Comic Book Time Machine

PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE Verses JUSTICE LEAGUE VS KONG VS GODZILLA (Ben) – CBTM186

It’s a battle royale of battle royale comics! Predator vs Wolverine verses Justice League vs Kong vs Godzilla!!! Which comic book will win? Which has the better art? The better story? The better price? The better covers? And when it comes down to it, which ones will Ben continue reading???

Daniel And Matt Say Goodbye (Group) – CBTM185

Adventure into Fear #10 (Man-Thing 50 Years Later) – SWAMP THINGS Ep. 23/CBTM184

Man-Thing celebrated his 50th anniversary recently, and so as time goes on the issues of his comic books have been celebrating their own 50th anniversaries! While I am not sure how long this will last, I wanted to take a look at these comics . . . about 50 years …

“Master Assassin of Mars” Parts 7-9 (John Carter, Warlord of Mars 21, 22, & 23) – MCC123/CBTM183

Using Star Wars as a guideline,  we’re exploring comic books based on licensed properties that Marvel Comics published from 1977 to 1986. For this episode, Ben reads the next three chapters in the 12 issue epic “Master Assassin of Mars” from JOHN CARTER issues 21-23, December 1978, January 1979, and February …

Marvel Comics Blind Bag from Wal-Mart (Ben) – CBTM182

Ben opens another blind bag, this one purchased from a store that purchased it from a Wal-Mart to resell it. Ben rescued it from a table filled with random items from Wal-Mart. The comic books inside are not anything that Ben would read on his own, but since he purchased …

WEREWOLF BY NIGHT on Disney+ (Ben) – CBTM181

No, your ears aren’t deceiving you! This episode is going out on THREE different feeds! We recording this episode for WELCOME TO LEVEL SEVEN (Ben’s podcast about the Marvel Cinematic Universe), and his co-host Stewart agreed to let him repurpose it over here, because SWAMP COMICS!!! Here we have the …

“Warriors Three” (Shogun Warriors #2, March 1979) – MCC122/CBTM180

Using Star Wars as a guideline,  we’re exploring comic books based on licensed properties that Marvel Comics published from 1977 to 1986. Ben returns to 1979 to read the toy-line tie-in SHOGUN WARRIORS! Last issue introduced three pilots and one robot . . . but this issue brings two more robots …

Ben on The Baron Earls Show (Ben) – CBTM179

Recently, Ben was a guest on The Baron Earls Show, and he had the chance to chat with them about his comic book career, current projects, and other fun things. You can find The Baron Earls Show here:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBARONEARLSShow You can find SuperSonic Pod Comics here:http://supersonicpodcomics.com

THE DEFENDERS in “The Best Defense” Mini-Series (Ben) – CBTM178

A mini-series Ben learned about almost accidentally became a pleasant surprise. It was self-contained, all the parts were well written, and it referenced the past and present in ways that were accessible and easy to understand. This is a “lost episode” in the sense that it was recorded and then …

GHOSTLY HAUNTS #31: Flea Market Challnge Pt. 2 – SWAMP THINGS Ep. 21/CBTM 177

So in the previous episode from the main feed of Comic Book Time Machine, Ben talked about the first part of the Flea Market Challenge – he had $3 cash in his wallet and determined to find a comic or two that he would enjoy but only using the $3 …

THE DALEKS Comic Strip Collection (Ben) – CBTM175

In the 1960s, Doctor Who’s enemies enjoyed some popularity among the youth of England. Because of contractual ownership, Terry Nation, as the Daleks’ creator, was able to license the characters for a number of things, including the comic strips contained in this collection. And what a collection! In this episode, …

“Highwire to Heaven” (Re-Upload) (Human Fly #19, March 1979) MCC121/CBTM174

(We have moved our websites to a new server, and as a result we lost this post, meaning I had to re-upload it. Please accept our apologies if you had this show up in your feed twice. Thank you!) Using Star Wars as a guideline,  we’re exploring comic books based on …

