Podcast – The Classy Comics Podcast

An all 1980s edition as we begin by looking at the last pre-Crisis Supergirl Comics in The Daring Adventures of Supergirl, Volume 2 Then we visit the world of Infinity Incorporated and several other comic series during the in Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Edition, Volume 2 Then, it’s Complainin’ Time in The Thing … Continue reading "EP0123: The Daring Adventures of Supergirl, Volume 2"

Colin Baker takes a hand at writing a Doctor Who comic in Doctor Who: The Age of Chaos. Then we take a look at Doctor Who Magazine Comic strips featuring Baker in Doctor Who Classics, Volume 8 Captain Marvel interferes in the war of three galaxies and battles Thanos again in Captain Marvel Masterworks, Volume … Continue reading "EP0122: Doctor Who: The Age of Chaos"

We switch up the format with our classy showcase, the classic Shazam/Captain Marvel story: The Monster Society of Evil. Also thoughts on Black Pather Collection, Volume 2, Batman, Volume 8: Cold Days, and Pet Avengers Classic.

Barry Allen and Wally West go to War in The Flash, Volume 8: Flash War. We meet five Universes’ Spider-people in Edge of the Spider-verse. As a bonus, we look at the Prisoner: Original Art Edition.

The Green Lanterns need some help from old friends…and enemies to face the return of the Darkstars in Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps, Volume 7: Darkstars Rising. We take a look at a whole new world where Gwen Stacy is Spider-woman in Spider-Gwen, Volume 0: Most Wanted Affiliate link included.

The Super Sons have to prevent a maternal assassination in Super Sons, Volume 3: The Parent Trap. The Avengers go to war in Avengers Epic Collection: Operation Galactic Storm. Affiliate links included.

See the rebirth of the X-men in Uncanny X-Men Masterworks, Volume 1. And then everyone is gunning for Terry McGuiness in Batman Beyond, Volume 4: Target: Batman Affiliate link included.

Gambit meets the enemy…and it is him in X-men: Gambit, The Complete Collection, Volume 2. Witness the birth of the injustice society in All-Star Comics Archives, Volume 8.

Spider-man gets a brand new costume in Spider-man: The Alien Costume, Volume 1. We take a look at some World War II adventures in Batman Chronicles, Volume 8. Affiliate link included.

Nightwing goes up against the evil of new tech in Nightwing, Volume 7: Bleeding Edge Learn about the late 1950s Superman newspaper strips in Superman, The Atomic Age, Sundays, Volume 3 Affiliate links included

The Parr family all start lying to each other in The Incredibles: Secrets and Lies. The Silver Surfer loses the Power Cosmic in Silver Surfer: Devolution. Affiliate links included.

Batman puts Batwoman on trial while dealing with the aftermath of the death of Clayface in Batman, Detective Comics, Volume 7: Batmen Forever. Learn the epic story of how…Captain Marvel grew her back while getting a meaningless retcon in the Life of Captain Marvel. Affiliate links included

Batgirl is on her own in Bludhaven in Batgirl: Kicking Assassins The Star Trek on-going series with the bold innovative step of re-telling stories from TOS in Star Trek, Volume 1. Affiliate link included.

A look at Diana’s Prince non-powered adventures in the late 1960s and early 70s in Wonder Woman: Diana Prince: Celebrating the ’60s. Hawkeye starts the West Coast branch of the Avengers in West Coast Avengers Assemble Affiliate link included.

Get ready for the original Spider-verse event where the most interesting part isn’t about the event in Amazing Spider-man, Volume 2: Spiderverse Prelude A new status quo is qualified as Robo has to be reassembled and save the Earth of kaiju monsters without destroying the World in Atomic Robo: The Ring of Fire Affiliate link … Continue reading "EP0109: Amazing Spider-man: Spider-verse Prelude and Atomic Robo and the Ring of Fire"

The Silver Surfer gets to be incredibly self-righteous in Silver Surfer: In Thy Name. A look at Heroes of the Public Domain: The Green Turtle One comic book writer’s take on the Green Turtle in Shadow Hero. Affiliate links included.

