Tales to Astonish #27
|
|
Released
|
November 11, 2013
|
Running time
|
17:28
|
Previous review
|
|
Next review
|
|
Tagline
|
The brave story of a man who had stuff spilled on him!
|
Link
|
|
Linkara: Hello, and welcome to Atop the Fourth Wall, where bad comics burn. Today, we continue Secret Origins Month and–
(He is interrupted by the "Secret Origins Month" title. He pushes it out of the way before it finishes)
Linkara: Yeah, actually, that logo is getting kind of old, too. Can we, uh, replace that with something new?
(A new "Secret Origins Month" title is shown, with clips of more recent superhero movies mixed in)
Linkara: There we go. Anyway, we continue Secret Origins Month with Hank Pym, otherwise known as "that guy who ate too much pudding in 'Ultimates 3'".
(A montage of shots of Hank Pym, AKA Ant-Man, is shown)
Linkara (v/o): Why him and not some other recognizable hero or team? Well, primarily because I'm planning on reviewing "Avengers #1" at some point, and he's one of the founding members of the team. Many people have wondered we're only looking at his origin here and not his first appearance as Ant-Man.
Linkara: Because it's still his first appearance regardless, and because it's Hank friggin' Pym! The dude has had no less than (holds up four fingers) four different superhero identities. Does anyone even refer to him as a superhero identity anymore? Dude's just Hank Pym.
Linkara (v/o): Hank Pym was created as just some guy who appeared in a story and the anthology series, "Tales to Astonish". There wasn't anything in particular about his creation that was special. He could have been named Joe Joey Joe, and it wouldn't have made a difference. He was kept around, unlike, say, that robot who could exchange heads from "Strange Adventures", because the issue he was in sold very well, and Stan Lee decided it'd be fun to make him into a superhero, thus creating Ant-Man. That being said, the story was scripted by his brother, Larry Lieber, and drawn of course by the ever-incredible Jack Kirby.
Linkara: And yet, no cavemen or purple space octopi are present here. Go figure.
Linkara (v/o): And that's... pretty much everything of note here. I would love to say that there was something more interesting about the creation, but it honestly was just a sci-fi tale about a dude who shrank that they decided to do some more with.
Linkara: So let's dig into (holds up today's comic) "Tales to Astonish #27" and see if there was something about Hank Pym that would make people want to see him become a superhero.
(AT4W title sequence plays, and the title card has the "Avengers" theme by Alan Silvestri playing in the background. Cut to a closeup of the comic's cover)
Linkara (v/o): Our cover is pretty eye-catching: Hank Pym getting dragged down into an ant's– erm, praying mantis hole. At least, I have to assume they're crickets or mantises or something, since I don't think common ants are green, nor are their legs quite that thick. Eyes are a bit too beady, too. And green. I guess these ants took a dive in some paint or something before they returned to their colony.
Pym: Save me, somebody, save me!! Don't let them drag me there! Not (gasp) into the ant hill!!
Linkara: (as Pym) They're alien ants! Look how green they are! It's an alien ant farm! (gasps) They're gonna play a crappy cover of "Smooth Criminal"!
Pym: (narrating) Let me tell you, while I still can, how it happened... for I was "THE MAN IN THE ANT HILL!"
Linkara: (as Pym) They're all female ants, and I have to undergo the sitcom situation of taking them all out on dates at the same time! Two hundred thousand dates at once!
Linkara (v/o): We open with the rather gripping image of Hank Pym running away from the ants inside of an anthill. Shockingly enough, there isn't any melodramatic text, no credits, no narration explaining what the hell is going on or trying to tell us that this is amazing. It just lets the image speak for itself. That's... really weird for a comic story in that time period. Kudos. We truly open with some narration and a scientist who fell into a bucket of red paint.
Linkara: Green ants, red scientists... Colorists for this comic apparently hated "paint-by-numbers" books and just stuck with one color.
Narrator: Living nightmares can begin in many ways! Henry Pym's began with a cry of triumph!
Linkara: (as Pym, raising his fist triumphantly) I finished my taxes early this year!
Pym: It works! I've done it!
Linkara: (as Pym) I've combined peanut butter and chocolate in a way that will make me (holds up fist) rich! RICH!
Pym: I've reduced the chair to doll size!
Linkara: (as Pym) Now I don't have to buy a dollhouse for my daughter's birthday! I can just shrink normal furniture!
Pym: Now I only have to apply a few drops of my growth potion...
Linkara: (as Pym) ...and the upholstery is ruined!
Pym: ...and the chair returns again to its normal size!
Linkara: "Honey, I Shrunk the Chair" wasn't really as impressive a movie as they were hoping for.
Pym: This is the greatest triumph I have ever known!
Linkara: Eat it, natural male enhancement!
Narrator: And, while the chair enlarges, Henry Pym's thoughts go back... back to a science convention several months ago...
Linkara: Science conventions are the best! You've got people cosplaying as Tesla or Niels Bohr, Bill Nye does live performances, and the Mythbusters team does Cards Against Humanity!
Scientist 1: Bah! You're always wasting our time with your ridiculous theories! But they never work!
Scientist 2: You should stick to practical projects!
Linkara: (as this scientist) Like me! I'm trying to invent some cyborg armor for animals so they can become some kind of... brute force!
Pym: No! I'll only work on things that appeal to my imagination...
