The Comics Canon

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On this episode, we kick off a two-part miniseries, Dark August Knights! That's right, we're focusing on Batman and Batman-adjacent stories during the month of August!

And first up is the introduction of the Dark Knight's iconic villain Ra's al Ghul – as seen in 1971's Batman #232 and 1972's Batman #243-244, by the titanic team of Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams, published by DC Comics!

After Robin the College-Aged Boy Wonder is kidnapped, Batman is visited by the mysterious Ra's al Ghul, whose daughter, Talia, has also been abducted! The trail takes the World's Greatest Crime-Fighter and his enigmatic new acquaintance to Calcutta and the Himalayas, where a showdown with the lethal Brotherhood of the Demon awaits!

Later, the Dark Knight Detective and a team of allies travels to the Swiss Alps to take down this international crime lord – who turns out to be immortal!

Can Batman defeat the Head of the Demon in a desert duel to the death? And can this trio of tales infiltrate that mountaintop lair of villainy known as … The Comics Canon?

Also in This Episode:

Batman, International Man of Mystery
Sit, Ubu, sit!
The Caped Crusader's implausible detecting skills
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Dungeon Crawler Carl, narrated by Jeff Hays
Taking work from cat actors

Join us in two weeks as we wrap up Dark August Knights with a look at Gotham Central #1-5!

Until then:Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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On this episode, in true Comics Canon fashion, we look ahead to the July 30 release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day with a discussion of (what else?) a pair of classic battles between the Hulk and Wolverine, natch!

First up are "And the Wind Howls … Wendigo!" and "And Now … the Wolverine!" from 1974's Incredible Hulk #180-181, featuring the debut of the first and greatest Canadian superhero!

Then we jump ahead 13 years to 1987's "Vicious Circle" from Incredible Hulk #340, for a rematch between a very different Hulk and a very different Wolverine, in perhaps the most 1990s comic of the 1980s!

Will Marie Cartier succeed in her plan to turn the Hulk into the Wendigo? (And how would that work, exactly?) Can Wolvie be the better man and avoid a knock-down, drag-out fight with a very irate Gray Hulk? And which of our combatants will emerge victorious from that Brawl to Settle It All known as … The Comics Canon?

Also in This Episode:

Where's our Wendigo movie?
Bobcat Goldthwait and Deadpool
He's the best there is at what he does … and it's not what you think
X-Men 97 Season 2
The Odyssey
Incredible Hulk #182: Between Hammer and Anvil!
Triptych by Karin Slaughter

Join us in two weeks as we kick off a month of Batman-related tales with a look at the Caped Crusader's first run-in with Ra's al Ghul in Batman issues 232-234!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, we mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S.A. by looking back at the origin and first appearance of the nation's greatest super-soldier, Captain America, in 1941's Captain America Comics #1!

We also look back at the first appearances of two other Golden Age Marvel characters who are still around today – Cap's fellow Invaders the original Human Torch and Namor, the Sub-Mariner – in 1939's Marvel Comics #1!

And just for kicks, we throw in the first appearance of the Red Skull – well, a Red Skull, anyway – in The Riddle of the Red Skull, also from Captain America Comics #1!

Join us as we ask the burning questions: Does Captain America really punch Adolf Hitler in the face? And are these stories eligible for the senior discount at that VFW (Very Fine Works) hall known as … The Comics Canon?

Also in This Episode:

Professor Horton buries the lede
Are we supposed to root for Namor?
Take it down a notch there, Bucky
One World Under Doom
Men of a Certain Age
Kirby: King of Comics by Mark Evanier

Join us in two weeks as revisit two classic Hulk vs. Wolverine battles in The Incredible Hulk #180-181 (featuring the first appearance of Wolverine) and #340!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Content warning: If the title didn't tip you off, this book deals with sex -- in graphic, often hilarious ways. Consequently, we're slapping an Explicit label on this episode, for both language and subject matter.

In this episode, we look ahead to Amazon's upcoming Sex Criminals streaming series with a look at Sex Criminals Vol. 1: One Weird Trick, by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, published by Image Comics!

When Jon and Suzie hook up at a party, they discover that they both possess a unique gift: When they orgasm, time stops for seemingly everyone but them. When Jon proposes they use this power to steal from the bank he works at to save the library she works at, it seems like the perfect crime. But it turns out they're not the only ones with the ability to inhabit the frozen world Suzie calls The Quiet.

Like, what's the deal with the woman known as Kegelface? Is Jon a little too good to be true? And can our modern-day Bonnie and Clyde evade the Sex Police long enough to pull off that crime of the century known as … The Comics Canon?

Also in This Episode:

Everyone's favorite porn search engine
Kevin's newest crush
The Fermata and Vox, by Nicholson Baker
The Girl, the Gold Watch, and Everything
Superior Foes of Spider-Man
Richard Parker's The Score, by Darwyn Cooke

Join us in two weeks as celebrate America's 250th birthday with a look at the first appearances of Captain America, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the original Human Torch!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Content warning: Sexual assault

It's finally happened! After 10 years and more than 250 episodes, we finally get around to discussing the elephant (or, rather, the aardvark) in the room: Dave Sim's 300-issue magnum opus, Cerebus! And to help us grapple with the weight of one of the longest-running, most creative and most controversial comics in the history of the medium, we're joined by longtime friend of the show Bryan Stratton of Marvel by the Month!

Self-published by Sim's Aardvark-Vanaheim, Cerebus paved the way for many other independent comics creators to self-publish their work. And its ambitious, experimental approach to comics storytelling expanded the artistic possibilities of the medium, as it grew from a parody of swords-and-sorcery comics into a complex, sprawling saga that would take on politics, religion, and other weighty issues.

But while there's a lot to recommend Cerebus, there's also a lot to give potential new readers pause—namely, Sim's contentious, divisive views on women, which ultimately begin to exert greater and greater influence over the series itself.

As the Will Eisner Comic Awards prepare to induct Sim (among other creators, including Gerry Conway and Rick Veitch) into its Hall of Fame at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, we take the opportunity to dive into this massive work, touching on topics including:

What exactly IS Cerebus?
Our personal histories with Cerebus
The detailed background artwork of Gerhard
The "Walking on the Moon" arc and the Cerebus creation myth
Would we recommend that you read Cerebus?

We also share suggestions for other long-running, impactful series (in comics and otherwise) you might enjoy.

For further reading on the subject of Cerebus, we recommend:

Tom Ewing's great and insightful blog Aard Labour

Curt's 2004 Slate article on the endings of Cerebus and Bone

The Onion A.V. Club's notorious 2004 interview with Dave Sim

Join us in two weeks as we return to our regular format with a look at Sex Criminals Vol. 1: One Weird Trick, by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, we conclude our two-part look at Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons with a discussion of Books 2 and 3, by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Gene Ha and Nicola Scott, published by DC Black Label!

The Amazons accept Hippolyta and other disenfranchised women into their ranks as they continue their mission to hunt down those who abuse and oppress women. But it isn't long before their activities catch the attention of a wrathful Zeus, sparking an all-out war between the Amazons and the gods of Olympus!

What is Hera's long game? Why is there a baby made of sand? And will the Amazons prevail and take their rightful place in that League of Their Own known as … The Comics Canon?

Also in This Episode:

Curt makes a shocking announcement about A.I.
Widow's Bay and Margo's Got Money Troubles on Apple TV
Age of Bronze Volume 1: A Thousand Ships

Join us in two weeks as we take a hard left turn to discuss … Dave Sim's Cerebus! This is not a drill!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, we kick off a two-part look at a book we've had our eyes on for some time with a discussion of Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, Book 1, by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Phil Jiminez, published by DC Black Label!

Phil Jiminez makes the artistic statement of his career to date with a visually arresting first issue that explores how and why the Greek goddesses (with the notable exception of Hera, Queen of the Olympians) come to create the Amazons, a race of women sworn to find and rescue women enslaved and mistreated by men.

Will Zeus redress the wrongs done to women by men throughout history? (Don't hold your breath.) Will Hippolyta escape a band of brutish brigands determined to cut out her tongue? What happened to that little baby girl she sent down the river? And will these maids of might prevail in that Fight Club known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

Some complete random nonsense
Zeus, God of Manspreading
Shaq at the Parthenon
The Incandescent by Emily Tesh
Swamp Thing 1989 #1

Join us in two weeks as we continue our two-parter with Books 2 and 3, featuring art by Gene Ha and Nicola Scott!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Note: This episode was recorded before the death of Gerry Conway, who wrote two of the stories we talk about.

The Punisher is gearing up for a busy summer on the big and small screens (with Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Punisher: One Last Kill, respectively). So what better time to dive into some key early stories charting the evolution of everyone's favorite gun-toting vigilante?

We start with a look at the Punisher's pop-culture inspirations, including the Executioner and Dirty Harry, before discussing his first appearance in 1974's Amazing Spider-Man #129, where he joins forces with (wait, this can't be right, can it?) the Jackal to take down your friendly neighborhood wall-crawler!

Then it's on to Marvel Preview #2 from that same year, in which we learn the tragic backstory behind his one-man war on crime!

Finally, we jump ahead a few years to Daredevil #183-184 and a gritty, street-level take on the character that's closer to the version we're all familiar with.

Is our (anti)hero just a poor judge of character? What type of story suits him best? And can our surly sentinel of the streets survive a frontal assault from that Whack Attack known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

What happened to Curt on our April 1 episode?
The Spotmaker
Punisher War Journal #19
Punisher: Circle of Blood (1986)
Daredevil Born Again Season 2
Questions about the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot

Join us in two weeks as we delve into the acclaimed three-part series Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Phil Jiminez, Gene Ha and Nicola Scott!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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On this episode, we revisit that bygone era when Detective Comics Comics would use any excuse to feature gorillas on its covers with a furry foursome of titanic Silver and Golden Age tales: "The Gorilla Boss of Gotham City" (Batman #75), "Titano the Super-Ape" (Superman #127), "Menace of the Super-Gorilla" (The Flash #107) and "The Brotherhood of Evil" (Doom Patrol #86)!

Can DC's greatest (and strangest) heroes prevail against these powerful, petrifying primates? And can these heavy-duty hominids take up residence in that Gorilla City known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

The super-timely name on everyone's lips!
Curt and Kevin's last meals
Superman's foolproof plan
Great Scott! It must be … THE GORILLA!
Robotman? Total LOSER
Turok, Son of Stone
Amazing Spider-Man #130 "Betrayed!" and #136 "The Green Goblin Lives Again!"
The Flash: The Silver Age Vol. 1
The Doom Patrol #89 "The Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Menace" and #90 "The Enemy Within the Doom Patrol"
King Sorrow by Joe Hill

Special thanks to Robb Milne of Marvel by the Month for co-hosting on our special April 1st podcast crossover episode. And if you haven't already, check out Curt's crossover appearance on Marvel by the Month alongside Will Hines of Screw It, We're Just Gonna Talk About Comics, and MbtM's Jamie Wenger crossing over on Screw It!

Join us in two weeks as we look back at the early days of the Punisher, including his first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #129 and his origin in Marvel Preview #2!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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For our first episode of April, Kevin and Robb go into full-on geek mode as they look back at THE superhero crossover event of 1982: Marvel and DC Present The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans, by Chris Claremont and Walter Simonson!

This hotly anticipated team-up pits Marvel's X-Men and DC's New Teen Titans against the tyrannical space god Darkseid, as well as the deadly assassin Deathstroke the Terminator (yes, that's really his name) and … Dark Phoenix?!!

Will these two teams engage in the customary fight that's all just a big misunderstanding? Will we get a satisfying matchup between Wolverine and Deathstroke? And can the combined might of the two biggest titles of the first Reagan administration propel this action-packed adventure into that Clash of Comic-Book Titans known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

The artistic heir to Jack Kirby's cosmic space god vibe
That first page though…
The origin of one of Huey Lewis' biggest hits REVEALED!
DC Horror Presents: Sgt. Rock vs. the Army of the Dead
Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga

Join us in two weeks as we put the "ape" in the month of April with a collection of stories pitting DC superheroes vs. Super-Gorillas!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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We're dropping into your feed a day early for this St. Patrick's Day episode, as we look ahead to the August debut of HBO Max's Lanterns and discuss the first appearances of Green Lanterns Alan Scott and Hal Jordan -- followed for no particular reason by a couple of Tales of the Green Lantern Corps written by Alan Moore!

First, in "The Green Lantern!" from 1940's All-American Comics #16, construction engineer Alan Scott meets a talking lantern that used to be … a meteor in ancient China? It's a whole thing.

Then, in "S.O.S. Green Lantern!" and "Secret of the Flaming Spear!" from 1959's Showcase #22, test pilot Hal Jordan is selected to succeed dying space cop Abin Sur and become an intergalactic lawman!

Last but not least, Green Lantern Tomar Re explains to his colleague Arisia just why "Mogo Doesn't Socialize" in 1985's Green Lantern #188! And we get a glimpse into Abin Sur's final moments in "Tygers" from 1986's Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #2!

Will Alan Scott and Hal Jordan prevail in their strikingly similar first adventures? Will Bolphunga the Unrelenting ever find the mysterious Mogo? Why does Abin Sur need a spaceship when his ring has the power of flight? And can these stirring tales of heroic space patrolmen survive the Blackest Night and break on through to that Brightest Day known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· What can we call this radiation-sending device?

· Green Lantern's archnemesis – The Yellow Lamp!

· Plop!

· Curt punches up the Green Lantern oath

· Revenge of the Green Lanterns

· Roy Thomas's interview with Golden Age Green Lantern creator Mart Nodell in Alter Ego

Join us in two weeks as we discuss the 1982 inter-company crossover The Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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We asked for questions, and you … asked them! In this, our second of two out-of-format episodes marking our 10-year anniversary, we answer the questions on your mind, including:

Are there any episodes we'd like to do over?
What are our favorite classic comic-book ads?
Which comic had the worst movie adaptation?

But first, Curt gives his first-ever State of the Canon address, breaking down the characters, creators and comics publishers most represented in that body of great comic-book works known as The Comics Canon!

Join us in two weeks when we return to our regular format with a look at the first appearances of Green Lanterns Alan Scott (in All-American Comics #16 from 1940) and Hal Jordan (Showcase #22 from 1959) -- as well as two fun stories by Alan Moore: Tygers and Mogo Doesn't Socialize!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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There's still time to submit questions for our upcoming March 4 episode, which features an Ask Us Anything segment as well as something Curt cryptically refers to as "The State of the Canon!"

If you've ever wondered how we choose the books and storylines we cover, whether we've ever changed our minds about something we've covered on the show, or just want to cast a vote for something you'd like to see discussed on the podcast, send us your emails at letters@comicscanon.com or drop us a line on Facebook or Bluesky by the end of the day on Friday, Feb. 27, and we'll answer as many as we can!

Also in this mini-episode, Kevin and Curt answer sample questions from each other with absolutely no preparation or advance warning! Who says this isn't the Comics Canon Age of Value-Added Content?

We hope you enjoy it, and we look forward to answering YOUR questions next week!

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Got a burning question for The Comics Canon? Submit a question for our upcoming Ask Us Anything episode, airing Wednesday, March 4! Send us an email at letters@comicscanon.com or hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky no later than Friday, February 27!

After 10 years and 250 episodes of rendering judgment on the greatest comic book stories of yesterday and today, we decided it's finally time to record an episode for newcomers to the podcast – or to comics themselves!

In this super-accessible jumping-on point, we walk listeners through a typical episode of The Comics Canon and offer our recommendations for anyone interested in exploring comics, broken into 10 helpful categories:

Comics for Kids Comics for All Ages YA/Young Adult Comics Memoirs Humor Comics Crime Comics Horror Comics Superhero Comics Cosmic Comics and the 800-pound gorilla of superhero graphic novels: Watchmen!

Also in This Episode!

· What ARE comics, anyway?

· Who we are and how we came to be

· The creative comics boom of the 1980s

· "Your son is hooked on Micronauts."

· The one book we'd hand to anyone interested in the comics medium

Join us in two weeks for the second in our two-part anniversary series, as we answer questions from listeners, look ahead to possible future episodes and discuss … The State of The Canon!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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On this milestone episode, we tackle our white whale of show subjects: Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud's fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the comics medium, how it works, and what it can do – told in the comics format!

Join us as we ask the burning questions:

What ARE comics, anyway? How long has this particular form of communication been around? (Hint: Longer than you think!) How many different ways can it illustrate the passage of time or the concept of movement? What are the six steps of the creative process? How far down a nerd rabbit hole can Curt and Kevin go? (Pretty far!)

And will this landmark textbook make the grade and go the head of that comics classroom known as … The Comics Canon?

Also in This Episode!

· You mean this ISN'T what Scott McCloud looks like?

· Ooh, bar graphs!

· Inconsistent bullies are the worst kind of bullies

· Reinventing Comics

· The Mighty Avengers vs. the 1970s: An Exploration, by Paul Cornell

Join us in two weeks as we mark our 10-year anniversary with "The Gateway Episode" – highlighting comics and graphic novels for newcomers to the comics medium!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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On this episode, we celebrate our 10th anniversary -- and gear up for our 250th episode -- with a discussion of Zot! The Earth Stories! Specifically, Zot! #28-36 from 1989-1991, written and drawn by Scott McCloud, originally published by Eclipse Comics!

The high-flying teen superhero Zot zips merrily along in a bright, shiny and cool retro-futuristic version of our world, cheerful and carefree – so what happens when he ends up stranded on OUR Earth? Mostly, he cedes the stage to his not-quite-girlfriend Jenny and her high school friends, most of whom get a moment to share the spotlight in these touching stories filled with warmth, humor and heart while deftly dealing with topics including coming out, racism and teen sex.

Can Zot's relentless optimism remain intact after he experiences crime on our world? Can he convince Jenny not to turn her back on Earth? And can these stories ascend to that World of Tomorrow known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Horton's utterly ridiculous career goal

· Optimax vs. Cyclops

· Zot's best moment

· 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and its comic-book connection

· Fortune and Glory: The Musical

Join us in two weeks as we discuss a book we've talked about tackling since Day One: Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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On this episode, we welcome writer, actor and friend of the show Michael Owl, host of The Origin Story Podcast, as we dive into one of the best-reviewed graphic novels of 2025: Drome by Jesse Lonergan!

This imaginative epic combines a visually dazzling creation myth with an action-packed fantasy adventure, as the blue-skinned demigoddess Blue attempts to impose order on a chaotic world, opposed by the violent one-eyed warlord Patch, each acting as proxies for remote gods. Folding in elements from such sources as the Bible, Greek mythology and classic fantasy, it feels both familiar and aggressively new as Lonergan plays with the comic-book format in fun and creative ways.

But is all of that enough for Drome to survive the judgment of that pantheon of deities and demigods known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

· Chekhov's Night Bull

· Star Trek The Next Generation: Darmok

· Santa, When the Claus Fell

· There There by Tommy Orange

· Slugfest: Inside the Epic 50-Year Battle Between Marvel and DC, by Reed Tucker

Subscribe to Michael's Substack

Join us in two weeks as we ramp up to our special 250xth episode with a look at The Earth Stories (issues #28-36) of Scott McCloud's Zot!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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(Mild explicit warning: a swear word is used.)

Curt and Kevin give themselves an end-of-year break with another quiz episode! And this time, it's a quiz exchange! Kevin tests Curt's knowledge of past Christmas-themed episodes, while Curt grills Kevin on … his own show notes!

We'll be back in two weeks with a look at one of the best-reviewed graphic novels of 2025, Jesse Lonergan's Drome!

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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!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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All My Xs, our miniseries on Marvel Comics' X-Men, takes a little detour to introduce the Canadian superteam Alpha Flight in 1979's Uncanny X-Men #120-#121 by Chris Claremont and John Byrne and 1983's Alpha Flight #1 by John Byrne!

First, the Canadian government wants Wolverine back – and if his friends in the X-Men get in the way, well, too bad for them!

Next, Alpha Flight gets their own ongoing title, just in time to lose their government funding! And to make matters worse, they still have to deal with the gargantuan menace of Tundra!

Can the X-Men stop a group of government agents from forcibly detaining one of their own citizens? Can Curt and Kevin keep from saying "eh" every other sentence? And can Canada's premier team of heroes take off to that Great White North known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Curt makes a correction – and recounts a dream

· Why Alpha Flight are better than the Avengers

· Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas: Revised & Updated Edition

· Final Destination Bloodlines

· X-Men #106

· Alpha Flight #16

· Uncanny X-Men #118-119

Join us in two weeks as we look at the wedding of Northstar in Astonishing X-Men #51 (and his official coming out in Alpha Flight #106)!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Halloween is right around the corner, so we're temporarily hitting pause on All My Xs (again) to revive our horror series Tomb of the Crypt and discuss The Closet, by James Tynion IV, Gavin Fullerton and Chris O'Halloran, published by Image Comics!

Things aren't going particularly well for Thom. He and his wife Maggie are packing for a cross-country, and his son Jamie keeps talking about a monster in his bedroom closet. If only the kid would give this monster thing a rest – they're going to be in Portland in a week, and that closet will be a continent away! Problem solved, right? … Right?

Can Maggie cut him some slack for not throwing out a box of souvenirs from the woman he cheated on her with? Can Jamie really leave his closet monster behind? And can this three-issue story make it intact to that cabin in the woods known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Casey Kasem's famous meltdown

· This guy, right?

· Curt and Kevin's spooky-themed song recommendations

Join us in two weeks as we return to All My Xs by taking a step back to the 1980s for Uncanny X-Men #120-121 and John Byrne's Alpha Flight #1!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Superstar writer Grant Morrison updates the X-Men for the 21st century as All My Xs, our decade-by-decade miniseries on Marvel's mega-popular mutant franchise, continues with a discussion of E Is for Extinction – specifically, New X-Men issues #114-117 and #121 – by Morrison, Frank Quitely and Ethan Van Sciver, published by Marvel Comics!

It's not a shock that the writer behind Vertigo's The Invisibles would remake the X-Men into a cooler-than-thou team of leather-jacketed badasses. But what might come as a surprise is just how over-the-top dark and edgy this book gets – and that's before an intriguing new villain slaughters an island nation of several million mutants!

What is the terrible secret linking Cassandra Nova to Professor X? Does E really stand for "edgelord"? And can the coolest-looking teachers at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning break into that invitation-only faculty lounge known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Curt wonders what "lost in the sauce" means

· Grant Morrison's X-Men manifesto

· The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale, by John Klassen

· Uncanny X-Men #159 and 160

Join us in two weeks as we mark the spookiest time of the year with a look at The Closet, by James Tynion IV and Gavin Fullerton!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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After a brief but worthwhile interruption, All My Xs, our decade-by-decade look at Marvel’s X-Men franchise, returns with 1991’s Weapon X, written and drawn by Barry Windsor-Smith!

Originally serialized in Marvel Comics Presents #72-84, this Wolverine story largely focuses on three members of the shadowy Weapon X program, which captures a scrappy loner named Logan, gives him an adamantium skeleton and claws, and turns him into a ruthless killing machine.

Will the evil Professor, along with Dr. Cornelius and Carol Hines, suffer any consequences for what they’ve done? What’s the deal with that twist, anyway? And can this popular X-Men-adjacent storyline survive a confrontation with that super-soldier program known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Wait, why does he need an adamantium skeleton, exactly?

· Moss Introduces Jen to the Internet

· Curt casts Weapon X

· Low-Down Road by Scott Von Doviak

· Conan the Barbarian #16, “The Frost Giant’s Daughter”

· The Whole Wide World

Join us in two weeks All My Xs – and the X-Men – roll headlong into the 2000s with Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s New X-Men: E Is for Extinction!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Content warning: Sexual assault, pedophilia

On this episode, we welcome The Flop House podcast co-host, current Harley Quinn writer and former The Daily Show With Jon Stewart head writer Elliott Kalan for a discussion of the 1978 graphic novel A Contract With God, written and illustrated by Will Eisner!

This collection of standalone stories, centered around a fictional tenement building in the Bronx, finds Eisner (perhaps best known as the creator of The Spirit) drawing on his own life to examine the relationship between man and God and the Jewish-American experience in 1930s New York.

Can Frimme Hersh, filled with grief and rage following the death of his adopted daughter, draft an unbreakable compact with the Almighty? And can this groundbreaking work enter into a legally binding covenant with that higher authority known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· The Tenement Museum

· Harley Quinn Vol. 1: Destructive Comics

· Sadie Mouse Wrecks the House

· Joke Farming: How to Write Comedy and Other Nonsense

Join us in two weeks as All My Xs resumes with a look at Wolverine: Weapon X by Barry Windsor-Smith!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Content warning: Gun violence, including against children

Our decade-by-decade miniseries on the X-Men, All My Xs, reaches the 80s with a look at the 1982 standalone graphic novel God Loves, Man Kills, by Chris Claremont and Brent Anderson, published by Marvel Comics!

The X-Men have faced evil mutants, sinister aliens and even a sentient island, but they may be up against their toughest opponent yet: a white-haired televangelist! The Reverend William Stryker doesn’t just preach hatred of mutants to his millions of followers – he also employs a paramilitary strike force known as the Purifiers to hunt them down and kill them in cold blood. When they seemingly kill Professor Xavier, Cyclops and Storm, the rest of the X-Men are left reeling – and on the run for their lives.

Can the X-Men find common cause with their arch-nemesis, Magneto? Can they rescue their friends and defeat the Stryker Crusade? And can they survive that Spanish Inquisition known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· The evolution of Kitty Pryde

· The problem with Professor Xavier

· Holler: A Graphic Memoir of Rural Resistance

· Weapons

· The Comics Courier

· Curt and Kevin discuss their Comics Canon coffee mugs

Join us in two weeks as we take a break from All My Xs to discuss Will Eisner’s A Contract With God!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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All My Xs, our decade-by-decade miniseries on Marvel’s merry mutant franchise, rolls into the 1970s with a look at The Phoenix Saga from X-Men #101, 104-105 and 107-108, published by Marvel Comics!

Superstar writer Chris Claremont starts coming into his own in these issues, which introduce the Phoenix, reestablish Magneto as the X-Men’s primary big bad, and inject a healthy dose of space opera (and more than a few Star Trek shoutouts) into this once-moribund title! And if that weren’t enough, artist extraordinaire Dave Cockrum hands the book off to blockbuster artist John Byrne, kicking off one of the most impactful writer-artist runs in comics history!

Join us as we ask the burning questions: Do you think this Phoenix character will catch on? What’s the deal with Eric the Red’s costume? And can these pulse-pounding issues survive an encounter with that M’Kraan Crystal known as … the Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Sean Cassidy, 70s pop superstar

· Spoiler alert for 1986’s X-Factor #1

· Star Wars and The Phoenix Saga: a timeline

· Wolverine: Old Man Logan Vol. 0: Warzones! and Vol. 1: Berzerker

· A specific moment from the first season of X-Men 97

· “No More Critics” from Matt Goldberg’s Commentary Track newsletter

· Imperial #1

· Kevin’s shocking confession about Fantastic Four: First Steps

Join us in two weeks as we forge ahead into the 1980s and the X-Men graphic novel God Loves, Man Kills!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, we kick off All My Xs, a decade-by-decade look at everyone’s favorite Marvel mutants, the X-Men! First up, it’s the swingin’ 60s – 1969, to be exact, and X-Men #57-61, by Roy Thomas and Neal Adams, published by Marvel Comics!

