Episode 106: Santa Claus in Comics - Marvel Edition

Happy Holidays, everyone!  Like last year’s episode, I thought it fitting (considering the timing) to go over some of Santa’s appearances in various comic books, this time focusing on Marvel Comics (other companies may be featured in future years), as he meets the X-Men, Spider-Man, and Howard the Duck (twice!), among other appearances.  Warning: Ironically and unfortunately, this episode may not be suitable for kids.  (Mostly due to the topic.  Language-wise, it’s safe)

🎶I saw Hitler shooting…Santa Claus…🎶

We never do find out when/how they got turned back from action figures…

Back when Howard was always an angry duck. He’s mellowed over the years…

Ho Ho Ho, now I have a handgun.

No, Shulkie, we’re not kidding.

This cover is misleading, but what we do get is equally (if not more) disturbing…

Episode 105: Who Has Been in the Sinister Six?

Not just a list, because that would be boring. Instead, we go through the team’s history, starting with their very first appearance all the way up to the recent “Sinister War,” to find out how the various versions formed, and who was on each team.  It appears we’ll be seeing them in “No Way Home” coming out soon, so this should get you caught up.

I don’t know about you, but I’m glad the multi-colored logo didn’t stick…

No, Spider-Man doesn’t get shrunken down…in this story.

Spider-Man joins the 90s!

Yeah, good luck with that…

Episode 104: Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Who’s the Fastest of them All?

I don’t usually go for “Who Would Win” type questions, but I think this one has a more definitive answer, so we make as many direct comparisons as possible using the given evidence to find out who truly is the speediest of the speedsters.

This never happened, but if it did, there’s a clear winner.

Or, D: None of the Above?

Ouch, that’s just mean, Wally…

Well, Superman has bad starters form, so that gives Flash an early advantage…

Episode 103: Villains of the Batman Arkham Video Games

With 10 different games in the series out, the Batman: Arkham video games have pulled from all over the history of the character for their villains.  One player of the series was curious to find out if any of them were original to the game, or if they all come from the past comics somewhere, and why weren’t they used in the animated series.  We discuss all that and more in this episode, so take a listen!

Whoops! You missed this one (but it’s understandable, as the episode was fairly forgettable)

Calendar Man as he was originally portrayed…

And his current incarnation. One is just a little creepier than the other.

The video game Arkham Knight (aka Spoiler provided in the episode)

vs. the comic book version of the Arkham Knight (a later addition).

Episode 102: Horror Comics (and the Comics Code)

With Halloween just days away, it seemed like the perfect time to answer a question about the history of Horror comics.  From the very first, all the way up to a current favorite, we discuss the ups and downs this particular genre has experienced, especially as it was affected by the Comics Code Authority.

Even back then, they knew what sold…

The Crypt-Keeper underwent a makeover (or perhaps “morgue-over”) before his appearance on TV.

Blade also underwent some cosmetic changes before he first appeared on the screen…

Hi Mike! (I have a friend who is as much a fan of Swamp Thing as I am of Speedball, so he’ll probably see this eventually)

(Most of) The Midnight Sons, gathered together on a triple gatefold page (it was the 90s).

The true villain of the piece, Dr. Frederick Wertham.

Episode 101: Swordsman and Sword Master - Who Are They?

A young listener caught the name of a character I mentioned briefly in Episode 85, and asked me to follow up with his history.  This made me realize I had messed up in that episode, so I go over the history of the character I did name, plus dive into the backstory of the similarly named character I actually meant.

Apparently, if you have a French name, you also get an upturned mustache. I don’t write the rules, I just report them.

Marry a tree? (I’d make a “slippery slope” joke here, but I’m afraid someone might think I mean it)

See that upturned mustache? French tree…

Sequoia. He mostly takes after his dad…

Swordsman…Sword Master…You know, Potato/Potaster.

Episode 100: A Look Back

In this milestone episode, I look back to some earlier episodes, including the very first, to see what stories need updating.  In addition, I talk about questions I’ve received that, while appreciated, will not be the basis for a future episode.

Okay, we might be taking the title of “Death Metal” a little too literally…

Physician, feed thyself.

Wakanda Forev…wait a second.

Episode 99: Who Are The Eternals?

Started as their own separate story, the Eternals are now completely ingrained into the origins of the Marvel Universe.  With the Chloe Zhao-directed movie on its way in less than two months, now seems like a good time to give a primer on these characters, their powers, and what their introduction means for the MCU going forward.

You may recognize one of these “faces” from the trailer above.

When Kirby was on his own, he really liked go out there.

Episode 98: The Replacements - Spider-Man

Continuing our occasional look into the characters that have taken on the identity of an already established hero, this installment covers those who have become the hero that was literally the face of Marvel for many years, Spider-Man, including one of his arch-nemeses.  Take a listen to get all the details.

The original.

The less original. (Ben’s “Scarlet Spider” costume)

And the first costume Ben wore as Spider-Man. (Sewing those fingers must have taken forever…)

The newest Spider-Ben.

