Best Geeky Minutes Podcasts (2025)

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185 The One 1:05:07

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1h ago1:05:07

1:05:07

185 - The One Jet Li's The One arrives at the height of early-2000s sci-fi action, blending multiverse theory with high-velocity martial-arts spectacle. The film follows Gabriel Yulaw, a former agent of the Multiverse Authority who has discovered a dangerous loophole in reality: by traveling to parallel universes and killing alternate versions of h…

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"I am the experimental weapons division." A conversation with Mark Diaz Truman and Jay Dragon Ep. 81 1:08:54

10h ago1:08:54

1:08:54

Today, we converse with two firehoses of the human imagination: Mark Diaz Truman and Jay Dragon! Some people play games. Some people publish games. And then there are the people who change how the whole industry works. Mark Diaz Truman is one of the architects of the modern tabletop renaissance; designer, publisher, organizer, and strategic masterm…

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Writing Geeky Nonfiction: A Seminar from Gamehole Con 2025- with Keith Amman & Ben Riggs- Ep 80 59:59

18d ago59:59

59:59

Happy Thanksgiving Americans! Here's a seminar from Gamehole Con 2025 about why YOU should be writing geeky nonfiction.By Brutal Segue Productions

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3 Poets Turn to RPG Design- A conversation with Adam Good, Jamie Perez, & Justin Sirois Episode 79 55:45

1M ago55:45

55:45

My favorite RPG book of the year is a book of spaceship p*rn designed by two poets! INFINITY OF SHIPS is random tables for spaceship creation along with stunning artwork and essays that are as fun as they are engaging. The book was brought to us by Adam Good & Jamie Perez, and the pair have another book Kickstarting right now: https://www.kickstart…

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184 Lara Croft Tomb Raider 1:20:17

1M ago1:20:17

1:20:17

184 - Lara Croft: Tomb Raider In this action-packed episode of Reel Comic Heroes, the hosts dust off their dual pistols and dive headfirst into the early 2001 adventure phenomenon that was Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, starring Angelina Jolie. Based on the wildly popular video game series, this film promised to bring one of gaming's most iconic characte…

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This is an RPG historian you have to hear from- A conversation with Shannon Appelcline Episode 78 1:00:30

29d ago1:00:30

1:00:30

This is an RPG historian you have to hear from. Shannon Appelcline. He's the mind behind Designers & Dragons, which chronicles our hobby's wild past, from basement print runs to global pop culture phenomenon. Shannon has done the research, interviewed the legends, and connected the dots between decades of dice-rolling history. So grab your characte…

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"Games Will Prevail": A conversation with Meguey Baker, Vincent Baker & John Harper- Ep 77 1:02:18

2M ago1:02:18

1:02:18

What do Cormac McCarthy, Charles Dickens, & Scheherazade say to each other on the podcast? Today, we find out! First up, we have Meguey Baker: game designer, textile historian, and one of the most revolutionary voices in the history of tabletop gaming. You might know her from 1001 Nights, Psi-Run, or her work on Apocalypse World, a game that cracke…

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30 Minutes Into This Interview with Fred Hicks & Cam Banks, I Share Leaked D&D Sales Data Ep-76 55:25

2M ago55:25

55:25

Shamelessly, 30 minutes into this interview with Cam Banks & Fred Hicks, I share leaked D&D sales data. He's the Kiwi conjurer who helped create the Cortex System, which has been used on everything from Firefly to Marvel. He's made the rules that make the stories sing, and he's living proof that spreadsheets and sorcery can coexist. Please welcome …

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RPGs don't make stories. They make experiences: A conversation with Jay Dragon & Watt EP 75 59:24

2M ago59:24

59:24

This conversation is absolutely brilliant. I talk to a lot of game designers, but this episode is easily a favorite. Today, we discuss with two engines of creativity: Jay Dragon of Wanderhome & Watt of Cloud Empress! Watt is a designer, artist, and architect of the beautifully bizarre. Watt's games feel like dreams with teeth, lush, lyrical, and a …

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Why Borg? A conversation with Zac Goins & Erica Lowe Ep 74 1:04:15

