The Comics Canon

In this episode, Curt and Kevin are joined by special guest Glen Weldon – NPR contributor, panelist on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast and author of The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture – as they discuss Batman: The Court of Owls, collecting Batman (Vol. 2) #1-7, published by DC Comics! The Dark Knight Detective has always believed the Court of Owls to be nothing more than an old folk tale. But when Bruce Wayne is marked for death by their enigmatic assassin, the Talon, Batman learns that they're very real – and that everything he thought he knew about Gotham City is wrong! Trapped in an underground labyrinth, driven to the edge of madness, can the Caped Crusader escape the Court's deadly clutches and reclaim Gotham City as his own? And can he gain entry into that secret society known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Curt makes a terrible joke • The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture • Superheroes as soap opera • Greg Capullo • Batman's dentistry skills • Hot Fuzz • Batman: Superheavy • Batman: Captured By the Engines • Swamp Thing: Raise Them Bones • The LEGO Batman Movie Join us in two weeks as we prepare for the latest Hugh Jackman movie by gassing up the Spider-Mobile and traversing a desolate hellscape known as Wolverine: Old Man Logan! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin go nuts as they enroll at Empire State University, joined by their first-ever guest – Curt's teenage daughter, Evelyn – to discuss Squirrel Power, collecting issues #1-4 of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, published by Marvel Comics! She's fought crime with the Great Lakes Avengers and even defeated the powerful space baddie Thanos. But now Doreen Green, alias the aforementioned Squirrel Girl, must conquer threats more terrifying than any she's yet faced: College! A roommate! Boys! And if those weren't intimidating enough, who went and Kraven the Hunter, Whiplash and Galactus to the curriculum??? With sassy sidekick Tippy-Toe in tow, can our body-positive Avenger somehow convince the Devourer of Worlds to adopt an Earth-free diet? And can she make it into that exclusive series of trading cards known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Help us out: Did a Squirrel Girl artist contribute to a Team Fortress 2 comic? • What's up with Kraven the Hunter's vest? • The Voltron Squirrel • Everybody Hates Thanos • When you think "Captain America," you think "camping it up" • Team Fortress 2 • Goodnight Punpun • Homestuck • Paper Girls • Doom Patrol • Shade, the Changing Girl • Squirrel in My Pants • That "old" TV show, Phineas and Ferb Join us in two weeks as we make another return trip to Gotham City to discuss Batman: The Court of Owls! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin don their finest trench coats, open up a fresh pack of Silk Cut and throw back a couple of pints of holy stout as they discuss the Dangerous Habits storyline from John Constantine: Hellblazer issues #41-46, published by DC Comics! John Constantine has faced down more than his share of demons and other supernatural threats. But everyone's favorite chain-smoking magician may have finally met his match when he's diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. To make matters worse, he's in for one Hell of an afterlife, having just made an enemy of the devil himself! Can comics' premier punk-rock prestidigitator con his way out of eternal torment? And can he somehow fast-talk his way into that sweet hereafter known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • It's our anniversary! • Sting's "Tantric Jazz Rock" Period • The ideal John Constantine • John Constantine vs. Doctor Strange • Skrip: America's favorite writing fluid! • Death Star Canteen • Swamp Thing: American Gothic • The Exorcist III • Alcohollywood • Jason Aaron's Mighty Thor • Archie Vol. 1 Join us in two weeks as we enroll in college with Marvel Comics' nuttiest superhero in The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol. 1: Squirrel Power! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin travel to a galaxy far, far away to mark the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story with a discussion of Darth Vader #1-6, published by Marvel Comics! Following the events of Episode IV: A New Hope, Darth Vader finds himself on the outs with Emperor Palpatine. Enlisting the aid of a "rogue archeologist" and a pair of murderous droids, the Dark Lord of the Sith begins pursuing his own agenda, building a private army and tracking down the hotshot Rebel pilot who brought about the destruction of the Death Star -- a young man named Skywalker … Will his new allies be enough to keep the Empire's heavy-breathing hatchet man one step ahead of his master? And will his mastery of the dark side of the Force be enough to gain him entry into that mystic order known as … The Comics Canon? Things Not Discussed in This Episode: • Carrie Fisher, who died after this episode was recorded Things Discussed in This Episode: • The Star Wars Minute • The challenges of a tie-in comic • We enjoy saying "Black Krrsantan" • The Emperor's Sith List • Why Darth Vader needs a private email server • Evil Space Lorelai Gilmore • The Tom Corbett, Space Cadet Invisible Helmet • Flashpoint is a really cool song! • Journey Into Mystery: Fear Itself • Darth Maul: Apprentice • Chad Vader: Day Shift Manager • Hardware Wars • Star Wars by Jason Aaron and John Cassaday • "Not an imaginary story!" Join us in two weeks as we indulge in some Dangerous Habits to discuss Garth Ennis' debut run on John Constantine: Hellblazer! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this last episode of 2016, Curt and Kevin look back on TV and movie adaptations of comic book stories from the second half of the year, pick their favorite small- or big-screen comics properties of the last 12 months, and ask "Just what makes a good comics adaptation, anyway?" In this non-canonical extravaganza, we also tackle the disjointed mess that is Suicide Squad, check in on DC's improving Legends of Tomorrow, discuss Season 3 of The Flash and Flashpoint, take aim at the fifth season of Arrow, unlock the first season of Luke Cage, and stumble through a punishing half-season of The Walking Dead. We also touch on Preacher, Doctor Strange and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. before looking ahead to 2017, including the adaptations we're most looking forward to. And finally, we switch gears with a look at the books that made it into The Comics Canon in 2016, and round things out with that most riveting of audio experiences: the unwrapping of presents! Other Things Discussed in This Episode: • Hey, Where's Darth Vader?! • Gotham City Sirens • Ragman, everyone's favorite vigilante • Why are Marvel's Netflix series so long? • Iron Man and the Mystic Hoo-Ha That's it for 2016! Join us in two weeks as we travel to a galaxy far, far away for a look at Marvel Comics' Darth Vader #1-6 (we really mean it this time). Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, a morally challenged, mentally unstable captain of industry rises to a position of awesome power! That's right—join Curt and Kevin as they shine a light on the Marvel Comics event Dark Reign with a discussion of the Secret Invasion: Dark Reign one-shot and Dark Avengers Vol. 1: Assemble! After repelling a horde of alien invaders and their shapeshifting matriarch, Norman Osborn is appointed director of the law-enforcement agency S.H.I.E.L.D. and leader of the Avengers. In no time, he convenes a sinister shadow cabinet of supervillains, and stacks the world's premier superteam with a rogues' gallery of ruthless felons! What alarming agenda will the former Green Goblin advance while wrapped in the American flag in the guise of the Iron Patriot? And will he cap his reign of terror with a seat at that Supreme Court of superhero comics known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: · Civil War · Secret Invasion · The Thunderbolts · The Illuminati · The worst Namor ever committed to paper · The role Tommy Lee Jones was born to play · 1980s metal icon Don Dokken · See, this is why superheroes should trademark their identities Join us in two weeks as we travel to a galaxy far, far away for a look at Marvel Comics' Darth Vader #1-6! Until then, we want to hear from you! Rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin travel to the top of the George Washington Bridge (played by the Brooklyn Bridge) while discussing what may be the most iconic storyline in Spider-Man history (and one of the most influential moments in all of comics) as they take a swing at The Night Gwen Stacy Died, from Amazing Spider-Man #121-122! But first, they pay a quick visit to the (web-)swingin' 60s for a look at the cataclysmic confrontation that sets the stage for that fateful event, as the Green Goblin weaves a sinister trap for the wall-crawler in Amazing Spider-Man #39-40! Wracked with grief, will ol' web-head end up squashed by his emerald enemy? Or can your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man triumph over his avocado-colored adversary and win admittance into that swingers' club known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham! • The Night Chicago Died by Paper Lace • John Romita, the quintessential Spider-Man artist? • The Green Goblin vs. the Hobgoblin • Stan Lee and J. Jonah Jameson • Harry Osborn's hair • Peter Parker as