I don’t know how I missed this interview & episode before!

Keen to likewise interview Gerry and wondering if you know how I can get in touch?

1. Just to put this out there, the immolated kid imitating Human Torch is pure urban legend. I think it started when he was replaced by H.E.R.B.I.E. in the ’70s Fantastic Four cartoon, which was because Torch had been part of a separate license.

2. Firestorm does have a distinctive silhouette, not that folks would line up for that particular one.

3. Conway mentions Killer Frost as a favored villain. Also, Multiplex. No mention of Slipknot.

4. Firestorm was the Kitty Pryde of the JLA. They tried to stick her in New Mutants once they’d formed, but Kitty didn’t belong there. She was created as a unique, whole character intended to serve a specific role in the X-Men, and her age was nothin’ but a number. Firestorm would have been horrible in the Teen Titans, because he was much too powerful and was partially defined by his naivete, which wouldn’t wash amongst his contemporaries. The League needed fresh eyes to admire their adult heroes, and Ronnie served as that reader proxy. I didn’t come to like Kyle Rayner until he joined the JLA and served the same role.

5. My brain melted a little bit the other day when I realized Kelly Clarkson was singing a song built around a Nietzsche quote, specifically one that I hate. That which does not kill you can still compromise you mentally/bodily/spiritually for the rest of your life and perhaps make you welcome the inevitability of death. Just saying.

6. People walk around with Punisher t-shirts because of John Romita’s fantastic design, followed by the Grant/Zeck mini-series. Grant pushed it through over much in-house objection, and Zeck won over fandom with it. Ennis’ contribution was returning the character to legitimacy after the excesses of the ’90s, and providing a long, strong run. The Jane movie did suck, though.

7. Ronnie is an athlete, Jason is a brain. I’m watching Buck Rogers in the 25th Century right now, and Buck is constantly using football plays to win battles against space aliens. I like the idea of Ronnie and Jason switching places as needed, with Rusch in charge during complicated transmutations, Raymond having the body when reflexes are more important, and so on. I think we’ve moved past Stein as a component of the matrix.

8. Shag, do you take any credit for the rebirth of Vibe? I sincerely hope Martian Manhunter, Vibe and company end up in a bunker under Detroit in Trinity War. I still think a great series could be had out of running with all that Dale Gunn and Commander Steel material. Obviously, Vixen deserves more love, in my book.

As before, loved Shag trying to explain who Carter Hall was to Gerry Conway, lol!