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:59pm CDT

Whether you prefer your heroes fluffy and cuddly or coated with a layer of Depression-era dust--not that we're suggesting those things have to be mutually exclusive, of course--you'll find what you're looking for on the new episode of Gobbledygeek. Paul and AJ set their sights on two of the biggest movies of the fall: Big Hero 6, the Disney/Marvel animated film about a boy, his huggable robot, and five of their pals; and Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, starring Matthew McConaughey as a spacefaring daddy. What do these movies have in common? They're both pro-science, they're both pro-love, and AJ and Paul actually agree on both of them. For the most part. Plus, Paul went to freaking Disney World!

Next: for the penultimate Four-Color Flashback episode discussing Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, the boys tackle Vol. IX: The Kindly Ones.

Direct download: Episode_208.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:48pm CDT

For the first Geek Challenge in many months, Paul has challenged AJ to John Carpenter's 1986 fantasy/martial arts/neo-Western cult classic Big Trouble in Little China. In turn, AJ has challenged Paul to Henri-Georges Clouzot's 1953 "anti-everything" thriller The Wages of Fear. What, pray tell, is the common denominator? They're, uh, they're both about truckers. Tenuous connections are what Geek Challenges thrive on, and this one at least provides some sobering realizations for the boys. What do Paul's reactions to some '50s movies and AJ's reactions to some '80s movies say about them as people and that pesky generational gap? There may be actual answers. Plus, more surprising reactions, this time about Taylor Swift's 1989; and AJ springs #AlexFromTarget on Paul.

Next: in two weeks, the boys will be back discussing two more very different movies, Christopher Nolan's Interstellar and the Disney/Marvel animated film Big Hero 6.

Direct download: Episode_207.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 8:40pm CDT

The day is here! After a year-and-a-half of hard work and months of hoopla, the superhero short story anthology The Deli Counter of Justice is finally available for purchase on Amazon, Smashwords, and elsewhere. The Deli braintrust--Arlo J. Wiley, Paul Smith, and Eric Sipple--take you behind the curtain to talk a little about what led us here, what the process of putting the book together was, and what you can look forward to in the future. That's right, this isn't the end. It's just the beginning.

Direct download: Deli_Podcast_Open.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CDT

Some call it All Hallows' Eve. Others, All Saints' Eve. Most know it as Halloween. Here at Gobbledygeek, October 31 always has been and always will be observed as Gobbledyween. Fan favorite Greg Sahadachny, of The Debatable Podcast and All the Pieces Matter, joins Paul and AJ to round out this year's celebration of all things horror with a discussion of the 1988 cult (?) classic (?) Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Armed with popcorn guns and living balloon dogs, these klowns descend from the stars just like the Blob to wreak havoc on small town America and--that's really all the movie is, just one goofy clown-related death after another. Paul doesn't think too highly of the movie, and while it would be insane for anyone to think too highly of it, AJ and Greg argue that it's just too darn innocent to hate. Also, why are clowns so scary? Plus, AJ becomes hopelessly addicted to Jurassic Park: Builder and attends a groovy screening of Halloween at The Nightlight.

 

 

Next: the Geek Challenge rears its head once more, as Paul challenges AJ to Big Trouble in Little China, and AJ challenges Paul to The Wages of Fear. Because they’re both about truckers?

Direct download: Episode_206.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:45pm CDT

The Deli Counter of Justice drops in less than a week, on Wednesday, November 5, and thus we have reached our final author interview. Paul Smith, part of the collection's braintrust alongside AJ and Eric, talks about his story "...A Hero Only One," which concerns Piecemaker's former sidekick Crashtest. Paul discusses the fact that this is the first piece of writing he's finished, which he claims led to plenty of self-flagellation, banging his head into hard surfaces, and lots of alcohol; the decades he's spent reading comics, superheroic and otherwise; and his storytelling start as an RPG game master.

Next: no more interviews, but there will be one more podcast before the book's release!

Direct download: Deli_Podcast_Paul_Smith.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CDT

Alyssa Herron doesn't have a lot of experience with superheroes, which is exactly why The Deli Counter of Justice crew tapped her to contribute to the anthology. Paul and Eric talk to Alyssa about her story "Delilah by Proxy," which she describes as a superhero story for people who would never read superhero stories. They discuss how Alyssa's love affair with writing started with a poetry contest, her outline-heavy approach to this story, and how her acting experience informs her ability to take notes.

Next: for our final author interview, AJ and Eric turn to one of their own, Paul Smith, on Thursday, October 30.

Direct download: Deli_Podcast_Alyssa_Herron.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CDT

Smoke Gets in Your Ears: A Mad Men Podcast co-hosts Kenn Edwards and Joseph Lewis check in to Gobbledyween 2014 to talk The Shining with Paul and AJ. A large part of the conversation revolves around a question you may not have asked about Stanley Kubrick's 1980 Stephen King adaptation: is it supposed to be funny? AJ's not sure and has mixed feelings on the overbearing synth score and lack of subtlety, while Joe argues it's really a darkly hilarious family comedy. Other points of discussion include how supernatural the film is or isn't, how to read the ending, and the insane fan theory documentary Room 237. Plus, the gang offers thoughts on The Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer and raves about the podcast Serial.

