Wednesday Toast Monthly Nerd News Recap — August

Wednesday Pull and Simon_on_Toast recap the biggest nerd news from August, covering comics, superhero movies, TV, games, toys, and the exhaustion of staying constantly plugged into the internet.

The hosts start by talking about stepping back from the nonstop cycle of political and pop-culture news before diving into Ready Player Two, The Walking Dead, House of the Dragon, Disney's canceled Power Rangers series, D23 announcements, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Miles Morales, X-Men '97, Daredevil: Born Again, Lanterns, Marvel's new horror imprint, DC's shifting plans, and plenty of comics and toy news.

We're for the burnt-out dorks. This is our own little respite from dystopia.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Taking a break from constant internet and political news
• Ready Player Two and the future of The Walking Dead
• House of the Dragon and fantasy power dynamics
• Disney's canceled Power Rangers series
• Remembering Dolly Parton, Peter Cullen, Tim Curry, and other losses
• D23: Kingdom Hearts 4, Avengers: Doomsday, X-Men, Vision Quest, Ahsoka, and Star Wars: Starfighter
• Disney sequel fatigue: Frozen 3, Bluey, Incredibles 3, Coco 2, Tangled, Zootopia 3, and more
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Miles Morales
• X-Men '97 Season 2 and changes behind the scenes
• Daredevil: Born Again, Lanterns, and superhero TV
• Marvel and Star Wars' first major crossover comic
• Marvel's new "Midnight" horror imprint
• DCU cancellations, Get Jiro, Batman: Knightfall Part One, and Swamp Thing Is Killing the Children
• Static, the New Teen Titans, and the Ink Alliance
• New figures, toy photography, conventions, collecting, and fandom burnout

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Welcome back to the monthly nerd-news recap
00:52 – Stepping back from constant internet and political news
06:18 – Ready Player Two
12:43 – The Walking Dead spinoffs
16:28 – House of the Dragon
22:34 – Disney cancels Power Rangers
27:45 – Remembering Dolly Parton
33:28 – Peter Cullen, Tim Curry, and other losses
36:23 – DCKO beta and mobile gaming
41:47 – D23 and Kingdom Hearts 4
46:23 – Avengers: Doomsday
49:09 – The new X-Men cast
50:17 – Vision Quest, Ahsoka, and Starfighter
53:33 – Disney sequel fatigue
58:56 – Spider-Man: Brand New Day
69:49 – Miles Morales
77:59 – X-Men '97 Season 2
81:17 – MCU release dates and Daredevil: Born Again
83:41 – Superhero TV cancellations
85:52 – Endgame re-release
88:27 – Iron Man game leaks and Wolverine images
92:31 – Marvel and Star Wars crossover comic
94:52 – X-Orcist, Jean Grey, and Venom
99:08 – Marvel's new horror imprint
101:52 – DCU cancellations
104:34 – Lanterns
110:30 – Get Jiro and Batman: Knightfall Part One
113:03 – Nathan Fillion's expanding DCU role
114:53 – Static, New Teen Titans, and the Ink Alliance
118:38 – Swamp Thing Is Killing the Children
121:49 – New figure reveals and collecting news
124:47 – Toy photography, conventions, and third-party figures
133:26 – Final thoughts and sign-off

HOW TO CONNECT

Follow Wednesday Toast on social media for podcast updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more comic book conversations.

Subscribe to Wednesday Toast on your favorite podcast platform for more discussions about comics, movies, fandom, and pop culture.

CREDITS

Hosts: LW and Simon
Producer: LW
Intro Music: linktr.ee/pollypocketmusic

NOTABLE QUOTES

"We're for the burnt-out dorks."

"This is my own little respite from dystopia."

"You get to hear our opinions on things you already know."

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Wednesday Toast, LW (@WednesdayPull) and Simon (@Sime_on_toast) continue their new monthly recap format, discussing the biggest conversations from July, including conventions, online friendships, fandom culture, and movie discourse. The hosts share Lex’s story about almost attending San Diego Comic-Con for the first time, the excitement of potentially going, and the community support he received when plans fell through.

The conversation explores the challenges of meeting online friends in real life, the importance of sharing experiences with people who understand your interests, and how friendships built through online communities can become meaningful connections. Lex and Simon also discuss the current state of online fandom, including rage bait, engagement farming, and why negativity often dominates conversations around movies and pop culture.

The episode closes with a discussion about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the reactions surrounding the movie, and the broader conversations around representation, casting, and criticism in modern fandom.

Key Topics

• Lex almost attending San Diego Comic-Con for the first time

• The cost and difficulty of attending major conventions

• Community support and people offering help when plans changed

• Future convention plans including New York Comic Con

• Experiencing conventions with friends versus attending alone

• Meeting online friends in person for the first time

• The anxiety and uncertainty around internet friendships

• Building genuine connections through online communities

• Modern movie discourse and fandom reactions

• Rage bait and engagement farming on social media

• The difference between criticism and negativity

• How social media rewards extreme opinions

• The pressure to create content around everything

• Choosing recommendations over constant negativity

• Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey

• Reactions to casting choices and representation in film

• The way online conversations shape audience perception

• Major fandom experiences can feel more meaningful when shared with people who understand your interests.

