Today we talk about Talia al Ghul, an assassin who really epitomizes gatekeep, gaslight, girlboss. She's run the League of Assassins, raised a deadly child, ran LexCorp into the ground (on purpose), and killed and/or tried to kill just so so many people. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Detective Comics (1937) #411 - Batman (1940) #232 - Batman: Son of the Demon (1987) - Batman: Batman and Son (2006) - Superman/Batman (2003) - Batman: Death and the Maidens (2003) - Batman: Unde...
May 18, 2021•55 min•Ep. 176
Today we talk about Ra's al Ghul, a man who has decided to use his immortality for crime, a very brief stint of trying to save the environment, fighting Batman, and also trying to get Batman to marry his daughter. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Batman (1940) #232 - Batman: Birth of the Demon (1992) - Batman: Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul (2007) - Batman: Death and the Maidens (2003) - Red Robin: Collision - Worthikids - Palpatine's Journey - Bloom - Bloom part II announcement ...
May 11, 2021•52 min•Ep. 175
Today we talk about Illyana Rasputina, Colossus's often-kidnapped younger sister who also is a member of the New Mutants by the name of Magik, can teleport, do magic, and also aged up a decade after forging a cool sword and becoming the ruler of Limbo. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Giant-Size X-Men (1975) #1 - Uncanny X-Men (1963) #145 - Uncanny X-Men (1963) #160 - Magik (1983) - New Mutants (1983) #14 - New Mutants movie - Inferno - Excalibur (1988) #11 - Excalibur (1988) #...
May 04, 2021•47 min•Ep. 174
Today we talk about Piotr Nikolaievitch Rasputin, an X-men best known as Colossus, who is a big strong guy who can turn into metal which makes him bigger and stronger. We also like him best when he's just a big nice guy trying his best. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Giant Size X-Men (1975) #1 - Uncanny X-Men (1963) #115 - Uncanny X-Men (1963) #284 - Uncanny X-Men (1963) #303 - Excalibur (1988) #92 - Uncanny X-Men (1963) #390 - Astonishing X-Men (2004) #4 - Uncanny X-Men (196...
Apr 27, 2021•52 min•Ep. 173
Today we talk about Hank McCoy, a founding member of the X-Men known as Beast. He's gone from a pretty normal guy who was really smart and agile to a blue furry man who sometimes goes back in time to bring his teenage self and teammates to the future. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - X-Men (1963) - Amazing Adventures (1970) #11 - Avengers (1963) #137 - Defenders (1972) #104 - X-Factor (1986) - X-Men (1991) - Astonishing X-Men (2004) - Wolverine & the X-Men (2011) - All-...
Apr 20, 2021•52 min•Ep. 172
Today we talk about Bobby Drake, best known as Iceman. He's one of the founding members of the X-Men and in his time since then he's become an accountant, been kidnapped by an island, been kidnapped by Loki, been possessed by Emma Frost, time traveled, and discovered he was gay. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Bobby Drake tumblr edit - X-Men (1963) - Champions (1975) - The Defenders (1972) #122 - X-Factor (1986) - A more extensive breakdown (with two pages) of the Bobby Brings...
Apr 13, 2021•53 min•Ep. 171
Today we talk about Roberto Da Costa, a mutant known as Sunspot. He starts out as a teen whose girlfriend died saving his life, and then he became an X-Men member, and eventually he used his inheritance money to buy AIM and make an Avengers team! Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - The New Mutants Marvel Graphic Novel (1982) - Some Robertos throughout the years - New Mutants (1983) - X-Force (1991) - Young X-Men (2008) - New Mutants (2009) - New Avengers (2015) - U.S.Avengers (201...
Apr 06, 2021•51 min•Ep. 170
Today we talk about Robert Reynolds, best known as the Sentry, except how everybody forgot who that was and when he remembered he had to go talk to all his superhero friends so they would remember him and his power of 1,000-1,000,000 exploding suns. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Sentry (2000) - New Avengers (2004) - Sentry (2005) - The Age of the Sentry (2008) - World War Hulk (2007) - Dark Avengers (2009) - King in Black (2020) #1 - Invincible (TV Show) - Invincible (Comic)...
