Views From The Longbox Version 2.0

This week kicks off a two part conversation with Editor-In-Chief of Comics Bulletin and writer/editor of the upcoming FLASH COMPANION from TwoMorrows Publishing Keith Dallas. Keith was Michael's editor back when he wrote reviews for Silver Bullet Comic Books and was nice enough to come on the show. Part 1 has Keith and Michael discussing Keith's collecting history, including a litter digression into Star Wars. Then you get to hear a preview of sorts of the FLASH COMPANION and some of Mark Waid's thoughts on the Bart Allen Flash series before they get into a kind of haphazard discussion of the Flash and his history.

Back after a week off because he was under the weather Michael discusses DC's Elseworlds as a concept as well as what many people conisder the first Elseworlds tale; Gotham By Gaslight. Before that, though, you'll hear about Michael's distrust of a certain portion of the medical community and why he likes Sebastian Bach. The show clocks in at about twenty-five minutes this time out but still manages to stay as unimpressive as ever. Also, the language is pretty tame this week, so it should be safe for work listening. Unless you think the word "ass" is profanity. Then you might want to put on the headphones.

Last week Michael teamed up with shag and this week he teams up with...Shag. Last week was Marvel in the nineties and this week they discuss DC in the nineties. After arguing whether or not the nineties were a good time for the company Michael chides Shag on a past debate before they go over their choices. First up Michael goes over Mark Waid's run on the Flash and then Shag tackles the nineties Starman series. Fun stuff all around, which is pretty common for these two crazy guys. WARNING: THIS SHOW HAS LANGUAGE THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR...EVERYONE. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Another episode, another guest host. Shag's back and this time he's not taking any prisoners. Actually he's not not taking prisoners either. Frankly he's just talking about comics with Michael again. This week and next Shag and Mike discuss some of their favorite books of the nineties with this installment dealing with Marvel. Shag takes a team of heroes that turn out to be a team of villains while Michael handles a certain Star Spangled Avenger. Plus, Shag has a little bit of an announcement. All this and a very mean tag after the ending theme. WARNING: THIS SHOW HAS LANGUAGE THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR...EVERYONE. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

More of Ryan and Michael talking about comics. They start this "grand adventure" by discussing the pros and cons of current comic book storytelling and things kind of fall apart from there. Also there's a little digression where Michael and Ryan talk about the cinema of the nineties, but other than that it's more snarky goodness. WARNING: THIS SHOW HAS LANGUAGE THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR...EVERYONE. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Starting a two part episode where Michael teams up with one of his oldest and dearest friends, Ryan Speck. Ryan is the guy who owns the site that hosts this show and as you will see he is not shy with the opinions. After a brief history of Ryan and Michael's friendship (which is based in comic books) the two start talking about Ryan's history as a collector and there is a lot of talk about the X-Men. Oh, and Ryan apparently doesn't think too highly of Brian Michael Bendis. WARNING: THIS SHOW HAS LANGUAGE THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR...EVERYONE. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

After receiving a rather disturbing phone call from a person who wants Michael to actually say nice things about BATMAN AND ROBIN the episode kicks off with Michael granting a listener request to discuss the Dark Knight Detective, Batman. Hear about Michael's deep, dark secret, how much he liked the Adam West series as a kid, a few second on the SUPER FRIENDS and what Batman books Michael has read, collected and liked over the years.

Things get back to normal this week as Michael does a pretty standard, yet interesting episode. After discussing an Alex Ross piece Michael announces the winner to his Justice League: New Frontier contest. Then Michael spends the majority of the episode discussing the actual collecting of comics because he found some book he read in the seventh grade while rearanging his bookshelf. Topics include a book called Collecting Comic Books, the Overstreet Price Guide, eBay and how much Wizard Magazine sucks. Warning, a slight occurance of profanity pops up during the Wizard discussion, but then again that was bound to happen. Michael closes the show with the first installment of Ask Mike a Question About Comics.

This one is a bit off-beat, even by Views From The Longbox standards. Michael starts the episode with a breakdown of a Meatloaf song and then things kind of go downhill from there. Topics covered include why Batman shouldn't sing, why Superman can, why MASK was a horrendous threat to the civillian population and how G.I. Joe broke new ground for comic books. Also Michael announces yet another new feature that will probably not go anywhere and reminds you of a contest that expires on March 8, 2008.

