Capes and Japes

Today we talk about Amanda Waller, who has led the Suicide Squad, Checkmate, and the Secret Six. She is an extremely competent morally grey woman who is not here to be liked, she's here to get stuff done. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Legends (1986) - Suicide Squad (1987) - Checkmate (1987) - Superman/Batman (2003) #44 - Suicide Squad (2011) - Suicide Squad (2016) - Check, Ple...

Today we talk about Amethyst, the Princess of Gemworld, who is a human (or homo magi) girl who discovers she's can go to Gemworld where she has magic powers and is also an adult woman (except now she's the same age both places). Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld (1983) - Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld (1983) (TRADE) - Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld (...

Today we talk about Adam Strange, an archaeologist who was kidnapped from Earth accidentally by aliens who then give him technology to help save their planet, which he does, and ends up beaming back and forth from Earth to space in some convoluted ways. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Showcase (1956) #17 - Mystery In Space (1951) #53 - Adam Strange: The Man of Two Worlds (1990)...

Today we talk about Hercules, the Prince of Power, who is Marvel's version of the Greek demi-god. He's on the Avengers, the Champions, and a team called the God Squad, and he's also really good friends with Thor when he's not being tricked into being on TV by other Greek gods. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Avengers (1963) #10 - Journey Into Mystery Annual (1965) #1 - Thor (196...

Today we talk about Robert Bruce Banner, who mostly goes by Bruce unless Stan Lee forgets his own character's name, but he also goes by a lot of Hulk aliases because WOW this guy just can't stop absorbing radiation. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Incredible Hulk (1962) #1 - Tales to Astonish (1959) #59 - Incredible Hulk (1962) #347 - Civil War II (2016) - Immortal Hulk (2018) -...

Today we talk about Amadeus Cho: a genius-level teen who hangs out with superheroes before replacing Hercules as the Prince of Power to save him, replacing Bruce Banner as Hulk to save him, and then settling into his own newfound identity of Brawn. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Amazing Fantasy (2004) #15 - World War Hulk - Incredible Hercules (2008) - Fear Itself - Totally Awe...

Today we talk about Howard the Duck, who is a cynical duck-shaped alien who ended up on Earth, where he endures many misadventures, falls in love with a human woman, and is forced to wear pants. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Howard the Duck cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy - Adventures into Fear (1970) #19 - Spider-Man Team Up (1995) #5 - Howard the Duck (1986 Movie Trailer) -...

Today we talk about Lunella Lafayette, canonically the smartest person in the Marvel Universe who is best known as Moon Girl, and her best friend Devil Dinosaur, who is literally a dinosaur named Devil. We also talk a bit about Moon-Boy, who is a small furry boy who first befriended and named Devil. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Devil Dinosaur (1978) #1 - Fallen Angels (1987)...

Today we talk about Uatu the Watcher. Who is this big alien man? Why does he watch? Why does he keep breaking his non-interference oath to keep helping the Fantastic Four? Let's find out. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Fantastic Four (1961) #13 - Uatu: jsyk i can't INTERFERE if you just HAPPENED to take something POWERFUL from my HOME in order to SAVE YOUR WEDDING - Uatu: don't...

Today we talk about Roberto "Robbie" Reyes, the 5th Ghost Rider, and the only Ghost Rider to drive a Dodge Charger and be visually modeled after Zayn Malik of One Direction. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - All-New Ghost Rider (2014) - Avengers (2018) - Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - Robbie Reyes: Ghost Rider (2016) - Ghost Rider (2019) - Hawkeye: Freefall (2020) - Gwen Stacy (202...

Today we talk about Helena Bertinelli, best known as the Huntress, but was also Batgirl for a bit. We also talk about Helena Wayne, who was the first heroine to go by Huntress, because they're basically indistinguishable except for their personalities and backstories. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - DC Superstars (1976) #17 - Infinity, Inc. (1984) - Crisis on Infinite Earths - T...

Today we talk about the Birds of Prey, a superhero team founded by Oracle and Black Canary, typically with Huntress and Lady Blackhawk, though the team has included many characters including Hawk and Dove, Catwoman, Big Barda, and many more! Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Black Canary/Oracle: Birds of Prey #1 - Birds of Prey: Manhunt - Birds of Prey (1999) - Birds of Prey: Of L...

109 John Constantine Today we talk about John Constantine, an occult detective and con man who has seen too much but still does his best. He's also the kind of man to have a threesome with ghosts. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Swamp Thing (1982) #37 - Crisis on Infinite Earths - tumblr post about witches having joint custody of a child - Polygon's Constantine Threeway article...

