Views From The Longbox Version 2.0

Not exactly work safe this week, so put on those headphones if you are in public. This week Michael is all in a tizzy over Spider-Man 3, which recently came out on DVD. After another installment of Out of Context Theater Michael launches into a diatribe about Spider-Man 3, which still sucks. After that is another edition of Michael's Podcast Pick of the Week and a reminder about the contest going on here at Views.

It's Halloween and Michael celebrates it Views From The Longbox style, whatever that means. Michael kicks things off with a Buck Owens classic and his take on said song before discussing the Freddy and Jason comics of recent years. Then it's right into the subject for this years Halloween episode; zombies. Both Marvel Zombies and Walking Dead are covered as well as some Boom Studios zombie books. After that is some viewer mail for the first time before Michael wraps it all up. Fun. Excitement. Cheap thrills galore.

Not exactly work safe. Once again Michael teams up with the Irrideemable Shag Matthews, this time to talk about the best and worst in major comic book crossovers. Listen as Miichael and Shag talk about such crossovers as Acts of Vengeance, Invasion, Inferno, Our Worlds at War, Joker's Last Laugh, Legends and others. Sure it's an hour and a half, but it's actually entertaining much to the surprise of everyone. The audio quality this time out is a little better and as previously stated this one has language that might not be considered work safe.

Michael kicks things off with one of his two possible theme songs this week before introducing a new feature; Out of Context Theater. Then it's about twenty minutes of Michael talking about his thoughts on trade paperbacks and their place in the current marketplace. Plus, the return of the Podcast Pick of the Week and more on that contest where you get free stuff.

A slightly congested Michael continues his journey into the animated past. Before that hear Michael talk about how he spent his Sunday, the new idea he has for a weight loss program and an important announcement concerning a contest and you getting free stuff. All this and themes songs too. What a bargain.

More theme song fun as Michael once again stumbles into a two-part episode, this time about the themes to comic book inspired animated series from the '90s. In part one Michael goes over the themes to Swamp Thing and several Marvel titles. Also, before that madcap fun began listen as Michael compares the theme song for The Colbys to the theme for Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

In the ultimate super-hero tradition Michael teams up with a fellow comic fan this week. Listen as Michael and "The Irrideemable" Shag Matthews talk about the current state of the Big Two. Sometime crude, sometimes insightful but always entertaining this special hour long episode is for all of those who feel that maybe DC isn't really nailing it out of the park lately. Because of how the majority of this episode was recorded the sound quality is a bit dodgy at times. Also, and this is important, the language gets a little blue this week, so consider this episode not even close to work safe.

This week Michael finally gets around to an episode about Superman and the 15th anniversary of the character's death seems like a good direction to go in. Listen to Michael tell you about his dealings with Warner Brothers, his contract as a Superman fan and his thoughts on the year that brought us the death of Superman. Also, Michael goes on at length about how he got his copy of Superman #75. If all else fails, listen to the John Ottman music as the beginning because that's, you know, good.

It's been a week since DragonCon and Michael plays the ghost of DragonCon past. Get all excited as Michael talks about his first DragonCon and some highlights of the years since. Also Michael pimps a bunch of other websites and talks about this year's con. Michael would have talked about this year's con a little more but he did that a few nights ago on the D-Con episode of the Unique Geek. Plus, he rambled on for thirty minutes as it is. You don't want more. Trust Michael on this one.

After a two week break Michael is back with an episode about one of his favorite places to go; the comic shop. Learn about Michael's first comic shop, the ones he has gone to since then and the current place his hold box calls home. Also you can hear about the God awful shop he visited in Nags Head, North Carolina and learn about what he likes to see in a shop. All this in the madcap Views From The Longbox manner... whatever the heck that means.

The Leonard Cohen music at the beginning of this episode should be a clear indication that things are going to be a little grim this week. In this episode Michael begins a three part look at why (despite still loving the form) Michael is having some problems with comic books as they are currently being published. Not as footloose and fancy free as the usual episode, but still well worth your time, attention and hard drive space. All this and an exciting announcement as well!

Michael goes back in time again this week and takes a look at the theme song from the various animated series that Filmation (you know, the HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE people) did between 1966 and 1969. While they are not as catchy as the Marvel themes of the same time period they do have some historical significance. This was the first time that characters outside of Superman were animated. Ok, that sounds like Michael is trying to justify himself and maybe he is a little bit, but listen anyway. And sorry about some of the dodgy audio towards the middle.

Michael learns a valuable lesson from last week and manages to produce an episode that isn't as long as, say, the director's cut of JFK. This week finishes up the two part look at "The First: with Michael taking a good look at the second part. More clips and commentary. And it's under forty minutes, so you won't feel like shoving sharp objects in your ear to make the pain stop. Michael also apologizes for getting the episode up a day or two late this week, but real life intruded. Blame Tax Free Weekend in the great state of Georgia.

It runs kind of long this week, but Michael thinks you should listen to it anyway. This time out Michael gives you Part One of a two part look at his favorite episode, or rather episodes, of the INCREDIBLE HULK. Thrill as Michael tells you more tales of his misspent youth and of all the neat sound samples he made. All in the name of good, clean, comic book fun.

Yeah, Michael talks about Rob Liefeld and Youngblood in this episode. But you should listen anyway because it is rather entertaining, at least to Michael. In addition to a brief little thing on Rob there is a review of sorts for TRANSFORMERS and the blog pick of the week. All this for your entertainment, or something like that.

If Michael we're more of a dork than he already is this is where he would write that this episode is more than meets the eye. But since it isn't he won't. As the title suggests this is the Transformers episode, or at least the first of them. Listen as Michael discusses his early Transformers experiences, plays some music from the 1986 soundtrack and does a little compare and contrast on a song from TRANSFORMERS THE MOVIE and ROCKY IV. All this plus some quick and dirty reviews and the video podcast pick of the week.

Michael celebrates the 4th of July by talking about his favorite patriotic hero; Captain America. Not only does Michael foist a "special" theme on you but also pulls out some fun audio clips and explains why he likes Cap, why Captain America would kill if necessary and why the character's origin only works when set during World War II. All of this in celebration of the country's birthday or something like that.

Michael spends a good part of the episode discussing the two books that are pretty much responsible for him getting into comics and, indirectly, this podcast. Also more Quick and Dirty Reviews and another Podcast Pick of the Week. All for free because God knows you wouldn't pay for it.

The Merry Marvel Marching Society Episode, where Michael plays seven theme songs from Marvel's Silver Age. Also, Michael starts up his podcast/blog/site of the week feature, so that is sure to excite you.

The Zero Episode Episode where Michael gives you a rather mediocre theme song, a brief discussion about zero issues, a rundown of what you can expect from the show and something from Michael's hard drive gets loose.