Browsing posts by Joseph Mastantuono

Born in France, he migrated to the US at a young enough age to not have so much of an accent. If given the chance he’ll talk at length of the superiority of his Gallic ways. The podcast was his idea, and the arrogant bastard complains at every turn at how much time he spends editing it. Coming from a film school background and working in post-production makes him think that he actually has a right to be as pretentious as he is. If you don’t think he’s pretentious, here’s the proof: He wrote a Manifesto for this site...

Aug 6

FBBP #128 - Scott Pilgrim & Daken: Separated at Birth?

Posted August 6, 2010

This week, we look two semi-autobiographical Young Man Coming of Age stories that came to their conclusion in July!
Wolverine Origins #50 by Daniel Way & Will Conrad (Marvel Comics)
Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour by Bryan Lee O’Malley (Oni Press)
We’ve talked about Scott Pilgrim before, particularly in FBBP #96. Be forewarned, we follow up on some of [...]

Jul 15

FBBP #127 - Kanye + Kim Jong-Il = The Mandarin

Posted July 15, 2010

This week, the gang reads <i>Invincible Iron Man Annual</i> #1  by Matt Fraction and Carmine DiGiandomenic! It features Fraction’s “autobio comix” take on stalwart Iron Man villain The Mandarin, borrowing from both Kim Jong-Il’s kidnapping of Shin Sang-ok and, more cryptically, Fraction’s MK12 work alongside Kanye West on Common’s “Go” video.
IIM Annual #1 was also [...]

Jun 8

FBBP #126 - Four Number Ones

Posted June 8, 2010

As a follow-up to our theoretically award-eligible podcast Three Number Ones, Funnybook Babylon planned to look at Four Number Ones, the Billboard #1 singles on our respective birthdays!
Sadly, due to a quirk of fate, our birthdays are paired closely together, so we only have two number ones:
“MacArthur Park” by Donna Summer (Chris & Jamaal)
“Bette Davis [...]

May 13

FBBP #125 - Geoff! Jeff! Jeff!

Posted May 13, 2010

The Funnybook Babylon Podcast is back at full power and looking at a trio of books written by a trio of homophonic dudes!
Yes, This is Being Published: Brightest Day #1 (DC) by Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi and a Big Bag of Artists
Underground (Image Comics) by Jeff Parker & Steve Lieber (collected edition out this week)
Sweet [...]

May 4

FBBP Slimcast #1 - Joseph & Jamaal talk Black Widow

Posted May 4, 2010

In an effort to present more unsolicited opinions on comics, Funnybook Babylon proudly presents THE SLIMCAST: shorter shows featuring our regular panel and guests briefly discussing the issues of the day. The stars have not been aligning for our traditional full-crew sprawling podcasts in recent weeks, but rest assured they will return soon.

Mar 27

FBBP #124 - Greek Street & Unwritten

Posted March 27, 2010

Funnybook Babylon has notice a trend: first issues from Vertigo are often given lukewarm or negative reviews, but once the series develops, we change our tune. It happened with Air, it happened with Young Liars (at least for some of us), and as we’ve previously panned the first issues of Greek Street (Episode 107) and [...]

Dec 27

FBBP #121 - Luke Cage Noir

Posted December 27, 2009

The holidays were hectic around FBB Headquarters, as you may have inferred from our posting schedule. But we managed to record one last podcast for 2009 that takes a look at Luke Cage Noir, the latest in Marvel’s dusky crime-inspired Elseworlds series. We also tackle a frequently asked question regarding a beloved creator-owned series and [...]

Nov 22

FBBP #120 - Love & Shame

Posted November 22, 2009

This episode, we discuss changes over at the Comics Journal and what that means for the blogosphere, plus answer your questions about love, shame, professional wrestling and enabling habits!
If you have questions or topics you’d like to see addressed in future podcasts, write us at editors AT funnybookbabylon DOT com, or take advantage of our [...]

Nov 12

FBBP #119 - Hellblazin’ Milligan

Posted November 12, 2009

This episode, we take a look at Peter Milligan’s recently started run on Hellblazer, as one of the original British Invasion writers becomes the latest in his gang to tackle one of the longest running monthly American comic books in print.
Does Milligan still have “it”? Does John Constantine? Are they both self-sabotaging, self-destructive British [...]

Nov 5

FBBP #118 - We Like Comics

Posted November 5, 2009

Sometimes our tough love strikes listeners as a little too tough. We’re sensitive to concerns about our negativity — and our tendency to ramble on — and so here we have a brief conversation where each of us describe a recent comic we’ve genuinely enjoyed.
Want to be spoiled? Our picks lie below!

Nov 2

FBBP #117 - The Umbrella Academy

Posted November 2, 2009

Rock ‘n’ Roll and Superhero Comics are two uniquely American creations of the twentieth century, and they share many traits — a patchwork Genesis story, arguments about who was really first, youthful rebellion, corporate co-option, a “British Invasion” coming along and showing up their American rivals, a decades-long struggle to be taken “seriously”.

Oct 19

Huggabroomstik live on Tuesday 10/20!

Posted October 19, 2009

If you’re in New York City and you like the music you’ve heard on our podcast you should go see the band that provided us with our music. They’re performing this Tuesday at the Sidewalk Cafe at 11pm.
If you would like a primer before you check them out, listen to this musical retrospective and interview [...]

Oct 13

FBBP #116 - Planetary Post-Mortem

Posted October 13, 2009

The Planetary retrospective rolls on with a podcast dissection of the series. WHERE IS THE FOURTH MAN? Sorry Jamaalamanaics, he was busy this weekend. But he’ll be back later this week in our Umbrella Academy review from the archives! Also, if you haven’t already checked it out, our Planetary Timeline has been updated with corrected [...]

Oct 8

FBBP #115 - Deadpool for President

Posted October 8, 2009

For nearly twenty years, Deadpool has been a cult favorite Marvel character, beloved on the Internet for his scan-ready quips and pop culture references. But lately — whether it’s because his increased presence in movies and video games, change in market demographics, or just some sort of Yellow Word Balloon Zeitgeist — he’s a bonafide [...]

Sep 29

FBBP #114 - Martha Shrugged

Posted September 29, 2009

This month, Dark Horse Comics released The Life and Times of Martha Washington in the Twenty-First Century, a behemoth six hundred page hardcover so balling only Pedro could fathom purchasing it.
So instead, we just read 1990’s Give Me Liberty, the four issue series that introduced Martha. This was one of the first projects Miller and [...]