House to Astonish

It's Paul and Al's tenth anniversary episode, where they remember Anthea Bell, laugh for quite a long time about Writer X and the "revelation" of his identity, and chat briefly about Vault Comics' new YA line (in particular, about Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover's Wrassle Castle), before going into extended examinations/rambles/digressions about The Green Lantern and Lost Light, and once again raid the playbook of excellent videogame podcast Bitsocket as they play Is It Canon?. They've also got messages from some of their friends in the comics podcasting world, and the audio from the SILENCE! To Astonish panel which took place at Thought Bubble in September, featuring Gary Lactus and the Beast Must Die of SILENCE! and an all-star line-up of guests (John McCrea, Matthew Rosenberg, Sam Humphries and Babs Tarr).

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_168_-_House_to_As10ish.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:37pm EDT

It's NYCC, and there's a whole ton of news just waiting to be chewed over, so it would be rude for Al and Paul not to do that, frankly. On the new House to Astonish, they remember Norm Breyfogle and Carlos Ezquerra, and talk about Die, Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt, Wonder Comics, Humanoids' new imprint H1, Avengers: No Road Home, Man Without Fear, Buffy, Three Jokers, The Girl In The Bay, Marvel's 80th anniversary series, Oni Press's webcomics portal, Champions, Savage Sword of Conan, Captain Marvel, Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man, Star Trek: Q Conflict, Flash: Year One, Pearl, Out Of The Blue, Guts, Share Your Smile and r(ender), and they've got reviews of These Savage Shores and Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion. Why do birds suddenly appear, every time, the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is near? Just like me, they long to be, fed with crumbs.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_167_-_Roll_1d6_To_Buy_Milk.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:27pm EDT

Paul and Al are back with an absolute truckload of news for you this time round, as they pay respects to Russ Heath, chew over the announcements of Uncanny X-Men, Marvel Knights 20, Conan the Barbarian, Best Defense, Riri Williams: Ironheart, Batman & the Outsiders and the Green Lantern, and chat through the creative shuffle on Return of Wolverine, Dark Horse losing the Buffy license, Aftershock comics' first-issue returnability, IDW losing another senior member of staff and Legendary Entertainment's option on My Boyfriend is a Bear, as well as reviewing Cold Spots and West Coast Avengers. The Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe has no bananas. It has no bananas... today.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_166_-_Two_Scoops_of_Chemical_X_Ripple.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

It's been a sad few weeks for comics, and Al and Paul are here to talk about the deaths of Harlan Ellison, Bong Dazo and, of course, Steve Ditko. In less tragic news, they've got discussion on the Descender sequel Ascender, the end of I Hate Fairyland and the upcoming launch of Middlewest, Boom! aquiring the Firefly licence, Marvel's upcoming Deadpool vs Black Panther and Shatterstar minis, Jared Leto being cast as Morbius, the launch details for DC's new streaming service (including in relation to how comics themselves fit into it all), and reviews of Submerged and Catwoman. Give the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe a fish, and it will have absolutely no idea what you're trying to achieve.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_165_-_More_Futuristic_Than_Rubber.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:28pm EDT

Paul and Al are back with a compact and bijou hour and twenty of comics chat for you, with discussion of the departures of Diane Nelson and Geoff Johns from DC, Johns's new imprint and his recently-announced 3 Jokers and Shazam series, Vertigo's relaunch, the DC Zoom and DC Ink slates, Ellis and Howard's Cemetery Beach, Brandon Sanderson's partnering with Vault Comics, Edge of Spider-Geddon and Asgardians of the Galaxy, as well as reviews of Immortal Hulk and Justice League. The Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is not right, but it's okay.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_164_-_Toss-Up_Team-Up.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:23am EDT

It's been a long time, but Al and Paul have finally returned, to talk about DC's new streaming service and their dropping of digital codes, Man of Steel's returnability, Jeanette Schaefer joining Boom! and John Barber rejoining IDW, as well as to review Avengers and Coda. The Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe shouldn'ta left you without a dope beat to step to.

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_163_-_Dead_Enya.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:01am EDT

It's been a busy couple of weeks, and Paul and Al are back to fill you in on everything that's been going on, from the Image Expo to the Sandman Universe, from Fresh Start to Bendis's Super-Books, and from IDW's Transformers reboot to Boom! and Dynamite stepping up to the Eloi section of Previews, as well as bringing you reviews of Mera and The Beef. The Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe doesn't know who you are but you're a real dead ringer for love, apparently. 

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_162_-_Chekhovs_Water_Pistol.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:22pm EDT

New year, new podcast, and Al and Paul are back to discuss Marvel's announcements of Kelly Thompson's exclusive and Dan Slott's move, the new Domino and Exiles series, the return of the original Wolverine, John Nee replacing Dan Buckley and the wedding of Kitty Pryde and Colossus, as well as the Eisner Hall of Fame nominees, Promethea's appearance in Justice League and the stellar cast of creators on Action Comics 1000, along with reviews of Strangers In Paradise XXV and Avengers: No Surrender. The Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - 4 out of 5 dentists recommend it (and the fifth is more of a Who's Who person).

Direct download: House_to_Astonish_161_-_Old_News_Logan.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:42pm EDT

1