The Smark Avengers

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It’s the 6th and final week of Goblin Month and the Smark Avengers are finishing strong as they return to Norman Osborn in part two of their two-part series on the original Green Goblin.

When we last left Norman, he had landed the kill shot on the Skrull Queen and ended the Secret Invasion as a hero to the world. While the heroes who were divided by the Civil War lurk to the shadows to li...

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It’s Week 5 of Goblin Month and the Smark Avengers are dedicating it to the be all and end all of goblins - the former Goblin King himself and the original Green Goblin - Norman Osborn! The lads found that there was simply too much Norman to cover in one episode so they’re extending Goblin Month to one more week as they cover the initial Green Goblin run for Norman in Part 1!

Norman Osborn is defi...

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It’s Week 4 of Goblin Month and the Smark Avengers are dedicating it to the tragic and unfortunate life of Harry Osborn!

Tragically trapped in the overwhelming shadow of his father Norman, Harry Osborn’s journey is one of the most heartbreaking downward spirals in Spider-Man history. Driven by grief, psychological trauma, and a desperate desire for parental approval, Harry inherited the toxic legacy and formula of the Green Goblin. Despite periods of recovery and genuine frie...

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It’s Week 3 of Goblin Month and the Smark Avengers are dedicating it to the clever, tactical mind of the original Hobgoblin Roderick Kingsley!

Unlike perennial loser Jason Macendale who held the Hobgoblin persona for a majority of the 80s and 90s, Roderick Kingsley showed that there was more to being a goblin than flying on a glider and tossing pumpkin bombs! Whether it’s brainwashing the likes of Ned Leeds and Flash Thompson to pose as t...

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It’s Week 2 of Goblin Month and the Smark Avengers have realized that there are so many various goblins in Spider-Man’s past that they could run Goblin Month all year! That would be insane though, so the lads have decided to sweep all of the various miscellaneous goblins into one episode and save the remaining three weeks of Goblin Month for the truly big hitters!

So what did we learn? Well, mainly that Norman Osborn real...

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It’s finally October and now it’s time for all things ooky and spooky and the Smark Avengers aren’t being left out of the fun! This year, the Smark Avengers will be celebrating the month of October by focusing every episode on Spider-Man’s favorite sort of villain - goblins!

And starting off Goblin Month is the second most notable man to don the apparel of the Hobgoblin, the first Jack O’Lantern, and over all l...

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Peter Parker has been Spider-Man since the 1960s and has not run short of running into costumed villains dedicated to squashing him. Whether they are lifelong rivals who have personal vendettas and connections to his out of costume identity or just two-bit crooks sporting a costume to rob a bank, the Spider-Man rogues gallery is as diverse as it is colorful.

With this many villains in his past, you have to wonder how they rank and...

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Ever since the Marvel Cinematic Universe blew up on the cultural zeitgeist, a whole new generation and audience have been introduced to such iconic characters like Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, and more (including characters from the Distinguished Competition like Superman and Batman) that they may not have encountered any other way. Since comics, like most else in this capitalist hellscape we currently live in, is a business the question becomes how do you convert the movie going...

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More of a blessing than a curse, the Smark Avengers may have lost the intended episode they originally set out to record but realized they all had opinions on the latest Spider-Man centric addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe! While this may have been the sixth or seventh movie that Tom Holland has portrayed Peter Parker, many have commented that this is the first time he feels like the proper Earth-616/comic book version of the character. No...

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A few months ago Marvel Comics announced a new horror imprint “Midnight Marvel” and three new titles that would be debuting this October: Midnight Fantastic Four, Midnight X-Men, and Midnight Spider-Man. The objective is simple, let’s take three iconic Marvel comics and put them through the horror lens to see what happens! Whether it’s cosmic horror with the Fantastic Four, vampiric horror with the X-Men, or body horror with Spider-Man it looks like Midnight Marvel has somethin...

