Men of Steel
133 episodes - English - Latest episode: 25 days ago - ★★★★ - 9 ratingsFrom a Certain Point of View, Case Aiken and JMike Folson discuss Superman in all of his incarnations and homages. For people who love the Man of Steel and want to think critically about what the character represents.
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Episodes
Episode 127 - The Famous Studios Superman Shorts with Anthony Desiato
June 28, 2024 00:36 - 1 hour - 45.8 MBThe back half of the classic Superman shorts suffered from a drop in budget and a restructuring of the studio working on it. To look at these lesser cousins to the stellar Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons, Anthony Desiato (Digging For Kryptonite podcast) joins Case and Jmike for a conversation on the less notable but still... Famous... Superman shorts.
Episode 126 - The Fleischer Superman Shorts with Brendan and Nick Connors
June 13, 2024 18:24 - 1 hour - 59.9 MBFor many, the Fleischer Studios produced Superman Animated Shorts are the classic depiction of the Man of Steel and it's about time we talked about them. For this conversation, Case and Jmike are joined by Brendan and Nick Connors from the City of Supers podcast.
Episode 125 - Superhero as Product with Birk O'Halloran from Iconic Wines
May 31, 2024 01:21 - 48 minutes - 33.2 MBGoing back to the earliest days of the medium, superheroes have been used to sell you stuff. For a conversation about the commerce of superheroes, Case and Jmike are joined by Birk O'Halloran from pop art themed wine brand Iconic Wines.
Episode 124 - Evil Supermen! with Dylan J. Schlender
May 17, 2024 02:53 - 1 hour - 58.5 MBThe archetype of Superman is a compelling one, even when flipped from good to evil. For a conversation on villainous spins on the Man of Steel, Case and Jmike are joined by Dylan J. Schlender from The Reels of Justice podcast!
Episode 123 - Superman: The Dominus Effect with Grant Richter
April 24, 2024 04:05 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBIn the wake of the, at the time, unpopular “Electric Blue” era of Superman, we were presented four EXTREMELY classic takes on Superman. From the Truth, Justice, and Hope podcast, Grant Richter joins Case and Jmike to talk about “The Dominus Effect”.
Episode 122 - Watchmen with Doug Lief
March 29, 2024 03:22 - 1 hour - 64.8 MBWho watches the Watchmen? We do! Case and Jmike, along with Doug Lief do! They’re here to talk about the comic and it’s various adaptations and spin offs. Find Doug’s show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nostalgium-arcanum/id1647660534
Episode 121 - Man of Steel with Jesse Fresco
March 05, 2024 23:58 - 2 hours - 85.7 MBJesse Fresco joins Case and Jmike to look at Superman's last solo film! Check out Jesse's work over at Jaguar Sharks! https://open.spotify.com/show/0z0fwhI0yEttCleRWxpAOg
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace with DJ Nik
February 16, 2024 04:53 - 1 hour - 60.2 MB"What a brilliant future we could have. And there will be peace – there will be peace when the people of this world want it so badly that their governments will have no choice but to give it to them. I just wish you could all see the Earth the way that I see it. Because when you really look at it, it's just one world." DJ Nik from the Happiness in Darkness podcast (and way more!) joins Case and Jmike to talk about the final movie in the Christopher Reeve series.
Episode 120 - Superman IV: The Quest for Peace with DJ Nik
February 16, 2024 04:53 - 1 hour - 60.2 MB"What a brilliant future we could have. And there will be peace – there will be peace when the people of this world want it so badly that their governments will have no choice but to give it to them. I just wish you could all see the Earth the way that I see it. Because when you really look at it, it's just one world." DJ Nik from the Happiness in Darkness podcast (and way more!) joins Case and Jmike to talk about the final movie in the Christopher Reeve series.
Episode 119 - The Optimal Optimus
January 31, 2024 04:42 - 1 hour - 81.5 MBSome Men of Steel are actually MONKEY! Case and Jmike are joined by Derek Van Dyke to talk about what is undoubtedly the "Optimal Optimus" (as well as "Code of Hero" because we are not monsters). Transcript (Subject to error) 00:00 Case Aiken Season one has a couple, like, events that feel like this should be the season finale. Like the floating island one. Yeah. And then it's like, oh, no, we're just gonna keep going. 00:07 Derek Van Dyke Season one just did a lot of great, ...
Episode 118 - My Adventures with Superman with Red and Blue from Overly Sarcastic Productions
December 23, 2023 03:48 - 2 hours - 115 MBIt's exciting to reinvent a character as classic as Superman for a new generation while remaining true to his core. Case and Jmike are joined by Red and Blue from Overly Sarcastic Productions to gush about the first season of "My Adventures with Superman".
