From last week’s “Betrayed,” to this week’s “Beloved,” we’ve got some important conversations, and one giant action scene. Dag and I discuss all the details of this episode, including the Skrull reveal (that was really done last episode), and another fateful death.
Yes, but for how long?
This week’s episode of Secret Invasion is titled “Betrayed,” and it makes sense, as there are plenty of people feeling that way. Fortunately, Dag didn’t betray me, and he showed up to bring his thoughts on the show. Together, he and I discuss the ins and outs of the plot, and where we think things will go from here.
The comic book version of Varra has made only a couple of appearances. This is the one you can see her best in.
Secrets are starting to be revealed in this Secret Invasion, especially right at the end of this episode. Special guest Dag (aka TrekNexus) and I discuss our thoughts, theories, and general opinions on the episode titled “Promises.”
We have a feeling that this guy (or someone very similar) is in our future…
…so you should learn his Theme Song.
Who Can You Trust? Find out (or at least theorize) in this first episode of our Deep Dive into the Secret Invasion show on Disney+. Is Nick Fury really as washed up as everyone says he is, or is that just another one of his spy tricks? Special guest TrekNexus from the Beyond Trek podcast joins me as we debate that and other details from the show.
If you watch this after watching Episode 1, you’ll notice some new things you didn’t see the first time.
I say the chances of seeing something like this in the show are just about nil, but that’s okay, because this never was something that actually happened in the comics either.
No soda sipping for the original Talos…
As I say in the episode, I believe this is Gravik’s closest comic counterpart.
Finishing up our look at a couple of unusual vehicles driven by famous superheroes, we land over at DC Comics, where the Supermobile is under the magnifying glass. How does it do all the things it can do? Why was it brought into the comics in the first place? We talk all that and more this episode.
Of course that’s the title of this story…
The Supermobile (literally) crashes onto the scene!
And of course, the Supermobile toy itself…Here’s the original…
The “Krypton Action Ram” version…
And the currently available McFarlane Toys version straight out of the comics.
For the next two episodes, we’ll look at a couple of unusual vehicles driven by famous superheroes. We skip over the Batmobile, the Invisible Jet, and other well-known vehicles and go straight to the bizarre, starting with the wall-crawler’s ill-fated car, the Spider-Mobile.
A display with a few iterations of the Batmobile inspired our listener’s missive.
I feel like the “Spidey” license plate is redundant. And also probably not an actual NY license plate.
…with a vengance!
You can’t get rid of it that easily, Spidey!
It will haunt you forever…
The Spider-Verse is a little nuts.
The Last Boy on Earth! This Jack Kirby creation is probably not known to many outside hardcore comic book fans, but thanks to an animated short, one listener discovered his existence and asked Kurt to explain more about the world of Kamandi.
Planet of the Apes…and Rats…and Wolves…and…
The story plays a little bit with “The Mighty One” being a mystery, but the cover does not.
Still going with the ripped jorts look, huh? Talk about a Great Disaster!
In this special 150th episode, I take a couple of questions that I’ve had for a little while that I didn’t feel fit a full episode, and answer both, as well as returning to an old feature, identifying the source of a pop culture touchstone that’s been used so many times, you may not know the origin!
Follow along as I find as many references as I can.
The last of the remastered episodes, as after this, I bought a new, better microphone. Although the show is long gone, Cloak & Dagger was a fairly faithful adaptation while it lasted. The major similarities and difference are discussed here.
From (the now defunct) Marvel television. At this point, I’m doubting they’ll return, but you never know!
Law and Order: Special Mutants Unit.
Dagger’s outfit was never going to be translated directly, especially played by a teenager.
Duran Duran and Kate Bush get call outs in the graffiti, in case you weren’t aware that this was written in the 80s.
The first Cloak & Dagger I ever saw. And yes, that’s Elliot from E.T. (aka Henry Thomas) as the kid.
Continuing our look at some of the less-famous X-Men roster, we’ve reached the Giant-Sized issue that reinvented the team, and the three members who never quite reached the fame of their compatriots like Nightcrawler, Colossus, Storm, and Wolverine.
Only one of the three we discuss even makes the cover. That’s got to hurt.
Banshee in one of his early villainous appearances.
…and what he looks like after joining the good guys. Amazing how much more attractive heroes are.
Sean in his “Horseman of Death” aspect.
And now as “Vox Ignis.”
Welcome to the team!
Well, that was quick…
The always pleasant to be around John Proudstar…
Welcome to the X-Men, John! Hope you survive the…Oh. Never mind.
45 years later…finally back!
A Re-mastered version of Episode 8 with improved audio. This episode provides first a definition of, then a few prime examples from (mostly) comics of breaking the fourth wall. This was originally released way before the She-Hulk TV show, but she still gets some representation here!
I never watched the new show. Did we ever get a “Time Out” there?
I wonder if Betty White actually signed off on that quote.
Deadpool…in…spaaaaaaaace! (Take a listen to the episode for the full effect)
Gwenpool…in…gutterspace! (The white space between panels is called “the gutter.”)
Animal Man…in…Okay, I’ve probably played out the joke now.
