Who On Earth Is Microwave Man? 

Which Forgotten Villain Would You Love To See Reappear?

Clark being able to say he's going to leave and fight crime as Superman and Lana and Lois just think he's sticking it to them for their suspicions is hilarious

Microwave Man sounds like a villain from the 90's The Tick cartoon. I imagined him throwing those insanely hot Hot Pockets at people.

Favorite bit of this review was the receding "My powers are amazing!" Microwave Man is kind of like a shonen battle manga villain, just a decade or two early and on the wrong continent.

Microwave Man: He''s not just warming up, he's about bring up the heat!

Microwave Man sounds more like a goofy Silver Age villain then a Bronze Age one, Cary Bates and Curt Swan really went Meta with this character.

The fact microwave man has this interesting a backstory and the potential to be superman's default heat themed villain shocks me that he never returned at all

FYI. Lewis Padgett was a pseudonym for husband-wife Science Fiction writing team Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore. They used rhos in 40s to the 60s. Julius Schwartz was an agent in the Science Fiction in 30s and 40s. He probably knew them.

I remember this guy! The idea he became more powerful as technology became more common.

You don't tug on Superman's cape... unless you are Microwave Man!

The UFO Conference thing was so weird, I saw someone else mentioned it but it does point out the issue comics have even today. They have these fantastical elements, aliens, magic, demons, all sorts of crazy things and...the world hardly ever changes. Like, the UFO Conference scene was happening like it would have in the late 70s, with people claiming encounters and skeptics not believing them. Yet, as others mentioned, Superman and Supergirl are thing. Martian Manhunter member of the Justice League. I'm not entirely sure but like Starfire from Teen Titans is around or on the horizon. Not to mention ALL THE TIMES aliens attacked in the Silver Age or what not. Now maybe nobody believing the elderly guy went around with aliens is possible without them acting like aliens aren't a thing, but that was the sense I got from those bits. Also, which Super Family member is better for writing a book on Krypton? Personally, I'd say Kara since she (depending on the version) did grow up in Kryptonian Culture. Clark/Kal mostly would have the Wiki version thanks to Jor-El.

They are rebooting Microwave Man. The new origin is he buys a microwave from Aliexpress and it exploded when he was cooking some cheap Ramen noodles and he absorbed the powers of radiation. LOL

I read this story when it first came out, and I agree, it's really fun and clever. A very different take on the standard "super-villain". I also kind of wish he'd become a recurring character, but I also really like the poignant ending. Not to mention the idea that Superman is perfectly willing to take a dive, just so Microwave Man can die happy. Very cool of him.

I wonder if Microwave Man had a popcorn button that you're never actually supposed to use?

Microwaveman was interesting i like him too, he gives me JSA vibes you could rewrite him as a former JSA villain who upon coming back wants to show Superman and newer heroes how classic villains were.

This is one of the first Superman comics I remember having as a child. Well... part 2 anyway. So now, almost 50 years later, I get to see Part 1! Thanks:) This story is a favorite of mine. FYI, Action comics #488 had a Whitman variant.

In someways it reminisent of an episode of the Twilight Zone. I can imagine Rod Sterling 'Portrait of a simple man, a forgotten man, granted his final wish...'

I loved the reference to Altair 4, but everyone knows that the planet was destroyed in the 50's movie Forbidden Planet.

I definitely remember reading this one! I agree about it being a bit poignant, and I love the idea of a character whose powers increase as the level of tech in the world increases. I wonder if he could make some appearances in flashback, or even Earth-2?

I don't know if you've already covered this character, but if not, you HAVE to do a retrospective on VARTOX: Superman's Bronze-Age best buddy slash occasional rival (with a costume based off of Sean Connery in Zardoz). He's only popped up once or twice post-Crisis-- usually as a gag character-- and I think he's worth a look! 😂

"What's Clarks Vlog called?" Kent Vents

It wouldn't be difficult to bring MWM back. If he was "buried" in space there's all sorts of energies out there that could probably resurrect him. I just think his backstory should be adjusted so he doesn't have the traditional "tights-look" costume back then. Put him in something simple, maybe with a movie serial villain-style hood. Just some mystery man with weird powers who disappeared one day.

