Fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics
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The Superhero Show #635: Fantastic Four: Saur WinnersThe Superhero Show — Saur Winners This week, The Superhero Show continues its journey through Ryan North's Fantastic Four, diving into one of the most audaciously creative premises the series has delivered yet: Fantastic Four #12, "Saur Winners." When two parallel worlds begin to merge—one human, one where everyone is a dinosaur—the Fantastic Four find themselves swapped into a universe of literal, full-scale dinosaurs wearing superhero costumes. As Sue Storm faces off against Brachiosaurus Iron Man, Johnny Storm battles Lambeosaurus Captain Marvel, and Reed Richards confronts Quetzalcoatlus Black Widow, the hosts explore how Ryan North transforms a wild multiverse collision into a deeply personal story about family.Beyond the chaos and dinosaurs, the episode features emotional reunions with missing members of the Fantastic Four family, Sue Storm's doctorate is finally revealed, and the hosts dig into whether dinosaur superheroes work as genuine science fiction—or if they're just visual fun masquerading as high-concept storytelling.Saur Winners: How Alternate Universe Science Becomes a Story About FamilyThe hosts begin their discussion by celebrating the sheer audacity of the premise. A world of dinosaurs wearing superhero costumes could easily become a gimmick, a one-off visual joke that prioritizes spectacle over substance. Instead, Ryan North uses the multiverse collision as a vehicle for something far more meaningful: reuniting separated family members.The hosts explore what this choice reveals about North's approach to the Fantastic Four. Rather than treating the alternate universe as an obstacle to overcome, North grounds the story in the emotional stakes that matter most to his characters. The cosmic threat becomes secondary to the personal journey—what does it mean to see family members you thought you'd lost? How do you fight for survival when the greatest reward is simply being together again?This strategy transforms what could have been a throwaway concept into a genuinely moving exploration of connection, loss, and redemption. The hosts agree that this is quintessential Ryan North: taking an absurd premise and letting it serve the emotional core of the story.Saur Winners: Sue Storm's Doctorate Finally RevealedOne of the most significant moments in the issue is the revelation of Sue Storm's doctorate. After everything the Fantastic Four have endured—running from troublemakers, dealing with crisis after crisis, protecting the world from constant threats—Sue's professional achievement finally comes into focus.The hosts spend considerable time discussing why this detail matters so much. Sue Storm has always been more than just the team's most powerful member; she's a brilliant scientist in her own right. Yet throughout her tenure as the Invisible Woman, her professional accomplishments have often been overshadowed by the chaos of superhero life. The revelation of her doctorate is more than just a fact—it's a recognition of her identity beyond the costume.The hosts consider what this suggests about Sue's role in the family and in the larger Marvel Universe. As the team's emotional anchor and its most strategic thinker, Sue has earned the right to have her professional credentials acknowledged. This small but powerful moment speaks to something larger about how women in comics are often defined by their relationships to others rather than their own achievements. By finally centering Sue's doctorate, North affirms that she is a fully realized person with accomplishments that deserve recognition.Saur Winners: Dinosaurs Meet Superheroes—A Collision of ConceptsThe hosts then dive into the question that has defined their entire discussion: are dinosaur superheroes a gimmick, or does this premise actually work as genuine high-concept science fiction?On the surface, the idea of a universe populated entirely by dinosaurs in superhero costumes sounds absurd. Brachiosaurus Iron Man? Lambeosaurus Captain Marvel? Quetzalcoatlus Black Widow? The visual comedy is obvious, and the hosts certainly appreciate the humor. But they also recognize that Ryan North doesn't stop there.The issue draws from Robert Dicke's astrophysics discoveries, grounding the multiverse collision in actual scientific concepts. Yet crucially, North never lets the science lesson overtake the storytelling. The dinosaur premise serves as both a visual spectacle and a thematic exploration of multiverse convergence—what happens when two realities begin to merge, and how do characters adapt when the rules of their universe change?The hosts conclude that the dinosaur superheroes work as more than just visual fun precisely because North keeps the story front and center. The premise is wild, yes, but it's never at the expense of character development, emotional stakes, or thematic depth. In fact, the absurdity of the premise amplifies the emotional impact of family reunions and Sue's professional recognition. By throwing the Fantastic Four into an impossible situation, North strips away pretense and forces his characters to confront what truly matters.Saur Winners: Heroes vs. Dinosaur HeroesAs the hosts walk through the specific battles—Sue Storm vs. Brachiosaurus Iron Man, Johnny Storm vs. Lambeosaurus Captain Marvel, Reed Richards vs. Quetzalcoatlus Black Widow—they marvel at how North uses these matchups to explore character dynamics.These aren't random pairings. Each battle plays to the particular strengths and vulnerabilities of the Fantastic Four members. The hosts discuss how these confrontations serve multiple purposes: they provide the action spectacle the issue promises, but they also force each character to adapt, improvise, and ultimately survive in an environment completely foreign to them.What emerges is a portrait of a team tested to its absolute limits, fighting not just for victory but for the chance to reunite with loved ones. The dinosaur element, rather than distracting from the stakes, actually heightens them by making every moment feel genuinely unpredictable.Saur Winners: Family, Loss, and ReconnectionBeyond the action and the science fiction premise, the hosts emphasize that what makes "Saur Winners" truly memorable is its emotional core. The reunions with missing members of the Fantastic Four family provide some of the issue's most powerful moments.After years of stories where family members have been separated, lost, or taken away, the opportunity to be together again becomes the real victory of the issue. The hosts reflect on how Ryan North consistently prioritizes character relationships over spectacle, and how that commitment to emotional authenticity transforms even the wildest premises into stories that resonate.By the end of the issue, the Fantastic Four have survived an impossible situation, Sue's contributions have been formally recognized, and the family is whole again. It's a perfect distillation of what makes North's run so consistently rewarding.Saur Winners: Ryan North's Multiverse VisionThe hosts wrap up their discussion by reflecting on how "Saur Winners" exemplifies Ryan North's approach to the Fantastic Four. North has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to take science fiction concepts that seem designed purely for novelty and transform them into vehicles for genuine storytelling and character development.Whether it's a house falling toward the Earth's core or a world of dinosaur superheroes, North ensures that the emotional stakes and character moments remain paramount. The hosts agree that this is what separates truly excellent comic storytelling from mere spectacle—the willingness to make wild premises serve deeper purposes.Final Thoughts — Saur WinnersBy the end of Saur Winners, The Superhero Show has once again found itself celebrating everything that makes Ryan North's Fantastic Four such a standout series. Between the audacious premise, the character reunions, Sue Storm's long-overdue professional recognition, and the thoughtful exploration of multiverse science, Fantastic Four #12 proves that Ryan North continues to deliver some of Marvel's most creative and emotionally resonant storytelling.The dinosaur superheroes are unforgettable, yes—but what lingers is the reminder that even in the wildest stories, character and heart are what matter most. If you've been following North's run, "Saur Winners" is another essential issue you won't want to miss.Are You a Research Nerd Who's Looking For More?Here are some links for all your research wants and needs!Ryan North's Fantastic FourRobert Dicke - AstrophysicistMultiverse in Marvel ComicsJoin the discussions online! Ryan North's Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four DiscussionCatch Up On Past Episodes!Missed any of our past episodes? Catch up
The Superhero Show #634Fantastic Four: Johnny Storm's Flame On RapThe Superhero Show — Johnny Storm's Flame On RapThis week, The Superhero Show dives into one of the silliest, strangest, and most entertaining episodes yet from the 1994 Fantastic Four animated series: Episode 1.11, “Mole Man.” The hosts go into the episode already excited to talk about its reputation for being wonderfully ridiculous, but there is one moment they have been especially looking forward to: Johnny Storm's infamous “Flame On Rap.”Before getting to the rap, however, the hosts break down the introduction of Mole Man, his hilariously elaborate plan to destroy famous landmarks around the world, and his ultimate goal of bringing the entire surface world down into his underground kingdom. From Mole Man's appearance to his costume to his master plan, the hosts find almost every aspect of the character endlessly entertaining.Then comes the moment they've been waiting for—the Flame On Rap. The hosts dive into the history behind the musical number, including the voice actor's desire to use the song as a way to break into the music industry. They discuss the production, the amount of work that apparently went into creating the song, and whether the finished product actually has what it takes to launch Johnny Storm into the music business.Flame On Rap: Mole Man Wants the World UndergroundThe hosts begin their recap with the introduction of Mole Man and his absolutely ridiculous master plan.Mole Man has decided that the best way to conquer the world is to bring the surface world down to him. His scheme begins with targeting famous landmarks around the globe, including the pyramids and England's Parliament. Eventually, his plan escalates toward his ultimate target: the White House.The hosts have an absolute blast discussing the sheer absurdity of the plan. They break down how Mole Man believes that destroying the world's most recognizable landmarks will eventually allow him to bring the entire surface civilization underground, where he can finally rule the world.It's a plan that is both completely nonsensical and perfectly suited to the tone of a 1990s superhero cartoon.Johnny Storm's Flame On Rap: Meet Mole ManThe hosts spend plenty of time discussing Mole Man himself, and they quickly discover that there is almost nothing about the character they don't find entertaining.From his strange appearance and oversized costume to his dramatic personality and bizarre ambitions, Mole Man feels like the perfect villain for an episode this silly. The hosts discuss how the animated series takes a traditionally serious Fantastic Four villain and pushes his ridiculous qualities to the absolute maximum.They also examine how Mole Man's personality fits into the larger world of the series and why his completely over-the-top presentation makes him such a memorable character.Johnny Storm's Flame On Rap: The World's Landmarks Are Under AttackThe hosts then walk through Mole Man's increasingly ridiculous campaign against the surface world.The destruction of famous landmarks gives the Fantastic Four plenty of opportunities to chase Mole Man around the globe while simultaneously demonstrating just how massive his plan has become. The hosts discuss the escalating stakes while laughing at the idea that Mole Man's master plan essentially boils down to:“If I can't live on the surface, I'll just bring the surface down to me.”It's the kind of wonderfully strange logic that makes the episode so much fun to revisit.Flame On Rap: Johnny Storm Takes the MicThen comes the moment everyone has been waiting for: the Flame On Rap.Some of the hosts had already seen clips of Johnny Storm's musical performance before watching the episode, so they were especially excited to finally experience the full thing in context.The hosts break down the rap itself, discussing the lyrics, delivery, animation, music, and overall production. They are fascinated by the story behind the song, particularly the fact that Johnny Storm's voice actor wanted to use the performance as an opportunity to break into the music industry.That revelation leads to a hilarious discussion about just how seriously the production appears to have taken this seemingly random cartoon rap.Flame On Rap: Was Johnny Storm About to Become a Pop Star?The hosts dig deeper into the amount of effort that went into creating the Flame On Rap and discuss how unusual it is to see something like this included in a Fantastic Four cartoon.They consider whether the song was simply a fun gimmick for the episode or whether there was genuinely an attempt to turn Johnny Storm into a music star. The hosts analyze the production quality and performance while comparing it to the kinds of promotional music and cartoon tie-ins that were common during the 1990s.Even if Johnny never becomes Marvel's next great rapper, the hosts agree that the Flame On Rap is one of the most memorable moments the series has produced so far.Flame On Rap: The Perfectly Silly Fantastic Four EpisodeAs the hosts wrap up their discussion, they reflect on just how much fun they had watching “Mole Man.”After some of the more serious and complicated stories earlier in the season, this episode gives the hosts an opportunity to simply enjoy the cartoon for what it is. Mole Man's ridiculous plan, his bizarre appearance, the destruction of famous landmarks, and Johnny Storm suddenly becoming a rapper combine to create an episode that feels like a celebration of everything wonderfully strange about 1990s animation.The hosts agree that sometimes an episode doesn't need to be particularly deep or sophisticated to be incredibly entertaining.Final Thoughts — Johnny Storm's Flame On RapBy the end of Flame On Rap, The Superhero Show has had exactly the kind of experience they were hoping for: a completely ridiculous Fantastic Four episode that gave them plenty to laugh about and plenty to discuss. Mole Man's bizarre plan to bring the world underground is entertaining enough on its own, but Johnny Storm's Flame On Rap takes the episode to another level.Between the strange villain, the outrageous plot, the unexpected musical number, and the fascinating story behind its production, “Mole Man” proves to be one of the most purely fun episodes of the series so far. And after finally getting to experience the full Flame On Rap, the hosts can confidently say that Johnny Storm may have missed his calling as a 1990s music sensation.Are You a Research Nerd Who's Looking For More?Here are some links for all your research wants and needs!1994 Fantastic Four Animated SeriesRyan North's Fantastic FourJoin the discussions online! 1994 Fantastic Four Animated Series, Ryan North's Fantastic FourCatch Up On Past Episodes!Missed any of our past episodes? Catch up hereRead Along With Us!Want to watch read with us? Of course you do! Here's a link Ryan North's Fantastic Four (Purchase Necessary)
