Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Journey

Host Anthony Desiato and guest Case Aiken (Men of Steel) dig into "Many Happy Returns" — the famed final arc of the Peter David-written SUPERGIRL series featuring art by Ed Benes — in which Linda Danvers encounters the Pre-Crisis Kara Zor-El and attempts to take her place in the multiverse to save Kara from her fate in CRISIS.
They discuss the arc's loving send-up of Silver Age sensibilities, the winning big sister/little sister dynamic between Linda & Kara, Linda's sacrifice & heartbreaking ending, and PAD's unrealized plans for a "Blonde Justice" continuation.
Anthony & Case also address Supergirl analogue CIR-EL — aka the "Daughter of Tomorrow" — who made her debut in the pages of SUPERMAN while "Many Happy Returns" was unfolding.
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:
Fat Moose Comics
Aw Yeah Comics
Always Hold On To Smallville
This Podcast Will Never Die
Single Bound Podcast
Drunken Avenger

Host Anthony Desiato and guest Michael Bailey (Bailey Planet) dig into Peter David & Leonard Kirk's "Earth-Born Angel" follow-up from SUPERGIRL #51-74, in which Linda Danvers — depowered, partnered with the demon Buzz, and clad in her SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES costume — tours the DCU in search of the Matrix entity.
THIS TUESDAY: The podcast's coverage of the 1996-2023 series concludes with the famed "Many Happy Returns" by PAD & Ed Benes!
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.

Host Anthony Desiato and guest Rob O'Connor (All Star Superfan Podcast) shine a light on the 2005 film BATMAN BEGINS, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale, which made an outsized impact on the character and superhero movie genre.
They discuss how the film shaped them as younger Batman fans; the scope of the origin story told — well beyond the typical moment of Bruce with his slain parents in the alley; key themes of fear & falling; direct comic book influences on Nolan, including the relatively obscure short story "The Man Who Falls" from 1989; and the choice & utilization of Ra's al Ghul & Scarecrow as the primary antagonists.
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.
Mentioned in this episode:
Aw Yeah Comics
Fat Moose Comics
Drunken Avenger
Always Hold On To Smallville

Host Anthony Desiato and guest Dr. Anj (Supergirl Comic Box Commentary) dig into the classic Peter David SUPERGIRL series — with pencillers Gary Frank and Leonard Kirk — which merged the Matrix Supergirl with Linda Danvers to form an Earth-Born Angel across its initial 50-issue mega-arc.
Anthony & Anj discuss key themes of identity, sin, forgiveness, & sacrifice; the bold choice to take Linda down such a dark path before merging; the impactful injection of Pre-Crisis characters like the Danvers family, Comet, & Dick Malverne; the thematic consistency in choice of villain; and DC's misstep in relegating Linda to character limbo after this series.
STAY TUNED for a special bonus episode later this week on the "Linda Danvers Era" of the title from #51-74. And NEXT WEEK, the podcast will cover "Many Happy Returns," the standout final arc of the PAD series that temporarily brought back the Pre-Crisis Kara Zor-El!
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
Aw Yeah Comics
Fat Moose Comics
Always Hold On To Smallville
Single Bound Podcast
Drunken Avenger

Host Anthony Desiato celebrates the milestone 250th episode of the podcast with guest Zach Moore (Always Hold On To Smallville) as they build the "perfect" Superman origin through a series of 20 questions covering Krypton, Smallville, and Metropolis.
What should be the cause of Krypton's destruction? Should Clark be Superboy? Who should make the Superman costume? Anthony & Zach tackle these and many more questions!
PLUS! Anthony reads & responds to YOUR questions & testimonials about the podcast in a special "mailbag" epilogue.
"A Supergirl Fan Journey" resumes next week with coverage of the 90s SUPERGIRL series written by Peter David!
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
Aw Yeah Comics
Fat Moose Comics
Single Bound Podcast
Drunken Avenger