Gobbledygeek

For the first time this season, Paul and Arlo have lost the plot. That’s right, the beloved Gobbledygeek freestyle episode has returned, new and improved for 2024, including such scintillating subjects as: Back pain! Stomach bugs! Car crashes! Country mouse Arlo took a trip to New York City, taking a bite out of the Big Apple for the very first time; Paul is planning a secluded getaway just to listen to the new Taylor Swift album; and, what’s that? The boys are writing again? They’re going to release another book? Yes! Well, maybe! Probably! All that and more on the latest episode of your very most favorite podcast. NEXT: anything is possible. MUSIC “Welcome to New York (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (2022) “Borrowed Time” by John Lennon, Milk and Honey (1984) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://www.unduemedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

You’re a better podcaster than us, Michael Holland. That’s right, the City of Angels’ very own boy wonder is back to take Paul and Arlo to film school. The That Was Then classic gracing our screens this time is George Stevens’ 1939 adventure film Gunga Din, starring Cary Grant, Victor McLaglen, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. The gang discusses the film’s connection to William Goldman, the subject of the first season of Michael’s podcast From Out of the Past; why it represents a milestone in action-adventure cinema; its surprising, or refreshing, lack of plot; and why Paul and Arlo had such a hard time watching this 85-year-old film for the very first time. NEXT: much like Schwarzenegger, we’ll be back. BREAKDOWN 00:00:42 - Intro / Guest 00:10:23 - Gunga Din 01:16:05 - Outro / Next LINKS From Out of the Past Podcast Holland_Imaginarium MUSIC “The Ballad of Gunga Din” by Jim Croce, Facets (1966) “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” by Bob Dylan and the Band, Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Vol. II (1971) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

Around and around we go, where we’ll stop–only Arlo knows! For this month’s Four-Color Flashback, Gobbledygeek’s enfant terrible has chosen Junji Ito’s 1998-99 horror manga Uzumaki. Will Paul ever forgive him? On hand to find out is The Deli Counter of Justice co-conspirator Eric Sipple, who will be appearing on FCF episodes for infinity. The gang discusses Ito’s beautifully grotesque imagery, the book’s at times confounding narrative, their (in)experience with the manga form, and snails. Plus, Arlo has been dabbling in other East Asian art with more Godzilla movies and Edward Yang’s Taiwanese masterpiece Yi Yi; and Paul cannot hold back his rage when it comes to X-Men ‘97. NEXT: where you been, Gunga Din? Hollywood’s own Michael Holland joins us to discuss George Stevens’ 1939 classic. BREAKDOWN 00:00:49 - Intro / Godzilla banter 00:14:23 - X-Men ‘97 rage! 00:28:33 - Uzumaki 01:49:54 - Outro / Next MUSIC “Spiraling Shape” by They Might Be Giants, Factory Showroom (1996) “Snails Pace” by Bob Brown, Snails Pace (2022) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

Oh, what a tangled web we Weavers! For this month’s Four-Color Flashback, Paul and Arlo trap Eric Sipple in their web once more, this time to discuss Simon Spurrier & Dylan Burnett’s Lovecraftian mob story Weavers. Despite being big fans of Spurrier’s (author of past FCF favorites Six-Gun Gorilla and The Spire), Paul and Arlo aren't quite sure what to make of this one, while Eric has some thoughts on why the book is an interesting failure. One thing they can all agree on is Burnett’s vibrant, stylish art–and how it elevates everything else on the page. NEXT: Paul and Arlo will return. MUSIC “Itsy Bitsy Spider” by Itsy Bitsy Spider (2015) “Boris the Spider” by The Who, A Quick One (1966) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