Linkara: (as Pym) Like that sex robot I've been devising for the last ten years. My imagination can't stop thinking about that one!
Linkara (v/o): He tells them his latest invention is going to show them all that he's a much greater scientist than any of them.
Narrator: And so, Henry Pym spent months alone in his laboratory, working and planning...
Linkara: (narrator voice) And probably doing other things with those formulas that you really don't want to know about.
Pym: Soon I'll have my serum perfected!
Linkara: The thing already shrinks objects down to remarkably tiny sizes. How much more perfect do you really need it to be?
Pym: Anything could reduced in size and shipped for a fraction of the cost!
Linkara: (as Pym) Thus damaging the shipping industry beyond repair!
Pym: (narrating) An entire army could be transported in one airplane...
Linkara: (as Pym) Thus allowing enemy forces to completely destroy an entire army by just shooting down (holds up index finger) one plane!
Linkara (v/o): Okay, yeah, it's an incredible achievement and I'm just making fun. I mean, he's got to be a phenomenally intelligent scientist to come up with something like this. So, what's the next step?
Pym: Now all that remains is to test them on a living object-- on myself!!
Linkara: I guess laboratory rats hadn't been invented in 1962.
Pym: First, I'll take a few drops of the reducing potion!
Linkara (v/o): (as Pym, putting some potion on his own arm, with a "magic" sound) Secondly, I'll–
(Suddenly, he turns into a puppet version of himself)
Linkara: (as Pym) Okay, I, uh... This really didn't shrink me in the way I thought it would.
Linkara (v/o): So he starts shrinking and then is shocked that it's shrinking him faster than he expected and that it's too fast, in fact. Well, what the hell was the plan, exactly? Hope that you'd shrink really slowly and nobody would notice until you were a foot tall? This is why test animals exist, dude! You know, in future Marvel comics, we've Hank Pym have serious issues with inadequacy... and this pretty much proves why: because he's kind of a moron!
Linkara: You know what would really help him? OfficeMax. Reed Richards has OfficeMax, and he never tries testing dangerous formulas on himself.
(Cut to Linkara putting on a blue coat; he looks to the camera with a startled look)
Linkara: Oh... You caught me in between costumes here... Uh, we'll be right back.
(He walks off as the AT4W logo appears, and we go to commercial; upon return, we see Linkara again taking off his blue coat and replacing it with a silver one)
Linkara: Uh... Qapla' or something. We're back. (the AT4W logo appears in the corner) I'm running out of costumes!
(We cut back to the comic again as the review resumes)
Linkara (v/o): Also, why the hell did his clothes shrink with him when he only put it on his skin?
Narrator: Frantically, Henry Pym races around the room, as fear grips his heart! Finally, before he knows it, he has stumbled thru [sic] the open door...
Linkara: How exactly do you (makes "air quotes") "stumble through the open door" when you're not even four inches tall?
Pym: How will I ever get back to normal?!! I left the antidote on the window ledge! I could never reach it now!
Linkara (v/o): Oh, (scoffs) yeah, because climbing back up to get to the formula would be impossible! Best to just run out and live out your days as a lost action figure or something. And since Pym is loudly... well, as loudly as he can, with him being tiny and all... proclaiming his woes, a group of ants senses the vibrations from him and come scurrying out of their anthill. They start surrounding Pym and he further demonstrates his vast intellect with this brilliant plan...
Pym: The ant hill! Maybe I can hide in there! It's my only chance!!
Linkara: Of course! Go towards the place that all the ants are coming from! They won't see it coming!
(Cut to a clip of Patton)
Patton (George C. Scott): (looking out through a pair of binoculars) You magnificent bastard, I read your BOOK!
(Cut back to the comic)
Linkara (v/o): And so he crawls into the ant tunnels, somehow able to figure out where he's going, despite the lack of light in such a place, and falls into a pit of honey. He gets stuck in the honey, but an ant comes towards him and very nicely pulls him free of it.
(Cut to a clip of an episode of Look Around You)
Narrator: Thanks, ants. Thants.
(Back to the comic again)
Pym: He did it! He freed me! And now he's letting me go! He doesn't want to harm me!
Linkara: So... does that mean that Hank Pym is the Beastmaster?
Linkara (v/o): The remaining ants launch an attack, and he suddenly spots a matchstick standing up in the honey.
Pym: A matchstick! They must have brought it here when they built this ant hill!
Linkara: Ah, yes, no doubt to light the queen's birthday cake. (shrugs)
Linkara (v/o): He manages to grab a small pebble and toss it at the matchstick, which, instead of just knocking it over, manages to strike it in the right way to light it up. This somehow lights the entire tunnel ablaze, though beats the hell out of me how. Maybe there's actually a lot of methane in the ant colonies. Go figure.
Pym: The fire will keep the ants at bay--long enough for me to use this makeshift lasso!
Linkara: (as Pym) It's a good thing I also used the serum on this lasso, which I have now pulled right out of my ass!
Linkara (v/o): He climbs up the tunnels and finds another ant waiting for him. It grabs him in its rather furry mandibles.
Pym: Uhhh--strong--too strong for me! But I have one advantage! A human brain...
Linkara: (as Pym) A human brain that is making me talk while I get scissored in half!
Pym: A human brain... which has learned the art of judo!
Linkara: So, this is a story where a shrunken scientist used judo to throw an ant off a cliff. Dear Lord, I love comic books!
