Welcome to Why Not?! Episode 28: “The Doug…Undone!”

It’s a surprise-entirely-unnatural-pregnancy episode, everyone’s favorite scifi/fantasy trope! And The Doug Thompson handles it…poorly. Little less of the Puck/Bochs self-loathing (though not none of that nonsense), but the issues covered this episode represent a real corner being turned as we put the…rocky start to Mantlo’s time behind us. Overly optimistic? Probably!

In this episode, Chris:

• proves Tom very wrong on a bit of character backstory, which shouldn’t be surprising, but here we are
• wrote a script that goes pretty hard at Canada, our beloved neighbor and (future?) home
• adores Shaman’s new outfit!

and Tom:

• leaves in Chris proving him wrong because he’s a real one
• thinks “Mansion Alpha” sounds like an influencer house
• posits that we were all deprived of some righteous Mignola-mystical art

Issues covered:

Alpha Flight #35 - cover date June 1986 - “The Child is Father to the Man”
Writer is Bill Mantlo
Introducing Canada’s own David Ross and penciler
Inker is Gerry Talaoc
Letterer is Jim Novak
Colorist is Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts
Editor in Chief is Jim Shooter

Alpha Flight #36 - cover date July 1986 - “Labor Pains”
Writer is Bill Mantlo
Penciler is David Ross
Inker is Gerry Talaoc
Letter is Joe Rosen
Colorist is Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts
Editor in Chief is Jim Shooter

Why Not?! Read Alpha Flight is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company, part of the Roxxon family of companies. Roxxon is proud to celebrate Pride month with a series of pride themed comic book patches like the Deadpool icon with a pan flag in the background and an X-Men icon with a trans flag theme. But my favorite has to be the Alpha Flight combined logo with a full pride flag of colors throughout: it’s really something special. You can see all these and hundreds more by going to excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com.

Airhorn sound effect by freesound_community from Pixabay

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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Welcome to Why Not?! Episode 27: “Big Throuble in Westchester County”

We’ll be at The Uncanny Experience in July, giving a talk on the history of Department H, which sounds boring, but it’s us, so we’ll find a way to spice it up (I mean, a full-scale assault on civil rights tends to make for spicy conversation)! But in today’s episode, we cover the last(?) two especially rough issues in the Mantlo run (Tom hopes), featuring Wolverine and the first appearance of Lady Deathstrike (if you’re listening to us, you know what that is).

Oh, and inexplicably, as is their wont, a member of Power Pack makes an appearance. They’re literally everywhere.

In this episode, Chris:

• makes a Secret Wars joke that there’s no way in hell Tom could’ve possibly understood
• comments on the corner box art and how it’s a lost art in modern comics (shakes fist at sky)
• makes a frankly INSANE suggestion for a THUNDERBOLTS* post-credit scene
• lays out the rules for Power Pack/X-Men team-ups

and Tom:

• is running out of ideas re: celebrating Walt’s…absence
• successfully argues that we all need to show “The Doug” some ‘spect
• feels Teeny really pulled her weight this episode
• absolutely does NOT nail a Rogue voice
• goes on another literary tangent

Alpha Flight #33 - “A Friend in Need” - cover date April 1986
Writer is Bill Mantlo
Penciler is Sal Buscema
Inker is Gerry Talaoc
Letterer is Jim Novak
Colorist is Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts
and Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Alpha Flight #34 - “Honor” - cover date May 1986
Writer is Bill Mantlo
Storyteller is Sal Buscema
Finisher is Gerry Talaoc
Letterer is Janice Chiang
Colorer is Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts
Editor in Chiefer is Jim Shooter

This week our sponsor, the Excelsior Embroidery Company, is featuring the iconic X-Men logo with a variety of Pride flags in the background. Available as a patch, towel, or hat, this is a great addition to your summer wardrobe. See this patch and hundreds more designs by going to excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com. When company is coming over, bring out the good towels. Excelsior!

Airhorn sound effect by freesound_community from Pixabay

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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Welcome to Why Not?! Episode 26: “Tall Tale”

Do you ever feel like you’re just talking to yourself most of the time? Just Tom? Because he spends swaths of this episode doing voices? Ok. Just Tom.

It’s time for that episode folks. THAT episode. Wherein we learn how Puck came to be…Puck…according to Bill Mantlo. But! We make the most of it. We think.

In this episode, Chris:

• brings back an oldie, but a goodie, sound effect
• really wants to see Harrison Ford take out Puck
• tries out a new sign off?

and Tom:

• is more than a touch flummoxed by the…necromancy?...committed to give Heather her suit
• kinda struggles w/ Northstar & Aurora’s accents: he’ll do better next time
• says “immensely black storm cloud” and wonders what language even is anymore

Alpha Flight #32 - “Tall Tales” - cover date March 1986
Writer is Bill Mantlo
Penciler is John Bogdanove
Inker is Gerry Talaoc
Letterer is Jim Novak
Colorist is Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts
and Jim Shooter as Editor In Chief

Why Not Read Alpha Flight is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company, specializing in comic themed patches, towels, and more. This week we are featuring our delightfully cheeky Rogue towels, now 100% lead free in the state of California. See what everyone at C2E2 was talking about by going to excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com. When company is coming over, bring out the good towels. Excelsior!

Airhorn sound effect by freesound_community from Pixabay

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

Follow us on these platforms:
Instagram
TikTok
Imgur
YouTube
Patreon