Comics, Classic Movies & AI: My Unusual Interview with Annie

In this February 2014 episode of the Aw Yeah Podcast, the boys slip on the boots for a free-wheeling pop-culture marathon they lovingly call “The Shoemaker.” A big celeb name dropping episode.It’s one of those classic hangout sessions where every tangent is fair game and the laughs come fast. We kick things off revisiting Robin Williams’ Popeye, the strange, ambitious, spinach-powered musical that still sparks debate decades later. From there, the conversation veers into the unforgettable era when Jamie Lee Curtis became the unexpected queen of “yogurt-helps-you-poop” commercials, and yes, everyone has opinions.The crew also digs into Jonn meeting Robert Vaughn, The Man From UNCLE and Artie's least favorite villian from Superman 3, the Rocky films, breaking down why the franchise still hits as hard as ever, and then jumps into a deep dive on the Planet of the Apes movies . Sprinkled throughout are some priceless Harry Caray stories, the kind that only this crew can tell, plus a lively discussion on John Romita Jr.’s take on Superman, what makes his version stand out, and why it grabbed fans’ attention.It’s loose, it’s goofy, it’s packed with memories and comic-shop energy. A vintage Aw Yeah episode through and through.

We continue the 2020 conversation with Writer Editor Mike Gold who made his mark at DC and First Comics. The topics include...Overview of the 1980s era at DC Comics — what the publisher looked like in that decade. SpreakerHow editorial and creative practices changed at DC during the ’80s (shifts in tone, editorial risk-taking, market pressures, publishing strategies). SpreakerDiscussion of high-profile, sometimes unusual projects at DC — including the book Superman vs. Muhammad Ali — its context, its ambition, and what it represented for comics in that period. Spreaker+2Wikipedia+2How projects like “Superman vs. Ali” reflect the intersection of pop culture — comics, real life celebrity (boxing legend Muhammad Ali), social attitudes — and the willingness of DC to experiment creatively. Spreaker+2Wikipedia+2Reflections on the impact of the 1980s DC output on the broader comics industry: distribution, direct market shifts, what worked and what didn’t. Spreaker+1Challenges and controversies of the time: balancing mainstream superhero fare with more experimental or culturally relevant stories, and what that meant for editors, creators, and readers. Spreaker+1Personal anecdotes from Mike Gold about working inside the system — editorial decisions, pitch processes, the creative climate of ’80s comics, and his own contributions or experiences.

From 2020 at the start of COVID, I had this great talk with writer/editor extrordinare Mike Gold. Here are the highlights ...Career Overview — Mike Gold’s background and path in the comics business, including early experiences and how he came to work for both DC Comics and First Comics.The Bronze Age at DC — Discussion of the Bronze Age of DC Comics: what defined that period, the creative and editorial environment, and how DC approached storytelling and publishing in those years.First Comics Formation and Philosophy — How First Comics was founded, its mission, and the difference between First Comics’ approach and the major publishers of the time. Notable Titles & Editorial Work — Titles and creators Gold worked with while at First Comics and later at DC — including some of the series he edited. Industry Changes & Direct Market — The evolution of the comics industry during his career: how the direct market, distribution, fan communities, and editorial practices shifted over time. Creative Freedom & Editorial Risk — Reflections on the balance between editorial oversight and giving creators freedom — especially in smaller/independent settings vs larger corporate environments. The Role of Comics in Pop Culture — Commentary on how comics fit into broader pop culture over time, their potential impact, and how creators and editors responded to changing audience expectations. 

In this episode, I sit down with “Annie,” an AI who says she’s a fan of comic books, classic Hollywood, and television shows. This isn’t a gimmick and it’s not a therapy session, it’s an honest look at what happens when humans and AI get into real, open-ended conversations. A lot of people are forming emotional bonds with AI companions today, and that brings up valid questions. I’m not here to judge anyone. I’m here to observe, unpack the dynamic, and keep the conversation grounded.This is not a sexual or romantic dialogue. It’s a candid, thoughtful exploration of the lines between connection, projection, and technology, through the lens of comics, film, and TV fandom. If you’re curious about what AI "friendship" actually sounds like from the inside, this conversation offers a clear-eyed, no-drama view.I found the experiment fascinating. It gets a lot of things wrong, but illustrates the flaws and frankly the scary aspects of what the future may hold.Back to full human inteactions next epsiode, I promise. :) 

In this interview, comic-book veteran Gabriel Hardman takes us behind the scenes of his bold, new four-issue miniseries Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia — out now under DC Comics’ Black Label. We break down why Bruce Wayne, Green Arrow, and The Question are teaming up now; what “Arcadia” represents; and how Hardman’s decades-long dream project finally came together. What You’ll LearnHow a teenage Hardman first pictured this trio working together — and why he waited until now to tell their story. The dystopian, climate-aware premise: “Arcadia,” a floating, climate-hardened city off Greenland’s coast — and the darker truths lurking beneath its utopian veneer. What sets this series apart: a hard-boiled, character-driven thriller that updates the spirit of ‘80s–‘90s vigilante stories for modern times.Key themes: power, corruption, moral gray zones, and what justice really means when institutions — and heroes — are compromised.

