The Comics Canon

On this episode, just in time for the May 24 debut of American Born Chinese on Disney+, we take a look at, well, American Born Chinese, written and drawn by Gene Luen Yang, published by First Second!

This award-winning graphic novel moves between three characters: The Monkey King, a deity who chafes at being called a monkey; Jin Wang, a child of Chinese immigrants who sees his heritage as an obstacle as he falls in love with an American classmate; and Danny, a typical American teenager whose efforts to fit in at a new school are thwarted by his visiting cousin, a horrible Chinese stereotype named Chin-Kee!

How do these stories eventually come together? Can our protagonists learn to accept themselves as they are? And can American Born Chinese gain entrance to that heavenly dinner party known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Is it okay to laugh at Chin-Kee?

· Peeing in Coke cans: the continuing crisis

· Hugonauts: The Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time

· Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

· American Barbarian by Tom Scioli

Join us in two weeks as we visit one of the most pivotal stories in superhero comics history—The Flash of Two Worlds!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

It's one of the few superhero deaths that has managed to stick over the intervening decades. And it ties up Adam Warlock's Magus Saga with a tidy bow. On this episode, we revisit Marvel Comics' first-ever "graphic novel," Jim Starlin's The Death of Captain Marvel!

He's fought countless Earth villains and cosmic bad guys, but the man named Mar-Vell finally confronts a foe he can't defeat: cancer. As the greatest minds on Earth and Titan work tirelessly to find a cure, one of the universe's mightiest warriors must come to grips with his own mortality, eventually engaging in a psychic battle with his greatest enemy—Thanos!

Can Captain Marvel avoid the literal kiss of Death and live happily ever after? (Spoiler alert: No.) More importantly, can he ascend to that enlightened state of cosmic awareness known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Everyone's favorite space prospector

· Hey, where's Carol Danvers?

· Marvel's personification of Death vs. Vertigo's Death

· Dreadstar: The Price graphic novel

· Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

· Guardians of the Galaxy (2023) #1

· Adam Warlock: Rebirth #1

Join us in two weeks as we pivot away from Jim Starlin and cosmic Marvel for something completely different—Gene Luen Yang's American Born Chinese!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

On this episode, we wrap up our two-parter on Marvel's cosmic messiah, Adam Warlock, with a look at two stories that close the loop on Jim Starlin's classic Magus Saga: Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2, published by Marvel Comics!

In "The Final Threat," Warlock, Captain Marvel, Moondragon and the Avengers are all that stands between Earth and an alien armada as Warlock's onetime ally, Thanos, attempts to use the power of the soul gems to extinguish all the stars in the heavens! Plus, Adam Warlock meets Adam Warlock—for the second time!

Then, in "Death Watch!," Spider-Man and The Thing must rescue the captive Avengers before Thanos settles for his consolation prize: snuffing out our very own sun as a token of his affection for Death herself!

Can Adam Warlock finally find peace? Can your friendly neighborhood wall-crawler help defeat the Mad Titan and save the world? And can these stories prevail against that Infinity Crusade known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· When Ben Grimm was the face of Marvel Comics

· A little movie called Star Wars

· Step by Bloody Step

· Marvel Team-Up #55: "Spider, Spider on the Moon"

· Marvel's most fearsome villain, Equinox!

· Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1: Legacy

Join us in two weeks as we explore the death of another cosmic character at the hands of Jim Starlin with 1982's The Death of Captain Marvel!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

Content warning: Suicide/self-murder

On this episode, we kick off a two-part look at the definitive Adam Warlock story, The Magus Saga, aka The Strange Death of Adam Warlock, as featured in Strange Tales issues 178-181 and Warlock issues 9-11, written and drawn by Jim Starlin, published by Marvel Comics!

Who is Adam Warlock, the mysterious character slated to make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3? He's an artificially created, super-powered space messiah, cursed with a gem on his forehead that devours people's souls. And in this far-out tale, he faces off against the evil head of an intergalactic empire ... who just happens to be his future self!

With newfound allies Thanos, Gamora and Pip the Troll at his side, can Warlock prevail against his despotic shadow self? And will this cosmic comic receive the blessing of that Universal Church of Truth known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· The Adam Warlock rock opera

· Our Thanos War episode

· Elric of Melnibone

· Jim Starlin's Adam Warlock vs. Jack Kirby's Fourth World

· Fantastic Four: Life Story

· For All Mankind

· Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

· The Spider Man & Hulk Toilet Paper Infinity Comic

Join us in two weeks as this saga (and our two-parter) concludes with Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

With April Fool's Day just around the corner, the time seems right for a long-overdue look at DC Comics' Ambush Bug, who was breaking the fourth wall and spreading mayhem almost a decade before Marvel Comics' Deadpool. Specifically, we take a look at his appearances in 1984's Action Comics #560 and issues 1-4 of 1985's Ambush Bug miniseries, by Keith Giffen and Robert Loren Fleming!

Combining elements of Monty Python's Flying Circus, Looney Tunes shorts and the superhero parody of Steve Gerber's Howard the Duck, these issues find the chartreuse crackpot crossing paths with the despotic space-sock Argh! Yle!, the giant koala known as Quantis and even Superman himself!

But can he survive a run-in with (gasp!) Darkseid??!! And can these twisted tales survive that Spanish Inquisition known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Kevin gets tape on a comic!

· The Legion of Substitute Heroes Special

· Curt shares some thoughts on Shazam: Fury of the Gods

· Star Trek: Picard Season 3

Join us in two weeks as we look ahead to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 with a two-part series on Adam Warlock!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, we look at the source material for one of the upcoming DC movies recently announced by James Gunn: The Authority Vol. 1: Relentless, collecting The Authority #1-8 by Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary, published by Wildstorm Comics!

