Chris and Reggie's Cosmic Treadmill

Weird Comics History, Episode 10: Marvel's U-Decide Stunt (2002)

This week Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) talk about one of the truly weirdest publishing gimmicks in comic book history, Marvel Comics' "U-Decide" stunt from 2002! Beginning with a discussion about the changing of Marvel's executive board and the conditions that caused this bizarre three-way wager, we'll learn about the three personalities involved in the U-Decide comics, what those comic books contained, and list the actual sales figures to determine the outcome of this bet. It all happened in the Internet Age, so this episode is sure contain some classic online bickering!
 
weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com
 
SOME SOURCES: 
Open Letter and blow-by-blow coverage: PeterDavid.com
Hype: Cbr.com
Sales Data: Comichron.com
 
Anecdotes:
https://zacksmithwriter.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/original-essay-the-history-of-marvel-comics-ultimate-adventures-with-special-guest-duncan-fegredo/
 
TAGS: Marvel, comic books, comic book history, U-Decide, Captain Marvel, Genis-Vell, Marville, Ultimate Adventures, Peter David, Ron Zimmerman, Bill Jemas, Joe Quesada, M.D. Bright, Duncan Fegredo, ChrisCross, comics internet, trolling, Kal-AOL

Cosmic Treadmill, Episode 43 - Daredevil #161 (1979)

In this episode, Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) delve into the seedy side of late 1970s New York City, when they read Daredevil #161 by Roger McKenzie and Frank Miller! After dispensing with the usual biographical information, the two discuss the history of two Daredevils, then set the stage before reading the issue in question. Then, after detailing the history of Daredevil after #161, they give some historical background for this issue's location, Coney Island, then wrap up by naming some more handicapped superheroes. It's almost as fun as an amusement park, so don't miss it!
weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com
facebook.com/cosmictmillhistory
@cosmictmill
chrisisoninfiniteearths.com
Thanks to Deron Murphree for the suggestion!
BREAK: Snippet of Frank Miller interview from the Masters of Comic Book Art, 1987 https://youtu.be/N9DsltLuEM4

Cosmic Treadmill, Episode 20 - Fantastic Four #293 (1986)

Welcome to the reupload of our first episode unhitched from the main Weird Science DC Comics Podcast, which will run every other Sunday until every single comic book in the world is read! This week Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) detail Fantastic Four #293 (August 1986), requested by listener Toby Reid, and talk about the following two issues to complete the story arc. There's also creator bios, and an explanation as to why one creator started this arc, but another creative team completed it! It's sure to be...Fantastic! Four!
 
weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com
chrisandreggie.podbean.com
weirdsciencedccomics.comchrisisoninfiniteearths.com
TAGS: Cosmic Treadmill, comics history, Fantastic Four, Marvel Comics, John Byrne, Roger Stern, Jerry Ordway, Superman, Jim Shooter, She-Hulk

Weird Comics History, Episode 21 - DC Comics Millennium (1988)

NO MAN ESCAPES THE COSMIC TREADMILL! In this meticulous episode, Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) pore over DC Comics' 1988 event Millennium, orchestrated by Steve Englehart and Joe Staton--and including the 29 tie-in issues supplementing this bizarre story! After a look at the conditions that (arguably) necessitated this crossover, our duo break down all 37 issues of Millennium. Complete with backgrounds on the pertinent characters and some personal musings on the event, this is sure to be the most comprehensive coverage of DC Comics' Millennium anywhere on the internet!
weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com
facebook.com/cosmictmillhistory
@cosmictmill
chrisisoninfiniteearths.com
Chris' whole series on Millennium here
BREAK 1: Promo for 2017's #BestEventEver #EclipsoTDW25
BREAK 2: Burger King 1988 Super Powers Cup Holder Commercial https://youtu.be/zHpAoT7LEcQ

Cosmic Treadmill, Episode 42 - Starman: Star Shadows (1992)

