Douglas Wolk is the Eisner Award-winning author of Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean and All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told. Subscribe to his daily Marvel Comics book club, The 616 Society, and check out his story in the brand-new Giant-Size '63, a loving tribute to 1963 by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, and Rick Veitch.

For 80+ minutes of bonus content — including an additional half hour of our conversation with Douglas, plus the Mighty MBTM Checklist — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. $5 a month gets you instant access to our bonus feed of over 150 extended and exclusive episodes!

Stories Covered in this Episode:

"The Ghost That Haunted Octopus!" - Amazing Spider-Man #157, written by Len Wein, art by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito, letters by John Costanza, colors by Glynis Wein, edited by Len Wein, ©1976 Marvel Comics

"Deathstar, Rising!" - Uncanny X-Men #99, written by Chris Claremont, art by Dave Cockrum and Frank Chiaramonte, letters by Irv Watanabe, colors by Michele Wolfman, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1976 Marvel Comics

"Captain America's Love Story" - Captain America #198, written by Jack Kirby, art by Jack Kirby and Frank Giacoia, letters by Gaspar Saladino, colors by Michele Wolfman, edited by Jack Kirby and Marv Wolfman, ©1976 Marvel Comics

"Prisoner!" - Super-Villain Team-Up #6, written by Steve Englehart, art by Herb Trimpe and Jack Abel, letters by Tom Orzechowski, colors by Janice Cohen, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1976 Marvel Comics

"The Crushing Conquer-Lord!" - Marvel Spotlight #28, written by Doug Moench, art by Don Perlin, letters by Irv Watanabe, colors by Irene Vartanoff, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1976 Marvel Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written and performed by Robb Milne. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

For nearly 60 minutes of bonus content — including our discussion of Amazing Spider-Man #156 and the Mighty MBTM Checklist — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. $5 a month gets you instant access to our bonus feed of over 150 extended and exclusive episodes!

Stories Covered in this Episode:

"Introducing: Mind-Wave and His Fearsome Think Tank!" - Daredevil #133, written by Marv Wolfman, art by Bob Brown and Jim Mooney, letters by Ray Holloway, colors by Michele Wolfman, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1976 Marvel Comics

"His Name Is Doctor Strange" - Tomb of Dracula #44, written by Marv Wolfman, art by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer, letters by John Costanza, colors by Tom Palmer, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1976 Marvel Comics

"The Tomb of Dr. Strange!" - Doctor Strange #14, written by Steve Englehart, art by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer, letters by John Costanza, colors by Tom Palmer, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1976 Marvel Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written by Robb Milne and performed by Robb Milne and Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

Gerry Conway is one of the true legends of comics, having written just about every major Marvel and DC character over the last 60 years. At 19 years old, he was the third person to write Amazing Spider-Man, after Stan Lee and Roy Thomas, and he is the co-creator of the Punisher, the Jackal, the original Ms. Marvel, Man-Thing, and Werewolf by Night for Marvel Comics and Firestorm, Power Girl, Jason Todd, and Killer Croc for DC Comics.

For 80+ minutes of bonus content — including 20 more minutes of our conversation with Gerry Conway and the Mighty MBTM Checklist — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. $5 a month gets you instant access to our bonus feed of over 150 extended and exclusive episodes!

Stories Covered in this Episode:

"The Battle of the Century!" - Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man #1, written by Gerry Conway, art by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano, letters by Gaspar Saladino, colors by Jerry Serpe, edited by Roy Thomas, Julius Schwartz, Marv Wolfman, and E. Nelson Bridwell, ©1976 Marvel Comics and DC Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written by Robb Milne and performed by Robb Milne and Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

Matt Fraction is about to become the new writer of Batman, and yes, we feel terribly betrayed.

For 90+ minutes of bonus content — including our coverage of Howard the Duck #2 and the Mighty MBTM Checklist and so much more nonsense — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. $5 a month gets you instant access to our bonus feed of over 150 extended and exclusive episodes!

Stories Covered in this Episode:

"Omega the Unknown" - Omega the Unknown #1, written by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes, art by Jim Mooney, letters by John Costanza, colors by Petra Goldberg, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Watch Out for Bullseye He Never Misses!" - Daredevil #131, written by Marv Wolfman, art by Bob Brown and Klaus Janson, letters by Joe Rosen, colors by Michele Wolfman, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written by Robb Milne and performed by Robb Milne and Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

For 65 minutes of bonus content — including our coverage of Marvel Chillers #3 and the Mighty MBTM Checklist — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. Subscribers at the $5/month level get instant access to our bonus feed of content that contains over 150 extended and exclusive episodes.

