Men of Steel
Case and Jmike are joined by Doug Lief (from the Nostalgium Arcanum podcast) to talk about a family that's pretty super, The Incredibles! Overview In Podcast episode 142 of Men of Steel, hosts Case Aiken and Jmike Folson, alongside guest Doug Lief, delve into a comprehensive analysis of Disney's The Incredibles through the lens of Superman fandom. They explore the film's connections to other superhero media, notably its references to 60s Batman and Fleischer Superman, while debating the film's overall tone, which Case describes as having an 'angry' directorial...
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Case and Jmike are joined by Micah McCaw to assess the Symbolism Supreme in Alan Moore's Supreme Story of the Year. Overview In episode 141 of the Men of Steel podcast, hosts Case Aiken and Jmike Folson, alongside guest Micah McCaw, delve into Alan Moore's influential 12-issue run on Supreme, titled "Supreme: The Story of the Year." They highlight the comic's groundbreaking nature upon its release in the mid-90s, reimagining Supremeβa character initially created by Rob Liefeld and akin to Supermanβby incorporating innovative storytelling techniques, such as in-universe...
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Years ago, Case wrote a radio script that crossed over Superman with The Shadow. Now, he's gathered a host of actors to read it with full orchestration and foley! Overview In the Creative Collaboration and Script Reading meeting titled "The Shadow Meets Superman in The Searing Silhouette," hosted by Case Aiken and Jmike Folson, participants including Rachel Quirky Schenk, Geoff Moonen, Olivia Gilliatt, Ben Goldsmith, Peter Coleman, and Sarah Moonen engaged in a collaborative reading of the script. The meeting began with introductions and role assignments, followed by...
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Case and Jmike are joined by Jesse Galdston to excavate the deepest secrets of the Wildstorm Universe in the landmark series, Planetary. Overview In this episode of the podcast, the hosts delve into "Planetary," a groundbreaking comic series from the late 90s to early 2000s, paying tribute to its co-creator John Cassaday, who recently passed away. The discussion covers the series' unique approach to superhero narratives, its complex charactersβincluding Elijah Snow and the Drummerβand its exploration of themes such as lost potential, the grotesque realities of heroism,...
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Few questions inspire as much debate as "Who is faster, the Flash or Superman?" Case and Jmike are joined by Austin Funk, from the Rolling with Difficulty podcast ( , to take a closer look at the photo finish that is the various races between Superman and the Flash. Overview The Discussion/Analysis meeting centered around the iconic races between Superman and The Flash, covering their historical significance in comics from the first race in Superman 199 to contemporary depictions in animated series and live-action adaptations. Key topics included the power dynamics and...
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There's nothing more important to developing creativity than play, so let's look at the toys that featured the Man of Steel. In particular, back in thew 80s, DC put out a line that distilled the raw power of their characters into figures that punched and kicked without the need for buttons or levers! That's right, Case and Jmike are joined by guest Rick Lee James to discuss the venerable DC Super Powers line! Overview In the latest episode of the podcast, hosts Case Aiken and JMike Folson welcome guest Rick Lee James for an engaging discussion about the impact of action figures on...
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Can the Man of Steel weather a Crisis in Time? Grant Richter from the Truth, Justice, and Hope podcast joins Case and Jmike to look at Superman's tie ins with Zero Hour! Overview In episode 136 of the podcast, titled "Superman in Zero Hour," hosts engage in a comprehensive discussion with guest Grant Richter about the influential 1994 DC Comics event, Zero Hour. The conversation begins with an introduction to the event and its significance for key characters like Superman and the Legion of Superheroes, before delving into the context of Superman comics at that time, including the...
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There are few pairings that can rival the acclaim of Batman and Superman, but the teaming of Mark Waid with Dan Mora may be a solid challenger! Jim Fetters is back to chat with Case and Jmike about the first arc in DC's Batman / Superman: World's Finest. Overview: β In episode 134 of the Podcast Discussion meeting, hosts Casey Aiken and Jmike Folson, joined by guest Jim Fetters, delve into the intricacies of the "World's Finest" comic series, focusing on the first arc encompassing issues 1-6. They commend the creative efforts of Mark Waid and Dan Mora,...
