WELCOME to a very special podcast taped following last Saturday's great PWA card at The Roxy in Parramatta. I kick things off by chatting with Melbourne sensation Adam Brooks on his thoughts on NAW flogs disrespecting the business, before discussing his recent tryout in the US with Ring Of Honor. Next, I catch up with Melbourne's Mr Juicy (above) where we attempt to talk about everything BUT wrestling. Porn, amateur nude models, penis size and cheap Viagra substitutes are the topic of the day. As you can imagine, it's a complete disgrace. I end the near-25-minute podcast by catching up with ex-Queensland grappler Mark Davis. He gives his thoughts on the state of Queensland wrestling (not goodt), the size of his penis (goodt) and what's on AV Dangerously's laptop (mindboggling). All in all, this is my best, most controversial podcast EVER!!!!
You can find it HERE, so enjoy!

AND yet I spend the first 10 minutes talking about books. Get through that and you'll get to hear me review Warren Ellis's newuniversal reimagining and Howard Chaykin's first attempt at an "adult" book with American Flagg.

All in all, it's 28:30 of podcasting goodness (promise!).

WHAT WOULD CHRIS BENOIT DO?

TOP 200 WRESTLERS IN AUSTRALIA for 2013

QUICK NOTE: If you didn’t make this list, it’s for one of four reasons:

a) You’ve left the business (which is why we haven’t included the likes of Bobby Marshall, Sean O’Shea, Mikey Broderick, Ahmed Iblis, MH Cydell and Justin Greye)

b) We forgot you (sorry)

c) You work for a group that’s so below the radar we didn’t realise you existed (sorry), OR

d) You’re really, really SHIT.

Before we get started, me and Lord Mark Williamson discuss the top 20 (and the bottom five) in this 32-minute podcast. Enjoy......and let the controversy and bitching begin! :)

1. Emma (NXT) – wrestles more than anyone else, looks phenomenal. One step away from being in WWE Diva matches.

2. Mike Petersen (Warzone/MCW) – champion in two of the top promotions in Australia. Great look, great wrestler.

3. Krackerjak (Warzone/MCW/AWF/NHPW, etc etc)– great worker. Highly respected by his peers. Booked by many top promotions.

4. Mickey Nicholls (NOAH/EPW) – top worker, rising in the Jap ranks.

5. Shane Haste (NOAH/EPW) – ditto.

6. Matt Silva (MCW) – good wrester, great look. About to go to NXT. Social retard.

7. Jag (Zero-1 Adelaide) – top worker, great trainer, champion hot dog devourer.

8. Tama Williams (PWA Sydney/Newcastle Pro/NHPW/AWE) – great worker, intense, always wanting to improve.

9. Rob Matrix (UWA/IWA) – respected veteran, great worker. Still goes with the best of them.

10. Damien Slater (Zero-1) – good wrestler, becoming a great worker.

11. Tyson Gibbs (IWA/UWA) – great worker, mean look, natural heel.

12. Mark Davis (AWA Qld) – good worker. Big guy. Total dick (but we luvs ya, mate!)

13. Mimic (RCW) – lost the dreadies, gained charisma to go along with his good work.

14. J-Rock (EPW) – great worker, getting international praise.

15. Elliot Sexton (EPW/MCW) – great worker, funny guy. Master of the dick punch.

16. Iron Ben Coles (AWF) – good worker, marketing genius. You think fish fingers, you think Ben Coles!

17. Matt Bailey (PWA Sydney) – big guy, talented and versatile worker.

18. Daniel Swagger (PCW) – good worker, very popular with PCW fans.

19. Enforcer (Warzone/PCW) – underrated veteran who’s highly regarded by everyone he works with.

20. Ethan Hughz (IWA/CWA) – bribed us with a $7 bottle of rum. Would be higher if he gave us something more expensive that WASN’T rum.

21. Robbie Eagles (PWA Sydney) – would be ranked higher if he was taller.

22. Ryan Rollins (AAA Mexico/Warzone)

23. Lord Mark Williamson (Warzone) – NOTE FROM DANN: “I was not repeatedly hit in the face with an empty bottle of scotch to put Lord Mark Williamson in at this position. I make this statement of my own free will and not under any duress whatsoever...............please stop hitting me. And, now, over to His Lordship: “I am the greatest and most successful manager in Australian history. I was also able to perform a miracle in having a very entertaining match with Johnny Dee in SWA last year. BWAH-hahahahahahahahahahahaha!”

24. Ryan Eagles (PWA Sydney) – good worker, great trainer. Best beard in Australian wrestling.

25. Mick Moretti (PWA Sydney)

26. Robby Heart (Zero-1)

27. Rocky Menero (Zero-1)

28. Mason Childs (Grindhouse, Qld)

29. AJ Istria (AWA Qld)

30. Mike Burr (MCW)

31.Jay Andrews (MCW)

32. Bishop Sommers (PWA Sydney)

33. Carlo Cannon (MCW)

34. Adam Brooks (MCW)

35. Josh Shooter (MCW/PWA Sydney)

36. Jessie McKay (PWWA/SHIMMER)

37. Dowie James (MCW) – great worker...for a guy. But not as good as female wrestlers like Jessie. Sad but true, Dowie.

38. Kijimuna (Japan)

39. Chris Vice (NHPW)

40. Salem (UWA)

41. Bruce‘Havok’ Mills (Zero-1)

42. Mad Dog McCrea (Warzone)

43. Dan Damage (IWA) – smartest dressed man in Aussie wrestling.

44. Adam Hoffman (PWA Sydney/Newcastle Pro) – like Jack Bonza, only smaller.

45. Jack Bonza (PWA Sydney/Newcastle Pro) – like Adam Hoffman, only bigger.

46. Slex (MCW)

47. Andy“Voodoo” Roy (RCW)

48. GD Grimm (RCW)

49. Blakestone (AWF)

50. Spaceboy Dacey (AWF)

51. Dean Draven (AWF)

52. Mad Turk Hussein (AWF/WrestleRock)

53. Mr Juicy (MCW/PWA Sydney)

54. TNT (AWF)

55. Samoan Warrior (PWA Sydney/NHPW)

56. Krofty (NOW)

57. Hayden Zenith (NHPW/EPW)

58. Kellie Skater (PWWA/SHIMMER)

59. Madison Eagles (PWWA) – former SHIMMER champion has bounced back from serious injury this year.

60. Marcius Pitt (EPW)

61. Kiel Steria (EPW)

62. Jade Diamond (AWA Qld)

63. Jimmy Payne (EPW)

64. Kyote (NHPW)

65. Gorgeous Garry Schmidt (EPW)

66. Bruiser Barry Schmidt (EPW)

67. Davis Storm (EPW) – EPW original still pulls on the boots occasionally.

68. Mikey Lord (CWA)

69. “Pitbull”Craig Cole (Warzone)

70. Shazza McKenzie (PWWA/SHIMMER)

71. Sean Kustom (PWA Sydney)

72. JT Jay Taylor (EPW/NHPW)

73. Danny Psycho (MCW)

74. AZ Vergara (EPW/NHPW)

75. Concrete Davidson (PWA Sydney/Newcastle Pro) – best gimmick in Oz.

76. Kellyanne English (AAA Mexico/Warzone)

77. Bee Boy (PWA Sydney) – second-best gimmick in Oz.

78. Tre (Warzone)

79. Cletus (MCW/Warzone)

80. Jack O’Lantern (MCW/Warzone)

81. Ryan O’Hare (NAW)

82. Vixsin (Warzone/PCW)

83. Alberto Bravo (Warzone)

84. Sway (Warzone/RCW/NHPW)

85.“The Maniac” Wayne Mattei (Warzone)

86.“Birdman” Phil Picasso (IWA)

