Worst Collection Ever

Absolute Superman #1 (2025)We have reached the end of DC Absolute Universe Month as we talk about ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN!Absolute Superman dives mightily into the Kryptonian class structure and what it would be like to have brunch on Krypton. Kal’s parents are working-class citizens with interesting backstories, fixing space farming equipment and rightfully pointing out hazardous mining conditions. And somehow, in this first book we don’t see Krypton explode, only leak toxic gas that turns middle managers into Jonah Hex.Superman (Kal) is presently on Earth in Brazil, throwing diamond mining operations into disarray and fighting a horde of John Cenas. Also, his suit is ALIVE and it looks awesome and then Lois Lane arrests him.Also, Jen and Shawn discuss the latest WORLD’S FINEST book and how kids today are discovering older comics. Eclipso, anyone?*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:12:33 ***Promo: RESURRECTIONS: AN ADAM WARLOCK AND THANOS PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/resurrections-an-ad

Absolute Green Lantern #1 (2025)It is yet another entry in our DC Absolute Universe Month as we cover the horror-tinged — and possibly AMERICAN PIE-tinged — ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN.Green Lantern this time around is the Far Sector’s Jo Mullein and much like Absolute Batman, she is friends with her contemporaries such as toy collector slash architect Hal Jordan, local police chief Guy Gardner and the salad-loving John Stewart. However, friendship takes a backseat to a HUGE GL symbol-shaped Jello mold materializing in the middle of their quaint Nevada town. Traveling bikers are liquefied, weird sinister powers are bestowed and the illegitimate son of Metamorpho, Majin Buu and Goro is making life difficult for everyone.Also, Jen and Shawn chat about new Superman toys, bad X-Files episodes written by famous scribes and the time Baby Jessica fell down the well.*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:12:42 ***Promo: CAPES AND LUNATICS (https://open.spotify.com/show/6gcVNuoX3Si4I9FoFYTeC2?si=6b4d2b7e8d0b4ca

Absolute Wonder Woman #1 (2025)Absolute Month from DC Comics rolls along as we check out the immensely awesome ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN! There’s a lot to dig here because it’s basically Wonder Woman rubbing monster blood across her eyes and slaughtering assorted Hell demons and monsters that fly out of an upside down pyramid in the sky. If that’s not wild enough, Absolute WW was RAISED AS A CHILD in Hell by Circe and it looks downright cozy! We also need to stress that “Hell” is just an island somewhere that the Greek gods occasionally visit to foist babies onto reluctant witches. All this plus Mike Wazowski from MONSTERS INC visits the stygian abyss!Also, Jen and Shawn talk about the Ministry concert, recent comic book purchases and castles in the Adirondacks.*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:20:25 ***Promos: PEACE BOUND AND DOWN - A WONDER WOMAN PODCAST (https://fireandwaterpodcast.com/show/wonderwoman/)Continue the conversation with Shawn and Jen on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Threads / Blues

Absolute Batman #1 (2024)It is all about the Absolute this month as we check out some of the premiere issues of the Absolute Universe from DC Comics!We start off with the meaty thighs of ABSOLUTE BATMAN and his blue-collar origin story where Bruce is almost seven feet tall, Alfred is not his friend (yet) and Martha Wayne is STILL ALIVE! We also got possible squid people, Alfred with Paulie Walnuts hair, ears that turn into knives and baby tailors turned Doonesbury characters. All joking aside, this is a pretty sweet book and well worth your time.All this plus we share some gripes about how to read digital comics. Why does Amazon have to make it so difficult?*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:13:47 ***Promos: EARTH-2 PODCAST (https://theearth2podcast.podbean.com/)Continue the conversation with Shawn and Jen on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Threads / Bluesky or email the show at worstcollectionever@gmail.comAlso, get hip to all of our episodes on YouTube in its own playlist! https://bit.ly/Wo

Thunderbolts #3 (1997)Our Thunderbolts comes to an end as Marvel’s newest team of fake superheroes clashes with the newest version of evil villains as the Masters of Evil….return? Its’s quite the crew: there’s a freshly mutated Tiger Shark, a guy dressed as a tiger that FLYS, an Olympic skier turned violent feminist, a French mafia operative wearing a dead guy’s gear and Justin Hammer’s daughter with her prehensile cape.Also, Jolt (not the cola) re-enters the scene, Black Widow juggles her new publishing gig with vigilantism and the discovery of UNDERWORLD GOODS~!!All this plus Jen blows Shawn’s mind with the reveal that Batman and Deadman have dinner once a month.*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:15:30 ***Promos: BATMAN KNIGHTCAST (https://fireandwaterpodcast.com/show/batman-knightcast-2/)Continue the conversation with Shawn and Jen on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Threads / Bluesky or email the show at worstcollectionever@gmail.comAlso, get hip to all of our episodes on YouTube in its own pla

