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Tony, Ryan, Patrick, & friends, talk comics & other pop culture, weekly, from the friendly confines of Empire's Comics Vault.
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From EC Comics, the macabre minds behind “Tales from the Crypt”, and the producers of the “X-Files” and “Locke & Key” audio dramas, comes THE VAULT OF HORROR! With equal parts camp and creepy, it’s tales of terror are adapted and presented in an audio-rich fully immersive setting complete with a full cast, soundscapes, werewolves, vampires, cutthroats, and numerous ne’er-do-wells! So put your headphones on and enter THE VAULT OF HORROR… it’s a real scream…
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For years, Joshua Brand sought out his place in the world. Now he's about to find it... in a way he never imagined. Pocket Universe Productions presents its next fiction podcast Shaman's Tears, based on the graphic novel series by comics legend Mike Grell (The Warlord, Green Arrow, Jon Sable: Freelance), coming in 2024!…
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“John Bennett… a real werewolf?” ON THE SEASON FINALE... “The Beast of the Full Moon!” Adapted by Lance Roger Axt from the story by Jack Davis. 1921, Hollywood! Fiction meets reality as the crew members of a silent horror film are being killed one by one. See if you can guess which of the players in our little melodrama is really the “Beast of the …
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“It happened over forty years ago… the birth of Mr. Clymore’s… ‘son’.” “Terror on the Moors!” Adapted by Lance Roger Axt from the story by Johnny Craig. A heavy fog forces Jane Reddin to spend the night at the Clymore Estate. There have been no visitors for 40 years. Might have something to do with the scratching sound inside the house… the howls… …
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“Look, you guys want to hang out with him, that’s your business. But you know Reece Ramsay’s a borderline psycho and one day he’s gonna do something really stupid and I don’t mean trying to beat up a gym teacher.” “The Grave Wager” Adapted by Lance Roger Axt from the story by Jack Kamen. Two metalheads dare their friend to spend the night in a lock…
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“He was killed exactly like the last one, torn to pieces.” “Werewolf Concerto!” Adapted by Lance Roger Axt from the story by Johnny Craig. 1952, Austria. Hubert Altmann runs the fabulous Viola Gardens Hotel in beautiful Leintz! A famous French pianist is staying there! Fabulous, indeed! Too bad about the murders! Wait, what? “Fitting Punishment!” A…
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“There’s too much weight on the coffin, you’re gonna kill us all!” “Report from the Grave” Adapted by Lance Roger Axt from the story by Jack Kamen. 11-year-old Willa Lake has to pass a test to join the Vault Keeper’s Club: go to the open grave of Terrible Terry Baum, open his coffin lid and stare into his cold dead face! From there a mystery unfold…
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“This place… THIS PLACE REALLY IS HAUNTED! THE PLACE IS HAUNTED!” “Horror House!” Adapted by Lance Roger Axt from the story by Johnny Craig. Cinnamon Frears writes horror comics. She’s in danger of losing her job no thanks to her creepy roommates. That is until she finds a great rental outside of Manhattan… and it’s supposedly haunted… “Terror in t…
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“Steal my gold, will you? I’ll teach you! I’ll teach you but good you filthy little beasts!” “Rats Have Sharp Teeth!” Adapted by Lance Roger Axt from the story by Graham Ingels. Cape Colony’s dead, these folks he’ll uproot, And pillage and ransack their long-lost loot! Merciless to all, Abner’ll not be deterred… But trust me, it’s the vermin who’ll…
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“Can you make me one of those voodoo dolls?” “Voodoo Vengeance!” Adapted by Lance Roger Axt from the story by Johnny Craig. Broadcaster Charles Standish’s much younger wife is cheating on him. Time for a little payback, courtesy of a voodoo doll. “Werewolf” Adapted by Butch D’Ambrosio from the story by Jules Feiffer and Harry Harrison. At a clandes…
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“I need another cadaver.” “Doctor of Horror” Adapted by Lance Roger Axt from the story by Graham Ingels. 1914, the Hampshire Medical School. Dr. Artemus Lawford needs to find cadavers to bring in students to his anatomy class. Then he finds a way. And all of the troubles begin. “Island of Death” Adapted by Butch D’Ambrosio from the story by Harvey …
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“Burt, did you dump Hank’s body?” “The Dead Will Return!” Adapted by Lance Roger Axt from the story by Al Feldstein. Burton and Fiona have done away with Fi’s husband, dumping his body in the sea. But the sea keeps giving back… “The Curse of Harkley Heath” Adapted by Butch D’Ambrosio from the story by Harry Harrison and Wally Wood. Charles, Sybil, …
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“I’ve killed you before… I’ll kill you again…” “Horror in the Night” Adapted by Lance Roger Axt from the story by Harvey Kurtzman. The nightmare comes every time Taylor falls asleep. A couple comes to check in to the cabin she owns. He looks harmless enough, but the wife… dressed in black like she’s going to a funeral… she’s so paranoid… “Terror Tr…
