The Rantcor Pit #63 - Decades: Forty Years of Star Wars Episode II: Before the Dark Times
/Note: When originally recorded, this episode was mistakenly referred to as #62.
Welcome to the second installment of the four part series in celebration of forty years of Star Wars!
With a playful nod to the upcoming third decade's Prequel Trilogy, Cole Houston and Eddie Medina delve into what promised initially to be the "dead years". Instead of so much Lars homestead burnout, however, they discover a decade rich in little events that kept Star Wars in the collective consciousness!
Discover the novels, toys, and video games that kept the Saga going during its leanest of years and proved a jumping off point for so much more to come!
Hey Kids, Comics! #228 - Anger Management
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GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Welcome to an issue of HKC! where your hosts Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston really hop that you will like them when they're angry!
Actually they hope that you'll like this episode in which they delve into the rage, angst, ire, fury, and rancor that can be found in comic book characters of every stripe.
From hot-heads and short fuses to loose cannons to the indignant and belligerent, this issue is mad for mad! When it comes to unbridled anger, the Hulk has not necessarily cornered the market. Enjoy this exploration of one of the Deadly Sins as it manifests in the pages of popular comic titles.
Unleash the beasts within!
Hey Kids, Comics #227 - The Woman of Themyscira
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Welcome to a "wonderful" new issue of the show, this one minus Andrew FarmerWith HKC!'s founder out for a week, Cole "JediCole" Houston takes up the reigns and calls in a special guest host!
None other than JCU favorite Kelly Long joins the fun as a discussion of DC's Amazon Princess becomes this week's topic. Wonder Woman's long and storied history is explored, including her creator's seeming fascination with having the powerful heroine in chains more often than not.
From her early beginnings in comics, a mix of the strong and capable with the defeated and subservient, to the various incarnations including everything from being stripped of her powers to taking up the mantle of a statesman, Wonder Woman has a long and unique history to examine.
Join Cole and Kelly as they trace the classical hero's journey from the paradise of Themyscira to "man's world" in America. The tale of Wonder Woman is truly epic and compelling. The stuff of modern mythology.
The Rantcor Pit #62 - Decades: 40 Years of Star Wars Episode 1: A More Civilized Age
/Note: When originally recorded, this episode was mistakenly referred to as #61.
The audio podcast of The Rantcor Pit is back in time for the 40th anniversary month of Star Wars! And what a month it is going to be, as your hosts have big plans for May
Cole "JediCole" Houston and Eddie Medina proudly present the first of four episodes in May discussing four decades of Star Wars, one decade at a time! This series launches with the period from late May 1977 to late May 1987. Effectively delving into the years from the premiere of the movie that would come to be called "A New Hope" straight through to "Return of the Jedi" and beyond.
Step back in time with a combination of year-by-year research and personal remembrances from Cole and Eddie. From the moment that Star Wars leapt at light speed from obscure sci-fi film with little studio support to a cultural phenomenon that spans the globe to this day through the year that changed everything for this iconic franchise for years to follow, a lot of history is covered in this nearly 90 minute opening chapter.
Hey Kids, Comics! #226 - Expanding a Universe
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Yesterday, at the time of this writing, the "Fourth" was with us in the form of Star Wars Day. Now, in honor of Revenge of the Fifth, hosts Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston have chosen to take a look at the early days of Star Wars comics from Marvel.
From unlikely beginnings in 1977, Star Wars made its mark at "The House of Ideas". Despite early misgivings on science fiction comics in general and movie tie-ins specifically, what started off as just an adaptation of a summer film became, for the publisher, something of the blockbuster that the movie became for LucasFilm and 20th Century Fox.
No exploration of Star Wars comics would be complete at the JCU without none other than The Rantcor Pit's own Eddie Medina. Lending his own experiences with this successful title, that enjoyed 107 regular issues, Eddie also brings along the excitement and enthusiasm of a hardcore fan.
