The Comics Canon
The Comics Canon is the podcast that renders judgment on the greatest comic book stories of yesterday and today. Each episode, Curt Holman and Kevin Moreau take a critical and completely subjective look at one of the biggest stories and most seminal moments in the medium’s history, as they decide: Does this belong in the pantheon of classic and iconic tales known as … The Comics Canon?
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Episode 235: Tails of the Super-Pets
06/25/2025
Episode 235: Tails of the Super-Pets
On this episode, we’re getting ready for the July 11 big-screen debut of Krypto the Super-Dog in James Gunn’s Superman with a look at the Silver Age origins of Krypto and his fellow members of the Legion of Super-Pets, as collected in Tails of the Super-Pets, published by DC Comics! First, Superboy is reacquainted with his childhood pet and uses him to gaslight Lana Lang in “The Super-Dog From Krypton!” Then, Superbaby, the Toddler of Steel, butts heads with another denizen of his former homeworld in “The Super Monkey From Krypton!” Not to be outdone, Supergirl gets in on the act when she meets Streaky the Supercat in “Supergirl’s Super Pet” before embarking on the absolutely bonkers origin of Comet in “The Super-Steed of Steel” and “The Secret Origin of Supergirl’s Super-Horse!” Will Krypto’s star turn usher in the SPCU – the Super-Pet Cinematic Universe? And are these Krypto bros ready for their close-up in that Amazing Zoo Crew known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · The troubling male/female dynamic in Silver Age comics · We have to talk about Superbaby · Superman’s questionable marketing tactics · Big Girls by Jason Howard · The Secret Life of Bat-Hound · Companion Join us in two weeks as we discuss JLA: Tower of Babel (JLA #43-46) by Mark Waid, Howard Porter and Steve Scott! Until then: ! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 234: Swamp Thing – Rite of Spring and Windfall
06/11/2025
Episode 234: Swamp Thing – Rite of Spring and Windfall
On this episode, we discuss a Swamp Thing story that we’re surprised didn’t qualify for our recently wrapped We’re With the Banned miniseries on banned and challenged comics -- Rite of Spring from Saga of the Swamp Thing #34, as well as its sequel, Windfall from Saga of the Swamp Thing #43, by Alan Moore and various artists, published by DC Comics! First up, Abigail Cable finally professes her love for our sentient vegetable man. And in lieu of sexytimes, he offers her communion via a bite of one of the tubers growing on his body, sending her on a consciousness-altering trip that shows her the interconnectedness of all things. Next we meet Chester Williams, an affable hippie who finds one of Swamp Thing’s discarded tubers in the bayou. Part of the yam finds its way to Sandy, a woman dying of cancer. Another part of it ends up with Chester’s unpleasant acquaintance Milo, and … let’s just say things don’t work out very well for one of them. Like, does this mean Swampy and Abby are going out? Does the yam as a kind of cosmic litmus paper? Do kids today even know what litmus paper is? And are these two stories good enough to embark on that long, strange trip known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Curt’s first experience with Rite of Spring · A little heads-up would be nice, Swampy · Kevin recounts an acid trip · We know what the ellipsis means … · The 1982 Swamp Thing movie · Have we mentioned our recent appearance on ? · X-Men 97 · (We Could Be) Diving for Pearls from Swamp Thing #65 Join us in two weeks as we look ahead to the upcoming Superman movie by discussing (what else?) some stories about the super pets of the Silver Age! Until then: ! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 233: Ice Haven
05/28/2025
Episode 233: Ice Haven
We’re With the Banned, our miniseries on banned and challenged graphic novels, concludes (at least for now) with a stop at Daniel Clowes’ Ice Haven, a “narraglyphic picto-assemblage” published by Pantheon Books! A collection of comic strips covering a variety of styles and perspectives, this peek behind the curtain of suburban America introduces us to an absorbing cast of characters including bitter would-be poet Random Wilder, lovesick teen Violet Van Der Platz, her young stepbrother Charles, clueless detective Joe Ames, aspiring writer Vida Wentz, and … (ahem!) comic book critic Harry Naybors. How does the abduction of uncommunicative tot David Goldberg affect our cast? What do Leopold and Loeb have to do with any of this? And can Ice Haven find itself welcome in that idyllic small town known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · What’s the deal with Blue Bunny? · Is one of our cast an unreliable narrator? · “Planting the Seeds of Divorce” · We need to talk about Harry Naybors · What does Daniel Clowes have against critics? · Transformers Vol. 1: Robots in Disguise · “The Falls” by George Saunders Join us in two weeks as we discuss a pair of controversial Swamp Thing stories from the Alan Moore era: Rite of Spring (#34) and Windfall (#43)! Until then:Please consider ! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Hey, Where’s My New Comics Canon?
