Brandon Schatz

Doctor Whooch // Episode 025 // Science Is Magic!

May 29, 2014 / Brandon Schatz

In which Danica is surly until the Peach Schnapps kicks in.

In this week’s episode, we have some more Torch-words about Torchwood, as Brandon visits “Countrycide” (Series 1, Episode 6) and we both check out “They Keep Killing Suzie” and “Random Shoes” (Episodes 8 and 9). One of them leaves you empty as you ponder the inevitability of death. The other leaves you hopeful as you ponder the inevitability of death. Torchwood!

Bonus note: You should listen to The Listmakers. Yes, yes you should.

Outro music is “Sing, Sing Sing (With A Swing)” by Louis Prima

Podcast picture is by GIRL NAMED SHIRL PHOTOGRAPHY.

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BIG NEWS and Other Ephemera

May 28, 2014 / Brandon Schatz

Another new comic book day comes to a close, and as usual, I am exhausted. Wednesday’s I usually work the full shift, a long 10-8, putting comics into the hands of people who just can’t wait another day to get their new comic fix – and that’s always a lot of fun… until I finally stop moving and realize just how tired I am.

Anyway, today was pretty cool for another great reason: my first article went up over at Comics Beat today! I’m pretty excited about this. Comics Beat is ran by Heidi MacDonald, who has been working in and around the industry for years. I haven’t told her this, but I was just a kid when she started editing the comic section in Disney Adventures magazine. She was the person who introduced me – and a lot of people my age – the series Bone, which Jeff Smith had been publishing in black and white at the time. Heidi somehow (I don’t know the details) brokered a situation where the story appeared in DA for several issues, going right up to the end of the first volume – and even squeezed out a story that Jeff Smith made specifically for DA as well! Now, of course, you can find Bone in all of your local bookstores and comic shops, as it’s one of the most popular series out there for folks of all ages. So yeah. Exciting!

…

…oh right, what was my piece about? Whelp, DC is doing another round of lenticular covers this year, and I pitched a piece that would go over the nightmare that occurred during the last time they tried this stunt, and how it compared to this new round. I think I did a pretty good job. Even got a hater in the comments, which oddly makes me feel good!

As for the rest of the day…

Over at Comics! The Blog, I did a quick sell of Brass Sun, which is a book many of you should check out – especially if you’re into a bit of clockwork science.
The newest episode of Podcast! The Comics went up, and James made me watch a show where women think they’re on a dating contest show with Prince Harry. It hurt my everything.
Danica went over the results of the clothing swap she had on the weekend. From what I’ve heard, everyone came out of the experience with new clothes (for free!) while getting rid of a bunch of things they weren’t going to wear anymore. Win win!

Aaaaand, that’s going to be a wrap for the day. There’s more to talk about, but I’m tired you guys. So tired. Until tomorrow…

Bea Arthur vs. Steve Urkel (or) The Nineties Were Weird

May 28, 2014 / Brandon Schatz

The Books of Tomorrow, Today!

May 27, 2014 / Brandon Schatz

The last Tuesday of each month tends to get a little hairy at work – not only do we have to send off our monthly mail orders, but more often than not, that lands on the same week our monthly orders are due. This month is especially difficult, because I also have September’s books from DC to order, thanks to their stupid lenticular event (more on that tomorrow, hopefully), so I’m a little haggard – but not too haggard to miss out on my second daily post here at Submet. So without further ado, the day, in point form.

The day kicked off at Comics! The Blog with an early look at tomorrow’s more interesting comic book releases. Books of note were Trees, C.O.W.L. and Brass Sun, which I will be talking a lot more about tomorrow.
Note: I skipped talking about the release of the first collection of Umbral and Black Science, which is a bit of a crime. If you haven’t started up on those series, now is your chance. Do it. Do it like the wind.
Later in the day, I did a bit of goofiness with The All New Orb. He’s the best, you guys. THE BEST.
My darling girlfriend Danica wrote about starting… something. Anything. Seriously, if you find you’re having trouble with tackling a project, she has some good, succinct advice for you.
The wonderful Andrea Speed stopped by C!TB to recap the second season finalé of Hannibal, which I’m sure ended with puppies.
I’ve got a piece about the return of DC’s lenticular covers going up… somewhere on the internet tomorrow. That’s going to be followed up with a piece about Bob Wayne, and what his departure could mean for the comic book industry and retailers. I’m pretty jazzed about it.
Tonight, I’m heading off to record Podcast! The Comics with my writing partner James Leask. We’re currently setting up an interview with a pretty high profile comic book writer, so keep an eye out for that in the coming weeks.

