Explore every episode of the podcast The Comics Canon
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 247: The Hellfire Gala | 10 Dec 2025 | 01:32:08 | |
For our last full-size episode of 2025, we wrap up our All My Xs miniseries on Marvel Comics' X-Men franchise with one of the big crossover events of the Jonathan Hickman era – The Hellfire Gala! The mutant nation of Krakoa makes its debut on the world stage with one hell of a coming-out party, filled with celebrity guests, fantastic costumes, behind-the-scenes intrigue and a truly out-of-this-world fireworks display! Can Emma Frost keep this star-studded affair on the rails? What's with Beast's heel turn? What the heck is Charles Xavier wearing? And can this story get past the velvet rope and into that social event of the season known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · The Tom Stoppard of superhero comics · A truly baffling cameo · Great artists steal · Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy · Pluribus on Apple TV · The Mighty Nein on Amazon Prime Join us in two weeks – on Christmas Eve – for a fun mini-episode! Then, on Jan. 7, we discuss one of the best-reviewed books of 2025: Drome by Jesse Lonergan! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 246: The Wedding of Northstar | 26 Nov 2025 | 01:26:09 | |
All My Xs, our decade-by-decade exploration of the X-Men, crashes the first gay wedding of a Marvel Comics superhero in 2012's Astonishing X-Men #51, by Marjorie Liu and Mike Perkins! But first, we take a detour 1992 as Northstar becomes the first Marvel character to come out as gay in Alpha Flight #106, by Scott Lobdell and Mark Pacella! (And even better, we're introduced to that most valuable piece of IP, Major Mapleleaf!) Can a well-intentioned Very Special Issue of Alpha Flight survive a collision with the "extreme" art and storytelling trend of the 1990s? And can everyone's favorite mutant Olympian turned Canadian superhero survive a run-in with that Big Fat Geek Wedding known as … The Comics Canon? Recommended in This Episode: · Batman: Dark Victory · Death by Lightning · Wynd Vol. 1: The Flight of the Prince · Damage Control Vol. 1
Join us in two weeks as All My Xs finally reaches the 2020s with a look at the event of the season … the Hellfire Gala! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 237: The Mighty Thor – And Now … Galactus! | 23 Jul 2025 | 01:35:41 | |
Galactus makes his big-screen debut this week in Fantastic Four: First Steps*, which means it's the perfect opportunity to discuss his second-ever comics appearances in The Mighty Thor – specifically, issues #160-162 and 168-169, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, published by Marvel Comics! (For his comics debut, we humbly direct you to our very first episode from 2016!) First, it's the war to settle the score, the brawl to end it all, as the Devourer of Worlds squares off against none other than Ego the Living Planet! And the Son of Odin and the Rigellian robot known as the Recorder are caught in the middle! It's classic 60s Lee/Kirby space opera at its most grandiose! Then, we get a … somewhat disjointed look at Galactus' origin, including a rap session between Big G and the God of Thunder! PLUS: We discuss James Gunn's Superman! Does Thor stand a chance against this most colossal of foes? Will Odin act in a frustrating manner? (Spoiler: Yes!) And "Shall a God Prevail" against that sentient bioverse known as … The Comics Canon? (*No, we're not counting the purple space cloud in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Would YOU?) In This Episode: · Actual sound footage of the Recorder! · You should never have to see Galactus' knees · Hush now! Odin's stories are on … · How DO you pronounce Ra's al Ghul? · Thor God of Thunder Vol. 4: The Last Days of Midgard · Fantastic Four #171-175: Galactus vs. the High Evolutionary Join us in two weeks as we kick off a miniseries on everyone's favorite Marvel mutants with a look at 1969's Uncanny X-Men #57-61 by Roy Thomas and Neal Adams! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 156 – Batman: The Long Halloween | 16 Mar 2022 | 01:07:18 | |
Our Batman two-parter concludes with a discussion of Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, published by DC Comics! This popular miniseries serves as a de facto sequel to Batman: Year One, despite marked differences in size, tone and style, as a serial killer known as Holiday terrorizes Gotham City's underworld over the course of a tumultuous year, providing the backdrop for a shift in the city's criminal power balance from organized crime toward garish supervillains like the Joker, Scarecrow and Poison Ivy. Can District Attorney Harvey Dent bring down Carmine "The Roman" Falcone with his sanity intact? (Spoiler alert: No.) And can this influential tale survive a night in that haunted house of crime capers known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we get ready for Moon Knight on Disney+ with: The Moon Knight Episode! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 155 – Batman: Year One | 02 Mar 2022 | 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! | |||
