Opinions May Vary (comics movies & videogames)

I think I've slept through about 18 of the past 24 hours. I don't deal with being sick very well. With that said; I have an obligation to provide this week's episode to you because simply put: It's pretty good.

Here's a breakdown for you: A friend of ours named Tighe called us on Skype and we got to talk to him about what it's like to be able to do cool things and to have talent.

Pretty neat, right?

Also here's a fun fact: It took me 6 tries to write that 2nd paragraph because I'm so hopped up on medicine I can't see straight. There was a minor debate in my mind to just leave it the way it was typed out for comedy's sake...but honestly Tighe was such a rad guest I felt like it would have been a disservice to him to have the post riddled with spelling errors and nonsense.

Now it's time for more sleep.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 1.22.2017_Episode_254.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 9:12pm EDT
Comments[0]

This week was neat.

Alex and I didn't have a guest lined up so we knew it was going to be just the two of us. During our pre-show "oh shit what are we going to talk about" meeting something crazy and completely unexpected happened: We started talking about comics.

Ok so maybe not completely unexpected because it happens literally every time we hang out. But it also got me thinking because it was conversations like the one we stumbled into today that ultimately led to the genesis of this very show.

So we rolled with it and did a sort of "throwback" episode and just talked about comic book characters we felt were underrated/over-hyped and it was glorious. I'm sure you'll have your own opinions for this week's topics and I urge you to share them with us. Maybe even on our Facebook page if you were so inclined.

I swear to God if anyone says one bad word about Maxwell Lord, though....

Anyways, enjoy this week's jam.

-Jr.

Direct download: 1.21.2017_Episode_253.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 8:06pm EDT
Comments[0]

Ok,

So there's this thing called Super Art Fight that we've talked at length about in the past. We've been to a bunch of their shows, we've thrown money at them in exchange for art and t-shirts, and we've had a few of their members on the show....twice.

Jamie Noguchi is here this week for number three. 

Both a founder and performer with Super Art Fight, Jamie has also been producing a webcomic for the last 7 years, posting art all over the internet, and providing motivational advice in the form of three simple words. Join us this week as we dig a bit deeper into the mind of the "King of Brush Style" and discover the secrets behind the Jamie Noguchi System™.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 1.14.2017_Episode_252.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:31pm EDT
Comments[0]

Let the record show that I've made it perfectly clear I'm not that great at most competitive videogames. There have been times....brief periods of time....where I thought there was a game I was good at. Then someone would come along and give me a swift and harsh reminder that when it comes to videogames I will always be drowning in mediocrity. Now with games that actually have a "ranking" (Halo 3, Overwatch, etc) there was always one thing I was good at: sitting right in the middle. I can never come close to the top but I'm also competent enough to stay out of the bottom.

I've accepted the fact that playing games as a career is out of the question for me. My skills combined with my age (30 is ancient in the competitive scene) leave me at a severe disadvantage. Combine that with intense competition anxiety and you have the perfect mixture for someone who will spend their days only playing games from the comfort of their living room.

Luckily we have friends who are good at games and make an effort to play them at a competitive level. Sometimes even attending that funny thing called a tournament. Want to hear us talk with our friend Ken about fighting games and fighting game tournaments for an hour?

You're in luck.

-Jr.

 

Direct download: 1.7.2017_Episode_251.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 9:41pm EDT
Comments[0]

Writing a huge post about how 2016 was awful and how glad we all are that it's over would seem a bit...expected. Plus there are dozens of other people who have already put their thoughts down about 2016 who are much better than me at expressing themselves. Take this recent Penny Arcade strip for example. That pretty much sums it all up.

So for now I'll just say that 2017 is upon us. We have a lot of neat ideas for the future and hopefully we'll be able to share those ideas with you soon. We hope you enjoy the last episode of the year as we chat with our good friend Babs and recap some of the more positive things 2016 gave us.

Until next year,

-Jr.

Direct download: 12.29.2016_Episode_250.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 6:27pm EDT
Comments[0]

Hey all,

Gonna keep this short today as I have tons to do before xmas festivities kick off. 2016 marks my first attempt at hosting Christmas for my family so it should be....fun? That's not quite the right word. More like...oh god I have no idea what I'm doing. 

Yeah. That sounds better.

Anyway. Join Alex and me as we chat about past xmas traditions and current Overwatch controversies. It's a doozy.

On behalf of Alex and myself we hope you have a safe and merry holiday full of food and joy and more food. See you next week.

-Jr.

Direct download: 12.24.2016_Episode_249.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 2:52pm EDT
Comments[0]

2016 has been a "Year of Firsts" for us.

For example; this year featured the first time:

  • I missed an episode.
  • I abused the term "hot takes" to an almost absurd level.
  • We got to interview a voice actor (Hint: See: last week)
  • Daniel Govar taught us about Peacocks.
  • Our jaws were literally dropped for over an hour by Larry Houston.
  • We dove into a fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons with Jeff Kalles.
  • We got to talk fan fiction with Rob Bricken.
  • Our guests included both a professional wrestler and an emperor.

And today:

  • We recorded an episode from the comfort of our own homes because we were too snowed in to drive anywhere.

All in all? Not a bad year if you asked me. And those were just the "firsts"...not even beginning to count all the other amazing guests and segments we had this year.

Not bad at all.

-Jr.

Direct download: 12.17.2016_Episode_248.mp3.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 9:17pm EDT
Comments[0]

I've put close to 100 total hours into Overwatch since last May. That might not seem like an enormous amount for someone who considers themselves an avid gamer...but 100 hours is a lot for me especially for a game that doesn't even have a campaign. It might help that almost every single close friend I have also has the game and we play almost on a nightly basis. But still.

It's safe to say that Overwatch is pretty fantastic especially when I'm on the winning team...which unless Joe, Alex and Colin are carrying me winning seems to be a rarity these days. But that's beside the point.

The point is the voice actor who plays my favorite character in the game came on the show this week and let Alex and me ask him questions. His name is Keith Silverstein and not only did he provide the voice for the best character in the game, but a quick scan of his IMDB profile will show you the other 186 credits to his name. Such credits include Hunter X Hunter, One Punch Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and many, many more. In other words: There's a really good chance you've already heard his voice before listening to this episode and there's an even better chance you'll have a huge appreciation for Keith and what he does for a living after listening to this episode.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 12.5.2016_Episode_247.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 7:37pm EDT
Comments[0]

It doesn't truly feel like a new Pokemon game has been released until we have Jess on the show to talk about it.

So Jess came on the show to talk about it.

This episode isn't so much of a review as it's more of a "We already expected it to be rad, and it was. So now we're going to talk about how rad it was". If you're looking for in-depth analysis and a fair and balanced review you can check the other 10,000 sites out there who have already done so. If you're looking for casual conversation featuring many throwbacks to the Golden Age of catching fictitious super-powered monsters; you're in luck.

Now to get back to training this Vulpix; I can't stop until it has at  least 8...no...9 tails. (See what I did there? That was clever.)

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 12.2.2016_Episode_246.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 3:41pm EDT
Comments[0]

UPDATE: Joe threw some words down so I added them along with my own. Check them out:

The Adventures of Dr. McNinja is among the most popular web comics ever to be put on-line, and Chris Hastings has spearheaded the writing and the art of the project since 2004.  I stumbled across it in December of 2009, and ended up catching up on the entire 4 year run at that point in one afternoon.   At one point I handed a copy of the first McNinja book to frequent guest Brett Kelley to show him a joke probably a ninja joke involving Jose Cuervo and after he laughed, he flipped over another page, and then another, and then grabbed the second book.  Hastings has a talent for pulling humor out of every medium that he works in, from writing to drawing to skit comedy, and you all have the pleasure of experiencing the auditory version of that with this week’s episode.

  In addition to a great webcomic, Hastings has churned out several fantastic comic books including Gwenpool (which has recently popped out a trade) and Adventure Time (a five year running book that Chris joined in 2014).  He also churned out the Deadpool arc of Fear Itself, and Longshot Saves the Marvel Universe, both of which allow the hilarious Hastings to paint with a large comedy brush.  I’m obviously a hugely obsessed fan, but it comes from a place of immense talent and deep hilarity. 

 This week’s episode has Alex, Jayare, and myself interviewing Hastings a little about his career, talking about how he goes about creating comedy gold, the importance of creating compelling characters, his sketch comedy, and then like 15 minutes on how apparently Hearthstone is awesome.  It was nothing short of being one of the best hours of my life, and I sense you will all find hilarity and enjoyment from it as well.

Finally, if you are going to check out Dr. McNinja and haven’t before, start here with the first official storyline or here with the first color storyline.  The current arc is the last one, and nearing completion – avoid it at all costs, because in addition to being an awesome payoff for hundreds of pages of hilarity, it is crazy spoilerific.  Thank you to Chris Hastings for joining the episode, and Jayare and Alex for letting me join them in interviewing one of my personal heroes.

-Joe

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I apologize in advance if I've written this before but it bears repeating:

One of the greatest feelings in the world is when you talk to someone you really admire and you confirm that they're a genuinely good person. That they fit that image that you've formed in your head based off of a 2 minute conversation or a quick Twitter exchange. They live up to the absurd and probably unfair expectations that you've set for them simply because you enjoy the product they create. They're not obligated to humor you and sacrifice their spare time while you fanboy for the better part of an hour...but they do it anyway.

To put it bluntly: It's awesome.

Our guest this week is the one and only Christopher Hastings. (Longtime listeners will recognize the name mentioned in past episodes.)  He's the creator of the hit web comic "The Adventures of Dr. McNinja", he's written comics for Marvel such as "Deadpool: Fear Itself", "Longshot Saves the Marvel Universe", and "The Unbelievable Gwenpool". He also writes the Adventure Time comic and makes frequent appearances in the local New York sketch comedy scene (More on that in the episode). He's also one of those people I talked about in the beginning of this post. We've admired him for a while, we're all fans of his work, and after spending an hour and a half with him on Skype we can confirm that he's just as rad as the stuff he makes for us.

To reiterate: Awesome.

Enjoy.

-Jr.

Direct download: 11.22.2016_Episode_245.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 7:55pm EDT
Comments[0]

As the title suggests: This episode is a little different from our normal weekly jam and I think you're gonna dig it. There's no guest. There's one topic. And it has nothing to do with anything we've ever covered on the show.

This week: Alex takes us on a journey both terrifying and inspiring.

Enjoy.

-Jr.

Direct download: 11.19.2016_Episode_244.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 9:20pm EDT
Comments[0]

This might sound absurd but this week was Brett's first appearance since May. We went 6 months without having Brett on the show. Half of a year has passed since he last sat in front of our microphone. I wanted to make a list of all the things that have changed since then but it would just turn into me complaining about Donald Trump and I'm guessing you're not here to be reading about that hot garbage.

So anyways.

Brett came in this week in celebration of a few things: His Steampunk coloring book that he Kickstarted earlier this year has started finding its way into the hands of eager backers (including ours) and he's got an upcoming show at the local Easthampton comic shop "Comics N' More" for everyone to check out.

Those are two awesome things and this week you get to hear us talk about them. Now if you'll excuse me I have some super important podcast business to attend to that definitely isn't laying on the floor coloring in my new Brett Kelley coloring book.

Just super important podcast business.

-Jr.

Direct download: 11.9.2016_Episode_243.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 10:55pm EDT
Comments[0]

In the words of the lovable robot Bender:

I'M BACK BABY.

Super chill episode this week while we prepare to get back into our regular schedule of recording our conversations with neat people. Join Alex and me as we chat about videogames and comic cons.

It doesn't get much better than that.

-Jr.

Direct download: 11.5.2016_Episode_242.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 10:13pm EDT
Comments[0]

I'm not sure how to get this one started as this episode is a bit foreign to me.

Because I'm not in it. And I had no part in its creation.

See. I got a new job recently. And part of this new job means passing a really hard test with a short amount of time to study and learn the material. So every minute of my life for the past two weeks has been spent grinding for this test that I'm *hopefully* going to take next week.

Because I've been so busy...I took the week off from the show and Alex manned the Board with the help of dual guests Joe Sherry and Jon. I haven't even listened to it yet...I'm just uploading it on good faith...which could be a mistake. Probably not, though...probably.

Oh God.

Nah. I'm sure it's fine.

.....

-Jr.

Direct download: episode_241_with_jon_and_joe.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 4:51pm EDT
Comments[0]

I'm not gonna lie: I almost completely forgot to upload this...and the streak was almost ruined.

BUT I REMEMBERED. MAYBE AT THE LAST MINUTE, YEAH...BUT I REMEMBERED.

Anyways. This episode was kind of inevitable. It's tradition for Will to join us at least once during the month of October to talk spoopy things and this year was no different. And we're talking about Stranger Things.

So.

This one gets a bit spoiler heavy so if you're that one person that hasn't watched Stranger Things yet you should remedy that then have a listen to our weekly chat. Unless you dig spoilers. In which case this episode is perfect for you. 

