Dear Watchers: an omniversal comic book podcast

On this week's groovy podcast, we explore the twin worlds of Xena Warrior Princess and The Evil Dead / Army of Darkness! We start with the backstories behind Xena Warrior Princess and The Evil Dead and their shared co-creators of Robert Tapert and Sam Raimi. Then we dive into the 2008 Dynamite comic book series that sees Ash (as portrayed by Bruce Campbell) landing in the world of Xena (as played by Lucy Lawless). We wrap up by discussing the future of these franchises.

Ep. 105 What if Xena Warrior Princess met Ash of Evil Dead to fight the Army of Darkness?
From Dynamite Comics Earth of an unknown designation as seen in Xena Warrior Princess Vs Army of Darkness #1
Find us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchers

On this episode, we not only discuss comic books but also the Book of the Dead! It's Xena Warrior Princess vs. Ash and the Army of Darkness. We discuss the 1992 film Army of Darkness, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Bruce Campbell along with the introduction of Xena in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess from 1995. Next up is the 2008 Dynamite comic book series that sees Ash meet up with Xena and Gabrielle from John Layman & Brandon Jerwa and artist Miguel Montenegro. We wrap up by speculating on what's next for these series and could they continue without Bruce and Lucy Lawless. Grab your S-Mart snacks and join us!

Reading List:

• Army of Darkness (Universal Pictures movie 1992)
• Hercules: The Legendary Journeys & Xena: Warrior Princess (TV show 1995)
• Xena Warrior Princess vs Army of Darkness (Dynamite comic book 2008)

Find us & support us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchers
Email [email protected]

Theme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0)

"Oh say can you see... Captain America in the Civil War... and throughout US history?" We head back to 1976 with Jack Kirby's Captain America's Bicentennial Battles where Cap is annoyed by Ben Franklin, meets Geronimo in the Old West and witnesses the creation of the atom bomb. We then tackle an interesting if problematic modern What If and the United States of Captain America which both feature Indigenous versions of Cap. All this plus a quick history lesson on the US bicentennial!

Ep. 104 What if Captain America fought in the Civil War (the one from US history) and other tales of Cap in American History?
Plus a history of bicentennial comics!
From Marvel Earth-717 as seen in What If: Captain America #1
Find us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchers

Just in time for the 4th of July - Independence Day in the US - we follow Steve Rogers throughout history! We start in 1976 with a special issue written, drawn and edited by Jack Kirby that sees Cap in the 1700s, the Old West, WWII, classic Hollywood and much more (plus he beats up Hitler!). Then we ask the question what if Captain America fought in the Civil War courtesy of Tony Bedard and Carmine Di Giandomenico which includes and evil Bucky Barnes and some misplaced Native mysticism. We wrap up with an issue of United States of Captain America with stories by Christopher Cantwell and Darcie Little Badger featuring Joe Gomez as Captain America of the Kickapoo Tribe.

Reading List:

• Captain America's Bicentennial Battles (Marvel comics 1976)
• What If: Captain America #1 (Marvel comics 2005)
• United States of Captain America #3 (Marvel comics 2021)

Find us & support us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchers
Email [email protected]

Theme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0)

Hope this episode scratches your Poison Ivy itch! This Pride month, we are diving into how Poison Ivy became a genuine queer icon and had the sweetest relationship ever with the "Cupid of Crime", Harley Quinn. We cover Poison Ivy's first appearance in 1966, the start of her partnership with Harley on Batman: The Animated Series, and chat about her 2023 solo series.

Ep. 103 What if Batman villain Poison Ivy became a queer icon (and had the sweetest relationship ever with Harley Quinn)?
From the DCAU aka Earth-12, the DC Animated Universe, as seen in Batman: The Animated Series

The Batsignal is rainbow colored this episode as we cover the history of Poison Ivy and her emergence as a queer icon alongside her main squeeze Harley Quinn. We start back in 1966 with the creation of Poison Ivy in the pages of Batman and her connection to the Batman 66 tv show in which she never appeared. We then watch Ivy and Harley's first outing as partners courtesy Paul Dini on Batman: The Animated Series in 1993 and we wrap up by cultivating the seeds in Ivy's 2023 solo series from G. Willow Wilson and team. Plus, we discuss the Harley Quinn animated series, the future of these characters on screen and even Uma Thurman's vampy performance in Batman & Robin.