Adams’s creative and energetic artwork enlivens these issues, in which Scott Summers’ brother, Alex, gets a cool costume to go with his new codename, Havok, and Larry Trask revives his late father’s mutant-hunting robots, the Sentinels! And before they can catch their breath, the X-Men find themselves facing off against the energy-draining half-man, half-Pteranodon known as … Sauron!

Did Larry Trask program these Sentinels with extra snark? Was Karl Lykos bitten by a radioactive Pteranodon? And can our young mutant heroes survive that Danger Room training session known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Cyclops uses an unfortunate slur

· A highly sketchy use of Cerebro

· What if Karl Lykos had been reading Portnoy’s Complaint?

· X-Men #62-63: Strangers … in a Savage Land! and War in the World Below!

· The new Fantastic Four movie

· Cow Tools Daily on Bluesky

Join us in two weeks as we revisit the birth of the Phoenix with a look at X-Men #101, 104, 107 and 108!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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!)

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:
Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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.

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!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense FundImpress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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We’re afraid you’ll have to wait another week for our episode on Daniel Clowes’ Ice Haven. But that doesn’t mean you’ll have to wait a whole week to hear Curt and Kevin talk at length about comics. In fact, you can hear them render judgment on some fun comic-book stories of yesteryear this very day! Confused? Kevin’s here to explain.

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On this episode, We’re With the Banned, our miniseries on banned and challenged graphic novels, takes on the most banned book of the past several years – Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe, published by Lion Forge Comics/Oni Press!

We discuss some fairly personal topics and fumble a bit (although not as much as we may have feared) with the author’s preferred pronouns (e, em, and eir) as we discuss Kobabe’s account of eir struggles with gender dysphoria and other issues on the road to identifying as nonbinary.

It’s an important work, especially in our current cultural moment. But is that enough to guarantee entry into that bastion of One Direction fandom known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· The Spivak pronouns

· A brief discussion of Barbarian

· Bad news from the future

· How did we end up talking about typing class?

· Curt’s review of Thunderbolts*

· Gamemasters: The Comic Book History of Roleplaying Games

Join us in two weeks as We’re With the Banned continues with a discussion of Daniel Clowes’ Ice Haven!

Until then:Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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We’re With the Banned, our miniseries on challenged comics and graphic novels, rolls on with a discussion of Yusei Matsui’s manga Assassination Classroom Vol. 1: Time for Assassination, published by Viz Media!

Consider this a big ol’ content warning, as this charming and bizarre story contains many scenes of attempted murder inside a school, as the underachieving students of classroom 3-E are charged with assassinating their teacher!

Oh, and that teacher, Koro Sensei, just happens to be a tentacled creature with a giant smiley face for a head, who’s already destroyed most of the moon -- and threatens to do the same thing to the planet Earth unless our hapless junior high students can assassinate him before the school year ends!

This may be the silliest book we’ve covered on the podcast – far sillier than Ambush Bug for sure. But will that be enough to win a seat at that cool kids’ table known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Why was this book banned?

· Voice casting Koro Sensei

· Sinners

· The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss

· Deadly Class Vol. 1: Reagan Youth, by Rick Remender and Wes Craig

Join us in two weeks as We’re With the Banned continues with a discussion of Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer!

Until then:Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense FundImpress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Content warning: Sexual assault, cruelty to animals

In this episode, We’re With the Banned, our miniseries on banned or challenged comics and graphic novels, continues with a discussion of Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon, published by Vertigo/DC Comics!

Based on a true story, this absorbing graphic novel follows four lions who escape from the Baghdad Zoo following a bombing by American forces in April of 2003. Filled with smart dialogue, sharp characterization and rousing action, it quickly makes you forget you’re reading a book about talking animals as it draws you into its vividly realized world and makes you care for its four protagonists.

Will Noor, Zill, Safa and Ali find food and safety on the deserted, shell-shocked streets of Baghdad? And will they at last roam free in that heavenly habitat known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Curt’s no good, very bad day

· Why don’t more people talk about Brian K. Vaughan?

· Why has this book been challenged? It’s not because of the Iraq War

· Three Kings

· Four Lions

· The New Gods by Ram V. and Evan Cagle

J Join us in two weeks as We’re With the Banned continues with a discussion of Assassination Classroom Vol. 1 by Yusei Matsui!

Until then:Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense FundImpress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, we kick off We’re With the Banned – a miniseries on banned or challenged comics and graphic novels – with a discussion of This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki, published by First Second Books!

In this delightful, finely detailed coming-of-age story, friends Rose and Windy contend with their impending adolescence during a summer beach trip, set against a pair of contrasting conflicts revolving around pregnancy, communication and depression.

Will Rose get over her crush on store clerk Dunk and realize she’s backing the wrong horse? Will Windy ever slow down and take a breath? And can they prevail in that high-stakes game of Beach Blanket Bingo known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

· We welcome a surprise guest

· Petit Maman

· The Power Fantasy Vol. 1: The Superpowers

Join us in two weeks as We’re With the Banned continues with a discussion of 2006’s Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, blind lawyer Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, is behind bars – but so are Hammerhead, the Kingpin, and a host of other hardened criminals in 2006’s The Devil in Cell Block D, by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark, published by Marvel Comics!

When someone close to him suffers a grisly fate, a spiraling Matt Murdock is bent on revenge! And if that weren’t bad enough, Bullseye and the Punisher join the fun as simmering tensions come to a boil, resulting in an all-out riot!

Who is the mysterious figure manipulating things from behind the scenes? Who is the fake Daredevil patrolling the streets of Hell’s Kitchen while Matt cools his heels in the slammer? And can ol’ Hornhead prevail in that four-color courtroom known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· A brief discussion of HBO’s Oz

· A flaw in the design of Ryker’s Island

· A question about comic-book aspirations

· The Devil Takes a Ride

· Daredevil Vol. 1 by Mark Waid and Paolo Rivera

· A VERY SPOILERY discussion of the first two episodes of Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+

Join us in two weeks as we kick off a miniseries focused on banned and challenged comics with a look at This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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A mere 16 years after the Kingpin learns Daredevil’s secret identity in Frank Miller’s Born Again, that secret becomes front page news in 2002’s Out, by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, published by Marvel Comics!

Returning to his indie crime-comic roots, Bendis puts attorney Matt Murdock through the wringer in this compelling story grounded in street-level atmosphere by artist Maleev and colorist Matt Hollingsworth.

Is gaslighting your friends and loved ones okay if it means you can put on a costume and fight crime? Just how much are we supposed to root for a hero who doubles down on lying to the entire world? And can Matt Murdock get a fair shake from that sleazy tabloid known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Homicide: Life on the Street

· A few words from our sponsor

· Some random podcast ideas

· The Origin Story podcast

· The Big Empty by Robert Crais

· To Live and Die in L.A.

· Daredevil: Underboss

· Amazing Spider-Man: Civil War

Join us in two weeks as join ol’ Hornhead behind bars for The Devil in Cell Block D (issues #82-87), by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Our six-episode, six-decade overview of the Thunderbolts and the Masters of Evil comes to a close (for now, at least) as we discuss two time-hopping tales from 2011 and 2012: The Great Escape from Thunderbolts #163-165 and Like Lightning from #172-174, published by Marvel Comics!

Following the events of the Fear Itself crossover event, most of the Thunderbolts manage to escape their prison home, only to end up in World War II Austria, side-by-side with Captain America and Prince Namor, fighting the Nazi forces of Baron Zemo! Then, we skip ahead a few issues (and decades) as they find themselves confronting the original Thunderbolts, led by (Son of) Baron Zemo!

Can these temporally tossed antiheroes repair the timeline before they cease to exist? And will these issues be deemed an excellent adventure or a bogus journey by that Time Variance Authority known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Hey, it’s Centurius!

· Thunderbolts #163.1

· The tearjerking tale of Techno vs. Fixer

· Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)

· MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios

· A Thunderbolts movie theory (recorded before the new trailer was released)

Join us in two weeks as we use the March 4 release of Daredevil: Born Again on Disney + to discuss Daredevil: Out by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Our decade-by-decade series on Marvel Comics’ Thunderbolts rolls into the 21st century as we discuss Burning Down the House, collecting Thunderbolts #126-129 and #132 by Andy Diggle and Roberto de la Torre, published by Marvel Comics!

After saving the Earth from the Skrulls’ Secret Invasion, Thunderbolts director (and Green Goblin) Norman Osborn is headed for bigger and better things … but not before he turns the Thunderbolts against each other on his way out the door!

Then, it’s high-flying mayhem aboard Air Force One as we meet an all-new T-Bolts squad led by Black Widow (no, not that one – the other one) and Osborn protects President Not Barack Obama from … the Green Goblin???

Will Songbird survive against the combined might of Moonstone, Venom and Bullseye? And will this new black-ops hit squad succeed against that Wild Covert Action Team known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· The inevitable Talking Heads chatter

· Wait, what happened to covering Faith in Monsters?

· Why the Irredeemable Ant-Man is the best(?) shrinking character

· How lame is Mister X? Pretty lame, right?

· Dark Avengers: Molecule Man and Siege

· Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

Join us in two weeks as the Thunderbolts reach the 2010s, only to hop right back out in two time-traveling tales: The Great Escape (Thudnerbolts #163-165) and Like Lightning (#172-174)!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, we look back at one of the best-reviewed graphic novels of 2024: Final Cut by Charles Burns!

When Brian, a shy, socially awkward artist, meets Laurie, the soon-to-be star of his new amateur sci-fi horror movie, she quickly becomes his muse, sharing space in his drawings and his mind with the film’s giant, pod-spewing aliens. Like him, Laurie is an outsider, wrestling with her own inner demons. But as his obsession with her grows, his grasp on his mental health weakens.

This vividly drawn tale of longing – to create and to connect – is part love-triangle teen romance and part love-letter to the science fiction creature features of a bygone era. But is all of that enough to make the cut with that Invasion of the Body Snatchers known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Curt and Kevin’s 8mm adventures

· We have to talk about Tina

· The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn

· Curt’s existential crisis

· Brief thoughts on Madam Web and The Northman

· Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1: Married With Children

Join us in two weeks as we return to our decade-by-decade look at the Thunderbolts with a look at 2007’s Faith in Monsters!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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You read that right – it’s time for another installment of our recurring comics-themed quiz! As we briefly pause our miniseries on Marvel Comics’ Thunderbolts, Kevin grills Curt with a series of questions loosely related to the theme of comics villains turned heroes!

We’ll be back in two weeks with a look at one of the best-reviewed graphic novels of 2024, Charles Burns’ Final Cut! Then on Jan. 29 we return to the Thunderbolts with a look at 2007’s Faith in Monsters arc by Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato!

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THE WAIT IS OVER! Our decade-by-decade series on Marvel Comics’ Thunderbolts continues as we finally discuss Thunderbolts (1997) issues #1-4 and the Thunderbolts 97 Annual, by Kurt Busiek, Mark Bagley, Vince Russell and a host of others!

In the aftermath of the deadly Onslaught event (hey, you guys remember Onslaught?), the world is shaken by the apparent deaths of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four! But there’s a new superhero team in town … the Thunderbolts!

Who are these mysterious do-gooders? What’s their connection to Baron Zemo and his Masters of Evil? (Hmmmm…) And can the Marvel Universe’s newest heroes face down the mind-boggling menace of that Wrecking Crew known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· What we talk about when we talk about the 90s

· Who will protect us from Blastaar, the Living Bomb Burst???

· Bada bing! It’s the Rat Pack, baby!

· How to Baby by Liana Fink

· Creature Commandos on Max

· The Lightning Round podcast

Join us in two weeks as ring in 2025 with a fun mini-episode! Then, on Jan. 15, we discuss one of the best-reviewed books of 2024 (probably Final Cut by Charles Burns) before returning to the Thunderbolts on Jan. 29 with the Civil War-adjacent tale Faith in Monsters, by Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Content warning: suicide

In this episode, our-decade-by-decade series on the Thunderbolts intersects with one of the biggest political scandals of all time as we discuss Secret Empire and the short-lived career of Nomad, as brought to us by Steve Englehart, Sal Buscema and Frank Robbins, published by Marvel Comics!

First, the shadow of Watergate looms large over Captain America and the Falcon #174-176, as the Sentinel of Liberty and his partner-in-crimefighting take on the sinister Secret Empire, leading to a shocking moment that changes Cap’s life forever!

… or at least for a few issues, as Steve Rogers adopts a new identity as the blandly generic Nomad is issues 180-183!

These issues have everything: The X-Men! S.H.I.E.L.D.! The Sub-Mariner! The Serpent Squad! A cameo by the Red Skull! And the surprise guest appearance of 1974! But is all of that enough to earn membership in that clandestine cabal known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Wheel! Of! MUTANTS!

· A few words about Frank Robbins

· What is up with the Gamecock?

· What’s Redwing’s favorite music genre?

· The Bog Wife

· Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles

Join us in two weeks as we discuss Avengers: Under Siege!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, we kick off a decades-spanning series focusing on the hot new superhero team of 1997: the Thunderbolts! And we begin with some early Avengers issues introducing Captain America’s arch-nemesis Baron Zemo and his Masters of Evil!

But first, we begin with Avengers #4, in which the Sentinel of Liberty himself is fished out of the North Sea and joins the Marvel Universe!

Then it’s on to Avengers #6, in which Baron Zemo enlists the Black Knight, the Mysterious Melter and Radioactive Man in the inaugural lineup of the Masters of Evil, a team of supervillains that might have some role to play in the formation of the Thunderbolts some 30+ years later!

In Avengers #7, Zemo is joined by a pair of Asgardians, the Enchantress and the Executioner—who, in Avengers #9, hatch a scheme that involves the debut of future Avengers mainstay Wonder Man!

Will this concept of a villain who turns into a hero have some bearing on the Thunderbolts? Is Avengers #6 the silliest comic we’ve ever discussed on this podcast? And can these pulse-pounding issues pass muster with that eternally youthful Middle-Aged Brigade known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Curt’s dream, revisited

· You know what this story needs? An alien who turns people to stone!

· Seriously, what’s the deal with the Teen Brigade?

· Rick Jones makes a boneheaded mistake

· Twin Peaks: The Return

· Venom: The Last Dance

· Avengers Vol. 1 # 16: The Old Order Changeth!

· Infamous Iron Man Vol. 1: Infamous

Join us in two weeks as we take a detour into the 1970s for a look at two pivotal moments in the life of Captain America: Secret Empire and The Coming of the Nomad!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, we relax our usual format a bit as Bryan Stratton, Robb Milne and Jamie Wenger from the Marvel by the Month podcast join us to discuss (and assign ratings to) some iconic -- and less-than-iconic -- Jack Kirby monsters from before Marvel's superhero era!

Monsters discussed in this episode:

· Diablo, the Demon From the Fifth Dimension! (Tales of Suspense #9, 1959)

· Taboo, the Thing From the Murky Swamp! (Strange Tales #75, 1960)

· Groot, the Monster From Planet X! (Tales to Astonish #13, 1960)

· Xemnu, the Living Hulk! (Journey Into Mystery #62, 1960)

· The Blip! (Tales to Astonish #15, 1961)

· Goom, the Thing From Planet X! (Tales of Suspense #15, 1960)

· Googam, Son of Goom! (Tales of Suspense #17, 1961)

· Fin Fang Foom! (Strange Tales #89, 1961)

Recommended in this episode:

· The Ultimates

· The Atlas Comics Library No. 1: Adventures Into Terror Vol. 1

· The Shadow Over Innsmouth by Gou Tanabe

· The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

· Dracula Vol. 1: The Impaler by Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones

Join us in two weeks as we look ahead to next year’s Thunderbolts movie with the beginning of a series of episodes exploring the origins of the Thunderbolts and the Masters of Evil through the decades, beginning with Baron Zemo in Avengers #4, 6, 7 and 9!

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In this episode, we kick off a month of horror-themed comics with a look at Tatsuki Fujimoto’s incredibly popular manga Chainsaw Man, a fresh and creative mixture of body horror, supernatural devil creatures, superhero-adjacent action and 80s boob comedy!

In these chapters from Chainsaw Man volumes 1 and 2, we meet Denji, a down-on-his-luck teen whose body fuses with Pochita, a devil in the form of an adorable dog with a chainsaw sticking out from its head. Denji gains the ability to sprout chainsaws from his arms and face, and is soon conscripted by pretty Makima into a government devil-hunting agency and partnered with Power, a brash and uncontrollable blood fiend. But all he really wants is … to touch some boobs!

Can the not-too-bright Denji triumph over the fearsome Bat Devil and the creepy Leech Devil, not to mention his mentor Aki? Will he wise up and realize that Makima seems to be bad news? And can he join the hallowed ranks of those Devil’s Advocates known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· What would Pitbull say?

· The Substance

· Exceptional X-Men #1

· Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill!

Join us in two weeks as our October festivities continue with a celebration of classic Marvel monsters including Groot, Diablo, the Blip, Fin Fang Foom and others!

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With Joker: Folie à Deux rolling into theaters next, the time seems right to dive into Batman’s most famous nemesis, the Joker, with a trio of stories highlighting different, pre-Dark Knight Returns iterations of the Clown Prince of Crime!

First up is “The Man Who Wrote the Joker’s Jokes” from 1951’s Batman #67, in which everyone’s favorite mass murderer seeks a gag writer!

Then, in 1976’s The Joker #7, a scientific accident gifts the Joker with Lex Luthor’s intellect, and Luthor with the Joker’s madness!

Last but not least, we switch gears with 1978’s “The Laughing Fish” and “Sign of the Joker,” from Detective Comics #475-476, featuring one of the Ace of Knaves’ most bizarre schemes yet!

Can the Grand Mogul of Mountebanks win the day against Batman, Lex Luthor, and the Gotham City Copyright Commission? And do these stories have what it takes to win over the crowd at that Ha-Hacienda known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

“With no legs, the frog becomes deaf!”
The Origin of The Comics Canon!
Bruce Willis goofs on Curt
Detective Comics #473: The Malay Penguin
Rebel Ridge
Batman and Bill
The Immortal Hulk Vol. 1: All Weather Turns to Storm
Please consider making a donation to The Hero Initiative

Join us in two weeks as we get ready for spooky season with a look at Tatsuki Fujimoto’s popular manga Chainsaw Man!

Until then:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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First up is “The Man Who Wrote the Joker’s Jokes” from 1951’s Batman #67, in which everyone’s favorite mass murderer seeks a gag writer!

Then, in 1976’s The Joker #7, a scientific accident gifts the Joker with Lex Luthor’s intellect, and Luthor with the Joker’s madness!

Last but not least, we switch gears with 1978’s “The Laughing Fish” and “Sign of the Joker,” from Detective Comics #475-476, featuring one of the Ace of Knaves’ most bizarre schemes yet!

In This Episode:

· “With no legs, the frog becomes deaf!”

· The Origin of The Comics Canon!

· Bruce Willis goofs on Curt

· Detective Comics #473: The Malay Penguin

· Rebel Ridge

· Batman and Bill

· The Immortal Hulk Vol. 1: All Weather Turns to Storm

· Please consider making a donation to The Hero Initiative

Join us in two weeks as we get ready for spooky season with a look at Tatsuki Fujimoto’s popular manga Chainsaw Man!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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!

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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, we continue our three-part look at V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, as collected by Vertigo/DC Comics!

Abandoned by V on the streets of London, Evey Hammond knows a brief moment of happiness before she’s captured, tortured and interrogated about her role in V’s crimes. Rose, widow of the late Derek Almond, suffers a series of humiliations.

Meanwhile, V’s body count grows as he issues an ultimatum to the people of London.

Can Evey hold on to that last little inch of herself, even if it costs her her life? And can our cast of characters make it past the bouncer into that Kitty Kat Keller known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

Remember, remember the fifth this November
Boy, were we wrong about Dascombe!
V’s maybe not the greatest lyricist
Amy Lennox’s performance of “Cabaret”
Gen V
Rogue Trooper: Tales of Nu-Earth Vol. 1

Join us in two weeks as our three-part series concludes with Book 3: The Land of Do-As-You-Please!

Until then:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, we continue our three-part look at V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, as collected by Vertigo/DC Comics!

Can Evey hold on to that last little inch of herself, even if it costs her her life? And can our cast of characters make it past the bouncer into that Kitty Kat Keller known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Remember, remember the fifth this November

· Boy, were we wrong about Dascombe!

· V’s maybe not the greatest lyricist

· Amy Lennox’s performance of “Cabaret”

· Gen V

· Rogue Trooper: Tales of Nu-Earth Vol. 1

Join us in two weeks as our three-part series concludes with Book 3: The Land of Do-As-You-Please!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, for … oh, no particular reason … we kick off a three-part look at the classic graphic novel V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, collected by DC Comics!

Originally published in serial form in the British anthology magazine Warrior, this dystopian fantasy follows the anarchist vigilante known only as V, clad in a creepy Guy Fawkes mask, who’s hell-bent on taking revenge on the staffers of a post-war “resettlement camp!”

This mysterious, magnetic revolutionary rescues a 16-year-old would-be sex worker named Evey from a horrible fate at the hands of the nation’s secret police, and soon enlists her in his one-man war to bring down the fascist British state!

But is there more to the strangely powerful V than first appears? (Spoiler alert: Yes!) And can he hope to silence that Voice of Fate known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· The scourge of … THE BEATNIKS!

· Pynchon, V? Really?

· Maybe we shouldn’t have given the guy in Room V so much freedom…

· The Abominable Dr. Phibes

· Kite Man: Hell Yeah!

Join us in two weeks as we roll merrily along with Book 2: This Vicious Cabaret!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Review by Curt Holman

Marvel Studios

How many times can you break the fourth wall before the whole house collapses? Deadpool & Wolverine puts that idea to the test, putting more winky asides, in-jokes and knowing references than you imagine could fit in a 128-minute run time.

Let me say at the top that I laughed frequently and enthusiastically throughout Deadpool & Wolverine, so the jokes certainly worked for me. But I also lost patience with it many, many times, leaving me ambivalent about the R-rated superhero comedy.

As established in Ryan Reynolds’ previous Deadpool movies, the titular character’s shtick-in-trade is profane jokes about superhero franchises and their obsessive audiences: Deadpool was mocking both Wolverine and actor Hugh Jackman within minutes of his first appearance in 2016. But the Deadpool movies are all part of a zillion-dollar IP enterprise, so the “outrageous” comedy never gets in the way of the commerce.

As the new film all but states outright, in 2019 Disney bought Fox, so now characters like Deadpool and the X-Men can legally be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe alongside, say, the Avengers. Deadpool’s frivolous running gags are almost literally part of the new film’s text as he wonders whether he can be “Marvel Jesus,” redeeming the series from its current creative and financial slump.

I won’t spoil any of the film’s surprise cameos or big set-pieces. Following the events of 2018’s Deadpool 2, “The Merc With the Mouth” has theoretically retired and taken an unlikely 9-to-5 job, but still wishes to prove himself as a hero. He gets the chance thanks to a scheming bureaucrat (Matthew Macfayden) from the Time Variance Authority, the time-traveling organization you may remember from the Loki TV series. Deadpool learns that his home universe is at risk and only a certain clawed, Canadian X-Man can put things right – and the events of Logan have left Wolverine, uh, indisposed.

Deadpool uses multiversal shenanigans to find an alternate Wolverine who’s even more sour and cynical than the character’s usual disposition. Jackman retains the brooding charisma he’s brought to role for almost 25 years, and proves extremely game to play Reynolds’ snarling straight man. It’s a shame that Wolverine’s arc feels so derivative of his many previous film appearances. His comics-accurate yellow costume plays a weirdly pivotal role.

The mismatched duo’s adventures lead to riffs on Wolverine’s comic book history, Reynolds’ acting career and years of high-profile superhero movies. Some of the jokes can be inspired: a garbage-strewn wasteland includes a massive 20th Century Fox logo slumping in the background. But even more than in Deadpool’s previous outings, the new film’s script presumes the audience has a lot of nerd-knowledge, which may easily annoy the many viewers who don’t.

Jackman gives the film at least a little poignancy, which is an accomplishment with Reynolds’ raunchy, red-suited blabbermouth constantly riffing on him. But that’s an essential challenge with making Deadpool a feature film protagonist: how seriously can we take the emotional life of this insolent wisecracker who’s happy to kill enemies in grisly, undignified ways?

Jokes about Deadpool falling in love with the multiverse’s ugliest dog land far better than laugh-free moments when the character wants to earn the respect of others or considers a noble sacrifice. It’s not even Reynolds’ fault, given how much of the silliness is baked into the character. At least his smarty-pants delivery is still tolerable here, even as it’s seeped into most of his other screen appearances. And Reynolds deserves credit for his physical comedy as Deadpool, showcasing the goofiness of superhero costumes.

Directed by Shawn Levy, Deadpool & Wolverine delivers a few flashes of creativity, including an outlandish title sequence, an unnerving body-horror image that conveys telepathic powers and one or two good action scenes. But the relentlessness of its filthy one-liners and gory slapstick can feel desperate, as if Disney really wants to prove it can be in on the joke.

As 2024’s only MCU release, Deadpool & Wolverine arrives just as the snappy humor that was once one of Marvel Studios’ greatest strengths is showing its age. Tony Stark’s rapid patter set a winning, breezy tone for the franchise, giving viewers permission to laugh at the comic book content. More than 30 films later, the knee-jerk comedic instinct can feel glib and cynical. Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies, like the recent Spider-Verse films, prove that comic book fare can be light-hearted but also earnest.

A little self-aware humor can go a long way, and Deadpool & Wolverine doubles down on the gags. It will doubtless be a big hit while possibly alienating the jaded audiences Marvel wants to win back. Deadpool & Wolverine positions itself as a kind of valediction for Fox’s superhero movies. One hopes that the studio is also bidding farewell to a kind of sarcastic superhero comedy that’s worn out its welcome.

Deadpool & Wolverine. B-. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman. Directed by Shawn Levy. Rated R.

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This episode contains explicit language and talk of sexual assault.

On this episode, we take a butcher’s at the book that begat the critically acclaimed streaming series The Boys—specifically, The Name of the Game, collecting the first six issues of The Boys by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, originally published by WildStorm Productions and later collected by Dynamite Entertainment!

