But Why Tho? The Podcast had its fifth-anniversary last week. We also recorded our last episode. If you haven’t noticed, this feed has dropped a bit in activity since the world went full Dark Souls. Between that, the site doing well, and growth in our personal and professional lives, we found ourselves short on time. More than that, if we’re being totally honest, we found ourselves running short on episode ideas we were truly passionate about. But Why Tho has been a defining and exciting experie...
Jan 26, 2022•40 min
Dani Colman is the author of The Unfinished Corner , a middle-grade graphic novel illustrated by Rachel Petrovicz, colored by Whitney Cogar, lettered by Jim Campbell, and published by Vault Comics. Dani sat down with But Why Tho? to discuss the graphic novel, how it managed to squeeze 4000 years of Jewish storytelling tradition into one book, and just what makes Jewish storytelling so powerful. The following interview is edited for brevity and clarity. The full interview can be heard on the But ...
Nov 12, 2021•35 min
Atomika , originally published as individual issues between 2005-2011, is receiving a Kickstarter campaign to publish a complete omnibus. But Why Tho? sat down with Artist Sal Abbinanti to discuss what went into making this unique tale of old and new gods in Soviet-era Russia. The following interview is edited for brevity and clarity. The full interview can be heard on the But Why Tho? Podcast ....
Nov 09, 2021•17 min
.Self is a brand new ComiXology Original series written by Christopher Sebela , artist Cara McGee , colorist Rebecca Nalty , and letterer Aditya Bidikar . In a near future, new technologies allow humans to upload their every memory and emotion to a cloud that can be downloaded into a blank body after your death to let your family have closure. But what if that server was hacked? What chaos might ensue? Author Christopher Sebela joined But Why Tho? to discuss . Self, what makes the series tick, a...
Nov 02, 2021•15 min
Specter Inspectors was an unexpectedly pivotal moment in my queer journey this year. It was quite literally the moment I first truly came out to myself. But, it turns out, even the authors' sense of self and identity were shaped by creating this comic series from BOOM! Studios' imprint BOOM! Box. I sat down with Bowen McCurdy and Kaitlyn Musto to discuss Specter Inspectors , queerness, and finding your own identity....
Oct 29, 2021•18 min
New Zealand-based comedy trio Viva La Dirt League has been making people laugh for a decade now with thoughtfully hilarious takes on gaming. Their series Epic NPC Man, Game Logic, PUBG Logic, and more have been able to connect with gamers and non-gamers alike. Now, the comedy group has a new live-action D&D-focused series set for 10 episodes. I got the chance to sit down with Adam King and Robert Hartley about scripting the series, their hopes with it, and even get their recommendations for ...
Sep 03, 2021•23 min
Last year, there was no shortage of content based on Greek mythology. Whether it was Netflix series , webtoons, or video games , 2020 was perfect for fans of the Greco-Roman mythological world. And while each title put its own spin on the myth, Supergiant Games ' Hades emerged as the most beloved. Not only did Hades build up a loyal fanbase with its stunning use of roguelike mechanics and its hot gods, but it also showcased mythology that we don't usually see. We got to see Nyx, the Furies, and ...
Aug 13, 2021•24 min
In 2017 Anthony Griffin, better known as his online persona LongBeachGriffy , took the world by storm with his original comedic sketches rooted in observational humor. The California native has made his fame from his short skits that range from everyday occurrences such as "when they call you by accident" to topics like race and politics. Despite many of his videos being provocative by nature, LongBeachGriffy has had an uncanny ability to bring realness and perspective to his content. Whether he...
Aug 02, 2021•23 min
Dream Con has always made it a point to bring in the best voice actors in the business. In 2019, the convention saw various Dragon Ball Z voice actors including Linda Young (Frieza), Chuck Huber (Andriod 17), John Burgmier (Tien), and Kyle Hebert (Adult Gohan) . Post-COVID, it was unclear what kind of guests they would have as Naruto English voice actor Maile Flanagan was announced to only be participating virtually. However, Dream Con 2021 was able to book one of the godfathers of shonen anime,...
