The Lightning Lady Guy

The Lightning Lady Guy

DOWN THE WITCHES ROAD: Our hosts are joined by the show’s resident on-the-ground-Marvel correspondent, Kyrun Silva (of Taurus Comics) to talk about the most recent MCU Disney+ show, Agatha All Along.

TOPICS:

(0:00:00) Intro
(0:02:22) Kyrun’s thoughts on Galactus’ appearance in the trailer for Fantastic Four: First Steps
(0:07:26) Kyrun’s overall thoughts on Agatha All Along
(0:10:55) The magic side of the MCU
(0:16:09) The arc of the WandaVerse
(0:21:48) Let’s talk Billy Maximoff
(0:26:58) The benefits of Agatha‘s episodic structure
(0:36:15) The Death of it all
(0:44:04) Comic-accurate costumes
(0:45:38) Final thoughts
(0:51:56) Outro – Shameless self-promotion
(0:56:24) Outtakes

Follow Kyrun on the following services:

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • The Nature of the Gutter” (12 March 2021): Where our hosts inexplicably bring on their On-the-Ground-DC Correspondent, Taylor Katcher, to discuss WandaVision.
  • A Bunch of Empty Sound” (5 April 2024): Where our hosts and Kyrun talk about the opening episodes of X-Men ’97.
  • Rogue Staple” (8 November 2024): Where Andrew shared his thoughts after the conclusion of Agatha All Along.

RELEVANT LINKS:

  • Kyrun will be at Black Comics Day 2025 this weekend in San Diego, CA. Find more information at their website.
  • D. Bethel will be a part of a panel about how to get started with writing comic books at StocktonCon this Sunday, 2/16, at 11:30. More information at their website.

INFO:

FEATURED MUSIC:

Nothing But Mouth Sounds

Nothing But Mouth Sounds

WHEN MARVEL HIT HARD: In the lead up to the main topic for this week, our hosts talk about some recent MCU trailers that dropped (and impending releases) with Captain America: Brave New World and Daredevil: Born Again and how they both seem to be breathing some fresh air into the franchise.

THAT’S THE THING: However, the most refreshing trailer that they’ve seen was the one Marvel Studios dropped this week for Fantastic Four: First Steps.

TOPICS:
(00:00) Intro – New MCU! Captain America: Brave New World and Daredevil: Born Again
(10:12) Our hosts discuss the teaser trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
(40:28) Outro – Teasing next week’s episode?
(43:06) Outtakes

RELEVANT LINKS:

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • My Nude Wall” (15 November 2024): Where our hosts discussed the trailers for Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*.

INFO:

FEATURED MUSIC:

No Herbs

No Herbs

SHINE ON: Our hosts spend a quick minute discussing the fall of Diamond Distribution and all the markets it touched.

WEEK IN GEEK: Andrew watches the new Star Trek movie, Star Trek: Section 31, while D. Bethel finally jumps on the bandwagon and watches the beginning of the Apple TV+ show, Severance.

TOPICS:

(00:00) Intro – Diamond Comics Distribution goes bankrupt
(08:52) Andrew’s WiG: Star Trek: Section 31
(30:44) D’s WiG: Severance
(43:21) Outro – “Superhero” is public again
(46:03) Outtakes

RELEVANT LINKS:

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • Jersey Finger” (26 April 2024): Where our hosts discuss the breakup of the comical overreach of the Embracer Group.

INFO:

FEATURED MUSIC:

Deep Discount

Deep Discount

WEEK IN GEEK: It’s a new year and––guess what?––our hosts are still geeks that have weeks; with that in mind, our hosts share the open-world character action games that have been occupying their time lately: Andrew dives into the conspiracy of Assassin’s Creed: Origins while D. Bethel uses the force in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

TOPICS:
(00:00) Intro – Teacher talk.
(02:48) Andrew’s Week in Geek: Assassin’s Creed: Origins
(14:39) D.’s Week in Geek: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
(27:01) D.’s Extra Week in Geek: Starting Agatha All Along
(35:08) Outro – D. Bethel’s actual “Thing of 2024”: Godzilla Minus One Minus Color
(37:24) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • Reverent Irreverence” (17 May 2019): Where D. Bethel shares his time with Assassin’s Creed: Origins.
  • The Full Kyrun” (2 February 2024): Where D. Bethel discusses the surprisingly affective experience of watching Godzilla Minus One Minus Color.
  • Rogue Staple” (8 November 2024): Where Andrew walks through his thoughts of Agatha All Along.

INFO:

FEATURED MUSIC:

Splashing in the Shallow End

Splashing in the Shallow End

2024’s THINGS OF THE YEAR: Reflecting on the 2024 that was, our hosts pick what defined the year for them. For Andrew, it’s how Star Trek: Lower Decks brought its excellent run to a close while D. Bethel can’t stop thinking about Amazon Prime’s Tales from the Loop (though it originally dropped in 2020). Andrew also talks a bit about the series finale to the Disney+ MCU animated series, What If…?

