The Fantasticast Episode 73: Fantastic Four #64 - The Sentry Sinister

The Fantasticast Episode 73

Mike Draws Us In With His Synopsis

A little twitter-based humour for you there...

It's been a while since Steve and Andy invited a guest onto the show, and Fantastic Four #64 seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so. Joining us this week is the writer and artist of Elemental Micah, and the cover artist of this very show, Michael Georgiou.

Michael jumps aboard as we gently explore the theories of Erich von Daniken (and by explore, I mean completely neglect to mention). The Kree make their first appearance in the Marvel Universe by proxy, with the Sentry Sinister. There's a mighty amount of destruction, one of Jack Kirby's greatest designs, and a suprisingly moving ending.

We also have one of the longest selection of outtakes we've had in a long time, although I should warn you - they are not for the faint-hearted...

Why not drop by Mike's website (http://www.mikedraws.co.uk), buy a copy of Elemental Micah (http://www.elementalmicah.com), or follow Mike on twitter (https://twitter.com/MikeDraws)?

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_73.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 72: Fantastic Four #63 - Blastarr, The Living Bomb-Burst

The Fantasticast Episode 72

BLAST It, I Need A Funny Subtitle

Episode #72 of The Fantasticast is here, ready to BLAST you with a BLAST of audio goodness, BLASTing from your speaker/headphones into your non-BLAST-proof ears! BLAST BLAST BLAST! (Have you guessed that this week's villain is BLASTarr yet?)

Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland are here to continue guiding you through the Fantastic Four from the very beginning, this week looking at Fantastic Four #63, featuring a mighty team-up between the Sandman and Blastarr. Along the way, we discover some words that Stan may or may not have made up, we get totally awesomed by Jack's use of forced perspective, and we come across our first ever column from Stan "The Man" Lee - Stan's Soapbox.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_72.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 71: Fantastic Four #62 - And One Shall Save Him

The Fantasticast Episode 71

Punch A Submarine To Death

It's episode 71 of The Fantasticast and, in a rush to get the episode released so Steve can go watch Monty Python, he forgot to record a pre-titles stinger. So, imagine him singing the theme to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or something along those lines...

This week, Steve and Andy dig into Fantastic Four #62, featuring some terrible peril for Reed, the first appearance of Blastarr, and Triton punching a submarine to death. How could anyone not like this issue?

Don't forget to answer our Listener Question of The Month: We want to know the single issue that sums up the Fantastic Four for you!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_71.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 70: Fantastic Four #61 - Where Stalks The Sandman

The Fantasticast Episode 70

The summer sun is fading as the year grows old

And darker days are drawing near

The winter winds will be much colder

But The Fantasticast is here!

Today on The Fantasticast, Steve and Andy take a look at a powerful solo debut for a long-time Marvel universe villain in Fantastic Four #61. Yes, it's the Sandman, divorced of the Frightful Four and equipped with a great Jack Kirby-designed costume. It's a fast, brutal, action-filled issue that takes the team to and entirely new place...

Don't forget to answer our Listener Question of The Month: We want to know the single issue that sums up the Fantastic Four for you!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_70.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 69: Fantastic Four #60 - The Peril And The Power

The Fantasticast Episode 69

After nearly two-and-a-half years, Steve and Andy reach the conclusion of their journey. With their coverage of Fantastic Four #60, they have exhausted the Stan Lee/Jack Kirby issues collected by Marvel in Omnibus form. Today, we clobber our final vagrant.

Such sad tidings aside, we also have one of the best fights seen yet in the Fantastic Four as the team go head-to-head with the cosmically-powered Doctor Doom, with the fate of the planet hanging in the balance.

All this, and a special appearance from Professor Alan Middleton!

Don't forget to answer our Listener Question Of The Month: We want to know the single issue that sums up the Fantastic Four for you!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_69.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 68: Fantastic Four #59 - Doomsday!

The Fantasticast Episode 68

Hello, and welcome to the 68th episode of the show! Your hosts, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland, are all fired up and ready to look at Fantastic Four #59: Doomsday!

