Add to Cart: Book Picks, a Comic Renaissance, and Why Princess Donut Owns Our Hearts

Add to Cart: Book Picks, a Comic Renaissance, and Why Princess Donut Owns Our Hearts

Amazon's buy two, get one free book deal is live, and this episode is a fast hit list of what is actually worth stacking in your cart. The rundown moves from page to screen picks like Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir and the full Hunger Games run by Suzanne Collins, into BookTok favorites like A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, plus the nightstand pile of Fourth Wing and Red Rising that is still waiting to get read. From there it is classics worth revisiting (The Outsiders, Holes, and The Hobbit as the perfect one chapter a night read with kids), a heartfelt nod to Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, and the latest from John Green. The comic corner gets real love this week with Absolute Batman Volume One leading DC's current renaissance and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow standing out as a personal favorite of the decade, with the movie adaptation landing soon. The whole thing builds to one top recommendation that the entire friend group is hooked on right now: Dungeon Crawler Carl, the paperbacks included in the deal, the audiobooks worth the Audible promo, and Princess Donut earning her own hand painted figurines. * 00:00:00 Welcome and the Amazon buy three book deal * 00:00:13 Page to screen: Project Hail Mary and The Hunger Games * 00:00:26 BookTok picks and the growing nightstand pile * 00:00:39 Classics worth revisiting and Born a Crime by Trevor Noah * 00:00:57 Comic corner: Absolute Batman and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow * 00:01:33 The number one pick: Dungeon Crawler Carl * 00:02:10 Princess Donut, figurines, and the Audible deal * 00:02:25 Shop local, used books, and closing thoughts * The Amazon deal applies to full franchises, not single titles, so you can grab every Hunger Games book in one cart instead of just the first one. * BookTok keeps delivering. A Court of Thorns and Roses, Fourth Wing, and Red Rising are the BookTok and nightstand trio worth starting with. * The Hobbit is the standout family read, built for one chapter a night with kids. * Absolute Batman Volume One is proof DC is in a creative renaissance right now, and the trade collections finally make it easy to follow. * Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow carries Saga and Guardians of the Galaxy energy with artwork worth getting tattooed, and it is the source material for the upcoming movie. At seven dollars it is a steal. * Dungeon Crawler Carl is the top recommendation of the week, with paperbacks included in the deal and an Audible three months for a dollar promo making the audiobooks an easy entry point. * Shopping local is always the first suggestion, and Amazon's used book listings from libraries and Goodwill are a solid budget route, even if they sit outside this particular promo. "If you're like me and TikTok will get you buying a book any day of the week, here's some TikTok gold." "It's a renaissance in DC right now, and one of, if not my actual favorite comic books in the last decade." "It's got Saga vibes, kind of Guardians of the Galaxy vibes. There's heart and pain in it, but also just beautiful artwork. Tattoo worthy artwork." "It is my most highly recommended media of everything right now." "If you told me how much I would love a little cat with a tiara on her head. I just want everything for Princess Donut." If you grabbed something off this list or you have a pick we missed, tell us. What is on your nightstand to do list right now, and what should everyone be adding to their cart this week? Send your recommendations and we will read them on the next episode. If this helped you stack a better cart, follow Geek Freaks Headlines, drop a five star review, and share this episode with the reader in your life who needs a new obsession. Tag us with #GeekFreaksHeadlines so we can see what you are reading. Get more geek culture news at https://GeekFreaksPodcast.com [https://GeekFreaksPodcast.com] * Facebook: https://facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast [https://facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast] * Threads: https://threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast [https://threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast] * Patreon: https://patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast [https://patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast]

Mike Myers Teases Austin Powers 4: Nostalgia Trap or Smart Bet?

Yeah, baby... maybe? Mike Myers stopped by Trevor Noah's podcast and lit the fuse on a question fans have been circling for years: are we getting another Austin Powers movie? In this Geek Freaks Headlines breakdown, we unpack Myers' tease, weigh whether the franchise still has a place in 2026, and dig into why the math might actually work even if the films haven't aged gracefully. With Shrek already on his comeback slate, the conversation turns into a bigger debate about nostalgia, mid-budget comedies, and which revival fans would actually welcome. (Hint: Wayne's World keeps coming up.) Topics covered: the Mike Myers Austin Powers tease, the aging-franchise problem, the Scary Movie comedy comparison and its soft box office, the economic case for mid-budget studio comedies, and the revival fans might prefer instead. Timestamps * 0:00 Austin Powers Might Be Back * 0:09 The Nostalgia Problem and an Aging Cast * 0:21 The Scary Movie Comparison * 0:37 The Case for Bringing It Back * 0:52 Your Take in the Comments Key Takeaways * Mike Myers floated the possibility of a new Austin Powers during his Trevor Noah podcast appearance. * The skeptic case is real: the films lean on humor that hasn't aged well, and the cast keeps getting older. * Shrek is already returning for Myers, so an Austin Powers revival would stack onto a growing nostalgia slate. * The new Scary Movie sits in the same tongue-in-cheek, embrace-the-silly comedy lane, but it underperformed at a reported 175 million worldwide. * The counterargument is jobs: mid-budget comedies keep crews working and money moving through Hollywood. * If any Myers revival lands cleanly, a new Wayne's World might be the easier sell. Memorable Quotes "I love nostalgia like every other millennial, but I don't know if we need this one back." "This is one of those mid-budget movies that actually keeps Hollywood flowing, gets people employed, so why not bring it back?" "Mike Myers, you can make something new." We Want to Hear From You Should they make a new Austin Powers movie, or is it time to hang that hat up? Drop your take in the comments and tell us which Myers revival you would actually show up for. Call to Action If you enjoyed this one, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, leave us a rating and review to help more geeks find the show, and share this episode with a friend using #AustinPowers. Read More and Follow Us Get the full story and all our latest coverage at GeekFreaksPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast] Threads: https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast [https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast] Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast [https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast] Austin Powers, Mike Myers, Austin Powers 4, movie news, Shrek 5, Wayne's World, Scary Movie, Hollywood reboots, movie sequels, nostalgia, comedy movies, Trevor Noah podcast, Geek Freaks Headlines, entertainment news, pop culture

