Capes and Japes

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...

Today we talk about the Mirror Masters, including the original Mirror Master Sam Scudder, Digger Harkness who pretended to be Mirror Master very briefly, Evan McCulloch who was the second official Mirror Master, and Evan's daughter who briefly went by Mirror Mistress but also Prismatik. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - The Flash (1959) #105 - DC Halloween Special 2009 - Crisis on...

Today we talk about Mick Rory, best known as Heat Wave, who is obsessed with fire, one of Flash's villains, and part of The Rogues. He has a hand-held flamethrower, and once he used it to melt Flash's boots. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - The Flash (1987) - The Flash by Geoff Johns - Underworld Unleashed reading order - Flash (2011) (New 52) - Identity Crisis - Rogue War - Flas...

Today we talk about Leonard Snart, most commonly known as Captain Cold. He's mainly a Flash villain, and part of The Rogues, but he occasionally teams up with the Flash when they have a common goal. We also go on a tangent about his sister, Lisa, who is known as the Golden Glider. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: -The second story of Justice League Quarterly (1990) #2 on DCUniverse...

Today we talk about some of the New Gods, characters created by Jack Kirby who are from either Apokolips or New Genesis, and there sure is a lot of weird stuff that goes on with them. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - The New Gods by Jack Kirby - Forever People by Jack Kirby - Mister Miracle (1971) by Jack Kirby - Justice League International (1987) - New Gods (1989) - New Gods (1...

Today we talk about Big Barda, one of the Female Furies on Apokolips until she ran away to Earth to hang out with her husband Scott Free, try to live a suburban life, and sometimes be a superhero. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Mister Miracle (2017) - The New Gods by Jack Kirby - Forever People by Jack Kirby - Mister Miracle (1971) by Jack Kirby - Some of the Furies - Justice L...

Today we talk about Scott Free, also known as Mister Miracle, who is one of the New Gods. He was politically traded as a child and tortured on Apokolips but he escaped to Earth to become an escape artist, hang out with his wife, and also be a superhero. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - The New Gods by Jack Kirby - Forever People by Jack Kirby - Mister Miracle (1971) by Jack Kirby...

Today we talk about Anya Corazon, who has gone by both Araña and Spider-Girl. She got magic spider powers from a Spider Society mage but even the mage doesn't know why Anya can create an exoskeleton (which is ridiculous that it doesn't cover her torso, that's where her organs are!). Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts - Amazing Fantasy (2004) - Araña...

Today we talk about Felicia Hardy, best known as Black Cat, who is a burglar who has at any given time the powers of a burglar, bad luck powers, and/or cat powers. She's also at any given time the friend, girlfriend, and/or enemy of Spider-Man. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #194 - Spider-Man/Black Cat: Evil That Men Do - Spectacular Spider-Man (1976)...

Today we talk about Cindy Moon, best known as Silk. Turns out she was bitten by the same radioactive (and magic??) spider that Peter Parker was, except nobody knew about her because she was locked in an underground bunker for 7 years to hide from a guy trying to eat her! Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Being replaced with a malfunctioning robot and then getting blown up and they...

Today we talk about the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a 1985 DC Comics crossover event that reshaped the whole DC universe. Or, well, turned its multiverse into a universe. It's... a lot. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: - Crisis on Infinite Earths reading order - Crisis on Infinite Earths on DC Universe - The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (2015) - The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (2015b) - Ju...

Today we talk about Colleen Wing (who has no superhero name), a martial artist, swordswoman, and private detective who is frequently involved with Misty Knight and the Heroes for Hire. She also leads a small group of the organization The Hand for a while. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: -Okay, so we did go off on a whole thing about how much Colleen is super white passing, but YES...

Today we talk about Mercedes "Misty" Knight, who doesn't really have a super-powered name but she DOES have detective experience, a proficiency in hand-to-hand combat, and a cool metal arm that she uses to fight crime. Media specifically mentioned in today's episode: -Netflix's Luke Cage , Iron Fist , and Defenders - Marvel Premiere (1972) #20 - Marvel Team-Up (1972) #1 - A bit about Misty Knight...