| Episode 154 – The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect | 02 Feb 2022 | 01:02:10 | |
(Content warning: Sexual assault) Our two-parter on comics legend George Perez continues with a look at The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect, published by Marvel Comics! Eisner Award-winning writer Peter David brings a light touch to this alternate-future tale set in the appropriately named Dystopia, where a warlord known as The Maestro rules with an iron fist. A band of rebels travels to the past (and our present) to bring back the one "studly" who can take down the Maestro—the Hulk! Oh, and did we mention that the Maestro and the Hulk are one and the same? Can Future Imperfect overcome outdated future slang and some rather problematic elements to leap feet-first into that shining citadel of post-apocalyptic periodicals known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we look ahead to the March 4 release of The Batman with a story we've been wanting to do forever: Batman: Year One! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 153 – Wonder Woman (1987) Vol. 1: Gods and Mortals | 18 Jan 2022 | 01:21:25 | |
(Content warning: Sexual assault) In the first of a two-part series on George Perez, we discuss one of his most famous runs as a creator, the 1987 reboot of DC Comics' Wonder Woman! Spinning out of the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths (also drawn by Perez), the series redefined the character in ways that are still felt today, from the comics to the recent Wonder Woman movies. And as plotter as well as penciller, Perez was the driving creative force behind these changes. These groundbreaking comics gave Wonder Woman new depth and cemented her ties to Greek mythology. Can they also lasso their way into that Paradise Island known as ... The Comics Canon? Discussed in This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we discuss Peter David and George Perez's alternate future two-parter The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 152 – Far Sector | 05 Jan 2022 | 01:00:59 | |
In N.K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell's Far Sector (from DC Comics' Young Animal imprint), Green Lantern Sojourner "Jo" Mullein is assigned to the City Enduring, a sprawling megalopolis of some 20 billion souls at the far end of space, where she becomes embroiled in a twisty plot involving politics, corruption and murder. Can this timely sci-fi thriller, with its scenes of voter suppression and peace officers firing on protestors, blast off to that galaxy far, far away known as ... The Comics Canon? Discussed in This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we visit one of the seminal works in the career of legendary artist George Perez: The 1987 reboot of Wonder Woman! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 151 – Green Lantern: Agent Orange and the Larfleeze Christmas Special | 22 Dec 2021 | 00:58:23 | |
Larfleeze Navidad! Just in time for the holidays, we unwrap not one but TWO tales featuring everyone's ... favorite? ... DC Comics ring-slinger, Larfleeze, with a look at Green Lantern Vol 4 #39-42 and Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special! First, Hal Jordan struggles to wield the blue light of hope as he and the rest of the space cops in the Green Lantern Corps face off against the menacing (and somewhat comical) Larfleeze, wielder of the orange light of greed! Next, in a lighthearted change of pace, Larfleeze seeks vengeance on Santa Claus when the jolly old elf skips his house on Dec. 25! Can Hal Jordan unlock the sinister secret of his avaricious new adversary—and teach him the true meaning of Christmas? And can these salmon-tinged stocking stuffers find their way under the tree of graphic goodness known as ... The Comics Canon? Discussed in This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we ring in 2022 with a look at another Green Lantern story: Far Sector by N.K.Jemisin and Jamal Campbell! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Canonical Conversations: All of the Marvels With Douglas Wolk | 07 Dec 2021 | 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! | |||
| One-Shot: The Quizzical Canonical! | 01 Dec 2021 | 00:11:00 | |
In an exclusive deleted scene from last week's Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? discussion, Curt surprises Kevin with a pop quiz covering the first 150 episodes of The Comics Canon! | |||
| Episode 150 – Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? | 24 Nov 2021 | 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! | |||
| Episode 149 – Spider-Man: One More Day | 10 Nov 2021 | 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! | |||
| Episode 236: JLA – Tower of Babel | 09 Jul 2025 | 01:22:03 | |
On this episode, the upcoming Superman movie has us in a Justice League frame of mind, which is as good an excuse as any to discuss the classic Tower of Babel storyline, as collected in JLA #43-46 by Mark Waid, Howard Porter and Steve Scott, and JLA Secret Files #3, by Dan Curtis Johnson and Pablo Raimondi, published by DC Comics! Batman's longtime nemesis Ra's al Ghul unleashes a plan to cull the world's population, and to ensure his success he proactively incapacitates the members of the Justice League! How does he do that? Funny you should ask! Turns out the Dark Knight Detective has been keeping files on his teammates, complete with ways to take them out! AWK-ward! Can the JLA stop Martian Manhunter from bursting into flame, help Aquaman get over his deathly fear of water, and put a literally shattered Plastic Man back together again? And can this high-stakes tale of trust betrayed gain entrance into that Himalayan retreat known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · J'onn J'onzz and those darn apostrophes · What about the F-Sharp Bell? · Is the best issue in the bunch the one not written by Mark Waid? · Is Batman really, you know … wrong? · Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man · JLA: American Dreams Join us in two weeks as we prepare for Fantastic Four: First Steps with a look at The Mighty Thor issues #160-162 and #168-169! (Just go with us on this one!) Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 148 – Tales From the Crypt | 26 Oct 2021 | 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! | |||
| Episode 147 – Swamp Thing: Love and Death | 13 Oct 2021 | 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! | |||
| Episode 146 – Infidel | 29 Sep 2021 | 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! | |||
| Episode 145 – Uzumaki: Spiral Into Horror | 15 Sep 2021 | 01:14:00 | |
(Content warning: Body horror and a couple of anatomical references) We kick off The Tomb of the Crypt, a miniseries on horror comics, with our very first manga title—Umuzaki: Spiral Into Horror by Junji Ito, published by Viz Media! In this chilling tale that Nerdist referred to as "the Watchmen of horror manga," a small Japanese town becomes plagued by ... spirals. This everyday shape begins showing up in increasingly unsettling ways: A spiral-shaped scar on a girl's forehead grows in size until it consumes her; two boys slowly mutate into giant snails; and a sentient hurricane becomes obsessed with a teenaged girl, to name but a few. And then things REALLY get weird. Can high-schoolers Kirie and Shuichi figure out what's happening to Kurouzo-cho before their lives are irrevocably altered? And can this superbly realized saga twist and shout its way into that widening gyre of graphic-novel gruesomeness known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as The Tomb of the Crypt continues with the 2018 Image series Infidel! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 144 – All-Star Superman | 31 Aug 2021 | 01:19:51 | |
Because YOU (well, one of you, at least) asked for it, we finally get around to discussing All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely and Jamie Grant, published by DC Comics! Superman is dying, his cells flooded with solar radiation thanks to his arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. But before he goes, Kal-El has a few things to scratch off his to-do list. This acclaimed 12-issue series combines fun Silver Age concepts and a contemporary sensibility to distill the Man of Steel to his essence and explore what makes him one of the most iconic and inspiring characters in popular culture. Can the Last Son of Krypton celebrate Lois Lane's birthday, protect the Earth from the Bizarro world and boorish Kryptonians, and defeat a monster that eats time and a living, evil red sun? And can he project himself into that Phantom Zone of funnybooks known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we delve into the worlds of horror and manga with a look at Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 143 – The Eternals (1976) | 18 Aug 2021 | 01:14:36 | |
In anticipation of the Nov. 5 debut of the Eternals movie, we take a look at The Eternals issues 1-7, published by Marvel Comics! A few years after defecting to the Distinguished Competition to create the ambitious Fourth World saga, Jack Kirby returned to the House of Ideas, where he set to work on ... another ambitious cosmic epic! Drawing inspiration from Erich von Däniken's mega-successful Chariots of the Gods? Unsolved Mysteries of the Past, he conjured a tale of humanity's sibling races: the monstrous Deviants, the godlike Eternals, and the even-more-godlike Mega Space Gods, the Celestials, one of the most visually striking assemblages in all of comics! Join us as we probe the cosmic mysteries: What are the similarities and differences between this book and the arguably better-known Fourth World titles? Why do the Eternals reveal themselves to a college anthropology class? And will these issues receive the Thumbs Up of the Gods and become part of that Uni-Mind known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode!
