Classic Comics Cavalcade

Jason Sacks
  • 4.7 (16)
  • Books
  • Updated Monthly

We explore all areas of comic book history in our own unique way. You'll have fun, get insights and learn a lot at the same time.

  1. Aug 27

    Jim Shooter's Masterstroke: Inside Valiant's Unity Crossover

    In this deep-dive episode of Classic Comics Cavalcade, hosts Jason Sacks and Carl Smith continue their history of Valiant Comics, focusing on the landmark "Unity" crossover event. They explore how Jim Shooter and his team leveraged Valiant's tightly interconnected line of titles — Magnus Robot Fighter, Archer & Armstrong, X-O Manowar, Harbinger, Shadowman, and Solar Man of the Atom — into an ambitious, line-wide event that launched new series and reshaped the shared universe. The pair debate the surprisingly divisive Frank Miller and Walt Simonson covers, dig into character arcs (including Sonar/Erica's unsettling storyline), rank the strongest and weakest issues, and trace Valiant's meteoric sales rise. They also cover the company's eventual decline, the disastrous Deathmate crossover with Image Comics, and share collecting tips on omnibus editions and back-issue hunting. A must-listen for '90s comics fans. Timestamps: 00:00:05 – Intro: continuing the history of Valiant Comics, wrapping up the pre-Unity era00:13:39 – Life in the Valiant bullpen; Frank Miller and Walt Simonson's polarizing Unity covers00:29:30 – Character deep dive: Shadow Man's surprising redemption arc and Sonar/Erica's dark storyline00:52:42 – Assessing Archer & Armstrong post-Barry Windsor-Smith and how the series changes01:10:35 – Valiant's business struggles despite licensing deals; Jim Shooter's "tragic figure" legacy01:17:48 – The Deathmate/Image Comics crossover disaster and Valiant's sales numbers over timeHashtags: #ValiantComics #Unity #JimShooter #ComicBookHistory #MagnusRobotFighter #ArcherAndArmstrong #XOManowar #Harbinger #ShadowMan #FrankMiller #90sComics #ComicBookPodcast #ClassicComics #ComicCollecting #DeathmateComic

  2. Aug 21

    Spider-Man: Brand New Day: Peanut Butter and Teriyaki Sauce

    Is the web-slinger’s latest cinematic outing a masterpiece or a mismatched digression? Join hosts Jason Sacks and Eric Hoffman as they dive deep into the latest Tom Holland Spider-Man film. The duo breaks down why this blockbuster’s emotional core and stunning, real-world New York visuals represent a massive return to form. But it’s not all praise—the hosts pull no punches when dissecting the film's controversial villain choices, underutilized actors, and plotlines that left them completely divided. Tune in to find out if this sequel truly stands at the top of the Marvel hierarchy! Key Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction & Spoiler Warning01:34 - Premium Format Wars: RPX vs AMC XL09:47 - Back to Basics: The Romita Sr. Costume Pop16:31 - Under the Lens: Critiquing Director Daniel Cretton22:53 - The Price of Maturity: The Cost of Growing Up31:33 - Villain or Digression?: The Jean Grey Debate41:52 - The Accountability Problem: A Lack of Consequences

  3. Aug 11

    The Rise of Valiant Comics: From Flop to Fan Phenomenon

    Before they became a massive 1990s comic book phenomenon, Valiant Comics was at its absolute lowest ebb. In this episode, Jason Sacks and Carl Smith dive into the legendary "Pre-Unity" era of Valiant. Learn how industry icon Jim Shooter pivoted away from failed Nintendo games to launch masterclasses in sci-fi storytelling like Magnus Robot Fighter and Solar, Man of the Atom. We explore why these grounded, high-stakes narratives completely blew away the flashy, story-light Marvel and DC books of 1991.Discover the secrets behind "Conan in a can" (I), the toxic teenage drama of Harbinger, and the intricate multi-era continuity that fans still love decades later.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: The Low Ebb of Valiant Comics01:27 – The 1991 Launch of Magnus Robot Fighter05:01 – Solar, Man of the Atom & The Birth of a Shared Universe14:02 – Harbinger: Toxic High Schoolers with Superpowers16:13 – Why X-O Manowar is "Conan in a Can" 28:35 – Pre-Unity vs. Post-Unity: Valiant's Forgotten Integrity#valiantcomics 90sComics #ComicBookHistory #JimShooter #XOManowar #MagnusRobotFighter #ClassicComics #comicbooks

