ESO Podcast - Episode 191

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Also, the most stressful. In the never-ending battle to fight the holiday blues, the ESO crew steps up once again to provide some gift ideas for the geek in your life. To make things easier, you can find just about every item suggested by Mike, Mike, the award-winning author Bobby Nash, Doctor Q, and Nikki Rau-Baker in the ESO Amazon Estore. Listen, click, and you’re done wish shopping for the year! Plus, we give author Stuart Jaffe the greatest gift of all… some time in The Geek Seat! All this, along with the usual Rants, Raves, Khan Report and Shout Outs!

Earth Station One Episode 191: The Fourth Annual ESO Geek Gift Guide

Table of Contents
0:00:00 Intro / Welcome
0:09:24 Rants & Raves
0:36:27 Stuart Jaffe (author) Interview & Geek Seat
0:58:20 4th Annual Holiday Geek Guide
2:08:13 2 Minutes w/ Dr Geek
2:10:22 The ESO Khan Report w/ Nikki Rau-Baker
2:20:30 ESO Shout Outs & Show Close

To listen, click the link above or download this podcast from iTunes.

My Shout Out goes out to TCM for scheduling some of the best holiday movies on the planet. If you ever feel the need to be reminded what this season is all about, relax and check out any number of these fine films (I personally recommend any version of A Christmas Carol).

Next week, ESO heads to Paradise Island. We take a look at the 73-year-old history of Wonder Woman from her comic book beginnings to her current incarnations. We’ll also discuss the characters and what we’d like to see in her future. Plus, the usual assortment of Rants & Raves, Khan Report, interviews, The Geek Seat, Shout Outs, and so much more!

ESO wants to hear from you! Drop us a line at www.esopodcast.com, the ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your comments. We just might air your comments on the show!

And don't forget to check out items in our Amazon estore!

My Favorite Monsters - Starro the Conqueror

Countdown to Halloween Day 30

My Favorite Monsters

Starro the Conqueror

I'll admit that when I was younger, I was not impressed by a ginormous starfish as a big baddie. However, I've grown to respect Starro over the years and not just because he has the historic distinction of being the first foe of the Justice League (it is a lifetime dream that I'll one day be able to afford Brave & the Bold #28 to complete my collection). While he is large and powerful enough to require more than one superhero to defeat him, my favorite characteristic is his mini-me spores which he uses to mentally control all who oppose him. He is one of the most unique antagonists in the DCU and I geeked out when I saw him battling the Marvel heroes in the 2003 JLA/Avengers crossover.

Starro has made numerous appearances in DC animated adventures (though I'm surprised he never appeared in the Super Friends series). My favorite use of him outside comics is in The Brave & the Bold series in which he was featured in a season-long story line.

Another Starro item on my wish list is the 2010 Sand Diego Comic Con Exclusive DC Universe Infinite Heroes Justice League set, which not only contained the figures to recreate the first appearance cover, but also mini spores you could attach to any 6" figure in your collection.

 

Starro has only appeared in the "New 52" as cameo in the first team-up of the Justice League (much to my disappointment). Before the DCU was rebooted, there was a very cool run of R.E.B.E.L.S. that introduced a humanoid Starro that I would love to see continue in some way.

ESO Podcast - Episode 104

This week, the ESO crew hurls themselves into the void and travels to the planet Mongo to discuss the adventures of Flash Gordon. Can our intrepid heroes of Mike, Mike, and Bobby with guests Dan Johnson and Scott & Debbie Viguie, help Flash save the universe? Or will they face the mercy of Ming? Tune in to the next episode of Earth Station One to find out! Plus, Chris Hardwick and the Nerdist crew came to Atlanta and Christine Hoffman gives us a full report! All this, and the usual Rants, Raves, Shout Outs and Khan report!

Earth Station One Episode 104: Flash a-ah, Savior of the Universe!

Table of Contents
0:00:00 Intro / Welcome
0:07:07 Rants & Raves
0:55:06 The Geek Seat w/ Dan Johnson
1:11:39 Flash Gordon
1:57:27 Khan Report w/ Christine Hoffman
2:29:29 Shout Outs
2:38:34 Show Close

To listen, click the link above or download this podcast from iTunes.

Next week, the ESO hangs out at the Quick Stop to discuss the works of Kevin Smith. We assure you, we're open to review the good, the bad, and the dogma of Smith's short but influential career.

