Graphic Novice Comic Book Podcast

Special:  A Celebration of Episode Number 69! Jason Brigger from The History of Bad Ideas Podcast joins Nickel & VF for a celebration of human sexuality in honor of the 69th episode of the Graphic Novice (Comic Book) Podcast.  The fellows start off with a discussion of the new Fantastic Four movie to put everyone at ease, then move over to the sex and relationship questions.  Everything comes full circle (as far as comic book content) with a short discussion of contravertial moments in comics focused on sex and relationships. Most other podcasts were too mature to make a big deal out of episode number 69.  Not Graphic Novice.  Join us next week as we return to your regularly scheduled programming. Thanks for listening.

Your Graphic Novice hosts are far too mature to address the connotations related to the number of this episode (because we're saving that for episode 69.1).  While we still consider ourselves a comic book podcast, it always seems to take a while before we get to comics and this week's episode is no exception. Nickel's cabin restoration continues, we are once again forced to address moon wars, and various podcast feuds that we have going on, and on a more serious note, Mrs. VF pays a visit to the hospital (she's ok). Internet troubles (that you might not notice due to VF's magical editing) plague the podcast and almost shut us down for the night, but through sheer perseverance, and several additional alcoholic beverages, we forge ahead to comic news, where we discuss our thoughts on the new Fantastic Four movie, Jared Leto's Joker, and Batman vs. Robin. "Rapid-Fire Review" is actually reasonably rapid for once, as we decide to limit the discussion from a few selected books from each of July 15, July 22 & J

Graphic Novice returns from an unscheduled hiatus with a landmark episode 68 with opening music by Henno.  VF and his sidekick discuss the stress of not reading comics, cabin renovations, Michael Leal, The Salty Language Podcast, bidets and bathroom sanitation, adventures at the dentist's office, VF vs. The Angry Ginger and a t-shirt update. The "Comic News" segements covers Ant-Man, Batman v. Superman and why Graphic Novice didnt spend any time talking about the San Diego Comic Con this year. In an attempt to get caught up, the guys have to dip way back into June and hide how few books they've actually read with an extremely selective version of "Rapid-Fire Review".  The comic books discussed include We Are Robin #1, E is For Extinction #1, X-Men '92 #1, and Ninjak #4 (from June 24, 2015), Captain Canuck #2, Detective Comics #42, Secret Wars #4 (From July 1, 2015), Batman #42, Earth 2 Society 2, Starve #2 (interspersed with a Todd McFarland rant), Civil War #1 and Boom!'s Strange Fruit #1. Thigs are wrapped

Kick off your shoes, get comfortable and get ready for almost 3 hours of the Graphic Novice Comic Book Podcast.  The opening segment takes up roughly an hour, as VF & Nickel catch up and discuss the Graphic Novice T-Shirt campaign, cabin renovations, July 4th, gun control and fireworks. After the non-comic related banter comes to an end, the "Comic News" segment focuses entirely on a run down of all the books scheduled for release or relaunch following the end of Marvel's "Secret Wars" event. VF and Nickel discuss each book and share their relative enthusiasm for the title. Following one of the longer news segments, HQ sent the signal down to try and wrap things up, so the guys limited "Rapid Fire Review" to one week of books, looking at the titles released on June 17, 2015, including: Captain Canuck #2, Black Canary #1, Justice League of America #1, Alex + Ada #15, Lazarus #17, Low#7, Manifest Destiny #15, Southern Bastards #9, Deadpool's Secret Secret Wars #2, Magneto #19, Moon Knight #16, Ms. Marvel #1

After a week off, Graphic Novice returns to discuss Nickel's appearances on other podcasts (Gotham Lights, The Stranger Conversations, The History of Bad Ideas), as well as VF's glorious chicken coop, Graphic Novice merchandise, and a few other off-topic topics. After getting a few kinks worked out of the show, we finally move things along to our review of new comics released June 10, 2015, including: Crossed Plus 100 #5, Lantern City #2, Batman #41, Detective Comics #41, Gotham Academy #7, Starfire #1, Mad Max Fury Road; Furiosa, Birthright #8, Black Science #15, Chrononauts #4, Descender #4, Saga #29, Savior #3, Starve #1, Ghost Racers #1, Inhumans Atillan Rising #2,  Secret Wars Journal #2, Silk #5, Spider-Gwen #5, Weirdworld #1, Grimm Tales of Terror #11. Before calling it a night, we look ahead to the books we'll be discussing from June 17 and June 24, 2015.  Thanks for listening. Please feel free to drop us a line if our discussion of authentic Graphic Novice merchandise has left you with a hole of desi