Reading List:

• Batman #181 (DC Comics 1966)
• Batman: The Animated Series "Harley and Ivy" (TV show 1993)
• Poison Ivy #9 (DC Comics 2023)

Find us & support us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchers
Email [email protected]

Theme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0)

You want to get nuts? Let's get nuts! We are telling the story of DC Comics in film from Christopher Reeve's Superman to Michael Keaton's Batman through the Synderverse, all leading up to our coverage of 2023's The Flash and its take on the multiverse alongside a brief recap of the film's messy production history. Plus we speculate as to what's next for DC on film.

Ep. 102 What if the DC superhero movie universes were a bowl of spaghetti?
Including Michael Keaton’s Batman, resurrecting DC film worlds lost or only imagined, and our review of The Flash (2023)
From Infinite earths as seen in dozens of DC comic book based films

Holy film studies Batman! We explore DC Comics on film starting with Superman: The Movie through to the original Batman quartet to the Nolan trilogy and into the DC Extended Universe. Guido and Rob share childhood recollections of the first time they saw some of these films, personal favorites, and early examples of requels (hello, Superman Returns!). Plus your hosts share their differing opinions on 2023's The Flash alongside a brief and tangled history of this character coming to the screen in his own solo movie. To wrap up, we debate what is next for DC on screen, whether we will see more multiversal stories and whether that multiverse is really a big bowl of spaghetti.

Reading List:

• Superman (movie 1978)
• Superman II (movie 1980)
• Superman III (movie 1983)
• Supergirl (movie 1984)
• Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (movie 1987)
• Batman (movie 1989)
• Batman Returns (movie 1992)
• Batman Forever (movie 1995)
• Batman & Robin (movie 1997)
• Batman Begins (movie 2005)
• The Dark Knight (movie 2008)
• The Dark Knight Rises (movie 2012)
• Superman Returns (movie 2006)
• Green Lantern (movie 2011)
• Man of Steel (movie 2013)
• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (movie 2016)
• Suicide Squad (movie 2016)
• Wonder Woman (movie 2017)
• Justice League (movie 2017)
• Aquaman (movie 2018)
• Shazam! (movie 2019)
• Joker (movie 2019)
• Birds of Prey (movie 2020)
• Wonder Woman 1984 (movie 2020)
• The Suicide Squad (movie 2021)
• The Batman (movie 2022)
• Black Adam (movie 2022)
• Shazam! Fury of the Gods (movie 2023)
• The Flash (movie 2023)

Find us & support us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchers
Email [email protected]

Theme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0)

For episode 101, we explore the historyof the multiversein DC comics...and it's not what you think! We provide a (brief) overview of the first examples of multiversal theory in fiction and science before discussing the first multiverse story in DC comics (which is NOT The Flash but rather in the pages of Wonder Woman)! We then discuss the iconic and meta Flash of Two Worlds and the first use of the term "multiverse" from an All-Star Squadron story by Roy Thomas.

Ep. 101 What if the Flash of Two Worlds was incorrectly identified as the origin of the DC Multiverse?
Infinite earths as seen in hundreds of DC comic books

For the start of our NEXT 100 episodes, we travel to the beginning of the multiverse in DC comics when Wonder Woman encounters an alternate universe version of herself back in 1953! We then tackle the iconic and super meta Flash story "Flash of Two Worlds" from Carmine Infantino and multiversal godfather Gardner Fox which brings together Barry Allen and Jay Garrick for the first time! We wrap up in the pages of All-Star Squadron which sees the Justice Society of America (or more preciously Doctor Fate) travel to a very Ditko-esque universe to battle The Spectre and to utter the word "multiverse" for the first time in DC comics courtesy of the legendary Roy Thomas. Plus Michael Moorcock, William James, Spider-Verse the upcoming Flash DCU film and much more.

