The Fantasticast Episode 361: Marvel Two-in-One #74 - A Christmas Peril

The Fantasticast Episode 361

Festive Clay Snuffling

Hello, and welcome to episode 361 of The Fantasticast. Each episode, Steve Lacey guides you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, the Fantasticast hits a new milestone - the first comic covered twice by the show. We looked at Marvel Two-in-One #74 almost an entire decade ago, and it's time to look at it in context of the run, and see if Steve has worked out just who the people at the party really are.

Except that Steve isn't doing this along. Joining him for a thoroughly unseasonal Christmas bash is returning guest host Stacey Taylor. Host of Stacey's Pop Culture Parlor, Stace and Barry In The Morning, and new show Never Seen, Stace is back and delightful as ever. Together, they examine a unusual Christmas tale, as childlike wizards and bovine nannies meet the holiday spirit. 

Mark Gruenwald, Frank Springer, Chic Stone, George Roussos, Michael Higgins, Bob Budiansky, and Jim Salicrup present Marvel Two-in-One #74 - A Christmas Peril, featuring parole, a guy with a big face and a lack of talent, all of the swears, uncensored smut, and... hold on, that's the hosts! In addition, Steve takes a quick peak at Avengers #206, as he forgot to do it last time.

Fantasticast guest-host Christine Hanefalk has published her first book. Being Matt Murdock: One Fan's Journey Into The Science of Daredevil is now available as both a book and an e-book from Amazon. Do go and check it out!

Direct download: https://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_361.mp3

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at www.TheFantasticast.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

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

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 338: What If? #21 - What If... Sub-Mariner Had Married the Invisible Girl?

The Fantasticast Episode 338

Pregnancy Blind Spot

Hello, and welcome to episode 338 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, we return to both the Marvel multiverse and Earth 772 as we take a look at how Reed Richards might fare following Sue Storm's decision to stay with Namor the Sub-Mariner. Rejecting Spider-Man, alienating Ben, faking evidence to draw the world into war, and attempted genocide - all perfectly reasonable responses that don't warrant further analysis.

And joining us for that further analysis is podcaster Jon M. Wilson. Host of Make Ours Marvel, All The Pouches: An Image Comics Podcast, former host of more shows than we can mention, and the podcast who gave Steve his podcasting break, Jon joins us to complete his Fantasticast guest-hosting hat trick, a feat that has taken eight years to complete. Well, good thing come to those who wait... Follow him on twitter, where he is @jonreadscomics!

Bill Mantlo, Gene Colan, Bob Wiacek, Carl Gafford, Tom Orzechowski, Denny O'Neil, Mark Gruenwald, and Jim Shooter present What If? #21 - What If... Sub-Mariner Had Married the Invisible Girl?, a comic full of a diminishing team, misplaced attempts to garner the sympathy of the reader, an inability to distinguish between Attuma and Krang (although that may just be Steve) and, sadly, no bollockfish. But if you're after toxic masculinity and an irrelevant Sue Storm, then this comic is the one for you!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_338.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 335: Marvel Two-in-One #63 - Suffer Not A Warlock To Live

The Fantasticast Episode 335

Everybody Hates Starhawk

Hello, and welcome to episode 335 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, we're returning to outer space to hunt down those who have stolen Counter-Earth, discover Adam Warlock's body, and get someone laid. Behold as plotlines from comics nothing to do with the Fantastic Four get explained and retconned while the star of this book stands around and listens.

Mark Gruenwald, Jerry Bingham, Gene Day, Roger Slifer, Joe Rosen, Bob Budiansky, Jim Salicrup, Jim Shooter, George Perez, and Terry Austin present Marvel Two-in-One #63, in which a Warlock is not suffered to live. In addition, we pay a final visit to the Microverse (for now) as the Fantastic Four and the Micronauts team up to survive capture by the Psycho-Man, in The Micronauts #17.

Direct download: http://www.thefantasticast.com/podcast/335

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 333: Marvel Two-in-One #62 - The Taking Of Counter-Earth

The Fantasticast Episode 333

It's Spankin' Time

Hello, and welcome to episode 333 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week we're back in the realms of Marvel Two-in-One, as an extended cast (including Starhawk, Moondragon, Her, and Alicia Masters) make their way to Counter-Earth. Well, they would do, if some bastards hadn't towed the bloody thing away, forcing them to resurrect the High Evolutionary to work out where it's gone. All this for a shag...

