Revisit 17th century Japan with us and see what everyone’s favorite rabbit ronin gets up to next! The second Dark Horse omnibus includes “Grasscutter,” an Eisner-award winning storyline in which writer-artist Stan Sakai seamlessly blends traditional mythology, meticulously researched history, and his own brand of adventure and whimsy. Miyamoto Usagi stumbles upon the legendary sword Grasscutter, a national treasure and symbol of imperial power, and is drawn into a conspiracy that could change the balance of power in Japan. He also re-encounters some old friends, makes some new ones, and faces his opposite number: the demon spearsman Jei. And don’t miss what Justin promises is his last-ever rant about flat coloring vs. gradients!

Discussed in this episode: Usagi Yojimbo (vol. 3) #7-30, plus Usagi Yojimbo Color Special: Green Persimmon #1

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We revisit George Pérez’s redefinition of Wonder Woman with the second major arc, 1987’s “Challenge of the Gods.” In these pages, you’ll get to know Diana’s supporting cast better and find out how a hard-rebooted Wonder Woman fits into post-Crisis continuity; meet the Cheetah, a savage reimaging of one of the series’ most iconic villains; delve into an underground prison beneath Paradise Island swarming with mythological monsters; and learn the secret origin of why an Amazon warrior wears a costume that looks a bit like an American flag. It’s Wonder Woman vs. Greek mythology’s greatest hits, and Jim will explain all the historical and classics-based context that Justin did not pick up on repeated viewings of Clash of the Titans.

Discussed in this episode: Wonder Woman (vol. 2) #8-14.

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Worlds will live! Worlds will die! The skies will turn red, and cowboys and cavemen will fight side by side! Written by Marv Wolfman and penciled by George Pérez, Crisis on Infinite Earths celebrated 50 years of DC Comics by blowing up the multiverse in a massive crossover featuring virtually every major character from its history (and introducing several new ones). Designed to make a bold statement in a comics industry overwhelmingly dominated by Marvel, the original plan was to reboot the entire DC Universe from scratch. Instead we got…well, what exactly did we get? We discuss whether Crisis was a new beginning or an ultimate ending, but we also focus on the comic itself and how this apex of superhero maximalism holds up 40 years later.

Discussed in this episode: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-12

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