Checkered Past

It's Checkered Past's second anniversary! We celebrate with a Romance-themed episode, featuring episode 3 of "Reach for Happiness", dramatized by the Girls' Young Romance True Love Story Players. PLUS beauty tips from Liza Roundalot, Withers Larue, and Heidi Park-Chester - AND the return of Time Machine Mail Bag!

It's my and Dr. Husband's Anniversary, so we're celebrating with a look at two other star-crossed lovers, Elasti-Girl and Mento. Not a hoax, not a dream, they really ARE getting married, but not before their best friends try to [checks notes] trick them into NOT getting married. Not really up on straight culture these days, is that still a thing?

Superman brings much-needed attention to the dual scourges of wealth inequality and cultural appropriation! Supergirl tests out spaceworthy feminine hygiene products, and then uses science to escape a scientifically-impossible world! All this, plus Lois Lane sticks her nose in where it doesn't belong!

We didn't mean to take a 2 week break - just like Metamorpho didn't mean to (checks notes) turn the Eiffel Tower into acid and haul it away in a milk truck. But them's the breaks, kid. PLUS I reveal my secret weakness for shirtless industrialists with bushy eyebrows!

Blockade Boy! Plant Lad! Fake Superboy! Just a few of the heroic names you shouldn't get too used to in the classic Legion of Super-Heroes tale "Super-Stalag of Space". It's got action, it's got drama, plus all the mid-century misogyny you've come to know and love. Join us!

Superman's dead! But that won't stop him from taking some time out to cruelly play on Lois and Lana's emotions! PLUS a new radio drama by The Girls' Young Romance True Love Story Players!

Cluemaster makes his debut, Aunt Harriet crosses wits with Dick and Bruce, and Elongated Man loses his old costume. PLUS the debut of my all-new, all-different ELONGATED MAN SONG. As E-M himself would say, "Talk is cheap! It's action that counts!"

Listen, I like mid-century misogyny as much as the next guy, but I can't remember when a comic has enraged me as much as this issue of Wonder Woman. Not even Ross Andru's imitative art can save it. C'Mon, men, WE CAN BE BETTER THAN THIS

The Inferior Five make their Checkered Past debut! Dr. Bobb does a deep nerd dive into the brilliance of E. Nelson Bridwell, and Dr. Husband bemoans the continued existence of Nazis. All while enjoying the MAD-infused adventures of our new favorite underdogs!

Great Scott! A b-boy...flying! With Super-Powers *gulp* j-just like Superboy's! Well, don't panic, folks, just a little goodf-natured teenage tomfoolery and/or aliens visiting from other worlds POSSIBLY the long dead planet Krypton! Join as we meet a couple of Superboy's would-be brothers in Superboy #129, PLUS the debut of the fully orchestrated 80-Page Giant song!

Something different this week - I give Dr. Husband a modern-ish comic or two to read, influenced by Silver Age themes and characters. First up - Darwyn Cooke's monumental and much-beloved New Frontier! What did Dr. Husband, well-known hater of cartoony art, think? You'll just have to listen to find out!

Lost Civilizations! Giant Robots! Sea Monsters! Sounds exciting, don't it? Well get ready to lower your expectations as we take a look at Sea Devils #29!

Superman and Batman have a couple of big problems - THEIR SONS. What do you do with a misbehaving youth when said youth has super-powers, short of locking him in a room with deadly radiation? (Or, you know, you could make that your plan A like Superman does) Join us for a discussion of World's Finest #157!

Ultra the Multi-Alien...Ultra the MULTIPLE Aliens is more like it, as Ultra finds himself scattered to the four winds! Can even pretty Bonnie Blake help him now? Find out as we discuss Mystery in Space #107! PLUS - from Strange Adventures #188, an all-new audio drama brought to you by The My Greatest Strange Mystery Tale Adventure Players!

Aqualad flounders (haha see what I did there?), Mera kicks ass, and Aquaman? Well say hello to the mothra forking Justice League of AQUAMAN, BEEYOTCHES. Work friend Chuck stops by to discuss all things Aqua!

Half the Justice League has doubled in size and halved in power, and the other half don't understand the difference between powers and accesories! PLUS the aurora borealis has - um - become sentient, I guess, and is menacing the eastern seaboard? Legendary writer Gardner Fox takes a cue from Bob Haney this week as we look at JLA #44!

Laverne and Shirley, detecting chimps, good dogs, and peg-legged PT Boat skippers all come under our steely gaze as we look at Capt. Storm #13. Cap's origin story is featured, PLUS a fore-shadow of his soon-to-be change in status quo!

Brew Boss Shawn from Cinema Chop Shop joins us for a dispirited look at The Adventures of Jerry Lewis #94, where Jerry fights not only an ancient curse but his own household. How many of us haven't been there ourselves?

A short and sweet change of pace as we give you our rendition of "The Song Of The Blackhawks", plus a dramatic presentation by The Bachelor Dandies, the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia's ONLY Audio Theatrical Troupe for Single Gentlemen! PLUS, from Falling in Love #83, fashion dos and don'ts from Mary Ruth and Cyndi Lee! HAWK-AA!!

Barry Allen has a problem - his costume's got a hang-up - LITERALLY. Barry's love troubles don't end there, as Mirror Master's latest gadget gives him license to aggressively plant a kiss on Iris against her will! NO MEANS NO, FLASH, EVEN IN THE SIXTIES. Join us for a triumphant return to form and a look at Flash #161!

Meteor showers, green teenage stowaways, and robotmen used as bottle stoppers, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. The World's Strangest Heroes (a designation I might take issue with were I one of them, since Mento and Beast Boy are also along for the ride) battle the germ-ridden Meteor Man in this (checks notes) less-than-exciting outing!

Fun Fact: Funkytown's lyrics are written in "iambic pentameter", also, the use of quotation marks around "iambic pentameter" is inappropriate. Just like every third word in this week's Batman tale! Luckily we have SGT Rock fighting some Nazi youth to liven things up. Join the fun!

Tea-smuggling patriots, William Shatner's chest hair, and medeival castles in the neart of the American frontier. PLUS the Checkered Past debut of JOHNNY CLOUD, NAVAJO ACE!

The wonders of the modern world are such that we can record a podcast about Eclipso mere hours before an actual eclipse! What is his game? His ultimate plan? It's all VERY muddy but we expect nothing less from Zany Haney. PLUS a new radio drama by the My Greatest Strange Mystery Tale Adventure Players, starring the *Mind Master*, Prince Ra-Man!

FLASH FACT: You'll love this episode if you like creepy old European musicians, unwashed beatniks, feral children, or middle-aged gay couples talking about all of the above! Join us for Flash #160, an 80-PAGE GIANT featuring classic tales of The Flash's fast friends, PLUS a Hall of Fame announcement from the Public Service Announcement Players!