As they say, don’t drink and podcast, but here Paul and Arlo are talking about 2004’s Sideways for another round of That Was Then. Alexander Payne’s acclaimed dramedy follows alcoholic wine connoisseur Miles as he takes his bonehead best buddy Jack on a road trip through Santa Barbara the week before Jack’s due to get hitched. It is the Fox Searchlight movie, and the boys discuss what that means, how the performances bring forth certain emotional notes in the script’s body, and why somebody could come away from a first viewing not understanding 20 years’ worth of hype. Plus, Arlo goes into uncomfortable detail about his middle school career. NEXT: enough old movies, let’s talk old(-ish) comics! This month’s Four-Color Flashback sees Eric Sipple joining Paul and Arlo for Si Spurrier and Dylan Burnett’s Weavers. BREAKDOWN 00:00:45 - Intro / Guest 00:29:46 - Main Topic 01:35:36 - Outro / Next MUSIC “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” by Billy Joel, The Stranger (1977) “A Case of You” by Joni Mitchell, Blue (1971) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

We’re speeding away at breakneck speed with another installment of our That Was Then series. This time Paul and Arlo are witnesses to The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, a 1974 subway heist thriller that is exactly what it says on the tin. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! But our boys do struggle to find much to say, choosing to highlight David Shire’s jazz-funk score and Owen Roizman’s gritty cinematography while mostly being puzzled by the script’s wasted potential. It’s a fun Noo Yawk movie, and that’s okay, folks! NEXT: NO FUCKING MERLOT! That’s right, it’s another That Was Then, this time focusing on Alexander Payne’s 2004 buddy dramedy Sideways. BREAKDOWN 00:00:30 - Intro / The Year That Was 1974 00:21:38 - The Taking of Pelham One Two Three 01:20:30 - Outro / Next MUSIC “Sure Shot” by Beastie Boys, Ill Communication (1994) “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne, Blizzard of Ozz (1980) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

For the next installment in our That Was Then series, Paul and Arlo cast their minds back to 1964–a year that predates both of them, though the era’s Beatlemania might as well be Arlo’s spiritual birthplace. This time, they’re popping paisley parasols for Jacques Demy’s The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, a sung-through opera told in the style of a Hollywood musical with some of the most stunning colors you’ll ever see. Hollywood extraordinaire and From Out of the Past host Michael Holland is on hand to help the boys discuss how the film defies romantic conventions while adhering to them, the magic of Jean Rabier’s camerawork, the way Demy uses color to convey feeling, and why the film deserves to be mentioned alongside classics of the French New Wave. NEXT: it’s a mystery, gang! BREAKDOWN 00:00:33 - Intro / Guest / The Year 1964 00:21:00 - The Umbrellas of Cherbourg 01:28:00 - Outro / Next LINKS From Out of the Past Podcast Holland_Imaginarium MUSIC “Le Parapluies De Cherbourg” by Michel Legrand “Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z)” by Rihanna, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

Who ya gonna call? Gobbledygeek! For the first installment of our That Was Then series, taking a look back at movies celebrating anniversaries in 2024, Paul and Arlo take residence at Spook Central for 1984’s Ghostbusters. Turning a frightful 40 this year, Ivan Reitman’s classic comedy began as a high-concept riff on the “slobs v. snobs” template made popular by Animal House before becoming an inescapable pop cultural juggernaut. The boys discuss the thoughtfulness of Reitman’s direction in tandem with the great László Kovács’ photography, the perfectly structured script by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, how much of Pete Venkman is just Bill Murray, and why the right-wing backlash to the 2016 remake is ironic in light of the original’s sketchy politics. NEXT: a little of this, a little of that. BREAKDOWN 00:00:48 - Intro / The Year That Was 1984 00:18:19 - Ghostbusters (1984) 01:36:29 - Outro / Next MUSIC “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr., Ghostbusters (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1984) “Cleanin’ Up the Town” by The Busboys, Ghostbusters (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1984) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's the Gobbledygeek season 15 premiere! Breaking from vaguely defined tradition, Paul and Arlo are kicking off the season with a Four-Color Flashback, and their pal Eric Sipple is on hand to help turn the pages. Arlo has chosen to subject Paul and Eric to the classic Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale collab Superman for All Seasons, which may prove a tough sell to a couple of Super-skeptics. The gang discusses the book’s Rockwell-influenced aesthetic, the simplicity (or flatness, depending on taste) of the cast, how Sale’s big dopey Superman conveys Clark Kent’s decency, and the surprising love triangle at the book’s core. Plus, Arlo explains the very personal reasons he chose this book to start the season. You'll believe a man can cry. NEXT: introducing our That Was Then series, wherein Paul and Arlo will be taking a look at various movies that are celebrating anniversaries in 2024. First up is perennial Gobbledy-fave Ghostbusters, which is turning a frightful 40. BREAKDOWN 00:00:43 - Intro / Guest 00:13:05 - Superman For All Seasons 02:02:28 - Arlo kills the conversation (TW: dead dads) 02:21:30 - Outro / Next LINKS Making the Scene podcast MUSIC “Time of the Season” by The Zombies, Odessey and Oracle (1968) “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by The Byrds (1965) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