When Hughie Campbell’s girlfriend is killed during a superpowered battle, he’s recruited by Billy the Butcher to join The Boys, a CIA-sanctioned squad of humans tasked with monitoring the superhero community and acting when they step out of line. Meanwhile, Annie January, aka Starlight, achieves her lifelong dream of joining the world’s premier superteam, The Seven—only to find that the world’s greatest heroes are corrupt, narcissistic, cruel … and worse. And Hughie quickly learns that his new gig isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, either.

Can these two innocents navigate this unpleasant new world without losing their souls? And can this book filled with sex, graphic violence and gross-out gags survive a meeting with that Human Resources department known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

A Comics Canon news break
We need to talk about that hamster …
A discussion of The Boys on Amazon Prime Video
Garth Ennis’ Red Team
The Mighty

Join us in two weeks as we begin a discussion of Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s V for Vendetta!

Until then:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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This episode contains explicit language and talk of sexual assault.

When Hughie Campbell’s girlfriend is killed during a superpowered battle, he’s recruited by Billy the Butcher to join The Boys, a CIA-sanctioned squad of humans tasked with monitoring the superhero community and acting when they step out of line. Meanwhile, Annie January, aka Starlight, achieves her lifelong dream of joining the world’s premier superteam, The Seven—only to find that the world’s greatest heroes are corrupt, narcissistic, cruel ... and worse. And Hughie quickly learns that his new gig isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, either.

In This Episode:

· A Comics Canon news break

· We need to talk about that hamster ...

· A discussion of The Boys on Amazon Prime Video

· Garth Ennis’ Red Team

· The Mighty

Join us in two weeks as we begin a discussion of Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s V for Vendetta!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Due to a family emergency, we weren’t able to get together and record a new episode for this week. So here’s an encore presentation of our Deadpool episode, With Great Power Comes Great Coincidence May 2018. Please enjoy, and we hope to be back with you again in two weeks!

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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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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On this episode, we use the popularity of the first season of X-Men 97 as an excuse to tackle a story we’ve long had our eyes on: The Brood Saga from Uncanny X-Men #162-167 by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum and Paul Smith, published by Marvel Comics!

The X-Men have been captured by the Brood (a race of nasty winged aliens) and implanted with eggs—when they hatch, the X-Men will transform into superpowered Brood queens!

Can our beloved mutants (and their friend Carol Danvers) escape these evil ETs and save a race of space whales before turning into Brood 2.0? And can this spacefaring superhero saga make landfall on that forbidden planet known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· The 10 basic X-Men plots

· Are convoluted X-Men stories a feature or a bug?

· The influence of Alien on the Brood

· Kitty Pryde is a great character

· Chris Claremont’s Phoenix obsession

· Curt has issues with the New Mutants

· Immortal Hulk Vol. 10: Of Hell and Of Death

· Sugar on Apple TV+

Join us in two weeks as we shift gears to discuss the graphic novel Here by Richard McGuire!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Mild parental advisory warning: The b-word is used once or twice.

On this episode, the recent launch of the series “Ripley” on Netflix gives us a reason to discuss Flung Out of Space: Inspired by the Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith, by Grace Ellis and Hannah Templer, published by Surely/Abrams ComicArts!

When we meet the future author of “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” she’s struggling to overcome her attraction to women and escape her job as a writer of comic-book stories—a job she hates. While freelancing for a pre-Marvel Comics Stan Lee to pay for a psychiatrist to “cure” her, she falls for Virginia, a member of her therapy group who helps inspire her to write “The Price of Salt,” which would become a landmark of queer literature.

Can a deeply conflicted Pat overcome her disdain for comics (spoiler: no) and herself? And will this moving graphic novel earn its way into that exclusive speakeasy known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

What if Patricia Highsmith worked in a comic book store?
Which previous episode should we “redo” next?
Ripley on Netflix
Vulture: Is Tom Ripley Gay?
Love Lies Bleeding
Fallout
Carol
Spider-Man and the X-Men

Join usin two weeks as we discuss Uncanny X-Men #162-167, better known as the Brood Saga!

Until then:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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One of our co-hosts is quarantined at home, so we’ve decided to postpone our next proper episode until we can be together in person! Meanwhile, Curt surprises Kevin with a pop quiz on quotes from books we’ve covered on the podcast. How good is Kevin’s recall? (Spoiler: It’s bad! Very, very bad!)

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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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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On this episode, we take a long-overdue look at one of the most influential manga of the last 50 years: Lone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima! Specifically, selected stories from Vol. 1: The Assassin’s Road, as published by Dark Horse Manga!

Who is this taciturn assassin known as Lone Wolf and Cub? Why does he push his young son across feudal Japan in a wooden baby carriage with a banner that reads “Son for Hire, Sword for Hire?” How did he get to be such a proficient killing machine? And can father and son survive their harrowing journey along that Road to Perdition known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· “I’m Ogami Itto, and this is Jackass!”

· Daigoro’s tricked-out baby cart

· The return of everyone’s vampire-slaying pig!

· Dune: Part Two

· Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 1

· House of R on the Lone Wolf and Cub trope

Join us in two weeks as we discuss the 1982 Wolverine miniseries by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Our two-part look at Hulk/Thing fights wraps up with a look at one of the twosome’s more recent titanic tussles in Fantastic Four Vol. 6, issues 12 and 13, by Dan Slott and Sean Izaakse, published by Marvel Comics!

But first, because this episode drops on Valentine’s Day, we discuss the wedding of Ben Grimm and Alicia Masters in Fantastic Four Vol. 6 issue 5, most notably the story “4-Minute Warning” by Dan Slott and Aaron Kuder!

Then it’s time for the main event, as the Immortal Hulk interrupts Ben and Alicia’s honeymoon, with a little help from Alicia’s father, the pernicious Puppet Master!

Is this really our last episode discussing these Marvelous melees? (Who knows?) Can the Thing keep the Immortal Hulk from endangering an entire seaside resort before he reverts back to all-too-human Ben Grimm? And can either of them prevail against that titanic tag team known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Kevin responds to Curt’s song from last episode

· We talk about whether we should talk about Cerebus

· Curt’s article on the ends of Bone and Cerebus

· Point of Origin from Fantastic Four Vol. 6, issues 14-19

· Do A Powerbomb

· The Thing Vol. 1 #6, “Mindscape”

Join us in two weeks as we make a long-overdue return to the world of manga to discuss Lone Wolf and Cub Vol. 1: The Assassin’s Road!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook, Bluesky or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME as we kick off a two-part look at one of Marvel Comics’ most storied traditions: epic slugfests between the Hulk and the Thing! Specifically, the first two face-offs between these fearsome foes in Fantastic Four #12 and #25-26, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby!

First, everyone’s on their worst behavior as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross enlists the FF’s aid in subduing the Hulk, who’s accused of sabotaging a military experiment!

Then, with his teammates sidelined, it’s up to Ben to stop the angry green goliath from rampaging across New York City, in a knock-down drag-out brawl guest starring the Mighty Avengers!

Can the ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing prevail against the jade giant? And can these stories go the distance in a title match against ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· A literal card-carrying communist

· How pretty young ladies can help their men

· “Aunt Petunia was pretty hardcore!”

· Giant-Man’s pill problem

· What If? Season 2 and Echo

· Doctor Who: The Angels Take Manhattan

· Marvel Two-in-One #46

· Curt introduces an unscheduled order of business

Join us in two weeks as we polish off this two-parter with a matchup of more recent vintage: The Thing vs. The Immortal Hulk from Fantastic Four (Vol. 6) #12-13!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or the platform formerly known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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It’s our bicentennial episode, and we celebrate by going back to 1976 for a momentous match-up between comics’ two most popular characters: Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man, by Gerry Conway and Ross Andru, published by DC and Marvel Comics!

This first-ever inter-company crossover event finds the Man of Steel and Ol’ Web-Head going toe-to-toe (of course) before joining forces to combat the combined threat of criminal masterminds Lex Luthor and Doctor Octopus!

Can the Man of Tomorrow and your Friendly Neighborhood Wall-Crawler rescue Lois Lane and Mary Jane Watson and thwart this dastardly duo’s perilous plan? And can our awesome allies win their way into that World’s Finest Two-in-One known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Great moments of 1976

· Curt’s beef with Superman

· The Flying Octopus!

· Our shirts are marvelous—a reader says so!

· Godzilla Minus One

· Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

· JLA/Avengers

· My Effin’ Life by Geddy Lee

Join us in two weeks as we make a return visit to Duckburg (and Carl Barks) for a special Christmas-themed episode!

Until then:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or the platform formerly known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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

· That Madame Web trailer

· 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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or the platform formerly known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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

· Hellblazer: Rise and Fall

· Carmilla: The First Vampire

· Dracula Vol. 1: The Impaler

· 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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or the platform formerly known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

Your Band Sucks: What I Saw at Indie Rock's Failed Revolution (But Can No Longer Hear)

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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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or the platform formerly known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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)!

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(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:Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or the platform formerly known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Despite popular demand, our recurring comics-themed quiz returns! This time, Curt surprises Kevin with a pop quiz on everyone’s favorite unstoppable X-Men villain, following last week’s episode on Amazing Spider-Man: Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut!

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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:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Facebook or the platform formerly known as Twitter!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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 … Continue reading →

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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:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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

· Black Phoenix Omnibus

· 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:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
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And as always, thanks for listening!

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We kick off Spidey Super Stories, a series dedicated to everyone’s favorite web-slinger, Spider-Man, with a look at “Spider-Man No More!” from Amazing Spider-Man #50, along with two early clashes with the Kingpin in #51-52 and #69, by Stan Lee and John Romita, published by Marvel Comics!

Fed up with a public that hates and fears him, Spider-Man hangs up his web-shooters to devote more time to his studies, his social life and his sickly Aunt May (not necessarily in that order) ... just as a mysterious crime lord known as the Kingpin is tightening his grip on New York City!

Has the wall-crawler given up crime-fighting for good? (C’mon, what do you think?) More importantly, will he come to his senses in time to win over those Amazing Friends known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Spider-Man vs. the Spoiler

· The stones on Frederick Foswell

· The 1967 “Spider-Man” theme

· Spider-Man: The New Sinister

· Captain America and the Falcon #176-176

· Thor: Goddess of Thunder

Join us in two weeks as Spidey Super Stories continues with Superior Spider-Man: My Own Worst Enemy!

Until then:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
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And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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On this episode, we look ahead to the June 16 release of The Flash with a little story that established the concept of the multiverse as a canonical part of superhero comics: “The Flash of Two Worlds” from The Flash # 123, by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino, published by DC Comics!

Performing for children at a fundraiser, the Flash (Barry Allen) vibrates at super speed and finds himself on another Earth! And it turns out this world is home to ... The Flash (Jay Garrick), whose “fictional” exploits thrilled Barry (and DC Comics readers) several years earlier! Faced with the existence of multiple realities, what do our heroes do? Why, team up to fight bad guys, of course!

We also run through two subsequent Barry Allen/Jay Garrick team-ups: “Double Danger on Earth” from The Flash # 129 and “Vengeance of the Immortal Villain” from The Flash #137! How well do these stories stack up, six decades later? And do any of them cross over the finish line into that multiverse of madness known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Curt ... has some thoughts ... about the Flash’s super-speed powers

· The Thinker leaves millions on the table

· The Flash Vol. 2 No. 1: “Happy Birthday Wally!”

· Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

· Fear Agent Final Edition Vol. 1

Run, don’t walk, to join us in two weeks as we return to the world of The Dreaming for the first of a two-part look at The Sandman: The Kindly Ones!

Until then:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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It’s one of the few superhero deaths that has managed to stick over the intervening decades. And it ties up Adam Warlock’s Magus Saga with a tidy bow. On this episode, we revisit Marvel Comics’ first-ever “graphic novel,” Jim Starlin’s The Death of Captain Marvel!

He’s fought countless Earth villains and cosmic bad guys, but the man named Mar-Vell finally confronts a foe he can’t defeat: cancer. As the greatest minds on Earth and Titan work tirelessly to find a cure, one of the universe’s mightiest warriors must come to grips with his own mortality, eventually engaging in a psychic battle with his greatest enemy—Thanos!

Can Captain Marvel avoid the literal kiss of Death and live happily ever after? (Spoiler alert: No.) More importantly, can he ascend to that enlightened state of cosmic awareness known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Everyone’s favorite space prospector

· Hey, where’s Carol Danvers?

· Marvel’s personification of Death vs. Vertigo’s Death

· Dreadstar: The Price graphic novel

· Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

· Guardians of the Galaxy (2023) #1

· Adam Warlock: Rebirth #1

Join us in two weeks as we pivot away from Jim Starlin and cosmic Marvel for something completely different—Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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

· Our Thanos War episode

· 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: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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With April Fool’s Day just around the corner, the time seems right for a long-overdue look at DC Comics’ Ambush Bug, who was breaking the fourth wall and spreading mayhem almost a decade before Marvel Comics’ Deadpool. Specifically, we take a look at his appearances in 1984’s Action Comics #560 and issues 1-4 of 1985’s Ambush Bug miniseries, by Keith Giffen and Robert Loren Fleming!

Combining elements of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Looney Tunes shorts and the superhero parody of Steve Gerber’s Howard the Duck, these issues find the chartreuse crackpot crossing paths with the despotic space-sock Argh! Yle!, the giant koala known as Quantis and even Superman himself!

But can he survive a run-in with (gasp!) Darkseid??!! And can these twisted tales survive that Spanish Inquisition known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Kevin gets tape on a comic!

· The Legion of Substitute Heroes Special

· Curt shares some thoughts on Shazam: Fury of the Gods

· Star Trek: Picard Season 3

Join us in two weeks as we look ahead to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 with a two-part series on Adam Warlock!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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
Peanuts from Dec. 10, 1973
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:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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.

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

· Peanuts from Dec. 10, 1973

· 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: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, we follow up the controversial death of Robin, Batman’s surrogate son, with the debut of his actual flesh-and-blood offspring in Batman and Son from Batman #655-658, published by DC Comics!

Superstar writer Grant Morrison begins their acclaimed Batman run with a bang, introducing Damian Wayne, the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghul. Trained by the League of Assassins, this preadolescent bundle of violence is intent on joining his father’s war on crime as the new Robin—which is bad news for the current Robin, Tim Drake!

Can the Dark Knight Detective keep his homicidal heir in check while fending off his ex-girlfriend’s army of ninja Man-Bats? And can this Dynamic Duo secure a spot in that Daddy Day Care known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Curt’s Show and Tell

· James Gunn’s plans for the DC cinematic universe

· Did we mention Ninja Man-Bats? Because Ninja Man-Bats!

· Kevin’s picks to join the DCU

· Batman and Robin: Batman Reborn

· Justice League vs. the Fatal Five

· Batman: Son of the Demon

· The International Club of Heroes (Batman #667-669)

Join us in two weeks as we continue our exploration of James Gunn’s DCU slate with a look at The Authority: Relentless!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Content warning: suicide, threat of sexual assault.

In this episode, we visit one of the most popular Spider-Man stories of all time that also happens to be one of the most atypical Spider-Man stories of all time: Kraven’s Last Hunt, by J.M. DeMatteis, Mike Zeck and Bob McLeod, published by Marvel Comics!

You’d think Kraven the Hunter would be happy. After all, he’s finally captured his elusive foe, Spider-Man. But apparently not! The big game hunter shoots his prey, buries him alive, and sets out to prove his superiority by taking the wall-crawler’s place and defeating the deadly rat-man, Vermin!

Can the newlywed web-slinger wriggle his way out of the grave, defeat Kraven and Vermin, and return home to his blushing bride? And can this six-part saga win at that Most Dangerous Game known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

Spider-Man’s black costume
Kraven’s position on Spidey’s enemies list
Thoughts on the upcoming Kraven movie
Moonshadow by J.M. DeMatteis, Jon J. Muth and Kent Williams
Q The Winged Serpent
The Stuff
Spider-Man: Hunted
Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection Vol. 8: Man-Wolf at Midnight

Join us in two weeks as we discuss Batman: A Death in the Family!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Content warning: suicidal ideation.

In this episode, we drop in on everyone’s favorite perky psychopomp, Death of the Endless, with a look at the 1993 three-part miniseries Death: The High Cost of Living, by Neil Gaiman and Chris Bachalo, published by DC/Vertigo!

In a nod to the 1934 film “Death Takes a Holiday,” Dream’s older sister Death, well ... takes a holiday. We’re pretty sure, anyway. You see, there’s this girl named Didi who looks a lot like Death, and claims to be Death, wandering the earth as a mortal for 24 hours to get a feel for how the other half lives. But 16-year-old Sexton Furnival, who says he wants to commit suicide, isn’t buying what Didi’s selling.

Can Didi convince Sexton that life is worth living? Can they escape the clutches of the mysterious Eremite and find Mad Hettie’s heart? And can this short Sandman spinoff charm its way into that Sweet Hereafter known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

What’s Sexton’s middle name situation?
Catching up with a couple of characters from A Game of You
Maniac of New York Vol. 1: Death Train
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Shin Ultraman
The Sound of Her Wings (Sandman #8) and Façade (Sandman #20)

Join us in two weeks as we discuss either Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt or Batman: A Death in the Family!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:

Tom King, send us our No-Prizes!
What’s the deal with Comet the Super Horse?
True Grit (the book and the 2010 movie)
Number One Is Walking: My Life in the Movies and Other Diversions
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Favor the Bold and Sacrifice of Angels
The Black Hammer Omnibus from Dark Horse Comics

Join us in two weeks as we spend time with another popular DC Comics female in Death: The High Cost of Living!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:

JLA (1996) #8-9
Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt
Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler
Ambush Bug Stocking Stuffer
Justice League: Comfort and Joy
Curt’s top 12 movies of 2022

Join us in two weeks as we discuss Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, by Tom King and Bilquis Evely!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:

“Only there’s skins you never bothered with—the black skins!”
Similarities to Amazing Spider-Man #96-98
The Question, by O’Neil and Denys Cowan
The introduction of Green Lantern John Stewart
Hard Looks: The Adapted Stories of Andrew Vachss
The Vigilante, as seen in Peacemaker
Runaways from New Teen Titans #26-27

Join us in two weeks as we get into the holiday spirit with a collection of Christmas comics featuring the Caped Crusader!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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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!

1972’s The Ruling Class
Two actors who’ve played the same MCU character
The late, (somewhat) lamented Sleepy Hollow
We Hate Movies’ Skeleton League (link is NSFW)

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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:

Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche
What’s the deal with this cow race, exactly?
Sign PEN America’s petition to protest Missouri book bans
Dope by Sara Gran
RASL by Jeff Smith
The Adventure Zone: Petals to the Metal
Finding Batman by Kevin Conroy and J. Bone
Curt’s favorite Kevin Conroy moment

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:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
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And as always, thanks for listening!

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Content warning: Suicide, mental illness and explicit language (one F-word).

Film noir and hardboiled crime fiction get refracted through a postmodern lens in Paul Karasik and David Mazzucchelli’s adaptation of Paul Auster’s City of Glass! A mysterious late-night phone call leads mystery novelist Daniel Quinn to assume the identity of private detective Paul Auster and investigate a case whose bizarre patterns and revelations cause Quinn to confront unanswerable questions about the nature of existence itself! Can Quinn hold onto his sanity and find refuge in that Naked City known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

Understanding Comics
An homage to Watchmen
Destroy All Monsters: A Reckless Book
Double Indemnity
The Maltese Falcon
The Book of Illusions
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

Join us in two weeks as switch gears with a vengeance, careening headlong into Bone Vol. 2: The Great Cow Race!

Until then:
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And as always, thanks for listening!

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(Content warning: References to suicide and hate crime)

What better way to round out the spook-tacular month of October than with a werewolf, ghosts, zombies, a serial killer and underwater vampires? All that and the debut of everyone’s favorite Sting impersonator in the first half of Alan Moore’s ambitious American Gothic storyline from The Saga of The Swamp Thing (issues 37-42 and 44-45), published by DC Comics!

Everyone’s favorite muck monster travels across the U.S. encountering an unsettling series of supernatural horrors. But are they all part of a larger, more sinister design? Can Swamp Thing trust his new colleague, the manipulative John Constantine? And can these terrifying tales scare their way into that American Horror Story known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

Reckoning with Moore’s feelings about his earlier works
A dream team of horror-comic artists
Swamp Thing #56: My Blue Heaven
Winchester ’73
The Rampaging Hulk
Ice Cream Man Vols. 1 and 2

Join us in two weeks as we commemorate “Noirvember” with a look at Paul Karasik and David Mazzuccheli’s adaptation of Paul Auster’s City of Glass!

Until then:
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And as always, thanks for listening!

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It’s October, and that means it’s once again time to scare up some spook-tacular horror and supernatural comics! We kick things off with a return to the world of Mike Mignola’s Hellboy – specifically, the fan-favorite story The Corpse, as well as two other done-in-one tales: The Chained Coffin and A Christmas Underground!

Can everyone’s favorite half-demonic monster hunter bury the corpse of Tam O’Clannie in time to rescue a young girl kidnapped by faerie folk? Can he survive zombies, a rat-demon and ... his own demon dad? And can these fun stories, steeped in folklore and striking visuals, measure up to that Right Hand of Doom known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

A brief digression into The Iron Shoes
Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters
The Me You Love in the Dark
The Devil Rides Out
The new Hellraiser
Hellboy: The Role-Playing Game
Midnight Mass on Netflix
Doctor Sleep

Join us in two weeks as we delve into the first half of Swamp Thing: American Gothic (specifically Swamp Thing issues 37-42 and 44-45)!

Until then:
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And as always, thanks for listening!

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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:

Our appearance last week on Marvel by the Month
The history of the JSA
Not THAT Hector and Lyta Hall
A spoiler for Alan Moore’s Miracleman
Poisoned Chalice: The Extremely Long and Incredibly Complex Story of Marvelman
Strange Adventures

Join us in two weeks as we get into the spooky spirit of Halloween season with a look at Hellboy: The Corpse!

Until then:
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And as always, thanks for listening!

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We wrap up our selective two-part look back on Jonathan Hickman’s New Avengers, as the Illuminati—the secret syndicate featuring Black Panther, Iron Man, the Sub-Mariner and other heavy hitters—are finally confronted with an impossible decision: to destroy an alternate Earth or watch their own world die!

Can our conflicted cabal figure out a solution before going toe-to-toe with the Justice League—we mean the Squadron Supreme—we mean the Great Society, the greatest heroes of Earth 4,290,001? And can they possibly win that war of the worlds known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

“Forever glass? That’s ridiculous!”
Doom’s children’s health PSA
We entertain a surprise guest
The Coldest City
Barbarian
Lynda Barry in The New York Times Magazine
Sulu Grabbed My Ass ...
Green Lantern: Rebirth

Join us in two weeks as we prepare for the upcoming Black Adam movie with a look at JSA: Black Reign!

Until then:
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And as always, thanks for listening!

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What was all that stuff about “incursions” in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness? The answer lies in these first six issues (plus one) of Jonathan Hickman’s run on New Avengers, drawn by the incomparable Steve Epting (and Mike Deodato), published by Marvel Comics!

Black Panther calls on the clandestine cabal known as the Illuminati to help confront a menace that threatens the entire multiverse: Alternate universes are colliding into each other with Earth as the focal point! And the only options are to let both universes die, or destroy one Earth so that both universes can live!

Can this covert conclave prevent disaster while keeping their consciences intact? And can they survive that Crisis on Infinite Earths known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

AVX: Avengers vs. X-Men
Black Swan, Pilates instructor
Reed Richards gives the best PowerPoint presentations
War of the Realms
Three Thousands Years of Longing
We need to make Blade: Pig in the City happen
Thor: Love and Thunder
Avengers: The Gatherers Saga

Join us in two weeks as our two-parter continues with New Avengers Vol. 4: A Perfect World!

Until then:
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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:

The behind-the-scenes origin of She-Hulk
Some thoughts on the first episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
She-Hulk (2014): Law and Disorder
The Sandman on Netflix
Supernatural Law
Thor: The Goddess of Thunder

Join us in two weeks as we discuss New Avengers (2013) Vol. 1: Everything Dies!

Until then:
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(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:

Verisimilitude in Snoopy vs. the Red Baron
Douglas Adams and Clive Barker
(Super) Power to the People
A Canterbury Tale
Drowning on Dry Land
Highlander
FFast Times in Comic Book Editing on Kickstarter
The Nazz on Indiegogo

Join us in two weeks as we switch gears for a date with She-Hulk: Single Green Female!

Until then:
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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!

The Lord of Dreams, recovering from a painful breakup, agrees to help his younger sister, Delirium, search for their missing brother, the embodiment of Destruction. But what Dream sees as a harmless diversion soon turns deadly, claiming the lives of mortals and immortal beings alike!

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:

Dream and Delirium: buddy cops
What is Delirium’s job, exactly?
What’s the deal with Tiffany?
The offhand cruelty of The Endless
Cerebus: High Society and Church and State
Tasha Robinson’s interview with Dave Sim for the AV Club
Filth & Grammar

Join us in two weeks as our ongoing Sandman series continues with World’s End!

Until then:
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In this episode, we look ahead to the July 29 debut of Paper Girls on Amazon Prime with a look at Paper Girls Vol. 1, collecting the first five issues of the comics series by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang, published by Image Comics!

When four 12-year-old girls join forces to deliver the Cleveland Preserver on the dark pre-dawn morning of Nov. 1, 1988, they find themselves riding their bikes straight into a nightmare of terrifying pterodactyl creatures, menacing, armored “old-timers,” and time-traveling, tech-scavenging teenagers! Can our preteen paper-slingers keep their idyllic suburb from meeting its final deadline? And can they finish their rounds in time to make that extra-special edition known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

“Stranger Things” and the Kids on Bikes genre
Writing for the trade and the “Lost” mystery box
The Hood: Blood From Stones.
Gary Larson’s The Far Side
Yellowjackets on Showtime
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount Plus
Super 8

Join us in two weeks as we get ready for the Aug. 5 debut of The Sandman on Netflix with the next installment of our Sandman read-through, Brief Lives! (And you can prepare for the show with our episodes on Preludes and Nocturnes and The Doll’s House!)

Until then:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
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And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, we wrap up our True Stories miniseries on nonfiction and autobiographical comics with a look at Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography, published by Drawn & Quarterly!

Writer and artist Chester Brown (Yummy Fur) chronicles the career of Riel, the Canadian political leader and freedom fighter, in a flat, dispassionate style that holds the reader at arm’s length, blunting some of the story’s natural drama. The result is nonetheless a fascinating portrait of an important figure in Canadian history. But is that enough to gain entry into that House of Commons known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

The return of The Quizzical Canonical (Canadian bands edition)!
Mr. X by Dean Motter
The Revolutions podcast
2 versions of 1 song about Louis Riel
We Stand on Guard
Steve Skroce

Join us in two weeks as we review Paper Girls Vol. 1!

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(Content warning: At least one swear word; sexual exploitation) After a brief pause, our True Stories miniseries returns with Joe Sacco’s The Fixer: A Story From Sarajevo, published by Drawn and Quarterly!

