Episode 1652 Talkback - Comic Talk
Adam_Murdough
Posts: 506
Pop open the tape decks on your iPods and slip in this Awesome Mix of fun topics! Included in the playlist for this episode are fond reflections on the fun and frolics found on Free Comic Book Day 2017; thoughts on the current run of Blue Beetle from Shane and Wonder Woman: Earth One from Murd; and, taking up the entirety of Side B, our SPOILER-saturated salute to Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2! Plus bonus tracks! (1:35:55)
Listen here.
Listen here.
Comments
Still though, looking forward to hearing what everyone thought!
I have a few thoughts to add to the Guardians/comic book movies discussion:
1. Guardians Vol. 2: Like Murd, I was also a bit puzzled over Ego classifying himself as a "Celestial". However, after thinking about it and looking at it another way, perhaps Ego (like all megalomaniacs) sees himself as something more than he actually is. Assuming Ego is familiar with the various powers and principalities across the cosmos, it's not a great leap to imagine this deranged sentient planet classifying himself as part of that highest stratum of the cosmic food chain. After all, why would we expect anything less than invincible and infinite self-regard from an entity named "Ego"? Yeah, I still wish they hadn't used the term "Celestial", but in an odd way, the wildly misapplied term adds a bit more menace and madness to this planetary god-wannabe.
2. Regarding the continuing slow-motion crash of the WB/DC movie plans, I mostly agree with Murd's assessment that the DC movies have been compromised by the legions of faceless WB suits who have no understanding of their iconic superhero characters. However, I also think that Geoff Johns, aka "President and Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment" needs to share some of the blame as well. He's been in the position long enough for us to start wondering what role he's played in the many, many terrible creative decisions, setbacks,and general chaos over the past several years. We all remember when the up-and-coming Johns was helming large DC events like "Infinite Crisis" and the soft-spoken writer's weird penchant for scenes of sudden violence (i.e. Superboy carving a bloody swath through the then-Teen Titans, beating the Superman of Earth-2 to death, etc), and I see that same appetite for dark, dreary themes in the movies he's shepherding through the creative process. Weirdly, nobody ever seems to talk about (or talk directly to Johns about) this, or determine what his exact role is in setting the tone for the DC cinematic universe. Does he control Zack Snyder, or does Snyder control him? Does Johns simply not understand that Marvel is eating DC/WB's lunch, or doesn't he care? Where is the passion or, at the very least, the feeling of responsibility that he should feel toward fans and the characters themselves? Why isn't Johns a more visible personality like Marvel's Kevin Feige, making statements, holding press conferences, giving interviews, and generally building confidence and coherence in his plans? Perhaps the dying embers of "comics journalism" can stop moaning about the impending extinction of comics journalism and do some actual comics journalism about Johns and his actual role and responsibilities at DC Entertainment.
Wow...sorry to go on and on. Thanks again for a great "comic talk" episode, guys. My vote is to do two Comic Talks each month and dump the "Previews" episodes. Those are by far the toughest episodes to get all the way through...and I sense that you guys might feel the same way on your end.
1. Wild Pig FCBD Sale: It times like these when I wished I lived anywhere near the CGS gang! ...But Pants only won one raffle? That's a bit bizarre...
2. Loved Guardians Vol. 2, but I don't know exactly where I'd rank it. Probably just behind the first one. I enjoyed it almost as much as the first one, but thought they overreached with some of the humor at points. Don't get me wrong, I was laughing out loud at various times during the movie, but sometimes they took the joking too far. Anyway, I thought the movie was a visual feast and combined with the acting and the soundtrack (not as good as the first mix tape, but pretty good) was fantastic. Oh, Murd committed about Mantis that she didn't really show off her physical skills. I think there was one scene where 3 or 4 of them were trying to escape Ego and they ended up having to negotiate a landing on the planet's surface. I think Starlord landed first, then Gamora, and Mantis followed her in a landing that to me seemed very matter-of-fact, like she had been trained at some point, so I wouldn't underestimate her physical prowess just yet. I thought the Stan Lee cameo(s) were going a bit far, but what can you do? Oh, and as Chris mentioned, the end credits were so creative, VERY much like the inside sleeve of a double album (Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road for example). I also agree that yeah, there probably won't be a massive amount of brutal bloodshed shown in the future fight against Thanos. We'll probably get something like what was in Tony's daydream sequence in Avengers 2 or as someone above said just quick shots of people getting killed as in Rogue One.
