Stephen, Jay and Riley look back on the year that was with they favorite convention stories (and meals), their observations (and opinions) on the industry's transformations, their favorite new books on the year, and the titles they could have done without completely!

Show Notes:

• "I wondered the other day how as yet there hasn't been a CW show called “Riverdale”, a la Smallville, with a teen-drama take on Archie and the gang." - Gregg Schigiel

From our family to yours, 'tis the season of giving and we've delivered what is sure to be the #1 holiday single of the year!

Jermaine, Stephen and Jody blow the lid off the revelations of Avengers & X-Men: Axis #7, compare the structure of crossover events and annuals, dig through a stack of Comics at the Table, and sit down with Acme Comics Customers of the Year 2014, Frank and Ray Chut, about their favorite comics, events and creators of last 51 weeks!

Show Notes: 

• It Runs in the Family, a.k.a. My Summer Story, the sequel to Jean Shepherd's A Christmas Story.
• Benedict Cumberbatch is Marvel's "Doctor Strange" at Screen Rant.com.
• Krysten Ritter To Play Jessica Jones In Marvel's Netflix Series at Deadline.com.
• The One Wolverine or Two Batmen image Jermaine and Jody referenced.
• CONFIRMED: Marvel's Star Wars #1 To Sell Over One MILLION Copies at Comic Book.com.
• Comics at the Table! - the Valiant #1, Bitch Planet #1, East of West the World one-shot, Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1, Uncanny X-Men Annual #1, Amazing Spider-man Annual #1, Spider-man & the X-Men #1, Batgirl #37 and Thor #3!

It's the first brand, spankin' new Acmecast in a month!

Show Notes:

• Chrissie Zullo's hooded speederbike rider.
• Chris Schweizer's episode VII stormtrooper.
• Phil Noto's Force Awakens promo poster.
• Empire Strikes Back was directed by Irvin Kershner and Return of the Jedi was directed by Richard Marquand.
• Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens Official Teaser Trailer #1 on YouTube.
• Wes Anderson Presents: Star Wars Force Awakens Trailer on YouTube.
• Star Wars: Episode VII Trailer - George Lucas' Special Edition on YouTube.
• Harrison Ford Won't Answer Star Wars Questions from Jimmy Kimmel Live on YouTube.
• Arrow Actor Thinks Justice League Casting Kind of a Jerk Move at Badass Digest.com.
• It's Official: Suicide Squad to Star Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie and More at the Hollywood Reporter.com.
• Zdarsky & Quinones Open "Howard the Duck" Investigations at Comic Book Resources.com.
• A visual component for Stephen's description of Nicolas Cage's Action Comics #1.
• DC's Congerence Week Four: Pre-Crisis Multiverse is Back, Baby at News-a-rama.com.
• Jody has become a master of the selfie.

Recording live on Sunday, November 16th at the Durham Convention Center during NC Comicon 2014! Go behind the counter with Jermaine and Stephen, as well as Heroes Aren't Hard to Find's Shelton Drum, Ultimate Comics' Alan Gill and Ssalefish Comics' Bret Parks!

Show Notes:

• Mark your calendars now for NC Comicon 2015!
• A photo of the proceedings!
• Brave Maximus, the Transformer behind Ssalefish Comics!

...for there you have been and there you will long to return. - Leonardo da Vinci

Jermaine, Stephen and Jay bid farewell to their dear friend and creator of Skyward, Jeremy Dale, before soldiering on to analyze Marvel's cinematic universe Phase 3 announcements, DC's 2015 event, Convergence, and two week's worth of Comics at the Table.

Show Notes:

• Contribute to Jeremy's medical costs and funeral arrangements on Go Fund Me.
• Return to Jeremy's website, Jeremy Dale.com, to see sketches from New York Comic Con, just weeks ago.
• "Marvel Phase 3 International Release Dates Revealed" at Slash Film.com.
• Watch Marvel: 75 Years from Pulp to Pop now at Hulu.com.
• "Attack on Titan & Marvel Crossover Details Revealed" at Comic Book.com.
• Comics at the Table! - Marvel 75th Anniversary Special, Harley Quinn Annual #1, Southern Bastards #5, Axis #4, Amazing Spider-man #9 and Tooth & Claw #1!

Jermaine, Stephen and Jay get together to disect the first teaser trailer for the Avengers 2: Age of Ultron and see how Lord Retail's comic grading stacks up against the folks from CGC! Then it's an extended conversation between Crogan's Adventures creator Schweizer and Stephen about all things retail!

Show Notes:

• "Marvel's 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' - Teaser Trailer (OFFICIAL)" at YouTube.com.
• Chris's blog, Crogan's Adventures.com!
• Become friends with Chris on Facebook!
• Follow Chris on Twitter!
• Let's Talk Comics: Episode 41 - Fiona Staples.

Jermaine and Stephen regroup after a hectic barrage of news from New York Comic Con to distill all the headlines you need to make decisions about your upcoming subscriptions, gauge the pros and cons of DC's massive film announcements, and build up to two weeks worth of Comics at the Table!

