The Secret Origins of Mint Condition: Comics, Movies, TV, Sports, Gaming and more

James Louie
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Welcome to the Secret Origins of Mint Condition. Join your hosts James, Joe , and Chris as they delve into the topics of comics, pop culture, sports, gaming and more.

  1. 308. SOMC Spotlight on Jackie Chan in Rumble in the Bronx

    1D AGO

    308. SOMC Spotlight on Jackie Chan in Rumble in the Bronx

    Welcome to the 2026 Lunar New Year Edition of the Secret Origins of Mint Condition. This year we are spotlighting martial arts action super star Jackie Chan in the movie that brought him over to a US audience "Rumble in the Bronx". The back of the store crew of James, Chris and Josh marvel at what Jackie and his stun crew were able to do in this movie. How Jackie is able to balance comedy timing with martial action and the behind the scenes of the hard work and injuries that make things seem flawless on screen.

    1h 6m
  2. 307. Looking back on I Love Lucy

    FEB 11

    307. Looking back on I Love Lucy

    Show notes provided by Joe Peluso This October 15th will mark the 75th anniversary of one the mostinfluential TV shows in the history of the medium--"I Love Lucy".  Created and produced by its two stars--Lucille Ball and DesiArnaz--this all-time great sitcom became an overnight success, andwent on to change the landscape of the fledgling TV medium. But moreimportantly, it brought unbridled laughter to millions of Americanhomes in the decade of the 1950's.The misadventures of Lucy Ricardo,and her often time reluctant sidekick Ethel, made families from coast tocoast howl with laughter week after week. The "screwball redhead" hadone goal in mind--to get into show business! Her adoring, andincredibly "patient" husband--band leader Ricky Ricardo--would tryhis darndest to thwarth her hair brained efforts. It was more than abattle of the sexes, but instead a full-out comedic war of witts.   Join you hosts James, Chris and Joe as they raucously recall theirfavorite scenes and episodes from this classic show. Lucy gettingsnockered as she rehearses a TV commercial, Lucy and Ethel stuffingchocolate bon bons in their mouths, blouses and hats, Lucy gettinginto a free-for-all in a wine vat, and Lucy singlehandedly putting astop to the Pacific Railroad. But Lucy was done, she takes ofHollywood and Europe and becomes the screwball scourge of twocontinents!   And how was all this comedy gold brought to the small screen? Itwas accomplished via the inventive genius of Desi Arnaz; rightfullyknown as the man who "invented" television. Together with his businesssavvy wife, he took the nascent medium to the next level ensuring thatTV was not just another passing fad.How did he do it? How did Desi andLucy have both CBS and the show's sponsor Philip Morris eating out oftheir hands? How did they purchase an entire studio while filming "ILove Lucy"? Amidst all the zanny insanity on screen, behind thecameras deals were brokered that would cement Lucy and Desi as THEpower couple in Hollywood.   But all the accomplishments that brought Lucy and Desi wealth andfame pale in comparison to the laughter and joy their antics (alongwith Fred and Ethel) have bestowed upon audiences the world over for75 glorious years. I think it's safe to say--WE ALL LOVE LUCY!

    57 min
  3. 306. Snow Bound Comics Chat

    FEB 4

    306. Snow Bound Comics Chat

    Show notes provided Joe Peluso Oh the weather outside is frightful--and the snow outside sure as heck ain't delightful! So if you're tired of shoveling the white stuff, or trying to warm yourself by a nice fire, join your fellow snowbound hosts Keith and Joe as they give their "warm" comments on all thingscurrent in the pop culture (or is that popsicle culture?) universe.   From movies to TV, and comics old and new, the guys sleigh their way through a storm of good stuff that will scatter those winter blues. What's your favorite all-time comic book run? What are you looking forward to on the big and small screens in the CBM world? And what were some of the high (and yeah) low points of the "big twos" publishing decisions and initiatives?  It's all here, and then some, hopefully for your enjoyment on afrosty day. A word to the wise if you are going to venture outside:Make sure you're wearing your "bat-thermal" skivvies. Mr. Freeze could be lurking behind that snowbank in the front yard!

    1h 17m
  4. 305. DC Comics Final Night

    JAN 28

    305. DC Comics Final Night

    Show notes provided by Joe Peluso In the late Summer of 1996 DC Comics decided to dim the lights byblowing out the Sun! A cosmic force known as The Sun-Eater (first seenway back in Adventure Comics #352 from November 1966!) came calling to snuff out all life on Earth! Chronicled in a weekly event, the storywas entitled "The Final Night".And it sure as heck would've been, ifnot for the timely, last minute intervention of a once great seminalhero who had recently gone rogue.  Join hosts James, Chris, and Joe as they "shed light on" (Sorry,Chris, you know--low-hanging fruit.) on a new DC event that taxedEarth's greatest heroes in a race to save the world from becoming apopsicle.All kidding aside, this fast-paced saga had major stakes,major tragedies, and major repercussions for the DCU.   Seven days to restart the sun, or all life on Earth perishes.Superman, cut off from solar rays, is weakening by the day. KyleRayner, Earth's only Green Lantern, chucks a "Hail Mary" like BretFarve into space to convince the one and only capable "entity"Parallax (Hal Jordan ) to save the Earth. Lex Luthor is brought in towork with Brainiac 5. And Batman, as usual, multitasks.   It's a fun event told in four issues, one special issue, and oneaftermath remembrance issue, with limited tie-ins, that doesn't breakthe banks of loyal DC fans. Also there are some "heavy" discussions onthe meaning of heroes and villains, and loss and redemption, that wethink you will find quite interesting. It's been thirty years sincethis story dropped. No alternate dimensions, maddening multiverses, ortime travel trickery, just a solid story of survival on both the grandand human scale.

