The Comics Canon (The Comics Canon)
Explorez tous les épisodes de The Comics Canon
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Sep 2023 | Episode 195 –Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut! and The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man | 01:03:08 | |
In this episode, we swing back into our Spidey Super Stories miniseries with a pair of acclaimed Spider-Man tales from the early 80s: The two-part Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut from Amazing Spider-Man #229-230, and The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man, from Amazing Spider-Man #248! First, everyone’s favorite wall-crawler races to stop the X-Men villain Juggernaut from kidnapping the psychic Madame Web, only to find that such a task is easier said than done as the relentless behemoth leaves a trail of destruction in his wake! Then, Spider-Man pays a nighttime visit to his biggest fan. Join us as we ask the burning questions: Why does ol’ web-head reveal his greatest secret to young Tim Harrison? Can our overmatched, outclassed hero prevail against an unstoppable force as the Juggernaut? And can these stories make a dent in that immovable object known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Seriously, why does the Juggernaut need a force field? · Assistant Editors’ Month at The Daily Bugle · 1977’s Iron Fist #11-12 · Silver Surfer: New Dawn and Worlds Apart, by Dan Slott and Mike Allred · Doctor Who: School Reunion · Nothing can kill the Grimace
Join us in two weeks as we wrap up our Spidey Super Stories miniseries with Shed from Amazing Spider-Man #630-633! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 02 Aug 2023 | Episode 192 – The Superior Spider-Man: My Own Worst Enemy (With Marvel by the Month) | 01:29:57 | |
Bryan Stratton and Robb Milne from the Marvel by the Month podcast join once again us as Spidey Super Stories continues with a look at The Superior Spider-Man: My Own Worst Enemy, collecting The Superior Spider-Man (2013) issues 1-5 by Dan Slott, Ryan Stegman and Giuseppe Camuncoli, published by Marvel Comics! Doctor Otto Octavius, one of Spider-Man’s deadliest enemies, is in control of the wall-crawler’s body! And he’s vowed to be a better Spider-Man than Peter Parker ever was, utilizing his technological genius in a more aggressive approach to crimefighting in a story that not-so-subtly pokes fun at the Distinguished Competition’s Caped Crusader! Can Peter’s hapless spirit keep the former Doc Ock from ruining Spidey’s reputation—or wooing his ex, Mary Jane Watson? And does this “superior” Spider-Man have what it takes to Face/Off against ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Are there fewer “great” Spider-Man stories than there should be? · A good couple of minutes on the Spider-Buggy, of all things · Sandman Mystery Theatre Compendium One · The Death of Captain Stacy from Amazing Spider-Man #88-90 · Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor Vol. 5 · Radiant Black Vol. 1: (Not So) Secret Origin Join us in two weeks as Spidey Super Stories continues with Ultimate Spider-Man: Confessions! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 15 Apr 2020 | Episode 108 – Superior Foes of Spider-Man Vol. 1: Getting the Band Back Together | 01:15:01 | |
It’s hard out here for a C-list supervillain. You’ve got the basic lack of respect, your super-powered parole officer ... and then there’s the constant bickering and backstabbing that threaten to tear your crew apart faster than your not-so-friendly neighborhood Spider-Man ever could! At least, that’s the problem facing the five members of the Sinister Six in the hilarious Superior Foes of Spider-Man Vol. 1: Getting the Band Back Together, by Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber, published by Marvel Comics! Can these fractious felons survive the machinations of the Chameleon, the Owl and their own leader, the double-crossing Boomerang? And can this quarrelsome quintet graduate into that Secret Society of Super-Villains known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we commemorate the 25th anniversary of Marvels with a discussion of (what else?) Astro City: Life in the Big City! Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! | |||
| 14 Mar 2018 | Episode 54 – Avengers Origins | 01:08:51 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin look forward to the April 27 release of Avengers: Infinity War by reviewing the first appearances of the original lineup of Marvel Comics’ Avengers! It’s a whirlwind lightning round of takes on Phase One of the comic-book Avengers: “The Man in the Ant Hill!” (Henry Pym, Tales to Astonish #27) Can the combined power of the Avengers defeat the sinister spells of Loki, god of evil? And can Earth’s mightiest heroes gain entry into that awesome assemblage known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we conclude our trilogy of Marvel origins episodes with Uncanny X-Men #1, Giant-Size X-Men #1, and prepare for season 2 of Legion with a look at Psi War! from Uncanny X-Men #117! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 09 Jan 2019 | Episode 75 – Nancy and xkcd | 01:17:11 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin take a break from graphic novels and caped crusaders for a look at two clever, contemporary comic strips … the webcomic xkcd and cartoonist Olivia Jaimes’ take on the newspaper comic strip Nancy! Created by Ernie Bushmiller, the original Nancy was hailed as a pinnacle of comic-strip architecture. When the pseudonymous Olivia Jaimes took the reins in April of last year, she gave it a fresh sensibility that has revitalized the 80-year-old strip and drawn rave reviews. Created by Randall Munroe in 2005, xkcd alternates between sharply observant gags, complex commentaries on “romance, sarcasm, math, and language,” and ambitious projects that redefine the parameters of what a comic strip can do in the 2st century. Can these very different yet similarly smart examples of the form help revive interest in the ailing comic strip? And can they find themselves circulating in that firmament of the funny pages known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we return to more familiar superheroic territory – or do we? – with a look at Tom King and Mitch Gerads’ Mister Miracle! Until then, don’t forget our snazzy Comics Canon merchandise and the Benoda! series of typefaces by our friends at Category 4! Last but not least, please be so kind as to rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 30 Aug 2023 | Episode 194 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (With Matt Goldberg) | 01:05:57 | |
Media critic Matt Goldberg returns as we temporarily pause our Spidey Super-Stories miniseries to discuss the unstoppable cultural phenomenon known as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with a look at the book that started it all—Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (and also #2) by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird! Before the seven different movies (including the well-received new “Mutant Mayhem”), the animated series, the video games and the action figures, there was just a self-published black-and-white comic riffing on Frank Miller’s Daredevil run with a brilliant title. How did this modest 40-page comic spawn a decades-spanning multimedia juggernaut? And does it have what it takes to enter that Forbidden Kingdom known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · The Turtles Generation · The part of the Turtles’ origin that requires suspension of disbelief · “What if Ultron was a chicken?” · The 80s rash of Turtles “parodies” · The Last Ronin · Lynda Barry's Poodle With a Mohawk · The Police Story trilogy · Batman: Failsafe Vol. 1 · Check out Matt’s Substack, Commentary Track Join us in two weeks as we swing back into Spidey Super Stories with a Juggernaut two-parter from Amazing Spider-Man #229 and 230 and The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man from Amazing Spider-Man #248! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 06 Jun 2018 | Episode 60 – Fantastic Four Part 1: The Early Years | 01:07:06 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin launch into a four-episode deep dive into the world’s greatest comic magazine, The Fantastic Four, with a look at three key stories from the 1960s and 70s! First up, it’s the book that started it all (and gave birth to the Marvel Universe): Fantastic Four #1! Who are these mysterious figures who answer a strange signal in the sky? Where and how did they get their fantastic abilities? And when bizarre monsters attack atomic plants across the globe, can they stop the reclusive Mole Man from destroying the surface world? Next, it’s a race against time in Fantastic Four Annual #6! Reed Richards, Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm must brave the outlandish antimatter universe known as the Negative Zone to save the life of Susan Richards and her unborn child. But can they survive the murderous warlord Annihilus and his dreaded Arena of Execution? After that, it’s on to the swingin’ 70s for Fantastic Four #140-141! Annihilus is back, and he’s got Susan and the Richards’ young son Franklin in his deadly clutches! To save the universe, Reed Richards pays a terrible price, resulting in The End of the Fantastic Four! Do these fantastic fables have the pedigree to join that First Family of fabulous funnybooks known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we time-travel into the 1980s for a look at two titanic figures—John Byrne and the world-devouring Galactus—in Fantastic Four #242-244 and #261-262! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 30 Mar 2021 | Episode 133 – Justice League International Vol. 1 (With Alonso Duralde) | 01:07:30 | |
Podcaster Alonso Duralde (Linoleum Knife, Who Shot Ya?, Breakfast All Day, A Film and A Movie) returns to discuss Justice League International by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire, published by DC Comics! Debuting in 1987, Justice League International came out of the gate with a light and often absurd tone that bucked the “grim and gritty” trend of the late 80s, with Batman and a roster of B- and C-list trading zingers as often as they engaged in fisticuffs. This risky move, coming on the heels of the poorly received Justice League Detroit era, restored DC’s premier superhero team to prominence. But is that enough to land it a spot in that Hall of Justice known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks for Doonesbury: The Long Road Home! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 25 May 2022 | Episode 161 – Thor: God of Thunder (2012): The God Butcher | 01:04:28 | |
In this episode, we take a short break from our current True Stories miniseries for a look at Thor: The God Butcher by Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic, published by Marvel Comics! This five-issue story kicks off writer Jason Aaron’s epic run of Thor stories, and provides some inspiration for this summer’s Thor: Love and Thunder. Hurtling back and forth through time between the 9th century, the present and the far, far future, this ambitious tale pits the Odinson against Gorr, the titular god butcher, whose name and occupation sport a very extreme 90s vibe! Will Marvel’s God of Thunder prevail against this cosmic serial killer? And can he survive his time on that butcher’s block known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as our True Stories miniseries returns with Joe Sacco’s The Fixer! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 23 Sep 2018 | Episode 68 – The Miles Morales Episode | 01:05:16 | |
In this episode, Kevin Moreau and “Ultimate” Curt Holman return to the Ultimate Universe to discuss the origin of the popular biracial Spider-Man, Miles Morales in the second half of an unofficial Ultimate Spider-Man two-parter, this time reviewing Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #1-5 by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli, published by Marvel Comics! When young Miles Morales is bitten by a genetically modified spider, he quickly develops the ability to turn invisible and cling to walls, among other things. Miles wants no part of these awesome powers, wishing only to live a normal life and do well at his new charter school. But when Miles witnesses the tragic death of Spider-Man, he begins to realize that with great power comes great responsibility! Can our 13-year-old hero live up to the heroic example set by his predecessor? And can he make the grade in that elite class of comic-book champions known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
We return in two weeks, just in time for the scariest month of the year! And we get into the spirit of the season with a look at the origins of DC Comics’ eerie elemental, Swamp Thing, specifically House of Secrets #92, Swamp Thing Vol. 1 #1-4 (or so), and Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #33! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 02 Aug 2022 | Episode 166 – The Sandman: World’s End | 01:22:26 | |
(Explicit content warning: A swear word slips through.) A couple of Americans on a road trip find themselves caught in a summer snowstorm and are forced to seek shelter in a bigger-on-the-inside inn peopled with faerie folk, a centaur and other strange customers in The Sandman Vol. 8: World’s End by Neil Gaiman and a host of artists, published by Vertigo/DC Comics! Our assemblage of travelers from diverse worlds and time periods waits out a "reality storm" by swapping stories about dreaming cities, sea monsters, a boy president and other wonders -- until they witness a heavenly funeral procession of ominous import! Can these Canterbury-inspired tales score a reservation at that Restaurant at the End of the Universe known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we switch gears for a date with She-Hulk: Single Green Female! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 15 Mar 2023 | Episode 182 – The Authority: Relentless | 01:03:24 | |
In this episode, we look at the source material for one of the upcoming DC movies recently announced by James Gunn: The Authority Vol. 1: Relentless, collecting The Authority #1-8 by Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary, published by Wildstorm Comics! When the U.N. superhero team Stormwatch is slaughtered by xenomorphs from the Aliens film franchise (...wait, what?), The Authority steps out of the shadows, determined to save the world by any means necessary -- and to change it, as well. Can this team of attitude-heavy heroes defeat an army of flying super-terrorists and thwart an invasion from an alternate Earth? And can they muscle their way into that superpowered sphere of influence known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode · We need to talk about Kaizen · That Regis: He’s just so darn bad! · More nerdy speculation on upcoming DC movies · Tyler Cross: Black Rock · Grimjack: The Manx Cat Join us in two weeks as we engage in some pre-April first tomfoolery with a look at Ambush Bug! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 17 Feb 2021 | Episode 130 – Tintin in Tibet | 01:03:43 | |
In this episode, we load up our rucksacks and make a long-overdue trip to the world of bande dessinées—and one of the most popular comics characters of the 20th century—with a look at Tintin in Tibet by Hergé! When Tintin learns of a plane crash in the Himalayas, a dreamlike vision convinces him that his friend Chang has somehow survived the crash. Joined by his faithful dog Snowy and the irascible Captain Haddock, Tintin travels to Tibet, determined to rescue his friend against impossible odds! Will our intrepid trio survive a brutal blizzard and the fearsome Abominable Snowman and find Chang before it’s too late? And will this beloved boy adventurer make it to that remote Himalayan hideaway known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we explore a pivotal moment for one of Marvel Comics’ most popular characters with a look at Iron Man: Demon in a Bottle! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 11 Dec 2019 | Episode 99 – Crisis on Infinite Earths Part 2: Issues 7-12 | 01:37:06 | |
