🎙️ Gods of the Omniverse? It’s Our 4-Year Anniversary!

from Dear Watchers Episode 167

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Happy (slightly belated) birthday to us! Dear Watchers just turned 4 years old, and we’re celebrating with you. We look back at our origins (dating back to July 2021), share wild trivia about our journey (170+ episodes, 6,859 minutes of runtime, 25 unique guests, and five straight days of bingeable Watchers content!), and reminisce about our favorite arcs like Age of Apocalypse.

Then, since we’re the “gods of the Omniverse” for this minisode, we invent our own Elseworlds/What Ifs! Rob pitches Spider-Man as a 1950s black-and-white horror monster, Elvira solving murders in Gotham with Batman, and the Joker hosting a late-night talk show. Guido imagines the Muppets as Mutants at Xavier’s School, Elvira traveling to Etheria to meet She-Ra, and the X-Men cast in a soap opera (or Twin Peaks). We debate, laugh, and pick our favorites—like a true anniversary mashup.

Reading / Watch List:

(No homework this week — these universes don’t exist yet!)

• Instead, check out our earlier anniversary specials:
  • Ep. 54 – One-Year Birthday Trivia Party
  • Ep. 100 – Watchers’ Favorite What Ifs
  • Ep. 150 – Another Big Retrospective

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🎙️ Wonder Woman Meets She-Ra Meets Barbie?!

Grab a box of Cinnamon Mini Buns from 1993, comb your long luxurious hair, and polish your gemstones—because today we’re traveling to the most glittery corner of the multiverse.

Ep. 166 What if Wonder Woman Led the Star Riders?

from Wonder Woman and the Star Riders (Mattel/DC Promotional Minicomics, 1993)

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What if Wonder Woman was crossed with She-Ra and Barbie to lead the Star Riders, a team of sparkling superheroines? We’re diving into this dazzling “lost” alternate universe born from a 1993 DC/Mattel collaboration. We begin with Tom King & Guillem March’s Wonder Woman #20–21 (2025) before turning to the unreleased Wonder Woman and the Star Riders toys, catalog comics, and animated special. Along the way, we explore the bizarre and mysterious history of this canceled line—from prototypes to SDCC screenings—and wrap by pondering whether this glitter-powered Elseworld should return.

Reading / Watch List:

• Wonder Woman #20–21 (DC Comics, 2025) — Writer: Tom King; Artist: Guillem March
• Wonder Woman and the Star Riders Promotional Comics (Mattel/DC, 1993) — Art: José Luis García-López
• Wonder Woman and the Star Riders vs. Purrsia Minicomic (Mattel/DC, 1993)

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🎙️ Had a challenging week? Get ready for something fantastic. We’re going Amalgam, baby! This week, Marvel’s First Family meets DC’s death-defying adventurers in one of the boldest mash-ups of the Amalgam Age!

Ep. 165 What if the Fantastic Four returned from their travels without powers—and had to face Galactiac?

from Challengers of the Fantastic #1 (Amalgam Comics, June 1997) & Showcase #6 (DC Comics, February 1957)

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This week, we dive into the Amalgam Universe—Earth 9602—where Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm collide with the worlds of Ace Morgan, Red Ryan, June Robbins, and Professor Haley to become the Challengers of the Fantastic! We begin our journey with the Silver Age debut of DC Comics’ Challengers of the Unknown in Showcase #6, created (or co-created) by Jack Kirby, and trace the team's wild legacy through the decades—including Nazi-busting villains, zombie plagues, and their bizarre Weirdoverse revival in the 1990s.

Then we venture to Challengers of the Fantastic #1 by Karl Kesel and Tom Grummett, part of 1997’s second wave of Amalgam Comics, where the Fantastic Four return from cosmic exploration without powers and confront Galactiac—an epic fusion of Galactus and Brainiac. Alongside returning guest Ethan (aka @MakeMineAmalgam), we explore what makes this world work, how Kesel balances reverence with absurdity, and why this short-lived title deserves more love.

Plus: obscure villains like Multi-Man and Mr. Tic-Tac-Toe, the evolution of Jack Kirby’s themes across Marvel and DC, and a round of actor amalgamation speculation. Is this the first spark of a new Amalgam universe revival? And just what makes the Amalgam Universe such a rich multiversal playground?

Reading / Watch List:

• Showcase #6 (DC Comics, 1957) – “The Secret of the Sorcerer's Box!”
• Spider-Boy #1 (Amalgam / Marvel & DC Comics, 1996)
• Challengers of the Fantastic #1 (Amalgam Comics, 1997)

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🎙️They don't want to destroy the universe—they want to annoy it into submission!

It's comics' most chaotic crossover as the pink-hatted pest and the green chaos goblin take center stage!