Show Notes:

• Squirrel Girl's first appearance was Marvel Super-Heroes Winter Special 1992.
• "Marvel Announces Hickman And Ribic On New 'Secret Wars'" at Comics Alliance.com
• "'Spider-Gwen', 'Silk' Confirmed; Wilson Takes Over 'X-Men'" at Comics Alliance.com
• "Sam Humphries Sets The Scene For Marvel's 'The Black Vortex'" at Comics Alliance.com
• "NYCC: Scott Lang Battles Villains, Personal Demons in Spencer's 'Ant-Man'" at Comic Book Resources.com
• "'Guardians' Screenwriter Nicole Perlman To Write 'Gamora' Comic" at Comics Alliance.com
• "Lemire & Perez On 'Hawkeye'" at Comics Alliance.com
• "NYCC: Immonen Launches 'Operation: S.I.N.' at Marvel" at Comic Book Resources.com
• "Marvel Teases 'Civil War' Return for Summer 2015" at Comic Book Resources.com
• "Watch The First Trailer For Sony's 'Powers' TV Show" at Comics Alliance.com
• "Walking Dead Premiere Beats 'Sunday Night Football' With Record-Breaking Ratings" at Comic Book Resources.com
• "Civil War: Robert Downey Jr. Joins 'Captain America 3'" at Variety.com
• "Fox Orders Full Season for Freshman Drama 'Gotham'" at Comic Book Resources.com
• "Scott Snyder Looks To Reduce Price Of $4.99 Batman Monthly From DC Comics" at Bleeding Cool.com
• "WB Confirms Justice League, Wonder Woman, Aquaman Films" at Comics Alliance.com
• Stephen was totally right about what "fixie" means. It is, indeed, a fixed-gear bike.
• Bit-O-Honey was the disgusting, wax-flavored candy Jermaine was talking about at the end of the show.
• Comics at the Table! - Birthright #1, Wytches #1, Batman #35, Edge of Spider-Verse #5, Batgirl #35, Original Sin Annual #1 and Axis #1-2!

Jermaine and Jay currate over an hour and a half of segments including an interview with Nailbiter and Birthright writer Joshua Williamson, a discussion of a massive week of Comics at the Table, an update on the goings-on at Acme Comics Presents with Valerie, and a farewell to Cody!

Jermaine, Stephen and Jay answer all your questions about this week's comic book small screen premieres, Gotham on Fox and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC, recap the Asheville Comic Expo, bring an end to the future of the New 52 and prep you for next week's monsterous offerings!

Show Notes:

• "'Teen Titans' TV Series Being Developed For TNT" at Screen Rant.com.
• "'Lucifer' Show: DC Comics' Drama Series Gets Put Pilot Commitment From Fox" at Deadline.com.
• "Here's a first look at Adrienne Palicki as Bobbi Morse in 'S.H.I.E.L.D.'" at Entertainment Weekly.com.
• Jermaine & Jay with Harry Anderson at Asheville Comic Expo!
• Comics at the Table! - A Town Called Dragon #1, Booster Gold Future's End #1, Superman Doomed #2, New Avengers #24, Star Trek #37, Ghostbusters #20 and Edge of Spider-Verse #3!

Jermaine and Stephen take this month's Previews episode up to the wire, but they're ready to hip you to your new favorite books, from the Saga volume 1 oversized hardcover to Gotham by Midnight #1!

Show Notes:

• "Brian K. Vaughan's PRIVATE EYE announces a new issue, six-figures sales" at the Beat.com.
• "Captain Groot-merica? Marvel Announces 20 Rocket Raccoon and Groot Variant Covers" at the Nerdist.com.
• "Death of Wolverine Finale Delayed Until October" at IGN.com.
• Watch Dear Mr. Watterson on Netflix.
• Lying Cat Funnies, mashng up Garfield and Saga.
• Just remembered Peter Parker's roommate during Brand New Day was named Vin Gonzalez.
• "Asgardian She-Hulk - Walter Simonson" at Brian Michael Bendis.tumblr.com.
• Comics at the Table! - Edge of Spider-Verse #2, Multiversity Society of Super-Heroes #1, Avengers #35 and Hulk #6!

Jermaine, Stephen and Jody are joined by Gregg Schigiel, creator of Pix: One Weirdest Weekend, to pull back the curtain on self-publishing your own graphic novel, not just the writing and drawing of the thing, but coloring, lettering, leveling and printing of the final product, before jumping into two weeks worth of Comics at the Table!

Show Notes:

• Pix Comic.com, to order your own copies of the graphic novel and to read the first chapter for FREE!
• Hatter Entertainment.com, the online home of Gregg Schigiel!
• Follow @GreggSchigiel on Twitter!
• Discussing Gregg's influences on Stuff Said #18 - One Year Anniversary & John Buscema and Stuff Said #45 - 3rd Anniversary & Mike Wieringo.
• Comics at the Table! - Copperhead #1, Wild's End #1, Annihilator #1, Edge of Spider-Verse #1, Batman Future's End #1, Batgirl Future's End #1, MPH #3 and Prometheus #1!

Lord Retail is joined by a cavalclade of Acme alumni including John Bethel (ep #106 Good Ol' Children of the Atom, ep. #185 America Still Needs Your Help), Jay Howerton (ep. 120 People v. Acmecast), Ryan Rubio (Acmecast #166 Weapon X-Files, Acmecast #141 Gijoey), and newcomer Devin Turner to bask in the glory of the Marvel cinematic universe, past, present, and future!

