Welcome to another thrilling episode of Play Comics, where we dive into the pixelated playgrounds of our favorite comic book characters and the games that bring them to life. Today, we’re dusting off our PS2 controllers and delving into the dark and mysterious world of Shadow Man 2econd Coming. Released in 2002, this game promised a spine-chilling adventure, but did it deliver the voodoo-infused essence of its comic book counterpart? Joining us in this shadowy quest is none other than Patrick Hi...
Mar 11, 2024•1 hr 16 min
Smurf fans, mushroom dwellers, and plastic comic enthusiasts, lend me your ears! This week on Play Comics, we’re taking a hard look at one of the most mind-bogglingly bizarre video game adaptations to ever grace the original PlayStation – The Smurfs from 1999. That’s right, we’re diving headfirst into the small blue world where the air is crisp, the mushrooms are plentiful, and the gameplay is…well, let’s just say it’s an experience. But we’re not going it alone, oh no! Joining us is the one and...
Mar 06, 2024•44 min
Attention all Gundam fanatics and mech maniacs! Today we’re blasting off into the cosmos with Mobile Suit Gundam Zeonic Front for the PlayStation 2! Joining us is none other than Scott Wachter from the wildly popular podcast The Recap From Mercury . Scott’s expertise lies in overanalyzing obtuse science fiction plots, so he’s the perfect wingman to navigate the tangled narrative threads of the One Year War. Will the valiant Federation pilots emerge victorious against the dastardly Zeon forces? C...
Feb 26, 2024•46 min
Greetings, fellow Play Comics aficionados and Dragon Ball Z fanatics! It’s time to power up your ki and get ready for an adventure unlike any other. We’re diving headfirst into the wild world of the Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game on the Game Boy Advance, and trust us, it’s going to be a blast! But wait, there’s more! Joining us on this epic journey is the one and only Kyle Billie from The Rad(io) Shorts podcast . With his wicked sense of humor and infectious enthusiasm, we know Kyle will br...
Feb 12, 2024•45 min
Hey there fellow Gundam fanatics and Play Comics aficionados! Get ready to power up your mechs and dive into the wild world of Gundam Battle Assault 2, the classic PS1 game that has us all itching for some intense mecha showdowns. And who better to join us on this epic journey than our returning guest, the one and only Billy, who’s graced us with his presence on previous episodes like X-Men Mutant Academy, Ghost in the Shell, Turok 2, and Batman and Robin? But let’s be real, folks. This time aro...
Feb 05, 2024•58 min
Demonic possessions are nothing new. But I still get hooked every time one of those stories comes up. The Exorcist was the first movie that really bothered me when I watched it. The Exorcism of Emily Rose was a birthday tradition for a while. There’s just something about how people deal with those creatures that always grabs my interest. Maybe it’s the struggle between keeping hold of yourself while dealing with an entity that’s much stronger than you. Maybe it’s because a religious upbringing t...
Jan 29, 2024•48 min
This week we’re blasting off into outer space to take a look back at the classic PS1 fighting game Gundam Battle Assault. Released in North America in 2000, this game brought the action-packed combat of the popular Gundam anime franchise to PlayStation gamers. Our special guest this episode is Karrington Martin from the fantastic K&K Indie Gaming Corner podcast. Karrington is a huge Gundam fan and will provide expert insight into the lore behind the game’s mobile suits and storylines. We’ll ...
Jan 15, 2024•50 min
Get ready to dive into the pixelated mystique of the Sega Genesis era as we unleash the power of Mystic Defender on this episode of Play Comics! In this electrifying installment, we team up with the dynamic Phil Keeling from Pixel Lit to unravel the secrets and thrills behind the classic Sega Genesis game Mystic Defender. Brace yourselves for a riveting conversation that delves into the captivating world of gaming nostalgia, where pixels come to life, and wizards wield unimaginable powers. Phil ...
Jan 08, 2024•59 min
Welcome, dear listeners, to another bodyslammin’ edition of Play Comics! Get ready to tag in and grapple with nostalgia as your host, Chris, is joined by the dynamic duo of wrestling wisdom: Adam “Ringmaster” Williamson and Josh “Suplex Strategist” Garvey! In this pixelated pilgrimage through the archives of gaming history, our intrepid trio steps into the virtual ring to dissect the legendary N64 classic—WWF No Mercy. It’s a game that’s more electrifying than a Rock Bottom and has more twists t...
