Short but impactful one this week as we bid farewell to a founding member of Alpha Flight…looks like that Dead Alphans list is gonna grow a bit in Episode 34! We also get more amazing characterization for Madison Jeffries, the continuation of miserable Puck, and, well, a lot of other characters are…there. Oh, and Bochs having the Bends gets resolved in 5ish panels.

Like we said, an impactful one.

In this episode, Chris:

• references Rush of all bands; just struck Tom as surprising
• in the Watchmen-like vs not-Watchmen-like comics dividing line, Chris puts the initial 12 issues on the Watchmen-like side of the line
• is totally getting hosed by Roxxon

and Tom:

• makes a very specific Simpsons reference that the old heads will have never forgotten
• seems to be accepting that Walt will return and is maybe at peace with it (he’s not)
• on which note, he may or may not be in the next episode: tune in to find out!

Issue discussed:

Alpha Flight #44 - “Plague [Exclamation Point]” - cover date March 1987
Script by Bill Mantlo
Pencils by Dave Ross (for the last time)
Inks by Whilce Portacio
Letters by Jim Novak
Colors by Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts
Editor in Chief is Jim Shooter

It’s back to school season and Chris’s youngest picked a minimalist Superman backpack on her own and asked me to make her a Krytpo patch, which I did.  Along with a Devil Dinosaur and Jeff the Shark patch.  You can see picks of the coolest backpack in 3rd grade by following Excelsior Embroidery on Bluesky and Instagram. You can also see my “Being Kind is Punk Rock” patch now on sale by going to excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com.  Listeners of why not can use the coupon code WN503 to get 50 percent off when you order any 3 items from the Etsy store.  When Company’s coming over, bring out the good towels.  Excelsior!

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

Follow us on these platforms:
Instagram
TikTok
Imgur
YouTube
Patreon