Capes On the Couch - Where Comics Get Counseling

We wrap up Season 4 as we cover Power Man, LUKE CAGE! How can Doc help this man of the streets be a better man off the streets? Plus a fun pitch for a new comic book - listen now!

SHOW NOTES:

• Intro
• • Season finale - Clones will be pushed to January
  • Anthony's livestream for Extra Life coming 11/28
• Background (4:14)

• • Luke Cage created by Archie Goodwin, Roy Thomas, George Tuska, and John Romita Sr. in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 (June 1972)
  • Carl Lucas grew up in Harlem with his best friend Willis Stryker, but Carl left the gang lifestyle while Willis embraced it
  • After Willis's girlfriend left him and sought Carl's help, Willis framed Carl and sent him to prison, where he was beaten by a racist guard
  • He volunteered for an experimental procedure for cellular regeneration, but the guard tampered with it in an attempt to kill him - the procedure gave him unbreakable skin and super strength
  • He escaped prison, returned to Harlem, changed his name to Luke Cage, and sought to make a living as a hero for hire
  • Befriends Danny Rand, the Iron Fist, and the two partner up
  • Has a drunken one-night stand with Jessica Jones, but the two begin dating after she reveals she's pregnant
  • During Civil War, he and Jessica work as part of the Secret Avengers underground - later takes the lead of the New Avengers team
  • Leaves the team to focus on taking care of Jessica and their daughter Danielle
  • Still assists heroes when Harlem or New York need saving
• Issues (12:10)
• • Focus on street level issues instead of world saving stuff occasionally puts him at odds with other heroes
  • Family man first & foremost - will not endanger his wife or daughter (22:36)
  • Man unaccustomed to talking about feelings
• Break (44:33)
• • Plugs for Grief Burrito, Perfect Package Podcast, and Erica Schultz
• Treatment (46:13)
• • In-universe - Use nodal connections and put him in different situations to help him expand his circle
  • Out of universe - Overcome stigma for Black men in therapy setting (51:09)
• Skit (62:03)
• Ending (68:19)
• • Recommended reading: Power Man & Iron Fist Epic Collection, New Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis
  • Thanks for love & support - see you in January!
  • Plugs for social

References:

• Jessica Jones episode - Anthony (05:54)
• Airplane - "I speak jive!" - Anthony (09:46)
• Click - Anthony (29:58)
• Bruce Lee - "Be water" - Anthony (41:56)

Apple Podcasts: here

Google Play: here

Stitcher: here

TuneIn: here

iHeartRadio: here

Spotify: here

Twitter

Facebook

Patreon

TeePublic

Discord

The Mental Health Avengers have reunited, and this time we're taking on the prison system! Why do so many unwell prisoners get mistreated? What can be done to help them? Listen now!

SHOW NOTES:

Mental Health Avengers III: The Injustice System

• Intro
• • GuardiansMH: Dr. Goku & Matt
  • Freudian Sips: Anna

References:

• Ashley Smith inquest - Dr. Goku (35:50)
• Project Hospitality | Rebuilding Lives Since 1982 - Matt
• Justice Involved Services - Dr. Issues
• Stepping Up Initiative - Anna
• Prison Policy Initiative - Anna

Apple Podcasts: here

Google Play: here

Stitcher: here

TuneIn: here

iHeartRadio: here

Spotify: here

Twitter

Facebook

Patreon

TeePublic

Discord

We go back to the Robin well, this time for Tim Drake! Just because he may be the smartest Robin doesn't make him the best - find out why!

