This Friday, Batman and Superman will meet on the big screen for the first time in our lifetimes in the film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. So, in order to “cash in” on this, I’m taking a look at the beginning and end of the World’s Finest team by looking at two pre-Crisis Batman and Superman team-ups.
First up is World’s Finest #271 by Roy Thomas and Rich Buckler, which is a very long recap (including a long text piece) of the origin(s) of the Superman-Batman team. Then, it’s time to recap World’s Finest #323, which was the final issue of the long-running series and the “end” of the classic Batman-Superman team. I summarize and review both comics and also give my opinion and feelings as far as anticipation for the big, blockbuster film are concerned. Plus, listener emails!
Here’s where to listen:
This episode, I take time out from my regular coverage of The ‘Nam to continue my look at Vietnam War movies with Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now. I give a full review of the movie as well as a look at Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, the documentary that detailed the making of this infamously troubled production.
With three episodes to go in the series, I’m joined by Luke Jaconetti from Earth Destruction Directive (among other podcasts) to talk about DC’s long history of war comics. Over the course of our conversation, we take a look at a classic tale starring Sgt. Rock and Easy Company as well as the Creature Commandos and The War That Time Forgot in Weird War Tales #100.
We reach the conclusion to “The Death of Joe Hallen” with “Down So Long …” in The ‘Nam #58, a story written by Chuck Dixon with art by Wayne Vansant and Tony DeZuniga as well as a cover with metallic silver ink by Andy Kubert (it’s about as Nineties as The ‘Nam will get, kids … at least as far as the covers go). Also in this episode, I wrap up the historical context for the year 1969 with a look at December.
It’s time for YET ANOTHER PLAYLIST EPISODE! Inspired by Andrew Leyland’s movie scores episode of “The Palace of Glittering Delights,” I’ve compiled a playlist of songs from movie soundtracks that are both classic and obscure but are in many ways spectacular. I’ve got Simon & Garfunkel, The Bee Gees, Queen, Irene Cara, and (of course) Kenny Loggins. So many movie memories! So many songs left off the list!
Well, it’s been a month since Christmas and you’ve all finally listened to all of the holiday-themed episodes that everyone else on the TTF network put out … so why not one more? That’s right, folks–we’ve kept the lights up and drinking egg nog way past its expiration date to bring you a look at FOUR Christmas-themed DC Comics. First up is a treasury-sized Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer read by yours truly and Brett, complete with running commentary. I follow that up with Stella who discussed a Golden Age Batman story live at our local Starbucks. Then, it’s time to check in with the boy of steel and the Legion of Super-Heroes in a classic story that I reviewed with Michael Bailey. And finally, I fly solo for Team Titans #6. It’s festive! It’s jolly! It’s a month overdue!
“The Death of Joe Hallen” hits its penultimate chapter with “Burned” from The ‘Nam #57. Joe and his Marine unit finish their covert mission for a CIA agent and try to find their way back to more friendly territory, but things don’t exactly turn out as planned. It’s brought to us by Chuck Dixon, Wayne Vansant, and Tony DeZuniga. Plus, I’ll take a look at the historical context for October 1970.
It’s the first episode of 2016 and I’m back from Vegas, baby, so I’ve decided to take a look at one of the biggest independent film success stories of the mid-1990s, Swingers. Directed by Doug Liman and starring Jon Favreau (who also wrote the screenplay) and Vince Vaughn, the film is a comedy about guys, Hollywood, and attempts at romance in their twenties.
“Whipping Post” is the title of The ‘Nam #56 and part three of “The Death of Joe Hallen.” Here we see Joe and his new unit take on a very secret, possibly sketchy mission into enemy territory that involves a connection to the Chinese and the CIA. It’s brought to you by Chuck Dixon, Wayne Vansant, and Tony DeZuniga.
Chuck Dixon, Wayne Vansant, and Tony DeZuniga bring us part two of “The Death of Joe Hallen” in The ‘Nam #55 as Joe Returns to Vietnam for some LRRP and falls in with a new group. Plus, I take a look at “Christmas in Saigon,” an episode of the classic 1980s Fox television drama 21 Jump Street.
Pop Culture Affidavit 