05/21/2025
Hey, Where’s My New Comics Canon?
We’re afraid you’ll have to wait another week for our episode on Daniel Clowes’ Ice Haven. But that doesn’t mean you’ll have to wait a whole week to hear Curt and Kevin talk at length about comics. In fact, you can hear them render judgment on some fun comic-book stories of yesteryear this very day! Confused? Kevin’s here to explain.
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Episode 232: Gender Queer
05/07/2025
Episode 232: Gender Queer
On this episode, We’re With the Banned, our miniseries on banned and challenged graphic novels, takes on the most banned book of the past several years – Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe, published by Lion Forge Comics/Oni Press! We discuss some fairly personal topics and fumble a bit (although not as much as we may have feared) with the author’s preferred pronouns (e, em, and eir) as we discuss Kobabe’s account of eir struggles with gender dysphoria and other issues on the road to identifying as nonbinary. It’s an important work, especially in our current cultural moment. But is that enough to guarantee entry into that bastion of One Direction fandom known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · The Spivak pronouns · A brief discussion of Barbarian · Bad news from the future · How did we end up talking about typing class? · · Gamemasters: The Comic Book History of Roleplaying Games Join us in two weeks as We’re With the Banned continues with a discussion of Daniel Clowes’ Ice Haven! Until then:Please consider donating to the .! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 231: Assassination Classroom Vol. 1: Time for Assassination
04/22/2025
Episode 231: Assassination Classroom Vol. 1: Time for Assassination
We’re With the Banned, our miniseries on challenged comics and graphic novels, rolls on with a discussion of Yusei Matsui’s manga Assassination Classroom Vol. 1: Time for Assassination, published by Viz Media! Consider this a big ol’ content warning, as this charming and bizarre story contains many scenes of attempted murder inside a school, as the underachieving students of classroom 3-E are charged with assassinating their teacher! Oh, and that teacher, Koro Sensei, just happens to be a tentacled creature with a giant smiley face for a head, who’s already destroyed most of the moon -- and threatens to do the same thing to the planet Earth unless our hapless junior high students can assassinate him before the school year ends! This may be the silliest book we’ve covered on the podcast – far sillier than Ambush Bug for sure. But will that be enough to win a seat at that cool kids’ table known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Why was this book banned? · Voice casting Koro Sensei · Sinners · The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss · Deadly Class Vol. 1: Reagan Youth, by Rick Remender and Wes Craig Join us in two weeks as We’re With the Banned continues with a discussion of Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer! Until then:Please consider donating to the ! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 230: Pride of Baghdad
04/09/2025
Episode 230: Pride of Baghdad
Content warning: Sexual assault, cruelty to animals In this episode, We’re With the Banned, our miniseries on banned or challenged comics and graphic novels, continues with a discussion of Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon, published by Vertigo/DC Comics! Based on a true story, this absorbing graphic novel follows four lions who escape from the Baghdad Zoo following a bombing by American forces in April of 2003. Filled with smart dialogue, sharp characterization and rousing action, it quickly makes you forget you’re reading a book about talking animals as it draws you into its vividly realized world and makes you care for its four protagonists. Will Noor, Zill, Safa and Ali find food and safety on the deserted, shell-shocked streets of Baghdad? And will they at last roam free in that heavenly habitat known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Curt’s no good, very bad day · Why don’t more people talk about Brian K. Vaughan? · Why has this book been challenged? It’s not because of the Iraq War · Three Kings · Four Lions · The New Gods by Ram V. and Evan Cagle J Join us in two weeks as We’re With the Banned continues with a discussion of Assassination Classroom Vol. 1 by Yusei Matsui! Until then:Please consider donating to the ! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 229: This One Summer
03/26/2025
Episode 229: This One Summer
In this episode, we kick off We’re With the Banned – a miniseries on banned or challenged comics and graphic novels – with a discussion of This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki, published by First Second Books! In this delightful, finely detailed coming-of-age story, friends Rose and Windy contend with their impending adolescence during a summer beach trip, set against a pair of contrasting conflicts revolving around pregnancy, communication and depression. Will Rose get over her crush on store clerk Dunk and realize she’s backing the wrong horse? Will Windy ever slow down and take a breath? And can they prevail in that high-stakes game of Beach Blanket Bingo known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Please consider donating to the · We welcome a surprise guest · Petit Maman · The Power Fantasy Vol. 1: The Superpowers Join us in two weeks as We’re With the Banned continues with a discussion of 2006’s Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon! Until then:! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 228: Daredevil – The Devil in Cell Block D
03/12/2025
Episode 228: Daredevil – The Devil in Cell Block D
In this episode, blind lawyer Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, is behind bars – but so are Hammerhead, the Kingpin, and a host of other hardened criminals in 2006’s The Devil in Cell Block D, by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark, published by Marvel Comics! When someone close to him suffers a grisly fate, a spiraling Matt Murdock is bent on revenge! And if that weren’t bad enough, Bullseye and the Punisher join the fun as simmering tensions come to a boil, resulting in an all-out riot! Who is the mysterious figure manipulating things from behind the scenes? Who is the fake Daredevil patrolling the streets of Hell’s Kitchen while Matt cools his heels in the slammer? And can ol’ Hornhead prevail in that four-color courtroom known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · A brief discussion of HBO’s Oz · A flaw in the design of Ryker’s Island · A question about comic-book aspirations · The Devil Takes a Ride · Daredevil Vol. 1 by Mark Waid and Paolo Rivera · A VERY SPOILERY discussion of the first two episodes of Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+ Join us in two weeks as we kick off a miniseries focused on banned and challenged comics with a look at This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki! Until then:! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 227: Daredevil – Out
02/26/2025
Episode 227: Daredevil – Out
A mere 16 years after the Kingpin learns Daredevil’s secret identity in Frank Miller’s Born Again, that secret becomes front page news in 2002’s Out, by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, published by Marvel Comics! Returning to his indie crime-comic roots, Bendis puts attorney Matt Murdock through the wringer in this compelling story grounded in street-level atmosphere by artist Maleev and colorist Matt Hollingsworth. Is gaslighting your friends and loved ones okay if it means you can put on a costume and fight crime? Just how much are we supposed to root for a hero who doubles down on lying to the entire world? And can Matt Murdock get a fair shake from that sleazy tabloid known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Homicide: Life on the Street · A few words from our sponsor · Some random podcast ideas · The Origin Story podcast · The Big Empty by Robert Crais · To Live and Die in L.A. · Daredevil: Underboss · Amazing Spider-Man: Civil War Join us in two weeks as join ol’ Hornhead behind bars for The Devil in Cell Block D (issues #82-87), by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark! Until then:! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 226: Thunderbolts – The Great Escape and Like Lightning
02/12/2025
Episode 226: Thunderbolts – The Great Escape and Like Lightning
Our six-episode, six-decade overview of the Thunderbolts and comes to a close (for now, at least) as we discuss two time-hopping tales from 2011 and 2012: The Great Escape from Thunderbolts #163-165 and Like Lightning from #172-174, published by Marvel Comics! Following the events of the Fear Itself crossover event, most of the Thunderbolts manage to escape their prison home, only to end up in World War II Austria, side-by-side with Captain America and Prince Namor, fighting the Nazi forces of Baron Zemo! Then, we skip ahead a few issues (and decades) as they find themselves confronting , led by (Son of) Baron Zemo! Can these temporally tossed antiheroes repair the timeline before they cease to exist? And will these issues be deemed an excellent adventure or a bogus journey by that Time Variance Authority known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Hey, it’s · Thunderbolts #163.1 · The tearjerking tale of Techno vs. Fixer · Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) · MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios · A Thunderbolts movie theory (recorded before the new trailer was released) Join us in two weeks as we use the March 4 release of Daredevil: Born Again on Disney + to discuss Daredevil: Out by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev! Until then:! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 225: Thunderbolts – Burning Down the House
01/29/2025
Episode 225: Thunderbolts – Burning Down the House
Our decade-by-decade series on Marvel Comics’ Thunderbolts rolls into the 21st century as we discuss Burning Down the House, collecting Thunderbolts #126-129 and #132 by Andy Diggle and Roberto de la Torre, published by Marvel Comics! After saving the Earth from the Skrulls’ Secret Invasion, Thunderbolts director (and Green Goblin) Norman Osborn is headed for bigger and better things … but not before he turns the Thunderbolts against each other on his way out the door! Then, it’s high-flying mayhem aboard Air Force One as we meet an all-new T-Bolts squad led by Black Widow (no, not that one – the other one) and Osborn protects President Not Barack Obama from … the Green Goblin??? Will Songbird survive against the combined might of Moonstone, Venom and Bullseye? And will this new black-ops hit squad succeed against that Wild Covert Action Team known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · The inevitable Talking Heads chatter · Wait, what happened to covering Faith in Monsters? · Why the Irredeemable Ant-Man is the best(?) shrinking character · How lame is Mister X? Pretty lame, right? · Dark Avengers: Molecule Man and Siege · Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation Join us in two weeks as the Thunderbolts reach the 2010s, only to hop right back out in two time-traveling tales: The Great Escape (Thudnerbolts #163-165) and Like Lightning (#172-174)! Until then:! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 224: Final Cut
01/15/2025
Episode 224: Final Cut
In this episode, we look back at one of the best-reviewed graphic novels of 2024: Final Cut by Charles Burns! When Brian, a shy, socially awkward artist, meets Laurie, the soon-to-be star of his new amateur sci-fi horror movie, she quickly becomes his muse, sharing space in his drawings and his mind with the film’s giant, pod-spewing aliens. Like him, Laurie is an outsider, wrestling with her own inner demons. But as his obsession with her grows, his grasp on his mental health weakens. This vividly drawn tale of longing – to create and to connect – is part love-triangle teen romance and part love-letter to the science fiction creature features of a bygone era. But is all of that enough to make the cut with that Invasion of the Body Snatchers known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Curt and Kevin’s 8mm adventures · We have to talk about Tina · The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn · Curt’s existential crisis · Brief thoughts on Madam Web and The Northman · Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1: Married With Children Join us in two weeks as we return to our decade-by-decade look at the Thunderbolts with a look at 2007’s Faith in Monsters! Until then:! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Quizzical Canonical 6: Bring on the Good/Bad Guys!
01/01/2025
Quizzical Canonical 6: Bring on the Good/Bad Guys!
You read that right – it’s time for another installment of our recurring comics-themed quiz! As we briefly pause our miniseries on Marvel Comics’ Thunderbolts, Kevin grills Curt with a series of questions loosely related to the theme of comics villains turned heroes! We’ll be back in two weeks with a look at one of the best-reviewed graphic novels of 2024, Charles Burns’ Final Cut! Then on Jan. 29 we return to the Thunderbolts with a look at 2007’s Faith in Monsters arc by Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato!
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Episode 223: Thunderbolts – Justice, Like Lightning …
12/18/2024
Episode 223: Thunderbolts – Justice, Like Lightning …
THE WAIT IS OVER! Our decade-by-decade series on Marvel Comics’ Thunderbolts continues as we finally discuss Thunderbolts (1997) issues #1-4 and the Thunderbolts 97 Annual, by Kurt Busiek, Mark Bagley, Vince Russell and a host of others! In the aftermath of the deadly Onslaught event (hey, you guys remember Onslaught?), the world is shaken by the apparent deaths of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four! But there’s a new superhero team in town … the Thunderbolts! Who are these mysterious do-gooders? What’s their connection to Baron Zemo and his Masters of Evil? (Hmmmm…) And can the Marvel Universe’s newest heroes face down the mind-boggling menace of that Wrecking Crew known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · What we talk about when we talk about the 90s · Who will protect us from Blastaar, the Living Bomb Burst??? · Bada bing! It’s the Rat Pack, baby! · How to Baby by Liana Fink · Creature Commandos on Max · Join us in two weeks as ring in 2025 with a fun mini-episode! Then, on Jan. 15, we discuss one of the best-reviewed books of 2024 (probably Final Cut by Charles Burns) before returning to the Thunderbolts on Jan. 29 with the Civil War-adjacent tale Faith in Monsters, by Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato! Until then:! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 222: The Avengers – Under Siege
12/04/2024
Episode 222: The Avengers – Under Siege
In this episode, our-decade-by-decade series on Marvel’s Thunderbolts (NOT the Thunderbirds, as Kevin erroneously calls them in the intro) continues as we discuss The Avengers: Under Siege – specifically, The Avengers #273-277 by Roger Stern and John Buscema! Helmut Zemo, the son of one of Captain America’s greatest enemies, and a waaay-overstuffed Masters of Evil take over Avengers Mansion and begin systematically taking down Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! Hercules, the Prince of Power, lies at death’s door! Monica Rambeau, the new Captain Marvel, is trapped in the Darkforce Dimension! And the Black Knight … is taken out rather easily. This action-packed epic has it all: Squabbling supervillains! A quick stopover in Paris! Tons of property damage! And a galaxy of guest stars including Ant-Man! Paladin! The Shroud! And Doctor Druid! But is all of that enough to mount a hostile takeover of that impregnable fortress known as … The Comics Canon? Recommended in This Episode: · Fantastic Four #177: “Look Out for the Frightful Four!” · Star Trek: First Contact · The Suicide Squad Next episode: At long last! We discuss Thunderbolts: Justice, Like Lightning…! featuring Thunderbolts (1997) #1-6! WHO are the Thunderbolts? And WHAT is their connection to the Masters of Evil? ALL WILL BE REVEALED! Until then:! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 221: Captain America and the Falcon – Secret Empire and The Coming of Nomad
11/20/2024
Episode 221: Captain America and the Falcon – Secret Empire and The Coming of Nomad
Content warning: suicide In this episode, our-decade-by-decade series on the Thunderbolts intersects with one of the biggest political scandals of all time as we discuss Secret Empire and the short-lived career of Nomad, as brought to us by Steve Englehart, Sal Buscema and Frank Robbins, published by Marvel Comics! First, the shadow of Watergate looms large over Captain America and the Falcon #174-176, as the Sentinel of Liberty and his partner-in-crimefighting take on the sinister Secret Empire, leading to a shocking moment that changes Cap’s life forever! … or at least for a few issues, as Steve Rogers adopts a new identity as the blandly generic Nomad is issues 180-183! These issues have everything: The X-Men! S.H.I.E.L.D.! The Sub-Mariner! The Serpent Squad! A cameo by the Red Skull! And the surprise guest appearance of 1974! But is all of that enough to earn membership in that clandestine cabal known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Wheel! Of! MUTANTS! · A few words about Frank Robbins · What is up with the Gamecock? · What’s Redwing’s favorite music genre? · The Bog Wife · Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles Join us in two weeks as we discuss Avengers: Under Siege! Until then:! ! Hit us up on or ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 220: The Avengers vs. the Masters of Evil
11/06/2024
Episode 220: The Avengers vs. the Masters of Evil
In this episode, we kick off a decades-spanning series focusing on the hot new superhero team of 1997: the Thunderbolts! And we begin with some early Avengers issues introducing Captain America’s arch-nemesis Baron Zemo and his Masters of Evil! But first, we begin with Avengers #4, in which the Sentinel of Liberty himself is fished out of the North Sea and joins the Marvel Universe! Then it’s on to Avengers #6, in which Baron Zemo enlists the Black Knight, the Mysterious Melter and Radioactive Man in the inaugural lineup of the Masters of Evil, a team of supervillains that might have some role to play in the formation of the Thunderbolts some 30+ years later! In Avengers #7, Zemo is joined by a pair of Asgardians, the Enchantress and the Executioner—who, in Avengers #9, hatch a scheme that involves the debut of future Avengers mainstay Wonder Man! Will this concept of a villain who turns into a hero have some bearing on the Thunderbolts? Is Avengers #6 the silliest comic we’ve ever discussed on this podcast? And can these pulse-pounding issues pass muster with that eternally youthful Middle-Aged Brigade known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Curt’s dream, revisited · You know what this story needs? An alien who turns people to stone! · Seriously, what’s the deal with the Teen Brigade? · Rick Jones makes a boneheaded mistake · Twin Peaks: The Return · · Avengers Vol. 1 # 16: The Old Order Changeth! · Infamous Iron Man Vol. 1: Infamous Join us in two weeks as we take a detour into the 1970s for a look at two pivotal moments in the life of Captain America: Secret Empire and The Coming of the Nomad! Until then:! ! Hit us up on , or The Platform Formerly Known as ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Canonical Conversations: Marvel Monster Mash (With Marvel by the Month)
10/23/2024
Canonical Conversations: Marvel Monster Mash (With Marvel by the Month)
In this episode, we relax our usual format a bit as Bryan Stratton, Robb Milne and Jamie Wenger from the Marvel by the Month podcast join us to discuss (and assign ratings to) some iconic -- and less-than-iconic -- Jack Kirby monsters from before Marvel's superhero era! Monsters discussed in this episode: · Diablo, the Demon From the Fifth Dimension! (Tales of Suspense #9, 1959) · Taboo, the Thing From the Murky Swamp! (Strange Tales #75, 1960) · Groot, the Monster From Planet X! (Tales to Astonish #13, 1960) · Xemnu, the Living Hulk! (Journey Into Mystery #62, 1960) · The Blip! (Tales to Astonish #15, 1961) · Goom, the Thing From Planet X! (Tales of Suspense #15, 1960) · Googam, Son of Goom! (Tales of Suspense #17, 1961) · Fin Fang Foom! (Strange Tales #89, 1961) Recommended in this episode: · The Ultimates · The Atlas Comics Library No. 1: Adventures Into Terror Vol. 1 · The Shadow Over Innsmouth by Gou Tanabe · The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia · Dracula Vol. 1: The Impaler by Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones Join us in two weeks as we look ahead to next year’s Thunderbolts movie with the beginning of a series of episodes exploring the origins of the Thunderbolts and the Masters of Evil through the decades, beginning with Baron Zemo in Avengers #4, 6, 7 and 9!
