The Mass Nerder Podcast and guest Michael Walsh celebrated their 150th episode with a live show to a packed house at Hamilton’s Arcade

Mass Nerder performs live to a packed room – Photo By Mia Rosa

Ally Blundy, James “Cubby” Nelan in his sweet R2D2 hat and Cole Rispin of The Mass Nerder Podcast – Photo By Jeff Fitzgerald

Standing Room Only

Hamilton, Ontario – Higher Mentality’s own cannabis infused pop culture podcast, Mass Nerder celebrated their 150th milestone episode by hosting their very first live show at licensed retro-arcade aptly named, Arcade Hamilton. The show itself was packed. By the time the show started, there was standing room only.

“We thought five people would show up.”, said show creator Cole Rispin who also produces and hosts the podcast. “I’m so happy that it was such a good turn out. We’re all so grateful.” Along with Rispin, the show is co-hosted by cos-player Ally Blundy, musician Cubby Nelan and his brother Ben Rispin, also know for hosting Puff Digital’s Into The Weeds Podcast.

Host Cole Rispin laughs with the crowd at The Mass Nerder 150th episode celebration – Photo By Jeff Fitzgerald

Mass Nerder and Michael Walsh

The foursome welcomed comic book creator, and show regular Michael Walsh . Walsh has recently made major waves in the medium working with companies like Marvel, DC, Image, Archie Comics and IDW. Also discussed was Comeback. Walsh and co-creator Ed Brisson.

Cubby, Cole, Ben and Mike Walsh at Mass Nerder Live – Photo By Tommy Bowden 

Live show breakdown

The show started as it normally does, with the crew sharing what they have all recently been consuming. Mass Nerder’s regular format ended up working extremely well in a live setting and the group often had the audience in hysterics. Following this, the group interviewed Walsh about how he broke into comic books and what it was like trying to make it in blue collar Stoney Creek, where he grew up. Walsh also discussed Comeback, his very first graphic novel. Although Walsh himself is insecure about his work on the book, citing that he has grown as an artist, Comeback has been picked up by Sony Entertainment and is being adapted into a feature film. Comeback will be directed by Nacho Vigalondo, who directed the cult comedy dram, Colossal, starring Anne Hathaway and Jason Sedeikis.

Ally Blundy of Mass Nerder – Photo By Jeff Fitzgerald

Ben Rispin of Mass Nerder – Photo By Jeff Fitzgerald

Cubby Nelan of The Mass Nerder Podcast – Photo By Jeff Fitzgerald

The show closed out with a very active question and answer session where audience members asked everything about favourite accomplishments to artist technique. One audience member even asked a “Marry, Fuck, Kill’ question in regards to Marvel, DC, and Image. Walsh, who reluctantly answered, was patient, endearing and well spoken.

MASS NERDER EPISODE 156 DESCRIPTION

[156] Mass Nerder – 150th Live Show Celebration with Michael Walsh [Mar 3, 2020]

Episode 156: This week documents Mass Nerder’s first live appearance to celebrate our 150th episode milestone (although this is actually episode 156 ) We’re joined live by friend-to-the-show comic book illustrator, writer, and creator Mike Walsh. We discuss what we’re watching, playing and reading, chat with Mike about how he got into the comic book industry, and close the show with an audience Q&A that shouldn’t be missed! No spoilers, but Mike Smith, whom we thank every episode for listening, also makes a cameo. Topics include Spider-Man, Star Wars and Dungeons & Dragons.

Download: https://bit.ly/32GlciV

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/39wH5oU

Apple: https://apple.co/2TwX0Nm

Listen to the full episode here:

Michael Walsh Laughing – Photo By Jeff Fitzgerald

ABOUT MICHAEL WALSH

Featured snippet taken from michaelwalshcomics.com

“Michael Walsh is an Eisner award winning Canadian comic-book creator, based out of Hamilton, Ontario.

In 2013 Michael co-created the IMAGE comic book series COMEBACK (soon to be a major motion picture) . After this, Michael launched a follow-up to the hit television series the X-FILES for IDW. Since then he has worked primarily with MARVEL COMICS on properties such as Star Wars, Spider-Man, The Avengers, and the X-Men, as well as adapting the Star Wars film THE LAST JEDI. In 2019 Michael was the artist and colourist of the hit DARK HORSE x DC COMICS crossover, Black Hammer/Justice League.

His publishers include Marvel comics, DC Comics. Dark Horse, Valiant, Humanoids, Archie Comics, Titan, Boom!, Dynamite and IDW.”

Photo of Michael Walsh taken from michaelwalshcomics.com

Lots of laughs were had at The Mass Nerder Live Show

ABOUT COMEBACK

featured snippet from the web taken from imagecomics.com 

“Reconnect is more than a company–it’s an opportunity for good. Reconnect can reverse tragedy by sending agents into the past to rescue your mother, your wife, your brother or father or child moments before their untimely death. Mark is one of these agents. He brings the rescued from the past to the present, to a blessed reunion with their loved ones. He saves lives…or does he?”

Comeback is available through Image Comics

Purchase Comeback here:

Ben shows a copy of Jughead:The Hunger – Photo By Jeff Fitzgerald

ABOUT JUGHEAD: THE HUNGER

Featured snippet from the web taken from archiecomics.com

“Jughead Jones has always had an insatiable appetite… but what if his hunger came from a sinister place? When a murderous menace is on the prowl, taking the lives of some of the most well-known and esteemed inhabitants of Riverdale, Jughead and his family’s dark legacy comes to light in this horrifying collection for TEEN+ readers.”

Jughead:The Hunger available here

ABOUT THE MASS NERDER PODCAST

The Mass Nerder Podcast is Higher Mentality’s premiere cannabis infused fan-culture podcast. Hosted by writing duo Cole Rispin (Nerdy Lasagna) & Ben Rispin (Puff Digital’s Into The Weeds Podcast), cosplayer and gamer Ally Blundy, and musician James “Cubby” Nelan (The Reason, Born in the 80’s), Mass Nerder tackles the most controversial topics taking place in our most favourite fictitious worlds. Follow The Mass Nerder Podcast on instagram and Twitter @massnerdercast

The Hosts of Mass Nerder hang out in the basement of Bong Mansion – Photo By James Heaslip

Check out more pictures from Mass Nerder’s live show below!

Ally Blundy of Mass Nerder By Jeff Ftizgerald

Ben Rispin listens to audience question at Mass Nerder Live! – Photo By Jeff Fitzgerald

Group shot! Photo By Hayley Morgan

Big laughs at Mass Nerder Live – Photo By Jeff Fitzgerald

Cole Rispin of The Mass Nerder Cast preps for the live show – Photo By Jeff Fitzgerald

Rispin V. Walsh

Check out even more original content from Higher Mentality

ABOUT PRESS X TO GET HIGH

Press X To Get High and Infuse Doom with last week’s episode

Every Wednesday you’ll find Press X to Get High hosts Jake Reimer, Chris Logan and Ben Pelletier squished together on a couch live streaming on Higher Mentality’s Twitch channel.

Tune in and watch the trio laugh and cough their way through a new lo-fi take on the “variety show” format. An array of colourful characters and guests cover topics like; gaming news, Marvel movies, Japanese anime, and Sativa-dominant hybrids. Their stoned commentary offers deep insight with gems like “0/10 throw it in the trash” or “this game is for people who drink light beer” which keeps their active audience laughing, engaged and chatting along. After one session, you’ll see mediocrely playing video games and passing around massive joints live on the internet is what these three lifelong friends were born to do.

Watch Press X to get High – Episode 54 from HigherMentality420 on www.twitch.tv