Play Comics

Ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves for a super-powered episode of Play Comics that’ll have you faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive! This week, we’re diving into the pixelated world of “Superman: The Man of Steel” for Xbox, a game that’s more connected to the comics than Lois Lane is to trouble.

Joining us on this Kryptonian adventure is none other than Doc Issues from Capes on the Couch, here to analyze whether this entry in Superman’s mixed bag of gaming endeavors is a heroic triumph or a Kryptonite-level disaster. We’ll explore how this game draws inspiration from the contemporary Superman comics, with a special focus on the “Superman: Y2K” storyline that turned Metropolis into a futuristic wonderland faster than you can say “Great Caesar’s ghost!”

So grab your cape, adjust your glasses, and get ready to leap tall buildings in a single bound as we uncover whether this Xbox title is truly worthy of the Man of Steel’s iconic ‘S’ shield. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… another episode of Play Comics!

Learn such things as:

Does anyone really need to be told who Superman is anymore?
Does Chris shortcut explaining games by saying bad ones are just going through the levels punching things?
Is anyone even trying anymore with Superman games?
And so much more!

You can find Doc on Capes on the Couch which as a show can be found on Twitter @CapesOnTheCouch even if it is mostly Anthony running that account. And don’t forget, you can always go listen to Capes on the Couch, which you should definitely go do after you listen to this.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook.

A big thanks to Last Sons of Krypton and the First Wave Teaser brought to us by Invader Comics for the promos today.

Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who are doing everything they can, holding on to what they are, pretending they’re a superman.

Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics

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A few people have asked me how the tech upgrades are going, so here’s a quick explanation. And some other stuff including what episodes are having their recording times messed up because of this crap.

The most important thing though, probably 2 to 3 weeks out on a real return.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook.

A big thanks to Mike from Invader Comics for not coming after my eternal soul for not having run those promos he made for me yet.

Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who still aren’t actually in the episode and I hate that.

Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics

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My computer decided that it didn’t want to work anymore. I’m hoping it’s the motherboard. But no matter what, I have parts on the way and will get this computer fixed. Or totally rebuilt. At what point does it become a whole new machine? Who knows? I don’t, but I’m over here freaking out a little bit.

I give much better explanations in the audio here so check that out because I can’t remember what I said at this point.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook.

A big thanks to all of you who will stick around because I know that you’re the true fans.

Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who weren’t actually in this episode but they can still show up in the credits. That’s how you know they’ve got an important role in the show after all.

Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics

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Lace up your cleats and dust off your NES cartridges because this week’s Play Comics is kicking off with a real goal-scorer! We’re diving headfirst into the pixelated pitch of Tecmo Cup Soccer Game, the NES classic that’s more RPG than FIFA. Join us as we explore this 8-bit reimagining of the beloved Captain Tsubasa manga, where special moves are more powerful than Pelé’s right foot and every match is a turn-based tactical showdown.

And who’s that coming onto the pitch? Oh sweet we’re joined by the incomparable Luke Herr from D’OhMance Dawn, who’s here to add some romantic flair to our soccer shenanigans. Will Luke score a hat-trick of puns? Can our host avoid getting a red card for excessive enthusiasm? And just how many soccer metaphors can we cram into one episode? Tune in to find out!

So grab your controller, warm up those thumbs, and get ready to shout “GOOOOOAAAAAL!” at your podcast app. It’s time to see if Tecmo Cup Soccer Game lives up to its manga roots or if it’s just playing offside with our nostalgia. Let’s kick off this episode!

Learn such things as:

What if Nintendo World Cup was a manga?
What king of parents let their child go halfway around the world with someone they just met?
How do you make a sports game with basically no sports gameplay?
And so much more!

You can find Luke over on D’OhMance Dawn, Exiled, Multiversal Q, and RPG Pals Club. Or catch him on Twitter @koltreg or his Patreon, found under Luke Herr.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook.

A big thanks to Adventures in Erylia and The Last Comic Shop for the promos today.

Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who can dribble the ball on their heads very well and  can prove it with minimal editing.

Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics

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Cowabunga dudes! Grab your nunchucks and order a pizza because we’re diving shell-first into the radical world of the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video game! This gnarly beat ’em up brought the heroes in a half-shell to GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PS2, and Xbox faster than you can say “Turtle Power!”

