Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving! And on this day of days we bring you issue 50: a double-sized offering in which three Alphans depart the team, two of whom get their pasts rather aggressively reimagined. And Loki’s here. There’s a lot going on.

In this episode, Chris:

• brings up the Siege Perilous, which Tom definitely didn’t see coming
• and then almost rage quits over the Knapp/Kara Killgrave…escalations
• gets real excited during some listener mail that mentions Emo Philips

and Tom:

• misses some obvious Shakespeare jokes: he’ll do better next time
• and then almost rage quits over the Knapp/Kara Killgrave…escalations
• gives Mantlo some due; not flowers, but a curt nod

Issue covered:
Alpha Flight #50 - “This Mortal Coil” - cover date September 1987
Writer is Bill Mantlo
Artists are June Brigman and Whilce Portacio
Letterer is Janice Chiang
Colorer is Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts 
and Editor in Chief is Jim Shooter

Why Not Read Alpha Flight is brought to you by listeners like you who subscribe to our Patreon, and by the Roxxon Energy Corporation, who wishes all our listeners a Happy Canadian Thanksgiving.  Was your turkey a time-intensive hassle?  Between thawing, cooking, and basting, making a thanksgiving turkey can take days.  Well, A wise man once said that every frozen pizza in the grocery store is cooked to perfection at a certain distance from a nuclear blast and Roxxon has taken this insight and applied it to turkeys.  So if you’ve got a minimum of 5 acres and a Nuclear Regulatory Agency license to handle plutonium, you can cook your next turkey in a literal flash with Roxxon’s Turkey Nooker.  You will need to have a minimum diameter of 10 acres of continuous land you both own and don’t care about to use the Turkey Nooker.  

Support for this podcast also comes from the Excelsior Embroidery Company, turning thread into thunder creating original iron-on patches with a flair for punk, niche memes, and comic book chaos!  Every piece is stitched with style, sarcasm, and just a dash of superhuman flair.    From tea towels to tote bags, if it can hold a stitch, it can hold a story!  You can see a hundred designs at excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com where Listeners of Why Not can use the coupon code WN503 to get 50 percent off when you order any 3 items from the etsy store.  When Company’s coming over, bring out the good towels.  Excelsior!

Order a copy of True North here!

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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Another two-fer this episode as we bring to a close our time with Roger Bochs. Y’know, given the way things were going, this might not be the worst possible…nah, this is still a pretty bad way to go out. Plus: Whitman Knapp shoots up the “worst character” rankings; Aurora is barely in either issue; and Wanda Langkowski works her way into our hearts.

In this episode, Chris:

• provides a great update on his Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough
• needs to be more careful about what links he clicks
• suddenly has A LOT of voices to do

and Tom:

• suggests there may have been some ghostwriting during Mantlo’s run: just, you know, saying things on the internet
• may also have incriminated himself in the destruction of a beloved kids restaurant franchise
• makes quite assertion vis-a-vis the English language

Issues covered:
Alpha Flight #48 - cover date July 1987 - “Madness”
Script by Bill Mantlo
Pencils by Terry Shoemaker
Inks by Steve Leialoha and Hillary Barta
Letters by Ken Bruzenak
Colors by Glynnis Oliver
Editor is Carl Potts
and James Shooter as Editor in Chief

Alpha Flight #49 - cover date August 1987 - “Flesh of My Flesh”
Script by Bill Mantlo
Pencils by June Brigman
Inks by Wilce Portacio
Letters by Janice Chiang
Colors by Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts
and Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief 

Why Not?! Read Alpha Flight is brought to you by listeners like you who subscribe to our Patreon, and by the Excelsior Embroidery Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Roxxon Energy Corporation, which is celebrating its 88th anniversary this year by releasing 14 different collectible coins highlighting the company’s role in American history. Roxxon: as American as Apple pie.

As part of the celebration, Excelsior Embroidery Company has released a new patch that is He-Man’s face from that YouTube video where he sings 4 Non Blondes terribly. You can see this and a hundred more designs at excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com. Listeners of Why Not can use the coupon code WN503 to get 50 percent off when you order any 3 items from the etsy store. Remember, when Company’s coming over, bring out the good towels. Excelsior!