Episode 117 - Hitman #34 "Of Thee I Sing" with Jala-chan
December 08, 2023 13:52 - 58 minutes - 43.1 MBWe're visited from Jala-chan's place by Jala-chan herself and she brought goodies! In this case, she's paying off a vow to spread the word of Hitman issue 34, a famed emotional exchange between Superman and a fan (who happens to be an assassin). Find Jala-chan at her place!
Episode 116 - Reflected Glory with Kieth Lehtinen and Special Guest Paul Kupperberg
November 23, 2023 05:42 - 1 hour - 61.9 MBCase has raved about the 90s anthology "Superheroes" a lot on this show and it's finally time to talk about one of the most memorable. In this case, Case got to even chat with the author! Case and Jmike are joined by Keith Lehtinen for a conversation about Reflected Glory with an interview with comics legend, Paul Kupperberg!
Episode 115 - Superboy's Legion with Jim Fetters
October 16, 2023 03:20 - 1 hour - 57.8 MBWe’re going BACK to the FUTURE! Jim Fetters joins Jmike and Case for a look at Alan Davis and Mark Farmer’s 30th Century followup to JLA: The Nail, Superboy’s Legion!
Bonus Episode - The Snyder Cut Crossover: Omnibus Edition
July 05, 2023 04:24 - 3 hours - 152 MBBack in the day, Case and Jmike teamed up with a bunch of other podcasters to do a 4 part review of Zack Snyder's Justice League. Collected here is all 4 parts!
Episode 114 - Pop Quiz 8!
June 18, 2023 02:34 - 48 minutes - 37.3 MBWe’re back with another Pop Quiz as Jmike tries to pick Case’s brain for one last pre-Baby Brain time!
Episode 113 - Superman (Vol 1) #149: The Death of Superman with Alan Kistler
May 24, 2023 05:14 - 1 hour - 55.7 MBLet's wrap up our discussion of the Death of Superman with a look back on the classic "Imaginary Story" that asked how the writer who co-created Superman would have killed the Man of Steel. Case and Jmike are joined by comics historian Alan Kistler for a conversation about the Silver Age tale.
Episode 112 - The Villain with Geoff Moonen
April 27, 2023 06:02 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBBack in the day (we won’t say how far back), Case was a playwright with a fledgling theater company called JustASK Productions and he would write plays about nerd stuff. Here’s a monologue he did about the death of Superman, as read by Geoff Moonen, with a discussion about the New York Theatre Scene of the Aughts. BONUS: Stay tuned for the WORST DRESS REHEARSAL STORY EVER! You might think you have a worse one, but you are wrong.
Episode 111 - The Death and Return of Superman (Video Game) with Matt Storm and Geoff Moonen
April 09, 2023 22:45 - 1 hour - 63 MBWe’re doing a CROSSOVER with “‘Fun’ and Games with Matt and Geoff” because we’re talking about the 16-bit Death and Return of Superman beat ‘em up, baby!
Episode 110 - The Reign of the Supermen (Animated) with JD Martin
March 24, 2023 02:36 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBSuperman is dead! Yet four beings claiming to be Superman have risen to take his place! JD Martin is back to talk with Case and Jmike about the 2019 animated adaptation to the classic tale!
Episode 109 - The Return of Superman with Zach Herring
January 27, 2023 16:14 - 2 hours - 87 MBEach of the pretenders left an impression, but none could truly live up to the real deal. Zach Herring joins us again to conclude the comic storyline of Superman’s journey back to the land of the living.
Episode 108 - The Reign of the Supermen (Comic) with Zach Herring
January 13, 2023 16:32 - 2 hours - 108 MBSuperman defined the modern superhero, but his death and subsequent impersonation by 4 pretenders opened the doors for him to be reassessed through a lens of a redefined modernity. Zach Herring returns to discuss the uncertain time of the Reign of the Supermen!
Episode 107 - World Without Superman with Keith Lehtinen
December 30, 2022 13:05 - 2 hours - 105 MBIt's easy to focus on big stories like the final stand of a great hero, but it's also important to tell the tale of those that are left behind to pick up the pieces! From the "We Have Issues" podcast (not to mention our new sibling show, "Jukebox Vertigo"!), we are joined by Keith Lehtinen to discuss the "Funeral For A Friend" arc that followed the "Death of Superman"!
Episode 106 - The Death of Superman (Movie) with Duke
December 16, 2022 13:34 - 1 hour - 61 MBThere have been many attempts to bring the infamous battle between Superman and Doomsday to other formats, but the 2018 animated adaptation is the one to finally nail it! Duke joins us for a conversation about this brutal rendition.
