Welcome to Geektown

Inspired by a Twitter conversation, Kurt dives into the strange and twisted history of Donald Blake, the original secret identity of Thor. Who was he, and where did he go?

Marvel/Disney just announced that She-Hulk will be getting her own show on Disney+.  But, who is She-Hulk, and what would such a show be about?  Kurt …

Green Kryptonite, Red Kryptonite, Blue, White, Jewel?  How many varieties of Kryptonite are there, and how does each of them effect the Man of Steel and the other Kryptonians in the DC Universe?  Kurt goes through every …

Superheroes have been and continue to dominate the sales charts of American comics, but that doesn’t mean that’s all there is.  Thanks to a question from a Reddit user, Kurt goes into non-spoiler details about some of …

A new recurring feature begins, where we’ll look deeper into some of the more unusual deaths that have happened in comics, beginning with an out-of-continuity tale called “Spider-Man: Reign” and the untimely demise of …

If the word "Shiny" means something special to you, or you know about the "special hell" that Mal could be going to, then you're probably already a …

Now that Tony’s gone from the MCU, let’s look at some of his possible replacements, specifically those who have already done so in the comics.  It’s the third installment of “The Replacements,” which previously covered …

What if you want to kill some monsters, but don’t want to get bogged down in all that pesky role-playing?  Well, these games, past and present, may …

A comparison of time travel rules in a few well-known movies that feature it extensively, from Back to the Future, up to Avengers: Endgame.  SPOILER …

First, a note from a listener about the Star Trek Economy.  Then, from Batman: The Animated Series to Justice League Unlimited; a brief look at the history of one of the greatest TV and movie universes created.

Don’t …

Kurt continues his discussion with economy professor Matt Dobra again on the supposedly money-less economy of the Federation from the world of Star Trek.  Discussion includes the Universal Basic Income, interstellar …

Kurt calls up economy professor Matt Dobra again, this time to discuss the economy of the Federation from the world of Star Trek.  They famously say they do not use money in the future, and we dive into whether or not …

Celebrating one full year of Welcome to Geektown, Kurt answers a question about his favorite character, diving into Robbie Baldwin’s history, and why …

With his movie coming out next month, we look at the comic history of Billy Batson, the original Captain Marvel, aka Shazam!

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Batman has been portrayed on screen a number of times.  A listener wants to know where to start with those films, and how they’ve influenced and been …

Doctor Who?  That is the question, isn’t it.  Which Doctor should be your first, and in what order should you watch?  Also, why do so many fans …

With all of the different Star Trek shows that have aired, what’s the best order for a burgeoning Trekkie to watch them in?  Kurt gives his opinion on which option is best, and why.  But first, for the non-initiated, …

I’ve been mentioning “gatekeepers” in the opening of nearly every episode, but what is a gatekeeper?  This week, we define gatekeeping, explain how it harms, and try to figure out where it comes from and how to fight …

This episode, Kurt is asked about why so much of fantasy takes place in a Medieval-like setting, and discusses a few of those reasons why that is the case.  Plus more famous quotes are given their origins; this time all …

What is Dungeons and Dragons, and how to explain its long-term popularity?  Also, is it possible to try the game out without committing a lot of time …

With nearly a dozen new comic-book movies each year, why do so few of them have women in their leading roles? That’s what listener Justin B. asked, …

This week’s episode, instead of answering a question, is a history of and tribute to Stan Lee, who died recently.  We look at his beginnings in the industry, and some of the important contributions he made throughout …

A bad link was accidentally posted for the audio file for Episode 17. I have corrected it, but I wanted to make sure everyone got this in their feed, so here’s a repost with the corrected link.

This week’s episode has a two-part question about the difference between comic books and graphic novels (if there is one), as well as wanting to know what options are out there for people who want to read about the …

Min-Maxing and Meta-Gaming.  If you're sitting at a table playing D&D, you likely do not want to be accused of either of these.  But, what are they exactly, and can they ever be a force for good?  Find out in this …

The Eradicator.  Cyborg Superman.  Steel.  Superboy.  Each claimed to be Superman's successor, but none were the true heir.  Where did they come from, and what happened to them after Superman's return?

Don’t forget to …

In anticipation of the upcoming movie, we look at the history of Carol Danvers, and touch on the other Captain Marvels in the Marvel Universe.

Don’t …

This episode, we talk Hard Science-Fiction (or Sci-fi), Soft Sci-fi, and Fantasy.  Comparing and contrasting those different genres allows us to classify where Star Wars fits in.  Before that, however, a clarifying …

In order to answer a listener's question about the economics of Wakanda, home of the Black Panther, Kurt talks to economics professor Dr. Matt Dobra …

With the Fox/Disney deal pretty much complete, we contemplate how mutants can be seamlessly integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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Starting from near the beginning of the science-fiction genre, here are just a few times that sci-fi predicted technology before its arrival in our …

Listener Joshua C. just watched the pilot of Cloak and Dagger, and is curious to find out how close the characters and other aspects of the show hew to their original comic book counterparts.

If you want to support the …

We go over a few comic book stories and characters that have fourth-wall breaking as an important part of their dynamic.  And if you're not familiar with what "breaking the fourth wall is," I explain that up front.

Thanks to the question from listener Justin B. (No, it's not Bieber), this is the first in a recurring feature we'll come back to every now and then, each time focusing on a different heroic identity.  We'll look at the …

The listener question this time is about the rivalry of Marvel vs. DC; the differences between the two companies, the history of their feuds and …

Two listeners get their questions answered this time.  One wants to know what makes Legacy games special and if they're worth the price.  The other wants to know why everyone in movies is crossing their arms.

Mutants are "hated and feared" by many humans in the Marvel Universe, but listener Aaron L. wants to know why they're treated so differently from the other super-powered beings.  Kurt tackles this question, as well as …

In anticipation of Avengers: Infinity War, listener Joel L. asks about its villain, Thanos, and why he's so scary.

Where should one begin reading when they take their first foray into the Marvel Universe?  That's the question asked today by listener Justin B., and …

Host Kurt Onstad goes into the history of the various reboots of the DC Universe, both hard and soft.  From Action Comics #1 in 1938 all the way to 2016's Rebirth, learn the big continuity shake-ups that have changed …

This introductory episode introduces the idea of the show, and informs you of all the ways you can submit questions to be answered on future shows.  The quickest and easiest of those is to email them to …