Jacked Kirby

Episode 93- “Hercules!”   “The madness must be upon thee... to dare defy the will of Hercules!”     Artist and author GEORGE O’CONNOR (The Olympians) joins Mike D. & Tommy to discuss the introduction of Harcules (and Greek mythology) into the Marvel Universe with the first Journey Into Mystery Annual (1965)! History, mythology, art, Kirby, and Zeus as a Solid Gold Dancer?! You won’t wanna miss this one!   Follow George on Instagram: @thegeorgeoconnor https://instagram.com/thegeorgeoconnor?igshid=1wfh6ydzu3azb   And visit the Jacked Kirby FlowPage to find and follow us on Instagram and Facebook!   Www.flow.page/jackedkirby

Award-winning artist, writer, teacher, designer, animator, (and so much more) Mike Manley joins Tommy & Mike D for episode 92 of the show... to talk comics, Kirby, art, Darkhawk’s 30th anniversary, comic strips, history, (and so much more)!  Follow Mike on Instagram at @drawmanley and visit his website www.MichaelColeManley.com Follow Jacked Kirby everywhere by visiting  www.flow.page/jackedkirby

Episode 91- “Kirby Comics & Hip-Hop”   With the death of hip-hop artist MF Doom, Tommy & Mike D invite their friends Joey Armao Esq. & Mikhail Bortnik to discuss the influence of comic book culture on hip-hop culture... and vice-versa... for our first episode of 2021.  Happy New Year! 

Our Kirby Q&A returns and listener questions are answered by Mike D. & Tommy on this pre-Xmas episode of the program! We address a lot of fun stuff, as well as discuss the news of an “origins of Marvel” movie script! We also rap, beatbox, and talk about comics and movies in the Jacked Kirby style you’ve come to know and love! Happy holidays, kids!

In this episode, Mike D. & Tommy discuss the introduction of Fantastic Four foe Bentley Wittman, aka THE WIZARD in the pages of Marvel’s November of 1962 comic Strange Tales issue 102! Also; Jerry Orbach, Steven Seagal, one-off villains, how collecting & consuming content has changed through the years, and the impact of the new American mythology; comic books! 

The King goes kung fu fighting! Mike D. & Tommy are joined by the always buttery Alil Kunica from The League Of Geekz Podcast to talk about Jack Kirby’s one foray into kung fu comics, penciling issue 3 of Denny O’Neill’s DC Comic ‘Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter’ (1975)! Plus they discuss how karate culture took over pop-culture in the ‘70s... plus Bruce Lee, Harry Potter, variant covers, horror movies, and more! 

Comic book and blockbuster movie storyboard artist Steve Skroce talks to Mike D. & Tommy from Vancouver about Kirby, comics, Canadian TV, art, bad movies, good movies, and working with the Wachowskis. We had a fun time recording it, and you’ll have a fun time listenin’ to it!    Follow Steve on Instagram @steveskroce Follow Jacked Kirby on Instagram @jacked_kirby

Our Jacktober 2020 episodes wrap up with this foray into Forever People territory, as the team of hippie-dippy New Genesis youths team up with Deadman to solve his own murder! Fun, spooky stuff comic book stuff by The King accompanied by lots of horror movie talk (and recommendations) and some other not-safe-for-work horseshit!    Happy Halloween, kids! 

Jacktober 2020 continues, as we discuss a Fantastic Four yarn with a link back to a classic Universal monster! Tommy & Mike D. are joined by pop-culture curator (and their uber-production guy) Rob Martin to discuss FF issue 97 (1970), “The Monster From The Lost Lagoon”! We get deep into scary movies, the creation of Universal’s “Gill-Man”, the cause and effects of horror films through the decades, the pros and cons of pop-culture fandom, and of course, Jack Kirby comics! It’s a fun one!   To listen, look at, and follow Jacked Kirby everywhere, click HERE!  

“... for I am Groot, overlord of all the timber in the galaxy!”   Jacktober continues as Tommy & Mike D. talk about the monstrous beginnings of what would become everyone’s favorite monosyllabic tree creature, GROOT!  (Tales To Astonish issue 13- 1960.) We discuss how a one-off creature can become so beloved, continuity in comics and how it possibly hurts storytelling, and we recommend some movies that feature evil trees! Fun shit!    Follow Jacked Kirby on Instagram! 

