MTR Network (Entertainment)

Sorry for the delay folks but we're finally back to wrap up *checks notes* Captain Marvel Part 3? Or is this Shazam? Yeah we waste no time in this episode addressing the elephant in the room: What the heck do we call this character? Kriss & Dpalm have varying opinions but one thing that is agreed upon is that this is all DC's fault. They destroyed Fawcett because the "Superman Clone" was more popular than Superman, then tried to resurrect the character 20 years later after the name had already been registered by Marvel. So we're covering the ups and downs of the "Original Captain Marvel". We cover the Whiz Comics years, the DC relaunch, Roy Thomas' interesting yet unfinished attempt at the character, Jerry Ordway's Power of Shazam and the struggle of DC trying to figure out what to do with the character that once outsold Superman

Also...one of you asked for this so Dpalm also does a quick explanation of Marvelman. Just know it involves Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman and Grant Morrison. Buckle in folks. You're in for a ride.

Issues:

Early Fawcett Years:

  • Whiz Comics #2 - First appearance of Billy Batson/Captain Marvel, Shazam (the Wizard) and Dr. Sivana
  • Captain Marvel Adventures #18 - First Appearance of Mary Bromfield/Batson
  • Whiz Comics #25 - First Appearance of Freddy Freeman
  • Master Comics #21 - First Appearance of Captain Nazi
  • Captain Marvel Adventures #26 - First Appearance of Mister Mind
  • The Marvel Family #1 - First Appearance of Black Adam
  • Shazam! A Celebration of 75 Years - Contains more than the Fawcett comics but is a good catch-all
  • The Shazam!  Archives
  • The Shazam! Family Archives

The DC Relaunch

Tickets are now on sale for our Avengers: Endgame private screenings in L.A. and D.C. Get them now!

D.C.: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4192275

L.A.: https://endgame-la.brownpapertickets.com/

 


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Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover the last couple week's dose of insanity in the world. This week he's joined once again by Justin from ThreeFifsPodcast. There's plenty to talk about with the biggest thing being: Rich White People paying in the dumbest way possible for their dumb kids to get into elite colleges. 

Topics:

Guest: Justin (@LJay90)


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Direct download: Operation_Varsity_Affirmative_Action_-_Insanity_Check_633.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 11:57am EDT

Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover the last 2 weeks of insanity in the world. This week he's joined by another host on the MTR Network, Shanna.

Topics:

Guest: Shanna


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Direct download: Out_Your_Cotton_Picking_Minds_-_Insanity_Check_632.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 10:39am EDT

Carol Danvers makes her live action debut as Captain Marvel next month. To prepare, Kriss and Dpalm are tackling the mantle of Captain Marvel. We're focusing on the three main characters to hold the title in the Marvel Universe (We'll be covering Fawcett/DC's Captain Marvel/Shazam next month): Mar-vell, Monica Rambeau and Carol Danvers. 

But even before that, we start with a little bit of a crash course in the background of the Kree & the Skrull since they're not only playing a heavy role in the upcoming movie but are integral in the backgrounds of Mar-Vell and Carol. Then we focus on the life, death and legacy of Mar-Vell. His death due to cancer is probably the most impactful death and the one that will never be undone. 

Episode 2 we'll do a deep dive into Monica and Carol so make sure you subscribe so you don't miss it. 

Key Issues:


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Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 7:32am EDT

Carol Danvers makes her live action debut as Captain Marvel next month. To prepare, Kriss and Dpalm are tackling the mantle of Captain Marvel. We're focusing on the three main characters to hold the title in the Marvel Universe (We'll be covering Fawcett/DC's Captain Marvel/Shazam next month): Mar-vell, Monica Rambeau and Carol Danvers. 

But even before that, we start with a little bit of a crash course in the background of the Kree & the Skrull since they're not only playing a heavy role in the upcoming movie but are integral in the backgrounds of Mar-Vell and Carol. Then we focus on the life, death and legacy of Mar-Vell. His death due to cancer is probably the most impactful death and the one that will never be undone. 

Episode 2 we'll do a deep dive into Monica and Carol so make sure you subscribe so you don't miss it. 

Key Issues:


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Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover this week's dose of insanity in the world. This week he's joined by his cohost on just about everything else Kriss records on the network, Dpalm. It's been two weeks since the last show and there's been a LOT of craziness going on. From Fast & the Furious basically becoming a superhero franchise to the FBI rolling up on Roger Stone to some really out-of-touch billionaires. There's a lot to dive into.

Topics:

Guest:

  • Dpalm - @DPalm66 @UDPod

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Direct download: The_Out-of-Touch_Olympics_-_Insanity_Check__630.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 7:32am EDT

Kriss and Dpalm are back for the second part of their break down of the history of comic books. This episode we're tackling the Bronze Age and the Modern Age. Now the Bronze Age goes from approximately 1970 to 1985 and the Modern Age is from 1985 to the present. We think the Modern Age as it's officially broken out is a bit long and could technically be broken out into two more ages. We discuss key moments & books of the Bronze Age, the formation of Image Comics, the comic speculator market bubble bursting, how comics recovered and much more. These time periods in comics are personal to us because these are the conics and moments we grew up with.

Like the last episode Kriss used two audible books for sources (both are also available on Kindle or Paperback):

Superheroes! Capes, Cowls and the Creation of Comic Book Culture

Marvel Comics: The Untold Story

  • Bronze Age (1970 - 1985)
  • Amazing Spider-Man The Green Goblin Lives publishes without the Comic Code Authority Seal
  • Relaxing of the Comic Code Authority Rules
  • Green Lanten/Green Arrow #85-86 Snow Birds Don't Fly story arc
  • Marvel Overtakes DC Market Share
  • The Death of Gwen Stacy
  • X-Men Giant Size #1 and the explosion of the X-Men
  • Superman The Movie and the fight for creator credits
  • Secret Wars 
  • The debate over Crisis on Infinite Earths
  • Modern Age (1985 - present)
  • Where we break the Modern Age up and why
  • The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen
  • DC and Marvel Imprints
  • Image Comics is created
  • The speculator market and the crash of Comic Books
    • The Death of Superman
  • Marvel files for Bankruptcy
  • The rebound

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We're back! New year and so it's time for the return of the Insanity Check. But it's really almost like we didn't even leave. Kanye is still being Kanye, Kevin Hart is still an idiot, Louis CK is back and the Trump Administration is completely collapsing. Happy 2019 folks...we're only 5 days in and it's already a live one.

Topics:

  • Kanye went from MAGA hat wearing to apologizing for MAGA hat wearing back to MAGA hat wearing
  • Louis CK and comedians who don't understand punching down in comedy is hack shit
  • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez makes a rookie mistake: Dancing
  • The GOP's fake outrage and gaslighting over "bad language"
  • Trump resignations: The rats are leaving the sinking ship
  • Poor Nazi: Gavin McInnes feels threatened by "Hate has no place here" signs his neighbors put up
  • Surviving R Kelly: A textbook case on how everyone is complicit in rape culture and failing young black girls
  • Do You Even Sci-Fi Bro?
    • A G spot robot, a fake Russian Robot and Self Driving Cars getting to determine who live or dies....oh yes...we're back!

Guest: Justin - Ljay90

  • ThreeFifsPodcast.com

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Direct download: Cooking_with_Gaslighting_-_Insanity_Check_628.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 11:33am EDT

Time to end 2018 with the final Character Corner subject of 2018: Aquaman. The King of the Seven Seas is getting his first solo film this month and so we're taking a look at the history behind Arthur Curry aka Aquaman. Aquaman is another DC character that has been around since the Golden Age and has seen a lot of drastic changes not only to his origin but his supporting cast as well. He's a character that's struggle to get respect, with many people thinking his only powers are talking to fish and that he's pretty useless outside of water. DC didn't do the character any favors by giving the character the weakness of needing to be in water at least once every hour. All that changed in 1990 when Peter David took over writing Aquaman. First he started by building a foundation for not only Arthur's lineage but also telling the story of how Atlantis became an advanced civilization under the sea. He then takes Arthur on a journey of not only understanding who he is but what it means to be a leader & king. Also, this is where we get the iconic 90's look of Aquaman: Harpoon Handed Aquaman. 

Listen as we break down the early history of Aquaman, a quick run through of the different eras of comic books and then talk about how Peter David brought some respect to Aquaman's name.

Issues:

  • More Fun Comics #73 - First Appearance of Golden Age Aquaman
  • Adventure Comics #229 - First Appearance of Topo
  • Adventure Comics #260 - First Appearance of Silver Age Aquaman
  • Adventure Comics #269 - First Appearance of Garth/Aqualad
  • Brave & the Bold #28 - Founding member of the Justice League
  • Aquaman #11 - First appearance of Mera
  • Aquaman #18 - Becomes King of Atlantis; Marries Mera
  • Aquaman #23 - Arthur Jr (AquaBaby)
  • Aquaman #29 - First Appearance of Orm/Oceanmaster
  • Aquaman #35 - First Appearance of Black Manta
  • Adventure Comics #452 - Black Manta kills Aquababy
  • Legend of Aquaman Special (Aquaman Special #1) - Rewrote Aquaman's origin post crisis
  • Peter David's Run

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Direct download: Aquaman_Part_1_Peter_Davids_Aquaman_-_Character_Corner_66.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 11:51am EDT

We're back! This time instead of diving into your favorite, well-known characters, we're tackling a group that's a little less known: The Doom Patrol. This episode is bit different from other Character Corners we've done since there's not a whole lot of material to pull from for the Doom Patrol. This is a group that ended their first run in the late 70's with the entire team being killed off. We start off our discussion by talking about the comic landscape in the 60's and the claim from one of the Doom Patrol creators (Arnold Drake) that Stan Lee stole the idea of the X-Men from Doom Patrol. While we don't think Stan Lee stole the concept, it does lead to an interesting question: Why did creations like the X-Men & Fantastic Four take off while Doom Patrol failed to really connect? After the Doom Patrol was killed off in the 70's, other creators tried to resurrect them and get them to catch on but not with a lot of success. A lot of writers that have tried to tackle the Doom Patrol even fully admit that at the time, they weren't doing the team justice because they weren't nailing what made these characters so unique and special over at DC. And then Grant Morrison took over. 

Grant Morrison's run on Doom Patrol can be best described as a Clusterfuck of Weirdness and while that might seem like we're speaking negatively about it, it's just the opposite. Morrison's run is probably the definitive run one what the Doom Patrol is and what makes them so unique. Morrison leaned into his own unique viewpoint of the world and created a run that was full of unique and strange villains (Red Jack, The Brotherhood of Dada, the Scissor Men, the Men from N.O.W.H.E.R.E.) and parodies like his Punisher parody, The Beard Hunter. Honestly, if you understand Morrison's Doom Patrol run on your first reading, you should get yourself checked out. That said, it's compelling, interesting and is the most significant when it comes to the Doom Patrol.

Give the episode a listen and let us know what you think. We have two more episodes for 2018 coming up so subscribe and stay tuned!

Original Team:

  • The Chief (Niles Caulder)
  • Robotman (Cliff Steele)
  • Elasti-Girl (Rita Farr)
  • Negative Man (Larry Trainor)

Issues:

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Direct download: Doom_Patrol_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

The great Stan Lee passed on Monday (November 12th) at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy and characters that will forever be remembered and timeless. Kriss and Dpalm talk about what impact Stan Lee and his creations had on them and why he matters so much to the world of comic books. Beyond the huge list of iconic characters he created/co-created, what stuck out so much about Stan Lee is how much he championed for diversity and inclusion in the medium. From creating the first black superhero and black supporting characters like Robbie Robertson to being vocal in the fight against bigotry. Stan Lee revolutionized Marvel with the idea that while super heroes are extraordinary individuals, they still navigate life with the same problems that everyone else has. Not only that, but Stan also championed the idea that there's strength in all of us and anyone could be a hero. Lee really nailed the idea that the Marvel universe represents the world outside of your window. He will be missed but never forgotten

“Let's lay it right on the line. Bigotry and racism are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today. But, unlike a team of costumed super-villains, they can’t be halted with a punch in the snoot, or a zap from a ray gun. The only way to destroy them is to expose them — to reveal them for the insidious evils they really are. The bigot is an unreasoning hater — one who hates blindly, fanatically, indiscriminately. If his hang-up is black men, he hates ALL black men. If a redhead once offended him, he hates ALL redheads. If some foreigner beat him to a job, he’s down on ALL foreigners. He hates people he’s never seen — people he’s never known — with equal intensity — with equal venom.

Now, we’re not trying to say it’s unreasonable for one human being to bug another. But, although anyone has the right to dislike another individual, it’s totally irrational, patently insane to condemn an entire race — to despise an entire nation — to vilify an entire religion. Sooner or later, we must learn to judge each other on our own merits. Sooner or later, if man is ever to be worthy of his destiny, we must fill out hearts with tolerance. For then, and only then, will we be truly worthy of the concept that man was created in the image of God – a God who calls us ALL — His children." - Stan Lee


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Direct download: The_Impact__Influence_of_Stan_Lee_-_Character_Corner_64.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 10:22am EDT

We’re finally back with another Character Corner. Sorry for the delays, been having a lot going on outside of the network and so it’s taken us a while to get back to where we need to be. We’ll definitely be back to a more normal schedule in 2019. We do have a schedule for the rest of 2018 and it’s as follows:
  • Ultimate Spider-Man Part 2 (Hi)
  • The Legacy of Stan Lee
  • Doom Patrol
  • Aquaman Part 1 & 2
Now let’s get into the conclusion of Ultimate Spider-Man...
 
