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.

The Fantasticast Episode 165: Fantastic Four #140 - Annihilus Revealed

The Fantasticast Episode 165

Namor's Onesie

Hello, and welcome to episode 165 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 triple-comic week on the Fantasticast. First up, the main event, Fantastic Four #140, which pulls together just about every unresolved plot line since Jack Kirby left the book. Where did Agatha Harkness go? What's going on with Franklin's glowing eyes? Will Sue and Reed ever reunite? Thanks to the return of our favourite buck-toothed, armour-clad insectoid ruler of the Negative Zone, a sense of purpose and direction returns to the book.  And, as if all of this wasn't enough, we also find out the  origins of Annihilus.

Elsewhere, we're also taking a look at the beginnings of one of the most superfluous mandated pieces of superhero technology, the Spider-Mobile, in Amazing Spider-Man #126. We then follow up with some big changes for Namor in Sub-Mariner #67, where a heavy dose of nerve-gas leads to the introduction of a brand new costume.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_165.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.

The Fantasticast Episode 164: Fantastic Four #164 - Target: Tomorrow!

The Fantasticast Episode 164

Podcasters Ponder the Plight of the Plummeting Indians

Hello, and welcome to episode 164 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

Good news, everyone! We're returning to the Miracle Man story with this week's episode of the show. Fantastic Four #139 sees Ben, Johnny, Medusa and Wyatt conclude their struggle against one of the first villains to face the Fantastic Four. Will everything pull together for a satisfying conclusion? Or will a lack of focus and rationale for this revamped villain nobble any momentum in the story?

Either way, this issue finally gives some focus to Medusa, defining her role on the team about as well at it'll be defined, and giving her some great fighting moves. Oh, and amnesia, apparently. We'll also take a look at some staggering artistic shortcuts from artist John Buscema, and lay out the love triangle at the heart of the Mrsvel Bullpen romcom.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_164.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.

The Fantasticast Episode 162: Fantastic Four #138 - Madness Is... The Miracle Man!

The Fantasticast Episode 162

Socially Cordial Recaps

Hello, and welcome to episode 162 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 on the show, we're covering Fantastic Four #138, featuring the return of three beloved characters last seen in the Lee/Kirby era. One is Johnny's college dorm-mate, Wyatt Wingfoot. Another is Wyatt's wannabe football coach and interesting plot-dodger, Coach Thorne. And the third is... uh... the Miracle Man.

The Miracle Man and Coach Thorne. Just let those sink in.

It's not all bad, however, as Alicia experiences minute plot development, Johnny gets a reverse haircut, and Steve and Andy present the latest instalment in their irregular series, How To Speak In A New York Accent.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_162.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 161: Fantastic Four #137 - Rumble On Planet 3

The Fantasticast Episode 161

This FOOM Is On Fire

Hello, and welcome to episode 137 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 bringing to a conclusion the story of the Shaper of the Worlds and the 1950s throwback world that the Fantastic Four have found themselves trapped in. If it seems like this week's episode doesn't quite match up with last week's, that's just our attempt to recreate these comics in podcast form! Just don't ask us where Planet 3 is.

We've got plenty of forced intergenerational conflict, self-proclaimed male chauvinism, multiple no-prizes, Burt - the glorious sound of battle, and important Red Ghost news. Yes, such a thing exists. All this and more, on this week's Fantasticast.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_161.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 160: Fantastic Four #136 - Rock Around The Cosmos

The Fantasticast Episode 160

Legs vs Cubes

Hello, and welcome to episode 160 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 back! 2016 is here and we're kicking things off with our coverage of Fantastic Four #136, by Gerry Conway and John Buscema. What do you get when you cross a poorly-defined 1950s nostalgist with the Shaper of Worlds? Why, it's a dystopian reality where laser-guitar biker gangs battle against old people! All this, plus a spirited debate on the virtues of legs vs cubes, the ballad of Slugger Johnson, and we open our paradoxical Christmas present!

This week, we're launching our Patreon campaign, to help us fund the next stages in the life of the podcast. Patreon is a crowdfunding platform that allows supporters to donate on an ongoing basis. We have lots of things we'd like to do, but we do need some financial help with this. Check out our Patreon page for further details.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_160.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 159: Marvel Team-Up #10 - Time Bomb!

