Episode 181 – Batman and Son

Posted on March 1, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

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:
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Episode 180 – Batman: A Death in the Family

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 179 – Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 178 – Death: The High Cost of Living

Posted on January 18, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 177 – Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

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:
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Episode 176 – A Very Batman Christmas Episode

Posted on December 21, 2022 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 175 – Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Snowbirds Don’t Fly (With Marvel by the Month)

Posted on December 7, 2022 by Kevin Moreau

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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Quizzical Canonical: Roll the Bones

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Kevin Moreau

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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Episode 174 – Bone Vol. 2: The Great Cow Race

Posted on November 23, 2022 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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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!
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 173 – City of Glass

Posted on November 9, 2022 by Kevin Moreau

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:
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