And with that, I bid you all adieu for another day. Hug someone for me, will ya? Thanks.

The Ladies Marmalade and Other Odds and Bodkins

May 26, 2014 / Brandon Schatz

It’s that time of day where things are rounded up. It’s the round-up.

It’s Monday, so that means we ran our Q&A column over at Comics! The Blog. Amoung the topics I avoided this week were the ladies of Lady Marmalade, bands I don’t care for, and a couple of songs I really do.
Have you been reading Zero? I have. It’s definitely my favourite book out there right now. If you’re looking for a good example as to why, I’d suggest this article I wrote about the series’ second issue. Otherwise, I talked briefly about this week’s eighth.
I should have a piece going up somewhere on the internet in the next few days. I don’t want to say where until it happens, but suffice to say, it’s pretty cool having other people interested in the things that I have to say about the comic book industry. Weird, but cool. Please don’t tell them that I’m secretly horrible.
On Wednesday, if you’re lucky enough, you’re going to find a comic that features a superhero peeing on someone. Funny thing is, the book isn’t bad. The scene was a little weird, but… yeah. Not a bad book. If you’re the first person to tweet me with what that comic is, I’m going to straight up give you a $5 gift certificate to ComiXology. If nobody does by the end of the day, I’m just gonna go ahead and spend that $5 on me.
Oh, and do yourself a favour on Wednesday and check out Brass Sun if you can find it on the shelves. I ordered a lot, because I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read of it in the pages of

Doctor Whooch // Episode 024 // So Money, Extreme Fancy

May 16, 2014 / Brandon Schatz

In which we buy your love with new internet currencies. Or something.

On this week’s episode, Brandon and Danica drop in on the Fifth Doctor, with a serial called “Earthshock”, which was pretty rad. And while Brandon can’t remember the who played the Fifth immediately after they watched the episodes, Danica is there to keep things on track, and punch Brandon as needed. And trust us, it’s needed. Hail Hyrda.

Outro music is “The Sambola! International Dance Craze” by Jeff Young.

Podcast picture is by GIRL NAMED SHIRL PHOTOGRAPHY.

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May 14, 2014

The only legitimate future of the Marvel Universe is next week’s comics.

-Tom Brevoort, regarding what constitutes “the future” of fictitious universes.

May 13, 2014 / Brandon Schatz

Relaxing with Batman

May 12, 2014 / Brandon Schatz

Shocker, I know.

This weekend, for the first time in a long time, I took some time to relax. Danica and I had gone up to a place near Hinton called “Black Cat Guest Ranch”, which is a wonderfully peaceful BnB with great mountain views and a ton of books. After convincing me that I shouldn’t do “work” over the weekend (which I have a hard time doing), I spent most of my time away from the phone (although the shop called very little – for which I am currently grateful. We’ll see how I feel about that when I return to work in the morning….) and stayed away from any word processors. Instead of going at my usual ever-spinning pace, I just sat around and read. As a result, I finally got around to reading a trio of classic Batman tales – Year One, The Long Halloween, and Dark Victory. All are books I’ve been told are “required reading” for any serious comic book fan (which is BS – the only rule to reading and enjoying comics is to approach books and series as and when they appeal to you), so I’m quite glad I finally had the chance to experience them. The trio actually work quite well together, drawing from each other as they explore the early days of Batman. I’ll inevitably be discussing the books in much more detail on at C!TB in the coming days, but the most interesting thing to see was just how much these books influenced Christopher Nolan’s trilogy. Bits and pieces were definitely pulled as needed, but for the most part, the stories are completely separate from what Nolan accomplished – which is great. The more I see superheroes pull out into other media, I always find myself drawn towards the different flavours and stories that translation brings. The very best are recognizable, but function as their own thing. Anyway, more on that later in the week.

Doctor Whooch // Episode 023 // Misandry!

May 1, 2014 / Brandon Schatz

In which Danica is a pirate.

During this week’s episode, your intrepid hosts delve deeper into Torchwood with the Series One episodes “Small Worlds” and “Greeks Bearing Gifts”, skipping “Countryside” for Brandon to experience another day. Also, Danica punches Brandon a few times, and things start happening that probably involve neighbours, and not ghosts. Probably. Hopefully.

Submet Industries

A complicated pop culture construct made from podcasts, words and gnomes, based in Edmonton, AB.

AuthorBrandon Schatz