PODCAST · arts
Casual Comics Cast
by Joe Benkis
A longtime casual comics fan and a couple of complete comics rookies try and make sense of just what the heck is going on in the world of Marvel, DC, and other comics publishers - books, TV, and movies.
Episodes
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Episode 294: Comics Chat - Author Erik Hale (All the Brittle Pieces)
Pilot of new format! I'm talking to author Erik Hale (All the Brittle Pieces) about his comics journey - his earliest reads, his first comic loves, and which comics have inspired his current work as an author. We're working through this format, and if people like it, we'd love to welcome more...
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Episode 293: VisionQuest and Tom King's The Vision
Join Joe and Erik on the Casual Comics Cast as they dive into the world of synthozoids, artificial intelligence, and suburban tragedy! In this episode, we revisit Tom King’s acclaimed 2016 comic book series, The Vision. We explore its tragic themes, the complex dynamic of the Vision's…
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Episode 292: Summer Wrap-Up & Fall Preview
Casual Comics Cast: Summer Wrap-Up & Fall Preview! Joe and Erik are back after a busy summer to catch up on all things comics, movies, television, and gaming! In this episode, the guys dive into a rapid-fire review of the summer's biggest pop culture moments and discuss what they are looking...
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Episode 291: Supergirl and Lobo
With the highly anticipated Supergirl movie fast approaching, we are diving deep into the source material and the characters set to shake up the DC Universe. In this episode, we break down Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s masterful comic book run, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. We discuss its unique...
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Episode 290: Spider Noir and FanExpo Denver Highlights
Join Joe and Erik on the Casual Comics Cast for a break down of the premiere of the new live-action Spider Noir series on Prime Video, starring Nicolas Cage. We discuss the show's authentic film noir stylings, the debate between watching in black-and-white versus color, and how the series differs...
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Episode 289: The Punisher - From comics into the MCU
In this episode, we dive deep into the gritty world of Marvel’s The Punisher. Following the release of Punisher: One Last Kill on Disney+, Joe and Erik break down how the new special bridges the gap between the Netflix series and the broader MCU. Then we discuss The Punisher in comics. From his...
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Episode 288: Comics and Video Games Collide: Mortal Kombat and More!
On this episode of the Casual Comics Cast we explore the decades-long intersection of video games and comic books. With Mortal Kombat 2 hitting theaters, we look back at the revolutionary impact of the original 1992 arcade game—from its controversial "photorealistic" gore to its legendary '90s...
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Episode 287: The Summer of "Super" - Supergirl and Superman
The Summer of "Super" Whether you're a lifelong "Superfan" or you're still wondering where to start, this episode is your gateway into the world of Krypton's finest! Join us as we break down the upcoming DC "Summer of Supergirl" event and revisit the most influential Superman comic book runs. In...
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Episode 286: Daredevil Born Again: Season 2
In this episode, we dive deep into the gritty streets of Hell’s Kitchen. We’re breaking down the high-stakes drama of the second season of Daredevil: Born Again and discussing why this version of Matt Murdock feels more vulnerable—and dangerous—than ever. In addition, Erik shares his recommended,...
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Episode 285: Wrapped - One World Under Doom Concludes
What if the world's greatest villain was also its most effective leader? In this episode of the Casual Comics Cast, Joe and Eric dive deep into the massive Marvel crossover event, One World Under Doom. We’re breaking down the shift from the vampire-infested chaos of Blood Hunt to a new global...
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Episode 284: One World Under Doom! The epic Marvel cross-title event
Following the events of "Blood Hunt", The Marvel Comics Universe has been reshaped by the shock-and-awe assault on global power of Earth's new Sorcerer Supreme - Doctor Doom! In this episode, we're covering the highly anticipated "One World Under Doom" event. We start by recapping the crucial...
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Episode 283: Intro to Mego Action Figures
Sometimes the best podcasts happen on the spur of the moment! This week, we're ditching the script, and I'm chatting with Jeff about his passion for Mego action figures. From superhero classics to sci-fi gems, Jeff shares his collecting journey and drops some fascinating bits of Mego history.…
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Episode 282: Fantasy X-Men Draft: Picking the Teams
In this special episode, we're celebrating the start of football season with a Fantasy X-Men draft! Two die-hard Marvel fans battle it out, using their encyclopedic knowledge to build the ultimate mutant teams. Who is the consensus #1 pick? Who's got the inside scoop on lesser-known heroes as...
