Christina Hodson — screenwriter behind Birds of Prey, The Flash, and the canceled Batgirl — has officially been tapped to write Batman: The Brave & the Bold.

And yeah… I’ve got concerns.

On paper, this is a bold move. In practice, Hodson’s recent comic book track record hasn’t exactly inspired confidence, and if rumors are true that Andy Muschietti (The Flash, Welcome to Derry) may also be directing, it raises even more questions. Are we repeating past mistakes? Or are we misjudging the pieces before we see the full picture?

Here’s the thing though — this Batman exists under James Gunn’s DCU. That changes everything.

In this episode, I break down:

• Why Hodson’s past work makes fans uneasy
• And the real question: If this movie fails, does it actually damage the DCU — or just prove the skepticism was justified?

I want this movie to be good. I’m rooting for it. And if it knocks it out of the park, I’ll gladly eat my words and give credit where it’s due.

But if it doesn’t… we need to talk about what that means for DC going forward.

There’s only one way to find out when Batman: The Brave & the Bold finally hits theaters.

🎙️ Hit play, drop your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe for more unfiltered DC conversations, deep dives, and hot takes.

After watching the Stranger Things documentary on Netflix, I found myself feeling something I didn’t expect: sympathy for the Duffer Brothers.

On Outside the Comics Vol. 3, I talk about how the creators behind one of the most important pop-culture shows of our time slowly became victims of their own success. Stranger Things grew bigger than anyone could realistically contain, and with that growth came pressure—from Netflix, from fans, and from the sheer scale of the production itself.

Unlike Game of Thrones, where D&D rushed toward the finish line and paid the price, the Duffer Brothers clearly wanted time. But time is the one thing they didn’t have. The result? An ending that wasn’t terrible… but felt strangely safe and, at times, mediocre.

This episode isn’t about hate—it’s about creative burnout, expectations, and what happens when art turns into a machine.

🎙️ Listen, reflect, and let’s talk about it.

2026 is shaping up to be one hell of a comeback year for comic book content—and it feels different this time.

In this episode, I break down my most highly anticipated movies, shows, and projects of 2026, from Avengers: Doomsday, The Boys Season 5, Supergirl, and everything in between. After a few rocky years for the genre, this might be the year that reminds us why we fell in love with comic book storytelling in the first place.

But this isn’t just my list.

I want to hear from you.

What are you most excited for in 2026? Your Top 3? Top 5? Movie, TV show, or video game—send your picks to mike@voiceofgarcia.com, and I may read and react to them in a future episode.

If you love honest pop culture conversations, real opinions, and comic book hype without the corporate filter—this episode is for you.

👉 Like the episode if you enjoyed it

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👉 Download the podcast to support the show and help it grow

2026 is here… and the comic book world might finally be back. 🎧🔥

2025 is officially in the books — and it was a wild year for comic book movies, shows, and animated projects.

In this episode, I’m ranking my Top 5 BEST and Bottom 5 WORST comic book content of 2025 — no filters, no studio bias, just honest takes from a lifelong fan.

From the highs and lows of Superman, the long-awaited return of Daredevil: Born Again, animated experiments like Marvel Zombies, and everything in between — we’re breaking down what worked, what missed, and what flat-out disappointed.

Some projects surprised me. Some broke my heart. And a few made me question what studios are even thinking anymore.

I also want to take a moment to wish everyone a happy belated holidays and a happy New Year. Thank you to every single person who listened, downloaded, shared, or supported the podcast this past year — it truly means more than you know.

2026 is already shaping up to be a huge year, and there are some exciting new things coming to the show that I can’t wait to share with you.

Marvel bringing back Steve Rogers isn’t a desperate move — it’s a necessary one.

Since Endgame, Marvel has slowly lost the core audience that helped turn the MCU into a cultural phenomenon. Box office numbers reflect it, fan excitement has cooled, and many Phase 4 and 5 characters simply haven’t connected the same way. Bringing back Chris Evans as Steve Rogers isn’t about undoing the past — it’s about restoring the emotional foundation that made Marvel work in the first place.

In this episode, I break down why Steve Rogers returning could help bring back the magic Marvel once had, which Phase 4 and 5 characters are actually worth getting excited about on the big screen, and why nostalgia only works when audiences loved the characters to begin with. I also compare Marvel’s approach to the SnyderVerse, where fans now demand returns for characters that were heavily criticized during their original runs — and how box office results tell a very different story than social media noise.

We also dive into the growing gap between theatrical releases and streaming-first storytelling, and how that shift has changed the way superhero movies are experienced.

If you care about where Marvel goes next — and whether superhero movies can recapture what made them special — this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now, follow the podcast, and join the conversation.

In today’s episode, I break down my honest first reaction to the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow trailer. Was it mind-blowing? Not exactly. Was it bad? Not at all. I get into why I think it lands somewhere in the middle—and why some of the fan criticisms actually make sense. Yes, I see the comparisons to the Guardians of the Galaxy tone, but at the end of the day, every director has their own flavor, and we all gravitate toward the styles we love most.

Then I pivot to the big industry shake-up: Disney investing $1 billion into OpenAI to use AI for their characters and creative pipeline. I talk about why this move might honestly be the thing that pushes me to step back from Marvel entirely if they decide to start producing content created solely by AI.

If you’re into comics, film, animation, and the crossroads of creativity and technology—this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Outside the Comics Vol 3 dives deep into one of the biggest entertainment shake-ups in years: Netflix buying Warner Bros. Discovery. In this episode, we break down what the deal means, the entire streaming industry, and the ever-changing movie theater business.

We talk about the pros and cons of the theatrical model, why Netflix insists on keeping certain WBD pillars intact, and how Paramount is gearing up to overbid and crash the streaming party.

Whether you love movies of Hollywood or prefer the streaming business, this episode covers everything you need to know about the future of the industries, and the streaming wars as a whole.

If you're a fan of entertainment news, superhero culture, or the business of film and TV, you’re in the right place.

If you’re enjoying Outside the Comics, don’t forget to follow the podcast, download this episode, and leave a like or review. And of course — share it with another comic fan who needs the inside scoop. Your support helps the community grow!

Breaking news! Reports are coming out that Scarlett Johansson is in talks to join The Batman 2 — and if the rumors are true, chances are she’ll be playing Andrea Beaumont, setting up the long-awaited live-action debut of The Phantasm.

In today’s episode, I break down why this casting news is massive not only for fans of Mask of the Phantasm, but for the entire future of comic book movies. If Reeves is truly bringing Andrea into the sequel, we might be witnessing the setup for one of the greatest Batman stories ever told on film.

I explore why this storyline matters so much emotionally — especially for men who’ve dealt with the heartbreak of losing their first love. Bruce Wayne’s vulnerability, grief, and unresolved trauma have never been shown on this level in live action, and seeing that portrayed through Andrea Beaumont could hit harder than any villain we've had so far.

Finally, I wrap up with an update on where I’m taking this podcast next and how everything will be fully revamped and relaunched heading into 2026.

It’s a huge episode — breaking news, deep character analysis, and a behind-the-curtain look at my next steps as a creator. Tune in!