SHOW NOTES:

• Intro
• • Shoutout to To Know Her is to Fear Her, the Spider-Woman podcast - cohosted by Rey from ITK
  • Reminder of TeePublic sale
• Background (02:48)

• • Tim Drake created by Marv Wolfman and Pat Broderick in Batman #436 (August 1989)
  • The third Robin, young Tim Drake visited the circus the night the Graysons were killed - later deduced Batman & Robin's identities, and decided to teach himself martial arts to follow in their footsteps
  • Offered himself to Dick Grayson as a new Robin following the death of Jason Todd - Bruce initially hesitant, but puts Tim through rigorous training before giving him the costume
  • When Bruce retires after Knightfall, Tim works alongside Jean-Paul Valley, but distrusts him and his methods, and helps Bruce reclaim the Batman mantle
  • Began dating Stephanie Brown (Spoiler), and then forced to retire from being Robin after his father discovered his secret
  • After Stephanie and his father were both killed, he moved to Bludhaven to get away from Gotham
  • Battled both a resurrected Jason Todd and Damian Wayne for the Robin title
  • When Bruce "dies" and Dick takes over, he makes Damian the new Robin, so Tim becomes Red Robin and looks for Bruce - when Bruce returns, Tim takes over the Teen Titans
  • New 52 - backstory rewritten - he's a young hacker who draws the wrath of the Penguin, so his family goes into witness protection, and he's taken under Bruce Wayne's tutelage, where he becomes Red Robin out of respect for the dead Jason Todd - once again serves as leader of the Titans
  • Rebirth - retcons to original backstory
• Issues (6:26)
  • Being "self-taught" in any area leads to unknown pitfalls
  • Loss of multiple fathers (13:08)
  • Sole dissenter against Bruce's death - loyalty vs. what's "right" (22:36)
• Break (34:11)
  • Plugs for Into the Knight, Sips Suds & Smokes, and Gail Simone
• Treatment (35:58)
  • In-universe - Shadow Alfred, learn from him on how to serve while remaining humble
  • Out of universe - Big Brother/Big Sister mentor type programs to help adolescents (39:33)
• Skit (46:44)
• Ending (53:14)
  • Recommended reading: Robin, the Chuck Dixon run - any point of the series works
  • Next episodes: Luke Cage, Clones
  • Plugs for social

References:

• Ra's al Ghul episode - Anthony
• Jason Todd episode - Anthony
• Dick Grayson episode - Anthony
• Azrael episode - Anthony
• Damian Wayne episode - Anthony
• Alfred episode - Anthony (39:17)

Apple Podcasts: here

Google Play: here

Stitcher: here

TuneIn: here

iHeartRadio: here

Spotify: here

Twitter

Facebook

Patreon

TeePublic

Discord

Flip a coin - heads, you listen to us analyze Two-Face. Tails, you listen to us analyze Harvey Dent. Either way, you're getting a realistic discussion of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

SHOW NOTES:

• Intro
• • Mentioned in Podcast Magazine - "Under the Radar" section
  • TeePublic sale - Nov. 4-6, 11-13, 17-20, 26-27, 29-30
• Background (4:45)

• Two-Face (Harvey Dent) created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane in Detective Comics #66 (August 1942)
• In his first appearance, he's Harvey Kent, later renamed to avoid confusion with Superman
• He's an attorney who gets acid thrown in his face during cross examination, and chooses to embrace the duality of his appearance - uses a coin flip to determine his actions
• "Cured" due to plastic surgery

• Crisis reinvented his past - grew up with abusive father, who would flip a coin to determine whether to beat him

• • Diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, but he worked through them to become DA in Gotham - worked as an ally of Batman and Gordon, until he was attacked with acid by Sal Maroni
  • No Man's Land - Two-Face controls a portion of Gotham, but during the "trial" of Commissioner Gordon, he calls upon Harvey Dent to serve as his defense attorney, forcing Dent to "cross-examine" Two-Face, and he acquits Gordon
  • Healed by Dr. Thomas Elliot, aka Hush, who attempted to blackmail Dent to help him against Batman, but Dent is "cured" of his bipolar - until murders pop up with Two-Face's MO, implicating Dent, and the Two-Face persona resurfaces, causing him to re-scar himself
  • New 52 - now his origin is that of a defense attorney whose clients try to kill Commissioner Gordon - he then becomes DA and prosecutes them - one of them disfigures him with acid - later battles Batman and reveals he knows his identity, before attempting suicide
  • Rebirth - The attempt effectively destroyed the Dent persona, but convinced Batman "Harvey" was still in there, if only Batman would help him with the cure - Batman sedated Dent and forced the dual identities to remain
• Issues (08:22)
  • Bipolar - THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS
  • Schizophrenia - THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS (15:32)
  • Abusive childhood - OK, that's fairly accurate (21:38)
• Break (28:25)
  • Plugs for Occultae Veritatis, We're All Mad Here, and Meredith Finch
• Treatment (30:12)
  • In-universe - Treatment for recidivist activity stemming from trauma
  • Out of universe - Work on assisting with decision fatigue, and use "coin flip" for small decisions while leaving thought and time for big ones (34:58)
• Skit (44:30)
• Ending (52:17)
  • Recommended reading: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale
  • Next episodes: Tim Drake, Luke Cage, Clones
  • Plugs for social