The Fantasticast Episode 159

Prince Philip: Iron Man

Hello, and welcome to episode 159 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 our last episode of 2015. We could have closed out this year with a nice, simple standalone comic. We could have, but we didn't. Instead, we decided to look at the middle part of a three-part Marvel Team-Up story. Spider-Man is caught in a temporal battle between Kang The Conqueror and Zarrko The Tomorrow Man, and only Johnny Storm can help save the day. Gerry Conway, Jim Mooney and Frank Giacoia bring us an issue packed full of time-travel, literal time-bombs, and surprisingly easy international air travel.

We're also paying tribute to our dear friend, podcast and former co-host Shawn Engel, who passed away this past week. Shawn was a huge supporter of the show, and he joined us for episode 31, three years ago. Messages can be left here, and the family have asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of your choice. Shawn, you were one of the best of us, and we miss you very much.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_159.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 158: Fantastic Four #135 - The Eternity Machine

The Fantasticast Episode 158

I-Spy: Gil Kane Edition

Hello, and welcome to episode 158 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

Things are a little quieter this week for us, as we take a look at Fantastic Four #135. Of course, quieter is a loose term to use for an issue that includes a rampaging Dragon Man, Gregory Gideon and his cyber-suit of power, Medusa's hair, Sue's emotional trauma, and the betrayal of Thomas Gideon. Gerry Conway and John Buscema present the final appearance of one of the Fantastic Four's earliest villains.

Oh, and a terribly-constructed prison cell, an overly-dramatic Alicia Masters, the most unlikely Time Magazine Person Of The Year, a terrible choice for a flight path, a mysterious stranger, and Stan Lee's fake Willie. It's a packed issue, but is it any good?

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_158.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 156: Fantastic Four #133 - Thundra At Dawn

The Fantasticast Episode 156

Thought Bubble Be Crazy

Hello, and welcome to episode 156 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 week of new beginnings for the Fantastic Four. It's the first issue to be written by Marvel mainstay Gerry Conway. It's also the first issue to be drawn by a woman, as Silver and Bronze Age legend Ramona Fradon provides fill-in pencils for this issue. And what pencils they are!

Tundra's back, and spoiling for a fight with the Thing on New Year's Eve. We've got plots of mass destruction, foreshadowing for the climax of Iron Man 2, and someone literally attempting to turn back time. We've also got the unusual story of how Steve ended up partying with DMC (the clue's in the title), and a moment of pure physical pain for one of the hosts.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_156.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 153: Marvel Team-Up #6 - As Those Who Will Not See!

The Fantasticast Episode 153

The Secret Origin Of Phil

Hello, and welcome to episode 153 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 dipping our toes back into the world of Marvel Team-Up, with issue #5. The Thing is the guest-star for this issue, stepping forward in his own right for the first time. Can you tell that Marvel Two-In-One is on the horizon? This titanic team-up also features two (count 'em, two!) villains, the nefarious Mad Thinker and the strangely sympathetic Puppet Master. After a decade of radioactive clay, the time has come to discover his secret origin.

Joining us for this team-up is Fantasticast artist Mike Georgiou. Creator of Steve and Bob, and Elemental Micah, Mike is the owner of a proud beard and a fluffy tablecloth. He's also the creator of our wonderful show artwork, and we're very pleased to welcome him back to the show. Check out his work at mikedraws.co.uk or follow @mikedraws on twitter.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_153.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 146: Marvel Team-Up #3 - The Power To Purge

The-Fantasticast-Episode-146

The Waffles Are An Untruth

Hello, and welcome to episode 146 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 sees us dip our toes back into the murky waters of Marvel Team-Up, as the Human Torch once again teams up with Spider-Man, this time to take on the Living Vampire himself, Morbius.

Joining us for this team-up is UK Podcast Award nominee Stacey Taylor, of Stacey's Pop Culture Parlour and Podcast In A Half-Shell. Together, we name Timothy Spall as the quintessential brummie, out-index the Marvel Index, indulge in some over-ACT-ing, encounter a muffled Spider-Man, get drunk on cheese, and ponder just what exactly an enzyme vampire actually is.