Stories Covered in this Episode:

"Blood In the Waters" - Ghost Rider #16, written by Bill Mantlo, art by George Tuska and Vince Colletta, letters by Karen Mantlo, colors by Janice Cohen, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Re-Birth!" - Tomb of Dracula #41, written by Marv Wolfman, art by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer, letters by John Costanza, colors by Tom Palmer, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"My Brother, My Enemy!" - X-Men #97, written by Chris Claremont, art by Dave Cockrum and Sam Grainger, letters by Annette Kawecki, colors by Don Warfield, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written by Robb Milne and performed by Robb Milne and Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

Mark Evanier's list of professional credits runs from Garfield and Friends to Groo the Wanderer. But he got his start as Jack Kirby’s assistant, and he’s the author of the definitive Jack Kirby biography, Kirby: King of Comics. Space Circus, his collaboration with Sergio Aragonés, has recently come back into print from Dark Horse.

For just under two hours of bonus content — including much more of our conversation with Mark Evanier, our coverage of Peter Quill/Starlord's first Marvel Universe appearance, and our Mighty MBTM Checklist feature — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. Subscribers at the $5/month level get instant access to our bonus feed of content that contains over 150 extended and exclusive episodes.

Stories Covered in this Episode:

"Howard the Barbarian" - Howard the Duck #1, written by Steve Gerber and Frank Brunner, art by Frank Brunner and Steve Leialoha, letters by John Costanza, colors by Frank Brunner, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Screamer In the Brain!" - Captain America #193, written by Jack Kirby, art by Jack Kirby and Frank Giacoia, letters by John Costanza, colors by Janice Cohen, edited by Jack Kirby, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written by Robb Milne and performed by Robb Milne and Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

Will and Kevin Hines are brothers, lifelong comics fans, and kind of comedians who host the Screw It, We’re Just Gonna Talk About Comics podcast, the only podcast in human history where two brothers talk about a thing that they like.

For 115 minutes of bonus content (WHAT??!) — including our coverage of Amazing Spider-Man #151, Fantastic Four #164-165, and our Mighty MBTM Checklist feature — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. Subscribers at the $5/month level get instant access to our bonus feed of content that contains over 150 extended and exclusive episodes.

Stories Covered in this Episode:

"Any Number Can Slay!" - Marvel Team-Up #39, written by Bill Mantlo, art by Sal Buscema and Mike Esposito, letters by Karen Mantlo, colors by Don Warfield, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Murder's Better the Second Time Around!" - Marvel Team-Up #40, written by Bill Mantlo, art by Sal Buscema and Mike Esposito, letters by Karen Mantlo, colors by Janice Cohen, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"The End of a Vampire!" - Adventure Into Fear #31, written by Bill Mantlo, art by Frank Robbins and Vince Colletta, letters by Karen Mantlo, colors by Phil Rachelson, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written by Robb Milne and performed by Robb Milne and Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

Michael Dean has been an editor at The Comics Journal since 1999 and is the co-author (with Tom Spurgeon) of the oral history of Fantagraphics Books, Comics As Art: We Told You So. He’s currently editing Fantagraphics’ Lost Marvels series, which restores forgotten Marvel classics in beautiful hardcover editions. Volume One reprints the never-before-collected 1969 horror and suspense series, Tower of Shadows. It hits shelves on April 29th and is available for preorder now from Fantagraphics' website and your local comics shop.

For 70 minutes of bonus content — including more of our conversation with Michael, our coverage of the Trial of the Falcon in Captain America #191, and our Mighty MBTM Checklist feature — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. Subscribers at the $5/month level get instant access to our bonus feed of content that contains over 150 extended and exclusive episodes.

Stories Covered in this Episode:

"The Tarantula Is a Very Deadly Beast!" - Amazing Spider-Man #147, written by Gerry Conway, art by Ross Andru, Mike Esposito, and Dave Hunt, letters by Joe Rosen, colors by Stan Goldberg, edited by Len Wein, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Jackal, Jackal... Who's Got the Jackal?" - Amazing Spider-Man #148, written by Gerry Conway, art by Ross Andru, Mike Esposito, and Dave Hunt, letters by John Costanza, colors by Petra Goldberg, edited by Len Wein, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Even If I Live, I Die!" - Amazing Spider-Man #149, written by Gerry Conway, art by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito, letters by Annette Kawecki, colors by Janice Cohen, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Spider-Man... or Spider-Clone?" - Amazing Spider-Man #150, written by Archie Goodwin, art by Gil Kane, Mike Esposito, and Frank Giacoia, letters by Joe Rosen, colors by Petra Goldberg, edited by Marv Wolfman, ©1975 Marvel Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written by Robb Milne and performed by Robb Milne and Barb Allen. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)