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Episode 87: The Why-Men (Lesser Known X-Men; Mimic, Changeling and Havok)

Episode 86: Familial Power Immunity and Is the Winter Soldier also Super?

Two questions being asked this week. One is about what causes certain heroes to be immune to each other’s powers when they are on the same family tree. The other question is about the MCU version of Bucky, and if and when he got powers.

Episode 85: Who is Taskmaster (aka Tony Masters)?

We’ll be seeing him join the MCU soon in Black Widow, but who is Taskmaster in Marvel Comics? That is the question being asked this week by one of the younger listeners of Welcome to Geektown, and so we explain the history and powers of the skull-masked villain, to see what makes him so special.

Episode 84: Who Else Are The New Warriors? (Volume 1)

For the first anniversary of the podcast’s release, Kurt’s favorite hero Speedball was introduced. In the 2nd-Anniversary episode, he introduced the rest of his teammates in the New Warriors, or at least the members of the team when it was first formed. For year 3, it’s time to look at the other heroes who joined the roster sometime after the first issue, but still in the original 75-issue run.

Episode 83: WandaVision - A Deep Dive Finale (Ep 9)

Completing our look at the new MCU show starring Elizabeth Olson and Paul Bettany on Disney+, Kurt is joined by personal friend and frequent question asker Joel L. (an MCU fan, but not a regular comic reader) in order to see the show from all sides, theorize about the mysteries, and discuss the connections to the comics that inspired the series.

Episode 82: WandaVision - A Deep Dive (Ep 8)

Continuing our look at the new MCU show starring Elizabeth Olson and Paul Bettany on Disney+, Kurt is joined by personal friend and frequent question asker Joel L. (an MCU fan, but not a regular comic reader) in order to see the show from all sides, theorize about the mysteries, and discuss the connections to the comics that inspired the series.

Episode 81: WandaVision - A Deep Dive (Ep 7)

Continuing our look at the new MCU show starring Elizabeth Olson and Paul Bettany on Disney+, Kurt is joined by personal friend and frequent question asker Joel L. (an MCU fan, but not a regular comic reader) in order to see the show from all sides, theorize about the mysteries, and discuss the connections to the comics that inspired the series.

Episode 80: WandaVision - A Deep Dive (Ep 6)

Continuing our look at the new MCU show starring Elizabeth Olson and Paul Bettany on Disney+, Kurt is joined by personal friend and frequent question asker Joel L. (an MCU fan, but not a regular comic reader) in order to see the show from all sides, theorize about the mysteries, and discuss the connections to the comics that inspired the series.

Episode 79: WandaVision - A Deep Dive (Ep 5)

Continuing our look at the new MCU show starring Elizabeth Olson and Paul Bettany on Disney+, Kurt is joined by personal friend and frequent question asker Joel L. (an MCU fan, but not a regular comic reader) in order to see the show from all sides, theorize about the mysteries, and discuss the connections to the comics that inspired the series.

Episode 78: WandaVision - A Deep Dive (Ep 4)

Continuing our look at the new MCU show starring Elizabeth Olson and Paul Bettany on Disney+, Kurt is joined by personal friend and frequent question asker Joel L. (an MCU fan, but not a regular comic reader) in order to see the show from all sides, theorize about the mysteries, and discuss the connections to the comics that inspired the series.

Episode 77: WandaVision - A Deep Dive (Ep 3)

Continuing our look at the new MCU show starring Elizabeth Olson and Paul Bettany on Disney+, Kurt is joined by personal friend and frequent question asker Joel L. (an MCU fan, but not a regular comic reader) in order to see the show from all sides, theorize about the mysteries, and discuss the connections to the comics that inspired the series.

Episode 76: WandaVision - A Deep Dive (Ep 1 & 2)

The new MCU show starring Elizabeth Olson and Paul Bettany is out on Disney+, and is so unusual that we decided to examine the show as closely as possible, discussing the connections between it and the Marvel Comics starring these characters. Kurt is joined by personal friend and frequent question asker Joel L. (an MCU fan, but not a regular comic reader) in order to see the show from all sides.

