The Comics Canon

In this episode, Curt and Kevin welcome your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a pair of powerful Spidey Super Stories! First up, they swing into action with a discussion of one of the most famous comic stories of all time: the origin of Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15! After that, it’s on to an action-packed tale of great power and great responsibility (and one of the most iconic scenes in superhero comics), as a guilt-ridden wall-crawler fights against impossible odds to save the life of his beloved Aunt May in the three-part storyline If This Be My Destiny …! from Amazing Spider-Man #31-33! Can the winded web-slinger prevail against the machinations of the mysterious Master Planner? And can he survive the cutthroat halls of academia long enough to win a ticket to that homecoming dance known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Actor Frank Nelson • Are you obliged to stop a thief? • The Acme Warehouse • Spider-Man’s Uncanny Valley moment • Marvel: The Untold Story by Sean Howe • Peter Parker’s true calling: costume design! • To Alcohol! • Kid Puncho, the Fighting Clown • Kind words from The Nerds Uncanny • Thor Frog from Walt Simonson’s Thor #365 • The Hood: Blood From Stones • The Return of Beta Ray Bill • Give Our Regards to the Atom-Smashers! • Kraven’s Last Hunt • Kevin’s essay on Secret Empire in Vex Mosaic • Curt’s review of Spider-Man: Homecoming The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Dish on the Dish. Join us next week for a look at the year in Marvel movie and TV adaptations (so far), and then again the week after that for a discussion of the dark side of geekdom via Evan Dorkin’s The Eltingville Club! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin unearth the spine-tingling tale that kicks off a “shared universe” of classic characters including the beastly Mr. Hyde! No, we're not talking about the Tom Cruise flop The Mummy, but The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1 by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill, originally published by America’s Best Comics! Mina Murray, not long removed from her encounter with a certain Transylvanian count, is enlisted by the British government to recruit a bizarre task force including Allan Quatermain, the brooding Captain Nemo, the timid Dr. Jekyll and the enigmatic Invisible Man. But they soon realize their mission isn’t quite as it first appeared! Can this astonishing assortment of alarmingly afflicted adventurers defeat the enemy who’s played them for fools, and stop him from raining fiery terror down on London’s Limehouse district? And can they keep from killing each other long enough to crash that mad monster party known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • The 2003 LXG movie • R.I.P. Adam West • Jess Nevins’ annotated League of Extraordinary Gentlemen • Alan Moore on taking superheroes back to their roots • Is Fu Manchu ever not racist? • The America’s Best Comics line • Curt lays down some real talk about The Mummy • Nemo: Heart of Ice • Anno Dracula • A Study in Emerald • Marvel: 1602 • Rough Riders Vol. 1: Give Them Hell • Avanti, Da Vinci! The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Dish on the Dish. Join us in two weeks as we get ready for Spider-Man: Homecoming with a look at the wall-crawler’s origins in Amazing Fantasy #15, plus another story to be named later! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin are joined by guest vocalist Ryan Lucas as they discuss the first two volumes of the Scott Pilgrim series: Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, written and drawn by Bryan Lee O’Malley and published by Oni Press! Scott Pilgrim, aimless 23-year-old bassist for Toronto band Sex Bob-Omb, is dating 17-year-old high school student Knives Chau when he falls hard for delivery girl Ramona Flowers. But in order to date her, he’ll have to break up with Knives—and, oh yeah, defeat seven of Ramona’s exes in hand-to-hand combat! Can Scott get his act together long enough to help Sex Bob-Omb score a prestigious gig opening for his ex-girlfriend Envy Adams—and vanquish the League of Ramona’s Evil Ex-Boyfriends? And can he book himself and the band into that Great Gig in the Sky known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Is Scott Pilgrim kind of a jerk? • Do these books pass the Bechdel Test? • The Flying Burrito Brothers’ Gilded Palace of Sin • Is Kevin really Scott Pilgrim? • Curt hates the name of our letters segment • Our first negative review • Random House vs. Houghton Mifflin • Zot! The Complete Black and White Collection: 1987-1991 • Kamikaze Vol. 1: Run Rabbit Run • Love and Rockets: Maggie the Mechanic The Comics Canon