Comics Cast #34: October 2012

Posted in Comics Cast on November 28th, 2012 by CJ

October in the New52 give us ghost dogs and giant gorillas, and the end of a masquerade that boldly forges its own continuity. Meanwhile, Dan delves into Marvel’s extended Now, as villains are reborn, teams are shuffled and creators ride off into the sunset. We round out the episode with Invincible – wherein CJ makes what will prove to be a wildly incorrect guess about the tone of the next month’s issue.

Comics Discussed

  • Captain America #18,19
  • Teen Titans #13
  • Action Comics #13
  • Batman Inc #4
  • Green Lantern #13
  • Flash #13
  • Daredevil #19
  • Before Watchmen: Minutemen #4
  • Wolverine and the X-Men #19
  • Uncanny Avengers #1
  • Invincible #96

Trigger Warning

Minutemen #4, which we discuss from about 51 minutes to the 1 hour mark in the recording, continues to deal with sensitive topics. This issue deals with the aftermath of a hate crime and of an attempted rape.

Crunchy Bits!


Intro and Outro music: Pixelguru by Subatomicglue.

Tags: Action Comics, Batman, Captain America, Daredevil, , Invincible, Minutemen, Teen Titans, The Flash, Uncanny Avengers, Wolverine

Comics Cast #33: September 2012

Posted in Comics Cast on October 29th, 2012 by CJ

How does that go? “Zero Zero Zero Destruct Zero?”

Yes, September was Zero Month for the New 52, so CJ barrels through a huge number of early tales, revised origins, and blatant concept cheats in this extra-big episode! Meanwhile, Dan gives us an eclectic collection of Marvel books that he collectively describes as “Fantastic”!

Comics Discussed

  • Green Lantern #0
  • Aquaman #0
  • Justice League #0
  • Batman Inc #0
  • Teen Titans #0
  • New Avengers #30
  • Winter Soldier #10,#11
  • Legion of Super-Heroes #0
  • Legion Lost #0
  • Superboy #0
  • Hawkeye #2
  • Daredevil #18
  • Wonder Woman #0
  • Sword of Sorcery #0
  • Team 7 #0
  • Punisher #15,#16
  • Action Comics #0
  • Earth 2 #0
  • Flash #0
  • Uncanny X-Force #31

Crunchy Bits!


Intro and Outro music: Pixelguru by Subatomicglue.

Tags: Action Comics, Amethyst, Aquaman, Batman, Daredevil, Earth 2, Flash, , Hawkeye, Justice League, Legion of Super-Heroes, New 52, New Avengers, Punisher, Superboy, Sword of Sworcery, Team 7, Teen Titans, Uncanny X-Force, Winter Soldier, Wonder Woman

Comics Cast #32: August 2012

Posted in Comics Cast on October 1st, 2012 by CJ

After a bit too long of a wait, the Comics Cast is back! Each of Dan’s books this month shipped double issues, while CJ has a pair of Annuals to add to the fun. Meanwhile, a character that grew up in VR becomes trapped in an iPad! Also, one of the Before Watchmen titles follows in its namesake’s footsteps by being simultaneously compelling and repulsive.

Comics Discussed

  • Amazing Spider-Man #691, #692
  • Green Lantern #12 & Green Lantern Annual #1
  • Flash #12 & Flash Annual #1
  • A Justice-League focused rant
  • Invincible Iron Man #522, #523
  • Before Watchmen: Minutemen #3
  • DC Universe Presents #12 Kid Flash
  • Daredevil #16, #17

Trigger warning

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #3 includes scenes of attempted rape, sex trafficking, blatant homophobia, and the aftermath of gun violence. Our discussion of the issue (about 1:02 to 1:16 in the recording), while less explicit, references these events and their consequences.

Crunchy Bits!


Intro and Outro music: Pixelguru by Subatomicglue.

Tags: Before Watchmen, Daredevil, Flash, , Iron Man, Kid Flash, Spider-man

Comics Cast #24: September 2011

Posted in Comics Cast on October 30th, 2011 by CJ

Longer than a 48-page special! Later than the next issue of All-Star Batman and Robin! More powerful than a… really powerful comic book thing… This month’s comics cast features big events on the Marvel side, and a first batch of new #1 issues from DC. We’ve got it all – Action! Controversy! Dinosaurs! Fear! Itself!

Comics discussed:

  • Action Comics #1
  • Captain America #3
  • Red Hood and the Outlaws #1
  • Fear Itself #6
  • Demon Knights #1
  • Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #7
  • Flash #1
  • Green Lantern #1
  • New Avengers #16.1
  • New Avengers Annual #1

Crunchy Bits!

Tags: Action Comics, Avengers, Captain America, Demon Knights, Fear Itself, Flash, , Red Hood and the Outlaws, Young Avengers

Comics Cast #22: July 2011

Posted in Comics Cast on August 23rd, 2011 by CJ

This month, Captain America forces Dan to try his hand at movie reviewing. Meanwhile, the FF are AWOL in their own book and Spider-Man battles the preludes to Spider Island! CJ deals with the highs and lows of Flashpoint and a pivotal moment for Green Lantern! And Kid Flash’s changing fashion sense knocks us into another back-and-forth about the DC relaunch that’s lurking over the horizon!

Comics discussed:

  • Captain America: The First Avenger review
  • Captain America #1
  • Flashpoint #3
  • Project Superman #2
  • Batman: Knight of Vengeance #2
  • Abin Sur: The Green Lantern #2
  • Wonder Woman and the Furies #2
  • Kid Flash Lost #2
  • (timeout for a DC relaunch rant)
  • FF #6, #7
  • Green Lantern #67
  • Teen Titans #98
  • Amazing Spider-Man #665, #666
  • Superman #713
  • Action Comics #903
  • Secret Warriors #28

Crunchy Bits!