Episode 75: Who is Kamala Khan (aka Ms. Marvel)?

Not counting the ones I’ve already talked about, of the upcoming Marvel TV shows, the one I’m most excited for is Ms. Marvel. But, who is this young woman and how has she become so popular so quickly? We dive into her history as well as what makes her unique in this episode.

Episode 74: Santa Claus in Comics - DC Edition

Happy Holidays, everyone! As this releases on Christmas Eve, I thought it fitting to go over some of Santa’s appearances in various comic books, this time focusing on DC Comics (other companies may be featured in future years). Three team-ups with Superman and two other special Christmas stories are discussed. Warning: Ironically and unfortunately, this episode may not be good for kids.

Episode 73: How Does a Comic Book Get Made?

You see the names and titles in the opening credits of every book: Writer, Penciler, Inker, Letterer, Colorist, Editor. But, what does each of these people do specifically, and in what order? In other words, where do comics come from? Kurt goes over each role and what they contribute to this art form we all love.

Episode 72: The Justice Society of America (and Thanksgiving)

With this episode being released on Thanksgiving day (in America), I wanted to touch on the heroes that I most associate with the holiday, and that is DC’s first super team: the Justice Society of America. From the Golden Age up to today, we go over how they’ve changed over the years, while keeping true to their original vision, and touch on the two Thanksgiving stories that inspired this particular topic to come out today.

Episode 71: Death Becomes You - Alex DeWitt (from Green Lantern)

Continuing a recurring feature, “Death Becomes You” looks at some of the more unusual deaths in comic books. This time, we look closer at the unfortunate demise of Alex DeWitt, a brief supporting cast member in the Green Lantern title in the 90s. While her death hasn’t had much in the way of repercussions in the DCU, it has led to a new term in this one, and helped bring a new professional comic book writer into the fold. How did that happen? Take a listen and find out!

Episode 70: Vampire: The Masquerade Clan Primer

Vampire: The Masquerade is one of the most popular role-playing systems ever, outside of D&D and its clones. However, if you’re just getting into it, there’s a lot of choices you have to make and a lot of lore to sift through. Probably the most important option is your clan, and Kurt is here to sum them up for you to make deciding easier.

Episode 69: Video Games to Movies and Vice Versa - What Goes Wrong?

Since the early 90s, video games have been fodder for movie studios, but few of those adaptations seem to be successful. Why is that? Kurt goes over some of the possible reasons for that, as well as looking the other direction, and why few video games based around movies have been well-received.

Episode 68: The Replacements - Batman

Last time we did a “Replacements” episode, we looked at the various Robins. This time, we dive deep in on his mentor, and look at all the people who have been the official Batman in the regular DCU. There’s a little crossover between the two, so if you haven’t listened to Episode 58, I recommend doing so first.

Episode 67: Comics to Movies - Fantastic Four

The Fantastic Four have been in three movies so far, but haven’t joined the MCU just yet. But, a new piece of casting news points to that happening sooner rather than later, so now is a good time to see what past movies have gotten right, and what they got wrong in adapting Marvel’s First Family to the screen.

Episode 66: How Important is “Lore” in RPGs?

We dive into another aspect of Tabletop Role-Playing Games this episode, and discuss the importance of world lore. How much should a player know before they start playing in that world, and how do they go about learning those details? Take a listen and find out!

Episode 65: Comic Captains and a COVID Conundrum

Two questions are being answered this episode. First, is Wolverine a spreader of disease? Then, we look at various comic book Captains, Majors, Generals, and other characters named for military ranks to see who has earned those honors.

Episode 64: Heroes on the Clock - Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man’s Day Jobs)

High school student, college student, photojournalist, teacher? Peter Parker, aka the Amazing Spider-Man has actually held a number of different jobs over the years. Going in chronological order, we look at the various career paths Peter has taken, starting all the way back at his first appearance to today.

Episode 63: Original Sin (What Happened to Nick Fury Sr?)