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“Welcome, dear listeners, welcome to the Vault of Horror! I’m so glad for the company, so few dare to make their way down here… they just don’t have the guts!” “Portrait in Wax!” Adapted by Lance Roger Axt from the story by Johnny Craig. In 1933, a talentless hack commits multiple crimes against his artistic roommate. Years later, the sculptor of s…
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.. in which we, Tony Asaro, Patrick Clarke, & Ryan Miller, celebrate the best in comics & comics-related media of 2019, in our fifth annual Vaulty Awards show!! Download EP_174_-_THE_2019_VAULTY_AWARDS_FIN.mp3Cracking The Vault Podcast による
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THE VAULT OF HORROR is open for business beginning March 27... Visit us at www.pocketuniverseproductions.com and www.eccomics.compocketuniverseproductions による
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.. in which we, Ryan Miller, Patrick Clarke, & Tony Asaro, celebrate Ryan's birthday in a town beset by evil, trying to fend-off the fury of Dracula, The Wolf Man, & The Mummy, in a round of Prospero Hall's Universal Monster-mash cooperative board game Horrified, out of Ravensburger Games!! [Note: This episode is a tad noisy! 'Cause that's what hap…
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.. in which we, Patrick Clarke, Tony Asaro, & Ryan Miller, indulge in one of our longest-running annual traditions & take a look at how we did on our comics-related resolutions from 2019, before then making a whole batch of spectacularly-ill-advised new resolutions for 2020!! [image from My Hero Academia by Bones/Funimation, created by Kōhei Horiko…
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.. in which we, Ryan Miller, Patrick Clarke, & Tony Asaro, try our level best to wrangle, explain, & discuss, our feelings about the biggest comic event of 2019: Marvel's 12-part, showstopping, X-Men miniseries, House of X & Powers of X, by Jonathan Hickman, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia, R.B. Silva, & Adriano Di Benedetto!! [Note: We recorded this epi…
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.. in which we, Tony Asaro, Patrick Clarke, & Ryan Miller, travel all the way back to The Bronze Age of Comics in honor of Tony's birthday, & rap about what was on the spinner rack in 1979!! (featuring reviews of Ghost Rider, Elfquest, & the original Marvel-era Star Wars comics) Download EP_170_-_The_Year_Was_1979_FIN.mp3…
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.. in which we, Tony Asaro, Patrick Clarke, & Minnie Saucedo, (with additional contributions from Ryan Miller, & Ben Schwartz), helped celebrate Tony's birthday way back in September of 2018 by talking-out all our feels concerning The Big Blue Boyscout, himself, Clark Kent. *** This one sat buried in The Vault for an embarrassing length of time, wh…
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.. in which Tony Asaro sits down with Ben C. Schwartz for a our debut rapid-fire-questionnaire mini-episode of 10-in-10 with Ben!! Download 10_in_10_w_Ben_SEPT_19_FIN_FIN.mp3 [cover image from Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man #309, by Chris Bachalo & Tim Townsend]Cracking The Vault Podcast による
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.. in which we, Patrick Clarke, Ryan Miller, & Tony Asaro, belatedly celebrate Patty's birthday by discussing one of his favorite-ever comics: Planetary, written by Warren Ellis, drawn by John Cassaday, & colored by Laura Martin!! [Warning: We talk about the entire book, in this episode! Consider yourselves officially spoiler-warned!! Additionally,…
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.. in which we, Tony Asaro, Ryan Miller, & Patrick Clarke, gather to talk Eisner Award Winners, newly released movie & tv trailers, & the rest of the biggest announcements that dropped at this years San Diego Comic Con!! Download EP_166_-_SDCC_News___Reviews_FIN.mp3Cracking The Vault Podcast による
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.. in which we, Tony Asaro, Patrick Clarke, & Ryan Miller, finally weigh-in on the 23rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man: Far From Home!! [*Be-warned: This review contains spoilers from the get-go!*] Download EP_165_-_Spider_Man_Far_From_Home_FIN.mp3Cracking The Vault Podcast による
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.. in which we, Ryan Miller, Tony Asaro, & Patrick Clarke, muse & speculate upon what the Marvel Cinematic Universe might look like, in the next few years, as it moves into Phase 4!! Download EP_164_-_The_Future_of_The_MCU_FIN.mp3Cracking The Vault Podcast による
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.. in which, at long last, we, Tony Asaro & Ryan Miller, reveal our thoughts & our feels on the 22nd movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Endgame! [This episode begins with Non-Spoiler talk, after which we issue a clear Spoiler Warning, before diving into a more detailed discussion of the film] Download EP_163_-_Avengers_Endgame_Review…
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.. in which we, Tony Asaro, Patrick Clarke, & Ryan Miller, celebrate Cracking The Vault's 4th anniversary with our 4th-ever ramen bowl roundtable AMA special! Download EP_162_-_Fourth_Anniversary_Ramen_Bowl_Roundtable_FIN.mp3 [episode image from The Best of DC #16, by Rich Buckler & Dick Giordano, courtesy of DC Comics]…
