Fun Size Episode 10 – Jodorowsky’s Still Alive

Posted on June 23, 2016 by Mike Gillis

Mike and Casey sit down with Kinsey Burke, Patrick Johnson, and Sam Mulvey to bat around a contentious and complicated topic: adaptations, reboots and remakes.

How faithful should a work be to its source material when it’s adapted from one storytelling medium to another? What happens when it deviates over time? What about when a beloved past work is rebooted in ways we cannot stand? Is it really worth getting worked up about, now that the floodgates are open?

And can a bad adaptation transcend the source material and become a wonderful hypnotic disaster? Is it time to make peace with changes to Game of Thrones, and the Ghostbusters remake?

Also, Mike fights — against all odds — to protect a young friend from a 43 year-old movie spoiler.

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Mike Appears on the Justice League International: Bwah-Ha-Ha Podcast!

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Mike Gillis

Mike makes no secret of the fact that he’s a superhero fan, and one of his favorite series was Justice League International, the 1980s incarnation of DC Comics’ premier superhero team. A stark contrast to a lot of the grimness and grittiness that was popular at the time, JLI was a light-hearted and character-centric book starring a collection of second and third tier characters like Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Guy Gardner, Martian Manhunter, and Mr. Miracle.

Mike was very happy to make a guest appearance on “the Irredeemable” Shagg Matthews‘ Justice League International: Bwah-Ha-Ha Podcast! We dig into the fourth issue of the series from 1987, which introduced Booster Gold to the team’s roster.

Check it out!

Episode 27 – Open World Video Games

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Mike Gillis

“I was an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow in the knee.”

Mike and Casey completely abandon their quests to consolidate their pixelated criminal empires and save the kingdom from dragons, so that they can play darts and brew potions with video game journalist and YouTuber Kinsey Burke, and returning panelist Patrick Johnson.

Our non-essential side quest? To dig into the massive phenomenon of Open World Video Games. From Fallout 3, to Skyrim, to Grand Theft Auto V, there is an video games where the storyline is optional and immersive player-initiated exploration are their biggest sell points.

What is the appeal of a game that lets you make your own agenda in a fictional city, or epic fantasy realm or post-apocalyptic future? What are the limits of a game that aspires to let you be and do anything you want?

And why are these games so damned buggy?

Music:

“Welcome to Los Santos” from Grand Theft Auto V by Oh No

Previously titled: “The World Doesn’t Look Bright for Us Completionists”

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Brand New Reward for Patreon Subscribers!

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Mike Gillis

We are thrilled to announce a brand new Reward for our subscribers on Patreon!

As Patreon subscribers, if you subscribe and donate any amount over $1 a month, you will receive exclusive access to what we’re calling Radio vs. the Martians! “Black Ops” episodes!

These are sporadic off-topic, off-the-books episodes of the podcast, and available only to Patreon subscribers!

And that’s on top of our regular panel episodes of Radio vs. the Martians!, our monthly “Fun Size” episodes, and our Arnold Schwarzenegger celebration podcast, Podcasta la Vista, Baby!

Subscribe today to get the first exclusive bonus episode, only on Patreon!

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Fun Size Episode 9 – Something, Something, Iron Man

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Mike Gillis

We’re joined by Ask an Atheist‘s Sam Mulvey, who politely tolerates listening to Mike and Casey talk about Captain America: Civil War. And evidently, both of us take different sides.

And we ask the question, what are conspiracy theorists like in the Marvel and DC Universes? When you live in a world where the president can be — and has been — replaced by an alien duplicate, are there any ideas that left that can make you look like a crackpot?

We wax poetic about the 2004 Denzel Washington vigilante movie, Man on Fire, and how for many years, it was Mike’s Punisher movie.

And Mike says goodbye to legendary comic book creator Darwyn Cooke.

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Podcasta la Vista, Baby! Episode 3 – Hercules in New York

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Mike Gillis

“It’s tremendous! It’s stupendous!! It’s FUN!!!”*

We’re back with a dive into a mythic time — in more ways than one — with Ask an Atheist‘s Sam Mulvey to test our endurance against the herculean labor of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first starring role, in 1969’s Hercules in New York!

Bored of his idyllic life on Mount Olympus, Greek demigod Hercules provokes his father Zeus into sending him to modern day Earth. There, he beats up longshoremen and bullies college athletes. He eventually becomes a successful professional wrestler, and battles both the machinations of the gods and gangsters alike.

*none of these statements are true

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Mike Makes a Quick Cameo on Ryan Daly’s “Give Me Those Star Wars” Podcast!

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Mike Gillis

It’s May the Fourth (Be With You!) and Ryan Daly of the Give Me Those Star Wars podcast has invited Mike and a collection of other podcasters to answer the question: What did we most look forward to with the Star Wars franchise, going forward?

Check it out! After all the negative things Mike has said about Star Wars and George Lucas over the years, let’s feel a little love!

Fun Size Episode 8 – No, Jack Bauer!

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Mike Gillis

We sit down with Greg Hatcher and Sam Mulvey to continue our talk on vigilante justice, including our feelings about the anti-terrorism torture-sploitation action show that was 24.