Part character study, part history lesson, The Fixer examines the bloody Bosnian War of the 1990s, mainly through the character of Neven, a former soldier who spins eyebrow-raising tales of his own exploits while shepherding journalist Sacco through a recovering Sarajevo at the tail end of the conflict.

Exactly how much of what Neven says can be trusted? And can this account of life during wartime plant its flag in that No Man’s Land known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

Hanging out with your pot dealer
Neven’s ridiculously cinematic backstory
Is this really two different books?
Fax From Sarajevo: A Story of Survival
The espionage novels of Alan Furst
War’s End: Profiles From Bosnia 1995-96

Join us in two weeks as our True Stories miniseries concludes with Chester Brown’s Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography!

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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:

Does Thor have more “good” stories than other Marvel characters?
Reconciling Thor’s mythological and superhero roots
Cosmic Home of the Cronut!
Thor #126-130
New Avengers (2013) Vol. 1: Everything Dies
Grendel, Kentucky
Daredevil (2019) Vol. 1: Know Fear
Curt makes a shocking revelation

Join us in two weeks as our True Stories miniseries returns with Joe Sacco’s The Fixer!

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(Content warning: Slavery, rape, and execution)

True Stories continues with a spirited discussion of Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts, by Rebecca Hall and Hugo Martinez.

This captivating graphic novel from 2021 follows Rebecca Hall’s efforts to shed light on the unheralded role of Black women in slave uprisings in the early 18th century and the institutional obstacles she faced along the way. Aided by the inventive artwork of Hugo Martinez, she gives voice to women who sacrificed so much for the cause of freedom.

In This Episode:

Treason against the state
Spoiler alert for Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”
The evolution of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade
Louis Riel by Chester Brown
Atlanta Season 3 Episode 4: “The Big Payback”
Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds

Join us in two weeks as we take a short break from our True Stories miniseries with a look at Thor: The God Butcher!

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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!

The eagerly anticipated return of Kevin’s Secret Shame!
Snuffy Smith cosplay
Lynda Barry invents doomscrolling!
The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist by Adrian Tomine
Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood
Giant Days Vol. 1

Join us in two weeks as True Stories continues with Rebecca Hall’s Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts!

Until then:
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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!

“You’re doing a bit!”
“This guy’s a huge JERK!”
What can Wallace Shawn do for ME?!!
American Splendor, Crumb and Ghost World
Our Cancer Year

Join us in two weeks as True Stories continues with Lynda Barry’s emphatically punctuated One! Hundred! Demons!

Until then:
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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!

The worst Moon Knight premise EVER
A note about Warren Ellis
The Midnight Mission and Lunatic
Makhno: Ukranian Freedom Fighter
Doc Savage Vol. 2 (1975-77)
The Shadow: Blood and Judgment
Synchronic
Once Upon a Monster of the Week

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!

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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!

The January Man
The Godfather and other movie reverences
Solomon Grundy not have salad fork!
Batman: Dark Victory and Batman: Joker War
The Penny Plunderers
The Big Heat
Tales of the Batman: Steve Englehart

Join us in two weeks as we get ready for Moon Knight on Disney+ with: The Moon Knight Episode!

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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!

Was the bat all in Bruce Wayne’s head?
The Roman: A missed opportunity
Selina Kyle’s apartment
Daredevil: Born Again
The City of Glass graphic novel adaptation
The Batman: Year One animated movie
Curt likes The Batman

Join us in two weeks as we extend our stay in Gotham City with a discussion of Batman: The Long Halloween!

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(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!

Can we make the “Perez Pebble” a thing?
RAKOVLAM!
Jim Valentino’s Guardians of the Galaxy
A Peter David/Mark Millar Venn diagram
Curt gets a surprise visitor
Hulk: Heart of the Atom
The Immortal Hulk

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:
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(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!

“Snakebeard makes a lot of sense!”
A Wonder Woman/Watchmen connection?
Kevin’s Great Shame
Peacemaker on HBO Max
Wonder Woman Vol. 2: Challenge of the Gods
Two Moons Vol. 1: The Iron Noose

Join us in two weeks as we discuss Peter David and George Perez’s alternate future two-parter The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect!

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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!

Green Lantern/Green Arrow
Forget it, Jo, it’s The City Enduring
Chekhov’s armory
Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke
Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter
Maniac of New York Vol. 1: Death Train
My Bad

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:
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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!

Larfleeze and a certain Lord of the Rings character
Don't get Hal Jordan for your Secret Santa
Larfleeze by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis and Scott Kolins
L’il Santa by Thierry Robin and Lewis Trondheim
George Perez’s recent cancer diagnosis
New Teen Titans Vol. 4
Glen Weldon's beautiful appreciation of George Perez

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:
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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:

The surprising central character of the Marvel Universe
The Life of Reilly
The prescience (and odd timing) of Dark Reign
How will we look back on the comics of 2021?
New Avengers Vol. 6: Revolution
Radioactive Man comics
The French Dispatch
House to Astonish and The Lightning Round
The Marvels by Kurt Busiek and Yildiray Cinar
Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons #1

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:
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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!

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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!

The unfortunate timing of Action Comics #309
The bottle city of Kandor’s greatest foe!
Let’s just say we briefly mention the website Does the Dog Die?, if you catch our drift
Lloyd Llewellyn
Don Rickles and Goody Rickels in Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen
Superman Breaks Loose from Superman (Vol. 1) #233

Join us in two weeks, when we hope to welcome a very special guest!

Until then:
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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!

The last gasp of ’90s superhero comics
Comics’ complicated and confusing numbering system
What happened to, you know ... that one more day?
Curt breaks down the Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer
Silver Surfer (1968) #3
Make Way for Tomorrow
Batman: Sword of Azrael
Knighted by Gregg Hurwitz and Mark Texeira

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?

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(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!

The thinner the moustache, the more evil the person?
The Bad Werewolf Friend
Marvel By the Month: The Comics Code of 1954
All of the Marvels by Douglas Wolk
The Crossroads at Midnight by Abby Howard
P. Lovecraft’s The Hound and Other Stories by Gou Tanabe

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!

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(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!

Previously, in the pages of Swamp Thing ...
James Bond, for some reason
The Phantom Stranger’s David Caruso sunglasses moments
Swamp Thing #34: Rite of Spring
The Empty Man
Swamp Thing #32: Pog
Edgar Allen Poe’s Snifter of Death #1
Lugosi: The Rise & Fall of Hollywood’s Dracula

Join us in two weeks as The Tomb of the Crypt continues with ... Tales From the Crypt!

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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!

Night of the Living Dead
Special effects artist Rob Bottin
A connection to our previous episode, Uzumaki
His House
We Are Lady Parts
Something Is Killing the Children
Ms. Marvel: No Normal
Frontiersman #1

Join us in two weeks as The Tomb of the Crypt continues with Swamp Thing: Love and Death!

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(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!

Forget it, Shuichi. It’s Spiraltown
Tomei by Junji Ito
The Drifting Classroom
A Walk Through Hell Vol. 1

Join us in two weeks as The Tomb of the Crypt continues with the 2018 Image series Infidel!

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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!

How to write Superman
The Death of Superman
Does Superman like abasing himself?
Chekhov’s Sun-Eater
The Death of Captain Marvel by Jim Starlin
Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen by Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber

Join us in two weeks as we delve into the worlds of horror and manga with a look at Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror!

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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!

Curt likes Big Barda and he cannot lie
Fantastic Four: Forever
Nomadland
Some thoughts on the upcoming Eternals movie
Avengers: The Final Host by Jason Aaron and Ed McGuinness
Eternals (2021) by Kieron Gillen and Esad Ribić
Kirby: King of Comics by Mark Evanier

Join us in two weeks as we discuss All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely!

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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!

“It’s a shame you’re not in this alternate reality where your girlfriend lives!”
What If Dr. Fredric Wertham Became Doctor Doom?
“This bar has everything!”
What If #43: What If Conan Were Stranded in the 20th Century?
Pyongyang: A Journey to North Korea by Guy Delisle
Jamie Loftus’s Aack Cast
The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel
I’ll Be Home for Christmas Movies

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!

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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:

Sports nerds vs. comics nerds
Casey at the Bat
Yasiel Puig’s hazardous journey to the U.S.
The Golem in Marvel’s Strange Tales
Charley the Australopithecine
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay
James Sturm’s America: God, Gold, and Golems
Jar of Fools by Jason Lutes
The Der Golem episode of the Scream Scene podcast
Reign of Terror

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:
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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:

Content warning for The Song of Orpheus
Destruction vs. the other Endless
The Sandman stories August and Soft Places
I, Claudius (and I, Podius)
Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
Elric Vol. 1: Elric of Melnibone
Ron Randall’s Trekker: Reckoning on Rigel on Kickstarter

Join us in two weeks as our Myth Takes miniseries wraps up with a discussion of James Sturm’s The Golem’s Mighty Swing!

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(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:

Similarities to A Doll’s House
Neil Gaiman’s Tumblr post about Wanda
Curt has some strong words for Morpheus
What IS the Cuckoo, exactly?
Brazil
The Saga Compendium
Astro City Special: Beautie #1

Join us in two weeks as we extend our stay in the Dreaming with a discussion of The Sandman: Fables and Reflections!

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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:

Myths and folklore in popular culture
Raunchy versions of children’s stories
Fables Vol. 6: Homelands
The Personal History of David Copperfield
Shelly Bond’s Filth & Grammar Kickstarter campaign
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Savage Avengers
Some thoughts on She-Hulk

Join us in two weeks as we kick off a Sandman two-parter with a look at A Game of You!

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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:

Runaways (the Usagi story, not the Marvel comic)
The Hidden Fortress
Saturday Morning: Cartoons’ Greatest Hits
Groo the Wanderer
Space Usagi and Senso from The Usagi Yojimbo Saga: Legends
Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles

Join us in two weeks as we discuss Fables Vol. 2: Animal Farm!

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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

Norse vs. Greek mythology in comics
War of the Realms
The Sandman and Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount
An early 90s Image Comics flashback
Thor Vol. 1 by J. Michael Straczynski
Resident Alien on SYFY
Journey Into Mystery # 627
Young Avengers: Style > Substance

Join us in two weeks as we move from Asgard to ancient Japan to discuss Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter!

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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:

Are comics the new mythology, man?
Anatomy Lesson Syndrome
Split happens
Can you get better from being a statue?
Some striking character designs
John Constanti—we mean, Lennox
Our Dangerous Habits episode
Wonder Woman: Dead Earth
Wonder Woman/Conan

Join us in two weeks, when we discuss Journey Into Mystery: Fear Itself!

Until then:
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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:

Our YUGE! episode
A brief history of Doonesbury
Iron Maiden vs. Queensrÿche
That third act reveal, though
Mel’s Story: Surviving Military Sexual Assault
Beta Ray Bill (2021) #1

Join us in two weeks when we discuss Wonder Woman (2011) Vol. 1: Blood!

Until then:
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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:

The “Snyder Cut” joke we didn’t get to use
Is Kevin Maguire the MVP of JLI?
Superior Foes of Spider-Man
Brother to Brother
Cobra Kai
The Gray Man
Fate (1987)
A 5-minute discussion of Zack Snyder’s Justice League
The Owls on Culture Podcast
Preorder I’ll Be Home for Christmas Movies at your favorite indie bookseller!

Join us in two weeks for Doonesbury: The Long Road Home!

Until then:
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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:

Similarities to Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
How it started and where it’s going
The Adventure Zone: Graduation
We want to see a Meredith Blitzmeyer spinoff
The subtleties of Blackheart and Goldenloin’s relationship
Sound of Metal
Wonder Woman: The Lies
In Real Life

Join us in two weeks as we commemorate the “Snyder Cut” of Justice League with (what else?) Justice League International!

Until then:
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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:

“You rentable clodpate!”
Death Be Not Proud
Some LGBTQ+ comics recommendations
Some thoughts on our Tintin episode
Iron Man Epic Collection: Stark Wars
Invincible Iron Man: World’s Most Wanted

Join us in two weeks as we discuss Nimona by Noelle Stevenson!

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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:

The Totally Tintin podcast
Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin
The art of Herge
Some of our favorite Captain Haddock expletives
The Black Island
Touching the Void
Tintin in Tibet from the Adventures of Tintin animated series
Bastard by Max de Radiguès

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!

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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:

The Ultimate Comics line
May Parker’s friends, Smith and Wesson
Amazing Spider-Man #33
Our Panels of the Week!
The Death of Captain America
The Death of Jean DeWolff
Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 9: Ultimate Six
Redshirts by John Scalzi

Join us in two weeks as we discuss the alliterative Tintin in Tibet!

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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:

Newspaper comic strips
M. Forster on plot vs. story
A cosmic Community coincidence
No one wants to be judged by who they were in middle school
Zot! The Complete Black and White Collection
The Expanse Book 5: Nemesis Games
Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh
Lumberjanes Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy

Join us in two weeks as we discuss Ultimate Spider-Man: Death of Spider-Man!

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(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:

Do certain story choices diminish the threat of the Klan?
The secret origin of Tommy Lee
Superman vs. Hollywood by Jake Rossen
The Adventures of Superpup
Caliban’s War and Cibola Burn by James S.A. Corey
Superman: The Unauthorized Biography by Glen Weldon
Flash Gordon: On the Planet Mongo by Don Moore and Alex Raymond

Join us in two weeks as we discuss Raina Telgemeier’s Eisner Award-winning 2010 graphic novel, Smile!

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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:

The provenance of Duran Duran’s “A View to a Kill”
Kevin’s Uncle Ben moment
The best-ever description of Boone’s Farm
All in the Family
The Complete Hate
Our Eltingville Club episode
Peter Bagge’s recent graphic novel biographies
Peepshow: The Cartoon Diary of Joe Matt

Join us in two weeks as we begin 2021 with one of the best-reviewed comics of 2020: Superman Smashes the Klan!

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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:

Walking in a Winter Soldierland
The Avengers’ leather jacket era
The soap opera elements of Winter Soldier
Comparisons to Captain America: The Winter Soldier (the movie)
Velvet by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting
The Expanse series of novels
Strange Adventures by Tom King, Mitch Gerads and Evan “Doc” Shaner
Rorschach by Tom King and Jorgé Fornes

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:
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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:

The Bird Pun Swear Jar
Milkshake Duck
Curt’s favorite comic book sound effect
Smokestacks and skyscrapers
Master C’haaj
Our Immortal Hulk episode
Mark Gruenwald
Dark Avengers Vol. 2: Molecule Man
Thundarr the Barbarian
Howard the Duck Vol. 0: What the Duck?

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!

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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:

Save the Cat and Does the Dog Die?
How is the Circus of Crime still in business?
Pulp by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
Hawkeye: Kate Bishop Vol. 1: Anchor Points by Kelly Thompson, Leonardo Romero and Michael Walsh
Daredevil Vol. 1 by Mark Waid, Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin
20th Place Media on Instagram

Join us in two weeks as we discuss Steve Gerber’s Howard the Duck!

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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:

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Safe Area Gorazde and War’s End: Profiles From Bosnia 1995-96, by Joe Sacco

Join us in two weeks as we change course to discuss Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon, by Matt Fraction and David Aja!

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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:

Prisoner of the Hell Planet
The Wild Party: The Lost Classic By Joseph Moncure
Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio
Our appearance on Marvel by the Month: December 1966

Join us in two weeks as our two-parter concludes with a discussion Maus: A Survivor’s Tale II: And Here My Troubles Began.

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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:

First Comics
Burn After Reading
Steve Rude’s artwork
Nexus as a Warlock in Dungeons and Dragons
The Sun Devils
We Hate Movies: The Nexus
Nexus Omnibus Vol. 1
Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes

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:
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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:

What’s your Legion name?
Superboy goes to college
The artwork of Keith Giffen
Great Darkness Saga vs. The Sinestro Corps War
Legion of Substitute Heroes Special #1
The Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans

Join us in two weeks as The Cosmic Canon concludes with a look at Mike Baron and Steve Rude’s Nexus!

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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:

Quotation marks
There’s Kirby in the air
The Blank Check podcast
Our Superman’s Pal: Jimmy Olsen episode
New Gods’ influence on Star Wars
The Star Wars Episode Zero podcast
The, um, Santa Clause
Orion Book 1
The “Apokalips ... Now!” and “Legacy” two-parters from Superman: The Animated Series
Even Gods Must Die

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:
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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:

I mean, the name "Sinestro" is kind of a giveaway
Green Lantern 101
Kevin makes another G.I. Joe reference
Tygers by Alan Moore
Curt has a great idea for a T-shirt
Revenge of the Green Lanterns
Green Lantern: Agent Orange
The “Green Loontern” episode of Duck Dodgers
Blackest Night
Nova: Annihilation Conquest

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!

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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:

Holy pop-culture and sci-fi references, Batman!
G.I. Joe #1
“You guys hired Jack of Hearts as an Avenger?!!”
Is Goliath juicing?
Skrull milk
Marvels Epilogue
The Avengers/Defenders War
Deep Space Nine: A Call to Action through Sacrifice of Angels
Should we do a side episode on DS9?
War of Kings
The Avengers: The Korvac Saga

Join us in two weeks as The Cosmic Canon continues with Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War Vol. 1!

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Phil Sheldon is just your average man on the street—except that his career as a freelance photographer uniquely positions him to chronicle several key events in the history of the Marvel Universe, as depicted in the 1994 miniseries Marvels by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross, published by Marvel Comics!

Can our workaday shutterbug overcome his feelings of inferiority in the face of superpowered beings? Can he rise above a wave of anti-mutant hysteria, survive the Coming of Galactus and work through the tragic death of young Gwen Stacy? And can he make it onto that Front Page of funnybook excellence known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

We linger on the artwork of Alex Ross
Jolene by Dolly Parton
Sex and the City
Phil Sheldon’s journalistic objectivity
The Black Cat
The Old Guard
Avengers #16-28
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
The Marvels Project
A Killing in Comics

Join us in two weeks as we dive into the Kree-Skrull War!

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Atlanta actress Jennifer Lee joins us for the conclusion of our Sandman two-parter to discuss The Sandman: Dream Country (issues 17-20), as well as Tales in the Sand (#9) and Men of Good Fortune (#13), by Neil Gaiman and a dream team of artists, published by DC Comics!

Will the lord of Dreams rescue his former flame, the muse Calliope, from a reprehensible author? Can a thousand dreaming cats transform reality? And can these stories transcend the waking world and gain entry to that midsummer night’s dream known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

Content warning: Sexual assault
Audible’s The Sandman adaptation
“Britain’s hottest pub IS ...”
Planet of the Apes, but with cats!
A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the World Fantasy Awards
Is Hamnet the price of Shakespeare’s success?
Hamilton on Disney+
The Sandman #75: The Tempest
The Sandman: Overture
Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino
Kill Shakespeare Vol. 1: A Sea of Troubles
Fool by Christopher Moore

Join us in two weeks as we review Marvels, by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross!

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On July 15, Audible is releasing a star-studded audio production of the first three storylines of the beloved DC/Vertigo series The Sandman—giving us the perfect excuse to book a two-part return trip down the River of Dreams. First stop: The Doll’s House, by Neil Gaiman, Mike Dringenberg, Malcolm Jones III, Chris Bachalo, and others!

Taking stock of his realm after decades away, Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, notes that some of its denizens are missing. Meanwhile, teenager Rose Walker embarks on a search for her missing brother Jed—a journey that involves a pair of Silver Age superheroes, a boarding house full of memorable characters, and the extremely unsettling nightmare known as The Corinthian.

Will Rose survive a serial killers’ convention only to die at the hands of Morpheus himself? And can she make her escape to that Field of Dreams known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

Content warning: Child abuse and attempted assault
Our Preludes and Nocturnes and Season of Mists episodes
A missed merchandising opportunity
Little Nemo in Slumberland
G.K. Chesterton
Women without agency
“Calm down, Mickey Spillane!”
The Bogeyman and The Family Man
Swamp Thing: American Gothic
The Man Who Was Thursday
Mindhunter
The Dreaming Vol. 1: Pathways and Emanations
Iron Maiden’s Revelations
Cereal Killers by Too Much Joy

Join us in two weeks as our Sandman two-parter continues with looks at the short stories Tales in the Sand and Men of Good Fortune from the Doll’s House collection, as well as Sandman: Dream Country!

Until then:

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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!

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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!

The very first Wolverine fan fiction?
The Incredible Hulk TV series
“The Green Door”
Joe Bennett’s career peak
Indestructible Hulk Vol. 1: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
From Beyond
Incredible Hulk Vol. 1: Return of the Monster
Mighty Avengers Vol. 1: No Single Hero

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:

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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!

Not another unscrupulous NPR reporter!
Maureen’s navigation of sexual politics
The Stone Men From Saturn
The link between Ron Lithgow and John McClane
“I’m cute! I’m cuuute!”
The Letterman/Crispin Glover incident
Concrete’s Spider-Man moment
Mage The Hero Discovered Vol. 1
Billy Wilder’s Ace in the Hole
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
Ex Machina Vol. 1: The First Hundred Days
Infinite Realities’ Stay-at-Home Con

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:

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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!

The ethics of Samaritan’s fact-checking gig
Why are there so many bank robberies in superhero comics?
The Bouncing Beatnik’s most impressive power
Curt’s favorite character
Chekhov’s First Family Brooch
Where’s our Astro City TV series?
Astro City: Confessions
Kids Love Batman
Astro City Vol. 3, issues 39 & 40

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:

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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!

This may not be the best pickup line
The problem with Overdrive
Does anyone find Groucho glasses funny?
We cast the Superior Foes sitcom
Curt workshops a Chameleon joke
A few words from Evan Dorkin
Superior Spider-Man Vol. 1: My Own Worst Enemy
The Irredeemable Ant-Man
The Fix Vol. 1: Where Beagles Dare
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Creating a Graphic Novel

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:

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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!

Aren’t they ALL imaginary tales?
Kit ‘N’ Kaboodle
The Wonder Twins’ powers ARE kind of lame
What if Wolverine, but nothing interesting?
The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited
What If? #34
Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites
Fantastic Four Marvels Snapshot #1

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:

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Just as Jack Knight was one of DC Comics’ more interesting second-generation superheroes, the book that chronicled his saga from 1994 through 2001 was one of the more literary-minded and ambitious mainstream superhero comics of its time. And that ambition is on full display in issues #9-16 of the series, as collected in Starman: Night and Day, by James Robinson and Tony Harris!

Having reluctantly accepted the mantle of Starman from his father Ted, Jack Knight puts a decidedly Gen-X stamp on the role, complete with tattoos, a leather jacket and a staggering knowledge of obscure pop-cultural ephemera. But all that edgy ’90s attitude can’t keep the past from encroaching on the present as he contends with Nash, the vengeful daughter of his dad’s arch-nemesis, the Mist!

Can Jack, Ted, the blue-skinned alien Mikaal Tomas and the red-haired O’Dare siblings survive as Nash cuts a swath of murder and destruction through Opal City? And can this story blow the mind of that Starman waitin’ in the sky we like to call ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode!

Stargirl
Zero Hour
Aliens with human-sounding names
Jack Knight is kind of a jerk
High Fidelity
Quentin Tarantino and all those pop-cultural references
Do you know any good sci-fi lit podcasts?
A few science fiction writers we like
Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E.
Green Lantern: Rebirth
JSA: The Return of Hawkman
James Robinson’s Airboy

Join us in two weeks as we commemorate April Fool’s Day with Superman and Batman: World’s Funnest, by Evan Dorkin and various artists!

Until then:

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In this episode, we take a break from talking about fictional superheroes to discuss a real-life superhero with a look at March, Book 1, the first in a three-part series of autobiographical graphic novels examining the life and career of U.S. Congressman John Lewis, published by Top Shelf Productions!

Join us as we trace the civil rights leader’s early days, from his humble beginnings preaching to chickens on his family’s farm to his first meeting with the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., and his efforts to desegregate Nashville department store lunch counters. Will this gripping account of one man’s journey to gain freedom and equal rights through nonviolent means make its way to that hallowed hall of heroes known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode!

Curt’s brush with Rep. Lewis
Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story
John Lewis, Time Traveler
What’s the deal with the oar?
Unsettling similarities to the present
The Spinner Rack on Twitter
The New Adventures of Abraham Lincoln by Scott McCloud
Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch
Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights

Join us in two weeks as travel back to the ‘90s to visit one of the hippest superheroes ever with a look at Starman Vol. 2: Night and Day, by James Robinson and Tony Harris!

Until then:

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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!

House of Buggin’
Xavier’s big emotional moment
Everyone’s favorite mutant, Goldballs!
The thorny implications of resurrection
Will humans evolve into machines?
Are the dudes really muscling Moira out of her own plan?
Giant-Size Fantastic Four #3
Broken Angels by Richard K. Morgan and Altered Carbon on Netflix
Transhuman
God Is Dead Vol. 1

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:

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In this episode, after a brief delay, we tackle one of the biggest superhero comics events of 2019: the game-changing series House of X and Powers of X by Jonathan Hickman, Pepe Larraz and R.B. Silva, published by Marvel Comics!

The mutant telepath Charles Xavier shocks the world by announcing the formation of Krakoa, a nation of mutants. In return for recognizing its sovereignty, Krakoa will gift mankind with miracle drugs that drastically improve human life. Meanwhile, it's business as usual for the X-Men, who undertake a suicide mission to a sun-orbiting space station to prevent the eventual rise of one of mutantkind's greatest foes!

What do these events have to do with a mutant war against the Man-Machine Ascendancy 100 years from now, or the plans of the mysterious Librarian 1,000 years hence? What surprising role does Xavier's former flame Moira MacTaggert have to play in all this? And can our not-so-merry mutants survive long enough to make it to that island sanctuary known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode!

Krakoa, the Island That Walks Like a Man!
Is Charles Xavier doing the Frug?
The Stepford Cuckoos
The most evil of all mutants!
The Voyager Golden Record
The Betty and Veronica of the mutant world
The October Faction on Netflix
The Black Monday Murders Vol. 1
Manifest Destiny Vols. 3-4
The Yesterday’s Enterprise episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Wish
Curt’s review of Birds of Prey

Join us next week—that’s right, next week!—as we wrap up our two-parter with an exploration of issues #4-6 of House of X and Powers of X!

Until then:

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“Hey, where’s my House of X episode?” we hear you asking. Well, Kevin’s here to answer that question in this special bonus announcement.

And to make up for the delay, we’re throwing in a little something extra—Curt Holman’s Top 10 Superhero Adaptations of 2019!

Thanks for your patience—and as always, thank you for listening!

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In this episode, we look ahead to the Feb. 7 debut of the Netflix series Locke & Key with a look at the six issue arc that launched the popular saga—Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez, published by IDW!

