Comics Over Time

COMIC CONNECTIONS: Infinity War – Thanos is Inevitable

Episode 62 - Infinity War – Thanos is Inevitable 
This week we are preparing for Marvel’s massive crossover event Infinity War by taking a look at one story that provided inspiration for the movie’s plot, and another that gives us a better understanding of its terrifying antagonist Thanos.
This Week In Comics
Bat-Man Day is Saturday, September 16th
https://www.dc.com/batmanday
New on Marvel Unlimited this Week
https://www.marvel.com/comics/calendar/week/2023-09-10
Recommendation: Blade Runner Comics
https://titan-comics.com/?tag__series=blade-runner
This Week's Stack
Infinity Gauntlet (1991) #1-6 
Thanos Rising (2013) #1-5 
Character Profile: Thanos
2 Minute Recap and Discussion Topics
Infinity Gauntlet #1-6
Double length books (roughly 40 pages per book)
Felt like an Avengers title because everyone (that survived the snap) is in this series
Many panels/lines from these books end up directly in Infinity War/Endgame
Doing everything to get Mistress Death to love him 
Nebula ends up get the Infinity Gauntlet and causes Earths heroes to seek Thanos’ help to get the gauntlet from her in book 6
Thanos Rising #1-5
Dark story that revealed Thanos’ change from a timid kid to a killer
Thanos is again doing everything for the love of Death 
Sixth Sense Twist
So is Death real like Infinity Gauntlet or...?
Story and Artwork were top notch. 
Final Thoughts
What's Next 
Avengers: Infinity War film from 2018.
Signoff 
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you!  Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
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MCU REVIEW: Black Panther

Episode 61 - Black Panther Movie Review
After a fun week reading the comics origins of characters such as T’Challa and Killmonger we now turn to the blockbuster movie that brought them to a worldwide audience – Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther! 
This Week In Comics
Jonathan Hickman Reveals He's Working on Another Book at Marvel
https://comicbook.com/comics/news/jonathan-hickman-teases-new-marvel-comics-series-gods/
New on Marvel Unlimited this Week
https://www.marvel.com/comics/calendar/week/2023-09-03
No number 1s this week. X-23, Thing, Doctor Strange, Venom, Silver Surfer, Captain Britian, Spider-Man 2099, Deadpool, Punisher and Carnage among those with new books available this week.
Recommendation: Nic Stone’s history of Black Panther podcast.
https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/hfp2d-258d5e/The-History-of-Marvel-Comics-Black-Panther-Podcast
Film Facts
Tagline: Long Live the KingReleased: February 16, 2018Runtime: 134 minutesBox Office: worldwide: $1,346,913,161 / domestic: $700,059,566Budget: $200,000,000IMDB Rating: 7.3/10Stars: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Letitia Wright, Danial Kaluuya, Winston Duke, Andy Serkis, Forest Whitaker and Angela BassettDirected: Ryan CooglerScreenplay: Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole 
2ish Minute Recap and Discussion Topics
Chadwick Boseman is electric 
Michael B. Jordan is fantastic 
Ryan Coogler was the right one to direct this story 
The Power of Women 
Powerful Storytelling 
Tangent about Black Beetle
Good CGI throughout. Better than in theaters?
Tidbits 
From the comics 
Face Off!
Which Did it better? The Comics or the Movie
Correspondence
Bluesky message from Amanda
What's Next: Avengers: Infinity War Comics
Infinity Gauntlet (1991) #1-6 
Thanos Rising (2013) #1-5 
Signoff
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you!  Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
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Music Intro and Outro created by Lesfm.

