Episode 197 – Swamp Thing: American Gothic (Part 2)

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

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: Continue reading →

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Comics Onscreen – Movie Mayhem!

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

Marvel Studios

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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Episode 196 – Amazing Spider-Man: Shed

Posted on September 27, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

(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:
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Quizzical Canonical 4: Nothing Can Stump the Juggernaut!

Posted on September 20, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

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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Episode 195 –Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut! and The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man

Posted on September 13, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

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: Continue reading →

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Episode 194 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (With Matt Goldberg)

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

Media critic Matt Goldberg returns as we temporarily pause our Spidey Super-Stories miniseries to discuss the unstoppable cultural phenomenon known as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with a look at the book that started it all—Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (and also #2) by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird!

Before the seven different movies (including the well-received new “Mutant Mayhem”), the animated series, the video games and the action figures, there was just a self-published black-and-white comic riffing on Frank Miller’s Daredevil run with a brilliant title.

 

How did this modest 40-page comic spawn a decades-spanning multimedia juggernaut? And does it have what it takes to enter that Forbidden Kingdom known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:
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Episode 193 – Ultimate Spider-Man Vol 2: Learning Curve and Confessions

Posted on August 17, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

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:
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Episode 192 – The Superior Spider-Man: My Own Worst Enemy (With Marvel by the Month)

Posted on August 2, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

Bryan Stratton and Robb Milne from the Marvel by the Month podcast join us once again 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?

Continue reading →

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Episode 191 – Spider-Man No More!

Posted on July 19, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

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!
Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Episode 190 – The Sandman: The Kindly Ones Part 2

Posted on July 5, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

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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