Comic News Insider is your podcast for everything comic book, animation, sci-fi and pop culture! With News, reviews and interviews that entertain and excite! Joe Gonzalez approached long time friend, former roommate and comic cohort Jimmy Aquino back in March 2005 about doing a podcast dealing with the comic book medium. Unfortunately, Jimmy had to decline but promised to participate once things began. Joe then approached co-worker/fellow comic nerd Julio Soto to co-host. Comic News Insider was born with Episode 1 on April 13, 2005. Within a few episodes, Jimmy started appearing as a "roving reporter". By the end of 2005 and with 20 episodes in the can, Julio had to step down. Joe again approached Jimmy to co-host. They sat down and mapped out a plan. A weekly formatted show covering the news of the industry with reviews and interviews from all sorts of luminaries from the comic book and entertainment field. Since 2006, they have not missed a week and have delivered on that mandate. CNI, the "Entertainment Weekly" of comic podcasts, continues to bring the fun and the funny! (Hey, it's better than being the "US Weekly" of comic podcasts.) Join Joe and Jimmy every Wednesday to laugh, learn and maybe even love!
Jimmy Aquino is the pretty one. The Asian one. The talent. The one ring to rule them all! And clearly, he's the one writing this bio. It's been said by his ex-girlfriend, "No one loves the sound of his own voice more than you!" And thus, a podcasting legend was born. In his spare time away from CNI, Jimmy tends bar in NYC, dabbles in writing comic books, drops names, drinks heavily and goes to "gentleman's clubs" to rescue girls from the life.
Joe Gonzalez is the mastermind. The tech guy. The editor. CNI sprang from his fertile brain like a fertile brain baby. Normally a behind the scenes kind of guy, Joe takes to the mic like a crack head to his pipe. Often finding that he has to keep the show on track due to his co-host's rambling. He has a real life, full time grown up job that eats at his soul, so he travels often to recharge and curb the insanity. CNI is recorded live from his phat pad in Harlem.
Blair Butler is the cat's meow. A regular writer/producer for G4TV, her on air talent was finally discovered and she is now the resident comic book guru for G4TV. She can be seen regularly on Attack of the Show in her segment "Fresh Ink". (Which, is also her weekly video podcast!) Blair has been known to co-host AOTS, X-PLAY and I'm pretty sure I saw her on a recent episode of NINJA WARRIOR. Due to her extremely busy schedule, she has been unable to appear regularly on CNI for some time now. We still love her! Oh yeah, she's funny, nerdy and purdy.
Other correspondents...
Maria Bernal-Silva is a big ol' geek. She used to be one of the hosts of the now defunct Girls Gone Geek podcast. Acting as their resident Sci-Fi, comic book, and gaming expert. With no outlet for her nerdiness, Comic News Insider called and Maria answered. She did interviews at San Diego Comic-Con 2009 and reported on several panels.
She's also a qualified and working filmmaker in her own right. She used those big Hollywood connections to land an interview with Rob Zombie himself at San Diego Comic-Con 2009. We're quite sure her roving reporting will land her interviews with some of the biggest names in the business. Or at least the guy from Star Wars who said "These aren't the droids you're looking for."
Unemployed Skeletor is the has-been arch enemy of He-Man. After the cancellation of the cartoon in the 80's, he found himself walking aimlessly through life. No job, no hope, no love. He started making his own video blogs and the star was rekindled! Of course, this all came about with his several appearances on CNI. To which the selfish, evil bastard doesn't even acknowledge!
Man, that's evil.
