The Fantasticast

Podcasters Ponder the Plight of the Plummeting Indians

Hello, and welcome to episode 164 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

Good news, everyone! We're returning to the Miracle Man story with this week's episode of the show. Fantastic Four #139 sees Ben, Johnny, Medusa and Wyatt conclude their struggle against one of the first villains to face the Fantastic Four. Will everything pull together for a satisfying conclusion? Or will a lack of focus and rationale for this revamped villain nobble any momentum in the story?

Either way, this issue finally gives some focus to Medusa, defining her role on the team about as well at it'll be defined, and giving her some great fighting moves. Oh, and amnesia, apparently. We'll also take a look at some staggering artistic shortcuts from artist John Buscema, and lay out the love triangle at the heart of the Mrsvel Bullpen romcom.

Our new website is now live at www.TheFantasticast.com - it's a bit of a work in progress right now, but the core stuff is there. Thanks to our early Patreons for helping get this thing off the ground.

Send in your feedback to [email protected], leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at www.TheFantasticast.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

Stupid Pile Of Orange Rocks - Hulk Will Smash!

Hello, and welcome to episode 163 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

We're leaving the Fantastic Four behind this week, and picking up our copies of Marvel Feature #11, the first book to feature the Thing as a solo(ish) star, and the first step on the short road to Marvel Two-In-One. With words by Len Wein and pictures by Jim Starlin, Ben Grimm finds himself fighting against the Incredible Hulk, the Leader, and Kurrgo, Master of Planet X. Or Kurrgo The Twerp. Whichever fits the fuzzy alien the best.

It's a fast-paced, hard-punching, all-out-action issue, combining the best of Ben's humour and action with the best of Jim Starlin's artwork. And this episode isn't just focusing on this comic, no! We've also got a healthy dose of automatic desiccation, some correspondence from the Time Variance Authority, and a spoiler alert: No dinner!

Send in your feedback to [email protected], leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

Socially Cordial Recaps

Hello, and welcome to episode 162 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week on the show, we're covering Fantastic Four #138, featuring the return of three beloved characters last seen in the Lee/Kirby era. One is Johnny's college dorm-mate, Wyatt Wingfoot. Another is Wyatt's wannabe football coach and interesting plot-dodger, Coach Thorne. And the third is... uh... the Miracle Man.

The Miracle Man and Coach Thorne. Just let those sink in.

It's not all bad, however, as Alicia experiences minute plot development, Johnny gets a reverse haircut, and Steve and Andy present the latest instalment in their irregular series, How To Speak In A New York Accent.

Send in your feedback to [email protected], leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

This FOOM Is On Fire

Hello, and welcome to episode 137 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, we're bringing to a conclusion the story of the Shaper of the Worlds and the 1950s throwback world that the Fantastic Four have found themselves trapped in. If it seems like this week's episode doesn't quite match up with last week's, that's just our attempt to recreate these comics in podcast form! Just don't ask us where Planet 3 is.

We've got plenty of forced intergenerational conflict, self-proclaimed male chauvinism, multiple no-prizes, Burt - the glorious sound of battle, and important Red Ghost news. Yes, such a thing exists. All this and more, on this week's Fantasticast.

Send in your feedback to [email protected], leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

Legs vs Cubes

Hello, and welcome to episode 160 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

We're back! 2016 is here and we're kicking things off with our coverage of Fantastic Four #136, by Gerry Conway and John Buscema. What do you get when you cross a poorly-defined 1950s nostalgist with the Shaper of Worlds? Why, it's a dystopian reality where laser-guitar biker gangs battle against old people! All this, plus a spirited debate on the virtues of legs vs cubes, the ballad of Slugger Johnson, and we open our paradoxical Christmas present!

This week, we're launching our Patreon campaign, to help us fund the next stages in the life of the podcast. Patreon is a crowdfunding platform that allows supporters to donate on an ongoing basis. We have lots of things we'd like to do, but we do need some financial help with this. Check out our Patreon page for further details.

