Digital Strips

Ripped from the headlines or too absurd and surreal to be believable? That's the crux of the argument against, and for, the comic, Warm Blood. It's ambitious in the way it trades illustrators with each changing scene, and it certainly has a mystery that is worth delving into. Will it pay off? See if you stick with it long enough to find out! Also, Steve's unquenchable thirst for all things dank and scaly takes him to Acquisitions Incorporated. He loves the vibe and stories and thinks you will, too. Join us and Make Your Movement!

Post-500, we're taking a quick timeout so Steve can explain the intricacies of Jaeger combat to Jason. It's not all fun and games, though, as it's in service of the Pacific Rim Uprising tie-in comic from Webtoons! Steve also gives us a quick synopsis of Travis Hanson's RPG one-shot comic, Life of the Party. Finally, the guys start the post-500 era off right with a review of Steve Conley's The Middle Age. Goofy fantasy and dad-style puns are in your future, if you can stand up to the bullying sword you're carrying around.

Five hundred episodes is a long time to do anything. Daily, weekly, monthly, annually, it gives you perspective on the subject you're taking a good, hard look at and makes you appreciate the creativity at work. To celebrate the milestone, The Midnight Cartooner and The Geek welcome back co-founder Daku the Rogue to see where it all started, and where they think it might all lead. Along with nostalgic messages from Becky Dreistadt, Frank Gibson, Ryan Estrada, Gary Tyrrell, Meredith Gran, Chris Grine, and newest DS recruit, Terence "The Average Joe" MacManus, the guys talk about everything from anime beefs to the challenge having kids presents to your beloved hobbies. It's been a wild ride, and thank you, loyal Strippers, for being with us for it. Here's to an indeterminate number more!

Bathroom behavior and etiquette can be difficult to teach, especially when your own standards are found lacking. Pee wherever you want? Flush if it feels right? These are the morals that are eroding in our great nation today and Steve and Jason are doing nothing to help that.

Before we get to the big kahuna, it's time to show off some news and comics. Jason is stoked that Kris Straub's Broodhollow is coming back (thanks for Patreon backers), Steve found a series of tabletop RPG tropes we could all stand to learn from, and Shen produces another gem with a recent Owlturd strip.

RAW thought it would be a great idea to have a two-hour long Gauntlet Match and BOY were they right. As a result, Rollins elevated himself in an otherwise unremarkable lead-up to the Chamber match. Other notables: We feel your Titus exhaustion, Nia; turns out Crews can lose (his surname); get hyped for a new Dusty Rhodes Classic; Gargano says goodbye to the NXT universe (thanks for nothing, Ciampa); neither of us care about Rousey; we're hoping to see something exciting from the stories going into both Chambers; just DO SOMETHING MATT AND/OR BRAY; and how long will Cena stare at his hands after he's eliminated before they kick him out of the demonic structure?

Ever consider cloning yourself? Steve's son wants more of his dad, but his reasons aren't exactly loving and tender. Meanwhile, Jason's pulling all his knowledge on the subject from Multiplicity and The Prestige, so the conversation takes a turn for the zany and macabre. Finally, Steve's wife has been watching the Island and has some ideas of her own.

Before they look to the horizon and gaze into the future of what Digital Strips might be, the guys pause to look back, at the year that was (in comics, don't worry, we're not looking at ANYTHING else) and recall their favorite finds from 2017.

On the Road to Wrestlemania, it's always best to add more men to everything! Also this week: SmackDown Live continues to be the third-best WWE show on Tuesday nights, the Revival remembers just how much they hate legs, Bayley and Sasha tear it up but get shut down by Nia, Elias is over with the universe but under Braun's double bass, LANA IS THE BEST LANA NUMBER ONE, Kairi Sane is finally getting mad (and even), and a plea to just keep the shows as they are, please.

While Steve talks about digestive issues at Disney Land, Jason uses his pain to develop his screenplay for a Hangover x Disney movie. It's one of the best story ideas ever conceived, so don't steal it.