The Locke family falls prey to a violent home invasion in which guidance counselor Rendell Locke is shot and killed. His widow and three children move across the country to Keyhouse, the family's ancestral home, which houses a few secrets. Meanwhile, Rendell's killer, Sam Lesser, is on their trail, under the thrall of an unearthly woman imprisoned in a well on the Keyhouse estate!

Can this fractured family overcome their inner demons and stop the devious Dodge from acquiring the mysterious Anywhere Key? And can they unlock the right door to gain entry into that house of horrors known as … The Comics Canon?

Discussed in This Episode!

Content warning
The 2011 Locke & Key pilot
Lovecraft? Really?
Our episode on The Walking Dead #100 and Violence in Comics
The Locke & Key Unlocked podcast from Comic Book Club
Nuts by Gahan Wilson
Concrete Vol. 5: Killer Smile
Basketful of Heads
Full Throttle
And, um, 8 Heads in a Duffle Bag

Join us in two weeks as we tackle one of the biggest comics events of last year: Jonathan Hickman's House of X/Powers of X!

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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!

What ARE the Bones, exactly?
Mad Magazine’s Don Martin
Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche
Where are all the plush Bone dolls?
Bone Vol. 5: Rock Jaw, Master of the Eastern Border
Batman Vol. 8: Cold Days
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Mouse Guard: Fall 1152

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!

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We all know the story: Rocket escapes exploding planet. Elderly couple adopts alien baby. Baby grows up to become the most powerful superhero of all time.

But today's Man of Steel is very different from the one we get in his first-ever adventure, as originally recounted in 1938's groundbreaking Action Comics #1—and expanded upon a year later in his own magazine, Superman #1, both published by DC Comics.

For our landmark 100th episode, we explore the origin and first appearance of Superman, one of the most beloved and iconic figures in popular culture. Can this champion of the oppressed save an innocent woman from the electric chair and foil a plot to drag the U.S. into war in Europe? And can he muscle his way into that hallowed Fortress of Solitude known as … The Comics Canon?

But wait! There's more! We also look back at our favorite canonical stories from the first 99 episodes!

In This Episode!

One of the best covers in comics history
Babies in padded cells and straitjackets
This Superman is a super-jerk!
Superman: The Unauthorized Biography by Glen Weldon
We need to talk about The Dark Knight Returns
What can you expect from the NEXT 100 episodes?

Join us in two weeks as we kick off our fifth year with a look at the first installment of Jeff Smith's charming Bone saga (coming soon to Netflix): Out From Boneville!

Until then:

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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!

George Perez’s cosmic artwork
The Anti-Anti-Monitor
“How come YOU get to be Earth-1?”
“Weird” Al Yankovich’s “Word Crimes”
Plan 9 From Outer Space
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War
Justice League: The Darkseid War
52

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!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!
And as always, thanks for listening!

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Like the animator’s giant eraser in Chuck Jones’ classic Merrie Melodies short “Duck Amuck,” a wave of anti-matter sweeps across countless realities, obliterating everything in its path until only a handful of universes are left in the epic 12-issue event Crisis on Infinite Earths, by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, published by DC Comics!

Aided by the mysterious Monitor, some of comics’ greatest heroes are all that stand between the remaining worlds and the malevolent ... um, Anti-Monitor!

Join us as we answer the burning questions: Can George Perez draw every single DC character before this crossover event is through? And can this world-changing saga survive that End of the Effing World known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode!

The history of the DC multiverse
We have to talk about Pariah
Characters referring to other characters by their names
Does The Haunted Tank have a horn that plays Dixie?
DC: The New Frontier
“You’re going to die now! ... But later!”
The worst name in comics
Swamp Thing: American Gothic
Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 1
Six Crises by Richard Nixon (yes, really)

Join us in two weeks on Wednesday, New Comic Book Day, as this story shifts into gear, resulting in some memorable moments and the birth of a new universe in issues #7-12!

Until then:

Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!
And as always, thanks for listening!

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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!

Similarities to Game of Thrones
"What am I going to do with all these bullets?"
The thorny implications of Doom's relationship with Susan Storm
Weirdworld
Infamous Iron Man
House of X and Powers of X

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!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!
And as always, thanks for listening!

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The all-powerful Beyonder transports some of Earth's mightiest heroes and villains to a patchwork planet known as Battleworld, conveniently outfitted with high-tech ships and fortresses! His one command: "Slay all your enemies and all you desire shall be yours!" Thus begins one of comics' first and most famous multi-part crossover epics: Secret Wars, written by Marvel Comics editor in chief Jim Shooter and drawn by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton!

Conceived to support a line of Mattel toys, this 12-part series pits members of the Avengers, X-Men and Fantastic Four against such heavy hitters as Doctor Doom, Magneto, and the Devourer of Worlds himself, Galactus! Alliances are formed, schemes are hatched, battles are fought, and many plotlines are brought up and then abandoned!

Join us as we answer the burning questions: Can Curt and Kevin find meaningful things to say about an overlong slugfest aimed squarely at young children? And can this landmark comics event emerge victorious in that Contest of Champions known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode!

Martin Scorsese vs. the MCU
Jim Shooter's problematic female characters
Where did these two supervillains come from?!!
Volcana is totally Kevin's type
"Some of my best friends are mutants!"
Doctor Doom's space-age bachelor pad
We need to talk about Klaw
Chekhov's lightning bolt
Is this the worst comic we've ever reviewed?
Asgardian Wars
Contest of Champions (2015)
Secret Warriors V1: Nick Fury: Agent of Nothing

Join us in two weeks on Wednesday (new comic book day!) as we review a multi-part crossover epic featuring Reed Richards, Doctor Doom, Molecule Man and a mysterious planet known as Battleworld! Yes, it’s Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic’s Secret Wars from 2015!

Until then, be the envy of your Battleworld fortress with our snazzy Comics Canon merchandise!

Last but not least, please help us spread the word! Rate us on Apple Podcasts, 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!

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In this episode, we get into the spooky spirit of Halloween with a look at Through the Woods, a collection of unsettling horror stories by cartoonist Emily Carroll, as well as a trio of chilling and inventive webcomics: Margot’s Room, Some Other Animal’s Meat, and the Eisner Award-winning When the Darkness Presses!

Through the Woods weaves a dark fantasy setting that echoes the classic horror stories of fairy tales and folklore, grounded by Carroll’s gorgeous artwork and spidery lettering, while her web stories immerse the reader in fully realized worlds that take full advantage of the medium to scratch and claw at the back of the reader’s mind. But can these eerie tales safely make their way to that remote cabin in the woods known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode!

A little Stephen Sondheim
Hands as a recurring motif
His Face All Red
Gilles de Rais and the legend of Bluebeard
Curt feels seen
Webcomic and manga recommendations
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
In the Company of Wolves
Blue Lenses by Daphne du Maurier
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Nailbiter Vol. 1: There Will Be Blood
Blink and You’ll Miss It

Join us in two weeks as we begin the countdown to our 100th episode with the first of a series of cataclysmic crossover events: Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars!

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?

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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!

Church Going by Philip Larkin
The Thoth tarot deck
Why is Batman so uptight?
The fetishization of madness
“You can’t let someone run around blinding horses, dude!”
Is Batman mentally ill?
Violent Cases and Mr. Punch
Alice by Jan Svankmajer
Legion season 3
Batman: I Am Suicide
The Stumptown pilot
The Invisibles
Planetary
Castle Rock season 2

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!

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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!

BIG spoiler alert!
Southwestern noir vs. urban noir
How most criminals see themselves
The simple, straightforward artwork of Max de Radiguès
Our episode on The Walking Dead #100
Crosswind by Gail Simone and Cat Staggs
The Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics
Where to get the perfect Halloween costume!

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?

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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!

Nods to North By Northwest
Who is the protagonist of this story?
The lipstick-on-the-collar trope
The trouble with Sylvia Raines
Jack Kirby’s New Gods
Lazarus
Our Death of Captain America and Groot and Jimmy Olsen episodes
A Study in Emerald
Mandy
Criminal: Bad Weekend
The Violent Vol. 1: Blood Like Tar
The Drop and Peaky Blinders

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!

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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:

Spoiler and content warnings
Encounter: An Ongoing Online RPG Where Readers Vote on the Story
Ways the book differs from actual events
Fortune and Glory: A True Hollywood Comic Book Story
Brian Michael Bendis’s artwork
“It ain’t duck soup!”
Who was Gaylord Sundheim?
Similarities to Se7en
The problem with that ending
From Hell
What is Torso about?
“This Eliot Ness. Who owns him?”
The Black Dahlia
Scalped Vol. 1: Indian Country

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!

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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:

Content warning
"Her corpse isn't gonna disfigure itself!"
The women of The Hunter
"Waste not, want not!"
Toxic masculinity heaven
Parker in: Home Alone!
Private Parts
Curt poses a what-if question
Road to Perdition
Point Blank
Flood by Andrew Vachss
Derec Donovan's Trigger Mortis on Kickstarter

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!

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In this hard-boiled episode, we kick off Crimewave!, a series of episodes on gritty crime comics, complete with its own theme song! And for our money, there ain’t no better way to get things rolling than by jawing about Frank Miller’s bare-knuckled Sin City: The Hard Goodbye, published by Dark Horse Comics, see?

Here’s the thing about Basin City—it’s the kinda place where a hulking bruiser like Marv can spend a once-in-a-lifetime night of passion with an angel like Goldie, only to wake up the next morning to find she’s been murdered—and the cops are on their way to take him down for the crime!

Can our problematic protagonist prevail against crooked cops, tough-as-nails sex workers, a smirking serial killer, and the most powerful family in Sin City—not to mention his own faulty faculties? And can this black-and-white valentine to noir fiction muscle past the bouncers and make it into that den of iniquity known as ... The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

A brief history of crime comics
Content warning
Frank Miller’s Sin City artwork
The women of The Hard Goodbye
Lucille gets a raw deal
That’s an awful lot of Nancy
How to enjoy revenge fantasies
Kurt Busiek and the Punisher
The Sin City movie
Is the “lasting influence” argument a cop-out?
Kill or Be Killed Vol. 1-2
Queenpin by Megan Abbott
Tumor
The Maltese Falcon and The Reelist podcast

Join us in two weeks as Crimewave! continues with another highly stylized revenge tale: Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter, by Darwyn Cooke!

Until then, that’s a very nice coat you’ve got there. But not as nice as our Comics Canon merchandise! And why not accessorize with a little King Krackle from our sponsor at Category 4?

Last but not least, do us a solid and rate us on Apple Podcasts, 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!

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In this episode, our look back at 80s mutant mania continues with The Demon Bear Saga from The New Mutants Vol. 1 #18-20, and the follow-up double-sized story Slumber Party from #21, by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz, published by Marvel Comics!

Danielle Moonstar, haunted by visions of the monster that killed her parents, summons it to a showdown on the snow-covered grounds of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. It doesn’t go well. As she lies near death, her fellow students find themselves in the mystical Badlands, the only ones standing between this savagely powerful entity and the rest of the human race! And if and when they finish with the Demon Bear, they’ll face off against the bizarre techno-organic alien known as Warlock!

Can the X-Men’s inexperienced junior varsity prevail against these larger-than-life, out-of-this world threats? And can they crash that swingin’ superhero sleepover known as ... The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

The New Mutants movie
The origin of The New Mutants
The artwork of Bill Sienkiewicz
Why are the other kids hatin’ on Illyana?
The implications of Healer the Morlock
Who knew changing two characters’ race would be problematic?
Warlock
Fear Itself: Wolverine/New Mutants
The New Mutants: A Date With the Devil
The Immortal Hulk Vol. 1: Or Is He Both?

Join us in two weeks as we kick off Crimewave!, a series of episodes on gritty crime comics, with one of the grittiest crime comics of all—Frank Miller’s Sin City: The Hard Goodbye!

Until then, trade in those drab yellow-and-back New Mutants uniforms for some snazzy Comics Canon merchandise! And add your own Roberto DaCosta sunspots with 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!

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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:

Point Blank, on Netflix July 12
The cover of Uncanny X-Men #141
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Wolverine: Days of Future Past
Rachel Summers
What is the Brotherhood’s endgame?
How tight is security at the Pentagon, exactly?
Kitty Pryde and Chris Claremont’s legacy of strong female characters
Our Dark Phoenix and Ed Piskor episodes
A Murderer’s Row of 80s comics professionals
All-New X-Men: Yesterday’s X-Men
The Great Darkness Saga
Brian Michael Bendis’s upcoming Legion of Superheroes comic
New X-Men: Here Comes Tomorrow

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!

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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:

“Two riders were approaching ...”
Alexander the Great’s dick move
The trolley problem
The ending of the Watchmen movie
Tales of the Black Freighter
Kyle Cooper and the opening credits of Se7en
Len Wein and The Architects of Fear
The lasting influence of Watchmen
Before Watchmen and Doomsday Clock
Watchmen the TV show
Mark Gruenwald’s Squadron Supreme
Mary Renault’s Alexander trilogy
The Afghan Campaign by Steven Pressfield
Our Dark Phoenix Saga 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!

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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:

Spoiler and content warnings
The ridiculous sex scene in the Watchmen movie
The transformation of Dan Drieberg
Is Laurie Juspeczyk a strong character?
The Comedian and Silk Spectre: a missed opportunity
The relative stakes of Dan and Laurie’s epiphanies
Why do characters tack extra phrases onto the ends of sentences?
The political cartooning of “Stan Kelly”
A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars Trilogy
Department of Corrections

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!

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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:

The Watchmen TV show trailer
Manhattan and Rorschach as Superman and Batman analogues
Strangeness and charm
Chekhov’s time-lock test vault
The weird passivity of Dr. Manhattan
The fearful symmetry of Fearful Symmetry
Hey, that guy carrying the sign! He's ...!
The cultural influence of Rorschach
The Watchmen Hostess Fruit Pie parody ad
Saturday Morning Watchmen
The Whimper of Whipped Dogs by Harlan Ellison
The Reversible Man by Alan Moore
The Death of the Red Mask from Animal Man # 7
Judgment Day and Other Stories: Illustrated by Joe Orlando

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin start the clock, kicking off a four-part exploration of one of the most acclaimed comic book series of all time with a look at Watchmen #1-3, written by Alan Moore, drawn by Dave Gibbons, and published by DC Comics!

In an alternate-reality version of 1985, a man named Edward Blake is thrown to his death from his penthouse apartment. Investigating this Manhattan murder mystery, the faceless vigilante known as Rorschach discovers that Blake was once the government-sanctioned crimefighter called the Comedian!

Fearing that someone may be targeting former costumed adventurers, Rorschach attempts to warn his onetime allies—Dan “Nite Owl” Dreiberg, Adrian “Ozymandias” Veidt, Laurie Jon “Doctor Manhattan” Osterman and his live-in girlfriend, Laurie “Silk Spectre” Juspeczyk. But Rorschach’s warnings seem far-fetched, until the godlike Doctor Manhattan is accused of causing cancer in his friends and enemies—and abandons Earth for Mars!

With America’s atomic protector gone, can President Richard Nixon prevent an impending nuclear conflict? And will our protagonists live long enough to retire to that home for hidebound heroes known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

The kid gloves come off!
Watchmen’s Charlton Comics roots
The signature trope of Watchmen
Why is he called The Comedian when he doesn’t tell any jokes?
What kind of person would want to become a costumed vigilante?
Tales of the Black Freighter: The feel-good book of the year!
A surprise menage-a-trois
“Threatening man buns”
Citizen Kane—the Watchmen of movies!
Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt

Join us in two weeks as our four-part series continues with a look as issues 4-6!

Until then, why not peruse our new spring line of Comics Canon merchandise? We also invite you to check out the King Krackle digital brushes from our friends at Category 4!

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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:

What’s the appropriate gift for an 80th anniversary?
Our Dark Knight Returns episode
The enduring flexibility of Batman as a character
Batman & Bill and the legacy of Bill Finger
The cover of Detective Comics #27
“I’m not a doctor, but that’s not how poisons work!”
Conrad Veidt in The Man Who Laughs
The Silver Age Batwoman
Batman: Year One, the animated film
The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture (and our Court of Owls 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!

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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:

The Right Hand of Doom
Hellboy and Robotman: Separated at Birth?
“Sadu Hem is a big dud!”
Ron Perlman's performance and the Guillermo del Toro Hellboy movies
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward podcast
P. Lovecraft adaptations
Mathilda: The Forces of Evil vs. The Third Grade
Monkeyman and O’Brien

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin wrap up their series on comics’ Captains Marvel (and prepare for the April 5 release of Shazam!) with a look at the Big Red Cheese himself, the original Captain Marvel, aka Shazam, in 1940’s Whiz Comics #2 and 2007’s Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil, written and drawn by Jeff Smith and published by DC Comics!

In Bill Parker and C.C. Beck’s charming origin story, homeless young orphan Billy Batson boards a crazy train to the subterranean lair of an ancient wizard who grants him magical superpowers seconds before dying a gruesome death! That fateful moment set the stage for one of the most popular comics of its day, a kid’s wish-fulfillment epic filled with talking tigers, evil worms, mad scientists, and a whole family of super-powered siblings!

Almost 70 years later, Jeff Smith, award-winning creator of Bone, tries his hand at Earth’s Mightiest Mortal, adding elements of Arabic folklore and post-9/11 sociopolitical commentary in a four-part story featuring giant robots, talking alligators, and lots and lots of roaches!

Can 1940s Billy Batson and his strapping alter ego stop the evil Dr. Sivana from ridding the world of terrestrial radio? Can their 21st-century counterparts stop him and Mr. Mind from destroying all of humanity? And can they make it into that Rock of Eternity known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

What Shazam stands for
Shazam’s connection to The Music Man
The Seven Deadly Enemies of Man
Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s Shazam!
The Power of Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil
Our Kingdom Come and Flashpoint episodes
A horrible name for a circus act
Sivana vs. Phoney Bone
JSA: Black Reign
The Chronoliths by Robert Charles Wilson
Miracleman
Astro City #43 and the origin of the Gentleman

Join us in two weeks as prepare for the April 12 release of Hellboy with a look at the story that started it all: Hellboy: Seed of Destruction!

Until then, don’t forget our snazzy Comics Canon merchandise and the King Krackle digital brushes from our friends at Category 4!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin look toward the March 8 debut of Captain Marvel with a look at two key stories featuring Carol Danvers: In Pursuit of Flight (Captain Marvel Vol. 7, #1-6) and 1977’s Ms. Marvel #1, published by Marvel Comics!

The former Air Force pilot has come a long way since her first outing as a superhero, which sees her flying into action against the backdrop of the women’s liberation movement to … save bigoted magazine publisher J. Jonah Jameson??!

Thirty-five years later, writer Kelly Sue DeConnick charts a new course for Carol Danvers: Now an Avenger and one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe, she finally takes the mantel of the late Captain Marvel, just in time to embark on a high-flying adventure featuring time travel, alien technology and some of the toughest woman pilots to ever take to the skies!

Can Ms. Marvel defeat a supervillain with a very phallic appendage? Will Earth’s Mightiest Hero change the course of history … and lose her powers in the process? And has this Top Gun got The Right Stuff to join that elite squadron known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Ms. Marvel’s original costume
Avengers #200
Captain Marvel: The Ms. Marvel Years
The real-life Mercury 13
Captain Marvel: Higher, Further, Faster, More
The Life of Captain Marvel
Section Zero 1959 on Kickstarter

Join us in two weeks as our series on comics’ various Captains Marvel concludes with a look at the Fawcett/DC Comics hero also known as Shazam! -- as seen in Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil and his origin in Whiz Comics #2.

Until then, don’t forget our snazzy Comics Canon merchandise and the King Krackle digital brushes from our friends at Category 4!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for the March 8 debut of Captain Marvel with the first of two episodes on Marvel Comics characters with that name! First up: the Kree warrior Mar-Vell, as seen in The Thanos War from Captain Marvel Vol. 1, #27-33!

This Captain Marvel was an alien soldier who became a superheroic protector of Earth in order to capitalize on a lapsed trademark. In these issues from 1973 and 74, writer and artist Jim Starlin made the character more than just a savvy bit of brand management, tapping into the counterculture of the era to give him the power of “cosmic awareness,” injecting his adventures with psychedelic flair—and introducing the world to the galactic menace of Thanos!

With the aid of professional sidekick Rick Jones and the mighty Avengers, does our groovy galactic guardian have what it takes to defeat an insane god? And can he survive the long, strange trip to that state of higher consciousness known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

The complicated history of the name “Captain Marvel”
Similarities to Jack Kirby’s Fourth World
Why does Rick Jones have an Avengers ID?
Mar-Vell’s secret affair with an Avenger!
The Time-Mind Sync-Warp!
Thanos gets psychedelic, man!
The Infinity Gauntlet
Deadly Class
The Death of Captain Marvel
Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968

Join us in two weeks as our series on the Captains Marvel continues with a look at Carol Danvers in Ms. Marvel #1 (1977) and Captain Marvel: In Pursuit of Flight!

Until then, don’t forget our snazzy Comics Canon merchandise and the King Krackle digital brushes from our friends at Category 4!

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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:

Spoiler warning
Curt’s mini-review of Aquaman
Collider’s Allison Keene likes Netflix’s Umbrella Academy
The Feb. 15 debut of Doom Patrol on DC Universe
Darth Plageuis the Wise
Grimjack
Doom Patrol: Crawling From the Wreckage
Runaways: Find Your Way Home and Best Friends Forever
Doom Patrol: Brick by Brick
Murder Falcon
Tenacious D: The Metal

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!

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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:

Jack Kirby’s Fourth World saga
Our episode on Groot and Kirby's Jimmy Olsen
Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Jim Steranko, escape artist
The trouble with sex scenes
The ending of The Sopranos
For the Man Who Has Everything
How long should a podcast episode be?
Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Who Is Scorpio?
The 616 Society
Batman: The Rules of Engagement

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!

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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:

How to Read Nancy
Scott McCloud’s 5-Card Nancy
The Coyote Gospel
“Sluggo is Lit” memes
Vulture’s interview with Olivia Jaimes
Click and Drag and Time
Should we expand the concept of The Comics Canon?
Francesco Marciuliano and Medium Large
Got any great webcomics to recommend?
Spectacle Vol. 1 by Megan Rose Gedris
The Reply All podcast
Dungeons and Dragons Art and Arcana: A Visual History

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin discuss the graphic novel that inspired one of Curt’s favorite movies of the year: The Death of Stalin, by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin, published by Titan Comics!

In this satirical account based on actual events, Joseph Stalin, head of the Soviet Union, collapses from a severe stroke in February of 1953, setting off a chain of events that threatens to throw the socialist state into chaos as the members of the Soviet Central Committee bicker about what course of action to take. In the wake of Stalin’s death (spoiler alert!), innocents are hauled off to prison or executed, and hundreds of mourners die as they march on Moscow to pay their respects.

Can Nikita Khrushchev and his allies prevent noxious Lavrentiy Beria, head of the Secret Police, from seizing power? And can this gripping tale of political perfidy and bureaucratic back-stabbing make it over the Iron Curtain into that capital of comic-book democracy known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Content warning
Liberties taken with the historical record
Curt’s top 10 films of 2018
The Techmeme Ride Home podcast
Aquacorn Cove
The A.V. Club’s best comics of the year
Superman: Red Son

Join us in two weeks as we switch gears to discuss the recently revitalized comic strip Nancy and the webcomic xkcd!

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, don’t forget 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!

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In this special crossover episode, Curt and Kevin welcome Chris Jordan, Lyric Eschoe and Kenneth Franklin of VOX ATL to discuss the new animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse! (Be advised: Spoilers are discussed.)

Topics discussed in this episode include the cultural importance of Miles Morales, the film’s exciting visual aesthetic, Michael B. Jordan in Fantastic Four, the YA novel Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds, the legacy of social activism in comics, and the idea that “anyone can be Spider-Man.”

Join us in just one week as we review the graphic novel that inspired one of Curt’s favorite movies of the year: The Death of Stalin!

Until then, consider our fine line of Comics Canon merchandise and the Benoda! series of typefaces by our friends at Category 4 for all your holiday shopping needs!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin take the plunge with a discussion of “nobody’s favorite superhero,” Aquaman! First up, they plumb the depths of the seafaring sentinel’s first appearance in 1941’s More Fun Comics #73! Can this freshman warrior of the waves sink the dastardly plans of a Nazi submarine crew?

Then, it’s a deep dive into the character’s 2011 reboot from Aquaman Vol. 7, as DC’s defender of the deep goes toe to webbed foot with the man-eating menace of … the Trench! When these sharp-toothed humanoids come across the coastal town of Beachrock, they decide to put mankind on the menu!

Can Aquaman and his Atlantean gill—er, we mean girlfriend Mera save the inhabitants of Beachrock and adapt to life on the surface world? And can our titan of the tides endure a constant stream of snickers and insults and paddle his way to that sea of love known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Curt’s idea for an Aquaman movie trailer
“I’ve oceans of love for you boys!”
Super Friends and Aquaman’s image problem
Kevin has conflicting feelings about these carnivorous denizens of the deep
What was the best version of Aquaman?
Justice League Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis
Upgrade
Drowned Earth
Sanctum Vol. 1: USS Nebraska
Dept. H Vol. 1: Murder Six Miles Deep

Join us in two weeks as we review the graphic novel that inspired one of Curt’s favorite movies of the year: The Death of Stalin!

Until then, consider our fine line of Comics Canon merchandise and the Benoda! series of typefaces by our friends at Category 4 for all your holiday shopping needs!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin discuss another graphic novel that has taken on a new level of relevance in today’s political landscape: the first volume of Marjane Satrapi’s comics autobiography Persepolis. It’s an engrossing and eye-opening account of the author’s childhood in the late 70s and early 80s, as she comes of age against the backdrop of the Islamic Revolution and a subsequent war with Iraq—seismic events that placed her family in danger and took the lives of friends and loved ones including her beloved uncle Anoosh.

Will rebellious young Marjane survive life in an oppressive regime without getting arrested—or worse? And will this stirring memoir find its place in that library of historical works known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Larry Gonick’s Cartoon History of the Universe
The Handmaid’s Tale
Keith Haring
"Iron Maiden? Those four brutes?"
Persepolis the movie
Curt puts Kevin on the spot
Craig Thompson’s Blankets and Habibi
Palestine by Joe Sacco
What Does This Button Do? by Bruce Dickinson
Kevin’s guest appearance on The Reelist podcast
R.I.P., Stan Lee
Stan’s Soapbox column on racism and bigotry

Join us in two weeks as we gear up for the Dec. 21 release of the Aquaman movie with a look at Aquaman Vol. 1: The Trench, by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis!

Until then, consider our fine line of Comics Canon merchandise and the Benoda! series of typefaces by our friends at Category 4 for all your holiday shopping needs!

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It’s Election Day in the U.S., and we’re marking the occasion by casting our ballots for a lesser-known gem: Shaun Tan’s wordless 2006 graphic novel The Arrival. Set in a world similar to but slightly different from our own, this vividly imagined and beautifully illustrated tale traces one man’s journey from his menacing homeland to a strange and fantastic new world. Along the way, he meets other immigrants who share their stories of hope and hardship.

