Superman (2025)

Show notes provided by Jack Adrien

Before the entertainment and media industry’s endless stream of sequels, reboots, reimaginings, remakes, franchises, or tentpoles, there was The Planet of the Apes. Starting in 1963 as French author Pierre Boulle's novel, La Planète des singes – or better known in the United States as Planet of the Apes in the United Kingdom as Monkey Planet, respectively – the intellectual property gained international acclaim through its synonymous 1968 film adaption directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring Charlton Heston. Most filmgoers remember the film adaptation for arguably one of cinema’s most famous twist endings [57-YEAR SPOILER WARNING: Charlton Heston and the other astronauts were never on another planet, their spaceship returned to a post-apocalyptic Earth 2006 years after their in-universe 1972 departure with intelligent apes as the dominant life form] . A critical and commercial success, the film adaptation spawned three film sequels (i.e., Beneath the Planet of the Apes released on May 27, 1970; Escape from the Planet of the Apes released on May 21, 1971; Conquest of the Planet of the Apes released on June 29, 1972; and Battle for the Planet of the Apes released on June 15, 1973). Ignoring the best forgotten Tim Burton remake released on July 27, 2001, the franchise gained a new life as the Rise of the Planet of the Apes reboot spawning three successful sequels (i.e., Dawn of the Planet of the Apes released on July 11, 2014; War for the Planet of the Apes     released on July 14, 2017; and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes released on May 10, 2024). The new series introduced social awareness themes of animal genetic therapy experimentation, environmentalism, and human indifference of the natural world to a new generation.

 Join the Mint Condition crew of James, Joe, Josh, and Jack as we trace the legacy of The Planet of Apes’ novel, original series, comic book, television series, animated series, toys, and other merchandise.

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso

As enthusiastic fans of pop culture we may sometimes forget that there are real flesh and blood people who make Captain Kirk's heroics come to life on the printed page, between the glossy covers of our favorite comics, the small screens in our homes, and the large screens in the local cineplex. There are so many wonderful creative men and women whose greatest desire is to share their stories with an eager and faithful public. Recently one of these amazing creatives passed from
our midst, but he left a legacy of mythic narratives that thrilled and enriched the lives of pop culture fans for decades. Join your hosts James, Keith, Joe, and returning guest, Michael Jan Friedman for a warm and wonderful tribute to Peter David.
   Novels, comics, screenplays, video games and  more, Peter was a consummate creator who took us to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, the deep, dark depths of the oceans, the psyche of a tortured man/monster's mind, and the mutant world of the misunderstood. Many of our Mint faithful are familiar with Mr. David's work on Star Trek, Aquaman, The Incredible Hulk, and X-Factor, but if you stay till the end of this episode you will learn so much more of the life and works of this "incredible" man as recounted by his close friend Michael Jan Friedman. Engaging stories of a "fan boy" who lived his dream.
    And there are still a myriad of stories to tell in the pop culture
universe, but it's undeniable that Peter David's stories will forever shine like the brightest stars in this vast universe of wonder and awe.

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso

In the summer of 1984, at Phil Seulings New York Comic Con two members
of DC Comics staff teased an upcoming event that drew gasps of shock
from the assembled crowd. It went something like this: " As you know
DC is planning a major year-long event starting in January that will
reshape the DC Universe as you now know it. Many things will happen
that will startle you, but none will astonish you more than the end of
two of DC's major stars. These two characters will be going away
forever". I was in the audience that day, and I had to pick up my jaw
from the floor.
    Join you Mint hosts James, Keith, Richie, and Joe as they recap
issues 7,8, and 9 of the epic DC event--Crisis on Infinite Earths. And
even though it's been forty years, jaws will be dropping once again as
the startling events of issues 7 and 8, and 9 are vividly recalled,
related and rehashed by this quartet of rabid raconteurs.
   Kara Zor-El (aka Supergirl) and Barry Allen (aka The Flash)
heroically give their lives to save kith and kin (in issues 7 & 8
respectively) from the ravages of the Anti-Monitor.
   The guys cover an "alpha quadrant" of ground as they dive deeply
into the plot and art of these three amazing Marv Wolfman and George
Perez issues.
 And if those tidbits aren't enough to whet your appetite, wait till
you hear Keith's retelling of how C.O.I.E. #8 was ten-year old Keith's
first comic! It's an origin story worthy of Showcase #4!

