Cosmic Treadmill ep. 144 - Uncanny X-Men #287 (1992)

Greetings, fellow mutants! In this episode, time-displaced soothsayers Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) look at one of the longest-running (and now, solved) X-Mysteries when they read Uncanny X-Men #287 by Jim Lee, Scott Lobdell, and John Romita Jr., beginning the "X-Traitor" story line that ran for several years! After explaining the unusual conditions of the X-Men editorial office at the time, and providing biographical information on the key creators involved, our mutant mavericks read every page of the issue at hand. Then, they delve even further into "X-Traitor," reading some fan mail and commentary from pertinent Marvel Comics staff members, and even following the mystery to its stunning conclusion! It's time-traveling fun, you don't want to miss it!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 141 - William Shatner's TekWorld #1 (1992)

Hello, comics enthusiasts! In this episode, tekheads Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) dive into the world of the future...which would actually be somewhat close to the present, when we read William Shatner's TekWorld #1 by Ron Goulart and Lee Sullivan, published by Marvel Comics, through their Epic imprint, in 1992! After some biographical information about Goulart, Sullivan, and Shatner, the voice androids read every futuristic page of the issue. Then, they talk about what happened with the rest of the TekWar property, including the desktop video game and trading cards that came with it. The episode wraps up with a look at William Shatner's music career, and how he learned to embrace his fans! It's a Shatner-filled episode, you don't wanna miss it!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 140 - Star Wars: Dark Empire #1 (1991)

Hello, Rebel scum! In this episode, Jedi-curious Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) dive back into the world of Star Wars comic books when they read Dark Empire #1 by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy, published by Dark Horse Comics in 1991! After the biographical information, our tie-fighter pilots look at the hand-off of licensing from Marvel to Dark Horse, and set the stage for the book to follow. After the issue, our soothsayers tell the rest of the story, and detail all the Star Wars comics ever published by Dark Horse! It's a long list, so may the force...of caffeine be with you!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 137 - Street Poet Ray #1 (1990)

Greetings, comics enthusastniks! In this episode, urban poets Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) check out the rhythms and meter of truth when they read Michael Redmond and Junko Hosizawa's Street Poet Ray #1, published by Marvel Comics in 1990! After revealing what scant biographical information could be found on the creators, the folksy duo read every "rap-haiku" in the issue, and talk about the subjects therein. Then, they give a brief history of the Beat Generation, their influences and outcomes--one of which would be this very comic book! Grok that, hipsters!

Chris is on Infinite Earths, Episode 13: Gon, Volume I of IV (1996)

This week's episode is a little bit different from our usual superhero fare... actually, it's a whole lot different.  Today we're going to meet a tiny dinosaur named Gon (created by Masashi Tanaka), and take a look at his first tankōbon volume, which contains three stories... and zero words!

Ya see, Chris picked this book to review before heading out on vacation, thinking its lack of words would make for a quick and easy synopsis.  Let's just say, he learned a lesson in "cutting corners" that day.

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 127 - Superman #123 (1997)

Hello, denizens of Metropolis! In this episode, amateur electricians Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) read an issue of Superman in which he wasn't quite feeling himself: vol. 2 #123 from 1997, by Dan Jurgens and Ron Frenz! After some creator bios and a little backstory to explain how Superman contracted this condition, our technicians go through every page of this seminal issue, lending their vocal bleats and sarcastic commentary along the way. After a music break, our pair return to close out the bios for Jurgens and Frenz, and then talk about some other instances where Superman changed his look--usually not by choice! It's a transformative episode, you don't want to miss it!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 126 - Spider-Man 2099 #1 (1992)

Greetings, futurists! In this episode, Alchemax janitors Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) head thirty-five years into the past...in order to rocket 107 years into the future when they read Marvel Comics' Spider-Man 2099 #1, written by Peter David and pencilled by Rick Leonardi in 1992! After some creator biographies and an explanation of how this concept came to be, our duo delve into every page of this landmark issue, lending their guttural growls and burps along the way. After a break, the pair return to finish off the creators' info and tell what happened to Marvel's 2099 line after this issue. And they wrap up with a look at some other comic book stories and properties that exist in the future––for that is where you and I would like to spend the rest of our lives! You don't want to miss it!

