Episodes
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Show notes provided by Arco Esposito
Imagine for a moment that’s it’s May 1984 and you’re at your comic book spot on a Wednesday picking up your favorite books and you see something that is both exciting and alien (pun intended)! You spy the cover of Amazing Spider-Man #252 and do a double take! Who is this on the cover in a black costume?! Where is the red and blue Spider-Man we all know and love?! Well that’s how it was for a generation of spidey fans who were witness to the greatest costume change in comics history! And what a change it was! How else can you describe all that came from this momentous occasion?? Well listen in as James, Joe and Spidey lover Arco go into detail how they were personally affected by it as well as the Marvel universe overall! Some things are too good to keep to ourselves and we are pleased to share our Black Costume love with you all!
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Show notes provided by Joe Peluso
It's been some time since they guys have been at the sports desk, but the world of pro sports never slows down and the guys "pulled a hammy" trying to catch up.
But don't worry their time on the IL has concluded and they are back on ice for this episode on the current state of the NHL.
Chris and Joe execute an odd man rush past the blue line in an
attempt to score a winning report on the current NHL Playoffs, the crash and burn that was The New York Rangers 2024/2025 season (Joe is still in a state of shock), and the rise of the PWHL.
It's a fun-filled hour where the boys "light the lamp" on the
fastest game in town. So sit back, be cool, and don't get up to grab a snack--you might miss a "breakaway"! -
Missing episodes?
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Show notes provided by Joe Peluso
At Thanksgiving in 1986, Paramount Pictures released a sci-fi, comedy,
pirate adventure, caper film with the little title of: "Star Trek IV:
The Voyage Home". It was an immensely popular (and financially
successful) departure to what had come before! Amongst Trekkers the
world over, this is still considered the best Star Trek film ever
made. And your hosts, James. Josh, Jack, and Joe concur.
Without almost out of control child-like joy the guys recount,
relay, and reaffirm why this film is such a classic. With unbridled
enthusiasm--bordering at times on sheer lunacy--the boys relive this
unique cinematic experience. From the rag tag crew agreeing to return
to Earth to face the music, to the trip back to present day San
Francisco, and ultimately saving mankind once again from its
shortsightedness, the boys are so invested in this film they are
practically part of the crew tagging along on this grand adventure.
Had Dr. McCoy been present for this recording he would have sent them
all to the sick bay for a full psychiatric evaluation.
And for you film buffs, play close attention as Josh and Jack fill
in much of the back story on how this addition to the Star Trek canon
reached fruition.
As the episode draws to a close it's clear the inertial dampeners
are off line as the guys bounce from scene to scene, and are also
unable to reframe from firing off the many quotable lines from the
film. At this point it's abundantly clear the hump back whales need
not fear these silly humans. But once you listen to this latest
offering of the podcast you will understand why the guys were so giddy
for sixty plus minutes. And like Spock, at the film's conclusion--You
will feel fine. -
Show notes provided by Joe Peluso
World's collide! World's die! Time and space merge unleashing
apocalyptic chaos! And in the middle of it all are the greatest heroes and villains in the known universe! In advance of the coming void, new heroes debut to try to halt the coming cosmic disaster. The "old guard" is thrown into the breach where they find themselves battling forces of nature, time tossed Triassic terrors, and unknown heroes!
It's time once again to join your hosts James, Keith, and Joe as they revisit the DC Comics universe shattering classic tale of "The Crisis on Infinite Earths"!
The issues discussed and dissected in this segment are: #'s four, five, and six. And the first thing that becomes abundantly clear is that the artwork of George Perez, with the addition of Jerry Ordway's inks, gets even more spectacular! The guys drool over this artistic tour de force and drill down on the sheer magnitude of characters put to page, and the skillful storytelling techniques employed to delineate such a feat.
