Episode 192 – The Superior Spider-Man: My Own Worst Enemy (With Marvel by the Month)

Posted on August 2, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

Bryan Stratton and Robb Milne from the Marvel by the Month podcast join us once again as Spidey Super Stories continues with a look at The Superior Spider-Man: My Own Worst Enemy, collecting The Superior Spider-Man (2013) issues 1-5 by Dan Slott, Ryan Stegman and Giuseppe Camuncoli, published by Marvel Comics!

Doctor Otto Octavius, one of Spider-Man’s deadliest enemies, is in control of the wall-crawler’s body! And he’s vowed to be a better Spider-Man than Peter Parker ever was, utilizing his technological genius in a more aggressive approach to crimefighting in a story that not-so-subtly pokes fun at the Distinguished Competition’s Caped Crusader!

Can Peter’s hapless spirit keep the former Doc Ock from ruining Spidey’s reputation—or wooing his ex, Mary Jane Watson? And does this “superior” Spider-Man have what it takes to Face/Off against … The Comics Canon?

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Episode 191 – Spider-Man No More!

Posted on July 19, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

We kick off Spidey Super Stories, a series dedicated to everyone’s favorite web-slinger, Spider-Man, with a look at “Spider-Man No More!” from Amazing Spider-Man #50, along with two early clashes with the Kingpin in #51-52 and #69, by Stan Lee and John Romita, published by Marvel Comics!

Fed up with a public that hates and fears him, Spider-Man hangs up his web-shooters to devote more time to his studies, his social life and his sickly Aunt May (not necessarily in that order) … just as a mysterious crime lord known as the Kingpin is tightening his grip on New York City!

Has the wall-crawler given up crime-fighting for good? (C’mon, what do you think?) More importantly, will he come to his senses in time to win over those Amazing Friends known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

  • Spider-Man vs. the Spoiler
  • The stones on Frederick Foswell
  • The 1967 “Spider-Man” theme
  • Spider-Man: The New Sinister
  • Captain America and the Falcon #176-176
  • Thor: Goddess of Thunder

Join us in two weeks as Spidey Super Stories continues with Superior Spider-Man: My Own Worst Enemy!

Until then:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Episode 190 – The Sandman: The Kindly Ones Part 2

Posted on July 5, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

In this episode, we wrap up our two-parter on The Sandman Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones, with a look at issues 64-69, published by Vertigo/DC Comics!

Lyta Hall and the Furies descend on The Dreaming, intent on destroying the dream realm and killing the Dream King. Various characters meet untimely ends, while others move on to new locales and one steps into a new role.

Can Morpheus defeat the Erinyes and save The Dreaming? And can he make his way past those dream warriors who stand guard at the gates of … The Comics Canon?

 

In This Episode:

  • Curt reveals Kevin’s M.O.D.O.K. name
  • What Titanic has taught us
  • Morpheus makes a joke!
  • The Bear Season 2
  • Our episode on New Avengers: Illuminati
  • New Avengers Vol. 7: The Trust and Mighty Avengers Vol. 3: Secret Invasion Book 1
  • My Bad Vol. 2: Thirty Minutes or Dead
  • The Charlie Parker series by John Connolly

Join us back here in two weeks as Spidey Super Stories, a miniseries on everyone’s favorite wall-crawler, swings into action with a look at Spider-Man No More!

Until then:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Episode 189 – The Sandman: The Kindly Ones Part 1

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

In this episode, our series-within-a-series on The Sandman begins winding down as we kick off a two-parter on Vol. 9, The Kindly Ones, discussing issues 57-63, published by Vertigo/DC Comics!

When her young son Daniel is abducted, Lyta Hall embarks on a quest to find the trio of goddesses known as the Furies and exact revenge on the being she holds responsible: Morpheus, the Dream King! Meanwhile, we revisit some old friends as this rich fantasy epic moves inexorably toward its violent endgame.

What do returning characters Nuala, Thessaly and the Corinthian have to do with all of this? Why are Loki and the mischievous Puck gaslighting Lyta disguised as cops? And can this penultimate arc avoid apprehension by those Dream Police known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

  • Marc Hempel’s artwork
  • A brief aside about Cormac McCarthy
  • Curt reviews The Flash
  • She-Hulk: Jen, Again
  • Jazzy John Romita and Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection Vol. 3: Spider-Man No More
  • X-Men: Starjammers by Dave Cockrum

Kindly join us in two weeks as we conclude this two-part dive into The Kindly Ones with The Sandman #64-69!

Until then:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Episode 188 – The Flash of Two Worlds

Posted on June 7, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

On this episode, we look ahead to the June 16 release of The Flash with a little story that established the concept of the multiverse as a canonical part of superhero comics: “The Flash of Two Worlds” from The Flash # 123, by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino, published by DC Comics!

Performing for children at a fundraiser, the Flash (Barry Allen) vibrates at super speed and finds himself on another Earth! And it turns out this world is home to … The Flash (Jay Garrick), whose “fictional” exploits thrilled Barry (and DC Comics readers) several years earlier! Faced with the existence of multiple realities, what do our heroes do? Why, team up to fight bad guys, of course!

