Matt Spectro Thru The Multiverse

Once a year, my wife indulges my nerdy podcast and graces us with her presence!! This is her episode as we go back to 1981 to watch The Smurfs episode "The Smurfette." Yes, we're talking those little blue mushroom dwellers who took 80s Saturday morning by storm! Join us as we discuss such topics as Smurfs roots back to 50s, do blondes have more fun, a case of Smurfberries, Dick Dastardly, and a Quantum Leap connection?!? All this and more as we Sing a happy song and Smurf the podcast…in cartoon form!

This week, the Multiverse sits down with Antoine Browne as we go back to 2000 for the very first episode of Static Shock, "Shock to the System!" Not only Antoine's first appearance on the Multiverse, but his first appearance ever on a podcast! We look back and celebrate the Milestone Comic imprint and the cartoon it shaped. Join us as we discuss such topics as the origins of Milestone, the late great Dwayne McDuffie, changes from the source material, what classic comic artist may have helped kick things off and Black Vulcan!! All this and more as we get electrified…in cartoon form!

This weeks episode, I'm joined by Perry, host of the podcast Superhero Cinephiles!! We go back to 1999 for the Batman Beyond episode "Rebirth!" It's a rare example of an animated series based on DC comics but more of an original creation, exploding from the success of both Batman and Superman the animated series!! Join us as we talk such topics as 90s legacy heroes, the greatness of DC animated series, the Batman Beyond connection to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Frank Welker brought in just to bark and giant cell phones!! All this and more as we discuss Bruce Wayne passing the torch......in cartoon form!!

 

To coincide with the new Ant-Man film this week, we’re talking Kang the Conqueror!!! I'm joined by Anthony, co-host of the podcast Comics and Chronic, as we go back to the 2011 episode of Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, "The Man Who Stole Tomorrow!" We compare and contrast to other Avengers cartoons as well as dive into the history of Kang! Join us for such topics as the many versions of Kang, the enormous size of Steve Rogers, Marvel pocket novels, and the importance of theme songs!! All this and more as we travel through time... in cartoon form!!!

In this week's episode, I'm joined by returning guest Jamie as we talk about his favorite superhero team The Thunderbolts!!! This is the first animated appearance of the team in the 2016 episodes of Avengers Assemble, "The Thunderbolts." Join us for all sorts of topics such as 90s comic books and the origins of the team, Tony Stark being the most untrusting superhero in Marvel, debating on Sam Rockwell's performance in Iron Man 2, an impressive ensemble of voice talent and my stellar rendition of Two and a Half Men!!! All this and more as we take a look at Justice like Lightning…in cartoon form!

This week on Multiverse, I'm joined by Anthony, co-host of the We Have Issues Podcast, as we go back to 1977 for everyone’s favorite teen heroes the Wonder Twins!! Not only were they honorary members of the Superfriends, they helped out the troubled youth of the 70s! We watch and talk the episode Hitchhike! Join us for such topics as saving your bus fare for the jukebox, heroes introduced in cartoons before comics, the teen trouble alert, Zan's powers being next to useless, and space monkeys!! All this and more as we talk "shape of...animation!" and "form of...cartoon!"

On this week's episode, pal to the Multiverse Brian returns as we travel to 1966 for the New Adventures of Superman episode "Superman Meets Brainiac!" Not only is it the first time the Man of Steel appears in television animation but the launch of the legendary Filmation studio!! Join us as we talk such topics as is Superman the greatest hero of all time, comic creator royalties, Lois Lane doing a whole lotta narrating, and Brainiac needs a pair of pants!!! All this and more as we talk Truth, Justice and the Cartoon Way!

In this week's new episode, I'm bending the rules a little and talking the 2005 episode of What’s New Scooby Doo entitled “Wrestle Maniac!”  Due to all the recent Scooby discourse, I've decided to celebrate the Scooby Gang!! My former podcast tag team partner Julian Star joins me to get to the bottom of this mystery!! As always, we start off with some trivia then we dive right into to the greatness of Scooby Doo and the return to Saturday mornings after a decade long absence!! Join us for such topics as ridiculous wrestling moves, Shaggy being a vegetarian, the power of friendship, turnbuckle knees and children attempting murder! All this and more as we eat some Scooby snacks, find our glasses and set up some traps…in cartoon form!

First time I’ve ever had a guest come back so quick as Robbie Sherman joins us again! This time we’re going back to 2004 for the Teen Titans episode "How Long is Forever Ever!" Of course, we get into the Teen Titans GO controversy as well as the immense popularity of the Titans in comics and all media! Also, it's my first time watching this particular take on DC's teen heroes. Join us as we discuss such topics as the many rumors regarding the series' end, the anime hybrid style of the cartoon, the problems with future and alternate universe stories, a little on hockey and the catchphrase "Boo-Yah!" All this and more as we travel to the year 2024…in cartoon form!

It’s the first episode of 2023 and pro wrestling legend Brian Milonas returns for our 5th and final episode on the many faces of He-Man!! We go to 2021 for Netflix's He-Man and the Masters of the Universe episode "The Sword of Grayskull!"  Dubbed the He-Man aimed for children, it’s quite a different take of a more computerized reimagining!! Will it hold up to the other versions?!? Join us for such topics as are we not the target audience, vastly different character designs, our official rankings of all 5 seasons, ridiculous sword designs and has Brian finally watched a 2nd Kevin Smith movie?? All this and more for our 5th go 'round of He-Man... in cartoon form!

