Podcasting Comic Book Style

by Lint Hatcher

Example One:  An overview of the JLA/Avengers crossover event in which over an hour's worth of commentary is devoted to each issue of the 4 part miniseries, page by page and virtually panel by panel, generating enough DC and Marvel trivia,
behind-the-scenes scoops, and character history minutia to make your head spin.

Example Two:  A detailed two hour overview of the origins and various retreads, revamps, and retcons of the Legion of Superheroes from the days of The Legion Outpost to the current Mark Waid incarnation. Did you know Dave Cockrum co-created Nightcrawler and Storm? Did you know he originally intended for them to be Legionaires instead of X-Men? Didn't think so.

Example Three:  A grandfatherly old gentleman sits down in his rocking chair and proceeds to share wistful memories of the Golden Age of comic books, including the origin of the Justice Society, plus profiles of the Black Hawks, Spy Smasher, the Golden
Age Superman, the original Green Lantern, the Spectre, Doll Man, Captain Marvel, and about two dozen other heroes (and villains). Then he leans over and tells you where to find Golden Age comics today!

Any of that sound like your cup of tea?

Well then, brother, it's time you tried the wonderful world of comic book podcasting!

The Basics

     Most folks have managed to get their head around the notion of portable MP3 players, but there is still some confusion regarding podcasts.

     In its basic form, a podcast is like a homemade radio program:  a single host shares news and commentary on his or her particular passion -- whether it's politics, gaming, movies, music, or any of a thousand other topics. The difference between a radio program and a podcast is that you don't have to tune in on a particular night at a particular hour. The program comes to you, when you subscribe to the proper RSS feed, and is downloaded to your computer via your internet connection. You can listen to it whenever you like.

     Technically speaking, this sort of thing was possible before the advent of portable mini MP3 players, but it took Apple's iPod to inspire a whole podcasting subculture that might not otherwise have developed. Now just about every media outlet and news organization has a podcast, including the Wall Street Journal, ABC World News, Fox News, NPR, Comedy Central, ESPN, HBO, VH1 and a couple of companies called DC and Marvel.

Did I mention that podcasts are free?


Hangin' With The Heroes

     The comic book fan has a fantastic assortment of fanboy podcasts to choose from. I say "fanboy" since these are usually by fans for fans, but this is no comment on the quality of the podcasts. Production values typically are quite professional. As for the content -- it turns out if you are creative and tenacious enough to produce a podcast once a week,
every week, it's virtually guaranteed you will know your stuff about comics.

     A real community of fans and professionals has developed around the podcasts, because podcasters also provide websites and forums. A weekly show provides a constant springboard for conversation. For many fans the forums have become a source of encouragement in their own efforts at creating comics. Great friendships have developed as well -- a welcome change for the isolated comics fan who can't find anyone equally determined to build that elusive complete run of "Speedball".

Here are a few recommended podcasts. Download iTunes from apple.com (available for Mac or PC) and give them a try:

Comic Geek Speak -- This is the granddaddy of them all and continues to put out the best variety of topics. Plus, there's about eight of these guys on each show, guaranteeing a wide range of opinion (and absurdity). High points include their monthly review of what's happening in DC's weekly comic "52"; their "Footnotes" cast (currently pouring over every detail of JLA/Avengers; Episode 203, the Legion of Superheroes Spotlight; Episode 209, the trivia contest episode, in which a solitary geek, Adam Murdo (aka "the Murd") takes on six or seven other geeks all at the same time -- and totally trashes them. Did you know Metropolis is located in Delaware? Can you name the martial arts
form practiced on Krypton? Can you name the other, more secret one? Do you know Cave Carson's freaking middle name? The Murd knows. Also, CGS hosts a massive
forum which they have generously made available to other comics podcasts. CGS is the hub around which all the other comics casts spin. Nuff said.

Collected Comics Library -- This one is interesting. Chris Marshall provides weekly coverage focusing exclusively on trades. This includes DC Comics Archives, Marvel Masterworks, Essentials, Showcases, plus collected editions from other companies ranging from Image to Ape, Top Shelf to Fantagraphics. Well worth a listen.

The Golden Age of Comic Books -- Bill Jourdain, a local guy up in Dalton who sounds like he's probably a Deacon in good standing over at First Baptist, produces a great podcast. Typically, each episode features an overview of a particular Golden Age character, but there have also been historical interludes such as Bill's in-depth look at the
Congressional investigations that inspired the Comics Code Authority.

Raging Bullets -- This is a DC Comics centered podcast with a neat twist:  it is hosted by two guys, one of whom is a longtime DC fan, the other of whom just got his feet wet in the world of comics. Provides some interesting perspectives and can be counted on for
in-depth coverage of the latest at DC.

Indy Spinner Rack -- Charlito and Mister Phil provide "art comics talk without the snobbery." Heck, I'd take it with snobbery! Fans of Seth, Chester Brown, Paul Pope, Sam Hiti, Guy Davis, Phil Hester, Eddie Campbell, Dave Sim, Dylan Horrocks and other assorted indy artists will be happy to know there is a podcast where the mention of their favorite indy title doesn't produce a blank stare for half a minute and then, "Oh yeah, you like that weird stuff." On the other hand, as their subtitle says, it's not as high falutin' as the Comics Journal.

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