Capes On The Couch - Where Comics Need Counseling

We cover the second Robin, JASON TODD, at the request of Patron Ariel! How did he go from being Dick Grayson 2.0 to one of the angriest members of the Bat-family? Doc unveils one of his most inventive treatment methods yet, plus we finally get an answer to the age-old question of how the Joker got away! (No reason why Batman smells, though.) Listen now! SHOW NOTES: Intro Doc wrote a guest column for Adventures in Poor Taste She-Hulk & Moon Knight shows on Disney+ Shoutout to Drop Anchor Background (7:18) Jason Todd created by Gerry Conway & Don Newton in Batman #357 (March 1983) Jason was the second Robin, after Dick Grayson left to become Nightwing Originally the son of circus acrobats who were killed by a criminal, he was adopted by Bruce Wayne in the pre-Crisis continuity Post-Crisis, he was revamped to be an orphan attempting to steal the tires off the Batmobile Batman takes him in as protege to prevent him from becoming a criminal A Death in the Family – Jason is searchin

Patron Ruby requested we cover Jen Walters, aka SHE-HULK! Why does a successful attorney prefer to be green? Why does she keep relationships short & easy? Plus another five-star review from a happy fan. Listen now! Intro Shout-out to Pod Sound School for the audit & help and Collateral Gaming for being awesome Background (04:44) She-Hulk created by Stan Lee & John Buscema in Savage She-Hulk #1 (February 1980) Created to prevent anyone else from having rights to female version of Hulk Jen Walters, a lawyer and cousin of Bruce Banner, got shot by goons of a crime boss she was making a case against – Bruce, who was visiting her when she was shot, gave her a blood transfusion to save her life – she raged out when the mobsters came to the hospital to finish her off, and became She-Hulk Comes to embrace the She-Hulk form, and prefers the confidence it gives her over her “normal” look, which was much more shy Joined the Fantastic Four to replace the temporarily depowered Thing – during

Our second ever creator interview has Anthony & Doc speaking with ERICA SCHULTZ, writer of Twelve Devils Dancing. Who is Callum Cooper? What impacts does being raised in a cult have on him? And a tease for one of her big upcoming projects. Listen now! SHOW NOTES: Intro Plugs - Ignorance Was Bliss, Popcorn Psychology Interview (02:50) Background - other works in comics What inspired this story? What was the motivation to give Cal Parkinson's? (10:52) Multiple characters refer to Cal as "cocky". However, it's clear that he's unsure of himself in every area besides decoding and hunting this serial killer. Was that the intention from the start? (17:36) The story places a high value on intelligence across the board (31:06) Protagonist is victim of cult mentality  Upcoming projects and social media plugs Break - plug Anxenity Ending Next episodes - She-Hulk and Jason Todd References: Macdonald Triad - Erica - 7:02 Speed - Erica - 26:13 Maslow's hierarchy of needs - Erica - 27:34 Freudian Sips - Ant

Patreon Brian asked us to cover THE RIDDLER! Why does Edward Nygma keep leaving clues he knows Batman will solve? What is OCD really like? All these questions and more - listen now! SHOW NOTES: Intro Background (1:15) Riddler created by Bill Finger & Dick Sprang in Detective Comics #140 (October 1948) Edward Nigma loved puzzles so much he became obsessed with using puzzles to cheat people out of money Decided to challenge Batman as a worthy adversary Hush – Riddler determines Batman’s secret identity and threatens to expose it, but Batman says that a riddle that everyone knows the answer to is meaningless Becomes adversary of Green Arrow for a while Spends a year in a coma and awakens to find himself cured of his insanity and obsession with riddles – but does not remember Bruce Wayne is Batman – he assists several heroes with his intellect for a while Returns to villainy after being hit with a bomb, restarting his psychosis New 52 – slightly new look, but same adversarial stance with B

For our 50th episode, we open up the mailbag and answer questions from our listeners! Who's Doc afraid to get on the couch? What inspired Anthony to get into comics? Is Scott still a dick? All these questions and more - listen now! SHOW NOTES: Merch on TeePublic! Additional swag for Patrons! Questions: Patron Ruby Patron Brian Marvel Mythos Jeanne Rey from Into the Knight Nick Ending Next episodes: Riddler, Callum Cooper (Erica Schultz interview), She-Hulk, Jason Todd REFERENCES: Oprah Winfrey - "You get a car!" - Anthony - 9:05 Queen - "Flash Gordon Theme" - Anthony/Doc - 12:35 South Park - "Scott is a dick" - Anthony - 41:55 Into the Knight interview with Anthony - 59:44 The Critic - Orson Welles - Anthony - 62:55 Pinky & the Brain - "Yes, Always" - Anthony - 63:30 The Critic - "Buy my book!" - Anthony - 67:12 iTunes: here Google Play: here Stitcher: here TuneIn: here iHeartRadio: here Spotify: here Twitter FacebookE-mailPatreonTeePublic