Show Notes:

• Editor's Note: I don't like to over-analyze the episodes that I didn't host myself, but if I could throw one thought out there, it would be that Jon Favreau doesn't get enough credit for establishing a visual style that is able to be both unique to each director and character (Star-Lord's dancing intro in Guardians, the period piece of Captain America: the First Avenger) and transcendant of all genres and actors.
  
  Jermaine touches on Warner Bros. not getting the interconnectivity of the movies, the DVD shorts, TV shows, etc., and I think that's 100% true, but they've also clung to the super-stylized take that Christopher Nolan brought to Batman, even when it's not appropriate for Superman, Flash, Wonder Woman, etc., as emphasized by the leaked inter-office memo concerning Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.
  
  Even though they haven't gotten too far into the detailed reasoning behind Edgar Wright and the other cast members leaving Ant-Man, maybe Wright, whose body of work has always been 100% his, Simon Pegg's, Nick Frost's and Jessica Hines', couldn't play ball with the visual language to which Marvel movie-going audiences have become accustomed. Wright's other comic adaptation, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, a favorite of mine, made just $47 million worldwide, whereas the least successful Marvel cinematic movie, Hulk, still grossed $263 million.

• I also just want to clarify the creative credits for Annihilation and Annihilation Conquest:
  • Drax the Destroyer came out in 2005 before Annihilation began and was written by Keith Giffen.
  • During the Annihilation minis from 2005-2006, Giffen wrote Silver Surfer, Abnett & Lanning wrote Nova, Javier Grillo-Marxuach wrote Super-Skrull, and Simon Furman wrote Ronan.
  • Giffen then wrote the unifying Annihilation mini series in 2006, which the Nova ongoing series by Abnett & Lanning spun out of in 2007
  • The Annihilation Conquest minis started in 2007, with Quasar written by Christos Gage, Star-Lord by Giffen (introducing the Guardians of the Galaxy as we know them today), and Wraith written by Grillo-Marxuach.
  • Abnett & Lanning then stepped in for the climax mini series in late 2007/ early 2008, from which the Guardians of the Galaxy spun out.

Stephen and Riley are joined in the studio by Out of Step CrossFit owner and head coach Rob Turner as they get into their divergent and intersecting paths, making fitness and comics work for YOU, and a big week of debut issues with the Fade Out, Dark Horse Presents, Little Nemo Return to Slumberland and Multiversity!

Show Notes:

• Out of Step CrossFit & Barbell, to sign up for your FREE introductory class!
• Out of Step Coffee Co., to find out when the latest batch of Black Sheep Barbell Brew is ready!
• Once again, the original announcement for Multiversity from 2012, "MULTIVERSITY Is Coming!f" at DC Comics.com.

Jermaine & Stephen set sail without a compass, throwing caution to the wind, and end up way down the rabbit hole as they wind their way through comics, movies and, of course, retail!

Show Notes:

• The Acme Comics Subscription Terms & Conditions, available 24-7 on Acme Comics.com, with our cancellation policies.
• "Rumors: Marvel to Kill Off the X-Men?" at Comic Planet Culture.com, the article forwarded to us that prompted the second half of the hour.
• "Tom Brevoort Semi-Confirms Reduction In Prominence of X-Men At Marvel" at Bleeding Cool.com, the article that Stephen paraphrased during the discussion.
• Lawndale Fest BBQ Sale & Block Party - Saturday, August 16th • 10 AM - 11 PM
• Labor Day Holiday - Saturday, September 1st • CLOSED
• God Hates Astronauts #1 Exclusive Variant Release Party - Wednesday, September 3rd • 10 AM - 7 PM
• Baltimore Comic Con 2014 - Friday, September 5th - Sunday, September 7th
• Asheville Comic Expo 2014 - Saturday, September 20th • 11 AM - 6 PM
• Halloween Comic Fest 2014 - Saturday, October 25th • 10 AM - 5 PM
• NC Comicon 2014 - Saturday, November 15th - Sunday, November 16th

Jermaine debriefs Stephen on his trip to San Diego for Comic-Con International, who he saw and what he heard, they go over the new highlights from comics, TV and movies, provide a spoiler-free review of Guardians of the Galaxy, and go through two weeks worth of Comics at the Table!

Show Notes:

• WTF with Marc Maron #518 "Mike Myers"
• "Image Expo Announcements" at Image Comics.com.
• Comedian Todd Barry's "Band Manager"
• "Batman '66 Blu-Ray TV Show Will Have a Previews-Only Exclusive Version With Hardcover" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• "Large Crowds Spend Little at Comic-Con" at New York Times.com.
• "Mile High Comics may pull out of SDCC over exclusive variants" at Robot 6.
• "Inside Marvel's New Star Wars Comics" at Star Wars.com.
• "This Is Wonder Woman's 'Batman V Superman' Costume" at Huffington Post.com.
• "Remender And Opena Team For 'Avengers: Rage of Ultron' OGN" at Comics Alliance.com.
• Comics at the Table! - 100th Anniversary Special #1 Avengers, 100th Anniversary Special #1 Guardians of the Galaxy, Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #1 and Low #1!

Jermaine and Stephen are joined by comic writer/ artist, photographer and Loikamania podcast host Pat Loika to preview this year's Comic-Con International in San Diego, discuss the pre-show news and talk over some of this week's Comics at the Table!