Yes, this happened.

If only there was some clue this was actually Doc Ock… Stares in tentacles

Yeah you are.

Episode 97: DC Defined (The Return of Barry Allen)

Also available as part of a YouTube Playlist featuring many different creators, this episode discusses the story that really brought Kurt into the DC Comics Universe, and defined Wally West’s version of The Flash for years to come.  Written by Mark Waid with art by Greg LaRocque, it’s “The Return of Barry Allen.”

Episode 96: Book to Movie Adaptations - Why Are They So Hard?

If you’re a longtime fan of a book and you hear it’s being made into a movie, you may have a mix of joy and dread, as so many of the adaptations over the years have not met up to the book fans’ approvals.  This episode, we look at some of the common follies that adapters will run into that cause fans to cry foul, then Kurt picks out a couple of films he think got it just right.

As promised in the show, you can find the study showing movie runtimes getting longer right here.

A standard book page (about 300 words) vs…

a typical film script page (250 words on average). How do you squeeze one into the other?

Episode 95: Loki - A Deep Dive (Episode 6)

Kurt and Anne wrap up their conversation on the first season of Loki (Season 2 has already been announced!), including the mysterious power behind the TVA, and how this all feeds in to what is coming up in the next year or two in the MCU.

Other than the hat, you can see a lot of this in “He Who Remains”’s outfit.

I really hope we get the “floating invisible chair” at some point in Kang’s MCU appearances.

Episode 94: Loki - A Deep Dive (Episode 5)

Continuing the discussion of "Loki" with special guest Anne V., we dive in and talk all about the show, the comics that inspired it, and the relationships and growth of all the characters involved. 

The source for the strangest Easter Egg in MCU history (and that’s saying something…)

Episode 93: Loki - A Deep Dive (Episode 4)

Continuing the discussion of "Loki" with special guest Anne V., we dive in and talk all about what makes this show so great, and how it connects to the comics.  And yes, we definitely talk about that mid-credits scene and who all those characters are.

I’ll take “Things I never thought I’d see in the MCU” for $1000.

Episode 92: Loki - A Deep Dive (Episode 3)

Continuing the discussion of the Loki show with special guest Anne V., we dive in deep on all the details we can find, especially as they relate to “Sylvie,” including her comic book connections, and what her actions reveal about the character.  And we talk about the big reveal regarding the TVA and what that means.

Not an exact duplicate, but certainly has some similarities to our Sylvie.

Fixed link for Episode 91

Apologies for the double post, but an error in the URL of the MP3 may have caused issues in downloading. Here is the correct file (and it also has been corrected on the website). Depending on timing issues and your podcast app, you may get both, or you may only get this one correctly.

Episode 91: Loki - A Deep Dive (Episode 2)

Continuing the discussion of the Loki show with special guest Anne V., topics include Ren Faires, costumes, diadems (which are not helmets), and the comic book origins of the character revealed at the end of the episode.

How do you get your voice to do that font?

Yes, I think you might actually be good right now…

Episode 90: Loki - A Deep Dive (Episode 1)

With the Loki show diving into one of Kurt’s favorite subjects (Time Travel), of course he’s going to dive deep into the show as well, looking at all the comic book connections, and theorizing with his guest, Anne V.  This first episode we discuss the TVA, Mobius, and all the little moments that made the show so much fun.

Mark Gruenwald, the original face of…

Mobius M. Mobius (Not sure what the M stands for, but I can guess…)

Ravonna (the judge in the show) is…just a little different…in the comics.

Episode 89: LGBT Characters in DC (with JennytheGeek)

Celebrating Pride Month, we are looking at some of the characters in DC Comics that belong to the LGBTQ+ community.  I invited JennytheGeek on to discuss the topic and get her feelings as a trans woman (and fellow superhero fan), on how these different characters were handled.

One slight correction. I referred to Danny the Street as gender-fluid in the show. I meant to say non-binary. My apologies for the mix-up in terms.

Really? I am?

Close your jaw, Wally…

If you know who the one on the right is, you also know this is a bittersweet ending for Wanda.

Look at that castle. Is this Dannyland?

With a few exceptions, comic book romances rarely end well. This is no exception.

Neither is this…

Yay! An exception!

crickets

Anyone else distracted by the cat in the last panel? Just me? Okay…

To be appearing in a comic near you soon!

Whoops! Forgot one! Thanks for the reminder, Jenny!

Episode 88: Who is Shang-Chi?

We’ve recently gotten a teaser trailer for the Marvel film “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” but you may not have heard of the character before that.  We give you a basic rundown on who Shang-Chi is, his infamous father, and how he fits into the Marvel Universe (and possibly the MCU as well)!

Shang-Chi’s dad as originally portrayed…

Limited Edition First Issue…#15? Math is hard!

and as seen in one of the (many) films where they cast a white man to play him.

Bruce Lee? No, we weren’t inspired at all by…um…okay, maybe a little.