Episode 45: “Bill, Adieu”

Well, we’ve come to the end of Bill Mantlo’s run on Alpha Flight and, folks, he absolutely saved his best issue for last. It’s a wild and, frankly, incredibly well-accomplished issue as Manikin confronts his creator. Both a super-smart metacommentary and just an all-around solid story, it’s quite the issue to go out on.

In this episode, Chris:

• gives some recommendations re: Puscifer’s best work
• does a great High Brow
• and makes some great sound effects

and Tom:

• has a great time with Manikin’s attacks on “the Scribbler” who created him
• probably does more talking as Knapp than he has any other character, which doesn’t feel awesome
• totally predicted that Knapp and Mantlo might have a heart-to-heart at some point and is damn proud of that random occurrence

Issue discussed:
Alpha Flight #66 - “Killing Me Softly With His Word Processor” cover date January 1989
Writer is Bill Mantlo
Penciler is Hugh Haynes
Inker is Gerry Talaoc
Letterer is Janice Chiang
Colorist is Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts
Associate Editor is Marc McLaurin
and Tom Defalco is Head of the Class

Why Not Read Alpha Flight is brought to you by listeners like you, who support our Patreon, and by the Excelsior Embroidery Company, a subsidiary of the Roxxon Corporation, celebrating 26 years of being the leading provider in vote counting technology. This week, Excelsior is proud to feature a new Venture Brothers patch of Brock Sampson. It’s the first new addition to the VB line in quite some time and there are more coming so be sure to follow the shop at excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com, where listeners of Why Not can use the coupon code WN503 to get 50 percent off any 3 items in the store.

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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In our penultimate episode covering Bill Mantlo's run on Alpha Flight things. get. weird. But quite interesting, too, as Wanda works some things out and Madison, well, Madison discovers the past isn't always done with you. Really interesting episodes but just kinda weird, too.

But, hey, that's not such a bad thing is it?

Issues discussed:

Alpha Flight #64 - "God War/inside title: "Where There's A Will There's A Way" - cover date November 1988
Writer is Bill Mantlo
Breakdown Penciller is Jim Lee
Finisher is Al Milgrom
Letterer is Janice Chiang
Colorist is Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts
Associate Editor is Marc Mc Laurin
and Tom DeFalco is Editor In Quirer

Alpha Flight #65 - "When Robots Dream" - cover date December 1988
Writer is Bill Mantlo
Guest Penciller is Hugh Haynes
Inker is Al Milgrom
Letterer is Janice Chiang
Colorist is Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts
Associate Editor is Marc Mc Laurin
and Tom De Falco is Somnambulist In Chief

This episode is brought to you by listeners like you, who subscribe to our Patreon. And by the Excelsior Embroidery Company, turning thread into thunder with great comics themed patches like the new classic Captain America shield design reinterpreted in white, pink and blue, available for order now so you’re all set for Trans Day of Visibility on March 31, 2026. See this and hundreds more designs at excelsiorembroidery.etsy.com, where listeners of Why Not?! can use the coupon code WN503 to get 50 percent off any 3 items in the store.

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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Episode 43: “All My Life I Wanted To Be a Supervillain”

We cover two issues this week and, holy hell, we have…a GOOD TIME?!?! Two very different issues focusing on two of our least explored AF members (Kara and Madison) by both Bill Mantlo and the writer soon to replace him, James Hudnall. And while the Kara/Bill issue leans (effectively) into horror, the Madison/Hudnall is almost a slapstick adventure. And they both work!!! Feels like Christmas came early.

In this episode, Chris:

• has an incredible time with the Technomancer: maybe his favorite villain to date
• is thrilled to be back on Laurier Drive
• reminds us that corporate ownership of culture rarely goes well

and Tom:

• absolutely digs the Kara issue: everything about it works for him
• ponders just how damn powerful both Kara and Madison really are
• is convinced Heather is about to put Box on ice (it really wouldn’t be that surprising, would it?)

Issues covered:
Alpha Flight #62 - “A Real Gone Daddy!” - cover date September 1988
Writer is Bill Mantlo
Penciler is Jim Lee
Inker is Al Milgrom
Letterer is Janice Chiang
Colorist is Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts
Associate Editor is Marc McLaurin
and Tom DeFalco is credited as Two Fisted Chieftan

Alpha Flight #63 - “Technomancer” - cover date October 1988
Writer is James Hudnall
Penciler is Hugh Haynes
Inkers are Mike Gustovich and Don Hudson
Letterer is Janice Chiang
Colorist is Bob Sharen
Editor is Carl Potts
and Tom Defalco is Hoo Hah in Chief

Why Not?! Read Alpha Flight is brought to you by listeners like you who subscribe to our Patreon, and by Excelsior Embroidery! This week check out the new line of Booty patches, which is pretty self-explanatory. Use coupon code WN503 to save 50% on a purchase of 3 patches.

Written by Chris Baker
Produced and edited by Tom Flynn
Music:"Oh, Canada" by Five Iron Frenzy

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