Which comic-book-inspired movies deserve more love? Jake + Mitch dive headfirst into the underrated waters to dish on the not-so-iconic titles that deserve a second chance. Or, at least, carry thick nostalgia that's worth re-visiting. The big takeaway remains, though Marvel and DC dominate the zeitgeist, we've plenty of "lesser known" comic movies to enjoy that still hold up. The guys dare to ask: - BATMAN FOREVER or BATMAN BEGINS: Which is better? - Is SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD a coming-of-age...
May 30, 2019•1 hr
Contrary to popular belief, we like him when he's angry. Jake + Mitch dish on the oft forgotten MCU gem, THE INCREDIBLE HULK. More importantly, ComicsVerse's Maite Molina-Muñiz (@_maite14) joins the discussion in her lauded second pod appearance. Along the way they hit a few pressing questions: - Is Edward Norton the best Hulk? - Did this movie solve origin fatigue back in 2008? - And what's with Marvel underserving Liv Tyler, Natalie Portman & Rachel McAdams? Hot takes are shared, green dud...
May 23, 2019•59 min
The alien invasion has arrived, and we have Mr. Lowery to thank. Jake + Mitch welcome their new friend and brilliant comic book creator, Matt Mair Lowery, to dish on his visionary young adult series, LIFEFORMED. With book two dropping in September, Lowery expands on the genesis of the narrative and his working relationship with Dark Horse Comics. Along the way, they hit a few notable topics: - Terminator 2 and Alien still resonate. - Animation is still king for comics “watchability”. - Is Keaton...
May 10, 2019•44 min
SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers pretty much from the onset. Listen with care! “I love you 3,000.” AVENGERS ENDGAME has arrived, and the feels are in overdrive. Jake + Mitch chart their way thru the surprising—and not so surprising—character farewells and grade ENGAME’s attempt to close the book on MCU’s core crew. Along they way, they hit a few hot takes: -Are INFINITY WAR + ENDGAME this century’s GODFATHER I & II? -Who got the worst treatment, Hulk or Thor? -Has ANT-MAN AND TH...
May 02, 2019•1 hr 6 min
A lot can happen in 11 years. 20 movies, sequels upon sequels, a best picture nomination and a pop-cultural phenomenon unseen since The Beatles hit the states. Or, for Jake + Mitch, they finished college, found partners, bought houses and had kids. Either way, we've seen a lot, and with AVENGERS ENDGAME dropping this weekend, a sense of finality grows stronger. Taking all the feels in stride, the guys re-visit the biggest moments for the MCU's world building: - Does the whole thing crumble witho...
Apr 25, 2019•55 min
Like it or not, Hellboy 2.0 is here. Jake + Mitch breakdown what worked and didn't work in the over-stuffed re-boot, HELLBOY. With a deep love for the comics, Jake had high hopes. Mitch, not so much...maybe the staggeringly low Rotten Tomatoes score has something to do with it. But there's more... - In the shadow of GDT, did this movie stand a chance? - Should we appreciate the home-run swing this movie took? - Will we see David Harbour don the horns and chops again? Plus, a quick philosophical ...
Apr 19, 2019•57 min
Say the magic word! Jake + Mitch aren’t exactly bearded wizards, but they did see the latest DCEU installment. SHAZAM! packs loads of fun and heart, but does it stand-up to the other top-tier comic flicks? While it may not be pantheon worthy, it still leaves much to cover: Did Mark Strong have enough space to show his chops? Who’s the MVP: Asher Angel or JDG? What does this mean for The Rock’s BLACK ATOM? Don’t worry, the guys re-shuffle their DCEU rankings too. And Mitch embarks on a secret vig...
Apr 12, 2019•50 min
Put on a happy face. Jake + Mitch re-surface to dish on the surprise teaser for Todd Phillips' new JOKER movie. And basically, they're ready to rave on the year's biggest movie no one knew they needed. The guys also hit a few pressing questions: - Is the move from Leto to Phoenix the single best character upgrade in comic flicks? - Is there such a thing as too much TAXI DRIVER influence? - Why hasn't Joaquin won an Oscar yet? From the brief two-and-a-half minute window, it seems as though Philli...