Join us as we team up with Isaac Fisher from Definitive Film to dissect this game like Donatello dissects a circuit board. Isaac’s currently knee-deep in mutagen, working on a bodacious documentary called TMNT: Evolution, Mutation, & Reboot chronicling 40 years of TMNT history with the rest of the team at Definitive Film. So strap in, because this episode is gonna be more action-packed than a showdown with the Shredder in a pizza parlor!

Learn such things as:

What can reboots do to breath new life into a franchise?
How do Hollywood politics effect smaller projects?
How do you balance playing time on a team like this?
And so much more!

You can find Definitive Film on Twitter @definitive_film, Instagram @definitivefilm,  or on Facebook @definitivefilm if you’re looking for a social media connection. Of course there’s also the main Definitive Film website and the Kickstarter campaign for TMNT: Evolution, Mutation, & Reboot.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook.

A big thanks to Capes on the Couch and Not If I Reboot You First for the promos today.

Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who can’t pick a favorite turtle, but if pressed would probably say Franklin.

Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics

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Welcome to another episode of Play Comics, where we dive into the pixelated world of superheroes and their digital escapades! This week, we’re strapping on our capes and booting up our Game Boy Advances to tackle Justice League: Injustice for All. Based on the beloved Justice League Unlimited cartoon, this game lets you step into the boots of your favorite heroes, even if the gameplay sometimes feels like it’s stuck in the Phantom Zone.

Joining us for this heroic journey is the illustrious AJ Malacarne from Gamma Head Press. Known for their penchant for the absurd and psychedelic storytelling, AJ brings a unique perspective to our discussion. Will they find the game as thrilling as a battle with Darkseid, or as perplexing as The Riddler’s latest scheme? Tune in to find out!

So grab your Batarang, call in your sidekicks, and prepare for a supercharged episode that promises more twists and turns than a Luthor-led plot. Let’s see if Injustice for All can truly do justice to the Justice League!

Learn such things as:

How can you create a show where off screen characters are treated as if they actually exist all the time?
How does the platform a game is going on impact the development and design of that game?
Which characters really need to show up in new Justice League experiences?
And so much more!

You can find AJ on Twitter @AJMalacarne, BlueSky @ajmalacarne, Instagram @aj_malacarne, Threads @aj_malacarne, and of course their newsletter Gamma Head Press.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook.

A big thanks to Chatsunami and Tales from the Backlog for the promos today.

Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who might actually be multiple heroes in a trench coat.

Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics

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Welcome, true believers, to another thrilling episode of Play Comics! Today, we’re swinging into action with a look at the pixelated prowess of two of Marvel’s mightiest heroes in The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America in Dr. Doom’s Revenge! This digital dalliance with danger was unleashed upon unsuspecting home computers everywhere back in 1989, proving that even Earth’s mightiest heroes couldn’t escape the allure of floppy disks and joysticks.

Joining us on this retro romp is none other than Andy Larson, one of the amazing hosts of The Last Comic Shop podcast. Together we’ll untangle this web of 8-bit nostalgia faster than you can say “Excelsior!” So grab your shield, shoot some web fluid, and prepare for a Marvel-ous adventure that’s more fun than a barrel of radioactive monkeys! Will our heroes triumph over the diabolical Dr. Doom, or will they fall victim to the dreaded loading screen? Tune in to find out!

Learn such things as:

Does it really matter who the villain traditionally goes against?
Does Dr. Doom really want to take over? Or does he just want to play with his friends?
Does anyone think it’s weird that we got an  actual US president in here?
And so much more!

You can Andy on Twitter @lastcomicshop, Instagram @lastcomicshop, YouTube @lastcomicshop, his comic blog on Tumbler, and of course over on The Last Comic Shop Podcast.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook.

A big thanks to Alcove and Super Switch Club for the promos today.

Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who got one look at this game and fainted.

Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics

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Holy podcast, Batman! This week on Play Comics we’re diving into the shadowy world of Gotham with a game that’s as elusive as the Riddler’s puzzles and as intense as a Batmobile chase. Get ready to explore Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu, a game that swooped onto the PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, and Game Boy Advance bringing with it a whirlwind of caped crusading action with an original story set in the legendary world of Batman: The Animated Series.