87. Chris Trance (Warzone)

88. Warship (EPW)

89. Jim Raze (Warzone)

90. Savannah Summers (RCW)

91. Brian Seeker (PWA Sydney)

92. Rainbro (PWA Sydney)

93. Luke Knight (AWE/IWA)

94. Mr Exclusive (AWE/IWA)

95. JT Robinson (PWA/AWE) – A 45-year veteran of the scene. Only the best get made AWE tag team champions.

96. John E. Radic (Snakepit)

97. Greg Graham (Zero-1)

98. Joey Graham (Zero-1)

99. Adam Asixx (CWA)

100. Michelle K. Hasluck (EPW/PWWA)

101. Jaguar Kid (NOW/PWA Sydney)

102. Jak Arkham (NOW)
103. Powerhouse Theo (AWF)

104. Falco (AWF)

105. Jay Law (AWF)

106. Massive Q (AWF)

107. The Illusionist (AWF/PWA Sydney)

108. Dan Steel (NHPW)

109. KC Cassidy (PWWA)

110. Jarrad Slate (NHPW)

111. Heritor (NHPW)

112. “Wreckin Ball” Wilson (Zero-1)

113. “Dirty”Dick Donovan (Zero-1)

114. Miami (RCW)

115. Lou Lou Lockhart (RCW)

116.“The Don” Michael Morleone (NHPW)

117. Rob Barnes (Newcastle Pro)

118. Pat Graham (Zero-1)

119. Tony“The Thug” Slater (CWA)

120. Sara Jay (MCW/GWE)

121. Harley Wonderland (AWE)

122. Rhys Youngblood (NHPW)

123. Richter (EPW)

124. Jamie Jurah (EPW)

125. Gavin“Shooter” McGavin (EPW)

126. Twitch (EPW)

127. Hughsey (EPW)

128. Scotty Ryan (EPW)

129. Leo Pratt (EPW)

130. Johnny Wimbledon (EPW)

131. Sebastian Sander (EPW)

132. Alex Kingston (EPW)

133. Adam Banks (EPW)

134. Azazel (EPW)

135. Mike Massive (EPW)

136. DJ Fusion (AWF)

137. Brad Smyth (RCW)

138. Marvel (RCW)

139. Del Taurino (RCW)

140. Hammer (RCW)

141. Big Brodie Marshall (RCW)

142. Nick Armstrong (RCW)

143. Jagger Stevens (NHPW)

144. Skyfire (NHPW)

145. Matthew Pace (NHPW)

146. Silvaback Mark Santoro (NHPW) – NOT Matt Silva, apparently.

147. Dorian (NHPW)

148. Det. Magnum Holmes (AWF)

149. Gladiator Apollo (AWF)

150. Jack Tasman (AWF)

151. “Greatness”Grant Linstrom (AWF)

