Gobbledygeek

  Our month-long celebration of Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki continues! After the intense, mythology-laden epics Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke, Paul and AJ turn to perhaps Miyazaki's lightest features: the 1988-89 one-two punch of My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service. Joining them is author (and The Deli Counter of Justice contributor) Kitty Chandler and editrix extraordinaire Anna Williams. The gang discusses Miyazaki's painterly detail, his use of complex female protagonists, how both films are about growing up, and why it makes perfect sense that My Neighbor Totoro was originally released on a double bill with Grave of the Fireflies. Next: we're taking to the skies! Greg Sahadachny of The Debatable Podcast and All the Pieces Matter stops by to chat about Castle in the Sky and Porco Rosso.

  Man has been exploiting nature since the first caveman picked up a rock and bludgeoned another to death with it. This doesn't sit well with some, like Hayao Miyazaki, who has made two powerful films about the environment and the ways in which human greed corrupts it: 1984's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, which led to the creation of the revered Studio Ghibli; and 1997's Princess Mononoke, which finds Ghibli at the peak of its powers. To help Paul and AJ kick off their month-long celebration of Japanese animation master Miyazaki, another princess stops by, namely Princess Sippy Cup AKA The Deli Counter of Justice co-editor Eric Sipple. The gang discusses the ways in which Nausicaä and Mononoke tackle the same themes from different angles, Miyazaki's shifting perspective over the years, and what both films have to say about violence and the nature of evil. Next: Black Ice author Kitty Chandler (whose work just so happens to appear in The Deli Counter of Justice) and her editrix Anna Williams join us to

  Paul and AJ's Four-Color Flashback journey through Jeff Smith's Bone continues with the return appearance of The Debatable Podcast's Greg Sahadachny. This time they're taking a look at Vol. II: The Great Cow Race, which follows the first by being just as funny (maybe even funnier) while teasing a deeper, darker mythology. The gang discusses the way Smith conveys so much expression with just a few lines, his fleet-footed storytelling abilities, how he constructs his jokes, and that whole cow race thing. Plus, what does "overrated" mean and which stand-up comics fall under the definition? The boys have answers! Next: our month-long celebration of Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki kicks off as Eric Sipple stops by to discuss Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke.

  #LifeChange is in the air! That's right, this week, the boys have a lot on their minds. As Paul embarks on a new chapter of his life, AJ deals with the major hang-ups of being a homeowner by proxy. None other than frenemy of the show and The Deli Counter of Justice co-editor Eric Sipple is on hand to listen to their whinging after which, the gang gets down to some serious writing talk. The boys discuss the perils of writing flash fiction (AKA extremely short stories), what you can learn from such constrictions, and what's next for the Deli-verse, plus plenty more. Next: this year's Four-Color Flashback continues with a look at Bone: Vol. II - The Great Cow Race, potentially featuring The Debatable Podcast host Greg Sahadachny.

  After spending 2014 weaving their way through the many different stories of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, Paul and AJ have settled on something which appears much simpler for this year's Four-Color Flashback: Jeff Smith's Bone. Appearances can be deceiving, though. The boys have heard tell that Smith's cartoony magnum opus, taking obvious inspiration from Walt Kelly and Carl Barks' comic strips, grows into a complex, sprawling epic. And even in Vol. 1: Out from Boneville, wherein Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone find themselves in a strange new land, there are inklings of the high fantasy to come. Plus, the boys discuss friend of the show Kenn Edwards' short film The Joke, attempt to break down Tina Fey and Robert Carlock's new Netflix show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and prepare to enter the Age of Ultron with a new trailer. Next: Eric Sipple stops by to chat. This won't end well.

  For the first Geek Challenge of 2015, Paul and AJ have been challenged by friend of the show/Smoke Gets in Your Ears co-host Kenn Edwards to do things a little differently: Paul has to challenge AJ to a movie not from the '80s, while AJ has to challenge Paul to one from the '80s that isn't black-and-white or foreign. After some head-scratching, Paul has chosen to force AJ to endure the 1976 cult classic Logan's Run, about two people exploring the outer world; and AJ has tasked Paul with sitting through the 1988 David Cronenberg film Dead Ringers, about two people exploring the inner world. Tenuous connection aside, these are very different movies. Very different. Plus, the boys pay their respects to Leonard Nimoy, talk Spider-Gwen, and just want to be one of Will Forte's ball-friends on The Last Man on Earth. Next: this year's Four-Color Flashback begins with a look at Out from Boneville, the first volume of Jeff Smith's cartoony magnum opus Bone.

