The Captioned Life

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The Captioned Life Show will be on hold indefinitely. It's tough to share this but the last couple of weeks affirmed that I've made the right decision.

There are no plans on when or if we will start back up the show. The show's social media accounts will also be inactive during this time. If you like to stay in contact, I will be active on my social media accounts that are focused on gaming.

Thank you all for all of your support!

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ABOUT THE EPISODEFilm student and Comic Watcher Aaron Kleinman join the show to review Marvel Comics’ “Spider-Man: Life Story,” which was a six issues plus one annual series created by Chip Zdarsky and Mark Bagley. They discussed some of the main, pivotal moments in the series, including the Spidey suits and issues they had with the series, such as how they did Bein Reilly dirty and how Doc Ock married Aunt May. They also touch on what comic books they and the show's listeners are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTAaron Kleinman is a film student who is aiming to work in animation and has also worked in a comic shop for the past 5 years. He first got into comics at a young age when he was gifted single issues and trades by his dad. Justice League Europe #57 was the first issue he remembers reading. Crisis on Infinite Earths was one of the first storyline comics he read, and George Perez's art is arguably where he can trace his want to create back to. Over the years he has done voice acting, stage acting, film acting, animation & film writing, and many other behind-the-scenes work. Creating is in his blood, and it's arguably thanks to comics.

You can find Aaron on social media under the username @maroyasha and also contact him through his website.

You can also find his podcast, “With A-Hyphen.”

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#111 ‘Spider-Man: Life Story’ with Aaron Kleinman” * Series Info: “Spider-Man: Life Story” from Marvel Comics * ARTICLE: “Retro Review: Spider-Man: Life Story” (The Captioned Life) * Support The Show - Join Our Patreon! * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEComic Watcher Seth Romo joins the show to talk about the winners and nominees of the 2023 Eisner Awards that were announced on July 21st at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). They discuss some of the big news from the convention that got them excited, some of the surrounding controversies around the convention and the awards, and a deep dive into some of the category winners of the Eisners that they selected and voted on by their Patreon members.

They also touch on how to correctly pronounce James Tynion IV’s name, what writers they think may win next year, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTSeth A. Romo is a lifelong fan of comic books and believes there is a comic out there for everyone. He writes for Comic Watch, shares his comic book commentary on Substack, and does his best to get through his ever-growing comic book “to read” pile. His current goal is to read every issue of Detective Comics starting with Issue #27.

He's a Husband, new Dad, Pet Parent, and so-so toy photographer.

You can find Seth on social media here. He is mostly active on Instagram.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#110 Eisner Awards 2023 With Seth Romo” * ARTICLE - “And The 2023 Eisner Goes To…” (Comic Watch) * Current Information On Eisner Awards (Comic-Con International) * Episode #86 Will Eisner Week With Danny Fingeroth * Support The Show - Become A Patron! * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

NOTEThis episode was recorded and published during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movies and series being discussed here wouldn't exist.

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ABOUT THE EPISODESean interviews comics writer Stephanie Phillips. They discuss her journey from being a faculty in higher ed to making the transition to comics, her love for hockey, and what historical fiction she recommends.

They also touch on Stephanie’s comic book origin story, do a round of “This Or That?”, and what comic books they are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTStephanie Phillips is an American writer known for comics and graphic novels such as HARLEY QUINN, WONDER WOMAN, GRIM, and WE ONLY KILL EACH OTHER. She has written critically acclaimed work with some of the industry's major publishers, such as DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Image Comics, Boom!, and more.

EPISODE SPOTLIGHTAll Day With Ellie is the show where geek and pop-culture collide! Join Ellie, as she discusses all things geeky with passionate guests. This podcast will be your go-to destination for insightful conversations about topics we could talk about, all day! Each episode unveils an exploration of beloved fandoms and captivating stories that fuel our collective imagination. Tune in and join Ellie and her guests as they celebrate the joy, excitement, and boundless creativity of the geek and pop culture world. Get ready to geek out, laugh, and discover new passions on 'All Day with Ellie'!

Follow and find everything you need to know about “All Day With Ellie” here.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#109 Interview With Stephanie Phillips” * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEVirtual comic shop co-owner Sammy Sopczak joins Sean to educate him about grading comics. They discuss what it is, how the numbering system works, and what motivates someone to want to grade comics.

They also touch on Sammy’s origin story with comics and her husband, what goes into running a virtual comic shop, and what comic books they are reading.

SPECIAL THANKS - Matt Martin for providing an image of a graded comic for the show art for this episode.

ABOUT THE GUESTSammy Sopczak is the co-owner of Skeleton Key Comics, a virtual comic shop that sells raw and graded comics. You can find Sammy on her Instagram account, @skeletonkeycomics.

EPISODE SPOTLIGHTPaperweight Entertainment is a weekly podcast dedicated to all things Marvel, DC, Disney+, HBO Max, and so much more!

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#108 Grading Comics With Sammy Sopczak” * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEPodcasters Matt and Lauren from Hops “GEEK” News joins Sean to review Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars, published from 2015 - 2016 and was created by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Esad Ribic (artist), Ive Svorcina (colorist), and Chris Eliopoulos (letterer), and cover art by Alex Ross. They discuss their key 3 moments from the series that range from comedic moments to WTF was that, and how little they actually knew about what was happening with characters and Marvel stories during this event.

They also touch on Matt’s culture shock when he moved from Boston to Idaho, Lauren’s experience with Disney breweries in Orlando, what they hope to see in the MCU version of Secret Wars, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

Lauren also snuck in a secret mug during the recording to annoy Sean - watch the YouTube version of the episode to find out what that was!

ABOUT THE GUESTHops GEEK News is a craft beer-loving geek-themed podcast. From Star Wars to comic origin episodes, to Supernatural, to interviewing comic book creators, and beyond! Hops Geek News discusses almost anything you might see at a con while enjoying a craft beer of the week. Cheers!

Find them online by checking out the Hops GEEK News Linktree

EPISODE SPOTLIGHTValkyrie’s Vault is a local gaming store located in Brownsburg, Indiana. They sell anything gaming related from card games to board games and role-playing games, as well as merchandise, collectibles, and apparel.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#107 “Secret Wars” With Hops Geek News” * Marvel “Secret Wars” (2015) Series Info * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEComic Watch Content Manager Chad Burdette joins Sean to review the 5-issue series Flashpoint by DC Comics. It was released in 2011 and was written by Geoff Johns, penciled by Andy Kubert, inked by Sandra Hope, colored by Alex Sinclair, and lettered by Nick J. Napolitano.

