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The best podcast about Alpha Flight you'll ever hear!
45 Episodes
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Episode 39: “A Sas Called Wanda” In which Alpha Flight goes on several distinct genre-based adventures over the course of 3 issues…and we feel the whiplash. Lot more on Goblyn; less discernible rules to characters’ power; and the return of…the Great Beasts?!?!?! In this episode, Chris: makes it clear that Heather’s bloodlust is only growinggets further confirmation of Jeffries…proclivitiesgives one of the best defenses of Universal Healthcare you’ll ever hear (doesn’t happen on the recording,...
We circle back to a couple issues we skipped over in our zeal to keep the narrative moving and boy do they really expand on Heather’s characterization. Are they groundbreakingly original stories? No. Are they solidly done and enjoyable? Absolutely. Mantlo…you really know how to play with our emotions. In this episode, Chris: points out that the only Alphan with a traditionally stable childhood is Marrina, who opted not to stick around very longhas some thoughts on Larry Hama writing AFoffers ...
It’s a proper 3-issue arc! Which feels shockingly novel! In which, the Canadian government finds out just how different an Alpha Flight—and Vindicator—they have on their hands; one of JMH’s failed experiments makes a return; JMH’s GREATEST failure shows up for a bit (yeah, Wolverine is guesting); Wanda muses on her current state (we’ll get to that conversation very soon); and members of the team wonder at, but do not act on, Purple Girl and Knapp’s budding relationship (which is indefensible)...
Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving! And on this day of days we bring you issue 50: a double-sized offering in which three Alphans depart the team, two of whom get their pasts rather aggressively reimagined. And Loki’s here. There’s a lot going on. In this episode, Chris: brings up the Siege Perilous, which Tom definitely didn’t see comingand then almost rage quits over the Knapp/Kara Killgrave…escalationsgets real excited during some listener mail that mentions Emo Philipsand Tom: misses some obvi...
Another two-fer this episode as we bring to a close our time with Roger Bochs. Y’know, given the way things were going, this might not be the worst possible…nah, this is still a pretty bad way to go out. Plus: Whitman Knapp shoots up the “worst character” rankings; Aurora is barely in either issue; and Wanda Langkowski works her way into our hearts. In this episode, Chris: provides a great update on his Baldur’s Gate 3 playthroughneeds to be more careful about what links he clickssuddenly has...
After a few short-er episodes, we’ve got a bit of a doozy for your ears this week. Two, count ‘em two!, issues of that Alpha Flight…goodness. In which we watch Roger Bochs change in all so many terrible ways! And the return of Tom’s bete orange in a very different form. There’s a lot to go over and even more to say in episodes to come, so onwards! In this episode, Chris: welcomes back his favorite characternotes the distinctive faces new artist June Brigman brings to the teamthinks he’s crack...
Short but impactful one this week as we bid farewell to a founding member of Alpha Flight…looks like that Dead Alphans list is gonna grow a bit in Episode 34! We also get more amazing characterization for Madison Jeffries, the continuation of miserable Puck, and, well, a lot of other characters are…there. Oh, and Bochs having the Bends gets resolved in 5ish panels. Like we said, an impactful one. In this episode, Chris: references Rush of all bands; just struck Tom as surprisingin the Watchme...
Just one issue this week but it’s a doozy as we get another situation designed to keep Kara Killgrave on the straight and narrow. Really: that feels like the only reason we get this villain this month. But! We do get some interesting characterization for Misssster Jeffries (who might be extremely overpowered?!) and there’s a decent chance Roger Bochs will stop having the bends sometime soon. Maybe. In this episode, Chris: takes an unnecessary shot at the USPS right from jump, but reels it rig...
We’re back to our regularly scheduled episodes and in this one we cover three issues, including one of our least favorite to date, Marvel Fanfare #28. Just a very odd, unnecessary story. But! We also meet Purple Girl AND witness the return of Beta Flight! Mantlo’s really starting to put his stamp on this book and it is absolutely motoring along. In this episode, Chris: really doesn’t want to waste time talking about Marvel Fanfare #28…and makes some good points as to why we shouldn’toffers so...
Happy summer, folks! We pulled together something akin to a double-sized issue: we dig into Alpha Flight Annual #1 (which might be both of our favorite single issue) and have a conversation with Professor Joseph A. Stramondo on disability, ableism, and the word “cripple”. It’s a fascinating conversation and one we’re sure you’re going to enjoy. In this episode, Chris: creates the AI that will kill us allmakes an unexpected musical referencewonders who even designed Mansion Alphaand Tom: pulls...
