In this issue: The Super Future Friends Return, radioactive dust, Brightest Day, the Legion of Super-Heroes, and TORNADO!
[podcast]http://traffic.libsyn.com/majorspoilers/majorspoilers_204.mp3[/podcast]Show Notes after the Jump!
NEWS
No Ordinary Family, Smallville, The Cape
LINKAGE
LINKAGE
LINKAGE
REVIEWS
Stephen
DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?: DUST TO DUST #1
Written by Chris Roberson
Drawn by Robert Adler A science-fiction publishing event! Who hunted androids before Rick Deckard? Taking place immediately after World War Terminus ends, the problems with artificial life – androids – become apparent. The government decides they must become targets, hunted down, but who will do the dirty work? Two men are assigned: Malcolm Reed, a ’special’ human with the power to feel others’ emotions, and Charlie Victor, who’s the perfect man for the job – or is he? Meanwhile Samantha Wu, a Stanford biologist, fights to save the last of the world’s animals. John W. Campbell Memorial Award-nominee Chris Roberson writes the prequel to John W. Campbell Memorial Award-winner Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, one of the greatest science fiction novels ever published!
Rodrigo
OKKO: THE CYCLE OF AIR #2
Written by Hub
Illustrated by Hub
Cover by Hub
A samurai whose father Okko killed many years ago seeks revenge, but the warrior chooses instead to confront a demon-hunting bunraku, who has his sights set on Okko’s longtime faithful companion, Noburo. The ronin and the hunter engage in an epic, violent duel, a duel that may well be Okko’s last…
Mature Readers (series contains Graphic Violence and Adult Content)
Matthew
Brightest Day #2
Written by GEOFF JOHNS and PETER J. TOMASI • Art by IVAN REIS, PATRICK GLEASON, ARDIAN SYAF, SCOTT CLARK and JOE PRADO • Covers by DAVID FINCH • Variant cover by IVAN REIS and OCLAIR ALBERT
BRIGHTEST DAY continues, but in ways you can’t possibly expect! What does BRIGHTEST DAY mean to the DC Universe? Is everything from here on out going to be bright and shiny? No, BRIGHTEST DAY means something else entirely, something we can’t tell you…yet. But we can tell you our heroes will need to rise up more than ever to combat the forces of evil, and a select few will uncover a secret that binds them ALL.
MAJOR SPOILERS POLL OF THE WEEK
Over the last 20 years, there have been some really good animated series based on DC characters. This week, we want to know what your favorite DC animated television series of the last 20 years is the bee’s knees
MAJOR SPOILERS DISCUSSION: The Legion of Super-Heroes #1
Fan-favorite LEGION writer Paul Levitz returns to the 31st century super team he made supreme with an all-new intergalactic era! This exciting series picks up on threads from Geoff Johns’s “Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes” storyline and creates its own all-new ones, including a Green Lantern Corps tie-in and the destruction of a major planet! Rocket on board here as Levitz and rising star artist Yildiray Cinar (TEEN TITANS) revitalize one of DC’s most beloved franchises starting with an oversized first issue with a Variant cover by superstar artist Jim Lee!
Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com
Music from this episode comes from Armin Brewer (intro) and James Kennison (closing) from the Nobody’s Listening Podcast. A big thanks to both of these guys for creating kick-ass music for the show!
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25 Comments
There’s 2 or 3 empty minutes at 17 minutes in, and then we get your setup recording stuff. What’s up with that?
Also, you should know the whole Zuda cheating stuff was just people complaining. And further more, Zuda has decided to stop the contests, and they’re going to do other stuff (mystery!) http://zuda.blog.dccomics.com/2010/04/30/important-site-changes/
Listen later in the show when the tornado warning sounded, add to that a two year old freaking out, and a 1:00 AM edit session, and I would say more than likely it was a late night editing error. On the PLUS side, everyone wants to know what happens behind the scenes… so there you go.
I’m amazed that you can edit at all at 1am. I stay up until 11 and I can barely breathe the next day.
Tell everyone it’s a bonus commentary track.
Just wanted to say how much I appreciate the work you guys put into the site and the podcast.
I want to say how much I appreciate these podcasts as well too. Since I started disobeying work policy and streamed them, I’ve preferred listening to you guys more than my radio.