Ep. 164 What If Superman and Silver Surfer Tangled with Impossible Man and Mr. Mxyzptlk?

from Silver Surfer / Superman #1 (Marvel & DC, 1997)

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We’re diving into the most mischievous multiversal mayhem! We begin with the golden age debut of DC’s Mr. Mxyzptlk and Marvel’s Impossible Man’s first Fantastic appearance, then head into the wild 1997 crossover where the two Imps trade universes—and trouble—for Superman and Silver Surfer. Along the way we explore the legacy of comic pranksters, George Pérez’s Marvel/DC legacy, and the lineage of transdimensional trickery. We wrap with speculation about 2025’s upcoming Marvel/DC crossover and ask: are Imps the ultimate fourth-wall breakers?

Reading / Watch List:

• Superman (Vol. 1) #30 (DC Comics, 1944) – “The Mysterious Mr. Mxyztplk!” by Jerry Siegel & Ira Yarbrough
• Fantastic Four #11 (Marvel Comics, 1963) – “The Impossible Man!” by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby
• Silver Surfer / Superman #1 (Marvel & DC Comics, 1997) – by George Pérez, Ron Lim, Terry Austin

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We are traveling to Earth-383, a so-called Negative Earth first featured in Adventure Comics #383 (1969), where Supergirl seemingly perishes in an explosion and attends her own funeral—joined by the spirits of Abraham Lincoln, Joan of Arc, and other ghostly figures! This Bronze Age tale was recently revisited in Back Issue #159 as part of a 40th anniversary retrospective on Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Episode #163: What if Supergirl was dead and able to be amongst other dead people like Joan of Arc and Abraham Lincoln?
from DC Comics Adventure Comics #383

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We’re diving into the ethereal and existential! We begin with Supergirl’s strange funeral in the Silver Age story Please Stop My Funeral! before rewinding to the surprising proto-Supergirl tales from the ‘40s and ‘50s. Then we haunt the haunted halls of Kara Zor-El’s multiversal history and her celestial cinematic debut in the 1984 Supergirl movie. Along the way, we explore ghost stories, alternate deaths, and historical cameos in the DC Universe—then wrap with a look at how these odd tales ponder Supergirl's mythic potential.

Reading / Watch List:

• Action Comics #252 (DC Comics, 1959) – Debut of Supergirl by Otto Binder & Al Plastino
• Adventure Comics #383 (DC Comics, 1969) – “Please Stop My Funeral!” by Robert Kanigher & Win Mortimer
• Supergirl: The Official Movie Adaptation (DC Comics, 1985) – Based on the 1984 film
• Supergirl (film) (Tri-Star Pictures, 1984) – Directed by Jeannot Szwarc, starring Helen Slater

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🎶 Boop-Oop-a-Doop! 🎶
This week we’re tapping our toes, flipping our curls, and leaping out of the inkpot as we explore one of animation’s original divas—Betty Boop!

We’re asking:
What if Betty Boop traveled from the cartoon world to our world?

For the first time, Dear Watchers is hopping from the silver screen to the comic page to the Broadway stage as we visit Earth-Boop-Oop-a-Doop and explore:

📽 Betty Boop Cartoon Shorts (1930–1939)
The surreal, saucy, and sometimes censored origins of Betty Boop, born from the minds of Max Fleischer and Grim Natwick, where jazz met animation in a flapper’s frame.

🎭 Boop! The Musical (Broadway, 2025)
Betty breaks out of her monochrome world in a brand-new Broadway musical, with a book by Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone) and music by Grammy legend David Foster. Can a cartoon star find love—and herself—in modern-day Manhattan?

📘 Betty Boop #1–4 (Dynamite Comics, 2016)
In this charming and spooky revival by Roger Langridge and Gisèle Lagacé, Betty sings at the Oop-A-Doop Club, battles ghosts, and protects her soul from devilish villains—all while staying true to her plucky, positive spirit.

💬 Along the way, we ask:

• Can Betty Boop’s vintage vaudeville energy still resonate in today’s world?
• What does it mean for a character to cross from animated past to physical present?
• And who knew interdimensional travel could be so jazzy?

🌀 From flapper cartoons to musical showstoppers to comic book capers, this episode is your backstage pass to the multiversal spotlight of one of pop culture’s most enduring icons.

Reading / Watch List:
🎬 Betty Boop Theatrical Shorts (1930–1939, Fleischer Studios)
🎭 Boop! The Musical (Broadway, 2025)
📚 Betty Boop #1–4 (Dynamite Comics, 2016)

Email: [email protected]
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🌎 Earth! 🔥 Fire! 💧 Water! 🌪 Wind! 🪵 Heart! With our powers combined, we're calling forth the return of the ultimate eco-hero: Captain Planet! For the first time in Dear Watchers history, we’re diving into a beloved ‘90s animated icon who’s been absent from the comic page for three decades.

This week, we're going full Planeteer as we explore:

• 💬 "Captain Planet and the Planeteers" #1–12 (Marvel Comics, 1991–1992): A deep look at the surprisingly sophisticated early ‘90s comics based on the cartoon series, filled with villains like Duke Nukem, Hoggish Greedly, and a lot of eco-anxiety.
• 📘 "Captain Planet and the Planeteers" #1 (Dynamite Comics, April 2025): A first look at the brand-newrevival by David Pepose, Eman Casallos, and the creative team tasked with modernizing a green-haired icon for a new generation.