Join us in two weeks as we discuss All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely! Until then: | |||
| Episode 142 – What If We Did a What If Episode? (With Alonso Duralde) | 03 Aug 2021 | 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! | |||
| Episode 141 – The Golem's Mighty Swing | 20 Jul 2021 | 01:12:56 | |
In this episode, our Myth Takes miniseries concludes with a story that combines the mythic grandeur of America's pastime with Jewish folklore—The Golem's Mighty Swing by James Sturm, published by Drawn & Quarterly! In the early 1920s, money problems force a traveling Jewish baseball team to agree to a promoter's plan to increase ticket sales: Henry Bell, a Black player pretending to be Jewish, will take the field as a golem, an animated creature from Jewish legend! When racial tensions come to a head during an ugly game in an anti-Semitic town, will the Stars of David make it out alive? And will this powerful tale hit a home run and slide into that All-Star Game of graphic storytelling known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we look toward the Aug. 11 debut of What If ...? on Disney+ with a special What If episode! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 140 – The Sandman: Fables & Reflections | 07 Jul 2021 | 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! | |||
| Episode 139 – The Sandman: A Game of You | 23 Jun 2021 | 01:07:25 | |
(Explicit warning: A couple of swear words are used.) In this episode, Myth Takes, our series on comics and mythology and folklore, continues with The Sandman: A Game of You, collecting issues 32-37 of The Sandman, published by DC/Vertigo Comics! Atlanta actress and friend of the show Jennifer Lee returns for a lively discussion that goes deep into Sandman lore as we get into this 30-year-old story arc that offers an incredibly timely take on the issue of trans identity. Can Barbie save the Land, her childhood dreamscape, from the sinister forces of the Cuckoo? And can this moving tale of growing up and moving on unlock the door to that fabled Barbie Dreamhouse known as ... The Comics Canon? Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we extend our stay in the Dreaming with a discussion of The Sandman: Fables and Reflections! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 235: Tails of the Super-Pets | 25 Jun 2025 | 01:32:53 | |
On this episode, we're getting ready for the July 11 big-screen debut of Krypto the Super-Dog in James Gunn's Superman with a look at the Silver Age origins of Krypto and his fellow members of the Legion of Super-Pets, as collected in Tails of the Super-Pets, published by DC Comics! First, Superboy is reacquainted with his childhood pet and uses him to gaslight Lana Lang in "The Super-Dog From Krypton!" Then, Superbaby, the Toddler of Steel, butts heads with another denizen of his former homeworld in "The Super Monkey From Krypton!" Not to be outdone, Supergirl gets in on the act when she meets Streaky the Supercat in "Supergirl's Super Pet" before embarking on the absolutely bonkers origin of Comet in "The Super-Steed of Steel" and "The Secret Origin of Supergirl's Super-Horse!" Will Krypto's star turn usher in the SPCU – the Super-Pet Cinematic Universe? And are these Krypto bros ready for their close-up in that Amazing Zoo Crew known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · The troubling male/female dynamic in Silver Age comics · We have to talk about Superbaby · Superman's questionable marketing tactics · Big Girls by Jason Howard · The Secret Life of Bat-Hound · Companion Join us in two weeks as we discuss JLA: Tower of Babel (JLA #43-46) by Mark Waid, Howard Porter and Steve Scott! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 138 – Fables: Animal Farm | 08 Jun 2021 | 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! | |||
| Episode 137 – Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter | 25 May 2021 | 01:07:44 | |
In this episode, Myth Takes, our miniseries on comics and mythology, continues with a look at Stan Sakai's Eisner Award-winning Grasscutter saga from Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 3, issues #13-22, published by Dark Horse Comics! Usagi Yojimbo, Sakai's long-running series featuring rabbit ronin Miyamoto Usagi, draws from Japanese history and folklore to create a fully realized world populated by anthropomorphic rabbits, cats, bears and other animals, all rendered in Sakai's detailed yet accessible art style. Can Usagi keep Grasscutter, the legendary sword of the gods, out of the hands of a shadowy cabal—and survive an encounter with his mysterious nemesis, the sinister and murderous wolf Jei? And can he and his friends find safe passage to that Hidden Fortress of comic-book epics known as ... The Comics Canon? Discussed in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we discuss Fables Vol. 2: Animal Farm! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 136 – Journey Into Mystery: Fear Itself | 12 May 2021 | 01:06:54 | |
