Podcast
Not a Hoax! Not a Dream!
Hosted by Benjamin Rathbone · EN
...in every episode, a character dies! And...gets better. Listen along as we travel down the wormhole of countless deaths and resurrections spread out across comic book history!
Cover art includes art from Phoenix Resurrection Return Jean Grey #1 by Arthur Adams, Superman #75 by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding, Batman #681 by Tony S. Daniel, Sandu Florea, and Guy Major, House of M by Olivier Coipel, Tim Townsend, and Frank D'Armata.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 25: In This Episode, a Podcast Dies!
Jun 6, 202401:03:13Tap to summarizeNot a hoax, not a dream...in this episode, a podcast dies! The comics: Fantastic Four 51 (1966), and Fantastic Four: Full Circle (2022). Episode art from Fantastic Four 51 by Jack Kirby and company Patreon: patreon.com/notadreampod Website: brainstuffing.com Mastodon: @bookybookman@retro.pizza Twitter: @notadreampod Instagram: @notahoaxpod Email: notahoaxpod@gmail.com Further reading & references: Hand of Fire: The Comics Art of Jack Kirby by Charles Hatfield True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee by Abraham Riesman Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics by Tom Scioli I Am Stan: A Graphic Biography of the Legendary Stan Lee by Tom Scioli How Lee took credit for "This Man This Monster" by Chris Tolworthy The Myth of Superman by Umberto Eco American Comics, Literary Theory, and Religion by A. David Lewis Death, Disability, and the Superhero: The Silver Age and Beyond by Jose Alaniz Thanks to NowThis Nerd for their video "How to Kill Dopplegangers" Music: Big Boi Pants by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com - used with Creative Commons license Sound clips: All-Star Superman (2011), Justice League Unlimited (2004 - 2006), Batman Beyond (1999 - 2001), X-Men: The Animated Series (1992 - 1997), The Dark Knight (2008), Spider-Man (2002), Superman (1978), The Transformers: The Movie (1986), Justice League (2001 - 2004), Doom Patrol (2019 - ), WandaVision (2021), X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men (1989), Spider-Man (1981 - 1982), Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends (1981 - 1983), Jack Kirby on Entertainment Tonight (1982), and Earthwatch with Robert Knight featuring Jack Kirby & Stan Lee on Kirby's 70th birthday (1987). Clips and art used for purposes of research and criticism (Fair Use).
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Bonus 7 - The Sinister Six
Feb 14, 202400:08:43Tap to summarizeYes, it would have been nice if I made the 6th episode an episode on the Sinister Six. Yes, it is bothering me. CW: brief mentions of suicide and AIDS Twitter: @notadreampod Instagram: @notahoaxpod Email: notahoaxpod@gmail.com Patreon: patreon.com/notadreampod Mastodon: @bookybookman@retro.pizza Music: Big Boi Pants by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com - used with Creative Commons license Episode Art from the cover of Amazing Spider-Man 337, by Erik Larsen and Walt Simonson. Sound clips from All-Star Superman (2011), Justice League Unlimited (2004 - 2006), Batman Beyond (1999 - 2001), X-Men: The Animated Series (1992 - 1997), The Dark Knight (2008), Spider-man (2002), Superman (1978), The Transformers: The Movie (1986), Justice League (2001 - 2004), and Madame Web (2024). Clips and art used for purposes of research and criticism (Fair Use).
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Episode 24: Sandman (William "Flint Marko" Baker)
Dec 23, 202300:28:29Tap to summarizeNot a hoax, not a dream...in this episode, a character dies! And...gets better. Merry Christmas! My present to you: this episode. It's, uh, not holiday themed, really, except maybe in a It's A Wonderful Life kinda way as there's a story about retrospection and redemption. The comics: Amazing Spider-Man 4 (1963), Amazing Spider-Man 217 & 218 (1981), and Marvel Two-In-One 86 (1981). Episode art by Steve Ditko, from Spider-Man 4. Further reading & references: All of the Marvels by Douglas Wolk (talks about how early Spider-Man villains are corrupt father figures to Peter) Mysterious Travelers: Steve Ditko and the Search for a New Liberal Identity by Zack Kruse (yes, yes, I'm aware that Ditko was an Ayn Rand fan (ugh), but I don't go into it because this book muddles the popular conception of how this influenced his work) Patreon: patreon.com/notadreampod Mastodon: @bookybookman@retro.pizza Twitter: @notadreampod Instagram: @notahoaxpod Email: notahoaxpod@gmail.com Music: Big Boi Pants by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com - used with Creative Commons license Sound clips: All-Star Superman (2011), Justice League Unlimited (2004 - 2006), Batman Beyond (1999 - 2001), X-Men: The Animated Series (1992 - 1997), The Dark Knight (2008), Spider-Man (2002), Superman (1978), The Transformers: The Movie (1986), Justice League (2001 - 2004), Doom Patrol (2019 - ), WandaVision (2021), X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men (1989), Spider-Man (1981 - 1982), and Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends (1981 - 1983). Clips and art used for purposes of research and criticism (Fair Use).
