Gobbledygeek

Comin' straight from the underground, this week Paul and AJ discuss the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton. Yes, the two whitest podcasters you know deliver their take on the film's authenticity, its sad relevance, where it falls on the biopic spectrum, and yes, the bizarre fact that Ice Cube offspring O'Shea Jackson Jr. is playing Ice Cube. Here's hoping it's less awkward than that time they jammed to "Accidental Racist."     Next: that charming Brit, Wesley "Wezzo" Mead, is back for another round of charming Brit-ness.

Stop me if you've heard this one before: a near-autistic supergenius, a Portishead-loving invisible girl, a man on fire, and a big ol' pile of rocks walk into another dimension... Oh wait, you have heard this one before? You didn't like it then, either? Huh. Hollywood has now ruined the Fantastic Four three times, and Paul and AJ are on hand to detail all the ways this one goes wrong. What makes it worse is that it starts with Josh Trank's good intentions to give Marvel's first family a fresh update with a strong cast featuring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jaime Bell. Re-edits, reshoots, and one incomprehensible finale later, those good intentions have been nullified. What happened? DOOM.     Next: who knows? It’s a mystery episode.

The Geek Challenge once more rears its ugly head, this time to a dark and somber tune. That's right, Paul and AJ have decided to talk about music again, a subject which they famously lack the words to discuss. But that won't stop 'em! AJ has challenged Paul to John Lennon's debut solo album, 1970's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, known for its direct and confessional lyrics; while Paul has challenged AJ to the middle album in The Sisters of Mercy catalogue, 1987's Floodland, a dark and alluring set of songs which may make no sense whatsoever. How much will Paul and AJ embarrass themselves? Tune in and find out!     Next: Fantastic Four? Don't get ahead of yourself.

  Power is the only thing of substance in this world. Well, that and Jeff Smith's Bone, which Greg Sahadachny of The Debatable Podcast joins Paul and AJ to discuss once more. This time, the gang scales the cliffs of Vol. V: Rock Jaw - Master of the Eastern Border. It's an imposing title for such a straightforward volume, not to mention the shortest of the series thus far. Yet the boys find plenty to talk about, including the introduction of new character Roque Ja, a smooth-talking feline whose name no one can pronounce; the moving tale of Smiley and Bartleby the rat creature cub; and whether or not Smith gets away with the dreamlike narrative. Next: Paul and AJ face the music with a new Geek Challenge. AJ must listen to Floodland by Sisters of Mercy, while Paul has to give John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band a spin.

For the twelfth entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the House of Ideas goes microscopic with Ant-Man, bringing Paul Rudd into the fold and attempting to shrink from their recent overstuffed epics. Is there still room for a small-scale, one-and-done movie in the MCU? On their way to finding out, Paul and AJ discuss the film's inventive use of perspective, what it thinks of women, how Rudd stacks up as a superhero, and yes, Peyton Reed taking over the director's chair from an unhappy Edgar Wright. Next: Greg Sahadachny is back for another Four-Color Flashback installment exploring Jeff Smith's Bone. This time, we're taking a look at Vol. V: Rock Jaw - Master of the Eastern Border.

  I'm sure you've missed Paul and AJ in their extended absence. (Are those crickets I hear?) Well, if you'd like to find out what they were up to, the lowdown's here, as the boys--along with original Gobbler Joseph Lewis--subject anyone who dares listen to the 21st century equivalent of vacation slideshows. These three heathens made their way down to Austin, TX, where they enjoyed the sights, the sounds, the movies, the food. Oh, did they enjoy the food. On their surprisingly Confederate flag-free tour of the South, they also hit Memphis, Nashville, and New Orleans, all of which they discuss in detail. The gang talks about the many movies they saw at the Alamo Drafthouse (including Terminator Genisys and Magic Mike XXL), what they wrote on the wall outside Graceland, and their surprise celebrity encounter at Third Man Records. Next: Marvel's biggest little hero gets his turn in the spotlight with Ant-Man.

  During Miyazaki Month earlier this year, Paul and AJ (along with a number of their friends) discussed every feature film of Hayao Miyazaki's career...except two. Which is why they've revived the concept for a "lost" Miyazaki Month analyzing 1979's The Castle of Cagliostro, Miyazaki's first movie; and 2008's Ponyo, his penultimate film. Well, "analyze" might be the wrong word...for different reasons, these are two movies which don't necessarily require a lot of thought. But the boys give it their all anyway, going over Cagliostro's heist picture wackiness and Ponyo's dreamlike simplicity, not to mention Hitler and nightmare fish Muppets. Next: we're on vacation...so who knows! But we'll be back!

