Play Comics

Lace up your cleats and dust off your NES cartridges because this week’s Play Comics is kicking off with a real goal-scorer! We’re diving headfirst into the pixelated pitch of Tecmo Cup Soccer Game, the NES classic that’s more RPG than FIFA. Join us as we explore this 8-bit reimagining of the beloved Captain Tsubasa manga, where special moves are more powerful than Pelé’s right foot and every match is a turn-based tactical showdown. And who’s that coming onto the pitch? Oh sweet we’re joined by the incomparable Luke Herr from D’OhMance Dawn, who’s here to add some romantic flair to our soccer shenanigans. Will Luke score a hat-trick of puns? Can our host avoid getting a red card for excessive enthusiasm? And just how many soccer metaphors can we cram into one episode? Tune in to find out! So grab your controller, warm up those thumbs, and get ready to shout “GOOOOOAAAAAL!” at your podcast app. It’s time to see if Tecmo Cup Soccer Game lives up to its manga roots or if it’s just playing offside with our nostalgia. Let’s kick off this episode! Learn such things as: What if Nintendo World Cup was a manga? What king of parents let their child go halfway around the world with someone they just met? How do you make a sports game with basically no sports gameplay? And so much more! You can find Luke over on D’OhMance Dawn, Exiled, Multiversal Q, and RPG Pals Club. Or catch him on Twitter @koltreg or his Patreon, found under Luke Herr. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook. A big thanks to Adventures in Erylia and The Last Comic Shop for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who can dribble the ball on their heads very well and can prove it with minimal editing. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Cowabunga dudes! Grab your nunchucks and order a pizza because we’re diving shell-first into the radical world of the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video game! This gnarly beat ’em up brought the heroes in a half-shell to GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PS2, and Xbox faster than you can say “Turtle Power!” Join us as we team up with Isaac Fisher from Definitive Film to dissect this game like Donatello dissects a circuit board. Isaac’s currently knee-deep in mutagen, working on a bodacious documentary called TMNT: Evolution, Mutation, & Reboot chronicling 40 years of TMNT history with the rest of the team at Definitive Film. So strap in, because this episode is gonna be more action-packed than a showdown with the Shredder in a pizza parlor! Learn such things as: What can reboots do to breath new life into a franchise? How do Hollywood politics effect smaller projects? How do you balance playing time on a team like this? And so much more! You can find Definitive Film on Twitter @definitive_film, Instagram @definitivefilm, or on Facebook @definitivefilm if you’re looking for a social media connection. Of course there’s also the main Definitive Film website and the Kickstarter campaign for TMNT: Evolution, Mutation, & Reboot. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook. A big thanks to Capes on the Couch and Not If I Reboot You First for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who can’t pick a favorite turtle, but if pressed would probably say Franklin. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Welcome to another episode of Play Comics, where we dive into the pixelated world of superheroes and their digital escapades! This week, we’re strapping on our capes and booting up our Game Boy Advances to tackle Justice League: Injustice for All. Based on the beloved Justice League Unlimited cartoon, this game lets you step into the boots of your favorite heroes, even if the gameplay sometimes feels like it’s stuck in the Phantom Zone. Joining us for this heroic journey is the illustrious AJ Malacarne from Gamma Head Press. Known for their penchant for the absurd and psychedelic storytelling, AJ brings a unique perspective to our discussion. Will they find the game as thrilling as a battle with Darkseid, or as perplexing as The Riddler’s latest scheme? Tune in to find out! So grab your Batarang, call in your sidekicks, and prepare for a supercharged episode that promises more twists and turns than a Luthor-led plot. Let’s see if Injustice for All can truly do justice to the Justice League! Learn such things as: How can you create a show where off screen characters are treated as if they actually exist all the time? How does the platform a game is going on impact the development and design of that game? Which characters really need to show up in new Justice League experiences? And so much more! You can find AJ on Twitter @AJMalacarne, BlueSky @ajmalacarne, Instagram @aj_malacarne, Threads @aj_malacarne, and of course their newsletter Gamma Head Press. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook. A big thanks to Chatsunami and Tales from the Backlog for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who might actually be multiple heroes in a trench coat. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Welcome, true believers, to another thrilling episode of Play Comics! Today, we’re swinging into action with a look at the pixelated prowess of two of Marvel’s mightiest heroes in The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America in Dr. Doom’s Revenge! This digital dalliance with danger was unleashed upon unsuspecting home computers everywhere back in 1989, proving that even Earth’s mightiest heroes couldn’t escape the allure of floppy disks and joysticks. Joining us on this retro romp is none other than Andy Larson, one of the amazing hosts of The Last Comic Shop podcast. Together we’ll untangle this web of 8-bit nostalgia faster than you can say “Excelsior!” So grab your shield, shoot some web fluid, and prepare for a Marvel-ous adventure that’s more fun than a barrel of radioactive monkeys! Will our heroes triumph over the diabolical Dr. Doom, or will they fall victim to the dreaded loading screen? Tune in to find out! Learn such things as: Does it really matter who the villain traditionally goes against? Does Dr. Doom really want to take over? Or does he just want to play with his friends? Does anyone think it’s weird that we got an actual US president in here? And so much more! You can Andy on Twitter @lastcomicshop, Instagram @lastcomicshop, YouTube @lastcomicshop, his comic blog on Tumbler, and of course over on The Last Comic Shop Podcast. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook. A big thanks to Alcove and Super Switch Club for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who got one look at this game and fainted. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Holy podcast, Batman! This week on Play Comics we’re diving into the shadowy world of Gotham with a game that’s as elusive as the Riddler’s puzzles and as intense as a Batmobile chase. Get ready to explore Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu, a game that swooped onto the PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, and Game Boy Advance bringing with it a whirlwind of caped crusading action with an original story set in the legendary world of Batman: The Animated Series. Joining us once again is the Dark Knight of comic book gaming knowledge, Blair Farrell from Comic Book Video Games. Blair’s back in the Batcave to help us unravel the mysteries of this unique title and its connections to the animated world of Gotham’s finest. Is Sin Tzu the villain we never knew we needed, or just another face in the rogues’ gallery? Tune in to find out and maybe learn a Bat-fact or two along the way! So grab your utility belt and prepare for a night in Gotham like no other. Whether you’re a seasoned Bat-fan or just here for the gadgets and gizmos, this episode promises to be a bat-tastic adventure you won’t want to miss! Learn such things as: What legendary creator got pulled in to create Sin Tzu? How can they pull off a Batman: The Animated Series revival without Kevin Conroy? What weird things pop up when you can play a Batman game without having to be Batman? And so much more! You can find Blair on Twitter @Blarcade, Twitch @Blarcade, and his website Comic Book Video Games,where you can links to his books The Web of Spider-Man Games: The Amazing and the (Not So) Spectacular and The Avengers in Video Games: A Guide to Solo Adventures and Mighty Marvel Team-Ups, with Creator Interviews. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook. A big thanks to Quest for 5 and “Fun” and Games for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who are still waiting for that Bat Dog game to come out. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Welcome to another episode of Play Comics, where we shuffle the deck of video game adaptations and draw a card from the past! This week we’re diving into the world of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses, a game that takes the historical British War of the Roses and gives it a fantastical twist through the lens of the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga. Imagine Richard III and Henry Tudor not as mere historical figures, but as duelists with decks full of monsters and magic! Joining us for this epic clash of history and fantasy is the illustrious Michael Bivens from Quest for 5 and Alcove. Michael brings his unique perspective and a flair for the dramatic as we explore how this PlayStation 2 classic blends card battles with royal intrigue. Whether you’re a fan of history, card games, or just love a good mash-up, this episode is sure to entertain and enlighten. So grab your Millennium Puzzle and prepare for a duel of epic proportions! Will the Yorkists or the Lancastrians claim victory in this card-based battlefield? Tune in to find out, and maybe you’ll learn a trick or two to use in your next duel. Learn such things as: What happens when Chris jokingly asks if the obvious connection is really what’s going on here? How much gameplay can you get when you’re playing both sides of a war? Isn’t it nice when British people are fighting amongst themselves rather than colonizing the rest of the world? And so much more! You can find Michael on Alcove where he has his general creative outlet, Quest for 5 where his fiance and he take a fan look at the Disney trading card game Lorcana, or his personal website MS Bivens where you can find basically all things that trace back to him on the internet. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook. A big thanks to Too Young For This Trek and TroytlePower Presents: The Power Play-Throughs Podcast with TroytlePower for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who came storming in and demanded that I get new music. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Welcome back pixel pioneers and comic crusaders to another electrifying episode of Play Comics! This week we’re donning our high-tech armor and jetting off into the world of The Invincible Iron Man on the Game Boy Advance, a game that might just be the hidden gem in Tony Stark’s treasure trove of adventures. Joining us on this iron-clad journey is the one and only Zach Tonack, a first-time guest with insights sharper than Iron Man’s repulsor beams. Together we’ll dissect this pixelated powerhouse, exploring how it stacks up against its comic book origins and whether it truly captures the essence of everyone’s favorite billionaire genius playboy philanthropist. Prepare for a whirlwind of witty banter, nostalgic nods, and perhaps a few arc reactor puns as we dive deep into the mechanics, storylines, and sheer fun of The Invincible Iron Man. So grab your GameBoy Advance, polish up your armor, and get ready to blast off into an episode that’s as thrilling as a high-speed flight over Stark Tower! Suit up listeners because this episode is going to be a blast! Learn such things as: How Tony Stark has fought in all of these different wars. Why was an Iron Man game even made pre MCU? Are comic cut scenes the best thing ever? And so much more! You can find Zach on Twitter @ztonack, BlueSky @ztonack, megageekscanbecool on Tumbler, and Anorak2201 on FanFiction.Net and Archive Of Our Own. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Condrey #6 (available as a physical and digital book) brought to us by Legacy Comix, and The Last Comic Shop Podcast for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who might have gotten eaten by the void. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Holy glitchy gameplay, Batman! In this electrifying episode of Play Comics, we’re diving deep into the murky waters of Batman: Dark Tomorrow, the Gamecube and Xbox game that had fans scratching their heads and controllers flying across the room. Based on the contemporary Batman comics of its time, this game had all the makings of a classic—dark, brooding atmosphere, a complex storyline, and our favorite caped crusader. But did it live up to the hype, or did it fall into the depths of Gotham’s sewers? Joining us on this bat-tastic journey is none other than Robert Fitton from the Storymoders podcast. Robert brings his storytelling expertise to help us unravel the tangled web of this game’s narrative and mechanics. Get ready for a rollercoaster of laughs, insights, and maybe a few bat-signals of distress as we explore what went right and oh-so-wrong with Batman: Dark Tomorrow. Buckle up, Bat-fans—this is one episode you won’t want to miss! Learn such things as: Is Batman ever going to kill the Joker? When will people understand that growing the scope of a game late in the development process is a bad idea? Did Chris create a monkey’s paw situation by wishing for games with original story lines so often? And so much more! You can find the guest on Twitch @Mr_Hox182, Twitter @mr_hox, and the Storymoders podcast. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. Or tell a friend and get them to come on the show If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to D’ohMance Dawn and Condrey Vol 1 (brought to us by Legacy Comix) for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who doesn’t exist on the internet anymore and I’m not sure why I’m leaving the link here. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Welcome back to another thrilling episode of Play Comics! This week, we’re diving headfirst into the time-warping, demon-slaying world of InuYasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale, the PlayStation classic that brought the beloved manga and anime series to the gaming console. Get ready for a journey through feudal Japan, where sacred jewels and half-demons reign supreme. But hold onto your sacred arrows, because we’ve got a special treat for you! Joining us today is the multi-talented Josh Wells, the creative force behind Character Wells and part of the new audio drama series set in the DC universe, The Mortalverse. Josh brings his unique perspective and boundless enthusiasm to our discussion, making this an episode you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re a die-hard InuYasha fan or a newcomer to the series, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and a touch of nostalgia. So grab your Tessaiga, tune in, and join us on this feudal fairy tale adventure! Learn such things as: What happens when Lassie isn’t there to tell anyone that you fell down a well? Why shouldn’t you shoot the demon bird from 200 yards away that just stole your jewel? Do all dogs really go to heaven? And so much more! You can find Josh on Twitter @characterwells, Instagram @characterwells, a new project that he’s a part of called The Mortalverse, and of course his website Character Wells. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Condrey Vol 1 (brought to us by Legacy Comix) and Crossplay Conversations for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who fell down a well and never came out. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Attention Earthlings and Saiyans alike! Power up your podcasting devices to over 9000 because it’s time for another electrifying episode of Play Comics! Today we’re diving headfirst into the pixelated world of Dragon Ball Z Legendary Super Warriors on the Game Boy Color. Prepare for a journey through time space and nostalgic handheld gaming that’ll make your hair stand on end (and possibly turn golden). Joining us on this epic quest is none other than our legendary recurring guest Karrington Martin from K&K Indie Gaming Corner. He’s back faster than you can say “Instant Transmission” ready to unleash his wealth of knowledge like a perfectly timed Spirit Bomb. So grab your senzu beans, polish your dragon balls, and get ready to explore a game that squeezed the entire DBZ saga into a tiny cartridge. It’s time to go beyond the manga pages and into the realm of pocket-sized martial arts mayhem. Let’s see if this game is truly legendary or if it’ll leave us wishing for the dragon to grant us a better adaptation! Learn such things as: Is Dragon Ball the most important anime/manga franchise in the history of anime/manga that we got in North America? How many different versions of the same character do you need in a game? Did the smaller number of available things in the past help to give us a more centralized zeitgeist, and if so is that a better situation than the overwhelming number of choices that we have today? And so much more! You can find Karrington at K&K Indie Gaming podcast website. You can also find him on Twitter @Desertfury90. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to the Glitterjaw Queer Podcast Collective and Cast A Role for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who is still waiting for his saiyan powers to kick in. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Ready your decks and shuffle those cards, because this episode of Play Comics is about to take you on a wild ride through the pixelated world of Yu-Gi-Oh! Join us as we dive deep into the Game Boy Advance classics Eternal Duelist Soul and The Sacred Cards. These games are based on the legendary manga that taught us all how to dramatically shout “It’s time to duel!” without any hint of irony. This week, we’re not just drawing cards—we’re drawing in the expertise of the one and only David Arnold! You might know him from his insightful and hilarious takes on Are You My Mother? and Gimmicks. David’s here to help us navigate the labyrinth of duels, traps, and monster summons, all while keeping our life points intact. Expect a whirlwind of witty banter, nostalgic nods, and perhaps a few too many references to the heart of the cards. Whether you’re a seasoned duelist or just here for the laughs, this episode promises to be a critical hit. So, grab your Duel Disk, tune in, and let’s see if we can summon some podcast magic! Name the guest, where they’re from, what we’re looking at, and maybe another vague statement Learn such things as: Do you even need to be a player from the comics? Is the concept of playing a game inside a game too meta for the small children? Just what did we miss out on when watching the American versions of anime when we were younger? And so much more! You can find the guest on Twitter @dmuma22 and Instragram @dmuma. If you want to catch other podcast adventures from David then you should check out Are You My Mother?, Gimmicks, or the newly launched Fear Coded. While you’re at it check out the other shows over on Glitterjaw as well. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Shonen Flop and Last Sons of Krypton for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who refuses to play card games because of a childhood incident involving Charizard and some grape jelly. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Buckle up, comic crusaders and podcast pals! It’s time to rev your engines and polish your lances for an episode that’s about to joust its way into your hearts faster than you can say “SEISMIC IRONCLASH ROULETTE!” That’s right, we’re diving headfirst into the wild world of S.I.R., the new comic series from BOOM! Studios that’s part Fight Club, part ’90s shojo anime, and all motorcycle mayhem! Joining us in the passenger seat of this high-octane adventure is none other than the maestro of motorcycle madness herself, Fell Hound! This Ringo Award-nominated cartoonist is here to spill the beans on her latest creation, a tale of love, loss, and leather jackets that’ll have you questioning everything you thought you knew about extracurricular activities. So grab your helmet, check your rear-view mirror for any lovestruck jousters, and get ready to burn rubber through the underground world of S.I.R. Will our host survive this collision of comics and motorcycles? Will Fell Hound reveal the secret to drawing the perfect bike skid mark? There’s only one way to find out, folks! Tune in for an episode that’s guaranteed to leave you revved up and ready for more! Also, seriously, head over to your local comic shop and get this one showing up in your pulls. You'll thank us later. Learn such things as: Is there anything better than love and motorcycles? How long can Fell go without making us cry? Do boarding schools even know what happens when class is over for the day? And so much more! The best place to find Fell Hound is on Linktree because the internet is changing every day and nobody knows what services will be usable in the future. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who only rides motorcycles that have 4 wheels. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Welcome back, wrestling aficionados and gaming geeks, to another electrifying episode of Play Comics! This week, we’re diving headfirst into the ring with Ultimate MUSCLE: Legends vs New Generation on the GameCube—a game that packs more punches than a heavyweight championship bout and more laughs than a Kid Muscle training session. We’re not tackling this muscle-bound madness alone. Joining us is none other than Doug Wood —an all-around comic connoisseur and arguably one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet on the internet. Seriously, if kindness were a wrestling move, Doug would be the undisputed champion. In this episode we’ll explore how this game, based on the Ultimate Muscle anime (itself a continuation of the legendary Kinnikuman manga), brings the larger-than-life Choujins to your living room. Expect a whirlwind of cell-shaded animation, over-the-top wrestling moves, and a storyline that pits the old guard against the new generation in a battle for the ages. So, lace up your boots, don your spandex, and get ready to rumble as we body slam our way through the quirks and charms of Ultimate MUSCLE: Legends vs New Generation. And remember, in the immortal words of Kid Muscle: “There’s a big thing called survival!” Learn such things as: How did that after school anime block warp our ideas of what anime should be? Is it possible for a story to both matter and not matter even one single bit? How do our childhood experiences influence the tastes that we have as we pretend to be a grown up in this cruel world? And so much more! You can find Doug on Twitter @DougaWood1 and all things flow from there. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Nerds Talking and Talkin’ Comix for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who just wants one of those cool luchador masks.Read transcript

