Make Mine Multiversity

This month's MMM book club is 2014's "Moon Knight" by Jeff Lemire, Greg Smallwood, Jordie Bellaire, and Cory Petit as well as a bunch of other artists and colorists who get their time in the MMM sun. Egypt, alters, one giant asshole of a moon god, and space werewolves??? You best believe this series has it all and Jake & Elias are here to gush over it and introduce you to your new favorite Marvel hero: Mr. Knight. Fuck that tux is stylish.

Next month's book club: We're heading back to the 90s with "THUNDERBOLTS" by Kurt Busiek, with art primarily by Mark Bagley. We'll be reading "Thunderbolts Classic, Vol. 1" which contains - wait for it - "Thunderbolts" (1997) #1-5; "Thunderbolts: Distant Rumblings" #-1; "Thunderbolts Annual" '97; "Incredible Hulk" #449; "Spider-Man Team-Up" #7; and material from "Tales of the Marvel Universe" #1.

So what’s this all about? Well, Jake and Elias gazed into their crystal balls and came up with ten things that they are certain will happen at Marvel in the year 2021. Some things may happen in the story, or to the creators, or in the movies or cartoons. Plus, Jake and Elias were so confident in their predictions, they decided to raise the stakes with a high risk bet! Check in with them throughout the year to see who is winning, and who is doomed.

Next month’s book club: We’re taking a glance beneath the shifting sands of “Moon Knight” by Jeff Lemire, Greg Smallwood, Jordie Bellaire, Cory Petit and many others.

What's that in the darkness? Who's that in the sky? Do you know the Quiet Math and the Odd Sentences? If not, don't you worry because by the end of this month's book club, focusing on Jonathan Hickman and Dustin Weaver's "S.H.I.E.L.D.," you'll still have no idea but at least you'll have had fun trying to figure it all out. Plus, we welcome guest of the Pod and host of the "ARGonauts" podcast,Marn! Also, don't worry, Jake was just in 1956 trying to figure out why Howard & Nathaniel are such garbage dads.

Next month's book club: We're taking a trip into the mind of a Spector with the fourteen issue run of "Moon Knight" by Jeff Lemire, Greg Smallwood, Jordie Bellaire, Cory Petit and many others.

Face front merry marchers! 2020 was a doozy of a thing huh? But there were lots of great comics we loved. Some of them were even published by Marvel! That's what we're talking. It's not exactly a "best of" list, but you'll find out our favorite creators and characters, our biggest disappointments, most pleasant surprises, and lots more! If you're anything like us, you probably need some comic book closure. That's what your fine hosts are hoping to provide you with!

Next month's book club: The book that obviously time-traveled back a month and then went back to it's proper time, messing with our minds, "S.H.I.E.L.D." by Jonathan Hickman and Dustin Weaver. 13 issues. Two series, 6 issues each, and a one shot. Reading order: Vol. 1 #1-6, collected as Architects of Forever, "S.H.I.E.L.D.: Infinity" (can be read in trade order at end too,) and "S.H.I.E.L.D" Vol. 2 #1-6, collected as The Human Machine.

Excelsior, true believers! It's time to dig into the book that catapulted Marvel to the tops of the Manhattan skyline: "Amazing Spider-Man" by Lee & Ditko. That's right, after a bit of a mix up last episode thanks to ol' Excited Elias and Jovial Jake, we're discussing the web-slinging, rooftop swinging, definitely-not-murder-plotting Spider-Man and the many, MANY villains in the first 12 issues of his solo series, his debut in "Amazing Fantasy" #15, and his very first Annual.

Next month's book club: The book that obviously time-traveled back a month and then went back to it's proper time, messing with our minds, "S.H.I.E.L.D." by Jonathan Hickman and Dustin Weaver. 13 issues. Two series, 6 issues each, and a one shot. Reading order: Vol. 1 #1-6, collected as Architects of Forever, "S.H.I.E.L.D.: Infinity" (can be read in trade order at end too,) and "S.H.I.E.L.D" Vol. 2 #1-6, collected as The Human Machine.

This month, we decided to stop beating around the bush. We're talking all Jonathan Hickman all the time. First half of the episode! It's all about "X-Men" stuff, and Hickman is the so-called Head of X! Second half of the episode! We're really getting into Hickman's Marvel career, starting with his humble beginnings and working through his biggest ongoings. You want to hear about his Marvel deep cuts? We got that covered too. Will we ever talk about Hickman's work again after this episode? Uh... yeah. All the time. We still love "X-Men."

Next month's book club: Face front, because we're reading "Amazing Spider-Man:" The Early issues by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko. We're reading the first fourteen issues- that starts with Spidey's debut in Amazing Fantasy #15 and continuing on with "Amazing Spider-Man" #1-12 and finishes in "Amazing Spider-Man" Annual #1.

This month's book club was so massive, so big that we needed to bring in a special guest to help us out. No, it's not John Cassady, though that would be sweet. No, it's not Joss Whedon because, uh, how to put this delicately? Well, here's a Rundown with some details, and we get into it in the episode. It's fellow site contributor Joe Skonce! He's here to talk about all 25 issues of "Astonishing X-Men," make bad jokes with Jake and Elias, and talk about that big metal man who punch good: Colossus.

Oh, and a quick note. This was recorded prior to Grant Morrison's announcement in this interview that they use they/them pronouns now that language has begun to catch up to how they experience themselves and the world. And as with Morrison, it's always a fun read.

When we make the jump to a non-Roman-alphabet-based emoji language for purposes of radio telepathic communication, things will change once more.

Next month's book club: Get ready for a blast from the past, true believers, because we're reading "Amazing Spider-Man:" The Early issues by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko. Fourteen issues of that sweet, sweet early Marvel goodness with Spidey's debut in Amazing Fantasy #15 and continuing on with "Amazing Spider-Man" #1-12 and "Amazing Spider-Man" Annual #1.

In this episode, we are talking about long comic book runs. How exactly do we define a "long run?" You'll have to listen to find out! And we get into why we prefer stories that span years, or just a few months, and list off a few of our favorites, and a couple of classics. I told you there'd be lists! We'll also talk about what we've been reading, and you better believe that includes some X-Men.

A book club episode is coming up! If you are reading along, you better finish up the entire 25 issue run of Joss Whedon and John Cassaday's "Astonishing X-Men." That's a run that was long in terms of years, but less so in terms of issues. We'll get into it next time! You won't want to miss it.

In this episode, the Make Mine Multiversity book club is back, ready to transport you to Earth-70105, where things are the same, things are different, and one shift ripples out into the world. What If Iron Man wasn't Tony Stank? What IF WWII had a different hero? What If Spider-Man was as creepy as the name sounded? Find out, dear readers, if YOU DARE. Or if you like listening to Jake and Elias make absolute fools of themselves.

Next month's book club: twenty-five, count 'em, 25(!) issues of the 2004-2008 "Astonishing X-Men" run by Joss Wheadon & John Cassaday. That's a lot of quips, a lot of X-drama and a whole lot of early 2000s to be wary of.

In this episode, we talk about X-Men. I know, we talk about X-Men a lot on this show, but this time is different. This time you'll hear two Jewish comic book fans discussing how Judaism has been portrayed in the last few years of Marvel's merry mutants. There has been a lot of menorahs. But there's also been some deeper cuts, and we are excited to talk about them! Plus we'll talk about the repercussions from the "Empyre" event, and do a round up of our favorite ongoing books.