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Episode 281: X-Men: The Krakoan Age - A recap for casual readers
With the end of the "Krakoan Age" in Marvel Comics, we invite you to embark on an epic journey into the groundbreaking series where it all began, "House of X" and "Powers of X"! Before we launch our recap of the series, with notes and commentary to guide casual comics readers through the complex...
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Episode 280: X-Men '97
Calling all X-Men fans! Join Joe and Erik as they delve into the exciting new Disney+ series, X-Men '97. This show isn't just a reboot of the classic 90's cartoon; it's a direct continuation, bursting with the same action, heart, and iconic animation style with a fresh update. We'll explore the...
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Episode 279: Wolverine (1982) Mini-Series Review, plus Wolverine trivia
Wolverine's on a mission of love and vengeance. He hunts for his lost flame Mariko, only to find her caught in a web of Yakuza power plays and ninja intrigue. Fists fly, blades clash, and sparks ignite with the deadly assassin Yukio. Can Logan navigate a foreign underworld, tame his berserker…
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Episode 278: Hercules: Prince of Power (1982) - Marvel Miniseries Flashback
Step into the wayback portal with us as we go back to 1982 and revisit the four-issue Marvel mini-series "Hercules: Prince of Power". Hercules lived mostly on the margins of the Marvel universe, but he (and the Greek Pantheon) get a fun and funny showcase in this series that sees the Lion of...
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Episode 277: Holiday Special - A Dynamic DC Winter Treat
It's the most wonderful time of the year - we're reading holiday comics from the Distinguished Competition (DC Comics) We've got anthologies, we've got one-off specials starring Plastic Man (of all heroes), and a surprising holiday special from December 2023 that turned out to NOT be a one-shot....
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Episode 276: Loki Season 2, Spine-Tingling Spiderman, and More!
In this mildly spooky episode, we're catching up on Season 2 of the Disney+ Series "Loki" And, we've got reviews of a couple of NEW Marvel titles: Werewolf by Night #1 (2023) - DEREK LANDY (W) • FRAN GALÁN (A) Spine Tingling Spiderman #1 - SALADIN AHMED (W) • JUAN FERREYRA (A)
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Episode 275: Blade: The Vampire Hunter
Join me with special guest host Erik Hale as we get ready for Halloween by revisiting the Marvel monster-verse, exploring BLADE: The Vampire Hunter We're covering Blade Comics spanning three distinct eras: Tomb of Dracula #10 (1973) - Blade's first, groundbreaking appearance Blade: Sins of the...
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Episode 274: Fantastic Four and Fantasy Avengers Draft
With football season comes fantast football. And - at the Casual Comics Cast - a Fantasy Avengers Draft. Listen in as we get a scenario for the Avengers to tackle and draft our fantasy Avengers Teams. Who drafted the better team? Listen in and let us know! Plus, we discuss the new Fantastic Four...
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Episode 273: Across the Spiderverse, Kraven, Guardians of the Galaxy Comics and more
In this installment, we're talking: Trailer for Kraven: The Hunter Review of Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse Comic Review of the latest Guardians of the Galaxy series from Marvel And, more of the other stuff you've come to know and love.
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Episode 272: The Flash Movie Preview / Supergirl
With The Flash zooming into cinemas, it's our last chance to discuss our hopes, fears, and other expectations for the last pre-James Gunn film in the DC movie universe. And, we've already covered a few Supergirl comics, but in anticipation of the film, we're going back in time to read and review...
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Episode 271: Evil Dead Rise / Evil Dead Comics
Available to stream now, Evil Dead Rise continues the franchise in new - and sometimes refreshing - ways. Here are our thoughts on this spook-fest from director Lee Cronin and executive producers Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell. Plus, we talk comics based on movies, including "Death to Army of...
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Episode 270: Guardians of the Galaxy 3 - Recap and Review
It's crazy to think that it was almost 10 years ago that director James Gunn introduced audiences to Rocket, Groot, Star Lord, and the rest of the Guardians crew. This found family has had a profound impact on the MCU - and on the hearts and minds of fans everywhere. Now, the Guardians of the...
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Episode 269: Batman: One Bad Day
“All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That's how far the world is from where I am. Just one bad day.” Those immortal words were spoken by The Joker in 1988’s classic Batman one-shot, The Killing Joke. Now, Batman fans can experience new tales of classic Batman...