Send in your feedback to [email protected], leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

Prince Philip: Iron Man

Hello, and welcome to episode 159 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

It's our last episode of 2015. We could have closed out this year with a nice, simple standalone comic. We could have, but we didn't. Instead, we decided to look at the middle part of a three-part Marvel Team-Up story. Spider-Man is caught in a temporal battle between Kang The Conqueror and Zarrko The Tomorrow Man, and only Johnny Storm can help save the day. Gerry Conway, Jim Mooney and Frank Giacoia bring us an issue packed full of time-travel, literal time-bombs, and surprisingly easy international air travel.

We're also paying tribute to our dear friend, podcast and former co-host Shawn Engel, who passed away this past week. Shawn was a huge supporter of the show, and he joined us for episode 31, three years ago. Messages can be left here, and the family have asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of your choice. Shawn, you were one of the best of us, and we miss you very much.

Send in your feedback to [email protected], leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage

I-Spy: Gil Kane Edition

Hello, and welcome to episode 158 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

Things are a little quieter this week for us, as we take a look at Fantastic Four #135. Of course, quieter is a loose term to use for an issue that includes a rampaging Dragon Man, Gregory Gideon and his cyber-suit of power, Medusa's hair, Sue's emotional trauma, and the betrayal of Thomas Gideon. Gerry Conway and John Buscema present the final appearance of one of the Fantastic Four's earliest villains.

Oh, and a terribly-constructed prison cell, an overly-dramatic Alicia Masters, the most unlikely Time Magazine Person Of The Year, a terrible choice for a flight path, a mysterious stranger, and Stan Lee's fake Willie. It's a packed issue, but is it any good?

Send in your feedback to [email protected], leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage

Two Hundred Dollars!

Hello, and welcome to episode 157 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

It's one the most packed episodes of The Fantasticast seen in a long time, with three comics before us. We start with Fantastic Four #134, with the return of the Dragon Man, and of one of the most unlikely Fantastic Four villains from the early 1960s. We continue with the legendary Luke Cage, Hero For Hire #9, in which Luke travels to Latveria to collect a debt of $200 from none other than Doctor Doom. Finally, Jim Starlin arrives to take over Captain Marvel with issue #26, guest-starring The Thing, and kick off the first great Thanos storyline.

With so much to cover, and a prominent story featuring Thanos, we decided to ask Al Sedano to join us for this episode. Host and producer of Resurrections: An Adam Warlock and Thanos podcast, Al was the perfect guest to discuss and direct these three issues. And who can resist an issue where Luke Cage punches Doctor Doom in the face whilst shouting 'Here's a sample of my fist!'

Send in your feedback to [email protected], leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage

Thought Bubble Be Crazy

Hello, and welcome to episode 156 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

It's a week of new beginnings for the Fantastic Four. It's the first issue to be written by Marvel mainstay Gerry Conway. It's also the first issue to be drawn by a woman, as Silver and Bronze Age legend Ramona Fradon provides fill-in pencils for this issue. And what pencils they are!

Tundra's back, and spoiling for a fight with the Thing on New Year's Eve. We've got plots of mass destruction, foreshadowing for the climax of Iron Man 2, and someone literally attempting to turn back time. We've also got the unusual story of how Steve ended up partying with DMC (the clue's in the title), and a moment of pure physical pain for one of the hosts.

Send in your feedback to [email protected], leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

Roy Thomas's Illicit Wank

Hello, and welcome to episode 155 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, we're looking at Roy Thomas's final issue of the Fantastic Four for a couple of years. It's the concluding part of the two-part story pitting Crystal, Quicksilver and Johnny against the Alpha Primitives in the Inhumans' Great Refuge, and big changes are in store for the team by the end of the issue. Costume changes, lineup changes, relationship changes, writer changes... everything's changing!

It's a story of maturity, and a story of confused imperialistic themes and of misplaced audience sympathies. It's also a story of Steve trying to tiptoe through the language of talking about this, with mixed success. It's also a story of Black Bolt's Coffee Shop, but that's a very small part of the story.

Send in your feedback to [email protected], leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.