2M ago1:04:15

1:04:15

Why borg? Today on the show, we're joined by Zac Goins, RPG designer, Kickstarter consultant, and all-around tabletop creative. Zac has worked with Marvel, Wizards of the Coast, Modiphius, and more, and currently serves as Director of Marketing for Limithron. He's designed for systems like Old School Essentials, Mörk Borg, Shadowdark, and beyond. A…

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"All RPGS are inherently unfinished"- A conversation with Justin Alexander, Panayiotis Lines & Aled Lawlor EP 73 56:30

2M ago56:30

56:30

Today, we've got a four-way! Listen and marinate in the brilliance of Justin Alexander, Panayiotis Lines, & Aled Lawlor! Aled Lawlor and Panayiotis Lines are the creative duo behind Leyline Press. In just a few short years, Leyline has carved out a reputation for distinctive, atmospheric RPGs that blend striking visual design with elegant, playable…

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183 From Hell 1:34:12

2M ago1:34:12

1:34:12

183 - From Hell In this episode of Reel Comic Heroes, we descend into the fog-drenched streets of Victorian London to unravel the grim mystery of From Hell, the 2001 adaptation of Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell's seminal graphic novel. Johnny Depp stars as opium-addled Inspector Frederick Abberline, tasked with hunting down the elusive Jack the Ripp…

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Let's talk about Uncle Gary: A conversation with Gygax's biographer, Michael Witwer Ep. 72 53:51

3M ago53:51

53:51

Today, I am going to talk turkey with fellow historian and bestselling author, Michael Witwer. His books, such as Empire of Imagination, the acclaimed biography of Gary Gygax, and the lavish Dungeons & Dragons: Art & Arcana, have helped bring the hidden history of role-playing games into the mainstream. His work combines deep research with a storyt…

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The Ring Knight Honors the Weeping Seer-with Jeremy Bent & Chris McDowall Ep. 71 58:04

3M ago58:04

58:04

Welcome to D&D Outloud with Ben Riggs, I am Ben Riggs, apparently controversial D&D historian and author of Slaying the Dragon A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons, and over the past 13 years of writing and podcasting, I have met hundreds of creative geniuses in and around the world of TTRPGs. Here on this show, I ask two of these flaming torches…

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"D&D is Not in the Innovation Biz" A Conversation with Two 4th Ed Designers- Ep 70 1:04:18

3M ago1:04:18

1:04:18

Does 4E D&D have the best combat? The question leads us to a conversation with two of the game's three lead designers. First up, we have Rob Heinsoo, one of the leading minds behind Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition. He's also the co-creator of 13th Age, a system that blends narrative freedom with crunchy mechanics in amazing ways. He's a designer, a …

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"All of the $ should be coming to Wizards-" an interview with the former WotC Book Team Ep. 69 56:29

3M ago56:29

56:29

Wanna know what the hell is going on at WotC? Let's ask people who used to work there. It is difficult to describe what a superstar gathering this is on the show. These are not the first names that you think of when you hear D&D, but they are just as significant if not more so than the names we all know. First Liz Schuh, whose final title at Wizard…

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This Guy Reviewed an RPG that Doesn't Exist! Ep. 68 with Luke Gearing & Leo Hunt 48:48

3M ago48:48

48:48

An in-depth conversation with two of the most remarkable adventure-writers working today: Luke Gearing & Leo Hunt! Luke Gearing, is an incredible voice in the tabletop RPG world. His work includes Acid Death Fantasy for Troika!, the epic and disturbing Gradient Descent for Mothership and the Wages of Sin bounty book. His work is gritty, evocative, …

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182 Ghost World with Niall McGowan & Bubbawheat 1:45:52

3M ago1:45:52

1:45:52

182 - Ghost World In this episode of Reel Comic Heroes, we step into the offbeat, sardonic world of Terry Zwigoff's Ghost World (2001), adapted from Daniel Clowes' cult graphic novel. We follow the misadventures of Enid and Rebecca, two recent high school graduates navigating the uncertain summer before adulthood, drifting between cynicism, friends…

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"Corporations are colonizing your imagination for profit. TTRPGs are a liberation movement!"- Ep. 67 59:32