We want to hear from you! What are your favorite moments from the View Askewniverse? Drop us a line at www.esopodcast.com, at the ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your comments. We might just read yours on the show.

ESO Podcast - Episode 88

We start the holiday season off with a bang with our 2nd Annual Geek Gift Holiday Guide. In honor of meeting Peter Davison at Chicago TARDIS, we review “The Caves of Androzani" the final story featuring the 5th Doctor. But wait! That’s not all! We also talk about the mid series finale of The Walking Dead. How’s that for an action packed episode?

Join us for an episode we like to call Episode 88: Our 2nd Annual Holiday Geek Gift Guide

Table of Contents
0:00:00 Intro / Welcome
0:05:07 Rants & Raves
0:29:27 The Walking Dead Mid Season Finale
0:53:00 Doctor Who: The Caves of Androzani
1:29:44 2nd Annual Geek Gift Holiday Guide
2:06:10 Khan Report
2:19:27 Shout Outs
2:27:06 Show Close

Listen to ESO #88 here, or download this podcast from iTunes.

ESO Podcast #36

If anyone out there is wondering what to get me for Christmas this year, listen up!

t’s that time of the year when the weather gets cooler and people start become a little more festive and friendlier, yes folks it’s the season to go holiday shopping for the geek in your life, and your friends here at ESO have a few suggestions on what to you might find out there . Also we will be taking a short trip in the TARDIS and meeting up with the Tenth Doctor and Rose and review the episode “Tooth and Claw”

Join us for another fun filled podcast that we like to call Episode 36: We go holiday shopping for the geek in your life!

Table of Contents
0:00:00 Intro / Welcome
0:02:36 Rants & Raves – Leslie Nielson / Irvin Kirshner / E.T. / World of Warcraft / Comcast vs. Netflix
0:19:54 The Geek Seat w/ Mike G.
0:31:36 Doctor Who : Tooth and Claw
0:46:43 Holiday Shopping for the Geek In Your Life
1:23:54 Show Close

Listen to ESO #36 here, or download this podcast from iTunes.

Friday Night Videos

Absolute Death

Arriving today in fine comic shops all across the country is the Absolute Death oversize hardcover from DC Vertigo. The mini-series, written by Neil Gaiman in top form and featuring beautiful artwork by Chris Bachalo and Mark Buckingham, is deserving of an Absolute Edition to be sure. However, the price tag is high - nearly $100 retail. You may have to skimp on the Halloween treats this year for some eye candy!

Iron Man Kotobukiya Statue

Let's face it, there's a lot of cool things out there I can't afford (yet), but some just make my jaw drop! The fine folks at Kotobukiya have been creating fine figures and statues for years and I always enjoy looking at their section in the newest Previews catalog. However, when I saw the ad for the Iron Man Fine Art Statue I just about wet myself!

I'm not even a die hard fan of ol' Shellhead, but I would love to have this on my shelf. It is a little over 13 inches tall and made of cold cast porcelain coated with metallic paint. The level of detail is typical of Kotobukiya craftsmen, but what absolutely sells me is the multiple LED lights which illuminate the eyes, palms, and chest. This staute is even impressive in the dark!

Scheduled be available next month, most stores will be selling this collectible for around $179, which is actually quite reasonable comparatively speaking. But at this time, there's no way I can justify such a purchase. Hopefully someday...

Whip It Good!

Yesterday was the opening of the official Indiana Jones online store! I was hoping that it was just an April Fool's Day joke because I don't need such temptations! If it wasn't already on its death throws, my bank account could take a serious beating here. They have some very cool t-shirt designs (I think my favorite is the "Blue Map Indy Shirt"), books, figures, and LEGOS. I wish the LEGO Indiana Jones video game was going to be released for the Mac, but I will probably be able to play the PC version on my dual-boot iMac.



One item missing from the official Indy store is a replica of his signature weapon. But fear not, fellow Indy fanboys! Authentic replica bullwhips are available from the David Morgan.com, a company which has supplied over 30 whips for the production of the four films. I would love to have one to complement the official Indiana Jones fedora I bought over twenty years ago, but the price is steep - the smallest whip (5-foot) is priced at $560! Even if I could afford such an item, I would not be able to resist giving it a try and knowing my luck I would bust my lip or worse. Still, it would be a useful tool to keep our cats in line...