032 - My Adventures in Widow's Bay

MJ & Nath are back, but this time they're recording their first live podcast — so now you finally know who to serve the court papers to.

It's a packed episode as Producer Kim joins in for an important Doctor Who update, while the boys head down The Aisle to chat Absolute Catwoman, Firestorm, and M.A.S.K. Meanwhile, Nath is delighted to finally have someone to share the joy of Widow's Bay with, as MJ officially climbs aboard the fandom boat. Not content with one TV obsession, Nath also reviews the first episode of Season 3 of My Adventures with Superman.

Elsewhere, it's a week of fakery and foolishness in The Weird Files, while the Mos Eisley Mailbag delivers a letter so questionable it probably should've remained sealed in a galaxy far, far away.

As if that wasn't enough, MJ has a big reveal that catches Nath completely off guard, proving that even after all these episodes, surprises are still on the menu.

With all this now available in full Pulp HD glory, there's nowhere left to hide. Comics, chaos, live shenanigans, surprise announcements and suspect correspondence, it's another week of the Pulp Culture Podcast.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:25

Hey, welcome to the Pop Culture Podcast, your weekly dose of all things pop culture. I'm Nate.

SPEAKER_07 0:35

And I'm MJ. Was that right?

SPEAKER_03 0:40

Yeah, pretty close. This is our very, very first uh video recording. So sorry everyone for uh seeing our faces. Uh but uh welcome to the 21st century. Uh you're welcome.

SPEAKER_07 0:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 0:59

And uh also coming live from New York. Oh, we actually I can't say that anymore because they can sort of see the backgrounds of us, and we definitely don't look like we're from New York celebrating the Knicks' win. No. We could be in New York. Well, we could we could we could very well be, yes, absolutely. Uh we could be, but uh definitely not, unfortunately.

SPEAKER_07 1:25

As discussed on previous episodes, though, I don't think I'd get led into the country at the moment.

SPEAKER_03 1:30

Yeah. All those all that uh soundlights that they have of you.

SPEAKER_07 1:35

Yeah, I'd be rejected based on my past tweets.

SPEAKER_03 1:41

I love it, I love it. Well, welcome to uh to another episode. Uh thanks for your company. And uh as always, we've got uh plenty to bring you. Uh, but uh maybe we should uh get into uh a little bit of the zest.

SPEAKER_07 2:00

Let's do that.

SPEAKER_03 2:02

Why not? Do you reckon? Yeah, or we or we can just not and no hang on.

SPEAKER_07 2:09

Why mess with a perfect formula?

SPEAKER_03 2:11

All right, well, maybe right, maybe roll the roll the music. Sounds very official, doesn't it? It does.

SPEAKER_05 2:25

All right.

SPEAKER_07 2:27

It's strange hearing it while we're actually recording. I'll deal with it.

SPEAKER_03 2:34

Well, here we go. Mr. Trailers, it's all on you.

SPEAKER_07 2:38

Uh okay, well, I do have one. Oh, you have one? Okay. I got one, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 2:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 2:44

Um My Adventures with Superman.

SPEAKER_03 2:47

Oh, how good does that look? How good does that look?

SPEAKER_07 2:50

Yeah, it looks really good.

SPEAKER_03 2:52

Yeah. What was uh what was your thoughts on it?

SPEAKER_07 3:01

Uh I think it's really exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing um some of the other characters that are featured. Um, we've got Superboy, Connor Kent Superboy. Yeah, uh, we've got uh Jessica Cruz, who I found out today, or we found out today, she's gonna be voiced by I can't remember her name, but the actress that uh does the voice of Moana. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_03 3:23

I I I'll um I'll I've got I've got some more news about that, but I'll bring that a little bit later.

SPEAKER_07 3:29

Okay, that sounds great. Um yeah, uh I think it looks really good. What about you?

SPEAKER_03 3:35

Yeah, I'm really excited for it. Uh actually uh I'm I uh must admit I've actually seen the first episode, so um uh wait for that in the in in the review.

SPEAKER_07 3:46

As it um it it dropped uh a couple of days ago, didn't it?

SPEAKER_03 3:50

Yes, it did, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 3:52

I have been a busy boy this week.

SPEAKER_03 3:54

So you have and uh yeah, we're for for us in our time we're recording a little bit later than we normally would. Um but uh only to to to fit in with MJ's schedule. It's always about fitting in with you. Um but uh an in-demand guy. He is an demand guy. So uh hopefully, uh hopefully uh this is uh everything that we want it to be, and a little bit more.

SPEAKER_07 4:22

Um and how how was the first episode?

SPEAKER_03 4:24

Yeah, it was fantastic. Um, but maybe I should maybe I'm jumping a little bit ahead because it's um it's not really the review, it's more of our news. So um, but I will I'll definitely talk about it more in the in the review for sure. So stay tuned for that, uh listeners. Um we'll definitely um bring that bring that to you. Uh don't forget that you can um you know get get in on uh on on what we're talking about. Uh you can um you know follow us uh on uh all our socials under uh pulp uh culture pod, which is right there. Umj it's it's it's all a bit bit technology technological, isn't it?

SPEAKER_07 5:04

So you're very fancy.

SPEAKER_03 5:08

I should have dressed up then, hey.

SPEAKER_07 5:11

I thought you did.

SPEAKER_03 5:16

Uh well the other the other trailer that I noticed uh today which was uh which was gatto. So Pixar's gatto. Uh I'm not too sure if you've seen that one. It's uh it's a new production from them, uh, and it's really interesting. It's um it's it's about a cat uh in Venice uh who's um beholden to uh it sounds a little bit like the the Aristocats set in Venice. That's what it that's what it sort of seems a little bit like.

SPEAKER_07 5:46

Um the aristocrats but wetter.

SPEAKER_03 5:49

But but wetter. Um yeah, and it's uh the the the thing that makes this really really interesting is is that it they have used um it's um it's it's it's all hand drawn uh and uh but it's oil paintings. So each of the cells are uh are oil paint. Uh so it's it's over like this is a Pixar film. Yeah, this is a Pixar film.

SPEAKER_07 6:18

And they're doing it hand drawn.

SPEAKER_03 6:20

And so they're doing it uh with uh with um it's um oil paint.

SPEAKER_07 6:26

So I which I find hand hand painted.

SPEAKER_03 6:30

Hand painted, uh it's over 600,000 cells or something or other. Um it's it's a really interesting uh look and something a bit little bit different. I think with uh you know the Spider-Verse and what they've done with mixed mediums and you know different different sort of uh you know looks and feels to to to the one production. I think that's really sort of opened the door to challenge other animators to do something a little bit left of field or take a risk and try something new. And uh I I think this is great. I mean, I don't get me wrong, I mean, I love Pixar and I think they do a fantastic job with their productions. Uh but this is just something that's a a little bit uh left of centre.

SPEAKER_07 7:21

And they've released a trailer, was it?

SPEAKER_03 7:24

And they've released uh it's a it's a teaser trailer. Uh so we get to see see ghetto. Not too sure on the name. I mean, if you're in um in Australia, you would uh you would know that uh ghetto uh is uh more about uh about uh the underworld and crime. Uh but uh look, you know, it's uh it's it's it's I I suppose we'll find out uh you know what that what the meaning is behind that uh because the um the cat isn't uh called gatto. Um I believe he's he's got a different name. I can't remember his name off the top of my head. Um but it has uh it has uh Mark Ruffalo in it and uh also um uh Lawrence Fishburne. So uh uh Mark Ruffalo plays uh Gat uh plays the cat.

SPEAKER_07 8:16

Um do you want to spoil it?

SPEAKER_03 8:19

Uh yeah.

SPEAKER_07 8:20

Yeah, because I don't remember much from uh learning Italian in school, but uh gatto means cat.

SPEAKER_03 8:26

Good to know, right? Okay, excellent. Right, there you go. Yep, I don't have my spoiler alert sound, but uh sorry about that, everyone. Yeah, uh don't worry about seeing the film.

SPEAKER_07 8:38

No, uh but uh yeah, no, there's gatto is is is literally cat in Italian, so yeah, okay. That that that explains well, I guess I've just spoiled the the title of the movie at least. Yeah, there's the big secret was the direct translation, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 8:57

Right, okay. Well, uh what uh what else? What other news have you got?

SPEAKER_07 9:05

Um I not heaps. Um, I do have uh, I mean that the big news of the week for me was that um uh Doctor Who has been effectively cancelled. Um but to to discuss that further, I thought I'd bring in a special um uh guest and Doctor Who expert. Is that if that's okay.

SPEAKER_03 9:31

Oh look, I I'm not too sure whether the budget dictates, but to bring in that that special who she she's here, she's here, so you you can say no to her.

SPEAKER_04 9:43

Hi please welcome to Juice again.

SPEAKER_01 9:52

Um, and I hate to jump on and correct you, but it has not been cancelled. We are not using that word, right? It has been put out to tender, it has not been uh like rested, it has not been cancelled. What has happened is that the Russell T. Davis, who's been the show running for the last little period with the Disney One, and his company Bad Wolf have parted ways with the BBC. So, what this means is that there is not going to be a Christmas special this year, um, which was sort of always a bit of a placeholdery thing. So, yeah, I was sort of going to introduce this as the least surprising Doctor Who news in forever because it's like there's been nothing for ages. It was like we had the last episode for this current sort of run was in May 2025. In October, it was announced that the Disney partnership was not going forward. Um, they still had the war between the land and the sea, which has premiered in January on Disney. We still haven't got it in Australia. And apart from that, there has been cricket since then. So there has been no casting announcement, there's been no filming announcement. So yeah, it has it is out to tender. So the story is that they are waiting for some sort of streaming person service to maybe take it up and be a co-production with BBC, but we are we are officially back in the wilderness years for the Doctor Who Ness.

SPEAKER_07 11:14

Yeah, so in summary, it's been it's been cancelled.

SPEAKER_03 11:18

No, it's it's interesting, right? Because we had the the the Disney sort of collab, if you want to call it that, that that uh Disney was doing with the BBC, and they were hoping that it would uh launch a lot better than it than it actually did uh for them. Uh so it's interesting uh that now it's back on the table. Uh how what other streamers are going to be looking at this and looking at the uptick that it that wasn't there, unfortunately, with Disney.

SPEAKER_01 11:53

Um yeah, it's it's a little bit tricky, like it is a very difficult thing to do. Like Disney sort of jumped on and wanted to try and do something that would bring in new fans, which was great, and it did up to a point, but then you've also got to make sure that the old fans are happy. And yeah, I mean it it is a difficult thing. Disney did really want to try and bring in new Who fans, which I think they did a great job, apparently having Shudy as the new Doctor did bring in younger fans, but you've also got to sort of try and keep happy all of the older fans as well. And you know, there's been a lot of rumbling, you know, Doctor Who fans are almost as bad as Star Wars fans in a lot of ways. About they complain about, oh, it doesn't have too much of the old stuff and it has too much of the new stuff and this and that and the other. So it is a very difficult balance to try and, you know, make for this. And I think when they announce Russell T. Davis, everyone's like, oh, he's amazing, he's the Messiah, he's gonna fix everything about Doctor Who. And there's just no way you can. Um, so I think they did a great job. Like, I really enjoyed the series. I love Shudie Gutwa as the doctor. I thought he was great. I just think it's gonna be a very difficult thing going forward for any production company at all. Um, as you know, I'm a fan of Adam Richard has a theory, and he was saying that it's possibly better to get someone who is not a Doctor Who fan, who does not know all of the law and all the bits and pieces to sort of, you know, like do what Tony Gilroy did for Andor and Star Wars, someone to come on from outside and just sort of write stories and just sort of pop some Doctor Who-ness into it. So that's that's possibly a way to get it better. But yeah, goodness knows who's going to be brave enough to do that.