3M ago59:32

59:32

Today, enjoy this conversation between 3rd edition D&D lead designer Jonathan Tweet and TTRPG historians Shannon Appelcline and Ben Riggs! They discuss one of the hotbeds of gaming ferment, St. Olaf College, which produced nerd legends like Lisa Stevens, Mark Rein-Hagen, Nicole Lindroos, and Tweet himself. Then they move on to discuss one of the mo…

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Secrets of the Bestselling D&D Adventure of All Time- Ep 66 57:39

4M ago57:39

57:39

Our guest tonight is a giant in the realms — literally and figuratively. Richard Baker is a legendary Dungeons & Dragons designer, novelist, and world-builder whose fingerprints are all over the game we love. He's helped shape settings like the Forgotten Realms, Birthright, and Alternity. He designed iconic adventures. He wrote novels that bring fa…

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Solving the Mysteries of the D&D Business: A Gen Con 2025 Seminar- Ep. 65 54:28

4M ago54:28

54:28

D&D is bigger than it has ever been, but being a D&D fan in 2025 is deeply confusing. The questions come on and on. Why do extensive promotion of a virtual tabletop for D&D, Sigil, and then give it no marketing at rollout and kill it a month later? Why has there been an exodus of staff from the company? Why, after a golden age during the game's 5th…

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Is WotC Mucking this Up? Ep. 64 1:00:58

4M ago1:00:58

1:00:58

Is Wizards messing this up? We discuss with two titans of the TTRPG industry! First up, David M. Ewalt – journalist, editor, and author of the engaging and wonderful Of Dice and Men. He is currently the editor in chief of Scientific American, which may make him the most prestigious personage I've ever had on this podcast. He is also the author of D…

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OSR Secrets Revealed! Ep. 63 55:31

4M ago55:31

55:31

This week, we go deep into the Old School Revolution with Old School Essentials creator Gavin Norman and Josh McCrowell of His Majesty the Worm! Gavin Norman is the mind behind some of the most exciting work in the modern OSR scene. He is best known for Old-School Essentials, the gold standard for clean, accessible retro-gaming rules that have brou…

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181 Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back 1:53:35

5M ago1:53:35

1:53:35

181 - Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back In this episode of Reel Comic Heroes, we dive deep into Kevin Smith's wild, fourth-wall-breaking road trip comedy: Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back. Join us as we revisit the 2001 cult classic that brought the View Askewniverse full circle—and then blew it up for good measure. We explore the film's meta-commentary on …

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Is this the Best RPG Book of All Time? Ep. 62 1:09:09

5M ago1:09:09

1:09:09

My guest tonight is a legend in the world of game design and storytelling. Richard Dansky is best known as the mind behind some of the darkest and most compelling corners of the World of Darkness. He served as the developer for Wraith: The Oblivion and helped shape the haunting masterpiece Charnel Houses of Europe: The Shoah, one of the most powerf…

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D&D Designer Meets the Questing Beast! Ep. 61 1:01:22

5M ago1:01:22

1:01:22

This one's a banger: D&D designer Steve Winter meets Ben Milton of Questing Beast! Ben Milton is a game designer, YouTube sage, and sorceror-king of the OSR demigod! He's the mind behind Knave 2e and the force behind Questing Beast, your portal to the wild, weird wonders of old-school RPGs. If you like sharp rules, deadly dungeons, and freedom at t…

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A Conclave of RPG Historians- Ep. 60 58:57

5M ago58:57

58:57

Not one, not two, but THREE RPG HISTORIANS in one hour of amazing audio! Today, we are fortunate to have with us Shannon Appelcline, author of the magisterial THIS IS FREE TRADER BEOWULF, which is a history of the Traveller RPG. He's probably most famous for DESIGNERS AND DRAGONS, which is his multi-volume history of seemingly every role-playing ga…

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180 Planet of the Apes with Jonathan Howell and Eric Magill 1:42:05

6M ago1:42:05

1:42:05

180 - Planet of the Apes In this episode, we travel back to 2001 and dive headfirst into the strange, ambitious, and often divisive reboot of Planet of the Apes directed by Tim Burton. Joined by returning guest Jonathan Howell (Swordboys) and first-time guest Eric Magill (The Unapologetic Geek), we peel back the prosthetics and explore what worked,…