Next: Gobbledyween comes to a close for another year as Greg Sahadachny of The Debatable Podcast stops by to discuss Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

Direct download: Episode_205.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 9:40pm CDT

As our author interviews for The Deli Counter of Justice continue, editor-in-chief Arlo J. Wiley (or AJ when he's not being pretentious) finds himself in the hot seat. AJ discusses his short story "Innovation," about a D-list supervillain who starts frequenting the deli he doesn't realize is owned by his former archnemesis. Other points of discussion are AJ's history with screenwriting, how he learned to read in part from '70s and '80s superhero comics, and about his desire to take superheroes in a new direction.

Next: Paul and Eric chat with "Delilah by Proxy" author Alyssa Herron.

Direct download: Deli_Podcast_AJ_Wiley.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CDT

Superheroes aren't all fisticuffs and laser vision. They're also poetry in motion, something C. Gayle Seaman hits upon with her contribution to The Deli Counter of Justice, the poem "Spring Memories," in which a young man reflects on a childhood encounter with his idol Piecemaker. Paul and AJ talk to Gayle about her family's history in the newspaper business, the romance novel she wrote a few years back, and how the fairy tale characters of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm were her first superheroes.

Next: on Thursday, October 23, Paul and Eric turn the tables on AJ to discuss his story "Innovation."

Direct download: Deli_Podcast_Gayle_Seaman.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CDT

Mad scientist (and The Deli Counter of Justice co-editor) Eric Sipple joins Paul and AJ for the second feature attraction of Gobbledyween 2014: Stuart Gordon's 1985 cult classic Re-Animator. The two biggest surprises about Gordon's loose Lovecraft adaptation are 1) that it's a genuinely well-made film and 2) that Jeffrey Combs' batshit crazy Dr. Herbert West isn't actually the main character. The gang discusses the movie's boring-ass protagonist, its demented sense of humor, and the arguable merits of that scene. You know the one. Plus, the boys talk Marvel's Civil War plans and AJ reads Mary Shelley's classic Frankenstein.

 

 

Next: Smoke Gets in Your Ears: A Mad Men Podcast co-hosts Kenn Edwards and Joseph Lewis check in to discuss Stanley Kubrick's 1981 Stephen King adaptation The Shining.

Direct download: Episode_204.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30pm CDT

Superheroes don't always slap on shiny spandex to soar the friendly skies. They also "lurk in the shadows and skulk in darkness," as Kitty Chandler puts it. Rashida, the young woman at the center of Kitty's The Deli Counter of Justice story "Calculated Risk," is one of those. She spends hours in her basement doing off-the-grid surveillance, dispatching nearby heroes to deal with crimes no one else is paying attention to...until one day, when things don't go quite as planned. AJ and Eric talk with Kitty about her previous experience with anthologies (including her own, Black Ice), her devotion to any and all X-Men comics, and how guidance from her "editrix" improves her writing.

Next: Paul and AJ interview C. Gayle Seaman, one of two poets whose work appears in the book.

Direct download: Deli_Podcast_Kitty_Chandler.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:38am CDT

AJ and Eric sit down with the esteemed Karen Wellenkamp (@QuoterGal), who served as cover designer for The Deli Counter of Justice. Working with Blair J. Campbell's terrific artwork, Karen decided where all the words on the book's front and back covers should go, and how they should look. She talks about her decades-long career as a designer, her preference for detective novels over superheroes, the great deal of research that goes into her process, and even an unused Gobbledygeek logo she created.

Next: AJ and Eric return to chat with "Calculated Risk" author Kitty Chandler on Thursday, October 16.

Direct download: Deli_Podcast_Karen_Wellenkamp.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am CDT

Close the shower curtain, it's time for Gobbledyween! Our fifth annual month-long celebration of all things bump in the night gets off to a slashing start with a discussion of Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 classic Psycho. Often imitated (once quite literally) but never duplicated, Paul and AJ dissect the film's shifting points of view, the many taboos it broke, how its lengthy silences speak volumes, and yeah, that really dumb psychoanalysis scene. Plus, AJ joins Nicolas Cage for a post-Rapture nap with Left Behind while Paul goes to Disney Infinity and beyond with the new Marvel superheroes expansion.

Next: Gobbledyween 2014 comes back to life as Broken Magic author and The Deli Counter of Justice cohort Eric Sipple drops by for a look back at Re-Animator.

Direct download: Episode_203.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:46pm CDT

What happens when a stoner working at a deli comes face-to-face with a psychic rat with a hunger for irradiated sandwiches? The answer can be found in "Rat King," Thomas Dorton's contribution to The Deli Counter of Justice. AJ and Eric talk with Thomas about how the superhero cartoons he grew up on were surprisingly decent, how his 9th grade English teacher encouraged him to write, and how his (really quite impeccable) taste in music influences his writing.

Next: on October 14,  AJ and Eric rap with our cover designer, Karen Wellenkamp (@QuoterGal). That's also when you'll get to see the cover she and Blair J. Campbell worked so hard on!

Direct download: Deli_Podcast_Thomas_Dorton.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am CDT

Rahne Ehtar has been writing since she first got her hands on a pack of Crayolas. That long and winding road has led her here, to The Deli Counter of Justice, wherein she's written the story "Without Masks," concerning a young superhero who would love it if her life would allow her just one normal night out. Paul and AJ chat with Rahne about her history writing fan fiction; her "long and laborious" writing process, which involves writing the first draft out longhand; and how she submitted eight different ideas to the boys, so of course the one they picked was the one she didn't really want to write.