Few things I want to throw my 2 cents in on:
1. Brightest Day – True that it doesn’t have much focus to it now, but I see the comic as what 52 was for Infinite Crisis. It’s messy with varried stories abound in the begining but some how they’ll all fit together in the last quarter of the run.
2. DC Cartoons – there have been many cross overs in the DCAU (DC Animated Universe done by Bruce Timm). Superman & Static Shock, Batman and Static Shock happened twice, Batman Beyond and Static Shock, Batman Beyond and Zeta Project happened twice which isn’t strange considering Zeta is a spinoff of the Batman Beyond episode named Zeta, Superman & Batman, Static Shock and Justice League (2 parter that was not Unlimited), and lastly was Static Shock and Green Lantern that could have been JLU.
3. One of the most disappointing things about Legion is that the #1 didn’t come with a Legion ring. I have every GL ring and a Flash ring … where’s my Legion ring?
4. Quote of the Day: “Smothered in Hitler Sauce”
5. And lastly … Rodrigo had the same exact experience I did.
Matthew is the voice of reason… I’m pretty sure that’s one of the top 5 signs of the apocalypse.
Rodrigo: Much like Avatar: the last airbender, Okko seems to have a cycle for every element; Air is the third with Water and Earth been first and second.
and I also read somewhere that after the four elements that there will be last “integrating it all” story arc.
Okko is one of my favorite comics these days
Great podcast ! It’s always very nice when there are guests as they bring even more interesting perspective in the discussion. Plus this time we had Rodrigo, who provided the pov of someone not familiar with the Legion. I did not read Legion of Super-Heroes #1, but I tend to agree with the general opinion : not featuring your title team and giving Earth Man a GL ring seems more than a bit strange.
I also agree with Matthew on Brightest Day : so far it hasn’t got me hooked, despite the fact that I’m an Aquaman fan. In fact, I love Firestorm and the Hawks as well, and the only character whose story seems interesting so far is Deadman, who I usually don’t care for !
About Okko, I was surprised to learn it was published in the US, because it’s a originally from France ! Ricco is correct, there was first the Cycle of Water, then Earth and now Air ; each reads like a mini-series and stands on its own. I’ve only bought the first cycle, but now I think Rodrigo’s got me hooked on it again !
Btw, as a roleplayer, Rodrigo, did you notice any similarities between Okko and Legend of the Five Rings ? Maybe it’s just because they’re both Japanese fantasy, but L5R is the first thing I thought of when I read this. Maybe the author is a fan, who knows ? L5R didn’t have any mecha war puppets, though…
Exalted does!
Actually I feel that the strongest influence here is Anime (or Manga, maybe), the Mecha Puppet as you put it, seems a lot like the armors from Escaflowne.
the auteurs might be into gaming. because there is also an okko tabletop wargame.
one thing I should mention, when I brought up the bizarre dialogue of the scientists, I was asking if Levitz was trying to get across some sense of foreign-ness (or something?), I wasn’t suggesting that there was something strange about all the scientists being not-white, rather that they were not-white and was that why their dialogue was particularly heinous. With them in particular, it sounded like their dialogue had been run through babelfish for some reason!
Am I the only person that finds the Super Future Friends the most annoying people on earth? Normally Matthew’s hypocritical ways annoys me a little, but only when he goes into a ‘stop interupting me’ phase – but these girls are just pure fingernails down a chalk board. I seriously couldn’t get through 30 minutes of this weeks show because of their whiney voices and childish ‘yay we’re on a decent podcast’ enthusiasm.
Love the shows in every other regard, just not ones that contain them.
Am I the only person that finds the Super Future Friends the most annoying people on earth? Normally Matthew’s hypocritical ways annoys me a little, but only when he goes into a ’stop interupting me’ phase – but these girls are just pure fingernails down a chalk board. I seriously couldn’t get through 30 minutes of this weeks show because of their whiney voices and childish ‘yay we’re on a decent podcast’ enthusiasm.
Well, everyone is entitled to their take on things… I really enjoy having the ‘Friends on the show, as they always bring up points that the normal panel wouldn’t. As with anything, your mileage may vary…
The most annoying people on Earth? The most? I guess that’s makes us number one!!
Can’t help how my voice sounds, dude. But no one’s forcing you to listen. There’s also a fast forward button.
Can’t help how my voice sounds, dude. But no one’s forcing you to listen.