is presented with the support of Creative Loafing Atlanta, home of such podcasts as Mo Audio and Dish on the Dish. Join us in two weeks as we discuss another fictional league—Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for the long-awaited Wonder Woman movie with a look at the comic-book origins of everyone’s favorite Amazon, including her brief introduction in 1941’s All-Star Comics #8 and her debut in the pages of her very own magazine, 1942’s Wonder Woman #1, published by DC Comics! After that, it’s on to a more contemporary take on the character’s formative years, as writer and artist Jill Thompson presents us with a Princess Diana we haven’t seen before — brash, bratty and a tad unsympathetic — in the Eisner Award-nominated 2016 graphic novel Wonder Woman: The True Amazon! Can the headstrong young Diana win the favor of indifferent stable girl Alethea? Can the powerful princess save injured American intelligence officer Steve Trevor and defeat a pretty unfortunate caricature of a Japanese spy? And most importantly, can the amazing Amazon pilot her invisible plane to that island paradise of pulp periodicals known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • The lack of a definitive Wonder Woman story • The David E. Kelley Wonder Woman TV pilot • Kevin can’t say “William Moulton Marston” • Wonder Woman #1: Not the most woke comic • Curt’s controversial take on Themyscira • Sex and the single Amazon • Wonder Woman: Earth One • The 2-Way Stretch All-Nylon Girdle! • Magic Trixie • Brief Lives • Wonder Woman: Blood • The Secret History of Wonder Woman Join us in two weeks as we discuss the first two volumes of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim series! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin trek across Bifrost, the rainbow bridge and wade into the ongoing conversation about diversity in superhero comics as they discuss Thor Vol. 1: The Goddess of Thunder, collecting Thor (2014) #1-8 by Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman, published by Marvel Comics! The son of Odin is no longer worthy to wield his mighty hammer, Mjolnir! When a mystery woman picks up the hammer and receives the power of the thunder god, this turn of events doesn’t sit well with the hammer’s original owner—or with Odin, the recently returned ruler of Asgard! Can this new Thor hold her own against the combined might of an enraged All-Father, the sinister dark elf Malekith, the evil Roxxon Corporation, its minotaur CEO, and a horde of frost giants? And can she swing her enchanted hammer long enough to nail down a spot in that pantheon of divine stories known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Our new relationship with Creative Loafing Atlanta • Thor’s unfortunate first attempt at diversity • Fear Itself • Why Thor Lost His Hammer • Thor is the woman, Odinson is the guy—got it? • Did diversity really hurt Marvel’s sales? • The Goddamned • Jason Aaron’s run on The Incredible Hulk • How Rocket Raccoon Rescued Bill Mantlo • Curt remembers comics blogger Tim O’Shea Join us in two weeks as we get ready for the long-awaited Wonder Woman movie with a look at the comic-book origins of everyone’s favorite Amazon! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin get ready for the new Guardians of the Galaxy film by taking a rocket ride to the Kree homeworld for a look at the comic-book origins of this cinematic band of space-faring misfits, as seen in Annihilation: Conquest – Star-Lord #1-4, published by Marvel Comics! But first, they make a brief 1,000-year detour to the far future to check in with the stalwart 30th-century star warriors who started it all, as the original Guardians of the Galaxy (including a certain blue-skinned guy you might recognize from the movies) band together in 1969’s Marvel Super-Heroes #18! Can the original Guardians repel the (not terribly menacing) menace of the invading Badoon? Can their modern-day counterparts foil the (not-so-fearsome) Phalanx and save the galaxy from cybernetic assimilation? Most importantly, can these cosmic champions blast their way into that interplanetary posse of space cowboys known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • We need to talk about Yondu • Steve Gerber, Bill Mantlo, Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin • Annihilation: Conquest • The Borg—We mean, the Phalanx • Bug's speech patterns explained • A talking Groot!?! • Star-Lord’s lame password game • Space profanity • The name of our Canon Fodder segment • Curt reacts to our latest iTunes review • Justice League International • Guardians of the Galaxy: Legacy • Nova by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning • The Micronauts • What’s your favorite space comic?

