​So, I need to address my own personal elephant in the room first: the nature of taking a storyline that easily could have been it's own Thanos-level threat and making it a grounded miniseries focusing strictly on the non-super super spy side of the MCU. My biggest fear when this show was originally announced was that they wouldn't be able to make the stakes big enough without feeling too awkwardly empty of 'thems what do the Avenging.' Honestly, I haven't had those fears assuaged yet.

That said, our first episode, titled "Resurrection," does provide a fairly decent spy thriller featuring familiar characters. Nick Fury is called down from his position in space by Maria Hill and his green shapeshifting pal, Talos. Along the way, we meet a cheeky MI6 leader looking to smoke out some Skrulls, a plot set to trigger war between Russia and America, and more "hey do you remember that history we have together that either happened off screen or so long ago that we have to remind the audience about it" dialogue than you can shake an Adidas track suit at. The action was good, with some fairly well choreographed fight sequences; though, not as well executed as Marvel has done in the past. Samuel L. Jackson does extraordinarily well as Nick Fury, as always. He was born for this role, and I hope he knows it. Everyone else does fine, but most of the acting seems fairly muted. The characters barely seem like they want to be there, occasionally just mumbling lines almost inaudibly, and whole sections of dialogue just seem bizarrely confused as to what emotions the audience is supposed to take away from it.

​As for the plot, the premise is fairly light. Skrull rebels are mad that they don't have a planet, decide to take earth by sowing chaos around the globe. Skrulls are immune to radiation, so I guess the plan is have America and Russia nuke each other into oblivion and then build a new Skrull planet on the ashes. Pretty shoddy plan considering what the world would look like after a nuclear holocaust, which I feel probably should have been researched during the development phase. I guess the nuclear power plant the rebels are hiding in doesn't have WIFI. Anyhoo, the rebels want to use a dirty bomb at a Russian cultural festival and somehow implicate the US in such an act. How they intend to do that, we haven't seen yet, we've just seen them explode a bunch of stuff and some Skrull played weird mind games with Nick.

Okay, I'm being harsh, but I do believe the series has time to improve. We just need to develop the story and the bad guys a bit more. Currently, they feel a little reminiscent of the baddies from Falcon & the Winter Soldier, in that their main motivation simply seems to be that they got mad at some point and couldn't shake it. Writers: people need more motivation than just being angry and/or slightly peeved (honestly most of the people in this show just look like they're wearing uncomfortable shoes). If moderate anger leads to terrorism, then the developer of Getting Over It would have been locked up years ago.

​Overall, I'm luke warm to the series so far. Only one episode in, so time will tell, but it just wasn't a super strong start for me. Had some funny moments and great Nick moments. Some cool action. Beyond the little tidbits though, the real meat of the series just felt undercooked. Or half-cocked. One of those. And as for my initial fear I mentioned above, it seems like the response to making the stakes not big enough or too big to not be an Avengers level threat was to just make the stakes kind of... not exist in any capacity? Or feel very vague at least. Honestly, if you told me this script was written by ChatGPT, I'd believe you.

Speaking of: the AI intro was also garbage. Not worth cutting out paying jobs for.

Episode 2 comes out June 28th. We'll meet you back then to see if things have shaped up. Ha.

​What do you get for your favorite comic book reader? Well, we've got some ideas! From hard cover editions, to fancy Legos, to the nerdiest of jewelry, we have something for everyone in this year's edition of the holiday gift guide! 

​We're away on a MUCH needed vacation, but we made sure to get a new episode ready to go during our break! We had the chance to sit down and play the Marvel-themed Love Letter iteration centered around the Infinity Gauntlet and Thanos, and it's super fun! A quick, lively romp (and Tee won twice!), you won't be disappointed when you pick this one up. 

​Marvel is not messing around with Phase 4! We hit our local theater to see the new box office smash, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and it did NOT disappoint! The fight choreography is incredible, the storytelling is excellent, the acting is exceptional, and the magic is, well, magical. Let's get into it (and be advised, we do give a spoiler warning)!

​It's the movie we were promised a decade ago, and hot damn it actually lives up to our expectations! Not necessarily a revelation in cinema, but a hellova fun ride and certainly the film Natasha deserves after a long-served tenure in the MCU. And can we just TALK about how fantastic Yelena is? Anyway, let's get into all deets!

Weekly Pull Highlights: March 17, 2021

• Orphan and the Five Beasts #1
• Ultramega #1
• Midnight Western Theatre #1
• Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #1

​Well now, how about THAT! We made to episode #100, and it's all thanks to you, our amazing listeners. This episode is a bit of a long one, but it's because we have some really great books this week that dive into some really intense themes. And lord knows, we can't pass up a chance to go hyper analytical... it's just what we do. 

​Surprise! It's us, from the past, talking to you, in the present... our future... or... okay, we forgot to post it last week. But hey, here we are with our review of the relatively recently released Marvel's Avengers (we played on PS4). We lay out what's good, what's not as good, and our hope for what they can do to make it better. Also, can we please get a little more hype for a game focused on Kamala Khan? She. Is. Awesome. 

Weekly Pull Highlights: July 15, 2020

• Empyre #1
• It Eats What Feeds It #1
• Murder Hobo: Beaten, Broken & Buggard #1
• Sacred Six #1 

​The much anticipated Empyre #1 is finally here and it's got a heckin' twist that you won't (or totally will) see coming! We've also got DnD inside jokes galore, and an incredible new Dynamite title you don't want to miss. Also, leave my teenage online diary alone. 

Weekly Pull Highlights: May 27, 2020

• Rogue Planet #1
• Dead Day #1
• Avengers #33
• The V-Card #4
• Doctor Aphra #1

It's beginning to look a lot like new comics in here! From new beginnings, to quality endings, we've got everything from Star Wars, to alien planets, to potential reboots galore. Things are finally starting to feel a little more business as usual, but we still hope you're safe and sound. Join us for more, NEW, Cover B! ​

Weekly Pull Highlights: January 29, 2020

• Frankenstein Undone #1
• Protector #1
• Amazing Spider-Man Daily Bugle #1
• Avengers of the Wasteland #1
• Dr. Strange The End #1

​It's something special to witness when writers are allowed to build characters however they damn well please. This week, Mike Mignola holds no punches when it comes to playing our heartstrings in the new Frankenstein: Undone, while Ed Brisson brings us back to the wastelands of Old Man Logan in his new title. Plus, Leah Williams makes Dr. Strange a grumpy, old curmudgeon, which is really all I've ever wanted out of the character (he's just so sassy!).