Marvel by the Month

Will and Kevin Hines are brothers, lifelong comics fans, and kind of comedians who host the Screw It, We’re Just Gonna Talk About Comics podcast, the only podcast in human history where two brothers talk about a thing that they like. 

For 115 minutes of bonus content (WHAT??!) — including our coverage of Amazing Spider-Man #151, Fantastic Four #164-165, and our Mighty MBTM Checklist feature — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. Subscribers at the $5/month level get instant access to our bonus feed of content that contains over 150 extended and exclusive episodes. 

Stories Covered in this Episode: 

"Any Number Can Slay!" - Marvel Team-Up #39, written by Bill Mantlo, art by Sal Buscema and Mike Esposito, letters by Karen Mantlo, colors by Don Warfield, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Murder's Better the Second Time Around!" - Marvel Team-Up #40, written by Bill Mantlo, art by Sal Buscema and Mike Esposito, letters by Karen Mantlo, colors by Janice Cohen, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"The End of a Vampire!" - Adventure Into Fear #31, written by Bill Mantlo, art by Frank Robbins and Vince Colletta, letters by Karen Mantlo, colors by Phil Rachelson, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written by Robb Milne and performed by Robb Milne and Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

Michael Dean has been an editor at The Comics Journal since 1999 and is the co-author (with Tom Spurgeon) of the oral history of Fantagraphics Books, Comics As Art: We Told You So. He’s currently editing Fantagraphics’ Lost Marvels series, which restores forgotten Marvel classics in beautiful hardcover editions. Volume One reprints the never-before-collected 1969 horror and suspense series, Tower of Shadows. It hits shelves on April 29th and is available for preorder now from Fantagraphics' website and your local comics shop.

For 70 minutes of bonus content — including more of our conversation with Michael, our coverage of the Trial of the Falcon in Captain America #191, and our Mighty MBTM Checklist feature — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. Subscribers at the $5/month level get instant access to our bonus feed of content that contains over 150 extended and exclusive episodes. 

Stories Covered in this Episode: 

"The Tarantula Is a Very Deadly Beast!" - Amazing Spider-Man #147, written by Gerry Conway, art by Ross Andru, Mike Esposito, and Dave Hunt, letters by Joe Rosen, colors by Stan Goldberg, edited by Len Wein, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Jackal, Jackal... Who's Got the Jackal?" - Amazing Spider-Man #148, written by Gerry Conway, art by Ross Andru, Mike Esposito, and Dave Hunt, letters by John Costanza, colors by Petra Goldberg, edited by Len Wein, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Even If I Live, I Die!" - Amazing Spider-Man #149, written by Gerry Conway, art by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito, letters by Annette Kawecki, colors by Janice Cohen, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Spider-Man... or Spider-Clone?" - Amazing Spider-Man #150, written by Archie Goodwin, art by Gil Kane, Mike Esposito, and Frank Giacoia, letters by Joe Rosen, colors by Petra Goldberg, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written by Robb Milne and performed by Robb Milne and Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

David F. Walker is the multiple Eisner Award-winning writer of Bitter Root with Chuck Brown and Sanford Greene. He picked up another Eisner Award with artist Marcus Kwame Anderson for The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History. Their latest collaboration is the Alex Award-winning and NAACP Image Award-nominated Big Jim and the White Boy. He just launched a Patreon and will be Kickstarting his next graphic novel, The Death of Bobby Hart, soon!

For more than 75 minutes of bonus content — including more of our conversation with David and our new Mighty MBTM Checklist feature — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. Subscribers at the $5/month level get instant access to our bonus feed of content that contains over 150 extended and exclusive episodes. 