First, though, there's the small matter of our Listener Question of the Month, where we asked our listeners to tell us their feel good Fantastic Four reading experiences. Our feedback was limited, but we've gathered it all together anyway. There's also a new Listener Question of the Month for you all to answer... but you'll have to listen to the show to find out what that is.

Then it's off to Fantastic Four #59, wherein Doctor Doom poses a lot, the Fantastic Four cower a lot, Black Bolt shouts a lot, Attilan suddenly gains a population, and the longest-running subplot in Marvel Comics get wrapped up (a bit).

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_68.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 67: Fantastic Four #58 - The Dismal Dregs Of Defeat

The Fantasticast Episode 67

The Silver Surfer: Imprisoned and drained. Doctor Doom: Enhanced with the power cosmic. The Inhumans: Still trapped. The Fantastic Four: Blissfully unaware of Doom's power, and wilfully ignorant of unusual lightning strikes.

Professor Alan Middleton: Still here after an entire week. His family miss him. He's eaten all the cereal and won't go and buy some more. Terrible house guest. Although he did write a synopsis for Fantastic Four #58, which saved Steve and Andy the bother of doing so.

Along the way, we pay tribute to Jack Kirby to mark the 20th anniversary of his passing, get involved in a detailed conversation regarding the benefits of renting vs buying in the context of discovering your borther-in-law's former college rival gaining unimaginable power, and remark on just how wonderful Doctor Doom is. That last bit may just be Alan...

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_67.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 66: Fantastic Four #57 - Enter… Doctor Doom!

The Fantasticast Episode 66

So, who likes Latverian monarchs? Who likes cosmically-powered ex-world-eater heralds? Who likes surfing? Who would like to see all three combined, and served with a side-salad of granule-based supervillain? And how would you like if such a story were to be covered on the show in the presence of the Cultural Attache to the Embassy of Latveria (or whatever his title is)?

We think you all would, which is why Steve and Andy are proud to welcome back to the Fantasticast... Professor Alan Middleton! Alan joins us as we start our coverage of one of the most epic stories Stan and Jack ever told. Fantastic Four #57 is the first of four issues to feature Doctor Doom and the usurped power of the Silver Surfer. If you thought it looked pretty poor in Rise of the Silver Surfer, we three are here to show you how it should have been done.

Oh, and one of the biggest outtakes ever.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_66.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 65: Fantastic Four Annual #4

The Fantasticast Episode 65

It's time to dust off a character whose copyright is about to expire, deliver a resounding beat-down to a litigious creator, and welcome back the original android Human Torch to Marvel Comics. Join Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland as they cover Fantastic Four Annual #4, featuring The Torch That Was, and take a look at the behind-the-scenes goings-on that led to this copyright-retaining revival.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_65.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 64: Fantastic Four #56 - Klaw, The Murderous Master Of Sound

The Fantasticast Episode 64

I'll give you three guesses as to which villain makes a return in this issue, and the other two guesses just don't count. Yes, Klaw is back, and he's shed the meth-addict look for some a classic Kirby onesie, complete with unfortunate highlights around his backside. Fantastic Four #56 is devoted to clearing up the biggest loose end of the Fantastic Four's sojourn to Wakanda. See Sue fail to be silent. See Reed abandon his reasoning and resort to the power of his fists. See... er... something happen to the Inhumans.

As for the opening to the show... well... we literally ran out of time to create an opening. You have our sincerest apologies.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_64.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 63 - Fantastic Four #55: When Strikes The Silver Surfer

The Fantasticast Episode 63

It's our shortest ever episode as Steve and Andy see what happens when the Silver Surfer returns to the lives of the Fantastic Four in issue #55. It's a fantastic issue-long punching match between Ben Grimm and Norrin Rad, with at least one incredibly suspicious tactical decision from the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing along the way.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_63.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 62: Fantastic Four #54 -Whosoever Finds The Evil Eye...

