Hall of Justice: Recent Episodes
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Meanwhile... at the Hall of Justice. If you are old enough to know exactly what the Hall of Justice is, then you are our demographic. For advertising opportunities on this show, or any of the other shows on our network, contact us at: advertise@underdogsportsnetwork.com
WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2023 WBD/DC Release of "Blue Beetle” or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Blue Beetle was a film that was originally supposed to be released exclusively on the streaming app HBO Max. After Batgirl was canceled, the decision was made by Warner Bros. Discovery to release Blue Beetle in theaters. It stars Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle. It also stars Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, Elpidia Carrillo, Bruna Marquezine, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, and George Lopez. It was directed by Ángel Manuel Soto and written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer. It is the 14th entry into the DC Extended Universe.
Rosa Charra, a film critic for the Daily Chela website, made her first appearance on the podcast. In addition to reviewing the film, Charra discussed what it meant for her to see a Mexican-American as the titular character of a superhero film as someone who is Mexican-American.
Follow Rosa on social media @rosasreviews.
Since the beginning of this podcast, the original seven cast members of the iconic Justice League animated series have been welcomed to the show. Maria Canals-Berrera is the 6th member of the Justice League cast to join the podcast. Previous guests include George Newbern (Superman), Kevin Conroy (Batman), Phil LaMarr (Green Lantern), Susan Eisenberg (Wonder Woman), and Michael Rosenbaum (The Flash). Only Martian Manhunter/J'Onn J'Onnz has not been on the show… yet.
Canals-Berrera is an accomplished on-screen and voice actor who has been on countless shows and films. But it is Hawkgirl who brings her to comic-cons and still is revered today.
In this episode, she discusses the show's legacy and staying power. She laments how it is being shown on Netflix and Max has introduced the show to a whole new audience. She also talked about her Cuban heritage, and how they worked that into the show during the famous Starcrossed episodes.
Maria was recorded at the Garden State Comics Fest in Morristown, New Jersey.
Kenneth Lui was a visual effects artist on such films as Doctor Strange, Captain America: Civil War, Batman V Superman, Ant-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Dr. Strange, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Iron Man 3, and countless others. He recently released his first independent directorial feature entitled “Artists in Agony.” The Award-winning filmmaker calls Artists in Agony a crime comedy, which can currently be seen on Tubi and available on Demand at other digital retailers.
In this episode, Lui discusses how he crafted his first feature-length film. He explained the process of finding actors for the film and seeing what footage he had before he knew he had enough for a film. He also discussed how he got into the VFX business, and comments on work he did for various Marvel, DC, and Transformers films he worked on.
For the first time, we have a Hall of Justice giveaway. The video game Arcadegeddon is an ever-evolving multiplayer rogue-lite game that allows you to play solo or with up to three friends to explore multiple biomes, mini-games, find hidden chests, and defeat numerous enemy types and boss levels. As you continue to play, you can take on additional challenges from the local “gangs” that hang out in Gilly’s Arcade. These will earn you much more than street cred. Speaking of street cred, earn your spot on the global leaderboards. 10 free copies of Arcadegeddon are exclusively available to Hall of Justice listeners.
The first 10 listeners to send a DM to Seth Everett on Twitter (now X), Instagram, Threads, or Facebook with the words HALL OF JUSTICE and ARCADE.
Twitter: @Seth_Everett Instagram/Threads: @setheverett_
The last time Paul Sun-Hyung Lee was on the podcast, the conversation focused on Star Wars and Lee's role as Carson Teva in both The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. This time, the focus is on the show that made Lee a star. After already establishing his stage and screen career, Lee grew to international fame when the hit CBC show Kim's Convenience debuted on Netflix. Lee played Appa on this hilarious sitcom. The show had a great impact on his life, and lead to his Star Wars connections. Joon Lee played Umma, Simu Liu of Shang-Chi and Barbie fame played the son Jung. Andrea Bang played Janet.
The show continues to perform well on Netflix.
In this episode, Lee discusses starring in the play that came before the sitcom. He also discussed the importance of the show for Korean-Canadians, and immigrants of all backgrounds.
Follow Paul on social media @bitterasiandude.
WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2023 Disney/Marvel Studios' Series "Secret Invasion” or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Secret Invasion is the latest installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It stars Samuel L. Jackson reprises his role as Nick Fury. Ben Mendelsohn reprises his role as Talos. Other returning Marvel characters are James Rhodes (Don Cheadle), Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman). The story involves a group of renegade Skrulls who plan to take control of the Earth by posing as different humans around the world.
Longtime radio personality David Brody joins the show. Brody is the co-host of the Brooklyn Boys Podcast.
In this episode, they break down the series and the story's implications on the MCU. They also reference recent comments by Disney CEO Bob Iger that oversaturation has hurt the Marvel brand (this episode refutes those statements).
Loren Lester is an American actor with more than 45 years of stage and screen credits. He has appeared in over 200 TV shows and films. He starred in 1992's Batman-The Animated Series as Dick Grayson/Robin. He played Grayson again when the series advanced into The New Batman Adventures as Nightwing. He later reprised the role in 2017's Batman and Harley Quinn animated film.
Lester has appeared in over 200 episodes of series including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Parenthood, Desperate Housewives, The Facts of Life, Gilmore Girls, and much more. He voiced Hal Jordan/Green Lantern in Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Iron Fist in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Lester's wife Kelly is an accomplished actress as well. As are his three daughters: Jenny, Lily, and Julia. The latter was recently nominated for a Tony Award. Lester's father-in-law was also an accomplished actor who has ties to the DC animated universe.
This episode was recorded in Morristown, New Jersey at the Garden State Comics Fest.
Follow Loren Lester on social media @thelorenlester.
This episode continues from Episode 338 and focuses on every Batman film. This episode covers the Dark Knight Trilogy, Ben Affleck's run on Batman, the Joker movie, and The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson. Michael Uslan has been the Executive Producer of every Batman film since 1989's Batman through today. His appearance in Episode 338 covered his acquisition of the Batman rights to the making of the 1989 Tim Burton Batman film through Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin. In this episode, Uslan returns to discuss how the failure of Batman & Robin lead to the hiring of Christopher Nolan to create Batman Begins.
Uslan is also making several appearances at San Diego Comic-Con, working on a Comic-Con exhibit on The Life and Legacy of Stan Lee, and developing a Broadway show on his book The Boy Who Loved Batman.
This episode is packed with stories and insight into an amazing career, and all the live-action Batman films since 1989.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has been a huge hit in 2023. Mike Lasker worked on the first film, Into the Spider-Verse and is the Visual Effects Supervisor for the sequel. He came on the podcast in Episode 219 to talk about Into the Spider-Verse. Here, he discusses the massive undertaking to be the Visual Effects Supervisor for Across the Spider-Verse, such a dense and detailed film.
In this episode, Lasker discusses all the characters in the film, and how they all not only had different looks, but also a totally different art style. He discusses the strategy of world-building, and how each universe has a distinctly different look.
He also was asked about the upcoming 3rd film in the series, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, due out in 2024.
