Mr. K’s Super Show

Once again, we go back to the Marvel age of comics, a swingin' time when the cold war was hot and spies were everywhere...even Marvel Comics!  We look at the comics Strange Tales #166 & 167 and Nick Fury, Agent Of SHIELD #1-3, & 5. Nick Fury, once the leader of a group of commandos during World War II, had been refashioned as a 1960s spy as the leader of an organization named S.H.I.E.L.D. ...

In this episode, guest co-host Jeff Harris (Behind The Grooves) and me explore the musical enigma known as Steely Dan!  And for the record, Steely Dan is a group, not just one guy. A group that defies easy categorization, as they mix rock, jazz, pop, funk, and lyrics that are sometimes inscrutable, but always interesting.  Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were two friends who met in college and set...

We take a soujourn to the Hyborian age of sword and sorcery with a young barbarian known as...Conan! In this episode, we take a look at Conan's comic roots, beginning in 1970 with the classic Conan The Barbarian series written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Barry Windsor-Smith.  We not only talk about the stories and art, but also how Marvel Comics came to be the first publisher to adapt the classic c...

50 years ago, the music world got its' first KISS, in the form a debut album by four young men who not only played hard and heavy rock, but had the audacity to wear makeup, over the top costumes, and platform shoes that made them seem bigger than life. 1974's self titled debut album by Gene, Paul, Ace, and Peter fired the first shot of KISS's kinetic sound and it was a mission statement that their...

In this episode, we tackle one of the Marvel Universe's most epic anti-heroes, the mutant known as...Wolverine! More specifically, we tackle 1982's Wolverine mini-series by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller as well as X-Men #172 and 173 by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith.  To do this, we needed some help doing the heavy lifting, so we brought on our first ever guest star: Eric Miller (Pods and Sods)...

What would happen if the legendary teen pop group The Bay City Rollers dropped the "Bay City" from their name,  their signature tartan garb, and pursued a new sound? The year is 1979 and after a tumultuous 1978, The Bay City Rollers have a new singer, a new sound, and a new look.  Hoping to stake out a post-teen idol territory in anticipation of the 1980s, the Rollers are now clad in bright new wa...

In this episode, we revisit an Avengers saga with so many turns and twists -- not to mention flashbacks -- that you'll get whiplash from reading it! We go back to the Marvel Age of Comics to examine The Avengers #57 - 60 by Roy Thomas and John Buscema, a saga that introduces a character that will have a major impact on the Marvel Universe, The Vision.  We also get to meet such characters as Yellow...

It was sixty years ago this month that The Beatles set foot in America and our country has never been the same ever since! Guest Co-Host Brad Page (I'm In Love With That Song podcast) and me delve into the frenzied state known as Beatlemania, that took over in February 1964, when The Beatles first played to the American TV audience on The Ed Sullivan Show.  We trace the back story to the group's d...

While things were getting grim an' gritty in 1980s comics, the antidote was a dose of BWAH-HA-HA, which came in the form of Justice League International.  We take a deep dive into issues #5-8. In the post-Crisis, cold war decade of the '80s, a new Justice League was needed, and while this version of the league took their heroics seriously, it didn't stop them from cracking a joke or two or three o...

On this show, we accentuate the positive, so we start off 2024 with an episode about the band Yes.  More specifically, their 1978 album Tormato. Special Guest Kevin Mulryne (Yes Music Podcast) discusses his book Yes: The Tormato Story, in which he delves into the making of this over the top prog rock classic.  We had a lot of fun discussing this book and all the behind the scenes anecdotes we coul...

It's our ho-ho-holiday show and for this one, we decided to go back to the distant past for a story that's so groovy, it's almost far out! Dig it, we're talking about "The TT's Swingin' Christmas Carol" from Teen Titans #13 (1967), in which The Titans (Robin, Wonder Girl, Aqualad, & Kid Flash), become the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, as they face off against the evil business...

This episode goes to 11! Guest Co-Host Terry Hamblin and me explore the cult "mockumentary" film This Is Spinal Tap, which is celebrating 40 years of one of the greatest fake bands ever, Spinal Tap. In an episode that walks the fine line between stupid and clever, we had fun going over the many sights, sounds, and yes, great gags, that have turned this film into a cult classic.   No podcasters spo...

In this episode of Back Issue Banter, we take you into a new world...The Fourth World! When artist Jack Kirby left Marvel  Comics in the early 1970s, it sent shock waves throughout the industry.  Kirby had visions of creating a new group of characters whose adventures were like nothing you'd ever seen.  And they were so wild that DC Comics had to publish them! The most popular of them was Mister M...