Reading List:

• Wonder Woman #59 (1953)
• The Flash #123 (1961)
• All-Star Squadron #27 (1983)

Find us & support us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchers
Email [email protected]

Theme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0)

It’s our 100th episode and we’re celebrating! Guido and Rob count down the 10 most listened to episodes while sharing alternate universe characters they want to see on screen, favorite episodes, what they’ve learned about themselves hosting the podcast and more. Plus we announced an exciting summer long giveaway!

Ep. 100 What if to celebrate 100 episodes we counted down multiversal things (plus had a bunch of comic book giveaways)?

To celebrate our 100th episode, it’s lists and lists and lists! Your Council of Watchers share the 10 most listened to episodes (by people like YOU) including interviews and stories focused on Superman, Namor and Hulk. We also talk stories and characters we want to see on screen like Darkclaw and Age of Apocalypse, favorite alternate universe stories like RoboCop and His Dark Materials, favorite episodes, least listened to episodes, what we’ve learned doing the podcast, and our favorite things about doing the podcast. Plus we share details about our upcoming summer giveaway contests including signed comics!

Find us & support us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchers
Email [email protected]

Theme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0)

Hey ho, let's go! As we prepare for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, let's visit the introduction of Hobie Brown aka Spider-Punk in comics! We start with his first appearances in The Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Verse before unleashing the power (chords) of his five-part mini-series by Cody Ziglar and Justin Mason. Plus we share a Ramones song (meaning it is very short) size history of punk rock and speculate on what's next for the Spider-Verse on screen.

Ep. 99 What if Spider-Man was in a punk band aka what if Spider-Punk formed the Spider-Band to take on fascists?
Plus previewing Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Earth-138 as seen in Spider-Punk #1-5

Grab your safety pins and leather jacket, it's time to enter the Spider-Verse with our exploration of Hobie Brown aka Spider-Punk! We kick things off with Hobie's first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man by Dan Slott and Olivier Coipel plus his origin story by Jed MacKay and Sheldon Vella. Then we head to his five-part mini-series by Cody Ziglar and Justin Mason co-starring Captain Anarchist, Riotheart, a Latine rock drummer Daredevil and a Misfits-inspired Taskmaster. We wrap up by speculating on what's to come in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and beyond. Plus, Rob gives a bite-size history of punk rock and Guido takes us into the twisted web of history for the Spider-Verse.

Reading List:

• Amazing Spider-Man #10 (Marvel Comics 2015)
• Spider-Verse #2 (Marvel Comics 2015)
• Spider-Punk #1-5 (Marvel Comics 2022)
• Sony & Marvel Films Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse & Across The Spider-Verse (spoiler-free!)

Find us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchers
Email [email protected]

Theme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0)

We return to the worlds of What If as we wonder what if Spider-Man had remained possessed by the evil alien symbiote suit? We discuss the unusual story behind the suit’s creation by fan Randy Schueller to its introduction in both The Amazing Spider-Man 252 AND Secret Wars 8. We dive into this week's What If that sees both a Venom-ized Hulk and Thor plus an awesome turn for Black Cat before diving into a recently Venom-ized Hulk in Absolute Carnage. All of this plus special guest Joey Vazquez from Midtown Comics.

Ep. 98 What if the alien costume had possessed Spider-Man? With SPECIAL GUEST Joey of Midtown Comics
Plus a HISTORY of Spider-Man's black costume that becomes the symbiote Venom
Earth-1089 as seen in What If Vol. 2 #4

On this week's episode we kick off with the strange history of the black symbiote suit from fan Randy Schueller to it's introduction in both Amazing Spider-Man 252 and of course Marvel's Secret Wars 8 by Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck. We then head to the world of What If to ask the question what if Spider-Man remained possessed by the black costume. Oh, and what if The Hulk and Thor were too. This issue by Danny Fingeroth and Mark Bailey also features some great scenes for the Black Cat too. Then we wrap up by seeing the return of Venom-ized Hulk in 2019's Absolute Carnage by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman. We conclude with our special guest Joey Vazquez from Midtown Comics by speculating what's next for Venom, Spider-Man and the symbiote on screen. Also in this episode: A brief background of Secret Wars, the eventual realization of Randy's dream in Sensational Spider-Man: Self-Improvement, and much more.

