This week on Trade School, Case Aiken dives into The Tick: The Naked City, the collection that first showed him just how weird, smart, and funny The Tick could be on the comics page. Ben Edlund's original series is not just a superhero parody; it is a gleeful dismantling of capes, secret identities, ninjas, publicity-hungry heroes, and the entire idea of what a superhero world is supposed to look like. Listen to the episode, then go read the book. Spoon!

Support us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia

Edited by Case Aiken

Scored by Bret Eagleston

Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com

Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/wcHHer4

FOLLOW US: ▶ Instagram: @certainpovmedia

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:23 Why The Tick Matters 00:42 Discovering the Comic After the Cartoon 01:25 Breaking Down the Collection 02:15 A Night of a Million Zillion Ninjas 02:37 Villains Inc. 02:57 Why the Comedy Works 03:36 Early Tick Character Designs 04:18 The Superman Parody 04:48 The Ninja Story Picks Up 05:04 What Makes the Tick Work 05:42 The Villains Inc. Arc 06:26 Ben Edlund and the Tick's Legacy 07:08 Final Recommendation 07:27 Case's Plugs 08:31 Where to Find Case 09:13 The Word from Tomorrow Promo

For Trade School's 50th episode, Case Aiken, Alan Kistler, and Keith Lehtinen revisit Marvels, the Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross masterpiece that asks what the Marvel Universe looks like to the people on the ground. By filtering iconic moments through photojournalist Phil Sheldon, Marvels turns continuity into lived history and spectacle into something emotional, terrifying, and beautiful. It's one of the best arguments ever made for why superhero comics matter.

Support us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia

Edited by Case Aiken

Scored by Bret Eagleston

Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com

Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/wcHHer4

FOLLOW US: ▶ Instagram: @certainpovmedia

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Welcome and 50th Episode Intro 00:54 Introducing Marvels 01:55 Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross 04:43 Alex Ross's Legacy 05:08 Case's History with Marvels 08:24 Keith's History with Marvels 09:57 Alan's History with Marvels 15:29 Comics Looking Back at Comics 18:55 The '90s and Reassessing Heroes 25:34 The Human Torch Prologue 27:17 The 1940s Issue 33:28 Fear of the Marvels 39:02 The Marvels Become Heroes 43:43 Phil, Doris, and the Sub-Mariner 44:23 The Tidal Wave 47:19 Phil Loses His Eye 48:24 The Marvels Go to War 49:02 The Mutant Issue 55:24 The X-Men and Anti-Mutant Fear 58:38 Alicia Masters' Gala 01:00:11 Maggie the Mutant Girl 01:01:27 The Fantastic Four Wedding and the Sentinels 01:06:21 The Sentinel Riot 01:09:40 The Galactus Issue 01:12:22 Phil Steps Back 01:17:08 Galactus and the Fantastic Four 01:22:45 People Doubt the Marvels 01:25:01 Gwen Stacy 01:28:38 Keith on Gwen Stacy 01:32:57 Gwen and the Green Goblin 01:35:02 The Snap 01:37:26 Phil Retires 01:39:25 The Marvels Epilogue 01:45:07 Phil's Family and Perspective 01:47:27 Final Thoughts on Marvels 01:50:01 Recommendation 01:52:02 Keith's Plugs 01:52:58 Alan's Plugs 01:54:39 Case's Plugs 01:55:51 50th Episode Wrap-Up 01:56:34 Long Live the Legion Promo

We're back with another episode of Trade School! This time, we're talking about Hulk: Gray! Our host this week is Logan Crowley!

Support us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia

Edited by Case Aiken

Scored by Bret Eagleston

Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com

Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/wcHHer4

FOLLOW US: ▶ Instagram: @certainpovmedia

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:45 Why Hulk: Gray 01:37 Tim Sale's Hulk 02:46 Hulk and Banner as One Person 03:45 Thunderbolt Ross 04:37 Betty Ross 05:36 Rick Jones 06:26 Why Hulk: Gray Works 07:04 Final Recommendation 07:32 Single Bound Promo

We're back with another episode of Trade School! This time, we're talking about Batman: Strange Apparitions! Our host this week is John Patrick Bray!

Find John Patrick Bray: www.johnpatrickbray.com Find his work at New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/4173/john-patrick-bray

Support us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia

Edited by Case Aiken

Scored by Bret Eagleston

Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com

Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/wcHHer4

FOLLOW US: ▶ Instagram: @certainpovmedia

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:08 Introducing Strange Apparitions 00:55 Batman Gets Serious Again 01:37 Dr. Phosphorus 02:23 Batman Becomes an Outlaw 03:14 Hugo Strange 04:05 Strange's Auction 04:51 Penguin and Deadshot 05:32 Silver St. Cloud Knows 06:17 The Laughing Fish 07:02 Joker's Attack and Silver's Choice 07:41 Clayface and Bruce's Conflict 08:24 Strange Apparitions' Legacy 09:07 Batman 1989 Connections 09:58 Batman: The Animated Series 10:46 Final Recommendation 11:42 Long Live the Legion Promo

We're back with another episode of Trade School! This time, we're talking about The Thing: The King of Yancy Street! Our host this week is Logan Crowley!

