Dear Watchers: an omniversal comic book podcast

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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Four-score and 157 episodes ago, we are back in the world of Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben as we ask what if the Fantastic Four all had the same powers? We start off with yet another telling of their origin story in Mythos: Fantastic Four by Paul Jenkins & Paolo Rivera before jumping into our central issue by Jimmy Valentino that features Sue becoming Man-Thing, the FF as members of SHIELD, Johnny as Mr. Fantastic and the FF accidentally killing a baby. Yes, a baby. We wrap up with Jonathan Hickman's revolutionary soft-reboot of Marvel's first family leading into the decade long arc of Secret Wars, which seems prime to be a touchstone for the upcoming First Steps. Grab your headphones and power of choice and join us!

Ep. 157 What if the Fantastic Four all had the same power?

from What If Vol. 2 #11 (Marvel, 1990)
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We are back in the world of both What If and the Fantastic Four that sees our heroes adopt new powers across a four-part issue from Image co-founder Jimmy Valentino. Before that, we kick things off with a beautifully painted version of the FF's origin story from the pen of Paul Jenkins and brush of Paolo Rivera. We end by discussing the FF's modern era courtesy Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham in a 2009 issue that kicks off the very long lead up to Secret War. Plus, we ponder why the Fantastic Four's origin store has been told so many times (or has it) and if the groups needs to have these specific powers.

Reading / Watch List:

• Mythos: Fantastic Four #1 (Marvel, 2007)
• What If Vol. 2, #11 (Marvel, 1990)
• Fantastic Four #570 (Marvel, 2009)

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We might be talking "silver age silliness" but we're not horsing around! Well, Lois Lane is as she falls in love with a horse who is also a man and then becomes a horse herself? Confused, then you need to listen to this week's episode. We start with Adventure Comics in 1962 that introduces Comet the Super-Horse alongside Krypto and the League of Super Pets in a truly wacky issue. Then it's over to Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane for Comet's magical backstory. All this plus Rob makes a ton of horse jokes!

Ep. 156 What if Lois Lane fell in love with a horse who became a man—and then became a horse herself?

from Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #92 (DC Comics)
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Hey there! Or should we say HAY there as we talk Comet the Super-Horse alongside Krypto and the rest of the League of Super Pets. We. tackle a couple of wacky 1960s issues from some masters as Jerry Siegel, Curt Swan, and Leo Dorfman complete with telepathic animals, wayward magic, evil brain aliens and much more. Plus, we speculate about Krypto's appearance in the upcoming Superman film and whether we'll see more of the Super Pets onscreen.

Reading / Watch List:

• Adventure Comics Vol. 1, #293 (DC Comics 1962)
• Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane Vol. 1, #92 (DC Comics, 1969)

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For the honor of podcasts! It's our first episode dedicated to the Princess of Power: She-Ra. We start by covering Adora's five episode origin story on the iconic Filmation tv series. Then we talk comics that sees Adora become Despara in the 2013-2015 Masters of the Universe series from DC Comics in a new take on her origin. We wrap up by speculating about the upcoming 2026 Masters of the Universe film and when we may next see She-Ra on the screen or page. Grab your sword and your headphones and let's go!

Ep. 155 What if She-Ra had been an agent of Hordak named Despara? 

from He-Man & The Masters of the Universe #1-19 (DC Comics)
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After a few past He-Man episodes, it's finally time to cover his twin sister Adora aka She-Ra! We start off by talking about her debut on her own Filmation series (don't call it a spin-off!) before exploring her revised origin story as Despara in a nineteen issue arc from DC Comics. We wrap up by wondering when we might next see She-Ra on screen and why she doesn't have her own comic book. All this plus we talk Star Wars comparisons and Guido's recent She-Ra toy acquisition (and longtime fandom).

Reading / Watch List:

• She-Ra Princess of Power Episodes #1-5 (TV Show 1985)
• He-Man & The Masters of the Universe #1-19 (DC Comics 2013)

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While you wait for Daredevil: Born Again, on this episode, the Man Without Fear pairs up with the Dark Knight in Daredevil/Batman: Eye for an Eye. We start back in 1964 with Daredevil's first appearance from the minds of Stan Lee and Bill Everett. Then it's off to 1997 that sees these two vigilantes battle Two-Face and Mr. Hyde. We wrap up by speculating on what's next for DD in the Marvel universe.

Ep. 154 What if Batman and Daredevil teamed up to defeat Two-Face and Mr. Hyde? 

from Daredevil/Batman: Eye for an Eye
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It's Daredevil meets Batman on the pod. We start back in 1964 with the Man Without Fear's first appearance courtesy Stan Lee and Bill Everett in a wordy but beautiful issue. Then Matt Murdock meets Bruce Wayne as the two heroes battle Two-Face and Mr. Hyde in the Big Apple in this issue from D.G. Chichester and Scott McDaniel. We wrap up by discussing what we'd love to see on Daredevil: Born Again and beyond.

