The Comics Canon

In this episode, we conclude our two-part look at Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons with a discussion of Books 2 and 3, by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Gene Ha and Nicola Scott, published by DC Black Label! The Amazons accept Hippolyta and other disenfranchised women into their ranks as they continue their mission to hunt down those who abuse and oppress women. But it isn't long before their activities catch the attention of a wrathful Zeus, sparking an all-out war between the Amazons and the gods of Olympus!   What is Hera's long game? Why is there a baby made of sand? And will the Amazons prevail and take their rightful place in that League of Their Own known as … The Comics Canon? Also in This Episode: Curt makes a shocking announcement about A.I. Widow's Bay and Margo's Got Money Troubles on Apple TV Age of Bronze Volume 1: A Thousand Ships Join us in two weeks as we take a hard left turn to discuss … Dave Sim's Cerebus! This is not a drill! Until then:<span style= "font-size: 12.

In this episode, we kick off a two-part look at a book we've had our eyes on for some time with a discussion of Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, Book 1, by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Phil Jiminez, published by DC Black Label! Phil Jiminez makes the artistic statement of his career to date with a visually arresting first issue that explores how and why the Greek goddesses (with the notable exception of Hera, Queen of the Olympians) come to create the Amazons, a race of women sworn to find and rescue women enslaved and mistreated by men. Will Zeus redress the wrongs done to women by men throughout history? (Don't hold your breath.) Will Hippolyta escape a band of brutish brigands determined to cut out her tongue? What happened to that little baby girl she sent down the river? And will these maids of might prevail in that Fight Club known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: Some complete random nonsense Zeus, God of Manspreading Shaq at the Parthenon The Incandescent by Emily Tesh Swamp Thing 1989 #1 <p class="M

Note: This episode was recorded before the death of Gerry Conway, who wrote two of the stories we talk about. The Punisher is gearing up for a busy summer on the big and small screens (with Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Punisher: One Last Kill, respectively). So what better time to dive into some key early stories charting the evolution of everyone's favorite gun-toting vigilante? We start with a look at the Punisher's pop-culture inspirations, including the Executioner and Dirty Harry, before discussing his first appearance in 1974's Amazing Spider-Man #129, where he joins forces with (wait, this can't be right, can it?) the Jackal to take down your friendly neighborhood wall-crawler! Then it's on to Marvel Preview #2 from that same year, in which we learn the tragic backstory behind his one-man war on crime! Finally, we jump ahead a few years to Daredevil #183-184 and a gritty, street-level take on the character that's closer to the version we're all familiar with. Is our (anti)hero just a poor judge of character? What type of story suits him best? And can our surly sentinel of the streets survive a frontal assault from that Whack Attack known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: <span style= "font-size: 1

On this episode, we revisit that bygone era when Detective Comics Comics would use any excuse to feature gorillas on its covers with a furry foursome of titanic Silver and Golden Age tales: "The Gorilla Boss of Gotham City" (Batman #75), "Titano the Super-Ape" (Superman #127), "Menace of the Super-Gorilla" (The Flash #107) and "The Brotherhood of Evil" (Doom Patrol #86)! Can DC's greatest (and strangest) heroes prevail against these powerful, petrifying primates? And can these heavy-duty hominids take up residence in that Gorilla City known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: The super-timely name on everyone's lips! Curt and Kevin's last meals Superman's foolproof plan Great Scott! It must be … THE GORILLA! Robotman? Total LOSER Turok, Son of Stone Amazing Spider-Man #130 "Betrayed!" and #136 "The Green Goblin Lives Again!" <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; fo

For our first episode of April, Kevin and Robb go into full-on geek mode as they look back at THE superhero crossover event of 1982: Marvel and DC Present The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans, by Chris Claremont and Walter Simonson! This hotly anticipated team-up pits Marvel's X-Men and DC's New Teen Titans against the tyrannical space god Darkseid, as well as the deadly assassin Deathstroke the Terminator (yes, that's really his name) and  … Dark Phoenix?!! Will these two teams engage in the customary fight that's all just a big misunderstanding? Will we get a satisfying matchup between Wolverine and Deathstroke? And can the combined might of the two biggest titles of the first Reagan administration propel this action-packed adventure into that Clash of Comic-Book Titans known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · The artistic heir to Jack Kirby's cosmic space god vibe That first page though… The origin of one of Huey Lewis' biggest hits REVEALED! <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',se

We're dropping into your feed a day early for this St. Patrick's Day episode, as we look ahead to the August debut of HBO Max's Lanterns and discuss the first appearances of Green Lanterns Alan Scott and Hal Jordan -- followed for no particular reason by a couple of Tales of the Green Lantern Corps written by Alan Moore! First, in "The Green Lantern!" from 1940's All-American Comics #16, construction engineer Alan Scott meets a talking lantern that used to be … a meteor in ancient China? It's a whole thing. Then, in "S.O.S. Green Lantern!" and "Secret of the Flaming Spear!" from 1959's Showcase #22, test pilot Hal Jordan is selected to succeed dying space cop Abin Sur and become an intergalactic lawman! Last but not least, Green Lantern Tomar Re explains to his colleague Arisia just why "Mogo Doesn't Socialize" in 1985's Green Lantern #188! And we get a glimpse into Abin Sur's final moments in "Tygers" from 1986's Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #2! Will Alan Scott and Hal Jordan prevail in their strikingly similar first adventures? Will Bolphunga the Unrelenting ever find the mysterious Mogo? Why does Abin Sur need a spaceship when his ring has the power of flight? And can these stirring tales of heroic space patrolmen survive the Blackest Night and break on through to that Brightest Day known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · What can we call this radiation-sending device? · Green Lantern's archnemesis – The Yellow Lamp! · Plop! · Curt punches up the Green Lantern oath · Revenge of the Green Lanterns <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style= "margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25i