Mark Gruenwald, Jerry Bingham, Gene Day, George Roussos, Joe Rosen, Jim Salicrup, Jim Shooter, George Perez, and Joe Sinnott present Marvel Two-in-One #62 - The Taking Of Counter-Earth, in which Counter-Earth is taken, Starhawk reveals his secret power, and Moondragon receives some corporal punishment. Yes, it's time for us to look at a spanking! As well as this, we linger in the Microverse for Micronauts #16, and head into the multiverse for a brief look at What If? #20.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_333.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 332: Fantastic Four #217 - Masquerade!

The Fantasticast Episode 332

This Little Robot Tramp

Hello, and welcome to episode 332 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

Ah, Humanoid Experimental Robot, B-type, Integrated Electronics, we barely knew ye. Actually, we knew you rather too well - you were annoying and unfunny. But still, in Fantastic Four #217, your final appearance, a modicum of empathy is gained. Secrets are uncovered, identities are revealed, and a sacrifice is made...

Bill Mantlo, Marv Wolfman, John Byrne, Joe Sinnott, Bob Sharen, John Costanza, Mark Gruenwald, Morrie Kuramoto, and Jim Shooter present Fantastic Four #217, in which danger rises from within, Marv Wolfman bids his farewell by dint of leaving some post-it notes dotted around the office, and the birds and the bees explain CEX.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_332.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 331: Marvel Two-in-One #61 - The Coming Of Her

The Fantasticast Episode 331

Er... Yeah... Fnarr?

Hello, and welcome to episode 331 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, we're doing our best not to snigger in a smutty manner at the title of Marvel Two-in-One #61. Because there's nothing to laugh at, at all, alright? Anyway, we start another cosmic epic for Ben Grimm, as he gets mixed up with Her, Moondragon, Starhawk, and Alicia Masters. Some of these characters are headed out into space, and it's not necessarily the ones that you might be thinking of...

Mark Gruenwald, Jerry Bingham, Gene Day, Ben Sean, Joe Rosen, Jim Salicrup, George Perez, and Terry Austin present Marvel Two-in-One #61 - The Coming Of Her. Featuring some things that I made notes about while editing the podcast, but I left those notes at home in Gent, and I'm over 500km away, so those notes might just as well have not been taken. Hmm.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_331.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 330: Fantastic Four #216 - Where There Be Gods

The Fantasticast Episode 330

Daniel Bedingfield Is Ultron!

Hello, and welcome to episode 330 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, we loiter in the aftermath of the Wolfman run on the Fantastic Four. Following all the high-stakes cosmic drama, it's time for something a little more grounded. Well, as grounded as a hyper-evolved scientist and an incursion from the Negative Zone by Blastarr can possibly be. Can our favourite blasting baddie twist the next stage of man's evolution to his will?

Marv Wolfman, Bill Mantlo, John Byrne, Pablo Marcos, Carl Gafford, Irv Watanabe, Michael Higgins, Mark Gruenwald, Rich Buckler, and Al Milgrom present Fantastic Four #216 - Where There Be Gods! Featuring an arse-less Ben Grimm (no, really - those rocky buns are definitely missing in action), and the realisation that it can't really be Franklin's fault that he's badly written...

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_330.mp3

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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 329: Marvel Two-in-One #60 - Happiness Is A Warm Alien

The Fantasticast Episode 329

Laptop Or Cigar Box?

Hello, and welcome to episode 329 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

How many issues of downtime do you need following one of the greatest stories of the late-1970s? We're glad the answer is 'more than one', as it allows to us to enjoy an evening in the company of Ben Grimm, Alicia Masters, The Thing's purple-and-green hat, and... waitaminnit! That's not a hat! That's The Impossible Man!

