While Jon is away, Corey and Dylan will play… and in this case playing means talking about their favorite Crocodile/Alligator/Reptilian characters… or try to.

At first Corey and Dylan discuss the Batman rogue Killer Croc but then the topic verges off into how to identify a crocodile’s sex, Lana Del Ray’s regular every day bloke husband, then they go back to Killer Croc but then verge off the path to talk about Mary Jane Watson and Venom.

Don’t worry, they get it back on topic… or try to before they start talking about animal-based monster characters.

🐊 Topics discussed include:

- Copperhead from Batman: Arkham Origins

- The Lizard from Spider-Man’s rogue gallery

- Manbat from Batman’s rogue gallery

- King Shark from the Suicide Squad

- Leatherhead from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

- Their feelings on the “Watch-A-Long” videos they’ve put out in the past

- The Rhino from Spider-Man’s rogue gallery

- The tendency of Spider-Man to have villains replace other villains and then those original villains to come back

- A brief discussion on IP and movies

- Characters named after animals versus animal-based characters

- Chip Zdarsky’s Batman run and the “Failsafe” storyline

- James Tynion IV’s Batman run and creating new characters that didn’t stick

The lads then tie it together by inventing their brand new character “Cool Croc” to add to the lineage of crocodile/alligator themed characters.

Join Corey and Dylan as they dive headfirst into the animal kingdom as it relates to monsters and comic books.

💬 Join the discussion: Who are your favorite animal-based monster characters? Did Corey and Dylan miss any big examples of one?

👍 Like the video if you enjoy comic book related discussions and humor

🔔 Subscribe for more comic deep dives, reviews, rankings, and debates

Click the link for Dylan's radio show!: http://www.bouncedigitalradio.co.uk

Click the link for Dylan's Twitch stream: http://Twitch.tv/spookylaroux

Click the link for Jon's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/bigjonbowski/

Click the link for Corey's show "Large Old Cup": https://open.spotify.com/show/2YHMppnl9inQevwLIxR64f

Also be sure to check out New Number Ones posted every week on the Smark Avengers YouTube channel!

The final regular Avengers Auction is here... and the Avengers roster has officially gotten weird.

In this episode, Corey, Dylan, and Jon spin the wheel one last time as they continue their quest to draft every Avenger in Marvel history. This installment covers characters who joined Earth's Mightiest Heroes between 2016 and 2026, a period that introduced a handful of major names, a surprising number of former villains, and more obscure heroes than anyone knew existed.

🦸 Characters up for auction include:

Psylocke

X-23

Night Thrasher

Hazmat

Mr. Immortal

Captain Beyond

Ultron

Blue Bolt

Infinity City

Avenger X

Phone Ranger

And many, many more

With fewer superstar names available than ever before, the bidding wars may be smaller, but the laughs are bigger as the guys attempt to determine which characters are hidden gems and which ones are destined to become the latest auction busts. Who assembles the strongest team from this unusual era of Avengers history? Who gets stuck with the strangest roster? And can anyone justify spending actual auction money on Phone Ranger?

💰 In this episode: The final regular Avengers Auction draft Avengers members from 2016–2026 Heroes, villains, teenagers, and complete obscurities Marvel's strangest roster additions Bad bids, questionable strategies, and auction chaos Plenty of deep-cut Marvel trivia and laughs

The Avengers Auction may be nearing its end, but Marvel's ability to create bizarre new Avengers appears limitless.

💬 Join the discussion: Which of these modern Avengers would you actually want on your team?

👍 Like the video if you enjoy Marvel drafts, auctions, and obscure comic book characters

🔔 Subscribe for more comic book podcasts, rankings, character deep dives, and Marvel history discussions

Click the link for Dylan's radio show!: http://www.bouncedigitalradio.co.uk

Click the link for Dylan's Twitch stream: http://Twitch.tv/spookylaroux

Click the link for Jon's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/bigjonbowski/

Click the link for Corey's show "Large Old Cup": https://open.spotify.com/show/2YHMppnl9inQevwLIxR64f

Behind every great superhero is... sometimes another superhero.

In this episode, Corey, Dylan, and Jon take a look at some of the most iconic romances in comic book history and discuss what makes certain relationships endure for decades while others fade away with the next creative team.

❤️ Featured relationships include:

Peter Parker & Mary Jane Watson

Clark Kent & Lois Lane

Scott Summers & Jean Grey

And many more of comics' most famous couples and pairings

The guys discuss which relationships have stood the test of time, which ones helped define the characters involved, and why some romances have become just as important to comic book history as the heroes themselves.

Of course, not every hero is lucky enough to find lasting love.

The conversation also turns to characters like Daredevil and Nightwing, whose love lives seem destined to be reset every few years as new writers introduce new relationships, new status quos, and new romantic drama. Why do some comic book couples survive editorial changes while others disappear almost overnight?

