Some Of My Friends Read Comics

It's the holiday season, so we're reading... oh it's not a holiday comic. That's ok, it's Grant Morrison's Animal Man! We're taking a look at his first 5 issues from the early 90s, where we'll analyze cell reconstruction and Looney Tunes. Then we continued our long read of the Ultimates with issue #3 in which... we still don't have a villain. Next Time: Marvel & DC crossover for the first time in 20 years with 2025's Deadpool/Batman & Batman/Deadpool!  

Surfs up, it's time for some Silver Surfer comics! Many years ago, we read a single Eisner-nominated issue of Dan Slott and Mike Allred's run on the book, but now we're going back to read the first 5 issues from their reboot in 2014. We meet the Surfer's new companion, Dawn Greenwood, as she tries to teach the Silver Surfer some manners, and make friends with a bunch of aliens. Glorp! Then we continue our long read of Ultimates with issue #2, in which we almost have all of the introductions out of the way. Next Time: Animal Man by Grant Morrison #1-5

It's been a little while since we did a non-superhero indie comic, so we're reading about some cute animals living in a cute animal town where everyone knows everyone and they're all happy... until the murders start happening. It's Patrick Horvath's Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, and it's simultaneously adorable and gruesome. We're taking a look at the first volume to see how apt the Dexter comparisons are. Then, we're starting a new long read with The Ultimates #1, in which our alternative universe Avengers team... is mostly absent. Next Time: Silver Surfer (2014) #1-5 by Dan Slott & Mike Allred!  

We're finally at the end of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing! When we last left him, he was stuck in space on an alien planet, making the best of his situation with whatever plants he could find. Will he ever make it back to Earth to see Abigail? Or will he just putz around with Adam Strange and Hawkgirl for a while? We'll find out in issues 57-64! Next Time: We continue spooky season with "Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees" by Patrick Horvath! Plus we start our next long-read with "The Ultimates #1"

We loved Peter David's X-Factor so much last time, so we're going back in for more! Except this time we're taking a look at his 2005 reboot of the title, coming hot off the heels of House of M and Decimation. We've still got Multiple Man struggling with controlling his dupes, but now we've got depowered mutants and an inexplicably omnipotent little girl to deal with. Then we finish up our long read of Thunderbolts with #25, in which they take down 25 supervillains and we see who's behind the Crimson Cowl. Next Time: We finish up Alan Moore's Swamp Thing run with Volume 6 (Issues 57-64)!

Today we're taking a look at Peter David's classic run on X-Factor! We get a spotlight focus on Jamie Madrox aka Multiple Man, we meet Strong Guy, and we get a nice new team of mutants to work with. We're reading his first arc in issues #71-75 and then jumping forward to a fun therapy issue with #87. It gets weird. Then we're getting to the end of our long read of Thunderbolts with #24, where Citizen V stops being a dudette in the shadows! Next Time: We check out Peter David's next run with X-Factor in X-Factor (2005) #1-6!  

We've got Freaky Friday Fever and we're reading three body swap stories that are all over the map! Daredevil and Doctor Doom swap places in Daredevil #37 & 38! Emma Frost spends some time in Iceman's body in Uncanny X-Men #314! High school-aged Peter Parker trades places with Wolverine in Ultimate Spider-Man #66 & 67! And we're still continuing Thunderbolts with #23, featuring an unexpected cameo from U.S. Agent. Next Time: Peter David's first X-Factor run with issues X-Factor 71-75 & 87!  

Did you know Superman hates racism? It's true, he's been fighting against it for decades now! We're taking a look at Superman Smashes the Klan from 2019 by Gene Luen Yang and art by Gurihiru, which is not just set in the 1940s, but also based on an old radio play from the 1940s. As the Klan makes their presence known in Metropolis to scare away a new Chinese family, Clark learns more about embracing his alien origins. Then we continue Thunderbolts with issue #22, where Hercules comes in to cause some chaos. Next Time: Our Freakier Friday "Body Swap Special" Ultimate Spider-Man #66-67 (Spider-Man & Wolverine) Uncanny X-men #314 (Iceman & Emma Frost) Daredevil #37 (Daredevil & Dr. Doom)

It's time for some Starman! We're taking a look at James Robinson's 1995 reboot of the golden age character with art from Tony Harris, and we get to meet FIVE Starmen in this book! He's not exactly a household name. I barely even knew there was one Starman. We learn all about them in issues 0-5. Then we're continuing with Thunderbolts #21, where Hawkeye is offering to lead the team! Next Time: Superman Smashes the Klan!

