Talking SMAC: Superheroes, Movies, Animation & Comics

193. The Russo Bros Retrospective

Alex and Justin examine the Russo brothers' filmography post-Avengers Endgame to try to figure out if they're true auteurs, or if they just fit really well into the MCU machine.
Intro/Josh and the blustery day (0:00)
The Popeye slasher film that Justin's already seen (0:53)
The Russo brothers pre-MCU filmography (3:46)
Game Club Pod promo (9:34)
Justin's take on the Russo's MCU entries so far (11:05)
Post-Marvel Russo bros projects (13:51)
The Russo's blank check return to the MCU (26:07)
Do the Russo's really only work within the MCU structure of film-making? (28:14)
Goodbyes and social plugs (45:08)
Please remember to check out the Game Club Pod podcast, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

Bonus Episode: Avengers: Doomsday Cast Reveal

Marvel showed off some chairs with names on them. We discuss and speculate on the upcoming tentpole movie for Marvel Studios.
Please, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

192. Comedy Legasequels Don't Work

With the release of the Happy Gilmore 2 trailer, Josh and Alex look into some notable comedy legasequels that failed to capture the spirit and humor of their predecessors.
Intro (0:00)
March Madness tidings be upon thee (0:31)
 Episode 200 live recording confirmed at Cataclysm Games & Collectibles! (5:56)
Josh is on the 'Goon' episode of I Have Some Notes! (7:12)
Casting Views promo (7:51)
Support our friend, Cat Stark, and buy her books! (9:25)
Happy Gilmore 2 feelings and forecast (10:28)
Dumb & Dumber To (18:50)
Coming 2 America (21:16)
Zoolander 2 (26:02)
American Reunion (32:25)
Anchorman 2 (33:58)
Meet the Parents/Josh doesn't like Ben Stiller (35:58)
Talking SMAC's get-rich-quick scheme! (40:53)
Spaceballs 2 is coming (42:28)
Josh's rivalry with Charlie Berens (56:00)
A good comedy legasequel; Bill & Ted Face the Music (59:15)
Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:04:42)
Please remember to check out the Casting Views podcast, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

191. Split Fiction

Josh and Alex celebrate International Women's day by talking about the lastest game from the award-winning Hazelight Studios; Split Fiction
Intro/"Lousy Smarch weather" (0:00)
Josh clarifies his Mickey 17 review (2:34)
Director's Cuts/Streaming services and subscriptions w/ads (4:24)
Josh is on the 'Goon' episode of I Have Some Notes! (13:07)
Happy belated International Women's Day and strong women in entertainment! (13:57)
Cultworthy promo (30:38)
Split Fiction review (30:55)
Goodbyes and social media plugs (58:57)
Please remember to check out the Cultworthy podcast, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

190. Mickey 17

Josh & Alex are back again to discuss the newest Bong Joon Ho allegory for class warfare; Mickey 17, starring Robert Pattinson!
Intro/stories about Daylight Savings Time (0:00)
 Exciting news for the upcoming 200th episode! (5:48)
Josh saw his buddy CJ & wrestling talk (8:56)
Check out Josh on the Game Club Pod twitch channel playing Split Fiction (17:18)
2 Blokes from Blighty promo (20:46)
Mickey 17 non-spoiler review (21:38)
Is Mickey 17 a must-see or a pass? (33:46)
Spoiler review (40:34)
Talking SMAC's new clickbait endeavor (55:07)
Social media plugs and goodbyes! (1:01:35)
Please remember to check out the 2 Blokes from Blighty podcast, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