Linkara (v/o): He crawls out of the anthill and spots the enlarging serum just kind of hanging out of his window, but he can't climb the wall to reach it. The ants are upon him again, but Hank is able to recognize one of the ants as the one who saved him earlier. I'm not exactly sure how the hell he recognizes it any differently than the other ants, but whatever.
Pym: If I point to the window ledge, perhaps he'll sense my meaning!
Linkara: (as ant) Yes, human, I understand! You wish to mate with me on that window ledge!
Linkara (v/o): And yep, the ant understands and lets Hank crawl on its back, letting him go up to the side of the wall and onto the ledge, where a test tube sits with the growth formula. He splashes it on himself and he starts growing, presumably shattering the test tube in the process.
Pym: I-I'm growing!! I'm getting bigger and bigger!!
Linkara: Insert your own jokes here about penises. I know you all want to.
Pym: I'm normal again!! I'm a man again!
Linkara: (looking to his left) I AM A MAN!!
(As usual, he reaches out and punches offscreen)
Dr. Linksano: (offscreen) OW! Who punched me in the face?!
Linkara: (calling out) It was 90s Kid!
Pym: And now the first thing I must do is destroy these growth potions!! They're far too dangerous to ever be used by any human again!
Linkara: Dangerous? They're only dangerous when idiots like you splash them on yourselves!
Linkara (v/o): And why aren't the serums affecting the sink? It made the chair shrink just fine, so why not the sink? The next time that the scientists meet, Hank Pym tells them the experiment's failed.
Pym: They were just a foolish waste of time! From now on I'll stick to practical projects!
Linkara: (as Pym) Projects like that rocket-powered hamster or the salt shaker that's also an MP3 player.
Linkara (v/o): And so, our comic ends with Hank Pym staring down at the anthill.
Narrator: Never again did Henry Pym knowingly step on an ant hill! For he knew that somewhere beneath him, unknown and unrecognized, was one little insect-- one small ant to whom he owed his very life!
Linkara: How cool would it be to have a buddy-cop show where it's Hank Pym and an ant?
Linkara (v/o): So, what happened to make him a superhero? Well, in "Tales to Astonish #35", we saw what happened next. A few weeks later, he decided that the discovery should not fall into nothingness and made the serum again! Except, he stored it in a vault for safekeeping and thus kept it a secret, so it might as well have fallen into nothingness. Being a science major, Hank Pym studied ants thoroughly, figuring out how to tune in on their communication wavelengths to "talk" to them via a special helmet, while also, the superhero outfit is a protective suit from stings or bites. And then he invents a radiation-proof formula that Communists try to steal, he becomes Ant-Man, takes over the ant colony by beating up a stronger worker and a beetle, and then uses the ants to defeat the Commies. (beat) As you do.
Linkara: (holds up comic) This origin is... (shrugs) kinda nifty.
Linkara (v/o): Admittedly, Hank Pym is an utter idiot for not testing it on a rabbit or something first, but maybe it was an accident and the shrinking occurred much slower on inanimate objects, so he didn't realize he'd shrink so fast, too. Still, nice basic story about a scientist doing science stuff, though I'm still curious why the ants helped him.
Linkara: Overall, kind of fun, and his first actual superhero adventure is kind of a hoot. Check him out. Though, next time, we stay in the science-fiction realm as we are reintroduced to another DC hero... (grins)
(End credits roll)
For that matter, why doesn't the growth/shrinking formula affect glass?
Sooo apparently the later-titled "Pym Particles" come in liquid form as opposed to being a science ray or something. You'd think the first idea would be to actually synthesize it further for use in various fields instead of just shoving it in a cabinet for superhero use.
But no, it's too dangerous to use. Stupid people might use it or something, much like how they'd already use things they shouldn't use.
(Stinger: A panel showing Hank Pym's helmet is shown)
Linkara (v/o): I love how in old comics like this, they actually bother to give us a diagram of how Hank Pym's helmet was designed, as if you really needed one as if you really needed one after the dude BENCH-PRESSES AN ANT!!
