On this episode Matt and special guest co-hosts Ian Springer and Jeff Kaplan try to figure out why this is not your parents' comics magazine by discussing 1993's FANTASTIC FOUR #375...but really they spend most of the time talking about 2025's FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS.

Matt's first steps into this episode are filled with far too many "uhhhhs" and for those he apologizes, whereas Ian and Jeff talk about what it was like writing the iconic Fantastic Four for the big screen. Aspiring screenwriters should pay extra attention because Ian and Jeff go deep on what their pitching and writing processes for FIRST STEPS was like.

Of course this is DOES THIS COME IN CHROMIUM so no episode would be complete without a conversation about a very shiny comic, and boy howdy is FANTASTIC FOUR #375 just that. What do two of the writers of the most iconic big screen version of Marvel's First Family make of their 1993 counterparts? You'll have to listen to find out.

Also, with a very minor bit of prompting by Jeff, Ian recites the opening narration from the A-TEAM verbatim. It's downright fantastic!

Support Ian and Jeff by watching FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (now streaming on Disney+ and available to purchase on DVD/Blu-ray).

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow Matt on BlueSky: @mattbegins.bsky.social

Intro music from the song "Doin' What We Do" by the always amazing Mustard Plug

If it weren't for the generous help from Doug Wortel and Spillway Sound you wouldn't be listening to this podcast at all.

POST-CRISIS SHOW NOTES: In true Legion of Superheroes fashion, this episode has been REBOOTED to correct errors in the audio syncing and the fact that Apple just wouldn't release it (I assume because Time Trapper threatened to erase them from existence if they did -- but it's cool now because I called in a favor and had my very emotionally stable buddy Hal "Parallax" Jordan straighten things out).

Thankfully, now this episode has been freed from the great darkness, the clock has been set back to zero (hour), and you don't have to wait five years (later) to listen.

If you were lucky enough to hear this already and it didn't sound like Matter-Eater Lad vomiting (you're welcome for that mental image), then why not listen again? It's a great way to pass the time until the inevitable next reboot of the Legion of Superheros. LONG LIVE GATES!

PRE-CRISIS SHOW NOTES: On this episode Matt and special guest co-host Pat Casey (screenwriter of SONIC THE HEDGEHOG and VIOLENT NIGHT) try not to fall under the control of C.O.M.P.U.T.O. or get insulted by Gates as they discuss 1998's LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #100.

What quickly becomes clear is that Matt really doesn't know a lot about the Legion of Super-Heroes. He thought he did. But he was wrong.

It's okay though, because Pat does know a lot about the Legion. In fact, he's pretty much a sprocking Legion expert (but unlike Brainiac 5, he's far too humble to admit it).

So if you are a Legion novice - fear not because Matt has the questions and Pat has the answers!

LONG LIVE THE LEGION!

Support Pat by watching his movies and following him on BlueSky: @patcasey.bsky.social

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow Matt on BlueSky: @mattbegins.bsky.social

Intro music from the song "Doin' What We Do" by the always amazing Mustard Plug (https://mustardplug.com/)

If it weren't for the generous help from Doug Wortel and Spillway Sound you wouldn't be listening to this podcast at all!

On this BONUS episode Matt and returning special guest co-host Ian Springer (screenwriter of FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS) race against time to see who is the fastest podcaster alive while discussing 1993's THE FLASH #80.

Is Wally West faster than Barry Allen? Yes, he is. Is Matt cooler than Ian? They're stuck in a dead heat. Where did the theme song go? It's still there but you can't hear it because it's hit terminal velocity. Why is this episode releasing early? Because Matt had an impulse. Why did Ian agree to come back on the show? Because he was born to run (in this case run = podcast).

If you're having trouble keeping up with Matt and Ian just remember: 3X2(9YZ)4A

Support Ian's work by watching FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS now available on DVD/BluRay and streaming on Disney+

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow Matt on BlueSky: @mattbegins.bsky.social

Intro music from the song "Doin' What We Do" by the always amazing Mustard Plug (https://mustardplug.com/) (While the theme song is not on this episode, you should always listen to Mustard Plug)

If it weren't for the generous help from Doug Wortel (who was also sucked into the Speed Force) and Spillway Sound you wouldn't be listening to this podcast at all!

