Earth-2.net: The Show

A new hero with a familiar name arises in Terra. A look into a slew of Marvel's alternate realities is had in What If? Classics, volume six. And something truly evil returns in Onslaught Reborn - it's not the title character, either. Also, Mike makes a small announcement.

In this installment of 1st Issue Special: a pulp icon looks in on a rookie superhero (Batman / Doc Savage Special), Norman Osborn's X-Men come across a long-lost hero (Dark X-Men #1), Deadpool joins forces with Hercules (Deadpool Team-Up #899), The Punisher prepares to track down The Kingpin (PunisherMax #1), and nations build their own godlike superheroes (Supergod #1).

Doctor Strange teams with the Avengers to find his replacement (New Avengers: Search for the Sorcerer Supreme). A former supervillain steps out of the shadows, and runs afoul of old friends and enemies (Incognito). And the characters of our beloved childhood stories have grown up and walk among us (Fables: Legends in Exile).

A new cohost, plus a severe lack of gin and tonic, plus plot holes and retcons equals what? If you guessed Saw VI, you're the lucky winner! (Well, "winner" used loosely, as no one is a winner when it comes to this pile of rubbish.)

Des offers a theory as to why John Byrne is working on Angel vs. Frankenstein, both guys are baffled by Azrael #1, they're a little split on Cowboy Ninja Viking #1, Mike loses his shit when discussing one of the stories in DCU Halloween Special 2009, and they can't make much sense of GI Joe: Snake Eyes #1.

It's that time again! Time for what, you wonder? Time for Mike to read through the December Previews catalog.

First Dan and Mike review something different in the form of The Authority: The Lost Year Reader, then they discuss two trade paperbacks: Supergirl: Who is Superwoman? and Supreme: The Return.

It's time for another round of Power Records, this time featuring Spider-Man: Invasion of the Dragon Men, Return of the Conquistador, The Mad Hatter of Manhattan, The Abominable Showman, and The Bells of Doom.

Demons (The Anchor #1), ninjas (Daredevil #501), bodyguards (Jon Sable Freelance: Ashes of Eden #1), cyborg-fairy-things (Soulfire #1), and X-Babies (X-Babies #1) dominate the comics Des and Mike discuss this time around. And two of the reviews, they're going to shock you!

Puns, puns, and more puns! Campy acting! A useless new superhero! Three butchered supervillains! And the infamous credit card! Oh yes, it's Batman & Robin! Listen as James, Ian, and Mike celebrate the fourth anniversary of Earth-2.net: The Show by lamenting the murdering of the Batman movie franchise, cursing everyone involved with the picture, and suffering head trauma (again)! As an added bonus: singing!

It's more senseless Hulk-on-Hulk violence in Hulk: Hulk No More. Then a series of one-off tales build towards something greater in Scalped: High Lonesome. And lastly, John Reid forges a legacy for himself as the mysterious masked man in The Lone Ranger: Now and Forever.

During this edition of 1st Issue Special, Des and Mike break format! Instead of discussing recently released comic books, the guys dive into their long boxes to look at six classic issues: Daredevil #82, Heartland, JLA #1, Planetary #1, The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe, and Suicide Squad #1.

In a rare solo episode, Mike reads through the October Previews catalog. Also, a special announcement is made about the forthcoming episode 350 / 4th anniversary special!

In a contest to find a new superhero, a perfectly qualified candidate is passed over for a prettier one (I Hate Gallant Girl). The Midnight Sons square off against a mutated zombie-causing virus (Marvel Zombies 4). And an unconventional superhero looks after a troubled social worker (The Maxx: Book One).

Much like they reviewed Justice League: The New Frontier in episode 199, James and Mike sit down to discuss the direct-to-DVD feature Superman / Batman: Public Enemies.

Two of the books Dan and Mike reviewed this week are heavily praised, while one is thoroughly trashed. Really, though, it doesn't take a genius to figure out which of the following received the verbal beating: Fantastic Four: The Master of Doom, Ultimatum, and JLA: The Nail.

It's time for another round of Superman Power Records: The Man from Krypton, City Under Siege, The Killer Bees, and The Star of Bangalore.

28 Days Later #1, Army of Darkness: Ash Saves Obama #1, Batman: The Widening Gyre #1, and The Darkness / Pitt #1 are all about zombies and demons. But Fantastic Four #570 sees the debut of a brand new creative team, one that could push the title back to its rightful place as Marvel's flagship comic book.

At the end of the last Waiting for the Trade segment, Dan and Mike each named two sets of comics they wish were currently collected. Now that they've had time to reread those books, do they still want to see them reprinted in trade paperback form? Some of the answers very well might surprise you. In case you missed it, the books they chose are Miracleman: A Dream of Flying, Sabretooth: Deathhunt, Iceman, and Ruse: Enter the Detective. Also, Mike does something absolutely evil to Dan.

New heroes emerged and familiar faces returned in the five comics (Batgirl #1, Blackest Night: Superman #1, Dominic Fortune #1, The Red Circle: The Web #1, and Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1) Des and Mike covered in this installment of 1st Issue Special.