Comic Book Bears Podcast

In our first Comic Book Bears audio episode recorded after the US election, the CBB boys (Bill Z, Caleb and Steve) spend the first few minutes talking about the results and the state of the nation. We then (mercifully) put that to the side to chat about some recent comics. And what a line up we have! Absolute Superman #1! DC Horror Presents Creature Commandos #1! Animal Pound, written by Tom King and published by Boom! The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen! Horny & High, Volume I by Ed Firth from our good friends at Northwest Press! And the new Jonny Quest series from Dynamite! Hit play and enjoy!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_297.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 6:36pm EST

New Comic Book Bears audio episode! For the first time in ages it is just Big Two books this time around as Caleb, Steve and Bill Z reconvene to talk about recent additions to Marvel's X-Men line and DC's most recent soft relaunch! Who are the Exceptional X-Men? Which recent X students are featured in the NYC set NYX? Why is Dazzler going back out on tour? What is the new status quo for the DC Universe set by the DC All In Special? And why are the Trinity confronting a rabbit with a Brooklyn accent in Multiversus: Collision Detected? Hit play and all will be answered!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_296.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 5:50pm EST

We are catching up on our backlog so this next Comic Book Bears audio episode dates back to this past September 26th when Bill and Steve had just returned from Baltimore Comic Con! BCC is one of the best comic book conventions out there and we have been past guests of the con as press for a number of years, so it was a thrill to return to Inner Harbor! Bill and Steve talk about their experiences, gets and hijinks that happened during this year's edition. Then Caleb joins in on the fun as we have an all-indie roundtable chatting about books including Jeff Lemire's Minor Arcana (Boom Studios), Morning Star (Mad Cave), EC's Epitaphs from the Abyss (Oni Press), Howard Chaykin's Hey Kids! Comics! (Image) and A Phone Call Away (Mad Cave)!!! So please hit play and enjoy this Charm City inspired ep!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_295.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:55pm EST

The CBB Boys are back but this time they are focused on one era of comic books in this new audio episode! Set the controls for the 1950s and 1960s as we discuss some of our favorite books published during the Silver Age of Comic Books. The Silver Age is considered to cover the period from 1956 to 1970 and it was a time where the concept of the super-hero was revitalized for the Cold War period! Caleb, Steve and Bill Z are on the mic to talk about some of their favorites - Fantastic Four, Tales to Astonish, Aquaman, Tales of the Bizarro World, the sci-fi work of Steve Ditko for Charlton, The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents and more! 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_294.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 8:34pm EST

On this latest Comic Book Bears audio episode, we emphasize the "Comic" part of our show title to welcome to the show queer comedian Jeff Klein!!! While talking about not fitting into his communities or clothes anymore, Jeff has performed at comedy clubs and festivals from coast to coast. This Florida-born comic is the host of the online shows Beer with a Queer and Outside a Comedy Club and very recently taped his first comedy special entitled Fatty Gay!! Bill Z and Steve spoke with Jeff just before his special was taped and chatted with him about how he got into comedy, what goes into recording a comedy special and much, much more!! We also talk comic books with Jeff and dive deep into his love for CrossGen Comics, particularly Ruse, and also offer up some more recent comics which gave us a few chuckles including the first issue of the new X-Factor series by Mark Russell and Bob Quinn and DC's Super-Pets Special: Bite-Dentity Crisis one-shot featuring a lead off story by Tony Fleecs and Mike Norton starring basically every DC super pet ever!! So, hit play and enjoy some ho-ho-ho's with a very funny fellow hairy heavy homo!!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_293.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:49pm EST

As we enter into Labor Day weekend, the CBB boys are providing one more audio episode for you this month and this time it is our review of Deadpool and Wolverine!!! D and W is the 34th Marvel Cinematic Universe film and finds Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman reprising their respective title roles! It is directed by Shawn Levy and also stars Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney and so many cameos it might make your chimichangas explode! In the film, Deadpool learns that the Time Variance Authority is set to destroy his home universe and enlists help to stop them in R-Rated glory! Please note that the episode is all sorta spoilerific if you have yet to see it. But, if you want to find out what Bill Z, Caleb and Steve thought about it and (as is our custom whenever we have a movie centered episode) be provided with suggestions about some comic book arcs you might enjoy reading featuring the movie's main characters, then hit play and Let's. F*ckin'. Go!

 

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_292.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:56pm EST

Recorded back on 7/25/2024 and finally available as our new audio episode, this show finds the CBB Boys (Caleb, Steve and Billy Z) recounting what the big news items were from this past San Diego Comic Con. Additionally, a bunch of new comic books come under our ursine analysis. Hit play to hear our opinions about new series like Phoenix (Marvel), Namor (Marvel), Zatanna: Brining Down The House (DC Black Label), Gatchaman (Mad Cave) and Space Ghost (Dynamite) along with the graphic novella Viscera Objectica by Yugo Limbo (Silver Sprocket). Plus we have our expected banter, tangents, Geeks Gets and Woofs of the Week!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_291.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 5:35pm EST

It's a new Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode!! And we are thrilled to bring back to the show our most frequent guest, the one and only Steve Bryant!! This time around Steve sits down to talk with us about his successful Kickstarter campaign for Undead or Alive! The upcoming graphic novel that Steve wrote with art by Jason Millet and Patrick McEvoy follows a trio of supernatural investigators trying to determine what is terrorizing the swamps outside of Gerber's Crossing, Louisiana! A love letter to 1970s and 80s monster comics, Undead or Alive concerns a dozen people who have gone missing—the most famous one being Arael Moon: comic book writer, pop culture icon, and practicing magician. What mysteries lurk in this macabre parish and can the Undead or Alive Agency put an end to the disappearances? Beyond that, Steve chats with us about a whole lotta stuff, including a certain Universal Monster with ties to Undead or Alive! The CBB Boys (Steve, Caleb and Bill) then stay on the mic for their round table about new books they have read including the beginning of DC's Absolute Power crossover event, Free Agents #1 from Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza, and Stephen Mooney (Image) and CBB favorite Blue Delliquanti's new graphic novella Adversary!

While the Kickstarter for Steve's Undead or Alive has ended, you can still access the Kickstarter for late pledges for available rewards!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_290.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 7:17pm EST

New Comic Book Bears audio episode! HeroesCon 2024 a few weeks ago marked the very first time that the current roster of CBB Boys - Bill Z, Steve and Caleb - were all under the same roof IRL! And to recount what went down in Charlotte we are once again joined by special guest Brian Newberry of the Comics Discourse 114 podcast! Apart from the con wrap-up we also dive into some recent books we have been enjoying which include Ain't No Grave (Image), Bloodshot Unleashed (Valiant), the long awaited My Favorite Thing is Monsters Book 2 (Fantagraphics) and the pure throwback joy of Bloodscar Megazine by Jason Horn! So hit play and enjoy two hours of 3/4 bearded and bombastic book banter!!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_289.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:29pm EST

On this new Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode, we are joined by Brian Newberry of the Comics Discourse 114 podcast! Though we have been friends with Brian for many many years, this is the first time he has joined us on our show! Hit play and listen in as Caleb, Bill Z and Steve talk with Brian about how he got into comics and what all four of us are looking forward to this upcoming weekend as we will all be meeting up in Charlotte, NC to attend Heroes Con! Then when the comic talk starts, it's a varied lot! Under the CBB microscope this time around are X-Men #35 (the legacy #700 anniversary issue), DC's 2024 Pride and DC Pride: A Celebration of Rachel Pollack anthologies, Parallel by Matthias Lehman, The Midnight Order by Mathieu Bablet, Self-Esteem and the End of the World by Luke Healy, Titan's new Savage Sword of Conan series and Lifeline Comics' crossover of their titles Haunting and Like Father, Like Daughter! There is nothing better than a hot guest bear like Brian during Pride month so whether you are an ally or a fellow member of The Alphabet Mafia yourself, please join us!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_288.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:08pm EST

Time for a new Comic Book Bears audio episode! On May 23rd the regular CBB crew (Steve, Caleb and Bill Z) convened to once again chat about the funnybooks. After a few tangents (Memorial Day weekend plans, our favorite Rolling Stones songs, prepping for HeroesCon) the boys finally sashay over to the virtual spinner rack in the Bearcave. Among the books discussed - Batman: Dark Age (DC), Batman/Superman: World's Finest (DC), Vengeance of the Moon Knight (Marvel), The Last Mermaid (Image), Pine and Merrimac (Boom) and Spectregraph (DSTLRY) - just hit play for two hours, one minute and twenty-five seconds of hairy heavy homo comic chat!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_287.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:16pm EST