Can our protagonist navigate this wondrous new land and reunite with his wife and daughter? And will The Arrival take up residence in that shining city on a hill known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Shaun Tan on That Scene
Our Zot! episode
What are the canonical Supergirl stories?
A nifty animation of The Arrival
Barrier by Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin
The Lost Thing animated short
Flotsam and Sector 7 by David Wiesner
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s … our Comics Canon merchandise store!

Join us in two weeks as we discuss another graphic novel examining the human side of politics, Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi!

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!

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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:

The Sandman: Season of Mists
Swamp Thing: The Anatomy Lesson
Dave McKean’s covers
The next great buddy cop show
The Manic Pixie Death Girl
The scene that knocked out Curt
The Dreaming
Section Zero Vol. 0: There Is No Section Zero
Violent Cases
Neil Gaiman’s Eternals
The Devil Rides Out
Not to mention our dreamy Comics Canon t-shirts and other merchandise!

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!

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In this episode, October is here, Curt and Kevin get into the spirit of the season with a look at the comic-book origins of everyone’s favorite muck monster! First up is 1971’s House of Secrets #92, a kind of proof of concept giving us a proto-Swamp Thing that’s a little light in the swamp department.

Next, it’s on to Swamp Thing (Vol. 1) #1-3, detailing the (first) origin and early adventures of the swamp monster we all know and love, featuring the debuts of Anton Arcane and his niece Abby. And finally, as a companion piece to our previous Swamp Thing episode, a nod to the character’s second origin at the hands of Alan Moore via Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #33, which folds the aforementioned House of Secrets story into contemporary continuity!

Can our favorite beast of the bayous prevail against the grotesque Un-Men and the … shall we say familiar figure of the Patchwork Man? And can he slog his way into that protected wildlife preserve known as … the Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Curt’s special visual aid for this episode
Which came first: Swamp Thing or Man-Thing?
DC Universe's new Swamp Thing series
Star Trek TNG: “Second Chances”
Star Trek TOS: “The Cage”
The Parliament of Trees
Our Anatomy Lesson episode
Rite of Spring
Curt’s first-ever issue of Swamp Thing
Sandman: Dream Country
The Terror
Not to mention sweet Comics Canon t-shirts and other merchandise!

Join us in two weeks as the horror continues with a look at Preludes and Nocturnes, collecting issues #1-8 of Neil Gaiman’s magnum opus, The Sandman!

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!

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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:

Curt has a beef with his third-grade class
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
The Death of Spider-Man
The Death of Superman
What role did Barack Obama and Donald Glover play in Miles’ conception?
How do you pronounce Ganke? (We got it slightly wrong)
The significance of the number 42
Ms. Marvel
Comicsgate and the Miles Morales backlash
Spider-Men
Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 3: Amazing Fantasy
Not to mention sweet Comics Canon t-shirts and other merch!

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin prime the pump for the Oct. 5 release of the Venom feature film with a discussion of the sinister symbiote’s origin story -- that is, as portrayed in issues 33-39 of Ultimate Spider-Man by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, published by Marvel Comics!

Peter Parker’s childhood friend Eddie Brock reveals that their fathers were working on a cancer-fighting super-suit shortly before they died in a mysterious plane crash years earlier. When Peter investigates, the suit bonds with him, making him more powerful, and soon attempts to turn him into a homicidal monster!

When the suit bonds with a vengeful Eddie Brock, can Peter hope to prevail against this stronger, bloodthirstier version of himself -- and save his friend in the process? And can he swing his way into that worldwide web of comic book stories known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

The pronunciation of “symbiote”
The Ultimate Comics line
The history of Spider-Man’s black costume
What do we think about Venom?
Ultimate Gwen Stacy
Spider-Man 3
The most recent Venom trailer
The Venom episode of Spectacular Spider-Man
Ultimate Six
Birth of Venom
Avengers #6
Have we mentioned our TeePublic store?

Join us in two weeks as we return to the Spider-corner of the Ultimate universe to discuss the origin of that other popular web-slinger, Miles Morales, in Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man!

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin put superhero slugfests aside to confront a subject far more frightening than Doomsday, Thanos or the Annihilation Wave! That’s right: We’re talking about

the award-winning graphic memoir Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?, written and drawn by Roz Chast and published by Bloomsbury!

Chast, a critically acclaimed cartoonist for the New Yorker, paints an unflinching portrait of the final years of her nonagenarian parents, anxious George and overbearing Elizabeth, as they come to grips with physical frailty, encroaching dementia, and leaving their cluttered Brooklyn apartment for an assisted living facility.

Can Chast, an only child suddenly forced to become a parent to her parents, successfully navigate the thorny thicket of managing their care and finances and prepare herself to say goodbye? And can this funny and heart-wrenching book earn a spot in that eternal resting place known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Content warning
The Poky Little Parkway
Ozymandias
Reliving high school as a senior citizen
The fine T-shirts available at our new TeePublic store
Michael Haneke's Amour
Our Cancer Year
God Country

Join us in two weeks as we return to more familiar territory (and prepare for the upcoming Venom movie) with a look at Ultimate Spider-Man: Venom!

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!

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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:

The Death of “Superman Lives”: What Happened?
Vulture recounts the birth of Doomsday
Extremely radical 90s bad guys
Lex Luthor Jr. and Supergirl’s creepy relationship
Convoluted post-Crisis continuity
The Garden of Gethsemane
Glen Weldon’s Superman: The Unauthorized Biography
Superman’s death scene done right
Did we mention our Comics Canon TeePublic store?
Superman/Batman Annual #1: Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One
The Death of Captain America
World Without a Superman

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!

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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:

Our Comics Canon TeePublic store
Understanding Comics
The comics fanzine Comic Effect
Curt blows Kevin’s mind
Reinventing Comics
The Infamous 6,000 Pixel-Tall Fall
Getting to 99
The Sculptor
Why Art?
Making Comics

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!

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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:

The Pouches Era
“Well, gotta go, honey!”
Is this the best Susan Storm ever?
Is this the most likable Johnny Storm ever?
Our first episode, The Coming of Galactus
Fantastic Four: Forever
Comic Book Librarian’s Jonathan Hickman Marvel Reading List
The dichotomy of Hickman’s Avengers and New Avengers
The Nightly News
Dan Slott’s Tony Stark: Iron Man #1
The Get-Go's Action Hour! Kickstarter

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!

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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:

Is Black Panther the least interesting character in his own movie?
The MacGruber of superhero movies
Josh Brolin vs. Josh Brolin!
Who is Luke Cage’s best villain?
Where is Stilt-Man, already?
Just get to the zombies!
Have we seen the last of Phil Coulsen?
The Death of Stalin
All the shows we haven’t seen
DC’s upcoming streaming service

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!

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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:

Roger Corman’s Fantastic Four film
Some unfortunate Romany stereotypes
Books of Doom
Noah Hawley’s Doctor Doom script
Does Unthinkable get Doom wrong?
Victor Von Doom’s Dungeons & Dragons Alignment
Billy Bob Thornton
Doomsday
Authoritative Action
Infamous Iron Man Vol. 1
Marvel Two-in-One Annual
Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin continue their four-part exploration of Marvel Comics’ first family of super-powered science adventurers! This time around, they turn their attention to two titanic beings who cast a large shadow over the World’s Greatest Comic Magazine – the cosmic entity Galactus and writer-artist John Byrne – with a discussion of Fantastic Four #242-244 and #261-262!

Terrax, the evil herald of Galactus, forces a fight between the Fantastic Four and his world-devouring master. When Galactus falls, near death, Reed Richards saves his life, earning the wrath of the many races whose worlds Galactus has destroyed.

When Mister Fantastic is captured and forced to stand trial for saving the planet-eating giant, can the rest of the Fantastic Four convince an armada of angry aliens not to execute their elastic leader? And can they convince the galaxy’s toughest jury that this story deserves to be sentenced to that murderer’s row known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Curt likes Incredibles 2
Was Uncanny X-Men he World’s Greatest Comic Magazine?
Marvel Comics in the early ‘80s
Terrax and Terra of the Teen Titans
The Batman/Joker dilemma
The Coming of Galactus
Julie Angel and John Byrne’s male gaze
The wackiness that was Assistant Editors' Month
Artists inserting themselves into their stories
Did Chris Claremont inspire The Trial of Reed Richards?
The Watcher as Galactus’s hype man
The Book of Job
Fantastic Four: Unstable Molecules
Hercules: The Prince of Power

Join us in two weeks as we size up the Fantastic Four’s most iconic villain with discussions of The Fantastic Origin of Doctor Doom from Fantastic Four Annual #2 and Unthinkable from Fantastic Four #67-70 and #500! (Marvel numbering…don’t ask.)

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!

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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:

Incredibles 2
Has the MCU been trolling us?
Jack Kirby at the height of his powers
The iffy science of the Negative Zone
Reed Richards’ bizarre defense of Sue in FF #11
IS this the World’s Greatest Comic Magazine?
FF#141’s cameo in The Ice Storm
The problem with following the FF blueprint
Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius
Black Science
Marvel Two-in-One
The Terrifics

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin answer the eternal question “Why the last man?” with a discussion of Unmanned, the gripping first volume of Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra’s post-apocalyptic series Y: The Last Man, published by Vertigo/DC Comics!

After a catastrophic event kills seemingly every mammal with a Y chromosome, only two living males remain—unemployed escape artist Yorick Brown and his monkey, Ampersand! With the aid of top-secret operative Agent 355, Yorick reluctantly sets off to discover why he, of all people, is now the last man on Earth!

On his quest to save the world and reunite with his girlfriend, can Yorick survive a cult of aspiring Amazons, gun-toting Congressional wives, an Israeli commando and an out-of-work supermodel? And can he mansplain his way into that boys and girls club known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

The Y: The Last Man pilot
Similarities to The Walking Dead …
… and Avengers: Infinity War
Beth, we hear you calling
Children of Men
Curt’s Deadpool 2 review
Crosswinds Vol. 1
Bitch Planet Vol. 1: Extraordinary Machine

Join us in two weeks as we begin a four-episode deep dive into The Fantastic Four, with a look at Fantastic Four #1, Fantastic Four Annual #6, and Fantastic Four #140-141!

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin gear up for the upcoming release of Deadpool 2 with a look at one of the Merc With a Mouth’s most popular adventures: the time-traveling tale With Great Power Comes Great Coincidence from Deadpool vol. 1 #11, by Joe Kelly and Pete Woods, published by Marvel Comics!

But first, they take a quick detour to Forest Hills, Queens, circa 1967, to dissect a (let’s be honest) somewhat ridiculous story involving Spider-Man, Norman Osborn, Kraven the Hunter and Gwen Stacy rocking some sweet dance moves: In the Hands of the Hunter! by Stan Lee and John Romita, from Amazing Spider-Man #47!

Can Deadpool (and Spider-Man) defeat that most fearsome of leopard-print-wearing predators before he totally harshes the buzz of Flash Thompson’s going-away party? And can they Twist, Mashed Potato and Loco-Motion their way into that American Bandstand of superhero sagas known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

60s youth culture
Our Luke Cage episode
Trials and Tribble-ations
Archie Meets the Punisher
The Coyote Gospel
Curt and Kevin’s reading list
X-Force: The Apocalypse Solution
Fear Agent
Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 1: Isn’t It Bromantic
I Kill Giants

Join us in two weeks as we take a break from talking about Marvel Comics to discuss Y: The Last Man Vol. 1: Unmanned, by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra and José Marzán Jr.!

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!

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In this special bonus episode, Curt and Kevin welcome writer and artist Ed Piskor (Hip-Hop Family Tree) to discuss X-Men: Grand Design, his six-issue “remix” of Marvel mutant history through the end of the Chris Claremont era! (A “Marvel Treasury Edition” collecting the first two issues is available now.)

Things discussed in this episode include the Twitter conversation that started this ambitious project, the X-Men story arcs covered in the next two installments, the unexpected role Carol Danvers plays, Chris Claremont’s relationship with his characters, the surprising X-Man the cartoonist identifies with most, the storytelling challenges inherent in time travel, and the current state of Piskor’s apartment! All that, and Kevin’s dogs make a cameo appearance!

Join us next week as we prepare for the May 18 release of Deadpool 2 with a look at With Great Power Comes Great Coincidence! from Deadpool #11 and In the Hands of the Hunter! from Amazing Spider-Man #47!

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin welcome filmmaker and author C.D. Brown as they wrap up their preparations for Avengers: Infinity War with a look at the landmark limited series The Infinity Gauntlet by Jim Starlin, George Perez and Ron Lim, published by Marvel Comics!

Oh, crap! Thanos the mad Titan has the six infinity gems, granting him dominion over the mind, the soul, space, time, power and reality itself! And in an attempt to please Death herself, he’s eradicated half of all life everywhere!

Can the assembled might of Earth’s heartiest heroes, cosmic champions and assorted space gods possibly be enough to outwit this omnipotent oppressor? And can this mind-bending saga gain the favor of our own Living Tribunal and gain entry into that pantheon of power-packed periodicals known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Vamp City
Our first “lost episode”
A potential movie spoiler alert
Thanos and Darkseid
Chekhov’s Law of Mephisto
Layla and Other Love Songs
The Ceremonial Eyepatch of Sorrow!
Marvel’s trippy cosmic entities
Adam Warlock is a jerkwad!
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe
The Death of Captain Marvel
Thanos Returns
Captain America #700
Warlock by Jim Starlin: The Complete Collection

Join us in two weeks as we look ahead to the May 18 release of Deadpool 2 with a look at With Great Power Comes Great Coincidence! from Deadpool #11 and In the Hands of the Hunter! from Amazing Spider-Man #47!

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!

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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:

Shame on Griffin Newman!
Corporate synergy
Rabbit Fire, Rabbit Seasoning and Duck! Rabbit, Duck!
Curt has a theory about Silver St. Cloud
The artwork of Lee Weeks
“Roadrunner” by The Modern Lovers
Prometheus, Lucifer and Sisyphus
Duck Amuck
Our Ms. Marvel and The Dark Knight Returns episodes
Dark Nights: Metal
The Terrifics
Chuck Amuck: The Life and Times of an Animated Cartoonist
The Flintstones by Mark Russell and Steve Pugh
Upcoming DC/Hanna-Barbera crossovers

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin conclude their trilogy of Marvel origins episodes with a look at the comic book beginnings of everyone’s favorite mutants! Then, they gear up for the new season of FX’s Legion with a look at the issue that inspired a key moment from the show!

First, the comic that started it all: X-Men #1! Who are these mysterious teenagers with bizarre super-powers? Who is their stern, slightly scary taskmaster? And when the mysterious master of magnetism known as Magneto threatens a U.S. missile base, can our milquetoast mutants save the day?

Next it’s the book that launched the X-Men as we know them today: Giant-Size X-Men #1! When the X-Men are captured by a mysterious foe, Charles Xavier assembles a new squad to rescue them. This international mishmash of mutants—including Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler and Colossus—has some impressive powers and even cooler costumes. But when it comes to defeating Krakoa, The Island That Walks Like a Man, do they have any chance atoll?

And last but not least, Charles Xavier recounts his own quasi-origin story in Uncanny X-Men #117, including a no-holds-barred psychic skirmish with the nefarious Shadow King … a mental melee dramatized (after a fashion) in Legion’s first season!

Do these uncanny tales have what it takes to graduate to the top of that class of peerless periodicals known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Curt’s got Legion fever
Were the original X-Men a cult?
Jean Gray’s problematic welcome
The disappointing truth about what the “X” stands for
The colorful diversity of Giant Size X-Men #1
Aye, an’ Banshee sure is Irish, me boyo!
The trouble with Thunderbird
Kevin questions Krakoa’s mutant bona fides
The Hollywood backlot version of Cairo
Our Jessica Jones episode
Curt breaks down the blackboard scene from Legion
X-Men: Schism
Wolverine and the X-Men Vol. 1
X-Men: Deadly Genesis

Join us in two weeks as we make a left turn at Albuquerque to discuss a pair of stories that pair DC superheroes with Looney Tunes characters: The Coyote Gospel from Grant Morrison’s Animal Man and 2017’s Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1!

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!

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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)
“The Hulk” (The Incredible Hulk #1)
“Thor the Mighty and the Stone Men From Saturn!” (Thor, Journey Into Mystery #83)
“Iron Man is Born!” (Iron Man, Tales of Suspense #39)
“The Creature From Kosmos!” (The Wasp, Tales to Astonish #44) And finally, “the first in a star-studded series of book-length super-epics” ... “The Coming of the Avengers” (Avengers #1)!

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:

Curt’s got Avengers fever
A busy couple of years for Marvel Comics
The Rodney Dangerfield of the Marvel Universe
A handy rule of thumb when testing a shrinking formula
The Marvel Universe’s monster-pulp roots
The tragic figure that was Iron Man
Unfortunate racial stereotypes
The cutting-edge technology of … transistors!
Marvel’s first retcon?
“Go to the ants, thou sluggard!” (Turns out it was a thing)
The Wasp ... well, she's been treated better
Avengers #57: Behold … The Vision!
Avengers #16: The Old Order Changeth
Doomwar

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin once again set aside their “clean” rating as they prepare for the second season of Netflix’s Jessica Jones by snooping around Alias Vol. 4: The Secret Origins of Jessica Jones, collecting issues #22-28 of Alias, published by Marvel Comics! (Please be advised: Mature subject matter is discussed.)

First, as the title implies, the origins of everyone’s favorite super-powered sleuth are explored, as young Jessica Campbell Forrest Gumps her way around the early days of the Marvel Universe on her way to gaining extraordinary abilities!

Then, our former superhero turned private eye is hired to confront Zebediah Killgrave, The Purple Man, who can make his victims do whatever he wants. To do so, she’ll have to face her painful past as Killgrave’s physical and emotional plaything.

Can Jessica finally defeat Killgrave and put this dark chapter of her life behind her? And can she crack the code that will grant her entrance to that hall of hard-boiled heroes known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Content warning
Marvel’s MAX line
The Coming of Galactus
Marvels
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Greg Rucka on Word Balloon
Comics Jessica Jones vs. Netflix Jessica Jones
The correct spelling of “sweetie”
Some actual detective work would have been nice
(Why do people talk in parentheses?)
Luke Cage and Jessica’s relationship
Sexual assault, consent, and agency
Why does Killgrave break the fourth wall?
Grant Morrison’s Animal Man
Journalism? Hasn’t she suffered enough??!
Chew
New Avengers Vol. 10: Power
Stumptown Vol. 1

Join us in two weeks as we begin our preparations for Avengers: Infinity War with a look at the origins of the comic-book Avengers, starting with the first appearances of Henry Pym (Tales to Astonish #27), The Incredible Hulk (The Incredible Hulk #1), Thor (Journey Into Mystery #83), Iron Man (Tales of Suspense #39) and the Wasp (Tales to Astonish #44), all leading into Avengers #1!

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!

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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:

Love and Rockets
A Talking Cat!?!
A disturbing age difference
One of Kevin’s biggest pet peeves
The films of Robert Altman
Strong women and horny idiots
The Soledad problem
What Curt has in common with Manuel
Human Diastrophism (or Blood of Palomar)
Daytripper

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin look forward to the highly anticipated Black Panther film with a look back at the late 90s storyline Black Panther: The Client, collecting Black Panther vol. 3 #1-5, the start of the groundbreaking run by Christopher Priest, published by Marvel Comics.

T’Challa, king of the African nation of Wakanda, leaves his homeland in the middle of a refugee crisis for an urgent mission to New York City. Accompanied by low-level diplomat Everett K. Ross, the menacing monarch and his pair of sleek, deadly bodyguards investigate the death of a young girl and corruption at The Tomorrow Fund, a Wakanda-backed charity.

But our stealthy sovereign soon discovers that he’s been duped by the murderous Reverend Achebe, who’s taken advantage of his absence to stage a takeover of Wakanda!

Can the embattled emperor survive a confrontation with the demon Mephisto and rescue his realm from the ruthless reverend? And can he gain entrance to that peerless preserve of epic exploits known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

The Marvel Knights imprint
Hanging a lantern on Quentin Tarantino’s influence
The fascinating past of Christopher Priest
Black Panther: The Man Without Fear
Mephisto’s debut in Silver Surfer # 3
Bring on the Bad Guys
The CW’s Black Lightning TV series
Black Lightning Vol. 1

Not Discussed In This Episode:

Our previous Black Panther episode

Join us in two weeks as we commemorate Valentine’s Day with a tale of longing and love (but no rockets) with the first Heartbreak Soup story from Love and Rockets by Gilbert Hernandez!

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin celebrate their two-year podcasting anniversary with a special birthday two-fer, as they discuss the classic Superman birthday story For The Man Who Has Everything by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons from Superman Annual #11, published by DC Comics, as well as its animated adaptation from Justice League Unlimited!

Batman, Robin and Wonder Woman arrive at Superman’s arctic hideaway to wish him a happy birthday, but find the Man of Steel immobilized by a sinister-looking plant known as the Black Mercy. Before they can figure out a plan of action, they’re confronted by the alien warlord Mongul, who reveals that Superman has been put into a coma, dreaming of an idyllic existence as a husband, father and geologist on his home planet of Krypton!

Can our overmatched heroes stop Mongul from conquering the Earth? Can the Man of Tomorrow wake up from his seductive fantasy in time to save them? And can this fearless foursome gain entry into that Fortress of Solitude known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

The Silver Age and the Bronze Age
The kiss that hasn’t aged well
Kevin can’t pronounce “fetishization”
Curt’s love for Justice League Unlimited
How much cash do you give Superman for his birthday?
Hey, is that Mike Farrell?
For the Girl Who Has Everything
What IS Ninja?
Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?
DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore

Join us in two weeks as we prepare for the release of the hotly anticipated Black Panther adaptation with a discussion of Black Panther: The Client, by Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira!

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin return to Gotham City to unwrap the riddle of Batman: The War of Jokes and Riddles, by Tom King, Mikel Janin and Clay Mann, published by DC Comics!

The Dark Knight Detective has popped the question to his “purr-fect” match, the beguiling cat burglar known as Catwoman. But before his feline foil can answer, he must unburden himself of a terrible secret—an especially dark night from early in his crime-fighting career.

The Caped Crusader’s two most dangerous enemies, the Joker and the Riddler, have gone to war, with the streets of Gotham as their battleground. The city’s supervillain community has taken up sides, with its citizens quite literally caught in the crossfire, along with the tragic figure known as … Kite Man?

Can the World’s Greatest Detective suss out a solution to this pernicious puzzle before the entire city is torn asunder? And can this criminal conflict win top billing on that comedy club marquee of magnificence known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Curt starts with a knock-knock joke
DC’s Rebirth initiative
Our Vision: No Worse Than a Man Episode
Our favorite Riddler
The Joker and Riddler’s Dungeons & Dragons alignments
Is Charlie Brown a Batman villain?
Enemy at the Gates
The troubling implications of Batman and Catwoman’s hookup
The heartbreaking tragedy of Kite Man
Batman: I Am Suicide
Mister Miracle
Batman: The Long Halloween

Join us in two weeks as we celebrate our two-year anniversary and our 50th official episode with Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ landmark Superman tale, For the Man Who Has Everything!

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!

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In this last episode of 2017, Curt and Kevin welcome Collider.com senior TV editor and critic Allison Keene for a fun, spirited discussion of the big comics adaptations from the second half of the year, including Thor: Ragnarok, Marvel’s The Defenders and Justice League!

Spoilers are (mostly) avoided in this non-canonical episode, which also touches on the CW’s Crisis on Earth-X crossover event; whether Black Panther will continue Marvel's recent trend toward the comedic (probably not); Thor: Ragnarok’s similarities to The Empire Strikes Back; waiting for The Punisher to get exciting; the engaging cast of Runaways; The Gifted’s similarity to The O.C.; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in space; and The Tick.

As if that weren’t enough, there’s also a discussion of what we’re looking forward to in 2018, including the CW’s Black Lightning, the second season of Fox’s Legion and X-Men: Dark Phoenix.

Other Things Discussed in This Episode:

What makes the CW’s superhero shows work?
Marvel’s TV shows vs. DC’s movies
The best scene in Justice League
Ben Affleck’s Batman: “What a hero!”
The best thing about Inhumans
Curt Inhu-mansplains to Allison
Our Planet Hulk episode
Hap and Leonard
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Tom Hardy and the Venom movie

Things not discussed in this episode? The latest seasons of Preacher and Gotham (which we haven’t seen), The Walking Dead, My Friend Dahmer (ditto), and Riverdale (see our Archie Meets the Punisher episode).

And if you’re looking for takes on Wonder Woman, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Logan or Legion, you’ll want to check out our July episode on Marvel media adaptations (and Wonder Woman).

We’re back to rendering judgment on comic book stories in two weeks, as we roll into 2018 with a review of Batman: The War of Jokes and Riddles!

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!

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In this episode, worlds collide as Curt and Kevin take aim at Marvel’s the Punisher and the hit CW series Riverdale with a discussion of the epic 1994 crossover Archie Meets the Punisher (or The Punisher Meets Archie), published by Archie Comics and Marvel Comics!

Written by Batton Lash (Supernatural Law) with art by comics legends John Buscema and Stan Goldberg, this most unlikely of mashups finds Marvel’s mass-murdering vigilante in the idyllic small town of Riverdale on the trail of drug dealer “Red” Fever – who just happens to bear a striking resemblance to Riverdale’s most popular teenager, Archie Andrews!

After their first meeting almost ends in disaster, our dubious duo tracks Archie’s deadly double to Riverdale High’s 1950s dance! But the Punisher’s not the only one after Archie’s dastardly dopplegänger – and these homicidal hitmen don’t care if Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica and the rest of the gang get caught in the crossfire!

Can America’s favorite teenager and the Marvel Universe’s avenging antihero join forces to thwart the mob and rescue Veronica from Archie’s lethal lookalike? And can they win election to that homecoming court known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man: The Battle of the Century
Superman vs. Muhammed Ali
Rorschach vs. Casper the Friendly Ghost
A kinder, gentler Punisher
Archie Meets KISS
Crisis on Infinite Earths
"Flutesnoot here!"
Wolverine vs. Jughead
Everyone’s favorite Legion of Super-Heroes member!
Some thoughts on Riverdale
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Archie’s Weird Fantasy
Ambush Bug: A precursor to Deadpool?
Afterlife With Archie Vol. 1: Escape From Riverdale

Join us in two weeks for a look back at the current landscape of comics-related TV and film adaptations, including Justice League, Thor: Ragnarok, Runaways, Inhumans and much more!

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin take the midnight train going anywhere, joined by Collider.com senior editor Matt Goldberg, as they mark the debut of Hulu’s new Runaways series with a discussion of Runaways: Pride and Joy by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona, published by Marvel Comics!