Listen here, Anti-Monitor! Wiping out countless realities and snuffing out untold billions of lives is one thing. But when you step to the Maid of Steel ... well, now you’ve gone and made it personal! In what may be our longest episode ever, we close the book on the epic 12-issue event that closed the book on the DC multiverse—Crisis on Infinite Earths, by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, published by DC Comics! After a pitched battle at the dawn of time, five Earths become one, and a few redundant superheroes find themselves without a home! But the Anti-Monitor still has one trick up his metal sleeve, teleporting our world to the anti-matter universe (hey, you said there was only one universe left)! Can the last Supermen standing and a parade of your favorite D-listers succeed against the cosmic creep with the worst name in comics? And can this landmark reality-warping series score a table at that restaurant at the end of the universe known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks on Wednesday, Dec. 25, as we mark our 100th episode with a look at the origin of the first and most legendary superhero of them all in Action Comics #1! Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! | |||
| 15 May 2019 | Episode 84 – Watchmen Part 2: Issues 4-6 | 01:06:53 | |
Like clockwork, our four-part gaze into the abyss of Watchmen continues as we analyze the hidden meanings of the inkblots contained in issues #4-6, written by Alan Moore, drawn by Dave Gibbons, published by DC Comics! Alone on Mars, Dr. Manhattan examines his past, jumping back and forth through time as he recalls the accident that gave him his godlike powers. Back on an Earth growing increasingly fearful of atomic conflict, a homeless Laurie Juspeczyk moves in with lovestruck Dan Dreiberg and Adrian Veidt survives an assassination attempt. Meanwhile, the outlaw vigilante Rorschach, framed and arrested for the murder of the former villain Moloch, tells prison psychiatrist Malcolm Long who he is and how he came to be. Can this overmatched analyst shake off the all-consuming darkness of his patient’s pitiless worldview? Can Curt make it through the episode with a sore throat? (Spoiler: Yes!) And can our heroes survive being thrown into that atomic disintegration chamber known as ... The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we march toward Armageddon with a look as issues 7-9! Until then, why not peruse our new spring line of Comics Canon merchandise? We also invite you to check out King Krackle from our friends at Category 4! Last but not least, please be so kind as to rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 10 Nov 2021 | Episode 149 – Spider-Man: One More Day | 01:14:29 | |
In anticipation of the eagerly awaited Spider-Man: No Way Home, we look back at one of the most universally reviled stories in comics history: 2007’s Spider-Man: One More Day by J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada, published by Marvel Comics! Quesada, then Marvel’s editor in chief, wanted to reset everyone’s favorite wisecracking wall-crawler and magically undo his longstanding marriage to Mary Jane Watson. So of course what better way to return Spidey to his roots than to ... shoot Aunt May and have ol’ web-head make a deal with the devil??! Can this poorly conceived, editorially mandated event possibly be as bad as its reputation? Or can it somehow rise above its bad rap and swing its way into that Brand New Day known as ... The Comics Canon? Discussed in This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we celebrate 150 episodes of The Comics Canon with a look at Alan Moore and Curt Swan’s Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 28 Sep 2022 | Episode 170 – JSA: Black Reign | 01:02:36 | |
In this episode, we look ahead to the Oct. 21 release of Black Adam with a look at the JSA/Hawkman crossover event Black Reign, written by Geoff Johns and published by DC Comics! The powerful villain-turned-antihero Black Adam and a few superpowered friends invade the nation of Khandaq, Black Adam’s homeland, to overthrow its malevolent dictator, spurring a counter-invasion by Black Adam’s many, many former teammates in the Justice Society of America. But things quickly go wrong for the JSA, who are forced to question whether they have the right to intervene in another country’s affairs. Does this six-part storyline satisfy as both superhero slugfest and thinly veiled commentary on the Iraq War? And can it win over the hearts and minds of that four-color coalition known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we get into the spooky spirit of Halloween season with a look at Hellboy: The Corpse! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 08 Jan 2020 | Episode 101 – Bone Vol. 1: Out From Boneville | 01:09:29 | |
In this episode, we explore the wondrous world of Jeff Smith’s Bone (soon to be an animated Netflix series) with a look at the first installment of this beloved fantasy series: Out From Boneville, originally published by Cartoon Books! Forced to flee their home of Boneville, cousins Fone Bone, Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone each find their way to an uncharted valley populated with adorable talking possums, a laconic red dragon, tough-as-nails Gran’ma Ben and the beautiful young woman known as Thorn. Can our wayward cousins avoid the clutches of the fearsome Rat Creatures and their terrifying leader, the Hooded One? And can they stay out of trouble long enough to settle that uncanny valley known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks on Wednesday, New Comic Book Day, as we pivot from fantasy to horror with a look at Locke & Key Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft! Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! | |||
| 17 Aug 2022 | Episode 167 – She-Hulk (2004): Single Green Female | 01:22:26 | |
In this episode, we cram for the Aug. 18 release of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law on Disney+ by reviewing the case of She-Hulk: Single Green Female, collecting issues 1-6 of the Marvel Comics series by Dan Slott, Juan Bobillo and Paul Pelletier. (We also throw in issues 7-8 pro bono!) Everyone’s favorite green-skinned lawyer-slash-superhero is offered the job of a lifetime, only to find that it’s not exactly what it seems! As she deals with trials and tribulations including a surly teenager and a superpowered prison break, the jade jurist must come to grips with an opponent more fearsome than any jury ... her alter ego, Jennifer Walters! Can our avenging attorney win a summary judgment from that living tribunal known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we discuss New Avengers (2013) Vol. 1: Everything Dies! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening!
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| 13 Oct 2021 | Episode 147 – Swamp Thing: Love and Death | 01:26:37 | |
(Content warning: This story contains references to rape by deception and incest.) Our horror-comics miniseries The Tomb of the Crypt continues with Swamp Thing: Love and Death—specifically, Swamp Thing Vol. 2 issues #29-31 and Swamp Thing Annual #2 by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, John Totleben and others, published by DC Comics! Swamp Thing’s nemesis, the evil scientist/warlock Anton Arcane, returns from the dead in one of the most horrific revelations in mainstream superhero comics—making 1984’s Swamp Thing #29 the first mainstream comic not to carry the seal of the Comics Code Authority since the 1950s! Eager for revenge against our muck-encrusted hero, Arcane unleashes a cadre of undead serial killers upon Southeast Louisiana, and casts his own niece—Swamp Thing’s friend and not-so-secret crush Abigail Arcane—down into the depths of Hell itself! Can Swamp Thing prevail against the hordes of Hell and rescue the woman he loves from eternal damnation? And will this chilling slice of contemporary horror fantasy take root in that Garden of Earthly Delights known as ... The Comics Canon? Discussed in This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as The Tomb of the Crypt continues with ... Tales From the Crypt! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 03 Jan 2024 | One-Shot: The Comics Canon All-Stars 2024 (The Best of Our Second 100 Episodes) | 00:42:02 | |
In this not-so-mini mini-episode, we look back on the last episodes, each ranking our 10 favorites. How many titles did we agree on? We also discuss Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the Transformers movies, the current state of the Big Two publishers, comic strips, some things we’d like to cover in the coming year, and a possible reconsideration of one of our most controversial decisions! Plus: Curt opens a present live on-air! Join us in two weeks as we resume our regular programming with a look at Emily Carroll’s A Guest in the House! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 21 Dec 2022 | Episode 176 – A Very Batman Christmas Episode | 01:16:12 | |
Content warning: suicidal ideation. In this episode, we celebrate the holidays with a collection of Christmas stories featuring that most Christmas-y of superheroes: Batman! First up is “The Man Who Murdered Santa Claus!” from Justice League of America #110, in which the World’s Greatest Detective and a holiday assortment of Justice Leaguers face off against ... The Key! (What is this guy’s whole deal, anyway?) Next is “The Silent Night of the Batman” from Batman #219, in which the Caped Crusader spends Christmas Eve in dogged pursuit of ... Christmas carols! Speaking of Christmas Carols, we finish up with Lee Bermejo’s Batman: Noël, which finds a curmudgeonly Dark Knight visited by visions of the past, present and future! Can this trio of tales join the ranks of those superlative stocking stuffers known as ... The Comics Canon? Discussed In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we discuss Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, by Tom King and Bilquis Evely! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 19 Aug 2020 | Episode 117 – Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War Vol. 1 | 01:20:22 | |
On this episode, The Cosmic Canon, our series on cosmic comics stories, rockets from Coast City to the sentient planet Mogo to the anti-matter universe as we get embroiled in Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War Vol. 1, by Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons, and various artists, published by DC Comics! The intergalactic peacekeeping force known as the Green Lantern Corps is rocked to its core when the renegade Sinestro assembles his own army of magic ring-wearing aliens, who launch a full-scale assault on Green Lanterns across the galaxy! And they’ve got a Cyborg Superman, an alternate-universe Superboy, and the Anti-Monitor on their side! Can Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner and their compatriots stop these fearsome gleep-glops from annihilating the Corps? And can they blast off to that final frontier known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as The Cosmic Canon tackles the mother (or is that the Granny Goodness?) of all cosmic comics series: Jack Kirby’s New Gods! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 01 Apr 2020 | Episode 107 – Superman and Batman: World’s Funnest | 00:49:53 | |
It’s April Fools’ Day, and while most of us aren’t in the mood for pranks given the current state of affairs, we could all use something a little light and fun. And what’s more fun than ... Mister Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite deconstructing (okay, detroying) the entire DC multiverse? That’s why we’re discussing Superman and Batman: World’s Funnest, by Evan Dorkin and an all-star cast of artists, published by DC Comics! Join us as we ask the burning questions: How DO you pronounce Mxyzptlk, anyway? And can these two interdimensional imps manage the imp-possible and make a favorable imp-pression on that imp-maginary world known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
We’ll be back in two weeks with another fun, funny comic to help us all get through these tough times: The Superior Foes of Spider-Man: Getting the Band Back Together, by Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber! Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! | |||
| 07 Dec 2022 | Episode 175 – Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Snowbirds Don’t Fly (With Marvel by the Month) | 01:38:34 | |
Content warning: racism, drug abuse, death by overdose. Bryan Stratton and Robb Milne from the Marvel by the Month podcast return to discuss a pair of pioneering DC comics stories: No Evil Shall Escape My Sight! from Green Lantern #76, and the Snowbirds Don’t Fly two-parter from issues #85-86, by Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams! 1970’s GL/GA #76 kicked off a run of socially conscious comics that found straight-laced space cop Hal Jordan and liberal archer Oliver Queen confronting such hot-button issues as racism, the environment, and government treatment of Native Americans in ways the superhero genre hadn’t seen before. This unprecedented run arguably reached its peak with Snowbirds Don’t Fly, which unflinchingly addressed the issue of teen drug abuse (just one month after Marvel’s take on the topic in Amazing Spider-Man)! These comics were inarguably groundbreaking, but are they hard-hitting enough to warrant inclusion in that After-School Special known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we get into the holiday spirit with a collection of Christmas comics featuring the Caped Crusader! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 07 Jun 2020 | Episode 112 – Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story | 00:56:24 | |
Today’s episode was supposed to be about The Sandman: The Doll’s House. But we felt that we just couldn’t ignore the protests taking place around the United States and across the world over the needless, senseless deaths of George Floyd and many other black Americans. So instead we’re discussing the historic but little-known Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story, published in 1957 by a group called the Fellowship of Reconciliation. This 16-page comic explores the events surrounding the Montgomery Bus Boycott, gives a brief biography of Dr. King, and outlines the principles of nonviolent resistance. And it inspired a young man named John Lewis, who would go on to become a leader of the Civil Rights Movement and U.S. Congressman, and whose comic biography March, Vol. 1, we reviewed back in March of this year. Original copies of this book are hard to find, although an authorized reissue was published in 2013 by Marietta, Georgia-based Top Shelf Productions. It’s also available on Comixology for $1.99. (And here's some background on it by March co-writer Andrew Aydin.) In addition to our thoughts on the book itself, we discuss the ways in which superhero comics can be problematic, particularly in their sometime glorification of violence by authority figures. We also briefly discuss the 2019 HBO miniseries Watchmen, and spoil some plot points. We plan to be back in two weeks with that episode on The Doll’s House, pending other world-shaking events. In the meantime, we encourage you to donate to Black Lives Matter or to a bail fund or other activism-related funds: you can find an extensive list here and here. Thanks for listening, and stay safe and well! | |||
| 08 Nov 2023 | Episode 198 – Hellblazer: Newcastle (A Taste of Things to Come) | 01:03:20 | |
Content warning: sexual abuse and implied sexual assault In this episode, friend of the show and John Constantine authority Tracy Tanoff joins us in unpacking a defining moment in the life and career of everyone’s favorite street-level mage (and con man) with a discussion of John Constantine, Hellblazer #11: Newcastle: A Taste of Things to Come, by Jamie Delano, Richard Piers Rayner and Mark Buckingham, published by DC Comics! 10 years before the cataclysmic events of American Gothic, a young John Constantine and his band of occult amateurs investigates strange happenings at an abandoned rock club, only to quickly find themselves hopelessly out of their depth! Can John and his friends survive the monstrous Norfulthing? Can John rescue a young girl named Astra from the clutches of the demon Nergal? And can he bluff his way past the bouncer and into that hellish hole-in-the-wall known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Curt comes hard at Sting · Legends of Tomorrow: Bad Blood · Mucous Membrane is having a moment · Your Band Sucks, by Jon Fine Join us in two weeks as we return to the world of Jeff Smith’s Bone with a look at Bone Vol. 5: Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening!