Welcome back, Super-fans and comic connoisseurs, to another electrifying episode of Play Comics! This week, we’re diving headfirst into the pixelated world of Superman: Shadow of Apokolips, the game that lets you don the cape and tights of the Last Son of Krypton himself. Released on the GameCube and PS2, this gem is based on the iconic Superman: The Animated Series, and trust us it’s more fun than a barrel of Kryptonite! Joining us in the Fortress of Solitude is none other than Anthony Sytko from the podcast Capes on the Couch. Anthony’s here to help us dissect this game faster than a speeding bullet and to share his super-insights on what makes this title soar—or crash-land like a Kryptonian spaceship. So grab your capes, tighten your spandex, and get ready for a supercharged episode that’s sure to leave you feeling more powerful than a locomotive. Whether you’re a fan of the animated series, a gaming guru, or just here for the witty banter, this episode has something for everyone. Up, up, and away! Learn such things as: How does a cartoon that’s so good keep getting games that are so bad? Eventually we’re going to get a Superman game that’s a good game but still feels fully like Superman? How did Anthony beat Doc Issues to getting to talk about this game? And so much more! You can find Anthony @CapesOnTheCouch on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and of course the Capes on the Couch website. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Spawnography as well as the Transphoria campaign on Kickstarter for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who thinks that Superman ripped off Homelander.Read transcript

Alright comic connoisseurs, brace yourselves for an episode that’s going to knock your socks off and leave you begging for more! Today, we’re diving headfirst into the world of Tooth and Nail Manga Edition, a tantalizing tale that’s sure to sink its claws into your imagination. But wait, there’s more! We’ve got the one and only Cory Byrd from Byrd’s Eye View Comics joining us to spill the beans on this epic Kickstarter campaign. Get ready to be regaled with tales of action, horror, and adventure that’ll make your heart race and your palms sweat. Whether you’re a die-hard manga fan or just looking for your next comic book fix, this episode is a must-listen. So grab your favorite snacks, settle in, and prepare to be transported to a realm where the lines between reality and fiction blur into one glorious, inky masterpiece. Learn such things as: When can you have a chance to redo some of your earlier work? Is there ever a bad time to include your pets? How can you take your inspirations and make the work your own? And so much more! You can find Cory Instagram @Byrdseyeviewofficial, Facebook, and of course the Birds Eye View Comics website and the Kickstarter campaign for Tooth and Nail Manga Edition. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who was already afraid of cats and this didn’t help at all.Read transcript

Welcome, fellow gamers and comic book aficionados, to another electrifying episode of Play Comics! This week, we’re diving headfirst into the fiery pits of Hell with Spawn in the Demon’s Hand, the 3D fighting game that brought Todd McFarlane’s iconic antihero to the Sega Dreamcast. Prepare for a wild ride as we explore the game’s demonic delights, from its hellish bosses to its chaotic Battle Royale mode. Joining us on this infernal journey are none other than Pierce Lydon and George Marston from the podcast Spawnography. These two Spawn scholars will help us unravel the twisted tale of Al Simmons, the military operative turned hellspawn, and his quest for vengeance and redemption. Expect plenty of laughs, deep dives into Spawn lore, and maybe even a few hellish puns along the way. So grab your chains, summon your necroplasmic powers, and get ready to battle through the underworld with us. It’s time to see if “Spawn in the Demon’s Hand” is a heavenly hit or a devilish dud! Learn such things as: Can Spawn ever really die? Do you need a plot to have a good game? Who is this? Why are they? And so much more! You can find Spawnography on Twitter, BlueSky, and Instagram, and of course those Apple Podcast, YouTube, and Spotify places. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to the Transphoria campaign on Kickstarter, as well as “Fun” and Games for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who unlocked all of the characters because I said he couldn’t do it.Read transcript

Welcome back, comic crusaders, to another electrifying episode of Play Comics! This week we’re diving headfirst into the pixelated pages of the web comic Verse, which has made the leap from the digital realm to the tangible world thanks to the fine folks at Vault Comics. Joining us on this epic quest is none other than the mastermind behind Verse, the illustrious Sam Beck! Prepare yourselves for a whirlwind adventure as we explore the magical universe of Verse, where every panel is a portal to a new dimension and every character has a story that will tug at your heartstrings (or at least make you chuckle). In this episode we’ll uncover the secrets behind Sam’s creative process, the challenges of transforming a web comic into a physical book, and the delightful surprises that await fans in the printed edition. Whether you’re a long-time follower of Verse or a curious newcomer, this episode promises to be a rollercoaster of wit, wisdom, and whimsical wonder. So, grab your favorite comic, settle into your comfiest chair, and get ready to embark on a journey from pixels to paper with the one and only Sam Beck. Trust us, you won’t want to miss a single frame of this fantastic tale! Learn such things as: Do you even need experience before you jump right into doing the thing? How much writer vs artist fighting is there when those are the same person? What would And so much more! You can find Sam on Twitter @sambeckdraws, Instagram @sambeckdraws, and probably all the other social media things as well. And of course, you can find Verse on the Verse comic website. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who can’t carry a tune in a wheelbarrow.Read transcript

Welcome to another thrilling episode of Play Comics, where we dive into the pixelated past and unearth the hidden gems (and occasional duds) of comic book video games! This week, we’re strapping on our stone fists and stepping into the bizarre world of Hellboy: Asylum Seeker—a game that’s as elusive as a chupacabra at a cryptozoology convention. Join us as we navigate the murky waters of this PS1 survival horror oddity, a game that somehow manages to make Hellboy—a big, red, demon with a penchant for smashing things—feel like a lost tourist in a haunted house. With its fixed camera angles, tank controls, and combat that’s slower than a snail on a Sunday stroll, Hellboy: Asylum Seeker is a curious relic from the year 2000 that has left fans divided. Is it a forgotten masterpiece or the worst PS1 game ever made? We’ll let you decide! But we’re not braving this asylum alone. We’ve got a special guest, Andrew Young from the podcast Behold!, to help us dissect this digital disasterpiece. Andrew brings his encyclopedic knowledge of all things Hellboy and a sense of humor sharper than Hellboy’s horns (pre-filed, of course). So, grab your revolver (it might not help much), hold down that attack button, and join us for a hilarious and insightful look at Hellboy: Asylum Seeker. Trust us, this is one episode you won’t want to miss—unless you’re one of those monsters who doesn’t care about getting shot. Learn such things as: Does it matter if the game is based on anything? Shouldn’t we get to punch more Nazis? Why you should be more careful with your scientific endeavors And so much more! You can find Andrew by looking at the Behold! account on Twitter or of course the Behold! website. You should especially check out the episode looking at the 2004 Hellboy film because it’s Hellboy, and the episode looking at Fan4stick because it has me in it. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Valor Verse Special from Dauntless Stories as well as Chatsunami for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who thinks that I’m a Hell demon.Read transcript

Welcome back, fellow mecha maniacs, to another electrifying episode of Play Comics! This week, we’re strapping into our mobile suits and diving headfirst into the pixelated battlefield of Gundam Wing: Endless Duel on the Super Famicom. Prepare for a high-octane journey through the cosmos as we dissect this classic fighting game based on the legendary Mobile Suit Gundam franchise. But wait, there’s more! We’re thrilled to announce the return of our dynamic duo of guests, the incomparable Billy and the ever-enthusiastic Erinn! These two are back by popular demand, ready to share their insights, banter, and perhaps a few heated debates about their favorite Gundam pilots and mobile suits. Billy is a seasoned fighting game player who has mastered the intricacies of Endless Duel’s combat system, while Erinn is a die-hard Gundam fan with an encyclopedic understanding of the series’ lore and mecha designs. Together, they bring a unique perspective to the discussion, blending gameplay analysis with a genuine appreciation for the source material. Their chemistry and friendly banter are sure to keep the conversation engaging and entertaining throughout the episode. Learn such things as: Does anything good come along with giant robots? Is this finally the game where having a plot of “Everyone fights” actually works? How does Papa Roach play into any of this? And so much more! You can find Billy nowhere online because he’s a hermit who hides out in those secret places of the internet that only we know about. You can find Erinn inside the laser that your cat is chasing, manically laughing because she’ll never get caught. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Spawnography and Tooth and Nail for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who thinks that a roomba is a robot.