Flashpoint tells the story of Barry Allen, The Flash, finding himself in a new universe where his mom is still alive, he is no longer married to Iris West, the superheroes are all different, and the world is about the end thanks to a war between the Amazonians and the Atlanteans.

ABOUT THE GUESTChad Burdette is a lifelong comic book fan and reader having been introduced at a young age via the Superfriends comics and other DC comics under the Whitman banner. In 2008 Chad began writing for the Albany NY Times Union contributing and overseeing the Comic Book Community blog hosted by the newspaper which lasted until 2021. In 2019 Chad came on as a news contributor for Comic Watch. During this time he also freelanced for ScreenRant and CBR writing lists. In 2021 Chad was promoted to editor for Comic Watch and later to Content Manager in 2022ish.

In 2020 Chad started to focus on his YouTube Channel, The Comic Multiverse, which is an interview format where he talks to creators doing anything from Kickstarters to mainstream creators he has met on the convention scene. He also somehow weaseled his way into the cohost chair of The Comic Watchers and does the weekly Krowdfunder Korner along with editing, news, and the occasional review for the site.

Find Chad online here:

YouTube channel, “The Comics Multiverse”
Twitter, @TUComicsBlog
Chad’s work for Comic Watch

EPISODE SPOTLIGHTNone Of My Friends Like Comics Podcast is a podcast for comic book fans new and old alike! Long-time comic book enthusiast, Nick, talks with a first-time reader about a comic book. Will the newcomers pull it or drop it??

Find out every other Thursday!

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#106 ‘Flashpoint’ With Chad Burdette” * “Flashpoint” Series Info * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEIn a special YouTube Livestream, Sean interviews Wing Mui, co-owner of Outsider Comics. Outsider Comics is a local comic shop that is a trans and queer worker-owned store in Seattle, Washington. They discuss how they provide not only many comics and resources for the LGBTQ community but also a safe haven and community for those who identify as LGBTQIA and others who may feel out of place (hence, Outsider Comics).

Visit Outsider Comics' website to learn more about their wonderful store.

ABOUT THE GUESTWing Mui (she/her) is a maker, artist, bookseller, bard, and small business owner located near Seattle, WA. Formerly a 6-12 and post-secondary educator / administrator, currently a trash animal screaming constantly. She likes crows and cats and other things, though her fursona is probably a fox. She's literally the five of swords in a tarot deck. She does not own nor does she play an Alesha deck.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “BONUS EPISODE - Outsider Comics": https://www.thecaptionedlife.com/BONUS-Outsider-Comics * Outsider Comics: https://outsidercomics.com/ * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements: https://www.thecaptionedlife.com/blog/ * Comic Watch: https://comic-watch.com/ * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch: https://comic-watch.com/writers-wanted * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord: https://discord.gg/X5KSnhaxyE * The Captioned Life Show website: https://www.thecaptionedlife.com/

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ABOUT THE EPISODESean interviews comics writer Scott Snyder, who is known for his work on Batman, Swamp Thing, Nocterra, Barnstormers, and more. Sean asks Scott a round of This Or That questions, and they talk about Scott’s early days in the comics industry and some of the challenges that he faced.

They also touch on Scott’s deep love for Elvis Presley, their views on religion and spirituality, his days as a Disney World cast member, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

EPISODE SPOTLIGHTShortbox Summary Podcast - a comic book podcast that takes a look at titles and movies from the mid-2000s.

ABOUT THE GUESTScott Snyder has written comics for both DC and Marvel, including the bestselling series AMERICAN VAMPIRE, BATMAN and SWAMP THING, and is the author of the story collection Voodoo Heart (The Dial Press). He taught writing at Sarah Lawrence College, NYC and Columbia University. He lives on Long Island with his wife Jeanie, and his three sons. He is a dedicated and un-ironic fan of Elvis Presley.

RESOURCES & LINKS Episode Page - “#105 An Interview With Scott Snyder” * Scott Snyder’s Twitter, @Ssnyder1835 * Scott Snyder’s Instagram, @Ssnyder1835 * Scott Snyder’s Substack, “Best Jacket Press” * EPISODE SPOTLIGHT: Shortbox Summary podcast* * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEShow co-founder and former co-host Kevin Stahlecker joins Sean to review DC Comics’ Superman: Birthright by Mark Waid, Leinil Francis Yu, Gerry Alanguilan, Dave McCaig, and Comicraft. They discuss their thoughts on the writing and the artwork, the cover art, and what was going on in the world during the series.

They also touch on their origin story with the character of Superman, how necks seem challenging to draw, and what comic books they and the show's listeners are reading.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT: Phoenix Comics & Games

ABOUT THE GUESTKevin Stahlecker is a long-time comic book and superhero fan, and as a public educator, he is constantly finding new ways to weave his love of pop culture into the classroom. He's also a co-founder and former cohost of the Captioned Life Podcast.

EPISODE SPOTLIGHTPhoenix Comics & Games Phoenix Comics & Games is Capitol Hill's Premier Comic Shop: Manga, graphic novels board games, CCGs, & RPGs

RESOURCES & LINKS Episode Page - “#104 'Superman: Birthright' With Kevin Stahlecker” * Series Info - Superman: Birthright * SPOTLIGHT:* Phoenix Comics & Games * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEPodcaster & creator Ellie Khanverdi of “All Day With Ellie” joins Sean in reviewing the latest film from Marvel and Sony Pictures Animation, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse. They discuss their thoughts on the storytelling, the various themes of the movie, the artwork in the animation, their favorite breakout Spider-characters, and what they hope will happen in the next film, Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse.

They also touch on the challenges with movies about multiverses, their favorite non-comic book movies, and what comic books they are reading.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT: Comic Logic Books & Artwork

ABOUT THE GUESTEllie Khanverdi is a Canadian content creator and podcast host who's deeply passionate about geek culture. Her podcast, "All Day with Ellie" (or "The All Day Show"), delves into topics like comic books, movies, and geek/pop culture overall. Ellie's passion and knowledge bring together a diverse group of enthusiasts, creating dynamic and engaging discussions within the geek community. She also creates content on social media, connecting with fellow geeks worldwide. Ellie's goal is to inspire and entertain her audience while fostering a sense of community within the geek community.

EPISODE SPOTLIGHTComic Logic Books & Artworkis northern Virginia's most exciting comic book store. They carry a full inventory of single issues, trade paperbacks, and custom artwork.