On this new Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode we are thrilled to talk with two of the folks behind new indie publishing company Bamboo Panel Studios and their Kickstarter campaign for the first project, Kosmotrope! BPS CEO Jon Runyan is a long time friend of the show and past guest and he appears along with BPS Editor-in-Chief Randy Faustino! Randy also serves as the writer of Kosmotrope! Described as an urban fantasy thriller, Kosmotrope concerns a mysterious affliction begins striking down residents of the community of Sequoia Pass and it is up to conservation officer Liam O’Sullivan to stop the malady before the town and its people are consumed by it! Their Kickstarter runs until May 27th; the link is below. Beyond that Steve, Caleb and Bill Z talk about some new comics including the MAD Magazine Free Comic Book Day offering, Space Ghost #1 and Slash Presents (yes, THAT Slash) Deathstalker, based on the sword-and-sorcery film series from the 1980s! (And on that note R.I.P. Roger Corman.)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kosmotrope1/kosmotrope-1?ref=profile_created

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_286.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:49pm EST

"X-Men '97" premiered on Disney+ on March 20th, 2024 and this series continues the storyline for the 1990s "X-Men: The Animated Series" and details the plight of the team as they face new challenges following the apparent death of their leader, Professor X. Hit play and you will hear Steve and Bill Z discuss the first few episodes and joining in them in their chat is longtime friend of the show Tony Gilkinson, appearing on the podcast for first time! Beyond X-Men '97, Tony and the CBB Boys also talk about some of their favorite X-Men stories in the funnybooks including the Neal Adams/Roy Thomas late 1960s X-Men run, the original graphic novel and the initial issues of The New Mutants, the Muir Island Saga and series starring Jimmy Hudson, son of Ultimate Wolverine! Hit play to join us for two plus hours of marvelous mutant musings!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_285.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:35pm EST

Hey kids - it's another new Comic Book Bears audio episode and we are thrilled to welcome back to the show our Ursine Operative from Oz, the Koala of Comics himself Nottingham scribe David Hazan!! Nottingham is on its 11th issue which is the start of the thrilling final arc of the series! David talks with us about what is ahead as the Sheriff returns home to find a city he barely recognizes. David also chats with us about his recently Kickstarted Requiem #2 and more about his process and his work! Then we move onto comic book roundtable time as the CBB boys Bill Z, Steve and Caleb discuss recent books like Feral (Image), Suicide Squad: Dream Team (DC), Black Hammer: The End (Dark Horse) and much more!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_284.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:25pm EST

The weather is getting warmer and the CBB boys have more comics to talk about! After covering some news items Steve, Caleb and Bill Z chat about some recent favorites of theirs including the end of the X-Men's Krakoa era books Rise of the Powers of X and Fall of the House of X (Marvel), Wonder Woman (DC), Outsiders (DC), The N Word of God (Fantagraphics) and Rare Flavours (Boom)! Plus, with this episode, we may be the only comic book podcast to have ever referenced the work of Lincoln Center Theater poster artist James McMullan! Plus our Geek Gets, our Woofs of the Week and more!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_283.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 8:44pm EST

Time for another new audio episode based on our spotlighting of indie creators on our video livestream! On this episode (recorded on March 7th) we are very pleased to welcome for her first time on the podcast writer Corissa Grant!  Corissa introduces us to her horror comic series, Worthy Chaos: Redemption!! The project just had another successful Kickstarter campaign for issue #9! Steve sits solo in the driver's seat for the interview and chats with Corissa about the fight for survival against destiny and the forces of the underworld in Redemption, her inspirations, building a fanbase, and why terrifying supernatural creatures make such cute plushies! And for the second show in a row, Bill Z joins up late toward the end to talk up some other comics like Spider-Gwen: Smash (Marvel) and AWA's U&I by J. Michael Straczynski & Mike Choi! Hit play and you'll get all this plus Woofs, Gets and more on this (sadly) Caleb-less episode!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_282.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:41pm EST

Over the past few weeks we spotlighted indie creators on our video livestream and now those episodes are being made available as audio episodes! First up (recorded on February 22nd) we are very pleased to welcome for their first time on the podcast artist Amanda Kahl and writer Jeremy Flagg, co-creators of the comic "I Am The First". Caleb and Steve interview the duo and we get to know their inspirations and journey creating the series, where to find their other work, their Brave New Comics imprint and more! (And fear not, CBB faithful, Bill Z continues his unbroken streak of appearances by JUST making onto the show at the end!)

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_281.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 7:22pm EST

A bunch of bears and a bunch of new comics - yes, it's another new Comic Book Bears audio episode! Hit play and hear Steve, Caleb and Bill Z chat about a very important bit of recent comic industry news - the mass exodus of artists from Cadence Comic Art - and then onto the comic book talk with time dedicated to Ultimate Spider-Man (Marvel), The Schlub (Image), Somna (DSTLRY) and  John Constantine: Hellblazer - Dead in America (DC)! AND YES, ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1 REALLY IS THAT GOOD!!!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_280.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:42pm EST

Finally, it's a new Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode! Hit play and hear the CBB boys (Bill Z, Steve and Caleb) talk about comics like Superman: Lost, Kneel Before Zod, the new Duke and Cobra Commander books from Image/Skybound's G.I. Joe line and - remember we are a queer podcast - Killer Queens 2! The boys also get caught up with each other and, since this first 2024 episode was recorded during the playoffs, you get treated to some NFL Conference and Super Bowl chat from Caleb and Bill ... it was a funny conversation so we left it in ... and if you have missed the audio episodes, don't worry - this is just the first of three that we will be releasing over the next week!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_279.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:48pm EST

Two of the CBB boys (Bill Z and Steve) were able to sneak in one last livestream in 2023 and here it is now as the first Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode of 2024! And it's all about the King of the Seven Seas! Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the 15th film and final installment in the DC Extended Universe movie series and that's what we chat about! The film was directed by James Wan and stars Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman, alongside Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Randall Park, Dolph Lundgren, Temuera Morrison, Martin Short, and Nicole Kidman. In the film, Aquaman must work with his half-brother Orm to prevent Black Manta from killing his family and using the cursed Black Trident to overheat the world while searching for the lost seventh kingdom of the seas. We let you know what we thought about it and also provide some recommendations for comic books featuring Aquatic Ace! Hit play to dive in!!!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_278.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:35pm EST

We are thrilled to welcome back to the show for our final full length episode of 2023 Dr. Christopher Michael Roman! Dr. Roman is a Professor of English at Kent State University and he specializes in Comics Studies and the Graphic Novel, LGBTQ+ Literature and Queer Theory. The Professor is here to talk about his book Queering Wolverine in Comics and Fanfiction: A Fastball Special which discusses the ways in which Wolverine is a queer hero and examines his representation as an open, vulnerable, and kinship-oriented queer hero in both comics and fanfiction. It is an eclectic and very thought provoking discussion! After that our esteemed guest and not-so esteemed hosts sit down to a virtual comic roundtable to discuss recent reads like Unleashed, Wesley Dodds: The Sandman, Monstress and Wild's End!

Hit SNIKT and enjoy! 

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_277.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 11:42am EST

The end of this year saw a number of Doctor Who specials hit the television screens and the first was The Star Beast! But did you know it was based on a comic book? Hit play to hear the Comic Book Bears boys discuss the original "The Star Beast" comic story written by Pat Mills and drawn by Dave Gibbons in 1980 as well as the 2023 live action interpretation of it written by returning Who showrunner Russell T Davies with David Tennant and Catherine Tate returning as The Doctor and Donna Noble. Since it is the end of the year we do get in some Best of 2023 chat in which is surprisingly not about comic books but about our favorite music of the year! Then we finally get to some full on comic book yapping with the recent Supergirl Special, Panya: The Mummy's Curse (from the World of Hellboy), Fung Gi (from Scout Comics) and Brandon Graham's Moonray under discussion. So, join all four hosts - Bryan, Caleb, Steve and Bill - for two hours of TARDIS and non-TARDIS talk!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_276.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:41pm EST

We are thrilled to welcome back to the show comic creator John Horsley!!! John had previously appeared on our show to discuss his horror themed Eynes Anthology a few years back and this time he is here to discuss his Kickstarter campaign for a very different type of book! Jonly Nonly began life as a comedic webcomic back in 2008 that John created based off his wife Kaylie's drawings of John and his friend Jeff. The Kickstarter is for collections of these strips - both as single issues and as a TPB! John takes us through the characters who inhabit the strip (Jonly Nonly, the fishing obsessed Jeffers, the cool AF Calvereena and Star Wars enthusiast Earf) and fills us in on why we all should back it! Apart from the interview the CBBers also discuss recent comic related news (such as The Marvels tanking at the box office, possible Fantastic Four casting, the Madame Web trailer hitting and the SAG-AFTRA strike ending with comic related shows going back into production) and talking about some new comics including Jean Grey, Birds of Prey and Alan Scott: Green Lantern! So hit play and, for those listeners of ours in the States, have a great Turkey Day!!

