Episode 136 - Superman in Zero Hour with Grant Richter

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 'triangle era' and the introduction of new characters like Superboy. Key segments explore Zero Hour’s impact on character continuity, the complexities of time travel within the story, and specific tie-in issues featuring characters such as Superboy and Batman. The episode also covers the introduction of characters like Alpha Centurion and the lasting effects of Zero Hour on DC’s continuity, followed by an evaluation of the event's strengths and weaknesses. The hosts conclude with final thoughts, social media promotions, and listener engagement opportunities through a Discord community.

 

Notes

Introduction to Zero Hour (00:00 - 10:02)

• Podcast hosts introduce themselves and guest Grant Richter
• Discuss Zero Hour, a DC Comics event from 1994
• Highlight the significance of Zero Hour for Superman and Legion of Superheroes

Context of Zero Hour (10:02 - 18:31)

• Explain the state of Superman comics in 1994
• Discuss the 'triangle era' of Superman comics
• Mention the introduction of new characters like Superboy and Steel

Zero Hour's Impact on Characters (18:31 - 28:29)

• Detail the effects of Zero Hour on Legion of Superheroes continuity
• Discuss the introduction of Valor (Mon-El) as a replacement for Superboy
• Explain the concept of SW6 Legion and time duplicates

️ Time Shenanigans in Zero Hour (28:29 - 40:04)

• Describe the multiple versions of characters appearing due to time distortions
• Discuss the involvement of the Time Trapper and Cosmic Boy
• Explain the pocket universe Superboy's role in the event

‍♂️ Superboy Tie-In Issue (40:04 - 50:06)

• Analyze the Superboy Zero Hour tie-in issue
• Praise Tom Grummett's artwork
• Discuss the interaction between 90s Superboy and pre-Crisis Superboy

Batman's Role in Zero Hour (50:06 - 59:41)

• Examine the Man of Steel tie-in issue featuring multiple Batmen
• Praise Jon Bogdanove's artistic versatility in depicting different Batman styles
• Discuss the appearance of Jor-El and Lara in the story

Alpha Centurion and Alternate Realities (59:41 - 01:08:39)

• Introduce the character of Alpha Centurion
• Discuss the alternate reality where Alpha Centurion replaces Superman
• Analyze the design and concept of Alpha Centurion
• ⏳ Time Distortions and Character Interactions (01:08:39 - 01:17:16)
• Examine the Action Comics tie-in featuring time distortions
• Discuss the appearance of young Ma and Pa Kent
• Analyze the 1940s gangster story elements in the issue

Zero Hour's Overall Impact (01:17:16 - 01:26:15)

• Discuss the lasting effects of Zero Hour on DC continuity
• Analyze the introduction of characters like Kyle Rayner and Jack Knight
• Debate the merits of the event's approach to continuity changes

Villains and Consequences (01:26:16 - 01:35:13)

• Discuss the roles of Extant and Parallax as villains in Zero Hour
• Analyze the portrayal of Hal Jordan as Parallax
• Examine the consequences for the Justice Society of America

Evaluating Zero Hour (01:35:13 - 01:44:39)

• Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Zero Hour as an event
• Analyze its impact on different DC franchises
• Compare it to other comic book events

️ Wrapping Up and Podcast Information (01:44:40 - 01:55:18)

• Hosts and guest share final thoughts on Zero Hour
• Provide information on where to find their podcasts and social media
• Promote other podcast projects and Discord community

Listeners

• Check out Grant's podcast and Twitter for more Superman content (51:06)
• Join the CPOV Discord server for more Superman discussions (53:33)