Batman is getting married (Made you read!) in Batman, Volume 7: The Wedding. Batgirl has a variety of adventures in Batgirl, Volume 4: Strange Loops Affiliate links included

Superman joins in a few epic team-ups and many run of the mill ones in Showcase Presents Superman Team Ups Volume 2. The Flash battles Gorilla Grodd and his own ego in Flash, Volume 7, Perfect Storm Affiliate links included.

Robin (Tim Drake) and Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) team up in a new city in Robin/Batgirl: Fresh Blood. We return to the village with a new number 6 in The Prisoner: The Uncertainty Machine. Affiliate links included.

We take a look at the tie-ins to Crisis on Infinite Earths including a lot of adventures with the All-Star Squadron in Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Edition, Volume 1 Then Hal Jordan takes on Zod while John Stewart tries to undermine the Guardians of the Universe now that he’s reporting to them in … Continue reading "EP0104: Crisis on Infinite Earth: Companion Deluxe Edition, Volume 1 and Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps, Volume 6"

We take a look at the first volume of the Defenders as they join forces to save the planet from various threats, but don’t you dare call them a team! Then, on the weekend Carol Danvers’ first movie comes out, we take a look at the last volume of her Ms. Marvel series in Ms. … Continue reading "EP0103: Defenders Masterworks, Volume 1 and Ms. Marvel, Vol. 9: Best You Can Be"

Mary Jane and Peter are worried about their daughter in Amazing Spider-man, Renew Your vows, Volume 4: Annie, Are You Okay? Then it’s Carol Danvers and Karla Sofen in an epic smackdown in Ms. Marvel, Vol. 8: War of the Marvels. Affiliate links included.

Meet the original hypocondriac Superhero in the Golden Age Starmarn Archives, Volume 1. Dash is seriously grounded in The Incredibles: Revenge from Below. Affliate links included.

Gene Colan takes on the Dark Knight…and vampires in Tales of the Batman, Gene Colan, Volume 1. Ms. Marvel dies and a new Ms. Marvel emerges in Ms. Marvel, Volume 7: Dark Reign. Affiliate link included

Nightwing faces a new old villain who’d ready to make a deal in Nightwing, Volume 6: The Untouchable. Carol digs into her own past to uncover a great secret in Ms. Volume 6: Ascension. Superman and Lex Luthor come to a crossroads in Superman, Volume 6: Imperius Lex. Affiliate links included.

Batman faces a long fight scene spread over an entire book in Batman Beyond, Volume 3: The Long Payback. Learn the origin of Shepherd Book in Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale. Finally, we turn to the Eleventh Doctors first comic adventures in Doctor Who: The Child of Time. Affiliate links included

Ms. Marvel battles a Skrull invasion in Ms. Marvel, Vol. 5: Secret Invasion. The Twelfth Doctor faces two different types of angels in The Twelfth Doctor: A Confusion of Angels. Heroes of the Public Domain takes a look at a zookeeper superhero. (See Zoot Comics #2) Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz have to get jobs … Continue reading "EP0097: Ms. Marvel, Volume 5: Secret Invasion, Doctor Who, The Twelfth Doctor: Confusion of Angels, HPD: The Jaguar, Green Lanterns, Volume 6"

It’s Clobbering Time as we examine two years worth of Thing team ups in Essential Marvel Two-in-One, Volume 2 . We look at the first Star Wars Comics in Star Wars Legends Epic Collection:The Original Marvel Years, Volume 1 Ms. Marvel battles the Puppet Master and faces a reckoning with the Cru in Ms. Marvel, … Continue reading "EP0096: Essential Marvel Two-in-One, Volume 2, Star Wars Legends Epic Collection:The Original Marvel Years, Volume 1 and Miss Marvel, Volume 4: Monster Smash"

Namor’s in trouble and needs some help from old friends in Namor Visionaries, John Byrne, Volume 2. The Titans are broken up by the Justice League so that we don’t have a team that features a potentially dangerous member walking the streets as this might distract Batman from running his Gotham-based Superhero team featuring Clayface. … Continue reading "EP0095: Namor Visionaries, John Byrne, Volume 2, Titans, Volume 4, and Batman Detective Comics, Volume 6"

