House to Astonish

It's the end of the year, and it's time for Al and Paul's festive 2012 wrap-up show - they're broadcasting live from this year's Homies awards, where a variety of comics creators will be presenting gongs for the best and worst of 2012 in a variety of categories. Warning: features poor impressions of accents, and minimal actual comics creator input.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_97_-_Jing-A-Ding-Ding.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:39am EDT

After far too long away, Al and Paul are back with a solid hour and a half of jabbering about Karen Berger and Gail Simone's departures from DC (and what this means for the Vertigo imprint and the company as a whole), the November sales figures, the cancellation of Creator-Owned Heroes and Marvel and DC's March solicitations and reviews of Hellboy In Hell, Blackacre and Avengers. The Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is recording a novelty ukelele cover of a pop hit, and nothing can stop it, it seems.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_96_-_Always_Movember_Never_Christmas.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:23pm EDT

Al and Paul have got an absolute epic of an episode this time round, with two hours of chat for you - they've got news on MCM Scotland, the cancellation of Hellblazer and the launch of Constantine, the Marvel Now! radio ads, the Age of Ultron, the latest Marvel teasers and Tony Harris's cosplayer rant, as well as a run through the February solicitations and reviews of Great Pacific and X-Men Legacy. On top of that they've got interviews with Mark Waid and Kieron Gillen (the latter of which is an epic taking in Uncanny X-Men, Iron Man, Journey Into Mystery, Young Avengers and Death's Head). The Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe hit me and it felt like a book smacking me in the face.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_95_-_Cancelled_Cancelled.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:11pm EDT

Join Paul and Al as they celebrate the four-year anniversary of House to Astonish, with discussion of the effect of Hurricane Sandy, the purchase of Lucasfilm by Disney, Brian Singer on X-Men: Days of Future Past, the next two Marvel Now! teasers and Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill. We're also reviewing ​Joe Kubert Presents, Multiple Warheads​ and ​Bedlam​, and answer questions they've solicited at the last minute on Twitter.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_93_-_Tiny_Hat.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:28am EDT

Al and Paul are back with another episode that's a few days late, but there's plenty in there, with a discussion of an enormous number of stories out of NYCC (really, they get through a lot. Like, about 30 or so), as well as reviews of ​Uncanny Avengers, The Zaucer of Zilk​ and ​Cyber Force.​ The Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is beautiful, no matter what they say - words won't bring it down.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_93_-_Yes_Virginia_There_Is_A_Moon_Knight.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:17pm EDT

A couple of days late, but better late than never, Al and Paul have got just over an hour and ten minutes of chat for you on Marvel's latest wave of teasers, Mark Millar's new role at Fox, the expanded line-up of the Avengers, IDW's latest mega-crossover and David Lloyd's ​Aces Weekly​, as well as reviews of ​Non-Humans, Uncanny X-Men ​and ​Detective Comics​. The Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe has got 99 problems, which is still a lot of problems no matter how you try to rationalise it.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_92_-_Calling_All_Your_Children_Christopher.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:03am EDT

Al and Paul are back with another episode of House to Astonish, where they're discussing Greg Rucka's views of Marvel and DC, Marvel's "Superior" teaser, Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti and Jerry Ordway's ​Human Bomb​, Ultimate Captain America as US President and the ​Dredd​ UK box office success, as well as taking a run through December's solicitations. They're also reviewing Team Seven, Ghost and Sword of Sorcery. If you were the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, where would you be? I've put it down somewhere and can't remember where for the life of me.

Please be aware that there was something very strange about the audio this time round which wasn't discovered until after recording, which makes Paul and Al sound like they're sitting about ten feet away from the microphone, so you might have to turn this one right up. C'est la vie.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_91_-_Redshirt_Academy.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:54pm EDT

It's been a relatively quiet couple of weeks for comics news, but Paul and Al have got plenty of discussion on the second month of Marvel NOW! teasers, the upcoming Morbius series, Jim Starlin's possible rapprochement with Marvel, the CW's new Wonder Woman pilot, the return of Elfquest, the new creative team on X-Men and the newly-unveiled Avengers roster, as well as reviews of Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt, Steed & Mrs Peel and Phantom Stranger. What's that, the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe? Little Jimmy's trapped down a well? Let's go!

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_90_-_Christ_Trenchcoat.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:54am EDT

It's been a really, really long time since Al and Paul's last episode, but they're back, with an incredibly echoey, extra-long and tasty episode. They're talking about the sad deaths of Joe Kubert and Sergio Toppi, the cancellation of the Dandy, Defenders and Avengers Academy, the changes to Marvel titles like Journey Into Mystery and Red She-Hulk in the wake of Marvel NOW!, Superman and Wonder Woman's hookup, the cancellation of the Premiere Classic line, the newly-named Marvel movie sequels, Ed Brubaker leaving Winter Soldier and a blast through the November solicitations, and they've also got reviews of Hawkeye, Archer & Armstrong and Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom. The Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe can't live if living is without you.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_89_-_Pulp_Mufti.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:29am EDT

It's Al and Paul's last podcast before Paul gets wed and heads off on his honeymoon, so they've made it an extra-long one, with nearly 90 minutes of discussion on news out of San Diego, including Marvel's current teaser images, the Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man movies, the new Sandman mini, Minimum Carnage, Red She-Hulk, all the titles announced at the Image panel and Daniel Way leaving Deadpool, as well as a run through the October solicitations and reviews of ​Captain Marvel, Bandette​ and ​Punk Rock Jesus​. The Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - is there nothing that she cannae do?

