Kray Z Comics And Stories

After being put out to pasture back in 2020, but it has been brought back starting this year! Cory!! and Joe go into the history of where Vertigo came from, how shops in the 90’s dealt with it, the successes why it went away and a review of the first comic in its revival!  They also discuss: 

• Cory talks about the DC implosion caused by a snowstorm
• Cory goes over the history of Superman publishing after Crisis on Infinite Earths
• How Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing was the first comic that started the march onward Vertigo. 
• What the hell was Pirana Press
• How Vertigo opened the door for comics in bookstores
• Joe not liking the hard line between Vertigo and DC

Retro Review: The Monkees

All of this, the usual shenanigans, and much, much more!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Greg Ketter, owner of the comic/book shop Dreamhaven made international news for taking to the streets when Alex Pretti was killed in Minneapolis. We discuss the situation in Minnesota, Greg’s history with comics and books, and what an awesome guy he is. 

Sal Buscema passed away, and we go over our love of his work, and his long and storied career as a comics artist. 

They also discuss:

• American Food – Chicken Noodle Soup Drop
• The sort of things people in Minnesota are doing to support their neighbors
• What drove Greg Ketter to take to the streets
• How Sal Buscema slowly worked his way into the comics industry.

Retro Review: Avengers Epic Collection 27:  Timeslide

All of this, the usual shenanigans, and much, much more!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week, they review:

• Superman vs Spider-Man
• Aliens vs Captain America
• Erotech
• Dungeons of Doom

They also discuss:

• Joe is cold. COLD, I TELL YOU!
• Joe was working hard on the eBay to keep warm
• Why Cory!! would not want to run a comic shop
• All of the new things shop owners have to do that Joe didn’t have to do when he owned Hot Comics
• Cory!! has AMERICAN FOOD!

Retro Review: Marvel 2 in 1 #96

All of this, the usual shenanigans, and much, much more!!

A note; As this episode was recorded, Alex Pretti was killed in Minneapolis and this leads to political discussions during the Freaking and Geeking portion of the show. 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

After being away from Marvel for about 8 years, Brian Michael Bendis is returning to Marvel. In this episode, Joe and Cory!! discuss what that means, and give out Fave Five Bendis stories!

They also discuss:

• Avengers 800
• Has Joe found a new children’s joke book?
• When a comic creator returning works and why
• And why it doesn’t work
• Joe and Cory!! Have done this before!
• The history behind people freaking out about comics maturing in their subject matter
• The sales figures for 2025 for MAD Magazine are in and they are dire

Retro Review: Post Cereal Presents the Super Friends!

All of this, the usual shenanigans, and much, much more!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We are running behind on getting these out, and I apologize for that. The combination of being sick over New Year’s Week, extra hours and work have slowed the editing process.  ALSO Cory had a new headset which picked up his breathing and keyboard work much more than in the past. It gets corrected soon.

In this episode, Cory!! and Joe went to Hot Comics Minneapolis that last week of its existance and they discuss:

• Neither Cory!! Nor Joe could record the first week of 2026 because of Bad Food
• MAD annuals
• Some of the trade paperbacks that Joe and Cory!! bought
• How much money did Joe save?
• The feeling of a store closing
• Odd things they noticed
• Mind’s Eye Comics has moved
• Joe opens a blind bag!

Joe’s Retro Review: Lidsville #5

All of this, the usual shenanigans, and much, much more!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

2025 is in the books, so Joe and Cory!! Are going to go over their favorite comics they read in 2025: 

Kill Train – Mad Cave

The Atlas Library – Fantagraphics

Assorted Crisis Events – Image

Fantastic Four – Marvel

Sleep – Image

The Knives – Image

Animal Pound – Boom

They also discuss:

-Free Comic Book Day is going to happen in 2026

-Oni is doing a revamp of Archie comics

-Peanuts has been purchased by Sony

Our Retro review is for Marvel’s Tomb of Terror!

Our new sponsor:  HOPE! Heroes Organized To Save Earth

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

WE GOT A LOTTA PROBLEMS WITH YOU PEOPLE, AND NOW, YOU’RE GONNA HEAR ABOUT IT!

The Airing of Grievances: At the beginning of the Festivus dinner, each participant tells friends and family all the times they have disappointed him or her the past year. As quoted by Frank Costanza: “I’ve got a lot of problems with you people, and now you’re going to hear about it!”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Joe has been gallivanting all over the place, going to comic conventions, book shows and shops and fills us in on all of them. 

Cory!! stayed home.

They also discuss:

• We start with an all new American Foods taste test!!
• Talking to folks who think comics are dying and how they don’t pay attention to the evidence to the contrary. 
• Sales figures are showing this year’s comic sales are up year of year.
• How people outside of comics don’t know how to sell comics
• Should Marvel use the way they put together the new Ultimate Universe for their “Events”.
• The current editors in chief at Marvel and DC being more behind the scenes people.
• Retro Review: Kid Komics 1 from Timely 
• A NOTE Cory!!  had the microphone too close to his face and was dealing with asthma issues. Sorry.

All of this, the usual shenanigans and much, much more!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Cory!! found a listing of the top 100 comics for June of 1993 on an old issue of Overstreet Fan. 

They go over what they remember with Joe owning a shop, it being on the eve of the 90’s comics sales implosion, and LOT of new super hero universes.  It’s a trip down memory lane for a time period that people have a lot of opinions about, the 90’s!

They also discuss:

• Blind Bag Comics: Threat or Menace!
• Why Alan Moore and Frank Miller are incredibly wealthy men. 
• How Joe’s shop did so well in the early 90’s because of the X-Men cartoon
• Joe’s criteria for getting an autograph. 
• How a bad advertising killed the Minneapolis Show Comic Zone
• Why Marvel has a series called Fantastic Force
• A new sponsor!  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gatorman/the-apostasy

All of this, the usual shenanigans and much, much more!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Cory!! found a listing of the top 100 comics for June of 1993 on an old issue of Overstreet Fan. 

They go over what they remember with Joe owning a shop, it being on the eve of the 90’s comics sales implosion, and LOT of new super hero universes.  It’s a trip down memory lane for a time period that people have a lot of opinions about, the 90’s!

They also discuss:

• Joe giving cars away and Butch covering them with magnets. How do they work?
• Why Cory!! hated the original Magnus Robot Fighter
• The Early Image book Cory!! fell in love with. 
• Is there any old inventory left floating around at Marvel?
• What character created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz at Marvel had his own series, but was MADE TO DIE!
• Cory!! Reviews First Issue Special #6 in the Retro review
• A new sponsor!  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gatorman/the-apostasy

56

All of this, the usual shenanigans and much, much more!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download