References:

• Nadia van Dyne episode - Anthony (12:53)
• Deadpool episode - Doc (18:15)
• Joker episode - Doc (18:17)

Apple Podcasts: here

Google Play: here

Stitcher: here

TuneIn: here

iHeartRadio: here

Spotify: here

Twitter

Facebook

Patreon

TeePublic

Discord

As a special bonus, here's the recap rap in our 100th episode!

LYRICS:

When Doc and I first dreamed about creating a podcast We never thought in a million years it was gon' last But more than two and a half years have gone past And one hundred episodes of absolutely fantastic Characters, drastic masters, and bombastic bastards As we mix the scholastic and sarcastic faster Than you can say gone to lightspeed But here's a little something that we thought you might need In case you haven't caught up on all of your downloads I'm'a rap a recap, are you ready, here it goes It all started off with Eddie Brock, y'know Venom No wonder he's so angry with a symbiote in 'em Then Doc's fave, the Joker, we had drinks with Tony Stark And my boy Moon Knight, you know things got pretty dark Badass chicks Quinn and Jones givin' men the boot Rorschach's issue's seeing everything as absolute Deadpool interrupted us with porn and masturbation Booster hopes one day that he can rise above his station Tried to break through Freeze, but yo that ice is pretty thick When it comes to Cyclops you know Scott is a dick Legion, Question, Sentry, they're too crazy for this rap And Hank Pym wishes everyone could just move past the slap Casey Jones and Scarecrow like to hide behind their masks While Jamie Madrox splits up so he handles many tasks Our fans picked the Governor, a good ol' Southern man Hank Henshaw only wishes he could be Superman Logan needs a break so he can find himself a lover Molecule Man needs to break away from control by his mother Stephen Strange should give up magic and go back to surgery Then we talked about the Hulk with friends Popcorn Psychology Kingpin threatened Doc, but that ended pretty badly Mister Miracle and Barda clearly love each other madly Jonah just wants pictures of that menace Spider-Man And Black Manta wants out of the shadow of Aquaman Chief and Negan think that tragedy makes them great While Doc told Cap America that he should masturbate Constantine and Talia needed better vocal actors While Nadia van Dyne is accurate on many factors Callum Cooper and the Riddler think they're both really smart Jen Walters takes being green with envy to an art Jason Todd and Cletus Kasady had messed up childhoods So did Ultimate Reed Richards, at least he started off as good Roy Harper made us cry with his story, it's so tragic And Colossus needs to work things out with his kid sister Magik Bane and terrorism go together, hand in glove But the Tick is too ridiculous and silly not to love Kamala should stop putting heroes up on a pedestal Shredder's history of failure is really quite incredible Dick Grayson does it all and also has the perfect ass While Laura needs to learn how to interact with some more class Forgotten Home's a story about learning who you are Raphael's anger is justified but he takes it too far Uatu watches over you and can be pretty creepy Damian had no childhood but isn't very weepy Apocalypse thinks he's the savior of all mutantkind Baphomet's development is truly quite divine The Beast's an intellectual, but all he does is worry If Ego's coming after you, you'd best leave in a hurry

So that's all of our episodes, this rap has been a frenzy Spitting rhymes over this beat thanks to my buddy Eric Menzie And last not least thanks to our fans, especially our Patrons We appreciate you sticking with us, showing off your patience Who knows where the next hundred shows will take us, but I'll vouch That they'll be fun and helpful, that's what makes Capes on the Couch

Apple Podcasts: here

Google Play: here

Stitcher: here

TuneIn: here

iHeartRadio: here

Spotify: here

Twitter

Facebook

Patreon

TeePublic

Discord

IT'S OUR 100TH EPISODE! We've got awards! We've got mailbags! We've got... a rap song? Listen now!