Mar 30, 2021•58 min•Ep. 169
Today we talk about Vandal Savage, who was a normal caveman until a meteorite made him immortal, and over the many many years he's been alive he decided that he mostly just wants to be evil and do schemes. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Green Lantern (1941) #10 - Action Comics (1938) #552 - Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985) - Resurrection Man (1997) - Villains United (2005) - Secret Six (2006) - Final Crisis: Revelations (2008) - Demon Knights #4 - Dark Nights: Death Metal (20...
Mar 23, 2021•58 min•Ep. 168
Today we talk about the Aqualads and Aquagirls and Dolphin, or as we like to call them: The Aquids. They have a really bad habit of being abandoned as babies, apparently. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Adventure Comics (1935) #269 - Teen Titans (1966) #1 - Teen Titans: Year One (2008) - Tempest (1996) - Blackest Night (2009) - Aquaman (2011) #41 New 52 - Titans (2016) Rebirth - Brightest Day (2010) #4 - DC Universe: Rebirth (2016) - Teen Titans (2016) #6 - You Brought Me The ...
Mar 16, 2021•51 min•Ep. 167
Today we talk about Mera, who is the Queen of Atlantis usually, and Aquaman's wife, usually, except when comics retcons their marriage, or when she abolishes the monarchy. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Aquaman (1962) #11 - Aquaman (1962) #18 - Aquaman (1962) #57 - #62 - Aquaman (1989) - Aquaman (1994) #11 - Blackest Night (2009) - Blackest Night: Wonder Woman (2009) #2 , #3 - Brightest Day (2010) - Aquaman (2011) new 52 - Aquaman (2016) Rebirth - Mera: Tidebreaker - Infinite...
Mar 09, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 166
Today we talk about Arthur Curry, also known as Orin depending on the era, who is Aquaman and usually the King of Atlantis! He has a lot of water-based powers from either living underwater as a child (Golden Age) or his Atlantean heritage (every other iteration of the character). Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Aquaman: Rage of Atlantis - More Fun Comics (1936) #73 - Adventure Comics (1935) #260 - Aquaman (1962) - Justice League of America (1960) -...
Mar 02, 2021•53 min•Ep. 165
Today we talk about several heroes and villains who use Pym Particles to get very big or very small! Including some Ant-men, Goliaths, and Giant-men! Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Irredeemable Ant-Man (2006) - Avengers: The Initiative (2007) #8 - Thunderbolts (2006) #128 - Secret Avengers (2010) - The Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #17 - Avengers (1963) #32 - Power Man (1974) #24 - Black Goliath (1976) - West Coast Avengers Annual (1986) #3 - Civil War (2006) - World War Hulk: Af...
Feb 23, 2021•54 min•Ep. 164
Today we talk about Cassie Lang, who used to steal her dad's Pym Particles and then joined the Young Avengers as Stature, died, was resurrected by Doctor Doom, and then joined Ant-Man to fight crime as Stinger. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Marvel Premiere (1972) #47 - Heroes for Hire (1997) #7 - Young Avengers (2005) - Civil War (2006) - Young Avengers Presents (2008) #5 - Avengers: The Children's Crusade (2010) - WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE I AM - Avengers World (2014) #16 - ...
Feb 16, 2021•56 min•Ep. 163
Today we talk about Scott Lang, a man who stole the Ant-Man armor from Avengers Mansion for what was supposed to be a one-time superhero gig and then Hank Pym said "actually you know what? be Ant-Man". Since then he's died, come back, and gone into space. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Billy on the Street - Marvel Premiere (1972) #47 - Iron Man (1968) #133 - Avengers (1963) #196 - Marvel Two-in-One (1974) #87 - Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964) #24 - Fantastic Four (1961) #405...
