Because Comics

Jay and Mike recommend "Thor: God of Thunder" and "Ms. Marvel," and then Mike talks about "Fantastic Four" #10, where Marvel Comics first became incredibly meta. Also, today's game is "Who Am I" - see if you can figure it out before Mike uses his lifeline!   Pull List: Jay: "Thor: God of Thunder," written by Jason Aaron, drawn by Esad Ribic Mike: "Ms. Marvel," written by G. Willow Wilson, drawn by Adrian Alphona   Main Segment:"Fantastic Four" #10, "The Return of Doctor Doom!" Written by Stan Lee, drawn by Jack Kirby   Game: "Who Am I?"

Jay and Mike recommend "Batman: Eternal" and "Velvet," and then Mike leads us through a dissection of the incredibly weird first six issues of "The Incredible Hulk" from 1962. Also, in today's "Super Mundane," we determine conclusively who would be the best at chaperoning a coed sleepover... and who would be the worst. Spoiler alert: it's someone we've definitely talked about before.   Pull List:Jay: "Batman: Eternal," written by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, drawn by various Mike: "Velvet," written by Ed Brubaker, drawn by Steve Epting   Main Segment: "The Incredible Hulk" #1-6, written by Stan Lee, drawn by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko   Game: "Super Mundane - Chaperoning a coed sleepover?"  

Jay and Mike discuss "Moon Knight" and "Afterlife with Archie," and then dissect the incredible crossover book "The Punisher Meets Archie." Also, another installment of "Who Am I," though Mike figures this one out a bit faster. Plus, we spend an awful lot of time talking about one of comics' most hit-and-miss characters.   Pull List: Jay: "Moon Knight," written by Warren Ellis, drawn by Declan Shalvey Mike: "Afterlife With Archie," written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, drawn by Francesco Francavilla   Main Segment: "The Punisher Meets Archie," written by Batton Lash, with Punisher art by John Buscema, and Archie art by Stan Goldberg   Game: "Who Am I?"

Mike and Jay recommend Marvel's "Superior Foes of Spider-Man" and Image's "Rat Queens," and then discuss the original "X-Men: Days of Future Past" comic book storyline which inspired the new film. Also, in this episode's game of "Super Mundane," we determine conclusively which superhero would be the best Best Man at a wedding.   Pull List: Jay: "Superior Foes of Spider-Man," written by Nick Spencer, drawn by Steve Lieber Mike: "Rat Queens," written by Kurtis J. Weibe, drawn by Roc Upchurch   Main Segment:"Uncanny X-Men" #141-142, written by Chris Claremont & John Byrne, drawn by John Byrne   Game: Super Mundane "Who would be the best best man?"

Mike and Jay discuss "Wonder Woman" and "Lumberjanes," and then talk about "Amazing Spider-Man" issue 100-102, which really took the idea of "does whatever a spider can" to a whole new level. Also, in "Who Am I," Mike tries to guess which hero Jay is describing, and it takes more than a few guesses.   Pull List: Jay: "Wonder Woman," written by Brian Azzarello, drawn by Cliff Chang Mike: "Lumberjanes," written by Grace Ellis and Noelle Stevenson, drawn by Brooke Allen   Main Segment: "Amazing Spider-Man" #100-102, written by Stan Lee, drawn by Gil Kane   Game: Who Am I?

Welcome to Because Comics! In our inaugural episode, Jay and Mike go over the format of the show, discuss "Sex Criminals" and "The Wake," and talk about that time Cap fought post-Watergate cynicism in "Captain America and the Falcon" #163-175. Also in our "Super Mundane" segment, we debate which superhero would be the best at directing an elementary school musical.   Pull List: Mike: "Sex Criminals," written by Matt Fraction, drawn by Chip Zdarsky Jay: "The Wake," written by Scott Snyder, directed by Sean Murphy   Main Segment: "Captain America and the Falcon" #163-175, written by Steve Englehart, drawn by Sal Buscema   Super-Mundane: Who would be best at directing a school musical?