Capes and Japes

Today we talk about Bobby Drake, best known as Iceman. He's one of the founding members of the X-Men and in his time since then he's become an accountant, been kidnapped by an island, been kidnapped by Loki, been possessed by Emma Frost, time traveled, and discovered he was gay. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Bobby Drake tumblr edit - X-Men (1963) - Champions (1975) - The Defen...

Today we talk about Roberto Da Costa, a mutant known as Sunspot. He starts out as a teen whose girlfriend died saving his life, and then he became an X-Men member, and eventually he used his inheritance money to buy AIM and make an Avengers team! Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - The New Mutants Marvel Graphic Novel (1982) - Some Robertos throughout the years - New Mutants (1983)...

Today we talk about Robert Reynolds, best known as the Sentry, except how everybody forgot who that was and when he remembered he had to go talk to all his superhero friends so they would remember him and his power of 1,000-1,000,000 exploding suns. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Sentry (2000) - New Avengers (2004) - Sentry (2005) - The Age of the Sentry (2008) - World War Hulk...

Today we talk about Vandal Savage, who was a normal caveman until a meteorite made him immortal, and over the many many years he's been alive he decided that he mostly just wants to be evil and do schemes. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Green Lantern (1941) #10 - Action Comics (1938) #552 - Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985) - Resurrection Man (1997) - Villains United (2005) - Se...

Today we talk about the Aqualads and Aquagirls and Dolphin, or as we like to call them: The Aquids. They have a really bad habit of being abandoned as babies, apparently. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Adventure Comics (1935) #269 - Teen Titans (1966) #1 - Teen Titans: Year One (2008) - Tempest (1996) - Blackest Night (2009) - Aquaman (2011) #41 New 52 - Titans (2016) Rebirth -...

Today we talk about Mera, who is the Queen of Atlantis usually, and Aquaman's wife, usually, except when comics retcons their marriage, or when she abolishes the monarchy. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Aquaman (1962) #11 - Aquaman (1962) #18 - Aquaman (1962) #57 - #62 - Aquaman (1989) - Aquaman (1994) #11 - Blackest Night (2009) - Blackest Night: Wonder Woman (2009) #2 , #3 -...

Today we talk about Arthur Curry, also known as Orin depending on the era, who is Aquaman and usually the King of Atlantis! He has a lot of water-based powers from either living underwater as a child (Golden Age) or his Atlantean heritage (every other iteration of the character). Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Aquaman: Rage of Atlantis - More Fun Co...

Today we talk about several heroes and villains who use Pym Particles to get very big or very small! Including some Ant-men, Goliaths, and Giant-men! Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Irredeemable Ant-Man (2006) - Avengers: The Initiative (2007) #8 - Thunderbolts (2006) #128 - Secret Avengers (2010) - The Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #17 - Avengers (1963) #32 - Power Man (1974) #24 -...

Today we talk about Cassie Lang, who used to steal her dad's Pym Particles and then joined the Young Avengers as Stature, died, was resurrected by Doctor Doom, and then joined Ant-Man to fight crime as Stinger. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Marvel Premiere (1972) #47 - Heroes for Hire (1997) #7 - Young Avengers (2005) - Civil War (2006) - Young Avengers Presents (2008) #5 - Av...

Today we talk about Scott Lang, a man who stole the Ant-Man armor from Avengers Mansion for what was supposed to be a one-time superhero gig and then Hank Pym said "actually you know what? be Ant-Man". Since then he's died, come back, and gone into space. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Billy on the Street - Marvel Premiere (1972) #47 - Iron Man (1968) #133 - Avengers (1963) #19...

Today we talk about Janet van Dyne, best known as the Wasp. She was a founding member of the Avengers, can get really small, fly (but only when she's small), and sometimes she even gets really big, but not that often. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Tales to Astonish (1959) #44 - Avengers (1963) #1 - Avengers (1963) #59 - Avengers (1963) #83 - Avengers (1963) #217 - West Coast A...

Today we talk about Henry "Hank" Pym, who discovered a particle he named after himself that can make him small, and then he made a helmet that can talk to ants, and then he decided to get big, and then he decided to make a robot, and then he had a rough time. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Tales to Astonish (1959) #27 - Avengers (1963) #1 - This isn't the Smartest Characters li...

