Men Of Steel

Case and Jmike are joined by Doug Lief (from the Nostalgium Arcanum podcast) to talk about a family that's pretty super, The Incredibles!   Overview   In Podcast episode 142 of Men of Steel, hosts Case Aiken and Jmike Folson, alongside guest Doug Lief, delve into a comprehensive analysis of Disney's The Incredibles through the lens of Superman fandom. They explore the film's connections to other superhero media, notably its references to 60s Batman and Fleischer Superman, while debating the film's overall tone, which Case describes as having an 'angry' directorial voice. The discussion emphasizes Mr. Incredible as a Superman analog, revealing how his secret identity as Bob Parr reflects an average man grappling with superhero responsibilities amid family dynamics. The team draws parallels between the family members' powers and their roles, likening the villain Syndrome to a failed fan archetype obsessed with eliminating exceptionalism. Additionally, they analyze the film's aging animation, contextualize

Case and Jmike are joined by Micah McCaw to assess the Symbolism Supreme in Alan Moore's Supreme Story of the Year.   Overview   In episode 141 of the Men of Steel podcast, hosts Case Aiken and Jmike Folson, alongside guest Micah McCaw, delve into Alan Moore's influential 12-issue run on Supreme, titled "Supreme: The Story of the Year." They highlight the comic's groundbreaking nature upon its release in the mid-90s, reimagining Supreme—a character initially created by Rob Liefeld and akin to Superman—by incorporating innovative storytelling techniques, such as in-universe “revisions” of the character and comments on comic book history. The discussion spans various aspects of the series, including its artistic evolution through different illustrators and the provocative themes surrounding superhero relationships and villains. Notably, the podcast emphasizes Moore’s ability to blend humor with meta-narrative elements while maintaining continuity amidst complex plotlines, ultimately positioning Supreme as

Years ago, Case wrote a radio script that crossed over Superman with The Shadow. Now, he's gathered a host of actors to read it with full orchestration and foley!    Overview   In the Creative Collaboration and Script Reading meeting titled "The Shadow Meets Superman in The Searing Silhouette," hosted by Case Aiken and Jmike Folson, participants including Rachel Quirky Schenk, Geoff Moonen, Olivia Gilliatt, Ben Goldsmith, Peter Coleman, and Sarah Moonen engaged in a collaborative reading of the script. The meeting began with introductions and role assignments, followed by a two-part reading that introduced the characters of The Shadow and Superman, set against the backdrop of a major metropolitan law firm and a kidnapping plot. The discussion segment allowed participants to share feedback on the script, explore its historical context, and draw comparisons with other media crossovers. Additionally, tangential discussions covered related topics, such as pinball machines and potential sequels. The meeting

Case and Jmike are joined by Jesse Galdston to excavate the deepest secrets of the Wildstorm Universe in the landmark series, Planetary.   Overview   In this episode of the podcast, the hosts delve into "Planetary," a groundbreaking comic series from the late 90s to early 2000s, paying tribute to its co-creator John Cassaday, who recently passed away. The discussion covers the series' unique approach to superhero narratives, its complex characters—including Elijah Snow and the Drummer—and its exploration of themes such as lost potential, the grotesque realities of heroism, and the subversion of classic superhero tropes. The hosts examine the artistic style of Cassaday, the series' critical commentary on comic book history, and its connections to the Wildstorm universe, as well as its influence on subsequent works and the ethical implications presented in crossover events like "Planetary JLA: Terra Occulta." J Mike, a newcomer to the series, is encouraged to explore more, while listeners are invited to j

Few questions inspire as much debate as "Who is faster, the Flash or Superman?" Case and Jmike are joined by Austin Funk, from the Rolling with Difficulty podcast (https://rollingwithdifficultypod.transistor.fm/) , to take a closer look at the photo finish that is the various races between Superman and the Flash.   Overview   The Discussion/Analysis meeting centered around the iconic races between Superman and The Flash, covering their historical significance in comics from the first race in Superman 199 to contemporary depictions in animated series and live-action adaptations. Key topics included the power dynamics and character developments through different comic eras, particularly focusing on Wally West’s evolution as The Flash, and the emotional depth apparent in races involving the Flash family. The meeting also highlighted artistic challenges in illustrating super-speed and discussed the scientific and philosophical themes these races evoke, such as the concept of the Speed Force. Additionally, m

There's nothing more important to developing creativity than play, so let's look at the toys that featured the Man of Steel. In particular, back in thew 80s, DC put out a line that distilled the raw power of their characters into figures that punched and kicked without the need for buttons or levers! That's right, Case and Jmike are joined by guest Rick Lee James to discuss the venerable DC Super Powers line! Overview  In the latest episode of the podcast, hosts Case Aiken and JMike Folson welcome guest Rick Lee James for an engaging discussion about the impact of action figures on childhood perceptions of superheroes, particularly focusing on toys from the Super powers line of the late 70s and early 80s. The episode delves into the cultural influence of various superhero toy lines, including Power Rangers and Transformers, while examining the design and action features of iconic vehicles like the Batmobile and Supermobile. The hosts explore the evolution of toy designs, the crossover between toys and media t