Our first thematic episode focuses on minor sidekicks to adult heroes! What would convince a teenager to endanger themselves to join an adult? Anthony & Doc break down several famous pairings and how they work (or don't)! Listen now! SHOW NOTES: Intro Shoutout to new Patron Salvador Adventures in Poor Taste plug for Doc’s column Episode 50 - Mailbag Background (5:24) First teenage sidekick was Robin, the Boy Wonder, introduced in Detective Comics #38 (April 1940) Numerous teen sidekicks followed: Bucky (Captain America), Toro (Human Torch), Speedy (Green Arrow) 1954, Frederic Wertham published Seduction of the Innocent, claiming comic books were corrupting America’s youth – pointed out potential homosexual subtexts, along with graphic imagery, in several comic books – the Comics Code Authority was created to let the industry self-regulate rather than have Congress do it for them Later comics explore the role sidekicks have, and retcon the justification for the sidekick accompanying the

On the heels of Jessica Jones S3, Patron Ariel requested we cover the Purple Man, KILLGRAVE! How is the comic version different from David Tennant's portrayal? And can Anthony & Doc count to 50? (The answer to the last one is no.) Listen now! (DISCLAIMER: We inadvertently forgot this was episode 48, so we keep calling it 49 in the show. Don't worry, you're not missing anything, we just can't count ;-P ) SHOW NOTES: Intro Podcoin plug (0:40) Background (2:55) Zebediah Killgrave created by Stan Lee and Joe Orlando in Daredevil #4 (October 1964) A former doctor now operating as a spy, he was in an accident with a chemical that turned his skin purple, and gave his body pheromones that allowed him to control people nearby with his voice Recurring villain of Daredevil initially He seduced and impregnated a woman, who gave birth to a daughter Kara - she became Persuasion and was affiliated with Alpha Flight Became involved with Jessica Jones - tortured her for months and sent her to kill Daredevil

Patron Ariel requested we cover Superman's archenemy LEX LUTHOR! Find out what makes this mad scientist/mad businessman so mad! Plus find out which real-life executive Anthony compares to Luthor! Listen now! (DISCLAIMER: We inadvertently forgot this was episode 47, so we keep calling it 48 in the show. Don't worry, you're not missing anything, we just can't count ;-P ) SHOW NOTES: Intro IWB live show on July 12th Podcoin plug Background (5:10) Created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster in Action Comics #23 (April 1940) or Superman #4 (Spring 1940) Originally a mad scientist who lived in a flying city, he was a standard megalomaniac, and Superman was just the only one who could foil his plans Origin story later revealed that he was a scientist in Smallville who liked Superboy until an accident at his laboratory turned him bald and killed an artificial life-form he had created – explains his hatred and jealousy of Superman After Crisis on Infinite Earths, Luthor was reimagined as a corrupt

Our first ever relationship episode focuses on Charles Xavier and Magneto. Find out why these two frenemies keep coming back to each other. Plus Anthony & Doc discuss the corollary between these two and MLK/Malcolm X. Listen now! SHOW NOTES: Issue 46 – Relationship between Charles Xavier and Magneto Background (6:56) Introduced as mortal enemies in The X-Men #1 (Sept. 1963) Xavier was the head of the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters, while Magneto was the mutant extremist trying to eradicate mankind Later revealed that they were old friends working together to help Holocaust victims in Israel – neither knew the other was a mutant at first, but they learned of their powers and parted ways, knowing their views were incompatible After decades of villainy, Magneto begins to change his mind on humans – eventually turns himself in to be judged for his crimes A dying Xavier asks Magneto to watch over the school, which he does for a time Magneto eventually returns to his evil ways after the wo

WE'RE BACK! Not only is this our Season 3 premiere, but it's our first ever creator interview. We talk to Jeremy Whitley, writer for the Unstoppable Wasp, and ask him about Nadia Van Dyne. We ask about her Bipolar disorder, her amazing support system, and how his writing rendered the need for a skit obsolete! Listen now! SHOW NOTES: Intro Background (11:12) Created by Mark Waid and Alan Davis in Free Comic Book Day 2016 Civil War II (July 2016) Daughter of Hank Pym and his first wife Maria Trovaya – Maria was abducted and killed by foreign agents, Nadia was raised in Red Room as assassin until they learned who her father was – placed her in science program to use her genetic aptitude Reverse-engineered Pym Particles and escaped, hoping to meet her father – discovers he is dead Creates a new Wasp suit to honor her father’s memory Joins the Avengers and becomes a US citizen Creates Genius In action Research Labs (G.I.R.L.) to recruit young women with science backgrounds Takes the name Van Dyne

It's the Season 2 finale, and per our President level Patron Ariel's request, we're covering TALIA AL GHUL! Anthony & Doc go in depth on Ra's daughter, her on/off-again relationship with Batman, and how good of a mother she is to Damian. All this, plus a first ever treatment session and the weirdest accent Anthony's done yet - LISTEN NOW! SHOW NOTES: Introduction Shoutout to Blood & Black Rum (NSFW) –  – Ryne & Chris drink beer and talk about (mostly) cult films – (3:34) Background (5:54) Created by Dennis O’Neil and Bob Brown in Detective Comics #411 (May 1971) Daughter of Ra’s al Ghul, introduced as simply Talia – Batman rescues her from the League of Assassins, and she shoots her captor (Dr. Darrk) to save Batman Later revealed that a kidnapping was a test by Ra’s to see if Batman would make a good husband for Talia – Bruce rejects the offer, but still loves Talia She marries Bruce in 1978 with Ra’s approval She becomes pregnant with Bruce’s child, but she realizes she can’t s

It's the magical conman from Liverpool, John Constantine! Anthony & Doc discuss this Sting lookalike and why he has so few friends. Plus hear the worst attempt at a Scouse accent you've ever heard! SHOW NOTES: Intro Shoutout to Freudian Sips – mother-daughter duo have drinks and talk about brains, psychology, and all manner of interesting topics (NSFW) (2:32) Background (5:37) John Constantine created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, and John Totleben in The Saga of Swamp Thing #37 (June 1985) Originally designed by the artists to look like Sting, since they were fans of the Police Started off as a DC character, but shifted to Vertigo in 1993, where he essentially stayed for over 20 years until the New 52 combined the DC and Vertigo universes In the Vertigo universe, he ages in real time, unlike most comic book characters Born as a sole surviving twin – he inadvertently strangled his twin in the womb with his own umbilical cord – the birth also killed his mother, and his father resented hi

It's our second Captain Marvel episode about the second Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau! Is Monica the Harold Miner of the Marvel Universe? How many Monica songs does Anthony reference? All this, plus a special guest appearance from Jeanne as Monica Rambeau - listen now! SHOW NOTES: Introduction Shoutout to Lolita Gentry Project – (5:24) Background (8:29) Monica Rambeau created by Roger Stern & John Romita, Jr. in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 (October 1982) A lieutenant in the New Orleans police department, she tried helping an old friend of her grandfather’s prevent the creation of a dangerous weapon, but in the process of destroying it, she was exposed to extra-dimensional energy, which gave her the power to convert her body to any form of energy – one of the men who witnessed the explosion said “the captain is a marvel”, so the media dubbed her Captain Marvel – kept the name to honor Mar-Vell, the original Captain Marvel, who had recently died – first costume created from old Mardi Gras

Before Captain Marvel drops in theaters this week, listen to Anthony & Doc dissect CAROL DANVERS! This is our heaviest episode yet, as we take on Carol's history and issues with authority. You won't want to miss this one - listen now! SHOW NOTES: (Please be advised that we offer a trigger warning for sexual abuse/rape victims for this episode.) Introduction Shoutout to AnxZenity – Gerald’s battle with anxiety & panic disorder – (4:30) Background (4:57) Carol Danvers created by Roy Thomas & Gene Colan in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 (March 1968) Originally an Air Force officer working as head of security of a missile base alongside Dr. Walter Lawson, the alias of Mar-Vell, aka Captain Marvel Gets caught in explosion of a Kree device called the Psyche-Magnetron, sustaining serious injuries – healed by Captain Marvel, she returns with superhuman abilities Originally, abilities manifested themselves without her conscious knowledge Now calling herself Ms. Marvel, she works as a human-Kree

Patron Matt asked for THE PUNISHER! Anthony & Doc break down the clearest case of PTSD in comics around. Does Doc survive his session with Frank Castle? Listen in to find out! SHOW NOTES: Introduction Shoutout to Pop Psych 101 (4:49) Background (7:15) Frank Castle created by Gerry Conway & John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (February 1974) Debuted as an antagonist who wanted to kill Spider-Man over the murder of Norman Osborn Later became an anti-hero who fought alongside Avengers and other heroes Revealed that he was a Marine who became a vigilante when his family was killed by the mob in retaliation for their witnessing a killing in Central Park Made several appearances in Frank Miller’s Daredevil run, where he contrasted Matt’s attitude In the late 1980s and early 1990s, at one point there were five simultaneous books about the Punisher on shelves – The Punisher, The Punisher War Journal, The Punisher War Zone, The Punisher Magazine, and the Punisher A

