The Fantasticast Episode 364: Fantastic Four #231 - In All The Gathered Gloom

He Is Styggor, And He Is Not Important

Hello, and welcome to episode 364 of The Fantasticast. Each episode, Steve Lacey guides you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

The end has arrived, and, well, it's probably about time. The creative team are departing the book to make way for a fresh start, but they've got some unfinished business to take care of. The Baxter Building and the surrounding city block are stuck in the Negative Zone, and Lorrie Melton is missing her boo. Can the Fantastic Four overcome civilian insurrection, and the least important villain see in the Fantastic Four to date, and make it back home to Franklin?

Doug Moench, Roger Stern, Bill Sienkiewicz, Joe Sinnott, And Moore (but actually Al Milgrom and Frank Giacoia), George Roussos, Jim Novak, Bob Budiansky, Jim Salicrup, and Jim Shooter present Fantastic Four #231 - In All The Gathered Gloom. Featuring someone who is a gangster and not a Wolverine writer, someone who is not Magneto, someone who is not Jim Shooter, someone who is not Jerome Moore, and wouldn't you know it? Bill Sienkiewicz is inking, and he wants you to know it!

Direct download: https://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_360.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

The Fantasticast Episode 362: Fantastic Four #230 - Firefrost and the Ebon Seeker

The Fantasticast Episode 362

Hello, and welcome to episode 362 of The Fantasticast. Each episode, Steve Lacey guides you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This time on the Fantasticast, we discover what happens after an all-action issue. Yes, it's the inevitable exposition, and there's plenty of it. From decaying cultures in the far future to the inside of a black hole, this issue is not short of great concepts, but can they be spun into an engaging story that stands alongside it's predecessor? Uh...

Doug Moench, Bill Sienkiewicz, Joe Sinnott, George Roussos, Jim Novak, Bob Budiansky, Jim Salicrup, and Jim Shooter present Fantastic Four #230: Firefrost and the Ebon Seeker. Featuring lots of blatant rip-offs of recent science fiction films, a gratuitous Avengers appearance, and an astonishingly awful UK Number One single. Well, that bit isn't in the comic itself, but after last week, you do deserve a bit of warning.

Direct download: https://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_362.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 360: Fantastic Four #229 - The Thing From The Black Hole

The Fantasticast Episode 360

Reed's Tool

Hello, and welcome to episode 360 of The Fantasticast. Each episode, Steve Lacey guides you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

It's a bumper episode of The Fantasticast this week, as we cover no less than five comics! From visitors from the inside of a black hole, to scientific handwaves, from the disco floors of New York to the funeral of a President that could have been, with a quick sidestep into flashback territory, this is one of our busiest episodes to date.

Doug Moench, Bill Sienkiwicz, Joe Sinnott, George Roussos, Jim Novak, Bob Budiansky, Jim Salicrup, and Jim Shooter present Fantastic Four #229 - The Thing From The Black Hole. And many, many more creators bring us Amazing Spider-Man #215, Dazzler #2, Thor #306, and What If? #26. Join as us we discover the first Fantastic Four work of John Romita Jr and Tom DeFalco!

Direct download: https://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_360.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 358: Fantastic Four #228 - Ego-Spawn

The Fantasticast Episode 358

Reed Richards: Master of Ethics

Hello, and welcome to episode 358 of The Fantasticast. Each episode, Steve Lacey guides you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

This time on the Fantasticast, we must, we must uncover the mysteries of Franklin's powers, by dressing him up as Professor X (with handy replica Cerebro) and hoping that he isn't too unhappy about a burger. And if this doesn't sound too great, don't worry - someone's read some 'science' and is oh-so-eager to show off their 'research'...

Doug Moench, Bill Sienkiewicz, Joe Sinnott, George Roussos, Jim Novak, Gaspar Saladino, Bob Budiansky, Jim Salicrup, and Jim Shooter present Fantastic Four #228 - Ego-Spawn. Featuring a long look at the medical and scientific ethics at play, the worst way to manipulate your family so you can get your own way, and a prick in a vest.

Direct download: https://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_358.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 356: Fantastic Four #227 - The Brain Parasites

The Fantasticast Episode 356

A Punk With A Tie

Hello, and welcome to episode 355 of The Fantasticast. Each episode, Steve Lacey guides you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

The show is back after a 19-ish month break, and it's bringing with it yet another issue from the infamous Moench/Sienkiewicz run on the Fantastic Four. A meteor falls to Earth, and what it contains could spell disaster and ruin for the petrochemical industry! Only the Fantastic Four can stop it, as long as they don't get distracted by Reed's chauvanism and Sue's poor writing...

Doug Moench, Bill Sienkiewicz, Bruce Patterson, George Roussos, Jim Novak, Bob Budiansky, Jim Salicrup, Jim Shooter, Joe Sinnott, and Gaspar Saladino present Fantastic Four #227 - The Brain Parasites. Featuring an impromptu holiday, fishing gear, a novel way of keeping score, an Alien ripoff, and a spooky twist ending. OR DOES IT?!?

Direct download: https://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_356_Final.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 354: Fantastic Four #226 - The Samurai Destroyer

The Fantasticast Episode 354

And We're Back

Hello, and welcome to episode 354 of The Fantasticast. Each episode, Steve Lacey guides you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

So we're back. Well, one of us is, at least. After eight months off the air and four months of social isolation, the urge to podcast got a bit too much for Steve, and he's back for at least one episode to continue the mission of the podcast. It's the first Fantasticast solo episode, and hopefully it works! Now, what are we covering? Shogun Warriors?

