Originally posted at PrimeTimeGeek.com, contentiously brought to you by Slacker and the Man.

Contents of Episode 171, with special guest co-host “The Man”:

• Getting caught up with Slacker and the Man in 2011;
• The X-Men: First Class trailer – did we perhaps fear for the film’s quality too soon?;
• The Man’s Marvel and DC Comics must-reads; plus, excitement over this summer’s upcoming crossover events, Marvel’s “Fear Itself” and DC’s “Flashpoint“?

And in case you haven’t yet seen the X-Men: First Class trailer, here it is:

Here’s Part One of our Top Comic Picks for this week, focused on Marvel Comics titles released on Wednesday.

Shadowland: Ghost Rider #1 (one-shot) (written by Rob Williams, pencils by Clayton Crain): I have to admit, this is the first Ghost Rider-centric comic I’ve read in a LONG time. How long? Well, last time I checked in with the Spirit of Vengeance, it was the spirit doing the talking when the skull was on fire, not his host, whether it was Johnny Blaze or Danny Ketch. I was glad to see him show up in the main Shadowland book a few weeks back, when he was summoned by Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime, using an ancient Hand magical spell to be a weapon AGAINST The Hand, because for all the supernatural-heaven-and-hell stories I know he’s been featured in over the course of the past few years, to me he’s always been a street-level vigilante-hero, albeit one of the most powerful ones out there. So this book topped my reading this week, and it didn’t disappoint. Non-Ghost Rider fans should not avoid this book thinking that they’re not familiar with the character’s backstory or recent adventures. Yes, there are references to ol’ Bonehead’s battles with angels and demons, but for the most part this is a Shadowland story, and it’s an important chapter in the story considering who exactly Fisk sends Blaze to take out. What happens by the end of the issue will certainly be felt in the main Shadowland title and in Daredevil, so you don’t want to miss this. Plus, writer Rob Williams writes a VERY cool Johnny Blaze, full of biker-brand swagger and southern drawl, and Clayton Crain lives up to the “superstar artist” billing he gets, giving us lots of digitally-painted panels illuminated only by Blaze’s … well, blazing head and bike, and of course many, many ninjas poised to strike from within the shadows. RECOMMENDED

Steve Rogers: Super Soldier #3 (written by Ed Brubaker, art by Dale Eaglesham): When we last saw Commander Steve Rogers in the previous issue of this four-issue limited series, he’d just been hit with “anti-Vita Rays” which de-activated the Super Soldier Serum in his body, returning him to his 98-pound “weakling” state and leaving him presumably helpless and in the hands of an old enemy, the Machinesmith. I admit, if I wasn’t already reading this book and the plot up to this point was laid out to me that way, I’d say “ummm hello, what year are we in? That sounds campy as all get-out.” But of course, this story comes from Ed Brubaker, the writer who has never, EVER failed to make Steve Rogers interesting as a character, not as Captain America before his “death” and certainly not now in his current role as Commander of the Avengers and the world’s “Top Cop”–”camp” simply is not in Bru’s vocabulary. What we get in this issue is yet another example of how compellingly Brubaker can deliver Steve’s voice, his vulnerability during flashbacks to his childhood as a bullied “beanpole” kid, and his quiet, unswerving confidence in his skills as a soldier, serum-powered or not. It’s true that you never once doubt that Steve’s going to find his way out of this and get his just-short-of-superhuman strength and physique back before the end of the issue, but that happens not because the book is written in a predictable way, but rather because Brubaker inspires you to believe in Steve–he always has. Dale Eaglesham’s pencils continue to really shine here; unlike his stellar work on Justice Society of America, which featured a gigantic cast of characters that required panels full of figures vying for your attention, this book, focused as it is on a solo character on an espionage-type mission, which allows for more emphasis on distinctive physical action and expression. Short version: we get to see Steve Rogers kick some serious butt as only he can. “98-pound weakling” my ass. RECOMMENDED

Later today we’ll have our DC Comics Top Picks for you and Flash TV reviews, so keep checking back throughout the day!

Originally posted at PrimeTimeGeek.com.

