The House of Franklin-Stein returns! Chris and Cindy begin their 12th Annual Spooky Season Spectacular with a stone-cold Universal Monsters classic! Ancient Imhotep rises to reunite with his lost love by any means necessary in the original The Mummy (1932) starring Boris Karloff!
Then they unwrap a Mummy tale from the comic crypt, Superman #5 (1987) by John Byrne and Karl Kesel! The Man of Steel battles an oversized and powerful ancient mummy unearthed in South America!
Subscribe via iTunes. Or Spotify..
This podcast is a proud member of the FIRE AND WATER PODCAST NETWORK
- Visit our WEBSITE: http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/
- Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fwpodcasts
- Like our FACEBOOK page – https://www.facebook.com/FWPodcastNetwork
- Like our FACEBOOK page – https://www.facebook.com/supermatespodcast
- Use our HASHTAG online: #FWPodcasts
- Email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com
Clip credits:
The Mummy (1932) directed by Karl Freund
Superman Ruby Spears Animated TV series theme by John Williams and Ron Jones
“The Mummy” by Dyke and the Blazers (with Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller) from Mad Monster Party? (1966), directed by Jules Bass
“The House of Franklinstein” by Terry O’Malley, of Stop Calling Me Frank https://www.facebook.com/rockSCMF
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The first House of Franklin-Stein for 2025! The Halloween season has officially begun!
Indeed! My house is festooned in blow molds!
Wow, is it already time for the spooky season?
Enjoyed the show, even if I’d never consumed any of this material – I think I saw only part of the Karloff Mummy a long time ago. (As an aside, I love the name of the lead actress, as our dearly departed dog had the same name – Zita, not Johann).
As for the Superman story, I’d stopped reading that series with the third issue, the Legends tie-in, not because I thought it was bad or anything, but just because that was the way I was reading comics at the time (my early college years), i.e., picking up certain issues or series and then dropping them after finishing a story arc or whatever – a lot of that was due to my work-load at school and general shortage of time for leisure reading. It’s too bad, I guess, because I really like Kesel’s inks on Byrne’s art. And based on your gallery page, I see that there is more than one shot of Ms. Lane’s callipygian (look it up, kids) charms…
Yes, yes it’s time for Spooky Season. As soon as Labor Day is over, I say!
I had to look up callipygian, but thank you for that. Yes, Byrne was a master at rendering that word I just learned!
My favorite Mummy is this Mummy movie, far and away. And mostly because Karloff sells the creepiness and because Johann’s eyes are anime-girl compelling!
I do like the other Mummy movies for sure (and would recommend the great mummy story in Tales from the Darkside with Buscemi and Christian Slater as another entry!)
My favorite memory of this movie. More than a decade ago it was on TCM. My youngest was home with me and I suggested we watch it. We did. She had to be in later grade school. I watched her face as the Isis statue turns and blasts Karloff to dust. She was completely rapt. But when it was over she looked at me and said ‘Dad, you make me watch really weird things!’ Tremendous.
One day I’ll do my ‘My name is Ardath Bey’ line imitation!
Karloff defintely sells the creepy. He’s fantastic. As is Johann and her mystic pool eyes!
That Tales from the Dark Side segment is a good one! I’ve been trying to figure out how to do an anthology movie in this format…so many Amicus films, for instance!
It’s great that your kid would actually sit down and watch that with you, and get into it! Thankfully both my kids can appreciate the classics too. But yes, we do make them watch weird things!
We can have a Karloff-off! Mine’s not that great, but I would love to hear yours!
Thanks for the shoutout! You’ve got one coming to you in our next episode. I always look forward to the House of Franklinstein and enjoyed this episode as much as ever. Happy spooky season!
Thanks Jeff! And thanks as always for listening and supporting our shows, and for producing such great horror content with Richard over on The Classic Horrors Club Podcast (another plug, go listen people)! Happy Spooky Season to you, too!
MAD MONSTER PARTY end music! Wha-hooooo!
I agree with you, Chris–I saw THE HAUNTING and THE INNOCENTS for the first time around the same time, and found the former a snooze, while the latter was genuinely frightening, 60 years later. The Haunting is the David Manners of early 60s ghost movies.
I genuinely loved the Byrne SUPERMAN comics–he wasn’t afraid to get goofy, like this issue. It was like he wanted to illustrate episodes of Adventures of Superman if they had had an actual budget.
So happy to have this show back!
I wanted to use “The Mummy” from MMP, and when I found a clip on YouTube that had Boris introducting the band, I thought “Perfect!”.