If you like "The Star Wars" and the comics, this is the issue of the show you have been waiting for, and in the midst of two big days of Star Wars celebration in the midst of "May the Foruth Be With You" and "Revenge of the Fifth"!
The Force on the Fourth: The Rantcor Pit Road Show Summer Invasion Begins!
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There is a brand new annual tradition for the JCU that begins...nowish!
On Star Wars Day (May the Fourth Be With You), The Rantcor Pit Road Show Summer Invasion begins at the City of Burleson Recreation Center's event. The first stop of seven on a journey around the Dallas Fort Worth area.
Between May 4 and August 13, "Your Favorite Star Wars Guys" will be bringing their special brand of simple tricks and nonsense to one event, two comic shops, and four conventions! Each stop on the tour is a little different with everything from emceeing to recordings of future shows, to panel discussions, to the official game show of the Rantcor Pit, The Galactic Games!
Check out the links below to follow Cole Houston and Eddie Medina as they celebrate three years of The Rantcor Pit Live and forty years of Star Wars over one (not Corvette) summer!
May the Fourth Be With You May 4; Burleson, TX
Famous Monsters Convention May 26-28; Dallas, TX
DFW G.I. Joe & Action Figure Show June 10; Grapevine, TX
Geek Out June 24; 102 S. Main Street, Burleson, TX
A Galaxy Called Dallas July 8; 1238 Beltline Road #365, Garland, TX
ArlingCon July 15; Arlington, TX
Infinicon 2017 August 11-13; Addison, TX
Come to any or all of these events and join the Rantcorps!
Hey Kids, Comics! #225 - Cat Tail
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NOTE: This issue contains adult themes and some minimal language that my not be appropriate for all listeners. You have been warned!
Welcome to a special issue of Hey Kids, Comics! in which Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston explore a rare gem in the history of modern comics, "Omaha the Cat Dancer"!
Originally published in 1984, what could have been just another hardcore "dirty comic" would prove to be a compelling drama replete with intrigues, love, death, betrayals, and the inherent hypocrisy of people in power.
Join your hosts as they bring two unique perspectives on this groundbreaking, often controversial title - that of a fan from the beginning and a newcomer to Omaha. Discover how a talented team can create an adult-oriented book that rises above its origins and becomes perhaps the most approachable and worthwhile examples of its genre.
Hey Kids, Comics! #224 - Recommended Reading IV
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Welcome to the latest incarnation of Recommended Reading from Hey Kids, Comics!
Feeling it had been too long since last they delved into personal recommendations for comics you may never have read, Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston are pleased to, for the fourth time, devote an issue of the show to some more top picks.
In the interest of not revealing too much about the comics discussed, introductions are brief this week. Suffice it to say that there's more to this edition than just a couple of beetles!
Hey Kids, Comics! #223 - Sole Survivors
/"Hey Kids, Comics! is back in the saddle with the return of the Friday release!
"Last Sons and Last Daughters of" are remarkably commonplace in comics. So much so that hosts Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston just had to follow up last issue's pairings with an exploration of universal orphans. It's not easy to live
It's not easy to live as the only remaining individual from your planet or the last of your species. Many a super-hero (and indeed villain) carry that burden...and some will remind you every chance they get. Whether by accident or design, force of nature or force of man, there is always somebody who manages to escape the fate of their kind only to enjoy (or suffer) a different kind of fate entirely.
From the Last Son of Krypton to many a Herald of Galactus and everywhere in between, HKC! brings you those who are, or thought they were until survivor inflation set in) the last of their kind...
Hey Kids, Comics! #222 - Two of a Kind
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Still running a touch behind here, folks, but #223 is already in the can so look for things to return to normal on Friday.
In the meantime, Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston look into the comic hero team-ups that endure. Not the "Marvel-Two-in-One" single story pairings, but rather those of the "World's Finest" variety.
For decades, a prevailing theme in comics has been the team-up. From full scale teams like the Avengers to those "hard traveling heroes, Green Lantern and Green Arrow, pooling resources is always the best approach. One of the most compelling teams has long been the pairing of two existing heroes in a "buddy picture" dynamic.
