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Did you ever spend a lot of money on something only to realize you wasted every cent? I know I have. Several times. Well, when it comes to video games, I normally choose my games well, especially considering that I do not rent video games for any reason. Not this time, though. I cannot remember the last time I wasted so much money on such a hackneyed game. WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008, the game in question, was supposed to be my gateway back into wrestling games. Instead, what I got was an experience that can best be described as "dismal." The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/reviews/v/smackdown-2008

Stop me if you've heard this one: FOX approves a quirky, unusual show. They receive the accolades and good press that comes with taking a chance on such a show. About six months before the show is scheduled to air, FOX begins to inundate you with promos, airing them relentlessly, until even the mother of the show's producer is sick of looking at them. The show finally airs, at which point the emergency brake is thrown on the hype machine, and any promotion for the show comes to a sudden and immediate halt. The network may very likely move the show to another night without letting anyone know. After perhaps half a season in the Friday Night Death Slot the show is cancelled. The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/reviews/m/the-tick

From The Killing Joke to Iron Man, it has become clear that many defining moments in comic books (and their silver screen brothers) have stemmed from the concept of having one really lousy day. But when every single one of us has to face life-changing events, often stemming from "one bad day," can we really sympathize with The Joker? The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/columns/wilson_i/comic-reel-lief-08

As always, James and Mike discuss five episodes this week ("Prototype," "The Late Mr. Kent" and "Heavy Metal" from Superman: The Animated Series, and "Double Talk" and "You Scratch My Back" from Gotham Knights), but one of them is so bad it's described as being "Superman's 'Terrible Trio.'" Thankfully two of the other episodes are masterpieces. [ 2:36:25 || 71.6 MB ] The above is from: http://www.worldsfinestpodcast.com/episodes/wfp_029.mp3

Another nine comics are reviewed this week, including Caliber #2, Immortal Iron Fist #15, Thor #9 and Ultimate Spider-Man #122. The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/reviews/c/iiwy/iiwy-044

Longtime listeners of the Is It Wednesday Yet? segment know the grading scale by heart: buy, borrow, flip through and skip. But they also know there are several grades reserved for extra special books. Sometimes those grades are full of loving warmth, and sometimes they're filled with burning hatred. In this episode of Earth-2.net: The Show, two of those special grades are given. The books this week are Daredevil #107, Marvel 1985 #1, Ms. Marvel #27, She-Hulk #29 and Wolverine: First Class #3. [ 1:00:42 || 27.7 MB ] The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/theshow/episodes/e2ts_217.mp3

In this episode of Dread Media, Desmond Reddick reviews the newest Jack Ketchum adaptation, The Lost. Then, his friend Shaun joins him for a review of the horror comedy Botched before going solo to review Hercules #2 and Caliber #2 from Radical Comics. And DW is here to review the survival horror game D. Tunes include: "Lost in America" by Alice Cooper, "I'll Kill You" by Akira Yamaoka, "Moskau" by Rammstein, "Gunslinger" by Avenged Sevenfold and "The Last Laugh" by Antimatter. All this, plus the winner of the Cemetery Things contest, feedback and more! [ 1:30:23 || 41.3 MB ] The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/podcasts/dreadmedia...admedia_039.mp3

Anime Central, one of the premier anime conventions in North America, recently came to Chicago, so Jenny and Mike paid the show a visit. Following their discussion of the convention, Ian Wilson returns with his review of Iron Man! [ 1:00:34 || 27.7 MB ] The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/theshow/episodes/e2ts_216.mp3

Rather than write a review of Super Smash Bros. Brawl that consists of nothing but Caps Lock-acronyms and incalculable amounts of tildes and exclamation points (which I could do, but it really wouldn't be all that persuasive or enjoyable to read), I have elected to finally sit down and describe the many reasons why you should buy it. It is extremely difficult to remember a game for whose arrival I have awaited so anxiously. Maybe Kingdom Hearts II, but I don't think even that got me as excited as this game's prerelease time span. Perhaps it is because Brawl is not merely a game -- it is a cultural phenomenon. In one $49.95 package, it brings together video game icons from past and present, and allows you and any number of friends to beat the crap out of each other using them for a seemingly endless span of time. Or, you can amuse yourself for weeks trying to unlock everything this game hides. One sentence can sum up my love for Brawl: to date, it is the reason I own a Wii. The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/reviews/v/super-smash-bros-brawl