    1h 2m
  5. 304. Looking back at Batman Year One

    JAN 21

    304. Looking back at Batman Year One

    Show notes provided by Joe Peluso A standing tradition in the comic book industry is the retelling ofthe origins of its iconic heroes.Superman got a new origin, and a newstart, by John Byrne in 1986's "Man of Steel".The amazing Spider-Manhad his origin retold numerous times whenever an anniversary issue hitthe stands, and The Batman's origin had been expanded upon from itsinitial two page intro in the Golden Age to full length issues, andeventually to a three part  mini-series written by Len Wein at the endof the Bronze Age. But it wasn't until the end of 1986, with issue#404-407 (cover dated Feb.1987-May 1987) that all the desperate piecesof the Dark Knight's mysterious origins came into four-color realityin "Batman: Year One" by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli.   Join hosts James, Chris, and Joe as they plumb the secrets of TheBatcave to uncover the elements of creation that gave birth to thisnew "post Crisis " origin of the Dark Knight Detective.   How much control did editor Denny O'Neil (a legendary Batmanscribe) have over the production of these issues? What was it like forJames, Chris, and grizzled old comic book vet Joe, reading thisseminal, game changing work for the first time? Who is this upstarthonest cop Jim Gordon just recently transferred from the Chicago PD?And how important was this story to the inception of the Modern Age ofcomics?   If you're walking down the streets of Gotham and the sky blackenssuddenly, take cover! The Batman's calling-card may be coming for you!

    1h 19m
  6. 303. Star Trek Edition: Tribbles Squared

    JAN 14

    303. Star Trek Edition: Tribbles Squared

    Show notes provided by Joe Peluso Sixty years this coming September the crew of the starship USSEnterprise (NCC-1701) took us on a trek to the stars --"to go where no one has gone before!". Its maiden voyage bowed on the NBC Network on September 8th, 1966. And the genre of science fiction would never be the same. One second season episode (a rare sci-fi comedy/adventure) would introduce to the loyal fans a tiny, furry creature that would cause havoc and hilarity for the captain and crew. What followed in the ensuing years was a growing fanbase that helped launch conventions, comic books, merchandise, an animated sequel, motion pictures and a philosophy of a hopeful future that permeated the culture.And if that wasn't enough, thirty years from that historicbeginning the crew of Deep Space 9 (the second Star Trek spinoff) ventured back to that OG Enterprise for a grand time travel adventure that reaffirmed once again those tiny, furry tribbles always cause Trouble and Tribulations.   Join your hosts, Starfleet Captains, James, Josh, John, and ensign Joe (He got reduced in rank for rigging the Enterprise bowling alley to record only strikes.) as they perform a full diagnostic on Star Trek's "The Trouble With Tribbles" and Star Trek DS9's "Trials and Tribulations".What follows is an hour of thoughtful examinations of--Oh who are we kidding?! It's a total "geekfest"! But amidst the guffaws there are cogent observations and a "storage bin" of Trek history.    If you enjoy StarTrek occasionally going off script, then this isthe episode for you. The guys had a blast recording this episode, and we think you'll have one when you listen. Just remember to keep those phasers on stun. When things get silly the lamp usually gets broken.Or in this world, the turbo lift gets stuck SIXTY YEARS OF STAR TREK! Remember to live long and prosper.

    52 min
  7. 302. Our Favorite Childhood Cartoons of the 80's

    JAN 7

    302. Our Favorite Childhood Cartoons of the 80's

    In this episode the SOMC crew looks back on their favorite childhood cartoons.

    1h 9m
  8. 301. New Years Wrap Up The Best of 2025

    12/30/2025

    301. New Years Wrap Up The Best of 2025

    Show notes provided by Joe Peluso LISTS! Everyone has a list: for Santa, for birthdays, foranniversaries, and various and sundry occasions. So in the grandtradition of "list making" James, Chris, Keith, and Joe bring youtheir lists for the best pop culture stuff of 2025. 2025? Where are(as they predicted in the 1960's) the flying cars, moving sidewalks,and video-phones? Oh wait, yeah. Okay, so putting aside that a quarterof the 21st century has come and gone, what came about in the popculture universe in the last year of that quarter that made the bestlists of the Mint Crew?   Fasten your seat belts, run a full diagnostic on those inertialdampeners, and just plain hold on tight as an eclectic list of genregoodies comes flying fast and furious.The guys manage to unfurl amomentous manifest of movies, music, comics, TV shows, book, and games that will put a serious hole in your bank account if you indulge inall their recommendations.   From Absolute Flash and Dexter Resurrection, to "The House WithGood Bones" and del Toro's Frankenstein there is something foreveryone to choose from in this episode. And yes,this was a very goodyear for devotees of pop culture. Let's hope 2026 gives us moreawesome offerings to entertain and enlighten. And of course, to allthe MINT faithful: A HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

    1h 36m
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Welcome to the Secret Origins of Mint Condition. Join your hosts James, Joe , and Chris as they delve into the topics of comics, pop culture, sports, gaming and more.

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