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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After a few short-er episodes, we’ve got a bit of a doozy for your ears this week. Two, count ‘em two!, issues of that Alpha Flight…goodness. In which we watch Roger Bochs change in all so many terrible ways! And the return of Tom’s bete orange in a very different form. There’s a lot to go over and even more to say in episodes to come, so onwards!

In this episode, Chris:

• welcomes back his favorite character
• notes the distinctive faces new artist June Brigman brings to the team
• thinks he’s cracked the code re: some of the more uneven qualities of these issues

and Tom:

• is very professional about the return of his least favorite character
• who, Tom notes, isn’t the worst part of these issues
• has some fun bringing the “Scramble!” voice back

Issues covered:
Alpha Flight #45 - cover date April 1987 - “Resurrection”
Script by Bill Mantlo
Pencils by newcomer June Brigman
Inks by Wilce Portacio
Letters by Jim Novak
Colors by Bob Sharen
Edited by Carl Potts
with Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Alpha Flight #46 - cover date May 1987 - “Friends…and lovers”
Same creative team as #45

Why Not Read Alpha Flight is brought to you by listeners like you who subscribe to our Patreon, and by the Excelsior Embroidery Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Roxxon Energy Corporation, proud sponsor of the Texas National Guard’s 2025 Tour of Chicago. You can get in on the fun by informing on your brown neighbors, or by coming down to Navy Pier to see the new exhibit on Warcrimes Through The Ages, a joint production of Roxxon with the Carl Jeppson Company, makers of Malort.

And as usual, the Excelsior Embroidery Company is here to help outfit you for whatever your 2025 Tour of Chicago adventure brings, with lots of new patches suitable to the season available 24/7 at excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com. I’m particularly proud of the GOP Delenda Est in white block serif letters on a red background, really befuddles the folks who haven’t read a book since they left high school. Listeners of Why Not can use the coupon code WN503 to get 50 percent off when you order any 3 items from the etsy store. When Company’s coming over, bring out the good towels. Excelsior!

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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Short but impactful one this week as we bid farewell to a founding member of Alpha Flight…looks like that Dead Alphans list is gonna grow a bit in Episode 34! We also get more amazing characterization for Madison Jeffries, the continuation of miserable Puck, and, well, a lot of other characters are…there. Oh, and Bochs having the Bends gets resolved in 5ish panels.

Like we said, an impactful one.

In this episode, Chris:

• references Rush of all bands; just struck Tom as surprising
• in the Watchmen-like vs not-Watchmen-like comics dividing line, Chris puts the initial 12 issues on the Watchmen-like side of the line
• is totally getting hosed by Roxxon

and Tom:

• makes a very specific Simpsons reference that the old heads will have never forgotten
• seems to be accepting that Walt will return and is maybe at peace with it (he’s not)
• on which note, he may or may not be in the next episode: tune in to find out!

Issue discussed:

Alpha Flight #44 - “Plague [Exclamation Point]” - cover date March 1987
Script by Bill Mantlo
Pencils by Dave Ross (for the last time)
Inks by Whilce Portacio
Letters by Jim Novak
Colors by Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts
Editor in Chief is Jim Shooter

It’s back to school season and Chris’s youngest picked a minimalist Superman backpack on her own and asked me to make her a Krytpo patch, which I did.  Along with a Devil Dinosaur and Jeff the Shark patch.  You can see picks of the coolest backpack in 3rd grade by following Excelsior Embroidery on Bluesky and Instagram. You can also see my “Being Kind is Punk Rock” patch now on sale by going to excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com.  Listeners of why not can use the coupon code WN503 to get 50 percent off when you order any 3 items from the Etsy store.  When Company’s coming over, bring out the good towels.  Excelsior!

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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Just one issue this week but it’s a doozy as we get another situation designed to keep Kara Killgrave on the straight and narrow. Really: that feels like the only reason we get this villain this month. But! We do get some interesting characterization for Misssster Jeffries (who might be extremely overpowered?!) and there’s a decent chance Roger Bochs will stop having the bends sometime soon. Maybe.