You Skrulls wanna come 'round here an' mess us up? You thinkin', "Ain't no one can stop us. We bad! Yeah, we bad!" That what you fools think? Pfft! You ain't nothin' but a bunch a punks. Yeah, you stopped the Four an' the 'Vengers, but that don't mean you won. Oh, you thinkin', "What a bunch a kids gonna do?" You wanna know? You really wanna know? Pfft! We gonna kick the ugly right off yo' face and mail it to yo' mama, that what we gonna do. Then we gonna find her an' kick the ugly off her face, too. Why? 'Cause we the Power Pack, fools, an' that's how we roll! Packlife! Art: GuriHiru The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/wallpaper/full/Power_Pack_001.jpg

In Hollywood, the films that sell are the ones where All-American heroes take on baddies -- primarily foreign ones ? and win convincingly against a backdrop of explosions and hot women waiting to lay the lead guy. So whilst the heroes are mainly homegrown, America often looks to Britain to provide an actor that will willingly play the villain. Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), Darth Vader (David Prowse), Hannibal Lecter (Sir Anthony Hopkins) -- all were played by British actors. So what happens when you put a classically trained Knight of the Realm slash Shakespearean actor in a "dorky helmet" for three films? Greatness, that's what. The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/columns/wilson_i/comic-reel-lief-07

Is it possible that the Street Fighter live action movie wasn't the worst adaptation of the franchise? Kellen Scrivens begs the question as he takes a look at Street Fighter II V. [ 25:36 || 11.7 MB ] The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/podcasts/animezingp...imezing_004.mp3

Avengers: The Initiative #13, Fantastic Four #557, Ultimate X-Men #94 and six more comics were reviewed this week by drqshadow, Dan Toland and DW. The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/reviews/c/iiwy/iiwy-043

Good or bad, sometimes comics surprise you. You think you know what you're going to get, but the experience winds up nowhere near your expectations. This week, at least three of the comics (Black Panther #36, Captain America #38, Iron Man: Director of SHIELD #29, Marvel Adventures The Avengers #24 and X-Factor #31) surprised Des and Mike. But where did those surprises fall on the positive / negative scale? [ 50:47 || 23.2 MB ] The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/theshow/episodes/e2ts_215.mp3

In this episode of Dread Media, Desmond Reddick is the death of the party conducting an interview with Tony Wash, director of indy splatter epic It's My Party and I'll Die if I Want To. He then goes on to review said film. DW returns a modicum of class to the party with his review of classic NES head-scratcher Monster Party in this week's Brainscan. The party playlist this week is: "Life and Death of the Party" by Alice Cooper, "All My Friends are Dead" by Turbonegro, "Party Time (Zombie Version)" by 45 Grave and "Your Party" by Ween. Visit our sponsor at www.horror-mall.com, and make sure to enter the Cemetery Things contest pronto. Toga! Toga! Toga! [ 1:40:55 || 46.2 MB ] The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/podcasts/dreadmedia...admedia_038.mp3

Conan, arguably the biggest name to leap from pulp novels, has also been featured in comic books, movies, television shows, video games and Power Records. Today you'll hear four such recordings: The Jewel of the Ages, Shadow of the Stolen City, The Thunder Dust and The Crawler in the Mists (PDF). To read along with The Crawler in the Mists, click the link (RE: PDF) above. [ 59:56 || 27.4 MB ] The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/theshow/episodes/e2ts_214.mp3

I am nearing my wit's end. My eyes and ears hate me for the torture I put them through. My hands are sick of typing summaries of these idiotic shows. And my brain, well, let's just say it's ready to lead the rest of my body in a bloody coup d'etat. (Don't even ask what I'm going to do when Saw V rears its ugly head later this year.) But luckily, the show I'm reviewing today is so stupid that I don't really require my brain to write about it. If you remember the old NES Legend of Zelda games, then you probably (and unfortunately) remember the ever-so-hideous cartoon that meandered about shortly thereafter in 1989. (Although, I have to say that claiming this cartoon was based upon the eponymous video game is like saying one ounce of coherent thought was put into it.) The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/reviews/m/legend-of-zelda

