For All Mankind #44

9 responses to “For All Mankind #44”

1. Top of the morning to ya!* Faith and begorrah! I have not yet had the pleasure of listening to the craic on offer on For All Mankind this morning. However, pagin’ through the gallery, I can see that this may finally be the issue with a Jack O’ Lantern tale that tickles your fancy. That’s my wager, at any rate, and If I’m wrong, I owe you all the gold at the end of the rainbow!

   *I just read that “Top of the morning to ya!” was considered a popular greeting in Ireland over 100 years ago — but not at all now. So, 23 skidoo, everybody! Also, lest I offend Jimmy McGlinchey or any other genuine Irish people, please think of this as an impression is of the ’66 Batman show’s Chief O’Hara, or maybe the Lucky Charms leprechaun, but not an actual Irish person.

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2. The setup for this issue is amazing: “the heroes suddenly forget their heroic identities and go about their daily lives” is usually a fun story trope.

   The amount of time spent with Superman made me think it was originally a plot for the New Adventures of Superboy which was being published at the same time. I’ve definitely seen Superboy do the “cape as a parachute” stunt in one of those issues as a backup story describing the first time he flew to a planet with a red sun.

   I’ll pretend everything after page 4 never happened, none of the other heroes were involved, and attribute Superman’s selective amnesia to red kryptonite.

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3. Welcome to the podcast Brian – you were great!

   Whenever I see human heads on animal creatures I think about the dog in Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978) and it creeps me out all over again!

   I like the way Romeo Tanghal draws Aquaman’s hair. I think it looks very modern.

   I think this issue’s Best Friend award should go to Jayna. By her constantly trying to reach the heroes by phone she talks to Alfred and realizes that something is wrong. Then she and Zan race into action and even when Green Fury couldn’t help them she uses her bracelet to snap all of the heroes our of their delusion and then she captures the villain!

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4. Wonder full show and great guests I’m a big fan of toy ventures. Really enjoyed the surprised for all merch kind cant wait for the next episode.

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5. O.k., since no one brought it up, I have to ask: what the heck is Peter Parker doing in that Jack O’Lantern story?!

   Otherwise, the idea of Superman using his cape as a parachute to land safely because he forgot he can fly reminds me of that scene at the start of one of those post-Burton Batman movies, when Batman and Robin survive jumping out of an exploding aircraft by sky surfing on pieces of debris or something similar….

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6. Thanks for a great episode about an odd tale. Brian’s really funny! Sorry the Jack O’ Lantern tale still managed to disappoint. I had high hopes for me boyo. I do want to certify that Wonder Woman’s need for rest after a hard day at the Pentagon is totally legit. I’m pretty sure I was thinking back to those Calgon commercials even in the late 2000s.

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7. Great show, Rob and Brian! Stange things are afoot on this cover. Monsters with the heroes’ own faces on them. Sure, it’s bizarre and a little disturbing. If they had shown Robin on the last page eating a pork chop, that would have taken the story to its natural conclusion.

   And what a story. I love Superman’s tiny clothes. I could use that system as my wife slowly takes over all the closet space. And how about Bruce Wayne’s “F-You Money” lifestyle? He’s chilling out in a smoking jacket and ascot on a purple leather lounge chair. And it’s, like, noon! He’s got massive “Gone with the Wind” drapes, cheetah print ceiling lamps, and a bunch of ferns. All he’s missing is a coke mirror and some Phil Collins playing on cassette and he’s completed his 80’s rich asshole starter kit.

   I thought we might be on our way to a whole issue of Wonder Woman in skimpy sleepwear, but – oh great – here come the Thompson Twins to gum up the works. They are easily captured by conveniently walking out of the Hall of Justice and standing very still so the alien ship hovering over can slowly lower traps and ensnare them. “Duuuhhh, what’s that, Jayna?” Just the worst. You know, Marvin may have been a bit of a dullard, but at least he and the dog knew when to run. Green Fury was right to peace out and leave them to their doom. By the way, Rob, a terrific Shields and Yarnell reference during the show. Bravo, sir.

   Dick Grayson got an odd pulsation from under his belt? Take it easy, you haven’t even rung Judy’s doorbell yet, amiright?!

   Once again Aquaman is without so much as a punch. “Well here we go again, off to outer space to rescue Ashford and Simpson. I swear, if the one kid wasn’t my own walking swimming pool, I’d feed them to Topo. Man, I’m thirsty. I’d grab a bottle of water, but I can’t find it because we’re in a goddamn invisible plane. And now I’m fighting a crustacean with my face on it. Is that how my hair looks? The stylist said it’s totally the look right now, but I dunno. Now that I see it on a giant lobster I’m not so sure. Maybe I should ask Wonder Woman her opinion… oh, the fight’s over? We’re all done? Okay, great, let’s get out of here. Ah, shit, I left my weed on the invisible plane. I’ll never find it now!”

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   1. Brett, in your universe, how does Aquaman use underwater? Is it edibles? Are there Aqua-brownies?

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      1. It’s purely for surface use

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