The story of this special guest is so incredible he must tell it to believe it. Michael Uslan worked for DC Comics in the 1970s. In 1979, he and his business partner bought the film and TV rights to Batman with the intent of making a "dark" Batman movie. Previously, the only movie that had been made was the 1966 film based on the Adam West TV show. Still, Uslan has been the Executive Producer of every Batman film since 1989's Batman through 2022's The Batman. That includes the Tim Burton movies, the Joel Schumacher films, The Christopher Nolan Dark Knight Trilogy, Batman: The Animated Series, The Joker Movie, The Ben Affleck Batman movies, and even more.
In this special episode, Uslan gives great details about how he acquired the rights to Batman.
For someone who gives lectures and teaches courses, this episode attempted to ask questions of Uslan that were unique and interesting. Examples include: was there ever a conversation about trying to have Michael Keaton and Christopher Reeve onscreen together? How did Prince get involved in 1989's Batman movie? Was he supposed to score the film? What about the rumor that he could have played Robin in Batman Returns?
This episode also includes the entire Joel Schumacher story, including the rumored "Schumacher Cut" of Batman Forever.
This is Part 1 of 2. Uslan's next appearance will cover the Dark Knight Trilogy, Affleck, Joker, and more.
WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2023 WBD/DC Release of "The Flash” or do not mind hearing key plot points.
The Flash is the highly anticipated installment of the DC Extended Universe. It stars Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash. Both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton play a form of Bruce Wayne/Batman. In this loose adaptation of the classic Flashpoint storyline, Barry goes back in time to try and save his mother, who was killed when Barry was a child. Instead, he winds up in a parallel universe and the threat of General Zod played by Michael Shannon. Sasha Calle stars as Supergirl.
Marshall Harris of CBS Chicago rejoins the podcast to discuss what went right with the film, and what went wrong. There is not much debate as Harris shares the belief that this film had a plethora of issues.
The guys discuss Ezra Miller's performance in The Flash, and the overall state of films based on DC Comics. They discuss DC Co-Chair James Gunn's endorsement of the film and the mixed reaction from fans in the early days of the movie's release.
WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2023 Paramount/Hasbro Release "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is the 7th live-action film in the Transformers series, based on the toy line and animated series. It is technically a standalone sequel to Bumblebee (2018) and a prequel to 2007's Transformers.
Anthony Brucale is the official Transformers insider for the Hall of Justice and owner of the Transformers website tfu.info. He also hosts the Transformers University podcast. He made his fifth appearance on the show and is now expecting a gold jacket.
In this episode, they discuss the story of the film. Brucale offers insight into fan reaction. Still, Beasts is considered, along with Bumblebee to be upgrades from the previous five films. Still, the fact that it is a prequel takes some of the dread away from the drama. The guys also discuss the future of Optimus Prime, and whether he should continue to voice the character (AI-assisted perhaps) while all the other characters go through massive changes.
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WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2023 Sony/Marvel Release "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Across the Spider-Verse is the sequel to the 2018 film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. It features Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy from the first film, which takes place 16 years later. Miles encounters a new villain, the Spot, and is brought back into the multiverse by Miguel, known as Spider-Man 2099. Gwen is on another earth, and dealing with being accused by her father, Captain Stacy, of killing her best friend Peter Parker as Spider-Woman. Other characters include Jessica Drew, a pregnant Spider-Woman, and “Hobie” Brown, known as Spider-Punk. Peter B. Parker returns from the first film.
In this episode, Ray Carsillo returns to the podcast. They discuss the incredible production value and amazing look of the second film. They talk about it being part two of a trilogy, and how fans didn’t know that it ends on a cliffhanger. They are SO many references to other Spider-Men in this film. The guys break down the story and offer a mostly positive review of a fantastic film.
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Since the superhero genre's explosion into the pop culture landscape, there are more genre shows and films than ever before. Brian R. Solomon traced the origins of the genre in his new book "Super Heroes! The History of a Pop-Culture Phenomenon, From Ant-Man to Zorro." In this book, Solomon explores the characters but also the rise in superhero media in every decade since the 1930s. He covers the George Reeves Superman TV show to Adam West Batman, to Lou Ferrigno's The Incredible Hulk, and much more.
Get the book here: https://a.co/d/h8HbKFb
On Saturday, June 3rd, 2023, the Hall of Justice podcast is participating in former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand's "A Walk to Believe" on June 3rd as part of the show's partnership with and to support the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. To participate and/or donate click here: https://give.reeve.org/fundraiser/4621246.
Longtime television and film actor Greg Grunberg makes his first appearance on the podcast. He came on the show after he tweeted “Whats the good word?” Seth replied, and the rest is history.
Grunberg is best known for playing Detective Matt Parkman on the hit series Heroes and Eric Weiss on the equally successful show Alias. He was in two Star Wars films, The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker. He is also well known for his charitable work fighting the disease epilepsy. His band "The Action Figures Band," is playing LA Comic Con's "Afterparty" this coming Saturday night (December 3rd) at The Mayan in Downtown Los Angeles. The band includes his fellow "Heroes" co-stars Adrian Pasdar and Jack Coleman, his "Felicity" co-star Amy Jo Johnson, as well as Scott Grimes, Sarah Wayne Callies, Nick Marzock, and Brad Savage. He also stars in a YouTube series entitled The Care Giver Series, which focuses on people who take care of loved ones afflicted with illness and other issues.
In this episode, Grunberg discusses his love for the superhero genre. He elaborates on the stepping stone Heroes was that led to the superhero boom that soon followed it. He also speaks about growing up with Star Trek/Star Wars director J.J. Abrams and The Batman director Matt Reeves.
Follow Greg on social media @greggrunberg.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2022 Disney+ Series, "Star Wars: Andor" or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Andor is a 12-part series that takes place five years before the events of Rogue One and Episode IV-A New Hope. It follows the backstory of Cassian Andor, one of the key characters in the events of Rogue One. This epic series takes place over the course of one year. There is a Season 2 planned, which follows this season and covers the 4 years until Rogue One.
JC Reifenberg, the official Star Wars Insider for the Hall of Justice Podcast rejoins the show. They attempt to put into context how strong this show is, and compare it to other shows and films in the Star Wars franchise. There is a discussion of why this is so different from other shows, but how its continuity fits like a glove.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2022 Marvel Studios film, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” or do not mind hearing key plot points.
This is the sequel to the 2018 Marvel hit “Black Panther.” However, after that movie, the titular star, Chadwick Boseman, tragically passed away from cancer. The question that has been asked leading up to this film was when did Marvel know Boseman was sick? Did they plan for his potential passing in their script stage, and how would the film address his absence?
That is the major debate in this review of this film. The production and performance were incredible. The film pays a proper tribute to Boseman. But the story of T'Challa, the Black Panther, is what the debate is about. Was T'Challa given a superhero death?
Marshall Harris of CBS Chicago rejoins the show to discuss this film. He also offers a similar perspective to our review of the first film (Episode 88) in that Harris discusses what this film means to him as an African-American.
The first 9 minutes of this episode present a tribute to the late Kevin Conroy. Conroy died on November 10, 2022, after a short battle with cancer. He was 66. Conroy has been on this podcast 5 times, and the tribute involves a retrospective.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2022 Warner Bros./Netflix Series, "The Sandman" or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Despite being based on a DC Comic, The Sandman aired in 2022 on Netflix, not HBO Max. It is based on the Neil Gaiman comic of the same name that ran in 1996. Morpheus, the personification of dreams and one of the seven Endless, is captured in an occult ritual in 1916. After being held captive for 106 years, Dream escapes and sets out to restore order to his realm, the Dreaming.