RESOURCES & LINKS Episode Page - “#103 Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse With Ellie Khanverdi” * Ellie Khanverdi’s Podcast & Social Media Accounts * EPISODE SPOTLIGHT - Comic Logc Books & Artwork * MOVIE INFO - Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse * A CAPTIONED LIFE REVIEW* - Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse * Episode #102: First Appearances Of Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen, & Spider-Man 2099 With Matt Meyer * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEComic Watch Editor-In-Chief Matt Meyer joins Sean in reviewing the first comic book appearances of Miles Morales (Spider-Man), Gwen Stacy (Spider-Gwen), and Miguel O’Hara (Spider-Man 2099) to celebrate the premiere of Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse on June 2nd. They discuss the history and universe each character is a part of, their origin story on how they became a Spider-Hero, and compare and contrast their representation in the comics with their counterpart in the Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse animated film.

They also touch on their own Spider-Man origin stories, the character’s popularity across the globe & cosplays at comic conventions, how nerdom went from a subculture to popular, and what comic books they and the show's listeners are reading.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT: Bat Lessons Podcast

ABOUT THE GUESTMatt Meyer has been reading, collecting, and loving comics for over thirty years! He’s humbled and honored to be a part of Comic Watch since 2018, and Editor in Chief since 2021. By day, he’s a social worker helping the less fortunate find housing and go from surviving to thriving… giving hope might just be his superpower! He’s also a husband and father to three wonderful kids. He’s lived in Oklahoma City his whole life and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

EPISODE SPOTLIGHTBat Lessons Podcast is a Batman history podcast that covers characters, stories, writers, artists, movie directors, business, politics, and more. Everything in and around Batman. They start at the very beginning and work their way chronologically through 80 years of Batman.

RESOURCES & LINKS Episode Page - “#102 First Appearance: Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen,& Spider-Man 2099 With Matt Meyer” * SPOTLIGHT: Bat Lessons Podcast * Miles Morales’ First FULL Appearance (Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1 - September 14th, 2011) * Spider-Gwen’s First Appearance (Edge Of Spider-Verse #2 - September 14th, 2014) * Spider-Man 2099’s First Appearance (2099 Unlimited #1 - May 4th,1993)* * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEComic book publisher Mark Bell joins Sean in talking about his comic book publishing company, Plague Doctor Press. They discuss how important it is for Mark to have inclusive creators and content for his books, the challenges in starting a comic book publishing company and creating a Kickstarter campaign, and what he hopes for the future of comics.

They also touch on their love for hockey, meeting up at Indiana Comic Con, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTMark Bell is a devoted father, loving husband, a passionate podcaster, comic creator, and dedicated media educator. He is also the publisher of Plague Doctor Press, which has successfully kickstarted and released two books: "S.P.I.R.I.T." and "ZED." With an unwavering commitment, Mark actively cultivates a diverse and inclusive space within the realm of comics.

EPISODE SPOTLIGHTOutsider Comics is a queer and trans worker-owned local comic book store located in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, WA. They cater to comic readers of all ages and experience levels and they are proud to host an LGBTQIA+ inclusive environment.

You can find the latest graphic novels, single issues of comics, zines, and items made by local artists and crafters, gifts, and much more in their store. You can also find a curated selection of our inventory in their online store.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#101 Plague Doctor Press With Mark Bell” * Website - Plague Doctor Press * Twitter - Plague Doctor Press @PlaguePress * Instagram - @PlagueDoctorPress * SPOTLIGHT - Outsider Comics * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEIn a special live recording via YouTube, educator and co-creator / former show co-host Kevin Stahlecker joins Sean in celebrating 100 episodes of The Captioned Life Show. They discussed how the show started, where they’ve gone, and where they plan to go. Sean and Kevin look at how much the show has grown, the most popular episodes by listens, the episodes that they personally loved, and what they loved about doing the show.

They also touch on their future plans of doing a series of “Was It Great Or Were We 8,” what guest they’ve had on that would make an awesome regular co-host, the 100th episode giveaway winner, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTKevin Stahlecker is a long-time comic book and superhero fan, and as a public educator, he is constantly finding new ways to weave his love of pop culture into the classroom. He's also a co-founder and former cohost of the Captioned Life Podcast.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#100 - The Captioned Life Show Celebrates 100 Episodes!” * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEWriter and editor Richard Nebens join Sean in reviewing the latest film by Marvel Studios, Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 3. They discuss how well the music is used in this movie, the entire arc of the team’s trilogy, how much the holiday special was involved, the fighting scenes, and the various character developments from all the characters on the team.

They also touch on great-looking beards, how much they hate click-bait websites, what diegetic means, how much they’re looking forward to Deadpool 3, Groot Jitsu, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTRichard Nebens is the senior writer and assistant editor for TheDirect.com, where he has worked since early 2020. He specializes in the MCU and all things Marvel, but he also has a beat on Star Wars, the DC Universe, and the movie world as a whole. On top of his passion for sports and music, Richard is an evolving fan of movies and TV shows, taking in new content regularly while sharing news on the best and latest from Hollywood and the entire industry.

RESOURCES & LINKS Episode Page - “#99 Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 3 With Richard Nebens” * MOVIE INFO: Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 3 * Richard Neben’s bio from The Direct* * Richard Neben’s Twitter @RichardNebens * Richard Nebens’ Instagram @RichardNebens * Richard Neben’s Reddit @rnebens * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEAshton Greenwood of Diamond Comic Distributors joins Sean on the show to talk about Free Comic Book Day 2023. They discuss how this popular comic book day got started, what titles from comic book publishers will be part of this event, what fans can expect this year, and what the future holds for Free Comic Book Day.

They also touch on Halloween ComicFest, Archie horror comics, their favorite Star Wars characters, how Baskin Robbins inspired Free Comic Book Day, what opportunity Marvel may have missed out on, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTAshton Greenwood is the Associate Marketing Manager for Diamond Comic Distributors, handling PR, advertising opportunities, social media, and, of course, Free Comic Book Day and Halloween ComicFest. Also known as the Duchess of Free Comic Book Day, she can often be found hyping up those free comics on social media and probably obsessing over whatever title Archie is offering. Obnoxious Star Wars fan, self-proclaimed Jughead stan, and queen of hot takes.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#98 Free Comic Book Day With Ashton Greenwood” * ARTICLE: Three Tips For Free Comic Book Day (from "The Captioned Life") * Free Comic Book Day Information * List of Free Comic Book Day Titles * Free Comic Book Day on Facebook * Free Comic Book Day on Twitter * Free Comic Book Day on Instagram * Free Comic Book Day on TikTok * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEComic Watch reviewer Kevin Rossi joins Sean to review DC Comics’ Batman/Superman: World’s Finest Volume 1 (issues 1-5) by author Mark Waid, artist Dan Mora, colorist Tamra Bonvillain, and letterer Aditya Bidikar. They discuss how Waid and Mora's style tells a unique story of Superman and Batman, some of their favorite moments from the series, how they loved the new suit when Batman and Superman merged, and how the story takes inspiration from some of the Silver Age stories of DC Comics.