And what else can be said about the writing chops of Marv
Woflman, other than he puts the reader on his back as he rockets you through the vast DC Universe with surprises and shocks at every neck snapping turn! -
Show notes provided by Joe Peluso
What do you get when you take a police procedural, mix it with science fiction and super-heroes, throw in social and political overtones that reflect modern society--and--call it an origin story? You get one guess--and it has nothing to do with a dead planet named Krypton. Give up? Well, the answer is Timothy Truman's three issuemasterpiece--HAWKWORLD.
Join you hosts Keith and Joe for another installment of "Thinking Out of the Longbox With Keith" as the boys strap on their Nth metal wings and fly into an adventure of dynamic discovery of one of DC's seminal characters--Hawkman. The later half of the decade of the 1980's saw many DC icons reimagined for a modern age as the Crisis on Infinite Earths opened the door to new, fresh version of Superman, Wonder Woman, The Batman, The Flash, Green Arrow, and the "winged
wonder" from the Planet Thanagar!
Truman's Hawkworld is a gritty, commentary on the abuse of power, and how it can tear apart an individual who has had his life mapped out for him. Katar Hol is a man fighting demons of the heart and mind, as well as those that prey on the less fortunate in the real world.
The guys discuss the themes and tones such a world would impose on one man, and how he must fall from grace to eventually conquer all his demons so that he may become the beloved Silver Age version of Hawkman.
And as they extol the virtues of Truman's dynamic and nuanced writing, they fairly flip their minds when they profusely praise his incredible art.
This is a book the guys have been wanting to wax poetic about for a long time. We feel sure you will enjoy the discourse of this somewhat overlooked gem from comics best decade.And that classic exclamation "Look up in the sky!"--takes on a whole new meaning after reading Hawkworld! -
Show notes provided by Arco Esposito
Secret Wars Part 2
Having just watched the Masters on tv, I find that is the perfect analogy for this podcast, though in this case we will say that we now enter the back 6 of the masterful Secret Wars limited series! You heard us introduce you to the concepts and ideas behind Marvels first 12 issue opus, and here we will tie it all with a bow, giving insight on not only the rest of the story, but key moments like the Death of the Wasp, the introduction of the New Spider Woman, and of course we can’t forget the very first appearance of Spider-Man’s black costume! Sprinkle in some conversation about writer Jim Shooter and a little talk about the fantastic artist Mike Zeck and we have ourselves a great ending to this two part podcast! Join James, Joe, Chris and Mint’s very own Marvel historian Arco as we bring you back to the middle of 1985 and the finale of the story line that started it all for many kids of the 80’s and beyond!
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Show notes provided by Joe Peluso
Life has many joys, and not the least among these is, of course,
friends. And when you get to share in the success--and the realization of a friend's dream--the manifestation of that joy is heart-warming.
Join your hosts James, Chris, and Joe in welcoming back to the podcast Richie Garofalo and a little gem he has created called: " The Mighty Little Lumberjack and the Enchanted Forest". Richie's first enterprise into the children's market is the tale of the restoration of a forest through the efforts of the titular hero and his wonderful friends. Yes, Mack (The Mighty Little Lumberjack) takes on the mighty task (working in concert with nature) to bring beauty and joy back into his world.
The guys discuss the creation of the book from its initial stages through the processes that brought it to fruition. In further detail, Richie describes how this labor of love was both educational and inspiring. The final product is a mini "tour de force" that any adult (or older sibling) would be proud and pleased to read to a child.
After reading this wondrous fable that recounts the true spirit of cooperation, and the admiration of nature's beauty, I am positive that I speak for both my co-hosts when I say our love and admiration for Richie is as expansive as Mack's enchanted forest. -
Show notes provided by Arco Esposito
As comic book fans we all have a particular favorite era that we can either remember fondly or relate to in some way that makes it a bit more special than others. However, has there ever been a time in comics history that has graced the medium with as many memorable, and dare I say even legendary, characters as the run between Fantastic Four #44 through #66?? The Marvelous Marvel Minds of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby gave us the classic debuts of the Inhumans, The Black Panther and he would soon be called Adam Warlock! Classic villains such as Klaw and Doctor Doom would also feature prominently in a few stories but nestled in between all this grandeur was the piece de resistance, the jewel in what many call crowning glory of all that is Marvel: THE COMING OF GALACTUS! That’s right! The world devourer and his herald The Silver Surfer made their way to Earth in a three issue arc, #48-50, and comics were forever changed. For how can mere mortals even comprehend let alone fight against a virtual force of the universe?! Stan and Jack showed us the way and in doing so literally opened up the universe and all its wonderful characters to us. Join James, Joe and Arco, your guides through all that is Cosmic Marvel and listen in to the awe, joy and appreciation of how the Earth almost being literally eaten turned out to be one of the greatest stories ever told!
