Fanboy News Network Episode 77

“2020 Visions”

Join Jeff and Daniel as they ring in a new year.

Jeff talks about what is up with our twitch channel https://www.twitch.tv/dr_caliban

The boys talk about Knives Out.

They then cover Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and the challenge of writing a satisfying series ending.

Jeff talks about The Mandolorian and the Imagineering Story on Disney+ as well as the upcoming Marvel shows.

Daniel talks about the Watchmen Series.

The New Season of Doctor Who is discussed.

Jeff talks about Crisis on Infinite Earths.

The nostalgia for Mark Hamil.

The decline of American Gods.

The success of the Witcher.

Fanboy News Network Episode 76

“Gravitas”

The boys celebrate the completion of the new recording studio.

Looking at the recent issues surrounding the protests around Blizzard and lessons in what a protest is.

Daniel finally sees John Wick 3

Jeff reviews the new Addams Family and Terminator: Dark Fate.

The boys talk about their anticipation for the Mandalorian.

Daniel covers the new Watchmen series on HBO.

Jeff talks about the debut of the new season of the DC comics shows on the CW and the ramp up to Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Discussion of the animated pilot Hazbin Hotel.

Our first reports of Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge.

Daniel talks about reading this year’s Nebula and Hugo winning Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

Fanboy News Network Episode 65

“Geeks of a certain age”

Jeff talks about attending Norwescon 41.

What we know about the new Star Wars Attractions at the Disney Parks.

Jeff reviews Pacific Rim: Uprising.

The countdown to Avengers: Infinity War and Marvel Phase 4.

Daniel review a Wrinkle in Time.

Jeff talks about the Netflix movie Mute.

Jeff sings the praises of the TV Series The Magicians.

Daniel talks about Series of Unfortunate Events and Into the Badlands.

Legends of Tomorrow and a journey into meta.

Jeff talks about spending most of Norwescon playing Artemis: Starship Bridge simulator.

 


Fanboy News Network Episode 61

“Year of the Justifiably Defensive Lobster”

Jeff and Daniel are looking forward to the Good Omens TV show.

Discussion of the recent fatal Swatting incident and the Logan Paul suicide forest video.

Jeff and Daniel talk about Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Jeff reviews the last movie he saw of 2017: Dave Made a Maze. He also reviews the first movie he saw in 2018: The Shape of Water.

Jeff’s favorite movie of 2017 Get Out and its cultural impact.

Daniel’s favorite movie of 2017 is the documentary Kedi.

A look back at the geek culture movies of 2017.

Jeff talk’s about how Wolf 359 had a wonderful final episode vs the botched job of the final Black Tapes Podcast.

What Jeff and Daniel are looking forward to in 2018.

The final Doctor Who of the Moffet era and the handoff from the 12th to 13th Doctor.

Daniel reviews the series the Expanse.

The unexpected joy of the Orville and keeping the spirit of Star Trek alive.


Fanboy News Network Episode 34

 

Fanboy News Network Episode 34

“2015 in Review”

Before starting the 2015 review Jeff and Daniel talk about the recent loss of David Bowie and Alan Rickman.

Jeff and Daniel tackle the question which was better: Mad Max: Fury Road or Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

They also discuss the contributions of Margaret Sixel to Fury Road and Marcia Lucas to Star Wars.

Jeff talks about Kathleen Kennedy, her legacy, and why she is the perfect choice to now run Lucasfilm.

The boys talk about the other films they like this year.

Jeff talks about the best horror films. For more, listen to Don’t Read the Latin Ep. 35

The rise of Netflix as a major player in original programming.

Talk about the super hero series and what is going well and what needs to be better.

A look back at the year that was in conventions.

Jeff wants to know why Greg Land still gets work.

Looking at the comics industry and why Marvel is eating DC’s lunch.

Daniel gives a shout out to his favorite podcasts.

Daniel explains why he likes doing the podcast.


Fanboy News Network Episode 33

“Hello From the Past”

So Jeff and Daniel recorded this before the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. So they talk about their anticipation of the movie.

Dicussion of other upcoming movies including X-Men:Apocalypse, and Star Trek: Beyond,

Talking about white washing in upcoming movies, Including Gods Of Eygpt and the Forest.