In this episode, Chris:

• takes an unnecessary shot at the USPS right from jump, but reels it right back in
• accurately conveys how bonkers terrifying tornadoes are
• rails against Mantlo’s…inconsistency (don’t be mostly frustrating if you can actually be quite good; it’s confusing and upsetting!)

and Tom:

• might do decent voicework but is no Michael Winslow
• suggests the twins have at least one additional mutant power
• is enjoying Madison Jeffries quite a bit

Issue discussed:
Alpha Flight #43 - “Strike Across the Border!” - cover date February 1987
Story by Bill Mantlo
Pencils by Dave Ross
Inks by Wilce Portacio
Letters by Ken Brusenak
Colors by Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts and
Editor in Chief is Jim Shooter

Why Not?! Read Alpha Flight with Chris and Tom is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Roxxon Energy Corporation. Listeners of Why Not?! can go to https://excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com and use the code WHYNOT20 to get 20% off any 2 items. When Company Is Coming Over, Bring Out the Good Towels!  Excelsior!

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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We’re back to our regularly scheduled episodes and in this one we cover three issues, including one of our least favorite to date, Marvel Fanfare #28. Just a very odd, unnecessary story. But! We also meet Purple Girl AND witness the return of Beta Flight! Mantlo’s really starting to put his stamp on this book and it is absolutely motoring along.

In this episode, Chris:

• really doesn’t want to waste time talking about Marvel Fanfare #28
• …and makes some good points as to why we shouldn’t
• offers some honest-to-God science facts by way of The Far Side

and Tom:

• gives a brief Canadian history lesson
• gets in some quality work on Walt while the getting is good
• pulls in a ringer for some voice work

Issues discussed:
Marvel Fanfare #28 - “Murder By Numbers” - cover date September 1986
Written by Bill Mantlo
Everything else (pencils, inks, letters, colors) by Ken Steacy
Edited by Al Milgrom
Editor in Chief is Jim Shooter

Alpha Flight #41 - “It’s Not Easy Being Purple” - cover date December 1986
Written by Bill Manto
Pencilled by David Ross
Inked by Wilce Portacio
Lettered by Jim Novak
Colored by Bob Sharen
Edited by Carl Potts
Editor in Chief is Jim Shooter

Alpha Flight #42 - “Auction” - cover date January 1987
same creative team as #41

Why Not?! Read Alpha Flight with Chris and Tom is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Roxxon Energy Corporation. Listeners of Why Not?! can go to https://excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com and use the code WHYNOT20 to get 20% off any 2 items. When Company Is Coming Over, Bring Out the Good Towels!  Excelsior!

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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Happy summer, folks! We pulled together something akin to a double-sized issue: we dig into Alpha Flight Annual #1 (which might be both of our favorite single issue) and have a conversation with Professor Joseph A. Stramondo on disability, ableism, and the word “cripple”. It’s a fascinating conversation and one we’re sure you’re going to enjoy.

In this episode, Chris:

• creates the AI that will kill us all
• makes an unexpected musical reference
• wonders who even designed Mansion Alpha

and Tom:

• pulls off a perfect terrible Skeletor
• invokes the rule of cool
• finds himself, sort of?, missing Walt; at least as a foil to Puck

Issue discussed:
Alpha Flight Annual #1 - “Homebody” - cover date May 1986
Script by Bill Mantlo
Layouts by Larry Stroman
Finished by Gerry Talaoc
Letters by Janice Chiang
Colors by Bob Sharen
Editing by Carl Potts
Editor in Chiefing by Jim Shooter

Why Not Read Alpha Flight is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company, part of the Roxxon Energy Corporation family.   Listeners of Why Not?! can go to excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com and use the code WHYNOT20 to get 20% off any 2 items in the Etsy store and a free Alpha Flight patch.  When company’s coming over, bring out the good towels. Excelsior!

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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This summer has been busy, y'all, and with our presentation at The Uncanny Experience right around the corner we thought we'd drop another tasty treat from behind ye olde Patreon wall into the feed this week: our true to the movie's runtime conversation about Thunderbolts*. Which we both really liked! A lot! Plus, it's now available for digital rental or purchase (that simulacrum of actual ownership) and out on DVD end of the month (that's the good stuff!), so the timing makes sense...right?!