All kids think of their parents as villains on occasion. But Alex Wilder and his adolescent friends have just discovered that their well-to-do parents are actual supervillains – members of a criminal cabal called the Pride! Stunned, our hormonal heroes steal away into the California night, determined to expose their felonious fathers and murderous mothers! Along the way, superpowers are discovered, secrets are revealed, superheroic identities are (briefly) adopted … oh, and someone gets a pet dinosaur!

Can these pubescent powerhouses stay a step ahead of their evil elders and avoid the most severe grounding of all time? And can our teen titans find placement in that home for wayward young Avengers known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Not Discussed in This Episode:

Runaways editor C.B. Cebulski’s new job as editor in chief of Marvel Comics (mainly because this was recorded before the promotion was announced)

Things Discussed in This Episode:

The other Runaways
The new Runaways series by Rainbow Rowell
A farewell to AIM
Matt Goldberg previews the Runaways TV series
Our Eltingville Club episode
Young Avengers Vol. 1: Sidekicks
Invincible
Pride of Baghdad
Y: The Last Man
The Collider Podcast

Join us in two weeks as we use Marvel’s The Punisher and the second season of Riverdale as an excuse to discuss the unlikely crossover Archie Meets the Punisher!

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for the long-awaited release of Justice League with (what else?) a discussion of a kinda/sorta Justice League story: the acclaimed 1996 battle-of-the-superheroes miniseries Kingdom Come, written by Mark Waid, painted by Alex Ross, and published by DC Comics!

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:

“Get It On” by Kingdom Come
Elseworlds and “imaginary stories”
Marvels and the breathtaking art of Alex Ross
Alan Moore’s Twilight of the Superheroes
Kingdom Come’s uncanny similarities to Civil War
Can you have a grim and gritty refutation of grim and gritty comics?
Alan Moore's Miracleman
JLA: American Dreams
Everyone's favorite Superman!
Canceled Too Soon

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!

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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!

Can the God of Thunder, alongside Odin the All-Father, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Beta Ray Bill, the lady Sif, the Warriors Three and the assembled armies of Asgard, prevent this severe case of global warming? And can this host of heroes ascend into that Valhalla of extraordinary epics known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Civil War
How do you pronounce “Surtur”?
Walter Simonson’s Thor fan fiction
The Dungeon of Frequent Escape
Marvel Legacy #1
“Surtur is SWOLE!”
“With Starfox on the case, we can rest easy!”
A Doom Tube? Seriously?
The best panel in all of Thor comics?
Poco
Beavis and Butt-Head
Marvel’s Secret Wars action figure ad
Thor #154-157: The Mangog Saga
The Incredible Hercules Vol. 1

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!

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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:

Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four, Avengers and Secret Wars
The 80s/90s “replacement hero” trend
The lettering wizardry of John Workman
Marvel Comics: The Untold Story
Our first (but certainly not last) mention of Marvel’s Micronauts!
Our discarded quiz segment, Riddle Me This!
Kevin shares a sweet Louise Simonson memory
Jamie Alexander’s acting sweet spot
Thor: The Goddess of Thunder
Ragnarok Vol. 1: Last God Standing

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!

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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:

Our Illuminati episode
John Carter of Mars
Bill Mantlo
Brad Pitt’s finishing move in Troy
The History of Rome’s podcasts on Emperor Commodus
The Stone Men From Saturn!
Live Free or Die
Made-up sci-fi profanity
Skaar, Son of Hulk
Don Rosa vs. Carl Barks
Hulk: Abominable
War of Kings

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin take a break from superhuman battles of good and evil to discuss a harrowing look at a very human form of evil, and one young man’s unsuccessful struggle against the darkness within: Derf Backderf’s graphic novel memoir My Friend Dahmer, published by Abrams ComicArts.

In recounting his experiences and relationship with Jeffrey Dahmer through high school in the 1970s, Backderf sketches a chilling portrait of a troubled loner, neglected at home and largely ignored at school. Could his murders have been avoided if even one adult had recognized the warning signs in his increasingly erratic behavior?

Working from his own recollections, research and interviews with teachers and fellow classmates, Backderf shows us the demons that tormented Jeffrey Dahmer, setting him on a seemingly inevitable path to infamy as one of history’s more notorious serial killers.

Things Discussed in This Episode:

The My Friend Dahmer movie
The City
Trashed
Jeffrey Dahmer as a tragic figure … until he’s not
An argument for end notes
Black Hole by Charles Burns
Punk Rock and Trailer Parks

Join us in two weeks as #Ragnaroktober kicks into gear with a discussion of Planet Hulk!

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin convene in secret to decide the fate of that clandestine conclave of Marvel Universe movers and shakers known as the Illuminati, as seen in New Avengers: Illuminati: Road to Civil War and New Avengers: Illuminati #1-5, published by Marvel Comics!

Iron Man! Reed Richards! Professor X! Black Bolt! Prince Namor! Doctor Strange! Together, they’re one of the most powerful superteams ever assembled! Trouble is, they’ve assembled behind closed doors to make decisions that affect the entire world … and those decisions tend to keep coming back to haunt them, endangering the lives of millions!

Can this secret society of superheroes end the threats of the Incredible Hulk, the Beyonder and the shape-changing Skrull Empire once and for all? (Spoiler alert: No.) And can they stop fighting amongst themselves long enough to be inducted into that covert coffee klatsch known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

The upcoming Inhumans TV series
What Is the Illuminati, anyway?
Bottle episodes
Secret Wars reenactors
The Illuminati: No girls allowed?
Secret Invasion
Jonathan Hickman’s New Avengers
Illuminati: the stage play!
Avengers vol. 2
Grant Morrison's Marvel Boy
Mark Gruenwald's Squadron Supreme
The Origins of the Inhumans
Happy belated birthday, Jack Kirby!
Curt and Kevin's Twitter handles and Curt’s podcast of the week

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 change course a bit to discuss Derf Backderf’s chilling My Friend Dahmer! And then get ready for … #Ragnaroktober!

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!

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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:

Our Anatomy Lesson episode
The soap opera inspiration for Harley Quinn?
Squeaky Fromme and Patty Hearst
“Don’t you wanna rev up your Harley?”
“He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss)”
A brief, obligatory mention of the Suicide Squad movie
The evolution, exploitation and empowerment of Harley Quinn
The Trial of Yellowjacket
Batman and Mr. Freeze: SubZero
Future Quest: The next big movie franchise?
The movie universe we're not ready for
Are you ready for … Ragnaroktober?!!

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!

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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:

Death and resurrection in superhero comics
The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man
Frank Miller’s meta commentary of superhero comics
A Dungeons & Dragons adventure!
The Adventure Zone podcast
We issue a correction
Divisive Issues
The Punisher: Franken-Castle
Elektra: Assassin
Bill Sienkiewicz on the Word Balloon podcast
Here Comes Daredevil
Giant-Size Defenders #3

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin welcome special guest Alonso Duralde of the Linoleum Knife podcast, The Wrap and What the Flick?! to discuss three stories—The Seven Cities of Cibola, The Lemming With the Locket, and Tralla La—by classic Uncle Scrooge creator, writer and artist Carl Barks!

The world’s wealthiest mallard, joined by his nephews Donald Duck and Junior Woodchucks Huey, Dewey and Louie, sets out in search of seven legendary golden cities, an ancient civilization hidden in the Himalayas, and far-flung Herringtail, Norway, and runs afoul of the dastardly Beagle Boys—and one very elusive lemming!

Can a poor umptillion-fabulatillionaire prevail against those who would seek to relieve him of his wealth? And can he attain that prize greater than any gold, more rewarding than a swim in any money bin—entry into that billionaire boys’ club known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

Did George Lucas once borrow from Scrooge McDuck?
Uncle Scrooge as Daniel Plainview
The Gods Must Be Crazy
Daniel Clowes’ Playful Obsession
Various communist leaders
The DuckTales revival
Hey, Hostess® Fruit Pies! Give us a call! Let’s talk!
Bone: The Great Cow Race
Clue: the comic book
Only a Poor Old Man
The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck
Jonah Hex/Yosemite Sam Special #1

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 get ready for another Netflix show (Marvel’s The Defenders) with the death and resurrection of Elektra in Frank Miller’s Daredevil!

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!

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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:

Dorkin and Thompson’s Beasts of Burden
Kevin’s sad dating story
“Are you the creator of Hi and Lois?”
The Comics Curmudgeon
Trapped under the rubble—yet again!
Frederick Wertham’s Seduction of the Innocent
Tim Quirk of Too Much Joy
Lout Rampage! and Pussey
Milk and Cheese: Dairy Products Gone Bad
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Comic Book Archive

Things Not Discussed in This Episode, Because We Forgot:

The Eltingville Club Adult Swim pilot

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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin welcome comics creator and Creative Loafing Atlanta editor in chief Carlton Hargro for a wide-ranging look at the year in movie and TV adaptations of Marvel Comics properties … plus a little-known indie film you may have heard of by the name of Wonder Woman. Spoilers abound in this non-canonical spectacular as we review the swinging Spider-Man: Homecoming, the high-flying Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the leaden Iron Fist, Marvel’s Agents of The M.A.T.R.I.X., the head trip that is FX’s Legion and Hugh Jackman’s swan song as Wolverine in Logan. But that’s not all! We also briefly mention upcoming projects including the promising Thor: Ragnarok, the not-so-promising Inhumans, Netflix’s street-level super-team The Defenders and The Punisher. Then we wrap it all up with a talk about things we hope to see in future Marvel projects. Other Things Discussed in This Episode: • Sam Raimi’s influence on the MCU • Dwayne McDuffie • Spider-Man: Homecoming’s own Sinister Six • The Marvel movie no one wants to see • “That’s not Mantis!” • Robert McKee’s Story • Kevin commits heresy • Highlander: The Series • How Chris Pine could return in the Wonder Woman sequel • Nia Griggs and the Kemetic Sisterhood of Science 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 next week as we commemorate Comic-Con International: San Diego with a discussion of the dark side of geekdom via Evan Dorkin’s The Eltingville Club! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin welcome your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a pair of powerful Spidey Super Stories! First up, they swing into action with a discussion of one of the most famous comic stories of all time: the origin of Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15! After that, it’s on to an action-packed tale of great power and great responsibility (and one of the most iconic scenes in superhero comics), as a guilt-ridden wall-crawler fights against impossible odds to save the life of his beloved Aunt May in the three-part storyline If This Be My Destiny …! from Amazing Spider-Man #31-33! Can the winded web-slinger prevail against the machinations of the mysterious Master Planner? And can he survive the cutthroat halls of academia long enough to win a ticket to that homecoming dance known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Actor Frank Nelson • Are you obliged to stop a thief? • The Acme Warehouse • Spider-Man’s Uncanny Valley moment • Marvel: The Untold Story by Sean Howe • Peter Parker’s true calling: costume design! • To Alcohol! • Kid Puncho, the Fighting Clown • Kind words from The Nerds Uncanny • Thor Frog from Walt Simonson’s Thor #365 • The Hood: Blood From Stones • The Return of Beta Ray Bill • Give Our Regards to the Atom-Smashers! • Kraven’s Last Hunt • Kevin’s essay on Secret Empire in Vex Mosaic • Curt’s review of Spider-Man: Homecoming 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 next week for a look at the year in Marvel movie and TV adaptations (so far), and then again the week after that for a discussion of the dark side of geekdom via Evan Dorkin’s The Eltingville Club! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin unearth the spine-tingling tale that kicks off a “shared universe” of classic characters including the beastly Mr. Hyde! No, we're not talking about the Tom Cruise flop The Mummy, but The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1 by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill, originally published by America’s Best Comics! Mina Murray, not long removed from her encounter with a certain Transylvanian count, is enlisted by the British government to recruit a bizarre task force including Allan Quatermain, the brooding Captain Nemo, the timid Dr. Jekyll and the enigmatic Invisible Man. But they soon realize their mission isn’t quite as it first appeared! Can this astonishing assortment of alarmingly afflicted adventurers defeat the enemy who’s played them for fools, and stop him from raining fiery terror down on London’s Limehouse district? And can they keep from killing each other long enough to crash that mad monster party known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • The 2003 LXG movie • R.I.P. Adam West • Jess Nevins’ annotated League of Extraordinary Gentlemen • Alan Moore on taking superheroes back to their roots • Is Fu Manchu ever not racist? • The America’s Best Comics line • Curt lays down some real talk about The Mummy • Nemo: Heart of Ice • Anno Dracula • A Study in Emerald • Marvel: 1602 • Rough Riders Vol. 1: Give Them Hell • Avanti, Da Vinci! 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 get ready for Spider-Man: Homecoming with a look at the wall-crawler’s origins in Amazing Fantasy #15, plus another story to be named later! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin are joined by guest vocalist Ryan Lucas as they discuss the first two volumes of the Scott Pilgrim series: Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, written and drawn by Bryan Lee O’Malley and published by Oni Press! Scott Pilgrim, aimless 23-year-old bassist for Toronto band Sex Bob-Omb, is dating 17-year-old high school student Knives Chau when he falls hard for delivery girl Ramona Flowers. But in order to date her, he’ll have to break up with Knives—and, oh yeah, defeat seven of Ramona’s exes in hand-to-hand combat! Can Scott get his act together long enough to help Sex Bob-Omb score a prestigious gig opening for his ex-girlfriend Envy Adams—and vanquish the League of Ramona’s Evil Ex-Boyfriends? And can he book himself and the band into that Great Gig in the Sky known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Is Scott Pilgrim kind of a jerk? • Do these books pass the Bechdel Test? • The Flying Burrito Brothers’ Gilded Palace of Sin • Is Kevin really Scott Pilgrim? • Curt hates the name of our letters segment • Our first negative review • Random House vs. Houghton Mifflin • Zot! The Complete Black and White Collection: 1987-1991 • Kamikaze Vol. 1: Run Rabbit Run • Love and Rockets: Maggie the Mechanic 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 discuss another fictional league—Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for the long-awaited Wonder Woman movie with a look at the comic-book origins of everyone’s favorite Amazon, including her brief introduction in 1941’s All-Star Comics #8 and her debut in the pages of her very own magazine, 1942’s Wonder Woman #1, published by DC Comics! After that, it’s on to a more contemporary take on the character’s formative years, as writer and artist Jill Thompson presents us with a Princess Diana we haven’t seen before — brash, bratty and a tad unsympathetic — in the Eisner Award-nominated 2016 graphic novel Wonder Woman: The True Amazon! Can the headstrong young Diana win the favor of indifferent stable girl Alethea? Can the powerful princess save injured American intelligence officer Steve Trevor and defeat a pretty unfortunate caricature of a Japanese spy? And most importantly, can the amazing Amazon pilot her invisible plane to that island paradise of pulp periodicals known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • The lack of a definitive Wonder Woman story • The David E. Kelley Wonder Woman TV pilot • Kevin can’t say “William Moulton Marston” • Wonder Woman #1: Not the most woke comic • Curt’s controversial take on Themyscira • Sex and the single Amazon • Wonder Woman: Earth One • The 2-Way Stretch All-Nylon Girdle! • Magic Trixie • Brief Lives • Wonder Woman: Blood • The Secret History of Wonder Woman Join us in two weeks as we discuss the first two volumes of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim series! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin trek across Bifrost, the rainbow bridge and wade into the ongoing conversation about diversity in superhero comics as they discuss Thor Vol. 1: The Goddess of Thunder, collecting Thor (2014) #1-8 by Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman, published by Marvel Comics! The son of Odin is no longer worthy to wield his mighty hammer, Mjolnir! When a mystery woman picks up the hammer and receives the power of the thunder god, this turn of events doesn’t sit well with the hammer’s original owner—or with Odin, the recently returned ruler of Asgard! Can this new Thor hold her own against the combined might of an enraged All-Father, the sinister dark elf Malekith, the evil Roxxon Corporation, its minotaur CEO, and a horde of frost giants? And can she swing her enchanted hammer long enough to nail down a spot in that pantheon of divine stories known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Our new relationship with Creative Loafing Atlanta • Thor’s unfortunate first attempt at diversity • Fear Itself • Why Thor Lost His Hammer • Thor is the woman, Odinson is the guy—got it? • Did diversity really hurt Marvel’s sales? • The Goddamned • Jason Aaron’s run on The Incredible Hulk • How Rocket Raccoon Rescued Bill Mantlo • Curt remembers comics blogger Tim O’Shea Join us in two weeks as we get ready for the long-awaited Wonder Woman movie with a look at the comic-book origins of everyone’s favorite Amazon! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin get ready for the new Guardians of the Galaxy film by taking a rocket ride to the Kree homeworld for a look at the comic-book origins of this cinematic band of space-faring misfits, as seen in Annihilation: Conquest – Star-Lord #1-4, published by Marvel Comics! But first, they make a brief 1,000-year detour to the far future to check in with the stalwart 30th-century star warriors who started it all, as the original Guardians of the Galaxy (including a certain blue-skinned guy you might recognize from the movies) band together in 1969’s Marvel Super-Heroes #18! Can the original Guardians repel the (not terribly menacing) menace of the invading Badoon? Can their modern-day counterparts foil the (not-so-fearsome) Phalanx and save the galaxy from cybernetic assimilation? Most importantly, can these cosmic champions blast their way into that interplanetary posse of space cowboys known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • We need to talk about Yondu • Steve Gerber, Bill Mantlo, Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin • Annihilation: Conquest • The Borg—We mean, the Phalanx • Bug's speech patterns explained • A talking Groot!?! • Star-Lord’s lame password game • Space profanity • The name of our Canon Fodder segment • Curt reacts to our latest iTunes review • Justice League International • Guardians of the Galaxy: Legacy • Nova by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning • The Micronauts • What’s your favorite space comic?

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin take a break from titanic teens, movie misanthropes and murderous mutants to tackle a truly uncanny topic: Grant Morrison’s twisted take on the “World’s Strangest Heroes” with a discussion of Crawling From the Wreckage, collecting issues 19-25 of The Doom Patrol, published by DC Comics! Cliff “Robotman” Steele checks into a psychiatric hospital following the near-destruction of the misfit superteam the Doom Patrol. But he soon joins forces with an intersexual spirit-being and a super-powered woman with multiple personalities to prevent an incursion into our reality by the bizarre metafictional menace of the Scissormen! Can this newly reconstituted Doom Patrol survive a trip to Orqwith, the City of Bone, and an encounter with the seemingly all-powerful Red Jack, who may or may not have once been Jack the Ripper? And can they gain admittance to that strange society of freaks and geeks known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Jan Švankmajer • Struwwelpeter, Little Suck-a-Thumb and the great, red, long-legged scissorman • There Is a Mountain by Donovan • The Ruling Class • What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton • John Workman and Richard Case • China Mieville • Greg Berlanti, get on that Doom Patrol CW show, stat! • The Insult That Made a Man Out of “Mac” • The Painting That Ate Paris • The League of Regrettable Superheroes • From Hell That’s it for this episode – join us in two weeks as we discuss the origins of Marvel’s space-faring misfits, the Guardians of the Galaxy! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin get ready for the third comics adaptation in as many episodes with a discussion of the landmark Teen Titans storyline The Judas Contract, as featured in The New Teen Titans issues #42-44 and New Teen Titans Annual #3, published by DC Comics! These Teen Titans aren’t just kid sidekicks anymore -- they’ve dealt with supervillains, marauding aliens, a deadly cult leader and even the horrors of wedding planning. But when they’re captured by the world’s deadliest assassin, they find themselves facing the biggest threat of their budding careers: the tremendously powerful, emotionally unstable Terra! Can the young man formerly known as Robin rescue his teammates from a cigarette-smoking 16-year-old girl and her judgment-impaired mentor, the menacingly named Deathstroke the Terminator? And can everyone’s favorite teen heroes graduate from the kids’ table to that school of hard knocks known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • The Uncanny X-Men • Beast Boy’s relentless and insufferable sexual harassment • Deathstroke’s ... er, problematic relationship with Tara Markov • Robin’s green baby onesie • The unfortunate hand-waving of Tara’s mental illness • The Teen Titans’ extremely lax vetting process • Young Avengers: Sidekicks and Family Matters • The Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans • Teen Titans Go! • The Doom Patrol Speaking of the Doom Patrol, join us in two weeks as we discuss the first arc of Grant Morrison's critically acclaimed run with the "World's Strangest Heroes," Crawling From the Wreckage! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for yet another comic-based film adaptation with a Daniel Clowes double feature: a discussion of the teen turmoil of Ghost World and the middle-aged turmoil of Wilson! First, best friends Enid Coleslaw and Rebecca Doppelmeyer find themselves at a crossroads – one populated by creeps, geeks and obnoxious, extroverted, pseudo-Bohemian art-school losers. When Enid applies to college, the girls are forced to let go of the past and ponder their uncertain futures -- and their relationship to each other. After a brief detour to discuss the four-page screed Art School Confidential, it’s off for a visit with Oakland, California’s favorite condescending blowhard (coming soon to a movie theater near you) as he suffers the death of a family member, reconnects with an ex-wife and discovers the child he never knew he had. Can these cynical loners shed their abrasive ways and live happily ever after? And can they score tickets to that hallowed film festival of graphic novel adaptations known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Are we just a couple of phonies? • Scarlett Johansson and comic book movies • Underground/indie comics of the 1980s • Alonzo Duralde of Linoleum Knife • The two types of hipsters • “David” Clowes makes a cameo appearance • Rebecca gets an anagram • Jaan Pehechaan Ho • A belated welcome to new listeners • One of Curt’s favorite Daniel Clowes panels • Garfield Minus Garfield • Kevin’s unsettling Wilson connection • Kevin’s stunning Dark Knight Returns revelation • Buddy Does Seattle • Peepshow: The Cartoon Diary of Joe Matt and The Poor Bastard Join us in two weeks as we check in on a group of (arguably) more well-adjusted teenagers with a discussion of The New Teen Titans: The Judas Contract! 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!

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In this episode, Kevin and “Old Man Holman” mark the release of the new Logan movie by gassing up the Spider-Mobile for a road trip across a post-apocalyptic wasteland to discuss Wolverine: Old Man Logan, collecting Wolverine #66-72 and Wolverine: Old Man Logan Giant-Size #1, published by Marvel Comics. Fifty years after the villains of the Marvel Universe teamed up to defeat the world’s heroes, a haunted Logan has forsaken violence to live a peaceful life of farming with his wife and two children. But when he can’t pay his rent to the vicious Hulk Gang, the promise of a financial windfall leads him on a dangerous cross-country trip with the blind archer Hawkeye. Can the man formerly known as Wolverine outrun rampaging dinosaurs, creepy Moloids and his own dark past long enough to save his family? Can he keep from popping his claws and returning to his savage ways? And can he gain admittance to that alternate reality known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Giant Size Man-Thing • Kevin mispronounces Morry Hollowell’s name • Where Curt draws the line • Reading comics on a tablet • #NotmyHawkeye • Kevin’s fanboy struggle • The post-apocalypse economy • Curt likes a big map • Paste Pot Creek and Otisburg • “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” • “Gigglin’” Glen Weldon • Hawkeye Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon • Secret Wars • Logan • Asterios Kokkinos’ The Five-Minute Podcast • Legion Join us in two weeks as we switch gears to discuss a very different comics character getting the cinematic treatment: Daniel Clowes’ Wilson (along with Ghost World and Art School Confidential). 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin are joined by special guest Glen Weldon – NPR contributor, panelist on NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast and author of The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture – as they discuss Batman: The Court of Owls, collecting Batman (Vol. 2) #1-7, published by DC Comics! The Dark Knight Detective has always believed the Court of Owls to be nothing more than an old folk tale. But when Bruce Wayne is marked for death by their enigmatic assassin, the Talon, Batman learns that they’re very real – and that everything he thought he knew about Gotham City is wrong! Trapped in an underground labyrinth, driven to the edge of madness, can the Caped Crusader escape the Court’s deadly clutches and reclaim Gotham City as his own? And can he gain entry into that secret society known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Curt makes a terrible joke • The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture • Superheroes as soap opera • Greg Capullo • Batman’s dentistry skills • Hot Fuzz • Batman: Superheavy • Batman: Captured By the Engines • Swamp Thing: Raise Them Bones • The LEGO Batman Movie Join us in two weeks as we prepare for the latest Hugh Jackman movie by gassing up the Spider-Mobile and traversing a desolate hellscape known as Wolverine: Old Man Logan! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin go nuts as they enroll at Empire State University, joined by their first-ever guest – Curt’s teenage daughter, Evelyn – to discuss Squirrel Power, collecting issues #1-4 of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, published by Marvel Comics! She’s fought crime with the Great Lakes Avengers and even defeated the powerful space baddie Thanos. But now Doreen Green, alias the aforementioned Squirrel Girl, must conquer threats more terrifying than any she’s yet faced: College! A roommate! Boys! And if those weren’t intimidating enough, who went and Kraven the Hunter, Whiplash and Galactus to the curriculum??? With sassy sidekick Tippy-Toe in tow, can our body-positive Avenger somehow convince the Devourer of Worlds to adopt an Earth-free diet? And can she make it into that exclusive series of trading cards known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Help us out: Did a Squirrel Girl artist contribute to a Team Fortress 2 comic? • What’s up with Kraven the Hunter’s vest? • The Voltron Squirrel • Everybody Hates Thanos • When you think "Captain America," you think "camping it up" • Team Fortress 2 • Goodnight Punpun • Homestuck • Paper Girls • Doom Patrol • Shade, the Changing Girl • Squirrel in My Pants • That “old” TV show, Phineas and Ferb Join us in two weeks as we make another return trip to Gotham City to discuss Batman: The Court of Owls! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin don their finest trench coats, open up a fresh pack of Silk Cut and throw back a couple of pints of holy stout as they discuss the Dangerous Habits storyline from John Constantine: Hellblazer issues #41-46, published by DC Comics! John Constantine has faced down more than his share of demons and other supernatural threats. But everyone’s favorite chain-smoking magician may have finally met his match when he’s diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. To make matters worse, he’s in for one Hell of an afterlife, having just made an enemy of the devil himself! Can comics’ premier punk-rock prestidigitator con his way out of eternal torment? And can he somehow fast-talk his way into that sweet hereafter known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • It’s our anniversary! • Sting’s “Tantric Jazz Rock” Period • The ideal John Constantine • John Constantine vs. Doctor Strange • Skrip: America’s favorite writing fluid! • Death Star Canteen • Swamp Thing: American Gothic • The Exorcist III • Alcohollywood • Jason Aaron’s Mighty Thor • Archie Vol. 1 Join us in two weeks as we enroll in college with Marvel Comics’ nuttiest superhero in The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol. 1: Squirrel Power! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin travel to a galaxy far, far away to mark the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story with a discussion of Darth Vader #1-6, published by Marvel Comics! Following the events of Episode IV: A New Hope, Darth Vader finds himself on the outs with Emperor Palpatine. Enlisting the aid of a “rogue archeologist” and a pair of murderous droids, the Dark Lord of the Sith begins pursuing his own agenda, building a private army and tracking down the hotshot Rebel pilot who brought about the destruction of the Death Star -- a young man named Skywalker … Will his new allies be enough to keep the Empire’s heavy-breathing hatchet man one step ahead of his master? And will his mastery of the dark side of the Force be enough to gain him entry into that mystic order known as … The Comics Canon? Things Not Discussed in This Episode: • Carrie Fisher, who died after this episode was recorded Things Discussed in This Episode: • The Star Wars Minute • The challenges of a tie-in comic • We enjoy saying “Black Krrsantan” • The Emperor’s Sith List • Why Darth Vader needs a private email server • Evil Space Lorelai Gilmore • The Tom Corbett, Space Cadet Invisible Helmet • Flashpoint is a really cool song! • Journey Into Mystery: Fear Itself • Darth Maul: Apprentice • Chad Vader: Day Shift Manager • Hardware Wars • Star Wars by Jason Aaron and John Cassaday • “Not an imaginary story!” Join us in two weeks as we indulge in some Dangerous Habits to discuss Garth Ennis’ debut run on John Constantine: Hellblazer! 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!

