Play Comics

Read transcriptHULK SMASH… your expectations! This week on Play Comics, we’re going green with rage as we dive into 2005’s The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction – the game that asked the important question: “What if we gave players the power to literally punch a helicopter out of the sky and then use a bus as a baseball bat?” Developed by Radical Entertainment for the PS2, Xbox, and GameCube, this comic book adaptation threw subtlety out the window faster than Banner throws a tantrum. Forget stealth missions or carefully planned strategies – this game was all about embracing your inner gamma-powered toddler and turning entire city blocks into your personal sandbox of destruction. Joining us for this episode of controlled chaos is Matt Storm from the fantastic podcasts “Fun” and Games and Reignite! They’ll help us explore how this title managed to capture the pure, unadulterated joy of being an unstoppable force of nature with anger management issues. Together, we’ll discuss whether throwing cars at military helicopters counts as a valid combat strategy, and why sometimes the best solution to every problem is just… more smashing. So strap in, podcast listeners – we’re about to go from zero to “HULK STRONGEST THERE IS!” faster than you can say “you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.” Warning: No buildings, vehicles, or military installations were harmed in the making of this episode… but we can’t make the same promise about our gaming controllers. HULK PODCAST! Learn such things as: Does anyone want to play as Bruce Banner? Will anyone write a comic based on a game that’s based on a comic? Is this game just a modern retelling of Rampage? And if so, is that a problem? And so much more! You can find Matt @dj_stormageddon on Instagram, and Twitch, @djstormageddon on BlueSky, and to check out all of the shows they do check out DJStormageddon.com for “Fun” and Games (for looks at video games), Reignite (for a deep look at a video game series which started in the mass Effect universe and is now in the Dragon Age universe), or Screen Snark (which has ended but when I checked you could still grab episodes). If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook. A big thanks to the Kickstarter campaign for Aces and Aros and Capes on the Couch for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who is really angry that they didn’t get to talk about this game. And we don’t want to see them angry.Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics

Strap on your jetpack and set your phasers to “mildly confused,” because this week on Play Comics we’re rocketing straight into the neon-lit chaos of Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday! That’s right—dust off your Sega Genesis and prepare for a wild ride through a universe where the future looks suspiciously like a 1990s living room. Joining us for this cosmic caper is none other than Vasco Pickett, a local legend whose wisdom is as deep as the Martian canyons and whose internet presence is, well… let’s just say he’s more “boots on the ground” than “cloud in the cloud.” Vasco brings his real-world charm (and possibly a ray gun or two) to help us unravel the tangled web of Buck Rogers lore—from dice-rolling tabletop escapades to pixelated Genesis heroics. So, whether you’re a die-hard fan of space operas, a retro gaming aficionado, or just here for the witty banter, grab your space helmet and tune in. It’s time to blast off with Play Comics, where the only countdown is to a good time! Learn such things as: Does the main character of a franchise that basically only exists to be centered around that character even need to show up in the game? Will Chris have an existential crisis that an Atari 2600 game can be better than a Sega Genesis game? Will future generations even know the experience of hanging out at the movie theater? And so much more! You can find the Vasco if you already know where he lives or his favorite restaurant or something because you won’t find him on the internet. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook. A big thanks to the Kickstarter campaign for Starlite and The Last Comic Shop podcast for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who doesn’t have enough faces or palms for this one. