Opinions May Vary (comics movies & videogames)

After about 5 years of existence and 223 episodes of a podcast it seems my laptop is showing signs of age. It's to the point where I won't open the internet while we record and I turn the brightness on my screen all the way down in hopes that it keeps the fan to a low hum and not the screaming whirlwind that it's turned into recently.

Shame, really....as I'd really like to not have to buy a new computer any time soon but it's looking more and more like I'm going to have to bite the bullet or else risk being disconnected from the internet for a while.

*shudder*

Anywho. This week's jam features a good friend of ours named Dave who is just a rad person who enjoys doing rad things with rad people. He's pretty much the epitome of what we aim for in our guests. He's been a friend of the show for a few years now and we figured it was long overdue for him to make his OMV debut.

Enjoy!

#nerfbastion

-Jr.

Direct download: 6.23.2016_Episode_223.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 1:48am EDT
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Our guest this week is the man responsible for countless Instagram screen caps/Facebook messages to Alex saying "dude did you see this?!" or "god damnit it's literally perfect" etc etc. His name is Daniel Govar. And he makes art. (Really good art. Like damn good stuff.)

We've been fans of Govar for a while now and long-time listeners will probably recall hearing the name a few times in the past (especially during our chat with Tony Moy last year). Alex has thrown money at him on multiple occasions and I've expressed my jealousy at the results of his thrown money on a consistent basis...meaning pretty much every time I'm over his house.

His shit is just really good and he's a good dude to boot.

So enough gushing for now...as there's plenty more in the episode. Seriously. It's to the point where we have to warn our guests that we tend to fanboy a bit and our interviews sometimes turn into a compliment barrage. But we're working on it...and maybe someday we'll learn how to do this interview thing correctly. Maybe.

We hope you dig our chat with Daniel as much as we did and if you're at Heroes Con this weekend make sure to stop by his table and say "hey" for us!

-Jr.

Direct download: 6.17.2016_Episode_222.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 1:34pm EDT
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It's strangely coincidental that I can't stop playing videogames during the two week span of our videogame origin episodes. Recently my gaming habits had transformed into "well...I have an hour. Maybe I'll boot up Bioshock: Infinite for a few". Up until about two months ago my PS3 had just turned into a Netflix machine. A decent amount of my gaming crew had upgraded to the 4 and all the games I had for the 3 had become stale from playing them for half a decade. Then (while in the process of buying a house, mind you) I gave into my impulses and upgraded as well.

And now I can't stop gaming. I'm back. I'm with the metaphorical "new shit" and I can play new games again.

Namely Overwatch.

And Uncharted 4 which was incredible but let's be real here.

Overwatch has consumed me. I can't remember the last time I put so many hours into a single game in such a short span of time. Not to mention almost all of my core gaming friends have also picked it up which makes it even more damaging to my productivity. You can expect a full review soon as it's going to be difficult for Alex and me to shut up about it.

Alas, this week is for origins. And it's time for part two.

-Jr.

Direct download: 6.3.2016_Episode_221.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 12:19pm EDT
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A while back Alex and I did a two part jam about the origins of our Comic Book obsessions.

People seemed to dig it.

So this week we had Joe on so we could do it again. Only with video games because that's what we do when Joe comes on. We didn't intend on making this one into two parts...but like last time with the comic book origins...we couldn't stop talking.

So here's part one of our video game origins. Part two will drop next week. Check it out; we think you'll dig it.

-Jr.

Direct download: 6.3.2016_Episode_220.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 4:19pm EDT
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So um.

A lot happened in comics this week. And some people seem upset. 

Let's talk about it, yeah??

Also I get on an extended segue detailing my LEGO sets. It's real primetime stuff.

-Jr.

Direct download: 5.26.2016_Episode_219.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 6:05pm EDT
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Strap on your goggles and grab your shillelaghs kids. It's time for the 2016 Steampunk World's Fair recap!

 I hath the power

2016 marks our 4th consecutive year covering the World's Fair and 4 consecutive years later I'm still having an absolute blast at this show.

Of course no SPWF recap is complete without the incomparable Brett Kelley who was kind enough to join in on the fun despite being forced to spend the entire weekend with us. He's a real trooper, that Brett Kelley.

Anyways, we hope you love the episode and if you've even been considering checking out the Fair we hope maybe it'll give you that last little push needed to buy a ticket. You can trust us when we say it is absolutely worth it.

Click HERE for photos of this year's happenings.

-Jr.

Direct download: 5.17.2016_Episode_218.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:35am EDT
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Brett Kelley (yes, THE Brett Kelley) is literally on his way to pick me up so we can head to The Steampunk World's Fair so for now this is going to be really short but when we get back on Sunday I'm going to toss some more awesomeness up here that actually deals with this week's jam.

The one and only Ryan Vella joined us (in person!) this week to give us all the delicious details from the recent LoL bans and also to discuss the state of eSports as a whole. This stuff is growing. It's growing fast. And it is amazing.

More to come.

-Jr.

Direct download: 5.12.2016_Episode_217.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 10:28am EDT
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If you were to tell my mother "Jr needs to watch more TV" she would probably ask you who the hell Jr is. Then she'd laugh. Like, really hard. In your face. But it's true. I don't watch a whole lot of TV anymore and with the ever expanding gallery of comic book related shows out these days it's definitely strange. My excuse? I'm an adult. And I'm busy. It's a lame excuse...but for now it's all I have and I'll stand by it like the stubborn asshole I am.

Luckily I have friends who watch these things and I can rely on them to tell me if I'm missing out on anything good. Like Steph who joined us this week to give us the rundown on the current Marvel/DC television series, what to watch, and what we might want to skip. It's rad.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 5.7.2016_Episode_216.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 6:49pm EDT
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It begins...Getting there...

 

Closer...Almost...

 

SO CLOSE

It's safe to say I was very excited for PAX East this year. It's also safe to say that Joe and Colin are very patient with me.

 

PAXXXXXXXXX

I've said it for three years in a row now...but PAX East is the best gosh darn show of the year. They display the words "Welcome Home" on the enormous video screen outside the convention hall every year and I can't think of a more fitting slogan for a show. PAX is home. It's a collection of almost all of my favorite things packed under one roof and for me it is the very definition of happiness. But enough about me.

PAX was rad.

This was our second year officially "covering" the show and if I'm honest I think we put a great episode together for you. While last year's jam was split up into a two-parter, this year we were able to stay on track (for the most part) and lay down a tasty 2 hour review featuring discussions with developers, reviews on games both hot and unknown, and details of our experiences in hunting down Penny Arcade employees in order to exchange goods...and pins.

Rumor has it next year's show moves us back to early March again which means one thing: LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN. Brb. I have to go message Joe and Colin.

Photos can be found here. Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 4.28.2016_Episode_215.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 6:38pm EDT
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A thousand apologies for the short post this weekend. I'm literally out the door on my way to PAX East for the weekend. Expect lots of PAX related stuff to follow.

For now enjoy episode 214 with Molly, Mike, and Ryan. Three more members of the illustrious Hero Army. This week we dive deeper into the world of the Army and we also touch on some local events for the 2016 Free Comic Book Day. Do us a favor and check it out, yeah??

Now if you'll excuse me:

TO PAX.

-Jr.

Direct download: 4.17.2016_Episode_214.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 6:08pm EDT
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