Next: AJ and Eric sit down with "Rat King" author Thomas Dorton.

Direct download: Deli_Podcast_Rahne.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am CDT

After scaling the high point of The Sandman last week with Brief Lives, Paul and AJ fall a little closer to earth with a discussion of Vol. VIII - Worlds' End. Joining them is Wanna Cook? author Ensley F. Guffey...and they all agree it's likely the series' weakest collection. But weak Sandman is still better than most comics, so there's still plenty to say about Neil Gaiman's final attempt at telling short stories in the Endless' domain. There's the return of Hob Gadling, a look at the mythic side of American politics, and a funeral procession passing by the inn at the end of all worlds. Plus, the gang grouses about Gotham and discusses Marvel's settlement with the Jack Kirby estate.

Next: Gobbledyween 2014 gets off to a slashing start with Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 classic Psycho. The boys are joined by Mike Brooks.

Direct download: Episode_202.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 11:07am CDT

For their first interview with authors from The Deli Counter of Justice, Paul and AJ talk to the other man who makes up the Deli braintrust: Eric Sipple. Eric discusses his start writing SeaQuest fan fiction, his introduction to the world of superheroes via Tim Burton's 1989 Batman film, how he created Carl Cook's daughter Tabitha for his story "Pixelated" (who may wind up becoming the anthology's Wolverine), and much more.

Next: Paul and AJ sit down with Rahne Ehtar, the author of "Without Masks."

Direct download: Deli_Podcast_Eric_Sipple.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00am CDT

For the past year-and-a-half, Paul, AJ, and third Gobbler Eric Sipple have been working on the short story anthology The Deli Counter of Justice. It's been quite a while since we've told you about it, but here's some good news: the book is out soon! November 5, to be exact. In this re-introductory podcast, the boys give you the lowdown on what the book's about (namely, a retired superhero opening a deli), tell you why they're so excited about it, and tell you about the author interviews we'll be releasing every Tuesday and Thursday in October. It's a good time to be a fan of capes, masks, ham, and rye.

Next: this Thursday, October 2, we'll be talking to our very own Eric Sipple about his creation of The Pixel.

Direct download: Deli_Podcast_Countdown_to_Release.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00am CDT

Change is important. It's also a bitch. The Endless turn and face the strain as Paul and AJ continue their Four-Color Flashback exploration of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman with Vol. VII: Brief Lives. Joining them by request (his request) is Broken Magic author and The Deli Counter of Justice cohort Eric Sipple. The gang discusses Dream and Delirium's quest to find their brother, Morpheus growing as a person (or whatever he is), the brief stories and briefer lives embedded within the volume's arc, and how nothing ever stays the same. Brief Lives is the pivotal installment of the series...everything after is fallout. Plus, Paul and Eric gush over Gwen Stacy's resurgence in Edge of Spider-Verse.

Next: before Gobbledyween takes over the month of October, the boys are joined by Wanna Cook? authors K. Dale Koontz and Ensley F. Guffey to discuss the next Sandman book, Vol. VIII: Worlds' End.

Direct download: Episode_201.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 8:17pm CDT

Here it is. It finally happened. Someone somewhere decided to let these guys run off at the mouth for so long they eventually made it to 200 episodes. To celebrate this cosmic blunder, Paul and AJ have invited their good friend Greg Sahadachny of The Debatable Podcast to turn the tables and interview them. How did Paul and AJ meet? How terrified were they to discover their age difference? How did the show start? What do the boys think represent the show's highs and lows? I'd say this is the most self-indulgent thing we'll ever do, but hey, get back to me on #300.

Next: the status returns to quo, as third Gobbler Eric Sipple drops by to help continue the year-long Four-Color Flashback exploration of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman. This time, it's Vol. VII: Brief Lives.

Direct download: Episode_200.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:32am CDT

For the first time in a very long time, Paul and AJ are joined by On the Rocks co-host (and AJ's cousin) Nathan Burdette. This time, there's no main topic; the boys have a hodgepodge of recent pop culture developments to discuss, including Paul and AJ's fundamental disagreement over whether this episode actually has a main topic. Exciting! The gang gets started talking about the new claims that Jack the Ripper has been unmasked, before AJ proffers a public apology to Anna Kendrick. Then they take a gander at trade show art of the Vision as he appears in The Avengers: Age of Ultron. This leads to two larger subjects: the new documentary Turtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the ill-advised #GamerGate.

Next: here it is, ladies and gentlemen. We've hit the magic number 200. That's right, two hundred episodes of Paul and AJ blathering on about nothing in particular. To celebrate, we've invited our good friend Greg Sahadachny of The Debatable Podcast to take the reins, interviewing the boys about life, the universe, and everything.