SPEAKER_03 13:35

Let's let's do an absolute Doctor Who, okay? Where it's just completely off the wall. Um and uh and try something. Look, I mean, I I think the hard thing about Doctor Who is that it's really difficult to uh to to for its universe to expand. You know, they've tried um a number of times to expand that universe and it's never really landed. Uh and so I think that it there needs to be something different, um, uh like you say, a different approach to help expand that universe a little bit more. We can see that with other, you know, sci-fi franchises like uh Star Wars, like um Star Trek, even like Stargate. They're all stars, by the way. Maybe that maybe it should be called um Dr. Star Who. Um but you know, it's you know, all of those those star franchises have all expanded their universe in one way, shape, or another. Uh, and and and they are able to stop that production and then start it again, even if it is a number of years later, and fans are still excited about it. I think what I find is with the with the with the with the Doctor Who franchises if it's not on, it's not on, you know. We kind of forget about it and hope that it's gonna come back, but it's not, you know, unless you're a real Hoovian, right? Uh so yeah, it is difficult.

SPEAKER_01 15:07

Yeah, I mean, it did have that run for a while there where it had the Sarah Jane Chronicles and the Torchwood adventures all at the same time. So that was back during Russell's last tenure. The thing with Doctor Who is that, like a property that's been around forever, there there will be other stuff to keep going. There is comic series, big finish, do a heap of audio um adventures and stuff. So there's definitely going to be more stuff coming out. It's just not the TV show that is going to be coming out for the next little while until something gets on. Now, this may be a couple of years. This may be like the last wilderness years went from like 1989 to 2005. So there is a potential that it could be a very long time. One thing I did notice interesting was that I saw that AMC, the um streaming platform in America, now have all of the I call it the New Who. So that's the 2009 up to just before the Disney. So they now have all of those series on their streaming platform. So I was like, oh, well, maybe they can do it. But I was like, I don't know if AMC would be someone that would be a good fit for Doctor Who. I mean, they're most famous for The Walking Dead. Um, they also have Interview with the Vampire, they see more people that are going to do sort of now and historical type shows. I don't know if Doctor Who would be a good fit for them, but we're sort of running out of streamers. If Disney said no, um AMC probably can't do it. Paramount, if they've already gotten rid of Star Trek, I can't see them bringing on Doctor Who. Um, Prime has got a pretty full slate at the moment. Let's not put another one on them. So then you're kind of left with Netflix. So I don't know. I'm not holding my breath.

SPEAKER_07 16:36

I'd be very surprised if um it takes too long before someone comes in with a pitch that um the BBC is happy with, though. Like there's such a demand for content these days, and it's such a um a popular property, and and it's for whatever else has happened over the last bunch of years, it has gained a level of global recognition that um it's never had before. Yeah, um, I just think that someone's gonna come up with a pitch that's gonna be appealing to the BBC and and um and and we'll see it back sooner rather than later. But um, I can't see it happening for a couple of years at least. I I I say tape Scott Snyder on the shoulder and ask him to well, I think I was gonna say AMC is probably a really good fit if you want like an absolute Doctor Who, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_03 17:24

Yeah, absolutely. Let's let's give it a crack, right? Let's see what happens.

SPEAKER_01 17:26

Yeah, a time frame and go from there, sort of thing.

SPEAKER_03 17:29

Yeah, um a time jumping zombie in in a TARDIS, right? So I'm down, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 17:37

Um we we had we had some other um uh sort of Doctor Who adjacent news today, didn't we?

SPEAKER_01 17:42

Yeah, which is which is kind of nice. We're not gonna get actual Doctor Who, but we are gonna get some doctors. They announced that for Only Murders in the Building season six, it's gonna have David Tennant and Jody Whitaker, so that's two doctors, but also Nicola Coglin, who was in a Christmas special. So that is three Doctor Who, three doctors and an alumni in season six, which is gonna be set in London. So that is perfect sense. So at least we're gonna get some of our people on screen next year, if not, you know, in the TARDIS with the Sonic screwdriver.

SPEAKER_07 18:11

I reckon um the cast that they've put together for this sixth series in London is so big that I reckon then there must be other Doctor Who links as well. I can't remember too many of the other English or British actors that they've recruited for this, but there must be other links as well.

SPEAKER_01 18:29

If with a lot of English actors, it's like if you either look through like Harry Potter or Doctor Who or um EastEnders or something, they will have done, you know, it's it's like Australia where you've got your home and away or your neighbours or something, they will have done something in their past, possibly Doctor Who. We'll play bingo.

SPEAKER_05 18:43

Water rats.

SPEAKER_01 18:44

Oh, yes, water rats, um singers, singers, is that the other one? Love it, love it. So, yes, so at least we got some good news amidst all that doom and gloom.

SPEAKER_03 18:55

Love it, love it. Well, thanks, or as always, producer Kim, for your insight. All right, back to our normal programming.

SPEAKER_07 19:10

Yes, what it is.

SPEAKER_03 19:14

Yes, what what's uh what uh what other news have you got that's uh that's on your list?

SPEAKER_07 19:20

I've got nothing. Oh, perfect. I've got snacks. And as I said, I've had a really, really busy week, and um I I I do have notes and bits and pieces. I've probably been reading more than I've been paying attention to the news and socials and um and that sort of thing, but um, yeah, no, nothing unless you've got something else.

SPEAKER_03 19:39

I'll carry this, I'll carry the slack. I've got heaps, I've got heaps to go on. So uh in in our time uh today, uh Dan Housen uh has been invited to the uh Knicks Championship uh celebration parade, which is I bet he has which is fantastic. So for those of you who might not know, this is definitely pop culture related. Uh wrestler uh uh to a newest wrestler to the the WWE uh has um Danhausen has um uh has a a bit of a gimmick where he will uh curse uh his opponents uh and uh anybody else that will give him uh uh a number of human monies as he refers to. Uh and Danhausen's a larger than life uh character who's sort of a a cross between uh Dracula and um and and Conan, would you say? Uh Conan O'Brien. Um yeah, and uh and uh yeah he's he's just fantastic, he's he's really charismatic and uh uh really steals the the scene when he's when he's on it. Uh and uh quite a a number of games ago uh he cursed uh he uncursed the the Knicks uh and cursed any of their opponents. Uh and I think that that started at uh I think it was for like 11 games straight, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_07 21:04

Um yeah, uh at least. Um yeah, I think the I think the first the curse started with the Cleveland Cavaliers in I think it was the last round, and the Knicks were undefeated till about game until game three of the finals.

SPEAKER_04 21:20

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 21:21

And yeah, uh Danhausen uh definitely deserves the some of the credit for the um for the Knicks.

SPEAKER_03 21:30

He was just such a great hype man to get to get everybody rallying. Uh you know, merch has gone through the roof, uh and uh and they obviously recognize you know uh his support. I don't I I think he's a little bit disappointed that he didn't get to sit next to uh in between Tim Timothy Chalamet and uh and and Kylie Jenner, but uh uh overall, uh I think it's uh I think this is even uh bigger. for him to uh to be invited to the uh to the next uh you know uh championship celebration event.

SPEAKER_07 22:06

So I have a feeling that next year he's going to get his share of courtside seats.

SPEAKER_03 22:15

Yeah yeah which is uh which which I I I I think he'll be uh he'll be definitely there either either as him as his uh as himself or as Bizona as uh as as down as Dan Housen I was looking at yeah I was looking at Danhausen the other day and and you know what he reminds me of oh yeah he's like a Batman 66 villain if that villain was uh designed by Todd McFarlane you reckon yeah I can see that now yeah for sure I can definitely he sort of got that goofy campness with the makeup with the with the makeup and stuff and yeah I can see that coming oh yeah absolutely I can yeah for sure for sure there you go hey um yeah so well done Nix uh what a what an amazing last game to for that um you know I'm not a massive sports fan but uh I definitely watched it and it was uh yeah it was a nail biting game and uh New York has celebrated immensely uh I don't think they've stopped celebrating it have they so uh I don't think they ever really truly will no is it is it's like 53 years was it in between 53 years the last time they won was 1973 um yeah wow yeah not not in my lifetime uh you know sort of you what how old were you in 1973 20 no yeah I was just I was yeah I was just uh just out of my teens by then so yeah yeah that's uh but by my math that's what I thought living large living large yeah no it is it's it's it's a big deal and it's a big deal for um uh sort of pop culture and and um the arts as well because yeah um yeah I mean New York and the Knicks are uh uh synonymous the city and and and um yeah so every everywhere from Broadway to television personalities uh everybody's celebrating so yeah absolutely they are and I'm gonna hear the end of it we're not gonna hear the end of this one for uh some time I think no definitely not uh moving on to other news uh a the Wonder Woman live action series uh Paradise Lost um which is uh which it was kind of put on high edge for a little while but it's actually moving forward now um with uh with new riders so uh which is which is really interesting um uh one of the writers is from the Handmaiden's Tale and for all mankind um Pira Snyder uh and the other one is uh from Bridgerton which is uh Janet Lynn uh so they're both attached to the project and they'll be now writing it it's great to see that um we've got two very strong female writers uh writing for a female leading you know um production uh so yeah so it'll be interesting to see what this is about and what what it looks like um you know this is this uh another sort of Game of Thrones esque you know sort of type uh production or is it uh I'm I'm not too sure what yeah I mean you're you're you're sort of a bigger Wonder Woman fan what type of story do you think that we could be expecting from something like this um it's hard to say but I I think you're probably on on the the right track um something along the lines of you know game of thrones um uh but yeah I I think it's a great idea um you know there's so much more to to the uh character of Wonder Woman than just Diana herself um you know there's literally thousands of years of of history there um and and when you add in the link between the the gods of Olympus and um uh all that that entails um I I think that it's yeah it's it's really right for for stories it's something that we've seen a lot in absolute wonder woman yeah um you know they've they've leaned heavily into the um the the Greek myth um and all of that sort of thing and and I I think that's um yeah that's that's probably where they'll go with with this show as well.

SPEAKER_07 26:29

But um yeah I'm very excited uh looking forward to seeing it.

SPEAKER_03 26:32

Yeah I think it'll be um again expanding that universe that that that gun universe as they refer it to uh and uh there's no sort of date as at as of yet on when production will begin uh but it's great that we've got uh two writers and it's moving forward so something to look forward to yeah uh just great to hear that there's more on the way absolutely keeping on with uh DC news uh this is a really interesting one uh so DC have uh uh abruptly pulled uh the uh supergirl movie merch uh which featured a uh a star wars character have you heard about this oh I did see this yes yeah a little little little bit embarrassing yeah well it it's really interesting because they they they took it from uh some artwork which which which was uh which was drawn by an artist which was originally worked on the original woman of tomorrow comic book is that right yeah Bill Quisibely yeah right and so and because of that uh they they incorporated that into uh the new merch uh and the alien if the alien was like it was it Lexo suga suga or something like that i'm not sure what the I'm not sure what the name was but it it it bears a uh a resemblance to a character from I think it was Rise of Skywalker or yeah yeah that's right one of those uh and and uh at some point uh last Jedi it was last Jedi last Jedi and and it seems that um they've gotten with their reference pictures mixed up at some point and and Bilkwas is uh drawn heavily literally on the Star Wars reference photo as opposed to the one from uh the Supergirl movie um which I guess is a an easy mistake to make yeah um but yeah it's it's uh uh the the similarity uh between the character that Bilkus has drawn and the one from the last Jedi is unmistakable so um yeah I'm not I'm not surprised that they've withdrawn that which is a real shame because it was a beautiful piece of artwork. It really is but uh it's been AI onto it and they'll get ai onto it and it'll that they'll just uh rub it out so yeah more ai that's what we need yeah you know what's you know what it is though like the um the metal print uh that was uh that that that they had out for this um has has also been withdrawn and it's already being it's already on eBay for $120. So uh look it's um you know it's going to become a collector's item now just just for a for for an honest uh starless mistake and I mean this this is this is the interesting part about it right because Star Wars is now owned by Disney who owns Marvel so uh you know they're essentially putting a a Marvel character into into into the DC universe so an unofficial Star Wars DC crossover yeah absolutely uh we let's have that i i'd like to see that all our wildest dreams are coming true oh absolutely i i would i'd be totally down for that uh we also uh we also got news uh in our time today that um that gavin uh uh guidry uh has signed an exclusive deal with dc comics oh good yeah so this is um this is this like i said this is hot off the wire this is really really exciting because he's he's he's a great artist uh sorry a um a great great um great right great great artist great writer uh or a bit of both he's an uh an artist um he's been doing um uh jsa and recently um has been working on uh ryan north's flash series oh the flash that's what it was yeah yeah no he did um he he did the year one storyline in the jsa um which i really enjoyed and yeah has been doing the last three issues of the flash yeah right yeah that's that's that's really good news i'm a bit i'm a big fan of um of his art so um yeah i'm looking forward to seeing more of it yeah well and the interesting part about it is this there's nothing that's been uh announced about what projects he's going to be working on uh but i would be guessing with uh with an exclusive deal he's obviously gonna have some you know um initiatives within you know that that that lineup uh uh that that maybe he's gonna bring his own character in or uh you know a storyline that he really wants to bring to light or you know get to choose his um character that he wants to wants to you know do specifically so uh draws it's draws draws draws very good um sort of classic superhero type yeah uh costumes and and um uh imit images action sequences i'd um yeah and nothing against the artists that are already on these books that I'm gonna mention but I'd love to see him on Justice League or or even on New Titans.