Show Notes:

• Listen to the Loikamania podcast!
• Follow @PatLoika on Twitter!
• Follow @PatLoika on Instagram!
• Check out Pat's photos on Flickr!
• "'Batgirl' To Become Best Possible DC Comic With New Creators Cameron Stewart, Babs Tarr and Brenden Fletcher" at Comics Alliance.com.
• "Fans Show Their Love For The New-Look Batgirl" at Comics Alliance.com.
• "Marvel Announces New Female 'Thor' From Aaron And Dauterman" at Comics Alliance.com.
• "IDW Adds 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/ Ghostbusters,' 'Edward Scissorhands'" at Comic Book Resources.com.
• "Lemire, Kindt And Rivera Join Forces For 'The Valiant'" at Comics Alliance.com.
• "A Female Thor, A Black Captain America: What Does It All Mean?" at Comics Alliance.com.
• Comics at the Table! - Harley Quinn Invades Comic-Con International San Diego, Robin Rises Omega #1, Life with Archie #36, Silver Surfer #4 and Squidder #1!

If the episode description could be a song, it would be the Flight of the Conchords "Think About It". Since it cannot, Jermaine and Stephen get truly, falsely outraged by the heart of comics today, go to the numbers in search of answers, and console themselves with comics at the table!

Show Notes:

• "Is Becky Cloonan's Gotham Academy The Batman Comic We've Been Waiting Years For?" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• "Nocenti, McCarthy Resurrect Kirby's Klarion the Witch Boy for DC" at Comic Book Resources.com.
• "New Batgirl Creators Bring Much Needed Style Revitalization" at Comics Alliance.com.
• "Top 100 Comics: May 2014" at Diamond Comics.com.
• "Top 100 Graphic Novels: May 2014" at Diamond Comics.com. 
• "Stuart Immonen On The New Captain America" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• "She-Hulk Vol 2 #8" at Marvel Comics Database, for reference of the Civil War banner trade dress.
• Comics at the Table! - All-New X-Men #29, Batman Eternal #14, Grayson #1, Justice League International #3, Original Sin #5.1 Thor & Loki Tenth Realm #1, Wolverine #10, Spread #1 and Life After #1!
• It's Stephen's Seconds OGN Release Party - Tuesday, July 15th 7-9 PM at Acme Comics Presents!
• Batman Day - Wednesday, July 23rd 10 AM - 10 PM at Acme Comics & Geeksboro Coffeehouse Cinema!
• Guardians of the Galaxy Greensboro Premiere - Thursday, July 31st at Carmike Cinemas 18!

Editor's Note: After the rough first mix on Acmecast #200, I took extra pains to make this the best sounding episode of our entire run!

Jermaine and Stephen OD on Guardians of the Galaxy as they page through July's Previews magazine, wrap up their adventures at HeroesCon 2014, and look forward to a packed midway point of the year!

Show Notes:

• Maris Wicks's She-Hulk piece for the HeroesCon Art Auction!
• Batman Day: Celebrating 75 Years of the Caped Crusader with Acme Comics & Geeksboro Coffeehouse Cinema on Wednesday, July 23rd from 10 AM - 10 PM!
• Stuff Said with Gregg Schigiel #16: Jay Faerber, writer of September's Copperhead #1 from Image Comics!
• God Hates Astronauts creator Ryan Browne's pass at the Acmebat!
• Battling Boy & father at HeroesCon 2014!
• Dark Horse Soliciations - Prometheus Fire & Stone #1, Aliens Fire & Stone #1, Star Wars Dark Times Gallery Edition HC and New York Four Dark Horse Edition TP.
• DC Solicitations - Multiversity Society of Super-Heroes #1, Teen Titans Earth One OGN, Gotham City Sirens Book One TP, Batman the Animated Series Robin figure, Batman Black & White by Dick Sprang statue, Superman Wonder Woman Holiday Kiss mini statue, DC Bombshells Holiday Harley Quinn statue and Batman Kelley Jones Gallery Edition HC.
• IDW Solicitations - G.I. Joe #1 and John Buscema Silver Surfer Artist Edition HC.
• Image Solicitations - Roche Limit #1, Copperhead #1 and God Hates Astronauts #1.
• Marvel Solicitations - Death of Wolverine #1-4, Edge of Spider-Verse #1, All-New X-Men #32, Deadpool & Cable Omnibus HC and Marvels Companion TP.
• Comics & Graphic Novel Solicitations - Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #1, Sirens #1, Wild's End #1, Teen Dog #1, Alice Cooper #1, DMC OGN, Battling Boy Rise of Aurora West OGN #1, Stumptown #1, Laika OGN, Incredible ChangeBots Two Point Something Something OGN and 75 Years of Marvel Comics HC.
• Comics at the Table! - the Wicked & the Divine #1, Superman #32, Adventures of Superman #14, Outcast #1, Original Sins #2, Flash Gordon #3 and Stray Bullets Killers #4!

Recorded live at HeroesCon 2014 in Charlotte, NC on June 20th!