You’ll slash your eye out, Kidder! To close out our truncated season, it’s a Twisted Christmas double feature, as Paul and Arlo explore both of Canadian auteur Bob Clark’s yuletide classics: 1974’s proto-slasher Black Christmas and the 1983 staple A Christmas Story. The boys separately find each of these movies to be deeply annoying…but who couldn’t stand which one?! Just kidding, Paul’s not that into the horror movie and Arlo can’t stand the cutesy nostalgic one. We have a brand, and we’re sticking to it. Plus, our favorite movies and TV shows of 2023. NEXT: Merry Christmas and happy New Year! We’ll potentially be back in January potentially with a guest and potentially discussing a movie. So much potential for 2024, can’t wait to squander all of it! BREAKDOWN 00:00:49 - Intro 00:09:03 - Black Christmas 00:57:31 - A Christmas Story 01:49:06 - Outro / Next MUSIC “Call Me” by Blondie, American Gigolo (1980) “BB Gun” by Roger Alan Wade, All Likkered Up (2005) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

What is there for a young, mixed-race woman to do in feudal Japan? Reject all traces of her femininity, assume the masculine identity of a ronin, and seek revenge on any of the four white men in the whole country who could potentially be her father. Is Mizu a demonic half-breed, an enlightened warrior, or something else altogether? Created by Michael Green and Amber Noizumi, Blue Eye Samurai charts Mizu’s journey of self-discovery and bloodlust, and Paul and Arlo are along for the ride. The boys discuss the show’s brilliant fight choreography, each character’s attempt to break free of their constraints, the tremendous voice performances of Maya Erskine and Brenda Song, and that Metallica cover. Plus, Arlo pays homage to big bald daddy Godzilla. NEXT: ho ho no! It’s a Bob Clark double feature on the finale of our truncated season 14, as Twisted Christmas rears its festive face once more. Black Christmas and A Christmas Story are basically the same movie, right? BREAKDOWN 00:00:55 - Intro / Guest 00:30:10 - Blue Eye Samurai 02:00:12 - Outro / Next LINKS Blue Eye Samurai is one of the smartest Netflix shows in years by Aja Romano, Vox Blue Eye Samurai creator wanted to tell a different type of mixed-race story by Petrana Radulovic, Polygon Blue Eye Samurai is the best thing Netflix has done in years by Petrana Radulovic, Polygon ‘Blue Eye Samurai’ Is a Gory and Gorgeous Animated Series From Netflix by Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone How ‘Blue Eye Samurai’s’ Exploration of Mixed Race Identity Helps It “Break All of the Boxes” in Animated Storytelling by Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter MUSIC “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Emi Meyer, Blue Eye Samurai (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series) (2023) “Pale Blue Eyes” by The Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground (1969) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

