Why Not?! Read Alpha Flight with Chris & Tom

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 w...

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 coming and then almost rage quits over the Knapp/Kara Killgrave…escalat...

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...

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 favorit...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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 simula...

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 Namor wants more realistic sea floor battles, whi...

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...

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. Overl...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ver...

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 22: “Au Revoir, Jean-Byrne” Well, folks, this is it: the end of the line for our good buddy and creator of Alpha Flight , John Byrne. Issue 28 is his last on the title, as he moves on to The Incredible Hulk and, very soon, Superman . It’s been quite the ride and we take some time at the end of this episode to  sum up our thoughts on his now completed run. But before a...

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 21: “Beautiful Oblivion, or the Episode with Entirely Too Many Dicks In It” A lot of returning characters in this episode’s issues, though not precisely in the way one might expect. Which suggests a really clever reveal, but it’s honestly kinda…meh? Oh, and way more Eve 6 references than one might expect, all things considered. In this episode, Chris: makes one of the...

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 20: “SASQUATCH FIGHT!!!” This is a big one. Another Alphan bites it and boy does it make Tom happy (and then very, very angry). A lot of laughs in this one as we very much lose the wrong team member. Oh, and a conversation about Malört. That stuff is just everywhere now. In this episode, Chris: gets to really stretch ye olde voice work chords adds “SASQUATCH FIGHT!!!”...

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 19: “THE GIFT!” A bit of a diversion this week as we discuss a two-issue special, “The X-Men and Alpha Flight”. Which has happened before, but this time, Loki’s involved. And no one is trying to steal Wolverine. Mostly. This series was published well after certain…other events took place in the main Alpha Flight series (and in the X-Men for that matter) and is penned...

Today’s episode gives a sampler of what’s behind the Patreon wall (kinda like the Source Wall, but that’s a DC reference and Chris might not like it…). The holidays ran rough-shod over our recording/production schedule, so we’ll have more of that Alpha Flight sweetness you crave in a couple weeks’ time. But for today… Welcome to the Why Not?! Have A Drink Thanksgiving special. That's right, t...

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 18: “Holiday Spectacular” It’s the holiday season and in that spirit we’ve got a festive episode! We take a delightful romp through a decades old Marvel Handbook, discuss the ONLY  Alpha Flight issue that takes place at Christmas, and unveil some outtakes that simply did not make it into the show…until now! We keep it pretty light this episode and hope you can enjoy t...

Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 17: “I’ve Seen That Movie” Bit of a mishmash, this episode: an Aurora/Northstar adventure (really hope those kids work things out!), a Shaman guest appearance in Iron Man of all things, and a bit of Canadian political history (by a bit, we mean a lot). We also briefly touch on music and how comic book writers like to put real-world bands/songs/titles into their work (...