The Fantasticast

James Doom, License To Rule

Professor Alan be praised, it's the last great Lee/Kirby Doctor Doom story! Steve Lacey and Andrew Leyland open up the best Fantastic Four comic they've read in ages. A secret robot army is being formed in the rogue nation of Latveria, and Nick Fury needs our heroes to nip this threat in the bud.

With a smattering of listener e-mails, a request for questions, and some more things that have completely slipped Steve's mind whilst writing these show notes, the journey to our 100th episode is off to a great start!

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

Enid Blyton's Memorial Plaque

Steve and Andy return once again to tackle the Silver Age of the Fantastic Four. This week, the focus is on Fantastic Four #83, featuring the culmination of Maximus' plan to hypnotise the world into submission. Will the Fantastic Four unite to take down the mad monarch, or will they end up as bystanders in their own title?

We also read some e-mails, play one of the greatest number one singles of the 1960s, and get very hung up on just who wrote Peter Rabbit.

With episode 100 coming up, we want your questions for us to answer. Ask us anything - about the Fantastic Four, about comics, about geekdom, or about us. Send them in to [email protected] and we'll answer them on our 100th episode in a few weeks time.

Stan Lee Doesn't Understand Hypnotism

It's a bumper episode for the Fantasticast, as we cover two comics, one wedding, and a whole slew of responses to our latest listener question.

Steve and Andy are spending this week looking at Crystal's return to the rebuilt Attilan in Fantastic Four #82, as well as attending the completely legitimate wedding of Janet van Dyne and Yellowjacket in Avengers #60. It's a Jack Kirby and John Buscema feast for the eyes.

We also run down our listener responses to our latest listener question, as we attempt to find out if our audience is currently reading Fantastic Four. There's also a brand new Listener Question, and it's an unusual one...

All of this, and you get to find out if Steve knows just how many Inhuman feature strips there were in the Silver and Bronze Ages, when they were published, and how this knowledge (or lack thereof) affects his review of the issue.

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

Andy Finds This Funny

I have no idea what would be funny about the title of this comic...

This week, Steve and Andy reunite to discuss Fantastic Four #81. Changes are afoot, as motherhood takes a toll on the team. Can a sorely underused supporting character step up and prove their worth to the staunchly-conservative team leader? Plus, as a special bonus, we drop in on Namor, The Sub-Mariner #8. The Serpent Crown is causing trouble, and it's up to the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing to ensure it gets to safety.

We also take a look at just what Steve got up to on his holidays. The podcast panel mentioned hasn't yet been released, but if you pop on over to the Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TheFantasticast), you can take a look at some photographs of original Jack Kirby Fantastic Four pages and covers. Why? Well, you'll have to listen to find out...

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

Wyatt Wingfoot and the Totem of Doom!

The holidays are over, and Steve and Andy are back by themselves to take a look at Fantastic Four #80. Will this be a tightly plotted issue, reintroducing a beloved supporting character, featuring a sensitive and nuanced portrayal of Native American culture, and starring a well-designed villain? Well... at least one of those things happens...

We also discuss our not-so-recent experiences at the London Film and Comic Convention, reveal the secret origins of the Merry Marvel Marching Society, and get rather rudely interrupted by the weather (and not in a Welcome to Night Vale manner).

Ambush Bug In Judge Dredd's Clothing

It's a giant-sized episode of The Fantasticast for a giant-sized issue of the Fantastic Four. Annual #6 features the first appearance of the classic villain Annihilus, as well as the birth of Franklin Richards. To celebrate these milestones, Steve and Andy have invited a special guest onto the show - Al Kennedy, of the House To Astonish podcast.

Together, we examine the most in-depth exploration of the Negative Zone to date; pick holes in 1960s natal care, discover The Adventures of Night Optometrist, explore the etymology of Annihilus, take up residence in the Arenas of Crochet and Cribbage, listen to Anihilus Sings Barry White, play Star In A Reasonably Priced Fantasticar, and get the only Acrobat update you need to receive.

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

Doug Jones Good, Julian McMahon Bad

Don't worry, there's more to our review than just that...

Steve's away on holiday, and needs a quick-edit to keep the show on track, so he and Andy sit down to watch Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer and provide a commentary to the film.

We celebrate the film's high points, and we spend the other 91 minutes examining plot holes, poor dialogue, unsuitable effects, and the complete ineptitude of Julian McMahon's performance as Doctor Doom. We wonder why Andre Braugher chose this film over appearing on ER, and just who thought the wig for Jessica Alba was a good idea.

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

Carry On Not Brand Echh

Steve and Andy return with an human Ben Grimm, a former submarine commander now in charge of a group of marines, and a daikaiju and horror film-loving guest-host. Yes, Luke Jaconetti joins us once again to finish off the story of the human Ben Grimm and the team's battle with the Wizard. This issue has it all - dinner dates, Irish stereotypes, and a robot with a tortologous name. This is Fantastic Four #79, and we are your guides.

We also take a look at an issue of Captain Savage And His Leatherneck Raiders. Guest-starring ace fighter-pilot Ben Grimm, Captain Savage #7 has it all - POW camps, Irish stereotypes, and excellent Dick Ayers artwork.

Don't forget to answer out Listener Question - Are you currently reading Fantastic Four, and why?

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

Black Bolt On Acid

This week on The Fantasticast, Steve and Andy open the doors of the studio and welcome in Luke Jaconetti, host of Earth Destruction Directive and co-host of the Vault of Startling Startling Monster Horror Tales of Terror as co-host for this episode and the next. Given that Luke specialises in classic horror and giant monsters beating up cities, you'd have thought that we would have brought him on for an issue of the Fantastic Four that caters to his particular interests.

But... no. Instead, he joins us for Fantatsic Four #78, an issue that sees the Wizard rather rudely interrupt Ben's latest journey to his human form. His facial hair is no less horrific than usual, and h'es got rather a lovely pair of gloves with him. And the Wizard is the focus of his synopsis!

Don't forget to answer out Listener Question - Are you currently reading Fantastic Four, and why?

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

Bitten By A Radioactive Bottle Of White Lightning

(You'll have to wait until the end of the show to get that one!)

In this week's episode of The Fantasticast, Steve Lacey and Andrew Leyland encounter the following:

• A Galactus so hungry he'd consider eating an Iceland prawn ring
• A new addition to the Superman Returns title sequence
• A Psycho-Man even more pointless than you might expect
• The Silver Surfer trying his hand at reassuring a hysterical pregnant woman

All this, and more, as we cover Fantastic Four #77!

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