The Superhero Show #632Fantastic Four: The Mask of Doom, Part 3The Superhero Show — The Mask of Doom, Part 3This week, The Superhero Show wraps up one of the longest story arcs in the 1994 Fantastic Four animated series with "The Mask of Doom, Part 3." Before diving into the cartoon, however, the hosts take a detour into the Marvel Cinematic Universe to discuss the newly released Avengers: Doomsday trailer. From first impressions and standout moments to what the trailer reveals about Doctor Doom's future on the big screen, the hosts share why the latest preview left them genuinely excited and cautiously optimistic that Marvel may have another major hit on its hands.Then it's back to 1994 as the hosts conclude Doctor Doom's animated saga with one of the strangest adventures the series has delivered yet—an unexpected trip to Ancient Greece filled with mythology, Persian armies, time travel, and a quest for a legendary power source.The Mask of Doom, Part 3: Avengers: Doomsday Trailer ReactionsBefore discussing the animated series, the hosts break down the brand-new Avengers: Doomsday trailer.They share their reactions to the footage, discuss what stood out most, and talk about how the trailer has changed their expectations for the upcoming film. After several years of mixed feelings about Marvel Studios' recent output, the trailer gives the hosts renewed confidence that the studio may finally be building toward another truly exciting event film.The conversation naturally turns toward Doctor Doom, comparing the intimidating comic book villain fans know and love with the more theatrical version they've been watching in the 1994 animated series.The Mask of Doom, Part 3: A Quest Through Ancient GreeceThe hosts then shift their focus to "The Mask of Doom, Part 3," picking up immediately after Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm are transported back to Ancient Greece.Tasked with recovering the legendary Coffin of Argos before Doctor Doom can claim it, the Fantastic Four find themselves caught in the middle of ancient history. Along the way, they rescue Greek soldiers under attack by the Persian army, seek guidance from an oracle high atop a temple, and eventually discover the mysterious coffin that Doom believes contains an ancient source of unimaginable power.The hosts discuss just how unexpected this premise feels, especially considering it began as a fairly traditional Doctor Doom story before transforming into a full-blown mythological adventure.The Mask of Doom, Part 3: Battles, Captivity, and the Coffin of ArgosAs the adventure escalates, Reed, Ben, and Johnny are captured by Persian forces before managing to escape and join the Greek army in a climactic naval battle.The hosts recap the large-scale conflict and discuss how unusual it is to see the Fantastic Four participating in what is essentially a historical war. While the action sequences are entertaining, they also laugh at how dramatically the story shifts genres, embracing mythology, history, and comic book science fiction all at once.By the end of the battle, however, the coveted power source hidden inside the Coffin of Argos has been lost forever, leaving the heroes with nothing but an empty relic.The Mask of Doom, Part 3: Outsmarting Doctor DoomReturning to the present, the Fantastic Four realize their only chance of rescuing Sue Storm is to bluff Doctor Doom.The hosts discuss how Reed uses the empty Coffin of Argos as part of an elaborate deception, convincing Doom that his plan has succeeded long enough to create an opening to rescue Sue. It's another example of the Fantastic Four relying on intelligence and teamwork rather than brute force to overcome their greatest enemy.The hosts appreciate the clever resolution while also noting that Doom once again falls victim to his own arrogance—a recurring theme throughout both the animated series and the comics.The Mask of Doom, Part 3: An Ambitious Ending That Doesn't Always WorkTo close out the discussion, the hosts reflect on the three-part storyline as a whole.While they appreciate the series attempting a larger, more ambitious adventure, they agree that stretching the story across three episodes ultimately hurts the pacing. Several scenes feel padded out, and the Ancient Greece detour, while entertaining, never quite connects to Doctor Doom in the way they expected.The hosts also discuss how this version of Doom continues to be more theatrical than intimidating. Rather than reinforcing him as Marvel's greatest villain, the series often leans into his exaggerated personality and increasingly bizarre schemes. Although that creates plenty of entertaining moments, it sometimes comes at the expense of making Doom feel like the terrifying threat he should be.Even so, they acknowledge that the sheer unpredictability of the story makes it one of the more memorable arcs of the first season.Final Thoughts — The Mask of Doom, Part 3By the end of The Mask of Doom, Part 3, The Superhero Show has officially wrapped up one of the wildest storylines in the 1994 Fantastic Four animated series. Between a promising Avengers: Doomsday trailer, an unexpected journey through Ancient Greece, naval warfare, mythical artifacts, and another showdown with Doctor Doom, the episode offers plenty for the hosts to discuss.While the three-part arc may overstay its welcome and never fully establish Doom as the fearsome villain he deserves to be, The Mask of Doom, Part 3 remains a wonderfully unpredictable slice of 1990s Marvel animation that perfectly captures both the ambition and the delightful absurdity of the era.Are You a Research Nerd Who's Looking For More?Here are some links for all your research wants and needs!1994 Fantastic Four Animated SeriesRyan North's Fantastic FourJoin the discussions online! 1994 Fantastic Four Animated Series, Ryan North's Fantastic FourCatch Up On Past Episodes!Missed any of our past episodes? Catch up hereRead Along With Us!Want to watch read with us? Of course you do! Here's a link Ryan North's Fantastic Four (Purchase Necessary)
The trifecta is back on the case!
DOCTOR DOOM SPEAKS & STEVE ROGERS RETURNS!! Join the Rejects & Media Knights at the “con with a cause” charity event MultiCon on August 8th at 11am at the Skirball in Los Angeles. Get your tickets now at https://www.MultiConLA.com & receive a special discount with code REJECTS10 John, Aaron Alexander, & Jon Maturan REACT to the official Avengers: Doomsday trailer for the first time, getting our first look at Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom along with a more foreboding appearance from Chris Hemsworth as Thor, plus the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers (aka Captain America) along with the film's MASSIVE ensemble that includes the X-Men (Professor Charles Xavier, Cyclops, Gambit, Mystique), New Avengers (Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, US Agent, Ghost, Sentry), The Fantastic Four (Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, Ben Grimm / The Thing, HERBIE, Sam Wilson's Captain America, Shang-Chi, Bucky Barnes, Scott Lang (Ant-Man), Cassie Lang, The Wakandans / Talokan (Shuri, M'Baku, Namor), and all an even heavier tone setting up for next year's Secret Wars! Follow Aaron On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealaaronalexander/?hl=en Follow Jon Maturan: https://www.instagram.com/jonmaturan/?hl=en Intense Suspense by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support The Channel By Getting Some REEL REJECTS Apparel! https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ Follow Us On Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ Tik-Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reelrejects?lang=en Twitter: https://x.com/reelrejects Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ Music Used In Ad: Hat the Jazz by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... POWERED BY @GFUEL Visit https://gfuel.ly/3wD5Ygo and use code REJECTNATION for 20% off select tubs!! Head Editor: https://www.instagram.com/praperhq/?hl=en Co-Editor: Greg Alba Co-Editor: John Humphrey Music In Video: Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ask Us A QUESTION On CAMEO: https://www.cameo.com/thereelrejects Follow TheReelRejects On FACEBOOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/thereelrejects Follow GREG ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/thegregalba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
X-MEN VS AVENGERS... and there is SO MUCH MORE to unpack. Greg Alba reacts to the official Avengers: Doomsday trailer for the first time, breaking down Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom, the return of Steve Rogers, Thor, Sam Wilson's Captain America, the Fantastic Four, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, Ben Grimm (The Thing), HERBIE, Professor Charles Xavier, Cyclops, Gambit, Mystique, Shang-Chi, Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Scott Lang (Ant-Man), Cassie Lang, Shuri, M'Baku, Namor, and all the massive multiversal surprises leading into Avengers: Secret Wars. Get Our New X-MEN Inspired Tee: https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ From Doom's chilling speech and Thor's warning to the destruction of the X-Mansion, the arrival of the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Wakanda, Talokan, and the shocking return of Steve Rogers with Mjolnir, this trailer has some HUGE implications for the future of the MCU. We break down all the biggest moments, hidden details, easter eggs, theories, and what they could mean for Marvel Studios moving forward. Intense Suspense by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support The Channel By Getting Some REEL REJECTS Apparel! https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ Follow Us On Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ Tik-Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reelrejects?lang=en Twitter: https://x.com/reelrejects Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ Music Used In Ad: Hat the Jazz by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... POWERED BY @GFUEL Visit https://gfuel.ly/3wD5Ygo and use code REJECTNATION for 20% off select tubs!! Head Editor: https://www.instagram.com/praperhq/?hl=en Co-Editor: Greg Alba Co-Editor: John Humphrey Music In Video: Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ask Us A QUESTION On CAMEO: https://www.cameo.com/thereelrejects Follow TheReelRejects On FACEBOOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/thereelrejects Follow GREG ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/thegregalba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Superhero Show #630Fantastic Four: The Mask of Doom, Part 2The Superhero Show — The Mask of Doom, Part 2This week, The Superhero Show wraps up another major storyline from the 1994 Fantastic Four animated series with “The Mask of Doom, Part 2.” The hosts return to Castle Doom for the conclusion of Doctor Doom's latest scheme, breaking down the episode's action, surprising lore, and wonderfully over-the-top Saturday morning cartoon energy.Along the way, they discuss the expanded look at Victor Von Doom's past, his lifelong obsession with revenge, the increasingly elaborate dangers hidden throughout Castle Doom, and an ending that unexpectedly launches the Fantastic Four into an entirely new adventure. Whether it's tragic backstory or giant robot monsters, The Mask of Doom, Part 2 has plenty for the hosts to unpack.The Mask of Doom, Part 2: The Story of Victor Von DoomThe hosts begin with a recap of “The Mask of Doom, Part 2,” focusing on the episode's attempt to flesh out Doctor Doom's origins.The episode expands on Victor's childhood, revealing that his father served as a healer who was relentlessly pursued by those in power. Witnessing the persecution and suffering inflicted on his family shaped Doom's worldview, planting the seeds of the bitterness and vengeance that would eventually define him.The hosts discuss how this backstory helps explain Doom's motivations, even if the cartoon simplifies some elements of his comic book history. They appreciate that the series attempts to give its greatest villain emotional depth rather than portraying him as evil simply for the sake of being evil.At the same time, they debate whether Doom's vow to seek revenge against humanity feels earned within the episode or moves a little too quickly through such an important part of his history.The Mask of Doom, Part 2: Castle Doom's Endless TrapsOnce the Fantastic Four enter Castle Doom, the episode quickly transforms into a series of increasingly elaborate obstacles.The hosts have a great time discussing the endless traps and hazards Doom has prepared for his enemies, turning his castle into something that feels halfway between a supervillain headquarters and an old-school adventure serial.Every hallway seems to hide another surprise, giving each member of the Fantastic Four opportunities to use their powers while trying to survive Doom's latest challenge.While some of the sequences are undeniably entertaining, the hosts also point out that many of them exist primarily to extend the runtime, reinforcing their feeling that this storyline may not have needed two full episodes.The Mask of Doom, Part 2: Doom's Wild Robot ArmyOne of the funniest conversations of the episode centers around Doctor Doom's bizarre collection of robotic creations.The hosts joke that many of Doom's inventions feel less like machines designed by one of Marvel's greatest scientific minds and more like something dreamed up by an especially imaginative child.From insect-like robots rolling around on tank treads to robotic squids and even mechanical archers, Doom's castle is filled with wonderfully strange inventions that somehow all make perfect sense in a 1990s superhero cartoon.Rather than criticizing these designs, the hosts celebrate just how unapologetically comic-book they are. The robots may be ridiculous, but they're also incredibly memorable and perfectly capture the cartoon's larger-than-life style.The Mask of Doom, Part 2: Doom vs. the Fantastic FourThroughout the episode, the hosts continue discussing the relationship between Doctor Doom and the Fantastic Four.They examine Reed Richards' ongoing rivalry with Victor, Ben Grimm's straightforward approach to every obstacle, Johnny Storm's enthusiasm, and Sue Storm's increasingly important contributions during the team's escape from Castle Doom.As always, the discussion comes back to what makes the Fantastic Four unique: while Doom relies on absolute control and his own intellect, the Fantastic Four ultimately succeed because they trust one another and work together as a family.Another Story That Feels Bigger Than It Needed to BeThe hosts also revisit one of their recurring critiques of the first season.While The Mask of Doom, Part 2 contains several entertaining moments, they feel the overall story still shows signs of being stretched into a two-part event. Several action scenes, traps, and detours feel designed more to fill time than to advance the narrative.Even so, they acknowledge that the cartoon's earnest commitment to comic book spectacle helps make the slower pacing easier to enjoy.A Surprise Ending in Ancient GreeceJust when the hosts think the story is wrapping up, the episode delivers one final surprise.Rather than ending with Doctor Doom's defeat, the Fantastic Four suddenly find themselves transported back to Ancient Greece on a mission to recover a mysterious artifact. The abrupt cliffhanger catches the hosts completely off guard and immediately raises questions about where the series is heading next.They discuss how unexpected the ending feels, how it dramatically changes the scope of the story, and how excited they are to see the show embrace time travel and mythology in future episodes.Final Thoughts — The Mask of Doom, Part 2By the end of The Mask of Doom, Part 2, The Superhero Show finds itself entertained by another wonderfully ambitious chapter of the 1994 Fantastic Four animated series. Between Doctor Doom's expanded backstory, Castle Doom's endless parade of outrageous robot creations, and an ending that launches Marvel's first family into Ancient Greece, the episode delivers exactly the kind of comic-book weirdness that makes revisiting this series so much fun.Even if the two-part story occasionally feels longer than necessary, The Mask of Doom, Part 2 offers plenty of memorable moments, another compelling look at Doctor Doom, and a cliffhanger that leaves the hosts eager to see where the Fantastic Four travel next.Are You a Research Nerd Who's Looking For More?Here are some links for all your research wants and needs!1994 Fantastic Four Animated SeriesRyan North's Fantastic FourJoin the discussions online! 1994 Fantastic Four Animated Series, Ryan North's Fantastic FourCatch Up On Past Episodes!Missed any of our past episodes? Catch up hereRead Along With Us!Want to watch read with us? Of course you do! Here's a link Ryan North's Fantastic Four (Purchase Necessary)
