The Bullpen

[Steve Raker]

I saw all those old Marvel cartoons as a kiddo in the late 70s early 80s on either Boston WSBK-38 or NY WOR-9 or WPIX-11.....those big city public stations were our cable channels in Albany!   I wish they'd replay them somewhere or get them out on DVD....they're worth it for the theme songs alone!

Ugg, 8-12" of snow predicted for April Fools Day tomorrow here .....hope my DCBS box delivery isn't delayed because of it, or I'll have to 

...I don't want to be late in recording our next Previews, either.....I'll keep you posted!

[whirlwindx]

I saw all those old Marvel cartoons as a kiddo in the late 70s early 80s on either Boston WSBK-38 or NY WOR-9 or WPIX-11.....those big city public stations were our cable channels in Albany!   I wish they'd replay them somewhere or get them out on DVD....they're worth it for the theme songs alone!

They should make a move on those with all the Marvel movies. I think it was a weird combination of old shows that would show up back in the day. I'd watch 60's Spidey and then Get Smart with more modern stuff that was intended for a younger audience. I see a few the older Marvel cartoons on now but it's always the same ones. 60's spidey has to be the most replayed and it's never Amazing Friends.

Ugg, 8-12" of snow predicted for April Fools Day tomorrow here .....hope my DCBS box delivery isn't delayed because of it, or I'll have to 

...I don't want to be late in recording our next Previews, either.....I'll keep you posted!

   Wow, that's a bad early April Fools Day joke....It's supposed to be spring now.

[LA Rabbit]

I see a few the older Marvel cartoons on now but it's always the same ones. 60's spidey has to be the most replayed and it's never Amazing Friends.

Amazing Friends is out there.  I was DVRing them.  I will try to remember which channel (either the Disney XD or maybe Cartoon network).  Search on your DVR for it and I think you might be surprised.  There were so few episodes that you will quickly loop around on them.  I have a Spidey book that lists all the media stuff, but I think this list is accurate.

http://www.spider-friends.com/Episodes/EpGuide.html

I loved all the cross-overs with other Marvel characters.  The animation was best in the second season, however so few episodes and the firestar and iceman orgins are really almost the same.  I could not find the "Knights & Demons" episode from my recent DVR quests.  After that I would say the two more rare ones were "Spidey meets the Girl from Tomorrow" and the "Sunfire" episodes but they do have them playing (or they were).  Aside from the X-men episode, I think the third season was not very good.  But as you can tell, I can go on about this nonsense for too long.   

[Steve Raker]

Spider Man and his Amazing Friends is definitely on a few times a week in the wee hours of the morning on Disney XD....just watched an episode the other day....I love when the couch flips over to reveal a crime lab.

Talk about odd cable program groupings, when I was a young teen/pre-teen, one of 'em had a 5-6pm block of Leave it to Beaver followed by Soupy Sales....awesome!

Lately, I've been digging BOOM (channel, not publisher) late night with an hour of Happy Days/Batman (in color!).  It's worth it for BatGirl alone....

[LA Rabbit]

Spider Man and his Amazing Friends is definitely on a few times a week in the wee hours of the morning on Disney XD....just watched an episode the other day....I love when the couch flips over to reveal a crime lab.

Lately, I've been digging BOOM (channel, not publisher) late night with an hour of Happy Days/Batman (in color!).  It's worth it for BatGirl alone....

I used to get Boom as well.  They had Thundar the Barbarian and the original FF cartoon (which was lifted pretty straight from the comics).  However once I cycled through those, once or twice I lost interest.  Also someone (DirectTV or Boom or someone) decided that they channel would cost extra and not be part of basic cable.  Boom go bye-bye. 

[Steve Raker]

I used to get Boom as well.  They had Thundar the Barbarian and the original FF cartoon (which was lifted pretty straight from the comics).  However once I cycled through those, once or twice I lost interest.  Also someone (DirectTV or Boom or someone) decided that they channel would cost extra and not be part of basic cable.  Boom go bye-bye. 

Whoops....it's not BOOM, it's The HUB.

[whirlwindx]

Amazing Friends is out there.  I was DVRing them.  I will try to remember which channel (either the Disney XD or maybe Cartoon network).  Search on your DVR for it and I think you might be surprised.  There were so few episodes that you will quickly loop around on them.  I have a Spidey book that lists all the media stuff, but I think this list is accurate.