At least you’re not hypocritical, hon. :)
Whatever! I think most people know you guys are playing with each other!
I don’t think they do, and often we don’t think we are playing around either :O
I don’t think they do, and often we don’t think we are playing around either :O
With the internet involved, a degree of butthurt is de rigeur. Ya take the good, ya take the bad, ya take ’em both and there ya have… The Major Spoilers Experience!!!
You probably are…but then again, you are entitled to your opinion. It doesn’t change our opinion that the two will return to the show in the future.
Don’t at all agree with the characterization of them as whiny. Honestly, I find them pretty insightful and funny.
Only criticism I’d level is that the guys seem to get a little thrown off in their pacing whenever the Super Future Friends make an appearance, and everyone seems to be too thoughtful to just jump in when he/she wants to say something. But I think more appearances and a greater familiarity would cure that.
Only criticism I’d level is that the guys seem to get a little thrown off in their pacing whenever the Super Future Friends make an appearance, and everyone seems to be too thoughtful to just jump in when he/she wants to say something. But I think more appearances and a greater familiarity would cure that
Another part of that is the technical aspect of a three way connection… There’s a bit of delay in the regular shows, but it usually only effects me. Adding the third communications channel creates additional delays in timing and interactions…
Another part of that is the technical aspect of a three way connection… There’s a bit of delay in the regular shows, but it usually only effects me. Adding the third communications channel creates additional delays in timing and interactions…
Valid point. Also have to say that there was a curve to this. As the conversation went on, everyone seemed to better navigate around the conversational cues and technological quirks.
I’m with you, Jhas – I stopped listening to their podcast when it became apparent that they expected stuff from 40+ years ago to conform to modern-day standards. Their attempts in this review to foist an “OMG RACIST!1!” reputation on Levitz were particularly bad (even if I did find the Time Institute scenes pretty pretentious myself – but not because any artist older than me MUST be a closet Archie Bunker like they thought), and seemed to be upset that Brainy wasn’t their adowable widdle snuggle-bug imaginary boyfriend anymore. Worse, apparently, having more than one plot going at the same time is “OMG SOOO CONFOOOSINGGG!” to them, in which case, girls, you’re reading the wrong series. And if Adriana is “it’s soooo sad” one more time, I was going to reach through time & the Internet to smack her. Find another way to express your displeasure. I always liked their artwork, but their attitude on this episode effectively talked me out of buying “STOP”.
It wasn’t the worst first issue I’ve read, and I’m glad the guys played my voicemail so that there was at least some positivity towards the issue. I’m not going by the ridiculous ratings I’ve seen elsewhere (one man measured the issue’s quality in the number of panels, since that apparently automatically equals more story progression). But this is the third time I’ve sat through their ramblings and it won’t happen again. Even when they’re right about something (like Shooter’s last run), they’re VERY annoying. So no, Jhas, you’re not alone.
Well, I would say maybe give the episode another listen. I think you may have misunderstood our reasoning for our points. OR I COULD TYPE SOMETHING REEEEEEEEEALLY LONG!!! <3
We weren't dismayed with Querl's portrayal, it was that we couldn't figure out what his portrayal here WAS. I don't normally speak for Kristen but I will say that we're both huge fans of Vril Dox II who is a giant jerks with a less than wonderful view of acceptable collateral damage. Also, we're huge fans of the Brainiac 5 that is a giant anti-social jerk face too, so him not being sweet was not our issue either.
Stephen pointed out that he was unbalanced during Legion of 3 Worlds, but again, during that "Brainiac and the LOSH" arc he seemed totally normal. Maybe a little jerky but not bordering on mad genius. Stephen even suggested that perhaps Levitz is going "Brainiac 5 is crazy!" route which is fine with me but it didn't seem like anyone was reacting to him in a manner that indicated that the other characters thought his behavior was strange. So the point we were making was that it wasn't clear if Brainiac 5 was crazy or if this was vanilla for him or what.
And for the record, I'm gay so B5 would have a ways to go to be relevant to my interests. :) Being a fan of a character does not mean I wish for their lovely green hand in space-marriage.
