Ep 8. The Canine Crusaders

In this episode of Comic Book Men, titled The Canine Crusaders, the gang at Kevin Smith's Secret Stash continue to delve into the world of comic book collecting and geek culture.

First up, the guys get a visit from a collector who has a very special item to sell - a set of original production cells from the 1980s cartoon series, Thundercats. Production cells are the individual hand-drawn images that are used to create an animation, and they are highly sought after by collectors. The seller is hoping to get a good price for the cells, but will the guys be willing to pay up for this nostalgic piece of pop culture history?

Next, the guys decide to have a little fun and create their own superhero alter egos. Bryan Johnson, longtime friend and occasional guest on Kevin Smith's podcasts, comes up with the idea of creating the Canine Crusaders, a team of four heroes with dog-themed powers and gadgets. The team consists of Bryan as Captain Canine, Walt Flanagan as Bark Knight, Mike Zapcic as The Fetcher, and Ming Chen as The Woofman. The guys have a blast designing their characters and costumes, but will the Canine Crusaders catch on as a legitimate comic book series?

Later in the episode, another collector comes to the store with a rare issue of the classic comic book, Batman #9. This issue features the first appearance of the villainous Dr. Death, and is highly valuable. However, the book is not in the best condition, and the guys have to determine whether it is worth shelling out the big bucks to add it to their collection.

Finally, the gang gets a surprise visit from actress Rosario Dawson, who has appeared in several of Kevin Smith's films. Dawson is an avid comic book fan and collector, and she comes to the store to sell a rare book from her personal collection - Punisher #1 from 1986. The guys are excited to see such a valuable book, but can they afford to buy it from Rosario, or will they have to let this opportunity slip away?

Overall, The Canine Crusaders is a fun and lighthearted episode that showcases the guys' love of comics and pop culture, as well as their creativity and humor. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing the gang in action once again, as they navigate the ups and downs of the world of comic book collecting.