Writer/podcaster Swara Salih rejoins the show for his 3rd appearance, having covered Ms. Marvel and the Umbrella Academy before. In this episode, they discuss the key plot moves that captivate the audience, and the extraordinary casting as well as production value. They also discuss Season 2, which was announced shortly before this episode.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2022 Disney+ Series, "Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi" or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Tales of the Jedi is a 6-part mini-series that takes place at various times during the prequel era. They follow two characters, Ashoka Tano and Count Dooku. There are three episodes each on both of them.
J.C. Reifenberg, the official Star Wars Insider of the Hall of Justice podcast, rejoins the show to discuss this new animated entry into the Star Wars saga. JC works for Deadline Media as well as Kevin Smith. He also owns the Scum and Villainy Cantina, located in Hollywood, California.
In this episode, they discuss the continuity of the series and how it is interwoven not only with the feature films, but also with the Clone Wars animated series.
Follow J.C. on social media @Reifenberg and the Cantina @SVCantina.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2022 Warner Bros. DCEU Release, “Black Adam” or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson makes his DCEU debut in the titular film Black Adam. The film traces his origin and his evolution as an anti-hero, if not a DC villain. Dr. Fate, Hawkman, and Amanda Waller are just some of the DC characters that appear, including some key cameos.
Content creator Brian Tong rejoins the show to offer his insight into the latest DC release. They discuss what went right, what went wrong, and how it fits in the larger DC Extended Universe. It should be noted that this film is the first-ever live-action film starring the Rock that Seth has ever seen.
Follow Brian Tong on social media @briantong.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the Disney+ Marvel series, “She-Hulk: Attorney-at-Law” or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Tatiana Maslany stars as the titular character in the latest entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, this show is quite different than any of its predecessors, both in series form and films. Jennifer Walters continuously breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the audience. It's also a comedy, and while there are funny moments in the MCU, this is a flat-out comedic series.
Appearances from Bruce Banner/Hulk, Matt Murdock/Daredevil, Wong, Emil Blonsky/Abomination, and many more make appearances.
Entertainment journalist Destiny Jackson makes her maiden voyage on the podcast. She breaks down the episodes, as well as gives a female perspective on She-Hulk and how it feels as a woman to see a woman take center stage.
Follow Destiny on social media @DestinyDreadful.
This episode was recorded at New York Comic Con on October 7, 2022. The cast and crew of the new DC Universe Warner Bros. Animation film “Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons” is released on Digital and Blu Ray on October 18th.
Appearing on this episode are Jack Dylan Glazer (Shazam!), voice of Jonathan Kent, Jack Griffo (The Thundermans), voice of Damian Wayne, Travis Willingham, voice of Superman/Clark Kent, his real-life wife Laura Bailey, voice of Lois Lane, as well as Rick Morales, supervising producer, and Matt Peters (Justice League Dark: Apokolips War), director of the film. Jeremy Adams wrote the film and appeared on last week's Episode 304 which focused on Jonathan Kent's role in the mainstream Superman mythos.
Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons begins as 11-year-old Jonathan Kent discovers he has superpowers, thrusting the half-Kryptonian into the complicated world of Super-Heroes and Super-Villains – who are now under attack by a malevolent alien force known as Starro! It's a race against time as Jonathan must join forces with assassin-turned-Boy-Wonder Damian Wayne to rescue their fathers (Superman & Batman) and save the planet by becoming the Super Sons they were destined to be.
In the new Warner Bros. DC Universe animated film “'Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons,” Superman and Lois Lane have a son named Jonathan Kent. In the CW TV show “Superman and Lois,” Clark and Lois have twin sons, a twist after the CW's “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” In the comics, Jonathan Kent is grown up and came out last year as gay. Is Jonathan Kent (the son) part of the new mainstream iconography of the legendary Superman story? Do all mediums going forward need to incorporate Jonathan as much as Clark?
Jeremy Adams wrote “Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons” and joined this discussion. Adams was profiled on the show (Episode 223). He is currently a writer on the Flash comic book for DC Comics, and also wrote the 2022 animated film “Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind.” Both Snow Blind and Super Sons will be premiering at New York Comic Con in New York City.
This episode focuses both on the original Quantum Leap series that aired on NBC from 1989-1993 and the 2022 revival series airing on NBC and Peacock. In the original series, Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and began leaping through time. In the current series, Dr. Ben Song stepped into the accelerator and well, you can see where that was headed. There are unique plot twists in the new show that feed directly from the original. At the time of this podcast, only two episodes of the new show have aired.
Two extraordinary fans of the original series joined the podcast to discuss all things Quantum Leap. Sweeny Murti is a broadcaster for WFAN Radio and the host of the New York Yankees Post-Game show as well as a broadcaster for SNY. Gary Miereanu is a publicist who primarily works with Warner Bros. Animation and has been instrumental behind the scenes in putting together many episodes of this show.
Follow Sweeny and Gary on social media @YankeesWFAN and @SuperPRguy.
In the 1950s there were the Adventures of Superman. In the 60's it was Batman. The 70s brought us Wonder Woman on television, Star Wars, and Superman: The Movie. How did we get from that era to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Arrowverse, and today's glutton of superhero content?
Robert Thompson is a Trustee Professor in the Television Radio Film Department of the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. He has been dubbed a "pop culture ambassador" by the Associated Press, Robert Thompson has contributed to hundreds of radio and TV programs and publications.
In this episode, Thompson traces the origins of superheroes in film and TV, and discusses how they had to cater to a mass audience, and thus lacked the substance that is seen in the current genre. He also breaks down the evolution from a 22-episode network series to a 6-, 8-, or 10-episode streaming show where each episode is a highly produced masterpiece.
The CW series Stargirl premiered its 3rd season recently, and it is currently the only DC-related show on the network's fall schedule. Yvette Monreal plays Yolanda Montez/Wildcat since the show's first season. The California native has been acting since 2013. She has been featured in short films, web series, and commercials.
Season 3 of Stargirl is called Frenemies, and Yvette teases that there is a murder mystery that will last the season. Stargirl also has a special connection to DC Executive and writer/artist Geoff Johns who created Stargirl in the comics as a tribute to his younger sister, who died in a 1996 plane crash.
In this episode, Monreal talks extensively about getting the role of Wildcat, and her connection to the character's legacy. She also talked about the following the show has garnered in the 1st 2 seasons and her hopes for its future.
Follow Yvette Monreal on social media @yvettemonreal.
The milestone 300th episode of the Hall of Justice podcast features actor Phil Morris. Morris is best known for playing lawyer Jackie Chiles on Seinfeld. He has over 200 credits in his career. In addition to being an accomplished performer, he is also a massive fan of the superhero genre. He owns over 20,000 comic books and brings his passion for them to his work in the genre.
In the genre, Morris played J'onn J'onz on Smallville, Vandal Savage on Justice League, Silas Stone on Doom Patrol, General Zod on Young Justice, and countless others. He's been on multiple Star Trek series. He was on Knight Rider and Cheers. That barely covers 2%.
In the episode, he talks about his roles in various series. Morris also offers his thoughts on Marvel and DC. He also shows his passion for the genre, debating various comic book movies, and discusses his love of the genre.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen Season 3 of the Netflix series, “The Umbrella Academy” or do not mind hearing key plot points.