Miles Morales integrates into a whole new Universe and has to deal with a loving (yet psychotic) grandmother in Miles Morales, Spider-man, Volume 1. Meet Spider-man’s cabbie ally in Spider-man’s Tangled Web, Volume 2. Miss Marvel gets her own private task force and a chance to repair some of the damage to her reputation from … Continue reading "EP0094: Spider-man: Miles Morales, Volume 1, Spider-man’s Tangled Web, Volume 2, and Miss Marvel, Volume 3: Operating Lightning Storm"

The Flash deals with the Negative Speed Force and then has to solve a murder inside Iron Heights in Flash, Volume 6: Cold Day in Hell. A boy comes from Japan to Gotham looking for his parents in Batman and the Justice League, Volume 1. Wonder Woman and Batman get into a long fight on … Continue reading "EP0093: Flash, Volume 6, Batman and the Justice League, Volume 1, Batman, Volume 6, Civil War: Ms. Marvel"

It’s a team-up of classic comic strip characters in Kings Watch. Batgirl and the Birds of Prey have an all-female team to fight a deadly case of man-flu in Batgirl and the Birds of Prey, Volume 3: Full Circle. Finally, as the Captain Marvel movie approaches, we take a look at the star of Carol … Continue reading "EP0092: Kings Watch, Batgirl and the Birds of Prey, Vol. 3, and Ms. Marvel, Volume 1"

We cover the second half of Martian Manhunter’s solo Silver Age Adventures in Showcase Presents Martian Manhunter, Volume 2. Superman goes back in time in a buddy team-up with Booster Gold in Superman, Action Comics, Volume 5: Booster Shot. And Thor and a group of lesser-known heroes team up with the fate of the Marvel … Continue reading "EP0091: Showcase Presents Martian Manhunter, Volume 2, Superman Action Comics: Booster Shot, Avengers Infinity Classic"

Damian Wayne, Jonathan Kent, and the Teen Titans faces Tim Drake from the future who wants to kill Jonathan in Super Sons of Tomorrow. A look at last of the Batman Silver Age newspaper strips from 1969-72 in Volume 3 of the Batman Newspaper Strips. Hal Jordan teams up with Superman and then the rest … Continue reading "EP0090: Super Sons of Tomorrow, Batman: The Silver Age Newspaper Strips, Volume 3, and Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps, Volume 5"

Take a look at the origins of Luke Cage in Luke Cage, Heroes for Hire Masterworks, Volume 1. Then Roger Stern reveals the true identity of the Hobgoblin in Hobgoblin Lives. Finally, see the origin of the Marvel Universe through the eye of a photographer in Marvels. Affiliate links included. Transcript below: We take a … Continue reading "EP0089: Luke Cage Masterworks, Volume 1, Hobgoblin Lives, and Marvels"

Adam Graham pays tribute to the late, great Stan Lee (1922-2018) Transcript: On a special edition of the Classy Comics Podcast we pay tribute to comic book legend Stan Lee in The Mighty Marvel Manor, straight ahead… Well, it’s a different sort of episode of the Classy Comics Podcast as we pay tribute to Stan … Continue reading "EP0088s: The Legacy of Stan Lee"

Atomic Robo fights his archnemesis in The Savage Sword of Doctor Dinosaur and then travels back to the Old West in the Knights of the Golden Circle.  Superman takes patriotic family vacation in Superman Vol. 5: Hopes and Fears Affiliate link included. Transcripts Below: Atomic Robo battles Dr. Dinosaur and then goes back to the … Continue reading "EP0088: Atomic Robo: The Savage Sword of Doctor Dinosaur and the Knights of the Golden Circle and Superman, Volume 5: Hopes and Fears"

We go to the Golden Age for a look at that other DC Super-team in the Seven Soldiers of Victory Archives, Volume 2. We look at the earliest adventures of Superman as a boy in the Adventures of Superboy. Finally, Atomic Robo meets up with a gang of outlaw lady pirates and takes on a … Continue reading "EP0087: Seven Soldiers of Victory Archives, Volume 2, Adventures of Superboy, And Atomic Robo and the Flying She-Devils of the Pacific"