I’m glad a film historian like yourself agrees with me on The Haunting. I mean, it’s a well-made movie, but I didn’t find it the least bit scary. I can still see Miss Jessel from The Innocents, standing near that lake…YIKES!
I defintely feel like Byrne was channeling those George Reeves episodes. With just more butt shots, and naughty dreams. 😉
We’re glad to be back!
If memory serves I did try to get Rob to let me talk The Hauntng on one of his shows, but didn’t know then that he’s not a fan. Sorry Rob! I still find it very creepy, especially that bit with Eleanor and Theodora (and friend) in the bedroom…
Sorry to throw shade on a favorite Martin. It is a great film, just not my cup of tea as far as horror. On the other hand, Robert Wise directed one of my absolute favorites, The Body Snatcher, produced by the great Val Lewton. And for my money, that’s Karloff’s GREATEST screen performance! Rob and I did talk about that one on Film and Water at one point.
I’m the farthest thing from a fashionista, but I recall sunhats having those little balls on them in the 1970s. Seems like they would be a B***h to draw though.
Chris, since you mentioned it, I wonder if the issue was inspired by the Adventures of Superman episode where Lois was sealed in a tomb since she was thought to be the reincarnation of an ancient priestess. There was a lot of Jimmy beefcake in that one…something I didn’t particularly want to see. The mummy themed Superman cartoon from the 1940s was the first thing I thought of.
I enjoyed the Byrne run on Superman and his runs on just about everything else in the 80s. I didn’t have a back issue collection at the time this issue of Superman was released. Now that I do, I’ve noticed Byrne’s version of Lois is nowhere near as pretty as Kurt Schaffenberger’s, Bob Oskner’s, or Nick Cardy’s.
Maybe Byrne just liked that hat? But yes, getting the gravitational effect right on the dangly balls would be a pain, I’d guess.
Good call on the Adventures of Superman episode. That may have been an inspiration. I remember hearing Jack Larson comment that people have told him he was “buff” back then. I think Clark blocking himself from the others to go into Superman mode is specificlaly from the episode where Sterling Holloway transports them to caveman times. The Mummy Fleischer/Famous short would be great for the next Mummy film we do!
I think part of the reason Byrne’s Lois isn’t as attractive is he has her scowling a lot. Her personality comes through! Plus those other guys are masters at rendering attractive females.
Welcome back, Mr and Mrs McCabre! How did Grundy’s date go?
The original Mummy remains my favourite, it’s so eerie, so atmospheric, so melodramatic. I’d never noticed the parallels with Dracula, I’m handing back my film studies degree!
I’d completely forgotten that Superman’s Mummy turned out to be so daft looking. Didn’t John Byrne have a similar-shaped monster in Alpha Flight?
More on Grundy’s love life next episode! (that will hook the kids)
Don’t go turning in your degree, Martin! I think The Mummy stands fine on its own. Between the two, it’s the superior version honestly, Lugosi and Dwight Frye aside!
I think so…was that Box, maybe? My Alpha Flight knowledge is pretty limited. Mostly through OHOTMU and Marvel Saga.
Yes, now that y’all mention it, this mummy does bear a resemblance to Box from Byrne’s Alpha Flight.
Not Box, I’m thinking something called The Host, but a look at GCD brings up nothing!
Oh well, roll on the next episode!
Host is the name given to the robot in the very next Superman issue… and our next episode!
I’m sooooooo stoopid.
Glad to have the House of Franklinstein back! Even if we got a little to much info about what goes on inside the House … (thinking of Chris with a beard, “Oh Chris….”)
I’ve not seen the original Mummy movie, just the Brandon Frasier ones, but you definitely intrigued me with this one!
And for Byrne Superman – I love pre crisis Superman too, but as I’ve said before, by this time he really needed some new blood. And while I liked it better when Byrne left and we got the Stern/Ordway etc. crew, they built on this. And this issue was sure fun.
PS Lois was sure a you know what back then, huh. Glad she mellowed out.
Keep up the great work!
Ha, sorry for the TMI moments. Believe me, I edit quite a bit out sometimes!
If you’re looking for The Mummy, I think the Roku channel should have their Universal Monsters subchannel going again this year.
And yep, I agree, as much as I actually prefer the Post-Byrne Post-Crisis Supes, he had to get the ball rolling!
Yeah, Lois had her khaki shorts in a twist, didn’t she? Not uncommon in this era, unfortunately.
When my wife and I began our annual October viewing of the Universal monster movies two years ago, The Mummy was one of the first ones we watched. I still think it is one of the creepiest. Karloff with all the makeup fits the part perfectly.
