The Fantasticast Episode 355: Marvel Two-in-One #71 - The Cure

The Fantasticast Episode 355

Let's Play Sportsball!

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.

It's time to wrap up one of the longer-running plot lines in the Marvel Universe. It's time to brew a potion, it's time to put things right, it's time to cure the green-skins, on our episode tonight. The inhabitants of Hydro-Island are ready to have their humanity restored, and no-one can stop them. Not even a mysterious figure and his three henchmen.

Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio, Ron Wilson, Gene Dasy, John Costanza, George Roussos, Bob Budiansky, Jim Salicrup, Jim Shooter, and Joe Sinnott present Marvel Two-in-One #71 - The Cure, guest-starring the Fantastic Four's very own Mr Fantastic. And Triton. And Gorgon. And Karnak. And Crystal and Quicksilver. And Luna (sort-of). In addition, we're also off to the original dystopian future with Uncanny X-Men #141, where an elder Franklin Richards holds the key to unmaking the Days of Future Past.

Before all of this, tribute is paid to our friend and co-host Seb Patrick, who passed away very unexpectedly at the start of August. Seb was a huge supporter of the show, he appeared three times with us over the years, and his is much missed. A GoFundMe was set up to support his wife and daughter, you can donate at https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-seb-patrick

Direct download: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/ffcast/FF_Episode_355.mp3

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 342: Marvel Two-in-One #66 - A Congress of Crowns

The Fantasticast Episode 342

The Bad Guy Is Called Hugh

Hello, and welcome to episode 342 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, a packed episode sees us don matching hats to dominate the entire- wait, these aren't hats! They're multiversal incarnations of the Serpent Crown! And only The Thing and the Scarlet Witch can save us from a <checks notes> oil CEO called Hugh. It's the final part of the Serpent Crown Affair, and we're here to examine just what happens when a deranged businessman tries to grab power in Washington. 

Oh, right...

Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio, Ron Wilson, Gene Day, Frank Martin Jr, John Costanza, Jim Salicrup, Joe Sinnott, and Jim Shooter present Marvel Two-in-One #66 - A Congress of Crowns. And, if that wasn't enough for you, we also look at what happens when Reed and Sue go shopping in Defenders #86, what happens if Doctor Doom had chosen a path of heroism in What If? #22, and we throw ourselves into Shogun Warriors #19 to see if the addition of the Fantastic Four can save this little-loved title. Plus, we get a bit tired and honest while answering one of your e-mails...

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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 340: Marvel Two-in-One #65 - Serpents From The Sea

Superfluous Triton

Hello, and welcome to episode 340 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 tackle the middle chapter of the Serpent Crown Affair. The Serpent Soci- uh, Squad are here to explain everything, destroy and oil rig, go treasure hunting, and exchange underwater punches with The Thing, Stingray, and special guest star Triton of the Inhumans, who definitely has a role to play in this issue, oh yes.

Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio, George Perez, Gene Day, Carl Gafford, John Costanza, Jim Salicrup, Bob Budiansky, and Jim Shooter present Marvel Two-in-One #65 - Serpents From The Sea, in which your hosts definitely know who each member of the Serpent Soci- uh, Squad is, and Sidewinder (we think) delivers the most gratuitous exposition seen in Marvel Comics to date. And, as a bonus, we also dive into one entire panel of the Dark Phoenix Saga, as we take an exceedingly-brief look at Uncanny X-Men #135.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_340.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 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 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 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 313: Fantastic Four #209 - Trapped In The Sargasso Of Space

The Fantasticast Episode 313

H.E.R.B.I.E. cometh

Hello, and welcome to episode 313 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

Oh dear lord, it's finally happened. Not content with annoying the heck out of everyone with a pair of ears who watched the 1978 Fantastic Four animated series, HERBIE has arrived in the Fantastic Four, full of smug attitude, extendable trippin' legs, and a great big basket o' suspicious activities that get noticed only by the Thing. Is this the start of a great subversion of an editorial mandate? Er...