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| 18 Jul 2018 | Episode 63 – Fantastic Four Part 4: Three (With Paul Melancon) | 01:15:31 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin welcome singer-songwriter Paul Melancon! And despite some intermittent microphone issues, the three of them wrap up this four-part exploration of the World’s Greatest Comic Magazine with a discussion of Fantastic Four: Three, by Jonathan Hickman, Steve Epting and many others, published by Marvel Comics! These issues are jam-packed: Reed Richards fights to save an artificial counter-Earth before it’s destroyed by the world-devouring Galactus! Susan Storm-Richards struggles to prevent an all-out undersea war! The Thing becomes just plain old Ben Grimm! And Ben, Johnny Storm, and the genius kids of the Future Foundation are all that stands between the Earth and an insectoid invasion from the Negative Zone! Will all of the foremost family of super-powered science explorers live through these extraordinary ordeals? (Spoiler: No.) And can they break through into that alternate dimension of fascinating four-color fictions known as … The Comics Canon? (Also, stick around after the episode to hear “Hyperventilate” from Paul’s forthcoming album, The Get-Go’s Action Hour!) Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we do a little dimension-hopping with a look at Scott McCloud’s Zot!—specifically, The Eyes of Dekko from Zot! #17-18 and the webcomic Hearts and Minds! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 24 Nov 2021 | Episode 150 – Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? | 01:10:51 | |
In 1986, after decades of sneering supervillains, mad scientists and interplanetary despots, the Man of Steel was finally confronted with a foe even he couldn’t defeat—an editorially mandated reboot! But before he could fly off into the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths sunset, he’d have to deal with deadly new versions of some of his classic foes in the two-part farewell Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?, courtesy of superstar writer Alan Moore, quintessential Superman artist Curt Swan and legendary editor Julius Schwartz! (Content warning: Things get a bit dark.) And as if that weren’t enough story for our landmark 150th episode, we also crack open The Superman Super-Spectacular from 1963’s Action Comics #309, featuring a guest appearance by none other than President John F. Kennedy! Can 60s Superman protect his secret identity from Lois Lane and Lana Lang for the umpteenth time? Can 80s Superman protect his friends—and himself—when his rogues gallery gets a lethal upgrade? And can these stories survive a trip to that Bottle City of Comic-Book Candor known as ... The Comics Canon? Discussed in This Episode!
Join us in two weeks, when we hope to welcome a very special guest! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 17 Apr 2019 | Episode 82 – Batman Origins | 00:52:55 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin mark the 1,000th issue of Detective Comics and the 80th birthday of Batman with a look back at three early milestones in the career of DC Comics’ mega-popular Caped Crusader—beginning with his first appearance (as “The Bat-Man”) in Detective Comics #27 from 1939! From there, it’s on to the world’s best-known origin story from 1939’s Detective Comics #33! And last but not least, since a snarling Dark Knight Detective is only as good as his anarchic arch-enemy, it’s the first appearance of the Joker, from 1940’s Batman #1! Can the World’s Greatest Detective crack the imminently solvable Case of the Chemical Syndicate, overcome the death of his parents, and survive his first encounter against the deadly Clown Prince of Crime? And can he strike terror into the hearts of the superstitious and cowardly gatekeepers of … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we begin a four-part deep dive into Watchmen with a look at issues 1 through 3! Until then, why not peruse our new spring line of Comics Canon merchandise? We also invite you to check out Mathilda: The Forces of Evil vs. the Third Grade, as well as the King Krackle digital brushes from our friends at Category 4! Last but not least, please be so kind as to rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 14 Feb 2018 | Episode 52 – Love and Rockets: Heartbreak Soup | 00:55:05 | |
In this Valentine’s Day episode, Curt and Kevin discuss a tale of love, longing and murder: Heartbreak Soup (or Sopa de Gran Pena) and its prologue, Chelo’s Burden, written and drawn by Gilbert Hernandez, from the long-running series Love and Rockets, published by Fantagraphics Books. In the small Latin American town of Palomar, a violent breakup finds dazed, drunken Tip in’ Tip in’ taken under the wing of headstrong 11-year-old Carmen. Meanwhile, Pipo, Carmen’s 14-year-old sister, is quickly falling in love with Manuel, the town’s baby-faced lothario. But that doesn’t sit well with hot-headed Gato, who carries a major torch for Pipo. When this love triangle turns deadly, will all three live to tell the tale? Can Chelo, the town’s bañadora, survive a little competition from beguiling newcomer Luba? And can this indelible cast of characters move on up to that magnificent metropolis known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we anticipate the second season of Marvel’s Jessica Jones on Netflix with a look at Alias Vol. 4: The Secret Origins of Jessica Jones! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 02 Mar 2022 | Episode 155 – Batman: Year One | 01:17:00 | |
We’re back, baby! Just in time for the March 4 release of The Batman, we discuss Batman Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, published by DC Comics! Following on the heels of 1986’s acclaimed The Dark Knight Returns and DC’s post-Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot, this four-part origin story (originally published in Batman #404-407) is steeped in the hard-boiled atmospherics of pulp, noir and gritty 70s crime flicks. Will grizzled police detective Jim Gordon prevail against Gotham City’s corrupt police force? Will a newly returned Bruce Wayne become the Dark Knight Detective we all know and love? And will this bare-knuckled take on Batman’s beginnings take flight in that dimly lit back alley known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we extend our stay in Gotham City with a discussion of Batman: The Long Halloween! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 28 Aug 2024 | Episode 216: V for Vendetta Book 3: The Land of Do-as-You-Please | 01:11:26 | |
In this episode, we conclude our three-part look at V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, as collected by Vertigo/DC Comics! V disables Norsefire’s surveillance apparatus, nudging the citizens of London toward revolution. Rose Almond takes action. Schemes are hatched as Helen Heyer and Peter Creedy vie to take control of the government. Detective Finch takes a bad trip. And Evey prepares to fulfill her destiny. As society collapses, will any of our players get a happy ending? And will they finally step into the spotlight of that vicious cabaret known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · V’s Bugs Bunny physics · We’ve got a fever, and the only cure is more Scottish brogue! · A surprise induction into The Comics Canon! · The Filth and the Fury · Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep and The Simple Art of Murder Join us in two weeks as we take a long-overdue look at Will Eisner’s The Spirit! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 10 Nov 2020 | Episode 123: The Hawkeye Episode | 01:27:26 | |
Bro! On this episode, comics writer and publisher Carlton Hargro (20th Place Media) returns as we take aim at “the breakout star of the blockbuster Avengers film” with a discussion of Hawkeye (2012), specifically issues 1-5 (as seen in Vol. 1: My Life As a Weapon) and 11 (“Pizza Is My Business”), by Matt Fraction, David Aja and Javier Pulido, published by Marvel Comics! This charming take on the World’s Greatest Marksman deftly balances humor, action, dense plotting and a strong, unifying visual style courtesy of David Aja and the muted color scheme of Matt Hollingsworth. Can Avenger Clint Barton and his protégé, Kate Bishop (who also goes by Hawkeye) survive encounters with tracksuit-clad mobsters, the Circus of Crime, and a dangerous auto-thieving redhead? Can Clint’s pizza-loving canine companion, Lucky, solve the murder of one of Clint’s neighbors? And can these stories hit that moving target known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we discuss Steve Gerber’s Howard the Duck! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 07 Dec 2021 | Canonical Conversations: All of the Marvels With Douglas Wolk | 01:01:40 | |
Author and podcaster Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics; Voice of Latveria) joins us to discuss his excellent new book, All of the Marvels, which examines the Marvel Universe as one single connected narrative that unfolds over six decades and 27,000+ issues. We also look at a pivotal moment in Marvel Comics history from three different vantage points: Avengers (1963) #16, Thunderbolts (1997) #9 and Avengers (2016) #1.1! Issues Addressed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we ring in the holiday season with ... wait, this can’t be right, can it? What’s that? It is? Okay. Join us in two weeks as we ring in the holiday season with Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special #1 and Green Lantern: Agent Orange! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 15 Feb 2023 | Episode 180 – Batman: A Death in the Family | 01:09:12 | |
Content warning: A minor is murdered. In this episode, we examine one of the most popular Batman stories of all time: A Death in the Family from Batman #426-429 by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo, published by DC Comics! In 1988, DC established a pair of 900 numbers to allow readers to vote whether Jason Todd, the second Robin, would live or die. Spoiler alert: He dies. But that’s not even the most memorable part of this truly bizarre tale that features a cameo appearance by the Ayatollah Khomeini and sees the Joker go from international arms dealer to Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations! Can the Dark Knight Detective avenge the gruesome death of his teenage ward and stop the Clown Prince of Crime from killing a roomful of U.N. delegates? And is there any chance that this story achieves that diplomatic immunity known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Visit Historic Crime Alley! · What is Iran’s endgame, exactly? · What does Superman sound like with his lungs full of gas? · A Lonely Place of Dying · Extraordinary on Hulu · If Books Could Kill · Direct Conversations: Talks With Fellow DC Comics Bronze Age Creators · Fantastic Four: Full Circle by Alex Ross
Join us in two weeks as we extend our stay in Gotham to discuss Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert’s Batman and Son! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 11 Oct 2017 | Episode 44 – Planet Hulk | 01:14:23 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for the Nov. 2 release of Thor: Ragnarok with the first of three action-packed installments! The month of #Ragnaroktober kicks off with a spirited discussion of Greg Pak’s swords, sandals and sci-fi epic Planet Hulk … specifically, The Incredible Hulk # 92-95 and 103-105, published by Marvel Comics! Exiled into space by the brain trust known as the Illuminati, the Hulk ends up on war-torn Sakaar, forced to fight in the arena of the tyrannical Red King! Is he, as some suspect, the storied savior known as the Sakaarson … or could he be the whispered weapon of mass destruction known as the Worldbreaker? Can the green-skinned gladiator and his warbound allies survive against wildebots, spikes and the Silver Savage and overthrow this deranged despot? And can they fight their way into the winner’s circle of that cosmic Colosseum known as … the Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us next week as #Ragnaroktober rolls on with a special bonus episode! Straight from the Comics Canon vaults, for the first time anywhere, we share our pilot/proof of concept episode on Walt Simonson’s Thor debut, The Ballad of Beta Ray Bill! And then, in two weeks’ time, it’s the second part of a Simonson twofer, as we discuss the writer-artist’s fiery conclusion to the Surtur Saga, Ragnarok and Roll! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 27 Apr 2022 | Episode 159 – One! Hundred! Demons! | 01:10:44 | |
True Stories, our series on autobiographical and nonfiction comics, continues with Lynda Barry’s emphatically punctuated One! Hundred! Demons! This collection of vignettes finds the acclaimed cartoonist grappling with such demons as a horrible boyfriend, teenage regrets, a difficult mother, a bad acid trip and the 2000 presidential election. The results are alternately charming, hilarious, melancholy, insightful and heartbreaking. But are they good enough to score a landslide victory at that ballot box known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as True Stories continues with Rebecca Hall’s Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 05 Jul 2023 | Episode 190 – The Sandman: The Kindly Ones Part 2 | 01:05:34 | |
In this episode, we wrap up our two-parter on The Sandman Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones, with a look at issues 64-69, published by Vertigo/DC Comics! Lyta Hall and the Furies descend on The Dreaming, intent on destroying the dream realm and killing the Dream King. Various characters meet untimely ends, while others move on to new locales and one steps into a new role. Can Morpheus defeat the Erinyes and save The Dreaming? And can he make his way past those dream warriors who stand guard at the gates of ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Curt reveals Kevin’s M.O.D.O.K. name · What Titanic has taught us · Morpheus makes a joke! · The Bear Season 2 · Our episode on New Avengers: Illuminati · New Avengers Vol. 7: The Trust and Mighty Avengers Vol. 3: Secret Invasion Book 1 · My Bad Vol. 2: Thirty Minutes or Dead · The Charlie Parker series by John Connolly Join us back here in two weeks as Spidey Super Stories, a miniseries on everyone’s favorite wall-crawler, swings into action with a look at Spider-Man No More! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening!