Stories Covered in this Episode: 

"Planet of the Apes" - Adventures on the Planet of the Apes #1, written by Doug Moench, art by George Tuska, Mike Esposito, and John Romita, letters by Gaspar Saladino, colors by George Roussos, edited by Jenny Isabella, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"The World Still Needs... The Champions!" - Champions #1, written by Jenny Isabella, art by Don Heck and Mike Esposito, letters by Dave Hunt, colors by Petra Goldberg, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written by Robb Milne and performed by Robb Milne and Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

Stephanie Williams is a comic book writer and historian whose work has been featured on NPR, Rotten Tomatoes, SyFy Wire, the AV Club, Nerdist, and Den of Geek. Her comics writing has appeared in Marvel Voices: Legacy and Wakanda for Marvel Comics, and a number of Wonder Woman and Nubia titles for DC. She’s the co-creator of the webcomics Parenthood Activate with Sarah A. Macklin and But What If Though with Fabian Lelay. And her IDW trade paperback, My Little Pony Maritime Mysteries, was just released today!

For more than 70 minutes of bonus content — including our new Mighty MBTM Checklist feature — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. Subscribers at the $5/month level get instant access to our bonus feed of content that contains over 140 extended and exclusive episodes. 

Stories Covered in this Episode: 

"Panther's Rage" - Jungle Action #6, written by Don McGregor, art by Rich Buckler and Klaus Janson, letters by Tom Orzechowski, colors by Glynis Wein, ©1973 Marvel Comics

"Death Regiments Beneath Wakanda" - Jungle Action #7, written by Don McGregor, art by Rich Buckler and Klaus Janson, letters by Tom Orzechowski, colors by Glynis Wein, ©1973 Marvel Comics

"Malice by Crimson Moonlight" - Jungle Action #8, written by Don McGregor, art by Rich Buckler and Klaus Janson, letters by Tom Orzechowski, colors by Glynis Wein, ©1973 Marvel Comics

"But Now the Spears Are Broken" - Jungle Action #9, written by Don McGregor, art by Gil Kane and Klaus Janson, letters by Tom Orzechowski, colors by Glynis Wein, ©1974 Marvel Comics

"King Cadaver is Dead and Living In Wakanda!" - Jungle Action #10, written by Don McGregor, art by Billy Graham and Klaus Janson, letters by Dave Hunt, colors by Glynis Wein, ©1974 Marvel Comics

"Once You Slay the Dragon!" - Jungle Action #11, written by Don McGregor, art by Billy Graham and Klaus Janson, letters by Artie Simek, colors by Glynis Wein, ©1974 Marvel Comics

"Blood Stains on Virgin Snow!" - Jungle Action #12, written by Don McGregor, art by Billy Graham and Klaus Janson, letters by Dave Hunt, colors by Glynis Wein, ©1974 Marvel Comics

"The God Killer" - Jungle Action #13, written by Don McGregor, art by Billy Graham and Craig Russell, letters by Joe Rosen, colors by Tom Palmer, ©1974 Marvel Comics

"There Are Serpents Lurking In Paradise" - Jungle Action #14, written by Don McGregor, art by Billy Graham and Pablo Marcos, letters by Charlotte Jetter, colors by Glynis Oliver Wein, ©1974 Marvel Comics

"Thorns In the Flesh, Thorns In the Mind" - Jungle Action #15, written by Don McGregor, art by Billy Graham and Dan Green, letters by Karen Mantlo, colors by Glynis Oliver Wein, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"And All Our Past Decades Have Seen Revolutions!" - Jungle Action #16, written by Don McGregor, art by Billy Graham, letters by Janice Chiang, colors by Glynis Wein, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Of Shadows and Rages" - Jungle Action #17, written by Don McGregor, art by Billy Graham, letters by Charlotte Jetter, colors by Michele Wrightson, edited by Len Wein, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written by Robb Milne and performed by Robb Milne and Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

Mark Russell is the Eisner Award-winning writer of Not All Robots, co-created with Mike Deodato Jr., as well as the writer and co-creator of Billionaire Island with artist Steve Pugh, Second Coming with Richard Pace, and the Eisner-nominated Traveling to Mars with Roberto Meli. Marvel fans know him as the writer of Fantastic Four: Life Story and the current writer of X-Factor, and his new book, Grimm and Grimmer: Classic Fairy Tales Rebooted, is out now!