Graphic Novice returns this week for their 65th episode with hosts VF & Nickel attempting to get caught up by reviewing 2 weeks of new comics. Slaves to the show format, we refuse to skip right to any sort of comic book banter, but instead spend the first 40 minutes or so discussing birthdays, long haul truckin', ladybugs, bee-keeping, podcasting responsibilities and our relaxed summer recording schedule. Comic news almost gets skipped over completely, before VF sneaks in a quick discussion on The Punisher showing up for Season 2 of Daredevil next year. In "Rapid-Fire Review" we discuss Sabrina #3, Captain Canuck #1, Convergence #8, Sandman Overture #5, Deadly Class #13, Outcast #9, Postal #4, They're Not Like Us #6, All-New Hawkeye #3, Inferno #1, Infinity Gauntlet #1, Inhumans Attilan Rising #1, Nova #31, Old Man Logan #1, Secret Wars Journal #1, Grimm Tales of Terror #11 (from May 27, 2015) as well as Archie #666, Broken World #1, Midnighter #1, D4VE #5, Autumnlands Tooth & Claw #6, Nailbiter #13,

  The Beatles wrote a song just for this occassion... We're Sixty-Four! Michael Leal of the "Who The What Now" Podcast and Danger Entertainment helps us ring in our sixty fourth episode, which we almost dedicate to the end of DC Comics' "Convergence" event.  But... It wouldn't be Graphic Novice if we didn't delay the discussion of comics, in favor of some weekly off-topic banter.  After getting all the network plugs out of the way, we get an update from VF farms, check in with Michael's many exploits and get an update on all the ongoings of the Danger Entertainment podcast network.  Nickel also takes some time to complain about stuff.   In the "Comic News" segment, Michael Leal walks us through some of the key events leading up to "Convergence", in an attempt to help us understand the consequences of DC's most recent universe-wide event.  The conversation follows a few different tangents, as Convergence is compared to Secret Wars, and the guys debate whether Marvel or DC has better villains.   In "Rapid-Fire

  Back in the studio after the landmark "Guide to Secret Wars" episode, VF and Nickel spend some much needed alone time with one another.  As is often the case, it takes a little while before the topic of discussion finally gets around to comics (40 minutes to be exact).  Off-topic banter includes an update on Nickel's cabin acquisition, The Salty Language Podcast attempting to deflate Graphic Novice's Moon War victory, Doc Thirst's disdain for his fans, podcast listening habits, the weather, VF's chickens, Mad Max, and how Nickel gets drunk and lies about stuff to try and make friends at parties.     After the hauntingly beautiful "Comic News" bumper blesses your earballs, the guys discuss the Super Girl trailer, and the now cancelled Archie Comics kickstarter campaign.     Two weeks of books (May 6, 2015 and May 13, 2015) are covered in the "Rapid-Fire Review" segment including Afterlife With Archie #8, Convergence #5, Jupiter's Circle #2, Nailbiter #12, The Wicked + The Divine #10, Amazing Spider-Man #18,

  Graphic Novice scribe Desmond Hassing joins Nickel & VF to take an in depth look at Marvel Comics' Secret Wars.  Throughout the episode, we take a look at the history of Secret Wars, try to figure out how it will end, and eventually work through the giant list of new titles Marvel will release as part of the event.  To the surprise of no one, things tend to veer off-topic occassionally, but if you're looking for information to help you navigate the muddied waters of Marvel's Secret Wars event, where better to turn than the Graphic Novice Comic Book Podcast (don't answer that)?   As we closed in on the 3-hour mark, Des is blindsided by the decision to wrap things up, but not to be denied, he sneaks in a brief "Rapid-Fire Review" segment to discuss a couple books Nickel & VF haven’t discussed before, including Image Comics' No Mercy #2.   Tell your friends, co-workers, and grandparents, that the answers to all their Secret Wars questions have finally been answered...  The Graphic Novice Guide to Marve

Everything starts out nice and civil as VF and Nickel discuss Mother's Day, marriage, regional differences in Canada, Rose City Comic Con, meeting new people, fear of financing, mortgages, and the cabin financing until things get a little heated during a debate of the merits of Marvel's Secret Wars Event.  VF is really optimistic and positive about Secret Wars after the first book, Nickel decides to rant incoherently on the negative side.  In a nonsensical tirade, Nickel insults Stan Lee and broad range of comic writers and confuses the '60s with the '80s, while VF prefers the path of common sense.  Early polls have Round 1 going to VF, but Nickel's incessant rambling do manage to give VF a migraine. In our "Rapid-Fire Review" segment for books released on April 29, 2015, we talk about Batman #40, Convergence #4, Alex + Ada #14, Bitch Planet #4, Outcast #8, Red One #2, All-New Captain America #6, Avengers #44, Fantastic Four #645, Inhuman #14, Moon Knight #14, New Avengers #33, Nova #30, Silk #3, Superior Iro