“Highwire to Heaven” (Human Fly #19, March 1979) MCC121/CBTM174

Using Star Wars as a guideline,  we’re exploring comic books based on licensed properties that Marvel Comics published from 1977 to 1986. THE HUMAN FLY . . . ends here! This episode covers the FINAL issue of The Human Fly! Did they even know it was the final episode? Maybe yes, …

Antique Store BLIND BAG: 10 Different Comics $14.95 (Ben) – CBTM173

So while at an antique store with my wife, I came across a box of comics. Amidst the too-expensive for what they were back issues, was a packet of comics that had an original price tag of $14.95 and that included a graphic novel with a cover price of $13.95 …

STAR TREK: DEBT OF HONOR Graphic Novel (Ben) – CBTM172

An unexpected find at the comic book shop! Alone, on a shelf off to the side, was an unusually formatted book: large format, saddle stitched, on cheaper cardstock. It was a Star Trek graphic novel in a decidedly un-graphic novel format. Purchased on a whim, it turned out to be …

“Annihilation” (Battlestar Galactica #1) – MCC120/CBTM171

Using Star Wars as a guideline,  we’re exploring comic books based on licensed properties that Marvel Comics published from 1977 to 1986. And we’re beginning the journey to find a lonely plant . . . known as . . . EARTH! So excited! Battlestar Galactica was absolutely the product of a …

HEROES REBORN Vol. 2 Main Series (Ben) – CBTM170

Drawn by two primary things – the alternate Marvel universe and Phil Coulson – Ben gave Heroes Reborn a chance. Ben hated the Coulson part, but the series itself was so good that he went all in and got all the tie-ins. This episode covers the main series – the …

Disney Plus: The First Six Months THE MISSING EPISODE! (Group) – CBTM169

NOTE: This episode was SUPPOSED to be episode 163 . . . but I screwed up! So we’re posting it NOW, as episode 169. Sorry!!! (~ Ben) Disney+ is six months old, so Matt interviewed our resident Disney expert, Daniel Butcher, to get his thoughts on how the new streaming …

Top Ten Marvel Comics Characters (Group) – CBTM168

Daniel and Matt list their Top 10 favorite characters from Marvel Comics!

Top Ten DC Comics Characters (Group) – CBTM167

Daniel and Matt list their Top 10 favorite characters from DC Comics!

THE SWAMP THING 1-3 & CURSE OF THE MAN-THING Full Series – SWAMP THINGS Ep. 19/CBTM 167

What a time to love comic book swamp monsters! First up: Ben takes a quick look at the second issue of Swamp Thing Future State Then: The Swamp Thing is a ten issue maxi-series by Ram V and Mike Perkins, introducing a new Swamp Thing to protect the green Finally: …

THE SWAMP THING 1-3 & CURSE OF THE MAN-THING Full Series – SWAMP THINGS Ep. 20/CBTM 167

What a time to love comic book swamp monsters! First up: Ben takes a quick look at the second issue of Swamp Thing Future State Then: The Swamp Thing is a ten issue maxi-series by Ram V and Mike Perkins, introducing a new Swamp Thing to protect the green Finally: …

Endless Winter and Future State Swamp Thing #1 – SWAMP THINGS Ep. 19/CBTM 166

The end of 2020 and beginning of 2021 featured two comic book events with Swamp Thing, and this week had a couple swamp related surprises in the comics world. As usual, Ben judges these swamp based comics using the following paradigm:CONTENT – is the story good?COVER – is the cover …

Wal-Mart’s WW84 Blind Bag – CBTM165

Ben takes a look at a blind bag comic set that Wal-Mart had earlier this summer, set to be released to coincide with the Wonder Woman sequel. Now that the movie is actually being released, Ben pulled out the “bag” and opened it to read the Wonder Woman tie-in and …

Christmas at THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY #257 – CBTM164

It’s the 70s! And it’s a serial killer! And it’s Santa Claus!?! It’s a Christmas miracle that I found this comic on Christmas Eve when I was waiting for my kids to fall asleep and it’s an audacious framing story that allows Cain and Abel to tell some middling horror …