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180 Outtake: Fine Art 0:56

6M ago0:56

0:56

In which our heroes discuss fine art.By Reel Comic Heroes

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Legendary RPG Designer Breaks Media Silence- Ep. 59 1:07:53

5M ago1:07:53

1:07:53

I can't believe I got these two on the show together! First, Kevin Crawford is a TTRPG design legend. My favorites from his work are Stars Without Number, and Worlds Without Number, both of which have been tremendously successful and influential as paragons of sleek game design and peerless GM tools. Stars was what I ran during the pandemic, and Wo…

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Did this guy save Dungeons & Dragons? Ep 58 1:01:00

6M ago1:01:00

1:01:00

Who saved Dungeons & Dragons? How many people could say that they saved Dungeons & Dragons? Off the top of my head, I would say that the list of people who could say they saved D&D at some point over the course of its 51-year history is less than 20. But I believe I have one of those people who could credibly tell a story explaining how they saved …

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Commander Shephard in Ravenloft Ep. 57 59:10

6M ago59:10

59:10

The theme of today's conversation is Ravenloft, but I don't know think that's the best place to actually start introducing my three guests. Instead, I am going to say that I have a very addictive personality. I play one video game about every three years. But one of the video games I have played is MASS EFFECT, and with us today is the accomplished…

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Are Hexcrawls the Adventure's Final Form? with Jacob Hurst & WF Smith Ep. 56 58:09

6M ago58:09

58:09

Are hexcrawls the adventure's final form? We discuss that very question with two of the premier purveyors of the hexcrawl format in the 21st century: Jacob Hurst & WF Smith, aka Prismatic Wasteland. Jacob is one of the brilliant minds behind The Dark of Hot Springs Island, a hexcrawl of evil elves, interdimensional drug dealers, and beached whales.…

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Are TTRPG Creators Geniuses? with Stephen Radney-Macfarland Ep. 55 57:33

6M ago57:33

57:33

I have interviewed bestselling authors, Ivy League professors, and comic creators whose work has gone on to generate billions at the box office. But as a class, TTRPG professionals seem to be the smartest people I regularly talk to. I discuss this and other fascinating points this week with Stephen Radney-Macfarland, a designer with a TTRPG resume …

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Advanced World Creation with Jeff Grubb & Kevin Kulp Ep. 54 1:01:20

6M ago1:01:20

1:01:20

Kevin Kulp & Jeff Grubb have, between them, created entire cosmologies and entire timelines. Kulp is the award-winning creator of Timewatch and the investigative fantasy game, Swords of the Serpentine. Grubb, a legend in his own time, is the engineer of the Forgotten Realms, creator of Spelljammer, and writer of Manual of the Planes. Hear the pair …

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179 Jurassic Park III 1:36:53

7M ago1:36:53

1:36:53

179 - Jurassic Park III Hold onto your butts! This week on Reel Comic Heroes, we're diving headfirst into the chaotic, avian-infested world of Jurassic Park III. Join Travis and Patrick as they dissect the questionable parenting decisions, the surprisingly effective Alan Grant survival tips, and the sheer absurdity of a talking raptor dream sequenc…

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A Brief History of Traveller with Shannon Appelcline Ep 53 59:56

7M ago59:56

59:56

Shannon Appelcline is a TTRPG historian par excellence. His Designers & Dragons set a high bar for the field and I cannot recommend it too highly. HIs recent Traveller history, This is Free Trader Beowulf, is similarly excellent. Today, we talk with Shannon about his time in the trenches of RPG history! Ben interviewed 2nd ed designer Zeb Cook in H…

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What was the first RPG? It ain't what you think... Ep 52 59:38

7M ago59:38

59:38

Ask a round of nerds what the first RPG was, and you'll likely get D&D as your answer. Some might shout out Blackmoor. A few may say Braunstein. But what if the answer was... something else? A long talk with the Thucydides of RPG history, Jon Peterson! Pick up the first volume of Playing at the World 2nd Edition here! Read Jon's article on Western …

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Why Sci-Fi with Author Mary Fan Ep. 51 50:20

