The Source Material Comics Podcast

In this episode of SNAP Material, Jesse and Evan sink their teeth into the Undead Horde season of Marvel Snap, a spine-chilling update that resurrects Marvel Zombies in time for Halloween. They question the name choice—why not just call it Marvel Zombies?—before diving deep into the new Horde mechanic, analyzing how it shapes gameplay and whether it’s a gimmick or a game-changer. 

With a slew of new undead-themed cards dropping—Zombie Scarlet Witch, Headpool, Colonel America, Zombie Mr. Fantastic, and more—the hosts weigh their strategic impact on current metas. Evan shares his reluctant admiration for the destroy-heavy direction while Jesse considers becoming a full-blown anti-zombie menace. The conversation blends strategic theory with pop culture commentary, all while keeping things sharp, snarky, and entertaining.

And it wouldn’t be a SNAP episode without a sidetrack into Risk on the Sega Genesis, surprise Marvel deep cuts like Horticulture and Elsa Bloodstone, and a shoutout to Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness.

In this episode of Unspoken Issues, Jesse and Chris plunge fang-first into one of the most brutal and visually arresting issues from the Ultraverse: Black September relaunch — Rune Infinity. Released in September 1995, this comic showcases twisted body horror, dual identities, and apocalyptic energy clashes, all wrapped in Kyle Hotz’s gloriously grotesque artwork and Len Kaminski’s cyber-horror storytelling. 

The story centers around genetically-engineered twins, Eric and Noel — products of Aladdin’s superhuman experimentation — who now share a single monstrous body. One is a bloodthirsty predator; the other, a helpless conscience trapped inside. Their brutal psychic battle for control unfolds alongside Adam Warlock’s resurrection in a distant cocoon, linking Marvel’s cosmic legacy with the Ultraverse’s raw, chaotic energy. 

In this jam-packed follow-up episode of SNAP Material, Jesse and Evan dive deep into the evolving Marvel Snap meta and unlocks from the September 2025 season. With fresh reworks shaking up gameplay and card dynamics, the duo explores how characters like Kang and Adam Warlock have gone from benchwarmers to must-plays. Evan shares his excitement over Kang's revitalized versatility, especially in surfer decks, while Jesse reflects on how this rework breathes new life into the card’s original premise. 

The conversation doesn't stop there. Pixie gets a spotlight as a quiet game-changer, enabling chaotic yet effective combos like a one-cost Giganto or Hulk. The hosts also delve into how “High Voltage” is affecting alliance rewards and reward structures—leading to Reddit-fueled debates and player frustration over unreachable final rewards without spending gold. If you’re navigating Marvel Snap this season, this discussion is your roadmap through the chaos.

As always, the episode closes with a fun and detailed rundown of each host’s unlocks—ranging from Dan Hipp favorites and pixel gems to wild variants like lucha libre Sabretooth and the ever-hilarious “dating profile” Strong Guy.

In this explosive continuation to the Black September retrospective, Jesse and Chris dive into one of the most controversial titles of the Marvel/Malibu relaunch: Mantra: Infinity. The gloves are off as they explore the strange, shocking, and somewhat disturbing directions this series took in its attempt to reboot a fan-favorite character—and why it’s still talked about (and side-eyed) 30 years later.

The episode kicks off with background on the original Mantra—Lucas, the immortal male warrior reincarnated into the body of Eden Blake—and how that identity crisis played into early Ultraverse lore. But with Mantra: Infinity, all of that changes. Jesse and Chris unpack a story that replaces Eden with a new teen protagonist, Lauren, who’s suddenly thrust into magical chaos involving a reality-warping event, a possessed little boy (Gus), and a whole lot of mystical devastation.

The hosts don’t shy away from the issue’s more problematic elements either. From bizarre “bad girl” tropes to highly questionable depictions of teen characters and a jarring tone shift, this issue proves to be one of the most uncomfortable—and unintentionally fascinating—entries in the Black September line. With critiques of story choices, art, tone, and editorial direction, this is a no-holds-barred breakdown that Ultraverse fans and 90s comic buffs won’t want to miss.