Yeah I don't get any of those. Disney family had 60's spidey. And then it's Teletoon or Teletoon retro during the week mostly for a cartoon fix. There's as many cartoon channels for babies as their is for kids or so it seems. I say this like I need more to watch 

[Rick Hansen]

Slowly working my way through the episode. Good to see Pat back.

Incredible Hulk #314 is higher on my list of favourite Hulk issues of all time. I have the back issue and then the issue in the Byrne visionaries. That issue is also the first time I could really play follow along for about half the issue. I see in the collection the Annual is next so I wonder if that will be a pit stop? And then if Smash tales is going to continue with the multiple issue format now that we have finished the crossroads?

Nice Thor cartoon theme intro for the Tom and Steve's segment. I'm now onto that for the next 10 hours 

I decided to skip the annual because 1) it has nothing to do with the ongoing storyline and 2) we did an episode recently that was a break from the storyline, the Joe Fixit vs. Mega-Thing story. Very interesting question about the length. Yes, I did start the combining of issues during the crossroads saga simply because I thought it would the best way to get-er-done. Now, while individual issues would be easier, I prefer to condense all the work that goes into editing to around once per month. It's gotten hard to balance work, life and the show any more frequent than that. Does anyone have a preference? I don't know. I guess everyone enjoys the shows, but I don't hear too much in the way of "I like this", "I don't like that" or "maybe you might try...". So, me and the Colonel will keep doing what we do!

[Steve Raker]

It's gotten hard to balance work, life and the show any more frequent than that. Does anyone have a preference? I don't know. I guess everyone enjoys the shows, but I don't hear too much in the way of "I like this", "I don't like that" or "maybe you might try...". So, me and the Colonel will keep doing what we do!

Dude, just do what works for you and keeps it fun, not a chore....sometimes we get on a roll doing these things, and other times have to step back.....summer time is coming....I expect and hope for a lot of great distractions for us all!

[whirlwindx]

I decided to skip the annual because 1) it has nothing to do with the ongoing storyline and 2) we did an episode recently that was a break from the storyline, the Joe Fixit vs. Mega-Thing story. Very interesting question about the length. Yes, I did start the combining of issues during the crossroads saga simply because I thought it would the best way to get-er-done. Now, while individual issues would be easier, I prefer to condense all the work that goes into editing to around once per month. It's gotten hard to balance work, life and the show any more frequent than that. Does anyone have a preference? I don't know. I guess everyone enjoys the shows, but I don't hear too much in the way of "I like this", "I don't like that" or "maybe you might try...". So, me and the Colonel will keep doing what we do!

I kinda like the multiple story format now especially when they are connected in some way. Feels like we are getting big jumps forward in Hulk history with each episode whether we are actually getting there that much quicker at all. It's psychological. Whatever works and keeps it fresh and fun for you to keep coming back with these great segments.

[Rick Hansen]

I kinda like the multiple story format now especially when they are connected in some way.

I know what you mean. Even though there was no Hulk in it, last month's episode might be my favorite because it was from four issues across almost four different decades - all connected by solid threads. Also, I like using music to connect different scenes, wind up the tension and bring us back around full circle. Regardless of the funny voices, I consider the biggest successes when the dramatic timing and music all come together. Each episode will be based on at least two issues from now on.

[LA Rabbit]

Another great helping of Marvel Noise to set my Monday right (and this Monday needed help).  I love these large and in charge episodes filled with pure comic goodness. 

When comic characters are translated to different media, people associate certain manifestations as the primary archetype.  For instance with some of my friends, the animated Batman voiced by Kevin Conroy is their Batman, for others it might be Adam West or Christian Bale.  At this point, I can only think of the Incredible Hulk as presented in Smash Tales.  Both movies, the live action show and the two animated shows are all vague blurs compared to the breath-taking adventures as related by the Terrific Two Titans of Audio.  I defy anyone to make a case for anything else.  Sad to say goodbye to the Mantlow era.

Super Steve's Stable of Serious Scholars is deeper than the Marianas Trench.  A comprehensive history of Marvel's take on the God of Thunder.  What is left to say.  The Professor spitting fire and truth.  I giggled when the caveat, "According to Asgardian law" was added to the phrase " It is wrong to kill your Grandfather."  Yikes, I don't want to be at your family reunion.      While I liked the JMS reboot alright, it felt like Geoff John's light with the "adding to the backstory" element.  It feels like a bit of a crutch when the writers have to change/amend the character's origin or powers or throw in a death.  Any writer can work those tools, show me a cat who can just write a fun story set in today that doesn't "change how you view the character forever."