They also touch on how outdated Supergirl's skirt is, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading, which includes The Riddler Year One, Lord Of The Rings, Daredevil, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more!

ABOUT THE GUESTKevin Rossi is a Rhode Island native with a deep appreciation of language, writing, and design. As an English professor, he incorporated his love of pop culture and comic books as much as possible into his lectures and class discussions. He has been lucky enough to be part of Comic Watch since 2019 and recently went back to school to study graphic design. He currently lives in Providence, RI with his spouse and their two cats. You can find him on social media, @bronconova on Twitter and @kevyrossi on Instagram

ABOUT THE COMIC SERIESThe official description from DC Comics:

The Dark Knight. The Man of Steel. They are the two finest superheroes that the world has ever known…and they’re together again in an epic new series from the legendary talents of Mark Waid and Dan Mora!

In the not-too-distant past, Superman’s powers are supercharged from a devastating chemical attack by the villain Metallo…and the only ally that the ultra-powerful Man of Tomorrow can turn to in this turbulent hour is Gotham’s own dark vengeance: the Batman. A nearly fatal burst of power drives Bruce Wayne to his own extreme measures to help his friend…enlisting none other than the Doom Patrol for aid. It’s the World’s Greatest Super Heroes from the world’s greatest talent in an epic collection experience that kicks off the next big events in the DCU. Get ready, it’s time to soar.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#97 ‘Batman/Superman: World’s Finest’ With Kevin Rossi” * Batman/Superman: World’s Finest (2022) Series Info * Kevin Rossi On Twitter @BroncoNova * Kevin Rossi on Instagram @KevyRossi * Kevin Rossi’s reviews on Comic Watch * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEWriter Ed Brisson and artist John Timms join Sean in discussing their current work with DC Comics, Batman, Incorporated. They discuss the work that went into creating the Batman-inspired crime-fighting team, how Grey Wolf was an original character that became an instant hit, and what fans can expect with the upcoming introduction of Joker, Inc. in the upcoming arc of the series.

They also touch on Ed and John’s favorite activities outside of comics, what comics blew Ed’s mind when he was a kid, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTSEd Brisson is a comic book writer who first started to garner attention with his self-published crime series, Murder Book which was collected and released by Dark Horse in early 2015. He broke into the public spotlight in 2012 with the crime/time-travel thriller series Comeback (Shadowline/Image Comics). In the short time since then, he's written and co-created four other series published by Image: Sheltered, The Field, The Mantle, and The Violent. Ed has also written for Boom! Studios (Sons Of Anarchy, Cluster, The Last Contract), Marvel (Secret Avengers, Secret Wars Battleworld, Dead Man Logan, Ghost Rider, New Mutants), DC Comics (Batman & Robin Eternal, Batman Incorporated), IDW Publishing (TMNT/X-Files Conspiracy), and many others. He's been nominated for the Joe Shuster Award for Best Canadian Writer several times. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with his wife and daughter.

John Timms is a Costa Rican comic artist who has worked in animation and comics.

He studied graphic design at the University of Costa Rica. In addition, he worked as a 2D and 3D animator in commercials, some television series, and short films, one of them Vita, which won the award for best animation at Animafest in Puerto Rico. As a comic book artist, he has worked with Marvel and exclusively for DC Comics for the last 8 years. His best-known series are Harley Quinn, Young Justice, and most recently, Superman Son of Kal El. He has been nominated twice for the GLAAD Awards with Harley Quinn and Superman, Son of Kal El. He has also worked on video games and other audiovisual media. He works from his home in Costa Rica on the Batman Incorporated series for DC comics.

RESOURCES & LINKS Episode Page - “#96 Batman Incorporated With Ed Brisson And John Timms” * Ed Brisson’s website * John Timms’ website * DC Comics’ Batman Incorporated * Sean’s reviews of Batman Incorporated* * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEKen Maney, the host of The ODPH Podcast, joins Sean to review Age Of Apocalypse by Marvel Comics. The 1995 storyline includes the 4-part series “Legion Quest” from the X-Men and Uncanny X-Men series, then the six-issue main event from X-Men Alpha, Astonishing X-Men, and X-Men Omega. They do an overview of the series, their favorite key moments or aspects of the series, and what changes they would have liked to see.

They also touch on the story behind Ken’s podcast name (Ocho Duro Parlay Hour), why they hate the idea of niches, how comic book origin story questions are not that original, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTKen Maney is the Executive Producer/Host of the ODPH (Ocho Duro Parlay Hour) Podcast, along with being co-Host of 607 TWS: The Wrestling Show podcast. He also does weekly Comic Book Reviews for the ODPHpod & Nerd Initiative. Ken is also a freelance Pro Wrestling Blogger and an all-around fan of Sports, Movies Tv, Comics, and Pro Wrestling

RESOURCES & LINKS Episode Page - “#95 Age Of Apocalypse With Ken Maney” * “Age Of Apocalypse” Series Info (Note that this list includes many issues that the episode did not cover)* * The ODPH Podcast * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODELifelong comics fan Bumpkins joins Sean to review DC Comics’ Batman Beyond: Neo-Year by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Max Dunbar, Romulo Fajardo, Jr., Sebastian Cheng, and Aditya Bidikar. They do an overview of the series, their favorite key moments or aspects of the series, and what changes they would have liked to see. They discuss their own origin story with the Batman Beyond property, the great work done by the creative team (especially by the letterer), and how the story’s depiction of AI may not be too far off from today’s reality.

They also touch on how bad ChatGPT is with finding information on the comic series, their own origin stories with Batman Beyond, Will Freidle, Sean’s TikTok rival DannYOmanny, and what comic books they are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTMatt, aka Bumpkins, is a comics fan of over 30 years and a lifelong fan of almost everything in the nerd realm.

RESOURCES & LINKS Episode Page - “#94 ‘Batman Beyond: Neo-Year’ with BumpkinsTV” * Series Info On Batman Beyond: Neo-Year* * Bumpkins’ Social Media Accounts * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEComic Watch contributor Seth Adrian Romo joins Sean in discussing Boom! Studios series The Many Deaths Of Laila Starr by Ram V., Filipe Andrade, Ines Amaro, and AndWorld Design. They do an overview of the series, their favorite key moments or aspects of the series, and what changes they would have liked to see. They touch on the themes of the dualism of life and death, the physical and spiritual, and Hindu principles.