Microwave Man really feels like a villain I'd love to see an animated adaption for in one of the many cartoons DC puts out. He'd be a great counterpart to a lot of the nastier crooks.

I like the idea of a superhero or supervillain who's powers would be so broken but due to circumstances they were actually pretty weak in their prime. The fact microwave man could stand up against Superman because of how many more microwave signals exist in the 'modern' age, when back 40 years ago there were hardly any so he barely had any power. It honestly reminds me of the twist of who the final villain was in Sky High, a superpowered person who had control over technology ... only being limited because back several decades ago technology was kind of weak and lame.

Krypton Kryptoff the story of Superman's birthworld by Superman

Damn, it wasn't just that one page. Throughout That whole fight, everything mw man said was dripping in innuendo. I wouldn't be surprised if mw man had a bit of pink kryptonite he was planning on using. I don't think all that excitement was just for a duel. Also in that page it's kinda interesting that microwave mans junk was drawn with more definition than you would see on male characters back then. I think there was definitely something more going on here.

Sasha, you made the better symbol for the costume with MM... But I think a wave with MWM would be even cooler.

Clark's blog name...The CK Connection

So the people at the seminar didn't believe this man had met aliens when their greatest hero was literally one?

"Lewis Padget" was a pen name for Henry Cuttner and C.L. (Catherine) Moore, who were so important to the Golden age, they were fictionalized by Alexander Siddig and Nana Visitor on Deep Space Nine.

I feel like Microwave Man could be a cool recurring character. He could show up to help whenever Superman is in danger or is fighting a big threat to help his friend and fight a new strong opponent. He clearly admires and respects Superman so helping him wouldn't be a stretch, plus he's powerful enough to hold his own. He could also interact with the newer crop of villains and see how super villainy has changed since his time.

So Earth-1 had at least one super-person running around while the Golden Age was happening on Earth-2? That's a really interesting idea. Did any Silver/Bronze Age DC writers ever pull that thread? Were there Earth-1 heroes before Superman?

I wouldn't mind a miniseries exploring Lewis's time in space. Just a fun little sci-fi comic about someone having fun space adventures.

A body set adrift in space with superpowers and alien manipulation prior to death. Just takes the right kind of passing strange comet energy to bring him back via comic logic.

I'm pretty sure there actually was a brief period relatively early in the New 52 Era where Superman quit the Daily Planet to start his own News Blog (and at least one source referenced it as being Clark Kent doing his own equivalent of the Drudge Report).

THE EXPLOSIVE CONCLUSION OF KRYPTON …Co Authored by Clark Kent & Superman…😎 Keep Up The Outstanding Work Sasha 🖖🏾

DC could always find a way to bring MicroWave Man back, after all, his body is floating through the cosmos! Anything could happen.

Yeah he's fightsexual but a guy who used to be a villain back in the day and got more powerful and want his young body to be in his prime is kind of fun and they could add that he was a villain for the Justice Society back in the day or have some connection with Martian Manhunter with the aliens also Martian villains are weird so he could work with others

They need to bring microwave man back

One of those few stories and characters i've actually never heard of, which is a recurring theme for a lot of DC characters, since they have so many one offs/reboots, not many characters get a revisit or staying power, or make it to new mediums. This could be one of them... unless they make a new character, and give them Microwave Man's story.

Honestly, I would want to see Microwave Man again in the modern age

I remember this book! At the time I read it, I didn't understand the concept of multipart stories yet, so I never sought out the previous issue. Also being that young, the innuendo flew over my head. The back up story featuring Air Wave was more appealing to me at the time

This is a really interesting story. I would have liked Microwave man to not die, but to lose his youth and then be unable to use his powers because of that, also as he is a "for the thrill of it" villain, he and sups could team up against big threats.

I feel like it’s one of those times when the artist inserts their kink into the story.