Spider-Man Team-Up #7 (1997)Look, I know it’s supposed to be more Thunderbolts but the “Justice Like Lightning” trade tricks you into reading a Spider-Man book. Thankfully, it is chronologically congruent to the ongoing storyline that we are covering so let’s keep going.Spider-Man is framed for murder and the Thunderbolts are the only ones to can help (because everyone else is dead). Songbird and Mach-1 brawl with the web-slinger while Atlas signs a rooftop autograph using his fingernails. It is ultimately revealed the Enclave (aka Wilford Brimley and the Egon Spanglers) are sending androids out to muck up the works and that really steams Mach-1’s ponytail.Also, Spider-Man hits a brick wall, Stan Lee makes Batman obese, Techno goes full Dolby and Mary Jane’s course books are just too damn EXPENSIVE!All this plus Jen and Shawn share their experience at the latest RetroMania and talk about the new, bizarre Superman movie toys.*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:12:30 ***Promos: 8TW AUDIO WORKS (https:

Thunderbolts #2 (1997)Our OG Thunderbolts discussion continues as the Thunderbolts adjust to their newly heroic personas in a battle against the Mad Thinker and his plan to suck knowledge out of Franklin Richards’s brain. Thankfully, the T-Bolts are here to handle the situation even though they pretty much get their asses handed to them by Thinker’s Gumby-looking android.Also, Mach-1 gets amorous, Citizen V tells a joke and the mayor of NYC strong-arms a grieving child into allowing the T-Bolts to inhabit the home of his deceased family.All this plus Shawn talks about the DEATH OF SUPERMAN and Jen expresses her frustration with BATMAN: H2SH!*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:15:03 ***Promo: MARVEL STAR WARS: FROM EMPIRE TO JEDI (https://fireandwaterpodcast.com/show/empiretojedi/)Continue the conversation with Shawn and Jen on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Threads / Bluesky or email the show at worstcollectionever@gmail.comAlso, get hip to all of our episodes on YouTube in its own playlist! https

Thunderbolts #1 (1997)It’s time to talk about the origins of the MCU’s latest offering as we look at the very first issue of the THUNDERBOLTS!Of course, there is the big undercover villain twist at the end here but who can blame them when Onslaught eliminated all of our heroes and all that’s left is Spider-Man, Daredevil and (maybe) Blade. We got Baron Zemo masquerading as a capoeira-slinging Homelander, Techno smuggling in his contraband robot bartenders and so many free-floating goatees you’ll think you’re trapped in a cable-ready erotic thriller.Also, Meteorite gets judgy, NYC ladies get thirsty of Atlas and Black Widow shows up dressed like she’s late for work at a print publishing firm.All this plus Jen and Shawn cover some recent purchases from Free Comic Book Day.*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:11:51 ***Promos: CELLULOID HEROES (https://open.spotify.com/show/5G4VxlMzO0yy7Rub7MPUzx?si=851e84cb62b24949)Continue the conversation with Shawn and Jen on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Threads

THUNDERBOLTS* is dropping this Friday and we’ve got a selection from the OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE to go with it as we talk about Red Guardian (I)! Join us as we chat about the OG Red Guardian (played by David Harbour in the upcoming film) and learn about his humble beginnings as a hotshot test pilot, his marriage to Black Widow (wait, isn’t his daughter in….) and his involvement in psychotropic warfare. Plus, there was the time he was shot with a laser gun and then a volcano fell on him and he died! * Also, Red Guardian throws his belt buckle in Hawkeye’s face and gives Captain America a rest hold!*As of 1986-87, the original Red Guardian is considered deceased but he did get better somehow thru various necromancies and what not.Promo: FANTASTIC POUR (https://fireandwaterpodcast.com/show/the-fantastic-pour/)Continue the conversation with Shawn and Jen on Twitter / BlueSky / Threads via @angryheroshawn and @JenStansfield and email the show at worstcollectionever@gmail.comAlso, get hip

JSA #58 / Hawkman #25 (2004)Apologies for the delay but here it is — the final chapter in our #JSApril stint as we cover the final two installments of the “Black Reign” story arc!First in JSA, we suffer a few unintentional casualties on the heel side, Doctor Fate gets trapped in suburbia and Brainwave Jr. Jr. Jr. has actual brain WORMS in his head and they’re…friendly, sort of?Then in HAWKMAN, Shazam gets sniffing, Hawkman gets emotional, Green Lantern gets creative and Atom Smasher has a series of massive sulks as “Black Reign” comes to a conclusion.All this plus Jen and Shawn chat about Night One of WrestleMania and the Atom’s preferred method of international transportation.*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:10:05 ***Promos: #JSAPRIL (https://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/jsapril/) / THE MONITOR TAPES (http://themonitortapes.com)Continue the conversation with Shawn and Jen on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Threads / Bluesky or email the show at worstcollectionever@gmail.comAlso, get hip to a