152. Anubis (AWF)

153. Diego Del Fuego (AWF)

154. Rachel Rose (AWF)

155. Mighty Mel (AWF)

156. Luke Hunter (UWA)

157. Fury (AWE)

158. Jackie Wyld (AWE)

159. Big Bad Nick (AWE) – because of his hot missus.

160. Alex Lee (Japan)

161. Blade Matthews (NOW) – also an MMA warrior.

162. Iron Horse Morrison (NAW)

163. Morphine (NAW)

164. Alexi Papadopoulos (NAW)

165. Barry Laurence (NAW)

166. Jarek Craven (NAW)

167. Joel Bateman (NAW)

168. Mike Manson (NAW)

169. Slikk Steve (NAW)

170. Steve Valek (NAW)

171. El Tecniko (PCW)

172. Aaron Edwards (PCW)

173. Cody Swift (PCW)

174. Gabriel Wolfe (PCW)

175. Jay Webster (PCW)

176. Mark Kage (PCW)

177. Maverick Menace (PCW)

178. Micky Jackson (PCW)

179. Mr Big (PCW)

180. Randal (CWA)

181. The Wraith (SHWA)

182. Pain (SHWA)

183. George “The Hitman” Julio (NAW) – legendary trainer who still pulls on the boots occasionally to met out justice.

184. Storm (GWE)

185. Sammy Ozerkan (PCW)

186. Ricky Diamond (Melbourne scene)

187. Siren Monroe (MCW)

188. Marko Mitra (Melbourne scene)
189.Niki Nitro (CWA)

190. Cremator (MCW) – he threatened to kill me if I didn’t put him on this list.

191. Steve Frost (MCW) – he would’ve joined in.

192. Logan (MCW) – he would probably would’ve cackled and watched.

193. Chris Trio (PCW)

194. Kabel (NHPW)

195. Big T (AWE)

196. Shanesaw (AWF)

197. Traffic (AWF)
198. Kandi Luv (CWA/GWE)

199. Maso (CWA)

200. Psykotic (AWE)

Psykotic is all about da' money...and his expensive boots.

A SHORT, sharp shock of a podcast, in which Lord Mark Williamson and myself discuss Friday nights' AWE event at Concord RSL, Sydney. It featured a tag match pitting ex-WWE superstar Orlando Jordan and Aussie powerhouse/juggernaut/legend/icon Psykotic (aka Slammin' Sammy). Plus, more importantly, Mrs Big Bad Nick (above)!

Following our review, I chatted briefly - but sexily - with the returning Harley Wonderland (below). I promise I did not stare at her chest once during the interview (which makes me slightly less pervy than Jonesy).

It's 11min. 30sec. of stunned amazement. Enjoy.

 

I READ 885 in 2012. Some were good, some were awesome...and some were DUDS.

This post lists all the very best (and worst) of the year, along with original comments by me (if any).

 

BEST of 2012:

THIS WAS A TOUGH YEAR. I read a lot of truly great comics that aren’t on this list: 4 to 4½ books that didn’t quite make the list. But here are the creme de la creme.

My Friend Dahmer (Abrams Comicsart, 2012) *****

Writer/artist: Derf Backderf

One of the best graphic novels I’ve ever read. Period.

Punk Rock And Trailer Parks (SLG, 2008) *****

Writer/artist: Derf

Fuck me, this is fantastic!

Richard Stark’s Parker: The Score (IDW, 2012) *****

Writer/artist: Darwyn Cooke

FCBD: Mouse Guard, Labyrinth And Other Stories (Archaia Entertainment, 2012) *****

Writers/artists: various

Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman (Penguin Books, 1986) *****

Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began (Pantheon, 1991) *****

Uzumaki Vol. 1 (Viz, 2001) ****¼

Uzumaki Vol. 2 (Viz Media, 1998, 2002, 2012) *****

Writer/artist: Junji Ito

I hate manga but this creepy, spiral-obsessed horror comic is superb, and better than the unsettling movie that followed it.

One of the creepiest, dream-like horror books I’ve ever read. Genuinely unnerving stuff. So glad to see it get a reprint.

Peepholes (Blank Slate Books, 2011) *****

Writer/artist: Laurie J. Proud

Dark, warped, perverse, confusing in parts and altogether brilliant. And the artwork is just mind-blowing. Seek this collection of sinister short stories out now. NOW, I tells ya!

Miracleman #1-24 (Eclipse, 1985-93) *****

Writers: Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman/Artists: various

V For Vendetta #1-10 (DC, 1988-89) *****

Writer: Alan Moore/Artist: David Lloyd (with some assistance from Tony Weare)

WORST:

I was blessed in 2012 by the fact that I read very few UTTERLY SHITE books. No negative star horrors. But there were some genuine DUDS along the way, so here they are:

Enormous #1 (Image, 2012) DUD

Writer: Tim Daniel/Artist: Mehdi Cheggour

An enormous-sized dud. Way too much photo-referenced art and confusing to boot. Half the photo-referenced characters look like other characters. The storyline of nature gone wild and growing to Godzilla-like dimension had potential but the art really let it down. The only positives for Enormous was the oversized gimmick and the fact that my copy was damaged in transit to Kings Comics so I scored it for a paltry five bux. I passed it onto a mate afterwards. He probably won’t thank me for it after he reads it.