JLA #111 “The Man Who Killed Santa Claus” (Christmas Comic) – CBTM163

It’s the Christmas season! Who’s up for a good murder mystery? Well, if you are up for a good murder mystery, you’re going to have to settle for this . . . Three stories. One hundred pages. And a LOT of groaning. It’s not ALL awful, but it’s close. Merry …

“Shadow of a Dark Lord” (Star Wars #21, March 1979) – MCC119 and CBTM161

Using Star Wars as a guideline,  we’re exploring comic books based on licensed properties that Marvel Comics published from 1977 to 1986. Star Wars continues! Luke faces Vader . . . in a hallucination! Han Solo faces Chewy . . . in a zero-G arena! Leia faces stormtroopers . . . …

“Shadow of a Dark Lord” (Star Wars #21, March 1979) – MCC119 and CBTM162

Using Star Wars as a guideline,  we’re exploring comic books based on licensed properties that Marvel Comics published from 1977 to 1986. Star Wars continues! Luke faces Vader . . . in a hallucination! Han Solo faces Chewy . . . in a zero-G arena! Leia faces stormtroopers . . . …

LEGEND OF THE SWAMP THING Special and EMPYRE: AVENGERS Mini-Series – SWAMP THINGS Ep. 18/CBTM161

Two swamp-related comics have been released recently, so Ben heads off to the swamps to record about them. As usual, Ben judges these swamp based comics using the following paradigm:CONTENT – is the story good?COVER – is the cover poster-worthy?CREATURE – how does the creature look? LEGEND OF THE SWAMP …

LEGEND OF THE SWAMP THING Special and EMPYRE: AVENGERS Mini-Series – SWAMP THINGS Ep. 17/CBTM161

Two swamp-related comics have been released recently, so Ben heads off to the swamps to record about them. As usual, Ben judges these swamp based comics using the following paradigm:CONTENT – is the story good?COVER – is the cover poster-worthy?CREATURE – how does the creature look? LEGEND OF THE SWAMP …

DC Four-Packs at Wal-Mart (Ben) – CBTM160

Wal-Mart and DC Comics are done with the 100-Page Giants, and have now moved to a blind bag style of comics. Each blind bag isn’t really BLIND because they are packaging the same four comics in each of the five different packages, and t’s not really new because they’ve been …

The New 52 Overview (Group) – CBTM159

Back in 2013, Daniel and Matt recorded a long conversation discussing every single series released as part of the first wave of The New 52!

ALLEGIANCE COMICS Review: Bass Reeves, Red Rooster, Norah’s Saga, and The Futurists (Ben) – CBTM158

An overview and review of the new Allegiance Comics publisher’s output, with their four “pilot episode” comics: Bass Reeves, an historical fiction biography western; Red Rooster, a superhero period piece; Norah’s Saga, a young adult geared adventure series set in modern day Canada, but featuring vikings; and The Futurists, an …

SUPERMAN by John Byrne: a Not-So-Blind Blind Bag (Ben) – CBTM157

After receiving a gift of a sealed set of comics from the 80s, Ben of course opens the set and immediately destroys the collectible value! But what does he find inside? Well, he wasn’t surprised by the issues (the packaging revealed that much), but he WAS surprised when he read …

New 52 GREEN TEAM (Group) – CBTM156

The full team of the three comic book time travelers is together again to talk about a comic book series that none of them had read and none of them new what to expect! The never before collected GREEN TEAM: TEEN TRILLIONAIRES (and the ONLY uncollected series from the first …

Matt and Daniel’s Quarantine Comic Book Talk – CBTM155 (Group)

The world is on lockdown! Millions are stuck inside their homes! Yet quarantine has led to Daniel and Matt reuniting to discuss comic books from yesterday, today, and tomorrow!

