Episode 255: Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, Book 1

Posted on May 13, 2026 by Kevin Moreau

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:  Continue reading →

Posted in Episodes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Episode 255: Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, Book 1

Episode 254: The Punisher Origins

Posted on April 29, 2026 by Kevin Moreau

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:

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!

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!

Posted in Episodes | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Episode 254: The Punisher Origins

Episode 253: DC Superheroes vs. Super-Gorillas

Posted on April 15, 2026 by Kevin Moreau

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!

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!

Posted in Episodes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Episode 253: DC Superheroes vs. Super-Gorillas

Episode 252: The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans

Posted on April 1, 2026 by Kevin Moreau

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: Continue reading →

Posted in Episodes | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Episode 252: The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans

Episode 251: Green Lantern Origins

Posted on March 17, 2026 by Kevin Moreau

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:  Continue reading →

Posted in Episodes | Tagged | Comments Off on Episode 251: Green Lantern Origins

The Ask Us Anything Episode

Posted on March 4, 2026 by Kevin Moreau

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!

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!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Comments Off on The Ask Us Anything Episode

Call for Questions!

Posted on February 23, 2026 by Kevin Moreau

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!

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Call for Questions!

The Gateway Episode

Posted on February 18, 2026 by Kevin Moreau

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! Continue reading →

Posted in Canonical Conversations | Tagged | Comments Off on The Gateway Episode

Episode 250: Understanding Comics

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Kevin Moreau

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!  Continue reading →

Posted in Episodes | Tagged | Comments Off on Episode 250: Understanding Comics

Episode 249: Zot! The Earth Stories

Posted on January 21, 2026 by Kevin Moreau

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:  Continue reading →

Posted in Episodes | Tagged , | Comments Off on Episode 249: Zot! The Earth Stories