It’s our second trip to the haunted House of Franklin-Stein! This time Chris and Cindy Franklin tackle the Prince of Darkness with Hammer’s 1958 opus, Horror of Dracula! Christopher Lee is pure evil as the blood-sucking count, out for revenge against those who would dare oppose him. Peter Cushing is the screen’s best Van Helsing (don’t even TRY to argue about it), dedicated to ending his unholy reign of terror once and for all!

Then the Super Mates venture into the comics crypt for a look at Detective Comics #455. Batman and Alfred run afoul of a clever vampire, who bears a striking resemblance to a certain actor known for wearing fake fangs! It’s Batman’s Adventure in Hammer-Land! What did our intrepid couple think of it? Will Cindy poke stake holes through it?

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Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at [email protected]. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed!

Next time: It’s part three of The House of Franklin-Stein! Chris and Cindy are joined by their son Andrew to discuss the sad tale of their favorite Universal Monster….Larry Talbot, aka The Wolf Man!!! Grab your silver-headed cane and join the hunt!

Welcome to the House of Franklin-stein! It’s part one of our blood-curdling horror series, where Chris and Cindy Franklin take a look at some of their favorite classic horror films, and comics featuring super heroes vs. legendary monsters!

First up is 1935’s masterpiece, Bride of Frankenstein! Boris Karloff returns as the monster, and he demands a mate! Colin Clive is back as reluctant Dr. Henry Frankenstein, forced to return to his mad experiments at the insistence of his own creation, and the devilish Dr. Pretorius. Both are after an Eve for the monster’s Adam. That’s where the Bride, played by Elsa Lanchester comes in! It’s a hair-raising, hissing film experience brought to you by the original master of the macabre, James Whale. Join the Super Mates for a lively discussion on Universal’s finest hour!

Then it’s off to the dusty longboxes, deep in the House of Franklin-stein to pull out Superman #344. The cover by Jose Luis Garcia Lopez (Praise Be His Name) promises a spine-tingling throw-down between the Man of Steel, the Prince of Darkness, and the Modern Prometheus. Does the actual story live up to the hype? It’s by Paul Levitz, Len Wein and Curt Swan…what do you think?

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Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read your comments in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at [email protected]. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed!

Next time: It’s part two of The House of Franklin-Stein! Jump into blood-soaked color with Hammer’s Horror of Dracula! Christopher Lee is one bad-arse vampire, and Peter Cushing is so good as Van Helsing he makes Hugh Jackman cry! Plus, a super hero comic that ties into this movie in a very cool and unexpected way! Be there!

In this episode, Chris and Cindy Franklin gush about the Guardians of the Galaxy, and that segues into discussion on the state of the comic book movie. Where they’ve been, where they are at, and where they are possibly going. Can Marvel Studios do no wrong? Is DC/WB finally getting on track? Will Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice shock and awe us?

Then it’s time to dig into the Super Mates Mail Bag for more feedback from you, our fantastic listeners! Topics include: How bad was that 70s Spidey TV movie? How evil were the Super Enemies? How right were the Justice Lords? Just who is Donna Troy, anyway? And, how does Cindy manage to poke holes in every airtight story she reads?

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Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at [email protected]. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed!

Next time: It’s part one of our Halloween Horror Series, The House of Franklin-Stein! Join us for discussion of the Universal Classic, The Bride of Frankenstein! Plus, one of your favorite super heroes takes on famous monsters!

 

Cindy and Chris Franklin discuss some comic-related movie and toy news from the recent San Diego Comic Con, including the teaser trailer and other reveals for Batman v. Superman: The Dawn of Justice. Also some news on another possible DC hero coming to the screen (if you smell the magic word he may or may not be cooking) and some new merchandise from the soon-to-finally-be-on-DVD-and-BluRay 66 Batman TV series.

