Hall of Justice

WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen season three of the 2025 WBD/DC Studios series "Creature Commandos" or do not mind hearing key plot points.In November 2022, James Gunn and Peter Safran were hired to lead the newly formed DC Studios. The pair had worked on several projects that were part of the “DC Extended Universe” or DCEU, including the film The Suicide Squad in 2021 and its spin-off series Peacemaker. This new universe was labeled as a reboot of DC stories, ending the string of films that included Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, etc. The first entry into the new “DC Studios” was the animated series Creature Commandos. The storyline of this show immediately tied into the aforementioned The Suicide Squad film, muddying continuity from the onset.This episode of the podcast talks about Creature Commandos but also the DC Studios launch, which includes the 2025 Superman film and Season 2 of the show Peacemaker. (There are minor spoilers regarding Peacemaker, which has not aired its complete season 2.)There are also continuing rumors regarding a potential sale of Warner Bros. Discovery. Skydance (the company that bought Paramount/CBS) and Netflix are rumored to be interested in WBD.All of this is covered in this episode. Ray Carsillo, a broadcaster and comedian who once worked for the show DC Daily on the now-defunct DC Universe app, joins the show to discuss the series and the state of this new universe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen season three of the 2025 Amazon Prime series "Invincible" or do not mind hearing key plot points.Invincible aired its third season in February/March of 2025. While it took a while to get reviewed on the podcast, it is exactly two hundred episodes after the season one review (Episode 239). It is created by Robert Kirkman and stars Steven Yeun as Mark Grayson/Invincible. In season 3, Mark continues to deal with the fallout from the show’s first two seasons. He has a budding relationship with Eve, a new stepbrother in Oliver, the Guardians of the Globe, the Teen Team, and a slew of villains set to take him down. It has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Annie Awards, and the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Animated Series.Joining the show to review Invincible season three is Luke Spears, a comics enthusiast and producer at WBZ Newsradio in Boston, Massachusetts.In this episode, Spears discusses how season three was even darker than the first two seasons. They speculate on the final two announced seasons and what fans can expect for Mark and his friends and family. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sheldon Allen is the author of a new independent comic book series entitled They Choose Violence, presented by AWA Studios. Allen started in comics writing Spider-Man Unlimited for Marvel Comics as well as the Crucible series. They Choose Violence follows Laneka, Deidre, and Karen, three Black HBCU friends turned accomplished professionals who band together to form a vigilante squad that targets White Supremacists deemed to have circumvented the justice system and gotten away with protected murder. Until they are forced to confront the consequences of their actions, a copycat killer whose signature contains a special message to them.In this episode, Allen discusses the difference between writing for Marvel vs. a creator-owned book. He also discusses how he conceived of They Choose Violence, and what he hopes for the future of the story, both in comics and other forms of media.This episode also includes thoughts on the opening episode of Season 2 of Peacemaker, including some spoiler comments from director James Gunn.For more information on They Choose Violence, https://awastudios.com/series/they-choose-violence/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2025 Star Wars/Disney+ release "Tales of the Underground” or do not mind hearing key plot points. Tales of the Underground is a six-part mini-series that focuses on two Star Wars characters. It is the third installment of its kind, preceded by Tales of the Jedi (2022) and Tales of the Empire (2024). Three of the six episodes focus on former Sith apprentice Asaj Ventress. The other three focus on the origin of bounty hunter Cad Bane. It was released on Star Wars Day, May 4th, 2025, on Disney+ during the midst of the airing of Andor Season 2. This review was delayed to space out Star Wars conversations on two completely different shows that occur during different points in the Star Wars timeline.Star Wars insider JC Reifenberg returns to the show to review Tales of the Underworld. In this episode, they discuss the choice of characters to portray and offer a wish list of other Star Wars characters that could be portrayed in future installments.JC is part of a new Star Wars-centric podcast. Pod of Rebellion is a Star Wars: Rebels rewatch podcast and features voice actors from the original animated series. Link to Pod of Rebellion: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pod-of-rebellion/id1799929656 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Baillie is a horror fan who has written a new graphic novel entitled ”Look Out,” with artwork from horror icon Tim Bradstreet, known for his work on The Punisher, Hellblazer, and Star Wars. The story of how Baillie’s short story was published on Reddit, only to be picked up by AWA Studios and turned into a graphic novel, is one of the most unique origin stories in comics.The story of Look Out: Oscar, recuperating from a divorce, takes a job as a fire lookout in a secluded forest outpost, hoping for solitude and a fresh start. But his quiet retreat takes a sinister turn when he