Before DARK KNIGHT and WATCHMEN, DC Comics Published the Most Devilishly FUN Character of the 1980s!
Chris and Steven dive into the first five issues of BLUE DEVIL (DC Comics, 1984), a comic book scientifically proven to be the most outrageously fun title of the 1980s; the madcap insanity of it all was written by Dan Mishkin & Gary Cohn, penciled by Paris Cullins, and inked by Pablo Marcos and Gary Martin. Join us, flashback party people… Circuits and Sorcery await you!
COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Chris Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age.
⏱ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro + Theme Song
00:47 - So who is this Blue Devil guy, anyway?
03:47 - Pop Culture of the day in 1984
05:52 - Dick Giordano’s admirably bold thoughts on DC Comics’ mission in 1984
12:07 - What is the actual story for BLUE DEVIL?
18:49 - “Fun” comics vs. “artsy-schmartsy” comics
30:16 - The fascinating original “pitch document” for BLUE DEVIL
36:41 - Paris Cullins’ extraordinary creature design skills, epitomized by the unique look of the insectoid demon, Nebeiros
47:35 - Chris blows Steven’s mind by revealing that this one thing that comic artists do, y'know, that thing... Well, it has a name... Behold! "The De Luca Effect!"
01:05:06 - That good ol’ green metalhead, Metallo: B+ Superman villain or total clownshow?
01:10:42 - Holy Circuits & Sorcery, Batman! What happens when technology collides with ancient occult practices?!
01:21:05 - Blue Devil challenges Superman to a little arm wrestling match!
01:22:37 - Sparks fly! Instant romantic chemistry between Blue Devil and Zatanna
01:49:07 - The historically whimsical nature of most DC Comics as opposed to Marvel’s (mostly) scary “realism”
02:05:48 - THAT MOMENT where Zatanna grabs both of Blue Devil’s horns and kisses him on the mouth (no, really)
02:07:45 - So... How exactly is BLUE DEVIL remembered today?
02:13:16 - Alan Moore’s WATCHMEN and Frank Miller’s THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS -- how they brought about the “grim ‘n gritty” era of comics, ending the times represented by BLUE DEVIL
02:15:02 - The highwire tightrope act for writers of being simultaneously light AND heavy, detouring into critiques of DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, plus Quentin Tarantino’s entire oeuvre
02:23:18 - What modern comic books actually feel like BLUE DEVIL? Let us know!
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+ Check out our YouTube channel to get a look at some of the fantastic art featured in our episodes. Visit ComicsRotYourBrain.com to sign up for our newsletter, Letter Column. You can also find us wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.
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+ For even more cool shit, read Chris's Substack (cinema, comics, and culture) - THIN ICE
©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain!
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