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.. in which we, Tony Asaro, Patrick Clarke, & Ryan Miller, dive into our annual sneak-peek of the creator line-up, festivities, sale info, & some of the array of FCBD 2019 books that will be available at Empire's Comics Vault, on Saturday, May the 4th, aka Free Comic Book Day 2019!! Download EP_161_-_FCBD_2019_Preview_FIN.mp3 [official FCBD 2019 t-…
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.. in which we, Tony Asaro, Patrick Clarke, & Ryan Miller, review the latest blockbuster from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain Marvel! *Please note: We do discuss spoilers for the film, in this episode!* Download EP_160_-_Captain_Marvel_FIN.mp3 [image from The Life of Captain Marvel #4, by the great Jen Bartel, courtesy of Marvel Comics]…
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.. in which we, Ryan Miller & Tony Asaro, review the first season of Netflix's adaptation of the Gerard Way, Gabriel Ba, & Dave Stewart, Dark Horse comic, The Umbrella Academy!! [Please be aware: The first 20 minutes or so are our spoiler-free impressions, after which we give a clear spoiler warning, & then proceed with loads of spoilers for both S…
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.. in which we, Ryan Miller, Tony Asaro, & Patrick Clarke, celebrate Ryan's birthday by finally devoting an entire episode to one of our most beloved characters, & most-favorite comics on the stands: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. Download EP_158_-_The_Unbeatable_Squirrel_Girl_FIN.mp3 [image from The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #9, by Ryan North, Erica…
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.. in which we, Patrick Clarke, Tony Asaro, & Ryan Miller, take a look back at how we did on our 2018 comic book resolutions, & then look forward to what comics-related goals we're hoping to accomplish this year!! [image from Batman Adventures Holiday Special #1, by Paul Dini, Dan Riba, & Bruce Timm, courtesy of DC Comics] Download EP_157_-_Comic_B…
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.. in which we, Tony Asaro, Ryan Miller, & Patrick Clarke, take a look back at the best in comics from last year, & announce the winners *including your Listener's Choice picks* in all 21 categories celebrating our favorite comics, characters, & creators, of 2018, in our 4th annual Vaulty Awards! Download EP_156_-_2018_Vaulty_Awards_FIN.mp3…
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.. one of our long-lost summer specials has finally surfaced(!), in which we, Minnie Saucedo, Patrick Clarke, & Ryan Miller, discuss how we go about introducing non-comics readers to our favorite four-color medium! Download EP_155_-_INTRODUCING_PEOPLE_TO_COMICS_FIN.mp3Cracking The Vault Podcast による
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.. in which we, Patrick Clarke, Ryan Miller, & Tony Asaro, offer up a smorgasbord of comics chatter, including-but-not-limited-to what we've been reading & enjoying recently, & whether or not Disney/Marvel will have a tough time working The Fantastic 4 into the MCU!! Download EP_154_-_Hot_Takes_FIN.mp3…
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.. in which we, Ryan Miller, Patrick Clarke, & Tony Asaro, don our warmest woolens & have a fire-side chat about our favorite wintery or rainy-day comics! Download EP_153_-_Welcome_to_Winter_FIN.mp3Cracking The Vault Podcast による
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.. in which we, Tony Asaro & Ryan Miller, do our level best to say farewell to the face, voice, & soul, of American comics: Smilin' Stan Lee. Download EP_152_-_Stan_The_Man_FIN.mp3Cracking The Vault Podcast による
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.. in which we, Patrick Clarke, Ryan Miller, & Tony Asaro, gather to profess so much love for one of our very favorite books, Brian Clevinger's, Scott Wegener's, & company's, brilliant action-adventure comic Atomic Robo!! [You can read Atomic Robo in print, available through IDW at your friendly local comic shop & everywhere else comics are sold, &…
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.. in which we, Tony Asaro, Ryan Miller, & Ben Schwartz, celebrate ye annual Turkey Day by talking about what we're thankful for, in comics! [episode image from A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Peanuts was created by Charles Schulz] Download 2018_Thanksgiving_Day_Special.mp3Cracking The Vault Podcast による
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.. in which, to celebrate the landmark, we gather 'round once more with some of our favorite people for an evening of custom-baked comic-book-trivia, to see who is worthy enough to take home Mini-Mjölnir (& also a giant homemade cookie, thank you very much)!! Emceed, Gamesmastered, & Written By Ryan Miller! & starring our three teams of hopeful con…
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.. in which we, Minnie Saucedo, Patrick Clarke, Ryan Miller, & Tony Asaro, celebrate the season by discussing some of our favorite & least-favorite horror genres & October-appropriate movies!! [episode image from Secrets of Haunted House #5, drawn by the great Bernie Wrightson, courtesy of DC Comics] Download Oct_Special_Ep_2_fin.mp3…
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.. in which we, Patrick Clarke, Tony Asaro, & Ryan Miller, kick off our October celebrations with a special episode all about our favorite villains!! [episode image from The Mighty Thor #3, by Jason Aaron, Russell Dauterman, Matt Wilson, & Joe Sabino, courtesy of Marvel Comics] Download Oct_Special_Ep_1_-_Villains_FIN.mp3…
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