Ben’s Quarantine Comics! – CBTM154 (Ben)

The world is on lockdown! Millions are stuck inside their homes! Yet quarantine has led Ben to read some comics that he may not have read, because it led him to make some purchase he may not have made. The comic shops Ben talked about are:BuyMeToys.com and Tom’s Vintage Toy …

Ben’s Quarantine Comics! – CBTM153 (Ben)

The world is on lockdown! Millions are stuck inside their homes! Yet quarantine has led Ben to read some comics that he may not have read, because it led him to make some purchase he may not have made. The comic shops Ben talked about are:BuyMeToys.com and Tom’s Vintage Toy …

Ben’s Quarantine Comics! (Ben) – CBTM154

The world is on lockdown! Millions are stuck inside their homes! Yet quarantine has led Ben to read some comics that he may not have read, because it led him to make some purchase he may not have made. The comic shops Ben talked about are:BuyMeToys.com and Tom’s Vintage Toy …

WEAPON PLUS feat. Man-Slaughter – SWAMP THINGS Ep. 17

Ben returns to the swamp for a Man-Thing related episode! This time, he takes a look at the NEW swamp character, Man-Slaughter! And he pops open a soda that’s swamp-themed AND Avery-themed. And post credit, he takes a look at the Funko Pop Man-Thing figure.

WEAPON PLUS feat. Man-Slaughter – SWAMP THINGS Ep. 16

Ben returns to the swamp for a Man-Thing related episode! This time, he takes a look at the NEW swamp character, Man-Slaughter! And he pops open a soda that’s swamp-themed AND Avery-themed. And post credit, he takes a look at the Funko Pop Man-Thing figure.

“The Lady and the Lion!” (John Carter: Warlord of Mars #21, February 1979) – MCC118 and CBTM152

Using Star Wars as a guideline,  we’re exploring comic books based on licensed properties that Marvel Comics published from 1977 to 1986. The Master Assassin of Mars continues . . . with gladiatorial combat in an arena against a very big lion with a large number of legs. And teeth. But …

“Earth!” (Micronauts #2, Feb 1979) – MCC117 and CBTM151

The Micronauts move from inner space to yard space as they take on one of the great dangers of the back yard - a lawn mower!

“Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper” JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #2 – CBTM150 (Ben)

It’s the 70s! And it’s a serial killer! And it’s Jack the Ripper! And it’s based on a story by the writer of PSYCHO and that Jack the Ripper episode of Star Trek! It’s time to Journey into the Mysterious House of Terror’s Vault of Astonishing Suspense!!!

“A Gathering of Vultures” (Human Fly #19, Feb 1979) – MCC116

The Human Fly travels to his next stunt location and find some real world issues that need to be taken care of, REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO STYLE!

“With Dugan on the Docks” (Godzilla #19, February 1979) – MCC115

Godzilla, now man-sized, sneaks through the city . . . until he comes to a face-off with Dum Dum Dugan. A face-off that finally allows Dum Dum and Big-G to come face to face and go mano-a-mano!

HERCULES: PRINCE OF POWER #1 – CBTM147 (Ben)

One of Ben’s favorite comics of all time is Hercules: Prince of Power #1, for a number of reasons. And for a number of reasons he has not devoted an episode about it. But when he was asked to come up with his favorite comic for a YouTube show he’s …

“Everything Eats, Everything Dies” feat. SWAMP THING and THE PLOT – SWAMP THINGS Ep. 16

Ben returns to the swamp to talk about: How Wal-Mart has changed the way they are publishing their exclusive 100 Page Giants, which are no longer exclusive, and how Ben has released himself from having to buy them all GIANT SWAMP THING #2, featuring two brand new stories that Ben …

“Everything Eats, Everything Dies” feat. SWAMP THING and THE PLOT – SWAMP THINGS ep. 15

Ben returns to the swamp to talk about: How Wal-Mart has changed the way they are publishing their exclusive 100 Page Giants, which are no longer exclusive, and how Ben has released himself from having to buy them all GIANT SWAMP THING #2, featuring two brand new stories that Ben …

Ten Comics for $10 Blind Bag – CBTM145 (Ben)

Ben opens a Wal-Mart exclusive blind bag and gets a number of surprises, including a series that he wants to read, some #1 issues that actually AREN’T, and a lot more unwrapping than he expected.