#821 The Fantastic Four on Film: “The Fantastic Four” (1994), a Roger Corman production (part one)

Fantastic Four - Corman 1

By the early ’90s, Superman and Batman were blockbuster movie franchises, but Marvel had yet to find a way to get a big-budget film made based on their characters, let alone succeed at the box office. Bernd Eichinger of Constantin Film owned the film rights to the Fantastic Four, but those rights were soon to expire. So he teamed up with B-movie producer Roger Corman to bang out an FF film — which, for somewhat unclear reasons, never came out. This week, in a crossover with the Comic Book Movie Oblivion podcast, Tim is joined by Kumar and Jordan; some early FF comics are evaluated, and then we begin a two-part discussion of the film, what’s good and bad about it, and the (apparent) reasons it never hit screens.

Watch the film on YouTube

Watch Doomed: The Untold Story of Roger Corman’s Fantastic Four on YouTube

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#820 Jack Kirby’s “Eternals,” #14-16: The Coming of…. The Editor!

Eternals 15

Jack Kirby‘s The Eternals was not a conventional superhero book. It didn’t even seem to take place in the Marvel Universe. By issue 14, it appears that Marvel editorial must have been pressuring him to make it more Marvel Universe-y, which would account for the appearance of the Hulk in issues 14-16… except it’s not really the Hulk, leaving plausible deniability to the fact that this is really happening in the MU. But, along with New York City, the Pseudo-Hulk also smashed the direction of the series. Tim and Emmet sift through the damage.

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#819 We catch up with “The Re-up” and “Amazing Tales”

The Re-up/Amazing Tales

This week we catch up with the work of two DCP favorites, Chad Bilyeu and David Dye! Chad’s series The Re-up, about his time as a pot dealer 20 years ago, continues and has overcome the skepticism Tim had of the series at the start. David has released three more issues of Amazing Tales and gone in various directions: a Beowulf adaptation, a Burroughs-esque time travel story commenting on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and an EC-type horror comic! We review The Re-up issues 4-6 and Amazing Tales issues 6-8!

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#818 Requiems: “Ghost Band” and “Grimm’s Assistant”

Ghost Band - Grimm's Assistant

If you’ve ever felt like your city left you before you left your city, Jason McNamara’s Ghost Band is for you. Tim and Emmet discuss this post-apocalyptic look at San Francisco. Jason then taps in to explain the inspiration for the book and what happened to artist Vincent Gladnick 2/3 of the way through.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, the Grim Reaper has an apprentice, and he saves a girl’s life — temporarily. Grimm’s Assistant, by Mamode Ogbewele and Chigozie Amadi, might be a little too stingy with important story info, but sharp art and interesting ideas make it worth Tim and Jason’s time reviewing it.

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#437 “Real” is a slam dunk

Real

FLASHBACK! Sports have rarely been subject matter for comics in the US; perhaps comics’ inherent static-ness has seemed antithetical to an activity with so much movement. But Japan has seen comics about various sports, and some of them have been quite popular, even iconic.

Takehiko Inoue’s Real is not only about basketball, but about physical handicaps, relationships, and more. Kumar and Ilango find a whole lot to like about it — including the satisfying ways in which it translates sports action to the comics page. (Originally published February 16, 2015.)

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From Laughs to Heroics: Plastic Man a Flexible Hero for the Modern Age – by Hernando Diaz

Plastic Man is truly one of the most unique and entertaining characters in the superhero landscape. He was created by Jack Cole in 1941. This particular superhero was one of the first to incorporate humor into mainstream action storytelling as a genuine hero whose appeal transcends generations.

Patrick “Eel” O’Brian, aka Plastic Man, is apart from other superheroes in his extraordinary ability to stretch, mold, and reshape his body into virtually any form. This elasticity offers endless possibilities for visual creativity, and the character’s antics often play out in hilarious, unexpected ways. Whether he’s transforming into a rocket to fly across the sky or an amusing animal to surprise his enemies, Plastic Man’s powers make every encounter exciting and unpredictable.

In fact, he shines particularly in his interactions with other heroes and villains. Often portrayed with a lighthearted sense of humor, Plastic Man brings a refreshing comic relief to the darker narratives of the DC Universe. His witty banter, self-deprecating humor, and playful nature create a good balance against the more serious tones found in many comics series. Even when he’s up against formidable foes, the levity he brings makes for a dynamic reading experience.