This summer has been busy, y'all, and with our presentation at The Uncanny Experience right around the corner we thought we'd drop another tasty treat from behind ye olde Patreon wall into the feed this week: our true to the movie's runtime conversation about Thunderbolts*. Which we both really liked! A lot! Plus, it's now available for digital rental or purchase (that simulacrum of actual ownership) and out on DVD end of the month (that's the good stuff!), so the timing makes sense...ri...
In this episode we finally catch up with everyone’s favorite fish lady from Newfoundland, MARRINA! And, really, we do. Not messing with you. Which also means we have to spend time with no one’s favorite Atlantean…Namor. He brought some friends with, though, in the form of the 1986 Avengers! It’s a team-up! In this episode, Chris: does a pretty good Namorwants more realistic sea floor battles, which is an interesting requestsays “Mr. Jeffries” waaaay too muchand Tom: absolutely crushes his Nor...
Episode 29: “What Color Is Your Sasquatch?” Welcome to Episode 29, in which we wrap up Snowbird’s magical mystery pregnancy, encounter a real-life tale of Arctic exploration gone wrong (redundant, really, that “gone wrong”) made mystical(?!), and run into Talisman again. And, y’know what? Chris may have had a point about her. But maybe don’t mention that to him such that it goes to his head. Very much not in this episode? Marrina! But probably next time. Maybe. In this episode, Chris: gives s...
Welcome to Why Not?! Episode 28: “The Doug…Undone!” It’s a surprise-entirely-unnatural-pregnancy episode, everyone’s favorite scifi/fantasy trope! And The Doug Thompson handles it…poorly. Little less of the Puck/Bochs self-loathing (though not none of that nonsense), but the issues covered this episode represent a real corner being turned as we put the…rocky start to Mantlo’s time behind us. Overly optimistic? Probably! In this episode, Chris: proves Tom very wrong on a bit of character backs...
Welcome to Why Not?! Episode 27: “Big Throuble in Westchester County” We’ll be at The Uncanny Experience in July, giving a talk on the history of Department H, which sounds boring, but it’s us, so we’ll find a way to spice it up (I mean, a full-scale assault on civil rights tends to make for spicy conversation)! But in today’s episode, we cover the last(?) two especially rough issues in the Mantlo run (Tom hopes), featuring Wolverine and the first appearance of Lady Deathstrike (if you’re lis...
Welcome to Why Not?! Episode 26: “Tall Tale” Do you ever feel like you’re just talking to yourself most of the time? Just Tom? Because he spends swaths of this episode doing voices? Ok. Just Tom. It’s time for that episode folks. THAT episode. Wherein we learn how Puck came to be…Puck…according to Bill Mantlo. But! We make the most of it. We think. In this episode, Chris: brings back an oldie, but a goodie, sound effectreally wants to see Harrison Ford take out Pucktries out a new sign off?an...
Welcome to Why Not?! Episode 25: “Pucking Around and Finding Out” Well we’re back from C2E2 and boy howdy was that a good time. Great meeting folks and finding out just how many folks can recognize Puck in the wild (and were incredibly excited to see the costume!). We’re back in your ears today with a deep dive on issue 31 and the return of Deadly Ernest. In this episode, Chris: does an incredible amount of Puck voicework. Really think he’s only going to speak as Puck in the very near futurer...
What the title says! We'll be at C2E2 Friday, April 11, 2025 and Saturday, April 12, 2025, just hanging out and taking it all in. And we'll be in costume. Alphan costumes. So if you're nearby and have the time, you should come. Not just because of us. But mostly because of us. And if you're not nearby, you can engage vicariously through our socials. Tom never thought he'd dress up for a con. The things we do... Written by Chris Baker Produced and edited by Tom Flynn Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five...
Welcome to Why Not?! Episode 24: “Elbows Up” …and we’re off! We spend this episode solely discussing Issue #30, which will be our approach for the next few issues as we get used to what Mantlo is bringing to the table. And, boy howdy, is this already a VERY different book than what came before. Oh, and there’s a special treat as our pals over at “Unpacking the Power of Power Pack” sent us a note on their own experiences with Bill Mantlo. That guy wrote everything. In this episode, Chris: rem...
Welcome to Why Not?! Episode 23: “Bills, Bills, Bills” Here we go! The Mantlo era has begun! Only one issue today as we get our feet under us a bit. And what with all the sturm und drang we (Chris) injected in anticipation of this run…it might not be terrible? Or, more accurately, parts will be rough and other parts will be great and we’re going to call a clean game. And we make time to have a very thorough conversation about soap operas. In this episode, Chris: retires the “MANTLOOOO” battle...
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