Aug 01, 2021•34 min
Dream Con would not be complete without hearing from the minds behind the convention, RDCWorld1. From a YouTube channel started nearly ten years ago to put on one of the most diverse conventions in the country, the RDCWorld1 team has accomplished more than anyone would have thought in such a short time. They truly are a manifestation of their namesake, Real Dream Change the World as these content creators of color aim to bring other people of color together in a convention all its own....
Jul 31, 2021•31 min
We're back from some much-needed rest and relaxation - or moreso just catching back up with life. And to kick it all offer Adrian and Kate dive into a spoiler-filled review of Black Widow, the latest edition to the MCU from Disney and Marvel Studios. We talk Taskmaster, why it's better than the MCU's first female superhero solo, and how much better it could have been if we had only gotten it sooner - and you know, not when Nat was already "retired." We dive into it all!
Jul 29, 2021•40 min
This week we cover one of the defining heist films of the 2000s: Oceans 11 — and the franchise it launched. Oh, and Kate talks Oceans 8, and it doesn't go like you think. We dive into how this launched heist films of the 2000s while embracing the film it's based on which starred the Rat Pack. We talk about the way the film evolved into a franchise, how influenced American heist films after the fact, and how we just really want to go back to a good heist film.
May 26, 2021•1 hr 1 min
This week, we're celebrating the release of the Mass Effect Legendary Edition by diving into why Mass Effect Matters. We talk its history, its controversy, but the most important elements – the impact that this franchise has had on video games, pop culture, and beyond. And we do it all with the help of Josh, founder of Bear Punch Media and host of Massively Affected.
May 19, 2021•1 hr 24 min
This week, we revisit Game of Thrones to celebrate its 10th anniversary. We specifically dive into Seasons 8, the records and hearts it broke, and the future of the franchise. With two years of distance from one of the most talked-about and arguably hated finales to a series in television history, we take the time to talk about what we loved about the series, and ask ourselves: did the finale ruin the whole journey there? And, we do it with the help of Danny from Next Issue Podcast. So listeners...
May 06, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Castlevania is a phenomenon. It's a favorite for anime fans, gamers, vampire fans, and more. As one of the standard-bearers for Netflix Original Animations, Castlevania has come a long way from a four-episode first season. Bust just as the season episode length has been slowly increasing, so have the character arcs. Now, just two weeks out from the release of Castlevania Season 4 – which is also the series' final season– we got the chance to sit down with Samuel Deats (Director) and Adam Deats (...
May 05, 2021•45 min
Iconic mangaka Akira Toriyama turned 66 this month, and to celebrate, we're diving into why he matters. While we dig deep into the creative process and how the Dragon Ball franchise came to be, we also map out how Akira Toriyama actually played a big role in some of the games you love. We talk about our love of his work, the critiques some of it has received, and how his character design style came to be the standard for 90s shonen and well, Japanese RPGs. From Dragon Quest to Dr. Slump and Drag...
Apr 28, 2021•56 min
Mortal Kombat is getting it's next live action film later this week and to celebrate, we're diving deep into why Mortal Kombat Matters to gaming, culture, and well, court cases. This episode we talk about how MK became one of the largest fighting games in the world, competing directly with Japanese fighting games and how it rose to outselling long-lasting franchises Street Fighter and Tekken . Made by a four-person team, Mortal Kombat Matters because of it's palette switches (and roster), it's u...
Apr 21, 2021•1 hr 27 min
So I Was Thinking is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Kate and Matt. In it, they choose different topics they've been thinking about and discuss them. Think of this as a peak into how the two discuss topics in their kitchen. With little editing and even fewer notes, the two talk about working from home. In this episode, the two discuss how they used to work from home and how that's changed now that it's forced instead of wanted. They talk work-life balance, company expectations, and wonder if we'll...
Apr 14, 2021•33 min
Four years ago we reviewed Justice League - and y'all loved it. And for whatever reason, we're back here again to review Zack Snyder's Justice League. With the help of Alex. We talk about the length, ancient lamentations, why The Flash slowly touching the face of a woman he just met is beyond creepy, large music video shots of people standing, water bubbles, and at least why this one is better than the Joss Whedon's version. It's not all bad though, we talk about what the Snyder Cut does with ch...