We asked for questions, and you … asked them! In this, our second of two out-of-format episodes marking our 10-year anniversary, we answer the questions on your mind, including: Are there any episodes we'd like to do over? What are our favorite classic comic-book ads? Which comic had the worst movie adaptation?  But first, Curt gives his first-ever State of the Canon address, breaking down the characters, creators and comics publishers most represented in that body of great comic-book works known as The Comics Canon! Join us in two weeks when we return to our regular format with a look at the first appearances of Green Lanterns Alan Scott (in All-American Comics #16 from 1940) and Hal Jordan (Showcase #22 from 1959) -- as well as two fun stories by Alan Moore: Tygers and Mogo Doesn't Socialize! Until then:Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts

There's still time to submit questions for our upcoming March 4 episode, which features an Ask Us Anything segment as well as something Curt cryptically refers to as "The State of the Canon!" If you've ever wondered how we choose the books and storylines we cover, whether we've ever changed our minds about something we've covered on the show, or just want to cast a vote for something you'd like to see discussed on the podcast, send us your emails at [email protected] or drop us a line on Facebook or Bluesky by the end of the day on Friday, Feb. 27, and we'll answer as many as we can! Also in this mini-episode, Kevin and Curt answer sample questions from each other with absolutely no preparation or advance warning! Who says this isn't the Comics Canon Age of Value-Added Content? We hope you enjoy it, and we look forward to answering YOUR questions next week!

Got a burning question for The Comics Canon? Submit a question for our upcoming Ask Us Anything episode, airing Wednesday, March 4! Send us an email at [email protected] or hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky no later than Friday, February 27! After 10 years and 250 episodes of rendering judgment on the greatest comic book stories of yesterday and today, we decided it's finally time to record an episode for newcomers to the podcast – or to comics themselves! In this super-accessible jumping-on point, we walk listeners through a typical episode of The Comics Canon and offer our recommendations for anyone interested in exploring comics, broken into 10 helpful categories: Comics for Kids Comics for All Ages YA/Young Adult Comics Memoirs Humor Comics Crime Comics Horror Comics Superhero Comics Cosmic Comics and the 800-pound gorilla of superhero graphic novels: Watchmen! Also in This Episode! <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style= "margin-bottom: 8

On this milestone episode, we tackle our white whale of show subjects: Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud's fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the comics medium, how it works, and what it can do – told in the comics format! Join us as we ask the burning questions: What ARE comics, anyway? How long has this particular form of communication been around? (Hint: Longer than you think!) How many different ways can it illustrate the passage of time or the concept of movement? What are the six steps of the creative process? How far down a nerd rabbit hole can Curt and Kevin go? (Pretty far!) And will this landmark textbook make the grade and go the head of that comics classroom known as  … The Comics Canon? Also in This Episode! ·       You mean this ISN'T what Scott McCloud looks like? ·       Ooh, bar gra

On this episode, we celebrate our 10th anniversary -- and gear up for our 250th episode -- with a discussion of Zot! The Earth Stories! Specifically, Zot! #28-36 from 1989-1991, written and drawn by Scott McCloud, originally published by Eclipse Comics! The high-flying teen superhero Zot zips merrily along in a bright, shiny and cool retro-futuristic version of our world, cheerful and carefree – so what happens when he ends up stranded on OUR Earth? Mostly, he cedes the stage to his not-quite-girlfriend Jenny and her high school friends, most of whom get a moment to share the spotlight in these touching stories filled with warmth, humor and heart while deftly dealing with topics including coming out, racism and teen sex. Can Zot's relentless optimism remain intact after he experiences crime on our world? Can he convince Jenny not to turn her back on Earth? And can these stories ascend to that World of Tomorrow known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Horton's utterly ridiculous career goal ·       Optimax vs. Cyclops <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" styl

On this episode, we welcome writer, actor and friend of the show Michael Owl, host of The Origin Story Podcast, as we dive into one of the best-reviewed graphic novels of 2025: Drome by Jesse Lonergan! This imaginative epic combines a visually dazzling creation myth with an action-packed fantasy adventure, as the blue-skinned demigoddess Blue attempts to impose order on a chaotic world, opposed by the violent one-eyed warlord Patch, each acting as proxies for remote gods. Folding in elements from such sources as the Bible, Greek mythology and classic fantasy, it feels both familiar and aggressively new as Lonergan plays with the comic-book format in fun and creative ways. But is all of that enough for Drome to survive the judgment of that pantheon of deities and demigods known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole ·       Chekhov's Night Bull <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style= "margin-bo

(Mild explicit warning: a swear word is used.) Curt and Kevin give themselves an end-of-year break with another quiz episode! And this time, it's a quiz exchange! Kevin tests Curt's knowledge of past Christmas-themed episodes, while Curt grills Kevin on … his own show notes! We'll be back in two weeks with a look at one of the best-reviewed graphic novels of 2025, Jesse Lonergan's Drome!

