CZ#52: The New 52 (DC Comics: 2011-2016) – Podcast

Issue #52: The New 52 (DC Comics: 2011-2016) – Podcast

“The World’s Greatest Superheroes, 52 All-New #1’s!”

Chris and Erik are back with another random episode…

  • DC’s ‘New 52’ Era (2011-2016)
  • Crisis on Infinite Earths / Flashpoint
  • Jim Lee’s Justice League
  • Grant Morrison’s Action Comics
  • Scott Snyder’s Batman (Court of Owls / Zero Year)
  • Brian Azzarello’s Wonder Woman
  • Geoff Johns’s Aquaman and Green Lantern
  • “Superman / Wonder Woman”
  • “Superman: Unchained” by Scott Snyder and Jim Lee
  • Behind-the-Scenes Controversies
  • Some of the titles that didn’t land with fans
  • Zero Month / Villains Month
  • Forever Evil
  • The Darkseid War
  • Convergence
  • Rebirth
  • Doomsday Clock

(Episode edited by Erik Slader)

Top 100 Comic Book Heroes Master List

The age old questions of comic fans: Batman or Superman? Spider-Man or Wolverine? The debates about the best heroes are endless. We tried to make a top 10 list, but that was just too hard. So we tried a top 25, but that quickly became a top 50… you get the idea. So we were able to ‘narrow’ it down to an even 100. Odds are you will vehemently disagree with who did or did not make the list, or just the order that we placed them. But, hey, it’s our list.

(Honorable mentions to Beta Ray Bill, USAgent, Martian Manhunter, Kid Flash, Hercules, The Frenchman and the Female (the Boys), Abe Sapien, Spider-Man 2099, Static Shock, Nite Owl, Guy Gardner, Booster Gold, Spawn, Atom Eve, Mary Marvel, and a hell of a lot more. So many more we could- and may- do another whole 100 list!)

We will release these in installments of 10 so that you don’t have the longest list ever to read through. Agree with the placement or who made the list? Disagree with the burning power of a thousand suns? Let us know! Enjoy!

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Issue #48: Comics Round-Up, Trailer Reactions, and Pitching Stories! (Podcast)

Comic Zombie Podcast – Issue 48: Comics Round-Up, Trailer Reactions, and Pitching Stories!

Chris and Erik catch up on some comics, give their takes on the recent trailer for “Fantastic Four: First Steps” and James Gunn’s “Superman”, and pitch their ideas for what they would do if they were given a chance to write for Marvel or DC!

Also on this Episode:

  • Pitch Ideas: “Flash / Green Lantern: When Barry Met Hal” (Erik), “Spider-man: Doc-Ock vs the Green Goblin” (Chris)
  • Mount Rushmore: Marvel Writers
  • Essential Reads: Green Arrow

(Episode edited by Chris Carroll)

Check out our blog at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ComicZombie.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more! 

Issue #44: Replacement Heroes – Podcast

Comic Zombie #44 – Replacement Heroes – Podcast

“We need new heroes. Ones suited for the times we’re in. Symbols are nothing without the women and men that give them meaning.” – Sam Wilson, Captain America (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier)

Chris and Erik talk about some of their favorite “Replacement Heroes” in comics!

Characters include:

  • Batman Beyond (Terry McGuinness)
  • The Superior Spider-man (Doc-Ock)
  • Sam Wilson / Bucky (Captain America)
  • Azrael / Dick Grayson (Batman)
  • Mile Morales (Spider-man)
  • Rhodey (Iron Man)
  • Damian Wayne / Tim Drake (Robin)
  • Barry Allen / Wally West (The Flash)
  • Hal Jordan / John Stewart / Guy Gardener / Kyle Rayner / Jessica Cruz (Green Lantern)
  • Jane Foster / Eric Masterson (Thor)
  • X-23 (Wolverine)
  • And more?!

Also on this Episode:

  • Trailer Review – “Captain America: Brave New World”
  • Trailer Review – “Batman: The Caped Crusader” (Animated Series)
  • Trailer Review – “HellBoy: The Crooked Man”
  • Speculation about James Gunn’s “Superman”
  • Our ‘Mount Rushmore’ picks – DC Writers (1:25)

(Episode edited by Chris Carroll)

Issue 37: THE FLASH and ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (Movie Reviews) – *Spoiler Alert*

Comic Zombie Podcast #37: THE FLASH and ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE

“Time has a pattern that it can’t help reliving. Different people, different worlds, drawn to each other like magnets.” – Barry Allen

*SPOILERS AHEAD!*

On the latest episode, Erik and his wife, Meg, do a back-to-back multi-versal comic book movie double feature, and review both “The Flash” *and* “Across the Spider-verse”!

Note: We also give our “brief” (lol) thoughts on: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3”, “Shazam 2: Fury of the Gods”, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”, the *first* “Into the Spider-verse”, initial thoughts on the “Blue Beetle” trailer, and our review of the new Stan Lee documentary on Disney Plus!

(Episode edited by Erik Slader)

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James Gunn’s DC Studios Announcements!

James Gunn (the director of “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “The Suicide Squad”) was recently hired (along with Peter Safran) as the new creative director of DC Studios, and just last week announced a whole new slate of DC movies and shows – following the release of “The Flash” and “Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom”!

DC – Chapter One: “GODS AND MONSTERS”

  • Superman: Legacy (Hitting theaters July 11th, 2025! – Inspired by Grant Morrison’s “All Star Superman”)
  • Lanterns (Greg Berlanti live-action Green Lantern series!)
  • Creature Commandos (animated series)
  • Waller (‘Peacemaker’ / ‘Suicide Squad’ spin-off about Amanda Waller – starring: Viola Davis)
  • The Authority (based on characters from the Wildstorm comics by Jim Lee)
  • Paradise Lost (live action ‘Wonder Woman’ prequel series about the Amazons of Themyscira)
  • Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (Movie based on the Tom King mini-series, a cosmic fantasy with an edgier take)
  • Booster Gold (HBO Max series)
  • Swamp Thing (A horror movie, most likely taking influence from the Alan Moore comics)
  • The Brave and the Bold (A new Batman movie with the Damian Wayne Robin, inspired by Grant Morrison’s run!)
  • And even more announcements to come…!
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Comic Zombie Podcast #32: The Future of the DCU?

Issue 32: The Future of the DCU?

“Storytelling is always king, that’s all that matters to us.” – James Gunn 

In light of the recent news that James Gunn (director of “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “The Suicide Squad”) and Peter Safran are officially “rebooting” the *entire* DC film franchise (following “The Flash” and “Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom”), we decided to break down what each of us would do if we were (somehow) put in charge of the DC Studios reboot! Strap in for two of the craziest, nerdiest, mega-fan pitch meetings of all time as Chris and Erik attempt to construct an entire inter-connected cinematic universe! 

Also On This Episode: 

(Episode edited by Erik Slader)

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Top 15 Rivalries

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Comic books are filled with rivalries. Some are friendly, like Archie and Jughead, and some are… not so friendly. While the friendly ones are fine, and can often inject plenty of drama into stories, it’s the really vitriolic ones that grab our attention and are typically the ones we remember the most fondly. With that in mind, below are my top 15 rivalries in comics. Plenty of these rivalries have had backstories fleshed out after the first time we saw them, like our first entry, but for ‘first altercation’ I’m going with the first published fight or confrontation between them, and not the backstories that were later filled in.

Who makes up your favorite rivalry? Did they place on the list? Let us know!

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