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by The Comics Canon
The Comics Canon is the podcast that reads, reviews, and renders judgment on the greatest comic book stories of yesterday and today. Each episode, Curt Holman and Kevin Moreau take a critical and completely subjective look at one of the biggest stories and most seminal moments in the medium's history, as they decide: Does this belong in the pantheon of classic and iconic tales known as ... The Comics Canon?
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- 1 weeks ago1h 10m
Episode 259: The Incredible Hulk vs. Wolverine
On this episode, in true Comics Canon fashion, we look ahead to the July 30 release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day with a discussion of (what else?) a pair of classic battles between the Hulk and Wolverine, natch! First up are "And the Wind Howls … Wendigo!" and "And Now … the Wolverine!" from 1974's Incredible Hulk #180-181, featuring the debut of the first and greatest Canadian superhero! Then we jump ahead 13 years to 1987's "Vicious Circle" from Incredible Hulk #340, for a rematch between a very different Hulk and a very different Wolverine, in perhaps the most 1990s comic of the 1980s! Will Marie Cartier succeed in her plan to turn the Hulk into the Wendigo? (And how would that work, exactly?) Can Wolvie be the better man and avoid a knock-down, drag-out fight with a very irate Gray Hulk? And which of our combatants will emerge victorious from that Brawl to Settle It All known as … The Comics Canon? Also in This Episode: Where's our Wendigo movie? Bobcat Goldthwait and Deadpool He's the best there is at what he does … and it's not what you think X-Men 97 Season 2 The Odyssey Incredible Hulk #182: Between Hammer and Anvil! Triptych by Karin Slaughter Join us in two weeks as we kick off a month of Batman-related tales with a look at the Caped Crusader's first run-in with Ra's al Ghul in Batman issues 232-234! Until then:Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podc
- 3 weeks ago1h 17m
Episode 258: Captain America and Marvel Golden Age Origins
In this episode, we mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S.A. by looking back at the origin and first appearance of the nation's greatest super-soldier, Captain America, in 1941's Captain America Comics #1! We also look back at the first appearances of two other Golden Age Marvel characters who are still around today – Cap's fellow Invaders the original Human Torch and Namor, the Sub-Mariner – in 1939's Marvel Comics #1! And just for kicks, we throw in the first appearance of the Red Skull – well, a Red Skull, anyway – in The Riddle of the Red Skull, also from Captain America Comics #1! Join us as we ask the burning questions: Does Captain America really punch Adolf Hitler in the face? And are these stories eligible for the senior discount at that VFW (Very Fine Works) hall known as … The Comics Canon? Also in This Episode: Professor Horton buries the lede Are we supposed to root for Namor? Take it down a notch there, Bucky One World Under Doom Men of a Certain Age Kirby: King of Comics by Mark Evanier Join us in two weeks as revisit two classic Hulk vs. Wolverine battles in The Incredible Hulk #180-181 (featuring the first appearance of Wolverine) and #340! Until then:Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send
- Jun 23, 20261h 15m
Episode 257: Sex Criminals Vol. 1 – One Weird Trick
Content warning: If the title didn't tip you off, this book deals with sex -- in graphic, often hilarious ways. Consequently, we're slapping an Explicit label on this episode, for both language and subject matter. In this episode, we look ahead to Amazon's upcoming Sex Criminals streaming series with a look at Sex Criminals Vol. 1: One Weird Trick, by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, published by Image Comics! When Jon and Suzie hook up at a party, they discover that they both possess a unique gift: When they orgasm, time stops for seemingly everyone but them. When Jon proposes they use this power to steal from the bank he works at to save the library she works at, it seems like the perfect crime. But it turns out they're not the only ones with the ability to inhabit the frozen world Suzie calls The Quiet. Like, what's the deal with the woman known as Kegelface? Is Jon a little too good to be true? And can our modern-day Bonnie and Clyde evade the Sex Police long enough to pull off that crime of the century known as … The Comics Canon? Also in This Episode: Everyone's favorite porn search engine Kevin's newest crush The Fermata and Vox, by Nicholson Baker The Girl, the Gold Watch, and Everything Superior Foes of Spider-Man Richard Parker's The Score, by Darwyn Cooke Join us in two weeks as celebrate America's 250th birthday with a look at the first appearances of Captain America, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the original Human Torch! Until then:Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Times
- Jun 9, 20261h 23m
So … We're Talking About Cerebus
Content warning: Sexual assault It's finally happened! After 10 years and more than 250 episodes, we finally get around to discussing the elephant (or, rather, the aardvark) in the room: Dave Sim's 300-issue magnum opus, Cerebus! And to help us grapple with the weight of one of the longest-running, most creative and most controversial comics in the history of the medium, we're joined by longtime friend of the show Bryan Stratton of Marvel by the Month! Self-published by Sim's Aardvark-Vanaheim, Cerebus paved the way for many other independent comics creators to self-publish their work. And its ambitious, experimental approach to comics storytelling expanded the artistic possibilities of the medium, as it grew from a parody of swords-and-sorcery comics into a complex, sprawling saga that would take on politics, religion, and other weighty issues. But while there's a lot to recommend Cerebus, there's also a lot to give potential new readers pause—namely, Sim's contentious, divisive views on women, which ultimately begin to exert greater and greater influence over the series itself. As the Will Eisner Comic Awards prepare to induct Sim (among other creators, including Gerry Conway and Rick Veitch) into its Hall of Fame at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, we take the opportunity to dive into this massive work, touching on topics including: What exactly IS Cerebus? Our personal histories with Cerebus The detailed background artwork of Gerhard The "Walking on the Moon" arc and the Cerebus creation myth Would we recommend that you read Cerebus? We also share suggestions for other long-running, impactful series (in comics and otherwise) you might enjoy. For further reading on the subject of Cerebus, we recommend: Tom Ewing's great and insightful blog Aard Labour Curt's 2004 Slate article on the endings of Cerebus and Bone The Onion A.V. Club's notorious 2004 interview with Dave Sim <span style= "font
