Indefensible Ink

On today's special episode of Indefensible Ink, Ryan and Justin are joined by Ryan’s good friend and fellow superhero fanatic Jerome Knox to discuss C-list Marvel superteam book The Champions! Are the adventures of this 1970s grab bag of random heroes (Hercules, Iceman, Black Widow, Ghost Rider, and Angel) a good starting point for a comics noob like Jerome? Your fearless hosts discuss this, along with the clearcut star of the book, the accuracy of its depictions of Greek mythology, store-brand HYDRA, and Venus’ dubious use of the power of love.   Discussed in this episode: The Champions (vol. 1) #1-4 (1975-76).   Contents:

• 0:00 - Theme and intro to Jerome
• 6:00 - Background on The Champions
• 9:38 - Issue #1
• 26:18 - Issue #2
• 41:54 - Issue #3
• 57:38 - Issue #4
• 1:08:30 - Analysis
• 1:15:57 - Pitch your own random team
• 1:22:34 - Canon Fodder
• 1:32:00 - Recommendations
• 1:37:11 - Closing

On this episode of Indefensible Ink, Justin and Ryan go to the ends of the Earth to say something positive about Superman: At Earth’s End, the 1995 post-apocalyptic Elseworlds tale that poses the question, “What if Superman, but Daddy Santa Claus?”

Your hosts tackle this question along with a bevy of other questionable creative decisions involving gigantic 90’s guns and superfluous pouches, the (not) surprising amount of Batman content in this ostensible Superman title, and a use of Nazi villainy that makes you long for the restraint and thoughtfulness of Quentin Tarantino.

Content Warning: Brief discussion of a borderline tasteless plot point using allusions to historical atrocities.

Discussed in this episode: Superman: At Earth’s End (1995)

In this episode, Ryan and Justin continue to power through the much-maligned '90s Marvel event, X-Men: Onslaught, in which your favorite mutants (plus a bunch of other Marvel guest stars) battle a villainous mash-up of Professor X’s dark side and Magneto’s more murderous impulses, with the fate of the Marvel Universe hanging in the balance! Which heroes will live? Which heroes will die? Which heroes will later reappear drawn by Rob Liefeld for some reason? Your hosts answer these questions and discuss whose invitation to this giant crossover event was lost in the mail, Gambit’s costume changes, Cable’s techno-organic virus denial, and Doom gonna Doom. 

Discussed in this episode: X-Men #55, Uncanny X-Men #336, Cable #35, X-Men #56, Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1 (1996).

Contents:

• 0:00 - Theme and intro
• 1:24 - Recap of Phase One
• 2:52 - X-Men #55
• 10:22 - Uncanny X-Men #336
• 19:37 - Cable #35
• 26:09 - X-Men #56
• 32:48 - Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1
• 50:52 - Analysis
• 59:07 - Onslaught aftermath
• 1:01:55 - Canon Fodder
• 1:10:16 - Recommendations
• 1:15:45 - Closing

Get ready for some more 1990s X-cess when Justin and Ryan X-amine X-Men: Onslaught! In this first of two episodes covering the massive mutant-centric Marvel crossover, your hosts discuss the event that attempted to wrap up a years-long X-Men mystery while introducing a mysterious new villain and laying the groundwork for a reboot of then-unpopular characters like the Avengers and Fantastic Four. Does it succeed in actually telling a satisfying story? Listen and find out!

Also discussed in this issue: Justin is an X-traitor truther, '90s codenames continue to scrape the bottom of the barrel, Elektra brings a little literary flair to a Wolverine comic, and the worst place to take your boyfriend when you’re trying to avoid someone bringing up Magneto.

Discussed in this episode: X-Men: Onslaught #1, Uncanny X-Men #335, Avengers #401, Fantastic Four #415, Excalibur #100 (excerpt), Wolverine #104.

Contents:

• 0:00 - Theme and intro
• 1:18 - What's the deal with Onslaught?
• 8:01 - X-Men: Onslaught #1
• 26:24 - Uncanny X-Men #335
• 33:19 - Avengers #401
• 38:52 - Fantastic Four #415
• 44:50 - Excalibur #100 (excerpt)
• 49:22 - Wolverine #104
• 55:54 - Analysis
• 59:09 - Canon Fodder
• 1:06:50 - Recommendations
• 1:12:46 - Closing

Everybody knows that there aren’t three Jokers. What this book presupposes is...maybe there are? Ryan and Justin reunite to cover 2020’s Batman: Three Jokers, Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok’s critically-panned-but-bestselling story for DC’s Black Label imprint featuring 300% percent more Jokers for all your murderclown needs. We discuss the intricacies of this controversial tale, from Batman’s questionable parenting decisions to the Bat Family’s seemingly inconsistent “no killing” policies, to Johns’ attempt to pull off a Moore/Morrison-style meditation on “What does the Joker mean?”