NOTE: The full recording of this episode was edited down by about 20 minutes in order for the podcast version (available here and on iTunes) to come closer to our usual one-hour running time. To hear (and see) the unedited version of the episode, watch the video recording of the episode at Ustream.tv by clicking HERE.

PTG Episode 102 is brought to you by our favorite word of the week (so far), Torpidity. As you’ll see when you click on the link, its meaning has NOTHING to do with torpedoes, regardless of what its spelling might lead you to believe. For bringing this delightful word to the forefront of our meager attention spans, we have to thank Alex Teston and Ghost Shadow Studio, the creators of the upcoming independent comic “Torpidity.” Alex spent some time on the phone with me and The Man from Slacker and the Man during this episode talking about “Torpidity” as well as the origins of Ghost Shadow Studio, the challenges of promoting independent comics at conventions, and Cloud Candy, the website featuring the creative work of artist Brandi Ruminez, the current colorist for “Torpidity.” We thank Alex once again for taking time out of his Saturday to talk to us, and look forward to Torpidity’s expected release date, July 1st, as well as other great things to come from Ghost Shadow Studio. Check them out!

Also in this episode, as you probably deduce from the title, The Man and I debate the casting of Chris Evans as Captain America in the upcoming feature film from Marvel Studios, “The First Avenger: Captain America“, due in theaters in 2011. Both he and I have doubts, but I think I’m slightly less bothered by the choice, and I’m certainly relieved that it wasn’t any of the other actors that were mentioned as part of the long-speculated-on search. We also comment on the passing of comics legend Dick Giordano, who died this past Saturday morning at the age of 77. During the broadcast, we spent time primarily talking about his work as the inker on John Byrne’s landmark 80s series “The Man of Steel“, which introduced and defined the “modern” Superman origin for a new generation of readers, including myself. But we would be remiss if we did not mention at least a few of Giordano’s other achievements in a career in comics that spanned 40 years, including serving as DC’s VP/Executive-Editor from 1983-1993, presiding over nothing less than the re-launch of the entire DC Comics line following the events of “Crisis on Infinite Earths” and the landmark publication of “Watchmen.” For a more complete picture of the vast influence upon the comics industry that Dick Giordano had during his career, head over to Newsarama.com and check out “Dick Giordano: A Legacy Remembered” by Troy Brownfield. Whether you liked what went on during his tenure at DC or not (and “Crisis” still has its detractors 25 years later), it’s undeniable that his work helped to shape the industry as we know it today. Rest in Peace, Dick Giordano.

We wrap up the episode with The Man providing movie reviews for “Repo Men” and “Hot Tub Time Machine“, and his thoughts on both these films might just save you a few bucks at the box office. Enjoy!

Originally posted at PrimeTimeGeek.com.

PTG Episode 85 is brought to you by brevity, as in, no time for a long blog post with this one. Here’s the second “hour” (originally clocked at 1:27, now down to about 1:18) of our 1-16-2010 broadcast, featuring special guest co-host “The Man” from Slacker and the Man. Lots to enjoy here, but what I’m particularly proud of is the sounder that starts off the episode, which you folks who heard this live have actually NOT heard yet. (HINT: it relates directly to the sign The Man held up in front of the webcam each time Winamp crapped out on me during the live broadcast!). Enjoy!

Originally posted at PrimeTimeGeek.com.

PTG Episode 83 is brought to you by … well, by tardiness. Tardiness is something generally I have lots of patience for, considering how often I’m guilty of it. But when it comes to getting episodes of PTG uploaded and available for you guys to listen to at the very LEAST before the next show airs … well, I don’t give myself a whole lot of slack. Which is why I hereby apologize to you, our fans, for getting this episode out to you so late. The news headlines in this episode are so old and stale they might as well have been from 2009, and the reviews of Dollhouse and Marvel Comics‘ initial issues of Siege and Siege: Embedded so out of date that they don’t even need spoiler warnings at this point. But other than THAT, it’s still a pretty good hour and I hope you enjoy it.

