Okay I have WAY too many podcasts piling up on my hardrive, so that means it’s time for PODCAST RECAP, where I bring to your attention some specific podcasts goodness that you may have missed. Most of this is 09 stuff, but you may find some older shows/episodes represented. Okay without further ado: AT HOME FILM FESTIVAL 030-Hosted by Elroy and John, I stumbled across this one when looking for more movie podcasts, to fill the downtime between episodes of the excellent MONDO MOVIES and B-MOVIE CAST. Episode 30- is their favorite Soundtrack Episode. Good episode, nice one to start with if you haven’t tried any from this show. Also Episode 31- Favorite ghost movies and Episode 32- Their favorite monster movies. THE CRAWL-SPACE- If you’re a Spiderman fan, this may be the podcast for you. Some interesting episodes, particularly their multi-part Sal Buscema episode, with guest stars galore. It runs across episodes #55,56, and 57. B-MOVIE CAST- As any of you who have followed this blog can attest B-MOVIE CAST is one of my recommended podcasts. But I especially want to highlight a recent episode that I thought was worth a listen. Particularly the call in section at the beginning of episode #61. One of their callers, Paul from New Jersey, has some really interesting points on podcasting, and new film distribution options. But it is caller Mark from New Jersey who does a surprisingly informed call in regarding the difference between Haitian Zombie Films and Romero Zombie Films (what we’ve come to call Zombies). No, no stick with me. It’s actually very interesting. And I’m not a fan of ‘Zombie’ films (unless you’re talking Original/Haitian Zombie films, and those I do like). Mark breaks down the genesis of the current flesh eating Zombie craze, tracing it from Matheson to Romero to Fulci, and the fact that it’s essentially some vampire/ghoul hybrid and not a zombie in the original Haitian sense. The classic Zombie (ie the Haitian Zombie), being nothing more than a reanimated man, typically reanimated for the purpose of carrying out another’s will. In that way having more in common with the Jewish Golem than the blood sucking Vampire. While I was familiar with most of this, Mark just wraps the whole thing up with a nice bow, and quickly puts into perspective the misnomer of current “Zombie” films. And perhaps raises deeper questions about exactly what this Zombie/Cannibal fad is saying about our society. Good stuff. Moving on to another recommended podcast, HORROR ETC: Checking out their archive section, their M. Night Shymalan episode #25 is good stuff. And their Nature vs. Man episode #71 is likewise a keeper. PODCAST ON FIRE is a new one on my radar that is devoted to everything related to Asian Cinema, dive in and see what appeals to you. CGS #654 (Comic Geek Speak)- Brings us info on perhaps a real player in the much discussed Digital Comic Book discussion. While no particular fan of the idea of digital comics, found this an interesting and informative episode. IFANBOY #192- Covers Wednesday Comics among other books. Good episode. To find any of the shows mentioned just do a search (I list a couple recommended search engines in the column to your right there). And speaking of WEDNESDAY COMICS I’ll have a review of the first 4 issues coming up soon. But in short I think it’s great both in concept and so far in execution. It is the only reason I actually set foot in a comic book store these days. Just a brilliant concept, though I have to echo the sentiment of others that the price-point is too high. At $2 or $2.50 it would have had better adoption, and been a better value for the readers money. I’m a fan but at $4 a pop, I’m having a hard time justifying that expense every week. And all it would take is one weak week (no pun intended)to give me an excuse to wait for the trade or the back issue bin. Anyhow keep an eye peeled for that review. Okay that’s it for this post.

