Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 18: “Holiday Spectacular”

It’s the holiday season and in that spirit we’ve got a festive episode! We take a delightful romp through a decades old Marvel Handbook, discuss the ONLY Alpha Flight issue that takes place at Christmas, and unveil some outtakes that simply did not make it into the show…until now! We keep it pretty light this episode and hope you can enjoy this with your preferred holiday beverage among the folks you value in your life. Or while doing the dishes. Whichever!

And we’ve launched a Patreon! First bit of extra content is up with a Have a Drink episode about Tom’s favorite movie: Highlander. Another goes up later this week! Click here to sign up and, if you’d be so kind, do tell all your friends!

Lastly, a very heartfelt and full-throated thank you from us to you. We’ve had a great time making this podcast and the response has been fantastic. Thanks for coming along on this ride with us and here’s to another year with everyone’s favorite Canadian superheroes!

In this episode, Chris:

• Wonders just how many D batteries it would take to incinerate hisself
• Has an incredible time performing NPR/CBC style pledge appeals
• Only mentions MANTLO!!! once: a holiday miracle!

and Tom:

• Manages not to seize the means of production
• Marvels at the assertions made as to how Guardian’s suit worked…until, you know, it didn’t
• Unveils a new sponsor for the show!

Issues covered:
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (1983)

CLASSIC X_MEN #16 - “Home Are the Heroes” - cover date December 1987
Script by Chris Claremont
Penciled by Kieron Dwyer
Inked by Terry Austin
Lettered by Ken Lopez
Colored by Petra Scotese and/or Glynis Oliver

Classic X-Men #26 - “Wanted: Wolverine, Dead or Alive!” - cover date October 1988
Script by Chris Claremont
Penciled by Kieron Dwyer
Inked by Terry Austin
Lettered by Tom Orzechowski
Colored by Gregory Wright

Classic X-Men #27 - “Shoot Out At the Stampede” - cover date November 1988
Script by Chris Claremont
Penciled by Kieron Dwyer
Inked by Terry Austin
Lettered by Ken Lopez

Alpha Flight #105 - “The Bachelor Party”
Credits read: Lobdell / Morgan / Icy / Chiang / Sharen / Chase / Defalco
(which should mean: writing/pencils/inks/letters/editing)

Why Not?! is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company! Get a jump on next-Christmas shopping with a variety of classic and cheeky designs. See these and more at excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com.

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment or email us at [email protected]; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

Special theme music: "Oi to the World” as recorded by Tequila and the Sunrise Gang

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

Follow us on these platforms:
Instagram
TikTok
Imgur
YouTube
Patreon

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 17: “I’ve Seen That Movie”

Bit of a mishmash, this episode: an Aurora/Northstar adventure (really hope those kids work things out!), a Shaman guest appearance in Iron Man of all things, and a bit of Canadian political history (by a bit, we mean a lot). We also briefly touch on music and how comic book writers like to put real-world bands/songs/titles into their work (we see you Byrne and Claremont!). A regular smorgasbord of Why Not goodness.

And we’ve launched a Patreon! First bit of extra content is up with a Have a Drink episode about Tom’s favorite movie: Highlander. Click here to sign up and, if you’d be so kind, do tell all your friends!

In this episode, Chris:

• Uses a construction that compares MANTLO!!! to Voldemort
• Suggests not kidnapping and murdering in support of your political cause
• Does a more than passable Northstar voice
• Makes a devastating, yet accurate, assessment of psychiatric counseling

and Tom:

• Continues to argue that Box didn’t kill Guardian, Guardian killed Guardian
• Drops some French-Canadian history
• Knows Chris won’t admit it: Walt made Aurora’s life demonstrably worse
• Makes an old internet cat girl meme reference (see if you catch it)

Issues covered:
Alpha Flight #22 - “Rub Out” - cover date May 1985
Written and drawn dramatically by John Byrne
Embellished Enthusiastically by Bob Wiacek
Colored Prismatically by Andy Yanchus
Lettered Alphabetically by Rick Parker
Edited Diplomatically by Dennis O’Neil
Observed Enigmatically by Jim Shooter

Iron Man #195 - “The Thing Most Precious” - cover date June 1985
Written by Denny O’Neil
Penciled by Luke McDonnell
Inked by Akin & Garvey
Lettered by Rick Parker
Colored by Bob Sharen
Edited by Mark Gruenwald
Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Iron Man #196 - [no title?!?!] - cover date July 1985
Written by Denny O’Neil
Penciled by Rich Buckler
Inked by Akin & Garvey
Lettered by Rick Parker
Colored by Bob Sharen
Edited by Mark Gruenwald
Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Why Not?! is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company! Get a jump on Christmas shopping with a variety of classic and cheeky designs. See these and more at excelsioremmroidery.etsy.com.