Direct download: Episode_199.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 8:32pm CDT

After their discussion of Alien for the epic Alien/Predator podcrawl (see information on participating podcasts in the show notes), Paul and AJ now turn to John McTiernan's 1987 sci-fi actioner Predator. Arnold Schwarzenegger stalks the jungle, joined by the likes of tough guys Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and...uh...Shane Black? Sure. They in turn are stalked by a nasty dreadlock-wearing mofo with one ugly mug. Is there anything to this movie? Not really. Does there need to be? The boys are a little divided, with Paul enjoying its macho silliness and AJ doing the opposite of that. One thing they can both agree is that there are a lot of biceps in this movie. Plus, speaking of biceps, AJ starts watching Starz's Spartacus on frenemy Eric Sipple's recommendation.

Next: old friend of the show/AJ's cousin Nathan Burdette makes his triumphant return to Gobbledygeek.

Direct download: Episode_198.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CDT

Before there was Juno, there was Alien, the ultimate film about unwanted pregnancy. Eggs shooting down throats, penile heads devouring yours, a brand new lifeform bursting forth from your body...Ridley Scott's 1979 classic pokes and prods you where you don't want to be poked and prodded. Paul and AJ kick off an epic podcrawl (see information on participating podcasts in the show notes) about the Alien and Predator films with a look back at the one that started it all, in all its psychosexual glory. Of course, there's more underneath its skin, including gorgeous photography, eerie sound design, slow-mounting tension, a realistic ensemble, and a star-making performance from Sigourney Weaver. But it's mostly about dicks. Plus, Gwen Stacy returns to the pages of Spider-Man comics in an unexpected way.

Next: Paul and AJ continue the podcrawl on September 3 with a discussion of John McTiernan's 1987 classic (?) Predator.

Direct download: Episode_197.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CDT

Rulers--whether they be corrupt, wise, or both--make rules. They establish boundaries, set parameters within which a person lives their life. Should those rules be broken, there will be consequences. Neil Gaiman explores some of those consequences, joined by an incredibly talented string of artists including Bryan Talbot and Jill Thompson, in The Sandman: Vol. VI - Fables and Reflections. Paul and AJ continue their year-long Four-Color Flashback exploration of The Sandman, discussing everything from barophobia to Greek myth, from the once-great city of Baghdad to the Thriller video. Plus, Donald Glover finally gets to be Spider-Man and AJ offers his thought's on Netflix's first animated series for adults, BoJack Horseman.

Next: on September 1, Paul and AJ kick off an epic podcrawl (see information on participating podcasts in the show notes) discussing the Alien and Predator films with a look back at Ridley Scott's 1979 classic Alien.

Direct download: Episode_196.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 8:28pm CDT

Not a boy but not yet a man; it's something both humanoid mutant turtles and Texans experience. To cover that wide range of experience, Paul and AJ are discussing both the new Michael Bay-produced version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as well as Richard Linklater's down-to-earth epic Boyhood. Joining them is Nowheresville director/Smoke Gets in Your Ears: A Mad Men Podcast co-host Joseph Lewis, who manages to summarize TMNT in the most beautiful way possible. That might be the only beautiful thing in relation to the movie; spoiler alert, but one of these films is a hell of a lot better than the other, and it's probably the one about growing up without a stable father figure that was filmed over 12 years. Wait, which--which one was that? Plus, things start on a serious note with Ferguson and the passing of Robin Williams.

Next: we continue our year-long Four-Color Flashback exploration of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman with a discussion of Vol. VI: Fables and Reflections.

Direct download: Episode_195.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:11am CDT

Come and get your love, boys and girls: the Guardians of the Galaxy have arrived. Paul and AJ abduct the young, impressionable Kenn Edwards (So Let's Get to the Point host/Smoke Gets in Your Ears co-host), leading him on a whirlwind tour of the universe, discussing the finer points of James Gunn's sci-fi blockbuster. Among those points: whether or not, ten movies in, the film marks progress for Marvel Studios; the unlikely (or perhaps the most likely) breakout characters; and that bitchin' soundtrack. Plus, AJ goes in for a sleep test and gets back up on his Spider-Ham soapbox.

Next: Joseph Lewis returns for another gathering of the Turtle...uh, Tribe? Is that a thing? Anyway, this time the gang's discussing the new Michael Bay-produced Ninja Turtles movie.

Direct download: Episode_194.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 11:39am CDT

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, it might just be because Thessaly's pulled it to Earth, wreaking all sorts of havoc on the ground. This Paul and AJ learn in the latest installment of our year-long Four-Color Flashback analyzing Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, this time focusing on Vol. V - A Game of You. Joining the boys again are Wanna Cook? authors K. Dale Koontz and Ensley F. Guffey, who have much insight to offer on Gaiman's depiction of transgender character Wanda, artist Shawn McManus' use of the classic nine-panel layout, and, uh, polar bears. Add to this many Wizard of Oz illusions and discussions of identity, and you've got something we promise makes sense. Sort of. Plus, the gang riffs on Comic-Con, including the unveiling of Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman.

