Capital Creative Showcase brought Sacramento's creative scene together, and this episode captures the energy right from the floor. Frank sits down with four different creators working across video games and tabletop games, giving listeners a closer look at how indie teams build, test, balance, and refine their projects.

The episode features Kim from Ghost Hunter Simulator, Sarah from Wizard Cleaning Simulator, Keoni from Seize Gilded Treasures, and Mike from Legends of the Arena. Each conversation highlights a different side of development, from player choice and cozy horror to small-team production, card balance, community building, character design, and why live playtesting matters so much for creators.

• 00:00 Capital Creative Showcase recap and event overview
• 01:09 Interview: Kim on Ghost Hunter Simulator and player choice
• 15:17 Interview: Sarah on Wizard Cleaning Simulator and small-team indie development
• 24:59 Interview: Keoni on Seize Gilded Treasures, card balance, and community building
• 41:37 Interview: Mike on Legends of the Arena and building a Smash-inspired tabletop game
• 52:30 Final thoughts on CCS, playtesting, and Sacramento's creator community

• Capital Creative Showcase gave local video game and tabletop developers a space to show their work, gather feedback, and connect directly with players.
• Ghost Hunter Simulator stands out by letting players decide whether ghosts are real, changing how they interpret evidence and approach the game.
• Wizard Cleaning Simulator started from a game jam idea and grew into a cozy magical cleaning game built by a small art-focused team.
• Seize Gilded Treasures blends trading card game mechanics with board movement, creating a strategy layer where positioning matters as much as card text.
• Legends of the Arena aims to capture the feel of a fast, competitive fighting game in a tabletop format built around reads, anticipation, and quick matches.
• Across all four interviews, playtesting comes through as one of the biggest tools for improving balance, clarity, pacing, and player experience.

• "If we wanted this game to exist, it had to be us."
• "Indie games get to be so much more experimental."
• "We joke that the three of us make one junior programmer."
• "The difference between this and a lot of other trading card games was the tabletop and the fact that we're able to move."
• "We lean really heavily into the fighting game idea of reading and anticipation."

Subscribe to Geek Freaks wherever you listen to podcasts, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who loves indie games, tabletop games, or behind-the-scenes creator stories. Share your thoughts on social media using #GeekFreaksPodcast.

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Featured in this episode: Ghost Hunter Simulator, Wizard Cleaning Simulator, Seize Gilded Treasures, and Legends of the Arena.

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Send in your questions, reactions, or future topic ideas for Geek Freaks. We want to hear what indie games, tabletop games, local creators, and conventions you think we should cover next.

Geek Freaks, Capital Creative Showcase, Sacramento games, indie games, tabletop games, board games, video game developers, game design, Ghost Hunter Simulator, Wizard Cleaning Simulator, Seize Gilded Treasures, Legends of the Arena, geek culture, gaming podcast, creator interviews, Sacramento creators

EPISODE SUMMARY

The Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 finale gave fans a lot to process, from Matt Murdock's public downfall to Kingpin's collapse and the possible setup for a much bigger street-level Marvel story. Frank is joined by Megan from Vigilante Vibes and Thomas to break down what worked, what felt messy, and why this season may be the strongest version of Born Again so far.

The conversation covers comic book connections like Devil on Cell Block D, Bullseye's future, Heather and Muse, BB's role as a rising journalist, and how Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, The Hand, Typhoid Mary, and even Mayor Luke Cage could factor into what comes next. The crew also digs into the courtroom scene, the hallway fight, New York as a living part of the story, and whether Marvel should keep Daredevil in his own corner or bring him deeper into the MCU.

TIMESTAMPS AND TOPICS

- 00:00 Introduction and Megan's First Reaction to Season 2
- 01:04 Devil on Cell Block D, Matt's Arrest, and Daredevil's Identity
- 03:10 BB, Journalism, Peter Parker, and Street-Level Marvel Connections
- 08:16 Bullseye, Mr. Charles, and Marvel's Grounded Villains
- 11:26 Heather, Muse, Lady Muse, and Darker Comic Book Influences
- 14:33 Spider-Man, The Hand, Elektra, and Season 3 Theories
- 18:04 The Rose, Typhoid Mary, Buck, and Kingpin's Future
- 19:38 Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk's Complicated Relationship
- 23:10 Thomas Joins, CGI Talk, and the Finale's Action Scenes
- 25:16 The Hallway Fight, New York Rising, and White Tiger
- 28:35 The Courtroom Scene and Matt's Legal Strategy
- 33:58 New York as a Character and the MCU's Street-Level Future
- 44:00 Favorite and Least Favorite Moments From the Season
- 52:00 Final Scores, Fan Reactions, Foggy, and Closing Thoughts