Tags: Action Comics, Batman, Captain America, FF, Flashpoint, , Kid Flash, Secret Warriors, Spider-man, Superman, Teen Titans, Wonder Woman

Comics Cast #21: June 2011

Posted in Comics Cast on July 24th, 2011 by CJ

A Giant-Size Comics Cast! Everything may change in a Flash(point), but it takes CJ a little longer than that to pick out the winners and losers among the Flashpoint tie-ins. Meanwhile Dan’s taking the minimalist approach to Fear Itself. Of course, neither of us can resist at least a little speculation about the new DC…

Comics discussed:

  • Flashpoint #2
  • FP: Project Superman #1
  • FP: Legion of Doom #1
  • FP: Citizen Cold #1
  • FP: Batman, Knight of Vengeance #1
  • FP: Hal Jordan #1
  • FP: Abin Sur, the Green Lantern #1
  • FP: Wonder Woman and the Furies #1
  • FP: Emperor Aquaman #1
  • FP: Lois Lane and the Resistance #1
  • FP: Kid Flash Lost #1
  • Booster Gold #45
  • Detective Comics #878
  • Superboy #8
  • Invincible #80
  • Captain America #619
  • Fear Itself #3
  • DC Comics Presents: Impulse #1
  • Action Comics #902
  • The Mighty Thor #3
  • Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #6

Crunchy Bits!

Tags: Action Comics, Aquaman, Batman, Booster Gold, Captain America, Detective Comics, Fear Itself, Flashpoint, , Impulse, Invincible, Kid Flash, Lois Lane, Superboy, Superman, Thor, Wonder Woman, Young Avengers

Comics Cast #20: May 2011

Posted in Comics Cast on June 23rd, 2011 by CJ

May comes in with a Free Comic Book Day, and goes out with a… massive revamp of the DC Universe? After talking about the month’s books, Dan and CJ work through their first reactions to DC’s new plan. This was recorded before the full September solicitations information was released – though I don’t know whether that would have made us more or less confused!

Comics discussed:

  • FCBD: Captain America and Thor: The Mighty Fighting Avengers
  • FCBD: Young Justice / Batman: The Brave and the Bold Super Sampler
  • FCBD: Green Lantern Special Edition
  • FCBD: The Amazing Spider-Man
  • Fear Itself #2
  • Green Lantern #66
  • Action Comics #901
  • FF #3, #4
  • Legion of Super-Heroes #13
  • DC Comics Presents: Legion of Super-Heroes (Legion of the Damned), 2nd printing correct-order variant
  • Teen Titans #95
  • Batman, Inc #6
  • Flashpoint #1
  • Booster Gold #44

Crunchy Bits!

Tags: Action Comics, Batman Inc, Booster Gold, Captain America, Fear Itself, FF, Flashpoint, Free Comic Book Day, , Legion of Super-Heroes, Spider-man, Teen Titans, Thor

Comics Cast #19: April 2011

Posted in Comics Cast, Uncategorized on May 19th, 2011 by CJ

Truth, Justice, and… maybe just Truth and Justice. This month, one event ends just in time for another to begin, Dan dips his toe bravely into the “X” side of the Marvel universe, and the Legion of Super-Heroes takes nonlinear storytelling to a new level!

Comics discussed:

  • Action Comics #900
  • Superman #710
  • Uncanny X-Force #7, 8
  • Brightest Day #23, 24
  • Flash #10, 11
  • The Mighty Thor #1
  • FF #2
  • Secret Warriors #26
  • Booster Gold #43
  • DC Comics Presents: Legion of Super-Heroes (Legion of the Damned)
  • Green Lantern #65

Crunchy Bits!

Tags: Action Comics, Booster Gold, Brightest Day, DC Comics Presents, FF, Flash, , Legion of Super-Heroes, Secret Warriors, Superman, Thor, X-Force

Comics Cast #18: March 2011

Posted in Comics Cast on April 20th, 2011 by CJ

Who wins the Superboy/Kid Flash race? Who declares herself a “story vampire”? Who dances the Tango of Death? These questions and more will be answered in this exciting episode of the TWE Comics Cast!

Comics discussed:

  • Brightest Day #21, 22
  • Green Lantern #63, 64
  • Batman, Inc. #3, 4
  • Detective Comics #875
  • Legion of Super-Villains Special #1
  • Legion of Super-Heroes #11
  • Adventure Comics #524
  • FF #1
  • Secret Warriors #25
  • Captain America #615.1
  • Superboy #5
  • Action Comics #899

Crunchy Bits!

Tags: Action Comics, Adventure Comics, Batman, Batman Inc, Brightest Day, Captain America, Detective Comics, Fantastic Four, FF, , Legion of Super-Heroes, Secret Warriors, Superboy

Comics Cast #17: February 2011

Posted in Comics Cast, Uncategorized on March 24th, 2011 by CJ

This month, Dan delves into Hickman-ia even as Marvel develops a publishing schedule that can no longer be described by mere integers. Meanwhile, CJ thinks he has the Reverse Flash’s timeline all figured out – just in time for everything to change in a… aw, you know…

Comics discussed:

  • Green Lantern #62
  • Flash #9
  • Detective Comics #874
  • Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #1
  • SHIELD #6
  • Secret Warriors #24
  • Fantastic Four #588
  • Time Masters: Vanishing Point #6
  • Amazing Spider-Man #655 and #654.1
  • Invincible Iron Man #500.1
  • Superboy #4
  • REBELS #25

Crunchy Bits!

Tags: Batman, Detective Comics, Fantastic Four, Flash, , Iron Man, Legion of Super-Heroes, REBELS, Secret Warriors, Shield, Spider-man, Superboy, Time Masters