All New Showcase

On the tenth anniversary of Free Comic Book Day, Blake and Kenny set up camp at BSI Comics in Metairie and chat with fans, pros, and fellow podcasters about everything! In this episode: a spoiler-free discussion of The Avengers, our thoughts on the DC Nation cartoon block including Green Lantern: The Animated Series and Young Justice, discussions of the free comics on sale, Kurt Amacker tells us about his new graphic novel Tad Caldwell and the Monster Kid, and we chat with the hosts of the Nola Nerd podcast and Adam from the Graphic Panels podcast. In the picks, Adam recommends Earth 2 #1 and Blake (surprising virtually no one) talks about the first issue of the new X-O Manowar. And the free stuff isn't over -- Blake is giving away free downloads of his superhero novel Other People's Heroes! Just go to Smashwords.com, use the coupon code XG56X, and download the book in your preferred eReader format! (Coupon expires on May 20, 2012.) Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.co

With just five days left before Geek Christmas, it's time to gear up for Free Comic Book Day! Blake and Erin go through this year's list of offerings and talk about which books they're anticipating, which ones may not be to their taste, and whether or not there's any reptile as awesome as Doctor Dinosaur. (Answer: No.) In the picks, Erin is absorbed in Rhiannon Frater's As the World Dies series, and Blake urges you to watch Young Justice on Cartoon Network. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

Summer is going to be here before you know it, friends, and it's time for the Showcase crew's annual look ahead at the releases that will help you stay cool indoors during the baking summer months. Blake, Erin and Heather run down all of the big releases from May to August, including the ones you can't wait for, the ones you've never heard of, and the ones you just wish you've never heard of. In the picks, Erin is enjoying the Rot and Ruin series, Heather is the last person on Earth who hasn't read The Hunger Games, and Blake tells you why Fantastic Four #605 will make you sweat from your eyes and Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #8 is just awesome. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

It's Easter, friends, and we've all got mounds of chocolate to eat. So this week, Blake hits you with a mini-episode in which he reviews the film The Hunger Games, talks about the first and zeroth issues of Avengers Vs. X-Men, and picks Danger Club #1 as the best of the week. Don't forget, we're taking your votes for the top ten villains in all media to use in an upcoming episode! Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

With Avengers Vs. X-Men starting this week, Blake and Erin talk about the run-up to it, including the launch event, Marvel AR, and Infinite Comics, with a critique of Mark Waid's Luther. Plus, they get into all the news from WonderCon and Emerald City, including the new Valiant Comics, Womanthology, the Rocketeer, and more! Plus -- April Fool's gags are irritating, Draw Something is cool, and cats are adorable. In the picks, Erinis enjoying Anne Rice's The Wolf Gift and Blake doubles up with Superman #7 and Atomic Robo Presents Real Science Adventures #1! Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

Although comic books gave birth to the superhero as we know it, that doesn't mean they've been restricted to the four-color pages all these years. This week, Blake and Kenny share their own top ten lists of superheroes who were born outside of comic books, then dive into some of your suggestions. In the picks, Kenny goes with Aquaman, and Blake chooses Wolverine and the X-Men and the final issue of Tiny Titans. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

With John Carter finally in movie theaters a century after publication, with Game of Thrones and Dexter burning up your TV screens, this week we take a look at other books that should be made into movies or TV shows. In the picks, Erin goes with Fables Vol. 7 and Blake takes Action Comics #7. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

Blake and Erin get together this week to talk about movies. They give their thoughts on the recent film Chronicle and the newest DCU animated film Justice League: Doom, plus a few other films that have crossed their Netflix queues lately, and look forward to John Carter and The Hunger Games. Moving on to other talk, we say farewell to Sheldon Moldoff and Ralph McQuarrie, celebrate the return of Community, talk about the pre-orders for Avengers Vs. X-Men and the Earth Two costume designs and more! In the picks, we talk about Hack/Slash #13 and The Shade #5. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

Blake's voice is on its last legs today, so take a minute to think about this quick monologue about Gary Friedrich, the Ghost Rider lawsuit, and the implications that go with it. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

