‘Twas the season 10 finale of Gobbledygeek, when all through the podcast,

Zombies were shuffling, Scottish dancers aghast.

John McPhail’s Anna and the Apocalypse was the topic du jour,

In hopes that Paul and Arlo would discuss the songs, the jokes, and maybe some more.

The movie does not foster too much discussion, alas;

While instead, talking about Christmas plans and getting high, our hosts have a blast.

Paul in his kerchief and Arlo in his cap,

Have settled their mics for a long winter’s nap.

 

Next: merry Christmas and happy New Year. We’ll see you in 2020.



THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:32:00

  • 00:01:18  - Intro
  • 00:04:32  - Main Topic
  • 00:48:05  - Holiday plans / Season 10 wrap-up
  • 01:28:50  - Outro / Next



THE MUSIC

  • “Break Away” by Ella Hunt, Sarah Swire & Malcolm Cumming, Anna and the Apocalypse (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2018)
  • “It’s That Time of Year” by Marli Siu, Anna and the Apocalypse (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2018)
  • “Human Voice” by Cast from Anna and the Apocalypse, Anna and the Apocalypse (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2018)
  • “Hollywood Ending” by Cast from Anna and the Apocalypse, Anna and the Apocalypse (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2018)



THE LINKS

 

 

Direct download: Episode_393.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 1:31pm CST

It took Brás de Oliva Domingos so long to find out, and he found out. What, if anything, he found out is the central question of Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá’s 2010 Vertigo series Daytripper, subject of our final Four-Color Flashback for 2019. You see, Brás writes obituaries for a São Paulo newspaper--and at the end of most chapters in this book, he dies. Twin writers/artists Moon and Bá pave the way for an existential journey along the many turning points of a life, from the imperceptible to the unmistakable. Paul and Arlo discuss Daytripper’s hint of magical realism; the coherent, airtight structure that grounds the book’s absurdity; how the series’ hopeful attitude brushes up against horrific tragedy; Moon and Bá’s distinctive (though not so distinctive we know who is penciling and/or inking what!) art style, accentuated by master colorist Dave Stewart; and more.

 

Next: on the Gobbledygeek season 10 finale, Christmas gets twisted with John McPhail’s 2018 horror-comedy-musical Anna and the Apocalypse.



THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:32:47

  • 00:00:42  - Intro
  • 00:06:30  - Main Topic
  • 01:26:40  - Outro / Next



THE MUSIC

  • “Day Tripper” by Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66, Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66 (1966)
  • “Circle of Life” by Carmen Twillie & Lebo M, The Lion King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1994)



THE LINKS

Direct download: Episode_392.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:23pm CST

The Cloud burst, and for forty days and forty nights, all of our secrets rained down. In the not terribly distant future world of Brian K. Vaughan, Marcos Martin, and Muntsa Vicente’s 2013-15 series The Private Eye, the Internet is a distant memory and anonymity is now the foundation of American society. Of course, our hero is an amoral paparazzo-slash-private investigator whose job is to dig up those old secrets; of course, this leads him into a world of trouble. For the penultimate Four-Color Flashback of 2019, Paul and Arlo discuss Vaughan’s clever utilization of noir tropes in the post-Internet age, Martin’s dynamic pencils/inks, Vicente’s eye-popping colors (this is one noir that doesn’t hide in the shadows), their radical pay-what-you-want self-publishing platform Panel Syndicate, and the big philosophical question at the heart of the book: is the Internet worth it?

 

Next: for the final Four-Color Flashback of the season, we get existential with Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba’s Daytripper.



THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:31:30

  • 00:00:22  - Intro
  • 00:04:10  - Main Topic
  • 01:27:00  - Outro / Next



THE MUSIC

  • “Private Eyes” by Daryl Hall & John Oates, Private Eyes (1981)
  • “This Masquerade” by The Carpenters, Now & Then (1973)



THE LINKS

 

 

Direct download: Episode_391.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:14pm CST

Ever have a job so shitty, it haunts you years (or even decades) down the line? Paul and Arlo have, and it’s called Gobbledygeek! Hey-o! In all seriousness (?), Paul recounts a traumatic experience at Shakey’s Pizza and Arlo is filled with regret over his time at the right-wing call center InfoCision. Cue flashbacks to high school football teams ravenous for wings and evil televangelists separating the faithful from what little coin they carry. Speaking of the latter, Arlo laments Kanye West’s evangelical turn on Jesus Is King. Elsewhere, Paul watches TV, including Succession, Primal, Daybreak, Watchmen, and Modern Love; and braves crowds of drunken revelers at shows for Bastille, Joywave, Trampled by Turtles, and The Avett Bros.

