The Con Men

The Con Men Show

Adrian and Dan discuss the ins and outs of Comic Book Convention life, fandoms, and sometimes we just have a conversation.

  1. The Comics That Made Us

    3d ago

    The Comics That Made Us

    Every fan has an origin story. This week, Dan and Adrian trace the roots of comic conventions back to the 1960s before diving into the comics, characters, and moments that shaped their own fandoms. From the earliest Comic-Cons and the rise of San Diego Comic-Con to first comic books, Batman, Spider-Man, X-Men, MAD Magazine, and the changing landscape of collecting, the conversation becomes a nostalgic tour through decades of geek culture. Along the way they revisit the birth of cable television, remember growing up alongside MTV, Nickelodeon, and FOX, discuss why some 1990s comics never became retirement plans, and share what they’re currently reading and watching—including Spider-Man Noir, GI Joe, Robotech, and more. Whether you grew up reading comics until the staples gave out or discovered superheroes through Saturday morning cartoons, this episode is a trip back to where it all started.

    1h 10m
  2. They Ruined Your Childhood

    Jun 25

    They Ruined Your Childhood

    This week on The Con Men Show, Adrian and Dan take a nostalgia-fueled run through the strange, glorious, and occasionally cursed world of cartoons that became movies, movies that became cartoons, and toy lines that became entire childhood operating systems. The conversation starts with Masters of the Universe, from He-Man lore and the Sword of Power to the 1987 Cannon Films live-action movie, Dolph Lundgren, Frank Langella’s Skeletor, budget shortcuts, and why setting Eternia mostly on Earth still feels like a crime scene with shoulder pads. From there, the guys dive into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers: The Movie, G.I. Joe: The Movie, The Smurfs, Star Wars animation and live-action crossovers, GoBots, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Super Mario Bros., and the long list of shows still begging for the big-screen treatment. Along the way: Optimus Prime trauma, Duke’s suspiciously convenient coma, Sergeant Slaughter, Smurfette discourse, Captain Lou Albano, ThunderCats, SilverHawks, BraveStarr, M.A.S.K., Robotech, and the eternal question: which beloved 80s property deserves another shot, and which one should have stayed in the toy aisle?

    1h 3m

  3. Jun 13

    Domo Arigato, Mrs. Roboto

    This week on The Con Men Show, Dan and Adrian travel from Earth to Eternia for a spoiler-filled walk-through of the 2026 Masters of the Universe movie. Adrian brings the He-Man credentials, Dan brings the toy-history goblin brain, and together they unpack a movie that knows exactly what it is: big, weird, colorful, funny, sincere, and proudly toyetic. They talk childhood memories, the scale of 80s playsets, the silliness and genius of Masters of the Universe character names, Adam’s Earthbound HR career, Teela’s ship, Queen needle drops, Skeletor’s villain buffet, the power living inside Adam, and why sometimes the best thing a movie can do is just be a blast. Along the way, they celebrate Cringer, Man-At-Arms, Evil-Lyn, Trap Jaw, Orko, She-Ra teases, and the eternal truth that a movie about He-Man should probably let He-Man punch stuff. It’s nostalgia without grievance, criticism without cynicism, and a full-force reminder that sometimes grown adults need to sit down, point at the screen, and say: yes, that’s exactly the goofy thing I wanted.

    1h 22m

  4. Jun 6

    Summer Luvin'

    Summer has arrived, and The Con Men are feeling nostalgic. Dan and Adrian take a winding trip through the traditions, memories, and pop culture touchstones that made summer special. From Southern heat and humidity to summer camps, swimming lessons, family vacations, church trips, beach days, and childhood rites of passage, the conversation explores how summer shaped a generation. Along the way, they celebrate summer blockbuster movies, revisit classics like The Great Outdoors and National Lampoon’s Vacation, reminisce about VCR programming and rerun season, and imagine what the ultimate summer-themed convention might look like. It’s a laid-back conversation about memories, traditions, and why summer still occupies a special place in our collective imagination.