For our last full-size episode of 2025, we wrap up our All My Xs miniseries on Marvel Comics' X-Men franchise with one of the big crossover events of the Jonathan Hickman era – The Hellfire Gala! The mutant nation of Krakoa makes its debut on the world stage with one hell of a coming-out party, filled with celebrity guests, fantastic costumes, behind-the-scenes intrigue and a truly out-of-this-world fireworks display! Can Emma Frost keep this star-studded affair on the rails? What's with Beast's heel turn? What the heck is Charles Xavier wearing? And can this story get past the velvet rope and into that social event of the season known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       The Tom Stoppard of superhero comics ·       <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-famil

All My Xs, our decade-by-decade exploration of the X-Men, crashes the first gay wedding of a Marvel Comics superhero in 2012's Astonishing X-Men #51, by Marjorie Liu and Mike Perkins! But first, we take a detour 1992 as Northstar becomes the first Marvel character to come out as gay in Alpha Flight #106, by Scott Lobdell and Mark Pacella! (And even better, we're introduced to that most valuable piece of IP, Major Mapleleaf!) Can a well-intentioned Very Special Issue of Alpha Flight survive a collision with the "extreme" art and storytelling trend of the 1990s? And can everyone's favorite mutant Olympian turned Canadian superhero survive a run-in with that Big Fat Geek Wedding known as … The Comics Canon? Recommended in This Episode: ·       Batman: Dark Victory ·       Death by Lightning

All My Xs, our miniseries on Marvel Comics' X-Men, takes a little detour to introduce the Canadian superteam Alpha Flight in 1979's Uncanny X-Men #120-#121 by Chris Claremont and John Byrne and 1983's Alpha Flight #1 by John Byrne! First, the Canadian government wants Wolverine back – and if his friends in the X-Men get in the way, well, too bad for them! Next, Alpha Flight gets their own ongoing title, just in time to lose their government funding! And to make matters worse, they still have to deal with the gargantuan menace of Tundra! Can the X-Men stop a group of government agents from forcibly detaining one of their own citizens? Can Curt and Kevin keep from saying "eh" every other sentence? And can Canada's premier team of heroes take off to that Great White North known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Curt makes a correction – and recounts a dream ·       <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-h

Halloween is right around the corner, so we're temporarily hitting pause on All My Xs (again) to revive our horror series Tomb of the Crypt and discuss The Closet, by James Tynion IV, Gavin Fullerton and Chris O'Halloran, published by Image Comics! Things aren't going particularly well for Thom. He and his wife Maggie are packing for a cross-country, and his son Jamie keeps talking about a monster in his bedroom closet. If only the kid would give this monster thing a rest – they're going to be in Portland in a week, and that closet will be a continent away! Problem solved, right? … Right? Can Maggie cut him some slack for not throwing out a box of souvenirs from the woman he cheated on her with? Can Jamie really leave his closet monster behind? And can this three-issue story make it intact to that cabin in the woods known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Casey Kasem's famous meltdown ·       <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso

Superstar writer Grant Morrison updates the X-Men for the 21st century as All My Xs, our decade-by-decade miniseries on Marvel's mega-popular mutant franchise, continues with a discussion of E Is for Extinction – specifically, New X-Men issues #114-117 and #121 – by Morrison, Frank Quitely and Ethan Van Sciver, published by Marvel Comics! It's not a shock that the writer behind Vertigo's The Invisibles would remake the X-Men into a cooler-than-thou team of leather-jacketed badasses. But what might come as a surprise is just how over-the-top dark and edgy this book gets – and that's before an intriguing new villain slaughters an island nation of several million mutants! What is the terrible secret linking Cassandra Nova to Professor X? Does E really stand for "edgelord"? And can the coolest-looking teachers at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning break into that invitation-only faculty lounge known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Curt wonders what "lost in the sauce" means ·      <

After a brief but worthwhile interruption, All My Xs, our decade-by-decade look at Marvel's X-Men franchise, returns with 1991's Weapon X, written and drawn by Barry Windsor-Smith! Originally serialized in Marvel Comics Presents #72-84, this Wolverine story largely focuses on three members of the shadowy Weapon X program, which captures a scrappy loner named Logan, gives him an adamantium skeleton and claws, and turns him into a ruthless killing machine. Will the evil Professor, along with Dr. Cornelius and Carol Hines, suffer any consequences for what they've done? What's the deal with that twist, anyway? And can this popular X-Men-adjacent storyline survive a confrontation with that super-soldier program known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Wait, why does he need an adamantium skeleton, exactly? ·       <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-