 

Next: TBD. 



THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:39:58

00:00:33  - Intro

00:01:12  - We are NOT sponsored by the Gobble meal delivery service

00:07:30  - Cold pizza and really, really hot wings 

00:14:43  - Way too much about InfoCision

00:43:48  - Not nearly enough about some great new TV shows

00:54:08  - More than a little bit about Succession

01:07:20  - Unfortunately, we discuss the new Kanye album

01:15:30  - A Popeye’s chicken sandwich interlude

01:17:15  - Back to Kanye (and controversial comments on Beyonce)

01:24:31  - Lastly, Paul’s been to some concerts

01:37:05  - Outro / Next



THE MUSIC

“This Fucking Job” by Drive-By Truckers, The Big To-Do (2010)

“Blastoffff” by Joywave, Blastoffff (Single) (2018)



THE LINKS

“Charitable donations benefit telemarketers” by David Evans, The Washington Post

Gobble meal kit delivery service (who is NOT a sponsor of our show)

Direct download: Episode_390.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 4:21pm CST

Our favorite thing is Gobbledyween, so to close out this year’s frightening festivities, Paul and Arlo are breaking from the norm to discuss Emil Ferris’ 2017 graphic novel My Favorite Thing Is Monsters. Joining them for this first Gobbledyween/Four-Color Flashback crossover is their The Deli Counter of Justice collaborator Eric Sipple. The gang marvels at Ferris’ stunning art (all done in ballpoint pen!), attempts to process the numerous threads in this first of two planned volumes (sexuality, duality, and reality, oh my!), draws unexpected parallels to Art Spiegelman’s Maus (a FCF entry just this past August!), and so much more (no parenthetical necessary!). We promise there are monsters.

 

Next: and I’m freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, free Gooooobbliiiiiiin’.



THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:42:55

00:00:44  - Intro

00:03:20  - My Favorite Thing is Monsters

01:36:51  - Outro / Next



THE MUSIC

“Wild Thing” by The Troggs, From Nowhere (1966)

“Good Monsters” by Jars of Clay, Good Monsters (2006)



THE LINKS

“The Holocaust, Art, Chicago & Sickness: A 3,500-Word Interview with My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Mastermind Emil Ferris” by Hillary Brown, Paste

“'My Favorite Thing Is Monsters' Is A Dazzling, Graphic Novel Tour-De-Force” by John Powers, NPR

“My Favorite Thing Is Monsters - Review” by Andrea Crow, Lambda Literary

“Emil Ferris: ‘I didn’t want to be a woman - being a monster was the best solution’” by Sam Thielman, The Guardian

“My Favorite Thing Is Monsters - Review” by Paul Tumey, The Comics Journal

“When Everyone’s a Monster, No One Is: The Ugly Everyday in My Favorite Thing is Monsters” by Em Nordling, Tor.com

“My Favorite Thing Is Monsters is a brilliant, eye-opening graphic novel debut” by Oliver Sava, AV Club

“The Bite That Changed My Life” by Elly Fishman, Chicagomag.com

Direct download: Episode_389.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:57pm CST

Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme: the rich have always sucked off the poor, and podcasting icon Greg Sahadachny has always joined Gobbledyween for the most ridiculous and outrageous pick of the season. This time, Paul and Arlo have chosen to torment Greg with Brian Yuzna’s 1989 satire Society, which is a dumb teen sex comedy until--well, until it isn’t. The gang discusses the film’s subtext and/or screaming neon text; Screaming Mad George’s “surrealistic makeup effects”; how the movie surprisingly rewards repeat viewings; and the film’s unlikely parallels to Lynch, Friedkin, Polanski, and a whole buncha other pretentious arthouse weirdos.

 

Next: Gobbledyween comes to a close as Broken Magic author Eric Sipple joins us to discuss Emil Ferris’ graphic novel My Favorite Thing Is Monsters.



THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:14:44

00:00:45  - Intro

00:03:42  - Society

01:09:00  - Outro / Next



THE MUSIC

“The Eton Boating Song (feat. Helen Moore)” by A.D.E.W., Mark Ryder & Phil Davies, Society (Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1989)

“Society Is My Friend” by Kurt Vile, Smoke Ring for My Halo (2011)

Direct download: Episode_388.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 4:22pm CST

It finally happened. After three long years of behind-the-scenes turmoil, Near Dark has made its way to Gobbledyween. A/V writer-director Joseph Lewis joins Paul and Arlo to discuss Kathryn Bigelow’s 1987 vampiric Western, which reimagined the creatures of the night as filthy, lowdown rednecks. The gang discusses the influence Near Dark has had on vampire fiction, the late great Bill Paxton’s immortal performance as Severen, the film’s surprisingly conservative stance on biological family, and how surprisingly difficult it is to get ahold of the movie these days.

 

Next: Gobbledyween lives in a society. Greg Sahadachny joins us to talk Brian Yuzna’s 1989 satire Society.



THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:33:05

00:00:45  - Intro

00:03:44  - Near Dark

01:24:22  - Outro / Next



THE MUSIC

“Fever” by The Cramps, Songs the Lord Taught Us (1980)

“The Cowboy Rides Away” by George Strait, Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind (1984)



THE LINKS

“25 Things We Learned from Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark Commentary” by Rob Hunter, Film School Rejects

“Bloodthirsty and Lonely in the Heartland: Kathryn Bigelow’s NEAR DARK” by Jacob Mazer, Bryn Mawr Film Institute

“The Deafening Night: Kathryn Bigelow’s NEAR DARK” by Jacob Knight, Birth. Movies. Death.

“How Near Dark Explores the Dark Side of Family Structure” by Nat Brehmer, Wicked Horror

“Near Dark (1987)” by Roderick Heath, Ferdy on Films

“Sunlight Through Bullet Holes” by Tammy Oler, Slate

“Near Dark” by John M. Miller, TCM

Direct download: Episode_387.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 5:26pm CST

Leaves are on the ground, blood is on the screen. It’s time once again for Gobbledyween, that most beloved of Gobbledygeek institutions--and one that has not reared its horrific head in full since 2015! All month long, Paul and Arlo will be discussing horror or horror-adjacent movies, starting with one they actually discussed seven years ago: Drew Goddard’s mega-meta 2011 genre critique The Cabin in the Woods. The boys reveal why they’re revisiting the film (hint: it involves sheer incompetence!), break down Goddard and co-writer/producer Joss Whedon’s refutation of horror stereotypes, compare Cabin’s prevailing sense of nihilism to the pragmatic hope on display in Buffy and Angel, and go nuts trying to name all the monsters we see on screen.

 

Next: the night, it’s deafening. A/V writer-director Joseph Lewis joins us to discuss--finally--Kathryn Bigelow’s 1987 vampire Western Near Dark.



THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:43:03

00:00:35  - Intro

00:11:12  - The Cabin in the Woods

01:40:36  - Outro / Next



THE MUSIC

“Horror Movies” by Dickie Goodman (1961)

“Last” by Nine Inch Nails, Broken (1992)



THE LINKS

“‘The Cabin in the Woods’ Spoilers: Drew Goddard Speaks Freely” by Maria Elena Fernandez, The Daily Beast

Direct download: Episode_386.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 5:40pm CST

For another installment of this year’s non-superhero Four-Color Flashback, Paul and Arlo look at the story of a real-life hero in Green River Killer: A True Detective Story, Jeff Jensen and Jonathan Case’s loving tribute to Jeff’s dad, Detective Tom Jensen. Detective Jensen was instrumental in catching Gary Leon Ridgway AKA the Green River Killer, America’s most prolific serial killer. The boys discuss Paul’s connection to (and possible culpability in?!) the case, the comparisons or lack thereof to the father-son dynamic in Maus, Case’s beautiful character acting, and more.