Apr 04, 2019•32 min
James Gunn is the first director to work in both DCEU and MCU…and people have lots of feelings about it. Jake + Mitch dig deeper into the expectations surrounding SUICIDE SQUAD (2?) and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 3. Obviously, the controversy surrounding these upcoming projects won’t be bowing-out quietly anytime soon. The guys ask a few pressing questions: Do we even need a third GUARDIANS? Can we assume SQUAD 2 will be better than the first? How will these flicks be remembered? With a lot to unpa...
Mar 29, 2019•43 min
Harder. Better. Faster. Carol Danvers has blown the doors off the joint and we’re all the better for it! Jake + Mitch welcome Maite Molina-Muniz from ComicsVerse to dish on the high-velocity amazingness of MCU’s latest installment, CAPTAIN MARVEL. In true fierce fashion, Maite sheds light on Brie Larson’s platform and her work to celebrate women and people of color in the industry. But the biggest question looms: Does CM crack the MCU Top 5? Jake, Mitch & Maite share their lists after taking...
Mar 15, 2019•1 hr 9 min
Say what you will, but we know perfection when we see it. After finishing Netflix’s UMBRELLA ACADEMY, Jake + Mitch ask the life-altering question: When approaching comic-inspired Movies + TV, are we better off not knowing anything about the source material? So yeah, UA is that good. And lots of stuff happened…a bunch of which didn’t happen in the comic run. But you know what? That’s okay! Ultimately, it’s all about the tone of the medium, and the granting the narrative enough space to breath. Th...
Mar 08, 2019•1 hr 4 min
Marvel who?! Jake + Mitch dive-in on whether or not THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY is primed to fill Netflix's comic series sized hole. If nothing else, TUA comes out the gate sprinting and is as much fun as it is visceral. After a bitter re-hashing of the Oscars, the guys identify their favorite TUA characters, best moments, and dissect the obvious Zack Snyder comparisons. Of course, only half way thru the inaugural season, a few glaring questions remain: - Will Pogo break bad? - What do we make of Grace...
Mar 01, 2019•53 min
The Watching Comics Podcast has officially reached trilogy status! Jake + Mitch roll out the third installment of Shut Up And Give It To Me, where they break-down the comic books they'd most like to see hit the big or small screen. Because when it comes to comic-inspired entertainment, enough is never enough. Jake shares his vision for a long overlooked Spider-Man project, and a Kevin Smith helmed Green Lantern espionage thriller. Mitch unveils his favorite read of 2018 in TKO's landmark new ser...
Feb 20, 2019•55 min
Batffleck is out, and Gumshoe Bat is in. So how much can we speculate? Jake + Mitch venture to the Batcave to dish on the latest news surrounding Matt Reeves’ THE BATMAN. With two more years till release date, a lot of questions still need to be answered: Who will don the cape? Which villain gets the nod? Should they include Deathstroke in the script? The guys share their best guesses on potential story lines (LONG HALLOWEEN); discuss the merits of remaking MASK OF THE PHANTASM; and declare the ...
Feb 08, 2019•51 min
It's official, 2018 was the year of comic book movies! Jake + Mitch geek-out over the Oscar love for BLACK PANTHER and SPIDER-MAN INTO THE SPIDERVERSE. After all, it's not very often the nerds get invited to step out on the red carpet. But does Wakanda have a chance to take home the top prize? And did SPIDERVERSE deserve a Top 10 nod? In addition to celebrating comics' arrival to the exclusive club, the guys briefly break-down the field of Best Picture nominees; debate SHAWSHANK vs PULP FICTION;...