They also chatted about how ChatGPT is not great for comic book summaries, the recent announcement on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Last Ronin video game development, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTSeth Adrian Romo is a lifelong fan of comic books and believes there is a comic out there for everyone. He writes for Comic Watch, shares his comic book commentary on Substack, and does his best to get through his ever-growing comic book “to read” pile. His current goal is to read every issue of Detective Comics starting with Issue #27.

He's a Husband, new Dad, Pet Parent, and so-so toy photographer.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#93 ‘The Many Deaths Of Laila Starr’ with Seth Adrian Romo” * “The Many Deaths Of Laila Starr” Comic Information * Seth Adrian Romo’s Social Media Accounts * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEPodcaster Derek Hoskins of “Paperweight Entertainment” joins Sean in reviewing the latest Warner Brothers and DC Comics movie, “Shazam!: Fury Of The Gods.” They discuss the theme of family, who stole the show, the Shazam suit design, the problem with villains and monsters’ limited powers in movies, and THAT mid-credits scene.

They also touch on how men are kids inside adult bodies,the latest news in digital comics reading, dungeons and dragons, and what comic books they are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTDerek Hoskins is the Co-Founder of Paperweight Entertainment, along with Ian Torrance and Colonel Bob Tingle. He is the co-host of the Paperweight Entertainment Podcast, a lifelong fan of comic books and comic-related media, and a firm believer that, in the words of Qui-Gon Jinn, “Your focus determines your reality.”

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#92 “Shazam! Fury Of The Gods” With Derek Hoskins” * The Paperweight Entertainment Podcast * Comic Book Keeper’s Podcast Episode, “Shazam” (Spotify) * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODESocial media director Jon-Stephen Stansel joins Sean to discuss the “behind the scenes” with superhero social media accounts. They discuss the mindset and strategies of superhero accounts, why a company may want to have a character-specific account, and how they create a voice for that hero’s social media profile.

They also touch on Jon-Stephen’s work on the Invincible social media account, their love for the Harley Quinn show and X-Men, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTJon-Stephen Stansel is an award-winning social media professional with over a decade of experience managing, building, and creating content for brand social media accounts. He has run social media accounts for Amazon Prime's Invincible animated series, Hyper RPG, Black Market Narrative and their series Radiant Black, Rogue Sun, and other comics in the Massive-verse, the University of Central Arkansas, Texas State University, the Texas Department of Transportation, as well as consulting for many television series, films, and small businesses. He is currently the Director of Social Media at Chaotic Good Studios.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#91 Superheroes & Social Media With Jon-Stephen Stansel” * Jon-Stephen Stansel’s Website * Jon-Stephen Stansel’s Twitter * Jon-Stephen Stansel’s LinkedIn * Jon-Stephen Stansel’s Instagram * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEComic Watch contributor Anthony Bergamini joins Sean in discussing the latest limited series from DC Comics, The Human Target, by Tom King and Greg Smallwood. They discuss the writing and artwork of the series, the highlights of the Justice League International characters, the theme of death, and what they hope to see for the future of The Human Target, Christopher Chance.

They also touch on Anthony’s background in film, their experience with Comic Watch, Sean’s experience at Geek Meet Indy, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTAnthony Bergamini is a writer for Comic Watch, he has a BA in Film from SFSU and he is a fan of all things comics, movies, and TV. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram under the username @ antman0052

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#90 The Human Target With Anthony Bergamini” * Anthony’s Twitter @antman0052 * Anthony’s Instagram @antman0052 * Anthony Bergamini’s work for Comic Watch * The Human Target Comic Series * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * Apply To Be A Reviewer For Comic Watch * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODECultural historian and professor David Hajdu joins Sean in discussing the history of the Comics Code Authority. They discuss how the organization was formed, what were some of the first rules that were included from the Comics Code Authority, why it was decided to self-regulate rather than an outside body, and what lasting effects the formation of the Comics Code Authority has today.

They also talk about the upcoming film in development that’s based on David’s book The Ten-Cent Plague, David’s own comic book origin story, and what comics Sean and the listeners are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTDavid Hajdu is an award-winning cultural historian, critic, and novelist. His books include The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America and A Revolution in Three Acts, a work of graphic nonfiction with art by John Carey. He is a professor at Columbia University and a member of the National Council on the Humanities. His first published work was an original comic strip, The Endless Odyssey of Skip Toomaloo, published in his high-school newspaper.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#89 Comics Code Authority With David Hajdu” * David Hajdu’s website * David Hajdu’s Twitter - @davidhajdu_ * David Hajdu’s Instagram - @davidhajdu_ * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEWriter and movie critic Ashley Saunders joins Sean in reviewing the latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. They discuss their MCU origin story, their overall thoughts about the film as well as the best and weakest moments, the Ant-Family dynamic, MODOK and Kang, and what the future holds for the MCU.

They also touch on how movie critics review movies vs. audience, and comic book moments from the movie.

ABOUT THE GUESTAshley Saunders is a movie critic, writer, podcaster, and gamer from the Washington DC area who is always ready to travel. Her family consists of her husband, two children, one husky, and two ginger cats, Loki and Bucky. She was born and raised in the DC Metro area, and still calls it home. But if she could, she would probably live at Disney World and spend her days eating Dole Whips with the main Mouse.

She co-hosts the Geek Girls' Universe podcast with one of her closest friends. Their weekly episodes share the latest in entertainment news. You can find her and her family on YouTube sharing reaction videos, celebrity interviews, unboxing videos, and more. Ashley also co-hosts a weekly Twitter chat, #MarvelMondays, that brings Marvel fans from all over together to share their love and thoughts on the fandom. Her creative side has led to partnerships with brands like Marvel Studios and Nickelodeon.

Ashley's vast knowledge of Marvel, Star Wars, and other geeky topics led her to join CBR.com as a contributor. There she breaks down theories, trailers, and more as a film and tv writer. She is also part of the International Film Society Critics and the Online Association of Female Film Critics.

In her free time, she loves to read, have lightsaber battles, and talk about all things Marvel.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#88 Movie Review: Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania With Ashley Saunders” * Ashley Saunders’ website * Official Website of Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEFormer co-host Kevin Stahlecker joins Sean in talking about movies that are based on video games. They discuss why it’s so hard for these movies to be successful, what their favorite and least favorite movies are in this genre, their disdain for the Mortal Kombat (2021) movie, and what games they want to see turn into a movie.

They also touch on Tom Cruise as Crash Bandicoot, their favorite video games growing up, and why Street Fighter shouldn’t have been called Street Fighter.