SPEAKER_07 31:42

Yeah that'll be fun. Um yeah I just think that the art uh style that that that that he's got would fit really well with those but wherever he turns up I'll um I'll check it out that's for sure.

SPEAKER_03 31:53

Yeah yeah uh keeping on with DC News uh we got uh we we spoke just uh briefly about uh before about uh my adventures with superman uh we've now seen a uh an image of um of uh uh what's her name again uh jessica cruz uh who will feature uh in uh my adventures of superman season three uh and uh we also have now uh a little bit more to go on about what the uh what the series is going to look like when they when they launch that later this year uh we'll probably get more news in uh in our next episode regarding the animation and what that's going to look like uh after the animation uh expo that's going to be happening uh shortly uh but in the meantime um we find out that uh the Green Lantern Corpse uh space war begins uh uh uh arriving on earth um bringing dangerous alien uh enemies with it and to save the planet uh our um hero Jessica Cruz will have to overcome her fears anxieties and everyday teenage struggles while leading a new uh lantern core against a terrifying threat yeah so that's that's really interesting I didn't know where they were going with this storyline um but it's interesting that they're going to have a a new Green Lantern core uh on earth so yeah no I'm really excited about that and I was really excited to hear today um uh I mentioned before that uh the uh actress who is the original voice of Moana in the two uh Disney Moana movies um I'm gonna butcher her name because I don't know how to pronounce it but it's I think it's our Awile uh Cravallo um well done I I couldn't do it so good job I've got no doubt I butchered that one but uh yeah uh gorgeous actress um yeah really great uh personality on the publicity tours and stuff um uh it's I'm excited that she's gonna be involved with um the character of Jessica Cruz because I I think she's a gonna be a really great fit um both as a voice actress but also as uh an ambassador for um that character and for DC yeah absolutely um are you uh are you have you watched uh you know moving on to more news have you have you watched uh the Lupin series on Netflix at all? No I haven't oh okay fantastic series um it we we got news today that uh that that omar uh omar say uh will be returning um as uh his uh a son uh uh deal uh for the uh the fourth the part four of of the Lupin series on Netflix uh uh so which is fantastic it's been about three years uh since we got part three uh so uh but that's that's that's really good news it's a it's a great uh it's a great series uh about uh uh a man who essentially reads uh the uh the French uh uh book uh it's all set in in France uh and he reads about uh a a grand thief named Lupin uh and uh it's it's this uh this is the same story that they used the uh the manga series that they adapted to be Lupin the third uh so same same same similar stories uh and just the uh the lengths that the uh that this thief goes to not only for grand exhibitions of theft but also uh being a master of disguise uh and so this is where we're seeing uh Omar uh at his best in his acting when he's playing uh different roles uh so you can imagine it's it's a bit like having Eddie Murphy in any of his movies um but on uh on a on a TV ski uh scale and uh and seeing this guy in in in different disguises with different uh you know accents etc uh so that'll be coming out uh in uh in October uh so uh really looking forward to to that one if you haven't uh checked it out uh you can watch the first three parts they call them parts but they're essentially seasons uh on uh on Netflix now not as sponsored yeah no very uh good stuff another thing for me to add to my list well you know it'll all be on one streamer if you uh listen to last week's episode you'll uh you'll understand exactly what we're talking about if you haven't um we would uh highly recommend that you uh jump back and have a have a listen you can also check us out on our socials under pulp culture pod uh moving uh disappeared before do it did you want to did you want to do you wanted to point out I'll let you point at it again now you know it's fine there you there you go it's it's back up there again help us out yes beautiful presentation I love it um moving right along uh today we also got news uh very interestingly that uh that that that uh fox uh in and in brackets uh Disney have uh purchased uh Roku for 22 billion dollars so uh which is really interesting do you know anything about Roku uh not really is it a no explain okay so Roku is very much similar to uh what uh Apple is so you would you would purchase your Apple TV box with the remote control uh Roku is a sort of another another uh option for you to be able to watch your streaming on uh but also store uh store media on as well uh so you would get a box and a remote control or or it would be an app uh that you could uh you know uh uh access on your computer or your phone et cetera et cetera uh then so so essentially it's cable but digital right uh and so this is just really interesting that that that I mean they're saying it's Fox but I mean it's a it's a Disney uh Disney owned Fox uh now so um it's it's interesting how they have uh have purchased Roku i I would say that this feels more like it's not so much for the name but for what the actual uh for the uh the amount of subscribers they have well they're not subscribers but uh by by purchases of Roku I think they do have to subscribe in some type of way and I believe it's about a hundred million subscribers if we're going by that uh which is which is absolutely huge for a database and how much do we how much do you how much did you say they're paid for it? 22 million dollars 22 billion billion billion million dollars 22 billion dollars it'd be two wouldn't it if you were doing that uh so yeah so it's it's it's it's huge it's it's a massive buy I think it's more for the technology than and the uh subscribership than I think that it is for anything else uh I I I think that this will be something that that they'll absorb and use if if if you know even though they're saying it's Fox Disney has essentially approved it and I think that they'll use that technology to possibly bring out their own version you know for everybody to use uh what that looks like in the future who knows but yeah anyway um that's uh yeah it's very very interesting nonetheless right yeah no it's just just another big move that we don't really know where it's going to lead but um maybe in five to ten years it'll make sense. Yeah absolutely uh other than that that's pretty much it for me uh unless you've got anything else I think it's uh time to uh bring back our our always probably the most favorite segment of everybody every listener um and now watcher uh which would be the weird files so there you go uh we uh we've got three uh new ones uh for you MJ uh I've uh decided to three new three new ones three new ones for you uh I've decided to keep in a theme this week maybe you'll get what the theme is uh so uh so I'll give you the three now uh we don't care what the theme is but you don't think so no I'm I'm pretty pretty confident that you'll probably get get get this one but uh anyway look I'll um I'll I'll I'll read the three to you and then you can you can tell me whether you know which one you think uh but maybe uh I'll play some um some Jeopardy music at the same time just uh that'd be great it really helps me think yeah give you give you some thinking here we go so um yeah here's here's our three we've got uh fake museum guide we have fake zoo flamingo and we have fake tiki bar so we have fake museum guide fake zoo uh flamingo and fake tiki bar i'm gonna go with flamingo flamingo i think that's a a really good choice uh we just thought we'd wait wait until the jeopardy music finishes there perfect yeah now let's we'll just wait for the jeopardy music we're paying uh we're paying a huge royalty for that one so uh we might as well just let it run hey okay no not really uh right um okay here we go good here's some fun for you florida woman change up it's a change up florida woman poses as flamingo for three days at zoo there you go that's the uh that's the headline there all right in what zoo officials are calling a surprisingly committed performance a florida woman was arrested after allegedly allegedly impersonating a uh flamingo inside a zoo exhibit for three days before uh being noticed before being noticed uh according to authorities the uh woman reportedly entered the flamingo habitat wearing pink feathers and stood among the birds allegedly attempting to blend in uh at first uh we thought that it was an unusual tall flamingo uh one visitor said she was very as she she was very still and very dedicated investigators say that the woman allegedly remained inside the enclosure during operating hours standing on one leg and mimicking the bird's movements zoo staff became suspicious when here you go this is the giveaway And you always pick it. Uh staff staff became suspicious when one employee report uh reportedly noticed that the flamingo was checking her phone.

SPEAKER_07 44:12

Yeah. So it's always their phones that are our undoing.

SPEAKER_03 44:17

It's always their phones, right? Officials say that she was uh she was detained after staff confirmed that the flamingo that flamingos do not wear mascara. That's the giveaway, right? Okay.

SPEAKER_07 44:32

I think I think that I think that's true.

SPEAKER_03 44:34

Right. The woman now faces charges related to trespassing and interference with a wild uh wildlife exhibit. Uh Zoom management declined to comment on how she uh maintained uh unnoticed for multiple days, but confirmed that security protocols have been uh re-evaluated. Uh visitor described the situation as impressively as impressively committed. Uh so there you go. Uh that's it for the weird files.

SPEAKER_07 45:07

Did you uh she I hope she's been impressively committed.

SPEAKER_03 45:13

She um yeah, look, I mean that's that's that's a new one, right? That's uh that's one for the books uh being able to uh pose as a flamingo.

SPEAKER_07 45:23

Um I have I have so many questions, and I'm not gonna waste anybody's time by asking any of them.

SPEAKER_03 45:31

Uh did you get the theme though? Oh fake stuff. Oh, yeah, good, good job. Well done. Yep, yeah. Love it, love it, love it.

SPEAKER_07 45:40

Yeah, no, even even I got that one, Nate.

SPEAKER_03 45:42

Yeah, okay. Very good. Well done. Well, that's it for the weird file.

SPEAKER_07 45:49

Pretty proud of myself.

SPEAKER_03 45:50

Yeah, I think you should be. Uh what we might do. Uh what we might do is we might go to uh uh a short commercial break and we'll be right back.

SPEAKER_02 46:00

Okay. The battle of galactica has begun. When are they doomed?

unknown 46:13

We will do it.

SPEAKER_02 46:16

We will make them the battle of Galactica has begun the Universal Studios Tour.

SPEAKER_03 46:34

Well, there you go. Uh I hope you enjoyed the uh Battlestar Galactica Universals tour. Yeah, I mean did you did they have that when you were at Universal? Uh when you visited?

SPEAKER_07 46:48

No.

SPEAKER_03 46:49

Oh, you were missing out on a treat. I went and saw that when I was when I was a kid back in 1953. Um and um even before Battlestar Galactica came out as a TV show. No.

SPEAKER_07 47:02

Um I'm pretty sure that was gone by 1990 when I was there the first time.

SPEAKER_03 47:07

Yeah, it unreal, absolutely unreal. I mean, you know, it's all it's all fakers get out, but uh G Wizard, it's uh it's it's it's a lot of fun, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_07 47:17

When I was when I was at Universal Studios in 1990, they had a Star Trek um uh uh event or exhibition. It was like a stage show, and they got people up on stage and and transported them away. And through you know, TV magic and light and sound and stuff, they they simulated transporters. That was what was there, but that's long gone as well.

SPEAKER_03 47:43

So what a what a loss, what a loss that is.

SPEAKER_07 47:47

Well, they've got transformers now, they've got transformers in Jurassic Park now, so it's not all bad.

SPEAKER_03 47:52

There you go. Uh what you you I thought I'd ask you what what do you want to do? Do you want to do the review or do you want to do the aisle? Um, let's do the aisle. Okay, sounds good. All right, what have you been reading uh this week?