Uh...

Doug Moench, Bill Sienkiewicz, Pablo Marcos, Bruce Patterson, George Roussos, Jim Novak, Jim Salicrup, Bob Budiansky, Jim Shooter, Bob Mcleod, and Gaspar Saladino present Fantastic Four #226 - The Sumurai Destroyer. In which a license expiration necessitates a lot of flashback destruction, the globe is trotted with astounding ease, and Andrew Lloyd-Webber makes his Marvel debut.

Direct download: http://www.thefantasticast.com/podcast/354

Send in your feedback to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave them in the comments below. 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 351: Fantastic Four #225 - The Blind God's Experience

The Fantasticast Episode 351

Mjolnir (Not) On A Spin Cycle

Hello, and welcome to episode 351 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 Arctic once again, as the Fantastic Four find themselves battling to save the blind Viking god from losing his powers to save the dome, battling to kill the blind Viking god who is tired of his powers, and battling to save the dome from destruction by the bling Viking god (but it doesn't really matter because special guest star Thor makes his grand entrance by bursting through the dome...)

Doug Moench, Bill Sienkiewicz, Pablo Marcos, George Roussos, Jim Novak, Jim Salicrup, Jim Shooter, and Joe Sinnott present Fantastic Four #225 - The Blind God's Experience! Endure a repetitive flashback! Thrill to a synopsis interrupted by a fansquee over Mamma Mia! Raise suspicions at a person who is definitely not a Viking from a secret community! Marvel at a comic that not even Marv Wolfman or Len Wein could bring themselves to read...

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_351.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 349: Fantastic Four #224 - The Darkfield Illumination

The Fantasticast Episode 349

Space Viking: Norseman In Disguise

Hello, and welcome to episode 349 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 paying a return visit to the Arctic wilderness (not that the Fantastic Four acknowledge their recent trip there) because... uh... look, it's something to do with the red tears of a very tall, very old man, The Neverending Story III, a tiger of indeterminate origin (unless you read the actual text), and a viking-laden flashback that makes the past year of Thor look even better than it currently did, but I'll be buggered if I can recall anything about this partially-formed comic.

Doug Moench, Bill Sienkiewicz, Pablo Marcos, George Roussos, Jim Novak, Jim Salicrup, Jim Shooter, Joe Sinnott, Stan Lee, and Jack Kirby present various bits of Fantastic Four #224 - The Darkfield Illumination. And now, for no reason at all, I'll just recycle some episode text from much earlier in our run. "enslavement on the gangster world with gladiatorial deathmatches comes to a close. Not necessarily a conclusion, but it certainly stops. Do the Fantastic Four have an actual role to play in the issue? Will the long-promised battle". Look, if it's good enough for Marvel, it's good enough for us!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_349.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 346: Fantastic Four #223 - That A Child May Live

The Fantasticast Episode 346

Brutacus Is Silly But He Really Illustrates, etc.

Hello, and welcome to episode 346 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

If you had bet money against The Salem Seven (as the cover has them) returning in a story featuring Nicholas Scratch, then your wallet is now a bit lighter. Every(no)body's favourite super-villain team is back to remind us all what makes them so unique, as they seek to aid Scratch in returning to Earth, taking it over, and making his facial hair the memetic piece of graphic design that he so wants it to be.

Doug Moench, Bill Sienkiewicz, Joe Sinnott, George Roussos, Jim Novak, Jim Salicrup, Bob Budiansky, and Jim Shooter present Fantastic Four #223 - That A Child May Live, featuring a rebuilt and expanded Fantasticar, an ineffective prison, a demon hunter who arouses absolutely no interest from our hosts, and a reaction you'll have to hear to believe. Which is how podcasts work. Stupid clickbait.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_346.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 343: Fantastic Four #222 - The Possession of Franklin Richards

The Fantasticast Episode 343

Mr Fantastic Meets Scratchman

Hello, and welcome to episode 343 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 much-discussed Doug Moench/Bill Sienkiewicz Fantastic Four run gets underway properly. A game of hide-and-seek is interrupted by a small spot of demonic possession, and the Fantastic Four find themselves once again facing off against Nicholas Scratch.

Doug Moench, Bill Sienkiewicz, Joe Sinnott, George Roussos, Jim Novak, Jim Salicrup, and Jim Shooter present Fantastic Four #222 - The Possession of Franklin Richards, in which Franklin Richards gets possessed, Ben Grimm takes the subway, Johnny Storm does some Wacky Racing, Sue Richards has no concept of child endangerment, and Reed Richards... well, Reed Richards puts Hank Pym and Peter Parker to shame.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_343.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 336: Fantastic Four #219 - Leviathans

The Fantasticast Episode 336

Much Ago About Namor's Horn

Hello, and welcome to episode 336 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

When is a fill-in not a fill-in? When it's the first issue of an ongoing run that immediately goes on hiatus for another fill-in, right? Despite being introduced as a fill-in, this is the first issue of Doug Moench and Bill Sienkiewicz's much-criticised run on the Fantastic Four, as they remix the first appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner with a little extra dash of Barracuda, just in case things get too exciting.

Doug Moench, Bill Sienkiewicz, Joe Sinnott, George Roussos, Jim Novak, Jim Salicrup, and Jim Shooter present Fantastic Four #219, which features far too many people wanting to grasp Namor's horn, an unfeasibly-large sandwich, a comic awakening, a costume too dull to draw in close-up, and the complete and total plunder of New York. The city. All of it. Yeah.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_336.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.