Shrek 5: First Real Trailer Breakdown and Why the Swamp Still Hits

The first full trailer for Shrek 5 finally arrived, and this episode breaks down everything it shows one year out from release. We cover the new footage, the storybook opening that pays homage to original author William Steig, and our best look yet at the redesigned Shrek and Donkey. The trailer takes the whole Shrek family, now with adult kids in tow, to a new and noticeably rainier corner of the map that feels less friendly than the Far Far Away fans know. The standout gag is a creepy snowman who reads a lot like a parody of Olaf, and it sets the tone for a movie that looks ready to have a lot of fun. We run through the returning trio of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz, plus the new generation joining the cast: Zendaya as daughter Felicia, with Marcello Hernandez and Skyler Gisondo as her triplet brothers Fergus and Farkle, the same babies fans met in Shrek Forever After. There is also good news behind the camera, with franchise veterans Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon back in the director chairs. From there it gets personal with some millennial nostalgia, a Toys R Us Shrek 2 stocking story, and an appreciation for one of the all-time great DVD menus. Timestamps * 0:00 First real trailer for Shrek 5 and our best look at the redesign * 0:08 Storybook opening and the homage to author William Steig * 0:17 The Shrek family heads to a new, rainier location * 0:25 The Olaf-style snowman and the movie's sense of fun * 0:33 Returning cast and the new generation joining * 0:52 Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon back in the director chairs * 1:02 Release date, the 26 year gap, and franchise nostalgia * 1:21 DVD menu appreciation and signing off Key Takeaways * The first full Shrek 5 trailer is here, releasing one year ahead of the June 30, 2027 launch * It opens on a storybook that pays homage to original Shrek author William Steig * This is the clearest look yet at the redesigned Shrek and Donkey, and the new look plays better in motion * The family travels to a new location that looks rainier and less welcoming than Far Far Away * The standout moment is a creepy snowman in the style of Olaf * Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz all return * Zendaya voices daughter Felicia, with Marcello Hernandez and Skyler Gisondo as triplet brothers Fergus and Farkle, first seen as babies in Shrek Forever After * Franchise veterans Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon are directing * Shrek 5 arrives 26 years after the original 2001 film Memorable Quotes * "It's our best look yet at what Shrek and Donkey look like after they're a bit of a redesign." * "The best bit by far is coming across a snowman, very much like Olaf." * "They're gonna have a lot of fun with this one." * "If you watched that first movie, how those knees feeling?" Call to Action If you enjoyed the breakdown, subscribe to Geek Freaks Headlines so you never miss an episode. Leave us a rating and review, since it genuinely helps more geeks find the show. Share this one with the friend who still quotes Shrek 2 and tag your post with #Shrek5. We want to hear from you, so send in your questions and hot takes and we will read them on a future episode. What did you think of the redesign? Get all our latest news at https://GeekFreaksPodcast.com [https://GeekFreaksPodcast.com] Follow Geek Freaks * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast] * Threads: https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast [https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast [https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast] Apple Podcast Tags Shrek 5, Shrek, DreamWorks, Shrek 5 trailer, Zendaya, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Felicia, Fergus and Farkle, Marcello Hernandez, Skyler Gisondo, Walt Dohrn, Conrad Vernon, animated movies, movie trailers, geek news, pop culture, Far Far Away, Shrek Forever After

