The Rantcor Pit #31 - Do We Like the Star Wars!

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The Rantcor Pit is open for business yet again after a recent and unannounced hiatus!  Cole Houston and Eddie Medina are back and ready to talk about...Star Wars!

Okay, so that is rather the point of this whole show, that is not lost on them.  This time, however, they hearken back to the very first episode of the two-host incarnation and talk about the very series of films (and subsequent phenomenon) that are the reason this podcast exists.  From childhood memories to anecdotes to general tales of Star Wars, your hosts take a trip through their vastly memories of the Saga.

Starting with Episode IV and working through the entire pair of trilogies, many are the stories that punctuate their lives and the impact of Star Wars.  Multiple screening, the "collecting bug", the advent and evolution of home video, and that damned Episode I trailer!  The last part is a story you will certainly here on this episode (assuming it has not been told in the past, in which case you will hear it again).

So get ready for a jump into retro-hyper-space as Eddie and Cole go full reverse then full speed ahead on a journey through lives chock full of the Star Wars! 


Hey Kids, Comics! #126 - The Super-Human Condition: Out of This World

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Hey Kids, Comics! is back with more on The Super-Human Condition, this time with "human" not really being so much part of the equation.  This issue takes the explorations of the psychology of super-heroes well away from terrestrial concerns.  From the all-too-common "last sons" of faraway worlds to the explorers and conquerors of realms beyond our own, there is a lot of ground (or is that space?) to cover.

What does it mean to be "alien" on Earth?  And then to elect to become a protector of your adopted world?  Or to plan its invasion for your leaders?  Or perhaps you are just trying to get back home like that little guy in "E.T."  There really are endless possibilities when you just aren't from around here.


So get in on the action and see (or hear) what Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston have to say about strange visitors, interplanetary wars, dimensional travelers, higher planes of existence, and unique musical instruments.  Whether down and out on Earth or on top of the world, this one's for the aliens!




Hey Kids, Comics! #125 - The Super-Human Condition: Above and Beyond

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Hey Kids, Comics! is back at last, if a couple of days late.  Things are pretty hectic at the JCU at the moment with preparations for All-Con 2015 consuming most of our days, so be sure and come see us March 12-15 in Addison, TX.  And remember, Thursday the 12th is a FREE tryout day if you just want to see what it is all about before you buy your pass!  But in HKC! news we just ran behind getting this week's issue out to everybody.

The Super-Human Condition continues to explore the dynamics and psychology of being a super-hero or villain (depending on which side of the crime fence you like).  And this week things get turned all the way up to eleven!  

Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston have discussed the pinnacle of human achievement types and those that utilize science or sorcery to enhance what God gave them on permanent basis (at least for their alter ego), but now it is time for the characters who are always imbued with powers and abilities beyond those of mortal men.  

Whether by accident or design, many are the heroes and villains who are forever that which makes them "above and beyond" what man might achieve.  From accidents with highly improbably after effects to the deliberate taking on of permanent physiological change, there is a lot to talk about this week.  Especially with mutants factored into the mix!




Hey Kids, Comics! Live #6 - Who Do You Love?

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Happy belated Valentine's Day everybody and welcome to the latest issue of Hey Kids, Comics! Live!  This is our special Valentine's edition as it originally went out live from Deep Ellum on Air on Saturday, February 14, 2015.

This month hosts Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston are joined by their significant others in the first DEoA appearance of both!  Catherine (aka Mrs. JediCole) and Lacey both determined that the show must go on despite being on the romantic holiday and it seemed only natural that they be a part of that show as well.  And what an amazing part indeed!
Hey Kids, Comics! 2015-02-14 by DeepEllumOnAir
THAT poster.

And THAT picture.

Hey Kids, Comics! #124 - The Super-Human Condition: Man Plus

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Welcome to the second installment of the latest story arc for Hey Kids, Comics!  Exploring the dynamics and psychology of super-heroes, your hosts Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston now set their sights on the heroes and villains who’s abilities are primarily the product of enhancements to their otherwise normal to above average humanity.  


Does the suit make the man?  When it is a cybernetic suit of armor bristling with high-tech hardware and weaponry donned with the express purpose of doing battle with the forces of evil it does.   That and the alcoholism and self-aggrandizing attitude (if you’re Tony Stark).  What happens when an ordinary individual becomes extraordinary by virtue of a weapon, technology, or even mystic powers?  Why do some find these objects of power while others are found by them?  What is the connection of this arc to Canada’s premiere super-hero team?  These and other questions are posed within this latest issue!