SHOW NOTES:

• Intro
• • Thank you's
• Awards/AMA
• • One thing you want on a billboard (06:40)
  • Favorite thematic episode (11:34)
  • What's next for the show (14:21)
  • Favorite Dr. Issues pun (23:34)
  • Have you ever considered diagnosing a Transformer? (26:05)
  • Worst vocal performance (28:05)
  • What are you watching/reading (31:04)
  • What character do you want to do but mythos is too shallow/deep (37:16)
  • Favorite DC episode (42:21)
  • Excited to see on the big screen (44:03)
  • Favorite non sequitur/pop culture reference (46:02)
  • Favorite humorous skit (49:16)
  • Favorite in-universe treatment (52:18)
  • Christmas or Halloween movies (53:10)
  • Favorite Marvel episode (57:32)
  • Favorite non-Big 2 episode (59:10)
  • Best vocal performance (60:21)
  • Most well-adjusted character (63:20)
  • Favorite dramatic skit (67:49)
  • Favorite overall skit (68:26)
  • Patreon thank you's (70:52)
  • Podcasting thank you's (77:45)
  • Recap rap (86:03)
  • Favorite episode overall (91:00)
• Ending
• • Next episodes: Two-Face
  • Plugs for social

References:

• Simpsons Planet of the Apes - Anthony (02:48)
• "I Know My Calculus" by 2Gether - Anthony (23:53)
• The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel - Doc (34:45)
• Chip n Dale's Rescue Rangers - Anthony (38:02)

Apple Podcasts: here

Google Play: here

Stitcher: here

TuneIn: here

iHeartRadio: here

Spotify: here

Twitter

Facebook

Patreon

TeePublic

Discord

We travel to the Black Galaxy to examine our largest character yet - EGO THE LIVING PLANET! Strap in for a wild ride - this one goes deep into Ego's core!

SHOW NOTES:

• Intro
• • New patrons - Mayor Jeanine & Local Official Travis
  • A few days left to vote
• Background (05:25)

• • Ego the Living Planet created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Thor #132 (Sept. 1966)
  • A scientist named Egros tried in vain to save his planet and people from the Stranger, but when the planet exploded, Egros was merged with all of his people and the planet to create Ego, the Living Planet #becausecomics
  • Began destroying ships that approached his area, until he was fought and defeated by Thor
  • Later allied with Thor against Galactus, who wished to consume him - allowed a group called the Wanderers, who were homeless after Galactus destroyed their planet, to live on his surface - later consumed all the Wanderers after going mad due to experiments on him by a Rigellian scientist
  • Heads to Earth seeking vengeance - defeated by the Fantastic Four, who use his rockets to propel him into the sun, where he disintegrates
  • Reforms from a few particles - eventually goes mad again and attacks worlds, looking for similar planets - defeated by Professor X and other mutants
  • Captured by the Kree and sent to Earth in spore form, in an attempt to weaponize him against the Earth - absorbed by Quasar
  • Upon Quasar's death, Ego was released back into the universe
  • Learned he had a brother, Alter-Ego, who had been imprisoned since his creation, and seeks him out - Alter Ego attacks him, and Ego defeats him in self defense - the Elemental Zephyr recreates a smaller version of Alter-Ego, who now orbits Ego as a moon
  • Eternity War - given a body by Galactus the Lifebringer, and joins the Eternity Watch to help save Eternity from imprisonment by the First Firmament
• Issues (09:23)
  • Befitting his name, superiority complex
  • Loneliness over being one of the only of his kind (19:45)
  • Difficulty of logistically interacting with anyone (28:10)
• Break (37:07)
  • Plugs for Cast Junkie, Last Sons of Krypton, and Al Ewing
• Treatment (39:20)
  • In-universe - Focus on other planetary characters to get Ego's worldview to change
  • Out of universe - Discussion of psychotherapy (44:33)
• Skit (52:01)
• Ending (56:38)
  • Recommended reading: older Thor books - 132-133, 155-161, 226-228
  • Next episodes: 100th episode awards special!!!
  • Plugs for social

