2 in 1 Showcase Episode 156: Mike’s Mom, You’re Amusing

Mike isn’t even here this week, but his mom somehow gets the title of this free-for-all, tangent-style episode. Blake and Kenny answer more of your e-mails and talk about more comic news, including the dollar comics for Free Comic Book Day, the state of the Avengers after Siege, the Blackest Night ring/Siege variant controversy, and much more! In the picks, Blake loves the finale of G-Man: Cape Crisis, and Kenny still has mad love for Power Girl. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@comixtreme.com!

2 in 1 Showcase Episode 156: Mike’s Mom, You’re Amusing
Inside This Episode:

2 in 1 Showcase Episode 129: Spider-Man — Kraven’s Last Hunt

Retrospective week is upon us again! This month, the guys dive into one of the greatest Spider-Man sagas of all time, J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck‘s classic Kraven’s Last Hunt. The guys break down the story, talk about what makes it so enduring, and discuss spin-offs and repurcussions that last even today! In the picks this week, Blake presents Buzzboy: Sidekicks Rule #3, Chase digs Savage Dragon #150, and Mike enjoys Superman: World of New Krypton #5. This week’s graphic novel pick: Echo: Atomic Dreams. Don’t forget our “Give Mike a Title” contest! Contact us with comments, suggestions, “Ask Chase Anything” questions, or anything else at Showcase@comixtreme.com.

2 in 1 Showcase Episode 129: Spider-Man — Kraven’s Last Hunt
Inside This Episode:

Plus: With a whole one day of the San Diego Comicon under our belts, Blake and Chase sit down to chat about some of the announcements so far. An ARG for Tron: Legacy? A possible Roger Rabbit 2? The return of Jeff Smith‘s Bone? Bat-Boy comes to comics? Plus, Chase talks about the latest season of Torchwood!

Week in Geek #27: One Day in San Diego

2 in 1 Showcase Episode 114: Superman-Panic in the Sky

Retro-week strikes the Showcase boys, as they sit back and discuss one of their favorite stories of the early 1990s, the Superman-family crossover Panic in the Sky! The guys discuss the roots of the story, the repurcussions, how it led to the Death of Superman, and how the “Triangle Numbers” of the era compare with the way the Superman family of comics is in 2009. In the picks, Mike goes with Booster Gold #18, Chase picks The Walking Dead #59, and Blake digs PS 238 #38. Our graphic novel pick of the week? The Walking Dead Compendium Vol. 1! Write us with comments, suggestions, picks of the week, “Ask Chase Anything” questions, or anything else at Showcase@comixtreme.com!

Episode 114: Superman-Panic in the Sky
Inside This Episode:

PLUS: With Chase off for a Disney World vacation, Blake is riding solo this week. Chase gives us a quick phone call to check in, then Blake dishes on this week’s Lost, Dead is Dead, and the pilot episode of The Unusuals. Plus, he looks briefly at Kevin J. Anderson‘s upcoming Superman/Batman novel, Enemies and Allies.

Week in Geek #16: Greetings From Orlando!

Everything But Imaginary #298: Give It, Don’t Take It

Comic book downloads are becoming as prolific as music or movies — and are no less illegal. What’s the difference? Why is it a big deal? And why — if you believe in the New Media model of giving away content — should you care if people download? This week, I tell you why. This week’s Pick of the Week: Superman: World of New Krypton #1!

Everything But Imaginary #298: Give It, Don’t Take It
Inside This Column:

Everything But Imaginary #291: One Last Look at 2008

It’s the last day of the year, friends, so let’s end it with one look back at some of the high and low points in the world of comics, as chosen by me. And then, stick around for the nominees for the 2008 Everything But Imaginary Awards! Your votes have to be e-mailed to Blake@comixtreme.com by Monday, Jan. 5, to be counted!

Everything But Imaginary #291: One Last Look at 2008
Inside This Column:

2 in 1 Showcase Episode 99: 2008-The Year in Review

2008 ends in just days, folks, so let’s go out with a Showcase blowout! Joined by back-up geeks Mike and Kenny, the boys announce the winners of the Best of 2008 awards, as voted on by you! Then, it’s a long talk about everything that happened in comics in 2008! The Dark Knight, the rise of Marvel Studios, Diamond refuses to distribute Hack/Slash, Archie goes back to ninth grade, and a heck of a lot more. This double-sized episode is the longest Showcase ever (we promise we won’t make a habit of it)! And instead of our usual picks of the week, stay tuned as our four guys pick their favorite comic books of the entire year! Next week will be the 100th Episode Spectacular! If you’ll be in the New Orleans area on Friday, Jan. 2 at about 4:30 p.m., stop in at BSI Comics to join the guys as they record their centennial episode! You can also send your anniversary greetings, “Ask Chase Anything” questions, or anything else at Showcase@comixtreme.com!