 

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_275.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 7:33pm EST

It's another trip to the movies for the Comic Book Bears on this new audio episode as Bill Z, Caleb and Steve discuss The Marvels! The film is the 33rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. The Marvels was directed by Nia DaCosta and stars Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan and Samuel L. Jackson returning onced again as Nick Fury. The movie finds Danvers, Rambeau, and Khan teaming up after they begin swapping places with each other every time they use their powers, against the backdrop of a desperate and dangerous Kree Empire. It's no secret that the film has underperformed at the box office - hit play to hear what this group of groovy gay guys felt about the film and why there has been a muted reaction to it. 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_274.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:40pm EST

Join the Comic Book Bears boys as fall is fully in gear! Steve, Bill and Caleb are all back on the mic and kick off this latest audio episode with a post-Halloween-mostly-about-horror-movies opening tangent salvo and follow that up with some comic book (and a tiny bit of non-comic book) related news. The CBBers then movie over to that funnybook round table with Steve championing the latest revival of Alpha Flight (Marvel) and Gone by writer artist Jock (DSTLRY), Caleb advocating for the Crypt of Shadows anthology (Marvel) and the Gargoyles Halloween Special (Dynamite) and Bill singing the praises of Jay Garrick: The Flash (DC) and Orson Welles: Warrior of the Worlds (Scout); hit play and hear all this and our geek gets, our Woofs of the Week and at least two really terrible puns!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_273.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:09pm EST

We are back to four bears strong as Bryan, Bill, Caleb and Steve are all on the mic for this new audio episode! From Japan to Chicago to New York Comic Con, 3/4 of us have been off traveling for the past few weeks and we spend the first part catching with each other and talking of our exploits (much of them comics infused.) And if you want to skip right to the comic book talk then go to the 55 minute mark as we pull a bunch of recent #1 comics off of the virtual spinner rack - G.O.D.S. (Marvel), Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong (DC), Transformers (Image), Conan The Barbarian (Titan), Kaptara: Universal Truths (Image), Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees (IDW) as well as the new graphic novel The Mysteries by Bill Watterson and John Kascht! So hit play and enjoy some four-color talk from some hairy heavy gays!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_272.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:29pm EST

It's the latest audio episode of The Comic Book Bears Podcast! That's right - strike "comic" out of the title this week because for this installment of our show we are putting the funnybooks away and will be talking about prose books, both ones we are currently reading and the fiction and non-fiction books that made up our formative literature over the years. Hit play and hear Steve, Caleb and Bill discuss the current reads which include Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill, Under the Whispering Door by TJ Clune, Helpmeet by Naben Ruthnum, American Daredevil: Comics, Communism, and the Battles of Lev Gleason by Brett Dakin and Sweet Dreams: The Story of the New Romantics by Dylan Jones. After that, we get into the books that made a big impact on each of us: they are too numerous to list here but trust our word that it makes for a fun discussion!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_271.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:07pm EST

If this were the 1970s we would call this episode Comics Book Bears Triple Action! Press play and get ready for an extended triple treat! 

First, we are joined by writer Steve Bryant and artist Don Cardenas who join us to discuss their Kickstarter campaign for the second issue of Evie and the Helsings! The miniseries follows Evie Van Helsing of the famed vampire hunting Van Helsing family as she navigates life between two worlds - the rock scene where she fronts a band and the family business. It's like Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets This is Spinal Tap by way of Ash Versus Evil Dead. Steve and Don cover what metal bands and horror films are influencing them and so much more! The Kickstarter still has a few days to go and the link is below!

Second, we transition to cinematic talk and discuss Blue Beetle, the 14th installment of the DC Extended Universe. Blue Beetle was directed by Ángel Manuel Soto and stars Xolo Maridueña as the title character alongside Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, and George Lopez. All the CBB boys saw it and offer up what they thought of Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle's origin story!

Third, we still manage to get in a comic book roundtable to wrap it all up! Caleb discusses the latest reboot of The Avengers by Jed MacKay and C.F. Villa! Bill takes on Tales of the Titans #1 featuring Starfire! And Steve chooses The Devil's Cut #1 (or "that DSTLRY one-shot"), an anthology collecting samples of new work from the initial creative line-ups for DSTLRY's fall debut as a new publisher to chat about!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stevebryant/evie-and-the-helsings-12/description

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_270.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 8:33pm EST

We are thrilled to bring back Bryan Pittard back to the show!! If the CBB boys were The Defenders, Bryan is our Silver Surfer - he might not be around for a while but when he is back he's a full on member who swoops in to save the day! Bryan joins your regular crew (Steve, Caleb and Bill) to talk comics and this time the virtual pull list has DC's Knight Terrors event, Astonishing Iceman, Planet of the Apes, Second Coming: Trinity, Tula Lotay and Scott Snyder's Barnstormers and Pool Boys by Josh Trujillo with art by Josh Cornillo on it! As for the title of the episode, listen to the very beginning as we chat about a recent development on the music scene! 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_269.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 11:04pm EST

The X-Men's annual Hellfire Gala recently happened and hosted man and mutant alike ... and things didn't go down so well! On this latest Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode we - meaning Bill Z, Caleb and Steve - discuss the one-shot which kicks off the Fall of X event into high gear. But before that we have a very frank discussion about how one of our hosts appears to be losing interest in reading comic books and all the group shares their stories about times they stopped reading and what got them back in. (If you want to skip this chat, you can go to the 37:00 min mark.) Then the CBB boys are all in for comic talk with the aforementioned Hellfire Gala 2023 one-shot, Power Girl Special #1, Avengers Beyond #1, Ultimate Invasion #1, Fire Power and the Planetary Omnibus each undergoing our ursine analysis. So grab your embossed Hellfire invite, step into a portal to Krakoa by hitting play, grab a cocktail (or ten) and enjoy!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_268.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:13pm EST

2023 marks yet another year where none of the Comic Book Bears Podcast boys - Caleb, Steve and Billy Z - were in attendance at San Diego Comic Con but the comic talk continues! Recorded on 7/20/2023, the date that SDCC kicked off, this episode starts off with tangents about the much missed MediaPlay chain and the hazards of getting stoned on the beach the day after your senior prom. Then the boys shift over to grab some books off that virtual spinner rack and this time around the books discussed include the beginning of DC's Knight Terrors event, the new Incredible Hulk #1, Dragonball Z, Jeff Lemire's new project Fireflies and a nod to the past with the Question by Dennis O'Neil and Denys Cowan Omnibus! Hit play to enjoy a solid two hours of ursine funnybook discussion! 

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_267.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 11:11pm EST

We all know how hot it has been this July in North America. The Comic Book Bears are here to help you cool down a bit with some talk about cool comic books! After rapidly changing subjects at the outset of the episode (going off on tangents from birthdays to a really intense take on Lex Luthor to ... the heat), the spinner rack gets spun! Steve talks up X-Cellent (Marvel) and the surprising Void Rivals (Image); Caleb takes a look into this year's Hulk and Scarlet Witch annuals; Billy Z examines the Dawn of DC version of Green Arrow and a classic run on New Gods by Gerry Conway and Don Newton. All this plus woofs and gets and much more!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_266.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:40pm EST

 

For the third episode in a row, the Comic Book Bears bunch have a movie based episode! And this time the focus is on the fastest man alive! The Flash is based on the DC Comics character of the same name and it is the 13th (!) installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) franchise. The movie is directed by Andy Muschietti and stars Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash alongside Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston, Maribel Verdú and Michael Keaton once again in a landmark role of his. In the film, Barry travels back in time to prevent his mother's death which brings unintended, multiversal consequences. Steve and Bill are on hand to discuss what they thought of the movie and why they think the response to it has been muted. Then, as is custom with our film based episodes, we provide what we feel are exceptional Flash comics to seek out. All this plus our discussion of our time attending HeroesCon in Charlotte - some unexpected surprises there - earlier in the month, a quick current comics roundtable, Geek Gets, Woofs of the Week and more! So hit play and let us send you running on an audio cosmic treadmill!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_265.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:02pm EST

New Comic Book Bears audio episode! Join us as Bill Z, Steve and Caleb return to the movies (for a second episode in a row) to discuss Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse! The animated film is the sequel to 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and is directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson. Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Karan Soni, Daniel Kaluuya, and Oscar Isaac make up the main voice cast which finds Miles Morales on an new, high stakes adventure with Gwen Stacy across the multiverse where he meets a new team of fellow Spider-folk known as the Spider-Society, led by Miguel O' Hara/Spider-Man 2099, but comes into conflict with them over how to handle a new threat! Hit play to hear what the CBB boys thought of the movie and then - as is now custom with our movie oriented episodes - make their recommendations concerning comics featuring the Spider-Verse characters that we think you might dig! We still get in a little bit of roundtable time to discuss some new books and GNS like Count Dante #1, Centralia and Supermassive 2023! WOOF AND THWIP!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_264.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:20pm EST

May 5th, 2023 saw the release of the final installment in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Once again directed by James Gunn - and his MCU swan song as well - GOTGV3 stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan and more as Star Lord, Drax, Mantis, Rocket, Groot, Nebula and a revived Gamora go on one final adventure together, this time squaring off against The High Evolutionary! And what did the CBB boys think of it? Well, hit play to hear where Steve, Caleb and Bill Z think Guardians 3 ranks! And as is now custom with our movie centric episodes we offer our recommendations for what Guardians tales we think readers would enjoy in the four color format! We also discuss the Eisner nominations, get in some unexpected Amityville Horror talk, woofs, gets and a lot more!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_263.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:34pm EST

