Positively Nerdy

Welcome to Positively Nerdy! This time we're covering the comic released in the last two weeks of June. Everything from Mouse Guard and Bodie Troll to Batman Superman and All-New X-Men, from the smaller publisers to the 'Big Two', we've got you covered!Comics Reviews in this episdoe:Archaia (or is it BOOM!):Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard Vol. 2 #1 (of 4)Red 5:Bodie Troll #2 (of 4)Bongo:The Malevolent Mr. Burns #1Dark Horse:Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #3 (of 4)IDW:Star Trek #22DC:He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #3Justice League #21Batman and Batgirl #21Aquaman #21Wonder Woman #21Batman Superman #1Marvel:Indestructible Hulk #9All-New X-Men #13Superior Spider-Man #12

Welcome to Positively Nerdy! It's time to once again go back and get caught up on comic goodness with Comics With Catch-Up! For this episode we're taking a look at Uncanny Avengers issues six through nine.In terms of content there can be no doubt that Rick Remender's Uncanny Avengers is the flagship title of MarvelNOW! Born directly from the events of Avengers VS. X-Men, Uncanny Avengers, as the name might suggest, is a team built by Havok and Captain America to help showcase the potential and cooperation of humans and mutants. Easier said than done. In these issues, illustrated by Daniel Acuna, the past returns to haunt Wolverine and Thor as tension rise within the group. The timing couldn't be worse as the Apocalypse Twins have declared war on the Cosmos and have reborn their own iteration of the Four Horsemen!Remender's story is epic and sweeping in its scope and is so all-encompassing of the Marvel Universe, past and present, that it feels just like an event. An event that isn't being pushed by Marvel the way it deserves and an event that, while spanning the entire Marvel Universe, isn't dependent on crossovers or tie-ins. Uncanny Avengers is massive and entertaining and if you're not reading it - what are you waiting for?

Welcome to a very special episode of Positively Nerdy! The Magic Kingdom, the crown jewel of the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida and the most popular theme park in the world. Joining me to discuss the magic and memories of our many visits to the park are my wife Leah, Jason Devall and Pixel Dan!What makes the Magic Kingdom so incredible and memorable goes far beyond the rides and the attractions. It's about the feeling you get walking down Main Street USA or the first time you notice that tiny Disney detail you'd walked by so many times before. More than just a comprehensive guide to the park this episode is all about reliving the magic and the memories we enjoyed on our visits and are now sharing with all of you. From the best way to arrive at the park to the night-time spectaculars, from the heavy-hitters of Splash Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean to the small quiet moments of enjoying the themes and details or discovering a new place to grab a bite to eat, we share it all! We even speculate and look forward to a future of introducing a brand new generation to the wonders of Disney magic at the Magic Kingdom! Accompanying us along the way are plenty of clips, music and narrations from our special 'fifth host' to complete the experience and allow you to become lost inside the memories of the Magic Kingdom! Just remember, it was all started by a mouse!Special Guests this Episode: Pixel Dan: www.pixel-dan.com Twitter: @pixeldan Jason Devall: www.toyworldorder.com Twitter: @puppetdevall Leah: Twitter: @armyhalfday For More podcasts, columns and discussions, visit: www.positivelynerdy.com Contact Ryan: Twitter: @positivelynerdy E-Mail: ryan@positivelynerdy.com

Welcome to Positively Nerdy!  It's time for me to finally join the chorus of opinions regarding Man of Steel, surely the most talked-about movie of the summer!  Joining me, as is becoming the pattern for movie discussion episodes, is my wife, Leah!  Leah and I discuss the good, the bad and everything in between regarding Superman's latest visit to the big screen!  And much like the internet itself, where half seemed to enjoy the film and the other half did not, Leah and I are split on our opinions as well.  Well, on most of them anyway.  Leah and I discuss everything in the movie from casting (and my love of Amy Adams) and story to the destruction of Metropolis and Clark's life in Kansas.  But most of our discussion involves comparing the first half of the film to the second.  The half filled with ideals, potential and heart and the half filled with noisy explosions, gratuitous destruction and explanatory dialogue.  And most importantly where does DC go form here, given the level of the threat and the destruction it caused, and why didn't they give us a reason to be excited about that future at the end of the film or even in a bonus scene?  In short, why should we care what come next? And sadly, while we discussed the movie for an hour I completely forgot to bring up the Codex and how much I disliked it and every way it was used in the film.  Perhaps a follow-up rant is in order... Visit: www.positivelynerdy.com Contact Ryan: Twitter: @positivelynerdy E-Mail: ryan@positivelynerdy.co