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Read transcriptGather ‘round, Dragon Ball devotees and gluttons for punishment! This week on Play Comics, we’re subjecting ourselves to the digital equivalent of getting hit by Frieza’s Death Beam repeatedly-Dragon Ball Z Taiketsu for the Game Boy Advance. Imagine taking the most explosive anime franchise in history and cramming it into a game with all the fiery intensity of a damp firecracker. Spoiler alert: This isn’t a battle for glory-it’s a battle for survival against one of the most bafflingly awful licensed games ever conceived. Joining me in this masochistic quest is Andrew Young from Behold!, who’s agreed to lend his expertise (and his remaining sanity) to dissect this pixelated travesty. Together, we’ll answer the burning question: How did a game about planet-destroying superhumans end up feeling as thrilling as watching paint dry on Master Roshi’s houseboat? Hint: It involves more clipping issues than Yamcha’s career and combat mechanics flatter than Krillin’s scalp. From animations that resemble a PowerPoint presentation gone rogue to a soundtrack that sounds like a kazoo orchestra trapped in a washing machine, Taiketsu doesn’t just drop the ball-it spikes it into the core of the Earth, unleashes a Spirit Bomb of disappointment, and then forgets to animate the explosion. Whether you’re here for the schadenfreude or just morbid curiosity, grab your Dragon Radar and a stiff drink. This episode’s gonna hurt. A lot. Learn such things as: What happens when the developers are put not only behind the 8 ball, but also in front of a really high cliff on a windy day and that cliff is made of ice? So I guess games really do need a story don’t they? Even if it’s just a hand wave at one. Is this the new worst representation of the comic source material? And so much more! <img alt="" src="https://playcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dragon-Ball-Taiketsu-Experience-400x225.jpg" />You can find Andrew by looking at the Behold! account on Twitter or of course the Behold! website. You should especially check out the episode looking at X-Men 97 because I love that series and need something good in my life, and the episode looking at Fan4stick because it has me in it. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook. A big thanks to the Kickstarter campaign for I Brought A Gorilla to a Gunfight and the Kickstarter campaign for Starlite for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who forgot that this game exists and is now on a mission to destroy me because I brought this fact back to light. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics

Prepare your beam sabers and polish your Zaku helmets-this episode of Play Comics is about to launch straight into the Universal Century! We’re diving headfirst into the PS2 classic Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs Zeon, where the only thing more intense than the space battles is trying to pronounce “RX-78-2” three times fast. Joining the fray is none other than Derek Van Dyke from Super Deluxe GamesCast and Castle Bravo, who’s here to help us decide once and for all: Is it better to fight for the Federation, or is life just more fun in a mono-eyed mobile suit? Expect hot takes, cooler mobile suits, and at least one attempt to dodge a colony drop with nothing but sheer podcasting bravado. So grab your joystick, pick a side, and get ready for a barrage of wit, wisdom, and way too many references to Newtypes. The One Year War has never sounded this entertaining. Learn such things as: How real is the science of Gundam? Do you really have to play as one of the characters to have a game that feels right? If I thought of a story arc that already existed, does that make me a genius or just guilty of pre-plagarism? And so much more! You can find Derek on BlueSky and of course as part of the Super Deluxe GamesCast and Castle Bravo. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook. A big thanks to the Kickstarter campaign for I Brought A Gorilla to a Gunfight and The Monitor Tapes for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who really wants you to know that no real life children were made to do war crimes in the making of this podcast episode. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Read transcriptGet ready to tattoo the number XIII on your memory banks (preferably not on your collarbone) as Play Comics dives into the cel-shaded, amnesia-riddled world of XIII – the video game adaptation that brought Jean Van Hamme’s acclaimed French graphic novel series to life on PS2, Xbox, and GameCube. This first-person shooter might be the only game where waking up on a beach with complete memory loss is just the beginning of your problems, not the end result of a gaming convention afterparty. This week, we’re joined by the phenomenally talented Rob Duenas from the Sketchcraft YouTube channel, whose artistic prowess has graced everything from the hellish battlegrounds of “Spawn Kills Every Spawn” to beloved video game franchises like Crash Bandicoot and Overwatch. When Rob isn’t busy making comic pages look absolutely stunning or designing characters for your favorite games, he’s dropping knowledge bombs about art and creativity on his channel that would make even the most amnesia-addled protagonist remember how to hold a pencil. Together, we’ll untangle the conspiracy-laden plot that had gamers frantically searching for their own identity while taking down government agents with stylized comic book “BANG!” and “BOOM!” sound effects popping up on screen. Was this 2003 cel-shaded shooter as revolutionary as its artistic style suggested, or did it wash up on gaming shores only to be quickly forgotten? Does the console version you played actually matter, or were the loading time