Ralph Macchio, Mark Gruenwald, George Perez, Gene Day, Roger Slifer, John Costanza, Roger Stern, Bob Budiansky, and Joe Rubinstein present (and, for some of them, star in) Marvel Two-in-One #60, featuring the return of The Impossible Man, three unlikely villains, and an poorly-timed spot of life drawing. In addition, we revisit Spider-Man's first encounter with the Fantastic Four as to take a peak at What If? #19, and prepare for future episodes in the Microverse with The Micronauts #14.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_329.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 302: Marvel Two-in-One #48 - My Master, Machinesmith

The Fantasticast Episode 302

The Other Faceless Ones

Hello, and welcome to episode 302 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, we're returning to the hallowed cobbles of Yancy Street... before diving to the slightly-less hallowed underground villainous lairs of Yancy Street, as The Thing struggles against Machinesmith and Mr Carnation, with the captured Yancy Street Gang in danger. Who could possibly help him? Well, this time, it's the most over-designed hero of the 1970s - Jack of Hearts.

Bill Mantlo, Chic Stone, Tex Blaisdell, Mario Sen, Elaine Hendl, Roger Stern, and Jim Shooter present Marvel Two-in-One #48, in which a different approach to the inking gives some unusual responses, a sharp-edged rocket-propelled wedge does something surprising, a training simulation loses its potency when it moves outdoors, and there's more than one robot.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_302.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.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

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

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 300: Marvel Two-in-One #47 - Happy Deathday, Mr Grimm

The Fantasticast Episode 300

Stupid Simian Suspense Stories

Hello, and welcome to episode 300 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

Here we are, with our 300th episode of The Fantasticast. This week, we're teaming up with the Yancy Street Gang to protect our turf from rival gangsters and third-rate Daredevil villains. Bill Mantlo, Chic Stone, Bob Sharen, Gaspar Saladino, Diana Albers, Roger Stone and Joe Sinnott combine to create Marvel Two-in-One #47.

But that's merely the warm-up for the main event - your regular hosts kicking back and answering your questions. From our takes on the Fantastic Four arriving in the MCU, to our hope for the new title, via a whole bunch of rating, ranking, forgetting our actual favourite issues, struggling to hold our drink, reminiscences, flattery, disagreements, and imitations.

Many thanks to all of our listeners, guest hosts, Patreon backers, and anyone who has helped us get through 300 episodes of the show. Here's to the next 300!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_300.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.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

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

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 298: Marvel Two-in-One #46 - Battle In Burbank

The Fantasticast Episode 298

Oh So Tropey

Hello, and welcome to episode 298 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, we've got a triple-shot of late-70s Marvel goodness for you. We start with Marvel Two-in-One #46, in which some jealousy over the Bill Bixby TV series leads The Thing to Hollywood, where a throwdown with the Hulk disrupts an attempted kidnapping of Karen Page. Allan Kupperberg, Chic Stone, Gaspar Saladino, Roger Stern, and Jim Shooter are along for the ride.

Then it's off to Earth-7812, which attempts to answer the question... What If Rick Jones Had Become The Hulk. What If? 312 sees Reed Richards trying to help Bruce Banner separate the teen from the monster. And finally, we swing by an introspective Spider-Man in Spectacular Spider-Man #25. Oh, and we also discover what the word is.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_298.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.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

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

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 297: Fantastic Four Annual #13 - Nightlife

The Fantasticast Episode 297

In The Kingdom Of The... Uh...

Hello, and welcome to episode 297 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, we're nestling into the gap between pages 3 and 4 of Fantastic Four #201 to investigate a plague of statue-stealing, in Fantastic Four Annual #13. The Mole Man is back, and wants to create a public service of beauty for a kingdom of outcasts seeking refuge in the tunnels beneath New York, and only the Fantastic Four can stop him. But... should they?

Bill Mantlo, Sal Buscema, Joe Sinnott, Francoise Mouly, Gaspar Saladino, Irv Watanabe, Mark Wolfman, Jim Shooter, Keith Pollard, and Steve Leialoha present Fantastic Four Annual #13 - Nightlife, featuring a completely-unnecessary arm stretch, an attempt at social commentary, an almost completely-compromised moral, and a man hoping that if he stands very still, people will mistake his green cloak for... uh... grey statue stuff.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_297.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.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

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

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 282: Marvel Two-in-One #40 - Conjure Night

The Fantasticast Episode 282

Kitchen In The Kitchen

Hello, and welcome to episode 282 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, we're returning to Hell's Kitchen to transition from one set of guest stars to the next. We bid farewell to Daredevil and Yellowjacket, and welcome... Luke Charles? After a bit of research, we find out that he's actually T'Challa, the Black Panther, in his day job as a teacher. Remember that? We don't...