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Episode 23: Doc Samson (Leonard Samson)
Nov 16, 202300:30:26Tap to summarizeNot a hoax, not a dream...in this episode, a character dies! And...gets better. It's the Season 3 Premiere! Whoo! Season 1 I found my voice. Season 2 was hopefully a solid sophomore showing. Season 3...well now it's going to get weird...like superhero psychiatrist / therapist named after a biblical figure who has hair related super strength weird. The comics: Incredible Hulk 141 (1971), Incredible Hulks 610 (2010), and Immortal Hulk 15 (2019). Episode art by Alex Ross, from the cover of Immortal Hulk 15. Patreon: patreon.com/notadreampod Mastodon: @bookybookman@retro.pizza Twitter: @notadreampod Instagram: @notahoaxpod Email: notahoaxpod@gmail.com Music: Big Boi Pants by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com - used with Creative Commons license Sound clips: All-Star Superman (2011), Justice League Unlimited (2004 - 2006), Batman Beyond (1999 - 2001), X-Men: The Animated Series (1992 - 1997), The Dark Knight (2008), Spider-man (2002), Superman (1978), The Transformers: The Movie (1986), Justice League (2001 - 2004), Doom Patrol (2019 - ), WandaVision (2021), X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men (1989), The Incredible Hulk (1978), and Marvel's Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. (2013). Clips and art used for purposes of research and criticism (Fair Use).
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Episode 22: Ghost Light (Al B. Harper)
May 31, 202300:34:58Tap to summarizeNot a hoax, not a dream...in this episode, a character dies! And...gets better. In the Season 2 Finale we cover a character who heroically sacrificed himself in a comic 50 years ago, but is back in 2023. The comics: Silver Surfer 5 (1969), and Silver Surfer Ghost Light 2 (2023). Episode art from Silver Surfer 5 by John Buscema & Sal Buscema, and from the cover of Silver Surfer Ghost Light 5 by Taurin Clarke. Patreon: patreon.com/notadreampod Mastodon: @bookybookman@retro.pizza Twitter: @notadreampod Instagram: @notahoaxpod Email: notahoaxpod@gmail.com Music: Big Boi Pants by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com - used with Creative Commons license Sound clips: All-Star Superman (2011), Justice League Unlimited (2004 - 2006), Batman Beyond (1999 - 2001), X-Men: The Animated Series (1992 - 1997), The Dark Knight (2008), Spider-man (2002), Superman (1978), The Transformers: The Movie (1986), Justice League (2001 - 2004), Doom Patrol (2019 - ), WandaVision (2021), X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men (1989), and Silver Surfer: The Animated Series (1998). Clips and art used for purposes of research and criticism (Fair Use).
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Episode 21: Red Hood (Jason Todd)
Mar 26, 202301:13:23Tap to summarizeFeaturing the Gotham Outsiders: A Batman Bookclub. Not a hoax, not a dream...in this episode, a character dies! And...gets better. How does a character hated by a large part of the fandom in the 80s resurrect into a beloved character in the new millennium? Join us and find out! The comics: Batman 408 (the one where Jason steals tires from the Batmobile), Batman 427 (A Death in the Family), and Batman 638 (Under the Red Hood). CW: brief mention of HIV, discussion of murder Episode Art reproduced from DC comics material. Further reading: https://www.cbr.com/barbara-gordon-killing-joke-oracle/ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/559268/batman-readers-voted-to-kill-robin https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/watch-former-batman-writer-jim-starlin-tells-us-how-robin-almost-died-of-aids Twitter: @notadreampod Instagram: @notahoaxpod Email: notahoaxpod@gmail.com Patreon: patreon.com/notadreampod Mastodon: @bookybookman@retro.pizza Music: Big Boi Pants by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com - used with Creative Commons license Sound clips: All-Star Superman (2011), Justice League Unlimited (2004 - 2006), Batman Beyond (1999 - 2001), X-Men: The Animated Series (1992 - 1997), The Dark Knight (2008), Spider-man (2002), Superman (1978), The Transformers: The Movie (1986), Justice League (2001 - 2004), Doom Patrol (2019 - ), WandaVision (2021), X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men (1989), and Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010). Clips and art used for purposes of research and criticism (Fair Use).
