The Podge Cast

Laika written and drawn by Nick Abadzis, colors by Hilary Sycamore

Laika follows former political prisoner who was one of prominent engineers in the Russian space program, Yelena a veterinary technician and Laika the dog aboard the second Soviet orbital launch. Having to meet Premiere Khruschev’s deadline of only a month to launch Sputnik II means that some things have to be cut. Like any means for the satellite to return safely to Earth. Abadzis mixes the available facts together to create a sad but touching story.

Poor, brave little dog…

While our official one-year anniversary was July 7th, it is traditional to celebrate episodes 50, 100, etc. as milestones in the course of a podcast’s life—especially given how many podcasts never make it to episodes 50, 100, etc. Monday, July 20th arrives with our 50th official episode (not counting so much of the bonus content we deliver on Thursdays).

To whet your appetite, here is a sample of episode 50 (as well as a retrospective of the previous 49).

We hope you enjoy.

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* Birthday wishes from Jennifer Notch of the barbershop quartet, Cloud 9

* Tony Mast records with us, but the episode still comes out the next week

* You want to win D&D minis! We want to give them to you! Enter now!

* Literary devices that can be applied to role-playing games

* Fish out of water and system bias

* Matt wants to role-play the Gilmore Girls

* The prologue

* GMs breaking their own rules

* Misdirection

* In the Hodge (live), Joe talks about Taking Chance

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The Savage Dragon by Erik Larsen, letters by Chris Eliopoulos, Colors by Gregory Wright & Steve Oliff

A collection of the original mini-series that introduced Larsen’s signature series. Waaaay back in ’92 when Image started I was a High School junior and a Marvel fan-boy. Especially of the X-books. So when several of the creative teams behind those left Marvel I followed along to see what else they’d do. And I checked out a couple other people. McFarlane on Spawn and Larsen on Savage Dragon. I had a few random issues of various Spider-Man books by both and thought they were nice enough. Seventeen years later and I’m still a fan of Larsen and his fin-headed hero.

I’ve followed through the silly cartoon, the numerous spin-offs, tragedies and triumphs in Larsen’s life, delays and more feuds than you could shake an internet browser at. And the book has remained one of my favorites. From when he starts out as a Chicago cop to the creation of Freak Force to encounters with Gods, with other dimensions, being fired, with being the leader of a government super-team, the destruction of the “original” Image Earth, overthrowing the tyrant leader of “new” Earth, getting married and to becoming a cop again, I’ve kept up…

It’s been seventeen years since that first mini-series and I’ve long since lost interest in the other Image founders and their creations. But I’ll probably be a Fin-Addict for another seventeen.

On July 2nd, 1776, the second continental congress voted to declare the independence of the American colonies from the kingdom of Great Britain. Two days later, the congress approved the declaration of independence. A few years after that, David, Joe, Luke, and Matt started the PodgeCast, an exercise in our liberties.

Happy Independence Day to all our American listeners.