You can find Stacey's Pop Culture Parlour here, and the Podcast In A Half-Shell here. Stacey's 24 Hour Podcast begins here. You can also find the Parlour on twitter here, and Stacey's personal twitter is here.

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_146.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 144: Fantastic Four #123 - This World Enslaved

The-Fantasticast-Episode-144

The Great Galactus Bake-Off

Hello, and welcome to episode 144 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

And lo, there shall be an ending, of a sort. With Galactus poised to eat the entire planet, it's up to Reed to do the equivalent of reading the small-print, before bragging to the entire planet. Well, when you've got the equivalent of a brain the size of a planet, you might as well let everyone know! Fantastic Four #123, Stan Lee's antepenultimate issue of the Fantastic Four, is our issue for this episode.

However, it's not our only issue. We have a very brief peak at Captain Ameria and Falcon #150, before taking a more leisurely browse through The Incredible Hulk #152, featuring the prelude to the Trial of the Incredible Hulk. All this, and a detailed look at career paths in the US Army of the Marvel Universe, and the discovery of Galactus's PIN. And featuring Richard M. Nixon as himself!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_144.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 143: Marvel Team-Up #2 - And Spidey Makes Four

The Fantasticast Episode 143

Peter Parker's Chin's Secret Identity

Hello, and welcome to episode 143 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 time for another team-up, in more ways than one. We're covering Marvel Team-Up #2: The Frightful Four are back, with a surprising new addition to the team, and only the Human Torch can stop them. Aided and abetted by Spider-Man, it's the teenage heroes of the Marvel Universe against the Fantastic Four's greatest villains, as well as an unexpected threat from the Negative Zone. All this comics goodness if brought to you by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru and Jim Mooney.

Teaming up with us to tackle this titanic tussle is writer and podcaster James Hunt. James is a regular feature writer at Den of Geek, co-writer of A Brief History Of Time Travel, and part of the panel at the excellent Cinematic Universe podcast. He can be found on twitter as @jameshunt.

Together, all three hosts find themselves carbon-dating Marvel fashions, discovering the Human Torch in polyester, subjecting someone to unexpected and violent disrobing, and musing the possibilities of Garfield Minus Garfield, Plus Lying Cat...

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_143.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 134: Fantastic Four #118 - Thunder In The Ruins

The Fantasticast Episode 134

Undoing The Incursions

Hello, and welcome to episode 134 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 taking a look at Fantastic Four #118, as Johnny Storm tries to undo Crystal's  brainwashing, Diablo plays with his chemicals, and Ben Grimm takes a journey to Earth-A, where everyone looks like Reed, except... Reed? We're also taking a look at Sub-Mariner #45. I say we... does anyone have anything they want to confess?

We're also taking a look at Dan Slott's greatest achievement, and... other fun things, but I forgot to take notes, so I'm just desperately filling space here. So, that Game of Thrones, huh? Boy, words are hard to think of...

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_134.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 133: Fantastic Four #117 - The Flame And The Quest

The Fantasticast Episode 133

Expository Pyjamas

Hello, and welcome to episode 133 of The Fantasticast. Each week, Steve Lacey and Andy Leyland guide you through every issue, guest-appearance and cameo of The Fantastic Four.

Much like Breaking Bad, this episode of the Fantasticast is all about Crystal (I apologise for that terrible joke). Fantastic Four #117 starts the search for Johnny Storm's true love, with Archie Goodwin and John Buscema weaving a globe-trotting, Thing-scaring tale. We're also looking at Sub-Mariner #44, where an evil hippie-burning Johnny Storm helps Namor against Llyra and Tiger-Shark. Finally, we've a brief peek at a few panels of Avengers #94, a true turning point in the Kree-Skrull War.

As well as all this goodness, we present The Adventures of the Cul-De-Sac Crew, the greatest unintended consequence of Secret Wars, and Bagpuss in cosplay. As for what happens when Rita Repulsa meets the Sub-Mariner... you won't believe what happens next!

Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_133.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, but more importantly, head over to www.elementalmicah.com where Mike's creator-owned comic, Elemental Micah, is currently available on a pay-what-you-want basis!

Episode cover design by Samuel Savage.