 

Next: leaves are on the ground, blood is on the screen. It’s time for Gobbledyween. We kick off this year’s festivities with a(nother) discussion of Drew Goddard’s 2011 mega-meta horror film The Cabin in the Woods. This time, Paul and Arlo are joined by Michael Holland, post-production supervisor for American Horror Story



THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:15:25

00:00:35  - Intro

00:02:00  - Green River Killer

01:09:47  - Outro / Next



THE MUSIC

“Green River” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Green River (1969)

“Deep Red Bells” by Neko Case, Blacklisted (2002)



THE LINKS

“Writer Jeff Jensen Talks Dark Horse’s Green River Killer: A True Detective Story”, diamondcomics.com

Direct download: Episode_385.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:22pm CST

For the latest installment of this year’s spandex-free Four-Color Flashback, Paul and Arlo tackle a big one: Art Spiegelman’s Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, still the only comic book ever to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize. Joining them to discuss Spiegelman’s harrowing account of his father Vladek’s time in the concentration camps of Nazi-occupied Poland--and Art’s own tense relationship with Vladek--is Broken Magic author and The Deli Counter of Justice co-creator Eric Sipple. The gang discusses Spiegelman’s provocative choice to depict Jews as mice, Nazis as cats, Poles as pigs, etc.; how Spiegelman follows in a tradition going all the way back to Mickey Mouse; and why it’s specifically disturbing to read Maus in 2019.

 

Next: Paul and Arlo will return.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:32:45

00:01:52  - Intro

00:04:04  - Maus: A Survivor’s Tale

01:27:43  - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_384.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 4:16pm CST

The Amazon is burning and all anyone cares about is Spider-Man. Yay! Welcome to another exciting episode of Gobbledygeek! After nixing a fash-bashing Geek Challenge because Paul absolutely could not sit through three hours of The Sound of Music, he and Arlo decide to freestyle it and, well, all is not well! The world’s on fire, the government is imploding, and Spider-Man might not get to be an Avenger anymore! As for that last one, the boys have deeply conflicted feelings about their love for the character and the Marvel movies with their disdain for Disney the Evil Empire. Plus, Arlo still won’t watch all the things Paul says he should watch, and Marc Maron chimes in.

 

Next: for even more lighthearted family fun, the boys have asked their The Deli Counter of Justice co-editor Eric Sipple to join them for a discussion of Art Spiegelman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning, extremely depressing yet extremely essential, Maus: A Survivor’s Tale.



THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:27:36

00:00:35  - Intro

00:02:30  - Us NOT talking about The Sound of Music and The Great Dictator

00:21:15  - The Spider-Man Custody Battle (aka Money Ruins Things)

00:42:55  - Arlo ignores GLOW, Dark, and Mindhunter in favor of Fast & Furious

00:58:48  - Karina Longworth’s You Must Remember This podcast goes Manson-crazy

01:03:39  - Marc Maron joins an elite group of “adults” too cool for superheroes

01:13:24  - Kevin Conroy and the Crisis on Infinite CW Shows

01:18:14  - New Caliburn Chronicles

01:24:05  - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_383.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:56pm CST

A long time ago in an industry far, far away...the end was nigh for Hollywood’s good ol’ days. Charles Manson had arrived, Family in tow, to disrupt the neverending Summer of Love. Quentin Tarantino’s ninth (and penultimate?) film, Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood, takes a look at L.A. in 1969, as Leonardo DiCaprio’s washed-up actor and Brad Pitt’s mysterious stuntman cross paths with rising star (and future Manson victim) Sharon Tate, here played by Margot Robbie. Joining Paul and Arlo to navigate Tarantino’s exploration of a half-century’s worth of pop culture detritus are former Smoke Gets in Your Ears co-hosts Joseph Lewis and Kenn Edwards. The gang discusses the film’s languid pace, how Once Upon a Time compares to Tarantino alternate histories like Inglourious Basterds or Django Unchained, the ways in which the film pointedly interrogates various problematic aspects of its writer-director, and--of course--the groovy soundtrack.



Next: Nazis! We hate those guys. So do the heroes of The Sound of Music and The Great Dictator, subjects of our latest Geek Challenge.



THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 02:27:50

00:00:50  - Intro / Guests

00:03:49  - Main Topic (SPOILERS)

02:11:06  - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_382.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am CST

Paul and Arlo are in the place to be, rapping about Ed Piskor’s Hip Hop Family Tree. For the latest Four-Color Flashback installment, our nerdy white heroes take on nerdy white cartoonist Piskor’s quartet (so far) of graphic novels discussing the history of hip hop culture. The boys discuss Piskor’s art, equally indebted to underground comix and superhero books of the ‘70s and ‘80s; how the physical editions beautifully replicate the aesthetics of the time period; how Piskor captures the rhythm and fluidity of DJs and breakdancers; and what in the hell he’s got against Russell “Rush” Simmons.

 

Next: Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is Family-friendly entertainment.



THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:22:35

00:00:35  - Intro / Main Topic

01:18:40  - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_381.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:53pm CST

Paul cannot get his fridge under control because these damn restaurants keep serving him so much damn food. He and Arlo discuss the uniquely American problem of ever-expanding portion sizes, stopping at the Cheesecake Factory before taking a detour into canine conundrums, parental pondering, and nostalgic nightmares. You’ll never look at a Heffalump the same way. Featuring a cameo from Fatty Liver & The Teething Puppies!

 

Next: the Gobbledygeeks in the place to be, gettin’ busy with Hip Hop Family Tree.




THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:16:05

00:00:58  - Intro / Portion Sizes

00:06:45  - Trigger Warning: IBS

00:14:48  - Heffalumps and Woozles Haunt My Dreams

00:18:40  - Feline Facts and Canine Cliches

00:32:11  - Let’s Have Kids...Or Not

00:48:15  - Teasing That Deliverse Podcast Thing

00:50:34  - NKOTB / Not Down With “Fluffer” Acts

01:10:00  - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_380.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 1:32pm CST

Pack your unnamed dead uncle's bags, grab your favorite designer sunglasses (that can also level whole cities), and fly on over for a discussion of Spider-Man: Far from Home. GameZone editor-in-chief Cade Onder swings by to join Paul and Arlo, becoming simultaneously the biggest Spider-Fan and the youngest guest to ever grace the podcast. The gang debates the moral implications of EDITH, the gentrification of Peter Parker, whether or not Zendaya is the best MJ, and if we ever need to see that dang Iron Spider suit again.

 

Next: free the gobble.



THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:42:45

00:00:30  - Intro / Guest

00:06:30  - Main Topic (Non-Spoilery)

00:22:07  - Main Topic (SPOILERS)

01:37:40  - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_379.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 1:56pm CST

We’re tired. So tired. That’s what you want to hear when you’re about to fire up a podcast, right? You are reading this, aren’t you? Buried among such illuminating subjects as the coffee Arlo’s drinking, Paul’s underhanded behind-the-scenes manipulations, and the boys’ general unprofessionalism, there is indeed some pop culture palaver and parley. The boys are digging HBO’s troubled teens drama Euphoria despite being approximately 400 years too old to say things like “that’s a mood”; Arlo is losing faith in The Handmaid’s Tale; Paul remembers Yesterday; and they both are in awe of Toy Story 4 being so much more than a cynical cash-grab.

 

Next: Toby Maguire now vanquished, Jake Gyllenhaal finally makes his way into a Spider-Man movie, donning a fishbowl for Spider-Man: Far From Home.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:11:48

00:00:30  - Intro / The Dog Ate My Sleep

00:07:35  - We Never Talk About Pop Culture Anymore

00:09:49  - Euphoria

00:25:12  - The Handmaid’s Tale 

00:36:33  - The Walking Dead Comic Series is Dead

00:45:55  - The Kitchen Trailer (and Tiffany Haddish Fatigue?)

00:50:15  - Toy Story 4 

00:57:19  - Yesterday (Very Briefly...More to Come)

01:00:35  - Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story

01:04:46  - Anima

01:07:45  - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_378.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 3:01pm CST

For the next installment of this year’s superhero-free Four-Color Flashback, Paul and Arlo leave the realm of autobiography, semi- or otherwise, for some thrilling adventures in fictional China. Faith Erin Hicks’ The Nameless City trilogy has everything: young men and women coming of age in trying times, political intrigue, backstabbing, betrayal, and some pretty cool martial arts fights. The boys discuss Hicks’ deceptively simple artwork, how she incorporates sound effects into her storytelling, Jordie Bellaire’s stunning color, and why The Nameless City is a love story but not a romance.

 

Next: freegobble!

