Chris is on Infinite Earths, Episode #20: Justice League of America #224 (1984)

Hello Conventioneers!  This time out your paragon of curmudgeon-ing Chris (@acecomics) shares his experiences attending and even volunteering at various comic book conventions during his fandom-career.  From humble beginnings rifling through bins at the Sun-Vet Mall, to getting the opportunity to wear a Media badge, interviewing Kurt Busiek and having a picture taken with Dan Jurgens... it's a story of anxiety, agoraphobia, preciosity and heat-exhaustion. 

Also, we take a look at Justice League of America #224 (March, 1984) by the aforementioned Mr. Busiek - With an audio clip of my 2016 interview with him where we discuss this very issue!

Chris is on Infinite Earths, Episode 15: The Man of Steel #1 (1986)

Hello Heroes!

This time out we discuss The Man of Steel #1... the first, The Man of Steel #1, that is... written and drawn by John Byrne.  Before getting into the book itself, we take a quick peek into that strange time where Superman, and many of DC's top books, were very nearly published by... Marvel Comics?!

From there, we jump into the book... and compare the finished product (of the first issue) to what's known about John Byrne's original "Marvel Comics' Superman" pitch.  Is what we wound up getting: better, worse, or exactly the same?  Gonna have to listen to find out!

Sticking with the Byrne-Superman theme, this week's HOT TAKE Segment will feature a USENET post from October, 1985... right around the time that Byrne's pending arrival at DC Comics was no longer a rumor!  It's a fun time as always, if ya got a minute (or 40), give it a listen!

Chris is on Infinite Earths, Episode 14: DC Comics Presents #85 (1985)

Good Day, Fellow Professors of Extra-Dimensional Studies!  This time out, Chris is joined by his good pal, Dave Schultz (@SellingOutShow) to discuss a very special issue of DC Comics Presents featuring a team-up (of sorts) between Superman and Swamp Thing!

From there, Dave shares his comics "Secret Origin" and gives Chris a guided tour of his Swamp Thing fandom!  It's quite the education for your humble host!

HOT TAKE: A Reaction to "The Anatomy Lesson" from a November, 1983 USENET post (as discussed at DCinthe80s.com

Chris is on Infinite Earths, Episode 11: Batman #416 (1988)

Greetings teen-aged sidekicks!

This time out, Chris (@acecomics) is joined by his pal Jody Yerdon (@regalfan) to discuss one of the, in their opinion, greatest (and most underrated) Batman stories ever put to print!

Batman #416 sees the post-Crisis meeting of Dick Grayson and Jason Todd... and is chock full of some amazing Bat-Family Drama!  Ever late-to-the-party, Chris ranked this as the best comic book he'd read in 2016... and it is still his very favorite Batman story, despite (or possibly because) the Caped Crusader himself only appearing on a handful of pages!

Listen to the fellas gush over this one for about an hour!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 124 - Justice League of America #219-220: Crisis in the Thunderbolt Dimension! (1983)

Say you folks like comic books? In this episode, multiversal transit cops Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) look at what has been considered a "retcon done right" when they read issues #219 and #220 of Justice League of America from 1983, written by Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway (with an assist by Marv Wolfman) and drawn by Chuck Patton! After some biographical information about the creators involved (except for Marv...we've gone over him at length before), our alternate Earth investigators look at the character Black Canary and what came before these issues, which will serve as a new status quo for the character for years to come! After a break, our pair finish up the bios and talk about what constitutes a retcon, and what makes some acceptable while others are abhorred. They conclude the episode by explaining what Black Canary's been up to since learning this new origin. It's enough to make you stand up and belt out a Canary Cry, you don't want to miss it!

Chris and Reggie "Box-Set", Volume 12: Hal Jordan's Action Comics

During the month of November, 2018... we examined an often-overlooked era for Hal Jordan... and the pit-stop he made between runs of his own ongoing title as the leading man of Action Comics during its weekly incarnation.
Join us for nearly six-hours of discussion and analysis... and follow along as Hal learns a bit about his ring, meets Oprah Winfrey, ends his icky (and arguably illegal) relationship with Arisia, and faces off with the Greatest Super-Villain you've never heard of... Lord Malvolio!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 117 - Action Comics Weekly: Green Lantern Part Four (1989)

Greetings, oh Keepers of the Flame! Today, calendar-scrutinizing comics fans Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) conclude their look at the Green Lantern stories contained in DC Comics' Action Comics Weekly, in this episode covering issues #636 to #642, plus Green Lantern Special #2 by James Owsley, Dan Raspler and M.D. Bright! They go through every bizarre beat of these books, lending their raspy voices where applicable. Later, our Sunday-to-Sunday fellas look at some of the fallout from this weekly series; what happened to Malvolio and Priest, and other weekly series DC Comics has put out over the years. Plus...an alternate ending? The episode is full of mysteries and and goofy stuff...mostly goofy stuff. You don't want to miss it!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 116 - Action Comics Weekly: Green Lantern, Part Three (1988/89)

Welcome back, comics enthusiasts! In this episode, our weary weekly warriors Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) continue their look at the Green Lantern stories included in Action Comics Weekly, tackling issues #624 to #635 from 1988 and 1989! Consisting of one long story written by Christopher Priest and drawn by M.D. Bright, our calendar-efficient pair tackle every sweet second of Hal Jordan's dalliance with Captain Atom, and his meeting a three-hundred year-old ring-bearer named Malvolio! It's the only time this character ever appeared in comic books, so you won't want to miss it!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 115 - Action Comics Weekly: Green Lantern Part Two + Green Lantern Special #1 (1988)