Welcome to another thrilling episode of Play Comics, the only podcast where comics and video games collide with the force of a well-aimed zombie headshot! This week, we’re diving into the eerie, undead-infested waters of the Kickstarter campaign for Outbreaks, a comic series that’s stirring up more excitement than a horde of zombies at a brain buffet. Joining us in the studio is none other than the necromancer of narrative himself, Will Robson. Creator of Outbreaks, Will is here to share the spine-chilling secrets behind his latest creation. Think Black Mirror meets The Walking Dead—yes, it’s as cool as it sounds! So, grab your survival gear and a sturdy blunt object, because we’re about to crack open the crypt on what makes Outbreaks a must-back project on Kickstarter. Will’s going to spill the guts (figuratively speaking, of course) on everything from crafting a zombie anthology that could raise the dead to the ins and outs of crowdfunding your comic dreams into reality. Don’t miss this episode—it’s bound to be infectious! Learn such things as: When is spooky season? Do story arc lengths matter in an ongoing anthology? When will we have to admit defeat and get a trade instead of single issues? And so much more! You can find Will on Twitter, YouTube, TicTok, Instagram, @RobsinInk. You can also find other cool stuff at his website Speech Bubble Comics and show some monetary support through his Patreon page. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who is too scared to listen to this episode.

Brace yourselves comic connoisseurs and gaming geeks for an episode that will have you questioning reality itself! In this multiversal misadventure we delve into the depths of X-Men Next Dimension, a game that dared to challenge the boundaries of the comic book universe. But wait, there’s more! We’ve got a special guest star joining us on this cosmic crusade – the one and only Lex W from the Wednesday Toast podcast! Prepare to be dazzled by his wit, charm, and encyclopedic knowledge of all things mutant-related. As we navigate through the Operation Zero Tolerance storyline, we’ll uncover the secrets behind this dimension-hopping extravaganza. From mind-bending plot twists to jaw-dropping gameplay mechanics, no stone will be left unturned in our quest for truth, justice, and the ultimate gaming experience. So grab your controllers, strap on your adamantium seatbelts, and get ready for a wild ride through the annals of X-Men history. This episode is sure to leave you questioning your own reality – or at least wondering why you didn’t invest in a Cerebro helmet sooner. Excelsior, true believers! The adventure awaits! Learn such things as: HOLY CRAP THEY CAN BASE A GAME ON A SPECIFIC COMIC RUN?! Is it a sequel if nobody knows it’s a sequel? How did I time this episode so well with X-Men 97? Just kidding, you won’t learn that because I don’t know either! And so much more! You can find Lex on Twitter, Threads, and Instagram @wednesdaypull. And of course there’s always Wednesday Toast on Twitter or Spotify. You should listen to that, it’s fun. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to It’s Probably (not) Aliens and the Stealth Hammer Kickstarter campaign for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, whose favorite X-Man is Deadpool.

Gather round comic fans and crowdfunding enthusiasts for a tale of epic proportions! In this episode of Play Comics we dive headfirst into the wild world of Comics are Dying, a comics history anthology that’s taking Zoop by storm. And who better to guide us through this saga than the mastermind behind it all, Louis Southard? Join us as we explore the highs and lows of running a successful crowdfunding campaign, from crafting the perfect pitch to navigating the treacherous waters of stretch goals. Louis shares his insider secrets, from the importance of a well-timed GIF to the power of a well-placed pun. But that’s not all! We’ll also delve into the fascinating world of Comics are Dying itself, uncovering the stories behind the stories. From the golden age of comics to the rise of the graphic novel, this anthology has it all. And with Louis at the helm, you know it’s going to be a wild ride. So what are you waiting for? Grab your comic books, your crowdfunding tips, and your best dad jokes, and join us for an unforgettable episode of Play Comics! Learn such things as: What kind of crazy person wants to work with 100 different artists on a single project? How do you decide what is important enough to go in a history of something so cool? Does anyone else think it’s weird that Chris likes seeing old ads? And so much more! You can find the guest on Twitter @louisjsouthard, on Instagram @louissouthard, his website LouisSouthard.com, and of course check out the Zoop campaign for Comics are Dying. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who is not dying, as far as I know.

Read transcriptWelcome back, fellow comic crusaders, to another electrifying episode of Play Comics, where we dive headfirst into the colorful world of comic book adventures! Today, we’re donning our wizard hats, sharpening our wands, and preparing to unleash the mystical mayhem of Savage Wizard #2! In this spellbinding installment, join your trusty host, Chris, as he delves deep into the arcane depths of this fantastical comic series. But hold onto your enchanted broomsticks because this isn’t your average wand-waving wizardry! We’re talking about a tale that’s as wild and unpredictable as a magical mishap in a potion shop! And guess what? We’ve got a special guest gracing our airwaves today: none other than the Savage Wizard series co-creator and current writer, Lesly Julien! Brace yourselves for a wizardly wisdom overload as Lesly spills the mystical beans on what it takes to craft a spellbinding comic adventure! But wait, there’s more! We’re not just here to chat about mystical mischief; we’re also diving into the magical realm of Kickstarter campaigns! That’s right, folks—Savage Wizard #2 is conjuring up some serious crowdfunding magic, and we’re here to give you the inside scoop on how you can join the spellbinding journey! So grab your spellbooks, summon your familiars, and get ready for a podcast episode that’s hotter than a dragon’s breath and wackier than a wizard’s wand malfunction! Tune in and let’s embark on a fantastical adventure through the pages of Savage Wizard #2! Also stick around through the end to hear about another great Kickstarter campaign, Stealth Hammer #3! Learn such things as: How do you survive basically your entire creative team having to back out of a project? What spell does Kickstarter use to keep creators coming back? Where did all the colors go? And so much more! You can find on Twitter @LesWrite, Instagram @les_write, and his website Les Write. And of course be sure to check out the Kickstarter campaign for Savage Wizard #2. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who only rolls Nat 1’s. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-89f00a for 40% off for 4 months, and support Play Comics.

Ahoy, landlubbers! Prepare to set sail on a high-seas adventure through the annals of gaming history, as we dive into the depths of the 1992 Game Boy classic, Popeye 2. This episode we've got a special guest aboard – Matt Storm from the podcasts "Fun" and Games and Screen Snark. They're a veritable treasure trove of knowledge when it comes to all things retro gaming, so batten down the hatches and get ready for a wild ride! In this episode we'll explore the pixelated world of Popeye, the legendary sailor man who's always ready to dish out a can of spinach-fueled justice. From navigating treacherous levels to battling Bluto's dastardly schemes, we'll uncover the secrets behind this beloved game that captured the hearts of gamers and comic book fans alike. But that's not all, me hearties! We'll also delve into the rich history of the Popeye comics, tracing their roots back to the early 20th century and exploring how they've influenced pop culture over the decades. Prepare to be regaled with tales of Olive Oyl's escapades, Wimpy's insatiable hunger for hamburgers, and Popeye's iconic catchphrases that have become part of the cultural lexicon. So grab your Game Boy, load up on spinach, and get ready to set sail on an adventure that will have you laughing, reminiscing, and maybe even singing a few sea shanties along the way. Anchors aweigh, mateys! Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-89f00a for 40% off for 4 months, and support Play Comics.Read transcript

Read transcriptStrap in, true believers, because we’re about to dive headfirst into the wild world of Kickstarter campaigns and comic book mayhem! This week on Play Comics, we’re taking a look at the Kickstarter for the action-packed graphic novel Gunpunch, and we’ve got the creator himself, Fernando Pinto, here to give us the inside scoop. Fernando Pinto, the mastermind behind Gunpunch, is joining us to share the gritty details of bringing this high-octane comic to life. From the explosive action sequences to the sharply-drawn characters, this guy has poured his heart and soul (and probably a few gallons of coffee) into making Gunpunch a must-read for any fan of the medium. The Gunpunch Kickstarter campaign is in full swing thanks to Rocketship Entertainment, and let me tell you, it’s a wild ride. Backer rewards range from digital copies of the comic to limited-edition prints that will have your fellow comic nerds green with envy. And if you’re feeling particularly generous, there’s even an opportunity to get your face immortalized as a character in the story. Talk about a power move! So, what are you waiting for? Hop on board the Gunpunch hype train and get ready for a wild ride! With Fernando Pinto at the helm, you know this comic is going to be a knockout. Strap on your utility belt, grab your favorite snacks, and get ready to dive headfirst into the world of Gunpunch. It’s going to be a punchy good time, true believers! Learn such things as: How do you go about naming characters anyway? Is it OK to punch people with your gun hands if you’re having a bad day? Are those aliens really that bad? And so much more! You can find Fernando on Twitter @NandoPintoArt, on Instagram @minombreesfernandopinto, his LinkTree @FernandoPintoArt and FernandoPintoArt.com. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who dreams of having his hands be machines. But his machines would be of the Rube Goldberg variety. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-89f00a for 40% off for 4 months, and support Play Comics.