Following on the heels of my 2008 Podcast Winners, I’ve decided to do the best Audio Dramas of 2008 a little differently. I have five companies that stood out to me, as the best producers of Audio Dramas in 2008, and instead of doing them in one post, I’ll break them up into five separate posts. This being my first one. So my first, much delayed, 2008 HEROIC TIMES Audio Drama winner is…. drumroll please… CHATTERBOX AUDIO for their 2008 Halloween Show. Applause! Applause! Kudos to the current inner sanctum of Robert Arnold, Kyle Hatley, Dave Mickle and all of their cast and crew! http://www.chatterboxtheater.org I became aware of CHATTERBOX AUDIO early this year, pretty much on the strength of one production, their phenomenal SURFACING. Kyle Hatley’s SURFACING Part I is one of the strongest hours of audio drama I’ve heard, and I’ve heard a lot. It is staggering, wrenching, and stunning work! I highly recommend going to their site and listening to it, you will not be disappointed. It does tend to want to go overboard and be too much, too loud, too annoying, too abrasive, too everything…. but it manages to straddle that difficult line. Just barely though, because a lot of the characters push hard that annoying talkshow/overblown persona. Particularly the characters of Charlie, Barclay Roberts and Carolyn (played by Patrick Dulaney, Anthony Merchant and Ashlee Lepine) are just so… abrasive, and annoying at points it nearly takes me out of the program. I mean I get the point that the show is about people at their worst, but when all the characters are utter aholes, it makes it difficult to care or invest about any of them. Don’t get me wrong, all of the actors give phenomenal performances, it’s just if you have a story where you dislike the characters, when you put them in jeopardy the audience really doesn’t care about their jeopardy. Particularly evident with the character of Barclay Roberts. The character is just utterly arrogant, pompous, and unlikeable. The actor who plays Barclay, Anthony Merchant has a FANTASTIC voice and gives a great performance. Perhaps too good, because the character is written as this complete jerk. So much of an arrogant jerk, that I actively dislike the character. Jess Akin as Harold and Julane Havens as Amelia are the only characters that I find are in any way likable. But these hiccups are minimal, and the show doesn’t get bogged down on the hyperbole of the characters, and keeps briskly moving toward its conclusion. The measure of a great program is after you get done listening, you listen to it again immediately. I did that with this program. An early contender for best Audio Drama of 2009. That said I have to say Part II, unfortunately doesn’t live up to Part I. It falls on the wrong side of that line between passionate presentation and annoying sensationalism, and largely because of an extended scene with the aforementioned character of Barclay. The story gets bogged down in extremism, and overblown scenes, when less in this case would have definitely been more. The whole scene I’m talking about would have been much better, if dialed back a few notches, and if the ahole meter for everyone, particularly Barclay, was dialed back a notch. Possible spoilers. It’s an extreme scene that I won’t elaborate on except to say, if I’m in that position you are going to try a little harder to move that rock, before you jump to another, extreme and sadistic solution. You’re going to try a LOT fing harder! Seriously you ever heard of a lever? or mother’s lifting cars off their kids? I mean, goshdarn it you’re going to spend a good amount of time trying before you cavalierly and seemingly arrogantly jump to the most insane solution possible. The character of Barclay, comes off as a sadistic bastard in that scene, and is a character that you hope for a truck to fall on, or for lightning to hit and kill. Again, I think the actor performs the part great, fantastic voice, I just think it is a too abrasively written part. Anyhow suffice to say didn’t like the 2nd SURFACING episode at all. But that episode acknowledged, the first episode still stands as a phenomenal hour of audio drama, and is worth your time. As far as their other productions another fantastic one is their 2007 production of THE YELLOW WALLPAPER. It’s brilliantly performed by the lead actress, Jane Kilgore. Endlessly listen-able. Also THE CHILDREN episode from their 2008 Halloween show is very good. Infact when you take in the fact that the show was done LIVE, all of the six performances are frigging impressive. So while the BBC gets all the press for Audio Dramas, CHATTERBOX AUDIO, a Memphis, Tennessee based outfit, is definitely a company to watch. Swing over say hi, and tell them HT sent ya! .