For more than 70 minutes of bonus content — including coverage of Jim Starlin's epic bridge-burner "1000 Clowns" and our new Mighty MBTM Checklist feature — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. Subscribers at the $4/month level get instant access to our bonus feed of content that contains over 140 extended and exclusive episodes. The monthly subscription price will increase on March 1st, so lock in the ongoing $4/month price now!

Stories Covered in this Episode: 

"The Stalker Called Moon Knight" - Werewolf by Night #32, written by Doug Moench, art by Don Perlin and Howie Perlin, letters by Ray Holloway, colors by Phil Rachelson, edited by Len Wein, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"The Doomsmith Scenario!" - Uncanny X-Men #94, written by Chris Claremont and Len Wein, art by Dave Cockrum and Bob McLeod, letters by Tom Orzechowski, colors by Phil Rachelson, edited by Len Wein, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Warhunt!" - Uncanny X-Men #95, written by Chris Claremont and Len Wein, art by Dave Cockrum and Sam Grainger, letters by Karen Mantlo, colors by Petra Goldberg, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written by Robb Milne and performed by Robb Milne and Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

Our Season 8 recap covers all of these issues, more or less: Amazing Adventures#14-17, Amazing Spider-Man #112-146, Astonishing Tales#14-30, Avengers #103-137, Captain America #153-187, Captain Marvel #22-39, The Cat #1-4, Daredevil #91-123, Defenders #2-25, Doctor Strange (vol. 2) #1-8, Fantastic Four #126-160, Incredible Hulk #155-189, Iron Man #50-76, Ka-Zar #1-10, Luke Cage, Hero for Hire/Power Man #3-25, Marvel Feature #5-12, Marvel Premiere #4-23, Marvel Preview #2, Marvel Team-Up #4-35, Marvel Two-In-One #1-10, Night Nurse #1-4, Shanna the She-Devil #1-5, Strange Tales #169-180, Sub-Mariner #53-72, Thor #203-237, Warlock #2-8, Special Marvel Edition #15-16, Creatures on the Loose #30-36, Adventure Into Fear #10-28, Marvel Spotlight #6-22, Ghost Rider #1-12, Man-Thing #1-19, Frankenstein #1-17, Tomb of Dracula #4-34, Werewolf by Night #1-31, Giant-Size Avengers #1-4, Giant-Size Chillers/Curse of Dracula #1, Giant-Size Creatures #1, Giant-Size Defenders #1-5, Giant-Size Dracula #1-5, Giant-Size Fantastic Four #1-5, Giant-Size Invaders #1, Giant-Size Man-Thing (tee hee) #1-5, Giant-Size Spider-Man #1-5, Giant-Size Superheroes #1, Giant-Size Super Stars #1, Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up #1-2, Giant-Size Werewolf #2-5, Giant-Size X-Men #1. All comics ©1972-1975 Marvel Comics. Phew!

Support us on Patreon! Patreon supporters at the M.M.B.T.M.M.S. level get access to our subscriber-only feed, which contains almost 150 extended versions of our regular episodes and exclusive bonus episodes that can't be heard anywhere else. They got a version of this episode weeks before you did that was nearly twice as long and had to be split into three episodes!

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 3.0 by Robb Milne, sung by Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne. Visit us on internet at marvelbythemonth.com and follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and on Instagram at @marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

We return to the Marvel Monsterverse with Jennifer aka Comics Will Break Your Heart for a look at some of the key creepy comics of the summer of 1974, including Werewolf by Night vs. Frankenstein, and Satan vs. Ghost Rider and... Jesus?!