Welcome to Positively Nerdy!  It's time for the debut of an all-new series within the Positively Nerdy podcast!  My friend Rob Roosa becomes my co-host for a series of episodes that have us working our way through a series of 'choose-your-own-adventure' books! You remember 'choose-your-own-adventure' books, right?  Making decisions and turning to a corresponding page to discover the consequences of your choice.  Every decision you made created an entirely new story.  We're spoiled in modern times with the technology that comes with entertainment but this was exciting and unpredictable unlike the linear video games of the time.  Rob and I have selected the Lone Wolf Roleplaying Adventures originally published in 1984 and written by Joe Denver, featuring illustrations by Gary Chalk.  We begin with the first book in the series, Flight From The Dark, personalizing our character - through both choice and chance - before setting off on our (more or less) open-ended adventure!  Join Rob and I as we make our way through this entertaining series of books laughing, arguing and making countless choices, and having many more made for us, which we hope will bring us one step closer to the completion of our quest. Listen all the way to the end as Rob and I leave our final decision of this episode up to you!  You can help us decide how to proceed to begin the second chapter of 'Ryan and Rob Choose Their Own Adventure'! Visit: www.positivelynerdy.com Contact Ryan: Twitter: @positivelynerdy E-Mail: ryan@positivelynerdy.co

Welcome to Positively Nerdy!  It's once again time to sit down with Suine Hallock and discuss the latest issues of IDW's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series in the Radical Corner of Turtle Comic Talk! Before we get into the action of our two stellar issues for this episode, Suine takes time to share some stories and purchases from this year's HeroesCon in Charlotte, NC.  After Suine fills us in on Chew, Daredevil and his discussions with various creators, it's onto the turtle comic goodness!  First up is the latest installment in the villain-centric micro-series, Baxter!  This issue is light on the flashbacks and heavy on plot development as Baxter manipulates Krang and still has time to invent: the Flyborg!  Then it's on to issue #22 and the beginning of the City Fall storyline.  The massive story that fans have been waiting for is finally here and it does not disappoint!  Suine and I also speculate on where the story goes from here which leads into a discussion of August's TMNT releases and our displeasure with detailed solicits and seeing the covers too far in advance. Visit: www.positivelynerdy.com Contact Ryan: Twitter: @positivelynerdy E-Mail: ryan@positivelynerdy.co

Welcome to Positively Nerdy!  After three long weeks we are finally back with an all-new episode of comic reviews.  From the regular superhero fare from DC and Marvel to plenty of surprises from Dark Horse, IDW and Dynamite we've got a lot to cover this time! Comics Reviewed this episode: IDW Half-Past Danger #1 Star Trek #21 Dark Horse Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin Dynamite Battlestar Galactica #1 Image Chew #34 DC He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #1 Earth 2 Annual #1 Wonder Woman #20 Aquaman #20 Justice League #20 Marvel FF #7 Indestructible Hulk #8 Ultimate Spider-Man #23 Scarlet Spider #17 Superior Spider-Man #10 Visit: www.positivelynerdy.com Contact Ryan: Twitter: @positivelynerdy E-Mail: ryan@positivelynerdy.co

Welcome to Positively Nerdy!  Speculation may be running rampant regarding the future, in any, of traditional animation features from Walt Disney Animation.  Rather than get tied down in the ins and outs of what may or may not be, we've decided its best to move forward by looking back and the films that impacted our lives.  Joining me for this very special Top5 is the Disney A-Team of Jason Devall, Pixel Dan and Leah! The four of us, along with the rest of the world, grew up watching Disney's animated films as they defined what it meant to be a child generation after generation.  In this episode we share our personal favorites, discussing with one another what keeps us watching these timeless films over and over again.  From the very beginning with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to the under-appreciated end of the century favorites such as The Emperor's New Groove nothing is off limits (as long as it's hand-drawn 2D!) and there are plenty of fun discussions, history lessons and laughs along the way. Special Guests this Episode: Pixel Dan: www.pixel-dan.com Twitter: @pixeldan Jason Devall: www.toyworldorder.com Twitter: @puppetdevall Leah: Twitter: @armyhalfday For More podcasts, columns and discussions, visit: www.positivelynerdy.com Contact Ryan: Twitter: @positivelynerdy E-Mail: ryan@positivelynerdy.co

