Cover detail to Infinity Gauntlet #3. Art by George Perez. Marvel.

Podcasts: Examining the Marvel Crossovers of the 1980s and 1990s

In the first part of Giant Size's deep dive into Marvel crossover events, Moises Chiullan and I cover the birth of the modern Marvel crossover (Avengers/Defenders War) all the way up to the "kitchen sink" approach offered by Contest of Champions. Part Two continues from there, staring with the landmark Secret Wars in 1984 and discussing everything -- Secret Wars II, The Evolutionary War, Atlantis Attacks, Inferno -- released in the 80s until Acts of Vengeance puts a capper on that decade. Then it's on to the 1990s, with Starlin/Perez/Lim's Infinity Gauntlet starting things off nicely and Heroes Return ending the decade with Marvel in the worst financial trouble of their publishing history. What happens next?

Marvel Crossovers Pt 1: "Heroes Punching Each Other" (70's) Listen/Subscribe
Marvel Crossovers Pt 2: "The Experience Has Been Consummated!" (80's) Listen/Subscribe
Marvel Crossovers Pt 3: "Chain Mail and a Bomber Jacket" (90's) Listen/Subscribe

Panel detail from Contest of Champions #1. Art by John Romita Jr. Marvel Comics.

Podcasts: The Birth of Marvel Crossovers Explored in 'Heroes Punching Each Other'

Panel detail from Contest of Champions #1. Art by John Romita Jr. Marvel Comics.

Aw, chin up, Falcon! It's time for the latest episode of Giant Size! On this show we start with the original Marvel crossover - the Avengers/Defenders War - and boogie on down into the 1980s. This is the first of a multi-part series where we discuss some Marvel history as well as which crossovers are still worth reading and which ones changed the Marvel Universe forever!

Listen along here or subscribe to Giant Size via iTunes (or your favorite Podcast aggregator).

Podcasts: Marvel Slate Explored in "Permission to Kill Thanos"

Marvel finally formally announced all of those long-rumored new films they've been circling - The Inhumans, Black Panther, Captain Marvel (not in that order) - and gave us a timeline for stuff like Doctor Strange, Captain America: Civil War, and Avengers: Infinity War. In this episode of Giant Size, host Moises Chiullan and myself go after the starting points for people interested in these characters and storylines. We also dust off an interview with Captain Marvel writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, who discusses the importance of heroes like Carol Danvers.

Listen along here or subscribe to Giant Size via iTunes.

The conversation continues directly into Infinity Gauntlet spoiler territory in an episode of Test Pattern. Moises and I talk about where the line might be drawn between Avengers 3 and 4 and why the Marvel announcements draw more optimism than the Warners/DC announcements.

Listen along here or subscribe to Test Pattern via iTunes.

Podcasts: 'Homicide in Gotham' Explores Batman Comics Without Batman

First things first - a correction. In this episode, I describe Arkham Manor #1 completely wrong in advance of its release. Now that it's out, I can tell you that the book is actually about the patients of Arkham being moved into Wayne Manor (with Bruce having lost the house due to events in Batman Eternal) and Batman going deep cover into the asylum to keep an eye on things.

It actually doesn't end up fitting in with the theme discussed in the episode, Batman books without Batman in them. So...It's a good thing that host Moises Chiullan and myself, along with guest David Loehr, spend most of our time talking about police procedural Gotham Central, Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, and just what sets Gotham apart from, say, Keystone City. Peppered throughout this episode is the voice of writer Ed Brubaker (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Fatale), whose own work on Gotham Central went on to inspire the new Gotham television series.

Listen along here or subscribe to Giant Size via iTunes.

Cover detail from Justice League Sourcebook. Art by Kevin Maguire.

Podcasts: Kevin Maguire Talks About His Work in "The Henry Silva of Portland"

Cover detail from Justice League Sourcebook. Art by Kevin Maguire.

Best known as one of the definitive Justice League artists, Kevin Maguire continues to impress audiences with his expressive character work and crystal-clear storytelling. I'd use the words "Living Legend," but there's too much in Maguire's tank yet to start throwing around phrases typically reserved for the retired and semi-retired. On this episode of Giant Size, Moises Chuillan and I talk about everything with Maguire -- his signature crowd shot, his collaborations with Giffen/DeMatties and Fabian Nicieza, 1998's Godzilla, Penthouse Comix, and the general state of the industry. This was a "bucket list" interview for me, so I hope you enjoy it.

Listen along here or subscribe to Giant Size via iTunes.

Podcasts: Get into Shazam on Giant Size's 'With a Magic Word'

Why do I love Captain Marvel aka Shazam so much (and what's the deal with that name anyway)? All that and more on this week's Giant Size as I make the hard sell to Moises Chiullan on the charm of the character and the 90's series The Power of Shazam and Kingdom Come. Forgive me, but not mentioned in this episode are three Shazam-related books that definitely deserve mentioning -- Shazam: Power of Hope by Alex Ross and Paul Dini, Superman/Shazam: First Thunder (a gorgeous book that reinvents the first meeting between those two heroes), and Shazam: The Greatest Stories Ever Told. We also talk to the minds behind Dark Horse's Buzzkill, writers Donny Cates and Mark Reznicek (of Toadies fame). It's about a superhero who doesn't get his powers from a magic word but a bottle of hooch.

Listen along here or subscribe to Giant Size via iTunes.

Podcasts: Examining the Marvel Crossovers of the 1980s and 1990s

Podcasts: The Birth of Marvel Crossovers Explored in 'Heroes Punching Each Other'

Podcasts: Marvel Slate Explored in "Permission to Kill Thanos"

Podcasts: 'Homicide in Gotham' Explores Batman Comics Without Batman

Podcasts: Kevin Maguire Talks About His Work in "The Henry Silva of Portland"

Podcasts: Get into Shazam on Giant Size's 'With a Magic Word'

Gutters and Panels