Content warning: Sexual assault, pedophilia On this episode, we welcome The Flop House podcast co-host, current Harley Quinn writer and former The Daily Show With Jon Stewart head writer Elliott Kalan for a discussion of the 1978 graphic novel A Contract With God, written and illustrated by Will Eisner! This collection of standalone stories, centered around a fictional tenement building in the Bronx, finds Eisner (perhaps best known as the creator of The Spirit) drawing on his own life to examine the relationship between man and God and the Jewish-American experience in 1930s New York. Can Frimme Hersh, filled with grief and rage following the death of his adopted daughter, draft an unbreakable compact with the Almighty? And can this groundbreaking work enter into a legally binding covenant with that higher authority known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       The Tenement Museum<span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:

Content warning: Gun violence, including against children Our decade-by-decade miniseries on the X-Men, All My Xs, reaches the 80s with a look at the 1982 standalone graphic novel God Loves, Man Kills, by Chris Claremont and Brent Anderson, published by Marvel Comics! The X-Men have faced evil mutants, sinister aliens and even a sentient island, but they may be up against their toughest opponent yet: a white-haired televangelist! The Reverend William Stryker doesn't just preach hatred of mutants to his millions of followers – he also employs a paramilitary strike force known as the Purifiers to hunt them down and kill them in cold blood. When they seemingly kill Professor Xavier, Cyclops and Storm, the rest of the X-Men are left reeling – and on the run for their lives. Can the X-Men find common cause with their arch-nemesis, Magneto? Can they rescue their friends and defeat the Stryker Crusade? And can they survive that Spanish Inquisition known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       The evolution of Kitty Pryde <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-fami

All My Xs, our decade-by-decade miniseries on Marvel's merry mutant franchise, rolls into the 1970s with a look at The Phoenix Saga from X-Men #101, 104-105 and 107-108, published by Marvel Comics! Superstar writer Chris Claremont starts coming into his own in these issues, which introduce the Phoenix, reestablish Magneto as the X-Men's primary big bad, and inject a healthy dose of space opera (and more than a few Star Trek shoutouts) into this once-moribund title! And if that weren't enough, artist extraordinaire Dave Cockrum hands the book off to blockbuster artist John Byrne, kicking off one of the most impactful writer-artist runs in comics history! Join us as we ask the burning questions: Do you think this Phoenix character will catch on? What's the deal with Eric the Red's costume? And can these pulse-pounding issues survive an encounter with that M'Kraan Crystal known as … the Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Sean Cassidy, 70s pop superstar · Spoiler alert for 1986's X-Factor #1 · Star Wars and The Phoenix Saga: a timeline · Wolverine: Old Man Logan Vol. 0: Warzones! and Vol. 1: Berzerker · A specific moment from the first season of X-Men 97 · "No More Critics" from Matt Goldberg's Commentary Track newsletter · Imperial #1 · Kevin's shocking confession about Fantastic Four: First Steps Join us in two weeks as

In this episode, we kick off All My Xs, a decade-by-decade look at everyone's favorite Marvel mutants, the X-Men! First up, it's the swingin' 60s – 1969, to be exact, and X-Men #57-61, by Roy Thomas and Neal Adams, published by Marvel Comics! Adams's creative and energetic artwork enlivens these issues, in which Scott Summers' brother, Alex, gets a cool costume to go with his new codename, Havok, and Larry Trask revives his late father's mutant-hunting robots, the Sentinels! And before they can catch their breath, the X-Men find themselves facing off against the energy-draining half-man, half-Pteranodon known as … Sauron! Did Larry Trask program these Sentinels with extra snark? Was Karl Lykos bitten by a radioactive Pteranodon? And can our young mutant heroes survive that Danger Room training session known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Cyclops uses an unfortunate slur ·       A highly sketchy use of Cerebro <p class="MsoLi

Galactus makes his big-screen debut this week in Fantastic Four: First Steps*, which means it's the perfect opportunity to discuss his second-ever comics appearances in The Mighty Thor – specifically, issues #160-162 and 168-169, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, published by Marvel Comics! (For his comics debut, we humbly direct you to our very first episode from 2016!) First, it's the war to settle the score, the brawl to end it all, as the Devourer of Worlds squares off against none other than Ego the Living Planet! And the Son of Odin and the Rigellian robot known as the Recorder are caught in the middle! It's classic 60s Lee/Kirby space opera at its most grandiose! Then, we get a … somewhat disjointed look at Galactus' origin, including a rap session between Big G and the God of Thunder! PLUS: We discuss James Gunn's Superman! Does Thor stand a chance against this most colossal of foes? Will Odin act in a frustrating manner? (Spoiler: Yes!) And "Shall a God Prevail" against that sentient bioverse known as … The Comics Canon? (*No, we're not counting the purple space cloud in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Would YOU?) In This Episode: · Actual sound footage of the Recorder! · You should never have to see Galactus' knees · Hush now! Odin's stories are on … · How DO you pronounce Ra's al Ghul? <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style= "margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25in; line-height: 106%; mso-list: l0 leve