Tom DeFalco picks up his first Marvel credit, joining Roger Slifer, Ron Wilson, Pablo Marcos, Phil Rachelson, Irving Watanabe, and Jim Shooter on Marvel Two-in-One #40. Featuring zuvembies, glue, cellists, undercooked pizza, ethics, the first appearance of Carnegie Hall, and a big bag o' home-grown. You know what we mean.

The Fantasticast is support by Stitcher Premium, home of Wolverine: The Long Night, launching March 12th. Starring Richard Armitage as Wolverine, this ten episode podcast audio drama is the first of its kind for Marvel. For a month's free trial to Stitcher Premium, head over to stitcher.com/premium and enter the promo code Fantasticast.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_282.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.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

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

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 279: Fantastic Four #194 - Vengeance Is Mine

The Fantasticast Episode 279

Gassy Head

Hello, and welcome to episode 279 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, we return to the scene of the crime (crash), as Fantastic Four #194 sees Alicia, the US Army, and a right dick of a fireman on the trail fo Ben Grimm, who has gone missing in the aftermath of a solar shuttle crash. Will he get caught up in Diablo and Darkoth's plot against Doctor Doom? Let's hope so...

Len Wein, Keith Pollard, Bill Mantlo, Dave Hunt, George Roussos, Annette Kawecki, and Marv Wolfman present Fantastic Four #194 - Vengeance Is Mine. It's a tale of unlikely geographic coincidences, intense melodrama, an unlikely way of pronouncing the word 'EXPLODE', and previous little of any members of the team who aren't primarily comprised of rocks...

Find Stacey Taylor's 24 hour live broadcast of Stacey's Pop Culture Parlour at mixlr.com/spcp-live and donate to her fundraising for the British Heart Foundation at justgiving.com/spcplive3. 

The Fantasticast is support by Stitcher Premium, home of Wolverine: The Long Night, launching March 12th. Starring Richard Armitage as Wolverine, this ten episode podcast audio drama is the first of its kind for Marvel. For a month's free trial to Stitcher Premium, head over to stitcher.com/premium and enter the promo code Fantasticast.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_279.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.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

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

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 277: Fantastic Four #193 - Day Of The Death Demon

The Fantasticast Episode 277

Shaving Namor

Hello, and welcome to episode 277 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, the focus swings onto Benjamin J. Grimm, fresh from his court case, and his new job as a solar-powered shuttle pilot for NASA. Hopefully a former colleague, brainwashed, mutated into a giant purple cyber-demon, and controlled by a 9th century time-displaced alchemist, won't show up and smash the place up. Oh... whoops!

Len Wein, a debuting Keith Pollard, Bill Mantlo, and Joe Sinnott present the much-requested return of Darkoth in Fantastic Four #193. Along the way, we discuss the veracity of an acting career, admire a purple suit, snigger at the title of an advert, moan about cover credits, and admire a shuttle. It's all in an hour's work for The Fantasticast.

The Fantasticast is support by Stitcher Premium, home of Wolverine: The Long Night, launching March 12th. Starring Richard Armitage as Wolverine, this ten episode podcast audio drama is the first of its kind for Marvel. For a month's free trial to Stitcher Premium, head over to stitcher.com/premium and enter the promo code Fantasticast. 

Support our former guest host Joe Cunningham's MCU marathon this weekend at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/joe-cunningham-mcu

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_277.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.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

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

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 254: Fantastic Four #183 - Battleground: The Baxter Building

The Fantasticast Episode 254

Annihilus's Aerial Butler

Hello, and welcome to episode 254 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

And lo, there shall come an ending (of sorts). We're looking at Fantastic Four #183, featuring a battle at the Baxter Building, in which almost all of the in-progress plots come to a head almost seamlessly. You wouldn't guess that there were six writers involved in the creation of this comic. Or maybe you might...