 

 

Next: ooga-chaka, ooga-chaka, it's the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Direct download: Episode_193.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 4:09pm CDT

Wise man say: forgiveness is divine, but only listening to Paul, AJ, and Nowheresville director/Smoke Gets in Your Ears co-host Joseph Lewis discuss the original 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film will get you past those pearly gates. Or something, a little birdie told us. But not, like, a mutant bird. Anyway. The gang has wildly varying experiences with the Turtles and the movie: Paul is old enough to have read some of the Eastman and Laird stuff when it was new, and saw the movie in theaters; AJ, being a wee little bairn, claims this is the first movie he ever saw and has loved the Turtles ever since; and Joe, well...Joe's right in the Turtle-loving demographic, but he never got into them as a kid, and that pattern holds 20-some-odd years later. How does the film hold up? Is it slathered in enough mozzarella to deserve bargain bin status? Or does it remain crisp, like the finest pepperoni? To put a merciful end to all pizza-related puns, I'm ending this description right here, so you know, go listen. Plus, the gang gets weird with Mandatory Fun and talks about Marvel's Avengers NOW! initiative.

Next: that other Smoke Gets in Your Ears co-host, Kenn Edwards, drops by for the next installment of this year's Four-Color Flashback, discussing The Sandman: Vol. V - A Game of You.

Direct download: Episode_192.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:43pm CDT

We discussed Snowpiercer briefly on our most recent epsiode, but there was too much monkey business going on to talk about it in-depth. So we had to go all-out and do a bonus episode, the sort of episode that fits in between the cracks of our elaborate continuity, featuring none other than The Debatable Podcast host Greg Sahadachny. Shoes as hats, rave cars, orgasmic school teachers...this movie's nuts, and we do our best to honor that babbling about it incoherently.

Direct download: Snowpiercer_Bonus_Ep.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 9:55pm CDT

A new day has dawned, one which doesn't smile too favorably upon humanity. In Matt Reeves' Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the apes have taken over...well, mostly. As Caesar and company learn, a small faction of humans still resides in San Francisco, and they believe the key to their continued existence lies in the apes' territory. It's not a swell situation, as Paul and AJ discover in their discussion of the second film in this new Apes franchise. They chat about the complexity of Caesar and Koba's relationship, the likable (if simplistic) human characters, and the palpable sadness at the film's core. Plus, the boys hop aboard the Snowpiercer train.

Next: the gang (including Nowheresville director and Smoke Gets in Your Ears co-host Joseph Lewis) straps on their musty old half-shells to revisit the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, AKA OGTMNT.

Direct download: Episode_191.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:13pm CDT

We here at Gobbledygeek are avowed fans of big-budget epics, be they superheroic or Tolkienesque. But independent film is an important part of any moviegoer's diet, one many don't have access to. Which is why Paul and AJ are thrilled to speak with Kurtiss Hare of the Nightlight Cinema, the new arthouse theater bringing indie film to Akron, OH. Kurtiss talks about the Nightlight's origin, the incredible response to the project's Kickstarter, and how he hopes the theater will grow. Plus, Paul gets an education from some Masters of Sex and AJ revisits the classics.

Next: we stop picking fleas off each other long enough to discuss the latest in the modern reboot of the classic Apes franchise, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

Direct download: Episode_190.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 8:32pm CDT

Just taking a guess here, but you probably don't want to go to Hell. Probably don't want to rule it, either. And neither does Lucifer, the original fallen angel himself, which sets in motion the events of The Sandman: Vol IV - Season of Mists. Pop culture academics (and Wanna Cook? authors) K. Dale Koontz and Ensley F. Guffey join Paul and AJ for another installment of their Four-Color Flashback series exploring Neil Gaiman's The Sandman. The gang finds much to discuss, whether it be the assortment of mythological envoys sent to The Dreaming, Dream's reunion with one-time lover Nada, or even, uh, the Merkin. Plus, Dale and Ensley went to Slayage, which was the opposite of Hell. Though the squirrels might beg to differ.

Next: we'll be chatting about independent film and local business with a representative of Akron, Ohio's brand new Nightlight Cinema.

Direct download: Episode_189.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:42pm CDT

A dream is a wish your heart makes, or so the song goes. What happens when that wish is fulfilled? Neil Gaiman has a few answers in The Sandman: Vol III - Dream Country, wherein a writer finds his muse, cats rule the world, Shakespeare puts on a play, and an immortal prays for death. Paul and AJ get back on track with their year-long Four Color Flashback exploration of Gaiman's masterpiece, this time joined by The Debatable Podcast host Greg Sahadachny. Plus, Joss Whedon turns 50, Tim Burton's Batman turns 25, and How to Train Your Dragon 2 has something to say about strong women.

Next: doubling down on our Four-Color Flashback with another trip to The Dreaming, as Eric Sipple joins us for a discussion of The Sandman: Vol. IV - Season of Mists.

Direct download: Episode_188.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 8:31pm CDT

Welcome back to the land of Berk, where the dragons soar, the adults have Scottish accents, and the kids have grown up. Frenemy Eric Sipple joins Paul and AJ to discuss How to Train Your Dragon 2, which--spoiler alert--they all agree is a fine film indeed. Among the points of discussion are the more mature tone, the stunning animation (with an assist from the great Roger Deakins), and Cate Blanchett's role as Valka, Hiccup's mother. In a strong year for sequels, this is one of the strongest, and we're here to tell you why. Plus, in another dragon-related news, the gang dissects the Game of Thrones season finale.

Next: getting back on our track with our monthly Four-Color Flashback series discussing Neil Gaiman's The Sandman. Greg Sahadachny of The Debatable Podcast joins us for an analysis of Vol. III - Dream Country.