discovers a mangled sheet of paper scrawled with a strange set of rules that claim to ensure he’ll stay safe during his watch. At first, Oscar laughs it off as a prank, – a bit of harmless hazing from the other fire lookouts in the area – but as night descends, he comes to a horrifying realization that the rules are no joke, and the threat they protect against is all too real.In this episode, Baillie tells the great story of his journey from writing the story to posting on Reddit and ultimately publishing the book. He also explained that now that he has had one story published, he wants to write a prequel or a sequel.Order Look Out here: https://bit.ly/3Jgmex5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2025 Marvel Studios release "Eyes of Wakanda" or do not mind hearing key plot points.Eyes of Wakanda is a four-episode anthology series that traces the evolution of Wakanda after they receive vibranium. Each episode is set hundreds of years apart and is a standalone story. In episode three, a character played by Jona Xiao is revealed to have the mantle of the Iron Fist.Xiao is known for her standout performances in the CW series The Flash, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Starz’s Hightown. Jona was born in China and moved to New York when she was a very young child with her family. She grew up in the St. Louis, MO area, where her acting career began before moving to LA after pursuing a career in entertainment after school.Outside of acting, Jona has taken her real-life experiences to shape her organization, Career ACTivate. After being scammed by a fake talent agency, Jona developed a fierce sense of protection for fellow actors starting out, a value that would later inspire her to found Career ACTivate, an organization dedicated to empowering actors with industry-savvy tools and strategies. Jona is also a well-accomplished athlete. She serves as the starting quarterback for the She Unit flag football team, based in Los Angeles, and has helped lead her squad to championship glory as part of the world champion, #1-ranked She Unit team.In this episode, Xiao explains the audition process and what she knew about Iron Fist. She also explains where this series fits on the MCU timeline, and her thoughts about the future of the Black Panther character and Wakanda. She also discussed the various projects in her live-action and animation roles, including The Flash, a fan favorite in the superhero genre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2025 Marvel Studios release "Fantastic Four: First Steps" or do not mind hearing key plot points.Ironheart is the first Marvel installment in Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is the 4th released attempt of a movie featuring the Fantastic Four. It is the first film about Marvel’s First Family to be released by Marvel Studios. It stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch. It also stars Julia Garner, Sarah Niles, Mark Gatiss, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, and Ralph Ineson.The film is set in 1960 on Earth-828 (the MCU is Earth-616). The Fantastic Four operate in a retro-futuristic world that draws heavily from the comic books on which they are based. They must face off against Galactus and his herald, the Silver Surfer. In this film, the Surfer is Shalla Bal (Garner) from Zenn-La, as opposed to Norrin Radd from comics, animation, and earlier FF films.Stand-up comedian and podcaster Eddie Pence rejoins the show to review the film.In this episode, they talk about the unique storytelling and how no prior knowledge of the MCU is necessary to enjoy this film. They also talk about the decision to put the FF in an alternate universe, and how that plays out in the grander MCU. They also discuss the casting and compare the film to the other summer 2025 blockbuster, Superman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Longtime comic book writer and artist Jim Starlin created iconic Marvel characters Thanos, Gamora, Drax, and Shang-Chi. These characters and his work on the Infinity Gauntlet and its subsequent sequels were featured heavily in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He also revamped Captain Marvel and created his own character, Dreadstar. He also wrote the iconic book Batman: Death in the Family for DC Comics, where Jason Todd, the second Robin, was killed after a fan vote via a 900-phone number.In this episode, Starlin discusses how it feels to see his creations in the Marvel movies. He talks about being a work-for-hire and how there have been recent controversies surrounding certain comic book creators who created characters that are used by Marvel and DC. He discusses the benefit of owning your own work and how he created Dreadstar. He also spoke about how his relationship with Marvel is in a good place. He also added some insight into the Jason Todd DC Comics storyline.This episode was recorded live at the Garden State Comics Fest in West Orange, New Jersey, on Sunday, June 29, 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2025 DC Studios release "Superman" or do not mind hearing key plot points.Superman is a new film by director and co-head of DC Studios James Gunn. It stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman alongside Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced. The film is the first from the newly branded DC Studios and has no connection to any previous Superman films or shows. In the movie, Superman is already established, and it is not an origin story.Michael Bailey rejoins the podcast for this film review. Bailey is the host and owner of the Fortress of Baileytude Podcasting Network. He is also part of the Superman Homepage Live show, which airs live on Mondays at 