In this episode, Myth Takes, our miniseries on comics and mythology, continues with a discussion of everyone's favorite teenage God of Chaos, Kid Loki, in Journey Into Mystery: Fear Itself (specifically, Journey Into Mystery issues #622-626 and #628-629) by Keiron Gillen, Doug Braithwaite and Whilce Portacio, published by Marvel Comics! When Cul the Serpent, God of Fear and brother of Odin the All-Father, threatens the Nine Realms in the 2011 crossover event Fear Itself, a newly reincarnated Loki sets out to prevent another Ragnarok. Using all his trademark cunning and guile, the godling must assemble a ragtag team of companions to help him in his quest—even though doing the right thing comes at a terrible personal cost! Can the teen trickster save the world for once, rather than destroy it? And can he cross the rainbow bridge to that hallowed hall of heroic tales known as ... The Comics Canon? (Programming note: The god of mischief bedeviled us with some odd Zoom-related glitches for the first few minutes; things get better just after the 13-minute mark.) In This Episode
Join us in two weeks as we move from Asgard to ancient Japan to discuss Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening!
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| Episode 135 – Wonder Woman (2011) Vol. 1: Blood | 28 Apr 2021 | 00:58:50 | |
In this episode, we kick off Myth Takes, a miniseries on the intersection of comics and mythology, with a book in which an A-list superhero gets a mythological upgrade: Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Blood, by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang, published by DC Comics! This companion piece of sorts to our previous Wonder Woman episode explores the character's reboot as part of the 2011 New 52 relaunch of DC titles—a reboot that takes the Greek mythology that's always been a part of her world and moves it front and center by revealing her to be the daughter of Zeus, king of the Greek pantheon! Can Diana navigate her new family (and some less-than-ideal tropes) while protecting her human friend Zola from the wrath of Hera? And can she scale that Mount Olympus of comic-book epics known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks, when we discuss Journey Into Mystery: Fear Itself! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 134 – Doonesbury: The Long Road Home and The War Within | 14 Apr 2021 | 01:21:31 | |
Content warning: Depictions of wartime violence and PTSD symptoms are discussed. In this episode, we discuss one of the most acclaimed storylines from the Pulitzer Prize-winning comic strip Doonesbury, as collected in The Long Road Home: One Step at a Time and The War Within: One More Step at a Time, published by Andrews McMeel! These strips follow the physical and emotional ordeal of long-running character B.D., who loses his leg (and his signature helmet) while serving in the Iraq War. After undergoing painful physical therapy and receiving a new prosthetic leg, he returns home, where he begins showing signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, including nightmares and increasingly heavy drinking. With the help of his family and friends—and his counselor Elias, a fellow veteran and amputee—can B.D. confront his memories of that fateful day in Fallujah? And will this acclaimed narrative be awarded that badge of honor known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks when we discuss Wonder Woman (2011) Vol. 1: Blood! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 133 – Justice League International Vol. 1 (With Alonso Duralde) | 30 Mar 2021 | 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! | |||
| Episode 132 – Nimona | 18 Mar 2021 | 01:02:33 | |
