iFanboy - Comic Books Special Edition – More Pick of the Week #1000 Emails
Dec 4, 2025
In a celebration of their 1000th milestone, the hosts dive into impactful comics that shaped their journeys, notably mentioning classics like The Dark Knight Returns. They creatively debate which archer would win: Green Arrow or Hawkeye? The conversation also explores the legacy of inconsistent art in comics and the nostalgic pull of past favorites. With humorous takes on listener hypotheticals and wild crossover ideas, the episode is a delightful blend of nostalgia and comic book insights that fans will enjoy!
02:04:46
Market Forces, Not Soap Opera, Reshaped Comics
- The hosts argue soap-opera continuity isn't the root problem; market and publishing changes (trade collections, marketing) shaped modern short-arc storytelling.
- They say continuity baggage has always existed and industry forces, not storytelling choice, drive format shifts.
Let Story Needs Drive Crossovers
- Match guest pairings and creators to the story need; a crossover should serve character dynamics over novelty.
- Pick creators who can reveal new character facets, like Tom King writing an archery contest between Green Arrow and Hawkeye.
Community-Made Gags Strengthen Listener Bonds
- 'Patron powers' grew into a playful creative tradition with memorable submissions like 'Tiny Palpatine' and 'flash bulbs.'
- These invented powers became an ongoing inside joke that connects patrons and hosts.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Why we made a follow-up episode
02:47 • 2min
Most impactful comics and related media
04:44 • 7min
AI and reworking classic art
11:44 • 3min
Legacy of varied artists in serials
14:33 • 1min
Reflecting on longevity and podcast jokes
15:50 • 36sec
iFanboy's legacy in comics coverage
16:26 • 6min
Green Arrow vs. Hawkeye: who wins?
22:38 • 2min
Clip show bits and classic bits
25:00 • 3min
’80s movie budget fantasy episode
28:21 • 3min
Ridiculous listener hypotheticals
31:33 • 1min
Soap-opera continuity in comics
32:57 • 4min
Dream Marvel–DC crossover picks
36:34 • 55sec
Best patron-given powers
37:29 • 2min
Revisiting favorites with age
39:01 • 4min
Does disliking a comic ruin trust?
43:11 • 5min
Thoughts on the Krakoa era
47:54 • 1min
Patreon engagement and running the patrons
49:19 • 3min
Podcast rules, politics, and positivity
52:31 • 3min
How sponsorships evolved
55:26 • 1min
First comics and early shopping trips
56:33 • 2min
Variants, collecting, and midlife comic crises
58:57 • 2min
Fanboy golden age and peak years
01:00:41 • 2min
What Connor won't read on an island
01:02:36 • 2min
Reading fan sentiment and monitoring communities
01:04:49 • 2min
Boycotts, MorrisonCon, and adult sections
01:07:14 • 3min
Pornographic comics and erotica
01:09:56 • 4min
Has iFanboy ever considered stopping?
01:14:08 • 4min
Recording workflow: then and now
01:18:20 • 4min
Music and punk questions
01:22:27 • 4min
Afterparty guest picks and creators to invite
01:26:55 • 2min
How personal relationships with comics changed
01:29:13 • 3min
Logo slash explained and Wizard's legacy
01:32:38 • 4min
Seinfeld favorites and guest anecdotes
01:36:50 • 4min
How comics are viewed today
01:40:40 • 3min
Does focusing on positives prevent burnout?
01:43:12 • 3min
Long Marvel re-read: when to stop
01:46:12 • 3min
Video-era strengths and what we did well
01:48:44 • 3min
Which ER doctor would you want?
01:52:00 • 2min
Taking breaks from weekly comics
01:54:07 • 52sec
Memories of the 2000 World Series
01:55:00 • 3min
Keeping up with other podcasts and creators
01:57:48 • 3min
iFanboy pantheon: writers, artists, books
02:00:42 • 4min
Closing thanks and next shows
02:05:04 • 43sec
Outro
02:05:47 • 1min
#18983
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Dawn
Eleanor Hodgman Porter
#19237
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Lone Wolf and Cub
Goseki Kojima
Kazuo Koike
The series follows Ogami Ittō, a former Shogun's executioner, who is disgraced by false accusations from the Yagyū clan.