For nearly four years, Jermaine “Lord Retail” Exum, Stephen Mayer, and the rest of the Acme Comics crew have been bringing you in-depth interviews with your favorite creators, up-to-date reviews of the week’s books, and any other untold amount of nonsense. Now with over 150,000 downloads and 199 episode in the rearview mirror, join them to celebrate their 200th show LIVE with any number of guest drop-ins to be announced!

Join us on Friday, June 20th at 2:30 PM as we record Acmecast #200 LIVE at HeroesCon 2014 at the Charlotte Convention Center! Special guests, games and Comics at the Table galore! Stop by and see us at Booth 1908-1910 on the show floor before and afterwards!

Recorded live at Acme Comics Presents on Saturday, March 29th, 2014!

ACTION LAB BUSINESS FORUM with Kelly Dale & Kevin Freeman!

• Once you have an idea or finished product, how to market it via social media or conventions to stores and the public!
• How to present your portfolio or story to a publisher!
• What constitutes intellectual property and how to protect it!

Jermaine & Stephen catch you up on the latest Acme events and comic news, bring you the second half of the Action Lab Day Artist's Forum, and break through two weeks of Comics at the Table!

Recorded live at Acme Comics Presents on Saturday, March 29th!

How to turn a written script into finished art! How to decide between working with full color and black & white! How to layout a cover to stand out on store shelves!

Show Notes:

• Jermaine eatting wasabi from It's Your Roll: Sushi by Design!
• "Bob's Burgers Theme Song" on YouTube.com.
• "CB Cebulski To Quit Marvel Publishing?" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• "Bob Wayne, Senior VP DC Comics To Leave After Twenty-Eight Years At The Company" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• Wally Wood's "22 Panels That Always Work" on Flickr.
• Scatterlands #1, by Warren Ellis & Jason Howard, available at Image Comics.com.
• Scalped #43 page 7 at Southern Bastards.com.
• Google search for "Bear Bryant", more for Jermaine than anyone else.
• And the "Alabama Crimson Tide."
• Comics at the Table! - Big Trouble in Little China #1, Trees #1, Thanos Annual #1, C.O.W.L. #1, Doctor Spektor #1 and Southern Bastards #2!

Jermaine, Stephen & Jay take a first look at the brand-new Hornhead, debate the very merits of art as an institution (and the legalities therein), and dig into the June Previews cataloge to unearth the mysteries of Carpenter's Lo Pan, Jorodowsky's Dune and Bob's Burgers!

Show Notes:

• "Netflix 'Daredevil' Series Casts Charlie Cox As Matt Murdock" at Comics Alliance.com.
• "Skottie Young Vs. Redbubble" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• "The Redbubble Problem" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• Jacob Chabot's "Only Decent Drawing of Mr. Stay Puft on the Internet" at Facebook.com.
• Shepard Fairey's "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" at Wikipedia.org.
• "Casino mogul Steve Wynn pays $28 million for Popeye statue" at Yahoo News.com.
• "Multiversity is Coming" at DC Comics.com, originally announced on September 29, 2009 accompanied by Frank Quitely preview art.
• "Marvel Reveals Heroic Lineup to Fall's AXIS Event" at IGN.com.
• "The Strain Trailer (Teaser Reel)" at IMDB.com.
• "Snowpiercer (2013)" at IMDB.com, citing an August 1, 2013 release date.
• Dark Horse 8.14 Solcitiations - the Strain: Night Eternal #1, Dark Horse Presents #1, Blacksad Amarillo OGN, Pop #1 & Art of the Venture Bros.
• DC 8.14 Solicitations - the Multiversity #1, Batman 75th Anniversary Commemorative HC, Sensastion Comics #1, New Teen Titans tpb #1, Punk Rock Jesus HC, Y the Last Man TP #1 & Batman the Animated Series figures.
• IDW 8.14 Solicitations - Walter Simonson Manhunter Artist Edition & Little Nemo Return to Slumberland #1.
• Image 8.14 Solicitations - the Fade Out #1, Imperial #1, Dead @ 17 Blasphemy Throne #1 & Howtoons Reignition #1.
• Marvel 8.14 Solicitations - Axis #1, Ultimate FF #6, Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman HC #2, Marvel 75th Anniversary HC, Infinity TPB, Superior Spider-man #32 & the Pulse TPB.

Jermaine, Stephen & Jay look back on last week's Godzilla, look ahead to this week's X-Men Days of Future Past, close the book on Forever Evil and try a suss out what's going on in Original Sin!

Show Notes:

• The San Fransisco skyscraper that Stephen was referring to was the Transamerica Pyramid. He thought Godzilla would impale one of the other monsters on it!
• "'Man of Steel' Sequel Will Now Be Called 'Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice' For Some Reason" at Comics Alliance.com.
• "New Full-Length 'The Flash' Trailer Completely Nails It" at Comics Alliance.com.
• "Second 'Guardians of the Galaxy' Trailer Sees Groot Speak" at Comics Alliance.com.
• "First Big Hero 6 Trailer Shows Slapstick Construction Of A Robotic Hero" at Comics Alliance.com.
• "'X-Men: Apocalypse' Movie Gets Cast And Plot Details" at Comics Alliance.com.
• Comics at the Table - Forever Evil #7, Justice League #30, Original Sin #2, MPH #1!

