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?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

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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Episode 32 – The Guardians of the Galaxy Episode

Posted on April 26, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 31 – Doom Patrol: Crawling From the Wreckage

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

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:

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!

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Episode 30 – New Teen Titans: The Judas Contract

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 29 – Ghost World and Wilson

Posted on March 15, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 28 – Wolverine: Old Man Logan

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

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?

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Episode 27 – Batman: The Court of Owls (With Glen Weldon)

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

In this episode, Curt and Kevin are joined by special guest Glen Weldon – NPR contributor, panelist on NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast and author of The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture – as they discuss Batman: The Court of Owls, collecting Batman (Vol. 2) #1-7, published by DC Comics!

The Dark Knight Detective has always believed the Court of Owls to be nothing more than an old folk tale. But when Bruce Wayne is marked for death by their enigmatic assassin, the Talon, Batman learns that they’re very real – and that everything he thought he knew about Gotham City is wrong!

Trapped in an underground labyrinth, driven to the edge of madness, can the Caped Crusader escape the Court’s deadly clutches and reclaim Gotham as his own? And can he gain entry into that secret society known as … The Comics Canon?

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Episode 26 – Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Power

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Kevin Moreau

In this episode, Curt and Kevin go nuts as they enroll at Empire State University, joined by their first-ever guest – Curt’s teenage daughter, Evelyn – to discuss Squirrel Power, collecting issues #1-4 of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, published by Marvel Comics!

She’s fought crime with the Great Lakes Avengers and even defeated the powerful space baddie Thanos. But now Doreen Green, alias the aforementioned Squirrel Girl, must conquer threats more terrifying than any she’s yet faced: College! A roommate! Boys! And if those weren’t intimidating enough, who went and Kraven the Hunter, Whiplash and Galactus to the curriculum???

With sassy sidekick Tippy-Toe in tow, can our body-positive Avenger somehow convince the Devourer of Worlds to adopt an Earth-free diet?  And can she make it into that exclusive series of trading cards known as … The Comics Canon?

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