Season 5, Episode 16: Sluggers of the Beach (The Final Round)

Welcome sport's fans to the final episode of season five! The road of champions is ending and to send it off, we meet up with Sailor Steve Costigan in "Sluggers of the Beach"! This one has treasure maps, pirates, boxing, and of course the lovable humor of Steve! We also discuss the boxing season as a whole and unveil where we are headed next!

One Things
Jon: Jack Kirby 100 by TwoMorrow's Publishing
Luke: Mr. Robot on USA
Josh: William Gibson's cyberpunk tales

Beginning next month it's the spooktacular tradition you all know and love, CROMTOBER!

After that we begin our journey to the Road to Lankhmar!

Questions? Comments? Curses?

Email us! (thecromcast at gmail dot com), You know you want to follow us on Twitter!
Subscribe to our feed on FeedBurner!
Or, check us out on iTunes!
We're also on Stitcher Radio and Google Play!
Finally.... Call us! (859)429-CROM!

Legal Mumbo-Jumbo
Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Beginning theme: Sudden Defeat by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.

Closing theme: The Hand of John L. Sullivan by Flogging Molly.
All music was obtained legally; we hope our discussion of this content makes you want to go out and purchase the work!

Season 5, Episode 15: Vikings of the Gloves (Steve's in a Pickle!)

Welcome back, Cromrades! We are closing in on the last of our journeys with Sailor Steve Costigan, at least for a while. But first things first! This week, Costigan sneaks into a "Scandinavians Only" boxing tournament, only to find himself in a "durned if I do, durned if I don't" situation! Will Steve lose the match to save The Sea Girl at the risk of losing his reputation as the fightin'est sailor on the Seven Seas? Or will he will he win, and lose The Sea Girl in so doing? Find out, in "Vikings of the Gloves!"

The cover of Fight Stories, February 1932

 Check out our friend Michael McHenry's project, Gathering Storm Magazine! Short fiction, poetry, and odds and ends to "tickle the mind!" You won't be disappointed!

One Things
Jon: Hunter S. Thompson Hell's Angels book
Luke: The Very Bad Wizards podcast
Josh: Elder Sign the board game. And friendship.

Next Week: We close out the Road of Champions on the coast! It's "Sluggers on the Beach!"

Questions? Comments? Curses?
Email us! (thecromcast at gmail dot com), You know you want to follow us on Twitter!
Subscribe to our feed on FeedBurner!
Or, check us out on iTunes!
We're also on Stitcher Radio and Google Play!
Finally.... Call us! (859)429-CROM!

Legal Mumbo-Jumbo
Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Beginning theme: Sudden Defeat by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.

Closing theme: Rush - In The End. (A song by which to hold your lover.)
All music was obtained legally; we hope our discussion of this content makes you want to go out and purchase the work!

The Cromcast S5E14: The Apparition in the Prize Ring

In today's episode we read the tale "Apparition in the Prize Ring" or "The Spirit of Tom Molyneaux". As boxing story this REH production is in tip top shape, but there are some issues with it that we discuss at length!

One Things
Jon: Dynamite Comics' SHAFT series!
Josh: The oldschool gaming podcast Graveyard Duck!
Luke: Metal band Mountaineer!



Next up: The Vikings of the Gloves, it's Steve Costigan somehow fighting against and for the pride of Scandinavia!

Questions? Comments? Curses?
Email us! (thecromcast at gmail dot com), You know you want to follow us on Twitter!
Subscribe to our feed on FeedBurner!
Or, check us out on iTunes!
We're also on Stitcher Radio and Google Play!
Finally.... Call us! (859)429-CROM!

Legal Mumbo-Jumbo
Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Beginning theme: Sudden Defeat by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.

Closing theme: Jackie Wilson; (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher
All music was obtained legally; we hope our discussion of this content makes you want to go out and purchase the work!

Season 5 Episode 5: Champ of the Forecastle

Welcome back, ya blank dash dash blanks! We've got a bruiser of a story for you this week, full of love, betrayal, and redemption! It's Champ of the Forecastle by Robert E. Howard (read it on WikiSource). When Costigan trains up his pal Sven to take on the competition for his lady's affection, bein' a real stand up guy that way, things don't go exactly as planned!

One Things

Jon: I'm Proud of You by Tim Madigan.  

Josh: The podcast Hero Unabridged, by our pal Murf.

Luke: The Black Dahlia by James Elroy.

Next episode: The TNT Punch! DY-NO-MIIIIIIITE!

Questions? Comments? Curses?

Email us! (thecromcast at gmail dot com), You know you want to follow us on Twitter! Subscribe to our feed on FeedBurner! Or, check us out on iTunes! We're also on Stitcher Radio and Google Play! Finally.... Call us! (859)429-CROM!