In all seriousness, lots of changes for me personally are resulting in having to change the routine in which I get these podcasts available to you. Rest assured, I’ll be making every effort to get stuff out in a more timely manner from here on out. At the very least, you’ll be getting content from this past weekend on time, because they’re very good (and somewhat longer than usual) episodes thanks to the presence of “The Man” from Slacker and the Man in studio for the live broadcast. Check back later in the week to catch those, both in raw form (w/ video) and in podcast form.

Originally posted at PrimeTimeGeek.com.

PTG Episode 80 is brought to you by New Year’s Geek! Yup, it’s 2010, and if you haven’t had enough yet of ringing in the new year by Saturday night, be sure to stop by Club 57 West to be a part of New Year’s Geek–once again, here’s all the info you need to make it to the party:

• The Event: New Year’s Geek
• The Date: Saturday, January 2nd, 2010
• The Location: Club 57 West – 57 W. Pine Street in Downtown Orlando
• The Lineup: Captain Dan and the Scurvy Crew, Sci-Fried, Marc with a C, Emergency Pizza Party, Krondor Krew
• The Time: 8PM-2AM

I’ll be there for a bit after Saturday night’s show, so hope to see you there!

So it’s 2010, and a Happy New Year to everyone visiting this site today–hope you had a great NYE and are ready for a great new year and new decade. It will be interesting to see if 2010 starts the same way 2009 ended in terms of the box office, with Avatar leading the way. No major studio releases coming this weekend, so that result seems pretty likely. In this episode we spend some time talking about Avatar, and though I certainly acknowledge what the film achieves technologically, the screen story was less than satisfying and derivative of LOTS of films that weren’t as flashy visually but told the “going native” story more effectively. Sherlock Holmes, on the other hand, was lots of fun all around, and I had very few complaints. They’re both certainly worth seeing, so head over to the theater if you haven’t seen them yet and form your own opinions.

Oh, and just clarify in case the title of this episode leads to any confusion: Prime Time Geek is still on Twitter, and will be for the foreseeable future. What’s gone is my personal Twitter page, PTG_Felix. Twitter is awesome for lots of people–Ross from SomaCow could doubtless sell you on the benefits and uses of Twitter to just about anyone. But for me personally, it was kind of unnecessary. Guess I’m just a Facebook guy, after all.

Originally posted at PrimeTimeGeek.com.

PTG Episode 78 is brought to you by Bloodsport. It’s ridiculous to me, considering everything that’s out there on the web to be viewed on YouTube or streamed through Netflix or Amazon.com or iTunes or any number of other online media outlets, that Bloodsport, arguably the only film in Jean-Claude Van Damme’s filmography that can be considered a “classic” of any kind whatsoever, cannot be found online in any appreciable form–it is still ONLY available on DVD (unless you count a stray VHS tape still viable out there). Other JCVD movies are available, the truly terrible ones that aren’t worth remembering or rewatching, that is. Hell, even Kickboxer, Van Damme’s far-less-satisfying follow-up to Bloodsport, is available on blu-ray–how did that happen? I know this because I went searching for audio and video clips, and only found the same scenes over and over again, mainly the fights, and while those are great, some of the dialogue not found in these scenes is truly wondrous cheese that’s worth quoting over and over again. I humbly submit to you that Bloodsport on blu-ray or available streaming through some reputable media outlet, well, that would be my Christmas miracle for 2009, or one of them, anyway.

In addition to talking a little about the films of the Muscles from Brussels, in this episode we spend a bit of time talking about what was, again in my humble opinion, the worst let down in terms of comic book series of 2009, and arguably the worst series overall, Ultimatum. Yes, we covered every issue of Ultimatum when it hit stands this past year, and though it seemed to start so breathtakingly well, as writer Jeph Loeb’s apocalyptic vision of the “end” of the Ultimates universe unfolded it seemed to devolve into simply a series of increasingly violent and gruesome death scenes. In the end, the series was an abattoir for the Ultimates characters, nothing more, and any sense of drama readers might have felt in the “reveals” of the final act is drowned in all the blood and spectacular death. As someone who once called himself a Jeph Loeb fan, I was left truly “dissed”: disenchanted, disillusioned, disappointed, disdainful of the celebration of carnage, illustrated so capably by artist David Finch, the lone bright spot of the whole series. I’m sure my opinion is in the minority–it usually is–but I look forward to a time when Loeb turns back to writing something intelligent, hopeful, and inspiring. He’s done it before–Superman for All Seasons stands in my mind as the most shining example–and I’m hopeful he’ll do it again someday.