The Tick is mighty! So mighty that he got me to break my rule of only reviewing trades as we look at New England Comics latest Tick comics including Issues 1-4 of the new series and the Free Comic Book Day issue. Transcript: The Tick is Mighty. Join us as we take a look at … Continue reading "EP0086: The Tick 2017-18 #1-4 and Tick 2018 Free Comic Book Day"

The Silver Surfer faces his last days in Silver Surfer: Requiem. Jack-jack has a disease and it’s giving others Superpowers in Incredibles: City of the Incredibles. And the Marvel Universe is rebooted…sorta in the 2015 Secret Wars. Transcript below: We take a look at Silver Surfer: Requiem, The Incredibles: City of the Incredibles, and 2015s … Continue reading "EP0085: Silver Surfer: Requiem, Incredibles: City of the Incredibles, Secret Wars 2015"

Peter Parker relives how he fell in love with Gwen Stacy in Spider-man: Blue. Find out what Adam Graham thinks of Watchmen and Pirate comics. The Doctor and Clara meet up with some World War II pilots carrying an Atom Bomb in Doctor Who: Skyjacks Donatello accidentally opens an inter-dimensional gateway allowing Bane to come … Continue reading "EP0084: Spider-Man: Blue, Watchmen, Doctor Who: Skyjacks, Batman/TMNT 2"

It’s a brand new format as discuss four different comics: Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows Vol. 3: Eight Years Later Shadow/Batman Patsy Walker: Hellcat Nightwing, Vol. 5: Raptor’s Revenge Affiliate links included. Transcript: Brace for a brand new format as we discuss not one but four different trade paperbacks: Spider-Man, Batman, the Shadow, Patsy Walker … Continue reading "EP0083: Amazing Spider-man: Renew Your Vows, Volume 3, Shadow/Batman, Patsy Walker: Hellcat, Nightwing, Volume 5"

Mighty Mouse flies out of the television and into real life…literally. Affiliate link included. Transcript: Here he comes! It’s time for Mighty Mouse: Saving the Day, Volume One. Welcome to the Classy Comics Podcast where we search for the best comics in the universe. From Boise, Idaho here is your host, Adam Graham. Dynamite Comics … Continue reading "EP0082: Mighty Mouse: Saving the Day"

We take a look at the first stories featuring the man who would become the Hobgoblin. Affiliate link included. Transcript: Are you ready to find out about the origin of the Hobgoblin? Join us as we take a look at Spider-Man: Origin of the Hobgoblin, straight ahead. So I didn’t talk about the Hobgoblin stuff … Continue reading "EP0081: Spider-man: Origin of the Hobgoblin"

Tim Drake is released with Mister Oz along with the crazy Batman from the future whose determined to kill one of his teammates who happens to be him. Affiliate link included Transcript: The hopeful plucky Tim Drake returns along with a dangerous menace, the evil cynical Tim Drake from the future. Find out all about … Continue reading "EP0080: Batman: Detectives Comics, Volume 5: A Lonely Place of Living"

It’s the 1980s which means the Vulture, Peter making a big decision about college, and the kid who collected Spider-man. Affiliate link included. Transcript below: Spidey battles Cobra, Mr. Hyde and the Vulture, while making a tough decision about whether to continue on in grad school. We’ll tell you all about it as we look … Continue reading "EP0079: Essential Amazing Spider-man, Volume 11"

Jessica and Simon have to go back in time to train the very first Green Lanterns to save the Universe. Affiliate link included. Transcript below: Graham Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz have to train the first Green Lanterns ten billion years ago. Find out more as we check out Green Lanterns Vol. 5: Out of … Continue reading "EP0078: Green Lanterns, Volume 5: Out of Time (Review)"

The Green Goblin has a plan for revenge…and it involves a lot of ranting. (of course) Affiliate link included. Transcript below: Graham: The Green Goblin’s back and he has a revenge plot on Peter Parker. Find out all about it as we take a look at Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin, straight ahead. [Intro … Continue reading "EP0077: Spider-man: Revenge of the Green Goblin"

