Comics in Context

What if Captain America ran for President of the United States?In 1980, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan battled for the White House, Marvel Comics threw in a third party candidates with Steve Rogers, aka. Captain America, in Captain America #250.In this episode of Comics in Context, we explore how Roger Stern and John Byrne reflected the political climate of 1980, including voter apathy, populism celebrity candidates, and America's relationship with political mistrust.We also examine the follow up issue, "What If? #26" which imagines what a world until President Captain America might have looked like.Can America's greatest superhero also make for America's greatest president?Join us as we explore the comics, history, and cultural context behind Cap's presidential ambitions.Follow Comics in Context for more conversations about comic books and the real-world history that shaped them.

Behind the skull lies centuries of history, folklore, and cultural identity.La Muerta is the breakout sensation from Coffin Comics that mixes modern latino culture with Aztec influences to create a gritty revenge story like few others. The action is high and the characters are fantastic.In this episode we explore the influences of Santa Muerte, La Llorona, Aztec rituals, and more as they are seen in this great Mexi-Noir series.

Hector Rodriguez III, creator of Pancho Villa Monster Hunter, joins us for a great conversation about his exciting new horror tale set during the Mexican Revolution. We find out the inspiration behind the book, the research he put into bringing these legendary characters to life, and more.We also learn more about the Mexican Revolution of 1913 than we ever got in high school. We also dive a bit into the notion of "Great Person History" as well as a whole lot about Pancho Villa and his relationship with the United States. * *Spoiler* * It was rocky!Hector can be found at @el_peso_hero and @chispacomics .Be sure to grab your copy of Pancho Villa Monster Hunter published by Chispa Comics and Amp Comics today!

There are few characters in comic books more Metal than Evil Ernie. He's got the hair, the jacket, the attitude, and oh, he's also dead. In our continuing celebration of October, we deep dive into the original 5 issues of Evil Ernie collected in the trade "Youth Gone Wild".We of course talk about the obvious Metal influences contained within the pages, but we also saw this as a reflection of the mental health crisis happening with America's youth in the late 80s and early 90s. There's a lot of to unpack in this read demonstrating that comics really are social and cultural artifacts from their times.

The highly anticipated Midnight releases of X-Men, Spider-Man, and Fantastic Four are here! We break down each issue with a summary and try to figure out if these books are just more of the same or something truly innovative. *Spoiler Warning*Hidden within these pages are the topics of the Crusades, genetic testing, the Manhatten Project, and so much more. We also discuss whether Marvel is just chasing that Absolute Universe money by trying to use the same formula.

This iconic issue not only introduces us to Kingpin, but unpacks a lot of late 1960's cultural norms and thoughts. We take a look at the birth of tabloid news, how the Vietnam War influenced comics, and a culture of masculinity. We also try and get to the bottom of what "The Real McCoy" means!

In this episode we are joined by computer tech and Blade Runner aficionado as we explore Titan Comic's "Blade Runner 2019" (2019). As we discuss all twelve issues the topics of AI, what it means to be human, and why future LA is dominated by Japanese culture. Join us as we dive into "AI's of Future Past".

On the 25th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, we wanted to highlight two comics from that time that both got reader attention. First, the unfortunate Superman 596 which was released the day after with an image of two smoking towers. Second, Amazing Spider-Man 36 which was written in direct response to the event.Join us as we examine both issues for their context and how the companies chose to address the attacks. We talk about the bravery of average citizens, how ASM called for unity, and the importance of remembering events such as this.

Teenagers have always been an important part of the comics landscape, yet go sorely underrepresented in comics themselves. Enter the Teen Titans. In this episode we compare New Teen Titans 1 (1980) with Teen Titans 1 (2026) and explore topics such as why both time periods need teenage representation, how similar down economies gave rise to larger teenage voices, and generational change. This side-by-side comparison reveals a lot about the times in which both books were created.

Few series have been as controversial in recent memory than Absolute Green Arrow. Pulling plot lines straight from the headlines, we analyze this issue for how it portrays the wealthy, how it shines a light on conversations around assassinations, and for how it brings into question healthcare in the United States. Also, Marc learns what the grape emoji means and Derek learns about the Michael Myers mask from the Halloween movies. Join us for a great conversation where we really try and tackle some big issues as they are reflected in this important series.