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In this last episode of 2016, Curt and Kevin look back on TV and movie adaptations of comic book stories from the second half of the year, pick their favorite small- or big-screen comics properties of the last 12 months, and ask “Just what makes a good comics adaptation, anyway?” In this non-canonical extravaganza, we also tackle the disjointed mess that is Suicide Squad, check in on DC’s improving Legends of Tomorrow, discuss Season 3 of The Flash and Flashpoint, take aim at the fifth season of Arrow, unlock the first season of Luke Cage, and stumble through a punishing half-season of The Walking Dead. We also touch on Preacher, Doctor Strange and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. before looking ahead to 2017, including the adaptations we’re most looking forward to. And finally, we switch gears with a look at the books that made it into The Comics Canon in 2016, and round things out with that most riveting of audio experiences: the unwrapping of presents! Other Things Discussed in This Episode: • Hey, Where’s Darth Vader?! • Gotham City Sirens • Ragman, everyone’s favorite vigilante • Why are Marvel’s Netflix series so long? • Iron Man and the Mystic Hoo-Ha That’s it for 2016! Join us in two weeks as we travel to a galaxy far, far away for a look at Marvel Comics’ Darth Vader #1-6 (we really mean it this time). 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!

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In this episode, a morally challenged, mentally unstable captain of industry rises to a position of awesome power! That’s right—join Curt and Kevin as they shine a light on the Marvel Comics event Dark Reign with a discussion of the Secret Invasion: Dark Reign one-shot and Dark Avengers Vol. 1: Assemble! After repelling a horde of alien invaders and their shapeshifting matriarch, Norman Osborn is appointed director of the law-enforcement agency S.H.I.E.L.D. and leader of the Avengers. In no time, he convenes a sinister shadow cabinet of supervillains, and stacks the world’s premier superteam with a rogues’ gallery of ruthless felons! What alarming agenda will the former Green Goblin advance while wrapped in the American flag in the guise of the Iron Patriot? And will he cap his reign of terror with a seat at that Supreme Court of superhero comics known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: · Civil War · Secret Invasion · The Thunderbolts · The Illuminati · The worst Namor ever committed to paper · The role Tommy Lee Jones was born to play · 1980s metal icon Don Dokken · See, this is why superheroes should trademark their identities Join us in two weeks as we travel to a galaxy far, far away for a look at Marvel Comics’ Darth Vader #1-6! Until then, we want to hear from you! Rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook. And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin travel to the top of the George Washington Bridge (played by the Brooklyn Bridge) while discussing what may be the most iconic storyline in Spider-Man history (and one of the most influential moments in all of comics) as they take a swing at The Night Gwen Stacy Died, from Amazing Spider-Man #121-122! But first, they pay a quick visit to the (web-)swingin’ 60s for a look at the cataclysmic confrontation that sets the stage for that fateful event, as the Green Goblin weaves a sinister trap for the wall-crawler in Amazing Spider-Man #39-40! Wracked with grief, will ol’ web-head end up squashed by his emerald enemy? Or can your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man triumph over his avocado-colored adversary and win admittance into that swingers’ club known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham! • The Night Chicago Died by Paper Lace • John Romita, the quintessential Spider-Man artist? • The Green Goblin vs. the Hobgoblin • Stan Lee and J. Jonah Jameson • Harry Osborn’s hair • Peter Parker as Archie Andrews • Comics’ version of the Zapruder film Join us in two weeks as we relive Norman Osborn’s Dark Reign over the Marvel Universe with a look at Secret Invasion: Dark Reign and Dark Avengers #1-6! Until then, we want to hear from you! Rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook. We’ll read your comments in an upcoming episode, and who knows? You could win a prize from the Comics Canon Prize Vault! And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin lace up their running shoes for a mad dash through a mad, mad world as they careen headlong into Flashpoint, the five-issue miniseries by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert — the storyline that paved the way for DC Comics’ New 52! Barry Allen, a.k.a. the Flash, wakes up one day to a drastically different reality: His late mother is alive, he’s lost his super-speed, and the Justice League never existed. And as a war between Aquaman and Wonder Woman threatens to tear this world apart, Barry begins to lose his memories of the world he knew! Will Flash’s arch-nemesis Professor Zoom have the last laugh, leaving Barry marooned in this darkest timeline? Or can the fastest man alive avert Armageddon, set history back on its proper course, and race across the finish line into that winner’s circle known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Season 3 of The Flash • Geoff Johns, The New 52 and Rebirth • Event books • Alternative history stories • No one likes that one guy … • Time travel • The Speed Force • Professor Zoom is a lousy super-villain Join us in two weeks as we web-swing our way back to the Big Apple (and Marvel Comics) to relive The Night Gwen Stacy Died! Until then, we want to hear from you! Rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook. We’ll read your comments in an upcoming episode, and who knows? You could win a prize from the Comics Canon Prize Vault! And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this magical episode, Curt and Kevin trek to the furthest reaches of India en route to the dreaded Dark Dimension as they prepare for the upcoming Doctor Strange movie with not one, not two, but THREE sizzling tales of ’60s sorcery featuring Marvel Comics’ Master of Mystic Arts! First, we revisit the origin of comicdom’s Sorcerer Supreme, as arrogant surgeon Stephen Strange meets his mentor-to-be, The Ancient One, and his nemesis-in-waiting, the malicious Baron Mordo, in Strange Tales #115! Then it’s off to an otherdimensional netherworld as Strange battles to protect the Earth from the menace of the dread Dormammu, in Strange Tales #126-127! Finally, it’s trouble times two as Mordo and Dormammu team up against the good doctor for a three-part mini-epic in Strange Tales #139-141! Will the devious dean of the Dark Dimension and his contemptuous colleague banish our dashing doctor to the domain of doom? Or can Marvel’s fearless physician save the day and levitate to that hoary host of heroic stories known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • “India, land of mystic enchantment!” • That’s not how surgery works! • The disappointment of Baron Mordo • Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One • The delights of Steve Ditko’s Dark Dimension • Why hasn’t Doctor Strange broken through to Marvel’s A-list? • The shocking secret behind a classic comics ad! • Curt gets confused Join us in two weeks as we run over to Central City to discuss the event that kicked off DC’s New 52 reboot, Flashpoint! 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!

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In this HUGE mini-episode, Curt and Kevin take a break from passing judgment on comic book stories and turn their attention to the upcoming presidential election with a QUALITY discussion of YUGE! 30 Years of Doonesbury on Trump, a collection of Doonesbury comic strips by Garry Trudeau. It's a first-class episode, people, mark my words, okay? First class! Things Discussed in This Episode: The difficulty of the Doonesbury elevator pitch; Trump's changing appearance in the strip over the decades; and Curt’s plea for Trudeau to return to daily strips. (Things NOT discussed in this episode include the now-infamous Donald Trump/Billy Bush video, which was released after this episode was recorded. SAD!). You know what’s not sad? The Comics Canon returns in one short week! We prepare ourselves for the upcoming release of Doctor Strange with a look at the Sorcerer Supreme’s early days via Strange Tales #115, 126-127, and 139-141. Until then, we want to hear from YOU, dear listeners! Review us on iTunes! Send us an email! Or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook! We’ll read your comments in a future episode, and you may even win a prize from the Comics Canon Prize Vault! And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this monsterrific episode, Curt and Kevin embark on their most spine-tingling, bone-chilling installment yet, as they investigate not one but two monster tales from comicdom’s king of creepy-crawly creatures, Jack Kirby!

First, it’s a trip to Anytown, USA, where a mild-mannered biologist must match wits with an interplanetary tyrant of the trees (and future Guardian of the Galaxy) in “I Challenged … Groot! The Monster From Planet X!” from Tales to Astonish #13, published by Marvel Comics!

Then it’s off to the mysterious Wild Area, as the Man of Steel and his best buddy go toe-to-toe with a Four-Armed Terror and a very familiar-looking green giant in Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen, #133-138, published by DC Comics!

Will this lord of lumber and a pair of irradiated uglies find themselves treat-less on destiny’s doorstep? Or by some terrible trick, can they fright their way into that howl of fang-tastic tales known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

• Jack Kirby, King of Monsters

• Groot, overlord of all the timber in the galaxy!

• So … why Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen?

• Appealing to the hip young counterculture of 1970

• “The Whiz Wagon”? Really?

• Jimmy Olsen vs. Superman

• The Mountain of Judgment: Not ideal for keeping on the D.L.

• So … why clone Superman’s pal, Jimmy Olsen?

• "It Is One Minute to Blow-Up!"

Join us in next week for a special election season one-shot as we debate Yuge! 30 Years of Doonesbury on Trump! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin travel from war-torn Latveria to Civil War-torn Manhattan as they tackle not one but two stories starring Marvel Comics’ invulnerable sentinel of the streets, Luke Cage, in anticipation of the Netflix series of the same name. First, it’s a fantastic voyage to the swingin’ 70s, as the hot-headed hero of Harlem jets halfway across the globe to join a robot rebellion and collect a debt from a stingy supervillain in Luke Cage: Hero for Hire #8-9! Then we move ahead to the 2000s for a moving confrontation between Cage and his wife Jessica Jones in New Avengers #38. Will domestic drama and a penny-pinching Doctor Doom leave our indestructible do-gooder destitute? Or can our harried hero for hire earn his way into that executive suite known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • “Thanks, Evil Racist Prison Guard!” • Soul Train • Check your white European privilege, Doctor Doom! • Victor von Doom: cheapskate? • Reed Richards is pretty generous with his rockets • “Where’s my money, honey?” • The one flaw in Doctor Doom’s armor • Brian Michael Bendis and his detractors Join us in two weeks to discover the mysterious link between “I Challenged Groot! The Monster From Planet X” (Tales to Astonish #13) and Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #133-138! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin must brave a foreign world of influence, intrigue and insurrection as they discuss Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet, collecting the first four issues of the new Marvel Comics title by MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Ta-Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze. The once-invincible African nation of Wakanda has fallen on hard times, and so has its superhero king, T’Challa, the Black Panther. A rebel group led by a mysterious duo has fueled a violent uprising, taking many Wakandan lives. And to make matters worse, two of T’Challa’s elite bodyguards have launched a rebellion of their own! Will our melancholy monarch watch helplessly as his beloved country falls to the forces of terrorism and political unrest? Or can this plagued and pestered panther persevere against his opponents and ascend to that hallowed throne of comic book stories known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: -The Black Panther as a DC Comics character -New Avengers, Infinity, and Avengers vs. X-Men -Black Panther: The Man Without Fear -Is rain yoga a thing? -Henry Dumas’ “Root Song” -The Black Panther as Hamlet -We unveil a new segment! -Two universes enter—one universe leaves! Join us in two weeks as we get ready for Netflix’s Luke Cage series with a discussion of Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #8-9 and New Avengers #38! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin set off in search of the Rocketship Forest, tiptoe past the gunpowder fields and try to evade the withering gaze of Lying Cat as they discuss Saga, Vol. 1, collecting the first six issues of the hit Image Comics title by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. Newlyweds Alana and Marko are on the run, desperate to escape an ongoing interstellar war and raise their newborn baby girl in peace. But their respective homeworlds have other ideas, dispatching a lovesick bounty hunter and an aristocratic robot to the planet Cleave find the happy couple—and terminate them with extreme prejudice! Is the chronicle of these star-crossed lovebirds doomed to end before it even has a chance to begin? Or can these crazy kids and their new ghostly babysitter escape this wretched mudball and ensure that their narrative lives on in that fabled tome of immortal epics known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Eric Stephenson’s coordination is on point • The challenges of discussing Saga on a "clean" podcast • Chekhov's magic sword • Divisive Issues • Linoleum Knife • Susanna Ives • The Tick • Blank Check with Griffin & David Join us in two weeks as we venture to the troubled land of Wakanda to discuss Ta-Nehisi Coates’ comics debut, Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin drift off to that eternal, amorphous realm of the subconscious known as The Dreaming (with a brief stopover in Hell) as they try to interpret the fantastical goings-on in The Sandman: Season of Mists, collecting issues 21-28 of the DC/Vertigo title The Sandman by Neil Gaiman and various artists. Morpheus, the lord of Dreams, pays a long-overdue visit to Hell to right a past wrong, only to find the place empty. Turns out Lucifer, the first of the fallen, no longer wants to be warden of the wicked, and hands Morpheus the key to his domain of the damned. Will the dumbstruck dream king fall prey to the scheming gods, demons and otherworldly entities who’ve converged on the Dreaming with devious designs on Hell? Or can he rid himself of this bestial burden and close on a dream home in that fanciful realm of imagination known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • We go off the rails in record time • A Brief History of The Sandman • What does Destiny actually do? • The curriculum vitae of Sandman supporting characters • Fashion choices of the Endless • Morpheus as Anthony Weiner • The Headmaster Ritual Join us in two weeks as we rocket to the farthest reaches of space to explore the star-spanning epic Saga Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin visit a seemingly idyllic Washington, D.C. suburb to pull back the curtain and expose the insecurities and instability corrupting the source code of one modern American family as they run some diagnostic tests on The Vision: Little Worse Than a Man, collecting issues 1-6 of Tom King and Gabriel Hernandez Walta’s acclaimed Marvel comic, The Vision. In his ongoing quest to be human, the android Avenger has created his own version of a perfect suburban family unit. But when a supervillain with ties to the Vision’s past drops by unannounced, he sets off a sequence of events that threatens not just this humanoid household, but the entire world! Will the Vision hit the “delete” button to protect his computerized clan from a world that mistrusts and fears them? Or can everyone’s favorite synthezoid sentinel save the day and gain acceptance into that exclusive gated community known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: -Superstar comics editor Wil Moss -Star Trek: Voyager -The Vision is guilty of android-splaining -The first supervillain ever killed with a cookie sheet -A possibly gratuitous Hamilton reference -Hot take! Is Tom King “better” than Alan Moore? -Steamy synthezoid-on-synthezoid action! -Kevin mangles the titles of Dark Reign and The Sheriff of Babylon!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin return to Gotham City and put on their Dark Knight Detective caps to sift through labored puns, fun-house felonies and other offenses as they consider the strange case of Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's highly acclaimed 1998 DC Comics graphic novel, Batman: The Killing Joke! But first, they take a quick detour to the black-and-white days of 1951 for a very different look at the origin of Killing Joke antagonist the Joker! Listen to our heroes match wits with the Caped Crusader and his Boy Wonder as they try to crack the conundrum of The Man Behind the Red Hood! Will our dynamic duo sentence the Joker to rot behind the imposing gates of Arkham Asylum? Or will the Clown Prince of Crime find himself laughing all the way to that big score known as ... The Comics Canon?

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin put aside their capes and cowls to discuss a different kind of comic book story: Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. In sketching a portrait of her life growing up in a small Pennsylvania town, Bechdel examines her complicated relationship with her father, Bruce, a funeral home director and high school teacher whose passion for restoring the family’s Victorian-era home underscores his emotional distance from his wife and children. When Alison comes out to her parents as a lesbian, she soon comes to learn of her father’s own homosexuality, which lands him in legal trouble and perhaps even contributes to his sudden death at the age of 44, which Bechdel considers to be a suicide. Can Alison come to terms with her father’s death, his past, and his detached relationship with her? And can her award-winning memoir make its own way in the world, to that obsessively decorated “fun home” known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Fun Home: the Broadway musical The Mighty Hercules and The Addams Family From Hell Thinking about your parents having sex Timely references to both sports and politics Does this podcast pass The Bechdel Test? Join us in two weeks as we don our superhero tights once again and return to Gotham City to discuss Batman: The Killing Joke! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin take a break from talking about comic book stories, and instead talk about … TV and movie adaptations of comic book stories from the first half of 2016! How did these series and films reflect their source material? And more importantly—were they any good? Things discussed in this non-canonical, somewhat spoiler-y installment include Deadpool’s skewering of superhero movie tropes, the lighthearted romp that was Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the evolutionary dead end that was X-Men: Apocalypse, and the rock -’em sock-’em bonanza that was Captain America: Civil War. But wait! There’s more! We also weigh in on the disappointing second season of Agent Carter and the surprisingly entertaining third season of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the best things about the second season of Daredevil, the charms of DC’s burgeoning TV empire (The Flash, Supergirl, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow), the long-awaited arrival of Negan on The Walking Dead and the debut of AMC’s Preacher. Meanwhile, join us in two weeks as we turn our attention back to the printed page with a look at Alison Bechdel’s award-winning graphic memoir Fun Home! 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!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin pay tribute to the late Darwyn Cooke, whose death from cancer on May 14, 2016, shocked and saddened the comics community, with an in-depth discussion of his award-winning 2004 masterwork, DC: The New Frontier. Cooke’s six-volume saga, spanning the 15-year period from the end of World War II to the dawn of the 1960s, finds DC heroes old and new coming to terms with a rapidly changing world, touching on topics as varied as McCarthyism, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the civil rights movement, the space race and the Cold War. When a menace surfaces unlike any they’ve ever faced, can Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and other heroes from DC’s Golden and Silver Ages rise to challenge the unknown, usher in a new era of optimism, and conquer that final frontier known as … The Comics Canon?

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin embark on a dazzling journey from the stuffy confines of an exclusive NewYork club to the famed “blue area” of the moon (the No. 1 lunar tourist attraction!) as they struggle to decide the fate of Uncanny X-Men issues 132-137: The Dark Phoenix Saga! The Hellfire Club, a cabal of wealthy, power-hungry Hamilton cosplayers, mentally manipulate Jean Grey, aka the godlike Phoenix, to help them capture her fellow X-Men. But in doing so, they unwillingly unleash a force of cosmic destruction—the Dark Phoenix, who promptly snacks on a star and earns the wrath of a mighty intergalactic empire. Will this Black Angel destroy the man she loves, her teammates, and possibly the entire universe? Or can our band of merry mutants win the day and cement their spot in the fiery firmament of funnybooks known as … The Comics Canon?

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin don their best star-spangled finery and strap on their shootin’ irons as they take on the awesome responsibility of discussing Captain America vol. 5, issues 25-36; the first 12 issues of The Death of Captain America. In the aftermath of Civil War, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, is gunned down in front of a stunned nation—the first volley in a diabolical plot by the dastardly Red Skull, who really, really hates America! It’s up to Cap’s former sidekick, Bucky Barnes, to save the day—while atoning for his past as the brainwashed Soviet assassin Winter Soldier. Have the Red Skull and his criminal cronies written freedom’s obituary? Or can Bucky Cap, Sharon Carter, the Falcon and the Black Widow march onward into that sweet land of liberty known as … The Comics Canon?

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In this non-canonical episode, we take a break from passing judgment on comic book stories to discuss one of our favorite days of the year: Free Comic Book Day! Things discussed in this special mini-episode: What is this annual event all about? How did it get started? And what are some of the more noteworthy offerings? We also discuss the free comics we’re most looking forward to, and offer recommendations for comics to spend actual money on while you’re visiting your favorite comics retailer.

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WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON? In this episode, Curt and Kevin charter a school bus to Stamford, Connecticut to weigh the pros and cons of the Superhero Registration Act, the ethics of cloning a dead god, and the problems of giant crossover events as they (rather civilly) discuss the 2006-2007 Marvel limited series Civil War. In the wake of a national tragedy, a shocked and fearful public calls for the regulation of super-powered beings. Iron Man leads a group of heroes in favor of licensing, proper training, and (presumably) having government holidays off, while Captain America heads up a resistance movement not eager to take its marching orders from politicians. Will this clash of titans end in blood and tears, with friends and families forever rent asunder? Or will our Founding Fathers come together to deem it a revolutionary tale worthy of admission into that Land of the Free known as … The Comics Canon?

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin hitchhike their way back to the rural South to sermonize on issues 8-12 of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s two-fisted, double-barreled 1990s Vertigo series, Preacher. Hard-drinkin’ reverend Jesse Custer has been forcibly merged with an otherworldly entity known as Genesis, the product of the union of an angel and a demon. Armed with the Word of God, Jesse sets out with his ex-girlfriend, would-be hitwoman Tulip O’Hare, to find God and discover why He has abandoned His creation. But when they’re abducted at gunpoint and dragged back to Angelville, Jesse’s horrific childhood home, they learn that God—and the most evil grandma ever—have other plans. Have these lovebirds had their Last Supper? Or can they somehow find their way into that Garden of Eden known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Why don’t we discuss issues 13-17? Why is God in cahoots with the most evil grandma ever? Racism, bestiality and incest -- just another day in the South! “Eff you, John Wayne!” “You’re under arrest for the murder of a cyclops!” Burning a cross on your own lawn Curt draws a line in the sand! Join us in two weeks as we trade in our priestly vestments for the latest high-tech spandex to rain fire and brimstone upon Marvel’s 2006 crossover event Civil War! 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!

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In this special non-canonical episode, Curt and Kevin discuss The Walking Dead #100 and graphic violence in comics stories. As Negan makes his introduction on the Walking Dead TV series, we ask: Was his brutal murder of a beloved character in this issue a bridge too far? When do violent scenes in comics cross the line? And was Negan a Tarantino fan before the zombie apocalypse? (Also mentioned: From Hell, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Garth Ennis, and the “Women in Refrigerators” trope in entertainment.) But what do YOU think? Share your thoughts on a violent comic-book story that stuck with you—one you enjoyed, or one that grossed you out—and you could win FIVE FREE COMICS from The Comics Canon Prize Bin! Send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and the best response will receive five free comics of our choosing. The winner will be selected on Friday, April 8. Meanwhile, check back with us in two weeks as we return to passing judgment on classic comics stories with Preacher: Until the End of the World! And as always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin trade in their crime-fighting long johns for prison jumpsuits as they hack, shoot, and slash their way through 12 lurching issues of Robert Kirkman’s never-ending magnum opus, The Walking Dead. When Rick Grimes and his ragtag band of zombie apocalypse survivors come across a remote prison complex, they hope to make a new life for themselves. But they find themselves serving a sentence of maximum insecurity, thanks to a nebbishy serial killer, a prickly double-murderer, a pair of botched suicide attempts and Rick’s mounting bloodlust – not to mention an unending stream of undead inmates. Will these habitual offenders fall prey to a menace far worse than a parade of perambulating corpses … the threat of their own baser instincts? Or can Rick, Tyreese, Michonne and the rest of this tightly wound community stop squabbling, brawling and hooking up long enough to earn that Get Out of Jail Free card that grants them membership in … The Comics Canon? Things discussed in this episode: --Why Rick Grimes Never Made Detective --The Continuing Stooory of a Zombie Apocalypse ... --Why is it always the most obvious suspect? --The Adventures of Patty, Low-Self-Esteem Girl! --The Heather Locklear of The Walking Dead --Weekend at Bernie’s: The Zombie Edition --What’s in the mystery meatloaf? --Seven pages of white-hot lecturing action! --"WE ARE THE WALKING DEAD!" Join us in a mere two days as we commemorate the upcoming season finale of The Walking Dead for a non-canonical discussion of violence in comics and the infamous The Walking Dead #100. And then check back with us again in two weeks as we gear up for another AMC program based on a comic-book property by pontificating on Preacher issues 8-12, collected in Until the End of the World. 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!

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In this episode, “Miller March” continues as Curt and Kevin ring in the second season of Netflix’s Daredevil series by applying their keen extrasensory senses to Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli’s classic tale of revenge, redemption and overheated Christian symbolism. When his junkie ex-girlfriend sells his secret identity for a fix (we’ve all been there, right, fellas?), Matt Murdock finds himself homeless and penniless as he faces off against the Kingpin of Crime, a murderous psychotic, a roided-up super-soldier, and one very unfriendly health-care professional. Is this the end of everyone’s favorite blind attorney turned protector of Hell’s Kitchen? Or can ol’ Hornhead overcome these trials and tribulations to win a favorable verdict in the People’s Court known as … The Comics Canon? Things discussed in this episode: The lamest rogue’s gallery in all of comics? (Cough) Stilt-Man (Cough) Karen Page’s poor negotiation skills “The Passion of the Matt” and heavy-handed Catholic imagery Leave my credit score alone, you monster! “There is no corpse.” Lois the Killer Nun! Nuke? Seriously? It’s an Avengers thing … you wouldn’t understand. Why kids don’t play make-believe as Daredevil Join us in two weeks as we shamble down to rural Georgia to pass sentence on The Walking Dead: Safety Behind Bars and The Heart’s Desire! 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!

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In this episode, “Miller March” kicks off with a bang as Curt and Kevin don their surgical scrubs to dissect Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, writer/artist Frank Miller’s celebrated deconstruction of everyone’s favorite Caped Crusader!

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In this episode, the rubber meets the road as Curt and Kevin travel back in time to the sepia-toned days of 2014 to discuss Ms. Marvel #1-5! Kamala Khan may well be the most likeable first-generation Pakistani-American teenage Muslim superhero ever. Does this shape-shifting schoolgirl have what it takes to crash that hallowed hall of marvels known as … The Comics Canon?

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In this episode, Curt and Kevin dig deep into the fertile soil of The Saga of the Swamp Thing issues 21-24! In this tangled tale of fearsome flora, Alan Moore puts DC’s mixed-up muck monster through an existential crisis that plants the seeds of a new era in superhero comics.

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Our first episode is here, and it’s a big one! Join Curt and Kevin as they tackle Fantastic Four issues 48-50, introducing two of the heaviest hitters in the Marvel Universe—none other than that great-granddaddy of celestial crumbums, the world-devouring Galactus, and his shreddin’ sentinel of the spaceways, the Silver Surfer!

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Co-hosts Kevin Moreau and Curt Holman answer that burning question in this introductory preview. Each episode, they'll take a critical and completely subjective look at one of the greatest (or not-so-greatest) stories in comics history as they decide: Does this belong in the pantheon of great comic-book stories ... The Comics Canon?

The Comics Canon: Recent Episodes