Episode 171: The Replacements - Green Lantern (Pt. 4; Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz)

January 28, 2024 by Kurt Onstad

Finally finishing up the Green Lantern “Replacements” episodes with the New 52 recruits of Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz. But, before we get to those, one last bit of business from the Loki Season 2 Deep Dive, thanks to a listener comment.

The gun was an identifying feature for a little while.

And in her (much happier) Green Lantern outfit. She kept the eye tattoo, however.

Episode 170: The Replacements - Green Lantern (Pt. 3; Kyle Rayner and Jade)

January 07, 2024 by Kurt Onstad

After a bit of a hiatus, we continue the discussion of Green Lantern “Replacements,” getting into the 90s with one of the longest running replacements, Kyle Rayner, as well as the woman who briefly took his place, daughter of original Green Lantern Alan Scott, Jade. (If you haven’t listened already, I suggest checking Episode 71 for discussion of Kyle’s first girlfriend, Alex DeWitt).

Don’t make her angry. You wouldn’t like her when she’s angry. Wait a second…

Better than your boyfriend…at least in my opinion.

Episode 162: The Replacements - Green Lantern (Pt. 2; John Stewart)

September 24, 2023 by Kurt Onstad

Continuing the Green Lantern “Replacements” from last episode, we move on to the one that actually replaced Hal first, despite appearing after Guy Gardner. The Lantern so well loved, he was actually chosen over Hal for the Justice League cartoon in the DCAU, it’s John Stewart!

This is one of many cases where the cover image does not at all happen in the story.

Can you tell this costume was created in the 1990s?

After the show aired, the comics adapted John to fit this version even more.

Episode 162: The Replacements - Green Lantern (Pt. 1; Guy Gardner)

September 10, 2023 by Kurt Onstad

Continuing our ongoing “Replacements” feature, this is the first part of the Green Lantern franchise. Even with only covering those that directly replaced Hal Jordan, we’re still going to need multiple shows to discuss all the successors to the mantle, and what happened to them when Hal inevitably returned. We start with the first of those, Guy Gardner, a polarizing figure to say the least.

Ironically, he’s actually very nice in his first appearance, despite this cover.

Any man who dares walk the streets with that haircut has to be tough…

…or, in one case, a hybrid Green/Red (wouldn’t that be brown?).

My personal favorite Guy Gardner moment.

Episode 150: Cross Company References and a Montage of Multiverse

April 30, 2023 by Kurt Onstad

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.

Episode 123: The Revolving Death Door (Why all the Resurrections in Comics?)

July 03, 2022 by Kurt Onstad

The saying the listener asking this week’s question references used to be: “No one stays dead but Bucky, Jason Todd and Uncle Ben,” but two of those three have also returned from the grave. So, why are so many characters brought back to life after being given a “permanent” end to their story?

This is…not how lightning works. Except the “you dying” part.

Episode 122: The Emotional Spectrum and Lantern Corps (Colors in the DCU Pt. 2)

June 19, 2022 by Kurt Onstad

Following up on last episode, instead of the elemental planes for animals, plants, and other forms of life associated with colors, this time we go over the emotional forces associated with colors in the DC Universe, and how entire Corps of heroes and villains have been built around them.

Can you guess which one comes from the Golden Age and was originally unrelated to the rest?

Cyborg Superman has become more of a Green Lantern villain than a Superman villain. Go figure…

Yes, that is a cat behind Atrocitus’ left shoulder pad. No, it is not an alien. Just a regular Earth housecat. As a cat owner I say, “Yeah, that fits.”

Apparently, the seagulls from Finding Nemo are potential Orange Lanterns.

Yes, every Corp gets their own rhyme, with one exception.

The exception. (“Nok” is the only thing most Indigo Lanterns ever say.)

Based on that outfit, I’m thinking they’re powered by Lust more than Love.

It’s not hard to find heroes who are currently dead to join the Black Lantern Corps…

But it’s even easier to find ones who died and came back for the White Lanterns.

Episode 72: The Justice Society of America (and Thanksgiving)

November 26, 2020 by Kurt Onstad

With this episode being released on Thanksgiving day (in America), I wanted to touch on the heroes that I most associate with the holiday, and that is DC’s first super team: the Justice Society of America. From the Golden Age up to today, we go over how they’ve changed over the years, while keeping true to their original vision, and touch on the two Thanksgiving stories that inspired this particular topic to come out today.

Poor Johnny Thunder gets left out of the picture, even though he’s mentioned on the cover.

They seem to be happy to see the Justice League holding hands.

Things do not go well for the team in the 80s.

Home Again…but not for long. Sorry guys, the early 90s were even less kind.

Episode 71: Death Becomes You - Alex DeWitt (from Green Lantern)

November 12, 2020 by Kurt Onstad

Continuing a recurring feature, “Death Becomes You” looks at some of the more unusual deaths in comic books. This time, we look closer at the unfortunate demise of Alex DeWitt, a brief supporting cast member in the Green Lantern title in the 90s. While her death hasn’t had much in the way of repercussions in the DCU, it has led to a new term in this one, and helped bring a new professional comic book writer into the fold. How did that happen? Take a listen and find out!

As promised in the episode, here is a link to the original Women in Refrigerators site inspired by Alex’s death, which helped lead to Gail Simone’s comic book career.

And her last…(Thankfully, the colorists helped keep this from being too grotesque)

Episode I - The Starts and Restarts of the DC Universe

March 29, 2018 by Kurt Onstad

Learn the history of the various reboots of the DC Universe, both hard and soft. From Action Comics #1 in 1938 all the way to 2016's Rebirth, find out about the big continuity shake-ups that have changed the history of some of your favorite characters.

Don't forget to Subscribe in iTunes!

These things never go well for The Flash

A major crossover with no Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman?

High collars and low cut tops. Thanks, Jim Lee!