While I am undoubtedly a Kirbyphile (hello, my name is Desmond Reddick), there is no more compelling personality in comics than Jim Steranko. Before comics, Steranko was a circus sideshow performer, a magician, a gymnast, an amateur boxer, fencer and car thief. And this all before the age of 18! He went on to be an illusionist, escape artist and jazz musician while paying the rent as a graphic artist at an ad agency. It wasn't until 1966, at the age of 28, when Steranko landed his first job at Marvel Comics 11 penciling and inking finishes over Jack Kirby's layouts in the Nick Fury portions of Strange Tales, a book shared with the O'Neil / Ditko Dr. Strange. The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/columns/reddick/the-king-and-i-04

Whilst it's been a long time since I've genuinely been scared by a movie or novel, there's something about playing survival horror games that's truly unsettling. (I still get a feeling of dread from Silent Hill 3 and Siren.) Sure, I never had much trouble playing BioShock or the later Resident Evil sequels, but in those games you're always armed with a nice cache of weapons; watching a twitching skeletal creature lurch towards you becomes a whole lot less frightening when there's a machine gun firmly gripped in your hands. However, not knowing what's creeping along in the distance, but knowing I'm ill-prepared to face it is a much more engaging experience. The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/reviews/v/condemned-2

From Gotham Knights the guys discuss "Holiday Knights" (crime never sleeps in Gotham City, not even during the holidays), "Sins of the Father" (the debut of Tim Drake as Robin) and "Cold Comfort" (the shocking return of Mr. Freeze). Then from Superman: The Animated Series they cover "The Hand of Fate" (Doctor Fate does a whole lot of nothing as Superman battles the demon Karkull) and "Bizarro's World" (an ever-confused Bizarro returns to reshape, then destroy Metropolis). [ 2:01:05 || 55.4 MB ] The above is from: http://www.worldsfinestpodcast.com/episodes/wfp_028.mp3

One of the five books (GeNext #1, Guardians of the Galaxy #1, newuniversal: shockfront #1, Punisher #57 and X-Men Origin: Colossus) the guys reviewed this week might have made a reference to this very podcast! Download the show right now to hear the reactions of Des and Mike. [ 1:07:13 || 30.7 MB ] The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/theshow/episodes/e2ts_213.mp3

In this episode of Dread Media, Desmond Reddick reviews the French thriller Ils (Them), the score from the classic indy zombie flick Dead Next Door, Wicked Pixel's short film collection The Severed Head Network and a wad of comics from Free Comic Book Day. DW drops in to review the PC game adaptation of Harlan Ellison's classic short story "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream." Tunes include: "Them and Us" by Bad Religion, "Main Titles" and "Left for Dead (Instrumental)" by JR Bookwalter from the film Dead Next Door, "Short Songs" by Dead Kennedys, "Bring Me the Heads" by Amen and "Fuck You I'm Free" by Mondo Generator. Enter the Cemetery Things contest and check out our sponsor at www.horror-mall.com. [ 1:12:31 || 33.2 MB ] The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/podcasts/dreadmedia...admedia_037.mp3

Jenny's back just in time for a look at the May Previews catalog! [ 1:33:48 || 42.9 MB ] The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/theshow/episodes/e2ts_212.mp3

When Buck Rogers returned for its second season in the winter of 1981 (delayed by a writer's strike), the producers heard lead actor Gil Gerard's pleas. For months, Gerard had decried the campy tone and over-the-top pulpishness of the first season. More important, however, were the behind-the-scenes shifts; series creator Glen A. Larson was out, replaced by new executive producer John Mantley, known best for his work on Westerns like Gunsmoke and How the West Was Won. The end result was a vastly different show. No longer part of the Earth Defense Directorate, Buck, Wilma and Twiki had taken positions aboard the Searcher, a starship on a quest to find the 12 lost tribes of Earth. The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/reviews/m/buck-rogers-03

For their very first edition of For Your Ears Only, Adham Fisher and Ian Wilson run through the appeal of James Bond before appraising the first film in the Bond franchise: Dr No. Is the film a bore or a masterpiece, due to its lack of conventionality? And just what do two horny Englishmen make of Honey Ryder? [ 1:53:24 || 51.9 MB ] The above is from: http://www.earth-2.net/podcasts/foryourear...arsonly_001.mp3