The IP’s We Need to Bring Back

This episode of Crossing the Nerdverse is a love letter to underutilized IPs, where the hosts each champion a franchise they think deserves more attention. The conversation kicks off with a round of nerd news, covering everything from Xbox layoffs and Comic Con updates to Nintendo’s legal troubles and Magic: The Gathering announcements, before diving into the main discussion. Ryan opens with a deep look at Malifaux, the skirmish miniatures game from Wyrd Games, arguing that its blend of steampunk, Wild West, eldritch horror, and personal storytelling makes it one of the most distinctive tabletop games out there. He breaks down why it has stayed niche despite its quality: competition from Warhammer, long release cycles, and a steep learning curve. Still, he makes a strong case that its intimate scale, character-driven factions, and free digital support give it a personality that bigger games can’t easily match. Bones follows with Monstrous, the award-winning comic book by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda. He explains why its striking art, matriarchal fantasy setting, and brutal Lovecraftian worldbuilding made it stand out from the start. The hosts discuss how its mature themes, complex narrative, and high visual style may have limited broader mainstream appeal, even though the comic has earned major acclaim and is now being developed as an animated series. The episode closes with a wider debate about what kinds of media these IPs could expand into next, including video games, tabletop adaptations, and MMOs. Throughout, the discussion is playful, opinionated, and deeply passionate, making it a great listen for fans who love lore, worldbuilding, and hidden gems in the nerd space. If you enjoy hearing creators champion the franchises that shaped them, this episode is packed with personality, insight, and plenty to think about.