JSA #57 / Hawkman #24 (2004)It’s a double dose of #JSApril this week as we double up the conversation on the next two installments of the “Black Reign” story arc!In JSA, the team makes its way to Kahndaq, having to use air travel as opposed to magic travel because Nabu’s being REAL cranky these days. Along the way, Power Girl calls Hawkman an ass, Black Adam bifurcates thru the JSA transport and all of Northwind’s friends, with their bird talons and supple chests, look to make mincemeat of the heroes.Over in HAWKMAN, Doctor Fate seemingly turns heel as Nabu mucks up the JSA on the offensive. Hawkman clangs his own son on the head with his mace, Brainwave probes Shazam’s teenage thoughts and Hourman is gutted….literally!All this plus Jen and Shawn offer a correction regarding Billy Batson’s age and discuss Jason Todd’s failed pro wrestling career.*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:09:55 ***Promos: #JSAPRIL (https://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/jsapril/) / THE MONITOR TAPES (http://themonitortapes

Hawkman #23 (2004)#JSApril continues to chug along as we jump over to HAWKMAN for the next installment of the “Black Reign” arc!Before it all goes to hell, the JSA are in St. Roch aka Earth-One New Orleans for honor Hawkman on his presumed birthday. The JSA is wild in the streets as Power Girl endures a fortune telling, Wildcat plays pocket pool, Doctor Mid-Nite threatens to drown a man with his own blood and Hourman Jr. Jr. sweats it out in the hotel.This all culminates at the Hawkman party where Carter, fresh from mutilating Matter Master, fills the team in on the Kahndaq situation and it gets real REAL fast.All this plus Jen and Shawn chat about yet another shopping excursion resulting in Nightwing action figure repaints and more BatCat wins!*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:15:13 ***Promo: #JSAPRIL (https://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/jsapril/)Continue the conversation with Shawn and Jen on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Threads / Bluesky or email the show at worstcollectionever@gmail.co

JSA #56 (2004)Welcome to #JSApril! Worst Collection Ever is proud to participate in this celebration of JSA content by delivering our wicked takes on Geoff Johns’s “Black Reign” saga!This issue plays out more like the first act of a promsing action flick, with Black Adam recruiting a crew of disenchanted, mayhem-seeking folks to help him liberate his home country of Kahndaq. We got the assassin Nemesis, a tatted-up Eclipso, a freshly-mutated Northwind, a conflicted Atom Smasher and Chester Bennington of Linkin Park aka Brainwave aka Robert Englund from the V mini-series. The scene gets bloody and emotional and there are cooling brains all over the place.We also spend a bit of time parsing out Northwind’s creation so, if you new to the podcast, put a fun movie on for the kids and then hide under a blanket while you listen to this.All this plus Jen and Shawn buy a bunch of cheap trades, new DC Absolute offerings and the Hawk Tuah Girl runs afoul of the Dark Knight![NOTE — we (or specifically Shawn) refers to No

GUY GARDNER: WARRIOR #0 (1994)It is our first podcast guest in a LONG time as Shawn's brother -- the mighty Brian Marek -- joins us to talk about pivotal (to Shawn and Brian at least) 90’s comic GUY GARDNER: WARRIOR. It is the Zero Hour issue that reboots Guy as a descendant of a race of peace-keeping aliens who have been traveling the cosmos in a quest to create the perfect, well, warrior. This all gets SUPER body horror pretty quick, with veiny cannon arms and flesh syringes. For the most part, we put this over pretty strongly because the Guy Gardner aesthetic from his era is totally 90s and totally pro wrestling and it’s the best.All this plus we chat about the Ultimate Warrior’s corpse running amok in the DC Comics offices, Power Girl’s forgotten baby, Guy’s Irish heritage and which foods you should NOT bring to an orgy.[ONE MORE THING — this podcast was recorded using Streamyard and may eventually come out as video on our YT channel. That being said, the audio does have some aberrations and skips that we

DIAL H FOR HERO from Superboy #39 (1983)Something a bit different this week as we revisit a backup story from Superboy [vol 2] featuring the Dial H For Hero crew! The Dial H stuff is pretty boring and lame to be honest but there’s some fun stuff to talk about. We got lead boy Chris’s dad living in an Al Bundy simulacrum, Turkish cigarette preferences, larceny and ill-advised attempts at bus magic.*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:02:03 ***Promo: #JSAPRIL (https://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/jsapril/)Continue the conversation with Shawn and Jen on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Threads / Bluesky or email the show at worstcollectionever@gmail.comAlso, get hip to all of our episodes on YouTube in its own playlist! https://bit.ly/WorstCollectionEverYTDownload the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your favorite shows. Please rate, review, subscribe and tell a friend!

