Positively Nerdy

Welcome to Positively Nerdy!  Has it been two weeks already? If so, than that means it's time for more Comic Reviews!  This episode we're discussing comic released Wednesday April 17th as well as the 24th.  In this issue He-Man impresses, Bodie Troll delights and Todd has one more surprise left!  Plus all the usual suspects from DC and Marvel are back! Comics Reviewed this episdoe: Red 5 Comics Bodie Troll #1 Dark Horse Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #1 Image Todd: The Ugliest Kid on Earth #4 The Mighty Skullkickers #1 DC He-Man and the Master of the Universe #1 The Flash #19 Wonder Woman #19 Justice League #19 Marvel Ultimate Spider-Man #22 FF #6 Avengers #10 Scarlet Spider #16 Superior Spider-Man #

Welcome to Positively Nerdy! And welcome to the first episode of 'Comics With Catch-Up' in far too long!  This time out we're taking a look at a trio of single issue DC Comics from the mid-70's!  These completely random selections all drive home the notion that 'they don't make 'em like they used to'!  Bizarre characters, wild stories and Hostess ads transport us to another time and place.  First up, Superman's Action Comics #475! Can Superman defeat Karb-brak and Vartox? The issue also features a back-up story starring Lori Lemaris: Mermaid of Atlantis.  Next up is Adventure Comics #443 starring Aquaman!  Aquaman is ensnared by- The Fisherman! Featuring a back-up story with the Seven Soldiers of Victory! And finally, the reprint collection DC Special Presents #20 Green Lantern!  A trio of reprints from the early 60's featuring the Emerald Warriors most bizarre adventures!  Enjoy catching-up on these random DC back issues

Welcome to Positively Nerdy!  Welcome to the final frontier of the 24th Century and a topic I've been waiting to discuss on this podcast for a long, long time: Star Trek!  Specifically, Star Trek: The Next Generation.  And for this long-anticipated discussion, I've recruited a few friends!  Joining the Away Team for this mission is none other than Pixel Dan and Kat Hallock, in her podcasting debut! Kat, Dan and I share our own stories of how Star Trek: The Next Generation entered our lives and what about the show stays with us to this day.  Along the way we touch on classic episodes and personal favorites including: Redemption, Darmok, The Inner Light, Best of Both Worlds, I, Borg, Q-Pid (and many more Q episodes!), All Good Things... and Lower Decks.  Along the way you'll discover, as we did, that different episodes of TNG mean something different to each of us and how much a part of our personal lives this show was in connecting us with friends, family and growing up

Welcome to Positively Nerdy! And welcome to the first episode in the new bi-weekly review format!  There are plenty of comics to get to from the past two weeks (Wednesday April 3rd and Wednesday April 10th) from a variety of publishers including Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse and a few show-stealers from IDW! Comics Reviewed this episode: IDW The Colonized #1 The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror #3 Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness #4 Dark Horse Star Wars #4 Image Saga #12 DC Green Arrow #19 World's Finest #11 Earth 2 #11 Batman and Red Robin #19 Batman #19 Marvel Thanos Rising #1 Avengers #9 Indestructible Hulk #6 Superior Spider-Man #7 All-New X-Men #1

Welcome to Positively Nerdy!   This is a very special episode featuring a topic I've always enjoyed discussing and really wanted to feature on this podcast.  And now, at long last, that time has finally arrived!  With my trio of very special guests we will breakdown, analyze and completely over-think the transition from Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader!  When does the Dark consume the Light? When does Jedi become Sith? Joining me for this very special episode is artist Joe Hogan, blogger Joe Sorbera and Hughes the Force Executive Producer Ruark Dreher.  Joe, Joe, Ruark and I met in 2010 at Star Wars: CelebrationV in Orlando and have remained friends who love talking about all things Star Wars ever since.  The discussion of when Anakin Skywalker falls to the Dark Side and becomes Darth Vader is a topic much discussed by Star Wars fans.  In this episode the four of us each present arguments, 'evidence', references and our interpretations of lines of dialogue all in the hopes o