On this episode, the upcoming Superman movie has us in a Justice League frame of mind, which is as good an excuse as any to discuss the classic Tower of Babel storyline, as collected in JLA #43-46 by Mark Waid, Howard Porter and Steve Scott, and JLA Secret Files #3, by Dan Curtis Johnson and Pablo Raimondi, published by DC Comics! Batman's longtime nemesis Ra's al Ghul unleashes a plan to cull the world's population, and to ensure his success he proactively incapacitates the members of the Justice League! How does he do that? Funny you should ask! Turns out the Dark Knight Detective has been keeping files on his teammates, complete with ways to take them out! AWK-ward! Can the JLA stop Martian Manhunter from bursting into flame, help Aquaman get over his deathly fear of water, and put a literally shattered Plastic Man back together again? And can this high-stakes tale of trust betrayed gain entrance into that Himalayan retreat known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       J'onn J'onzz and those darn apostrophes ·       <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-f

On this episode, we're getting ready for the July 11 big-screen debut of Krypto the Super-Dog in James Gunn's Superman with a look at the Silver Age origins of Krypto and his fellow members of the Legion of Super-Pets, as collected in Tails of the Super-Pets, published by DC Comics! First, Superboy is reacquainted with his childhood pet and uses him to gaslight Lana Lang in "The Super-Dog From Krypton!" Then, Superbaby, the Toddler of Steel, butts heads with another denizen of his former homeworld in "The Super Monkey From Krypton!" Not to be outdone, Supergirl gets in on the act when she meets Streaky the Supercat in "Supergirl's Super Pet" before embarking on the absolutely bonkers origin of Comet in "The Super-Steed of Steel" and "The Secret Origin of Supergirl's Super-Horse!" Will Krypto's star turn usher in the SPCU – the Super-Pet Cinematic Universe? And are these Krypto bros ready for their close-up in that Amazing Zoo Crew known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       The troubling male/female dynamic in Silver Age comics <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: Symbol; mso-fa

On this episode, we discuss a Swamp Thing story that we're surprised didn't qualify for our recently wrapped We're With the Banned miniseries on banned and challenged comics -- Rite of Spring from Saga of the Swamp Thing #34, as well as its sequel, Windfall from Saga of the Swamp Thing #43, by Alan Moore and various artists, published by DC Comics! First up, Abigail Cable finally professes her love for our sentient vegetable man. And in lieu of sexytimes, he offers her communion via a bite of one of the tubers growing on his body, sending her on a consciousness-altering trip that shows her the interconnectedness of all things. Next we meet Chester Williams, an affable hippie who finds one of Swamp Thing's discarded tubers in the bayou. Part of the yam finds its way to Sandy, a woman dying of cancer. Another part of it ends up with Chester's unpleasant acquaintance Milo, and … let's just say things don't work out very well for one of them. Like, does this mean Swampy and Abby are going out? Does the yam as a kind of cosmic litmus paper? Do kids today even know what litmus paper is? And are these two stories good enough to embark on that long, strange trip known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Curt's first experience with Rite of Spring · A little heads-up would be nice, Swampy · Kevin recounts an acid trip · We know what the ellipsis means … · The 1982 Swamp Thing movie · Have we mentioned our recent appearance on Marvel by the Month? <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" st

We're With the Banned, our miniseries on banned and challenged graphic novels, concludes (at least for now) with a stop at Daniel Clowes' Ice Haven, a "narraglyphic picto-assemblage" published by Pantheon Books! A collection of comic strips covering a variety of styles and perspectives, this peek behind the curtain of suburban America introduces us to an absorbing cast of characters including bitter would-be poet Random Wilder, lovesick teen Violet Van Der Platz, her young stepbrother Charles, clueless detective Joe Ames, aspiring writer Vida Wentz, and … (ahem!) comic book critic Harry Naybors. How does the abduction of uncommunicative tot David Goldberg affect our cast? What do Leopold and Loeb have to do with any of this? And can Ice Haven find itself welcome in that idyllic small town known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       What's the deal with Blue Bunny? ·       Is one of our cast an unreliable narrator? <p class="MsoListP

We're afraid you'll have to wait another week for our episode on Daniel Clowes' Ice Haven. But that doesn't mean you'll have to wait a whole week to hear Curt and Kevin talk at length about comics. In fact, you can hear them render judgment on some fun comic-book stories of yesteryear this very day! Confused? Kevin's here to explain.

On this episode, We're With the Banned, our miniseries on banned and challenged graphic novels, takes on the most banned book of the past several years – Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe, published by Lion Forge Comics/Oni Press! We discuss some fairly personal topics and fumble a bit (although not as much as we may have feared) with the author's preferred pronouns (e, em, and eir) as we discuss Kobabe's account of eir struggles with gender dysphoria and other issues on the road to identifying as nonbinary. It's an important work, especially in our current cultural moment. But is that enough to guarantee entry into that bastion of One Direction fandom known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       The Spivak pronouns ·       A brief discussion of Barbarian <!-- [if !supportLi

We're With the Banned, our miniseries on challenged comics and graphic novels, rolls on with a discussion of Yusei Matsui's manga Assassination Classroom Vol. 1: Time for Assassination, published by Viz Media! Consider this a big ol' content warning, as this charming and bizarre story contains many scenes of attempted murder inside a school, as the underachieving students of classroom 3-E are charged with assassinating their teacher! Oh, and that teacher, Koro Sensei, just happens to be a tentacled creature with a giant smiley face for a head, who's already destroyed most of the moon -- and threatens to do the same thing to the planet Earth unless our hapless junior high students can assassinate him before the school year ends! This may be the silliest book we've covered on the podcast – far sillier than Ambush Bug for sure. But will that be enough to win a seat at that cool kids' table known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Why was this book banned? <span style="mso

