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Look,  We’ve seen a lot of comic-based video games in my time, but when a mafia hitman gets murder powers from an eldritch shadow monster so he can take vengeance on, well, everybody, you know we’ve entered elite storytelling territory. The Darkness isn’t here to make you feel good about humanity. It’s here to make you ask if you’d trade your soul for a pair of talking demon heads who love street lamps way too much.

This week, we’re diving into The Darkness on PS3 and Xbox 360, that moody, gritty, and surprisingly heartfelt adaptation of the classic Top Cow comic series. And joining us for the chaos? None other than Sarah of Mars. Yes, that Mars. Because let’s be real: if you’re dealing with an ancient, malevolent cosmic force, you might as well bring in someone from a planet that already knows about hostile takeovers of a planetary variety.

So get comfy (preferably not in the subway tunnels of New York with a swarm of writhing demons), because we’re unpacking love, loss, corruption, and whatever dark surprises the game decided to throw at us just for kicks. Oh, and if your shadow starts talking back… maybe turn off the console.Continue Reading

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Dust off your cowabunga collection and prepare your fists for some serious turtle-powered mayhem, because this week on Play Comics we’re diving shell-first into TMNT: Mutant Melee, the 2005 arena-based fighting bonanza that took the 2003 animated series and asked the most important question: what if we just got all the turtles, their friends, AND their enemies into one room and let them beat the absolute snot out of each other? Developed by Konami for PS2, Xbox, GameCube, and PC, this isn’t your typical one-on-one fighter—it’s more like if Smash Bros and Power Stone had a shell-covered baby and that baby knew all of Splinter’s teachings.

Joining us for this body-slamming brawl is the incomparable Tommy Proffitt from Distant Echoes and Lee Carvallo’s Podding Challenge, a podcast wizard who understands the intricate art of dissecting character-based chaos and canon coherence like few others can. Plus being able to bring his signature blend of gaming nostalgia and comedic precision to help us determine if this colorful chaos simulator managed to capture the spirit of its source material or if it swung its nunchucks at empty air.

Together, we’ll navigate the treacherous waters of Last Man Standing mode, contemplate why anyone thought having 22 playable characters was a good idea, and investigate whether the game’s holiday-themed cosmetics (seriously—set the date to December 25th and watch the turtles rock Santa hats) are feature or bug.Continue Reading

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Hell hath no fury like a Hellspawn scorned, especially when that Hellspawn is leaping between platforms on your PlayStation 2! This week’s episode of Play Comics dives headfirst into the fiery pits of “Spawn Armageddon,” the video game that attempted to cram the first 99 issues of Todd McFarlane’s demonic anti-hero saga into button-mashing glory on PS2, Xbox, and GameCube. Chains will fly, capes will billow dramatically for no apparent reason, and we’ll answer the burning question: can any game truly capture the essence of a character who essentially told both Heaven and Hell to take a hike?

Joining us on this unholy quest is the supremely talented Rob Duenas from the Sketchcraft YouTube channel, whose pencil might actually be mightier than Spawn’s chains. When Rob isn’t dropping knowledge bombs about art techniques online, he’s busy creating jaw-dropping illustrations for comic books – including the mind-bending “Spawn Kills Every Spawn.” Yes folks, our guest has literally drawn Spawn murdering alternate versions of himself, which makes him uniquely qualified to judge a game where Spawn murders… well, pretty much everything else.

So grab your favorite necroplasm-infused beverage, wrap yourself in a sentient cape that definitely isn’t judging your choice of pajamas, and prepare for an episode more twisted than Violator’s family reunion. We’re diving deep into the 2003 gaming experience that asked the important question: “What if we gave the angriest character in comics a bunch of weapons and unleashed him in a world that looks suspiciously like the developer’s first attempt at a 3D environment?” The answer, dear listeners, involves a lot more jumping puzzles than anyone ever asked for.Continue Reading

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Yo Joe! Or should we say “Yo NES!” because this week on Play Comics, we’re tackling G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero—the video game adaptation of everyone’s favorite cartoon about freedom-loving heroes battling against Cobra’s endless supply of bad ideas. With explosive levels and a cast of characters straight out of your childhood toy box, this game promises big action… but does it deliver?

Chris teams up with SerpyMatt, an internet personality who probably knows more about G.I. Joe lore than Cobra Commander knows about losing battles. Together, they’ll uncover what makes this game tick—from its ambitious level design to its occasional moments of “Wait… what just happened?” Is it a victory for retro gaming or just another casualty in the war against bad licensed games? Tune in and find out!
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Welcome, fellow gamers and comic book aficionados, to another electrifying episode of Play Comics! This week, we’re diving headfirst into the fiery pits of Hell with Spawn in the Demon’s Hand, the 3D fighting game that brought Todd McFarlane’s iconic antihero to the Sega Dreamcast. Prepare for a wild ride as we explore the game’s demonic delights, from its hellish bosses to its chaotic Battle Royale mode.