Along with his son Daigorō, they wander feudal Japan as 'Lone Wolf and Cub,' taking on various assassination jobs while seeking revenge against the Yagyū clan.
The series is renowned for its epic scope, historical accuracy, and masterful artwork, reflecting the bushido ethos of the samurai era.
#
Justice League dark
Peter Milligan
#16483
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Box Office Poison
Josie Brown
This 608-page graphic novel by Alex Robinson is a complex and absorbing tale that follows the lives of Sherman, Dorothy, Ed, Stephen, Jane, and Mr. Flavor.
It is praised for its natural and inspiring dialogue, making it a delightful and whimsical portrayal of young adulthood.
The story touches on various aspects of life, including dreary jobs, comic book culture, love, sex, and the challenges of growing up.
#21157
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Excalibur
Owl Goingback
Jody Lynn Nye
Diana Gabaldon
Joe Haldeman
Eric Van Lustbader
J. M. Morgan
Charles de Lint
Edward E. Kramer
Jane Yolen
Darrell Schweitzer
Peter Crowther
Lawrence Schimel
Brad Strickland
Richard Lee Byers
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Diana L. Paxson
Brad Linaweaver
Gary Gygax
Esther M. Friesner
T. Winter-Damon
#4244
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
The Dark Knight returns
David Mazzucchelli
Frank Miller
Lynn Varley
Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" is a seminal graphic novel that reimagines Batman as an older, more brutal vigilante.
The story explores themes of aging, violence, and the nature of heroism in a decaying urban landscape.
Miller's gritty style and mature themes challenged the conventions of superhero comics, influencing subsequent interpretations of the character.
The novel's impact on the superhero genre is undeniable, shaping how Batman and other characters are portrayed in subsequent works.
Its exploration of violence and the moral ambiguities of heroism continues to resonate with readers.
#42140
Preacher
Garth Ennis
Preacher tells the story of Jesse Custer, a small-town preacher in Texas who becomes accidentally possessed by Genesis, the offspring of an angel and a demon.
This entity grants Jesse the power to command obedience with his voice.
Joined by his ex-girlfriend Tulip and the Irish vampire Cassidy, Jesse embarks on a journey to find God, who has abandoned Heaven.
Along the way, they encounter a variety of enemies and obstacles, including the Saint of Killers, secret organizations, and other supernatural entities.
The series is known for its blend of dark humor, gritty storytelling, and complex characters.
#1030
• Mentioned in 36 episodes
Watchmen
John Higgins
Alan Moore
Dave Gibbons
Watchmen is a groundbreaking graphic novel that deconstructs the superhero genre.
Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, with colours by John Higgins, it explores the human failings of superheroes in an alternate timeline where historical events have unfolded differently.
The story delves into themes of power, morality, and the complexities of human nature, set against the backdrop of the Cold War era.
It is known for its layered storytelling, nuanced dialogue, and its impact on the comic book industry by addressing taboo themes such as abuse of power, conspiracy, and social decay.
#100455
Uncanny X-Men
Len Wein
Chris Claremont
John Byrne
Dave Cockrum
The Uncanny X-Men series, written by Chris Claremont and others, is a seminal work in the Marvel Comics universe.
It introduced many iconic characters and storylines, including the Phoenix Saga, the Dark Phoenix, and the Days of Future Past.
The series explores themes of identity, community, and the struggle for mutant rights, featuring a diverse cast of characters such as Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, and Nightcrawler.
The art by Dave Cockrum and John Byrne has been highly influential in defining the visual identity of the X-Men.