The Graphic Novice Comic Book Podcast is back for the second time this week, because we figured you just couldn’t get enough of us…  then we realized that yes, yes you can get enough of us…  but we decided to release this episode anyway.  Before we get to comics, we talk about Hollaback Girls, friend of the show Gwen Stefani, fatherly dating advice and Doc Thirst, VF’s new mattress, pillows, Nickel’s crowdfunding initiative for a new grill, our new staff writer Desmond Hassing, Salty Language and our monumental Moon War victory.     Then we discuss VF’s crush on Michael Leal.   Then we talk comic news.  We look at the Netflix Daredevil series, Lady Mechanika, The Avengers sequel, and avoid discussing the 2015 Eisners once again.    In Rapid Fire Review we discuss Lady Mechanika The Tablets of Destinies #1, Curb Stomp #3, Convergence #3, Deadly Class #12, The Empty #3, Lazarus #16, Manifest Destiny #14, Postal #3, Velvet #10, All-New X-Men #40, Amazing Spider-Man #17.1, Amazing X-Men #19, Guardians of the Gal

WTWN v. DAPF v. GN: Dawn of The Who The Dark Graphic Freak Now.    VF and Nickel get together with a couple of their favorite podcasters, Annaleis (@wiretechgirl) from The Dark Angels and Pretty Freaks Podcast and Michael Leal (@michael_leal) from Who The What Now to share tales of Free Comic Book Days Past and Present.  Before we get to Free Comic Book Day, we take everyone down the rabbit hole with us and discuss parenting other people’s children, Tenacious D heading north of the wall, the financial woes of podcasters, Gotham, Gotham Lights, and more.  Eventually we talk comics, and discuss Free Comic Book Day, opening a Comic shop in Napa City, and The Avengers Age of Ultron movie.   Our thanks to Annaleis and Michael for taking a couple hours to chat, and to everyone who takes the time to listen.  We’ll be back to our regular broadcasting format next episode.

To celebrate the 60th episode of Graphic Novice, Nickel and VF attempt to record a 60-minute episode, and it almost happened.  An abbreviated "Banter" segment touches on our new website staff reporter, VF's new mattress, a Doc Thirst update, and Nickel's issues with the craft beer scene. The comic news segment takes a quick look ahead to Free Comic Book Day 2015 (Saturday May 2, 2015), including some shopping tips and free book suggestions.  We address the Eisners, but postpone our in depth examination of the nominees until our next non-sixty minute episode. For "Rapid-Fire Review", finally accurately named, we look at books released April 15, 2015 including Sabrina #2, Crossed Plus 100 #4, Convergence #2, Convergence: Shadow of the Bat #1, Chrononauts #2, Fade Out #5, Kaptara #1, '68 Bad Sign One-Shot, Magneto #17, Ms. Marvel #14, Nova #29, Thor #7, Uncanny X-Men #33, Wolverines #14, The Avengers Rage of Ultron Graphic Novel, and Bloodshot Reborn #1. The sixty-minute buzzer goes off, VF loses his mind, and w

Nickel and VF (aka Benjamin) return for another episode, ready to take a shot at recording a 60-minute episode.  And, they fail miserably.  Instead, you get 160 minutes worth of stories about VF's roof, purchasing a cabin, thoughts on the Edmonton Oilers winning the NHL draft lottery, new comics versus back issues, digital comic sales as well as the superman v. batman and star wars trailers, and some discussion of March comics sales...  and then some actual comic discussion. In the aptly named "Rapid-Fire Review", Nickel and VF discuss books released the week of April 8, 2015, including:  Four Points #1, Evil Empire #12, Rebels #1, Convergence #1, Convergence Batgirl #1 (of 2), Convergence Harley Quinn #1 (of 2), Convergence Nightwing Oracle #1 (of 2), Convergence The Question #1 (of 2), Birthright #6, Descender #2, Jupiter's Circle #1, Nameless #3, Saga #27, Savior #1, Walking Dead #140, All-New Hawkeye #2, Ant-Man #4, Howard The Duck #2, Spider-Woman #6 and Rai #8. The episode wraps up with a look ahead at