  We got th' gitchy feelin', which can only mean one thing...it's time for another Four-Color Flashback installment exploring the world of Jeff Smith's Bone. Once again, Greg Sahadachny of The Debatable Podcast and All the Pieces Matter joins Paul and AJ to discuss Bone: Vol IV - The Dragonslayer. The series now has both feet in the "epic fantasy realm," so the gang discusses how the expository infodumps work, how Smith maintains his sense of humor amid the darkness, Phoney's major heel turn, and whether or not you should be reading this thing in color or black-and-white. Next: while Paul and AJ are gone fishin', they've discovered a "lost" Miyazaki Month episode! They'll discuss the only two Miyazaki features they didn't get to in April, 1979's The Castle of Cagliostro and 2008's Ponyo.

   If you ever feel like you've got more than one voice in your head...you just might. That's what the eight leads of Netflix's new series Sense8 discover. What Paul and AJ discover, along with their The Deli Counter of Justice co-editor Eric Sipple, is that the show, from the minds of the Wachowski siblings and J. Michael Straczynski, is a fascinating intersection of race, class, sexuality, and geography. As the characters experience the world through each others' eyes--and beyond--the show delves into a topic unfamiliar to much pop culture: empathy. The gang digs into Sense8's metaphysical kick, its brilliantly layered characters, its binge-watching model, and more. Next: Greg Sahadachny of The Debatable Podcast drops in for another Four-Color Flashback episode examining Jeff Smith's Bone. This time, we'll be reading Bone: Vol IV - The Dragonslayer.

  Don't you just hate how amusement parks jack up prices during the summer season? I mean, $12 for a Slurpee? Not to mention the lines and the waiting and the heat and the crowds don't get me started on the crowds and OH GOD WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE! Jurassic World is the only park on Earth where you're more likely to get bitten by a pterosaur than a mosquito, so of course the thing's been up and running for 20 years with nary an incident. At least that's the premise of Colin Trevorrow's Jurassic Park sequel, which finds Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and her heels on the run from all manner of prehistoric beasts. Paul and AJ, joined by Kenn Edwards of So Let's Get to the Point, discuss the film's logic or lack thereof, how it plays into the Buzzfeed-ification of our culture, its surprising similarities to Gremlins 2, and what it has to say about big corporate sequels. Plus, AJ's not dead. Next: I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together. The Deli Counter of Justice co-editor Eric Sipple jo

  Welcome to sex class. Today, Paul and AJ will be teaching you about the repr--wait, no, sorry, that's later this season. This week, we're indulging in a four-color Geek Challenge: AJ must read the run so far of Rick Remender and Wes Craig's Deadly Class, about a wayward teen boy recruited by a school for assassins in the late '80s; and Paul must read all ten current issues of Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky's Sex Criminals, in which two lovers stop time when they come. (That one'll actually teach you a thing or two.) The boys discuss the two Image series, their raw honesty, their radically different yet equally beautiful art styles, and their ridiculously filthy jokes. Plus, there's talk of films about damaged musicians (Love and Mercy and Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck) and a sentient robot (Ex Machina). Next: on top of Jurassic World, lookin' down on creation.

  Our names are Paul and AJ. Our world is fire and blood. Once, we were Gobbledygeek. A podcast searching for a pop cultural cause. Here to give us that cause is none other than Im-Mere-ator Furiosa herself, Mere Smith, author of Cowface and Other Hilarious Stories About Death and writer for such fine television programs as Angel and Rome. Mere schools the boys on the feminism of Mad Max: Fury Road, the three of them discussing the film's gender politics, its beautifully choreographed action, how the hell George Miller got this movie made, and why Mere cried during the end credits. Oh, what a lovely day. Next: for a comic book-y Geek Challenge, Paul must read Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky's Sex Criminals, while AJ must read Rick Remender and Wes Craig's Deadly Class.

  Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the passing of one of this world's brightest lights: Koko the Showfucker. Jason Tabrys, veteran pop culture writer and one half of Radio Bastard, has returned to Gobbledygeek having outlived his podcast-wrecking parasite. Left to his own devices, Jason only manages to sidetrack Paul and AJ into discussions of the 1993 film Airborne, his favorite knish place, and of course, how AJ is so very young and stupid. In between, the gang ostensibly chats about their increasing disconnect with this thing we call "nerd culture." Koko lives. Next: Mere Smith, author of Cowface and Other Hilarious Stories About Death and writer for such fine television programs as Angel and Rome, returns to the show to discuss the feminism of Mad Max: Fury Road.