Direct download: Episode_187.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 8:27pm CDT

Godzilla, that green, rubbery, nuclear-breathing master of destruction--he's basically like if Gumby kicked ass, right? His origins were a little different. Close to a decade after America dropped the atom bomb, Japanese filmmaker Ishirô Honda sought to show us, in stark black-and-white, what the bomb may have wrought: a physical manifestation of his nation's desperation and anxiety. And, yeah, he was green, rubbery, and breathed nuclear fire. Paul and AJ revisit the 1954 original, looking to discover why it remains so potent despite being so crudely made. Oh, and they talk about the new one for a few minutes too. Plus, Cosmos comes to a close and Jack White gets weird on Lazaretto.

Next: There's this movie? That follows this other movie? About this dragon? Something about that.

Direct download: Episode_186.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:07pm CDT

With How to Train Your Dragon 2 prepared to soar into theaters next weekend, you'd better believe superfan Paul was going to find some way to celebrate it. And celebrate it he has, with frequent guests Eric Sipple and Kenn Edwards joining Paul and AJ for a commentary of the first film. The gang discusses how the film overcame their initial low expectations, why having Roger Deakins as a "visual consultant" was crucial, the way the movie expertly moves the plot forward at only 90 minutes, and which of them is a dog person (much to the shame of the other three). Watch along and enjoy.

Direct download: HTTYD_Commentary.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:24am CDT

Hello, Birmingham! Live from the Alabama Phoenix Festival, it’s Gobbledygeek! Paul and AJ returned to APF 2014 to host a series of panels about everything from summer movies to Orphan Black, and while they were there, they thought it’d be neat to record a live podcast. Joining them in the hot seat is Gobbledy-stalwart Kenn Edwards; in the audience, frequent guests/loved ones/freaks of nature Eric Sipple, Joseph Lewis, and Pam Smith. The gang talks to the crowd—including a man dressed as Casey Jones and two teenaged Bronies—about how the con’s going, why they enjoy the sense of community it provides, and that awful-looking Ninja Turtles movie.

Next: Paul and AJ return to their boring, excitement-free home lives to discuss the original Japanese Godzilla. And I guess they’ll mention the new one too.

Direct download: Episode_185.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 11:41pm CDT

Friend of the show and long-ago guest K. Dale Koontz makes her triumphant return to Gobbledygeek, and this time, she's brought along her lovely husband Ensley F. Guffey. Together, they've written Wanna Cook? The Complete, Unofficial Companion to Breaking Bad, which is pretty much what it says. Dale and Ensley geek out about Breaking Bad, discuss Michael Slovis' stunning visuals, and talk about what goes into writing a book with your spouse. They do not, however, tell you how to cook 99.9% pure crystal blue meth. Disappointing, I know. Plus, the gang bemoans Zack Snyder's grip on DC's movie world and raves about indie comics.

Next: our year-long Four-Color Flashback exploration of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman continues, as Greg Sahadachny joins us to discuss Vol. III: Dream Country.

Direct download: Episode_184.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 1:18pm CDT

Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is swinging back into theaters with The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and we're on hand to dissect it. There is just so much going on in this movie that Paul and AJ have recruited another villain for their burgeoning franchise: Kenn Edwards of So Let's Get to the Point and Project Batman. The gang is sharply divided on just how good Marc Webb's sequel is and just how much plot is too much plot, but the common ground is surprising. Namely, the film's faithful portrayal of Spidey himself; the adorability of Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy; and the power of one particularly iconic moment. Plus, Paul shares some shocking casting news, and AJ and Kenn dig on Louie.

Next: K. Dale Koontz and Ensley F. Guffey join us to discuss their book Wanna Cook? The Complete, Unofficial Companion to Breaking Bad. Meth and/or egomania not required.

Direct download: Episode_183.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 3:46pm CDT

Close your eyes. Lull yourself to sleep. It's time for another trip to the Dreaming, as Paul, AJ, and special guest/third Gobbler Eric Sipple continue their Four-Color Flashback exploration of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman. In Vol. II, A Doll's House, we discover humans might be playthings of the gods; that hearts are very important; that for a man named "Fun Land," he's not very fun; and which of the Endless has the most bitchin' stereo system. Plus, the gang talks about their appearance at this year's Alabama Phoenix Festival.

Next: spins a web any size, catches thieves just like flies, look out! Here comes The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Direct download: Episode_182.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 9:08pm CDT

Paul and AJ are, you know, they're...I think the word is "geeks"? Geeks. Yes. And sometimes, they challenge each other. Lord knows they challenge each other. And sometimes such a challenge between geeks is bestowed the the rank of Geek Challenge. For the first time in far too long, such a plague has befallen the podcast: AJ challenges Paul to watch the 1957 Ingmar Bergman classic The Seventh Seal; in return, Paul challenges AJ to John Boorman's 1981 Arthurian epic Excalibur. There is much sadness and mythmaking and fast-and-loose historical accuracies as our knights ride off a journey of the soul. Plus, Fargo makes for a pretty great TV show and The Superior Spider-Man has reached its blessed end.

Next week: the second installment of this year's Four-Color Flashback, as the boys discuss the second volume of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, The Doll's House.