 

Then it’s off to the topic at hand; the classic story “Who is Donna Troy?” by Marv Wolfman, George Perez and Romeo Tanghal from New Teen Titans #38, Jan. 1984. Robin uses his detective skills to finally solve the mysteries of Wonder Girl’s buried past. It’s a private, personal story that stands out amongst all the great Titans tales spun during this monumental era. What did the Franklins think of it? Did Cindy use her mutant power to find a plot hole in this long-lauded tale? Listen and find out!

 

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Special thanks to Glen Cadigan for his excellent Titans Companion books from TwoMorrows, which is an invaluable resource on all things Titans!

Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at [email protected]. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

 

 

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! http://www.fireandwaterpodcast.blogspot.com/

 

Next time: The state of comic book movies; where we’ve been, where we are, and what’s to come. Plus, your feedback!

Chris and Cindy squeeze a volcano and end up in a parallel world! Okay, they don’t do that, but Superman does, in the classic World’s Greatest Super Friends episode, “Universe of Evil”! Our Man of Steel must contend with some devil-worshipping Super Enemies, while his evil counterpart makes mincemeat out of our Super Friends. It’s childlike, nonsensical awesomeness!

Then the Super Mates get a little more serious and review the even more classic Justice League episodes, “A Better World, Parts 1 and 2”. Superman murders President Luthor? The Justice League takes over the world? Not quite, but the Justice Lords do, and they want to spread their order to our world (or the Justice League’s anyway). It’s the “evil universe” trope colored in very thought-provoking shades of gray!

Plus, has an evil twin invaded Super Mates HQ (in other words, our house)?

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Be sure to let us know what you think! Are you fans of Super Friends or Justice League? Do you have an evil twin? Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at [email protected]. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

 

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed!

Next time: A classic, stand-out issue from a classic run; “Who is Donna Troy?” from New Teen Titans #38, by Wolfman and Perez!

This episode, Chris and Cindy Franklin are joined by Andrew Leyland of such fine podcasts as Hey Kids, Comics!, The Fantasticast, and Palace of Glittering Delights to discuss Andy’s topic of choice; the 1977 Spider-Man TV pilot film!

Journey with Andy and the Super Mates on a free-wheeling trip back to the decade of polyester and see how the Spidey legend was reinterpreted through 70s eyes…and low TV budgets!

The trio explores the history of the series, and how it measures up to Spidey comics of the time, and contemporary comic-to-TV adaptations like Wonder Woman and the Incredible Hulk. Do they, as Andy would say “take the Mick out of it”? Or do they give it a radioactive thumbs up? Listen on True Believers!!!

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Be sure to let us know what you think! What did you think of this film, and the TV series? Would you like to hear more guests on the show? Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at [email protected]. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

 

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the aforementioned Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! http://www.fireandwaterpodcast.blogspot.com/

 

Next time: Evil Twins episode! Super Friends: Universe of Evil and Justice League: A Better World!

 

Cindy and Chris play Santa Claus and read the letters and comments YOU have sent them. And just like the Jolly One, a lot of these letters are about toys…specifically our 80s Toys episodes. So there is even MORE discussion on great 80s toys like Super Powers, Secret Wars, G.I. Joe, Transformers, M.A.S.K., Masters of the Universe, Jem, Spectra and more!

Oh, and there’s talk of Batman, Star Trek, comics, movies and all sorts of stuff that geeks need to live!

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Thanks to everyone who has written in, and please…send MORE!!!

Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at [email protected]. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris' Deviant Art Page can be found here: Earth 2 Chris Deviant Art Gallery

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the aforementioned Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed!

Next time, Cindy and Chris are joined by Andrew Leyland of Hey Kids, Comics! and the Fantasticast podcasts to discuss the 70s Spider-Man TV pilot movie! FUNKY!!!

In this very special episode, Chris and Cindy Franklin are joined by Chris’ friend and podcasting mentor, Rob Kelly! Rob is the co-host of The Fire and Water Podcast, the writer of the award-winning Ace Kilroy web strip, the editor and compiler of Hey Kids, Comics! True-Life Tales from the Spinner Rack, and one helluva nice guy to boot!