SPEAKER_07 48:09

Uh I've been reading uh a lot. Uh part of me being busy means that I've been working a lot, which means I've been on on the tram, uh, which means I've been reading. So uh yeah, I've had to select just a few of the things that I've been reading to talk about, otherwise, we'd be here for four hours.

SPEAKER_03 48:28

I get it. 100% get it.

SPEAKER_07 48:31

Yeah, I'll uh start off with um one of the surprises for me. Um it was something that I didn't have on my pull list uh of comics. Um, I read uh the first issue of a new image series. It's called M1 Monster Racing League.

SPEAKER_03 48:48

Oh no, I saw this. I haven't I haven't read it either, uh, but I was I was definitely interested in it though.

SPEAKER_07 48:54

Yeah, and I was struck by the um the cover art um by Jay Lee and Jun Chung. Yep. Um and that was that was what got me in into uh you know picking up the book and and uh having flipped through some of the pages. I I was um pretty hooked. And yeah, now it's now the rest of the series is is well and truly on my pull list because it was really great. It's um yeah, it got a sort of speed racer manga type feel. Um it's got some really good uh uh female protagonists. Um uh a couple of yeah, very um uh sort of fun uh light kind of characters. Um, but yeah, the art's really spectacular, and they sort of um you know tease at the end that it's gonna end up having uh sort of a supernatural um turn at some point in the story, sometime. Yeah, so uh M1 Monster Racing League. It's uh yeah, really fun series. I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes.

SPEAKER_03 49:57

Yeah, awesome, awesome. Uh I have um uh jumping in, I I have uh been uh reading uh a little bit actually more than I normally do this week, believe it or not. Uh I did uh read uh Transformers number 33. Did you read that?

SPEAKER_07 50:17

Yes, I did.

SPEAKER_03 50:18

Yeah, really good. Um another another great issue. Uh really interesting to see uh another creator on the on the uh doing the book. Uh so um yeah, we've got uh who have we got back this time doing doing the artwork for it? Uh it was um oh Jason Howard's back doing doing artwork for it.

SPEAKER_07 50:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 50:43

Same same as the last issue. Same as the last issue. So lots of uh well, not too much. Uh I I think we got less skinny bots this time, and um I think they're a little bit beefier. Uh I think with the with our more female robots, they were they were a little bit more feminine. Um but yeah, maybe maybe Jason's just getting used to drawing bots um and not humans for a change. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 51:12

No, I'm I'm I'm actually really enjoying his art. I I think it um it works really well, and I I really enjoyed this latest issue. Um liking where this story's going.

SPEAKER_03 51:23

Yeah, and and it's really um, I mean, we we've got uh you know some separate stories going on, uh, which you would expect from Kirkman, where where we've got um uh our teams are a little bit displaced on both Earth and Cybertron. Uh but we've also got uh this background story going on about the Decepticons and what that looks like for them. Hang on one second.

SPEAKER_07 51:53

Oh sorry bless you thrice.

SPEAKER_03 51:58

Um yeah, so so that's uh I I think this is a really interesting uh you know where it's actually going. And uh I'm I'm again, you know, next next issue they've already teased that Megatron is going to feature um because they've already shown us the cover. Uh and it looks like he's back to his original G1 glory. Um so uh so that'll be interesting to see what happens in uh issue 34.

SPEAKER_07 52:34

Yeah, no, I'm really I'm really looking forward to it. I'm uh really pleased to have caught up with Transformers, um, and I'm enjoying catching up with G.I. Joe as well. Um still got a little bit to go there, but um thoroughly enjoying the the Dreadnought War storyline. Um, it's yeah, really, really, really good stuff.

SPEAKER_03 52:53

Yeah, yeah. One thing that you and I both been have both read, we've actually read the next two, um, and maybe I'll leave the last one for you to to to cap off on is is um firestorm number three. Um have you read it? Yeah, I have read it. It's um yeah, it's wild. It's yeah, and and and it's funny because you and I have spoken uh offline about this, and we sort of had our uh suspicions on what it might be, and we are a hundred percent correct on why this is actually taking place. Um there's a big reveal that I wasn't expecting, um uh which was uh how firestorm came to be. Um yeah, it's it's hard not to not to give any any spoilers.

SPEAKER_07 53:45

It's kind of it's it's it's game changing though, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 53:47

Like it's a real humongously humongously game changing.

SPEAKER_07 53:51

Um yeah, like it's a really, really dark twist.

SPEAKER_03 53:55

For someone who collects who's collected Firestorm, uh, it was my first comic as a kid, um, which got me into comics. Uh yeah, this this totally turns the lore on its head.

SPEAKER_07 54:06

Uh how do you feel how do you feel about it?

SPEAKER_03 54:08

Yeah, look, um look, it's it's I'm okay with it actually. I'm not I don't I don't feel betrayed um about this at all. I think it gives it a different perspective uh on on what what it looks like for Firestorm.

SPEAKER_07 54:25

Uh if you felt betrayed, it'd sort of fit in with the story though, wouldn't it? So by that by that I mean you know it it wouldn't be a completely um you know illegitimate reaction to that particular twist.

SPEAKER_03 54:40

No, I I'm definitely surprised by it. I mean I I and and I it it definitely changes my perception on one of the characters in particular and and and what that now means, you know, it'd be it'd be interesting to go back with that with that knowledge and then reread past issues, yeah with that with that in mind. And I'm sure there's nothing there, but it it would definitely change my perspective on rereading them, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_07 55:10

Yeah, I think it's a a genius move on um Lim Lemir's behalf. Um because it really um yeah, it it it it it just creates so much drama and and future drama between um not just the two key characters but others as well. Um yeah, I think it's fascinating. I'm I'm really excited by it.

SPEAKER_03 55:33

Yeah, I I I totally agree. And I I think we've got a you know uh a fantastic team um you know doing doing the work in this. Um I think they they they they both you know both artist and writer are doing uh amazing work. Uh I I and and I like the degree of changing from current to um to past, and you can really see that that difference in, you know, it's like the the present is very dark, you know, everything's very dark tones, uh all that sort of stuff. So uh I I think it's I I really like where they're going and what they're actually doing. Um I was just gonna say, um, is it is it Marcello May May Mayolo? Is that is that his is that how you pronounce his name? Um he he he's doing some great work with the with the uh colours on this.

SPEAKER_07 56:30

Definitely.

SPEAKER_03 56:31

And yeah, and absolutely loving it.

SPEAKER_07 56:33

Yeah, no, it is it's a it's a really good looking book. Um it it still um has it like so many of these sort of DC all-in books, it's still got that um uh absolute feel while still fitting in with the um uh the the normal DC universe. Um and I think that's what I like about the the the twist in the story again, which we're not gonna spoil, but I think it's um it's a it's a really fun way to sort of make make an absolute style change in the story, but still keeping it within universe. Yeah, um it's it it's it's uh it's absolute in spirit, but um it still fits in with the with the regular canon, and I think it's really really brilliant.

SPEAKER_03 57:18

Yeah, 100% agree with that. Did you uh did you because I read digital, um, I I I've I have seen all the covers. Which which cover did you end up getting for? Uh variant. I got two.

SPEAKER_07 57:29

I got two.

SPEAKER_03 57:31

You do you get the dust and dust and nine?

SPEAKER_07 57:34

Uh yeah, I did. Yeah, and I I um saw the dust and noyen one on on um uh nuan um on the shelf at the the shop and yeah, couldn't resist it.

SPEAKER_03 57:46

How can how can you knight? It's such a gorgeous cover, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 57:50

Stunning. Um uh but yeah, I got that and I also got the regular cover. Um I just didn't see myself buying multiple covers of uh Firestorm this year, but um, you know, you never quite know what the future holds, do you?

SPEAKER_03 58:04

Anything's possible. I mean, even the even the Todd Knock one was pretty good too.

SPEAKER_07 58:08

So um really I'm not sure I saw I'm not sure I saw that one. We we don't get all of them uh in the the store. Um we just sort of get we couldn't. There's so many variant covers these days. Um but uh yeah, yeah, no, uh when when I saw that one, I just thought I enjoyed I like the simplicity of it, and because Dustin um you know works in watercolor um or at least a watercolor style, um, I just thought it was was was beautifully affected.

SPEAKER_03 58:37

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I 100% agree with you on that one. Uh the other the other DC book that both you and I have uh have read is uh Absolute Catwoman, uh number one, which came out this week for us. Yep, yep. Uh and uh that was uh what was it Scott Snyder and uh is it is it Cho Cho Grayson who who wrote this?

SPEAKER_07 58:59

Yeah, I think it's uh Shay Grayson.

SPEAKER_03 59:01

Oh, is it Chay Grayson? Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 59:03

Shea Grayson, um art by Bengal. Um yeah, uh what did you think of Absolute Catwoman number one?

SPEAKER_03 59:11

This is wild. This is uh this is everything that I wanted in a catwoman story and more. Um I loved uh I loved the the intro um with a reach back to uh to historic to a historical universe of Catwoman, uh which I thought was really fun and clever. Uh I I think the pacing was was was excellent. It's given us enough uh story to to want an issue to. And um, yeah, I was I was really impressed with it. Um I I didn't know where they were gonna go after her sort of leaving the absolute Batman, you know, title. Uh so but I really like this and I love how she has her own uh her own lair. What was it called?

SPEAKER_07 1:00:02

It was it called the the the uh the place where she stores all her gear she calls the cat cave, which makes the cat cave, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:10

Which I thought was I I thought the cat's lair would have been a much better name, but uh other than that, that was my only my only criticism of it. I I thought it was a fantastic, super fun read, lots of action, uh really, really drawn well. Um what about you?

SPEAKER_07 1:00:28

I loved it, I thought it was great. Um I've there's been a lot of talk in the shop about that issue this week, and I keep telling people that I think it's one of the best um story treatments of Selena Kyle that there's been. And I don't mean that as a slight on any of the other stuff that we've had. Um, I've been reading uh the regular Catwoman comic for for uh well since its its inception. Um and uh yeah, I I I really think that this is uh a great treatment. It's a great uh contemporization of of Selena. Um I I like that they point out um that she's uh a particularly young woman. Um uh partly because it it shows that um even despite her relatively young age, um, 25, they they say she is, um, she's already had she's already led a dramatic and exotic life. Um uh I'm a little bit concerned about um what's what what uh is gonna happen as a result of of all of this because yeah, they've definitely um uh painted a pretty rosy picture of where she is at the moment. Um the only way appears to be down. So um uh but yeah, I agree with you. I thought uh I think the art's amazing. Um the character design's beautiful. Um uh the other characters I really enjoyed. Um there's another character, Holly. I don't that that's spoilers. Um I thought she was a really great character, a really good addition to the to the cast. Um and I really like the twist in the end too.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:14

The big reveal at the end was a was a great reveal at the end, which obviously leads into uh you know another book, which will be really interesting.

SPEAKER_07 1:02:24

So yeah, I'm really hoping that um uh absolute fan fans of other absolute books uh read this one because um I can sort of see how it's um it's only a six-issue series, and so I I can sort of see that uh it's perhaps gonna turn uh a circle back towards um the the other book. Yeah, um, and I think that it's gonna be a story that uh we're gonna be talking about for some time. But yeah, I really loved it. Uh a bit like Absolute Green Arrow. I thought it was another great start. Um uh yeah, it it you know definitely got me excited, and I'm really looking forward to issue number two.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:02

What's the what's the buzz like in the uh and it's only early days, but what's the buzz like in the in the store? Uh for Catwoman? For Catwoman.

SPEAKER_07 1:03:13

Yeah, it's um it's it's been positive, very positive. Um, like we've we've certainly sold a lot of issues. Um, we got a lot in. Um, there's been a lot of uh attention on the beautiful variant covers. Um, we've certainly sold a lot of those too. But I think a lot of people, I think that they sort of don't know, don't quite know what the series is.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:37

Right.