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| 26 Oct 2021 | Episode 148 – Tales From the Crypt | 01:17:33 | |
(Content warning: Lots of people get buried alive.) Greetings, boos and ghouls! Gather ‘round the campfire as the Curtkeeper and Kevin From the Black Lagoon wrap up The Tomb of the Crypt, their miniseries on horror comics, with a handpicked selection of spooky stories from EC Comics’ Tales From the Crypt! Join us as we dig up The Curse of the Full Moon, The Maestro’s Hand, Ghost Ship, The Hungry Grave, A Fatal Caper, A Shocking Way to Die, and The Thing From the Grave, from The EC Archives: Tales From the Crypt Vol. 1, published by Dark Horse Comics! How scary are these stories, really? And do they belong in that Vault of Horror known as ... The Comics Canon? Discussed in This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we prepare for Spider-Man: No Way Home with a look at a Spider-Man story with a different three-word title: One More Day! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 03 Jul 2024 | Episode 212: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Who Is Scorpio? | 01:17:56 | |
We’re back with a look at everyone’s favorite gruff, eyepatch-wearing super-spy (non-Samuel L. Jackson division) as seen in 1968’s Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, 2, 3 and 5, published by Marvel Comics! Writer and artist Jim Steranko injects a dose of modern psychedelic and pop-art imagery and a strong sense of design into these four issues, creating a surreal visual experience the influence of which is still being felt in comics pages today. The stories those images tell, on the other hand ... Can this tough-talking, shirt-shucking, gun-toting fireball of a secret agent stop a mad scientist from destroying the world, solve a ghostly mystery on the Scottish moors and uncover the identity his mysterious nemesis Scorpio? And can Marvel’s answer to the 1960s spy craze join the elite ranks of that Impossible Missions Force known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Hey, what happened to that rocket sled? · There’s something familiar about this Centurius guy · Nick Fury Explains It All · Queen & Country: Operation Broken Ground and Operation Morningstar · Danger: Diabolik · Velvet Vol. 1: Before the Living End · Duck Soup · For Whom the Bell Tolls Join us in two weeks as we discuss The Boys Vol. 1: The Name of the Game! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 04 Jan 2023 | Episode 177 – Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow | 01:24:31 | |
In this episode, we kick off 2023 with a look at one of the best-reviewed miniseries of 2021-22: Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, by Tom King, Bilquis Evely and Matheus Lopes, published by DC Comics! When her father is ruthlessly murdered, young Ruthye Marye Knoll enlists the aid of the Maid of Might in tracking down his killer, the dastardly Krem of the Yellow Hills. Along the way, she learns just what makes Kara Zor-El one of the galaxy’s greatest heroes! Can Supergirl convince her headstrong companion that revenge isn’t the answer? And does this superheroic space opera have enough “true grit” to amble into that saloon full of cowboys and aliens known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we spend time with another popular DC Comics female in Death: The High Cost of Living! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 09 Apr 2024 | Episode 208 – Return of The Dark Knight Returns Part 2 | 01:28:15 | |
Content warning (death by suicide) Our reexamination of Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns continues! How good IS this story, really? Will things go differently than they did in our fourth episode way back in 2016, allowing this universally acclaimed 1986 miniseries to avoid nuclear winter and score a ticket to that David Endocrine Show studio audience known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · The only Bartleby the Scrivener reference you’ll hear in a comics podcast this week! · What’s the deal with the flying bomber Garbage Pail Kids? · The 99% Invisible Power Broker Book Club · Robert Caro’s The Path to Power · Douglas Wolk’s Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean · Some Fantastic Four movie talk Join us in two weeks as we discuss Flung Out of Space: Inspired by the Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith, by Grace Ellis and Hannah Templer! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 30 Sep 2020 | Episode 120 – The Nexus Episode | 01:23:09 | |
The Cosmic Canon, our miniseries on space-faring epics, concludes with a look at Mike Baron and Steve Rude’s Nexus, as seen in Nexus. Vol. 2, issues #13-16 and 18-19, published by First Comics! In the 25th century, Horatio Hellpop dreams of mass murderers, and is compelled to hunt those killers across the galaxy and kill them. When his efforts to free himself of this mission are thwarted, he winds up face to face with the bizarre alien entity behind his incredible powers! Can his best friends and his erstwhile lover prevail against a four-armed assassin and one of the galaxy’s most formidable spymasters in a desperate effort to save Horatio’s soul? And can this richly imagined and beautifully rendered saga cross the threshold into that space odyssey known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we switch gears in a big way with a look at Art Spiegelman’s Maus Vol. 1: My Father Bleeds History. Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 22 Nov 2023 | Episode 199 – Bone Vol. 5: Rock Jaw, Master of the Eastern Border | 01:16:22 | |
Happy Bonesgiving! In this episode, we celebrate our favorite(?) holiday with another excursion into the world of Bone, this time skipping ahead to Bone Vol. 5: Rock Jaw, Master of the Eastern Border, written and drawn by Jeff Smith, published by Cartoon Books and Scholastic! Fone Bone and Smiley Bone are separated from the rest of the book’s main cast, attempting to set an adorable baby rat creature free into the wild, when they run afoul of the menacing mountain lion Roque Ja, who plans to turn them in to Kingdok, monstrous leader of the rat creatures and servant of the mysterious Hooded One! Can the Bones, the possum kids and a menagerie of cute young orphans evade these dangerous predators? And can they find shelter in that literary lion’s den known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · J’accuse, Smiley Bone! · Curt reads some love poetry · That time Lassie committed murder · Bone Vol. 6: Old Man’s Cave · The Marvels · Loki Season 2 · The Righteous Gemstones, Season 3 · Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner Join us in two weeks as we commemorate our 200xth episode (!!) with one of the most important comic book stories of all time: Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 17 Jan 2024 | Episode 202 – A Guest in the House | 01:14:26 | |
Content warning: Mentions of suicide; general gaslighting, psychological domestic abuse. In this episode, we look back at one of the best-reviewed books of 2023: A Guest in the House by Emily Carroll, published by First Second! Shy, awkward Abby is newly married to widowed dentist David and adjusting to domestic life with him and his pre-teen daughter Crystal. But David’s stories about his past wife, Sheila, don’t add up. And there’s more to Abby than meets the eye, as well – as becomes apparent when she strikes up a halting friendship with Sheila’s ghost! Can this gripping story survive a night in that haunted mansion of horror stories known as ... The Comics Canon? Recommended in This Episode: · Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein · Three Rocks: The Story of Ernie Bushmiller: The Man Who Created Nancy, by Bill Griffith Join us in two weeks as we kick off a two-parter looking back at historic matchups between the Hulk and the Thing! First up: Rounds 1 and 2, from Fantastic Four #12 and #25-26! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 26 Apr 2023 | Episode 185 – The Strange Death of Adam Warlock Part 2 | 00:56:23 | |
On this episode, we wrap up our two-parter on Marvel’s cosmic messiah, Adam Warlock, with a look at two stories that close the loop on Jim Starlin’s classic Magus Saga: Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2, published by Marvel Comics! In “The Final Threat,” Warlock, Captain Marvel, Moondragon and the Avengers are all that stands between Earth and an alien armada as Warlock’s onetime ally, Thanos, attempts to use the power of the soul gems to extinguish all the stars in the heavens! Plus, Adam Warlock meets Adam Warlock—for the second time! Then, in “Death Watch!,” Spider-Man and The Thing must rescue the captive Avengers before Thanos settles for his consolation prize: snuffing out our very own sun as a token of his affection for Death herself! Can Adam Warlock finally find peace? Can your friendly neighborhood wall-crawler help defeat the Mad Titan and save the world? And can these stories prevail against that Infinity Crusade known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · When Ben Grimm was the face of Marvel Comics · A little movie called Star Wars · Step by Bloody Step · Marvel Team-Up #55: “Spider, Spider on the Moon” · Marvel’s most fearsome villain, Equinox! · Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1: Legacy
Join us in two weeks as we explore the death of another cosmic character at the hands of Jim Starlin with 1982’s The Death of Captain Marvel! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 29 Sep 2021 | Episode 146 – Infidel | 01:15:54 | |
The Tomb of the Crypt, our miniseries on horror comics, continues with a look at 2018’s acclaimed Infidel by Pornsak Pichetshote and Aaron Campbell, published by Image Comics! Described as a haunted house story for the 21st century, this five-issue series explores issues of bigotry, xenophobia and racism as Aisha and Medina, two young women of color, move into an apartment building where a bomb built by a Muslim tenant detonated a few months earlier—and soon find themselves confronting a terrifying spirit that feeds on the dark emotions of the building’s residents. Can our protagonists defeat this gruesome specter before its body count grows any higher? And can this smart, tense thriller gain admittance to that rent-controlled co-op of chills known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as The Tomb of the Crypt continues with Swamp Thing: Love and Death! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 23 Jan 2019 | Episode 76 – Mister Miracle (2017) | 01:05:27 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin brave the fire-pits of Apokalips to discuss one of the most critically acclaimed series of the year, Mister Miracle #1-12 by Tom King and Mitch Gerads, published by DC Comics! Something is wrong with Scott Free, the New God who is also the celebrity escape artist known as Mister Miracle. Following a failed suicide attempt, his perception is plagued by glitches and he sees things or people that aren’t there. Along with his wife, the warrior Big Barda, he’s called from Los Angeles to heavenly New Genesis to wage war against the demonic forces of Apokolips, the hellish world on which they were raised—a war that will force him to confront a terrible, unspeakable decision! Can our haunted hero survive the horrors of combat, the trials of fatherhood, and a look into the face of God? And can he escape the Closing Jaws of Death and break into that eternal paradise of storytelling spectacle known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we prepare for the Netflix debut of The Umbrella Academy with a discussion of The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite! Until then, don’t forget our snazzy Comics Canon merchandise and the Benoda! series of typefaces by our friends at Category 4! Last but not least, please be so kind as to rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 03 Aug 2021 | Episode 142 – What If We Did a What If Episode? (With Alonso Duralde) | 01:18:08 | |
Alonso Duralde, the hardest working man in podcasting (Maximum Film, Breakfast All Day, the Linoleum Knife family of podcasts) returns as we prepare for the Aug. 11 launch of What If...? on Disney+ by gazing upon the alternate realities of Marvel Comics’ What If! First published in 1977, this anthology series explores what might have happened had key moments in Marvel continuity happened a little differently: What if Bullseye Had Not Killed Elektra? What if the Original Marvel Bullpen Became the Fantastic Four? What if the Avengers Had Become Pawns of Korvac? And what if a host of Marvel creators were let loose to create an issue full of rapid-fire dad jokes? Can this quartet of issues ascend to that not-so-sacred timeline known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we look toward the Nov. 5 opening of Eternals with a look at the source material: Jack Kirby’s original Eternals series from 1976! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 27 Mar 2024 | Episode 207 – Return of The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 | 01:17:42 | |
Explicit (a few swears scattered throughout) and content warning (brief mentions of death by suicide and attempted sexual assault) This isn’t a podcast—it’s an operating table, and we’re the surgeons! This time, we revisit one of our most controversial episodes (okay, pretty much our only “controversial” episode) with the first installment of a two-part, in-depth reexamination of Frank Miller’s 1986 landmark miniseries Batman: The Dark Knight Returns! Does this paradigm-shifting, game-changing series hold up to scrutiny nearly 40 years since its publication? And what are its chances of finally gaining entry into that Home for the Emotionally Troubled known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Howard Chaykin’s American Flagg · Buy-ins you have to make when reading a Batman comic · What’s the deal with the Mutant gang? · Curt gets something off his chest · Late Night With the Devil · Aard Labor, Tom Ewing’s breakdown of Cerebus, on Freaky Trigger · Christine by Stephen King · The unique terror of calling girls back in the landline era Join us in two weeks as we conclude this two-part look back and once again render judgment on The Dark Knight Returns! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening!