Jermaine & Stephen take some time to reflect on the unprecedented success that was Free Comic Book Day 2014 before diving into a Previews catalogue overflowing with New 52 Future's End, Guardians of the Galaxy, new Image #1's, Walter Simonson goodness and MORE! 

Show Notes:

• "Free Comic Book Day 2014...And So It Begins" at Bleeding Cool.com, featuring Macy & Francis, the first folks in line at Acme!
• Jax, your Mayor of Comic Book City, USA, for 2014!
• Matt Kindt's Mind MGMT #24 cover creation process.
• A G.I. Joe vs. Transformers toys commercials, so you get a sense of the comic coming from IDW in July!
• "Mark Waid Vs. Dan Jurgens Over The New 52est Title" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• Dark Horse July Solicitations - Groo vs. Conan #1
• DC July Solicitations - Grayson #1, Robin Rises Omega #1, Star Spangled War Stories G.I. Robot #1, Harley Quinn Invades San Diego Comic Con International San Diego #1, Absolute Batman Incorporated
• IDW July Solicitations - Ragnarok #1, the Squidder #1, Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #1, Marvel Covers Artist Edition
• Image July Solicitations - Low #1, Supreme Blue Rose #1, Spread #1, Howtoons Tools of Mass Construction
• Marvel July Solicitations - Original Sin #5.1-5.5, Rocket Raccoon #1, Legendary Star-Lord #1, Spider-man 2099 #1, Alias Omnibus, Revenge Secret Origin of Emily Thorne OGN
• Comics & Graphic Novel Solicitations - Life with Archie #36, Tuki Save the Humans #1, Life After #1
• Comics at the Table - Cyclops #1, Future's End #1, Miles Morales Ultimate Spider-man #1, Amazing Spider-man #1.1, Original Sin #1 and X-Men No More Humans OGN!

Jermaine, Stephen & Cody bring you up to speed on several of 2014's Free Comic Book Day offerings, dig into Amazing Spider-man and Southern Bastards #1, and turn on one another as they tear through a spoiler-filled review of the Amazing Spider-man 2!

Show Notes:

• "Dan Slott On The Return Of Peter Parker" from CBS New York on You Tube.com.
• Free Comic Book Day Previews! - Guardians of the Galaxy, New 52 Future's End, All Rocket Raccoon, Transformers vs. G.I. Joe & the Archaia HC.
• Comics at the Table! - Southern Bastards #1 & Amazing Spider-man #1!

Jermaine & Stephen give you a last minute crash-course in Free Comic Book Day scheduling and etiquette, run through the nominees for this year's Eisner Awards, and bring you the first half of the artist's seminar from Action Lab Day!

Show Notes:

• First look at the new Acme convention backwall!
• "2014 Eisner Award Nominees Announced" at Comic Book Resources.com.
• Video of Adam Hughes doing the HeroesCon chairty auction painting of Obi-Wan Kenobi that Jeremy referred to in the episode.

Jermaine and Stephen throw caution to the wind and bring you a spoiler-FILLED episode running through all of the scenes and speculation of Captain America: the Winter Soldier!

Show Notes:

• "'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' breaks April box office record with $96.2M" at CBS News.com.
• "Batman vs. Superman refusing to move from Captain America 3 release date" at Digital Spy.com.
• "Marvel Studios Plan Is Mapped Out Through 2028" at Comic Book.com.
• "Amazon to Acquire comiXology" at Comic Book Resources.com.
• Free Comic Book Day 2014 Pre-Commissions AVAILABLE NOW!
• Comics at the Table! - Captain Marvel #2, Batman Eternal #1, Iron Fist Living Weapon #1, All-New Doop #1, All-New Ultimates #1, Shutter #1, Flash Gordon #1 and Lumberjanes #1!

Recorded LIVE during Action Lab Day on Saturday, March 29th, 2014 at Acme Comics in Greensboro, NC!

Join Action Lab Entertainment director of marketing Kelly Dale as she leads a workshop discussion with Skyward writer/ artist Jeremy Dale and Ehmm Theory writer Brockton McKinney! Throughout the hour they go into outline and script structure, collaboration techniques, and professional Do's & Don't's!

Show Notes:

• Action Lab Comics.com, the online home of Action Lab Entertainment!
• Follow Kelly, Jeremy & Brockton on Twitter!
• The Action Lab Day exclusive art print!

Jermaine and Stephen bring you the April Previews catalogue for items shipping in June, fly through a lightning round of Comics at the Table, and keep you up to date on all the latest events on the Acme calendar!

Show Notes:

• Captain America Winter Soldier Greensboro Premiere! - Thursday, April 3rd  8 PM at Carmike 18 Cinemas!
• Adam WarRock Live! - with Alter ID and Leo Hodson, Wednesday, April 23rd  8:30 PM at Geeksboro Coffeehouse Cinema!
• Free Comic Book Day 2014!!! - Saturday, May 3rd  10 AM - 7 PM!
• Dark Horse Comics - Goon One For the Road one-shot, Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess Link
• DC Comics - Absolute Batman Haunted Knight HC, Batman '66 Meets Green Hornet #1, Tiny Titans Return to the Treehouse #1, Infinity Man & the Forever People #1
• IDW Publishing -  Cartoon Network Super Secret Crisis War #1, Angry Birds Comics #1
• Image Comics - Outcast #1, Wicked & the Divine #1, That's Because You're a Robot one-shot
• Marvel Comics - Thanos Infinity Revelation OGN HC, Marvel Masterworks Famous Firsts 75th Anniversary Slipcase Set, Savage Hulk #1, Figment #1
• Comics & Graphic Novels - Big Trouble in Little China #1, Doctor Who 10th #1, Doctor Who 11th #1, Seconds OGN HC
• Toys, Statues & Models - Firefly Malcolm Reynolds 1/6 Scale Master Series Statue
• Comics at the Table! - Survive #1, Superior Spider-man #30, Superior Spider-man Team-Up #11, Guardians of the Galaxy #13, All-New Ghost Rider #1, Silver Surfer #1, Bunker #2, Manhattan Projects #19 and Alex + Ada #5!

