Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 18: “Holiday Spectacular”

It’s the holiday season and in that spirit we’ve got a festive episode! We take a delightful romp through a decades old Marvel Handbook, discuss the ONLY Alpha Flight issue that takes place at Christmas, and unveil some outtakes that simply did not make it into the show…until now! We keep it pretty light this episode and hope you can enjoy this with your preferred holiday beverage among the folks you value in your life. Or while doing the dishes. Whichever!

And we’ve launched a Patreon! First bit of extra content is up with a Have a Drink episode about Tom’s favorite movie: Highlander. Another goes up later this week! Click here to sign up and, if you’d be so kind, do tell all your friends!

Lastly, a very heartfelt and full-throated thank you from us to you. We’ve had a great time making this podcast and the response has been fantastic. Thanks for coming along on this ride with us and here’s to another year with everyone’s favorite Canadian superheroes!

In this episode, Chris:

• Wonders just how many D batteries it would take to incinerate hisself
• Has an incredible time performing NPR/CBC style pledge appeals
• Only mentions MANTLO!!! once: a holiday miracle!

and Tom:

• Manages not to seize the means of production
• Marvels at the assertions made as to how Guardian’s suit worked…until, you know, it didn’t
• Unveils a new sponsor for the show!

Issues covered:
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (1983)

CLASSIC X_MEN #16 - “Home Are the Heroes” - cover date December 1987
Script by Chris Claremont
Penciled by Kieron Dwyer
Inked by Terry Austin
Lettered by Ken Lopez
Colored by Petra Scotese and/or Glynis Oliver

Classic X-Men #26 - “Wanted: Wolverine, Dead or Alive!” - cover date October 1988
Script by Chris Claremont
Penciled by Kieron Dwyer
Inked by Terry Austin
Lettered by Tom Orzechowski
Colored by Gregory Wright

Classic X-Men #27 - “Shoot Out At the Stampede” - cover date November 1988
Script by Chris Claremont
Penciled by Kieron Dwyer
Inked by Terry Austin
Lettered by Ken Lopez

Alpha Flight #105 - “The Bachelor Party”
Credits read: Lobdell / Morgan / Icy / Chiang / Sharen / Chase / Defalco
(which should mean: writing/pencils/inks/letters/editing)

Why Not?! is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company! Get a jump on next-Christmas shopping with a variety of classic and cheeky designs. See these and more at excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com.

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment or email us at whynotEHpod@gmail.com; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

Special theme music: "Oi to the World” as recorded by Tequila and the Sunrise Gang

Produced by Tom Flynn
Assisted by Chris Baker
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 17: “I’ve Seen That Movie”

Bit of a mishmash, this episode: an Aurora/Northstar adventure (really hope those kids work things out!), a Shaman guest appearance in Iron Man of all things, and a bit of Canadian political history (by a bit, we mean a lot). We also briefly touch on music and how comic book writers like to put real-world bands/songs/titles into their work (we see you Byrne and Claremont!). A regular smorgasbord of Why Not goodness.

And we’ve launched a Patreon! First bit of extra content is up with a Have a Drink episode about Tom’s favorite movie: Highlander. Click here to sign up and, if you’d be so kind, do tell all your friends!

In this episode, Chris:

• Uses a construction that compares MANTLO!!! to Voldemort
• Suggests not kidnapping and murdering in support of your political cause
• Does a more than passable Northstar voice
• Makes a devastating, yet accurate, assessment of psychiatric counseling

and Tom:

• Continues to argue that Box didn’t kill Guardian, Guardian killed Guardian
• Drops some French-Canadian history
• Knows Chris won’t admit it: Walt made Aurora’s life demonstrably worse
• Makes an old internet cat girl meme reference (see if you catch it)

Issues covered:
Alpha Flight #22 - “Rub Out” - cover date May 1985
Written and drawn dramatically by John Byrne
Embellished Enthusiastically by Bob Wiacek
Colored Prismatically by Andy Yanchus
Lettered Alphabetically by Rick Parker
Edited Diplomatically by Dennis O’Neil
Observed Enigmatically by Jim Shooter

Iron Man #195 - “The Thing Most Precious” - cover date June 1985
Written by Denny O’Neil
Penciled by Luke McDonnell
Inked by Akin & Garvey
Lettered by Rick Parker
Colored by Bob Sharen
Edited by Mark Gruenwald
Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Iron Man #196 - [no title?!?!] - cover date July 1985
Written by Denny O’Neil
Penciled by Rich Buckler
Inked by Akin & Garvey
Lettered by Rick Parker
Colored by Bob Sharen
Edited by Mark Gruenwald
Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Why Not?! is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company! Get a jump on Christmas shopping with a variety of classic and cheeky designs. See these and more at excelsioremmroidery.etsy.com.

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment or email us at whynotEHpod@gmail.com; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

Produced by Tom Flynn
Assisted by Chris Baker
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 16: “Langkowski Island”

Yeah, we recorded this the week of the US election and, honestly, this was a bright spot during a crap time! Hoping it offers that to y’all, too!

And we’re launching a Patreon! First bit of extra content hits this Thursday with a Have a Drink episode about Tom’s favorite movie: Highlander. Click here to sign up and, if you’d be so kind, do tell all your friends!

In this episode, Chris:

• brings up Scooby-Doo. More than once
• gives some naval officer ranking info
• suggests Jim Shooter has some serious poetry chops
• makes a very modern Lt. Dan reference that this listenership will absolutely get
• might want a remake of the Stapleton standard, “Tennessee Whiskey”, to something a bit more…Canadian

and Tom:

• can’t believe he has to spend an episode talking about mostly Walt and his nepo baby lifestyle
• does an ungodly amount of Aurora voicework: you’re welcome!
• rechristens Byrne from “John” to “Jean”
• decides Walt isn’t a scientist but rather an alchemist
• recommends a couple books and does some John Donne analysis: exactly what you come to this podcast for!

Issues covered:
Alpha Flight #20 - “Gold and Love Affairs” - cover date March 1985
Written and Art by John Byrne
Background inks by Keith Williams
Lettered by Rick Parker
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Edited by Denny O’Neil
Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Alpha Flight #21 - “Love Wrought New Alchemy,...” - cover date April 1985
Story and pencils by John Byrne
Inked by Bob Wiacek
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Lettered by Rick Parker
Edited by Dennis O’Neil
Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Why Not?! is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company! Get a jump on Christmas shopping with a variety of classic and cheeky designs. See these and more at excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com.

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment or email us at whynotEHpod@gmail.com; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

Novels recommended:

You Dreamed of Empires by Alvaro Enrigue, translated by Natasha Wimmer
Civilizations by Laurent Binet, translated by Sam Taylor

Poetry by John Donne cited:

A Nocturnal Upon St. Lucy’s Day
Love’s Alchemy

Produced by Tom Flynn
Assisted by Chris Baker
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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