(end)
Atop the Fourth Wall Transcripts
|
2008:
|
Spider-Man 56 · Doom's IV 2 · Batman 147 · The Top 15 WTF Moments in Comics · Titans 1 · Sinnamon 11 · US-1 1 · S.C.I. Spy 1 · Superman At Earth's End
|
2009:
|
Godzilla Vs. Barkley · Uncanny X-Men 423 · Uncanny X-Men 424 · Mr. T and the T-Force 1 · Star Trek comic 1 · Newmen 1 · NFL Superpro 1 · Neutro 1 · Amazons Attack Prologue · Amazons Attack 1 and 2 · Amazons Attack 3 and 4 · Amazons Attack 5 and 6 · Sultry Teenage Super-Foxes 1 · Top 15 Worst Heroes Becoming Villains · Daredevil 305 · Daredevil 306 · Blue Beetle Tribute · World of Warcraft 2 and 3 · Captain Planet and the Planeteers 3 · Wolverine: Adamantium Rage · Youngblood 1 · New Guardians 2 · The Marriage of Hercules and Xena · Secret Defenders 9 · Secret Defenders 10 · Superman vs Terminator 1 · Countdown Prologue · Countdown Part 1 · Countdown Part 2 · Top 15 Worst Moments of Countdown · Xena 1 · Cable 1 · Law and Order 1 · Batman: Fortunate Son · Air Raiders 1 · Nightcat 1 · Zero Patrol 1 · Blood Pack 1 · Mickey Mantle 2 · Adventures of the Kool-Aid Man 1 · Silent Hill: Dying Inside 1 and 2 · Silent Hill: Dying Inside 3 and 4 · Silent Hill: Dying Inside 5 · Maximum Clonage · 22 Brides 1 · All-Star Batman and Robin 1 and 2 · Doom 1 · Spider-Man, Storm and Cage · Bimbos in Time · The Dark Knight Strikes Again Part 1 · Extreme Super Christmas Special 1 · James Bond, Jr. 3 · Top 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W
|
2010:
|
Pitt 1 · Scarlett comic 1 · Future Five 1 · Ultimates 3 1 and 2 · Ultimates 3 3 and 4 · Ultimates 3 5 · Youngblood 2 · Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers 1 · Strange Adventures 136 · Doom's IV 1/2 · X-Men comic 1 · Darker Image 1 · The Dark Knight Strikes Again Part 2 · Sultry Teenage Super-Foxes 2 · Star Trek/X-Men 1 · Athena 1 · JLA - Act of God Part 1 · JLA - Act of God Part 2 · JLA - Act of God Part 3 · Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Meet Archie · Lunatik 1 · Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos 1 · AT4W & Spoony: Experiment Warrior 2-3 · The Dark Knight Strikes Again Part 3 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: Fit to Win · Anita Blake: The Laughing Corpse 1-2 · Freak Force 1 · Chain Gang War 1 · Ewoks 9 · Cable 2 · The California Raisins 3-D 2 · Hardcore Station 1 · The Others 1 and Brute Force 1 · Amazing Spider-Man: Skating on Thin Ice 1 · Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force · Action Comics 592 · Action Comics 593 · Top 15 Comics I'll Never Review · 100th Episode · Nolan Ryan 1 · Transformers comics 4-5 · Silent Hill: Dead/Alive 1 and 2 · Silent Hill: Dead/Alive 3 and 4 · Silent Hill: Dead/Alive 5 · Spider-Man: The Greatest Responsibility · Action Comics 1 · Amazing Fantasy 15 · Detective Comics 27 · The X-Men 1 · Brute Force 2 · New Kids on the Block 4 · Marvel Team Up 127 · Santa Claus Conquers the Martians · Top 15 Screw-Ups of Atop the Fourth Wall
|
2011:
|
Justice League: Cry for Justice 1-2 · Justice League: Cry for Justice 3-4 · Power Rangers Zeo 1 · Justice League: Cry for Justice 5-7 · Care Bears 13 · Superman: Distant Fires · Youngblood 3 · Doctor Who Classics 7 · Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four in... Brain Drain! · KISS Comics · Superman and Wonder Woman: Tandy Computer Whiz Kids · Spawn 1 · X-Force 1 · The Backstreet Project 1 · All-Star Batman and Robin 3 and 4 · Lady Gaga 1 · Star Trek: The Motion Picture 1-3 · The Godyssey 1 · Superman Meets the Quik Bunny · Ultimate Warrior's Workout · Ultimatum 1-2 · Ultimatum 3-4 · Ultimatum 5 · SCI-Spy 2 · Miller Time: Batman/Spawn · Gameboy 1 · Eminem and the Punisher 1 · Barbi Twin Adventures 1 · Rise of Arsenal 1-2 · Rise of Arsenal 3-4 · Comic Book Advertisements · Star Trek 2 (Gold Key) · PSA Hell: Captain America: Return of the Asthma Monster! · NBComics 1 · Mightily Murdered Power Ringers 1 · Kamandi at Earth's End 1 · US-1 2 · Twilight Zone 9 · Superman and the TRS-80 Whiz Kids: The Computers that Saved Metropolis! · Street Fighter 1 (Malibu) · Silent Hill: Paint It Black · Silent Hill: Among the Damned · Silent Hill: The Grinning Man · Spider-Man: Planet of the Symbiotes · Pokémon - The Electric Tale of Pikachu · All-Star Comics 8 · The Fantastic Four 1 · All-American Comics 16 · Captain America Comics 1 · Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan 1 · Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan 2 · Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan 3 · Top 15 Personal Favorite Jokes of AT4W
|
2012:
|