7M ago50:20

50:20

Mary Fan is a sci-fi stalwart, a prolific author whose novels include the Jane Colt series among many, many, others, and lifelong reader. She shares with us her favorite short story, which happens to be by Polish genius Stanislaw Lem, and of course we argue about Star Wars and Star Trek. Ben interviewed 2nd ed designer Zeb Cook in Hugh Hefner's sui…

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178 Outtake Romy And Michelle 1:48

8M ago1:48

1:48

In which our heroes discuss Romy and Michelle's High School ReunionBy Reel Comic Heroes

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178 Outtake: Josie And The Pussycats Minute 1:54

8M ago1:54

1:54

In which our heroes lament the Josie & The Pussycats Minute podcast that never was (cut from Episode 178 - Josie & The Pussycats)By Reel Comic Heroes

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178 Josie and the Pussycats with Niall McGowan 2:04:35

7M ago2:04:35

2:04:35

178 - Josie & The Pussycats with Niall McGowan In this episode, we're strumming the power chords of early 2000s pop culture with the glittering, satirical cult classic Josie & The Pussycats! Joining us is none other than Niall McGowan, co-host of Bat Minute and a connoisseur of all things comic and cinematic. Together, we dive into the neon-drenche…

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178 Outtake: Fiona the Borg Queen 2:19

8M ago2:19

2:19

In which our heroes discuss Parker Posey (cut from Episode 178 - Josie & The Pussycats)By Reel Comic Heroes

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178 Outtake: Dennis the Menace 1:40

8M ago1:40

1:40

Our upcoming Josie & the Pussycats episode is jam-packed, so we had to trim some stuff out. But rather than throw out this gold, here you go.By Reel Comic Heroes

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Mike Mearls + Kelsey Dionne = An Hour of Happy Ep. 50 58:44

8M ago58:44

58:44

You will not regret spending an hour listening to this conversation between 5th edition designer Mike Mearls and Shadowdark designer Kelsey Dionne. The pair are without question two of the most outstanding game designers working in TTRPGs today, and in this episode, they each give us a peek into their persons and processes. You can find Mike's Patr…

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Lin Codega's Next Scoops Will Knock Your Socks Off- Ep 49 1:05:10

8M ago1:05:10

1:05:10

Lin Codega is the most important gaming journalist in the history of TTRPGs. They broke the OGL scandal wide open and changed the industry forever. In this hour-long conversation, Ben picks their brain about the state of things today, and where they are going next. Find further delight in Lin's words at Rascal! Ben interviewed 2nd ed designer Zeb C…

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177 Monkeybone 1:41:25

8M ago1:41:25

1:41:25

Get ready for a wild, surreal ride through the twisted corridors of early-2000s cinema as the Reel Comic Heroes crew dives headfirst into Monkeybone—a film that's part dark fantasy, part slapstick comedy, and entirely confusing. In this episode, we unpack the strange journey of cartoonist Stu Miley (Brendan Fraser), who finds himself trapped in a b…

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Sword & Sorcery in School- Ep. 48 with Dr. Jason Ray Carney 1:00:17

8M ago1:00:17

1:00:17

The pulp fiction that influenced Dungeons & Dragons and Call of Cthulhu was once considered disposable entertainment. But now it is taught in school! This week we pick the brain of Dr. Jason Ray Carney, a professor of English at Christopher Newport University who teaches weird fiction! The next thing we're going to release on the Patreon feed is an…

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The Best RPG History You Haven't Read- Ep 47 with Stu Horvath 1:00:59

9M ago1:00:59

1:00:59

Stu Horvath is an RPG historian you need to hear about. His book, Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in the Ground is enlightening, engaging, entertaining, and informative. Oh, and gorgeous! It is a romp through 50 plus years of iconic RPG products, from the obvious to the obscure. In this episode, we discuss Chaosium's Theives' World. Pick up Stu's book …

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176 Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker with Alex Thompson Forte 1:47:46

9M ago1:47:46

1:47:46

176 - Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker with Alex Thompson-Forte In this episode of Reel Comic Heroes, we dive into the animated classic Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Hosts Travis and Patrick are joined by special guest Alex Thompson-Forte to unravel the dark and thrilling story that brings the Clown Prince of Crime back to terrorize Neo-Got…