Archie Andrews • Comics' version of the Zapruder film Join us in two weeks as we relive Norman Osborn's Dark Reign over the Marvel Universe with a look at Secret Invasion: Dark Reign and Dark Avengers #1-6! Until then, we want to hear from you! Rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook. We'll read your comments in an upcoming episode, and who knows? You could win a prize from the Comics Canon Prize Vault! And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin lace up their running shoes for a mad dash through a mad, mad world as they careen headlong into Flashpoint, the five-issue miniseries by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert — the storyline that paved the way for DC Comics' New 52! Barry Allen, a.k.a. the Flash, wakes up one day to a drastically different reality: His late mother is alive, he's lost his super-speed, and the Justice League never existed. And as a war between Aquaman and Wonder Woman threatens to tear this world apart, Barry begins to lose his memories of the world he knew! Will Flash's arch-nemesis Professor Zoom have the last laugh, leaving Barry marooned in this darkest timeline? Or can the fastest man alive avert Armageddon, set history back on its proper course, and race across the finish line into that winner's circle known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Season 3 of The Flash • Geoff Johns, The New 52 and Rebirth • Event books • Alternative history stories • No one likes that one guy … • Time travel • The Speed Force • Professor Zoom is a lousy super-villain Join us in two weeks as we web-swing our way back to the Big Apple (and Marvel Comics) to relive The Night Gwen Stacy Died! Until then, we want to hear from you! Rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook. We'll read your comments in an upcoming episode, and who knows? You could win a prize from the Comics Canon Prize Vault! And as always, thanks for listening!

In this magical episode, Curt and Kevin trek to the furthest reaches of India en route to the dreaded Dark Dimension as they prepare for the upcoming Doctor Strange movie with not one, not two, but THREE sizzling tales of '60s sorcery featuring Marvel Comics' Master of Mystic Arts! First, we revisit the origin of comicdom's Sorcerer Supreme, as arrogant surgeon Stephen Strange meets his mentor-to-be, The Ancient One, and his nemesis-in-waiting, the malicious Baron Mordo, in Strange Tales #115! Then it's off to an otherdimensional netherworld as Strange battles to protect the Earth from the menace of the dread Dormammu, in Strange Tales #126-127! Finally, it's trouble times two as Mordo and Dormammu team up against the good doctor for a three-part mini-epic in Strange Tales #139-141! Will the devious dean of the Dark Dimension and his contemptuous colleague banish our dashing doctor to the domain of doom? Or can Marvel's fearless physician save the day and levitate to that hoary host of heroic stories known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • "India, land of mystic enchantment!" • That's not how surgery works! • The disappointment of Baron Mordo • Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One • The delights of Steve Ditko's Dark Dimension • Why hasn't Doctor Strange broken through to Marvel's A-list? • The shocking secret behind a classic comics ad! • Curt gets confused Join us in two weeks as we run over to Central City to discuss the event that kicked off DC's New 52 reboot, Flashpoint! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this HUGE mini-episode, Curt and Kevin take a break from passing judgment on comic book stories and turn their attention to the upcoming presidential election with a QUALITY discussion of YUGE! 30 Years of Doonesbury on Trump, a collection of Doonesbury comic strips by Garry Trudeau. It's a first-class episode, people, mark my words, okay? First class! Things Discussed in This Episode: The difficulty of the Doonesbury elevator pitch; Trump's changing appearance in the strip over the decades; and Curt's plea for Trudeau to return to daily strips. (Things NOT discussed in this episode include the now-infamous Donald Trump/Billy Bush video, which was released after this episode was recorded. SAD!). You know what's not sad? The Comics Canon returns in one short week! We prepare ourselves for the upcoming release of Doctor Strange with a look at the Sorcerer Supreme's early days via Strange Tales #115, 126-127, and 139-141. Until then, we want to hear from YOU, dear listeners! Review us on iTunes! Send us an email! Or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook! We'll read your comments in a future episode, and you may even win a prize from the Comics Canon Prize Vault! And as always, thanks for listening!