The Super Mates Podcast

Chris and Cindy celebrate the first anniversary of Super Mates, and Valentine’s Day with a look at famous Super Hero weddings! Hear them discuss the legendary nuptials of some of the world’s greatest super heroes! First off, it’s the wedding of Aquaman and Mera in Aquaman (vol. 1) #18! Aquaman becomes the king of Atlantis, but he must choose a queen! Despite his love for Mera, he must marry an Atl...

Brian Heiler, mastermind behind PlaidStallions.com and author of Rack Toys; Cheap, Crazed Playthings returns to talk about some of our favorite creative toys from childhood! But first he dishes the dirt on the exciting new Captain Canuck Mego-style figure he is helping to produce! Then we dive into discussion about Presto Magix, those great rub-on transfers featuring our favorite characters! All y...

Chris and Cindy visit their bookshelf of the past, and pull out some of their favorite children’s books featuring the World’s Greatest Super Heroes! First up is 1966’s Batman and Robin: From Alfred To Zowie! Learn the alphabet with the Dynamic Duo, as Chris recites the pulse-pounding text by Ruthanna Thomas, and describes the art by comics veteran Tom Gill! You can practically hear the Neal Hefti...

Have a Timm and Dini Christmas, it’s the best time of the year! Chris and Cindy celebrate the season by discussing some favorite yuletide themed works by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and the fine folks at Warner Brothers Animation! First off is The Batman Adventures Holiday Special. Follow the heroes and villains of Gotham throughout December, as they spread Christmas cheer…and mayhem! Batman and Batgir...

Grab your box of Crayolas and join Chris, Cindy and their special guest, Brian Heiler in a discussion of something every kid knew so well…coloring books! Brian, in addition to being the author of Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings, and editor-in-chief of the Mego Museum.com, is also the mastermind behind Plaid Stallions.com. There he hosts Coloring Book Theatre, exploring the highs and lows of li...

Chris and Cindy beam back aboard the Enterprise to review two recent photonovel comics by industry legend John Byrne, and published by IDW! These “lost episodes” feature actual images of Shatner, Nimoy and company…recomposited to fit Byrnes’s new stories! First up is Star Trek Annual, 2013: “Strange New Worlds”. The Enterprise intercepts a transmission from Delta Vega… the planet where Captain Kir...

How did Chris and Cindy spend their Fall Vacation? Well pull up a chair and will show you some slides. No, wait! Don’t leave! We promise not to torture you with pictures of the world’s biggest ball of twine. No, we’re talking Disney World, people! We give you the run down of the Halloween goodness we experienced in the Happiest Place on Earth. Then we talk about Marvel Universe Live, where you’ll...

It’s the final trip to the House of Franklin-Stein, and the Franklins have saved the best for last! Okay, maybe not the best, but certainly the most fun! Chris, Cindy and special guest-son Andrew discuss director Fred Dekker’s love letter to all things monsterific, 1987’s The Monster Squad! Dracula, the Frankenstein Monster, the Wolfman, the Mummy, and the Creature descend upon 1987 suburbia to br...

On our third trip to the House of Franklin-stein, Chris and Cindy are joined by their son Andrew to discuss his (and Chris’) favorite Universal Monster film, 1941’s The Wolf Man! Lon Chaney, Jr. gives an iconic performance as the doomed Larry Talbot, the prodigal son who returns to his Welsh home only to stumble into a nightmarish world of ancient folklore and gypsy curses! When Larry intervenes t...

It’s our second trip to the haunted House of Franklin-Stein! This time Chris and Cindy Franklin tackle the Prince of Darkness with Hammer’s 1958 opus, Horror of Dracula! Christopher Lee is pure evil as the blood-sucking count, out for revenge against those who would dare oppose him. Peter Cushing is the screen’s best Van Helsing (don’t even TRY to argue about it), dedicated to ending his unholy re...

Welcome to the House of Franklin-stein! It’s part one of our blood-curdling horror series, where Chris and Cindy Franklin take a look at some of their favorite classic horror films, and comics featuring super heroes vs. legendary monsters! First up is 1935’s masterpiece, Bride of Frankenstein! Boris Karloff returns as the monster, and he demands a mate! Colin Clive is back as reluctant Dr. Henry F...

In this episode, Chris and Cindy Franklin gush about the Guardians of the Galaxy, and that segues into discussion on the state of the comic book movie. Where they’ve been, where they are at, and where they are possibly going. Can Marvel Studios do no wrong? Is DC/WB finally getting on track? Will Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice shock and awe us? Then it’s time to dig into the Super Mates Mail...