SPEAKER_07 1:03:37

Um, but uh as I say, I really hope that um particularly fans of Absolute Batman read it. Uh, because as I say, I I suspect that by the time we get to the end of Sticks Issues, it's gonna kind of circle back, um and and certainly have uh ripple effects through through other books. Um but yeah, no, generally positive. Um, and those of us that have read it and work in the shop have been hyping it up, and um uh it it's our enthusiasm certainly seems to be resulting in a lot of uh uh sales, um, which which is really good. Um I think it's another hit for for DC and the absolute line, uh most definitely.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:21

Yeah, uh I I completely agree with you, and that's that that's fantastic that it's that it's doing well, which is which is which is great to to to hear because then it it means that they'll uh they'll keep keep on with that character, won't they? Uh but uh tell us pulp nation. Uh you reading uh Catwoman, uh Absolute Catwoman. Uh have you read it? Tell us what you think. Uh let us know on our socials under Pulp Culture Pod. Uh the uh the only other book uh that's that's worth uh noting, uh which you've read, which I haven't, because I I got a physical copy of this, and I'm highly jealous that you've you got in before me on this one. Uh is Mask number one. So uh I'm gonna hand it over to you. I've got nothing to say on this one other than I'll be drooling in my own mind until I till I get my physical copy.

SPEAKER_07 1:05:13

Well, I'm I'm gonna ruin it for you completely and spoil it and tell you that they all die.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:21

It's gonna be on the t-shirt, I'm telling you.

SPEAKER_07 1:05:24

Yeah, no. Um uh mask number one, it's it's really good. Um, I really enjoyed it. Um I was excited from uh having read the uh the preview in the free comic book day energon special um and the anodron special proper. Um Pi Par, um his art is amazing. Um he draws uh characters and and figures beautifully, but the way that he draws vehicles, you are just gonna go nuts for.

SPEAKER_05 1:05:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 1:05:58

Um from the opening. Scenes when we see there's a car, um, it's just mouthwatering. Um and yeah, that as as far as first issues go, this one is yeah, action-packed, um, great characters, uh, great visuals. Um, it's a really spectacular, um, really spectacular start. And on this, to be honest, um, it's it's been selling really well too. And we've we've uh had a blind bag for this one. Oh, yes, yeah. And those have been uh very popular as well.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:33

Um, have they been opening them in store?

SPEAKER_07 1:06:37

Some people have, yeah. Um yeah, some people have. I've I've seen a few. I saw someone open one what someone opened one today, and it's actually got a completely different comic in the blind bag.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:48

It's not not the first issue of it's uh I think we can say because it's definitely hit the socials, and uh, which is uh Rom Rom number one.

SPEAKER_07 1:06:57

Well, there was Rom number one, but there's also one called Mask Origins, which is like a a prelude. Oh, it's like a whole different story. I was a little bit jealous when I saw this one because it it seems to be an additional uh part of the story that isn't featured in mask number one.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:15

This could be I wonder whether I wonder whether this is from the mini-series that they did a number of years ago. I think it was back in 2023, 24. Uh where they did a where they did a where they did a mini-series of masks, like an introductory of mask. It was only about six issues. Uh, so I wonder whether that's kind of kind of uh whether they're using some of that from back then.

SPEAKER_07 1:07:42

Yeah, no, I'm not sure. It was just it um there was a beautiful it had a beautiful like you know, shiny boy cover. Yeah, um, and yeah, uh the the title mask origins. And when we opened it up and had a look, it was yeah, completely new different content. So yeah, um not quite not quite sure what that was, but as I say, I'm a little bit jealous because I really enjoyed the the first issue, and I'm I'm really excited about you getting a hold of your copy as well. So yeah, um I'll I'll try and get it to you, ASAP.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:12

Yes, I'll uh I'll I'll accept any form of of of courier. Um with we'll work something out with with with the introduction of these these different uh books in blind bag, uh rom number one was uh was a really interesting one.

SPEAKER_07 1:08:29

Of yeah, I don't know what was going on there. Yeah, it's gonna be an old Marvel property, didn't it?

SPEAKER_03 1:08:38

Yeah, rom used to be an old Marvel property, so obviously it's it's up for grabs now. And um, yeah, I was I was really interested in um in what that that came about, right?

SPEAKER_07 1:08:51

Well, uh uh is the implication perhaps that rom's gonna be tied into the energy universe, or um apologies if you said something along those lines.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:00

Yeah, I well, I mean it it has to be because it's in it's in that mask blind bag, uh, from my understanding that it is definitely part of the Energon universe. Um that you know Kirkman came out and said uh oh no, it was uh it was an editor, it was one of the executive editor editors. Um uh I think it was Ben Abernathy turned around and said that that uh that he could he that they sorry that Rom was joining the Energon Universe. Okay. Uh so that's that that was such a surprise and delight, I think, for anybody opened the bag, let alone anybody that got the news after those blind bags started getting opened.

SPEAKER_07 1:09:50

And did you have you read any Rom? Because I didn't I don't think I no, I don't think I've ever read any either.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:56

No, and I and I wonder where that, you know, that the you know, where that sits. Is that sitting more on the on the Ur of Void Rivals, or is that sitting more in the transformer, you know, because Rom is a like he's very similar, he's not a he's not a transformer, he's a robot, um, but he's not uh he he doesn't transform into anything.

SPEAKER_07 1:10:22

But he's a space he's a spacefaring robot, isn't he? That's yeah, that's right.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:26

That's exactly right. So so is he more I'm sort of trying to work out. I mean, look, definitely welcome in the Energon universe. However, I'm just trying to sort of work out in my own mind where that actually sits. And and I I suppose that ROM number one will give us an idea. I'm guessing it's gonna get released as a normal book in the next month or so. Um, but I haven't seen anything uh as of yet to advertise anything advertised, have you?

SPEAKER_07 1:10:57

I guess we'll we'll find out in the coming weeks.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:00

You know, you know what I love about this though, like we were talking about uh we were talking about these too many, too many variant covers. Uh and when I started seeing that the blind bags were coming out, and there was this such a huge hype for uh the blind bags for the um uh Daredevil when Daredevil number number one came out. Yeah, they they went they went so quick I barely saw them. Yeah, yeah, they they went as quick as as Daredevil does. Um and so I I I but I actually really like this idea of um you know having a blind bag with something really new in it um as a surprise, you know, and then release it later on. So this is this is a really great way of uh doing exactly what was intended, which which was to hype up a comic before it even everybody gets their hands on it, right? Because only a select few have been able to grab a copy of it, but then also uh sprook about it and tell everybody else and get everybody else pumped for it. So um I certainly, I mean, I do think it's fun.

SPEAKER_07 1:12:18

I haven't bought any of the blind bags at this stage. Um, I'm not gonna say that I won't, but um, it's certainly something I'm gonna resist. But when they start putting um, you know, totally different content in them, it makes me think twice. Yeah. I'm sure is I'm sure is their motivation for doing it. But um 100%. Yeah, and it's it is it's it's it's interesting that the blind bag thing um has been very successful. Um any of the ones that they've released. There's a Doctor Doom one coming out um sometime soon uh as well. Uh I'm not sure what exactly that's for, but um, we've already got had people placing orders for that. So um I don't think they're going anywhere anytime soon. Same as variant covers. Um, love them or hate them, they're here to stay. So um it's uh yeah, it's just an a different level of of intrigue and excitement. Um yeah, bring it on.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:16

Well, we gotta we we didn't get necessarily, I think from from my memory, the first it wasn't really a blind bag, it was just a uh it was just a bad, it was just bagged, which was the death of Superman. I think that's the the earliest that I can remember being a bagged comic.

SPEAKER_07 1:13:35

Um yeah, but I don't I don't think that was before like X Force Number One X Force Number One, was it?

SPEAKER_03 1:13:45

Was that well?

SPEAKER_07 1:13:46

Um I I bought a couple of copies of X Force Number One back in the day, and I reckon that was '91 or '92, maybe. Right. Um, and that was because they had a trading card in them.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:57

Right.

SPEAKER_07 1:13:58

Gotcha. Um, but but this stuff is becoming more and more common. It's like another one we've had this week has been uh Avengers Armageddon number one, which um has sold in a bag with a uh Magic the uh Magic the Gathering card. Right, right. And those have been red hot as well. So um yeah, it's I mean it's definitely a a thing. As I said, I don't particularly hate it. I just um I I I think it's fun, but um I'm still I'm sort of not sure what to to think about it. And and this um, you know, addition of uh totally different comics that are a completely different character, and and um you know, certainly the additional mask story, um, that's got me thinking twice, only because I'd love to read it. Um so yeah, it's it's a it's an interesting phenomenon, and I'm still sort of working out how I feel about it. But as I say, I think it's here to say people seem to love it, so I don't think we're gonna miss out on it either.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:02

You know, with Ron Rom, with either Rom or that origin story, I I think this is just uh uh a way of uh a really inexpensive way of hyping up a comic that we're about that that we'll get in the in the not too distant future. And I mean, just going back to to the bag uh you know status, and you were talking about you think it was um X Force No. You were actually 100% correct. I don't know why I doubted you. I usually do, but you know, it's my state. Um, yeah, it was X-Force 1991, it was. Uh and it was polybags. That's I I couldn't remember what the name was. Um, but yeah, that was when they were polybagging. Um, and X-Force number one was the first one.

SPEAKER_07 1:15:44

So I definitely I I I did that was the first time I ever got sort of more than one of the first issue. I got caught up in the hype of that. And I think they had uh random trading cards in them. I don't think it was the same card, and I think that was why I bought more than more than one of them. Um and I definitely got the Death of Superman one as well. Um yeah, and I've still got my Death of Superman poly bag, and it's still got all the um paraphernalia that was in the the bag to begin with. It had the um the black armband with the superman Death of Superman logo on it, and uh it was like a Daily Planet uh newspaper headline um in it as well. Um yeah, that's still a price part of my collection.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:36

Yeah, that's that's that's so cool. I mean, you know, tell us tell us pulp nation. Do you uh you know, are you into the into this new blind bag uh craze? Uh is it here to stay? Uh what would you like to see? Uh and do you like the idea of uh of having uh these blind bags? Uh let us know on uh on our socials under pulp culture pod. Uh we'd like to know your thoughts.

SPEAKER_07 1:17:01

I think that's what's got me excited about it. Like there's there's a lot of potential for some mischief and fun on behalf of the companies. Um I'm I'm intrigued to see what they do. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:13

Uh well, I think that's pretty much it for uh the aisle. Uh maybe we'll have a uh quick commercial break and uh and then we'll be back for uh some some really interesting shows that we're gonna be talking about uh on uh the uh the review.

SPEAKER_00 1:17:38

This is coming up in the world's only experience.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:01

You gotta love Six Flags America, don't you? That's amazing that uh that ride.

SPEAKER_07 1:18:09

Not even at Disney, Nate.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:11

Not even at Disney. You gotta you gotta love it when when the when the uh Batman ride is yellow. Uh so um not too sure on what that's about, but I I have I have a theory.

SPEAKER_07 1:18:25

Oh yeah. Yeah, well the the yellow capsules would be easier to find if they get flung off when the ride breaks. Because if if if they're if they're black, then you know they could get lost in the bushes or something. But if they're bright, yeah, right.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:40

Okay, gotcha. Gotcha. I thought it might be the utility belt, you know, being flown around, but yeah, maybe.

SPEAKER_07 1:18:46

I think it's probably the you know uh finding dead bodies thing.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:50

Yeah, it's a it's a big reach nonetheless, but uh we digress. Uh hopefully you're enjoying our first uh uh video uh of um of the pulp culture pod, and uh you're uh you you're slowly getting accustomed to our faces. Uh but um yeah, let us know. We'd we we'd love your feedback. Uh should we keep doing this or should we just go back to audio? Um and uh but yeah, we'll uh definitely be uh trying to uh to bring us into the 21st century with uh with with with this uh this option and hopefully in the near future we'll have some also some guests that'll be able to join us uh as part of the conversation.

SPEAKER_07 1:19:35

Should Nate do every episode now in Danhausen makeup? Oh, actually, that would be good.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:41

I mean it it wouldn't work very well with the beard.

