It all comes back to Superman

    Superman has been on my mind a lot lately.  Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opens on Friday and with it a ill, cold wind seems to blow through the online super-hero fandom.  I got in to comic book podcasts and started mingling with a certain circle of fans online post-Man of Steel, but it seemed to be this watershed moment: a super hero film that was not critically panned or a box office flop that still somehow seemed to ignite an on-line civil war over how it portrayed our boy in blue.  The advent of its sequel feels like an escalation in the schism, ripping the band-aid of a still sore scab that we never stopped picking.
     I admit to being very conflicted about Man of Steel and even Superman in general.  I liked the film very much.  I understand the opinions and positions of its detractors.  Kevin Costner's Pa Kent is a much more dour, cynical, tough-love Pa Kent then the heartwarming figure portrayed by Gerald Ford and takes an even harder line then Smallville's John Schneider.  Its easy to condemn him as a cold, mean figure.  But I think of my son.  And while I would be proud if he did something that heroically saved the life of school bus full of kids, if you told me to pick his well-being or theirs, I'd choose his every time.  So I get Pa Kent's motivation as portrayed here.  Yes, there was a lot of desctruction, but Superman wasn't passive in Man of Steel, he was overwhelmed.  Superman couldn't save everyone, and that is one of his classic themes.  Also, I cop to it, I asked for the destruction of Metropolis.  Not in a literal sense.  But ever sense the second Matrix film and seeing Neo and Mr. Smith fight in a deserted cityscape, knocking each other on and off of buildings, I thought to myself, this is the scale a Superman movie should have now.  Superman and <insert villain> punching each other through buildings.  So I can't complain when Man of Steel delivers a Superman movie with a lot of collateral damage to convey the power of the combatants.  The only real problem is breaking Zod's neck.
     That scene has become to Superman what the Death of Gwen Stacey was to Spider-Man comics.  It's uncomfortable to observe.  Its unsettling.  It feels wrong.  Not from a perspective of morality and motivation.  Not from a perspective of character and story.  But because suddenly I'm in a Superman movie I can't let my six year-old see.  Objectively there is nothing wrong with that.  Based on the rating, I should expect that odds are that he shouldn't be allowed to see it.  If I want my son, Clark, to experience Superman, I have it in 100 different ways and formats.
    So prompted by him over all the Batman v Superman coverage, we watched Superman: The Motion Picture.  We split it over two nights because my son is six and with soccer practices he only had about an hour a night for TV: night one was Beginning through his first night out as Superman.  Night two started with the interview with Lois through the end.  My son and daughter, Alexandria, both loved it, and I enjoyed it as much for the movie sake as their enjoyment.  However I noticed a few things that I didn't before or they just never registered.  There were a view moments that made me sit up and take more notice:
    - "How many 'p's in rapist"
    - "Is that how you get you're sick thrills?  Planning the deaths of thousands of people?  No....causing the deaths of thousands of people."
My son asked me what rapist meant, which I wasn't expecting to have as a topic of conversation that night.  And Luthor's "silly" real estate scam was going to kill hundreds of thousands.  And Superman, presumably didn't save everyone.   I mean we know he didn't initially save Lois and Jimmy, but were they really the only two he didn't save the first time?  I don't say these things to literally compare the two movies or to build one up by tearing the other one down, but it was a literal reminder that times change, and we view things with rose-colored glasses.  Superman the Motion Picture is not as mature and adult as Man of Steel, but it was moreso than I remembered, though not outside of what I was comfortable with my kids seeing.
    The biggest things that I got from this was that I really want Batman v Superman to be good and want it to be on the safe enough side of PG-13 that I can take my kids and I want these things because ultimately I want to have with Superman the experience I've had with my kids in the theater with Star Wars and the Avengers which is a hell of a surprise to me.  If you asked whose side are you on, my friends would all guess Batman.  Because I've been a Batman guy since 1982.  I swore my allegiance to him in a tearful fit when Superman gave up his powers for a stupid girl, and how could he do that when the Phantom Zone villains were loose.  But I'm on Superman's side.  Not in the way the marketing machine means it.  I mean its a stupid and pointless question.  We all know everyone will team-up against the bad guys and get along by the end of the movie.  I'm on Superman's side, because I feel like he needs this.  He needs to break big again like he did in 1978.  He needs to inspire again.  I want this to be HIS movie, HIS moment, because seeing it through my son's eyes I've realized how much I care about Superman as a character and a concept.  He's the first and the best for a reason.  We just forget sometime, but in the end, regardless of why we grow out of or distance ourselves from it, we all come back to Superman.