Either way. Stranger Things is incredible (did you catch the contest we had on Facebook a while back? Exactly) and this week we're talking about it. 

-Jr.

Direct download: 10.4.2016_Episode_240.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 10:12pm EDT
Comments[0]

I can't remember if it was Bob Ross who coined the term "happy accident" but for now I'm gonna go ahead and say it was.

This episode could be considered one of those happy accidents. In the best way...because a few times now we've seen this great Tony Stark cosplayer tearing through Boston Comic Con. His outfit consists of maybe some boots, maybe some gauntlets, some sunglasses, and that sweet case of armor from Iron Man 2. To put it bluntly, it's awesome. The handful of times we've been able to talk to him were great and it was evident he was a rad dude so obviously we were going to try to get him on the show.

Cut to Alex doing his thing and hunting the internet for contact info when he stumbles upon his Facebook page and what does he see? It turns out this guy is HUGE into the haunt life and has been working at various haunts for more years than I can count. So initially we sent out to have him on the show because of his spot-on Tony Stark...and found out that we could potentially have a new guest for our month of Spooky.

You see? Happy accidents.

-Jr.

Direct download: 10.4.2016_Episode_239.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 4:29pm EDT
Comments[0]

UPDATE: Sad news folks:

"Due to unforeseen circumstance, The Only Scream CT has unfortunately closed for the 2016 haunt season. We plan to reopen next year, and trust us, we’ll be back with a vengeance!

In the meantime, we have partnered with our friends over at Creeperum in Hamden, CT to bring you a special offer and make sure you can still get your frights in this season. Use Code: “scare18” when you check out on their website and receive a nice discount as our thanks for all the support you have given us"

Get out there and support your local haunt!

 

Here at OMV the month of October has become synonymous with recording episodes with our friends who like spooky things. Seeing as Alex spends a good chunk of his month making monsters at our local haunt, it proves very difficult to not immediately get into that Halloween feel. So we embrace it. We cherish it. We nurture it until it is a fully grown and hideous demon spawn and then we record a podcast about it.

And our friends join us.

This week it's Kyle and Noah. You might remember Kyle as he's chilled with us a few times in the past to talk about his gig at Decimated Designs and while Noah may be new to OMV....he's definitely no stranger to the haunt life. Between the three of them Kyle, Noah, and Alex combine to over 20 years of spooky experience and being able to just sit back and watch them go was truly astonishing. And now you get to listen to it while I go prep for our New York Comic Con excursion tomorrow.

Neat!

-Jr.

 

Direct download: 9.14.2016_Episode_238.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 3:25pm EDT
Comments[0]

When it comes to conventions I frequently rely on Alex for continuous hand holding. Unless we're at one of the enormous, in-your-face oh my god I'm so overwhelmed with amazing things shows like NYCC or PAX....I tend to get a bit lost and I overlook all of the awesome things I should be paying attention to.

Last summer when we went to MASSive Comic Con in Worcester I was starting to slip into that mode. It was a smaller show, it was a Sunday, there weren't a lot of people there and there wasn't a whole lot going on. Luckily I have Alex. You see, Alex is smart and does research on things and knows who is going to be at the shows he's attending......like artist/writer Keith Champagne. Alex had visited Keith at a prior show and was aware of his work and how chill of a guy he is. I, with no reason to argue, followed Alex to his table and did my usual hover routine while he struck up conversation.

A half hour and many dollars later we left his table with merchandise in hand (including 3 pages of original art and two hardcovers) and yet another fantastic interaction to brag about.

I guarantee you if I didn't have Alex with me I would have done one lap through the show and gone home. I would have never met Keith, I wouldn't have read The Mighty (which was so good), and we wouldn't have a guest on the show this week.

The thought of all of that is just tragic. Alex....what would I do without you?

-Jr.

Direct download: 9.29.2016_Episode_237.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:44am EDT
Comments[0]

While wandering around the aisles of the Boston Comic Con last month I saw my partner in podcasting crime engaged in what looked to be a hearty conversation full of wonder and laughs. As I made my approach Alex noticed me and eagerly invited me to join in. I believe his exact words were something like "HEY. LOOK WHO IT IS!"

It was our pal Israel from Skelton Crew Studios. After exchanging the usual pleasantries Israel started to hint that there were big things on the horizon for him and The Crew. This resulted in the exchanging of the usual obscenities (all from me) and desperate attempts to coax out whatever secrets he was hiding. But alas. His resolve proved to be unmatched.

But that was last month. Time has passed. Contracts have been signed. New collectibles are coming. And Israel joined us this week to give us the 4-1-1 on some of them.

My wallet is already aching in the best way.

-Jr.

Direct download: 9.22.2016_Episode_236.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 3:05pm EDT
Comments[0]

My computer was determined to stop this episode from happening. First I was almost late getting to Alex's place because of an update that held up my laptop from shutting down. Then during setup it had to then install said update.

Which took over an hour.

It even gave me the fantastic message of "Do not turn off your computer. This will take a while." Thanks for the heads up, laptop.

Lucky for us our guest this week was super patient and had no problem engaging in some casual bullshitting while we waited for my computer to finish pooping its metaphorical pants. We've mentioned our pal Kirby a few times in the past. He's another employee of the Boston Comic Con and while that's rad he's also a journeyman who loves to travel to conventions all over the country.

So we talked about that. And it was good.

-Jr.

Direct download: 9.17.2016_Episode_235.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:32pm EDT
Comments[0]

I've spent almost the entirety of my day working on a campaign for an upcoming D&D game which is extremely fitting given the episode we have for you this week.

You see, I've done little to hide my admiration for everyone over at Penny Arcade. I've mentioned that website in some way, shape or form dozens of times during our tenure not to mention the three years of PAX that I can't seem to shut up about. To put it bluntly: They just do neat shit.

An example of their neat shit: How about playing D&D in front of thousands of people multiple times a year? How about expanding that game into a 12 part mini-series on YouTube that was concluded in front of a packed symphony hall and streamed in movie theaters across the country? Not quite enough? How about we add guest stars like Wil Wheaton, Morgan Webb, and Patrick Rothfuss and games that are run by Chris Perkins himself. I mean come on.

That's some neat shit.

At the end of the day shit like that doesn't just come together on its own. Someone has to plan, organize, and execute months in advance so we can all sit down and watch five people play Dungeons & Dragons for 3 hours. The man behind the curtain....the unsung hero goes by the name of Jeff Kalles. He's the Senior Sales Manager at Penny Arcade but as you'll hear during our chat that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of all that he does.

Mere days after putting on quite possibly the largest live D&D show ever Jeff was kind enough to Skype in so we could learn about everything that goes into the role playing phenomenon that is Acquisitions Incorporated.

And good lord was it some neat shit.

-Jr.

 

Direct download: 9.8.2016_Episode_234.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 10:42pm EDT
Comments[0]

Watching the live feed from PAX West is really killing any productivity I had when I began uploading this episode...

BUT WE BACK. AND WE GOT AN EPISODE FOR YOU.

This week we're joined by fellow steampunkers/hobbyists/all around awesome people Katie and Brendan of Redfield Designs. Some of our listeners may find that name sounds familiar....that's probably because it's been mentioned on our show pretty much every time we talk about The Steampunk World's Fair or other related events. You may have even seen the fabulous Brett Kelley rocking his custom made Redfield Design three piece suit. (It's the one that almost made you pass out because he looked so damn good in it)

They're also both members of the infamous Red Fork Empire. Remember when we talked with The Emperor a few months back? No? Go ahead and have a listen. We'll be here when you get back.

Join us this week for some chatter about enormous space marines, my struggles with sewing machines, and the Oscar count for Mad Max: Fury Road.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 9.2.2016_Episode_233.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 7:58pm EDT
Comments[0]

Way back....like wayyyyy back when OMV was in its infancy we tried to be the news podcast that would cover movies/comics/video games. We'd scour the internet looking for the latest headlines and stories to offer our opinions on and while that format didn't last very long (thankfully) one of the sites that we'd always rely on was the one called Topless Robot.

Even before we started doing the show Alex would frequently hit me up with links and articles he figured I would find interesting. In a sea of "geek blogs" re-posting all of the same stories with the same press releases Topless Robot was a breath of fresh air that wasn't just the standard "BREAKING: SOMETHING HAPPENED. MORE DETAILS TO COME". It was more "Hey. This happened. Here's an opinion on it that's both humorous and informative."

There was also fan fiction. And not really the kind of fan fiction you'd expect...or maybe it was the exact kind of fan fiction you'd expect....either way just listen to the episode and all will be explained.

Founded by Rob Bricken in 2007-2008, Topless Robot was his baby until 2012 when he took a gig at the insanely popular site io9 and since then he has moved up to the role of Editor. With a monthly readership in the millions....it sounds like it's equal parts terrifying and amazing. I mean..I get excited when our episodes hit triple digits...I can't even begin to imagine hitting seven of them. All the time. And getting paid actual money to do it.

Sadly if you were to visit www.toplessrobot.com right now you'd find that under the new management it got a bit of a facelift and hasn't had new content posted since December of last year. Bummer. Luckily Rob is still cranking out material over at io9 for us to enjoy and the Topless Robot archives are still intact for those looking to re-live some old geek nostalgia.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 8.24.2016_Episode_232.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 2:13pm EDT
Comments[0]

Hey all,

Just Alex and me this week telling tales of our trip to Boston last weekend for the 2016 Boston Comic Con. We only went for one day but we somehow managed to fill an entire episode with just the two of us...I can't really tell if that's a good or bad thing...for now I'll say it's good and start arguments with anyone who disagrees with me. That's the right way to do it, yeah?

Anyways. We've been talking about BCC a lot these days. So to some this might bring a bit of closure to our weeks of anticipatory statements.

Also. MAN was it hot last weekend or what?

-Jr.

Direct download: 8.19.2016_Episode_231.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 7:32pm EDT
Comments[0]

UPDATE: It was brought to our attention by Bob and members of the Boston Comic Con Staff that some of Bob's comments were deemed inappropriate and we were asked to remove them after the episode was posted.

It's no secret that we're huge fans of the Boston Comic Con. We've long touted that it's one of the best shows around for people who like comic books and the artists/writers that create them. I guess after 6 years of attending, 3 years of tabling and hours upon hours of recap episodes it was only fitting that we get someone who actually helps make the show happen on our humble podcast.

And it finally happened because Bob Shaw has made his much anticipated OMV debut. Join us this week as we do our best to hype the upcoming BCC and list a bunch of names that might intrigue you. Honestly most of the episode consists of three comic book nerds talking about some of their favorite artists who might be in the city of Boston next week. How could you possibly miss out on that?

Oh by the way...not only does he work for one of the best comic book conventions on the East Coast but Bob is also an art representative for some of the industries top names. Wanna buy some art? Check out his site.

See you in Boston!

-Jr.

Direct download: 8.4.2016_Episode_229_v2.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:31pm EDT
Comments[0]

The Boston Comic Con is literally 2 weeks away. Literally. We'll be there on Friday as good 'ol regular attendees spending too much money and gushing over our favorite artists. It'll be a good time.

You know what else is a good time? Chatting with the artist who was tabling next to us last year. We kind of have a small habit of doing this. Remember Dave? Well we're doing it again with our pal Ed Yancey. Ed is an artist based out of New York who like us is fueled by self-deprecation but unlike us he is full of talent. Pretty simple. Check out this week's episode to hear us chat with him about what it's like to be Ed Yancey and also to hear Jr. relive some horrible middle school art class memories. It's great.

Also, if you're interested in checking out Ed's artwork you should probably click HERE

-Jr.

Direct download: 7.29.2016_Episode_228.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 10:38am EDT
Comments[0]

Alex and Colin are really tired of me using the phrase "hot takes". In one night they went from having never heard it used before, to understanding its definition, to absolutely hating it....and me. Someone give me a count of how many times I say "hot takes" during this episode and I'll give you a shout-out next week. Because you'll have earned it. Cuz I say it a lot.

So we saw Star Trek: Beyond last night and immediately hit the studio to record some initial thoughts and reactions with minimal prep time...aka WE RECORDED SOME HOT TAKES. And it was good. Colin was gracious enough to join us via telephone that straight up sounded like an ESPN Radio interview. And while we try not to have the same person on two weeks in a row this one just kind of fell into our laps and we couldn't risk losing these hot takes.

We'll probably have someone other than Colin on next week. Probably. Maybe.

A quick warning of some mild spoilers this week. We tried to keep it to a minimum but some important stuff fell out of our mouths a couple times. Those hot takes man. Just too hot.

-Jr.

Direct download: 7.22.2016_Episode_227.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 9:58am EDT
Comments[0]

As I sit here staring at my phone cursing the Pokemon Go error screen I have a little time for some reflection. See, I'm a bit nervous this week as it's time for our yearly coverage of our favorite local show ConnectiCon and I'm scared that after 4 years of coverage we're just going to sound like broken records and repeat the same stuff we said last year...or the year before.