The Umbrella Academy is based on a Dark Horse comic of the same name that entered its 3rd season. Season 2 was reviewed on this podcast in Episode 195 with cast member Jordan Claire Robbins who plays Grace/Mom in the show.
This season, the Hargreeves find themselves in an alternative timeline, and their father Sir Reginald Hargreeves has no knowledge of the Umbrella Academy, instead has created the Sparrow Academy.
Writer/podcaster Swara Salih rejoins the show to discuss this latest season. They discuss all aspects of the writing and production of this comic book adaptation.
Follow Swara on social media @spiderswarz.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen Season 3 of the Amazon Prime series, “The Boys” or do not mind hearing key plot points.
The Boys is set in a universe where superpowered individuals, called Supes, are recognized as heroes by the general public and work for a powerful corporation known as Vought International that markets and monetizes them. That barely scrapes the surface of an in-depth plot that turns the superhero genre upside down. The series features an ensemble cast that includes Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Dominique McElligott, Jessie T. Usher, Chace Crawford, Laz Alonso, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukuhara, and Nathan Mitchell.
This is the 4th episode of the podcast that covers The Boys. Seasons 1 and 2 were reviewed in Episodes 152 and 204, respectively. Also, Episode 277 features an exclusive interview with the executive producer of the animated spin-off The Boys: Diabolical Giancarlo Volpe.
Andy Staples joins the podcast for the first time. Staples is a national college football writer for the Athletic and hosts a podcast of his own, but it is all in the sports realm. Staples steps outside his lane to offer insight into this series.
The two superhero powerhouses made news in Summer 2022, in two very different directions. This episode focuses on the latest goings-on involving movies and television regarding both.
DC's parent company Warner Bros. has completed its merger with Discovery. The news included a plan in 2023 of combining of two streaming services, HBO Max, and Discovery+. Furthermore, many DC properties have been canceled, most notably the film “Batgirl,” which was reportedly nearing completion with a budget of $90 million.
Meanwhile, Marvel unveiled its plans for Phases 4, 5, and 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Beginning with the conclusion of the ongoing Phase 4, Marvel announced many new films and series that will make their debut in the next few years. Phase 4 winds up with She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in late 2022. Phase 6 culminated with 2 new Avengers films, The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars.
Noted podcaster, author, and entrepreneur Lee Elias makes his Hall of Justice debut to discuss these many topics.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the Warner Bros. Animation/DC Universe 2022 film, “Green Lantern: Beware My Power” or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Green Lantern: Beware My Power is the next film in the continuity known as the “Tomorrow-Verse.” It includes Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Justice Society: World War II, and Batman: The Long Halloween. It is an origin story for John Stewart, who receives a power ring. The film was co-written by John Semper and Ernie Altbacker. Semper discussed the movie in Episode 291 of the show. Altbacker rejoined the podcast after his initial appearance in Episode 261 to review the film.
In this episode, Altbacker discusses various key plot decisions and the fan reaction to the film in the early days of its release. They also discuss the future of DC animated projects and the comparisons between this continuity and the “Tucker-verse” which preceded it. They also reference various DC live-action shows and movies.
Peacemaker was a breakout hit in 2022 for HBO Max, its parent company, and the DC Extended Universe. Steve Agee plays John Economos. Agee played John in 2021's The Suicide Squad and then reprised the role in Peacemaker. Since debuting on The Sarah Silverman Program in 2007, Agee has been on countless TV shows and movies. He met James Gunn, who put him in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, and subsequently in the DC properties when Gunn wrote and directed.
In this episode, Agee talks about his evolving career and then gives a detailed recount of how he met Gunn. He then explains how he thought the Suicide Squad would be it for him and DC, and he explains how he learned about Peacemaker. He talked glowingly about the cast of Peacemaker, and how they made that incredible opening sequence. He also tells great stories from the set, including that famous finale scene in Peacemaker with John Cena, Jason Momoa (Aquaman), and Ezra Miller (Flash).
Follow Steve on social media @steveagee.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the Disney+ Marvel Studios 2022 series, “Ms. Marvel.” or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Ms. Marvel is the 7th Marvel Studios series to premiere on Disney+ since the streaming service began. It introduces high school student Kamala Khan, who soon finds she has unique powers. She is of Pakistani descent and is the first Muslim superhero in the MCU.
Swara Salih, a writer for IO9 and Nerds of Color, joins the show. His Iraqi background gives him a unique perspective on this character. Like the podcast did with Black Panther and Shang-Chi, the question is raised on how this character makes a Muslim person feel to see that representation in a superhero series.
In addition to the cultural impact, this episode discusses the audience reaction and the show's place in the overarching Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Salih is a host of 2 podcasts, The Middle Geeks and Into the Spider-Cast. Follow him on social media @spiderswarz.
This episode is sponsored by Pristine Auction! Register at https://www.pristineauction.com/register and get $10 off your first item won when you use code: Justice
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the Marvel Studio 2022 film “Thor: Love and Thunder,” or do not mind hearing key plot points.
The 4th installment of the Thor franchise, and the 29th film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Thor: Love and Thunder” stars Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman. Broadcaster and comic enthusiast Brian Tong returns to the podcast to offer his insight into what worked, what didn't, and how this movie stands in the MCU. The guys discuss the plot that involves Jane Foster returning to Thor's life, and Gorr the God Hunter providing the great threat. Thor was traveling the cosmos with the Guardians of the Galaxy.
This movie is part of the MCU's Phase Four and includes characters from earlier films and series.
Follow Brian Tong on social media @briantong. See his content on tech at patreon.com/briantong.
This is Part 2 of a conversation with writer/producer John Semper. While last week's show focused on his entire career, including the upcoming Green Lantern: Beware My Power, his definitive work is the 1990s animated series based on Spider-Man.
In this conversation, Semper details how the show came about, including Marvel's bankruptcy at the time. He discusses how starting with Season 2, he had very little restraints on what stories he could do and used so many Marvel characters it is considered the predecessor to the current Marvel Cinematic Universe. Semper discussed the “fate” of Mary Jane in the show, his decision to crossover with the X-Men, and the introduction of the “Spider-Verse” in the finale. He also praised the incredible voice cast for the show.
Follow John Semper on social media @johnsemper.
Acclaimed animation writer/producer John Semper joins the podcast in anticipation of the new Warner Bros. Animation / DC Universe upcoming release “Green Lantern: Beware My Power,” which is released on Blu-Ray/Digital on 7/26, which he co-wrote with Ernie Altbacker (HOJ Ep 261). Semper is the creator and executive producer of the classic 90's Spider-Man: The Animated Series and has been requested for this podcast since the very beginning.
In this episode, Semper explains why he thinks the new Green Lantern film is his best work since Spider-Man. He also discusses his 40-year career in animation, including his work on the Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (the final season of Super Friends) and the last two seasons of Static Shock. He also discusses the impact of being a pioneer for African-Americans in the animation field. Finally, he is passionate about giving comic creators credit for their creations, especially as more superhero projects are made into shows and films.