It is time to return to our rewatch of SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES!! This time out, we are covering:Ep9 / 10: THE MAIN MAN — PARTS 1 & 2 (Airdates: 11/9/96 & 11/16/96)Join us as we discuss topics such as:Is it Speweege or Spooj?Clark is a sick manLobo eats rebar the long wayThe origins of Superman’s alien menagerie/zooGas Babes Gone Wild!*** EPISODE DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:06:54 ***Plus, we do some follow-up from last week’s DEFENDERS finale pertaining to the Hulk’s physical stats and why the hell RUSH was involved!Promo: #JSAPRIL (https://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/jsapril/)Continue the conversation with Shawn and Jen on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Threads / Bluesky or email the show at worstcollectionever@gmail.comAlso, get hip to all of our episodes on YouTube in its own playlist! https://bit.ly/WorstCollectionEverYTDownload the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your favorite shows. Please rate, review, subscribe and tell a friend!

Defenders #45 (1977)It’s a Defenders Gender Battle as the Red Rajah saga comes to close! Doctor Strange, all red-gemmed up as the Red Rajah, wants mankind as his universal think tank and he’s starting with Manhattan. He’s got the boy Defenders under his control so its up to the girl Defenders to save NYC (and humanity pretty much).Also, Red Guardian goes full Gwen Stefani with her outfit, Hellcat and Valkyrie dish about communism, the Hulk rocks out to Pearl Jam and the Marvel editors shout out 2112-era Rush!All this plus Jen and Shawn chat haphazardly about the Oscars and review the 1986 sleepy monkey thriller LINK.*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:10:21 ***Promo: #JSAPRIL (https://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/jsapril/)Continue the conversation with Shawn and Jen on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Threads / Bluesky or email the show at worstcollectionever@gmail.comAlso, get hip to all of our episodes on YouTube in its own playlist! https://bit.ly/WorstCollectionEverYTDownload the podcast on S

Defenders #44 (1977)Man, the Incredible Hulk can be an incredible pain in the ass sometimes. Presently apoplectic that Doctor Strange, the only solution is for the rest of the Defenders to track him down. Unbeknownst to them, Doctor Strange is now the Red Rajah, an entity focused on bringing Manhattan together as one big think tank whether they want to or not!We also got Valkyrie’s ex-husband stumbling into the Sanctorum, Russia telling Red Guardian to get her ass back home and Patsy Walker aka Hellcat interjecting herself into the team dynamic after a peyote quest on Titan.All this plus Jen and Shawn visit a 90’s museum exhibit and feel really ancient afterwards.*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:09:44 ***Promo: #JSAPRIL (https://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/jsapril/)Continue the conversation with Shawn and Jen on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Threads / Bluesky or email the show at worstcollectionever@gmail.comAlso, get hip to all of our episodes on YouTube in its own playlist! https://bit.l

Defenders #43 (1977)The fun times keep rolling along for Marvel’s favorite non-team as the Cobalt Man’s about to explode and all the Hulk wants to do is punch the radioactive villain in the face. Thankfully, Knighthawk (who is still shirtless) has a better solution. We also have Egghead unleashing his lethal egg-based offense with surprisingly efficient results, Luke Cage yeeting an agitated George Lucas, Rhino busting out a pre-Nicholson THE SHINING bit and the debut of Dr. Strange as the slightly problematic (but admittedly well-dressed) Red Rajah!All this plus we chat about Hellstorm from the 90s and the new, underwhelming THUNDERBOLTS trailer.*** PROPER COMIC BOOK DISCUSSION STARTS AT 00:10:42 ***Promo: #JSAPRIL (https://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/jsapril/)Continue the conversation with Shawn and Jen on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Threads / Bluesky or email the show at worstcollectionever@gmail.comAlso, get hip to all of our episodes on YouTube in its own playlist! https://bit.ly/WorstColle

Taking a deviation in our Defenders coverage to bring you a [R]OHOTMU featuring one of the prominent villains, Solarr!Solarr, as discussed last week, is a mutant with the power to harness energy from the sun and use it for crime and other stuff. Plus, he’s gotten a few upgrades over the years thanks to Egghead. Oh, and he’s also died twice. His first death comes at the hands of El Segundo’s hottest new dad band, “Drew” Bres and the FOMO(R). His second demise involves the Goblin Queen but it’s not as goofy.Be here next week as we continue with the Defenders and the Capistan Ruby!Promo: #JSAPRIL (https://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/jsapril/)Continue the conversation with Shawn and Jen on Twitter (X) @angryheroshawn and @JenStansfield and email the show at worstcollectionever@gmail.comAlso, get hip to all of our episodes on YouTube in its own playlist! https://bit.ly/WorstCollectionEverYTDownload the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your favorite shows. Please rate, review, s