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HAWK TALK – Playing With Super Power (feat. Matthew Hunter)

September 7, 2020 podcasts 10 comments

This would usually be a skip week, but the world is still being a jerk, so we made you a bonus, entirely unedited, and almost entirely off-topic episode. This time, our producer Matthew Hunter subbed in for Jay and he and Miles talked about the video games they grew up on!

Topics, roughly:

Crystalis
Power Blade
Fighting robots (in general)
Super Mario World
F-Zero
Final Fantasy II (which is to say IV)
Street Fighter II
Rockin’ Kats
Shatter Hand
Battletoads
Lemmings
The Incredible Machine
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Turtles in Time
Mario Paint
Doom
Secret of Mana
Mega Man X
Disney adaptations
Final Fantasy III (which is to say VI)
Donkey Kong Country
Super Punch Out
Illusion of Gaia
BioForge
DWANGO (Dial-up Wide-Area Network Game Operation)
Full Throttle, Quest For Glory, Gabriel Knight…
Wild ARMs
Wipeout
Stun Runner
Resident Evil
Final Fantasy VII
Fallout
Parasite Eve
Xenogears
Baldur’s Gate
Tetris DX
Pokémon (Blue)
LUNAR
Silent Hill

You can find Matt on Twitter and his music on Bandcamp!

As Mentioned in Episode 306 – Between Here and There

August 30, 2020 As Mentioned, As Mentioned 2 comments

Listen to the episode here.

Art by David Wynne. Wanna buy the original? Drop him a line!

Kids, send in your answers for a prize! (Uncanny X-Men #322)

Pink was IN for pretty much all projectiles in 1995. (Uncanny X-Men #322)

Jeez, Warren, get over it. Everyone has to wear a mask these days. It’s not that hard. (Uncanny X-Men #322)

Now I want to see what Bishop would think of Mandy. (Uncanny X-Men #322)

I really like Jean’s family. Shame what Claremont did to them in 2006. (Uncanny X-Men #322)

Getting punched by the Juggernaut is a way quicker method of depilation than waxing or electrolysis. (Uncanny X-Men #322)

Uncanny X-Men #12-13 could’ve been cut down to about a page and a half if Psylocke had been around. (Uncanny X-Men #322)

Sigh. (Uncanny X-Men #322)

This page was very important to young Miles. (Uncanny X-Men #323)

Okay, who spiked the Danger Room? (Uncanny X-Men #323)

X-Force’s former leader, folks. (Uncanny X-Men #323)

Low blow, Trish. (Uncanny X-Men #323)

On one hand, Iceman is a loyal and caring friend. On the other hand, he calls himself The Bobster. It kind of evens out. (Uncanny X-Men #323)

Logan, this is how we got banned from Denny’s, remember? (Uncanny X-Men #323)

The Container Crew. (Uncanny X-Men #323)

DC’s Azrael only wishes he could look this cool. (Uncanny X-Men #324)

Look at my teeth! LOOK AT THEM! (Uncanny X-Men #324)

Would’ve been funnier if it was a vampire bar. (Uncanny X-Men #324)

You said it, Logan. (Uncanny X-Men #324)

1.5 stars in Yelp’s morgue section (Uncanny X-Men #324)

This Fall on CBS! (Uncanny X-Men #324)

Letting Bobby’s call go to voicemail? Jeez, this is almost as bad as that time she blew up a pony! (Uncanny X-Men #324)

NEXT TIME: Hey, it’s these kids!

LINKS & FURTHER ATROCITIES:

Check out Episode 203 – The X-Man’s Burden for more on the apparent death of the Morlocks!
WHOA, DANG! Jay wrote an official X-Men comic, which comes out on September 16!

As Mentioned in Episode 305 – The Sleep of the Wicked

August 23, 2020 As Mentioned, As Mentioned One comment

Listen to the episode here.

Art by David Wynne. Wanna buy the original? Drop him a line!

