Professor James Kakalios, the author of “The Physics of Superheroes,” joins Douglas Wolk to discuss Warlock #4-7, featuring a very different Victor Von Doom. Topics include whether Counter-Earth has a moon, how Kate Pryde’s powers might work (and why the Flash’s powers definitely don’t), whether…
Graeme McMillan (of Wait, What?) joins Douglas to discuss Doctor Doom’s appearances in Thor #182-183. Topics include Stan Lee’s curious ideas about how jobs work in the real world, what surgeons do, the world’s smallest political demonstration, the identity of the scientist in “This Man,…
Joe Streckert of The Weird History Podcast joins Douglas Wolk to discuss Sub-Mariner #47-49, by Gerry Conway and Gene Colan. Topics include how much Doctor Doom loves drama, the difference between “Kirk Drift” and “Flanderization,” The Journal of M.O.D.O.K. Studies, what kind of a boss…
Bob Calhoun, the author of The Murders That Made Us: How Vigilantes, Hoodlums, Mob Bosses, Serial Killers, and Cult Leaders Built the San Francisco Bay Area, joins Douglas Wolk to discuss Fantastic Four #116–a very odd transitional issue. Topics discussed include include Doctor Doom’s résumé,…
The Doctor Doom story in 1971’s Astonishing Tales #8 was a landmark for the character–the story where we finally discovered his true motivation for amassing power–and we’ve got two guests this week to discuss it with Douglas. The first is the legendary Gerry Conway, who…
A really fun (and odd) one this week: Retired U.S. diplomat Margaret Pride joins Douglas to discuss the Doctor Doom stories in Astonishing Tales #6-7… or, rather, to touch on them rather briefly, and then discuss how the relationship between Victor Von Doom and T’Challa…
Writer, artist and cartoonist K. Thor Jensen joins Douglas to discuss Doctor Doom’s appearances in The Incredible Hulk #143-144. Topics include Doc Samson’s haircut, Doom’s signature weapon in Marvel vs. Capcom games, strange flags, the number of times Valeria has appeared, what cocktail conversations are…
Bryan Stratton of the Marvel by the Month podcast joins Douglas (during the heat bubble in Portland) to talk about Sub-Mariner #20 and Rise of the Black Panther #4. Topics include Prince Namor’s straightedge side, the many beverages of Victor Von Doom, the staircase-as-Slip ‘n’…
Charles Hatfield, Professor of English at California State University and the author of Hand of Fire: The Comics Art of Jack Kirby, joins Douglas Wolk to discuss Kirby’s final contribution to the Doctor Doom story, Fantastic Four #84-87. Topics include the influence on this story…
Comics critic, cultural commentator and screenwriter Laura Hudson joins Douglas to discuss Marvel Super Heroes #20–Doctor Doom’s first cover feature, and the first appearance of Valeria! Topics include the nature of the capsules that Diablo keeps in his costume, Doom’s problematic modes of thinking about…