Thank you for supporting us on Patreon! This Patreon-exclusive extended episode contains one full hour of bonus content not found in the public version — including a swampy take on King Kong in Giant-Size Man-Thing #2, Blade vs. Dracula in Tomb of Dracula #24, the first appearance of Hannibal King in Tomb of Dracula #25, and our spooky recommendations. Listeners who support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth at the $4/month level get instant access to our bonus feed of content that contains over 100 extended and exclusive episodes — with more being added every week!

Stories Covered in this Episode: 

• "The Frankenstein Monster Meets Werewolf by Night" - Giant-Size Werewolf #2, written by Doug Moench, art by Don Perlin and Vince Colletta, letters by Dave Hunt, colors by Petra Goldberg, ©1974 Marvel Comics
• "Of Monsters and Men!" - Giant-Size Man-Thing #2, written by Steve Gerber, art by John Buscema and Klaus Janson, letters by John Costanza, colors by Linda Lessmann, ©1974 Marvel Comics
• "A Night For the Living... A Morning For the Dead!" - Tomb of Dracula #24, written by Marv Wolfman, art by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer, letters by Charlotte Jetter, colors by Tom Palmer, ©1974 Marvel Comics
• "Night of the Blood Stalker!" - Tomb of Dracula #25, written by Marv Wolfman, art by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer, letters by John Costanza, colors by Tom Palmer, ©1974 Marvel Comics
• "Satan Himself!" - Ghost Rider #8, written by Tony Isabella, art by Jim Mooney and Sal Trapani, letters by John Costanza, colors by Phil Rache, ©1974 Marvel Comics
• "The Hell-Bound Hero!" - Ghost Rider #9, written by Tony Isabella, art by Jim Mooney and Sal Trapani, letters by Artie Simek, colors by Jan Brunner, ©1974 Marvel Comics

"MONSTER by the Month" theme written and performed by Robb Milne. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Instagram and Threads at @marvelbythemonth and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

This is our Patreon-exclusive November 1973 Omnibus, featuring local Portland comics streamer and journalist Jennifer aka Comics Will Break Your Heart, and covering all 14 of the Marvel comics that we didn't get to last week, including:

• "Betrayed!" - Amazing Spider-Man #130, written by Gerry Conway, art by Ross Andru, Frank Giacoia, and Dave Hunt, letters by Artie Simek, colors by Petra Goldberg
• "... We, the Gargoyles!" - Astonishing Tales #22, written by Tony Isabella, art by Dick Ayers, letters by "Richard B." (Dick Ayers), colors by Linda Lessmann
• "Death-Stars of the Zodiac!" - Avengers #120, written by Steve Englehart, art by Bob Brown and Don Heck, letters by Artie Simek, colors by George Roussos
• "Bust-Out!" - Captain America #171, written by Mike Friedrich and Steve Englehart, art by Sal Buscema and Vince Colletta, letters by Artie Simek, colors by Linda Lessmann
• "Cry... Beetle!" - Daredevil #108, written by Steve Gerber, art by Bob Brown and Paul Gulacy, letters by John Costanza, colors by Petra Goldberg
• "The Titan Strikes Back!" - Defenders #12, written by Len Wein, art by Sal Buscema and Jack Abel, letters by Charlotte Jetter, colors by Petra Goldberg
• "The Terrible Triumph of Doctor Doom!" - Fantastic Four #143, written by Gerry Conway, art by Rich Buckler and Frank Giacoia, letters by John Costanza, colors by Petra Goldberg
• "Death Stalks the Demolition Derby!" - Ghost Rider #4, written by Gary Friedrich, art by Jim Mooney and Vince Colletta, letters by Charlotte Jetter, colors by Petra Goldberg
• "Anybody Out There Remember... The Cobalt Man?" - Incredible Hulk #173, written by Roy Thomas, art by Herb Trimpe, letters by Jean Izzo, colors by Petra Goldberg
• "Nowhere to Go But Down!" - Man-Thing #2, written by Steve Gerber, art by Val Mayerik and Sal Trapani, letters by Jean Izzo, colors by Petra Goldberg
• "Where Bursts the Bomb!" - Marvel Team-Up #18, written by Len Wein, art by Gil Kane, Frank Giacoia, and Mike Esposito, letters by Jean Izzo, colors by Glynis Wein
• "Two Worlds... and Dark Destiny" - Sub-Mariner #69, written by Steve Gerber, art by George Tuska and Vince Colletta, letters by Charlotte Jetter, colors by Glynis Wein
• "Hercules Enraged!" - Thor #221, written by Gerry Conway, art by John Buscema and Mike Esposito, letters by John Costanza, colors by George Roussos
• "Lo, the Monster Strikes!" - Werewolf by Night #14, written by Marv Wolfman, art by Mike Ploog and Frank Chiaramonte, letters by John Costanza, colors by Petra Goldberg

