Super Mates Episode 45: Christmas Toy and TV Memories

Ho-ho-ho!  In this festive Yuletide episode, Chris reminisces about Christmas toys he received as a boy. From The Six Million Dollar Man, Evel Kneivel, and Mego, to He-Man, Super Powers, M.A.S.K., G.I. Joe and Transformers, it’s a visit from the Toys of Christmas Past!

In between the ramblings on plastic baubles, Cindy discusses her Top 5 Favorite TV Christmas Specials! Which holiday favorites make her list? Listen on and find out!

Merry Christmas!

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What did you get for Christmas as kids? What were your favorite Christmas specials? We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris and Cindy shared their Star Wars Memories on Disney, Indiana Episode #194! Check it out here.

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: Our first episode of the New Year features a first-time guest, and a subject that has to do with “The First”!

Super Mates Episode 44: Robin’s 75th Anniversary Celebration!

Chris, Cindy and special guest, son Andrew, celebrate the 75^th anniversary of Robin, the Boy Wonder! From tales of one Robin passing the torch to another, to impossible team-ups between the Teen Wonders, this one has it all!

Tim Drake meets a young Dick Grayson during Zero Hour in Robin #10! Learn how the original Dynamic Duo split from the Batman: The Animated Series episode “Old Wounds”! Batman is at deaths door, and only a squad of Robins can save him in The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold #13! And finally, Dick becomes Batman, but will Bruce’s son Damian accept his destiny in the Brave and the Bold episode, “Knights of Tomorrow”?

Listen on!

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Let us know what you think! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: It’s Christmas time! We take a look back at some happy Christmas toy memories, and favorite Christmas TV specials!

Super Mates Episode 43: Talkin’ Crisis with Shagg! Plus Feedback!

Chris and Cindy present the second part of a special crossover with The Fire and Water Podcast! Chris takes in dinner and a debate with The Irredeemable Shagg! The two discuss the pros and cons of the classic but controversial mini-series event, Crisis on Infinite Earths! When the dust settled, was this cosmic reset worth it? Who knows, but the conversation was a whole lot of fun!

Plus, we take a dip into the email sack and read YOUR comments on previous episodes, covering BTAS and the House of Franklin-Stein horror series!

This episode is dedicated to the memory of David Sopko. Donations to help David’s family in their time of need can be sent here.

Listen on!

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List of Podcasts and episodes doing tributes to the late great Murphy Anderson

Flowers & Fishnets: A Black Canary Podcast episode 19

Professor Alan’s Comic Book Reading Journal (CRJ) #005

Head Speaks Episode 17

Task Force X Episode 16

Comic Book Time Machine #77

Who’s Who Special: Murphy Anderson

Back to the Bins

Let us know what you think! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: We celebrate the 75^th anniversary of Robin, the Boy Wonder by looking at comics and TV episodes that cover all of those who have worn the red and green!

Super Mates Episode 42: The Starman Chronicles, Part 3

Chris and Cindy return once more to Opal City for another session of Starman Chronicles! They cover Starman #7-11 by James Robinson, Tony Harris, Wade Von Grawbadger and friends! Jack Knight has a harrowing night at the circus, and meets an unexpected ally…a former Starman! Jack learns a dark secret from his father’s past, as his sworn enemy Nash escapes prison. Then Starman tackles the swamp monster known as Solomon Grundy…but he’s not quite what Jack expected! Finally a tale from Times Past: The Justice Society of America battles the machinations of mort turned messiah, the Ragdoll!

Listen on!

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Cindy and Chris join Professor Alan and Emily Middleton, Michael Bailey, and Bob Fisher on Michael Bradley’s Superman and Batman podcast to discuss the premiere of the Supergirl TV series!

Let us know what you think! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: A special surprise segment, plus, your feedback (we mean it this time)!

Super Mates Episode 41: Return of the Vampire / Captain America Battles Baron Blood!

Return to the House of Franklin-Stein, Part 4

Giant-Sized Finale! In their last, harrowing trip  into the House of Franklin-Stein (for this year anyway), Chris and Cindy discuss 1943’s The Return of the Vampire starring Bela Lugosi as a vampire that is NOT Dracula. Seriously, he’s not. We mean it! In war-torn London, vampire Armand Tesla rises from his tomb to exact his revenge on those who vanquished him. Along the way we meet his werewolf minion, and even more unbelievable for a 1940s horror film, a strong female protagonist! How does this Columbia release stack up to the fabled Universal Monster series? The answer may surprise you!

Then, the Super Mates end the comic portions of the series in style, by taking a fond look at Captain America # 253 and 254 by Roger Stern, John Byrne, and Joe Rubenstein! The Star-Spangled Avenger answers the call of a friend and need…his old Invaders teammate, Union Jack! The aged hero is convinced a series of grisly murders are the work of his vampiric brother, Baron Blood! What follows is a timeless classic, with one of the most shocking endings of the Bronze Age of comics!

Listen on!

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Rob Kellyand Chris discuss Spidey vs. the Man-Wolf and Dracula over at the Power RecordsPodcast!