Welcome to Positively Nerdy! It's time for another trip into the back-issue bins for an all-new episode of Comics With Catch-Up!  This time around we're focusing on some of my finds from my recent trip to the Motor City Comic Con! There are few things I enjoy more at a convention than digging through countless long boxes, looking for comic to cross off my ever expanding list or to discover something new.  For this Catch-Up episode I'm sharing some of my recent discoveries from that fall into each category, some issues I was searching for while others I had no idea even existed.  First up, we catch-up with Vartox, Karb-Brak and Superman in Action Comics #476.  Then it's off to Marvel for Captain America #328 featuring the debut of D-Man, West Coast Avengers #8 as they battle the Rangers, Crystar Crystal Warrior #6 featuring Nightcrawler, Sledge Hammer #2...because apparently Marvel made a Sledge Hammer comic series!  And finally, we go back to DC for Hammer Locke #1, a comic I've waited a long, long time to read!  But before we discuss these comics, the winner of the Star Trek: Countdown series, the contest from the previous episode of Comics With Catch-Up, is revealed! Visit: www.positivelynerdy.com Contact Ryan: Twitter: @positivelynerdy E-Mail: ryan@positivelynerdy.co

Welcome to Positively Nerdy!  This is it, the centerpiece of Positively Nerdy's celebration of all things Star Trek.  My wife Leah and I saw Star Trek Into Darkness Monday night and now we're sitting down together to discuss all aspects of the film, the franchise and the fans.  Careful fans, there be SPOILERS ahead! (Including in the episode description!) At this point you're probably all familiar with the fact that I am a fan of Star Trek and where that fandom began so Leah takes a moment or two to explain her origins in Star Trek fandom and how living with me has increased that exponentially.  We dive right into the movie, discussing themes, actors, characters and their relationships and the inevitable comparisons to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.  We discuss the what we liked, what we didn't and what was corny or cheesy but we liked anyway.  Haters be warned, this is a positive take on the film!  We wrap it all up by discussing fans and their expectations as well as the reactions to changes in franchises from Star Trek and Star Wars to Harry Potter and beyond.  Enjoy! Visit: www.positivelynerdy.com Contact Ryan: Twitter: @positivelynerdy E-Mail: ryan@positivelynerdy.co

Welcome to Positively Nerdy!  It's time for another episode of the Radical Corner of Turtle Comic Talk!  Suine Hallock joins me, as always, and for this episode we are joined by IDW Publishing Editor Bobby Curnow to discuss his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series as well as the Microseries and Secret History of the Foot Clan miniseries. During the course of the interview Suine and I discuss with Bobby his origins as a Comic and TMNT fan, working with Scott Dunbier in the early going and the relationship with Nickelodeon.  As a fan himself Booby still gets excited when talking about working with Kevin Eastman, who works with the team and is frequently contributing to stories.  The discussion also includes bringing together all of the various tie-ins and making sure that everything serves the main story and how Bobby and the team make that happen so consistently.  Bobby shares many stories, drops a few hints on what's to come and we wrap it all up by looking ahead to City Fall, the massive TMNT story that begins in in issue #22, arriving May 29th! Stay up to date with TMNT and all things IDW: http://www.idwpublishing.com/ Bobby Curnow is on Twitter: @thedisastrix My stalwart co-host Suine Hallock can be found at www.houseofhallock.com and on Twitter @Suine_Hallock Visit: www.positivelynerdy.com Contact Ryan: Twitter: @positivelynerdy E-Mail: ryan@positivelynerdy.co

