VIEWS FROM THE LONGBOX

Episode 106: End of an Era(s)

A surprise episode for both you the audience and me the host because I really didn’t expect to sit down and record it, but I had some things on my mind recently with the closing of my comic shop, so here’s about an hour’s worth of audio talking about that and a few other bits of business related to that.  For those of you who have missed the show I do apologize and during the course of the episode I explain what you can expect from the show in the near future.  As always thanks for listening and thanks for your patience as I get my ducks in a row to get this show back on track.

Michael Bailey Episodes Comic Shops, Superman

Episode 105: The Good Ol’ Days With Scott and Chris!

Views From The Longbox is back!  After another one of my seemingly endless absences I finally got a chance to sit down and edit this episode that was recorded eons ago.  I do apologize for that and while I won’t promise that this sort of thing is never going to happen again because I can’t keep doing that I will say that I am going to do my best to keep Views on a weekly schedule.

In any case this time out I sit down with Chris Honeywell and Scott Gardner of Two True Freaks (Scott and I also co-host Tales of the Justice Society of America and Back to the Bins) and we have a long chat about what I refer to the “good ol’ days” of collecting.  What was it like to collect a title before a comic shop was readily available?  What was it like to miss an issue when eBay?  How many mom and pop candy stores and 7-11s and Walden Books and cigar shops did you have to travel to in order to find all of the comics that you wanted?  What was it like to walk into that first comic shop?  All of these questions will be discussed in addition to the usual digressions that accompany Scott, Chris and I getting together.

Next time: Shag and I get together to talk the third anniversary of the show, which happened at the beginning of June, but I’m running late.  Then I will finally release the Identity Crisis episode that I recorded with Stella, host of the Batgirl to Oracle: A Barbara Gordon Podcast.  This will be followed by probably a month’s worth of episodes with Thomas Deja (he of Better in the Dark and DJ’s Comics Cavalcade fame) covering both Captain America and Underworld Unleashed!

Thanks for the patience, folks.  I hope you enjoy the show.

Michael Bailey Episodes

Episode 104: Finally…Spideydude

About sixteen years ago I promised Zach Joiner (he of the Spider-Man Crawlspace and Spideydude.com) that when he got his website back up and running I would have him on the show to talk about the Spider-Man Clone Saga.  Well, after avoiding his phone calls and ducking into a store room when he came down the halls at the palatial Spider-Man Crawlspace offices I finally got to sit down with Zach with a singular challenge; sell me on the Clone Saga.  I’ve been interested in reading the series in the past and even tried to get a full run at one point but for whatever reason I just never pulled the trigger on it but since Zach is such a fan of that storyline I wanted him to be the spokesperson for it.  So after getting Zach’s collecting history and talking about how awesome the comic book related animated series of ’90s were the Clone Saga discussion begins.  Does Zach sell me on it?  Do we digress into a discussion on Venom?  Does Mike take a couple of cheap shots at Zach?  Listen and find out.

And, as promised, a picture of the awesomeness that was Judas Traveler.

Next week: Scott Gardner and Chris Honeywell of Two True Freaks stop by and we discuss buying comics in the good old days.

Michael Bailey Episodes Ben Reilly, Clone Saga, Judas Traveler, Spider-Man

Episode 103: The Gerry Conway Interview

It’s a big episode this week, folks!  Not only does the Irredeemable Shag return to his semi-regular co-host spot but also we got to “sit down” and have a two hour conversation with a writer that pretty much embodied the word prolific in the seventies and eighties.  Gerry Conway joins us and in those two hours we only scratched the surface of his career in comics and television.  What we did cover was choice however and we get some behind the scenes info on the creation of Firestorm, Steel: The Indestructible Man, Justice League Detroit, the Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man special, DC during the Explosion and Implosion and much, much more.  We even get to talk some Law and Order: Criminal Intent, which was really cool because I am a huge fan of that show.

I would like to thank Gerry once again for taking the time to do this interview and a big thank you to Shag for setting it up.

At one point towards the end of the interview Gerry  mentions Phillip Jose Farmer’s Wold Newton Universe and Shag suggested putting a link to something about that in the show notes.  Well here you go. Check it out because it is quite fascinating.  Scroll down a bit past the ad to find the content.

Next week: Zach (a.k.a. Spideydude) and I talk the Clone Saga.  Well, Zach talks the Clone Saga and I chime in once in a while.

Michael Bailey Episodes Firestorm, Gerry Conway, Justice League Detroit, Superman

Episode 102: AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!

Hey, a new episode of Views two weeks in a row.  Will wonders ever cease?

Welcome one and all to a very packed episode of Views clocking in at over two hours long.  Why the longer than normal running time?  Well, I was able to sit down with my good friend Van Allen Plexico recently (ok, several weeks ago, but still) and considering Van is the web master of AvengersAssemble.net and editor of the two Assembled! books I thought it would be a good idea to talk the Justice League of America with him.

