Episode 148 - Superman Vs. The Amazing Spider-Man with Adam Lance Garcia
Release Date: 07/04/2025
Episode 148 - Superman Vs. The Amazing Spider-Man with Adam Lance Garcia
Men of Steel
On this episode of Men of Steel, Case and Jmike are joined by nerd about town Adam Lance Garcia to dive into one of the perenial crossovers of the '70s: Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man! We talk tabloid-sized team-ups, Bronze Age bravado, and what happens when DC and Marvel let their icons share a skyline. Who wins? … I mean… It’s Superman. It’s obviously Superman. But that said, it’s a blast of a conversation, so tune in, True Believers! Check out Adam's Stuff: The Green Lama: From A Certain Point of View: Overview Adam Lance Garcia, an established Star...
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Episode 147 - The Supergirl From Krypton with Alex and Amanda Ramsey
Men of Steel
Supergirl crashes to Earth, and we’re ready to talk fashion, fights, and Fourth World politics. Joined by Alex and Amanda from Night of the Batman, we revisit the iconic Superman/Batman arc “The Supergirl From Krypton” and its animated adaptation “Superman/Batman: Apocalypse”, but which version flies higher? Check out Alex and Amanda’s stuff: SSYSK LINK: FLASHBACKS FLASH REWATCH POD: NIGHT OF THE BATMEN: OUR CROSSOVER WITH MEN OF STEEL: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/night-of-the-batmen-podcast/id1663635355?i=1000674213822 REVIEWMORE GIRLS GILMORE GIRLS REWATCH POD:...
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Episode 146 - The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman with Logan Crowley
Men of Steel
Marvel's The Incredible Hulk wanders around the desert and then stumbles into the middle of a barbecue and that interferes with Superman getting a milkshake. Hilarity ensues. But in all seriousness, this is a great comic! Join us for our discussion about it with Logan Crowley! Men of Steel Full Episode Originally aired: June 6, 2025 Edited by Sophia Ricciardi Scored by Geoff Moonen Overview In this episode of the podcast, hosts Case Aiken and Jmike welcome back guest Logan Crowley to delve into the thrilling crossover comic "The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman" from the DC vs. Marvel...
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Episode 145 - Thunderbolts* with Joe Mastropiero
Men of Steel
Marvel's Most Wanted are here to deliver some Justice like Lightning! Case and Jmike reflect on the latest MCU entry, Thunderbolts*, with friend of the show, Joe Mastropiero. Overview In the latest episode of the podcast, hosts Case Aiken and Jmike Folson, along with guest Joe Mastropiero, delve into Marvel's Thunderbolts movie, connecting its themes to the recently released Superman trailer. They discuss the film's characters, including Yelena, Bucky, and the controversial Sentry, addressing how the characters' darker backstories lend themselves to a redemption arc that deviates from their...
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Episode 144 - Silver Surfer / Superman with Logan Crowley
Men of Steel
Case and Jmike are joined by Logan Crowley to discuss one of the few times where Superman is the underdog in the story, when he crossed over with the Silver Surfer! Overview In the latest episode of the podcast, hosts Case Aiken and Jmike Folson welcome guest Logan Crowley to discuss the recently published DC versus Marvel omnibus, centering on the 90s crossover story featuring Silver Surfer and Superman. The hosts delve into character power dynamics, plot setups, and the comic's creative team while highlighting their appreciation for artists like Ron Lim and writers like George...
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Episode 143 - Voices From Krypton with Ed Gross
Men of Steel
Case and Jmike are joined by Ed Gross to talk about his books on Superman! Overview In this engaging podcast interview, hosts Case Aiken and Jmike welcome Ed Gross, a prolific author known for his in-depth oral histories, particularly focusing on Superman. The conversation begins with an exploration of Ed’s background and his extensive work, including the recently released 'The Definitive History of Superman' and the ambitious 'Voices from Krypton,' which features insights from 250 interviews. Ed shares the intricate process behind creating oral histories, akin...
