Episode 259: The Incredible Hulk vs. Wolverine
The Comics Canon
On this episode, in true Comics Canon fashion, we look ahead to the July 30 release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day with a discussion of (what else?) a pair of classic battles between the Hulk and Wolverine, natch! First up are “And the Wind Howls … Wendigo!” and “And Now … the Wolverine!” from 1974’s Incredible Hulk #180-181, featuring the debut of the first and greatest Canadian superhero! Then we jump ahead 13 years to 1987’s “Vicious Circle” from Incredible Hulk #340, for a rematch between a very different Hulk and a very different Wolverine, in perhaps the most 1990s...
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Episode 258: Captain America and Marvel Golden Age Origins
The Comics Canon
In this episode, we mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S.A. by looking back at the origin and first appearance of the nation’s greatest super-soldier, Captain America, in 1941’s Captain America Comics #1! We also look back at the first appearances of two other Golden Age Marvel characters who are still around today – Cap’s fellow Invaders the original Human Torch and Namor, the Sub-Mariner – in 1939’s Marvel Comics #1! And just for kicks, we throw in the first appearance of the Red Skull – well, a Red Skull, anyway – in The Riddle of the Red Skull, also from Captain...
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Episode 257: Sex Criminals Vol. 1 – One Weird Trick
The Comics Canon
Content warning: If the title didn’t tip you off, this book deals with sex -- in graphic, often hilarious ways. Consequently, we’re slapping an Explicit label on this episode, for both language and subject matter. In this episode, we look ahead to Amazon’s upcoming Sex Criminals streaming series with a look at Sex Criminals Vol. 1: One Weird Trick, by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, published by Image Comics! When Jon and Suzie hook up at a party, they discover that they both possess a unique gift: When they orgasm, time stops for seemingly everyone but them. When Jon proposes they...
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So … We’re Talking About Cerebus
The Comics Canon
Content warning: Sexual assault It’s finally happened! After 10 years and more than 250 episodes, we finally get around to discussing the elephant (or, rather, the aardvark) in the room: Dave Sim’s 300-issue magnum opus, Cerebus! And to help us grapple with the weight of one of the longest-running, most creative and most controversial comics in the history of the medium, we’re joined by longtime friend of the show Bryan Stratton of Self-published by Sim’s Aardvark-Vanaheim, Cerebus paved the way for many other independent comics creators to self-publish their work. And its...
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Episode 256: Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, Book 2 and 3
The Comics Canon
In this episode, we conclude our two-part look at Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons with a discussion of Books 2 and 3, by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Gene Ha and Nicola Scott, published by DC Black Label! The Amazons accept Hippolyta and other disenfranchised women into their ranks as they continue their mission to hunt down those who abuse and oppress women. But it isn’t long before their activities catch the attention of a wrathful Zeus, sparking an all-out war between the Amazons and the gods of Olympus! What is Hera’s long game? Why is there a baby made of sand? And will the...
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Episode 255: Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, Book 1
The Comics Canon
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...
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Episode 254: The Punisher Origins
The Comics Canon
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...
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Episode 253: DC Superheroes vs. Super-Gorillas
The Comics Canon
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? ...
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Episode 252: The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans
The Comics Canon
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...
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Episode 251: Green Lantern Origins
The Comics Canon
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 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...
info_outlineOn this episode, we welcome writer, actor and friend of the show Michael Owl, host of The Origin Story Podcast, as we dive into one of the best-reviewed graphic novels of 2025: Drome by Jesse Lonergan!
This imaginative epic combines a visually dazzling creation myth with an action-packed fantasy adventure, as the blue-skinned demigoddess Blue attempts to impose order on a chaotic world, opposed by the violent one-eyed warlord Patch, each acting as proxies for remote gods. Folding in elements from such sources as the Bible, Greek mythology and classic fantasy, it feels both familiar and aggressively new as Lonergan plays with the comic-book format in fun and creative ways.
But is all of that enough for Drome to survive the judgment of that pantheon of deities and demigods known as … The Comics Canon?
In This Episode:
· Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole
· Chekhov’s Night Bull
· Star Trek The Next Generation: Darmok
· Santa, When the Claus Fell
· There There by Tommy Orange
· Slugfest: Inside the Epic 50-Year Battle Between Marvel and DC, by Reed Tucker
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Join us in two weeks as we ramp up to our special 250xth episode with a look at The Earth Stories (issues #28-36) of Scott McCloud’s Zot!
Until then:
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