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Episode 268: Ant-Man Movie Recap and Comic Book Review
The latest installment of the MCU past it's expiration date for spoiler discussions, so we recap Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaina - what we liked, what we wish had been done differently, and where this ranks in the MCU roster. Plus, we review 2022's Marvel Comic Series "Ant-Man", a 4-issue romp...
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Episode 267: Ant-Man Quantumania Villains: Kang and MODOK
Kang and MODOK are two of the most iconic villains in Marvel Comics. And, now, they're taking center stage in the next installment in the MCU - Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania! In this episode, we talk about who these characters are, where they fit into the Marvel Universe, and some of their...
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Episode 266: Holiday Special - A Merry Marvel Christmas
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special kicks off the Merry Marvel Christmas! Following up to our DC Christmas extravaganza, we compare and contrast how the publishers spotlight the holiday season. In addition to discussing the Guardians of the Galaxy Special on Disney+, we've also got recaps...
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Episode 265: A Very DC Christmas
In this shaggy dog holiday episode, we're taking a (very) relaxed approach to multiple DC Christmas specials! We talk two special (and silly) treasury edition comics from way back in DC's History - "Christmas with the Super Heroes" along with Batman: The Animated Series' "Christmas with the…
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Episode 264: Wakanda Forever and Namor in Comics
On this episode, Marc and Joe recap the powerful and touching follow-up to Marvel's Black Panther - "Wakanda Forever". What we liked, what we didn't, and where we think the MCU is headed next. Plus, reviews of two comic books starring the newly introduced Namor, Prince of Atlantis... um, I mean...
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Episode 263: The Thanksgiving Show! Starring Deadpool, Franklin Richards, and the JSA
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Join us for a review of three very different takes on the Thanksgiving holiday from comics. We're reading and discussing: Franklin Richards: Happy Franksgiving (Marvel) Deadpool #37: "Guess Who's Bumming at Dinner" (Marvel) JSA #54: "Virtue, Vice, and Pumpkin Pie"…
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Episode 262: Army of Darkness Movie / Comics Crossover Special
Celebrating 30 YEARS of Army of Darkness comics Never seen Army of Darkness? Seems unlikely, but neither has our co-host Jeff. In this episode, Jeff finally catches up on the beloved cult classic and gives his review. Plus, we look at Ashley J Williams' adventures across the pages of multiple…
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Episode 261: The Marvel Halloween Special - Ghost Rider, Midnight Sons, Black Panther - and more
In this super-sized, super-spooky Casual Comics Cast, we're covering the dark side of the Marvel Universe, including coverage of the 90s mini-series "Rise of the Midnight Sons" - the inspiration for the new Marvel console game. Reviews and plot summaries of: Werewolf by Night on Disney+ Ghost…
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Episode 260: Devil's Reign - A Marvel Event
Thanks to a subscription to the mighty Marvel Unlimited app, we're able to catch up on even more recent Marvel event series. In this episode, we're recapping and discussing the 2021 event "Devil's Reign" - a Daredevil-centric series that sees The Kingpin, Wilson Fisk, currently mayor of New York,...
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Episode 259: Comics to Film - Worst Adaptations + Rifftrax Live: Return of the Swamp Thing
Over the years, there have been a lot more comics to film adaptations than we realized. Inspired by our recent trek to see Rifftrax Live: Return of the Swamp Thing, we're revisiting some of the lowlights of the bronze age of comic book adaptations - films made from 1978-1997. Spanning Richard...
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Episode 258: Casual Comics Overview - She-Hulk
On this episode, we are discussing long-time favorite Marvel hero, She-Hulk. With the premiere of the new Disney+ Series, “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law”, you’ll hear about She-Hulk’s origin, the extent of her powers (including BOTH how far and how high she can jump), and just generally everything…
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Episode 257: Thor: Love and Thunder
The next chapter in the MCU - and the long-awaited follow-up to fan-favorite, Thor: Ragnarok - is finally here. On this episode, we're discussing Taika Waititi's Thor: Love and Thunder. What worked, and what still needed work? And, what to make of Jane Foster's "Mighty Thor", originally…
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Episode 256: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
It's finally here - the long-awaited, Sam Raimi-helmed sequel to WANDAVISION. Oh, and the follow-up to Doctor Strange, Spider-man: No Way Home, and the next chapter in the continuing Marvel multiverse saga. We discuss whether the movie lives up to expectations, what we learned, what we expect…
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Episode 255: The Classic Batman for Casual Fans
Part 2 of our look back at the pre-Dark Knight Batman series takes us back to some very different Batman experiences. For those who loved (or who will soon love) the 1966 Batman move and TV series, we've got discussion and reviews of: Batman 66 - The 2013 comic book series that picks up the...
