What If Marvel was Real?

Latest Episodes:

Episode 17 - Mass Hatred (Fantastic Four #7, Part 1) -- October 1962 Apr 28, 2021

Show notes

In this episode:

Mike and Ed discuss the mass mind control that has happened across the east coast. Also, the Fantastic Four appear to be missing. How are they involved?

In this issue:

The people of Planet X are highly advanced, far beyond that of the people of Earth. Their ruler, Kurggo, is bitter that, despite their advancement, they are going to be destroyed by a runaway asteroid. They only have two spaceships, which not enough to evacuate the planet. Kurggo decides to send an anthropomorphic robot in one of their ships to Earth to capture the Fantastic Four, whom Kurggo believes are the only people in the universe who can help them.

Rather than ask for their help, Kurggo’s plan involves an anger ray which gets everyone mad at each other, but especially the Fantastic Four. The attendees at a government dinner in their owner turn on the Fantastic Four, causing them to flee. Kurggo’s robot then catches up to the Four and delivers Kurggo’s message, which is more or less that his anger ray has turned the world against them, and as such they may as well come to Planet X to help them avoid extinction.

The Fantastic Four leave, and everyone’s anger subsides. Will they return? Time will tell.

Assumed before the next episode:

The people of New York City to Washington were inexplicably mad at each other, but especially at the Fantastic Four, but do not know why. They also do not know why the Fantastic Four left them.

This episode takes place:

After the mass hatred has subsided and the Fantastic Four have left Planet X, but before they have returned to Earth.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superserious616.com

Episode 16: Geopolitics and Branding Gods (Journey Into Mystery #84) -- September 1962 Apr 26, 2021

Show notes

In this episode:

Mike and Ed discuss the latest super powered individual to appear: The Mighty Thor! The duo debate whether he is tied to Norse mythology or whether the name is just a gimmick. Also: is Thor working with the US government to prevent Communist intrusions into western countries?

In this issue:

This is Thor’s second appearance. He first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83, which for background, was a tale about aliens made of rock landing in Norway intent on taking the Earth over. We are introduced to Dr. Donald Blake in this issue, who was vacationing in Norway at the time. Dr. Blake stumbled across a cave and found a nailed wooden stick that, when struck on the ground transformed the stick into a war hammer (which we come to know as Mjolnir) and Dr. Blake into the legendary God of Thunder, Thor. Blake/Thor learned that he transforms from Thor back to Blake if he is away from his hammer for more than 60 seconds. Thor defeats the aliens and, returned to the form of Dr. Donald Blake, returns to America.

Assumed before the next issue:

People are wondering if Thor is truly the Norse god of myth, or just a bleached blond musclebound self-promoter with a fancy hammer.

This episode takes place:

After the events in the issue, including Thor’s appearance and the regime change in San Diablo, have been reported.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superserious616.com

Episode 15: Rocket Launches and Ringmasters - and a Flying Hulk??? (Incredible Hulk #3) -- September 1962 Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

In this episode:

Mike and Ed discuss another superpowered individual who can control minds - this time in New Mexico and across the midwest.

In this issue:

Bruce Banner and Rick Jones come up with a way to keep the Hulk locked away. The Army, however, are on the lookout for the Hulk. General Ross tells Rick they need the Hulk to test a new missile. This is a lie, as they just want to shoot the Hulk into space. Rick falls for this ruse, lets the Hulk out, and leads the Hulk into the missile, which shoots into space. The Hulk turns back to Bruce Banner and is bombarded with radiation which appears to permanently turn him into the Hulk (rather than just turn him into the Hulk when the sun goes down). The Hulk is, ironically, an even greater menace due to General Ross’s intervention.

Meanwhile, Rick learns that he had been tricked. The Hulk returns to Earth, and blames Rick for being shot into space. Rick realizes he can control the Hulk mentally, provided he is awake (another side effect of the space radiation on the Hulk). When he is asleep, the Hulk rampages through town. Rick returns to locking the Hulk away.

Assumed before the next issue:

The Hulk is now a mindless monster who can only be controlled by Rick Jones. This gives the Army, the police, and the public even more reason to fear him.

This episode takes place:

A few days after the events in the issue, when people hypnotized by the Ringmaster have been interviewed and the military has made statements as to what happened with respect to the capture of the Ringmaster and escape of the Hulk.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superserious616.com

Episode 14: Building in Spaaaace... (Fantastic Four #6) -- September 1962 Apr 21, 2021

Show notes

In this episode:

Mike and Ed discuss the second attack on the Baxter Building by Dr. Doom. How do the other residents feel about their home being taken into space? And what will this do to Manhattan real estate prices?