Note: This episode is Part 1 of 2 with John Semper. Next week will focus solely on Spider-Man: The Animated Series, with an in-depth discussion on the creation and impact of that classic show.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Star Wars insider JC Reifenberg, owner of the Scum and Villainy Cantina in Hollywood, CA, and the producer of Fatman Beyond with Kevin Smith and Marc Bernardin rejoins the show to discuss the latest series from Lucasfilm and Disney+. Obi-Wan Kenobi is set 10 years after the events of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and 8 years before Episode IV: A New Hope. Ewan McGregor reprises his role from the prequels as the titular character. Hayden Christensen returns to the franchise as well.
This episode focuses on the tie-ins to the overall franchise timeline and its impact on the saga. They also discuss in great detail the role of Darth Vader, played by Christensen and voiced by James Earl Jones (or was he?). They also talk about the plot twists and turns, the story, and the production value.
For more information on the Scum and Villainy Cantina, visit https://scumandvillainycantina.com/.
The Flash is now the longest-running active show in the superhero genre. Chester P. Runk joined the show as a guest star in Season 6 and then became a series regular in Seasons 7 & 8, played by Brandon McKnight. Recently renewed for Season 9, McKnight joined the podcast to talk about his run on The Flash.
In this episode, McKnight explained that he had auditioned for all of the CW Arrowverse shows, but that the Flash was his favorite. When he was hired, he read all of the comics featuring Chester. In the comics, Chester was a heavyset character named Chunk, and McKnight explained how the similarities are in name only. He explained that Chester's character is similar to the comics in name only and that the name is an homage to the source material.
He also spoke about the titular star, Grant Gustin, and the idea of the long run of the series. McKnight is also an avid gamer and recently started a Twitch channel. He also discussed his experience with social media.
Follow Brandon on Instagram @MrMcKnight, and on Twitch at https://www.twitch.tv/mcknighttime.
Longtime executive producer Marc Guggenheim joined the podcast this week. Guggenheim helped created the Arrowverse as we know it. He has been the executive producer for Arrow, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl. He has worked with Greg Berlanti for decades. He is one of the architects of the CW's many different crossovers, including Elseworlds and Crisis on Infinite Earths.
In this episode, he discusses the conception of the Arrow TV show, and how it ties into his writing role on the 2011 Green Lantern film starring Ryan Reynolds. He talked about the birth of the Arrowverse and then went into strong detail on the Crisis on Infinite Earths. He was pressed but gave up little information on his current project, the Green Lantern Corps TV series on HBO Max.
Follow Marc Guggenheim on social media @mguggenheim.
This episode features of the entertaining hosts of a new podcast on the Underdog Podcast Network. 10 Movies is a show where they take the work of one actor and look at 10 of his/her movies. Their 1st season on Underdog deals with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Seth laments the fact that outside of Moana, he's never seen any movie from the wrestler-turned-movie star. The Rock is set to enter the superhero genre with the DC film Black Adam.
In this episode, Hemal Jhaveri and Brian Minter discuss the creation of their show, and then offer their thoughts on the superhero movie world. They discuss their own issues with The Batman, their praise and criticism of Marvel, and how they judge movies compared to how it's done normally on the Hall of Justice.
Follow the new 10 Movies podcast at their website https://tenmovies.net/. All the links to all their podcast platforms are there.
Greg Cipes has voiced Beast Boy since the original Teen Titans show in 2003. After that show's successful run, Cipes went on to voice dozens of other characters. Then, in 2013, the spinoff Teen Titans Go! launched on Cartoon Network with Cipes returning to the Beast Boy role. He later reprised his role as Beast Boy in the HBO Max show Young Justice.
Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse is a crossover that was announced on the 2021 DC Kids Fandome. It was released on May 24th on Blu-Ray/DVD and is slated to be released on May 28th on Cartoon Network and June 28th on HBO Max.
In this episode, which Cipes recorded while walking nonstop on the streets of New York City. Accompanied by his dog, Wingman G, Cipes spoke about how Beast Boy was his first-ever role. He discussed the freedom he and the other cast members had to inject their own personalities into their characters.
Follow Greg Cipes on social media @GregCipes.
Danielle Panabaker began playing Caitlin Frost in 2014 when she guest-starred on Arrow. Since then, she is one of the original cast members of the hit CW TV show, The Flash. The Flash stands out for remaining one of The CW's most-watched series. Caitlin works at STAR Labs and then became part of Team Flash.
Panabaker has been acting for nearly 20 years.
In this episode, she talked about the complicated shoots playing two characters in the same scene while disguising her second pregnancy. She also discussed recent events in the series (WARNING: SPOILERS).
She also previewed what to expect for the rest of Season 8 and gave insight on the upcoming Season 9.
Follow Danielle Panabaker on Instagram @dpanabaker.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have either seen the Marvel Studios' 2022 release “Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness” or you do not mind hearing key plot points.
This film is a sequel to the 2016 film Doctor Strange but takes place after a number of events have taken place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The titular character played a key role in Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. It also follows the 2021 release Wandavision.
HOJ regular Scott Seidenberg of VSIN rejoins the podcast to discuss the films tie-in to the story of the Scarlet Witch, and the impact the films events have on the MCU.
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Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have either seen the Marvel Studios' 2022 Disney+ release “Moon Knight” or you do not mind hearing key plot points.
Moon Knight is the latest Disney+ series. It stars Oscar Issac as the titular character, Marc Spector/Stephen Grant, two alters of a man with dissociative identity disorder (DID). Spector serves as the avatar of the god Kohnshu. Ethan Hawke, May Calamawy, and F. Murray Abraham are among the stars of this series.
Comedian and Podcaster Eddie Pence rejoins the show to review all 6 episodes of Moon Knight. They trace the twists and turns while searching for this show's place in the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The podcast wraps with some teasers about next week's film review “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.”
Follow Eddie on social media @eddiepence.
Longtime DC Animation Director/Producer/Artist Rick Morales brings his extensive background to the Hall of Justice. Morales started his career working on the iconic Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series in the early 2000s. Since then, he has helmed a number of projects including Green Lantern – The Animated Series, Young Justice, and countless DC Universe animated features. They include the two Batman animated projects that continue the story from the classic 1966 Batman TV show.
In this episode, Morales spoke about working with Adam West and rewatching the series as “prep work.” He talks about his beginnings and brought up his mentors, some of whom have been on the podcast.
Follow Rick on Twitter @RickJMorales.
Recorded in person at Fan Expo Philadelphia 2022, actress Kate Flannery joins the show. She played Meredith Palmer on the NBC series The Office, which won her two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She talked about the legacy of the Office on first Netflix and then Peacock. She spoke about her fellow cast members and the success of the show after its initial NBC run.
In addition to Flannery, this episode revisits a 2019 conversation with Rainn Wilson, who played Dwight Schrute on the Office. This interview was not about the sitcom, but about his role as Lex Luthor in “Reign of the Supermen” and other DC movies.
The Office ran from 2005-to 2013, won countless awards, and then thrived again on streaming services. It ran for 9 seasons and had 201 episodes.
Follow Kate Flannery on social media @KateFlannery.
Recorded at Fan Expo Philly 2022, the two stars of Clerks, Clerks 2, and the forthcoming Clerks 3, Jeff Anderson and Brian O'Halloran join the show in-between autograph signings at the ‘Con. O'Halloran has known Seth for nearly a decade as they have shared a mutual connection through sports and New Jersey. Anderson, meanwhile, has been a long-standing target for the podcast. They both make their first appearances on this show.