Also we cover the final new Fringe episode of 2009, “Grey Matters”, two new Dollhouse episodes, “Meet Jane Doe” and “A Love Supreme”, and give you our top Marvel picks from last week’s selection of new books, including New Avengers Annual #3, Invincible Iron Man #21, and PunisherMax #2. Enjoy!

Originally posted at PrimeTimeGeek.com.

PTG Episode 74 is brought to you by more Geek Holiday Shopping tips. In this episode we once again bring to your attention to LA Times columnist Geoff Boucher’s wonderfully geektastic blog, Hero Complex. In particular, we spend time talking about Part 1 of his 2009 Holiday Geek-Gift Guide and the suggestions for gifts therein, which include the Tauntaun Sleeping Bag, sold exclusively through ThinkGeek.com, pictured in the image above. Part 2 of the Geek-Gift Guide has a couple of more suggestions for you if you continue to be stuck on what to get for the geek in your life. My favorite item from Part 2 BY FAR: the Star Wars Garden Jawa, available through StarWarsShop.com. Yes, garden gnomes good, garden Jawas BETTER.

And Tauntaun Sleeping Bag FTW.

Also in this episode we gave a shout-out to Sci-Fried and some of their upcoming gigs. We can now bring you complete information on their New Year’s show here in downtown Orlando:

So here’s the sitch:

• The Event: New Year’s Geek
• The Date: Saturday, January 2nd, 2010
• The Location: Club 57 West – 57 W. Pine Street in Downtown Orlando
• The Lineup: Captain Dan and the Scurvy Crew, Sci-Fried, Marc with a C, Emergency Pizza Party, Krondor Krew
• The Time: 8PM-2AM

With that lineup, it promises to be a great night of geek rock and nerdcore, so if you’re local to Orlando or you plan to be in Orlando around New Year’s, head downtown and join in the celebration of geek! We’ll keep reminding everyone listening about the show right up until the show date, and you better believe we’ll be down there right after the live show that night ends. Good times! Enjoy the podcast, and don’t miss tomorrow night’s live broadcast!

Originally posted at PrimeTimeGeek.com

PTG Episode 49 is brought to you by Marvel Entertainment, soon to be a part of the Walt Disney Company. By now I’m sure everyone has at least heard about the $4 billion dollar deal that adds “The House of Ideas” onto “The House that Walt Built”, kind of like a home improvement product, in order to increase Disney’s commercial and retail appeal amongst men and boys, a demographic they kinda lost by pouring so much money into marketing Lizzie McGuire, Hanna Montana, and the Jonas Brothers. Oh, and they want to make a few bucks from all those Marvel movies coming out of Marvel Studios over the next few years.

In this episode we start off with every intention of talking about Garth Ennis’ “The Boys” and its ongoing “side story”, “Herogasm” and we do get there eventually, but it takes a pretty big detour that involves an unplanned “Felix is Fuming” segment. I won’t say anymore about it except that, yes, this episode has more than a few F-bombs and yes, you listeners that are Wolverine fans, well, don’t take it personally. I’m just not the biggest fan of the little runt, and in this episode, it ALL comes out. That, plus top picks for Marvel from last week and a book review from EricathePimp focused on City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, part of the “Mortal Instruments” series.

