Better Than Fiction
Film, TV & Pop Culture
About
Your hosts DL Nelson and Scott Sackett will talk comic books, movies, TV, games and art. Whatever they find interesting or entertaining will be discussed.
Episodes
- Episode 587: Episode #581! Uri Tupka and the Gods, Neuromancer and Donald Duck!
Scott reviews William Gibson's award-winning novel, Neuromancer. DL discusses Uri Tupka and the Gods (vol. 1) by Mike Mignola, and Carl Barks Library vol. 7 Lost in the Andes from Fantagraphics.
- Episode 586: Episode #580! Game of Thrones Exhibit, Bizarro Year None and Metal Hurlant!
DL discusses the Game of Thrones exhibit and Carl Barks' Donald Duck vol. 6. Scott reviews Bizarro Year None #1 and Limelight Rush in the 80's. Metal Hurlant issue 4 is also featured in this episode.
- Episode 585: Episode #579! Anthem: Rush in the '70's, Junji Ito Exhibition book and Shogun!
Scott discusses Martin Popoff's book Anthem: Rush in the '70s, the comic Force Works, the Junji Ito Exhibition art book, and the book Shogun.
- Episode 585: Episode #578! Batman, Ra's al Ghul, The Shadow and The Avengers!
This episode covers The Shadow book reprints, Batman: Tales of the Demon, Batman: The Demon Trilogy, and the Avengers omnibus vol.1.
- Episode 584: Episode #577! DC Finest Suicide Squad, Library Book Bingo and Dark!
The hosts discuss the first collected volume of the 80s Suicide Squad under the DC Finest imprint, titled Trial By Fire. They also cover progress on a library book bingo, and mention a couple of TV shows, including The Girl Who Raised The…
- Episode 583: Episode #576! Our Best of 2025!
Episode #576! Our Best of 2025! Better late than never. Our top 5 favorite things from 2025. This episode your hosts Scott Sackett and DLNelson count down their favorite pop culture items (mostly books) they enjoyed last year. Five items.…
- Episode 582: Episode #575! From Shadow To Light, Hero At Large and Brain Damage!
Episode #575! From Shadow To Light, Hero At Large and Brain Damage! Welcome back! This episode Scott brings a couple of comic book creator biographies to the table. N.C. Christopher Couch's Jerry Robinson Ambassador of Comics focuses on th…
- Episode 581: Episode #574! Cryptology and The Fatal Bullet!
Episode #574! Cryptology and The Fatal Bullet! This week we look at Cryptology magazine #1. This issue features articles on Bernie Wrightson, The Munsters, The Addams Family, pre-code horror comics and has classic horror movie reviews. Als…
- Episode 580: Episode #573! Do A Powerbomb, Taschen Fantastic Four and Tulsa!
Episode #573! Do A Powerbomb, Taschen Fantastic Four and Tulsa! This week Scott talks about the gigantic Taschen Fantastic Four book. At over 12 lbs and 700 pages, this monster of a book collects the first 19 issues and annual #1. DL bring…
- Episode 579: Episode #572! The Fantastic Art of Roy Krenkel and The Giant!
Episode #572! The Fantastic Art of Roy G. Krenkel and The Giant! This week we look at three book on two creators. First up Scott has The Giant Orson Wells, The Artist & The Shadow. Written and draw by Youssef Daoudi, The Giant gives re…
- Episode 578: Episode #571! The Shadow and The Wicker Man!
Episode #571! The Shadow and The Wicker Man! This week Scott has The Shadow vol. 5 which features the stories The Black Falcon and The Salamanders. DL has vol.2 Frozen Gold from The Complete Carl Barks Donald Duck Library. Also on this epi…
- Episode 577: Episode #570! THB, Daredevil and Drome!
Episode #570! THB, Daredevil and Drome! This week DL brings two NYCC purchases to the podcast. Finally after 10 years or more in the making, Total THB vol.1 is out. Originally produced as single issues, large format comics and con exclusiv…
- Episode 576: Episode #569! NYCC '25, The Frazetta Art Museum and New York!