A look at the good old days of the Disney Afternoon and Darkwing Duck strips in Disney Adventure magazine. Affiliate link included. Transcript below: Graham: Let’s get dangerous as we review Darkwing Duck Classics, straight ahead. Announcer: Welcome to the Classy Comics podcast where we search for the best comics in the universe. From Boise … Continue reading "EP0076: Darkwing Duck Classics, Volume 1"

Daredevil faces a battle with Elektra and then plays high stake poker without being able to see any of the card. Affiliate link included. Transcript: Graham: Brace for adventure with the ladies of Gotham as the Birds of Prey fly into another adventure. Today we’re taking a look at Batgirl and the Birds of Prey … Continue reading "EP0075: Daredevil, Back in the Black, Volume 2: Supersonic"

The Justice Society battles Psycho Pirate, Solomon Grundy, and deals with having Johnny Thunder as a member of the team.Affiliate link included.Transcript below:Graham:The Justice Society battles Solomon Grundy, Psycho Pirate and a mysterious visitor from the future. Find out all about it as we take a look at All-Star Comics Archives Vol. 7, straight ahead. [Intro Music]Announcer:Welcome to the Classy Comics podcast where we search for the best comics in the universe. From Boise Idaho, here is your host Adam Graham. Graham:Some of the earliest collections published by D.C. were the hardcover D.C. archives. These books cost $50 each at the time of their original pressing and they started producing them in the 90s. This particular book was released in 2001 and All-Star Comics Archives Vol. 7 collects issues 29 to 33 of All-Star Comics and features the Justice Society of America, the world's first superhero team. This volume features their post-war adventures and the good news is that if you want to read the stories, you don't have to hunt down a copy of this book. You can purchase individual issues of All-Star Comics out of the comixology or Amazon Kindle comic store for $1.99 an issue and so for five issues that adds up to be $10 and if you wait for a half off or buy one get one free sale, it's even a less than that. The big advantage of this particular book is the introductions from Roy Thomas. Roy Thomas was a great comics writer in his own right and he was also noted for a lot of nostalgic comics, comics that were set in the Golden Age or fleshed out Golden Age continuity. For example, at Marvel, he wrote The Invaders and at D.C., he wrote the All Star Squadron and he just loves the Golden Age of comics, has such a wonderful appreciation and knowledge and so reading books that have his introductions on it, that is really the big benefit. So, that's the one thing you miss if you read them digitally.Alright, so let's go ahead and we will get to talking about the Justice Society and the issues. In this book the roster is set. Now, the comics are approximately forty pages an issue, which is down from the Golden Age and in accordance with that there was a shrinking of the team. At times there were as many as 9 members of the Justice Society but this was shrunk down to six plus a secretary. More on that in a moment.The team was made up of The Flash, in this case Jay Garrick, Green Lantern, who is Alan Scott and not part of any intergalactic Green Lantern Corps, Hawkman, then there's Doctor Midnite. He is a hero who was blinded but discovered that he was able to see in complete darkness and also figured out a way to make goggles so that he could see when it was light out. Some have considered him a predecessor to Daredevil. Then there's the Atom, Al Pratt. The Golden Age Atom didn't have any striking power. He was just a short guy who was also really tough and could really hit very hard, though later he would gain some super strength. Then there was Johnny Thunder, who at times I found to be annoying but sometimes, and I think mostly in this volume, I found to be amusing. He is a bit of a dope. He's a private investigator, not a whole lot of talent or fighting ability, a very comical fellow until he says the magic words “say you”, or an appropriate variation thereof and The Thunder Bolt, this magical pink creature appears and is able to do Johnny's bidding and often resolve problems. Wonder Woman is the secretary of the Justice Society at this point. This is a really odd situation that feels really, really sexist as well as a bit stupid. You send the Atom and Johnny Thunder out on missions but Wonder Woman sits back at the headquarters. So, it's a question of what's going on.Wonder Woman had met with and teamed up with the Justice Society back in All-Star comics number 13 ...