Joining us on this infernal journey are none other than Peirce Lydon and George Marston from the podcast Spawnography. These two Spawn scholars will help us unravel the twisted tale of Al Simmons, the military operative turned hellspawn, and his quest for vengeance and redemption. Expect plenty of laughs, deep dives into Spawn lore, and maybe even a few hellish puns along the way.

So grab your chains, summon your necroplasmic powers, and get ready to battle through the underworld with us. It’s time to see if “Spawn in the Demon’s Hand” is a heavenly hit or a devilish dud!Continue Reading

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We here at Play Comics stand behind the employees at Image Comics working to create a union and better working conditions for everyone working at Image.

Making comics is hard work and nobody needs to have the extra pressure of worrying about their livelihood hanging over their head while doing it. From workloads to payment to the coverage of work necessities like office supplies and utilities (covered if you work in the office but not if you work from home) there needs to be a set of standards that publishers are held to.

Play Comics has decided that in a show of solidarity with these people integral to the comics creation process, we will take the following actions until this has been resolved.

  1. Nothing published by Image Comics will be reviewed
  2. No guests will be brought onto the show for the specific purpose of talking about a work published by Image Comics
  3. Episodes of the podcast focusing on games based on comics published by Image Comics will not be aired (anything currently out will stay there because it’s already out in the world and can’t really be put back in the box).
  4. No news will be delivered about Image Comics except things directly related to the current situation.

We hope for a speedy resolution that gives the employees of Image Comics everything they deserve and more.

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We all know KISS the band, right? Those makeup wearing rock dudes who just want to rock and party and put on a good show. Well, did you know that they’ve had comics stretching back to the early days of their career? Or that there’s a game based on one of the runs? I didn’t. Well, I knew there was the KISS game but only that it existed.

Good thing I have Scarlett O’Dell from Gatecrashers here to help straighten everything out. Listen in as I get taught a few lessons but also potentially release a monster out into the world.Continue Reading

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Spawn is still cool. There’s no denying that at all. And he hit at the perfect time. But what happens when you get this character who has literally emerged from the depths of Hell into the scariest environment known to man: early PS1 3D gaming?

Listen in as Andrew Reiner from Game Informer and the new show The Spectacular Comic Book Podcast comes on the show to help take a look at Spawn the Eternal for the PS1. The game exists, and that’s all I’m going to say about that.Continue Reading

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A common ghost story I hear is that the spirit can’t pass on because of unfinished business. Which is insane because we all have that, but we’ll roll with it. Imagine if instead you came back in a corporeal form to get revenge on the people who had done you wrong. Oh yeah, and you’re basically immortal until the job is done?

Justin Williams from SuperTangent comes by to look at that exact situation in The Crow City of Angels. And no, you didn’t miss an episode for the first movie tie in game since they never made one of those.Continue Reading

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Spawn was an interesting character for me growing up, and I’ll bet I’m not the only one.  I could recognize him no problem. I’m pretty sure I knew that he was a comic character. But I couldn’t have told you anything about him besides things that you could guess from his appearance.

Listen in as Adam Higgins from Odd Dad Out comes to reminisce about a childhood idea of Spawn and the hilarity of having an E rated Spawn game.Continue Reading

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The 1990s were a fun time in comics. A lot of the indie comics from the 80s had either run their course or were brought into one of the major publishers. But the indies still existed, and Scud the Disposable Assassin was one of those that came out.

Listen in as Brandon Cruz from Interdimensional RSS comes to talk about how a comic that not a lot of us have probably heard of have lead to (what he and tons of other people have told me) what is one of the best animated things in existence. Continue Reading

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Comics in the 90s were special. Big muscles, pouches, weird body proportions that just don’t work with real world physics. Spy adventures that crossed international borders like it’s nothing. Oh yeah, can’t forget about boobs and butts. Listen in as Chris Sims comes on the show to talk about Danger Girl. Which we swear is worth readying we promise. Just don’t bring it to school. And if you do anyway it’s not our fault.Continue Reading

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Alien races fighting an ancient war. Characters that aren’t exactly like the rest of Earth’s population. Jim Lee art. A 90s Saturday morning cartoon. I’m thinking this sounds pretty familiar…..Listen in as Jeffrey Brown, writer of The Valkyrie Quartet, comes to talk Jim Lee’s WildC.A.T.S. and how despite the familiarity of it, this is a franchise that you really need to check out for it’s own awesomeness.Continue Reading

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Even without reading comics growing up, my friends and I always knew about Spawn. Or at least that he existed. Not that we really knew anything about him. But come on, look at the guy! How can he not be cool? Listen in as author and comic writer BJ Mendelson comes to talk not only Spawn as a character but also the fascinating real life origin story of the comic and how this is possibly the most 90s thing that ever 90s-ed.Continue Reading