Dec 18, 2023•45 min
In this pixel-packed extravaganza we’re diving into the realm of Mobile Suits, futuristic warfare, and enough Gundam drama to make soap operas blush. Yes folks it’s time to chat about the PlayStation 2 game “Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo,” a game that had us pressing buttons faster than a cat chases a laser pointer. But wait, there’s more! We’ve got a guest star shining as bright as the final boss battle. Joining us in the digital cockpit is none other than the fabulous Dan Carroll, capt...
Dec 11, 2023•56 min
Greetings, fellow gamers and digital explorers! Today, we’re strapping on our Digi-Devices and venturing into the world of Digimon – because why catch ’em all when you can DIGITIZE ’em all? W e’re peeling back the nostalgic layers of the PlayStation classic, Digimon World 2. A game where the monsters are digital, the challenges are real, and the memory card space is always at a premium. But wait, there’s more! We’re not content with just battling in virtual arenas and exploring digital dungeons....
Nov 26, 2023•44 min
The cool thing about comic creators is that they tend to like comics. Which means that whoever your favorite comic creator is probably has a favorite comic. But what happens when you find the source of basically everything ? And can you get past the fact that it feels so cliche because it’s the source of all of the cliche feelings? Listen in as Allen Dunford comes by to talk about his favorite comic, which makes sense because he is a comic creator. But will this game give us an idea of why so ma...
Nov 21, 2023•54 min
Holy poorly-rated superhero media! Get ready to dive into some of the murkiest depths of the Marvel universe as we analyze 2003’s not-so-stellar Daredevil offerings. First up in the hot seat is the Ben Affleck-led Daredevil film that premiered that very same year. Despite boasting major star power and promising early trailers, this big screen endeavor wound up being another dud, critically panned for an overly serious tone and absurd costuming choices. Then, we’ll switch gears to focus on the Ga...
Oct 09, 2023•49 min
Get ready for a dragon duel of epic proportions! In this corner, we have Dragon Power, the janky NES game that tried and failed to cash in on Dragonball mania. And in this corner, we have the original Dragonball manga, which captures all the absurdity and excitement that Dragon Power completely whiffed on! Let’s get ready to ruuuuumble! Please give a warm, silly welcome to our special guest judge for today’s podcast, the one and only Kyle “Game Genie” Federline! When he’s not dropping hot takes ...
Aug 13, 2023•49 min
There’s something just so endearing about The Smurfs. Mostly I think it’s because it’s just such a simple concept. Little blue dudes have an adventure and it all wraps up nicely by the end. Seems pretty safe and kid friendly doesn’t it? Yeah, that’s what I thought too. Good thing I have October K Santarelli here to help blow some of those ideas out of the water. Listen in as we take a dive into Smurf history and explore some of the dark secrets of these little blue demons. Learn such things as: ...
Jul 23, 2023•44 min
Sometimes I just wonder why even got some games. It’s not that I don’t appreciate them, that’s not it at all. But licensed games where we don’t really know the franchise? And game genres that aren’t able to carry the game by itself? And doing it all on a disaster of a console where it seems like nothing could be done right. I know I’m sounding super negative right now but I think that is part of the charm of Magic Knight Rayearth. And you know who else thinks so? Satsunami from the Chatsunami po...
Jun 26, 2023•1 hr 8 min
I’ve decided that I just really like fantasy stories. I’ve decided that a lot in the past, and I’m deciding it again right now. There’s just something about a writer being able to ignore all of what’s actually possible in this world and yet still having to make something that’s internally consistent with the story that they want to tell. Something about an artist being able to make characters that just couldn’t happen here in anyway, be it through crazy anatomy that just doesn’t play nicely with...
Jun 12, 2023•40 min
It all comes back to Spider-Man doesn’t it? The cultural saturation of the character in a lot of English speaking societies. The relatable nature of the character (and to be perfectly honest, most of the Spider people characters). The fact that the first Spider-Man trilogy was the first thing since the 90s Batman movies to really hit such a mainstream audience is no coincidence. So how do we get a look at what Spider-Man means to people? Oh, I don’t know, maybe get a guest like Keifer from Selec...
May 30, 2023•55 min
Spy stories are spy stories. And yet we still love them. There’s just something about spies that sits well in our hearts. Because in the end, spy stories are about an individual overcoming a situation where everything is stacked against them. So while spy stories might have a lot of the same elements running through them, there’s a big variety in how those elements are used and woven in and out of each other. Listen in as Cory Byrd from Byrds Eye View Comics helps to take a look at Golgo 13 Top ...
