Understanding Comics
Understanding Comics is a deep-dive podcast for anyone who loves comic books but wants more than surface-level takes.Each episode explores the characters, history, and lore that shape comics across publishers, eras, and mediums. From iconic heroes and legendary villains to forgotten storylines, major creative shifts, and the real-world forces that shaped the page, this show is about why comics matter and how they became what they are today.Whether we’re breaking down a single character’s evolution, unpacking a major storyline, or tracing how decades of continuity collide and contradict, Understanding Comics treats comics as living mythology. We focu...
The Era Defining 90s Comic Cartoons Part 1
For a lot of us, the first time we met Batman or the X-Men wasn’t in a comic shop. It was on a TV screen. The 90s superhero cartoons didn’t just entertain us, they trained us. They taught us continuity, character arcs, and long-form stakes, and they set new expectations for what superhero stories should feel like. In this episode, we explore the era that made animation matter: Batman: The Animated Series and the rise of the DC animated universe, Marvel’s serialized boom on Fox Kids, and the often-forgotten indie breakthroughs that brought creator-owned heroes into the mainst...
Understanding Dare Devil: The Man Without Fear
Daredevil has always been one of Marvel’s most human heroes—not because he’s weak, but because he feels everything.
In this episode, we trace the comic-accurate history of Daredevil, from Matt Murdock’s childhood in Hell’s Kitchen to his evolution into one of Marvel’s most morally complex vigilantes. We walk through his early days, his clashes with Wilson Fisk, and his long, painful war with the Hand, grounding every step in the comics that defined him.
But Daredevil isn’t just a story about crime fighting.
It’s a story about fait...
Understanding Venom and Carnage
Dive deep into the official Marvel Comics history of Venom and Carnage in this meticulously researched breakdown. From Eddie Brock’s first bonding with the alien symbiote in Amazing Spider-Man #300 to the violent debut of Cletus Kasady’s Carnage in Amazing Spider-Man #361, this episode walks through every major moment, storyline, and transformation—anchored strictly in published comics.
We explore:
Their literal on-page origin storiesKey arcs like Lethal Protector, Maximum Carnage, Absolute Carnage, and moreMajor character developments across Earth-616 continuityTheir evolving roles in the Marvel Universe and Spider-Man mythosAnd their long-term legacy in comics publishing and pop cultur...Understanding Shazam! The Lightning Legacy of DC’s Mightiest Mortal
In this deep-dive episode, we unpack the electrifying history of Shazam — from his Golden Age origins as Captain Marvel to his modern reinvention as the heart of the Shazam Family. Whether you grew up yelling “SHAZAM!” at the sky or you’ve only met Billy Batson on the big screen, this is your full walk through the legacy of magic’s greatest champion.
We explore his publishing roots, major continuity shifts, mythic connections, most essential story arcs, and his time as a full-fledged member of the Justice League. Along the way, we talk about why his story still matt...
Marvel 2023 Through the Current Day
We're finishing up our look at Marvel's last 5-6 years by covering 2023 through to the current day.
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Recapping the Last 5 Years of Marvel Part 1 (2020-2022)
In this supersized lore dive, we walk you through everything that’s happened in the Marvel Universe from 2020 through early 2026. Whether you dropped off during Empyre or just want to understand how the X-Men went from founding a mutant nation to watching it fall, this is your full catch-up guide.
We cover:
The end of the Krakoan era and the Fall of XSpider-Man’s status quo shifts (including Ben Reilly, Gang War, and beyond)Avengers, Fantastic Four, and cosmic-scale threats like Judgment DayThe rise of new legacies like Kamala Khan’s mutant retconThe return of the Ultima...The Flash Mantle: Speed, Legacy, and the Power of Passing the Torch
The Flash is not just one hero. It is a legacy.
In this episode, we take a deep dive into the Flash mantle across DC Comics history, exploring how the role of the Scarlet Speedster has been passed down, reshaped, and redefined over generations. From the Golden Age origins of Jay Garrick, to the scientific heroism of Barry Allen, to the emotional and character driven evolution of Wally West, this episode unpacks why The Flash is one of DC’s most meaningful legacy heroes.
We explore how each Flash earned the mantle, what each era ne...
The Last 5 Years of DC Comics Explained
DC Comics has been through one of the most turbulent, experimental, and misunderstood stretches in its history over the last five years—and if you’ve felt lost trying to keep up, you’re not alone.
In this episode, we break down the last half-decade of DC Comics continuity in a way that actually makes sense. From major events and publishing resets to real-world shifts inside DC that reshaped the stories on the page, this is a guided tour through where the universe has been, where it is now, and why it looks the way it does.
W...
Start Your Comics Journey Here
Welcome to the very first episode of Understanding Comics.
This episode sets the foundation for what this podcast is and what it isn’t. Rather than recaps or hot takes, Understanding Comics exists to explore comic books as living mythology—stories shaped by decades of creators, cultural shifts, editorial decisions, and evolving audiences.
In this introduction, we talk about why comics can feel overwhelming, why continuity is both fascinating and frustrating, and how characters grow, change, and sometimes contradict themselves over time. We explore what it means to truly understand a character or a story beyo...