Marville 1 · Miller Time: Robocop vs. the Terminator 1 · Brute Force 3 · 15 Things That Are Wrong With Identity Crisis · New Guardians 1 · Gameboy 2 · Youngblood 4 · Star Trek III: The Search for Spock · Mr. T 1 (AP Comics) · Mr. T 2 · The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge! · The Invincible Four of Kung-Fu & Ninja 1 · Kamandi at Earth's End 2 · Black Web 1 · Transformers: Generation 2 1 · Captain Tax Time 1 · Superman 701 · Bloodstrike 1 · Marville 2 · The Amazing Spider-Man on Bullying Prevention 1 · The New Teen Titans Anti-Drug Giveaway 1 · Daredevil vs Vapora 1 · Batman: A Word to the Wise · Marvel Team-Up 74 · Blake's 7 2 · Battle for Bludhaven 1-2 · Battle for Bludhaven 3-4 · Battle for Bludhaven 5-6 · Sir Charles Barkley and the Referee Murders · Captain Electron 1 · Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home · 200th Episode · Rock 'N Roll 31 · Future Shock 1 · Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham 1 · Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham 2 · Psychoman 1 · Marville 3 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: The Answer to a Riddle · Batman: Jazz 1 · Starstream 1 · The Thing From Another World 1 · The Thing From Another World 2 · Spider-Man: Power and Responsibility · Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror 2 · Flash Comics 1 · Tales of Suspense 39 · The Brave and the Bold 54 · The Incredible Hulk 1 · Superman's Christmas Adventure · Archie Giant Series Magazine 452 · Teen Titans 13: A Swingin' Christmas Carol · Batman: Noel · The Next 15 Screw-Ups of Atop the Fourth Wall
|
2013:
|
Kamandi at Earth's End 3 · Raver 1 · Transformers 31 · Happy Days 2 · All-Star Batman and Robin 5 · Youngblood 5 · Star Wars 3-D 1 · Marville #4 · Titans Retrospective: Team History · Titans Retrospective: JLA/Titans: The Technis Imperative · Titans Retrospective: Titans 1-25 · Titans Retrospective: Titans 26-50 · Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster · Power Pachyderms 1 · Star Trek V: The Final Frontier · Dragnet 4 · Wild Thing 1 · Spider-Man 2099 1 · Punisher 2099 1 · Doom 2099 1 · Ravage 2099 1 · Comic Book Quickies 1 · Kamandi at Earth's End 4 · SCI-Spy 3 · Star Trek: The Next Generation/X-Men 1 · Mr. T and the T-Force 2 · Miller Time: All-Star Batman and Robin 6 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: A Deadly Choice · Battlestar Galactica: Journey's End 1 · Marville 5 · Miller Time: Tales to Offend 1 · The Culling: Teen Titans Annual 1 · The Culling: Superboy 9 · The Culling: Legion Lost 9 · The Culling: Teen Titans 9 · Plan 9 From Outer Space: 30 Years Later 1 · Brute Force 4 · Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country · SCI-Spy 4 · The Thing From Another World: Climate of Fear 1-2 · The Thing From Another World: Climate of Fear 3-4 · Spider-Man: Crossfire · 2001: A Space Odyssey 1 · Showcase 4 · Tales to Astonish 27 · Showcase 22 · Journey into Mystery 83 · The Punisher: Silent Night 1 · Solson Christmas Special featuring Samurai Santa 1 · Star Trek: The Next Generation 2 · Doctor Who Classic Comics 15 · The Next 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W
|
2014:
|
Marville 6-7 · Comic Book Quickies 2 · Miller Time: All-Star Batman and Robin 7 · Preparedness 101: A Zombie Pandemic · Gameboy 3 · US-1 3 · Youngblood 6 · Star Trek: Generations · The A-Team 1 · The Wild 1 · Kamandi at Earth's End 5 · Nova Girls: Kissing Canvas · Avengers 200 · SCI-Spy 5 · Red Hood and the Outlaws 1 · Athena 2 · Bill and Ted's Excellent Comic Book 1 · Zolastraya and the Bard 1 · PSA Hell: Superman: For the Animals 1 · Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos 2 · Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie 1 · Speed Steer 5 · Batman: Jazz 2 · 2001: A Space Odyssey 2 · Comic Book Quickies 3 · 300th Episode · 300th Episode: Part 2 · 300th Episode: Part 3 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 1 · Batman: Shadow of the Bat 56 · Sinnamon 1 · US-1 4 · The Adventures of Jell-O Man and Wobbly 1 · Miller Time: All-Star Batman and Robin 8 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: The Computer That Said No to Drugs · Marvel Super Special 17 · SCI-Spy 6 · Kamandi at Earth's End 6 · Sonic Super Special 7 · Star Trek: First Contact · Cosmic Slam 1 · The Thing from Another World: Eternal Vows 1-2 · The Thing from Another World: Eternal Vows 3-4 · The Thing from Another World: Questionable Research · Spider-Man: The Trial of Peter Parker · Whiz Comics 2 · Tales to Astonish 44 · Detective Comics 38 · The Avengers 1 · The Hobbit 1 · The Hobbit 2 · The Hobbit 3 · Santa the Barbarian 1 · Top 15 Worst Comics I've Reviewed
|
2015:
|
Miller Time: All-Star Batman and Robin 9 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 2 · Trouble 1 · Comic Book Quickies 4 · PSA Hell: Energy and Safety with the Justice League · Youngblood 7 · ROMTROSPECTIVE: ROM Spaceknight 1-40 · ROMTROSPECTIVE: ROM Spaceknight 41-75 · The Star Wars 1 · Batman: Jazz 3 · Mr. T and the T-Force 3 · Big Bang Presents 3: Protoplasman! · Crimson 1 · Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (RPG Game) · Titans: Scissors, Paper, Stone · PSA Hell: Batman: Shadow of the Bat 57 · Comic Book Quickies 5 · Avengers Assemble Featuring Captain Citrus 1 · Doctor Who/Star Trek: The Next Generation: Assimilation Squared · My Cage · The Punisher 60 · The Punisher 61 & 62 · Steam Wars · Ultimate Power 1-2 · Homestuck, Act 1 · Atomic Robo, Vol. 3 · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Superman · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Batman · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Wonder