Direct download: Episode_181.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 4:19pm CDT

The Debatable Podcast's Greg Sahadachny has bullied his way onto another podcast. This time, he forces Paul and AJ to discuss storytelling in video games, and whether or not harder games are more fulfilling than easy ones. Throughout this, the words "ludology" and "narratology" are bandied about as if anyone involved has the faintest idea of what they mean. Before the games discussion, the gang talks about Amazon's acquisition of comiXology and what that might mean for the world's premiere platform for digital comics; after, they get into this week's shocking Game of Thrones and--of course--the nature of spoilers.

Next: for the first time in a while, the Geek Challenge rears its challenge-y head.

Direct download: Episode_180.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:39pm CDT

He's pretty spry for an old guy: Steve Rogers charges back onto the big screen with Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and we're here to tell you if it's a worthy outing for the star-spangled boy scout. Joining Paul and AJ to disuss the film is friend/lover/ultimate Brony forever Eric Sipple (he also wrote a really cool book called Broken Magic, check it out). The gang talks about Winter Soldier's brutal hand-to-hand, whether or not the movie's political commentary works, the merits of Scarlett Johansson's badassery, and that Sundance Kid. Spoiler alert: this episode might contain the most agreement of any single episode of Gobbledygeek.

Next: Paul and AJ talk about stuff! They don't know what! But something!

Direct download: Episode_179.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:25pm CDT

A storm is coming. No, for real, a storm is coming and it's gonna wipe me and you and everyone we know right offa this rock we call Earth: Darren Aronofsky envisions the great flood of Genesis in mysterious ways with his new film Noah. As portrayed by Russell Crowe, Noah's, uh, a little bleaker than you might remember from Sunday school, as he is forced to grapple with whether or not to allow humanity to persist. Add in some six-armed rock monsters, glowy fingers, and some insane Fountain-esque visuals...and it's not what almost anyone would expect from a biblical epic. We'll tell you if that's a good thing or not. Plus, Paul and AJ watch the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trailer and talk comics both mainstream (Silver Surfer) and not (Sex Criminals).

Next: though Captain America: The Winter Soldier is in theaters as you read this, because of the way we record, it is not this week's episode. No matter what that idiot AJ said. So! Next week! Winter Soldier is coming and we are here to talk about it.

Direct download: Episode_178.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 11:13am CDT

You ever have that dream where Paul and AJ are discussing the greatest comic book of all time in ten spoiler-free monthly installments? Yeah, us too: beginning with this episode, the boys bring the Four-Color Flashback feature to the show, dissecting Neil Gaiman's The Sandman through the rest of the year. Friend of the show (at this point, he's more of a lover) Eric Sipple joins us for a discussion of The Sandman: Vol. I - Preludes & Nocturnes. The great tale of Morpheus, lord of dreams, gets its start in a fashion that's not always representative of what it would become (DC superheroes), but the gang is on hand to point out all the ways in which it is uniquely Sandman (a horror story about stories). Plus, Amazon's a little icky and Marvel has a prime opportunity for diversity with Iron Fist.

Next: despite the words that come out of AJ's idiot mouth, Winter Soldier is not next week's episode. We'll force him to come up with something.

Direct download: Episode_177.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:14pm CDT

Koko the Showfucker is back and he's prepared to fuck the show right into--well, okay, a little of that happens, but for the most part, Jason Tabrys' return to Gobbledygeek is a little more focused than normal. Among the topics discussed are the Veronica Mars movie and its abundance of fan-service, the Cosmos controversy, and the fact that Captain America 3 and Batman & Superman: Friendship Is Magic opening on the same day is going to keep the idiotic flames of the Marvel/DC fan war raging long into the night. Then there's the big one: When you hate something--say, oh, The Big Bang Theory--is it fair to continue harshly criticizing it on social media even when you know someone who likes it? The (different, conflicting) answer(s) may surprise you (or not)!

Next: you might remember the Four Color Flashback series AJ did on the blog about the Claremont/Byrne Uncanny X-Men, or he and Paul dissecting Preacher. Well, we're bringing that feature to the show starting next week. At the end of each month, we'll be discussing one volume of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, and spoiler alert: Paul and AJ really, really love this comic. Joining us for this introductory episode is Broken Magic author, The Deli Counter of Justice co-editor, and Brony for life Eric Sipple.

Direct download: Episode_176.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:15pm CDT

First, The Gentlemen's Guide to Midnite Cinema discussed Three Colors: Blue. Then, The Debatable Podcast talked about Three Colors: White. Now, as the last stop on this epic pod crawl, Paul and AJ discuss the final film of Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colors trilogy--and his final film, period--Red. The boys dig deep on this one, discussing the nature of relationships, the hidden connections in our lives, and time itself in the context of one of the most beautiful movies ever made. What does it all mean? Maybe it doesn't mean anything, and that's okay. Plus, Paul loves Cosmos and AJ has complicated feelings on the True Detective finale.

Next: this has been such a thoughtful, focused year of the sho--NOOOOO IT'S KOKO THE SHOWFUCKER RUN!!!! Jason Tabrys and Jeremy R! Hudson of The BastardCast return to...to have some fun?