COMIC CONNECTIONS: Black Panther - The Story Thus Far

Episode 60 - Black Panther - The Story Thus Far
This week we are going far back in Marvel history to take a look at the first appearance of the Black Panther, stopping for a bit in the 70s to see the arrival of Killmonger, and then finishing up with a look at Black Panther vol 3 from the late 90s. 
This Week In Comics
Tom King and Peter Gross Team Up with BOOM! Studios for Animal Pound 
https://www.cbr.com/animal-pound-tom-king-peter-gross-boom-studios/
New on Marvel Unlimited this Week
https://www.marvel.com/comics/calendar/week/2023-08-27
Recommendation: WHY WAKANDA MATTERS by Dr. Sheena C. Howard
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/692340/why-wakanda-matters-by-sheena-c-howard-phd/
This Week's Stack
Fantastic Four #52  
Jungle Action #6  
Black Panther Vol 3 #1-12 (but mostly 9-12)  
Creator Profile: Christopher Priest
2 Minute Recap and Discussion Topics
Fantastic Four #52  (and #53)
The Panther starts out as a bad guy? 
Ben is really, really awful in these books.  Sort of the designated racist of the FF. 
Duane learned a bit about Maximus, Medusa, Crystal and met Gorgon and Karnak for the first time 
The person without super powers – Wyatt Wingfoot – saves the day by freeing Johnny Storm and by extension the rest of the FF. 
Jungle Action #6  (and #7)
Killmonger is angry from the start 
T’Challa is shown to be trapped between duties to two worlds 
There’s a really cool page of maps - the Land of Wakanda and Central Wakanda included as the last page of this book 
McGregor and artist P. Craig Russell were behind the first interracial romantic kiss in mainstream comics, which happened in a 1975 Killraven story. 
Black Panther Vol 3 #1-12
Part of the Marvel Knights imprint. 
Somewhat confusing Storytelling in that the entire story is being told by Everett Ross to his boss (and partner Nikki – office of the chief of protocol) 
Some fantastic things happen across 12 books, Go to hell with Memphisto, get captured by Kraven the Hunter, Dealing with the White Wolf – a sorta half brother, saves an ex from death – Monica Lynne, has a run-in with the Avengers and defeats a guy trying to take over Wakanda while he’s away. Oh and save his step-mother.  
Does seem like there was some additional context in books outside Black Panther – Captain America specifically? Apparently there's not.
Art style is really interesting in this series. Especially given everything that happened. Really cool seeing the Avengers Incident issue (book #8) is drawn old school for the first 6 pages. 
Final Thoughts
Correspondence
A note about last week's episode
What's Next 
Black Panther from 2018.
Signoff 
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you!  Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
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Music Intro and Outro created by Lesfm.

MCU REVIEW: Thor Ragnarok

Episode 59 - Thor: Ragnarok Movie Review
We return to the Asgardian realm this week, and take a look at how 2017’s Thor 3 dealt with the same end-of-the-world topic that last week’s comics did. 
This Week In Comics
Wonder Woman Comic Rockets to #1 on Amazon After James Gunn's Endorsement
https://comicbook.com/comics/news/wonder-woman-comic-historia-number-1-amazon-james-gunn-endorsement/
New on Marvel Unlimited this Week
https://www.marvel.com/comics/calendar/week/2023-08-20
No number 1s this week. Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man 2099, Red Goblin, Miles Morales, Fantastic Four, Captain America, She-Hulk and Venom among those with new books available this week.
Recommendation: The Cull by Kelly Thompson, Mattia de Julis, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhauou.
https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/cull
Film Facts
Tagline: No Hammer. No Problem.Released: November 3, 2017Runtime: 130 minutesBox Office: worldwide: $853,977,126 / domestic: $315,058,289Budget: $180,000,000IMDB Rating: 7.9/10Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Mark Ruffalo, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Idris Elba, Karl Urban and Anthony HopkinsDirected: Taika WaititiScreenplay: Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost 
2ish Minute Recap and Discussion Topics
Thor movies continue to be about Hemsworth and Hiddleston 
About time we had a female adversary
Taika Waititi – strong influence on Thor and the MCU
Did Marvel take the right lessons from this movie?
Tidbits 
From the comics 
Face Off!
Which Did it better? The Comics or the Movie
Correspondence
Phases email from Amanda
What's Next: Black Panther (2018)
Fantastic Four #52 
Jungle Action #6
Black Panther Vol 3 #1-12 (but specifically 9-12) 
Signoff
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you!  Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
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COMIC CONNECTIONS: Thor: Ragnarok - I Want to Live

