Jace and Rocky from the Comic Boom! YouTube channel chat about the DC Comic titles for the week of May 7, 2024. Several examples of villains leaning into their massive egos and also some more plot threads that lean into the upcoming Absolute Power event. Zod starts the next chapter of his return to outright villainy and he is bringing plenty of other despicable characters with him. Meanwhile Poison Ivy is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to defeat Jason Woodrow and we get what might be the best issue of Batman since the current era began.
Spawn #86 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Greg Capullo, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Dave Kemp, Brian Haberlin & Dan Kemp As Spawn laments the loss of life that always seems to accompany any actions he takes, he is confronted by a strangely familiar man. As the stranger leads him to the grave of Al Simmons, he tells Spawn that he is, in fact, Al Simmons. Faced with the man he used to be, Spawn is forced to finally give up his past and move forward with his new life as Spawn, but what price must he pay to make this happen. It's the fight you never thought you'd see, Spawn vs Al Simmons.
Spawn #85 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Greg Capullo, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Dave Kemp, Brian Haberlin & Dan Kemp It's the final confrontation between Spawn and Billy Kincaid The plan to defeat the serial killer is revealed and is dangerous for all involved. When the time comes, Twitch is forced to make an agonizing choice and no one comes out a winner. Luckily for Twitch, his family returns and he takes solace in their love. It is clear that the impact of the events in this issue will be felt for a long time.
Jace welcomes comic creator V. Ken Marion back to the show. This super talented artist is here to talk all about his Kickstarter campaign for a comic he is not only illustrating but also co-writing with co-creator Jason Matthews. Taking inspiration from beloved video games, classic anime, Star Wars and even Lord of the Rings, Battle Chronicle Sol-Stryker has all the makings of a monster hit. The they have built is rich and characters are varied which means there are plenty to choose from when it comes to your favorite. Add in some complex antagonists and you have something special. So listen in and then go check out the campaign to see the wide variety of rewards being offered.
Jace welcomes Patrick Horvath back to the show to chat about his current Zoop campaign Free For All. Set in a near future with the world on the brink of eliminating poverty, the billionaires of the world are tapped to donate to the less fortunate or forced to fight in gladiatorial combat to retain their fortunes. Patrick was last her to chat about Beneath the Tress Where Nobody Sees prior to the first issue dropping. It has been THE smash hit of the last year, so now is your chance to get in on another great project from this creator before it blows up also. Listen in for details and go join the campaign. Free For All Welcome to the future. The world is at peace and thriving. Housing, food, education, healthcare… all of the basic requirements for living are now provided for by the World Finance League, and it’s all funded by a lottery. Wealthy citizens of the world are picked at random and given the choice to either donate half of their assets for the greater good of the world, or fight to the death to keep it all. Among these trillionaire gladiators, two former lovers square off in this global arena to settle their differences once and for all. Regardless of who lives or dies, we all win. Breathing new life into an older project, this is the first ever print run of a classic tale from Patrick Horvath that was previously only ever available digitally. The 48-page Zoop-exclusive graphic novella is being remastered with new lettering & coloring, new cover, and new bonus material.
Spawn #84 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Greg Capullo, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Dave Kemp, Brian Haberlin & Dan Kemp Spawn, Sam and Twitch have to play the waiting game. They have a plan to stop Billy Kincaid, but it seems like it might be very dangerous for all involved. Just what it entails we will have to wait and see. In the meantime, we get some great character work foe everyone involved as we see just how much those close to them mean and Spawn tries to stop his worse nightmare from coming to pass.
It's all annuals and specials this week so even though there are only five books, the guys have plenty to chat about. Celebrating spring with an anthology filled with a good mix of stories, we also get annuals from Harley Quinn and Flash plus the House of Brainiac event has its latest chapter adding to the history of Czarnia. The standout book this week is the incredible Nightwing Annual that elevates a supporting character to new heights in a masterful way, a true must-read.
Spawn #83 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Greg Capullo, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Dave Kemp, Brian Haberlin & Dan Kemp Spawn is desperate to stop Billy Kincaid. He is feeling a ton of guilt for killing Kincaid which has led to the power the killer is now using to continue his murderous ways and condemn innocents in the process. Spurred on by this desperation Spawn turns to the the most unlikely of sources to beg for answers about how to stop Kincaid. Meanwhile, as teased last issue. Billy is having the time of his life unleashing the darkness within Jason Wynn, leading to the biggest loss of life we have seen so far.
Spawn #82 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Greg Capullo, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Brian Haberlin & Dan Kemp As Spawn now knows that Billy Kincaid has returned as an intangible Hellspawn and is the force of evil behind all the recent murders and gruesome acts of violence around New York City. He even meets with Twitch and learns that that he and the detective share more in common than the supernatural link established when Spawn saved his life. Will that be enough to allow them to defeat Kincaid? Only time will tell.
Spawn #81 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Greg Capullo, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Brian Haberlin & Dan Kemp As Sam and Twitch ponder the implications of the gruesome object left on the doorstep of their office, Spawn is feeling the unease of evil that still pervades NYC and the surrounding areas. When a horrible act is committed by the most unlikely of perpetrators, Spawn's investigation confirms what Sam and Twitch already suspect. It's the return of one of the most evil antagonists any of them have ever encountered.