Episode #569! NYCC '25, The Frazetta Art Museum and New York! This week we are back talking about our trips to the east coast. While in Pennsylvania, DL (and wife) had the absolute pleasure of a guided tour of the Frazetta Art Museum from…
- Episode 575: Episode #568! Works by Carl Barks, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko!
Episode #568! Works by Carl Barks, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko! This episode we look at a number of books featuring the work of comic's top creators. Scott starts by bringing two very nice Vanguard sketchbooks to the table featuring John Ro…
- Episode 574: Episode #567! The Horror! The Horror!, Disneyland and Elric!
The Horror! The Horror!, Disneyland and Elric! The week Scott talks about his recent trip to Disneyland while visiting southern California. He also talks about scoring a hard to find book while on his trip. DL looks at the wonderfully grue…
- Episode 573: Episode #566! The Chilling Archives of Horror Comics, Night Stalker and a Rebellion Masterpiece Edition!
Episode #566! The Chilling Archives of Horror Comics, The Night Stalker and a Rebellion 2000AD Masterpiece Edition! This week we have four books to discuss. First up is the Mighty Marvel Calendar Book which reprints the seven Marvel calend…
- Episode 572: Episode #565! Hercules Unchained, Dungeons and Dragons World and Realms and Cryptology!
Episode #565! Hercules Unchained, Dungeons & Dragons World & Realms and Cryptology! This week we talks Dungeons & Dragons with a book and a documentary. First, from Ten Speed Press is their next hardcover Worlds & Realms co…
- Episode 571: Episode #564! The Greasy Strangler and The Green Slime!
Episode #564! The Greasy Strangler and The Green Slime! This week we talk about several movies we've watched recently. Scott talks about The Gamma One Sextet: The Green Slime and The Mask of Fu Manchu from the Hollywood Legends Of Horror c…
- Episode 570: Episode #563! Jack Kirby bios, Cryptology and Kevin Smith in OKC!
Episode #563! Jack Kirby bios, Cryptology and Kevin Smith in OKC! This week Scott tells us about the 1981 film Scanners. Kevin Smith was recently in OKC (without Jason Mewes). DL talks a little about the experience and what happened to Mew…
- Episode 569: Episode #562! The Illustrated History of Warren Magazines and Monster Zoo!
Episode #562! The Illustrated History of Warren Magazines and Monster Zoo! This week Scott brings three works from Earthworm Jim creator Doug Tennapel to the table. While he touches on Creature Tech and Ratfist his focus is on his new acqu…
- Episode 568: Episode #561! Foul Play!, Anatomy Drawing Class and Castle of Frankenstein!
Episode #561! Foul Play!, Anatomy Drawing Class and Castle of Frankenstein! This week Scott has the very impressive book Anatomy Drawing Class by Rockhe Kim. He also talks about his recent Godzilla movie marathon (of sorts). And this week…
- Episode 567: Episode #560! All video discussion!
Episode #560! All video discussion! After a long hiatus, we are back with an all video discussion. Scott talks about two documentaries he has recently watched. Pee-Wee As Himself is the new doc about Paul Reubens' life as Pee-Wee Herman. F…
- Episode 566: Episode #559! Meow Wolf Dallas and The Art of John Byrne!
Episode #559! Meow Wolf Dallas and The Art of John Byrne! Back from his trip to Dallas, DL talks about exploring The Real Unreal at Meow Wolf Dallas. Scott brings a 45 year old art retrospective to the table. Also on the table we have the…
- Episode 565: Episode #558! The Technopriests, Swamp Monsters and The Shadow Scrapbook!
Episode #558! The Technopriests, Swamp Monsters and The Shadow Scrapbook! This week we focus on three books. If Scott had a copy of The Shadow Scrapbook while in Junior High, he would have quit school. He talks about one of his favorite bo…
- Episode 564: Episode #557! The Sixth Gun and Pencils vs Pixels!