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Episode 219: Chainsaw Man
10/09/2024
Episode 219: Chainsaw Man
In this episode, we kick off a month of horror-themed comics with a look at Tatsuki Fujimoto’s incredibly popular manga Chainsaw Man, a fresh and creative mixture of body horror, supernatural devil creatures, superhero-adjacent action and 80s boob comedy! In these chapters from Chainsaw Man volumes 1 and 2, we meet Denji, a down-on-his-luck teen whose body fuses with Pochita, a devil in the form of an adorable dog with a chainsaw sticking out from its head. Denji gains the ability to sprout chainsaws from his arms and face, and is soon conscripted by pretty Makima into a government devil-hunting agency and partnered with Power, a brash and uncontrollable blood fiend. But all he really wants is … to touch some boobs! Can the not-too-bright Denji triumph over the fearsome Bat Devil and the creepy Leech Devil, not to mention his mentor Aki? Will he wise up and realize that Makima seems to be bad news? And can he join the hallowed ranks of those Devil’s Advocates known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · What would Pitbull say? · The Substance · Exceptional X-Men #1 · Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill! Join us in two weeks as our October festivities continue with a celebration of classic Marvel monsters including Groot, Diablo, the Blip, Fin Fang Foom and others!
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Episode 218: The Joker Episode
09/25/2024
Episode 218: The Joker Episode
With Joker: Folie à Deux rolling into theaters next, the time seems right to dive into Batman’s most famous nemesis, the Joker, with a trio of stories highlighting different, pre-Dark Knight Returns iterations of the Clown Prince of Crime! First up is “The Man Who Wrote the Joker’s Jokes” from 1951’s Batman #67, in which everyone’s favorite mass murderer seeks a gag writer! Then, in 1976’s The Joker #7, a scientific accident gifts the Joker with Lex Luthor’s intellect, and Luthor with the Joker’s madness! Last but not least, we switch gears with 1978’s “The Laughing Fish” and “Sign of the Joker,” from Detective Comics #475-476, featuring one of the Ace of Knaves’ most bizarre schemes yet! Can the Grand Mogul of Mountebanks win the day against Batman, Lex Luthor, and the Gotham City Copyright Commission? And do these stories have what it takes to win over the crowd at that Ha-Hacienda known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · “With no legs, the frog becomes deaf!” · The Origin of The Comics Canon! · Bruce Willis goofs on Curt · Detective Comics #473: The Malay Penguin · Rebel Ridge · Batman and Bill · The Immortal Hulk Vol. 1: All Weather Turns to Storm · Please consider Join us in two weeks as we get ready for spooky season with a look at Tatsuki Fujimoto’s popular manga Chainsaw Man! Until then:! ! Hit us up on , or The Platform Formerly Known as ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 217: Will Eisner's The Spirit
09/11/2024
Episode 217: Will Eisner's The Spirit
In this episode, we take a long-overdue look at one of the most acclaimed crimefighters in comics history, Will Eisner’s The Spirit! Published in its own special insert in Sunday newspapers in the 1940s and early 50s, The Spirit featured seven- and eight-page stories about a masked hero in a suit and tie who helped the police of Central City fight criminal masterminds, underworld figures and slinky femmes fatales. Initially influenced by the pulps, The Spirit soon became known for short stories that showcased Eisner’s genre-defying imagination and visual invention—stories in which the Spirit himself often wasn’t even the main character! Starting with the 1940’s “The Origin of the Spirit,” we dive into eight tales that demonstrate the wide range of this influential comic. But does The Spirit have what it takes to kick back in that tastefully appointed crypt known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Curt has a dream · Who was handling Paste Pot Pete’s branding? · Is The Spirit the Citizen Kane of comics? · Will Eisner’s Shop Talk · Two of the Spirit’s femmes fatales · The Story of Rat-Tat the Toy Machine Gun · Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Join us in two weeks as we mark the upcoming release of Joker: Folie a Deux and other Batman-related properties with a handful of stories featuring everyone’s favorite clown prince of crime, the Joker! Until then:! ! Hit us up on , or The Platform Formerly Known as ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 216: V for Vendetta Book 3: The Land of Do-as-You-Please
08/28/2024
Episode 216: V for Vendetta Book 3: The Land of Do-as-You-Please