We had hoped to get the audio episode of our livestream on this past Star Wars Day (5/4/2023) out to you a bit earlier than we have but here it is! Bill Z, Caleb and Steve gather round the mic for another new CBB confab! Since we have something else Star Wars specific in the planning stages, we don't spend too much time in a galaxy far, far away but journey long enough around the Outer Rim to discuss the recent High Republic comics! On top of that Superman: Lost, more Sins of Sinister, Hellcat, Jeff Lemire's Phantom Road and Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever - Rock and Roll also get their own spotlights during our roundtable! Plus news, gets, woofs and much more!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_262.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:57pm EST

Another new CBB audio episode! We welcome to show for the first time Zackary Marois! Artist/writer Zack is a graduate of the Kubert School and is about to launch a new Kickstarter: Voyage Issue 1 - Principium! This sci-fi adventure series details the saga of Sonderon, an intergalactic space explorer! The Kickstarter will launch soon and we get the early word from the creator about what to expect.  The indie vibe continues on in the roundtable as Steve, Caleb and Bill Z discuss Monster Tag Team (American Mythology), The Seasons Have Teeth (Boom!), House on Fire (Living the Line) and more!! Hit play and join us!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_261.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 7:22pm EST

We are thrilled to welcome back to the show the Koala Bear of Comics and Nottingham scribe David Hazan! Our favorite Aussie David has some new books coming out in the next few months - the magic oriented Monomyth (Mad Cave) with its first issue hitting the shops on May 3rd and Death Drop: Drag Assassin (Scout), a supernatural queer noir  about a hitman turned drag queen that is slated for release on June 14th! David fills us in on these series as well as the Tales from Nottingham (Mad Cave) anthology series and he is joined by the letterer on these projects Lucas Gattoni, the Argentinian Lettering Bear, who discusses his work on David's books and others such as Blue Beetle: Graduation Day (DC)! And if this sexy international ursine one-two punch isn't enough we also talk about some recent comic book oriented Film and Tv trailers and Billy Z, Caleb and Steve discuss The Unstoppable Doom Patrol (DC), the relaunched Black Panther (Marvel), the Paul is Dead: How The Beatles Lost Paul (Image) graphic novel and more!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_260.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 12:41pm EST

Another new Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode! Earlier this month, we observed Daylight Savings Time here in the US and this was the first time the CBB boys (Bill Z, Caleb and Steve)  reconvened in the virtual bearcave since setting the clocks ahead. After a bunch of news items the comics discussed on this episode include Superman: Space Age (DC), the X-Men: Sins of Sinister event (Marvel), Local Man (Image), Blood Tree (Image), Godfell (Vault) and How I Became a Shoplifter (Sumerian). Hit play and you will also discover what "Met the Deck" isn't!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_259.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:10pm EST

WITH ONE MAGIC WORD! The Comic Book Bears boys return to the cinema for a new audio episode discussing Shazam: Fury of the Gods!  It is the sequel to the first 2019 Shazam! film and is also the 12th installment in the DC Extended Universe franchise. The film was directed by David F. Sandberg and stars Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Rachel Zegler, Lucy Liu, Djimon Hounsou, and Helen Mirren. In the film, Billy Batson and the rest of the Shazam siblings fight the Daughters of Atlas! Hit the play button to hear what Steve (not the pen) and Bill (who was battling with the Fury of the Bad Headcolds when they recorded) thought of the movie and, as is CBB custom, also offer up their suggestions for collected comic book editions starring the Shazam Family members!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_258.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 8:49pm EST

The Comic Book Bears head back to the movies to discuss Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the 31st Marvel Cinematic Universe film and the first in that franchise's Phase 5! The film was directed by Peyton Reed and stars Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly returning as Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne alongside Jonathan Majors, Kathryn Newton, Michelle Pfeiffer and Michael Douglas. In the film, the Lang/Van Dyne family are transported to the Quantum Realm and face Kang the Conqueror. Caleb, Steve and Bill Z offer up what they thought of the movie and also provide their picks for anyone who might want to follow up seeing the film by reading Ant-Man or Kang centric comics. (Also, it was impossible to discuss this film without spoilers so if you want to avoid the film talk, that all occurs between the 3:42 to 45:50 mark.) After that a trip to the spinner rack yields a discussion regarding recent comics like Swamp Thing: Green Hell (DC Black Label), Blue Beetle: Graduation Day (DC) and A Foulness in the Walls (AfterShock). So hit play to release those Pym Particles and join us for some subatomic cinema talk!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_257.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:46pm EST

Time for another new Comic Book Bears Podcast episode! The show starts off as Bill Z, Steve and Caleb catch up with one another and then talk briefly about the recent passing of music legend Burt Bacharach. News items include Kickstarter searching for their new director of comics projects and the passing of artist Lee Moder.  Then we head onto the virtual spinner rack with discussions about Midnight Suns (Marvel), Avengers: War Across Time (Marvel), It's Lonely at the Center of the Earth (Image), Where Monster Lie (Dark Horse), Breath of Shadows (IDW) and the manga classic Banana Fish (Viz.) Plus as always our gets, our woofs and our tangents!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_256.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:18pm EST

On this new Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode, we welcome back to the show the incredible Steve Bryant! Steve has been on our podcast many times in the past to talk about his work like Athena Voltaire and The Clean and this time around he is here to discuss his Kickstarter campaign for the first issue of Evie and the Helsings! For centuries, the Van Helsing family has protected humanity from things that go bump in the night. The mantle has been passed onto the last of the family line. But Evie Van Helsing just wants to rock! Written by Steve, drawn by Don Cardenas with colors by Jason Millet, Evie and the Helsings is the first issue of a 4-issue miniseries that follows Evie as she navigates life between the music industry and the supernatural world. (Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets This is Spinal Tap by way of Ash Versus Evil Dead.) Hit play to hear Steve tell us all about it! After the interview, Caleb, Billy Z and Steve discuss some recent comic related news (such as the cancellation of two HBOMAX comic books based shows and a new Titans #1 with a phenomenal creative team behind it!) New books on the spinner rack that we discuss include Nightwing #100, the kickoff of the X-Men storyline Sins of Sinister and Inferno Girl Red #1 from Image Comics! All this and ... sorta kinda ... Cher!

Please also note this is our first episode with our brand new theme song ... which we really really dig ... composed just for us by the electronic artist Walkathon!

And lastly we talk about a Meal Train campaign to assist our very close friend and fellow podcaster Wendi Freeman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The links for the Evie Kickstarter and Wendi's campaign are below. Please consider contributing to both!!!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stevebryant/evie-and-the-helsings-1

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/9v4vy6

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_255.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 4:17pm EST

SO THIS IS THE NEW YEAR! The CBB boys ring in the new year with their first audio episode of 2023! And in the spirit of new beginnings and soft reboots, we decided to offer up some reintroductions! Billy Z, Steve and Caleb each chat a little bit about themselves and then they each surprise one another with questions - one comic related and one about life in general. We also spend some time going over the generally accepted definitions of bears and bear culture in the queer community for those who might have a degree of unfamiliarity (and maybe even for those who are QUITE familiar!) For the news segment, in the absence of any notable developments recently in the comics world, we focus on a tweet from writer Chuck Dixon designed to mock and attack newer and diverse comic creators and that leads to a discussion about when people with a body of work you respect come up way short as human beings. Then onto the comic book talk - almost exactly at the one hour mark if you want to cut to the chase - with New Mutants, the Hulk mini-series Joe Fixit, Nightwing, Danger Street, Spy Superb and the Black Veil Brides-centric series The Phantom Tomorrow all occupying slots in our spinner rack! All this and our patent pending Geek Gets and Woofs of the Week! Hit play and join us in the comic cave for a bit!

Intro Music: Ocean Colour Scene - "You've Got It Bad"

Outro Music: Klassik 78 - "Living Fantasy (Tonight)"

 

 

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_254.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 7:47pm EST

One last 2022 Comic Book Bears audio episode for you all! Bill Z, Caleb and Steve are back with you for one more episode before Father Time ushers us into 2023! Listen in as the CBB first cover some of December's big news items such as James Gunn's new role overseeing DC Studios (including the cancellation of Wonder Woman 3 and Henry Cavill hanging up his cape as Kal-El) and Aftershock's filing for bankruptcy.  Then they shift over to the comic talk with Gargoyles #1 (Dynamite), A Vicious Circle #1 (Boom), Batman/Superman: World's Finest #10 (DC), Frank Frazetta's Dawn Attack #1 (Opus), Art Brut #1 (Image) and from a few years back Saucer State (IDW) among the books discussed! We hope you all had a great holiday season and we wish you all the best as we venture into the new year!!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_253.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:46pm EST

Step into the Comic Book Bears cave for the first of two audio episodes this month! Bill Z, Steve and Caleb are all present to talk comics ranging from the Big Two to a number of new and recent indie titles! Among the books discussed are DC's Superman titles, Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise (Marvel), Sparks of Chaos (CEX), Project Superpowers: Fractured States (Dynamite), Jason Aaron's Once Upon a Time at the End of the World (Boom) and Door By Door, Night By Night by Cullen Bunn and Sally Cantirino (Vault). Apart from the comics Bill Z also went a bit nuts on a Black Friday spending spree, Caleb reveals he is the love child of Dolly Parton and Rob Halford, and Steve ... is ... well, Steve.

