Giant Sized Violence: A Toku Comics Podcast

To celebrate Free Comic book Day 2024, we're doing a special cross-posted episode of Transcending Comics and Giant Sized Violence. Eri and Tomi go back and forth discussing their free comic picks, and have a quick discussion on a great graphic novel find, Princess Knight by Osamu Tezuka (to be covered in a future episode of Transcending Comics).
Eri's Picks:
Monster High
Mad Magazine: FCBD 2024 Special Edition
Unico: The Awakening

Tomi's Picks:
Gatchaman #0
UltraDuck
Energon Universe Special

This week, Giant Sized Violence is joined by James Santana, writer of the ongoing Kickstarter comic, World of Nebulon, and cohost of the Android's Amazing Podcast!

James is here to tell us a bit about the upcoming book, as well as his other comics work on titles like Super Group and the Unknown Heroes anthologies. He's also starting a comics studio, Toku USA, dedicated to tokusatsu-inspired indie-comics, which will likely be of interest to listeners of this show!

You can back his book, World of Nebulon, right now on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1935627238/world-of-nebulon-preview-book/rewards?ref=discovery_location

Today on our show we welcome Brian Buccellato, the prolific comics writer and colorist currently writing books like Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong, Midlife (Or How to Hero at Fifty), and No/One!

We dive into his creative process and his origins in the comic book industry, as well as the lessons he learned on previous books like Flash and Injustice.

Join us as we explore Brian's debut in the world of Tokusatsu comics, and his incredible ongoing independent books!

This week we're joined by one of my favorite podcasters and comic writers, Mat Groom! We discuss his experience going from talking about the Power Rangers on Ranger Danger to actually writing them on Mighty Morphin! We also get into his journey of becoming a comic writer, with books like Inferno Girl Red, Self Made, and Ultraman, and what his writing process has looked like for each of those titles.

This was one of our most fun episodes yet, and one you won't want to miss!

In celebration of Cats (2019) being added to Netflix's catalog, we recorded what's likely our most ridiculous episode yet. We're joined by Rob Merritt to discuss Tomi's long running theory that Cats and Mortal Kombat (2021) are nearly identical films in their story, premise, and plot structure.

Will Rob be convinced? Will you? Hard to say. But if this is your first episode of Giant Sized Violence, I promise it's not always like this...

This week we're joined Matt Hotson, co-writer of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return (alongside original Pink Ranger, Amy Jo Johnson), and First Assistant Director on shows like Titans, V-Wars, and Odd Squad.

Matt's a long time comics fan and first time comics writer. We get into the challenges of switching mediums from TV to comics, the origins of Amy and Matt's pitch for the book, and highlights from his time on Titans.

Be on the lookout for MMPR: The Return #1, coming to comic shops in February 2024!

We're joined by Maria Ingrande Mora (Fragile Remedy, The Immeasurable Depth of You) to discuss their comic writing debut with Ranger Academy!

Maria tells us about making the leap from writing YA novels to the world of comics, and the challenges that come with switching mediums. We also learn a bit about their love of fan fiction and transformative works, as well as their history with the Power Rangers franchise.

We're joined by Sophie Campbell, current writer of IDW's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics, to discuss her love of yet another giant turtle, Gamera! She also shares a bit about the creation of her own kaiju figure/comic, Redbite!

Tomi and Nate talk at length about the entire Gridman franchise as we return to our "Exploring Tokusatsu" series. We're covering Hyper Agent Gridman, Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad, SSSS Gridman, and SSSS Dynazenon all in this one oversized episode!

To check out the first 2 mini-comics of our upcoming series, When We Transform, find them on my Substack at

https://open.substack.com/pub/tomitrembath/p/dear-david?r=2lkq59&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

and

https://open.substack.com/pub/tomitrembath/p/dear-mom?r=2lkq59&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web.

Tomi and Eri share their thoughts on Shin Kamen Rider, and why this movie far exceeded their expectations.

This week, we're talking about the new indie queer mech romance, LSBN, with its author, Emma Jayne! This episode is something of a backdoor pilot for my other podcast, Transcending Comics!

Find the new show at

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TranscendingComics

Twitter: @TranscendComics https://twitter.com/TranscendComics

Email: transcendingcomics@gmail.com

Our intro song, Disco, and outro song, Gock 6, are both by Ingrid Lillskau.

Check out more of Ingrid's music at

https://soundcloud.com/ingrid-lillskau

Our Into for Giant Sized Violence is You're an Ace Kid by DEMONDICE.

This was recorded as a crossover episode for the Henshin Men podcast, which Nathan is graciously letting me post to the GSV feed as well. We cover the entirety of Shotaro Ishinomori's 1971 original manga, Kamen Rider. Join us as we take a look at the strange and exciting origins of one of the most influential superheroes of all time!

Find us at

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiantSizedViolence

Twitter: @UltraMegaCast https://twitter.com/UltraMegaCast

Email: giantsizedviolence@gmail.com

This week on Giant Sized Violence, we're joined by Charlotte Fierro of My Marvelous Year and Extra Issues as we review Rumble from Image Comics! Join us as we take a look at James Harren and Dave Stewarts' creator owned precursor to UltraMega, written by John Arcudi with later issues drawn by Dave Rubin.

