US-1 #1
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Released
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December 7th, 2008
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Running time
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15:20
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Tagline
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A realistic, hard-hitting exposé on the lives of truckers!
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Link
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(We see Linkara sitting on his futon)
Linkara: Marvel has a proud history of comics that are tie-ins to toys. Be they more well known like their Transformers comics, or obscure gems like Micronauts and ROM Spaceknight, in the 80's Marvel never shied away from a chance to make a comic about toys.
Linkara (VO): But not all such comics were quite as well thought of. Take for example Tyco's line of electronic trucks. That's pretty much all there is to say, a bunch of slot racer trucks.
Linkara: But then Tyco approached Marvel to do a tie-in comic for their trucks even though the trucks don't have a story. I mean the Transformers concept was simply and goofy but at least it made sense; two races of robots waging war and hiding on earth in disguise. At what point in the writing process did they go from slot car racers, to a truck driving super hero? Hopefully we'l find out, so lets dig in to US-1 #1.
Linkara (VO): The cover certainly fairs better than a lot of the schlock featured here. It has a very theatrical feel to it with the winds and rain storming around as well as our trucking protagonist striking a heroic pose. There's a sense of both mystery and tragedy behind the chrome-domed head here, and of course we'll see none of that in the actual hero. To finish it off there's a silhouetted villain on top of a cliff with his arms in the air as if he's responsible for the truck below him hurtling over the edge of the cliff. This cover does have two particular failures though. That logo is huge! it takes up almost a third of the cover, taking away room for anything else the artist could have included. Second, this tag-line; "High adventure trucking down the highway." I love how they give "trucking" its own huge font, trying to make the idea sitting in a truck and driving for days more exciting than it really is. "High adventure trucking down the highway and high adventure, plummeting to your doom." The book opens on an open stretch of freeway without any life featured.
Linkara: What a perfect metaphor for this book.
Linkara (VO): All of a sudden a cargo truck zooms past a sign that reads "US-1".
Linkara: So the book's actually about the freeway? (Gruff voice) Real stories of a deserted freeway. Hours of none-stop Nothing.
Linkara (VO): Racing past the sign the man the man driving the truck waves out of the window shouting the title of the issue. "US-1 Comin' at 'ya!"
Linkara: You know, I don't know much about trucker handles but it seems kind of stupid to name yourself after a freeway and to even paint your truck so it resembles the sign. As a super hero name it makes even less sense, did he get bitten by a radioactive freeway sign?
Linkara (VO): Turning the page we are introduced to our narrator, oh dear lord, please kill me now. The only thing more annoying than a pretentious, melodramatic narrator is an actual character who tells the story. Said Narrator, a beefy, cigar smoking, overalls and salmon colored T-shirt wearing trucker, introduced himself.
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) Hi there, I'm Ed Wheeler.
Linkara (VO): Huh, so that's what happened to Wheeler from Captain Planet.
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) Maybe you know me better as "Poppa Wheelie"
Linkara (VO): So what, did he make his 18-wheeler stand upright? No wonder he's doing narration for a job now.
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) That's the name they hung on me when I was tearin' up the quarter mile - drag racin' at tracks all over the country some years back. I was sort of a hero to some people back then.
Linkara: Drag racing; the noblest of professions.
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) But these days, a lot of people seem to think that the only heroes are folks who dress up in tights and wear a cape. Well that's not all there is to it.
Linkara: Yeah, these days heroes have to make a deal with the devil.
(Cover of Spiderman: One More Day. With the caption: No I'm not over this yet.)
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) Take the young fella driving that truck, for instance.
Linkara: Why just last week he foiled two of Doctor Doom's plans before angsting about his girlfriend.
Linkara (VO): He talks about the guy in the truck, who is named Ulysses Solomon Archer, or US for short.
Linkara: Get it?
Linkara (VO): He goes on to say that he's pretty impressive just for going behind the wheel of that specific truck, but he says he'll explain that later.
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) You see the thing is that, for US, the wheels of fate have always been just that; wheels.