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment or email us at [email protected]; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

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

Follow us on these platforms:
Instagram
TikTok
Imgur
YouTube
Patreon

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 16: “Langkowski Island”

Yeah, we recorded this the week of the US election and, honestly, this was a bright spot during a crap time! Hoping it offers that to y’all, too!

And we’re launching a Patreon! First bit of extra content hits this Thursday with a Have a Drink episode about Tom’s favorite movie: Highlander. Click here to sign up and, if you’d be so kind, do tell all your friends!

In this episode, Chris:

• brings up Scooby-Doo. More than once
• gives some naval officer ranking info
• suggests Jim Shooter has some serious poetry chops
• makes a very modern Lt. Dan reference that this listenership will absolutely get
• might want a remake of the Stapleton standard, “Tennessee Whiskey”, to something a bit more…Canadian

and Tom:

• can’t believe he has to spend an episode talking about mostly Walt and his nepo baby lifestyle
• does an ungodly amount of Aurora voicework: you’re welcome!
• rechristens Byrne from “John” to “Jean”
• decides Walt isn’t a scientist but rather an alchemist
• recommends a couple books and does some John Donne analysis: exactly what you come to this podcast for!

Issues covered:
Alpha Flight #20 - “Gold and Love Affairs” - cover date March 1985
Written and Art by John Byrne
Background inks by Keith Williams
Lettered by Rick Parker
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Edited by Denny O’Neil
Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Alpha Flight #21 - “Love Wrought New Alchemy,...” - cover date April 1985
Story and pencils by John Byrne
Inked by Bob Wiacek
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Lettered by Rick Parker
Edited by Dennis O’Neil
Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Why Not?! is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company! Get a jump on Christmas shopping with a variety of classic and cheeky designs. See these and more at excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com.

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment or email us at [email protected]; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

Novels recommended:

You Dreamed of Empires by Alvaro Enrigue, translated by Natasha Wimmer
Civilizations by Laurent Binet, translated by Sam Taylor

Poetry by John Donne cited:

A Nocturnal Upon St. Lucy’s Day
Love’s Alchemy

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

Follow us on these platforms:
Instagram
TikTok
Imgur
YouTube
Patreon

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 15: “Prom Night Theme: Alphalutin’ Flight”

In which we do SO MUCH voicework. And journey back 100 years to Calgary’s past and close the loop on Lucas Stang and Ranaq, the Great Devourer. Get more questions than answers on Elizabeth Twoyoungmen’s powers (normal). Spend an inordinate amount of time talking language. 

In this episode, Chris:

• is shocked at how much time is spent discussing the meaning of the verb “hock”
• really doesn’t like Talisman’s costume
• delivers a great reminder vis-a-vis prophylactics

and Tom:

• edits out WAY more political jokes/comments than you’ll ever know: this was recorded in the beforetimes
• “waxes” poetic about Buckaroo Bonzai
• argues against Chris’s superhero costume sensibilities

Issue covered:

Alpha Flight #19 - “Turn Again, Turn Again Time In Thy Flight…” - cover date February 1985
Created, Written and Art by John Byrne
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Lettered by Rick Parker
Edited by Denny O’Neil and Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Why Not?! is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company! Get a jump on Christmas shopping with a variety of classic and cheeky designs. See these and more at excelsioremmroidery.etsy.com.

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment or email us at [email protected]; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

Works cited:

Elizabeth Akers Allen, “Rock Me To Sleep”
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52071/rock-me-to-sleep

HAMLET: “How long will a man lie in the earth `ere he rot?"
Hamlet, 5.1.168

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

Follow us on these platforms:
Instagram
TikTok
Imgur
YouTube
Patreon

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 14: “Friday, Marrina Is Depressed”

We’re doing something different this episode as we venture away from Alpha Flight proper and address Marrina’s appearance in Power Pack. To help us understand what it is we’re reading, we’re joined by Jeff and Rick of The Unpacking the Power of Power Pack Podcast. In this issue of Power Pack, Marrina teams up with the Power Pack to handle Snake-Eyes, the giant snake The Collector had on his ship, and manages to not…really…contribute, but my goodness does she mope.

Jeff and Rick are great, WE have a great time, they give us the cliffsnotes on the Power siblings, “the big guns of the Marvel Universe” (no, really: Spider-Man said so and given their abilities, he ain’t wrong), and we think you’ll enjoy the shenanigans committed, jokes made, and friendships forged along the way.