It can’t be understated just how much tragedy Peter Parker suffers and that it's important that it's Peter that suffers it and not just Spider-Man. Because Peter matters in these stories, his sense of responsibility is not only real but backs up the motto "With Great Power There Must Also Come Great Responsibility". Peter doesn’t get the luxury that other heroes have, particularly as a teenager. In the back half of Ultimate Spider-Man, we watch as Peter struggles to keep his identity secret (and doing a poor job) and be a high schooler. One thing that's incredible about the life of Ultimate Universe Peter Parker is that from the moment he's bit to his death, it's really only about 2 years in story. In that context. The back half of ultimate spider-man can be viewed as peter trying to juggle his life as everything falls apart around him
 
For this episode we're breaking this out volume by volume (Volume 11 - 22 of Ulimate Spider-Man) and point to some of the important pieces in each volumes. Then we’ll treat the final issues after Ultimatum (becomes Ultimate Comics Spider-Man) as one big block leading up to, spoiler alert, the death of Peter Parker.
 
Since this episode turned out to be pretty long (just under 2 hours) we decided to keep our Stan Lee discussion separate and it will be released on the Character Corner feed later this week. Make sure you subscribe!
 
Issues: 

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Direct download: Ultimate_Spider-Man_Part_2_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 8:57am EDT

Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover this week's dose of insanity in the world. This week he's joined by Ashanti. We talk the Dems winning back the house, the debate over "vote shaming", a teacher getting donations after beating up a child and China bringing AI anchors (and therefore the beginning of our Robot Overlords) to their news agencies and more.

Topics:

Guest:

  • Ashanti - @NotThatAshanti

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Direct download: Our_Robot_Overlords_Have_Arrived_-_Insanity_Check_626.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 7:04am EDT

Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover this week's dose of insanity in the world. This week he's joined by Aaron from The Black Astronauts Podcast Network. This week we're keeping it short and talking about the most wonderful time of the year: The days of regret when white people realize their offensive Halloween costume was a really dumb idea. 

Topics:

Guest: Aaron


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Direct download: Most_Wonderful_Time_of_the_Year_-_Insanity_Check_625.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 11:10pm EDT

Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover this week's dose of insanity in the world. This week he's joined by Rich from The UnCancelled Podcast. This week we try to bring a lighter tone to a really crazy week (and even crazier 2018). We're talking devil worshipping preteen wannabe murderers, scamming doctors and scientist creating a robot that gives blowjobs. Look...you've been warned.

Topics:

Guest:


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Direct download: The_Blow_Bot_3000_-_Insanity_Check_624.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 3:04pm EDT

Kriss is finally back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover the last few week's of insanity in the world. This week he's joined by Justin from ThreeFifsPodcast. There's a lot to cover, from Kriss figuring out he doesn't actually like Comic Con, Winamp is coming back (cause along with social regression we need a digital one), Trump supporters have a tough time with dating and folks keep trying to fuck robots...which will fuck us all over in the long run.

Topics:

Guest: Justin


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Direct download: GrabEmByThePussy.com_-_Insanity_Check_623.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 11:37pm EDT

In October 2000, Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley launched Ultimate Spider-Man and it quickly became the the ultimate success story for the ultimate line. Benis and Bagley held the record for the longest continual run on a Marvel comic series by two people. Having one creative team for so long allowed Ultimate Spider-Man to take chances and explore the world of a teenage Peter Parker in ways readers hadn’t experienced before. It takes seven issues to retell Peter’s origins, filling in details that were never explored. But not just that, the entire series rebuilds the legacy of Spider-Man from the ground up. And not just with Peter but the entire cast of villains and supporting characters. 
 
Ultimate Spider-Man is a complete rebooting of Spider-Man, not a retelling. Some elements stay the same (the core of the character) but others change. Those changes might seem drastic at times, but the longer you read the more you realize in ways they’re improvements.
 
Listen as Kriss & Dpalm discuss the first 10 volumes (Issues 1 - 59) of Ultimate Spider-Man.

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Direct download: Ultimate_Spider-Man_Part_1_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 11:45pm EDT

We wrap up our discussion about the Robins with Tim Drake and Damian Wayne (with a slight detour to discuss Stephanie Brown). We've covered Tim, Stephanie before in their own Character Corners and touched on Damian's origin in Batman Part 3.  So in this episode we're going to do less of a complete deep dive and more of a conversation about each and where they are now. 

If Dick Grayson and Jason Todd are the “wayward sons”, then Tim and Damian are the sons raised right by Bruce. Obviously Tim is more closely like Dick. He’s the Robin that represents one of the key elements of Batman. Grayson is the acrobat, the clear heir, the one version of Bruce that had someone to catch him and guide him through his anger. Tim is the Detective. He had his own father and family and sees the entire chess board. If you think about it, Grayson and Drake represent elements of Batman without the baggage.

Jason Todd and Damian represent the anger and rage of Bruce Wayne. Jason is the rage and insecurities that Bruce has. Damian, is the Bruce that is constantly seeking the approval of his father. In a way Damian represents Jason Todd's story arc (post-crisis) more fleshed out. Damian is getting the full arc as Robin that Jason never got.

So sit back and get comfortable and listen as we go through the rest of the Robins. Share with your friends and leave us some feedback

Key Issues:


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Wolverine: The Long Night is now on Stitcher. To listen to the whole season, without adds, get Stitcher Premium. Use our code 'TUESDAY' to get a free month: stitcher.com/premium
Direct download: Robins_Part_2__Tim_Drake__Damian_Wayne_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 8:24am EDT

This time it's not Dpalm's fault the world has gone to shit when he's on the Insanity Check. Kriss has been avoiding some of these topics for a while but since the Insanity Check is going on a two week break, we finally have to cover it. Semi-good news? Bill Cosby is going to jail for rape. It's still only 3 - 10 years (and he won't come close to even serving 3) but at last his rapist ass is in jail. And no, this isn't the case to use when talking about racial disparities in the criminal justice system. In lesser positive news, Brett Kavanaugh is going to be put on the Supreme Court. Hope is a lie and this FBI investigation is just a cover for Jeff Flake and other terrible republicans to have an excuse when they confirm him next week.

Topics:

Guest: Dpalm

  • @Dpalm66
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Wolverine: The Long Night is now on Stitcher. To listen to the whole season, without adds, get Stitcher Premium. Use our code 'TUESDAY' to get a free month: stitcher.com/premium

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Direct download: Hope_is_a_Lie_-_Insanity_Check_622.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 9:23am EDT

Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover this week's dose of insanity in the world. This week he's joined by Aaron from the Black Astronauts Podcast Network.

Topics:

Guest: Aaron


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Direct download: The_White_Supremacy_Strikes_Black_-_Insanity_Check_621.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 8:07am EDT

Kriss and Dpalm are back with another Character Corner episode. This time its Part 1 of a two part series on the Robins. Weve covered most of the Robins already in previous episodes like Batman's Rogue Gallery, Tim Drake,  all the Batgirl episodes and our three part Batman series. But weve never really dug deep into each of the Robins and gone into their differences and how they tell the larger story of Batman.

We’re starting with Dick Grayson and Jason Todd not just because chronologically they were the first two robins but also because they represent the larger issues weve seen with Batman & DC Comics when they get translated to movies and TV. Everyone knows Dick Grayson is the first Robin but the reality is, by the time most of us were reading comics and aware of Batman, Grayson was far removed from being Robin. Same could be said for Jason Todd. Jason was first introduced in 1983 and was killed off in 1988. The first two Robins came and went before most people today were even 10. And thats where we see DC getting into trouble. The mantle of Robin is almost just as important and divisive as Batman. There isn't another sidekick character in which you have 4-5 drastically different character holding the title and all of them are just about important. Dick, Jason, Tim/Stephanie and Damien.

Were gonna go through each Robin and talk not just about some of their key issues but really dive into how theyre different from each other, and the role they play in Bruce/Batmans life. First up...the heir & the prodigal son: Richard & Jason.

Key Issues:

  • First Appearaances
    • Detective Comics #38 - First appearance of Dick Grayson/Robin
    • Tales of the Teen Titans #44 - First appearance of Dick Grayson as Nightwing
    • Batman #357 - First appearance of Jason Todd (Pre-Crisis)
    • Batman #366 - First appearance of Jason Todd as Robin (Pre-Crisis)
  • Early Years
  • Enter Jason Todd
    • Batman #408 - First appearance of Post-Crisis Jason Todd
    • Batman #410 - Post-Crisis Todd's first appearance as Robin
    • New Teen Titans vol 2 #20
    • Nightwing Year One
    • Batman #416 - Jason & Dick meet for the first time; Bruce admits to why he replaced Grayson
  • Death of Jason Todd
    • Batman #422
    • Batman #424 - Does Jason kill Garzonas or not?
    • Batman #426 - 429 - Death in the Family
  • Batman Prodigal
    • Batman #512
    • Shadow of the Bat #32
    •  
    • Detective Comics #679
    • Robin Vol 4 #11
    • Batman #513
    • Shadow of the Bat #33
    • Detective Comics #680
    • Robin Vol 4 #12
    • Batman #514
    • Shadow of the Bat #34
    • Detective Comics #681
    • Robin Vol 4 #13
  • Nightwing series
  • Return of Jason Todd
  • Battle for the Cowl
  • Batman & Robin
  • Grayson
  • Red Hood and the Outlaws (Rebirth)

Other Batman Related Episodes:


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Direct download: Robins_Part_1_Dick_Grayson__Jason_Todd_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 10:57pm EDT

Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover this week's dose of insanity in the world. This week he's joined by Tim (@peoplescrtic)

Topics:

Guest: Tim

  • https://blog.seattlepi.com/peoplescritic/
  • @peoplescrtic

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Direct download: Ramen_Robin_Hood_-_Insanity_Check_619.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 11:07pm EDT

We wrap up our creator spotlight on Jonathan Hickman with him destroying and rewriting the Marvel Universe(s). Hickman's Avengers run is so good because it ties in with his previous work with the Fantastic Four and S.H.I.E.L.D. perfect and really brings everything home. The way that New Avengers and Avengers seem to start off as different books but slowly reveal to be telling the same story is masterful.

If you want the full picture of what we discussed, make sure you listen to our episodes on Hickman's Fantastic Four and Secret Warriors/S.H.I.E.L.D. runs first. 

Reading Order:

Ultimate Comics :

  • Ultimate Comics Ultimates 1 - 6
  • Ultimate Comics Hawkeye 1 -4
  • Ulitmate Comics Ultimates 7 - 12

Avengers and New Avengers

  • New Avengers #1 - 3
  • Avengers #1 - 6
  • New Avengers #4 - 6
  • Avengers #7 - 13
  •  New Avengers #7
  • Avengers #14 - 17
  • Infinity
    • Infinity #1
    • New Avengers #8
    • Avengers #18
    • New Avengers #9
    • Infinity #2
    • New Avengers #10
    • Avengers #19
    • Infinity #3
    • Avengers #20
    • Infinity #4
    • Avengers #21
    • New Avengers #11
    • Infinity #5
    • Avengers #22 - 23
    • Infinity #6
    • New Avengers #12
  • New Avengers #13
  • Avengers #24
  • New Avengers #14 - 15
  • New Avengers Annual #1
  • Avengers #25 - 34
  • New Avengers #16 - 23
  • Time Runs Out
    • Avengers #35
    • New Avengers #24
    • Avengers #36
    • New Avengers #26
    • Avengers #38
    • New Avengers #27
    • Avengers #39
    • New Avengers #28
    • Avengers #40
    • New Avengers #29
    • Avengers #41
    • New Avengers #30
    • Avengers #42
    • New Avengers #31 - 32
    • Avengers #43
    • New Avengers #33
    • Avengers #44
  • Secret Wars
    • 1 - 9

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Direct download: Hickmans_Avengers_Run_-_Time_Runs_Out_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 10:31pm EDT

Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover this week's dose of insanity in the world. This week he's joined by Joi (@jumpedforjoi). They discuss Joi's upcoming trip to TIFF and what she's looking forward to seeing, the Pennsylvania Catholic Church basically running a pedophile ring, disgusting Middle school parents threatening a transgender girl and more.

Topics:

Guest: Joi


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Direct download: Tax-Free_Pedophilia_-_Insanity_Check_617.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 8:29am EDT

We’re continuing our look at Jonathan Hickman’s Marvel run by going all the way back to the beginning and talking about his Secret Warriors and S.H.I.E.L.D. runs. We only touch on a bit of Secret Warriors since we’ve covered that before but we’ve never talked about S.H.I.E.L.D which has its foundations laid in Secret Warriors and explains several things from Hickman’s Fantastic Four run (Ever wanted to know how Nathan Richards got time travel abilities?).

The thing to understand about S.H.I.E.L.D is that it is super ambitious and leaves a lot on the table. This is a book that involves Leonardo Da Vinci and Sir Isaac Newton being members of The Brotherhood of the Shield, a Celestial driven mad when it reads the “Quiet Math” (the solution for everything), Howard Stark and Nathan Richards being members of the Brotherhood of the SHIELD and chasing down Nikola Tesla and many many other things. It’s crazy, it’s nuts and what’s really mind blowing is, the story might not be done yet. There are many questions left unanswered and we discuss how we are starting to see evidence that we might be getting answers soon.

Take a trip down this crazy road with us as we try to get all this information out of our heads.


