One of the very first DC Comics characters of the Golden Age, THE SANDMAN - aka Wesley Dodds - fought crime and injustice in 1930s New York City armed with nothing but his wits, a gasmask, and a gun that fired nonlethal sleeping gas. Decades later, the first issue of Neil Gaiman's legendary "Sandman" series would reintroduce the world to Wesley Dodds, now explaining that his motivations and equipment were inspired by Dream himself. The Sandman spinoff series SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE from DC's...

They may be the most-mentioned yet never-spotlighted writer on The Very Fine Comic Book Podcast to date: Grant Morrison! Their graphic novel THE MYSTERY PLAY -- featuring painted art by Jon J Muth -- was published by Vertigo Comics in 1994, and featured a chilling theological twist on the classic UK smalltown murder-mystery trope. --- Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on...

Two comic creator legends of their respective eras collide in 1997's JUDGMENT DAY, written by Alan Moore, drawn by Rob Liefeld! Seemingly inspired by the then-recent trial of O. J. Simpson, "Judgment Day" tells the tale of a superhero-run investigation and trial for one of their own who's been accused of murdering a teammate -- featuring characters from Rob Liefeld's Awesome Comics and Image Comics imprints, as well as weaving in a genre-rich historical tapestry referencing all of comic...

On this April 1 episode of THE VERY FINE COMIC SNACK PODCAST! -- - a look at the Hostess fruit pies advertisements that appeared EVERYWHERE in Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Archie Comics, and other publishers throughout the 1970s & 1980s! - Dollarama brand Spider-man head lollipops! Open his head, and eat his brain! - Eternals PEZ! (it's lemon!) - Loblaws brand raspberry strudel! (it's overpriced!) Thanks for listening, and KEEP ON SNACKING! --- Join our Patreon for weekly bonus...

sssssSOMEbody STOP me!!! Before being adapted into the hit 1994 Jim Carrey film, THE MASK was a comic series from Dark Horse Comics in which creators Doug Mahnke & John Arcudi masterfully blended hyperexaggerated cartoon zaniness with brutal ultraviolence. Covered in this episode are the first 13 issues / 3 miniseries by the original creative team, as collected in THE MASK OMNIBUS VOLUME 1! --- Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes!...

Legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama passed away in March 2024, leaving behind an enduring legacy of work -- most notably his 42-volume magnum opus DRAGON BALL. Dragon Ball began in 1984 and spawned a still-ongoing saga and media empire, and is often regarded as the most influential manga and anime series of all time. In this episode, we'll rekindle our 1990s Dragon Ball / Dragon Ball Z memories, and discuss volumes 1 & 2 of the manga! Rest in peace, Akira Toriyama! "Thank you! — and...

In 1984, Marvel Comics created a spinoff line of all-ages kid-targeted comics called STAR COMICS! Overseen by Tom DeFalco and Sid Jacobson, the Star Comics line lasted through 1988 and introduced the comic reading world to the original characters Misty, Planet Terry, Royal Roy, Top Dog, Wally The Wizard, and [most famously] Peter Porker: The Spectacular Spider-Ham! -- along with comics based on licensed IPs from cartoons and toy lines, including [deep breath...] Air Raiders, Animax, Care...

As long-promised for our 52nd episode! -- What's a "Crisis"? What's a "multiverse"? What's a "52"? These words get thrown around a lot in DC Comics, as well as in off-page discussions of their lore, continuity, and publishing history. In this episode we'll attempt to give a basic Crisis 101 overview for the total newcomer, discussing the 1985 continuity-streamlining event "Crisis on Infinite Earths", and its 2005-06 sequels "Infinite Crisis" and "52"! Mike LOVES these stories, but -- unlike...

Listener Adam Bishop sent us an absolutely wild assortment of VERY random comic books to discuss! Strap in and enjoy as we wax eloquent on Baywatch, Jesus, Faust, Back To The Future, Danzig, The Maxx, assorted eros comics, X-Men: The Animated Series: The Comic, The Time Machine: The Movie: The Comic, and more! This episode and format is perfect timing for us to finally launch our oft-requested PATREON, which is live now at...

SKREEONK!!! It's our monstrous 50th episode! What better way to celebrate than with the Big G himself - GODZILLA!!! Many publishers have put out Godzilla comics over the years, including a Marvel Comics series in the 1970s, and a longrunning line from IDW Publishing since 2010. In this episode, we'll be taking a look at the Godzilla titles published by Dark Horse Comics from the late 1980s through mid 1990s. We mayyyyy spend a disproportionate amount of time reviewing the incredible "GODZILLA...

3 3 3 Happy Valentine's Day! 3 3 3 Joan Peterson discovers she is trapped in an endless, terrifying cycle of "romance" -- and every time she falls in love, she’s torn from her world and thrust into another tear-soaked tale! It's the tropes and trappings of the 1940s-50s "romance comics" boom with a scifi/supernatural twist in LOVE EVERLASTING from Image Comics! Written by Tom King, illustrated by Elsa Charretier, colored by Matt Hollingsworth, lettered by Clayton Cowles! Check out Elsa...

Guardian! Shaman! Snowbird! Puck! Northstar! Aurora! Sasquatch! Marrina! Together they are ALPHA FLIGHT, Canada's premiere superhero team! Originally appearing in an issue of Chris Claremont's Uncanny X-Men, these avengers of the great white north eventually got their own Marvel Comics series in 1983 which was written+drawn by John Byrne for the first 28 issues. It was a smash hit (surprising even Byrne himself), and wound up running for 130 issues under various creative teams until 1994. In...