Following up on Episode 51, where we found out how Nick Fury started looking like Samuel L. Jackson in the comics, we discuss the miniseries Original Sin, and how that led to a whole new status quo for the original Nick Fury. Warning: If you don’t like eyeballs by themselves, do not check out the show notes.

Episode 62: Board Game Rules - How Strict Should They Be?

Board games are a more popular pastime than ever, but different people have grown up with their own house rules, and may want to go back and “redo” their turn from time to time. A listener asks how important it is to follow the exact rules and stick to player decisions, and Kurt (with decades of board game playing under his belt) gives his opinion on the subject.

RODE Microphones Contest Episode - Comic Book "Doctors"

This mini-sode (it was required to be 1-2 minutes) was done for a podcasting contest. Joel L. wants to know if the heroes and villains who use "Doctor" in their codename deserve that title, and we find a surprising answer.

Episode 61: Serious Issues in the Comic Book Industry

It has been a rough few weeks for the comic book industry, with news of abusers and other bad actors coming into (or back into) the light. I want to stand with and support those who were brave enough to come forward, and so this episode is a statement on that subject, as well as the ongoing issue of minority representation in comics, and its relation to Black Lives Matter.

Episode 60: D&D On-Screen - Community’s “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons” Episode

Dungeons and Dragons has been seen played in many TV shows and movies. But, what did they get right, and what was totally wrong? A curious listener wants to know specifically about the “Advanced Dungeons and Dragons” episode of Community, and Kurt obligingly breaks it down for her.

Episode 59: What to Expect When You’re at the D&D Table (or any other RPG game)

Let’s talk D&D Conventions! Well, not Conventions, but conventions, aka the social expectations one is likely to find when they first sit down at a table to play D&D, or other role-playing games. A new listener is afraid to start playing, and Kurt is here to assuage those fears, and let her (and you) know how you should behave at your first (and subsequent) session.

Episode 58: The Replacements - Robin

In this recurring feature, we look at the various heroes that have replaced the original, and what happens to them after their tenure is over. Maybe it’s because he’s a sidekick and not (usually) a solo hero, but Robin is one of the few cases where the original never actually came back. Instead, we’ve had a parade of Robins, which we’ll discuss in this episode.

Episode 57: Interview with Evan Skolnick, Part 4 (Finale)

In the fourth and final portion of this multi-episode interview, Kurt wraps up his talk with comic book writer/game writer and producer/college professor Evan Skolnick with some listener questions, mostly about the video game industry.

Episode 56: Interview with Evan Skolnick, Part 3

In part three of this multi-episode interview, Kurt continues his talk with comic book writer/game writer and producer/college professor Evan Skolnick, getting into his video game work, after briefly discussing his time at Acclaim Comics and the comic boom and bust of the 90s.

Episode 55: Interview with Evan Skolnick, Part 2

In part two of this multi-episode interview, Kurt continues his talk with comic book writer/game writer and producer/college professor Evan Skolnick, this time focusing on the comic book writing portion, with special emphasis on his two-year stint on The New Warriors, but we also talk about writing licensed books and running the company softball team..

Episode 54: Interview with Evan Skolnick, Part 1

In the first part of this multi-episode interview, Kurt talks to comic book writer/game writer and producer/college professor Evan Skolnick about the earliest part of his career, up to his editorial stint at Marvel Comics.

Episode 53: Who Are The New Warriors? (Volume 1)

For the first anniversary of the podcast’s release, Kurt’s favorite hero Speedball was introduced. On this 2nd-Anniversary episode, we introduce the rest of his teammates in the New Warriors, or at least the members of the team when it was first formed, plus a little bit about why the “Heroes for the 90s” continue to be re-read by fans 30 years later.

Episode 52: Fifty-Two (The DC Mini-Series)

No, I’m not just repeating the episode number again, but spelling it out. 52 (or Fifty-Two) was an important work in the DC Universe, so much so that the number keeps popping up in DC Lore ever since. This year-long weekly series was the first in a few that DC did, but is the only one that really left a lasting impact. Because this is Episode 52, I decided to go into more detail on this story, introducing the basic set-ups and talking about what made the story one of my personal favorites.

