Whadjathink? - Maleficent

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Vengeful Spirits
Catherine Houston and Bobby Blakey have been to the movies so it is Whadjathink? time again!


 Summer brings us so many great movies that it is time again for another episode of Whadjathink?, the movie show that is like the drive home with friends after the show!

 This episode focuses on Maeleficent, Disney's live action take on one of their classic fairy tale animated features, Sleeping Beauty.  Your hosts Catherine Houston and Bobby Blakey are joined by Catherine's cousin, David O'Rourke, for a compelling look at this rendition of a timeless story.  


Hey Kids, Comics #92 - HKC! Revisited: Faith in Four Colors

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Welcome to the latest edition of our look back at the first Hey Kids, Comics! story arc, Comic Shop Confidential.  This episode revisits the weighty topic of religion and religious faith as portrayed in comic books.

From the Cult of Brother Blood to the whole question of how faith affects story telling in comics, Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston provide a thoughtful overview of the role that religion has played in the realm of comics.  Even ancient religions no longer practiced have their place as evidenced by the classical pantheons that run rampant in the pages of Marvel and DC comics.  This and more is discussed in the latest exploration of the early issues of this show.

 You can check out the original episode (HKC! #4) here.

The Rantcor Pit Live #5 - The Force, Of Course...And Then Some!

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Hello and welcome yet again to another episode of The Rantcor Pit Live!, the in-studio live edition of the JCU's Star Wars talk show that streams live every other Sunday morning from Deep Ellum on Air.


This week Cole Houston and Eddie Medina were joined in the studio by their first live show guest, Ray Perez, who brings a whole lot of irreverent humor to the mix.  Check out Cole's latest collection find and watch the fun as the topic of "The Force" is explored between many moments of complete off-topic derailing of the show!

Hey Kids, Comics! #91 - HKC! Revisited: Women in Comics

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Welcome to another great issue of Hey Kids, Comics! in which the very first story arc, Comic Shop Confidential, is explored anew.  In this installment Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston return to the most popular issue of the show to date and take a second look at Women in Comics.


The role that women play in comics has been ever-evolving and that is rich subject matter that was worth a second look.  Andy gets vehement and the discussion is lively as your hosts cover the damsels in distress, the strong female leads, the archetypes, and the headline-grabbing controversies that are part of the history of women in comics.

You can check out the original episode (HKC! #3) here.


The Rantcor Pit #15 - Postcards From All-Con

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Welcome to a very special episode of The Rantcor Pit featuring fan interviews collected at All-Con 2014!

Intrepid field reporter (and co-host) Eddie Medina took time out of his All-Con weekend to track down some die-hard Star Wars fans for short interviews.  Interests ranging from cosplay to collecting are represented in four segments that feature a huge cross-section of age and experience.  In interviews and anecdotes, three generations of Star Wars fandom can be found.


Whadjathink? - X-Men: Days of Future Past

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Future Imperfect

It's a Whadjathink? Double Feature Weekend!  

 Welcome to another great crossover episode of Whadjathink? where Catherine Houston and Bobby Blakey are joined yet again by Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston of Hey Kids, Comics! in what has become a comic book movie tradition.  

With a trio of die-hard comic book fans and one comic movie fan who "married into it", you can expect some really intense discussion of this movie.  The good, the bad, the great that came out of this franchise rebooting movie are discussed at length.  Expect some fanboy gushing and some interesting insights from your collection of X-hosts.

Whadjathink? - Godzilla

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Force of Nature


 Welcome to the latest edition of Whadjathink?, the movie show that is more akin to the drive home with friends after the movie than a review.  As such it is chock full of spoilers, so it is always best to have seen the movie before listening to this podcast.  This time your hosts Catherine Houston and Bobby Blakey set their sights on the “King of Monsters” as portrayed in Godzilla!  But there’s more!  They are joined by their respective spouses, Cole Houston and Drucilla Blakey to discuss not only 2014’s blockbuster, but the original 1954 Japanese cut of Godzilla! 


 Both couples had attended screenings in Dallas recently of the film that started it all in the original Japanese with English subtitles.  Raymond Burr was nowhere to be seen and aspects of the original not shown in the US in the 50s added a new element to the story.  From the first to the latest incarnation of Toho’s flagship kaiju, the contrasting visions of two tales released 60 years apart will make this one of the most fascinating episodes yet!

For Bobby Blakey

Hey Kids, Comics! #90 - HKC! Revisited: What's So Bad About Human Sexuality?

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It is time again for Hey Kids, Comics! (if a day late) and we are continuing our look back at Comic Shop Confidential.  Andrew and Cole revisit the very first story arc of this series with a look at sex and sexuality in comics - again!

From the suggestive to the overt, comics have long had a history of letting the real world make it onto the four color page by giving characters a sex life of some kind.  Way back in issue #2 Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston took a look at sex and sexuality in comics and are ready to do so yet again.  

 Join us for a look back our origins and one of the more compelling topics to have been tackled on this show.  You can check out the original episode (HKC! #2) here.

The Rantcor Pit Live #4 - Episode 1 Finds Love

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It is time again for The Rantcor Pit Live!  As seen on DeepEllumOnAir every other Sunday (from 11 AM to 12 PM), this is the companion show to the JCU's The Rantcor Pit.  You can always check out the archives here if you missed the live show.

Cole was down in one of his favorite cities, Austin, Texas on Sunday and had to miss out this week.  Eddie Medina brought along his wife Colleen to join the fun in a lively discussion of her favorite of the Star Wars films, The Phantom Menace!  While Episode 1 is a much maligned chapter of the Star Wars saga, it does have its supporters and hardcore fans.
  