So take a break from those Christmas records playing, hit play on us and get your funnybook fix!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_252.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:00pm EST

For the second new audio episode in a row the Comic Book Bears head over to the multiplex! Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the sequel to Black Panther (2018) and the 30th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series. Directed by Ryan Coogler, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole, BP:WF stars Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Martin Freeman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Angela Bassett. In the film, the leaders of Wakanda fight to protect their nation from new threats in the wake of T'Challa's death. The film also serves as the introduction of Namor to the MCU! Steve and Caleb weigh in with what they thought of the movie and then Billy Z joins them on the mic for a new comic book roundtable discussion! So hit play! (It's the Wakandan way!)

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_251.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:07pm EST

On this first of two back-to-back super-hero based movie episodes, the Comic Book Bears return to your earbuds to discuss Black Adam, the 11th DC Extended Universe film! The movie is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and stars Dwayne Johnson in the titular role with Pierce Brosnan, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Marwan Kenzari and Quintessa Swindell rounding out the cast.  Black Adam centers around Teth-Adam, an ancient superhuman who is released from his magic imprisonment by a group of archeologists to free the nation of Kahndaq from a criminal enterprise that rules their country. He gains the attention of the Justice Society of America who try to stop Adam from causing further destruction from his attacks but they all discover that there is a deeper evil at work. Hit play to join Billy Z, Steve and Caleb and hear what they thought of the film and then stick around for some comic book talk (including a few Black Adam related titles!)

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_250.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:55pm EST

The CBB Boys were all super busy during the tail end of September and the entire month of October but they finally regrouped to talk comics in their virtual comic cave. But to venture over to the spinner rack, you have to first clear a hurdle in hearing about the group members exploits at New York Comic Con, at Memphis Comic Expo, being super gay in Las Vegas, being super lawyerly in Portland and traveling to the Diamond State! Comics discussed this time around include an exploration of one the classic New Mutants arcs from the 1980s, DC's current Dark Crisis event books and Stepping Stones by writer/artist Lucy Knisley which is all about a city girl finding a new life on a farm. All you have to do is hit play and you'll get a whole lotta Steve, Caleb and Billy Z and a whole lotta comic talk!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_249.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 7:50pm EST

The CBB boys return to their virtual funnybook case for an hour and 45 minutes of mostly comic book talk.  There is a reference to a geek get and (inexplicably) a few references to 1978's DC Implosion but for the most part it is just new comic books! So put in the ear buds and press play to hear Billy Z, Caleb and Steve discuss The Least We Can Do (Image), Bloodshot Unleashed (Valiant), Tales of the Human Target (DC), Crashing (IDW), Ms. Marvel & Venom (Marvel), Superman: Warworld Apocalypse (DC) and a bunch more!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_248.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 7:32pm EST

Another new audio episode, and our first where our wonder cub Caleb can place an "Esq." after his name, just like our Grand Poobah Billy Z! Yes, our kid passed the bar exam and he's ready to shake up the legal profession! But before he does that, he and Billy join Stalwart Steve in talking about comics books with a round table ranging from all ages books (My Buddy Killer Croc, Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories) to newer offerings from Image Comics (Twig, The Last Shadowhawk, Shirtless Bear Fighter 2) to others! Hit play and join us!!!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_247.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 8:04pm EST

We are (finally) back with new audio episodes! Join us as Caleb, Bill and Steve discuss the first three episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, the new MCU television series on Disney+! The series follows Jennifer Walters, a lawyer specializing in cases involving superhumans, who through a series of events involving her cousin Bruce Banner also becomes a big green superhero!
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law stars Tatiana Maslany as the title character alongside Jameela Jamil, Ginger Gonzaga, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Roth, Benedict Wong and more! Then we turn our attention to the hirsuite spinner rack and offer up our opinions on a variety of examples of graphic goodness!

 

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_246.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 8:26pm EST

On this extra-long new episode, the CBB boys (Bill, Caleb and Steve) reconvene to discuss the landmark television adaptation on Netflix of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series! Based on the DC/Vertigo comic book series that originally ran from 1989 to 1996, The Sandman tells the story of Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams and one of the seven siblings that make up The Endless, is captured in an occult ritual in 1916. After being held captive for 106 years, Morpheus escapes and sets out to restore order to his realm, The Dreaming. And if that were not enough, we also discuss DC League of Super-Pets! The computer-animated superhero comedy film is based on the DC Comics characters with voice talent including Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Kate McKinnon, John Krasinski, and Keanu Reeves. It tells the story of Superman's pet dog Krypto and shelter dog Ace who work with other animals to defeat an unexpected adversary with a connection to Superman's nemesis Lex Luthor! And if that STILL were not enough, the fellas get some new comic book talk in!

 

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_245.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:47am EST

One of this summer's big movie hits was Thor: Love and Thunder, the 29th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film is directed by Taika Waititi and stars Chris Hemsworth once again as Thor alongside Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, Jaimie Alexander, Waititi, Russell Crowe, and Natalie Portman. In the film, Thor attempts to find inner peace, but must return to action and recruit Valkyrie, Korg and Jane Foster - who is now the Mighty Thor—to stop Gorr the God Butcher, a new adversary who is on a quest to eliminate all gods from existence! Steve and Bill are on hand to offer up what they thought of the movie along with discussing some of the news that came out of this year's San Diego Comic Con and head over to the virtual spinner rack to discuss a few new books. Also it is pretty much an Asgardian miracle that we are delivering this audio episode to you: we encountered Ragnarok-level problems with the mix.  There may be a few portions where Steve is a bit too low in the mix but we are proud to still be able to bring our 244th episode to you!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_244.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 2:58pm EST

The CBB boys are thrilled to welcome back Richard Rivera to the show! A veteran guest of ours and long time friend of the podcast, Richard is the Co-Publisher of Scout Comics and the writer/creator of the fan favorite series Stabbity Bunny. Stabbity is a plush toy rabbit that has been passed down generations in a family that has been hunted by supernatural forces for almost 100 years. It is now in the hands of young Grace Lee and we discover that Stabbity is far more than a toy! Richard is here to discuss the latest Stabbity-related Kickstarter campaign for collected editions of Stabbity Bunny Volumes 1 and 2 and much, much more!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_243.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:47pm EST

HeroesCon 2022 marked the return of the venerable North Carolina comic book convention for the first time since 2019 AND the show's 40th anniversary!  But on top of that it also marked the monumental first meeting in person of our own Bill Z and Caleb! So pop in those ear buds us as we recount the great time we buds had at the show!  And joining us on the show to celebrate our time at Heroes is another attendee, our good friend Jon Runyan of the A Comic Book Look podcast! And just where was NC native Steve during all this!?!? Well, hit play and find out!

 

 

 

 

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_242.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 11:11pm EST

New Comic Book Bears audio episode! We are thrilled to have Bryan rejoin us after his time away to discuss a spate of new books in one more June episode! Steve and Bill enthusiastically reunite with him in the CBBearcave to chat about the DC Pride 2022 anthology, the first two issues of both Twig (Image) and The Rocketeer: The Great Race (IDW), Action Comics Annual 2022 (DC), Hulkling and Wiccan #1 (Marvel) and the latest graphic novel from one of our favorite creators Joe Glass (with Vince Underwood), The Miracles - and much much more! Hit play and enjoy!

 

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_241.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:35pm EST

The CBB boys help close out Pride Month with this new audio episode recorded from our 6/6/2022 livestream! Listen in as we discuss a number of outstanding LGBTQIA+ books! Among the works that Bill Z, Caleb and Steve talk about this time around are Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, Rockstar and Softboy by Sina Grace, The Life and Comics of Howard Cruse: Taking Risks in the Service of Truth by Andrew J. Kunka, Queer As All Get Out: 10 People Who've Inspired Me by Shelby Criswell, Rave by Jessica Criswell and the first issue of DC/Milestone's new take on Blood Syndicate! Happy Pride!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_240.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 8:20pm EST

New Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode! The Comic Book Bears boys (Steve, Bill Z and recent recent law school graduate Caleb) head to the multiplex in this new audio episode as they discuss Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the 28th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series. The movie is directed by Sam Raimi and stars Benedict Cumberbatch resturning once again as Stephen Strange, alongside Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez and Rachel McAdams. In the film, Strange protects America Chavez (Gomez), a teenager capable of traveling the multiverse, from an unexpected foe. On a much more somber note, the hosts also discuss the life and work of seminal comic artist artist and writer George Perez who passed away on May 6th, 2022. Listen in as we discuss his work on The New Teen Titans, Avengers, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Wonder Woman and many other properties.  (Again we are aware that you won't be able with the audio version to follow along with the graphics as you would from our livestream so please head over to our Facebook page for a gallery of George's art that we discuss.)