Content warning: Sexual assault, cruelty to animals In this episode, We're With the Banned, our miniseries on banned or challenged comics and graphic novels, continues with a discussion of Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon, published by Vertigo/DC Comics! Based on a true story, this absorbing graphic novel follows four lions who escape from the Baghdad Zoo following a bombing by American forces in April of 2003. Filled with smart dialogue, sharp characterization and rousing action, it quickly makes you forget you're reading a book about talking animals as it draws you into its vividly realized world and makes you care for its four protagonists. Will Noor, Zill, Safa and Ali find food and safety on the deserted, shell-shocked streets of Baghdad? And will they at last roam free in that heavenly habitat known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·     Curt's no good, very bad day · <span style= "font:

In this episode, we kick off We're With the Banned – a miniseries on banned or challenged comics and graphic novels – with a discussion of This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki, published by First Second Books! In this delightful, finely detailed coming-of-age story, friends Rose and Windy contend with their impending adolescence during a summer beach trip, set against a pair of contrasting conflicts revolving around pregnancy, communication and depression. Will Rose get over her crush on store clerk Dunk and realize she's backing the wrong horse? Will Windy ever slow down and take a breath? And can they prevail in that high-stakes game of Beach Blanket Bingo known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund ·       We welcome a surprise guest <p class="

In this episode, blind lawyer Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, is behind bars – but so are Hammerhead, the Kingpin, and a host of other hardened criminals in 2006's The Devil in Cell Block D, by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark, published by Marvel Comics! When someone close to him suffers a grisly fate, a spiraling Matt Murdock is bent on revenge! And if that weren't bad enough, Bullseye and the Punisher join the fun as simmering tensions come to a boil, resulting in an all-out riot!  Who is the mysterious figure manipulating things from behind the scenes? Who is the fake Daredevil patrolling the streets of Hell's Kitchen while Matt cools his heels in the slammer? And can ol' Hornhead prevail in that four-color courtroom known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       A brief discussion of HBO's Oz ·       A flaw in the design of Ryker's Island <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style= "margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-ad

A mere 16 years after the Kingpin learns Daredevil's secret identity in Frank Miller's Born Again, that secret becomes front page news in 2002's Out, by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, published by Marvel Comics! Returning to his indie crime-comic roots, Bendis puts attorney Matt Murdock through the wringer in this compelling story grounded in street-level atmosphere by artist Maleev and colorist Matt Hollingsworth. Is gaslighting your friends and loved ones okay if it means you can put on a costume and fight crime? Just how much are we supposed to root for a hero who doubles down on lying to the entire world? And can Matt Murdock get a fair shake from that sleazy tabloid known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Homicide: Life on the Street ·       A few words from our sponsor <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style= "margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25in; line-height:

Our six-episode, six-decade overview of the Thunderbolts and the Masters of Evil comes to a close (for now, at least) as we discuss two time-hopping tales from 2011 and 2012: The Great Escape from Thunderbolts #163-165 and Like Lightning from #172-174, published by Marvel Comics! Following the events of the Fear Itself crossover event, most of the Thunderbolts manage to escape their prison home, only to end up in World War II Austria, side-by-side with Captain America and Prince Namor, fighting the Nazi forces of Baron Zemo! Then, we skip ahead a few issues (and decades) as they find themselves confronting the original Thunderbolts, led by (Son of) Baron Zemo! Can these temporally tossed antiheroes repair the timeline before they cease to exist? And will these issues be deemed an excellent adventure or a bogus journey by that Time Variance Authority known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Hey, it's Centurius! <span sty

Our decade-by-decade series on Marvel Comics' Thunderbolts rolls into the 21st century as we discuss Burning Down the House, collecting Thunderbolts #126-129 and #132 by Andy Diggle and Roberto de la Torre, published by Marvel Comics! After saving the Earth from the Skrulls' Secret Invasion, Thunderbolts director (and Green Goblin) Norman Osborn is headed for bigger and better things … but not before he turns the Thunderbolts against each other on his way out the door! Then, it's high-flying mayhem aboard Air Force One as we meet an all-new T-Bolts squad led by Black Widow (no, not that one – the other one) and Osborn protects President Not Barack Obama from … the Green Goblin??? Will Songbird survive against the combined might of Moonstone, Venom and Bullseye? And will this new black-ops hit squad succeed against that Wild Covert Action Team known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       The inevitable Talking Heads chatter <span style="ms

In this episode, we look back at one of the best-reviewed graphic novels of 2024: Final Cut by Charles Burns! When Brian, a shy, socially awkward artist, meets Laurie, the soon-to-be star of his new amateur sci-fi horror movie, she quickly becomes his muse, sharing space in his drawings and his mind with the film's giant, pod-spewing aliens. Like him, Laurie is an outsider, wrestling with her own inner demons. But as his obsession with her grows, his grasp on his mental health weakens.  This vividly drawn tale of longing – to create and to connect – is part love-triangle teen romance and part love-letter to the science fiction creature features of a bygone era. But is all of that enough to make the cut with that Invasion of the Body Snatchers known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Curt and Kevin's 8mm adventures ·       We have to talk about Tina <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style= "margin-bot