Then I remember that in 4 years of attending ConnectiCon I've literally never had the same overall experience twice. It's one of those shows that might stay in the same place, keep the same name and feature some of the same acts but it always has this incredible ability to show you something new. Super Art Fight? Rad. Love those guys and gals.  Super Art Fight with Cyanide & Happiness competing against them? A dream come true that I haven't even dreamed yet. (It was amazing. I'd show you the pictures but I can't because they don't exist. Shoulda been there!)

You'll remember wayyy back in our first year I wasn't too blown away with what ConnectiCon had to offer. That's because I was an idiot and I was comparing it to every other convention I'd ever been to and expected it to be exactly the same. That's the brilliance of the show, though. It's literally NOTHING like any convention we attend throughout the year and Alex has pointed out in the past that if you go in without a plan or just expect the show to present itself for you...you might leave disappointed. But I said it last year and I'll say it again: Take your time. Do some research and find something that interests you.

Overall I found that past years definitely left me more satisfied but as I point out in the episode...it's through no fault of ConnectiCon. I'm just greedy and I wanted more. More time, more money, more pictures. I was borderline insatiable and just wanted to consume the show in it's entirety (Side Note: That's the creepiest yet most accurate thing I've ever written). But sadly time is a finite bastard and eventually the show had to end....and we had to record some thoughts about it.

So join us and Colin this week as we recap our favorite backyard show that is ConnectiCon.

Oh, and check out our photos, too. CLICK HERE for that.

-Jr.

Direct download: 7.13.2016_Episode_226.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:06am EDT
Comments[0]

A long, long, long, long, long time ago we took a shot at having this guy Charlie on our show. He was the creator of a website that was devoted to the collection of sketch pricing from various artists at conventions. While there's no exact science to sketching and pricing literally varies from con to con; it was an amazing tool for giving you an idea of how much you might anticipate spending on one of your favorite artists.

As it turns out this guy Charlie is rad as hell and is now one of the show's closest friends.

Unlike OMV, Sketch Prices is ever evolving and Charlie and his crew are constantly looking for new ways to improve their product. They just recently launched the open group on Facebook so anyone can join in and contribute/admire as they please. Click HERE to check it out.

This week's jam also brings us our review of the MASSive Comic Con from a few weeks ago up in Worcester, MA. You might remember Alex and Brett visiting the show last year. This time it was Alex and I working our usual OMV magic aka "trying not to spend too much money". Check out the episode for the full recap.

One last thing: ConnectiCon is literally happening right now. We're going to be there soon so make sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for all of the inevitable updates.

Peace

-Jr.

Direct download: 7.6.2016_Episode_225.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:51am EDT
Comments[0]

ConnectiCon is but a week away and over the past couple of years it has really solidified its place near the top of my "Dude I'm pumped for this show" list. It took a few years to grow on me and way back in 2013 I remember thinking it was a one day show at best.

That has changed.

See, I know what ConnectiCon is now. And I know what kind of show it brings to the table. I also know that our friends from Super Art Fight have been there every year since we started going...and they're going to continue that tradition next week. So what better way to celebrate than to have two of the guys who make the whole thing possible on our show so we can gush about how much we dig them and their production for well over an hour.

Shameless and damn proud of it. Besides, it's been WAY too long since we last talked to them and that was a problem that needed fixing right away.

For more info on the beautiful insanity that is Super Art Fight click HERE. Check out their schedule, find a show near you or check out their podcast if you can't make it out. You can trust us when we say it'll be worth your time.

-Jr.

Direct download: 7.2.2016_Episode_224.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 10:43pm EDT
Comments[0]

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
Comments[0]

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
Comments[0]

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
Comments[0]

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
Comments[0]

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
Comments[0]

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
Comments[0]

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
Comments[0]

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
Comments[0]

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
Comments[0]

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
Comments[0]

So we had a whole agenda this week to talk about a bunch of different things. Movies, television. All real good comic related stuff.

That um...that didn't last long.

We kind of just talked about Batman v. Superman the whole time. Don't get me wrong. It's great. But it's also kinda spoilery. So just a heads up before you listen to our sweet sweet voices this week.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 4.14.2016_Episode_213.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:28pm EDT
Comments[0]

Yeah it's only been 5 episodes since Matt last joined us but honestly Wrestlemania just happened and I really wanted to hear him talk about it. We understand that there's been a lot of wrestling talk as of late but you can trust us when we say it makes for a fun time.

I mean come on just look at this chair:Seriously. This chair.

If you have questions about the chair I assure you they'll be answered during the episode. We go into extreme depth on this chair. It's really a great chair.

Also look at this link. It's a new show that Matt is a part of and it would be rad if you watched it. Typical OMV amirite? We are shameless in our non-stop plugging of our friend's stuff. Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 4.5.2016_Episode_212.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:21am EDT
Comments[0]

The weather is finally getting to the point where I don't want to shoot myself every time I step outside. This makes me happy.

Colin and Vicky went to Anime Boston last week. This also makes me happy because in a way it's the unofficial kickoff of con season. And that is just pure happiness bundled up into one beautiful sentence.

Join us this week for a quick wrap-up of Team CoVik....VikCo...ViCoria's adventures at AB and also for a preview of what's to come this year in terms of conventions, spending too much money, and getting depressed when we have to re-enter the real world.

That was a joke...but damn it's also painfully accurate...

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 3.31.2016_Episode_211.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 12:56pm EDT
Comments[0]

It's not every day when we have an Emperor on the show.

In fact so far this is the only day we've had an Emperor on the show.

Hooray for milestones!

The best part is I'm not even lying. This is one of those episodes we've been trying to set up for the better part of a year and it's finally happened: The man who wields "The Will of the People" has joined us. The Emperor of the Red Fork Empire has made his OMV debut.

After reading that hype-up...I imagine you'll have some questions. We did our best to make sure all of them would be answered in our chat with Justin aka The Emperor and for inquiring minds who may have had their interests piqued we suggest you click here to learn more.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 3.16.2016_Episode_210.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 7:27pm EDT
Comments[1]

It's difficult for me to focus on anything at the moment. We're playing D&D tonight for the first time in months and I'm too excited. By the way: If you went back in time and showed that sentence to Jr of 5 years ago he would have laughed in your face. But that Jr was a jerk; forget about him. Anyways....it's new episode time!

This week we're joined by Scott Hoffman of Adaptive Movement Parkour. Alex and Scott go way back and when we heard that Scott and his gang were running an abbreviated Kickstarter in hopes of relocating their gym we dove at the chance to have him on. 

Check out the link to the Kickstarter here and maybe debate tossing a few coins their way to help out. For those late arrivals who missed out on the funding, check out their website to get more info on how you can help out or maybe even participate in some classes.

Enjoy!

Oh, you won't want to miss next week's episode...it's one we've been trying to get done for over a year now and features a guest I've been itching to talk to since 2013. Until then!

-Jr.

Direct download: 3.17.2016_Episode_209.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 7:52am EDT
Comments[0]

Alright, I've managed to pull myself away from playing Broforce for a few minutes so I can get this thing up for ya'll.

As evidenced by the title, this week we're celebrating our 4 year anniversary as your weekly hosts of OMV and I gotta say...sometimes this stuff gets exhausting. When we first started out with Justin back in the day I remember literally wanting to record something every single day. It was that fresh new thing that was just a ton of fun and I was excited at what we could possibly accomplish. Four years, 207 episodes and 14,000 minutes later and the words "ah shit when are we recording this week?" come up every so often. It's definitely a much different attitude from when we first started.

With that said: Am I hinting at a possible downsizing of OMV to maybe record "every now and then" rather than every week? Could it be true?

Nope. And you'll have to excuse my language here...but fuck that.

We've released over 200 hours of content over the past 4 years and we've committed to our weekly promise. We wear that shit like a badge of honor. Not to mention all the amazing people we've met along the way that we definitely wouldn't have had the chance to even think about talking to had we not stuck to our guns and kept on recording week in and week out.

It's honestly incredible and makes all the time spent in front of the microphone worthwhile. And we can't forget about you: The listener. Because while it's so typical to say...it's true that this show would not exist without you. Alex and I owe a great deal of thanks to all the people who keep tuning in to hear us babble with people we admire. So thank you and here's to another year of chatter, debate, and laughter.

Ok, now seriously I have to go back to Broforce now because this game is amazing. See you next week.

-Jr.

 

Song credits:

Overworld Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Saria's Fairy-Go-Round by Zipzipper from Harmony of Heroes

Direct download: 3.11.2016_Episode_208.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:21pm EDT
Comments[0]

OBLIGATORY STORY INTRO: 

It is 3am on a late Saturday night / early Sunday Morning at the Hyatt Regency in Princeton, NJ at Jeff Mach’s self-proclaimed “Final Wicked Faire”. After 14 hours, I am finally retiring to my room for the night. This is done reluctantly as there are still numerous parties and social events occurring as I give in to exhaustion.

 I choose the stairs over the elevator, as there is still a slight wait even at this hour. As I proceed to the stairwell, Jeff Mach himself rockets out of the door, with clipboard in hand. This is not the first time I’ve seen him this weekend, nor was it the last. But it was by far my favorite. 

Jeff Mach’s “Final Wicked Faire” was just as magical as it was the year prior, if not more so. Even traversing the main floors and hallways, there was almost a sense of nostalgia or bittersweet regret that the 11 year long event was moving onto another evolution. Everywhere I went I heard chatter from guests discussing their first year, sharing memories and sentiments while looking forward to and enjoying the present. It set a warm tone to the atmosphere that I hadn't experienced the year prior. 

Here's a quick rundown of the various experiences and fun that was had this year, in no specific order: 

VENDORS:

 There were vendors abound this year, with more than two hallways full of wares of all persuasions to investigate. Many familiar staples and fan favorites were present, i.e. Professor Mark P. Donnelly’s Canes Enable, who shared a room with Tea & Absinthe this year, making for a brilliantly potent pairing of purveyors of fine goods, as well as fantastic discussion.

Canes Enable: 
https://www.facebook.com/CanesEnable/?fref=ts

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CanesEnable

Tea and Absinthe: 
https://www.facebook.com/TeaAndAbsinthe/?fref=ts

http://www.teaandabsinthe.com/

Foam Brain Games were present in the Ground Floor Ballroom with a grand assortment of games and game accessories including themed dice sets, which caught my fancy.

Foam Brain Games: 

https://www.facebook.com/FoamBrain/?fref=ts

https://www.foambrain.com/

Hibernacula was a new discovery for me, a self-titled Esoteric Boutique with unique jewelry and adornments that were macabre and morbid, but maintained a beautiful allure and quality. Very unique pieces that were super fun to peruse. 

Hibernacula: 

https://www.facebook.com/hibernacula/?fref=ts

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Hibernacula 

Dellamorte & Co never ceases to impress me with their statues and adornments. They are all high quality resin creations, and this year they have graduated to a great selection of smaller items. They are fantastic, and anyone who fancies themselves a gothic, steampunk or horror fan should check them out immediately. Cthulhu, Jersey Devil, Headless Horseman and Ravens are just the tip of the beautifully crafted iceberg!

 Dellamorte & Co.: 
https://www.facebook.com/dellamorteco/?fref=ts

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Dellamorteco

ENTERTAINMENT:

 There is never a shortage of entertainment at Wicked Faire, and I attempted to see as much as possible. Here are my notable notes! 

Frenchy and the Punk: A JME staple, FatP performed multiple sets throughout the weekend, making each one unique from the other. Whether it was a Steampunk cover of "Ace of Spades" in memory of Lemmy or their signature drum tracks from their album "Elephant Uproar", they shined both on and off stage in pure style. 

 Scott Helland: The "Punk" half of Frenchy and the Punk performed a multitude of solo music over the course of the weekend, which to me was a fresh surprise. Just as personable as a one-man act and just as high energy, his music was catchy and memorable. (Note: Check out Platterpus Records in Easthampton to get any of his solo records. All are worth getting!)

 Frenchy and the Punk / Scott Helland site: 

http://www.frenchyandthepunk.com/

Platform One: Platform One is another major institution at Jeff Mach Events, and they are a crowd favorite.Their presence, report with their audience and the earnest fun the band has playing is undeniable and infectious. The band members have that perfect blend of experience and talent that makes their performances fun and enjoyable. 

Platform One site: 

http://www.platform-one.com/

 Azkadelia The Mad Hattress: The high flying acrobatics of Azkadelia were in no short supply this weekend, and the team of performers were in top form, using silks and hoops paired with fan-requested soundtracks for an interactive and entertaining experience. 

Azkadelia:
https://www.facebook.com/MadHattressAzkadelia/ 

DJ Mighty Mike Saga: Another major JME component, Mike Saga packed the ballroom Saturday night until well into the early daybreak of Sunday Morning with great music and high energy. As if playing the soundtrack of the events' ten year run, guests reveled in the almost "final hurrah" of the night here, and it was a fantastic way to spend your evening. 