Greetings, Jordanites and Jordanettes! In this episode, anti-Apartheid protesters Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) continue their look at the Green Lantern parts of Action Comics Weekly from 1988-1989, this week covering issues #615 through #623, and Green Lantern Special #1 from 1988! Providing biographical information for creators along the way, our weekly warriors go through every page of these issues, lending their arguable vocal talents and commentary. It's another oft-forgotten chunk of Green Lantern history, you don't want to miss this!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 114 - Action Comics Weekly: Hal Jordan, Part One (1988)

Greetings, Wednesday warriors! In this episode, ScienCell janitors Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) begins a multiple-part series on DC Comics Action Comics Weekly, published in 1988 and 1989, concentrating on the Green Lantern stories starring Hal Jordan! Featuring work by  Gil Kane, Christopher Priest, Peter David and Tod Smith–and therefore our ring-polishers provide biographical information for each of them. After explaining what this series is and how it came to be, our Oan tour guides pore over issues #601 through #614, exploring Hal Jordan's journey through life, love...and Oprah Winfrey? This is just the beginning of what will prove to be a lot of Green Lantern, you don't want to miss it!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 112 - Twisted Tales (1987)

Ghoul gravening, scabies and mental men! In this horrific episode, our haunted house scavengers Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) sift through the strange story of Eclipse Comics and the career of Bruce Jones, when they read Twisted Tales from 1987! After some background information--including why this unnumbered issue of a Pacific Comics series came out from Eclipse after Pacific's demise--they go through all three Bruce Jones-penned stories in the book, lending their arguable talents to the proceedings. This episode is scary enough to curl your toe hairs, you don't want to miss it!

Chris is on Infinite Earths, Episode 2: Justice League #1 (1987)

Continuing the "journey" of Chris is on Infinite Earths!

Chris never really wanted to start a blog... and with this episode, he can (kinda) prove it!  Justice League #1 (1987) originally appeared on chrisisoninfiniteearths.com on New Year's Day, 2017... though, it was originally supposed to hit the internet on New Year's Day, 2015 at the Bwa-Ha-Blog!(which never really became a thing).

Ya see, it was something of a New Year's Day tradition for Chris to start (and abandon) a brand-new blog... so much for that Resolution to "write more"!  Two years (and a whole new blog) later, this discussion of Justice League #1 would finally be completed.

Hope you enjoy these brief "visits", and appreciate you joining me in these self-indulgent looks back at the Life and Times of Chris is on Infinite Earths!

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Includes Promo for the Justice League International: Bwah-Ha-Ha Podcast!

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Original Post: 

https://www.chrisisoninfiniteearths.com/2017/01/justice-league-1-1987.html

Chris is on Infinite Earths, Episode 1: Secret Origins #1 (1986)

Welcome everyone to the first episode of Chris is on Infinite Earths!

Today we are looking at Secret Origins #1 from 1986... which was originally discussed over at chrisisoninfiniteearths.com on January 31, 2017 (the site's first "bloggiversary").

This is a bit of a self-indulgent episode wherein not only will we look at the "Secret Origin" of the Golden-Age Superman... but of the Chris is on Infinite Earths blog!

The original post can be found right here.

We hope you enjoy this "side series".  If you do, please don't hesitate to reach out and let us know!

Chris & Reggie "Box-Set", Volume 10: 1980's DC Comics Public Service Announcements

For this box-set, we decided to compile those Reagan-era Public Service Announcement comics DC put out.  What're those?  Well... for some context:

Between the years 1983 and 1986, DC Comics... in association with various companies (including Keebler, the American Soft Drink Company, IBM, and American Honda) as well as the United States Government, put out five special comic books.

Three of these comics featured the New Teen Titans, and were presented by The President's Drug Awareness Campaign (featuring a letter from then-First Lady... and potential Manhunter... Nancy Reagan).  The remaining two starred Supergirl.  Those were presented by the United States Department of Transportation's National Safety Belt Campaign (these opened with a letter from then-Secretary of Transportation, Elizabeth Dole).

We covered the lot of 'em... and now, you can find our thoughts right here in this handy "box-set".

Total Running Time
3 Hours - 21 Minutes - 47 Seconds

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 107 - American Honda Presents DC Comics’ Supergirl (1984)

Hello, safety enthusiasts! In this episode, traffic coordinators Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) learn they'd better click it or get a ticket when they read the PSA comic book American Honda Presents DC Comics’ Supergirl from 1984! After biographies for the creative team, including the legendary Joe Orlando and Angelo Torres, they break down every weird, dream-like beat of the issue. Then, after a break, the buckle up buddies detail the history of the seatbelt. And finally, they get through some listener mail, after way too long! Listening to this episode could reduce your liability insurance by ten percent, you won't want to miss it!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 96 - Excalibur #1 (1988)

Cheerio, comics enthusiasts! In this episode, Anglophiles Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggie) head over to jolly old England when they read Chris Claremont and Alan Davis' Excalibur #1, published by Marvel Comics in 1988! After introducing the creators and the team of muties, they go through the entire issue, mangling all sorts of accents along the way. After a break, the blokes wrap up Claremont's and Davis' biographies, and then tell the tortured tale of Marvel's European publishing arm for many decades, Marvel UK! This episode is more filling than a steak and kidney pie, you don't want to miss it!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 91 - Groo the Wanderer #1 (1982)

What ho, fair comics enthusiasts! In this episode, professional barbarians Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) indulge their wanderlust when they read Sergio Aragones' Groo the Wanderer #1, published by Pacific Comics in 1982! After a bio on Sergio and the issue's "translator" Mark Evanier, they dive right into the fray of the first issue, detailing every page. After a break, they come back to wrap up the info about the creators, then tell the history of Pacific Comics. Plus, a little etymology lesson on the word "barbarian!" All this, and a couple of nice reviews found on Stitcher. This episode is more fun than a tankard of mead, you don't want to miss it!

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. 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. 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.