Talking Comics Podcast: Issue #774: Southern Fried Crime
Evaluation and Summary
Talking Comics Podcast Issue #774 is a weekly roundup episode covering recent comic book releases and industry news. The hosts—Steve Seigh, Bob Reyer, Joey Braccino, Aaron Amos, John Burkle, and Bronwyn Kelly-Seigh—discuss a diverse slate of titles including Amazing Spider-Man #1000 (which John finds impressive), the debut of Teen Titans #1, and multiple other releases spanning Marvel, DC, and independent publishers. Bob reflects on the conclusion of Doctor Strange's Sorcerer Supreme series, while Steve returns to the crime-western hybrid That Texas Blood for its latest installment. The episode touches on upcoming Marvel events like Midnight, explores content on Webtoon, and addresses broader industry topics including AI chatbot challenges. The comics covered range from superhero franchises (Fantastic Four, Zatanna) to indie and genre work (Narco, Skate Ali), suggesting a broad editorial palette. The show notes list approximately 10 titles discussed, indicating a typical weekly format that samples across publishers and genres rather than deep-diving into any single work. The podcast positions itself as a breaking-news and new-release focused show, updated weekly with rotating hosts who bring different perspectives to the medium.
Verdict: A competent weekly roundup for comic fans already invested in the medium, but lacking depth, insight, or compelling reasons for newcomers to listen.
Arts rubric
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Insight into the work 2/5 20%
Show notes mention reactions (John finds ASM #1000 'amazing,' Bob 'bids farewell' to Sorcerer Supreme) but provide no actual insight into craft, themes, or what makes these works notable.
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Expertise and access 3/5 20%
Six regular hosts suggest established podcast infrastructure and familiarity with the medium, but no indication of creator access, critical credentials, or specialized knowledge beyond enthusiast-level engagement.
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Sparks curiosity 2/5 15%
Listing titles with minimal context (e.g., 'Steve gets another taste of That Texas Blood') doesn't create compelling reasons to seek out these works; feels more like a checklist than advocacy.
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Substance 2/5 15%
Show notes suggest a rapid-fire format covering ~10 titles plus industry news in 86 minutes, implying brief surface-level treatment of each rather than substantive discussion.
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Delivers on its title 3/5 15%
Title 'Southern Fried Crime' appears to reference That Texas Blood (a crime-western), but the episode covers many unrelated titles, so the title is only partially representative of content.
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Value for time 2/5 15%
86 minutes covering 10+ titles plus industry news suggests thin coverage per item; likely padding or tangents given the breadth-to-length ratio.
Worth it if you're a regular comic reader who wants a casual weekly check-in on new releases and industry chatter from a familiar group of hosts.
Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.