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

Gorilla My Dreams (Wonder Woman 163)

The only thing this Woman should be Wondering is why all the gals in town go ga-ga over STEVE TREVOR of all people. Not one, but TWO love triangles this issue, as Steve fends off the advances of a Gorilla Girl AND a Nazi war criminal who MIGHT be a man in drag. All this PLUS plenty of neighborhood gossip from Mrs. Twitchycurtains aka Dr. Husband!

Feb 21, 20211 hr 12 minSeason 1Ep. 118

Ain't Love Grand? (Valentine's Day Special!)

The real Saint Valentine came to a bloody end, but you can avoid all unpleasantness with our Valentine's Day Special! From Secret Hearts #113 comes Chapter 4 of "Reach for Happiness", dramatized for you by the Girls' Young Romance True Love Story Players! PLUS the return of Time Machine Mailbag, beauty tips from Liza Roundalot and Withers LaRue, and so much more!

Feb 14, 202142 minSeason 1Ep. 117

'A' for Effort (Superman 188)

Can it be? Superman choke DEAD?!? We may never know, because the super-scientific civilzation that killed him him neglected to back up their data. ROOKIE MISTAKE, SUPER-SCIENTIFIC CIVILIZATION. All this plus the super-dinnerware of Krypton, and even a shoutout to famed game-show panelist Dorothy Killgallen!

Feb 07, 20211 hr 9 minSeason 1Ep. 116

I'm a Leg Man (Capt. Storm 14/ Our Fighting Forces 101)

Capt. Storm is a reg'lar MacGuyver (if MacGuyver had an easily-detachible prosthetic leg and a thirst for vengeance) but the real news is the metaphysical sub-text of Capt. Hunter - could his entire Vietnam saga be happening inside his own head?

Jan 25, 202152 minSeason 1Ep. 115

Drain the Swamp! (Tomahawk #105)

What could be more timely than a ragtag, Revolution-era band of "patriots" banding together to battle a hideous gargantuan creature whose permanent residence is in Florida? Even Captain America gets a shout-out!

Jan 13, 202144 minSeason 1Ep. 114

Boy King of the Seven Seas (Aquaman #28)

Never turn your back on the heir to the throne, that's what I always say - and probably what Aquababy says, too, if anyone but Sugar and Spike could understand his confounded baby-talk language. Aquaman's in a seep-sea pickle, that's for sure, as we welcome "Hail Aquababy, New King of Atlantis!"

Dec 26, 20201 hr 1 minSeason 1Ep. 112

Up-skirt Ultra (Mystery in Space 108)

Ultra the Multi-Alien is in a pretty pickle (and that's NOT a euphemism for what's under the mini-skirt wearing giant from space!) Join us for a look at Mystery in Space #108!

Dec 13, 202042 minSeason 1Ep. 111

Women's Intuition, only it's Batman (Detective Comics 352)

I've got a HUNCH you'll love listening about Batman's strange new super-power of just GUESSING where crimes will occur. PLUS Elongated Man breaks the bank (and a few criminal jaws) in Monte Carlo!

Dec 02, 20201 hrSeason 1Ep. 110

Water, Water, Everywhere (Action Comics 338 & 339)

Superman - no, not THAT Superman - fights the inter-dimensional criminal mastermind Muto in the far-flung future world of the 30th Century - no, not THAT 30th Century, apparently - all while avoiding his fatal weakness to (checks notes) um....WATER.

Nov 16, 202056 minSeason 1Ep. 109

If You Can't Beat 'Em.... (Justice League of America 45)

The JLA goes up against the Shaggy Man, and man, is he shaggy! Almost as shaggy as...well, the OTHER Shaggy Man. Plus a tentacled moon monster, and Dr. Husband's adventures with acetone!

Oct 05, 202047 minSeason 1Ep. 105

Meta-Metal Mania (Metal Men 20/Brave and the Bold 66)

Disgruntled scientist? Check. Racist sterotype robotic enemy? Check. Giant novelty birthday cake? Check. The Metal Men as paragons of patriotism? Now that one I didn't see coming. PLUS, Metamorpho ditches his powers for about ten minutes before thinking better of it!

Sep 28, 20201 hr 11 minSeason 1Ep. 104

Dark Rides of the Soul (Flash 162)

Quick, which would you rather see - A mutated Walt Disney-esque creature destroying his own magical creation - - or videograpgic evidence of a heretofore unknown advanced civilization 100 Million years in Earth's past? YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE. Plus! Classic movies we sort of didn't like! My tale of ambushed on public access tv! And so much more! Join us for Flash #162!

Sep 13, 20201 hr 4 minSeason 1Ep. 102

Public Enemy Number 4! (Batman 181)

She's Poison! She's Ivy! But she doesn't seem especially evil or criminal, at least not in this first outing. Yes, listener, it's the very first appearance of Poison Ivy, and boy, does she get Batman revved up! PLUS - lots of chatter about obscure short-lived 70's sitcoms, echo-location, and a little more about our sex lives than you probably wanted to know.

