Archive for April, 2011

April 14th, 2011  Posted at   Legends of the Batman
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Legends of the Batman

Welcome to episode three of Legends of the Batman, the show covering everything Batman — from the beginning! The show’s premise is a simple one. Each episode, we cover a month of Batman, be it comic books, television, movies, whatever, starting with his first appearance in 1939.

More excitement, more thrills, more pages! That’s what’s up when Michael Kaiser and Michael Bradley look at the Batman story from DETECTIVE COMICS #29…. where an arch criminal sets out to eliminate the only thing standing in the way of his dastardly plans: The Batman! Our hero faces his most dangerous foe yet when “The Batman Meets Doctor Death!”

Click here to see the post at BatmanLegends.com, the site’s home base, to download the episode or subscribe to the show.

April 12th, 2011  Posted at   The Thrilling Adventures of Superman
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The Thrilling Adventures of Superman

Welcome to episode 15 of The Thrilling Adventures of Superman. The show’s mission is to explore the history and development of the Superman in his formative years by chronicling the Man of Steel’s Golden Age adventures in comics, radio and film.

It’s an epic slobberknocker as Michael returns to the daily strip for an 18-strip story that finds Superman meeting Larry Trent, a disgraced ex-heavyweight boxing champ, and decides to help him win back his former glory! Can Superman help Trent recapture “the eye of the tiger” to win back the title? Or will Superman just “help” him by drugging him, holding him hostage and winning the title back for him? Surprises, excitement and insanity are certain, that’s for sure! Also this episode, Michael reads listener mail and gives the first of a two-part Spotlight on Superman’s co-creator, artist Joe Shuster!

QUOTABLE:
Boy! If I stick with you, I’m really going places!
Larry Trent

TKO x 11

11 up, 11 down


"...they laugh alike, they walk alike, at times they even talk alike. You can lose your mind..."

"Still they're boxers, identical boxers and you'll find..."


"How Not to Box" by Slugger Barnes

D'oh


Check out reference to Paul Cassidy in panel two.

Newspaper montage

Intertitles for this story:
– The strips comprising this story did not have intertitles in the reprints. Not all papers ran the intertitles and it is possible the source for this strip was from one that did not.

Links mentioned in the episode:
Newspaper dailies at DCComics.com
Jack O’Halloran’s boxing record from BoxRec.com. O’Halloran portrayed Non in “Superman: The Movie” and “Superman II.”
– The cover to ADVENTURE COMICS #134, which resembles a scene from the story where Superman knocks out 11 opponents at once (see above).

Download the episode directly. Or, you can subscribe to the show via iTunes or the RSS feed! You can connect with show on Facebook, as well, to get updates! The Thrilling Adventures of Superman is also a proud member of the Superman Podcast Network.

Questions or comments? Additions or corrections? Drop a line! Share your thoughts on the episode and the issue.

April 7th, 2011  Posted at   Legends of the Batman
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Legends of the Batman

Welcome to episode two of Legends of the Batman, the show covering everything Batman — from the beginning! The show’s premise is a simple one. Each episode, we cover a month of Batman, be it comic books, television, movies, whatever, starting with his first appearance in 1939.

This time out, Michael Bradley and Michael Kaiser take a look at all Batman material released in May of 1939, which consists of a single issue, DETECTIVE COMICS #28, where Batman takes on Frenchy Blake and his band of jewel thieves, and has way too much fun doing it!

Click here to see the post at BatmanLegends.com, the site’s home base, to download the episode or subscribe to the show.

April 5th, 2011  Posted at   The Thrilling Adventures of Superman

The Thrilling Adventures of Superman

Welcome to episode 14 of The Thrilling Adventures of Superman. The show’s mission is to explore the history and development of the Superman in his formative years by chronicling the Man of Steel’s Golden Age adventures in comics, radio and film.

As the show gets back to it’s regular routine, Michael dives head-first into the comics rack with a look at ACTION COMICS #11. A pair of ne’er-do-wells are bilking investors with a phony stock scheme. This looks like a job for… Homer Ramsey? Of course! But don’t worry, Superman gets involved as well, taking on the oil stock swindlers… and giving them a taste of their own medicine. After all, what’s a Superman story without a little arson? Yes, we said arson. Plus, Michael reads more listener email!

QUOTABLE:
That finishes Homer Ramsey — his work is done. Now it’s time for Superman to step in!
Superman

Action Comics #11

The cover to ACTION COMICS #11 by Fred Guardineer


Subtle.

Subtlety is key when hiring hit men


What's a Superman story without a little arson?

Fire in the hole!


Wheee!

Just having fun

Download the episode directly. Or, you can subscribe to the show via iTunes or the RSS feed! You can connect with show on Facebook, as well, to get updates! The Thrilling Adventures of Superman is also a proud member of the Superman Podcast Network.

Questions or comments? Additions or corrections? Drop a line! Share your thoughts on the episode and the issue.

April 1st, 2011  Posted at   The Stack

Well, March was a little better than February, but I’m still not back up to reading what I was. Too many other things taking up my time lately, it seems.

Here’s March:

Action Comics #897-898
Adventure Comics #523
All New Batman: Brave and the Bold #4
Brightest Day #19-20
Fallen Angel: Return of the Son #2
Flash (Vol. 3) #9
Green Lantern (Vol. 4) #62
Green Lantern Corps (Vol. 2) #57
Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #7
Justice League of America/The 99 #4
R.E.B.E.L.S. #25
Steel #21-25
Superboy (Vol. 3) #21-25
Supergirl (Vol. 5) #61
Superman #708
Superman 80-Page Giant 2011
Superman/Batman #81
Time Masters: Vanishing Point #6
Tiny Titans #37
Young Justice (Vol. 2) #1
Batman Chronicles Vol. 3 trade paperback
Diana Prince: Wonder Woman Vol. 1-2 trade paperbacks

Total: 30 comics, 3 trades (Year total: 106 comics, 4 trades)

In March, I also started on the third DIANA PRINCE: WONDER WOMAN volume, so I’ll very likely finish it and the fourth volume in the coming month. These are interesting reads — very much products of their times. I’m enjoying them, but they’re a bit of a nag because they have the same “problem” I find with a lot of Bronze Age DC Comics. And that “problem” is that they’re doing a lot of revving the engine, but not quite willing, yet, to put the pedal to the floor. They’re trying to be more socially relevant and turn things on their ear, but still hesitating slightly. Still, I’m enjoying them and am glad I picked them up. (And who thought I’d say that about a Wonder Woman comic?!)

On the reading project front, I’m still working though the re-read of the Superman Family titles from the ’90s. I didn’t quite keep pace like I thought I would, so I didn’t start on either SUPERBOY AND THE RAVERS or SUPERGIRL (Vol. 4). Both books were a little farther down the pike than I thought. I might get to them in April. I’ve also decided to toss in the four-issue ERADICATOR mini-series, just for good measure, so I’ll get to that in the next month or so, as well.