This week on Trade School, Case Aiken dives into The Tick: The Naked City, the collection that first showed him just how weird, smart, and funny The Tick could be on the comics page. Ben Edlund's original series is not just a superhero parody; it is a gleeful dismantling of capes, secret identities, ninjas, publicity-hungry heroes, and the entire idea of what a superhero world is supposed to look like. Listen to the episode, then go read the book. Spoon!

Support us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia

Edited by Case Aiken

Scored by Bret Eagleston

Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com

Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/wcHHer4

FOLLOW US: ▶ Instagram: @certainpovmedia

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:23 Why The Tick Matters
00:42 Discovering the Comic After the Cartoon
01:25 Breaking Down the Collection
02:15 A Night of a Million Zillion Ninjas
02:37 Villains Inc.
02:57 Why the Comedy Works
03:36 Early Tick Character Designs
04:18 The Superman Parody
04:48 The Ninja Story Picks Up
05:04 What Makes the Tick Work
05:42 The Villains Inc. Arc
06:26 Ben Edlund and the Tick's Legacy
07:08 Final Recommendation
07:27 Case's Plugs
08:31 Where to Find Case
09:13 The Word from Tomorrow Promo

For Trade School's 50th episode, Case Aiken, Alan Kistler, and Keith Lehtinen revisit Marvels, the Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross masterpiece that asks what the Marvel Universe looks like to the people on the ground. By filtering iconic moments through photojournalist Phil Sheldon, Marvels turns continuity into lived history and spectacle into something emotional, terrifying, and beautiful. It's one of the best arguments ever made for why superhero comics matter.

Support us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia

Edited by Case Aiken

Scored by Bret Eagleston

Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com

Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/wcHHer4

FOLLOW US: ▶ Instagram: @certainpovmedia

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Welcome and 50th Episode Intro
00:54 Introducing Marvels
01:55 Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross
04:43 Alex Ross's Legacy
05:08 Case's History with Marvels
08:24 Keith's History with Marvels
09:57 Alan's History with Marvels
15:29 Comics Looking Back at Comics
18:55 The '90s and Reassessing Heroes
25:34 The Human Torch Prologue
27:17 The 1940s Issue
33:28 Fear of the Marvels
39:02 The Marvels Become Heroes
43:43 Phil, Doris, and the Sub-Mariner
44:23 The Tidal Wave
47:19 Phil Loses His Eye
48:24 The Marvels Go to War
49:02 The Mutant Issue
55:24 The X-Men and Anti-Mutant Fear
58:38 Alicia Masters' Gala
01:00:11 Maggie the Mutant Girl
01:01:27 The Fantastic Four Wedding and the Sentinels
01:06:21 The Sentinel Riot
01:09:40 The Galactus Issue
01:12:22 Phil Steps Back
01:17:08 Galactus and the Fantastic Four
01:22:45 People Doubt the Marvels
01:25:01 Gwen Stacy
01:28:38 Keith on Gwen Stacy
01:32:57 Gwen and the Green Goblin
01:35:02 The Snap
01:37:26 Phil Retires
01:39:25 The Marvels Epilogue
01:45:07 Phil's Family and Perspective
01:47:27 Final Thoughts on Marvels
01:50:01 Recommendation
01:52:02 Keith's Plugs
01:52:58 Alan's Plugs
01:54:39 Case's Plugs
01:55:51 50th Episode Wrap-Up
01:56:34 Long Live the Legion Promo

We're back with another episode of Trade School! This time, we're talking about Hulk: Gray! Our host this week is Logan Crowley!

Support us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia

Edited by Case Aiken

Scored by Bret Eagleston

Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com

Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/wcHHer4

FOLLOW US: ▶ Instagram: @certainpovmedia

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:45 Why Hulk: Gray
01:37 Tim Sale's Hulk
02:46 Hulk and Banner as One Person
03:45 Thunderbolt Ross
04:37 Betty Ross
05:36 Rick Jones
06:26 Why Hulk: Gray Works
07:04 Final Recommendation
07:32 Single Bound Promo