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_239.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:35pm EST

On this latest Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode, Bill Z and Steve don their Murderino caps and dive deep into Murder Book: A Graphic Memoir of a True Crime Obsession, a wonderful new original GN by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell from Andrews McMeel Publishing. Campbell, who is best known as a cartoonist for The New Yorker, traces the murders that have captivated her through her life, details how this is a generational interest in her family and simultaneously offers up a love letter to her fellow true crime fanatics. Murder Book is a funny, thoughtful, and highly personal blend of memoir, cultural criticism, and true crime with a focus on the often-overlooked victims of notorious killers and provides the best answers yet as to why it can so much fun to read about death and dismemberment! Also we honor the passing of comics legend Neal Adams this past April 28th with our exploration of his life and work. (We are fully aware that you won't be able with the audio version to follow along with the graphics as you would from our livestream so please head over to our Facebook page for a gallery of Neal's art that we discuss.)

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_238.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:46pm EST

The last two months has seen a slew of new DC first issues so this time around Bill Z and Steve select the National Periodical Publications option and discuss five of them!  Hit play to hear our queer ursine takes on Beyond Flashpoint #0, The Rogues #1, Batman/Superman: World's Finest #1, Trial of the Amazons #1 and Naomi: Season Two #1! Add in some "geek gets" talk, a multitude of tangents and our Woofs of the Week and you got the latest Comic Book Bears audio episode!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_237.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:06pm EST

Once again, we welcome back journalist and Archie Comics Chris Cummins expert to the show! Chris recently made the news when nearly his entire comic book collection was stolen from a Philadelphia storage facility. Chris details for us what happened and offers some tips just in case you do come across comics in your travels that may have come from his collection. Then it's roundtable time as Chris joins Caleb, Steve and Bill Z to discuss recent comic books which include Fire Power (Image), Derek Mark's new effort Legendary Spirits, Sensational Wonder Woman Special (DC), Geiger 80-Page Giant (Image), Chilling Adventures in Sorcery (Archie), the Star Wars: Life Day one-shot (Marvel) and much more! Also ... JESSICA LANGE IS NUMBER ONE!!!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_236.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:38pm EST

We were surprised we were going to have all four CBBears available to be on the mic this week but it happened! Listen in as we talk about Ed Piskor and Jim Rugg's Red Room and the controversy around a planned Maus-inspired cover, the X Lives and the X Deaths of Wolverine and what's up with Moira McTaggart, Alison Bechdel's newest book The Secret to Superhuman Strength, a new Conan adventure found in The Cimmeriam: Hour of the Dragon from Ablaze, the return of Saga after a three year absence, a look back at Ed Brubaker's Captain America and much more!!
Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_235.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 1:31pm EST

March 4th, 2022 saw the premiere of The Batman, the new film about the Caped Crusader directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson as the title character alongside Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell. Caleb, Steve and Bill slide down the bearpoles to the CBB cave to discuss the new movie and also provide some of their picks at classic and recent Bat-related books that they think listeners may enjoy! So press play and join us in Gotham to find out what we thought about this new cinematic take on the Dark Knight Detective!
Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_234.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:05am EST

Once again we are delighted to welcome back Will Lindus of the Movie Bears Podcast! We love that we are able every once in a while to give this handsome gent the opportunity to talk comics on our show! We start the show off covering recent comic book news, primarily the universally despised changes to Comixology! This time the books in our figurative spinner rack include Super Massive #1 (Image), Stray Dogs (Image), Batman/Catwoman Special (DC), Catwoman: Special Day #2 (DC), Faithless III (Boom), Barbalien: Red Planet - From the World of Black Hammer (Dark Horse), Manor Black: Fire in the Blood (Dark Horse) and New Masters #1 (Image). A big guest like this deserves a big running time so strap in to join Will, Bill, Steve and Caleb for a 2-hours-and-change episode! (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band also factors in ... because why not?)

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_233.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 6:04pm EST

The Comic Book Bears Podcast is back with another new audio episode! Bill, Steve and Caleb gather together for another roundtable of four color (and some B&W) goodness! With books that range from manga to biography the discussion topics this time include Mister Miracle: The Great Escape, Hex Vet, Fire!! The Zora Neale Hurston Story, Kaiju 8 Vol. 1, Superman and Robin Special #1 and the Avengers by John Byrne Omnibus! When we hit the last one we stay on that subject for a while because ALL THE S%#T WENT DOWN IN WEST COAST AVENGERS in the 80s and 90s! Hit play and join us!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_232.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:26pm EST

The Comic Book Bears Podcast virtual cave has reopened for the first time in 2022! Join as Caleb, Bryan, Steve and Bill are all on hand for their first episode of the new year! A few days ago a Tennessee school district made international news by banning Maus, Art Spiegelman's landmark Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel about the Holocaust from being taught in its schools or being offered in its libraries. And we weigh in! As for comics discussed in our round table, this time around the subjects are Monkey Meat #1 (Image), Nightwing #87 (DC), Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman (Hodder Children's Books) and Inferno #4 (Marvel).  In fact, there is a whole lot of X-Men talk if that is your thing!  We even managed to prevail in having all four of us on despite technical difficulties so hit play and enjoy!


HO HO HO!!! It’s the last Comic Book Bears Podcast episode of 2021!! Before we usher in Christmas and the new year, please hit play and join all four CBB boys – Bill, Bryan, Steve and Caleb - for two hours of four color talk! On the news front we talk about Dark Horse being acquired by gaming giant Embracer Group! And on the comic book front we discuss Inferno, Robin and Batman, Regarding the Matter of Oswald’s Body, The Illegitimates, Superman and the Authority, Action Comics, The Thing and much more! We wish all of you the happiest of holidays and a safe and super changing of the calendar year!  We will be on hiatus for a few weeks and will be rejoining you with new episodes in late January 2022!!!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_230.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:51pm EST

Keeping on keeping on with the CBB audio episodes, please join us as Caleb, Steve and Bill Z reconvene after the Thanksgiving holiday to discuss what some of their Black Friday or (Black Friday-ish) gets were.  As for comic talk, Old Head by Kyle Starks, Barry Windsor Smith’s Monsters, Betty and Veronica by Adam Hughes, Frank Cho’s Fight Girls, Jim Mahfood’s Grrl Scouts and The Unbelievable Unteens: From the World of Black Hammer are among the subjects. And why are Caleb and Bill holding slabbed copies of The Killing Joke and Steve is not in the episode graphic? Well citizen, listen in and find out!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_229.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 11:02pm EST

The Comic Book Bears holiday audio campaign continues to bring you up to speed with episodes from our livestreams so harken all the way back to 11/18/2021 as Steve and Bill start the show off with a discussion of Eternals, the 26th Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Eternals is directed by Chloé Zhao with an ensemble cast including Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Don Lee, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie. In the film, the Eternals, an immortal alien race, emerge from hiding after thousands of years to protect Earth from their ancient counterparts, the Deviants. But the reasons for their re-emergence may not be what they initially seem. After the film talk comes the funnybook talk, with Steve discussing What’s the Furthest Place From Here? and Valiant’sThe Harbinger and Bill taking a tour of recent DC #1s and a working backward look at DC’s cosmic/sci-fi comics from 2021 to the late 1950s.

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_228.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:56pm EST

We know that you may need a few distractions from … let’s call them beloved relatives … during the Christmas break so the Comic Book Bears are proud to flood you with the first of four new audio episodes from our recent livestreams just before 12/25 hits in case you need them! In this episode, Bill Z and Steve talk about some smaller comic book conventions that they attended in November and then with Caleb the comic roundtable starts spinning with My Bad (Ahoy), Knighted (AWA/Upshot), Batman/Superman: The Authority Special (DC), Stranger Things: Tomb of Ybwen (Dark Horse), Pass Me By: Electric Vice (Renegade Arts Entertainment)  and Adventureman (Image) among the books that come up in discussion!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_227.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:35pm EST

Taken from our Livestream on November 4th, this episode finds Steve and Bill discussing what went down on Stargirl Season 2! We both waxed very poetically about Season 1 last year so tune in and find out what the CBB boys thought of this season that found Courtney and her fellow JSAers in Blue Valley taking on Eclipso as the big bad! Then we continue on with comic talk with this episode's spinner rack featuring Deadbox, Rainbow Bridge, ET ER and a round up of recent DC Comics from Bill with a special focus on the Locke and Key/Sandman Universe crossover concluding!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_226.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:07pm EST

Join us for another convention wrap up episode, this time concerning this year's Baltimore Comic Con! Bill and Steve attended and had the pleasure of Jon Runyan of A Comic Book Look podcast joining them as their roommate for the weekend ... AND he joins us again for this episode! Listen in as we hear about encounters with creators, panels attended, treasures acquired and more! Then, Caleb joins in on a discussion of the new cinematic vision of Frank Herbert's Dune from director Denis Villeneuve! And of course a healthy dose of comic book talk!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_225.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:40pm EST