All issues ©1973 Marvel Comics.

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 3.0 written and performed by Robb Milne and sung by Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Instagram at @marvelbythemonth and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information.

Jennifer from Comic Books Will Break Your Heart joins us for a fifth helping of Marvel's monster comics! The Man-Thing saves a baby! Ghost Rider takes frequent naps between sick stunts! The Werewolf fights sharks and helicopters! Dracula time-travels through black mirrors! And we learn a valuable lesson about how dads are the true monsters!

Senior Florida Correspondent Jennifer aka Comics Will Break Your Heart talks comics on the internet every weekend on the Casually Comics Sunday Chat. Support her on Patreon and follow her on Instagram!

This Patreon-exclusive extended episode contains 55 minutes of extra content not found in the public version, including our discussions of Tomb of Dracula #4-5 and Werewolf by Night #1-2.

Stories Covered in this Episode: 

"Through a Mirror Darkly!" - Tomb of Dracula #4, written by Archie Goodwin, art by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer, ©1972 Marvel Comics

"Death to a Vampire-Slayer!" - Tomb of Dracula #5, written by Gardner Fox, art by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer, ©1972 Marvel Comics

"Eye of the Beholder!" - Werewolf by Night #1, written by Gerry Conway, art by Mike Ploog and Frank Monte, ©1972 Marvel Comics

"The Hunter -- And the Hunted!" - Werewolf by Night #2, written by Gerry Conway, art by Mike Ploog and Frank Chiaramonte, ©1972 Marvel Comics

"Man-Thing!" - Adventure Into Fear #10, written by Gerry Conway, art by Gray Morrow and Howard Chaykin, ©1972 Marvel Comics

"Night of the Nether-Spawn!" - Adventure Into Fear #11, written by Steve Gerber, art by Rich Buckler and Jim Mooney, ©1972 Marvel Comics

"Angels from Hell!" - Marvel Spotlight #6, written by Gary Friedrich, art by Mike Ploog and Frank Monte, ©1972 Marvel Comics

"Die, Die, My Daughter!" - Marvel Spotlight #7, written by Gary Friedrich, art by Mike Ploog and Frank Monte, ©1972 Marvel Comics

"MONSTER by the Month" theme v. 1.0 by Robb Milne, sung by Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on internet at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Instagram at @marvelbythemonth and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information.

Elliott Kalan is one-third of the hosts of the world's greatest podcast, The Flop House. He's also an Emmy Award-winning writer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and the Who Was? Show, as well as the comics writer behind Spider-Man and the X-Men and Maniac of New York.

This Patreon-exclusive extended version of this episode contains an additional 50 minutes of bonus content not heard in the public version. Don't want to wait until next week for the other half? Support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth at the $4/month level to get instant access to our bonus feed of content that contains over 130 extended and exclusive episodes — with more being added every week!

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 3 written by Robb Milne and performed by Robb Milne and Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Instagram at @marvelbythemonthand support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information.