 DJ Mighty Mike Saga: 

https://www.facebook.com/djmightymikesaga/?fref=ts

This Way to the Egress: TWttE has quickly grown into one of my favorite acts to see at any Jeff Mach Event. Their performances this weekend were high energy, and I would say was one of the more sentimental sets I witnessed over the weekend. Their Saturday show was littered with songs and guest performances that were fan favorites; Some that hadn't been replicated since the first Wicked Faire, which begat an even bigger reaction and sense of history to both the band and Wicked Faire as a whole. They will also forever boast the most hardcore conga line I've ever seen or participated in. (Anyone who knows me and my work history can attest that this is in fact a MAJOR statement and worthy of a prize.) 

 This Way to the Egress: 

http://thiswaytotheegress.com/

FOOD: 

Like last year, there was a kitchen and bar available during convention hours that had a buffet-style system. 20 bucks got you an all access bracelet that was valid for an entire block of time (lunch: noon-four, dinner five to ten, etc.) which was catered quite nicely. 

Turkey legs, vegetables, fruit cobblers, soup, bread and many things abound dominated the menu, and was incredibly tasty. Several items were on rotation, and each one being consumed quite speedily. 

If you were on a budget, it would have been best to order out to the various delivery places in Princeton, but it was a meal opportunity worth having at least once (multiple times). 

The drink menu for Wicked Faire featured several mead selections in addition to the regular beer, wine and liquor options, adding a nice theme of choice to the event. Necromangocon was a fan favorite, a mead by B.Nektar Meadery, a honey wine brewed with peppercorns to get a spicy and sweet finish. 

ACTIVITIES:

In addition to the events listed in the historically MASSIVE schedule, there were numerous events that occurred both on (and off) record that also added those special touches to a convention experience that are worth a thousand stories. Here are but a few:  

Final Toast and Pub Sing: To kick off the "Final Wicked Faire", Jeff Mach stood atop a chair overlooking the denizens of Wicked Faire patrons, and gave a glass-less yet polite, concise and heartfelt toast in the bar area of the hotel. Quickly followed by pub song from L.I.A.R.S and Matt DeBlass, it was a rousing good way to begin the weekends' festivities. Members of the various bands and vendors were present, and added a jovial atmosphere to the proceedings. 

Glimmerdark Photo Shoot: On Saturday, there was an organized promo shoot for "Glimmerdark", the new Jeff Mach Event slated to debut next February in Princeton, NJ. My convention partner in crime, Babs of "Babs Who Takes Pictures" and I happened to be in applicable costume, and so participated in the shoot held by Cat Trzaskowski Photography. It was a fun time, and you can see photos here: 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.530963507082808.1073741860.390847204427773&type=3

 The theme is Faeries / Fae folk and fantasy, which should yield some very fun costumes and events next year! 

Cat Trzaskowski Photography

https://cattrzaskowskiphoto.smugmug.com

After parties: On Saturday night specifically for me, the social shine of the event is attending and meeting different people from across New England, whether it was participating in whiskey or scotch tastings in hotel rooms, to discussing beer with new people overlooking the hotel floor, or socializing in specialty events held in vendor rooms during after hours. These things are what keep me up at conventions until 3 in the morning. For the respect of those whom I visited I will refrain from details, but know that one of the major builders of bonds at Jeff Mach Events are not just the events that are listed on paper, but the ones that people make up either on their own or on the spot. It is the magic that I think keeps many people coming back and experiencing these events year after year, and  being able to participate in a social community that is rarely seen in the regular hours of the day. 


And that brings me back to that Saturday night, passing by the man responsible for a decade-longer event that has brought countless people together in Princeton, NJ, tirelessly toiling away to the cumulative benefit of everyone that travels to his events. We passed briefly in seconds, but I made sure to say "Thank you for the great time, Jeff. It is very much appreciated.". His reaction was genuine, and really drove home how special these events are. It was my favorite time seeing him that weekend, and I can't wait to have another favorite time in the future. 

*cough cough* STEAMPUNK WORLD's FAIR 2016 PISCATAWAY, NJ *cough* cough*

Jeff Mach’s new Winter endeavor, “Glimmerdark” is slated to be a themed Faerie and Fae-focused event, encouraging attendees to show their inner wings, fangs and fantasy in Princeton, NJ in February 2017. I look forward to hopefully being there to usher in a new installment of JME history. 

Glimmerdark links: 

http://glimmerdark.com/

https://www.facebook.com/WickedFaire/

I must thank Jeff Mach, his staff, Circuit Six and all of the performers, vendors and Hotel Staff at the Princeton Hyatt Regency for a yet another safe, organized and memorable Convention experience! 

https://www.facebook.com/JeffMachEvents/?fref=ts

I must also give a major thanks to Opinions May Vary's Alex and Jayare for sending me on another enjoyable recon mission for their podcast. The burden is anything but, just please stop hitting me.  

I hope you guys dig the write-up, and I look forward to throwing more words out in the future. 

Take care, 

Brett Kelley: Art Mercenary

Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 8:30pm EDT
Comments[0]

We've had Matt on many times now. Longtime listeners already know if Matt is back there's only one thing we're talking about.

Wrasslin'.

This week is a little different, though. While in the past Matt is usually alone hyping up shows and regaling us with tales of wonder involving people who put their bodies on the line just for our entertainment....he's not alone this time.

The one and only Jeremy Leary aka "The Dirt Dawg" is in studio this week with Matt to talk upcoming shows for his program "Blitzkrieg! Pro" as well as give us the backstage details on what it's like running your own event, wrestling in said event, and trying to make sure it's not an absolute disaster. (Hint: They're doing a really good job so far.)

Per usual, check out these links for more details on hunting down a show near you:

@Blitzkrieg_Pro

@TheDirtDawg

@ComicHypnosis

@OMVPodcast (That's us, btw. Shameless.)

-Jr.

 

Direct download: 3.3.2016_Episode_207.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 8:56pm EDT
Comments[0]

I can't even begin to explain how fun this episode was to record.

Remember Saturday morning cartoons? I would always wake up before anyone else, creep downstairs in my absurd footed pajamas and turn on the TV in hopes of catching my favorite cartoon characters in action. Like everyone else I had my favorites. They usually involved people with super powers, giant machines that were also people, or mutated sea creatures that really loved Italian food. But really at the end of the day I was happy as long as there were cartoons in my face and no one around to bother me.

Our guest this week, Larry Houston, is one of the main reasons those Saturdays were so memorable.

Join us this week and re-live some of your best childhood memories as we talk with Larry and find out why his work probably impacted your Saturday mornings more than you could ever imagine.

-Jr.

Direct download: 2.27.2016_Episode_206.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 8:35pm EDT
Comments[0]

Alex and I saw Deadpool with Jon yesterday and I have thoughts on it. I imagine Alex has thoughts on it as well. And we're going to talk about those thoughts at some point. But today is not that time.

Today is about Brett Kelley. You probably know the name. To some Brett might just be a man. But to OMV? Brett is legend. Not only was he the first ever guest to grace our glorious microphones but he is one of the main reasons why the show didn't fizzle out and die 3 months after its creation. 4 years later we owe Brett and we owe him big. This episode is both a "thank you" and show of appreciation for our friend and his talents.

I won't spoil it here. But Brett has some neat things to talk about this week and we'd really appreciate it if you would give it a listen.

We'd also appreciate if you could keep an eye on Brett's social media pages:

Like THIS and THIS.

There will be more valuable information on them soon. And you won't want to miss it.

-Jr.

Direct download: 2.17.2016_Episode_205.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 8:48pm EDT
Comments[0]

There's gonna be more here soon. Probably tomorrow. For now I have to go to work then head straight to The Brett Kelley Art Walk. 

After that though?

There will be more.

More words. For your eyes. To read.

Until then.

-Jr.

Direct download: 2.12.2016_Episode_204.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 7:24am EDT
Comments[1]

By Alex

Last year Brett and I checked out MASSive Con for a day and among the artists, celebrities, vendors and replica cars were cosplayers. The attendees provided some cool costumes but there was more. Much more. There was an army. I spotted Kyle in his Iron Man armor and said hello. It wasn't the first time we've met, that was at least a year before.

"We've raised over a thousand dollars." Kyle said to me during our conversation, in the time he could spare between fans asking for pictures. You see Kyle started a group with his friends so they could all cosplay together as a team. That team has grown and expanded into what they call the Hero Army. They may have started off going to conventions together but now a few shows invite them to come in costume and entertain and pose and take pictures. But the Hero Army doesn't sell prints or props or costumes, so they invite more friends and give them the table to use for Autism charities, such as Autism Speaks and the Autism walk. I proudly applaud a group that is so giving while asking for nothing.

Kyle Stark joins us this week with Colen Peters representing the Hero Army, and to tell us how the blizzard debacle that was the Heroes and Villains fan fest in New Jersey turned out. As the snow was pounding the east coast I was watching the internet to see how my various friends were holding up, and found out just how cool the stars of Arrow were by going out and meeting fans and doing what they could for people that showed up or had come early before the state was closed due to the weather. Tune in this week for stories of Stephen Amell and John Barrowman making snow angels, Colens awesome Hank McCoy Beast cosplay and tons of other stuff.

Deadpool and Beast

The gang

More

Make sure you check out the Hero Army on Facebook and Instagram and Colen's cosplay page and also watch for more videos coming out on Colen's YouTube channel.

And if you think we've mentioned Hero Army before then maybe you remember when Sam and Joe joined us on episode 181. Be sure to check it out if you haven't already and get all the details on life in The Hero Army.

Direct download: 1.31.2016_Episode_203.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 8:27pm EDT
Comments[0]

If this week's episode were a sitcom the title would be:

The guys get lessons on the most popular videogames they've never played.

Or maybe:

The one where Jayare and Alex try not to sound stupid.

Seriously, we're like the two people left in the world who haven't played any of the Mass Effect games, Minecraft, Skyrim, The Witcher, etc etc. For two people who consider themselves pretty good gamers...we really haven't played a whole lot of new games recently. Especially the most acclaimed and critically praised ones. So this week's jam is full of EILI5 scenarios with Tricia trying not to get too frustrated with our idiocy.

It's a good one.

-Jr.

Direct download: 1.30.2015_Episode_202.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 6:21pm EDT
Comments[0]

There's supposed to be like, a really big snowstorm today. So far we've managed to avoid it but from what I can tell it's on the way and seems super pissed for some reason.

Part of me kind of hope it hits....a little bit. Not too much snow. But enough to be cozy and lame and stuff. See, I have a stack of comics next to my computer, a LEGO set to build with my wife, and Radiohead playing on the turntable (Thanks, Colin). I've hit a weird point in my life where I live for the comfortable moments. I can't remember the last time I had a weekend free to do whatever I wanted and I plan on taking full advantage of it by doing the least amount of adult things possible.

Laundry can wait. Too many comics to read.

Get my oil changed? More like keep reading the Dark Tower (Thanks again, Colin).

None of this has anything to do with this week's episode. Jon is back and whenever Jon is back we end up talking about comic books. This week we chat about Secret Six, The Inhumans, and more. It's a grand old classic OMV time. You'll dig it and if you're in the New England area with us it's the perfect solution to the snowstorm blues. Catch ya'll next week.

-Jr.

Direct download: 1.22.2015_Episode_201.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 2:29pm EDT
Comments[0]

By Alex

Arsenic Lullaby is one of my favorite comic books. But I don't always consider it a comic book. It's not tights and capes and superpowers. It's in it's own category. Arsenic Lullaby is a level of sequential art that is becoming lost in today's illustrated storytelling medium known as comics. This isn't just about the technical planning and art form of page layout. I find this book funny, but not everyone will. Many subjects found in Arsenic Lullaby would be considered taboo to some comedians and these very topics are on page after page with the right pacing and set-up and delivery to make it funny. I've needed to put the book down to catch my breathe from laughing funny on multiple occasions and I try to put this book in the hands of as many friends as possible.

This weeks guest is Douglas Paszkiewicz, creator, writer and artist of Arsenic Lullaby and known as the King of Dark Humor.  We talk about comic page layout, educating his audience, his thoughts on some places the comics industry is in, and wanting to learn more about what's going on around you.         

A while ago our frequent Co-host Brett was sending promotion updates about his own artwork and accidentally sent one to Mr Paszkiewicz. He quickly apologized because he didn't want to bother Douglas with stuff or to think he was spamming and got the reply   "Dude...you don't have to apologize for using FB to promote your work...to me or anyone."   This was a story I forgot to talk to Doug about when we recorded the episode because I'd like to hear more about his ideas of self promotion, taking pride in your work and putting forth the effort to get people to see it. It's fair to say Douglas is one of my heroes and this episode should give you plenty of reasons to see why.

You can find Arsenic Lullaby by clicking here. There you'll be able to follow Doug and Arsenic Lullaby on the social media, see his blog posts, listen to his own podcasts,and visit the store where you can buy Arsenic Lullaby books, prints, ect. You'll also see some of his work that is posted for free.

As much as I want to tell you about my favorite stories or pages or characters there is a chance I could give something away.
So here are some examples straight from the samples page.

Direct download: 1.15.2016_Episode_200.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 8:36pm EDT
Comments[0]

There will be more here as soon as I'm done watching Hateful Eight. Enjoy the episode!