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Itβs time to look at what just might be technically the current origin of Superman, Geoff Johns and Gary Frankβs Secret Origin miniseries! Alex McConnell joins Case and Jmike to look at this retro reboot of the Man of Tomorrowβs earliest adventures! Find Alex: ADMcConnell.com Overview In the latest episode of the podcast, the hosts delve into the intricate world of Superman through a detailed discussion of the "Secret Origins" comic, featuring a guest expert, Alex McConnell. They explore the nuances of Superman's character evolution, particularly how Geoff Johns tends to revert heroes to...
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What is this? A podcast or an operating table? Duke is back to join Case and Jmike into the legendary book, The Dark Knight Returnsβ¦ from the perspective of Superman fans. Meeting summary: β In the recent Podcast Recording meeting titled "The Dark Knight Returns," the hosts engaged in a comprehensive discussion about the iconic comic "The Dark Knight Returns." Starting with episode art options, they settled on a dynamic design featuring Superman above Batman. The conversation delved into various facets of the comic, analyzing its commentary on 1980s society,...
info_outlineWhat is this? A podcast or an operating table? Duke is back to join Case and Jmike into the legendary book, The Dark Knight Returns⦠from the perspective of Superman fans.
Meeting summary:
β In the recent Podcast Recording meeting titled "The Dark Knight Returns," the hosts engaged in a comprehensive discussion about the iconic comic "The Dark Knight Returns." Starting with episode art options, they settled on a dynamic design featuring Superman above Batman. The conversation delved into various facets of the comic, analyzing its commentary on 1980s society, politics, and character portrayals, particularly of Batman, Superman, and new characters like Carrie Kelly. They highlighted themes such as Batman's psychological struggles post-retirement, the intense Batman vs. Superman conflict, and the significance of media influence within the story. The meeting concluded with reflections on the comic's legacy and recommendations for listeners to explore more content from the podcast network.
Notes:
β π¦Έ Dark Knight Returns Discussion (00:00 - 11:48)
β Discussed episode art options for the podcast
β Decided on J Mike's suggestion of Superman floating above Batman
β Introduced the topic of 'The Dark Knight Returns' comic
β Highlighted Frank Miller's storytelling techniques and panel layouts
β Discussed the comic's portrayal of Batman and its influence on the character
β π Comic Analysis and Context (11:48 - 21:32)
β Examined the comic's representation of 1980s society and politics
β Discussed the portrayal of various characters, including Superman, Lana Lang, and Jimmy Olsen
β Analyzed the comic's themes and its critique of Reagan-era politics
β Highlighted the comic's dense storytelling and efficient use of panels
β π¦ Batman's Return and Character Development (21:32 - 31:23)
β Discussed Batman's return from retirement and his psychological state
β Analyzed the introduction of Carrie Kelly as the new Robin
β Examined the portrayal of villains, particularly Two-Face and Joker
β Discussed the comic's commentary on media and society
β π Superman's Role and Portrayal (31:23 - 42:40)
β Analyzed Superman's presence in the story and his relationship with the government
β Discussed the comic's portrayal of Superman as a powerful but conflicted character
β Examined the build-up to the confrontation between Batman and Superman
β Highlighted the comic's use of media commentary and world events
β π₯ Batman vs. Superman Conflict (42:42 - 52:02)
β Discussed the iconic fight between Batman and Superman
β Analyzed the tactics and preparation Batman uses against Superman
β Examined the weakened state of Superman due to various factors
β Discussed the implications of the fight and its resolution
β π Character Analysis and Comic Impact (52:02 - 01:00:02)
β Analyzed the portrayal of various characters, including Green Arrow and Carrie Kelly
β Discussed the comic's influence on subsequent Batman and Superman stories
β Examined the comic's legacy and its impact on the superhero genre
β Highlighted the comic's nuanced portrayal of its characters
β π¬ Wrap-up and Final Thoughts (01:00:03 - 01:08:56)
β Discussed the comic's standalone nature and its sequels
β Shared personal opinions on the comic and its various adaptations
β Provided information on where to find the podcast hosts and guest online
β Promoted other podcasts and content from the network