Make Mine Multiversity

The weather is hot. The comics are gearing up for something big. And we here at Make Mine Multiversity want to answer your burning questions about the Summers family, namely: hot or not? OK. More like good or not but wouldn't that have made for a fun, steamy episode? We also talk some of the books we're enjoying and we dunk on a couple books we're not. Only a little dunking; we don't want to be mean.

Still keeping up with our book club? We got a bit ahead of ourselves in last week's description because next episode, we're watching MODOK! Sadly recorded before news of its cancelation hit. After that, we'll be off to the races with the legendary "Hawkeye" comic series by Matt Fraction, David Aja, Annie Wu et al.

This is a comic book podcast and sure, there's some talk of movies and TV shows, but a book? With no pictures!? That's right true believers! Today's episode is all about All of the Marvels by Douglas Wolk. The good Mr. Wolk took upon himself the great endeavor of reading every issue of a comic set in the Marvel 616 universe. Then he tried to synthesize that information into something of a coherent book. Was he successful? The two hosts can't even agree! But the discussion that disagreement inspires is fascinating.

Still keeping up with our book club? Next time you can tune in for a discussion on the legendary "Hawkeye" comic series by Matt Fraction, David Aja, Annie Wu et al. It's impossible to have a bad time while reading those issues! To follow along, read the first dozen issues and the first annual, and you will be right on target.

Normally on the weeks MMM doesn't do a book club, there are a couple recurring segments but, with a new era of X comics, Jaina and Elias thought they'd change things up, mostly so they weren't reading a list of over 30 comics every other week that's mostly, but not always, the same. Long time Mutantversity readers will recognize the segment as The Two resurrect the Merry Mutant Medals...with a twist!

The twist is the medals are different.

Next time, we get wordy as Jaina and Elias talk about "All of the Marvels" by Douglas Wolk. A prose book!? In our comics podcast?! It's more likely than you think.

It's book club time for Make Mine Multiversity. You probably remember our recent "Howard the Duck" episode; this one is the sequel to that! Now we are discussing the most recent "Howard the Duck" run, written by Chip Zdarsky and illustrated by many talented artists, mostly notable Joe Quinones. Every so often, Make Mine Multiversity reading club reads an absolute gem. This is one of those times!

If you are reading along with us, we are covering "Howard the Duck" #1-5 (2015A,) #1-11 (2015B,) and "Unbeatable Squirrel Girl" #6 (2015B.) For trade readers, you can check out the omnibus or volumes 0-2. Does that numbering make sense? Of course not, and we get into that.

Still reading along? Want to know the next book club comic? Trick question! Next time we will be reading a prose book. Check out "All of the Marvels" by Douglas Wolk. We hope to see you there!

We're back with another book club and this time we're looking at the classic 1976 series "Howard the Duck" series by Steve Gerber & Frank Brunner/John Buscema/Gene Colan/a whole host of other colorists, letterers, inkers and another writer. Not every issue though. As much as we love being thorough, 31 issues is a LOT to read. We'll encounter space turnips, presidential ducks, megalomaniacal gingerbread creatures, Kidney Lady, and a whole host of other wacky Clevelandites and New Yorkers while also talking about the just as wacky behind the scenes of this book's creators.

For those reading along at home, we read "Howard the Duck" (1976) #1-8, 30 & 31 which can be found in Vols 1 & 2 of the "Howard the Duck: Complete Collection."

Next book club, which is the next episode: We're reading the newest "Howard the Duck" series which should've been straightforward but then Hickman had to happen. Dammit Hickman! We'll be reading "Howard the Duck" issues #1-5 (2015A,) #1-11 (2015B,) and "Unbeatable Squirrel Girl" #6 (2015B.) For trade readers, you can check out the omnibus or volumes 0-2.

Most people read Marvel comics for the story and the artwork, or maybe a love for the characters. This episode ain't about any of that. This on is all about the decisions that happen behind the scenes, and how it changes the way we read comics. Learn about the strange reading habits of a few comic collecting weirdos! You'll also hear some talk about Marvel's plans for the future and one impassioned plea for a Marvel video game!

Next time: Book club is back! We're reading the original "Howard the Duck" #1-8, 30 and 31. You can find these in the first two volumes of "Howard the Duck: The Essential Collections" or on Marvel Unlimited or probably through your local library! Have you been to the library recently? I bet they really miss you there.

The Hickman era of the X line is over. Long live the X line! It's no surprise we love the X line at the moment and so it should be no surprise that we wanted to celebrate the departure of the Head of X in style. It's time to talk legacy, Hickman, and the past three years of X books. Come on down and see if your list of X books lines up with Jaina or Elias' in this final Baseline X. Or about as final as anything gets with superhero comics. Don't worry: we'll have a new #1 soon enough.

Next book club: We're reading the original "Howard the Duck" #1-8, 30 and 31. You can find these in the first two volumes of "Howard the Duck: The Essential Collections" or on Marvel Unlimited or through your local library if they have it. I'd have directed you to ComiXology too but Amazon recently decided to eat it whole and I'm still mad.

That's right, if you've been following the show, you know Jaina and Elias had a bet. Jaina lost, so now we are reading her least favorite comic ever, Ultimatum by Jeph Loeb and David Finch. It's not all about hate! Well OK, there was a lot to hate in this comic, but there's also tons of research, context, and a deep dive into why this story is such a disaster. In the end. it's all about the question: how does a bad comic get made? Who is to blame? The answer may shock you.

Next episode will be all about "X-Men," just in case you were worried there wasn't enough "X-Men" talk. And keep an eye out for our next book club book announcement, which promises to be spectacular.

Last year, we (Jaina and Elias) decided that we'd predict 10 things Marvel would do in 2021. Two episodes ago, we found out just how wrong we were. But! We had so much fun, we thought we'd do it all again! We also thought we'd take a little bit of time to digest the year that was 2021 in Marvel, have a little chat on what we loved, what we didn't, and what surprised us. Mostly though we look to the future! And as with any predictions, we're probably already wrong about a couple of them.

Next episode: You get suffering and You get suffering and YOU get suffering. EVERYONE GETS A SUFFERING as we read the five issue event "Ultimatum." You can read it before you listen if you want but...trust us, you don't.

In this episode, Jaina and Elias read the classic "New Mutants" #21 from 1984. After covering runs that lasted twelve, twenty-five, or a hundred and fifty issues, this is a whole episode focusing on just a single issue! It's the shortest comic Make Mine Multiversity has ever covered, but that doesn't mean there's not a lot to say. Tune in to get a deep dive on the techniques of Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz. You'll even hear the secret history of how Ann Nocenti quietly revolutionized comics in the 80s.

Next book club: we are reading the deplorable "Ultimatum," by Jeff Loeb and David Finch. It might be the worst comic we've ever read. It might be the worst comic Marvel has ever published. We encourage you to spare yourself and not read along, as we will be exploring how such a travesty came to be.