Join your hosts on a special journey through some of the top team-ups-of-two in the history of comics. Some playful, some deadly serious, all amazing as part of one of the enduring concepts in super-hero narratives.
Hey Kids, Comics #221 - That Moment When
/The "Hey Kids, Comics!" posts on the JCU are nearly caught up!
There are times when a comic book becomes more than just another monthly chapter of illustrated narrative. At their best, comics can be thought-provoking, alter our mood, or speak to us on a deeply personal level.
These and other such personal experiences are on the collective mind of your hosts Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston this week. In a special and most reflective issue of the show, they talk about those moments when a comic book story gave them pause.
Be warned! This issue can be rather spoiler-rich as your hosts take a serious look at a handful of instances where a comic gave them chills or caused them to stop reading to take in the "wow" all that a few panels contained beyond the obvious. "Saga of the Swamp Thing", "Countdown to Infinite Crisis", "Watchmen", "Saga" "Identity Crisis", and even some of the Wolfman/Perez run on "The New Teen Titans" are among the titles and stories discussed. Beware of spoilers!
Hey Kids, Comics #220 - Marsh Madness
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The joke would have been more effective had this published on time back in late March...
Welcome to the ultimate in sloppy slap-downs, Hey Kids, Comics! Marsh Madness!
The "swamp supreme" gather yet again to duke it out for the coveted win that will determine the Atlas of Algae, the Sultan of Sludge, the Master of Moss, and/or the Liege of Lichen!
Your hosts Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston bring you all of the action swampside as this brackish bracket whittles down the field to until a new Bayou Badass is crowned!
A Would-Be Contender
Hey Kids, Comics! #219 - ....And Where Are All the Gods?
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Catching up on backlog of unpublished (here) Hey Kids, Comics! issues continues.
Andrew Farmer is off the leash this outing as JediCole was off running Games and Theory at All-Con XIII in Texas and somebody had to keep things going. By the time this has finally found its way up on the JCU site, All-Con has long since passed, but the fun is still there. Special guest Jason "Old Hollywood" Adams returns to the fold as substitute Cole and a look at comics and Hollwood (no surprise)!
Your hosts talk "Logan", the future of super-hero films and appeal to Wesley Snipes (among other greatness). With "Logan" having been the topic of the last episode, the conversation does turn in other directions entirely.
As is so often the case when fanboy minds connect, things go off and on the rails on a constant. From " to "Powerless" and beyond, this issue may not always be about comic books, but it does deliver on unexpected levels.
The Rantcor Pit #61 - The Wonderful World of Wookiees
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It's time to embark for Kashyyyk! Cole "JediCole" Houston and Eddie Medina are on a quest to explore the life and times of one of the most iconic alien races from "the Star Wars" - Wookiees! But they won't be going it alone.
Joining them this outing are Chris and Caleb of the Holy Nerdy Podcast! These seasoned podcasters become immersed in The Pit as well as the thick manes of Wookiees. Chewbacca is naturally center stage in the conversation, but his brethren who appeared in Episode III are also part of the mix.
Grab your Life Day robes and your bowcasters, its time to delve deep into all things Wookiee. Discover what you never knew and what you don't want to know as Your Favorite Star Wars Guys wind up in the hairy middle of a Wookiee world!
Plus, find out why THIS is a major sticking point from Return of the Jedi.
Hey Kids, Comics! #218 - Wolverines!
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We're running late, bub. Very late.
For nearly 20 years, Hugh Jackman has defined the character of Logan, aka Wolverine, aka James Howlett. In "Logan", we bid a fond farewell to the feral of the X-Men. This week Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston take a look at the life and times of Wolverine on the big screen.
Some wounds never heal, but "Logan" goes a long way toward patching things up with fans still smarting from "X-Men Origins: Wolverine". This is just one of the many topics discussed as your hosts explore the man who's the best there is at what he does!