Linkara (VO): The problem is they're made by Firestone. Wheeler explains that US was always motivated by his desire to drive trucks.
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) Even back when he and his older brother Jefferson Hercules, used to stand alongside the highway and watch the big rigs rumble on by. (as
Linkara (VO): Hang on. Jefferson Hercules? Ulysses Solomon? Who the hell is naming these kids, Plutarch? After a brief scene where we meet US's trucker parents, said parents get killed off panel. Well thanks for letting us acclimate to those characters before they're lost. Anyway after the loss of such legendary truckers as...um...whoever US's parents were supposed to be, their fellow truckers dress up their vehicles in black and drive the longest funeral convoy Wheeler had ever seen.
Linkara: Pardon me for being insensitive, but don't any of these truckers have any hauling jobs they're supposed to be doing?
Linkara (VO): Wheeler and his wife adopt the two mythicaly named children and he comments -
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) The wheels of fate spun by a few uneventful years.
Linkara (VO): By the way this is the third time this guy has brought up "The wheels of fate." Apparently he's not a hero around these parts for his rich knowledge of metaphors.
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) And one of our boys grew into a man. The other one grew into a woman, we're still trying to figure that one out.
Linkara (VO): Jefferson Hercules grew into a truck driver himself. While US is irritated that he isn't allowed to do the same. Wheeler explains to him that with Jeff driving a rig, US can go to college as their parents had wanted. Now, get this, he graduates magna cum laude, he was the quarter back for the football team, and according to Wheeler had "Degrees in Computer program design, electronic engineering, all kindsa things."
Linkara: Let me get this straight. In addition to being the top position on a football team as well as meeting usually, very stringent, grade or project requirements necessary for magna cum laude, he has at least two computer science degrees? It's hard enough to try double majoring, but wheeler implies that he got MORE degrees. Either US is a friggin' cheater or this school has the most lax educational standards I've ever seen.
Linkara (VO): But apparently being the greatest human being alive isn't enough for US.
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) He still had that love of the road. Couldn't wait to join up with his brother and be a gypsy trucker.
Linkara (VO): Who knew the Roma had so many truckers?
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) All that speed and power wrapped in tons of steel ridin' underneath ya.
Linkara (VO): Dear lord, it sounds like he's talking about an adult toy.
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) Just thinking about it gives me a chill.
Linkara (VO): Yeah, thinking of you and such an object certainly gives me chills.
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) But nothing like the chill I get when I think to that night - the night of the accident.
Linkara (VO): Eww, truck accidents turn him on?
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) The headlights pushed at the wall of rain - but couldn't break through.
Linkara: Well in that case you should ju-
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) The wheels whined. Sounding more like the wheels of some dark fate than the wheels of any semi.
Linkara: Umm...Wheeler maybe you should stop with the wh-
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) The wipers beat a fast fiddle tempo in counter-point to the steady drumbeat of the rain.
Linkara: The narrator wouldn't shut his freaking mouth and get on with the story. Honestly, it would sound more natural if Brian Michael Bendis tried to recite Howel in his narrative captions.
Linkara (VO): Anyway, the two brothers are driving around in the melodramatic storm. The two are having yet another pointless argument about US wanting to drive trucks. This is, like, the third argument in a row, when did this guy find time to earn all those computer degrees if all he can think of is trucks? A black semi suddenly appears and starts running them off the road. Spotting the silhouette of its driver Jeff and exclaims "it's the Highwayman!"
Linkara: Damn you, R. A. Salvatore, what did truckers ever do to you?
Linkara (VO): Jeff, in his panic, has become a tower of sweat and the highwayman forces the truck off the road. To the shock and horror of us all, Wheeler starts talking about it some more!
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) Their Semi lurched out into space, seeming to hang suspended for a small eternity, framed by lightning.
Linkara (VO): Speaking of eternity.
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) Then the huge vehicle plummeted to the bottom of the cliff.