I always remember him being in a weird category of characters: superheroes (or supervillains) who were on the pre-Crisis Earth One but who were around in the 1930s-1940s (or at least pre-Superboy/man). There weren't a lot of characters on the list and I can't seem to find that list online currently. (Oddly TNT and Dyna-Mite would be on the list, if you count the Superfriends comic as being canon to Earth One.)

I was doing a bunch of research into the history of the Crimson Dynamos, and I have to recommend the story of Anton Vanko in Tales of Suspense 46 and 52. As an aside, Vanko’s Crimson Dynamo was the first armoured opponent Iron man ever fought in issue 46, and Black Widow first appeared in issue 52…partnered with the greatest character in all of comics “the man named…Boris!” (Seriously, he’s just called Boris throughout the issue, but he’s spoken with the same level gravitas you would expect allotted to Dr Doom😂) Back to Vanko, he’s a really nice guy who just wants to serve his country but ends up being planned for execution upon his return to the USSR because the Premier is terrified that Vanko will become more popular than him. Anyway, He’s sent to cripple Stark industries and Iron man, but Iron man ends up convincing him to join the US (in a way I’m sure you will find most intriguing). Widow and Boris are sent to capture the traitor with Boris taking Vanko’s armour. Boris might have killed Iron man had Vanko not sacrificed himself to destroy both Boris and his own armour (Vanko lived a whole 8 issues). After Vanko’s death there have been several Crimson Dynamos (enough to give the clayfaces a run for their money), but they’ve mostly been interchangeable goons used to crowd fill Soviet/Russian super teams, which I think is disappointing. The third Dynamo was the apprentice of Vanko and I think he had some real potential as a strong character. However he appeared twice and seems to have been killed off panel in Vietnam by the soviets to take his armour. If they wanted to, I think Marvel could bring him back to do a story exploring the legacy of those original Vanko stories, but they seem to be content with their red Russian goon.

I really enjoyed this episode and Microwave man in general. This wasa good story with a lot to it. I'm really fascinated by the whole alien situation and what that relationship was like. I would not be against seeing him show up again in the modern era. Either a full reboot of him retelling this story, or just him coming back. It wouldn't be that hard to reintroduce him either, just say that the aliens wanted to restore their friend and found some sci-fi way to do it. I feel like it wouldn't take much to find him a place in the wider universe, I could see him being a thrill-seeking villain for a while before getting a redemption arc of some kind.

We need him more than ever now, my hot pocket is still frozen in the middle.

Nice Kirk and Gorn on the shelf.

You're getting too close for comfort. I got the comic book bug in the summer of '78, and this two-parter made up the first two issues of Action Comics that I bought off of the comic stands. Microwave Man was great, great costume, interesting powers, complicated backstory, and yes, the part about him being too old to go up against Superman added a touch of pathos to the story. In fact, it seemed too good to be wasted on a one-shot appearance. I too, wish they had done a little more with the character. How did he get his powers? Why did these aliens kidnap and befriend a villain? AND his car?? What did he see out in space? Even if he wasn't up to continuing as a villain after fighting Superman, perhaps he could have passed on his "micromatic" powers to a younger person who could take over as Microwave Man. I don't know that it really counts as a "cursed panel", but the cover and splash page of Batman Family #11 has Robin and Batgirl getting married in front of a bunch of criminals. The story's fun, but doesn't completely make sense, even when it's explained at the end of the story. My sister liked the 'marriage' so much, she stole my copy of this issue.

I'd love for you to cover the Aunt May/Dock Ock romance. That would be fun. I miss your Aunt May voice-acting. Everyone lauds your Batman and Superman voices, and rightly so, but your Aunt May kills it! Also, could you write a fan fic on the childhood and space adventures of Microwave Man in your spare time? Please? :)

Altair 4? Cary Bates must have been a fan of the movie Forbidden Planet.

I think a good way to use him if brought to modern comics is to use him as a roaming villain. Having him pop up in different comics to fight heroes for the thrill of it.

