Quizzical Canonical 4: Nothing Can Stump the Juggernaut!

Posted on September 20, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

Despite popular demand, our recurring comics-themed quiz returns! This time, Curt surprises Kevin with a pop quiz on everyone’s favorite unstoppable X-Men villain, following last week’s episode on Amazing Spider-Man: Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut!

 

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Episode 195 –Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut! and The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man

Posted on September 13, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

In this episode, we swing back into our Spidey Super Stories miniseries with a pair of acclaimed Spider-Man tales from the early 80s: The two-part Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut from Amazing Spider-Man #229-230, and The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man, from Amazing Spider-Man #248!

First, everyone’s favorite wall-crawler races to stop the X-Men villain Juggernaut from kidnapping the psychic Madame Web, only to find that such a task is easier said than done as the relentless behemoth leaves a trail of destruction in his wake!

 

Then, Spider-Man pays a nighttime visit to his biggest fan.

Join us as we ask the burning questions: Why does ol’ web-head reveal his greatest secret to young Tim Harrison? Can our overmatched, outclassed hero prevail against an unstoppable force as the Juggernaut? And can these stories make a dent in that immovable object known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode: Continue reading →

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Episode 194 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (With Matt Goldberg)

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

Media critic Matt Goldberg returns as we temporarily pause our Spidey Super-Stories miniseries to discuss the unstoppable cultural phenomenon known as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with a look at the book that started it all—Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (and also #2) by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird!

Before the seven different movies (including the well-received new “Mutant Mayhem”), the animated series, the video games and the action figures, there was just a self-published black-and-white comic riffing on Frank Miller’s Daredevil run with a brilliant title.

 

How did this modest 40-page comic spawn a decades-spanning multimedia juggernaut? And does it have what it takes to enter that Forbidden Kingdom known as … The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:
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Episode 193 – Ultimate Spider-Man Vol 2: Learning Curve and Confessions

Posted on August 17, 2023 by Kevin Moreau

In this episode, Spidey Super Stories swings into a different gear as we examine yet another version of everyone’s favorite wall-crawler with a look at Ultimate Spider-Man: Learning Curve, with a special emphasis on issue 13, Confessions, by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, published by Marvel Comics!

We discuss the ways in which the Ultimate Universe Peter Parker and his supporting characters differ from their Marvel Universe counterparts, the sharp contrast between this title and Spider-Man comics from the 1960s through the 90s, and a conversation with Mary Jane more monumental than supervillain slugfest—especially when Aunt May barges in!

Can this Peter Parker make it through his first meeting with this universe’s Kingpin? And more importantly, will he survive the scrutiny of … Your Friendly Neighborhood Comics Canon?

In This Episode:
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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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