Marv Wolfman, John Byrne, Joe Sinnott, Glynis Wein, Tom Orzechowski. Jim Shooter, and Keith Pollard present Fantastic Four #209, in which a supporting cast is ruthlessly pared to the bone, an emperor is ruthlessly overthrown, a robot is ruthlessly forced upon the audience, some prisoners are ruthlessly captured, and the writer ruthlessly misunderstands the characteristics of the Sargasso Sea.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_313.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 308: Marvel Two-in-One #51 - Full House, Dragons High

The Fantasticast Episode 308

Face Front

Hello, and welcome to episode 308 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

To be very blunt, Marvel Two-in-One #51 is a Very Good Comic. Guest writer Peter Gillis crafts a story where The Thing has to team up with Nick Fury and some newer Avengers to defend the SHIELD Helicarrier, and on the strength of the writing, this would be a pretty good comic. But then there's the guest art from Frank Miller, at a very early stage in his career, and he takes the issue to an entirely new level.

Peter Gillis, Frank Miller, Bob McLeod, Glynis Wein, Tom Orzechowski, Roger Stern, Jim Shooter, and George Perez present Marvel Two-in-One #51, with Ms Marvel, The Beast, Wonder Man, Nick Fury, a fantastic red alert, and an unstable Fantasticar. And on top of this, we also spend time with Godzilla, King Of The Monsters #22, where it turns out that dumping Godzilla through a time machine wasn't the best idea in the world, and Ben Grimm eats Doctor Doom's time platform.

But before all of that, we sit down to give our very immediate thoughts on the passing of Fantastic Four co-creator and Marvel figurehead Stan Lee. Recorded within half an hour of the news of his passing breaking, we discuss our personal experiences meeting Stan, and his impact on us.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_308.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 251: Marvel Two-in-One #26 - The Fixer And Mentallo Are Back

The Fantasticast Episode 251

The Logistics of SHIELD Pizza

Hello, and welcome to episode 251 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 tackling two mighty Marvel tales. In the first, Marvel Two-in-One #26, a pizza date with Nick Fury turns into a fight against a mesmeric master and a future Thunderbolt for Ben Grimm. Mentallo and The Fixer are back, the world will never be the same again, and neither will a certain refugee from Earth-7484.

Then we're off into Earth-774 to revisit the history of The Incredible Hulk in What If? #2 - What If The Hulk Had The Brain Of Bruce Banner? This questions leads to the permanent cure of Ben Grimm, the abandonment of mutant rights, and the non-destruction of Earth, proving that the series just doesn't know its own tropes.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_251.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 229: Marvel Two-in-One #16 / Super Villain Team-Up #6

The Fantasticast Episode 229

Surprise Pterodactyl

Hello, and welcome to episode 229 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 doing the unlikely this week, tackling two, full-length comics in one, full-length podcast. First up is Marvel Two-in-One #16, guest-starring Ka-Zar, Nick Fury, a surprised pterodactyl, a numbered tank, and a surprisingly-complacent Reed Richards. Written by Bill Mantlo, with art by Ron Wilson and Dan Adkins, it's a dino-tastic volcanic issue.

Then we're off to Latveria, as Steve Englehart, Herb Trimpe, and Jack Abel bring a story of the Fantastic Four going to war with Doctor Doom, invading his homeland for the first time. Only Namor the Sub-Mariner stands between them. Well, him and the infuriatingly-cryptic Shroud. Oh, and special guest star Henry Kissinger. Yes, him.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_229.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 224: Super-Villain Team-Up #5 - ...And Be A Villain!

The Fantasticast Episode 224

Tank O' Doom

Hello, and welcome to episode 224 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 indulging our villainous side, as we explore Super-Villain Team-Up #5. Namor and Doctor Doom take the lead, leaving the Fantastic Four to move in their orbit. Despite being a team-up title, Doctor Doom has condemned Namor to a slow, suffocating death, and only the Sub-Mariner's sometime love rival Reed Richards can help him.