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Episode 20: The Watcher (Uatu)
Mar 3, 202300:04:09Tap to summarizeFind the FULL episode at patreon.com/notadreampod Featuring the Snack King Joe Koloski. Not a hoax, not a dream...in this episode, a character dies! And...gets better. Who watches the Watcher? We do! And man that guy is weird. We have thoughts. The comics: Fantastic Four 13, Original Sin 1, and Fantastic Four: Reckoning War Alpha 1. Twitter: @notadreampod Instagram: @notahoaxpod Email: notahoaxpod@gmail.com Patreon: patreon.com/notadreampod Mastodon: @bookybookman@retro.pizza Music: Big Boi Pants by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com - used with Creative Commons license Sound clips from All-Star Superman (2011), Justice League Unlimited (2004 - 2006), Batman Beyond (1999 - 2001), X-Men: The Animated Series (1992 - 1997), The Dark Knight (2008), Spider-man (2002), Superman (1978), The Transformers: The Movie (1986), Justice League (2001 - 2004), Doom Patrol (2019 - ), The Incredible Hulk (1966), Fantastic Four (1967), and The Super Hero Squad Show (2011). Episode Art from Fantastic Four 13, by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. Clips and art used for purposes of research and criticism (Fair Use).
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Bonus 6 - The X-Men meet the Teen Titans!
Feb 9, 202300:12:38Tap to summarizeThe title says it all! Twitter: @notadreampod Instagram: @notahoaxpod Email: notahoaxpod@gmail.com Patreon: patreon.com/notadreampod Mastodon: @bookybookman@retro.pizza Music: Big Boi Pants by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com - used with Creative Commons license Episode Art from the cover of Marvel and DC Presents The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans #1, by Walter Simonson. Sound clips from All-Star Superman (2011), Justice League Unlimited (2004 - 2006), Batman Beyond (1999 - 2001), X-Men: The Animated Series (1992 - 1997), The Dark Knight (2008), Spider-man (2002), Superman (1978), The Transformers: The Movie (1986), and Justice League (2001 - 2004). Clips and art used for purposes of research and criticism (Fair Use).
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Bonus 5 - Did the Flash come back to life in a Marvel comic?
Jan 5, 202300:12:09Tap to summarizeDon't google it! Just...listen to the episode. Twitter: @notadreampod Instagram: @notahoaxpod Email: notahoaxpod@gmail.com Patreon: patreon.com/notadreampod Mastodon: @bookybookman@retro.pizza Music: Big Boi Pants by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com - used with Creative Commons license Episode Art from the cover of Quasar 17, by Mike Manley. Sound clips from All-Star Superman (2011), Justice League Unlimited (2004 - 2006), Batman Beyond (1999 - 2001), X-Men: The Animated Series (1992 - 1997), The Dark Knight (2008), Spider-man (2002), Superman (1978), The Transformers: The Movie (1986), and Justice League (2001 - 2004). Clips and art used for purposes of research and criticism (Fair Use).
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Episode 19: Phoenix (Jean Grey)
Dec 8, 202201:10:37Tap to summarizeGuest featuring the SJW Comic Book Club! Not a hoax, not a dream...in this episode, a character dies! And…gets better. The Dark Phoenix is lauded as one of the best X-Men arcs, that ends with the death of Jean Grey. But that isn't the end of the story. One could say a story doesn't end until it ends in our hearts, or even that it doesn't end until three people record a podcast about it and I set it to publish tomorrow. The comics: X-Men #100 (1976), X-Men #137 (1980), and Fantastic Four #286 (1986). Twitter: @notadreampod Instagram: @notahoaxpod Email: notahoaxpod@gmail.com Patreon: patreon.com/notadreampod Music: Big Boi Pants by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com - used with Creative Commons license Sound clips from All-Star Superman (2011), Justice League Unlimited (2004 - 2006), Batman Beyond (1999 - 2001), X-Men: The Animated Series (1992 - 1997), The Dark Knight (2008), Spider-Man (2002), Superman (1978), The Transformers: The Movie (1986), Justice League (2001 - 2004), Doom Patrol (2019 - ), WandaVision (2021), X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men (1989), the Konami X-Men Arcade Game (1992), and the Feb 10, 2022 episode of Hot Ones with Sebastian Stan. Episode art by Dave Cockrum and Danny Crespi. Clips and art used for purposes of research and criticism (Fair Use).
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