UPDATE: Ok, it's hard to even put how much I didn't like that movie into words so I'll spare you the attempt. Instead I'll tell you about how our guest this week is one hell of an Angry Geek. I say that because he's part of the Angry Geeks Show. See what I did there? Anyways, Lewis joined us this week to regale us with tales of being Angry, what it's like to get a show up and running and the brilliant process of trial and error.

Click here to check out their YouTube channel and maybe toss a subscribe their way.

-Jr.

Direct download: 1.8.2015_Episode_199.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 4:02pm EDT
Comments[0]

By Brett Kelley

BK’s Pull List for 2015:

Another year of really cool comic book movies! And yet, lest we forget that comic books themselves are arguably at an all-time high for quality and quantity these days. Spanning all genres and types, it’s important more than ever to be aware of all the fantastic writing and artwork coming out of the industry. With more unique voices to be heard and glorious art to behold, it’s tough to pinpoint which ones to keep an eye on.

This is where I humbly throw my hat in the ring to help navigate the seas of graphic goodness that came out in 2015! Here’s a list of my ten favorites from twenty fifteen (In no particular order).  

NOTE: In pure nerd fashion, I try to avoid spoilers so you can keep all the surprises to yourself! Also, I’m a complete dork for Image, so let’s get that out of the way right now. Enjoy!


- Huck- Mark Millar (writer) Rafael Albaquerque (Artist) – Nov 2015 (Image Comics)

Two issues in and it’s been nothing short of refreshing. This is a story for those of us who yearn for a more light-hearted type of reading. A somewhat surprising departure from Millar’s other known titles like “Kick-Ass” and “Nemesis”, “Huck” is a soft spot that makes you feel just a little warm and fuzzy in the heart muscle at times. Millar cites the latest DC movie “Superman: MoS” as inspiration (or a response, as it were) for this story, feeling the need to bring a super-powered hero back to a more innocent place, which he is doing very nicely. Looking forward to seeing how the story develops in the New Year!

 

- Providence – Alan Moore (Writer) Jacen Burrows (Artist) – Mar 2015 (Avatar Press)

With 2015 marking Howard Phillip’s 125th Anniversary, Alan Moore has released a masterfully written story to celebrate the cosmic horror writer. Halfway through a 12 part run, this series is shaping up to be much more than a fan-service love letter to H.P.’s work. It is a true homage and strangely biographic take on his writing and what made Howard’s work scary in the first place. Burrow’s artwork makes the panels look like storyboards as this tale enthralls and entices on every page. It rewards the knowledgeable as much as it discomforts in all the right ways. The second half is slated to pick back up in February, this is on my MUST read list. It’s top shelf Moore at his finest.

 

- Empty Zone – Jason Shawn Alexander (Writer/Artist) – June 2015 (Image Comics)

Cyberpunk isn’t dead, and Jason Shawn Alexander is proving it like a boss, telling a solidly dark, gritty grunge tale that is an automatic hook on the first issue. Starring a badass female lead that rivals Tank Girl and Aeon Flux, Empty Zone reads like a high octane thrill ride with every cylinder firing. Intrigue, Action, Romance with forays into the supernatural and technological, the first five issues are already out in a trade for $9.99 (Image knows how to sell their trades) which is well worth the investment.

 

- Archie – Mark Waid (Writer) Fiona Staples (Artist) – Jul 2015 (Archie Comics)

This book was covered extensively in episode #179 on OMV with Jon, and that was enough to sell me on it. Mark Waid and Fiona Staples are massive names in the business, and they work their magic on re-launching Archie. Never in my life did I ever imagine getting stoked for an Archie comic, but here we are. Give a listen (nudge-nudge), then give a read, and be happy. It’s that simple.

 

- Invader Zim – Johnen Vasquez (Writer/Artist) – Jul 2015 (Oni Press)

If you watched the cartoon as a kidult (kid/adult for you unhipsters), it was something of a gruesome joy to hear that Zim would return in some form after years of being far removed from Nickelodeon canon. The great beats of humor and spastic energy we have missed from Mr. Vasquez all these years are in full force, coming back to punch you right in the nostalgia. It might not be Johnny the Homicidal Maniac or Filler Bunny, but I’ll take it.

 

- Monstress – Marjorie Liu (Writer) Sana Takeda (Artist) – Nov 2015 (Image Comics)

Goodness gracious, where to start with Monstress…. The first issue alone is a powerhouse of world-building and story-laying that immediately puts you in this new universe. If I were to pitch it as a loose concept for a movie, I’d call it a cross between Fables and Saga if Tarantino directed it. Monstress is jam-packed with super sharp characters and dialogue, with some great story concepts at work. Paired with simply gorgeous artwork to boot, it is well worth your time to give it at least a peak.

 

- Vertigo Comics releases many, lots of titles (Various)

DC’s mature-oriented label “Vertigo” has recently launched 11 new titles to add to their rejuvenated roster and historic comic book legacy this year. Too many for me to get my hands on all at once, but I’m intrigued enough to investigate. With titles like “Lucifer” (an expansion on The Sandman series), “Art Ops” (a love letter to the art-punk stories Morrison coined in his Doom Patrol run with Vertigo) and “The Twilight Children” (something people are saying is really, really good), Vertigo has given me some homework to do. If you are looking to add a new wildcard book or two to your pull list, give some of these a try.

 

- Material – Ales Kot (Writer) Will Tempest (Artist) – May 2015 (Image Comics)

Sometimes, comics offer stories that are both subversive and political in a time where journalism is a hazardous occupation. Material is such an example, following four very different stories that deal with issues that are relevant in our modern age society. A big selling point for me is the footnotes you can find on nearly every page, giving you information to research based on every point that is made / referred to in the story. The first volume is out in trade, pick it up if you want something that challenges you, makes you slightly uncomfortable and gets you to think.

 

- Nameless – Grant Morrison (Writer) Chris Burnham / Nathan Fairbairn (Art) – Feb 2015 – (Image Comics)

Nameless is another Morrison indie classic, a story of insanity, the occult and cosmic horror. Think Constantine in space with a dash of Event Horizon and Armageddon. With a six issue run (possibly more later?), the stakes ramp up quick and high with every issue. There is beautiful art to accompany you on the journey, so that helps with the terror bits.  

 

- Bitch Planet Vol. 1 – Kelly Sue DeConnick (Writer) Valentine De Landro (Art) – Oct 2015 (Image Comics)

I know it’s a technicality, as BP debuted officially in late 2014, but the TPB came out in Oct, and I needed an excuse to talk about this book. Using the tropes and styling of seventies exploitation and sci-fi, Bitch Planet takes a look at social issues affecting women using both subtle and not-so-subtle imagery and story elements (“Non-Compliant” tattoos as visual labels, Bitch Planet being a women’s prison that they are sentenced to, etc. etc.) for making a pretty gritty and great book. More issues are on the way in 2016, and it’s a really intelligent story that has a message behind it. Give it a read and see what you’re missing.

 

That’s ten, which wraps up my big pull list. I do have other notable mentions, like “Black Magick (Image), “Limbo” (Image), “Diesel”(Boom! Studios) “Constantine: The Hellblazer” (DC), “We are Robin” (DC), “Head Lopper” (Image), “Thor” (Marvel) and much more, but I wanted to give you the ones that I really had clear and concise thoughts on, and ones that you NEED to read. That and “Invincible” (Image). ALWAYS. READ. INVINCIBLE.

 

Keep reading, support your local comic shops and book stores, and see you in 2016!


Yours in hipster comic-dom,

Brett Kelley: Art Mercenary

Direct download: 12.30.2015_Episode_198.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 3:28pm EDT
Comments[0]

Last time Bob joined us his comic collection was sitting somewhere around 95,000 unique books. That was a little over a year ago. He still holds the record for the largest comic collection in the world....but 95,000 is most definitely an outdated number. 95,000 is old news. 95,000 ain't nothin'.

Check out the episode to find out the new number. It's....impressive to say the least.

Also check out Bob's site comicspectrum.com because it is packed with useful information ranging from current solicits to tips on grading your comics. It has pretty much everything you need if you're looking for a site to learn about comics.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 12.15.2015_Episode_197.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 6:40pm EDT
Comments[0]

Here's part two of our chat with Micah from Beat Down Boogie! For those who missed out on part one all you have to do is check out last week's episode and you're good to go.

And for those who still haven't heard of Beat Down Boogie yet...here's a video they released just this morning. It'll give you a good idea of the brilliant content they produce.

Like what you see? Of course you do.

Want more? Click here, here, and here and give them some love.

-Jr.

Direct download: 12.10.2015_Episode_196.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 3:06pm EDT
Comments[0]

Normally when we have guests on the show who aren't Joe, Colin, or Brett we'll give them the usual "yeah so we like to go for an hour or so if that's cool with you".  Most of the time we're pretty good about sticking to our time limit but there are those rare instances where once we get going we have trouble stopping (See: PAX East 2015 wrap-up)

This is one of those instances.

But trust me: It's 100% worth it and it's even split into two parts! That's right folks, it's double episode time. The next two weeks will be full of awesome as Alex, Brett, and I chat with Micah from Beat Down Boogie! Yes! You absolutely read that correctly!

Now that you've made it past all of my exclamation points take a look at these links and do the usual thing: Support good people who make rad things. You can do that by clicking here, here, or here.

Tune in next week for part two!

-Jr.

Direct download: 12.8.2015_Episode_195.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 4:34pm EDT
Comments[0]

It has been an absurdly long time since we had Joe on and I almost feel like I have to apologize to all of our listeners for making you wait for so long.

Per usual...whenever Joe comes on there is typically one thing we talk about: Gaming. Sometimes it's just videogames, sometimes it's just tabletop. This week? All of the above and then some including Tales From The Borderlands, Slap .45, Secret Hitler and more. 

Essentially we're discussing all the things we've been having massive amounts of fun with over the past 2 months (or the entire year if we're talking Tales but trust me you'll hear plenty about that this week).

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 12.3.2015_Episode_194.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:08pm EDT
Comments[0]

Ok, so I could do the normal thing and write about how awesome it is every time Matt comes on but at this point it's just going to come off as lame and repetitive so I'll do my best to avoid it.

No promises, though.

If you've heard any of Matt's previous episodes you'll know we're talking wrasslin'. We're talking indie wrasslin', professional wrasslin', classic wrasslin'. Pretty much every form of wrasslin'.

Speaking of indie wrestling: Alex and I made it out to the debut of UvT Wrestling in Enfield, CT a few months ago and I gotta say it was a blast. Seeing as my only prior experience at wrestling shows was a taping of RAW back in 3rd grade...I really had no idea what to expect. We get into more detail in the episode but seriously if you're looking for a fun night out and something a little different you might want to look into your local wrestling scene. For those folks in our area you should hit up these accounts on the Twitter. They'll have all the details you need to hunt down a show:

@PVPwrestling

@UVTwrestling

@FutureHeavies

@ComicHypnosis

-Jr.

Direct download: 11.24.2015_Episode_193.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:09am EDT
Comments[0]

Alex and I have yet to even attempt to attend Rhode Island Comic Con. Personally my wallet is still aching from NYCC last month. And Alex...well, let's just say he's not exactly on their "Nice List". Luckily we have friends who make the trip every year and are more than eager to tell us about it. Like Ken!

Remember Ken? He came on last year with Jess and took part in what went down as the most expletive filled episode we've ever recorded (including the "Ragefeld" episode from wayyy back). If you go back and listen to it be sure to pop some headphones on or something. Maybe make your peace with God, too. Just to be safe.

Anyway. Ken is back after making the haul to the smallest state in the country and it's time for us to find out if RICC has learned anything about running a convention.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 11.18.2015_Episode_192.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 9:12pm EDT
Comments[0]

"The Girl in the Basement" holds a special place in my heart.

Not only is it the first campaign I ever backed on Kickstarter but it's also a project that some of my closest friends have been working on for 2 years now. We've had Kt on a couple times to give us updates; Director Jared and Producer Bob have both joined us once or twice each time feeding us little details on how the movie was coming along. Hell, I even get to record a podcast every week with the makeup designer and special effects expert (That's Alex, btw).

So you can understand my excitement when I get to say that the time has finally come and the film is making its premier.

Care to see a trailer to pique your interest?? Click here.

Now I know what you're thinking: "Where in the world can I see this film!?!?"

Answer: It's called the Short Film Showcase in Greenfield, MA. It will be a night of short films made by independent filmmakers headlined by the premier of "The Girl in the Basement". Click here for more info.

Seeing as the event is literally right around the corner we understand there's a chance you might not be able to make it. Never fear: There will be other ways of checking out the flick and you won't even have to do anything illegal. I'll update with more details soon.

-Jr.

Direct download: 11.10.2015_Episode_191.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 9:18pm EDT
Comments[0]

This episode is a continuation to an episode we did back in September. It was just one of those conversations that had to end...but we didn't want it to end. So we kept it going.