Reading List:

• Secret Wars #8 (Marvel Comics 1984)
• What If #4 (Marvel Comics 1989)
• Absolute Carnage #3 (Marvel Comics 2019)

Find us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchers
Email [email protected]

Following Joey on Twitter and listen to Dear Watcher's interview with him here.

Theme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0)

It’s Sore vs Superbman, I mean…what the?! Yes exactly! We cover Marvel’s humor book What The—?! featuring The Avengers (The Revengers) vs the Justice League of America (Just-Us League) years before this battle became official. We discuss a history of both parody books and the “big two” crossovers plus speculate if we will ever see Marvel and DC team up in print or on screen again.

Ep. 97 What if the Avengers fought the Justice League in a parody spoof before it happened for real?
Plus a HISTORY of Marvel/DC Crossovers
Earth-89923 as seen in What The--?! #7

It’s all your favorite characters: Charlie America, Black & Blue Panther, The Least and more from the house of Marble vs. Hawk-mensch, Mr. Bat-mom, Doctor Face and other members of the Just-A-League in this Marvel vs. DC crossover in the pages of What The—?! Brought to the page by writer Scott Lobdell and artist Rurik Tyler plus work from Tom DeFalco, Terry Kavanagh and more, this skirmish (organized by Kranky the Master of Time and the Poker) comes years before the official Big Two battled it out. On this episode, we discuss the history of both parody comics (including Not Brand Echh and more) and comic crossovers from the beginning to today. We also wonder if thanks to folks like James Gunn and Jim Lee we could see a Marvel and DC crossover on the page or screen again soon.

Reading List:

• What The--?! #7

Find us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchers
Email [email protected]

Theme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0)

We have another One Bad Day as we head to Hollywood with Batman's shapeshifting foe, Clayface! We go back to 1940 for the first appearance of Basil Karlo aka Clayface then to James Tynion IV's revamp of his origin story (with a nod to Batman: The Animated Series). And we trade gloomy Gotham for sunny LA as Basil leaves a muddy trail of destruction through Tinsel Town in the truly amazing take from Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing and Xermánico in the One Bad Day series. We wrap up by speculating what is next for Clay including a potential role in The Batman 2.

Ep. 96 What if Batman's villain Clayface had one bad day in Hollywood?
Earth of an unknown designation as seen in Batman - One Bad Day: Clayface #1

We have another One Bad Day, this time with Batman's shapeshifting foe Clayface! We provide backstories to the four primary Clayfaces (there are over eight of them in total including Clownface!) before diving into the initial appearance of the first Clayface (aka Basil Karlo) before he even had powers, back in 1940 from the minds of Bill Finger and Bob Kane. We jump to 2018 to see the current DC Universe's origin story for Basil/Clayface with Detective Comics Annual #1 from James Tynion IV and Eddy Barrows. We then center our conversation around the truly stellar multiverse story in One Bad Day that sees Basil travel to Los Angeles for a one day homicidal stroll in the sun from the minds of writers Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing and artist Xermánico. But what's next for Clayface? We chat about Alan Tudyk's hilarious turn on Harley Quinn and whether Clayface will turn up in The Batman 2 from Matt Reeves. We also chat about the connections to Boris Karloff and Mike Flanagan's would-be take on this iconic character(s).

Reading List:

• Detective Comics #40 (1940 DC Comics)
• Detective Comics Annual #1 (2018 DC Comics)
• Batman - One Bad Day: Clayface #1 (2023 DC Comics)

Find us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchers
Email [email protected]

Theme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0)