In this episode, we conclude our three-part look at V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, as collected by Vertigo/DC Comics! V disables Norsefire’s surveillance apparatus, nudging the citizens of London toward revolution. Rose Almond takes action. Schemes are hatched as Helen Heyer and Peter Creedy vie to take control of the government. Detective Finch takes a bad trip. And Evey prepares to fulfill her destiny. As society collapses, will any of our players get a happy ending? And will they finally step into the spotlight of that vicious cabaret known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · V’s Bugs Bunny physics · We’ve got a fever, and the only cure is more Scottish brogue! · A surprise induction into The Comics Canon! · The Filth and the Fury · Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep and The Simple Art of Murder Join us in two weeks as we take a long-overdue look at Will Eisner’s The Spirit! Until then:! ! Hit us up on , or The Platform Formerly Known as ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 215: V for Vendetta Book 2: This Vicious Cabaret
08/13/2024
Episode 215: V for Vendetta Book 2: This Vicious Cabaret
In this episode, we continue our three-part look at V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, as collected by Vertigo/DC Comics! Abandoned by V on the streets of London, Evey Hammond knows a brief moment of happiness before she’s captured, tortured and interrogated about her role in V’s crimes. Rose, widow of the late Derek Almond, suffers a series of humiliations. Meanwhile, V's body count grows as he issues an ultimatum to the people of London. Can Evey hold on to that last little inch of herself, even if it costs her her life? And can our cast of characters make it past the bouncer into that Kitty Kat Keller known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Remember, remember the fifth this November · Boy, were we wrong about Dascombe! · · · Gen V · Rogue Trooper: Tales of Nu-Earth Vol. 1 Join us in two weeks as our three-part series concludes with Book 3: The Land of Do-As-You-Please! Until then:! ! Hit us up on , or The Platform Formerly Known as ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 214: V for Vendetta Book 1: Europe After the Reign
07/31/2024
Episode 214: V for Vendetta Book 1: Europe After the Reign
In this episode, for … oh, no particular reason … we kick off a three-part look at the classic graphic novel V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, collected by DC Comics! Originally published in serial form in the British anthology magazine Warrior, this dystopian fantasy follows the anarchist vigilante known only as V, clad in a creepy Guy Fawkes mask, who’s hell-bent on taking revenge on the staffers of a post-war “resettlement camp!” This mysterious, magnetic revolutionary rescues a 16-year-old would-be sex worker named Evey from a horrible fate at the hands of the nation’s secret police, and soon enlists her in his one-man war to bring down the fascist British state! But is there more to the strangely powerful V than first appears? (Spoiler alert: Yes!) And can he hope to silence that Voice of Fate known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · The scourge of … THE BEATNIKS! · Pynchon, V? Really? · Maybe we shouldn’t have given the guy in Room V so much freedom… · The Abominable Dr. Phibes · Kite Man: Hell Yeah! Join us in two weeks as we roll merrily along with Book 2: This Vicious Cabaret! Until then:! ! Hit us up on , or The Platform Formerly Known as ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 213: The Boys Vol. 1 – The Name of the Game
07/17/2024
Episode 213: The Boys Vol. 1 – The Name of the Game
This episode contains explicit language and talk of sexual assault. On this episode, we take a butcher’s at the book that begat the critically acclaimed streaming series The Boys—specifically, The Name of the Game, collecting the first six issues of The Boys by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, originally published by WildStorm Productions and later collected by Dynamite Entertainment! When Hughie Campbell’s girlfriend is killed during a superpowered battle, he’s recruited by Billy the Butcher to join The Boys, a CIA-sanctioned squad of humans tasked with monitoring the superhero community and acting when they step out of line. Meanwhile, Annie January, aka Starlight, achieves her lifelong dream of joining the world’s premier superteam, The Seven—only to find that the world’s greatest heroes are corrupt, narcissistic, cruel ... and worse. And Hughie quickly learns that his new gig isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, either. Can these two innocents navigate this unpleasant new world without losing their souls? And can this book filled with sex, graphic violence and gross-out gags survive a meeting with that Human Resources department known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · A Comics Canon news break · We need to talk about that hamster ... · A discussion of The Boys on Amazon Prime Video · Garth Ennis’ Red Team · The Mighty Join us in two weeks as we begin a discussion of Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s V for Vendetta! Until then:! ! Hit us up on , or The Platform Formerly Known as ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 212: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Who Is Scorpio?