In this episode, Chris:

• learns that Black Bolt is a brony
• and agrees that Northstar would find Black Bolt’s stand-offishness…interesting
• gets to properly nerd out about how great Louise Simonson is

and Tom:

• now knows for a fact there are some fun books out there that don’t involve…Walt
• doesn’t do voicework, but hears some of the best he’s heard from Jeff and has a new standard to strive toward
• seriously, the lack of Walt is liberating

Issue covered:
Power Pack #10 - “Sea Hunt!” - cover date May 1985
Written by Louise Simonson
Penciled by Brent Anderson
Inked by Bob Wiacek
Colored by Glynis Wein
Lettered by Joe Rosen
Edited by Carl Potts and Jim Shooter as Editor In Chief

And for more from Jeff and Rick, here are some links!:

• Facebook
• Jeff and Rick Present (@jeffandrickpresent.bsky.social) — Bluesky
• Jeff and Rick Present – Unpacking the Power of Power Pack – Analyzing awesome and amazing adolescent adventures and absorbing alcohol!
• Tales of Tails! – Jeff and Rick Present
• The Hero Initiative

If you like what we’re doing you should absolutely give their podcast a follow on your preferred podcatcher. And if you like them and are now meeting us: WELCOME! We hope you’ll stick around!

Our good buddy G also gets a mention in this episode. We’re behind (currently) in releasing the playlists he’s made for the podcast, but do give him a follow on Spotify.

Why Not?! is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company! Come check out the nearly 100 new items listed. Get a jump on Christmas shopping with a variety of classic and cheeky designs. See these and more at excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com.

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment or email us at [email protected]; we love to (try to) answer your question

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

Follow us on these platforms:
Instagram
TikTok
Imgur
YouTube
Patreon

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 13: “...Worth Two Twoyoungmen in the Bush”

In which almost everyone has a heart-to-heart except for maybe the people that really should (Shaman and his daughter; Aurora and Northstar). We also manage to hang out in 4-5 cities across Canada, so, you know, normal-AF.

In this episode, Chris:

• suggests #waltwasright and isn’t totally wrong
• …until #waltisanass becomes the better hashtag
• comments on Walt’s…laissez faire?...attitude?...re: university equipment

and Tom:

• is very much proven right about Walt
• goes in on Walt’s ethics (seriously, the guy is barely in these issues and yet somehow still manages to suck. A lot)
• unveils some amazing voice work, which almost kills Chris

Issues covered:
Alpha Flight #17 - “Dreams Die Hard…” - cover date December 1984
John Byrne is credited as Creator / Chronicler
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Lettered by Joe Rosen
Edited by Denny O’Neil with Jim Shooter as Editor In Chief
And some credits to Chris Claremont and Terry Austin for the pages reprinted from their work on X-Men

Alpha Flight #18 - “How Long Will A Man Lie In The Earth ‘Ere He Rot?” - cover date January 1985
Written and penciled by John Byrne
Inked by Bob Wiacek
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Lettered by Rick Parker
Edited by Denny O’Neil with Jim Shooter as editor in chief

Why Not?! is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company! Come check out the nearly 100 new items listed, including a full line of Halloween themed towels and wall hangers.  Get a jump on Christmas shopping with a variety of classic and cheeky designs. See these and more at excelsioremmroidery.etsy.com. 

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment or email us at [email protected]; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

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

Follow us on these platforms:
Instagram
TikTok
Imgur
YouTube
Patreon

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 12: “See No Crystar, Speak No Spider-Man, Hear No Marrina”

SIDE QUESTS! This episode we dig into two issues that present more…ephemera(?!) in Alpha Flight’s history. And while the second issue discussed is just plain bizarre, the first one featuring everyone’s favorite friendly neighborhood superhero is an absolute delight. Oh, and we added more sound effects.

In this episode, Chris:

• is really into the idea of an Aunt May podcast (you can make this happen!)
• may or may not want to make a throuple with the Simonsons
• goes on another helmet related rant, which Tom promptly crushes
• delights in what an absolute pro Louise Simonson is. Seriously, she crushes it

and Tom:

• “adjusts” the Marvel cosmic-being pantheon
• makes Chris sad by imagining a world where Louise Simonson took over Alpha Flight after Byrne
• imagines another, better world where Brian K. Vaughan writes a version of The Saga of Crystar, Crystal Warrior
• wonders right along with you, dear listeners, why opera gloves are a thing Chris would even mention

Issues covered:
Marvel Team Up Annual #7, - “The Collected Spider-Man” - cover date Halloween 1984
Written by Louise SImonson
Penciled by Paul Neary
Inked by Dam De La Rosa
Lettered by Joe Rosen
Colored by Christie Scheele
Edited by Danny Fingeroth and Jim Shooter as Editor-In-Chief

The Saga of Crystar Crystal Warrior #11 - cover date February 1985
Script and Plot by Jo Duffy
Art by Ricardo Villamonte
Lettered by Janice Chiang
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Edited by Ralph Macchio with Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Special thanks to the Excelsior Embroidery Co. for helping make this project a reality.  Here's this episode's Featured Designs: an Aunt May face patch and a DOOM! sound effect patch from the Walt Simonson run on Thor!

