The Calcopia Podcast

Joining own Nate Evans joins Nathan Turowsky (making his podcast debut) on this benkyō ni naru episode is Richard Rubinger, Professor Emeritus of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Indiana University, who took on the daunting task translating Sanpei Shirato’s Kamui-den, or The Legend of Kamui manga, for Drawn and Quarterly’s definitive 10-volume reprinting that brings the entire saga to English readers for the first time. It’s an engaging conversion about what it takes to preserve the cultural integrity of classic manga while also making it accessible to modern readers. Listen as our trio chat about why cultural accuracy matters (burakumin vs. outcast), author intent, what brought Professor Rubinger to Japan (and what inspired him to translate one of the era’s most complex manga), the growing interest in classic gekiga manga (such as Ryan Holmberg’s academically-minded translation of Yoshiharu Tsuge’s catalog), and why Drawn & Quarterly was an ideal fit for Shirato’s controversial epic. It’s a must-listen for not just fans of foundational manga, but anyone interesting in learning more about the translation process itself. Volumes 1-4 of Shirato’s The Legend of Kamui are available now, with Volume 5 set for release early next year.

Greetings, boils and ghouls, it’s time for the Calcopia Podcast Halloween Spooktacular! On this bone-chilling episode our own movie monsters Ethan Brehm and Nate Evans take on a dusty duo of 1970s British horror anthology films that prove you don’t need to be dead to have a stiff upper lip. Also: listen for a special intro from the OG of intros himself, John Kassir, aka The Crypt Keeper! First up is 1972’s Tales From the Crypt, the first cinematic adaptation of EC’s controversial comic book series that delighted kids but got their parents’ knickers all twisted. Next is 1973’s The Vault of Horror, a sequel that kept the creeps coming but added a bit of supernatural to liven things up. Both films offer a smorgasbord of screams, top-notch British actors, incredible cinematography, cautionary tales, all while drawing from some of the best short-form horror fiction the 20th century. But that’s not all! Listen as the gruesome twosome dig even deeper into the grave of sophisticated horror, compare Hammer Films and Amicus Productions, the moral panic that led to the creation of both the Comics and Hays Codes, how classy British productions led to the glut of anthology films and shows of the 1980s, appreciation for John Carpenter, and why you should absolutely watch the amazing Tales From the Crypt HBO series that’s easier to find than ever. But the real question is: can horror still be stylish and ultra mod? Listen now…if you dare!

Stepping into the ring on this pugilistic episode is artist, animator, and perhaps the world’s biggest (and definitely luckiest) Rocky fan of them all, John Rivoli, author and illustrator of The Fine Art of Rocky: An Artistic Tribute from Screen to Canvas, a stunning collection of original artwork celebrating 50 years of Rocky and the unparalleled impact Sylvester Stallone’s boxing franchise has landed not just in the culture, but in the hearts of minds of millions of fans around the world. It’s available now from Insight Editions. Listen as our own rookie Nate Evans and John spar over his rise from creating commercial art for Disney and Universal, innovating digital artwork with Adobe, earning the title “The Best Kept Secret in Hollywood”, becoming partners (then friends) with Sylvester Stallone, to his current role as the official Rocky artist for Amazon MGM Studios. The two go deep on what makes Rocky – both the character and the franchise – so inspiring, why the Rocky mythos continues to resonate, the rising popularity of original movie poster art (including remembering the late Drew Struzan and Tony Stella), the recent Stallone renaissance (including the biographical film I Play Rocky and Sly’s new memoir, The Steps), and even a few surprises (spoiler: did you know the Rocky statue in Philadelphia is the second-most visited statue in the world?). Take the hit, listen now, and keep moving forward. To learn more about John Rivoli and his work check out the Rivoli Design Group right HERE!