differences just another conspiracy to keep Xbox owners feeling superior? And most importantly, how does a game based on a graphic novel series about a character who can’t remember who he is manage to create such memorable gameplay? Grab your favorite tattered map with cryptic clues, practice your best “I have no idea who I am but I can somehow expertly use military weapons” face, and join us for an episode more twisty-turny than XIII’s plot itself! Learn such things as: Does it matter if nobody knows that the comic source material exists? Does it matter if the art style is totally changed up from how the comic looks? Can a game be released on too many consoles? Will Chris Baker come in and answer my question? And so much more! You can find Rob on on YouTube @Sketchcraft or his website Sketchcraft which has links to whatever social media places are still alive this week. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook. A big thanks to the Kickstarter campaign for I Brought A Gorilla to a Gunfight and The Last Comic Shop Podcast for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who doesn’t remember that I say all of these things about them at the end of the show notes and hopefully won’t come take me out because of what I’ve said. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics

Welcome, Earthlings and Cybertronians alike, to another episode of Play Comics-where the only thing more confusing than the continuity is trying to fold yourself into a PS2 disc case! This time, we’re rolling out (and occasionally transforming) into the wild world of the 2004 Transformers video game. Yes, the one that’s based on Transformers: Armada-even though the box art was too shy to admit it, and the plot zigzags harder than a Mini-Con on a caffeine rush. Joining us for this electrifying adventure is none other than Charles Shelton from the TransMissions Podcast Network, a man who knows more about Autobots, Decepticons, and questionable voice acting than Unicron knows about planetary snacking. Together, we’ll dodge Decepticlones, collect Mini-Cons like they’re Pokémon, and ponder why Optimus Prime never just took a vacation in the Amazon (hint: robot allergies). So buckle up, hit that triangle button to transform, and prepare for a journey through nostalgia, PS2 graphics, and more robot drama than a Cybertronian soap opera. Let’s see if we can save the universe-or at least get through the jungle level without rage-quitting. Learn such things as: Why do you need to experience things for yourself and not rely on others to decide if you’ll like a thing or not? Do you really need to see all of those great Transformers characters that you’ve come to love so much? Wouldn’t it be fine to just have a few of them? How did Soundwave get into here and mess with Charles’s audio? Especially because he doesn’t even show up in Armada? And so much more! You can find Charles on the  TransMissions Podcast Network which includes shows looking at the toys, the media, and even an actual play Transformers themed tabletop RPG game. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook. A big thanks to Nerd Best Friends and Ninjas ‘n’ Bots for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who just wants to see a Transformer of a squid. And now I do too. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Read transcriptHell hath no fury like a Hellspawn scorned, especially when that Hellspawn is leaping between platforms on your PlayStation 2! This week’s episode of Play Comics dives headfirst into the fiery pits of “Spawn Armageddon,” the video game that attempted to cram the first 99 issues of Todd McFarlane’s demonic anti-hero saga into button-mashing glory on PS2, Xbox, and GameCube. Chains will fly, capes will billow dramatically for no apparent reason, and we’ll answer the burning question: can any game truly capture the essence of a character who essentially told both Heaven and Hell to take a hike? Joining us on this unholy quest is the supremely talented Rob Duenas from the Sketchcraft YouTube channel, whose pencil might actually be mightier than Spawn’s chains. When Rob isn’t dropping knowledge bombs about art techniques online, he’s busy creating jaw-dropping illustrations for comic books – including the mind-bending “Spawn Kills Every Spawn.” Yes folks, our guest has literally drawn Spawn murdering alternate versions of himself, which makes him uniquely qualified to judge a game where Spawn murders… well, pretty much everything else. So grab your favorite necroplasm-infused beverage, wrap yourself in a sentient cape that definitely isn’t judging your choice of pajamas, and prepare for an episode more twisted than Violator’s family reunion. We’re diving deep into the 2003 gaming experience that asked the important question: “What if we gave the angriest character in comics a bunch of weapons and unleashed him in a world that looks suspiciously like the developer’s first attempt at a 3D environment?” The answer, dear listeners, involves a lot more jumping puzzles than anyone ever asked for. Learn such things as: Who would have thought that Rob knows so much about game development? Would anyone believe that you could cram 99 issues of comic story into a single game back in 2003? Is this really how we’re going to let Spawn end in console games? And so much more! You can find Rob on on YouTube @Sketchcraft or his website Sketchcraft which has links to whatever social media places are still alive this week. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook. A big thanks to Spawnography and the BicentenniKILL + Invasion from Planet Wresletopia Kickstarter campaign for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who could probably make a better Spawn game in his sleep, but it would star Sam and Twitch. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics

This week on Play Comics, we’re taking you on a high-speed tour through Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space, a PS2 classic that’s equal parts thrilling dogfight simulator and love letter to Universal Century lore. From piloting iconic mobile suits to reenacting pivotal battles from the One Year War, this game has everything a Gundam fan could ask for—except ground-based combat (but hey, who needs dirt when you’ve got asteroids?). Joining us for this cosmic adventure is George from Shortbox Summary, who brings his signature wit and deep knowledge of pop culture to the discussion. Together, we’ll explore what makes Encounters in Space stand out among Gundam games, share our favorite moments from its sprawling story modes, and maybe even speculate about Zeon’s questionable interior design choices. Strap in—it’s going to be a bumpy ride through the stars! Learn such things as: Did George really say starting with SD Gundam is a viable option for me? If you can’t find a character you like here, are you even trying? Zoomy zoomy, shooty shooty giant robots got big booties. And so much more! You can find George on Bluesky @shortboxsummary.bsky.social and of course over at Shortbox Summary. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook. A big thanks to the Zombie Date Night 2 Kickstarter campaign and the BicentenniKILL + Invasion from Planet Wresletopia Kickstarter campaign for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who would rather be a mech than a pilot. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Yo Joe! Or should we say “Yo NES!” because this week on Play Comics, we’re tackling G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero—the video game adaptation of everyone’s favorite cartoon about freedom-loving heroes battling against Cobra’s endless supply of bad ideas. With explosive levels and a cast of characters straight out of your childhood toy box, this game promises big action… but does it deliver? Chris teams up with SerpyMatt, an internet personality who probably knows more about G.I. Joe lore than Cobra Commander knows about losing battles. Together, they’ll uncover what makes this game tick—from its ambitious level design to its occasional moments of “Wait… what just happened?” Is it a victory for retro gaming or just another casualty in the war against bad licensed games? Tune in and find out! Learn such things as: Is this just a military thing or is there more to it? Does Chris have any hope of seeing Level 2 of the game? How are you forced to use every character? And so much more! You can find SerpyMatt on BlueSky @serpymatt.bsky.social. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook. A big thanks to the Zombie Date Night 2 Kickstarter campaign and Ninjas and Bots for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who could probably sleep on that old aircraft carrier play set.<iframe style="display: none;" src="about:blank"></iframe> Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript

Welcome to another episode of Play Comics, where we volley between the pixelated world of video games and the ink-stained pages of comic strips! This week, we’re serving up a nostalgic slice of handheld gaming with Snoopy Tennis for the Game Boy Color—a game that lets you smash tennis balls as Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the gang while channeling the quirky humor of the Peanuts comic strip. But don’t let Snoopy’s “World Famous Tennis Player” persona fool you; his skills might be as questionable as his geography knowledge (Wimbledon in Kansas City, anyone?). Joining us on this court-side adventure is Bill Pepper, host of It’s a Podcast, Charlie Brown and Atari Bytes. Bill brings his expertise in all things Peanuts and retro gaming to help us dissect whether Snoopy’s racket-wielding antics are a grand slam or just another double fault. Expect witty banter, deep dives into Snoopy’s many alter egos, and maybe even some tales about Crybaby Boobie or Molly Volley from the comic strip lore. So grab your sweatbands, dodge those bugs mistaking the tennis court for a highway, and prepare for an episode that’s more fun than Snoopy getting tangled in the net. Game on! Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomicsRead transcript