In this issue:

The Fantastic Four’s secondary superpower must be the ability to generate goodwill through self-promotion. They’re visiting children in the hospital and otherwise building up goodwill amongst a population that is overwhelmingly accepting of them and their adventures, despite the apparent threat they pose by having their headquarters in downtown New York City.

Case in point: Dr. Doom approaches Namor the Submariner and convinces him to team up against the Fantastic Four. Doom shows Namor a new device that can attach to anything and, using magnetism, carry that thing anywhere. The plan is to have Namor plant the device inside the Baxter Building (the FF’s headquarters) in downtown NYC, and then Doom will carry the building away. Namor successfully plants the device and misleads the Four long enough for Doom to pull the building into space before they could really figure out what happened.

The Baxter Building does not break apart as it is being pulled up and away from the Earth’s atmosphere. No word on how the other tenants of the Baxter Building feel about this development.

Doom then prepares to kill the Fantastic Four AND his ally, Namor (Doom is concerned that Namor would be a challenge to his ambition to rule the world). Fortunately, Namor switches sides and defeats Doom, shooting him off into space on a meteor for “eternity”. The Baxter Building is then returned to Earth, unharmed, Namor returns to the sea.

Assumed before the next issue:

Reed Richards explains to the world that Dr. Doom took their building into space, that Namor saved them all, and that the threat of Dr. Doom has been eliminated, as he is now hurtling through space forever.

This episode takes place:

Immediately after Reed Richards explains how Dr. Doom was defeated, but likely before anyone has figured out how the Baxter Building was lifted off its foundation and returned without incident.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superserious616.com

Episode 13: Ladies and gentlemen... The Amazing Spider-Man! (Amazing Fantasy #15) -- August 1962 Apr 19, 2021

Show notes

In this episode:

Mike and Ed take a break from the weighty issues to discuss Spider-Man’s appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. There is clearly more to superpowered people than fighting monsters - sometimes they can just awe and entertain us.

In this issue:

High school student Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider and, rather than getting sick with radiation poisoning, is gifted with superpowers - super strength, the ability to climb walls, and a “spider sense” which warns him of danger.

As luck would have it, Peter is also a super genius. He uses his engineering skills to design and build “webshooters”, which shoot super strong webbing that allows him to swing from building to building - just like a spider can.

Now, while you may assume that Peter would use his incredible powers to fight crime, you would be mistaken. Instead, Peter dazzles the world with his amazing abilities, all while masked as the “Amazing Spider-Man!” He sells out shows on Broadway and is on all of the talk shows, leading to rumours that this “Spectacular Spider-Man” will get his own TV show.

But that is not to be, as fate deals Peter a different hand. Peter has the opportunity to stop a robber who is escaping, but he chooses to not get involved and lets the robber escape. The robber races away and, in another twist of fate, ends up killing Peter’s beloved Uncle Ben. Peter, as Spider-Man, tracks the murderer down and, when he realizes it was the same man whom he had allowed to go free earlier, decides that he has made the wrong choices in his life. He decides then and there to give up being a famous entertainer, and dedicates his life to helping others, honouring the words his uncle lived by that “with great power comes great responsibility”.

Assumed before the next issue:

The public are just about to be disappointed that Spider-Man has retired from the entertainment business.

This episode takes place:

During the height of Spider-Man’s fame as an entertainer. Parker has just appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, and he is a star on the rise.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superserious616.com

Episode 12: And now - Alien invasion! (Incredible Hulk #2) -- July 1962 Apr 16, 2021

Show notes

In this episode:

Mike and Ed discuss the alien invasion. Is it a coincidence that an alien invasion has happened so close to the advent of human super powers? Did something the Fantastic Four do alert aliens to our presence? We also wonder why it was Bruce Banner who came to humankind’s rescue and not Reed Richards and his super powered crew.

In this issue:

Bruce Banner and his teenage sidekick Rick Jones think they have one problem on their hands: Banner turns into an angry, marauding Hulk at night. They figure out the best way to deal with the Hulk is to lock Banner in an underground cell before he can transform into the personification of his id.

It turns out they have a second problem. The alien race known as the Toad Men kidnap Banner for some unknown reason. Unfortunately for them, he transforms into the Hulk on their ship, who fights the aliens and defeats them. The U.S. military then shoots the alien ship down, causing it to crash to Earth. The incredible, and indestructible, Hulk is the only one to survive, although he transforms back to Banner on Earth and is arrested by the military for treason on the assumption he was helping the aliens.

Undeterred, the Toad Men begin their invasion of earth. Their fleet of ships blankets the sky, and their leader issues an ultimatum on Earth’s airwaves: Surrender, or we will destroy your planet with our magnetic powers. In a show of tremendous force, the aliens knock the moon out of its orbit, causing the seas to rise and buildings to crumble. Eternally unreasonable General Ross refuses to surrender. [Side note: it is unclear how Ross is the world’s decision maker.]