Captain Pike and the crew of the Enterprise are back for another season and crew of the U.S.S Mint Condition are here to talk about it. Join your hosts James and John as they take the Gorn head on talking about episode 1 Hegemony, Part II and then they have a some fun with Spock and Dr. Roger Korby in episode 2 Wedding Bell Blues.

Show notes provided by Arco Esposito

Return of Thanos

I am just going to come out and say it, Thanos was, and always will be, my favorite Marvel Villain. From his menacing look to the way you think he sounds in the comics (a deep growl obviously) to the way he’s written, he encompasses what a true cosmic threat is supposed to be. And even though I am called the “Marvel Cosmic Mage” by the Mint folks, it wasn’t always that way. In fact, I had no clue who this “Thanos” guy was when they re-introduced him to us in Silver Surfer #34 but man, did I learn fast! In a pre internet world the only way you learned about a character’s past was to buy any books you could that had them in it, and that’s what I did, getting my hands on anything remotely relevant to our purple hued nihilist. So as always, I am proud and grateful to have the opportunity to pass that knowledge on to you, the listeners of this awesome podcast.

As you join James, Joe and myself, I hope you too get the awe, joy and even dare I say fear that I did when first encountering The Mad Titan Thanos!

Show notes provided by Jack Adrien

Let’s be honest, DC Comics’ frequent universal reboots or recons have kind of become a long running joke at this point. Through the Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985), Zero Hour: Crisis in Time (1994), Infinite Crisis(2005), Flashpoint (2011), Convergence (2015), DC Universe: Rebirth (2016), and DC Comics: Death Metal(2020), one DC character has weathered, even prospered, during the occasional multiversal frolic or timeline revision. Surprisingly, that character is not one of the iconic DC Trinity characters (i.e., Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman). No, Hawkman, throughout his long history and many iterations, truly epitomizes how good writers and editors can reimagine or reinvent a familiar, but B-list character, no matter what shape the comic universe takes.

Join the Mint Condition crew of James, Joe, Keith, and Jack as we untangle the history, mystery, and significance of Hawkman (aka Carter Hall, Hawk, Khufu, Savage Hawkman, Katar Hol, Fel Andar, Hawk Avatar).

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso

Ten days before Christmas, 1978 cinema fans of all ages were the recipients of a wonderful gift--"...the gift of flight". It was THE Christmas Season that delivered the granddaddy of all super-hero films--SUPERMAN:THE MOVIE.
   Come with us now as we break through the earthly bonds of time and space, and join your hosts James, Richie and Joe for a trek back to the late 1970's (Disco, Yankees World Championships, polyester, and incredible films) as they critique the film that made "you believe a man could fly". From the sterile surface of Krypton, to the rolling corn fields of Kansas, onto the concrete canyons of Metropolis, the guys relive the grand adventure that reintroduced The Man of Steel to
a world much in need of an iconic hero.
    Superman/Clark Kent, Jor-El and Lara, Ma and Pa Kent, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, Otis, Miss Teschmacher(!), and of course the villain everyone loves to hate--Lex Luthor--all brought to vivid life by skilled actors, and a visionary director; a cast of creatives that took the spawn of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and delivered an offering that would forever alter the genre of heroic cinema. The guys discuss all these aspects of the film, and more as they have a "super" time getting caught up in a wild comic book fantasy that continues to deliver the adventure, excitement, romance, and laughs nearly a half
century after its bombastic debut!
    I know I speak for James and Richie, when I say we had a
Krypton-sized blast recording this special episode.. And we hope you will experience the same fun when you give it a listen. Just be sure to look up in the sky because as Lois Lane found out to her amazement after Superman rescues her for the first time--in SUPERMAN you always have "a friend".

The Man without Fear is back and has jumped officially into the MCU. Join your hosts James, Chris Keith and Josh as they talked about their thoughts and feelings on this season.

James, Joe and Rich looks back on this book that is one of the inspirations for James Gunn's upcoming Superman movie.