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:47:52

00:00:40  - Intro / Fatty Liver and the Teething Puppies

00:18:00  - Main Topic

01:43:13  - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_377.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:39pm CST

For the next installment of this year’s non-superheroic Four-Color Flashback, Paul and Arlo are joined by their pal Johny Ho to discuss Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese. While they’ve previously discussed Yang’s work on the Avatar: The Last Airbender comics, Paul and Arlo discover a whole new side of Yang in this semi-autobiographical novel; while Johny finds pieces of his experience reflected in the story of Jin Wang, an Asian kid enrolled in a Western school. The gang discusses Yang’s simple yet exciting artwork; Lark Pien’s vibrant colors; the horrifying stereotypes Yang spotlights; the meaning of the Monkey King’s journey; and more.

 

Next: game over. Sarah Kosheff rides in on her dragon to talk Game of Thrones’ final season.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:19:45

00:00:25  - Intro / Guest

00:03:00   - Main Topic

01:15:45  - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_376.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 3:50pm CST

How does one go from lamenting the untimely demise of Tom King’s Batman to discussing the power structures that dictate what one finds culturally acceptable in any given generation? There’s only one way to find out: by listening to this week’s Gobbledygeek! Paul and Arlo blather about superheroic drama, including Superman: The Animated Series; opinions that have evolved with time, whether they’re on The Downward Spiral or She-Ra: Princess of Power; and why the hell Pete Venkman was carrying 300ccs of Thorazine.

 

Next: Johny Ho joins Paul and Arlo to discuss Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese in the latest Four-Color Flashback.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:10:56

00:00:25  - Intro / the boys are pissed off

00:02:39  - Tom King kicked out of the Bat-cave.

00:12:22  - Hickman murders the X-Men.

00:16:27  - Rest in peace, Whiskey Cavalier.

00:24:04  - What the hell has Arlo been doing in the shadows?

00:26:50  - Oh, he’s been watching Superman cartoons.

00:41:22  - Our changing perspective on beloved art and pop culture.

00:52:06  - Peter Venkman was creepy as hell!

01:08:00  - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_375.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 11:39am CST

To paraphrase Olivia Newton-John, “Let’s get political--political!” Paul and Arlo discuss politics only occasionally, but this week, they unload. With anti-abortion bills being signed into law in both of their home states, Alabama and Ohio, the boys have a thing or two to say. (Spoiler: they are loudly and clearly pro-choice.) Where do you go after that? Well, Paul saves a restaurant bird, Arlo goes down a murderous Reddit rabbit hole, and Paul cannot get the fuck to sleep. Sweet dreams, kids.

 

Next: who knows!

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:02:35

00:00:46  - Intro / Terrible No Good Very Very Bad Politics

00:33:49  - Paul saved a restaurant bird

00:39:11  - Arlo hates gore, loves murder sub-reddits

00:49:24  - The paranoia is coming from inside the house

00:53:36  - Backdoor neighbors

00:59:00  - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_374.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:14pm CST

Welcome to another Freestyle episode of Gobbledygeek, wherein you can either choose to hear Paul yell at clouds or Arlo have an existential crisis about adulthood. Just remember: whatever you choose, it’s gonna taste like watered-down Dr. Pepper. Paul and Arlo discuss Arlo’s new house; their digitally-assisted strolls down memory lane; how nostalgia can lead to arrested development (neither the show nor the hip-hop group); and how “take” culture has sucked a lot of the joy (and nuance) out of pop culture discussion.

 

Next: oh god, it might be another one of these?

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 01:11:46

00:00:30  - Intro / Banter

01:04:42  - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_373.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 11:21am CST

All good things must come to an end. And while the Marvel Cinematic Universe is not one of those things--there’s another one of these bad boys coming out in a few months--Avengers: Endgame does represent the culmination of this first wave/cycle/saga of the MCU. Paul and Arlo are joined by their The Deli Counter of Justice co-creator Eric Sipple to discuss just how in the hell directors Anthony and Joe Russo, screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, and many many other talented filmmakers pulled off this marvelous feat. Because somehow, some way, Endgame is just about the most satisfying conclusion you could hope for.