If too much pink energy is dangerous, then this is our riskiest episode yet! We're joined by writer/producer Melissa Flores (@Misty_Flores) and writer/voice actress/Amazing Race contestant Meghan Camarena (@Strawburry17) to chat about their co-written Massive-Verse title, Radiant Pink! We also discuss all things Power Rangers, Women of Marvel, zombie survival and more!

In this deeply personal episode, we'll be covering highlights of the last year, commemorating the heroes we lost,  and walk through Tomi's experience of finding their voice through heroes like the Power Rangers. Along the way, they recount their story of their own psychedelic experience that led to a life-changing realization. For the first time in our show's history, we also incorporate music to accompany the story!
Join us for a personal and moving journey through loss, transformation, and self-discovery. It's Morphin' Time!

Following Tomi’s appearance on the Henshin Men’s Kamen Rider Black episode last month, Henshin Host Nathan Marchand joins us here to discuss Amazon’s dark remake of the classic series with Kamen Rider Black Sun. The franchise has never before been this brutally violent, or had such hard hitting political themes, and we’re here for all of it! We of course have a lot to say about this drastically dark reimagining of a tokusatsu classic, so join us as we unpack the first 3 episodes of a Kamen Rider series unlike anything we’ve seen before from Japan’s greatest hero!

Brandon Easton, writer of the upcoming Kamen Rider: Zero One comic, as well Transformers: War for Cybertron, Overwatch 2, and Iyanu: Child of Wonder joins us to discuss his extensive work in comics as well as his love of Kamen Rider. We of course couldn't miss the opportunity to pick his brain on everything from Star Trek, to unadapted Transformers anime, and even Hamilton gets a mention!
Be on the lookout for Kamen Rider: Zero One #1 from Titan Comics this November, and follow Brandon on Twitter @BrandonEaston

This week we welcome Nathan from the Henshin Men back to the show, along with his cohost, Michael, from the Power Trip podcast. Join us as we take a look at the most notorious Power Rangers fan film - Power Rangers: Unauthorized (aka Power/Rangers).

Check out Nathan and Michael on The Power Trip: A Journey Through the Power Rangers Franchise https://open.spotify.com/show/5BywCLIJtw5n5rHZuBmJi3?si=33924e9e3e8945ef

Giant Sized Violence is back with our most exciting episode yet! We're taking a look at the next major toku-inspired book from Image Comics, Dead Lucky! Joining us to discuss the book is none other than the author herself, Melissa Flores! We talk at length not only about her upcoming comic, but also her 10 years as a producer on Power Rangers, as well as her work on other shows like Glitter Force and The Unleashed.

Dead Lucky tells the story of Bibi, a queer, mixed race, veteran struggling with PTSD who uses her super powers and a giant robot to fight tech-bros and criminals in a dystopian San Francisco. The book takes place in the Massive-Verse alongside other Image favorites like Radiant Black and Rogue Sun, and features yet another one-of-a-kind hero and incredible stylized art!

Dead Lucky will be hitting shelves August 3rd, the cut-off for pre-orders is July 11th. Trust us when we say this is a book you won't want to miss!

In our first ever Ultra-sized crossover episode, we welcome to the show Nate (no, a different Nate this time) from the Henshin Men Podcast to cover the final issue of UltraMega's first arc! Join us as we get lost in several toku-tangents exploring the countless references and similarities to Power Rangers and classic Ultraman found in this climactic final issue!

What happens when you mix Terminator, Robocop, Mad Max, and Power Rangers and add a dash of religious imagery and satanic themes? Mechanical Violator Hakaider is what happens. Grant and Grant are back this week to discuss the ultimate B-movie for UltraMega fans, and to be honest we're still a little surprised this movie exists.

Grant and Nate are together again to discuss the third issue of UltraMega! Join us as we take a look into what might be the best issue of the series so far and discuss how this book plays with the tropes in the genre!

Music Used:

Intro & Outro: You're An Ace Kid - DEMONDICE

Grant and Grant do a deep dive into the history of one of Japan's favorite superheroes: Kamen Rider! Join us as we discuss the history of the hero that established many of the tropes we've come to love in the genre of Tokusatsu, and why fans of UltraMega should check out this beloved long-running series. If you've ever wondered what happens when you mix Batman, Doctor Who, and the Power Rangers, then we've found the hero for you!

This week Grant is joined by Nate, cohost of the Comically Confused Podcast, to discuss the second issue of UltraMega. Join us as we do a deep dive into the characters, world, and references we'll be following for the rest of the series so far!

Music Used:
Intro & Outro: You're An Ace Kid - DEMONDICE
Background Music: Kamen Rider Black Opening Guitar Cover - AlfarAway Music

Hosts Grant and Grant kick off the podcast by covering the first issue of UltraMega by James Harren and Dave Stewart! Join us as we geek out over the best single issue of a comic book we’ve read in years and pick apart everything that makes this series so great!