Legal Mumbo-Jumbo
Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Beginning theme: Sudden Defeat by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.

Closing theme: Terry Obradaigh by The Tossers from their album "On A Fine Spring Morning". All music was obtained legally; we hope our discussion of this content makes you want to go out and purchase the work!

Season 5 Episode 4: The Bulldog Breed

Howdy Cromrades and welcome to our latest stop along the road of champions! This week we join our protagonist Sailor Steve in the far away port of Hong Kong and go on a rollicking adventure. Giggle with delight as we meet Mike the Bulldog, Steve's stalwart canine companion. Gasp with shock as Mike is assaulted by the brutish Francois. Cheer with joy as Steve avenges his bulldog buddy's honor and accidentally his captain's as well!

Read up on why human's and dogs are so close:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-human-beast/200904/why-are-humans-and-dogs-so-good-living-together

Take a gander at the Wikipedia entry on Jack Dempsey:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Dempsey

One Things

Jon: Silver Screen Fiend by Patton Oswalt

Luke: Arrival (2016), directed by Denis Villeneuve. Pre-order it from Amazon! (It's a beautiful film! So nice he loved it twice)

Josh: Skyrim! Specifically, being a magic person in said game

Questions? Comments? Curses?
Email us! (thecromcast at gmail dot com), You know you want to follow us on Twitter! Subscribe to our feed on FeedBurner! Or, check us out on iTunes! We're also on Stitcher Radio and Google Play! Finally.... Call us! (859)429-CROM!

Legal Mumbo-Jumbo
Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Beginning theme: Sudden Defeat by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.

Closing theme: Bluesman Tom Larsen's "Bulldog"  All music was obtained legally; we hope our discussion of this content makes you want to go out and purchase the work!

Season 5, Episode 3: The VCRP Present Waterfront Fists!

Welcome back, Cromrades! This week we have a special episode, the Violet Crown Radio Players adaptation of Howard's Waterfront Fists!

By way of an explanation, this is a re-release of an recording provided to us by long-time friend of the show, Mark Finn! Besides Finn's scholarship and role as an editor for Skelos Magazine, Mark served as the creative director of the Violet Crown Radio Players from 2002-07. Unfortunately this group is defunct, but if you want to read more about them, check out their blog here. During the group's hey-day, however, Mark adapted Howard's classic "Sailor Steve Costigan" story, Waterfront Fists. Mark approached us about sharing the troupe's recording of that adaptation here on the Cromcast, and of course we jumped at the chance to showcase the performance!

Waterfront Fists was first published by Howard back in September of 1930 in Fight Stories (cover below). This story happens to be in the public domain like the Conan stories we've been reading and discussing, so if you're looking to read the original text, check it out here on Project Gutenberg!

Questions? Comments? Curses?
Email us! (thecromcast at gmail dot com), You know you want to follow us on Twitter! Subscribe to our feed on FeedBurner! Or, check us out on iTunes! We're also on Stitcher Radio and Google Play! Finally.... Call us! (859)429-CROM!

Legal Mumbo-Jumbo 
Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ The beginning tune is Moon Mullican's "Pipeliner Blues." The audio drama is Robert E. Howard's Waterfront Fists, as adapted by Mark Finn and performed by the Violet Crown Radio Players. 

Season 5, Episode 2: The Pit of the Serpent (The Original Thrilla in Manila!)

Welcome back, Cromrades! This week, we set sail for Manila with Sailor Steve Costigan and the crew of the Sea Girl. Costigan has a little coin in his pocket and is looking for some rest and relaxation. Little does he suspect, he'll be facing down Bat Slade toe to toe in THE PIT OF THE SERPENT!  This, the first Sailor Steve Costigan story, was originally published in the July 1929 issue of Fight Stories. 

You don't need to travel back in time with two dimes to find a copy though! You can read it in Boxing Stories by Buffalo Press, or Waterfront Fists and Others. Either would be a fine addition to your bookshelf. No extra ducats? You can find the story on WikiSource! 

One Things

Jon: The Art of the B Movie (Treat yourself to some fine film art, and fun movie posters!)

Luke: Arrival (2016), directed by Denis Villeneuve. Pre-order it from Amazon! (It's a beautiful film!)

Josh: The science fiction space fantasy film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Play some Star Wars games! We recommend Shadows of the Empire, Tie Fighter, and Knights of the Old Republic! (We are one with the Force, the Force is with us!)

Next time we set sail, we'll meet Mike, Costigan's bulldog companion in The Bull Dog Breed. (Read it on WikiSource!)

Questions? Comments? Curses?

Email us! (thecromcast at gmail dot com), You know you want to follow us on Twitter! Subscribe to our feed on FeedBurner! Or, check us out on iTunes! We're also on Stitcher Radio and Google Play! Finally.... Call us! (859)429-CROM!