Episode 99: 2008-The Year in Review
Inside This Episode:

PLUS: In Week in Geek #5, DC Comics has released a teaser image for the upcoming Batman: Battle For the Cowl event. This week, Blake dissects the image to try to figure out the clues and hints hidden within!

Week in Geek #5: Battle For the Cowl Teaser Analyzed

2 in 1 Showcase Episode 95: Best of 2008 Nomination Special

The year is almost over, friends, so it’s time for Blake and Chase to make their nominations for the best in comics for 2008! Listen to the guys discuss their choices, and then e-mail your votes to Showcase@comixtreme.com. One randomly-chosen voter will recieve a prize package. Votes must be received by December 26, 2008, to be counted in time for their announcement in our end-of-the-year spectacular!

Episode 95: Best of 2008 Nomination Special

The nominees are:Best Ongoing Series:
Action Comics
Fables
Green Lantern
The Walking Dead

 

Best Miniseries or One-Shot:
Franklin Richards: Sons of Geniuses
Justice Society of America Kingdom Special: Superman
Secret Invasion
Superman: New Krypton Special

Best Storyline:
Action Comics: Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes
Batman Confidential: The Bat and the Cat
Fables: War and Pieces
The Lone Ranger: Scorched Earth

Best New Series:
Flash Gordon
Guardians of the Galaxy
Incredible Hercules
Secret Six

Best Writer or Writing Team:
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Ed Brubaker
Geoff Johns
Greg Pak

Best Artist or Art Team:
Mark Buckingham
Gary Frank
Mike McKone
Nicola Scott

Title Deserving of Wider Recognition:
Archie
Hack/Slash
PS 238
Uncle Scrooge

Best Genre TV Series:
Battlestar Galactica
Lost
Smallville
Stargate: Atlantis

Best Genre Motion Picture:
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Quantum of Solace
Wall-E

The Next Big Thing:
Blue Lanterns
The Legion of Super-Heroes
Marvel Illustrated: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Star Trek

Favorite Geek:
Mike Bellamy
Chase Bouzigard
Kenny Fanguy
Blake Petit

Green Lantern: In Brightest Day

People who are reading the current crop of Green Lantern comics are getting some of the best stories we’ve ever seen with the franchise, and that’s in no small part due to the amazing work of Geoff Johns. What I love about Johns is his ability to take bits and pieces of classic stories, put them through a modern prism, and turn them into something totally new, fresh, and exciting. He’s currently working that same magic on Action Comics and Justice Society of America, and damn if I’m not excited for next year’s Flash: Rebirth. The Green Lantern stuff, meanwhile, is all leading into a storyline called The Blackest Night, which will fall across the DC Universe sometime next year.

Many of the elements that are making up the GL stories today are based on bits and pieces of stories from the past five decades of Hal Jordan’s existence. Since a lot of younger readers may not be familiar with these stories, DC Comics recently had Johns select several of the stories that inspired him to include in a collection of stories, Green Lantern: In Brightest Day. This is a really fun book, with stories from all over the place, including the first appearances of GLs like Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, Laira and Mogo, important stories for John Stewart and the Guardians of the Universe, the origins of the villains Sinestro and Krona, and the Alan Moore story that directly influenced Blackest Night. I wrote up a full review of the book over at Comixtreme.com — if you’re on the fence about whether you want to get the book or not, take a look.

And while we’re on the subject, how about a few other reviews I’ve pounded out on the ol’ computer over the last few weeks?

• Adventure Comics Special #1: New Krypton part three!
• Secret Six #3: Unhinged part three!
• Superman #681: New Krypton part two!
• Superman/Batman #53: Super/Bat part one!
• Trinity #22: The universe tries to fill the void of the lost Trinity!
• Uncle Scrooge #381: Donald Duck-daredevil spokesman!
• Done-In-One Reviews for Nov. 1, 2008: In which I review Archie #590, Jack of Fables #27, Legion of Super-Heroes #47, Star Wars: Legacy #29 & Wolverine: First Class #8
• Done-in-One Reviews for Nov. 8, 2008: In which I review The Darkling #1; Franklin Richards: Sons of Geniuses #1; Gemini #3, House of Mystery #7, Jonah Hex #37, Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #696; Wolverine and Power Pack #1 & X-Men: First Class Giant-Sized Special #1
• And also, the new movie Zack and Miri Make a Porno