Debuting as a webcomic in 2012, Nimona became an Eisner Award-winning sensation after its publication as a graphic novel in 2015. Noelle Stevenson's tale of a playful shapeshifter who turns out to be something more was even on its way to an animated adaptation until the closing of Blue Sky Studios last month left that project's future in doubt. We may not ever get to see that feature film, but we can get answers to these burning questions: Can Nimona overcome her dark side and her deep desire for revenge? Can villain Ballister Blackheart reconcile with his former friend and partner, Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin? And can this charming and moving book join the ranks of that Institute of First-Class Fantasy Epics known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we commemorate the "Snyder Cut" of Justice League with (what else?) Justice League International! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 131 – The Invincible Iron Man: Demon in a Bottle | 03 Mar 2021 | 01:27:23 | |
Combining corporate intrigue, James Bond-style espionage and more than a hint of social relevance, it's perhaps the defining Iron Man storyline—and arguably informs Robert Downey Jr.'s mega-popular portrayal of the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this episode, we strap on the jet skates to discuss Demon in a Bottle—specifically, The Invincible Iron Man issues #123-128, by David Michelinie, John Romita Jr. and Bob Layton, published by Marvel Comics! As the pressures of being a billionaire industrialist superhero begin to mount, Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) increasingly turns to alcohol. When unscrupulous competitor Justin Hammer takes control of Stark's armor, causing the death of a foreign diplomat, even his best friend James Rhodes and professional bodyguard Bethany Cabe may not be able to pull him out of his downward spiral. Can the Armored Avenger prevail against a dozen super-villains—and his growing addiction? And can this famous story infiltrate that island fortress known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we discuss Nimona by Noelle Stevenson! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 130 – Tintin in Tibet | 17 Feb 2021 | 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! | |||
| Episode 129 – Death of Spider-Man (With Marvel by the Month) | 03 Feb 2021 | 01:35:35 | |
In this episode, we're joined by Bryan Stratton and Robb Milne of the Marvel by the Month podcast to complete our first podcast crossover (you can hear the first part here)—and to discuss Ultimate Comics Spider-Man: Death of Spider-Man, by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, published by Marvel Comics! Just when things are looking up for the Peter Parker of Earth-1610, life comes crashing down around him. His arch-nemesis Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, has escaped from S.H.I.E.L.D. with a handful of superpowered felons. Worse yet, he knows that Parker is Spider-Man and has murder on his mind! You've seen the title of this episode, so you know things don't end well. The question is, can Spidey protect Aunt May, his friends, and innocent bystanders from Osborn's insane fury? And can this landmark tale ascend to that ultimate universe of four-color finery known as ... The Comics Canon?
In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we discuss the alliterative Tintin in Tibet! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 234: Swamp Thing – Rite of Spring and Windfall | 11 Jun 2025 | 01:15:29 | |
On this episode, we discuss a Swamp Thing story that we're surprised didn't qualify for our recently wrapped We're With the Banned miniseries on banned and challenged comics -- Rite of Spring from Saga of the Swamp Thing #34, as well as its sequel, Windfall from Saga of the Swamp Thing #43, by Alan Moore and various artists, published by DC Comics! First up, Abigail Cable finally professes her love for our sentient vegetable man. And in lieu of sexytimes, he offers her communion via a bite of one of the tubers growing on his body, sending her on a consciousness-altering trip that shows her the interconnectedness of all things. Next we meet Chester Williams, an affable hippie who finds one of Swamp Thing's discarded tubers in the bayou. Part of the yam finds its way to Sandy, a woman dying of cancer. Another part of it ends up with Chester's unpleasant acquaintance Milo, and … let's just say things don't work out very well for one of them. Like, does this mean Swampy and Abby are going out? Does the yam as a kind of cosmic litmus paper? Do kids today even know what litmus paper is? And are these two stories good enough to embark on that long, strange trip known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Curt's first experience with Rite of Spring · A little heads-up would be nice, Swampy · Kevin recounts an acid trip · We know what the ellipsis means … · The 1982 Swamp Thing movie · Have we mentioned our recent appearance on Marvel by the Month? · X-Men 97 · (We Could Be) Diving for Pearls from Swamp Thing #65 Join us in two weeks as we look ahead to the upcoming Superman movie by discussing (what else?) some stories about the super pets of the Silver Age! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 128 – Smile | 20 Jan 2021 | 01:07:56 | |