Legal Mumbo-Jumbo
Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Beginning theme: Sudden Defeat by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.

Closing theme: A classic by The Rolling Stones, "Street Fighting Man."  All music was obtained legally; we hope our discussion of this content makes you want to go out and purchase the work!

Season 5, Episode 1: Boxing Training with Chris Gruber and Mark Finn!

Welcome back Cromrades! On today's inaugural episode of Season 5, we begin our exploration of Robert E. Howard's fight stories! On board to induct us into the cult of masculinity and the world of boxing pulps are Cromcast stalwart Mark Finn, and making his first appearance on the show, Chris Gruber! Chris serves as an editor of Skelos: The Journal of Weird Fantasy and Dark Fiction, and edited "Boxing Stories" by Bison Books which collects sixteen of Howard's boxing tales. If you're looking for a more comprehensive collection of Howard's boxing stories, you'll want to check out the four-volume Fists of Iron set published by the Robert E. Howard Foundation!

Fists at the Ice House, from Robert E. Howard Days, 2016.

Chris and Mark have been pivotal in bringing Howard's boxing stories into the limelight, and we have an excellent conversation about these stories, their place in Howard's literary canon, and why they should be as widely read and discussed as the Conan, Kull, and Solomon Kane stories.

Have you listened to Waterfront Fists yet? Find it here!

Looking to dig further into fight stories and boxing pulps? Check out The Best Boxing Stories Ever Told!

Want some insight into why fighters fight? Mark recommended On Boxing by Joyce Carol Oates.

One Things
Luke: The Black Mirror Christmas Special!
Josh: Krampus, from 2015, directed by Michael Dougherty.
Mark: Shut Eye, a Hulu Original series.
Chris: Hell on Wheels!
Jon: Luke Cage, a Netflix Original series!

We also recommend Mark's podcast The Gentlemen Nerds! If you check them out, tell them The Cromcast sent you!

Also, listen to Chris Gruber's lecture "Robert E. Howard : boxing and the cult of masculinity" from June 2016 at St. John's College!


Legal Mumbo-Jumbo

Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Beginning theme: Sudden Defeat by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.

Closing theme: The eponymous track from the Dropkick Murphy's album The Warrior's Code. All music was obtained legally; we hope our discussion of this content makes you want to go out and purchase the work!

Season 5: The Road of Champions

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-boxer-rich-chegwidden.html

Put 'em up, Cromrades! We're back with a preliminary list of stories for Season 5: The Road of Champions!

EP 1: Boxing training
An introduction to boxing, Howard’s boxing fascination, and the stories he wrote

EP 2: The Pit of the Serpent (1929)
Introducing Sailor Steve Costigan in his first tale!

EP 3: The Bulldog Breed (1930)
The first appearance of Mike the bulldog, Steve’s constant companion

EP 4: Christmas Special! The Two-Fisted Santa Claus!
Technically listed as a Dorgan tale, but a boxing Christmas story is too good to pass up!

EP 5: Champion of the Forecastle (Nov 1930)
We get to meet more of the crew on Steve’s boat, The Sea Girl

EP 6: The TNT Punch (Jan 1931)
Sailor Steve helps to raise bail for another boxer in South Africa

EP 7: Iron Men by Robert E. Howard
Howard writes about tough boxers and their fighting style

EP 8: Iron Men in Cinema
Rocky / Requiem for a Heavyweight

EP 9: Meet Dennis Dorgan in The Destiny Gorilla
Who is Dennis Dorgan? Is he his own man or is he perhaps Steve Costigan?!

EP 10: His Brother’s Keeper by Dashiell Hammet
A half-wit boxer’s eulogy for his brother that betrayed him

EP 11: Boxing Noir in the Cinema
Viewing The Set-Up (1949)

EP 12: Texas Fists (May 1931)
Costigan returns home to Texas!

EP 13: The Breed of Battle (Nov 1931)
Mike the Bulldog is dognapped! Steve must save him!

EP 14: The Apparition in the Prize Ring (1929)
Featuring Ace Jessel!

EP 15: Vikings of the Gloves (1932)
Costigan battles a Swede!

EP 16: Sluggers on the Beach (1934)
The last published Costigan story

EP 17: The Final Round: Boxing Season Retrospective

You can get the majority of these stories in the collection "Waterfront Fists and Others The Collected Fight Stories of Robert E Howard." We'll post links to open source options as we move through the season!

Email us! (thecromcast at gmail dot com), You know you want to follow us on Twitter! Subscribe to our feed on FeedBurner! Or, check us out on iTunes! We're also on Stitcher Radio and Google Play! Finally.... Call us! (859) 429-CROM!