As the Comic Book Bears Podcast takes a Thanksgiving break from video livestreaming we are taking advantage of that downtime to catch up on the audio versions of our episodes. This episode was recorded after one of our hosts made it out to New York Comic Con so listen in to Bill Z’s wrap up of that con’s goings on and be prepared for some rambling with tangents ranging from Jon Kent’s bisexuality in the current Superman comics to the virtues of one particular punk group from the UK. We don’t go off the rails so greatly that we don’t get to the round tabling of recent comics with Inferno (Jonathan Hickman’s denouement to his overseeing the X-Men line), A Thing Called Love (an Image book from the wonderful Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli), Turbo Kid: Apple's Lost Adventure (from Happy Tank, a new Behemoth Comics imprint), Chicken Devil (a comedy thriller from Aftershock), Suicide Squad: Get Joker! (Brian Azzarello and Alex Maleev tackling Task Force X for DC Black Label) and much more!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_224.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 4:21pm EST

We decided to head over to the movie theater section of the Comic Book Bearcave this time around ... it's a big cave ... as we each discuss our five favorite comic book films of all time! The Dark Knight! Guardians of the Galaxy! Dredd! Superman! Ant-Man! Sin City! Avengers: Endgame! Road to Perdition! Watchmen! Captain America: The Winter Soldier! The Rocketeer! Some of these are among our favorite comic book based films; some of these aren't! And one even makes all of our lists! Listen in and find out!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_223.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 4:19pm EST

On this new audio episode, recorded on 9/23/2021, Steve and Caleb review Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings which is the 25th Marvel Cinematic Universe film, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and starring Simu Liu as Shang-Chi alongside Awkwafina, Meng'er Zhang, Fala Chen, Ben Kingsley, and Tony Leung. In the film, Shang-Chi is forced to confront his past when his father Wenwu, the leader of the Ten Rings organization, draws him and his sister Xialing into a search for a supposedly mythical village. Bill then joins them for some comic news talk about this year’s Batman Day and IDW’s new distribution. Bill and Caleb get all lawyery over the Ditko Estate suit against Marvel and about the public domain and then finally comic book talk! As this is a longer-than-usual episode, there are a lot of books covered including Pyrate Queen, Midnighter Annual 2021, Green Lantern Annual 2021, Superman: Red and Blue, Batman: Urban Legends, Maw, Die, Wiccan and Hulking, Batman 89, Superman 78 and Pennyworth!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_221.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 12:22am EST

Time for another new Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode! Recorded on 9/16/2021 the CBB boys are thrilled to welcome back to the show “the koala of comics” David Hazan, the writer of Nottingham from Mad Cave Studios! Nottingham, an amazing reinterpretation of the Robin Hood legend with art by Shane Connery Volk, recently completed its first arc and those five issues are collected in Nottingham Vol. 1: Death and Taxed (available now digitally and in TPB on 11/3!) As seen in this esoteric take on medieval noir, the Sheriff of Nottingham hunts a serial killer with a penchant for tax collectors. His investigation makes him the target of England's most nefarious power-brokers while the Merry Men, terrorists lurking amongst the trees of Sherwood, are led by an enigma known only as "Hood." David talks to us about the collected edition, some of what he has planned next and then joins Bill Z and Steve for an international comic book roundtable!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_222.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:38pm EST

We are starting to get the Comic Book Bears Podcast cave in order again and are finally releasing the audio versions of our livestreams over the last few weeks and this will be the first of four such episodes to bring things up to speed.  On this episode, originally recorded on 9/9/2021, the CBB boys welcome to the show Chris Fildes! Chris is the author of Fanny Galactic: Tuck to the Future and he is here to talk about its sequel Crime + D'Sorder, which like its predecessor was the subject of a successful Kickstarter campaign! Imagine waking up and finding the world has been taken over by crazed drag queens! That's what happened in the world of Fanny Galactic which saw the unlikely emergence of a reluctant drag queen super-heroine. Now in a brand new story Chris gives you the rise of Sybil D'Sorder - drag queen super-villain! This comedic thriller is the perfect book for LGBTQ+ comic fans and those looking for something different and fun! Tune in to hear all about it along with Chris's influences and history with comics along with a few books that Bill and Steve discuss - including Last Flight Out (Dark Horse), We Found a Monster (DC) - and much, much more!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_220.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:26pm EST

Recorded before we took a break for the Labor Day weekend, Steve, Caleb and Bill convened in the Comic Book Bear cave for a roundtable on recent (and one not so recent) comic books. The funnybook talk starts after a whole lotta tangents at beginning ranging from current comic book related TV to the passing of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts. So … Descender. Kang the Conqueror. The Trial of Magneto. The Other History of the DC Universe. Superman: Red and Blue. John Lewis’s Run. A 1981 UK reprinting of Jim Steranko’s Captain America work. Which of these … and there is more than one … are the comics that made us cry … twice?

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_219.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:47pm EST

All four Comic Book Bears - Bryan, Bill, Caleb and Steve - are on hand for this new episode! This past August 14th marked the latest Free Comic Book Day and there were nearly 50 book offerings this year; listen in to hear which comics each of the CBB boys selected as their picks! The Eternals trailer, the comic books supply shortage of boxes, bags and boards, the recent Substack deals for top creators, the Paris Review (seriously!) along with comics such as Runaways, Cable, It's Not What You Thought It Would Be, the 2021 Flash Annual and more are among the other discussion topics this time around!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_218.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:32pm EST

The CBB boys return to the movie theatre to discuss The Suicide Squad, the tenth film in the DC Extended Universe! The film was written and directed by James Gunn and stars Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Sylvester Stallone, Viola Davis, David Dastmalchian, Daniela Melchior, Michael Rooker, Jai Courtney, Peter Capaldi, Alice Braga, and Pete Davidson. The covert task force of convicts known as the Suicide Squad are sent to the island nation of Corto Maltese after its government is overthrown by an anti-American regime, and are tasked with destroying the Nazi-era laboratory Jötunheim which holds a secretive experiment known as "Project Starfish".  Tune in to hear what Caleb, Bill and Steve thought about the movie and afterwards they get to yapping about current comics with I Am Not Starfire (DC), The Delicacy (Top Shelf), Not All Robots (AWA) and others among the books discussed!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_217.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 8:33pm EST

Bill and Steve head over to the bookshelves instead of the spinner rack on this special episode as the CBB boys talk about the earliest graphic novels that they enjoyed reading!  From the first Superman and Batman hardcover collections in the 70s to Peanuts treasuries to groundbreaking collected works from the 80s like Maus, the Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen to projects like the very last collaboration of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, there are a huge number of books that are under discussion this time around.  Hit play and enjoy!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_216.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:36pm EST

Bill and Bryan and Steve and Caleb! That’s right all four CBBears back together on this new audio episode that finds a return to the comic book roundtable! This time around the X-Men books, the American Cults graphic novel, The Mighty Crusaders: The Shield one shot, M.O.M.: Mother of Madness #1, Black Hammer Visions #6, Harrow County, Everyone is Tulip, Claire and the Dragons #1 and more are part of the discussion!  Throw in getting sick in Provincetown, the resurgence of vinyl albums and Space Jam Happy Meal toys and you have a solid one hour and 45 minutes of comics-and-more talk from your four-color hairy, heavy homos!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_215.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:52pm EST

We head back to the movies on this new episode as Steve and Bill take their seats in the cinema to welcome the return of Marvel Cinematic Universe films with the release of Black Widow! Directed by Cate Shortland, the film stars Scarlett Johansson once again in the role of Natasha Romanoff alongside Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Ray Winstone, and Rachel Weisz. Taking place between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, Romanoff is a fugitive for violating the Sokovia Accords and flees to a safehouse in Norway where a series of events triggers a reunion with Natasha’s “family”, culminating in a battle royale in the skies of Russia! The CBB boys weigh in with what they thought of the film along with some comic book chat – Steve talks up Bad Idea and what’s happening in the X-books at Marvel as Bill offers up a DC title round up. All this plus the Woofs of the Week and more!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_214.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:23pm EST

The Comic Book Bears boys come back to their funnybook cave to talk about the wonderful new series from Black Mask, Alice in Leatherland! Italian comic creators and real-life couple Iolanda Zanfardino (writer) and Elisa Romboli,(artist) have crafted an unabashedly queer, romantic, funny and kinky comic! Alice is a children’s fairy tale writer and after her fantasy life is destroyed by her girlfriend’s infidelity, sheltered Alice heads to raucous San Francisco on a journey of sexual awakening, community building, and self-discovery in this bawdy sex-comedy and queer romance that celebrates its diverse ensemble’s joys, kinks, and loves! Bill and Steve dedicate the majority of this episode to discussing Alice’s tale but also discuss other recent series including Marvel’s Heroes Reborn and Good Luck from Boom! You’ll hear some recent comic news coverage and they somehow also work in the 1969 Woodstock festival and one of the more dopey QAnon theories into the mix!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_213.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:44pm EST