Jantzen adds his own love for the movie to the mix as Eddie and Colleen explore why the launch of the prequel trilogy is not as bad as you might have thought.


Hey Kids, Comics! #89 - HKC! Revisited: Why I Hate Fanboys

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Take a look back at the Not-So-Secret-Origins of Hey Kids, Comics! as your hosts Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston return to the early days of the show.  No, this is not another time travel show, but rather the beginning of a new arc that reexamines our first arc (and first five issues in the process). 


This reflective issue features special guest Rick Gutierrez of The United States of Geekdom and takes a second look at the overbearing nature of some fanboys.  Love it or hate it, the opinions of some get thrown about rather aggressively when it comes to comics and comic book-related media.  Does this give the wrong impression about fandom to those outside of that realm?  And what role do the news and social media play in perpetuating that kind of behavior?

Join us for the first of five issues that take a new look at Comic Shop Confidential.  You can check out the original episode (HKC! #1) here.



The Rantcor Pit #14 - A Universe of Their Own

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Women in Star Wars are often few and far between so it was certainly something worth talking about last Sunday on The Rantcor Pit Live.  But the topic was just too big for one hour so Cole Houston and Eddie Medina pick it up yet again with the help of Mrs. JediCole.

 When looking for the greatest concentrations of female characters the Expanded Universe was the place to go.  Most of the women in Star Wars can be found there.  And just because Disney has declared it never happened, that is just from the standpoint of better continuity.  Those women, and the female characters of film and television, are important parts of the overall Saga.

Join us as we continue the discussion on the various lead characters and background characters that help make sure that Leia and Padme are not the Smurfettes of their respective trilogies!  Plus as a bonus, Catherine tells the tale of Shmi Skywalker that was repeatedly banned back in our VaderCast days!





Whadjathink? - Amazing Spider-Man 2

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Electro-Shock

Welcome to another great episode of Whadjathink?, this time again joining forces with Hey Kids, Comics!  













Catherine "Mrs. JediCole" Houston and Bobby Blakey welcome Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston to talk up the latest edition of the reboot of the Spider-Man franchise.  The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is the subject of discussion as the ups and downs of the feature film are kicked back and forth between a collection of comic book and movie fans.

 Was ol' Web-Head's latest cinematic adventure favorable to all?  Was it roundly hated?  Find out for yourself by giving this show a listen.  That is if you have already seen The Amazing Spider-Man 2 beforehand.  This show does not pull its punches when it comes to mentioning just about anything that happened on screen!

 SPOILER ALERT!


Hey Kids, Comics! #88 - Wedding Bells

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“Hey Kids, Comics!” cordially invites you to a very special occasion.

Andrew Farmer and Cole “JediCole” Houston are pleased to announce the marriage of a wide variety of comic book characters to each other.  A reception will be held immediately following each wedding.

Please R.S.V.P.

Welcome to another great episode of Hey Kids, Comics! that is full of significance.  The nuptials of the super-hero community have long been a staple of comic books.  From the high profile ceremony-wrecking slugfests to the quiet joining of man and wife, every possibility has been explored.  Even outrageous dream sequences are not uncommon in this regard.


 To celebrate the latest comic book wedding, that of Marvel’s resident anti-hero Deadpool, and to commemorate all the marriages that have come before, a variety of special guests were invited to talk about what happens when love is in the air, proposals are accepted, and the big day arrives at last!  Well, in comics anyway.  So in the company of our loved ones we now pronounce this issue of Hey Kids, Comics! super-man and super-wife!

Guest List:
Jason Adams
Bobby Blakey
Brianna Booker
Rick Gutierrez
Catherine Houston
Colleen Medina
Eddie Medina



The lucky couples are registered at Shreck’s Department Store (Gotham City), Lexmart (Metropolis), and King Kirby’s (East Coast, West Coast, and Great Lakes locations). 

Ceremonies officiated by Doctor Druid
Floral arrangements by Sherwood Florist; Oliver Queen proprietor
Wedding bands by Goldface & Goldbug
Catering by Matter-Eater Lad
Music by the Fiddler, the Hypno Hustler, the Pied Piper, and Mr. Banjo
Vocals by Dazzler

The Rantcor Pit Live 3: Few and Far Between

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If you missed the live streaming of this week's Rantcor Pit Live then do not fret!  The fine folks at Deep Ellum On Air maintain an archive so  you won't miss an episode.  And you won't want to miss this special Mother's Day edition of the show.


While The Rantcor Pit is known for always pointing out the many aspects of the Star Wars saga that make it rich with history, background, and other elements of reality, we are more than willing to point out the shortcomings as well.  Perhaps the most glaring of these is the lack of female characters in the course of the six movies to date.  In celebration of Mother’s Day, Cole Houston and Eddie Medina discuss this peculiar phenomenon and speculate on the reasons.


Your hosts talk about the strong female leads of both trilogies as well as the scant smattering of women who people the rest of the cinematic universe with Mrs. JediCole and Jantzen chiming in as well.  While lacking in number, many of the female characters are no less strong and rarely remanded simply to the background.  Still, their lacking numbers have been an issue with fans for decades. 


The Expanded Universe and the animated series are also in the mix of this episode.

Be sure to check out The Rantcor Pit at The JediCole Universe on May 18 for a companion show that also covers women in Star Wars with Mrs. JediCole and the official Shmi Skywalker story!


The Rantcor Pit LIVE ep3 by DeepEllumOnAir