Podcasts Proposed as Perfect

    I've mentioned on a couple of occasions that I've begun to listen to Comic-related podcasts quite a bit.  Here is what I listen to, and I think you should as well.

Weekly Listening – These are the shows where I make sure to listen to the latest episode the week it hits.

-          The Fantasticast ( http://ffcast.libsyn.com/ )

o   Andrew Leyland (you’ll see this name again) and Stephen Lacey give an in-depth walk-thru of every Fantastic Four appearance starting with the first issue of Fantastic Four #1, currently in late 1973.  Always funny, entertaining, and insightful, this was the first show I made sure to catch-up on, and is the most prescient since the current episode is currently on-deck on my iPhone (cue Airwolf theme).

-          Back to the Bins ( http://twotruefreaks.com/shows.php?show=1 )

o   Scott Gardner, Paul Spataro, and Bill Robinson each bring an issue to the table to review.  Sometimes, there is a theme, sometimes not.  This show has over 200 episodes and drops every week.  Always at least a grade ‘A’ podcast.

-          Views from the Longbox ( http://viewsfromthelongbox.blogspot.com/?_sm_au_=iVVMjFSwFKFv7H6P )

o   As I’ve listened to podcasts, I’ve quickly discovered that those that involve at least a guest and a host or two podcasters are easier to listen to then a single voice, with few exceptions.  Michael Bailey, while he frequently has guests, is one of those exceptions.  He is also a rarity in the comic podcasting world as he isn’t afraid to devote single episodes to major life milestones without a single comic reference, and while I dig listening to him review the latest comic book film or wax about his eternal love for Superman, his best episodes from last year were his High School Reunion and Losing His Job as his store closed.

-          Hey Kid’s Comics ( http://twotruefreaks.com/shows.php?show=14 )

o   Andrew Leyland and his son Michael cover a variety of comics providing a generation gap view of books.  I started listening with the 3^rd season and have started going back through the earlier episodes.  The show officially came to an end when Michael left home for University, but they still do specials every time Michael comes home, the most recent two are an excellent examination of Dark Victory.

-          Earning Our Ears ( http://twotruefreaks.com/shows.php?show=43 )

o   Two die-hard DisneyWorld fans and experts discuss and dissect the parks with an eye to fining different approached to the parks that appeal to different types of geeks.  My family and I are die-hard Disney fans making the trip to Disneyland a couple of times and being annual WDW passholders, go to Disney World at least 4-6 times a year.  This podcast is very family-friendly, and holds the distinction of being one of two that my daughter listens to.  So much so that she went looking for Scott Gardner on a trip last year, and her and my son were able to tell him how much she likes their show.

-          Palace of Glittering Delights ( http://twotruefreaks.com/shows.php?show=37 )

o   Self-Described as his vanity show, Andrew Leyland discussed whatever is on his mind, normally involving comics are TV from the 70’s and 80’s.  Recent highlights have included his look at the Linda Carter Wonder Woman show and his Walloping Web-Slingers series looking at Lee/Ditko Spider-Man

-          Film and Water Podcast ( http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/show/the-film-and-water-podcast/ )

o   Rob Kelly, owner of the Aquaman Shrine blog, and co-host of the The Fire and Water Podcast hosts a film review show covering whatever films he desires, normally with a guest.  I love this show.  I just recently discovered it and have listened to the latest and the first four, but every time so far he covers a film I have strong feelings about.  Listening to podcasts has had me wanting to get involved, and I think it would be awesome to guest on a show.  This show has the distinction of being the one I would most like to guest on.