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This weeks podcast is a classic “Secret Origins” episode where we get to talk to a customer of Mint Condition. This podcast was created to build community and as a way for the the customers of Mint Condition to reconnect and this weeks guest is a part of the reason this store became a place to not just buy comics and cards but to hangout and make friends for your host James and John.
Join James and John and guest Toby Bengelsdorf who was one of the first friends James and John made at the store, that started to knit together the community we now have on the podcast. This is a wide ranging conversation talking about CCG, Star Trek, Star Wars and more.
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Show notes provided Joe Peluso
Worlds will live! Worlds will Die! And the DC Universe will never be the same!" That was the slogan--the catch-all that DC comics showcased in all their books in late 1984 for the coming company-wide event of 1985 that would make comic book publishing history! Characters, past events, time-lines, origins, and fifth years of publishing history, in an ever-expanding universe, was about to implode!
Join hosts, James, Keith and Joe as they rocket into the
multiverse and try to stay ahead of the wave of destruction unleashed by master storytellers Marv Wolfman and George Perez. It was time for a change, and for twelve issues hitting the shelves every month in 1985, that change was steaming toward a cataclysmic and transformational conclusion of unprecedented proportions!
Beautifully illustrated by the great George Perez, Marv Wolfman's scintillating script came to life in the most shocking, awe-inspiring way. Tragedy, self-sacrifice, and mind-blowing super-heroics assaulted the senses of avid DC fans for an entire year! To the devoted reader, it was the equivalent of discovering "the lost city of gold"!
The boys deep dive into the first three issues with recollections, reviews, and raucous remarks that will delight and inform. If you have never read this seminal work, or are coming back to it after a period of time, join the guys as they are buffeted from one reality to the next as only this special medium of entertainment could exert! But be forewarned, there are spectral shadows of unspeakable peril that will terminate some of your favorite super-friends! The
multiverse is no place for the faint of heart! -
Show notes provided by Joe Peluso
Family dramas have been a TV staple almost from its inception with such classic offerings as Bonanza,The Waltons, Little House of the Prairie, 7th Heaven, and Friday Night Lights. Engaging storylines with well-rounded characters, often making their way through a troubled world that can often be cruel and unforgiving. We watch with rapt attention because we are entertained, but more importantly we are informed about our own lives and families. But what if your household is led
by Earth's Greatest Protector, and his partner, the best investigative journalist on the planet? Is their family life a cakewalk? Are there no sleepless nights in their home?
Join hosts James, Joe, and returning guest Adrienne as they examine the unique family drama of "Superman and Lois".
Can the awesome super-powers of The Man of Steel protect his family and friends from the trials and tribulations of living in small town America? Does the pursuit of truth on the printed page threaten to sunder relationships with close family members and treasured friends?
How do you raise twin teenage boys when the heritage of their alien dad courses through their veins? Adolescence is hard enough to navigate without having to adjust to lasers blasting from your eyes and hearing a major chunk of the discord that fills the air? Mom and dad's "careers" often need to take a backseat from the distress of an entire planet when your children are experiencing extraordinary "growing pains".
Mix all the chores of parenthood with super-villains, alien
invasions, averting planetary catastrophes, and being vilified for daring to print the truth, and you know what a typical day is like for Clark Kent and Lois Lane.