Reading / Watch List:

• Daredevil Vol. 1 Issue 1 (1964, Marvel Comics)
• Daredevil/Batman: Eye for an Eye (1997, Marvel Comics with DC Comics) 
• Daredevil (2015-2018, Netflix / Marvel Television)

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Before the Fantastic Four (with Galactus) and Superman hit the big screen again, they are on our podcast! We kick things off with Galactus' first 1966 appearance courtesy Stan Lee & Jack Kirby before seeing the giant purple world eater tangle with both the first family of Marvel and the Man of Steel in Dan Jurgens' 1999 outing. We wrap up by pondering Ralph Ineson's upcoming turn as Galactus onscreen and whether the FF and Superman will ever share the screen (or page) together again.

Ep. 153 What if Superman and the Fantastic Four teamed up against Galactus?

from Superman / Fantastic Four #1
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Are you hungry? We talk Galactus on this week's pod as he faces off against both the Fantastic Four and Superman. We start off with Galactus (and the Silver Surfer's) first appearance back in 1966 from Stan Lee & Jack Kirby as they battle the Fantastic Four. Then we turn to Superman / Fantastic Four #1 from 1999 from Dan Jurgens that sees Superman become a herald of Galactus. We wrap up by speculating on Galactus first on screen appearance in Fantastic Four: First Steps plus whether or not we will ever see a Marvel & DC pairing again.

Reading / Watch List:

• Fantastic Four Volume 1 #48, 49, 50 (1966, Marvel Comics)
• Superman / Fantastic Four #1 (1999, DC Comics) 

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On this episode, it's Superman's girl friend (two words): Lois Lane! We talk the origins of everyone's favorite "girl reporter" and kick things off with a 1944 story that sees Lois stepping out on her own sans Superman. Then, we zero in on a 1962 issue of Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane that sees the Daily Planet dynamo be "abandoned" by Superman (and face off against an octopus!) and then discover Superman's secret mermaid family on another planet (yep). We wrap up by discussing Lois on screen, why she doesn't have a more regular solo title and what to expect from Rachel Brosnahan's upcoming portrayal.

Ep. 152 What if Lois Lane thought Superman abandoned her & hijinks ensued?

from Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #30 (DC Comics)
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It's more silver age silliness! After our recent Jimmy Olsen issue, we are talking about Superman's main squeeze: Lois Lane. We talk her origins from Siegel & Shuster (and Joanne Carter) and then cover an early story from Don Cameron & Ed Dobrotka that sees Lois talk someone off a ledge (literally). We then cover a zany issue of Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane where Lois faces off against gangsters, an opium smuggler and an octopus without the help of Superman (or so she thinks). Plus, lookout for a truly bizarre Krypton cameo! Later in that issue, Lois discovers Superman has a secret mermaid wife and child on another planet but everything might not be what it appears to be in this story from the pencil of iconic Lois Lane artist Kurt Schaffenberger. We wrap up by sharing our love for Margot Kidder, Elizabeth Tulloch, Teri Hatcher and speculate on how Lois will be portrayed in James Gunn's upcoming film.

Reading / Watch List:

• Superman Vol. 1 #28 (1944, DC Comics)
• Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #30 (1962, DC Comics)

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Ready for some silver age silliness? For the first time, we are talking Superman's best pal: Jimmy Olsen! We start with a brief history of the redheaded sidekick, his first "official" appearance back in 1941, and an issue of Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen that seems our hero transform into a werewolf, don drag to pretend to be a woman, befriend a leprechaun (that's really Mr. Mxyzptlk) and lots more zany shenanigans. We wrap up by talking about our favorite onscreen Jimmy's and what we want to see next from the character.

Ep. 151 What if Jimmy Olsen became a werewolf, a woman and was friends with a leprechaun?

from Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #44 (DC Comics)
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Grab your bow ties and sweater vests, it's a deep dive into Jimmy Olsen! We kick off with a look at the origins of the character, from office boy to cub reporter to (eventually) photographer including early appearances in Siegel & Shuster penned issues. Then we jump into the wacky world of Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen in a three-part issue that sees Jimmy transform into a wolf-man, go under cover as a chorus girl and battle an inter-dimensional trickster, all set to the terrific art of Curt Swan. We wrap up by discussing Jimmy onscreen from Lois & Clark to My Adventures with Superman and speculate on Skyler Gisondo's take on the character in James Gunn's upcoming film.

Reading / Watch List:

• Superman #13 (DC Comics 1941)
• Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #44 (DC Comics 1960)

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