Spawn #80 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Greg Capullo, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Brian Haberlin & Dan Kemp Spawn metes out brutal justice to the "exterminator" killer after we learn their motivations for the depraved murder spree they have been on. Once justice has been served, Spawn is reluctant to entertain Cog's worries that the recent violence hasn't ended. Sam and Twitch might be more receptive to those suspicions though, as something is left on the doorstep of their office we seems to indicate that the bad times have only just begun.
Spawn #79 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Greg Capullo, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Brian Haberlin & Dan Kemp Just when it seems like the clues Sam and Twitch have found will lead no where, Sam literally stumbles across something that reveals the killer was hiding in plan sight. Spawn has been singularly focused on finding and punishing the "exterminator" killer, so what will he do now that his "minions" have uncovered the truth?
Spawn #78 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Greg Capullo, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Brian Haberlin & Dan Kemp With Twitch on his deathbed, Sam makes a deal with Spawn to save his partner's life. The price both Sam and Twitch will pay is be be Spawn's minions, but what does that entail? Well to start with, Spawn has them set out to find out who is behind the gruesome murders of the homeless in the alleys of Rat City. Just when the stakes can't get any higher, the identity of the latest victim sends outrage through all three of the unlikely allies.
Get ready for an epic rant from Jace! That's right, it isn't Rocky railing against a book when the guys chat about the DC titles for the week of April 23, 2024. This time it's Jace with his biggest rant ever! There's way more good than bad this week though, so be sure to listen in to find out why the guys loved Detective Comics, the Penguin and Batman Dark Age.
Spawn #77 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Dwayne Turner, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Brian Haberlin, Dan Kemp & Andy Troy Cog's secret stands revealed and if Spawn thinks that's the craziest thing the mysterious character has to tell him, he is in for a HUGE shock. This issue starts several very important plot threads and is all out action from start to finish. Add in some emotional torment and moments from Bobby and you have a well-balanced issue that shows Spawn, as a series, is really hitting its stride.
Curse Of The Spawn #29 - Writer - Alan McElroy, Penciller - Clayton Crain, Inker, Chance Wolf & Todd McFarlane, Color Artist - Todd Broeker & Mark Nicholas, Letterer - Tom Orzechowski Jonathan Edward Custer is the administrator of Purgatory. A place between, a place where souls who aren't quite worthy of heaven can go in hopes of making up for minor transgressions and achieving everlasting salvation. What happens when the world has become so black and white that there are no "fence-straddlers"? And what will that mean for Custer, who's entire existence has revolved around watching, judging and caretaking in this special realm of the afterlife.
Curse Of The Spawn #25 - Writer - Alan McElroy, Penciller - Clayton Crain, Inker, Chance Wolf & Todd McFarlane, Color Artist - Todd Broeker & Mark Nicholas, Letterer - Tom Orzechowski Harley is a typical teenager, trying to deal with high school crushes, navigate an afterschool job and keep his grades up. When a hellspawn he calls "Angel" begins to haunt him and, worse, continually goads him to commit acts of extreme violence, is it only a matter of time until he snaps? Harley tries to drowned out this "anti-christ" hellspawn with his favorite rock music, but will it work?
Curse Of The Spawn #22 - Writer - Alan McElroy, Penciller - Dwayne Turner, Inker, Chance Wolf, Color Artist - Todd Broeker & Mark Nicholas, Letterer - Tom Orzechowski Ryan Hatchett, a bullied, despressed and would-be suicide victim from the world we know, finds himself transported during the attempt to take his own life. He finds himself in the world of The Zombie Spawn where various versions of the undead attempt to devour the flesh of the living or offer humans they have captured of the few remaining as tribute to their Zombie leader. This hellspawn crashed to earth in an asteroid and was birthed forth along with a tidal flood of worms that burrowed into the earth bringing to life all those who had been buried. Can Ryan, in his new form as the undead hero Hatchet, defeat the Zombie Spawn and rescue this apocalyptic earth?
Spawn #76 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Dwayne Turner, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Brian Haberlin, Dan Kemp & Tyson Wengler It what is definitely the most romantic issue of Spawn to date, Al learns the "secret origin" of Granny Blake and how much he and Wanda have in common with Granny and her late husband, Jack. We get gorgeous line and color work illustrating this issue that covers decades of history and goes from a graveyard on Earth to heaven and back again. It's not only a nice chance for Al Simmons to catch his breath after all the tumultuous action he has seen lately, but it's a chance for readers to catch there breath also. That doesn't mean it isn't a must-read though as the themes of love and devotion are a reminder of how those ideas are at the very heart of Spawn as a character and were present from the beginning. Sure the chains, spikes and capes are cool, but despite the demons and monsters and hellfire, Spawn IS a love story.
Jace is joined by actor, author and film maker Luke Arnold and TV/Animation writer/producer Chris "Doc" Wyatt to talk all about their Kickstarter Campaign for ESSENTIALS. This is a wildly imaginative book that takes a very strange and somewhat elaborate premise and makes it imminently relatable. Also, the co-main leads of the story are so vastly different, but somehow still remain relatable as the represent different aspects of humanity we all have within us. When you add in the huge roster of talented artist you have an incredible title that deserves your attention. Check out the campaign and be sure to share it with your fellow comic readers.