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment or email us at [email protected]; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

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

Follow us on these platforms:
Instagram
TikTok
Imgur
YouTube
Patreon

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 11: “Runaway Fiance”

In which Marrina (and some other AWOL characters) waltz back into our lives…and waltz right back out. And Walt doesn't waltz at all. Hell, he isn’t even in any of these issues…or is he?!

In this episode, Chris:

• makes a compelling case for the soap opera nature of AF and how distinct that makes it from other superhero comics
• clearly wishes AF had Doom as a nemesis and not The Master of the World
• is ok with saying “Alphan” but “broodmate” gets his hackles up
• really wishes Tom wouldn't make some of the speculations he does

Tom:

• cops to watching a lot of Dark Shadows
• makes a Hemingway title recommendation for probably the first time in his life
• says “Box” in a, somewhat, peculiar manner
• speculates on Walt's hobbies

Issues covered:
Alpha Flight #14 - “Biology Class” - cover date September 1984
Written and penciled by John Byrne
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Lettered by Michael Higgins
Edited by Denny O’Neil
Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Alpha Flight #15 - “Blind Date” - cover date October 1984
Written and penciled by John Byrne
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Lettered by Rick Parker
Edited by Denny O’Neil
Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Alpha Flight #16 - “And Forsaking All Others” - cover date November 1984
Written and penciled by John Byrne
Finished by Bob Wiachek
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Lettered by Rick Parker
Edited by Denny O'Neil
Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Special thanks to the Excelsior Embroidery Co. for helping make this project a reality.  Here's this episode's Featured Design: spooky season embroidered towels!

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

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

Follow us on these platforms:
Instagram
TikTok
Imgur
YouTube
Patreon

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 10: “Have It Your Way”

We discuss the immediate aftermath of Issue 12 and its series-altering, explosive finale. From there we move onto something much worse and far more scarring: ROM the Space Knight!

In this episode, Chris:

• waxes poetic about Larry Hama’s run creating THE LORE for G.I. Joe as part of a licensing deal with Marvel
• wants some poutine from JoJo’s
• gives Mantlo some credit…for now

Tom:

• remembers reading Marvel comics online when the panels would pop out at you (it was a weird time on the internet)
• wishes we could work in more Warhammer 40K content
• likes saying “ROM”; isn’t so sure about the comic itself

Issues covered:
Alpha Flight #13 - “Nightmare” - cover date August 1984
Writing and art by John Byrne
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Lettered by Michael Higgins
Edited by Dennis O’Neil
Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

ROM 56-58
Written by Bill Mantlo
Art by Mark Bright
Inks by Mel Candido
Letters by Janice Chiang
Colors by Ben Sean
Edited by Ralph Macchio (yes the one you’re thinking of, not the 80s movie star)
Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Special thanks to the Excelsior Embroidery Co. for helping make this project a reality.  Here's this episode's Featured Design: ROM and Starshine!

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

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

Follow us on these platforms:
Instagram
TikTok
Imgur
YouTube
Patreon

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 9: “...and then there were…”

Well, it’s the big one. The capstone to the first arc of Alpha Flight and the comics by which most folks know AF. We take you through the comics and, well, kind of let them do their thing. And make some…allusions to contemporary political figures.

In this episode, Chris:

• notes (via Fark) the attention to detail Byrne pays to women’s fashion, which is a nice way of pointing out ALL the detail Byrne builds into his narrative art: just a neat point
• offers a brief but interesting digression on Captain America and…Nixon?!
• channels one helluva Bob Barker
• really digs Wildchild’s hair

Tom:

• asserts the similarities between pro wrestling (specifically of the WWE persuasion) and Alpha Flight
• absolutely nails some voice work
• makes some frankly wild assertions about who has the power to make a death squad
• doesn’t see Guardian’s suit’s powers making a…pleasant transition to the big screen

Issues covered:
Alpha Flight #11 - “Set-Up” - cover date June 1984
Writing and art by John Byrne
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Lettered by Michael Higgins
Edited by Dennis O’Neil and Linda Grant

Alpha Flight #12 - “...And One Shall Surely Die” - cover date July 1984
same team as #11

Special thanks to the Excelsior Embroidery Co. for helping make this project a reality.  Here's this episode's Featured Design: an oversized Wolverine skeleton skull and crossbones patch!

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

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

Follow us on these platforms:
Instagram
TikTok
Imgur
YouTube
Patreon