Wizard 52, December 1995, X-Files, Pitt, Alan Moore, Batman

[@GrowinupinSincity81]

I know these are getting more difficult to review, as the Comics Industry reaches its' nadir, in the '90s. But, the Wizard Reviews led me to the channel in 2020, and I still love hearing Jim & Ed pour through these issues. Captures the Speculator Boom, and the Times so perfectly. There are still nuggets to be had, with Palmer's Picks, and next issue even has a large profile on "Uncle Rob" Liefeld. Hang in there, fellas!

[@admbrnk3665]

I agree, I know the guys are on to bigger and better things by now, but I’m glad they squeeze in a Wizard episode here and there.

[@peterkowalchick8520]

Did anyone notice in the article about Christies and Marvel that there's a listing for a Ghost Rider motorcycle painted by Bill Sienkiewicz? "It only has 2 miles on it and is estimated at $30-$50K." Anyone got a pic of it?

[@williamibanez394]

I bought a couple of Too Much Coffee Man comics just from seeing Shannon Wheeler interviewed on the Anti Gravity Room. I was looking to break into comics (I must have been in 8th grade) and found his number in one of those thick yellow phone books. I figured Wheeler wasn't too common of a last name and the comics said they were published out of Austin. When I called it was definitely Shannon, and he had the patience of a saint. He answered all my questions on printing and distribution. We must have chatted for over 30 minutes or so. It was very eyeopening. Glad he's still active. His stuff's hilarious.

[@williamibanez394]

@@scotmooney6543 That definitely takes the cake!

[@newspooiechannel]

On the Earthworm Jim front, the games were rather big sellers and well revered among many for their irreverent humor and unique gameplay mechanics that you just couldn't find in other games at the time. The first game came out in 1994 and the second would have come out just as this issue was hitting he stands, but also the animated series had just premiered two months prior with the launch of the KidsWB and several action figures based on the characters were out on store shelves by that point. Outside of the Donkey Kong Country and Vectorman games, it was one of the last big console titles that kids around here talked about prior to the launch of the Playstation and (to a lesser extent) Saturn.

[@AngiDas]

This episode just made my heart happy! I was OBSESSED with The X-Files and everything I could get my hands I would buy!

[@ghostknight1865]

Not 2000 copies of Spawn, the lowest it went was 12k between #200-250, then slowly and gradually moved to the 20-25k bracket between #251-285, until Todd hit it out of the park with the marketing towards #300 and it blew up again into big numbers and multiple books.

[@FemboyCatGaming]

The original x files comic from topps was actually pretty good. Told a parallel story to what was happening on screen

[@bobblehead67]

Steve Geppi did have a clutch of retail stores, Geppi's Comic World, in the Baltimore/DC area back in the 80s/90s. I wonder whether he had thoughts of a national chain?

[@dejarnettedesigns]

Ha! That's a young me at 37:48. I won the Grand Prize for that issue.

[@greglane334]

Now I can't stop thinking of a grandma looking at the kid's comics and thinking 'what the fuck?' 🤣 Always enjoy the Wizard episodes lads

[@MalditoMendoza]

I don't know how those X-Files comics would translate to someone not familiar with the show, but back then I was a huge fan of the show and they're some of the best TV/film cross media comics out there, along with the WB animated ones. And about the show, that first season is really "old tv" but from season 2 until about season 5 they make a huge leap forward, and those definitely hold up rather well. You can pretty much see the transition between cheesy "made for TV" stuff and modern, more cinematic TV as the show goes on.

[@robertshirley9132]

Always a great day when I can sit here and go through an ish with you guys. I'm now on Anti-Gravity Room. Curse you Piskor for mentioning it, can't stop watching episodes! I have stuff to get done!!!

[@Therealmrmeow]

I was also checked out of Wizard at that time. Was watchin' X-files though. Great to see this for the first time with you guys.

[@cluepac]

Thanks!

[@GrandTheftWatto]

There is/was a regional chain called Hasting's - they sold books/movies/games. They went ALL IN on comics - probably 1/8th of the store...within 5 years it was bankrupt.

[@TheRickHoward]

I somehow missed this issue when it was posted a month ago but it is the one I was waiting for. The Greg Capullo drawing of the girl with the knife in the krash course was something I used to draw all the time and I had no idea what issue it was in. I will still be watching but man it is great to find that one thing you have been looking for.

[@doghouse059]

I’ve got that Stryker statue. Yeah the plate is heavy but it looks real good. I don’t think they doctored the ad any. Unfortunately I’ve lost the bolt holding the foot to the bottom plate so I haven’t had it displayed on a long time

[@DWNicolo]

Ed Pressman passed away this year. He bought out out Kitchen Sink. He also produced The Crow and Conan The Barbarian.

[@portland-182]

The Malibu Terminator comics did sneak out to the stores - no idea if they're any good though...

[@izzyblackman]

Ed before there was antigravity room there was the proto version a Manhattan public access show called talk comics. Talk comics was started by the guy from antigravity room in jr high and he sold it to sci-fi

[@jamessibley6128]

Would love to see a shoot interview with Adam Warren.

[@HeyLiem]

Wizard magazine was awesome for getting interviews with comics creators. It was also cool to see previews of upcoming comics and toys. I hated it as a price guide monthly updating. It was probably the number one force in driving the speculator market. The speculator market cared about money, not about comic books. When speculators take over, comic book lovers can no longer afford back issues and the people buying key back issue Don't give a shit about comic books. Yes the market crashed. Yes marvel went bankrupt. So much for a monthly price guide hype machine. Stick to Overstreet and once a year pricing. I only bought wizard back issues from the bargain bins for this reason.

[@lardhumungus7956]

GREAT EPISODE!

[@DWNicolo]

To sum up the 1990s comics scene, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

[@MicBain]

Man I was the biggest Adam Warren mark around this time haha. That Bubblegum crisis book is definitely Darkhorse, I still have the collected book somewhere.

[@therealmegabros]

Lol yeah Scully was ridiculous, in one of the movies she literally gets abducted by aliens Mulder saves her etc. then later she says something like I didn't see it happen. 😂 So stupid

[@hanshotfirst1138]

To be fair, wasn’t she unconscious at the time?

[@cluepac]

I thought Moondog's was gone by 95? I remember picking up a ton of 25 cent-$1 books and issues at their clearance sale before this. I still have a bunch of those finds to this day, many of which you cover on this show!

[@teflonrobg]

Love that issue. Thanks.

[@turnitout920]

Marvel published an Earthworm Jim comic around the time of this wizard. I have issue 2 and have never seen the others.

[@Slyjuanreviews]

I love this episodes.

[@lotsalube]

I wonder-is there an x-files series collection/omni?

[@mucusbroth7868]

You need to hunt down that temptation comic. We need to see the insides!

[@TommyTwoSocks]

Spawn 32 is, Spawn gets new boots.

[@williammahaffey354]

Is the shitty looking comic in that ad called Lemptation? That doesn't really look like a T.

[@krsj5124]

Jimmy Palmiotti SWEARS that the Hot artists and writers were based on sales in Wizard. idk man...

[@uter]

I thought the Spawn video game was decent. It's not one of the all-time greatest, but it looked good and is certainly on the better half of the IP game curve.

[@LeeGarbett]

My first girlfriend's uncle was the Beastie Boys' lawyer in that suit!!

[@365ramone]

So we're not getting that Isom episode?