If you know AIPT, you know we like our deep dives. We strive to provide the most (and most in-depth!) comic book reviews every Wednesday, but what if you want that same level of coverage and analysis for the comics of yesteryear?
Started in 2019, the Marvel by the Month podcast begins with the very first issue in the shared Marvel Universe — 1961’s Fantastic Four #1 — and follows that world as it unfolds and expands, with each episode covering all the Marvel comics released the next month. How long was it before Thor and Iron Man got their own series? How many times did the Hulk have his book canceled? And why was X-Men so bad at first?
Marvel by the Month tries to answer those questions by not only reading the actual issues, (thanks, Marvel Unlimited), but by breaking down the industry scene at the time and providing some historical context for when these comics were created. It’s no coincidence that everyone was fighting commies at first, and there was a flood of new monster books when the Comics Code started to loosen.
‘Marvel by the Month’ hosts Bryan Stratton, Robb Milne, Jamie Wenger
Marvel by the Month celebrated their 200th episode this week, and it’s a big one. Past guests Brian Michael Bendis and Matt Fraction rep their respective sides when the combined crew tackle the 1973 proto-event, the Avengers/Defenders War. Avengers was a mainstay for early Marvel, and while the Defenders didn’t have the same clout, it did have some particularly passionate creators pushing them on. Who won out and why?! See the full press release below for more details.
‘MARVEL BY THE MONTH’ PODCAST RELEASES 200TH EPISODE
FEATURING GUESTS BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS AND MATT FRACTIONPORTLAND, OREGON, June 21, 2023
The Marvel by the Month podcast, which takes listeners through Marvel Comics history one month at a time, celebrates the release of its milestone 200th episode with a double-size episode that covers the epic Avengers/Defenders War of summer 1973. Hosts Bryan Stratton, Robb Milne, and Jamie Wenger are joined by special guests Brian Michael Bendis (Avengers, Ultimate Spider-Man, Secret Invasion) and Matt Fraction (Hawkeye, Defenders, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen).
“When Robb and I first started this show a little over four years ago, we never expected that we’d make it 20 episodes, much less 200,” said co-creator Bryan Stratton. “We’re so grateful to the listeners who have stuck with us and spread the word, and to amazing, incredible, and uncanny guests like Brian and Matt, who have been so generous with their time and expertise.”
The 200th episode of Marvel by the Month is live now. A Patreon-exclusive extended version of the episode is also available.
About ‘Marvel by the Month’
Marvel by the Month released its first episode on May 11, 2019, which featured the one and only Marvel Universe comic released in August 1961: Fantastic Four #1. Each subsequent episode has covered the next month in the history of Marvel Comics’ characters, comics, creators, and corporate shenanigans, placing the events in the historical context of the times in which they took place.
The show was co-created in Portland, Oregon, by Bryan Stratton and Robb Milne. Jamie Wenger became the third member of the hosting team on April 21, 2021 with episode #100. In addition to Bendis and Fraction, they’ve been joined by a murderer’s row of comics creators and entertainment professionals, including:
● Steve Englehart (writer of Avengers, Defenders, Captain America)
● Mark Waid (writer of Kingdom Come, Daredevil, Fantastic Four)
● Paul Levitz (former DC Comics President, executive, and writer)
● David F. Walker (co-creator of Bitter Root)
● Tom Brevoort (Marvel Comics Executive Editor and Senior Vice-President of
Publishing)
● Mark Evanier (comics writer and historian)
● Michael Giacchino (director of Disney+’s Werewolf by Night)
● Clint McElroy (co-host of The Adventure Zone podcast)
● Seanbaby (inventor of internet humor for Cracked, 1-900-HOTDOG, and
seanbaby.com)
● Elliott Kalan, Dan McCoy, and Stuart Wellington (hosts of The Flop House
podcast)
● Katie Pryde (owner of the 2022 Will Eisner Spirit of Retail Award-winning comics
shop, Books with Pictures)
● Douglas Wolk (author of Reading Comics and All of the Marvels)
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