The Superhero Show #629Fantastic Four Issues #8-9 Review: Alicia Masters Steals the ShowThe Superhero Show — Ryan North's Fantastic Four #8-9 Review: Alicia Masters Steals the ShowThis week, The Superhero Show takes a break from the 1994 Fantastic Four animated series to focus entirely on Ryan North's Fantastic Four #8-9 Review: Alicia Masters Steals the Show. Instead of splitting the episode between cartoon coverage and comic discussion, the hosts devote the full show to Fantastic Four #8 and Fantastic Four #9, two issues that blend mystery, action, inventive visual storytelling, and one of the best Alicia Masters spotlights in recent Fantastic Four history.Across these two issues, Ryan North delivers a tense and creative story that starts with the Fantastic Four training at the farmhouse and quickly spirals into a mind-control nightmare. But while Reed, Ben, and much of the town fall under the control of a mysterious extraterrestrial being, the real heart of the story becomes Alicia Masters. As the hosts discuss, Alicia doesn't just support the action in these issues—she completely takes over the story, proving why Ryan North's Fantastic Four #8-9 Review: Alicia Masters Steals the Show is the perfect way to sum up this comic arc.Ryan North's Fantastic Four #8-9 Review: Alicia Masters Steals the Show in “The Case of the Mystery Menace”The hosts begin with Fantastic Four #8, “The Case of the Mystery Menace,” which opens with the team at the farmhouse working on their powers and trying to sharpen how they operate together. A big focus of the issue is Johnny Storm experimenting with new ways to use his powers—specifically learning how to combine them with Sue's abilities in more creative and strategic ways. The hosts enjoy how Ryan North continues to emphasize that the Fantastic Four aren't just a superhero team, but a family that is always learning how to work together better.Meanwhile, Sue and Alicia head into town, where the story begins to shift into something much stranger. People start forgetting things, behaving oddly, and slowly losing their grip on what's happening around them. By the time Sue and Alicia return to the farmhouse, things have gotten much worse: Johnny no longer recognizes Reed or Ben, and it becomes clear that a mysterious extraterrestrial being has taken control of them—and a large portion of the town.The hosts break down how well the issue balances its tones, moving from character-based humor and team training into a genuinely unsettling mystery. They discuss how Ryan North's writing excels at taking a high-concept sci-fi premise and grounding it in personal stakes, making the Fantastic Four's confusion and fear feel immediate without losing the fun, adventurous spirit of the series.Ryan North's Fantastic Four #8-9 Review: Alicia Masters Steals the Show in the Fight for Reed and BenIn Fantastic Four #9, “Art Is Long—And Life Is Short,” the story turns from mystery into all-out survival as Sue and Alicia are forced to face off against mind-controlled Reed and Ben. This is where the hosts feel Ryan North's Fantastic Four #8-9 Review: Alicia Masters Steals the Show really earns its name.Rather than simply standing on the sidelines while the superpowered characters do the fighting, Alicia becomes the tactical leader of the battle. She directs Sue and Johnny through the fight, taking charge specifically because her fighting style and instincts are unknown to Reed and Ben. The hosts love this choice, praising the comic for recognizing Alicia's intelligence, bravery, and unique perspective instead of treating her as a passive supporting character.They spend a lot of time discussing how satisfying it is to watch Alicia take command of the situation and become the key to beating an enemy that has already taken down most of the team. For the hosts, this is the kind of character-focused storytelling that Ryan North has been consistently great at throughout his run: giving every member of the Fantastic Four orbit something meaningful to do and finding smart ways to make their personalities matter in the plot.Ryan North's Fantastic Four #8-9 Review: Alicia Masters Steals the Show Through the ArtA major part of the discussion focuses on the artwork in these issues and how beautifully it supports Alicia's role in the story. The hosts are especially impressed by the visual decision to use full blacked-out pages to place the reader directly into Alicia's perspective. For a moment, the comic removes the visual information the audience normally relies on, creating a rare and powerful sense of disorientation before the next page reveals the full scene.The hosts talk about how effective this is—not just as a stylistic flourish, but as a storytelling tool. It allows the reader to engage with Alicia's experience in a way that feels immersive rather than symbolic, and it reinforces why she's such a compelling point-of-view character in this story. They praise the art team for understanding when to hold back visual information, when to reveal it, and how to use page design to make the action and emotional beats land harder.This becomes one of the biggest highlights of the episode, as the hosts discuss how the art doesn't just illustrate the story—it actively deepens it. Between the visual experimentation, the tension of the fight scenes, and the contrast between Alicia's perspective and the chaos around her, these issues become a perfect example of how comics can tell a story in ways no other medium can.Mind Control, Mystery, and Why Ryan North's Writing Works So WellBeyond Alicia's role, the hosts also spend time discussing the overall plotting and structure of the two-issue story. They praise Ryan North for how cleanly the arc escalates: beginning with small-scale team training and a town mystery before evolving into a full-blown confrontation with an extraterrestrial being controlling both the town and the Fantastic Four themselves.They discuss how North's writing style makes even the strangest concepts feel readable and emotionally grounded. The story is packed with classic Fantastic Four ingredients—cosmic weirdness, creative problem-solving, family dynamics, and emotional character beats—but never feels overloaded. Instead, it moves with confidence, allowing each scene to build naturally into the next.The hosts also highlight how smart the final resolution is. Sue, Johnny, and Alicia don't simply overpower the being—they outthink her. By tricking the extraterrestrial into focusing all of her power on Sue, they create an opening for Sue to reflect the attack back at her, ending the threat through teamwork and quick thinking. It's the kind of resolution that feels especially fitting for a Fantastic Four story, where brains and coordination matter just as much as raw power.Final Thoughts on Ryan North's Fantastic Four #8-9 Review: Alicia Masters Steals the ShowBy the end of the episode, the hosts make it clear that Ryan North's Fantastic Four #8-9 Review: Alicia Masters Steals the Show isn't just a catchy title—it's the perfect summary of what makes these issues work so well. Between the eerie mystery setup, the inventive use of mind control, the creative action sequences, and the stunning artistic choices, Fantastic Four #8 and #9 deliver another standout chapter in Ryan North's run.But more than anything, these issues belong to Alicia Masters. Her leadership, creativity, and perspective give the story its emotional and tactical center, turning what could have been a straightforward superhero fight into something much more memorable. For The Superhero Show, this two-issue arc is another reminder of why Ryan North's Fantastic Four continues to be one of the smartest, most inventive, and most character-driven books Marvel is putting out right now.Are You a Research Nerd Who's Looking For More?Here are some links for all your research wants and needs!1994 Fantastic Four Animated SeriesRyan North's Fantastic FourJoin the discussions online! 1994 Fantastic Four Animated Series, Ryan North's Fantastic FourCatch Up On Past Episodes!Missed any of our past episodes? Catch up hereRead Along With Us!Want to watch read with us? Of course you do! Here's a link Ryan North's Fantastic Four (Purchase Necessary)
This month, the boys answer a dermatology-related question concerning Johnny Storm, visit a Nameless City, explore Batman's Dark Patterns, enjoy a mega crossover between the two biggest companies in comics, look at a crime noir involving kids' TV and a murder mystery, and consider an alien's offer of immortality at the small price of everything else on Earth. Download and listen today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, Amazon, Stitcher, Goodpods, and more of your favorite podcast services! Support our Extra Life effort for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and maybe win yourself a big prize! Details: https://dd.extra-life.org/teams/73355 Interested in advertising? Want to be on the show? Reach out at geekcavepodcast@gmail.com
On this week's show, we're covering the super-sized, 100-page special where Fantastic Four returns during Hickman's run on the book! Not only are there some great guest artists, there might just be the best Johnny Storm story of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Superhero Show #628Fantastic Four: The Mask of Doom, Part IThe Superhero Show — The Mask of Doom, Part IThis week, The Superhero Show returns to the 1994 Fantastic Four animated series with Episode 1.08, “The Mask of Doom, Part I.” The hosts continue their journey through Marvel's first family as Doctor Doom once again steps into the spotlight, proving why he remains one of the most iconic villains in comic book history.The episode delivers another classic showdown between Doom and the Fantastic Four, combining over-the-top comic book action with plenty of melodrama, ambitious schemes, and 90s animation charm. The hosts break down the story, discuss Doom's motivations, and examine how the series continues to portray the complicated rivalry between Victor Von Doom and Reed Richards.The Mask of Doom, Part I: Doctor Doom Takes Center StageThe hosts begin with a full recap of “The Mask of Doom, Part I,” discussing how the episode places Doctor Doom firmly at the center of the story.They walk through the major plot developments, Doom's latest plan, and how the episode builds tension leading into its second half. As always, Doom enters the story with absolute confidence that his brilliance will outmatch everyone around him, setting the stage for another battle of intelligence, technology, and sheer determination.The hosts also discuss how effectively the episode establishes its stakes and whether the first half succeeds in creating anticipation for the conclusion.The Mask of Doom, Part I: Understanding Doctor DoomMuch of the discussion focuses on Doctor Doom himself.The hosts explore why Doom continues to stand out as one of Marvel's greatest villains, discussing the combination of unmatched intelligence, wounded pride, and unwavering confidence that defines his character. They talk about how the 1994 animated series captures many of Doom's classic traits, even when it occasionally leans into the exaggerated style of Saturday morning cartoons.The conversation also touches on Doom's obsession with proving himself superior to Reed Richards and how that rivalry continues to drive nearly every decision he makes.Whether he's threatening the world or simply trying to outsmart Reed, Doom never does anything halfway.The Mask of Doom, Part I: The Fantastic Four Face Their Greatest RivalThe hosts also spend time discussing the Fantastic Four's role in the episode and how each member responds to Doom's newest scheme.They examine Reed's scientific approach to solving problems, Ben Grimm's determination to meet every threat head-on, Johnny Storm's impulsive confidence, and Sue Storm's increasingly important role within the team. As always, the discussion centers on how the Fantastic Four function best when they operate together rather than relying on any one individual.The hosts compare these interactions to previous Doom appearances and discuss whether this episode strengthens the ongoing rivalry between Marvel's first family and their greatest enemy.Comic Book Drama at Full VolumeAs with many episodes of the 1994 series, the hosts appreciate just how unapologetically comic-book the storytelling becomes.From Doom's dramatic speeches and elaborate plans to the Fantastic Four's larger-than-life reactions, “The Mask of Doom, Part I” embraces the theatrical energy that defines so much of classic Marvel storytelling. The hosts have fun revisiting the episode's biggest moments, pointing out both the genuinely exciting sequences and the unintentionally hilarious ones that only make the cartoon more entertaining.Final Thoughts — The Mask of Doom, Part IBy the end of The Mask of Doom, Part I, The Superhero Show finds itself enjoying another entertaining chapter in the long-running conflict between Doctor Doom and the Fantastic Four. While the episode leaves plenty of questions for its conclusion, it successfully reminds viewers why Doom remains one of Marvel's most compelling and enduring villains.Between its comic book spectacle, memorable character interactions, and another opportunity to watch Reed Richards and Doctor Doom try to outthink one another, The Mask of Doom, Part I sets the stage for an exciting conclusion to one of the animated series' biggest stories.Are You a Research Nerd Who's Looking For More?Here are some links for all your research wants and needs!1994 Fantastic Four Animated SeriesRyan North's Fantastic FourJoin the discussions online! 1994 Fantastic Four Animated Series, Ryan North's Fantastic FourCatch Up On Past Episodes!Missed any of our past episodes? Catch up hereRead Along With Us!Want to watch read with us? Of course you do! Here's a link Ryan North's Fantastic Four (Purchase Necessary)
Physik hoch vier! Für diese Folge zu Marvels "Fantastic Four" haben wir das Team vergrößert und uns noch zwei Physiker eingeladen, nämlich unsere Science-Buddys vom Podcast "Methodisch inkorrekt!". Gemeinsam mit Nicolas und Reinhard blicken wir zurück auf 60 Jahre Comic- und 30 Jahre Filmgeschichte und fragen uns: Gibt uns Weltraumstrahlung Superkräfte? Wie wird man unsichtbar? Können brennende Menschen automatisch fliegen? Und wie dehnbar ist der menschliche Körper wirklich? Dazu gibt's kuriose Filmdetails, weirde Synchro-Fails und jede Menge fantastische Fakten – in dieser Folge!
Welcome Back to Make Mine Multiversity: A Marvel Podcast! Each episode we'll be looking at Marvel books, old and new! We discuss fun Marvel comics, Marvel news, Marvel history and, now, are putting the "mine" back into Make Mine Multiversity. For those who're new, each month I talk with a guest about a Marvel comic that's memorable to them. Sometimes they're personally meaningful, sometimes it's "I read this a few months ago and its still sticking around."This month I welcome back to the show, after quite a few years, Joe Skonce! A friend and former reviewer for Multiversity Comics, he picked a comic I was so excited to revisit: "Fantastic Four" (2022) #1-6 aka the start of the Ryan North run. We've got science! We've got goofy antics! We've got body horror! We've got Johnny Storm's glorious mustache.Oh, and point of order. North's big science degree is in Computer Science, not physics, so...close enough I guess?Next time: I'm taking a little break for the summer to recharge my editing batteries and potentially get a couple episodes ahead before coming back. See y'all in the fall!Elias can be found writing here at eliasrwrites.ghost.io. Joe is a partial hermit on the internet but you can find his old reviews over at Multiversity Comics.Our theme music is “Excelsior” by Carol Romo and our audio editor is me, Elias.The show is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, (Stitcher is apparently dead and buried) and other places so please subscribe!
