Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Episode #159: Superman 2010: The Year In Review!




Download Episode 159!

This is the third year in review episode. I discuss the NEW KRYPTON storyline that wrapped up, and the GROUNDED plot that began this year. Also highlighted were the mini-series SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN and SUPERMAN: LAST FAMILY OF KRYPTON.

Then I share what's in the plans for the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST for 2011.

And I give my vote for the best Superman story of the year.

Next episode: THE SEARCH FOR THE SILVER AGE SUPERMAN!

You can join the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and MY PULL LIST groups on facebook, and follow both the podcast and blog on twitter @supermanpodcast.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is a proud member of the following:
- The LEAGUE OF COMIC BOOK PODCASTERS at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league ,
The COMICS PODCAST NETWORK! - http://www.comicspodcasts.com/
- The SUPERMAN WEBRING of websites, and
- The SUPERMAN PODCAST NETWORK at http://www.supermanpodcastnetwork.com/ !

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is at http://thesupermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

The theme of this podcast is PLANS IN MOTION, composed by Kevin MacLeod, and part of the royalty free music library at http://incompetech.com.

MY PULL LIST is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.

Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics. Any art shown on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only, and not for profit.

Thanks for listening to the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Episode #158: Metropolis Mailbag: Superman #64!

Superman 64, February 1992!



Download Episode 158!

For the third annual Superman Christmas episode, the featured story is METROPOLIS MAILBAG, from SUPERMAN 64, February 1992, published on December 17, 1991 (the very day my daughter was born). METROPOLIS MAILBAG (which was also the name of the long running letter column in the SUPERMAN title) was written by Dan Jurgens, drawn by Jackson (now Butch) Guice, lettered by John Costanza and colored by Glenn Whitmore. The assistant editor was Dan Thorsland, and Mike Carlin was the editor. The cover was pencilled by Dan Jurgens and inked by Brett Breeding.

It turns out that Santa Claus isn't the only one who gets mail from around the world.

Next Episode: SUPERMAN 2010: THE YEAR IN REVIEW!

Coming to the podcast airwaves in January 2011: THE THRILLING ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN podcast, hosted by Michael Bradley, who has written to this podcast. At the end of this episode you can hear a promo for his new podcast. Check it out at http://www.greatkrypton.com/ .

You can join the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and MY PULL LIST groups on facebook, and follow both the podcast and blog on twitter @supermanpodcast.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is a proud member of the LEAGUE OF COMIC BOOK PODCASTERS at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the COMICS PODCAST NETWORK! http://www.comicspodcasts.com/, and is now a proud member of the SUPERMAN WEBRING of websites, and is one of the founding members of the SUPERMAN PODCAST NETWORK at http://www.supermanpodcastnetwork.com/ !

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is at http://thesupermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

The theme of this podcast is PLANS IN MOTION, composed by Kevin MacLeod, and part of the royalty free music library at http://incompetech.com.

MY PULL LIST is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.

Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics. Any art shown on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only, and not for profit.

Thanks for listening to the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Episode #157: Happy Birthday, Al Plastino!

(L to R:) Al Plastino, Action Comics 120, May 1948 & Action Comics 361, March 1968!



Download Episode 157!

Al Plastino was born on December 15, 1921 in New York City. He is best known as one of the artists on the Superman family of titles for DC Comics. Al was also the artist to a number of comic strips. To learn more about Al Plastino you can go to his own website: http://www.alplastino.com . There you can learn more about his career and view samples of his comic book art and his paintings. There is even a video interview, so you can hear his voice yourself. There is some static in the background, but otherwise the sound is fine.

There are two other interviews with Al Plastino that you can listen to online:

- http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/interviews/plastino_1.shtml .

- http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/interviews/plastino_2.shtml .

The two Al Plastino Superman stories featured in this episode are:

- ACTION COMICS 120, May 1948, published around March 19, 1948. SUPERMAN, STUNT MAN was written by Alvin Schwartz.

- ACTION COMICS 361, March 1968, published on January 30, 1968. THE POWER OF THE PARASITE was written by Jim Shooter.

There is no reprint information for either story.

Next Episode: The 3rd Annual Superman Christmas Story: METROPOLIS MAILBAG: SUPERMAN 64!

You can join the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and MY PULL LIST groups on facebook, and follow both the podcast and blog on twitter @supermanpodcast.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is a proud member of the LEAGUE OF COMIC BOOK PODCASTERS at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the COMICS PODCAST NETWORK! http://www.comicspodcasts.com/, and is now a proud member of the SUPERMAN WEBRING of websites, and is one of the founding members of the SUPERMAN PODCAST NETWORK at http://www.supermanpodcastnetwork.com/ !

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is at http://thesupermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

The theme of this podcast is PLANS IN MOTION, composed by Kevin MacLeod, and part of the royalty free music library at http://incompetech.com.

MY PULL LIST is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.

Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.

Thanks for listening to the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Episode #156: The Supermobile!

(L to R:) Action Comics 481, March 1978 & Action Comics 482, April 1978!