  Mars: it ain't the kind of place to raise your kids, and it ain't the kind of place where Mark Watney wants to die. We track our astronaut's final attempts to leave the Red Planet in the last six chapters of The Martian by Andy Weir, as Paul and AJ are joined by all of this year's Gobbledy-Book Club readers: So Let's Get to the Point host and Smoke Gets in Your Ears: A Mad Men Podcast co-host Kenn Edwards, Wanna Cook? co-author Ensley F. Guffey, and the Internet's own Hallie Prime. The verdict on the book is perhaps a touch contentious, but that just makes the whole thing more fun, right? Plus, the gang discusses Mars One's very real proposal to send folks to Mars for life. Next: AJ and Paul have been tasked with an interesting Geek Challenge by Mr. Edwards. Paul must challenege AJ to a movie that's not from the '80s, while AJ must challenge Paul to a movie from the '80s that's also not foreign or black-and-white. After much head-scratching, Paul must endure Dead Ringers and AJ will subject himself to Loga

What do cannibalism, Elton John, and pirate-ninjas have in common? They all figure into chapters 13-19 of The Martian by Andy Weir, here discussed by Paul, AJ, and Wanna Cook? co-author Ensley F. Guffey. As Gobbledy-Book Club 2015 nears its end, the gang talks about the book's stylistic and emotional weaknesses, as well as the ways in which Weir effectively builds tension. How will it all end? Ensley knows! But Paul and AJ can only make their terrible, terrible predictions. Plus, the gang gets into that whole Spider-Man business, laments Jon Stewart's decision to leave The Daily Show, and takes a guess at what Neill Blomkamp has in store for his Alien movie.   Next: an all-star jam band reunion of our Martian readers, featuring Ensley, Kenn Edwards, and Hallie Prime.

  For the second week of Gobbledy-Book Club 2015, Paul and AJ are joined by longtime friend (but first-time guest) Hallie Prime to discuss chapters 7-12 of The Martian by Andy Weir. As stranded astronaut Mark Watney becomes more and more desperate for human contact, Weir begins to tap into the emotional weight of his premise. The gang debates how effective this is...and continues to have issues with a little thing called "dialogue." Plus, AJ prepares to Better Call Saul, while the gang straps on their gravity boots for the Wachowskis' Jupiter Ascending. Next: Wanna Cook? author Ensley F. Guffey stops by to talk chapters 13-19 of The Martian.

  After tackling the layers hidden beneath the puzzle-filled surface of J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst's S last year, the Gobbledy-Book Club returns to discuss The Martian by Andy Weir...and it's a much simpler read, for better or worse. AJ and Paul are joined by So Let's Get to the Point host (and Smoke Gets in Your Ears co-host) Kenn Edwards to talk the first six chapters of The Martian. The pros: the story of astronaut Mark Watney stranded on Mars is immediately engaging, it's pretty damn funny, and it's filled with tons of cool science. The cons: there's a lot of science that might fly over heads, the tone is weirdly lighthearted, and Weir struggles a little with the switch from Mark's POV to folks back home on Earth. Will this premise sustain a whole book? We'll find out! Next: Hallie Prime joins us to discuss chapters 7-12 of The Martian.

  In what has become a Gobbledy-tradition, Wesley "Wezzo" Mead has made his third transatlantic pilgrimage to these great shores, where the mighty Bat-Turkey reigns supreme. This time around, Wezzo has on his mind new releases, from American Sniper to Inherent Vice; the surprising dearth of Sesame Street in the UK; and his favorite films of the decade so far. Plus, there's talk of the Ghostbusters reboot and the first two weeks of The Nightly Show. Next: the second annual Gobbledy-Book Club, discussing The Martian by Andy Weir, gets off to a start with Smoke Gets in Your Ears co-host Kenn Edwards.

Two boys, lost in the woods. A fearsome beast roaming the forest. A frog with many names. Potatoes...and molasses. What do these things all have in common? They're in Over the Garden Wall, the first-ever animated mini-series on Cartoon Network (and perhaps all of American television). The show, broken up in ten 11-minute installments, is a thing of weird and wild beauty. Paul and AJ discuss the many different references it draws from--Miyazaki, Adventure Time, Betty Boop--and how they all cohere to form one of the best cartoons in recent memory. So why don't you join them, over the garden wall? Plus, Paul has become an Avatar: The Last Airbender obsessive and AJ watched a whole bunch of movies during the Gobbledysleep.     Next: Wesley "Wezzo" Mead makes his annual hop, skip, and a jump over the pond.

  To kick off Gobbledygeek season 6, we have for you what we promised at the end of last season: a (nearly) full audio recording of The Deli Counter of Justice reading at Rickert & Beagle Books in Pittsburgh, PA on December 13, 2014. Paul, AJ, and Eric Sipple round out the Deli brain trust, with contributors Thomas Dorton and Alyssa Herron also on hand to read from their stories. In addition, there a few Qs & As before the audio cuts out. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we did reading. Plus, Paul and AJ tease some highlights from the forthcoming season of the show. Next: the boys discuss the odd, brilliant Cartoon Network mini-series Over the Garden Wall.