Jan 25, 2019•54 min
Nearly a dozen movies deep, the time has come to decided: Which X-MEN movies are the best of the bunch? Back for an epic second appearance, friend of pod Nick Miller stops by. He + Jake dive-deep into the cinematic world of Fox's X-MEN flicks. And Mitch? He was busy saving the world...or taking a nap. Flying Mitchless, the guys break down the pressing questions: - Does DEADPOOL make the cut? - What do we make of the big blue dude? - Which flicks takes the top spot? Because, at the end of the day...
Jan 18, 2019•58 min
Crack open a can of Surge and strap on your jet packs! Jake + Mitch harken back to sweet 90’s nostalgia of another childhood favorite, Disney’s THE ROCKETEER. Because if these guys don’t preserve the legacy of pre-renaissance Comic Flicks, who will? Struggling the break out of DICK TRACY’s shadow, THE ROCKETEER underperformed at the box office. While it’s still enjoyed a near cult-classic status, it still begs the question: Does the movie hold-up? The guys breakdown the, at the time, surprising ...
Jan 11, 2019•53 min
Permission to come aboard?! After swimming in the vibrant ocean of Atlantis and Schwarzenegger-style one-liners, Jake + Mitch emerge to dish on the DECU’s latest installment, AQUAMAN. And briefly throw-down over MAN OF STEEL. They also tackle pressing questions: -- Is AQUAMAN a good movie? -- Where does it rank in the DCEU? -- Dafoe’s man-bun, good, bad, or epic? If nothing else, no doubts James Wan came to play. AQUAMAN goes hard, and provides more familiar entertainment and laughter than we sa...
Dec 28, 2018•1 hr 4 min
And just like that, everything changes. Jake + Mitch dive into the innovative and colorful world of animated awesomeness. SPIDER-MAN INTO THE SPIDERVERSE has burst onto the scene with fresh, vibrant visuals, impeccable humor, and surprising nuance. Basically what we're saying is: This movie is really flippin' good. But...how does it stack-up against the other animated titan of the year, INCREDIBLES 2? Where does SPIDERVERSE rank in the list of Spidey Flicks? And what do we make of superhero movi...
Dec 21, 2018•1 hr 6 min
WCP hits the big-time with writer, comic reader, and fanboy, Zack Quaintance. Jake + Mitch sit down with their new BFF, Zack, to dish on the origin story of the successful comic book opinion web-site, BATMAN'S BOOKCASE. Along the way they touch on toxic fandom, Iron Man's surprising appeal and staying power, Tobey's Spider-Man, and Zack's Top 5 Comic Book Flicks. But most of all, they settle the debate once and for all between Cake or Pie. This one proves to be a good hang; complete with love (a...
Dec 14, 2018•1 hr 2 min
Between BLACK PANTHER’s record-breaking box office run, Thanos’ shiny bling, DAREDEVIL’s triumphant return…and exit, and the endless cycle of leaks, trailers, debates, and tweets—2018 may have been the year of the comic book. Jake + Mitch look back on their favorite on-screen moments from comic-inspired TV and Movies. Coogler’s BLACK PANTHER remains the best of the year…at least until SPIDERVERSE drops. DEADPOOL 2 and JESSICA JONES get some love, and an underrated masterpiece from Netflix snags ...
Dec 07, 2018•56 min
“Calling Dick Tracy, Calling Dick Tracy!” That’s right, we’re jumping back into the 90’s to re-live the glory that is Warren Beatty’s modern classic, DICK TRACY. Jake + Mitch investigate whether the flick still holds up, or crumbles under the weight of childhood nostalgia. With the likes of Al Pacino, Madonna, Dustin Hoffman, Kathy Bates, and so many more familiar faces—it’s hard to believe a film about a then 60 year old comic strip would garner so much attention, star power, and—yes—Academy Aw...