Read transcriptWelcome, cosmic adventurers and comic aficionados, to another interstellar episode of Play Comics, where the fabric of reality is as bendable as the pages of a comic book, and the heroes are as quirky as our sense of humor. This week, we’re donning our power bands and setting our sights on the vast, uncharted territories of space. Why, you ask? Because we’re diving headfirst into the latest cosmic vigilante saga that’s blasting its way through the comic cosmos – the upcoming Space Ghost comic being published by Dynamite Comics! But hold onto your space helmets dear listeners, because this episode isn’t just any ordinary galactic gabfest. Oh no, we’ve managed to snag series writer and return guest, David Pepose, who’s back and more mysterious than Space Ghost’s secret identity (which, by the way, remains one of the universe’s best-kept secrets). David’s here to give us the inside scoop on what it’s like to breathe new life into a character who’s been everything from a champion of justice to a smarmy talk show host. Prepare for an episode filled with tales of cosmic vigilantes, nefarious space pirates, and the occasional monkey sidekick. We’ll explore the dark corners of the Galactic Federation, where evil lurks in the shadows, and only one hero can bring justice to the stars. Yes, we’re talking about the man, the myth, the legend – Space Ghost! So, whether you’re a long-time fan of the spectral space hero or just curious about what happens when you mix superheroes with the final frontier, this episode is for you. Join us as we chat with David Pepose about the challenges of reviving a classic character, the thrill of exploring uncharted narrative galaxies, and, most importantly, whether Space Ghost prefers his coffee black as the void of space or with a splash of Milky Way. Buckle up, listeners, because we’re about to launch into an episode that’s out of this world. And remember, in space, no one can hear you laugh – but here on Play Comics, laughter is just part of the adventure. Learn such things as: Wait, Space Ghost wasn’t created for that cartoon talk show? How do you tie in established lore when you get to basically ignore a bunch of the history? What kind of freedom do you have knowing that you’re set to spend a year with these characters? And so much more! You can find David on Bluesky @peposed.bsky.social, Twitter @Peposed, Instagram @Peposed, on Facebook @ David Pepose Comics, his newsletter Pep Talks, and his website DavidPepose.com. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who just wants to make sure that a Blip centered issue isn’t anything like Appa’s Bad Day. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-89f00a for 40% off for 4 months, and support Play Comics.

Welcome to another spine-tingling, joystick-wiggling episode of Play Comics, where the pixels meet the page and the game controllers are always at risk of being thrown in excitement or frustration. This week we’re diving into the dark cobwebbed corners of the gaming world to unearth the 1992 classic The Addams Family, a game that dared to ask “What if we took a beloved, macabre family and turned their life into a platforming adventure?” Based on the 1991 film of the same name, this game sprawled across the NES, SNES, Genesis, Master System, Game Gear, and Game Boy, proving that no console was safe from its kooky, spooky charm. In this episode we’re thrilled to welcome back the illustrious Adam Williamson, a man whose knowledge of games is only rivaled by his ability to survive encounters with the supernatural—or at least supernatural-themed video games. Adam, who last graced us with his presence in a bodyslammin’ discussion on WWF No Mercy, returns from the depths of the gaming archives to help us navigate the twisted halls of the Addams’ mansion. Prepare for a journey where every jump is a leap of faith (into a pit of who-knows-what), every enemy is as bizarre as an Addams family member, and the only thing scarier than the game’s difficulty is the thought of turning it off before finishing. Will Gomez find his beloved family members, or will he be doomed to wander the pixelated corridors forever? Join us as we explore the mystery, the humor, and the sheer Addams-ness of The Addams Family game. So tighten your seatbelts, adjust your monocles, and make sure your hand (Thing, is that you?) is firmly attached to your wrist. It’s going to be a wild ride through the Addams Family estate, where the only guarantee is laughter, nostalgia, and maybe, just maybe, a newfound appreciation for games that make you want to pull your hair out—in the most delightful way possible. Learn such things as: How can you base a game off of single panel comics? How is this macabre family so wholesome? What does Jonathan Blow have to do with any of this? And so much more! You can find Adam absolutely nowhere except for on Play Comics where he writes comic reviews and appears on other episodes. Of particular interest to listeners of this episode are The Gimmick #1 and The Job #1. Twitter Thread and Bluesky Thread to enter the giveaway for copies of The Color of Always and Sharp Wit & The Company of Women. Or just comment on the When I Was Young episode post with what stories you’re looking forward to reading. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Crossplay Conversations and Tales from the Backlog for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who still goes Trick-Or-Treating. In fact he’s going next weekend.

Greetings, time travelers and comic connoisseurs! Buckle up your seatbelts and grab your favorite snacks because you’re in for a treat with this very special bonus episode of Play Comics that’s more colorful than a double rainbow! In this heartwarming and possibly tear-jerking installment, we’re diving into the pages of When I Was Young, the BackerKit campaign that’s not just a comic anthology but a time capsule of love, advice, and triumph. It’s an LGBTQIA+ extravaganza where the creative teams pour their hearts out in stories they wish they could whisper to their younger selves. And guess what? All profits are being donated to The Trevor Project, because who doesn’t love comics with a cause? But wait, there’s more! We’re not just flipping through the pages alone. Oh no, we’ve managed to snag the anthology’s editor, the one and only Michele Abounader, to join us for this episode. Michele will share the behind-the-scenes magic, the tears, the laughter, and maybe even the secret recipe to creating an anthology that’s as inspiring as it is fabulous. So whether you’re a die-hard fan of all things LGBTQIA+, a comic anthology aficionado, or just someone who loves a good story with a dash of nostalgia, this episode is for you. Tune in, get cozy, and let’s send some love letters to our past selves together. It’s going to be a rainbow-riding, comic-reading, feel-good kind of day here at Play Comics! Learn such things as: How do you get so many great creators to help with this kind of project? What can happen when you just shoot your shot and ask someone to be involved? Do you make the anthology, or does the anthology make you? And so much more! You can find Michele on Twitter @cerealpancake, on Bluesky @cerealpancake.bsky.social, on Instagram @ilikepancakes, and her website Cereal Pancake. And of course check out the campaign yourself at wheniwasyoungcomic.com which takes you directly to the BackerKit page to make this a reality. Twitter Thread and Bluesky Thread to enter the giveaway for copies of The Color of Always and Sharp Wit & The Company of Women. Or just comment here with what stories you’re looking forward to reading. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show then just stop and support this campaign instead. Please? I will love you forever for that. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who has nothing funny to say here because this is a totally serious matter.Read transcript

Welcome to another thrilling episode of Play Comics, where we dive into the pixelated playgrounds of our favorite comic book characters and the games that bring them to life. Today, we’re dusting off our PS2 controllers and delving into the dark and mysterious world of Shadow Man 2econd Coming. Released in 2002, this game promised a spine-chilling adventure, but did it deliver the voodoo-infused essence of its comic book counterpart? Joining us in this shadowy quest is none other than Patrick Hickey Jr., the mastermind behind Legacy Comix and the Editor in Chief of Review Fix. With his encyclopedic knowledge of all things comics and gaming, Patrick is here to help us unravel whether Shadow Man 2econd Coming truly captures the spirit of the Valiant Universe’s enigmatic hero. So, grab your Shadow Guns and prepare to walk between worlds as we explore the eerie corridors of Deadside and beyond. Will the game stand as a faithful homage to its source material, or will it be lost in the abyss of forgotten adaptations? Tune in to find out, and remember, in the world of Play Comics, the only thing scarier than the Grigori demons is a missed episode! Learn such things as: Why would a sequel be on fewer consoles than the original? Does it matter if people don’t know about the source material? How does the label of a licensed property set expectations? And so much more! You can find Legacy Comix on Twitter @Legacy_Comix, Instagram @legacy_comix, Facebook @LegacyComix, the Legacy Comix website. You can find Patrick on Instagram @patrickhickeyjr, Twitter @reviewfixpat, and of course his personal website and Review Fix. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to The Lucky Die and Happy Horror Time for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who still sleeps with a teddy bear.Read transcript