Episode 105 - The Death of Superman (Comic) with Kieran Bennett
December 02, 2022 11:31 - 1 hour - 85.8 MBFor half of a century, Superman was an implacable force for good who overcame every foe, but his confrontation with the force of destruction known as Doomsday ended with mutual destruction. From The Inks and Issues podcast, Kieran Bennett joins Case and Jmike for a look back on the battle that tempered the Man of Steel!
Episode 104 - Squadron Supreme (1985) with Nic Woolfe
November 19, 2022 03:31 - 2 hours - 107 MBWhat happens when the powerful decide to stop upholding the status quo and try to make the world a better place? Nic Woolfe joins Case and Jmike for the 1985 epic featuring Marvel’s answer to the Justice League by Mark Gruenwald!
Episode 103 - A Unified Theory of Superman's Powers with Ben Tippett and Ryan Haupt
November 04, 2022 11:14 - 1 hour - 57 MBBefore he was Squirrel Girl’s physics professor, Ben Tippett hypothesized an explanation for Superman’s powers and Case and Jmike want to to talk about it with him! Ben Tippett is on to talk about his paper and he has past guest and host of the “Science… Sort of… podcast”, Ryan Haupt, with him to translate!
Episode 102 - Black Adam: A History Lesson with Hans Martin Jr. and Steven Angulo
October 21, 2022 13:22 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBWho is the ancient champion who wields the Power of Shazam? Case and Jmike are joined by Hans Martin Jr. and Steven Angulo to discuss the history of Black Adam. Check out next week’s episode of The Real Movie Critic Vs. The CineGuy, where Case and Jmike join Hans and Steven to review the new film, Black Adam.
Episode 101 - All Star Superman (Part 3 - The Movie) with Duke and JD Martin
October 07, 2022 10:34 - 1 hour - 68.6 MBNo conversation about All Star Superman would be complete without the two guests who are tied for most number of appearances on this show! So, to round out the 100th episode spectacular, Case and Jmike are joined by Duke and JD Martin to talk about The Animated Adaptation of All Star Superman!
Episode 100 - All Star Superman (Part 2 - Issues 7-12) with June Munford and Alan Kistler
September 24, 2022 01:51 - 2 hours - 87.3 MBIt’s the 100th episode, baby! So we’re covering All Star Superman, widely considered one of the best Superman stories of all time. Well, we want to do it right, so, for the second part of our three part retrospective, we're joined by June Munford and Alan Kistler for an in depth look at the back half of the series.
Episode 99 - All Star Superman (Part 1 - Issues 1-6) with Alan Kistler and June Munford
September 09, 2022 10:34 - 2 hours - 90.2 MBIt's hard to believe that the podcast has been going for four years and we're only now getting to All Star Superman, widely considered one of the best Superman stories of all time. Well, we want to do it right, so for the first part we're joined by June Munford and Alan Kistler for an in depth look at the first six issues.
Episode 98 - Superman: Doomsday with Ryan Luis Rodriguez
August 26, 2022 15:41 - 54 minutes - 74.5 MBWe’re joined by Ryan Luis Rodriguez to talk about DC’s first attempt at adapting the Death of Superman into an animated feature, Superman: Doomsday.
Episode 97 - The Music Inspired by Superman with Matt Storm
August 12, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 51.4 MBSuperman has been a cultural icon for almost as long as recorded music has been a thing, so it makes sense that lots of songs have been inspired by the Man of Steel! Matt Storm joins us again to talk about music inspired by Superman!
Episode 96 - The Music of Superman
July 31, 2022 02:58 - 1 hour - 75.8 MBThe “Friend of All Pods”, Dan Purcell, and Matt Storm aka Stormageddon are here to talk about the musical themes of Superman. Check out the discussion!
Episode 95 - Superman: Earth One with Keith Lehtinen & Josue Aguayo
July 15, 2022 10:58 - 1 hour - 71.3 MBTo talk about J. Michael Straczynski’s take on a realistic Superman origin… the optimistic one that is… Case and Jmike are joined by Keith and Josue from “We Have Issues”!
Episode 94 - The Amalgam Age of Comics with Mitch Punpayuk (Part 2)
July 01, 2022 05:29 - 1 hour - 86.3 MBIf there’s one thing that the “Big 2” have in common, it’s that they both believe that one popular event deserves another! Mitch is back to talk with us about the second round of Amalgam Comics! Do these surpass their predecessors or was the well running dry already? Tune in to find out!
Episode 93 - The Amalgam Age of Comics with Mitch Punpayuk
June 17, 2022 10:20 - 1 hour - 85.1 MBMitch Punpayuk is back to look at the 90s DC vs. Marvel (or is it Marvel vs. DC?) crossover and the ensuing Amalgam event where all of the characters of the big two were merged together!
