Episode 142 - The Incredibles with Doug Lief
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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Episode 141 - Supreme: The Story of the Year with Micah McCaw
Men of Steel
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 Supreme—a character initially created by Rob Liefeld and akin to Superman—by incorporating innovative storytelling techniques, such as in-universe...
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Episode 140 - The Shadow Meets Superman in “The Searing Silhouette” by P. Case Aiken III
Men of Steel
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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Episode 139 - Planetary with Jesse Galdston
Men of Steel
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 characters—including Elijah Snow and the Drummer—and its exploration of themes such as lost potential, the grotesque realities of heroism,...
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Episode 138 - The Superman / Flash Races with Austin Funk
Men of Steel
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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Episode 137 - DC Super Powers with Rick Lee James
Men of Steel
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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Episode 136 - Superman in Zero Hour with Grant Richter
Men of Steel
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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Episode 135 - Batman / Superman: World's Finest # 1-6 with Jim Fetters
Men of Steel
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: ● 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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Episode 134 - Superman: Secret Origin with Alex McConnell
Men of Steel
It’s time to look at what just might be technically the current origin of Superman, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s Secret Origin miniseries! Alex McConnell joins Case and Jmike to look at this retro reboot of the Man of Tomorrow’s 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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Episode 133 - The Dark Knight Returns with Duke!
Men of Steel
What 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: ● 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_outlineThere'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 childhood perceptions of superheroes, particularly focusing on toys from the Super powers line of the late 70s and early 80s. The episode delves into the cultural influence of various superhero toy lines, including Power Rangers and Transformers, while examining the design and action features of iconic vehicles like the Batmobile and Supermobile. The hosts explore the evolution of toy designs, the crossover between toys and media tie-ins, and how characters like Cyborg emerged from the Super powers cartoon. Rick shares insights into his music career and current role as a hospital chaplain, along with social media details for fans. The meeting concludes with plans for future episodes and an action item to research additional Superpowers memorabilia.
Notes
Introduction and Toy Discussion(00:00 - 10:30)
● Hosts Case Aiken and J. Mike Fson introduce the podcast and guest Rick Lee James
● Discussion about the importance of action figures in shaping childhood perceptions of superheroes
● Rick shares his experience with Super powers toys from the late 70s/early 80s
● Toys as a source of creativity and early fan fiction for children
● Mention of He-Man's origin from unused Conan the Barbarian toy molds
Superhero Toy Lines and Media Influence(10:30 - 19:32)
● Discussion of Power Rangers, Transformers, and Superman merchandise
● Death and Return of Superman toy line from early 90s mentioned
● Batman animated series influence on toy production
● Superpowers toy line features discussed, including action features for each character
● Detailed list of Super powers characters and their action features
Toy Design and Cultural Impact(19:32 - 31:12)
● Comparison between original Superpowers line and new McFarlane toys
● Discussion of vehicles in both toy lines, including Supermobile and Batmobile
● Mention of Jose Louis Garcia Lopez's influence on toy design
● Impact of Super powers cartoon on future DC storylines, including Cyborg's inclusion in Justice League
● Robot Chicken's use of Super powers toys in their sketches
McFarlane Toys and Vehicle Features(31:14 - 39:21)
● Detailed discussion of McFarlane's new Super powers toy line
● Focus on vehicle toys having action features while figures do not
● Comparison of original and new Supermobile, Batmobile, and Wonder Woman's Invisible Jet
● Discussion of comic accuracy in new toy designs
Superpowers Media Tie-ins(39:21 - 46:52)
● VHS tapes featuring Superman, Aquaman, Batman, and Superboy mentioned
● Discussion of Superboy's prevalence in media despite lack of dedicated toy
● Mention of Justice League of America Skyscraper Caper board game
● Ubiquity of Superpowers merchandise in the 1980s
Wrap-up and Guest Information(46:52 - 57:40)
● Rick shares his Superman Twitter account and music career
● Discussion of Rick's current work as a hospital chaplain
● Hosts share their contact information and upcoming content
● Mention of YouTube channel and Dungeons & Dragons videos
● Closing remarks and podcast information