Marvel Comics

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 92

IC 92 Website CoverEight episodes and a wake-up!

This time around, I take a look at issue #81 of the series, which is part three of the three-part Tet Offensive storyline “The Beginning of the End”, plus historical context from the summer of 1973. Then, I look at five documentaries about the Vietnam War.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 92 direct link

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Here are links and clips regarding the documentaries I talked about:

The Fog of War trailer

 

On Two Fronts: Latinos & VietnamWatch the full episode here.

 

Last Days in VietnamPBS’ website, information and clips can be found here.

 

Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam Purchase DVD from Amazon here.

 

Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s The Vienam War: PBS’ website, information, and clips as well as how you can watch it can be found here.

 

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 91

ic91itunescover

Nine episodes and a wake-up!

This time around, I take a look at part two of the three-part Tet Offensive storyline “The Beginning of the End”, plus historical context from the middle of 1973. Then, I look at the career of Vietnam Veteran Principal Seymour Skinner.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 91 direct link

Here’s a playlist of the Principal Skinner clips that I used in this episode:

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 90

10 episodes and a wake-up are left!

It’s a return to the regular coverage of The ‘Nam with the first of a three-part storyline that takes us back to the Tet Offensive of 1968, “The Beginning of the End.”  I’ll take a look at issue #79 of the series and will also finish up the two-part Punisher/Iceman storyline from Punisher War Journal by looking at issue #53 of that comic.  Plus, I round things out by looking at the history behind the war in January-March of 1973.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 90 direct link

As mentioned in the episode, here is the Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph “Burst of Joy,” which depicts a POW returning home to see his family:

burst_of_joy

You can read more about this on the photo’s Wikipedia page.

And here are the covers for our issues.

punisher_war_journal_vol_1_53

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In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 88

IC 88 Website Cover12 episodes and a wake-up are left!

My coverage of Don Lomax’s run on The ‘Nam continues with issue #78, a story about combat in Quang Tri through the eyes of Ed Marks.  Plus, we get the next chapter in the “Stateside” backup as Rob Little and Sarge try to track down Top, who may have been involved in the death of Rob’s brother Eugene.  Then, I look at an article about the comic in Marvel Age #122 followed by a Punisher/Ice team-up in Punisher War Journal #52.  It’s all this and the historical context for the fall and winter of 1972.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 88 direct link

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 87

ic 87 website coverEd Marks finds himself on an aircraft carrrier and we hear the story of a fellow soldier’s bombing run, plus we go “Stateside” to see Rob Little reunite with Sarge.  It’s all in issue #77 of The ‘Nam, which is written by Don Lomax with art by Wayne Vansant, Mike Harris, and Frank Percy.

Plus, I take a look at the events of the war in the summer of 1972.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 87 direct link

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 86

IC 86 Website CoverI’m back to the classic format of the show and back to some classic characters as I take a look at issue #76 of The ‘Nam, a story titled “Brothers” that stars Rob Little.  It’s June 1972 and while standing at the grave of his brother Eugene, Rob flashes back to a story from 1967 where he and Ed Marks help a paymaster complete his job of getting back pay to GIs in the field.

Plus, I take a look at the history of the war in June 1972.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 86 direct link

Some extras:

During this episode, I talk about Nick Ut’s famous photograph of  Phan Thi Kim Phuc running naked down a street burned from a napalm attack.  Here are some resources if you would like to learn more:

“The Long Road to Forgiveness”, which is her contribution to NPR’s long-running “This I Believe” series.

The Kim Foundation, her foundation dedicated to helping children who have been injured as a result of war.

Wikipedia’s page on Phan Thi Kim Phuc, which is extensive and was an excellent resource.

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In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 85

IC 85 Website CoverIt is an extra-sized episode and an extra-sized issue as The ‘Nam hits issue #75.  In four different stories that take us in country and back again, we look at events and perspectives surrounding the My Lai massacre.  Creators in this one include original ‘Nam writer Doug Murray, Scott Lobdell, Don Lomax, Mike Harris, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Herb Trimpe.

Plus, I also take a long look at the final season of China Beach with expanded coverage of the events of the season and its final three episodes.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 84 direct link

Nam 75

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 84

IC 84 Website Cover“Siege at An Loc” concludes as Ed Marks continues to experience the 1972 Easter Offensive in a story by Don Lomax and Wayne Vansant.  Plus, we continue to go “Stateside,” this time catching up with Sgt. Poklow from the original run of the series.  I also have a look at season 3 of China Beach.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 84 direct link

Nam 74

Pop Culture Affidavit Episode 89: Laying Down the Law, Part 2

Episode 89 Website CoverIt’s the second of a two-part look at police story comics of the late 1980s and early 1990s! This time around, I look at the Marvel comics series Cops: The Job by Larry Hama, Joe Jusko, Mike Harris, and Jimmy Palmiotti from 1992.

You can listen here:

iTunes:  Pop Culture Affidavit

Direct Download 

Pop Culture Affidavit podcast page

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 83

IC 83 Website CoverEd Marks goes deep into the Easter Offensive of April 1972 in part one of the two-part “Siege at An Loc” storyline by Don Lomax and Wayne Vansant. Plus, a backup story called “Stateside” begins as we take a look at what happened to the boys from the fifth batallion (from all the way back at the beginning of the series) as they live their lives back home. And I also continue my look at China Beach with season 2.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 83 direct link

Here’s a triptych of what I describe in the “Stateside” segment.  On the left is the panel from Girls’ Romances #78, the middle is the Roy Lichtenstein painting, and the right is the panel from our comic.  It’s not an exact match (and probably a bit of  stretch), but I like to think that perhaps Mike Harris and Jimmy Palmiotti were channeling pop art here …

 

Here’s the opening and closing credits to season 2 of China Beach:

The cover to The ‘Nam #73 …

Nam 73