Burt Ward: Boy Wonder/Wrath Of The Titans Classic (Bluewater Comics, 2012) DUD

Writers: Darren Garnick & Burt Ward (Burt Ward); CW Cooke (Titans)/Artist: Ramon Salas

Voltron: Shelter From The Storm (Viedia, 2012) DUD

Writer: Brian Smith/Artist: Jacob Chabot

Utter shit.

FCBD: Mega Man (Archie, 2012) DUD

Writer: Ian Flynn/Artist: Patrick Spaziante (interior), Chard Thomas, Fabio Redivo and Evan Stanley (cover)

FCBD: The Intrinsic (Arcana, 2012) DUD

Writers: Sean Patrick O’Reilly, Casey Jones & Erik Hendrix/Artist: Allan Otero

My Name Is Mud #1 (Incognito Comics, 1994) DUD

Writer/artist: Brian Denham

Before it got picked up by Maximum Press, MNIM got one self-published issue. I wonder if the Maximum dudes read it before offering Denham a deal. Confusing art – at times quite good, at other times very amateurish – dumb storyline, unlikable characters with confused motives, and appalling dialogue. This is utter shit. Of course, Maximum never did anything with MNIM either and it disappeared (thank goodness). Denham, however, went on to become a pretty good artist and does a lot of steampunk cheesecake pin-ups for Antarctic Press these days.

Judo Girl #1 (Alias Enterprises, 2005) DUD

Writer: Terrence Gripe/Artists: Nador Balan, Nick Schley & Sven Dyson (interior), Jimmy Taylor, Mark Brooks and Nadir Balan (covers)

Gara Galaxy #1 (Dead Dog Comics, 2004?) DUD

Writers: Chazz DeMoss & Joel Moen/Artists: Clint Hilinski (interior); Rudy Garza, Mojo & 12:21 (cover)

The Nazz #1 (DC, 1990) DUD

Writer: Tom Veitch/Artist: Bryan Talbot

Nice artwork by Talbot, but Veitch’s pretentious, at-times confused writing totally ruins this tale of how having godlike powers can corrupt a man’s soul. Or something like that.

Gun Nut Funnies (self-published, 2011) DUD

Writer/artist: Karno

A truly disturbing, paranoia-filled, pro-gun rant masquerading as a self-help manual. Yep, if you spend your life walking round a’feared that you may have to shoot someone dead one day, then deal with “the corrupt system” afterwards…well, this comic’s for you. Befriending lawyers on gun ranges, carrying a video camera pen on your person, life’s just a bed of roses for this idiot. I don’t know what happened to “Karno” in the past, but it’s totally fucked up his outlook on life– I would NOT want to live inside his head. For contact details, email author Kjartan Arnorsson at kjartana@comcast.net.

Kill The Face #3 (ACE Comics, 1987) DUD

Writer: Joe Gill/Art: Steve Ditko & Rick Altergott

The nice Alex Toth cover saves this from negative stars, but this terrible comic single-handedly destroyed any interest I have in Ditko’s post-Spidey work. I gather he had a heavy hand in these scripts and it shows: ineptly written, heavy-handed and nonsensical in parts. This by-the-numbers superhero vs drug dealers shite was clearly written by dudes who’ve never touched the stuff. Cocaine users are depicted as the worst kind of heroin junkies. And clearly Gill and Ditko don’t know how police procedure works either. Godawful on every level. Even Ditko’s pencils are rudimentary and inker Altergott sucks arse. The back-up strip Who Dunnit (anonymous writer/art by Fred Guardineer) is nicely rendered, even if the murder mystery storyline is boring. Not sure if it’s a reprint or not. ACE Comics was clearly an ambitious line that promised way more than it could deliver. The Face (a public domain superhero from the 1940s) now resides in the Dynamite universe.

HOW do you celebrate an amazing PWA show at the Roxy Theatre in Parramatta on Saturday night? How do you top a card that rocked from top to bottom, including an early match-of-the-year candidate between PWA champ Mick Moretti and Robbie Eagles?