ABOUT THE GUESTKevin Stahlecker is a long-time comic book and superhero fan, and as a public educator, he is constantly finding new ways to weave his love of pop culture into the classroom. He's also a co-founder and former cohost of the Captioned Life Podcast.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#87 Video Game Movies With Kevin Stahlecker” * List of movies based on video games * Our Review of Mortal Kombat (2021) * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEAuthor, editor, & historian Danny Fingeroth joins Sean to talk about Will Eisner Week. They discuss who Will Eisner is, what happens during Will Eisner Week, how people can participate in it, and the upcoming books that Danny is currently working on.

ABOUT THE GUESTDanny Fingeroth is a popular-culture critic and historian. His most recent book is 2019’s A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee, published by St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan, a well-reviewed biography of the controversial, pioneering Lee, the Jewish co-creator of Marvel’s most famous characters. The book—the first biography of Lee to appear after his death— was a Times of London and SyFy Book of the Year.

A longtime executive editor and writer at Marvel Comics, where he ran the company’s Spider-Man line, Fingeroth is the author of other books including Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us About Ourselves and Our Society and Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews Comics and the Creation of the Superhero. All three books are available as audiobooks read by the author.

Fingeroth has spoken on comics-related topics at Columbia University, the Smithsonian Institution, the Metropolitan Museum, the San Diego Comic-Con, and many other venues.

He is currently at work on books about iconic 20th Century figures Bob Dylan and Jack Ruby. The Ruby book will be published in the fall of 2023 by Chicago Review Press.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#86 Will Eisner Week With Danny Fingeroth” * Will Eisner Week * Danny Fingeroth’s Website * BOOK - A Contract With God and Other Stories of Dropsie Avenue * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEComic book historian, pop culture commentator, and Comic Watch contributor Sasha Kaplan joins Sean in discussing Jewish representation in comics. They touch on the current issues, great and not-so-great examples of Jewish representation, and how this also translates on the big screen with films and series.

They also touch on faith in comics, Tom & Jerry comics, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTSasha Kaplan is a comic book historian and pop culture commentator, having recently completed her Master's degree in History. Sasha often speaks on Jewish representation and the comic book industry at comic book conventions and private events, including synagogues, universities, and high schools.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#85 Jewish Representation In Comics With Sasha Kaplan” * Sasha Kaplan’s Work For Comic Watch * Sasha Kaplan’s Instagram - @GeekyKaplan * Sasha Kaplan’s Twitter - @GeekyKaplan * “Check, Please!” Comic * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEAuthor and Comics Watch contributor Bethany W Pope joins Sean in a review and discussion about the DC Comics series run, Superman: Son Of Kal-El written by Tom Taylor. They discuss how Jon Kent’s humanity in the comics is designed to be aspirational, his relationship with his parents and loved ones, and LGBTQ representation in the comics.

They also touch on what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

ABOUT THE GUESTBethany W. Pope is a bisexual, non-binary writer. Bethany has won a variety of literary awards and published several novels and collections of poetry. Their most recent books include Silage (poetry, Indigo Dreams), Masque (novel, Seren), and The Hungry And The Lost (novel, Parthian). Nicholas Lezard, writing for The Guardian, described Bethany’s latest book as 'poetry as salvation'.....'This harrowing collection drawn from a youth spent in an orphanage delights in language as a place of private escape.' Bethany has been writing for Comic Watch for four years. They are a lifelong comics fan. They currently live and work in China with their two-year-old son, their spouse, and their bizarre little dog.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#84 Superman Son Of Kal-El With Bethany Pope” * Sean's Review Of "Superman: Son Of Kal-El" * Bethany Pope’s reviews for Comic Watch * “Masque” by Bethany W. Pope * “The Hungry And The Lost” by Bethany W. Pope * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

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ABOUT THE EPISODEComics creator Matt Mair Lowery joins Sean to discuss his current Kickstarter-funded comics project, ThoughtScape Comics. They discuss the making of the anthology series, why an anthology is instead of a single story, and the series’ commentary on the current state of technology and the human experience.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#83 ThoughtScape Comics With Matt Mair Lowery” * Kickstarter Campaign for ThoughtScape Comics * ThoughtScape Comics website * Matt Mair Lowery’s Newsletter/Substack * Matt Mair Lowery’s Instagram * ThoughtScape Comics’ Instagram * Matt Mair Lowery’s Twitter * ThoughtScape Comics’ Twitter * ThoughtScape Comics’ Facebook * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

ABOUT THE GUESTMatt Mair Lowery was born and raised in Portland and studied journalism, design, and creative writing at the University of Oregon. He maintains (and sometimes tests) his sanity by nerding out with his children, running through North Portland's industrial landscapes, and overanalyzing everything with his wife. He wrote and co-created (with artist Cassie Anderson) Lifeformed: Cleo Makes Contact and Lifeformed: Hearts and Minds, which were published by Dark Horse Comics in 2017 and 2019. In 2021, Matt launched ThoughtScape Comics, a sci-fi anthology series in the tradition of 2000AD, Black Mirror, and The Twilight Zone, on Kickstarter. The project earned over $9500 and garnered over 400 backers. ThoughtScape Comics features stories written by Matt and drawn by an amazing array of indie comics artists.

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ABOUT THE EPISODEToy photographer Matt “AmusingKing” Ma joins Sean in talking about his work in the subculture genre. They discuss how Matt got into toy photography, how it has helped him become a better photographer, and how easy it is for anyone to get into toy photography.

They also touch on their love for classic gaming such as Gameboys, how the 90s was the best decade for childhoods, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#82 Toy Photography With Matt “AmusingKing” Ma” * Matt Ma’s TikTok * Matt Ma’s Instagram * Matt Ma’s YouTube Channel * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

ABOUT THE GUESTMatt Ma, also known as AmusingKing on social media, runs his own photography and video production business. On social media, he is best known for his toy photography content. He is also married with three kids.

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ABOUT THE EPISODEPodcaster and comics nerd Lauren Smith joins Sean in talking about the online community that she has formed, “Your Friendly Nerdy Neighborhood.” They discuss how the online community got started, what makes it different, and what the future holds for it.

