All posts by Ian

Comic Timing – Episode 179: There’s Always Time For Collecting Comics!

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Today is a very special day. On this date, May 1st, in 2006, the very first episode of Comic Timing was released. That’s ten years ago! Holy crap! Time flies, right? To celebrate, Ian and Brent have put together one heck of an episode for you all. The duo are joined by the Comic Geek Speak crew of Chris Eberle, Shane Kelly, and Adam Murdough to discuss what we all love to do: collect comics! The conversation ranges from how we all first got into the medium to how many comics we’ve owned over the years, how collecting has changed since we all started, what the introduction of digital has done to the industry as a whole, where collecting may go in the future, and a whole lot more. Plus, there are even some suggestions for new readers to check out if you’re looking for a way in the door of comic book collecting!

In honor of this very special 10th anniversary episode of the show, the Comic Timing site has gone through a much needed redesign! A lot of the site has been streamlined, and there is now an Amazon box on the right sidebar you can use to purchase items with. This is a great way to support the show, as part of your Amazon Affiliate purchase will get kicked back to Ian, and go towards maintaining the show’s servers and general maintenance! And yes, as has been the norm, the Patreon is still coming, so stay tuned for that as well.

You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com and be sure to Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming. You can follow Ian on Twitter @i_am_scifi, or on Tumblr at heehaw-ds9.tumblr.com; Brent is on Twitter too @kossinab. Be sure to head to The Comic Forums to discuss this episode, as it will be syndicated on the CGS feed a few days after its release here. And if you live in New Jersey, go ahead and stop by Wild Pig Comics on Free Comic Book Day, May 7th, for their amazing annual sale! Everything from their wide variety of 50 cent comics to both new and used trades, POP! Vinyls and Toon Tumblers will be 25% off sticker price! That’s Wild Pig Comics at 14 South Michigan Avenue in Kenilworth, NJ.

It was an honor and a privilege to have these guys on the show, and we certainly hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it happen. Thank you all for listening for TEN YEARS of shows, and we’ll catch you next time!

Comic Timing – Episode 178: Batman V Superman V Comic Timing

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STAY DOWN. Our Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice episode has arrived! And boy oh boy is it a whopper. Brandon Christopher, Raphael Soohoo, Brent and Ian have put together just about three hours of content for you all to enjoy, both live from Philadelphia right after Ian and Brandon saw the movie, and back in the studio a few days later via Skype. Brent presents a thesis on why the current movie Superman is so divisive among the geek community, we talk as a group on whether or not Batman should wield guns, how awesome Wonder Woman is and how she’s the best part of the movie, Lex Luthor’s manic tendencies, the whole Doomsday thing, earning the respect of the world, Alfred’s usefulness, Lois’ usefulness, Zack Snyder’s usefulness, and a whole lot more.

Fair warning: if you’re looking for a 100% glowing review, I suggest you look elsewhere. Like Raging Bullets, because they’re awesome. But if you’re looking for a critical eye that doesn’t dip into yelling at each other, stick around Comic Timing. You’ve come to the right place.

As always – we are sponsored by the newly redesigned DCBS! That’s right! Discount Comic Book Service! All comics from major publishers like Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse are 40% off or more. And hardcovers and trade paperbacks from Marvel and DC are at least 50% off! Plus, be sure to check out their Comixology digital storefront for even further savings!

Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks for information on our Patreon, which should be launching real soon. If you want to support Comic Timing and help keep it going for years to come, that’s one of the many ways you can do so. You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com and be sure to Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming. You can follow Ian on Twitter @i_am_scifi, or on Tumblr at heehaw-ds9.tumblr.com; Brent is on Twitter too @kossinab. And check out Raph’s blog about life and various other things, Volume 32. Plus, Brandon’s got a new podcast! Check out The Pop Culture Clash Podcast with him and Baron.

Thanks for listening, and we’ll catch you next time!