Smurf fans, mushroom dwellers, and plastic comic enthusiasts, lend me your ears! This week on Play Comics, we’re taking a hard look at one of the most mind-bogglingly bizarre video game adaptations to ever grace the original PlayStation – The Smurfs from 1999. That’s right, we’re diving headfirst into the small blue world where the air is crisp, the mushrooms are plentiful, and the gameplay is…well, let’s just say it’s an experience. But we’re not going it alone, oh no! Joining us is the one and only Mike Clyburn from the wildly popular podcast The Twisted Cape. Mike’s no stranger to twisted tales and bizarre adventures, so we knew he’d be the perfect tour guide through this cobalt-colored carnival of chaos. Prepare yourselves for tales of sinister wizards, hapless heroes, and more collectible items than you can smurfing shake a stick at. We’ll laugh, we’ll cry, we’ll question the very nature of our existence. But most of all, we’ll have a smurftastic time exploring this true relic of gaming’s awkward adolescence. So grab your favorite mushroom cap, take a deep breath of that crisp smurf air, and join us for an episode that’s bound to be…unforgettable. It’s going to be one wild smurf ride! Learn such things as: Are there actually different Smurfs? How can we judge a game made for small children? What does a Smurf taste like? And so much more! You can find Mike on Twitter @TheTwistedCape, send them an email @[email protected] and their website The Twisted Cape. Or check out the D&D stuff on Twitter @TeamCLOKpod and their email @[email protected]. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Time Shifters as well as Orphaned Entertainment for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who is blue and if he was green he would die.Read transcript

Attention all Gundam fanatics and mech maniacs! Today we’re blasting off into the cosmos with Mobile Suit Gundam Zeonic Front for the PlayStation 2! Joining us is none other than Scott Wachter from the wildly popular podcast The Recap From Mercury. Scott’s expertise lies in overanalyzing obtuse science fiction plots, so he’s the perfect wingman to navigate the tangled narrative threads of the One Year War. Will the valiant Federation pilots emerge victorious against the dastardly Zeon forces? Can any of us mere mortals comprehend the sheer scale of these titanic mech battles? And is Scott prepared to have his mind blown by the sheer excess of beam spam? Strap in tight and get ready for rocket-powered robot rampage as we go full psyco gundam on Zeonic Front! The battlefield drama awaits…just try not to get caught in the crossfire. Over and out, soldiers! Learn such things as: Is everyone in the wrong uniform really a bad guy? How can a simple TV programming snafu change the course of a generation? Do we need more games where you play as the villains? And so much more! You can find Scott on Twitter @fs_wachter, Bluesky @fs-scott.bsky.social, and on his own Gundam specific podcast The Recap From Mercury. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Film Rage and Bring Your Own Mech for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who controls his Mechs with an Atari Jaguar controller.Read transcript

Greetings, fellow Play Comics aficionados and Dragon Ball Z fanatics! It’s time to power up your ki and get ready for an adventure unlike any other. We’re diving headfirst into the wild world of the Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game on the Game Boy Advance, and trust us, it’s going to be a blast! But wait, there’s more! Joining us on this epic journey is the one and only Kyle Billie from The Rad(io) Shorts podcast. With his wicked sense of humor and infectious enthusiasm, we know Kyle will bring a whole new level of fun and excitement to our exploration of this classic card game. Just imagine the shenanigans we’ll get into as we battle it out with our favorite characters and try to outsmart each other with clever strategies. So, whether you’re a seasoned card game pro or a die-hard Dragon Ball Z fan, you won’t want to miss this episode. Get ready to laugh, strategize, and reminisce about the good old days of portable gaming. It’s going to be a wild ride, and we’re thrilled to have you along for the journey! Learn such things as: Can you make a good game based on another game? How much of the story do you need to include to really say that something is based on it? Did anyone get to use the two player mode in this one? And so much more! You can find Kyle on The Rad(io) Shorts Podcast and as a part of Subterranean Suites & Suspect Serpents. And maybe at a card convention near you. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Team CLOK and Super Bracket Bros. for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who is still holding on his cards hoping to retire on the profits from them.Read transcript

Hey there fellow Gundam fanatics and Play Comics aficionados! Get ready to power up your mechs and dive into the wild world of Gundam Battle Assault 2, the classic PS1 game that has us all itching for some intense mecha showdowns. And who better to join us on this epic journey than our returning guest, the one and only Billy, who’s graced us with his presence on previous episodes like X-Men Mutant Academy, Ghost in the Shell, Turok 2, and Batman and Robin? But let’s be real, folks. This time around, it’s all about giant robots duking it out in epic battles that would make even the most hardened Gundam fan swoon. And with Billy’s expert insights and witty banter, we’re sure to have a blast exploring every nook and cranny of this classic game. So strap in, get ready to activate your beam sabers, and let’s dive into the world of Gundam Battle Assault 2! Learn such things as: Did cartoons ever not get made as commercials for toys? Is it better to have balanced rosters or source material realistic ones? Wait, games other than Street Fighter get to make innovations? And so much more! You can find Billy nowhere online because he’s a hermit who hides out in those secret places of the internet that only we know about. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Japan on Film and Screen Snark for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who doesn’t see the difference between these mechs and the ones he built with Lincoln Logs.Read transcript

Demonic possessions are nothing new. But I still get hooked every time one of those stories comes up. The Exorcist was the first movie that really bothered me when I watched it. The Exorcism of Emily Rose was a birthday tradition for a while. There’s just something about how people deal with those creatures that always grabs my interest. Maybe it’s the struggle between keeping hold of yourself while dealing with an entity that’s much stronger than you. Maybe it’s because a religious upbringing tried to teach me that monsters aren’t real, but demons and stuff like that are. But who are we kidding, monsters are totally real. What else is real is the talent of David Pepose and Alex Cormack. So you can imagine my excitement when David agreed to come talk about The Devil That Wears My Face, a book from Mad Cave all about a demonic possession in 1740s Europe. Listen in as we try to get to the heart of how someone so nice can write something so scary. Or maybe I should say the heart cavity…… Learn such things as: Can you write a horribly disturbing story without ruining your headspace? Were those useless classes in school really useless? And so much more! You can find David on Bluesky @peposed.bsky.social, Twitter @Peposed, Instagram @Peposed, on Facebook @ David Pepose Comics, his newsletter Pep Talks, and his website DavidPepose.com. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who might have wet his pants at the end of this episode.Read transcript

This week we’re blasting off into outer space to take a look back at the classic PS1 fighting game Gundam Battle Assault. Released in North America in 2000, this game brought the action-packed combat of the popular Gundam anime franchise to PlayStation gamers. Our special guest this episode is Karrington Martin from the fantastic K&K Indie Gaming Corner podcast. Karrington is a huge Gundam fan and will provide expert insight into the lore behind the game’s mobile suits and storylines. We’ll discuss how Gundam was a part of his life growing up and how the timing of the North American release made for some interesting thoughts. From the slower than you’d expect paced arcade-style gameplay to the impressively animated sprite work, Gundam Battle Assault was a technical marvel on the PlayStation. We’ll analyze the combat mechanics, graphics, and modes that made it a classic among mech fighting games. And we’ll debate where it ranks among other Gundam games and mech fighters on the original PlayStation. So power up your beam sabers and launch your verniers because we’re taking control of some epic Gundams today with our guest Karrington Martin! Strap in and enjoy this action-packed episode of Play Comics! Learn such things as: Did any kids back then know about the heartbreak they were getting into? Does it matter if you don’t get the first game of a series? How can you mix together such a roster of characters who have little, if any, interaction in the source material? That Transformers Beast Wars episode that we talked about And so much more! You can find Karrington at K&K Indie Gaming podcast website. You can also find him on Twitter @Desertfury90. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Transmissions and “Fun” and Games for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who doesn’t like giant robots. Which is something a small robot would say.Read transcript

Get ready to dive into the pixelated mystique of the Sega Genesis era as we unleash the power of Mystic Defender on this episode of Play Comics! In this electrifying installment, we team up with the dynamic Phil Keeling from Pixel Lit to unravel the secrets and thrills behind the classic Sega Genesis game Mystic Defender. Brace yourselves for a riveting conversation that delves into the captivating world of gaming nostalgia, where pixels come to life, and wizards wield unimaginable powers. Phil Keeling, a connoisseur of gaming narratives and pixelated wonders, brings his expertise to the forefront as we explore the enchanting realm of Mystic Defender. From spellbinding visuals to the mesmerizing hold this had on his childhood despite not having a single clue as to where it came from, we’ll dissect many aspects that makes this Sega Genesis game one that you probably want to go check out. Because most likely, you didn’t check it out back in the day. Whether you’re a seasoned Mystic Defender veteran or a curious gamer looking to step into the past, this episode promises insights, anecdotes, and a touch of nostalgia that will transport you to the golden age of 16-bit gaming. So plug in those headphones, hit play, and prepare for a journey through pixels, magic, and the unforgettable legacy of Mystic Defender! Learn such things as: How can weird circumstances lead to lifelong memories? Why do we love things that we really don’t know much about? When can not knowing about the source material possibly make things better? And so much more! You can find Phil on Twitter @HeMakesMonsters, or his Pixel Lit stuff on Twitter @pixellitpod, YouTube @PixelLit, and of course the Pixel Lit website. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to SNEScapades as well as It’s (Probably) Not Aliens for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who thinks this game is just a drug fueled fever dream.