On this cybernetic episode of the Calcopia Podcast our own valiant Autobots Sebastian Stoddard, Chris Mitchell, and Nathan Evans merge to talk about 1986’s Transformers: The Movie, or more specifically the 40th Anniversary celebration that saw the film re-released to theaters alongside the new animated short Optimus Prime: Awakening, featuring the final performance of Peter Cullen, who passed away this summer at age 85, having taught generations of kids (and adults) to be strong enough to be gentle. Released in the summer of 1986, Transformers: The Movie would overcome its initial box-office stumble to become one of the most influential animated movies of all-time. Listen as our trio go through four decades of Transformers history, from the early days as separate Japanese toy lines Diaclone and Microman (aka Micro Change) before the two were merged and given new life as robots in disguise. Four decades later, the Transformers have endured, proving there was more to them than meets the eye. They also discuss how the film featured an unprecedented level of emotional complexity (and violence) for a cartoon meant to sell toys to children, its unbelievable voice cast of legends past and present, including the last performance of Orson Welles (Citizen Kane) as the planet-munching Unicron, and how the controversial death of Optimus Prime may be the most significant moment in Transformers history. And let’s not forget that soundtrack, led by Vince DiCola (Staying Alive, Rocky IV) and spawning legendary tracks by Stan Bush (The Touch, Dare), “Weird Al” Yankovic (Dare to Be Stupid), and owed much to the AOR anthems of John Farnham (Rad, Savage Streets). Transform, roll out, and listen today!

It’s Calcopia’s Movie Time! Podcast! Listen as movie nerds Ethan Brehm and Nate Evans deep dive into their favorite films and cinematic scenes for your listening delight. On this Golden Age episode it’s a celebration of Katherine Hepburn, one of the most beloved actresses of all-time, in two comedies showcasing not just her considerable talents and comedic timing, but also her special relationships with two of Hollywood’s leading men, Cary Grant and Spencer Tracy. But it’s ever so much more than that. First up is 1938’s Bringing Up Baby, Howard Hawks’ definitive screwball comedy starring Hepburn, Cary Grant, and the adorable Nessa the leopard in dual roles. Next is 1952’s Pat and Mike, a prototypical sports comedy directed by George Cukor and starring one of the most enduring and beloved pairings in cinema history, Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. Listen as our hosts trace the genesis of screwball comedy from early hits like Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night and Hawks’ own Twentieth Century (both 1934), becoming one of Hollywood’s most reliable genre in blockbusters like Holiday (1938), His Girl Friday (1940), The Philadelphia Story (1940), and Arsenic and Old Lace (1944). Did screwball comedy pave the way for the classic Merry Melodies / Looney Tunes cartoon classics? (speaking of Looney Tunes, did you know Bugs Bunny’s first appeared the same year Baby was released?) Is Peter Bogdanovich’s 1971 screwball comedy What’s Up, Doc? just a quasi-remake of Baby? Is Meryl Streep the heir apparent to Hepburn’s legacy? All this and more when you listen today!

Are you ready to Turbo-charge your gaming with the higher energy video game system? Joining our resident nostalgia nerd Nate Evans is gaming historian and retro-enthusiast Kurt Kalata, founder and editor-in-chief of Hardcore Gaming 101 and author of Bitmap Books’ PC Engine: The Box Art Collection, a collection of hundreds of photos, illustrations, and - of course - gorgeous box-art scans of some of the most popular games released for NEC’s groundbreaking console, aka the TurboGrafx-16 elsewhere. Developed by Hudson and launched back in 1987, the PC-Engine was an immediate sensation in Japan, going toe-to-toe and often besting Nintendo’s best-selling Famicom (NES). It also became one of the longest supported consoles, outlasting all its competitors thanks to a never-ending series of add-ons (i.e. the first CD-ROM attachment) and enhancement cards that helped prolong game development continue into the late 1990s. While it wouldn’t find much success outside Japan, those who experienced its incredible library at the time (or may be discovering it now) are usually spoiled for choice. Listen as Kurt shares what inspired him become one of the most popular gaming historians, both online and in print, and chats with Nate over their favorite memories of both the console itself and its best games, including much love for Nihon Falcom and legendary musician Yuzo Koshiro (Ys Book 1&2). They also discuss the crushing disappointment over many of the console's best games (Street Fighter, Castlevania, and Ghouls 'n Ghosts) never leaving Japan, the difficulties facing new collectors to the retro community, and the possibility of a gaming future without physical media. PC Engine: The Box Art Collection is available now from Bitmap Books.