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For years the Venom symbiote has been a hero, a villain, a Lethal Protector, a Dark Avenger, a Guardian of the Galaxy, an ally, a thorn in the side of Spider-Man, and everything in between as it has bonded and jumped from host to host. Well the Smark Avengers are sick of it!

In the past, the Smark Avengers have sought a permanent end to the likes of Aquaman, the Flash, Wolverine, Magneto, and Lobo but...

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For decades now, San Diego Comic Con has been the closest thing to Christmas morning for comic book movie and television fans around the world. Big announcements, surprises, and appearances steal the headlines for days after the convention comes and goes and this year was no different!

Dylan is out this week but have no fear as the remaining lads Corey and Jon sort their way through the big news stories out of SDCC as well...

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A number of weeks ago, Marvel Comics made a major announcement that CB Cebulski would be stepping down as the acting Editor-In-Chief and would be replaced by Steve Wacker. Of course this means a potential major shift at Marvel Comics as a new EIC means the possibility of massive changes in the status quo. For months the Smark Avengers have been stating that Marvel needed to do something big to shake things up and this seems like the...

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The Silver Age was an iconic time for super hero comics as it gave birth to some of the most iconic versions of the medium’s most beloved figures. Green Lantern Hal Jordan, The Flash Barry Allen, and the rise of Marvel Comics line of heroes are just a few who were created and thrived in the Silver Age. Comic mainstays from the Golden Age like Superman and Batman also adapted to the new era of comics under th...

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Matt Murdock a.k.a. Daredevil is one of the most dynamic and tragic heroes in Marvel Comics history. With a large supporting cast like Foggy Nelson and Karen Page along with a rogues gallery including the Kingpin, Bullseye, Elektra, the Owl, and Purple Man… the Man Without Fear has been captivating readers since the 1960s with the recent success of his Disney+ earning him new fans every season.

That being said… one of the biggest chal...

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After capping off their year and a half long Avengers Auction project, the Smark Avengers are back with a relaxed fit episode!

As is tradition with the relaxed fit, Corey, Dylan, and Jon don’t really know what they’re going to talk about before they record and let the conversation flow naturally… and did it ever! Almost immediately this one goes off the rails so… strap in!

🧘Sit back and relax as the lads discus...

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It has been almost a year and a half in the making but it’s time for the final Avengers Auction and it is the biggest one to date!

For months Corey, Dylan, and Jon have been working their way down the Avengers roster in an attempt to build the ultimate Avengers line-up through a series of auctions as sorted by the spins of a wheel. Now, with 41 names left, the Avengers Wheel of Redemption is fi...

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While Jon is away, Corey and Dylan will play… and in this case playing means talking about their favorite Crocodile/Alligator/Reptilian characters… or try to.

At first Corey and Dylan discuss the Batman rogue Killer Croc but then the topic verges off into how to identify a crocodile’s sex, Lana Del Ray’s regular every day bloke husband, then they go back to Killer Croc but then verge off the path to talk about Mary Jan...

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The final regular Avengers Auction is here... and the Avengers roster has officially gotten weird.

In this episode, Corey, Dylan, and Jon spin the wheel one last time as they continue their quest to draft every Avenger in Marvel history. This installment covers characters who joined Earth's Mightiest Heroes between 2016 and 2026, a period that introduced a handful of major names, a surprising number of former villains, and more obscure heroes than anyone knew existed.

🦸 Cha...

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Behind every great superhero is... sometimes another superhero.

In this episode, Corey, Dylan, and Jon take a look at some of the most iconic romances in comic book history and discuss what makes certain relationships endure for decades while others fade away with the next creative team.

❤️ Featured relationships include:

Peter Parker & Mary Jane Watson

Clark Kent & Lois Lane

Scott Summers & Jean Grey

And many more of c...

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After diving deep into the original Watchmen comic, Corey, Dylan, and Jon turn their attention to one of the most controversial comic book adaptations ever made: Zack Snyder's Watchmen.