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| 21 Jun 2023 | Episode 189 – The Sandman: The Kindly Ones Part 1 | 01:02:10 | |
In this episode, our series-within-a-series on The Sandman begins winding down as we kick off a two-parter on Vol. 9, The Kindly Ones, discussing issues 57-63, published by Vertigo/DC Comics! When her young son Daniel is abducted, Lyta Hall embarks on a quest to find the trio of goddesses known as the Furies and exact revenge on the being she holds responsible: Morpheus, the Dream King! Meanwhile, we revisit some old friends as this rich fantasy epic moves inexorably toward its violent endgame. What do returning characters Nuala, Thessaly and the Corinthian have to do with all of this? Why are Loki and the mischievous Puck gaslighting Lyta disguised as cops? And can this penultimate arc avoid apprehension by those Dream Police known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Marc Hempel’s artwork · A brief aside about Cormac McCarthy · Curt reviews The Flash · She-Hulk: Jen, Again · Jazzy John Romita and Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection Vol. 3: Spider-Man No More · X-Men: Starjammers by Dave Cockrum Kindly join us in two weeks as we conclude this two-part dive into The Kindly Ones with The Sandman #64-69! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 25 Oct 2023 | Episode 197 – Swamp Thing: American Gothic (Part 2) | 01:23:49 | |
One year (almost to the day) since we discussed the first half of American Gothic, we round out the scare-iffic month of October with a look at the final five issues (Swamp Thing #46-50) of this groundbreaking storyline by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette and others, published by DC Comics! First, Swamp Thing and John Constantine rub elbows with DC’s superhero elite in the midst of the Crisis on Infinite Earths! Then things really get cooking, with a shocking revelation in the Amazon rainforest, a not-so-shocking betrayal in Brazil, and a star-studded battle against Darkness itself as Heaven hangs in the balance! Oh, and Abby Arcane is arrested as a sex criminal! Can the Avocado Avenger and his allies tip the scales in the climactic showdown of light vs. dark? And can this epic finale book passage on that prestigious Jungle Cruise known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Aren’t we over the Phantom Stranger’s shtick by now? · Curt comes after Mufasa of “The Lion King” · Double Walker by Michael W. Conrad and Noah Bailey · The Fisherman by John Langan · Reservation Dogs on Hulu · The Replacements’ Tim: The Let It Bleed Edition on Rhino Records Join us in two weeks as we visit a key moment in John Constantine’s past with a look at Hellblazer #11: Newcastle: A Taste of Things to Come! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 24 Jun 2019 | Episode 87 – Uncanny X-Men: Days of Future Past (With Tedd Walley) | 01:09:25 | |
In this episode, we welcome Tedd Walley, writer, artist and publisher of Mathilda: The Forces of Evil vs. The Third Grade, as we travel to the distant future of 2013 for a discussion of the landmark X-Men storyline Days of Future Past from Uncanny X-Men #141-142, and finish it off with Demon from #143, by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, published by Marvel Comics! In a dystopian future America ruled by the mutant-hunting Sentinels, Kate Pryde and the few remaining X-Men launch a desperate plan to avert nuclear war! The adult Kate inhabits the mind of her younger self, enlisting the X-Men of 1980 to stop the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants from assassinating Senator Robert Kelly! Then, young Kitty Pryde finds herself alone in the X-Mansion on Christmas Eve when she’s attacked by one of the demonic N’Garai in a cross between Home Alone and Alien! Can the youngest X-Man save the day twice in the span of three issues? And can our misunderstood mutants prevent apocalypse and usher in that better tomorrow known as ... The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we grow tired of wondering whether the New Mutants film will ever see the light of day and dive into another Claremont mutant property from the early 80s with The Demon Bear Saga from New Mutants #18-20! Until then, be the most stylish mutant on your block with our Comics Canon merchandise! And be sure to check out King Krackle from our friends at Category 4! Last but not least, please be so kind as to rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 25 Nov 2020 | Episode 124: The Howard the Duck Episode | 01:23:21 | |
In this episode, we quack the case of everyone’s favorite talking waterfowl with a look at Steve Gerber’s Howard the Duck! Specifically, his appearances in Giant-Size Man-Thing issues 4-5 and Howard the Duck (Vol. 1), issues 1,2,3, and 5, published by Marvel Comics! Trapped in a world he never made, this irascible, cigar-chomping mallard became a breakout star following his debut in Man-Thing #1 and went on to star in his own series, known for its biting satire (and for having him often appear as a parody of fellow Marvel Comics characters). Can our fowl-tempered philosopher prevail against such absurd antagonists as Pro-Rata, Turnip-Man, Count Macho and the undead menace of Bessie the Hellcow? And will he take his rightful place among that duck dynasty known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we look ahead to Marvel Studios’ 2021 slate of Disney+ shows with a discussion of Captain America: The Winter Soldier! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 11 Oct 2023 | Comics Onscreen – Movie Mayhem! | 00:50:23 | |
Wait, where’s Swamp Thing: American Gothic, Part Two? Well, Curt and Kevin weren’t feeling so well this week, so they decided to take it easy and record a short mini-episode on the comics-related film and TV adaptations of the year so far. (Except, of course, it turned out to be not so short after all.) Mild spoilers abound as Curt (and occasionally Kevin) opines on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, The Flash, Secret Invasion, among others. Join us in two weeks as we no-really-this-time-we-mean-it return to Moore’s much-heralded American Gothic storyline with a look at Swamp Thing #46-50 (and revisit our episode on the first half to refresh your memory)! | |||
| 21 Aug 2019 | Episode 91 – Torso: A True Crime Graphic Novel | 01:09:42 | |
In this episode, Crimewave!, our series on gritty crime comics, continues with a fictionalized account of the real, ripped-from-the-1930s-headlines case of the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run, co-written and “executed” by one of the biggest names in comics before he was one of the biggest names in comics: It’s Torso, by Brian Michael Bendis and Marc Andreyko, originally published by Image Comics! Between 1935 and 1938, a mysterious figure murdered, dismembered and decapitated at least 12 victims in Cleveland, Ohio, preying on the city’s growing transient population. Against the backdrop of a corrupt city reeling from the Great Depression, Cleveland’s new safety director—former “Untouchable” Eliot Ness himself—and a pair of homicide detectives find themselves investigating a new kind of criminal: America’s first serial killer! Can our intrepid and all-too-human protagonists solve this unsolved mystery, or will their quarry prove truly Untouchable? And can Bendis and Andreyko make it into that lineup of killer crime stories known as ... The Comics Canon? On the docket:
Join us in two weeks as Crimewave! continues with a look at Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ supernatural noir, Fatale! Until then, turn some heads with our snazzy Comics Canon merchandise! And why not accessorize with a little King Krackle from our sponsor at Category 4? Last but not least, don’t be a rat. Rate us on iTunes, send us an email, and hit us up on Twitter or Facebook! We may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 24 Oct 2018 | Episode 70 – The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes | 01:22:56 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin are off to never-never land as they conclude a look at game-changing DC horror comics with a discussion of The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes, collecting issues #1-8 of the Sandman by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg and Malcolm Jones III, published by DC Comics! When an ambitious magician attempts to capture Death, he instead ends up Runnin’ Down a Dream … that is, Dream, aka Morpheus, King of Dreams! When a weakened Morpheus finally escapes decades later, his quest to resume his throne forces him to confront a mentally unstable supervillain and the devil himself! Can the Dream Weaver prevail against the hordes of Hell and stop the deranged Doctor Destiny from usurping control of the dream world that awaits behind the wall of sleep? And will he walk alone down that boulevard of broken dreams known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we switch gears with Shaun Tan’s wordless, visually inventive depiction of the immigration experience, The Arrival! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 29 Aug 2017 | Episode 41 – The Batman Adventures: Mad Love | 00:53:14 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin analyze the most violent mental health professional this side of Hannibal Lecter! We’re talking, of course, about psychologist turned psycho Harley Quinn – and more specifically, her origin story in the Eisner Award-winning one-shot The Batman Adventures: Mad Love, published by DC Comics! Poor Harley Quinn! She just wants to settle down with her psychopathic paramour, the Joker. But the Clown Prince of Crime is interested in someone else – Batman! As Harley plots to get rid of the Caped Crusader once and for all, we learn who she is, and how she came to be. Can the lovelorn jester of injustice accomplish what her boyfriend never could, and kill the Dark Knight Detective once and for all? Can she finally shake free of Gotham’s most criminally codependent couple? And can she get herself admitted into that funny farm known as … The Comics Canon? (Note: This episode was recorded before the passing of Jerry Lewis and news of a new Joker and Harley Quinn movie in development.) Things Discussed in This Episode:
The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Atlanta Untrapped. Join us in two weeks as we use the new Inhumans series as an excuse to discuss New Avengers: Illuminati! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 02 Oct 2019 | Episode 94 – Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth | 01:23:28 | |
Just in time for the Oct. 4 release of Todd Phillips’ Joker movie, Curt and Kevin are joined by Atlanta actress and comics fan Jennifer Lee for a timely (and faintly explicit) discussion of the 1989 graphic novel Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean, published by DC Comics! On April Fools’ Day, the inmates, led by the Joker, have taken over Arkham Asylum and taken the staff as hostages. Their one demand? That Batman join them for a lethal game of hide and seek! Meanwhile, the journal of founder Amadeus Arkham reveals the gruesome origins of Gotham City’s most notorious psychiatric facility! Can the Caped Crusader survive a gauntlet of his deadliest enemies without going insane—if he hasn’t already? And can this strikingly illustrated tale check itself into that madhouse of sequential storytelling known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we get into the spooky spirit of October with a look at Emily Carroll’s book of short horror comics, Through the Woods! Until then, turn some heads with our snazzy Comics Canon merchandise! And why not accessorize with a little King Krackle from our sponsor at Category 4? Last but not least, please help us spread the word! Rate us on iTunes, send us an email, and hit us up on Twitter or Facebook! We may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 25 Oct 2017 | Episode 45 – The Mighty Thor: Ragnarok and Roll | 01:11:53 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin bring the mighty month of #Ragnaroktober to a thunderous conclusion, wrapping up their preparation for Thor: Ragnarok with a discussion of Ragnarok and Roll, the cataclysmic climax to Walt Simonson’s Surtur Saga from The Mighty Thor #349-354, published by Marvel Comics! As a winter storm sweeps across the planet, the giant fire demon Surtur marches toward Earth with the hordes of Muspelheim in tow! His goal? To storm the gates of Asgard, ignite his sword of Doom with the Flame of Destruction, and set the nine realms ablaze!
Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we prepare for the release of Justice League with yet another earth-shaking epic, Kingdom Come! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 20 Dec 2023 | Episode 201: A Carl Barks Christmas (With Dan McCoy) | 01:29:12 | |
Just in time for Christmas, Emmy-winning writer (and co-host of The Flop House) Dan McCoy joins us to unwrap a trio of Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge stories by the late, great Carl Barks! In “Only a Poor Old Man,” Uncle Scrooge’s first full-length adventure, everyone’s favorite spats-wearing billionaire fights to protect his fortune from the Beagle Boys in a rollicking heist tale! In “Luck of the North,” Donald drags his nephews to rescue his insufferable cousin Gladstone Gander in a madcap, Tintin-esque adventure. And in “A Christmas for Shacktown,” Donald, Daisy and the boys try to raise money to give the denizens of Duckburg’s poverty-stricken neighborhood a memorable Christmas celebration. Can Donald and company prevail against industrious thieves, a polar bear and a bottomless pit? And can these tales safely find their way to that Island of Misfit Toys known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · There’s a lot to admire about the Beagle Boys · Isaac Asimov’s iCarly · Kevin shares an embarrassing story · Pogo by Walt Kelly · I Must Be Dreaming by Roz Chast · Eat the Rich by Sarah Gailey and Pius Bak · Iron Man # 215-216 Join us in two weeks as we pause to take a look back before plunging ahead into 2024! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 17 Aug 2023 | Episode 193 – Ultimate Spider-Man Vol 2: Learning Curve and Confessions | 01:18:02 | |
In this episode, Spidey Super Stories swings into a different gear as we examine yet another version of everyone’s favorite wall-crawler with a look at Ultimate Spider-Man: Learning Curve, with a special emphasis on issue 13, Confessions, by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, published by Marvel Comics! We discuss the ways in which the Ultimate Universe Peter Parker and his supporting characters differ from their Marvel Universe counterparts, the sharp contrast between this title and Spider-Man comics from the 1960s through the 90s, and a conversation with Mary Jane more monumental than supervillain slugfest—especially when Aunt May barges in! Can this Peter Parker make it through his first meeting with this universe’s Kingpin? And more importantly, will he survive the scrutiny of ... Your Friendly Neighborhood Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Wait! What happens to Carson Daly??! · The Archie Comics era of Spider-Man · Zot! #35: The Conversation · Spider-Gwen Vol. 1: Most Wanted · Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 3: Double Trouble · Fantastic Four (2022) Vol. 1: Whatever Happened to the Fantastic Four? Join us in two weeks as we temporarily pause Spidey Super Stories for a look back at the origins of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 04 Dec 2024 | Episode 222: The Avengers – Under Siege | 01:15:01 | |
In this episode, our-decade-by-decade series on Marvel’s Thunderbolts (NOT the Thunderbirds, as Kevin erroneously calls them in the intro) continues as we discuss The Avengers: Under Siege – specifically, The Avengers #273-277 by Roger Stern and John Buscema! Helmut Zemo, the son of one of Captain America’s greatest enemies, and a waaay-overstuffed Masters of Evil take over Avengers Mansion and begin systematically taking down Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! Hercules, the Prince of Power, lies at death’s door! Monica Rambeau, the new Captain Marvel, is trapped in the Darkforce Dimension! And the Black Knight … is taken out rather easily. This action-packed epic has it all: Squabbling supervillains! A quick stopover in Paris! Tons of property damage! And a galaxy of guest stars including Ant-Man! Paladin! The Shroud! And Doctor Druid! But is all of that enough to mount a hostile takeover of that impregnable fortress known as … The Comics Canon? Recommended in This Episode: · Fantastic Four #177: “Look Out for the Frightful Four!” · Star Trek: First Contact · The Suicide Squad Next episode: At long last! We discuss Thunderbolts: Justice, Like Lightning…! featuring Thunderbolts (1997) #1-6! WHO are the Thunderbolts? And WHAT is their connection to the Masters of Evil? ALL WILL BE REVEALED! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 03 Apr 2019 | Episode 81 – Hellboy: Seed of Destruction | 00:49:46 | |
In this episode, a week ahead of the April 12 debut of the Hellboy movie, Curt and Kevin awaken ancient spirits to explore the origin of everyone’s favorite wisecracking monster-hunter in 1994’s Hellboy: Seed of Destruction by Mike Mignola and John Byrne, published by Dark Horse Comics! During World War II, the Russian psychic Rasputin conjures an otherdimensional being to help the Nazi war effort, resulting in the appearance of a young demon boy among Allied forces. Nearly 50 years later, that demon, now named Hellboy, is a paranormal investigator looking into the strange death of the man who raised him, Professor Trevor Bruttenholm. The case leads Hellboy (along with colleagues Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman) to a crumbling English manor where he faces hideous frog-men and the tentacled abomination known as the Sadu-Hem! Can our hell-spawned hero stop the mad monk from freeing the demonic Ogdru Jahad and unleashing apocalypse upon the world? And can he scale the mountains of madness to reach that graveyard smash known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we celebrate the 1000th issue of Detective Comics with a look at two early Batman stories—his first appearance in Detective Comics #27 (1939) and the first appearance of the Joker in Batman #1 (1940)! Until then, don’t forget our snazzy Comics Canon merchandise and the King Krackle digital brushes from our friends at Category 4! Last but not least, please be so kind as to rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 12 Apr 2023 | Episode 184 – The Strange Death of Adam Warlock Part 1 | 01:12:07 | |
Content warning: Suicide/self-murder On this episode, we kick off a two-part look at the definitive Adam Warlock story, The Magus Saga, aka The Strange Death of Adam Warlock, as featured in Strange Tales issues 178-181 and Warlock issues 9-11, written and drawn by Jim Starlin, published by Marvel Comics! Who is Adam Warlock, the mysterious character slated to make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3? He’s an artificially created, super-powered space messiah, cursed with a gem on his forehead that devours people’s souls. And in this far-out tale, he faces off against the evil head of an intergalactic empire ... who just happens to be his future self! With newfound allies Thanos, Gamora and Pip the Troll at his side, can Warlock prevail against his despotic shadow self? And will this cosmic comic receive the blessing of that Universal Church of Truth known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · The Adam Warlock rock opera · Elric of Melnibone · Jim Starlin’s Adam Warlock vs. Jack Kirby’s Fourth World · Fantastic Four: Life Story · For All Mankind · Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves · The Spider Man & Hulk Toilet Paper Infinity Comic Join us in two weeks as this saga (and our two-parter) concludes with Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 06 Feb 2019 | Episode 77 – The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite | 01:09:59 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for the Feb. 15 debut of The Umbrella Academy on Netflix with a look at The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, published by Dark Horse Comics! Brimming with inventive energy, this engaging miniseries follows a group of extraordinary children—each born to women showing no signs of pregnancy on the same night—adopted by inventor Sir Reginald Hargreeves, who grooms them to save the world. Decades later, these superpowered siblings, each haunted by physical or emotional traumas, come back together to bury their distant, demanding “father.” But they’re soon thrust into action against an old foe, as well as one of their own: their sister Vanya, now leader of an orchestra of madmen and murderesses bent on destroying the world! Can this fractured family overcome their conflicting feelings for each other in time to avert Armageddon? And can they matriculate into that institution of higher learning known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we begin preparations for the March 8 debut of Captain Marvel with a look at the first Marvel Comics avenger to go by that name—specifically, Captain Marvel (1968) #27-33 by Jim Starlin! Until then, don’t forget our snazzy Comics Canon merchandise and the Benoda! series of typefaces by our friends at Category 4! Last but not least, please be so kind as to rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 27 Sep 2023 | Episode 196 – Amazing Spider-Man: Shed | 01:15:37 | |
(Note:You may just ever-so-faintly hear a neighbor's barking dog occasionally adding his two cents in the background for the first half or so of the episode.) A perennial Spider-Man foe gets a horror-monster makeover (and our Spidey Super Stories miniseries concludes) with 2010’s Shed from Amazing Spider-Man #630-633, by Zeb Wells, Chris Bachalo and Emma Rios, published by Marvel Comics! After a long struggle, scientist Curt Connors loses control of his scaly alter-ego, the Lizard, who’s clearly been working out during the offseason! The reptilian rogue immediately embarks on a killing spree, and Connors’ young son Billy is his next target! Can Ol’ Web-Head keep this cold-blooded criminal from turning all of New York into a mindless horde of murderous, lizard-brained zombies? And can he tip the scales in favor of inclusion in that tangled web known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Spidey’s relationship with Catwom—we mean, the Black Cat · The true villains of this story · Six Degrees of Peter Parker · Beef on Netflix · Why Curt’s interested in the Thunderbolts movie · Amazing Spider-Man #44-45: “Where Crawls the Lizard!” and “Spidey Smashes Out!” · Amazing Spider-Man: Civil War · Becoming Superman, by J. Michael Straczynski Join us in two weeks as we return to Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing: American Gothic arc with a look at Swamp Thing #46-50! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 07 Jul 2021 | Episode 140 – The Sandman: Fables & Reflections | 01:12:26 | |
In this episode, an actual Greek myth gets retconned as Myth Takes, our miniseries on comics and mythology, rolls on with a discussion of three stories from the Sandman collection Fables & Reflections—specifically, Thermidor, The Song of Orpheus and Ramadan! You may be familiar with the myth of Orpheus, the balladeer who journeyed to the underworld to retrieve his lady love Eurydice. But you might have skipped class the day they covered the fact that Orpheus was the son of Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams! Did Orpheus’s bodiless head really help bring about the downfall of Robespierre, one of the architects of the French Revolution’s bloody Reign of Terror? What role did the Dream King play in the storied history of ancient Baghdad? And will these stories make their way into that campaign of myth-information known as ... The Comics Canon? Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as our Myth Takes miniseries wraps up with a discussion of James Sturm’s The Golem’s Mighty Swing! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 11 Sep 2024 | Episode 217: Will Eisner's The Spirit | 01:33:12 | |
In this episode, we take a long-overdue look at one of the most acclaimed crimefighters in comics history, Will Eisner’s The Spirit! Published in its own special insert in Sunday newspapers in the 1940s and early 50s, The Spirit featured seven- and eight-page stories about a masked hero in a suit and tie who helped the police of Central City fight criminal masterminds, underworld figures and slinky femmes fatales. Initially influenced by the pulps, The Spirit soon became known for short stories that showcased Eisner’s genre-defying imagination and visual invention—stories in which the Spirit himself often wasn’t even the main character! Starting with the 1940’s “The Origin of the Spirit,” we dive into eight tales that demonstrate the wide range of this influential comic. But does The Spirit have what it takes to kick back in that tastefully appointed crypt known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Curt has a dream · Who was handling Paste Pot Pete’s branding? · Is The Spirit the Citizen Kane of comics? · Will Eisner’s Shop Talk · Two of the Spirit’s femmes fatales · The Story of Rat-Tat the Toy Machine Gun · Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Join us in two weeks as we mark the upcoming release of Joker: Folie a Deux and other Batman-related properties with a handful of stories featuring everyone’s favorite clown prince of crime, the Joker! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 12 Jun 2019 | Episode 86 – Watchmen Part 4: Issues 10-12 | 01:22:25 | |
In this episode, we temporarily set aside our “clean” rating to wind up our four-part series on Watchmen with a discussion issues #10-12 of the landmark comic-book series written by Alan Moore, drawn by Dave Gibbons, and published by DC Comics! As President Richard Nixon prepares to launch nuclear missiles, Nite Owl and Rorschach discover that the person behind the Comedian’s death and Dr. Manhattan’s self-imposed exile is their former colleague, Adrian Veidt! When they track him to his Antarctic retreat, the “world’s smartest man” shares with them his plan to avert a nuclear apocalypse—presenting them with a horrific moral dilemma! Can these hopelessly outmatched heroes, along with Laurie Juspeczyk and Dr. Manhattan, look on Ozymandias’ works without despairing? Can they prevent Veidt from killing millions of innocent people? And will Curt and Kevin judge this paradigm-shifting 12-issue series worthy of admission into that stronger, loving world known as ... The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we observe the recent release of Dark Phoenix with a discussion of (what else?) Uncanny X-Men: Days of Future Past! Until then, why not peruse our new spring line of Comics Canon merchandise? We also invite you to check out King Krackle from our friends at Category 4! Last but not least, please be so kind as to rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 08 Dec 2020 | Episode 125 – Captain America: Winter Soldier | 01:10:41 | |
For decades, Bucky Barnes sat cooling his heels with Ben Parker in the exclusive club of characters Marvel Comics would never bring back from the dead. But all that changed in 2006, as chronicled in Captain America: Winter Soldier—specifically, Captain America issues 1-6. 8-9, and 11-14—by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting, Michael Lark and others. While chasing down a terrorist plot with S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Sharon Carter, Captain America starts having flashbacks to World War II and the heroic death of his teen sidekick, Bucky—who might also be the Soviet assassin known as the Winter Soldier! Can the Star-Spangled Avenger help this ruthless killing machine remember who he is, while also facing off against Crossbones and a Russian mastermind with a Cosmic Cube? And can this popular and influential story arc score an invite to that Party in the U.S.A. known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we segue seamlessly from hard-hitting superhero action into a collection of stories about the Bradley family from Peter Bagge’s 1980s comic Neat Stuff! Until then: | |||
| 12 Nov 2019 | Episode 97 – Secret Wars (2015) | 01:20:05 | |
