Superhero Sampler

An examination of the highs and lows of superhero television.

Batman (1966) 02/21/2019

Batman (1966) Elliot and Samantha watch "Surf's Up! Joker's Under!" from BATMAN! When the Clown Prince of Crime hatches a dastardly plot to win a surfing contest, it's up to the Bright Knight and the Boy Wonder to hang ten! Does Gotham City look better with bright primary colors, or should this series get replaced on Nick at Nite? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/8683604

Mighty Mouse (1947) 11/11/2016

Mighty Mouse (1947) Elliot and Samantha watch “Lazy Little Beaver“ from MIGHTY MOUSE! When a Big Bad Wolf aims to turn a semiaquatic rodent into a patch for his fur coat, it’s up to a super-powered Mickey Mouse to huff and puff and blow the wolf’s plan down! Does this squeaker earn his place in the Halls of Justice, or should his ancient cartoons rot in a studio vault? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4806748

Wonder Woman (1975) 11/04/2016

Wonder Woman (1975) Elliot and Samantha watch “Knockout“ from WONDER WOMAN! When a generically-handsome ‘70s TV actor is kidnapped by the leader of a vague movement, it’s up to DC’s Avenging Amazon to spin in a circle and put her hands on her hips! Does Lynda Carter completely overshadow the newly-chosen Gal Gadot, or will director Patty Jenkins and crew have nothing to worry about? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4795334

Road Rovers (1996) 10/28/2016

Road Rovers (1996) Elliot and Samantha watch “A Hair of the Dog That Bit You“ from ROAD ROVERS! When the Werewolves of London are howling around your kitchen door, it's up to a horde of heroic humanoid hounds to prove that they're not Team Jacob! Is this the undiscovered gem of the Kids' WB archives, or should this series be smacked on the snout with a rolled-up newspaper? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4755902

Krypto the Superdog (2005) 10/21/2016

Krypto the Superdog (2005) Elliot and Samantha watch “The Dark Hound Strikes“ from KRYPTO THE SUPERDOG! When the Joker’s pet hyenas are causing mischief, it’s up to the Last Dog of Krypton and the Canine Crusader to take a bite out of crime! Should Warner Bros. abandon Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck in favor of two pound puppies, or should the cinematic Legion of Super-Pets remain an irrational fever dream? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4752838

Space Ghost (1966) 10/14/2016

Space Ghost (1966) Elliot and Samantha watch “The Lure“ from SPACE GHOST! When a plucky teen sidekick is sidekidnapped by an alien dog-man, it's up to an Adult Swim talk show host to guard the galaxy! Is modern-day animation outdone by this '60s throwback, or should Space Ghost stick to the Boomerang solar system? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4717393

Jessica Jones (2015) 10/07/2016

Jessica Jones (2015) Elliot and Samantha watch “AKA It's Called Whiskey“ from JESSICA JONES! When a former Doctor Who is mind-controlling his way through the city, it's up to the former B---- in Apartment 23 to spend a season bringing him to justice! Is this ALIAS adaptation the strongest link in the Defenders chain, or is the streaming sophomore slump in full effect? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4714234

Centurions (1986) 09/30/2016

Centurions (1986) Elliot and Samantha watch “The Chameleon's Sting“ from CENTURIONS! When a mad scientist mutates into a Cobraman with shapeshifting abilities, it's up to an interchangeable trio of hunks to save the century! Is this one-season-wonder the Transformers of an alternate universe, or does it belong on a K-Mart toy shelf with the Go-Bots? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4692769

Gotham (2014) 09/23/2016

Gotham (2014) Elliot and Samantha watch “Lovecraft“ from GOTHAM! When a constrictive assassin infiltrates Wayne Manor, it’s up to Lil' Bruce Wayne and Lil' Selina Kyle to run for their lil' lives! Does this series add invaluable shading to the Batman mythology, or will it go down in history as the worst creative decision since the bat-nipples? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4689757

