Episode 176: Why-Men (Lesser Known X-Men; Dazzler and Forge)

Continuing our focus on the “Almost Famous” members of the X-Men, we wrap up the members who joined in the 80s with the Disco Queen known as Dazzler, and the Indigenous American inventor who goes by Forge.  But, before that, an important announcement about the future of the show.

Oh yeah, and she’s an expert roller skater. Just in case she wasn’t “Disco” enough for you.

Her first (but nowhere near her last) costume change.

Forge working on some Krakoan tech, showing off his cybernetic leg.

Episode 175: Who Are The New Warriors? (Volume 4)

For the sixth anniversary of Welcome to Geektown, Kurt continues looking at the history of the New Warriors.  However, this is the only incarnation of the team that does not have his favorite superhero, Speedball, as a member. Who are these new kids, and where do they get off taking the team’s name?

The team being on a different page from Night Thrasher was a common theme…

Donyell. And yes, that “…with…” is doing a lot of heavy lifting there.

If you don’t know who this is, then you should definitely be writing in with questions more…

Jubilee as a vampire (it was only a phase…)

The only member of the team who felt the need to be labeled.

Stacy X. And yes, that “blown” is doing a lot of heavy lifting there…

Chamber in his mutant form, although he got his face back when he was resurrected later.

No, you’re not (at least not yet for two of you). That’s Redneck, Radian and Tattoo in positions 1, 2, and 5 going from left to right.

Episode 174: Why-Men (Lesser Known X-Men; Rachel Summers, Longshot, Psylocke)

Our fourth in a recurring series on the less famous members of the X-Men roster, we reach the 80s, with a alternate future child, a mullet-wearing alien clone, and a body swapped telepathic ninja.  Yes, the X-Men are weird.  Take a listen to find out exactly how weird it can get!

Rachel’s had a few different looks over the years, as she went from Hound to just Rachel, to Phoenix, to Marvel Girl, to Prestige to Askani. See if you can guess which costumes apply to which code name.

Business in the front, party in the back, pouches on the belt (a trendsetter both in hair and superhero costumes).

Betsy’s also gone through many looks. I’m grateful for the cover that shows them all in one image.

Episode 160: Neurodivergent Superheroes

Based on his portrayal in the recent movie bearing his name, a listener is curious about The Flash ever having been shown on the autism spectrum before this, as well as the presence of other neurodivergent characters in the superhero realm, which is what we discuss this episode.

Link to the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network for more information on autism and other neurodiverse conditions.

Yeah, I can see it…

Oh, Reed, no…

Yes, we’ve had white suit…but what about second white suit? And third…and fourth…

He is the one that delivers…

Sniff any hair lately, Ed? (Listen to Gothamites, you’ll get it…)

Episode 154: Secret Invasion Deep Dive (Ep 1)

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.

Episode 152: Unusual Superhero Vehicles (1 of 2) - The Spider-Mobile

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.

Episode 149: The Why-Men (Lesser-Known X-Men; Banshee, Sunfire, & Thunderbird)

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!

Episode 145: Who is Kang? (aka Rama-Tut, aka Immortus, aka…)

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!

Episode 140: S.H.I.E.L.D., H.A.M.M.E.R., S.W.O.R.D., and Other Marvel Acronym Agencies

Sure, S.W.O.R.D. and S.H.I.E.L.D. make sense together.  But, where did H.A.M.M.E.R. come from?  S.T.R.I.K.E.? W.A.N.D.? And what the heck does U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M. stand for? This episode, we go through various groups in the Marvel Universe that use acronyms and go through some of their history.

Total Recall totally ripped the “gun in the x-ray” off!

SHIELD’s first Director after 40 years of Fury…Maria Hill.

Tony doing his best to get in on that sweet Bond action.

Norman Osborn was going through a bit of a “What if I was played by Tommy Lee Jones” phase.

Until they gave her the gauntlets, I had a hard time telling Daisy and Maria apart. How about you?

If by “markedly different,” you mean “treasonous,” then you’re spot on!

Abigail Brand, Director of SWORD. With her sometime boyfriend Beast behind her (to her right, our left).

Episode 127: She-Hulk - A Deep Dive (Episode 1)

As should be obvious by now, I love the character of She-Hulk, so I’m going to be diving into her “fun lawyer show” on Disney+, along with guest Andy Wilson from the Kiss Your Franchise Goodbye podcast.  In this first episode, we get Jen’s super heroic origin story, and we learn more about Captain America than we may have wanted…

Episode 125: The Alternates (Spider-Man/Into the Spider-Verse)

Inspired by the animated movie, “Into the Spider-Verse,” a listener asks about the various characters in the Spider-Family that differ from the Spider-Man we all know and love.  There are too many to go through in one episode, but we’ll start this series of “The Alternates” by looking at those featured in the movie that inspired the question.

According to the movie, he’s put on some weight since then.

As promised, here’s what he looks like when he shows up in the mainstream continuity. You’re welcome/I’m sorry.

I did say he was the darkest…

A little different from the anime girl we saw in the movie, but not as much as you’d think.

No, she’s never called “Spider-Gwen” within the story itself.

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

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?

Yes, I see where this is going…

Yes, that makes sense…

Wait. What?

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

This will work out fine, I’m sure.

Or…not.

He got better.

Episode 113: Who Are The New Warriors? (Volume 2)

Continuing the anniversary tradition, Kurt moves forward in his chronological look at Speedball and the New Warriors team.  Having finished up the 75 issue Volume 1 last year, we now move on to the short lived Volume 2, focusing on how they got back together and on the new members that joined, mutant teen Bolt, and the inner city youth turned mythological champion, Aegis!

New volume, new costumes for everyone!

Well, for a little while, anyways.

The fight actually went much better for the team than this cover suggests.

Episode 112: Who is Moon Knight (aka Marc Spector aka Steven Grant aka Jake Lockley aka…)?

In anticipation of the upcoming Disney+ show (and the Deep Dive I’ll be doing with author John Mulhall), it’s time to take a look at the origins of Moon Knight, why some call him “Marvel’s Batman,” and most importantly what makes him completely unique.

If he was really clad in solid silver, do you think he’d be able to move?

Leaning into the multiple identities idea from the very start.

Like having Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Captain America guest-star in every issue!

Khonshu is Khreepy.

Episode 111: Earth Numbering Systems in DC and Marvel

You may have heard of Earth 1, Earth 2, and possibly even Earth 616.  But, how did all these names come to be, and who decides which is which? Wouldn’t they all want to be Earth 1? That’s what listener Joel L. asks, and Kurt answers for both the Marvel and DC Universes this episode.

The first time multiple Earths show up.

And the first time they get named.

The DC Multiverse as it (sort of) stands today.

The first use of 616 to refer to the regular Marvel Universe.

Episode 110: Some Card Game Mechanics

Following up on last episode’s discussion of board game mechanics, we move into some game mechanics and other terms that are specific to games with cards.  We define some of the more common terms and mechanics, using examples from some of the more popular card games.

The most commonly known deck, but nowhere near the only one.

Just a few of the many, many, many Magic cards that have been created.

I choose you! (That’s about all I know about Pokemon)

With an H.P. Lovecraft themed deck, I’m not sure “Living Card Game” was the best name, but it is what it is.

A few cards from one procedurally generated Keyforge deck.

All this makes sense as soon as you play. (The catchphrase of many a game teacher.)

Comics and card games combined! Cool!

Be more careful, Speedball!

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 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 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.