Welcome, dear listeners, to another bodyslammin’ edition of Play Comics! Get ready to tag in and grapple with nostalgia as your host, Chris, is joined by the dynamic duo of wrestling wisdom: Adam “Ringmaster” Williamson and Josh “Suplex Strategist” Garvey! In this pixelated pilgrimage through the archives of gaming history, our intrepid trio steps into the virtual ring to dissect the legendary N64 classic—WWF No Mercy. It’s a game that’s more electrifying than a Rock Bottom and has more twists than a Stone Cold Stunner. But this isn’t just about button-mashing and joystick jiu-jitsu. Chris, Adam, and Josh are here to unravel the intricate connections between the digital squared circle and the real-world rumbles of professional wrestling. From powerbombs to power-ups, they’ll grapple with the game’s impact on the wrestling genre and how it managed to body-slam its way into the hearts of gamers worldwide. Prepare for a verbal Royal Rumble as they dissect the game’s character roster, match types, and those legendary “OH MY GOD!” moments that made WWF No Mercy a slam dunk for wrestling and gaming enthusiasts alike. So lace up those boots, polish your championship belts, and press play as Play Comics takes you on a journey down memory lane, where the only pins are the ones you aim for in the ring, and the only submissions are the ones that make you submit to the nostalgia. Get ready for a piledriver of fun in this bodyslammin’ episode that’s sure to leave you chanting, “This is awesome!” Disclaimer: No controllers were harmed in the making of this podcast. However, the same cannot be said for friendships lost during heated multiplayer sessions. Listener discretion is advised. Learn such things as: How can you fit so many characters into a game this size? How is this still the premiere wrestling game? How can Chris convince Kayleigh that maybe he is going to start watching wrestling? And so much more! You can Adam absolutely nowhere except for on Play Comics where he writes comic reviews and appears on other episodes. Of particular interest to listeners of this episode are The Gimmick #1 and The Job #1. You can find Josh on Twitter @joshgarvey and in some of the best places on the internet if you’re lucky. But you’ll have to find those yourself. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Talkin’ Comicx for the promo today. Be sure to also check out the Legacy Comix site for more awesome stuff. Like maybe The Job #1. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who is up way past his bed time.

In this pixel-packed extravaganza we’re diving into the realm of Mobile Suits, futuristic warfare, and enough Gundam drama to make soap operas blush. Yes folks it’s time to chat about the PlayStation 2 game “Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo,” a game that had us pressing buttons faster than a cat chases a laser pointer. But wait, there’s more! We’ve got a guest star shining as bright as the final boss battle. Joining us in the digital cockpit is none other than the fabulous Dan Carroll, captain of the Retro Wars podcast and a connoisseur of all things vintage gaming. Imagine Han Solo, but instead of navigating the Millennium Falcon, he’s steering us through the vast universe of Gundam lore. So grab your favorite joystick, charge up your beam saber, and get ready for a rollercoaster ride through pixels and panels as we explore just how well “Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo” stacks up against its manga counterpart. Spoiler alert: of all the games that exist, it’s certainly one of them. Learn such things as: Should developers and publishers target games for new fans or the fan base that already exists? Why didn’t Japan share the big bulky robots with us more? Are these even robots? I mean, come on, there’s a pilot in there! And so much more! You can find the guest on Twitter @Retrowarsuk and eventually on YouTube as The Honest Pokemon Trainer. But always at the Retro Wars website. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomicscast on Twitter, @playcomics.bsky.social on BlueSky, and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Capes on the Couch as well as Reel Feels Podcast for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who didn’t notice that I messed with the stinger bit that I made from the intro music. Did you?

Greetings, fellow gamers and digital explorers! Today, we’re strapping on our Digi-Devices and venturing into the world of Digimon – because why catch ’em all when you can DIGITIZE ’em all? W e’re peeling back the nostalgic layers of the PlayStation classic, Digimon World 2. A game where the monsters are digital, the challenges are real, and the memory card space is always at a premium. But wait, there’s more! We’re not content with just battling in virtual arenas and exploring digital dungeons. At least not by ourselves. Joining us on this wild Digivolutionary ride is none other than Andrew Young, cohost of the podcast Behold! This gaming aficionado is here to share his insights, drop some knowledge bombs, and maybe even settle the age-old debate of Agumon vs. Gabumon. Brace yourselves, because we’re about to unravel the digital mysteries, level up our nostalgia, and possibly discover if Digimon ever learned to change a lightbulb. Learn such things as: How many things can be the best? Is there anything that Chris can’t turn into an allegory for our current world climate? How do you tell the world that you’re really confident in your game? And so much more! You can find Andrew by looking at the Behold! account on Twitter or of course the Behold! website. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics on Blue Sky @playcomics.bsky.social, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Time Shifters, as well as Radio Clash for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who still uses dial up internet.

The cool thing about comic creators is that they tend to like comics. Which means that whoever your favorite comic creator is probably has a favorite comic. But what happens when you find the source of basically everything? And can you get past the fact that it feels so cliche because it’s the source of all of the cliche feelings? Listen in as Allen Dunford comes by to talk about his favorite comic, which makes sense because he is a comic creator. But will this game give us an idea of why so many people love the manga? Or will it just rely on having a big sword and hoping that the cool factor there carries us through the story? Learn such things as: When do you probably want to spoonfeed the story to players? Do games need to tell a specific story to have a good story? Does it matter if you get spoilers for the overall comic story? And so much more! You can find Allen on Twitter @ChapsofFury. And of course there’s also the Top Hat Studios newsletter to make sure to stay on top of everything that he’s creating. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Use the coupon code “ireadshownotes” for 15% off your order. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Behold!, as well as Into the Knight for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who refuses to read this just because people say that it’s cool.

Holy poorly-rated superhero media! Get ready to dive into some of the murkiest depths of the Marvel universe as we analyze 2003’s not-so-stellar Daredevil offerings. First up in the hot seat is the Ben Affleck-led Daredevil film that premiered that very same year. Despite boasting major star power and promising early trailers, this big screen endeavor wound up being another dud, critically panned for an overly serious tone and absurd costuming choices. Then, we’ll switch gears to focus on the Game Boy Advance title based on the Man Without Fear, which sadly failed to convey the swashbuckling thrills of Daredevil’s comic book adventures. Made by pitiful publisher Encore, this game starred a blocky, pixelated DD slinging his billy club at an array of generic thugs and criminals. Gameplay was repetitive and uninspired, while graphics were subpar even by 2003’s standards. Yikes! To help us dissect these dual disasters, we’re joined by special guest Ryan from Fake Nerd podcast. Ryan will lend his wit and wisdom to evaluating these massive missteps in Daredevil history. Will we find any redeeming qualities in these offerings? Tune in to find out! Learn such things as: Is there anything good about the Affleck flick? What are the hard parts about building a game around a character not heavily represented in the mainstream consciousness? When are you basically forced to buy subpar media? And so much more! You can find Ryan on Twitter @DjTonySnark and his podcast The Fake Nerd Podcast on Twitter @fakenerdpodcast or the Fake Nerd Podcast website. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Use the coupon code “ireadshownotes” for 15% off your order. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Artie’s Attic: A Warehouse 13 Fancast, as well as Behold! for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who thought I was dead.