Episode #557! The Sixth Gun and Pencils vs Pixels! This week we have a tale set in the old west. DL brings the fantasy/horror series The Sixth Gun by Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt to the table. Scott talks Disney documentaries and a book tha…
- Episode 563: Episode #556! El Fuego and Spider-man!
Episode #556! El Fuego and Spider-man! This week we bring a few books to the table. First up we have an end of the world tale from writer, artist David Rubin. El Fuego tells the story of a gifted architect's attempt to create off world hou…
- Episode 562: Episode #555! Blazing Combat and Atlanta!
Episode #555! Blazing Combat and Atlanta! We are finally back with a new episode! Fresh off his trip to Atlanta, Scott tells us all about it and some shops he might have visited. In 1965, publisher Jim Warren and writer/editor Archie Goodw…
- Episode 561: Episode #554! Daredevil Born Again!
Episode #554! Daredevil Born Again! This week your hosts Scott Sackett and DLNelson are back with the new Disney+ show Daredevil: Born Again! After watching the first two episodes, they talk about the plot while breaking down individual sc…
- Episode 560: Episode #553! The All American Art Cartooning, Bond and Mash!
Episode #553! The All American Art Cartooning, Bond and Mash! This week Scott brings two television programs to the pod. First he talks about an anniversary for TV's MASH then he tells us about House of David. DL brings two books from the…
- Episode 559: Episode #552! Bowling With Corpses, Brothers and Alien!
Episode #552! Bowling With Corpses, Brothers and Alien! This week DL brings two illustrated hardcovers to the table. Written and drawn by Mike Mignola, Bowling With Corpses is a collection of eight wonderful fantasy stories. Next is w…
- Episode 558: Episode #551! Paul Smith's The Uncanny X-Men Artist's Edition and The Drifting Classroom!
Episode #551! Paul Smith's The Uncanny X-Men Artist's Edition and The Drifting Classroom! In 1962 Topps unleashed a trading card set like no other. Now from Abrams publishing is the Topps Mars Attacks 50th Anniversary Collection book which…
- Episode 557: Episode #550! Transmetropolitan, Superman vs The Flash and Usagi Yojimbo!
Episode #550! Transmetropolitan, Superman vs The Flash and Usagi Yojimbo! This week we Keep It Real with our takes on TV and comics. First up Scott talks about the comedy series Bookie available on Max. DL does an overview of the Ellis and…
- Episode 556: Episode #549! The Complete Web of Horror, Doom Patrol and A Treasury of XXth Century Murder!
Episode #549! The Complete Web of Horror, Doom Patrol and A Treasury of XXth Century Murder! Welcome back! This week Scott bring a few books to the podcast. First up he has a collection of stories featuring one of his favorite comic book t…
- Episode 555: Episode #548! Our Top Five of '24!
Episode #548! Our Top Five of '24! This week your hosts Scott Sackett and DLNelson are back with their annual Best Of episode. Books, comics, magazines, music, an interactive experience and even a musical is discussed. Also some honorable…
- Episode 554: Episode #547! DC Finest, The Shadow and Doomsday +1!
Episode #547! DC Finest, The Shadow and Doomsday +1! This week Scott brings two serials to the podcast with Zorro's Fighting Legion and Drums of Fu Manchu. He also shows off his score from Lulu. DL has two new Batman collections with…
- Episode 553: Episode #546! Starman, The Shadow and the Marvel calendar!
Episode #546! Starman, The Shadow and the Marvel calendar! It's time for a new Starman. This week DL focuses on the Jack Knight era of the Opal City hero. Scott brings a rare Shadow hardcover to the table along with the new Marvel (reprint…
- Episode 552: Episode #545! Dungeons and Dragons and Hellboy!
Episode #545! Dungeons and Dragons and Hellboy! This week Scott starts off with a couple of movies. First up is 1932's The Most Dangerous Game then is Sinatra in Double Dynamite. After that he has the absolute tome The Making Of Original D…
- Episode 551: Episode #544! Gil Kane The Art of the Comics, Discipline and The Goddess of Pigland!
