Talking SMAC: Superheroes, Movies, Animation & Comics

251. Mortal Kombat II

Josh and Alex discuss the most important part of Mother's Day weekend: Mortal Kombat 2. Stay for the review, but listen for their Ryan George Pitch Meeting predictions
Hey there, hi there, hello there (0:00) 
Swedish pancakes, Ope!, doggie collars, & kitty convict collars (1:25)
Garfield and Friends, Peanuts and newspaper comics (7:25)
Gaming Views promo (10:23)
Mortal Kombat, Soulcalibur & fighting games as a genre (11:02)
Opening weekend numbers, previous Mortal Kombat movies, The Hangover movies... (13:56)
Did we like it? & Ludi Lin is jacked, and other story beats (21:50)
Does fight choreography make a movie? (28:22)
Yes, we figure out how to talk about Power Rangers in this (32:08)
Hiroyuki Sanada returns as Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion (34:46)
Johnny Cage as the new lead, cheating in tournaments, and movie fanservice and easter eggs (36:21)
Choosing the right release date... and Ryan George Pitch Meeting predictions (46:56)
Final ratings and goodbyes (55:21)
Please remember to check out Gaming Views, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

250. The Devil Wears Prada 2

Josh & Alex walk down the runway for the legasequel event of the season; The Devil Wears Prada 2
Intro (0:00)
Game Club Pod promo (6:37)
Why no SMACdowns?! / Devil Wears Prada 2 review (8:16)
Thank you for your support through 250 episodes, Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:02:04)
Please remember to check out the Game Club Pod podcast, join our Discord

249. Talking Trailers: Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Street Fighter, Clayface, Spider Noir, Dune Part 3, Coyote vs Acme

Let's take a break from timely reviews and talk about some big trailers that have recently dropped ahead of some big releases! 
Intro/Josh's new dream guest for the podcast/Josh & Alex workshop a bad sports comedy (0:00)
Cultworthy promo  (7:53)
Street Fighter (11:33)
Dune: Part Three (18:27)
Coyote vs Acme (29:31)
Spider Noir (37:25)
Clayface (43:57)
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (52:12)
Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:06:06)
Please remember to check out the Cultworthy podcast, join our Discord

248. Talking Commentaries: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

Josh and Alex watch another movie and talk over it.
This time, we're... celebrating..? 25 years of 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.' You can watch Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001,) too and suffer with us. Please...
Or you can listen and laugh at our pain. *This is the recommended method
Please remember to check out the 2 Blokes from Blighty podcast, join our Discord

247. D.L. Taylor Interview

This week, the fellas are joined by author D.L. Taylor to discuss their two YA Romantacy books:
The Beasts We Bury and The Beasts We Raise
Intro (0:00)
How Alex met DL Taylor (2:27)
DL Taylor, what'cha doin'? (5:32)
How does DL read 7 different books at a time?! (6:57)
*Spoilers for the IT novel (13:03)
Are there plans for future installments of the Beasts books? (18:28)
What are the lengths DL will go to immerse the fantasy world? (23:54)
Alex has a bad friend (27:19)
Does the author of the book get to have input on the audiobook narrator(s)? (38:26)
What was the journey from pitch to publishing the book? (49:10)
Josh get’s lawyer’d by a lawyer about Phoenix Wright (58:29)
Was there a push to make the books more adult? (59:58)
A crash course in the Sex Criminals comic (1:02:09)
 What sequel plans came were pre-planned? (1:04:07)
Do fantasy stories have to have British accents? (1:11:00)
How does DL acknowledge tropes in her writing? (1:13:13)
Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:22:17)
Be sure to check out D.L.'s books using the links above. And please remember to join our Discord!

246. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Review

Possibly the most highly-anticipated movie of the year, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has hit screens this last weekend. It's time to see if this sequel elevates one of the safest movies in recent memories, or does it hold the line, while continuing to be a fan-servicey sugar high?
Intro (0:00)
Josh forgot his water bottle! (1:22)
The real reason why Josh missed last week's episode (2:34)
Mario & Luigi look weird without their gloves and hats (5:51)
Sugar Coated Murder promo (7:24)
A bad & unpaid plug for Riverside.FM (7:55)
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie review *Full Spoilers (8:57)
The good and the bad of the new voice cast (17:48)
But is there a story? (22:37)
How's Bowser in the movie? (29:03)
What do we think the ripple effect of the very safe Mario movies will be? (43:50)
Goodbyes and social media plugs (55:52)
Check out Josh's appearance on I Have Some Notes where they punch up the Super Mario Bros Movie
Please remember to check out the Sugar Coated Murder podcast, and don't forget to join our Discord

245. Tales from the V01D & V01D Transmission

Josh got caught by a clever girl, so Alex interviews Chris and Dr K from Tales from the v01d and its companion podcast v01d Transmission.
Read Tales from the Void comics Join the patreon:Tales from the Void Patreon Follow Chris Sagers Submit your idea to the Void
Follow Aardnor Minis
Where's Josh? (0:00)
Intro (1:45)
Chris, Dr. K, what'cha doin'? (3:37): Silent Hill, Pink Foam Brigade, teaching and more
Inspirations and the anthology format (9:25)
Constraints of small publishing (23:28)
What is Dr. K's role as the editor? (30:22)
Dr. K writes smut?! (48:48)
Josh didn't edit this out, Alex ;) (54:08)
Chris, what is the meaning of The Transcription?! (59:14)
What's the plan for the remainder of 2026? (1:10:05)
Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:16:02)
Please remember to join our Discord!

244. Project Hail Mary Review

Josh and Alex welcome Josh Wilson from the Super Familiar with the Wilsons podcast to help them review the first blockbuster of 2026; Project Hail Mary
Intro (0:00)
Super Familiar with the Wilsons promo (2:38)
Josh Skaar disappointed Winthrop Wilson (3:32)
Project Hail Mary non-spoiler thoughts (5:41)
Spoiler review- and Josh rants about the book (10:19)
Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:03:55)
Please remember to check out the Super Familiar with the Wilsons podcast, and join our Discord!