Captain America: Brave New World, Same Old Slop

Posted on February 16, 2025 by Kevin Moreau

Marvel Studios

Review by Curt Holman

When is a spoiler not a spoiler? Captain America: Brave New World builds to a revelation that would have been a delightful surprise had not the film been entirely sold on it in trailers and posters.

So it seems fair game for a review to mention that in the last act of the film, President “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford) transforms into the Red Hulk and runs amok on the White House lawn. Keeping the Red Hulk, a creation of Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness, an audience secret would have made Brave New World a more entertaining experience. But you can appreciate the marketers falling prey to that temptation, since Brave New World, with its stale premise and muddled execution, has so little to offer as an entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Continue reading →

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Episode 226: Thunderbolts – The Great Escape and Like Lightning

Posted on February 12, 2025 by Kevin Moreau

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:
 Continue reading →

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Episode 225: Thunderbolts – Burning Down the House

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Kevin Moreau

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: Continue reading →

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Episode 224: Final Cut

Posted on January 15, 2025 by Kevin Moreau

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 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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Quizzical Canonical 6: Bring on the Good/Bad Guys!

Posted on January 1, 2025 by Kevin Moreau

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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Episode 223: Thunderbolts – Justice, Like Lightning …

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Kevin Moreau

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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Episode 222: The Avengers – Under Siege

Posted on December 4, 2024 by Kevin Moreau

In this episode, our-decade-by-decade series on Marvel’s Thunderbolts 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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Episode 221: Captain America and the Falcon – Secret Empire and The Coming of Nomad

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Kevin Moreau

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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Episode 220: The Avengers vs. the Masters of Evil

Posted on November 7, 2024 by Kevin Moreau

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: Continue reading →

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Venom: The Last Dance Review: Tom Hardy’s Dual Role Still Steals the Show

Posted on October 24, 2024 by Kevin Moreau

Review by Curt Holman

How popular is Spider-Man? So popular that Sony Pictures has a franchise of live-action films of Spider-man characters, but the web-slinger himself is never seen or mentioned.

The Venom movies are the best of the lot, but that’s not a proud accomplishment: By the standards of Morbius and Madame Web, the bar is so low it may as well be part of the flooring. Nevertheless, in 2018 the first Venom earned more than $850 million worldwide and cast Tom Hardy as both hapless reporter Eddie Brock and the rumbling voice of the titular alien symbiote. Continue reading →

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