SPEAKER_07 1:19:44

Uh he's trademarked it, so you'd probably get sued.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:48

Well, there's lots of people who are doing it right.

SPEAKER_07 1:19:51

So uh if they could cover up uh Cesar Romero's mustache to be the Joker back in the day, they could because you never saw that, right?

SPEAKER_03 1:20:01

I mean, you never ever saw his mustache, right? No, they did you ever see the figure that uh was it McFarlane Toys did of Caesar Romero and and he actually still had the mustache? It was great.

SPEAKER_07 1:20:15

What I love about it is that back in the day, like you know, the quality of television was was so poor that it didn't really matter. Like you probably couldn't you couldn't see it. And now I've got rainy. Well, now I've got my now I've got blu-rays, yeah. And and you know, it's not HD, but it is the you know the highest quality of of restoration that you could possibly get. And and you can see that mustache.

SPEAKER_03 1:20:38

Yeah, well, if it's in 4K, you can see the uh the hair follicles as they're growing.

SPEAKER_05 1:20:44

So I love it. I love it.

SPEAKER_03 1:20:48

Uh well, uh, we're into uh we're into the sort of the end and end road of uh of the of this of the show. Uh we hope you've enjoyed it so far. Um we're uh we're moving now into into the segment which is the review where uh both MJ and I have uh been watching either TV or film or or something else uh and uh giving our thoughts and opinions on it. Um but we'd love you in the conversation on it as well.

SPEAKER_07 1:21:18

You've got you've got to make sure we've got time for my uh my special reveal tonight tonight as well.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:22

Oh yes, yes, we've definitely got time. So don't don't worry about it.

SPEAKER_07 1:21:25

I don't really know, I don't really know which segment it fits into, but um, you know, because we're doing video, I've got to do a visual reveal.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:32

Yeah, okay. Uh but uh let's let's get into uh couple of uh TV shows. Maybe we'll leave the big one uh that that that you finally watched this week uh uh to the end. Uh so we can talk about it.

SPEAKER_07 1:21:50

I have to get I have to confess it's it's about it's about all I've watched this week because again, I've been I've been really busy. That's okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:56

Yeah, I have seen a movie this week though. Okay. Uh maybe, maybe if you want to start with that, what have you what have you what did you see?

SPEAKER_07 1:22:04

Yeah, well, it's not um disclosure day. Unfortunately, I haven't managed to see that yet, but I'm hoping to see that within the next week. But yeah um we went back to the MSO. Um, producer Kim's workmates bought her some tickets for the um uh MSO uh Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Secrets screening.

SPEAKER_03 1:22:24

Oh, nice.

SPEAKER_07 1:22:26

So we went to that last Friday night and that was great fun.

SPEAKER_03 1:22:28

Um I hadn't explain what that what that looks like for our for for the pulp nation who might not know what actually takes place.

SPEAKER_07 1:22:37

Yeah, no, it's uh effectively a a um um a concert by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra um at their usual venue, um Hamer Hall at the Arts Center in the city. Um, but they screen um the entirety of the movie uh uh a movie on the screen. Um in this case it was Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Um earlier in the year, um uh producer Kim and I went and saw Beauty and the Beast. Um, but they do Star Wars and um Terminator and all sorts of stuff. Um, but yeah, in this case they were showcasing John Williams' soundtrack to the second Harry Potter film, um, Chamber of Secrets. And uh yeah, it was really good. I I hadn't seen it for a long time. Um a lot of the uh the dialogue uh seems a lot clunkier than I remember it, but um uh the music, um, the soundtrack is spectacular, um as John Williams stuff always is. So um yeah, it was a really good time, uh really good vibe around the place, and um lots of people in you know costumes and uh house scarves and that sort of thing. Um and yeah, it was was a good time.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:48

Yeah, nice. And so um uh the audience obviously really enjoyed it.

SPEAKER_07 1:23:55

Yeah, most definitely. Um, yeah, and it's it's as I say, it's a it's a good mix of you know, uh kind of a night out of the movies, but um if you don't feel like watching the movie, you can watch the orchestra. Um, I I sort of split my time between between the two. Um, but uh yeah, no, it's it's it's a it's a really good time. They they they do them quite regularly. Um uh organizations other than the MSO do them these days as well. There's uh another um uh group that that that does them. So there's plenty of opportunity to go and see uh movies with a live orchestra these days, um, in Melbourne at least. Um so yeah, uh it was was was a really, really good experience.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:38

Yeah, fantastic. That's that's great.

SPEAKER_07 1:24:40

Yeah um what else have you what what else have you been watching?

SPEAKER_03 1:24:43

Yeah, so uh I you'll you'll probably catch up with that this week in our time, uh, which is uh the first episode of My Adventures with Superman, uh, which is uh the uh first episode of season three, uh where we're picking up uh not too far in the future from uh the end of uh season two, uh where we saw the the the conclusion to uh Kara's sort of uh uh introductory story. Uh so this is now sort of um in a in a position now where we have uh Kara sort of settling in uh to to Earth Life and what's that what that's kind of starting to look like for her, uh, but also for our other characters like Jimmy and Lois and uh and also Clark. Uh we've got uh Jack Quaid back as Superman slash Clark Kent. Uh and he does a fantastic job. He really is uh good on both levels of of doing that socially awkward um in that Clark Kent, and then having a uh you know uh Superman who's still trying to find his feet but has a level of confidence at the same time.

SPEAKER_07 1:26:06

So he's really, really good.

SPEAKER_03 1:26:08

Yeah, very, very diverse in those in both of those roles, which is which is fantastic. Uh this this episode also gives us an introduction uh introduction to uh Project Cadmus. And uh as we know, we're going to have uh The Eradicator and also Superboy uh in this season, uh, as well as uh Green Lance. And we talked about Jessica Cruz earlier as a as a backdoor pilot for for uh that ongoing series. Uh so we we did get an introduction of Project Cadmus. And what I think uh could be uh without giving away, I well, we get another introduction of another character. I won't spoil it, I'll uh I'll leave that for everyone. Um, but yeah, we get an introduction of another character, which I think I I know who it is, and it's an interesting way of of uh retelling this because obviously this is not in uh uh any of the the known DC universes that we have. This is a different sort of uh interpretation um of that using using the stories that we know and love, but change you know, changing them up for this this this universe, a younger universe, if you want to call it that.

SPEAKER_07 1:27:28

Yeah, um I'm really I'm really looking forward to watching that. I'll I'll definitely absolutely have watched that by um by the time I record next.

SPEAKER_03 1:27:36

Yeah, uh and and it's it's just really enjoyable and really fun, lighthearted. I I did uh bins through um over the last couple of weeks uh through my adventures of Superman season two to get up to speed. Uh so I'm I I was I was pretty much riding on the high of of that season two, and I was really glad that I rewatched it again uh because it was a few. Things that I'd forgotten about or might have missed. But yeah, it's um it it I think it's got actually got better um with this season. And um so I'm really looking forward to uh to seeing where it's going, especially now that we've got more characters coming into play. Uh and I think we'll probably see more more of Steel as well. So um so which uh which I think will be really fun.

SPEAKER_07 1:28:26

Yeah, I was gonna ask whether we got a any um look at him during the first episode.

SPEAKER_03 1:28:31

Yeah, I uh we um we we we've got a we got a small glimpse of him. I I I the only thing that I find a little bit jarring about his character at the moment is is that he's not wearing a helmet. That it's you know, he's he's got the full mech suit going on, but he's just got no helmet. And I think that's the only thing that's really missing from his character. I'm really hoping that they give him a helmet in this this time round. I you know, it it just I always wonder about characters that are in battle, and you know, they're wearing this protective gear for a reason, but their head is exposed, you know.

SPEAKER_07 1:29:09

So um I call it I call it um egg cut mode. Um, you know, um I'll have to have a look and see what I think. One of the things that I like about my adventures with is adventures with Superman is that they they don't mind getting a bit creative with some of the costumes, like they they really um push the envelope with with some of the designs, sometimes with uh success and and sometimes not with so much success, I think. But um I'll have to have another look and see what I think of steel. Yeah, it is always a bit problematic when um characters like him and Lex Luthor um who uh don't have uh any sort of imperviousness to to harm, they're not indestructible or anything like that, have these amazing suits and then um leave their most important body part exposed. But yeah, yeah, um, yeah, no, I guess uh sometimes you've just got to suspend your disbelief.

SPEAKER_03 1:30:07

Yeah. You know what's really interesting about this series though? Um, and it is, you know, it's it's it's it's a Warner Brothers production. Um and it I there is very there's low to no uh merchandise for my my adventures with Superman, which is really surprising. I would have thought that there might have been figures or um you know at least something, but there's there's very little uh out there, which is a real surprise.

SPEAKER_07 1:30:39

I think maybe it um it probably is an indicator of the age group that this show's aimed at. Because I don't I don't know whether it shows on Cartoon Network, but it's it's a it's an adult, oh it does show on Cartoon Network, but it's an adult swim show. Yes, it is, uh which puts it in that sort of later time slot. Um and I think that the new episodes in the US premiere at midnight.

SPEAKER_03 1:31:06

Um so they premiere they premiere on adult swim late, and then the next day they then show on HBO Max.

SPEAKER_07 1:31:14

Yeah, so I I I think that probably indicates that the the kids and therefore the heart of the toy market is not where they're they're aiming at with this show. Um, but it is uh it is disappointing a little bit because um that one of the highlights of the the show is is the character designs, um, and the sort of you know anime manga style feel of um uh of of the show um is one of its great appeals, I think. Um who knows? Maybe they'll correct that uh sometime during this season.

SPEAKER_03 1:31:46

Yeah, maybe we'll get uh maybe we'll get uh who would it be? Hasbro, playmates, McFarlane, who knows?

SPEAKER_07 1:31:54

Don't know you're the you're the toy style the toy expert.

SPEAKER_03 1:31:57

They'd have to do it in that style though, right? So um yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 1:32:02

So they'd have to get the style right, but if they do, they'd be uh choice toys.

SPEAKER_03 1:32:07

Well, Jax Jack's toys at the moment are doing uh the Sonic uh the Sonic X uh DC range.

SPEAKER_07 1:32:16

Uh they're they're they're a great looking um set of toys.

SPEAKER_03 1:32:21

Yeah, I saw the Batman and Superman uh crossover ones, uh, and they looked pretty good. Uh so yeah, maybe maybe Jack's Toys, they they might do a really good job of it because they're they're sort of already doing something a little bit similar. Um but uh yeah, look, it's it's like I said, it's a great series. Looking forward to uh to to to what the each uh each episode brings. Uh the great thing about this this show is that it's coming on a weekly basis, so you've got time to uh to catch up uh and watch it. Uh, you know, you can watch a couple of episodes before you you uh get on to the next episode. Uh but uh yeah, look out for that one. Uh if you've got HBO Max, it'll be uh screening on a weekly basis. I think it's on a Monday or something or other. Um but uh yeah, uh the other show that um I think is is worthy of talking about, and I don't know about you, but I've been saying this for weeks that people need to get on the uh Widow's Bay train. And uh this week has been an absolute explosion on social media. I don't know about you, um, but I have seen it everywhere, like from the uh USA Today show uh to uh Collider to uh Deadline. Everybody's raving about Widows Bay, and we're up to episode. It took nine episodes for us to get to this point.

SPEAKER_07 1:33:53

Um the last episode isn't out yet, is it?

SPEAKER_03 1:33:56

Uh no, no, it's coming out. Uh I think I've got I think it's two days before it comes out, and I'm just biting my nails over it. I just can't wait.

SPEAKER_07 1:34:05

Makes me wonder it makes me wonder whether there's a real kick in the tail. Like um and that's why they've that's why they've waited all this time, or yeah, I've seen I've seen fan art. Sorry, say it again.

SPEAKER_03 1:34:20

I said to put the push the PR engine.