Rob andChris attend the Mad Monster Party over at the Film and Water Podcast!

Let us know what you think! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Next time: Back to Opal City for the next installment of The Starman Chronicles! Plus your feedback!

Super Mates Episode 40: Hammer’s The Mummy / The Thing Meets the Living Mummy!

Return to the House of Franklin-Stein, Part 3

Chris and Cindy dare to comb the tombs of the House of Franklin-Stein, and take a look at 1959’s The Mummy! This Hammer remake stars Christopher Lee in the title role of Kharis, the Mummy who awakens from his eternal sleep to exact revenge on those who would dare desecrate the rest of his princess, namely Peter Cushing!

Then, it’s Clobberin’ Time! The Super Mates review Marvel Two-In-One #95, by David Anthony Kraft and Alan Kupperberg. When his girlfriend Alica is possessed by an ancient Egyptian power, the ever-lovin’, blue-eyed Thing crosses paths with Marvel’s own Living Mummy! Is this comic worthy enough to be paired with the excellent movie above? Well, no, but its fun to talk about!

Listen on!

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Let us know what you think! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: We dare one more trip to the House of Franklin-Stein, to discuss the 1943 underrated gem, Return of the Vampire, starring none other than Bela Lugosi! Plus an epic comic to wrap things up!!!

Super Mates Episode 39: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man / Batman in “Moon of the Wolf”!

Return to the House of Franklin-Stein, Part 2

Chris, Cindy and son Andrew dare to venture once more into The House of Franklin-Stein, this time to discuss the classic Universal Monster mash-up, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man! The monster rally starts here, as cinema’s greatest lycanthrope Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney, Jr., of course!) seeks an end to his undying curse. Along the way he encounters none other than the Frankenstein Monster, played this time out by Bela Lugosi himself! You just know an epic battle between these two beasts is a’comin’, but is it any greater than the battles behind the scenes?

Then the intrepid trio dares to comb their dusty longboxes to pull out Batman #255, featuring “Moon of the Wolf” by Len Wein, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano! The Caped Crusader encounters a peeping tom in a furry mask…or is it a mask? Batman soon finds out when his old foe, Professor Milo unleashes a savage werewolf upon him! Plus, a look at the episode of Batman: The Animated Series that adapts this story!

Listen on!

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Let us know what you think! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: It’s Hammer Time once more, as we pay tribute to Christopher Lee by looking at his 1959 starring role in The Mummy! It’s Lee versus his old friend Peter Cushing! Plus, a mummified comic!

Super Mates Episode 38: The Vampire Lovers / Superman & Batman Meet “Skeeter”!

Return to the House of Franklin-Stein, Part 1

It’s BACK!!!  Chris and Cindy return to the House of Franklin-Stein!!! Our Halloween Horror series kicks off with a look at the classic Hammer film, The Vampire Lovers! Based on Sheridan Le Fanu’s “Carmilla”, Ingrid Pitt stars as a vampire with a lust for love…and blood! She targets young girls who she longs to make her own…in her own vampiric image, that is! Will Peter Cushing and a group of vampire hunters stop her in time?

Then we dig into the cobweb covered comic long boxes to read Action Comics Annual #1, by John Byrne, Art Adams and Dick Giordano. In this early Post-Crisis tale, the World’s Finest team of Superman and Batman must unite to face the unholy threat of a seemingly innocent young girl named “Skeeter”!   

Listen on!

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Let us know what you think! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: Hollywood’s favorite lycanthrope Larry Talbot, aka the Wolf Man returns! And this time he’s got company! Bela Lugosi dons the neck bolts and flattop to battle Lon Chaney, Jr. in the Universal Horror classic, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man! Plus a comic featuring one of these creepy creatures!

Return to the House of Franklin-Stein Trailer 2015

Return to the House of Franklin-Stein! In September and October, explore legendary horror films and comics featuring Super Heroes vs. Classic Monsters!

Download the trailer  here or on iTunes

Super Mates Episode 37: The Best of the New Characters from Batman: The Animated Series and Listener Feedback

Chris and Cindy continue their Batman Animated talk with Ryan Daly (Secret Origins, Flowers & Fishnets, Dead Bothan Spies) but shift the focus to the NEW characters created specifically for the show. Who were the standouts? Which characters deserved more screen (or comic) time? And we refuse to do click bait, so we won’t mention Harley Quinn here. Wait…dagnabbit!!!

Then Chris and Cindy finally dig through the heaping pile of mail you’ve been kind enough to send them, and cover your feedback!

Listen on!

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Ryan’s podcasts

SecretOrigins Podcast

Flowers& Fishnets

Dead BothanSpies

Who were your favorite new characters introduced on the Animated Series? We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: It couldn’t be stopped! It refused to die! Chris and Cindy succumb to indescribable terror when they …Return to the House of Franklin-Stein!!! First up on the agenda is Hammer’s titillating adaptation of Sheridan Le Fanu’s “Carmilla”…The Vampire Lovers, starring Ingrid Pitt and Peter Cushing! Plus, in our comic section, Superman and Batman meet “Skeeter” from Action Comics Annual #1 by John Byrne, Art Adams and Dick Giordano!