The Superhero Show #622Fantastic Four: Namor's IntroductionThe Superhero Show — Namor's IntroductionThis week, The Superhero Show continues its coverage of the 1994 Fantastic Four animated series with Episode 1.03, “Now Comes the Sub-Mariner.” The hosts dive into Namor's Introduction to the series, exploring one of Marvel's strangest and most complicated characters as he makes his dramatic animated debut.From underwater politics and environmental themes to Namor's ego and deeply uncomfortable behavior toward Sue Storm, there's plenty for the hosts to unpack in an episode that is equal parts fascinating and frustrating.In the second half of the show, the hosts continue their journey through Ryan North's Fantastic Four run with a discussion of Issue #3, focusing on Johnny Storm's undercover life as “Jonathan Fairweather” and a surprisingly grounded workplace rebellion story.Namor's Introduction: Enter the Sub-MarinerThe episode begins with a breakdown of “Now Comes the Sub-Mariner,” as the hosts recap Namor's arrival and the escalating tensions between the surface world and Atlantis.They discuss the episode's environmental messaging, Namor's distrust of humanity, and how the show attempts to position him as both an antihero and a romantic rival to Reed Richards. The hosts also examine how the episode balances action with melodrama, creating one of the more memorable stories of the season so far.Of course, no Namor discussion would be complete without talking about the sheer amount of chaos he brings with him the moment he appears onscreen.Namor's Introduction: A Character Study in Ego and MisogynyA major focus of the discussion is Namor himself. The hosts spend time breaking down his characterization, debating what works about the character and what absolutely does not age well.They discuss Namor's arrogance, his constant hostility toward Reed, and especially his treatment of Sue Storm throughout the episode. The conversation openly addresses how aggressively possessive and misogynistic Namor's behavior comes across, with the hosts discussing how much of that is baked into the character historically and how awkward it feels in the context of the cartoon.At the same time, they acknowledge why Namor remains such a compelling Marvel character: he's unpredictable, theatrical, morally complicated, and completely convinced he's the smartest person in every room—or ocean.The Fantastic Four Dynamic Continues to EvolveBeyond Namor, the hosts continue tracking how the animated series handles Marvel's first family. They discuss Reed and Sue's relationship, Johnny's role as comic relief, and Ben Grimm continuing to provide much of the emotional grounding for the show.The hosts also talk about how the series is beginning to settle into its tone—embracing over-the-top comic book storytelling while still occasionally stumbling in its execution.Ryan North's Fantastic Four #3: Meet Johnathan FairweatherIn the second half of the episode, the conversation shifts to Ryan North's Fantastic Four Issue #3, which focuses heavily on Johnny Storm living undercover under the hilariously fake alias Jonathan Fairweather.The hosts praise the issue for giving Johnny meaningful depth outside of his typical “hot-headed younger brother” role. Working alongside regular people at a small business, Johnny becomes increasingly frustrated with the unfair treatment his coworkers receive from their boss, eventually helping organize a pushback against the toxic work environment.The hosts especially enjoy how grounded and human the story feels, despite existing in a universe filled with cosmic threats and superpowers. They discuss how Ryan North excels at making the Fantastic Four feel relatable while still embracing the weirdness of Marvel comics.They also compare this version of Johnny to the animated series version, noting how much more emotionally mature and nuanced he feels in the modern comic.Final Thoughts — Namor's IntroductionBy the end of this week's episode, The Superhero Show has plenty to say about Namor's Introduction to the 1994 Fantastic Four cartoon. Between the environmental themes, complicated character dynamics, and Namor's larger-than-life personality, the episode gives the hosts one of their most discussion-heavy installments yet.Combined with another standout issue of Ryan North's Fantastic Four, this episode delivers a fun mix of nostalgia, critique, and modern comic appreciation as the hosts continue their exploration of Marvel's first family.Are You a Research Nerd Who's Looking For More?Here are some links for all your research wants and needs!1994 Fantastic Four Animated SeriesRyan North's Fantastic FourJoin the discussions online! 1994 Fantastic Four Animated Series, Ryan North's Fantastic FourCatch Up On Past Episodes!Missed any of our past episodes? Catch up hereRead Along With Us!Want to watch read with us? Of course you do! Here's a link Ryan North's Fantastic Four (Purchase Necessary)
The Superhero Show #620Fantastic Four: The Origin of the Fantastic FourThe Superhero Show — Origin of the Fantastic FourThis week, The Superhero Show kicks off a brand-new series as the hosts dive into the 1994 animated classic Fantastic Four. In this premiere episode, they break down Episode 1.01, “Origin of the Fantastic Four,” exploring how the show introduces Marvel's first family and sets the tone for what's to come. It's a mix of first impressions, character analysis, and plenty of laughs as the crew begins their latest comic book TV journey.Origin of the Fantastic Four: A Classic BeginningThe hosts start with a full recap of “Origin of the Fantastic Four,” walking through the familiar but always fun story of how Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm gain their powers. From the fateful space mission to the cosmic rays that change their lives forever, they break down how the animated series handles this iconic origin.They discuss pacing, storytelling choices, and how effectively the episode introduces each member of the team. There's plenty of attention paid to the tone—whether it leans more into camp or sincerity—and how that impacts the viewing experience right out of the gate.Origin of the Fantastic Four: Meet Marvel's First FamilyNext, the conversation shifts to characterizations. The hosts dig into Reed's leadership, Sue's presence (and how the show handles her powers), Johnny's hotshot energy, and Ben's emotional core as The Thing.They compare these portrayals to other versions of the Fantastic Four across media, pointing out where the show succeeds and where it already shows signs of early inconsistency. First impressions matter, and the hosts don't hold back when discussing which characters work best in this debut—and which might need some time to grow.First Impressions: Camp, Chaos, and PotentialWith the origin story covered, the hosts zoom out to share their overall thoughts on the episode as a series premiere. Is this a strong start? Does it capture what makes the Fantastic Four special? Or does it fall into some of the pitfalls common to 90s animated adaptations?This segment blends critique with optimism, as they look ahead to what the show might improve on—and what they hope to see more of as the series continues.A Modern Take: Ryan North's Fantastic FourIn the second half of the episode, the hosts shift from animation to comics, diving into Ryan North's Fantastic Four run—specifically Vol. 1: Whatever Happened to the Fantastic Four.They explore how this modern take on the team compares to the 90s animated version, highlighting North's focus on character-driven storytelling, humor, and creative sci-fi concepts. The discussion touches on how the comic reimagines the team dynamic, balances standalone adventures with emotional depth, and why it has resonated so strongly with readers.It's a great contrast: the origins of the team in animation versus a fresh, contemporary interpretation in comics.Final Thoughts — Origin of the Fantastic FourBy the end of the episode, The Superhero Show delivers a strong and entertaining kickoff to their Fantastic Four coverage. From revisiting “Origin of the Fantastic Four” to exploring a modern comic run, the hosts set the stage for a series that promises plenty of analysis, nostalgia, and debate.Whether you're a longtime fan of Marvel's first family or jumping in for the first time, this episode offers the perfect starting point for the journey ahead.Are You a Ressearch Nerd Who's Looking For More?Here are some links for all your research wants and needs!1994 Fantastic Four Animated SeriesRyan North's Fantastic FourJoin the discussions online! 1994 Fantastic Four Animated Series, Ryan North's Fantastic FourCatch Up On Past Episodes!Missed any of our past episodes? Catch up hereRead Along With Us!Want to watch read with us? Of course you do! Here's a link Ryan North's Fantastic Four (Purchase Necessary)
It's 1978 and in The New Fantastic Four cartoon Johnny Storm has been replaced by an RDD2 knockoff - was the Human Torch too dangerous for TV? Were children really at risk of setting themselves on fire? We'll take you behind-the-scenes on the DISASTROUS making of this infamous Seventies cartoon and everything that went wrong, including TWO legal battles over the right to Marvel's characters! We'll also take you behind-the-page on the Fantastic Four in the Seventies to look at the seismic split between Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, the split between Sue Storm and Reed Richards, and how the FF came to reflect the rise of feminism and divorce rates in America! Then we'll deep-dive 3 episodes of the series to bring you all our reactions and thoughts, all the history and trivia, and all the Marvel Connections hiding in the IMDB pages of the cast! Plus we'll spend time with the Impossible Man, the strange death of Galactus, the darkest Human Torch story ever told, the last comic book Stan Lee and Jack Kirby ever did "together", and the worst Magneto ever committed to page or screen! Episodes In The Deep Dive Include; Ep. 2 - The Menace of Magneto Ep. 9 - The Frightful Four Ep. 11 - The Impossible Man For awesome bonus episodes visit https://www.patreon.com/marvelversusmarvel marvelversusmarvel@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/marvelversusmarvel https://twitter.com/marvelversus https://twitter.com/robhalden https://robhalden.com https://will-preston.co.uk
It's 1978 and in The New Fantastic Four cartoon Johnny Storm has been replaced by an RDD2 knockoff - was the Human Torch too dangerous for TV? Were children really at risk of setting themselves on fire? We'll take you behind-the-scenes on the DISASTROUS making of this infamous Seventies cartoon and everything that went wrong, including TWO legal battles over the right to Marvel's characters! We'll also take you behind-the-page on the Fantastic Four in the Seventies to look at the seismic split between Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, the split between Sue Storm and Reed Richards, and how the FF came to reflect the rise of feminism and divorce rates in America! Then we'll deep-dive 3 episodes of the series to bring you all our reactions and thoughts, all the history and trivia, and all the Marvel Connections hiding in the IMDB pages of the cast! Plus we'll spend time with the Impossible Man, the strange death of Galactus, the darkest Human Torch story ever told, the last comic book Stan Lee and Jack Kirby ever did "together", and the worst Magneto ever committed to page or screen! Episodes In The Deep Dive Include; Ep. 2 - The Menace of Magneto Ep. 9 - The Frightful Four Ep. 11 - The Impossible Man For awesome bonus episodes visit https://www.patreon.com/marvelversusmarvel marvelversusmarvel@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/marvelversusmarvel https://twitter.com/marvelversus https://twitter.com/robhalden https://robhalden.com https://will-preston.co.uk
Before the MCU took over Hollywood, Marvel's First Family hit the big screen in Fantastic Four (2005). Directed by Tim Story, this early superhero film tells the origin story of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm after a space mission goes wrong and exposes them to cosmic rays—giving them extraordinary powers and unforgettable challenges.In this episode of Say What's Reel, we break down the film's origin story, performances from Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, and Julian McMahon, and discuss how Fantastic Four fits into the pre-MCU era of Marvel movies. Does it still hold up, or is it a relic of early 2000s superhero cinemaTune in as we revisit stretchy science, flaming hot takes, rocky transformations, and Marvel nostalgia00:00 NON F4 related09:27 Fantastic four review27:48 wrap up notes35:01 facts about fantastic four (2005)38:21 next week films
Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) revisited on THE ROAD TO DOOMSDAY! It's time to revisit the 2005 and 2007 Fantastic Four movies, starring Chris Evans, Iowan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, and Michael Chiklis, directed by Tim Story! In this sixth episode of The Road to Doomsday podcast, Erik Voss and Jessica Clemons revisit Chris Evans' Marvel origins before his returns as Steve Rogers in the Avengers films, including Avengers Doomsday, as well as his return as Johnny Storm in Deadpool and Wolverine. Will we see the Council of Reeds in Doomsday or Secret Wars? Join the NR Underground for exclusive audio shows: https://nrunderground.supercast.com Written by: Alex Berg Head of Content & Executive Producer: Erik Voss General Manager: Zach Huddleston Senior Producer: Jessica Clemons Producer: Gina Ippolito Post Production Supervisor: Joshua Steven Hurd Staff Editors: Abby Freel, Brian M Kim Editors: Eric Gorday Studio Tech: Brian M Kim For business inquiries please contact business@nrdigitalstudios.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Read transcriptPicture this: it's the early 2000s, the first Fantastic Four film is about to hit theaters, and someone at a video game developer says, “You know what would be the perfect way to capitalize on this intellectual property? A side-scrolling action game on the Game Boy Advance where Reed Richards appears to have been replaced by his less scientifically-inclined brother in law (close enough, give me this one) and the Thing is made entirely of texture-mapping nightmares.” Congratulations, you've just invented Fantastic Four Flame On! It's a game that managed to take four of Marvel's most iconic heroes and somehow make them feel more constipated than a chemistry lecture taught underwater. Joining us this week is the absolutely phenomenal Scott Niswander from NerdSync (the man who can explain the entire Marvel mythos while simultaneously making you question why the Human Torch doesn't just solve every problem by setting it on fire) and It's (Probably) Not Aliens (where not even Sue Storm's force fields could save Ancient Aliens from the debunking). Together we'll navigate a game so baffling in its design choices that you'll start wondering if the developers were actually aliens trying to understand human entertainment and coming up just slightly short of the mark. Will our heroes discover that the Game Boy Advance's technical limitations somehow made this game better than it had any right to be? Can Scott explain why this game exists in a way that doesn't make all of our brains feel like Alicia Masters trying to sculpt in the dark? And most importantly, does “Flame On” actually let you catch things on fire in any meaningful way, or is it just an elaborate metaphor for combusting under pressure? Strap yourself in for an episode more chaotic than trying to explain Fox's Fantastic Four continuity to anyone born after 2010. Learn such things as: How do you make the Human Torch work in a side-scroller without just turning it into a horizontal beam-spam simulator? Did Fox's movie curse extend all the way down to the humble Game Boy Advance? How did Johnny Storm have time to do all this stuff considering the timeline of the movie? And so much more! You can find Scott at The NerdSync YouTube channel, on Twitter @NerdSync or on the NerdSync Patreon page. Also check out It's (Probably) Not Aliens to hear Scott and Tristan Johnson debunk Ancient Aliens. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you're interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicspodcast on Threads ,@playcomics on YouTube, or the Play Comics website. If you want to hear Chris talk with Karrington Martin about the lessons we learned from children's media and how crazy it is that we're supposed to just forget about that now that we're adults, then Sugar, Spite, and Everything is Fine is probably something you should check out. A big thanks to Gender Pop and Distant Echos for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who would make Jiffy Pop with just his hands if he had fire powers.Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-89f00a for 40% off for 4 months, and support Play Comics.
Y. M. Nelson hosts the second part of a review of the Fantastic Four: First Steps with guests Marcie and Perry. They talk an award-worthy performance of Sue Storm, the Richards' kid, Villains in the 828, and rate the movie with a star rating.Topics We DiscussSacrificing too much for the greater goodSuperhero movies and award worthy performancesCity comes together with Mr. Elder (that rhymed!) The VillainsHow to beat a villain (and get to 616)The Mid-credit and Post credit scenesShout out to HerbieWe rate The Fantastic FourShow us some love with a text!Support the show#booktube #movietube⚠ *Note: some links to book recommendations are affiliate links. This means I receive a small commission when you buy. This does not affect the price you pay.