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Direct download: Hickmans_Secret_Warriors_S.H.I.E.L.D._-_Comic_Book_Book_Club.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 8:20am EDT

PODCAST WEEK 2018 IS HERE! We're releasing a UDPod episode every day this week, and today we take a look at a not-so-loaded AFC. Be sure to subscribe to the UDPod feed to ensure you get a full dose of audio greatness.

https://oembed.libsyn.com/embed?item_id=6928283

Guest: MBarso - @mbarso

JOIN OUR 2018 NFL PICK 'EM CHALLENGE! WIN PRIZES OR LOSE TO ME PUBLICLY!

 


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Direct download: 2018_AFC_Preview_-_Unanimous_Decision_104.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 5:47am EDT

Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover this week's dose of insanity in the world. This week he's joined by Shanna to recap more of SDCC, talk weird porn, call out dumb pastors and more.

Topics:

Guest: Shanna


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Direct download: F__kin_Weird_-_Insanity_Check_615.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 10:00pm EDT

After an extended hiatus, Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check. Since SDCC is recently over, this week Kriss is joined by Phenom from Where's My 40 Acres. Before jumping into a bit of a recap of SDCC they start off talking about how much they didn't miss discussing the craziness out in the world.

Topics:

Guest: Phenom


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Direct download: RefuJesus_-_Insanity_Check_614.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:51pm EDT

Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover this week's dose of insanity in the world. And this week was pretty insane. This week he's joined by a veteran of the MTR Network, Shanna. Shanna is launching her own comic, Young God, discusses what the comic is about and why folks should support.

Topics:

Guest: Shanna


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Direct download: You_Were_Duped_-_Insanity_Check_613.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 8:32pm EDT

Kriss and Dpalm are back with another...wait...is this a Character Corner or a  Comic Book Book Club? If you didn't know we're trying something new on the Character Corner podcast feed. We'll still be doing break downs of our favorite characters but in order to bring new content to the listeners, we're also going to be bringing some Comic Book Book Club episodes to the Character Corner. For this episode, we continue our dive into IDW's Transformers world with Chaos Theory, Last Stand of the Wreckers and Sins of the Wreckers.  

Now I know what you're thinking "Transformers? Really?" But these books are fantastic. Go listen to the IDW Primer also on the feed as well as when we discussed the first 22 issues of More Than Meets the Eye. Once you get over the initial hump of reading about giant robots you'll realize how human and real these books are. They deal with a lot of relevant topics in today's world:

Topics:

Chaos Theory:

  • Optimus Prime...sorry...Orion Pax is a bad ass
  • Optimus and Megatron were almost on the same sidea
  • Never Forget: This is all Whirl's fault

Last Stand of the Wreckers

  • A stark reminder that War isn't fun and has lasting affects
  • Here are the rules to be a Wrecker....as the Wreckers break every single one of them
  • Overlord is a sociopath
  • The reason why Fortress Maximus had PTSD over Overlord and Garrius-9
  • The Autobots had their fair share of war crimes
  • We're not saying Impactor was right but...we understand.

Sins of the Wreckers

  • Calling Prowl a "prick" is a bit of an understatement
  • Who Springer really is

If you sign up for premium you can hear us talk about the end of More Than Meets the Eye which also tie into these issues as well.


 

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Direct download: Last_Stand_of_the_Wreckers_-_Comic_Book_Book_Club.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 5:14am EDT

Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover this week's dose of insanity in the world. This week he's joined by Rod & Karen from the Black Guy Who Tips.

Topics:

  • Kids listen to XXXTentacion for the same reason we listened to Tupac when our parents hated him
  • Get off the moral soapbox
  • XXXTentacion's crimes were horrific
  • Why do men get to be redeemed in death while women have everything stick to them?
  • Melania and Ivanka don't need your capes and are part of the problem
  • It's not just the southern border 
  • Republicans are on some Willie Horton shit 24/7 now
  • Rep. Steve King's ridiculously racist reason for not wanting Somali Muslims working in his district
  • Great Moments in White Privilege
  • Do You Even Sci-Fi Bro?

Guest: Rod & Karen


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Direct download: They_Really_Dont_Care_-_Insanity_Check_612.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 7:54am EDT

Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover this week's dose of insanity in the world. This week he's joined by Leslie Mac. They talk about the overwhelming amount of news coming out each week and how it's becoming almost impossible to keep up. It's draining and if not careful, one can find themselves feeling completely lost and helpless.

Topics:

Guest: Leslie Mac


 

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Direct download: WTF_is_Shaun_King_Talking_About__-_Insanity_Check_611.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 6:46am EDT

In 2005, the Transformers comic license had found it's way to IDW Publishing and back into the hands of beloved Transformers scribe Simon Furman. Only, things didn't necessarily go according to plan in those initial issues as the man behind the keyboard spun a tale largely absent the well worn trappings of the franchise. To say the fan base was uneasy is to put it mildly so fresh off of the collapse of Dreamwave Productions.

Thirteen years, more issues than any other Transformers universe, and the longest running singular continuity across the Transformers landscape later, and it's all coming to a close with the arrival of Unicron. Originally made famous by film legend Orson Welles in the 1986 animated movie,  this planet eating threat will put a bow on the most critically successful era of Transformers ever.

To recap how we got here, we're joined by one of the hosts of the TransMissions Podcast, Charles Shelton and chart the entire IDW Transformers timeline from Infiltration to Unicron. We talk about how IDW has been forever transformed by the property, our predictions for how this is all going to unfold, and ask what's next for the nearly 35 year old franchise.

Issues:

 


 

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Direct download: Transformers__Enter_Unicron_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover this week's dose of insanity in the world. This week he's joined by another voice familiar to the MTR Network, Shanna.

Topics:

Guest:  Shanna


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Direct download: Blame_it_on_the_Ambien_-_Insanity_Check_610.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 8:27pm EDT

Kriss is back with another episode of the Insanity Check to cover this week's dose of insanity in the world. This week he's joined by Justin from the Three Fifs Podcast to talk about how the 2018 Nazis have reemerged and beating everyone at their own game.

Topics:

Guest: Justin

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Direct download: The__Good_Guys__-_Insanity_Check_609.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:25pm EDT

Kriss is joined this week by Tim (@peoplescrtic) to talk a long week of insanity.

Topics:

 

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Direct download: Straight_White_Males_-_Insanity_Check_608.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 8:22pm EDT

With Deadpool 2 hitting theaters this weekend we've finally recorded our Character Corner episode on Nathaniel Christopher Charles Summers, aka, Cable. Now first off, we've touched on a lot of the early years with Nathan/Cable already in some previous Character Corners. We cover Nathan's birth and being sent to the future in the Cyclops & Alex episode as well as him being genetically created specifically to be a weapon against Apocalypse in our Apocalypse & Mister Sinister episode. And if you want more on Deadpool and Cable's relationship, we covered that all the way back in our Deadpool Character Corner.

Now Cable wasn't originally created to be the grown up, future Nathan Summers. Originally Louise Simonson and Rob Liefeld created him to just be a military leader who was the complete opposite of Professor X and would lead the young New Mutants. Things changed rather quickly as the character became more popular and soon it was revealed he was not only Nathan Summers but his clone was Stryfe who founded the Mutant Liberation Front. It only gets stranger and weirder from here and we cover it all. From his half sister from an alternate timeline (Rachel Summers/Grey) to Cable going becoming the protector and father of Hope Summers. There's a lot going on, it can be convoluted but it's all connected. We try to make sense of it all.

http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/6608270

Issues:

  • Uncanny X-Men #201 - First appearance of Nathan Summers
  • X-Factor #68 - Infected with the Techno-Organic virus and sent to the future
  • New Mutants #86 - First Appearance of Stryfe
  • New Mutants #87 - First Appearance of Cable 
  • X-Force #1
  • Cable Volume 1 (1993)
    • Issue #6 he's confirmed to be Nathan Summers
  • The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix - Scott & Jean get pulled into the future by Rachel Summers to raise the young Nathan
  • X-Cutioner's Song
    • Uncanny X-Men #294
    • X-Factor #84
    • X-Men #14
    • X-Force #16
    • Uncanny X-Men #295
    • X-Factor #85
    • X-Men #15
    • X-Force #17
    • Uncanny X-Men #296
    • X-Factor #86
    • X-Men #16
    • X-Force #18
    • Uncanny X-Men #297
  • Soldier X
  • Cable & Deadpool (2004)
  • Messiah Complex Saga
    • Messiah Complex
    • Cable Vol 2 (2009)
    • Messiah War
      • X-Force/Cable Messiah War #1
      • Cable vol 2 #13
      • X-Force Vol 3 #14
      • Cable Vol 2 #14
      • X-Force Vol 3 #15
      • Cable Vol 2 #15
      • X-Force Vol 3 #16
    • X-Men Second Coming
      • X-Men Second Coming #1
      • Uncanny X-Men #523
      • New Mutants Vol 3 #12
      • X-Men Legacy #235
      • X-Factor #204
      • X-Force Vol 3 #26
      • Uncanny X-Men #524
      • X-Men Hellbound #1
      • New Mutants Vol 3 #13
      • X-Men Blind Science #1
      • X-Men Legacy #236
      • X-Factor #205
      • X-Force Vol 3 #27
      • Uncanny X-Men #525
      • X-Men Hellbound #2
      • New Mutants Vol 3 #14
      • X-Men Legacy #237
      • X-Factor #206
      • X-Force Vol 3 #28
      • X-Men Hellbound #3
      • X-Men Second Coming #2
  • Avengers X-Sanction
  • Avengers vs X-Men
  • Cable and X-Force
  • X-Force Volume 4
  • Cable Volume 3

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Direct download: Cable_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 9:57am EDT

You'd think after Universal FanCon spectacularly crashed and burned, co-founders Robert Butler and Jamie Broadnax would keep a low profile and not say anything. Particularly since every time they speak on the issue, they make it worse. You'd probably think that because you have the intelligence to know that the more you speak the more you make yourself look bad. You probably also have an ounce of shame that's apparently completely absent from anyone involved with ScamCon. Late Monday afternoon, Vulture posted this piece The Story Behind FanCon's Controversial Collapse and it makes everyone involved look even worse. 

First there's Butler inexplicably blaming a "lack of support" from the blerd community as the cause of the collapse and not the fact that he used 80% of the Kickstarter funds as a deposit for the Baltimore Convention Center. Then there's Jamie claiming she's the one who informed the hotels that they couldn't pay their $70,000 bill even though she previously claimed she had no idea how or why the hotels canceled reservations. It quickly becomes clear that Universal FanCon was all about rubbing elbows with celebrities and not building and serving the community.

Listen as Kriss and Phenom break down the audacity of the claims in the article.

 

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Direct download: Universal_ScamCon_Gets_Worse_-_Insanity_Check.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 6:06am EDT

We're back with our latest edition of Dope Talk, and this week, we continue to celebrate MUCH more interesting people than your loyal host! We've got Roe Hartrampf from Netflix's Game Over Man to talk the experience of shooting this film with the entire Workaholics gang. He also takes us to his origin story from local theater, to NYU, to the set of Power, all the way to present day.

Twitter - @RoeHartrampf - The Foster Portfolio - Game Over, Man!

Direct download: Actor_Roe_Hartrampf_-_Dope_Talk_4.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 8:09am EDT

It's 10 years of the Insanity Check and what better way of celebrating than by bringing on the first guest ever to be on the Insanity Check, Jax.

Topics:

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Direct download: Being_Ignorant_is_a_Choice_-_Insanity_Check_606.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 8:09pm EDT

Kriss talks with Sam Stevquoah about his own production company's flagship animated project, Mill City's Finest. Sam describes Mill City's Finest as an "urban, superhero coming of age story" in the same vein as Young Justice and Static Shock

We chat about how Sam got involved in animation, what makes this series so unique and culturally diverse and what's next to get more people behind this project. 

Make sure you follow Sam and Mill City's Finest on social media.

Twitter:  @Stevquoahjr @mcfseries

Instagram: @Stevquoahjr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcfseries

Mill City's Finest Youtube Page


Avengers Infinity War is in theaters now and is already crushing records (and souls). While you wait for Avengers 4 to come out, now is a perfect time to catch up on Thanos in the comics to see just how accurate the movie is. But before we can get into Thanos, we first have to give a brief overview of Marvel Cosmic. We've touched on Marvel Cosmic a bit with Inhumans and when we talked Alex Summers. But Thanos throws us right in the middle of it. Jim Starlin really helped solidify the cosmic side of Marvel and so we give a condensed rundown of the Celestials, Eternals, Adam Warlock and more. Trust us, we will revisit all of this more in later episodes in more details.

We then jump forward a bit to go through Jason Aaron's Thanos Rising which while it's more recent (2013), it gives a pretty great (and dark) view of Thanos' origins. Then its back to the early 90's and Thanos collecting the Infinity Stones (or rather, Soul gems as they were called) in Thanos Quest, the Infinity Gauntlet crossover and more.

We end with the recent Thanos solo book that if you're not reading it...you're missing out on greatness.

Reading List (As usually with Marvel, most of these are on Marvel Unlimited)

  • First Appearance
    • Iron Man #55
    • Captain Marvel #25 - 32
    • Avengers #125
    • Captain #33 - 34
  • Thanos Returns
    • Strange Tales 178 - 181
    • Warlock 9 - 15
    • Marvel Team-up 55
    • Avengers Annual #7
    • Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2
  • Silver Surfer
    • #34 - #38
  • Thanos Quest
    • Thanos collecting the Soul Gems (what the Infinity Stones used to be called)
  • Infinity Gauntlet #1 - 6
  • Infinity War
  • Secret Defenders 11-14
  • Cosmic Powers
  • The Thanos Imperative
  • Thanos Rising (Jason Aaron)
  • Infinity #1 - 6
    • #1 - First appearance of The Black Order
  • New Avengers
    • Vol 3 #23
  • Secret Wars
  • Ultimates
  • Thanos

Marvel and Stitcher Premium have released a 10-episode scripted series called Wolverine: The Long Night.  It’s Marvel’s first serious foray into podcasting. Just go to Stitcher.com/Premium and use the code 'TUESDAY' to get a free month of Stitcher Premium to enjoy not only Wolverine: The Long Night but also ad-free listening and bonus episodes from other podcasts. 