References:

• Olaf Stapledon - Doc (41:45)
• Last and First Men - Doc (41:50)
• Star Maker - Doc (42:33)
• Thanos episode - Doc (44:10)
• Inside the mind of a master procrastinator | Tim Urban - Anthony (58:45)

Apple Podcasts: here

Google Play: here

Stitcher: here

TuneIn: here

iHeartRadio: here

Spotify: here

Twitter

Facebook

Patreon

TeePublic

Discord

It's our hairiest episode yet - HANK MCCOY! What does Doc have to say about the brilliant Beast? Listen now to find out!

SHOW NOTES:

• Intro
  • Time's almost up for nominees
  • Some exciting news coming soon about promotion :)
• Background (3:10)
  • Hank McCoy (Beast) created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in X-Men #1 (Sept 1963)
  • A member of the original X-Men, he appears human, but has proportions and agility similar to a monkey, including prehensile feet
  • Enjoys the resources for learning provided by Xavier, but soon joins the Brand Corporation as a scientist - there, he inadvertently transforms himself into a more animalistic form
  • Joins the Avengers, where he remains a full-time and reserve member for many years
  • Later joins the Defenders, and then X-Factor, reuniting him with the original X-Men team
  • Rejoins the X-Men in 1991
  • Discovers a cure for the Legacy Virus, but Colossus chooses to sacrifice himself to release it, causing Hank much regret
  • Has a secondary mutation, causing him to take on a more feline appearance
  • Became disillusioned with Scott's leadership, so he left the X-Men again and joined the Secret Avengers for a time
  • In Avengers vs. X-Men, Hank sides with the Avengers against the Phoenix Five
  • After Scott's escape from prison and subsequent militant viewpoint, Hank travels back in time to bring the original, young X-Men to the present to talk Scott down
  • Inhumans vs. X-Men - tries to get mutants to leave Earth before dying of Terrigen infection, but they imprison him - later reconciles with the team, when they realize he was right
  • House/Powers of X - Serving on Krakoa, overseeing the data analysis systems
• Issues (06:42)
  • Intellectualism to a fault - doesn't believe there's a problem he can't solve by experimenting
  • Struggles with the dichotomy between his physical form and mental capacity (16:30)
  • Is Beast manic? (22:39)
• Break (31:57)
  • Plugs for Bedknobs & Broomflicks, Varmints, and Chris Claremont
• Treatment (33:30)
  • In-universe - Use Cerebro to create dull environments and figure out Hank at his core
  • Out of universe - (38:10)
• Skit (48:49)
• Ending (54:28)
  • Recommended reading: Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon
  • Next episodes: Ego, 100th episode special
  • Review read: Jo Anna, 07/13/2020, Capes to you! Great show. I love the banter and comic news
  • Plugs for social

References:

• Colossus episode - Anthony (04:25)
• Captain Phillips - "Look at me, I'm the captain now" - Doc (36:20)
• Duck Amuck - Anthony (36:48)
• Quipping episode - Doc (43:15)

Apple Podcasts: here

Google Play: here

Stitcher: here

TuneIn: here

iHeartRadio: here

Spotify: here

Twitter

Facebook

Patreon

TeePublic

Discord

We have our most magical episode yet - BLACK ADAM! What can we learn from this antihero? And we have our most electrifying skit ever - listen now!

