It’s the holiday season, so we’re reading… oh it’s not a holiday comic. That’s ok, it’s Grant Morrison’s Animal Man!
We’re taking a look at his first 5 issues from the early 90s, where we’ll analyze cell reconstruction and Looney Tunes.
Then we continued our long read of the Ultimates with issue #3 in which… we still don’t have a villain.
MP3: https://tinyurl.com/cd5r8zss
Next Time: Marvel & DC crossover for the first time in 20 years with 2025’s Deadpool/Batman & Batman/Deadpool!
Surfs up, it’s time for some Silver Surfer comics!
Many years ago, we read a single Eisner-nominated issue of Dan Slott and Mike Allred’s run on the book, but now we’re going back to read the first 5 issues from their reboot in 2014. We meet the Surfer’s new companion, Dawn Greenwood, as she tries to teach the Silver Surfer some manners, and make friends with a bunch of aliens. Glorp!
Then we continue our long read of Ultimates with issue #2, in which we almost have all of the introductions out of the way.
Next Time: Animal Man by Grant Morrison #1-5
We’re finally at the end of Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing! When we last left him, he was stuck in space on an alien planet, making the best of his situation with whatever plants he could find.
Will he ever make it back to Earth to see Abigail? Or will he just putz around with Adam Strange and Hawkgirl for a while?
We’ll find out in issues 57-64!
MP3: https://tinyurl.com/3v54kene
Next Time: We continue spooky season with “Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees” by Patrick Horvath! Plus we start our next long-read with “The Ultimates #1”
We loved Peter David’s X-Factor so much last time, so we’re going back in for more! Except this time we’re taking a look at his 2005 reboot of the title, coming hot off the heels of House of M and Decimation.
We’ve still got Multiple Man struggling with controlling his dupes, but now we’ve got depowered mutants and an inexplicably omnipotent little girl to deal with.
Then we finish up our long read of Thunderbolts with #25, in which they take down 25 supervillains and we see who’s behind the Crimson Cowl.
MP3: https://tinyurl.com/335ter77
Next Time: We finish up Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing run with Volume 6 (Issues 57-64)!
Today we’re taking a look at Peter David’s classic run on X-Factor! We get a spotlight focus on Jamie Madrox aka Multiple Man, we meet Strong Guy, and we get a nice new team of mutants to work with.
We’re reading his first arc in issues #71-75 and then jumping forward to a fun therapy issue with #87.
It gets weird.
Then we’re getting to the end of our long read of Thunderbolts with #24, where Citizen V stops being a dudette in the shadows!
MP3: https://tinyurl.com/286ytk9s
Next Time: We check out Peter David’s next run with X-Factor in X-Factor (2005) #1-6!
We’ve got Freaky Friday Fever and we’re reading three body swap stories that are all over the map!
Daredevil and Doctor Doom swap places in Daredevil #37 & 38!
Emma Frost spends some time in Iceman’s body in Uncanny X-Men #314!
High school-aged Peter Parker trades places with Wolverine in Ultimate Spider-Man #66 & 67!
And we’re still continuing Thunderbolts with #23, featuring an unexpected cameo from U.S. Agent.
MP3: https://tinyurl.com/msn2ke8c
Next Time: Peter David’s first X-Factor run with issues X-Factor 71-75 & 87!
Did you know Superman hates racism? It’s true, he’s been fighting against it for decades now!
We’re taking a look at Superman Smashes the Klan from 2019 by Gene Luen Yang and art by Gurihiru, which is not just set in the 1940s, but also based on an old radio play from the 1940s.
As the Klan makes their presence known in Metropolis to scare away a new Chinese family, Clark learns more about embracing his alien origins.
Then we continue Thunderbolts with issue #22, where Hercules comes in to cause some chaos.
MP3: https://tinyurl.com/bde7evtk
Next Time: Our Freakier Friday “Body Swap Special”
It’s time for some Starman!
We’re taking a look at James Robinson’s 1995 reboot of the golden age character with art from Tony Harris, and we get to meet FIVE Starmen in this book!
He’s not exactly a household name. I barely even knew there was one Starman. We learn all about them in issues 0-5.
Then we’re continuing with Thunderbolts #21, where Hawkeye is offering to lead the team!
MP3: https://tinyurl.com/my92784e
Next Time: Superman Smashes the Klan!
When you mix Chris Claremont with Frank Miller, you get Wolverine and ninjas. It’s as simple as that.
We’re taking a look at Wolverine’s first self-titled comic, a 4-issue mini-series from 1982 where Logan goes to Japan and lots of people die.
Then the Thunderbolts start heading in a new direction with issue #20, where a surprise guest wants to join the team!
MP3: https://tinyurl.com/32w52btj
Next Time: Starman #0-6 by James Robinson & Tony Harris
Hot on the heels of Kurt Busiek’s take on a real-world(ish) Clark Kent, we’re reading his Batman focused followup called Creature of the Night from 2017, with art by John Paul Leon.
We meet a young kid in a non-superhero world named Bruce Wainwright who’s obsessed with Batman comics, and that doesn’t really change after his parents get murdered by robbers.
So what’s the deal with this Batman that starts showing up immediately?
Then we move onto Thunderbolts #19, featuring the winner of the Wizard Create-A-Villain contest!
MP3: https://tinyurl.com/39njdkh2
Next Time: Wolverine (1982) by Chris Claremont & Frank Miller
All My Friends Are Right Here 