Episode 58 - Thor: Ragnarok - I Want to Live
This week we return to the world of the Norse gods, in preparation for our rewatch of Thor: Ragnarok.  Which means the end of the world for those folks, so as you might expect…bad things happen. 
This Week In Comics
Jason Aaron Returns to DC with New Batman Miniseries
https://comicbook.com/comics/news/jason-aaron-returns-dc-new-batman-miniseries/
New on Marvel Unlimited this Week
https://www.marvel.com/comics/calendar/week/2023-08-13
This Week's Stack
Thor Vol 2 #80-85 
Thor Vol 3 #1-6 
2 Minute Recap and Discussion Topics
Thor Vol 2 #80-85
Ragnarok Again?? But it's explained well.
Violent books
Guest Stars
Loki
Sif loses an arm and the Warriors 3
Ending is very final
Thor Vol 3 #1-6
Clever way to bring back a character
Art was good in this one - Thor has a very distinct look
Thor and Iron Man have words
Even when Loki says they aren’t scheming, they are 
Fun/Funny story moments
Final Thoughts
Correspondence
Tweet from Mo about Changes to X-Men and Avengers in 2024 regarding a post from Tom Brevoort.
What's Next 
Thor: Ragnarok film from 2017
Signoff 
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you!  Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
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Music Intro and Outro created by Lesfm.

MOVIE SPECIAL: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem

Episode 57 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem Movie Review
This week we went out to the movies to watch a group of characters that both of us have fond memories of from when we were younger… the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!  So how did the Turtles of 2023 compare to our Turtles of the 80s and 90s?  Stay tuned to find out.
This Week In Comics
Kevin Smith Announces Mail-Order Subscription Service for Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash
https://comicbook.com/comics/news/kevin-smith-announces-mail-order-subscription-service-for-jay-silent-bobs-secret-stash/
Loki Season 2 coming October 6 
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dug56u8NN7g 
Poster: https://thedirect.com/article/loki-season-2-ant-man-3-poster 
New on Marvel Unlimited this Week
https://www.marvel.com/comics/calendar/week/2023-08-06
Scarlet Witch Annual, Demon Wars: Scarlett Sin, Cult of Carnage: Misery, Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis, X-Men: Before the Fall – Sons of X and Edge of Spider-Verse (featuring Spider-Rex) are all new #1s available this week.
Recommendation: The Hunger and the Dusk by Willow G. Wilson and Christian Wildgoose
https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/comic/4650517/the-hunger-and-the-dusk-1
*Spoiler Warning*
Film Facts
Tagline: Heroes aren’t born. They’re mutated. 
Released: August 2, 2023 
Runtime: 99 minutes 
Box Office: worldwide: about $51 million / domestic: $43.1 million (5 days), 28 million (weekend)
Budget: $70,000,000 
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10 
Stars: Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr, Nicolas Cantu, Brady Noon, Ayo Edebiri, Maya Rundolph, John Cena, Seth Rogan, Rose Byrne, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube and Giancarlo Esposito 
Directed: Jeff Rowe and Kyle Spears 
Screenplay: Seth Rogan, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit 
2ish Minute Recap and Discussion Topics
Fantastic art and great animation - Sketch look
Brilliant voice acting
Fun story with heart
Lots of great humor 
Strong music throughout
No Shredder... Until the mid-credit scene
Tidbits 
From the comics 
Face Off!
Correspondence
What's Next:  Thor: Ragnarok
Thor Vol 2 #80-85
Thor Vol 3 #1-6
Signoff
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you!  Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
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COMIC CONNECTIONS: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Black, White and Green All Over

