THIS IS IT! THE BIG FINALE! And oh what a good one we’ve got for you! I’m joined by The Irredeemable Shag to talk about a book that not only showcases a plethora of DC superheroes, but characters from just about every DC genre I’ve covered. It’s Showcase #100, a 36-page spectaculary by Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, and Joe Staton!
We cover the issue, give our critique, and then wrap up by having a quick talk about new comics and finding your joy. So check it out as we take this miniseries home.
Thanks goes out to everyone who co-hosted on the show and everyone who listened and wrote in. It’s been a lot of fun. Let’s do it again sometime!
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My look at the history of DC Comics through its many genres reaches its penultimate episode with the last non-superhero genre but the very first it published (literally), which is Westerns. While giving an overview of the many cowboys and frontiersmen that DC published since 1935, I take a look at New Fun Comics #1, which featured a story starring cowboy Jack Woods on its cover before heading over to a 1950s Nighthawk story and then Jonah Hex #48.
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.
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!
Be a good citizen! Don’t do drugs! Understand the dangers of unprotected sex and fight the stigma of AIDS. These are all part of various DC Comics public service announcements over the company’s 80-year history. In this episode, I tackle citizenship by looking at a classic one-page Superboy PSA; fight the war on drugs by looking at not one, but all three New Teen Titans Drug Awareness giveaways; and I contribute to AIDS awareness by looking at one-page PSAs featuring the DCU’s best and brightest as well as the mini-comic Death Talks About Life.
My look at 80 Years of DC Comics continues with a review of the fantasy genre of comics, one that spans much of the company’s publishing history. I start off in the 1950s with a classic Kanigher-Kubert Viking Prince tale from Brave and the Bold #3 and then fast-foward to the 1980s for the 16-page Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld preview story “Duel in Dark Magic,” which appeared in Legion of Superheroes #296. Finally, I tackle one of Neil Gaiman’s classic Sandman comics, where he gets some help from Charles Vess on art and William Shakespeare himself in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” from Sandman #19. Plus … listener emails!
Just in time for Halloween, it’s a look at DC’s horror offerings! I take a look at some classic 1970s horror with stories from Ghosts and Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion (a story by none other than Jack “King” Kirby himself) and after a very quick look at an issue of John Constantine: Hellblazer, finish up with the first story in American Vampire #1.
If there’s one genre that DC is known for as much as its superheroes, it’s science fiction. A staple of the company since it’s very early days, it has spawned thousands of stories, and in this episode I take a look at 80 years of DC Comics’ science fiction. What’s covered, you ask? Don Drake on the Planet Soro, Tommy Tomorrow in “Columbus of Space,” Adam Strange in “War on Earth and Rann,” a story called “Killing Time” from Mystery in Space, Hex #11, and the Warren Ellis/Colleen Doran graphic novel Orbiter. Plus, interludes from Real Fact Comics that show us all what a wonderful future the Golden Age had in store for us!
It’s time to beam aboard and join me as I take a brief look at one of DC’s most successful licensed properties comics: Star Trek. In this episode, I take a quick look at Star Trek (1st series) #33, an issue billed as a “Twentieth Anniversary Special” that has the Excelsior as captained by James T. Kirk and his former Enterprise crew meet up with the crew from … the Enterprise?!
Our walk through the non-superhero history of DC Comics is back with a look at licensed properties comics. And this one is full of guest stars! Stella! Andy Leyland! Charo! Brett Panarese! The 1972 Miami Dolphins! People who steal other people’s tired bits!
Pop Culture Affidavit 