Nov 29, 2018•59 min
Turns out the man without fear is pretty worried. With Daredevil Season Three coming to a close, a few glaring questions remain: -Where does it rank in the pantheon of comic book TV? -Will we see Kingpin square-off against Holland in the MCU? -Will Season Four be a thing? Jake + Mitch breakdown the mechanics of the season, and what seems to be a really, really long origin story for Matt Murdock. And was it just them, or was the season finale more than a little underwhelming? Also, Jake goes vega...
Nov 23, 2018•51 min
He lived more in 95 years than any of us could have in hundreds. Stan Lee was the generous and gleeful genius of comics. Credited for crafting more than 300 Comic Book characters, Mr. Lee became the patron saint of the art form and its many iterations. Jake + Mitch spend some time celebrating Spider-Man, Doctor Doom, and more as they assess the legacy of a true, subversive titan. The grand master of Silver Age Comics will be remembered for his inherent goodness as anything else. After all, what ...
Nov 13, 2018•43 min
The man without fear is back. Jake + Mitch take a deep, gushing dive into the first half of DAREDEVIL SEASON 3. Why? Because, amidst all the clamor and hot takes, it's nice to appreciate something incredible now-and-then. And as the first half of the season proves, DAREDEVIL earns a place on the short-list of prestige TV. Which is better: - Jessica Jones or Daredevil? - The Hallway Fight or the Uncut Prison Throw-down? - Bullseye or Kingpin? Plus, Jake ventures into the world of themed birthday ...
Nov 08, 2018•49 min
Netflix is making moves, and Disney's ready to kick-down the door. Amidst random World Series takes (Go Sox!), Jake + Mitch share initial reactions to the cutting of IRON FIST and LUKE CAGE from the Netflix dossier of Marvel entertainment. Naturally, there are plenty of conspiracy theories to be had: Does this mean we're (finally) going to see Heroes for Hire? Is Disney flexing a little too early? Or was it simply because IRON FIST was a little...uh...lackluster? Only time will tell. For now, J+...
Oct 26, 2018•42 min
Time for a deep-dive on everyone's favorite half-demon superhero. Jake + Mitch share their love of HELLBOY and the unique discovery that he may be the most universally beloved big screen comic icon. After all, who doesn't love Ron Perlman as the big red guy in GDT's two installments? And yet, the buzz surrounding next year's reboot is inherently positive. What makes Hellboy so engaging? Is HBII: The Golden Army the best comic book sequel ever? What do we hope to see in the upcoming flick? And wh...
Oct 17, 2018•49 min
Is it sym-BY-ote, sym-BEE-ote, or sym-BEE-ut? The world may never know. But at least the movie had incredible visuals. After putting the kids to bed, and powering through their exhausted "adulting" status--Jake + Mitch saw VENOM opening night. Naturally, they had a lot of thoughts. Could Tom Hardy and his newest voice choice carry the movie? Why were they so dead-set to (seemingly) shoot a rough-draft script? Did anyone else laugh at Woody's wig? Ultimately, the movie brought the heat. Mistakes ...
Oct 08, 2018•1 hr 7 min
Even in the over-saturated world of Comic Book flicks and TV picks, we can't get enough. Back for another rousing round of, "Shut up and give it to me!", Jake + Mitch break down four comics they'd most like to see it the big and small screens. Because, as far as they're concerned, there's always room for more. Mitch pitches everyone's favorite plus-sized super-femme, and a swanky, Bojack-like Hanna Barbera classic. Jake dives into complex underworlds of feminist rats, and Jedi-adjacent mind-meld...
Sep 28, 2018•55 min
Henry Cavill has hung up the cape. Another side-effect of the Warner Bros. DCEU saga. Jake + Mitch share their favorite Man of Steel moments. Throughout the revelations, Jake discovers he may, in fact, be raising his son to be the next Lex Luthor while Mitch’s daughter is fast tracking her way to Supergirl. Through the lens of Daniel Tiger, it all makes sense. With the gaping vacancy left behind, the guys take it upon themselves to re-cast the iconic Man of Tomorrow. Obviously, per everyone on t...
Sep 19, 2018•1 hr 22 min
