The Comics Canon

In this episode, Curt and Kevin discuss another graphic novel that has taken on a new level of relevance in today's political landscape: the first volume of Marjane Satrapi's comics autobiography Persepolis. It's an engrossing and eye-opening account of the author's childhood in the late 70s and early 80s, as she comes of age against the backdrop of the Islamic Revolution and a subsequent war with Iraq—seismic events that placed her family in danger and took the lives of friends and loved ones including her beloved uncle Anoosh. Will rebellious young Marjane survive life in an oppressive regime without getting arrested—or worse? And will this stirring memoir find its place in that library of historical works known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Larry Gonick's Cartoon History of the Universe The Handmaid's Tale Keith Haring "Iron Maiden? Those four brutes?" Persepolis the movie Curt puts Kevin on the spot Craig Thompson's Blankets and Habibi Palestine by Joe Sacco What Does This Button Do? by Bruce Dickinson Kevin's guest appearance on The Reelist podcast R.I.P., Stan Lee Stan's Soapbox column on racism and bigotry Join us in two weeks as we gear up for the Dec. 21 release of the Aquaman movie with a look at Aquaman Vol. 1: The Trench, by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis! Until then, consider our fine line of Comics Canon merchandise and the Benoda! series of typefaces by our friends at Category 4 for all your holiday shopping needs! Last but not least, don't forget to rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

It's Election Day in the U.S., and we're marking the occasion by casting our ballots for a lesser-known gem: Shaun Tan's wordless 2006 graphic novel The Arrival. Set in a world similar to but slightly different from our own, this vividly imagined and beautifully illustrated tale traces one man's journey from his menacing homeland to a strange and fantastic new world. Along the way, he meets other immigrants who share their stories of hope and hardship. Can our protagonist navigate this wondrous new land and reunite with his wife and daughter? And will The Arrival take up residence in that shining city on a hill known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Shaun Tan on That Scene Our Zot! episode What are the canonical Supergirl stories? A nifty animation of The Arrival Barrier by Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin The Lost Thing animated short Flotsam and Sector 7 by David Wiesner It's a bird, it's a plane, it's … our Comics Canon merchandise store! Join us in two weeks as we discuss another graphic novel examining the human side of politics, Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin are off to never-never land as they conclude a look at game-changing DC horror comics with a discussion of The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes, collecting issues #1-8 of the Sandman by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg and Malcolm Jones III, published by DC Comics! When an ambitious magician attempts to capture Death, he instead ends up Runnin' Down a Dream … that is, Dream, aka Morpheus, King of Dreams! When a weakened Morpheus finally escapes decades later, his quest to resume his throne forces him to confront a mentally unstable supervillain and the devil himself! Can the Dream Weaver prevail against the hordes of Hell and stop the deranged Doctor Destiny from usurping control of the dream world that awaits behind the wall of sleep? And will he walk alone down that boulevard of broken dreams known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: The Sandman: Season of Mists Swamp Thing: The Anatomy Lesson Dave McKean's covers The next great buddy cop show The Manic Pixie Death Girl The scene that knocked out Curt The Dreaming Section Zero Vol. 0: There Is No Section Zero Violent Cases Neil Gaiman's Eternals The Devil Rides Out Not to mention our dreamy Comics Canon t-shirts and other merchandise! Join us in two weeks as we switch gears with Shaun Tan's wordless, visually inventive depiction of the immigration experience, The Arrival! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, October is here, Curt and Kevin get into the spirit of the season with a look at the comic-book origins of everyone's favorite muck monster! First up is 1971's House of Secrets #92, a kind of proof of concept giving us a proto-Swamp Thing that's a little light in the swamp department. Next, it's on to Swamp Thing (Vol. 1) #1-3, detailing the (first) origin and early adventures of the swamp monster we all know and love, featuring the debuts of Anton Arcane and his niece Abby. And finally, as a companion piece to our previous Swamp Thing episode, a nod to the character's second origin at the hands of Alan Moore via Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #33, which folds the aforementioned House of Secrets story into contemporary continuity! Can our favorite beast of the bayous prevail against the grotesque Un-Men and the … shall we say familiar figure of the Patchwork Man? And can he slog his way into that protected wildlife preserve known as … the Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Curt's special visual aid for this episode Which came first: Swamp Thing or Man-Thing? DC Universe's new Swamp Thing series Star Trek TNG: "Second Chances" Star Trek TOS: "The Cage" The Parliament of Trees Our Anatomy Lesson episode Rite of Spring Curt's first-ever issue of Swamp Thing Sandman: Dream Country The Terror Not to mention sweet Comics Canon t-shirts and other merchandise! Join us in two weeks as the horror continues with a look at Preludes and Nocturnes, collecting issues #1-8 of Neil Gaiman's magnum opus, The Sandman! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Kevin Moreau and "Ultimate" Curt Holman return to the Ultimate Universe to discuss the origin of the popular biracial Spider-Man, Miles Morales in the second half of an unofficial Ultimate Spider-Man two-parter, this time reviewing Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #1-5 by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli, published by Marvel Comics! When young Miles Morales is bitten by a genetically modified spider, he quickly develops the ability to turn invisible and cling to walls, among other things. Miles wants no part of these awesome powers, wishing only to live a normal life and do well at his new charter school. But when Miles witnesses the tragic death of Spider-Man, he begins to realize that with great power comes great responsibility! Can our 13-year-old hero live up to the heroic example set by his predecessor? And can he make the grade in that elite class of comic-book champions known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Curt has a beef with his third-grade class Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse The Death of Spider-Man The Death of Superman What role did Barack Obama and Donald Glover play in Miles' conception? How do you pronounce Ganke? (We got it slightly wrong) The significance of the number 42 Ms. Marvel Comicsgate and the Miles Morales backlash Spider-Men Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 3: Amazing Fantasy Not to mention sweet Comics Canon t-shirts and other merch! We return in two weeks, just in time for the scariest month of the year! And we get into the spirit of the season with a look at the origins of DC Comics' eerie elemental, Swamp Thing, specifically House of Secrets #92, Swamp Thing Vol. 1 #1-4 (or so), and Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #33! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin prime the pump for the Oct. 5 release of the Venom feature film with a discussion of the sinister symbiote's origin story -- that is, as portrayed in issues 33-39 of Ultimate Spider-Man by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, published by Marvel Comics! Peter Parker's childhood friend Eddie Brock reveals that their fathers were working on a cancer-fighting super-suit shortly before they died in a mysterious plane crash years earlier. When Peter investigates, the suit bonds with him, making him more powerful, and soon attempts to turn him into a homicidal monster! When the suit bonds with a vengeful Eddie Brock, can Peter hope to prevail against this stronger, bloodthirstier version of himself -- and save his friend in the process? And can he swing his way into that worldwide web of comic book stories known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: The pronunciation of "symbiote" The Ultimate Comics line The history of Spider-Man's black costume What do we think about Venom? Ultimate Gwen Stacy Spider-Man 3 The most recent Venom trailer The Venom episode of Spectacular Spider-Man Ultimate Six Birth of Venom Avengers #6 Have we mentioned our TeePublic store? Join us in two weeks as we return to the Spider-corner of the Ultimate universe to discuss the origin of that other popular web-slinger, Miles Morales, in Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin put superhero slugfests aside to confront a subject far more frightening than Doomsday, Thanos or the Annihilation Wave! That's right: We're talking about the award-winning graphic memoir Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?, written and drawn by Roz Chast and published by Bloomsbury! Chast, a critically acclaimed cartoonist for the New Yorker, paints an unflinching portrait of the final years of her nonagenarian parents, anxious George and overbearing Elizabeth, as they come to grips with physical frailty, encroaching dementia, and leaving their cluttered Brooklyn apartment for an assisted living facility. Can Chast, an only child suddenly forced to become a parent to her parents, successfully navigate the thorny thicket of managing their care and finances and prepare herself to say goodbye? And can this funny and heart-wrenching book earn a spot in that eternal resting place known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Content warning The Poky Little Parkway Ozymandias Reliving high school as a senior citizen The fine T-shirts available at our new TeePublic store Michael Haneke's Amour Our Cancer Year God Country Join us in two weeks as we return to more familiar territory (and prepare for the upcoming Venom movie) with a look at Ultimate Spider-Man: Venom! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin turn their attention to one of the most famous Superman stories of all time—the headline-grabbing, multi-part event storyline The Death of Superman, written and drawn by a rotating cast of creators and published by DC Comics! The hulking, mysterious figure who comes to be known as Doomsday arrives out of nowhere, destroying everything in his path! Not even the Justice League can slow this raging brute as he plods toward Metropolis, leaving death and ruin in his wake! Only one man has a chance against this inhuman monster. But is even Superman up to the task? Can the Man of Steel stop Doomsday's relentless onslaught without paying the ultimate price? (Well, the title of the story is a dead giveaway.) And will his name be added to that memorial of monumental epics known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened? Vulture recounts the birth of Doomsday Extremely radical 90s bad guys Lex Luthor Jr. and Supergirl's creepy relationship Convoluted post-Crisis continuity The Garden of Gethsemane Glen Weldon's Superman: The Unauthorized Biography Superman's death scene done right Did we mention our Comics Canon TeePublic store? Superman/Batman Annual #1: Stop Me If You've Heard This One The Death of Captain America World Without a Superman Join us in two weeks as we explore the topic of death from a different angle with a look at cartoonist Roz Chast's graphic memoir, Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin observe the 25th anniversary of Scott McCloud's landmark Understanding Comics … with (what else?) a discussion of a pair of stories from McCloud's lighthearted comic Zot!: The Eyes of Dekko from Zot #17-18, and the webcomic Hearts and Minds! Jenny Weaver, a high schooler from a world similar to our own, and her boyfriend Zot, a free-spirited superhero from another Earth, grapple with issues of teen angst, art, divorce and mortality as they clash with the insane cyborg Dekko, a formerly human artist who wears the Chrysler Building on his head! Can Jenny and Zot prevent Dekko from killing a group of hostages – oh, and eradicating all of existence? And can they fly off into that alternate dimension of sequential storytelling known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Our Comics Canon TeePublic store Understanding Comics The comics fanzine Comic Effect Curt blows Kevin's mind Reinventing Comics The Infamous 6,000 Pixel-Tall Fall Getting to 99 The Sculptor Why Art? Making Comics Join us in two weeks as we turn our attention to one of the most famous (and infamous) comics stories of all time: The Death of Superman! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin welcome singer-songwriter Paul Melancon! And despite some intermittent microphone issues, the three of them wrap up this four-part exploration of the World's Greatest Comic Magazine with a discussion of Fantastic Four: Three, by Jonathan Hickman, Steve Epting and many others, published by Marvel Comics! These issues are jam-packed: Reed Richards fights to save an artificial counter-Earth before it's destroyed by the world-devouring Galactus! Susan Storm-Richards struggles to prevent an all-out undersea war! The Thing becomes just plain old Ben Grimm! And Ben, Johnny Storm, and the genius kids of the Future Foundation are all that stands between the Earth and an insectoid invasion from the Negative Zone! Will all of the foremost family of super-powered science explorers live through these extraordinary ordeals? (Spoiler: No.) And can they break through into that alternate dimension of fascinating four-color fictions known as … The Comics Canon? (Also, stick around after the episode to hear "Hyperventilate" from Paul's forthcoming album, The Get-Go's Action Hour!) Things Discussed in This Episode: The Pouches Era "Well, gotta go, honey!" Is this the best Susan Storm ever? Is this the most likable Johnny Storm ever? Our first episode, The Coming of Galactus Fantastic Four: Forever Comic Book Librarian's Jonathan Hickman Marvel Reading List The dichotomy of Hickman's Avengers and New Avengers The Nightly News Dan Slott's Tony Stark: Iron Man #1 The Get-Go's Action Hour! Kickstarter Join us in two weeks as we do a little dimension-hopping with a look at Scott McCloud's Zot!—specifically, The Eyes of Dekko from Zot! #17-18 and the webcomic Hearts and Minds! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin take a long look at the current landscape of comics-based movies—a landscape dominated by the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With only one big-ticket DC Comics film (that would be Aquaman) on the horizon for 2018, we're truly living in the Marvel Age of Movies. Spoilers are as thick on the ground as armored rhinoceroses as we ponder whether Marvel Studios can the critical, commercial and cultural one-two punch of Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, which have conquered a staggering $3.3 billion and counting. We also dive into Deadpool 2, and put Ant-Man and the Wasp under the microscope. Last but not least, we tune in to the current slate of comics TV properties, including the latest seasons of Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Legion and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; a quick sprint through The Walking Dead; a flash of Black Lightning; and a brief interrogation of Cloak and Dagger. Things Discussed in This Episode: Is Black Panther the least interesting character in his own movie? The MacGruber of superhero movies Josh Brolin vs. Josh Brolin! Who is Luke Cage's best villain? Where is Stilt-Man, already? Just get to the zombies! Have we seen the last of Phil Coulsen? The Death of Stalin All the shows we haven't seen DC's upcoming streaming service Join us in one week as wrap up our Fantastic Four-parter with a look at the Three storyline from Fantastic Four #583-588, by Jonathan Hickman, Steve Epting and Nick Dragotta! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin continue their Fantastic Four-part series on the World's Greatest Comic Magazine with a discussion of the FF's greatest villain via two very different tales: The Fantastic Origin of Doctor Doom from Fantastic Four Annual #2, and Unthinkable, from Fantastic Four Vol. 3 #67-70 and #500, published by Marvel Comics! First, it's a quick time-hop back to the 1960s as Stan Lee and Jack Kirby recount the not-so-humble beginnings of everyone's favorite mad monarch, Victor Von Doom! Then it's on to 2003, as Mark Waid and the late Mike Wieringo depict a demonic deal that may defeat Marvel's quintessential quartet once and for all! Having embraced his sorcerous side, will Victor finally emerge victorious? Or can our science-loving squad outsmart their arrogant arch-nemesis and thus gain entry into that Magic Castle known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Roger Corman's Fantastic Four film Some unfortunate Romany stereotypes Books of Doom Noah Hawley's Doctor Doom script Does Unthinkable get Doom wrong? Victor Von Doom's Dungeons & Dragons Alignment Billy Bob Thornton Doomsday Authoritative Action Infamous Iron Man Vol. 1 Marvel Two-in-One Annual Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment Join us in one week for our annual selective look at the year so far in comics movie and TV adaptations! And then set your time machine for the following week as we close out this Fantastic foursome of episodes with a discussion of Three from Fantastic Four #583-588, by Jonathan Hickman, Steve Epting and Nick Dragotta! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin continue their four-part exploration of Marvel Comics' first family of super-powered science adventurers! This time around, they turn their attention to two titanic beings who cast a large shadow over the World's Greatest Comic Magazine – the cosmic entity Galactus and writer-artist John Byrne – with a discussion of Fantastic Four #242-244 and #261-262! Terrax, the evil herald of Galactus, forces a fight between the Fantastic Four and his world-devouring master. When Galactus falls, near death, Reed Richards saves his life, earning the wrath of the many races whose worlds Galactus has destroyed. When Mister Fantastic is captured and forced to stand trial for saving the planet-eating giant, can the rest of the Fantastic Four convince an armada of angry aliens not to execute their elastic leader? And can they convince the galaxy's toughest jury that this story deserves to be sentenced to that murderer's row known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Curt likes Incredibles 2 Was Uncanny X-Men he World's Greatest Comic Magazine? Marvel Comics in the early '80s Terrax and Terra of the Teen Titans The Batman/Joker dilemma The Coming of Galactus Julie Angel and John Byrne's male gaze The wackiness that was Assistant Editors' Month Artists inserting themselves into their stories Did Chris Claremont inspire The Trial of Reed Richards? The Watcher as Galactus's hype man The Book of Job Fantastic Four: Unstable Molecules Hercules: The Prince of Power Join us in two weeks as we size up the Fantastic Four's most iconic villain with discussions of The Fantastic Origin of Doctor Doom from Fantastic Four Annual #2 and Unthinkable from Fantastic Four #67-70 and #500! (Marvel numbering…don't ask.) Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin launch into a four-episode deep dive into the world's greatest comic magazine, The Fantastic Four, with a look at three key stories from the 1960s and 70s! First up, it's the book that started it all (and gave birth to the Marvel Universe): Fantastic Four #1! Who are these mysterious figures who answer a strange signal in the sky? Where and how did they get their fantastic abilities? And when bizarre monsters attack atomic plants across the globe, can they stop the reclusive Mole Man from destroying the surface world? Next, it's a race against time in Fantastic Four Annual #6! Reed Richards, Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm must brave the outlandish antimatter universe known as the Negative Zone to save the life of Susan Richards and her unborn child. But can they survive the murderous warlord Annihilus and his dreaded Arena of Execution? After that, it's on to the swingin' 70s for Fantastic Four #140-141! Annihilus is back, and he's got Susan and the Richards' young son Franklin in his deadly clutches! To save the universe, Reed Richards pays a terrible price, resulting in The End of the Fantastic Four! Do these fantastic fables have the pedigree to join that First Family of fabulous funnybooks known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Incredibles 2 Has the MCU been trolling us? Jack Kirby at the height of his powers The iffy science of the Negative Zone Reed Richards' bizarre defense of Sue in FF #11 IS this the World's Greatest Comic Magazine? FF#141's cameo in The Ice Storm The problem with following the FF blueprint Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius Black Science Marvel Two-in-One The Terrifics Join us in two weeks as we time-travel into the 1980s for a look at two titanic figures—John Byrne and the world-devouring Galactus—in Fantastic Four #242-244 and #261-262! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin answer the eternal question "Why the last man?" with a discussion of Unmanned, the gripping first volume of Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra's post-apocalyptic series Y: The Last Man, published by Vertigo/DC Comics! After a catastrophic event kills seemingly every mammal with a Y chromosome, only two living males remain—unemployed escape artist Yorick Brown and his monkey, Ampersand! With the aid of top-secret operative Agent 355, Yorick reluctantly sets off to discover why he, of all people, is now the last man on Earth! On his quest to save the world and reunite with his girlfriend, can Yorick survive a cult of aspiring Amazons, gun-toting Congressional wives, an Israeli commando and an out-of-work supermodel? And can he mansplain his way into that boys and girls club known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: The Y: The Last Man pilot Similarities to The Walking Dead … … and Avengers: Infinity War Beth, we hear you calling Children of Men Curt's Deadpool 2 review Crosswinds Vol. 1 Bitch Planet Vol. 1: Extraordinary Machine Join us in two weeks as we begin a four-episode deep dive into The Fantastic Four, with a look at Fantastic Four #1, Fantastic Four Annual #6, and Fantastic Four #140-141! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin gear up for the upcoming release of Deadpool 2 with a look at one of the Merc With a Mouth's most popular adventures: the time-traveling tale With Great Power Comes Great Coincidence from Deadpool vol. 1 #11, by Joe Kelly and Pete Woods, published by Marvel Comics! But first, they take a quick detour to Forest Hills, Queens, circa 1967, to dissect a (let's be honest) somewhat ridiculous story involving Spider-Man, Norman Osborn, Kraven the Hunter and Gwen Stacy rocking some sweet dance moves: In the Hands of the Hunter! by Stan Lee and John Romita, from Amazing Spider-Man #47! Can Deadpool (and Spider-Man) defeat that most fearsome of leopard-print-wearing predators before he totally harshes the buzz of Flash Thompson's going-away party? And can they Twist, Mashed Potato and Loco-Motion their way into that American Bandstand of superhero sagas known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: 60s youth culture Our Luke Cage episode Trials and Tribble-ations Archie Meets the Punisher The Coyote Gospel Curt and Kevin's reading list X-Force: The Apocalypse Solution Fear Agent Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 1: Isn't It Bromantic I Kill Giants Join us in two weeks as we take a break from talking about Marvel Comics to discuss Y: The Last Man Vol. 1: Unmanned, by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra and José Marzán Jr.! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this special bonus episode, Curt and Kevin welcome writer and artist Ed Piskor (Hip-Hop Family Tree) to discuss X-Men: Grand Design, his six-issue "remix" of Marvel mutant history through the end of the Chris Claremont era! (A "Marvel Treasury Edition" collecting the first two issues is available now.) Things discussed in this episode include the Twitter conversation that started this ambitious project, the X-Men story arcs covered in the next two installments, the unexpected role Carol Danvers plays, Chris Claremont's relationship with his characters, the surprising X-Man the cartoonist identifies with most, the storytelling challenges inherent in time travel, and the current state of Piskor's apartment! All that, and Kevin's dogs make a cameo appearance! Join us next week as we prepare for the May 18 release of Deadpool 2 with a look at With Great Power Comes Great Coincidence! from Deadpool #11 and In the Hands of the Hunter! from Amazing Spider-Man #47! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin welcome filmmaker and author C.D. Brown as they wrap up their preparations for Avengers: Infinity War with a look at the landmark limited series The Infinity Gauntlet by Jim Starlin, George Perez and Ron Lim, published by Marvel Comics! Oh, crap! Thanos the mad Titan has the six infinity gems, granting him dominion over the mind, the soul, space, time, power and reality itself! And in an attempt to please Death herself, he's eradicated half of all life everywhere! Can the assembled might of Earth's heartiest heroes, cosmic champions and assorted space gods possibly be enough to outwit this omnipotent oppressor? And can this mind-bending saga gain the favor of our own Living Tribunal and gain entry into that pantheon of power-packed periodicals known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Vamp City Our first "lost episode" A potential movie spoiler alert Thanos and Darkseid Chekhov's Law of Mephisto Layla and Other Love Songs The Ceremonial Eyepatch of Sorrow! Marvel's trippy cosmic entities Adam Warlock is a jerkwad! The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe The Death of Captain Marvel Thanos Returns Captain America #700 Warlock by Jim Starlin: The Complete Collection Join us in two weeks as we look ahead to the May 18 release of Deadpool 2 with a look at With Great Power Comes Great Coincidence! from Deadpool #11 and In the Hands of the Hunter! from Amazing Spider-Man #47! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin make a left turn at Albuquerque to discuss a pair of stories featuring crossovers between DC Comics heroes and Looney Tunes characters: Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1 by Tom King and Lee Weeks, and Grant Morrison and Chas Truog's The Coyote Gospel from Animal Man #5, published by DC Comics! First, a fearsome hunter tracks his prey through the mean streets of Gotham City. His name is Elmer Fudd, and he's hunting pwayboys—specifically, a biwwionaiwe by the name of Bwuce Wayne! When the urban vigilante crosses paths with Gotham's Dark Knight Detective, Fudd and the Batman discover they have something in common: the femme fatale known as Silver St. Cloud! Then, the hunter becomes the hunted as a crafty coyote (who bears a striking resemblance to a certain Warner Bros. character) is stalked by an unnamed man across the California desert. But a grief-stricken pursuer is the least of this wily carnivore's worries as he endures an eternal cycle of death and resurrection at the hands of a capricious creator! Can Animal Man, the Caped Crusader and their animated cohorts prevail against the unseen adversaries manipulating them from behind the scenes? And can they sneak their way into that superheroic sanctuary known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Shame on Griffin Newman! Corporate synergy Rabbit Fire, Rabbit Seasoning and Duck! Rabbit, Duck! Curt has a theory about Silver St. Cloud The artwork of Lee Weeks "Roadrunner" by The Modern Lovers Prometheus, Lucifer and Sisyphus Duck Amuck Our Ms. Marvel and The Dark Knight Returns episodes Dark Nights: Metal The Terrifics Chuck Amuck: The Life and Times of an Animated Cartoonist The Flintstones by Mark Russell and Steve Pugh Upcoming DC/Hanna-Barbera crossovers Join us in two weeks as we look forward to a little movie you may of heard of called Avengers: Infinity War with a look at the 1991 Marvel Comics miniseries The Infinity Gauntlet! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin conclude their trilogy of Marvel origins episodes with a look at the comic book beginnings of everyone's favorite mutants! Then, they gear up for the new season of FX's Legion with a look at the issue that inspired a key moment from the show! First, the comic that started it all: X-Men #1! Who are these mysterious teenagers with bizarre super-powers? Who is their stern, slightly scary taskmaster? And when the mysterious master of magnetism known as Magneto threatens a U.S. missile base, can our milquetoast mutants save the day? Next it's the book that launched the X-Men as we know them today: Giant-Size X-Men #1! When the X-Men are captured by a mysterious foe, Charles Xavier assembles a new squad to rescue them. This international mishmash of mutants—including Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler and Colossus—has some impressive powers and even cooler costumes. But when it comes to defeating Krakoa, The Island That Walks Like a Man, do they have any chance atoll? And last but not least, Charles Xavier recounts his own quasi-origin story in Uncanny X-Men #117, including a no-holds-barred psychic skirmish with the nefarious Shadow King … a mental melee dramatized (after a fashion) in Legion's first season! Do these uncanny tales have what it takes to graduate to the top of that class of peerless periodicals known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Curt's got Legion fever Were the original X-Men a cult? Jean Gray's problematic welcome The disappointing truth about what the "X" stands for The colorful diversity of Giant Size X-Men #1 Aye, an' Banshee sure is Irish, me boyo! The trouble with Thunderbird Kevin questions Krakoa's mutant bona fides The Hollywood backlot version of Cairo Our Jessica Jones episode Curt breaks down the blackboard scene from Legion X-Men: Schism Wolverine and the X-Men Vol. 1 X-Men: Deadly Genesis Join us in two weeks as we make a left turn at Albuquerque to discuss a pair of stories that pair DC superheroes with Looney Tunes characters: The Coyote Gospel from Grant Morrison's Animal Man and 2017's Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin look forward to the April 27 release of Avengers: Infinity War by reviewing the first appearances of the original lineup of Marvel Comics' Avengers! It's a whirlwind lightning round of takes on Phase One of the comic-book Avengers: "The Man in the Ant Hill!" (Henry Pym, Tales to Astonish #27) "The Hulk" (The Incredible Hulk #1) "Thor the Mighty and the Stone Men From Saturn!" (Thor, Journey Into Mystery #83) "Iron Man is Born!" (Iron Man, Tales of Suspense #39) "The Creature From Kosmos!" (The Wasp, Tales to Astonish #44) And finally, "the first in a star-studded series of book-length super-epics" ... "The Coming of the Avengers" (Avengers #1)! Can the combined power of the Avengers defeat the sinister spells of Loki, god of evil? And can Earth's mightiest heroes gain entry into that awesome assemblage known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Curt's got Avengers fever A busy couple of years for Marvel Comics The Rodney Dangerfield of the Marvel Universe A handy rule of thumb when testing a shrinking formula The Marvel Universe's monster-pulp roots The tragic figure that was Iron Man Unfortunate racial stereotypes The cutting-edge technology of … transistors! Marvel's first retcon? "Go to the ants, thou sluggard!" (Turns out it was a thing) The Wasp ... well, she's been treated better Avengers #57: Behold … The Vision! Avengers #16: The Old Order Changeth Doomwar Join us in two weeks as we conclude our trilogy of Marvel origins episodes with Uncanny X-Men #1, Giant-Size X-Men #1, and prepare for season 2 of Legion with a look at Psi War! from Uncanny X-Men #117! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin once again set aside their "clean" rating as they prepare for the second season of Netflix's Jessica Jones by snooping around Alias Vol. 4: The Secret Origins of Jessica Jones, collecting issues #22-28 of Alias, published by Marvel Comics! (Please be advised: Mature subject matter is discussed.) First, as the title implies, the origins of everyone's favorite super-powered sleuth are explored, as young Jessica Campbell Forrest Gumps her way around the early days of the Marvel Universe on her way to gaining extraordinary abilities! Then, our former superhero turned private eye is hired to confront Zebediah Killgrave, The Purple Man, who can make his victims do whatever he wants. To do so, she'll have to face her painful past as Killgrave's physical and emotional plaything. Can Jessica finally defeat Killgrave and put this dark chapter of her life behind her? And can she crack the code that will grant her entrance to that hall of hard-boiled heroes known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Content warning Marvel's MAX line The Coming of Galactus Marvels Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Greg Rucka on Word Balloon Comics Jessica Jones vs. Netflix Jessica Jones The correct spelling of "sweetie" Some actual detective work would have been nice (Why do people talk in parentheses?) Luke Cage and Jessica's relationship Sexual assault, consent, and agency Why does Killgrave break the fourth wall? Grant Morrison's Animal Man Journalism? Hasn't she suffered enough??! Chew New Avengers Vol. 10: Power Stumptown Vol. 1 Join us in two weeks as we begin our preparations for Avengers: Infinity War with a look at the origins of the comic-book Avengers, starting with the first appearances of Henry Pym (Tales to Astonish #27), The Incredible Hulk (The Incredible Hulk #1), Thor (Journey Into Mystery #83), Iron Man (Tales of Suspense #39) and the Wasp (Tales to Astonish #44), all leading into Avengers #1! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this Valentine's Day episode, Curt and Kevin discuss a tale of love, longing and murder: Heartbreak Soup (or Sopa de Gran Pena) and its prologue, Chelo's Burden, written and drawn by Gilbert Hernandez, from the long-running series Love and Rockets, published by Fantagraphics Books. In the small Latin American town of Palomar, a violent breakup finds dazed, drunken Tip in' Tip in' taken under the wing of headstrong 11-year-old Carmen. Meanwhile, Pipo, Carmen's 14-year-old sister, is quickly falling in love with Manuel, the town's baby-faced lothario. But that doesn't sit well with hot-headed Gato, who carries a major torch for Pipo. When this love triangle turns deadly, will all three live to tell the tale? Can Chelo, the town's bañadora, survive a little competition from beguiling newcomer Luba? And can this indelible cast of characters move on up to that magnificent metropolis known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Love and Rockets A Talking Cat!?! A disturbing age difference One of Kevin's biggest pet peeves The films of Robert Altman Strong women and horny idiots The Soledad problem What Curt has in common with Manuel Human Diastrophism (or Blood of Palomar) Daytripper Join us in two weeks as we anticipate the second season of Marvel's Jessica Jones on Netflix with a look at Alias Vol. 4: The Secret Origins of Jessica Jones! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin look forward to the highly anticipated Black Panther film with a look back at the late 90s storyline Black Panther: The Client, collecting Black Panther vol. 3 #1-5, the start of the groundbreaking run by Christopher Priest, published by Marvel Comics. T'Challa, king of the African nation of Wakanda, leaves his homeland in the middle of a refugee crisis for an urgent mission to New York City. Accompanied by low-level diplomat Everett K. Ross, the menacing monarch and his pair of sleek, deadly bodyguards investigate the death of a young girl and corruption at The Tomorrow Fund, a Wakanda-backed charity. But our stealthy sovereign soon discovers that he's been duped by the murderous Reverend Achebe, who's taken advantage of his absence to stage a takeover of Wakanda! Can the embattled emperor survive a confrontation with the demon Mephisto and rescue his realm from the ruthless reverend? And can he gain entrance to that peerless preserve of epic exploits known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: The Marvel Knights imprint Hanging a lantern on Quentin Tarantino's influence The fascinating past of Christopher Priest Black Panther: The Man Without Fear Mephisto's debut in Silver Surfer # 3 Bring on the Bad Guys The CW's Black Lightning TV series Black Lightning Vol. 1 Not Discussed In This Episode: Our previous Black Panther episode Join us in two weeks as we commemorate Valentine's Day with a tale of longing and love (but no rockets) with the first Heartbreak Soup story from Love and Rockets by Gilbert Hernandez! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin celebrate their two-year podcasting anniversary with a special birthday two-fer, as they discuss the classic Superman birthday story For The Man Who Has Everything by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons from Superman Annual #11, published by DC Comics, as well as its animated adaptation from Justice League Unlimited! Batman, Robin and Wonder Woman arrive at Superman's arctic hideaway to wish him a happy birthday, but find the Man of Steel immobilized by a sinister-looking plant known as the Black Mercy. Before they can figure out a plan of action, they're confronted by the alien warlord Mongul, who reveals that Superman has been put into a coma, dreaming of an idyllic existence as a husband, father and geologist on his home planet of Krypton! Can our overmatched heroes stop Mongul from conquering the Earth? Can the Man of Tomorrow wake up from his seductive fantasy in time to save them? And can this fearless foursome gain entry into that Fortress of Solitude known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: The Silver Age and the Bronze Age The kiss that hasn't aged well Kevin can't pronounce "fetishization" Curt's love for Justice League Unlimited How much cash do you give Superman for his birthday? Hey, is that Mike Farrell? For the Girl Who Has Everything What IS Ninja? Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore Join us in two weeks as we prepare for the release of the hotly anticipated Black Panther adaptation with a discussion of Black Panther: The Client, by Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin return to Gotham City to unwrap the riddle of Batman: The War of Jokes and Riddles, by Tom King, Mikel Janin and Clay Mann, published by DC Comics! The Dark Knight Detective has popped the question to his "purr-fect" match, the beguiling cat burglar known as Catwoman. But before his feline foil can answer, he must unburden himself of a terrible secret—an especially dark night from early in his crime-fighting career. The Caped Crusader's two most dangerous enemies, the Joker and the Riddler, have gone to war, with the streets of Gotham as their battleground. The city's supervillain community has taken up sides, with its citizens quite literally caught in the crossfire, along with the tragic figure known as … Kite Man? Can the World's Greatest Detective suss out a solution to this pernicious puzzle before the entire city is torn asunder? And can this criminal conflict win top billing on that comedy club marquee of magnificence known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Curt starts with a knock-knock joke DC's Rebirth initiative Our Vision: No Worse Than a Man Episode Our favorite Riddler The Joker and Riddler's Dungeons & Dragons alignments Is Charlie Brown a Batman villain? Enemy at the Gates The troubling implications of Batman and Catwoman's hookup The heartbreaking tragedy of Kite Man Batman: I Am Suicide Mister Miracle Batman: The Long Halloween Join us in two weeks as we celebrate our two-year anniversary and our 50th official episode with Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' landmark Superman tale, For the Man Who Has Everything! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this last episode of 2017, Curt and Kevin welcome Collider.com senior TV editor and critic Allison Keene for a fun, spirited discussion of the big comics adaptations from the second half of the year, including Thor: Ragnarok, Marvel's The Defenders and Justice League! Spoilers are (mostly) avoided in this non-canonical episode, which also touches on the CW's Crisis on Earth-X crossover event; whether Black Panther will continue Marvel's recent trend toward the comedic (probably not); Thor: Ragnarok's similarities to The Empire Strikes Back; waiting for The Punisher to get exciting; the engaging cast of Runaways; The Gifted's similarity to The O.C.; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in space; and The Tick. As if that weren't enough, there's also a discussion of what we're looking forward to in 2018, including the CW's Black Lightning, the second season of Fox's Legion and X-Men: Dark Phoenix. Other Things Discussed in This Episode: What makes the CW's superhero shows work? Marvel's TV shows vs. DC's movies The best scene in Justice League Ben Affleck's Batman: "What a hero!" The best thing about Inhumans Curt Inhu-mansplains to Allison Our Planet Hulk episode Hap and Leonard Ant-Man and the Wasp Tom Hardy and the Venom movie Things not discussed in this episode? The latest seasons of Preacher and Gotham (which we haven't seen), The Walking Dead, My Friend Dahmer (ditto), and Riverdale (see our Archie Meets the Punisher episode). And if you're looking for takes on Wonder Woman, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Logan or Legion, you'll want to check out our July episode on Marvel media adaptations (and Wonder Woman). We're back to rendering judgment on comic book stories in two weeks, as we roll into 2018 with a review of Batman: The War of Jokes and Riddles! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, worlds collide as Curt and Kevin take aim at Marvel's the Punisher and the hit CW series Riverdale with a discussion of the epic 1994 crossover Archie Meets the Punisher (or The Punisher Meets Archie), published by Archie Comics and Marvel Comics! Written by Batton Lash (Supernatural Law) with art by comics legends John Buscema and Stan Goldberg, this most unlikely of mashups finds Marvel's mass-murdering vigilante in the idyllic small town of Riverdale on the trail of drug dealer "Red" Fever – who just happens to bear a striking resemblance to Riverdale's most popular teenager, Archie Andrews! After their first meeting almost ends in disaster, our dubious duo tracks Archie's deadly double to Riverdale High's 1950s dance! But the Punisher's not the only one after Archie's dastardly dopplegänger – and these homicidal hitmen don't care if Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica and the rest of the gang get caught in the crossfire! Can America's favorite teenager and the Marvel Universe's avenging antihero join forces to thwart the mob and rescue Veronica from Archie's lethal lookalike? And can they win election to that homecoming court known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man: The Battle of the Century Superman vs. Muhammed Ali Rorschach vs. Casper the Friendly Ghost A kinder, gentler Punisher Archie Meets KISS Crisis on Infinite Earths "Flutesnoot here!" Wolverine vs. Jughead Everyone's favorite Legion of Super-Heroes member! Some thoughts on Riverdale Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa Archie's Weird Fantasy Ambush Bug: A precursor to Deadpool? Afterlife With Archie Vol. 1: Escape From Riverdale Join us in two weeks for a look back at the current landscape of comics-related TV and film adaptations, including Justice League, Thor: Ragnarok, Runaways, Inhumans and much more! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin take the midnight train going anywhere, joined by Collider.com senior editor Matt Goldberg, as they mark the debut of Hulu's new Runaways series with a discussion of Runaways: Pride and Joy by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona, published by Marvel Comics! All kids think of their parents as villains on occasion. But Alex Wilder and his adolescent friends have just discovered that their well-to-do parents are actual supervillains – members of a criminal cabal called the Pride! Stunned, our hormonal heroes steal away into the California night, determined to expose their felonious fathers and murderous mothers! Along the way, superpowers are discovered, secrets are revealed, superheroic identities are (briefly) adopted … oh, and someone gets a pet dinosaur! Can these pubescent powerhouses stay a step ahead of their evil elders and avoid the most severe grounding of all time? And can our teen titans find placement in that home for wayward young Avengers known as … The Comics Canon? Things Not Discussed in This Episode: Runaways editor C.B. Cebulski's new job as editor in chief of Marvel Comics (mainly because this was recorded before the promotion was announced) Things Discussed in This Episode: The other Runaways The new Runaways series by Rainbow Rowell A farewell to AIM Matt Goldberg previews the Runaways TV series Our Eltingville Club episode Young Avengers Vol. 1: Sidekicks Invincible Pride of Baghdad Y: The Last Man The Collider Podcast Join us in two weeks as we use Marvel's The Punisher and the second season of Riverdale as an excuse to discuss the unlikely crossover Archie Meets the Punisher! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for the long-awaited release of Justice League with (what else?) a discussion of a kinda/sorta Justice League story: the acclaimed 1996 battle-of-the-superheroes miniseries Kingdom Come, written by Mark Waid, painted by Alex Ross, and published by DC Comics! In the not-too-distant future, a new generation of super-powered beings has taken the place of the Justice League. But these reckless "heroes" are even more of a menace than the villains they face, and millions of innocents pay the price when one super-battle results in the devastation of the American Midwest! Wonder Woman coaxes a reluctant Superman out of self-imposed exile to reunite the Justice League. But Batman refuses the call, and the heroes clash over differing ideologies. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor and the U.N. have their own ideas for how to deal with this growing crisis—and one of them involves a nuclear bomb! Can these costumed crusaders put aside their differences, end the threat of these metahuman miscreants, and avert atomic annihilation? And can they win the keys to that kingdom of caped champions known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: "Get It On" by Kingdom Come Elseworlds and "imaginary stories" Marvels and the breathtaking art of Alex Ross Alan Moore's Twilight of the Superheroes Kingdom Come's uncanny similarities to Civil War Can you have a grim and gritty refutation of grim and gritty comics? Alan Moore's Miracleman JLA: American Dreams Everyone's favorite Superman! Canceled Too Soon Join us in two weeks as we prepare for the first season of Hulu's Runaways adaptation with a discussion of Runaways: Pride and Joy! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin bring the mighty month of #Ragnaroktober to a thunderous conclusion, wrapping up their preparation for Thor: Ragnarok with a discussion of Ragnarok and Roll, the cataclysmic climax to Walt Simonson's Surtur Saga from The Mighty Thor #349-354, published by Marvel Comics! As a winter storm sweeps across the planet, the giant fire demon Surtur marches toward Earth with the hordes of Muspelheim in tow! His goal? To storm the gates of Asgard, ignite his sword of Doom with the Flame of Destruction, and set the nine realms ablaze! Can the God of Thunder, alongside Odin the All-Father, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Beta Ray Bill, the lady Sif, the Warriors Three and the assembled armies of Asgard, prevent this severe case of global warming? And can this host of heroes ascend into that Valhalla of extraordinary epics known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Civil War How do you pronounce "Surtur"? Walter Simonson's Thor fan fiction The Dungeon of Frequent Escape Marvel Legacy #1 "Surtur is SWOLE!" "With Starfox on the case, we can rest easy!" A Doom Tube? Seriously? The best panel in all of Thor comics? Poco Beavis and Butt-Head Marvel's Secret Wars action figure ad Thor #154-157: The Mangog Saga The Incredible Hercules Vol. 1 Join us in two weeks as we prepare for the release of Justice League with yet another earth-shaking epic, Kingdom Come! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this special episode, #Ragnaroktober rolls on as Curt and Kevin travel back two years before the release of the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok—all the way to the halcyon days of November 2015! Yes, it's the oft-mentioned, never-before-unveiled Comics Canon "beta" episode, a discussion of Walt Simonson's The Ballad of Beta Ray Bill (The Mighty Thor #337-340), published by Marvel Comics! While confronting a menacing spacecraft, the mighty Thor comes into conflict with the noble alien warrior Beta Ray Bill! Imagine the son of Odin's shock and dismay when this extraordinary extraterrestrial grabs hold of his hammer … and is granted the power of Thor, God of Thunder! Can Thor and Beta Ray Bill sort out this intergalactic identity crisis in time to repel the horde of gruesome space demons that threaten Bill's defenseless people? And can they overcome a host of Herculean hurdles to hasten into that hall of heroic histories known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Jonathan Hickman's Fantastic Four, Avengers and Secret Wars The 80s/90s "replacement hero" trend The lettering wizardry of John Workman Marvel Comics: The Untold Story Our first (but certainly not last) mention of Marvel's Micronauts! Our discarded quiz segment, Riddle Me This! Kevin shares a sweet Louise Simonson memory Jamie Alexander's acting sweet spot Thor: The Goddess of Thunder Ragnarok Vol. 1: Last God Standing Join us next week as #Ragnaroktober concludes with a look at Simonson's fiery conclusion to the Surtur Saga, Ragnarok and Roll (The Mighty Thor #349-354)! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for the Nov. 2 release of Thor: Ragnarok with the first of three action-packed installments! The month of #Ragnaroktober kicks off with a spirited discussion of Greg Pak's swords, sandals and sci-fi epic Planet Hulk … specifically, The Incredible Hulk # 92-95 and 103-105, published by Marvel Comics! Exiled into space by the brain trust known as the Illuminati, the Hulk ends up on war-torn Sakaar, forced to fight in the arena of the tyrannical Red King! Is he, as some suspect, the storied savior known as the Sakaarson … or could he be the whispered weapon of mass destruction known as the Worldbreaker? Can the green-skinned gladiator and his warbound allies survive against wildebots, spikes and the Silver Savage and overthrow this deranged despot? And can they fight their way into the winner's circle of that cosmic Colosseum known as … the Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Our Illuminati episode John Carter of Mars Bill Mantlo Brad Pitt's finishing move in Troy The History of Rome's podcasts on Emperor Commodus The Stone Men From Saturn! Live Free or Die Made-up sci-fi profanity Skaar, Son of Hulk Don Rosa vs. Carl Barks Hulk: Abominable War of Kings Join us next week as #Ragnaroktober rolls on with a special bonus episode! Straight from the Comics Canon vaults, for the first time anywhere, we share our pilot/proof of concept episode on Walt Simonson's Thor debut, The Ballad of Beta Ray Bill! And then, in two weeks' time, it's the second part of a Simonson twofer, as we discuss the writer-artist's fiery conclusion to the Surtur Saga, Ragnarok and Roll! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin take a break from superhuman battles of good and evil to discuss a harrowing look at a very human form of evil, and one young man's unsuccessful struggle against the darkness within: Derf Backderf's graphic novel memoir My Friend Dahmer, published by Abrams ComicArts. In recounting his experiences and relationship with Jeffrey Dahmer through high school in the 1970s, Backderf sketches a chilling portrait of a troubled loner, neglected at home and largely ignored at school. Could his murders have been avoided if even one adult had recognized the warning signs in his increasingly erratic behavior? Working from his own recollections, research and interviews with teachers and fellow classmates, Backderf shows us the demons that tormented Jeffrey Dahmer, setting him on a seemingly inevitable path to infamy as one of history's more notorious serial killers. Things Discussed in This Episode: The My Friend Dahmer movie The City Trashed Jeffrey Dahmer as a tragic figure … until he's not An argument for end notes Black Hole by Charles Burns Punk Rock and Trailer Parks Join us in two weeks as #Ragnaroktober kicks into gear with a discussion of Planet Hulk! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin convene in secret to decide the fate of that clandestine conclave of Marvel Universe movers and shakers known as the Illuminati, as seen in New Avengers: Illuminati: Road to Civil War and New Avengers: Illuminati #1-5, published by Marvel Comics! Iron Man! Reed Richards! Professor X! Black Bolt! Prince Namor! Doctor Strange! Together, they're one of the most powerful superteams ever assembled! Trouble is, they've assembled behind closed doors to make decisions that affect the entire world … and those decisions tend to keep coming back to haunt them, endangering the lives of millions! Can this secret society of superheroes end the threats of the Incredible Hulk, the Beyonder and the shape-changing Skrull Empire once and for all? (Spoiler alert: No.) And can they stop fighting amongst themselves long enough to be inducted into that covert coffee klatsch known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: The upcoming Inhumans TV series What Is the Illuminati, anyway? Bottle episodes Secret Wars reenactors The Illuminati: No girls allowed? Secret Invasion Jonathan Hickman's New Avengers Illuminati: the stage play! Avengers vol. 2 Grant Morrison's Marvel Boy Mark Gruenwald's Squadron Supreme The Origins of the Inhumans Happy belated birthday, Jack Kirby! Curt and Kevin's Twitter handles and Curt's podcast of the week The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Atlanta Untrapped. Join us in two weeks as we change course a bit to discuss Derf Backderf's chilling My Friend Dahmer! And then get ready for … #Ragnaroktober! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin analyze the most violent mental health professional this side of Hannibal Lecter! We're talking, of course, about psychologist turned psycho Harley Quinn – and more specifically, her origin story in the Eisner Award-winning one-shot The Batman Adventures: Mad Love, published by DC Comics! Poor Harley Quinn! She just wants to settle down with her psychopathic paramour, the Joker. But the Clown Prince of Crime is interested in someone else – Batman! As Harley plots to get rid of the Caped Crusader once and for all, we learn who she is, and how she came to be. Can the lovelorn jester of injustice accomplish what her boyfriend never could, and kill the Dark Knight Detective once and for all? Can she finally shake free of Gotham's most criminally codependent couple? And can she get herself admitted into that funny farm known as … The Comics Canon? (Note: This episode was recorded before the passing of Jerry Lewis and news of a new Joker and Harley Quinn movie in development.) Things Discussed in This Episode: Our Anatomy Lesson episode The soap opera inspiration for Harley Quinn? Squeaky Fromme and Patty Hearst "Don't you wanna rev up your Harley?" "He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss)" A brief, obligatory mention of the Suicide Squad movie The evolution, exploitation and empowerment of Harley Quinn The Trial of Yellowjacket Batman and Mr. Freeze: SubZero Future Quest: The next big movie franchise? The movie universe we're not ready for Are you ready for … Ragnaroktober?!! The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Atlanta Untrapped. Join us in two weeks as we use the new Inhumans series as an excuse to discuss New Avengers: Illuminati! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for the Netflix debut of Marvel's The Defenders by… not discussing a Defenders comic! Instead, they book a return trip to Hell's Kitchen as they discuss the death and resurrection of Elektra, as seen in Daredevil #181 and #187-191, published by Marvel Comics! Elektra Natchios is a deadly assassin in the employ of the Kingpin of Crime – and she's also Daredevil's long lost college girlfriend! Throw in an ancient order of evil ninjas and the cold-blooded killer known as Bullseye, and you've got one of the most memorable deaths in comics history! If it please the court, we ask: Shouldn't Elektra play a more prominent role in her own death and resurrection? What exactly is up with the Black Widow? And can ol' Hornhead impress our jury of two and gain entry into the judges' chambers known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Death and resurrection in superhero comics The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man Frank Miller's meta commentary of superhero comics A Dungeons & Dragons adventure! The Adventure Zone podcast We issue a correction Divisive Issues The Punisher: Franken-Castle Elektra: Assassin Bill Sienkiewicz on the Word Balloon podcast Here Comes Daredevil Giant-Size Defenders #3 The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Dish on the Dish. Join us in two weeks as we use the Batman and Harley Quinn animated film as an excuse to discuss The Batman Adventures: Mad Love! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin welcome special guest Alonso Duralde of the Linoleum Knife podcast, The Wrap and What the Flick?! to discuss three stories—The Seven Cities of Cibola, The Lemming With the Locket, and Tralla La—by classic Uncle Scrooge creator, writer and artist Carl Barks! The world's wealthiest mallard, joined by his nephews Donald Duck and Junior Woodchucks Huey, Dewey and Louie, sets out in search of seven legendary golden cities, an ancient civilization hidden in the Himalayas, and far-flung Herringtail, Norway, and runs afoul of the dastardly Beagle Boys—and one very elusive lemming! Can a poor umptillion-fabulatillionaire prevail against those who would seek to relieve him of his wealth? And can he attain that prize greater than any gold, more rewarding than a swim in any money bin—entry into that billionaire boys' club known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Did George Lucas once borrow from Scrooge McDuck? Uncle Scrooge as Daniel Plainview The Gods Must Be Crazy Daniel Clowes' Playful Obsession Various communist leaders The DuckTales revival Hey, Hostess® Fruit Pies! Give us a call! Let's talk! Bone: The Great Cow Race Clue: the comic book Only a Poor Old Man The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Jonah Hex/Yosemite Sam Special #1 The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Dish on the Dish. Join us in two weeks as we get ready for another Netflix show (Marvel's The Defenders) with the death and resurrection of Elektra in Frank Miller's Daredevil! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin temporarily put aside their "clean" rating for a bracing look at the dark side of nerd culture (just in time for Comic-Con) with a longer-than-usual discussion of Evan Dorkin's The Eltingville Club, published by Dark Horse Comics! Bill, Josh, Pete and Jerry are four nerd culture-obsessed teens who'll go to any lengths to score that ultra-rare collectible—and assert their dominance over each other in the process—in this collection of smartly drawn stories, three of which ("Bring Me the Head of Boba Fett," "The Marathon Men," and "The Intervention") are Eisner Award-winners! Can this not-so-fantastic foursome put aside their petty bickering and embrace the positive aspects of the culture that brings them together? (Spoiler: Don't hold your breath.) And can they collect enough proofs of purchase to gain admittance to that exclusive club of action figures known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Dorkin and Thompson's Beasts of Burden Kevin's sad dating story "Are you the creator of Hi and Lois?" The Comics Curmudgeon Trapped under the rubble—yet again! Frederick Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent Tim Quirk of Too Much Joy Lout Rampage! and Pussey Milk and Cheese: Dairy Products Gone Bad Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book Archive Things Not Discussed in This Episode, Because We Forgot: The Eltingville Club Adult Swim pilot The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Dish on the Dish. Join us in two weeks as we gear up for a return trip to Duckburg with a look at three classic Uncle Scrooge stories by the great Carl Barks! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin welcome comics creator and Creative Loafing Atlanta editor in chief Carlton Hargro for a wide-ranging look at the year in movie and TV adaptations of Marvel Comics properties … plus a little-known indie film you may have heard of by the name of Wonder Woman. Spoilers abound in this non-canonical spectacular as we review the swinging Spider-Man: Homecoming, the high-flying Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the leaden Iron Fist, Marvel's Agents of The M.A.T.R.I.X., the head trip that is FX's Legion and Hugh Jackman's swan song as Wolverine in Logan. But that's not all! We also briefly mention upcoming projects including the promising Thor: Ragnarok, the not-so-promising Inhumans, Netflix's street-level super-team The Defenders and The Punisher. Then we wrap it all up with a talk about things we hope to see in future Marvel projects. Other Things Discussed in This Episode: • Sam Raimi's influence on the MCU • Dwayne McDuffie • Spider-Man: Homecoming's own Sinister Six • The Marvel movie no one wants to see • "That's not Mantis!" • Robert McKee's Story • Kevin commits heresy • Highlander: The Series • How Chris Pine could return in the Wonder Woman sequel • Nia Griggs and the Kemetic Sisterhood of Science The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Dish on the Dish. Join us next week as we commemorate Comic-Con International: San Diego with a discussion of the dark side of geekdom via Evan Dorkin's The Eltingville Club! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin welcome your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a pair of powerful Spidey Super Stories! First up, they swing into action with a discussion of one of the most famous comic stories of all time: the origin of Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15! After that, it's on to an action-packed tale of great power and great responsibility (and one of the most iconic scenes in superhero comics), as a guilt-ridden wall-crawler fights against impossible odds to save the life of his beloved Aunt May in the three-part storyline If This Be My Destiny …! from Amazing Spider-Man #31-33! Can the winded web-slinger prevail against the machinations of the mysterious Master Planner? And can he survive the cutthroat halls of academia long enough to win a ticket to that homecoming dance known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Actor Frank Nelson • Are you obliged to stop a thief? • The Acme Warehouse • Spider-Man's Uncanny Valley moment • Marvel: The Untold Story by Sean Howe • Peter Parker's true calling: costume design! • To Alcohol! • Kid Puncho, the Fighting Clown • Kind words from The Nerds Uncanny • Thor Frog from Walt Simonson's Thor #365 • The Hood: Blood From Stones • The Return of Beta Ray Bill • Give Our Regards to the Atom-Smashers! • Kraven's Last Hunt • Kevin's essay on Secret Empire in Vex Mosaic • Curt's review of Spider-Man: Homecoming The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Dish on the Dish. Join us next week for a look at the year in Marvel movie and TV adaptations (so far), and then again the week after that for a discussion of the dark side of geekdom via Evan Dorkin's The Eltingville Club! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin unearth the spine-tingling tale that kicks off a "shared universe" of classic characters including the beastly Mr. Hyde! No, we're not talking about the Tom Cruise flop The Mummy, but The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1 by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill, originally published by America's Best Comics! Mina Murray, not long removed from her encounter with a certain Transylvanian count, is enlisted by the British government to recruit a bizarre task force including Allan Quatermain, the brooding Captain Nemo, the timid Dr. Jekyll and the enigmatic Invisible Man. But they soon realize their mission isn't quite as it first appeared! Can this astonishing assortment of alarmingly afflicted adventurers defeat the enemy who's played them for fools, and stop him from raining fiery terror down on London's Limehouse district? And can they keep from killing each other long enough to crash that mad monster party known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • The 2003 LXG movie • R.I.P. Adam West • Jess Nevins' annotated League of Extraordinary Gentlemen • Alan Moore on taking superheroes back to their roots • Is Fu Manchu ever not racist? • The America's Best Comics line • Curt lays down some real talk about The Mummy • Nemo: Heart of Ice • Anno Dracula • A Study in Emerald • Marvel: 1602 • Rough Riders Vol. 1: Give Them Hell • Avanti, Da Vinci! The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Dish on the Dish. Join us in two weeks as we get ready for Spider-Man: Homecoming with a look at the wall-crawler's origins in Amazing Fantasy #15, plus another story to be named later! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin are joined by guest vocalist Ryan Lucas as they discuss the first two volumes of the Scott Pilgrim series: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, written and drawn by Bryan Lee O'Malley and published by Oni Press! Scott Pilgrim, aimless 23-year-old bassist for Toronto band Sex Bob-Omb, is dating 17-year-old high school student Knives Chau when he falls hard for delivery girl Ramona Flowers. But in order to date her, he'll have to break up with Knives—and, oh yeah, defeat seven of Ramona's exes in hand-to-hand combat! Can Scott get his act together long enough to help Sex Bob-Omb score a prestigious gig opening for his ex-girlfriend Envy Adams—and vanquish the League of Ramona's Evil Ex-Boyfriends? And can he book himself and the band into that Great Gig in the Sky known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Is Scott Pilgrim kind of a jerk? • Do these books pass the Bechdel Test? • The Flying Burrito Brothers' Gilded Palace of Sin • Is Kevin really Scott Pilgrim? • Curt hates the name of our letters segment • Our first negative review • Random House vs. Houghton Mifflin • Zot! The Complete Black and White Collection: 1987-1991 • Kamikaze Vol. 1: Run Rabbit Run • Love and Rockets: Maggie the Mechanic The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Dish on the Dish. Join us in two weeks as we discuss another fictional league—Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for the long-awaited Wonder Woman movie with a look at the comic-book origins of everyone's favorite Amazon, including her brief introduction in 1941's All-Star Comics #8 and her debut in the pages of her very own magazine, 1942's Wonder Woman #1, published by DC Comics! After that, it's on to a more contemporary take on the character's formative years, as writer and artist Jill Thompson presents us with a Princess Diana we haven't seen before — brash, bratty and a tad unsympathetic — in the Eisner Award-nominated 2016 graphic novel Wonder Woman: The True Amazon! Can the headstrong young Diana win the favor of indifferent stable girl Alethea? Can the powerful princess save injured American intelligence officer Steve Trevor and defeat a pretty unfortunate caricature of a Japanese spy? And most importantly, can the amazing Amazon pilot her invisible plane to that island paradise of pulp periodicals known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • The lack of a definitive Wonder Woman story • The David E. Kelley Wonder Woman TV pilot • Kevin can't say "William Moulton Marston" • Wonder Woman #1: Not the most woke comic • Curt's controversial take on Themyscira • Sex and the single Amazon • Wonder Woman: Earth One • The 2-Way Stretch All-Nylon Girdle! • Magic Trixie • Brief Lives • Wonder Woman: Blood • The Secret History of Wonder Woman Join us in two weeks as we discuss the first two volumes of Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim series! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin trek across Bifrost, the rainbow bridge and wade into the ongoing conversation about diversity in superhero comics as they discuss Thor Vol. 1: The Goddess of Thunder, collecting Thor (2014) #1-8 by Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman, published by Marvel Comics! The son of Odin is no longer worthy to wield his mighty hammer, Mjolnir! When a mystery woman picks up the hammer and receives the power of the thunder god, this turn of events doesn't sit well with the hammer's original owner—or with Odin, the recently returned ruler of Asgard! Can this new Thor hold her own against the combined might of an enraged All-Father, the sinister dark elf Malekith, the evil Roxxon Corporation, its minotaur CEO, and a horde of frost giants? And can she swing her enchanted hammer long enough to nail down a spot in that pantheon of divine stories known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Our new relationship with Creative Loafing Atlanta • Thor's unfortunate first attempt at diversity • Fear Itself • Why Thor Lost His Hammer • Thor is the woman, Odinson is the guy—got it? • Did diversity really hurt Marvel's sales? • The Goddamned • Jason Aaron's run on The Incredible Hulk • How Rocket Raccoon Rescued Bill Mantlo • Curt remembers comics blogger Tim O'Shea Join us in two weeks as we get ready for the long-awaited Wonder Woman movie with a look at the comic-book origins of everyone's favorite Amazon! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin get ready for the new Guardians of the Galaxy film by taking a rocket ride to the Kree homeworld for a look at the comic-book origins of this cinematic band of space-faring misfits, as seen in Annihilation: Conquest – Star-Lord #1-4, published by Marvel Comics! But first, they make a brief 1,000-year detour to the far future to check in with the stalwart 30th-century star warriors who started it all, as the original Guardians of the Galaxy (including a certain blue-skinned guy you might recognize from the movies) band together in 1969's Marvel Super-Heroes #18! Can the original Guardians repel the (not terribly menacing) menace of the invading Badoon? Can their modern-day counterparts foil the (not-so-fearsome) Phalanx and save the galaxy from cybernetic assimilation? Most importantly, can these cosmic champions blast their way into that interplanetary posse of space cowboys known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • We need to talk about Yondu • Steve Gerber, Bill Mantlo, Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin • Annihilation: Conquest • The Borg—We mean, the Phalanx • Bug's speech patterns explained • A talking Groot!?! • Star-Lord's lame password game • Space profanity • The name of our Canon Fodder segment • Curt reacts to our latest iTunes review • Justice League International • Guardians of the Galaxy: Legacy • Nova by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning • The Micronauts • What's your favorite space comic?

In this episode, Curt and Kevin take a break from titanic teens, movie misanthropes and murderous mutants to tackle a truly uncanny topic: Grant Morrison's twisted take on the "World's Strangest Heroes" with a discussion of Crawling From the Wreckage, collecting issues 19-25 of The Doom Patrol, published by DC Comics! Cliff "Robotman" Steele checks into a psychiatric hospital following the near-destruction of the misfit superteam the Doom Patrol. But he soon joins forces with an intersexual spirit-being and a super-powered woman with multiple personalities to prevent an incursion into our reality by the bizarre metafictional menace of the Scissormen! Can this newly reconstituted Doom Patrol survive a trip to Orqwith, the City of Bone, and an encounter with the seemingly all-powerful Red Jack, who may or may not have once been Jack the Ripper? And can they gain admittance to that strange society of freaks and geeks known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Jan Švankmajer • Struwwelpeter, Little Suck-a-Thumb and the great, red, long-legged scissorman • There Is a Mountain by Donovan • The Ruling Class • What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton • John Workman and Richard Case • China Mieville • Greg Berlanti, get on that Doom Patrol CW show, stat! • The Insult That Made a Man Out of "Mac" • The Painting That Ate Paris • The League of Regrettable Superheroes • From Hell That's it for this episode – join us in two weeks as we discuss the origins of Marvel's space-faring misfits, the Guardians of the Galaxy! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin get ready for the third comics adaptation in as many episodes with a discussion of the landmark Teen Titans storyline The Judas Contract, as featured in The New Teen Titans issues #42-44 and New Teen Titans Annual #3, published by DC Comics! These Teen Titans aren't just kid sidekicks anymore -- they've dealt with supervillains, marauding aliens, a deadly cult leader and even the horrors of wedding planning. But when they're captured by the world's deadliest assassin, they find themselves facing the biggest threat of their budding careers: the tremendously powerful, emotionally unstable Terra! Can the young man formerly known as Robin rescue his teammates from a cigarette-smoking 16-year-old girl and her judgment-impaired mentor, the menacingly named Deathstroke the Terminator? And can everyone's favorite teen heroes graduate from the kids' table to that school of hard knocks known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • The Uncanny X-Men • Beast Boy's relentless and insufferable sexual harassment • Deathstroke's ... er, problematic relationship with Tara Markov • Robin's green baby onesie • The unfortunate hand-waving of Tara's mental illness • The Teen Titans' extremely lax vetting process • Young Avengers: Sidekicks and Family Matters • The Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans • Teen Titans Go! • The Doom Patrol Speaking of the Doom Patrol, join us in two weeks as we discuss the first arc of Grant Morrison's critically acclaimed run with the "World's Strangest Heroes," Crawling From the Wreckage! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for yet another comic-based film adaptation with a Daniel Clowes double feature: a discussion of the teen turmoil of Ghost World and the middle-aged turmoil of Wilson! First, best friends Enid Coleslaw and Rebecca Doppelmeyer find themselves at a crossroads – one populated by creeps, geeks and obnoxious, extroverted, pseudo-Bohemian art-school losers. When Enid applies to college, the girls are forced to let go of the past and ponder their uncertain futures -- and their relationship to each other. After a brief detour to discuss the four-page screed Art School Confidential, it's off for a visit with Oakland, California's favorite condescending blowhard (coming soon to a movie theater near you) as he suffers the death of a family member, reconnects with an ex-wife and discovers the child he never knew he had. Can these cynical loners shed their abrasive ways and live happily ever after? And can they score tickets to that hallowed film festival of graphic novel adaptations known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Are we just a couple of phonies? • Scarlett Johansson and comic book movies • Underground/indie comics of the 1980s • Alonzo Duralde of Linoleum Knife • The two types of hipsters • "David" Clowes makes a cameo appearance • Rebecca gets an anagram • Jaan Pehechaan Ho • A belated welcome to new listeners • One of Curt's favorite Daniel Clowes panels • Garfield Minus Garfield • Kevin's unsettling Wilson connection • Kevin's stunning Dark Knight Returns revelation • Buddy Does Seattle • Peepshow: The Cartoon Diary of Joe Matt and The Poor Bastard Join us in two weeks as we check in on a group of (arguably) more well-adjusted teenagers with a discussion of The New Teen Titans: The Judas Contract! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Kevin and "Old Man Holman" mark the release of the new Logan movie by gassing up the Spider-Mobile for a road trip across a post-apocalyptic wasteland to discuss Wolverine: Old Man Logan, collecting Wolverine #66-72 and Wolverine: Old Man Logan Giant-Size #1, published by Marvel Comics. Fifty years after the villains of the Marvel Universe teamed up to defeat the world's heroes, a haunted Logan has forsaken violence to live a peaceful life of farming with his wife and two children. But when he can't pay his rent to the vicious Hulk Gang, the promise of a financial windfall leads him on a dangerous cross-country trip with the blind archer Hawkeye. Can the man formerly known as Wolverine outrun rampaging dinosaurs, creepy Moloids and his own dark past long enough to save his family? Can he keep from popping his claws and returning to his savage ways? And can he gain admittance to that alternate reality known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Giant Size Man-Thing • Kevin mispronounces Morry Hollowell's name • Where Curt draws the line • Reading comics on a tablet • #NotmyHawkeye • Kevin's fanboy struggle • The post-apocalypse economy • Curt likes a big map • Paste Pot Creek and Otisburg • "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" • "Gigglin'" Glen Weldon • Hawkeye Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon • Secret Wars • Logan • Asterios Kokkinos' The Five-Minute Podcast • Legion Join us in two weeks as we switch gears to discuss a very different comics character getting the cinematic treatment: Daniel Clowes' Wilson (along with Ghost World and Art School Confidential). Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!