We didn't plan on it, but our Patron asked for it... so we covered CAPTAIN AMERICA! Anthony & Doc examine the Sentinel of Liberty, and what kind of responsibilities rest upon his broad, massive, sculpted shoulders. Listen now! SHOW NOTES: Intro Shoutout to Stacking Benjamins podcast – (10:04) Background (13:21) Created by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby in Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941) from Timely Comics Steve Rogers is a sickly kid from New York who volunteers for a government experiment to create a super soldier – the scientist responsible is killed after Rogers undergoes the procedure, leaving him the only result Is given a bulletproof shield made of vibranium by FDR, and befriends young James Buchanan Barnes, aka Bucky Battles the Red Skull, a Nazi super soldier, and other enemies of America and freedom Cap and Bucky are presumably killed trying to defuse a bomb on a plane flying over the North Atlantic as World War II was coming to a close Others carried the mantle of Captain

We're taking on the leader of the Walking Dead saviors, the foul-mouthed NEGAN! Anthony & Doc unravel his unique honor system, particular misogyny, and his... interesting relationship with his bat. Plus Anthony compares him to old ECW wrestlers. Listen now! SHOW NOTES: Intro Shoutout to Christian & Damon’s Amazing Nerd podcast (NSFW language) – (3:20) Background (4:15) Negan created by Robert Kirkman & Charlie Adlard in The Walking Dead #100 (July 2012) Introduced as leader of Saviors, a group of survivors living near Alexandria in a compound called the Sanctuary, who rules over the group with an iron fist, and a barbed-wire-wrapped baseball bat named Lucille Lucille was the name of his wife, who he had to abandon when the zombie apocalypse started – she was in a hospital, died, and reanimated – he also had a mistress on the side He and his men capture Rick, Carl, Glenn, Maggie, Sophia, Michonne, and Heath, and brutally murders Glenn after selecting him with eeny-meeny-miney-mo

Before the Doom Patrol debuts on DC Universe, Anthony & Doc tackle THE CHIEF! This Professor X/Mr. Glass mashup has a host of issues, including ignoring female agency! Plus our hosts pitch a new series for Tom King & Mitch Gerads to work on! Listen now! SHOW NOTES: Introduction Shout-out to The Fantom Zone (05:32) Background (06:00) The Chief (Niles Caulder) created by Arnold Drake & Bruno Premiani in My Greatest Adventure #80 (June 1963) Leader of the Doom Patrol, a group of superpowered “freaks” Received funding from a mysterious benefactor at a young age to create inventions Met a woman named Arani Desai and got married – gave her immortality on their wedding night, then left her because he was in danger from the benefactor Discovered the benefactor was General Immortus, who wanted him to create a serum that would prolong his life – Caulder refused, and Immortus implanted an explosive device in his body – the device was removed, but it cost him the ability to walk Determines

Hot on the heels of the Aquaman movie, Anthony & Doc cover his archnemesis Black Manta! What sort of issues does an autistic black kid raised by pirates have? The kind that lead to Monty Python references - listen now! SHOW NOTES: Introduction Shoutout to Sharp: The Podcast (3:37) Background (5:31) Black Manta – created by Bob Haney & Nick Cardey in Aquaman #35 (September 1967) Original backstory was that a young black boy was kidnapped from his Baltimore home and forced to work on a ship, where he tried to get Aquaman to save him, but was unsuccessful – blamed Aquaman and the ocean for his troubles A later backstory claimed he was an autistic orphan raised in Arkham Asylum who enjoyed freezing water but hated a bed – he was experimented on, killed the scientist responsible and escaped He designed a helmet that allowed him to shoot energy rays from the eyes, and battled Aquaman on several occasions Revealed at one point that his goal was to have black people control the oceans as rep

WE'RE BACK! Anthony & Doc return with their first episode of 2019! At Patron Matt's request, we cover J. Jonah Jameson! Learn why he's so obsessed with Spider-Man, and how bad this is for his health! Listen now! SHOW NOTES: Introduction/Welcome back Shoutout to The Story Behind – (04:35) Background (05:55) Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (March 1963) John Jonah Jameson, Jr. was the son of John Jonah Jameson, Sr., but was raised by his uncle David – young JJ thought David was his father, but later the real relationship was revealed David was a veteran, and was incredibly abusive to the boy – also was responsible for getting him addicted to cigars as a child Served in WWII as a war correspondent – returned home to his wife Joan, they had a son, John Jonah III – Joan died in a mugging accident, and Jameson worked at the Daily Bugle to mask his pain – later came to run and own the paper When Spider-Man appears on the scene, Jameson uses the paper to discredit