Following up on my previous post, and after yet another disappointing Academy Award season, I’m going to give you an award that IS worth your time. THE HEROIC TIMES 1st Annual Welles Awards! Nifty title huh. I wanted to create an award show for this new generation of audio shows, podcasts and streaming radio. And while I toyed with a few people to name it after who had extraordinary voices, the great Paul Robeson, Paul Frees… I settled on naming it Welles after Orson Welles. Listening to Welles’ SHADOW episodes pretty much single-handedly got me hooked on audio dramas and Old Time Radio, and thereby New Time Audio Dramas and Podcasts. So without further ado, let’s give out…. THE WELLES AWARDS! 1st Category is Top Ten Podcasts of 2008, I won’t bore you with the hundreds of nominees I went through to compile this list (and this section is strictly for podcasts that are hosted, and or referential/review based in nature, be that movies, music, books, whatever. If you have a podcast, but it’s basically just an audio drama, it will be in the audio drama category. There’s some bleed over but that’s basically the division). So let’s get to the ones who made the Podcast list, these are in no particular order, but suffice to say if you see them below the shows were the best most entertaining podcasts I came across in 2008 (notice that “I” if you don’t see your podcast, it doesn’t mean I don’t love you, maybe I just didn’t come across you in 2008— how’s that for being a politician ). The best of the best ( And keep an eye out for next installment Top Ten Audio Dramas of 2008, and yes, you’ll find THE RED PANDA there): 1. COMICBOOK GEEK SPEAK- This US, Pennsylvania based show with nearly 600 episodes is one of the oldest, one of the longest lasting, and one of the most popular podcast shows and for good reason. For current fans of comics, lapsed fans, and curious newcomers this show is like hanging out with good acquaintances and is just a great way to stay in the loop on a hobby that needs all the inroads it can get. And again this show admirably illustrates the ability of the passionate amateur to be more in touch with the medium then the so-called professionals. In an age when the major comic companies are losing readers in droves due to bad will and poor public relations skills (particularly at a time when they should be taking advantage of the current Hollywood spotlight), this podcast has probably done more to introduce new and lapsed readers back to comics than all the corporate ’suits’ and gimmicks and stunts combined. 2. FREQUENCY OF FEAR- I’m cheating a little with this one as I became aware of this Arizona, US based variety horror/anthology/comic/music show in 2009. But I’ve listened to its 2008 episodes and they are great. It is really tailored to fans of old time radio and those old horror records, but if that’s you, you’ll love this show.- http://frequencyoffear.com 3. GEEK SYNDICATE- I became aware of these guys at the end of 2007, and have been a fan ever since. A two-man British podcast covering all things pop-culture, David and the Nuge providing one of the most enjoyable and informative shows of 2008. Their Buzz Aldrin episode being the funniest podcast of 08. http://www.geeksyndicate.co.uk/ 4. MONDO MOVIE- With 86 episodes and counting this 2 man British podcast covering all things of genre, cult, horror cinema is eagerly awaited every week or so. Shows are top notch entertaining, and informative too. – http://www.mondomovie.com/ 5. HORROR ETC- http://www.horroretc.com/index.html- The Canadians toss their hat in the ring, with this always entertaining two man podcast, covering horror films from classics to current hits. 6. COMIC BOOK OUTSIDERS- A brother podcast to GEEK SYNDICATE, this 2-man Brit show (do you see a trend here) is right up there with GS, but concentrates on under the radar, and Independent comics. Definitely Recommended- http://comicbookoutsiders.libsyn.com/ 7. B-MOVIE CAST- True to its title, this podcast covers classic B-movies, with a leaning toward horror, scifi, cult flicks. Well produced, it includes news, DVD releases, and the main course which is usually a pretty thorough interview of one or two B movies. Recommended! – http://bmoviecast.com/ 8. ISR- Indie Spinner Rack had a strong 08 with great Ted McKeever, Jeff Smith, Jeff Lemire interviews and great Indie Comic Reviews. (And peek back in 2007 for their Steve Bissette and Alan Moore Interviews. Two of the best interviews you’ll come across.) 9. THE LOST PICTURE SHOW- This Two-Man Brit Podcast (Nooooooo! Not another one! ) each episode explores a, if not lost, definitely under the radar film. But unlike other podcasts the films selected belong to no specific genre. They go from comedy to classics to cult. -http://thelostpictureshow.com/ And last but definitely not least 10. This slot is a tie between CRANKCAST and COMIC BOOK SAVANT , both shows that are very off the cuff, and can range far afield of comics but in very engaging and in very different ways. SAVANT particularly, as a one man show I find it to be… in places almost a meditation on life, and the living of it. I think all of us hope, that we can meet our… time in Gethsemane with grace. And here is one man who consistently amazes me with his ability to do that. You can find these podcasts at http://crankcast.net/ and http://www.comicbooksavant.com/cbs/index.cfm respectively. Well that’s it folks, the HEROIC TIMES WELLES AWARD Podcast winners for 2008!! Jolly Good Show (that’s my brit speak. Yeah I’ll keep working on it)! And here’s wishing all those podcasts a great 2009! And if you haven’t already received your really hokey award just keep bugging me till you get it. Next installment, best Audio dramas of 2009!

A picture of how the Academy Award losers really feel!

Honorable mentions:

WATCHING THE DIRECTORS- A wife and husband duo each show tackle a different legendary director. A great show, that unfortunately came to an end in 2008, however you can for now still sample their old shows online here… http://watchingthedirectors.com/

BATTLESHIP PRETENSION- Well produced show, with two friends giving their views on films and filmmakers. The reviews are hit and miss with me, but the shows are well produced. http://www.battleshippretension.com/homepage.php

RADIO FREETOWN- A streaming audio show, that covers classic African music of the 70s. It’s a must listen. Unfortunately went on hiatus in February, but old shows for now are still up. http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/RF

And now shameless advertising time! If you like this blog, ladies and gents do Papa Heroic Times a favor, and support this blog by going to

this link

and buying a whole bunch of stuff. Any funds you spend make it possible to keep these internet doors open as it were, and would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

heh, heh.

yeah.

“Dick Van Dyke ’s my friend.”

