Episode 41 – The Batman Adventures: Mad Love

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

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.)

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Episode 40 – The Death and Resurrection of Elektra

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 39 – The Uncle Scrooge Episode (With Alonso Duralde)

Posted on August 2, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 38 – The Eltingville Club

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Comics Onscreen – Marvel Media Adaptations (and Wonder Woman)

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

Sony Pictures

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 (and speaking of Marvel, Kevin plugs his recent essay on Secret Empire).

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Episode 37 – The Spider-Man Episode

Posted on July 5, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 36 – The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Posted on June 21, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 35 – Scott Pilgrim vs. The Comics Canon

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 34 – The Wonder Woman Episode

Posted on May 24, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 33 – Thor: The Goddess of Thunder

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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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!

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