When you mix Chris Claremont with Frank Miller, you get Wolverine and ninjas. It's as simple as that. We're taking a look at Wolverine's first self-titled comic, a 4-issue mini-series from 1982 where Logan goes to Japan and lots of people die. Then the Thunderbolts start heading in a new direction with issue #20, where a surprise guest wants to join the team!   Next Time: Starman #0-6 by James Robinson & Tony Harris

Hot on the heels of Kurt Busiek's take on a real-world(ish) Clark Kent, we're reading his Batman focused followup called Creature of the Night from 2017, with art by John Paul Leon. We meet a young kid in a non-superhero world named Bruce Wainwright who's obsessed with Batman comics, and that doesn't really change after his parents get murdered by robbers. So what's the deal with this Batman that starts showing up immediately? Then we move onto Thunderbolts #19, featuring the winner of the Wizard Create-A-Villain contest! Next Time: Wolverine (1982) by Chris Claremont & Frank Miller

We're double-dipping on Kurt Busiek today! We're still continuing his run on Thunderbolts with #18 and the rudest French supervillain you'll ever meet, but first we're reading Superman: Secret Identity from 2004, with Stuart Immonen on art.  It's a story about a regular kid named Clark Kent in a regular universe where superheroes only exist in comics, who gets ridiculed constantly for his name. And then he gets powers. Whoa! Join us as we follow this variant Clark Kent through a full lifetime, and we discuss the duality of Busiek. Next Time: We check out the Secret Identity spiritual sequel, Batman: Creature of the Night!

It's only been about 10 years since we read the first 5 issues of Alan Moore and Gene Ha's Top Ten, but now we're finishing the full first season with issues 6 through 12.  As the precinct deals with criminals on multiple fronts, there's one question on everyone's lips: What's Sergeant Dog Cop up to? Then we move onto Thunderbolts #17, which had a sword fight, an exploding castle, and a dude who can control gravity. Next Time - Superman: Secret Identity by Kurt Busiek & Stuart Immonen

We've never fully delved into the artistic stylings of Rob Liefeld, but it's finally time to take the plunge. We look at his work on relaunching Captain America during Marvel's Heroes Reborn event in the 90s along with Jeph Loeb, and we find plenty of... interesting art choices to discuss.  We read the first 5-issue storyline as well as a 6th issue that perplexed us. Then we move onto Thunderbolts #16 which brings up a new mystery! Next Time: Celebrate the podcast's 10th anniversary with Top 10 #6-12!

We're finishing up the back half of Secret Wars II with issues #6-9. So far, we haven't been very impressed with The Beyonder and his antics on Earth, but will his cool new "Thriller" vest help matters at all? Thankfully the Molecule Man takes center stage to give us something to latch on to. Then, the Thunderbolts are back on Earth in issue #15, and they've gotta figure out how to live life on the run. Next Time: Captain America (1996) #1-6 by Rob Liefeld

It's Secret Wars II, the sequel to Secret Wars... and it's very different! The Beyonder is on Earth and he's just a confused, lonely alien who wants love. It's only 9 issues, so we read the first 5 issues this time and try to understand why it exists. Then we move onto Thunderbolts #14 where they make it back to Earth too! Next time: Secret Wars II, Pt. 2 (Issues 6-9)  

Apparently we haven't covered a Daredevil book since our very first episode. We've never even read the death of Elektra, an iconic moment from the middle of Frank Miller's run in the early 80s. We're reading Daredevil #178-182 to see the big moment for ourselves, along with Daredevil using crutches because he got his leg caught in a bear trap. Oops! Then we're still reading Thunderbolts with issue #13, in which we deal with some alien BS. Next Time: Secret Wars 2, Pt. 1 (Issues 1-5)  

For some reason, we've devoted two episodes to Batman: Hush. Why did we do this to ourselves? For some payoff with The Riddler? The Riddler!?!?! Damnit, Loeb.  At least Thunderbolts #12 didn't disappoint with the big finale to their first story arc. Next Time: The Death of Elektra in Daredevil #178-182

Hush up y'all, this week we're checking out one of the biggest Batman storylines of the 2000s with Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee's Husssshhhhh [emphasis mine] from Batman #608-619. We're reading the first 6 issues in which we learn that Batman had a best friend named Tommy who has somehow never been mentioned in any comic before this one. There's also a mystery bad guy who barely shows up.  Cool.  Then, we're getting real close to the end of the first Thunderbolts storyline in issue #11, which features zappy mind control laser beams! Next Time: We finish up Batman: Hush with Batman #614-619

We've finally reached the end of Ed Brubaker's classic run on Captain America in issues 37-42. Steve Rogers is dead, probably forever, but now we've got Bucky running around with the shield. We also get some other clown who thinks he's Steve, and the Red Skull is trying to get his puppet elected as president while also doing some time travel shenanigans. Then we get to the beginning of the end in Thunderbolts #10. The secret is out! But how??? Next time: Batman: Hush Pt. 1 (Batman #608-613)