80-Pagecast 24: Hooked on Feels

The Olympics are over but this Galaxy still needs Guarding. We're doing our best by talking about New Warriors, Judge Dredd, more (surprise) Transformers talk, Amazing X-men, She-Hulk, Death's Head, and many meandering topics along the way such as our love of toys, toys, toys. Don't forget to show some love to Bill Mantlo the creator of Rocket Raccoon. Also share with Jen if you have some left over.

80-Pagecast Episode 15: Critics of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The gangs all here to talk about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Well almost, Australia still hasn't aired it yet. We talk about it anyway and what other comicbooks we would like to see turned into a tv series. Comicbooks we read this week include really old issues of Thundercats & Silverhawks, Transformers Regeneration One #0, Transformers: More Than meets the Eye #21, Clayface #1 and Killer Croc #1. Also the Breaking Bad comic.

80-Pagecast Episode 10: Convention Inception

For a special SDCC episode Jen Ulm is back too keep Rob London, and David Henion company while they both have the sniffles. Besides lots of news from ComicCon there is also discussion about Botcon and toys and things.

80-Pagecast Episode 7: Distinguished Competition

The 80-Pagecast returns!  This week, we three Marvel Zombies journey to the other side, as we discuss what the deal with DC is.  Also, Rob and Dave try to coax Jen into visiting her comic store, Dave and Jen try to explain Game of Thrones to Rob, and we all try not to laugh at nuclear nipples.  Show notes after the jump.

80-Pagecast Episode 6: Sales Charts

We will not be canceled! Unfortunately some comicbooks we like get canceled. Jen Ulm, Rob London, and David Henion take a look at some with lows sales they hope don't get canceled. Plus they talk about Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye (yes again), Superior Spider-man (no surprise), and the all new adjectiveless X-men #1. Show notes after the jump.

80-Pagecast Episode 5: Guilty Pleasures

We're back!  Jen Ulm, David Henion, and Rob London join you once again, to tell you about their deepest, darkest secrets...or at least the schlockiest, cheesiest guilty pleasures in their comics collections.  Also, we talk about bunnies, '90s hair, and guys who are Satan-ish and/or Satannish.  Show notes after the jump.

80-Pagecast Episode 4: Iron Man Three

Who's got six thumbs and has seen Iron Man 3? Jen Ulm, Rob London, and David Henion. They spend a a while talking about what was good and bad about it. But only after celebrating everyone's favorite holiday, Free Comicbook Day. And of course take the time to talk about recent issues of Superior Spiderman (again), Gold Digger 200, and Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye (again). Show notes after the jump.

80-Pagecast Episode 3: Badguy Books

The bi-weekly 80-Pagecast becomes tri-weekly for this special episode! This week Jen Ulm, Rob London, and David Henion spend some time talking about terribly great villains in Superior Spiderman, Thanos Rising, and Transformers: Robots in Disguise. Plus some of our favorite books starring villainous casts from the past. Show notes after the jump.

80-Pagecast Episode 2: We Feel Ways About Stuff

It's back!  The 80-Pagecast returns for a second scintillating episode!  This time, in the emotionally-traumatic wake of Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #15, Jen Ulm, Rob London, and David Henion discuss our feelings.  We also touch upon such vital topics as space cursing, giant metal breasts, and tracksuit Draculas.  Show notes after the jump.

80-Pagecast: Episode 1

We're trying something new at 80-Page Giant this week - the 80-Pagecast, a podcast featuring 80-Page Giant contributors David Henion, Rob London, and Jen Ulm.  This week, our main topic is retold origins, so enjoy as we mostly ignore that topic and discuss bad wigs, Two-Face's facial hair, and molten cobalt instead.  Have a listen and tell us what you think!  Show notes after the jump.

It Came From the Dollar Bin: Brute Force

I have finally returned from drafting a novel, working on an urban fantasy lesbian romance comic book script, self-pubbing some *cough* other short fiction, and playing far, far too much Dungeons & Dragons to give you more...

You're sure this isn't Transformers?

It Came From the Dollar Bin!

In honor of this week's eagerly anticipated Transformers Regeneration One #81, I present a comic published by Marvel with characters and concepts created by Bob Budiansky, a script by Simon Furman, and art by José Delbo. Transformers? Oh no. (You can tell because the colors aren't by Nel Yomtov.) I'm talking about a book that got a whopping four issues out of its initial 4-issue limited series, a toy comic with no actual toy to tie in to...Brute Force! Read on for a look at Marvel's short-lived foray into creating their own toyetic non-superhero IP, including an interview with series writer Simon Furman.

It Came From The Dollar Bin: Generation X Underground Special

Full disclosure: I'm cheating this week. I picked this book up at retail, but as it fits the bill for the kind of books I'm featuring in this series, I'm using it anyway.

Mention the 90s to a comic book fan and the first thing that usually comes to mind is supermuscled, superviolent superheros. Though the decade is best known for Rob Liefeld and his over-the-top friends at Image, the popularity of "alternative" culture outside of comics also fed the independent comics scene. Black and white art was a sign of street cred. Unlike the counterculture comix of the 60s and 70s, indy comics of the 80s and 90s were primarily created by fans of mainstream comics. When a writer or artist who made their name doing a black-and-white book published by a small-press publisher like Oni or Slave Labor Graphics got an offer to write for one of the Big Two they usually jumped at the chance.

This week I introduce to you the results of one of those pairings, one of the least likely books to come out of Marvel Comics: Jim Mahfood's Generation X Underground Special.

It Came From The Dollar Bin: Action Force #17

Andrew Sorohan already went on at length about the formatting differences between US and UK comics, so I'll skip any explanations along those lines and go straight to the meat of this week's featured find.

That's right, ladies and gentlemen: It's a story about how Quick Kick from Action Force G.I. Joe totally learned to fight from Shang-Chi, Master of Kung-Fu...by Grant Morrison.

It Came From The Dollar Bin: A Boy And His 'Bot

Hope you brought insulin!

When I was in high school, I spent far too much time in used book shops scrounging for out-of-print Lensman paperbacks and trying to complete my set of the original Marvel run of Transformers. I thought it would be an amazing place to work. I would sit behind the counter going through boxes and boxes of obscure books and comics and CDs, never knowing what apocryphal bit of nerd history I would find next. It was my 15-year-old idea of heaven. Then I grew up, got a job at a used book shop, and spent 95% of my time explaining to people that their old John Grisham hardcovers aren’t actually worth anything.

There were gems, though, and once a week I’ll be highlighting the obscure and notable things I’ve found over nearly twenty years of scrounging through the dollar bins. I’d like to inaugurate this feature with a comic that warmed my grungy little teenage heart, a small press one-shot “Holiday Special” from 1987 called A Boy and His ‘Bot written and illustrated by Gary Thomas Washington.