  Cindy and Chris Franklin discuss some comic-related movie and toy news from the recent San Diego Comic Con, including the teaser trailer and other reveals for Batman v. Superman: The Dawn of Justice. Also some news on another possible DC hero coming to the screen (if you smell the magic word he may or may not be cooking) and some new merchandise from the soon-to-finally-be-on-DVD-and-BluRay...

Chris and Cindy squeeze a volcano and end up in a parallel world! Okay, they don’t do that, but Superman does, in the classic World’s Greatest Super Friends episode, “Universe of Evil”! Our Man of Steel must contend with some devil-worshipping Super Enemies, while his evil counterpart makes mincemeat out of our Super Friends. It’s childlike, nonsensical awesomeness! Then the Super Mates get a litt...

This episode, Chris and Cindy Franklin are joined by Andrew Leyland of such fine podcasts as Hey Kids, Comics!, The Fantasticast, and Palace of Glittering Delights to discuss Andy’s topic of choice; the 1977 Spider-Man TV pilot film! Journey with Andy and the Super Mates on a free-wheeling trip back to the decade of polyester and see how the Spidey legend was reinterpreted through 70s eyes…and low...

Cindy and Chris play Santa Claus and read the letters and comments YOU have sent them. And just like the Jolly One, a lot of these letters are about toys…specifically our 80s Toys episodes. So there is even MORE discussion on great 80s toys like Super Powers, Secret Wars, G.I. Joe, Transformers, M.A.S.K., Masters of the Universe, Jem, Spectra and more! Oh, and there’s talk of Batman, Star Trek, co...

In this very special episode, Chris and Cindy Franklin are joined by Chris’ friend and podcasting mentor, Rob Kelly! Rob is the co-host of The Fire and Water Podcast, the writer of the award-winning Ace Kilroy web strip, the editor and compiler of Hey Kids, Comics! True-Life Tales from the Spinner Rack, and one helluva nice guy to boot! Rob and the Super Mates discuss three Batman tales penned by...

In this episode, Chris and Cindy Franklin share two of their favorite comic book mini-series; The Untold Legend of the Batman by Len Wein, John Byrne and Jim Aparo, and The Legend of Wonder Woman by Kurt Busiek and Trina Robbins. Batman is targeted for destruction by a foe who knows his every secret! The Darknight Detective must reexamine his own history to discover the shocking identity of this m...

Chris and Cindy Franklin dig deeper into their 80s toy box! Chris waxes poetically about his love for the be-all-end-all of DC toy lines, Kenner’s Super Powers Collection. Oh, yeah, he also mentions its “pretty-in-its-own-way” cousin, Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars. Cindy talks about My Buddy, and of course the conversation must touch upon his demon-spawn, Chucky! But there’s more! You’ll get fon...

Journey with Chris and Cindy Franklin back to the decade of excess…excessively cool toys that is! But first the happy couple does their geeky duty and Rap About Cap…Captain America: The Winter Soldier film! In this spoiler-free mini-review, both gush about how they love Chris Evans (for totally different reasons) and why you should run out to a theater and see this movie…after you listen to this e...

Space…the Final Frontier…for geekery! Join Chris and Cindy as the beam into the 23rd century! First they explore the strange new world known as the Lexington Comic Con, where they meet none other than Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner! The Captain is commanding a much smaller vehicle these days! As we travel at warp speed, the Franklins discuss how they got into Star Trek, and of course debate...

It’s Bat-Mania! We begin with the first installment of “Super Mates Theater”. Robin is late to school! How’s a Batman going to get him there on time? Take the Tumbler! Then on to our feature, audio commentary on two key episodes of Batman: The Animated Series! A name from the past splits the Dynamic Duo, as Batman sidelines his trusted partner, leading both to recall the events that brought them t...

Valentine’s Day may be over, but the love-in continues! Join Chris and Cindy as they tackle the loves and losses of comicdom’s most famous red and blue heroes! Yes, it’s DC and Marvel’s flagship characters, Superman and Spider-Man! Follow Spidey and his bride-to-be-and-yet-never-was Mary Jane from that first famous door knock, to the deal with the devil that undid it all. Then stop by Metropolis t...

It’s our debut episode, and it’s Valentine’s Day! Join Chris and Cindy Franklin as they reveal the Secret Origin of their relationship, and how it involves comics. Then we get to the topic at hand, and examine some of comicdom’s greatest couples and learn lessons in love and marriage, including; Self-mutilation to save your child. When is it okay to wear dominatrix gear and torture your spouse and...