Linkara (VO): Why do we have narration that describes exactly what's happening in the panel? Did they think the readers had no concept in their, simple little, comic book reading brains, what a truck falling to its doom looks like? US has got to be the luckiest protagonist of all time, since he's thrown clear of the wreckage. Speaking of which, the wreckage is now ablaze. I guess they shouldn't have been hauling that shipment of oily rags and gunpowder. US is too injured to climb into the wreck to find his brother -well he's holding his head but has no other visible injuries to speak of but is coherent enough to speak clearly about it. The sound of laughter fills the canyon and US looks up to see The Highwayman himself. The villainous truck driver has a red cape, black jumpsuit and hair that stick up so much it would make Vegeta of Dragonball Z jealous. While standing in front of his demon minions The Highwayman pumps his fist into the air triumphantly.
Linkara: What kind of an evil plan is it to just run trucks off the road? I mean, what do you gain? Oooh, he's randomly killing people, that's such a nefarious and unique take on a villain. I think I'll be buying tons of those slot cars right now.
Linkara (VO): The demonic henchmen crawl down to the remains but it just explodes as they arrive. US blacks out and, somehow, an ambulance must have been passing by since we cut to one speeding along. This inspires our stalwart narrator to once again, use the "Wheels of fate" line. Hey! Here's an idea, how about carburetor of destiny, or cup-holder of divinity? At the hospital, Wheeler and his wife are informed by the doctor that US's skull has been shattered and that it's a miracle he survived. Okay, my suspension of disbelief at this point has been stretched past the limit. He's a genius, he can survive major truck accidents, including explosions, and now he survived a shattered skull. The doctor says there's an experimental procedure that could save his life, but it's risky.
Linkara: Oh my god! Do you think he might make it? Do you think he might die?
(Dramatic music plays over black screen with the caption; To Be Continued. Credits begin to roll before cutting back to Linkara.)
Linkara: Oh of course he's going to live. The man is made up of four-leaf clovers, rabbits feet, and horse shoes.
Linkara (VO): A team of doctors operate on US and actually replace the top half of his skull with "A new, experimental, alloy." There's a cutaway of this new skull and it looks more like a machine blueprint than an actual skull.
Linkara (VO): (as US) Well Jeff always used to say I was hard-headed...but this is ridiculous.
Linkara: Haha, oh it's good that he can joke after the death of his brother, the attempted murder and the literal chrome dome.
Linkara (VO): Later the police talk with US and inform him they can't find any evidence to support his story. Nor can they find Jeff's body. US, due to the coloring, looks like he has butter running down his nose. He stands by his story but the inspector thinks the bump on his head made him imagine the whole thing. So, what? He imagined the truck wreckage and the missing brother? He imagined the railings on the cliff side breaking off? Worst police inspector since Clouseau. US vows to get to the truth. Later he's back with Wheeler adn his wife at their home.
Linkara (VO): (as Wide Load) Be sure to eat all your green vegetables. Nothing better for a cracked skull than green vegetables.
Linkara (VO): Yeah, I'm sure I saw that on a medical poster somewhere. Wheeler interjects-
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator/Wheeler) Leave the boy alone Wide Load.
Linkara: Yes, I can see why their marriage has endured for so long.
Linkara (VO): US points out that he's been hearing a buzzing in his head since he got his new skull. The book explains that he's picking up CB radio broadcasts but personally I just think one of the doctors just left their cellphone in his brain. Wheeler wants to have the doctors fix it but US thinks having a CB radio in his head will be useful in tracking down The Highwayman. Wheeler agrees to finance a new rig for the task and they quickly get to work on the new truck, assembling it faster than an A-Team car-building montage.
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator/Wheeler) Over by you is a special weapons console. it swings around toward the driver's seat for easy access. It controls the oil-slick release, the tire-shredding shrapnel, bombs, the smoke screen and, of course, the ejector seat.
Linkara: How the hell is he paying for all this?