O'Halloran talks about being part of the Clerks fandom over the years. Anderson explains his hesitancy to do both Clerks 2 and Clerks 3, but ultimately embraces the idea of both. Both stars discuss the process of doing Clerks 3 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. This episode provides key insight into the making of Clerks 3.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have either seen the Sony/Marvel 2022 release “Morbius” or you do not mind hearing key plot points.
Morbius stars Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal, and Tyrese Gibson. This is the 3rd film in the new “Sony Spider-Man Universe,” following Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage. Dr. Michael Morbius conducts an experiment to cure a rare blood illness for him and his surrogate brother.
Brian “The Beast” London joins the show for the review. London is known primarily for his time on South Florida Sports Radio and brings his passion for Marvel to the podcast.
In this episode, the film breakdown involves talk about Leto, the comparisons to the MCU, and if a Spider-Man appearance enhances or overshadows Morbius.
Follow Brian on social media @miamiradiobeast.
As part of the DC / CW project entitled the “Arrowverse,” the series “Black Lightning” aired for four seasons from 2018-to 2021. It starred Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce, who recently appeared in the CW crossover “Armegeddon” which took place on the Flash.
Lamont Magee served as a story editor on Black Lightning and was part of the writer's room. He joined the podcast to discuss his role on the show, and its unique voice amidst a cluster of related shows. Magee is also working on the new “Green Lantern” show for HBO Max, although there is not much he could say.
Other topics included network shows vs. streaming services, an in-depth behind-the-scenes discussion of 2019's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, and the comradery among DC CW shows.
Follow Lamont on social media @LamontMagee.
Warning: This episode features spoilers of the new Amazon Prime Series “The Boys: Diabolical.” Do not listen unless you have seen the new animated series or don't mind hearing key plot points.
“The Boys: Diabolical” is a companion animated anthology series to the hit Amazon Prime series “The Boys.” Each 13-15 minute episode is standalone but takes place in the same universe as the live-action show.
Giancarlo Volpe is the Supervising Director of the series and returns to the podcast to discuss the show. Volpe appeared on Episode 2 of the podcast when the Hall of Justice podcast was in its infancy. Volpe previously worked on Green Lantern: The Animated Series, Star vs. The Forces of Evil, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He spoke of those projects in Episode 2.
This podcast goes through all 8 episodes of the animated series and explains the production and writing of each episode.
Follow Giancarlo on social media @Giancarlo_Volpe.
Longtime actor and voice actor Will Friedle joined the podcast in a fascinating conversation. He played Terry McGinnis on the hit animated series Batman Beyond from 1999-2001, and then subsequently in Justice League Unlimited, Static Shock, and the film Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.
Will's career started when he was a child actor.
Friedle starred on Boy Meets World from 1993-2000. He is voicing Lex Luthor & Aquaman in the upcoming Warner Bros. Home Video release Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse.
In this episode, Friedle spoke about being in Batman Beyond as well as his fandom for the genre. He told stories about working with the cast of the series. He tells stories of his costars on Boy Meets World, and his various voice acting gigs in the genre that he has played since Batman Beyond ended.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have either seen the Warner Bros. 2022 release “The Batman” or you do not mind hearing key plot points.
Matt Reaves directed a new take for the Caped Crusader. With no continuity ties to any previous comic book, TV show, or film, Robert Pattinson wears the cape and cowl in this nearly 3-hour epic adventure.
Jaz Bielby joins the show to help review the movie. This is a polarizing film that people have either said they love or they can't stand. This review is objective, there are things that were good and others that aren't.
Follow Jaz on Instagram @rosecitywidow.
Season 8 of The CW series “The Flash” continues on March 9th, 2022. Showrunner Eric Wallace joined the podcast to preview the rest of the season, which started with a 5-part crossover entitled, “Armageddon.”
Wallace is a writer who wrote for the fourth season and fifth season of The Flash. He replaced Todd Helbing (Episode 267 guest) as the sole showrunner for the show's sixth season onwards.
In this episode, Wallace explains how he tries to keep the show fresh after so many episodes. He also offers opinions on the trend of shorter seasons.
He gave some sneak peeks into clues about Season 8. He also discussed the upcoming Flash movie, and how he challenges himself to make the best show possible. He also gave insight as to the future of the series, and the famous Arrowverse.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have either seen the HBO Max DC Extended Universe series Peacemaker or you do not mind hearing key plot points.
Peacemaker is a spin-off series of the DC film The Suicide Squad (reviewed in Episode 246). The 8-episode comedy/drama follows the events of the film but takes the title character on an entirely new adventure. Flanked by an incredible cast and superb writing, this episode focuses on what went right for Peacemaker, that didn't necessarily go well in the movie.
Comedian/podcaster Eddie Pence returns for his 3rd appearance on the podcast. Catch Eddie on the Ralph Report with co-host Ralph Garman Monday-Friday on Patreon.
For Eddie's social media and comedy, appearances check out https://www.eddiepence.com/.
Acclaimed actor Josh Keaton joined the podcast to cover his incredible career. Keaton was Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the fan-favorite show “Spectacular Spider-Man”, Hal Jordan/Green Lantern in the Green Lantern – The Animated Series. He is Shiro in Voltron: Legendary Defender. The Flash in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths.
Keaton described his entry into the VO business, as well as his live-action experience (and his 90's boy band). He also gave insight into the voiceover recording process during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Follow Josh Keaton on social media @joshkeaton.
From Seth: This episode is recorded shortly after I lost my father. He died Sunday (Feb 6th) and rather than wait till next week, it felt right to do this episode. It's a really fun topic, and it felt normal to host it. My father was 71.
Warning: Don't listen to this episode unless you have seen the seven-episode series The Book of Boba Feet on Disney+.
Star Wars insider JC Reifenberg returns to the podcast to break down the story and all its twists and turns. It is a bit disjointed yet full of Star Wars greatness. All the details on Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, Tattooine, and many more surprises.
Check out JC at https://scumandvillainycantina.com/.
Elizabeth Gillies stars as Selina Kyle/Catwoman in the 2022 Warner Bros. DC Universe animated film “Catwoman: Hunted.” The film is to be released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray, and Digital on February 8, 2022.
Gillies currently stars at Fallon Carrington on the hit CW show Dynasty. She rose to fame in 2010 when she played Jade West on the hit Nickelodeon show Victorious alongside Victoria Justice and Ariana Grande.
In this episode, she talks about bringing Catwoman to life. She goes in-depth on the voice acting process, and how her singing career helped with the recording for Catwoman. She also discussed her fame and being remembered as Jade even though that show ended 8 years ago. She discusses her relationship with Ariana Grande after the latter became a pop superstar. She also addresses her opinions on social media. Gillies has over 3 million Twitter followers and nearly 14 million followers on Instagram.
In January 2022, there were various entertainment reports about the CW Television Network being put up for sale. While rumors are plentiful about the future of the network, this episode focuses on the shows based on DC Comics properties popularly known as the “Arrowverse.”
Topics include: what happens to DC shows if the network is sold? Will all genre content migrate to streaming services? Some of the CW shows, notably Arrow and The Flash have had huge episode totals, 22-24 in a given season. Streaming services follow the BBC model of smaller episodes per season but are highly produced per episode. Is this where superhero content is all going? Will the Arrowverse live on? Or is this the final migration off of public television?
