Checkered Past - podcast cover

Checkered Past

From February, 1966 through August, 1967, DC Comics branded all their publications with a checkerboard masthead, lovingly known as "Go-Go Checks". Because, you know, the 60s. With the help of his husband and intrepid friends, Dr. Bobb will examine each of these issues in depth and tell you what you need to know!
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Episodes

Run, Davey, Run! (Teen Titans 4)

Can Davey live up to the expectations of his stage father? Can Wonder Girl escape from the clutches of the hobo jungle? CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN WHY SPEEDY IS CALLED SPEEDY WHEN HIS POWERS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH SPEED? Speedy meets up with the other kid heroes to vsit the 1964 summer Olympics, and while they're at it, maybe bust up an international hate group to boot!

Dec 12, 202156 minSeason 1Ep. 148

Nobody Likes a Fast Boy (Brave and the Bold 67)

Flash is dead and Batman don't feel so great himself! Who would, what with a gang of super-fast troublmakers gallavanting around Gotham City? My recommendation, Bats, is to do as I did and break up your day with a nice, long nap!

Dec 01, 20211 hr 11 minSeason 1Ep. 147

Do Androids Dream of Eclectic Creeps? (Superman 189)

Faced with a choice between an idyllic life on a restored Krypton, and the certain destruction of Earth, the noble Superman chooses (checks notes) THE LATTER. Join us, won't you, for a read-through of one of the most bonkers Superman stories of 1966!

Nov 22, 20211 hr 4 minSeason 1Ep. 146

Plastic Schmastic, When Do We Eat? (Metal Men 21)

Poet Laureate Robert Frost famoulsy wrote, "Some say the world will end in a robot apocalypse, some say in being strangled by plastic garbage", but I say the world ends in baby goats and un-eaten hot dogs. Confused? Well I guess you're going to just have to listen to this episode then!

Nov 14, 20211 hr 3 minSeason 1Ep. 145

Flaming Wings of Justice (Hawkman 15)

Hawkman and Hawkgirl, battling a Lovecraftian horror! Or maybe a Kaiju! Me, forgetting to follow up on Dr. HUsband's excellent observations on Eatser Island! MULTI-ATLANTIS'S! This episode has it all and belies our extreme exhaustion!

Oct 26, 202152 minSeason 1Ep. 143

The Hardly-Haunted Tank (G.I.Combat 119)

What's better than four manly men jammed into a tiny tank interior? Four manly men talking about war comics, THAT'S what! We are joined by the Battlin' Bros, Max and Rich from the Weird Warriors Podcast to discuss Haunted Tanks, dishonored soldiers, Star Trek/Wars, and oh so much more!

Oct 19, 20211 hr 20 minSeason 1Ep. 142

Opposites Attract (World's Finest 159)

Anti-Superman and Anti-Batman, on the loose! Superman and his chum Batman are stumped, who could these dastardly criminals be? I could tell you, but then you wouldn't listen in! Join us for World's Finest #159!

Oct 04, 20211 hr 9 minSeason 1Ep. 141

My Bonnie Lies Over the Sofa (Mystery in Space 109)

7-11 Hot Dogs! Witchy neighbors! Broken toes! Picking up dog poop! All of these, and many more, are subjects we apparently prefer to discuss instead of the penultimate appearance of Ultra, the Multi-Alien...but you should listen in anyway. It'll be fun, I promise!

Sep 26, 202152 minSeason 1Ep. 140

Never Trust a Brunette (Challengers of the Unknown 51)

Pity poor Miklos, turned into a sponge creature and then hounded to the ends of the earth - er, I mean the depths of the sea. Don't fret, the Sea Devils are here to help the Challs get to he bottom of things, along with the triumphant return of Neptimus!

Sep 14, 202155 minSeason 1Ep. 139

Caught With Your Pants Down (Blackhawk 223)

The Blackhawks stumble their way through defeating Mr. Quick-Change, who manages to conceal his true identity through the clever use of *checks notes* a goattee. Join the fun, won't you?

Sep 07, 202145 minSeason 1Ep. 138

You Want Flies With That? (The Atom 26)

Despite having attained cult goofy villain status, the Bug-Eyed Bandit isn't even referred to by that name in-story, and doesn't appear in costume until the last 2 pages! Gardner Fox wrote it, Gil Kane drew it, Dr. Husband loved it, and oh yes, Ray and Jean get engaged!

Aug 29, 202152 minSeason 1Ep. 137

Runnin' Up That Hill (Our Army at War 170)

Easy Co. doesn't have it so easy THIS time - not only are the Krauts on their tle, but a kooky old brain-addled WWI vet to boot! Thank God for the famed hospitality of French maidens! Join us for Our Army at War 170!

Aug 25, 202147 minSeason 1Ep. 136

For the Love of Ivy (Batman 183)

Batman, a no-good layabout? Say it ain't so! But if it's between being a layabout and falling into the clutches of that floozie Poison Ivy, I bet I know what Robin's vote would be!