Welcome to Positively Nerdy!  Believe it or not, things don't always go as planned when recording episodes of Positively Nerdy.  From technical difficulties to complete mental breakdowns, no episode is without its delete-worthy moments.  But now it's all here for you to enjoy in this special April Fool's Day episode! In addition to a variety of outtakes and bloopers, I've included plenty of behind the scenes chit-chat.  The wonderful thing about having so many incredible friends to join me on the podcast is all the fun conversations we have before and after recording the actual episode.  And those interactions are often as much fun as the rest of it, so many of those moments are also included!  Some of my many 'guests' for this episode include Pixel Dan, Jason Devall, Suine Hallock, Joe Hogan, Chris Vint and Mike Lacey! Enjoy

Welcome to Positively Nerdy! We start this week with a special announcement regarding the future of the Positively Nerdy comic review episodes before launching into this week’s reviews that include the latest from Image Comics, more DC’s New52 and MarvelNOW! as well as Star Trek and a very disappointing finale for a certainly ‘vampires versus robots’ miniseries. Justice League teammates share DC's New52 spotlight this week with the King of Atlantis surrounded by threats above and below the ocean in Aquman #18 while the The Flash #18 renews my interest in the series. This week’s Image #1 is East of West #1 from Jonathan Hickman and it can only be described as incredible. IDW Publishing continues the build toward Star Trek: Into Darkness with a Scotty-centric Star Trek #19 before completely dropping the ball on Transfusion #3. And all-new from Marvel this week is the less-that-spectacular Scarlet Spider #15 and the still impressive series that always has terrific art, even when it’s a ‘fill-in’, Uncanny Avengers #5

Welcome to Positively Nerdy and a brand-new installment of the Radical Corner of Turtle Comic Talk!  Joined, as always, by TMNT mega-fan Suine Hallock, it's time to once again break down the Turtle comics from IDW!  Ryan and Suine discuss the second half of the 'Secret History of the Foot Clan' mini-series as well as issues eighteen, nineteen and twenty of the regular ongoing series.  Along the way we discuss the incredible art in both series, the bad-ass makeover of the Neutrinos, the secrets of Oroku Saki's longevity as well as the new purpose for the Technodrome and the promise of more mutants in the very new future.  And finally things wrap-up with a look forward to upcoming releases and topics for the next episode including the return of the Micro-Series

Welcome to Positively Nerdy and the Marvel NOW! invasion. Nearly half the stack this week is from Marvel NOW! but don’t think for a minute that means we don’t have any variety. DC’s New52 offers a few surprises along with a pair of titles from Image Comics while IDW continues to prep fans for Star Trek: Into Darkness!  The Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness #3 races the mini-series toward it’s conclusion with the most exciting issue yet while Chew #32 remains as difficult as ever to accurately describe to all of you. The roster of the Justice League grows in Justice League #18 but typically that only means DC is going to remove some of the core members. Meanwhile the roster of Avengers #8 is already massive and writer Jonathan Hickman uses them each extremely effectively. Otto can’t help but ignore the responsibility that comes with his powers when it comes to getting back at bullies in Superior Spider-Man #6 while Miles takes on more than his fair share in Ultimate Comics All-New Spider-Man #21. Mark Waid keeps things exciting in Indestructible Hulk #5 as All-New X-Men #9 solidifies the series’ standing as the best of Marvel NOW! while serving as the comic book equivalent of a ‘Greatest Hits’ album. Wonder Woman #18 wraps up a massive story that has dominated every issue of the New52’s run and Saga #11 showcases all the big ideas and tiny details that go into making it the best comic currently being published

Welcome to Positively Nerdy! This time around the weekly stack of comics offers a huge variety featuring Marvel, DC, Image, IDW and Dark Horse with subjects ranging from the aftermath of a tragedy and time travel to pulp heroes and alternate histories.  This week the Bat-family deals with the death of Damian Wayne in Batman #18 and Batman and Robin #18 and Marvel’s First Family travels back to ancient Rome in Fantastic Four #5. The Rocketeer gets lost in the shuffle of his own series, in the best way possible, in The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror #2. Sledgehammer 44 #1 and The Manhattan Projects #10 re-write history while Star Wars #3 continues to exceed my expectation. And finally, Todd: The Ugliest Kid on Earth #3 showcases a brilliant and multi-faceted story beneath its layers of entertaining chaos and bizarre happenings