We’re crash-landing back into regular podcasting with the Max original animated series Scavengers Reign. Created by Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner, the seeds of Scavengers Reign were planted in an Adult Swim short before blossoming into a brilliant sci-fi series teeming with surrealist detours and bits of body horror. Paul and Arlo rave about the show’s Cronenberg-meets-Miyazaki vibe, laud the series’ refusal to provide easy answers, and hope against hope that this beautiful, otherworldly thing will continue to thrive in a second season. Plus, Arlo is the worst. NEXT: more Western adult animation with heavy influence from the East, as the boys confront Netflix’s Blue Eye Samurai. BREAKDOWN 00:00:45 - Intro / Arlo is the worst! 00:27:55 - Scavengers Reign 01:53:45 - Outro / Next LINKS Scavengers Reign’s Writers on Creating a Beautifully Hostile Sci-Fi Show by Justin Carter, Gizmodo One With Nature, Stranded in Outer Space by Kambole Campbell, Variety The Sonic Ecosystem of Scavengers Reign by Marc Weidenbaum, Disquiet Max’s Scavengers Reign captures the beauty and terror of a truly alien world by Andrew Webster, The Verge The sci-fi adventure Scavengers Reign is an anomalous alien wonder by Toussaint Egan, Polygon Scavengers Reign Might Be the Most Underrated Show of the Year by Zach Kram, The Ringer MUSIC “Interstellar Outer Space” by Anderson East, Maybe We Never Die (2021) “Slime Creatures from Outer Space” by “Weird Al” Yankovic, Dare to Be Stupid (1985) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

500 episodes! Can you believe it? What incredibly special way will we choose to commemorate this event??? By, well, just having a regular episode discussing Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse with our good friend Eric Sipple. At one point this past summer, we weren’t sure another episode was ever going to happen, so this seems like a fitting celebration. The boys rave about Across the Spider-Verse’s layered meanings, innovative animation, strong emotion, and how much more fun and exciting the movie is than the comics are these days. NEXT: who even knows, man. BREAKDOWN 00:00:55 - Intro / Guest 00:07:05 - Shout out to Levi Williams! 00:13:28 - Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 02:29:18 - Outro / Next LINKS Superheroes, Miles Morales, and the Fallacy of Hard Choices by Eric Sipple The Life of Reilly: In-Depth Analysis of the Spider-Man Clone Saga by Andrew Goletz MUSIC “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers, Sunshine On Leith (1988) “Spiderwebs” by No Doubt, Tragic Kingdom (1995) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ US (877) 565-8860 Canada (877) 330-6366 National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

You have to believe Gobbledygeek is magic. Or at the very least, that Paul and Arlo will revel in cinematic magic on the latest Geek Challenge. Robert Greenwald's infamous 1980 flop Xanadu is paired with David Lynch's acclaimed 2001 masterpiece Mulholland Drive for a fantastical discussion of filmic fantasy. The boys argue that Xanadu should not be seen as a failure, interpret Mulholland Drive's many cryptic symbols, bask in the radiance of Olivia Newton-John, and laud Naomi Watts' raw emotion. Plus, our bodies continue to deteriorate. NEXT: five hundo. BREAKDOWN 00:00:39 - Intro 00:15:49 - Xanadu 01:04:15 - Mulholland Drive 01:57:26 - Outro / Next MUSIC “Magic” by Olivia Newton-John, Xanadu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1980) “Llorando” by Rebekah Del Rio, All My Life - Toda Me Vida (2003) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ US (877) 565-8860 Canada (877) 330-6366 National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