Woman · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating The Flash · Zyuranger Episodes 17-22 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: The Computer Trap · Trouble 2 · Pokémon Reburst, Chapter 1 · Green Lantern 23.1 · Team Youngblood 1 · US-1 5 · The Star Wars 2 · Power Man and Iron Fist 79 · Nightmares on Elm Street 1-2 · Nightmares on Elm Street 3-4 · Nightmares on Elm Street 5-6 · Spider-Man: Virtual Mortality · More Fun Comics 73 · Daredevil 1 · Action Comics 252 · Tales of Suspense 52 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 1 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 2 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 3 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 4 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 5 · Deadpool Bi-Annual 1 · Cho Dengeki Stryker · Zombies Christmas Carol 1-3 · Zombies Christmas Carol 4-5 · Another 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W
|
2016:
|
NFL SuperPro Special Edition 1 · Popeye: Borned to the Sea 1 · OnStar Batman Auto Show Special Edition 1 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 3 · The Star Wars 3 · Youngblood 8 · All-Star Batman and Robin 10 · Pokémon Adventures Ch. 1-2 · Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Episodes 1-5 · Blue-Skying, Part 1: Blue Beetle Dan Garrett · Blue-Skying, Part 2: Blue Beetle Ted Kord · Blue-Skying, Part 3: Blue Beetle Jaime Reyes · Blue-Skying, Part 4: Blue Beetle Jaime Reyes New 52 · Star Trek Special: Flesh and Stone · Blackest Night 1-8 · Dart 1 · Batman: Shadow of the Bat 58 · The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky · Ultimate Power 3 · Star Trek: The Next Generation 3 · Comic Book Quickies 6 · 400th Episode · 400th Episode: Part 2 · Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man · Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day 1 · Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day 2 · Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day 3 · 15 Things Wrong With Marvel's Civil War · Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 1 · The Minister of Chance · US-1 6 · Star Trek: Voyager 1 · Unsounded, Chapter 1 · Biggles and the Menace from Space · Batman and Robin: The Official Comic Adaptation · Superman and the TRS-80 Computer Whiz Kids: Victory by Computer · Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War · My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic 27-28 · Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Ch. 1 · Pryde of the X-Men · A Nightmare on Elm Street: Paranoid 1 · A Nightmare on Elm Street: Paranoid 2 · A Nightmare on Elm Street: Paranoid 3 · Spider-Man: Cyberwar · The Real Ghostbusters in Ghostbusters II 1-3 · Strange Tales 110 · More Fun Comics 73: Aquaman · Tales of Suspense 57 · All-Star Comics 3 · My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic 2015 Holiday Special · Ghostbusters: Past, Present, and Future · Elvira's House of Mystery Special 1 · Another 15 Screw-Ups of AT4W
|
2017:
|
Digimon: Digital Monsters 1 · Phonogram: The Immaterial Girl 1-6 · Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 · Trouble 3 · The Star Wars 4 · Spectacular Spider-Man Episode 1x10 - "Persona" · Youngblood 9 · The A-Team 2 · The Batman/Superman Movie: World's Finest · See You Next Mirror: Exiles Retrospective, Part 1 · See You Next Mirror: Exiles Retrospective, Part 2 · Reagan's Raiders 1 · Fist of the North Star, Ch. 1 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 4 · Iron Man: The Animated Series - The Wedding of Iron Man · Athena 3 · Batman: The Dark Knight 1-3 · The New Teen Titans Anti-Drug Giveaway 2 · Crisis on Infinite Earths · Secret Wars (1984) · The Infinity Gauntlet · Flashpoint · Babylon 5 1 · The Star Wars 5 · All-New Ghost Rider, Volume 2 · Robocop vs. the Terminator 2 · Superman vs. the Terminator 2 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: News By Computer Foils Kidnappers · Ultimate Power 4 · Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 1 · Batman: Odyssey 1 · Asterix: The Legionary · Comic Book Quickies 7 · JoJo's Bizarre Adventures Episodes 1-4 (2012-2013 series) · Thunderbirds Are Go · Batman: The Official Movie Adaptation · Ultimate Iron Man Vol. 1 1-2 · My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic 11-12 · Stormwatch 0 · A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Beginning 1-2 · A Nightmare on Elm Street: Fearbook · New Line Cinema's Tales of Horror 1 · The Sensational Spider-Man 0 · Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash · Marvel Comics 1 · Brave and the Bold 28 · Kamen Rider Fourze Episodes 1-4 · Clive Barker's Hellraiser Dark Holiday Special · Sensation Comics 14: The Story of Fir Balsam · Steam Wars Holiday Special · Christmas with the Superheroes 2
|
2018:
|