Episode 56 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Black, White and Green All Over
It is great to have Dan back this week!  He's refreshed, and ready to talk comics.  Better yet, Dan came back home this week and got to read some classics from his teenage years – the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles books from Mirage Studios that kickstarted the crazy black & white indy comics scene of the mid ‘80s. Now Duane gets to read them for the very first time. 
This Week In Comics
Marvel Comics Presents: The Death of Moon Knight 
https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/death-of-moon-knight-28-jed-mackay-allesandro-cappuccio?linkId=225511224  
New on Marvel Unlimited this Week
https://www.marvel.com/comics/calendar/week/2023-07-30 
Recommendation: The He-Man Effect: How American Toymakers Sold You Your Childhood by Brian “Box” Brown
https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-he-man-effect-how-american-toymakers-sold-you-your-childhood-brian-box-brown/18698943
This Week's Stack
Ronin #1 
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1-7 
Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters #1 
Creator Spotlight: Eastman & Laird
2 Minute Recap and Discussion Topics
Ronin #1
Printed in a “prestige” format.  More pages, better paper, higher price. 
Frank Miller unchained and unmanaged. 
Heavy influence from Japanese films and comics 
Very stylized and action heavy 
Extremely pessimistic look at the future.  Also a truly crazy, convoluted story.
We read just the first installment of a 6 issue mini-series. 
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1-7 
Mirage Studios: "there wasn't an actual studio, only kitchen tables and couches with lap boards." 
Truly collaborative Story and Art – even they can’t tell exactly who did what 
Duoshade - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GftgBL-sHnI
Went through multiple printings, with significant value differences 
These are essentially shadow Marvel comics – Matt Murdock and Baxter Building cameos! 
April O’Neil.  https://blackgirlnerds.com/tmnt-and-the-secret-history-of-april-oneils-inspiration/
Baxter Stockman is a play on Baxter stock – a type of comic paper 
The ending seems a bit sudden.  Like they just ran out of pages and called it a day 
This is the last of the 2-color cover issues 
Did you see aliens coming?  I did not. 
Cantina scene 
Fugitoid had his own one-shot comic earlier
There are definite plot holes here.  Best not to examine these stories too closely 
Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters #1 
TNMT immediately inspired imitators: https://dandreifort.com/2020/07/24/tmnt-comic-knockoffs/
None of the words make any sense, and the art does not help to make it better.
Bruce, Chuck, Jackie … and Clint.  Clint? 
Last page is the writer and artist talking about how they didn't have enough story for the comic. Which must be a first.
Yet found a market as it sold over 500,000 copies. 
Resulting eventually in the “Black and White Boom” (and bust): https://www.vulture.com/2016/06/turtles-speculation-bubble.html
Final Thoughts
Correspondence
Tweet from Mo about Moon Knight #25 $9.99 price tag
What's Next 
Teenager Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
Signoff 
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you!  Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
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MOVIE SPECIAL: Constantine

Episode 55 - Constantine Movie Review
This week, we’re leaving behind superheroes and instead delving into the world of angels, demons and war for the souls of all mankind. Where there are some that can see what others can not. And it stars a Hollywood favorite, Keanu Reeves. Join Duane and special guest Ben as we take a look at 2005’s Constantine.
This Week In Comics
Marvel Considered Reviving a Major Spider-Man Character With Secret Invasion
https://comicbook.com/comics/news/marvel-considered-reviving-major-spider-man-character-gwen-stacy-secret-invasion-comic/
New on Marvel Unlimited this Week
https://www.marvel.com/comics/calendar/week/2023-07-23
Some characters with new books this week include: Hellcat, New Mutants, Red Goblin, Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur, Punisher, She-Hulk, Amazing Spider-Man. 
Recommendation from Ben: Spiderman (2022-) Newest arc starts with issue #8.
https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/99750/spider-man_2022_8
*Spoiler Warning*
Film Facts
Tagline: Hell wants him. Heaven won’t take him. Earth needs him.Released: February 18, 2005 Runtime: 121 minutes (and is rated R)Box Office: worldwide: $230,884,728 / domestic: $75,976,178 Budget: $100,000,000 IMDB Rating: 7.0/10 Stars: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Djimon Hounsou, Gavin Rossdale and Tilda SwintonDirected: Francis LawrenceScreenplay: Kevin Brodbin and Frank A. Cappello
2ish Minute Recap and Discussion Topics
Demons and Half-Breeds
This Place Looks Like Hell
Why isn’t this film more popular?
Tidbits 
From the comics 
Comic BooksYou’ve watched the movie and are interested in reading some comic books about the characters, places and stories in this film. Here are some options:
Swamp Thing #37 from June 1985
John Constantine, Hellblazer: All His Engines (graphic novel)
Hellblazer 41-46
What's Next:  
Dan should be back next week. 
Looking to read Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics to prepare for new movie coming August 2. Not sure what books as of now. Will let you know via social media.
Signoff
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you!  Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
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Music Intro and Outro created by Lesfm.