Cosmic Treadmill ep. 88 - Young Heroes in Love #1 (1997)

Hello, comics enthusiast--do you come here often? In this episode, romantics Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) check out the wildly creative landscape of late 1990s comic books when they read Young Heroes in Love #1 by Dan Raspler and Dev Madan, published by DC Comics in 1997! After a look at the conditions and causes behind this "throw it at the wall, see if it sticks" era and some other earnest attempts of the time, they read the entire issue, which introduces the core characters of this series. Then, after a break, our legal eagles look at some other creator-owned properties published by the Big Two of comic books, and how these agreements have left a few of these characters virtually unusable. A bit of viewer mail and a thanks to the folks leaving iTunes reviews, and that wraps up this episode that will surely pull at your heartstrings!

Chris & Reggie "Box Set", Volume 7: Exploring the Mysteries of Marvelman/Miracleman

This time around is a very recent "Box-Set"... easily findable on the feed, but our completist nature won't allow us to let it lay.

Total Run Time

2 Hours, 54 Minutes, 41 Seconds

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 87 - Jungle Comics #2 (1940)

Salutations, noble comic book savages! In this episode, our intrepid explorers Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) plumb the depths of the dark interior of the African continent when they read Jungle Comics #2, published by Fiction House in 1940! They go through all nine(!) stories within the issues, providing creator bios and background information where applicable, with a special emphasis on the ninth story--the first appearance of the first female superhero, Fantomah by Fletcher Hanks! Then, after a break, the stalwart adventurers detail the life of Fantomah, and give a brief history of Fiction House, a seminal Golden Age comics publisher. You'll like the jungle so much, you'll never want to go back to Greystoke!

Chris & Reggie "Box-Set", Volume 6: The First Five

For this week's "Box-Set" we're going old-school... compiling the first five "pre-historic" episodes of Weird Comics History... before we even numbered 'em!

It's awkward... and (at least in the first episode) hard to hear at least one of your hosts... but they're still pretty fun!

These episodes are also available on our YouTube... and have been assembled into a Playlist:

Total Run Time

2 Hours, 24 Minutes, 19 Seconds

Weird Comics History, Ep. 29 - Exploring the Mysteries of Miracleman (Marvelman), Part Three

Weird Comics History, Episode 29
Exploring the Mysteries of Miracleman (Marvelman), Part 3

Order in the court!  (Ham and Cheese)

For their final installment of "Exploring the Mysteries of Miracleman", your favorite legal eagles Chris (@acecomics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) don their long robes and powdered wigs and do their darnedest to figure out just who owns Marvelman!

They will discuss the wheelings and dealings of one Spawny fellow... and spend far too much time discussing the characters of Angela, Cogliostro, and Medieval Spawn... but they promise it all (mostly) fits the story.

Overall, it's an hour and change of audio likely to make you even more curious and confused about Marvelman, and just how his story finally "shook out".

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 86 - Quantum and Woody #1 & #2 (1997)

Greetings, comics enthusiasts! This week, the original "Odd Couple"* Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) check out the first two issues of another mismatched pair of knuckleheads, Christopher Priest and M.D. Bright's Quantum and Woody from 1997! After the creator bios, they go through every pages of issues #1 and #2, chuckling all the way. There's also a history of how Acclaim Entertainment acquired Valiant Comics and created the line that would host this series, all the way to the company's eventual bankruptcy. Then, a list of some of Acclaim's not-so-acclaimed video games and poorly-planned marketing schemes! All that, plus some listener mail, it's more fun than a dungeon full of minibosses!

*Except for that other Odd Couple, the play by Neil Simon that was actually the original

Chris and Reggie "Box-Set", Volume 5: The Image Launch Line-Up

Our fifth "Box Set" Collection takes a look at the "Big 4" Image Comics launch titles... not necessarily in the order of release date... but perhaps in reverse order "quality-wise".  Your mileage may vary... give'em a listen anyway!