Can the Man of Steel weather a Crisis in Time? Grant Richter from the Truth, Justice, and Hope podcast joins Case and Jmike to look at Superman's tie ins with Zero Hour!   Overview In episode 136 of the podcast, titled "Superman in Zero Hour," hosts engage in a comprehensive discussion with guest Grant Richter about the influential 1994 DC Comics event, Zero Hour. The conversation begins with an introduction to the event and its significance for key characters like Superman and the Legion of Superheroes, before delving into the context of Superman comics at that time, including the 'triangle era' and the introduction of new characters like Superboy. Key segments explore Zero Hour’s impact on character continuity, the complexities of time travel within the story, and specific tie-in issues featuring characters such as Superboy and Batman. The episode also covers the introduction of characters like Alpha Centurion and the lasting effects of Zero Hour on DC’s continuity, followed by an evaluation of the eve

There are few pairings that can rival the acclaim of Batman and Superman, but the teaming of Mark Waid with Dan Mora may be a solid challenger! Jim Fetters is back to chat with Case and Jmike about the first arc in DC's Batman / Superman: World's Finest.   Overview: ●      In episode 134 of the Podcast Discussion meeting, hosts Casey Aiken and Jmike Folson, joined by guest Jim Fetters, delve into the intricacies of the "World's Finest" comic series, focusing on the first arc encompassing issues 1-6. They commend the creative efforts of Mark Waid and Dan Mora, highlighting the series' blend of Silver Age charm and contemporary storytelling. Key discussions include the engaging character dynamics between Robin and Supergirl, the introduction of the villain Devil Neza, and the seamless integration of time travel elements. Mora's dynamic art style receives particular praise, alongside Waid's effective narrative techniques, such as flashbacks and emotional portrayals of iconic characters. The hosts celebrate the

It’s time to look at what just might be technically the current origin of Superman, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s Secret Origin miniseries! Alex McConnell joins Case and Jmike to look at this retro reboot of the Man of Tomorrow’s earliest adventures! Find Alex: ADMcConnell.com Overview In the latest episode of the podcast, the hosts delve into the intricate world of Superman through a detailed discussion of the "Secret Origins" comic, featuring a guest expert, Alex McConnell. They explore the nuances of Superman's character evolution, particularly how Geoff Johns tends to revert heroes to their classic Silver and Bronze Age personas, and they critically examine Gary Frank’s artistic style. The hosts debate various iterations of Superman's origin stories, alongside the significance of his relationships with characters like Lana Lang and Lois Lane. They also analyze the portrayals of villains such as Lex Luthor and Metallo, emphasizing the impact of Metropolis' development and the role of media as embodied by th

What is this? A podcast or an operating table? Duke is back to join Case and Jmike into the legendary book, The Dark Knight Returns… from the perspective of Superman fans. Meeting summary: ●      In the recent Podcast Recording meeting titled "The Dark Knight Returns," the hosts engaged in a comprehensive discussion about the iconic comic "The Dark Knight Returns." Starting with episode art options, they settled on a dynamic design featuring Superman above Batman. The conversation delved into various facets of the comic, analyzing its commentary on 1980s society, politics, and character portrayals, particularly of Batman, Superman, and new characters like Carrie Kelly. They highlighted themes such as Batman's psychological struggles post-retirement, the intense Batman vs. Superman conflict, and the significance of media influence within the story. The meeting concluded with reflections on the comic's legacy and recommendations for listeners to explore more content from the podcast network. Notes: ●     

How much pressure would it take for the Man of Steel to break? Jesse Fresco joins Case and Jmike to look at a series that asked that question: Irredeemable, written by Mark Waid, drawn by Peter Krause and Diego Barreto.

With the second season of My Adventures with Superman concluded, Case and Jmike are once again joined by Red and Blue from Overly Sarcastic Productions to reflect on it.

What if you had never been hurt? Never been sick? Would you be hero? Sophia Ricciardi joins Case and Jmike for some analysis of this stealth superhero movie. And make sure you check out the other side of this crossover by checking out Case's appearance on MovieStruck talking about the movie beat by beat: https://moviestruck.transistor.fm/episodes/moviestruck-episode-81-unbreakable-2000-feat-case-aiken

Did you know that Superman had a board game in the 50s? If Ebay didn’t exist, we wouldn’t have either! Keith Lehtinen joins Case and Jmike for some commentary and game highlights on this relic from a simpler time.

Not all superheroes wear capes. Some are teenagers with attitude! Nic Woolfe is back to chat about arguably the greatest Power Ranger of them all, Tommy Oliver!

The back half of the classic Superman shorts suffered from a drop in budget and a restructuring of the studio working on it. To look at these lesser cousins to the stellar Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons, Anthony Desiato (Digging For Kryptonite podcast) joins Case and Jmike for a conversation on the less notable but still... Famous... Superman shorts.

For many, the Fleischer Studios produced Superman Animated Shorts are the classic depiction of the Man of Steel and it's about time we talked about them.  For this conversation, Case and Jmike are joined by Brendan and Nick Connors from the City of Supers podcast.

Going back to the earliest days of the medium, superheroes have been used to sell you stuff. For a conversation about the commerce of superheroes, Case and Jmike are joined by Birk O'Halloran from pop art themed wine brand Iconic Wines.

The archetype of Superman is a compelling one, even when flipped from good to evil. For a conversation on villainous spins on the Man of Steel, Case and Jmike are joined by Dylan J. Schlender from The Reels of Justice podcast!

In the wake of the, at the time, unpopular “Electric Blue” era of Superman, we were presented four EXTREMELY classic takes on Superman. From the Truth, Justice, and Hope podcast, Grant Richter joins Case and Jmike to talk about “The Dominus Effect”.