Today we talk about The Vision, who was created by Ultron based off of the body of one hero and the brain of another and then the Avengers taught him about autonomy and emotions. He's married Wanda Maximoff, had children, died, been reborn (repeat as necessary), and built his own family. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - WandaVision on Disney+ - Avengers (1963) #57 - Golden Age Vi...

Today we talk about Carrie Kelley, most known as the Robin from Dark Knight Returns, Duke Thomas, a sort-of Robin and The Signal, Harper Row a.k.a. Bluebird, and the two Batwings, David Zavimbe and Luke Fox! Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Dark Knight Returns (1986) - Dark Knight Strikes Again (2001) - Dark Knight III: Master Race (2015) - Batman (2011): Zero Year - Batman (2011...

Today we talk about several characters who are adjacent to Batman! Leslie Thompkins and Victoria October are doctors (highly necessary), Lucius Fox is Bruce Wayne's business manager (highly necessary), and Jean-Paul Valley is an assassin turned ally turned terrible Batman turned ally (not really necessary). Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Detective Comics (1937) #457 - Batman: W...

Today we talk about Alfred Pennyworth, who is the Wayne family butler, who raised Bruce after his parents died. Or is he? Turns out, in true comics fashion, so much of Alfred's backstory has been redone that it's all a bit of a blur. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Batman (1940) #16 - Detective Comics (1937) #328 - Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? - Batman (2011) New 52...

Today we talk about James W. Gordon, the Police Commissioner for Gotham PD. He's the father of Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) and the friend of Batman, who then became Police-Sponsored Batman for a little bit but he needed a mecha-suit to do it. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Batman: The Golden Age vol 1 - Detective Comics 1937-2011 Special Issue (reprints Detective Comics #27!) - ou...

Today we talk about Terry McGinnis, best known as Batman from Batman Beyond, a 1999 cartoon, but since then he's been made canon in the comics! He was trained by an elderly Bruce Wayne after he discovered he used to be Batman, and his father is murdered. These events were unrelated. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Batman Beyond - Justice League Unlimited, "Epilogue" - Superman/B...

Today we talk about Maya Lopez, who has mostly been known as Echo but was also the first Ronin. She can replicate any skill after watching it, and also she was raised by Kingpin after he killed her father, who then sent her to kill Daredevil. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Alaqua Cox cast as Echo for Disney+ Hawkeye - Daredevil (1998) #9 - New Avengers (2004) #11 - Moon Knight...

Today we talk about Daimon Hellstrom, who is sometimes known as Hellstorm or Son of Satan, though he has a very complicated series of figuring out who his dad actually is, and one time when he lied to his wife about it. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Ghost Rider (1973) #1 - Marvel Spotlight (1971) #12 - Giant-Size Defenders (1974) #2 - Son of Satan (Trade Paperback) - Defenders...

Today we talk about Greer Grant Nelson, best known as Tigra, but she started out as The Cat, a fully human but super-powered-through-science hero! Until they decided to give her a furry makeover and now she's living the catgirl dream. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Claws of the Cat (1972) - Giant Size Creatures (1974) - Avengers (1963) #211 - West Coast Avengers (1984) - West C...

Today we talk about Patricia Walker, who goes by Patsy and also Hellcat. She started in teen rom-com comics in the 1940's, which turned into comics in Marvel canon where she convinced Beast to help her be a superhero named Hellcat in the 1970's. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Patsy Walker A.K.A. Hellcat! (2015) written by Kate Leth - Fantastic Four Annual (1963) #3 - Avengers (...

Today we talk about the very short 1972 Marvel comic Night Nurse about three nurses--Georgia Jenkins, Christine Palmer, and Linda Carter--and what they're up to in their short-lived comic and how Marvel brings (some of) them back into canon later. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Night Nurse (1972) - The Claws of the Cat - Shanna the She-Devil - Nightcrawler (2004) - Night Nurse...

Today we talk about Marc Spector or Steven Grant or Jake Lockley, who are all the same guy and better known as Moon Knight. He has Dissociative Identity Disorder in later comics, which is uhhh not always handled well, but he also has mystic powers from an Egyptian god so! A lot happening here. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - I know you're here Dracula - Werewolf by Night (1972)...

Today we talk about the first Captain Boomerang, George "Digger" Harkness, and his son Owen Mercer, who is also the second Captain Boomerang. Digger is arguably the least tolerable of the Rogues, but also maybe the most well-known outside of Flash comics, due to his involvement in the Suicide Squad. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Flash (1959) #117 - Legends (1986 - Suicide Squa...