Invasion from Planet Wrestletopia

Explicit content warning

01/21/20 • 39 min

Episode 53

Greetings, Explorers! Dennis, Johnny, and Frankie are going head-to-head in this steel cage, winner-take-all match of Graphic Novel Explorers Club! The gang takes a look at Invasion from Planet Wrestletopia – A Date with Destiny in this episode. OH YEAH, BROTHER! Starburns Industries Press is the publisher, with the story by Matt Entin and Ed Kuehnel, and art by Dan Schkade. Invasion from Planet Wrestletopia concerns one “Rock ‘N’ Roll” Rory Landell, a pro-wrestler in the AWF (this world’s version of the WWF) with a major chip on his shoulder. Little does “Rock ‘N’ Roll” Rory know that when he declares himself the Galactic Champion of the Universe that the citizens of Wrestletopia are listening to him. They don’t take the challenge lightly either.

Our Explorers discuss why you don’t challenge the entire universe to a wrestling match; the trauma of discovering professional wrestling is fake; contemplating the influence of WWF (not the WWE) and G.L.O.W. on the creators of Invasion from Planet Wrestletopia; a childhood full of Figure 4 Leg Locks and Camel Clutches; the misrepresentation of Ewoks by Lucasfilm in Return of the Jedi; having enough belief in yourself to have a shirt made that identifies yourself as your own number one fan; how exactly does one deal with a coworker they dislike when you are a professional wrestler; the wonderful character names in the comic book; and last but not least, the storytelling and art of Invasion from Planet Wrestletopia.

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Episode 53

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

We3

Episode 52

Greetings, Explorers! Season 4 of the podcast debuts with We3. The story is by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely. This series was originally published in 2004 by Vertigo Comics. In We3, three domestic pets are part of a secret experiment which turned them into living weapons for the military. The three pets decide to make the dangerous journey home after a compassionate doctor takes pity on the pets and releases them. As a result of escaping, the government determines We3 must be terminated at any cost.

Frankie, Dennis, and Johnny begin the episode wrongly guessing this comic book is about three little aliens celebrating Easter. They follow by chatting about Lenny and “Squiggy” from Of Mice and Men and if the gore in this story is as bad as some of the more realistic violence portrayed in other comics. Next, they decide if “Biorgs” is a good a name or a bad one. The consequences of Frankie reading digital comics on cell phones also comes up. Additional topics include “Donkey Hong Kong”; the terrible fate of rats in We3; Richard Adams and his novel Watership Down‘s influence on Grant Morrison; the final battle of the comic book; and last, but not least, the storytelling and art of We3.

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Next Episode

Wrinkles

Episode 54

Greetings, Explorers! Today we take a look at Wrinkles. Paco Roca wrote and illustrated the graphic novel. Originally published in 2007 by Fantagraphics, an animated film was made in 2011, both in Spanish and English languages. In Wrinkles, an elderly man named Emilio is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Emilio’s son admits him to an assisted living home after realizing he can no longer care for his father. Emilio meets Miguel in the facility. Miguel is of a sharp mind and uses it to take advantage of his surroundings and neighbors in the home. Additionally, Miguel has an acerbic outlook on life among the many loving relationships in the story. Miguel uses his wily ways to keep his new friend Emilio from being admitted to the dreaded second floor of the facility.

Dennis, Johnny, and Frankie begin the episode by comparing Wrinkles and Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Next, they discuss their impressions about elderly care in America versus Europe. They also discuss the ways Paco Roca shows Miguel’s growing love for Emilio and the sense of responsibility he has for his friend. Additional topics include why it’s good to be a “Cheater”; grifting for good; going to the Second Floor for love; the heart-wrenching finale; Johnny and Dennis’s future and last, but not least, the storytelling and art of Wrinkles.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.