They also touch on her podcast “Simply Amazing,” their mutual love for the mutant Nightcrawler, and what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#81 Your Friendly Nerdy Neighborhood With Lauren” * Your Friendly Nerdy Neighborhood Twitter (@NBHDComicShow) * Lauren’s Twitter (@FriendlyNBHDBi) * Lauren’s Instagram (@FriendlyNBHDBi) * Lauren’s Hive Social Account (@FriendlyNBHDBi) * “Simply Amazing” Podcast Twitter (@SimplyAmzingPod) * “Simply Amazing” Podcast Instagram (@SimplyAmzingPod) * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

ABOUT THE GUESTIn and out of comics for years, Lauren joined the podcasting scene in 2021! Starting out by recording interviews and writing reviews for The Wednesday Pull list, she's gone on to work with other groups such as The GWW and The Comic Book Yeti. She's had the pleasure to interview fantastic creators such as Ram V, Stephanie Phillips, Rodney Barnes, and more, while her reviews have been recognized by publishers such as Image Comics! Since then, she's branched out into her own nerdy world with Your Friendly Neighborhood Comic Show on Youtube and co-hosting the first and only Nightcrawler podcast: Simply Amazing!

She's a fan of many things, but you'll usually hear her yelling the most about Nightcrawler, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, and badass women. Unabashedly passionate and quirky, her biggest goal in anything she does is to connect with people and nurture community!

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ABOUT THE EPISODEEducator and former co-host Kevin Stahlecker joins Sean in discussing their favorite and least favorite things of 2022, such as movie, tv shows, MCU/DCEU projects, comics, and games. They also talk about their WTF moment of the year and what they are looking forward to the most in 2023.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#80 The Best And Worst Of 2022” * Kevin Stahlecker’s Twitter * Kevin Stahlecker’s Instagram * Last Year’s Episode - #51 The Best And Worst Of 2021 * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

ABOUT THE GUESTKevin is a long-time comic book and superhero fan, and as a public educator, he is constantly finding new ways to weave his love of pop culture into the classroom. He's also a co-founder and former cohost of the Captioned Life Podcast.

SHOW CREDITS* Sean Winningham - Host, producer, & editor * Image used in the show by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash * Music used in the show: “Fine Line” by Geographer

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ABOUT THE EPISODEHosts of Paperweight Entertainment podcast Derek Hoskins and Ian Torrence joins Sean in discussing, and sometimes fighting, about holiday topics, such as our favorite memories, foods, movies, and decorations, all the way through what makes us ticked about the Christmas and holiday season, and the eternal debate, “Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?”

They also touch on their favorite holiday presents growing up, and what comic books they and listeners of the show are reading.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#79 Battle Of The Holidays With Paperweight Entertainment” * Paperweight Entertainment Podcast * The Horror You Know Podcast * Horror At The Ohio Film Festival * BuzzFeed article, “Let’s Fight About Christmas” * VIDEO - Mr. Christmas Mickey’s Marching Band Holiday Musical Bell Choir * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

ABOUT THE GUESTDerek Hoskins is the Co-Founder of Paperweight Entertainment, along with Ian Torrance and Colonel Bob Tingle. He is the co-host of the Paperweight Entertainment Podcast, a lifelong fan of comic books and comic-related media, and a firm believer that, in the words of Qui-Gon Jinn, “Your focus determines your reality.”

Ian Torrance is the cohost of Paperweight Entertainment, Silver Screen Scoundrels, and The Horror You Know podcasts. He is a big Batman fan and a DC fan in general. He grew up watching animated shows like Batman, Spider-Man, and the X-men which really helped with getting into comics and comics-related video games.

SHOW CREDITS* Sean Winningham - Host, producer, & editor * Image used in the show by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash * Music used in the show: “Fine Line” by Geographer

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ABOUT THE EPISODETelevision and comic book writer Amanda Deibert joins Sean in discussing her upcoming work on the Dynamite Comics series, “Darkwing Duck”. They discuss their love for the iconic character, the exciting opportunities Amanda has for the “Terror That Flaps In The Night,” and what readers can expect when they pick up the issue (like classic and new gadgets, as well as incorporating the show’s theme song into the series!).

They also touch on Amanda’s upcoming projects with Star Wars and Scooby-Doo & Batman, their disdain for large insects, and what comic books they and listeners of the show are reading.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#78 Darkwing Duck With Amanda Deibert” * Guest Amanda Deibert’s website * Order Darkwing Duck #1 from Dynamite Comics * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

ABOUT THE GUESTAmanda Deibert is a television and comic book writer. Her comic book writing includes the New York Times best-selling series DC Super Hero Girls, Wonder Woman Agent of Peace, DC's The Doomed and the Damned, Teen Titans Go!, Batman And Harley Quinn, and Wonder Woman ’77 and the New York Times #1 Best Selling anthology Love Is Love, for DC Comics, HyperSpace Stories for Lucas Film/Dark Horse, Red Sonja for Dynamite and John Carpenter’s Tales For A HalloweeNight Vol. 2-7 for Storm King Comics as well as the graphic novel Work for a Million for Penguin Random House’s McClelland & Stewart. She is currently writing for He-Man and The Masters of the Universe (she also wrote the graphic novel tie-in Legends From Castle Grayskull) and another yet-to-be-announced series on Netflix. Other TV writing credits include work for CBS, SyFy, Hulu, Quibi, and four years as the writer for former Vice President Al Gore’s annual climate broadcast, 24 Hours of Reality

SHOW CREDITS* Sean Winningham - Host, producer, & editor * Image used in the show by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash * Music used in the show: “Fine Line” by Geographer

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ABOUT THE EPISODELead writer and creative director Mike “Marvel Mike” Davenport join Sean in talking about the Marvel Universe Online Project. They discuss the origins of the project, what makes it so unique and exciting for game players, and all the cool features like creating your own character in the Marvel universe.

They also touch share how their comic book origin stories are very similar to each other, and what comic books they are reading.

RESOURCES & LINKS* Episode Page - “#77 Marvel Universe Online Project” * The Marvel Universe Online Project * LinkedIn article, “The Marvel Universe Online Project” * Support the Marvel Universe Online Project through Patreon * Support the Marvel Universe Online Project through Ko-fi * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

ABOUT THE GUESTMichael “Marvel Mike” Davenport has been Lead Writer and Creative Director of the Marvel Universe Online Project for the last 10 years connecting with artists, writers, and developers within the comic and gaming communities. Outside of his day job, supporting the troops as a Network Analyst for the DOD, Mike has been the face of the project advocating it in interviews and podcasts across the internet, while supporting a rotating team of creatives that have helped put together this extensive project. Follow Mike and his team’s efforts on social media, @marvel_mmo

ABOUT THE PROJECTMarvel Universe Online Project is a Pitch Deck for a Massive, Multiplayer, Open-world Action RPG video game based in the Marvel Universe. Originated by Mike Davenport and supported by the integration of up-and-coming comic, concept, and graphic artists.