2. The DC movies: I don't have much to add here except that I hope they'll get better.
3. Comic talk vs. Previews: "dump the Previews episode?" Well, I hope that doesn't happen, but perhaps it could become more focused on perhaps what each CGSer is actually getting and not just recommendations. Well, actually I don't have a problem with the way it's done now (as you DO often say "I'm getting this or that"...
4. That "memory retention" talk was quite funny. I do often wonder how Murd is able to retain all of that information. Is it just using it or re-learning or reciting or just challenging himself to remember? Anyway, as Shane said, people remember what they want to remember. Pants does it too, only it's with Letterman, the Monkees, and various other TV shows.
As long as were voting make my vote a "no". I enjoy the Previews episodes.
1) Previews
2) Uncle Sal
3) Comic Talk
4) World of Toys
5) Spotlight
6) C2E2 tapes
7) Off the Rack
8) any episode featuring Petey
9) Murd's Time Bubble
...and I will happily continue to skip the even-numbered selections above.
;)
As for GotG2, I didn't like it as much as you guys did, but hey, I'm just glad we live in an era where major film/TV studios are trying to make kickass comic book content.
I was also glad to see Eternity mentioned, starry eyes and all. Would have been fun to see the form on full display, but I don't think their use of Eternity was unintentional. Expect that to factor in in the future.
And for the love of Pete (Rios), do whatever type of shows you guys want, guys and gal (Hey Dani). It's your show, we are but listeners. Except for when one of us guests, then we're a guest. But otherwise we're listeners. ;)
Don't worry fellow CGS fans...it's just one guy's opinion. But I'm stickin' to it.
FWIW, I enjoy the Previews episodes for many of the reasons listed above. There are some CGS episodes I skip, but somebody out there enjoys that type of episode. So listen to what you enjoy, and skip the rest. Life's too short.
Here you go! Pick away! :smile: This could make a nice thread.
Top 5 Underappreciated Creators
Top 5 Partnerships
Top 5 Star Wars Movie Moments
Top 5 Annuals
Top 5: Wild Card Round!
Top 5 Comics Based on Licensed Properties
Top 5 JSA Members
Top 5 Christmas Gifts We Got As Kids
Top 5 Marvel Series
Top 5 Animals in Comics
Top 5 Justice Leaguers
Top 5 Avengers
Top 5 Costumes
Top 5 Original Graphic Novels
Top 5 Dream Team-ups or Versus
Top 5 Single Issue Stories
Top 5 Christmas TV Specials
Top 5 X-Men Dream Team Members
Top 5 DC Series
Top 5 Rivals
Top 5 Origins
Top 5 & Athena Voltaire with Steve Bryant
Top Five Patriotic Characters
Top 5 Comics for New Readers
Top 5 Christmas Comic Stories
Top 5 Comic TV Series We Want To See
Top 5 Weapons
Top 5 Cliffhangers
Top 5 Comic Couples
Top 5 Maxi-Series
Top 5 Final Issues
Top 5 Writers and Artists
Top 5 Spider-man Stories
Looking ahead to 2007
Top 5 Magical Characters
Top 5 Favorite Storylines
Top 5 Artists Worthy of Wider Recognition
Top 5 Cover Artists
Top 5 Vehicles
Top 5 Female Heroes
Top 5 Headquarters
Top 5 First Issues
Top 5 Villains
Top 5 Favorite Artists and Writers
Top 5 Comic Runs
Top 5 Miniseries
Top 5 Robots
Top 5 LAMEST comic book vehicles
Top 5 Character Deaths
Top 5 Comic Book Covers
Top 5 Costume Upgrades
Top 5 Best Reboots
Top 5 Worst Reboots
Top 5 Superman Family transformations
Top 5 Underrated Comics
Top 5 Overrated Comics
Top 5 Kid Heroes
Top 5 Cosmic Characters
Top 5 Best Supporting Characters
Top 5 Worst Supporting Characters
Top 5 Movie Monsters
Top 5 Childhood Toys
Top 5 Aliens
Top 5 Lame Villains
Top 5 Comic Book Adaptations (movies, TV, radio, novelization, etc)
Top 5 Super Powers
Top 5 Animated series
Top 5 Comic Book Events (best or worst)
Top 5 Spaceships
Top 5 Fictional Characters (from any genre)
Top 5 Best/Worst Comic Industry Decisions/Trends
Chino
Flat Front
Clam Digger
Breeches
Jodhpurs