Aug 31, 20201 hr 1 minSeason 1Ep. 101

SCOOTER IS (Swing With Scooter #1)

Scooter Sings! Scooter Swings! Scooter and his creepy friends spend 26 pages chasing each other around town and not respecting boundaries! All this plus some brief visits from old friends on our gala ONE HUNDREDTH EPISODE!

Aug 19, 202052 minSeason 1Ep. 100

A Mighty Fortress Is Our Zod (Superman 187)

An 80-Page Giant all about Superman's Fortress of Solitude! Plus - the eternal sunshine of Jimmy Olsen's freckled mind! Superman's army of misogynistic robots! Lois Lane's backfiring husband trap! Superman kills - TWICE! Also, sorry to trick you into reading this far, but there's no General Zod!

Aug 02, 20201 hr 29 minSeason 1Ep. 99

I guess we're lucky there are only NINE unknowns (Hawkman #14)

The Winged Wonder and the Pinioned Princess are back at it, battling through their exhaustion and ennui to (checks notes) absorb the accumulated knowledge of humanity and keep some sacred relics out of the hands of C.A.W. (Criminal Alliance of the World). Just another day in the life of America's hardest-workingv dual-career (or is it quadruple-career) couple!

Jul 19, 20201 hr 37 minSeason 1Ep. 98

Earth-X Marks the Spot (not THAT Earth-X) (Jimmy Olsen #93)

Jimmy stumbles upon Professor Potter's dangeraously unattended dimensional transporter - literally stumbles, as in trips and activates it - and finds himself in a crazy mixed up world where Perry White loves Jimmy as a son! Clark Kent is the Joker! Matadors wear blue capes instead of red! Oh, and Jimmy has super powers and a costume that inexplicably has bat-ears. Perhaps on THIS Earth, you'll listen in!

Jun 23, 202055 minSeason 1Ep. 97

She Gets a Husband and I Can't Even Get a Cab (Green Lantern #45)

Princess Ramia has a problem, but being queen ain't one of them. Like all well-bred young women of the 1960s, she's nothing til she gets herself a man! Never fear, it's working man stereotype Doiby Dickles to the rescue, along with a Green Lantern or two!

Jun 04, 202054 minSeason 1Ep. 95

Vile Is As Vile Does (Challengers of the Unknown #50)

Say, who's that big green fella wreaking havoc throughout the city? Whoever it is, he's got a sporty sleeveless jumpsuit that fits to a tee! Too bad his dress sense didn't filter out to the rest of the criminal marauding community...catch all the action with Challengers of the Unknown #50!

May 27, 202049 minSeason 1Ep. 94

A Method To My Moon-Madness (Blackhawk 221)

Hendrickson isn't the only one with a secret life...today we disclose not only our least favorite Looney Tunes characters but also my fetishization of people with planets for heads. Not masks, mind you, but actual planets. It's a very specific fetish. Jpoin us for Blackhawk #221!

May 10, 202052 minSeason 1Ep. 93

Up and Atom! (The Atom #25)

The Atom's in a pickle, a Playboy Bunny on one arm and an ionized super-villain on the other! Not to mention his important work against the adversaries of America who are planning to use the very foundation of our capitalist system of government against us! What's a little fella to do? All you have to do is tune in to find out!

Apr 27, 20201 hrSeason 1Ep. 92

The Unbearable Hipness of Being (The Adventures of Bob Hope 99)

If you're here for a thorough exploration of Bob Hope's comic persona, or perhaps the stifling conformity of mid-century America as represented by the uptight Tadwallader Frutejuce, I'm sorry to disappoint. What I do have on offer, however, is a Zoom conference with my sisters, discussing the new normal, embarrassing parents, avocado tuna toast, and so much more! (Plus a little bit about Bob Hope and Super-Hip)

Apr 18, 202054 minSeason 1Ep. 91

The Prince and the Paw-Purr (Superboy #130)

Superbaby am look for him a pet like him had on Krypton! Am Superbaby from Bizarro World? Nope, Superbaby am just a mewling idiot and him get too much freedom to fly around space and cause trouble! PLUS Superboy teams up a foreign Prince to overcome the toxic masculinity endemic to the developing world! Sound exciting? YOU BET IT IS

Apr 05, 20201 hr 16 minSeason 1Ep. 90

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye (Our Army At War 168/Heart Throbs 102)

Hey there, you battle-weary Joes, didja ever wonder who's buried in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier? Well wonder no longer cause Big Daddy Rock has the answer. Just steal yourself for some good ol' fashioned mid-century bigotry. PLUS a new radio drama!

Mar 27, 202045 minSeason 1Ep. 89
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