KEY TAKEAWAYS

- Megan felt Season 2 raised the stakes, leaned more into the comics, and showed the actors had a stronger grip on their characters.
- The group spent a lot of time on Matt's arrest and the idea that the show may be setting up a Devil on Cell Block D style story.
- BB stood out as one of the season's strongest additions, with the potential to become a major street-level MCU connector through journalism, Peter Parker, and the wider New York media world.
- The finale's courtroom scene was one of the biggest highlights, giving Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio a strong showcase while pushing the season's themes about masks, power, and public truth.
- The crew liked how the season made New York feel alive again, especially through the city rising against Kingpin's system and the anti-vigilante task force.
- Final scores landed strong overall: Thomas gave the finale a 7 out of 10 but the season a 9 out of 10, Frank gave the season an 8 out of 10, and Megan gave it a 10 out of 10.

QUOTES

"Season two really upped the ante a lot, and it's a lot more comic accurate."

"BB won the battle that killed her uncle."

"Just because they both can aim good doesn't make them the same character."

"This was the city of New York rising, all doing their own hallway scene."

"The court scenes are so integral to who Daredevil is as a character."

"This feels like a New York that is the home to heroes."

CALL TO ACTION

Subscribe to Geek Freaks for more Marvel, DC, gaming, and geek culture conversations. Leave a review, share the episode with a friend, and post your thoughts on social media using #GeekFreaksPodcast.

LINKS AND RESOURCES

GeekFreaksPodcast.com is the source of all news discussed during the podcast.

FOLLOW US

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LISTENER QUESTIONS

What did you think of the Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 finale? Send us your reactions, theories, and future topic ideas for the next episode.

APPLE PODCAST TAGS

Daredevil Born Again, Daredevil, Marvel, MCU, Spider-Man, Kingpin, Matt Murdock, Wilson Fisk, Bullseye, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Marvel Television, Geek Freaks Podcast, comic book TV, superhero shows, street-level Marvel, Disney Plus, Marvel reviews

Clayface is stepping into full horror territory, and Frank and Squeaks break down why that could be exactly what DC needs. The episode also covers a packed week of reboots and adaptations, including FernGully, The Phantom, Django/Zorro, RoboCop, Battlefield, and Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced.

The back half shifts into a spoiler-heavy Invincible Season 4 review, with a big focus on Thragg, Mark's impossible choices, and the emotional weight of Atom Eve's storyline. Frank and Squeaks also dig into Xbox's future, Game Pass changes, the return of stronger Xbox branding, and whether the next console can make fans excited again.

• 00:00 Avengers: Endgame 7-Year Anniversary and Favorite Character Arcs
• 03:05 Capital Creative Showcase and Convention Updates
• 04:02 Clayface Trailer Discussion and DC Horror Potential
• 08:27 FernGully, The Phantom, Django/Zorro, and RoboCop Reboots
• 16:35 Battlefield Movie and Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced
• 25:28 Invincible Season 4 Spoiler Review
• 40:01 Xbox's Future, Game Pass Changes, Project Helix, and Brand Identity
• 59:21 Network Updates, Recommendations, and Closing

• Frank and Squeaks look back at Avengers: Endgame seven years later, highlighting Steve Rogers, Nebula, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and the idea of a Ronin video game.
• The Clayface trailer sparked a strong reaction because it feels more like a horror movie than a standard DC or Batman-adjacent story.
• Reboots dominate the news cycle, with mixed reactions to FernGully, The Phantom, RoboCop, Django/Zorro, and Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced.
• The Battlefield movie conversation centers on how it can separate itself from Call of Duty and other military films by leaning into large-scale, multi-front battles.
• The Invincible Season 4 review praises Thragg as a major villain, explores Mark's moral limits, and gives the season a 9 out of 10 from both hosts.
• The Xbox discussion focuses on Game Pass pricing, exclusives, Project Helix, and whether Xbox can rebuild its identity as a console brand.

• "Give me a Ronin video game. I think that'd be dope."
• "This needs to be treated as a full-on horror movie."
• "Why would McDonald's lose the Golden Arches? You guys are doing that right now."
• "Mark's weakness is the fact that he's a good person."
• "I'm excited to be a fanboy again."

