BAM POW Comic Hour

Darth Vader is one of the greatest villains of all time. He is know for his rage, mystery and the darkness within. In 2015 Marvel Comics regained the license of Star Wars comics from its previous publisher in order to establish a fresh slate for the comic universe while persevering its rich history. Then during 2017 acclaimed writer, Charles Soule who is known for his comic runs on Daredevil, Swamp Thing, Undiscovered Country and many more, took up the mantle to start his own solo series for the Sith Lord himself. He answered the question, what happens to Darth Vader after Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith? Vader is all powerful and an experienced fighter, so how do you make this infamous character interesting, while living up to the fandom surrounding the character himself? Charles Soule sets out to accomplish this by using his creativity to challenge Darth Vader, while telling a story explaining the motivations behind the character, developing a interesting supporting cast, and tying up loose ends that you will never see coming.

40 years and over 165 issues, Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo comic book series continues its ongoing adventures. The tales of this anthropomorphic rabbit Ronin center around seeking to helping others, redeeming the honor of fellow travelers and bringing justice worthy to those around him. Being heavily influenced by Japanese Cinema and the history of the infamous warrior Miyamoto Musashi, Stan Sakai embraces the elements of history and Japanese culture to create a masterpiece that has stood the test of time. Persevering through 4 different publishers Usagi Yojimbo continues to be one of the best award winning anthology series in the comic book industry. During this podcast we discuss our first reactions to the Usagi Yojimbo Saga Volume 1 collection and why new readers should consider checking out these incredible stories.

A new beginning to the Dark Knight opens up doors and awakens an ancient evil: The Court of Owls. Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Greg Capullo, everything Batman knows about Gotham City becomes questioned when a new villainous organization strikes our hero where he least expects it. Pulled in by an amazing unique perspective, we discuss the art style, motivations, and why the Court of Owls is one of the best villainous concepts that challenges Batman psyche in this captivating story.

Behold true believers! We explore the epic quest of Thor by Jason Aaron. We examine the larger than life journey of Thor Odinson and tale of Jane Foster as they fight foes such as the villainous Gorr, the God Butcher, along with the impending doom of War of the Realms. With the hype surrounding the movie release of Thor: Love and Thunder this episode will discuss where the character has been, source material that the movie is based upon, as well as understanding why this run stands out as one of the most highly recommended Thor stories in modern comics today.

What is the key to the soul? Locke and Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez follows the Locke family when tragedy and horror disrupts their lives. Relocating to their ancestral home in Lovecraft, Massachusetts they discover magical keys, both a curse and a blessing. Now its up to the family to fight and protect each other from those who wish to take everything away.

We also discuss the hardcover Master Key editions from the book's publisher, IDW and how this story sets itself apart from its competitors.