Comic Timing Extra Point – Episode 14: Daredevil Season 2 Sneak Preview

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Interested in how the upcoming second season of Netflix’s hit series Daredevil is going to start out? Tonight was the NYC premiere of the first two episodes, and Ian was there to see them! Very slight spoilers are to be found here, so if you want to avoid knowing anything at all until the episodes hit the web next week, avoid this til then. But if you’re looking for initial impressions, general story points, and Punisher, you’ve come to the right place. And thanks, Marvel Unlimited Plus membership, for making this Extra Point possible! That extra $20 goes a long way.

As always – we are sponsored by the newly redesigned DCBS! That’s right! Discount Comic Book Service! All comics from major publishers like Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse are 40% off or more. And hardcovers and trade paperbacks from Marvel and DC are at least 50% off! Plus, be sure to check out their Comixology digital storefront for even further savings!

Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks for information on our Patreon, which should be launching real soon. If you want to support Comic Timing and help keep it going for years to come, that’s one of the many ways you can do so. You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com and be sure to Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming. You can follow Ian on Twitter @i_am_scifi, or on Tumblr at heehaw-ds9.tumblr.com; Brent is on Twitter too @kossinab.

Thanks for listening, and we’ll catch you next time!

Comic Timing – Episode 177: Deadpool Review

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It’s time to make the chimichangas! Brent and Ian are joined by longtime friend of the show, and Supershow Episode veteran, Steve Katz, as they review the Rated R Superstar, Deadpool! Get ready for a pretty even-handed review of the film, as not everybody was completely thrilled with it. But some were! Two distinct opinions within with civil conversation throughout. Madness, right? Anywho, of course there’s madness! It’s Deadpool! And oh, spoilers, because duh. Then, the episode concludes with some quick talk about DC’s upcoming Rebirth.

As always – we are sponsored by the newly redesigned DCBS! That’s right! Discount Comic Book Service! All comics from major publishers like Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse are 40% off or more. And hardcovers and trade paperbacks from Marvel and DC are at least 50% off! Plus, be sure to check out their Comixology digital storefront for even further savings!

Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks for information on our Patreon, which should be launching real soon. If you want to support Comic Timing and help keep it going for years to come, that’s one of the many ways you can do so. You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com and be sure to Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming. You can follow Ian on Twitter @i_am_scifi, or on Tumblr at heehaw-ds9.tumblr.com; Brent is on Twitter too @kossinab. And check out Steve’s movie reviews at his website, The Alpha Primitive.

Thanks for listening, and we’ll catch you next time!

Comic Timing – Episode 176: A Raging Review of 2015

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Just like that, 2015 has shrunk in between the atoms, never to be seen again! In its place stands 2016, which also happens to be the 10th year of Comic Timing. And what better way to start off this milestone year than with two of Brent and Ian’s mos regular guests: Sean Whelan and Jim Segulin of the Raging Bullets podcast! The crew of four go over Secret Wars and Convergence, some of their favorite comics and comic related media of this past year, and some things that are older than that but were discovered in 2015. There’s also a decent amount of Star Wars talk to be had, including everyone’s (except for Jim who hasn’t seen it yet) overall impressions of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Plus, random segues into talking about meatloaf the food, Meatloaf the singer, and Fuller House. And, shock of shocks, we mention Fant4stic. It’s a grand old time, I tells ya! WHATISH!

As always – we are sponsored by the newly redesigned DCBS! That’s right! Discount Comic Book Service! All comics from major publishers like Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse are 40% off or more. And hardcovers and trade paperbacks from Marvel and DC are at least 50% off! Plus, be sure to check out their Comixology digital storefront for even further savings!

Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks for information on our Patreon, which should be launching right at the begnning of February. If you want to support Comic Timing and help keep it going for years to come, that’s one of the many ways you can do so. You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com and be sure to Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming. You can follow Ian on Twitter @i_am_scifi, or on Tumblr at heehaw-ds9.tumblr.com; Brent is on Twitter too @kossinab.

Thanks to all you listeners out there, and here’s to one heck of a 2016!

Editorial: Media Shouldn’t Be A Chore

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Hey, guys. Comic Timing is in between episodes at this point, so I figured I’d post an editorial to keep things going a bit til the next one is out. First off, welcome to 2016. I hope 2015 treated you well, and that 2016 is even better. As the calendar turns over again, and as I get another month older (my next birthday is later this month, like it always is), I’m at a point in my entertainment consumption where I no longer want to watch things for the sake of watching them, or read comics just because they’re comics and I’m a comic book reader. Forget all that.