Man, bodies get old and give up on us, and that sucks. Know what will never give up on us, though? Those sweet, wonderful webcomics! Like Lookism, a shrewd look at the life of a bullied student and what it's like to get a measure of beautiful revenge, and Space Boy, a timeless escapism into the unknown, in more ways than one. Also, a talented 11-year-old has taken their hand at Trump comics and the promise they show has to be seen to be believed. The resistance is NOT futile!

Mixed Match Challenge had an off week, but that's ok because we also have ANNOUNCER BEEF! Also, the CWC is back with HHH running 205 Live now, and that's a-ok with us. All that, plus: Jason Jordan is now officially out, Alexa fears and fights for her title, Bayley has a good match (YES!), Elias proves he's main event material, Shane denies Rusev Day, the SmackDown Live Top 10 list is finally here and it's lame, Zayn vs. Owens is still a delight even when surrounded with BS booking, you need to check out Heavy Machinery like NOW, and we're replacing Steve with an Alexa-enabled device.

Jason is here with his take on three food adventures he and his stomach recently went on. Hear the banal terror that is Super Mario Cereal! Bask in the Mexican-spiced goodness that is Taco Bell's Nacho Fries! And fear the undercooked breaded nightmare of Lidl's Chicken Wings! Also, Steve is here to make fun of him the whole time.

Last week saw a TON of great wrestling coming out of WWE, and we talk about it all on this episode! Topics include: who had the match of the night at TakeOver; can Steve tell any tag team partners apart; a plea to get someone different booking SmackDown Live; why both Rumbles were very good this year; more Lesnar and Strowman mad at each other, please; more very, very good character work in the Mixed Match Challenge, please; Strowman dominates RAW and THE BOSS IS BACK; John Cena's no good, very bad, horrible Rumble weekend; and why Tyler Bate is our MVP of the Week.

Steve's daughter has discerning, but still lax, bathroom standards. Also, he flew with some booze-fueled football fans and it's not an experience he wants to repeat anytime soon. Meanwhile, Jason thinks he flew with a celebrity, but it's possible it was all in the guy's mind. Finally, in-flight movie recommendations! (The less nudity, the better.)

Steve found the four horsemen of the apocalypse and they're up to nothing but Horseplay, but his brief journey with Rachel Briner's Patches leaves him nostalgic for motherly love. Jason, meanwhile, contemplates Mike Norton's own words and asks, "Is there any writing necessary to make Lil' Donnie any more absurd than the real life man himself?"

RAW turned 25, but we really don't feel any different. Enzo Amore is no more-ay and 205 Live will get its first GM next week. And Vince reminded us he's still far out of touch with an announcement about the XFL. It's been a crazy week, and that's even mentioning: Stone Cold still delighting, lots of smiling and waving at RAW 25, what worked and what didn't at that show, screwy alignments in the SDL title picture still have us confused, the first-ever pin from a Blue Thunder Bomb (congrats, Sami!), the Mixed Match Challenge is still a delight, we were reintroduced to TM 61, plus our hopes and dreams (and fears) for TakeOver and the Rumble. Whew! With all that going on, we had to double the length! Hope you enjoy the wrastlin this weekend!

Steve takes a chance and risks losing it all for his son’s homeless man-fueled ping pong dreams, Jason remains hung-up on fast food, and both guys need to get the heck out of here before the soap operas start.

WWE has learned that Strowman is money, so he dominated the first hour of Raw; indie security fodder, Hawkins-chucking, and chocolate cake loving ensue and it's wonderful. Also wonderful this week: Asuka/Jax impresses, Jason Jordan is still the smartest man, The Revival is here to WRESTLE (don't check YouTube), Elias finds a new gig, Seth welcomed back an old friend, the U.S. Title was decided, Fashion Files still delights (even if it's harder to find), shut off your brain and enjoy the Mixed Match Challenge, check out all the new signings, Hardy promises the Broken-verse is coming, and please, WATCH NXT.

Steve teaches us that, when you're stuck in a fence, your tears become stronger than you realize. Jason just wants to nap, but it's the daytime and that will break his brain. And together, the guys debate the cleanliness of your bath water (hint: it depends on where it's been).