In this episode, Curt and Kevin take a break from titanic teens, movie misanthropes and murderous mutants to tackle a truly uncanny topic: Grant Morrison’s twisted take on the “World’s Strangest Heroes” with a discussion of Crawling From the Wreckage, collecting issues 19-25 of The Doom Patrol, published by DC Comics! Cliff “Robotman” Steele checks into a psychiatric hospital following the near-destruction of the misfit superteam the Doom Patrol. But he soon joins forces with an intersexual spirit-being and a super-powered woman with multiple personalities to prevent an incursion into our reality by the bizarre metafictional menace of the Scissormen! Can this newly reconstituted Doom Patrol survive a trip to Orqwith, the City of Bone, and an encounter with the seemingly all-powerful Red Jack, who may or may not have once been Jack the Ripper? And can they gain admittance to that strange society of freaks and geeks known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Jan Švankmajer • Struwwelpeter, Little Suck-a-Thumb and the great, red, long-legged scissorman • There Is a Mountain by Donovan • The Ruling Class • What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton • John Workman and Richard Case • China Mieville • Greg Berlanti, get on that Doom Patrol CW show, stat! • The Insult That Made a Man Out of “Mac” • The Painting That Ate Paris • The League of Regrettable Superheroes • From Hell That’s it for this episode – join us in two weeks as we discuss the origins of Marvel’s space-faring misfits, the Guardians of the Galaxy! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin get ready for the third comics adaptation in as many episodes with a discussion of the landmark Teen Titans storyline The Judas Contract, as featured in The New Teen Titans issues #42-44 and New Teen Titans Annual #3, published by DC Comics! These Teen Titans aren’t just kid sidekicks anymore -- they’ve dealt with supervillains, marauding aliens, a deadly cult leader and even the horrors of wedding planning. But when they’re captured by the world’s deadliest assassin, they find themselves facing the biggest threat of their budding careers: the tremendously powerful, emotionally unstable Terra! Can the young man formerly known as Robin rescue his teammates from a cigarette-smoking 16-year-old girl and her judgment-impaired mentor, the menacingly named Deathstroke the Terminator? And can everyone’s favorite teen heroes graduate from the kids’ table to that school of hard knocks known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • The Uncanny X-Men • Beast Boy’s relentless and insufferable sexual harassment • Deathstroke’s ... er, problematic relationship with Tara Markov • Robin’s green baby onesie • The unfortunate hand-waving of Tara’s mental illness • The Teen Titans’ extremely lax vetting process • Young Avengers: Sidekicks and Family Matters • The Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans • Teen Titans Go! • The Doom Patrol Speaking of the Doom Patrol, join us in two weeks as we discuss the first arc of Grant Morrison's critically acclaimed run with the "World's Strangest Heroes," Crawling From the Wreckage! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin prepare for yet another comic-based film adaptation with a Daniel Clowes double feature: a discussion of the teen turmoil of Ghost World and the middle-aged turmoil of Wilson! First, best friends Enid Coleslaw and Rebecca Doppelmeyer find themselves at a crossroads – one populated by creeps, geeks and obnoxious, extroverted, pseudo-Bohemian art-school losers. When Enid applies to college, the girls are forced to let go of the past and ponder their uncertain futures -- and their relationship to each other. After a brief detour to discuss the four-page screed Art School Confidential, it’s off for a visit with Oakland, California’s favorite condescending blowhard (coming soon to a movie theater near you) as he suffers the death of a family member, reconnects with an ex-wife and discovers the child he never knew he had. Can these cynical loners shed their abrasive ways and live happily ever after? And can they score tickets to that hallowed film festival of graphic novel adaptations known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Are we just a couple of phonies? • Scarlett Johansson and comic book movies • Underground/indie comics of the 1980s • Alonzo Duralde of Linoleum Knife • The two types of hipsters • “David” Clowes makes a cameo appearance • Rebecca gets an anagram • Jaan Pehechaan Ho • A belated welcome to new listeners • One of Curt’s favorite Daniel Clowes panels • Garfield Minus Garfield • Kevin’s unsettling Wilson connection • Kevin’s stunning Dark Knight Returns revelation • Buddy Does Seattle • Peepshow: The Cartoon Diary of Joe Matt and The Poor Bastard Join us in two weeks as we check in on a group of (arguably) more well-adjusted teenagers with a discussion of The New Teen Titans: The Judas Contract! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Kevin and “Old Man Holman” mark the release of the new Logan movie by gassing up the Spider-Mobile for a road trip across a post-apocalyptic wasteland to discuss Wolverine: Old Man Logan, collecting Wolverine #66-72 and Wolverine: Old Man Logan Giant-Size #1, published by Marvel Comics. Fifty years after the villains of the Marvel Universe teamed up to defeat the world’s heroes, a haunted Logan has forsaken violence to live a peaceful life of farming with his wife and two children. But when he can’t pay his rent to the vicious Hulk Gang, the promise of a financial windfall leads him on a dangerous cross-country trip with the blind archer Hawkeye. Can the man formerly known as Wolverine outrun rampaging dinosaurs, creepy Moloids and his own dark past long enough to save his family? Can he keep from popping his claws and returning to his savage ways? And can he gain admittance to that alternate reality known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Giant Size Man-Thing • Kevin mispronounces Morry Hollowell’s name • Where Curt draws the line • Reading comics on a tablet • #NotmyHawkeye • Kevin’s fanboy struggle • The post-apocalypse economy • Curt likes a big map • Paste Pot Creek and Otisburg • “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” • “Gigglin’” Glen Weldon • Hawkeye Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon • Secret Wars • Logan • Asterios Kokkinos’ The Five-Minute Podcast • Legion Join us in two weeks as we switch gears to discuss a very different comics character getting the cinematic treatment: Daniel Clowes’ Wilson (along with Ghost World and Art School Confidential). Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin are joined by special guest Glen Weldon – NPR contributor, panelist on NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast and author of The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture – as they discuss Batman: The Court of Owls, collecting Batman (Vol. 2) #1-7, published by DC Comics! The Dark Knight Detective has always believed the Court of Owls to be nothing more than an old folk tale. But when Bruce Wayne is marked for death by their enigmatic assassin, the Talon, Batman learns that they’re very real – and that everything he thought he knew about Gotham City is wrong! Trapped in an underground labyrinth, driven to the edge of madness, can the Caped Crusader escape the Court’s deadly clutches and reclaim Gotham City as his own? And can he gain entry into that secret society known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Curt makes a terrible joke • The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture • Superheroes as soap opera • Greg Capullo • Batman’s dentistry skills • Hot Fuzz • Batman: Superheavy • Batman: Captured By the Engines • Swamp Thing: Raise Them Bones • The LEGO Batman Movie Join us in two weeks as we prepare for the latest Hugh Jackman movie by gassing up the Spider-Mobile and traversing a desolate hellscape known as Wolverine: Old Man Logan! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin go nuts as they enroll at Empire State University, joined by their first-ever guest – Curt’s teenage daughter, Evelyn – to discuss Squirrel Power, collecting issues #1-4 of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, published by Marvel Comics! She’s fought crime with the Great Lakes Avengers and even defeated the powerful space baddie Thanos. But now Doreen Green, alias the aforementioned Squirrel Girl, must conquer threats more terrifying than any she’s yet faced: College! A roommate! Boys! And if those weren’t intimidating enough, who went and Kraven the Hunter, Whiplash and Galactus to the curriculum??? With sassy sidekick Tippy-Toe in tow, can our body-positive Avenger somehow convince the Devourer of Worlds to adopt an Earth-free diet? And can she make it into that exclusive series of trading cards known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • Help us out: Did a Squirrel Girl artist contribute to a Team Fortress 2 comic? • What’s up with Kraven the Hunter’s vest? • The Voltron Squirrel • Everybody Hates Thanos • When you think "Captain America," you think "camping it up" • Team Fortress 2 • Goodnight Punpun • Homestuck • Paper Girls • Doom Patrol • Shade, the Changing Girl • Squirrel in My Pants • That “old” TV show, Phineas and Ferb Join us in two weeks as we make another return trip to Gotham City to discuss Batman: The Court of Owls! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin don their finest trench coats, open up a fresh pack of Silk Cut and throw back a couple of pints of holy stout as they discuss the Dangerous Habits storyline from John Constantine: Hellblazer issues #41-46, published by DC Comics! John Constantine has faced down more than his share of demons and other supernatural threats. But everyone’s favorite chain-smoking magician may have finally met his match when he’s diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. To make matters worse, he’s in for one Hell of an afterlife, having just made an enemy of the devil himself! Can comics’ premier punk-rock prestidigitator con his way out of eternal torment? And can he somehow fast-talk his way into that sweet hereafter known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: • It’s our anniversary! • Sting’s “Tantric Jazz Rock” Period • The ideal John Constantine • John Constantine vs. Doctor Strange • Skrip: America’s favorite writing fluid! • Death Star Canteen • Swamp Thing: American Gothic • The Exorcist III • Alcohollywood • Jason Aaron’s Mighty Thor • Archie Vol. 1 Join us in two weeks as we enroll in college with Marvel Comics’ nuttiest superhero in The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol. 1: Squirrel Power! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, Curt and Kevin travel to a galaxy far, far away to mark the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story with a discussion of Darth Vader #1-6, published by Marvel Comics! Following the events of Episode IV: A New Hope, Darth Vader finds himself on the outs with Emperor Palpatine. Enlisting the aid of a “rogue archeologist” and a pair of murderous droids, the Dark Lord of the Sith begins pursuing his own agenda, building a private army and tracking down the hotshot Rebel pilot who brought about the destruction of the Death Star -- a young man named Skywalker … Will his new allies be enough to keep the Empire’s heavy-breathing hatchet man one step ahead of his master? And will his mastery of the dark side of the Force be enough to gain him entry into that mystic order known as … The Comics Canon? Things Not Discussed in This Episode: • Carrie Fisher, who died after this episode was recorded Things Discussed in This Episode: • The Star Wars Minute • The challenges of a tie-in comic • We enjoy saying “Black Krrsantan” • The Emperor’s Sith List • Why Darth Vader needs a private email server • Evil Space Lorelai Gilmore • The Tom Corbett, Space Cadet Invisible Helmet • Flashpoint is a really cool song! • Journey Into Mystery: Fear Itself • Darth Maul: Apprentice • Chad Vader: Day Shift Manager • Hardware Wars • Star Wars by Jason Aaron and John Cassaday • “Not an imaginary story!” Join us in two weeks as we indulge in some Dangerous Habits to discuss Garth Ennis’ debut run on John Constantine: Hellblazer! Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!

In this last episode of 2016, Curt and Kevin look back on TV and movie adaptations of comic book stories from the second half of the year, pick their favorite small- or big-screen comics properties of the last 12 months, and ask “Just what makes a good comics adaptation, anyway?” In this non-canonical extravaganza, we also tackle the disjointed mess that is Suicide Squad, check in on DC’s improving Legends of Tomorrow, discuss Season 3 of The Flash and Flashpoint, take aim at the fifth season of Arrow, unlock the first season of Luke Cage, and stumble through a punishing half-season of The Walking Dead. We also touch on Preacher, Doctor Strange and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. before looking ahead to 2017, including the adaptations we’re most looking forward to. And finally, we switch gears with a look at the books that made it into The Comics Canon in 2016, and round things out with that most riveting of audio experiences: the unwrapping of presents! Other Things Discussed in This Episode: • Hey, Where’s Darth Vader?! • Gotham City Sirens • Ragman, everyone’s favorite vigilante • Why are Marvel’s Netflix series so long? • Iron Man and the Mystic Hoo-Ha That’s it for 2016! Join us in two weeks as we travel to a galaxy far, far away for a look at Marvel Comics’ Darth Vader #1-6 (we really mean it this time). Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!