Thanks to the success of comic book movies and TV shows, we’re at a point in geek culture where there is an absolute wealth of content available at our fingertips. At any particular moment, you can turn on a network and they could be showing a film that belongs to Marvel, DC, or otherwise. Same can be said for what’s available on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Vudu, PSN, and so on. Doesn’t mean they’re all good, but they’re out there. Over the past few months, there have been some of these movies and shows that have completely wowed me. Others haven’t. Anybody who listens to the show, specifically our latest TV catch-up episode, knows that I’m about a half season behind on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I watched the season premiere and it just didn’t do it for me; the show has just barely been scratching my Marvel itch since its inception, other than a terrific arc apiece in Seasons 1 and 2. Supergirl is another one I’ve had trouble getting into. It’s made for the lowest common denominator, like most CBS shows, meaning that the tone is light and peppy to try and appeal to young and old alike. And that’s awesome! I’m really happy to see it on the air, and that girls and boys alike have a new role model to look up to. But after a strong pilot, the next few episodes fell flat for me story-wise. It felt like the show desperately needed depth. And so I haven’t caught up. Yet here I am, having finished Jessica Jones in just a few weeks time, I’ve watched just about the whole season of the One-Punch Man Anime over the past few days, and I’m just about day and date with The Flash and Arrow when those air.

And then there’s comics themselves. Over the past year, a bunch of my physical collection has been sold off to Wildpig Comics, and my monthly ordering has dropped off substantially. I’m about a month or two away from switching entirely digital to serve my needs, as with that there’s a lot less stuff waiting around to be read and taking up space. Monthly DC Comics aren’t hitting it for me, and Marvel Comics I read, but not right away. Yet I cannot wait to read the next volume of Saga, or the Multiversity Deluxe Hardcover I received for Chirstmukkah this holiday season. Others are up to date and loving everything as it comes out, and that’s okay. But it seems my habits and tastes are changing there too.

On the movie front, the trailer for Captain America: Civil War has me wanting to line up to watch it at the very earliest possible moment. But, shock of shocks, Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice isn’t cutting it. Star Wars: The Force Awakens made me feel like a kid again, but I’m worried that Star Trek Beyond might make me feel the complete opposite. And you know what? That’s okay too.

Call it getting older, being crotchety, pivoting, or whatever you want to call it. But I don’t want any of my hobbies to become a chore. I’m planning on treating these shows, movies, and books just like I treat podcasting: the minute I stop having fun is the minute it’s time to do something else. The wealth of options currently available to us all allows me to respond to somebody who says, “Hey! You’re a comic book fan! You must love __________!” with, “Not really, doesn’t do it for me. But ________ is great!” There’s only so many hours in the day, and I want to spend them doing and watching things I enjoy, instead of just barely getting through things that aren’t compelling or interesting to me. And there’s so many options available now that you can even like two zombie shows (iZombie and The Walking Dead), and still have one or more you ignore entirely (Fear The Walking Dead)! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be off in the corner mainlining all the episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars as I continue my latest obsession.

Comic Timing – Episode 174: New York Comic Con 2015 in Review

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Episode 174 of Comic Timing is now available for your earholes! As has become an unofficial tradition, our thoughts on New York Comic Con arrive about a month after the show has concluded. So, here’s all that went down at NYCC 2015! Ian is joined by Austin and Kris as they go through the best and worst of the show, awesome cosplay, LexCorp WiFi, waiting on a line to wait on a line to get con exclusives, how to budget your time appropriately in a sea of people, the introduction of Hammerstein Ballroom events to the show, swag and art obtained, and a whole lot more.

And more includes reports on panels attended, including Comic Creators Consuming Coffee: Where Food & Comics Collide, Action Lab: Five Years and BEYOND!, #BlackComicsMonth: Diversity in Comics, Adventure Time, and the Ash Vs. The Evil Dead premiere. Hope there’s enough to make you feel like you were there too!

