Episode 184 – The Strange Death of Adam Warlock Part 1

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 183 – It’s an Ambush Bug, Not a Feature!

Posted on March 29, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 182 – The Authority: Relentless

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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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?

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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?

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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:
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And as always, thanks for listening!

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