I haven’t seen many other mummy movies. Mummies will always remind me of the Scooby-Doo episode in which the mummy roams around demanding his missing “Coin! Coin!”
I was a devoted fan and reader of the pre-Crisis Superman titles so the Byrne reboot took some getting used to. Not to mention that the newsstand where I bought my comics closed around the same time as this issue would have been out. Later, I went back and picked up most of the Byrne era in TPB form and really like it. With the one exception of his Lois, as you mentioned.
In this story, I was glad that Kal recognized that she might notice Clark and Superman both showing up with stubble and put two and two together. And the reference to the designer stubble trend initiated by Don Johnson at that time brought back a memory. Someone actually developed and marketed something called “Miami De-Vice” that allowed a guy to achieve the perfect Sonny Crockett look.
Great to have this show back. One of my favorite signs of autumn.
Yes, I think Karloff is one of the creepier Universal Monsters for sure!
Now I have “Coin! Coin!” stuck in my head once again. It ain’t like I didn’t hear that enough as a kid…and when my children were kids! Thanks Super Catain! 😉
It took me a while to get used to the Post-Crisis changes too, but even I realized he needed a little shot in the arm. Sorry you lost your favorite newsstand so early though!
Byrne was big on the Don Johnson references. We get that Mxyzptlk appearance in fully Sonny Crocket attire and stubble a few issues later!
We ARE the Pumpkin Spice of the F&W Network!
Always great to have the House of Franklin-Stein back for spooky season! I enjoy the podcast, and the theme song is very catchy. I’ve seen most of the Universal classics but for some reason I don’t think I’ve ever seen this one.
I’d say my favorite Mummy movie is probably the second Brendan Fraser movie that came out in 2001, which I know is an unusual choice. I remember liking the journey on the giant balloon. I may have liked Rachel Weisz too.
You can thank Ward Hill Terry for that catchy theme song!
I like the second Fraser Mummy film…until you get to the undercooked Scorpion King. Even then, it looked pretty rough. But Rachel Weisz does indeed make up for it!!!
Thanks, Mike!
You know I actually saw that Mummy movie on Svenghhoulie a couple weeks ago. though Brendan Fraser’s better. I actually kind of like Byrne’s Lois even though she was kind of a jerk. But in this issue her best asset is behind her.
Well, “better’ is a relative term, but I totally understand that. The Fraser movies are fun, and the first one is a favorite of mine as well. Svengoolie does a great job keeping the classics out there for folks to readily watch. I check in nearly every week myself.
Nice to hear someone liked Byrne’s Lois…or one particular aspect of her anyway.
Great episode!
As you point out, that Superman issue has Superman having Kryto-naughty dreams about Wonder Woman, which is leading to Action Comics 600. (Michael Bailey and I will be covering that issue soon!)
The buildup to the first real post-Crisis meeting of Clark and Diana is fun, and Action 600 is a strong issue. It’s worth it alone just to see Perez and Byrne together on art.
Loved the Mummy-tastic fun!
Oh yeah, it was a big event. I remember the ads of them kissing mid-air with Apokolips in the background! Looking forward to your coverage. Thanks for listening!
So happy to have House of Franklin-Stein. It’s always a right of Autumn. The leaves change, football is back, and I get to learn about another classic horror movie!
I remember that issue of Byrne’s Superman. You’re right, Lois was awful during that run. Never understood that. The Mummy/Alien character was the classic Byrne rounded body monster. I swear he had about seven different characters that were the same shape.
Fascinating breakdown of the 1932 film. I always thought the Mummy as a monster was underrated. Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf-Man get all the pub, but the Mummy is a supper strong Egyptian Zombie! That’s awesome. More Mummy stuff!
We are the Pumpkin Spice of the Fire and Water Podcast Network!
Well, Byrne’s site is/was Byrne Robotics, right? I guess they’re all round like that?
Mummies get a bad wrap (see what I did there), but yes, I think they are underrated. People scoff at how slow they move, but they still catch their victims! See also Jason Vorhees.
I don’t remember how old I was the first time I saw The Mummy other than I was quite young, but I remember being really disappointed that Karloff was only in the classic wrapped-corpse look for a tiny bit at the beginning of the film, since that is what sold me on the entire concept. I don’t think I watched it again until I was in college, and then I really, really enjoyed it. Is it my favorite Mummy movie? Probably. I think I like it better than the Christopher Lee version.
Anyway, so happy HoF is back! Another fun episode.
As a kid, the Chaney films are WAY more of what you want from a Mummy film. But as an adult, well, the Karloff film blows them away, as far as mood and story quality.