Ben (VF) makes his triumphant return after a week away from the podcast with jungle flu, and has some comments on last week's episode with Desmond Hassing (from the Slackademia and Musings of a Geek podcast) and Jason Brigger (from the Musings of a Geek podcast).  The pre-recording plans were to get to the comics quickly and efficiently to keep this week's episode as close to 60 minutes as possible...  and sadly, this might be as close as it gets… so instead of sticking with the plan, the first half hour of the show is spent talking about camping and lawn care.  Once that's out of the way, Nickel and VF discuss the first appearance of the Great Lakes Avengers, and once again rehash their ongoing Civil War debate before eventually moving on to the namesake of this episode, the recently launched Daredevil series on Netflix. Instead of hopping on the bandwagon, Nickel attempts to nitpick the hell out of Netflix's Daredevil series.  There isn’t that much to criticize, and so as usual, Nickel talks for a long time

Left to his own devices due to VF's debilitating cold, Nickel invites Desmond Hassing (from The Musings of a Geek Podcast) and Jason Brigger (from the History of Bad Ideas Podcast) to join him for a discussion that lasts far too long to be presented as one podcast episode, but is presented here as one none the less.

The Graphic Novice Comic Book Podcast returns for another week.  After announcing a new 60-minute format change proposal, we changed nothing, and to the surprise of noone, we didnt mangage to cut any time off the podcast.  We spend the non-comic book portion of the show talking about past break-ups, sleeping habits, sneaking back home after a night of drinking and a plethora of other self-indulgent subject matter before moving on to our focus content, comic books. Comic news includes a cutting and insightful review of iZombie and the CW App.  In our weekly review of the books we read from March 18, we discuss Batgirl #40, Batman Eternal #50, Alex + Ada #13, Chrononauts #1, Outcast #7, Red One #1, All-New Captain America #5, All-New X-Men #39, Amazing Spider-Man #16.1, Magneto #16 (Nickel's Book of the Week), Moon Knight #13, Silk #2, and Wolverines #11. We didnt leave enough time to discuss the February Sales totals, so we moved right to a quick look at the books coming out March 25, 2015, and say our weekly 

Two-thirds of the original cast returns for episode number “double nickel” where VF reveals a major secret in the first couple minutes of the show.  After VF is done blowing minds, we remember the magic of Ultima Online, we discuss Nickel’s work commitments, fonts, PowerPoint, VF’s roof, podcast networks, podcaster vacations, hot tubs, and winter road conditions.    A trippy new bumper kicks off the "Comic News" segment, where VF stalls as long as he can with news of Greg Capullo’s original art going up for sale before we finally get into the hot topic of the day, the controversy over the Batgirl #41 variant cover.    Two weeks’ worth of “Rapid-Fire Review” finally brings us back to the reading books from the current week again, after we discuss the books that came out March 4 & 11, 2015.    As always, we wrap things up by looking ahead, and talking about the comics we want to check out on March 18, 2015.     Thanks so much for listening.

Its just VF & Nickel in this landmark episode of Graphic Novice. The opening banter touches on some of the other podcasts Nickel may or may not be showing up on, technical and non-technical issues on the Gotham Knights podcast, VF's thoughts on Gotham thus far, VF's texting etiquette, The Angry Ginger's ability to keep Nickel on topic during the Better Call Saul podcast, and eventually... the elephant in the room that is the absence of Doc Thirst, and the seed of an idea that could one day be the Doc Thirst Memorial Karaoke Jam. In comic news, which takes us quite a while to get to, we discuss the Batman Bunny Suit coming up in Batman #41, DC's Convergence, Marvel's Secret Wars, and the DC movie poster variant covers. When we finally get to "Rapid-Fire Review" the guys start out trying to get through some of the new releases from both February 25, and March 4.  Some of the books up for discussion include Curb Stomp #1, Evil Empire #11, Batman #39, Low #6, The Wicked + The Divine #8, All-New X-Men #38, New

  The pre-comics conversation focuses mainly on Doc Thirst's emotional breakup with his comic shop, as the Graphic Novice team guts out a 53rd episode with VF half in the bag on cold medicine.   The "Rapid-Fire Review" segment reviews some of the books released February 18, 2015, including Crossed Badlands #72, Burning Fields #2, Plunder #1, Batgirl #39, Batman Eternal #46, Teen Titans #7, Tooth and Claw #4, Bitch Planet #3, Deadly Class #11, Lazarus #15, Manifest Destiny #13, Secret Identities #1, All-New Captain America #4, Legendary Star-Lord #9, Nova #27, Uncanny X-Men #31, Grimm Tales of Terror #8, and Lady Mechanika.   Our review of The Walking Dead Volume 16 – A Larger World has been released as a separate stand-alone podcast episode for your listening enjoyment (please see Episode 53.1).   As always, we look ahead to the following week and look at some of the books we’ll be reading after February 28. Thanks a bunch for listening.