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Direct download: Thanos_The_Black_Order__the_Infinity_Gems_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 7:34am EDT

We're taking a bit of a break this week from the Insanity Check but that doesn't mean we don't have anything for you. Kriss talks to L Joy Williams from Sunday Civics about getting more people involved and increasing civic engagement. She talks about the civic engagement booth she was going to run at Universal FanCon and what she's doing to help at the grassroots level to get more people involved. 

Support L Joy: 

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Direct download: Boosting_Civic_Engagement_-_Insanity_Check.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 6:45am EDT

Fifty-Two.

That's how many people were listed on the about page for Universal FanCon. A lot of them (not all) are silent as to why a fan convention that took in almost $57,000, has been planned for two years and was scheduled to start NEXT WEEK was suddenly canceled leaving fans, guests, vendors and others wondering how this got to this point. Kriss is joined by Justin from 3FifsPodcast (who was going to have a panel at Universal FanCon) to discuss the audacity and complete bullshit behind this clusterfuck.

Topics:

PLEASE SUPPORT ARTISTS/CREATORS AFFECTED BY UNIVERSAL FANCON BEING CANCELLED:
https://universalartistalley.tumblr.com/

Direct download: Fifty-Two_-_Insanity_Check_605.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:47pm EDT

We finish up the Dark Knight himself with what might be the greatest and longest streak of great stories for a solo character. From the time Grant Morrison takes over Batman to today’s Tom King Run, we have what is arguably the best storytelling at DC. It gets weird, it gets crazy and it brings in things all the way from the 50’s & 60’s. If you want to truly understand Bruce Wayne and Batman, pick up the Grant Morrison Batman omnibus and strap in, you’re going to be in for a ride.

 

Issues:

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Direct download: Batman_Part_3_The_Man_Behind_the_Mask_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 6:40am EDT

This week Kriss is joined by Dalbin Osorio who is running for Montgomery County Councilperson District 1 here in Maryland. Obviously this is going to be a politics heavy episode so strap in.

Topics:

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Direct download: Stranger_than_Fiction_-_Insanity_Check_604.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 6:09pm EDT

Kriss is joined by long time MTR Network contributor, Shanna (@ShittyBonMots) for this week's episode. They talk about a wide-range of topics from WonderCon to Misdemeanor Michael getting dragged to the problems with Bernie Sanders. 

Topics:

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Direct download: Whose_Man_is_This___-_Insanity_Check_603.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 6:20pm EDT

We’re back with Part 2 of our Batman Character Corner. Part 1 focused mostly on the early comics up through the introduction of Tim Drake in Batman #440. For this episode, before diving back into the comics, we wanted to cover the other media that Batman has been prevalent in. Considering that TV has had a big impact on Batman in the comics, we felt throwing this episode in between the two comic focused episodes was best. Both the 66 TV show and the early 90’s Animated Series have led to some characters making their way from the TV screen to the comic book pages. Also Batman’s presence on TV and in film have had an huge impact on his popularity and for many, was their first introduction to not just Batman but comic book characters.

So sit back and listen as we dive into the world of Batman from TV to Film to even Video Games.

TV:

  • 66 Batman
  • Super Friends
  • Batman The Animated Series
  • Justice League
  • The New Batman Adventures
  • Batman Beyond

Live Action Movies

  • Batman The Movie
  • Burton/Schumacher
    • Batman
    • Batman Returns
    • Batman Forever
    • Batman and Robin
  • Nolan
    • Batman Begins
    • The Dark Knight
    • The Dark Knight Rises
  • Snyder
    • Batman v Superman
    • Justice League

Animated Movies (too many to list all):

  • Mask of the Phantasm
  • The Red Hood
  • The Dark Knight Part 1 & 2

Video Games:

  • Arkham Asylum
  • Arkham City
  • Arkham Knight

Kriss is joined by Mr. Spann from The Spann Report for a long overdue show. Spann recently reporded the 200th episode of The Spann Report and they talk about the ups and downs he's experienced with getting into Podcasting the last 7 years. 

Topics:

  • Doing solo shows is hard. 
  • Finding the right people to podcast with
  • Finding your own voice and not letting what others are doing stop your progress
  • Mr. (Killer) Mike...what are you doing?
  • Apparently there will be an opioid memorial because...white
  • Laura Ingraham learns that she can't attack the white kids of Parkland like she did black people

Check out Mr. Spann's shows as well as merchandise (get that SJW shirt)

 
Direct download: Take_Two_-_Insanity_Check_602.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:00pm EDT

It all started with an idea. 10 years ago Marvel Studios launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe and nothing was the same again. Ten years and 18 (soon to be 19) films and over 15 BILLION dollars. It’s the highest grossing movie franchise of all time and Marvel Studios is one of the most innovative companies and movie studios there is. So how did it all start? We break it down and go over the history of Marvel Studios from creation all the way up to our reaction to the Infinity War trailer. So strap in and give it a listen.

Phase 1:

  • Iron Man
  • The Incredible Hulk
  • Iron Man 2
  • Thor
  • Captain America: The First Avenger
  • Marvel’s The Avengers

Phase 2:

  • Iron Man 3
  • Thor: The Dark World
  • Captain America: The Winter Soldier
  • Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • Ant-Man

Phase 3:

  • Captain America: Civil War
  • Doctor Strange
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming
  • Thor: Ragnarok
  • Black Panther
  • Avengers: Infinity War
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp
  • Captain Marvel
  • Avengers 4

This time on the Character Corner we’re finally talking about The Batman. We’ve talked around Batman for a while now. We covered him a bit in our Suicide Squad Character Corner, then the Rogue Wars episode on is villains. We’ve also covered one Robin and all of the Batgirls and even Batwoman. So it’s about time we finally dive into discussing the big guy himself.

We’ll be breaking this out into three parts. For this first part we cover the early years of Batman up to the introduction of Tim Drake as Robin. That’s about forty years of history from 1939 when he first appeared in Detective Comics #27 to the late 80’s and A Lonely Place of Dying. We also spend some time addressing the tragic story of Bill Finger who for the longest time was the uncredited creator of not just Batman but a lot of Batman’s villains as well as the classic conceptions we associate with the character. If you have Hulu, you should definitely check out Batman & Bill that goes into way more detail over how poorly DC treated Bill Finger and how everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves.

Issues:

  • Writer Bill Finger
    • Detective Comics #27 – The Case of the Chemical Syndicate – First Appearance
    • Detective Comics #29 – First Utility Belt
    • Detective Comics #31 – First batarang and first bat-themed vehicle
    • Detective Comics #33 – First telling of origin
    • Detective Comics #38 - First Appearance of Robin (Dick Grayson)
    • Batman #1 – First Appearance of The Joker & Catwoman
  • Superman #76 – First teamup with Superman
  • World’s Finest Comics
  • The Brave and the Bold #28 – Joins JLA
  • Tales of the Demon (1971-1980)
    • Detective Comics #411 – First appearance of Talia Al Ghul
    • Batman #232 – Daughter of the Demon (First appearance of Ra’s al Ghul)
    • Batamn #235
    • Batman #240
    • Batman #242
    • Batman #243
    • Batman #244 – The Demon Lives Again
    • DC Special Series #15
    • Detective Comics #489
    • Detective comics #490
  • Strange Apparitions
    • Detective Comics #469-479
  • Batman #357 – First appearance of Jason Todd (Pre-Crisis)
  • Batman #366 – First Appearance of pre-Crisis Jason Todd as Robin
  • Batman #408 – First Appearance of post-Crisis Jason Todd
  • Batman #410 – Post-Crisis Jason Todd as Robin
  • The Dark Knight Returns (Frank Miller)
  • The Killing Joke
  • Batman: Year One (Frank Miller)
  • Batman: Death in the Family
  • Batman #436 – First appearance of Tim Drake
  • A Lonely Place of Dying
    • Batman #440
    • New Titans #60
    • Batman #441
    • New Titans #61
    • Batman #442 First Appearance of Tim Drake as Robin

Short list of some of Bill Finger’s Batman Creations:

  • Batman
  • Joker
  • The Penguin
  • Scarecrow
  • Two-Face
  • The Riddler
  • The Calendar Man
  • Gotham City

Part 2 of this series we’ll take a break from the comics and go into some of the other media interpretations of Batman and then we’ll return for the rest of the comic history for Part 3.

On March 12th, Marvel and Stitcher Premium are releasing a 10-episode scripted series called Wolverine: The Long Night.  It’s Marvel’s first serious foray into podcasting. Just go to Stitcher.com/Premium and use the code 'TUESDAY' to get a free month of Stitcher Premium to enjoy not only Wolverine: The Long Night but also ad-free listening and bonus episodes from other podcasts. 

Direct download: Batman_Part_1_-_Bill__The_Bat_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 6:17am EDT

We're one episode away from the 600th Insanity Check. But before that, Kriss is running a gauntlet of podcasting with 7 days straight of podcasting and what better way to bring that run to a close than with the person he talks to most with: Host of the Unanimous Decision Podcast, Dpalm

Look the world didn't end with Dpalm being a guest this week but you know we can never just do a regular show. So we threw out the show notes and we covered a bunch of random (but oddly related things) from the Oscars still having a problem with black movies to Michael Steele realizing his party is racist to the stupidity with the "gun debate".  We even throw in some comic book talk. Like I said, we were all over the place but it was a great show so make sure you subscribe and listen.

Direct download: Welcome_Black_Michael_Steele_-_Insanity_Check_599_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 5:04pm EDT

We're back with another Character Corner. This time we're doing double the trouble with two classic X-Men villains: Apocalypse and Mister Sinister. It's actually pretty fitting that we do these two at this point. We recently did an episode on the Summers brothers, Scott & Alex. And we're also planning on doing an episode on Cable and the rest of the Summers bloodline. Throwing Sinister and Apocalypse in between those two seems pretty fitting considering how tied these villains are to the Summers clan. So in this episode we skip over some stuff but only because we'll be diving into more detail when we do that other episode.

The interesting thing about Apocalypse and Mister Sinister is how due to their longevity they've been incorporated into almost everything. Some for the good and some for the bad. But their tale is one that spans generations and overall, is pretty damn good. So sit back and give this episode a listen to find out just out evil these two are.

And for the record, we should make it very clear, neither of these characters are #VillainAgenda. They're just pure evil. It's like Hitler and Josef Mengele. 

Oh and Louise Simonson is a national fucking hero. Put some respect on her name.

Key Issues:

Apocalypse

  • X-Factor Volume 1
    • Issue #5 – First Cameo
    • Issues #6 – First full appearance
    • Issue #15 = First appearance of The Horsemen
    • Issue #24 – Archangel revealed as Death
    • Issues #65 – 68
      • First appearance of the Dark Riders
      • Infects baby Nate Summers with techno-organic virus
    • Cable Volume 1
      • #75
    • X-Cutioner’s Song
    • Cable Vol 2 #19 – Resurrected
    • Age of Apocalypse
    • The Twelve
    • Uncanny X-Force

Mister Sinister

  • Mutant Massacre
    • Uncanny X-Men #213 – Sabretooth first mentions the character
    • Uncanny X-M3n #221 – First appearance
  • Inferno
    • Uncanny X-Men #241 – Reveals that he cloned Madelyne Pryor from Jean Grey
    • X-Factor #39 – Cyclops “Destroys”
  • Classic X-Men #41 – 42
  • X-Factor
    • #74 & #75 – The Nasty Boys
  • X-Cutioner’s Song (1992-1993)
  • X-Men #23 – Brothers
  • The Further Adventures of Phoenix and Cyclops
  • Cable Annual 1999
  • Gambit Ties
    • X-Men Volume 2 #6 – Sabretooth suggests that he has ties to Remy
    • X-Men #41 – 45
    • Uncanny X-Men #350
    • Gambit #13 – 23
      • Explains some of Sinister’s new powers including shapeshifting (got them from experimenting on Courier)
    • X-Men 99 – 103
    • Messiah Complex
      • Mystique “kills” him
    • X-Men Legacy #211 – 214
      • Xavier Ties
    • X-23
    • Uncanny X-Men #544
    • Uncanny X-Men #14 - 17 (AvX Tie-In)

If you like this episode and want to hear more, make sure you subscribe to the Character Corner Podcast (We're now on Spotify!)

Direct download: Apocalypse__Mister_Sinister_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 12:03am EDT

Kriss is joined by Rich (@RichJones15) to talk about the last couple of crazy weeks. From the high of Black Panther to the lows of yet another mass shooting in America. 

Topics:

Direct download: More_of_the_Same_-_Insanity_Check_598.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 6:28pm EDT

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Kriss is joined this episode by Aaron from the Black Astronauts Podcast network. This is yet another different Insanity Check where we drop some of our more familiar segments and just have a conversation. Kriss and Aaron give advice to new podcasters and creatives on how to build a community. They also talk about some of the tax and financial information that we don't learn as kids but probably should.

This is another informative episode that you're not going to want to miss.