SHOW NOTES:

• Intro
• • 2 weeks left to vote on awards show nominees
• Background (02:39)
• • Black Adam (Teth-Adam) created by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck in The Marvel Family #1 (December 1945)
  • Only made one appearance in original Fawcett comics run - an ancient Egyptian who was given his powers by the wizard Shazam, but became corrupted by them and was banished to a far star - he returned to Earth 5000 years later, and battled the Marvel family, only to be tricked into saying Shazam and instantly aging to death
  • After DC bought Fawcett Comics and began using their characters, he was reintroduced to the larger DC universe, as an adversary of Captain Marvel/Shazam
  • Similar origin story for DC, but buried in a tomb by Shazam until unearthed by an archaeologist named Theo Adam, with whom his spirit bonded (similar to Billy Batson & Shazam)
  • He reformed and joined the Justice Society of America, serving as a darker, anti-heroic counter to most of the other members
  • Became ruler of African nation of Kahndaq (where he was retconned to be from), after deposing the dictator (Atom Smasher killed him)
  • 52/World War Three - Adam's version of the Marvel Family are all killed, and Adam goes on a rampage that requires the entire Justice Society and other heroes to band together to defeat him - he is left powerless
  • New 52 - rebooted as Adam, whose nephew Aman was given powers by Shazam - Adam was injured, and Aman shared his power with his uncle, who then turned on Aman and killed him - defeated by the Marvel family once again
  • Rebirth - one of the Council of Immortals, and still serving as ruler of Kahndaq
• Issues (10:00)
  • Unable to take any criticism
  • Incredibly wrathful - if he feels even remotely slighted, he will stop at nothing to punish (18:45)
  • Self-righteousness (28:15)
• Break (34:18)
  • Plugs for Perfect Package Podcast, Petri Dish, and Cullen Bunn
• Treatment (35:51)
  • In-universe - Use medication/magical stones to sedate Adam before beginning therapy
  • Out of universe - Focus on making a safe environment, and then address the issues as they arise (39:52)
• Skit (47:51)
• Ending (51:23)
  • Recommended reading: JSA: Black Reign
  • Review read: super nerdy, Wonderful! This great unique show is a must listen! Hit subscribe now!
  • Next episodes: Hank McCoy, Ego, 100th Episode
  • Plugs for social

Apple Podcasts: here

Google Play: here

Stitcher: here

TuneIn: here

iHeartRadio: here

Spotify: here

Twitter

Facebook

Patreon

TeePublic

Discord

What do Captain America, Exodus, and Sleepwalker all have in common? They're strangers in a strange land! Come to a weird place with us as we examine what it's like to be in the unknown!

SHOW NOTES:

• Intro
• • Reminder to vote in awards show
• Background

• • Stories about characters displaced in time or space are innumerable
  • Superman - last son of Krypton
  • Captain America - man out of time
  • Shining Knight (Sir Justin) - member of King Arthur's Court, revived in 1941 and joined the Seven Soldiers of Victory (24:22)
  • Exodus - born in 12th century Paris, sealed away in a tomb by Apocalypse (30:32)
  • Martian Manhunter - last of his kind, aloof from mankind (34:47)
  • Sleepwalker - displaced from the Mindscape, where everything changes based on subconscious needs and desires of inhabitants - to him, Earth is strange (40:22)
  • So many more examples
• Real world analogues (48:56)
• • Refugees/Immigrants/Exiles
  • Coma patients
  • Transitions with cognitive impairment
  • Prisoners/detainees
• Break (72:27)
• • Plugs for Ignorance Was Bliss, Play Comics, and Saladin Ahmed
• Treatment
• • In-universe - Doc becomes Al (73:40)
  • Out of universe - (76:41)
• Ending
• • Next episodes: Black Adam, Hank McCoy, Mental Health Avengers
  • Review read: Brian Wayne - Always a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ show! Great concept and extremely entertaining!
  • Plugs for social

References:

• Tolerance paradox - Anthony (19:15)
• Apocalypse episode - Anthony (30:35)
• Back to the Future Part II - Anthony/Doc (33:56)
• Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge by Edward O. Wilson - Doc (35:55)
• Doctor Manhattan - Doc (39:36)
• Christopher Titus - Doc (44:45)
• Projective identification - Doc (46:30)
• Ethnic enclave - Doc (53:30)
• "If I Could Turn Back Time" by Cher - Doc (62:15)
• Lost scene about Red Sox - Anthony (65:09)
• "Measure of a Man" by Elton John - Doc/Anthony (87:20)

Apple Podcasts: here

Google Play: here

Stitcher: here

TuneIn: here

iHeartRadio: here

Spotify: here

Twitter

Facebook

Patreon

TeePublic

Discord