Welcome to Positively Nerdy! This week features more superhero shenanigans than you can shake a stick at! (What does that expression even mean?) Plenty of offerings from MarvelNOW! as well as DC’s New52 and there’s even some cute, little ponies from IDW!  At a time when it seems like I’m dropping DC titles left and right, Jeff Lemire has my full attention thanks to Green Arrow #18. Green Arrow joins two of my current favorites from DC this week, World’s Finest #10 featuring Huntress’ reaction to Damian’s death and Earth2 #10, bringing readers ever closer to the formation of the Justice Society – or so I assume. IDW’s blockbuster series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #4 wraps up the story from Katie Cook and Andy Price. And finally over at Marvel, MarvelNOW! unleashes some of their biggest titles with Superior Spider-Man #5, Jonathan Hickman’s every expanding, universe consuming story in Avengers #7 and those same avengers come face-to-face with the X-Men, and the X-Men of the past, in All-New X-Men #8

Season 5 of the landmark series Star Wars: The Clone Wars has come to a powerful and emotional end that answers many questions about the fate of Ahsoka Tano and takes the series closer and closer to the events in Star Wars: Episode 3 - The Revenge of the Sith.  Joining me to break it all down is Star Wars artist Joe Hogan!  Joe and I discuss the final four episodes of Season 5 in great detail.  From the music and visuals to the fate of Ahsoka and the bizarre behavior of the Jedi Council.  We also look back on the season as a whole as well as speculate on where the series may go from here.  Was this the last we'll see of Ahsoka?  How have opinions changed regarding the character and if this the last we see of her, did the final deliver on our all expectations?  The answers to these questions and many more await you in this episode.  Finally, there is great concern by many fans regarding the lack of news on the future of the series.  If you would like to let Disney hear your voice regarding your love of the series the necessary is below: Disney Studios 500 S Buena Vista St Burbank, CA 91521 Attn: Bob Iger While I personally doubt the validity of those concerns, there is absolutely no harm in letting your voice be heard

Welcome to Positively Nerdy! This week is full of endings and beginnings as two all-new #1 issues debut, two sci-fi mini-series come to an end and several major superhero titles transition from one story arc to the next. But only one can be crowned the Top of the Stack! This week MarvelNOW! unleashes plenty of surprises in Uncanny Avengers #4 and sends us on date night in FF#4 while DC’s New52 has Justice League teammates The Flash #17 and Aquaman #17 wrapping up major story arcs. Image Comics brings back Skullkickers in The Uncanny Skullkickers #1 and IDW delivers The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror #1 and finishes off the Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Hive #4. And last, but certainly not least, Dark Horse finishes another Bond-inspired story in Star Wars: Agent of the Empire – Hard Targets #5

Welcome to Positively Nerdy! DC’s New 52 clashes against MarvelNOW! in a battle for supremacy this week but there’s still time to discuss IDW’s double-shot of Star Trek comics as well as Image Comic’s Saga! DC steps up with two of the New 52’s best this week with Justice League #17 and Wonder Woman #17 and hopes to start a new wave of interest with Justice League of America #1. MarvelNOW! counters with Avengers #6, Indestructible Hulk #4 and Superior Spider-Man #4. And while the Big Two slug it out, IDW and Image sneak in some terrific sci-fi comics: Star Trek #18 and Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness #2 and Saga #10, respectively

Welcome to Positively Nerdy!  It's that time of year again, the movie award season wraps up with the Academy Awards.  Joining me for this Oscar preview episode is the biggest movie award show junkie I know, my wife Leah!  Leah and I break down most of the major categories from this year’s nominees, discussing who we'd like to see win and who we think will actually end up with the golden statue.  Along the way we discuss the mystery of Silver Linings Playbook's many nominations, the brilliance of Daniel Day-Lewis, the snubs of Ben Affleck and Kathryn Bigelow, the possibly of Disney FINALLY winning the Best Animated Feature award and Leah's confession that Skyfall was her first James Bond movie.  To wrap it up we discuss the perceptions of the show and why they routinely struggle for ratings.  Will this year's host, Seth MacFarlane, help attract viewers?  It all happens this Sunday when we get to see if we were right or wrong on our many predictions