With Steve Englehart, Herb Trimpe, and Don Perlin at the helm, things are a little more complex than this, with multiple flashbacks, underwater devastation, a personal challenge, some glorious gloating, and a moment where Johnny takes a little to long to admire Namor's tiny green trunks. Well, they're not that tiny, if you get my drift...

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_224.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 210: Marvel Two-in-One #11 - The Thing Goes South

The Fantasticast Episode 210

Bitten By A Radioactive Gil Kane

Hello, and welcome to episode 210 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

The week sees our final issue of Marvel Two-in-One for 2016. Marvel Two-in-One #11, guest-starring The Golem. And if your response to that is to go, "Who?", then you're not alone. He's a refugee from a very short-lived Strange Tales solo series, and he's popping up in this issue, dragging his entire supporting cast with him.

Roy Thomas, Bill Mantlo, Bob Brown and Klaus Janson pull together to bring you this tale of cross-continental travel, metropolitan transport-based destruction, and misplaced moral messages. To which we add an examination of Ben Grimm's musical tastes, and we discover just what Steve wears whilst podcasting.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_210.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 187: Fantastic Four #151 - Thundra and Lightning Part One

The Fantasticast Episode 187

A Wombful Of Wombats

Hello, and welcome to episode 187 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 is another double-comic episode. We start with Avengers #128, which sees the Fantastic Four's now-redundant nanny Agatha Harkness head take up a new position as the Defence Against Dark Arts teacher for the Avengers. Following this, we peer into the pages of Fantastic Four #151, as Gerry Conway starts his final Fantastic Four story by revealing the origin of Thundra.

This does, however, mean that we also get the first appearance of the walking manifestation of brutish masculinity, Mahkizmo. It's a battle of the sexes with the entire (possible) future of the Earth hanging in the balance. Can this issue carefully walk the line between comment and crassness? Find out in this week's episode!

We are live on Stacey Taylor's 24 Hour Pop Culture Parlour Podcast at 10am BST, Saturday 9th July. Listen to the show at http://mixlr.com/spcp-live/

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_187.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 186: Fantastic Four #150 - Ultron-7: He'll Rule The World

The Fantasticast Episode 186

Twatted By Ultron

Hello, and welcome to episode 185 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, wedding bells are ringing, celebrations are in the air, and everyone wants to kill each other. It's another Marvel wedding, as Quicksilver and Crystal prepare to spend the rest of their lives with each other. Such a momentous event couldn't be contained in one comic alone, so this week, we're looking at Avengers #127 and Fantastic Four #150. 

Steve Engelhart, Gerry Conway, Sal Buscema and Rich Buckler present the return of Ultron and Omega, a revolution by the Alpha Primitives, a petulant Ben who just won't wear a damn cloak, the sudden return of Agatha Harkness, and the next momentous event in the life of Franklin Richards. Grab your confetti and take your seats. Now, are you with the bride or the groom?

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_186.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 167: Fantastic Four #141 - The End Of The Fantastic Four

The Fantasticast Episode 167

Annihilus Hamilton

Hello, and welcome to episode 167 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

It's a huge week for the Fantastic Four, as the Annihilus story comes to a conclusion with Reed forced to make an impossible decision in Fantastic Four #141. We've also got a look at at an undressed Spider-Mobile in Amazing Spider-Man #127, and a quick look at the effects of the Avengers-Defenders War in The Avengers #118. With contributions from Gerry Conway, Steve Englehart, a departing John Buscema, Ross Andru, Bob Brown, and more, this is a packed episode.

So packed, in fact, that we barely found time to abuse our e-mailers. Or to counter Gerry Conway's Wyatt Wingfoot-blinness. Or to experience compromised cryptography. And we definitely didn't forget - and then remember again - Janus the Nega-Man. Or Spider-Man. Ah well...

Meanwhile, Steve's at the London Super Comic Convention, and would love to say hello to any listeners there. Grab him on twitter or flag him down and say hi. He promises not to bite. Or to get all nervous and flustered either...

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_167.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

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.