This is the era I started reading Superman and Action Comics. It maybe nostalgic talking but I think many of these stories hold up quite well.

Superman: costumes a little tight Microwave Man: what would you prefer, yellow spandex? Lol

This was Cary Bates at his best! I'm interested in your analyzing the JLA/JSA team-up wherein he and Eliot S. Maggin portray THEMSELVES, with Bates as a super-villain...

"You don't have to read it that way, and it's possible not to..." I don't see how it's possible not to.

As always your Silver/Bronze Age segments are just delightful! Plus, Veronica Lake reference....BONUS!

Microwave Man is one of the most obscure characters to have his first appearance listed in the Overstreet guide, likely there as a check to spot when competing guides are just swiping the data.

*Sasha: **_"All that power is...FLOWING into you."_* 🤭🤭🤭

Sooo, I wonder if Microwave Man is in any way related to Microboy, a character from the early 90s Superboy TV show (does anyone remember that?), especially as the plot point of sending him back in time to nullify his power is used in that episode irc

It's weird that in a universe where they actually know there are aliens, people wouldn't be more inclined to listen to him. That said, the aliens seemed to really love the guy, you do wonder what they got up to over 40 years.

Krypt-off: flee directly from planet. Krypt-off: flee directly from planet. Krypt-off: flee directly from planet.

Fun trip down memory lane. I had got the second issue when it came out and drew MWM in dozens of adventures. I liked the costume, but even more I loved learning a bit about Earth-1 past. His character was their Platinum Age; wish they'd let it be just a few years later so theyw could've flashback to a few Golden Age battles (even if just in one big b&w splash page montage. I always loved getting another glimpse into E-1's (non-Superboy) superheroics prior to the Martian Manhunters debut and wished they gotten to do a bit more, especially once Roy Thomas started to helm E-2 projects. Unfortunateky Crisis mads it all moot. Any chance you might do a video on that? On Earth-1's limited and forgetton Golden Age superheroes?

This is a pretty fascinating story. I could see the DCAU repackaging this into its own Heart of Ice were they so inclined.

I read these microwave man issues when I was a kid when they first came out on the 7-11 comics racks. I was too young to catch the innuendo of the cursed panel..lol.

Not sure if you heard of this manga call one punch man, but this villian remind me of him only the villian version where he live in a time where no super was around and he got bored having no hero to fight him. Finally he return to earth after hanging out with aliens and discover one hero that could in theory be a match to him. I can feel his joy of finally having a hero worthy of him but he was too old. Those alien friend did him a solid.

I remember Microwave Man from a collection of cards given away with the breakfast cereal Weetabix (which I didn't normally eat and had to get my Dad interested in eating). Given that he had his own card I expected him to be a common villain that I'd not heard of. It was only later that I found out that he had only made one appearance. For the record, also included in the cards was the Worldsmith, who only appeared in one issue of S&LSH as far as I know.

I had this book as a kid and loved it. Always wondered why he never got rebooted.

I'd gamble the book's called The World of Krypton. He'd of wrote it when he was assigned to interview Superman to get his family history for a Roots like TV mini-series.

@Sasha It seems that Lewis Padgett really has been forgotten. Lewis Padgett was the pseudonym of science fiction authors Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore. Check out the short stories "Mimsy Were the Borogoves" and "The Twonky." The movies don't do them justice.

Microwave Man may seem warm on the outside, but his center is always ice-cold. 🥶

Microwave Man costume reminds me of Airwave from the Superman comics in the early 80's. Coincidence, hmmm.....

I believe that there was a Microwave man episode from the Superboy TV series from the 80s but he had a different origin

Microwave Man is the kind of character James Gunn would put into his movie and make him the best character in it.

I could see reimagining this story with a young, rookie Superman. The legend and reputation of Superman is beginning to spread, and this guy comes along and sacrifices his remaining years to bask in the glory of fighting him. Superman is left to think about his reputation, his influence, how it will affect people he’s never met

Is that Airwave on the cover bottom right in the circle? Airwave v Microwave man. That would be interesting. That Panel. 'Great Scott! Have I slipped into a volume of Sunstone? What kind of fan fiction is Lisa trying to write now?' Clark could have had a blog back right after revealing the secret identity. With a livestream. As another way of trying to convince people he has no secrets. It would have been called 'even though I never told you all these years you can trust me really Lex. Honest.'

