Play Comics
Play Comics

Play Comics

Play Comics is a show that looks at video games based on comic properties and how faithful those games stay to the source material.
X-2 Wolverine’s Revenge with Matt Storm (Fun and Games, Reignite)
13 January 2025
X-2 Wolverine’s Revenge with Matt Storm (Fun and Games, Reignite)

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Snikt! Bub, it’s time to sharpen those adamantium claws and dive into the convoluted world of X2: Wolverine’s Revenge! This week on Play Comics we’re slashing our way through a game that’s as confusing as Wolverine’s own backstory.


Join us as we unravel the mysteries of this peculiar title that’s supposedly based on X2: X-Men United but seems to have more in common with a fever dream induced by too much Canadian beer. We’ll explore how this hack-and-slash adventure managed to claw its way onto the GameCube, PS2, Xbox, and even the tiny screen of the Game Boy Advance.


Joining us on this wild ride is none other than Matt Storm from the “Fun” and Games podcast. Together we’ll dissect this game faster than Wolverine’s healing factor, examining everything from Mark Hamill’s gravelly voice work to the inexplicable absence of Hugh Jackman’s luscious locks.


So grab your favorite yellow spandex, pour yourself a glass of maple syrup, and get ready to rage! This episode is about to go berserker!


Learn such things as:



    Is it a feature or a bug when a game isn’t really based on a movie?
    Gameplay wise, how can you properly handle a character with a healing factor?
    Have Wolverine fans gotten enough stuff thrown their way yet?
    And so much more!

You can find Matt @dj_stormageddon on Twitter, Instagram, and Twitch, @djstormageddon on BlueSky, and to check out all of the shows they do check out DJStormageddon.com for “Fun” and Games (for looks at video games), Reignite (for a deep look at a video game series which started in the mass Effect universe and is now in the Dragon Age universe), or Screen Snark (which has ended but when I checked you could still grab episodes).


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


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


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


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


A big thanks to Capes on the Couch and 253 Mathilde for the promos today.


Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who makes pulled pork mostly so they can use those claw shredders we talk about in the episode.<iframe style="display: none;" src="about:blank"></iframe>


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

Robocop vs Terminator with Ryan Placchetti (Don’t Wreck Yourself)
06 January 2025
Robocop vs Terminator with Ryan Placchetti (Don’t Wreck Yourself)

Cyborgs, circuits, and controller-smashing chaos converge in this week’s electrifying Play Comics episode! Grab your pixel blasters and prepare for a digital demolition as we dive deep into the most metal crossover of the 90s: Robocop vs Terminator!


Our special guest Ryan Placchetti from the Don’t Wreck Yourself podcast joins us to dissect this multi-platform mayhem that blasted its way across the Super Nintendo, Genesis, Master System, Game Boy, and Game Gear. We’ll explore the Dark Horse comic mini-series that spawned this epic robotic rumble, breaking down the circuits and carnage that made gamers and comic fans lose their mechanical minds!


Learn such things as:



    Are Robocop or Terminator ever going to stop being relevant?
    Is this a bigger take on the capitalist nature of society or the true nature of police policy?
    Is it a feature or a bug when you have essentially different games with the same name coming out like this?
    And so much more!

You can find Ryan and the Don’t Wreck Yourself podcast on BlueSky @wreckyourpod and of course over at Don’t Wreck Yourself.


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


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


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


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


A big thanks to The Last Comic Shop and Review It Yourself for the promos today.


Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who has not proven to me that they’re not a robot yet.


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

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Record of Lodoss War Advent of Cardice with Chase Keyes (SNEScapades)
29 December 2024
Record of Lodoss War Advent of Cardice with Chase Keyes (SNEScapades)

Greetings, adventurers and digital dungeon crawlers! Prepare to embark on a journey that’s part pixels, part dragons, and all awesome. This episode of Play Comics is about to take you on a wild ride through the fantastical realm of Record of Lodoss War: Advent of Cardice on the Sega Dreamcast.


Hold onto your controller, because we’re joined by the legendary Chase Keyes from SNEScapades. Together, we’ll navigate this action RPG faster than you can say “roll for initiative.” Whether you’re a longtime fan of the Record of Lodoss War franchise or just here for the Dreamcast nostalgia, this episode promises more twists and turns than a minotaur’s maze.


So grab your favorite beverage, put on your +5 headphones of listening, and get ready to level up your podcast experience. It’s time to press start on this Lodoss-tastic adventure!


&lt;img alt="" src="https://playcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/script.gif" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="https://playcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/script-1.gif" /&gt;Learn such things as:



    How can a tabletop session turn into a giant franchise?
    When will I get a good RPG that isn’t a dungeon crawler?
    Wait a second, comics have inconsistencies? When did that kind of thing start?
    And so much more!

You can find Chase on BlueSky @snescapades and of course over at SNEScapades.


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


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


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


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


A big thanks to Shonen Flop and Fish Nerds for the promos today.


Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who couldn’t find the OVAs either. Which makes me feel a lot better.


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

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Aquaman Battle for Atlantis with Anne Brennaman (Comics Collective)
23 December 2024
Aquaman Battle for Atlantis with Anne Brennaman (Comics Collective)

Dive into the depths of gaming nostalgia with this week’s episode of Play Comics, where we’re making waves with “Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis”! Grab your tridents and prepare for a splash of humor as we explore this Xbox and GameCube gem that’s more waterlogged than a sponge in a tsunami.


Our special guest, Anne Brennaman from The Comics Collective podcast, joins us to help navigate the choppy waters of this aquatic adventure. Together, we’ll uncover how the game drew inspiration from Peter David’s legendary run on Aquaman Vol 5, proving that even the King of Atlantis can’t escape the siren call of ’90s comic book glory.


So, put on your best scale-mail armor and get ready to plumb the depths of this fishy tale. Will it be a pearl of gaming wisdom or just another barnacle on the hull of superhero game history? Tune in to find out – and remember, friends don’t let friends play underwater without a buddy system!


Learn such things as:



    Does Aquaman deserve all of the ridicule he gets from everyone?
    How much harder is it to swim with 1 arm?
    How are swimming and flying both just a pain in the ass to make work in a game?
    And so much more!

You can Anne on BlueSky @annecomics.bsky.social, Twitter @AnneComics, and of course as part of The Comics Collective.


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


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


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


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


A big thanks to Bottom of the Stream and Condrey Omnibus from Legacy Comix for the promos today.


Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who still doesn’t want to swim in the ocean no matter how good of friends you can make with the fish in there.


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

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Superman the Man of Steel with Doc Issues (Capes on the Couch)
29 October 2024
Superman the Man of Steel with Doc Issues (Capes on the Couch)

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


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


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


Learn such things as:



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

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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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

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Why the Hiatus?
04 October 2024
Why the Hiatus?

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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Tecmo Cup Soccer Game (Based on Captain Tsubasa) with Luke Herr (D’OhMance Dawn)
22 September 2024
Tecmo Cup Soccer Game (Based on Captain Tsubasa) with Luke Herr (D’OhMance Dawn)

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


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


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


Learn such things as:



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

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003) With Isaac Fisher (Definitive Film)
15 September 2024
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003) With Isaac Fisher (Definitive Film)

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


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


Learn such things as:



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

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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Justice League Injustice for All with AJ Malacarne (Gamma Head Press)
08 September 2024
Justice League Injustice for All with AJ Malacarne (Gamma Head Press)

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


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


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


Learn such things as:



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

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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