Super Mates Episode 36: The Most Improved Villains from Batman: The Animated Series with Ryan Daly

Chris and Cindy are joined by podcasting pal Ryan Daly (Secret Origins, Flowers & Fishnets, Dead Bothan Spies) to comb the files of Arkham Asylum and Stonegate Prison, searching for the most improved villains from Batman: The Animated Series!

This Terrific Trio select five rogues each that they feel benefited the most from the incredible craftsmanship of Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski, Paul Dini, Alan Burnett and the rest of the classic BTAS crew!

Listen on!

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Ryan’s podcasts

Secret OriginsPodcast

Flowers& Fishnets

Dead BothanSpies

Who were your favorite and most improved Rogues on the Animated Series? We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: The animated discussion with Ryan continues, as we turn our attention to new characters created for the series! Plus, your feedback!

Super Mates Episode 35: The Adventures of Captain America, Part 2

Chris and Cindy continue to examine The Adventures of Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty mini-series by Fabian Nicieza and Kevin Maguire. Steve Rogers continues his journey from skinny recruit to living legend. He is pulled further and further into the Red Skull’s plot to steal the secrets of Project: Rebirth! Along the way he and Bucky meet with death, betrayal, and Adolf Hitler himself!

What did Chris and Cindy think of the wrap-up? Did it meet the high standards set by the first two issues?

Listen on!

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Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Chris recently guested on the following shows:

Back to the Bins Episode #201 (with a brief cameo by Cindy)

Secret Origins Podcast Episode #6

The Film & Water Podcast Episode #4

Next time: Ryan Daly (Secret Origins podcast, Flowers & Fishnets, Dead Bothan Spies) drops by to discuss our favorite villains from Batman: The Animated Series!

Super Mates Episode 34: The Adventures of Captain America, Part 1

Happy Independence Day! Chris and Cindy celebrate the 4^th of July by looking at the first two issues of the 1991 mini-series The Adventures of Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty by Fabian Nicieza and Kevin Maguire. This 50^th anniversary series explores in-depth the origins of Steve Rogers, and how he became the Star-Spangled Avenger. It also served as an inspiration to one of Chris and Cindy’s favorite films Captain America: The First Avenger! Learn why Steve Rogers volunteered for Project: Rebirth! Meet the other candidates who COULD have been America’s Super Soldier! Witness the carnage wrought by the evil Nazi Killing Squad! All this, Bucky Barnes and the Red Skull!!!

Listen on!

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Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: We conclude our look at this epic mini-series! Action, heartbreak and red,white and blue adventure ensue!

Super Mates Episode 33: Lynda Carter in Wonder Woman ‘77

Chris and Cindy hop in their Invisible Plane and head back to the disco era to check out the 2^nd season opening tele-film for the 70s Wonder Woman TV series, retitled The New Adventures of Wonder Woman! Lynda Carter must leave Paradise Island once more, this time to help Lyle Wagonner’s Steve Trevor, Jr. stop a group of terrorists! What did the Super Mates think of the transition to the “modern” era? Does this episode hold up to the fabled World War II-centric first season? Only one way to know for sure!

Then it’s off to the comic rack, for DC’s Brand-New Wonder Woman ’77 comic, based on this version of the television series! Wonder Woman goes clubbin’ and runs afowl (get it) of the Silver Swan! Then in the second story, Diana Prince wakes up in a world that is not her own. If she’s not Wonder Woman, who is? Hmmm, I don’t know…maybe Cathy Lee Crosby?!?

Listen on!

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Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: We celebrate the USA’s birthday with a look at the Star-Spangled Avenger himself, Captain America! Join us for our examination of the 1991 prestige format mini-series The Adventures of Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty!

Super Mates Episode 32: The Starman Chronicles, Part 2

Chris and Cindy journey back to Opal City, and beyond, to examine Starman #4-6. Jack Knight settles into his role of Starman, but learns that weirdness follows him wherever he goes. A chance encounter with a magical Hawaiian shirt leads to a confrontation with a gunman…and a resolution no super hero fan saw coming.

Then Jack has a chat with his brother David…who is dead. The two Knight boys bury the hatchet…and re-bury some bodies as their discussion leads to a full-blown Cosmic Rod slobberknocker.

Things settle down a bit, so Jack delves into the Shade’s Journal, for our first of many trips into “Time’s Past”.

Listen on!

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Chris’ guest spots on the following shows are now available:

Legendsof the Super Heroes hosted by Gene Hendricks

SecretOrigins Podcast hosted by Ryan Daly

Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!

Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time: We Wonder-Spin into DC’s brand-spankin’ new Wonder Woman ’77 Special, based on the classic Lynda Carter TV series. Plus, the second season premiere episode is discussed, where Princess Diana enters the disco era!

Super Mates Mini-sode: The Flash Season Finale!

Chris, Cindy and son Andrew share their thoughts on The Flash season finale…in a Flash!!!

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