Preacher (2016) 09/16/2016

Preacher (2016) Elliot, Samantha and special guest Emily watch “Monster Swamp” from PREACHER! When Jackie Earle Haley pees in the mayor’s briefcase, it’s up to Tony Stark’s dad to scare the Word of God into him! Does Jesse Custer supplant Walter White as AMC’s premier badass, or should he go sit in the corner with Mister Low Winter Sun? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4634777

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012) 09/09/2016

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012) Elliot and special guests Bryan, Chewie, Jonathan and Ryan watch “Invasion of the Squirrelanoids“ from TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES! When Mutagen-infected squirrels transform into Xenomorph knock-offs, it’s up to the Nickelodeonized Heroes in a Half Shell to homage their way to victory! Is this new version truly the latest and greatest TMNT, or are Venus de Milo and the Next Mutation gang still the People’s Champions? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4644660

Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload (2013) 09/02/2016

Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload (2013) Elliot and Samantha watch LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES: MAXIMUM OVERLOAD! When the Norse God of Mischief chucks super-charged snowballs at random villains, it's up to Marvel's most merchandisable megastars to pull the plugs! Should these toy brick defenders make an appearance in THE LEGO MOVIE SEQUEL, or should they leave the big screen to LEGO BATMAN? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4631695

The Tick (2001) 08/26/2016

The Tick (2001) Elliot and Samantha watch “Arthur Needs Space“ from THE TICK! When GALAXY QUEST star Missi Pyle makes a special guest appearance, it’s up to the Blue Blunder’s moth-erly sidekick to lay on the charm! Is Patrick Warburton the definitive Tick, or will Peter Serafinowicz steal the antennae-crown? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4586607

Arrow (2012) 08/19/2016

Arrow (2012) Elliot and Samantha watch “Suicide Squad” from ARROW! When diminutive government employee Amanda Waller needs a good soldier to command her special Task Force X, it’s up to Green Arrow’s right-hand man to keep the demons at bay! Does John Diggle deserve to be the star of this program, or should the series focus way more on the tedious island flashbacks? Plus: What did we think of the SUICIDE SQUAD movie? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4580286

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005) 08/12/2016

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005) Elliot and Samantha watch "The Nightman Cometh" from IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA! When the diabolical Nightman pays the troll toll, it's up to one special little boy to become the heroic Dayman! Does this superhero musical give SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK a run for its money, or should the Paddy's Pub owners stick to their day jobs? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4577342

HULK and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. (2013) 08/05/2016

HULK and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. (2013) Elliot and Samantha watch "Hulks on Ice" from HULK AND THE AGENTS OF S.M.A.S.H.! When Frost Giants terrorize a winter wonderland, it's up to a squadron of rage monsters and special guest star Captain Thor to kick some ice! Are five Hulks better than one, or is one the awesomest number? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4568281

Earthworm Jim (1995) 07/29/2016

Earthworm Jim (1995) Elliot and Samantha watch "Trout!" from EARTHWORM JIM! When the vile Queen Slug-For-A-Butt demands a fur-bearin' trout for nebulous reasons, it's up to the world's only crime-fighting worm to beat her to the fishy punch! Does this '90s oddity stand proudly with The Tick and Freakazoid, or should this invertebrate animal return to the soil? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4528464

X-Men Evolution (2000) 07/22/2016

X-Men Evolution (2000) Elliot and Samantha watch "Mutant Crush" from X-MEN EVOLUTION! When ol' Fred Dukes finds Miss Jean Grey to be simply irresistible, it's up to the X-Teenagers to rescue a hogtied Marvel Girl from an unwanted date with the Blob! Are the mighty mutants more entertaining as emotional adolescents, or should they just grow up already? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4525558

Muppet Babies (1984) 07/15/2016

Muppet Babies (1984) Elliot and Samantha watch "Sing a Song of Superheroes" from MUPPET BABIES! When the water gets turned off or something, it's up to a bunch of infantilized Jim Henson creations to briefly dress like superheroes! Is this animated series the pinnacle of Muppet entertainment, or does it sully the good name of Gonzo the Great? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4498170