Widely praised for its visual faithfulness and criticized for its interpretation of the source material, Watchmen remains a movie that comic fans continue to debate more than a decade after its release. In this episode, the Smark Avengers break down what Snyder got right, what he got...

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Why do some of the most compelling stories ask us to spend time with people who are difficult—or even outright horrible—to understand?

With Jon unavailable for this episode, Corey and Dylan sit down for a wide-ranging discussion on one of storytelling’s most uncomfortable but fascinating ideas: following unlikable or morally questionable characters as protagonists.

The conversation is sparked by Corey’s recent reading of Odin #1 from Image Comics, which follows an investig...

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It's time for another relaxed-fit episode as Corey, Dylan, and Jon sit down for a wide-ranging conversation about the current state of comic books, what's working, what isn't, and some of the stranger directions Marvel and DC have taken recently.

From Spider-Man to the X-Men, Iron Man to Lobo, no topic is safe as the guys bounce around the comic book landscape and share their thoughts on the stories, characters, and creative decisions that have caught...

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For the first time ever, Dylan has finally read Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen… and now it’s time to talk about it.

In this episode, Corey, Dylan, and Jon revisit one of the most influential comics ever created as Dylan gives his fresh perspective on the legendary graphic novel while Corey and Jon reflect on their own past readings years later.

Using the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s Watchmen discussion guide as a fra...

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The Avengers Auction returns… and this time the roster gets way stranger.

In this episode, Corey, Dylan, and Jon continue their ongoing mission to draft every Avenger in Marvel history by spinning a wheel of names and bidding with limited cash. Covering the Jonathan Hickman Avengers era, All-New All-Different Avengers, Uncanny Avengers, and other 2010s lineups, the guys are forced to balance huge stars with some truly obscure wildcard picks.

🦸 Characters up for auction inclu...

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Who are the best—and worst—X-Men villains of all time?

In this episode, Corey, Dylan, and Jon put some of the most iconic enemies of the X-Men through the ultimate test: a tier list ranking from S to D. From legendary masterminds to questionable henchmen, nothing is safe from debate.

Villains featured include:

Magneto (Jon’s favorite—so expect strong opinions)

Apocalypse

Mister Sinister

Mystique

Sab...

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Batman has one of the greatest rogue galleries in comics… but it didn’t start out the way you think.

In this episode, Corey walks Dylan and Jon through a PowerPoint deep dive into Batman’s Golden Age villains, showcasing everything from the icons that stood the test of time to the absolute strangest characters DC ever published.

🦇 In this episode:

Classic villains like Joker, Catwoman, Penguin, Two-Face, and the Riddler in their ear...

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The Shocker might look like a joke… but is he actually one of Spider-Man’s most underrated villains?

In this episode, Corey, Dylan, and Jon take a deep dive into Herman Schultz, better known as the Shocker. Led by resident Spider-Man expert Dylan, the crew explores the character’s full history—from his iconic debut to his many ups, downs, and questionable life choices.

⚡ In this episode:

The origin of the Shocker and his si...

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WrestleMania is supposed to be the biggest night in wrestling… so why did it feel like there was more advertising than action?

In this year’s wrestling-themed episode, Corey, Dylan, and Jon break down WrestleMania 2026 — covering the matches, standout moments, and the decisions that left them scratching their heads.

💥 In this episode:

Full WrestleMania 2026 match breakdowns

What worked — and what absolutely didn’t

Why so many matches felt shorter than...

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Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are some of Marvel’s most iconic characters… but are they actually X-Men?

In this relaxed deep dive, Corey, Dylan, and Jon continue their X-Men history series by attempting to focus strictly on the mutant side of Wanda and Pietro’s past. From their earliest appearances and their complicated ties to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and beyond, the guys try to trace how these two characters fit into X-Men lore without devoti...

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Something feels off with Marvel Comics… but what exactly is going wrong?

In this relaxed follow-up episode, Corey, Dylan, and Jon continue their discussion on the current state of Marvel Comics, diving deeper into the growing frustrations around cancellations, constant relaunches, and confusing creative decisions.