"These people need what we can do and that is enough for me." - Hellboy

Jermaine and Stephen take a break to discover the origins of Mike Mignola's Hellboy, celebrating his 20th anniversary this Saturday, update you on the changes to Free Comic Book Day 2014, keep you up to speed on all of the latest events taking place around the shop, and bring you two weeks worth of Comics at the Table!

Show Notes:

• Sequart Orginization, producers of Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods, Warren Ellis: Ghost Boxes, and Image Revolution!
• Download your own copy of Image Revolution or watch the trailer here!
• Hellboy Day, celebrating 20 years of the flagship Dark Horse Comics hero! - Saturday, March 22nd  10 AM - 7 PM!
• Action Lab Day, with special guests Jeremy Dale, Kelly Dale, Larkin Ford, Kevin Freeman and Brockton McKinney! - Saturday, March 29th  11 AM - 5 PM!
• "Hellbat", the latest Acme Comics exclusive t-shirt, designed by Riley Till, available starting on Saturday for $15 each!
• The Tyler Crook illustrated Rasputin graphic novel from Oni Press Stephen mentioned was called Petrograd.
• Stuff Said with Gregg Schigiel #40 featuring Daredevil letterer Joe Carmagna!
• Daredevil artist Chris Samnee's 2014 convention appearances!
• "Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe" on Hulu.com!
• Comics at the Table! - Stray Bullets Killers #1, Captain Marvel #1, Secret Avengers #1, American Vampire Second Cycle #1, Batman & Aquaman #29 and Daredevil #1!

Jermaine and Stephen catch up with Skyward creator Jeremy Dale and Action Lab marketing director Kelly Dale to lay out the goings-on of Action Lab Day on March 29th, connect with cartoonist Gregg Schigiel to comb through Image publisher Eric Stephenson's ComicsPRO 2014 address, and answer YOUR questions!

Show Notes:

• Jeremy Dale.com.
• Action Lab Comics.com.
• "'Star Wars Will Never Be The Real Thing' - Eric Stephenson, Publisher Of Image Comics, Talks to ComicsPRO" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• "Dark Horse's Mike Richardson And IDW's Ted Adams Respond To Eric Stephenson's ComicsPRO Speech" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• Stuff Said with Gregg Schigiel episode #33 - Eric Stephenson.
• "As Issue Seven Sells Out, Image Decides To Stop Reprinting Comics Like Saga" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• "Todd McFarlane Says Comic Book Relaunches Don't Make Business Sense" at Comic Book.com.

Jermaine and Stephen catch up with Skyward creator Jeremy Dale and Action Lab marketing director Kelly Dale to lay out the goings-on of Action Lab Day on March 29th, connect with cartoonist Gregg Schigiel to comb through Image publisher Eric Stephenson's ComicsPRO 2014 address, and answer YOUR questions!

Show Notes:

• Jeremy Dale.com.
• Action Lab Comics.com.
• "'Star Wars Will Never Be The Real Thing' - Eric Stephenson, Publisher Of Image Comics, Talks to ComicsPRO" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• "Dark Horse's Mike Richardson And IDW's Ted Adams Respond To Eric Stephenson's ComicsPRO Speech" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• Stuff Said with Gregg Schigiel episode #33 - Eric Stephenson.
• "As Issue Seven Sells Out, Image Decides To Stop Reprinting Comics Like Saga" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• "Todd McFarlane Says Comic Book Relaunches Don't Make Business Sense" at Comic Book.com.

Stephen, Jay and Pete dive headfirst into the March Previews catalogue for items shipping May and in the process they pick at Big Two marketing strategies and praise the incentives and structure of smaller publishers!

Show Notes:

• Previews World.com, the online home of Previews magazine, the ordering catalogue of Diamond Comics Distributors.
• In the Image Comics chapter, when Stephen mentions that Ian Churchill had worked on the all-ages book Mermaid Man, the book when actually called Marineman.
• "David Finch To Take Over DC's Wonder Woman Monthly Comic" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• "Rocket Raccoon Spins Off 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' Into Solo Comic Series" at MTV.com.

Jermaine, Stephen and Jay take a trip to the west coast and a galaxy far, far away to analyze the first full Guardians of the Galaxy trailer, educate Lord Retail on the cast of the new Fantastic Four movie reboot, and power through two weeks of Comics at the Table!