In two weeks we have our Slammin' Summer Special and it's going to be a doozy. Which also means you have to wait just a bit longer to hear how Tom feels about Northstar...fighting an alligator?!?!

Stay cool folks, hope you enjoy the listen, and make sure you start playing the episode right as the credits go black so our audio syncs with the movie Dark Side of the Moon-style.

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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In this episode we finally catch up with everyone’s favorite fish lady from Newfoundland, MARRINA! And, really, we do. Not messing with you. Which also means we have to spend time with no one’s favorite Atlantean…Namor. He brought some friends with, though, in the form of the 1986 Avengers! It’s a team-up!

In this episode, Chris:

• does a pretty good Namor
• wants more realistic sea floor battles, which is an interesting request
• says “Mr. Jeffries” waaaay too much

and Tom:

• absolutely crushes his Northstar
• makes a Simpsons reference Chris totally misses
• is seeing innuendos everywhere these days…

Issues discussed:
Alpha Flight #39 - “The Invasion of Atlantis!” cover date Oct 1986
Writer is Bill Mantlo
Penciler is David Ross
Inkter is Wilce Portacio
Letterer is Jim Novak
Colorer is Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts
Editor in Chief is Jim Shooter

Avengers #272 - “Assault on Atlantis” - cover date October 1986.  
Writer is Roger Stern
Breakdowns by John Buscema
Finished Art by Tom Palmer
Letterer is Jim Novak
Colorist is Paul Becton
Editor is Mark Gruenwald
Editor in Chief is Jim Shooter

Alpha Flight #40 - “Love” - cover date November 1986
same team as #39

Excelsior Embroidery Company continues to celebrate Pride month by rolling out even more variations on the classic X-Men icon, one of which came from a listener who asked “Can you take the bisexual flag colors and make it less flag like and also have it reflect my love of Gambit?” To which I replied: Say less, fam, I gotchu.

Check out this design and more at excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com.  Listeners of Why Not can use the code WHYNOT20 to get 20% off any 2 items in the Etsy store and a free Alpha Flight patch.  When company’s coming over, bring out the good towels. Excelsior!

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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Episode 29: “What Color Is Your Sasquatch?”

Welcome to Episode 29, in which we wrap up Snowbird’s magical mystery pregnancy, encounter a real-life tale of Arctic exploration gone wrong (redundant, really, that “gone wrong”) made mystical(?!), and run into Talisman again. And, y’know what? Chris may have had a point about her. But maybe don’t mention that to him such that it goes to his head.

Very much not in this episode? Marrina! But probably next time. Maybe.

In this episode, Chris:

• gives some solid advice re: best practices when one’s partner is giving birth (short version: do what you’re told)
• acknowledges that there’s nothing subtle about Aurora’s…depiction here
• makes some choice selections vis-a-vis audio gags (try and figure out which ones are his!)

and Tom:

• tries something new to memorialize le morte de Waltair
• takes us on quite the diversion re: The Terror and Dan Simmons
• gets why The Doug is so upset, just can’t give him too much credit since he’s way too much of a dick about it

Issues covered:

Alpha Flight #37 - “Death Birth” - cover date August 1986
Writer is Bill Mantlo
Penciler is David Ross
Letter is Jim Novak
Colorist is Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts 
Editor in Chief is Jim Shooter

Alpha Flight #38 “Pestilence!” - cover date September 1986
Writer is Bill Mantlo
Penciler is David Ross
Letter is Jim Novak
Colorist is Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts 
Editor in Chief is Jim Shooter

Roxxon also wishes all the listeners of Why Not?! A happy Pride Month with Excelsior’s X-Men icon with a transflag background on a color appropriate trucker hat, perfect for keeping the hot sun off your dome at the scaled-down Pride fest in your city that Roxxon refused to sponsor this year.  Check out this design and more at excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com.  Listeners of Why Not can use the code WHYNOT20 to get 20% off any 2 items in the Etsy store.

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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