You finally achieve your lifelong goal—absolute dominion over all of creation, not to mention the wife of your bitterest rival—only to find that godhood isn't everything you'd hoped for. We've all been there, right? Victor Von Doom certainly has, in the epic 2015 miniseries Secret Wars, by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic, published by Marvel Comics! Join us as we answer the burning questions: Can Curt and Kevin avoid getting deep in the weeds of this superhero crossover event? (Not so much.) And can this epic, world-changing series emerge triumphant in that Clash of Kings known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we continue our exploration of cosmic crossovers with the mother of all universe-obliterating epics, Crisis on Infinite Earths! Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! | |||
| 13 Apr 2022 | Episode 158 – American Splendor | 01:12:15 | |
We kick off True Stories, a series on autobiographical and nonfiction comics, with a look at Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor! While not the first comics work to chronicle the real-life exploits of its creator, American Splendor broke ground as an ongoing series that told an impressively diverse range of stories within the confines of an autobiographical, slice-of-life title. Along the way, it also made him a minor celebrity—first through a series of appearances on Late Night With David Letterman and later via a 2003 feature film starring Paul Giamatti as Harvey. From observational musings about everyday moments to warts-and-all depictions of Pekar’s obsessions, grudges and personal foibles, American Splendor helped to redefine what comics could be and do. But is that enough to help it survive on those mean streets known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as True Stories continues with Lynda Barry’s emphatically punctuated One! Hundred! Demons! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 06 Aug 2019 | Episode 90 – Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter | 01:11:08 | |
In this episode, Crimewave!, our series on gritty crime comics, continues with Darwyn Cooke's crackling adaptation of The Hunter! Beautifully illustrated in black, white and teal, this stylized revenge tale from IDW Publishing is the first in a four-part series adapting novels about the career criminal Parker by the late Donald E. Westlake, writing as Richard Stark. Physically imposing and intense, the man known only as Parker storms into New York City in 1962, where he confronts the wife who shot him and left him for dead before hunting down the man who betrayed him. Can our laconic lawbreaker survive a one-man war against the nationwide criminal syndicate known as The Outfit? And can he break into that impenetrable vault of graphic excellence known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
We return in two weeks as Crimewave! rolls on with the fictionalized true-crime tale Torso, by Brian Michael Bendis and Marc Andreyko! Until then, spiff up your wardrobe with some snazzy Comics Canon merchandise! And why not accessorize with a little King Krackle from our sponsor at Category 4? Last but not least, we'd consider it a favor if you'd rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook! Who knows? We just may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 19 Jul 2017 | Episode 38 - The Eltingville Club | 01:18:26 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin temporarily put aside their “clean” rating for a bracing look at the dark side of nerd culture (just in time for Comic-Con) with a longer-than-usual discussion of Evan Dorkin’s The Eltingville Club, published by Dark Horse Comics! Bill, Josh, Pete and Jerry are four nerd culture-obsessed teens who’ll go to any lengths to score that ultra-rare collectible—and assert their dominance over each other in the process—in this collection of smartly drawn stories, three of which (“Bring Me the Head of Boba Fett,” “The Marathon Men,” and “The Intervention”) are Eisner Award-winners! Can this not-so-fantastic foursome put aside their petty bickering and embrace the positive aspects of the culture that brings them together? (Spoiler: Don’t hold your breath.) And can they collect enough proofs of purchase to gain admittance to that exclusive club of action figures known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Things Not Discussed in This Episode, Because We Forgot: The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Dish on the Dish. Join us in two weeks as we gear up for a return trip to Duckburg with a look at three classic Uncle Scrooge stories by the great Carl Barks! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 24 May 2023 | Episode 187 – American Born Chinese | 01:02:08 | |
On this episode, just in time for the May 24 debut of American Born Chinese on Disney+, we take a look at, well, American Born Chinese, written and drawn by Gene Luen Yang, published by First Second! This award-winning graphic novel moves between three characters: The Monkey King, a deity who chafes at being called a monkey; Jin Wang, a child of Chinese immigrants who sees his heritage as an obstacle as he falls in love with an American classmate; and Danny, a typical American teenager whose efforts to fit in at a new school are thwarted by his visiting cousin, a horrible Chinese stereotype named Chin-Kee! How do these stories eventually come together? Can our protagonists learn to accept themselves as they are? And can American Born Chinese gain entrance to that heavenly dinner party known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Is it okay to laugh at Chin-Kee? · Peeing in Coke cans: the continuing crisis · Hugonauts: The Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time · Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki · American Barbarian by Tom Scioli Join us in two weeks as we visit one of the most pivotal stories in superhero comics history—The Flash of Two Worlds! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 04 Sep 2019 | Episode 92 – Fatale Volume 1: Death Chases Me | 01:01:39 | |
In this episode, Crimewave!, our series on gritty crime comics, rolls on with Death Chases Me, the first volume of the James Ellroy-meets-H.P. Lovecraft occult noir Fatale, written and drawn by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, published by Image Comics! In 1950s San Francisco, reporter Dominic Henry Raines meets with the mysterious and attractive Josephine, girlfriend of corrupt police detective Walt Booker. As Raines investigates Booker, he falls under Josephine’s spell, unaware that there’s more to his feelings for her than puppy love. And a dying Booker, investigating a series of occult murders, makes a deal with the devil. Meanwhile, in the present, Nicolas Lash meets the alluring and secretive Jo, and finds himself pursued by some familiar-looking sinister goons! Will Raines and our sympathetic femme fatale evade the demonic forces on their trail? And will they survive their ordeal at those mountains of madness known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as Crimewave! concludes (at least for now) with Bastard by Max de Radiguès! Until then, turn some heads with our snazzy Comics Canon merchandise! And why not accessorize with a little King Krackle from our sponsor at Category 4? Last but not least, don’t be a dirty, no-good tentacle monster! Rate us on iTunes, send us an email, and hit us up on Twitter or Facebook! We may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 19 Feb 2020 | Episode 104 – House of X and Powers of X Part 2 | 01:08:05 | |
In this episode, we conclude our two-part look at the two 2019 miniseries that reset the status quo for the X-Men: House of X and Powers of X, by Jonathan Hickman, Pepe Larraz and R.B. Silva, published by Marvel Comics! The mutant nation of Krakoa faces its first major setback when a mission to stop Orchis from activating the Mother Mold meets with disaster! Meanwhile, 1,000 years in the future, Wolverine and Moira MacTaggert must act as the Man-Machine Ascendancy prepares to be assimilated into the alien techno-collective known as the Phalanx! Mutantkind seems destined to suffer a terrible fate. Can Charles Xavier and Magneto prevent that dark future from coming to pass? And can they hope to survive the judgment of that Not-So-Quiet Council known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we kick off the month of March with a look at the first volume of U.S. Representative John Lewis’s autobiographical graphic novel trilogy, March! Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! | |||
| 08 Nov 2017 | Episode 46 – Kingdom Come | 01:22:07 | |
In the not-too-distant future, a new generation of super-powered beings has taken the place of the Justice League. But these reckless “heroes” are even more of a menace than the villains they face, and millions of innocents pay the price when one super-battle results in the devastation of the American Midwest! Wonder Woman coaxes a reluctant Superman out of self-imposed exile to reunite the Justice League. But Batman refuses the call, and the heroes clash over differing ideologies. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor and the U.N. have their own ideas for how to deal with this growing crisis—and one of them involves a nuclear bomb! Can these costumed crusaders put aside their differences, end the threat of these metahuman miscreants, and avert atomic annihilation? And can they win the keys to that kingdom of caped champions known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we prepare for the first season of Hulu’s Runaways adaptation with a discussion of Runaways: Pride and Joy! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 29 Nov 2022 | Quizzical Canonical: Roll the Bones | 00:08:23 | |
That’s right, it’s the return of everyone’s favorite comics-themed quiz with the weird name! Following last week’s episode on Bone: The Great Cow Race, Kevin tests Curt’s knowledge of bone-themed comics characters (and other, only nominally related topics). In This Mini-Episode!
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| 27 May 2020 | Episode 111 – The Immortal Hulk Vol. 1: Or Is He Both? | 01:07:03 | |
Over the years, the Hulk has been a rampaging behemoth, a Vegas enforcer, and a gladiator-turned-warlord on a far-flung alien planet. And the Green Goliath gets another incarnation in The Immortal Hulk Vol. 1: Or Is He Both?, by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett, published by Marvel Comics. When Bruce Banner dies (which happens a lot), he awakens at nightfall as The Immortal Hulk, a cunning, brutal and fearsome instrument of vengeance, exacting terrible retribution on those who take the lives of others. Can investigative reporter Jacqueline McGee and the Canadian superhero Sasquatch survive their encounters with this terrifying new monster? And can this fresh take on ol’ Jade Jaws gain entry into that Tomb of Horrors known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we commemorate Audible’s upcoming Sandman adaptation with a look at Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll’s House! Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! | |||
| 05 Jun 2024 | Episode 211: Here | 01:02:37 | |
Richard McGuire’s 2014 graphic novel Here takes place in one location—the corner of a living room in a house in what is probably Perth Amboy, New Jersey—over the course of billions of years, from 300,000,500,000 B.C. to the far-off year 22,175. In between, we see slivers of events both dramatic and mundane, catching glimpses of ordinary lives and extraordinary creatures, and watch as small moments echo and comment on each other across the decades and centuries. It's a fascinating work that makes use of the comics medium in original and inventive ways, a seemingly unfilmable book that’s somehow being adapted into a major motion picture starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, directed by Robert Zemeckis, for release later this year. But is that enough to score a ticket to that Land That Time Forgot known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · An unlikely Forrest Gump sequel · Hey, it’s Ben Franklin! · The Reversible Man by Alan Moore and Mike White · Evil Season 4 · Reinventing Comics by Scott McCloud · Flash Gordon by Dan Schkade
Join us in two weeks as we discuss Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Who Is Scorpio? by Jim Steranko! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 08 Jun 2021 | Episode 138 – Fables: Animal Farm | 01:02:29 | |
In this episode, we follow up the anthropomorphic samurai of Usagi Yojimbo with a menagerie of talking animals as Myth Takes, our miniseries on comics and mythology, takes a slight detour into fairy tale territory with a discussion of Fables Vol. 2: Animal Farm, published by Vertigo/DC Comics! In Bill Willingham’s long-running series Fables, the characters from all your favorite childhood tales have been driven from their homes by the mysterious Adversary and are living under the radar in New York. But when the Farm—home of the animal Fables—is rocked by the vicious murder of one of the Three Little Pigs, tensions between human and non-human Fables threatens to escalate into deadly political revolution! Can Snow White defeat the militant Goldilocks—not to mention her own sister Rose Red—and prevent a bloody civil war? And can this tale as old as time win entry into that Happily Ever After known as ... The Comics Canon? Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we kick off a Sandman two-parter with a look at A Game of You! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 11 Jul 2018 | Comics Onscreen – To Infinity War and Beyond! | 01:19:54 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin take a long look at the current landscape of comics-based movies—a landscape dominated by the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With only one big-ticket DC Comics film (that would be Aquaman) on the horizon for 2018, we’re truly living in the Marvel Age of Movies. Spoilers are as thick on the ground as armored rhinoceroses as we ponder whether Marvel Studios can the critical, commercial and cultural one-two punch of Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, which have conquered a staggering $3.3 billion and counting. We also dive into Deadpool 2, and put Ant-Man and the Wasp under the microscope. Last but not least, we tune in to the current slate of comics TV properties, including the latest seasons of Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Legion and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; a quick sprint through The Walking Dead; a flash of Black Lightning; and a brief interrogation of Cloak and Dagger. Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in one week as wrap up our Fantastic Four-parter with a look at the Three storyline from Fantastic Four #583-588, by Jonathan Hickman, Steve Epting and Nick Dragotta! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 30 Mar 2022 | Episode 157 – The Moon Knight Episode | 01:15:11 | |
Today marks the debut of the new Moon Knight series on Disney+, and to mark the occasion, we’re diving into the career of everyone’s favorite multiple-personality Avenger with a look at a few different eras of Moon Knight comics, published by Marvel Comics. First, we review 1980’s Moon Knight #1 Doug Moench and Bill Sinkiewicz, followed by a two-part team-up with the Werewolf By Night in Moon Knight #29-30! Then it’s a look at 2011’s 12-issue run by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, and we wrap up with the mysterious Mr. Knight as depicted by Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey. Join us as we ask the burning questions: Why hasn’t the Fist of Khonshu broken into the A-list of Marvel heroes? And can any of these stories break into that subterranean tomb of the comic-book gods known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we kick off True Stories, a new miniseries, with a look at selected works from Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor!
