0

381: Through the Cronen-Hole

Today we descend into darkness as we discuss those wretched hives of scum and villainy: comment sections and fan forums! Okay, okay, there are plenty of wonderful and positive fan communities that we all love, and should! But something about the direction of fandom online over the decades tends to take a turn for the toxic whenever negativity, bullying, and anger (and, uh, threats to drink spit in protest to watching a movie?) take hold of the conversation.

What makes a good thread go bad, or even go on for 15 years? We dig into the evolution of fandom and fans online, how the platforms we use change the experience, how we’re hard-wired to choose and defend our favourites from childhood, and plenty more in this free-wheelin’, far-reaching discussion from three middle-aged fanboys who’ve seen it all on this ol’ Internet of ours. Merk even shares the twisted tale of the most deranged comment thread under a Brie Larson news post that was ever cursed upon his feed by: The Algorithm!

But on a brighter note, we just realized it’s the 9th anniversary of when we started making Zero Issues! And to celebrate this auspicious occasion, Merk challenges Kyle & Bry with a NEW GAME using his trusty deck of 1991 Marvel Universe trading cards: the roll of a die will reveal hidden truths about randomly-selected but still totally bodacious heroes and villains.

Direct Download: MP3

0

275: Hope v Dickery: Debate of Superman

Superman: beacon of hope, or beacon of NOPE? That’s the question we grapple with today! Does Superman inspire humanity to greatness, or is he just a power-rich jerk in a dumb cape? Do other heroes better represent the hopeful ideal? (And what is “hope”, anyway? Sounds made-up!) We go to some places with this one!

PLUS! All the news you can listen to: Black Widow, the Dwayne McDuffie awards, Power Rangers on Kickstarter, Miles Morales, Scott Pilgrim, and… [sigh]… Morbius. And we create new characters improv-style in a special Superman-themed Character Storm!

Direct Download: MP3

0

252: A Guy Who Knows Karate VS Doctor Octopus

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! It’s that time once again! August Audness as we call it, where we pick 8 comic characters and put them through a round robin tournament to name a champion! Some are pretty tough calls and it takes all our combined comic nerd power to make the call! And then there’s the moment where ‘Cap just wangs it’….. it happened. Also this week, Bry is ecstatic doing a ‘Read This Now’, talking about Boom Studio’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mini series. And news, news, news! Big news this week as the ‘bloodbath’ layoffs at Warner Media blindside so many. And IDW’s bizarre promotion, administrative leave and firing of a publisher all within a few weeks. All that and More!!!

Direct Download: MP3

0

231: But Does He Have a Butt Gun?

Our semi annual…er… bi-annual…. or…. whenever we fell it it….March Madness is back!!! We each secretly choose characters and then throw them into a round robin tournament… a battle to the last!! 8 comic characters whittled down to ONE CHAMPION!!! Several robots! One X-man! Two Japanese sourced warriors! One weird guy that does ‘criss cross apple sauce’! One symbol of a country! And one in fishnets that will throat punch you into next week! Join us for this battle to the last, as we ask ‘But does he have a butt gun?’

Direct Download: MP3