In this week's episode, I rate the movies and streaming shows I saw in Autumn 2025. This coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in The Ghosts series at my Payhip store: GHOSTS2025 The coupon code is valid through December 1, 2025. So if you need a new ebook this fall, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 278 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is November 21st, 2025, and today I am sharing my reviews of the movies and streaming shows I saw in Fall 2025. We also have a Coupon of the Week and an update my current writing, audiobook, and publishing projects. So let's start off with Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off all the ebooks in The Ghosts series at my Payhip store, and that is GHOSTS2025. And as always, we'll have the link to my Payhip store and the coupon code in the show notes for this episode. This coupon code is valid through December 1, 2025, so if you need a new ebook for this fall, we have got you covered. Now for my current writing and publishing projects: I'm very pleased to report that Blade of Shadows, the second book in my Blades of Ruin epic fantasy series, is now out. You can get it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Google Play, Apple Books, Smashwords, and my Payhip store. By the time this episode goes live, all those stores should be available and you can get the book at any one of them and I hope you will read and enjoy it. I'm also 15,000 words into what will be my next main project Wizard-Assassin, the fifth book in the Half-Elven Thief series, and if all goes well, I want that to be out before Christmas. I'm also working on the outline for what will be the third book in the Blades of Ruin series, Blade of Storms, and that will hopefully, if all goes well, be the first book I publish in 2026. In audiobook news, as I mentioned last week, the audiobook of Blade of Flames is done and I believe as of this recording, you can get at my Payhip store, Google Play, Kobo, and I think Spotify. It's not up on Audible or Apple yet, but that should be soon, if all goes well. That is excellently narrated by Brad Wills. Hollis McCarthy is still working on Cloak of Embers. I believe main recording is done for that and it just has to be edited and proofed, so hopefully we'll get both audiobooks to you before the end of the year. So that is where I'm at with my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. 00:02:08 Main Topic of the Week: Autumn 2025 Movie Review Roundup Now on to this week's main project, the Autumn 2025 Movie Review Roundup. I watched a lot of classic horror movies this time around. The old Universal black and white monster movies from the '30s and '40s turned up on Prime for Halloween and I hadn't seen them since I was a kid, so I watched a bunch of them in October and November, which seemed an appropriate thing to do for Halloween. They mostly held up as well as I remembered from when I was a kid, which was a nice surprise. As ever, the grades I give these movies are totally subjective and based on nothing more than my own opinions and thoughts. With that, let's take a look at the movies from least favorite to most favorite. First up is The Other Guys, which came out in 2010 and this is a parody of the buddy cop/ cowboy cop movie along with a heavy critique of the reckless and corrupt culture of late 2000s Wall Street. "Dumb funny" movies I've noticed tend to fall on either side of the "dumb but actually funny" or "dumb and not funny" line. And this one definitely landed on "dumb but actually funny". Danson and Highsmith, played by The Rock and Samuel L. Jackson, are two maverick popular detectives who never do paperwork. Their paperwork is always done by Allen Gamble, who's played by Will Ferrell and Terry Hoitz, played by Mark Wahlberg. Gamble is a mild-mannered forensic accountant, while Hoitz desperately wants to be as cool as either Danson or Highsmith, but since he accidentally shot Yankees player Derek Jeter (in a recurring gag), he's a pariah within the New York Police Department. However, Danon and Highsmith's plot armor suddenly run out and they accidentally kill themselves in a darkly hilarious scene that made me laugh so much I hurt a little. Hoitz wants to step into their shoes, but Gamble has stumbled onto potentially dangerous case and soon Hoitz and Gamble have to overcome their difficulties and unravel a complicated financial crime. This was pretty funny and I enjoyed it. Amusingly in real life, someone like Gamble would be massively respected in whatever law enforcement agency he works for, since someone who prepares ironclad paperwork and correct documentation that stands up in court is an invaluable asset in law enforcement work. Overall Grade: B Next up is Fantastic Four: First Steps, which came out in 2025. I like this though, to be honest, I liked Thunderbolts and Superman 2025 better. I think my difficulty is I never really understood The Fantastic Four as a concept and why they're appealing. Maybe the Fantastic Four are one of those things you just have to imprint on when you're a kid to really enjoy or maybe at my age, the sort of retro futurism of the Four, the idea that science, technology, and rational thought will solve all our problems does seem a bit naive after the last 65 years of history or so. Additionally, the idea of a naked silver space alien riding a surfboard does seem kind of ridiculous. Anyway, the movie glides over the origin story of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm and gets right into it. To their surprise, Reed and Sue find out that Sue is pregnant, which seemed unlikely due to their superpower induced genetic mutations. Shortly after that, the Silver Surfer arrives and announces that Earth will be devoured by Galactus. The Four travel in their spaceship to confront Galactus and realize that he's a foe far beyond their power, but Galactus offers them a bargain. If Reed and Sue give him their son, he will leave Earth in peace. They refuse and so it's up to the Four to figure out a way to save Earth and Reed and Sue's son. Pretty solid superhero movie all told, but it is amusing how in every version of the character, Reed Richards is allegedly the smartest man on Earth but still can't keep his mouth shut to save his life. Overall Grade: B The next movie is Superman, which came out in 1978. After seeing the 2025 version of Superman, I decided to watch the old one from the '70s. It's kind of a classic because it was one of the progenitors of the modern superhero film. Interestingly, it was one of the most expensive films ever made at that time, costing about $55 million in '70s-era dollars, which are much less inflated than today. A rough back of the envelope calculation would put 55 million in the '70s worth at about $272 million today, give or take. Anyway, this was a big gamble, but it paid off for the producers since they got $300 million back, which would be like around $1.4 billion in 2025 money. Anyway, the movie tells the origin story of Superman, how his father Jor-El knows that Krypton is doomed, so he sends Kal-El to Earth. Kal-El is raised as Clark Kent by his adoptive Kansas parents and uses his powers to become Superman- defender of truth, justice, and the American way. Superman must balance his growing feelings for ace reporter Lois Lane with his need for a secret identity and the necessity of stopping Lex Luthor's dangerous schemes. Christopher Reeve was an excellent Superman and the special effects were impressive by the standards of 1978, but I think the weakest part of the movie were the villains. Lex Luthor just seemed comedic and not at all that threatening. Unexpected fun fact: Mario Puzio, author of The Godfather, wrote the screenplay. Overall Grade: B Next up is Superman II, which came out in 1980. This is a direct sequel to the previous movie. When Superman stops terrorists from detonating a nuclear bomb by throwing it into space, the blast releases the evil Kryptonian General Zod and his minions from their prison and they decide to conquer Earth. Meanwhile, Superman is falling deeper in love with the Lois Lane and unknowing of the threat from Zod, decides to renounce his powers to live with Lois as an ordinary man. I think this had the same strengths and weaknesses as the first movie. Christopher Reeve was an excellent Superman. The special effects were impressive by the standards of the 1980s, but the villains remained kind of comedic goofballs. Additionally, and while this will sound harsh, this version of Lois Lane was kind of dumb and her main function in the plot was to generate problems for Superman via her questionable decisions. Like at the end, Superman has to wipe her memory because she can't keep his secret identity to herself. If this version of Lois Lane lived today, she'd be oversharing everything she ever thought or heard on TikTok. The 2025 movie version of Lois, by contrast, bullies Mr. Terrific into lending her his flying saucer so she can rescue Superman when he's in trouble and is instrumental in destroying Lex Luthor's public image and triggering his downfall. 1970s Louis would've just had a meltdown and made things worse until Superman could get around to rescuing her. Overall, I would say the 1978 movie was too goofy, the Zac Snyder Superman movies were too grimdark, but the 2025 Superman hit the right balance between goofy and serious. Overall Grade: B Next up is Dracula, which came out in 1931, and this was one of the earliest horror movies ever made and also one of the earliest movies ever produced with sound. It is a very compressed adaptation of the stage version of Dracula. Imagine the theatrical stage version of Dracula, but then imagine that the movie was only 70 minutes long, so you have to cut a lot to fit the story into those 70 minutes. So if you haven't read the book, Dracula the movie from 1931 will not make a lot of sense. It's almost like the "Cliff's Notes Fast Run" version of Dracula. That said, Bela Lugosi's famous performance as Dracula really carries the movie. Like Boris Karloff in Frankenstein and The Mummy (which we'll talk about shortly), Bela Lugosi really captures the uncanny valley aspect of Dracula because the count isn't human anymore and has all these little tics of a creature that isn't human but only pretending to be one. Edward Van Sloan's performance as Dr. Van Helsing is likewise good and helped define the character in the public eye. So worth watching as a historical artifact, but I think some of the other Universal monster movies (which we'll discuss shortly) are much stronger. Overall Grade: B Next up is The Horror of Dracula, which came out in 1958. This is one of the first of the Hammer Horror movies from the '50s, starring Peter Cushing as Dr. Van Helsing and Christopher Lee as Count Dracula. It's also apparently the first vampire movie ever made in color. Like the 1931 version of Dracula, it's a condensed version of the story, though frankly, I think it hangs together a little better. Van Helsing is a bit more of an action hero in this one, since in the end he engages Dracula in fisticuffs. The movie is essentially carried by the charisma of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee and worth watching as a good example of a classic '50s horror movie. Overall Grade: B Next up is The Wolf Man, which came out in 1941. This is another one of the classic Universal horror movies. This one features Lon Cheney Jr. as Larry Talbot, the younger son of Sir John Talbot. Larry's older brother died in a hunting accident, so Larry comes home to reconcile with his father and take up his duties as the family heir. Larry is kind of an amiable Average Joe and is immediately smitten with the prettiest girl in the village, but when he takes her out for a walk, they're attacked by a werewolf, who bites Larry. Larry and everyone else in the village do not believe in werewolves, but they're about to have their minds changed the hard way. The transformation sequences where Larry turns into the Wolfman were cutting edge of the time, though poor Lon Chaney Jr had to stay motionless for hours as they gradually glued yak hair to him. I think Claude Rains had the best performance in the movie as Sir John and he's almost the co-protagonist. Overall Grade: B Next up is Jurassic World: Rebirth, which came out in 2025, which I thought was a perfectly straightforward but nonetheless enjoyable adventure film. After all the many disasters caused by various genetic engineering experiments in the previous movies, dinosaurs mostly live in relatively compatible ecosystems and tropical zones near the equator. No one's looking to create a theme park with dinosaurs or create bioengineered dinosaurs as military assets any longer. However, the dinosaurs are still valuable for research and a pharmaceutical company is developing a revolutionary drug for treating cardiac disease. They just need some dinosaur blood from three of the largest species to finish it, and so the company hires a team of mercenaries to retrieve the blood. We have the usual Jurassic Park style story tropes: the savvy mercenary leader, the scientist protesting the ethics of it all, the sinister corporate executive, the troubled family getting sucked into the chaos. And of course, it all goes wrong and there are lots and lots of dinosaurs running around. It's all been done before of course, but this was done well and was entertaining. Overall Grade: B+ Next up is The Thursday Murder Club, which came out in 2025, and this is a cozy mystery set in a very high-end retirement home. Retired nurse Joyce moves into Coopers Chase, the aforementioned high end retirement home. Looking to make new friends, she falls in with a former MI6 agent named Liz, a retired trade unionist named Ron, and psychiatrist Ibrahim, who have what they call The Thursday Murder Club, where they look into cold cases and attempt to solve them. However, things are not all sunshine and light at Coopers Chase as the two owners of the building have fallen out. When one of them is murdered, The Thursday Murder Club has to solve a real murder before Coopers Chase is bulldozed to make high-end apartments. A good cozy mystery with high caliber acting talent. Both Pierce Brosnan and Jonathan Price are in the movie and regrettably do not share a scene together, because that would've been hilarious since they were both in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies in the '90s with Brosnan as Bond and Price as the Bond villain for the movie. Overall Grade: B+ Next up is The Creature From the Black Lagoon, which came out in 1954 and is one of the last of the black and white classic horror movies since in the '50s, color film was just around the corner. When a scientist finds the unusual half fish, half human fossil on a riverbank in Brazil, he decides to organize an expedition upriver to see if he can find the rest of the fossil. The trail leads his expedition to the mysterious Black Lagoon, which all the locals avoid because of its bad reputation, but a living member of the species that produce the fossils lurking the lagoon while it normally doesn't welcome visitors, it does like the one female member of the expedition and decides to claim her for its own. The creature was good monster and the underwater water sequences were impressive by the standards of the 1950s. Overall Grade: A- Next up is The Invisible Man, which came out in 1933, and this is another of the classic Universal black and white horror movies. Jack Griffin is a scientist who discovered a chemical formula for invisibility. Unfortunately, one of the drugs in his formula causes homicidal insanity, so he becomes a megalomaniac who wants to use his invisibility to rule the world. This causes Griffin to overlook the numerous weaknesses of his invisibility, which allow the police to hunt him down. The Invisible Man's special effects were state of the art at the time and definitely hold up nearly a hundred years later. It's worth watching as another classic of the genre. Claude Rains plays Griffin, and as with The Wolf Man, his performance as Griffin descends into homicidal insanity is one of the strengths of the movie. Overall Grade: A- Next up is The Mummy, which came out in 1932, and this is another of the original Universal black and white horror movies. Boris Karloff plays the Mummy, who is the ancient Egyptian priest Imhotep, who was mummified alive for the crime of desiring the Pharaoh's daughter Ankh-es-en-Amon. After 3,000 years, Imhotep is accidentally brought back to life when an archeologist reads a magical spell and Imhotep sets out immediately to find the reincarnation of his beloved and transform her into a mummy as well so they can live together forever as undead. Edward Van Sloan plays Dr. Mueller, who is basically Edward Van Sloan's Van Helsing from Dracula if Van Helsing specialized in mummy hunting rather than vampire hunting. This version of the Mummy acts more like a Dungeons and Dragons lich instead of the now classic image of a shambling mummy in dragging bandages. That said, Boris Karloff is an excellent physical actor. As he does with Frankenstein, he brings Imhotep to life. His performance captures the essence of a creature that hasn't been human