Kyle Williamson of Fandom Spotlite joins the show to discuss the future of the CW and superhero shows on television.
Acclaimed writer and executive producer Greg Weisman has written the latest DC Universe animated feature “Catwoman: Hunted.” He is also the co-creator of the fan-favorite animated series Young Justice. Weisman discussed the incredible story of Young Justice's revival after the first two seasons aired on Cartoon Network. Later, the episodes were on Netflix. When the DC Universe streaming service was created in 2017, Young Justice was brought back for Season 3, and currently, Season 4.
In between the last two Young Justice seasons, Weisman wrote an anime feature starring Catwoman. That comes out February 8, 2022, both on Blu-Ray and digital download.
In this episode, Weisman also discussed two iconic series, Spectacular Spider-Man, and Gargoyles. Both shows completed their successful runs, but remain highly regarded by their fanbases.
Follow Greg Weisman on social media @Greg_Weisman.
Season 2 of The CW show “Superman & Lois” premiered on January 11, 2022. Showrunner Todd Helbing joined the show this week to talk about the series, the plans for Season 2, and the legacy of working on Superman.
Helbing has worked on shows such as Melrose Place, Entourage, and Smallville. He and his brother Aaron were showrunners of the Flash from Seasons 1 through 5.
In this episode, Helbing addresses the evolution of Superman & Lois, including its connectivity in the “Arrowverse,” and the parameters this show was given as compared to other Superman properties. Helbing also discusses how the series does cover political issues, such as conservative small-town views vs. liberal big-city viewpoints. He also addresses the idea that Superman pledges to help the world and not necessarily put America first.
The CW “Arrowverse” show Superman & Lois premieres its 2nd season on January 11, 2022. Erik Valdez plays Kyle Cushing a Smallville fireman married to Lana Lang, played by Emmanuelle Chriqui. Cushing's character has an interesting arc in Season 1. Kyle is also the father of Sarah, played by Inde Navarrette.
Valdez was born in Texas, and previously starred on Graceland, and appeared on Gilmore Girls and 90210. He was also a regular on General Hospital.
In this episode, Valdez discusses the political undertones and compelling story arcs for this series. He also talks about how unique it is to be in a Superman project and not play a character with a comic book backstory.
Follow Erik Valdez on social media @erikvaldez.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2021 Marvel Studios' Disney+ series "Hawkeye" or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Hawkeye takes place in a post-Endgame Marvel Cinematic Universe. Clint Barton has to deal with issues that arise as he tries to get back to home for Christmas with his family, who recently returned after the events of Endgame. Barton meets the young Kate Bishop who is tied into the issues that transpire. There are many twists and turns as well as tie-ins to other MCU properties.
Comedian and podcaster Eddie Pence rejoins the show to review Hawkeye. They discuss the 4th live-action Disney+ show, and its impact on the larger MCU. They also compare this to the recently released Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2021 Marvel Studios' film "Spider-Man: No Way Home" or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is the 3rd Spider-Man film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is Tom Holland's sixth appearance in MCU movies, including Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. The movie is high on fan service, as characters from previous Spider-Man movies set outside the MCU make appearances.
This episode asks the following questions: Are the fan service moments what makes it a great film? Is the story consistent with MCU Spidey movies? What about the ramifications that this film leaves on the state of the MCU?
Marshall Harris of CBS Chicago joins the show for this review.
On October 1, 2021, Netflix debuted the 9 seasons of the hit sitcom Seinfeld. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos stated in the press release, “This is the first time we've taken a risk of this nature, going all-in on 9 seasons at the jump. But Jerry has created something special with this sitcom that nobody has ever done. I truly think he and Mr. David have enormous futures ahead of them and I'm thrilled Netflix could be the home for them to grow their fanbases.”
This episode features a roundtable discussion of not just the series, but the series arrival on Netflix. Chris Pollone, a reporter for NBC News, Sylvia Lind, former MLB executive turned player agent, and TJ Roche, DJ for the New Jersey Devils, all joined the podcast to discuss the hit series that ran on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998.
Dan Jurgens is a longtime writer and penciler who has written for iconic characters and created many of his own. He is perhaps best known for his work on the iconic DC storyline “The Death of Superman.” He is credited with creating Doomsday, Hank Henshaw, and Booster Gold. He wrote for many other DC and Marvel characters throughout his incredible career.
In this episode, Jurgens retells the story of how he and the Superman writers/artists conceptualized the Death of Superman, the Funeral for a Friend, and the Reign of the Supermen storylines. He also details comics writing after the Death of and gives his thoughts on comic writers seeing their work adapted in live-action or animated shows & films.
Follow Dan Jurgens on Twitter @thedanjurgens. And visit www.danjurgens.com.
Longtime animation writer Ernie Altbacker joined the show to talk about his long body of work. He recently wrote for the 2021 DC film "Injustice." He also wrote four other films in the DC Universe series of animated films "Justice League Dark," "Teen Titans: The Judas Contract," "Batman: Hush," and "Justice League Dark: Apokolips War."
He's also written for many animated series including "Spider-Man – The Animated Series," "Green Lantern," "Static Shock," and "Justice League Action."
In this episode, he talks about the dark nature of Injustice and Apokolips War and the challenges of writing classic characters in more adult plots. Also, he addressed how Superman's powers make plots around him particularly difficult.
Follow Ernie on social media @ejaltbacker.
Acclaimed writer/artist Judd Winick joined the show to cover a bevy of topics.
Winick has written for DC Comics characters including popular runs on Batman, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, and The Outsiders. He created the Red Hood character from the legacy of Jason Todd, including writing the screenplay for the DC Universe animated feature Batman: Under the Red Hood.
In this episode, Winick discusses his iconic comics run, and the issues facing creators when their work gets turned into a movie or television series.
Judd Winick rose to national attention when he appeared on MTV's The Real World: San Francisco. He discusses how he met his wife on the show, and his close friend Pedro Zamora, who died shortly after the show was filmed. Zamora was also the subject of Winick's graphic novel Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned.
He is the author of the acclaimed book series Hilo, with a new novel coming in 2022.
Follow Judd Winick on social media @juddwinick.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2021 Marvel Studios' film "Eternals" or do not mind hearing key plot points.
The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the subject of this review. Dr. Kendall Phillips returns to the podcast to discuss the film about the alien race that came to Earth thousands of years ago. The movie discusses the Eternals fight with the deviants, and them staying out of the battles that do not involve them, including the Avengers' recent fight against Thanos.
Dr. Phillips is a Professor of Communication and Rhetorical Studies at Syracuse University and Co-director of The Lender Center for Social Justice. He recently authored the book “A Cinema of Hopelessness: The Rhetoric of Rage in 21st Century Popular Culture (Rhetoric, Politics, and Society)” and hosts the NPR/WAER podcast “Pop Life.”
Phillips has taught a course on the Marvel Cinematic Universe and discussed the course in Episode 150 and his class appeared on Episode 158.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2021 Sony/Marvel film "Venom: Let There Be Carnage" or do not mind hearing key plot points.
This is the 2nd installment of the Venom film series, and this episode reviews the film. In it, Woody Harrelson plays Cletus Kassidy/Carnage and Tom Hardy returns as Eddie Brock/Venom. Acclaimed content creator Brian Tong returns to the podcast (his first review was Episode 250 Shang-Chi) to talk about this film.
