Screw It, We're Just Gonna Talk About Spider-man

Kevin and Will go over the first issue of legendary comic book series Watchmen. This is unrelated to the rest of this season, and just because the new HBO television series gives us an excuse to go over one of our favorite comic series of all time. We talk about Alan Moore's genius, Dave Gibbon's mastery, and what makes the finely turned watch that is Watchmen's world tick! We talk about the masterful FULLNESS of this world, the irony, the bleakness, the hilarious meanness! We get into problems with Alan Moore stories in general: the density, the dude-ness. We recorded this on Alan Moore's birthday and forgot to mention it!

We look back on the Kirby era. These 102 issues have been at different times: perfection, wildly brilliant, recklessly inventive, silly, downright dumb, out of date, ahead of its time -- but never, ever, ever boring. What did we learn on this re-read? And what next for the podcast? ALSO: We go over the "lost" Kirby FF issue, and the recent FF history recap comic Grand Design! -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

We finish the Jack Kirby era. An undersean man/alien, a plot to foil the moon landing, the Puppet Master/Mad Thinker's instantly failure of a plan, and the last issue by Jack Kirby. Plus Kevin breaks out a few character voices. -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

We are reaching the end of Jack Kirby's FF issues, and the stories are maybe getting crazier? But still good. We've got a gangster planet that has alien gladiators, a witch babysitter for newly-named Franklin Richards, and a guy with a monocle tries a dumb plan which does not work! -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Two story arcs: Doom hypnotizes FF but also plays piano for them, and then Sue rents what looks like a totally evil house and in fact is one. Plus some email in which Kevin and Will get schooled! -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Jack Kirby is picking up steam again! Although we're into a run where a high percentage of fights end the second people have a conversation. A moral lesson? Or hurried storytelling? YOU BE THE JUDGE! Plus Kevin and Will catch up on email again. -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Jack Kirby is starting his (slight) dip in story quality. Fewer new characters. Plots stretched over a couple of issues with little development. But on the bright side: Galactus shows up and he's still wearking shorts! That's fun. -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

A catch-up episode! Kevin and Will take a deep dive on the Human Torch! They catch up on email! They challenge each other to a Fantastichat! More Fantastic Four issues next episode! -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Past the peak, we move into some issues that we deem as "not bad!" Meaning, they don't change the very landscape of the Marvel Universe, but they are darn good Jack Kirby stories. We also see Dr. Doom on a surfboard, which Kevin hates and Will loves! -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Continuing this stellar run of Jack Kirby masterpieces, we review what may be the single greatest issue of FF ever - "This Man, This Monster" as well as the introduction of a little-known Marvel hero known as The Black Panther! Kevin and Will lose their minds and basically read the whole comics to you all. -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

This is it! The big one! Perhaps the most famous Fantastic Four story from the Kirby Era: The Galactus Saga. The long-winded, big-helmet-wearing, pantsless God-like villain known as Galactus shows up on Earth in order to... eat it for dinner. Along with him comes the Silver Surfer, and in battling him the FF meet one of the most powerful and popular villains in all of Marvel comics! Spoiler: hosts Kevin and Will love it! -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

We take a break from our already-insane (not) regular structure to interview our friend RAMSEY ESS, who has collected EVERY SINGLE ISSUE of the Fantastic Four. That's... crazy. He's a huge fan of the book, and we talk about it! All right! -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

We are now going over some of the greatest FF issues of all time! This episode, we see the debut of The Inhumans: Gorgon, Medusa, Crystal, Karnak, Triton, Black Bolt and Lockjaw. You want STRONG FEET or ANIMATED HAIR or TELEPORTING DOG? We got 'em! -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Will and Kevin discuss one of the all-time great Marvel Comics characters: Ben Grimm, The Ever-Lovin' Thing! They also get into their admittedly insane plan for structuring this season, and some more email! -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Will and Kevin examine the first capital G GREAT long run of FF stories in this batch. Artist/co-writer Jack Kirby is getting into a groove as the action is non-stop, the characters have evolved and it is just plain fun! Plus we meet The Frightful Four -- villains featuring some of the silliest powers in all Marveldom! -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Kevin and Will analyze the "getting good" run, including a deep dive on the much-underdeveloped character of the group: Sue Storm aka The Invisible Girl. Jack and Stan seemed determined to relegate her to "needing to be rescued" status. But was there something progressive by just having romantic interest part of the team at all? And was it revolutionary to see a couple get engaged, then married, then have a baby? All this and much more! -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

This is where the Fantastic Four starts to get good. We've got an awesome Hulk vs. Thing fight, the evolution of Dr. Doom, the increased powers of Sue Storm -- and a feeling that Stan and Jack are starting to really understand their characters. Oh, and there's Gideon, one of the dumbest ideas for a villain ever! -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

A catch-up episode! Kevin and Will take a break from the Fantastic Four briefly to discuss the new Spider-Man movie "Far From Home." And they also read a bunch of listener email! More Fantastic Four next week! -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Kevin and Will analyze the bad issues. You can still see the elements that will make this series great. Ben's character is settling into place. The artwork remains strong (although the inking gets worse). The huge number of ideas is still impressive. And we take a deep dive into Doctor Doom who somehow evolves from hilariously weak to the signature villain in the Marvel Universe! -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

We go through a bad stretch: issues 9 through 24. Villains with ultimate power dispatched by... ignoring them! And also... calling their parents? Time travel only when you need it! Sue tries on wigs! COMMUNIST SUPER APES! Eeesh. -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @ScrewItComics Instagram: @ScrewItComics Email: ScrewItSpidey@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify