The Fantasticast Episode 337: Marvel Two-in-One #64 - The Serpent Crown Affair Part 1 - From the Depths

The Fantasticast Episode 337

Wind-Generated Oil Rigs

Hello, and welcome to episode 337 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

We're at the start of another big storyline for Marvel Two-in-One, as abandoned plotlines from Namor's solo title drive the adventures of Benjamin "The Thing" Grimm and Walter "Stingray" Newall. A jaunt to visit the Inhumans turns into a rescue mission at a suspiciously-acting oil rig, and there are yet larger forces at work...

Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Maccio, George Perez, Gene Day, Carl Gafford, Ben Sean, John Costanza, Jim Salicrup, and Jim Shooter present Marvel Two-in-One #64, the first part of the classic The Serpent Crown Affair. As well as this, we also take a brief look at the Tom DeFalco and Steve Ditko-produced Machine Man #15, in which wheels are definitely better than legs.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_337.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 39: Amazing Spider-Man #21 & Avengers #13

The Fantaticast Episode 39

Amazing Spider-Man Classic

Today, we throw the rules out of the window and staunchly refuse to read any issue of Fantastic Four or Strange Tales. Instead, guided by editors notes, we attempt to put the comics cover-dated February 1965 into some sort of continuity order.

So, we start with Amazing Spider-Man #21, co-featuring The Human Torch. It's a three-way smackdown between Johnny Storm, Peter Parker, and Abner Jenkins. You know, The Beetle! We then briefly head over to Avengers #13 to see how the Four deal with the plans of Count Nefaria. And yes, I say Avengers #13. Unlike on the show, where Steve repeatedly says Avengers #12. Ignore him...

We also spend some time with your e-mails, and then - we're off! We've split the episode into two, to prevent audio overload and to allow Steve some time to edit. So, you get weekly Fantasticast for the next couple of weeks. Enjoy!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_39.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 37: Fantastic Four #33, Strange Tales #127 & Amazing Spider-Man #19

The Fantasticast Episode 37

Yes, Mr Lister, Sir!

Hello and welcome to another episode of The Fantasticast! This time around, Steve Lacey (20 Minute Longbox) and Andrew Leyland (HeyKids Comics) guide you through three excellent slices of Silver Age Marvel magic. Yes, three. We're classing Strange Tales this month as officially 'Not Crap'.

Fantastic Four #33 sees Lee and Kirby break the formula and conventions of the title to create genuinely exciting and innovative read, supported by some of the best art that Kirby and Stone have produced to date. Strange Tales #127 sees a mysterious villain challenge Ben and Johnny to a desert race to find out who is the better driver. Amazing Spider-Man #19 sees Peter Parker regain his mojo, and team up properly with the Human Torch for the first time. No snarkiness, no jokes, just great comics.

And some snarkiness.

And quite a few jokes, now that I come to think of it.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_37.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 36: Fantastic Four #32, Strange Tales #1276 & Amazing Spider-Man #18

The Fantasticast Episode 36

John Byrne Quits Comics

Hello and welcome to the 36th episode of the show! This time, Steve and Andy journey into Fantastic Four #32, where a mystery villain causes John Byrne to stop reading comics. Then we're off to Strange Tales #126, where two very familiar villains almost cause us to stop reading comics. Finally, we stop in to Amazing Spider-Man #18, where a returning villain barely appears, and Peter Parker decides to go a-stalkin' Betty Brant.

The Fantasticast: With extra added rapping with Cap and John Barnes.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_36.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 35: Fantastic Four #31, Strange Tales #125 & Amazing Spider-Man #17

The Fantasticast Episode 35

House Of The Fallen Storm

Ooh, a cryptic title!

On this episode of the Fantasticast, Steve Lacey and Andrew Leyland see the Fantastic Four title leap forward into a new era of storytelling, whilst featuring the team's very first villain. It's #31 - The Mad Menace of the Macabre Mole Man. Then in Strange Tales #125, the storytelling takes a huge leap backwards, before jumping forward again in Amazing Spider-Man #17. Oh, and we also have one of the greatest number one singles of all time to close the show.

But even more importantly than that, we're launching our very first competition with this episode. We're going to digitally give away every issue of the Marvel NOW Fantastic Four and FF series by Matt Fraction, Mark Bagley, Mark Farmer, Mike Allred and Laura Allred. To enter, all you need to do is to like us on Facebook and/or follow us on twitter. When we have 150 likes and 300 followers, we'll choose to likers/followers, and they will win either Fantastic Four or FF in digital form. Click on the buttons on the right to go through to our Facebook and Twitter pages.

What are you waiting for? Go enter the competition!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_35.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 34: Fantastic Four Annual #2 & Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1

The Fantasticast Episode 34

The Doomcast!

Hello, and welcome to the first episode of the Doomcast, hosted by Professor Alan. Joining him this week are Steve Lacey and Andrew Leyland of The Fantasticast, who are summoned to the Office of the Cultural Attache of the Great State of Latveria to explain why so many of their episodes paint Doctor Doom in a villainnous light, rather than the heroic view that all peoples of Latveria see him.

