Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Journey

Host Anthony Desiato and guest Zach Moore (Always Hold On To Smallville) dig into the Kryptonian AI Brainiac as depicted in SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES and the DCAU, SMALLVILLE, and the recent MY ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN. Is this the best take on Brainiac yet, or is it one villain from Krypton too many?
Anthony and Zach also compare notes on the notorious 2006 animated movie SUPERMAN: BRAINIAC ATTACKS, which utilized the animation style of STAS and brought back voice actors Tim Daly & Dana Delany — yet recast Brainiac & Lex Luthor and embraced a campier tone.
AND! In a special prologue, guest Tim Bruns pops in to discuss the 1992 Sunsoft video game SUPERMAN, featuring the Post-Crisis Milton Fine Brainiac in 16-bit glory.
Support the show and receive exclusive podcast content at Patreon.com/AnthonyDesiato, including the spinoff podcasts BEYOND METROPOLIS and DIGGING FOR JUSTICE!
Visit BCW Supplies and use promo code FSP to save 10% on your next order of comics supplies.
Get your DFK merch at the podcast's TeePublic storefront!
FACEBOOK GROUP: Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Group
FACEBOOK PAGE: @diggingforkryptonitepod
INSTAGRAM: @diggingforkryptonitepod
TWITTER: @diggingforkrpod
BLUESKY: @diggingforkrpod.bsky.social
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: FlatSquirrelProductions.com
Digging for Kryptonite is a Flat Squirrel Production. Theme music by Dan Pritchard. Key art by Isaiah Simmons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Hang On To Your Shorts Film Festival
Aw Yeah Comics
Fat Moose Comics
This Podcast Will Never Die
Single Bound Podcast

Host Anthony Desiato and guest Sweet-Sweet Bernie Gerstmayr (Aw Yeah Comics - Skokie) dig into the Brainiac of the Post-Crisis era — in which the alien mind of Coluan scientist Vril Dox possesses the body of circus mentalist Milton Fine.
Anthony and Bernie track this incarnation of Brainiac across his debut, physical rebirth in Roger Stern's "Brainiac Trilogy," starring turn in "Panic in the Sky," return appearances in "Dead Again" and "Identity Crisis" (no, not that one), and transition to Brainiac 13. They also address Milton Fine as adapted on SMALLVILLE and SUPERMAN & LOIS.
PLUS: In a special prologue, Anthony and Bernie address recent reports that "Panic in the Sky" will serve as the basis for James Gunn's forthcoming MAN OF TOMORROW film!
Support the show and receive exclusive podcast content at Patreon.com/AnthonyDesiato, including the spinoff podcasts BEYOND METROPOLIS and DIGGING FOR JUSTICE!
Visit BCW Supplies and use promo code FSP to save 10% on your next order of comics supplies.
Get your DFK merch at the podcast's TeePublic storefront!
FACEBOOK GROUP: Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Group
FACEBOOK PAGE: @diggingforkryptonitepod
INSTAGRAM: @diggingforkryptonitepod
TWITTER: @diggingforkrpod
BLUESKY: @diggingforkrpod.bsky.social
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: FlatSquirrelProductions.com
Digging for Kryptonite is a Flat Squirrel Production. Theme music by Dan Pritchard. Key art by Isaiah Simmons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Always Hold On To Smallville
Single Bound Podcast
Aw Yeah Comics
Fat Moose Comics
This Podcast Will Never Die
Hang On To Your Shorts Film Festival

Host Anthony Desiato kicks off 2026 with a multi-episode look at the villain Brainiac across time & media! In Part 1, Anthony and guest Daniel Sanchez (@wearingthecape) chart Brainiac's evolution in the Pre-Crisis era — including his Silver Age debut as an evil space alien, mid-1960s reinvention as a robot in humanoid form, late Bronze Age robotic redesign, and animated depictions in the Filmation series and SUPER FRIENDS.
Support the show and receive exclusive podcast content at Patreon.com/AnthonyDesiato, including the spinoff podcasts BEYOND METROPOLIS and DIGGING FOR JUSTICE!
Visit BCW Supplies and use promo code FSP to save 10% on your next order of comics supplies.
Get your DFK merch at the podcast's TeePublic storefront!
FACEBOOK GROUP: Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Group
FACEBOOK PAGE: @diggingforkryptonitepod
INSTAGRAM: @diggingforkryptonitepod
TWITTER: @diggingforkrpod
BLUESKY: @diggingforkrpod.bsky.social
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: FlatSquirrelProductions.com
Digging for Kryptonite is a Flat Squirrel Production. Theme music by Dan Pritchard. Key art by Isaiah Simmons.
Mentioned in this episode:
This Podcast Will Never Die
Always Hold On To Smallville
Aw Yeah Comics
Hang On To Your Shorts Film Festival
Fat Moose Comics
Single Bound Podcast

Host Anthony Desiato proudly introduces his forthcoming podcast series LIGHTING THE BAT-SIGNAL: A BATMAN FAN JOURNEY, which will examine Gotham City's Dark Knight across time and media — with analysis of the creative visions, character elements, eras, and individual stories that have shaped Batman since 1939.
Lighting the Bat-Signal premieres on March 19, 2026! Subscribe now to automatically receive new episodes when they become available.
Support the show and receive exclusive podcast content at Patreon.com/AnthonyDesiato!
Visit BCW Supplies and use promo code FSP to save 10% on your next order of comics supplies.
Join the conversation on the social media channels for parent podcast Digging for Kryptonite:
FACEBOOK GROUP: Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Group
FACEBOOK PAGE: @diggingforkryptonitepod
INSTAGRAM: @diggingforkryptonitepod
TWITTER: @diggingforkrpod
BLUESKY: @diggingforkrpod.bsky.social
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: FlatSquirrelProductions.com
Lighting the Bat-Signal is a Flat Squirrel Production. Key art by Isaiah Simmons. Theme music by Kill Me Kate.

Host Anthony Desiato and the team behind FOLCs Forever (Molly, Julie, & Jenn) count down their TOP 10 episodes of LOIS & CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN in the grand finale of Digging for Kryptonite's L&C mixtape event! Did YOUR top picks make the cut?
THANK YOU to all guests & audience members who made 2025 the biggest year in Digging for Kryptonite history! The podcast will be off for a short holiday break, with new episodes beginning in mid-January. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!
Support the show and receive exclusive podcast content at Patreon.com/AnthonyDesiato, including the spinoff podcasts BEYOND METROPOLIS and DIGGING FOR JUSTICE!
Visit BCW Supplies and use promo code FSP to save 10% on your next order of comics supplies.
Get your DFK merch at the podcast's TeePublic storefront!
FACEBOOK GROUP: Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Group
FACEBOOK PAGE: @diggingforkryptonitepod
INSTAGRAM: @diggingforkryptonitepod
TWITTER: @diggingforkrpod
BLUESKY: @diggingforkrpod.bsky.social
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: FlatSquirrelProductions.com
Digging for Kryptonite is a Flat Squirrel Production. Theme music by Dan Pritchard. Key art by Isaiah Simmons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Single Bound Podcast
Always Hold On To Smallville
This Podcast Will Never Die
Hang On To Your Shorts Film Festival
Aw Yeah Comics
Fat Moose Comics