I remember reading that comic when it came out

Sounds and looks similar to Microboy from one episode of the Gerard Christopher Superboy TV series.

your voice for the aliens was just top notch.

This story came out in 1978. The fact that "Padgett " left Earth, the year of Superman's first appearance, is surely no coincidence. Also, Sasha, before Schwartz edited Superman, his books had editor's notes dropping information like definitions of bolide, isotope and poonghie among many others. The stories could easily have been told with simpler words but Julie wanted to put a little education in the funny books.

Could Microwave Man have been a inspiration of sorts for Nuclear Man with his Fabio hair and amazing nails?

I remember reading this one back in the day. Back in the late 70's early 80's toy stores used to have these bags of comics. There were three. Reprints form a company called Whitman. In place of the DC logo would be a bit W. The three in each bag were always from the same title but not always in sequence. it was in one of these that I got the comic that had the second part of the Microwave Man story. When I started frequenting a local comic shop I got the first part of the story. Personally I liked the story. Felt kind of sad for Microwave Man, but really identified with his desire to fight with an opponent who would put his powers and skills to a real test. Considering all of the things they have ben doing with reboots and time manipulation and multiverses I could see several ways they could re-introduce the character. As for the "cursed" panel...well...yeah taken out of context one COULD read something into it. I was probably 12 or 13 when I first read it and none of that ever occurred to me...then.

One of my new fave episodes. Super informative and snarky and really funny. Thank you.

It is hard to beat those great bronze age covers! They really make you want to read the book!

You'd think the guy who is best friends with an alien (Aka Jimmy Olson) would be more willing to take the poor old man seriously

In the Superboy tv series he fought a villain named Microboy. He was powered by absorbing microwaves which eventually started to kill him. Superboy had to take him back in time where he met the Wright brothers

Thanks for this video!!~ I remember reading this back in the day. Been looking for the issue but couldn't remember which Superman comic it was in.

I think Clark's Planet-sponsored vlog would be called The Daily Orbit.

i don't think Microwave Man needs to be brought back but this story at least deserves a retelling to bring it to new audiences.

Wait no one beleives the man about UFO's but meanwhile have a whole refrence library to Superman, who is famously an alien?

I remember him around action comics 487 can't believe he only appeared the once lol

I would love to see a Microwave Man period piece, doing a Golden Age of comics style sci fi hero, perhaps having him being a hero for the thrills before realizing space has much more horrors than Earth, possibly having WWI and WWII allusions. Perhaps a peak at his crimes on Earth and show he was perhaos a bit more grey, possibly playing into the time and working against the tail end of prohibition but having enough heart to stop worse crimes. Perhaps he would enter a midlife crisis when he was abducted and request to come along with the aliens to travel the stars. Maybe his car was also a sueped up Prohibition car and would get continually upgraded while in space and the story starts with it in a museum where Superman was invited to talk about some people he has fought in the past before wondering what Microwave Msn's full story was.

I actually have those issues… liked your explanation ( and voices 😅😅 ) of the whole 2 issues…hilarious Sasha

Your new video angles look pretty great. I think part of the appeal of microwave man is how briefly he was used.

New 52 had Clark Kent become an on-line blogger. It was during Scott Lobdell's run.

If I can suggest a cursed panel, do the one where Batman gains Sueprman powers and Superman defeats him by showing him his dead parents and Batman cries holding them. Super popular Batman meme image, and from a pretty decent Superman/Batman story arc.

We as a society need to say “le gasp!” More.

Off topic, but this new angle, lighting & camera (filter?) are great. You look fantastic!

Off topic, but ran across Jingle Belle and bought it. Pretty sure you put her on on my radar. Thanks Sasha happy new year