Welcome back, SNAP fans! In this jam-packed October 2025 edition of the SNAP Material podcast, Jesse and Evan dive headfirst into Visions of the Future, the September season of Marvel Snap. If you've been trying to keep up with the flood of new cards, you're not alone—and our hosts are here to help you make sense of it all. From heavy hitters to sleeper picks, they break down each new addition card by card, location by location.

Kicking off the episode with Viv Vision, Sparky, and Moira X, the hosts share their hands-on experience (or lack thereof) and weigh in on each card’s impact—or underperformance. They chat about standout moments (hello Omega Sentinel!) and under-the-radar strategies, sprinkle in personal anecdotes and even throw some Heroclix and comic lore into the mix, making this episode a treat for Marvel fans across the board.

By the time they hit Danger, Jocasta, Warlock, and the chaotic potential of new locations like Stark Industries and Kvch, it's clear Jesse and Evan have thoughts. Whether it’s deadpanned nacho jokes or dissecting Professor X’s problematic past, the episode is a great blend of analysis, humor, and fandom. If you’re curious which cards you should chase and which ones you can skip—this is your ultimate breakdown.

In this episode of Unspoken Issues, Jesse and Chris turn their attention to the Prime Infinity issue, and things finally start to click — kind of. Set in the aftermath of the Black September event, this issue follows Kevin Green, aka Prime, as he grapples with the fact that he's been shunted into the Marvel Universe, cut off from his full powers, and stuck watching his childhood heroes from the sidelines. And who better to symbolize that frustration than everyone's favorite wall-crawler: Spider-Man. 

As Kevin struggles to "prime up" in this strange new world, his unstable transformations result in grotesque partial forms, dripping with green ooze. Meanwhile, the Lizard is on the loose, and Spider-Man is doing what he does best — cracking wise and saving lives. Inspired by Spidey's example, Kevin forces himself to transform, resulting in the chaotic and creepy Spider-Prime, a multi-armed hybrid that’s equal parts nightmare fuel and accidental hero. It’s an emotional, weird, and surprisingly grounded story about identity, inadequacy, and finding your place — even when your powers (and body) are falling apart.

Jesse and Chris dive into what makes this issue work better than the rest of the Infinity line, calling out the accessible story structure, the powerful metaphor of Kevin’s fractured identity, and the wild character design that sets this book apart. They also critique some missed opportunities — like the vague dimensional setting, the unclear Prime separation, and one truly bizarre version of the Lizard.  This one delivers more heart than expected — along with a few broken bones and gooey green nightmares.

The countdown to Black September is over — and the reality-warping finale kicks off in UltraForce/Avengers #1. Jesse and Chris return to Unspoken Issues to dissect the last big crossover before the Ultraverse is forever changed. With Warren Ellis writing, George Pérez drawing, and nine inkers throwing down, this issue pulls out all the stops. Alternate timelines, character amalgams, body horror, multiversal melting, and some truly disturbing imagery all collide in a wild farewell to the pre-Black September Ultraverse.

Set ten years after a divergent version of Avengers history, we meet an alternate team featuring Prototype, Topaz, Alexander Swan, a battle-hardened Jan (no longer the Wasp, now going by Black Widow), and Thor. What begins as somewhat of a retelling of Avengers #1 quickly spirals into multiversal chaos, as warped fusions of Marvel and Ultraverse characters (Hulk + Ghoul?! Female Mantra + Ben Grimm?!) roam a collapsing reality. Pérez fills every panel with visual madness — some pages pack in over a dozen cameos, including creator-owned deep cuts and haunting body-horror fusions that are pure Ellis. 

Chris and Jesse revel in the weirdness: from Vision crawling out of a man fused to a wall, to Loki going full maniacal god, to a priest version of Thor wielding a massive wooden cross. And in true Ellis fashion, the book pulls no punches — there are deaths, mutilations, and a sense of hopeless unraveling as worlds tear apart. By the end, identities blur, characters forget who they were, and the reset button is ready to be pushed. It’s the comic book equivalent of a cosmic fever dream — and the most metal farewell the Ultraverse could ask for.

The Black September event keeps twisting reality, and Unspoken Issues is back with another dive into the chaos — this time exploring All-New Exiles Infinity #1. Jesse and Chris wade into this swirling storm of dimension-hopping mutants, Ultraverse originals, and one very displaced Juggernaut. If you’ve ever wanted to see robot dinosaurs, a mutant death stare, and a chaotic team-up that barely makes sense to its own cast, this issue is for you.

