Dear Watchers: an omniversal comic book podcast

What if the Joker hired Lobo to kill Batman, his own brother? From Batman/Lobo DC Comics Elseworlds

🏍️ Fragging Around in the MultiverseThis week we're revving up the space hog and hauling across the omniverse to ask a very thorny question — what happens when the universe's most dangerous bounty hunter lands in Gotham City… and the Joker is his target?Ep. 177 What if the Joker Hired Lobo to Kill Batman (His Own Brother)?from Batman/Lobo #1 (DC Comics Elseworlds, April 2000)Find us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchersWe're diving into the one and only appearance of an Earth where the Main Man himself rides into Gotham on a contract — hired by Scarface to take out the Joker, only for the Clown Prince of Crime to flip the script and redirect Lobo's chaos at the Batman. We begin by tracing Lobo's surprisingly obscure origins, from a blink-and-you'll-miss-it debut in Omega Men #3 to the 1990 miniseries where Simon Bisley gave him the iconic look the world came to know. Along the way we compare him to Deadpool and Wolverine, explore his strange staying power, and unpack why his strict personal code of honor makes him more interesting than he first appears.Then we get into the Elseworlds itself — all fragging chaos, grotesque Bisley art, and a soap-opera twist that reframes the entire Batman mythology. We close out by looking at the brand-new 2026 Lobo ongoing from Skottie Young and Jorge Corona, and ponder what Jason Momoa's upcoming portrayal in Supergirl might bring to the character.Reading / Watch List:Omega Men #3 (DC Comics, June 1983) — Lobo's first appearanceLobo #1 (DC Comics, 1990) — The miniseries that defined the character; written by Keith Giffen & Alan Grant, art by Simon BisleyBatman/Lobo #1 (DC Comics Elseworlds, April 2000) — Written by Alan Grant, art by Simon BisleyLobo #1, Vol. 4 (DC Comics, 2026) — Written by Skottie Young, art by Jorge CoronaMentioned / Related Episodes:Ep. 49 — Our first Elseworlds episodeEp. 173 — Batman/Deadpool (another Dark Knight meets an antihero!)Email: Podcast@DearWatchers.com Find us & support us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchersTheme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0) ★ Support this podcast ★ ★ Support this podcast ★

What if Daredevil’s dad had thrown the big fight? From Marvel Comics' What If #102

🎙️ Entering the Ring (and Taking a Fall)This week we’re stepping into the spotlight to ask a very classic Watchers question—what happens to a hero when the moment that “forges” them… never happens?Ep. 176 What If Daredevil’s Dad Had Thrown the Big Fight?from What If…? #102 (“What If? Daredevil’s Dad Had Thrown The Big Fight?”)Find us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchersWe’re diving into Earth-9711, where one choice in the boxing ring changes Matt Murdock’s entire destiny. We begin by revisiting Daredevil’s remarkably consistent origin (and why he’s a fascinating “almost breakout” character) before turning to a noir-framed What If story, told through Ben Urich’s reporting and a prisonhouse confession.Along the way we explore fate vs. free will, the meaning of “taking a fall” (literally and morally), why Kingpin remains one of Marvel’s best arch-villains, and how this alternate Matt still can’t escape the gravitational pull of the Daredevil mythos—he just gets there by a different, darker route. Then we wrap by pondering what’s next for Daredevil on screen—and what kinds of street-level MCU stories we hope the future holds.Reading / Watch List:What If…? #102 — “What If? Daredevil’s Dad Had Thrown The Big Fight?” (Marvel, Nov 1997)Mentioned / Related Episodes:Ep. 8 — What if Bullseye had not killed Elektra?Ep. 154 — Daredevil teamed up with Batman (and we finally tackled his origin in depth!)Email: Podcast@DearWatchers.comFind us & support us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchersTheme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0)★ Support this podcast ★ ★ Support this podcast ★

What if Spider-Man fought Superman for a moment before teaming up? From DC & Marvel's Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man #1

