Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 14: “Friday, Marrina Is Depressed”

We’re doing something different this episode as we venture away from Alpha Flight proper and address Marrina’s appearance in Power Pack. To help us understand what it is we’re reading, we’re joined by Jeff and Rick of The Unpacking the Power of Power Pack Podcast. In this issue of Power Pack, Marrina teams up with the Power Pack to handle Snake-Eyes, the giant snake The Collector had on his ship, and manages to not…really…contribute, but my goodness does she mope.

Jeff and Rick are great, WE have a great time, they give us the cliffsnotes on the Power siblings, “the big guns of the Marvel Universe” (no, really: Spider-Man said so and given their abilities, he ain’t wrong), and we think you’ll enjoy the shenanigans committed, jokes made, and friendships forged along the way.

In this episode, Chris:

• learns that Black Bolt is a brony
• and agrees that Northstar would find Black Bolt’s stand-offishness…interesting
• gets to properly nerd out about how great Louise Simonson is

and Tom:

• now knows for a fact there are some fun books out there that don’t involve…Walt
• doesn’t do voicework, but hears some of the best he’s heard from Jeff and has a new standard to strive toward
• seriously, the lack of Walt is liberating

Issue covered:
Power Pack #10 - “Sea Hunt!” - cover date May 1985
Written by Louise Simonson
Penciled by Brent Anderson
Inked by Bob Wiacek
Colored by Glynis Wein
Lettered by Joe Rosen
Edited by Carl Potts and Jim Shooter as Editor In Chief

And for more from Jeff and Rick, here are some links!:

• Facebook
• Jeff and Rick Present (@jeffandrickpresent.bsky.social) — Bluesky
• Jeff and Rick Present – Unpacking the Power of Power Pack – Analyzing awesome and amazing adolescent adventures and absorbing alcohol!
• Tales of Tails! – Jeff and Rick Present
• The Hero Initiative

If you like what we’re doing you should absolutely give their podcast a follow on your preferred podcatcher. And if you like them and are now meeting us: WELCOME! We hope you’ll stick around!

Our good buddy G also gets a mention in this episode. We’re behind (currently) in releasing the playlists he’s made for the podcast, but do give him a follow on Spotify.

Why Not?! is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company! Come check out the nearly 100 new items listed. Get a jump on Christmas shopping with a variety of classic and cheeky designs. See these and more at excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com.

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment or email us at whynotEHpod@gmail.com; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

Produced by Tom Flynn
Assisted by Chris Baker
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 13: “...Worth Two Twoyoungmen in the Bush”

In which almost everyone has a heart-to-heart except for maybe the people that really should (Shaman and his daughter; Aurora and Northstar). We also manage to hang out in 4-5 cities across Canada, so, you know, normal-AF.

In this episode, Chris:

• suggests #waltwasright and isn’t totally wrong
• …until #waltisanass becomes the better hashtag
• comments on Walt’s…laissez faire?...attitude?...re: university equipment

and Tom:

• is very much proven right about Walt
• goes in on Walt’s ethics (seriously, the guy is barely in these issues and yet somehow still manages to suck. A lot)
• unveils some amazing voice work, which almost kills Chris

Issues covered:
Alpha Flight #17 - “Dreams Die Hard…” - cover date December 1984
John Byrne is credited as Creator / Chronicler
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Lettered by Joe Rosen
Edited by Denny O’Neil with Jim Shooter as Editor In Chief
And some credits to Chris Claremont and Terry Austin for the pages reprinted from their work on X-Men

Alpha Flight #18 - “How Long Will A Man Lie In The Earth ‘Ere He Rot?” - cover date January 1985
Written and penciled by John Byrne
Inked by Bob Wiacek
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Lettered by Rick Parker
Edited by Denny O’Neil with Jim Shooter as editor in chief

Why Not?! is brought to you by the Excelsior Embroidery Company! Come check out the nearly 100 new items listed, including a full line of Halloween themed towels and wall hangers. Get a jump on Christmas shopping with a variety of classic and cheeky designs. See these and more at excelsioremmroidery.etsy.com.

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment or email us at whynotEHpod@gmail.com; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

Produced by Tom Flynn
Assisted by Chris Baker
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

Follow us on these platforms:
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Welcome to Why Not?!, Episode 12: “See No Crystar, Speak No Spider-Man, Hear No Marrina”

SIDE QUESTS! This episode we dig into two issues that present more…ephemera(?!) in Alpha Flight’s history. And while the second issue discussed is just plain bizarre, the first one featuring everyone’s favorite friendly neighborhood superhero is an absolute delight. Oh, and we added more sound effects.

In this episode, Chris:

• is really into the idea of an Aunt May podcast (you can make this happen!)
• may or may not want to make a throuple with the Simonsons
• goes on another helmet related rant, which Tom promptly crushes
• delights in what an absolute pro Louise Simonson is. Seriously, she crushes it

and Tom:

• “adjusts” the Marvel cosmic-being pantheon
• makes Chris sad by imagining a world where Louise Simonson took over Alpha Flight after Byrne
• imagines another, better world where Brian K. Vaughan writes a version of The Saga of Crystar, Crystal Warrior
• wonders right along with you, dear listeners, why opera gloves are a thing Chris would even mention

Issues covered:
Marvel Team Up Annual #7, - “The Collected Spider-Man” - cover date Halloween 1984
Written by Louise SImonson
Penciled by Paul Neary
Inked by Dam De La Rosa
Lettered by Joe Rosen
Colored by Christie Scheele
Edited by Danny Fingeroth and Jim Shooter as Editor-In-Chief

The Saga of Crystar Crystal Warrior #11 - cover date February 1985
Script and Plot by Jo Duffy
Art by Ricardo Villamonte
Lettered by Janice Chiang
Colored by Andy Yanchus
Edited by Ralph Macchio with Jim Shooter as Editor in Chief

Special thanks to the Excelsior Embroidery Co. for helping make this project a reality. Here's this episode's Featured Designs: an Aunt May face patch and a DOOM! sound effect patch from the Walt Simonson run on Thor!

Check us out at The Why Not Pod to leave us a comment or email us at whynotEHpod@gmail.com; we love to (try to) answer your questions about Alpha Flight!

Produced by Tom Flynn
Assisted by Chris Baker
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

Follow us on these platforms:
Instagram
TikTok
Imgur
YouTube