Friday is the 29th of February and to Michael that means two things; his birthday and Superman's. After a brief preamble Michael goes over the Superman books that came out in the month of February during the Leap Years he's been collecting them. Listen as Michael talks about Action Comics #600, Panic in the Sky, the break-up of Lois and Clark, Godfall and more. Also, Michael reads some audience feedback and announces an exciting, last minute contest. All of this because someone wanted the seasons to remain consistent. Listen and enjoy.

After Michael comes clean about something he really didn't mean to do in the first place and entices you to come back to the blog this weekend for some kind of contest the fifth (is it the fifth, it's probably the fifth) installment of the Mike and Shag Show gets underway. This time Michael and Shag discuss the big events coming up in 2008 because they like to be Timely about such things. Topics include Final Crisis, Secret Invasion, Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Dark Knight and other comics, movies and television series coming up this year. This has to be the best Mike and Shag Show yet especially since it is the shortest.

It is a pretty mixed bag this week as Michael is once again solo. His return to one man podcasting begins with a list of his favorite comic book couples and then goes right into a battle to the death with a plug in for his audio editing program. After that Michael gives his reasons for not renewing his contract with DC Comics as one of their Official Fans and how he may become an Official Marvel Zombie. All this and about ten minutes of reader mail. How's that for trying to get back into the swing of things?

The third and final part of the talk Michael had with webmaster and podcast host Brad Douglas. This one is a little over an hour, but as always since it is not Michael talking and talking and talking by himself it should be fine. This time out Michael and Brad finish up their Hulk discussion, talk about some of the other Marvel books Brad is reading, go over the DC books Brad has read over the year (all two of them), get into BRAND NEW DAY a little bit and even go through some very obscure comic related trivia. So sit back, relax and enjoy this final installment of the Mike/Douglas Show.

In this second part of the Mike/Douglas show Michael continues his coversation with Brad Douglas, webmaster of the Spider-Man Crawlspace and host/ringleader of that site's podcast. This week Brad talks a little bit more about his day job before listing his favorite Spider-Man writers and artists. Michael also laments how easier it is to be a Spider_man fan than a Superman fan, at least on a merchandising level. All this and a little bit on the Incredible Hulk television series as well.

Wecome to the first "official" episode of the year Michael is joined by Spider-Man Crawlspace Webmaster and Spider-Man Crawlspace Podcast ringleader Brad Douglas to talk a whole lot about (surprise, surprise) Spider-Man. They also discuss how Brad became a comic book fan, where he buys his comics and Brad's day job as a reporter for a local (at least for him) NBC affiliate. All of this and a special appearance by Michael's dog because the microphone picks up a lot.

Mike and Shag are back, this time to talk about comic book movies. Which were good, which were bad and which should have never been made? Among the films discussed are Spider-Man, X-2, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Daredevil, Superman: The Movie, Hulk and many more. All this and a podcast pick of the week. It's kind of long but hey, it's been about two weeks right? Right?

An hour's worth of holiday cheer. Yes, it is Christmas time and Michael has answered the call with the first annual Views From The Longbox Christmas Super-Hero Spectacular. For your listening enjoyment Michael present three yuletide stories featuring Superman, Batman and Robin and Wonder Woman. Also Michael relates a few of the comic book related presents he has received over the years and there is also some music thrown in for good measure. Views From The Longbox wishes to extend to all of the listeners a Merry Yule, a Happy Holiday and a very Merry Christmas.

Following a slightly more compressed opening theme Michael gives you a slight history lesson that you are no doubt already aware of. After another installment of Out of Context Theater Michael discusses some of the realizations he has made lately and why he's been buying comics the way he has in the past few weeks. Then it is reader mail and the big announcement of who won the first big contest. More fun than a copy of BLOODSTRIKE #1, but then again what isn't?

Back after two weeks Michael finally has the theme song he always wanted to use. Then there's another installment of Out of Context Theater before Michael gets into why the fifty-cent box is all about some awesome. Afterwards Michael dips into reader mail. Yup, it's an exciting episode this week. Enjoy.

Not exactly work safe again this week, but that's because it's the November edition of The Mike and Shag Show. This month Mike and Shag look at some of the best comics from the mid to late eighties. Listen as they go through some of their favorite books from DC, Marvel and Eclipse Comics. Shag even participates in this week's Out of Context Theater and the Podcast Pick of the Week. The audio quality on this one is surprisingly good and Michael has worked out some other techincal issues, so despite being an hour and a half this week's installment goes down easy.