for a very long time, is trying to pretend to be human, and isn't quite getting there. Of course, the plot was reused for the 1999 version of The Mummy with Brendan Fraser. That was excellent and this is as well. Overall Grade: A- Next up is The Wedding Singer, which came out in 1998, and this is basically the Adam Sandler version of a Hallmark movie. Adam Sandler plays Robbie, a formerly famous musician whose career has lapsed and has become a wedding singer and a venue singer. He befriends the new waitress Julia at the venue, played by Drew Barrymore. The day after that, Robbie's abandoned at the altar by his fiancée, which is understandably devastating. Meanwhile, Julia's fiancé Glenn proposes to her and Robbie agrees to help her with the wedding planning since he's an expert in the area and knows all the local vendors. However, in the process, Robbie and Julia fall in love, but are in denial about the fact, a situation made more tense when Robbie realizes Glenn is cheating on Julia and intends to continue to do so after the wedding. So it's basically a Hallmark movie filtered through the comedic sensibilities of Adam Sandler. It was very funny and Steve Buscemi always does great side characters in Adam Sandler movies. Overall Grade: A Next up is Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, which came out in 2025. This movie was sort of a self-indulgent victory lap, but it was earned. The writers of the sitcom Community used to joke that they wanted "six seasons and a movie" and Downton Abbey got "six seasons and three movies". Anyway, this movie is about handing off things to the next generation. Lord Grantham is reluctant to fully retire as his daughter goes through a scandal related to her divorce. The next generation of servants take over as the previous ones ease into retirement. What's interesting is both the nobles and the servants are fully aware that they're sort of LARPing a historical relic by this point because by 1930, grand country houses like Downton were increasingly rare in the UK since World War I wiped out most of them and crippling post-war taxes and economic disruption finished off many more. Anyway, if you like Downton Abbey, you like this movie. Overall Grade: A Next up is Argo, which came out in 2012, a very tense thriller about the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979. During that particular crisis, six Americans escaped the embassy and hid out at the Canadian Ambassador's house in Tehran. For obvious reasons, the Canadian ambassador wanted them out as quickly as possible, so the CIA and the State Department needed to cook up a plan to get the six out while the rest of the government tried to figure out what to do about the larger group of hostages. Finally, the government comes with "Argo." A CIA operative will create a fake film crew, a fake film company, and smuggle the six out of Tehran as part of the production. The movie was very tense and very well constructed, even if you know the outcome in advance if you know a little bit of history. Ben Affleck directed and starred, and this was in my opinion one of his best performances. It did take some liberties with historical accuracy, but nonetheless, a very tense political thriller/heist movie with some moments of very dark comedy. Overall Grade: A Next up is The Naked Gun, which came out in 2025, and this is a pitch perfect parody of the gritty cop movie with a lot of absurdist humor, which works well because Liam Neeson brings his grim action persona to the movie and it works really well with the comedy. Neeson plays Lieutenant Frank Drebin Jr., the son of the original Frank Drebin from The Naked Gun movies back in the '80s. After stopping a bank robbery, Drebin finds himself investigating the suicide of an engineer for the sinister tech mogul Richard Cane. Naturally, the suicide isn't what it appears and when the engineer's mysterious but seductive sister asks for Drebin's help, he pushes deeper into the case. Richard Cane was a hilarious villain because the writers couldn't decide which tech billionaire to parody with him, so they kind of parodied all the tech billionaires at once, and I kid you not, the original Frank Drebin makes an appearance as a magical owl. It was hilarious. Overall Grade: A Now for my two favorite things I saw in Autumn 2025. The first is the combination of Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, which came out in 1931 and 1935. These are two separate movies, but Frankenstein leads directly to Bride of Frankenstein, so I'm going to treat them as one movie. Honestly, I think they're two halves of the same story the way that Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame would be two halves of the same story 90 years later, so I'll review them as one. Frankenstein by itself on its own will get a B. Colin Clive's performance is Dr. Henry Frankenstein was great, and Boris Karloff gives the Creature a suitable air of menace and uncanny valley. You really feel like he's something that's been brought to life but isn't quite right and still extremely dangerous. The movie does have a very pat ending that implies everyone will live happily ever after, with Dr. Frankenstein's father giving a toast to his son. But Bride of Frankenstein takes everything from the first movie and improves on it. It's one of those sequels that actually makes the preceding movie better. In Bride, Henry is recovering from his ordeal and swears off his experiments of trying to create artificial humans, but the Creature survived the fire at the windmill at the end of the last movie and is seeking for a new purpose. Meanwhile, Henry receives a visit from his previous mentor, the sinister Dr. Pretorius. Like Henry, Pretorius succeeded in creating artificial life and now he wants to work with Henry to perfect their work, but Henry refuses, horrified by the consequences of his previous experiments. Pretorius, undaunted, makes an alliance with the Creature, who then kidnaps Henry's wife. This will let Pretorius force Henry to work on their ultimate work together-a bride for the Creature. Bride of Frankenstein is a lot tighter than Frankenstein. It was surprising to see how rapidly filmmaking techniques evolved over just four years. Pretorius is an excellent villain, more evil wizard than mad scientist, and the scene where he calmly and effortlessly persuades the Creature to his side was excellent. One amusing note, Bride was framed as Mary Shelley telling the second half of the story to her friends, and then the actress playing Mary Shelley, Elsa Lancaster, also played the Bride. So that was a funny bit of meta humor. Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein combined is one of my two favorite movies of Fall 2025. Overall Grade: A+ And now for my second favorite movie of Autumn 2025, which as it turns out is also Frankenstein, but Guillermo del Toro's version that came out in 2025. And honestly, I think Guillermo del Toro's version of Frankenstein is the best version put to screen so far and even does the rarest of all feats, it improves a little on the original novel. Oscar Isaac plays Victor Frankenstein as a brilliant, driven scientist with something of a sociopathic edge. In other words, he's a man who's utterly inadequate to the task when his experiment succeeds and he actually creates an artificial human that have assembled dead body parts. Jacob Elordi does a good job as the Creature, playing him is essentially a good hearted man who's driven to violence and despair by the cruelty and rejection of the world. The recurring question of the Frankenstein mythos is whether or not Victor Frankenstein is the real monster. In this version, he definitely is, though he gets a chance to repent of his evil by the end. Honestly, everything about this was good. The performances, the cinematography, everything. How good was it? It was so good that I will waive my usual one grade penalty for unnecessary nudity since there were a few brief scenes of it. Overall Grade: A+ So that was the Autumn 2025 Movie Roundup. A lot of good movies this time around. While some movies of course were better than others, I didn't see anything I actively disliked, which is always nice. So that's it for this week. Thanks for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave your review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.
Josh and Jade review the 2025 Marvel film, Fantastic Four: First Steps. In this episode, they break down everything from the film's 1960s retro-futurism aesthetic to why Vanessa Kirby's performance as Sue Storm seems to rely on two facial expressions.The film has a star-studded cast, which includes Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. Directed by Matt Shakman and written by Josh Friedman, the movie leans heavily into Cold War era optimism, chrome-plated gadgetry, and bold pastel palettes that make the whole thing feel like a lost episode of The Jetsons with superheroes.If you love superhero movies with style, camp, and a film not overly connected to the web of Marvel films, this is one episode you won't want to miss.
Now that The Fantastic Four: First Steps has landed on Disney Plus, the Cinema Psychos investigate if Marvel has finally cracked the code on their first family. Why has it been so difficult to successfully adapt Marvel's first family for the big screen, and does this new MCU installment—with its swinging 60s vibe, comic-accurate Galactus, and fresh cast including Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby—finally deliver a fantastic film? We break down the stylish alternate universe, the new takes on Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, and how this movie compares to previous failed attempts and the plot of Ghostbusters II. A History of Failure: We explore the rocky cinematic past of the Fantastic Four, from the unreleased Roger Corman version to the 2000s films and the infamous 2015 reboot. Stylistic Choices & Missed Depth: Analyzing the film's unique 1960s aesthetic and how its commitment to style may have come at the cost of deeper character development, especially for The Thing. Final Verdict & MCU Future: Discussing the comic-accurate Galactus and Silver Surfer, the film's place in the larger Marvel universe, and whether this is a sign of an MCU comeback or a temporary blip. What did you think of Fantastic Four: First Steps? Did you also spot the Ghostbusters II plot connection? Follow The Cinema Psychos Show on Socials ❤️
Set in a retro-futuristic 1960s version of Earth, the superhero team known as the Fantastic Four — Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm — are already celebrated heroes. When their world is threatened by the cosmic entity Galactus (and his herald, the Silver Surfer), they must combine their powers, ingenuity and family bond to protect Earth and everything they hold dear. Eric-Large Jordan-Large
The MCU's First Family is here! In this spoiler review of Fantastic Four: First Steps, we talk about the retro-futuristic world of Earth-828 and discuss everything from Michael Giacchino's incredible score to the fantastic performances of Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, and the rest of the cast. We break down the complex relationship between Franklin Richards and Galactus, the introduction of the Silver Surfer, the lovable Thing, and a surprisingly intelligent Johnny Storm. Plus, we'll talk about that shocking mid-credits scene and what it means for the future of the MCU, including Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Join us as we herald the end . . . or is it the beginning?
Dive into the epic world of Marvel's The Fantastic Four: First Steps! Join us as we explore the origins of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm in this thrilling MCU reboot. From cast reveals to plot predictions and comic book connections, this video breaks down everything you need to know about the Fantastic Four's big-screen return.Donate Here - https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=Y6TSU94STL9PUAll our Links - https://direct.me/theundergroundWhat is our Value for Value System?Value for Value is a listener based business model where you determine the value our content is worth. If you feel you are getting value from our content, please consider becoming a supporter by donating your time, talent, & treasure. Time: meaning any effort you put in to improving or developing our content or sharing it.Talent: meaning any skills you possess that you want to contribute to help us develop our platform (ie., artwork for podcast episodes, branding design, editing, etc). Treasure: pay a one-off amount or a recurring contribution for the value you think our service is worth. Please be sure with any payment you send via PayPal to include a note, so that we can read it on the livestream, if you'd like. Your donations keep our content advertisement free. Thank you.Where do you support us? Click the direct.me link to find our PayPal link for contributions as well as our YouTube, Odysee, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter links! We appreciate the engagement from all of you! Contribution Amounts:Donors of less than $100 will automatically become Producers of the corresponding episode!Donors of $100 and above will automatically become Associate Executive Producers of the corresponding episode!Donors of $200 and above will receive the Executive Producer credit for that episode!We will list the credits in our show notes as Executive Producer, Associate Executive Producer, & Producer and is a genuine credit we will vouch for. Generally, executive producers are primarily responsible for financing the project. Therefore, this is a legitimate credit for your resume. Please note any amount will remain anonymous upon request.All donors will receive a special mention on the show unless otherwise noted!Special Note: The Value for Value business model originated with Adam Curry & John C. Dvorak of the No Agenda Podcast.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgihPtnBSek
Summer may be cooling down, but we're just gettin' warmed up! In this episode, Geoffrey and Dai tackle one hothead of a hotshot in the Fantastic Four's JOHNNY STORM, the HUMAN TORCH. Flame on!Hosted and Produced by:Geoffrey Ramos (@geoffreeezy)Diana Kou (@daikou)https://strkcntrst.comCharacter 1st Appearance:https://bit.ly/FantasticFour1Follow @strkcntrst:https://linktr.ee/strkcntrstSupport the Show:https://patreon.com/strkcntrst
Send us a textThe Fantastic Four has finally arrived in the MCU, but not in the way anyone expected. Rather than another tired origin story, we're dropped into Universe 828—a gorgeously realized retro-futuristic world where Marvel's First Family are already established heroes beloved by the public.What makes this film truly special is how it balances cosmic spectacle with intimate family drama. When we meet Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben, they're facing their greatest challenge yet: impending parenthood. Sue Storm is pregnant, and Reed's anxiety about what their altered genetics might mean for their child drives much of the emotional narrative. Pedro Pascal brings a fascinating vulnerability to Reed Richards—a brilliant mind constantly plagued by feelings of inadequacy, always believing he should be able to do more.Vanessa Kirby delivers what might be the definitive Sue Storm performance, finally showcasing the character's immense power that comic readers have known about for decades. The climactic sequence where she confronts Galactus while literally in labor is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant—a mother's fierce protection taken to cosmic levels. Meanwhile, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach bring fresh energy to Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm respectively, with their relationship capturing that perfect balance of friendly ribbing and genuine brotherhood.The film's visual aesthetic deserves special mention—Universe 828 feels like tomorrow as imagined in the 1960s, with flying cars, impossible architecture, and a sense of optimism that's been missing from recent superhero fare. This distinct setting, coupled with the post-credits tease of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom appearing in Franklin Richards' nursery, suggests an exciting direction for the future of the MCU.Whether you're a longtime Fantastic Four fan or completely new to these characters, this film offers something genuinely fresh in the superhero landscape. It reminds us why these characters have endured for over sixty years—because at their heart, they're not just superheroes, they're family. And that's fantastic.Twitter handles:Project Geekology: https://twitter.com/pgeekologyAnthony's Twitter: https://twitter.com/odysseyswowDakota's Twitter: https://twitter.com/geekritique_dakInstagram:https://instagram.com/projectgeekology?igshid=1v0sits7ipq9yYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@projectgeekologyGeekritique (Dakota):https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBwciIqOoHwIx_uXtYTSEbANew Video: The Divine Structure Hidden in Superman's Timeline: https://youtu.be/iHgcBcCSJgM?si=9xmcl76NZR3Sdx3wSupport the show