For those of you who don’t get the reference go here and listen to Episode #433:

Comic Geek Speak Episodes

And yes this post is just me killing time to catch up on other postings.

Heh heh. Sneaky aren’t I?

But seriously COMIC GEEK SPEAK, and GEEK SYNDICATE are two great shows.

It could be a little challenging downloading some of the GEEK SYNDICATE episodes, but for the love of all that’s holy, listen to episodes #19 thru #24 of GEEK SYNDICATE. Oh my goodness!! It’s the Babylon 5 of comic podcasts, just this wonderful arc of humor and hijinks and sci-fi goodness… from one podcast to the next.

Their new shows are great, but I would highly recommend starting your introduction to GEEK SYNDICATE by listening to those six shows from episodes 19 through episode 24. It’s podcasting at its finest and most insane.

Go here to listen:

GEEK SYNDICATE

And keep searching through older postings until you download episodes 19 through 24.

Again this is a little challenging because the links on the older episodes are all messed up (say Thank you Barry, Thank you Dave –:the hosts of GEEK SYNDICATE—- ) but with some creative hacking you can download the episodes. If you have any trouble getting the episodes reach out to the GEEk SYNDICATE or yours truly.

Well enough yapping… you have listening homework to do… go… listen…. laugh…. and fear the Epoc!!!! (You have to listen to get that reference -)

And drop them a message and tell them Heroic Times sent you… AND HELL’S COMING WITH YOU!

Okay me sleep now.

p.s. Check out my THE ESSENTIAL WARREN ELLIS to your right, in th sidebar there. It’s a pretty nifty beginning. .

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• MASTER OF KUNG FU REVIEWS: THE MOENCH/GULACY YEARS
• ******************
• Favorite CDs and Musicians
• Grant Morrison: A Life in HyperTime
• The Films of Tsui Hark
• Must read Novels!
• 100 Favorite GRAPHIC NOVELS!
• ESSENTIAL Art/Photography Books
• Reviews: CRECY, JLA, BLACK MANE, ZERO KILLER, BAD PLANET
• LOBSTER GIRL Review! Must Read!
• 2007 Philadelphia Black Age of Comics Convention/Nifty Reviews!
• EC Comics CRIME SUSPENSTORIES Reviews
• SUPERMAN VS MUHAMMAD ALI, KING SIZE BIG GUY AND RUSTY THE BOY ROBOT and JERIMIAH JOHNSON Review
• Rick Veith’s MAXIMORTAL! Must Read!
• Christopher Priest’s THE CREW! Best Ever!
• Today’s Postings ie THE NEW STUFF

Some of my Favorite Podcasts Jan 2008-Feb 2008 The Creative Screenwriting Podcast- Jeff Goldsmith does a fantastic job in this Q and A style podcast, with short but informative interviews with the best writers and directors in the business. Recent Q and As on BABEL and CHILDREN OF MEN being standouts. The only problem with this show is it doesn’t provide an RSS feed. It wants you to go through Itunes to signup, and I hate Itunes. I suggest just going to the website and downloading the episodes you’re interested in. Website is here: http://creativescreenwritingmagazine.blogspot.com/index.html NPR Movies- http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=1045- Perhaps a little overlong, reviews a little too snarky, but so far a pretty nifty one stop location for all things film related. INDIE SPINNER RACK- http://podcast.inmotionhosting.com/ISR1.xml- For two years I’ve been recommending this podcast, covering those on the cutting edge of Graphic Literature, making comics that aren’t just for kids. KOMICSKAST- http://komicskast.libsyn.com/rss- I’ve probably been listening to this show for a year, and their BOTTOM OF THE PILE aka BOP is a favorite. All three of the hosts, Bruce, Stephen, and John doing a great job. ILLJAZZ- http://feeds.feedburner.com/Illjazz- Great music podcast, that unfortunately hasn’t been updated in a bit, but the old episodes are still available, I’d recommend getting them while you can. Show is a wonderful mixture of 70s funk, soul, and blues. NPR Science Friday- http://www.sciencefriday.com/audio/scifriaudio.xml- Most of us are extremely busy, we have barely enough time to understand what’s going on in our homes, much less the larger world outside our homes. NPR Science helps you keep on top of that larger picture, and how it affects you, and how you can affect it. 60 SECOND SCIENCE- http://www.sciam.com/podcast/sciam_podcast_r_d.xml- We are all very busy. But that said I would argue most of us throughout the day waste minutes. This podcast is one minute that does not waste your time. It gets to the point, providing you informative, and staggering, and at times humorous stories from the bleeding edge… of science. TRUTH AND SOUL- http://www.truthandsoulrecords.com/podcast/podcast.xml- I haven’t listened to enough of this to give it a thumbs up, but I’m intrigued enough to hear more. The little bit I’ve heard is fantastic. Just avoid the promotional episodes. Stop back for more additions to this list, and feel free to recommend some favorites of your own.