Topics:

  • Advice to people following their creative passions
  • Playing the long game
  • We need to teach financial literacy at a younger age
  • The new tax bill and how it could affect you
  • Getting money back for Taxes isn't actually a great thing
  • Father almost beats up Larry Nassar in court
  • Why Uma Thurman is angry (fuck Quentin Tarantino)
  • Monique's Netflix deal was way worse than her being underpaid

Check out the Black Panther gear we have in our Amazon Store!

Direct download: Shutting_the_Fuck_Up_is_Free_-_Insanity_Check_596.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 6:19pm EDT

*Note* Excuse the audio issues this episode. I was partly sick when recording this and didn't check my settings.*


We’re back! While our Summers Brothers episode was technically the first Character Corner of 2018, we recorded it in 2017, so this Lex Luthor episode is the first real episode of 2018. And you all are in for a treat. This episode is slightly different from our other Character Corners. We still go through the history of Lex but we spend more time really discussing and breaking down the core of the character. Unlike other DC characters, the core of Lex Luthor has strangely been consistent throughout his depictions. Sure his early first appearance in Action Comics #23 really set up as the ridiculous comic book villain stereotype, but the interesting thing about Lex is how his depiction mirrors the “stereotyped” bad guy of the era he’s in.  He’s been a ridiculous caricature of a bad guy in the 40’s, evil real estate billionaire, overweight and shrewd corporate exec and even a billionaire evil President. Each version might have a reworked background but for a DC character, he’s oddly enough very consistent in how he’s portrayed.
 
The basis of Lex is always his absurd hatred of Superman followed by his true belief that if not for Superman, he himself would be a good guy/hero. There are some really great non-canon stories that show this (Lex Luthor: Man of Steel and All-Star Superman for example). 
 
This is a great episode that you’re not gonna want to miss as we break down what makes Lex Luthor tick. Oh and Kriss makes it very clear, Lex doesn’t qualify for his “Villain Agenda”. Find out why.

Key Issues (we cover a lot more than what’s listed here):

  • Action Comics #43 - First Appearance
  • Non-Canon 
    • Lex Luthor: Man of Steel
    • All-Star Superman (Grant Morrison)
      • Issue #5 - Clark visits Lex in jail
  • The Man of Steel (1986) - John Byrne redesigns the character
    • Issue #4 - sets up a hostage situation on his own boat to try to hire Superman
  • The Death of Superman: Superman vol1 #149
  • Superman vol 2 #2 - Is told Clark Kent is Superman, doesn’t believe it
  • President Luthor
    • President Luthor: Secret Files & Origins
    • Our Worlds at War
    • Superman - Batman (Jeph Loeb)
      • Vol 1 - Public Enemies - Whole series is great, first 6 issues deal with the end of President Lex 
  • Superman: Birthright (Mark Waid)
  • Infinite Crisis
  • Fifty-Two
    • Issues 34 & 35 - Turns off the Everyman powers for citizens and makes it “rain bodies” on New Years 
  • New Krypton saga
    • Superman: New Krypton
    • Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton
    • Superman: War of the Supermen
  • Superman: The Black Ring
  • Forever Evil
  • Rebirth
Direct download: Lex_Luthor_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 12:18pm EDT

This is a special Insanity Check. This week Kriss was reminded that he launched his first website, TheInsanityReport.com which then led to the Insanity Check podcast, 11 years ago. He's joined by Rod from The Black Guy Who Tips and they talk about what got them into Podcast, what lessons they've learned and give advice to those who want to start. They also reminisce about the infamous 4LOKO Podcast Party.

Topics:

Check out the Black Panther gear we have in our Amazon Store!

Direct download: Turn_that_N-Word_Music_Off_-_Insanity_Check_595.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 3:48pm EDT

We’re back with the latest Insanity Check episode and we have a lot to talk about. It’s no longer funny: We really have to discuss this whole Sex Bot thing going on. Make no mistake, sex bots will be what kill us all. I’m not even joking. It all goes down from here. 

Oh and we end this episode by scaring the shit out of you. You're welcome.

Topics:

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Direct download: Sex_Bots_Will_Kill_Us_All_-_Insanity_Check_594_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:19pm EDT

Mid-Week Mini-Insanity Check content. I wanted to take a minute to comment on some of the things I've been seeing surrounding the white washing of the #MeToo movement. The bottom line is we have to stop using black women for their ideas while refusing to not only give them recognition but support.

I also comment on the Aziz Ansari situation, R Kelly, Bill Cosby and more. Make sure you check out some of the content from Black Women below who can go into way more depth, nuance and are infinitely more qualified to talk about this subject than I am.

Tarana Burke talking about #MeToo

Safety Pin Box

Shanna from MTR Network & Project Fandom: Your Fav Is Problematic...Yes Him Too

 

Direct download: Mid-Week_Rant_-_White_Washing_MeToo_-_Insanity_Check.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 11:56pm EDT

We're back with a new episode of the Insanity Check. This week Kriss is joined by Dpalm so you know this show is going to go off the rails. But we actually keep it pretty civil. Kriss doesn't even troll Dpalm about Georgia's collapse in the National Championship Game. He's a good friend.

Topics:

  • Thank you to all our supporters
  • Deadpool 2 moves up its date
  • Gambit loses its third director & New Mutants gets delayed 10 months (not good folks, not good)
  • Trump confuses Haiti  and African Nations for his own mouth and calls them a "shithole"
  • At this point, the real problem with Trump are all the shitty people around him (Pence, Paul Ryan, Stephen Miller)
  • No, we don't need (or really want) Oprah as President
  • Rapid Fire Quick rants
  • Do You Even Sci-Fi Bro?
    • Male sexbots are coming

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Direct download: All_The_Idiot_Kings_Men_-_Insanity_Check_593.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 3:41pm EDT

Happy New Year everyone! The Insanity Check podcast is back for the new year and we're talking breaking the cycle in 2018 with Leslie Mac from Safety Pin Box. 

Also, we're pleased to announce that we will be hosting two Black Panther Screenings opening weekend. One in LA and one in DC. We're hoping tickets will go on sale Friday, January 12th at Noon est. Below is the theater information for each screener:

  • LA: Friday Feb. 16th 8pm Cinemark at Pike in Long Beach

  • DC: Saturday Feb. 17th 12 pm Regal Cinema Gallery Place Stadium 14 Washington DC

Topics:

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Direct download: Breaking_the_Cycle_in_2018_-_Insanity_Check_592_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 7:36am EDT

We’re starting 2018 off right by going through the essential comic books for Scott Summers and Alex Summers. That’s right it's Cyclops and Havok time. Any chance we can get to talk X-Men, we’re going to leap at it. This was a fun episode to do because Cyclops and Havok have such long and rich histories not only with the X-Men but X-Factor as well. 

Scott Summers first appeared in X-Men #1 and Alex debuted in issue #54. Scott starts off as the boy scout and natural leader while Alex is more reluctant to lead and a bit more rebellious. Throughout their history in the comic books though, they gradually switch places as Alex becomes more of a team player & leader and Scott becomes a revolutionary. 

Here are some of the essential comic issues we covered:

Scott Summers:

  • Uncanny X-Men 1 - First appearance of Scott Summers (Cyclops) and the X-Men
  • Classic X-Men 42 - Mister Sinister in the orphanage
  • X-Men Giant Size #1
  • Uncanny 125 - 128 
  • Dark Phoenix Saga
  • X-Factor Vol 1
  • Uncanny X-Men 243
  • X-Men Vol 2 
    • #1 - 3
    • #30 - Scott Summers marries Jean Grey
  • Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix
  • Search for Cyclops 1 - 4
  • New X-Men - Grant Morrison - #114 - 154
  • Astonishing X-Men - Joss Whedon
  • Messiah Complex
  • Schism
  • Avengers vs X-Men
  • Uncanny X-Men - Bendis
  • Death of X

Alex Summers:

  • Uncanny X-Men 54 - First appearance of Alex Summers
  • Uncanny X-Men 58 - First appearance of Alex Summers as Havok
  • X-Factor Minus 1
  • Incredible Hulk #150
  • Uncanny X-Men Volume 1
    • Issue 158
    • Issues 233- 255
  • Wolverine/Havok Meltdown
  • X-Tinction Agenda
  • X-Factor #87
  • X-Factor 101 - 105
  • Mutant X
  • Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire - Uncanny X-Men 475 - 486
  • X-Men: Emperor Vulcan
  • X-Men Kingbreaker
  • Uncanny Avengers
 

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We're back to wrap up our Batgirls Character Corner with two special characters: Cassandra Cain and Kate Kane. Now, Kate really isn't a Batgirl as she never took up the mantle and her origin as Batwoman is pretty much autonomous from Batman but we're including her in this series anyway. Cassandra is also an interesting case. She's definitely a Batgirl, as she's the first to hold that mantle and get her own solo series, but in many ways she's closer to a Robin and a good case could be made for her being a direct heir to the Bat. 

We had a lot of fun discussing these characters and you're not going to want to miss this. This also might be the last Character Corner of 2017 but we'll be back in 2018 with more comic book character goodness.

Cassandra Cain

  • Batman No Man's Land 
    • Batman #567 - Mark of Cain - First Appearance
  • Batgirl Volume 1
  • Robin/Batgirl Fresh Blood
  • Gates of Gotham
  • Justice League Elite
  • Nightwing #81
  • Red Robin #17-25
  • Superboy #8
  • Batgirl Volume 2

Kate Kane

  • 52
    • #7 - First appearance of Kate Kane
    • #11 - First appearance of Kate as Batwoman
    • #33
  • Batwoman: Elegy (Detective Comics #854-860)
  • Detective Comics #861-863
  • Batwoman (New 52)
    • Volume 1 - Hydrology
    • Volume 2 - Drown The World
    • Volume 3 - World's Finest
  • Detective Comics (Rebirth)
    • Volume 1: Rise of the Batmen
    • Volume 2: The Victim Syndicate
  • Batwoman (Rebirth) Volume 1

 

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Direct download: Batgirl_Part_2_-_Cassandra_Cain__Kate_Kane_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 10:22am EDT

Kriss is joined by Justin (@LJay90) from ThreeFifsPodcast for a special Insanity Check episode where Justin explains what Net Neutrality is, how we got here, why it's bad and what we can do to fight back.

*You'll also find it funny as we go from "Doug Jones has no chance" to "Omg...I think Jones might pull this off" during the show.

How to write a good comment
 
Gigi Sohn, the former council to Tom Wheeler gives 4 steps to follow when writing an FCC Comment
 
1. Write about yourself and how the net neutrality rules have affected you
If you use the internet in any capacity, write about it. Have you used the internet to launch your small business? Connect with a loved one? Complete your degree program, whether it was high school, college, or post graduate? Write about that experience.
 
2. Write about what you understand you are buying when you purchase broadband Internet access
When you buy a package from Verizon, what is it that you're actually buying? For the decision to be upheld the ISPs have to prove that their customers aren't just buying "internet access", but if that's all you're using them for then write about that.
 
3. Write about the choices you have (or don’t) for broadband Internet access
Sohn writes that, "An April 2017 FCC report demonstrates the fallaciousness of such an assertion – it shows that 58% of Americans have access to either zero or one broadband ISP, and 87% have access to just two." If you don't have a true choice, write about that.
 
4. Write about what role you think the FCC should have in overseeing the market for broadband Internet access
If you don't want the ISPs to run rampant as they have attempted to in the past and believe in strong federal oversight, let the FCC know!
 
 

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Direct download: Fighting_For_Net_Neutrality_-_Insanity_Check.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 5:49am EDT

Here it is! The last Insanity Check of 2017. Kriss is joined by Ashanti for this episode and it's a fun one. We hit some of the more serious topics involving men & sexual assault, Trump voters being idiots and how technology has erased privacy and it's too late to do anything about it.

Topics:

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Direct download: Party_Over_Country_-_Insanity_Check_591.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 8:25am EDT

The second to last Insanity Check of 2017! Kriss is joined by Karen from The Black Guy Who Tips. We talk about Karen & Rod heading to to Seattle for PodCon and how we all have to find time to take a break and rest. We then delve into the latest craziness involving men pulling their dicks out at work and harassing women. Then there's the "wonderful" Senate tax "cut" bill that's passed the Senate and gotten one step closer to being law. Wonder how all those "Democrats are equally as bad as Republicans" folks are handling it.

Topics:

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Direct download: Please_Dont_Pull_Your_Dick_Out_At_Work_-_Insanity_Check_590_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 5:37pm EDT

It's been a while but....WE'RE BACK! Feels like a while since we've done a Character Corner. But we're back now and it's time to enter once again into the Bat-Family, this time with the mantle of Batgirl. To the uninitiated, the Batgirl mantle might just seem like the female-version of the Robin mantle. But that couldn't be further from the truth. 

We start this two-part series exploring the most well known Batgirl, Barbara Gordon and her journey from the darker of a Police Commissioner to Batgirl then to Oracle and back to Batgirl. We then move on to Stephanie Brown who held both the title of Robin (albeit short) and Batgirl as well as coming into her own as Spoiler.