Episode #544! Gil Kane The Art of the Comics, Discipline and The Goddess of Pigland! This week Scott brings the comic The Goddess of Pigland by his cousin Mario Zecca to the table. He also spotlights the career spanning book Gil Kane The A…
- Episode 550: Episode #543! The Shadow, The Joker and Battlestar Galactica!
Episode #543! The Shadow, The Joker and Battlestar Galactica! This week at the table, Scott brings a Shadow pulp reprint which includes The Voodoo Master and The Red Blot. As if that wasn't enough Shadow, he also directs our attention to D…
- Episode 549: Episode #542! New York Comic Con '24!
Episode #542! New York Comic Con '24! This week DL gives his take on NYCC '24. Besides what he bought, panels he attended and creators met, he also talks about his time at the Society of Illustrators and the Philippe Labaune Gallery. Plus…
- Episode 548: Episode #541! The Wolfman, Starman and King of Kong!
Episode #541! The Wolfman, Starman and King of Kong! This week we revisit the documentary about two rival Donkey Kong video gamers with King of Kong. DL brings the Superman versus Wonder Woman treasury to the table. Scott talks about Unive…
- Episode 547: Episode #540! The Cowboy Wally Show, Petrol Head and Wise Guy!
Episode #540! This week we have trades, a Sopranos documentary and a couple of movies to discuss. First up is the post-apocalyptic, car wars style, street racer chase story Petrol Head by Rob Williams and Pye Parr. Next, is The Cowboy Wall…
- Episode 546: Episode #539! At The Mountains Of Madness and True Romance!
Episode #539! At The Mountains Of Madness and True Romance! Welcome back! This week Scott tells us about the Quentin Tarantino penned film True Romance. Meanwhile, DL has horror works from HP Lovecraft and Richard Corben. First up is Gou T…
- Episode 545: Episode #538! Houses of the Unholy, Kommix and Uncanny X-Force!
Episode #538! Houses of the Unholy, Kommix and Uncanny X-Force! This week DL has comics by Charles Burns, Rick Remender, Ed Brubaker and Sean Phililps. First up, Charles Burns gives us plenty of fake magazine covers in his new book Kommix,…
- Episode 544: Episode #537! Scott's NYC travelogue!
Episode #537! Scott's NYC travelogue! Scott is back from his NYC trip. This week he tells us about his trip, things he bought and his special birthday lunch. Plus Back To The Future the musical! Check it out!
- Episode 543: Episode #536! Joe Matt's Peep Show, Grim Death and Bill The Electrocuted Criminal and Friday book 3!
Episode #536! Joe Matt's Peep Show, Grim Death and Bill The Electrocuted Criminal and Friday book 3! This week we have works by Mike Mignola, Ed Brubaker and the late Joe Matt. First up, Scott tells us about Mike Mignola's Grim Death and B…
- Episode 542: Episode #535! Johnny Future, Golden Age Comics and Nemesis The Warlock!
Episode #535! Johnny Future, Golden Age Comics and Nemesis The Warlock! This week we dive into three collected editions. DL has two collections from Rebellion. First up is The Complete Johnny Future. Written by Alf Wallace and drawn by Lui…
- Episode 541: Episode #534! Mystery Men!
Episode #534! Mystery Men! Before the Marvel Age of movies, super hero films with a few exceptions weren't the box office giants they are today. They hadn't grabbed the general public yet with their limited effects, crude costumes and let'…
- Episode 540: Episode #533! Creepy, Spider-Man Artisan Edition and Southern Knights!
Episode #533! Creepy, Spider-Man Artisan Edition and Southern Knights! John Romita's The Amazing Spider-Man Artisan Edition vol.2 is out. We look over his incredible artwork this week. John Romita isn't the only master illustrator featured…
- Episode 539: Episode #532! You Cannot Kill David Arquette, Sky Captain and Hellboy!
Episode #532! You Cannot Kill David Arquette, Sky Captain and Hellboy! This week your hosts talk Cool Stuff with movies and books. First up, DL tells Scott about the redemption documentary You Cannot Kill David Arquette. Scott talks…