My Top 15 Favorite Episodes of AT4W · Legion of Superheroes: The Great Darkness Saga · James Bond, Jr. 1 · JLA/Avengers · Homestuck, Act 2 · Isaac Asimov's I-Bots 1 · Thunderstrike 1 · Youngblood 10 · Badrock 1A · Event Comics Month II: Infinite Crisis · Event Comics Month II: Infinity War · Event Comics Month II: World War Hulk · Event Comics Month II: Final Crisis · Power Rangers Turbo vs. Beetleborgs Metallix 1 · Diesel 1 · Teen Titans: "Betrayal" and "Aftershock, Parts 1 and 2" · The Punisher: Purgatory · Comic Book Quickies 8 · 500th Episode · Dark Knight III: The Master Race 1-2 · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Green Lantern · The New Guardians 3 · US-1 7 · Nova Girls: Space 34-24-34 · Batman: Odyssey 2 · Star Wars 3-D 2 · Pokémon - The Electric Tale of Pikachu 3 · PSA Hell: Captain America Meets the Asthma Monster · Superman and Spider-Man · Amazing Cow Heroes 4: Cold Cuts · Ravage 2099 2 · Adventures of the Kool-Aid Man 2 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: Safeguarding the Environment · Mr. T and the T-Force 4 · Star Trek 2 (DC) · Star Trek (2009): The Official Motion Picture Adaptation · Star Trek: The Next Generation 4 · Star Trek 1 (Gold Key) · Silent Hill: Hunger · The Thing: The Northern Nightmare · Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash: The Nightmare Warriors · Spider-Man: Smoke and Mirrors · Hellraiser: Hell on Earth · Fantastic Four 52 · Marvel Comics 1 (The Human Torch) · The Incredible Hulk 181 · The New Mutants 98 · Batman Returns: The Official Comic Adaptation · The Punisher: Red X-Mas · Star Wars: The Force Awakens Comic Adaptation · Luke Cage, Hero for Hire 7
|
2019:
|
Yet Another 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 5 · Batman/Aliens 1 · Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel · Pokémon 15x19-20 "Cilan Takes Flight" and "An Amazing Aerial Battle" · Tomb Raider Vol. 3: Queen of Serpents · Little Victory: Chimera 1 · Youngblood 0 · Kickers, Inc. 1 · The Savage Dragon 1 · Darkwing Duck 1-4 · The California Raisins 3-D 5 · Hellstar Remina, Ch. 1-3 · Gallery of Horrors · Batman: The Dark Knight 16-17 · Tremors · Ultimate Power 5-6 · Batman Forever: The Official Comic Adaptation · Street Fighter: The Official Comic Adaptation · Catwoman: The Official Comic Adaptation · Dune: The Official Comic Adaptation · Superman IV: The Quest for Peace Movie Special · Justice is Silent: Cassandra Caintrospective, Part 1 · Justice is Silent: Cassandra Caintrospective, Part 2 · Justice is Silent: Cassandra Caintrospective, Part 3 · US-1 8 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: Community Action Program · Captain America Goes to War Against Drugs · Comic Book Swimsuit Issues · Batman 45-47: The Gift · Star Trek: The Next Generation 5 · The A-Team 3 · JoJo's Bizarre Adventures Episodes 5-9 · Trouble 4 · Franken Fran, Ch. 1 and 4 · Youngblood: Judgment Day · Teen Titans 27-28 · Clive Barker's Hellraiser 1 · Clive Barker's Hellraiser Summer Special · Clive Barker's Hellraiser Spring Slaughter · Spider-Man: The Exile Returns · Detective Comics 225 (Martian Manhunter) · Batman: Harley Quinn 1 · DC Comics Presents 26 · The Flash 123 · Evil Dead 2: A Merry Deadmite X-Mas · Transformers (UK) 145 · The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold 14 · Star Wars: The Last Jedi Comic Adaptation
|
2020:
|
Top 15 Dumbest Evil Plans of AT4W · Batman/Aliens 2 · Star vs. the Forces of Evil: Deep Trouble 1-4 · Megamind · Revolution · Superman vs. Muhammad Ali · Hellstar Remina, Ch. 4-6 · Youngblood: Strikefile 1 · Comic Book Quickies 9 · Black Panther, Vol. 4 1-6 · Batman: Odyssey 3 · Justice League/Mighty Morphin Power Rangers · The Champions, Vol. 3 1-4: Beat the Devil · Star Trek vs. Transformers · Athena 4 · Daredevil: Born Again · Action Comics 775 · Comic Book Quickies 10 · 600th Episode · Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Comic Adaptation · Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Comic Adaptation · Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Comic Adaptation · Star Wars: Rogue One Comic Adaptation · DC Challenge! 1 · Kyoryu Sentai Zyurangers Episodes 40-43 · Trouble 5 · Dan Dare: Voyage to Venus · Superman 358 · Zero Hour: Crisis in Time · House of M · Secret Empire · Heroes in Crisis · Animax 1 · Ninjutsu 1-2 · Green Goblin 1-2, 4, 8, 12-13 · US-1 9 · Emergency! 1 · Mr. T and the T-Force 5 · Pinhead 1-3 · Pinhead 4-6 · Pinhead vs. Marshal Law · Spider-Man: Web of Life · Marvel Super-Heroes 12 (Captain Marvel) · The Flash 110 · The Amazing Spider-Man 129 · Awesome Comics Holiday Special · Transformers (UK) 41 · Solo: A Star Wars Story Comic Adaptation
|
2021:
|
