podcast

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 15

After taking a look at The Things They Carried, it’s time to return to The ‘Nam with issue #14, “Fatigue Duty.” We spend our first issue after Ed Marks’s departure getting to know some of the other boys of the 23rd courtesy of Doug Murray and Wayne VanSant. As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I’ll be talking about the story’s historical context as well as taking a look at the letters, ‘Nam Notes, and ads.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 15 direct link

Also, here is a link to The History Place, which is one of the resources I have been using for some of the historical notes in this episode: The History Place

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 14

After a year in The ‘Nam, I take a break to review and discuss Tim O’Brien’s 1990 novel, The Things They Carried, which is a seminal work in Vietnam War literature.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 14 direct link

Furthermore, here is a link to the New York Times article I reference at one point: “A Storyteller for the War That Won’t End”

And here is the YouTube video that I referenced in the episode, which is part of a series of interviews with O’Brien …

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 13

Ed Marks’ tour in Vietnam ends in this issue as does Michael Golden’s tenure as the book’s penciller. Join me as I take a look at “… And a Wakeup,” the end of the first year of “The ‘Nam” courtesy of Doug Murray, Michael Golden, and Bob Camp. As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I’ll be talking about the story’s historical context as well as taking a look at the letters, ‘Nam Notes, and ads.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 13 direct link

Pop Culture Affidavit Episode 21 — A Child’s Christmas in Wales

This time out, I present to you Dylan Thomas’s “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” a literary selection appropriate to the season.

You can listen here:

iTunes: Pop Culture Affidavit

Direct Download

Pop Culture Affidavit podcast page

And for your convenience, I have included the raw audio of Dylan Thomas’s reading: “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”

Merry Christmas!

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 12

John Severin does a fill-in issue on art and Doug Murray gives us a letter home from Ed Marks as the boys of the 23rd take part in Operation: Cedar Falls. It’s “From Cedar Falls, With Love” in “The ‘Nam” #12. Plus: Meatloaf, Humongous Rock Star of the Universe!

As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I’ll be talking about the story’s historical context as well as taking a look at the letters, ‘Nam Notes, and ads.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 12 direct link

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 11

1966 draws to a close as Doug Murray and Michael Golden bring us Christmas in the ‘Nam with issue #11 and “‘Tis the Season,” a story that shows that sometimes your favorite holidays can get interrupted by Charlie when you don’t really want them to. As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I’ll be talking about the story’s historical context as well as taking a look at the letters, ‘Nam Notes, and ads.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 11 direct link

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 10

Episode 10 of “In Country” covers issue 10 of The ‘Nam, where Ed Marks copes with the death of Mike Albergo from the previous issue while on patrol in the city. Plus, we get a little more insight into the character of Ramnarain in “Guerilla Action” by Doug Murray, Michael Golden, and John Beatty. As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I’ll be talking about the story’s historical context as well as taking a look at the letters, ‘Nam Notes, and ads.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 10 direct link

Also, here is a link to 11th Cav ‘Nam, the site I used for some of the research in this episode: 11thcavnam.com

Pop Culture Affidavit Episode 20 — Eddie Lives!

The latest episode is a little late but I promise you it’s well worth it. This time around I take a look at one of my absolute favorite rock and roll stories, Eddie and the Cruisers. I delve into P.F. Kluge’s original novel; talk about the 1983 feature film starring Michael Paré as Eddie Wilson, along with Tom Berenger and Ellen Barkin; and I even cover the sequel, Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! So come along for a rock and roll ghost story for the ages!

You can listen here:

iTunes: Pop Culture Affidavit

Direct Download

Pop Culture Affidavit podcast page

Here is the trailer for Eddie and the Cruisers:

Here is the trailer for Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives!:

And just because it’s so cool, here’s the full Eddie and the Cruisers poster:

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 9

Nam 9

A major event in the lives of the 23rd and Ed Marks’s experience in “The ‘Nam” occurs in this episode, as I take a look at issue #9, “Pride Goeth …,” which is brought to us by Doug Murray, Michael Golden, and John Beatty. As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I’ll be talking about the story’s historical context as well as taking a look at the letters, ‘Nam Notes, and ads.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 9 direct link

In Country: Marvel Comics “The ‘Nam” Episode 8

Let’s head into the tunnels with “In the Underground” from The ‘Nam #8, an issue that also reprints one of Doug Murray and Michael Golden’s “5th of the First” stories from Savage Tales. It’s two stories about tunnel rats for the price of one! As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I’ll be talking about the story’s historical context as well as taking a look at the letters, ‘Nam Notes, and ads.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 8 direct link