Chris is on Infinite Earths, Episode 8: Young Justice #1 (1998)

Heyyy, look at us being all relevant and with the times!

On the very day Young Justice (vol.3) #1 is hitting the shelves, Chris (@acecomics) discusses the original Young Justice #1, by Peter David and Todd Nauck!  After positing a question to the folks about one's potential inability to "go home again" and fully-appreciate books of a certain era the way we used to, we synopsize and review the issue itself.

following the review, Chris takes advantage of this being the first episode of 2019 by reflecting on the "2018 Year in Cosmic Treadmill", and shares his Top Five episodes from 2018... that you might've slept on.

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 120 - Saved By the Bell Summer Break #1 (1992)

hey Hey HEY WHAT is going on here?? In this episode, matriculated students Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) check out one of their other shared interests...bordering on obsessions, when they read Harvey Comics' Saved By the Bell Summer Break #1 from 1992! After a deep dive into the secret origins and trappings of the television show, our Bayside Tigers provide biographies for creators Angelo de Cesare and Hy Rosen. Then, they read every goofy page of the comic, lending about the same level of talent to their voices as most of the actors brought to the show. After a break, they provide a brief history of Harvey Comics, before breezily talking about the show and devolving into fits of wheezing laughter. It's a show these knuckleheads couldn't wait to make, don't miss it!

Chris is on Infinite Earths, Episode 4: Justice League America #52 (1991) PLUS: The History of Super-Blog Team-Up!

Yes... we're only four episodes in... it's another bwah-ha-ha book, but there's a special reason for that.  And really, that's not the meat and potatoes of this episode anyway.  This time out, Chris (@acecomics) is joined by another Chris... Chris Bailey (@Charlton_Hero) of the SuperHero Satellite who shares the origins of the Mighty Super-Blog Team-Up!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 110 - Spider-Man and Batman: Disordered Minds (1995)

Hello, brand loyalists! In this episode, dimensional transversers Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) subvert time and space to read a once rare, now extinct crossover between Marvel and DC Comics: Spider-Man and Batman by J.M. DeMatteis and Mark Bagley from 1995! After the necessary creator bios, our duo subvert the concept of intellectual property and read all of the story "Disordered Minds," which also features villains Carnage and the Joker. Then, after an informative break, they return to the creators and talk about the other crossover titles co-published by DC and Marvel–and why we don't see them anymore! It's a crazy episode with its own internal logic and continuity...so it won't really matter to Chris and Reggie's personal story arcs if you miss it. But you still shouldn't!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 109 - Underworld Unleashed #1 (1995)

Greetings, soul-laden mortals! In this episode, naive bargainers Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) kick off 2018's #BestEventEver crossover occurrence, when they read Mark Waid and Howard Porter's Underworld Unleashed #1, published by DC Comics in 1995! After the creators' bios, our misguided dabblers in the occult sift through every moment of this issue. Later, they look at other incarnations of the Dark Lord that have appeared in comics since the very beginning! There's no need to panic about this episode, you have nothing to lose...except for your soul! So if that's the sort of thing that would bother you, then yeah, go ahead and panic.

Weird Comics History ep. 31 - The Direct Market, Part Two

Hello, investors! In this episode, rabid speculators Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggierggie) finish their talk about comic books' direct market, taking it from about 1988 until the present day! They talk about comic book collecting during a speculator's bubble, and how this affected distribution and the the operating companies when that bubble burst. Our armchair economists also look at Marvel's financial dealings during the period, including the fateful acquisition of Heroes World, and what really cause them to file for bankruptcy in 1997. It's not all doom and gloom, however, when they discuss how comic book retailers reinvented themselves as something more in the late 1990s and into the 21st Century. Plus: Anedcdotes and recollections of the period! After this episode, you should know enough about the crazy business of comic books to stay as far away from it as possible.

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 106 - Captain N: The Game Master #1 (1990) + A History of Valiant Comics!