Episode 92 - Action Comics #1 with Adam from Talking Superman
June 03, 2022 10:26 - 59 minutes - 45.8 MBBefore we look to more modern incarnations of the Man of Tomorrow, let’s stop and look at the story that started it all: Action Comics #1. For this chat, we’re joined by Adam from “Talking Superman”!
Episode 91 - The Golden Age with Zach Herring
May 20, 2022 10:08 - 1 hour - 75.5 MBWe continue our brush with the formative years of super hero fiction, this time looking on the deconstructionist retrospective work from James Robinson and Paul Smith! Zach Herring joins Case and Jmike to look back at The Golden Age!
Episode 90 - It's Superman! A Novel by Tom De Haven with Ryan Haupt
May 06, 2022 10:30 - 1 hour - 63.7 MBFrom the “Science… Sort Of” and “iFanboy” podcasts, Ryan Haupt joins Case and Jmike for a discussion about the novel that asks “What was Superman up to prior to Action Comics #1?” From dust bowl Kansas to Tinsel Town’s Golden Age and beyond, the three tackle what shapes a boy into a super man!
Episode 89 - The Adventures of Superman Radio Show Dr Blythes Confidence Gang with Adam Lance Garcia and Steele Filipek
April 22, 2022 10:13 - 1 hour - 60.4 MBWe’re back with more of the radio show, but this time we’re joined by Adam Lance Garcia and Steele Filipek, creators of the Green Lama audio drama! This time we’re looking at the second team up of Superman and Batman EVER (and the first is lost to time)!
Episode 88 - Superman and the Authority with J.D. Martin
April 08, 2022 10:19 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBStupid Sexy Superman! Case, Jmike, and special guest J.D. Martin breeze through Grant Morrison's fairwell to DC, Superman and the Authority, like it's nothing at all! Nothing At All! NOTHING AT ALL!
Episode 87 - The Man of Steel (1986) with Frank Hernandez
March 25, 2022 10:39 - 1 hour - 73.9 MBWhen this show was still figuring out a format, Case just assumed we’d be getting to John Byrne’s era. Well, now, 4 years in, that’s finally true! Join Case, Jmike, and special guest Frank Hernandez for a talk about the definitive Superman origin, until it wasn’t.
Episode 86 - Superman: Speeding Bullets with Zack Magee
March 11, 2022 11:09 - 1 hour - 44.6 MBAs part of the #DarkKnightFortnight we’re talking about “the one where Superman’s Batman”, you know the one! Yeah! That one! Speeding Bullets, by J. M. DeMatteis and Eduardo Barreto. To have that conversation, we’re joined by Zack Magee from the S.H.U. Podcast.
Episode 85 - Superman For All Seasons with JD Martin and Angela "Bones" Bullock
February 25, 2022 11:30 - 1 hour - 66.7 MBTake a look back at the formative years of the Man of Tomorrow, as JD and Angela join Case and Jmike for a chat about Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale's landmark series, Superman For All Seasons!
Episode 84 - Eternals with CeeJay
February 11, 2022 11:30 - 1 hour - 69.3 MBEternals is finally streaming and Case and Jmike's opinions aren't of a uni-mind, so to arbitrate this discussion we have CeeJay on from Below Freezing!
Episode 83 - Justice League: The Nail with Jonah Gregory
January 28, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 57.4 MBMany have asked "Must there be a Superman?", but Alan Davis explored what the DC Universe would be like if the Man of Steel never showed up! Case and Jmike are joined by Jonah Gregory from the Inks and Issues podcast for a chat about this classic Elseworlds!
Episode 82 - Miracleman: The Neil Gaiman Run with JD Martin and Angela "Bones" Bullock
January 14, 2022 11:30 - 2 hours - 96.7 MBWe are joined by Neil Gaiman experts, J.D. Martin and Angela "Bones" Bullock, from the "Fables & Reflections" podcast to talk about the unfinished arc of Miracleman by the bard of comics himself.
Episode 81 - Marvelman/Miracleman: The Alan Moore Run with Alex LaVelle
December 31, 2021 11:30 - 1 hour - 83.5 MBDream of Flying with Alex, Jmike, and Case! They’re taking a look at the incredibly influential early 80’s story, whether they call it Marvelman or Miracleman! So whisper “Kimota” and join the Red Kings in Olympus!
Episode 80 - Legion Lost with Chris Batista
December 17, 2021 11:30 - 1 hour - 61.6 MBBefore their redefining run on Guardians of the Galaxy, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning envisioned a future that was both optimistic and desperate in Legion Lost. To discuss this shot in the arm to counter the late 90s ennui that had beset The Legion Of Superheroes, Case and Jmike are joined by former Legion artist, Chris Batista. Come. Gush. Unlax. Because… Grife… this nass is sprocking dope!