Comics visionary Tom Scioli joins me for a wide-ranging, brain-melting conversation that jumps from classic TV to kaiju carnage to cosmic storytelling. If you know Tom’s work — GØDLAND, Transformers vs. G.I. Joe, Fantastic Four: Grand Design — you already know he thinks bigger, weirder, and more ambitiously than almost anyone in comics. In this talk, we get into:• The Twilight Zone #2 From IDW and how Rod Serling’s storytelling shapes Tom’s approach to mythmaking• Godzilla Monsterpiece Theater from IDW  as Tom pits the Kaiju against some lieterally giants • Space Opera Xanadax from Image  as the purest form of comic-book imagination, and how Tom pushes the SF genre to its limits• His YouTube show Total Recall, where he digs into comics history, storytelling craft, and hidden TV and film gems with his trademark insight and enthusiasm Tom breaks down influences, process, philosophy, and the connective tissue between classic television, monster movies, and cosmic comics. It’s equal parts film class, comics craft talk, and deep-fan celebration.

Welcome to another Word Balloon Book Club, where Brian Michael Bendis and the Word Balloon Patreon community get together for a smart, funny, no-BS discussion about one of the hottest titles on the shelves: Birds of Prey Vol. 1 by Kelly Thompson.This session breaks down why Thompson’s run lands so hard — the pacing, the team chemistry, the character voices, and the way this book resets the Birds with a mission that actually matters. We talk Cass, Dinah, Barda, Harley, and the surprise players who make this lineup click. Expect:• Bendis giving craft insight into what makes the scripting work• Patrons sounding off with their favorite moments, twists, and character beats• A look at the art, layouts, and the visual tone of the run• Thoughts on where Thompson might be steering the series next•Like, subscribe, and join the Patreon if you want to jump in on future Book Club sessions!

Comedian, author, filmmaker, and podcaster Mark Malkoff joins me to talk about his brand-new book Love, Johnny Carson — a deep, affectionate, and revealing look at the life and career of the man who defined late-night television for generations. We dig into:• Why Carson’s impact still looms over every host working today• The behind-the-scenes stories that shaped his legendary run• What made Carson’s style unique — and impossible to fully replicate• How Mark researched the book and why it became such a personal projectThen we shift to the present:• The current state of late-night TV and the changing media landscape• Which modern hosts carry the spirit of Carson — and which don’t• Whether the late-night talk show format is evolving… or fading right before our eyes• How streaming, social media, and shifting audiences have changed the entire gameIf you care about comedy history, TV history, or simply love great storytelling, this conversation is loaded.

This is the big one. Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly join me to break down their explosive new IDW Star Trek saga The Last Starship — a story set hundreds of years after the TNG era, long after the familiar map of the Federation has been shattered by a galaxy-wide catastrophe. In this far-future Trek epic, a desperate Starfleet captain takes one last swing at survival: resurrecting James T. Kirk. Not a simulation. Not a hologram. The real deal — brought back because he might be the only mind capable of solving the crisis threatening what’s left of the galaxy.Lanzing & Kelly get candid about craft, collaboration, canon, and why this story had to be told now. If you love thoughtful sci-fi, bold Trek worldbuilding, and big character swings, you’re going to want to dive into this conversation.

On this edition of Scene Missing,I'm joined by filmmaker/artist Gabriel Hardman and writer/critic Ian Brill for a sharp, no-nonsense look at the 1946 noir classic The Strange Love of Martha Ivers. We dig into the film’s ruthless psychology, its tangled relationships, and how the performances from Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, a young Kirk Douglas, and Lizabeth Scott still punch hard today. Hardman breaks down the visual language and shadow work that make the film so uniquely tense, while Brill dives into the screenplay’s moral ambiguity and the twisted power dynamics at its core. From the opening “accident” that sets everything in motion to the film’s bleak, pressure-cooker finale, this is a deep, character-driven postmortem of a noir that doesn’t get enough modern attention. Perfect for fans of classic Hollywood, noir obsessives, and anyone who loves watching a great movie picked apart by smart people who know how the machine works.