We dig into the sad exploits of local “real life superhero” Phoenix Jones and why he turns the superhero-loving Mike into a J. Jonah Jameson.

And we dive into Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and how Zack Snyder’s vision of these characters is equal parts stupid, pretentious and insecure.

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Episode 26 – Vigilante Fiction

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Mike Gillis

You’ve gotta ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?

Mike and Casey sit down with Pól Rua and Greg Hatcher of Comic Book Resources’ Comics Should Be Good blog, for a comprehensive and thoughtful discussion of urban crime and its many complicated causes.

And we talk about how pulp novels and grindhouse cinema recommends fixing these problems. Namely, angry middle-aged men with oversized handguns.

This month, we’re talking about urban vigilante fiction. Hyper-violent anti-heroes pumping thousands of rounds of ammunition into scumbags and drug dealers. From Dirty Harry to Death Wish; from the Punisher to Mack Bolan, we’re digging into the vigilante genre, and asking ourselves: why do bleeding heart liberals like us enjoy this stuff?

Music:

“Getting Into Shape / Listen You Screw Heads / Gun Play” from Taxi Driver by Bernard Herrmann

Previously titled: “A Noir Carnival of Fright and Insanity”

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Mike Returns to the Film and Water Podcast!

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Mike Gillis

Mike return to Rob Kelly‘s Film and Water Podcast, to talk about one of his favorite movies, 1960’s Inherit the Wind!

Based on the play of the same name, and on the real-life Scopes Monkey Trial, Inherit the Wind tells the story of a small town schoolteacher put on trial for teaching his students Darwin’s theory of evolution to his students. With the town — and the entire country in an uproar — a former populist presidential candidate stands for the prosecution, and a famed civil right attorney for the defense, and sparks fly!

Mike gets into why this is one of his favorite films, how its a refreshing departure from the usual portrayal of atheist/agnostic characters in fiction, and why a movie made in 1960 — and based on events from the 1920s — is frighteningly still relevant today.

Check it out!

Fun Size Episode 7 – Chickens. They Are a Taciturn Bunch

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Mike Gillis

Mike and Casey continue their chat with Rebecca Friedman and Joe Preti, and they chew the fat about porno Mahjong, how the weirdest things end up at used bookstores, and why we just can’t stop thinking about nunchucks.

We also dig into the contrast of Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves, why Mike really really really doesn’t like the new Ghostbusters trailer, and why people keep getting Superman wrong.

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Episode 25 – Don Bluth

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Mike Gillis

“…There are no cats in America!…”

Mike and Casey manage to escape dog heaven and set out for the Great Valley. Their traveling companions? Ask an Atheist‘s Rebecca Friedman and Joe Preti of the View from the Gutters comic book podcast. This month we’re talking about America animator, Don Bluth.

From his apprenticeship at the Walt Disney company, to striking out on his own with critical darling in the Secret of NIMH, to conquering the box office alongside Steven Spielberg with An American Tail and the Land Before Time.

We dig into Bluth’s trademark darker tone, his craftsmanship and attention to detail, his move into the world of video games, and how for a brief period of time…he managed to beat Disney at their own game.

Music:

“End Credits” from the Land Before Time by James Horner

Previously titled: “There Will Be No Second Disney”

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Podcasta la Vista, Baby! goes Bimonthly in May!

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Mike Gillis

Starting in April, our spin-off show, Podcasta la Vista, Baby! will go from a quarterly celebration of the cinematic legend of Arnold Schwarzenegger to a meaty, double-barrelled bimonthly experience!

That means every year, you will get 50% more muscles, 50% more explosions, and 50% more absurd macho bullshit, starting with Arnie’s first starring role in Hercules in New York in May!

How does this affect our main program, Radio vs. the Martians!, you might ask? Our panel episodes will move to a bimonthly basis as well, giving us even more time to write, schedule and gorge ourselves on delicious (and not-so-delicious) popular culture to make our panel episodes even better and more ambitious than ever!

But fret not, loyal listener! We will still have monthly installments of our Fun Size episodes to pick up the slack and keep you abreast of all of our non-Arnold related tirades and fan gushing!

Great things are on the way, folks!

Fun Size Episode 6 – Open Carry Nunchuck Movement

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Mike Gillis

In the wake of injury, scheduling issues, and technical problems, we will sadly not be able to give you our regularly scheduled panel episode. However, we can give you another Fun Sized dose of off-topic nonsense!

We sit down with Rebecca Friedman — again — for a talk about weird local insurance ads, superhero cartoons starring M.C. Hammer, and forthcoming return of Star Trek to television.

And seriously, don’t bring your ninja weapons on the White House tour, bro.

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Mike Makes an Appearance on the “Give Me Those Star Wars” Podcast!

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Mike Gillis

Mike made an appearance on Ryan Daly‘s Give Me Those Star Wars podcast to talk about his favorite Star Wars character, Lando Calrissian!

We get into the charming gambler’s appeal, how he brought a refreshing degree of moral ambiguity to a galaxy far, far, away, and why Mike says he’s the real hero of the Empire Strikes Back.

He’s one part Clark Gable, one part Bret Maverick, and one-hundred percent awesome.

Check it out!