We celebrate our fifth anniversary by finally tackling a seminal work by one of the biggest names in comics: Smile by Raina Telgemeier, published by Scholastic/Graphix! In this Eisner Award-winning graphic memoir, sixth-grader Raina suffers a dental injury that upends her entire world, kicking off a years-long succession of visits to various "odontists" involving surgery, braces, headgear and a retainer with fake teeth attached. And as if all that weren't enough, she also has to deal with middle-school crushes, some toxic friends and the 1989 San Francisco earthquake! Can Raina overcome her insecurity about her teeth and learn to accept herself? And can this orthodontic odyssey graduate to that ivory league known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we discuss Ultimate Spider-Man: Death of Spider-Man! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 127 – Superman Smashes the Klan | 06 Jan 2021 | 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! | |||
| Episode 126 – Ye Gads! It's ... The Bradleys! | 23 Dec 2020 | 01:33:01 | |
Explicit Warning! This episode contains strong language and is recommended for mature listeners. For the last episode of 2020, we segue seamlessly from Bucky Barnes to another iconic comics antihero, Buddy Bradley, with a discussion of five stories featuring the Bradley clan from Peter Bagge's 1980s anthology Neat Stuff, published by Fantagraphics Books! Specifically, we dive deep into "Rock 'n' Roll Refugee," "Mom Power," "Sneakin' a Peek at Babs Bradley's Secret Diary," "Hippy House," and "Merry F—king Christmas." (A sixth story that was announced last episode, "You're Not the Boss of Me," was cut for time.) In these stories and others, Bagge presents a typical '80s suburban family in all its dysfunctional glory, laying the groundwork for the likes of Married ... With Children and The Simpsons. But Bagge balances the caustic family dynamics with faithful depictions of the teenage experience and explorations of such issues as religion and the plight of the working suburban mom, employing a wonderfully expressive and exaggerated cartooning style influenced by MAD Magazine and Looney Tunes shorts, among others. Will Buddy ever stop being such an a—hole? And will the Bradleys be invited into that nuclear family known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we begin 2021 with one of the best-reviewed comics of 2020: Superman Smashes the Klan! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 125 – Captain America: Winter Soldier | 08 Dec 2020 | 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: | |||
| Episode 124: The Howard the Duck Episode | 25 Nov 2020 | 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! | |||
| Episode 123: The Hawkeye Episode | 10 Nov 2020 | 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! | |||
| Episode 122 – Maus: A Survivor's Tale II: And Here My Troubles Began | 27 Oct 2020 | 01:31:19 | |
The second volume of Art Spiegelman's award-winning graphic memoir finds the artist grappling with the success of the first, and questioning his ability to pull off such an ambitious project. In doing so, he adds another layer to the book's metaphorical conceit of depicting various ethnicities as different animals, and creates a work more reflective and self-aware than its predecessor. Meanwhile, as Spiegelman's often contentious relationship with his father takes him from the Catskills to Florida and back to New York, Vladek's recollections take him from the horrors of Auschwitz through the end of the war. But although he's finally free of the concentration camp, his trials are far from over. Recommended in This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as we change course to discuss Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon, by Matt Fraction and David Aja! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening!
