Reading The Multiverse: A Marvel Comics Journey cover art

Reading The Multiverse: A Marvel Comics Journey

Reading The Multiverse: A Marvel Comics Journey

Written by: Earth's Mightiest Nerds
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About this listen

Reading the Multiverse: A Marvel Comics Journey, explores the characters and the tales that built the Marvel Universe, issue by issue through Marvel’s comic history, starting with Fantastic Four #1.


Hosted by Joe from Muscles & The Multiverse, each episode blends story, commentary, and laid-back humor for a quick ride through Marvel’s ever-evolving world, from its cosmic beginnings to its modern chaos.


As a mostly first-time reader, Joe shares honest reactions to the art, writing, characters, the moments that still hold up, the ones that haven’t aged so well, and the surprises that make Marvel’s history so much fun to revisit.


Whether you’re an MCU fan who wants to know the source material or a lifelong comic reader up for a nostalgic re-read, this podcast brings you the stories, art, and chaos that shaped the Marvel Universe, one era & run at a time.

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Episodes
  • S1E9: Fantastic Four #31-34 - The Storm Family Tragedy & An Atlantean War

    S1E9: Fantastic Four #31-34 - The Storm Family Tragedy & An Atlantean War
    Jan 5 2026

    Send us a message through the Negative Zone

    In this episode of Reading the Multiverse, I go over Fantastic Four #31–34 where we learn about Sue and Johnny’s family history, the team faces the Invincible Man, they help Namor in his Atlantean war, and a billionaire nearly tears the team apart.

    Stories Covered In This Episode

    Fantastic Four 31, The Mad Menace of the Macabre Mole Man, written by Stan Lee, Penciled by Jack Kirby, Inked by Chic Stone, and Lettered by Sam Rosen

    Fantastic Four 32, Death of a Hero!, written by Stan Lee, Penciled by Jack Kirby, Inked by Chic Stone, and Lettered by Sam Rosen

    Fantastic Four 33, Side-By-Side with Sub-Mariner!, written by Stan Lee, Penciled by Jack Kirby, Inked by Chic Stone, Colored by Stan Goldberg, and Lettered by Artie Simek

    Fantastic Four 34, A House Divided!, written by Stan Lee, Penciled by Jack Kirby, Inked by Chic Stone, and Lettered by Artie Simek

    Resources, Episodes, & Links Mentioned In This Episode:

    • Join the Earth's Mightiest Nerds Discord Channel by signing up for the Earth's Mightiest Nerds Newsletter (completely free and I promise you won't be spammed!)
    • Check out the podcast on YouTube
    • Connect with Joe (musclesandthemultiverse) on Threads
    • Connect with Joe (musclesandthemultiverse) on Instagram
    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • S1E8: Fantastic Four #28-30 & Annual 2 - Origin of Doctor Doom & X-Men Chaos

    S1E8: Fantastic Four #28-30 & Annual 2 - Origin of Doctor Doom & X-Men Chaos
    Dec 29 2025

    Send us a message through the Negative Zone

    In this episode of Reading the Multiverse, I go over Fantastic Four #28-30 and Annual #2 where the team clashes with the original X-Men, revisits old enemies, meets Diablo for the first time, and we finally uncover the tragic origin of Doctor Doom.

    Stories Covered In This Episode

    Fantastic Four 28, We Have To Fight The X-Men!, written by Stan Lee, Penciled by Jack Kirby, Inked by Chic Stone, and Lettered by Artie Simek

    Fantastic Four 29, It Started On Yancy Street!, written by Stan Lee, Penciled by Jack Kirby, Inked by Chic Stone, and Lettered by Sam Rosen

    Fantastic Four 30, The Dreaded Diablo!, written by Stan Lee, Penciled by Jack Kirby, Inked by Chic Stone, and Lettered by Artie Simek

    Fantastic Four Annual 2, Origin of Doctor Doom!, written by Stan Lee, Penciled by Jack Kirby, Inked by Chic Stone, and Lettered by Sam Rosen

    Fantastic Four Annual 2, The Final Victory of Doctor Doom!, written by Stan Lee, Penciled by Jack Kirby, Inked by Chic Stone, and Lettered by Sam Rosen

    Resources, Episodes, & Links Mentioned In This Episode:

    • Join the Earth's Mightiest Nerds Discord Channel by signing up for the Earth's Mightiest Nerds Newsletter (completely free and I promise you won't be spammed!)
    • Check out the podcast on YouTube
    • Connect with Joe (musclesandthemultiverse) on Threads
    • Connect with Joe (musclesandthemultiverse) on Instagram
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • S1E7: Fantastic Four #24-27 - Hulk vs The Thing, Avengers Team-Up, & Namor Kidnaps Sue

    S1E7: Fantastic Four #24-27 - Hulk vs The Thing, Avengers Team-Up, & Namor Kidnaps Sue
    Dec 22 2025

    Send us a message through the Negative Zone

    In this episode of Reading the Multiverse, I go over Fantastic Four #24-27, where we get a reality-warping alien baby causing havoc, the Hulk wages war on New York, the Avengers team-up and sort of collide with the Fantastic Four, and the love triangle between Namor, Sue, and Reed gets deeper.

    Stories Covered In This Episode

    Fantastic Four 24, The Infant Terrible!, written by Stan Lee, Penciled by Jack Kirby, Inked by George Bell, and Lettered by Sam Rosen

    Fantastic Four 25, The Hulk vs The Thing, written by Stan Lee, Penciled by Jack Kirby, Inked by George Bell, and Lettered by Sam Rosen

    Fantastic Four 26, The Avengers Take Over!, written by Stan Lee, Penciled by Jack Kirby, Inked by George Bell, and Lettered by Artie Simek

    Fantastic Four 27, The Search for Sub-Mariner!, written by Stan Lee, Penciled by Jack Kirby, Inked by George Bell, and Lettered by Sam Rosen

    Resources, Episodes, & Links Mentioned In This Episode:

    • Join the Earth's Mightiest Nerds Discord Channel by signing up for the Earth's Mightiest Nerds Newsletter (completely free and I promise you won't be spammed!)
    • Check out the podcast on YouTube
    • Connect with Joe (musclesandthemultiverse) on Threads
    • Connect with Joe (musclesandthemultiverse) on Instagram
    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
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