With Miyazaki Month behind us and Ultron vanquished, Paul and AJ return to the world of Jeff Smith's Bone. Greg Sahadachny of The Debatable Podcast and All the Pieces Matter joins the boys for another Four-Color Flashback, this time taking a look at Vol. III: Eyes of the Storm, wherein things get serious. Smith still crams in plenty of jokes and moments of perfect comedic timing, but the book's heart isn't as light as it perhaps once was. The boys discuss this new heaviness, how it meshes with the series' humor, the volume's mythological infodump, and the many ways in which Smith's art recalls the best of animation. Next: Don Draper may be gone, but one man is still mad. Paul and AJ dig into the Mad Max series and its new installment, Fury Road.

  Not much in this world is surprising. The irony of this statement is that in order to tell you about how Paul surprises AJ in this episode, we have to give away said surprise: this is the one where Paul finally watches Breaking Bad. AJ remained in the dark the whole time, misled by Paul to think some ominous present was on its way; turns out the present is a discussion of Vince Gilligan's acclaimed morality tale, which long-time listeners will remember Paul refused to watch for years. What did he think of it? You'll have to listen for yourself. Featuring surprise guests K. Dale Koontz and Ensley F. Guffey, authors of Wanna Cook? The Complete, Unofficial Companion to Breaking Bad! Next: Paul and AJ continue their Four-Color Flashback look at Jeff Smith's Bone with Vol. III: Eyes of the Storm.

  Killer robots. Mind-controlling witches. Suits of armor from space. Dudes with frosted tips. All of this and so! much! more! is contained within Avengers: Age of Ultron, the highly anticipated sequel to Joss Whedon's 2012 extravaganza. The reception has been decidedly less rapturous than that which accompanied the first film, so Paul and AJ dig into what works about the movie, what doesn't, whether or not Whedon goofed up Black Widow, and just how much creative control a filmmaker can have over one of these things. Plus, AJ makes a case for a much smaller film, Seymour: An Introduction. Next: Paul got AJ a present. Ominous!

  Our month-long celebration of Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki reaches its bittersweet conclusion with a look at Miyazaki's purported final film, 2013's The Wind Rises; and Mami Sunada's documentary about its making, The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness. Joining Paul and AJ for their final descent into the world of Studio Ghibli is Smoke Gets in Your Ears: A Mad Men Podcast co-hosts Kenn Edwards and Joseph Lewis. The gang discusses the parallels between Miyazaki and The Wind Rises' aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi, Miyazaki's surprisingly fatalistic outlook on life, and--naturally--the grand folly of art. Plus, Joe makes an exciting announcement! Next: leaping from one Disney-distributed universe to another, Paul and AJ enter The Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Bathhouses, talking fires, giant babies, grotesquely overweight witches...for this leg of Miyazaki Month, Paul and AJ enter the world of the filmmaker's two most visually distinct yet perhaps least coherent films: 2001's Spirited Away and 2004's Howl's Moving Castle. Joining them on their journey is first-time guest (but longtime background entertainer) Monique Morgan of Beacon Hills: After Dark and Nathan Burdette of On the Rocks (and AJ's blood relative). The gang discusses the limitless imagination on display in these two films, the strengths and weaknesses of that lack of coherency, and what the movies have to say about Japanese culture and war.     Next: Miyazaki Month comes to a close, as Smoke Gets in Your Ears: A Mad Men Podcast co-hosts Kenn Edwards and Joseph Lewis drop by for The Wind Rises and The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness.

  Netflix has unveiled the first of four original series from the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Daredevil, starring the most Catholic of all blind superheroes. Executive producers Drew Goddard and Steven DeKnight bring Matt Murdock to the small screen, played by Boardwalk Empire's Charlie Cox. The result is, well, it's surprisingly good, even by Marvel standards. Paul and AJ discuss the parallel structure that brings Wilson Fisk into sharp relief, the shocking deviation the show takes from the source material, the series' beautifully brutal fight scenes, and where things are headed next. Plus, because they're masochists, the boys also revisit the 2003 DD film starring Batman.

  Miyazaki Month takes to the skies this week with 1986's Castle in the Sky, the first official Studio Ghibli production, about a boy from a mining town and a princess from a floating island (jeez, does this guy have a thing for princesses or what?); and 1992's Porco Rosso, wherein a man with the face of a pig fights air pirates and evades the Italian Secret Police. Greg Sahadachny, host of The Debatable Podcast and All the Pieces Matter, joins Paul and AJ to discuss Miyazaki's aviation fascination, how Castle in the Sky may be the perfect bridge between Nausicaä  and Princess Mononoke, why Porco Rosso succeeds (or doesn't) as a character study, and more. Next: Monique Morgan of Beacon Hills: After Dark and Nathan Burdette of On the Rocks join us for a look at Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle.