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Welcome comic book crusaders and button-mashing vigilantes to another skull-crushing edition of Play Comics! This week we’re strapping on our tactical vest, loading up our favorite dual-wielded firearms, and diving headfirst into the wonderfully violent world of The Punisher from 2005 – a game that dared to ask the important question: “What if we took Thomas Jane’s already pretty intense Frank Castle and gave him access to every torture device known to humanity?”

This PlayStation 2 and Xbox gem emerged from the blood-soaked minds at Volition (yes, the same folks who would later give us Saints Row) and decided that your typical comic book game needed more creative interrogation techniques and fewer moral boundaries. We’re talking about a game so gloriously brutal that it nearly earned an Adults Only rating before getting the black-and-white censorship treatment that somehow made watching a guy get fed to piranhas even more artistic.

Joining us for this revenge-fueled rampage is the incomparable Alex Squires from The StarWell Foundation and Opinions May Vary, a person who knows a thing or two about giving comic book villains interesting character development – though probably with fewer wood chippers involved than Frank Castle prefers. Together, we’ll explore whether this 2005 digital bloodbath successfully captured the essence of Marvel’s most morally questionable “hero,” or if it left us feeling like we’d been interrogated by the wrong end of a drill press.

So grab your favorite non-lethal beverage, practice your best intimidating one-liners, and prepare to discover if this early PlayStation 2 era adaptation proved that sometimes the best way to honor a comic book character is to let them be exactly as unhinged as they were meant to be. Will we declare this game worthy of the Punisher skull, or will it get tossed off a building faster than a Gnucci crime family lieutenant? Time to find out!Continue Reading

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Welcome, dear listeners, to another bodyslammin’ edition of Play Comics! Get ready to tag in and grapple with nostalgia as your host, Chris, is joined by the dynamic duo of wrestling wisdom: Adam “Ringmaster” Williamson and Josh “Suplex Strategist” Garvey!

In this pixelated pilgrimage through the archives of gaming history, our intrepid trio steps into the virtual ring to dissect the legendary N64 classic—WWF No Mercy. It’s a game that’s more electrifying than a Rock Bottom and has more twists than a Stone Cold Stunner.

But this isn’t just about button-mashing and joystick jiu-jitsu. Chris, Adam, and Josh are here to unravel the intricate connections between the digital squared circle and the real-world rumbles of professional wrestling. From powerbombs to power-ups, they’ll grapple with the game’s impact on the wrestling genre and how it managed to body-slam its way into the hearts of gamers worldwide.

Prepare for a verbal Royal Rumble as they dissect the game’s character roster, match types, and those legendary “OH MY GOD!” moments that made WWF No Mercy a slam dunk for wrestling and gaming enthusiasts alike.

So lace up those boots, polish your championship belts, and press play as Play Comics takes you on a journey down memory lane, where the only pins are the ones you aim for in the ring, and the only submissions are the ones that make you submit to the nostalgia. Get ready for a piledriver of fun in this bodyslammin’ episode that’s sure to leave you chanting, “This is awesome!”

Disclaimer: No controllers were harmed in the making of this podcast. However, the same cannot be said for friendships lost during heated multiplayer sessions. Listener discretion is advised.Continue Reading

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Holy poorly-rated superhero media! Get ready to dive into some of the murkiest depths of the Marvel universe as we analyze 2003’s not-so-stellar Daredevil offerings. First up in the hot seat is the Ben Affleck-led Daredevil film that premiered that very same year. Despite boasting major star power and promising early trailers, this big screen endeavor wound up being another dud, critically panned for an overly serious tone and absurd costuming choices.

Then, we’ll switch gears to focus on the Game Boy Advance title based on the Man Without Fear, which sadly failed to convey the swashbuckling thrills of Daredevil’s comic book adventures. Made by pitiful publisher Encore, this game starred a blocky, pixelated DD slinging his billy club at an array of generic thugs and criminals. Gameplay was repetitive and uninspired, while graphics were subpar even by 2003’s standards. Yikes!

To help us dissect these dual disasters, we’re joined by special guest Ryan from Fake Nerd podcast. Ryan will lend his wit and wisdom to evaluating these massive missteps in Daredevil history. Will we find any redeeming qualities in these offerings? Tune in to find out!

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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