Ready player one: start! In this episode, gamers Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) dive into the weird world of Videoland when they read Captain N: The Game Master #1, published in 1990 by Valiant Comics! After a brief look at the history of video games and Nintendo, our Italian plumbers read all four stories in the issue, providing creator biographies whenever it "seems" applicable. After a short break, the guys return to provide an exhaustive history of Valiant, thanks to exhaustive research by Ryan McLelland, and talk about some of Nintendo's less popular innovations. It's more fun than you can shake a joystick at, and you won't even need to put your quarters up!

Chris & Reggie "Box-Set", Volume 9: The Age of Apocalypse

Welcome friends, to the Ninth "Box-Set" post... this time "collecting" our six-part 100th Episode X-Travaganza, a deep-dive into Marvel's Age of Apocalypse from 1995!

Total Running-Time

10 Hours, 37 Minutes, 2 Seconds

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 105 - Marvel Comics' Age of Apocalypse Part Six: X-Men Omega #1 (1995)

It's the dawn of a new day, comics enthusiasts! In thie episode, time-jumpers Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggeireggie) conclude their six(!) part look at Marvel Comics' 1995 X-Men event, Age of Apocalypse, when they read X-Men Omega #1 by Scott Lobdell, Mark Waid and Roger Cruz! After some quick biographical recap, they detail every moment of this show-stopping conclusion, providing context wherever available. Not content to leave things there, our Doctors Who then go over X-Men Prime #1 by Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza, and...many talented artists. After some post-Apocalyptic biographies for event architects Lobdell and Nicieza, our pair discuss the fallout from this "self-contained" event, and share their personal thoughts about it--one having read it for the first time for this podcast, the other having bought it as it came out in 1995! We bet you can guess which is which. Listen in to find out if you're right!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 104 - Marvel Comics' Age of Apocalypse Part Five: X-Universe #1-#2 (1995)

Hello again, fellow human scum! In this episode, wastrels Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) dive back into the vicious nightmare that is Marvel Comics' 1995 X-Men-based comic book event, The Age of Apocalypse! Today we learn about what's happening outside of the mutant class, checking in on the other characters--and providing complete biographies for--appearing in X-Universe #1 and #2 from 1995! There's a lot to dissect as they try to provide context for the shocking character changes presented in these issues, so you won't be blamed if you need to listen to this episode several times!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 103 - Marvel Comics Age of Apocalypse Part Four: Amazing X-Men #4 and the rest of the other issues! (1995)

Greetings, and welcome back to the bleak nightmare that is our near future! In this episode, blink watchers Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) delve back into the alternate present that is Marvel Comics' Age of Apocalypse event, running through the X-Men line of books in 1995! Our Sliders wrap up Gambit and the X-Ternals, X-Calibre, X-Man, and Amazing X-Men, with special attention to Amazing X-Men #4 by Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert! We're all set up for the grand finale, folks, so you don't want to miss a moment of this future that (hopefully) will never be!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 102: Marvel Comics' Age of Apocalypse Part Three: X-Men Chronicles #2 and other issues! (1995)

Hello mutant rebels! In this episode, extra Horsemen Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) return to the time that might have been in part three of their look at Marvel Comics' 1995 X-Men event, Age of Apocalypse! After some recap, they read both issues of X-Men Chronicles, with special conentration on #2 by Howard Mackie and Ian Churchill! Then, our pen slaves close out the final issues of Astonishing X-Men, Factor X, Generation neXt, and Weapon X, providing biographies for all new characters (and creators) encountered along the way! We're halfway through this huge comic book event, so don't fall asleep during one of Magneto's monologues! Aw, who could blame ya?

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 101 - Marvel Comics' Age of Apocalypse Part Two: Astonishing X-Men #1 (and all the #1 issues!) (1995)

Greetings, fellow slaves of Apocalypse! In this episode, our cannon fodder Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) return to that dystopian dimension in part two of their look at the Marvel Comics event Age of Apocalypse from 1995! Concentrating on Astonishing X-Men #1 (March 1995) but covering each #1 issue of this event, including full creator and character biographies, our time-hopping duo attempt to weave this tale of what might have been--and may yet be!--if things aren't returned to normal. Tune in next week for more of this epic storyline that affected the X-Men forever! No, really!