Next show we're talking Cassandra Cain, Helena Bertinelli and Kate Kane

Barbara Gordon

  • Detective Comics #359 – First appearance
  • Batgirl Year One
    • The definitive Batgirl origin story
  • Batgirl Special #1 by Barbara Kesel (1988)
    • Barbara retires
  • The Killing Joke (1988) - only because it's significant not because it's good
  • Suicide Squad #23 first appearance as Oracle (1989)
    • The death game (#38) revealed as Oracle
  • Batman Chronicles: #5 Oracle Year One
    • John Ostrander and Kim Yale work to fix what Moore and others did
  • Birds of Prey
    • Birds of Prey #8 
    • Birds of Prey – The Gail Simone Run (56-90, 92-108) – (2003-2007)
      • 69-73 Between Dark and Dawn
  • Birds of Prey volume 2
  • Batgirl vol 4 19-25
  • Batgirl Zero Year

Stephanie Brown 

  • Detective Comics 647- 649
  • Batgirl 20, 26, 28, 38
  • Birds of Prey 39 - 40
  • Robin 100-120
  • Robin/spoiler special
  • War drums
  • War games 1 - 3
  • War Crimes 
  • Batgirl rising
  • Batgirl vol 3

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Direct download: Batgirl__Barbara_Gordon__Stephanie_Brown_-_Character_Corner.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 5:56am EDT

With all the crazy stuff going on in the world it's beginning to look like maybe we got pulled into another universe. Kriss thinks we've been pulled in Earth-2 and we have plenty of stories this episode that seem to suggest that. Joi (@jumpedforjoi) from Black Girl Nerds joins Kriss to discuss Justice League, Lena Dunham being trash again and so much more. Check it out. 

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Direct download: This_Is_Earth-2_-_Insanity_Check_589.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:47pm EDT

It's been a crazy week and Justin (@LJay90) from 3FifsPodcast joins Kriss to discuss. Amazingly we have to start off by first saying we're anti-pedophilia, anti-nazi and anti-rape and as crazy as that sounds, this week proves that those are no longer givens. We get into the hot topic of all the men accused of sexual assault in Hollywood, politics and in our lives. Kriss tells the story of why he had to let go of his best friend and we also talk about the craziness of the GOP not distancing themselves from Roy Moore. You won't want to miss.

Topics:

  • The Agents of Shield Season 5 trailer
  • Disney is trying to take over the world
  • The money that comic book films make is insane
  • The brave women that come forward about sexual assault
  • The GOP choosing party and pedophilia over honor and morals
  • Why Men need to stand up and speak out
  • Kriss tells the story of what happened with a former host of the podcast
  • Fox News thinks Church is the best place to get shot
  • Great Moments in White Privilege
  • Woman ties son to top of mini-van to hold down kiddie pool  

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_588__Men_Are_Trash.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:35pm EDT

Thor: Ragnarok drops this week and so it's time to wrap up our Thor Character Corner with part 2. First we quickly cover what happened when we last left Thor during part 1. Ragnarok happened and Thor and the rest of Asgard died. And Thor stayed dead for a while. When the road to Civil War started, Thor was still gone but Mjolnir makes an appearance, falling to Earth as the Gods died, tearing a hole that allows Doctor Doom to escape Hell. After a brief attempt by Doom to take the hammer for himself, we then get Tony Stark's bad idea to make a Thor clone that...has disastrous results.   

Finally Thor returns. We focus on two writers this episode that really encapsulate Thor's return and that's J. Michael Straczynski (JMS) and current Thor writer Jason Aaron. JMS and Aaron really lean into the idea of Thor and the rest of Asgard being Gods. In a way, Thor is written much like Jesus is from the Bible and there are a lot of great stories. Asgard is reformed above Broxton, Oklahoma and while it seems like this could be a repeat of what happened the last time Thor & Asgard floated above earth, this time is vastly different. 

JMS and Jason Aaron really call into question not only what it means to be a God and if mortals still need Gods.

You'll want to listen to our full Character Corner as we follow the journey of Thor (Odinson) to Thor (Jane Foster).

Issues:

  • Fantastic Four #536-537 - Moljnir comes back to Earth & Doom escapes Hell
  • Civil War #7 - Thor Clone destroyed by Hercules
  • Thor Volume 3 (JMS Run)
    • #1 - 12, #600-603, Thor Giant Size
  • Jason Aaron's Run
    • Thor: God of Thunder
      • #1 - 5 - The God Butcher 
      • #6 - Gorr's backstory
      • #7- 11 - Godbomb
      • #19-23 - The Last Days of Midgard (Future Thor fights Galactus)
    • Original Sin
      • Original Sin Thor & Loki 5.1 - 5.5 - The Tenth realm & Angela
      • #7 - Nick Fury whispers something to Thor to make Thor become unworthy & drop the hammer
    • Thor Volume 4 (Jane Foster as Thor)
    • Thors (Secret Wars book)
    • The Unworthy Thor
    • The Mighty Thor Vol 2
      • #19 - Thor vs the Phoenix
      • #20 - War Thor's origin

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Direct download: Character_Corner_-_Thor_Part_2_The_God_Butcher.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

This week Kriss is joined by Dalbin Osorio, candidate for Montgomery County Council District 1. Dalbin talks with Kriss about how his upbringing led to his focus on Social Work, the challenges residents in Montgomery County face, the fight for increasing minimum wage, better educational choices for students and more. This was a great episode that you're not going to want to miss out on.

Topics:

  • Running for Montgomery County Council
  • Why the minimum wage needs to be raised
  • Why the idea of the "self made millionaire" is a myth
  • Students need better education, schools and the tools to succeed in life
  • Mark Halperin is another Harvey Weinstein
  • Trump is incredibly stupid
  • Jeff Flake is a coward as are most of the republicans quitting after causing Trump
  • Do You Even Sci-Fi Bro
  • Great Moments in White Privilege
    • Terance Crutcher's murderer gets her record expunged. 

Guest

Dalbin A. Osorio

2018 Democratic Candidate for Montgomery County Council
Twitter: @DO4MoCoCouncil
Instagram: @dosorio2018
 

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_587_-_A_Noun_A_Verb__Hillary_Clinton_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 3:16pm EDT

Kriss is joined by Jeff (@JeffJSays) for this episode of The Insanity Check. We talk about Jeff helping out MTR Network at NYCC and why it's important for black media to work together. Then we address the Harvey Weinstein allegations and why its bigger than what most people think. Most people have something to say but a lot of those people need to do a better job with their actions.

Topics:

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_586_-_Cowardly_Men__Imposter_Chicken_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 2:32pm EDT

We’re a few weeks out from Thor: Ragnorak being released so I guess it’s time to drop our latest Character Corner: Thor Part 1!

First off, we recorded this over a month ago so please excuse any outdated references. If you’re listening to this I’m assuming Trump hasn’t killed us all so that’s a positive. Anyway, in this first part of a two part series, we cover Thor Volume 1 and Thor Volume 2. Our main focus though is the Walt Simonson run from volume 1 that ran from issues 337 – 382. Simonson both wrote and draw these issues and the entire run is a masterpiece. He introduces Beta Ray Bill, gives us an epic battle with Sutur, Skurge’s Last Stand and even turns Thor into a frog. It’s a wonderful run that is always at the top of any “Best of Thor” list.

We then get into Dan Jurgen’s volume 2 which starts off rough but really picks up with the death of Odin and Thor taking over as the All Father. We find out why Thor’s connection to humanity is needed and the disastrous results if Thor fully embraces being a God without that connection. And then Ragnorak comes.

In both volumes 1 & 2 we see the story of Ragnorak with volume 2 fully seeing Ragnorak coming to fruition. If you want to prepare for Thor: Ragnorak come November 3rd, make sure you listen to this Character Corner, then check out the issues below. Every issue should be on Marvel Unlimited, so get to reading.

 

Issues:

  • Thor: Tales of Asgard (2009) – Remasters old Jack Kirby & Stan Lee stories that flesh out Odin & Asgard
  • Journey Into Mystery #83 – First Appearance of Thor
  • Avengers #1
  • Thor Volume 1
    • Walt Simonson’s Run
      • #337-340 – The Ballad of Beta Ray Bill
      • #340 – 353 – The Sutur Saga
      • #362 – Skurge’s Last Stand
    • Thor Volume 2
      • #36 – 43 - The Death of Odin
      • Gods on Earth – # 51- 58, Iron Man #64, Avengers #63
      • Spiral - #59-67
      • #80 – 85 - Thor Disassembled (Ragnarok)

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Direct download: Character_Corner_-_Thor_Part_1_Ragnarok.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 9:02am EDT

We're back from New York Comic-Con! Brandon (@Phenomblak) joins Kriss to talk about NYCC 2017 and how much we've grown from the first Con back in 2013. We talk about what was different this time, some of our equipment, why we can no longer run a two-person crew anymore and more. 

We then cover the news from the Marvel retailer's only panel at NYCC that revealed the racist and bigoted comic book store owners and we have a few choice words for these idiots (Spoiler alert: they're bad at running a business). We also touch on the Harvey Weinstein allegations but it will be covered more on the next episode.  

Make sure you subscribe to our Youtube channel to get all of our interview videos from New York Comic-Con.

Topics:

  • NYCC Recap
  • Cigarette breathe vs Weed vs Coffee Breath
  • Kriss isn't a fan of the smell of weed
  • Great Moments in White Privilege
  • Complaining comic book store owners are just bad business owners
  • Men Are Trash - the Harvey Weinstein allegations are proof of this
  • Do You Even Sci-Fi Bro?
    • Will police robots end racial bias? (of course not)

 

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_585_-_SJWs_are_Ruining_Marvel...But_Not_Really_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:55pm EDT

Journey with The Doctor and Tim Lewinson, writer and creator of Savage Empire, into a world of time rifts, urban warfare, and dinosaurs.  Tim joins me to discuss his debut novel, how his work in video games lent itself to writing, the difference between the media, creating a diverse world with 3 dimensional characters, and the amazing story that Savage Empire introduces.

Find Timothy on Twitter: @vancouvertim and on Instagram: @likestofight

www.SavageEmpire.org

@TheDrIsIn2015

 

Direct download: Artist_Spotlight-Timothy_Lewinson_Savage_Empire_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 10:10am EDT

The one benefit of Trump attacking athletes is that Dpalm and the Unanimous Decision podcast have to cover politics freeing up the Insanity Check to talk other things this week. For that, Kriss brings on Tim (@Peoplescrtic) to cover some entertainment and movie news that's been slipping through the cracks. We still touch on a little politics but we also hit the hard hitting stories like...the Mad Pooper. 

Topics:

 

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_584_-_STFU_James_Cameron_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 8:00pm EDT

We’ve definitely hit our Super Tuesday Recap groove cause we’re back already with a new episode. This time we bring in Rod from The Black Guy Who Tips to also share his thoughts on Secret Empire. We also wanted to do a follow up to our last episode on Secret Empire now that the wrap-up issue, Secret Empire: Omega, has come out.  In our last episode we speculated about what would be in Omega and it turns out, it was even better than we thought. Secret Empire: Omega really lays out the moral issue at the heart of the event: How much different was Hydra Steve from the previous government and people in place? Hydra Steve's methods were direct and easy to call fascist but he was only able to get as far as he did because the moral compass of America was already in decay. 

Listen to the whole episode to find out what we thought. 

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Direct download: Super_Tuesday_Recap_-_Secret_Empire_Omega__The_Aftermath.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 3:01pm EDT

Kriss is joined by Aaron from the Black Astronauts podcast. It's a random and lighter show than the last several ones. We talk about Destiny 2 being addicting and why studios should stop putting their movies out around Star Wars (and other big blockbusters that always bury their films). We then talk about Kriss' simple tweet that went viral and what it says about what people think of when it comes to diversity in films. Why is white the default even for women? Why can't James Bond be black? We also hit the Jemele Hill ESPN issue and also discuss phone prices. Like I said...it was a random show.

Topics:

  • Destiny 2 is even more addicting than Destiny 1
  • Kathleen Kennedy had JJ Abrams in her back pocket
  • Stop putting your films near other blockbuster films
  • Kriss goes viral
    • Red Sparrow trailer
    • Why is the default always white?
    • There are no non-white people in Russia apparently
    • Why can't James Bond be black?
  • Arrow wants to do a Black Lives Matter episode (just no)
  • Jemele Hill and the mess ESPN created 
  • Calling White Supremacists 'White Supremacists' is more offensive than being a White Supremacist
  • The ESPN internal chat messages over ESPN's handling of the Hill situation
  • Do You Even Sci-Fi Bro?
  • Why the debate over phone prices explains the issues with getting Universal Healthcare.

%CODE_IC583%

Guest:

Aaron - @Ashy3Classy 

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_583_-_Black_James_Bond.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 5:24pm EDT

It’s the Super Tuesday Recap you’ve been asking us for. Kriss, Dpalm and Justin are back to discuss Nick Spencer’s Secret Empire. If we sound a bit animated during the show it’s because there has been an incredible amount of poorly written takes on this event. Now of course, not everyone is going to like or even agree with everything that happens in this event. That’s perfectly okay. What’s not okay though is when entire articles are written or discussions are had and basic facts are misconstrued or worse, ignored.

Read Secret Empire and the associated Captain America books. Reading what other people have written (even us) doesn’t do it justice. This is a great Captain America story, the best Sam Wilson story ever written and a pretty relevant book in light of recent events in America.

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Direct download: Super_Tuesday_Recap_-_What_Actually_Happened_in_Secret_Empire_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 10:42am EDT

This week Kriss is joined by Rich Jones to talk about all the craziness in the world. We talk about a lot of topics starting with how group think and pressure to conform to traditions leads to people feeling forced into doing certain things. Kriss tells his own hilarious story about faking speaking in tongues. We then move on to talking about all the hurricanes and how vulnerable the certain people are. Then finally there's a discussion about the sexism powerful ambitious women face.