The Marvel Universe Online Project is focused on developing a "Proof-of-Concept" for eventual presentation to Marvel Games for consideration and as a platform to garner support within the comic and gaming communities. A professionally designed deck is a top priority!

The project is constantly evolving and is funded through personal resources as well as a Patreon campaign that is used to compensate the many talented people who lend their support to the project. Our strength comes from their skill!

Ultimately, the Marvel Universe Online Project is a labor of love, for fans, by fans and, although there are no guarantees, it has the potential to lead to one of the greatest video games ever conceived!

SHOW CREDITS* Sean Winningham - Host, producer, & editor * Image used in the show by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash * Music used in the show: “Fine Line” by Geographer

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ABOUT THE EPISODE Comics fan and nerd Matt, aka Bumpkins, joins Sean in discussing their favorite holiday-themed comics and their honorable mentions, which include stories where Deadpool tries to kill Santa, Santa is a mutant in the Marvel universe and “Klaus” from Boom Studios. They also discussed the latest MCU Special Presentation, “Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special” and their love for the Hawkeye series as a holiday show to watch. Finally, they discussed what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

RESOURCES & LINKS * Episode Page - “#76 Happy Comic Book Holidays With Bumpkins” * List of holiday-themed comic issues * Bumpkins’ Social Media Accounts * Hawkeye Series Watch Party Hosted By The Captioned Life on Stream Lounge * Join The Illuminicasters’ Discord * Our Blog of Comics, Movies, & Series Reviews, Top 5 Lists, and Announcements * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

ABOUT THE GUEST Matt, aka “Bumpkins” is a comics fan of over 30 years and a lifelong fan of almost everything in the nerd realm

SHOW CREDITS * Sean Winningham - Host, producer, & editor * Image used in the show by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash * Music used in the show: “Fine Line” by Geographer

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ABOUT THE EPISODE Educator and podcaster Tara Kearns joins Sean in doing a review of Marvel Studios Phase 4 projects. They discuss their overall thoughts, some of their favorites of the phase such as heroes, villains, scenes, and lines, and what they’re looking forward to in the future phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Sean also shares listeners’ responses to their favorites of the MCU Phase 4 as well.

They also discuss what comic books they and the listeners of the show are reading.

RESOURCES & LINKS * Episode Page - “#75 Marvel Phase 4 Review With Tara Keans” * Listing of MCU Phase 4 projects * Guest Tara Kearn’s Podcast, “There Was An Idea… A Marvel Cinematic Universe Podcast” * Podcast Episode of “There Was An Idea…” Podcast - “2021 MCU Year In Review (With The Captioned Life and “Oh Shoot!”)” * Article, “The Captioned Life’s Top 5 Moments In MCU’s Phase 4 Shows” * “American Born Chinese” by Gene Luen Yang * Our Review Blog Of Films, TV shows, and Comics * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

ABOUT THE GUEST Tara Kearns is an educator, pop-culture enthusiast, and host of There Was An Idea... A Marvel Cinematic Universe Podcast in which analyzes the MCU's big ideas with guests of various backgrounds and perspectives.

SHOW CREDITS * Sean Winningham - Host, producer, & editor * Image used in the show by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash * Music used in the show: “Fine Line” by Geographer

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ABOUT THE EPISODE Journalist and content creator Karama Horne, also known as “TheBlerdGurl,” joins Sean in reviewing the latest Marvel Studios film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. They discuss the emotional impact of the movie in regards to pain, loss, and grief; if Namor was a villain or antihero, Angela Bassett’s performance as Queen Ramonda, and what the future holds for Wakanda and the Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

They also discuss Karama’s latest book Protectors Of Wakanda: A History And Training Of The Dora Milaje, how Monica Rambeau and representation made Karama a comics reader, and what comic books they’re currently reading.

TIMESTAMPS * 00:00:00 - 00:52:00 - Guest Introduction, Discussion On Protectors Of Wakanda * 00:52:00 - 01:29:50 - Review And Discussion On Black Panther: Wakanda Forever * 01:29:50 - 01:39:14 - Comics We're Currently Reading, Where You Can Find Karama Horne Online

RESOURCES & LINKS * Episode Page - #74 “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” With Karama “TheBlerdGurl” Horne * Karama Horne’s website * Karama's podcast, "Pop Paranormal" * Buy "Protectors of Wakanda" * Get a signed copy of Karama Horne’s book, “Protectors Of Wakanda” * TheBlerdGurl’s TikTok video on translating Wakandan in the first “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” trailer * Our Review Blog Of Films, TV shows, and Comics * Comic Watch * The Captioned Life Show website

ABOUT THE GUEST Karama Horne (@theblerdgurl) is a Brooklyn, NY-based culture journalist, writer, podcaster, host, and critic parked at the intersection of geekdom and diversity. Karama has hosted red carpets, live streams, and comic convention panels from New York to San Diego and was featured in USA Today, The New York Times, The Guardian, The San Francisco Chronicle, and The Root. She has bylines at Marvel, Rotten Tomatoes, NERDIST, Mashable, SYFYWIRE, and The Wrap. and recently co-curated the sequential art exhibit “The Artist’s Experience: From Brotherman to Batman” at the Society of Illustrators in New York. Karama is also the founder of THEBLERDGURL® a site and podcast highlighting creators of color in genre entertainment. Follow Karama across social media @theblerdgurl.

ABOUT PROTECTORS OF WAKANDA The world of Wakanda, a technologically advanced society with a deep history and culture, prides itself on tradition, honor, courage, and strength. There is no greater symbol of that strength than Wakanda’s leader, The Black Panther. But protection of that symbol is tasked to the Dora Milaje—a team of women serving as Wakanda’s special forces. Step inside Marvel Comics’ Black Panther universe and follow the elite society of women warriors to discover what it’s like to train as a member of the Dora Milaje.

Recruited from across all tribes, the selected initiates undergo intense training, both physical and mental. Passed down from elder Dora to initiates, with entries by General Okoye, Princess Shuri, and Queen Mother Ramonda, Protectors of Wakanda reveals not only the history and foundation of the unit, but collects the strategy, weapons, and combat

training as well as the code of honor and nuances of service required to protect the Black Panther and the nation of Wakanda. Added commentary and guidance from notable warriors, such as Mistress Zola, Ayo, Aneka, and M’yra, fill the margins of this treasured text. Find out if you have what it takes to become a member of the Dora Milaje and bring honor to your tribe!

Available today, everywhere books are sold.

ABOUT BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba), fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.

SHOW CREDITS * Sean Winningham - Host, producer, & editor * Image used in the show by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash * Music used in the show: “Fine Line” by Geographer