When the U.N. superhero team Stormwatch is slaughtered by xenomorphs from the Aliens film franchise (...wait, what?), The Authority steps out of the shadows, determined to save the world by any means necessary -- and to change it, as well.

Can this team of attitude-heavy heroes defeat an army of flying super-terrorists and thwart an invasion from an alternate Earth? And can they muscle their way into that superpowered sphere of influence known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode

· We need to talk about Kaizen

· That Regis: He's just so darn bad!

· More nerdy speculation on upcoming DC movies

· Tyler Cross: Black Rock

· Peanuts from Dec. 10, 1973

· Grimjack: The Manx Cat

Join us in two weeks as we engage in some pre-April first tomfoolery with a look at Ambush Bug!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, we follow up the controversial death of Robin, Batman's surrogate son, with the debut of his actual flesh-and-blood offspring in Batman and Son from Batman #655-658, published by DC Comics!

Superstar writer Grant Morrison begins their acclaimed Batman run with a bang, introducing Damian Wayne, the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghul. Trained by the League of Assassins, this preadolescent bundle of violence is intent on joining his father's war on crime as the new Robin—which is bad news for the current Robin, Tim Drake!

Can the Dark Knight Detective keep his homicidal heir in check while fending off his ex-girlfriend's army of ninja Man-Bats? And can this Dynamic Duo secure a spot in that Daddy Day Care known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Curt's Show and Tell

· James Gunn's plans for the DC cinematic universe

· Did we mention Ninja Man-Bats? Because Ninja Man-Bats!

· Kevin's picks to join the DCU

· Batman and Robin: Batman Reborn

· Justice League vs. the Fatal Five

· Batman: Son of the Demon

· The International Club of Heroes (Batman #667-669)

Join us in two weeks as we continue our exploration of James Gunn's DCU slate with a look at The Authority: Relentless!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

Content warning: A minor is murdered.

In this episode, we examine one of the most popular Batman stories of all time: A Death in the Family from Batman #426-429 by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo, published by DC Comics!

In 1988, DC established a pair of 900 numbers to allow readers to vote whether Jason Todd, the second Robin, would live or die. Spoiler alert: He dies. But that's not even the most memorable part of this truly bizarre tale that features a cameo appearance by the Ayatollah Khomeini and sees the Joker go from international arms dealer to Iran's ambassador to the United Nations!

Can the Dark Knight Detective avenge the gruesome death of his teenage ward and stop the Clown Prince of Crime from killing a roomful of U.N. delegates? And is there any chance that this story achieves that diplomatic immunity known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

· Visit Historic Crime Alley!

· What is Iran's endgame, exactly?

· What does Superman sound like with his lungs full of gas?

· A Lonely Place of Dying

· Extraordinary on Hulu

· If Books Could Kill

· Direct Conversations: Talks With Fellow DC Comics Bronze Age Creators

· Fantastic Four: Full Circle by Alex Ross

Join us in two weeks as we extend our stay in Gotham to discuss Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert's Batman and Son!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

Content warning: suicide, threat of sexual assault.

In this episode, we visit one of the most popular Spider-Man stories of all time that also happens to be one of the most atypical Spider-Man stories of all time: Kraven's Last Hunt, by J.M. DeMatteis, Mike Zeck and Bob McLeod, published by Marvel Comics!

You'd think Kraven the Hunter would be happy. After all, he's finally captured his elusive foe, Spider-Man. But apparently not! The big game hunter shoots his prey, buries him alive, and sets out to prove his superiority by taking the wall-crawler's place and defeating the deadly rat-man, Vermin!

Can the newlywed web-slinger wriggle his way out of the grave, defeat Kraven and Vermin, and return home to his blushing bride? And can this six-part saga win at that Most Dangerous Game known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

• Spider-Man's black costume
• Kraven's position on Spidey's enemies list
• Thoughts on the upcoming Kraven movie
• Moonshadow by J.M. DeMatteis, Jon J. Muth and Kent Williams
• Q The Winged Serpent
• The Stuff
• Spider-Man: Hunted
• Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection Vol. 8: Man-Wolf at Midnight

Join us in two weeks as we discuss Batman: A Death in the Family!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!

Content warning: suicidal ideation.

In this episode, we drop in on everyone's favorite perky psychopomp, Death of the Endless, with a look at the 1993 three-part miniseries Death: The High Cost of Living, by Neil Gaiman and Chris Bachalo, published by DC/Vertigo!

In a nod to the 1934 film "Death Takes a Holiday," Dream's older sister Death, well ... takes a holiday. We're pretty sure, anyway. You see, there's this girl named Didi who looks a lot like Death, and claims to be Death, wandering the earth as a mortal for 24 hours to get a feel for how the other half lives. But 16-year-old Sexton Furnival, who says he wants to commit suicide, isn't buying what Didi's selling.

Can Didi convince Sexton that life is worth living? Can they escape the clutches of the mysterious Eremite and find Mad Hettie's heart? And can this short Sandman spinoff charm its way into that Sweet Hereafter known as ... The Comics Canon?

In This Episode:

• What's Sexton's middle name situation?
• Catching up with a couple of characters from A Game of You
• Maniac of New York Vol. 1: Death Train
• Portrait of a Lady on Fire
• Shin Ultraman
• The Sound of Her Wings (Sandman #8) and Façade (Sandman #20)

Join us in two weeks as we discuss either Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt or Batman: A Death in the Family!

Until then: Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

And as always, thanks for listening!