  4. Aug 4

    The Story of Valiant Comics Part 1: Failure

    Jim Shooter saved Marvel in the ’80s—then got fired on the exact same day he met the man who would help him launch Valiant Comics. In Part 1 of our Valiant deep dive, Jason Sacks and Carl Smith break down the chaotic, rarely discussed origins of the label. From a failed multi-million dollar auction to buy Marvel, to printing bizarre, poorly disguised Nintendo advertisement comics, and fighting with the WWF over locker room plot twists, this is the story of how Valiant nearly died as a licensed-property flop before its legendary '90s superhero boom even began. 👇 Episode Chapters 0:00 - Introduction & Meet Carl Smith01:15 - The Untold Backstory of Valiant 02:44 - Jim Shooter’s Vision Post-Marvel 07:18 - The Massive 1980s Marvel Auction 09:00 - Licensing the Classic Gold Key Heroes 10:21 - The Weird Nintendo & Game Boy Era 13:55 - Jim Shooter's Shocking Early Origins 17:24 - The WWF License Flop💬 What do you think was the biggest factor in Valiant's early struggles? Let us know in the comments! #ValiantComics #ComicBookHistory #JimShooter #ComicBooks #RetroComics

  5. Jul 27

    From Hollywood Movie Scripts to Lunch with Jack Kirby: A Comic Editor’s Wild Journey

    From throwing legendary hotel parties with Stan Lee to getting invited to lunch at Jack Kirby's house, comic book editor and industry veteran Dave Elliott has seen it all!In this episode of Classic Comics Cavalcade, Jason Sacks sits down with lifelong comics veteran Dave Elliott to discuss his massive career, his newest project A1 Deadline, and the incredible history of the indie comic scene. Dave pulls back the curtain on what it’s really like backstage at San Diego Comic-Con's Hall H, how Hollywood graphic novel gigs paid his bills for 20 years, and why the industry shouldn't forget the brilliant creators of the 80s and 90s.Plus, Jason shares a phenomenal, must-hear story about a personal press roundtable encounter with Iron Mike Tyson, where a question about pigeons led to an incredibly deep, real moment with the legend himself.If you love comic history, punk rock attitude, and unmatched backstage stories about icons like Jack Kirby, Frank Miller, and Stan Lee, you do not want to miss this interview!✨ Support the Show & Guest:🔹 Check out Dave Elliott's newest book A1 Deadline on BackerKit🔹 Ask for it at your local UK or US comic retailer🔹 Subscribe to the channel for more classic comic history

  6. 12/27/2023

    Talking About Lots of Great Comics

    New comics, classic comics, underground and indie, we cover them all this week!

  7. 11/13/2023

    New Graphic Novels, Zines and Original Art!

    Amir and Jason talk about their latest pickups, including Pee Pee Poo Poo by Caroline Cash, Time Under Tension and Desperate Pleasures by M.S. Harkness, Yummy Fur by Chester Brown, Fielder by Kevin Huizenga; the zines Mineshaft, 1986 and Bubbles, along with some amazing original art by the legendary Trevor Von Eeden. Also a discussion of the most important years of comic book history!

  8. 11/10/2023

    Ryan Claytor talks about his new Kickstarter project, One Bite at a Time

    Ryan Claytor has been creating wonderful comics and other works of art for 20 years now. To celebrate, he's creating a new collection of that twenty years' worth of work, and he wants to invite you along to see how he created it! One Bite at a Time, Ryan's new Kickstarter, is a lovingly produced new project which does that. Ryan joins Jason to chat about the project and why it's something you'll want to have in your own collection!

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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

We explore all areas of comic book history in our own unique way. You'll have fun, get insights and learn a lot at the same time.

Information

  • Creator
    Jason Sacks
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    217
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jason Sacks
  • Show Website
    Classic Comics Cavalcade

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