Anyway, Mantlo, Wein, Shooter, Stern, Macchio and Slifer team up with Buscema (S.) and Slifer to bring us this tale of Annihilus, abandoned androids, inopportune times to loot the Baxter Building, a reversal of a blow a head making you evil, and an ill-judged attempt to replicate the success of This Man, This Monster. All this, and a discussion as to the value of a retcon. Because we love you. Somewhat.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_254.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.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

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

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 252: Fantastic Four #182 - Enter The Mad Thinker

The Fantasticast Episode 252

No Such Thing As The X-Factor

Hello, and welcome to episode 252 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, we're returning to the many, many subplots in progress in the main title, with Fantastic Four #182. Between revolution in the Negative Zone, child abduction in Whisper Hill, spousal impersonation in the Baxter Building, and the removal of as many extraneous characters as the writers can get away with, this is one heck of a full issue.

The fullness starts with the credit box, which lists Archie Goodwin, Len Wein, Jim Shooter, and Bill Mantlo as writers, alongside Sal Buscema (who we really like, despite the evidence to the contrary) and Joe Sinnott. They come together to present the misadventures of the Mildly Disturbed Thinker, and the long-awaited return of... ZANTE!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_252.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.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

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

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 247: Marvel Two-in-One #24 - Does Anyone Remember The Hijacker?

The Fantasticast Episode 247

The Who?

Hello, and welcome to episode 248 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week on the show, we come to the conclusion of Bill Mantlo's run on Marvel Two-in-One. In common with a lot of his issues, he's picking up the reigns of a character rejected by the comics readership of the time, and giving him a second shot. In this case, it's Bill Foster - Black Goliath. And the Whiz Kids. But they're so unimportant that none of us recognise them.

Joining us for this episode is Fantastic Four superfan and comicbook.com writer Mike Brown. He stands beside us as we examine the work of Bill Mantlo, Jim Shooter, Sal Buscema, and Pablo Marcos. Strap in, folks - the Hijacker is here, and we definitely remember him!

Mike can be found on twitter as @EvrLvnBluIdThng, and you can find his interviews at comicbook.com with us here, here, and here.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_247.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.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

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

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantaticast Episode 245: Marvel Two-in-One #23 - Death On The Bridge To Heaven

The Fantasticast Episode 245

Blacksun Won't You Come, And Wash Away The Rain

Hello, and welcome to episode 245 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, in We Set A Format For The Show Six Years Ago And We're Sticking To It No Matter What, we're taking a look at Marvel Two-in-One #23. The Mighty Thor continues to guest star as he and The Thing do something involving Seth, a golden bridge, a size-changing door, and Blacksun. You remember him, right? Well, that's more than the writers of this comic did.

Bill Mantlo, Jim Shooter, Ron Wilson, Marie Severin, and Pablo Marcos present the final part of this story involving the threat of Blacksun (even though that threat has spent this issue and the past lying unconscious with Johnny keeping hot/cold). The final part. With a conclusion. That ends things. Yes.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_245.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.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

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

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.

The Fantasticast Episode 243: Marvel Two-in-One #22

The Fantasticast Episode 243

Diagnosis: Moider!

Hello, and welcome to episode 243 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This week, we're heading into hospital with The Thing, The Human Torch, Dr Donald Blake, Thor, half of Black Sun, and Seth. It's Marvel Two-in-One #22, which features the only available doctor in New York and the Egyptian god of death stalking the hall of the hospital in which he works. Bill Mantlo, Ron Wilson, and Pablo Marcos join forces for the first of two consecutive Two-in-One issues to feature the same credited guest star.

Then we're off to the realm of Andy's nightmares to take a look at our first ever TV tie-in comic. The Electric Company comes to Marvel comics in Spidey Super Stories #20, in which Spider-Man, the Human Torch, and the Invisible Girl, to defeat Mysterio and his hateful hate ray of hate. You know, like Mysterio always has.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_243.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.

The Fantasticast is part of the Flickering Myth Podcast network.

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

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.