- May 27, 20261h 22m
Episode 255: Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, Book 2 and 3
In this episode, we conclude our two-part look at Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons with a discussion of Books 2 and 3, by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Gene Ha and Nicola Scott, published by DC Black Label! The Amazons accept Hippolyta and other disenfranchised women into their ranks as they continue their mission to hunt down those who abuse and oppress women. But it isn't long before their activities catch the attention of a wrathful Zeus, sparking an all-out war between the Amazons and the gods of Olympus! What is Hera's long game? Why is there a baby made of sand? And will the Amazons prevail and take their rightful place in that League of Their Own known as … The Comics Canon? Also in This Episode: Curt makes a shocking announcement about A.I. Widow's Bay and Margo's Got Money Troubles on Apple TV Age of Bronze Volume 1: A Thousand Ships Join us in two weeks as we take a hard left turn to discuss … Dave Sim's Cerebus! This is not a drill! Until then:Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky! <p cl
- May 13, 20261h 0m
Episode 255: Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, Book 1
In this episode, we kick off a two-part look at a book we've had our eyes on for some time with a discussion of Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, Book 1, by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Phil Jiminez, published by DC Black Label! Phil Jiminez makes the artistic statement of his career to date with a visually arresting first issue that explores how and why the Greek goddesses (with the notable exception of Hera, Queen of the Olympians) come to create the Amazons, a race of women sworn to find and rescue women enslaved and mistreated by men. Will Zeus redress the wrongs done to women by men throughout history? (Don't hold your breath.) Will Hippolyta escape a band of brutish brigands determined to cut out her tongue? What happened to that little baby girl she sent down the river? And will these maids of might prevail in that Fight Club known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: Some complete random nonsense Zeus, God of Manspreading Shaq at the Parthenon The Incandescent by Emily Tesh Swamp Thing 1989 #1 Join us in two weeks as we continue our two-parter with Books 2 and 3, featuring art by Gene Ha and Nicola Scott! Until then:Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on <a href= "https://www.facebook.com/thecomicscanon/" ta
- Apr 28, 20261h 44m
Episode 254: The Punisher Origins
Note: This episode was recorded before the death of Gerry Conway, who wrote two of the stories we talk about. The Punisher is gearing up for a busy summer on the big and small screens (with Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Punisher: One Last Kill, respectively). So what better time to dive into some key early stories charting the evolution of everyone's favorite gun-toting vigilante? We start with a look at the Punisher's pop-culture inspirations, including the Executioner and Dirty Harry, before discussing his first appearance in 1974's Amazing Spider-Man #129, where he joins forces with (wait, this can't be right, can it?) the Jackal to take down your friendly neighborhood wall-crawler! Then it's on to Marvel Preview #2 from that same year, in which we learn the tragic backstory behind his one-man war on crime! Finally, we jump ahead a few years to Daredevil #183-184 and a gritty, street-level take on the character that's closer to the version we're all familiar with. Is our (anti)hero just a poor judge of character? What type of story suits him best? And can our surly sentinel of the streets survive a frontal assault from that Whack Attack known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: What happened to Curt on our April 1 episode? The Spotmaker Punisher War Journal #19 Punisher: Circle of Blood (1986) Daredevil Born Again Season 2 Questions about the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot Join us in two weeks as we delve into the acclaimed three-part series Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, by Kelly Sue De
- Apr 15, 20261h 24m
Episode 253: DC Superheroes vs. Super-Gorillas
On this episode, we revisit that bygone era when Detective Comics Comics would use any excuse to feature gorillas on its covers with a furry foursome of titanic Silver and Golden Age tales: "The Gorilla Boss of Gotham City" (Batman #75), "Titano the Super-Ape" (Superman #127), "Menace of the Super-Gorilla" (The Flash #107) and "The Brotherhood of Evil" (Doom Patrol #86)! Can DC's greatest (and strangest) heroes prevail against these powerful, petrifying primates? And can these heavy-duty hominids take up residence in that Gorilla City known as … The Comics Canon? In This Episode: The super-timely name on everyone's lips! Curt and Kevin's last meals Superman's foolproof plan Great Scott! It must be … THE GORILLA! Robotman? Total LOSER Turok, Son of Stone Amazing Spider-Man #130 "Betrayed!" and #136 "The Green Goblin Lives Again!" The Flash: The Silver Age Vol. 1 The Doom Patrol #89 "The Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Menace" and #90 "The Enemy Within the Doom Patrol" King Sorrow by Joe Hill Special thanks to Robb Milne of Marvel by the Month for co-hosting on our special April 1st podcast crossover episode. And if you haven't already, check out Curt's crossover appearance on Marvel by the Month alongside Will Hines of Screw It, We're Just Gonna Talk About Comics, and MbtM's Jamie Wenger crossing over on Screw It! Join us in two weeks as we look back at the early days of the Punisher, including his first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #129 and his origin in Marvel Preview #2! <p class="MsoNormal" style= "margin-bottom: 8
About The Comics Canon
The Comics Canon is the podcast that reads, reviews, and renders judgment on the greatest comic book stories of yesterday and today. Each episode, Curt Holman and Kevin Moreau take a critical and completely subjective look at one of the biggest stories and most seminal moments in the medium's history, as they decide: Does this belong in the pantheon of classic and iconic tales known as ... The Comics Canon?
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