Meanwhile, Banner transforms into the Hulk while in captivity and escapes. He reverts to Banner the next morning. Banner then defeats the aliens by using his “gamma ray” gun to reverse the polarity of their magnetic powers, which returns the moon to its orbit and sends the entire alien fleet “spinning across space, out of control forever”. Banner is hailed as a hero, and for good reason, for it was not the Hulk and his brute force that saved the day, but rather Banner and his big brain (and even bigger gamma ray gun).

Assumed before the next episode:

Banner is now a world famous and beloved scientist for saving the planet from the alien invasion.

This episode takes place:

After the brief period of worldwide devastation caused by the Toad Men, after Banner has saved the world with his gamma ray gun, and while Banner is enjoying life as the saviour of mankind.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superserious616.com

Episode 11: Enter... Dr. Doom! (Fantastic Four #5) -- July 1962 Apr 14, 2021

Show notes

In this episode:

Mike and Ed discuss Victor Von Doom and his attack on the Fantastic Four on American soil. How will the U.S. respond to this unprovoked attack by a foreign power (Doom is leader of Latveria)? Does Latveria have leverage we do not know about?

In this issue:

Evil genius Victor Von Doom - who despite having been expelled form university nonetheless goes by “Dr. Doom” - decides to show the world his might and power by defeating the Fantastic Four. He does this relatively easily by throwing a net over their skyscraper and kidnapping the Four, flying them in an unnaturally fast helicopter to his castle in Europe. While there, Doom explains to the team that he has invented a time machine, and that he wants Mr. Fantastic, the Thing, and the Human Torch to go back in time to rob the treasure of the notorious pirate Blackbeard (all while holding the Invisible Girl hostage).

[Sidebar: there must be better ways to use a time machine.]

The three go back in time and, while disguised as a pirate and enjoying the drama of it all, the Thing actually creates the identity of Blackbeard. As Mr. Fantastic notes, the Thing “came back to the past to find…. himself!” The three find “Blackbeard’s” treasure - mainly gems - and Mr. Fantastic decides that it is too dangerous to allow Doom to get his hands on the gems. Doom brings the three back to the present and is disappointed that they did not bring the gems back with them. He reveals to the team that the treasure was originally the property of Merlin the ancient magician, and that he was going to use the gems to become invincible (turns out Reed was right on the money on this one). A fight ensues, and Doom escapes. The Fantastic Four devote themselves to tracking down their two nemeses, the Submariner and Dr. Doom.

[Submariner and Dr. Doom are still at large 60 years later.]

Assumed before the next issue:

Reed Richards explains to the public that they were captured by Dr. Doom, but that they escaped. He does not provide many details, and in particular he fails to mention that an evil genius has a working time machine or that the Thing is part of a time paradox involving the legend of Blackbeard.

This episode takes place:

After the Fantastic Four returns from their confrontation with Dr. Doom.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superserious616.com

Episode 10: Bruce Banner Kidnapped (Incredible Hulk #1) -- May 1962 Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

In this episode:

Mike and Ed discuss the kidnapping of the famous scientist Bruce Banner by the Soviets. He claims he was kidnapped by a super-powered Russian called “The Gargoyle”. How many more super-powered individuals are out there, and are the Soviets ahead of us? Also, Banner claims he was able to reverse the Gargoyle’s super powers. Could he do the same for Ben Grimm?

In this issue:

World famous scientist Bruce Banner has invented a new weapon for the military, the gamma bomb. After telling a fellow scientist “I don’t make errors”, Banner makes a big one by allowing the test to proceed while a teenager drives onto the testing area. Banner springs into action, telling his fellow scientist Igor to stop the countdown as he races to save the teenager. This turns out to be Banner’s second ever error, as Igor is a secret Russian spy who decides to let the countdown continue.

Banner is able to get the teenager, Rick Jones, to safety, although he is not so fortunate. The gamma bomb detonates, and Banner is “bathed in the full force of the mysterious gamma rays” of the gamma bomb. He awakens in a field hospital with Jones, shocked that he was not killed by the blast. As the sun sets, however, Banner is transformed into a huge, angry, and superhumanly strong monster - the Hulk!

The Hulk escapes the military base, and the army scrambles to capture him. Led by perennially angry General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, the army eventually track down the Hulk, but only find Banner and Jones. It turns out that Banner turns into the Hulk at night but transforms back to Banner in the morning. The Hulk remains at large, kinda.