07/03/2024
Episode 212: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Who Is Scorpio?
We’re back with a look at everyone’s favorite gruff, eyepatch-wearing super-spy (non-Samuel L. Jackson division) as seen in 1968’s Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, 2, 3 and 5, published by Marvel Comics! Writer and artist Jim Steranko injects a dose of modern psychedelic and pop-art imagery and a strong sense of design into these four issues, creating a surreal visual experience the influence of which is still being felt in comics pages today. The stories those images tell, on the other hand ... Can this tough-talking, shirt-shucking, gun-toting fireball of a secret agent stop a mad scientist from destroying the world, solve a ghostly mystery on the Scottish moors and uncover the identity his mysterious nemesis Scorpio? And can Marvel’s answer to the 1960s spy craze join the elite ranks of that Impossible Missions Force known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Hey, what happened to that rocket sled? · There’s something familiar about this Centurius guy · Nick Fury Explains It All · Queen & Country: Operation Broken Ground and Operation Morningstar · Danger: Diabolik · Velvet Vol. 1: Before the Living End · Duck Soup · For Whom the Bell Tolls Join us in two weeks as we discuss The Boys Vol. 1: The Name of the Game! Until then:! ! Hit us up on , or The Platform Formerly Known as ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Canonical Rewind: Deadpool – With Great Power Comes Great Coincidence
06/19/2024
Canonical Rewind: Deadpool – With Great Power Comes Great Coincidence
Due to a family emergency, we weren’t able to get together and record a new episode for this week. So here’s an encore presentation of our Deadpool episode, With Great Power Comes Great Coincidence from May 2018. Please enjoy, and we hope to be back with you again in two weeks!
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Episode 211: Here
06/05/2024
Episode 211: Here
Richard McGuire’s 2014 graphic novel Here takes place in one location—the corner of a living room in a house in what is probably Perth Amboy, New Jersey—over the course of billions of years, from 300,000,500,000 B.C. to the far-off year 22,175. In between, we see slivers of events both dramatic and mundane, catching glimpses of ordinary lives and extraordinary creatures, and watch as small moments echo and comment on each other across the decades and centuries. It's a fascinating work that makes use of the comics medium in original and inventive ways, a seemingly unfilmable book that’s somehow being adapted into a major motion picture starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, directed by Robert Zemeckis, for release later this year. But is that enough to score a ticket to that Land That Time Forgot known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · An unlikely Forrest Gump sequel · Hey, it’s Ben Franklin! · The Reversible Man by Alan Moore and Mike White · Evil Season 4 · Reinventing Comics by Scott McCloud · Flash Gordon by Dan Schkade Join us in two weeks as we discuss Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Who Is Scorpio? by Jim Steranko! Until then:! ! Hit us up on , or The Platform Formerly Known as ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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Episode 210: Uncanny X-Men – The Brood Saga
05/22/2024
Episode 210: Uncanny X-Men – The Brood Saga
On this episode, we use the popularity of the first season of X-Men 97 as an excuse to tackle a story we’ve long had our eyes on: The Brood Saga from Uncanny X-Men #162-167 by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum and Paul Smith, published by Marvel Comics! The X-Men have been captured by the Brood (a race of nasty winged aliens) and implanted with eggs—when they hatch, the X-Men will transform into superpowered Brood queens! Can our beloved mutants (and their friend Carol Danvers) escape these evil ETs and save a race of space whales before turning into Brood 2.0? And can this spacefaring superhero saga make landfall on that forbidden planet known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · The 10 basic X-Men plots · Are convoluted X-Men stories a feature or a bug? · The influence of Alien on the Brood · Kitty Pryde is a great character · Chris Claremont’s Phoenix obsession · Curt has issues with the New Mutants · Immortal Hulk Vol. 10: Of Hell and Of Death · Sugar on Apple TV+ Join us in two weeks as we shift gears to discuss the graphic novel Here by Richard McGuire! Until then:! ! Hit us up on , or The Platform Formerly Known as ! And as always, thanks for listening!
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