 

Next: enter the void.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 02:04:13

00:00:30  - Intro / Banter

00:05:37  - Avengers: Endgame (Non-Spoiler)

00:30:17  - Avengers: Endgame (SPOILERS)

02:02:00  - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_372.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 3:23pm CST

For the next black-and-white non-fiction graphic novel of Four-Color Flashback 2k19, Paul and Arlo head East to discuss Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis. Published between 2000-04, Persepolis tells Satrapi’s autobiographical story of growing up during the Iranian Revolution and coming of age in a totalitarian society. The boys discuss Satrapi’s simplistic, cartoony artwork and its heavy use of black ink; why comics is the perfect medium to make this story a universal one; how Satrapi challenges our Western notions of Iranian culture; and why Paul had a tough time connecting to the book.

Next: whatever it takes. Avengers: Endgame.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 01:21:47

00:00:30 - Intro / Banter

00:01:33 - Persepolis

01:17:20 - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_371.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 3:37pm CST

It’s 11:11, better grab your gardening shears and press play on this week’s Gobbledygeek, a discussion of writer-director Jordan Peele’s Us. This is a tricky one; it’s got more layers than a cake. Paul and Arlo discuss Peele’s extensive use of duality and mirroring, the awards categories they’re going to have to invent to honor Lupita Nyong’o’s tremendous performance, the film’s transitions between humor and horror, and what it all means.

Next: back to the void.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 01:59:37

00:00:30 - Intro / Banter

00:02:45 - Us (Non-Spoiler)

00:37:40 - Us (SPOILERS)

01:58:06 - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_370.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:11pm CST

Marks on paper, sheets of snow, first loves crowned with halos. These are some of the images that make up Craig Thompson’s 2003 illustrated novel Blankets, a modern classic if ever there was one. Paul and Arlo continue this year’s “nondenominational” Four-Color Flashback with a discussion of Thompson’s masterpiece, an autobiographical story of childhood, sexuality, first love, and the author’s struggle with faith. The boys discuss Thompson’s brave and uncomfortable truth, their experiences (or lack thereof) with organized religion, Craig’s idolatry of his beloved Raina, and Thompson’s stunning artwork. Plus, scraps of Marvel news that have no business being in this episode but which broke after we recorded the Captain Marvel one. Sorry. We’re professionals.

Next: after a week off, the boys are back and who knows what they’ll be talking about?

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 02:06:55

00:00:30 - Intro / Banter

00:17:41 - Blankets

02:01:23 - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_369.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 4:33pm CST

It only took ‘em 21 movies, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe has finally debuted a solo female superhero with Captain Marvel. Acclaimed indie filmmakers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck take to the stars for the story of Carol Danvers, ace pilot turned intergalactic warrior. Drenched in ‘90s nostalgia, the film finds buddy comedy with the spirited Brie Larson/Samuel L. Jackson dynamic; it finds Memento-lite storytelling gymnastics with Carol's fractured memories. Paul and Arlo debate this approach's effectiveness; think back to whether or not they loved the ‘90s; consider what the film's cosmic shenanigans mean for the future of the MCU; and attempt (with varying degrees of success) to check their privilege while analyzing a tale of female empowerment.

Next: the boys crash land back on Earth for another Four-Color Flashback installment, this one discussing Craig Thompson's modern classic Blankets.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 01:51:55

00:00:30 - Intro / Yet another “we recognize our privilege” CYA disclaimer

00:02:38 - Captain Marvel (Non-Spoiler)

00:31:04 - Captain Marvel (SPOILERS)

01:49:36 - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_368.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:21pm CST

In which our daring duo defies devilish dentists. In all sincerity, here’s a big fat content warning: if, like Paul and Arlo, you are one of the 5-15% of adults with dentophobia, we talk about the dentist. A whole bunch. From childhood orthodontic nightmares to phantasmagoric periodontics of the present day, the boys discuss in (perhaps excruciating) detail their toothy troubles. Plus, if that doesn’t turn you off of the whole damn enterprise, there’s also talk of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World in IMAX, Netflix’s take on The Umbrella Academy, and a belated discussion of seasons 2 and 3 of AMC’s Preacher adaptation.

Next: Higher. Further. Faster. Captain Marvel.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 01:22:12

00:02:23 - More HTTYD (on IMAX this time)

00:10:00 - Dentophobia (CONTENT WARNING!)