Joining us once again is the Dark Knight of comic book gaming knowledge, Blair Farrell from Comic Book Video Games. Blair’s back in the Batcave to help us unravel the mysteries of this unique title and its connections to the animated world of Gotham’s finest. Is Sin Tzu the villain we never knew we needed, or just another face in the rogues’ gallery? Tune in to find out and maybe learn a Bat-fact or two along the way!

So grab your utility belt and prepare for a night in Gotham like no other. Whether you’re a seasoned Bat-fan or just here for the gadgets and gizmos, this episode promises to be a bat-tastic adventure you won’t want to miss!

Learn such things as:

What legendary creator got pulled in to create Sin Tzu?
How can they pull off a Batman: The Animated Series revival without Kevin Conroy?
What weird things pop up when you can play a Batman game without having to be Batman?
And so much more!

You can find Blair on Twitter @Blarcade, Twitch @Blarcade, and his website Comic Book Video Games,where you can links to his books The Web of Spider-Man Games: The Amazing and the (Not So) Spectacular and The Avengers in Video Games: A Guide to Solo Adventures and Mighty Marvel Team-Ups, with Creator Interviews.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook.

A big thanks to Quest for 5 and “Fun” and Games for the promos today.

Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who are still waiting for that Bat Dog game to come out.

Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics

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Welcome to another episode of Play Comics, where we shuffle the deck of video game adaptations and draw a card from the past! This week we’re diving into the world of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses, a game that takes the historical British War of the Roses and gives it a fantastical twist through the lens of the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga. Imagine Richard III and Henry Tudor not as mere historical figures, but as duelists with decks full of monsters and magic!

Joining us for this epic clash of history and fantasy is the illustrious Michael Bivens from Quest for 5 and Alcove. Michael brings his unique perspective and a flair for the dramatic as we explore how this PlayStation 2 classic blends card battles with royal intrigue. Whether you’re a fan of history, card games, or just love a good mash-up, this episode is sure to entertain and enlighten.

So grab your Millennium Puzzle and prepare for a duel of epic proportions! Will the Yorkists or the Lancastrians claim victory in this card-based battlefield? Tune in to find out, and maybe you’ll learn a trick or two to use in your next duel.

Learn such things as:

What happens when Chris jokingly asks if the obvious connection is really what’s going on here?
How much gameplay can you get when you’re playing both sides of a war?
Isn’t it nice when British people are fighting amongst themselves rather than colonizing the rest of the world?
And so much more!

You can find Michael on Alcove where he has his general creative outlet, Quest for 5 where his fiance and he take a fan look at the Disney trading card game Lorcana, or his personal website MS Bivens where you can find basically all things that trace back to him on the internet.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook.

A big thanks to Too Young For This Trek and TroytlePower Presents: The Power Play-Throughs Podcast with TroytlePower for the promos today.

Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who came storming in and demanded that I get new music.

Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics

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Welcome back pixel pioneers and comic crusaders to another electrifying episode of Play Comics! This week we’re donning our high-tech armor and jetting off into the world of The Invincible Iron Man on the Game Boy Advance, a game that might just be the hidden gem in Tony Stark’s treasure trove of adventures.

Joining us on this iron-clad journey is the one and only Zach Tonack, a first-time guest with insights sharper than Iron Man’s repulsor beams. Together we’ll dissect this pixelated powerhouse, exploring how it stacks up against its comic book origins and whether it truly captures the essence of everyone’s favorite billionaire genius playboy philanthropist.

Prepare for a whirlwind of witty banter, nostalgic nods, and perhaps a few arc reactor puns as we dive deep into the mechanics, storylines, and sheer fun of The Invincible Iron Man. So grab your GameBoy Advance, polish up your armor, and get ready to blast off into an episode that’s as thrilling as a high-speed flight over Stark Tower!

Suit up listeners because this episode is going to be a blast!

Learn such things as:

How Tony Stark has fought in all of these different wars.
Why was an Iron Man game even made pre MCU?
Are comic cut scenes the best thing ever?
And so much more!

You can find Zach on Twitter @ztonack, BlueSky @ztonack, megageekscanbecool on Tumbler, and Anorak2201 on FanFiction.Net and Archive Of Our Own.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook.

A big thanks to Condrey #6 (available as a physical and digital book) brought to us by Legacy Comix, and The Last Comic Shop Podcast for the promos today.

Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who might have gotten eaten by the void.

Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics

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