We also run through two subsequent Barry Allen/Jay Garrick team-ups: “Double Danger on Earth” from The Flash # 129 and “Vengeance of the Immortal Villain” from The Flash #137! How well do these stories stack up, six decades later? And do any of them cross over the finish line into that multiverse of madness known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

  • Curt … has some thoughts … about the Flash’s super-speed powers
  • The Thinker leaves millions on the table
  • The Flash Vol. 2 No. 1: “Happy Birthday Wally!”
  • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
  • Fear Agent Final Edition Vol. 1

Run, don’t walk, to join us in two weeks as we return to the world of The Dreaming for the first of a two-part look at The Sandman: The Kindly Ones!

Until then:
Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise!
Rate us on Apple Podcasts!
Send us an email!
Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

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Episode 187 – American Born Chinese

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

On this episode, just in time for the May 24 debut of American Born Chinese on Disney+, we take a look at, well, American Born Chinese, written and drawn by Gene Luen Yang, published by First Second!

This award-winning graphic novel moves between three characters: The Monkey King, a deity who chafes at being called a monkey; Jin Wang, a child of Chinese immigrants who sees his heritage as an obstacle as he falls in love with an American classmate; and Danny, a typical American teenager whose efforts to fit in at a new school are thwarted by his visiting cousin, a horrible Chinese stereotype named Chin-Kee!

How do these stories eventually come together? Can our protagonists learn to accept themselves as they are? And can American Born Chinese gain entrance to that heavenly dinner party known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:
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Episode 186 – The Death of Captain Marvel

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

It’s one of the few superhero deaths that has managed to stick over the intervening decades. And it ties up Adam Warlock’s Magus Saga with a tidy bow. On this episode, we revisit Marvel Comics’ first-ever “graphic novel,” Jim Starlin’s The Death of Captain Marvel!

He’s fought countless Earth villains and cosmic bad guys, but the man named Mar-Vell finally confronts a foe he can’t defeat: cancer. As the greatest minds on Earth and Titan work tirelessly to find a cure, one of the universe’s mightiest warriors must come to grips with his own mortality, eventually engaging in a psychic battle with his greatest enemy—Thanos!

Can Captain Marvel avoid the literal kiss of Death and live happily ever after? (Spoiler alert: No.) More importantly, can he ascend to that enlightened state of cosmic awareness known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:
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Episode 185 – The Strange Death of Adam Warlock Part 2

Posted on April 26, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

On this episode, we wrap up our two-parter on Marvel’s cosmic messiah, Adam Warlock, with a look at two stories that close the loop on Jim Starlin’s classic Magus Saga: Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2, published by Marvel Comics!

In “The Final Threat,” Warlock, Captain Marvel, Moondragon and the Avengers are all that stands between Earth and an alien armada as Warlock’s onetime ally, Thanos, attempts to use the power of the soul gems to extinguish all the stars in the heavens! Plus, Adam Warlock meets Adam Warlock—for the second time!

Then, in “Death Watch!,” Spider-Man and The Thing must rescue the captive Avengers before Thanos settles for his consolation prize: snuffing out our very own sun as a token of his affection for Death herself!

Can Adam Warlock finally find peace? Can your friendly neighborhood wall-crawler help defeat the Mad Titan and save the world? And can these stories prevail against that Infinity Crusade known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:
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Episode 184 – The Strange Death of Adam Warlock Part 1

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

Content warning: Suicide/self-murder

On this episode, we kick off a two-part look at the definitive Adam Warlock story, The Magus Saga, aka The Strange Death of Adam Warlock, as featured in Strange Tales issues 178-181 and Warlock issues 9-11, written and drawn by Jim Starlin, published by Marvel Comics!

Who is Adam Warlock, the mysterious character slated to make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3? He’s an artificially created, super-powered space messiah, cursed with a gem on his forehead that devours people’s souls.

And in this far-out tale, he faces off against the evil head of an intergalactic empire … who just happens to be his future self!

With newfound allies Thanos, Gamora and Pip the Troll at his side, can Warlock prevail against his despotic shadow self? And will this cosmic comic receive the blessing of that Universal Church of Truth known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:
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Episode 183 – It’s an Ambush Bug, Not a Feature!

Posted on March 29, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

With April Fool’s Day just around the corner, the time seems right for a long-overdue look at DC Comics’ Ambush Bug, who was breaking the fourth wall and spreading mayhem almost a decade before Marvel Comics’ Deadpool. Specifically, we take a look at his appearances in 1984’s Action Comics #560 and issues 1-4 of 1985’s Ambush Bug miniseries, by Keith Giffen and Robert Loren Fleming!

Combining elements of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Looney Tunes shorts and the superhero parody of Steve Gerber’s Howard the Duck, these issues find the chartreuse crackpot crossing paths with the despotic space-sock Argh! Yle!, the giant koala known as Quantis and even Superman himself!

But can he survive a run-in with (gasp!) Darkseid??!! And can these twisted tales survive that Spanish Inquisition known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode: Continue reading →

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