The Fantasticast Episode 163: Marvel Feature #11 – Cry Monster!

Stupid Pile Of Orange Rocks – Hulk Will Smash!

Hello, and welcome to episode 163 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

We’re leaving the Fantastic Four behind this week, and picking up our copies of Marvel Feature #11, the first book to feature the Thing as a solo(ish) star, and the first step on the short road to Marvel Two-In-One. With words by Len Wein and pictures by Jim Starlin, Ben Grimm finds himself fighting against the Incredible Hulk, the Leader, and Kurrgo, Master of Planet X. Or Kurrgo The Twerp. Whichever fits the fuzzy alien the best.

It’s a fast-paced, hard-punching, all-out-action issue, combining the best of Ben’s humour and action with the best of Jim Starlin’s artwork. And this episode isn’t just focusing on this comic, no! We’ve also got a healthy dose of automatic desiccation, some correspondence from the Time Variance Authority, and a spoiler alert: No dinner!

Click on this link to go to the libsyn page for this episode, or listen below.

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 161: Fantastic Four #137 – Rumble On Planet 3

This FOOM Is On Fire

Hello, and welcome to episode 137 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, we’re bringing to a conclusion the story of the Shaper of the Worlds and the 1950s throwback world that the Fantastic Four have found themselves trapped in. If it seems like this week’s episode doesn’t quite match up with last week’s, that’s just our attempt to recreate these comics in podcast form! Just don’t ask us where Planet 3 is.

We’ve got plenty of forced intergenerational conflict, self-proclaimed male chauvinism, multiple no-prizes, Burt – the glorious sound of battle, and important Red Ghost news. Yes, such a thing exists. All this and more, on this week’s Fantasticast.

Click on this link to go to the libsyn page for this episode, or listen below.

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 160: Fantastic Four #136 – Rock Around The Cosmos

Legs vs Cubes

Hello, and welcome to episode 160 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

We’re back! 2016 is here and we’re kicking things off with our coverage of Fantastic Four #136, by Gerry Conway and John Buscema. What do you get when you cross a poorly-defined 1950s nostalgist with the Shaper of Worlds? Why, it’s a dystopian reality where laser-guitar biker gangs battle against old people! All this, plus a spirited debate on the virtues of legs vs cubes, the ballad of Slugger Johnson, and we open our paradoxical Christmas present!

This week, we’re launching our Patreon campaign, to help us fund the next stages in the life of the podcast. Patreon is a crowdfunding platform that allows supporters to donate on an ongoing basis. We have lots of things we’d like to do, but we do need some financial help with this. Check out our Patreon page for further details.

Click on this link to go to the libsyn page for this episode, or listen below.

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 158: Fantastic Four #135 – The Eternity Machine

I-Spy: Gil Kane Edition

Hello, and welcome to episode 158 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

Things are a little quieter this week for us, as we take a look at Fantastic Four #135. Of course, quieter is a loose term to use for an issue that includes a rampaging Dragon Man, Gregory Gideon and his cyber-suit of power, Medusa’s hair, Sue’s emotional trauma, and the betrayal of Thomas Gideon. Gerry Conway and John Buscema present the final appearance of one of the Fantastic Four’s earliest villains.

Oh, and a terribly-constructed prison cell, an overly-dramatic Alicia Masters, the most unlikely Time Magazine Person Of The Year, a terrible choice for a flight path, a mysterious stranger, and Stan Lee’s fake Willie. It’s a packed issue, but is it any good?

Click on this link to go to the libsyn page for this episode, or listen below.

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 157: Fantastic Four #134 – A Dragon Stalks The Skies

Two Hundred Dollars!

Hello, and welcome to episode 157 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

It’s one the most packed episodes of The Fantasticast seen in a long time, with three comics before us. We start with Fantastic Four #134, with the return of the Dragon Man, and of one of the most unlikely Fantastic Four villains from the early 1960s. We continue with the legendary Luke Cage, Hero For Hire #9, in which Luke travels to Latveria to collect a debt of $200 from none other than Doctor Doom. Finally, Jim Starlin arrives to take over Captain Marvel with issue #26, guest-starring The Thing, and kick off the first great Thanos storyline.

With so much to cover, and a prominent story featuring Thanos, we decided to ask Al Sedano to join us for this episode. Host and producer of Resurrections: An Adam Warlock and Thanos podcast, Al was the perfect guest to discuss and direct these three issues. And who can resist an issue where Luke Cage punches Doctor Doom in the face whilst shouting ‘Here’s a sample of my fist!’

Click on this link to go to the libsyn page for this episode, or listen below.

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 153: Marvel Team-Up #6 – As Those Who Will Not See!