All kidding aside we talk about the Avengers.  There’s a brief, brief history in addition to our favorite runs, our leasetfavorite runs, what we thought of the animated films, a little Iron Man talk and Van reveals what long time DC property he read back in the day.  Then I read a few e-mails and send you on your way.

And remember to check out The Sentinels, Van’s super-hero team.  These books are well worth your time and attention!

Next week: If all goes well I’ll have a surprise for you next week.  Beyond that is Clone Saga talk with Zach, a look back at old school comic book collecting with Scott and Chris and Identity Crisis talk with Stella!

Views is marching on, folks!  Thanks for sticking with me.

Michael Bailey Episodes Avengers, Iron Man, Van Allen Plexico

Episode 101: The Not New, Pretty Much the Same Views From The Longbox

At last!  After nearly two months Views is back with what I should call the cursed episode because I have had a good number of problems getting this episode out to you not the least of which was discovering the 40 seconds of the intro had somehow disappeared in the compressed version of the audio.  Anyway I am back and this week is kind of a catch-up type episode that starts with an apology and a few podcasting recommendations, which include Crisis on Infinite Comics and Amazing Spider-Man Classics.  Then I give a few thoughts on J Michael Straczynski writing Superman and what really has me worried about Christopher Nolan taking on the Superman franchise.  Finally I start to catch up on the Ask Mike questions and the e-mails.  All in about an hour and a half with a new end theme that I really like, though I am curious as to what y’all might think of it so let me know on that.

The good news is that despite being very late with this episode I have four in the can, so there should be at least five straight weeks of Views.  Thanks be to all who have stuck in there and been patient with me.  I do appreciate it.

Michael Bailey Episodes Podcasts, Spider-Man, Superman

Views From Sector 666: Final Installment

Presenting the final installment of Views From Sector 666.  It seemed like a good idea at the time but frankly I just lost all interest in DC as a company soon after recording this audio and Blackest Night was one of the casualties.  The thing is I had a ball recording with Thomas Deja and the Irredeemable Shag, so I couldn’t just let this episode remain in the Phantom Zone.

It is a packed two and a half hours of comic book fun this time out as we look at the third month of Blackest Night.  We discuss, in order, Blackest Night #3, Green Lantern Corps #40, Blackest Night: Batman #2, Blackest Night: Superman #2, Blackest Night: Titans #2 and Green Lantern #45.  The commentary is both fast and furious and everyone has some ranting time.

Oh, and Shag TOTALLY calls the White Lantern thing.  I mean he freaking nails it.

Thomas Deja hosts or co-hosts two podcasts.  Better In The Dark is the movie cast that he hosts with Derrick Ferguson and DJ’s Comics Cavalcade that he hosts all by his lonesome.

Shag has two excellent blogs.  Once Upon a Geek is his week daily blog that covers all things geek.  Firestorm Fan may not be daily but Shag updates it frequently and if you are a fan of the Nuclear Man this is the blog for you.

Next week: Episode 101 where either I learn that I love Big Brother and that I always loved Big Brother or I read a bunch of e-mails.  It’s a fifty/fifty shot really.

Michael Bailey Episodes Batman, Blackest Night, Deadman, Firestorm, Green Lantern, Superman

Episode 100 Part 3: “Live” Callers Phase 2

Here it is!  At last!  The final part of the 100th episode has arrived.! There are a few announcements concerning the show at the beginning but from then on it is live callers for nearly two hours!  The talk is varied and sometimes involves comic books even.  A lot of great people called in during this portion.  They are:

• Brad Douglas: Founder and Grand Poo Pah of the Spider-Man Crawlspace and the Spider-Man Crawlspace Podcast.  Brad’s an awesome guy and I was glad to have him on the show.
• Zach and Bertone: Zach is one of the Gang from the Spider-Man Crawlspace Podcast.  Bertone hosts or co-hosts a gaggle of podcasts including The Batman Universe, The Bertone Beatle Bonanza, Marvel Star Wars, and three or fifteen others that are escaping me right now.  Together they host the Clone Saga Chronicles, a podcast dedicated to the much maligned Ben Reilly/Clone Saga era of Spider-Man.
• Scott C: A former guest of this show, a contributor to NeedCoffee.com and part of the insanity that is the Weekend Justice podcast.  Scott is a great guy and one of the biggest supporters of this podcast from the beginning, so I liked having him on the show again.
• Thomas Matis and Donovan Grant: Two members of the Spider-Man Crawlspace Message Boards and co-hosts of the Spectacular Webs podcast that covers the Spectacular Spider-Man animated series.  Thomas has been a long time supporter of the show and Donovan is just an awesome guy in general.
• Patrick: Patrick is from the Unique Geek Listserv and a longtime friend of Shag’s.  He was also on Jeopardy, which is pretty dang awesome.
• Justin Clark: Justin doesn’t have a podcast or blog but damn it he should.  Justin is a very good friend of the show and it was nice to finally talk to him “in person”.
• Kelen B-Hyphen Conley: Writer.  Podcast host.  Future hip-hop superstar.  Kelen does it all.  Turns out the Kelen and I have some history in fan fic that I wasn’t even aware of but we go through that in the show itself.  Kelen’s major contribution to podcasting is Hip Hop Manifesto, which he hosts with Chiv.  There is also B-Hyphen.com, which is currently under construction but has a bunch of links to his other online endeavours.  Kelen also has a Live Journal called Spideyville Unlimited, which contains links to the Marvel Anthology and DC Anthology fan fic sites which he hosts and contributes to and whatever thoughts and videos catch Kelen’s eye.
• Isaac Cole: Isaac has a podcast/blog called The Reel Podcast, which I was a guest on about a year ago, so check that out.  Isaac has also been a part of the Between the Panels podcast, which is an excellent show that I cannot recommend enough.