The Fantasticast Episode 62

Year Three of The Fantasticast is here! If we were Batman, we'd be introducing our kid sidekick right about now... But as we legally can't do that, instead we're going to return to Lee and Kirby following our end-of-year shenanigans.

Steve Lacey (20 Minute Longbox, Who True Freaks) and Andy Leyland (Heykids Comics, Who True Freaks) are here to guide you through Fantastic Four #54, featuring the first appearances of Prestor John and the Evil Eye, two bastions of the Marvel Universe who definately aren't unknown by most readers of comics, oh no.We also dive into our e-mail bag, swing with Ol' Blue Eyes himself, and imagine the moment of JJ Abrams' birth.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_62.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 61: Fred Hembeck's Fantastic Four Roast

The Fantasticast Episode 61

Welcome to The World's Silliest Comic Podcast!

As our listeners rouse themselves from the annual turkey coma, we head back in time 31 years to celebrate with 20th year of publication of the Fantastic Four with a good old-fashioned roast. Yes, this episode, Steve Lacey and Andrew Leyland present the glorious gag-packed jam issue, Fantastic Four Roast, masterminded by Fred Hembeck. Check out the list of creators:

Fred Hembeck, Jim Shooter, Ron Wilson, John Byrne, Michael Golden, John Romita Jr, Al Milgrom, Mike Zeck, Bob Layton, Alan Weiss, Sal Buscema, Mike Vosburg, Kerry Gammill, Keith Pollard, Frank Miller, Denys Cowan, Marshall Rogers, John Buscema, Don Perlin, Gene Day, Walt Simonson, Frank Springer, Brent Anderson, Steve Leialoha, Dave Cockrum, Chic Stone, Terry Austin, John Romita Sr, Joe Rubinstein, Joe Sinnott, John Beatty, Bill Anderson, Ricardo Villamonte, Dan Green, Keith Pollard, Klaus Janson, Bob McLeod, Bill Sienkiewicz.

All this, and one of the greatest number one singles of all time.

Don't forget to answer our listener question of the month: We want to know your feel-good Fantastic Four reading experiences!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_61.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 60: Marvel Two-In-One #74 - A Christmas Peril!

The Fantasticast Episode 60

Happy Christmas, and welcome to the first of our two end-of-year special episodes of The Fantasticast. Once again, Steve and Andy are throwing the Lee/Kirby issues out of the window (not literally - we've proved over the past two years just how dangerous hardback collections of these comics can be) and are choosing two issues from across the length and breadth of the 53 years of the Fantastic Four.

Andy's selection is up first, and he's chosen 1981's Marvel Two-In-One #74, a Christmas-themed team-up between The Thing and the Puppet-Master. With script by Mark Gruenwald and art by Frank Springer and Chic Stone, this story features a guest-appearance from the best bovine midwife in the world - Bova!

Don't forget to answer our listener question of the month: We want to know your feel-good Fantastic Four reading experiences!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_60.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 59: Fantastic Four #53 - The Way It Began

The Fantasticast Episode 59

No, it's not another origin song - your ears are safe! Instead, it's an origin story, as Stan and Jack tell the tale of the Black Panther, and the tragedy that birthed him. Join Steve Lacey and Andrew Leyland as they take a look at Fantastic Four #53, violent murder, giant red sound elephants, and a chilling comparison with Gotham's greatest hero.

Don't forget to answer our Listener Question Of The Month: We want to know your feel-good Fantastic Four reading experiences!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_59.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 58: Fantastic Four #52 -Introducing The Sensational Black Panther

The Fantasticast Episode 58

We've been back in, re-tooled, and fixed the audio, so if you grabbed one of the episodes where Andy and I were about 5 seconds out of synch, jump back and grab one that makes (marginally more) sense when you listen to it!

We're back, re-recorded and 100% kinder on your ears than the original episode would have been. This time around, Steve and Andy get to grips with the introduction of the first black superhero, The Black Panther. Will this be a measured and respectful look at tribal life in another country, or will we get caught up in hideously inappopriate and dated stereotypes? The answer lies within.

