Everybody Else (aka Mason Rabinowitz) joins John and (eventually) David for Part 1 of their "Top 5 Runs in All of Marvel Comics"! They get into what makes a run truly great, some iconic collaborations and runs that didn’t make the lists, the exciting Behind the Panels of Secret Wars, and Batman’s new logo. Also, David makes a surprise appearance on today’s episode.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of The Corner Box vs Mason Rabinowitz next week!

Relevant Links

Behind the Panels of Marvel’s Secret Wars

Timestamp Segments

• [00:00] Check out This Secret Wars Kickstarter!
• [01:49] What’s David really doing?
• [02:08] Everybody Else is here.
• [02:45] David’s real Top 5.
• [03:14] The Top 5 Criteria.
• [05:12] What has Mason been working on?
• [08:46] Mason’s #5.
• [14:33] John’s #5.
• [18:41] Wait, there’s another host!
• [19:34] Batman’s new logo.
• [20:17] Honorable mentions.
• [21:26] David’s #5.
• [26:46] Mason’s #4.
• [28:23] David’s #3.
• [35:26] David’s #4.
• [37:14] Mason’s #3.

Notable Quotes

• “There is no objective measurement of this, and anybody that pretends there is, there isn’t.”
• “It’s the only run… that started in 1982 that you can still go out and pick up the current issue of, by the same writer.”
• “And then Thor becomes a frog for two issues.”

Books Mentioned

• Alien: The Illustrated Story, Manhunter, by Archie Goodwin & Walter Simonson.
• Avengers (1963-1996).
• Batman (2025- ), by Matt Fraction & Jorge Jiménez.
• Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Daredevil, by Frank Miller.
• Bloodstrike, by Rob Liefeld, Dan Fraga, Danny Miki, & Thomas Mason.
• Cerebus, by David Sim.
• Daredevil, by Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev.
• Fantastic Four (1998-2012).
• G.I. Joe, by Larry Hama.
• Incredible Hulk (1962-1999).
• M.A.R.S. Patrol, by Wally Wood.
• Marvel Knights Punisher, Punisher Max, by Garth Ennis.

John and David go undercover in search of the answer to the ultimate question: Why? They get into the magic of great creators and their stories, do a deep dive on the recent Batman/Deadpool comic by Grant Morrison and Dan Mora, and discuss David’s unchecked comics spending. Also, John has a revelation.

Timestamp Segments

• [01:06] Why?
• [02:07] David’s Why? Salvation Run.
• [05:46] John’s Why? Youngblood #1.
• [09:04] The most Garth Ennis of Garth Ennis books.
• [14:00] The thing about Hitman.
• [19:05] The DC One Million controversy.
• [20:34] Grant Morrison writes the comic book of the moment.
• [22:11] Batman/Deadpool.
• [23:11] All the Morrison layers.
• [31:15] Marvel vs DC stories.
• [34:36] The magical Carlos Ezquerra.
• [36:45] The Stainless Steel Rat.
• [40:43] John’s revelation.
• [44:15] Spawn: The Dark Ages.
• [49:24] The return of the Swat Kats.
• [54:01] Spending too much on comics.

Notable Quotes

• “In general, he’s just too smart for me.”
• “I take it all back, man. He’s great.”
• “I think I may have spent more money in comics than I’ve made.

Books Mentioned

• Animal Man (1988-1995).
• Back to the Future: Untold Tales & Alternate Timelines.
• Batman: No Man’s Land.
• Batman & Robin (2009-2011).
• Bloodstrike, by Rob Liefeld, Dan Fraga, Danny Miki, & Thomas Mason.
• The Boys, by Garth Ennis & Darick Robertson.
• Conan the Barbarian.
• Crisis on Infinite Earths, by Marv Wolfman & George Perez.
• DC K.O.
• DC/Marvel: Batman/Deadpool.
• DC One Million.
• The Demon Annual #2: Introducing Hitman, Dicks, Hitman, Troubled Souls, by Garth Ennis & John McCrea.
• Ernest & the Dream Stone, by Corey Perkins, M. Arief Russanto, Mariam Yasser.
• Final Crisis, by Grant Morrison & J.G. Jones.
• For a Few Troubles More, by Garth Ennis, John McCrea, & Wendy Simpson.

Rob Worst cheats death once again and joins John and David to talk about the art of collecting comics, the value of original art, the rise of AI and digital comics, and the importance of artists supporting other artists.

SUPPORT THE SHOW! DO FUN THINGS!

John has a Kickstarter | Behind the Panels of Marvel’s Secret Wars

Rob Worst has a podcast | Not Near Mint

Timestamp Segments

• [00:00] Check out This Secret Wars Kickstarter!
• [02:03] The show gains a new listener!
• [02:39] Rob’s origin story.
• [03:33] Rob cheats death.
• [05:59] To slab or not to slab?
• [13:34] Signed comics.
• [16:45] The rise of digital comics.
• [21:01] The Mark Spears phenomenon.
• [23:26] AI comics.
• [24:46] David’s Dan Mora story.
• [27:34] 3D comics.
• [31:37] Collecting CG comics.
• [32:48] The true value of original art.
• [35:58] Artists supporting artists.
• [41:07] Not Near Mint.

Notable Quotes

• “Rule #1: don’t die.”
• “You can’t smell digital.”
• “One day, today will have been 20 years ago.”

Books Mentioned

• Batman: The Man Who Laughs, by Ed Brubaker, Doug Mahnke, Patrick Zircher, Tim Sale, Aaron Sowd, Steve Bird, & David Baron.
• Daredevil: Born Again, by Frank Miller & David Mazzucchelli.
• Detective Comics (1937-2011).
• Dungeons & Dragons.
• Faust, by David Quinn & Tim Vigil.
• The Forever People, by Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta, Frank Giacoia, Mike Royer, Tom Ziuko, & Jim Amash.
• G.I. Joe.
• Gold Digger.
• Grips, by Kris Silver & Tim Vigil.
• Hexed, by Michael Alan Nelson, Dan Mora, & Emma Ríos.
• Iron Man: Crash, by Mike Saenz.
• Justice League Unlimited, by Mark Waid & Dan Mora.
• The Monster and the Wolf, by Mark Spears.
• New Champions (2025- ), by Steve Foxe, Ivan Fiorelli, & Gleb Melnikov.
• New Mutants (1983-1991).
• Nightwing (1996-2009).