Smash Fiction wishes you a ridiculous and wonderful holiday season by celebrating the most ridiculous and wonderful person on Earth...Nicolas Cage! In solidarity with the Flophouse Podcast's celebration of "Cagemas," it's a WWE-style Cage Match, featuring featuring no fewer than four classic Cage characters! Castor Troy brings golden chairs to the ring, Cameron Poe knows more about wrestling than you, Edward Malus wears a bear costume, and Ben Gates is crouched in the corner trying to figure out the meaning of a symbol he found on the back of a turnbuckle pad (it's really just a bloodstain with a sequin stuck to it). Which Cage will be able to escape the cage and be declared the undisputed World Cage Champion?
Justice is blind, but there's a surgical fix for that -- you just have to kill a few people. After another daring, corpse-ridden escape from another intergalactic prison, the convicted murderer and part-time god-emperor Richard B. Riddick has somehow found himself on the strange world of Earth-616, and now, he's trapped in a Hell's Kitchen warehouse with the masked vigilante known as Daredevil! Can the man without fear deliver his own brand of justice to one of sci-fi's most feared killers, or will Riddick do what he's done to every other lawman who has attempted to bring him in? Special guest co-host MeganBob joins Smash Fiction this week to discuss Riddick's complicated relationship with animals, Daredevil's complicated relationship with other humans, and the inexplicable presence of Jack Bauer.
Just in time for The Force Awakens, Smash Fiction brings you a three-way showdown of the Sith! Emperor Palpatine has force-resurrected (it's probably a real thing, just go with it) his three greatest apprentices, and now demands that they battle to the death to determine who will regain their rightful place by his side! Which Dark Lord will telekinetically choke the life from his opponents and fling their corpses down a bottomless pit? Also, Darth Maul is functionally immortal, Anakin Skywalker is the ultimate Mary Sue, and all roads lead back to Christopher Lee.
Smash Fiction's special Thanksgiving episode is a gut-bursting three-way eating contest featuring the multiverse's most gluttonous face-stuffers! Kirby of Dreamland, No-Face from Spirited Away, and Homer J. Simpson himself are locked in multiple-course combat on Coney Island, and only one can be named fiction's fastest, most furious foodie. Does Kirby need to crack open the shellfish before consuming them? How will Homer deal with ghost pepper? Can No-Face get drunk? And what in the name of all that's holy and good does unorthodox judge Liz Logan have in store for the lightning round?
Oh, horrors! Geralt of Rivia and Link of Hyrule have somehow arrived on the mysterious island of "England," where they are charged by God to seek the Holy Grail! Which magic-wielding, sword-swinging adventurer can successfully brave the Caves of Caerbannog, defeat the killer rabbit, and make their way across the Bridge of Death for a final assault on the Castle Aaaaaaaarrrrggghhh? Guest appearance by SCIENCE! (And there was much rejoicing.)
Welcome to an actual-play RPG podcast, Smash Fiction style! Our planned offering for this week, Geralt vs. Link had to be moved to next week due to a scheduling conflict, but we've been waiting for the opportunity to share Extraordinary League with the world! Dan Mulkerin GMs a home-brewed version of the 1980s Marvel Superheroes RPG, featuring a party of existing fictional characters. In this episode, Kit, Liz, Miles, and Colin debate which characters they want to try and bring to life, while once again answering some of the most important questions. Is there anything Mordin Solus can't do? Is Witchblade what's wrong with America? And will Kit be allowed to play Godzilla?
In the biggest Battle of the Bands in fictional music history, two groups have advanced to the finals: the legendary rockers Spinal Tap (one of Britain's loudest groups) and the obscure New Zealand duo Flight of the Conchords. Only one act can win the hearts of the audience and become the greatest band in all of fandom! But no matter who prevails, you know Dethklok is still going to find a way to ruin the show...or make it exponentially more awesome. Special thanks (in addition to our usual thanks) to Kevin McLeod of www.incompetech.com for his song "Danger Storm."
Monstropolis is in crisis again, as its connection to the human world has begun to fray! To solve the problem, Monsters Inc. has sent its top agents, Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan, on a journey to the most terrifying place on Earth...Florida. Unfortunately, after a lucky tourist manages to take a snapshot of the two monsters, they find themselves hunted by the FBI's most eccentric and relentless truth-chasers, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Special guest advocates Kris Newton and Katrina Ehrnman-Newton of the Gameable Podcast join the Smash Fiction crew to find out if Mike and Sulley can complete their mission before Mulder and Scully turn them into undeniable proof that the truth is out there.
When a coven of vampires in Austria commits a grisly series of murders, Buffy Summers and Eric "Blade" Brooks know exactly what to do. It's suckhead staking season...but which deadly scourge of the undead is better at their job? Will Blade's vast array of bizarre but effective weaponry allow him to mow through his enemies with his classic "kick in the door and kill them all" technique? Or will the savior of Sunnydale's Slayer superpowers put an end to yet another faction of fanged, face-changing fiends? And what madness does Judge Liz Logan plan to unleash during the lightning round? (Hint: Whatever you think it is, it's not that.)
In Smash Fiction's special Halloween episode, that peerless band of exorcists-for-hire, the Ghostbusters, travel to the small, shrouded resort town known as Silent Hill. Can Venkman, Ray, Egon, and Winston clear out the horrific haven of hellish nightmares, or will Pyramid Head and his demons continue to haunt the minds of those who enter Silent Hill...but never leave?
The two most famously scorned and slandered spell-slingers in the history of black magic are up to their old tricks again. After being snubbed out of a party invitation, Maleficent and the Wicked Witch of the West decide to throw a couple parties of their own. The only catch is that they don't plan on letting any of the guests reach their castles alive! Will Maleficent's wall of thorns and draconic shape-shifting be enough to keep out the most would-be revelers, or will the Wicked Witch's flying monkeys and fields of poppies be more effective? Special guest Tim Mulkerin joins the cast of Smash Fiction this week. Also, after the credits, we spoil the ending of a movie that came out in 2006. Just so you know.
The villainous Monarch will choke on his own hatred before allowing Dr. Thaddeus Venture to show off his new invention at the science expo! To foil his arch-enemy, the Monarch hires the covert agency ISIS to steal Venture's creation, and top/most obnoxious agent Sterling Archer (Codename: Duchess) is assigned the task. But Venture's walking Swedish murder machine, Brock Samson, is on watch to prevent any funny business. It's spy vs. spy as Samson and Archer enter the danger zone and begin a deadly game of cat and also cat, in Smash Fiction's most quote-heavy episode to date!
Smash Fiction friends Anton Balane and Brad Bultman join the show for a battle of fencing, buckle-swashing, and romance, as the beautiful (though somewhat withdrawn) Princess Elsa has drawn the eyes of the spectacular Spanish swordsman Inigo Montoya and the masked crusader of Californian justice, Zorro. But only one can win her definitely-not-pierced-by-frost-magic heart! The duel rages across Elsa's balcony (before moving to a place that is far, far away). Which master of the blade will defeat his rival and rule Arendelle by Elsa's side?
In an all-important quest for better Hearthstone cards, Arthas, the Lich King, Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades, and Diablo, the Lord of Terror, find themselves in the land of Skyrim. Each of the three big-time Blizzard baddies must take out the other two in order to claim the precious cards. Head to head. Army to army. Resurrection to resurrection. Corruption to corruption. Special ability called "Apocalypse" to special ability called "Apocalypse." You get the idea. Plus, the Lighting Round takes a trip to...Blizzard High?
Fighting has broken out on the streets of New York City! Of couse, that's hardly unusual in and of itself, but in this case, the battle involves four anthropomorphoid reptiles, five gothic architecture rejects, and one vague misunderstanding. In the battle of animated TV super-teams, will the Gargoyles rise to new heights, or will the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles drag them down into the sewers?
Two of the most celebrated discoverers of ancient evil stuff in pop culture history suddenly find themselves in the mysterious land of Hyrule...but only one can get home again! Which of them will be able to infiltrate strange temples, fight off their bizarre defenders, and lay hands on the mysterious Spiritual Stones? Or will they just lay hands on one another? Find out in Smash Fiction's most innuendo-filled episode yet!
In the not-too-distant future, the biggest race in the mega-sport spectacle known as Mario Kart is contested between Speed Racer, Ghost Rider, Vanellope von Schweetz, and Mad Max. Which acceleration junkie will dominate his or her opponents? How much witty but ultimately meaningless banter can their advocates squeeze into fifty minutes? And just how bad is Liz Logan's Australian accent, anyway? The answers to these questions can only be found on the Rainbow Road!
The legend of the Batman has reached the ears of one Victor von Doom. Ever-desirous of proving himself superior, Doom sets a cunning trap for Batman, who naturally observes it's trap-ness and comes up with a plan of his own. Will the Caped Crusader bring the Lord of Latveria to justice, or will Batman ultimately be forced to kneel before Doom?
The most powerful wizards of popular fantasy engage in epic magical combat as they attempt to rid the world of an ancient evil! Will Gandalf be subdued by charms and transmutation, or is it Dumbledore who shall not pass? Special guest appearance by the Tome of Eternal Darkness!
Weyland-Yutani has suffered another Aliens-related setback, and have hired a pair of bounty hunters to bail them out. Will Samus Aran's skills at rolling herself through small places help her reach the Alien Queen first, or will Master Chief's heavy-duty arsenal and lack of personality prove the greater force?
Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi! Rita Repulsa has convinced Godzilla to attack Angel Grove! The Power Rangers Zord up to defend their hometown against this walking nuclear disaster! Which nerd icon will prevail?
The Predator has caught John Connor's scent. The Terminator has arrived to protect him. Which nerd icon will prevail?