This week we're finishing the tales of our comic origins.  *DRAMATIC MUSIC AND SOUND EFFECTS THAT HEIGHTEN THE MOOD*

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: Episode_181_Pt_2.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 7:53pm EDT
Comments[0]

If you've ever been to Six Flags New England in Agawam, MA during the Halloween season it's almost guaranteed that you've seen/heard/saw people running from Milta. She's what one might call a Local Legend with an amazing library of spooky, scary, and downright disturbing characters at her disposal. She has an incredible ability to not only make you feel comfortable in a world of horror...but scare the living daylights out of you moments later.  Naturally we'd be doing the world a disservice if we never asked her to join us on the show and cap off an amazing month of spectacular spooky-ness.

Who knows. Maybe we'll just keep going with it.

Happy Halloween everyone!

-Jr.

Direct download: 10.29.2015_Episode189.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 10:01am EDT
Comments[0]

The spoopy-ness continues this week!

Tune in for more spooky, scary talks of horror movies, haunted attractions and um....bodily functions.

Not joking.

Our guest is Jaime of Stone Dead FX and she's a special effects/make up artist currently making scary things for Barrett's Haunted Mansion in Abington, MA.

You don't want to miss it!

-Jr.

Direct download: 10.21.2015_Episode_188.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 8:45pm EDT
Comments[0]

We were only there for a day and almost a week later I'm still exhausted.

That's what NYCC does to you...in the best way possible.

I'm not exactly sure what makes it so tiring. Maybe it's waking up at 5 in the morning and not going to sleep until after midnight with 6 hours of driving and a full day at the largest convention in North America.

Or it could be the non-stop sensation of meeting all of your favorite artists and creators in the same place within hours of each other.

Maybe it's the shoulder-to-shoulder, in-your-face, crank it up to 11 show floor full of toys, books, games and media specifically designed to grab your attention and refuse to let go.

Honestly it could be any or all of the above. All I know for sure is that NYCC is an experience like no other that's almost impossible to try and describe.

But hey. Vicky came on this week and the three of us gave it our best to do just that.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 10.14.2015_Episode_187.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:14pm EDT
Comments[0]

Tonight's episode was really, really fun.

Like. Probably in my top 10.

Originally we had planned on talking about scary movies and attending NYCC this coming weekend. We eventually got there...but the first half of the show was all about spooky, scary stuff.

And it was fantastic.

Props to Jon for always being a great guest and shout out to my man Alex for the excellent choice in ambient music. (For those wondering he found the track by Peder B. Helland on YouTube.)

Time to attempt to get more than 2 hours of sleep before spending the day in New York City.

Until next week!

-Jr.

Direct download: 10.8.2015_Episode_186.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:37pm EDT
Comments[0]

Our guests this week are responsible for this:

DD

I mean. It's mildly terrifying. And by mildly I mean absolutely. And that was taken during the daytime. Could you imagine seeing that at night? With people around doing everything in their power to scare the literal piss out of you?

Sounds awesome.

If you agree that it is indeed awesome you can go see their work for yourself. While that facade is down in Long Island there's still plenty around here locally for you scream at. Check out our chat with Kyle and Cara for some details on where you can voluntarily have people scare you so hard you'll regret leaving your house. 

-Jr.

Direct download: 9.30.2015_Episode_185.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 3:14pm EDT
Comments[0]

It was said multiple times that we thought last year's Hartford Comic Con would be the one and only. You know, one of those shows that just kind of appears, happens, then its never heard from again. We had a good time last year and got to introduce some friends to their first comic con experience but we figured there was a slim chance the show would be back again. Every now and then it's nice to be wrong.

Show

Hartford Comic Con made us into liars and returned once more to the state capitol to put on a neat little comic/celebrity show. While it's evident the show is still in its infancy you can't really find much to complain about when it's a 10 minute drive down the road. Price of admission/parking was pretty standard and within reason for a show of this size. If you know what you're looking for you can definitely get your money's worth. However the lack of superstar names could have caused some early departures with those who saw the entire floor and got bored/ran out of things to do.

comics

With a wide variety of celebrity guests, a gaming area and cosplay contest with a decent prize pool there was something for everyone. My favorite part? The comics, of course. Being a "comic con" there's no shortage of long boxes full of back issues and wall racks loaded with valuable (albeit over-priced) key books. At other shows like NYCC and Boston it's easy to get lost in sketch hunting but for some reason when I'm in HCC all I want to do is spend my time thumbing through old books and haggling prices (even if Alex does most of the haggling). It just has that old fashioned comic con vibe that never gets old.

stacks

gaming

bags

Hartford Comic Con's sophomore year seemed to be an overall success. Guests were in good spirits, the cosplay was out in full force and all the creators we spoke with were all enjoying their weekend. While it was far from a mind-blowing show packed with famous artists/celebrities it was still a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon with your friends. While some may not be able to justify spending money on a show that you can fully see within an hour or so, others see it as another opportunity beef up their collections, chat with creators and just have a good time at a comic con.

baron

Sounds like a good time to me.

-Jr.

Direct download: 9.23.2015_Episode_184.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 2:55pm EDT
Comments[0]

It finally happened.

We managed to track down the ever elusive Ryan Vella so he could tell us about his experiences at the League of Legends North American Championship Series at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Video games. Being played at an insanely competitive level. At Madison Square Garden.

It's a beautiful time to be alive.

-Jr.

Direct download: 9.17.2015_Episode_183.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 8:28pm EDT
Comments[0]

Just Alex and me this week.

Per usual we ended up talking about comics the entire time. Lots of origins: How we got into comics as well as some of our favorite stuff. To be quite honest it's probably my favorite "Just Alex and Jr" episode that we've done. That Alex. He's a cool guy. I like talking to him.

Next weekend brings the 2nd annual Hartford Comic Con. We'll be there. A bunch of talented people will be there. If you're in the New England area you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not attending. It's one of those shows thats still relatively new...but it shows a lot of promise. Plus its good prep for the upcoming juggernaut that is New York Comic Con. I'm already exhausted just thinking about it. It's going to be.....pretty awesome.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 9.12.2015_Episode_182.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 8:01pm EDT
Comments[0]

We had two deputies from The Hero Army on this week.

Doesn't that sound absolutely terrifying???

No worries, though. If you weren't aware The Hero Army is an ever expanding group of cosplayers whose main mission is to "innovate, design, and amaze". In other words they're super talented people who get together at shows, charities, and fundraisers so people can have a great time hanging out with super heroes. Chances are if you've been to a show in the New England area you've probably seen at least one or two of them.

If you're lucky you might have even seen a familiar looking Mandarin tagging along...

Click HERE to check out their website and click PLAY at the top of the page to listen to Joe and Sam chat with us. It's that simple.

-Jr.

Direct download: 9.5.2015_Episode_181.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 10:23pm EDT
Comments[0]

It's beginning to get to the point where I'm terrified whenever Matt joins us. For one thing whenever he comes on the end result is a really, really good show. Both of his previous appearances have been huge for us not only for listenership but also for pure entertainment value. They're fun as hell and I always learn something. The amount of "dude, great episode" texts I get after every Matt episode is staggering.

Which is starting to freak me out. Surely there's no way a third episode can ever compete with the first two. I mean, our intro to Matt on episode 151 was just an educational clinic on the local wrestling scene. Then when he came back on 165 he left my jaw on the ground after telling one of the most unbelievable stories I've ever heard. (Seriously. It involves Jake the Snake Roberts and you are a fool if you haven't heard it yet.) I mean, how could it be possible to continue a streak like that? Even the Undertaker isn't perfect.

But us? Right now? We're 3 for 3.

And maybe a little arrogant but hey, we think if you dug the first two times Matt joined us then you will definitely want to be all up on this one. The best part? There's more to come. Survivor Series is but 3 months away and you can bet your bottom that Matt will be back to try and convince Alex that Brock Lesnar isn't a worthless pile of muscles. (Probably never going to happen...but it's something that's always beautiful to watch.)

Until next time.

-Jr.

 

Direct download: 8.25.2015_Episode_180.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 7:39pm EDT
Comments[0]

Join us this week to listen to three grown men talk about Looney Tunes for 40 minutes. It is 100% worth your time.

-Jr.

Direct download: 8.22.2015_Episode_179.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:23pm EDT
Comments[0]

Whoever invented watercolor is a real dick.

Is something I would have said back in 7th grade while attempting to paint the lamest tree ever put on paper.

It's no secret that I'm terrible at art. Just awful. The literal worst. But when it comes to mixing water into little circles of color and using that new color-water to paint on to paper....it just amplifies my lack of talent to a completely new level. A level that should be considered torture for anyone who is forced to gaze upon the results. I can't even tell if that last part made sense...but you get where I'm going with it.

Anyway, if you've ever read any of these posts you can probably guess where I'm going with this. This week's guest is an artist we met last week at the Boston Comic Con named Tony Moy and he's what they call "awesome" when it comes to painting...particularly when it comes to watercolor. Seriously. Look at this stuff. It's insane. He even did an insane Magneto for Alex that you can check out in our BCC photo gallery.

If you're digging what you're seeing....have a listen to this week's episode. If you dig what you hear...check out Tony's table at a convention near you. (Hint: He's going to be at NYCC in two months. You're welcome)

Hope ya'll enjoy.

-Jr.

Direct download: 8.13.2015_Episode_178.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 10:03pm EDT
Comments[0]

It's that time of the year again. That one beautiful weekend in August where we make the trip to the lovely city of Boston and set up shop for three days at the one and only Boston Comic Con. This is our 6th year in a row attending the show and our 3rd year tabling and like a fine wine (whatever that tastes like...) the show only gets better with age. SignThis year's show was both exciting and nerve-racking for me. On the one side many of my absolute favorite creators were in attendance and I had the opportunity to sit and have some fantastic conversations with them. But on the other side sat the feeling of "Man. This is expensive." With shows like BCC that are constantly growing one of the downsides is increasing ticket prices. It's a bummer. But at the end of the day I guess it's a necessary evil. Still, it sucks. The weird part was when we finally walked into the convention center for the first time on Friday. All those shitty feelings of regret and spending too much money? They were gone. I was at comic con with my people and I was going to have a great time.

BKAMWe did the table thing again this year. Of course that means we were side-by-side with the legend himself Brett Kelley all weekend. I mean come on. Look at that face. That's the face of a man who is ready to melt people's souls with incredible works of art (at insanely reasonable prices, I might add). And believe me when I say that this year Brett cranked out some of the best work I've ever seen from him. Including a giant evil robot for our pal Tom Franck.

Tom

I'm barely scratching the surface of all we saw and did at BCC this year. Luckily we have an entire episode devoted to talking about the rest of it! Of course I can't end this without thanking everyone who came by our table and said hi, all those who even glanced in our general direction, and our ever loyal pal Joe for once again holding down our table when we were wandering off and promoting our show better than we ever could. You are all the greatest and really make this trip worth it. Now look at some more pictures!

-Jr.

AV

joe

row

Direct download: 8.4.2015_Episode_177.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 1:30pm EDT
Comments[0]

Hey.

It's currently 12:10 in the morning and we have to leave for Boston Comic Con in t-minus not a lot of hours.

So I'm gonna keep this short for now.

We talk about videogames, pokemon, and Boston Comic Con this week. Joe joined us. It was super chill.

We hope you absolutely love it. For those who are going to be at Boston this weekend, stop by table D414 and say hi and snag a neat pin.

You'll love it.

-Jr.

Direct download: 7.30.2015_Episode_176.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 12:13am EDT
Comments[0]

Going to conventions typically means traveling. Trying out new conventions typically means even more traveling. Things like gas, hotels, ticket prices, parking, and food all add up quickly and can easily turn what was supposed to be a fun adventure into a stressful (and financially painful) endeavor. If you're not careful most of your finances could be easily pissed away before you even step inside the convention center leaving you with massive feelings of regret and a massively empty wallet.

Outside
But what about those conventions that are happening in your metaphorical "back yard"? You know, the ones that don't take 3 hours of travel time. The ones that don't require spending hundreds of dollars just so you have a place to sleep. Depending on where you live finding one that's worth it might be tough but for us Connecticut-ians...ConnectiCon is the one for us.

cosplay
If we were to only discuss the matter of convenience ConnectiCon would absolutely be my favorite convention of the year. It's a 15 minute drive with reasonable parking costs in a beautiful area of Hartford. It's in a massive convention center that's easy to navigate with plenty of areas for photo-ops and hanging out. It's just easy and it's great.

photos
I know I tend to gush in these write-ups but don't get me wrong: ConnectiCon isn't perfect. Ticket prices can run a bit high for casual con-goers and the show can quickly turn stale if you show up without a plan. If you're nervous this might happen to you just take your time and do some research. The best part about ConnectiCon is there's something for everyone. You just might have to look for it.

saf
If you haven't guessed it yet; this week's episode is all about our experiences at ConnectiCon last week. Overall we had a great time again (with some hiccups along the way...) and we're already looking forward to next year. Do us a favor and check it out? Our full photo album can be found here. Maybe if you like it we'll see you there next year!

