Episode 157 - Supreme: The Return with Logan Crowley

This week on Men of Steel, Case and Jmike are joined once again by Logan Crowley to dive into the back half of Alan Moore's Supreme saga — Supreme: The Return! We explore how Moore redefined heroism through metafiction, nostalgia, and some of the boldest Superman-adjacent storytelling of the '90s.

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Men of Steel Full Episode

Originally aired: November 8, 2025

Edited by Sophia Ricciardi

Scored by Geoff Moonen

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Outline

Introduction and Context Setting on Supreme Comic Series (00:00 - 10:00)

• Discussed the Alan Moore run on Supreme comics, focusing on the second volume, Supreme: The Return and its relation to the initial story, Supreme: The Story of the Year.
• Introduced guest Logan Crowley and recapped the original Story of the Year to bring listeners up to speed.

Detailed Issue-by-Issue Breakdown and Analysis (10:18 - 01:56:09)

• Explored themes, characters, and narrative arcs of Supreme: The Return in granular detail.
• Noted meta-narrative techniques, cultural references, inconsistencies, tonal shifts, and artistic variations issue by issue.

Art and Production Quality Discussions (15:36 - 01:24:50)

• Critiqued the inconsistent artwork across different issues and artists including Rick Veitch, Chris Sprouse, Jim Starlin, Ian Churchill, and Matt Smith.
• Noted the impact of publisher issues and artist changes on overall series cohesion and visual storytelling.

Cultural and Social Commentary in the Comic (38:45 - 57:22)

• Discussed controversial storylines such as the Confederacy winning the Civil War due to Wild Bill Hickok's actions and its culturally sensitive implications.
• Analyzed dated humor and some problematic depictions reflecting 1990s sensibilities.

Narrative and Thematic Observations (47:00 - 01:50:56)

• Discussed thematic motifs like closed time loops, meta-fictional elements, homage to classic Silver Age Superman narratives, and the contrast with other Alan Moore works like Tom Strong.
• Explored the balance between classic superhero optimism vs. cynicism leaking through the narrative.

Discussion on Supporting Characters and Legacy (25:00 - 01:40:16)

• Elaborated on the roles of various supporting characters enhancing the Supreme mythos like Judy Jordan, Diana Dane, and Radar the canine hero.
• Highlighted the influence on later comics and the impact on the Superman archetype and analog characters.

Guest Insights and Personal Reflections (00:00 - 02:30:00)

• Logan Crowley shared fresh perspectives, especially on the nostalgic value and unique features of Supreme.
• J. Mike and Case Aiken reflected on the series' strengths and weaknesses as longtime fans and comic enthusiasts.

Promotions and Related Projects (02:28:00 - 02:36:00)

• Promoted related podcasts like Single Bound and Trade School and thanked Patreon supporters.
• Encouraged listeners to engage with the content and share their thoughts.