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mark the end of our year-long Four-Color Flashback discussion of Neil Gaiman's epic fantasy series The Sandman. On hand to discuss Vol. X: The Wake with Paul and AJ are all of their past Sandman guests: Broken Magic author/The Deli Counter of Justice cohort Eric Sipple; The Debatable Podcast host Greg Sahadachny; and Wanna Cook? authors K. Dale Koontz and Ensley F. Guffey. The six of them discuss Morpheus' wake, its many attendees, Daniel's ascendance as the Dream King, and the series' three epilogues. This episode? Well, it's the stuff dreams are made of. Next: for the final episode of 2014, you'll get to hear Paul, AJ, Eric, Thomas Dorton, and Alyssa Herron doing a Deli Counter of Justice reading at Rickert & Beagle Books in Pittsburgh, PA.

This Christmas season, put a little love in your heart with Paul and AJ as they revisit Richard Donner's 1988 reworking of A Christmas Carol, Scrooged. This year's Twisted Christmas entry stars none other than AJ favorite Bill Murray as soulless TV exec Frank Cross, who is visited by a number of very annoying spirits who try and pummel him into living life to its fullest. The boys discuss Murray's manic-to-dry range, what we're supposed to make of Frank's (and even Scrooge's) character arc, and the interesting decision to cast Carol Kane as the sound of nails on a chalkboard given form. They also invent the mental breakdown Donner surely had on set. This is a weird one. Plus, there's talk of those Star Wars and Jurassic World trailers, if you're into that sort of thing. Next: an all-star jam band of our Sandman compatriots takes place, as the gang turns to the final volume of Neil Gaiman's epic, Vol X: The Wake.

All good things got to finish some time. Paul and AJ have reached the climax of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, in its penultimate installment, Vol X: The Kindly Ones. As Morpheus' strict adherence to rules proves to be a cage of his own making, the Furies come down upon his head, wreaking havoc in the Dreaming and tying together many of this epic series' loose ends. Meanwhile, Lucifer plays piano, Rose meets Jack (non-Titanic edition), Matthew lacks pennies, and Lyta's hair drinks most of the water. It's been a hell of a ride. Next: the boys get in the twisted Christmas spirit with a look back at Scrooged.

Whether you prefer your heroes fluffy and cuddly or coated with a layer of Depression-era dust--not that we're suggesting those things have to be mutually exclusive, of course--you'll find what you're looking for on the new episode of Gobbledygeek. Paul and AJ set their sights on two of the biggest movies of the fall: Big Hero 6, the Disney/Marvel animated film about a boy, his huggable robot, and five of their pals; and Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, starring Matthew McConaughey as a spacefaring daddy. What do these movies have in common? They're both pro-science, they're both pro-love, and AJ and Paul actually agree on both of them. For the most part. Plus, Paul went to freaking Disney World! Next: for the penultimate Four-Color Flashback episode discussing Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, the boys tackle Vol. IX: The Kindly Ones.

For the first Geek Challenge in many months, Paul has challenged AJ to John Carpenter's 1986 fantasy/martial arts/neo-Western cult classic Big Trouble in Little China. In turn, AJ has challenged Paul to Henri-Georges Clouzot's 1953 "anti-everything" thriller The Wages of Fear. What, pray tell, is the common denominator? They're, uh, they're both about truckers. Tenuous connections are what Geek Challenges thrive on, and this one at least provides some sobering realizations for the boys. What do Paul's reactions to some '50s movies and AJ's reactions to some '80s movies say about them as people and that pesky generational gap? There may be actual answers. Plus, more surprising reactions, this time about Taylor Swift's 1989; and AJ springs #AlexFromTarget on Paul. Next: in two weeks, the boys will be back discussing two more very different movies, Christopher Nolan's Interstellar and the Disney/Marvel animated film Big Hero 6.

The day is here! After a year-and-a-half of hard work and months of hoopla, the superhero short story anthology The Deli Counter of Justice is finally available for purchase on Amazon, Smashwords, and elsewhere. The Deli braintrust--Arlo J. Wiley, Paul Smith, and Eric Sipple--take you behind the curtain to talk a little about what led us here, what the process of putting the book together was, and what you can look forward to in the future. That's right, this isn't the end. It's just the beginning.

Some call it All Hallows' Eve. Others, All Saints' Eve. Most know it as Halloween. Here at Gobbledygeek, October 31 always has been and always will be observed as Gobbledyween. Fan favorite Greg Sahadachny, of The Debatable Podcast and All the Pieces Matter, joins Paul and AJ to round out this year's celebration of all things horror with a discussion of the 1988 cult (?) classic (?) Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Armed with popcorn guns and living balloon dogs, these klowns descend from the stars just like the Blob to wreak havoc on small town America and--that's really all the movie is, just one goofy clown-related death after another. Paul doesn't think too highly of the movie, and while it would be insane for anyone to think too highly of it, AJ and Greg argue that it's just too darn innocent to hate. Also, why are clowns so scary? Plus, AJ becomes hopelessly addicted to Jurassic Park: Builder and attends a groovy screening of Halloween at The Nightlight.     Next: the Geek Challenge rears its head once m