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Fear Agent
Lucas, John
Tony Moore
Rick Remender
Lee Loughridge
Mike Hawthorne
#78848
New Avengers
Brian Michael Bendis
David Finch
#
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #321
Chris Mooneyham
Larry Hama
#
Amazing Spider-Man #101
Roy Thomas
#33642
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Usagi Yojimbo
Stan Sakai
The Usagi Yojimbo follows a samurai who has lost his master in battle and is now doing the warrior's pilgrimage, going from town to town.
The comic is set in feudal Japan during the Edo period.
He occasionally hires his swords out, sometimes simply getting caught up in a situation, sometimes seeking out good things to do.
The stories have an amazing amount of characters along the way.
Usagi Yojimbo is a rabbit. It is a really good, mature, grown-up story.
#20321
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Saga
volume one
Brian K. Vaughan
Saga is a critically acclaimed comic book series that combines elements of science fiction and fantasy.
It follows the story of Alana and Marko, lovers from opposing sides of a galactic conflict, as they flee with their daughter Hazel.
The series explores themes of family, love, and survival amidst war, drawing inspiration from classics like 'Star Wars' and 'Romeo and Juliet'.
#4404
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
Y the Last Man
Pia Guerra
Brian K. Vaughan
The series follows Yorick Brown and his monkey Ampersand as they navigate a world where all male mammals have died.
Yorick's mother, a U.S.
Representative, commissions Agent 355 to protect Yorick as they travel to meet Dr. Allison Mann, a geneticist working to discover why Yorick survived and how to save humanity.
The story explores themes of survival, identity, and the future of humanity in a world without men.
#88483
Criminal
Angela Kirwan
No information available.
#34134
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Bone
The Complete Edition
Jeff Smith
Bone is a 1300-page black-and-white comic book series written and illustrated by Jeff Smith.
The story follows three cousins, Fone Bone, Smiley Bone, and Phoney Bone, who are run out of their hometown of Boneville and find themselves in a pre-technological valley.
Here, they encounter a local girl named Thorn, her grandmother Gran'ma Ben, and various other characters, including the evil Rat Creatures and the Great Red Dragon.
The series blends comedy and dark fantasy, with a narrative that shifts from comical to serious as the characters and setting develop.
It is known for its well-rounded characters, unique world-building, and the use of visual humor to appeal to both children and adults.
#19686
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Flash
Jayne Ann Krentz
#33232
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Fantastic four
Mark Waid
Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo's Fantastic Four series explores the team's personal struggles and cosmic adventures, including the 'Unthinkable' arc where Doctor Doom pushes the team to their limits.
The series delves into themes of family, loss, and redemption, showcasing the team's resilience and growth.
#10648
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Strangers in Paradise
Terry Moore
Strangers in Paradise is a creator-owned comic book series written and drawn by Terry Moore.
It primarily follows the story of a love triangle between Katchoo, Francine, and David, taking the trio through a complicated road of murder, mayhem, and love.
The series features an array of characters including crime bosses, psychopaths, and well-meaning friends.
It began as a slice-of-life dramedy and later expanded to incorporate aspects of crime and thriller genres.
The series concluded in 2007 with issue #90 of Volume 3 and has been revived as Strangers in Paradise XXV for the 25th anniversary.
#
Hellboy
Seed of Destruction
Mike Mignola
John Byrne
Hellboy: Seed of Destruction is the inaugural mini-series of the Hellboy comic book series.
Conceived and illustrated by Mike Mignola and scripted by John Byrne, it tells the story of Hellboy's origin.
The comic begins in 1944 with a U.S.
Army official's report and follows the story of Professor Bruttenholm and the birth of Hellboy.
The series also includes Bruttenholm's later disappearance and his eventual death, which sets off a chain of events involving Hellboy and the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.
P. R. D. ).
This story served as the basis for the 2004 film Hellboy directed by Guillermo del Toro.
#
Scalped
Jason Aaron
#
Black science
Rick Remender
#
Wolverine
Rahne of Terra
Peter David
#
i roved out in search of truth and love
Alexis Flower
#
Gotham Central
Greg Rucka
Michael Lark
#
Infinity Gauntlet
Ronald Lim
Jim Starlin
George Pérez
iFanboy celebrated its landmark 1000th episode with a quadruple-sized extravaganza! Josh Flanagan, Conor Kilpatrick, and Ron Richards were joined by special guests Gordon the Intern, Dr. Ryan Haupt, Jim Viscardi, Tom King, Chris Eliopoulos, Mike Norton, and Brian Michael Bendis… and thus, they didn’t answer as many emails as they normally would have. So they’re back to answer more!
Running Time: 02:00:47
Audience Questions:
00:02:26 – The tradition continues as iFanboy fields questions from the loyal iFanbase!
- Ken J. wants to know which comic book series and comic book related media has affected the iFanboys the most.
- Aldwin D. asks if it would be okay for publishers to use AI to fix inconsistent art in old comics, how Josh feels about a joke he made 877 episodes ago, and what iFanboy’s legacy is among comic book reviewers.
- Matt C. wants to know who would win in an archery competition: Hawkeye or Green Arrow?
- Tharanga B. asks if Josh was a guitar, which guitar would he be and if Ron was a pinball machine, which pinball machine he would be and if Conor was an old movie, which old movie he would be.
- Kyle F. wants to know which moments from the show would make an iFanboy Anniversary Clip Reel.
- Mark N. asks how iFanboy would spend an ’80s movie budget on one episode of the podcast and then he gets weird.
- Kane T. wonders if soap opera style storytelling was responsible for its own undoing.
- Marc B. wants to know how iFanboy would crossover Marvel and DC.
- Brad G. wants iFanboy to identify the Top 5 Patron Powers.
- Joe T. asks about revisiting childhood favorite comics and films.
- Monica M. wants to know if disliking a comic book could cause iFanboy to no longer trust that person’s taste.
- Joe G. is curious what Ron thought about the Krakoa Era.
- Drew G. has questions. A lot of questions.
- Andrew B. wonders if Conor was stuck on a deserted island with a copy of Watchmen, would he finally read the pirate parts and from where he gets his comic book fandom sources.
- Didi P. asks if anyone boycotted Marvel over Jimmy Kimmel and how MorrisonCon went.
- John H. asks about PORNO comics.
- Darren C. is curious if the iFanboys have truly considered stopping.
- Damian S. wants to get granular about recording processes and programs and equipment.
- Roy S. asks about Find Ethel and the Beastie Boys.
- Morgan B. wants to know why Ron hates Tom Petty and if Josh still wants to make comics.
- Martin S. misses Ron on the show.
- Matt K. wants to plan the ultimate iFanboy party.
- Przemek B. is curious how the iFanboy’s personal relationship with comics have changed over the years.
- Nick P. is confused by the iFanboy 20/25 logo.
- Dan C. asks about the legacy of Wizard Magazine.
- Eddie R. gets to ask again about Seinfeld.
- Tyler O. wonders if the medium of comics is viewed differently now from when iFanboy started.
- Eric C. wants to know if the format of the Pick of the Week show is responsible for iFanboy’s longevity.
- Alan T. is in the middle of a complete Marvel Comics re-read and is looking for advice on where and when to stop.
- Bill S. wonders what the iFanboys think they did well in the video show era.
- Mike O. asks the iFanboys to pick their doctors from ER that they would want to treat them.
- Marc V. has dropped off of weekly comics and wonders if the iFanboys have ever felt the urge.
- Erik M. wants to know how Conor and Ron felt during the 2000 World Series.
- Matt G. is curious if iFanboy keeps up on the competition and if the explosion of social media video makes them feel the need to go back to cons to interview creators.
- Greg M. asks about the most important artists, writers, and books of the iFanboy Era.
Music:
“The Magic Bullet Theory”
Texas is the Reason
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