This week on the show, we discuss our recent visit to Southern California for San Diego Comic Con (7:18) and review the 37th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Fantastic Four: First Steps (43:39)!"Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, First Steps follows Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm as they face their most daunting challenge yet: forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond. While the world loves them, they must now defend Earth from a ravenous space god Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer. "---Thank you Endless Comics, Cards & Games for sponsoring The Oblivion Bar PodcastFollow us on InstagramFollow us on ThreadsFollow us on BlueSkyConsider supporting us over on PatreonThank you DreamKid for our Oblivion Bar musicThank you KXD Studios for our Oblivion Bar art
Editors - Nona Khodai ACE and Tim Roche The Fantastic Four: First Steps sees editors Nona Khodai and Tim Roche reunite for the 37th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the second reboot of the Fantastic Four film series. The film also marks the first time the two have worked together since Marvel's live action series debut, WandaVision. Although each had worked with him separately before, WandaVision was the first time both Nona and Tim worked with director Matt Shakman on a Marvel project. The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place in 1964, as the world celebrates the fourth anniversary of astronauts Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm becoming the superhero team known as the Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing). But the celebration doesn't last for long as the four face their most daunting challenge yet as they defend Earth from Galactus and Silver Surfer. NONA KHODAI ACE A Southern California native and graduate of USC's Cinematic Arts school, Nona started her career as an assistant on such films as the Bad Robot production, Super 8. Her first foray as an editor on a "superhero" project came courtesy of showrunner Eric Kripke who brought her aboard the The Boys, where she would work with director Matt Shakman for the first time. Nona was twice nominted for an Emmy award for her work on Marvel's WandaVision, and nominated for another Emmy for Marvel's Ms. Marvel. TIM ROCHE Known for his work on comedy series like Silicon Valley and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, as well as for his contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including WandaVision, Thor: Love and Thunder and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Tim has received five Emmy nominations for his work, including one this year for Welcom To Wrexham, a show that has already brought him an ACE Eddie Award. The Credits Visit ExtremeMusic for all your production audio needs Streamline your postproduction pipeline with Shade Listen to Nona and Tim talk about cutting WandaVision Hear Nona share her experiences editing The Boys Check out Tim's podcast about the post workflow for Hawkeye Check out what's new with Avid Media Composer Subscribe to The Rough Cut podcast and never miss an episode Visit The Rough Cut on YouTube
Find the 9 Points Rating system here: https://www.alostplot.com/9-points/ In this episode of A Lost Plot, the hosts review the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe release, 'Fantastic Four First Steps.' They discuss their initial reactions, character dynamics, and the overarching themes of family and sacrifice. The conversation delves into character development for Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and The Thing, as well as the portrayal of villains Galactus and Silver Surfer. The hosts critique the film's climax and its lasting impact on the franchise, ultimately concluding that while the film has its merits, it falls short in character development and thematic depth.----------Highlights:0:00 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' Introduction5:53 Opening Scene10:58 Protagonists and Themes16:19 Reed Richards or Mr. Fantastic21:15 Sue Storm29:07 The Human Torch and The Thing36:31 Galactus50:00 Silver Surfer58:45 Themes Revisited#fantasticfour #fantasticfourfirststeps #mcu #marvelreview #characteranalysis #galactus #suestorm #reedrichards #alostplot #storytelling #film #filmthoughts #superherofilms #silversurfer
Find the 9 Points Rating system here: https://www.alostplot.com/9-points/ In this episode of A Lost Plot, the hosts review the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe release, 'Fantastic Four First Steps.' They discuss their initial reactions, character dynamics, and the overarching themes of family and sacrifice. The conversation delves into character development for Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and The Thing, as well as the portrayal of villains Galactus and Silver Surfer. The hosts critique the film's climax and its lasting impact on the franchise, ultimately concluding that while the film has its merits, it falls short in character development and thematic depth.----------Highlights:0:00 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' Introduction5:53 Opening Scene10:58 Protagonists and Themes16:19 Reed Richards or Mr. Fantastic21:15 Sue Storm29:07 The Human Torch and The Thing36:31 Galactus50:00 Silver Surfer58:45 Themes Revisited#fantasticfour #fantasticfourfirststeps #mcu #marvelreview #characteranalysis #galactus #suestorm #reedrichards #alostplot #storytelling #film #filmthoughts #superherofilms #silversurfer
Mal and Jo travel across the multiverse to Earth-828 to break down the latest entry in the MCU, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps'! They dive deep into each character, discuss the visuals and the story, and break down what it all means going forward. (00:00) Intro(08:18) Opening Snapshot(18:05) Box Office(23:58) State of the MCU(28:21) How We Got Here(48:49) Reed Richards(01:22:02) Sue Storm(01:31:43) Ben Grimm(01:39:06) Johnny Storm(01:41:15) Silver Surfer(01:49:57) Galactus(01:53:24) Franklin Richards(01:55:21) Stinger Hosts: Mallory Rubin and Joanna RobinsonProducers: Carlos Chiriboga and Jonathan FriasSocial: Jomi AdeniranAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A new Fantastic Four movie is here and it blew us away! Join us as we discuss...Loving how the movie crammed the best parts of Interstellar into a delicious comic book format!Nitpicking Galactus's power level from a nerd-brain POV!Speculating on what was cut of the film and what we wish didn't get axed!Thinking on how this movie moves the hype meter up for a potential new X-Men movie deep into the late 2020s!The X-Men TAS Podcast just opened a SECRET reddit group, join by clicking here! We are also on Twitch sometimes… click here to go to our page and follow and subscribe so you can join in on all the mysterious fun to be had! Also, make sure to subscribe to our podcast via Buzzsprout or iTunes and tell all your friends about it! Follow Willie Simpson on Bluesky and please join our Facebook Group! Last but not least, if you want to support the show, you can Buy Us a Coffee as well!
Zach and Chad wrap up the most pivotal month in comic book movies with Marvel films bringing the first family of Marvel to the silver screen with, Fantastic Four: First Steps!What did the Dudez think? How many of the coveted Pudding Pops will the Fantastic Four receive? Only one way to find out!--------------------------------------------------Chad's Son Devon did a review as well!He's trying to hit 200 subscribers over at Devon's World of Fun!Be his number 200!--------------------------------------------------Shout out to Ricktimbo for the oldschool TFD intro music!---------------------------------------------------Join the Patreon to help us keep the lights on, and internet connected! https://www.patreon.com/tctwl---------------------------------------------------Listen to my other podcast!TFD: NerdcastAnd I am also part of the team over at...I Read Comic Books!---------------------------------------------------Want to try out all the sweet gigs over on Fiverr.com? Click on the link below and sign up!https://go.fiverr.com/visit/?bta=323533&brand=fiverrcpa---------------------------------------------------Follow on Instagram!The Comics That We LoveFollow on Tiktok!The Comics that We LoveFollow on Bluesky!comicsthatwelove.bsky.social
In this packed episode of Geek Freaks, Frank and Thomas unpack the latest Fantastic Four film, breaking down the performances, emotional stakes, and character portrayals, especially Vanessa Kirby's standout role. Then, Thomas shares his experience attending San Diego Comic-Con 2025 — from exclusive panels and cosplay trends to immersive brand activations. Finally, Frank interviews Cindy Mich, a veteran journalist, filmmaker, and founder of the Art is Alive Film Festival. Cindy opens up about her career, the importance of independent media, the legacy of her late partner, and her current work telling the story of Holocaust survivor Ben Lesser. Timestamps and Topics: 00:00 Intro and the Comic-Con crash 00:18 Fantastic Four: First reactions 01:15 Vanessa Kirby's Invisible Woman and standout moments 03:26 Emotional themes and fatherhood in the film 04:36 Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards: hit or miss? 06:33 MCU leadership and what's next for the team 08:11 Johnny Storm's surprising arc 09:45 Team intelligence and the Silver Surfer escape 10:11 Darker moments and MCU boldness 11:57 Final ratings and hopes for a director's cut 13:00 Comic-Con coverage: booths, exclusives, and cosplay 15:04 Artist Alley and the return of comics to SDCC 16:06 Standout panels: Jim Lee, Patton Oswalt, George Lucas 22:26 Thomas speaks at SDCC panel on video games and mental health 27:42 Immersive brand activations: Old Spice x Superman 30:46 AMC's Fantastic Four popcorn buckets and more 31:19 Why local cons matter and tips for first-timers 34:39 Interview: Cindy Mich's journey from radio to film festivals 36:03 Why she got into journalism 38:58 Being real in media and staying authentic 43:12 Choosing mediums: print vs radio vs TV 46:42 Art is Alive Film Festival's growth and mission 50:25 Telling Ben Lesser's story and Holocaust remembrance 57:00 Balancing passion and loss: her late partner's influence 01:12:47 Cindy's advice for aspiring creatives 01:18:15 Comic and show recommendations 01:19:29 Closing thoughts Key Takeaways: Fantastic Four feels like a return to early MCU form, with solid performances and emotional depth, especially around themes of parenting and sacrifice. Vanessa Kirby shines as Invisible Woman, and Pedro Pascal brings a unique (if divisive) take on Reed Richards. Thomas shares exclusive San Diego Comic-Con highlights including immersive brand experiences and deep, impactful panels. Cindy Mich shares insights into building trust as a journalist, embracing multiple mediums, and running a purpose-driven film festival. The Art is Alive Film Festival doesn't just screen films — it educates and supports indie filmmakers with real tools and exposure. Cindy is working on a film about Holocaust survivor Ben Lesser and another film honoring her late partner, blending healing and legacy. Quotes: “I won't give up my kid for the world, but I won't give up the world for my kid either.” — Thomas, quoting Fantastic Four “If there's somebody you admire at a con, go talk to them. They're there for you.” — Thomas “You can do anything as long as you're persistent and patient.” — Cindy Mich “My goal is to help artists be seen — not just screened.” — Cindy Mich Call to Action: If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Geek Freaks on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and share the show with your fellow geeks! Use the hashtag #GeekFreaksPod to join the conversation online. Links and Resources:
focus in on the Marvel universe, but not before honoring (a loose term) recent deaths of cultural icons. They also discuss the evolving relationship between Mario and Princess Peach, a bizarre Chuck E. Cheese incident to the latest superhero movie rankings by Esquire, and finally, a review of the new Fantastic Four film. They share humorous anecdotes about workplace arrests, critique the superhero genre, and express their thoughts on the performances and storytelling in the latest Marvel installment. In this engaging conversation, the hosts delve into the intricacies of the latest Fantastic Four film, highlighting Julia Garner's standout performance, the cosmic scale of Galactus, the film's visual aesthetics, and CGI babies. They discuss character development, particularly focusing on Johnny Storm and the family dynamics within the team, major gripes with the film, and concludes with ratings and final thoughts on the movie's execution and impact.
Fantastic Four The First Steps: Episode 355 - Jim Halpert? Never heard of him. There's only one Mr. Fantastic and on a very special episode we're going to celebrate him and his entire family as we discuss Marvel's First Family - The Fantastic Four! Marvel has been slowburning their return to Mutant mayhem, but there's one superhero team that no one's ever “gotten right,” - and they're ready to correct that sentiment with the all-new film The Fantastic Four: First Steps only on Normies Like Us! It's Podcasting Time! Insta: @NormiesLikeUs https://www.instagram.com/normieslikeus/ @jacob https://www.instagram.com/jacob/ @MikeHasInsta https://www.instagram.com/mikehasinsta/ https://letterboxd.com/BabblingBrooksy/ https://letterboxd.com/hobbes72/ https://letterboxd.com/mikejromans/
The Fantastic Four finally arrive in the MCU... sort of? Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/the Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/the Thing must unite to save an alternate Earth from Ralph Ineson's Galactus and Julia Garner's Silver Surfer, but are their power's combined enough to set Marvel's Multiverse Saga back on track? What about the threat of Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom and the arrival of AVENGERS DOOMDAY? DJ and Sal tap into the Power Cosmic to provide their review directly from San Diego Comic-Con 2025!Support https://scopela.org!The People's Mutual Aid Fundhttps://bit.ly/peoplesmutualaid Pre-Order DJ's New Comic!https://dangerboi.backerkit.com/hosted_preordersMore DJ!https://www.youtube.com/djtalkstrashMore Sal! https://www.youtube.com/comicpopTheme Music by: Steven James SchmidtFor exclusive bonus podcasts like What We're Into, Mutant Academy, and more, check out our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/OnlyStupidAnswers
Join TJ Zwarych and Damon Gray are joined by MCU: REIGN OF MARVEL STUDIOS co-author Dave Gonzales for our immediate reactions to The Fantastic Four: First Steps! We deep dive for our spoiler-filled break down to point out Easter Eggs, give our thoughts on the cast, score, and story, as well as theorize on what's next for the MCU.(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:00) Whatcha Watchin? - Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, DC Absolute Comics(00:06:00) Fantastic Four: First Steps Spoiler-Free Reactions(00:12:00) Fantastic Four: First Steps Breakdown(00:14:00) 60s Aesthetic in Fantastic Four: First Steps(00:18:00) Michael Giacchino's Fantastic Four Score(00:22:00) Vanessa Kirby's Performance as Sue Storm in Fantastic Four(00:30:00) Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards in Fantastic Four: First Steps(00:37:00 Ebon Moss-Bachrach's Performance as The Thing(00:39:00) Were Most of Ben Grimm's Scenes Cut from Fantastic Four?(00:42:00) Ben and Johnny's Chemistry in Fantastic Four: First Steps(00:46:00) Joseph Quinn's Performance as Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four(00:48:00) Is Johnny Storm Horny Enough in Fantastic Four: First Steps?(00:51:00) Mole Man's Role in Fantastic Four: First Steps(00:55:00) Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal in Fantastic Four: First Steps(00:57:00) Human Torch and Silver Surfer Romance in Fantastic Four(01:02:00) Fantastic Four: First Steps vs. Rise of the Silver Surfer(01:06:00) Galactus Done RIGHT in Fantastic Four: First Steps(01:15:00) Franklin Richards' Role in Fantastic Four: First Steps(01:20:00) Did Marvel's Multiverse Saga Drop the Ball?(01:34:00) Will Doom Steal Franklin Richards in Avengers: Doomsday?(01:39:00) Was Franklin Healing Doom's Face in the Fantastic Four Post-Credit Scene? (01:50:00) 2025 Comic Book Movie RankingsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/agents-of-fandom--5479222/support.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is kicking off Phase Six with some familiar faces: Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm (a.k.a. Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, The Thing, and the Human Torch). There have been a few Fantastic Four films that came before this one, but were they able to get the formula right this time? Joel and Kent are prepared to share their spoiler-free thoughts on The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Zack hasn't seen the movie yet, but he's going to brave this entire BaconBit, even after we enter spoiler space. Will we flame on this latest superhero reboot? Or is it clobberin' time for the MCU again? Press play to find out.