That logo! That art! If this era was as good as the cover that started it, we’d be in great shape. (X-Factor #112)

Half cyborg. Half samurai. All toothy. (X-Factor #112)

Wild Child: like Wolverine, but stylish! (X-Factor #112)

“I walked here all the way from Havok & Wolverine: Meltdown, and boy, are my legs tired! And also very long!” (X-Factor #112)

Aww, Random. (X-Factor #112)

Mystique is actually laughing her ass off three blocks away. (X-Factor #112)

How else is someone in an X-Factor comic supposed to enter a room? Through the door? (X-Factor #112)

Havok’s woozy-bubbles are the best woozy-bubbles. (X-Factor #112)

Speaking of Polaris, did you see what her actress from The Gifted said on Twitter? (X-Factor #113)

As an information technology professional, Miles can confirm that BLAMPF (X-Factor #113)

Seriously, what the hell did Fatale build that thing out of? (X-Factor #113)

Yukio is reminded of her first date with Storm. (X-Factor #113)

Bad cop, worse cop. (X-Factor #113)

Havok is reminded of his first date with Polaris. (X-Factor #113)

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (X-Factor #113)

…and neither will we, because Scarlett hasn’t shown up since this panel. (X-Factor #113)

Mystique is the only one happy about this arrangement. Well, maybe not happy, but smug. (X-Factor #114

It’s like Banshee and Emma Frost if they hated each other way more! (X-Factor #114)

I mean, it’s pretty much Freedom Force with all of the pretense removed. (X-Factor #114)

Dig that panel layout. (X-Factor #114)

What did I mention about smug? (X-Factor #114)

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Part Two (X-Factor #114)

And here I thought X-Force was the only comic using romance comic panels in 1995. (X-Factor #114)

Poor bastard doesn’t stand a chance. (X-Factor #114)

Why yes, I do subscribe to World Wide Web! (X-Factor #113)

NEXT TIME: Buckle up.

LINKS & FURTHER BACKSTORY

We covered the Cyburai’s first appearance in Episode 160 – Hank McCoy and the Hickey of Destiny.
You can learn more about Scarlett McKenzie (and Jay’s favorite X-related miniseries) in Episode 114 – Meltdown.

As Mentioned in Episode 304 – Explosive Ops

August 18, 2020 As Mentioned, As Mentioned 3 comments

Listen to the episode here.

Art by David Wynne. Wanna buy the original? Drop him a line!

Next up: this cover sadly walking away from a gathered crowd of additional copies of this cover. (X-Force #44)

They’re about five minutes away from standing on each other’s shoulders and wearing a big trench coat to seem like an adult. (X-Force #44)

All of the elements of a relaxing vacation: an idyllic cottage, a beautiful forest, adorable animals, a tiny speedo… (X-Force #44)

“Also, I’m going to need you to start doing machines. You’ve been cool but rude for too long.” (X-Force #44)

“Ah’m nigh invulnerable when Ah’m excited!” (X-Force #44)

Morally yellow and purple. (X-Force #44)

“DOOM”? Are we looking at Caliban and Sabretooth or Surtur and his anvil? (X-Force #45)

Adam Pollina draws some pretty great faces. (X-Force #45)

“Every time he seems to be ready to come down, he loses count of his pouches and has to start all over again.” (X-Force #45)

If you asked me what X-book would look most like a romance comic in 1995, I would not have predicted X-Force. (X-Force #45)

Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that the character Mimic has spent the most time with in the preceding decade was the Hulk. (X-Force #45)

Rutland, Vermont: not just a frequent setting of 1970s Marvel and DC comics, but totally a real place! (Avengers #119)

“Is that..? Couldn’t be. But who else has that topknot and ‘burns combo?” (X-Force #46)

And that’s why you always leave a note. (X-Force #46)

These animals look way more judgmental than the ones in the last hologram. (X-Force #46)

“This new hair gel… When it says ‘apply sparingly’, it means it.” (X-Force #46)

“What? Someone on your team now has more pouches than me? I’ll be right over!” (X-Force #46)

Reminds me of my first car. (X-Force #47)

Aww, kid. (X-Force #47)

I’m not sure why Adam Pollina sometimes randomly gives us art nouveau backgrounds, but I’m not complaining. (X-Force #47)

Jeez, now I’m scared to go outside. (X-Force #47)

Aww not this again (X-Force #47)

This haircut! Bring back this exact haircut! (Longshot Saves the Marvel Universe #1)

NEXT TIME: The kinda-new, sorta-different X-Factor.

LINKS & FURTHER NONSENSE:

Rutland, Vermont had multiple Marvel and DC stories set in it during the 1970s – but it’s also a real place. Apologies for telling everyone it was imaginary, and thank you to all the listeners who kindly pointed out that it wasn’t!

