The Comics Canon

Content warning: Explicit language and themes; sexual assault On this episode, we're commemorating the recent release of Godzilla Minus Zero! And if you've been a Comics Canon listener for a while, you've probably guessed that we're not doing that by discussing a Godzilla comic—that would make too much sense! Instead, we take the opportunity to explore a book we've had on our list for some time: Kaijumax Season 1: Terror and Respect, written and drawn by Zander Cannon, published by Oni Press! As the title suggests, it's an affectionate mashup of kaiju and prison stories, set on an island prison for kaiju manned by guards who can grow into Ultraman-style kyodai heroes. And it's stuffed with prison-genre tropes familiar to anyone who's seen the HBO drama Oz, including a corrupt corrections officer in the pocket of a criminal organization and another guard in a sexual relationship with an inmate.   Does Cannon's somewhat cartoony style complement or detract from his occasionally grisly subject matter? Does anyone care about Electrogar's kids? And will this six-issue collection receive a fair sentence and get sent up the river to that Big House known as … The Comics Canon? In This Very Episode! Godzilla Minus Zero, No Limit Curt has a problem with kaiju robot physics Zander Cannon on the Frontlines of the Minnesota Resistance Shin Ultraman Clayface Barbarian Behind Bars Join us in two weeks as we get ready for Avengers: Doomsday with a look at three stories spotlighting Marvel's greatest villain, Doctor Doom: "Prisoners of Doctor Doom!" from Fantastic Four #5; "Origin of Doctor Doom!" from Fantastic Four Annual #2; and "…Though Some Call It Magic!" from Astonishing Tales #8! Until then: Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky! And as always, thanks for listening!

On this episode, Halloween season comes to a spine-tingling conclusion with a look at Edward Gorey's macabre masterwork The Gashlycrumb Tinies and Charles Addams's altogether ooky Addams Family cartoons! And we're fortunate to be joined once again by Flop House co-host and award-winning television writer Dan McCoy (The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Hell of a Week With Charlamagne Tha God)! Dan unsurprisingly provides invaluable insight as a humor writer, cartoonist, and horror aficionado, helping us pry the lid off such issues as Mad magazine, whether these works count as comics, and whether they belong in that crumbling Victorian manse known as … The Comics Canon! In This Very Episode! The Museum of Nostalgia Edward Gorey's The West Wing Hokum Tremors The Martian Chronicles Marvel EIC Stephen Wacker's Retailer Day speech  Join us in two weeks as we prepare for the release of Godzilla Minus Zero with a look at (what else?) Kaijumax Season 1: Terror and Respect by Zander Cannon! Until then: Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky! And as always, thanks for listening!

Content warning: references to sexual assault On this episode, Etrigan the Demon makes a return appearance as he horns his way into one of the best horror comic runs ever in Saga of the Swamp Thing #25-27! Jason Blood (dialing the creepiness up to 11) shows up in Baton Rouge just as Abby Arcane starts a new job at a home for autistic children. But he's not the only one who's new in town: The Monkey King (aka the cuddly yet deadly Kamara from The Demon #4) is newly arrived as well, barreling headlong toward a confrontation with Blood's devilish alter ego – and Abby's pal, the Swamp Thing! Can everyone's favorite vegetable man and one very loquacious demon stop the Monkey King from feeding on the fears of Abby's charges? What is Sting doing here, anyway? And can our monstrous heroes gain entrance into that home for wayward youth known as … The Comics Canon? Also in This Episode: Curt tries to keep it together Jason Blood needs to work on his people skills Lanterns The contemporary heir to Hammer Films Shin Godzilla Join us in two weeks for something a little different as we usher in All Hallows Eve with a look at Charles Addams' Addams Family cartoons and Edward Gorey's Gashlycrumb Tinies! Until then: Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky! And as always, thanks for listening!

On this episode, we get an early start celebrating the spookiest time of the year with a look at the frightfully fun first appearances of Jason Blood and Etrigan in The Demon #1-5 by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer, published by DC Comics! As Camelot falls to the forces of Morgaine Le Fey, the wizard Merlin dispatches his faithful demon servant, Etrigan, to await further instructions. (Why does Merlin have a faithful demon servant? No idea!) Centuries later, brooding demonologist Jason Blood reads an inscription on Merlin's tomb and transforms into (can you guess?) … that's right, Etrigan! Can Jason Blood and his chaotic alter ego defeat Morgaine Le Fey and foil the plans of the deadly Reincarnators? Can they survive the threat of Ugly Meg and the cuddly lil' fear monster known as the kamara? And can they withstand the sinister scrutiny of that cursed cabal known as … The Comics Canon? Also in This Episode: Why was Kirby's Fourth World canceled? Harry Mathews: World's Worst Friend So, like, what is Merlin's deal? The Devil Rides Out Resident Evil  Mooncop by Tom Gauld Join us in two weeks as Etrigan visits everyone's favorite muck monster (and a certain cute lil' demon creature returns) in The Saga of the Swamp Thing #25-27! Until then: Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky! And as always, thanks for listening!  

The Vision gets his turn in the MCU spotlight next month with the Disney+ series VisionQuest, so it seems like the perfect time to turn the Comics Canon spotlight on the origin of everyone's favorite synthezoid with a look at "Behold … The Vision!" from Avengers #57 and "Even an Android Can Cry" from Avengers #58, published by Marvel Comics! When Janet Van Dyne is attacked by a strange, unearthly being, she enlists the aid of her fellow Avengers to figure out who he is and why he's been programmed to kill Earth's mightiest heroes! Joining forces with the newly christened Vision, the team confronts the villainous robot Ultron-5 and begins to unravel the mystery of their new friend's murky past! What in the world does the late Wonder Man have to do with all of this? Will the Avengers accept their new friend, who just recently tried to kill them, into their ranks, without even running a background check? And will Curt and Kevin invite him to march with them in that Robot Parade known as … The Comics Canon? Also in This Episode: Matthew Modine as the Vision Kevin's favorite Shakespeare play Percy Bysshe Shelley OWNS Ultron Stop trying to make synthezoid happen! Curt makes a promise for 2027 My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante Atomic Robo and the Fightin' Scientists of Tesladyne Furious on Hulu Join us in two weeks as we get ready for spooky season with a look back at the first five issues of Jack Kirby's The Demon! Until then: Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky! And as always, thanks for listening!