💘 Topics discussed include:

The greatest marriages and romances in comics

Why certain pairings resonate with readers

The importance of supporting casts in superhero stories

Characters trapped in endless cycles of short-term relationships

How new writers often reshape a hero's romantic life

The role romance plays in modern superhero comics

Whether you're a fan of classic comic book marriages, superhero romance, or just enjoy debating which characters belong together, this episode is packed with plenty of opinions, nostalgia, and spirited discussion.

💬 Join the discussion: Who do you think is the greatest comic book couple of all time?

👍 Like the video if you enjoy comic book history and character discussions

🔔 Subscribe for more comic book podcasts, rankings, retrospectives, and debates

Click the link for Dylan's radio show!: http://www.bouncedigitalradio.co.uk

Click the link for Dylan's Twitch stream: http://Twitch.tv/spookylaroux

Click the link for Jon's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/bigjonbowski/

After diving deep into the original Watchmen comic, Corey, Dylan, and Jon turn their attention to one of the most controversial comic book adaptations ever made: Zack Snyder's Watchmen.

Widely praised for its visual faithfulness and criticized for its interpretation of the source material, Watchmen remains a movie that comic fans continue to debate more than a decade after its release. In this episode, the Smark Avengers break down what Snyder got right, what he got wrong, and whether the film truly understands the themes that made Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' comic a classic.

🎬 Topics discussed include:

The film's controversial changes to the ending

Characterization differences between the movie and comic

The impact of Snyder's costume redesigns

The use of music and soundtrack choices throughout the film

Important scenes, themes, and subplots omitted from the adaptation

Whether visual accuracy translates into thematic accuracy

The challenges of adapting one of the most influential comics ever written

The crew also dives into one of the strangest discussions of the episode: the unexpected similarities between Watchmen and the 1997 film Batman & Robin. It's a comparison that sounds ridiculous at first—but the more they talk about it, the harder it becomes to ignore.

Is Watchmen a misunderstood masterpiece? A visually stunning but fundamentally flawed adaptation? Or something in between?

Join Corey, Dylan, and Jon as they revisit one of the most debated comic book movies ever released and ask the question comic fans have been arguing about for years: Did Zack Snyder miss the point of Watchmen?

💬 Join the discussion: Do you think Watchmen is a faithful adaptation of the comic, or does it fundamentally change the story's message?

👍 Like the video if you enjoy comic book movie retrospectives

🔔 Subscribe for more comic deep dives, reviews, rankings, and debates

Click the link for Dylan's radio show!: http://www.bouncedigitalradio.co.uk

Click the link for Dylan's Twitch stream: http://Twitch.tv/spookylaroux

Click the link for Jon's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/bigjonbowski/

Click the link for Corey's show "Large Old Cup": https://open.spotify.com/show/2YHMppnl9inQevwLIxR64f

Why do some of the most compelling stories ask us to spend time with people who are difficult—or even outright horrible—to understand?

With Jon unavailable for this episode, Corey and Dylan sit down for a wide-ranging discussion on one of storytelling’s most uncomfortable but fascinating ideas: following unlikable or morally questionable characters as protagonists.

The conversation is sparked by Corey’s recent reading of Odin #1 from Image Comics, which follows an investigative journalist embedded with a group of young neo-Nazis lost in the wilderness. From there, the discussion expands into comics and beyond, exploring how writers navigate empathy, discomfort, and moral distance.

📚 Topics discussed include:

What makes an unlikable or villainous character compelling to follow

The difference between understanding a character and endorsing their actions

How writers build empathy without excusing harmful behavior

Antiheroes, villain protagonists, and morally gray storytelling in comics

When storytelling becomes meaningful exploration versus uncomfortable glorification

A significant part of the conversation also turns toward audience interpretation, as Corey and Dylan discuss concerns about how some readers/viewers may identify too strongly with unsavory characters, particularly when those characters embody unchecked power, dominance, or influence. They explore how certain stories can be misread—or intentionally reinterpreted—in ways that reflect a desire for control or superiority rather than the narrative’s intended critique, and why that tension matters in modern storytelling. Along the way, they question where the line is between engaging with complex fiction and projecting real-world values onto characters who are meant to be cautionary or critical examples.

Do characters need to be likable to be worth following? Can a story about terrible people still offer insight without being misunderstood? And what responsibility, if any, does an audience have when engaging with these kinds of narratives? Join us for a deeper-than-usual conversation about comics, storytelling, and the uneasy space between fiction, interpretation, and audience response.

💬 Join the discussion: Do you think audiences sometimes misinterpret villain-centric stories as aspirational? Where is the line for you?

👍 Like the video if you enjoy comic discussions and narrative deep dives

🔔 Subscribe for more comic book podcasts, character studies, and storytelling debates

Click the link for Dylan's radio show!: http://www.bouncedigitalradio.co.uk

Click the link for Dylan's Twitch stream: http://Twitch.tv/spookylaroux

Click the link for Jon's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/bigjonbowski/

Click the link for Corey's show "Large Old Cup": https://open.spotify.com/show/2YHMppnl9inQevwLIxR64f

It's time for another relaxed-fit episode as Corey, Dylan, and Jon sit down for a wide-ranging conversation about the current state of comic books, what's working, what isn't, and some of the stranger directions Marvel and DC have taken recently.