HAWK TALK – Video Renaissance

August 9, 2020 podcasts 25 comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This would usually be a skip week, but the world is still being a jerk, so we made you a bonus, entirely unedited, and almost entirely off-topic episode. This time, we talked about the movies we grew up on!

Topics, roughly:

The glories of VHS
Flight of Dragons
Fantastic Planet
Star(s), both Wars and Trek
The Princess Bride, which is objectively perfect
The Dark Crystal
My Dinner With Andre (again)
The Crow
Barbarella, Queen of the Galaxy
Help
Yellow Submarine
Wayne & Garth & Bill & Ted
Defending Your Life
Ghostbusters
Various musicals

HAWK TALK – Attack of the Franchise Cartoons

July 12, 2020 podcasts 26 comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Topics, roughly:

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood
Masters of the Universe
She-Ra
The Real (vs. non-Real) Ghostbusters
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Little Shop of Horrors
Beetlejuice
Toxic Crusaders
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
The Adventures of Pete & Pete (and the not-so-secret origin of this podcast)
Les Schtroumpfs (and the time they maybe fought Satan)
Batman: The Animated Series
X-Men: The Animated Series
X-Men: Evolution
Wolverine & the X-Men
The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour
The X-Files
Star Trek: Voyager
Earth 2
VR5
M.A.N.T.I.S.
The Simpsons
Daria
Tuca & Bertie
Gravity Falls
Over the Garden Wall

You can check out Waiting for October, our zine based on The Adventures of Pete & Pete, on Gumroad!

As Mentioned in Episode 297 – Blood Is Compulsory

June 13, 2020 As Mentioned, As Mentioned, Uncategorized No comments

Listen to the episode here.

Art by David Wynne. Wanna buy the original? Drop him a line!

We were not nearly that ripped when we were 17. Or that telekinetic, I guess. (X-Man #1)

As entertaining as it is to imagine him with Schwarzenegger’s accent, I guess Cyclops is more John Connor than he is the T-800. (X-Man #1)

What I wouldn’t give for these guys to have their own ongoing comic… (X-Man #1)

I mean, seriously! How great would it be? Half revolutionary, half thespian, all delightful! (X-Man #1)

Black Tom Cassidy’s hair went white the day he lost his shillelagh. (X-Man #1)

Characters who need their own book, figure 3. (X-Man #1)

IS YOUR NAME OMEGA BLUE, ARKADY? NO IT IS NOT! (X-Man #2)

This is the Earth-295 equivalent of playing catch. (X-Man #2)

Sunspot would be proud. (And god damn, Steve Skroce is good at drawing telekinesis.) (X-Man #2)

Come on, Forge… How could you not trust a guy with a smile that big and a forehead diamond that he assures you is merely a fashion statement? (X-Man #2)

Nightmare factory? Heavy metal album cover? Why not both? (X-Man #2)

Butter Rum of Earth-295 does not approve. (X-Man #2)

The best-dressed D&D party of the Age of Apocalypse. (X-Man #3)

Whoa, Jason – maybe dial it back a little? (X-Man #3)

Schlonk? (X-Man #3)

Steve Skroce, making psychic powers look amazing since 1993. (Anyone remember Ectokid?) (X-Man #3)

I’m so glad they get to have this before everything goes to hell. (X-Man #3)

I’m not psychically crying you’re psychically crying (X-Man #3)

Jeph Loeb gets Sinister. (X-Man #4)

Does Mister Sinister practice his smug smiles in the mirror for moments like these? I mean, obviously he does, but like, for how long? (X-Man #4)

pterodactylwithapulserifle.tumblr.com (X-Man #4)

“To die will be an awfully big adventure.” (X-Man #4)

“Their eyes locked through the hole they’d smashed through the wall, and though they’d never truly met, they knew what they were: family.” (X-Man #4)

OBSCENE MONUMENT. (X-Man #4)

Hey, it’s Nate’s early, even more Dune-like design! (X-Men Collector’s Preview #1)

NEXT TIME: Being Human.

As Mentioned in Episode 296 – Hard Choices

May 31, 2020 As Mentioned, As Mentioned No comments

Listen to the episode here.

Art by David Wynne. Wanna buy the original? Drop him a line!