Chris Evans Confirms Captain America Returns for Secret Wars

Cap is coming home. Chris Evans appears to have confirmed what a lot of us already suspected, that Steve Rogers is suiting up again for the next chapter of the Avengers saga. The confirmation did not come from a press release or a Marvel panel. It came from a personalized anniversary video that surfaced through Instagram user Jessica Zebrowski, who goes by Comic-Con Mom, in which Evans casually mentions he starts work on the next one in a couple of months. For a return this big, it is a wonderfully low-key way to drop the news. In this episode we break down what Evans actually said, how it lines up with the assumption that Steve Rogers survives Doomsday, and why Secret Wars is shaping up to be an Endgame-style reunion that pulls every corner of the MCU back into frame. We also get into the likely scale of his role, why the heavy lifters of Doomsday may step back for Secret Wars, and which characters, from X-Men and Deadpool to the Disney Plus crowd like Moon Knight, could be set up to carry the franchise forward. * 0:00 Chris Evans hints at a Captain America return * 0:23 The anniversary video and Evans confirming the next one * 0:36 Will Steve Rogers survive Doomsday and how big is his role * 0:55 Doomsday and Secret Wars release dates plus final thoughts * Chris Evans signaled he is in the next Avengers film, with production starting in a couple of months. * The reveal came through a personalized anniversary video shared by Instagram user Jessica Zebrowski, known as Comic-Con Mom. * Steve Rogers is expected to survive Doomsday and appear in Secret Wars. * Secret Wars looks set to be an Endgame-level reunion bringing the wider roster back together. * Characters with major Doomsday roles may take smaller parts in Secret Wars, while future-facing names like X-Men, Deadpool, and Moon Knight could move into the spotlight. * Avengers: Doomsday is slated for December 18th, with Secret Wars following the next year on December 17th. "I can tell you that I start work on the next one in a couple months, so I'm in the next one." "Secret Wars, much like Endgame, is just going to bring everybody out of the woodwork." If you are hyped to see this team come back together, do us a favor and subscribe so you never miss a headline. Leave us a review to help more geeks find the show, and share this episode with the Marvel fan in your life using #GeekFreaks. We want to hear it. Get the full story and more daily geek news at https://geekfreakspodcast.com/ [https://geekfreakspodcast.com/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast] * Threads: https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast [https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast [https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast] * Frank: @franklourence79 * Thomas: @thomascraigviii Do you think Steve Rogers gets a major moment in Secret Wars, or a quiet cameo? Send us your theories and questions and we may read yours on a future episode. Captain America, Chris Evans, Steve Rogers, Secret Wars, Avengers Doomsday, Marvel, MCU, Marvel Cinematic Universe, comic con, X-Men, Deadpool, Moon Knight, Disney Plus, Marvel Studios, superhero movies, geek news, pop culture, fandom, comic books, movie news TimestampsKey TakeawaysMemorable QuotesCall to ActionFollow UsListener Questions

Paramount Warner Bros Merger Approved: Why This $111 Billion Deal Should Be Stopped

The Department of Justice just approved the Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery deal, and it is the biggest media story of the week. In this quick hit episode of Geek Freaks Headlines, Frank breaks down what the $111 billion sign-off actually means, which regulators are still standing in the way, and why he believes this merger is bad news for fans, creators, and the entertainment industry as a whole. This is the largest federal hurdle the deal had to clear, and now that Washington has stepped aside, the conversation shifts to the state attorneys general and overseas regulators who could still slow it down. Frank also lays out exactly which franchises and brands would end up under the same corporate umbrella, from DC and Harry Potter to Star Trek and Top Gun, and makes the case for why all of that consolidation should worry you. * 0:00 DOJ Approves the $111 Billion Paramount and Warner Bros Deal * 0:16 The Studios and Franchises Being Combined * 0:25 Why Frank Thinks This Deal Should Be Stopped * 0:33 What Comes Next and Final Thoughts * The DOJ has approved the Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery deal valued at $111 billion, clearing the biggest federal antitrust hurdle the merger faced. * The fight is not over. The California AG, New York, and nearly a dozen other states are still reviewing the deal, along with regulators in the UK and EU. * Australia cleared the deal on June 9 and Germany cleared it earlier this year, so international approvals are starting to stack up. * The combined company would unite DC, Harry Potter, Looney Tunes, and CNN with Paramount franchises like Star Trek, Top Gun, and Mission: Impossible. * Frank's take is that this consolidation hampers creativity and leads to job losses, making it a win for the Ellisons and wealthy investors but a bad deal for everyone else. "The DOJ just approved the Paramount and Warner Brothers deal for $111 billion. This clears the federal antitrust hurdle." "In my opinion, this deal has to be stopped. It will hamper creativity. It will be job losses." "This is a big win for them. As we get more information, I'll make sure to share it." For the full breakdown and all our latest coverage, head to GeekFreaksPodcast.com, your home for geek culture news. Follow us and join the conversation: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast] Threads: https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast [https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast] Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast [https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast] Where do you land on this one? Do you think the state AGs can actually stop the merger, or is this deal already a done deal? Send us your questions and hot takes and we may read them on a future episode. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, leave us a rating and review, and share it with a fellow geek using #Hollywood so more people can join the discussion. Paramount, Warner Bros, WBD merger, DOJ approval, Paramount Skydance, David Ellison, Hollywood mergers, antitrust, media consolidation, Star Trek, DC, Harry Potter, Top Gun, entertainment news, streaming wars, geek culture, film news, Geek Freaks Headlines TimestampsKey TakeawaysMemorable QuotesStay ConnectedJoin the ConversationSupport the Show