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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,...
info_outlineOn this episode of Men of Steel, Case and Jmike are joined by nerd about town Adam Lance Garcia to dive into one of the perenial crossovers of the '70s: Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man! We talk tabloid-sized team-ups, Bronze Age bravado, and what happens when DC and Marvel let their icons share a skyline. Who wins? … I mean… It’s Superman. It’s obviously Superman. But that said, it’s a blast of a conversation, so tune in, True Believers!
Check out Adam's Stuff:
- Adam Lance Garcia, an established Star Wars author, shares his early fandom of Superman sparked by the 1976 Christopher Reeve film and its lasting influence on his work.
- The 1976 Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man marks the first DC/Marvel superhero crossover with a creative team that includes Gerry Conway and Stan Lee, highlighting its historical significance in comic book history.
- The story features a 92-page length with 36 pages dedicated to prologues to set character dynamics effectively, a considerable feat for comics at that time.
- Character interactions are facilitated by a news convention setting, notably altering the traditional roles of Superman as he works as a TV anchor at GBS.
- Lex Luthor emerges as the primary villain, while Doc Ock's role remains secondary, demonstrating the power dynamics within the narrative.
- Unique plot devices, such as a red sun ray that allows Spider-Man to challenge Superman, illustrate creative solutions for character conflicts.
- The discussion reveals dated elements in the narrative, particularly an Africa sequence deemed problematic, albeit 'well-intentioned' for its time.
- Comparisons to superior crossovers like JLA/Avengers emphasize shortcomings in Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man, particularly regarding character integration and narrative depth.
- Iconic moments in the comic, including Spider-Man’s ineffective punches and Peter Parker saving Lois Lane, highlight successful character interactions that resonate with fans.
- Case Aiken and Jmike Folson host Men of Steel podcast discussing Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man
- Adam Lance Garcia joins as guest, established Star Wars author with extensive comic book background
- Superman was Garcia's first fandom, introduced through 1976 Christopher Reeve film, called it 'Super S' as child
- Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man (1976) - first DC/Marvel superhero crossover, technically second collaboration after Wizard of Oz project
- Creative team: Gerry Conway (writer), Ross Andrew (artist), Dick Giordano (inker), Carmine Infantino and Stan Lee (editors)
- Neal Adams uncredited for redrawing Superman panels, John Romita Sr. redrew Marvel character faces for house style consistency
- 92-page story with 36 pages of prologues - significant length for 1976 comic
- Three prologues establish characters: Superman vs. giant robot, Spider-Man vs. Doc Ock, villains team up in prison
- Main story set at news convention in New York, allows natural meeting of characters
- Superman working as TV anchor at GBS (not Daily Planet reporter) creates awkward dynamic for classic Superman storytelling
- Lex Luthor dominates as alpha villain, Dr. Octopus relegated to secondary role throughout story
- Red sun ray device allows Spider-Man to physically fight Superman by weakening him
- Plot contrivances include fake Superman kidnapping Lois Lane and Mary Jane to force hero conflict
- Africa sequence identified as dated and problematic, though noted as 'well-intentioned' for its era
- Ms./Miss distinction scene between Mary Jane and Lois Lane reflects 1970s women's liberation discourse
- Various plot holes and inconsistencies discussed, including gravity fight scene logic
- JLA/Avengers by Busiek and Perez cited as superior crossover example with lasting consequences
- Superman/Hulk crossover praised for using iconic character versions rather than current continuity
- Batman/Captain America crossover noted for better integration of characters' respective worlds
- Iconic moments: Spider-Man punching ineffectively at Superman, two-page spread of first encounter
- Peter Parker saving Lois Lane scene appreciated as natural universe mixing
- J. Jonah Jameson and Morgan Edge drinking scene shows potential for character interactions
- Comic serves as important archaeological artifact showing evolution of crossover storytelling
- Earth Dollar Sign - joking designation for shared universe setting
- Foundation for future DC/Marvel collaborations despite narrative shortcomings