Jeff and Daniel talk about their anticipation of He Never Died and their love of its star Henry Rollins.

Jeff talks about the big reveal on Supergirl and how it made his nerd heart soar. (Two Weeks later after the TV reveal, so spoilers abound)

Back to Star Wars and the state of the Expanded Universe.

Talk of the state of the comic industry and the current market share and why this is not the best news for DC.

Jeff and Daniel discuss what they are reading as usual.

Another discussion of Wolf 359 now that Jeff has listened to the whole series.


Fanboy News Network Episode 32

“When Movie Trailers attack”

Jeff and Daniel dissect the new Batman v Superman trailer.
Discussion about their hopes for Star Wars VII
Jeff talks about Jessica Jones and Daniel explains why it is not for him.
Discussion of the current crop of comic related shows and where they are at this point of the season. This includes Agents of SHEILD, Gotham, Flash, Arrow, and Supergirl.
Why female led genre shows are not a zero some game.
Jeff’s mad scheme to promote more female superhero toys.
Daniel talks about the Podcast Wolf 359
The regular book update.
the MST3K revival


Fanboy News Network Episode 26

“D3 Expo”

Jeff starts out with an announcement about upcoming updates to the site.

Discussion on the fall out of Fantastic Four flopping.

R.I.P. Yvonne Craig

R.I.P. Rowdy Roddy Piper

Jeff talks about his love of wrestling, the history of wrestler Stardust and the upcoming match with Arrow star Stephen Amell.

The announcements out of D23 expo, including Marvel, Star Wars, Jungle Cruise, Pirate of the Caribbean and more.

Recent events in comics.

The difference between comics that have clear endings, ongoings with status quo and ongoings that evolve.

 


Fanboy News Network Episode 13

Fanboy News Network Episode 13

In this episode

A look at the events that led Comic Book Resources to reboot their forum.

Another convention in need of a lesson in PR.

A look at the cast of the new Star Wars Movie.

DC Comics unfortunate free comic book day release.


Star Wars Solo Films

 

Han Solo

Disney has wasted no time and getting to work with the Star Wars Franchise now that they have acquired the rights to it. On the heels of the announcement that JJ Abrahams will be directing Star Wars Episode VII it was announced that they would also be producing standalone films set in the Star Wars Universe looking at individual characters. The official announcement includes the news that the first set of these will be movies focusing on Yoda, Boba Fett, and Han Solo.

A first glance a lot of fans are going “this is a blatant money grab”, and on some level this is almost certainly true. After all the goal of most Disney movies is to make money. The unspoken addition to this is “a side movie will suck.”

On that last one I disagree, at least with it being a given. After all they are really just following a business plan that is already working for them. Specifically this looks a lot like the model of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

With Marvel you have individual movies; Captain America, Iron Man 1 and 2, Thor, and The Incredible Hulk. These movies all lead to one big movie; The Avengers.  Now they are back to the individual films; Iron Man 3, Thor 2, Captain America 2, and Guardians of the Galaxy, collectively known as Phase 2.  These will lead to Avengers 2. After that Disney and Marvel have already announced Ant Man and Dr. Strange for Phase 3 with a rumored Hulk movie.

The advantage of this model is that the individual movies can introduce back story and concepts that feed into the big movie freeing that movie to pick up and run with them.

With as extensive a universe as Star Wars has built over the last several years there is no reason that the some plan could not work for them as well.

And don’t tell me there is no interest in explorer more of that universe. Just look at how well the novels, comic books, and video games have sold, and many of them do not even feature the original main characters.

Right off the top of my head I can see a lot of opportunity in this idea.  You make movies featuring characters like Yoda, Boba Fett, and maybe some newer characters like Han and Leia’s kids, or members of the new Jedi order. You set the stage for episode VII by dropping clues in these individual films. The buzz builds until you have the release of Episode VII. On top of that you can almost certainly lure a lot of top talent to these side films, especially with the knowledge that they do not have the pressue of making the flagship film.

Is it a gamble? Sure, but at least it is following an already proven model.  And I for one would be really excited to see where they take it.

This does raise another question. What other franchises could benefit from this way of making a film series? Imagine if they had done this with League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.