Welcome to Positively Nerdy!  It's been two weeks so that means it's once again time for another batch of comic reviews from Marvel, DC, IDW and Dark Horse!  This time around Mister X returns to comics, another Rocketeer story wraps-up while Star Trek heads into darkness and The Colonized continues to impress.  All that, plus all your favorite superhero action from Marvel and DC including Batman, Earth2 and Superior Spider-Man and All-New X-Men! Comics reviewed in this episode: Dark Horse Mister X: Eviction #1 (of 3) Star Wars #5 IDW Star Trek #20 Rocketeer Hollywood Horror #4 (of 4) The Colonized #2 DC Justice League of America #3 Green Arrow #20 Aquaman #19 World's Finest #12 Earth2 #12 Batman and Red Hood #20 Batman #20 Marvel Thanos Rising #2 Avengers #11 Indestructible Hulk #7 All-New X-Men #11 Superior Spider-Man #9 Visit: www.positivelynerdy.com Contact Ryan: Twitter: @positivelynerdy E-Mail: ryan@positivelynerdy.co

Welcome to Positively Nerdy! It’s time once again for an all new edition of Comics With Catch-Up! This time around we’re taking a look at the the 4-issue prequel to JJ Abrams’ Star Trek from 2009, Star Trek: Countdown.  And if that’s not enough this episode also features a contest to win the collected edition of Star Trek: Countdown! Released in the months leading up to the highly anticipated arrival of an all-new Star Trek movie set in an all-new universe, Star Trek: Countdown sheds light on Spock and Nero’s relationship prior to the events in the film as well as answering many other questions such as the design of Nero’s ship and the reason for the tattooed look for the Romulan characters in the feature film.  The series also features several surprise appearances by characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation in an attempt to draw in as many fans as possible.  But it’s not all fan service, the Next Gen characters each have plenty to do and are used terrifically throughout the four issues. Be sure to listen in at the end of the episode to discover how you can win a copy of the collected edition of Star Trek: Countdown! Visit: www.positivelynerdy.com Contact Ryan: Twitter: @positivelynerdy E-Mail: ryan@positivelynerdy.co

Welcome to Positively Nerdy! And welcome to the latest installment of the Radical Corner of Turtle Comic Talk!  Suine Hallock and I are back to once discuss all the great stories and content provided by IDW's terrific Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic and tie-ins. This time around Suine and I discuss issue #21 of the ongoing series, featuring original TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman on art as well as the first in the new Micro-Series villain one-shots, Krang #1!  The City Fall event is right around the corner and Suine and I both enjoyed the lead-in issue setting the stage for things to come.  Over in the Krang one-shot we were both surprised to discover a completely new-found respect for Krang, don't mess with this guy!  Along the way we learn secrets of the series, hear Ryan sing (twice!), get rock solider confused with Rock Lords and Suine wishes for the debut of the Triceratons! Don't miss all the T-U-R-T-L-E power! Visit: www.positivelynerdy.com Contact Ryan: Twitter: @positivelynerdy E-Mail: ryan@positivelynerdy.com This episode's guest was Suine Hallock: www.houseofhallock.com Twitter: @Suine_Halloc

Welcome to Positively Nerdy!  And welcome to another Top5 episode.  This time around our topic is inspired by the upcoming Iron Man3 and the new villain, the Mandarin!  That's right, we're talking about Comic Book Movie Villains!  And by we, I'm referring to myself and my special guests for this 'evil' episode, Dylan Cook and Suine Hallock! Dylan, Suine and I have each come up with a Top5 list of our favorite villains from Comic Book Movies!  Any baddie from a live action movie based on a pre-existing comic property is fair game.  Two such villains prove so popular they make everyone's list and each of us chose villains that are exclusive to our own lists!  Lots of variety on this Top5 list and lots of great discussion because, frankly, who doesn't enjoy the bad guy?  At the end of the show the conversation ranges from Suine lamenting the lack of television option on this criteria, Dylan wishes animated films could've been included (even though one bad guy is so popular even his animated versions are discussed) and a brief conversation on the new crop of villains headed our way this summer in films like Iron Man 3, Man of Steel, The Wolverine and Kick-Ass 2. Enjoy! And may the best villain win! Visit: www.positivelynerdy.com Contact Ryan with comments, questions and suggestions: Twitter: @positivelynerdy E-Mail: ryan@positivelynerdy.co