Ep. 161 What if our powers combined to create the mega mac-daddy of ecology, Captain Planet, and we try to resurrect him for the first time in 30 years?

from Captain Planet and the Planeteers #1 (Marvel Comics, 1991)
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💚 Along the way, we ask:

• Can a character born of Earth Day idealism thrive in today's climate crisis world?
• How do the Marvel comics compare to the TV show?
• What makes Captain Planet more than just a meme—and maybe a hero worth rebooting?

🌀 From Planeteer powers to Plunder Villains, this episode is your all-access pass to one of pop culture’s most earnest eco-warriors—just in time for his return.

Reading / Watch List:

• Captain Planet and the Planeteers (DIC / Hanna Barbera, 1990 - 1996)
• Captain Planet and the Planeteers #1-12 (Marvel Comics, 1991 - 1992)
• Captain Planet and the Planeteers #1 (Dynamite, 2025)

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Good boys get a brand new podcast! We are taking a deep dive into Superman's best friend (no, not Jimmy): Krypto! We talk Krypto's (many) origins, his first appearance and his encounter with Lex Luthor's super powered pooch Destructo. We wrap up pondering about Krypto's appearance in James Gunn's new Superman. Grab your favorite chew toy and your headphones and listen up!

Ep. 160 What if Superman’s dog Krypto had an arch-nemesis, Destructo, the superhound of hate? 

from Superboy #92 (DC Comics, 1961)
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This week, it's everyone's favorite super dog: Krypto! We talk Krypto's origin story and his first appearance in 1955 from the minds of Otto Binder and Curt Swan. Then we tackle a doozy of Silver Age Silliness from 1961 as Krypto tangles with Lex Luthor's super powered dog Wolf as he becomes Destructo, the superhound of hate - a canine foe determined to frame Krypto. We wrap up by discussing what Krypto's appearance in James Gunn's Superman means for the series tone and why Gunn might have chosen to include the flying four legged hero. All this and more! 

Reading / Watch List:

• Adventure Comics #210 (DC Comics, 1955)
• Superboy #92 (DC Comics, 1961)

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Are they in their hero or villain era? In honor of the latest film from the MCU, we're talking Thunderbolts! We kick off with their 1997 debut that introduces a superhero team that might not be what they appear to be. Then we give a spoileriffic rundown of Thunderbolts* including the film's big final twist. We wrap up by taking a look at a version of the team that closely mirrors the onscreen version, complete with Bucky and Valentina. Plus we ponder the big question: What makes the Thunderbolts, the Thunderbolts?

Ep. 159 What if the Thunderbolts actually became a team called [redacted]?

from Thunderbolts (Marvel Studios, 2025)
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Are they bad or are they just drawn that way? We are talking the heroes, villains, anti-heroes, The Thunderbolts! We kick off with their 1997 debut from Kurt Busiek & Mark Bagley and whether we were surprised by that series' big final twist. And speaking of twists, we talk about the recently released MCU film Thunderbolts* from director Jake Schreier with full spoilers. We wrap up by exploring the 2024 version of the team from Collin Kelly, Jackson Lansing and Geraldo Borges that takes on a darker feeling then its 90s version. All this plus, we share what we'd like to see from the next iteration of this ever changing team.

Reading / Watch List:

• Thunderbolts Vol. 1 #1 (Marvel Comics, 1997)
• Thunderbolts #1 (Marvel Comics, 2024)
• Thunderbolts* (Disney/Marvel Studios, 2025) 

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By the power of Grayskull, we're back in Eternia for another He-Man themed episode. Guido and Rob return to one of their favorite childhood films 1987's Masters of the Universe starring Dolph Lundgren before talking about the 2020 semi-sequel to this iconic film from DC Comics and past guest Tim Seeley. In this six part comic,  the film version of He-Man return and team up with a would-be Skeletor to battle the Anti-He-Man. Grab your power sword and your headphones and join us.

Ep. 158 What if He-Man fought to save the multiverse (& spawned a sequel to the 1987 Masters of the Universe in the process)?

from He-Man & The Masters of the Multiverse #1-6 (DC Comics, 2020)
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It's back to Eternia with another Masters of the Universe themed episode. We start things off in 1987 with the MOTU film directed by Gary Goddard, written by David Odell and starring Dolph Lundgren, Frank Langella, and Courtney Cox which holds a big place in both Rob and Guido's mind. Then we talk the DC comics 2020 6-part comic series from past guest Tim Seeley and artists Dan Fraga & Tom Derenick that sees He-Men from throughout the multiverse partner up to defeat a terrifying enemy: Themselves! We wrap up by pondering about the long awaited 2026 Masters of the Universe movie, what we'd want from a true sequel to the 1987 film and more.

Reading / Watch List:

• Masters of the Universe (Cannon, 1987)
• He-Man & The Masters of the Multiverse  #1-6 (DC Comics, 2020)

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