Feb 09, 2021•58 min•Ep. 162
Today we talk about Janet van Dyne, best known as the Wasp. She was a founding member of the Avengers, can get really small, fly (but only when she's small), and sometimes she even gets really big, but not that often. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Tales to Astonish (1959) #44 - Avengers (1963) #1 - Avengers (1963) #59 - Avengers (1963) #83 - Avengers (1963) #217 - West Coast Avengers (1985) #32 - Secret Invasion (2008) #8 - Avengers (2010) #32 - Avengers: Rage of Ultron (201...
Feb 02, 2021•57 min•Ep. 161
Today we talk about Henry "Hank" Pym, who discovered a particle he named after himself that can make him small, and then he made a helmet that can talk to ants, and then he decided to get big, and then he decided to make a robot, and then he had a rough time. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Tales to Astonish (1959) #27 - Avengers (1963) #1 - This isn't the Smartest Characters list but it is a smartest heroes list - i'm just a little guy - Avengers (1963) #55 - Avengers (1963) ...
Jan 26, 2021•55 min•Ep. 160
Today we talk about The Vision, who was created by Ultron based off of the body of one hero and the brain of another and then the Avengers taught him about autonomy and emotions. He's married Wanda Maximoff, had children, died, been reborn (repeat as necessary), and built his own family. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - WandaVision on Disney+ - Avengers (1963) #57 - Golden Age Vision (Aarkus) - Adam Link by Eando Binder - Avengers (1963) #75 - Giant-Size Avengers (1974) #4 - Vi...
Jan 19, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 159
Today we talk about Carrie Kelley, most known as the Robin from Dark Knight Returns, Duke Thomas, a sort-of Robin and The Signal, Harper Row a.k.a. Bluebird, and the two Batwings, David Zavimbe and Luke Fox! Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Dark Knight Returns (1986) - Dark Knight Strikes Again (2001) - Dark Knight III: Master Race (2015) - Batman (2011): Zero Year - Batman (2011): Endgame - We Are Robin (2015) - Robin War (2015) - Batman (2011): Bloom - Batman and the Signal (...
Jan 12, 2021•53 min•Ep. 158
Today we talk about several characters who are adjacent to Batman! Leslie Thompkins and Victoria October are doctors (highly necessary), Lucius Fox is Bruce Wayne's business manager (highly necessary), and Jean-Paul Valley is an assassin turned ally turned terrible Batman turned ally (not really necessary). Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Detective Comics (1937) #457 - Batman: War Crimes - Robin (1993) #174 - Detective Comics (2016) #948 - Detective Comics (2016) vol 6 (#969-9...
Jan 05, 2021•59 min•Ep. 157
Today we talk about Alfred Pennyworth, who is the Wayne family butler, who raised Bruce after his parents died. Or is he? Turns out, in true comics fashion, so much of Alfred's backstory has been redone that it's all a bit of a blur. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Batman (1940) #16 - Detective Comics (1937) #328 - Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? - Batman (2011) New 52 - Batman Eternal (2014) - Batman (2016) Rebirth - Pennyworth (TV show) Thanks to Victoria Watkins fo...
Dec 29, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 156
Today we talk about James W. Gordon, the Police Commissioner for Gotham PD. He's the father of Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) and the friend of Batman, who then became Police-Sponsored Batman for a little bit but he needed a mecha-suit to do it. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Batman: The Golden Age vol 1 - Detective Comics 1937-2011 Special Issue (reprints Detective Comics #27!) - our episode on Crisis on Infinite Earths - Batman: Year One (1987) - Batman: The Black Mirror - Batman...
Dec 22, 2020•55 min•Ep. 155
Today we talk about Terry McGinnis, best known as Batman from Batman Beyond, a 1999 cartoon, but since then he's been made canon in the comics! He was trained by an elderly Bruce Wayne after he discovered he used to be Batman, and his father is murdered. These events were unrelated. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Batman Beyond - Justice League Unlimited, "Epilogue" - Superman/Batman (2003) #22 - Countdown to Final Crisis (2007) #21 - Batman Beyond (2010) - Batman Beyond (2011...