-Jr.

Direct download: 7.16.2015_Episode_174.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 1:49pm EDT
Comments[0]

By Alex

Being a geek is becoming more and more popular, there are more conventions and events springing up all the time and I wanted to check out a new one nearby. This was MASSive Cons first year, and it's named implications are hopefully a look at it's evolution and things to come. It's not Massive yet, but it has potential.  It had the normal show floor featuring artists, vendors, celebrity guests and other things such as the featured cars. But also, and some events have been doing this for a while, is additional rooms not just for panels but for gaming. There was the board game tryout/rental room, and the videogame room with different consoles and tournament on the projector screen.

art
Our resident artist Brett Kelley accompanied me on the trip and after years together we're still teaching each other. Such as "How come when I go to
Worcester, I'm on big streets and there is never any traffic, but then I go to Thats Entertainment or the halloween store or Ralphs and it's a mess."
"We're in the financial district and it's a sunday."
"oh... right. makes sense."

Rob!

  It was cool having Brett on the outside of the tables for a change, he hasn't gone to a show as an attendee in a long time. And him and Ransom Getty were chatting like old pals, I don't know if I would've gotten as much out of him.  
Ransom --"I got hired by DC to do the relaunch of Suicide Squad for the new 52, there was a crazy deadline and they said 'you work fast right?' and I said 'Have you seen Guarding the Globe?'" and we all laughed.

kyle

 Overall, from just going on sunday, this was not an all-day event for us. We got there once the doors had been open for a couple hours and we had done everything we wanted with an hour it ended.
I see conventions as an experience outside of my normal life. While it's nice to provide table top and video games, it's not the reason I came here. People certainly do spend time putting them to use, but I can be an old curmudgeon who has games to play at home. Show me more art. It's easier to approach the artist who has their head down drawing than it is to approach the actress who is reading the newspaper.

james c

In the episode I give props to the organizers who kept the fans informed in many ways. It was Brett that sent me the post where they explain all they tried to do to get Richard Dreyfuss back, their Red Shirts (volunteers/staff) were accommodating and on the ball. Recalling the effectiveness of the Red Shirts is what swayed my grade from the C+ I was going to give it up to a B-.

 I've left a lot out here because I cover lots more on this episode, more than I planned. We bumped a topic which has never ever happened before in the history of this podcast.

Direct download: 7.8.2015_Episode_173.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:10pm EDT
Comments[0]

I'm not a man of many talents. I'm more a man of many averages. I'm an average gamer, I'm an average writer, I'm an average athlete (Those 3 times a year when I manage to get outside). It's just a fact and I've made my peace with it. But if I were to decide upon one thing of which I'm absolutely below average...it would be art. I can't draw. I can't paint. My stick figures are frequently offended by their very existence. I'd love to be able to say I've made my peace with this as well but art has always been that one skill that I wish I had.

Luckily I have a podcast that gives me an excuse to interview people who have no shortage of artistic talent and Xela is one of them. Being an artist who excels at Magic Card Altering, Xela is a pro when it comes to expanding and elaborating. Her work is so detailed that only those with a sharp eye will even be able to spot the difference between the original art and her alterations. That's talent. Talent that I will never have.

*sigh*

Aside from listening to us talk to her for an hour this week, you can also check out her YouTube channel where she posts time-lapse videos of card alterations. While you're at it go give her Facebook page a "Like" and maybe follow her on Twitter?

Did I mention she's on Instagram, too?

No?

She's on Instagram too. Check it out. Dig the episode. See ya'll next week.

-Jr.

Direct download: 7.2.2015_Episode_172.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 12:48am EDT
Comments[0]

By Joe

 

The short answer: it’s better than Episode 2, not quite as good as Episode 1.  If you like Borderlands or Telltale games, I’m saying this for the third time: go buy it immediately.  

 

We find ourselves at the midpoint of Tales from the Borderlands with Episode 3: Catch a Ride!  There’s this inherent problem that most Telltale games because of their episodic nature, that you have to try and remember what happened… Tales takes the Borderlands introduction convention and utilizes it perfectly to catch up while being funny at the same time.

Table

The two biggest concerns from the last episode were the short sequences/game length overall, and the very minimal "game play" that occurred – there was only one sequence of puzzling, and very little action.  Have they been fixed?  The answer is a resounding, “mostly!”.  From a content perspective, there is a ton of game here.  I played it once, and then watched someone else play it immediately after - there are entire other sequences nestled that you will never see, jokes that will go unheard, and items that may not be found.  The writing is still on point (Anthony Burch, writer of Borderlands 2, mentioned that he put in an assist on this episode, and it shows).

Jungle

Most Telltale games are action-free, but there was an awesome action sequence in the first episode that has spoiled me and left me wanting for more - this episode delivers, but in a way that is a bit choppy and jarring.  Having said that, there is a fair amount of puzzling and exploring in this version, which helps quite a bit.  The tension of wanting to be able to act more works well with the game - you aren’t a crazy powerful Vault Hunter in the main series, and the frustration of being a technician or con artist in a murder world is felt throughout.

 

The character work is really where Telltale games have stood out for me in the past, and we get this again.  Loaderbot has been a breakout character since Episode 1, and his involvement has only increased by giving him another well-written character to play off of (minimizing spoilers here, as it makes for a great reveal).  And while the lip syncing is criminal, there are some really clever dialogue trees and body language reactions that help flesh out the characters, their relationships, and how you choose to play them.

Gortys

A special shout out has to be given to the folks who keep finding and creating the excellent soundtrack to this series, as well as the geniuses that do the music video openings.  Music that elicits laughter is far too rare, and gives a subtle indication as to how deep the humor talent well goes at Telltale.

 

It is worth noting some criticism.  It is common now that Telltale episodic games feature some rough lip syncing and game-crippling glitches, and I did have one load screen freeze out on me with buzzing music.  It makes you close down and you only lose a few minutes, but still - frustrating.  And as a general criticism of the point-and-click adventure genre, these aren’t games that are going to be pushing you to the limits of your reflexes or hand-eye coordination.  However, there is enough here where you are instead being assessed on your judgement and what’s important to you.  It's a mental, social, and emotional engagement.  And when your avatars are a nerd and a street urchin, that makes for an engaging experience.


OVERALL: 8.5/10

Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 9:00am EDT
Comments[1]

Let's go back in time 3.5 years.

If you told me that doing OMV week in and week out would lead to me having the opportunity to talk to some of my favorite artists and creators I would have laughed right in your face. Like a lot. A lot of laughing. In and around your face. To the point where you probably wouldn't want to talk to me anymore.

This week I got to talk to one of my favorite artists/creators.

Taylor Wells is is an LSU grad who currently resides in New Orleans rocking a sweet gig doing design and quality control over at teeVillain. She's also the colorist on a comic book called Chew.

Yep.

For those unfamiliar....go back and listen to pretty much any of our episodes and there's a very good chance you'll hear me gushing about my love for Chew. It's pretty shameless and I regret nothing.

Anyway. Despite having one hell of an ankle injury Taylor was kind enough to chat with us for a bit and regaled us with tales about landing your dream job and how to avoid buying a haunted house. Seriously. Apparently there are a lot of them down there.

While you listen to me enter fanboy mode for an hour be sure to check out Taylor's work. You can find some of it by clicking these links and also by picking up Chew every month. It's the best $2.99 you'll spend all month and it'll only leave you with slight emotional scarring! What a deal!

-Jr.

Direct download: 6.25.2015_Episode_171.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 12:47pm EDT
Comments[0]

You'd think after 170 episodes we'd be running out of ways to change things up. You'd think doing the same thing every single week for the past 3 years would get stale and eventually just turn into the same old recycled garbage.

Luckily I work with Alex. And now we have something completely different from anything you've heard from us in the past. Our guest this week isn't a professional in the comics world. She's not a film director nor is she a record holder.

She's 10.

Her name is Megan. She's 10 years old and reads comics, watches cartoons, and is a wizard on her smartphone. (She's also Alex's niece and she was cool enough to delay her date with Alex's pool for a few minutes while we talked with her.) Don't let Megan's age fool you, though. The wisdom of a 10 year old is a welcome refreshment in a world where anyone with WiFi can tear you down in a matter of seconds. 

We also talk the joys of the last day of school. Remember that feeling? Those were the days. Oh, and cartoons. We talk cartoons, too.

-Jr.

Direct download: 6.19.2015_Episode_170.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:47am EDT
Comments[0]

Welcome back!

We have a real treat for you all this week as we're joined by the creators of Kyrra: Alien Jungle Girl! That's right: Craig Rousseau and Rich Woodall joined us via Skype and even let us ask them some questions while recording it all in the process. How neat is that??

Longtime fans may remember when we had Rich on our show this past December but for those who might not be familiar with Craig he's a New England based artist who has done work for both Marvel and DC and he's also the co-creator of The Perhapanauts (Which, believe it or not, actually has a Kickstarter going at this very minute. Check it out!)

If you're ever at a convention in the New England area do yourself a favor and hunt these guys down. Supporting good people who make good stuff is what we're all about and I can assure you these dudes are good. (They also make cool stuff. That's a pretty neat bonus.)

Until next week!

-Jr.

Direct download: 6.10.2015_Episode_169.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 6:11pm EDT
Comments[0]

I know what you're thinkin'.

You're thinkin' "man I'd love to hear 3 grown men discuss their current gripes with the comics industry for the better part of an hour...then get sidetracked by talking about the best movie released this year."

I'll just leave this episode right here for you to enjoy.

-Jr.

Direct download: 6.6.2015_Episode_168.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 5:13pm EDT
Comments[0]

What do you get when you combine YouTube, videogames, walkthroughs, lets plays and daily doses of delicious coffee?

You get Cory Missildine.

Cory is gamer/YouTuber currently on the hunt to catch the mythical 1,000th subscriber. (For the record, I believe OMVPodast was Subscriber #903, no big deal.) While you listen to the three of us talk about videogames and malfunctioning computers head on over to his YouTube channel and help him in his quest to hit quad-subscriber digits. Maybe even leave a comment or two on a video? Just don't mention Goat Simulator....You don't want to open that can of worms.

Now I gotta bail and go watch Kung Fury for the 15th time before I spend the next 12 hours playing Splatoon. (You think I'm joking...but I'm not.) Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 5.27.2015_Episode_167.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 12:32pm EDT
Comments[1]

There's a certain question that always has a slightly different answer regardless of who you ask.

"What is Steampunk?"

To some it's simply "like, you know....old stuff with gears and rayguns and goggles." And techincally they're not wrong. A bit vague, maybe. But it's a sufficient answer for some people.

To others, however, it's far more than that. Some see it as a way to escape the normal day-in, day-out routines that we're all so accustomed to. Some see it as a business opportunity and are able to make a career out of creating/selling various Steampunk accessories and whatnot. Then there's people like myself who see it as a vessel for experiencing new and different things. Some of my favorite bands and most memorable performances came out of Steampunk events and it frightens me to think about all the things I could have missed out on had I just decided to stay home.

What is Steampunk? The truth is I don't really care. What I care about is having a good time with my friends, meeting new people, and watching incredible performances. That sounds like a suitable definition to me.

-Jr.

Direct download: 5.20.2015_Episode_166.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 4:43pm EDT
Comments[0]

If I were to try to count how many times Joe has saved our asses while doing this show I'd probably need around 30 extra limbs.

Maybe 40.

So when it was announced that a local theater group Joe is a part of launched a Kickstarter for their production of "Evil Dead: The Musical" it was an absolute no brainer that we had to have him come on and talk about it. See, we here at OMV are no strangers to shameless promotion. Hell, anyone who has been on our show will tell you that we encourage it. One of our pre-show rituals is "ok so we'll make sure to leave some time for you to plug anything and everything you're doing." At the end of the day we're just two dudes who are on a mission to tell you all about the neat shit we encounter.

Evil Dead: The Musical is neat shit.

Take a look at the Kickstarter promo video and see for yourself:

I mean seriously.

I practically hurled my wallet through my computer. You don't necessarily have to do the same thing but even throwing a couple bucks their way would be a huge help. Check out the episode. Listen to Joe talk all about shredding Deadites with chainsaws. Then click HERE and maybe help a group of people far more talented than me put on their dream show. 

Hail to the King, Baby.

-Jr.

Direct download: 5.21.2015_JVA_One_Shot.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 12:48pm EDT
Comments[1]

Before you spend the next hour of your life listening to three dudes talk about professional wrestling you should go back and listen to Matt's first appearance from episode 151. Click here to do that. 

Done?

Fantastic.

Now you get to do it again! Despite still not knowing hardly anything about the current state of professional wrestling these episodes are quickly turning into some of my favorite ones we've ever produced. It's just fun. I used to shit on anyone over the age of 17 who was into wrestling and I'm quickly realizing how much of a douche I was for all those years. I spend hundreds of dollars every year on paper books full of people in spandex fighting bad guys. Really it's not much different only in wrestling it's real people putting their real bodies on the line on a weekly basis in front of thousands of real screaming people.