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Visit GeekFreaksPodcast.com for all Geek Freaks news, reviews, interviews, and updates. GeekFreaksPodcast.com is also the source of all news discussed during the podcast.

Transcript source: uploaded GF2 transcript.

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Send in your reactions to the Clayface trailer, your thoughts on Xbox's future, and whether Invincible Season 4 earned that 9 out of 10. You can also send future topic ideas for upcoming Geek Freaks episodes.

Geek culture, entertainment news, DC Comics, Clayface, Batman, Xbox, Game Pass, Invincible, Prime Video, Assassin's Creed, Battlefield, RoboCop, FernGully, The Phantom, Django Zorro, video game movies, comic book movies, geek news, movie news, gaming news, podcast, Geek Freaks Podcast

This week on Geek Freaks, Frank and Thomas kick things off with Patreon updates, convention plans, and a quick catch-up before getting into one of the messier stories in animation right now: the leaked Avatar: The Last Airbender movie. From there, the episode turns into a big CinemaCon conversation covering Mortal Kombat 2, Street Fighter, The Hunt for Gollum, Godzilla Minus One, Resident Evil, The Mandalorian, Avengers: Doomsday, and more.

In the second half, Frank sits down with comic creator Allan Dunford to talk about Mostly Dead, a spooky and heartfelt new comic that blends horror, mystery, and all-ages charm. Allan breaks down the story, the inspirations behind it, and why books like this matter in the indie comics world. It's a packed episode with movie talk, industry conversation, and a strong creator interview all in one place.

00:00 Intro, Patreon, and Convention Updates
04:05 Avatar: The Last Airbender Leak Discussion
09:22 CinemaCon Reactions and Movie Talk
51:31 Allan Dunford Interview: Mostly Dead
1:12:30 Network Updates and Event Reminder
1:13:02 Recommendation of the Week
1:18:04 Outro

• The Avatar leak turns into a bigger conversation about how animation projects and their creators are valued.
• Frank and Thomas spend most of the episode reacting to major CinemaCon reveals and what they could mean for theaters and fandom.
• Mortal Kombat 2, Godzilla Minus One, Resident Evil, and Avengers: Doomsday are some of the biggest excitement points in the episode.
• Allan Dunford describes Mostly Dead as a spooky, fun, emotional comic with influences from ParaNorman, Monster House, and Evil Dead.
• The interview also gives a nice look at why indie comics still matter and how creators build something new from the ground up.

• "2D animation has a home. Trust it."
• "The only way to save face at this point is to put it in theaters."
• "No limits. You can make an idea as crazy or as tame as you want it to be."
• "Finding your audience."

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share the episode with a friend. If you want early releases and extra content, support us on Patreon and keep up with everything happening across the Geek Freaks network using #GeekFreaksPodcast.

GeekFreaksPodcast.com is the source for all news discussed during our podcast.
Mostly Dead is available now, so be sure to check out Allan Dunford's new book.

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What was your biggest CinemaCon takeaway?
Which movie announcement are you most excited about right now?
Does Mostly Dead sound like a comic you'd pick up?

CinemaCon, Allan Dunford, Mostly Dead, indie comics, comic book interview, Avatar The Last Airbender, Mortal Kombat 2, Street Fighter, The Hunt for Gollum, Godzilla Minus One, Resident Evil, The Mandalorian, Avengers Doomsday, Geek Freaks Podcast, entertainment news, geek culture podcast

Frank and Squeaks are back with a packed episode covering the biggest movie, TV, and gaming stories making noise right now. They kick things off with a fast-moving CinemaCon roundup that hits Jumanji, Beyond the Spider-Verse, Zelda, Bloodborne, Resident Evil, anime in theaters, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day before shifting into a full trailer discussion for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. From there, they get into Daredevil: Born Again leak talk, Avatar movie reactions, Disney and Epic Games rumors, Mortal Kombat 2, Punisher: One Last Kill, and a long review-heavy discussion on The Boys. It is the kind of episode built for fans who want news, theories, and strong opinions all in one place.