189. 2025 Blockbuster Movie Fantasy Draft

Josh, Alex & Justin draft their top blockbuster prospects for 2025 in the hopes of winning the first-ever Talking SMAC Blockbuster Fantasy Draft
Intro(0:00)
The 007 franchise sale (2:30)
Sugar Coated Murder promo (22:08)
THE BLOCKBUSTER FANTASY DRAFT Rules (23:10)
Round 1 (26:10)
Round 2 (33:18)
Round 3 (42:21)
Round 4 (54:42)
Draft Recap (1:03:21)
Social Plugs and Goodbyes (1:04:43)
Did you catch all of Alex's James Bond references?
"No Time to Die" (0:00:42)
"Goldeneye" (26:18)
"A View to a Kill" (39:51)
"Skyfall" (44:00)
"For (Josh's) Eyes Only" (59:33) 
"You Only Live Twice" (1:01:10)
"Thunderball" (1:03:16)
"Quantum of Solace" (1:05:08)
"Goldfinger" (1:05:29)
"Live and Let Die" (1:06:35)
"The Spy Who Loved Me" (1:07:06)
Please remember to check out the Sugar Coated Murder podcast, and let us know your favorite things from 2024 by joining our Discord and check out our merch store! 

188. Kelli Fitzpatrick Interview - Captain Marvel: Carol Danvers Decalssified

Josh & Alex had the privilege to speak with writer, Kelli Fitzpatrick about her new book Captain Marvel: Carol Danvers Declassified, as well as Kelli's love of Star Trek and Tabletop RPGs and more! 
Intro (0:00)
Kelli Fitzpatrick, what'cha doin'? (0:57)
How did Kelli come to write this book? (3:35)
Keeping the book on point with Carol's adventures and not skewing into fan fiction (5:52)
The framing device of the book; Ripley Ryan aka Star (8:36)
Did Kelli get to go to the Marvel archives? (10:00)
What was Kelli's process in keeping the continuity straight? (11:37)
Capturing the voices of our interview subjects (14:52)
Alex gets Carol Danvers now (17:30)
Josh learned something new about Carol Danvers (22:39)
How the book makes a Superman-like character relatable (25:46)
Let's learn more about Kelli! (28:55)
Maybe the most important question of the night (31:45)
Kelli's role in the Star Trek Adventures TTRPG (36:00)
Kelli's favorite convention(s) to attend (39:37)
Back on topic with Carol Danvers' time with Alpha Flight (42:57)
Kelli's favorite look for Carol (44:00)
Creating social media posts for the book (46:54)
Carol's journey and resilient history with abuse (49:02)
One final Trek question (52:04)
Josh anoints Kelli into the Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers "Writers who understand Carol Danvers" club (53:48)
Was there something in Carol's history that surprised Kelli? (55:23)
Alex learns about age gaps (56:22)
Kelli's take on Carol's position in Marvel's Civil War II (57:34)
Social media plugs and good byes (59:09)
Captain Marvel: Carol Danvers Declassified releases on March 4, 2025. You can order the book by clicking here
Please remember to check out our Discord as well as our merch store!

187. Captain America: Brave New World

After years of delays, strikes and rewrites, we finally get to see Sam Wilson in action on the big screen as Captain America in Captain America: Brave New World.
Intro (0:00)
Josh was on The Cultworthy to discuss the movie About Time (1:39)
Corrections: Josh mixed up Hyperion and The Sentry (5:09)
Bob is Bob in Top Gun: Maverick. But Bob is also Bob in Thunderbolts* (7:42)
No on 15 All-Cast promo (11:25)
*Spoiler Review* of Captain America: Brave New World (12:37)
Carl Lumbly is a treasure! (13:41)
Did Marvel Studios skip viewing Madame Web? (19:57)
Joaquin Torres' Marvel Comics history (24:17)
Thoughts on the overall movie before critical analysis (25:38)
The movie's not great, but it has a good heart (28:56)
What is the ripple effect within the MCU from this movie? (31:27)
Giancarlo Esposito's in the movie?! (38:10)
Where the movie's pretty thin and repetitive (40:49)
Does Sam get his Captain America moment? (44:32)
Can Secret Service shoot the Pres, even if he's a Hulk? (48:40)
Alex has questions about the cast (49:25)
Marvel's lack of post-credit scene payoffs (54:26)
Josh reiterates his post-Endgame MCU failings (58:28)
Social plugs and goodbyes (1:07:16)
Please remember to check out the No On 15! Allcast, join our Discord and check out our merch store!