REUPLOADED WITH FIXED AUDIO!

On this episode Matt and special guest co-host Pat Casey (screenwriter of SONIC THE HEDGEHOG and VIOLENT NIGHT) try not to fall under the control of C.O.M.P.U.T.O. or get insulted by Gates as they discuss 1998's LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #100.

What quickly becomes clear is that Matt really doesn't know a lot about the Legion of Super-Heroes. He thought he did. But he was wrong.

It's okay though, because Pat does know a lot about the Legion. In fact, he's pretty much a sprocking Legion expert (but unlike Brainiac 5, he's far too humble to admit it).

So if you are a Legion novice - fear not because Matt has the questions and Pat has the answers!

LONG LIVE THE LEGION!

Support Pat by watching his movies and following him on BlueSky: @patcasey.bsky.social

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow Matt on BlueSky: @mattbegins.bsky.social

Intro music from the song "Doin' What We Do" by the always amazing Mustard Plug (https://mustardplug.com/)

If it weren't for the generous help from Doug Wortel and Spillway Sound you wouldn't be listening to this podcast at all!

On this episode Matt and returning special guest co-host David Walton ignore the fact that there is no cover enhancement to be found (thereby calling into question the entire premise of the podcast) and discuss 1991's ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #474.

Set on New Year's Eve, this issue is a really moving character study of Clark Kent and a perfect encapsulation as to why the "Triangle Era" of Superman is a favorite for both Matt and David.

Even though he had very little time to prepare prior to recording, David shares some genuinely insightful thoughts on Clark Kent's emotional journey in this issue and how it mirrors what Superman went through during the "Exile" epic.

Matt, who had all the time in the world to prepare for the show, gets nostalgic about Casey Kasem's Nick-at-Nite New Year's Eve countdown, takes some cheap shots at John Byrne, and repeatedly talks about Galactus wearing a diaper.

Happy New Year!

Follow David on BlueSky: @benreilly149.bsky.social

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow Matt on BlueSky: @mattbegins.bsky.social

Intro music from the song "Doin' What We Do" by the always amazing Mustard Plug (https://mustardplug.com/) (While the theme song is not on this episode, you should always listen to Mustard Plug)

If it weren't for the generous help from Doug Wortel (GET WELL SOON!) and Spillway Sound you wouldn't be listening to this podcast at all!

On this episode Matt and special guest co-host David Walton (making his podcasting debut!) duck holodiscs while also trying not to get burned by Firefist as they discuss 1995's SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #225.

Look, there's no other way to put it than to say that this episode has a little something for everyone...

Do you like thoughtful, well-written comic characters going through existential crises? David's got you covered there.

Do you have strong opinions on what your dog's favorite Spider-Man story is? Matt's got you covered there.

The guys also do a deep dive on the overall legacy of the Clone Saga, speculate on the possibility that Tom DeFalco wrote the Phil Urich Green Goblin as an homage to DC's The Creeper, and dicuss why Judas Traveller is actually cool, but probably should have ditched his entourage.

Follow David on BlueSky for plenty of Clone Saga annotated goodness: @benreilly149.bsky.social

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow Matt on BlueSky: @mattbegins.bsky.social

Intro music from the song "Doin' What We Do" by the always amazing Mustard Plug (https://mustardplug.com/)

If it weren't for the generous help from Doug Wortel and Spillway Sound you wouldn't be listening to this podcast at all!

On this episode Matt and special guest co-host Todd Dezago (writer of THE PERHAPANAUTS and SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN) try not to get smothered in acetate as they discuss 1995's SPIDER-MAN: MAXIMUM CLONAGE ALPHA (which Todd just so happened to have scripted).

Comic books have always loved tie-ins to major events and now so do comic book podcasts, as this episode expands upon the discussion of the Spider-Man "Clone Saga" that began on Todd's own podcast RANDOM ACTS OF COMICS.

In this discussion Matt clumsily tries to brand this as a "red skies" episode (yes, he's well aware that's a DC thing), Todd shares the strikinginly similar origins of both the word "clonage" and the name Spidercide, and the late great Tom Lyle is rememebered and celebrated.