Dec 15, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 154
Today we talk about Maya Lopez, who has mostly been known as Echo but was also the first Ronin. She can replicate any skill after watching it, and also she was raised by Kingpin after he killed her father, who then sent her to kill Daredevil. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Alaqua Cox cast as Echo for Disney+ Hawkeye - Daredevil (1998) #9 - New Avengers (2004) #11 - Moon Knight (2011) - Daredevil Annual (2016) #1 - Captain Marvel (2019) #2 - Marvel's Indigenous Voices (2020) #...
Dec 08, 2020•55 min•Ep. 153
Today we talk about Daimon Hellstrom, who is sometimes known as Hellstorm or Son of Satan, though he has a very complicated series of figuring out who his dad actually is, and one time when he lied to his wife about it. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Ghost Rider (1973) #1 - Marvel Spotlight (1971) #12 - Giant-Size Defenders (1974) #2 - Son of Satan (Trade Paperback) - Defenders (1972) #120 - Hellstorm: Prince of Lies (1993) - Thunderbolts Annual 2000 - Strikeforce (2019) - He...
Dec 01, 2020•48 min•Ep. 152
Today we talk about Greer Grant Nelson, best known as Tigra, but she started out as The Cat, a fully human but super-powered-through-science hero! Until they decided to give her a furry makeover and now she's living the catgirl dream. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Claws of the Cat (1972) - Giant Size Creatures (1974) - Avengers (1963) #211 - West Coast Avengers (1984) - West Coast Avengers (1985) - Tigra (2002) - Civil War - Avengers: The Initiative (2007) - New Avengers (20...
Nov 24, 2020•55 min•Ep. 151
Today we talk about Patricia Walker, who goes by Patsy and also Hellcat. She started in teen rom-com comics in the 1940's, which turned into comics in Marvel canon where she convinced Beast to help her be a superhero named Hellcat in the 1970's. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Patsy Walker A.K.A. Hellcat! (2015) written by Kate Leth - Fantastic Four Annual (1963) #3 - Avengers (1963) #141 - Defenders (1972) vol 6 (a starting point) - Helstrom trailer - Hellstorm: Prince of Lie...
Nov 17, 2020•54 min•Ep. 150
Today we talk about the very short 1972 Marvel comic Night Nurse about three nurses--Georgia Jenkins, Christine Palmer, and Linda Carter--and what they're up to in their short-lived comic and how Marvel brings (some of) them back into canon later. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Night Nurse (1972) - The Claws of the Cat - Shanna the She-Devil - Nightcrawler (2004) - Night Nurse #1 cover - Daredevil (1998) #58 - Civil War (2006) #5 - Doctor Strange: The Oath (2006) Thanks to Vi...
Nov 10, 2020•57 min•Ep. 149
Today we talk about Marc Spector or Steven Grant or Jake Lockley, who are all the same guy and better known as Moon Knight. He has Dissociative Identity Disorder in later comics, which is uhhh not always handled well, but he also has mystic powers from an Egyptian god so! A lot happening here. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - I know you're here Dracula - Werewolf by Night (1972) #32 - Marvel Spotlight (1971) #28 - Defenders (1972) #47 - Moon Knight (1980) - West Coast Avengers ...
Nov 03, 2020•59 min•Ep. 148
Today we talk about the first Captain Boomerang, George "Digger" Harkness, and his son Owen Mercer, who is also the second Captain Boomerang. Digger is arguably the least tolerable of the Rogues, but also maybe the most well-known outside of Flash comics, due to his involvement in the Suicide Squad. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Flash (1959) #117 - Legends (1986 - Suicide Squad (1987) - Pie Mystery - Identity Crisis (2004) - Rogue War - Outsiders (2003) #34 - Blackest Night ...
Oct 27, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 147