I wasn't confused with the several plots going on. None of us were, I believe. I think our issue was that this was repeatedly billed as "a wonderful jumping on point!" and it was definitely not. Another thing was I, personally, found motivations and actions confusing, that is to say I could not discern if they were on purpose or not. One example we brought up was Imra's new(???) Jean-Grey-telekinesis powers she seems to be exhibiting. It was written in such a way that at the end of it, none of us were clear what was and wasn't strange behavior for these characters. I think that's a bad sign.
As to the racism-Levitz mention, I didn't say it was racist, I don't think. That said, Levitz created Dawnstar, a character that is very painfully rife with problems. But also obviously one of those very well intentioned characters. The dialogue of the three scientists baffled me, and to me set off that "well intentioned but cringe-worthy character ahoy" alarm in my mind.
Now, as for our own podcast, we discuss a book that was first made in 1958. In 1958, films such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Vertigo came out. I don't think people in 1958 were stupid, or uneducated or incapable of complexity in characterization. You might say it's a comic made for kids. I would a agree. But those children were not stupid either. If you want to see real nitpicking, you'll read the letter columns in some of those issues. Those kids were harsh (and some of them grow up to write the Legion…). So I don't think those old comics can't be held to a standard, tiny children from their own time period held them to a standard.
That said, our podcast doesn't take any real in depth look at the socio-political ramifications of LOSH (I think). We read it, enjoy it, and make fun of things that are ridiculous. I really hope that people can tell how much we love the Legion, and I really do enjoy every issue we read (sometimes perhaps not in the way it was intended, but enjoyed nontheless). Not everyone digs it and that's fine, there are other podcasts that are much more informative and informed than ours! (legion of substitute podcasters, for one).
My frequent repetition of "Sooo sad" is probably valid, but I think most people have things that they frequently say, certainly every podcast I listen to has a couple things that I pick up on. Especially when guesting, I'm extremely nervous and I'm quite sure I sound beyond vapid. Sorry if that bugs you but holy crap, dude, the venom! I'm sure there are things that you say repetitively too!
Me not liking this issue (Kristen dug it, if you listen again), does not preclude anyone else from liking this issue except my cloned servants. Just like how you hating on our podcast or our voices or opinions does not preclude other people from liking those things.
And finally, I cannot tell you, from the depths of my soul, how little I care that you're not buying our comic that is available online for free. If my voice or opinions or my habitual "soooo sad" statements have turned you off to a thing we created with our little hands in our off-time, wholly unconnected to anything else, then that is your perogative. I careth not a whit. I got a job, podcast and comics are for fun, I think we get like, maybe ten cents if someone buys it (it will never even pay for it's own pittance of a domain name). I will SOMEHOW manage to survive without that ten cents.
I'm totally surprised at the hate, still I'm going "wow!" because the podcast I listened to/participated in felt So mellow and easy going! Again, no one's making you listen to…anything! And there are lots of other people that liked the issue a whole lot! I guess I'm just surprised at the disgust going on!
I’m totally surprised at the hate, still I’m going “wow!” because the podcast I listened to/participated in felt So mellow and easy going!
You can’t please everybody, and there’s no sense in trying… With due respect to all, Kristen and Adriana are good friends of Major Spoilers, and I feel no fear in speaking for Steve and ‘Rigo when I say we like having them on the show as a change of pace. All criticism is equally valid (which is to say that it’s inherently biased and subjective) but you can’t run a show based entirely off the criticism of it. If and when the producer decides to have the SFF (or any guest) on the show, they’ll be on the show, and they’re perfectly welcome in my entirely-talent-with-no-control-of-booking-or-indeed-desire-for-any opinion.
As for your vocalizations and any linguistic habits you have, Adriana, I sincerely doubt that they’re any more annoying than my own… :)
Please also note, Faithful Spoilerites, that this is an open forum for any and all opinions, and any shots that are taken at myself, Stephen, or Rodrigo are in keeping with our decision to stand up and state our opinions in a public arena. However, I would like to urge everyone to remember two important factors.
First, guests of the Major Spoilers podcast, your fellow commentors, various and sundry passersby and the creators of the comics DO NOT FALL into that same category. A modicum of respect for those individuals and for ONE ANOTHER in the forums and the comments is NOT OPTIONAL. We all have a right to voice our opinions, but in the end they’re just that. Civility is much appreciated.
Secondly, the comments are moderated for content and appropriateness, and should the situation warrnt that moderation will go from passive to active. This has been a friendly reminder… We now return you to our regularly scheduled comments section.