In brightest day, in blackest night, no listener shall escape the Four-Color Flashback’s might! In an unusual turn of events, Paul has selected a DC book–but, of course, it’s an unusual one. Published under DC’s Young Animal imprint, curated by My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way, Far Sector is a Green Lantern murder mystery written by N.K. Jemisin (in her first comics work) with art by Jamal Campbell. Sojourner “Jo” Mullein is the newest Lantern in the universe, and she’s been kicked way out into the far reaches of space to solve the City Enduring’s first murder in half-a-millennia. That murder, though, is only a thread–and when Jo starts pulling, the whole city begins to unravel. The boys discuss Jemisin’s timely social commentary, Campbell’s gorgeous art, why Jo Mullein overcomes our hosts’ Green Lantern skepticism, and the freaking @At. Plus, Paul and Arlo binge some TV, including the final seasons of Succession, Barry, and Ted Lasso; the new season of I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson; and the very first season of American Born Chinese. NEXT: it’s Xanadu vs. Mulholland Drive in a Geek Challenge for the ages. BREAKDOWN 00:00:35 - Intro / Oh Lawd, it’s comin’! 00:08:00 - Recent TV season / series finales 00:38:06 - Far Sector 01:46:55 - Outro / Next MUSIC “Space Cop” by Sam Guydude, Space Cop - Single (2023) “Many Moons” by Janelle Monae, Metropolis: The Chase Suite (2008) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ US (877) 565-8860 Canada (877) 330-6366 National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

Are you feeling “Homesick”? Are you all “Tangled Up in Blue”? Dogged by a “Simple Twist of Fate” or, perhaps, sippin’ on gin and “Orange Juice”? Then boy, do we have the Geek Challenge for you! Dipping their toes in musical waters for the first time in a while, our boys are listening to one of each other’s favorite albums. Paul has challenged Arlo to Noah Kahan’s 2022 singer-songwriter album Stick Season, and Arlo has in turn challenged Paul to Bob Dylan’s extremely singer-songwriter classic, 1975’s Blood on the Tracks. They grapple with each artist’s distinctive vocal stylings, compare the albums’ sense of mourning for loves lost, and are generally perplexed by what music the other is drawn to. NEXT: Drop a sick beat, we’re gonna freestyle. BREAKDOWN 00:00:55 - Intro / Guest 00:05:30 - Stick Season by Noah Kahan 01:19:28 - Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan 02:27:31 - Outro / Next LINKS Noah Kahan’s ‘Stick Season’ beautifully captures the complexities of homesickness by Elle Muller, The Dartmouth Famous in a Small Town: Noah Kahan, ‘Stick Season’ and the Art of Looking Forward and Backward All At Once by Hannah Dailey, Billboard Pitchfork Review: Blood on the Tracks by Jesse Jarnow, Pitchfork MUSIC “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan, Stick Season (2022) “Meet Me in the Morning” by Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks (1975) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ US (877) 565-8860 Canada (877) 330-6366 National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

For this month’s Four-Color Flashback, Paul and Arlo tackle a blindspot from one of their favorite writers. Gene Luen Yang, author of Gobbledyfaves like American Born Chinese and Avatar: The Last Airbender, tells the brutal story of the Boxer Rebellion in Boxers & Saints. The graphic novel duology delves into complex subjects like faith, spirituality, nationalism, and fascism; we cover ‘em all, hopefully in something resembling depth. Plus, Arlo returns to the city of Metropolis for more Superman comics, including mega-event The Death and Return of Superman and Grant Morrison & Mark Waid’s JLA run. NEXT: we find our inner Greenwich Village folksters with a Geek Challenge featuring Noah Kahan’s Stick Season and Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks. BREAKDOWN 00:00:30 - Intro / Arlo’s Adventures of Superman 00:36:45 - Boxers & Saints 02:20:14 - Outro / Next MUSIC “The Boxer” by Simon & Garfunkle, Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) “It’s Hard to Be a Saint in the City” by Bruce Springsteen, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. (1973) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ US (877) 565-8860 Canada (877) 330-6366 National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