We also launch our new Listener Question Of The Month. if you responded to our last question, don't worry, we haven't forgotten about it. We'll be looking at all the feedback collected from this in next week's episode as we review your favourite under-rated Fantastic Four stories.

All this, and the first adventure of the incredible Doctor Spynazi!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_58.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 57: Fantastic Four #51 - This Man, This Monster

The Fantasticast Episode 57

This special episode of The Fantasticast statistically has a high chance of something magical happening if you listen to it on the day of release. For Saturday 23rd November is the anniversary of an assassination, the anniversary of a TV show, and more importantly, the first day of the Thought Bubble Comic Convention, which both Andy and Steve are attending. So, as you listen to this episode, we may very well be facing each other, dressed in our Fantasticast t-shirts, and generally being fantastic. If you see us at the show, do say 'hi'!

If you're not in Leeds on this day, then enjoy our coverage of Fantastic Four #51, the classic one-shot story This Man, This Monster. We had a lot of fun putting this episode together, and our little post-credits tribute to Doctor Who has to be heard to be believed. 

Steve has one week to go before his first ever 5k run, the Mousdashe, on behalf of the Prostate Cancer Research Centre and Rething Mental Illness. If you'd like to support these charities through his endeavours, then his fundraising page is here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/StephenLacey

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_57_Final.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 56: Fantastic Four #50 - The Startling Saga Of The Silver Surfer

The Fantasticast Episode 56

Guided by The Watcher, The Human Torch ventures into sub-space to seek the only weapon useable against Galactus. Meanwhile, cowed by The Punisher, The Thing, Mr Fantastic and The Invisible Girl find themselves powerless against The Destroyer Of Worlds. Only the power of The Silver Surfer can halt Galactus's plans to devour the Earth.

Steve and Andy, even more unable to affect the seemingly unstoppable sequence of events, have to satisfy themselves with recording a new episode of The Fantasticast, covering the 50th issue of The Fantastic Four. Do come and join us!

Steve's currently in training for his first ever 5k run, taking place at the end of November. it's called the Mousdashe, it's part of Movember (you should see his Trejo-esque fuzz), and it's supporting both the Prostate Cancer Research Centre and Rethink Mental Illness. If you'd like to support this, his donation page is: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/StephenLacey

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_56.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 55.5: We've Made A Huge Mistake...

What lovely updated art from Michael Georgiou!

Yes, it's another fill-in show, and we can promise you no singing this time around. Except that we can't really, there will be singing. But what we can give you is a selection of the best openings and outtakes from the first 10 episodes of The Fantasticast for your enjoyment.

Steve and Andy will return next week with their coverage of Fantastic Four #50 and the conclusion of the Galactus Trilogy. Until then, why not throw some money at Steve as he prepares to complete his first 5k run in aid of Movember? Donate here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/StephenLacey

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_55-5_Final.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 55: Fantastic Four #49 - If This Be Doomsday

The Fantasticast Episode 55

The Jack Kirby Collector has this to say about page 2 of Fantastic Four #49: "[it's] the exact point when the 1960s super-hero comics peaked."

The Encyclopaedia Galactica also covers this subject, going into greater detail about the impact of a second splash-page at the start of the comic, conveying the majesty and scale of the two characters portrayed.

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy simply mentions that as the Earth is not about to be destroyed by a Vogon Constructor Fleet, then the events on this page must therefore be fictional, and can safely be disregarded. Unlike the Vogon Constructor Fleet.

Steve and Andy, however, find more to talk about in this comic than just one splash page, no matter how phenomenal that page is. There's the depiction of The Watcher, the arrival of the (original) Punisher, and the first meeting of the Silver Surfer and Alicia Masters. It's pretty good!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_55.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

The Fantasticast is Patreon supported. Visit www.patreon.com/fantasticast to donate and support us.

Original artwork by Michael Georgiou. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.