Yet Another 15 Screw-Ups of AT4W · Star Trek Book and Record Set: Dinosaur Planet · DC Challenge! 2 · The Mighty Heroes 1 · Justice League 1x01-3: Secret Origins · The Star Wars 6 · The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Ep. 1-4 · Youngblood: Strikefile 2 · Pokémon 15×01-02: "Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader" & "Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym" · Stanley and his Monster 1-4 · Marvel Than Meets the Eye: The Transformers 1-40 · Marvel Than Meets the Eye: Transformers 41-80 · Marvel Than Meets the Eye: Generation 2 and Regeneration One · Star Trek 9 (Gold Key) · Star Trek/Legion of Superheroes · Mystery Science Theater 3000 1 · Batman: The Dark Knight Returns · Ultimate Power 7-8 · Batman: The Dark Knight 23.4 · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Aquaman · Sword Interval: Flashback Arc · PSA Hell: The Amazing Spider-Man: Riot at Robotworld · Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Ultimate Edition) · Transformers/Ghostbusters: Ghosts of Cybertron · The New Guardians 4 · Codename: Ninja 1 · Batman: Hush · Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Ep. 15-16 · Mr. T and the T-Force 6 · Doom’s IV 1 · Batman and Elmer Fudd & Catwoman and Sylvester and Tweety · Batman: Odyssey 4 · The Dresden Files: Storm Front, Vol. 1 · US-1 10 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 6 · DC Challenge! 3 · Marvel Super Special 1: KISS · The Ring, Vol. 1 · The Ring, Vol. 2 · Spider-Man: Web of Death · Detective Comics 359 · The X-Men 4 · Batman 1 · Spider-Man Holiday Special 1995 · The Adventures of Chrissie Claus 1 · Christmas Quickies 1 · Still Another 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W
|
2022:
|
Ultimate Power 9 · The Adventures of Superboy 3x05-06 and 4x07-08 · Batman: The Killing Joke Adaptation · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the JLA · Chew: Poyo Character Focus · Youngblood: Strikefile 3 · Doctor Who: Logopolis · Armageddon 2001 · Secret Invasion · Civil War II · Dark Nights: Metal · The Star Wars 7 · Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle and Whisper · Star Trek: The Next Generation/X-Men: Planet X · Stargate SG-1: P.O.W. · Man of Steel · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 7 · Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Episodes 17-21 · US-1 11 · X-Men Green · Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage · DC Challenge! 4 · Comic Book Quickies 11 · 700th Episode · Ken Penders' The Lost Ones 1 · Star Wars Infinities: A New Hope · Transformers: Deviations · Legion of Superheroes 0 and Legionnaires 0 · Mr. T and the T-Force 7 · The Ring, Vol. 3: Spiral · The Ring, Vol. 4: Birthday · Spider-Man: Funeral for an Octopus · Christmas Quickies 2 · Batman 27: A Christmas Peril · Mr. T and Emmanuel Lewis in A Christmas Dream · Top 15 Goofiest Superheroes of Atop the Fourth Wall
|
2023:
|
Star Wars: A New Hope Comic Adaptation · Marvelman Family's Finest 1 · Superman vs. Aliens 1 · Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney · Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits · Youngblood: Strikefile 4 · What Dreams May Come, Part 1: The Sandman 1-20 · What Dreams May Come, Part 2: The Sandman 21-40 · What Dreams May Come, Part 3: The Sandman 41-60 · What Dreams May Come, Part 4: The Sandman 61-75 · Animax 2 · The Dome: Ground Zero · Action Comics 1 (Non-Superman Stories) · Transformers (UK) 132-134 · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Robin · Mr. T and the T-Force 8 · The Dresden Files: Storm Front, Vol. 2: Maelstrom · Captain Marvel: The Last Avenger · E-Robot, Ch. 1 · Overwatch: Legacy and Old Soldiers · Green Lantern: Emerald Twilight · Back to the Future: Who is Marty McFly? · Super Soldier 1 · Legends of the Dark Claw 1 · Spider-Boy 1 · Assassins 1 · DC Challenge! 5 · US-1 12 · The Star Wars 8 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 8 · The Ring, Vol 0: Birthday · Sadako at the End of the World · Spider-Man: The Mark of Kaine · Sadako-San and Sadako-Chan · Doctor Who: Remembrance of the Daleks · Doctor Who: The Klepton Parasites · Doctor Who: The Chimes of Midnight · Yu-Gi-Oh: Capsule Monsters Ep. 1-3 · Klaus 1-7
|
2024:
|
Still Another 15 Mistakes of AT4W · Batman vs. the Predator 1 · Ben 10 Ep. 1×01, 09, 13 · Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Ep. 14, 22-24 · Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Comic Adaptation · Sonic/Mega Man: Worlds Collide, Act 1
|
Specials:
|
AT4W 2009 Trailer · Linkara's Take on Watchmen · Watchmen Review · Theme Song Contest · The Spoony Experiment: Warrior #1 · Theme Song Contest Winner! · Blackest Night · Silent Hill: Dying Inside Trailer · Silent Hill Alternate Endings · AT4W & Spoony: Experiment Warrior 2-3 · October 2010 Trailer · Silent Hill: Dead/Alive Review Alternate Endings · The Live Show! · AT4W Story Recap · October 2011 Trailer · Return of AT4W Live! · Revenge of the AT4W Live! · Southland Tales · Curse of AT4W Live · House of AT4W Live! · Ghost of AT4W LIVE! · October 2012 Trailers · Bride of AT4W Live! · Son of AT4W Live! · Night of AT4W Live! · Day of AT4W Live! · Dawn of AT4W Live! · Land of AT4W Live! · Diary and Survival of AT4W Live! · Power of AT4W Live! · Midnight of AT4W Live! · Planet of AT4W LIVE! · Genesis of AT4W LIVE! · 300th Episode Livestream Recordings · Destiny of AT4W LIVE! · Resurrection of AT4W LIVE! · Revelation of AT4W Live! · Remembrance of AT4W LIVE! · The New 52 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 1 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 2 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 3 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 4 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 5
|