You read that right – it's time for another installment of our recurring comics-themed quiz! As we briefly pause our miniseries on Marvel Comics' Thunderbolts, Kevin grills Curt with a series of questions loosely related to the theme of comics villains turned heroes! We'll be back in two weeks with a look at one of the best-reviewed graphic novels of 2024, Charles Burns' Final Cut! Then on Jan. 29 we return to the Thunderbolts with a look at 2007's Faith in Monsters arc by Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato!

THE WAIT IS OVER! Our decade-by-decade series on Marvel Comics' Thunderbolts continues as we finally discuss Thunderbolts (1997) issues #1-4 and the Thunderbolts 97 Annual, by Kurt Busiek, Mark Bagley, Vince Russell and a host of others! In the aftermath of the deadly Onslaught event (hey, you guys remember Onslaught?), the world is shaken by the apparent deaths of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four! But there's a new superhero team in town … the Thunderbolts! Who are these mysterious do-gooders? What's their connection to Baron Zemo and his Masters of Evil? (Hmmmm…) And can the Marvel Universe's newest heroes face down the mind-boggling menace of that Wrecking Crew known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       What we talk about when we talk about the 90s ·       Who will protect us from Blastaar, the Living Bomb Burst??? <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style= "margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-add-space: aut

In this episode, our-decade-by-decade series on Marvel's Thunderbolts (NOT the Thunderbirds, as Kevin erroneously calls them in the intro) continues as we discuss The Avengers: Under Siege – specifically, The Avengers #273-277 by Roger Stern and John Buscema! Helmut Zemo, the son of one of Captain America's greatest enemies, and a waaay-overstuffed Masters of Evil take over Avengers Mansion and begin systematically taking down Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Hercules, the Prince of Power, lies at death's door! Monica Rambeau, the new Captain Marvel, is trapped in the Darkforce Dimension! And the Black Knight … is taken out rather easily. This action-packed epic has it all: Squabbling supervillains! A quick stopover in Paris! Tons of property damage! And a galaxy of guest stars including Ant-Man! Paladin! The Shroud! And Doctor Druid! But is all of that enough to mount a hostile takeover of that impregnable fortress known as … The Comics Canon? Recommended in This Episode: ·       Fantastic Four #177: "Look Out for the Frightful Four!" ·       <span style= "f

Content warning: suicide In this episode, our-decade-by-decade series on the Thunderbolts intersects with one of the biggest political scandals of all time as we discuss Secret Empire and the short-lived career of Nomad, as brought to us by Steve Englehart, Sal Buscema and Frank Robbins, published by Marvel Comics! First, the shadow of Watergate looms large over Captain America and the Falcon #174-176, as the Sentinel of Liberty and his partner-in-crimefighting take on the sinister Secret Empire, leading to a shocking moment that changes Cap's life forever! … or at least for a few issues, as Steve Rogers adopts a new identity as the blandly generic Nomad is issues 180-183! These issues have everything: The X-Men! S.H.I.E.L.D.! The Sub-Mariner! The Serpent Squad! A cameo by the Red Skull! And the surprise guest appearance of 1974! But is all of that enough to earn membership in that clandestine cabal known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Wheel! Of! MUTANTS! <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style= "margin-bottom: 8.0pt;

In this episode, we kick off a decades-spanning series focusing on the hot new superhero team of 1997: the Thunderbolts! And we begin with some early Avengers issues introducing Captain America's arch-nemesis Baron Zemo and his Masters of Evil! But first, we begin with Avengers #4, in which the Sentinel of Liberty himself is fished out of the North Sea and joins the Marvel Universe! Then it's on to Avengers #6, in which Baron Zemo enlists the Black Knight, the Mysterious Melter and Radioactive Man in the inaugural lineup of the Masters of Evil, a team of supervillains that might have some role to play in the formation of the Thunderbolts some 30+ years later! In Avengers #7, Zemo is joined by a pair of Asgardians, the Enchantress and the Executioner—who, in Avengers #9, hatch a scheme that involves the debut of future Avengers mainstay Wonder Man! Will this concept of a villain who turns into a hero have some bearing on the Thunderbolts? Is Avengers #6 the silliest comic we've ever discussed on this podcast? And can these pulse-pounding issues pass muster with that eternally youthful Middle-Aged Brigade known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · Curt's dream, revisited · You know what this story needs? An alien who turns people to stone! · Seriously, what's the deal with the Teen Brigade? · Rick Jones makes a boneheaded mistake · Twin Peaks: The Return · Venom: The Last Dance <p c

In this episode, we relax our usual format a bit as Bryan Stratton, Robb Milne and Jamie Wenger from the Marvel by the Month podcast join us to discuss (and assign ratings to) some iconic -- and less-than-iconic -- Jack Kirby monsters from before Marvel's superhero era! Monsters discussed in this episode: ·       Diablo, the Demon From the Fifth Dimension! (Tales of Suspense #9, 1959) ·       Taboo, the Thing From the Murky Swamp! (Strange Tales #75, 1960) ·       Groot, the Monster From Planet X! (Tales to Astonish #13, 1960)