The month of October is now JACKTOBER!  Celebrating some of Jack Kirby’s many forays into some strange and macabre superhero territory!  For our first week, Mike D. & Tommy talk about DC’s THE DEMON, issues 11-13 (1973)! Learn the spooky tale of Etrigan’s battle with the evil Dr. Baron Von Rakenstein and his attempts to rule the world with his supernatural, UNnatural, creations! Great stuff by the King Of Comics!  We also recommend some scary Halloween-time viewing and reading!    Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

Artist and writer Pete Doree joins Tommy & Mike D. for a fun conversation from across the pond (via Zoom)! Pete does a self-published book called ‘Jack & Stan’, featuring the cosmic adventures of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and other notable comic book legends! We talk its creation, England, politics in comics, comics in England, inspiration, and lots more!    "If you don't like the Thing, you don't like comics." ~PD   Pete can be found here; Petedoree.bigcartel.com Ko-fi.com/petedoree Twitter and Instagram: @petedoree    Follow Jacked Kirby on Instagram @jacked_kirby Rate and review the podcast, and share it! 

Comic book artist and illustrious illustrator VAL MAYERIK talks with Mike D. & Tommy about Kirby’s impact on comics, working at Marvel in the ‘70s, how technology has changed the comic book industry, and of course co-creating Howard The Duck! It’s a great episode covering a lot of stuff in a fun and easy going conversation with a pro!   Visit Val’s website valmayerik.com

Mike D. & Tommy finally record in-person after so many months, discussing the 1960 Kirby/Lieber/Lee creature made of muck, TABOO, from Marvel’s Strange Tales! Fun, dopey stuff! Tommy tells a tale of ripping his shorts, and Mike speaks on his love of the Halloween season while also discussing his new schlock-horror-themed Instagram page @master_sardus_archive!  It’s a fun one, so have a listen! 

Comic artist FRANK FOSCO (IDW’s ‘TMNT: Urban Legends’, WebToon’s upcoming ‘Ethrian’ with Chuck Dixon) joins Tommy & Mike D. for a fun and informative conversation about the comic book industry, modern day art practices, Frank’s love of King Kirby, and lots more! It’s a good time!

Vin Iadevaia runs the popular Instagram account @KIRBYCOVERS, where he shares scans of the covers from his ever-growing collection of Jack Kirby comics! Tommy & Mike D. have a fun conversation with Vin, talking about their favorite and least favorite Kirby covers, Vin’s collection, comic book documentaries, and lots more! 

Comic artist, author,  and Jack Kirby acolyte Tom Scioli (‘Gødland’, ‘Fantastic Four: Grand Design’) joins Mike D. & Tommy to talk about the King of Comics, ‘50s censorship, Stan & Jack, and his just-released Jack Kirby comic-biography ‘Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics’!  Buy the book and listen to this show!  It’s a good one!   •Music- “Robot Stop” by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard   Follow Tom on Instagram! https://instagram.com/tom_scioli And follow Jacked Kirby on Instagram! https://instagram.com/jacked_kirby

“History is people!” Mike D. & Tommy celebrate America’s 200th birthday... 44 years late... by taking a cosmic mind-trip with Captain America to discover what the United States is truly about by discussing Jack Kirby’s 1976 Marvel Treasury Special CAPTAIN AMERICA’S BICENTENNIAL BATTLES! We traverse America through time with Cap, learning some valuable lessons and harsh truths. The boys also discuss the current climate in America, the importance of historical context, the movie ‘Philadelphia’, their love for Chris Evans, and lots more! Come take the ride.   •Music- “Living In America” by James Brown

To celebrate three years of the program, Tommy & Mike D. are joined by Jacked Kirby’s behind-the-scenes tech whiz Rob Martin (of the CCD Podcast/CCD.NYC and the all-new Cult Of Pop video-cast!), and former guest Young James West Esq. (Comics For Courage non-profit) to discuss Jack “King” Kirby’s influence BEYOND the pages of comics in a thoughtful yet raucous third anniversary episode! It’s a fun time, so enjoy!  •Music- “Dani California” by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Illustrator and author George O’Connor talks to Tommy & Mike D. about the creation of his best-selling graphic novel series THE OLYMPIANS, and how Jack Kirby influenced his work. Plus ‘90s comics, Greek myths (and why there are no great Greek myth movies), and the educational properties of comics! •Music- “Zeus vs Thor” by Epic Rap Battles Of History Find George online at www.georgeoconnorbooks.com