So pop open a beer, pop your <shudder> adamantium laced bone claws, and pop in on HKC! as they discuss...wait for it...WOLVERINE!
The Rantcor Pit #60 - Jedi Answers
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Welcome to the latest (and just over a week late) episode of "The Rantcor Pit"!
This outing finds hosts Cole Houston and Eddie Medina delve into some territory twice explored by "Hey Kids, Comics!", Yahoo Answers!
Your intrepid hosts are not going it alone, though! They are joined by Jeff McGee of Marvin Dog Media and a myriad of podcasts. Jeff comes out swinging as he is introduced to the curious world of Yahoo Answers for the first time.
From taun tauns to Obi-Wan Kenobi to Ewoks to the plot of The Empire Strikes Back (and even a former Alaskan Governor), this episode covers some serious ground. Join in the fun and discover what The Rantcor Pit discovered amid the questions on Yahoo!
Hey Kids, Comics! #217 - Relatively Speaking
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It's "family time" for HKC! this week as Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston look into the dynamics of super-powered siblings as well as parent-child relationships in comics.
In a seemingly Marvel-centric issue, your hosts are joined by none other than JediCole's own brother, Clay Houston. Over a year after his appearance on the final episode of Hey Kids, Comics! Live, he makes his debut on the main show!
Join the fun as two brothers and Cole's "other brother" discuss family matters in comics and the odd dynamic of "the Batman Family".
Hey Kids, Comics! #216 - Maybe They're Just Looking For Answers
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Questions. Questions, questions, questions. So many questions are out there, especially for comic book fans. But where to seek answers to the questions posed?
Yes! Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston have returned to Yahoo Answers to seek out both answers and the questions that inspired them. From Batman to Spider-Man and beyond, be prepared for things to get particularly odd in this special issue where your hosts take time out for a little fun.
It gets even more fun as they are joined by Eddie (The Rantcor Pit, Figments) Medina! There are questions and the answers can be found right here!
The Rantcor Pit #59 - Star Wares Department
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Welcome to the Galactic Gourmet, home of Star Wars kitchenware galore.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, etc. There is nothing you can't prepare without some kind of Star Wars kitchen item at hand to help. From prep to serving, spatulas, timers, small appliances, tableware, salt and pepper shakers, dry goods containers, measuring cups, glasses, napkins, and more are at every fan's disposal.
Join Cole "JediCole" Houston and Eddie Medina as they look around the kitchen, literally, and discover everything that has a Star Wars theme. Baking, cooking, seasoning, serving, and dining...all bases can be covered in a Star Wars fashion these day.
So grab the blue milk and the Jawa juice and the bantha loin for Wookiee Floor Soup and bring your appetite as the kitchen goes intergalactic!
Though it is now two months old, nearly three, it is time to introduce fans of the JCU to JediCole's latest endeavor, "Aisle of Toys".
Launched on Sunday, August 20, 2017 as part of the Dallas OnAir lineup, this new live-streaming podcast explores one of Cole's passions. With the intention of delving into all varieties of toys, this new monthly program will focus on a different toy or toy line, genre of toy, or toy collector.
Discover a universe of popular toys with in-studio guests and prerecorded segments, among other features, each and every month right before the second monthly episode of "The Rantcor Pit Live" (with Cole and Eddie Medina). The next live episode will stream from 9:30 - 10:30 AM Central on Sunday, October 20, 2017 on Dallas OnAirThose Robots in Disguise - the Transformers - will be the topic of discussion.
Click here to see the "Aisle of Toys" show page and archive of past episodes.
Click here to link to Dallas OnAir to catch "Aisle of Toys" (third Sunday each month, 9:30-10:30 AM Central), "The Rantcor Pit Live" (first and third Sunday each month, 10:30-11:30 AM Central), and Eddie's new show "Figments" (first Sunday each month, 9:30-10:30 AM Central).
Stay tuned for news of upcoming interactive features with Aisle of Toys including "What's in Your Detolf?", or just watch the show each month!