Topics:

  • Kriss tells the story of when he faked speaking in tongues as a kid in church
  • Some are too poor to evacuate hurricane Irma 
  • Why does the media cover disasters like outside observers instead of helping?
  • Asking if Kathleen Kennedy is the right person to lead LucasFilms is blatant sexism
    • Two films, grossing $3 billion but her credentials are questioned
  • Sexism in the 2016 election (and after)
  • Hillary Clinton needs to shut up (even though Bernie didn't and Mitt Romney didn't)
  • Hillary is actually right
  • Great Moments in White Privilege
  • Black Woman Shoutout

 

Guest:

Rich Jones - @richJones15 

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_582_-_Its_Called_Sexism_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 9:42am EDT

*We start this episode with a special message about how to donate directly to black women affected by Harvey. Here are the links you need (they're case sensitive):

  • Donate List: Bit.Ly/SupportBlackWomenHOU
  • Recipiant Application: Bit.Ly/SupportBWHOU

We're wrapping up our Peter Parker Character Corner with the third and final part. We go over (quickly) the introduction of Carnage and then Peter & Harry's final confrontation. Then its on the one of the most controversial storylines: The second clone saga. No matter where you fall in the debate, we can all agree things got a bit out of control. It's not all bad though since Ben Reilly has become a pretty popular character and so despite the mess, there were some good outcomes. We then get into Civil War, One More Day and where Peter is now. Our Rogue Wars character corner covers a lot of the later issues of Peter so you'll definitely want to check that out.

Issues:

  • Carnage
    • Amazing Spider-Man #344 - Cletus Kasady
    • Amazing Spider-Man #360-361 - First Appearance of Carnage
  • The Spectacular Spider-Man #200 - Harry Osborn Dies
  • The Second Clone Saga (won't list out all the issues, there are too many)
    • Amazing Spider-Man #418 - Return of Norman Osborn/reveals he was behind everything
    • The Clone Saga Mini-Series - 6 issues that follows the original script
  • Amazing Spider-Man vol 2 #38 - The Conversation
  • Marvel Knights Spider-Man 1 - 12
  • Doctor Octopus: Negative Exposure - Brian K Vaungh
  • Spider-Man The Other - gives him new powers
  • Civil War #2 - Peter reveals his identity to the world
  • Sensational Spider-Man Annual #1
  • One More Day - Peter & MJ make a deal to give up their marriage to save aunt May
    • The Amazing Spider-Man #544
    • Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #24
    • The Sensational Spider-Man vol 2 #41
    • The Amazing Spider-Man #545
  • Amazing Spider-Man #638 - 641 - One Moment in Time 
  • Amazing Spider-Man #655 -656 - No One Dies
  • Superior Spider-Man
  • Spider-Verse
  • Spider-Men - 616 Peter meets Miles Morales
  • Clone Conspiracy 
  • Ultimate Spider-Man (the entire run)

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Direct download: Character_Corner_-_Peter_Parker_Part_3.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 3:27pm EDT

*We start this episode with a special message about how to donate directly to black women affected by Harvey. Here are the links you need (they're case sensitive):

  • Donate List: Bit.Ly/SupportBlackWomenHOU
  • Recipiant Application: Bit.Ly/SupportBWHOU

On this Labor Day Weekend Insanity Check, Kriss is joined by Ashanti (DocuDrunks, Scarestalgia). We talk Joel Osteen and prosperity preaching, Antifa vs Neo-Nazis & the dangers of "both side-isms", Cops violating people's rights again and more. Oh and Ashanti gets her fun in by talking sports. Yes sports.

Make sure you stick around for the last 11minutes for a special message from Latoya about the FEMA response and how to get help because of hurricane Harvey.

Topics:

  • Joel Osteen is a scam artist
  • Prosperity Preachers are basically pimps
    • Juanita Bynum and her $5000 pen & $20,000 threshing floor
  • Antifa vs Nazis...its really not a choice
    • This is a bad article on "both side-isms"
    • Really say out loud the differences between Antifa & Nazis to see how silly it is
  • Cops being terrible
  • Great Moments in White Privilege

Guest:

Ashanti - @NotThatAshanti 

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_581_-_Prosperity_Pimping_for_Jesus_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:44pm EDT

Welcome back to another artist spotlight from Awesome Con 2017. This time I sit down with Ashley Gonzales of Zeefa Studio, an artist whose fantasy based pieces find their way into your spirit.  We discuss her journey as an artist, her affinity for fantasy based pieces, Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 6 (come on, EVERYONE is talking about THAT ending), her commission work, and the importance of family support in the life of an artist pursuing their dream.

Find Ashley online at www.zeefastudio.com

Facebook: ZeefaStudio

Instagram: @zeefa

 

MTR Network online: www.MTRNetwork.net

Twitter: @TheMTRnetwork and @TheDrIsIn2015

 

Direct download: Awesome_Con_Artist_Spotlight-Zeefa_Studios.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 6:30am EDT

Leslie from Safety Pin Box is back on the Insanity Check with Kriss to give us an update on Safety Pin Box, white allies not "getting it", Trump's Friday new dump and how to navigate and reconcile wanting radical change but also dealing with the reality of what America is.

Topics:

  • Safety Pin Box Update
    • Netroots direct action
    • Book deal and navigating the publishing world as black women
    • Expanding Safety Pin Box
  • Daniel Radcliffe tells us racism isn't enough to end a friendship
  • The Friday Trump News Drop
    • Neo-Nazi sympathizer Sebastian Gorka is fired/resigns (but it doesn't matter)
    • Trump signs a memo telling military to ban transgender people
    • Trump pardons Joe Arpaio  
  • Reconciling wanting to end imperalism but also recognizing what the military is for transgender people
  • Joe Arpaio is a terrible human being
  • Yes we would have been better under Hillary Clinton, no we don't think she was our white savior 
  • How do we reconcile wanting radical change but also live in the reality of today?
  • Dems & the Left have an uphill battle because of gerrymandering 
  • What's the balance between activism and dealing with the reality of America and actually getting governing done?
  • Great Moments in White Privilege
  • Black Woman Shoutout
    • Dr. Zohra Aziza Baccouche is a Ph.D.-level theoretical physicist; one of a very few Black women, let alone blind Black women, theoretical physicists.  
      She's is currently raising funds for her next documentary called "Seeking Vision" and will be a guest on "Molecules & Shit" soon

Guest:

Leslie - @LeslieMac - Safety Pin Box

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_580_-_Harry_Potter__The_Acceptable_Racist_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:19pm EDT

We took a little break but we’re finally back with another Character Corner. We still have to finish up our Peter Parker series but we wanted to take a bit of a detour from Marvel and head over to DC and cover one of the most confusing comic book character histories ever: Hawkman.

Now you may be asking yourself “Why Hawkman? Why now?” And that’s a very valid question. Why would we tackle one of the most confusing comic book characters of all time at this point? The answer is simple: Scott Snyder’s Dark Knights: Metal. Snyder wrote an incredible 52 issues of Batman during New 52 and he’s now back with a series that not only answers questions about Batman but also Hawkman, Nth Metal and the rest of the DC Multiverse. While it’s a daunting task to take on Hawkman’s history (one that rarely works out), Snyder definitely has our attention with the first issue of Metal, as well as the preludes Dark Days: The Forge and The Casting.

Key Issues:

  • Flash Comics #1 - First Appearances of Carter Hall and Shiera Sanders
  • Brave and the Bold #34 - First Appearances of Katar Hol and Shayera Thal/Hol
  • Crisis on Infinite Earths
  • The Shadow War of Hawkman
  • Hawkworld - Tim Truman's mini-series
  • Hawkworld - John Ostrander's ongoing series
  • Zero Hour: Crisis in Time - Merges Carter, Katar and Shiera
  • JSA Secret Files #1 - First appearance of Kendra Saunders
  • JSA
    • The Return of Hawkman (Issues #16 - 25)- Carter Hall returns
    • Black Reign
  • Hawkman Volume 4
    • Issues 1 - 25 Geoff Johns Run 
    • Issues #43- 45 - Charlie Parker reveals that Fel Andar was his father
    • Issues #47 - 49 - Rann/Thanagar War
    • Issue #50 becomes Hawkgirl
  • Hawkgirl
    • Issue #60 - Kendra/Shiera defeat Hath Set, ending the curse
Direct download: Character_Corner__The_Confusing_History_of_Hawkman_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 9:00am EDT

 

Justin from Three Fifs Podcast is back on the Insanity Check with Kriss. We'd like to say this was an episode about nothing but fun stuff but thanks to having a white nationalist and racist man in the White House...well...things don't go that way.

Topics:

Guest:

Justin - @LJay90 - Three Fifs Podcast

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_579_-_The_MAD_Wannabe_King_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:20pm EDT

On this episode of the Insanity Check, Kriss is joined by Joi from Black Girl Nerds and we talk about the murder and mayhem that happened in Charlottesville, VA due to white nationalists showing their asses. We push back against the narrative that "this isn't America" because the truth is, what happened in Charlottesville is very American.

Topics:

  • Rotten Tomatoes and white critic's narrow views
  • America treats Nazis & Hitler as end game bosses that were defeated long time ago
    • The Nazi summer camps for kids in 1930's America
    • Operation Paperclip
    • Wernher von Braun not only was a Nazi who became the head of NASA but almost got a Medal of Freedom
  • America has been the melting pot for racists from the KKK to Nazis for ever
  • The Myth of Robert E Lee
  • Trump has these people in his own administration
  • Extremism and the Military 
  • White Supremacists want to start their own tech companies
  • Do You Even Sci-Fi Bro?
  • Great Moments in White Privilege
    • Mom surprised other parents are upset she used her breast milk for brownies for the whole class
  • Black Woman Shoutout

Guest:

Joi - @JumpedforJoi - Black Girl Nerds

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_578_-_This_is_US.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 3:54pm EDT

One of my goals at Awesome Con this year was to find and highlight creatives of color who were engaged in inspiring and interesting pursuits.  There were so many individuals at the convention this year involved in outreach and development.  I was able to sit down with two representatives from a few of these organizations.

PBS Media Creative Director Naseed Gifted talked to me about the organization and their new graphic novel PB Soldier, which Gifted created.  The novel is drawn and colored by Abel Garcia.

PB Soldier follows Nat Cummings, a hacker turned government operative who finds himself in the middle of an intrigue he must extract himself from before it is too late.  Billed as The Bourne Identity meets V is for Vendetta, Cummings' adventures takes him and the reader all over the world.  We also discuss the importance of representation and connecting youth with the material that they are interested in by cultivating their interest in creating art.  Find out more about their graphic novel and their outreach efforts by visiting their website at www.pbsmediastudios.com.

Art Way Alliance Communications Director Sierra Dangerfield-Harris sat down with me to discuss the mission of the nonprofit, it's diverse artist staff, and the importance of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) to the K-12 educational system and how their organization seeks to promote this creativity in youth of the D.C. area.  If you would like to assist or have their artists visit your venue, information is available at their website at www.artwayalliance.org.

I hope you enjoy the interviews with these engaged and talented individuals.


Direct download: AwesomeCon_Artist_Spotlight_-_PBS_Media__Artway_Alliance_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 9:25am EDT

We're back from the two week break! We took some time off for San Diego Comic-Con but we're back now and here with a great episode you're not going to miss. Kriss is joined by the host of Unanimous Decision, Dpalm and...right out the gate things get out of hand. We mix the funny (Men taping their dick tips as an alternative to condoms) to the serious (Addressing and calling out transphobia) and finishing off with a recap of news out of San Diego Comic-Con. You're not going to want to miss this episode.

Topics:

  • Dpalm Strikes Back
  • American Vandal - #WhoDrewTheDicks
  • Jiftips - For the idiots who want raw sex and think scotch taping their dicks is smart
  • Being Transphobic isn't funny
    • Dave Chappelle opens with 20 minutes of transphobic jokes
  • The danger that Transgender men & women face from just admitting they're transgender
  • You can't #NotAllChristians the history of transphobia/homophobia away
  • Profiles in Courage
  • SDCC News
    • What's DC doing this time?
    • Will Ben Affleck stay on as Batman?
    • Is Flashpoint going to happen?
    • The Defenders and Inhumans
    • SKRULLS!!!!
    • Thor Ragnarok, Black Panther, Infinity War
  • Black Trans/Non-Gender Conforming Shoutout

This is a list that I got from Leslie from SafetyPinBox of transgender individuals and groups you can donate to. You can also sign up for the Marsha P Johnson Safety Pin Box for a list of ally tasks:

 

Guest:

Dpalm - @Dpalm66 - UDPod

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_577_-_Dont_Scotch_Tape_Your_Dick_Tip.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:01pm EDT

I know I know, we weren't supposed to have any more Insanity Check episodes this month. But then Buzzfeed dropped an article about what one of America's most infamous serial pedophiles is up to currently and well, fuckery happened. It's no secret that R Kelly is a pedophile but the way he's able to not only get away with it but thrive financially from it is sickening. And I'm tired of it. I'm tired of the defenses of him. I'm tired of him being able to get away with it. I'm tired of the blame going solely to black women. I'm tired of people acting like R Kelly is able to be a sexual predator because of the enablers around him.

So that's why there's a show. Its just me (Kriss) with a bit of a rant. But I needed to get this shit out of my head before I fly out to San Diego. Don't need this bullshit to follow me to the West Coast.

For those that can stomach it, the Village Voice article on all the claims against R Kelly.

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_Extra_-_The_R_Kelly_Situation_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 11:06pm EDT

*there was an audio issue at the 29 minute mark where the sound went out. The new audio fixes this so if you had issues listening before, please redownload*

Last Insanity Check before the break and it's a good one. We've been avoiding the politics talk for the last few episodes but its back this week with guest L Joy Williams. We spend most of this episode talking to L Joy about her new show, #SundayCivics and what's needed to change the discussion around getting involved in politics. So much of our politics has become binary and marked in terms of "winners and losers". But the reality is, we need to get back to basics and talk about how the educational system in this country, has eroded our foundation. People don't know what it means to be involved with civic action or how to even begin.