In this episode, we kick off a month of horror-themed comics with a look at Tatsuki Fujimoto's incredibly popular manga Chainsaw Man, a fresh and creative mixture of body horror, supernatural devil creatures, superhero-adjacent action and 80s boob comedy! In these chapters from Chainsaw Man volumes 1 and 2, we meet Denji, a down-on-his-luck teen whose body fuses with Pochita, a devil in the form of an adorable dog with a chainsaw sticking out from its head. Denji gains the ability to sprout chainsaws from his arms and face, and is soon conscripted by pretty Makima into a government devil-hunting agency and partnered with Power, a brash and uncontrollable blood fiend. But all he really wants is … to touch some boobs! Can the not-too-bright Denji triumph over the fearsome Bat Devil and the creepy Leech Devil, not to mention his mentor Aki? Will he wise up and realize that Makima seems to be bad news? And can he join the hallowed ranks of those Devil's Advocates known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       What would Pitbull say? ·       <span style= "fo

With Joker: Folie à Deux rolling into theaters next, the time seems right to dive into Batman's most famous nemesis, the Joker, with a trio of stories highlighting different, pre-Dark Knight Returns iterations of the Clown Prince of Crime! First up is "The Man Who Wrote the Joker's Jokes" from 1951's Batman #67, in which everyone's favorite mass murderer seeks a gag writer! Then, in 1976's The Joker #7, a scientific accident gifts the Joker with Lex Luthor's intellect, and Luthor with the Joker's madness! Last but not least, we switch gears with 1978's "The Laughing Fish" and "Sign of the Joker," from Detective Comics #475-476, featuring one of the Ace of Knaves' most bizarre schemes yet! Can the Grand Mogul of Mountebanks win the day against Batman, Lex Luthor, and the Gotham City Copyright Commission? And do these stories have what it takes to win over the crowd at that Ha-Hacienda known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: · "With no legs, the frog becomes deaf!" · The Origin of The Comics Canon! · Bruce Willis goofs on Curt · Detective Comics #473: The Malay Penguin · Rebel Ridge · Batman and Bill · The Immortal Hulk Vol. 1: All Weather Turns to Storm <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style= "margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent:

In this episode, we take a long-overdue look at one of the most acclaimed crimefighters in comics history, Will Eisner's The Spirit! Published in its own special insert in Sunday newspapers in the 1940s and early 50s, The Spirit featured seven- and eight-page stories about a masked hero in a suit and tie who helped the police of Central City fight criminal masterminds, underworld figures and slinky femmes fatales. Initially influenced by the pulps, The Spirit soon became known for short stories that showcased Eisner's genre-defying imagination and visual invention—stories in which the Spirit himself often wasn't even the main character! Starting with the 1940's "The Origin of the Spirit," we dive into eight tales that demonstrate the wide range of this influential comic. But does The Spirit have what it takes to kick back in that tastefully appointed crypt known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Curt has a dream ·       <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Ro

In this episode, we conclude our three-part look at V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, as collected by Vertigo/DC Comics! V disables Norsefire's surveillance apparatus, nudging the citizens of London toward revolution. Rose Almond takes action. Schemes are hatched as Helen Heyer and Peter Creedy vie to take control of the government. Detective Finch takes a bad trip. And Evey prepares to fulfill her destiny. As society collapses, will any of our players get a happy ending? And will they finally step into the spotlight of that vicious cabaret known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       V's Bugs Bunny physics ·       We've got a fever, and the only cure is more Scottish brogue! <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-hei

In this episode, we continue our three-part look at V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, as collected by Vertigo/DC Comics! Abandoned by V on the streets of London, Evey Hammond knows a brief moment of happiness before she's captured, tortured and interrogated about her role in V's crimes. Rose, widow of the late Derek Almond, suffers a series of humiliations. Meanwhile, V's body count grows as he issues an ultimatum to the people of London. Can Evey hold on to that last little inch of herself, even if it costs her her life? And can our cast of characters make it past the bouncer into that Kitty Kat Keller known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       Remember, remember the fifth this November ·       Boy, were we wrong about Dascombe! <!-- [if !

In this episode, for … oh, no particular reason … we kick off a three-part look at the classic graphic novel V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, collected by DC Comics!  Originally published in serial form in the British anthology magazine Warrior, this dystopian fantasy follows the anarchist vigilante known only as V, clad in a creepy Guy Fawkes mask, who's hell-bent on taking revenge on the staffers of a post-war "resettlement camp!" This mysterious, magnetic revolutionary rescues a 16-year-old would-be sex worker named Evey from a horrible fate at the hands of the nation's secret police, and soon enlists her in his one-man war to bring down the fascist British state! But is there more to the strangely powerful V than first appears? (Spoiler alert: Yes!) And can he hope to silence that Voice of Fate known as ... The Comics Canon? In This Episode: ·       The scourge of … THE BEATNIKS! ·<sp