Episode 207: VisionQuest Deep Dive (Ep 5 & 6)

November 03, 2026 by Kurt Onstad

Another super long episode of the podcast to discuss two episodes of the show VisionQuest. We get a change of scenery, flying to Madripoor for another rescue of Tommy from the Paladin’s clutches. Meanwhile, Joel and I call back to a joke from last episode and have even more fun with it. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Small note: Normally I make the podcast stereo, with each of us slightly leaning towards one ear than the other, but due to file size restrictions, I had to make it mono. Hopefully Joel’s and my voice are different enough you can tell us apart.

It’s going to take a lot of work to get MCU Jocasta here…

Episode 206: VisionQuest Deep Dive (Ep 3 & 4)

October 26, 2026 by Kurt Onstad

Time for a bird hunt. But, in this case, the bird is more hunter than the hunted. Butcherbird’s true name is revealed, with a connection to Vision and Ultron’s comic book histories. Also, DUM-E and U get voices, and other surprises along the way as we reach the halfway point in our VisionQuest.

The comic book version of our Butcherbird…aka Jocasta!

The Marvel Comics version of the Vision Family Tree. Jocasta and Wasp should actually be on here and connected to Ultron and Ant-Man respectively, as well as to each other.

It’s complicated.

Episode 205: VisionQuest Deep Dive (Ep 1 & 2)

October 20, 2026 by Kurt Onstad

He joined me for WandaVision and for Agatha All Along, so it only makes sense I invite friend Joel Levitz back to discuss the show VisionQuest. We do a Deep Dive into the plot, the mysteries, and the philosophy underpinning all of that in this long podcast dedicated to the first two episodes of the Disney+ show.

Comic accurate Paladin. How do you think the show did in its translation?

Episode 204: Lanterns Deep Dive (Ep 8) Fixed Link

October 13, 2026 by Kurt Onstad

There was a broken link on the file originally, so in case your podcast feed doesn’t check for fixes, here is a corrected version.

Episode 204: Lanterns Deep Dive (Ep 8)

October 11, 2026 by Kurt Onstad

Time to discuss the season finale of Lanterns. Murderers revealed, oaths stated, and territories divided! Check out Woody and Kurt’s discussion of everything that happens, and what it means for the characters we’ve followed, and will continue to follow in the ongoing DCU.

I was proven wrong. They didn’t say this once…Neither of them.

Episode 203: Lanterns Deep Dive (Ep 7)

October 04, 2026 by Kurt Onstad

We name a few suspects in the murder of Hal Jordan, including Hal himself. Do we guess right? And also, what’s that yellow glow coming from down deep in the planet? Hear my theories in the penultimate Deep Dive of Lanterns with guest Woody Gaertner.

We don’t see him in the uniform this episode, but you never know what’s coming up…

Episode 202: Lanterns Deep Dive (Ep 6)

September 27, 2026 by Kurt Onstad

Death of a Lantern. We dive into the mystery of who killed Hal Jordan, starting with a revelation about John and Hal meeting the night of the murder. We investigate all the clues, including meeting some new characters and an old…favorite? Well, let’s just say people have strong opinions both ways about this Guy.

This is the kind of funeral Hal thought he was getting (obviously not exactly the same, since Hal is one of the pallbearers in this one).

Episode 201: Lanterns Deep Dive (Ep 5)

September 20, 2026 by Kurt Onstad

This mid-season episode felt like a season finale, with a massive battle in and for the town of Rushville. Guest Woody Gaertner and I have a lot to say, discussing not only this episode, but where things might go from here.

Doesn’t look like we’ll ever get a scene like this in the show…

This one, on the other hand, is fairly similar to a scene in this very episode.

Episode 200: Lanterns Deep Dive (Ep 4)

September 13, 2026 by Kurt Onstad

Who Hunts the Manhunters? The Green Lanterns, of course! We reveal the mystery of who the Manhunter is this episode, but more questions are asked than answered in the halfway point of this Lanterns Deep Dive.

Who in the show is secretly one of these monstrosities? The answer…probably won’t surprise you, if you’ve been following online discussions.

Episode 199: Lanterns Deep Dive (Ep 3)

September 06, 2026 by Kurt Onstad

How do you make a Green Lantern? That’s the question that John Stewart’s parents have in this episode of the show Lanterns, and that guest Woody Gaertner and I discuss for this episode of the podcast. We also touch quite a bit on John (and Woody’s) experience as a Black man in America, as that is a very important theme of this episode of Lanterns.

John Stewart’s first appearance in a Green Lantern costume. Rebelling from day one.

Once a Marine, always a Marine (unless it’s retconned into your history).

Episode 198: Lanterns Deep Dive (Ep 2)

August 30, 2026 by Kurt Onstad

Continuing the Lanterns Deep Dive with my guest Woody Gaertner, we discuss Manhunters, Kanes, Mogo, and Sinestro. Find out the significance of all of those and more by taking a listen to this latest episode!