Get an inside look at brandishing theme specific weaponry, mastering the mystic arts, being inside protective shells, or obtaining legendary Nordic hardware store finds as this episode delves into punching up what is already there to the extreme. Get the skinny on Bane, the lowdown on the Scorpion, and even the fate of Dr. Fate!  Plus, answer for yourself the question of what was Digger Harkness’ greatest failure in the process!

The Rantcor Pit Live #22 - The Circle is Now Complete

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Due to some myocks chewing on the power cables, Deep Ellum on Air's live feed was out on February 8, 2015.  None the less the live edition of The Rantcor Pit went forward...just not live.  

In 1977 Marvel Comics published a six-issue adaptation of the science fiction movie Star Wars, likely not realizing a the time what they had on their hands.  Another one hundred and one issues later what began as as just another movie tie-in book completed its nearly nine year run.  There would be a gap in publication of Star Wars comics until Dark Horse picked up the license.

Starting with Star Wars:  Dark Empire, this successful indy publisher would produce hundreds of issues of both ongoing and limited run series as well as reprints of both Marvel comics and daily newspaper comic strips from 1991 through 2014.  

Beginning this year Disney elected to discontinue licensing their newly acquired property to a publisher they did not own themselves and as a result Star Wars is back at Marvel Comics in a big way.
 Join the discussion of this phenomenon with Cole Houston, guest host Vegabomber, and special guest Bryan 


The Rantcor Pit Live 2015-02-08 by DeepEllumOnAir olink

WHERE'S THE SHOW?! Technical Difficulties With Most JCU Shows

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JediCole here with a bit of sad news that is thankfully temporary in nature.  

If you have tried to open the files of most of the JCU shows this week it seems that none were linking to Podbean for some reason.  Luckily Vegabomber of Do It Yourself brought this to my attention and I am working to restore every episode of Hey Kids, Comics!, The Rantcor Pit, Whadjathink?, Do It Yourself, and all other titles effected.

This may take about a week all told as I don't know how widespread the problem became or how far back I will have to delve.  Some shows were linking just fine, some were linking but not on a separate page, but most simply were nowhere to be found.

 JediCole is on the job and will soon have your favorite shows up and running!  The latest (December through January) have all been restored as of this post.

Hey Kids, Comics #123 - The Super-Human Condition: Peak Performance

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Hey Kids, Comics! proudly welcomes you to the newest five-issue story arc, The Super-Human Condition.  This series will explore the psychology of being at the top of the heap.  From the pinnacle of human achievement to the rarified atmosphere of the deities of Antiquity, how do the minds of the heroes and villains of comics work?  And how does their place among us influence their psyche?  
These are just a couple of the questions raised as Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston take on the role of Doc Sampson minus the avocado green coiffure.   In this first installment those normal people who have toned their bodies and honed their minds to the fullness of human potential are the focus.  How do Batman, Hawkeye, and other such highly trained, skilled, and outfitted heroes manage to hold their own amidst colleagues who  have powers and abilities beyond anything that physical or mental conditioning could ever hope to achieve?  What drives a man with brains and brawn, assisted by the odd weapon or bit of technology, to launch headlong into battle against every foe from the common burglar to extra-dimensional entities with the power of the gods of antiquity?
While we may never know the answers to these and other questions with certainty,  your very average human hosts will pose and ponder a myriad of such queries during this issue and the four that follow in this thought provoking arc!


The Rantcor Pit #30 - Speeders, Walkers, and Cloud Cars! Oh My!

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Most if by land, few if by sea, and a whole lot by air! 


 When you need to go on more of a blue milk run than a Kessel Run then you probably want to select one of the more terrestrial vehicles of the Star Wars universe.  From variations on the hovering landspeeder to aircraft that are not designed to ever leave the atmosphere, the choices at your disposal are many.

Your favorite Star Wars guys Cole Houston and Eddie Medina guide you through the wide variety of land and air vehicles utilized through the course of the Saga to date.  Even those teased in the Episode VII trailer are touched upon in this episode.  From favorite land-locked conveyances to the air cars of Cloud City and Coruscant, a lot of ground (and air) needed to be covered and Cole and Eddie were more than up to the task.

From concept to screen.
Which vehicles do Cole and Eddie love most and which they could do without?  What is the connection between Star Wars and Godzilla?  How is one of the prequel saga vehicles akin to two old Kenner toy?  These and other questions are answered in this vehicular episode of The Rantcor Pit!


Hey Kids, Comics! #122 - Journey Into Toys

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The Aisle of Toys beckons yet again!


When it comes to comics, one thing that compliments them well is toys!  From the earliest Superman tin toys to the latest Lego Avengers playset, toys have been a popular place to find your favorite super-heroes.  As avid collectors of three-dimensional representations of their favorite characters, HKC! hosts Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston really love to talk up the toys.  Especially on the cusp of the International Toy Fair in February!