As always – we are sponsored by the newly redesigned DCBS! That’s right! Discount Comic Book Service! All comics from major publishers like Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse are 40% off or more. And hardcovers and trade paperbacks from Marvel and DC are at least 50% off! Plus, be sure to check out their Comixology digital storefront for even further savings! And be sure to check out Kris’ Tumblr at Garak’s Clothiers for some excellent cosplay shots and geek fashion.

You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com and be sure to Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming. Thanks, and we’ll catch you next time!

Comic Timing Extra Point – Episode 13: Consolidating Comics with F.O.R.C.E.

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It’s been a while, but we’re back in style! Yes, that is a Chipmunks quote. Anyway, we’re up to lucky number 13 on the Comic Timing Extra Point. This episode, Ian runs solo for the first half, as he discusses selling off a bunch of his comic collection at Wild Pig Comics in Kenilworth, New Jersey two weeks back. Much thanks to Wild Pig’s owner, the talented Chris Eberle of Comic Geek Speak, for making that magic happen! There’s also some discussion of the transition from physical copies to going mostly digital, manga scanlations and why you should either wait for official release or hit the library over turning to the dark side of the Internet, and then a quick review of Southern Bastards Volume 1 by Jason Aaron and Jason Latour.

After that, we transition to the one and only interview Ian conducted at the 2015 edition of New York Comic Con, with the one and only Shawn Pryor. Shawn discusses what it’s like to return to New York City after a twenty year hiatus, what’s next in store for Cash & Carrie post-Kickstarter, and his newest miniseries coming out of Action Lab Entertainment in 2016, F.O.R.C.E. It ain’t Super Pro, yo!

As always – we are sponsored by the newly redesigned DCBS! That’s right! Discount Comic Book Service! All comics from major publishers like Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse are 40% off or more. And hardcovers and trade paperbacks from Marvel and DC are at least 50% off! Plus, be sure to check out their Comixology digital storefront for even further savings!

You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com and be sure to Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming. Thanks, and we’ll catch you next time!

Comic Timing – Episode 173: Comic Book Video Games

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Round 173: FIGHT! This episode, Jim Efantis is called up from BKs Bullets to the main show, as Jim, Brandon Christopher, Ian and Brent talk Comic Book Video Games. We run the gambit of titles and systems, from Atari to N64 to XBox 360 to current-gen consoles and back again. The group also discusses where comic book video games have been and where they’re headed, the best and the worst of the bunch, what it would take to make a successful Superman game, what characters we’d like to see games made for, and a whole lot more. This episode’s been a long time coming, so savor it in all its glory!

The show then concludes with some general comic talk, including Daredevil: The Man Without Fear, Fun Home, Secret Wars and Batman. And who do you think Mads Mikkelsen will play in Doctor Strange? Decisions, decisions, decisions!

As always – we are sponsored by the newly redesigned DCBS! That’s right! Discount Comic Book Service! All comics from major publishers like Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse are 40% off or more. And hardcovers and trade paperbacks from Marvel and DC are at least 50% off! Plus, be sure to check out their Comixology digital storefront for even further savings!

You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com and be sure to Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming. Thanks, and we’ll catch you next time!

Comic Timing – Episode 172: Summer Movies and Summer Reading

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Episode 172 of Comic Timing is here! To celebrate the summer as a whole, Brent and Ian are joined by Brandon Christopher and A. Das Baron. Time to talk movies of the past few months, including Avengers: Age of Ultron, Mad Max: Fury Road and Jurassic World. They also discuss the news of who will play Peter Parker in the MCU, how Powers the comic compares to Powers the TV show now that Ian’s read it, some Secret Wars and Convergence, post-Secret Wars Spider-Man, and more!

As always – we are sponsored by the newly redesigned DCBS! That’s right! Discount Comic Book Service! All comics from major publishers like Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse are 40% off or more. And hardcovers and trade paperbacks from Marvel and DC are at least 50% off! Plus, be sure to check out their Comixology digital storefront for even further savings!

You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com and be sure to Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming. Thanks, and we’ll catch you next time!