🎙️ When Titans Collide: Spidey vs Supes?!It’s Marvel vs DC in the ultimate clash of capes and quips!Ep. 175 What If Spider-Man Fought Superman (Before Teaming Up)?from Superman vs The Amazing Spider-Man: The Battle of the Century (Marvel/DC Treasury Edition, 1976)Find us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchersToday, we ask one of the most fantastic questions ever: What if Spider-Man fought Superman... before becoming buddies? We kick things off with the oversized crossover classic Superman vs The Amazing Spider-Man (1976), as Marvel and DC’s flagship icons trade punches and philosophies. Along the way, we uncover behind-the-scenes creator drama, explore the meta-multiversal Earths that allowed this union, and examine how this one-shot helped shape decades of intercompany collaborations. Then, we wrap by pondering the nature of these team-ups—should these icons always clash before camaraderie? And is Earth-7642 the ultimate crossover cosmos?Reading / Watch List:Superman vs The Amazing Spider-Man: The Battle of the Century (Marvel & DC, 1976)Email: Podcast@DearWatchers.com Find us & support us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchersTheme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0)★ Support this podcast ★ ★ Support this podcast ★

What if He-Man teamed up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to avert a universal crisis? From Turtles of Grayskull by Dark Horse Comics

🎙️ “I HAVE THE SEWER POWER!”Two titans of toy aisles and pop culture finally collide in a radical, tubular, and power-packed multiversal crossover!Ep. 174 What if He-Man teamed up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to avert a universal crisis?from Turtles of Grayskull #1–4 (Dark Horse Comics, 2024–2025)Find us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchersIt’s morphin’ time—wait, wrong show! But the power is still on as we explore the brand-new crossover Turtles of Grayskull where two beloved 1980s franchises—He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—join forces across dimensions.We begin with the Turtles’ gritty comic origins from TMNT #1 (1984, Mirage Studios) by Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird before fast-forwarding to the Nickelodeon era and an animated introduction to Renet the Time Mistress. Then it’s onto the main event: the recent Turtles of Grayskull comic by Tim Seeley & Freddie E. Williams II, where interdimensional time-knots, ooze-infused heroes, and a power-hungry ninja villain bring Eternia and Earth crashing together.Along the way we discuss nostalgia, collectible toys, how the Turtles and He-Man evolved over decades, the surprising depth of this crossover, and what future mashups we’d love to see next.Reading / Watch List:Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (Mirage Studios, 1984)Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012) – Season 3, Episode 19: “Turtles in Time” (Nickelodeon)Turtles of Grayskull #1–4 (Dark Horse Comics, 2024–2025) – by Tim Seeley & Freddie E. Williams IIEmail: Podcast@DearWatchers.comFind us & support us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchersTheme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0) ★ Support this podcast ★

What happens when the Bat meets the Merc in the most meta multiverse ever? From Batman / Deadpool #1 by DC & Marvel Comics

🎙️ What happens when the Bat meets the Merc in the most meta multiverse ever?One is the world’s greatest detective. The other talks to the readers more than his therapist. Together, they shatter the fourth wall and maybe the entire omniverse!Ep. 173 Batman/Deadpool: The Cosmic Kiss Caperfrom Batman/Deadpool #1 (DC/Marvel, 2026)Find us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchersWe’re diving into the unpredictable crossover chaos of Batman/Deadpool by Grant Morrison and Dan Mora! We begin with this record-breaking comic and unpack its surprising tone, before exploring the deeper themes of metafiction and DC/Marvel blending in related stories from The Amalgam Age 2026 event. Along the way, we trace the alternate universe legacy of fourth-wall-breaking storytelling, then wrap with speculation about what other mash-ups or media adaptations this might inspire.Reading / Watch List:Batman/Deadpool #1 (DC/Marvel, 2026)Written by Grant Morrison; art by Dan Mora; colors by Alejandro SanchezA Magician Walks Into a Universe (Amalgam Age 2026, DC/Marvel)Writers: James Tynion IV, Joshua Williamson, Scott SnyderSticks & Snikts (Amalgam Age 2026)Writer: Tom Taylor; art by Bruno RedondoHarley & Hulk’s Amazin’ Saturday!!!!!! (Amalgam Age 2026)Writer: Mariko Tamaki; art by Amanda ConnerNew Friends in Old Places (Amalgam Age 2026)Writer: G. Willow Wilson; art by Denys Cowan & Klaus JansonEmail: Podcast@DearWatchers.comFind us & support us at https://linktr.ee/dearwatchersTheme music is Space Heroes by MaxKoMusic (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0)★ Support this podcast ★ ★ Support this podcast ★