Timestamps and Topics:

• 00:00 Intro, what they've been reading and playing, plus a tease for the upcoming Victor Barro interview about the Panels app
• 02:19 CinemaCon round-up featuring Jumanji, Beyond the Spider-Verse, Zelda, Bloodborne, Resident Evil, anime theatrical releases, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day
• 14:05 The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping trailer breakdown
• 18:21 Daredevil: Born Again leak talk, prison theories, and street-level Marvel speculation
• 23:26 Avatar: The Last Airbender movie leak reactions and animation discussion
• 25:22 Disney and Epic Games rumors, Fortnite, Disney Infinity, and what a merger could mean for games
• 29:57 Mortal Kombat 2 trailer reactions and why it already feels stronger than Street Fighter
• 35:06 Punisher: One Last Kill trailer breakdown and where Frank Castle fits in the MCU now
• 37:42 The Boys review, character arcs, likely deaths, and what is working best this season
• 50:29 Black Noir comic spoilers and whether the show could still pull off its biggest twist
• 53:52 Victor Barro interview begins, including the Panels app, DRM-free comics, indie creators, and the future of the platform
• 01:25:04 Quick Invincible thoughts and final reactions
• 01:25:54 Outro, review request, and Capital Creative Showcase plug

Key Takeaways:

• This episode moves fast and covers a wide range of major fandom topics without losing the personal back-and-forth that makes the show fun.
• The CinemaCon segment gives listeners a strong one-stop update on several high-interest movie and franchise stories.
• The Marvel section is one of the biggest hooks here, especially the Daredevil and Spider-Man speculation.
• The Boys conversation gives the episode a strong second half and should hit well with listeners looking for review-heavy discussion.
• Frank and Squeaks keep the tone casual, funny, and opinionated, which helps the episode feel more like hanging out than getting a news dump.

Memorable Quotes:

• "Why is he not taking photos?"
• "Mortal Kombat is taking itself seriously in the right way."
• "This is going to be the bridge that pulls him from Netflix to MCU."
• "There's some really good stuff out there."

Call to Action:
If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe to Geek Freaks, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share the episode with #GeekFreaksPodcast. Reviews help more listeners find the show, and your support really makes a difference.

Links and Resources:

Check out the Panels App: https://www.panels.app/

GeekFreaksPodcast.com is the source of all news discussed during our podcast. Check the episode description for links related to the Panels app, bonus reviews, and anything else mentioned during the show.

Follow Us:
Follow Geek Freaks for more news, reviews, interviews, and episode updates.
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Listener Questions:
Got thoughts on CinemaCon, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Daredevil, The Boys, or Punisher? Send us your questions and topic ideas for a future episode.

Apple Podcast Tags:
Geek culture, CinemaCon, Spider-Man Brand New Day, Daredevil Born Again, The Boys, Punisher One Last Kill, The Hunger Games Sunrise on the Reaping, Avatar The Last Airbender, Mortal Kombat 2, Beyond the Spider-Verse, Zelda movie, Resident Evil movie, Bloodborne, Marvel podcast, movie news, TV reviews, gaming news, pop culture podcast

Frank sits down with Aaron Cohen and Alex Schumacher to talk about Sticks and Stones: Holiday Special, a new comic centered on the Feynman family and their holiday misadventures. The conversation gets into how Passover, Hanukkah, and Purim shaped the book, why Ben makes such a strong lead, and how the team blends Jewish specificity with themes that feel familiar to anyone who grew up in a loud, loving family. Aaron and Alex also break down the book's comic strip DNA, the warmth behind its humor, and why this world has room to grow far beyond holiday stories.

• 00:00 Introduction and welcoming Aaron Cohen and Alex Shoemaker
• 00:37 What Sticks and Stones: Holiday Special is about, the Feynman family, and why releasing during Passover feels right
• 02:12 Representation, family traditions, and how the story connects Jewish identity with universal family experiences
• 03:29 Visual inspiration behind the book, including Sunday newspaper strips, classic cartooning, and old-school comic energy
• 05:41 Family memories, Passover traditions, and how real holiday experiences shaped the tone of the story
• 07:37 Why Passover felt like the perfect setup for a mystery story
• 08:09 Comic strip storytelling, all-ages humor, and the influence of books the whole family can enjoy together
• 09:45 Ben's deeper motivation and why wanting a seat at the adult table gives the story emotional weight
• 11:09 Ben's oversized suit, kid noir energy, and how his design reflects a child trying to act bigger than he is
• 12:18 Why Ben became the center of the story and how his imagination drives the whole book
• 15:03 Expanding the Feynman family, new characters, and future story possibilities
• 16:26 Protecting family, immigrant community parallels, and why the book feels relatable beyond one specific culture
• 22:38 Ralph's coloring, visual warmth, and how the page design supports the story's emotional center
• 28:47 Future plans for Sticks and Stones beyond holiday stories
• 32:30 Final thoughts on Ben and the larger story potential of this world
• 32:54 Rapid fire questions, favorite characters, and what holiday the family should tackle next