The Secret Origin Of Phil

Hello, and welcome to episode 153 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

We’re dipping our toes back into the world of Marvel Team-Up, with issue #5. The Thing is the guest-star for this issue, stepping forward in his own right for the first time. Can you tell that Marvel Two-In-One is on the horizon? This titanic team-up also features two (count ’em, two!) villains, the nefarious Mad Thinker and the strangely sympathetic Puppet Master. After a decade of radioactive clay, the time has come to discover his secret origin.

Joining us for this team-up is Fantasticast artist Mike Georgiou. Creator of Steve and Bob, and Elemental Micah, Mike is the owner of a proud beard and a fluffy tablecloth. He’s also the creator of our wonderful show artwork, and we’re very pleased to welcome him back to the show. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk or follow @mikedraws on twitter.

Click on this link to go to the libsyn page for this episode, or listen below.

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou.

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

Strange Tales #124: It’s… ASBESTOS!!! 30

Strange Tales #124, page 10, panel 6

Strange Tales #124: It’s… ASBESTOS!!! 30

Written by: Smilin’ Stan Lee

Illustrated by: Darlin’ Dick Ayers

Inked by: Peerless P. Reinman

Lettered by: Adorable Art Simek

You can probably tell I’ve got a big grin on my face whilst creating this post. I’m a huge fan of ridiculous uses of asbestos in 1960s Fantastic Four comics, and the suggestion that Paste Pot Pete has mixed asbestos with his paste to create a fireproof, quick-setting adhesive is completely ludicrous. I mean, for a start, there’s a very good chance that the smothering effect of the paste alone renders the need for a fireproof material null and void. And let’s not talk about the logistics of mixing a fibrous substance into a viscous liquid without further reducing its viscosity.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #124 on our thirty-third episode: Bad Horse, Bad Horse, with special guest host David Walker

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_33.mp3]

The Fantasticast Episode 152: Fantastic Four #130 – Battleground: The Baxter Building

Longbox Amnesia

Hello, and welcome to episode 152 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

Big changes are afoot in this week’s episode of The Fantasticast. Fantastic Four #152 sees the Frightful Four infiltrate the Baxter Building, striking a blow at the heart of the Fantastic Four. With the team seemingly broken apart and defeated, can the combined force of Franklin and Sue Richards save the day? What unthinkable consequences will their actions bring? And can this set of show notes get any more overwrought?

We also read your e-mails, plug our friends participating in Secret Convergence on Infinite Podcasts, discuss just why Reed Richards isn’t working for us in Secret Wars, encounter melodramatic Johnny Storm’s melodrama, and give more thought to Gorgon’s footwear than anyone has ever given before.

Click on this link to go to the libsyn page for this episode, or listen below.

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

Strange Tales #124: Flamin’ ‘Eck 51

Strange Tales #124, page 10, panel 2

Strange Tales #124: Flamin’ ‘Eck 51

Written by: Smilin’ Stan Lee

Illustrated by: Darlin’ Dick Ayers

Inked by: Peerless P. Reinman

Lettered by: Adorable Art Simek

Ah, the infamous panel where Johnny was possessed by the Phoenix Force 13 years before its creation.

Or…

The infamous panel where Johnny inadvertently proves and disproves the theories regarding conservation of energy. Ignoring the fact that the kinetic motion of the car’s engine provides the energy to recharge the battery which is used to start the car itself, Johnny decides that he can expend his flame whilst creating new flame energy to store within him to use in the future. He’s literally creating energy out of nothing.

Sometimes, Stan’s pseudo-science hits the right level of believability. Other times, it’s pure crap.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #124 on our thirty-third episode: Bad Horse, Bad Horse, with special guest host David Walker

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_33.mp3]

Strange Tales #124: Flame On 72

Strange Tales #124, page 8, panel 6

Strange Tales #124: Flame On 72

Written by: Smilin’ Stan Lee

Illustrated by: Darlin’ Dick Ayers

Inked by: Peerless P. Reinman

Lettered by: Adorable Art Simek

It’s amazing how disparate Strange Tales is from the main Fantastic Four book at this time. I’m not just talking in terms of quality – and issues like the Molecule Man and the Infant Terrible ones show that the core book can read as badly as the spinoff – but in terms of aims and context it’s as if the two book are coming from very different eras. Whilst the main book is offering fast-paced tales featuring aliens and alchemists, mutants and Avengers, packed with character and a relentless drive forward, Strange Tales seems stuck in a depressingly domestic late 1950s as depicted in pop culture that probably never quite existed.

8 pages into this story, and we’ve seen some tame, uninspired shenanigans at home (with no authoritative presence), and then Johnny’s gone bowling with girlfriend. If it hadn’t been for his signal ring (making its one and only appearance a few panels earlier), you can just imagine the two going for some malted shakes together. Where’s the genre-defining, boundary-pushing storytelling seen in the Fantastic Four? It’s certainly not to be seen here.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #124 on our thirty-third episode: Bad Horse, Bad Horse, with special guest host David Walker

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_33.mp3]