Join us as we celebrate our 50th episode spectacular with a look at the KISS solo albums from 1978 on their 45th anniversary! Guest co-host Eric Miller (Pods & Sods) and me delve into each and every aspect of this unprecedented achievement, in which four solo albums by the members of KISS were released on the same day in 1978!  We talk about the music, the gossip, the trivia, and leave no ston...

In this episode, we take a look at the classic "Master Planner Saga" from Amazing Spider-Man #31-33.  This classic tale by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko represents the peak of their collaboration and is considered by many to be one of the greatest Spidey sagas ever. We go through each issue, discussing every aspect of this iconic storyline. Hosted by Chris Karam and Brad Page

This episode, we celebrate 40 years of one of the greatest metal groups of all time....Dio!  Guest co-host Alex Alt (Sly Dog Music Cast) and me examine the 80s albums that built a rock legend.  Founded by legendary vocalist Ronnie James Dio, the Dio band was responsible for metal classics such as "Rainbow In The Dark," "The Last In Line," and "We Rock," among many others. We take a look at the alb...

In this episode, we delve into one of Batman's most compelling and most dangerous foes, Ra's Al Ghul.  From his debut in Batman #232, to his epic battle with Gotham's Caped Crusader that spans several continents and countries in Batman #242-244.  We look at these classic comics, as rendered by writer Denny O' Neil and artist Neal Adams. These are the stories that launched a legend and set the tone...

In this episode, guest co-host Lee Conrad (The Scrappy Doo Principle, KISStory Science Theatre) and me explore KISS's Lick It Up album as it celebrates its' 40th anniversary. KISS was at a crucial point in their career, as their glory days were behind them and they chose to bid farewell to that era by taking off the make up that they were so identified with up to that point.  It proved to be a suc...

Welcome to the debut episode of Back Issue Banter, a podcast in which every month, we'll discuss the vintage comic books of the '60s, '70s, and '80s as well as the creators who made them.  Join us as we dig deep into our longboxes and pore over those vintage Marvel and DC comics from yesteryear and share our thoughts about them! In this Fabulous First Issue-- I mean, First Episode, we discuss the...

In this episode, guest co-host Alex Alt (Slydog Music Cast) and me discuss The Mighty Van Halen, whose debut album was released 45 years ago. To say that Van Halen changed rock would be understating things a bit: Eddie Van Halen's emergence signaled a new talent on the scene, one whose influence would profoundly affect the rock scene as we know it.  Factor in the drumming of Eddie's brother Alex,...

In this episode, we take a look at the various attempts at a Led Zeppelin reunion, beginning with their appearance at 1985's Live Aid concert, and culminating in the 2007 concert that would comprise 2012's Celebration Day video and album.   Led Zeppelin had a considerable legacy to live up to and we go in depth, discussing the ups, downs, and what worked and what didn't work.  But it has a happy e...

With this episode, Guest Co-Host Julian Gill (KISS FAQ Podcast, Aerosmith on Tour 1973-85) and I discuss those lads from Sheffield, England, Def Leppard.  We discuss their meteoric rise in the 80s as one of hard rock and metal's premiere bands.  A band that had many great highs and some crushing lows along their rocket to fame. But ultimately, their music endures and we go deep into their 80s heyd...

In this episode, we take a deep dive into Led Zeppelin DVD, the band's opening of their video vault in 2003.  We talk about this treasure trove of vintage Zeppelin video, including the Royal Albert Hall 1970, Earls Court 1975, and Knebworth 1979 shows, among others. This DVD shows why Zeppelin was one of the greatest rock bands ever to hit the concert stage and this DVD set was an eye-opener, as L...

In this episode, I interviewed Donna Halper, who, in addition to being a pioneering female voice on radio, championed the cause of one of the greatest progressive rock bands of all-time, Rush. As a young program director, she came upon the band's self-titled debut as a Canadian import, and was drawn to the incredible music on it.  Thus begins a story of Rush's ascent, as well as Donna's ascent fro...

In this episode, we take a look at the 1997 release BBC Sessions, drawn from the band's live recordings for the BBC in the late 60s and early 70s.  We also take a look at the expanded version, 2016's The Complete BBC Sessions. We delve into these early live documents of a band who are already showcasing their instrumental virtuosity as well as their flair for dynamics and showmanship as they tear...