DC kicked off February with a big announcement: Before Watchmen, followed by some very interesting January sales numbers. This week, Blake and Erin discuss this news, some upcoming Marvel events like Spider-Men and Avengers Vs. X-Men, and Blake reveals his long-standing desire to be... a cosplayer! In the picks, Erin loves Morning Glories Vol. 2, and Blake doubles up with Avengers Academy #25 and Invincible #88. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

For the second year, Wizard World has come to New Orleans, and the Showcase boys are on the floor. The guys talk costumes, autographs, and convention etiquette, and Blake hits the floor to talk to some of the creators in attendance! Writer John Layman talks about the hit book Chew and his upcoming work on Mars Attacks, arist Joe Eisma gives a tease about Morning Glories, artist Nick Pittara talks about creating The Red Wing and the upcoming Manhattan Project, and writer Brandon Seifert tells us what Witch Doctor has to look forward to in 2012! Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

Blake and Heather get together for a mini-episode this week, looking into the new DC Logo. Heather offers the perspective of a graphic designer, they discuss the variants, and they give overall impressions of the new look for DC Comics. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

The Showcase guys had a long weekend in Florida this week, but on the way back they find a few minutes to talk about some of the comic shops they found in Pensacola, this week's announcements regarding the New (New) 52, and why it's a bad idea to take a road trip with Mike. In the picks, Blake jumps in with The Ray #2 and X-Men: Legacy #260.1 Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

This week we look into the announcements made this week regarding Avengers Vs. X-Men -- the marketing and the miniseries. Plus -- Blake begins tracking his effort to view as many 2011 movies as possible, and he gives props to Action Comics #5 and Rachel Rising #4. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

2011 is over, but that doesn't mean we can't talk it to death! In a ginormous Showcase special, Blake gets together with Kenny and Erin to run down all the big comic events of 2011, look ahead at what's coming in 2012, and make our picks for the best of comics, movies, TV shows, books and more for the year we've put to bed. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

The Muppets are back on the big screen, Blake's niece Maggie is in love with Kermit, and it's Christmas Eve. What better reason for Blake and Heather to sit down, watch, and discuss the Muppet specials A Muppet Family Christmas. The Muppet Christmas Carol, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie and A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa? Also: learn the joys of podcasting with a 1-year-old! In the picks, Heather has become a big fan of ABC's Once Upon a Time and Blake gives a plug to the first issue of IDW's Memorial. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

Blake comes at you this week to say farewell to two comic creators who passed away this week -- the legendary Joe Simon and the incredible Eduarto Barretto. On a lighter note, the holidays have hit Gotham City big-time this year, and Blake looks at Batman: Noel, All New Batman: The Brave and the Bold #14, and Batgirl #4. He stays in Gotham for the picks with the incredible Batman: The Black Mirror. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

Blake and Erin talk about books both with and without pictures this week. New Kindle Convert Erin points you towards the "Black December" sale from the good folks at horror publisher Permuted Press, and Blake urges all writers to throw their support behind Operation eBook Drop. In comics chat, we discuss the passing of Jerry Robinson, the return of Valiant Comics and Marv Wolfman's Night Force, and the next big thing at Marvel, Avengers Vs. X-Men. In the picks, Blake triples with Animal Man #4, Hack/Slash Annual #3, and Snowy Joey and the Christmas Dinosaurs. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

Blake and Erin spent the week in Pittsburgh for Thanksgiving, and this week they've got a trifecta of entertainment to talk about. From the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, they discuss the special exhibit Heroes and Villains: The Comic Book Art of Alex Ross. Then they shift gears to discuss the new Stephen King novel 11/22/63 and the online experience surrounding the new King miniseries Bag of Bones. And to cap it off, they delve into the movie event Blake has been waiting to see for 12 years: The Muppets. In the picks, Erin talks more about the Dresden Files and Blake doubles up with Wolverine and the X-Men #2 and Legend of Oz: The Wicked West #1. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.

Layoffs are one thing. Cancelled comics are something else. But a snowball seems to be rolling down from Marvel Comics, and this week, Blake tries to stand against it. Apologies in advance: this gets a little ranty. But he does dig good comics, and he gives his pick this week to Avengers Academy #22 Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com! Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.