However, some might argue that the comedic tone and whimsical visual style can detract from the more serious aspects of superhero storytelling. For those who prefer traditional narratives centered around grim heroism and moral dilemmas, Plastic Man may seem a bit too irreverent. Yet, it’s this very irreverence that makes him a beloved character in his own right; he challenges the conventional standards of heroism and shows that saving the day can also be a lot of fun.

Artistic interpretations of Plastic Man have varied widely over the years, but the character’s rubbery aesthetic is always vibrant and imaginative. Whether illustrated in a classic style or with a modern twist, his visuals are a delight to fans of all ages.

Here are some of the principal Powers and Abilities that this interesting superhero has:

  • Density Control: Plastic Man can change his density at will; becoming as dense as a rock or as flexible as a rubber band.
  • Malleability : He can stretch his limbs and body to superhuman lengths and sizes.
  • Size Alteration: Another interesting ability is size alteration. He can shrink himself down to a few inches tall.
  • Shape-Shifting: Plastic Man can contort his body into various positions and sizes impossible for ordinary humans, such as being entirely flat so that he can slip under a door or using his fingers to pick conventional locks.
  • Color Change: The only limitation that this superheroe has relates to color, which he can´t change without intense concentration.
  • Superhuman Agility: These stretching powers grant Plastic Man heightened agility enabling him flexibility and coordination.
  • Ultrasonic Detection: His body will start to “ripple” when an ultrasonic frequency is triggered.
  • Regeneration: Plastic Man is able to regenerate and assimilate lost or damaged tissue, although he needs to be reasonably intact for this process to begin.
  • Telepathic Immunity: Plastic Man’s mind is no longer organic. This is untouchable by telepathy.
  • Immortality: He doesn´t appear his age; if he does, it is at a rate far slower than that of normal human beings.

Plastic Man, a hero who can save the day and make you chuckle at the same time.

Critiquing Comics #240: “The Night Brigade” and “Joe Mallard”

Night Brigade - Joe Mallard

Most Americans know little about the Crimean War (1853-1856). Adam McGovern and Bruno Letizia’s The Night Brigade may go some way toward filling us in on that conflict, and it does give us several historical figures, including Florence Nightingale – but it also features a werewolf. Tim and Adam critique.

Asante Amani‘s Joe Mallard gives us short detective stories that feel a bit like Matt Kindt’s work. Tim and Jason are hoping for more!

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#817 Jack Kirby’s “Eternals”, 1977 Annual + #13: Fun “Eternals” stories with few Eternals

Eternals Annual

We left the Eternals joined together in the Unimind. The 1977 Annual doesn’t clearly fit into continuity, but features only one Eternal, Thena, together with Deviants Karkas and the Reject against a time-traveling threat! Back in the regular series, issue 13 gives us exactly two Eternals, trying to stop a Deviant attack on the Celestials. In spite of the lack of Eternals, these are two of the most fun issues Tim and Emmet have read yet!

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#593 “Reading ‘Nancy’”, plus “Cat and Mouse”!

How to Read Nancy

FLASHBACK! A comic strip gag can be a deceptively simple thing. Once you take it apart — “deconstruct” it, one might say — you find that it actually has many moving parts.

Click to enlarge

Paul Karasik and Mark Newgarden‘s How to Read “Nancy” takes a close look at each of those parts — as well as arguing persuasively for Bushmiller’s underrated artistic chops, and giving us some comic-strip history as well. Tim and Patrick review.

Cat and Mouse

PLUS: Roland Mann, Dean Zachary, and Kevin Gallegly join Tim to talk about the return of Cat and Mouse! (Originally published May 21, 2018.)

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Critiquing Comics #239: “Let’s Go, Coco” and “Digital Bardos”

Let's Go, Coco and Digital Bardos

What does an 11-year-old do when her “only friend” moves away? In Coco Fox’s “sorta” memoir Let’s Go, Coco, she joins the basketball team. But when you’re a pre-teen, everything’s fraught with challenges. Tim and Adam discuss this book – aimed at middle schoolers, but recommended for all ages.

As far from that world as possible is the first issue of King Klaus’ Digital Bardos (now live on Kickstarter). It introduces us to Darren — make that “All-Mighty Darren,” a digital god. The issue begins to answer the question of how he got that way. Tim and Jason critique.

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