From books getting cancelled before they can find an audience, to endless new #1 issues, the guys break down why modern Marvel can feel inconsistent — and whether the publisher is hurt...

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Marvel’s cosmic universe just took a major hit… but why did it fail?

In this episode, Corey, Dylan, and Jon break down the news that Marvel has cancelled its post-Jonathan Hickman “Imperial” cosmic line due to low sales. What was supposed to be a new era of space storytelling has seemingly come and gone... and the guys are trying to figure out exactly what went wrong.

🚀 Topics discussed:

What the Imperial line was tr...

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What would it actually take to kill Lobo?

In this episode, Corey challenges Dylan and Jon to figure out a way to take down one of DC Comics’ most ridiculous and unstoppable characters. While the two Marvel fans try to devise strategies to eliminate the Main Man, Corey reveals more and more about Lobo’s insane comic book history — and things quickly spiral out of control.

Along the way, Dylan and Jon learn that killin...

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Who are the deadliest superheroes in Marvel and DC Comics? According to the internet, there’s already a list… but Corey, Dylan, and Jon aren’t sure they agree with it.

In this episode, the crew goes through two online rankings: one listing the Deadliest DC superheroes and another ranking the Deadliest Marvel heroes. As they read through the lists, they debate the placements, question some of the choices, and try to figure out what the rankin...

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After months of debates, chaos spins, and brutal matchups, the Smark Avengers Marvel vs DC Tournament finally reaches its conclusion. Corey, Dylan, and Jon break down the Final Four and decide which character will be crowned champion.

Before the final battles begin, the crew looks back at some of the most iconic moments and defining feats from each remaining contender:

Scarlet Witch – reality-warping power and Avengers history

Apocalypse – the ancient mutant survivalist with...

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Can two diehard Marvel fans survive a DC Comics trivia gauntlet? In this episode, Dylan and Jon go head-to-head while Corey hosts a mix of true/false, multiple choice, and fill-in-the-blank questions that range from easy to nearly impossible.

After 111 episodes of podcasting, have Dylan and Jon actually learned anything about DC Comics — or are they still stumbling through Gotham, Metropolis, and beyond?

🦸‍♂️ What to expect:

Hilarious competition and banter between two Marvel dieh...

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Corey, Dylan, and Jon revisit Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy to see how it holds up years later. From Batman Begins to The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, the lads breaks down what still works, what doesn’t, and where the trilogy’s legacy stands in today’s superhero movie landscape.

🦇 Topics include:

Christian Bale’s Batman voice

The importance of Alfred, Gordon, Lucius Fox, and the supporting cast

Heath Le...

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Wonder Woman has faced some truly iconic villains… and some absolutely bizarre ones. In this episode, Corey, Dylan, and Jon dive into a slideshow-led exploration of Wonder Woman’s rogue gallery, from her most famous enemies to the obscure and downright weird.

⚔️ What’s covered in this episode:

Legendary foes like Ares and Cheetah

Lesser-known villains like Dr. Cyber and Silver Swan Unusual villains

like Egg Fu and Mouse Man

Villa...

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Corey, Dylan, and Jon kick back for a relaxed fit episode and talk through everything happening in comics right now — from massive event fallout to status quos that just aren’t landing. This episode is all about free-flowing comic talk, hot takes, and connecting the dots across Marvel, DC, and pop culture.

Topics include the post–Age of Revelation X-Men line of comics and what the future of mutantkind looks like, DC Comics’ upcoming Reign of the Supe...

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Who Wins the DC Villains Bracket?! Darkseid, Joker & More Clash

The Smark Avengers Marvel vs DC Tournament reaches a critical turning point as Corey, Dylan, and Jon dive headfirst into the DC Villains side of the bracket! With the Final Four on the line, the debates get heated, the matchups get wild, and the Wheel of Chaos once again threatens to derail logic entirely.

This episode features brutal villain-vs-villain matchups including:

Joker...