Abraham Riesman, the author of "True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee," joins Douglas Wolk to discuss 1964's Fantastic Four Annual #2, the first appearance of Latveria, and the origin of Doctor Doom. Topics include what we know and don't know about Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's working relationship at this point, Lee's unusual interpretation of "diplomatic immunity," the open question of when Doom's mother came into the narrative, and Kirby's uncharacteristically reserved evaluation of what he contributed to Doom's creation.

Patrick A. Reed, comics historian and Associate Curator of the exhibition "Marvel: Universe of Super-Heroes," joins Douglas to discuss Fantastic Four #23. Topics include baby dinosaurs, the peculiar dynamics of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's collaboration at this point, Reed Richards being even more of a jerk than usual, the aptness of the Terrible Trio's name, the astronomical price of ionic dust powder, and what in the name of all that is holy is even happening in the final two pages of the story.

Jay Edidin of "Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men" joins us to discuss the X-Men/Doctor Doom '98 Annual, "Victor Von Doom and the Mystery of Where Babies Come From," the peculiar beard of the Onslaught homunculus, Jean Grey's spotty memory of her Antarctic adventure, what was happening just off-panel while Wolverine was getting eviscerated in "Days of Future Past," the career hazards of seers, and Magneto-clone Joseph's status as a twunk.

Katie Pryde of Books with Pictures joins us to discuss Avengers #1 1/2, published in 1999--although it sort of purports to be from 1963. Topics include the secret origin of Teflon, Doctor Doom's economical reuse of failed death-traps, Bruce Timm's stellar Jack Kirby pastiche, and Hank Pym's ability to turn his worst habits into superpowers.

ScreenCrush.com editor (and Spider-Man expert) Matt Singer joins us to discuss Amazing Spider-Man #5, the vanity of Doom's death-traps, Flash Thompson's man-crush on Spidey, the Fantastic Four's callous disregard for Peter Parker's life, the glories of Steve Ditko's fight choreography, and why Doom would have been an excellent recurring character in Spider-Man comics.

Alex Ross, the author of "Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music," joins us to discuss the role of Wagner's Ring Cycle in Invaders #32-33, whether it's possible to play Wagner's piano music in armored gloves, and whether Thor or Alberich would have been a stronger candidate for plucking out of operatic reality and sending off to attack Stalin.

"Judge Dredd" writer Arthur Wyatt joins us to discuss the utter madness of Fantastic Four #16 and #17, the peculiar physics of the Microverse, the inefficiency of supervillain death traps, and what Doctor Doom has in common with Pete Buttigieg.

Ben Saunders, the director of Comics and Cartoon Studies at the University of Oregon, joins us to discuss Fantastic Four #10, Jack Kirby's expressive command of design and gesture, the debut appearance of Kirby and Lee on panel, and the relationship between the way Mr. Fantastic addresses the Thing in this issue and "The Merchant of Venice."

Dr. Andréa Gilroy (of Books with Pictures Eugene) talks to Douglas about Dr. Doom's first appearance, Fantastic Four #5, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, as well as its retellings in Fantastic Four #236 and Marvel Age Fantastic Four #5. Topics include Doom's rarely seen pet tiger and vulture, his shark-style helicopter, the historical (or rather ahistorical) origins of Blackbeard, the resemblance of Merlin's gems to Infinity Stones, the total absence of Latveria, and why we are made to assume that Doom is a bad guy.