108 Zatanna Zatara Today we talk about Zatanna Zatara, whose superhero name is just her first name, and she can cast spells by saying words backwards! She's an extremely powerful magician--both on stage and in the Justice League. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Action Comics (1938) #1 - Hawkman (1964) #4 - Identity Crisis (2004) - Zatanna (2010) - Justice League Dark (2018) - Ha...

107 Doctor Fate Today we talk about Doctor Fate, who is mostly a Lord of Order named Nabu who empowers/inhabits the body of whoever puts on the Helmet of Fate. Typically this is Kent Nelson, but it has been many, many people. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - More Fun Comics (1936-1947) - Kent Nelson origin - Eldritch Blaest - All-Star Comics #3 (forming of the Justice Society of...

106 Michael Holt Today we talk about Mr. Terrific: a little bit of Terry Sloane but mostly Michael Holt, both men with no super powers but they're EXTREMELY smart and just REALLY GOOD AT EVERYTHING. Although, Michael Holt really should've been Dr. Terrific because he EARNED those 14 PhDs. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - CW Arrow's Mr. Terrific (Curtis Holt) - Terry Sloane's terr...

105 Yelena Belova Today we talk about Yelena Belova, the second Black Widow after Natasha Romanoff joined the Avengers. She gets her face swapped, quits spy work, gets sent to the Savage Lands, and ends up being both a cyborg and a clone (at different times)! Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Black Widow (1999) - Black Widow (2001) - I Want To Turn People Into Dinosaurs - Tales of...

104 Tony Masters Today we talk about Tony Masters, better known as The Taskmaster, a villain who can memorize any fighting style at the expense of his other memories, and he used this to open a school to teach people how to fight the Avengers. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - MCU Taskmaster in Black Widow trailer - Avengers (1963) #196 - Taskmaster (2002) - MCU Hawkeye Costumes -...

103 Nick Fury Today we talk about Nick Fury, who started out as a soldier, then became a spy after drinking some Infinity Formula, and then the director of SHIELD, but when he ran out of his infinity juice he retired to space and was replaced by his son: Nick Fury Jr. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos (1963) #1 - Strange Tales (1951) #135 - Ulti...

102 Natasha Romanoff Today we talk about Natasha Romanoff, or Natalia Alianova Romanova, or Natalie Rushman, or... well, she goes by a lot of names, but most people know her as the Black Widow, a Russian super spy turned Avenger! Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Black Widow trailer - Wonder Woman 1984 trailer - Tales of Suspense (1959) #52 - Tales of Suspense (1959) #57 - Civil W...

101 Virgil Hawkins Today we talk about Virgil Hawkins, best known as Static, who went into the middle of a fight between two gangs (on some very bad advice) and ended up getting electromagnetic superpowers! Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Static (1993) #1 (I can't find a place to buy it digitally, so this link is a Retro Review that does have some scans) - Static Shock (TV Show)...

100 Bruce Wayne Today we revisit Bruce Wayne for our 100th episode!! He's a very rich, very traumatized man who dresses up as a bat, and has done so since 1939 (although he has... changed a lot since then). Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Okay, we didn't mention this, but here's a trailer for a documentary about Bill Finger and Batman - Detective Comics (1937) #27 - Detective Co...

99 Jane Foster Today we talk about Jane Foster, who started out as a love interest for Thor, but then became a doctor for the Avengers, then Thor, and now Valkyrie. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Health to the Company (Brass Farthing) - Journey into Mystery (1952) #84 - Thor (2014) - War of the Realms (2019) - War of the Realms Omega #1 - The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag -...

Beta Ray Bill Today we talk about Beta Ray Bill, who is a genetically modified alien who fought Thor and was found worthy of Mjolnir, gaining all his powers and his outfit. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Welcome to the Go Support Ngozi Power Hour - The Mighty Thor (1966) #337 - Die #9 - Young Justice (2019) #10 - Batman (2016) #82 - B B Free #1 - Spider-Man & Venom: Dou...

97 Thor Odinson Today we talk about Thor Odinson, who is sometimes a Doctor named Donald Blake but mostly he's Thor, a super powerful alien from Asgard that the Norse god is based off of. He has a very powerful magic hammer and he has a... strained family dynamic. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Journey Into Mystery (1952) #83 - Avengers (1963) #1 - Thor (1966) - Civil War (the...