Anyway, join us this week as Matt updates us on all things wrestling both professional and independent. Be sure to stick around to the end to hear a really rad story about a legend taking someone to school. You won't want to miss this one.

-Jr.

Direct download: 5.8.2015_Episode_165.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 10:27pm EDT
Comments[0]

Our annual trip to The Steampunk World's Fair is but a week away. If you're new to the show you'll quickly realize this is one of the key events of the year for us...probably in the Top 3.

Don't believe me?

You'll find some evidence here when we interviewed Nicole of The Devil's Darkroom. Or here when we had a quick chat with Jeff Mach himself (the man who runs the event).

Still not sold?

Hopefully this week's episode will fix that problem. Our guest is none other than Babette Daniels aka Babs Who Takes Pictures. She's the official photographer of The Steampunk World's Fair and is the woman responsible for taking some of the most captivating steampunk photos you'll ever see. (Like this. Look at that guy. He's just a big ball of fantastic. He's also Brett Kelley so I'm kind of biased.)

Click here to take a look at some of Babs' work and click here to check out her Facebook page. Also, if you plan on attending SPWF 2015 you'll be able to see Babs during her panel or you can even schedule some time with her to do a personal photo shoot. Don't delay! Time is running out!

Hopefully we'll see you all in Jersey next weekend.

-Jr.

Direct download: 5.7.2015_Episode_164.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 5:18pm EDT
Comments[0]

FCBD

I mean...does it get any better? I can't think of many things that make me happier than the concept of free comic books. Never heard of FCBD, you say? Well good news: Jon joined us this week to help us educate you on some Do's and Don'ts of this yearly celebration.

I still remember my first Free Comic Book Day like it was yesterday...From the outside my local shop looked like it did on any other business day. But when I entered I was greeted by words like "free" and "comics"...both in the same sentence! Free comics? Comics that cost $0? What joy! There must be a catch...this must be too good to be true. But no! I was directed to a special display full of a variety of comics...all free...and was told I could have one of each. You know that phrase "Kid in a candy shop"? Yeah. Imagine that only it's a Twenty-something year old with little to no dignity when it comes to discounted comic merch. A short while later (after browsing the discounted trade section) I emerged from the shop with an armful of merch ready to spend the rest of my day diving into worlds both new and familiar. And it was glorious.

If you're not sure your local comic shop is participating you can go here to find out or to find other local retailers that might be willing to give you some free stuff, too. It's fun. It's free. Go support a local business on a (hopefully) beautiful Saturday afternoon.

-Jr.

Direct download: 4.30.2015_Episode_163.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 9:47am EDT
Comments[0]

Ever wonder what it's like to hear 3 grown-ups talk about Daredevil for an hour and a half?

Today is your lucky day.

Oh, it gets pretty spoilery right away. If you don't want anything ruined it's best to watch all 13 episodes of Daredevil first.

-Jr.

Direct download: 4.24.2015_Episode_162.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 4:27pm EDT
Comments[0]

Our guest this week is the man responsible for putting on one of the greatest events I've ever attended: The one and only Jeff Mach.

For those that might not know; Jeff and his company Jeff Mach Events are the people behind gatherings such as The Steampunk World's Fair, Wicked Faire, Voltaire's Necrocomiccon and many more. Seriously. The amout of events JME runs per year is nothing short of mind blowing.

You'd think someone with that amout of pressure to consistently raise the bar when it comes to running events would have to be one hard bastard...but it's quite the contrary. Jeff is a soft spoken, humble person who just wants to give people a place to be entertained and have a good time. And as a three-time veteran of various JME shows I can say without a doubt that they pull it off beautifully.

I owe Jeff and his crew a huge thanks not only for running great shows but for introducing me to so many new things like:

  • Frenchy & The Punk
  • The Folks Below/HUMANWINE
  • Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band
  • Nicole and The Devil's Darkoom
  • Professor Mark P. Donnelly
  • Super Art Fight

Just to name a few. Seriously. If you're ever in the New York/New Jersey area and you hear of a JME show coming to town...check it out. The worst that can happen is you'll see a gigantic robot or two standing guard as people engage in parasol duels.

-Jr.

Direct download: 4.16.2015_Episode_161.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 2:08pm EDT
Comments[0]

The last time I had been to Anime Boston I was in an entirely different time in my life. It was 2005, and I was a lowly high school student. At that point, I was obsessed with anime and all things Japanese. Endlessly watching shows and picking up manga at the nearest Barnes & Noble. When I had gone then, it was with my closest group of friends. And we had all cosplayed for the occasion. We were obsessed from the get-go. Seeing waves of characters we had loved being cosplayed and coming up to us and the photo shoots and the merchandise and the panels and events and celebrities - all of it was overwhelming in the most perfect sense of the word. Now it's years later. I see only half of that group of friends, and even them sporadically. But when I made my triumphant return to Anime Boston, I was immediately brought back to that time. I was overcome with a sense of nostalgia. And though I wasn't with my best friends, it certainly felt like I was coming home after a long respite.

I hope to make it back to that beautiful chaos again next year. This time with a new batch of friends. And we can laugh and wax poetic over Gundams and Zoids until we all collapse under pocky and wall scrolls.

Yosh - Colin

Direct download: 4.7.2015_Episode_160.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 9:54am EDT
Comments[0]

Disclaimer: Before listening to this episode you should probably watch the trailer for Mad Max: Fury Road.

Click *here* to take care of that.

If you're concerned that we talked about Mad Max: Fury Road for an hour I wouldn't blame you. No worries, though, as we actually managed to talk about other things this week in addition to Mad Max: Fury Road. Some of the things were even somewhat serious with facts and opinions supporting them. We did eventually talk about Mad Max: Fury Road, though. So if you're just tuning in to hear us discuss Mad Max: Fury Road you might want to skip to about 40 minutes in. The Mad Max: Fury Road good-ness is ready and waiting for you.

-Jr.

Direct download: 4.3.2015_Episode_159.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 12:21pm EDT
Comments[0]

I think there have been a total of three times where I've gone to my local comic shop on new comic book day and walked out empty handed. I read enough different stories that on any given week I'll usually walk out with 3-7 solid books.....last week, however, was one of those rare and horrible times.

After greeting my comic provider with a chipper "...hey man" I walked over to my pull file to find a few books eager for me to purchase them. Sadly, both books that had been set aside for me were stories that I'd recently dropped yet it had slipped my mind to actually remove them from my pull list. "No worries" I thought. There will be a few random titles waiting for me on the new racks.

Alas. This was not the case.

The racks provided only disappointment. Every "New This Week" sign was displaying titles I don't read, don't recognize, or don't like. With depression beginning to set in I turned to the trade racks in hopes that I'd find something to hold me over for at least a few days. It only took but a minute...but I soon found the perfect one: 
trade
Where do I start with this? This book is just. Friggin'. Awesome.

Most people already know the premise and whenever I try to pitch the book to someone I always get the same response: "Oh yeah that's where they like bang and stop time or whatever." And they're not wrong. But they kinda are...because there's so much more to the book than that. It's like if you were trying to describe Batman and stopped at "He's a rich kid with dead parents" without ever mentioning him dressing up like a bat.

Yeah the book is full of sex and sex jokes and sex innuendo and sexual imagery (making it perfect for someone with a juvenile sense of humor like myself) but it's also about love and being a fucked up person dealing with being in love. What really impresses me is how well the book transitions back and forth between a serious story of two people dealing with crippling dilemmas and dick jokes. If you asked me the balance is perfect. The issues the main characters face are problems that most of us can relate to: financial stress, hating the workplace, etc. So when you're reading Sex Criminals you might start to feel a bit of anxiety when the book hits close to home then *bam*
dildos

fucko
While I realize this book might not be everyone's cup of tea I urge you to at least give it a shot. Matt Fraction has proven time and again he knows how to write a good story and Chip Zdarsky provides spectacular visuals on the page. Together they've created one hell of a book and now they have the Eisner and Harvey awards to prove it (Along with a shining review from yours truly).

-Jr.

Direct download: 3.28.2015_Episode_158.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 5:09pm EDT
Comments[0]

 The pilot episode for Powers was released for free to entice audiences to watch the rest of the series. It popped up on my youtube, which isn't a bad medium to put out free content but I was having some lag as it was loading the entire 52 minute episode. I stopped it 3 minutes in to go watch it on Playstation3, as it being a Playstation exclusive series you would think it would show up on the first page once signed into PSN or be really easy to access. Nope. I had to work through at least 6 menu screens to get to the free pilot.  Since I hadn't really looked into the shows timeline or anything about it other than a couple characters I put no thought towards if it was going to completely free or if I'd have to buy episodes. That was a learning experience. I had assumed "I own playstation, I get free Powers show." But I'm naive and haven't bought seasons of shows online before from say iTunes or Amazon.    

 If I remember correctly Powers will be free for Playstation Plus members, the rest of us have a choice between buying the season in HD or SD, which I think were $24.99 and $17.99. This info is nowhere to be found until you get to the fourth menu screen where you can pay for the season. It's like a fun surprise Playstation is keeping secret because they're much more encouraging about getting you to buy a Plus membership.

Powers

  The show itself has high points and low points. I've read all the Powers tpbs, albeit some were a long time ago, so I'd be lying if I said I didn't have any expectations. There were some switches made between the comic and show that seem questionable. Detective Christian Walker used to be a super hero, but he lost his powers. In the comics this is kept a secret to the general public. Walker doesn't want everyone to know who he was, because he's not him anymore. The show has Mario Lopez explaining the whole background on a Entertainment News-esq tabloid show in the first 10 minutes. This means anyone who pays attention recognizes Walker and says "Hey, you used to be Diamond!" This happens often enough where it becomes filler and we get less actual show. The book focused on the detective work of cops dealing with people that have Powers, the show is focusing on not as much detectiving and more strained interactions. It's no longer a secret that we the audience can share with only a couple characters on the show. With it being different it will add a new dynamic that Powers fans haven't already read about, hopefully making the show interesting and not as predictable. Some lines and quotes were leaked or released as examples and taken out of context made Christian seem like a huge d-bag. Watching those lines in the show made more sense and even made me nod with a sense of 'yea... ok.'  Comicbook Walker is practically a boyscout good guy, it's his partner Deena Pilgram that breaks rules, has a filthy mouth and ignore authority to get the job done. TV Deena seems more calm and .... nice?

  The super people costumes have been more misses than hits. Diamonds costume is cool. Retro Girl has a variety of outfits, with a red bodysuit looking like the primary. A plain red bodysuit, with accents on the shins and forearms, but others it's the Britney Spears red squeaky suit. It looks boring, is not very heroic and is not recognizable as Retro Girl by any means. We do see her in an outfit for a brief moment that does reflect the classic Retro Girl, but it doesn't seem like it'll be the norm. I would have preferred blonde to a brunette though, it pretty much defines what Retro Girl is. 

Retro

  I also HATE Triphammer's outfit. God damn it looks like shit. To go from a guy with full body machine armor such as Iron Man or his enemy Crimson Dynamo and end up with putting sledgehammers on his fists and wearing a marching band jacket? Was there no research done on this design? "Oh Triphammer eh? Lets put actual hammers on him I guess?" Triphammer isn't a regular character in the comic, he shows up maybe once every 10 issues? But he's cool and relevant when he does show up, so when you turn the page and there he is you say "Oh shit! Fuck yea! It's Triphammer!" TV him looks like garbage.

TriphTripbad

  The special FX used for Powers isn't the best. It's probably fair for the budget, it's not seamless like in Avengers, but it's better than a Sci-Fi channel movie of the week. I'd rank it around the better episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Eyes glow, people flying, Johnny Royale's teleporting isn't bad. I got a kick out of Simons, a Multiple Man type character.

  I didn't expect the storyline to follow the comics exactly, and it hasn't but it's maintaining the right elements. It's not worth nitpicking the entire plot because it's something new made from something established. Walking Dead hasn't had too many problems with differences and altering a few things here and there.

powers

  Will I be buying the season? Yes. It's projected to run 10 more episodes. Yes, it says "projected" or "planned" on the Playstation Store. Even if I hadn't read the series already this was enough to intrigue me and want to see what more they were going to do with it. If you like Agents of SHIELD but it doesn't have enough swears or violence for you, then Powers is on par for your appetite. Remember the pilot is free to check out if you're interested.

-Alex

All images are copyright of their respective owners.

Direct download: 3.17.2015_Episode_157.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:29am EDT
Comments[0]

pax

Hey folks,

We had so much to say about PAX we ended up splitting it into two episodes. Sadly I couldn't upload both episodes at the same time so a second post is necessary.

Anywho.

We hope you enjoyed the first part and with any luck you'll be chomping at the bit for part two.

Don't forget to check out our photo album and while you're at it give us a follow on the Twitter and maybe even a subscribe on YouTube. That would be pretty awesome. Until then, enjoy the OMV specPAXular wrap-up!

-Jr.

Direct download: 3.11.2015_Episode_156_Part_2.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 9:15pm EDT
Comments[0]