It’s the final episode of 2022, and I'm joined by not 1, not 2, but 3 guests!!! My pals Francis, Dave Walker and his son Jordan all sit down to discuss the original and greatest Captain Marvel!!! Not only do we touch upon his long history, we go back to the 1981 Shazam episode, "Black Adam Returns!"  End the New year with us as we discuss the long illustrious history of Captain Marvel, the DC/Fawcett lawsuit, debate if comics should evolve, The Wizard Shazam being evasive for no reason and baby wrangling!!! All this and more as we watch the Big Red Cheese before the ball drops…in cartoon form!!

This is it - the Multiverse's official Christmas episode!!! I'm joined by jack of all trades Robbie Sherman as we celebrate the Holidays with Batman and the Red Tornado in 2008's "Invasion of the Secret Santas!" Robbie and I team up with Red Tornado to try and feel the tingle of the Christmas spirit!!! Join us for such topics as the Red Tornado's extreme efforts to understand Christmas, the Vision/Tornado comparisons, a refreshing take on Batman’s origin, the logistics of giant robots and do I have too much time on his hands?!?? Deck the Halls with the Caped Crusader…in cartoon form!

This week, my Christmas celebration continues as the host of the podcast "It’s Time to Rewind," Bubbawheat returns to the Multiverse for the holiday special "A Space Ghost Christmas!" This bizarre product of the 90s is the part-animation, part-live action, part-talk show, all awkward Space Ghost Coast to Coast! Join us as we discuss 90s pop culture, shameless plugging of books, Bubbawheat's Bobcat impression, early Cartoon Network and Uncle Buck! All this and more as we go to Ghost Planet and sit in the studio audience for the weirdest talk show you’ve ever seen…in cartoon form!

My Christmas celebration continues as I'm joined by my niece Delaney for the Teen Titans GO episode “A Holiday Story!” Titans always deliver at this time of year and this is no exception - even though this is more of a Beast Boy episode!!! Join us as we discuss such subjects as Delaney's clever nickname, who actually is the target audience for this cartoon, my niece's appalling lack of knowledge on Christmas films, is George Washington a ghost in this, PLUS, my son Axel tries to interject!! All this and more as we talk Beast Boy and Santa Claus…in cartoon form!!!

This week, we kick off our month long journey into the Christmasverse!!! For the 2nd time in the show's history, I'm joined by a married couple as Brian and Jess travel with me back to 1981 for the lesser known holiday special The Trolls and the Christmas Express!! As a Christmas present to Jess, we bend the rules a little and talk her all time favorite Christmas special!! Join us as we talk such topics as whoever heard of this show, the "clever" disguises of the trolls, the surprisingly impressive voice cast, how many times can you say "Jolly Day" and the connection to Spider Man!!! All this and more as we ride the Christmas Express............in cartoon form!!

I'm back from my vacation and this week I sit down with Freddy from the twitter fan page Let’s Talk X-men: Evolution (@XMenEvoShow on Twitter)! Together, we travel back through the multiverse to 2001 for the very first X-Men: Evolution episode “Strategy X!” It's the first X-Men cartoon since the classic X-Men: The Animated Series and heavily influenced by the Fox X-Men films. Join us for such topics as how does Evolution hold up compared to the beloved original series, goth girls of the early 2000s, is Mystique the first lesbian mutant, new costume designs, and my relentless dislike of Toad!! All this and more as we discuss the next stage of mutant evolution….in cartoon form!!

Once again, I've got a guest host stepping in this week as I wrap up my vacation, and it's multiple time guest Mike Crockett!! He's bringing Keith Langston, co-host of GFA Live on the Greetings From Allentown wrestling podcast feed, with him to talk about something way outside the box when it comes to comic book animation, Duck Tales! Is it all it's quacked up to be? They let us know as they review the episode currently BANNED from Disney+, "Launchpad's Civil War!" They discuss topics such as Scrooge McDuck's comic book roots, the trend of removing classic cartoons and judging them by today's standards, the crooked Duck family tree, and where a mustache should reside on a duck's face!!! All that and more good luck tales as Mike and Keith watch Huey, Dewey and Louie...in cartoon form!

With me taking my annual pilgrimage to Orlando this month, I've got guest hosts holding down the fort here in the Multiverse! This week, self-professed 2021 guest of the year Jamie Jamitkowski moves to the lead chair and he's got two guests with him - Chris McGue and Eddie McCabe from the New Age Insiders wrestling podcast! They're watching the Batman animated throwback movie, Return of the Caped Crusaders featuring Adam West and Burt Ward, but don't be surprised if they dissect the entire Dark Knight catalog along the way. Topics come up such as Steven Tyler's hand gestures, $4000 Iron Man cosplays, the Badd Blood pay-per-view, and sexually suggestive birds! Plus, they may just play a game before it's all said and done. All this, and if we're lucky, a little talk about the actual subject of the episode, old school TV Batman...in cartoon form!!!

It’s the Multiverse Bonus Halloween episode!!! I'm joined by my brother Marc as we travel back to the 90s for, believe it or not, a Tales From the Crypt animated series!!! We discuss such topics as the bizarre trend of adult themed IPs being turned into cartoons, me finding the Cryptkeeper annoying, the comic codes authority and the extremely loose adaptation of a horror comic!! All this and more as we watch shrieks and freaks…in cartoon form!

This week, our Halloween celebration continues!! I am joined by Rich, co-host of The Weird Warriors Podcast, as we watch DC Showcase… Sgt. Rock!!! How is this Halloween related you ask? Rock is joined by the spookiest military unit there is, The Creature Commandos!!! Witness Matt and Rich discuss such topics of humble beginnings of Sgt. Rock, non-Americans playing the role, reasons Nazis make great villains, the creator of Rock not loving him meeting superheroes, and the Commandos leader being a big meanie!!! All this and more we tackle ghost, goblins, grenades and G.I.s in cartoon form!