And that’s it.  Sorry this post went up so late but I do appreciate everyone that was on the monstrosity that was episode 100 and I wanted to thank everyone that listens to the show.  I have a lot of fun stuff planned for the show in the coming weeks and months and I hope y’all stick with me as I continue this personal soapbox I call Views From The Longbox.

Michael Bailey Episodes

Episode 100 Part 2: “Live” Callers Phase 1

After another unexpected delay here’s the second part of episode 100 and this one is a whole heck of a lot of fun.  After going through some e-mails Shag and I chat with the people who were nice enough and more importantly patient enough to be part of the “live” call in segment.  Here’s a list of those that called in:

• Big Honkin’ Steve: Steve may not have called in but he sent me the audio you heard at the beginning of the show.  Steve has been a guest host in the past and hosts and co-hosts a plethora of podcasts and radio shows as well.  They include Geek Out Loud (the official podcast of Geek Out Online), Starkville’s House of El, Blending In, Round 3 and the Big Honkin’ Show.
• Robert Willing:  A long time listener whose support I have appreciated over the years.
• Jesse Garrett: Another listener that should be doing more with his blog, Jesse’s Comic Confessional.
• Jon and Terry: From The Unique Geek and The Unique Geek Listserv.
• Thomas Deja: A past guest of the show, the co-host of Better in the Dark and the host of  DJ’s Comics Cavalcade.
• Scott Gardner and Chris Honeywell: Scott has been on Views before and we co-host both Tales of the Justice Society of America and Back to the Bins together.  Scott and Chris host Two True Freaks and all three of those shows can be found right here.
• Stella (a.k.a. Spider-Girl): Future guest of the show and one of my “co-workers” from the Spider-Man Crawlspace Podcast.  Stella also hosts her own show called Batgirl to Oracle: The Barbara Gordon Podcast.
• George Berryman: George was a guest host on my G.I. Joe themed episodes and is one of the funniest people I know.  He should have his own podcast or radio show or something but sadly he doesn’t.

So be sure to check out the podcasts above because I dig the heck out of them and I think you will too.

Coming in a few days the third and probably final part of episode 100.  The calls keep coming and I would like to thank (from the bottom of my cold, dead, black heart) everyone who called in and especially those that waited so long to do so.  Shag and I had a ball recording this segment and maybe I’ll do it again sometime.

To be continued…

Michael Bailey Episodes call in segment, Episode 100

Hey, all.  Just checking in to give you the low down on the delay of the rest of episode 100 and a few other things.

Here’s the deal; between work and my other online adventures I have become pretty overwhelmed and I take complete and total responsibility for that.  I just kept piling things on as they came and it’s been fun but it has also stretched me pretty far.  Add to that my day job, which has been fairly stressful lately, and I have gotten behind on a lot of things.

So for those that enjoy the show and that liked having Views on a regular schedule I am sorry.  Mea culpa.  It’s my fault.

So now that I know what the problem is I am going to work on fixing it.  I am not giving up any of the podcasts that I do nor do I want to give up any of my review responsibilities so the easiest thing to do is get more organized and keep on track.  Now that I am past the 13 part series the show should be a little more laid back, especially since I will be having a good number of guest hosts in the coming months.

That should solve the problem.

Speaking of problems I talked on the show about switching the iTunes and RSS feed so I can track the number of downloads each episode gets as they come out.  I went about doing this and discovered that when it comes to typing xml code I am fairly good at hosting a podcast.  Holy crap were there a bunch of errors, which is probably why certain episodes weren’t showing up on the main iTunes page.  So I call double dumb ass on me.  They are fixed now, as are a few errors that the From Crisis to Crisis xml code had.  So in a week or so I will have all of that set and will give out the info so that everyone can re-subscribe and I can now track how many people are downloading and subscribing to the show.

Expect the episodes in a few days.  I am halfway through editing the second part of episode 100 and things are on track for the show after that.  Basically there will be one more Views From Sector 666 and then episode 101.

Thanks for listening, everyone.  I do appreciate it.

Michael Bailey Apologies