Couple podcasts I was recommending took pretty swift strong nosedives. So I’ve kicked those to the curb, what can I tell you, quality varies drastically, one can be great and others… idiotically bad.

Some podcasts use entire episodes as a joke. So pretty much pulled my recommendations for those guys.

While possibly amusing, it becomes less funny when you realize every episode is potentially the only chance you’ll have to grab and hold someone’s attention. Is potentially someone’s first sampling of what you’re about, and depending what you give them… will be their last.

So to take the time to put out less than your best show, when it’s hard to rise above the rest of the choices out there in the first place, seems idiotic.

So anyhow, here are the podcasts I recommend now. The ones that pretty much in the skant months I’ve been listening, have been consistently reliable:

RAMPAGE RADIO

http://feeds.feedburner.com/therampagepodcast

Political rants, on either side of the divide tend seldom to be my thing. Usually it’s people with too much venom, to be informative, or to get an idea across to more than the choir. I found an exception in this show. I think start with show 82 where the hosts touches on the censoring of science, the idea of science, (like global warming) by the current administration. (Global warming… what’s that? Amazing stuff).

ESCAPE POD

http://escape.extraneous.org/podcast.xml

This is Twilight Zone for radio. Great vehicle for some of the best new short fiction out there.

SHIVERS RADIO

http://24.153.140.30/shiversradio.xml

For the best in Old Time Radio, this is a pretty solid introduction

SOUND STAGES

http://www.ix.storiesonmp3.com/podcast/sstage.xml

Another show introducing new short audio drama, dealing with everything from the humorous to the horrific. Good stuff.

FANBOY RADIO

http://fanboyradio.libsyn.com/rss

On the less serious side, the best show for interviews of writers, artists, and a fun look at the people behind an increasing percentage of movies and video games and tv, …Comic Book Folks.

INDIE SPINNER RACK

http://podcast.inmotionhosting.com/ISR1.xml

For just plain news on what’s the best stuff out there to read, these guys are probably at the top of my list. Whether you want to call them Comic Books, or Graphic Novels, or Sequential art, they introduce you to this paper medium with a heaping helping of fun, and wit.

WORDBALLOON

http://feeds.feedburner.com/WordballoonPodcasts

This show offer indepth, one on one interviews with Comic Creators. Well done, and informative.

So those are the shows, that I’ve found always have solid episodes. That if not always great, you understand they at least strive… to make it the best they can. And not waste your time, or theirs.

Currently don’t have a music recommendation, but still looking. As soon as I find one, I’ll pass it on.

Now go out there and have some fun!

I’m really digging podcasts.

I’m a relatively recent convert to this medium, but I’m digging it. The technology basically allows anyone the ability to have their own talk/radio show.

And what this means to a pulp culture junkie like myself is a ton of impassioned fans, putting out shows ranging from scifi to horror to mystery to short stories to comics to movies.

And you can listen to this stuff while you work. If you’re surfing blogs more than likely you’re also well informed about podcasts.

So I’ll shelve further exposition, and just give today’s recommendations for a couple great INDIVIDUAL Podcasts; shows covering a variety of genres and topics.

I’ll start with:

COMIC BOOK NOISE #19

- Hosted by Derek at Deliberate Noise, is at times thoughtful, and considered commentary about all things Comic Book related, told from the refreshing viewpoint of a fan and a father. My mileage varies depending on the show, being a fan of more just his commentary shows, rather than review shows. But this one… episode 19… is great. As it deals with comics, Busiek, and Rome, Georgia. In your podcast player just type in COMIC BOOK NOISE and look for this episode. Or you can download it directly by going to www.comicbooknoise.com. But definitely jump around as quality varies widely! Other episodes I’d recommend are 21. 31, 5. Jump around and see what grabs you.

ESCAPE POD #24 THE DEATH TRAP OF DR. NEFARIO

- Best way to describe Escape Pod to the uninitiated is Twilight Zone for your ears. It’s a great showcase of speculative short fiction, presented as an audio story for your ears. It’s a great avenue for great short fiction. With endearing introductions by host, creator Steve Ely. One of my favorite episodes of this series, now on episode 47, is this one, #24 THE DEATH TRAP OF DR. NEFARIO. Amazing stuff. Download this episode by going to http://escape.extraneous.org/. Another site, well worth your time.

Gotta run. Feel free to leave your comments for your favorite podcast shows!