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| Episode 121 – Maus: A Survivor's Tale I: My Father Bleeds History | 13 Oct 2020 | 01:19:37 | |
Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel Maus had a profound effect on the public perception of comics as an art form when its first volume, serializing installments that had first appeared in the alternative comics anthology Raw, appeared in 1986. In it, Spiegelman's conversations with his father, Vladek—background for a comic the artist wants to write—serve as an entryway into the elder Spiegelman's harrowing, matter-of-fact account of his experiences in Poland in the 1930s and 40s, including his eventual arrival at the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz. In one of the book's most disarming touches, all of its Jewish characters are portrayed as bipedal, clothes-wearing mice, while Germans are depicted as cats, and the non-Jewish people of Poland as pigs. In this first volume, Vladek paints an increasingly grim portrait of a changing Poland and recounts the various indignities, humiliations and atrocities he and other Jews experienced during the first stages of the Holocaust. In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as our two-parter concludes with a discussion Maus: A Survivor's Tale II: And Here My Troubles Began. Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 120 – The Nexus Episode | 30 Sep 2020 | 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! | |||
| Episode 119 – Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga | 15 Sep 2020 | 01:05:52 | |
In this episode, The Cosmic Canon, our series on space-faring epics, rockets all the way to the 30th century as we discuss The Great Darkness Saga from Legion of Super-Heroes #290-294, published by DC Comics! As chronicled by Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen, the early '80s Legion isn't your daddy's teenage superhero space club! Combining space opera and soap opera, it features a large cast of super-powered young adults embroiled in romantic dramas and interplanetary intrigue. And in this landmark five-issue story, they face their greatest foe yet, the enigmatic Master of Darkness! (Spoiler alert: It's Darkseid!) Superboy, Supergirl and the Legion face off against Jack Kirby's deadly despot as well as his sinister Servants and three billion mind-controlled aliens with the power of Superman in this story that helped to establish Darkseid as one of the elite antagonists of the DC Universe! Can our host of attractive young Lads and Lasses hope to prevail? And can this twilight saga emerge unscathed from the Apokalips Now that is ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as The Cosmic Canon concludes with a look at Mike Baron and Steve Rude's Nexus! Until then: | |||
| Episode 233: Ice Haven | 28 May 2025 | 01:18:36 | |
We're With the Banned, our miniseries on banned and challenged graphic novels, concludes (at least for now) with a stop at Daniel Clowes' Ice Haven, a "narraglyphic picto-assemblage" published by Pantheon Books! A collection of comic strips covering a variety of styles and perspectives, this peek behind the curtain of suburban America introduces us to an absorbing cast of characters including bitter would-be poet Random Wilder, lovesick teen Violet Van Der Platz, her young stepbrother Charles, clueless detective Joe Ames, aspiring writer Vida Wentz, and … (ahem!) comic book critic Harry Naybors. How does the abduction of uncommunicative tot David Goldberg affect our cast? What do Leopold and Loeb have to do with any of this? And can Ice Haven find itself welcome in that idyllic small town known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · What's the deal with Blue Bunny? · Is one of our cast an unreliable narrator? · "Planting the Seeds of Divorce" · We need to talk about Harry Naybors · What does Daniel Clowes have against critics? · Transformers Vol. 1: Robots in Disguise · "The Falls" by George Saunders Join us in two weeks as we discuss a pair of controversial Swamp Thing stories from the Alan Moore era: Rite of Spring (#34) and Windfall (#43)! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 118 – New Gods | 01 Sep 2020 | 01:21:42 | |
On this episode, The Cosmic Canon, our series on cosmic tales, soars from peaceful New Genesis to pockmarked Apokalips to Earth as we discuss Jack Kirby's epic saga of space gods, galactic wars and skiing avatars of Death: New Gods Vol. 1, issues 1-11, published by DC Comics! The flagship title of Kirby's ambitious Fourth World line, New Gods introduced a head-spinning mixture of science fantasy, mythology and superheroics that built on the themes explored in Kirby's work on Marvel's The Mighty Thor. And its villain, the deadly Darkseid, has gone on to become one of the pre-eminent tyrants of popular culture. Can the brooding Orion, wielder of the "Astro-Force," overcome his dark nature and defeat the forces of Apokalips before they find the Anti-Life Equation? And can this unfinished series ascend to that Twilight of the Gods known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as The Cosmic Canon journeys to the 30th century as the Legion of Super-Heroes battles a mysterious foe (who COULD it be?) in The Great Darkness Saga! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||
| Episode 117 – Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War Vol. 1 | 19 Aug 2020 | 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! | |||
| Episode 116 – The Avengers: The Kree-Skrull War | 04 Aug 2020 | 01:26:46 | |
On this episode, we launch a new miniseries on cosmic comics stories called (what else?) The Cosmic Canon! First up: the historic Kree-Skrull War, specifically Avengers issue #93-97, by Roy Thomas, Neal Adams and John Buscema, published by Marvel Comics! Can you call a storyline the Kree-Skrull War when there's no actual Kree vs. Skrull combat? And can this character-stuffed epic achieve victory in that Battle Beyond the Stars known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode:
Join us in two weeks as The Cosmic Canon continues with Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War Vol. 1! Until then: And as always, thanks for listening! | |||