This episode unpacks the wild ride that is “Into the Breach,” where characters like Sienna Blaze, Reaper, Strike (a repackaged Warstrike), Shuriken, and Amber Hunt are all hurled together into a surreal desert-like realm thanks to yet another cosmic meltdown. And just when you think things can’t get weirder, Juggernaut — fresh off being zapped into limbo during an issue of Wolverine — crashes into the Ultraverse. Now branded “Exiles of the Storm,” the uneasy team fends off mecha-dinosaur attacks, wrestles with cryptic prophecy, and gets caught in a literal reality-bending psychic eruption. 

Jesse breaks down the messy continuity — including the oddly timed publication date that precedes the Black September Infinity kickoff — while Chris brings the mutant knowledge, reminiscing about Reaper’s infamous limb-loss battles with Shatterstar and Juggernaut’s early heroic turn. Together, they try to make sense of how Marvel tried to jump-start this next wave of Ultraverse titles by injecting it with leftover mutants, mid-tier X-villains, and some explosive ‘90s energy.

It's big, it’s bombastic, and it’s kind of confusing — which means it’s prime material for Unspoken Issues. This one's got cyber-dino beatdowns, dimensional meltdowns, and more cape drama than a midnight screening of Spawn. Come for the nostalgia, stay for the panel picks.

In this gripping episode of Source Material Comics Podcast, Jesse Starcher and Mark Radulich dive deep into Dark Horse Comics’ The Butcher of Paris—a chilling five-issue true crime miniseries by Stephanie Phillips. Set in Nazi-occupied France, the comic uncovers the terrifying true story of Dr. Marcel Petiot, a man who preyed upon the desperation of Jewish refugees by promising them escape—only to murder them for profit. What unfolds is a noir-tinged tale of horror, betrayal, and moral collapse in the face of war.

Jesse and Mark examine how The Butcher of Paris uses real historical events to tell a story both harrowing and eerily relevant. As Paris crumbles under occupation, Detective Massu finds himself not only chasing a monster hiding behind patriotism, but also contending with the Gestapo, corrupt collaborators, and a public that seems more entertained than outraged. With Phillips’ layered writing and Dean Kotz’s striking—if not tonally mismatched—artwork, this comic blends investigative tension with haunting social commentary on complicity, survival, and post-war justice. 

The episode also ventures into how generational trauma, political manipulation, and antisemitism linger both in the past and present. Mark draws poignant connections to the broader historical impact of World War II, while Jesse contextualizes the grim details of the case and Phillips' own motivation for adapting it. Whether you're a fan of true crime, historical thrillers, or morally complex storytelling, this conversation highlights why The Butcher of Paris deserves your attention—and maybe even a Netflix adaptation.

In this follow-up episode of Unspoken Issues, Jesse and Chris tackle the UltraForce Infinity issue, the second entry in the Black September Infinity lineup. While the first Infinity issue focused on forgotten characters in a fading reality, this one gives the spotlight to the new Marvel-backed UltraForce team led by none other than Marvel's Black Knight. It’s a tale of fractured realities, religious fanaticism, and uneasy alliances, with two storylines unfolding across two divergent Earths — and plenty of philosophical weight behind the superhero action. 

In one tale, UltraForce must confront a dangerous cult known as The Fold, who are executing ultras and branding them false idols. Led by a supposedly immortal figure named Pascal, the group thrives on propaganda and fear. But as UltraForce digs deeper, they discover a chilling truth: Pascal is long dead, his influence artificially sustained to maintain control. The story strikes eerie parallels to real-world events like Waco and Ruby Ridge, giving this comic a socio-political edge rarely seen in '90s superhero books.

Meanwhile, on another Earth, a deadly version of Mantra (possibly an amalgam of multiple characters) has assassinated industrialist JD Hunt in cold blood. As panic spreads, the alternate-universe UltraForce — including Widow, Prime, and prototype Jimmy Ruiz — is dispatched to stop her before the public turns fully against Ultras. But defeating Mantra comes with moral complications, especially for Prototype, who’s forced to cross a line he never intended. The issue closes with sobering questions about justice, sacrifice, and what it truly means to be a hero.