Chris and Steven dive into the first five issues of BLUE DEVIL (DC Comics, 1984), a comic book scientifically proven to be the most outrageously fun title of the 1980s; the madcap insanity of it all was written by Dan Mishkin & Gary Cohn, penciled by Paris Cullins, and inked by Pablo Marcos and Gary Martin. Join us, flashback party people… Circuits and Sorcery await you!

COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Chris Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age.

⏱ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro + Theme Song

00:47 - So who is this Blue Devil guy, anyway?

03:47 - Pop Culture of the day in 1984

05:52 - Dick Giordano’s admirably bold thoughts on DC Comics’ mission in 1984

12:07 - What is the actual story for BLUE DEVIL?

18:49 - “Fun” comics vs. “artsy-schmartsy” comics

30:16 - The fascinating original “pitch document” for BLUE DEVIL

36:41 - Paris Cullins’ extraordinary creature design skills, epitomized by the unique look of the insectoid demon, Nebeiros

47:35 - Chris blows Steven’s mind by revealing that this one thing that comic artists do, y'know, that thing... Well, it has a name... Behold! "The De Luca Effect!"

01:05:06 - That good ol’ green metalhead, Metallo: B+ Superman villain or total clownshow?

01:10:42 - Holy Circuits & Sorcery, Batman! What happens when technology collides with ancient occult practices?!

01:21:05 - Blue Devil challenges Superman to a little arm wrestling match!

01:22:37 - Sparks fly! Instant romantic chemistry between Blue Devil and Zatanna

01:49:07 - The historically whimsical nature of most DC Comics as opposed to Marvel’s (mostly) scary “realism”

02:05:48 - THAT MOMENT where Zatanna grabs both of Blue Devil’s horns and kisses him on the mouth (no, really)

02:07:45 - So... How exactly is BLUE DEVIL remembered today?

02:13:16 - Alan Moore’s WATCHMEN and Frank Miller’s THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS -- how they brought about the “grim ‘n gritty” era of comics, ending the times represented by BLUE DEVIL

02:15:02 - The highwire tightrope act for writers of being simultaneously light AND heavy, detouring into critiques of DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, plus Quentin Tarantino’s entire oeuvre

02:23:18 - What modern comic books actually feel like BLUE DEVIL? Let us know!


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