Not too long ago Sidekick favourite Iz McAuliffe invited me to join her as a Rackette on her and Stacey Frost's awesome podcast; Comic Racks. Stacey was unable to make it so basically I got promoted from guest to guest host...and there was booze...a lot of booze...big mistake. It's like a comic book podcast super-team-up on acid. That's my description of Comic Racks episode #55 and I'm sticking to it. However, if you'd prefer a more accurate and eloquent description you need look no further than just below. I've not actually listened to it myself yet so please let me know what you think

Download Here or listen to it through our player on this site.

Late, long and with only one Rack – Iz is joined by a new Rackette - Sidekickcast’s Gavin Jones. We originally intended this episode to be a brief Q&A about Gav’s life, loves and all things X-Men; as well as the usual format of a Racks podcast. Unfortunately because we are very good buddies in ‘real’ life this episode takes on a life of its own, with us waxing lyrical about anything and everything (but we do keep it nerdy...mostly). It should be noted that A LOT of booze was consumed during this epic adventure and boy does it show...we had a great time though!!

After a HUGE ramble about Torchwood, X Men, how lovely Paul Cornell and Mike Carey are, and many many many other nerd topics, we manage a very brief review section where we discuss Crossed Family Values #2 (SPOILERS), and Alan Moore’s Top 10. In keeping with the rest of the episode this section gets a bit de-railed with us nearly coming to blows over Moore, with me sticking the boot into Ellis while I'm at it.

Instead of a News section I invited Gav to bring along the patented Sidekickcast Secrets and Lies - where 5 items of news are presented, one of which is false. I enlist the help of ECBT2000AD co-host (and the other half) Rich to try and suss out the Lie.

A quick and very inebriated Rack Music section rounds off episode 55 - hopefully order will be restored for the next ep when Stacey returns to keep me on track...maybe :/

So I picked up my fresh batch of comics this weekend and found myself with an hour window to make my way though them. If anyone is interested, I’m currently reading Daredevil, some Deadpool titles, the Batman comics, and some stuff The Boneman lent me namely a collection of The Boys (which is awesome!) and Cowboy Ninja Viking. Not a massive load but it does me for the time being – I’m going to try and pick up some the new Flash stuff and expect to get royally head f***ed continuity wise on that one!

But I wondered having read through that little lot whether there would be any chance for a new superhero/comic character to make it through to mass popularity, say on a par with your Superman or Wolverine? It seems as though the magic circle of age-old established characters completely own the market in the comic industry, and cannot be knocked off their perch by any of the young pretenders that come along. Do any new characters/franchises have a chance of topping the guys of the Golden Age of Comics? Sadly, I don’t think they do… We get new publications all the time and all of them offer something fresh and new to the table but they don’t seem to be able to get the public whipped up in the same way that an X-Men title, for example, can. Longevity plays a massive part as does, I guess, certain political events and how titles can react to those and capture a public’s imagination but these things have to be earned and I’m not sure if publishers are prepared to give enough time to a title to achieve this. The scenario of a modern day football manager comes to mind here.

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Link: http://www.jimmyaquino.typepad.com/comicnewsinsider/2010/05/episode-262-oneshot-bristol-comic-expo-podcasters-panel.html

Couldn't go to Bristol Comic Expo? Well I feel bad for you because that means you will have missed a whole load of goodness but most importantly you missed out on Sidekickcast host Dan Marshall rocking the podcasters panel. Our very own Dan, Jimmy from Comic News Insider, Stacey from Small Press Big Mouth, Dave from Waiting for the Trade and Steve from Comic Book Outsiders get wrangled into talking all things comic podcasts by the awesome Emma Vieceli. Jimmy was kind enough to record the whole thing so get on over to the Comic News Insider site and listen to the panel here.