Get ready for a dragon duel of epic proportions! In this corner, we have Dragon Power, the janky NES game that tried and failed to cash in on Dragonball mania. And in this corner, we have the original Dragonball manga, which captures all the absurdity and excitement that Dragon Power completely whiffed on! Let’s get ready to ruuuuumble! Please give a warm, silly welcome to our special guest judge for today’s podcast, the one and only Kyle “Game Genie” Federline! When he’s not dropping hot takes on the K&K Indie Gaming podcast, Kyle spends his time teaching his kids about the wonders of games from his childhood and trying to find gaming’s biggest hidden gems in the indie scene. Get ready as Kyle lends his unique blend of gaming wisdom and snark to judge today’s retro showdown! Learn such things as: Why did they give us this game with soooo much localization? Is there any good place to start with Dragon Ball? When did the 5 Second Rule become a thing to be followed? And so much more! You can find the guest on Twitter @KyleFederline the K&K Indie Gaming podcast website, or a treefull of other places. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Use the coupon code “ireadshownotes” for 15% off your order. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to D’ohMance Dawn, as well as Shonen Flop for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who swears he was watching anime before it was cool.

There’s something just so endearing about The Smurfs. Mostly I think it’s because it’s just such a simple concept. Little blue dudes have an adventure and it all wraps up nicely by the end. Seems pretty safe and kid friendly doesn’t it? Yeah, that’s what I thought too. Good thing I have October K Santarelli here to help blow some of those ideas out of the water. Listen in as we take a dive into Smurf history and explore some of the dark secrets of these little blue demons. Learn such things as: Why aren’t there more girl Smurfs? Do Smurfs understand the concept of mortality? Can we do a whole episode without subbing a curse word with Smurf? And so much more! You can find October on Tic Tok @OKWrites, Instagram @O_K_Writes, and his website Ocober K Santarelli.com. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Use the coupon code “ireadshownotes” for 15% off your order. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to What Should We Watch as well as Just the Zoo of Us for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who thought that Smurfs were jelly beans.

Sometimes I just wonder why even got some games. It’s not that I don’t appreciate them, that’s not it at all. But licensed games where we don’t really know the franchise? And game genres that aren’t able to carry the game by itself? And doing it all on a disaster of a console where it seems like nothing could be done right. I know I’m sounding super negative right now but I think that is part of the charm of Magic Knight Rayearth. And you know who else thinks so? Satsunami from the Chatsunami podcast. Listen in as we take a look at this hidden gem of a game about a hidden gem of an anime and manga property that we just couldn’t appreciate when were first exposed to it back in the 1990s. Learn such things as: Does everything that we miss need to come back? What are the benefits to leaving fans wanting more? Has anyone actually seen this game in real life? And so much more! You can find Satsunami on Twitter @ChatsunamiPod, Instagram @chatsunami, TikTok @chatsunami, and of course his podcast Chatsunami. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to the Comic Book Keepers as well as Shonen Flop for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who refuses to buy me this game and I just don’t understand why.

I’ve decided that I just really like fantasy stories. I’ve decided that a lot in the past, and I’m deciding it again right now. There’s just something about a writer being able to ignore all of what’s actually possible in this world and yet still having to make something that’s internally consistent with the story that they want to tell. Something about an artist being able to make characters that just couldn’t happen here in anyway, be it through crazy anatomy that just doesn’t play nicely with Earthly physics or the fact that if an alligator was really on a team with a rabbit one of them would get eaten pretty quickly and we all know which one that would be. Let’s scratch just about all of those itches at once with an episode where I talk to Grant Stoye about his Kickstarter series, and also upcoming Scout Comics book Sidequest! Listen in as we get to some of the hows and whys behind this wonderful story and try to figure out how Chris didn’t know about it sooner. Learn such things as: What do creatives think of their past work? The fun parts of not knowing where fans are when they talk to you How to take your book from Kickstarter to a bigger publisher And so much more! You can find Grant on Twitter @grandandstuff, his website Grant Stoye .com, and in theory a Threadless store somewhere which will get a link put right here if he can ever remember what that link is and remembers to let me know. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Use the coupon code “ireadshownotes” for 15% off your order. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who think a D20 is something dirty.

It all comes back to Spider-Man doesn’t it? The cultural saturation of the character in a lot of English speaking societies. The relatable nature of the character (and to be perfectly honest, most of the Spider people characters). The fact that the first Spider-Man trilogy was the first thing since the 90s Batman movies to really hit such a mainstream audience is no coincidence. So how do we get a look at what Spider-Man means to people? Oh, I don’t know, maybe get a guest like Keifer from Select and Start to come and give us a look at what both this 2004 game and the movie that it ties in with? Yeah, that seems like a good idea. I should pat myself on the back for doing exactly that. Learn such things as: What was the super hero movie landscape looking like in 2004? Does it matter if Spidey has things overhead to actually swing from? How are the pizza missions what everyone loves about this game the most? And so much more! You can find the Keifer on Twitter @DannyVegito, his Youtube channel Keifers Corner (found @KeiferLirette) and on his podcast Select and Start. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Use the coupon code “ireadshownotes” for 15% off your order. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Adventures in Erylia and Avast for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who wears Spider-Man underpants on his face to have a double Spider-Man mask.

Spy stories are spy stories. And yet we still love them. There’s just something about spies that sits well in our hearts. Because in the end, spy stories are about an individual overcoming a situation where everything is stacked against them. So while spy stories might have a lot of the same elements running through them, there’s a big variety in how those elements are used and woven in and out of each other. Listen in as Cory Byrd from Byrds Eye View Comics helps to take a look at Golgo 13 Top Secret Episode. We discuss his connection to the Japanese culture, manga in general, and Golgo 13 means in the grand scheme of history. Learn such things as: How long can a single comic run last? When can being a genre piece really help with getting into a franchise? Does it matter if a foreign audience doesn’t have any idea that a game is even based on a licensed property? You can find the guest on Twitter @ByrdsEye76, Instagram @ByrdsEyeOfficial, and of course his website Byrds Eys View Comics. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Use the coupon code “ireadshownotes” for 15% off your order. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Piecing it Together, as well as Luke Who’s Talking for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who is afraid of underwater levels.

REFIRE TIME! We’ve looked at the Ninja Turtles before. We’ve had a few episodes about them even. But let’s be real, the podcast was in its infancy and I didn’t really know what I was doing with the show yet. So how can we remedy that? Well Anthony Sytko has an idea. How about we get him specifically on the show to take a look at the Cowabunga Collection? I hope you think that’s a good idea because I already recorded it. Listen in as we take a look at the Cowabunga Collection as a whole and try to figure out just what makes this one so perfect. Learn such things as: What goes into a good game compilation? Why are the Turtles always coming back? When did Anthony start to suck at fighting games? And so much more! You can find Anthony on Twitter @CapesOnTheCouch, his personal account @AnthonySytko, and of course the Capes on the Couch website. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Use the coupon code “ireadshownotes” for 15% off your order. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who didn’t listen to these episodes the first time around and probably won’t listen to this one either. Additional Noises from ZapSplat.

It’s the year [insert future year here] and mankind has probably destroyed the Earth because of course they did. How did we/they get here/there? Don’t know, and there’s a ton of lore to figure out before we can know what happened. War is a mess y’all. It’s not like you can just read a few books and know exactly what happened. Good thing we have my friend Erinn here to help sort things out. Listen in as we try to make sense of, well, everything in the Gundam universes and probably miss some things because there’s so much of it and we only have so much show to talk about it in. Learn such things as: How many timelines is enough? This is just Transformers with a reskin, right? Do Erinn and I have artistically talented friends who can help pull off one of our crazy ideas? And so much more! You can find Erinn on Twitter @catladylife_nyc or as a a spirit just floating by in the wind. Play Comics is “written”, edited, and produced by Chris Osborne. He also puts the art together because he’s a bit of a control freak. Maybe if he wasn’t he’d let someone like Michiums make art for the show. But alas, Chris has problems and just can’t do that. See what you’re missing out on by visiting Michiums’s shop on Carbonmade. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Use the coupon code “ireadshownotes” for 15% off your order. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to Comic Book Keepers as well as Tales from the Fandom for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who thinks that giant mechs are totally made up and not real at all.

Some of the most important things I have right now are things that I’ve always had. Mostly my stuffed Snoopy that I’ve had since I was little. And while having him to hold on to has helped in a lot of situations, what if he was actually able to physically fight off demons and monsters? Listen in as Tayson Martindale comes to talk about his comic The Keepsakers, a story that explores that exact theme of your childhood friends actually being some of your biggest protectors. (Hopefully) Coming to a comic store near you March 29th and brought to you by Invader Comics. Learn such things as: How long can you hold onto childish things? How do you find your own style? How long can you sit on a book before you publish it? And so much more! You can find Tayson on Twitter @tadmartindale, Instagram @tayson_martindale, or email him via [email protected]. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in, or sign up for email notifications about future guest opportunities and get a message when I add things to the list. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Use the coupon code “ireadshownotes” for 15% off your order. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who sleeps with a stuffed dragon.