Back to the Disney-Marvel news, when the news broke Monday, it seemed like everybody had an opinion or a worry. Folks here in Orlando, in particular, worried about the fate of the Marvel Super Heroes Island at Universal Orlando Resort, home of “The Hulk” roller coaster, among other VERY fun rides. (Disney CEO Robert Iger has since made it clear that the attraction will not be affected at all–Disney will continue to honor any and all contracts Marvel currently has with Disney competitors) Others closer to the geek scene wondered about the fate of Marvel Studios, its ongoing film franchises, and the Marvel properties currently licensed out to other Hollywood film studios–Spider-Man to Sony, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four to 20th Century Fox, and the Hulk (partially) to Universal. No word on these fronts, really, but seriously, Disney just wants a cut of the cash–does anyone REALLY expect them to meddle with the ongoing work on these franchises to the point of “Disney-fying” them? Same goes for the publishing end of things–there were folks out there who were wondering if Disney would set out to “soften” some of Marvel’s more violent comic lines or even discontinue imprints such as Marvel MAX–no evidence to indicate they’re thinking about this at all.

If anything, the most valid concern comic book readers and retailers had and should continue to monitor is how Disney’s considerable muscle when it comes to distribution comes into play, and if they should decide that they’re not happy with the net revenue generated by comic sales once the costs of distributing through Diamond Comics Distributors is taken into account. Do they set up their own distribution house for Marvel, the way that Marvel tried (and failed) to do more than a decade ago? Or do they pour more time and money into exploring methods of electronic distribution of comic books to mobile devices, iTunes, and hand-held game systems? Theoretically, they could change the entire paradigm for comic book consumption, something that Marvel was at the forefront of trying to do, anyway. On those questions and many others, time will tell. For my part, I’m very much in the “wait-and-see” mode with this, but I’m betting that in the near future, not much will change. We’ll still be getting our comic books primarily through comic specialty shops, we’ll still be getting Marvel movies up the ying-yang over the next four years, and we’ll still see Marvel leading the charge towards digital comics and digital distribution of comics. Seriously folks, nothing to really get excited for, unless you’re a Marvel shareholder, in which case you’re about to get PAID. Take a picture of the check you get from Disney and send it to us here at PTG, won’t you? That would be cool to see.

PTG Episode 35 is brought to you by SomaCow’s Cure for the Run. As a part of the SomaCow Media Network, Prime Time Geek will be taking part in this event with supreme geekly gusto! If you’re local to Orlando and you wish to be a part of the event, come down to Wall Street at 4PM to register for the run on Saturday, August 22nd. A form for recording sponsors/donations can be found in the message thread linked above, or you can donate directly, probably the best option for the out of town listeners. All donations will benefit Rock for Hunger. And if you’re worried about actually “running”, not to worry–you run, jog, trot, skip, walk, or crawl the .05k distance (that’s about 164 ft!)

In this episode, I fume for a bit about DC Comics‘ replacing current Batman scribe Judd Winick and artist Mark Bagley with Battle For the Cowl writer Tony Daniel after just four issues, the latest in a seemingly-interminable string of blunders in regards to restarting mainstay titles, while also professing complete and utter mea culpa over “Wednesday Comics“, which is turning out to be lots of fun and worth the $3.99 each week. Funny thing, though–not sure what to do with 16 pages of newspaper-quality paper once I’m done reading it. Bagging it won’t protect it from turning yellow, but throwing it away or recycling it like regular newspaper just seems … wrong. Current favorite strips running in Wednesday Comics: Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner’s “Supergirl”, Brian Azzarello’s “Batman”, and Kurt Busiek’s “Green Lantern.” I want to like the “Superman” strip from John Arcudi and Lee Bermejo, but so far I’m digging Arcudi’s characterization of Clark, and Bermejo’s art and colors, while pitch perfect for stories like Lex Luthor: Man of Steel and Joker, is a bit too subdued for a Superman story. Watch for more reviews of “Wednesday Comics” in the weeks to come–I have a feeling it’s going to end up in PTG’s Top 3 more often than not.

Oh, and special guest co-hosts Loubowski (Lou Ornstein) and Glakk (Howard Herbst) help me break down Domino’s new line of “American Legends” pizzas in the “Eat More Geek” segment. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say we imagine how tasty they might be if someone ELSE besides Domino’s made them. It’s a fun segment, definitely–we enjoyed recording it, so I hope you enjoy listening.