Opinions May Vary

Another revolution around the Sun. Another 52 episodes in the bank. 7 years later this damn podcast just refuses to quit.

No anniversary episode would be complete unless I get really sappy and say thank you to everyone. To all the guests, listeners, and friends we've made along the way: thank you all so much. I say it every year but this show would absolutely 100% not go on without all of you. You're the best and we hope we're able to find new people and things to talk to/about for years to come.

Per usual, Alex spent the last few weeks throwing together another amazing montage of our "best-of" moments from the last year and after getting to hear it a few hours ago I'm excited to say he killed it yet again. I don't deserve this man.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Song Credits:

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

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

"Mechanical Steed" by Steampianist

Direct download: 3.23.2019_Episode_366.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 9:28pm EDT
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This week's episode is the direct result of a simple conversation at a convention almost 7 years ago.

Flash back to 2012 to the Hynes Convention Center at a show formerly known as "The Boston Comic Con". While wandering around looking for excuses to spend money I didn't have, I noticed Alex chatting with an artist and decided I'd go over and partake in some not-so-subtle eavesdropping. About 30 minutes later we walked away from this table, both with pages of original art in our hands and both of our wallets a little bit lighter. And both with huge smiles on our faces. 

We didn't quite know it at the time, but the two of us had just experienced one of the most memorable moments we'd ever have at a convention. And it was all because of this week's guest: the incredibly talented Jim Calafiore.

For those unaware, Jim is an artist who has worked on books like Leaving Megalopolis/Surviving Megalopolis, Secret Six, Red Lanterns, Exiles, and many more. A true veteran of the industry, Jim is as humble as he is talented and is always a welcome sight whenever we spot him and his ever-growing splatter-print collection at conventions.

Be sure to check out his website HERE and stop by his table sometime if you see him at a show. With convention season gearing up there's a very good chance you'll have your own opportunity to create some memorable moments you'll recall for years to come.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 3.15.2019_Episode_365.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 12:29pm EDT
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After working in the book business for a decade people are sometimes shocked to hear I wasn't much of a reader growing up. I had my handful of favorite books: Hatchet, Maniac Magee, and Where The Red Fern Grows to name a few. But aside from the classics I really couldn't be bothered to read unless it was forced on me. That didn't stop my parents from buying me books now and then, especially during the Goosebumps craze of the early 90's. I had probably 6-10 different R.L. Stine titles including one unique one called Escape From the Carnival of Horrors. Unique, meaning it wasn't just your standard spooky story...it had a twist. As part of the "Give Yourself Goosebumps" series, it was advertised to have "over 20 different scary endings" and as the reader, you got to choose where you wanted to go next (usually ending in your untimely demise).

Admittedly, I never really "finished" Carnival of Horrors. I remember finding the end of a few stories but I can't say I ever completed every scary ending. We can probably blame my brother's Super Nintendo for that.

All of this rambling has a point, and I promise I'm getting to it. See, whether you were an avid reader or not, it's very likely that you've come across those "choose your own adventure" style of books at some point in your life. And for those currently nodding in agreement and longing for the days of your youth...we have something neat to show you.

Enter Ben Bishop. A comic artist and writer, Ben is the creator of the groundbreaking comic series The Aggregate. Billed as "A post-apocalyptic graphic novel with giant robots, organically engineered terrorists and spider-cats", The Aggregate is a split decision comic, meaning at certain points in the story you're going to be forced to make some decisions on where the story is going to go next. And it's rad.

Currently, Ben is Kickstarting volume 2 and within days he's already smashed his goal. Check out our chat as we learn more about these spider cats and the subtle art of wallpapering your house with comic art pages.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

 

Direct download: 3.8.2019_Episode_364.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 10:56pm EDT
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The internet is full of terrible things. Let's be real here, it can be a horrible place sometimes. But every now and then you can stumble upon something that makes the internet a better place. Something that you didn't know you needed, but now that you've found it you wondered how you went so long without it. This week we're talking about one of those things.

Alex and I have over 20 years of theme park experience between the two of us (Yes. Alex accounts for around 18 of those years but the numbers don't lie). And after 20 years in the business it's fair to say we (Alex) have seen and done most everything you could imagine. So when we stumbled upon @FakeThemePark and the hilarious yet painfully accurate satire contained within, it was love at first sight.

Created by former Universal Studios tour guide Jason Ginsburg, @FakeThemePark "is a fictional, unnamed park that combines all the best – and all the very worst – of Disneyland, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and Six Flags. Its Twitter and Facebook accounts contain daily posts about the bizarre happenings in the park, from ride accidents to employee issues, parking problems to construction delays, holiday events to overcrowding, all in the cheerful tone of your average mega-park."

In other words, it's great. It's just great. And it's something that anyone can appreciate regardless of whether they've got 20 years of experience under their belt or haven't worked a single day in a theme park. You can follow the along with the daily happenings of @FakeThemePark by following them on Twitter and Facebook plus you can even purchase an e-book containing the craziest tweets and Facebook posts with all-new material, including a timeline of park history and the first-ever interview with all the Park Princesses by clicking HERE.

Enjoy!

-Jr.

Direct download: 3.1.2019_Episode_363.mp3
Category:Comics Movies & Videogames -- posted at: 11:52am EDT
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