It's the last episode with our 80's expert guest and we're talking about volume 3 of the classic Marvel run of GI Joe by Larry Hama. We chose to jump on midway through the series as this collection kicks off with one of the most famous single issues of comics ever made in the 1980's: Snakeyes' wordless rescue of Scarlett. We talk about the inherent silliness of the Joes' world, laugh at the villainy of Cobra Commander, and debate Joe names versus urban dictionary. Plus, we reminisce about that time David got owned by Yoda. To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics. Next time: “Invincible Iron Man: Ironheart: Riri Williams" by Brian Michael Bendis

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323 – GI Joe: Volume 3

Eighties expert and retro streamer J-money joins us for another retake on a classic as we read "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Change is Constant" by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz. In this re-telling of the turtles' origin, three of the brothers seek their missing counterpart while another agent is out for revenge. We talk about the background and context of the TMNT franchise, discuss the characterizations of each of these turtles, and try to figure out how these mutated animals view their world. Plus, we talk about "Solo: A Star Wars Story" spoiler-free for about 10 minutes up top. To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics. Next time: “G.I. Joe: Volume 3" by Larry Hama

322 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Change is Constant

We're joined by a special guest to take on a new 80's nostalgia series, starting with "Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers" by Nick Roche and James Roberts. A squad of kick-butt robos is tasked with an infiltration and retrieval mission that seems to only ever get worse and worse. We talk about this book's capacity for quick character development in a frenetic, action-oriented storyline. Nostalgia plays a special role in this comic, too, as readers familiar with the franchise are confronted by their own expectations. Impactor's arc comes full circle, but a lot of good Autobots just don't make it. Plus, we talk about Deanna Troi a little bit. To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics. Next time: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Change is Constant" by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz

321 – Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers

We're ending our discussion about legacy characters by talking about "JSA: Black Vengeance" by Geoff Johns. In this book, the young members of the JSA travel back in time to inspire the team's original heroes after being disbanded by HUAC. We bring in our discussion of Starman with Courtney Whitmore while also talking about the overall theme of legacy that's all over this trade paperback. But more than that, how is Per Degaton this goofy while also being this evil? What's up with Atom Smasher? How disrupted and rushed is the story with the Infinite Crisis tie-in? To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics. Next time: “Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers" by Nick Roche and James Roberts

320 – JSA: Black Vengeance

James Robinson's Starman is one of DC comics' legendary runs, so of course, we have to read "Starman: Sins of the Father" for our legacy character discussion. In this comic, Jack Knight reluctantly picks up the mantle of Starman from his father to defend Opal City from The Mist. We talk about the rich family dynamic of the Knights, the self-motivated Shade, and of course the themes of legacy and inheritance. Plus, that gorgeous art just brings Opal City to life, doesn't it? To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics. Next time: “JSA: Black Vengeance" by Geoff Johns

319 – Starman: Sins of the Father

We open our discussion of Legacy characters with Starman by reading "JSA: Strange Adventures" by Kevin J. Anderson. In this retro-feeling comic, the JSA battles the mysterious Lord Dynamo and his Zeppelin. We talk about the old school vibes, Johnny Thunder, dodged complexity, and on-point art. This comic is a work of love, and it shows, but does Golden Age storytelling hold up? Plus, are you hyped for Infinity War? To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics. Next time: “Starman: Sins of the Father" by James Robinson

318 – JSA: Strange Adventures

We call an audible for our Best of 2017 series and round it out with "Hawkeye: Kate Bishop: Anchor Points" by Kelly Thompson. We've seen Kate Bishop before in Young Avengers and Matt Fraction's Hawkeye, and now we follow her out to the West Coast as she tries to make it on her own as a PI. This comic does a fantastic job of balancing the follow-through of Kate's character from previous titles with the ability for new readers to jump on. We talk about her relationship with Jessica Jones, the role of the focused art, and Kate's magnetic personality. Plus, David finds out he's been butchering his boss' name for years. To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics. Next time: “JSA Strange Adventures" by Kevin J. Anderson

317 – Hawkeye: Kate Bishop: Anchor Points

We pick up "The Flintstones" by Mark Russell for the next installment in our Best of 2017 series and are caught off guard and blown away. This episodic resurrection of the cartoon/live-action/vitamin-based franchise lands a surprisingly perfect balance between humor and poignant social commentary. We talk about all the ways this comic is great: the moments we laughed, the moments that got us thinking, and the moments we took away. Could a Flintstones comic book actually be "Capital L" Literature? Plus, we talk about Star Trek: Discovery, Babylon 5, and Stargate's daunting barriers to entry. This week's comic discussion starts around 12 minutes in. To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics. Next time: “You & a Bike & a Road" by Eleanor Davis

316 – The Flintstones

We're all excited to be reading "Beowulf" by Santiago Garcia and David Rubin as the next entry in our "Best of 2017" series. All three of us have at one time or another translated Beowulf from the original Old English and love the core story of a hero coming to save the Danes from the monsters that plague them. For this modern retelling, we discuss Garcia and Rubin's take on the hero and the book's supporting cast. We also dive into that gorgeous art, the theme of storytelling, and the phalluses. Yep. Plus, David plays his kid's video game and Andy gets disillusioned from the return of Monsterpocalypse. This week's comic starts at around 11:22. To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics. Next time: “The Flintstones" by Mark Russell

315 – Beowulf

Our Best of 2017 series continues with a special little graphic novel, "Everyone's a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too: A Book by Jomny Sun" by Jonny Sun. An alien is left on Earth to research and study humans but ends up cataloging his interactions with all kinds of animals in the natural world. We dive into the metaphor of the book, the philosophical sampling going on, and talk about where to place this work in our brain space. Is this a comic or a philosophy book? Plus, we spend a lot of time up top yammering about the upcoming Solo movie, Dragonball Super, Cloverfield Paradox, and Star Trek: Discovery. To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics. Next time: “Beowulf” by Santiago Garcia and David Rubin

314 – Everyone’s a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too: A Book

Welcome to Comics is the best comic book podcast you’ve never heard of! Each week, we talk about a classic comic to help you discover what you’ve been missing.

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Welcome to Comics

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