With Fantastic Four: First Steps opening tomorrow we decided to go back and look at the stories that inspired the latest MCU film - Fantastic Four #48, 49 and 50. These stories see the debuts of the Silver Surfer and Galactus, as well as... Johnny Storm going to college? Let me tell you, the structure of these comics is pretty odd. But they're one of the pinnacles of the legendary Jack Kirby/Stan Lee run. Before that we have a ton of news, and as of this recording there isn't even anything big coming out of San Diego Comic-Con! Kevin Feige spills the beans about an MCU reset, a Booster Gold pilot is being written, there's a new Wonder Woman movie and more. If you don't care about this skip to 47:22. This weekend we will have Fantastic Four: First Steps on Watch Men, so make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon at the $5 level to get it! You'll also gain access to our Superman episode and an incredible back catalog of episodes. Thanks for listening. See you next week!
Marvel's First Family has arrived! Hard to believe that the MCU has been able to be as successful as it has been over the last 17 years without one of its most important super groups, The Fantastic Four. Join us for our Spoiler-Free The Fantastic Four: First Steps Review and learn more about this latest iteration of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm. After 3 critically-panned film adaptations (yes, three. Google it.), is it possible that fourth time's the charm for our heroic quartet. With an all-star cast, Wandavision director Matt Shakman behind the camera, and a gorgeous retro-futurist motif, this would appear to be the best attempt yet. But does it soar to intergalactic heights? Hang out with us as we discuss that and so much more in our Spoiler-Free Fantastic Four Review! Show Open [00:00] And the Oscar Goes to… [06:08] Scene Stealer [11:03] Show Stopper [16:57] Director's Shoes [23:17] Last Looks [27:47] Show Close [31:32] Thanks for listening! Please rate, review, and subscribe if you liked this episode! For all things Popcorn for Breakfast: https://linktr.ee/popcornforbreakfast Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/7wGQ4AARWn Follow us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/popcornforbreakfast Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeVJZwPMrr3_2p171MCP1RQ Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4HhMxftbuf1oPn10DxPLib?si=2l8dmt0nTcyE7eOwtHrjlw&nd=1 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/popcorn4breakfast Follow us on Twitter: @pfb_podcast Follow us on Instagram: @pfb_podcast Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@popcornforbreakfast? popcorn4breakfast.com Email us: contact@popcorn4breakfast.com Our original music is by Rhetoric, check them out on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/44JvjuUomvPdSqZRxxz2Tk?si=hcYoSMLUQ0iPctllftAg2g&nd=1
Let's keep the stories short and sweet by taking a look at Fantastic Four #23 and #24 from Marvel Comics! We discuss the new Ice Cream Man project and review Ice Cream Man #44 from Image Comics. And Oni Press has released a new Sixth Gun mini-series - The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1. Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at http://patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure the Major Spoilers Podcast continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) REVIEWS STEPHEN THE SIXTH GUN: BATTLE FOR THE SIX #1 Writer: Cullen Bunn Artist: Brian Hurtt Publisher: Oni Press Cover Price: $5.99 Release Date: July 23, 2025 In 1866, out of the ruins of the failed Confederate uprising, a race to claim six objects of unfathomable occult power began, thrusting the fate of humanity into the hands of an ordinary young woman and a hard-nosed gunslinger who, together, were our last, best hope to forestall Armageddon. They prevailed, but at a terrible price. But that was then. This is now. Three decades later, as the gears of a new millennium begin to grind on the cusp of the 20th century, THE SIXTH GUN is about to be REBORN once more—as it has been countless times across the eons. This time, however, a brigade of familiar fighters lies in wait to meet THE SIXTH GUN's nigh-limitless power head on . . . alongside a secret cabal that wish to harness its unspeakable power to incept a new century of war, genocide, and suffering. Only one can survive to claim victory. THE BATTLE FOR THE SIX starts now! [rating:4/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/44Y0KMy MATTHEW ICE CREAM MAN #44 Writer: W. Maxwell Prince Artist: Martin Morazzo Publisher: Image Comics Cover Price: $3.99 Release Date: July 23, 2025 DESCRIPTION: "Performance Review." It's Craig's end-of-year review with his senior manager. Let's cross our fingers for a promotion of some sort. [rating:4.5/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/44K9jvJ DISCUSSION FANTASTIC FOUR: Aliens, Ghosts, and Alternate Earths Writer: Ryan North Artist: Carlos Gomez Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $19.99 Collects Fantastic Four (2022) #23-28. Ryan North puts character first in his refreshing take on Marvel's First Family! When a cosmic incident from outer space threatens forty percent of the planet, the Fantastic Four will need teamwork, cleverness and an old vehicle dug out of storage to save the world - plus some super-science! Then, Earth is invaded by subatomic particles from the other side of the universe - and when Mister Fantastic discovers the horrifying truth, he finds out there are some things in the universe even he and his family's powers can't stop! And when an excursion to Latveria magically sends the FF to an alien world, survival will be difficult on a planet so unlike our own, with a civilization hundreds of years behind ours - and it doesn't get any easier when Johnny Storm hooks up with one of its residents! But what is this world's terrible secret? Plus: Ghosts, demons and the Black Knight! You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/45bXFd3 CLOSE Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends!
Let's keep the stories short and sweet by taking a look at Fantastic Four #23 and #24 from Marvel Comics! We discuss the new Ice Cream Man project and review Ice Cream Man #44 from Image Comics. And Oni Press has released a new Sixth Gun mini-series - The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1. Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at http://patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure the Major Spoilers Podcast continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) REVIEWS STEPHEN THE SIXTH GUN: BATTLE FOR THE SIX #1 Writer: Cullen Bunn Artist: Brian Hurtt Publisher: Oni Press Cover Price: $5.99 Release Date: July 23, 2025 In 1866, out of the ruins of the failed Confederate uprising, a race to claim six objects of unfathomable occult power began, thrusting the fate of humanity into the hands of an ordinary young woman and a hard-nosed gunslinger who, together, were our last, best hope to forestall Armageddon. They prevailed, but at a terrible price. But that was then. This is now. Three decades later, as the gears of a new millennium begin to grind on the cusp of the 20th century, THE SIXTH GUN is about to be REBORN once more—as it has been countless times across the eons. This time, however, a brigade of familiar fighters lies in wait to meet THE SIXTH GUN's nigh-limitless power head on . . . alongside a secret cabal that wish to harness its unspeakable power to incept a new century of war, genocide, and suffering. Only one can survive to claim victory. THE BATTLE FOR THE SIX starts now! [rating:4/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/44Y0KMy MATTHEW ICE CREAM MAN #44 Writer: W. Maxwell Prince Artist: Martin Morazzo Publisher: Image Comics Cover Price: $3.99 Release Date: July 23, 2025 DESCRIPTION: "Performance Review." It's Craig's end-of-year review with his senior manager. Let's cross our fingers for a promotion of some sort. [rating:4.5/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/44K9jvJ DISCUSSION FANTASTIC FOUR: Aliens, Ghosts, and Alternate Earths Writer: Ryan North Artist: Carlos Gomez Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $19.99 Collects Fantastic Four (2022) #23-28. Ryan North puts character first in his refreshing take on Marvel's First Family! When a cosmic incident from outer space threatens forty percent of the planet, the Fantastic Four will need teamwork, cleverness and an old vehicle dug out of storage to save the world - plus some super-science! Then, Earth is invaded by subatomic particles from the other side of the universe - and when Mister Fantastic discovers the horrifying truth, he finds out there are some things in the universe even he and his family's powers can't stop! And when an excursion to Latveria magically sends the FF to an alien world, survival will be difficult on a planet so unlike our own, with a civilization hundreds of years behind ours - and it doesn't get any easier when Johnny Storm hooks up with one of its residents! But what is this world's terrible secret? Plus: Ghosts, demons and the Black Knight! You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/45bXFd3 CLOSE Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends!
Let's keep the stories short and sweet by taking a look at Fantastic Four #23 and #24 from Marvel Comics! We discuss the new Ice Cream Man project and review Ice Cream Man #44 from Image Comics. And Oni Press has released a new Sixth Gun mini-series - The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1. Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at http://patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure the Major Spoilers Podcast continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) REVIEWS STEPHEN THE SIXTH GUN: BATTLE FOR THE SIX #1 Writer: Cullen Bunn Artist: Brian Hurtt Publisher: Oni Press Cover Price: $5.99 Release Date: July 23, 2025 In 1866, out of the ruins of the failed Confederate uprising, a race to claim six objects of unfathomable occult power began, thrusting the fate of humanity into the hands of an ordinary young woman and a hard-nosed gunslinger who, together, were our last, best hope to forestall Armageddon. They prevailed, but at a terrible price. But that was then. This is now. Three decades later, as the gears of a new millennium begin to grind on the cusp of the 20th century, THE SIXTH GUN is about to be REBORN once more—as it has been countless times across the eons. This time, however, a brigade of familiar fighters lies in wait to meet THE SIXTH GUN's nigh-limitless power head on . . . alongside a secret cabal that wish to harness its unspeakable power to incept a new century of war, genocide, and suffering. Only one can survive to claim victory. THE BATTLE FOR THE SIX starts now! [rating:4/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/44Y0KMy MATTHEW ICE CREAM MAN #44 Writer: W. Maxwell Prince Artist: Martin Morazzo Publisher: Image Comics Cover Price: $3.99 Release Date: July 23, 2025 DESCRIPTION: "Performance Review." It's Craig's end-of-year review with his senior manager. Let's cross our fingers for a promotion of some sort. [rating:4.5/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/44K9jvJ DISCUSSION FANTASTIC FOUR: Aliens, Ghosts, and Alternate Earths Writer: Ryan North Artist: Carlos Gomez Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $19.99 Collects Fantastic Four (2022) #23-28. Ryan North puts character first in his refreshing take on Marvel's First Family! When a cosmic incident from outer space threatens forty percent of the planet, the Fantastic Four will need teamwork, cleverness and an old vehicle dug out of storage to save the world - plus some super-science! Then, Earth is invaded by subatomic particles from the other side of the universe - and when Mister Fantastic discovers the horrifying truth, he finds out there are some things in the universe even he and his family's powers can't stop! And when an excursion to Latveria magically sends the FF to an alien world, survival will be difficult on a planet so unlike our own, with a civilization hundreds of years behind ours - and it doesn't get any easier when Johnny Storm hooks up with one of its residents! But what is this world's terrible secret? Plus: Ghosts, demons and the Black Knight! You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/45bXFd3 CLOSE Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends!
In light of the new Fantastic Four movie dropping this month, we thought to drop a journey through the first 102 issues of the original 1961 run of Fantastic Four by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby as experienced by Paul Jaissle over the last few months of IRCB. Enjoy! Timestamps00:00:00 - Intro00:02:04 - Paul's FF Journey Begins (Fantastic Four (1961) #1-7)00:09:34 - Fantastic Four (1961) #8-4000:17:37 - Fantastic Four (1961) #41-5000:25:54 - Fantastic Four (1961) #51-6200:31:28 - Fantastic Four (1961) #63-10200:35:12 - WrapMusic provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVELIRCB Logo by Kyle RoseProducer: Mike RapinEditor: Mike Rapin Support us on Patreon to get access to our Patreon-only series: IRCB Movie Club, Saga of Saga, Giant Days of Our Lives, A Better Batmobile, and more! patreon.com/ircbpodcastEmail: ircbpodcast@gmail.comTwitter: @ircbpodcastInstagram: @ircbpodcastDiscord: discordapp.com/invite/E8JUB9sReddit: ireadcomicbooks.reddit.comIRCB GoodreadsMerch: ircbpodcast.com/shop
MAGIC MIND: https://magicmind.com/kh CODE: KH20 Things are heating up in Gotham... again. On today's episode of The Kristian Harloff Show, we're breaking down the latest rumor that director Matt Reeves may exit The Batman Part II if production doesn't begin later this year as planned. With the movie already delayed multiple times, will Reeves walk? And what does that mean for Robert Pattinson's Bat-future? We also dive into Brandon Sklenar's latest comments about potentially playing Batman in the DCU—revealing not only that he's talked to DC Studios but also which Bat-actor is his personal favorite (hint: it's not who you'd expect). Plus, Vincent D'Onofrio, who plays Kingpin in the MCU, now says he wants to play Swamp Thing in James Gunn's DCU! Could we see him cross over into DC horror? In Marvel news, Fantastic Four: First Steps is making waves as new info drops on Galactus, Johnny Storm, and Sue Storm's Malice twist. The MCU is clearly going bold with its First Family reboot. Join Kristian Coy and Winston on Capes and Cowls!
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