10:30 Eastern Time.In this episode, the review consists of the actual plot of the film and offers context for this film compared to past Superman movies. They discuss how this film treated certain aspects of the Superman mythology, and while the film is mostly lauded, there are questions and issues surrounding it.For more information on Michael Bailey, visit https://www.fortressofbaileytude.com/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2025 Marvel Studios release "Ironheart" or do not mind hearing key plot points.Ironheart is the final Marvel series in Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It stars Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams / Ironheart. She is a character first introduced in the 2022 film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In the movie, Riri Williams is an MIT student who gets involved with Shuri and Namor. After the events of the film, Riri chooses to return to MIT, setting up the first episode of the six-part series in Ironheart.Noted sportscaster and superhero fan Marshall Harris rejoins the show to discuss the expectations of the series and the reaction after watching it.In this episode, they discuss the connections between this series and previous MCU offerings, such as Iron Man, but not necessarily the Black Panther storyline, which she was directly connected to. They discuss the tie-ins to Iron Man and the new characters introduced in Riri’s hometown of Chicago. They also cover the introduction of Mephisto, who is rumored to be returning in future projects in the upcoming Phase Six. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at Fan Expo Philadelphia 2025, Hudson Thames plays Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the 2025 Disney+ release “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.” The actor/musician began playing Peter Parker in the 2021 Marvel animated series “What If?” Thames is also set to voice Spider-Man in the upcoming Marvel Zombies series.Thames is also a musician. He released his debut album Bambino on January 24, 2025. In this episode, Thames explains how he landed the iconic role. He talks about criticisms of the series, including some arguments that the show has overdone its political correctness. He discusses how the show was originally a prequel to the Tom Holland Spider-Man character in the MCU, but then deviated to a different storyline altogether. He also gave hints about the upcoming Season 2. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Claudia Wells played Jennifer Parker in the 1985 iconic film Back to the Future, starring Michael J. Fox. She played Marty McFly’s girlfriend in 1985, both before and after his famous time travel to 1955. Since then, Wells has met with fans through various comic cons. She recently appeared at both Fan Expo Philadelphia and Fan Expo Dallas. She is the owner of a successful business in California, entitled Armani Wells, where she sells and dresses high-end, second-hand fashion to men.In this episode, Wells discusses her connection to fans of the film and how she developed her business. She also explains why she does not appear in Back to the Future Part 2 and 3, as Jennifer was played by Elisabeth Shue. She also talks about working with Michael J. Fox and how she has stayed in touch with the actor during his battle with Parkinson’s.For more information about Armani Wells, visit www.claudiawells.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2025 Amazon Prime Video release "Reacher" (Season 3) or do not mind hearing key plot points.Reacher recently finished its 3rd season on Amazon Prime Video. It stars Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, and each season is an adaptation of a novel by the creator of the Jack Reacher book series, Lee Child. The third season of Reacher is based on the 2003 novel "Persuader." Joining the show to review Reacher Season 3 is Tushar Saxena, a longtime radio host and producer, who is a co-host on the podcast “No Wrong Choices.”In this episode, Tushar discusses what worked in Season 3 and how it started with a major plot twist. They discuss aspects of the production and writing, and how they embody what the Jack Reacher character looks and feels like. They also discuss the idea that the two Tom Cruise Jack Reacher films are in continuity as they are also based on books and are referenced in the series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Acclaimed voice actor James Arnold Taylor was a guest on this show on Episode 381. That interview was recorded at a Fan Expo Comic Con and was cut short by the Con event coordinators. Taylor vowed then to return to the podcast and made good on his promise in this episode.Taylor has famously played Obi-Wan Kenobi in all Star Wars animated properties, including The Clone Wars, Rebels, and numerous others. He has voiced hundreds of characters in numerous properties, including Ratchet and Clank, Final Fantasy X, Drawn Together, and Johnny Test. He played Fred Flintstone in various commercials after the original voice actor, Henry Corden, passed away.He is starring in a new 2025 animated film entitled “The King of Kings.” In it, Taylor plays eight different characters! The film stars many Star Wars alums, including Mark Hamill, Oscar Issac, Forest Whitaker, and Vanessa Marshall. The film also stars Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman, Pierce Brosnan, Roman Griffin Davis, and Ben Kingsley.In this episode, Taylor tells the incredible story of having voiced the entire movie for a scratch track to help the animators. He explained why The King of Kings is such a passion project for him. He also discusses how streaming has not helped create more opportunities in