Other Show – Here are other shows I listen to.  They are all quality shows, but as you may have noticed with my hobby and my reading order, I have a completeness/Order OCD.  These are shows I follow, but I try to listen to them from the beginning.

-          Who’s Who in the DC Universe ( http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/show/whos-who-the-definitive-podcast-of-the-dc-universe/ )

o   Rob Kelly and the Irredeemable Shag walk-thru the seminal DC Classic Profile series, Who’s Who in the DC Universe.

-          From Crisis to Crisis, a Superman Podcast ( http://www.supermanhomepage.com/multimedia/multimedia.php?topic=crisis-podcast )

o   Jeffery Taylor and Michael Bailey cover all of the Superman family titles from Post Crisis on Infinite Earths to Identity Crisis

-          Jay and Miles Explain the X-Men ( http://www.xplainthexmen.com/ )

o   A mostly sequential coverage/explanation of the X-Men books

-          Tales of the JSA ( http://twotruefreaks.com/shows.php?show=2 )

o   Scott Gardner and Michael Bailey cover all of the JSA appearances starting with the 70’s All-Star Comics run.  Worth listening to for the Hostess Ad Theater alone.

-          Avengers Inspirations ( http://cmro.travis-starnes.com/podcast_main.php )

o   John Wilson and his daughter Lily review Marvel comics in order starting with the Silver Age of those issues relevant to the characters that appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films.  The second podcast my daughter listens to because of the opinions of another, older girl.

-          Hero Point Podcast ( http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/show/the-hero-points-podcast/ )

o   The most infrequent of the shows here, this podcast hosted by the Irredeemable Shag and Ciskoid looks at Super-Hero gaming, specifically the Mayfair DC Heroes system.

-          Super Mates ( http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/show/the-super-mates-podcast/ )

o   Chris Franklin and his wife Cindy cover a variety of topics, normally focused on the DC Universe.  I just like listening to another Southern twang from my own area (I’m in the Nashville, Tennessee area and the Franklins are from Kentucky)

-          Unofficial 75 Greatest Marvels Countdown ( https://bureau42.com/view/tag/u75gmcp )

o   Blaine Dowler and a variety of guests  review the fan-voted 75 greatest Marvel stories on the event of Marvel’s 75^th Anniversary.

-          Who True Freaks ( http://twotruefreaks.com/shows.php?show=13 )

o   Hosted by the late Shawn Engel, Thomas DJ, Irredeemable Shag, Hope Mulinax, and others review different Dr. Who stories both new and old.  This show has ceased with Shawn’s passing, but I hold out hope that after a respectful hiatus, someone will continue it.  Another show that I dreamt of guesting on some day.

I've had this written for a while and saved for a rainy-day.  Frequent correspondent Kirk Groenveld responded to the last post referring to Daredevil #7 that it was covered both in Dave's Daredevil Podcast ( http://twotruefreaks.com/shows.php?show=47 ) and Imperious Rex ( http://serialsurfaceinvaders.tumblr.com/ ).  Check these out as well, I know I will.

"When a Man Loves A Woman.....He Invades the Skrulls!"

    How far would you go to make your girlfriend happy?  If you're Reed Richards, the answer is through a space-warp to an alien planet in a distant galaxy.   Easily the best issue Marvel published in April 1965, Fantastic Four #37 has the FF go to the Skrull homeworld to avenger the death of Sue and Johnny's parents.  There is a lot of inventiveness this issue: getting a glimpse of Skrull politics, the fact that the FF's powers quickly diminish on the Skrull planet, and the lengths Reed goes to to make his fiancee happy as their wedding nears.  Kirby's art has never been better, and for me, this is the first use of an art collage that enhances instead of detracts.  Maybe its the reproduction values on reprints and digital issues, but most of them before have come across as murky or as disconnected from the story.  Here it give a realistic 3D effect to the ship as it sails through space.  Lee's dialogue crackles with some hilarious Ben Grimm lines.  My favorites: "Boy! Give ya (Reed) a piece of chalk an' a blackboard and there's no stoppin ya'." when Reed explains how their craft is getting to the Skrull homeworld, and later when judging how much of his strength is gone by hitting a wall: "Nothin but a puny WHAP!!  Me -- who usedta never get anything less than a BAROOM or at least a KAPOW!"  The only weakness is the coloring.  If you're reading an original copy on over half of the panels the Skrulls are a pale yellow and without the bumpy chins could be mistaken for Asian characters as depicted in the 40s and 50s.  This issue also has, I believe, the first appearance of Anelle, who would become important in the late 80's/early 90's.  I don't know how often she appeared, but she was mentioned a lot in the first 30 or so issues of that period's Silver Surfer volume.