Or... Professor Alan of The Book Guys join Steve and Andy this episode to take a look at the life and times of Victor von Doom, as presented in Fantastic Four Annual #2. From the first telling of his origin to his latest battle with the Fantastic Four, via a reprint of his first appearance, and many more surprises. Then it's a fast dive into Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 to establish just how the Four aid Spider-Man in his hour of need, when his greatest villains team up against him.

Check out Professor Alan's appearances on the Bookguys podcast at bookguys.ca or his blog at eyesandearsblog.blogspot.co.uk

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_34.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 22: Fantastic Four #22, Strange Tales #116, Amazing Spider-Man #8 & Avengers #3

The Fantasticast Episode 22

Going Underground

The twenty-second episode of The Fantasticast is now live and ready for your listening pleasure!

As you can see from the image, there's a huge amount of comics to read this time out. First up is the return of the Mole Man in Fantastic Four #22. Importantly for this blog, this issue also features the first cries of 'It's Clobbering Time!' and the first mention of sweet ol' Aunt Petunia.

Next up is red-hot Thing vs Torch action is Strange Tales #116, which is also the halfway point of our coverage of this series. Then we have another Torch vs Spidey throwdown  in Amazing Spider-Man #8, before finishing off with a brief cameo in The Avengers #3.

As well as all of these, Steve and Andy find enough time to cover a big pile of emails and listener feedback.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_22.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 16: Fantastic Four Annual #1 & Strange Tales Annual #2

The Fantasticast Episode 16

The Best Of Annuals, The Wost Of Annuals

This is the 16th episode of The Fantasticast, and it's our biggest one yet. Which is appropriate, considering we're looking at the largest amount of story pages yet on the show. To help us out with this massive task, we invited podcaster extraordinaire Jon M. Wilson (New 52 Adventures of Superman, Golden Age Superman, Xavier's Podcast For Gifted Children, The Mighty Shield, Amazing Spider-Man Classics, Teenage Wasteland: An Ultimate Spider-Man Podcast) to sit in with us for the show. And to our great delight, he agreed!

It's time for us to take a look at Fantastic Four Annual #1 and Strange Tales Annual #2. In one, the Marvel universe expands in breadth and depth. The world is invaded, the secret history of Atlantis is revealed, and Jack Kirby hits an artistic peak. In the other, there's a load of gubbins involving The Human Torch and some imposter dressed up as Spider-Man, and Jack Kirby hits an artistic trough.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_16.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 14: Fantastic Four #16, Strange Tales #110 & Amazing Spider-Man #2

The Fantasticast Episode 14

The Return of Doctor Doom!

Cower, mortals, for this episode of the Fantasticast sees Doom return in all his gloriousness, and at only a fraction of his original size! Featuring a special guest appearance from Ant Man and possibly the first appearance of the Microverse! But we don't end there! Both the Wizard and Paste Pot Pete team up in the latest issue of Strange Tales. But we don't end there! See how Johnny Storm helps Peter Parker in his first battle with Doctor Octopus... without even knowing it!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_14.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 12: Fantastic Four #14 & Strange Tales #108

The Fantasticast Episode 12

HYPNOFISH!!!

Twelve episodes into the Fantasticast and Andrew and Stephen find themselves confronted by the titanic not-quite-a-team-up of Namor and Puppet Master, followed by the worst forger (and moustache) in the world, The Painter. Discover the joys of the Hypnofish, marvel at Alicia Masters' uncanny ability to resolve the plot in time for the end of the book, and cower before the menace of Wilhelm van Vile. 

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_12.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 11: Fantastic Four #13 & Strange Tales #107

The Fantasticast Episode 11

Red? Yes! Communist? Yes! Russian? No!

Just to be clear, Ivan Kragoff, the Red Ghost, is not Russian at all. Oh no.

Welcome to the 11th episode of the Mighty Fantasticast. This week, your hosts - Andrew Leyland and Steve Lacey - take a deep breath and dive into one of Stan and Jack's kookier concepts, the Red Ghost and his super-apes. It's not all crazy super-simians though, as we encounter a mysterious being who embodies the concept of non-interference (unless it suits the writer to have him interfere), The Watcher. It's Fantastic Four #13 in all its glory!

We then come back down to Earth and journey beneath the seas as we join Johnny Storm as he seeks out Namor the Sub-Mariner to exact vengeance for something or other, possibly boredom.

We also spend a few minutes catching up with your emails and feedback. Keep them coming in and we'll feature each and every one in an upcoming episode.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_11.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 10: Fantastic Four #12, Strange Tales #106 & Amazing Spider-Man #1

The Fantasticast Episode 10

Hulk? Smash!

Hurrah, it's another Weter-iffic episode of the Fantasticast! But why is it Weter-iffic? Well, dear listner, it is Weter-iffic due to the presence of our latest guest-host. You may have heard him on Superman Forever Radio, Green Lantern's Light, The New 52 Adventures of Superman, or PADSMASH: An Incredible Hulk Podcast. He is J. David Weter, and he joins us for the seminal Fantastic Four #12, featuring ol' jade-jaws himself, The Incredible Hulk.

Following this, we stop off in Strange Tales #106 as the Acrobat causes mischief, mayhem, and the abandonment of something very important to the nascent Johnny Storm. And finally, we celebrate the publication of the iconic Amazing Spider-Man #1 by taking a look at the team's first ever appearance outside of one of their own titles.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Fantasticast_Episode_10_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.