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!

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 & Reggie "Box-Set", Volume 8 - Charlton Comics

Two episodes still counts as a "box set", right?  Well, it's good enough for us... and if it saves folks from having to hunt them down in our all-too confusing archives, then... all the better!

In these two episodes, we break down the rise... and fall of Charlton Comics.  We discuss the founders, and their chance meeting inside a jail cell... to the "in-house" production model (using a printing press that was once used for cereal boxes... and it shows!), the staffers, the great flood... and whatever happened with those "Action Heroes" we all know and love.

Total Play Time

2 Hours, 35 Minutes, 53 Seconds

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 78 - Avengers Spotlight #23 (1989)

Good evening, late-nite listeners! Heeeere's Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) bringing you another deep dive into a comic book, this one specially chosen by Aaron Anderson: Avengers Spotlight #23 from Marvel Comics! After the usual biographies for Howard Mackie, Al Milgrom, John Byrne and Kieron Dwyer, the Hollywood Kids read both stories contained in this issue--the second one of the first appearances of The Vision in his all-white look! Then they talk about an old rural discount chain from whence Aaron's issue derived, and wrap up with a list of superheroes that had arguably unfortunate changes to their standard costumes. Even one character that never really had a standard costume! It's a great show, ladies and gentlemen, we hope you'll tune in for the duration.