Later, a Russian scientist with “super intelligence” who is known as “The Gargoyle” due his very large head and other deformities decides to kidnap the Hulk to demonstrate his might. He somehow kidnaps the Hulk and Jones, and brings them back to the USSR. While imprisoned, the Hulk turns back into Banner. The Gargoyle is shocked to find out that the Hulk and Banner are one and the same. In a strange twist, the Gargoyle begs Banner to turn him back into an ordinary man. Banner obliges, using radiation to cure the Gargoyle. No longer deformed or super smart, the Gargoyle helps Banner and Jones escape the USSR. He also decides to blow up the Russian testing facility where he worked, killing himself in the process.

Assumed before the next episode:

Banner’s kidnaping is big news. When he returns, he is honest with what happened, apart from the role of his alter ego, the Hulk. News of the Hulk attacking the military base leaks out, although details are limited.

This episode takes place:

After rumours emerge of the Hulk, and news of Banner’s kidnapping and return are made public.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superserious616.com

Episode 9: Giganto destroys Lower Manhattan (Fantastic Four #4) -- May 1962 Apr 09, 2021

Show notes

In this episode:

Mike and Ed discuss the destruction of lower Manhattan by “Giganto”. Is defending against attacks like this the reason the government is putting up with the Fantastic Four?

In this issue:

The Human Torch is still missing, and his teammates are looking for him. The Thing ends up fighting the Torch when he finds him, although the Torch escapes. He ends up in a rooming house which, in the strangest coincidence, an amnesiac Namor the Submariner has been living. Johnny protects Namor from a mob, and returns him to the sea, which causes his memory to return.

Namor swims back to his undersea kingdom, which has been destroyed by humanity’s atomic tests. Enraged, Namor confronts Johnny and tells him that he will take revenge on humanity. Johnny reunites with his teammates and tells them that the Submariner is back, and that he wants to destroy the human race.

And Namor puts his plans in motion, awakening “the largest living thing in all the world, the deadly Giganto!” The unbelievably large monster destroys lower Manhattan, shrugging off the army’s missiles as he does it. The army straps a nuclear bomb to the Thing’s back, who walks into a resting Giganto’s mouth, leaves the bomb in his belly, and narrowly escapes. (Sidebar: a nuclear bomb detonated in a destroyed lower Manhattan!)

The Fantastic Four confront Namor, who is distracted by Sue’s beauty. The Torch creates a water tornado that draws Namor and Giganto’s corpse high into the air, and then drops them into the ocean far away.

Assumed before the next episode:

Lower Manhattan has been destroyed, and New Yorkers will be wrestling with that awful event.

This episode takes place:

Shortly after the destruction of Lower Manhattan, and the (short-term) elimination of the threat posed by the Submariner.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superserious616.com

Episode 8: The Torch is missing - and new uniforms! (Fantastic Four #3, part 2) -- April 1962 Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

In this episode:

Mike and Ed discuss the ramifications of another super-powered individual entering the scene. How many more are there, and where are they coming from? Are they all the result of government experiments of sending people into space? Also: when will consumers get access to flying cars?

In the actual comic:

The Fantastic Four are popular celebrities, and they are enjoying their status. They fly across town in their Fantasticar to take in a show by the Miracle Man, a performer who demonstrates amazing powers for the crowd - he can change size at will, turn into gas, shoot lightning from his fingertips, and take on the Thing. The Four do not know what to make of him as they fly home over the city (sidebar: when will we get flying cars?)

The Miracle Man then, strangely, declares war on the human race, and the Four are called into action. They fight a giant monster that the Miracle Man has brought to life, and then take the fight to the Man himself, who snuffs the Torch’s fire out with chemical foam and causes the earth to swallow the Thing.

Reed thinks hard about the problem, but does not do anything. Meanwhile, the Invisible Girl locates the Miracle Man, but before she can alert her teammates, she is captured by the Miracle Man and hypnotized. He has Sue signal the rest of the team (maybe he should have just waited for Sue to do that before he hypnotized her), and when they arrive, they battle. The Fantastic Four gain the upper hand when they temporarily blind the Miracle Man. Reed then lets everyone know that he figured out that the Miracle Man did not have any magic powers - he was merely a clever hypnotist, and a master of mass illusion.

We can think of many other ways the Miracle Man could have used his incredible, but not magical or miraculous, powers than picking a fight with super-powered heroes, but that is neither here nor there.

In any event, Johnny Storm is unhappy with how he has been treated by his teammates (he is a teenager and a bit of a sulk), and quits the team.

Assumed before the next episode:

The public is likely worried that the Human Torch has left the team.

This episode takes place:

About a month after the events in the comic. The team is searching for the Human Torch, but he is still missing.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superserious616.com