Rob and the Super Mates discuss three Batman tales penned by award-winning television writer and successful novelist, Alan Brennert. Brennert has only written a handful of comics in his career, but all are great gems, and his Batman tales are some of the character's best in his 75 year history.

“To Kill A Legend” from Detective Comics #500: Batman is offered a chance to save his parents in a parallel reality. But should he deny that world a Batman?

“Interlude on Earth-Two” from The Brave and the Bold #182: Batman finds himself mysteriously pulled to the alternate world of Earth-Two… a world where his counterpart has long been dead! He must strike an uneasy alliance with the Robin of that world to stop a vengeful Hugo Strange from destroying Gotham!

“The Autobiography of Bruce Wayne” from The Brave and the Bold #197: Shortly before his tragic death, the Batman of Earth-Two recalls how he came to marry the love of his life…his former foe, the Catwoman!

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Big thanks to Rob for stopping by for a very lively discussion! Be sure to check out Rob’s blogs and podcasts, starting at the Aquaman Shrine, with The Fire and Water Podcast. Do yourself a favor and sample the awesome webstrip that Rob co-created and writes, Ace Kilroy! And you, as a comic fan, owe it to yourself to own and love a copy of Hey Kids, Comics! True LifeTales From the Spinner Rack!

Be sure to let us know what you think! What did you think of these tales? Would you like to hear mor guests on the show? Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at [email protected]. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the aforementioned Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed!

Next time, Cindy and Chris read YOUR comments on past episodes!

In this episode, Chris and Cindy Franklin share two of their favorite comic book mini-series; The Untold Legend of the Batman by Len Wein, John Byrne and Jim Aparo, and The Legend of Wonder Woman by Kurt Busiek and Trina Robbins.

Batman is targeted for destruction by a foe who knows his every secret! The Darknight Detective must reexamine his own history to discover the shocking identity of this merciless tormentor before it is too late!

Listen as Chris and Cindy wade through flashbacks filled with Silver Age retcons, and question how long it takes to build a Batmobile! Plus, how does this thing REALLY end, anyway? It’s apparently open for debate…and they have one!

Then, on to Paradise Island, where Queen Hippolyta mourns the loss of her daughter in the Crisis on Infinite Earths. She gazes back through time to witness Wonder Woman’s battle with the evil Atomia and her subatomic world!

Our hosts delight at Robbins’ great Golden Age-inspired artwork, but bemoan the presence of the most irritating brat ever to grace the comic page…SUZIE!!!

So slide down the Batpole, hop in the Invisible Plane, and join us for a nostalgic trip, deep in the recesses of long boxes everywhere!

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Be sure to let us know what you think! What did you think of these two mini-series, or what’s your opinion on retcons and reboots like Crisis on Infinite Earths? Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at [email protected]. We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the Esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! Check them out here:

http://www.fireandwaterpodcast.blogspot.com/

Next time, Chris and Cindy are joined by Rob Kelly of the Fire and Water podcast to talk about some of the greatest Batman stories ever told, by writer Alan Brennert!

Chris and Cindy Franklin dig deeper into their 80s toy box! Chris waxes poetically about his love for the be-all-end-all of DC toy lines, Kenner’s Super Powers Collection. Oh, yeah, he also mentions its “pretty-in-its-own-way” cousin, Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars. Cindy talks about My Buddy, and of course the conversation must touch upon his demon-spawn, Chucky!

But there’s more! You’ll get fond childhood memories of Care Bears, Transformers, and My Little Pony along the way. Chris laments how M.A.S.K. went Nascar, and Cindy says some truly, truly outrageous things about Jem!

This episode has more 80s goodness than a Trapperkeeper stuffed with a Flock of Seagulls!

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Be sure to let us know what you think! What are your favorite 80s toys? Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at [email protected]. We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the Esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! Check them out here:

http://www.fireandwaterpodcast.blogspot.com/

Next time, Chris and Cindy will discuss two legendary comic mini-series: The Untold Legend of the Batman, and The Legend of Wonder Woman!