Support us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia

Edited by Case Aiken

Scored by Bret Eagleston

Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com

Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/wcHHer4

FOLLOW US: ▶ Instagram: @certainpovmedia

⏱️ YouTube Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:45 Understanding Ben Grimm 01:32 Tony Fleecs and the Character Work 02:27 The Missing Niece 03:23 An '80s Marvel Throwback 04:19 Ben's Moral Conflict 05:11 Final Recommendation 05:31 Single Bound Promo

We're back with another episode of Trade School! This time, we're talking about Teen Titans: Raven! Our host this week is Keith Lehtinen!

Support us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia

Edited by Case Aiken

Scored by Bret Eagleston

Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com

Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/wcHHer4

FOLLOW US: ▶ Instagram: @certainpovmedia

⏱️ YouTube Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Keith's Story 00:49 Discovering a Fellow DC Fan 01:23 Introducing Teen Titans: Raven 02:13 The YA Teen Titans Series 03:04 Raven's New Origin 03:49 Sharing the Books with Ella 04:27 Final Recommendation and Keith's Plugs 05:20 We Have Issues Promo

We're back with another episode of Trade School! This time, we're talking about Titans: Scissors, Paper, Stone! Our host this week is Case Aiken!

Support us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia

Edited by Case Aiken

Scored by Bret Eagleston

Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com

Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/wcHHer4

FOLLOW US: ▶ Instagram: @certainpovmedia

⏱️ YouTube Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:58 Discovering Titans: Scissors, Paper, Stone 01:49 Sharing the Book in High School 02:37 Adam Warren and the Art Style 04:26 The Cyberpunk University Setting 05:19 Witchy Poo and Reality-Bending Magic 06:18 Playing Superhero Tropes 07:05 Captain Thug and the Batman Upload 08:45 Prosthetic Glass 10:58 Dead Pretty Boy 11:47 The Kaiju War Machine 13:38 Why the Book Stuck 15:07 Where to Find It Now 15:50 Final Recommendation 16:36 Case's Plugs 18:04 Submit to Trade School 18:28 The Word from Tomorrow Promo

We're back with another episode of Trade School! This time, we're talking about Superman: Emperor Joker! Our host this week is Anthony Desiato!

Support us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia

Edited by Case Aiken

Scored by Bret Eagleston

Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com

Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/wcHHer4

FOLLOW US: ▶ Instagram: @certainpovmedia

⏱️ YouTube Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:46 Why Emperor Joker Stands Out 01:36 The Story's Premise 02:24 The Original Joker Reveal 03:37 Collection History 04:21 Batman's Role in a Superman Story 05:05 Superman's Choice 05:45 Mxyzptlk and Emperor Joker's Legacy 06:25 Bizarro, Scorch, and Ignition 07:11 Final Recommendation 07:59 Digging for Kryptonite Promo

We're back with another episode of Trade School! This time, we're talking about Astro City: The Tarnished Angel! Our host this week is Logan Crowley!

Support us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia

Edited by Case Aiken

Scored by Bret Eagleston

Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com

Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/wcHHer4

FOLLOW US: ▶ Instagram: @certainpovmedia

⏱️ YouTube Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Trade School 00:43 Introducing Astro City: Tarnished Angel 01:46 Steeljack and the Ex-Con Perspective 02:46 Superheroes, Reputation, and Reintegration 03:44 The Forgotten Villains of Astro City 04:39 Steeljack Becomes the Investigator 05:27 What Makes Steeljack a Hero 06:14 Steeljack's Design and Visual Metaphor 07:05 A Mystery Worth Preserving 07:55 Why Tarnished Angel Stands Alone 08:31 Final Recommendation 09:05 Single Bound Promo

We're back with another episode of Trade School! This time, we're talking about Punisher MAX! Our host this week is Jesse Fresco!

Support us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia

Edited by Case Aiken

Scored by Bret Eagleston

Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com

Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/wcHHer4

FOLLOW US: ▶ Instagram: @certainpovmedia

⏱️ YouTube Chapters

00:00 – Intro 00:08 – Jesse Fresco Returns 00:42 – The Autumn Frost Novels 01:17 – Why Jesse Loves Punisher MAX 02:25 – What Made Marvel's MAX Imprint Different 04:44 – Frank Castle's Code and the Best Story Arcs 06:24 – Garth Ennis, Politics, and the Character's Legacy 07:51 – The Rest of the Punisher MAX Line 09:23 – Why Frank Castle Is More Complex Than He Appears 11:04 – Why Punisher MAX Still Holds Up 12:44 – The Perfect Ending for the Punisher 15:06 – Promo: Long Live the Legion