Aug 17, 202154 minSeason 1Ep. 135

A My Name is Abra (Flash 163)

Flash has his dissipating hands full when the whole of Central City forgets he ever existed! PLUS, Abra-Kadabra switches minds with a 64th-Century fashion icon and takes a trip to the Magic Castle!

Jul 26, 20211 hr 1 minSeason 1Ep. 133

HoneyDOOM, m'iright? (Doom Patrol 105-106)

Elasti-Girl and Mento are newleyweds and ready to settle into domestic bliss - if only Mento could convince her to give up her pesky independence! PLUS the menace of Mr. 103 and the emotional abuse of Beast Boy!

Jul 19, 20211 hr 15 minSeason 1Ep. 132

Stormy Weather (Detective Comics 353)

Batman vs Weather Wizard in a fight to the finish! Robin sidelined due to poor basketball technique! Elongated Man led astray by gypsy tea leaves! PLUS the forgotten art of Art Frahm!

Jul 12, 20211 hr 9 minSeason 1Ep. 131

"A" is for Afterlife (Strange Adventures 190)

Two Strange Adventures stalwarts make their costumed debuts this week (if you consider a newly-reincarnated adult body a "costume") as Animal Man and Immortal Man fight off threats worldly and under-wordly! We discuss a lost opportunity for a Krypto team-up PLUS the jarring ramifiactions of falling in love with someone who dies every three days!

Jun 20, 20211 hr 8 minSeason 1Ep. 130

They Shoot Tiger Beetles, Don't They? (Jimmy Olsen #94)

Jimmy and Superman, on the outs! Supergirl, dressed like a bug! PLUS lots of neighborhood reporting, and a display of our utter ignorance on basic facts of insect gender roles!

Jun 13, 20211 hr 10 minSeason 1Ep. 129

I Got Ssssssteam Heat (Metamorpho #7)

Metamorpho is in a pickle - Simon Stagg AND the world's top 12 of 13 volcanologists have gone missing, the ocean is being sucked into the core of the Earth, AND Rex has been turned into a formless puddle of goo! Plus we discuss Dr. Husband's emergency room visit, cicadas, and the possibly former Nazi, Louisa!

Jun 06, 202157 minSeason 1Ep. 128

The Green Green Grass of Home (Green Lantern 46 & 47)

Green Lantern, DEAD! The people of the far future, RED! And poor Katma Tui, beside herself with grief! PLUS Dr. Bobb benefits from the kindness of strangers and Dr. Husband waxes poetic about Gil Kane!

May 31, 20211 hr 3 minSeason 1Ep. 127

Here's Lookin' at You, Kids (Adventure Comics 346-347)

Uh-oh, looks like one of these new Legion kids is a nogoodnik, and right on the eve of an alien invasion to boot! It's the beginning of a legendary era in Legion history and Dr. Husband is on board!

May 17, 20211 hr 10 minSeason 1Ep. 126

I'll Sail Upon the Dog Star (Superboy 131)

While Superboy deals with the mild annoyance of young Lex Luthor with the powers of a 5th-dimensional imp, Krypto has the most exciting day of his life and introduces us the the most exciting character finds of 1966, the Space Canine Patrol Agents!

May 03, 202154 minSeason 1Ep. 124

NOT brought to you by Little Caesar's ™ (Sea Devils 30)

A giant amphibious talking gorilla! A man who transforms into monstrous sea creatures! An ambulatory underwater golden robot headquarters! AND THAT'S ALL BY PAGE 3. Join me and special guest Chuck for a look at the bat$h@t crazy Sea Devils #30!

Apr 27, 202159 minSeason 1Ep. 123

Pride Goeth Before a Fall (Batman #182)

It's an 80-PAGE GIANT! Batman gives us a glimpse of his weirdest adventures! Featuring Robin, the Man Wonder! Rubber-Face Batman! And Fire Island Batman! DON'T MISS IT!

Apr 13, 20211 hr 23 minSeason 1Ep. 122

But...No One Ever Actually Calls Her The Cat (Lois Lane #66)

Great grazing goats! When someone gets flown into the interior of the sun by page 3 of a 15-page story, you know it's going to be swell! Marvelous Martin Gray joins us to talk about Cliff Richard, Little House on the Prairie, and I guess a little about Lois Lane too.

Mar 15, 20211 hr 12 minSeason 1Ep. 120

What's the Rent Like on a Theory of Relativity (Blackhawk #222)

Second time's a charm I guess because the first time we recorded this episode the audio disappeared, PROBABLY the result of a strange visitor from a place that is not actually a place one can be from! Not to worry, Blackhawk et al are on the job, bravely (checks notes) ditching their powerless armed jets over a populated area. Tune in, won't you?

Mar 03, 202153 minSeason 1Ep. 119
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