Greetings from the dark side of the moon! In this episode, Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) pore through a segment of DC Comics' 1992 event "The Darkness Within" in conjunction with #BestEventEver! They're specifically dealing with the four-issue sub-miniseries "Star Shadows" from Starman, and even more specifically detailing the second issue of that sub-miniseries, Starman #43, by Len Strazewski and Vince Giarrano! After some crreator bios--including those of regular Starman artist John Calimee and Eclipso creator Bob Haney, they break down all four issues in this miniseries, paying special vocal attention to #43. Then they talk some more about Eclipso and other comic book events that took place in Annual issues. It's going to get dark, bring a flashlight for this one!
weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com
facebook.com/cosmictmillhistory
@cosmictmill
chrisisoninfiniteearths.com
And please be sure to check out further Eclipso: TDW coverage at these fine sites:
I'm the Gun
Relatively Geeky Podcast Network
Coffee and Comics Podcast
Resurrections: An Adam Warlock/Thanos Podcast 
The Retroist
For the Non-Discerning Reader 
The Pop Culture Palace
Rolled Spine's Diana Prince: Wonder Woman Podcast
DC Bloodlines
and you can follow along on Twitter using the hatchtags #BestEventEver & #EclipsoTDW25

Weird Comics History, Episode 15: Underground Comix, Part Four

Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) conclude their history of Underground Comix, by now arguably not underground at all! We talk about the histories of Marvel's Epic imprint and DC's Vertigo imprint, and then go on to talk about the final frontier of underground comics today: the internet. We also describe minicomics and ashcans, give a nod to Steve Ditko, and talk about dirty comic books from the back of the shop! It's sure to be a mixed bag of leftover information that didn't quite fit anywhere else in the series. Enjoy!
 
weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com
chrisandreggie.podbean.com
Break snipped: Levi's 501 "Button Your Fly" commercial from 1990, directed by Spike Lee, starring Rob Liefeld
TAGS: comic book history, underground comix, Epic Comics, Vertigo, webcomics, minicomics, ashcans, Steve Ditko, Cherry Poptart, Omaha the Cat Dancer, Doujinshi, lolicon, manga

Weird Comics History, Episode 14: Underground Comix, Part Three

Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) take you through the post-Underground years of Underground Comix, when things got even weirder! We follow the trajectories of Aline Kominsky-Crumb and Harvey Pekar, with some brief detours for Peter Bagge, Wendy and Richard Pini, and others! After some philosophizing about what "Underground Comix" means, our weird historians dive into some seminal black & white comic books, including a particular one about anthropomorphic turtles that changed the comics industry forever. All this...and David Letterman?
 
chrisandreggie.podbean.com
weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com
BREAK CLIP:Harvey Pekar on Late Night with David Letterman 7/31/87https://youtu.be/D0akXKxbflM
SOURCES:The Aline Kominsky-Crumb Interview, The Comics Journal #139 (December 1990)http://www.tcj.com/the-aline-kominsky-crumb-interview/
"I Felt Like I Didn't Have a Baby But at Least I'd Have a Book": A Diane Noomin Interview, The Comics Journalhttp://www.tcj.com/i-felt-like-i-didn%E2%80%99t-have-a-baby-but-at-least-i%E2%80%99d-have-a-book-a-diane-noomin-interview/
Harvey Pekar: Conversations, edited by Michael G. Rhode, University Press of Mississippi, 2008
And lots of autobiographical comics
TAGS: Comic books, comics history, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Robert Crumb, Harvey Pekar, Peter Bagge, Dave Sim, Wendy and Richard Pini, Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, comics speculation, underground comix

Weird Comics History, Episode 13: Underground Comix, Part Two

This week Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) fire up their lava lamps and visit the 1960s and 70s in part two of a history of Underground Comix! This biography-heavy episode details the careers and impact of such Comix luminaries as Robert Crumb, art spiegelman, and Trina Robbins--and many more! We also trace the rise and fall of the scene and talk about a particular Underground Comic that was published by Marvel! Join us as we journey to a work of plasticine porters and looking-glass ties--and really weird comic books!
chrisandreggie.podbean.com
weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com
 
SOURCES AND LINKS:
 
A History of Underground Comix by James Estren, Ronin Publishing, 1974
Comic Book Creator #5, Spring 2014, "The Comix Book Life of Denis Kitchen" pg. 34-79
 
 
The Best of Comix Book by James Vance and Denis Kitchen, Kitchen Sink Books, 2013
Amazing Underground Comix Resource http://comixjoint.com/ BREAK CLIP
Excerpt from Arena: The Confessions of Robert Crumb, British Broadcasting Corporation, 1987
TAGS: comics history, underground comix, Robert Crumb, art spiegelman, Trina Robbins, Bill Griffith, Vaughn Bode, Gilbert Shelton, 1960s, San Francisco, Denis Kitchen, Topps Trading Cards, head shops, far out