Episode 51: When Did Nick Fury Start Looking Like Samuel L. Jackson?

Nick Fury started out as a square-jawed white Sergeant with adventures taking place in World War II. So, how did he go from that to the Samuel L. Jackson look-alike we see today, running a super-spy agency? That’s the question that gets asked and answered in this week’s episode.

Episode 50: Story Length and Continuity Conundrums

How much back reading is required to get into comic books today? Elyse (of the OHotMU or Not? podcast) wrote in to ask this question among others. We look at how comic story lengths have changed over time, and how continuity has become a more important factor in the tales of today.

Episode 49: DC Around the World (DC Characters based outside the United States)

A continuation of last episode, where we discussed Marvel characters based outside the United States, this time we turn our attention to DC, and what heroes they have created who originate from a (non-fictional) foreign country. I apologize in advance if I get any of the pronunciations wrong. I did my best, but I’m not perfect!

Episode 48: Marvel Around the World (Marvel Characters based outside the United States)

Although most Marvel comic book stories are based in United States (and even more specifically New York), there are heroes in many other countries in the Marvel Universe. We take a look at a few of them, trying to avoid the ones completely based around a stereotype of that country (except maybe Kangaroo). Let’s romp around the world and check out the international heroes of Marvel!

Episode 47.1: Fixed link for Two More Questions

Being non-comic readers (for the most part), but having to deal with things in the comic book world, I was curious to find out if the ladies from the OHotMU or Not podcast had questions they needed answered about comics. And they delivered! Two questions were answered last episode and now we finish them off with questions from Shotgun and Emelie!

Episode 47: Two More Questions from the Ladies of the “OHotMU or Not?” Podcast

Being non-comic readers (for the most part), but having to deal with things in the comic book world, I was curious to find out if the ladies from the OHotMU or Not podcast had questions they needed answered about comics. And they delivered! Two questions were answered last episode and now we finish them off with questions from Shotgun and Emelie!

Episode 46: Two Questions from the Ladies of the “OHotMU or Not?” Podcast

Being non-comic readers (for the most part), but having to deal with things in the comic book world, I was curious to find out if the ladies from the OHotMU or Not podcast had questions they needed answered about comics. And they delivered! Two questions coming this week, and two more next episode!

Episode 45: Stephen Sondheim vs. Andrew Lloyd Webber - Why the Drama?

We’re comparing two giants of pop culture again, but not in the comics or sci-fi realm. This time, we’re looking at musical theater. Stephen Sondheim fans often disparage Andrew Lloyd Webber. Why the vitriol, and how different are the two composers anyways?

Episode 44: The Replacements - Hulk

Another in the recurring feature, where we look at other characters who have taken on the superheroic identity from another, both how that occurred and what happened to them after the original comes back. The Smashing character known as The Hulk is under the spotlight this time.

Episode 43: A (Semi-)Brief History of Valiant Comics

Vin Diesel has a new movie coming out next February titled Bloodshot, based on the Valiant Comics character. But, what is Valiant Comics, and what makes it any different from Marvel or DC? From the early 90s up to the current stable of titles, we look at the history of Valiant Comics/Entertainment.

Episode 42: Batgirl and Batwoman - Who’s Who? (Barbara Gordon, Kate Kane, Stephanie Brown, and Cassandra Cain)

After hearing a little about Batwoman from last episode, a listener has a question on the various Bat-ladies, and how to tell them apart. We dive into the history of Batgirl and Batwoman from the 1950s all the way to the present.

Episode 41: Let’s Get Caught Up on the Arrowverse! (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, and Batwoman)

In anticipation of this year’s massive Crisis on Infinite Earths TV event, we get caught up on the main characters of all of the Arrowverse shows, so that you’ll be ready even if you don’t normally watch all of them.

Episode 40: Weird Hero/Villain Match-Ups (Emperor Joker and Acts of Vengeance)

We look at some of the more bizarre tussles between heroes and villains. That includes when Superman fought an ultra-powerful Joker, and Acts of Vengeance, including the “Cosmic Spider-Man” story.