We had a rare recording on a Monday night (6/21 to be exact) but you can play this episode any darn day of the week you would like! Listen in as Steve, Caleb and Bill give an update on the Hellfire Gala goings on in the X-Books, delve into some indie books like Stone Fruit by Lee Lai (Fantagraphics) and Save Yourself #1 (Boom!) and then open the pages of a whole bunch of DC books including Justice League: Last Ride, Truth and Justice, The Flash, Stargirl Spring Break Special and more! Also the tangents range from slasher films to the effects of continued drug use by members of Madchester groups on this last Pride Month episode!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_212.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 8:32am EST

On this new audio episode, Bill, Caleb and Steve start the show off by discussing the premiere of Loki, the new Marvel Cinematic Universe series airing on Disney+ with Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as the Norse God of Mischief! What is Loki up to, what is the Time Variance Authority and exactly what is Owen Wilson doing there? Well, hit play and find out! We also head over to the virtual spinner rack to discuss the JLA: Tower of Babel collection, Fantastic Four: Life Story, Iron Fist: Heart of the Dragon, Crush and Lobo, The Other History of the DC Universe and more!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_211.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 11:09pm EST

On this new audio episode, Bill, Caleb and Steve are focused on original graphic novels. The Times I Knew I Was Gay (Scribner), Fictional Father (Drawn and Quarterly) and Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge (DC) all get some time under the microscope but the majority of the episode is dedicated to the stunning I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by Mannie Murphy, published by Fantagraphics. The book begins as a reflection on the author’s 1990s teenage infatuation with River Phoenix and transforms into telling the larger story of the city of Portland and the state of Oregon's dark history of white nationalism. And all from a queer AF sensibility. We also talk little bit about our coming out stories and what our personal Pride anthems are in this first episode recorded during the Pride month of June!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_210.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:12pm EST

On this Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode, Steve and Bill Z turn on the tube and chart the comic book related TV we have seen throughout 2021 so far.  And there is a lot - Superman & Lois, Batwoman, WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Jupiter's Legacy, Lucifer, The Flash, Supergirl, M.O.D.O.K., DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, Teen Titans Go!, Invincible, Fear the Walking Dead, Wynonna Earp and even more! So if you are in that boob tube mood, hit play and enjoy!

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_209.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:46pm EST

New Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode! Not only do we have Caleb back with us, we also have Jon Runyan of A Comic Book Look podcast joining us again for 105 minutes of comic book roundtable goodness! I Walk with Monsters #6, Challenge of the Super-Sons #1, Marjorie Finnegan: Temporal Criminal #1 and Geiger #1 are just a few of the titles from Marvel, DC and independent publishers that we talk about this time around!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_208.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 8:33pm EST

The Comic Book Bears are thrilled to welcome to the show for the first time Sean McArdle! Sean is an Eisner nominated comics creator, filmmaker as well as a college professor at Kent State University. His work has appeared in array of tiles from Image Comics, IDW, and Arcana Studio and he joins us to talk about his graphic novel The Führer And The Tramp! The book is an alternative history retelling of the making of Charlie Chaplin’s landmark film The Great Dictator. It begins in 1939 as Hitler’s reign of terror is continuing to spread across Europe. Personally engaged by President Roosevelt to help sway public opinion we find Chaplin transforming from comedic movie maker to provocateur, traveling the world and facing down the American Bund, Nazi spies, his own insecurities and Hitler himself to complete his film. Originally a comic web series, The Führer And The Tramp is being published by Source Point Press on 6/29/2021 and trust us, it is EXCELLENT! Hit play and enjoy!

http://thefuhrerandthetramp.com/

https://seandouglasmcardle.com/

 

 

 

 

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_207.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 10:47am EST

We are thrilled to welcome back to the show Dave Ebersole! Dave is here to talk about his new project TOMMY DAKOTA AND THE SHOOTOUT AT THE BURGUNDY TEN, a 70-page original graphic novel about an infamous robber meeting the love of his life on his final heist.  With art by Vinnie Rico, Dave has crafted a modern-day pulp western queer romance. The Burgundy Ten saloon was once a nice place for respectable people, but not anymore. Now the saloon is home to a high-stakes underground poker game that features a cadre of gamblers, criminals, and rogues. Among them, Tommy Dakota, an infamous robber, renowned desperado, and legendary outlaw. Tommy was all about the thrill of the heist and the promise of the payoff ...until he met the bartender at The Burgundy Ten. There is a Kickstarter campaign for the book and the link is below! Dave then sticks around to chat with Steve and Bill Z about current comics! Hit play and listen in!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/daveebersole/tommy-dakota-a-queer-western-romance

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_206.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:54pm EST

Caleb decided to take a study break from law school and he re-enters the Comic Book Bears cave! Listen in as he joins Steve and Bill in talking about the return of comic conventions (big and small), some MCU news and a whole lot of comic book talk including musings on America Chavez: Made in America, Orphan and the Five Beasts, Darkhawk: Heart of the Hawk, The Cimmerian, Nocterra and more! Also Bill has ... opinions ... about Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point #1!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_205.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:16pm EST

Recorded from our 4/8/2021 livestream, this coincided with the extremely rare occurrence of Bill and Steve receiving their most recent DCBS boxes at the same time! Listen in as they unbox their goodies and then shift over to the comic talk! Bill is all about DC this time around (Justice League, Nightwing, The Joker) while Steve flies the indie flag (Please Don't Step on My Jinco Jeans, Die!Die!Die! and Lady Baltimore!)

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_204.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 1:24pm EST

Recorded on 4/1/2021, the CBBears are back with a new audio episode! Listen in as Bryan, Steve and Bill talk about the long anticipated Synder Cut of Justice League. The DCEU film originally hit theaters in 2017 and director Zack Snyder left the project for a variety of reasons before its release. Now we have the film "remixed" according to his original vision and it is currently streaming on HBOMax! Beyond that, the fellas head over to the spinner rack and discuss Once and Future, Rorschach, Second Coming: Only Begotten Son, Proctor Valley Road and Stray Dogs among other funnybooks!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_203.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 8:19am EST

New Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode! Bill and Steve provide a different type of show this time around so hit play and enjoy an episode that focuses on some of our favorite books about comic books! We start off the show covering price guides and from there give you the lowdown on books about the Golden, Silver and Bronze ages of comics, the horror book scare of the 1950s, war comics, the creative process, comic company profiles, long running franchises and much, much more!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_202Ep.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 9:48pm EST

New Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode! Steve and Bill are thrilled to welcome to the show for the first time Jon Runyan!! Jon is the co-host of the long running A Comic Book Look podcast and has been a familiar name as a commentator since we started our livestreams! Jon is all kinds of awesome! Listen in as we provide an update on the various comic book based TV programs that have been airing (including WandaVision and Superman and Lois) and a rundown of some of our favorite recent funnybooks!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_201.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 8:22pm EST

Join us for our 200th episode of the Comic Book Bears Podcast! Bill, Bryan and Steve take you through a history trip of what has transpired in the funnybook world in the nine years since the podcast started.  The CBB boys also discuss their all time favorite issue 200 comic books.  It's a long one, it's a chaotic one but it's also a fun one!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_200.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 7:40pm EST

New Comic Book Bears Podcast audio episode! We are thrilled to welcome writer Zack Kruse to our comic book review show! We discuss his book Mysterious Travelers: Steve Ditko and a Different Kind of Liberalism, published by University Press of Mississippi, in addition to our normal round-up of our favorite funny books. Zack is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University and is a scholar of comics, film and American literature. His essays have been published in numerous journals. His comic strip, Mystery Solved!, appeared in Skeptical Inquirer and he is a regular contributor to a number of comic book podcasts. Hit play for the Ditko talk with Zack, Bill, Bryan and Steve!

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_199.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 8:17am EST

The Comic Book Bears are thrilled to welcome back to the show writer/artist Steve Bryant! Steve rejoins us to discuss his latest book Athena Voltaire and the Terror on the Orient Express (which has an active Kickstarter campaign behind it) in addition to our normal weekly round-up of our favorite funny books.
Steve is an Eisner, Manning and Harvey Award-nominated creators. His other work includes Ghoul Scouts, The Catch and the new webcomic Maximus Wrecks. He has also completed projects for Dark Horse Comics, IDW, Boom! Studios, Ape Entertainment and others, as well as extensive work in the roleplaying and boardgame industry.

There is still some time to get in on the Kickstarter which can be found at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stevebryant/athena-voltaire-and-the-terror-on-the-orient-express?fbclid=IwAR2It3DevvuWYH8pPLzqam-XvuI1exzjHmuJtudUg6QqPchh3Eq1LhAKhi0

Direct download: Comic_Book_Bears_Podcast_Issue_198.mp3
Category:Comic Books -- posted at: 7:09pm EST