Alright I am going to have to check out the She-hulk thing.  It has been suggested enough.  I might be slow but . . .  Actually no "but" on that. 

Thanks to everyone who works hard and puts in the time to make this the tops.   

Keep making Mine Marvel Noise. 

[Steve Raker]

Thanks, Rabbit!

Gotta get you back on again soon and often....there's a lot of old comics I want to go through with you, from the mystical to the cosmic surfing variety!

....and while I'm doling out thanks, Dave K was kind enough to send me the next Thor Essentials (vol.4) that I didn't have....the Thor celebration continues!  Thanks, Dave....you shouldn't have taken the time out of your crazily busy world......but much appreciated!

[whirlwindx]

~whew~ I just finished this mammoth Thor session, thanks guys. Always a fun time going through a title's history. I had no idea that Jane Foster disappeared for that long. I just knew she was around in the classic stuff and then in the Jurgens run so I assumed she had a lot more appearance than she did.

I'm so stupid. I picked up Latverian Promethus and Siege Aftermath and assumed that was all Gillen wrote on Thor and read them back to back. I never clued in.  I even saw the ad for the Thor:Siege trade on the front cover of Siege Aftermath but still nothing triggered my memory. I just thought it was a a compilation trade or Thor had I separate mini-series during Siege and Gillen didn't write or something. So that explained away any weirdness in the story or that it happened in Siege itself. Ugh...I guess I was too excited to read the Thor stuff too. I blame it on the different trade dress and not seeing it with the other Thor trades. Guess I'll have to go back and buy that too but now I've read them out of order 

World Eaters was only 7 parts. One more than a normal 6 issue story but maybe it felt longer? It's funny to hear all the times that Steve says it was going on for so long now in retrospect.  "It's like a year or 8 parts now."  

[MichaelBailey]

LOVED the Thor talk.  Really, really enjoyed this episode despite the wonky audio.  I learned more about the character than I ever had and I REALLY want to check out the Jurgens run now even more than I did before.  Jurgens was my favorite Superman artist and ranks high up on the list of Superman writers as well.  I had no idea that his run went so long and that last story sounds so freaking epic.

Liked that you brought up those eighties VHS tapes, Steve.  I remember those well.  I also smiled at the mention of WPIX and WOR-9 as well.  I lived in Endicott, New York for a short time when I was a REALLY little kid and remember watching the old Marvel cartoons in the morning.  My family moved to PA shortly after that and in the two towns we lived in for some reason the cable company got channels from both Philadelphia and New York City, so those channels were part of my youth.

Great episode.  I especially liked the retro commercials and music in the SMASH TALES.

[Steve Raker]

LOVED the Thor talk.  Really, really enjoyed this episode despite the wonky audio.  I learned more about the character than I ever had and I REALLY want to check out the Jurgens run now even more than I did before.  Jurgens was my favorite Superman artist and ranks high up on the list of Superman writers as well.  I had no idea that his run went so long and that last story sounds so freaking epic.

Liked that you brought up those eighties VHS tapes, Steve.  I remember those well.  I also smiled at the mention of WPIX and WOR-9 as well.  I lived in Endicott, New York for a short time when I was a REALLY little kid and remember watching the old Marvel cartoons in the morning.  My family moved to PA shortly after that and in the two towns we lived in for some reason the cable company got channels from both Philadelphia and New York City, so those channels were part of my youth.

Great episode.  I especially liked the retro commercials and music in the SMASH TALES.

Thanks for listening and commenting, Michael....that Thor discussion was a long time in the making...glad to have it out of my system!

[Greg Leclair (greg1ca)]

Just catching up with some Marvel Noise goodness

Steve/ Tom - great job with the THOR retrospective. I really enjoyed your recap. I was reminded of some cool stories that need revisiting. I also learned a few new things (Grey Gargoyle got his start in Thor? Who knew?)

Anyways, kudos for the great effort!

cheers
Greg L

[Steve Raker]

Just catching up with some Marvel Noise goodness

Steve/ Tom - great job with the THOR retrospective. I really enjoyed your recap. I was reminded of some cool stories that need revisiting. I also learned a few new things (Grey Gargoyle got his start in Thor? Who knew?)

Anyways, kudos for the great effort!

cheers
Greg L

Thanks (as always), Greg!