While there is praise for the performances, the plot and writing come under scrutiny. The issues in the film also are compared to the original comic book storyline and the absence of Spider-Man as Venom/Carnage's main protagonist.
Still, there is a discussion of that post-credit scene and its impact on future Spider-films and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Warning: This episode goes in-depth on every episode of the first season of Marvel's Disney+ series “What If…?” Plot points are revealed. Listen after you see the series or you do not mind hearing key plot points.
What If is a series of animated episodes with characters that are familiar but with a definite diversion from the original storyline. For example, Peggy Carter gets the super-soldier serum as opposed to Steve Rogers. And so on…
Comedian and podcaster Eddie Pence joins the show for his third appearance. Eddie is a co-host of The Ralph Report with Ralph Garman, who was on the show two weeks ago. His comedy special is currently airing on Amazon Prime.
Follow Eddie on Twitter @eddiepence.
This episode focuses on two distinctly different milestones that occurred in the week this episode is posted. First, Warner Bros. has released the 20th-anniversary edition of Smallville – The Complete Series. Second, this weekend in Chicago marked the final Wizard World Comic-Con.
To pay homage to both events, this episode features a live recording of a panel at Wizard World New Orleans from January 2020 with Smallville stars Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, and John Glover. This interview took place a short time before the initial Covid-19 shutdown.
The beginning of this episode addresses two recent Superman controversies. First, the reveal that Superman's son Jonathan was bisexual in the comics. The second was the change in Superman's motto from “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” to “Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow.”
Congratulations to both Smallville and Wizard World on incredible runs, and tremendous legacies.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen both seasons of the Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso, or do not mind knowing key plot points.
Ted Lasso just wrapped up its second season on Apple TV+. Joining the show to review both seasons is Ralph Garman, noted voice actor, and host of The Ralph Report on Patreon.
Rather than review the show episode by episode, they discuss the amazing supporting cast, and how the secret to this show's success is not always making Jason Sudeikis' Ted Lasso the center of attention. Character by character, they break down the journey for these characters. Ralph also does an incredible Roy Kent impression.
They also talk about what the show has done to promote the English Premier League, and what that sport works for American audiences, and how easy it is to stream in 2021.
Subscribe to The Ralph Report on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/theralphreport/.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2021 film "The Many Saints of Newark - A Sopranos Story" or do not mind hearing key plot points.
The Many Saints of Newark is a prequel movie to the iconic HBO series. Scott Seidenberg and Matt Cerrone join the show for a roundtable discussion on the story as well as the production. They discuss the ties in continuity to the original series, and their thoughts on this being a potential opening to a Sopranos prequel series.
Like this podcast covered during reviews of Black Panther and Shang-Chi - Legend of the Ten Rings, the show starts with incite from Matt on what the series and the film means to an Italian-American.
Longtime writer and producer Jim Krieg is currently with Warner Bros. Animation. He is currently working on all the latest animated DC Universe films. His career spans decades and in the episode, he discussed all the different animated properties he worked on.
He started his career writing the series finale of the classic X-Men animated series, and the final season of the classic 90's Spider-Man animated series.
Krieg worked on Justice League Action, Green Lantern, and countless others.
He recently worked on the new DC animated film Injustice and the recent releases Batman: Gotham by Gaslight and Reign of the Supermen.
Longtime voice actor Fred Tatasciore has played more roles than we can name. In the genre of this podcast, he has been the Hulk in various animated forms. He has also been involved in three recently released DC/WB productions. He was Solomon Grundy in "Batman: The Long Halloween," Shao Kahn in "Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms," and as Captain Atom in the soon-to-be-released "Injustice." He's been in many Star Wars projects, Young Justice, the reboot of the Animaniacs, Looney Tunes, and so much more.
In the episode, he talks about many of his roles, and how he feels about the voiceover industry. He also showcased his incredible vocal range, and how he approaches any role.
Follow Fred on social media @FredTatasciore.
“Supergirl” is in its 6th and final season on the CW. Since Season 4, Azie Tesfai has played James Olsen's sister Kelly Olsen. Her character's arc includes a relationship with Supergirl's sister Alex Danvers and her new quest as the superhero vigilante Guardian. Tesfai makes her debut as Guardian in the 12th episode of season 6, an episode which Tesfai herself co-wrote. Doing this made Arrowverse history as the first actor in any Greg Berlanti-produced series to pen an episode on any of his shows.
Desfai is the first Eritrean/Ethiopian actress to play a superhero EVER. Azie added some personal touches to the episode, including her character exiting an Ethiopian restaurant with her mother's name in the opening scene of the episode, an homage to her Ethiopian mother, who had life-long dreams of opening her own Ethiopian restaurant. Azie was also very involved in every element of creating her costume for the Guardian—making sure to utilize the gold of her Eritrean roots.
Tesfai is best known for playing homicide detective Nadine Hansan in the critically acclaimed, Golden Globe-nominated series “Jane The Virgin,” which ran for five successful seasons on the CW.
Tesfai is also the founder and CEO of Fortuned Culture, an accessories line that was launched with TOMS Shoes Marketplace and sold in Bloomingdales. 100% of proceeds from each piece benefit charities in Ethiopia, Mexico, and Cambodia. Each piece symbolizes the human needs that people desire: health, love, faith, wisdom, balance, and more and with each purchase, these needs are fulfilled for someone less fortunate.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have either seen Shang-Chi or don't mind hearing key plot points.
This episode breaks down the latest Marvel Studios film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Tech expert and former DC Daily/DC Universe host Brian Tong joined the show to break down how this film fits into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The first 25 minutes of the episode address a key question about this film. Tong reflects on being a Chinese American seeing this movie which has a nearly entire Asian cast. The parallels were made between this film and Asian fans as Black Panther had on African American fans.
Follow Brian Tong on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/briantong/posts and social media @briantong.
Legendary actor Ed Asner passed away on August 29, 2021, from natural causes. He rose to stardom playing Lou Grant on the iconic Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off Lou Grant.
He was also an amazing accomplished voice actor. In addition to his award-winning role in the Disney/Pixar film Up, he also starred in countless superhero genre shows. He was J Jonah Jameson on the 1990's Spider-Man series. He played Hudson on the incredible show Gargoyles. Amazingly, he played a unique female, Granny Goodness in Superman – The Animated Series, and Roland Daggett on Batman- The Animated Series.
Two incredible guests joined the show to pay tribute to Asner.
Dan Lauria is best known for playing Jack, the father on the classic series The Wonder Years. He also was a close friend of Asner, telling tells of his activism as the President of the Screen Actors Guild.
Award-winning voice director Andrea Romano cast Asner in Batman, Superman, Animaniacs, Freakazoid, and countless others. They both discussed working and associated with the media icon.
Ed Asner was 91.
Warning: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the Netflix series Transformers: War for Cybertron or do not mind hearing key plot points.
Part three of the Netflix CGI animated trilogy was recently released. Writer Mae Catt wrote three of the six episodes in the series. She joined the show to break down the series and the reaction from fans.
The second half of the podcast raised awareness of a massive fandom for Transformers in the LGBTQ+ community. Mae spoke extensively about why this franchise resonates so strongly with people from this community. She also discussed quite poignantly how a person's sexuality can influence their fanhood of properties in the sci-fi/superhero arena.
Follow Mae Catt on social media @MaeCatt.