Quantum, Woody, and Bat-Man. (Read the book)
Celebrating five years of Welcoming people to Geektown, Kurt continues his anniversary tradition of going over the history of his favorite character Speedball and his teammates on The New Warriors, this year reaching the short-lived Volume 3, leading into the epic event, Civil War.
Microbe usually isn’t front and center of combat. Usually, he looks more like…
this. Note the flies buzzing. He doesn’t shower, as to avoid losing his germ “friends.”
A bunch of debris, thanks to Debrii.
A promotional image of the TV show roster. Can you see why I believe the reality show was part of the concept?
A Re-mastered version of Episode 7 with improved audio. The first in a recurring series where we look at the characters that have taken on a classic heroic identity, and what happened to them after the original returned. In this original installment, we looked at the various Captains America.
You wouldn’t know it at first glance, but there are two Captains America on this cover.
The “white eyes” is not a good look for Cap.
I hope he didn’t actually toss his shield aside while people were shooting at him…
They can do this all day.
Two people who call themselves Captain America at one time or another, and neither one is Steve…
Unsurprisingly, Sam has gotten back in the costume in the comics, to match his MCU counterpart.
Steve doing his best Harvey Dent impersonation.
You saw him briefly in “Falcon & Winter Soldier,” but he never wore the costume.
We conclude the conversation with writer J.M. DeMatteis, starting with his fantasy graphic novel, Moonshadow, then working our way through his career, including the Justice League, some animation, music, and others all the way up to his current projects.
If you’d like to take a look and possibly purchase any of the books in the DeMultiverse, you can do so here.
Pay no attention to the moon behind the curtain…
The cover that launched a seminal run…and inspired many, many other covers.
One of very few adaptations to credit Alan Moore with his permission.
A small sample of J.M.’s music.
A re-mastered version of Episode 6 with greatly improved audio, thanks to AI. The history of Marvel and DC’s rivalry, as well as some general differences between the companies over the years, is discussed in this classic episode.
Hope you had time to prepare, Batman!
Kind of a shame that Thor costume was what was current, as this very much dates it to the 90s.
It was a very short “age.”
Even after a hardcover reprint for charity, you’re still looking at paying a pretty penny for this story, but it’s worth it.
We welcome the talented writer of TV, novels, and of course, comic books: J.M. DeMatteis in the first part of this two-part interview. Starting from his childhood love of comics to the seminal work: Kraven's Last Hunt.
The man, the myth, the legend…J.M.
Some of J.M.’s earliest work. Classic horror monsters beating up Nazis! You know you want to read it!
Kraven’s Last Hunt…at least until Marvel brought him back 25 years later.
Recognizing when the best writing is nothing at all.
A re-mastered version of Episode 5 with AI enhanced audio, where discuss one of my favorite types of games, Legacy games. Then we go on a brief comparison of various “crossed arm” gestures seen in recent comic book films of the time.
The originator (although I’d love to see the “Clue: Legacy” that Rob originally came up with.
Having played more Legacy games since this episode’s release, this one is on the weaker side, game-wise, although it tells an interesting story.
Season 1 is very similar to the original Pandemic in many ways…
…while Season 2 starts off very differently.
Still fun to play after the campaign is over.
Impossible to play after the campaign is over, but a fun, creepy campaign.
At this point, it’s likely we won’t see her crossing her arms like this again…
…and sadly, we know we won’t be seeing him do so (R.I.P.)…
but this could still happen again in Deadpool 3!
Over 23 years now, and counting (again, when Deadpool 3 releases…).
Kang the Conqueror makes his first full appearance in the MCU with Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, which came out earlier this weekend. But who is Kang, and what makes him so threatening that he’ll be the next Big Bad after Thanos? Learn his comic book history, including his many aliases by listening to this episode.
Damn, early 60s Janet is thirsty! Also, thank you Marvel Studios for adapting the Kang Lounge Chair.
Narrator voice: No, he is not.
Why you hittin’ yourself? Why you hittin’ yourself?
Okay. Maybe early 60s Janet had a point…
Just a few of the Avengers seen in “Avengers Forever.” Go read it!
A Re-mastered version of Episode 4 with improved audio. Mutants are "hated and feared" by many humans in the Marvel Universe, but listener Aaron L. wants to know why they're treated so differently from the other super-powered beings. (Note, the contest mentioned here is long over)
Jean’s funky dance moves are sure to defeat Magneto!
There have been many “X” puns over the years…
I always appreciate how this logo has rotational symmetry (i.e. turn the comic upside-down and it reads the same)
Probably the most-referenced Marvel story so far in the podcast (as of this typing).
You’re starting to reach for those X-references, Marvel…
Inspired by a question from a co-worker during a regular (albeit off-topic from work) conversation, this week we’re looking at the history of the 30th/31st Century team known as The Legion of Super-Heroes! From their first appearance, to the “Reboot,” “Threeboot” and beyond, why does this team have such a hardcore fanbase?
Cosmic Boy eventually lost the fishbowl helmet as well, thankfully.
The Five Years Later Legion. They’ve grown up a little…except maybe Shrinking Violet.
Just a few of the members of the Post Zero-Hour Legion.
Jim Shooter returns to the Legion, although not the same one he wrote years earlier.
Some classic George Perez “get every member in there” shots for the Legion of Three Worlds mini.
The latest Legion being introduced to Superboy.