00:45:24 - Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy

00:56:00 - Arlo finally watched AMC’s Preacher

01:15:36 - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_367.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:24pm CST

Paul and Arlo return to the land of Berk one last time for a discussion of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Joining them is their fellow dragon rider (and The Deli Counter of Justice co-editor) Eric Sipple. The gang discusses their journey through the years with Hiccup and Toothless, whether or not the supporting cast weighs the series down, writer-director Dean DeBlois’ original intentions for the villain, and their differing interpretations of the conclusion.

Next: enter the void.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 02:28:10

00:00:37 - Intro / Disclaimer (Paul is emotional and broken and in therapy ABOUT these films!)

00:08:26 - Main Topic (Non-Spoiler)

00:42:23 - SPOILERS

02:23:17 - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_366.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:26pm CST

In honor of Black History Month, Paul and Arlo are discussing John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell’s March for their second Four-Color Flashback of 2019. This three-volume set, published from 2013-16, follows Rep. Lewis from his days raising (and baptizing) chickens in Pike County, Alabama, to standing side-by-side with leading figures of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. The boys discuss how their whiteness both helps and hinders the discussion, their admiration for Lewis’ adherence to the tenets of nonviolent resistance, why comics are uniquely suited to convey a story of such historical import, and Nate Powell’s genius use of lettering.

Next: who knows! Join us for the ride. If you dare.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 01:43:01

00:00:34 - Intro / Disclaimer (We’re white.)

00:06:45 - Main Topic

01:38:37 - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_365.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:52pm CST

This week finds Paul and Arlo being a coupla ding-dong daddies as another musical Geek Challenge is summoned from a mail-order spellbook. First, Paul challenges Arlo to Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Robert Stevenson’s 1971 follow-up to Mary Poppins. Then, Arlo forces Paul to endure Rob Marshall’s 2002 Best Picture winner Chicago. Witchcraft and murder...this one’s got it all. The boys discuss Bedknobs and Broomsticks’ unlikely connection to The Island of Dr. Moreau, whether or not Chicago deserves its reputation as one of the weakest Best Picture champs, and why Paul refuses to pay Rent.

Next: after a week off, we’re back for our second Four-Color Flashback of 2019, discussing March by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 01:40:46

00:01:56 - Banter (But we swore we wouldn’t do this anymore!)

00:11:51 - Bedknobs and Broomsticks

00:51:55 - Chicago

01:36:10 - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_364.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:09pm CST

For Four-Color Flashback 2019, Paul and Arlo are venturing beyond the realm of superheroes and into the wide world of comics many Americans never visit. To first appreciate comics, though, it’s important to understand their capabilities. There’s nowhere better to turn than Scott McCloud’s seminal 1993 tome Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. It’s an academic, analytical study of the comics form--but it’s also a friendly, entertaining, flat-out fun read. Paul and Arlo discuss why everyone should read Understanding Comics, how it influenced the way they read comics, the concept of closure, and the digital revolution.

Next: witchcraft, murder, and all that jazz in a musical Geek Challenge. Arlo must watch Disney’s 1971 Angela Lansbury vehicle Bedknobs and Broomsticks, while Paul is tasked with 2002’s Renee Zellweger showcase Chicago.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 01:18:46

00:00:46 - The history (and future) of FCF

00:05:20 - Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art

01:14:51 - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_363.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:22pm CST

We’re back, babies! Gobbledygeek returns for its 10th season--though not its 10th anniversary, get your math right--with our hosts doing the bare minimum to keep this thing afloat. The centerpiece is an anxiety-fueled story about chicken wings, for gods’ sakes. Meanwhile, Paul went to Disney World again and lived to tell the tale. Arlo has thoughts on Jason Reitman directing the next Ghostbusters film. Beards are soothed. Y’know, the usual. Plus, Paul has seen Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse once for each season of the show!

Next: Four-Color Flashback 2019 gets off to an early start, as our year of non-superhero fare kicks off with Scott McCloud’s non-fiction classic Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Run Time: 01:12:26

00:01:55 - New year, new show

00:04:30 - Paul’s Walt Disney World trip

00:19:18 - Anxiety

00:39:00 - Beard Spa / Scalp Camp

00:44:17 - Jason Reitman’s Ghostbusters

00:57:15 - More about Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

01:02:56 - New Deliverse project?

01:09:08 - Outro / Next

Direct download: Episode_362.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:01pm CST



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