SPEAKER_07 1:34:22

Yeah, but I but I mean you you're right. I've I've seen you know fan art from like professional artists like um Babs Tar and all sorts of stuff. And I've I've heard uh other people talking about it as well, like in real life, um, not just on socials, which is um interesting. Because I I know that some weeks ago when you started watching it, one of the things that you you said about it was uh it's it it's similar to a lot of Apple shows, it there was no hype, there was no publicity, nothing. Um and now, as you say, it's it's kind of everywhere. Um, I've watched two episodes uh and I really enjoyed the first couple. I think they're great. Um, it's a great-looking show. Um, the the sense of humor of it is very funny. Um the the um sense of peril is is real. Um yeah, producer Kim in particular has been on her um on the edge of her seat watching the first two episodes. Uh Matthew Reese is wonderful. Um Steven Root is uh his usual bat crazy self. Um and yeah, it's the the whole cast is is magnificent. Um, I'm really looking forward to getting some time to watch some more episodes this week.

SPEAKER_03 1:35:42

So the first two episodes that you you would have seen would have been the the pilot, which was the introduction to our characters, and also Widows Babe, which is a which is a town which is sort of set, it's like a an island off New England, uh and uh and and uh everybody on the island has this belief that the island is cursed.

SPEAKER_07 1:36:05

Um not everybody, but a lot of people.

SPEAKER_03 1:36:09

But yeah, majority like the the it's sort of like folklore of the island is that it's cursed, right? Yeah uh whereas our uh new town mayor, uh which is played by Matthew Reese, uh, he is trying to uh dispel those those those assumptions or that folklore that that that there is a a curse on the island. And as the series goes on, the more he discovers how wrong he really is. Uh so that's the first that was the pilot. The second episode was that the hotel? Was that where he stayed in the hotel? Yes.

SPEAKER_07 1:36:47

And that's that's that's where he really starts to realize that things are not uh not as rosy as they seem.

SPEAKER_03 1:36:56

And and and and it's off the wall, right? It's uh you know, somebody described it as Parks and Wreck meets uh Stephen King.

SPEAKER_07 1:37:04

So which I think it really does have a Parks and Wreck type feel, and as we've said, you know, the the the showrunner and one of the main riders or the main rider is uh parks and recognition recall alum. And it really does have that feel, it's just a bit uh yeah, sort of darker. I was struck by how much the the hotel reminded reminds me of the Bates Motel, um and its profile and the way that it's shot. Um it's a it's a really great looking show, like um, you know, despite all the the weirdness and stuff that's going on there, I wouldn't mind holiday holidaying on um Widow's Bay.

SPEAKER_03 1:37:44

So yeah, well just not after dark, right? So um, and you'll find that even more and more as you as as you go along. Uh the uh I'll I'll give it a go.

SPEAKER_07 1:37:54

I'll just stay out of the crawl spaces.

SPEAKER_03 1:37:58

Referring to uh episode two without giving away any spoilers. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Uh with the um with with Widows Bay, it's it's it's just one of those shows that uh if you're gonna start watching it, I would highly recommend, and I'm glad you did exactly what I recommended was watch the pilot and then watch episode two. Um there's something about the pilot that you need uh to connect with season two to keep watching it. I think is a bit of a disconnect between the pilot and the and the sick and the second episode. But I think if you watch them back to back, it it it it pairs really, really nicely. But I think it was an episode, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 1:38:38

The episodes are not super long either. It's not one of those shows where the hours it's like an hour-long episode. So um, and that was why we watched two, because you know, the first one wasn't overly long. Um, so yeah, you can sort of whip through one or two at a time. Um, I think that's probably what we'll keep doing. Um if possible, we'll we'll watch two at a time at least. Um we don't sort of binge too much in this house, but um, yeah, no, we'll we'll we'll um we'll we'll stick with it. It's said yeah, really good fun. I'm I'm glad we finally got on the the bandwagon.

SPEAKER_03 1:39:13

Yeah, yeah. And it looks like everybody else is now. This is uh this is a what what they're calling a a sleeper, a sleeper show. Um and uh I I can see I can see why everybody's jumping on board, and I'm glad that that I'm not the only one um now spruking it from the rooftops and um loving uh you know other um you know uh others who are sort of speculating what it what it looks like, how the end's gonna happen and all that sort of stuff.

SPEAKER_07 1:39:44

But uh yeah, when when you talk about it being a sleeper, it sort of it does it it does remind me a little bit of the phenomenon of Shits Creek. Oh yep, yep. Because it took uh it took us a long time to get to Shits Creek as well, and I think a lot of people um this the same. And again, it's a it's about a you know, strange little sort of rural community with all of the quirky characters that are in involved in that. Um, but uh despite all of the the madness and weirdness, once you start watching it, you kind of want to keep hanging out there. Um yeah, no, I'm I'm looking forward to more. It's it's uh really, really good so far.

SPEAKER_03 1:40:22

Yeah, no, I'm glad I'm glad you're really enjoying it. Well, uh that's pretty much it for the review. Uh let's get into probably you know maybe your favorite segment of the of the of the show, uh, which is uh the uh moss eisley uh mail bag. Let's do that. You know, uh we've got to always play the uh you know token music here, so uh we'll we'll put that on. There you go, enough of that.

SPEAKER_07 1:40:59

Any any opportunity you get to play a cantina band music, you should do it. All right, so yeah, a bit of a quick one this time.

SPEAKER_03 1:41:08

We don't have hoops in the letter column. What's our deform toaster up to this week?

SPEAKER_07 1:41:13

Let's find out. Um, yeah, I'll give you a look because we've got a you know a visual media now. So yes, uh, this is our issue. Very 80s looking cover. I'm not sure who that is. It's uh Jam Jem from Jem and the Holographic, yeah, yeah, possibly, or amethyst from DC or oh yeah, um, but yeah, this is our issue. Uh number 111, 3rd of August 1985, 27p. Um, please note the the the Wheatabix competition commercial at the top.

SPEAKER_03 1:41:45

Oh, yeah, look at that. Look at that, and Luke's looking a little bit Luke's looking a little bit polarized by her outfit. Is that what's going on?

SPEAKER_07 1:41:54

Uh maybe. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:41:56

He's or is that or is he or is he excited like in in awe of the Wheatabix at uh competition that's going on?

SPEAKER_07 1:42:03

No, I think he's aghast at the color clash.

SPEAKER_03 1:42:06

Oh, right, right. Yeah, too much coordination going on.

SPEAKER_07 1:42:09

I reckon that Wheatabix looks like a disgruntled hash brown.

SPEAKER_03 1:42:13

Yeah, I do agree with you on that one.

SPEAKER_07 1:42:16

Yeah, yeah. Um anyway, we'll we'll have a look at one of the letters in here today because it it's um it it it yeah, it it does have uh some stuff to do with uh your boy Cyril, yeah um and the various nicknames that now they can see how excited I am about Cyril. Yeah, uh your your nickname is very hurtful. Um and we've had a lot of requests, we've had had a lot of requests from listeners uh that you stop calling him a performed poster.

SPEAKER_03 1:42:48

Um I would like to know those names, and uh I'll watch it.

SPEAKER_07 1:42:52

Just know that there's been dozens of them. Oh don't ask for don't ask, don't ask for receipts.

SPEAKER_03 1:43:02

Don't ask for receipts, okay. Sure.

SPEAKER_07 1:43:05

Um, anyway, so this letter's called uh nicknames, uh and it goes thusly. Uh dear Cyril, although I am a great fan of the Star Wars saga, I have an amazing confession to make. A few years ago, my friend Jeanette Thompson, wow, she just named her like that. Um my friend Jeanette Thompson.

SPEAKER_03 1:43:26

There you go.

SPEAKER_07 1:43:27

Yeah. Uh so a few years ago, my friend Jeanette uh came to spend the night at my house, and while she was there, she caught sight of my brother's Star Wars figures. Right. She asked me what they were called, and as I didn't know, we made up our own names for them. This is what we called them. Oh this is this is uh Sarah Harper from Staffordshire and her friend Jeanette. Uh C3PO became Goldie. Make sense?

SPEAKER_03 1:43:54

Yep.

SPEAKER_07 1:43:55

Um it gets a bit weird from here. R2 D2 was uh Biddy Man. Biddy Man. Uh Biddy Biddy Man. Yeah. Oh Biddy Man. Okay. Biddy man. Yep. Uh the stormtrooper became uh the Can Can Man. And Darth Vader, we called they called him Bandy Legs. Okay. Uh of course, this was all a long time ago, and we know better now, as we are both fans of Star Wars from Sarah Harper of Staffordshire.

SPEAKER_03 1:44:28

Um you should have known better from the beginning, really. Um yeah, I don't accept that.

SPEAKER_07 1:44:35

No, but uh what's interesting here is that Cyril uh comments at the the end, sort of a bit of an editorial note, and he says, I I know just how they must feel. I get called Tinhead all the time.

SPEAKER_03 1:44:48

Well, thank you for pointing that one out. I had I didn't have a another name for you, but uh now that uh now that I have Tinhead, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 1:44:58

That's about all we've got from the Moss Isley mailbag this week, but I will regale you with this um beautiful picture of your boy.

SPEAKER_03 1:45:06

Oh geez, look at that. Yeah, is everyone excited about that? What's not to like?

SPEAKER_07 1:45:12

What's not to like handsome devil and you're just jealous? Um I don't know. I don't know. Uh here we go.

SPEAKER_03 1:45:26

Mass early mailbag for this week, and you get to see it in all its glory, uh, Pulp Nation. We uh we hope you're enjoying uh this uh new uh version of the show. Um and uh if you are please uh let us know your thoughts. Uh is there anything that we can do to uh to improve this? Um maybe like this part, maybe. Um it's a lot of work though. Sorry. Um, but uh yeah, hit us up on the socials under pulp culture pod. Uh we'd love your feedback. Um it's all going. Uh well, let's get into uh maybe uh the next part before we get into the shout. Uh we'll get into what I'm calling this the uh the big reveal. The big reveal. The big reveal.

SPEAKER_07 1:46:15

Yeah, no, well, uh it's this uh harkens back to an earlier episode. Don't ask me which one, I can't remember, but um it was when we were uh getting excited for the Masters of the Universe um uh movie, and we were you know having a look at all of the various merchandise that was going to be available.

SPEAKER_03 1:46:36

You didn't get it, did you?

SPEAKER_07 1:46:38

You were looking at the sword, you were looking at the sword and you got the sword, and we both got our selections of action figures, haven't we?

SPEAKER_03 1:46:45

Yeah, yes, yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 1:46:47

But um, yeah, no, uh, get a load of get a load of this. I'll show you one at a time. But this is what I managed to pick up during the week. Get out. Oh, here he is.

SPEAKER_03 1:47:00

Is that my is that the mighty master? Well is that any mini masters?

SPEAKER_07 1:47:05

Well, I um um I think originally they were called what is it, mini mini masters or masters? Yep, yeah. Well, these ones are called eternal minis. Yeah, give the reflection. I'm new, I'm new at this, but um, as you can see at the top there, yeah, they're called Eternia Minis. And this is um He-Man with the ground ripper. Um, yeah. And and and I haven't I haven't sort of done another Google to see if this is what you know the the the ones that we saw were like and whether they've just been repackaged or whatever.

SPEAKER_03 1:47:42

These are different, these are a different, this is different completely. The ground ripper actually had a uh you'd put a you put a slide in it and you'd uh and you'd pull it out and then and then it would start the wheels moving.

SPEAKER_07 1:47:55

Yeah, that's that's right. But in this one, that it doesn't do that. I mean the wheels move, the wheels move obviously, but yeah, um you've you've got the little mini he-man with his sword to um sit on top of it. But but but basically to one extent or another, I found as mini masters.

SPEAKER_03 1:48:12

Where whereabouts did you get these from?

SPEAKER_07 1:48:15

I got these from Pop Culture. Oh wow, Geelong. Um, and not only did I get them, they had them reduced. Oh, um, I was on there looking at something else and and I found these. Um now, as per our deal, uh, when uh we talked about these earlier. Um, I got I got two of these, so one of them's yours. Yeah, I'm like I'm like Oprah.