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Episode 254: The Batman - Classic Movie Edition
With "The Batman" grabbing viewers on HBO Max, it's time to revisit the "which Batman is best" argument with a look at the seldom-discussed "Batman: The Movie" from 1966. Criminally left out of most discussions ranking the relative Batman movies, this Adam West-led Batman adventure deserves a…
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Episode 253: Casual Comics Cast - Marvel's Multiverse and House of M
This time, we're talking all things Marvel Multiverse. What is the Multiverse, anyway? Heading into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, we'll cover all the bases to get you up to speed on Marvel's Multiverse. We're talking the history of the multiverse in comics, movies, and TV. There's...
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Episode 252: Comic Book History - Moon Knight through the Decades
With the premiere of Moon Knight on Disney+ just days away, we're reading some older Moon Knight titles to break down - what is the essence of the Moon Knight mythos? Reading comics spanning the 70s - today - we discuss just what elements of Moon Knight are consistent through the years, as well…
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Episode 251: Comics for New Readers ft. Flintsone's, Snagglepuss, and The Wonder Twins
We're shining a spotlight on some books that casual comic readers should check-out: A trio of books based on licensed properties with no prior continuity needed. If you're looking to pick up books where you don't need an in-depth knowledge of the history or "story so far", these are books that…
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Episode 250: Casual Comics Rewind - House of X and Powers of X
The X-Men are experiencing (yet another renaissance), but with a dozen or more X-men related titles, is there an easy way for casual comic book readers to get up-to-speed if they want to join in the fun? On this episode, Marc and Joe delve into the "gateway" books for the current state of…
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Episode 249: Publisher Recommendations: Ahoy Comics!
If you're a casual comic book reader, there's a new(ish) publisher on the block whose books you have GOT to be reading. Ahoy Comics has a whole slate of books that are perfect for casual fans - you don't need to know decades of continuity or be reading on a weekly basis to enjoy the incredible…
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Episode 248: Casual Comics Cast - Comic Entry Points: Saga #1 and She-Hulk #!
For new comic book readers and casual comic fans, finding a way to jump into a new series can be a daunting task. On this episode, we're reading and covering a couple of books that readers may be curious about - and checking whether they would be a good entry point for enjoying the wonderful…
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Episode 247: Casual Comics Cast - Valentine's Edition: Comic Book Weddings and Couples
It's February and, we're in love with love. All over again. For the first time! We're reading and discussing two of the most famous comic book weddings from Marvel comics history: Fantastic Four Annual #3 (1965) - The Wedding of Reed and Sue Richards Amazing Spider Man Annual #21 (1987) - The...
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Episode 246: Disney+ Marvel TV Previews for 2022
We're talking to casual comics fans about the upcoming slate of Marvel TV Shows on Disney+ Which characters do we already know the most about, and which of the shows are we most excited for? Listen in as we discuss: Moon Knight She-Hulk Ms. Marvel Secret Invasion I am Groot Guardians of the…
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Episode 245: Comic Book Reviews - Death of Dr. Strange and One Star Squadron (plus Moon Knight Trailer)
In service of our original mission - helping casual comic book fans (or those who want to be) get into the world of comics, we're reviewing two new-ish comics. We've got our thoughts on how well they connect with readers who are not steeped into the ongoing comics continuity, as well as how plain...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Casual Comics Cast have?
Casual Comics Cast currently has 91 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Casual Comics Cast about?
A longtime casual comics fan and a couple of complete comics rookies try and make sense of just what the heck is going on in the world of Marvel, DC, and other comics publishers - books, TV, and movies.
How often does Casual Comics Cast release new episodes?
Casual Comics Cast has 91 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Casual Comics Cast?
You can listen to Casual Comics Cast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Casual Comics Cast?
Casual Comics Cast is created and hosted by Joe Benkis.
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