You whip out the trusty portable tape recorder and chat with some of this country's top wrestlers...including Melbourne's Adam Brooks, Matt Bailey, Oz's No. 1 referee Graeme "Fozzy" Young, Lukas Kelly, Concrete Davidson and his tag team partner JT Robinson, Adam Hoffman of The Four Nations, Josh Shooter, NEW PWA heavyweight champ Robbie Eagles and the man of the hour, too sweet to be sour, more sexy than Jack Bauer...."Mr Juicy" Gino Gambino. This is Gino as you may have never heard him before: sensitive, introspective and strangely attractive.
Its 50+ minutes of shocking revelations, bombshell announcemens, Japanese pubes, alarming circle-jerking about OTHER wrestling podcasts and altogether far too much Oscar McCuskerr. Seriously, fuck off, McCuskerr.

Download the fun HERE.

IN WHICH Dann discusses the greatness of Miracleman, the flawed-but-enjoyable Avengers Academy (RIP) and his "20 First Issue Project", which had mixed results.
It's 50 minutes of enjoyable comics ranting in a noisy car while driving to the Blue Mountains.

FORGET 2013 Wrestling Observer rassler of the year Hiroshi Tanahashi (above). We have the REAL honours listed right here in this special Australia Day edition of WHAT WOULD CHRIS BENOIT DO?...starring Dann Lennard and his co-host Lord Mark Williamson!

We kick off with a discussion of the year in review: the good, the bad, the indifferent. Beer is spilt and so is blood.

But you're really here for the awards, aren't ya? Well, we got 'em and they come in four big categories: BEST WRESTLER OF 2012, BEST PROMOTION, MATCH OF THE YEAR and the prestigious SHIT KENT OF THE YEAR. You'll be shocked by the winner.

Also, we discuss the lost art of promos, why Maso's openly homosexual gimmick in CWA is the bravest gimmick in Australian wrestling today, and so much more.

It's a tight 35 minutes of wrestling mayhem (give or take a minute). Have we gone too far? Quite possibly. Enjoy!

IT'S 46+ minutes of steaming goodness as I review a bunch of great comics and graphic novels I've read in recent months. There you go, AW, a review of Parker: The Score for ya! :)

I'd love your feedback on this and other podcasts. Email me HERE. You can also find me at Facebook at Kirby Your Enthusiasm HERE.

And don't forget the blog HERE.

And now for some quick plugs:

Mike Pindell does an excellent podcast, The Comic Book Attic HERE. I also highly recommend another podcast, Derek Coward's Comic Book Noise HERE.

When in Sydney, buy all your comics, TPBs and other goodies at Kings Comics HERE. For great, cheap back-order deals thanks to our very strong Australian dollar, head to Lone Star Comics in Texas HERE.

 

IN WHICH I'm joined by Lord Mark Williamson to discuss all things comics-related, beginning with a progress update on the pilot to his very funny TV series Unemployed Super-Villains.

We then discuss superhero movies, in particular The Avengers.

Next, I talk about my recent joy in completing some of my series runs including V For Vendetta and Miracleman. Thanks to Lone Star Comics.

After that, I give some rapid positive reviews to the Before Watchmen event (a longer review will appear in an upcoming podcast), Super ProK.O.! Vol. 2 (Oni Press, Jarrett Williams), Fury MAX(Marvel, Garth Ennis & Goran Parlov), Mind MGMT (Dark Horse Originals, Matt Kindt), The Hypernaturals (BOOM!, Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning with art by Brad Walker& Andres Guinaldo) and Fashion Beast (Alan Moore, Malcolm McLaren & Antony Johnston/Artist: Facundo Percio)

I also wonder out loud whether Mark Millar is the most consistently entertaining writer right now. Lord Mark suggests Ed Brubaker. We debate the topic.

And we wrap up an entertaining near-100-minute podcast with an in-depth discussion on Marvel NOW! What are the pros and cons of the reboot/reimagining? And what titles are we looking forward to?