Also covered: Ryan’s Alfred/Batman fanfic, the importance of differentiating your Jokers in a story about three different Jokers, the most lovingly rendered truck-driving scene since Convoy, and the line that the Black Label imprint won’t cross. Plus: Canon Fodder returns!

Discussed: Batman: Three Jokers, #1-3 (2020).

Contents:

• 00:00 - Theme and intro
  
• 01:12 - Background: Geoff Johns vs. Alan Moore
  
• 06:48 - Issue #1
  
• 37:27 - Issue #2
  
• 54:32 - Issue #3
  
• 1:15:20 - Analysis
  
• 1:33:54 - Canon Fodder
  
• 1:42:44 - Listener Mail
  
• 1:48:12 - Closing

This is a rerelease of Ryan and Justin's two-part look at legendarily bizarre 1980s Marvel mega-crossover Secret Wars II, now combined and condensed into a single episode for your convenience.

Find out what happens when Jim Shooter trades crowd-pleasing, sprawling battles between their most popular characters for wacky fish-out-of-water hijinks, thinly veiled attacks on former employees, and gentle satire of '80s consumer culture!

In this episode:

• The Thing's erotic adventures
• Spidey's power and responsibility motto apparently has its limits
• Organized crime seems pretty awesome
• The Beyonder's assessment of the Dazzler makes your hosts question his all-knowingness.
• Justin accidentally pitches a DC crossover event
• Molecule Man's DIY psychotherapy
• Daredevil gets left out of yet another Marvel storyline
• Captain America defends your right to die in a tidal wave

Covered in this episode: Secret Wars II #1-7 (1985-1986)

In this gripping audio drama, Ryan finds out that every time he tries to get out of the podcast game, Justin pulls him back in. Here's a quick update on podcast status and a sneak peak of what Indefensible Ink has in store for the first part of 2021.

(Additional voice by Liam Zyduck.)

Justin and Zach review one of the crown jewels of any self-respecting comic fan's bootleg video collection: the unreleased 1994 Fantastic Four movie produced by Roger Corman for only around $1 million and subsequently buried by Marvel. The hot take going 'round the internet is that this is secretly the best Fantastic Four movie in existence. True? False? Decide for yourself, but one thing is certain: the Brothers Zyduck are now big Alex Hyde-White stans.

Discussed in this episode: The Fantastic Four (unreleased, 1994).

In this particularly dispiriting episode of Indefensible Ink, Justin and Zach cover the second half of the supposedly "Ultimate Edition" of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. You might actually prefer drinking a big heaping jar of Granny's peach tea to sitting down with this metaphorical crawl over broken glass to get to the end of the film, but if you're a glutton for punishment (which your hosts evidently are), join the Zyduck Bros. as they struggle and fail to understand the intended plot of this film at even a fundamental level.

Discussed: The final 90 minutes or so of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) (Ultimate Edition), directed by Zack Snyder, starring Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, and SENATOR HOLLY HUNTER.

(Zach Zyduck is sitting in for regular co-host Ryan McClure, temporarily on hiatus.)

Before this episode, Justin had never seen Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice before. Zach decided to do something about it.

Join the Brothers Zyduck as they dive into the THREE-HOUR "Ultimate Edition" of Zack (no relation) Snyder's dark, divisive superhero team-up film. Along the way, they'll discuss highly unintuitive ways to frame Kryptonians for murder, the nihilism of Perry White, and Alfred the butler's grandmotherly sense of disapproval. But mostly, Justin and Zach complain about the plot not making a lot of sense even in extended cut format.

It's a movie so big (Did we mention this version is THREE HOURS LONG?!) it has to be split in two! 

Discussed: The first 90 minutes or so of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) (Ultimate Edition), directed by Zack Snyder, starring Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, and SENATOR HOLLY HUNTER.

(Zach Zyduck is sitting in for regular co-host Ryan McClure, temporarily on hiatus.)