May 22, 2023•57 min
REFIRE TIME! We’ve looked at the Ninja Turtles before. We’ve had a few episodes about them even. But let’s be real, the podcast was in its infancy and I didn’t really know what I was doing with the show yet. So how can we remedy that? Well Anthony Sytko has an idea. How about we get him specifically on the show to take a look at the Cowabunga Collection? I hope you think that’s a good idea because I already recorded it. Listen in as we take a look at the Cowabunga Collection as a whole and try t...
Apr 30, 2023•57 min
It’s the year [insert future year here] and mankind has probably destroyed the Earth because of course they did. How did we/they get here/there? Don’t know, and there’s a ton of lore to figure out before we can know what happened. War is a mess y’all. It’s not like you can just read a few books and know exactly what happened. Good thing we have my friend Erinn here to help sort things out. Listen in as we try to make sense of, well, everything in the Gundam universes and probably miss some thing...
Apr 16, 2023•53 min
Some of the most important things I have right now are things that I’ve always had. Mostly my stuffed Snoopy that I’ve had since I was little. And while having him to hold on to has helped in a lot of situations, what if he was actually able to physically fight off demons and monsters? Listen in as Tayson Martindale comes to talk about his comic The Keepsakers, a story that explores that exact theme of your childhood friends actually being some of your biggest protectors. (Hopefully) Coming to a...
Mar 26, 2023•49 min
Sometimes you just need to flip things on their head. You know, really make sure to hit the point that you’re trying to make. Take down anything that stands in your way and kick right through any obstacle standing before you. And sometimes I just try to make stupid puns because we’re doing things backwards today and looking at comic books based on a video game. Listen in as the Pop Historian joins the show to talk about the Mortal Kombat comics that are obviously based on that game you might hav...
Mar 19, 2023•46 min
What makes someone a villain? And once you get that label in people’s head what can happen to get that label removed or switched? It’s tough. You’ve got to change minds and deal with people who will never forget your past no matter how much good you do now and will always treat you like the villain that they see you as. Well, we have Blair Farrell here to help figure out where that line is as we take a look at the 1999 Catwoman game for Gameboy Color. And long the way we’ll try to figure out if ...
Mar 05, 2023•43 min
What is it that makes a comic connect with an audience? Is it the writing? The art? The characters? Nope, but also yes….? It’s the passion behind it. And that passion certainly comes across in everything else but you can have the best writer and artist in the world using the most popular characters and have things fall flat if they’re just going through the motions. Today we’re talking about Ravage with Eli Powell. He certainly has the passion for this story and I’m really excited to get my hand...
Feb 26, 2023•33 min
Comics can come from some weird places. Which most of the time is a shot at the writer or artist and the fact that they’re a weirdo. But sometimes is just a basic factual statement. You know, like when a nation makes a comic about a war they had no part in just because. But who would ever do a thing like that? Not Insane Ian, but he did stop by the show to talk about North and South which does exactly that. Except under the name Les Tuniques Bleues if you’re reading it in the original French but...
Feb 26, 2023•49 min
In the cold dark reaches of space nobody can hear you scream. Or something like that. Look, I've never been to space so I can't know for sure. But I know that if I went to space I'd be lonely without my Kayleigh and that would suck so I'm not sure if I want to even think about that. But Elyse Russell on the other hand, all about mixing up sci fi and romance in ways that I wouldn't be able to pull off. Which is great because she's helping to put together Amongst the Stars so I can read it and let...
Feb 16, 2023•50 min
Pocus is still in Hell. He’s got Emily. He’s got Horrus. He’s got problems. And what can he do about it? I have no idea, and to be perfectly honest I’m not sure that Allen Dunford does either. But it’s his job (along with Will Radford who sadly couldn’t be in this episode) to make the story happen. Which is good because they’re a lot better at it than I would be. Learn such things as: How do you get new fans hooked when you basically have to spoil earlier issues? What are the dangers of having e...
Feb 13, 2023•48 min
What are the elements of a good Batman game? Cool villains? Great side characters? Actually doing a bit of detectiving maybe? Well listen in as Adam Williamson comes back on the show to talk about Batman Gotham City Racers, a game that basically none of those things and yet still exists. Learn such things as: How much does a character have to be in the game to count as being in the game? How can you have a game with the Batmobile and have you get sick of it? How far does Chris need to go to get ...
Feb 12, 2023•43 min
One of the best things about comics, especially lately, is the amount of creator diversity we’ve been able to get. So it warms my heart when we can get a collection bringing together a bunch of creators that don’t normally have a chance to get together for this specific reason. And what is that reason? Well, we’re taking a look at Sensory: Life on the Spectrum with Bex Ollerton to take a look at her book giving creators with Autism a space to share their experiences. And I use her in the loosest...
Jan 23, 2023•41 min
