Category: From Crisis to Crisis

FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS EPISODE 261 – OCTOBER 1996 PART 2

Episode 261 – October 1996 Part 2

Welcome to the two hundredth and sixty-first episode of From Crisis to Crisis: A Superman Podcast!  This podcast has a simple premise; examine just about every Superman comic published between Man of Steel #1 in 1986 to Adventures of Superman #649 in 2006 in an informative and hopefully entertaining format.

Mike and Jeff are back to wrap up the Superman books that came out on the tail end of cover month October 1996. In Action Comics #726 Barrage (or, as he likes to be called now, Television’s Barrage) returns to get his revenge on Maggie Sawyer, which is kind of his thing. Then, in Superman: The Man of Steel #61, Superman takes Professor Hamilton to the Fortress of Solitude as Perry White has it out with Franklin Stern over the hiring of Dirk Armstrong. Finally, the boys look at the Superman related books that came out that month, including Steel #31, Superboy #32, Supergirl #2, Superboy and the Ravers #2, Justice League: A Midsummer’s Nightmare #2, Eradicator issues 1 to 3, Detention Comics #1, Showcase ’96 #9, Action Comics Annual #8, and Legion of Super-Heroes #85. They also talk about a handful of other titles.

Full disclosure…the Elsewhere in the DCU/Wha’ Happened section is long. Mike and Jeff had to take a break from recording and that part of the episode was the first things they had recorded in some time, so they were extra chatty.

Below are the covers and select pages from the two main books Mike and Jeff discussed during this episode.

Here’s that Krisis of the Krimson Kryptonite trade paperback house ad Michael mentioned during the show.

And here’s that link to the episode of Views From The Longbox where Michael and the Irredeemable Shag talked about the Total Justice toyline.

Shows Promoted In This Episode

The From Crisis to Crisis theme is by Lucian Desar.

You can subscribe or listen to the show in a variety of ways. First there is the RSS Feed and then there is the Apple Podcasts link.  You can also find the show on Spotify and the Google Play Store.  Are you on Facebook? Be sure to “like” the official FCTC page, which you can find by clicking on this link.  You can email the show by clicking this link. All questions, concerns, fears, trepidations and cheap shots are welcome.  Also be sure to give us a review over on iTunes and feel free to comment on the show here at the site!

Next Time: FINAL NIGHT BEGINS!

FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS EPISODE 260 – OCTOBER 1996 PART 1

Episode 260 – October 1996 Part 1

Welcome to the two hundredth and sixtieth episode of From Crisis to Crisis: A Superman Podcast!  This podcast has a simple premise; examine just about every Superman comic published between Man of Steel #1 in 1986 to Adventures of Superman #649 in 2006 in an informative and hopefully entertaining format.

This time out Mike and Jeff begin their look at the Superman books with an October 1996 cover date.  First up the boys finish up The Bottle City storyline in Superman #116 with lots of fighting and lots of Clark Kent having issues filling in for Perry White.  Then, in Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #6, The Jackal returns and both Superman and Clark have to deal with the pros and cons of someone taking the law into their own hands.  The comics talk wraps up with Adventures of Superman #539 with Superman facing off against an anomalous man of steel!  Finally, Jeff fills us in on Hey, Wha’ Happened in the real world while these issues were on the stands.  Mike’s wife makes a surprise appearance to talk about Izzy, the 1996 Summer Olympics mascot, which was horrifying.Seriously.  Look at this thing.

Below are the covers and select pages from the three main books Mike and Jeff discussed during this episode.

Shows Promoted In This Episode

The From Crisis to Crisis theme is by Lucian Desar.

You can subscribe or listen to the show in a variety of ways. First there is the RSS Feed and then there is the Apple Podcasts link.  You can also find the show on Spotify and the Google Play Store.  Are you on Facebook? Be sure to “like” the official FCTC page, which you can find by clicking on this link.  You can email the show by clicking this link. All questions, concerns, fears, trepidations and cheap shots are welcome.  Also be sure to give us a review over on iTunes and feel free to comment on the show here at the site!

Next Time: Mike and Jeff finish their coverage of the October 1996 books by discussing Action Comics #726 and Superman: The Man of Steel #61 as well as the Superman related books that came out that month!

FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS EPISODE 259 – SEPTEMBER 1996 PART 2

Episode 259 – September 1996 Part 2

Welcome to the two hundredth and fifty-ninth episode of From Crisis to Crisis: A Superman Podcast!  This podcast has a simple premise; examine just about every Superman comic published between Man of Steel #1 in 1986 to Adventures of Superman #649 in 2006 in an informative and hopefully entertaining format.

Mike and Jeff conclude their coverage of the books with a September 1996 cover date and kick off their coverage of the three-part The Bottle City storyline! Part 1 happens in Action Comics #725, where otherworldly beings keep picking fights with Superman finally discovering that the being behind the attacks is Tolos! Meanwhile, Lois is struggling in her new foreign correspondent role and Perry decides to tell Alice and Keith about his cancer diagnosis.  Part 2 goes down in Superman: The Man of Steel #60, where Tolos possesses the body of a Daxamite to once again fight Superman, but that doesn’t go according to plan given the weakness that Daxamites have. Also, Perry tells Alice he has cancer in one of the worst ways possible.

After that, the boys talk about what happened in the rest of the DC Universe starting with the Superman related books. Those books include Steel #30, Superboy #31, Superboy and the Ravers #1, Showcase ’96 #8, Supergirl #1, Alpha Centurion Special #1, and Justice League: A Midsummer’s Nightmare #1. They also trip hammer through select issues of the DCU, including some of the Batman titles (most of which were hip deep in the Legacy storyline), Hitman,

Below are the covers and select pages from the two main books Mike and Jeff discussed during this episode.

Shows Promoted In This Episode

The From Crisis to Crisis theme is by Lucian Desar.

You can subscribe or listen to the show in a variety of ways. First there is the RSS Feed and then there is the Apple Podcasts link.  You can also find the show on Spotify and the Google Play Store.  Are you on Facebook? Be sure to “like” the official FCTC page, which you can find by clicking on this link.  You can email the show by clicking this link. All questions, concerns, fears, trepidations and cheap shots are welcome.  Also be sure to give us a review over on iTunes and feel free to comment on the show here at the site!

Next Time: Mike and Jeff kick off their coverage of the cover date October 1996 by looking at Superman #116, Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #6, and Adventures of Superman #539!

FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS EPISODE 258: SEPTEMBER 1996 PART 1

Episode 258: September 1996 Part 1

Welcome to the two hundredth and fifty-eighth episode of From Crisis to Crisis: A Superman Podcast!  This podcast has a simple premise; examine just about every Superman comic published between Man of Steel #1 in 1986 to Adventures of Superman #649 in 2006 in an informative and hopefully entertaining format.

This time out Mike and Jeff return to their regular programming by kicking off their examination of the September 1996 cover dated books.  First up is Superman #115, where Lois makes a fateful decision about her future and tells her parents about the break-up with Clark.  Lucy Lane also introduces her new boyfriend to the family before Lois leaves on a jet plane.  Then, in Adventures of Superman #538, Superman has to contend with a broken heart and a new villain named Obsession who is…obsessed with the Man of Steel.  Jimmy is also a serious jerk through this whole issue.  The boys wrap up the episode by asking, “Hey, Wha’ Happened?” in the real world when these books were on the stands.

Below are the covers and select pages from the two main books Mike and Jeff discussed during this episode.

And here are three panels from Superman #115 and Man of Steel (1986) #2 to show the homages Ron Frenz was doing during this issue.

Shows Promoted In This Episode

The From Crisis to Crisis theme is by Lucian Desar.

You can subscribe or listen to the show in a variety of ways. First there is the RSS Feed and then there is the Apple Podcasts link.  You can also find the show on Spotify and the Google Play Store.  Are you on Facebook? Be sure to “like” the official FCTC page, which you can find by clicking on this link.  You can email the show by clicking this link. All questions, concerns, fears, trepidations and cheap shots are welcome.  Also be sure to give us a review over on iTunes and feel free to comment on the show here at the site!

Next Time: Mike and Jeff finish their coverage of the cover date September 1996 books by discussing Action Comics #725, Superman: The Man of Steel #60, and the Superman family books that came out that month.

FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS EPISODE 257: KINGDOM COME EPILOGUE

Episode 257: Kingdom Come Epilogue

Welcome to the two hundredth and fifty-seventh episode of From Crisis to Crisis: A Superman Podcast!  This podcast has a simple premise; examine just about every Superman comic published between Man of Steel #1 in 1986 to Adventures of Superman #649 in 2006 in an informative and hopefully entertaining format.

Mike and Jeff conclude their coverage of Kingdom Come (finally) with an episode jam packed with all kinds of Kingdom Come extras.  At the top of the episode, the boys interview writer Elliot S! Maggin.  Elliot is one of the preeminent Superman writers, not only of the Bronze Age but of all time.  He has written the Man of Steel in the comics and in prose and it’s the prose side of things that Mike and Jeff wanted to talk to him about because Elliot wrote the novel version of Kingdom Come.  The boys ask Elliot about the process of writing the book, his thoughts about the story of Kingdom Come, his thoughts about Superman as a character, and also about his Superman work from before the mandate of this show.

After that Mike and Jeff dig into the collected editions and merchandise associated with Kingdom Come.  This includes the various hardcovers, absolutes, and softcover collections, the trading card set, the action figures, and the audio drama.  There are several digressions along the way comparing the merchandise from this series to the merchandise that came out with other big time comic book events.  Then, after the credits, more with Elliot S! Maggin!

Below are the covers and select pages from the two main books Mike and Jeff discussed during this episode.

Here are the links to the Kingdom Come related episodes of Views From The Longbox and Dorkness to Light that Mike recorded with Professor Alan and Em Middleton back in 2016.

And here is a link to the various Elliot S! Maggin written books that you can buy.  Mike particularly recommends Superman: Last Son and Superman: Miracle Monday.

Finally, here is a piece that Mike got from artist and podcaster Jarrod Alberich of the Kingdom Come Superman.  Check out Jarrod’s podcasting efforts at The Longbox Crusade and his art site is his site The Yard Sale Artist.

Shows Promoted In This Episode

The From Crisis to Crisis theme is by Lucian Desar.

You can subscribe or listen to the show in a variety of ways. First there is the RSS Feed and then there is the Apple Podcasts link.  You can also find the show on Spotify and the Google Play Store.  Are you on Facebook? Be sure to “like” the official FCTC page, which you can find by clicking on this link.  You can email the show by clicking this link. All questions, concerns, fears, trepidations and cheap shots are welcome.  Also be sure to give us a review over on iTunes and feel free to comment on the show here at the site!

Next Time: Mike and Jeff kick off their coverage of the cover date September 1996 books by discussing Superman #115 and Adventures of Superman #538.

FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS EPISODE 256: KINGDOM COME PART 2

Episode 256: Kingdom Come Part 2

Welcome to the two hundredth and fifty-sixth episode of From Crisis to Crisis: A Superman Podcast!  This podcast has a simple premise; examine just about every Superman comic published between Man of Steel #1 in 1986 to Adventures of Superman #649 in 2006 in an informative and hopefully entertaining format.

Mike and Jeff continue their coverage of the epic four issue mini-series turned graphic novel Kingdom Come.  In this installment, they discuss the final two issues and cover a lot of ground.  There is a debate on whether or not the newer super powered beings in the story could be classified as villains or not.  The boys also discuss whether or not Superman and Wonder Woman would ever ultimately work out as a couple, what “pulling a Geoff Johns” means, the deeper themes of the story, and whether Diana was right and wrong about her approach to the ending.  They also discuss the epilogue, which was exclusive to the collected edition.

Below are the covers and select pages from the two main books Mike and Jeff discussed during this episode.

Shows Promoted In This Episode

The From Crisis to Crisis theme is by Lucian Desar.

You can subscribe or listen to the show in a variety of ways. First there is the RSS Feed and then there is the Apple Podcasts link.  You can also find the show on Spotify and the Google Play Store.  Are you on Facebook? Be sure to “like” the official FCTC page, which you can find by clicking on this link.  You can email the show by clicking this link. All questions, concerns, fears, trepidations and cheap shots are welcome.  Also be sure to give us a review over on iTunes and feel free to comment on the show here at the site!

Next Time: Mike and Jeff finish their coverage of Kingdom Come by looking at the various collected editions, adaptations, and merchandise associated with the series.

FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS EPISODE 255: KINGDOM COME PART 1

Episode 255: Kingdom Come Part 1

Welcome to the two hundredth and fifty-fifth episode of From Crisis to Crisis: A Superman Podcast!  This podcast has a simple premise; examine just about every Superman comic published between Man of Steel #1 in 1986 to Adventures of Superman #649 in 2006 in an informative and hopefully entertaining format.

Mike and Jeff interrupt their normal coverage for a special three-part series covering one of the most important Superman stories of the nineties.

This time out Mike and Jeff begin their coverage of Kingdom Come, which was originally published from May to August in 1996 as a four issue prestige format mini-series and now lives as an evergreen collected edition.  This story was watershed moment for DC Comics, not just in terms of its influence on later stories but also as line in the sand for where DC was going to take its super-hero universe for the rest of the nineties.  This wasn’t the intent of the story, but it did line up with a larger initiative to focus on the characters of the universe instead of falling back on the tropes that were popular in the early nineteen-nineties.

During this installment, the boys discuss the first two issues of Kingdom Come, which were titled Strange Visitor and Truth and Justice, respectively.  It’s twenty years in the future and the super-powered beings run amok, not caring about the collateral damage their rumbles cause.  After a tragedy in Kansas, The Spectre approaches Pastor Normal McCay and recruits him to be the guide through the current DC Universe and to help in judgment of a tragedy to come.  Norman and The Spectre bear witness to Superman coming out of retirement and reforming the Justice League.  But is Superman making the right decisions?  What about the Batman and his forces?  And what about Lex Luthor and his Mankind Liberation Front?  All three factions work to save the world, which could lead to Armageddon. Mike and Jeff discuss these issues in depth as well as giving a brief history of how Kingdom Come came about.

Below are the covers and select pages from the two main books Mike and Jeff discussed during this episode.

Shows Promoted In This Episode

The From Crisis to Crisis theme is by Lucian Desar.

You can subscribe or listen to the show in a variety of ways. First there is the RSS Feed and then there is the Apple Podcasts link.  You can also find the show on Spotify and the Google Play Store.  Are you on Facebook? Be sure to “like” the official FCTC page, which you can find by clicking on this link.  You can email the show by clicking this link. All questions, concerns, fears, trepidations and cheap shots are welcome.  Also be sure to give us a review over on iTunes and feel free to comment on the show here at the site!

Next Time: Mike and Jeff continue their coverage of Kingdom Come by talking about issues 3 and 4.

FCTC EPISODE 254: AUGUST 1996 PART 2

Episode 254: August 1996 Part 2

Welcome to the two hundredth and fifty-fourth episode of From Crisis to Crisis: A Superman Podcast!  This podcast has a simple premise; examine just about every Superman comic published between Man of Steel #1 in 1986 to Adventures of Superman #649 in 2006 in an informative and hopefully entertaining format.

Mike and Jeff finish up their coverage of the August 1996 cover dated books and things get really dramatic, especially between Lois and Superman.  In Action Comics #724, Brawl (you know, the character that looks like what happens when Jimmy Olsen and Blanka from Street Fighter 2 had a one-night stand) returns and Superman has to take him on, but it becomes clear that things aren’t what they seem.  Then, in Superman: The Man of Steel #59, the Parasite makes his move, but the real drama is the continuing deterioration of Lois and Clark’s relationship.  Also, Lois receives a job offer from Franklin Stern.  After that, the boys discuss, Hey, Wha’ Happened in the rest of the DC Universe by looking at the Superman Family books, which includes Steel #29, Superboy #30, Showcase ’96 #7, and the two Legends of the Dead Earth annuals Superman Annual #8 and Superboy Annual #3

Below are the covers and select pages from the two main books Mike and Jeff discussed during this episode.

Shows Promoted In This Episode

Here is the House Ad for The Superman/Batman Adventures show that Mike and Jeff mentioned in the episode.

And here’s what the opening looked like.

The From Crisis to Crisis theme is by Lucian Desar.

You can subscribe or listen to the show in a variety of ways. First there is the RSS Feed and then there is the Apple Podcasts link.  You can also find the show on Spotify and the Google Play Store.  Are you on Facebook? Be sure to “like” the official FCTC page, which you can find by clicking on this link.  You can email the show by clicking this link. All questions, concerns, fears, trepidations and cheap shots are welcome.  Also be sure to give us a review over on iTunes and feel free to comment on the show here at the site!

Next Time: Mike and Jeff begin what started out as a single episode and then became a two-parter and then morphed into a three-part examination of Alex Ross and Mark Waid’s classic mini-series Kingdom Come.

FCTC EPISODE 253: AUGUST 1996 PART 1

Episode 253: August 1996 Part 1

Welcome to the two hundredth and fifty-third episode of From Crisis to Crisis: A Superman Podcast!  This podcast has a simple premise; examine just about every Superman comic published between Man of Steel #1 in 1986 to Adventures of Superman #649 in 2006 in an informative and hopefully entertaining format.

Mike and Jeff dive into the August 1996 cover dated books with one comic that they…didn’t care for and one that Mike liked and Jeff thought was better by comparison.  In Superman #114, the Brainiac Puts His Mind In Superman’s Body And Superman’s Mind In The Body Of Some Kid Named Chaz And Chaz’ Mind In Brainiac’s Body story comes to a conclusion.  It was a story.  Decisions were made.  Then, in Adventures of Superman #537, there are monsters on the loose!  Finally, the boys answer the eternal question, “Hey, Wha’ Happened?” by looking at the major new stories and movies that came out the month these comics were published.

Here are the covers and select pages from the books discussed during this episode.

Here is the Watch This Space about the funeral for Jerry Siegel.

Here is a link to the books written or edited by Jim Beard, one of the Baldy winners from this episode.  Jim is a great guy.  Buy his books.

Shows Promoted In This Episode

The From Crisis to Crisis theme is by Lucian Desar.

You can subscribe or listen to the show in a variety of ways. First there is the RSS Feed and then there is the Apple Podcasts link.  You can also find the show on Spotify and the Google Play Store.  Are you on Facebook? Be sure to “like” the official FCTC page, which you can find by clicking on this link.  You can email the show by clicking this link. All questions, concerns, fears, trepidations and cheap shots are welcome.  Also be sure to give us a review over on iTunes and feel free to comment on the show here at the site!

Next Time: Mike and Jeff finish their look at the August 1996 cover dated books with Action Comics #724 and Superman: The Man of Steel #59, as well as the Superman Family books that came out that month.

FCTC EPISODE 252: JULY 1996 PART 2

Episode 252: July 1996 Part 2

Welcome to the two hundredth and fifty-second episode of From Crisis to Crisis: A Superman Podcast!  This podcast has a simple premise; examine just about every Superman comic published between Man of Steel #1 in 1986 to Adventures of Superman #649 in 2006 in an informative and hopefully entertaining format.

The Brainiac Has Put His Mind In Superman’s Body and Superman’s Mind In The Body of Some Kid Named Chaz storyline continues in the back half of the July 1996 Superman titles.  In Action Comics #723, Lois has a weird run in with Brainiac-Superman, Superman-Chaz tries to call Lois, and someone ends up dead by the end of the issue.  Then, in Superman: The Man of Steel #58 (which Mike calls #28 for some reason) Brainiac-Superman fights with Supergirl but then convinces her that everything is fine and she leaves as Superman-Chaz escapes the asylum and makes his way into Metropolis only to find everyone under Brainiac’s control.  Finally, the boys answer the question, Hey, Wha’ Happened? (or as they call it this time, Hey, You Okay Gracie?) with Superboy #29, Steel #28, the Superman related story in Showcase ’96 #6 and Adventures of Superman Annual #8.

Here are the covers and select pages from the books discussed during this episode.

Shows Promoted In This Episode

The From Crisis to Crisis theme is by Lucian Desar.

You can subscribe or listen to the show in a variety of ways. First there is the RSS Feed and then there is the Apple Podcasts link.  You can also find the show on Spotify and the Google Play Store.  Are you on Facebook? Be sure to “like” the official FCTC page, which you can find by clicking on this link.  You can email the show by clicking this link. All questions, concerns, fears, trepidations and cheap shots are welcome.  Also be sure to give us a review over on iTunes and feel free to comment on the show here at the site!

Next Time: Mike and Jeff dive into the August 1996 cover dated books with Superman #114 and Adventures of Superman #537.