This latest issue is dedicated to the latest Golden Age of comic book related toys and collectibles.  With amazing new selections from Hasbro’s lines of Marvel Comics action figures to DC Direct and Hot Toys to even Funko’s remarkable Reaction line (a bit of a departure from topic but they are so cool), the sheer volume of toys that have been expected since last year or have been teased or promised for this year is rather remarkable. 


So open your ears and your toy chest to this episode for a in-depth look at upcoming toys and just how much two grown men can turn into schoolgirls when it comes to their favorite playthings.  Or is that display-things?  They don’t really play with these toys after all.  Do they?  Why of course they do!  That’s why they are so keen on what is coming next for their collections. 

Lego SHIELD Helicarrier Set (Not mentioned on the show!)

Even Mrs. JediCole joins in on this one as personal wish lists are espoused once again in hopes that the wishes have already been granted and just not announced yet.


Do It Yourself 6: Interstellar

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Vegabomber and Joose are back at it again!  Never content to just enjoy a movie, these reviewers want you to know how they would have tackled their favorite films if THEY were in charge!



 Join these armchair directors as they take an in-depth look at the Christopher Nolan epic Interstellar.  What was their take on this most cerebral of cinematic features? Where did it find favor and where did it find fault in their eyes?  Find out today when they take another great movie into their own hands...

BS with SB Volume 2: 14 F'n Months Later!

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Explicit Language Warning!
Be warned, the following program explicitly uses foul language.


Over a year after its premiere, Cole Houston finally gets off his arse and manages a second episode of BS with SB.


For those unfamiliar, this show was originally conceived by Cole and his friend and fellow podcaster from Melbourne, Stuart Baulk of Midnight Movie Cowboys.  While the shows of the JCU are generally fairly organic and natural in structure, they are also generally thematic in nature.   As seasoned podcasters, Cole and Stu wanted to share a bit of the kinds of discussions that happen behind the scenes, two friends talking about everything and nothing much at all, and without any self-filtering.  


Australia Day 2015 worked out to be the ideal time to get this show back up and running, so that decidedly Aussie holiday kicks things off and after that it just becomes a lot of personal reminisces of past podcast endeavors, Australian footballer Jacko, and anything else that might come up along the way.


Again, be warned, the participants are not holding back on the language front!  While American and Australian English differs vastly in many respects, the cuss words are pretty universal.  This is podcasters in their natural habitat, uncensored and unchained!


Most of America's entire exposure to Australian culture.

The Rantcor Pit Live! #21 - THIS Guy Became Vader?

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Why, George, why?!

 Welcome to the latest edition of The Rantcor Pit Live!  If you missed the live streaming show at Deep Ellum on Air on January 25, 2015 then you have a second chance at finding out what hosts Cole "JediCole" Houston and Eddie Medina, along with their own Jedi Holocron, Jantzen Ray have to say about the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker.
Sought This...                                                  Got This....
Not his rise as a Jedi and his fall to the Dark Side and the Sith, no, that would be to obvious.  Rather they have chosen to discuss with returning guest Vegabomber (of the JCU's Do It Yourself podcast) and Roy Llamas the tremendous potential promised by the character of Anakin Skywalker 22 years before disappointment set in with fans.
Do.  Or do not.  There is no whine!
Just how bad did things get for Anakin?  Well, if being called "Annie" wasn't bad enough then just check out this episode to find all of the faults that turned what could have been the linchpin of the Saga into a whiny brat who inexplicably went bad! 


The Rantcor Pit LIVE 2015-01-25 by DeepEllumOnAir a

Lost his job to someone younger...

Hey Kids, Comics! #121 - It's Raining Supermen, Hallelujah!

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While not visitors from another planet, your HKC! hosts Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston have a lot to say about the most famous comic book character to be thus described in the latest issue.   About him and the dozens of others that have ridden his capetails ever since he burst on the scene.

 Superman was a phenomenon to be certain.  The epic scale of his impact on comics can be measured by the pretenders to the throne that leaped tall buildings in his path.  From such notables as Captain Marvel (the one best known for his lightning conjuring, alter-ego changing utterance) to parodies like Caped Wonder from "The Tick", it seems that there is always a "Superman" around, even if generally not at DC Comics!

Andy and Cole take a long non-telescopic vision look at the unintended "children of superman" that have become staples in super-hero comics over more than half a century!  From tributes to lampoons to unabashed rip-offs, many are the Supermen to be found.
"Caped Wonder" Clark Oppenheimer confronts The Tick!