animation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Longtime TV and film animation writer Ernie Altbacker rejoins the show to discuss his new comic book project, Area 51 Studios. The comic book is written by Altbacker with art by Josh White. Altbacker is an Emmy-nominated writer with over 30 years of experience.Area 51 Studios Synopsis: It turns out Area 51 is a secret government site, but not for storing alien corpses or crashed spacecraft. It’s actually a studio lot where aliens come to shoot low-budget galactic reality shows. Our story centers on Zephril Boon as he tries to save his once-great career from the flaming dumpster fire that it’s become. The tone is Douglas Adams meets Men In Black, with a pinch of Jabberwocky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Star Wars series Andor recently completed Season 2. It was reviewed on this podcast in Episode 423. The second and final season has received universal praise for its storytelling. Brandon Roberts composed Season 2 of Andor and joined the show to discuss his work on the series. Roberts designed new themes for Season 2 while building on the work done in Season 1, the film Rogue One, and Star Wars lore. Brandon Roberts is an award-winning composer behind some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful films and series today. He won an Emmy with legendary composer Marco Beltrami for co-writing the score of National Geographic's Oscar and BAFTA-winning documentary Free Solo. He has scored blockbuster films including A Quiet Place I and II, Logan, World War Z, and Chaos Walking, as well as Netflix's Fear Street trilogy, and Jordan Peele's The Twilight Zone series for Paramount+, among others.In this episode, Roberts discusses his thoughts on all facets of Season 2 and how he watched all 12 episodes before composing the score. He also discussed his love for Star Wars and how John Williams’ iconic score was an inspiration for this project.Walt Disney Records released the Andor: Season 2 soundtrack in four volumes. Each volume includes music from three episodes. Volume 2 includes music by Nicholas Britell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Axel Alonso is a comic book creator and a renowned comic book industry executive. He is currently the Chief Creative Officer of AWA, which he co-founded with Bill Jemas. Axel is well known for his tenure as Marvel’s Editor-In-Chief from 2011 to 2018 where he oversaw all story development, and several important milestones in adding diversity to the industry including the introduction of Miles Morales as the first half-black, half–Puerto Rican Spider-Man, the makeover of Jane Foster into the new female Thor and the installation of Carol Danvers as the new female Captain Marvel. Previously, Axel was an Executive Editor at Marvel from 2001-2011, Senior Editor at DC Comics, and at Vertigo. In this episode, Alonso details the newest offerings from AWA as well as comments on his run as Editor-in-Chief at Marvel Comics. He also comments on the idea that AWA stories are creator-owned. He also offers insight on the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2025 Star Wars/Disney+ release "Andor" (Season 2) or do not mind hearing key plot points.The story of Andor is a prequel to the 2016 film “Rogue One.” The first season of Andor took place five years prior to Rogue One. This season covers the four years and leads directly into the event of the film. It follows Cassian Andor and his evolution through incredible trials. It also shows the formation of the Rebel Alliance and how the tyranny of the Empire presses its might on the people of the galaxy.JC Reifenberg, Star Wars insider for the Hall of justice, filmmaker and owner of the Scum and Villainy Cantina, rejoins this show to recount the many storylines depicted in Season 2.In this episode, they discuss the extraordinary arc of key characters and the incredible performances from the cast.Finally, this show differs from other Star Wars films and shows, and it's difficult to compare to other episodes in the Star Wars saga. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2025 Marvel Studios release "Thunderbolts*" or do not mind hearing key plot points.Thunderbolts* is the newest entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It features a cavalcade of characters from other Marvel movies/shows. Red Guardian, Winter Soldier, Yelena (a Black Widow), Ghost, and US Agent (formerly Captain America) all band together when they find themselves under attack by CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. This is the final movie of Phase 5 of the MCU. One final release, Ironheart, is scheduled for June 2025.Shortly after the movie’s release, the marketing posters and billboards replaced the Thunderbolts* title with *New Avengers.”Eddie Pence is a stand-up comedian and host of many podcasts, including the Ralph Report with Ralph Garman. In this episode, Pence discusses the use of Sentry in this film and where it stands in the overall Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2025 Marvel Television release "Daredevil: Born Again" or do not mind hearing key plot points.Daredevil: Born Again is the latest Disney+ series from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is a sequel series to the Daredevil show that originally aired on Netflix from 2015 to 2018. It stars Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin. Both characters reprised their roles in other Marvel shows/films since the end of the Daredevil show. This show picks up the storyline where those shows/films left off.Joining the show to review Daredevil: Born Again is Lee Elias, one of the hosts of the podcast “Geeks Who Like Sports.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.