Writing nerds will want to pay extra attention because Todd helps Matt understand exactly how writing in the "Marvel style" works.

NOTE: Todd's audio is a little low because he's still hiding from Spidercide and had to record from an undisclosed location.

Support Todd by buying his comics and listening to his podcast: https://www.randomactsofcomics.com/

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow Matt on BlueSky: @mattbegins.bsky.social

Intro music from the song "Doin' What We Do" by the always amazing Mustard Plug (https://mustardplug.com/)

If it weren't for the generous help from Doug Wortel and Spillway Sound you wouldn't be listening to this podcast at all!

On this episode Matt and special guest co-host Michael Tanner (writer of ORCS IN SPACE, JUNIOR BRAVES OF THE APOCALYPSE, and more!) see if the first ever glow-in-the-dark comic cover still has enough power to deliver a penance stare as they discuss 1991's GHOST RIDER #15.

It turns out that there's A LOT Matt doesn't know about Ghost Rider, so Tanner has to explain Danny Ketch's need to nap in Central Park, Blackout's cosplay origins, why Johnny Blaze is so mad, how to properly pronounce Zarathos, who the hell H.E.A.R.T. is, and why anyone would ever think someone called Deathwatch might have good intentions.

Also, what's up with Ghost Rider fighting ninjas? That's just weird.

Plus, Tanner delights Matt with the backstory to the song "Ghost Rider" performed by the Rollins Band for THE CROW soundtrack.

But seriously, why does Ghost Rider fight so many ninjas? Matt needs an answer.

Support Tanner by buying his comics: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Michael-Tanner/142048197

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow Matt on BlueSky: @mattbegins.bsky.social

Intro music from the song "Doin' What We Do" by the always amazing Mustard Plug

If it weren't for the generous help from Doug Wortel and Spillway Sound you wouldn't be listening to this podcast at all!

On this episode Matt and special guest co-host Mat Elfring (host of I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MAT ELFRING) do their best to dodge the lunging Logan hologram on the cover and discuss 1993's WOLVERINE #75.

This issue takes place in the immediate aftermath of Magneto ripping the adamantium out of Logan's body and is a surprisingly effective story about trauma and character exploration that even a Wolverine novice (like Matt) was moved by.

Along the way Matt wonders if he can surf the information superhighway, while Mat makes a request for the most 90's haircut possible.

Also, fan ownership dibs are called on PRIMAL FORCE (by Matt) and X-MEN 2099 (by Mat) - so sorry everyone, those belong to us now!

Support Mat by subscribing and listening to his podacast I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MAT ELFRING

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow Matt on BlueSky: @mattbegins.bsky.social

Intro music from the song "Doin' What We Do" by the always amazing Mustard Plug

If it weren't for the generous help from Doug Wortel and Spillway Sound you wouldn't be listening to this podcast at all!

On this episode Matt and special guest co-host Matthew Dow Smith (writer/artist THE OCTOBER GIRL) turn out the lights to find out if the story contained within the pages of 1993's THE SPECTRE #13 shines brighter than its glow-in-the-dark cover.

How is it that a comic published in 1993, set in a fictional country, featuring (the always cool) Count Vertigo, and starring a character with god-like powers can feel so relevant and relatable to today? Plus, Matt shares his opinion that the duo of John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake make for one of the greatest collaborations in all of comics (actually, this is not an opinion - it's an undeniable fact), while Matthew shares his true feelings on The Spectre (you'll have to listen to find out what they are). Also, they discuss Matthew's time as artist on the DAY OF JUDGEMENT series (written by Geoff Johns) and what it was like helping create a brand new Spectre. This is a jam packed episode - so don't miss it! Support Matthew by picking up a copy of his excellent graphic novel THE OCTOBER GIRL: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-October-Girl-Book-One/Matthew-Dow-Smith/The-October-Girl/9781960578594

Contact the show: [email protected]

Follow Matt on BlueSky: @mattbegins.bsky.social

Intro music from the song "Doin' What We Do" by the always amazing Mustard Plug

If it weren't for the generous help from Doug Wortel and Spillway Sound you wouldn't be listening to this podcast at all.