“No man escapes…the Manhunters” (Be prepared to hear that multiple times this series)

Well, look, maybe he does occasionally socialize, but it’s rare.

Any relation, Sheriff? (Probably not, but it’s fun to theorize)

Episode 197: Lanterns Deep Dive (Ep 1)

August 23, 2026 by Kurt Onstad

Welcome Back to Welcome to Geektown! We return with a Deep Dive into the DC show Lanterns, currently airing on HBO. This first episode gives us mysteries aplenty, as well as the opportunity to discuss lots of comic book history. Take a listen!

Wake up, Junior.

Welcome to Geektown Interviews: Jay Faerber (Part 3; Finale)

August 03, 2025 by Kurt Onstad in Interviews

Wrapping up our discussion comic book and television writer Jay Faerber, we discuss a number of his tv projects, especially the ones featuring superheroes, including animated Marvel work, the much-loved “Crisis on Infinite Earths” Arrowverse crossover, and Jay’s current gig adding to the DCU mythos.

Slam evil, Flash! (Sometimes I write these jokes just for me and a couple of friends…)

King Shark! At least our third different iteration of this character in an animated movie/tv show. Not something I would have expected even five years ago…

Welcome to Geektown Interviews: Jay Faerber (Part 2)

July 27, 2025 by Kurt Onstad in Interviews

We continue to talk with comic book and television writer Jay Faerber, moving on to his creator-owned work at Image (especially Noble Causes), and then move on to his television writing, learning how it began, and answering some basic behind the scenes questions.

One of the times Robert Kirkman said “Yes.”

But not silent (I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself…)

Welcome to Geektown Interviews: Jay Faerber (Part 1)

July 20, 2025 by Kurt Onstad in Interviews

Beginning my interview with comic book and television writer Jay Faerber, in this first section we discuss his pre-professional life, then his early works for Marvel and DC, including a stint on The New Warriors (featuring Speedball, so you know we’re focusing on that!)

If you want to know more about the characters in his New Warriors run, I did one of my scripted episodes about that run, which you can find here.

Our guest for the next few weeks, writer Jay Faerber (pronounced Fur-burr)

Don’t worry, Nova’s costume gets fixed by the end of the run…

Believe it or not, we do get a happy(ish) ending with this final issue.

The cover credits suggest Jay was correct in what memories he did have about this project.

Welcome to Geektown Interviews: Dana Simpson (Part 3; Finale)

June 22, 2025 by Kurt Onstad in Interviews

In this final part of my conversation with Dana Simpson, we get the most personal, as we talk about a planned project of Dana to chronicle her gender transition, then we discuss different ways that has affected her life and other work, as well as get into some political discussion and gender theory.

How is this about Dana? Listen and find out.

Welcome to Geektown Interviews: Dana Simpson (Part 2)

June 15, 2025 by Kurt Onstad in Interviews

Continuing our conversation with Dana Simpson, this second part (of three) focuses primarily on “Phoebe & Her Unicorn,” and how it’s changed over the years. Then we touch on a couple of other projects as well, one finished, and one left incomplete.

The first of multiple original graphic novels with these characters.

Not a robot either (just throwing in a random “Good Place” reference.)

Welcome to Geektown Interviews: Dana Simpson (Part 1)

June 08, 2025 by Kurt Onstad in Interviews

We start a new conversation this week, this time talking to Dana Simpson, creator of “Ozy and Millie” (now Ozy and Milo), and the NYT Bestselling “Phoebe & Her Unicorn.” This first part starts with her education, then her work on family-friendly “Ozy and Millie” and the political cartoon called “I Drew This.”

Normal? I don’t think so, but hey, who’d want to be that?

Walt Kelly was an influence? You don’t say…

First published almost exactly 19 years ago. **Sigh**. It’s just too true.

Welcome to Geektown Interviews: Judd Winick (Part 3; Finale)

May 25, 2025 by Kurt Onstad in Interviews

We wrap up my interview with Judd Winick by starting on his decision to bring back Jason Todd (the 2nd Robin) from the dead as The Red Hood, then move on to his work during the New 52 at DC, the animated shows he worked on, and finally get to his decade-plus work writing and drawing the Hilo series of books. But first, a remembrance for another comics book professional who left us too soon.

Graphic novel and original movie: Judd wrote both.

The Jeff Smith quote is particularly apropos, considering how he helped inspire the series.

The show that Judd created, mixing mythology and modern adventure. (Yes, he calls out Buffy as an influence…)

R.I.P. Peter David (wearing a “Multiple Man” t-shirt, another character he redefined)

Welcome to Geektown Interviews (Judd Winick; Part 2)

May 18, 2025 by Kurt Onstad in Interviews

In this 2nd of three parts of my interview with Judd Winick, we talk about his time on The Real World, the doors that opened and how he grew as a storyteller from writing about his experiences, leading to his comic book work for DC (and a little Marvel).