SPEAKER_03 1:48:47

So everyone's clapping, everyone. Yeah, love it.

SPEAKER_07 1:48:52

So yeah, that's so one of those is yours. Next time I see you, I've got a mass comic for you, and I've got uh He-Man with a ground ripper.

SPEAKER_03 1:49:01

Wow, it's it's not even July yet, and and and Christmas.

SPEAKER_07 1:49:04

So no, well, I told you I don't I don't do Christmas in July. This is this is just because you won't you you won't let me contribute with the the podcast fees.

SPEAKER_03 1:49:13

Well, I'm I'm happy to be paid in comics and toys.

SPEAKER_07 1:49:17

So I figured you, I figured you would be. Um do you want to see you want to see the next one? Because I got you that one. Oh, oh, oh, we've got another one. Yeah, I've got you another one.

SPEAKER_03 1:49:27

Uh all right, yeah. So you got yourself one as well, too, right? Yeah, you have to.

SPEAKER_07 1:49:32

No, we've we've we've both got we've both got we both got one of these. Keep keep telling, try and keep up. Yep. Um we also got one of these. So we've got skeletal.

SPEAKER_03 1:49:44

And he's uh and and that's the uh what's that? Is this the rotor, isn't it?

SPEAKER_07 1:49:50

Rotom. Yeah, roton. So oh yeah, I can see it now.

SPEAKER_03 1:49:54

Yeah, yeah, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_07 1:49:56

Yeah, so we we got those two. Like I said, um pop culture had them. Already reduced, like they were on special, so yeah, I grabbed a whole bunch of them because I figured um I hadn't seen them anywhere else, and I figured they might not be around for too long.

SPEAKER_03 1:50:11

So yeah, they're they're super cool.

SPEAKER_07 1:50:14

Yeah, no, I got these yesterday, and I had to open one of them because I couldn't resist, and so I've been carrying this bloke around in my pocket all day.

SPEAKER_03 1:50:24

Oh, that's um battle battle armor battle armor e-man.

SPEAKER_07 1:50:27

That's uh battle damage he-man.

SPEAKER_03 1:50:29

Battle damage he-man, and he comes with his axe.

SPEAKER_07 1:50:32

He comes with his axe and he comes with a sword.

SPEAKER_03 1:50:34

Oh, that's so cool.

SPEAKER_07 1:50:36

So I thought I'd show you him. Because, like I said, he's he's he's been work, he's been to working back with me today.

SPEAKER_03 1:50:44

Oh, that's so cool. That is excellent. Excellent. Isn't he sick? We'll we'll we'll post this on our socials anyway. Um, and uh so you can you can see them in all their glory.

SPEAKER_07 1:50:54

Totally. I'll just I'll quickly show you the other ones I got.

SPEAKER_03 1:50:59

Oh yeah, Beast Man. Is that a sky cycle? Or uh it says it's the war sled. Oh, the war sled. Okay, yep, which is their version of the sky cycle.

SPEAKER_07 1:51:10

There's my orange boy, yep. And the other one that I got was um uh battle armor skeletor. Oh yeah, look at that. Yeah, and there were a couple that I passed up on because they were just too weird as well. They had like um uh I think it was anti-aternia anti-aturnia.

SPEAKER_04 1:51:31

Um oh where he's black, uh black teal.

SPEAKER_07 1:51:34

Uh no, it was it wasn't it wasn't he-man, it was it was tealer. Oh yeah, you can see her there, yeah, yeah, yeah. And uh Ram Man. Oh, yeah, that that yeah, I wouldn't have those. I didn't see Stratos, I would have bought him. Yeah, he's he's he's king. Uh and I didn't get evil lean either because um she sort of looked like an alien.

SPEAKER_03 1:51:56

Yeah, she's a bit green, isn't she?

SPEAKER_07 1:51:58

Yeah, that's what that's what Kim said too, and that made me wonder whether he was he'd always been green, but and the other one, just for the sake of uh being complete, is uh there's a ninja. Oh nice, nice so there you go. So anyway, well that was that was the big reveal.

SPEAKER_03 1:52:17

That's the big reveal. That's that's an awesome reveal. Uh we um uh we're we're not sponsored by pop culture, but you can definitely check them out. Uh popculture.com.au if you want to pick yourself up uh a uh a version of uh those mini mini masters, is that what they're calling them? Uh they're called Eternia Minis. Eternum Minis. Okay, there you go. Uh so um yeah, looking forward to getting my hands on those. Thank you very much, MJ. I really appreciate that. That's uh that's a great reveal. Uh let's get into enough toys. Let's get into should we get into the shout?

SPEAKER_07 1:52:55

Let's do that.

SPEAKER_03 1:52:56

All right. Uh, have you got anything that you wanted to shout about this week?

SPEAKER_07 1:53:01

Uh the only thing I wanted to shout about is that they announced a um a new exhibition coming to Melbourne Museum in November. Um, there we we're getting a Barbie exhibition.

SPEAKER_03 1:53:12

Oh, okay. Just throughout the years. Is that the the expectation of it?

SPEAKER_07 1:53:16

Or uh yeah, it's apparently a collection of hundreds of uh different artifacts of uh historic Barbies, modern Barbies, um, all sorts of stuff uh th from throughout the years at at Melbourne Museum, and it's yeah, set to start in November. So um don't have too many other details at this stage, but um, I think that'll be fascinating for um you know toy toy fans, Barbie fans, um, pop culture fans in in in general. Um, so yeah, I'm really excited about that.

SPEAKER_03 1:53:47

Yeah, that's fantastic. And when does that when does that uh when does that start?

SPEAKER_07 1:53:52

Uh November.

SPEAKER_03 1:53:53

November, okay.

SPEAKER_07 1:53:54

Yeah, no, we'll I'm sure we'll talk about it on here again um once we've got more details. But yeah, at this stage they've said November.

SPEAKER_03 1:54:01

Yeah. Um I've I've I've got something really exciting to um to shout about, actually. Uh I um I discovered this on uh on on Instagram and thought that this is definitely worth shouting about. I've got in contact with them as well and just asked for some more information. Um this is uh a new initiative which is coming out of uh of a uh uh a company called uh Sugo Toys. Uh Sugo Toys is very similar to uh to uh what who we were just talking about, which is Pop Culture, which uh which stocks uh uh toys and memorabilia um from pop culture, uh, but also uh art supplies as well. Uh so uh you can definitely check out uh and I'll I'll give uh the details again about Sugo later, but you can check them out at sugo uh uh toys.com.au uh but uh this is a really exciting initiative uh that they want to uh to back real art and take local creativity to the next level uh with uh their initiative called Join the Alley, which is a Sugo Arts uh Artist Alley initiative. Uh so they want to uh support 20 creators uh at Smash 2026. Now, MJ, I'm not too sure if you know uh what Smash is, but it's the Sydney uh manga and anime show, uh which will be in July, uh I think it's the 11th and 12th, uh yeah, yeah, it is, uh at the ICC Sydney Exhibition Center. Uh so unfortunately we won't be there because we're in Melbourne um and uh we've got prior commitments then. Um but uh if you are uh uh thinking about doing something on the uh 11th and 12th of uh of July, uh definitely check out uh the uh Smash Smash Con or Smash 2026. Um so I talked about this initiative from uh from Sugo. So what's on offer? Well, what they're offering is cash support and free promo uh for their portfolio. Uh so essentially uh Sugo uh is uh knows that uh AI, you know, that uh in an AI era that it's tough, um, and that they believe that you know raw human creativity is rare and a precious commodity, uh, and that art is the entire reason a pop culture community uh uh likes. Um sorry, that the uh pop uh the entire reason a pop culture community uh is is is there for is is through its art. Uh and so what they're offering is 20 spots uh to selected artists for an exclusive marketing sponsorship, um, which is amazing, right? Um so here's what's on offer. Uh they're offering uh for 20 lucky uh uh uh spot holders, uh they're going to offer a hundred dollar cash support to help ease the financial weight of their booth setup, uh or printing or for travel costs, uh, which is uh amazing just in itself. Uh they've also got a website feature, so they're building a uh a permanent artist alley on the uh Sugo website. So not only are they selling product, but they're also uh starting a community as well on their on their website, which is amazing. Nice. Uh uh so there'll be a permanent artist alley on the Sugo website that will feature a short bio about them and uh their portfolio description uh and linking directly to either their shop front uh to boost their marketing or uh also their socials, uh, which is amazing. Uh they're also offering uh optional giveaway gifts. So if they need some extra hype at their table, um Sugo Toys uh can provide them with some free giveaway goodies uh to hand out uh at their booth um for visitors, um, which is again amazing. Um so those are the three things that are on offer uh from from Sugo Toys. So what do you need to do to be eligible? Who's eligible and uh what does Sugo ask in return? So to keep the community thriving, uh they have three simple compulsory requirements. Uh, number one is the location. You must be in an Australian local who is officially exhibiting uh with a booth at Smash 2026. So you need to be registered to be a booth, uh, to have a booth at Smash 2026. Um uh asset display. Uh you must be willing to uh let uh us leave our marketing pamphlets on your table um for attendees to pick up on the day or days. Um I don't think that's a tall ask at all by any means, is to have have some you know marketing materials uh of of uh of uh Sugo toys. Um and the last thing is is to snap a photo. So take a quick photo at the convention demonstrating that our assets are displayed uh at your stall or booth or table uh that so that we can see the release, uh so that we can uh release your cash support. Uh so obviously this is uh going to come after the fact of you actually tabling on the day, but that gives you a really good um you know, sort of kick in to pay for, like they said, travel costs, uh setting up the table or some type of uh promotional or marketing material that you might be uh needing for the actual day. Uh so um all of this is sounding fantastic. So, how do you actually apply? Uh so slots are obviously limited because it's only limited to 20 um that you'll need to uh that that will definitely fill up fast. So hit the link in their bio um uh and fill out the uh quick application form uh and then they'll uh check it out and then they'll get back to you um uh specifically on that. Uh how do you how do you find them? Uh Sugoto Toys, you can check them out here on uh Sugotoys.com.au. Um it's so again there you go, sugotoys.com.au. Good pointing there, thanks, MJ. Um, or you can check them out on their socials at Sugotoys, uh, specifically on Instagram. That's how I found them. Um the team are really great, really supportive of the community. I think that this um just goes hand in hand with what we're trying to achieve here at the Pulp Culture Podcast. Um, and think that this is um really definitely worth shouting about. And uh hopefully over the next coming weeks we'll be able to again talk about this and maybe talk about some of the um some of those who are going to be part of uh the uh join the alley uh initiative that uh Sugo Toys are are doing. Again, they're not a sponsor. Um we don't get anything in return for this. Um, we just really want to build a a really strong creative community, and we think that this is a a great way of doing it. So well done, Sugo Toys.

SPEAKER_07 2:01:44

Yeah, nice.

SPEAKER_03 2:01:46

Yeah, I wish they had this around when I was tabling. Yeah, yeah, definitely a hundred dollars goes a long way when it comes to tabling.

SPEAKER_05 2:01:56

So uh no doubt.

SPEAKER_03 2:01:58

Yeah, uh well, uh I think we're at the end of the show. Uh hope you've enjoyed it. Uh this is uh definitely new for us, and we'll uh we're definitely learning, and uh we uh we look forward to uh bringing you a uh a new episode this uh next week. Uh but stay tuned uh when you'll hear uh MJ say by the power of Gray Skull. Is that it? Oh more do you want? I was expecting uh, you know, maybe uh you know something. I have the power.

SPEAKER_07 2:02:42

All right, then and then well next week I'm gonna throw it to you, and we'll see what you come up with again.

SPEAKER_03 2:02:49

Anyway, everyone, hope you have a great week and uh definitely uh stay fresh.

SPEAKER_07 2:02:56

Ciao bellas.