Love can spread like a fungus throughout the soul, eradicating any shred of self-control. For a thorough depiction of that sentiment, we turn to HBO’s The Last of Us, a TV adaptation of the blockbuster video game series. Joining Paul and Arlo to talk everything mushroom are authors and pop culture enthusiasts Dale and Ensley Guffey, stopping by the show for their first visit in years. The gang discusses the game’s transition to television, how the show breaks new ground for the zombie apocalypse genre, the incredible chemistry between Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay, and much more. NEXT: a long-delayed Four-Color Flashback discussion of Gene Luen Yang’s Boxers & Saints. BREAKDOWN 00:00:48 - Intro / Guests 00:03:00 - HBO’s The Last of Us 01:59:42 - Outro / Next LINKS Dale’s NON-pop culture blog: Splendor in the Sticks MUSIC “Never Let Me Down Again” by Depeche Mode, Music for the Masses (1987) “Long Long Time” by Linda Ronstadt, Silk Purse (1970) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ US (877) 565-8860 Canada (877) 330-6366 National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

You remind me of the pod…the pod with the geeks. Paul and Arlo fall down the rabbit hole of another Geek Challenge, this time pitting Jim Henson’s 1986 cult classic Labyrinth against Jan Švankmajer’s 1988 headtrip Alice. Henson’s film finds Jennifer Connelly dancing with David Bowie and a variety of Muppets as she attempts to rescue her baby brother, while Švankmajer’s finds Kristýna Kohoutová assailed by a variety of bizarre stop-motion creations and a taxidermied rabbit. It should be obvious who picked which movie. Topics of discussion include codpieces, sellouts, practical effects, and weird sex, among others. NEXT: Paul and Arlo ride through The Last of Us’ post-apocalypse with the inestimable Dale Guffey and Ensley F. Guffey BREAKDOWN 00:00:52 - Intro / Reminiscence on Vomit 00:42:07 - Alice 01:19:20 - Labyrinth 02:11:50 - Outro / Next LINKS To Solve the Labyrinth: An Essay Film About a Fantasy Film by J.D. Hansel INTERVIEW WITH JAN ŠVANKMAJER by Virginie Sélavy, Electric Sheep MUSIC “Magic Dance” by David Bowie, Labyrinth (Original Soundtrack) (1986) “Alice” by Sisters of Mercy (1982) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ US (877) 565-8860 Canada (877) 330-6366 National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

Time to rise, roar, and revolt as Paul and Arlo engage in some extreme piggybacking with S.S. Rajamouli’s RRR. This alt-history epic is the rare Indian film to make a splash in the Western world, and our boys approach it as only two ignorant white guys can: with almost no knowledge of Indian culture or film! Nevertheless, they are in love with the movie, which reimagines Indian revolutionary figures Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitarama Raju as superheroes who can outrun tigers, shoot a British bastard from a mile away, and stop motorcycles with their bare hands. The boys praise stars N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan, admire Rajamouli’s craft, and weep in awe at the insane shit happening in every single scene. Plus, there’s a trailer for The Flash and Arlo has finally gone back to reading old Superman comics. NEXT: TBD. BREAKDOWN 00:00:44 - Intro / Guest 00:18:04 - Main Topic 02:03:24 - Outro / Next LINKS RRR: How S.S. Rajamouli Created an Action Movie Phenomenon – Tollywood Style by Gene Ching, Den of Geek ‘RRR’ Director S.S. Rajamouli Talks About His Spectacular Action Epic And Reveals That The Ecstatic U.S. Reception Has Inspired A Sequel: “Nothing Is Impossible” by Damon Wise, Deadline These ‘difficult actors’ said ‘RRR’ couldn’t be done. Their director proved them wrong by Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times RRR is an incredible action movie with seriously troubling politics by Ritesh Babu, Vox MUSIC “Dosti” by Amit Trivedi, RRR (Original Soundtrack) (2022) “Naacho Naacho” by Vishal Mishra & Rahul Sipligunj, RRR (Original Soundtrack) (2022) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ US (877) 565-8860 Canada (877) 330-6366 National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/