It’s The State of Gaming Podcast, Calcopia’s in-depth look at what’s shaking up the gaming landscape! Listen as hosts Cory Galliher and Nate Evans guide you through the best, worst, and everything else making headlines and headway in the world of interactive entertainment. Valve launches their long-awaited return to stationary hardware with new and improved Steam Machine, an adorable mini-PC box running the company’s SteamOS and promising to easily bring your sizable library to your living room. It’s not their first attempt at a console-like player, after a disastrous try back in 2015, but the wild success of the Steam Deck – and questionable decisions by some of the industry’s biggest console makers – could give the Half-Life maker a chance to make their presence known Sony announces that 2028 will be the end of the line for PlayStation games shipping on physical media, and the news went over about as well as you’d imagine. Microsoft announces a new ‘backwards-compatability’ program for playing older Xbox games on your Windows PC! But is it really and truly backwards-compatability? The guys give their honest take on Valve’s latest hardware, including a mini-review from Cory that answers the question on everyone’s mind: is the Steam Machine too expensive? Will players care that the future of PlayStation will be digital only? Or is there room for a compromise, possibly something like Nintendo’s Game-Key Cards for the Switch 2? Is there even a future for a dedicated Xbox console anymore? All these questions and more when you take a listen!

It’s Calcopia’s Movie Time! Podcast! Listen as movie nerds Ethan Brehm and Nate Evans deep dive into their favorite films and cinematic scenes for your listening delight. Timed to celebrate 40 years of Super Mario Bros, we’re booting up Illumination and Nintendo’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the sequel to 2023’s blockbuster that signaled there was a new animation champion in Hollywood. For a character who started off in 1981’s Donkey Kong (when he was just a lowly carpenter), that’s quite an adventure. But critical reception has been much more divided this time around, which leads to an epic chat about whether so-so reviews matter for ready-made hits like this. Listen as the two plumb the deepest depths of the Mushroom Kingdom as they take on one of the year’s biggest blockbusters that may signal the arrival the Nintendo Cinematic Universe is upon us. You’ll also learn how Nintendo’s mascot owes most of his existence to Popeye, if Galaxy is really a Princess Peach origin story, if Fox McCloud really is the coolest dude, the undeniable comparisons of Nintendo to Disney (the company), and how even the most beloved franchises may have their limits.

Joining our own Nate Evans on this picturesque episode is legendary cartoonist and illustrator Steve Lafler to talk about his latest book, Crazy For You, where he adapts and illustrates two short stories by acclaimed travel, novelist, and fellow storyteller Paul Theroux (The Old Patagonian Express, The Mosquito Coast) into one highly buyable volume from Fantagraphics. The two chat how how his collaboration with Theroux came to be, and how the two stories in Crazy For You, Minor Watt and Siamese Nights (taken from Theroux’s 2014 collection Mr. Bones), were prime for a visual reinvention. Also discussed are why comics are perfect medium for short stories, translating narratively complex material, rocking out in Mexico, why commercial illustration isn’t a dirty term, being compared to fellow underground comic legends Robert Crumb and Harvey Pekar, the politics of transgressive material and much more. Crazy For You is available now in bookstores and libraries everywhere. Want more Steve Lafler? Check out his official site stevelafler.com

Joining our cinematic latchkey kids Nate Evans and Ethan Brehm on this totally tubular episode is author and film historian John Malahy to talk about his new book, Rewinding The ’80s: Cinema Under the Influence of Music Videos, Action Stars, and a Cold War, a look at not just some of the most popular and influential films from the “decade of excess”, but also makes a strong argument why the decade deserves a cinematic second look. The trio deep dive into some of the best and most notable films the 80s had to offer, tracing how the melancholy of 1970s New Hollywood led to a new wave of optimism in Hollywood spectacle (and success) like never before. Also discussed is how the emergence of VHS and cable TV helped create a revolution in genre diversity and indie film distribution (and popularity), the elevation of teen cinema, the importance of merchandising, and the lack of watercooler moments as cultural touchstones. Did 1980s nostalgia actually begin in the 1980s? Did Rocky end the Cold War? (spoiler: yes!) Will Hollywood ever stop remaking, rebooting, and rehashing the decade’s most recognizable IP? These questions and more will be answered – or at least vigorously discussed!