Mar 24, 2021•2 hr
This week to celebrate the release of Monster Hunter Rise we're devoting episode 172 to talk all about why Monster Hunter matters. In this episode, with the help of Techniq, we dive into this history of Capcom's best selling property, it's impact on RPGs, and why it took so long to take off in the United States. Don't worry, we talk about Monster Hunter World.
Mar 17, 2021•1 hr 9 min
In this episode we break down the beloved shonen manga and anime series: Hunter x Hunter. Whether you pronounce the “x” or you don’t, we talk all about the series’ long history, the hiatuses, and ultimately why the fandom around the series only keeps increasing despite having no new media since 2019 in the United States and even longer in Japan. Plus, we talk all about what separates this shonen from others, including the protagonists, the villains, the themes, and of course the sprinkle of murd...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr 19 min
With the recent release of Tom and Jerry on HBO Max, it's time to dive into one of the oldest cartoons still kicking around today.
Mar 03, 2021•1 hr 2 min
On Episode 169, we're looking at the whole company, good, bad, and ugly. From Warcraft to Overwatch, even if you've never played their games, you have probably heard of them, and if you've played any RTS or MMO, you've certainly felt their lasting effect. Blizzard is an often problematic fave, but they are also firmly among the most influential and popular video game companies ever.
Feb 18, 2021•1 hr 41 min
This year, Tomb Raider turns 25! To celebrate the anniversary of the iconic franchise and its main character we dive into the history of Tomb Raider and how Lara has impacted gaming and beyond. With Kate leading the way, Lara Croft is in the spotlight once again. While her game franchise has had its ups and downs over the years, Lara will always be an absolute icon in all of her iterations. In this episode, we chronicle Tomb Raider's development journey, the bad marketing choices behind the orig...
Feb 10, 2021•1 hr 17 min
This week, we're celebrating Weekly Shonen Jump, the manga magazine that pretty much holds the keys to every one of our shonen favorites and the Toonami generation. With titles from Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, and Yu Yu Hakusho to JoJo's Bizarre Adventure , Haikyuu! , and Death Note , the variety of the series that the magazine has published has showcased shonen's range. With help from special guest LaNeysha from Did You Have To? And So, Here's What Happened, we dive into the impact the magazine has ...
Feb 03, 2021•57 min
King of the Hill is the anime of Texas. Yes, that's the meme, but while this slice of life adult comedy may seem like a large hyperbole of the state and its people, truth is, it's pretty spot on. In this episode, we dive into the importance of the series, its success, and talk about why it hits the nail on the Texas head. And we even discuss how the series looks at the more conservative elements of Texan culture through a lens of growth.
Jan 27, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Hitman 3 is out now and we're celebrating by diving into the history of the IO Interactive franchise. We tackle the rights issues, the impact of a suave Agent 47, and how it's gameplay is put to use by players. In short, we tell you exactly why Hitman matters. If you're unfamiliar with the video game stealth-adventure franchise, Hitman helped revolutionize the stealth video game genre, and while it may have floated under folks' radar the past few decades, the upcoming release of Hitman 3 warrant...
Jan 20, 2021•58 min
Crunchyroll started as an illegal streaming site where fans could upload their fansubs of their favorite anime series - and a Starcraft vid or two - but now it's an anime platform worth over a billion dollars. In the wake of the announcement that Funimation owner, Sony would be buying Crunchyroll and the internet's communal "anime is worth how much?," we dig into the history of Crunchyroll. We talk about how its model and acquisition of simuldubs of Naruto from TV Tokyo pushed the industry to in...
Jan 13, 2021•52 min
This weekend One Piece hit its historic 1000th chapter. Created, written, and drawn by mangaka Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a member of the original Big Three manga and has shaped a generation of weebs. From the horrible 4Kids localizations and beyond, One Piece is a cornerstone of anime and at just under 1000 episodes of anime, we talk about it all. We talk about how Oda brought real pirate history into his vast world, how there is an island made of cake, and how this absurd pirate fantAsy advent...
Jan 06, 2021•1 hr 18 min
It's the end of 2020 - Thank bob. We've made it through it and in this episode we review it, well the pop culture aspects at least. We dive into our favorite films, television, games, and of course moments we've experienced on the podcast. Plus, it wouldn't be us if we didn't get into the biggest overrated things too.
Dec 31, 2020•1 hr 30 min