Topics:

Guest:

L Joy Williams - @LJoyWilliams - SundayCivics.org

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_576__Education_is_the_Key_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:06pm EDT


We're back. Kriss is joined in studio by Jaxx (@JaxxDynamite). Jaxx will be bringing his new podcast to the MTR Network and we need your help to decide on the name: Boom Goes the Dynamite or Ratchet & Drank. There will be a poll on Twitter soon and you can also email us what you think.

As for topics, we're able to avoid politics (for the most part) for the second week in the row. We talk about killing Nazis (in the virtual video game world), the word Blerd and the negativity sometimes surrounding it, nerds using being bullied to justify being terrible people, self driving cars and more.

Topics:

  • The Wolfenstein games are great (Plus you get kill Nazis)
  • The problem with "Blerds"
  • Smart black people who turn on other black people because they got picked on
  • Black male nerds who parrot the same problematic views of white nerds
  • Fox suspends Charles Payne for sexual harassment claims
    • That time Charles Payne whined about the black community to Glenn Beck
  • The Breakfast Club gets space for Dr Wesley Muhammed's idiocy
  • Do You Even Sci-Fi Bro
  • Great Moments In White Privilege
  • Black Woman Shoutout

Guest:

Jaxx - @JaxxDynamite

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_575_-_Special_Snowflake_Syndrome_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:24pm EDT

We’re back for part 2 of our Character Corner series on the history of Peter Parker as Spider-Man. Our first part covered the teenage years of Peter Parker, the death of Gwen Stacy and the original Clone Saga. This second part covers even more as Peter grows up and as Marvel increases the Spider-Man brand. By this time there are now four ongoing Spider-Man titles:

  • Amazing Spider-Man
  • Marvel Team-Up (1972)
  • Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976)
  • Web of Spider-Man (1985)

This episode will take us through the Death of Jean Dewolff, The Hobgoblin Saga, Kraven's Last Hunt, all the way up to the first appearance of Venom.

Issues:

  • Peter’s Love Life
    • Black Cat
      • Amazing Spider-Man  #194
    • MJ
      • Amazing Spider-Man #183 – first proposal to MJ
      • Amazing Spider-Man #290 - Second proposal to MJ
      • Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21 - marriage
  • The Owl/Octopus War
    • Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #73-79
  • The Death of Jean DeWolff - 
    • Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 107-110
    • Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #134 - 136
  • The Hobgoblin saga
    • Amazing Spider-Man  #238-239 - First Appearance of Hobgoblin
    • Amazing Spider-Man #244-245 - Sets up Lefty Donovan & gets Hobgoblin Osborn's formula
    • Amazing Spider-Man #249-251
    • Gang War
      • Amazing Spider-Man #284 - 289
    • Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives
  • Kraven's Last Hunt
    • Web of Spider-Man #31-32
    • Amazing Spider-Man #293-294
    • Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #131 -132
  • The Alien/Black Costume
    • Amazing Spider-Man #252 - First appearance
    • Secret Wars #8 - origin
    • Amazing Spider-Man #258 - Gets it removed with help of the FF4
    • Spectacular Spider-Man #99 - Black Cat makes a black costume for Spider-Man
    • Web of Spider-Man #1 - Symbiote tricks Peter into putting it back on
    • Amazing Spider-Man #299 - Venom Cameo
    • Amazing Spider-Man #300 - Venom full appearance
  • Random issues
    • Amazing Spider-Man #229-230 - Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut
    • Amazing Sppider-Man #248 - The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man

 

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Direct download: Peter_Parker_Part_2_Hobgoblin_Saga_Kravens_Last_Hunt__Venom_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 6:22am EDT

This week Kriss is joined by Rich Jones (@RichJones15) to talk about the craziness that happens in the world. Rich has gives his unique perspective as a 7th generation black man from Canada. He talks about how America looks from those outside the country as we're led down a deep dark hole with an idiot as President.

A large portion of this show talks about this video from the NRA and Dana Loesch. It's very clear that the NRA is a terrorist organization that pretends to "fight for the 2nd Amendment" but in reality is nothing more than funding and promoting white supremacy. We break down how the NRA handles acts of violence and how their responses always differ when it comes to the victims being black and the perpetrators being law enforcement. The NRA is the reason why gun violence in America won't go down and their violent and ridiculous rhetoric is why. The NRA for years has acted like a terrorist organization while trying to claim to be victims. Yet they actively work to provide cover for white supremacists that end up being domestic terrorists and never attempt o change. Listen to the whole show to find out why.

Topics:

  • Joe & Mika only care about Trump now because they're the victims
  • Hannibal Burress sends an imposter to the Spider-Man: Homecoming red carpet premiere
  • Dana Loesch claims her video doesn't incite violence against the left (it does)
  • Ten white supremacist terrorist attacks the NRA and Right don't address
  • Coon...I mean Colion...Noir says the NRA doesn't need to speak up about Philando Castile because they...hired him
  • Who funds the NRA?
  • That time the NRA boycotted Smith & Wessen for developing a smart gun
  • Do You Even Sci-Fi Bro
  • Black Woman Shoutout
    • Xandra Jackson - Portraits, paintings and photography. Check out her Instagram Page @XandraJackson

Guest:

Rich Jones - @richJones15 - Unanimous Decision

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_574_-_The_NRA_is_a_Terrorist_Organization_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 8:09pm EDT

We're BACK! We took a week off to pull of NegroCon 2017 and it was a huge success. Thanks to Rod & Karen from The Black Guy Who Tips as well as Phenom, Twan & Deirdre from Where's My 40acres. And a special thanks to all the fans who made it possible.

But onto the show! This week Kriss is joined by Dpalm from the Unanimous Decision and we have a lot to talk about. From why you shouldn't make your own whipped cream to hotep action figures, we cover a lot. You're not going to want to miss it.

Topics:

Guest:

Dpalm - @Dpalm66 - Unanimous Decision

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Direct download: Insanity_Check_573__Captain_Pan-African_Planet.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 3:41pm EDT

Listen to Kriss & Dpalm talk about the teenage years of Peter Parker on their latest Character Corner for more details on the first 150 issues of Amazing Spider-Man as we talk about why teenage Peter Parker is so important. Also check out the Rogue War Part 2 Character Corner for more details on Spider-Man's villains.

Key Issues:

  • Amazing Fantasy #15 - First Appearance
  • Amazing Spider-Man
    • #1 - First appearance of Chameleon
    • #2 - First appearance of Vulture
    • #3 - First appearance of Doctor Octopus
    • #4 - First appearance  of Sandman
    • #6 - First appearance of Lizard
    • #9 - First appearance of Electro
    • #14 - First appearance of Green Goblin
    • #15 First appearance of Kraven
    • #31 - 33 - If This Be My Destiny (First appearance of Gwen Stacy & Harry Osborn)
    • #39 - 40 - Norman Osborn revealed as Green Goblin
    • #42 - First appearance of Mary Jane Watson
    • #50 - Spider-Man No More, first appearance of Kingpin
    • #90 - Death of Captain Stacy
    • #121 - 122 -The Death of Gwen Stacy (and Norman Osborn)
    • #129 - First appearance of The Punisher & Jackal
    • #139 - 150 - The Original Clone Saga

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We have a lot to discuss this week and thankfully, we didn't touch on Donald Trump's fuckery at all. Kriss is joined by John from the Decepticomics and Non-Productive Comedy Show. We touch on a lot of hilarious topics but the big one is, Marvel dropped the teaser trailer for Black Panther during Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Show Topics:

  • Humans need natural predators to thin out traffic
  • Remembering Adam West
  • The Black Panther trailer is LIT!
  • Why now is the perfect time for Black Panther
  • Hoteps (fake Africans) are mad that Black Panther trailer has actual Africans/African culture
  • Kriss gets irrationally upset at a Hotep for calling a jet a spaceship
  • The perfect idea to keep sex robots from becoming a thing
  • US Company is working to reanimate the dead
  • Ice Cube confronts Bill Maher (Maher is still racist though)
  • Great Moments In White Privilege
  • Black Woman Shoutout
    • Shanita Hubbard - I want to partner with writers looking for assistance with finding their "voice". I provide one-on-one coaching to help scribes break down guards and develop a more intimate writing style.  I can also be booked for speaking events that center social justice, media or prison reform.

Guests: 

Direct download: Insanity_Check_572_-_The_King_Has_Arrived_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 4:36pm EDT

We're back with a new episode of the Insanity Check. Joining Kriss this time is Latoya (Winter Reign) host of Secret Sauce on the MTR Network.

Show Topics:

  • Wonder Woman hits theaters and it's good...
  • Bill Maher back at it again
  • The DNC is ignoring Black Women and its a HUGE mistake
  • This Week in Trump
  • Great Moments In White Privilege
  • Black Woman Shoutout
    • Styles of Imagination - Diane Linston is a Fashion Designer from Cleveland Ohio. Maple Heights very own Fashion Designer, Diane Linston steps out as one of the most talented fashion designers in the state of Ohio. Linston, has been featured in more than 20 magazines; nationally and internationally. She was featured in Today’s Black Women September 2013 issues. Madame Noire Magazine, December 2013, issues Ohio Cleveland.com 2013 issue and a host of others. Linsotn has participated in New York and Washington DC Fashion-week. Linston’s NGU Collections garnered national attention and caused her to work with local and national celebrities. Her credits allowed her to work with Actress Jazmin Lewis, Dwight Eubank of the Atlanta Housewives, and the mother of Singer John Legend. Recently, Linston modeled for Maple Heights Mayor Elect Annette M. Blackwell, Blackwell is the First African American Woman to be elected to serve as mayor.  

Guests: 

Direct download: Insanity_Check_571__Get_Bill_Maher_Outta_Here_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 5:46pm EDT

There's been a lot of talk about Hydra Cap and Secret Empire so we decided to look back to how we got here. Steve Rogers didn't just become "a Nazi". There's been an intricate and interesting story being told leading up to the Secret Empire event. Kriss & Dpalm are joined by Justin (3FifsPodcast) and Jeff (Nonstop Culture Podcast) to talk about the lead up to Secret Empire and what's made it a great read so far.

Issues:

  • All New Captain America #3 - Sin claims Red Skull made up Sam's whole background using the cosmic cube
  • Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill #1 -3
  • Civil War 2
    • Civil War 2: The Oath
  • Captain America: Sam Wilson
    • Issue #13 - Steve sent US Agent after Sam to get the shield back
    • Issue #14 - Steve sets Sam up to fail at saving a hostage
  • Captain America: Steve Rogers
    • Issue #2 - Reveals the new history that Steve believes is his reality
  • Secret Empire

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Direct download: Super_Tuesday_Recap_-_Secret_Empire_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 6:29am EDT

We're back with another Character Corner, this time as a follow up to the Wolverine episode we did here. The first time we covered Logan, we didn't get a chance to go over in detail some of his recurring enemies. To be fair, most enemies of Wolverine end up dead (or resurrected only to be killed by him again). But we decided to do a quick rundown of them anyway. Most of the story details we cover in the first episode and here we just give a bit more background and talk about the problems with some of Logan's deadliest foes.

Enemies & Issues:

  • Lady Deathstrike & The Reavers
    • Daredevil #197 - First appearance as Yuriko Oyama
    • Alpha Flight #33-34 - First Appearance as lady deathstrike
    • Uncanny X-men #205
    • Uncanny X-Men #251
  • The Hell Fire Club
    •  Original - Uncanny X-Men #129 - #138
    • New Hell First Club (kids) -
      • X-Men: Schism
      • Wolverine and the X-Men
  • Viper/Madame Hydra
    • Captain America vol 1 #110 - First Appearance
  • Omega Red
    • X-Men #5 - First Appearance
    • The Omega Clan  - Uncanny X-Force (2010) #26
  •  Cyber
    • Marvel Comics Presents #85 - First Appearance
  • Lord Shingen & Silver Samurai
    • Wolverine Vol 1 1- 6
    • Daredevil #111 - Silver Samurai first appearance.
    •  Wolverine Vol 2 2-3
  • The Hand
    • Wolverine Vol 3 20 -25: Enemy of the State
  • Matsu’o Tsurayaba
    • Uncanny X-Men #255 - First Appearance
    • Wolverine Vol 2 #57 - Poisons and kills Mariko. Wolverine promises to take a body part from Tsurayaba on the anniversary of her death each year
    • Wolverine #175 - shows some of the times Wolverine kept his promise to take a piece of Matsu 
  •  Daken
    • Wolverine Origins #10 - First Appearance
    • Dark Avengers #1 - as Wolverine
    • Dark Wolverine
  •  Romulus
    • Wolverine Origins #39
  •  Mystique
    • Ms Marvel 16 -17 First Appearance
    • Messiah Complex
    •  Wolverine vol 3 62 -65 - Get Mystique 
    • All-New X-Men 
    • Mystique solo series by Brian K Vaughn
  • Sabretooth
    • Iron Fist 14 - First Appearance
    • Wolverine #10 - Retells First Wolverine-Sabretooth fight.
    • Wolverine #90
    • Origin II #5 - Reveals why Sabretooth haunts Wolverine on his birthday
    • Sabretooth mini-series - 1993/1994 - Contracted to kill Mystique,  learns that Graydon Creed is his son 
    • Uncanny X-Force (2010) #25 - 34 - Manipulates Daken forcing Wolverine to kill his own son
     

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Direct download: Character_Corner_-_Wolverine_Enemies_1.m4a
Category:Entertainment -- posted at: 12:51pm EDT