From Spider-Man to the X-Men, Iron Man to Lobo, no topic is safe as the guys bounce around the comic book landscape and share their thoughts on the stories, characters, and creative decisions that have caught their attention.

📚 Topics discussed include:

The latest redesign for Mary Jane Watson's Venom persona

The identity and future of Spider-Man villain Torment

Thoughts on the current Iron Man comics

Whether The Sentry is being used effectively

The state of the X-Men line following recent events

Why Lobo continues to be one of comics' most ridiculous characters

The challenges and opportunities facing modern Marvel and DC

The conversation also shifts beyond the Big Two as Corey reflects on what he's learned from five months of covering new comic releases on New Number Ones, including observations about smaller publishers and the kinds of books that deserve more attention from readers.

Is modern comics in a healthy place? Are publishers making the most of their best characters? And have comic fans become harder to please than ever? Tune in as the Smark Avengers crew tries to make sense of it all.

💬 Join the discussion: What do you think is the biggest problem facing comics today? Or are things better than fans give them credit for?

👍 Like the video if you enjoy comic book discussions and industry talk

🔔 Subscribe for weekly comic book podcasts, character deep dives, rankings, tournaments, and more

Click the link for Dylan's radio show!: http://www.bouncedigitalradio.co.uk

Click the link for Dylan's Twitch stream: http://Twitch.tv/spookylaroux

Click the link for Jon's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/bigjonbowski/

Click the link for Corey's show "Large Old Cup": https://open.spotify.com/show/2YHMppnl9inQevwLIxR64f

For the first time ever, Dylan has finally read Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen… and now it’s time to talk about it.

In this episode, Corey, Dylan, and Jon revisit one of the most influential comics ever created as Dylan gives his fresh perspective on the legendary graphic novel while Corey and Jon reflect on their own past readings years later.

Using the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s Watchmen discussion guide as a framework, the guys dive deep into the themes, characters, structure, and legacy of the series that changed comics forever.

🟡 Topics discussed include:

Dylan’s first impressions of Watchmen

Whether the comic still holds up in 2026

Rorschach, Dr. Manhattan, Ozymandias, and the Comedian

The book’s political and social themes

The storytelling techniques that made it revolutionary

Whether the comic deserves its legendary reputation

Does Watchmen remain a masterpiece decades later?

Whether you’re a longtime fan or someone who’s never read Watchmen before, this episode is a deep dive into one of the most discussed comics of all time.

💬 Join the discussion: Does Watchmen still deserve its reputation as the greatest graphic novel ever written?

👍 Like the video if you enjoy comic deep dives and literary discussions

🔔 Subscribe for more comic book podcasts, retrospectives, and debates

Click the link for Dylan's radio show!: http://www.bouncedigitalradio.co.uk

Click the link for Dylan's Twitch stream: http://Twitch.tv/spookylaroux

Click the link for Jon's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/bigjonbowski/

Click the link for Corey's show "Large Old Cup": https://open.spotify.com/show/2YHMppnl9inQevwLIxR64f

The Avengers Auction returns… and this time the roster gets way stranger.

In this episode, Corey, Dylan, and Jon continue their ongoing mission to draft every Avenger in Marvel history by spinning a wheel of names and bidding with limited cash. Covering the Jonathan Hickman Avengers era, All-New All-Different Avengers, Uncanny Avengers, and other 2010s lineups, the guys are forced to balance huge stars with some truly obscure wildcard picks.

🦸 Characters up for auction include:

Deadpool

Rogue

Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel

Miles Morales

Starbrand

Ex Nihilo

Kaluu

Alexis the Protector And many more from Marvel’s weirdest Avengers era

As the bids climb higher, strategies begin to fall apart. One major “power move” completely backfires, sending the auction into chaos and changing the direction of the draft.

Who builds the best Avengers team?

Who wastes their budget on terrible picks?

And who gets stuck with the most random roster imaginable?

If you enjoy Marvel Comics, fantasy drafts, obscure comic characters, and chaotic debates, this episode is for you.

💬 Join the discussion: Which drafted Avengers team would YOU choose?

👍 Like the video if you enjoy Marvel drafts and auctions

🔔 Subscribe for more comic book podcasts, rankings, tournaments, and deep dives

Click the link for Dylan's radio show!: http://www.bouncedigitalradio.co.uk

Click the link for Dylan's Twitch stream: http://Twitch.tv/spookylaroux

Click the link for Jon's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/bigjonbowski/

Click the link for Corey's show "Large Old Cup": https://open.spotify.com/show/2YHMppnl9inQevwLIxR64f