And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 18 Oct 2017 | Bonus Episode – The Ballad of Beta Ray Bill | 01:06:10 | |
In this special episode, #Ragnaroktober rolls on as Curt and Kevin travel back two years before the release of the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok—all the way to the halcyon days of November 2015! Yes, it’s the oft-mentioned, never-before-unveiled Comics Canon “beta” episode, a discussion of Walt Simonson’s The Ballad of Beta Ray Bill (The Mighty Thor #337-340), published by Marvel Comics! While confronting a menacing spacecraft, the mighty Thor comes into conflict with the noble alien warrior Beta Ray Bill! Imagine the son of Odin’s shock and dismay when this extraordinary extraterrestrial grabs hold of his hammer … and is granted the power of Thor, God of Thunder! Can Thor and Beta Ray Bill sort out this intergalactic identity crisis in time to repel the horde of gruesome space demons that threaten Bill’s defenseless people? And can they overcome a host of Herculean hurdles to hasten into that hall of heroic histories known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us next week as #Ragnaroktober concludes with a look at Simonson’s fiery conclusion to the Surtur Saga, Ragnarok and Roll (The Mighty Thor #349-354)! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 18 Sep 2019 | Episode 93 – Bastard | 00:52:56 | |
In this episode, Crimewave!, our series on gritty crime comics, comes to a rollicking (and not entirely swear word-free) conclusion with the “Mommy and Clyde” graphic novel Bastard, written and drawn by Belgian cartoonist Max de Radiguès, published in America by Fantagraphics Books! After taking part in a massive heist that targeted 52 different locations in the same city at the same time, May and her son Eugene are on the run, trying to stay ahead of the police while hiding duffel bags stuffed with cash. And if that weren’t difficult enough, they soon find themselves hunted by their fellow criminals! After a deadly confrontation, May is forced to make a decision that will change everything Eugene thought he knew about their relationship! Can our fleeing felons elude a pair of dangerous killers long enough for May to turn the tables on the traitor who wants them dead? And can they cross the border to that remote hideout known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we look ahead to the Oct. 4 release of Joker with an exploration at 1989’s controversial graphic novel Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean! Until then, turn some heads with our snazzy Comics Canon merchandise! And why not accessorize with a little King Krackle from our sponsor at Category 4? Last but not least, please help us spread the word! Rate us on iTunes, send us an email, and hit us up on Twitter or Facebook! We may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 16 Aug 2017 | Episode 40 – The Death and Resurrection of Elektra | 01:19:44 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for the Netflix debut of Marvel’s The Defenders by… not discussing a Defenders comic! Instead, they book a return trip to Hell’s Kitchen as they discuss the death and resurrection of Elektra, as seen in Daredevil #181 and #187-191, published by Marvel Comics! Elektra Natchios is a deadly assassin in the employ of the Kingpin of Crime – and she’s also Daredevil’s long lost college girlfriend! Throw in an ancient order of evil ninjas and the cold-blooded killer known as Bullseye, and you’ve got one of the most memorable deaths in comics history! If it please the court, we ask: Shouldn’t Elektra play a more prominent role in her own death and resurrection? What exactly is up with the Black Widow? And can ol’ Hornhead impress our jury of two and gain entry into the judges’ chambers known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Dish on the Dish. Join us in two weeks as we use the Batman and Harley Quinn animated film as an excuse to discuss The Batman Adventures: Mad Love! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 06 Jan 2021 | Episode 127 – Superman Smashes the Klan | 01:08:20 | |
(Note: Due to some sound issues, we were forced to re-record a couple of spots in the first few minutes of the podcast.) In this episode, we kick off 2021 with one of the best-reviewed books of 2020: Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru, published by DC Comics! Taking inspiration from the 1940s radio serial The Adventures of Superman, this three-issue limited series follows the Chinese-American Lee family as they arrive in Metropolis, where they’re met with open arms, but also unintentional microaggressions and racist jokes. They also attract the attention of the Klan of the Fiery Cross, which kicks off a campaign of intimidation to drive them out of town, including cross-burning and kidnapping! Can young Roberta and Tommy Lee help the Man of Steel stop the Klan before lives are lost? Can Superman make sense of his troubling visions and discover the truth about his alien heritage? And can this book find a home in that promised land known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we discuss Raina Telgemeier’s Eisner Award-winning 2010 graphic novel, Smile! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 11 Apr 2018 | Episode 56 – Looney Tunes Crossovers | 01:12:07 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin make a left turn at Albuquerque to discuss a pair of stories featuring crossovers between DC Comics heroes and Looney Tunes characters: Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1 by Tom King and Lee Weeks, and Grant Morrison and Chas Truog’s The Coyote Gospel from Animal Man #5, published by DC Comics! First, a fearsome hunter tracks his prey through the mean streets of Gotham City. His name is Elmer Fudd, and he’s hunting pwayboys—specifically, a biwwionaiwe by the name of Bwuce Wayne! When the urban vigilante crosses paths with Gotham’s Dark Knight Detective, Fudd and the Batman discover they have something in common: the femme fatale known as Silver St. Cloud!
Then, the hunter becomes the hunted as a crafty coyote (who bears a striking resemblance to a certain Warner Bros. character) is stalked by an unnamed man across the California desert. But a grief-stricken pursuer is the least of this wily carnivore’s worries as he endures an eternal cycle of death and resurrection at the hands of a capricious creator!
Can Animal Man, the Caped Crusader and their animated cohorts prevail against the unseen adversaries manipulating them from behind the scenes? And can they sneak their way into that superheroic sanctuary known as … The Comics Canon?
Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we look forward to a little movie you may of heard of called Avengers: Infinity War with a look at the 1991 Marvel Comics miniseries The Infinity Gauntlet! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 12 Mar 2024 | Episode 206 – Wolverine (1982) | 01:14:51 | |
On this episode, it’s the return of “Miller March,” featuring a month of Frank Miller comics! First up is the 1982 miniseries Wolverine by Chris Claremont and the aforementioned Mr. Miller, published by Marvel Comics! The very first comic series to feature Wolverine’s name in the title takes Logan to Japan, where his lady love Mariko has entered into an abusive marriage arranged by her father, the crime lord Shingen. His heart broken by Mariko, humiliated by Shingen, Logan spirals into a dark night of the soul as he’s pursued by the deadly ninja clan known as the Hand! Will Logan’s new friend Yukio stop trying to make “Gotcha!” happen? Can Logan redeem himself, defeat his enemies and regain Mariko’s love? And can this miniseries fight its way ino that House of Flying Daggers known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · There sure are a lot of ninja in 1980s Japan · Does the Hand recruit from Cobra? · Avengers: The Impossible City · Shōgun · X-Men Epic Collection: The Fate of the Phoenix · Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Anthology · Curt’s appearance on The Origin Story Podcast Join us in two weeks as we revisit our most controversial episode with a FRESH NEW LOOK at Batman: The Dark Knight Returns! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 28 May 2019 | Episode 85 – Watchmen Part 3: Issues 7-9 | 01:14:28 | |
Like sands through the hourglass, our four-part series on Watchmen continues with a look at issues #7-9 of the groundbreaking comic series written by Alan Moore, drawn by Dave Gibbons, and published by DC Comics! As the world marches closer to the brink of nuclear war, Dan Drieberg and Laurie Juspeczyk become lovers. They also defy the nation’s ban on costumed heroes and rescue the residents of a burning building. Determined to find out who’s killing other masked adventurers, Nite Owl hatches a plan to spring Rorschach from prison, bringing the police to his front door. Just when things couldn’t get any worse, Dr. Manhattan appears and whisks Laurie away to Mars to talk, with the literal fate of the world hanging in the balance! Can Dan and Rorschach avoid being collared by the cops? Can Laurie convince her godlike former boyfriend to save the world? Can any of them survive long enough to make it to that floating crystal palace known as ... The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as our four-part series concludes with a look as issues 10-12! Until then, why not peruse our new spring line of Comics Canon merchandise? We also invite you to check out King Krackle from our friends at Category 4! Last but not least, please be so kind as to rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 20 Jul 2022 | Episode 165 – The Sandman: Brief Lives | 01:39:48 | |
In this episode, we get ready for the Aug. 5 debut of Netflix’s The Sandman with the latest in our ongoing series of Sandman arcs, this time discussing Vol. 7: Brief Lives published by Vertigo/DC Comics! Can our mismatched siblings find Destruction before death (or Death) finds them? And can this stirring meditation on mortality gain entrance to that temple of Delight and Delirium known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as our ongoing Sandman series continues with World’s End! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 23 Nov 2022 | Episode 174 – Bone Vol. 2: The Great Cow Race | 01:02:59 | |
In this episode, we return to a fantastic world of dragons, princesses and stupid, stupid rat creatures with Bone: The Great Cow Race, written and drawn by Jeff Smith, published by Cartoon Books and Scholastic! Things get fast and furious when Phoney Bone attempts to fix the annual cow competition of the title with a little help from a certain “mystery cow.” Meanwhile, a lovelorn Fone Bone races for his life, pursued by the mysterious rat creatures! And what’s behind Thorn’s disturbing dreams about a cavern full of dragons? Can Phoney and Smiley Bone defeat defending champion Gran’ma Ben? And can this charming tale cross the finish line on that fast track to glory known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we discuss the Green Lantern/Green Arrow anti-drug story Snowbirds Don’t Fly by Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 13 May 2020 | Episode 110 – The Concrete Episode | 01:16:31 | |
Paul Chadwick’s Concrete has the trappings of a superhero story—a quiet, somewhat nebbishy man finds his brain transplanted into a giant stone body that allows him to do great things. But like a number of other similar titles from the early 80s like Nexus and Zot!, it spins this well-worn concept into something new, intelligent and wholly original. In his first four issues (as reprinted in Concrete Vol. 1: Depths), former senatorial speechwriter Ronald Lithgow uses his newfound abilities to rescue miners from a cave-in, attempts to swim the Atlantic Ocean, and recounts his familiar yet freshly horrifying origin. This chip off the old block may be able to hold his own against unfathomable aliens and undersea predators, but can he survive the unspeakable menace of the man known only as Anonymoose? And can he reach the summit of that pinnacle of comic-book excellence known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we delve into another comic about a super-strong giant with a look at 2018’s The Immortal Hulk Vol. 1: Or Is He Both? Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! | |||
| 01 Aug 2018 | Episode 64 – Zot!: The Eyes of Dekko and Hearts and Minds | 01:25:32 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin observe the 25th anniversary of Scott McCloud’s landmark Understanding Comics … with (what else?) a discussion of a pair of stories from McCloud’s lighthearted comic Zot!: The Eyes of Dekko from Zot #17-18, and the webcomic Hearts and Minds! Jenny Weaver, a high schooler from a world similar to our own, and her boyfriend Zot, a free-spirited superhero from another Earth, grapple with issues of teen angst, art, divorce and mortality as they clash with the insane cyborg Dekko, a formerly human artist who wears the Chrysler Building on his head! Can Jenny and Zot prevent Dekko from killing a group of hostages – oh, and eradicating all of existence? And can they fly off into that alternate dimension of sequential storytelling known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we turn our attention to one of the most famous (and infamous) comics stories of all time: The Death of Superman! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 04 Jul 2018 | Episode 62 – Fantastic Four Part 3: Unthinkable | 01:20:56 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin continue their Fantastic Four-part series on the World’s Greatest Comic Magazine with a discussion of the FF’s greatest villain via two very different tales: The Fantastic Origin of Doctor Doom from Fantastic Four Annual #2, and Unthinkable, from Fantastic Four Vol. 3 #67-70 and #500, published by Marvel Comics! First, it’s a quick time-hop back to the 1960s as Stan Lee and Jack Kirby recount the not-so-humble beginnings of everyone’s favorite mad monarch, Victor Von Doom! Then it’s on to 2003, as Mark Waid and the late Mike Wieringo depict a demonic deal that may defeat Marvel’s quintessential quartet once and for all! Having embraced his sorcerous side, will Victor finally emerge victorious? Or can our science-loving squad outsmart their arrogant arch-nemesis and thus gain entry into that Magic Castle known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in one week for our annual selective look at the year so far in comics movie and TV adaptations! And then set your time machine for the following week as we close out this Fantastic foursome of episodes with a discussion of Three from Fantastic Four #583-588, by Jonathan Hickman, Steve Epting and Nick Dragotta! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 15 Aug 2018 | Episode 65 – The Death of Superman | 01:05:56 | |
In this episode, Curt and Kevin turn their attention to one of the most famous Superman stories of all time—the headline-grabbing, multi-part event storyline The Death of Superman, written and drawn by a rotating cast of creators and published by DC Comics! The hulking, mysterious figure who comes to be known as Doomsday arrives out of nowhere, destroying everything in his path! Not even the Justice League can slow this raging brute as he plods toward Metropolis, leaving death and ruin in his wake! Only one man has a chance against this inhuman monster. But is even Superman up to the task? Can the Man of Steel stop Doomsday’s relentless onslaught without paying the ultimate price? (Well, the title of the story is a dead giveaway.) And will his name be added to that memorial of monumental epics known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we explore the topic of death from a different angle with a look at cartoonist Roz Chast’s graphic memoir, Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| 29 Apr 2020 | Episode 109 – Kurt Busiek’s Astro City: Life in the Big City | 01:30:56 | |
Comic book worlds don’t come any more vividly imagined or painstakingly detailed than Astro City. The metropolis that gives this anthology series its title isn’t all that different from the one outside your window—you know, except for all the high-flying heroes, insectoid invaders and mystical menaces that share the sidewalk with everyday citizens like you. Life in the Big City, collecting the first six issues of this long-running series, allows the reader to imagine what it would be like to live in a world of magic and wonder. Will the super-powered Samaritan ever be able to slow down long enough to enjoy life, or go on a date? Can a young woman from the ethnic neighborhood of Shadow Hill trade her talismans and traditions for those of the city’s bustling downtown? Is the boorish Crackerjack really all that stands between Earth and an alien assault? And can these stories move on up to that shining city on a hill known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we explore the world of Paul Chadwick’s Concrete, discussing select stories from Concrete Vol. 1: Depths! Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! | |||