• Online friendships can become real and valuable, even when meeting someone in person feels intimidating.

• Social media often rewards outrage and extreme reactions over thoughtful conversations.

• Not every negative opinion deserves attention or engagement.

• Creators and fans can contribute more by sharing what they enjoy instead of only focusing on what they dislike.

• Movie conversations online are often shaped as much by internet culture as they are by the actual media.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Monthly Recap Format
02:30 Catching Up and Changing the Podcast Format
04:30 The San Diego Comic-Con That Almost Happened
10:00 Convention Costs and Future Plans
13:00 The Dream of Going to Japan
15:00 New York Comic Con and Sharing Experiences With Friends
18:00 Online Friendships and Meeting People in Real Life
22:00 The "Uncle Simon" Conversation
25:00 Movie Discourse and Online Negativity
29:00 Rage Bait, Engagement, and Social Media Reactions
32:00 The Dead Internet Theory and Online Conversations
33:00 Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Discussion
36:00 Representation, Casting, and Movie Reactions

How to Connect:

Follow us on all social platforms for podcast updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more comic book conversations.

Subscribe to Wednesday Toast on all podcast platforms for future discussions about comics, movies, fandom, and pop culture.

Credits:

Hosts: LW and Simon
Producer: LW

Intro Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/pollypocketmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Keywords:

comic books, Wednesday Toast, Wednesday Pull, comics podcast, pop culture, fandom, San Diego Comic-Con, New York Comic Con, comic conventions, online friendships, social media, movie discussions, movie criticism, rage bait, engagement farming, internet culture, Christopher Nolan, The Odyssey, film discourse, representation in movies, superhero culture, geek culture, entertainment analysis

Episode Summary:

In this episode, the hosts dive into the evolving landscape of comic books, content creation, social media dynamics, and industry politics. They share personal insights, industry opinions, and community experiences, offering a candid look at modern fandom and creator support. In this episode, we explore the nuances of comic book adaptations, movie reviews, and gaming industry trends, emphasizing the importance of nuanced opinions and understanding industry dynamics.

Key Topics

• The shift in comic book industry focus towards absolute universe
• The challenges and realities of content creation as a hobby versus profession
• Social media dynamics, bots, and the impact on genuine engagement
• Industry politics around diversity, representation, and creator support
• The influence of influencer culture and authentic opinions in fandom
• Community support and the importance of creator behind-the-scenes
• The evolution of comic book storytelling and art styles
• The role of social media in shaping industry narratives and controversies Comic book adaptation nuances
• Movie review culture and online reactions
• Gaming industry trends and controversies
• Impact of industry politics on content
• Nuanced opinions vs. extreme reactions

Key Takeaways

• Content creation is a personal hobby that can be maintained without the pressure of influencer culture.
• Social media platforms are increasingly filled with bots and inauthentic interactions, affecting genuine engagement.
• Industry politics around diversity often overlook the importance of supporting creators behind the scenes.
• Authentic opinions and community support are more valuable than clickbait or shock value.
• The comic book industry is experiencing a renaissance with new creative takes and storytelling styles.

Sound Bites

"We're doing a monthly episode, just letting it all out."

"Content creation is a hobby I genuinely enjoy."

"Social media is filled with bots and inauthentic interactions."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Format Changes

02:35 Navigating Life and Content Creation

05:25 The Role of Opinions in Comic Book Culture

08:12 The Influence of Social Media on Discussions

11:01 The State of Comic Books: DC vs. Marvel

16:41 The Impact of the Absolute Universe

21:18 Character Evolution and Originality in Comics

25:17 The Clickbait Dilemma

26:49 DC's Animated Projects and Fan Reactions

28:37 Indie Comics and Collecting Blind Bags

33:00 The Boycott of DC Comics

40:43 Creators vs. Characters in Comics

47:02 Reactions to Supergirl and Online Discourse

54:31 Supergirl and Nuanced Opinions

57:55 Character Depth and Corporate Meddling

01:00:49 Hollowed Out Stories and Emotional Beats

01:05:25 Humor in Movies and Nostalgia

01:08:22 Video Games and Anticipation

01:13:23 GTA VI and Industry Trends

01:17:59 Podcast Outro.mp3

How to Connect:

Follow us on all social platforms for podcast updates.

Visit our Patreon for additional content and episodes.

Subscribe to "Wednesday Toast" on all platforms for future reviews and discussions.

How to Support the Podcast:

Leave a review on your podcast platform and share feedback.

Spread the word about "Wednesday Toast" to fellow nerds!

Consider supporting us on Patreon!

Credits:

Hosts: Lex (@wednesdaypull) Simon (@Sime_On_Toast)

Producer: Lex (@wednesdaypull)

Intro Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/pollypocketmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠

Keywords

comic books, content creation, social media, industry politics, fandom, community, DC Comics, Marvel, indie comics, influencer culture comics, movies, gaming, industry trends, reviews, pop culture, superhero movies, video games, entertainment analysis