Galaktacus

Galaktacus ponders what the fall season will bring in the way of television (the CW-verse and some really random NBC shows), movies (hopefully better than the summer!) and comics (unlimited reading on apps!). Join us in the conversation (it's a fun one) and give a listen here!

In 2016, other than Deadpool, the only superhero/sci-fi film to top the box office three weeks in a row is...Suicide Squad?!? While the film had many issues (and a few bright spots: Big Willy!), which we'll discuss, the concept and the original comic series still hold up. Galaktacus presents a complete history of the Squad and posits how the addition of Harley Quinn became a true turning point for the property. Plus, we pick our ultimate Squad line-ups using new characters and old. Play along and give a listen here! 

We had to get this week's edition of Galaktacus out a few days early! Why? It's not only our 50th episode but we've got a special guest—filmmaker/animator Mike Pappa. He's got an amazing live-action, sci-fi, adventure project currently up on Kickstarter called "A Crimson Man" (scroll down a post on FB to find out more). Mike gives us some insight on the whole KS process, the inspiration for "ACM," and the harsh realities of crowd-funding a dream project. So give a listen here and then go support "A Crimson Man!" 

Galaktacus summoned its very own intrepid reporter to Indianapolis to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of Gen Con 2016, "the original, longest-running, best-attended, gaming convention in the world!" (their words, not ours). Tabletop RPGs are more popular than ever, so what's it like attending a convention full of rabid fans? What are the hot, new games to look forward to? What's the most stylish fashion trend coming out of Indy? The answers may very well shock and surprise you (especially that last one). So give a listen here! 

Galaktacus boldly goes where it can't believe it hasn't boldly gone already—into the Star Trek universe! Kirk! Picard! Sisko! Janeway! Beyond! They're all here. So set your reactions to stunned as we delve into what makes or breaks a Trek film or series, what we're willing to overlook in order to truly enjoy them and how Gene Roddenberry's creation has become an underappreciated constant in our lives. We haven't even broken through the hull of the Enterprise with this one so think of it as a primer for more Trek to come! Give a listen here!

Galaktacus would just like to go on record by saying that we, "Love the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man's style." From proton packs to Tobin's Spirit Guide, we're devouring all things Ghostbusters (with milk and juice and toast!). How does the ’84 original hold up and is the Summer of ’16 reboot salvageable? Plus a terrible theory about Dr. Peter Venkman! Give a listen right here! 

This week on the podcast, Galaktacus returns from a brief vay-cay and indulges in a bit of summer binge-watching. While the weather is warm it's the perfect time to catch up with the shows we should have been watching when it was cold, just like the dearly departed Penny Dreadful. Find out what's on our "must-watch-now-that-we've-got-the-time-list!" And of course, give a listen right here!

Don't get us wrong—Galaktacus loves destruction on a planetary scale but the sequel to Independence Day didn't quite fill us up. The 4th of July used to mean summer movie season kicking into high gear but now it's got us asking, "Whatever happened to Big Willie Weekend?" Plus we chat Independence Days past and all the pyrotechnic proclivities and Goldblum-iness that came with them. And, Galaktacus Summer Reading Club continues with the military-minded "Grunt" by Mary Roach. So give us a listen here! 

On a somewhat more serious episode of Galaktacus, we tackle a topic that strikes at the purple heart of this podcast—fandom. We’re currently bearing witness to some dark times courtesy of the nerd-noscenti. Common civility in conversation is lacking. Creators are being threatened. Vehement overreactions are all too commonplace. So how do we fix this and more importantly, can we fix this? Well, we give it our best try and hope to pass on some positivity to what should be a big party! Give a listen to us here!

Testify Galaktacus! Testify...about the preeminent Vertigo comic turned AMC series—Preacher! How does a book that pushed the envelope in terms humor and violence hold up two decades later? And more importantly how has it translated to the small (flat) screen? Plus we play another round of Elevator Action to pitch our favorite Vertigo titles to turn into mega-media properties. So give us a listen here

Galaktacus has survived the Apocalypse! On this episode, the three horsemen of this podcast ride headlong into the 9th(!) film of Fox's X-Men franchise and it's got us feeling a little...blue. Plus we posit our favorite era of X-comics and draft our all-time team of mutant superheroes! Give a listen here! 

On this episode of the podcast, we proudly introduce The Galaktacus Summer Reading Club! So let's crack those spines and dig our eyes in. First up is a dynamic DC Comics duo—Wonder Woman: Earth One by Grant Morrison and the reboot event of the season, DC Rebirth. Plus we've got reads by Joe Hill, Don DeLillo, Mary Roach and more coming your way! So give a listen here! 

Galaktacus is back! Season 4 starts here as Captain America: Civil War kicks off the summer movie season. Is it the best superhero film of all time? Where did it fail? And what's next for the Marvel Cinematic Universe? All this and a preview of what's ahead for the podcast in the coming months. So give a listen here! 

The Galaktacus Season 3 Finale has landed! We mark the end of another 13 episode run by catching up with some current nerdy news, a little hype for next season (including the introduction of the Galaktacus Summer Reading Club, join now!) and a fond look back at the only individual who looks better in purple than us—Prince. Season 4 starts soon but in the meantime give a listen here! 

This week on the podcast we're talking "Origin Stories," the super-secret, superhero kind! Can a character's popularity and longevity be traced directly to an amazing origin? What happens when an origin is retconned or timed out? Plus we introduce a new game to Galaktacus called "The 8-Word Origin Story" in which we challenge both ourselves and you the listener to play! Give a listen here!

Part 2 of our toy talk is here! What else is there other than action figures? Plenty, from Legos, Construx and Lincoln Logs to Super Soakers, Nerf and Entertech , we cover the rest of our adolescence and young adulthood spent in the toy aisle. Plus we posit why Galaktacus no longer has room in its belly (or apartment) for the latest and greatest in the fully poseable, multi-articulated, sculpted plastic arts. Give a listen here (and don't forget Part 1 if you missed it the first time around!