Link: http://www.spexpo.co.uk/

This year's Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo 21-23 May will be the best so far. A bold statement, I know, but I can back it up. Nevermind the legendary Chris Claremont, Pat Mills, Ramon Bachs, Robin Furth, Paul Cornell, Charlie Adlard, John McCrea, Andy Diggles or Sean Phillips. Don't get too excited by the Eagle Awards 2010, the DC Universe panel, live music from Music Power Cosmic, The Losers panel or Claremont and Davis together again. The only place you need to be is at the Mercure Hotel Saturday 22nd May at 12.00pm for the Signs and Portents panel with Chris Lynch writer of the Markosia hit book; The Dark and hosted by none other than myself and fellow Sidekickcast host Dan Marshall. That's right, we're stepping out from behind the curtain to make a rare appearance in the real world, don't miss out.

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Link: http://brokensea.com/betaflight/2010/03/04/betaflight-struck-twice-part-2-conclusion/

It's not often you'll find me pimping somebody else's podcats/audio endeavours, I'm a bit selfish like that, it's all about The Sidekickcast for me. This week however I am going to ask you to take a look at the audio drama Beta Flight, especially Beta Flight: Struck Twice part two - conclusion. And why am I breaking my own rules on this occassion? Quite simple really, I'm in it, as Thomas Raynolds brother to a superhero. If you want to hear some horrendous over-acting from myself (everyone else is spot-on) then please check it out, you have been warned though. Also want to say thanks to New Mutant for giving me a chance, hope you don't regret it Al.

My comic book collection is taking over my life. Currently I have one room devoted to both holding my comic book collection, my other related goodies like statues, figures and artwork etc and for podcasting. The thing is I've got far too many comic books I don't read and will probably never read again...because you know...they were shit. I need some space before the Danger Room (what I like to call my comic book geek room, it's very dangerous don't you know) completely implodes in upon itself.

There are of course the sensible solutions: Sell them on ebay, pass them onto some young tyke so that they may start to enjoy comics and create a new fan in the process or simply throw them away. None of these solutions appeal to me though, I can't sell them on ebay because they're shit, I can't pass them onto some young tyke it wouldn't be fair because they're shit and the 'Collector' in me just won't let me throw them away.

So I've decided to find alternative uses for my comic books and this is where I need your help. Tonight whilst recording Sidekickcast Episode #31 I'm going to try Alternative Uses for Comic Books #1 (if Dan will let me) as a new little segway. We're going to play a game with my comic books that will hopefully be fun for all, those two people listening and us. What I need from you four people out there that read this blog (the website is doubly more popular than the podcast) are more suggestions for alternative uses for comic books. It can be anything at all and the best ones will make it into the podcast, you can leave your suggestions in the comments after this post or email me @ gavinjones@sidekickcomicsuk.com

Link: http://www.marvel.com/catalog/?date=2009-01-21

Here are the Marvel Comics that will be out next week, thought I'd let you guys know which of these I'm gonna be reading for Sidekickcast Episode #10.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN # 584
The Story: CHARACTER ASSASSINATION BEGINS!
The climax to the last year’s worth of Spider-man stories starts with a bang as questions are answered and Spidey’s new world is rocked to its core.
Who's the person terrorizing people as Menace? Who's behind the Spider-Tracer Killings? Who's going to be the Mayor of New York City? After more than 365 (Brand New) Days, Marc Guggenheim and John Romita Jr. have all the answers in the first chapter of "Character Assassination" -- a story over a year in the making!
Rated A …$2.99
I've heard so many good things but I'm just not a big Spidey fan and I'm not into getting weekly books

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Sidekickcast is proud to announce that our very own X-Centric Ned and his beautiful wife Teri have given birth to a healthy bouncing baby boy, Noah. He arrived at 08:34 this morning weighing in at 8lb 15oz, brandishing a clenched fist and strong lockes of red hair (just like the first mutant since M-Day. Mother and child are both doing well and we couldn't be more happy to welcome the next generation of Sidekicks into the world. Excelsior!

Link: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=292230041

That's right folks you can now subscribe to Sidekickcast with itunes to make it even easier for you to get your full dose of the Sidekick team. If you want to hear more Sidekickcast please leave us a comment in the itunes store to help promote and properly position the comic book podcast that has got your back yo.

Link: http://www.sidekickcomicsuk.com/blogs/blog5.php

Episode #1 of Sidekickcast is available now to download or stream from this site. Just click on the podcast tab on the right hand side of this page and enjoy!

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