Weird Science Marvel Comics Weekly Review Shows · Marvel Comics, marvel, Comic Books, Comics, Marvel Comic Books, X-men, Star Wars, Spider-Man, Avengers, fantastic four, pop culture, television, movies

Marvel Comics Ep 113 (LGY#613): 1776 & Spider-Man Noir

·1 hr 8 min·5 clips

Why does Ben Franklin look like Eugene from The Walking Dead in Marvel's new 1776 comic?

This episode of the Weird Science Marvel Comics podcast reviews two new releases: "1776" #1 and "Spider-Man Noir." Hosts Matt and the unnamed main host begin by announcing that their co-host Gray has quit the show, citing dissatisfaction with current Marvel comics. They describe their weekly struggle to select reviewable books amidst numerous crossover events like "Age of Revelation" and "One World Under Doom." The hosts recount a recent audio mishap on their X-Men podcast where Jason's track was unusable due to bleed-through from Ruben's microphone. They decided to review "1776" #1, written by J. Michael Straczynski with art by Sean Damien Hill and Ron Lim, and "Spider-Man Noir" by writer/artist Erik Larsen. The "1776" story involves Benjamin Franklin, who is dead yet time-traveling, warning Doctor Strange that Morgan Le Fay is trying to alter the Revolutionary War to ensure a British victory. Doctor Strange gathers Iron Man, Captain America, Bruce Banner, and Spider-Man via magical portals to address this threat. The team debates whether preventing this change is morally right, with Bruce Banner questioning if America would be better off under British rule. The heroes ultimately travel back to 1777, with Clea's help, arriving at the Battle of Saratoga disguised in period clothing. The hosts extensively critique the inconsistent and poor-quality artwork in "1776," highlighting distorted character faces, bizarre anatomy, and confusing panel perspectives. They note a specific scene where Tony Stark refuses to enter a portal, demanding "flowers and chocolate," which they find tonally odd. The hosts found the alternate history premise confusing and poorly explained, failing to establish clear stakes or a compelling hook. They were surprised by the ethical debate among the Avengers, particularly Banner's devil's advocate position about letting the British win. A memorable visual mishap occurs when the heroes exit the time tunnel with drastically altered and ugly appearances, which Clea explains as an "illusory" clothing change. The episode maintains a conversational and critical tone, filled with exasperated humor and detailed visual critiques. Listeners who enjoy thorough, opinionated breakdowns of comic art and storytelling flaws will appreciate this episode. Fans of the hosts' candid frustrations with Marvel's publishing strategy might also find it relatable. However, listeners seeking positive reviews or deep narrative analysis of the plot may want to skip it.

As heard by us

A weary, specific Marvel check-in that lets continuity chaos take center stage.

The Weird Science Marvel Comics podcast sounds tired but engaged as it makes its way through two books and the usual review-copy mess. The hosts start by grumbling about mislabeled files and the annoyance of sorting through material that does not feel worth the trouble, then…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

If you want a cranky Marvel Comics chat that still tracks the books, start here.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Weird Science Marvel Comics Weekly Review Shows