Honorable Mentions
- www.twotruefreaks.com.  I can't cover it any better and highly recommend you download and give it a listen.

Amazing Spider-Man #23 has Spider-Man go up against a bunch of gangsters being targeted by the Green Goblin.  Great fight scenes with Spidey being swarmed by large groups of thugs, and a blink-and-you'll-miss-it-first appearance of Norman Osborn.  My only hang-up is that it features the Green Goblin.  I started reading comics in 1980 when the Green Goblin was popular in multimedia and merchandising but was Spider-Man's legendary deceased arch-nemesis.  Reading the Lee/Ditko Spider-Man era, the Green Goblin is one of the least interesting villains.  The only thing going for him is the mystery of his identity.  It is still a well-told tale by two greats in the midst of their peak.  Andrew Leyland has covered this issue in Part 4 of his Walloping Web-Slinger series on Palace of Glittering Delights podcast available on iTunes and at

-Daredevil #7 is noteworthy for introducing the classic red uniform for DD, and after spending a little too much time on his bill club, giving a knock-down drag out fight between Daredevil and the Sub-Mariner, who clearly outclasses hornhead in pure power.  Daredevil is forced to get inventive, luring the Sub-Mariner into a construction site and using everything from a wrecking ball, steam shovel, and exposed electrical wires to his advantage.  While the premise doesn't 100% work, I also like that it hangs on Namor trying to be reasonable for a change: the surface-dwellers have what is rightfully his, so he will sue for it in the court of law.  He even goes on a rampage to force the court to recognize him.  Unfortunately this is quickly dropped so the fight can begin, and while it is a glorious fight, one almost wants to see the kind of case Nelson and Murdock would put together.
-

Tales to Astonish #66 has Giant-Man facing Madame Macabre who can change the size of inanimate objects the way that Giant-Man can control his size.  Its a bit of a cheat listing this here, but I've not posted about some of the better Ant-Man/Giant-Man stories here, and I really have a soft spot for Hank.  He is my favorite founding Avenger, and this story does have an interesting angle with him facing someone with a very similar power set with a different limitation.

Notable Events
- Baron Zemo dies in Avengers #15.  The issue wasn't bad, but what starts as a large Masters of Evil roster coming together to tear apart the Avengers gives way to a one-on-one showdown between Zemo and Captain America.  This is where all the drama was because of their history, bit the unseen (at least in this issue) battle between the Avengers and a Masters of Evil Roster of Enchantress, Executioner, Melter, and Black Knight had to be more exciting than what was focused on here.
- Black Widow goes from a Bond femme fatale to super villainess and Peggy Carter first appears as Agent 13 in Tales of Suspense #34.

Housekeeping
It looks like the blog is settling into a weekly posting schedule with Sundays being the most likely day for a new post to go up.  The reading order has changed again:  The Golden Age will now only focus on DC and Marvel.  Trying to also read golden age Fawcett, Quality, and Dell was too much (at least for now).  I'll still read it as the mood strikes me, but it won't be intentional reading for the blog.  The blog has mostly focused on my Marvel silver age reading, but the past two posts, I've purposefully focused on the Golden Age.  Ultimately I'll cover what I enjoyed most for that week, but I'll try to strive for some kind of balance.