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_88_-_Movie-Compatible.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:55am EDT

Paul and Al have got an absolute ton of chat for you this time out, with discussion of Marvel NOW, Monkeybrain Comics, the Amazing Spider-Man opening day box office and Marvel's future movie plans and the Harvey Award nominations, along with reviews of Infernal Man-Thing, Atomic Robo: Flying She-Devils of the Pacific and The Hypernaturals. Oh say can you see the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe? It's wandered off again.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_87_-_A_Camel_And_A_Toblerone.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00pm EDT

Paul and Al are a couple of days late due to super-busy schedules, but they've got discussion of Chris Roberson's Monkeybrain Comics, Grant Morrison's MBE, the DC cancellations and launches, Carlos Pacheco being honoured by Getafe and a canter through the solicits, along with reviews of ​The Massive, Spider-Men and ​Extermination​. Does the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe really want to hurt you? Does it really want to make you cry? Possibly. It's kind of a jerk.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_86_-_Bossa_Nova_Watchmen.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:23pm EDT

Al and Paul are back after their week away, lookin at the coming out of Alan Scott, the wedding of Northstar, the crusade of One Million Moms, the Eagle Awards imbroglio, the ever-increasing character cast of Iron Man 3, the continuing success of the Avengers and where Marvel TV goes next, and reviews of Mind MGMT, Ravagers and Grim Leaper. The Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe wishes it could fly, right up to the sky but it can't.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_85_-_The_Gay_Deli_Counter.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:50am EDT

Al and Paul are back, with discussion of the sad passing of Tony DeZuniga, the unbelievable box office of The Avengers, Marvel's digital exclusive deal with Comixology, Cullen Bunn taking on the writing of Venom and DC's upcoming Phantom Lady mini, as well as an extended chat about the value of new characters and reviews of Dial H, Mind the Gap and Trio. Love grows where my Rosemary goes, and nobody knows but the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_84_-_Is_The_Nazi_The_Donkey_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:28am EDT

Paul and Al have got loads of great discussion for you this time round - they're talking about Chris Roberson leaving DC and the fallout from that, the return of Devil's Due and lots and lots of film and TV chat including the impending X-Men: First Class sequel, the Daredevil and Fantastic Four reboots and the potential New Mutants movie, the animated Flashpoint direct-to-DVD flick, Fox's Axe Cop animated show and the Lobo film. They've also got reviews of Popeye, Captain America and Hawkeye and Reset. How many licks does it take to get to the centre of the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, and does anyone really want to find out?

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_83_-_Agendas_Assemble.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:39am EDT

Al and Paul have got tons of chat for you this time round, with discussion of the new Buffy spin-offs, the GI Joe/Danger Girl crossover, the new version of The Crow, Archaia and DC's forays into "digital first", the launch of Thrillbent Comics, Matt Wagner and Simon Bisley's The Tower Chronicles and the Thief of Thieves TV show, alongside reviews of Secret Service, America's Got Powers and Courtney Crumrin. It's 3 a.m. - do you know where the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is?

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_82_-_Perforating_The_Line_At_2.99.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:28am EDT

Paul and Al have got another hour-and-a-smidgen of chat for you on the new Scott Pilgrim colour editions, the shake-ups on Avenging Spider-Man, 2000AD's digital expansion, the Mars Attacks! musical and Katsuhiro Otomo's new series, as well as a quick look at the new solicitations and reviews of B.P.R.D. Hell On Earth: The Pickens County Horror, Astonishing X-Men and New Deadwardians. The Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe won't respect you in the morning, but to be honest you should hear some of the things it says about you now.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_81_-_Rotary_Typewriter_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:45am EDT

Al and Paul are back after a one-week hiatus, with discussion of the sad passing of Moebius, Marvel's Infinite Comics and AR app, the announcements coming out of Wondercon and Amy Reeder leaving Batwoman, as well as reviews of Saga, Avengers Assemble and Saucer Country. If I had the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, I'd Handbook in the morning.


Al and Paul have got all the news out of the Image Expo for you, along with discussion of the Clint relaunch and the May solicitations, as well as reviews of No Place Like Home, DC Universe Presents and Glory. The Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe can't see you if you stay very, very still. Don't even breathe.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_79_-_Surfing_The_Wob.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30am EDT

Paul and Al have got a round-up of creator and corporate conflict for you this time round, with discussion of Before Watchmen, Gary Friedrich vs Marvel and Tony Moore vs Robert Kirkman, as well as DC's survey results and their creative reshuffles and reviews of Thief of Thieves, Conan the Barbarian and Winter Soldier. I gave the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe to the postman, he put it in his sack. Bright and early next morning, he brought the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe back. Don't blame him, really.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_78_-_Hulk_Sits_Down_And_Sings_About_Gold.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:13am EDT

Paul and Al have got just shy of an hour and a half of chat for you on DC and Oni's new logos, the public bust-ups on Infinite, Static Shock and Ashes and at Archie and a look at April's solicitations, as well as reviews of Infestation 2, Secret Avengers and Prophet. If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe in your hair. It's all the rage there.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_77_-_Allergic_To_Rectangles.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:45pm EDT

Paul and Al are seeing in the new year with lots of comics-related chat, discussing the launches and cancellations of the New 52, DC's unusual late shipping and potential new logo, Rob Liefeld's new assignments, the Omega Effect crossover, Walt Simonson's upcoming Avengers run, the new Captain America team-up book and Mark Millar and Frank Quitely's new Icon series. There are also reviews of Fatale, Scarlet Spider and Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye. How many licks does it take to get to the centre of the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe? We're not sure we really want to know.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_76_-_A_Different_Flavour_Of_Failure.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:09am EDT

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