Download Episode 156!

During this holiday season, I thought it would be the perfect time to highlight the only appearance of the Supermobile. Before the era of action figures with multiple accessories, the two issues that the Supermobile appeared in were fun action stories. And what red blooded American man or woman wouldn't want to get a Supermobile for Christmas? Built of Supermanium, the hardest metal known to man, impervious to fading, denting or scratching, with an interior equipped with everything a driver needs to duplicate Superman's powers, the Supermobile is the perfect gift for anyone's stocking stuffer. The Supermobile can travel on or off-road, as well as underwater, in the air and in outer space. And the fuel mileage is infinity, which can't be beat!

The Supermobile appeared in the following issues:

- ACTION COMICS 481, March 1978, published on December 26, 1977 (during my senior year of high school). Julius Schwartz was the editor, and the cover was drawn by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez. IT'S A BIRD ... IT'S A PLANE ... IT'S SUPERMOBILE was written by Cary Bates, pencilled by Curt Swan, inked by Frank Chiarmonte, lettered by Jean Simek and colored by Gene D'Angelo.

- ACTION COMICS 482, April 1978, was published on January 30, 1978. THIS IS A JOB FOR SUPERMOBILE! was done by the same creative team who did issue 481.

This story had no reprint information available. These two issues were the middle installments of a four issue storyline which began with ACTION COMICS 480 and ended with issue 483, involving the villain Amazo, who I briefly summarize his creation and abilities.

Next Episode: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AL PLASTINO!

You can join the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and MY PULL LIST groups on facebook, and follow both the podcast and blog on twitter @supermanpodcast.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is a proud member of the LEAGUE OF COMIC BOOK PODCASTERS at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the COMICS PODCAST NETWORK! http://www.comicspodcasts.com/, and is now a proud member of the SUPERMAN WEBRING of websites, and is one of the founding members of the SUPERMAN PODCAST NETWORK at http://www.supermanpodcastnetwork.com/ !

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is at http://thesupermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

The theme of this podcast is PLANS IN MOTION, composed by Kevin MacLeod, and part of the royalty free music library at http://incompetech.com.

MY PULL LIST is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.

Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.

Thanks for listening to the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Episode #155: Stuart Immonen!

(Top L to R:) Superman 87, March 1994 & Superman 88, April 1994!
(Bottom L to R:) Action Comics 758, October 1999 & The Final Night 1 (of 4), all November 1996!



Download Episode 155!

Stuart Immonen has had a long career as a comic book artist and writer. His wife Kathryn also works in the industry as a writer. Stuart studied art at York University in Toronto. His first comic book work was the self published series PLAYGROUND. Stuart began working for DC Comics and Marvel in 1993. 

I was first exposed to Stuarts art on the title THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES (vol. IV, better known as the "5 Years Later Legion"), beginning with issue 39, January 1993. He stayed on the title through issues 61 and 0 (a ZERO HOUR tie-in) and LEGIONNAIRES 10, January 1994.

Stuart also worked as penciller, and sometimes plotter/writer on the Superman titles:

- SUPERMAN 87 and 88, March and April 1994.

- THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN 520, February 1995 - 550, September 1997.

- Stuart contributed art for SUPERMAN; THE WEDDING ALBUM, December 1996.

- ACTION COMICS 738, October 1997 - 758, October 1999.

He also wrote and pencilled SUPERMAN: END OF THE CENTURY in 2000.

He also did two webcomics: NEVER AS BAD AS YOU THINK and MOVING PICTURES, which took place during WWII and had the Nazi theft of Europe's art treasures as a backdrop. MOVING PICTURES was published in a softcover by Top Shelf Productions during the summer of 2010.

The Stuart Immonen stories featured on this episode:

- SUPERMAN 87 and 88, parts I and V of the 5 issue BIZARRO'S WORLD storyline that crossed over the Superman titles cover dated March and part of April 1994.

- ACTION COMICS 758, October 1999 (Triangle No. 1999:38)

- FINAL NIGHT, a four part miniseries that crossed over the entire DC Universe. It brought back the classic Legion nemesis Sun Eater to threaten Earth's Sun. It was published weekly, carrying the cover date of November 1996, and was published in September of that year.

Next Episode: THE SUPERMOBILE!

Join the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and MY PULL LIST groups on facebook, and follow the podcast and blogs on twitter @supermanpodcast.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is a proud member of the LEAGUE OF COMIC BOOK PODCASTERS at http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league and the COMICS PODCAST NETWORK! http://www.comicspodcasts.com/, and is now a proud member of the SUPERMAN WEBRING of websites.

SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST is at http://thesupermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ . Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

The theme of this podcast is PLANS IN MOTION, composed by Kevin MacLeod, and part of the royalty free music library at http://incompetech.com.

MY PULL LIST is my spoiler free comic book review blog of the titles I read every week. It can be found at http://mypulllist.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com.

Superman and all related characters are trademark and copyright DC Comics.

Thanks for listening to the SUPERMAN FAN PODCAST and, as always, thanks to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.