Considering how important splashy colorful images are to comic books as an art form, it’s been fascinating to watch, or rather listen to, Marvel try its hand at podcasting. Movies aren’t exactly the same as comic books but at least they have visuals. With podcasts though, you have to rely purely on immersive sound design and imaginative writing to get listeners to picture these unbelievable scenarios. They’re radio plays.
Marvel’s podcast universe began with Wolverine. For two seasons now we’ve been enjoying audio adventures of the surly mutant that feel right at home with any true-crime podcast inspired by Serial. But the next Marvel podcast is simultaneously more grounded and more cosmic. It’s an adaptation of Marvels.
Marvels, the landmark 1994 comic book miniseries written by Kurt Busiek, gave a tour of the Marvel universe from the eyes of humble photographer Phil Sheldon. Marvel comics had always been about superheroes existing in the real world. This everyman’s account of the Silver Surfer, Gwen Stacy’s death, and the assembling of the Avengers just took this idea to the next level.
Marvels the podcast obviously won’t have the benefit of Alex Ross’s legendary Normal Rockwell-esque painted art, aside from some new cover images. But the podcast form does add a kind of intimacy that makes sense for the story. The superheroes are so close to you they’re speaking right in your ear. Here’s how Marvel describes the plot.
“Marvels takes place in the aftermath of the Fantastic Four’s battle with Galactus, high above New York City, for the fate of the world. One intrepid photographer, an ambitious college student, and a cynical journalist embark on an investigation to confirm or debunk one of the most super-powered conspiracy theories of all time.”
The cast includes Method Man as Ben Urich, AnnaSophia Robb as Marcia Hardesty, Seth Barrish as Phil Sheldon, and Teo Rapp-Olsson as Peter Parker. And with Disney now owning Fox, what a great time to remind people that the Fantastic Four are cool. Ethan Peck, Louisa Krause, Jake Hart, and Ehad Berisha voice Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm, The Thing, and The Human Torch, respectively.
Marvels the podcast premieres exclusively on Stitcher this fall before moving to free podcast services in 2020. For more, check out these Marvel audiobooks and some of our other Marvel podcast pitches, including one that’s not too different from Marvels.
1.
The Pulse
The Marvel Podcast Universe absolutely needs a show that’s just reporting on general news from a world filled with superheroes. And we already got a comic book series doing this in the form of Brian Michael Bendis’ The Pulse, a Daily Bugle column about superheroes. Characters like Jessica Jones, Robbie Robertson, and J. Jonah freaking Jameson have the voices and personalities big enough to be entertaining radio journalists.
2.
Doctor Strange’s Guided Meditation
Doctor Strange’s mystic arts are all about spiritual transcendence. Close your eyes and listen in order to truly see in this self-help podcast for conjuring your own magic, or just feeling more relaxed in the workplace. Strange spouting his trademark nonsense in your ear like “Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth” and “Ymir’s Frosty Beard” would make the ASMR crowd drop dead from pleasure. Maybe loop in Iron Fist and Daredevil as guest hosts, for different yet equally obvious reasons.
3.
Radio Free Wakanda
Don’t even pretend that Wakanda doesn’t have the dopest radio stations ever to grace the planet. Turn the dial however you want and you’ll find pure gold. Vibranium life hacks? Incredible fashion advice? Underground Wakandan hip-hop bands? The Black Panther’s daily address? Just give me a podcast that let’s me pretend I’m a citizen of this great nation please. Even as a being made of pure sound, Klaw can’t compete with this.
4.
The Future Foundation
Podcasts like Radiolab prove listeners are curious to learn more about science during their morning commute. And who better from the Marvel universe to teach us about science than Mr. Fantastic himself, Reed Richards, who could frankly stand to rebrand himself as a friendly, Bill Nye type. Other members of the Fantastic Four would of course show up as well, but keep the Future Foundation name as it sounds much cooler.
5.
The Captain’s American History Hour
After being frozen for decades during one of the most transformative eras of American history, Steve Rogers has a lot of catching up to do. But being the selfless hero he is, he’s inviting you the listener (and Bucky) to join him on this educational journey learning about what happened to the land he sacrificed so much for. We can’t wait for the episode where Captain America reads about the CIA inventing crack.
6.
I Am Iron Man
Unlike so many Marvel superheroes, Tony Stark has no issue with being completely transparent about his life as Iron Man. He flaunts it. He would absolutely have a podcast talking about how cool and rich and smart he is. He probably builds livestreaming tech into the latest Iron Man helmets. Add in some other Avengers as interview subjects and this would basically be WTF with Marc Maron with capes.
7.
HydraWars
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was eventually revealed that Nazi-offshoot Hydra had been secretly controlling and destabilizing the world for decades. So you know once that news broke conspiracy theorists went off the deep end. It was bad enough when alien gods became a real thing. Take the craziest rantings and ravings of the Alex Jones type dudes in the general Marvel population and pump it directly into my ears.
8.
Get Nuts With Squirrel Girl
To truly represent podcasting as an art form, we absolutely need a Comedy Bang Bang-style improv comedy show starring Marvel characters. This is where we think Squirrel Girl would thrive. Listen to studio technicians wrangle squirrels in the recording booth. Hear whatever wacky characters and sketch ideas Doreen and friends can come up with. Dunk on Doctor Doom, Thanos, Galactus, and every other villain Squirrel Girl has canonically defeated every week.