Daredevil (2015) 07/08/2016

Daredevil (2015) Elliot and Samantha watch “Shadows in the Glass“ from DAREDEVIL! While the Kingpin of Crime has flashbacks of his traumatic childhood, Matt “DD” Murdock stands around in his office talking to his co-workers! Do we have anything to say about the first Marvel/Netflix series, or do we spend this entire episode praising JESSICA JONES? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4492413

Stripperella (2003) 07/01/2016

Stripperella (2003) Elliot and Samantha watch "Crime Doesn't Pay...Seriously, It Really Doesn't" from STRIPPERELLA! When a cheapskate criminal goes on a low-budget crime spree, it's up to Spike TV's sultry super-spy to teach him the heavy price of breaking the law! Is this star Pamela Anderson's greatest hour, or should creator Stan Lee be ashamed of himself? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4461349

Superman: The Animated Series (1996) 06/24/2016

Superman: The Animated Series (1996) Elliot and Samantha watch "Knight Time" from SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES! When Batman goes missing, the Man of Steel dons the cloak and cowl to become the Bright Knight! Does Clark Kent make a better Caped Crusader than Bruce Wayne, or should Supes return to Metropolis in disgrace? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4458277

Voltron: Defender of the Universe (1984) 06/17/2016

Voltron: Defender of the Universe (1984) Elliot and Samantha watch "Pidge's Home Planet" from VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE! When the bad guys blow up Pidge's Home Planet, it's up to the Voltroneers to combine their lion robots into one big sword-wielding robot! Is this anime the best giant robot action out there, or does the Power Rangers' Megazord lay claim to that title? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4421068

Agent Carter (2015) 06/10/2016

Agent Carter (2015) Elliot and Samantha watch "A Sin to Err" from AGENT CARTER! When the embryonic form of S.H.I.E.L.D. is infiltrated by a sneaky hypnotist, it's up to Captain America's best girl to play the game of spies! Is this the best television series that Marvel has ever produced, or should Hayley Atwell thank her lucky stars for her new series CONVICTION? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4413214

Glee (2009) 06/03/2016

Glee (2009) Elliot and Samantha watch "Dynamic Duets" from GLEE! When the stuck-up Warblers steal the Glee club's Nationals trophy, it's up to our harmonic heroes to band together to form a non-copyright infringing League of Avenging! Does it make sense for us to talk about a superhero-cosplay episode, or are we wasting everyone's time? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4401576

The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008) 05/27/2016

The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008) Elliot and Samantha watch "Catalysts" from THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN! When a suspiciously Joker-esque Green Goblin attacks a ritzy charity event, it's up to Your Friendly Neighborhood Wall-Crawler to abandon his swell date at a school dance and swing into the fray! Is this Web-Head a threat or a menace... or both? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4393531

South Park (1997) 05/20/2016

South Park (1997) Elliot and Samantha watch "Mysterion Rises" from SOUTH PARK! When a nefarious company accidentally awakens the Elder God Cthulhu, it's up to a superhero team of Coloradan fourth graders to raise money with a bake sale! Is Mysterion the hero we deserve but not the one we need right now, or is the Coon both vengeance and the night? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4363248

Teen Titans (2003) 05/13/2016

Teen Titans (2003) Elliot and Samantha watch "Revolution" from TEEN TITANS! When a dastardly British foe remakes the world in his country's image, it's up to the Junior Justice League to kick the Limey back across the pond! Does this kid-friendly animation speak to all ages, or should mature superhero fans stick to YOUNG JUSTICE? Listen to find out! /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4359989

Darkwing Duck (1991) 05/06/2016

Darkwing Duck (1991) Elliot, Samantha and special guest Elvis watch "Jail Bird" from /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4332375

Loonatics Unleashed (2005) 04/29/2016

Loonatics Unleashed (2005) Elliot and Samantha watch "Time After Time" from LOONATICS /episode/index/show/superherosampler/id/4321407

Superhero Sampler

TOPICS