TOPICS:

(00:00) Intro – It’s a new year!
(02:29) Andrew’s 2024 Thing of the Year: The ending of Star Trek: Lower Decks
(12:51) D. Bethel’s 2024 Thing of the Year: Tales from the Loop
(19:45) Andrew talks about the ending to What If…?
(27:33) Outro – 2024 in a nutshell
(28:38) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • Kamen Themes” (30 December 2022): Where our hosts discuss their 2022 things of the year. Andrew lands on Andor while D. Bethel got lost in the world (as a cat) in Stray.
  • Sausageria” (29 December 2023): Our hosts return to talk about their 2023 things of the year, which means Andrew reflected on the many ups and downs of Dungeons & Dragons while D. Bethel got sentimental watching Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny.

INFO:

FEATURED MUSIC:

The Miyagi Initiative

The Miyagi Initiative

WEEK IN GEEK: Andrew watches the multifaceted musical/comedy documentary, Yacht Rock: The Dockumentary, while D. Bethel finds a new holiday-staple film in the esoteric but endearing animated film, Tokyo Godfathers, directed by the late Satoshi Kon.

KARATE KID AND THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS: Our hosts wrap up the episode by discussing the trailer and premise for the very bizarre upcoming film, Karate Kid: Legends, a film promising to stitch together the dominant realities that exist within the The Karate Kid franchise.

TOPICS:
(00:00) Intro – Introducing The Middle-Aged Man podcast
(03:55) Andrew learns a lot watching Yacht Rock: The Dockumentary
(19:42) D. Bethel finally watches Tokyo Godfathers, his first Satoshi Kon film
(29:46) Outro – What the heck is Karate Kid: Legends?
(35:45) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • A Mighty Oak” (5 December 2014): Where D. Bethel discusses reading the unfinished Satoshi Kon manga, Opus. (Starts at 4:01).
  • Batting 100” (19 December 2014): D. Bethel dives deeper into Opus in one of his early segments called “Boasts of Bethel.” (Starts at 7:29.)

RELEVANT LINKS:

INFO:

FEATURED MUSIC:

The Beef Sleeps

The Beef Sleeps

WEEK IN GEEK: This week, Andrew talks about the finale to the DC/WB show, Superman & Lois, and how it holds up not only as a finale for the show but as a finale for the entire DC/WB run of shows. D. Bethel, on the other hand, spends some time (digitally) in the North Sea on the very Scottish experiential horror game, Still Wakes the Deep.

TOPICS:

(00:00) Intro – Andrew ate too much beef
(02:27) Superman & Lois series finale
(24:17) Still Wakes the Deep in all its Scottishness
(40:07) Outro – Recasting Characters in the Alan Wake universe
(45:00) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • Chekhov’s Mud Pit” (19 August 2022): Where our hosts talk about the cultural respect found in the most recent Predator film, Prey.

RELEVANT LINKS:

INFO:

FEATURED MUSIC:

Yiker’s Island

Yiker’s Island

THE DEEPEST CUT: Our hosts do a quick mid-season check-in on the final season of Star Trek: Lower Decks.

SWEETS TO THE SWEET: In honor of the great Tony Todd who played memorable roles from Star Trek to the titular Candyman, our hosts reflect on a great actor gone too soon.

TOPICS:
(00:00) Intro – Star Trek: Lower Decks
(11:20) RIP Tony Todd
(19:29) Outro – Teacher Talk
(20:51) Outtakes

INFO:

FEATURED MUSIC:

New Machine, New Problems

New Machine, New Problems

TOM HANKSGIVING: Andrew bought a new Mac, so he decides to play No Man’s Sky while D. Bethel is Tom Hanksful for the delightful retro-stylings of the indie RPG, Beyond Galaxyland.

GRIPESGIVING: With all the thanks out of the way, our hosts decide to complete the holiday by complaining about things. Andrew is mad at the new season of Cobra Kai while D. Bethel becomes irrationally furious with the new Wicked movie.

TOPICS:
(00:00) Intro: It’s American Thanksgiving
(03:34) Andrew buys a Mac Mini and plays No Man’s Sky
(17:59) D. Bethel loves Beyond Galaxyland
(25:19) Outro: Gripesgiving #1 – Cobra Kai season 6 is interminable
(28:27) Gripesgiving #2 – the 3-hour Wicked adaptation is only PART ONE?!
(32:13) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • Chekhov’s Honk” (22 January 2021): Where our hosts discuss The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part 2, and The Karate Kid Part 3, briefly.
  • Too Many Johnnies” (5 February 2021): Where our hosts dive into Cobra Kai.
  • Nomanski” (24 November 2023): Where our hosts talk about No Man’s Sky.

INFO:

FEATURED MUSIC:

My Nude Wall

My Nude Wall

STILL WALKING: Andrew updates us on his traversal through The Walking Dead, finding more surprises even when deep into season 4.

MODERN MARVELS: Three new MCU trailers dropped––Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, and What If…? Season 3––and they all look great! Does this, combined with the recent success of Agatha All Along, signal a new breath of life for Marvel Studios?

TOPICS:
(00:00) Intro – Andrew’s The Walking Dead update
(09:18) The State of the MCU
(12:32) The trailer for Captain America: Brave New World––strangely relevant?
(21:31) The trailer for Thunderbolts*––Marvel’s The Suicide Squad?
(28:38) The trailer for season 3 of What If…?––Apocalypse and Storm: Goddess of Thunder?!
(42:12) Outro – Is D. Bethel a villain?
(46:00) Outtakes

RELEVANT LINKS:

INFO:

FEATURED MUSIC: