Sidebar Forever

It’s Spooky Season, and Adrian has never seen Sinners—Ryan Coogler’s fantastic vampire film set in the Jim Crow South—so here we go! Released in April 2025, Sinners became one of the year’s surprise hits, a box office success built around an original screenplay. The film stars Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twins who return to their Mississippi hometown to open a juke joint—only to find themselves under attack by vampires.
Swain and Adrian discuss their relationships with vampire movies, the racial themes at play in Sinners, and the deeper questions the story raises—including whether the film’s villain, Remmick, might actually have a point. They also spotlight Sinners’ terrific supporting cast—Hailee Steinfeld, Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo, and breakout star Miles Caton. Keeping it one hundred, they offer a few critiques as well, including the movie’s uneven pacing and thoughts on "that" scene.
Overall, Sinners is a blast, and we think it earns a solid spot in the horror genre and within what we’ll gladly call the Black Horror Canon.

Every creative person has that one work their audience considers the ultimate creation—their masterpiece. On today’s pod, we had a blast digging into some of our favorite comic creators’ defining works. We talk about legends like Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and Neal Adams, along with later giants like Frank Miller, Bill Sienkiewicz, Mike Mignola, and many more.
Is a masterpiece a single issue, an iconic run, a stretch of covers, or even one unforgettable cover? Is it the creation of an iconic character like Thanos or Deadpool? Or could it be something beyond the page, such as the launch of Image Comics and Milestone Media? 
The conversation runs long and goes in all kinds of directions (as you might expect), but one thing’s for sure—the opinions fly fast and furious!

As die-hard cinephiles, we all have those legendary films that somehow slipped under our radar. This week, we’re finally tackling some of our biggest blind spots. Join your hosts as we review a trio of iconic, must-see movies we definitely should have seen by now—but somehow hadn’t.
Dwight sat down with Goodfellas (1990), Martin Scorsese’s mafia masterpiece. Swain checked out Fight Club (1999), David Fincher's gritty, genre-defining thriller. And Adrian took on Magnolia (1999), Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling ensemble drama. In the conversation, we dive into each film’s standout cast (and where they went next), reflect on how these movies were received when they premiered, and ask the big question: do they actually live up to the hype? (With just a bit of healthy scrutiny, of course.)
To wrap things up, each of us recommends a must-see film we think deserves more love. Tune in for fresh insights, surprising takes, and maybe even a few overlooked classics to add to your watchlist.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps has finally hit theaters, and you know we had to jump in with our instant reactions! The film stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel’s First Family, and we had plenty to say about their performances, the story, and all the delicious fan service moments sprinkled throughout. (Spoiler alert: Galactus finally looks awesome!) We also take some time to compare this iteration of the FF to the two previous feature film versions—both of which earned mixed-to-poor reviews.
First Steps isn’t a perfect film, but if you’re a longtime Fantastic Four fan (like we are), it’s a fun and entertaining ride.

Look! Up in the sky... it’s Sidebar Forever!
On this episode, we react to the latest Superman film — written and directed by James Gunn, and starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. We dive into our expectations going in, what worked (and what didn’t), the clear influence of All-Star Superman on the film, and how well supporting characters like Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, and Krypto were portrayed. We also break down how this new Man of Steel stacks up to past cinematic versions.
Plus: Does Gunn's take on Superman kick off the new DC Extended Universe with a bang… or a shrug?

The Showcase of the Immortals was upon us once again as WWE’s Wrestlemania 41 was unleashed this past Easter weekend. While there was little to rival the extravaganza of last year’s Wrestlemania XL/40, Dwight and Adrian do discuss the sterling highlights as well as the match-ups that could have turned out better — or in some cases not at all! We close discussing the link between professional wrestling and comic books with storytelling and continuity being vital to both mediums. As always, thanks for listening. ‘Cause Sidebar said so…..!

Daredevil: Born Again has arrived, and we have thoughts! Join us as we break down the return of Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio as Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk, welcome new faces like Nikki M. James and Clark Johnson, and question some of the show’s biggest choices.
Why did the series sideline Foggy, Karen, and even Bullseye so quickly? Do the exposition dumps and breakneck pacing undercut the stakes? And could they have handled White Tiger’s introduction better? We say yes!
Finally, the big question: Does Born Again need to surpass Netflix’s Daredevil, or just be better than Marvel’s recent offerings?

With Daredevil: Born Again premiering on Disney+ in March, now’s the perfect time to revisit everyone’s favorite blind superhero. On this episode, we explore Daredevil's comic book origins, spotlighting legendary creators like Gene Colan, Frank Miller, and John Romita, Jr., whose work helped define the character. But we don’t stop there — we also trace Daredevil’s evolution on screen, from Ben Affleck’s 2003 film (ugh) to the iconic Netflix series starring Charlie Cox.
We also explore Frank Miller’s role in turning Daredevil into a star, highlight the women in DD's life (including Elektra and Karen Page), and have some fun with his delightfully goofy rogues gallery — yes, Leap Frog and Stilt-Man, we see you!
Join us as we jump from rooftop to rooftop, celebrating the one and only Devil of Hell’s Kitchen!

This week on the pod, we’re taking a stroll down memory lane to revisit the early days of the show. We reflect on some of the greatest gifts we've received as hosts—ranging from original artwork and swag, to unforgettable moments on the mic and memorable experiences with guests and listeners. Dwight remembers meeting and interviewing the late, great Bernie Wrightson, Adrian recalls gifts he received from comic artist Ho Che Anderson, and Swain reminisces about a conversation with one of his artistic heroes, Neal Adams, at the end of a long convention weekend.
As our first episode of the year and in the twilight of the holidays, it feels like the perfect time to reflect on all the meaningful moments we’ve had. We hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful holiday season, and we’re excited for what’s to come in the new year!
And hey, you can find all 339 episodes from our previous incarnation (SiDEBAR - The Art and Comics Podcast) available at archive.org. They have been graciously curated by our friend Christopher Hatfield. (Our eternal thanks, Chris!)
And as always, thanks for listening.

This week on Sidebar Forever, we're diving into the surprising ways Christmas shows up in films, comics, and television shows that aren't about the holidays. From Die Hard and Trading Places, to comic book one-shots like Wanted: Santa Claus—Dead or Alive, to 30 Rock's infamous Ludachristmas episode, we're exploring how the festive backdrop amps up the drama, comedy, and chaos in unexpected ways. We also discuss what elements have to be present to call something a true Christmas story, and we cite examples like Frosty the Snowman and Home Alone. So grab your eggnog and join us as we unpack the holiday hijinks in stories where Christmas isn't the star—but it sure makes things interesting!