Total Running Time

4 Hours, 59 Minutes, 52 Seconds

Weird Comics History, Ep. 28 - Exploring the Mysteries of Marvelman (Miracleman), Part Two

There comes a time when everybody has to leave home... and that's no different for our new friend Marvelman, who, during this episode makes the trek across the Atlantic, and starts getting published stateside by Eclipse Comics.  Not before a little tweak in his title though.


For their middle installment of Exploring the Mysteries of MarveREDACTED... let's try that again.  Exploring the Mysteries of MarREDACTED.  Hmm... okay, we'll do it their way... For this installment of Exploring the Mysteries of Miracleman, Chris (@acecomics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) discuss more growing pains than a house full of Seavers when they continue their long-form look at our Kimota-shouting hero.  This week they will set the stage for the domestic (if you live in the United States) arrival (and sorta-kinda revival) of Miracleman... and briefly discuss the remaining Alan Moore run as well as the still unfinished Neil Gaiman run.

Then... they start getting into the nitty-gritty, and really the "meat and potatoes" of any real Miracleman discussion... the rights!  Welcome to the story, Mr. McFarlane... hope you survive the experience!

Next week we will do our best to "tie a bow" on Miracleman, his story, and the creative forces all vying for ownership!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 85 - Weird Western Tales #12 (1972)

Git along, little doggies! In this episodes, cowpokes Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) dip their toes into the genre of Western Comics, when they read DC Comics' Weird Western Tales #12 from 1972! Concentrating on the first story, "Promise to a Princess!" featuring Jonah Hex, they still give biographical information for each creator involved in this anthology comic book, and detail every story therein. Then, after a break, the intrepid frontiersmen look at the history of Jonah Hex, and then America's Old West in total. They wrap things up by dispelling some of the Old West's most enduring myths. This episode is more fun than firing a six-shooter at a plugged nickel, you don't want to miss it!

Chris and Reggie "Box Set", Volume 4: The Death and Return of Superman

Welcome to our fourth "Box Set" Collection, where you can find our four-part long-form coverage of the 1992-1993 Death and Return of Superman story arc.

Part One: Doomsday

Part Two: Funeral For a Friend

Part Three: Reign of the Supermen, Part One

Part Four: Reign of the Supermen, Part Two & The Return

Total Run Time

6 Hours, 33 Minutes, 56 Seconds 

Weird Comics History, Ep. 27 - Exploring the Mysteries of Marvelman (Miracleman), Part One

You ever have a Dream of Flying?  Join Chris (@acecomics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) as they dive deep into the world of Marvelman.  From his humble beginnings as a British replacement for a certain Big Red Cheese, to the stories people actually care about (ie. those written by Alan Moore, er we mean "The Original Writer".

We will be sharing this crazy story over the next three installments.  This time around you will be introduced to the reasons behind Marvelman's creation, we'll introduce you to his creator Mick Anglo... and discuss the move from Silver Age silliness to cynical 80's grittiness (including a purposely brief synopsis of the WARRIOR Magazine run... because we really don't want to "spoil" that for our dear listeners).

It's a fun-filled hour of chatter... and we don't even get to the lawsuit yet!  The... other lawsuit... the other, other lawsuit.

Here's a special look at the not-at-all cumbersome alterations made to the UK Captain Marvel logos during the transition!

As well as the letter received by Dez Skinn from Marvel's legal council (published in Warrior Magazine #25)

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 84 - Superman Meets the Quik Bunny (1987)

Happy Pesach! In today's episode, our qlubhouse qharacters Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) investigate the mysteries of Easter--after reading Superman Meets the Quik Bunny by Mike Carlin, Carmine Infantino, and Dick Giordano from 1987! After some short biographical information for everyone, including "Quicky" the Quik mascot himself, our chocoloate milkoholics read the entire issue, spoiling even the puzzles for the uninitiated. Following a commercial break, it's time for the true story of Easter--which may not be the story you're thinking of! A run-down of the Quik Bunny's other comic book appearances and some listener mail rounds out this episode that is more fun than a basket of colored eggs.