Show Notes:

• "World Premiere of First Guardians of the Galaxy Trailer" at You Tube.com.
• "Fox's Fantastic Four Reboot: What The FF" at Comics Alliance.com.
• The outro song is Blue Swede's "Hooked on a Feeling".
• Comics at the Table - Undertow #1, A+X #17, Nova #13.NOW, New Warriors #1, Avengers World #3, Daredevil #36, She-Hulk #1, Winter Soldier Bitter March #1, Fuse #1, Mercenary Sea #1, Bunker #1 and the Joyners in 3D OGN.

Riding high on the excitement of the newest Captain America: Winter Soldier trailer that debuted during Sunday's Super Bowl, Jermaine is joined by special reporters John Bethel and Travis Covington to go behind the shield (and S.H.I.E.L.D.) and take look at what makes ol' Winghead more than just a super soldier!

Jermaine, Stephen, Jody and Jay put a bow on the 2014 Charlotte Mini Con, give the back story on their Serenity Leaves on the Wind #1 store exclusive variant cover, run through the latest batch of DC New 52 cancellations, serve up two weeks worth of Comics at the Table, and look at the tradition of comic letters columns and how they live on today!

Show Notes: 

• To clarify Jay's two Star Trek references, here's Harcourt "Harry" Mudd and here's the "Outrageous" Okano. 
• Purchase your own copy of our Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #1 Acme Comics Exclusive Variant Cover here!
• "What We Learned from DC COMICS April 2014 Solicitations" at News-a-rama.com.
• "More Hawkeye Changes For #17, #18 and #19" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• "94 X-Men Members Ranked From Worst To Best" at BuzzFeed.com.
• Comics at the Table! - Deadly Class #1, Hacktivist #1, Hawkeye #16, Judge Dredd Mega City Two #1, All-New X-Men #22.NOW, Guardians of the Galaxy #11.NOW, Inhumanity #2, Thor #18, Superior Spider-man #26, and Saga #18!

Stephen, Jody and Jay put creator-owned things aside to discuss the latest announcements and April 2014 solicitations from Marvel and DC before taking a wild aside into Stephen's greatest fear and internet curiousities!

Show Notes:

• "Michael Douglas To Star In Marvel's 'Ant-Man' Film" at Comics Alliance.com.
• "Wally West To Return To DC Comics In April" at USA Today.com.
• "Kyle Higgins to leave Nightwing" at Comic Vine.com.
• "DC Comics Confirms Dan Jurgens On Aquaman And The Others" at Bleeding Cool.com.
• "Marvel Releases Details, Covers for Ultimate Marvel NOW! Line" at Comic Book Resources.com.
• "Peter Parker Returns April 2014 in Amazing Spider-man #1" at Comic Vine.com.
• "Kaare Andrew Trains For 'Iron Fist: The Living Weapon'" at Comic Book Resources.com.
• "Marvel Comics' FULL April 2014 Solicitations" at News-a-rama.com.
• "Texas Sky Screamer Rider Cam POV Six Flags Over Texas" at YouTube.com. The world's tallest swing ride.
• Disneyland's exclusive Club 33, featuring a $10,000 buy-in and $6,100 - 3,500 in annual dues for an individual!
• "Kingda Ka Front Row Video" at YouTube.com. The world's tallest roller coaster at 456' and second fastest, reaching 128 mph!
• "The Unpublished Grant Morrison" at UK Titles, ellaborating on Morrison's plans to fill in for Alan Moore on Kid Marvelman.
• Comics at the Table! - Black Dynamite #1, Curse #1, Disney Kingdoms Seekers of the Weird #1, Egos #1, Fantastic Four #16 and Miracleman #1!

Jermaine, Stephen & Jody bring you the "true" 2013 top 10 best-selling publishers, comics and collections from Diamond Comics Distributors, get you up to speed for Comic-Con International, comb through every single announcement from Image Expo 2014, and dig into a huge stack of Anthologies at the Table!

Show Notes:

• "The Best Selling Comics In Comic Shops In 2013" from Bleeding Cool.com.
• "Comic-Con International to sell only single-day badges" from Comic Book Resources.com.
• "Image Expo 2014 Announcement Round-Up" from Comic Book Resources.com.
• Image Comics Instagram look at the new "I is for _________" campaign banners.
• Robert Kirkman's Mission Statement on creator-owned comics from August 2008.
• Trailer for Kyle Higgins & Alec Siegel's The League short film.
• Detective Comics #27's Ian Bertrem has done some other comics work, including the webcomic Bowery Boys, written by Cory Levine!
• The Black Widow/ Captain America/ Wolverine World War II origins go back to Uncanny X-Men #268 to be specific.
• Allison Williams on the Internet Movie Database, Stephen's pick for Kate Bishop's Hawkeye in a Young Avengers movie.
• The 6th Annual Ultimate Comic Challenge presented by the Idiot Box and judged by Lord Retail, Saturday, January 17th at the Carolina Theater in downtown Greensboro!
• Charlotte Mini Con 2014 presented by Heroes Aren't Hard to Find, Satuday, January 25th at the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, NC!
• Comics at the Table! - Detective Comics #27, Batman Black & White #5, All-New Marvel Now Point One #1, All-New X-Factor #1, Avengers World #1, Black Widow #1 and Young Avengers #15!

Jermaine and Stephen sit down with 2013 Acme Comics Customer of the Year Pete Bowne to break down his passion for sequential art before looking back on perhaps the busiest year of their careers!