    1h 18m

  5. May 30

    The One About The Mandalorian and Grogu

    🚀 THIS WEEK ON THE CON MEN SHOW! 🚀 A mysterious Imperial warlord! A runaway Hutt heir! A bounty hunter with a score to settle! And one tiny green force-wielding chaos goblin standing between peace and absolute mayhem! Dan and Adrian strap into the cockpit and punch it to hyperspace as they break down The Mandalorian & Grogu — a Star Wars adventure packed with monsters, Mandalorians, dogfights, double-crosses, and enough pulp-action energy to fill a Saturday matinee for a month! Is this the triumphant return of Star Wars to the silver screen? Does Din Djarin’s biggest adventure yet soar among the stars? And can Grogu save the galaxy while simultaneously causing every possible problem? Tune in and find out! 🎙️ The Con Men Show #32⭐ The Mandalorian & Grogu Special

    1h 16m

  6. May 23

    Con Wars Episode XXXI: The Fandom Menace - The Toxic Side of the Force

    This week, Dan and Adrian limp across the finish line on approximately one functioning brain cell and somehow end up having one of their most honest conversations yet. What starts as tech issues, Bluetooth confusion, and convention-road exhaustion spirals into a surprisingly thoughtful discussion about toxic fandoms, gatekeeping, nostalgia, reboots, and why people get so weirdly territorial about the things they love. From Star Wars and Star Trek to Battlestar Galactica, Critical Role, Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, and even the infamous 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie, the guys unpack the strange cultural cycle of fandom outrage, ragebait grifters, “lazy writing” discourse, and studios weaponizing criticism against audiences. Along the way, they explore the difference between healthy critique and toxic gatekeeping — including Dan confessing to accidentally gatekeeping Star Wars from his own kid in a Disney gift shop over a Bespin Cloud Car toy.

    59 min

  7. May 15

    Cars Can’t Run in Space… Family Can

    This week on The Con Men Show, Dan and Adrian somehow begin with tabletop roleplaying games, detour through cosplay discourse, spiral into Moulin Rouge appreciation, take an unexpected international food tour, and eventually land on the question: what terrible movie ideas somehow became billion-dollar franchises? Along the way: D&D nostalgia, Robotech memories, Shadowrun chummers, Paris travel stories, and the realization that the LEGO Movie absolutely should not have worked as well as it did. The guys break down cinematic long shots like Pirates of the Caribbean, Clue, Phone Booth, The Purge, Fast & Furious, and Roadhouse while trying to invent the perfect “bad” movie concept that Hollywood would still greenlight immediately. There’s also a heartfelt defense of Mission: Impossible, a discussion about why Paris feels uniquely Paris, and an important public service announcement about not flying overseas just to eat at McDonald’s. Also in this episode: * Slug Killer Leia * Fast food convention pitches * Why Tim Curry makes everything better * Why cars absolutely cannot run in space * Why “family” apparently can * And one deeply concerning ogre roleplaying story involving roadside bandits and cannibalism

    1h 15m

  8. May 8

    Warm Blankets and Cold Reboots

    This week, The Con Men Show opens where all serious cultural criticism should begin: with action figures, shelf math, and the adult collector’s sacred distinction between “playing with toys” and “building dioramas.” From GI Joe displays to Star Wars figures, from still-carded Star Trek toys to one wounded LEGO Shuttle Discovery, Dan and Adrian stumble directly into the real topic hiding in plain sight: nostalgia. Because comic cons, collectibles, celebrity guests, autographs, and the stories we keep carrying around are all part of the same weird little emotional ecosystem.   From there, the guys dig into the big question: is nostalgia saving pop culture, or slowly eating it from the inside like a very sentimental xenomorph? Star Trek, Star Wars, Picard Season 3, The Matrix sequels, Mortal Kombat, He-Man, Power Rangers, Disney live-action remakes, and the endless parade of reboots all get pulled into the conversation. Sometimes nostalgia gives us exactly what we wanted. Sometimes it gives us almost what we wanted. And sometimes it hands us a thing we used to love and says, “Here, now be disappointed in HD.”     Nostalgia can flatten originality, sure — but it is also the warm blanket we reach for when new stuff asks us to pay attention with our whole tired adult brains. The guys land somewhere between “please make new things” and “yes, obviously we’re still watching the He-Man movie,” which may be the most honest answer available. Nostalgia might be choking the industry, but by golly, it’s still got a comfy grip.

    1h 6m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Adrian and Dan discuss the ins and outs of Comic Book Convention life, fandoms, and sometimes we just have a conversation.

Information

  • Creator
    The Con Men Show
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Con Men Show
  • Show Website
    The Con Men