Indefensible Ink

This week, Ryan and Justin explore what was once the best selling independent comic of all time: Rob Liefeld’s Youngblood, published by a young Image Comics! In today’s episode, your intrepid hosts are just talkin' 'bout their man Shaft and his team of government-sponsored, pouch-manufacturer-subsidized superfolk as they fight underwhelming villains including the (adjectiveless) Four and the dollar-store Darkseid known as Darkthorne. Also covered: the team is surprisingly casual about “urgent” crises, that awkward moment when your super-team leader may be dating your mom, and why there's very little Youngblood in the second issue of Youngblood. PLUS: Spine-breaking backup features! Discussed: Youngblood, #1-5 (1992).

In this episode, Ryan and Justin examine Volume 2 of Batman: Odyssey, in which we learn the safest place to stand in an explosion, Ra’s al Ghul is not a sportsball fan, Neal Adams believes some interesting stuff, and coping with traumatic news on the back of a giant bat is not optimal. Also, Justin wonders about IP law in the DC Universe, the podcast gets tough on (Ra’s al Ghul-related) crime, and Batman gets the subterranean telepathic cyclops blues.

Discussed: Batman: Odyssey, Volume 2, #1-7 (2011-2012).

Is Batman: Odyssey, Volume 1 the most successful adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey since O Brother, Where Art Thou? Or is it a rightfully reviled trainwreck? Ryan and Justin discuss this and an actual trainwreck, take controversial stances on superheroes shooting pistols into a train car of civilians and 19th-century pseudoscience, and establish that Gotham City is in Pennsylvania. Also, writing for the Riddler is hard, Batman is an angry Bill Nye the Science Guy, Bruce Wayne has some tough talk for Alfred, and it’s raining manta rays (Hallelujah!).

Discussed: Batman: Odyssey, Volume 1, #1-6 (2010-2011)

In this inaugural episode, hosts Ryan McClure and Justin Zyduck discuss one of the best-selling comics of all time, Spider-Man (1990) #1, which kicks off the critically panned "Torment" storyarc featuring the Lizard. Is superstar artist Todd McFarlane's first full-fledged attempt at writing unfairly maligned? Or does it live up to its title? Also in this episode: how the '90s collectors boom made us all millionaires, promoting your new Spider-Man comic by drastically lowering expectations, and why writing like Alan Moore is not as easy as it looks.

Discussed: Spider-Man #1-5 (1990)