Direct download: Episode_175.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:32pm CDT

If you were a sentient human being at any point in the last 30-some-odd years, Harold Ramis made some sort of impact on your life. When Ramis passed away last week at the age of 69, Paul and AJ knew they had to pay homage to him in some way. This week, the boys discuss four of Ramis' films: Meatballs (which he co-wrote), Stripes (which he co-wrote and starred opposite Bill Murray in), Ghostbusters (which he co-wrote and starred in), and Groundhog Day (which he directed, co-wrote, and if you look at it from a certain angle, played the crucial role in). Ramis made a lot of people laugh, including us. Here we do our best to pay him back. Plus, Paul and AJ suffer through the Oscars.

Next week: as part of an epic pod crawl (check the show notes for more information!), Paul and AJ will be discussing the final film of Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colors trilogy, Red.

Direct download: Episode_174.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:12am CDT

The long and winding road of the Gobbledy-Book Club has led us here, through factories and caves and cellars, to the final two chapters of J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst's S. Paul and AJ host an all-star jam band reunion of their co-readers: Paul's better half Pam Smith, whom we have to thank for just about everything; The Debatable Podcast host and Ukrainian royal Greg Sahadachny; and Kenn Edwards of So Let's Get to the Point and Project Batman, who might just be recording your entire existence as a podcast. Believe it or not, the show is (mostly) able to contain all five of them as they get to the important business of discussing the conclusions of both Ship of Theseus and the Jen/Eric marginalia, the importance of endings, and the open-ended nature of many of the tale's mysteries (sound familiar, Lost fans?). Plus, the gang says goodbye to the late, great Harold Ramis.

Next: the boys are on their own again to pay tribute to the work of Harold Ramis. They'll be watching Meatballs, Stripes, Ghostbusters, and Groundhog Day.

Direct download: Episode_173.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:53pm CDT

The penultimate installment of the Gobbledy-Book Club is here, as Kenn Edwards of So Let's Get to the Point and Project Batman joins Paul and AJ to discuss chapters 7-8 of J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst's S. The book--both books!--is heading toward its conclusion, so of course, things only get more complicated. S. becomes the assassin he was destined to be, Jen and Eric draw closer and closer, and major headway is made in the pair's investigation. Oh, and there's a napkin. We talk a lot about the napkin. Plus, the gang talks about Funko's incredibly expansive 2014 toy line.

Next: discussion of S. draws to a close with an all-star jam band reunion of our co-readers.

Direct download: Episode_172.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:05pm CDT

Shifting identities. Confessions of love. Chases in the dark. Names. Lots of names. These things and more can be found in chapters 4-6 of J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst's S., here discussed by your learned and astute co-readers. The Debatable Podcast's Greg Sahadachny joins Paul and AJ for the second week of the Gobbledy-Book Club, talking about the unique way he started reading the book, whether Eric and Jen's marginalia or Ship of Theseus itself is more captivating, and what a "second" is. If the boys scratched the surface last week, this time they plunge headfirst into the dark, mysterious world of S. Come on in, the water's fine.

 

 

Next: discussion of S. continues as Kenn Edwards of So Let's Get to the Point and Project Batman helps explore chapters 7 and 8.

Direct download: Episode_171.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 8:37pm CDT

This week marks the beginning of our very first Gobbledy-Book Club, in which we’ll be discussing the J.J. Abrams/Doug Dorst novel S. every week of February. For our first discussion, Paul and AJ talk the book’s first three chapters with the lovely Pam Smith, who may or may not be married to one of your dashing hosts. The gang discusses the book’s seriously ingenious book-within-a-book structure, the pervasive concept of multiple identities, the numerous thematic/stylistic ties to Abrams’ Lost, all those cool little inserts, and how exactly you’re supposed to read the damn thing. Plus, we pay our respects to the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Next: the Gobbledy-Book Club continues with a discussion of chapters 4-6, pp. 111-259.

Direct download: Episode_170.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 11:33am CDT

The exceedingly British Wesley "Wezzo" Mead makes his triumphant return to Gobbledygeek, where he regales Paul and AJ with the triumphant story of his triumphantly watching five terrible movies (well, one of them wasn't bad) in one triumphant day. It's all very triumphal. Paul also recounts how Alabama went post-apocalyptic wasteland after a few inches of snow, there's a far too thorough discussion of the leaked Ninja Turtles designs, and to cap it all off, there's some Breaking British News.

Next: our first-ever Gobbledy-Book Club begins! We'll be having a month-long discussion of S by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst. If you'd like to read along, we're starting with the first three chapters, up through page 110.

Direct download: Episode_169.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:26pm CDT

Gobbleydgeek has regenerated for a fifth season; no new hosts, alas, but faithful companion Eric Sipple is on hand to guide Paul and AJ through a discussion of the first five seasons of Doctor Who. Yes, the boys have finally succumbed to curiosity, exploring one of their major geek blindspots, starting with the Russell T. Davies "reboot" of the age-old tale of a strange man in a box who travels through time. They discuss the surprising greatness of Christopher Eccleston's Doctor, the many highs of the David Tennant era, and the very beginning of Matt Smith's tenure, not to mention just how freaking annoying Dalek voices are. Oh, and AJ tells some wonderful jokes. Plus, the gang updates you on The Deli Counter of Justice and talks about whatever passes for New Year's resolutions.

Next: lovely young Britisher Wesley "Wezzo" Mead makes his triumphant return.

Direct download: Episode_168.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 3:19pm CDT



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