• Sticks and Stones: Holiday Special uses Passover, Hanukkah, and Purim to tell one connected family story.
• Ben works as a lead because he sees himself as the star of his own detective movie, which gives the book a playful inner voice.
• The creative team wanted the comic to feel deeply Jewish while still speaking to anyone who has experienced a big, chaotic family gathering.
• The visual style pulls from classic newspaper strips, animation, and old all-ages comics.
• Humor is treated as an act of love, not just a punchline, which gives the book its warmth.
• The team clearly sees this family as a long-term storytelling world, not just a one-off holiday concept.
• Future stories could move beyond holidays and into everyday family life, school stories, and more character-focused adventures.

"There's something universal in specificity."

"Ten people around a long table for two hours is a great place for a murder mystery."

"What he really wants ultimately is to be respected and be a part of the family and to be at the adult table and be taken seriously."

"You don't joke with someone and you don't gag with someone who you don't care about."

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, leave us a review, and share the episode on social media using #GeekFreaksPodcast. That support helps more listeners find the show and keeps these conversations going.

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This is the source of all news discussed during our podcast.

Check out Sticks and Stones: Holiday Special

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Sticks and Stones, Holiday Special, Aaron Cohen, Alex Shoemaker, comic books, indie comics, Jewish comics, Passover, Hanukkah, Purim, family comics, all ages comics, Geek Freaks Podcast

Episode Summary:
Frank and Squeaks jump around a pretty fun mix of topics this week, starting with Star Fox officially showing up in the new Mario movie and the rumor that both a new Star Fox game and an Ocarina of Time remake could be on the way. They also get into the new Moana live-action trailer and whether Disney may finally be figuring out how to handle these remakes. The back half of the episode turns into a full spoiler discussion on the Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 premiere, with thoughts on Matt, Fisk, Bullseye, White Tiger, and where the season could be headed next.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Frank and Squeaks open the show and talk about spring break
• 00:44 Capital Creative Showcase details and ticket code
• 01:40 Patreon shoutout and bonus perks
• 02:00 Star Fox is officially in the new Mario movie
• 06:37 Rumors of a new Star Fox game and an Ocarina of Time remake
• 12:13 What a modern Star Fox game should actually be
• 14:14 Moana live action trailer reactions
• 23:36 Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 spoiler talk begins
• 24:35 Does the season already have too many characters?
• 33:05 White Tiger, Karen Page, and what Matt is becoming
• 36:43 Bullseye, redemption, and the bigger picture this season
• 42:53 Final score for the Daredevil premiere
• 43:40 A few network updates and what's coming up
• 44:19 Comic recommendation of the week
• 45:53 Frank's pick: women's tackle football and the Golden State Storm
• 48:11 Outro

What We Get Into:
Star Fox being part of the Mario movie feels like Nintendo is slowly building something bigger without rushing into a giant crossover. Frank and Squeaks also talk about why Ocarina of Time could be the exact kind of game that gets more people to finally buy a Switch 2, especially if Nintendo keeps the remake pretty faithful. On the Star Fox side, they both seem to want something that mixes the old arcade style with a little more modern exploration. The Moana trailer gets a better reaction than expected too, mostly because it looks like Disney may actually be sticking closer to what worked in the original. Then the episode really settles into Daredevil, with both of them liking the darker tone, the action, and the way the premiere leans harder into the comic book side of the character. They both end up at an 8 out of 10 on the episode.

Quotes:
"Not everything needs to be MCU."
"This is that game, in my opinion."
"Moana has got a chance of being a really good standalone movie."
"We are getting closer to what it feels like to have a Daredevil comic in your hand."
"In the end, it's still just Vincent D'Onofrio versus Charlie Cox."

Listen and Join the Conversation:
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Head over to GeekFreaksPodcast.com for more geek news and updates. That's our main news source for everything we cover on the show. You can also support us on Patreon for early episodes, bonus content, and occasional promo code drops.

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Got Thoughts?
Let us know what you thought about Star Fox in the Mario movie, whether Zelda rumors like this would push you toward a Switch 2, and where you landed on the Daredevil premiere.

Apple Podcast Tags:
Daredevil Born Again, Daredevil Season 2, Marvel, Kingpin, Bullseye, White Tiger, Star Fox, Super Mario Movie, Nintendo, Zelda, Ocarina of Time, Switch 2, Moana, Disney, Geek culture, Comic books, TV reviews, Gaming