During a cold World War II winter, a handful of soldiers find themselves enlisted into a theological battle against fallen angels in THE LIGHT BRIGADE by Peter Tomasi & Peter Snejbjerg! How has this action-packed miniseries NOT become a movie yet??? Get on that, Hollywood!!! Closing song: "Between Two Wars" by The Big Heist, from the album Tightrope: https://open.spotify.com/album/3ixgGNHQI9qbI5pUldMGVs --- Follow us on Instagram...

Do you love... golllllddddd? So do the protagonists of Satoru Noda's manga series GOLDEN KAMUY, a gold rush tale set in the early 1900s in Japan's northern region of Hokkaido, in the aftermath of the Russo-Japanese War. This epic and thoroughly-researched manga just wrapped up in 2022, and is also currently airing as an anime series on Crunchyroll, and a live-action film hitting Japanese theatres on January 19 2024! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfQLBf2dL80 --- Follow us on Instagram...

Happy new year! What are some good beginner comics / graphic novels for someone new to the medium? -- it's a question we get asked frequently by friends and colleagues since starting this very fine comic book podcast. In this episode, we go through an assortment of popular and critically-acclaimed modern favourites which should be very/perpetually available at your local bookstores and libraries, along with recommended reading ages for each! BONE by Jeff Smith PARKER by Darwyn Cooke SAGA...

This is not a joke. This is not a drill. We are literally reviewing the actual "OFFICIAL COMIC BOOK OF CHRISTMAS", as self-declared, or perhaps ordained by a governing body of the holiday. What is it??? You'll have to hear the episode to find out, as we unwrap this festive gift for YOU, dear listener! Happy holidays, everyone!!! Thank you for spending time with us during this first year of The Very Fine Comic Book Podcast. 3 --- Follow us on Instagram...

Our monthlong celebration of Xmas-themed comics continues with a tribute episode to the late great writer/illustrator Keith Giffen, who passed away in October 2023 at the too-young age of 70. Keith's career touched every corner of superhero comicdom, most notably the longrunning Justice League International series he co-created with J. M. DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire. In the first half of this episode, we'll be taking a long, chaotic, tangent-filled look at Keith's character Ambush Bug,...

Santa Claus is coming to town! Our monthlong celebration of Xmas-themed comics kicks off with THE GREAT TREASURY OF CHRISTMAS COMIC BOOK STORIES, featuring a smorgasbord of golden age holiday tales brought together in a gorgeously festive hardcover, edited by Craig Yoe and published by Yoe Books + IDW in 2010. Featuring art and stories by John Stanley, Walt Kelly, Richard Scarry, and more! --- Follow us on Instagram...

Well, we've officially peaked early. Because THE PEOPLE DEMANDED IT, here at last is the official definitive final word on Jim Davis' GARFIELD vs George Gately & Peter Gallagher's HEATHCLIFF. We have spoken. --- Follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and send us questions to potentially read on-air via IG DM or via email at [email protected] If you're enjoying The Very Fine Comic Book Podcast, please take the...

News Strip November continues! KRAZY KAT (also known as KRAZY & IGNATZ in some reprints and compilations) was an American newspaper comic strip by George Herriman which ran from 1913 to 1944. In this episode, we'll dive into the history of the character and their creator, through the lens of the compilation "The George Herriman Library: Krazy & Ignatz 1916-1918", the first of four oversized Herriman collections published by Fantagraphics Books:...

One of the very best comics running right now is Adam de Souza's ongoing BLIND ALLEY, following the escapades of a group of kids growing up in the titular neighbourhood of Blind Alley! PEANUTS-style humour, a lovable dog on a quest with a Yokai, poignant ruminations, and a cute vampire! It's available in two physical collected editions (so far) and available to read+follow online for free at: https://www.blind-alley.com/1 Follow @Kumerish on Instagram and Twitter for new strips +...

In this very special wedding-themed episode, we take a look at: Superman: The Wedding Album (1996) Fantastic Four Annual #3 (1965) Amazing Spider-Man #131 (1974) and... Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21 (1987) - in which Peter Parker finally weds Mary Jane Watson, forever! 3 --- Follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠ and send us questions to potentially read on-air via IG DM or via email at [email protected] If you're...

Happy Halloween! Our shocktober horror coverage comes to a close with a two-part episode covering all 23 issues of The Simpsons' TREEHOUSE OF HORROR anthology from Bongo Comics, which was released every October from 1995-2017 and featured a wide variety of writers and artists terrifying Springfield's favorite family in a spooky smorgasbord of styles. The previous episode - Part 1 - covered issues 1-10! This episode - Part 2 - covers issues 11-23! --- Follow us on Instagram...

Happy Halloween! Our shocktober horror coverage comes to a close with a two-part episode covering all 23 issues of The Simpsons' TREEHOUSE OF HORROR anthology from Bongo Comics, which was released every October from 1995-2017 and featured a wide variety of writers and artists terrifying Springfield's favorite family in a spooky smorgasbord of styles. This episode - Part 1 - covers issues 1-10! Part 2 covering issues 11-23 will drop on Halloween! --- Follow us on Instagram...