Linkara (VO): Seriously. Even if we accept that his computer training in college allowed for him to create something like all this, he doesn't have a job. Hell, the medical bills alone after The Highwayman incident should have bankrupted him. I suspect that Wheeler footed the bill, but he's supposed to be retired. None of these people do any work and yet somehow they're billionaires. I mean he's even got a radar, a homing device system and a weather satellite and all of this equipment flips into the dashboard to hide it. Is US actually batman or something? Are they shipping thousands of dollars of cocaine in their trucks? My brain is melting here! As if this budgetary madness wasn't already jaw dropping enough US unveils his latest masterpiece; Creating a remote control for the truck and storing it in a silver dollar.
Linkara: And next you'll be able to fit a gun into a - oh wait, I already made this joke.
Linkara (VO): Wheeler gives his support for US's activities, prompting, you guessed it, another "Wheels of fate" remark. On the main voyage of the rig, now dubbed US-1 a storm -
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) -as black as midnight just blew out of nowhere. A storm that must be an aweful lot like the one the boys drove through that night.
Linkara (VO): That's just a weird phrasing. It MUST be like that one, why? US nervously drives along the road. All of a sudden, a lightning bolt strikes the mountain, causing a rock slide toward him. US just barely manages to evade it, but not before his face melts AHHHHH.
(Shows image of US, poorly drawn and lit)
Linkara (VO): Well, actually that's just the artwork. US thinks that the rocks seemed to be aimed at him. So, waht, The Highwayman has control over lightning? Why the heck does he drive a truck then? On cue The Highwayman's laughter fills up the panels. Apparently among The Highwayman's powers is megaphone voice, otherwise how is he so loud he can be heard over the truck engines and rain? And so The Highwayman's black semi appears beside US-1 and thus begins our exciting trucker fight!
Linkara: More dueling, than Duel! More truck ramming action than Riding With Death.
(Shows clip of MST3K episode Riding With Death)
Linkara: Not since, Over The Top, has there been such trucking excitement.
(Clip of Over The Top)
Linkara (VO): So anyway, after a daring leap over a conveniently placed unfinished road, it looks like US is about to have the advantage. By the way, at no point during this fight does he use any of those fancy-pants weapons he installed. Talk about a waste of an investment. The two trucks approach a bridge but Wheeler is standing in front of it. How did he get there, was he Gandalf the grey in another life?
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator/Wheeler) You shall not pass unless you have the Wheels of Fate!
Linkara (VO): US forces the black rig up over an incline in the mountain and the momentum carries it over the edge of the cliff. Wheeler gives some lame excuse about walking up the road when the storm started up -Yeah, walk around in the dark and cold instead of in a car that makes perfect sense. The two look over the edge of the cliff but there is no sign of The Highwayman or the black rig. Since they didn't hear a crash they presume he survived. We end our comic with Wheeler's annoying narration.
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) Like I said; some folks think you need to wear tights and a cape to be a hero.
Linkara (VO): These people would be morons.
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) And some folks think you need to wear a mask and fly.
Linkara (VO): Yeah, and some people think Scientology is a legitimate religion, what's your point?
Linkara (VO): (as Narrator) But the truth of the matter is that sometimes to be a hero all you have to do is...drive a truck.
Linkara: Yes, because there's nothing more heroic than forcing another truck off the road to their doom in a bit of poetic justice. And furthermore, driving a truck is only qualifying factor for heroism. Although it certainly helps if you have a metal plate in your skull that picks up radio signals, a souped up semi, and and a genius level IQ. THIS COMIC SUCKS. Look, in the future, if you need a super hero whose theme involves trucks, just call Optimus Prime.
(Linkara drops comic and walks out of the screen. Credits play out to the tune of "Driving a truck with my high heels on" by Weird Al Yankovic. Credits are interrupted with more images from the comic and the Six Million Dollar Man theme.)
Linkara: Ulysses Archer; trucker. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. Luckier, blander, more generic.
Atop the Fourth Wall Transcripts
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2008:
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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
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2009:
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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
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2010:
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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
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2011:
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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
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2012:
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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
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2013:
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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
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2014:
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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
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2015:
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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
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2016:
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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
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2017:
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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
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2018:
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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
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2019:
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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
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2020:
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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
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2021:
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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
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2022:
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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
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2023:
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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
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2024:
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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
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Specials:
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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
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