This is live action Superman at its finest, but more importantly,
this TV show is a tour de force in the presentation of a family
drama.It will pull on your heartstrings as it rekindles the memories of love, devotion, and unbreakable bonds that form the backbones of our American families! -
Show Notes Provided by Arco Esposito
One of the words that has entered our lexicon in the last decade is “generational”, which denotes something that happens rarely per generation. In the world of comics we can all name favorite stories that have touched us in the best of ways, but how many of them can be said to have actually changed the industry itself? Action Comics #1, Detective Comics #27, Fantastic Four #1… the standard bearers of stories that have shaped our beloved medium. However, can we ever doubt that Giant Size X-Men #1 also belongs on that list? How can it not? All one has to know is that Marvel STOPPED printing original X-Men stories from Issue 67-93, giving us only reprints of earlier stories. With the release of 1975’s Giant Size X-Men, the world was introduced to the new team, a cast of colorful characters we had never seen before (or in Wolverines case, only once before) and with them came the adventures made us fall in love with them. Join James, Joe and myself, Arco, your humble bastion of mutant knowledge as we pay homage to the beginning of what current and future comic lovers will no doubt look back on as the day the X-Men truly arrived.
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Show notes provided by Joe Peluso
Once upon a time you had to go to the movies to see the trailers for
upcoming films. Now all you gotta do is grab your favorite hand-held
device and ask Google or Siri to call it up for you. And of course,
there are those numerous reaction videos (Some longer than the films
they're reacting to.) With all that said, if you really want the scoop
on Marvel/Disney's new Daredevil offering or James Gunn's new Superman film, all you have to do is join James and Joe (Your Mint Men ofMessaging) to deliver the low-down on what's hurtling your way from
the vast genre-verse.
In this current "back of the store chat", the boys run the gamut
from" Supes" to "nuts" (Diamond Comic Distributors) as they review,
report, and reconcile some the important issues of the day that are
making the rounds in the pop culture universe.
Will Spider-Man pop up in Daredevil Born Again? Will James Gunn
straighten out Kal-El's stigmatism in post-production? How will the
fall of Diamond Comic Distributors affect your local LCS? Have you
heard of Dogman, and why is it eating Marvel and DC's lunch? And has
Joe traded in his maniacal obsession for the inept Nets of the NBA for
a lunatic lashing of the NFL? He might be off his meds again.
You can't swing an Omnibus (and if you can, more power to you)
without hitting a plethora of topics covered in this episode. As we've
stated once or twice before, bring a score when you come through the
back door for this segment. If for no other reason, you might want to
show it to an NFL ref or umpire that you're watching them. Let it go
Joe. MLB Spring Training has started! -
Show notes provided by Joe Peluso
Hey PILGRIM strap on your web-shooters and get ready to sling back to the "swingin' sixties" and join James and Joe as they trek down to that special corner once again, and this time are transported back to the spring of 1966. What's so special about this tie-dyed season? What fantastic forces dropped them in the flower-power era? Would you
believe everyone's favorite "friendly neighborhood" superhero?
Appearing on newsstand and spinner racks across the nation, in May and June of that year were issues #39 and #40 of THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN--and Peter Parker's life would never be the same again!
It's the classic two-parter that delivers monumental mayhem, and the most awesome avalanche of senses-shattering thrills when Spidey and his arch nemesis--The Green Goblin--throw down for a raucous rumble that rocks The Big Apple!
This one has it all: action, mystery, suspense, soap opera,
comedy--and calamity! James and Joe employ their "spidey-senses" to bring you an inciteful, fun review of two--just two--comic books that quantified who our favorite "web-head" was back when. And then, how this adventure informed the choices made decades later by Sam Rami and others, as the kid from Queens swung onto the big screen.
Stan Lee, and newly arrived penciler, John Romita Sr.create a
marvelous masterpiece of four-color ferocity that will blow your mind!
We think this trip to that special corner was well worth the
trip.So to quote Stan "The Man"--ENJOY!!! - Show more