“Are you coming too, mysterious hooded stranger? My sister, Carmen Sandiego, would love to have you along!” (Amazing X-Men #1)

Danger Room cold open, Earth-295-style! (Amazing X-Men #1)

“Just a few more hours and a few dozen more cigarettes until Tom Waits karaoke night!” (Amazing X-Men #1)

“For further details, my X-Men, you must buy every other X-comic on the stands. Excelsior!” (Amazing X-Men #1)

As the famous thinker Parappa the Rapper once so wisely said: you gotta believe. (Amazing X-Men #1)

Earth-295 Sentinels may be lacking in toboggan hats and robot one-piece swimsuits, but they’re still pretty impressive. (Amazing X-Men #1)

Half unspooled VHS tape, half Slinky, all nuisance. (Amazing X-Men #2)

“Go easy on ’em, X-Men – they remembered to use our logo font, and that was very considerate of them.” (Amazing X-Men #2)

Banshee’s facial expression speaks for us all. (Amazing X-Men #2)

Okay, that’s legit terrifying. (Amazing X-Men #2)

Quicksilver? More like FRIPsilver! (Amazing X-Men #2)

If the title wasn’t already taken, Magneto’s autobiography would be called The Brood Saga. (Amazing X-Men #3)

It takes a true villain to make “being stretchy” an intimidating superpower. (Amazing X-Men #3)

Mary Poppins: The Snyder Cut. (Amazing X-Men #3)

Shaking Angel down for information is an X-Men rite of passage. (Amazing X-Men #3)

Open wide and say “flashback”! (Amazing X-Men #3)

you guys I think I’m in the wrong church (Amazing X-Men #4)

This may be bad, but at least he doesn’t have to die of a mutant-targeting virus twice in the Age of Apocalypse the way he does in Earth-616… (Amazing X-Men #4)

Generation Next – ripping our hearts out even when it’s someone else’s comic! (Amazing X-Men #4)

I know you’re mad at Gambit, Rogue, but did you really have to punch his legs off? (Amazing X-Men #4)

Aww, damn – he was just one week away from retirement! (Amazing X-Men #4)

*raises lighter* (Amazing X-Men #4)

NEXT EPISODE: This guy.

HAWK TALK – Florida Mans

May 24, 2020 podcasts 9 comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This would usually be a skip week, but the world is still being a jerk, so we made you a bonus, entirely unedited, and almost entirely off-topic episode. This time, we talked about a whole bunch of random topics suggested by you!

Topics, sorta:

Good birds
Dinosaurs
Florida
Nostalgic video games
Booze
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Probably some other stuff I’m forgetting

As Mentioned in Episode 293 – The Monster Under the World

May 10, 2020 As Mentioned, As Mentioned No comments

Listen to the podcast here.

Art by David Wynne. Wanna buy the original? Drop him a line!

Almost as cool as the way the backgrounds of the Marvel Universe Series 3 trading cards can be laid out as two giant space-pictures.

Husk, you’ve changed! And Chamber, you… have a face! (Generation Next #1)

Red and yellow outfit, banded metal skin, muscles on muscles, utterly broken by the world… I guess Earth-295 isn’t that different. (Generation Next #1)

We’ve seen Kitty bully younger mutants before… just usually not with as much stabbing. (Generation Next #1)

“I mean, we don’t want them to be inexperienced at dying, do we?” (Generation Next #1)

Know-It-All is pretty sure the depiction of technology in Hackers is way too bland and boring. (Generation Next #1)

Drums. Drums in the deep. (Generation Next #2)

Do minibuses look like that? No. But should they? (Generation Next #2)

This was one of the weirder anti-smoking PSAs of the 90s. (Generation Next #2)

Quietus is troubling. (Generation Next #2)

Paige has a zero-tolerance policy for Monty Python references. (Generation Next #2)

Only Chris Bachalo could make relatively normal people and monsters like that look at home in the same panel. (Generation Next #3)

“Like, the spiritual concept, not like Xi’an from New Muta… You know what, never mind.” (Generation Next #3)

Weirdly, I’ve had this exact same dream. (Generation Next #3)

Meanwhile, everything is terrible. (Generation Next #3)

YIP! (Generation Next #3)

Enclosed V Exposed: Dawn of Panel Layouts (Generation Next #4)

And then Sugar Man ate through his own mangled corpse and burrowed into the next scene. As one does. (Generation Next #4)

noooooo (Generation Next #4)

NOOOOOOOO (Generation Next #4)

Not to downplay the effectiveness of SPLOT SPLANG BONK THOPP, but it’s those irregular, sharp panel borders that really sell the impact. (Generation Next #4)