Capes and Japes

#444 – Aleksei Sytsevich

Rhino

Today we talk about Aleksei Sytsevich, best known as the Spider-man antagonist The Rhino, whose main motivations are getting stronger, making money, and being mad at guys who prevent either of the first two things.

What we were up to this week:

Briar went to a wedding (and of course dressed On Theme) and went to the Critical Role x Boba Bear popup (and unfortunately was not dressed On Theme)
Olivia finished reading Die (2018), and is keeping an eye out for the Marvel: Midnight titles, the new Etrigan and Jonah Hex #1s, and maybe a halloween special? perhaps?

Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon!
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#443 – Iris West

Iris West-Allen

Today we talk about Iris West, who was sent to the past as a baby, ended up marrying Barry Allen, got sent to the future again where Barry ended up finding her and starting a family before he went back to the past and died, so Iris traveled back to the past with her grandson before everything got retconned and then kind of done all over again!

What we were up to this week:

Briar hasn't done anything! Too sleepy!
Olivia read Absolute Cassandra Cain (2026) #1 and has been watching White Collar

Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon!
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#442 – Linda Park

Linda Park-West

Today we talk about Linda Park, who is a reporter and kept running into Wally West on the job before they ended up falling in love, starting a family, forgetting the family existed multiple times, and remembering multiple times.

What we were up to this week:

Briar wrote a fanfic and read a lot of fanfic and just. Sometimes that's all you have energy for.
Olivia read Six of Us #1 and Fixation #1, and also saw Spider-man Brand New Day!

Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon!
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#441 – Victoria Vale

Vicki Vale

Today we talk about Vicki Vale, an intrepid Gotham reporter who is going to get to the bottom of this "Is Bruce Wayne Batman?" mystery if it kills her.

What we were up to this week:

Briar read some poetry, namely The Dream of a Common Language by Adrienne Rich and There are More Beautiful Things Than Beyonce by Morgan Parker
Olivia read Teen Titans (2026) #1, Legion of Super-Heroes (2026) #1, and Superman: The Stranger (2026) #1

Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon!
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#440 – Porcupine Roundup

Alexander Gentry, Roger Gocking

Today we talk about the two men who have been known as Porcupine: Alex Gentry who made the spiky suit (and decided to use it for crime), and Roger Gocking who purchased the suit (and decided to use it for crime, and later not-crime). But we mostly talk about Roger.

What we were up to this week:

Briar mostly worked on sewing some fun pants!
Olivia managed to track down and read What If... Runaways, as well as What If... X-Men, and Tomb of Apocalypse #1 on her way to see one of the closing shows of Moulin Rouge on Broadway.

Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon!
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#439 – Thomas Fireheart

Puma/Riot

Today we talk about Thomas Fireheart, who was raised to fight a prophesized threat with shapeshifting Puma powers, ends up starting a business and becoming a mercenary, and being generally in Spider-man's way.

What we were up to this week:

Briar read Simon Armitage's new verse translation of Gilgamesh, somehow ended up #1 on the holds list for John Green's new novel, and has been enjoying being able to see the stars again on morning walks!
Olivia read I Didn't Ask For This, started re-reading Die, and is gonna have to track down a copy of What If... Runaways (2026) #1

Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon!
Support Capes and Japes by: Checking out our Patreon or donating to the Tip jar

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#438 – Randolph Robertson

Randy Robertson

Today we talk about Randy Robertson, civil rights activist, friend and roommate to Peter Parker, son of Robbie Robertson, and one half of a beautiful Romeo and Juliet story.

What we were up to this week:

Briar shifted out of Check Please mode to read Project Hail Mary, then immediately shifted back into Check Please mode by re-reading Check Please
Olivia had a great time at FlameCon and purchased several comics while there, went to Shakespeare in the Park, and saw Jeremy Jordan on Broadway.

Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon!
Support Capes and Japes by: Checking out our Patreon or donating to the Tip jar

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#437 – Joseph Robertson

Robbie Robertson

Today we talk about Joseph "Robbie" Robertson, a journalist with the Daily Bugle who has a very complicated relationship with the villain Tombstone....

What we were up to this week:

Briar mostly read a lot of fanfiction to contend with The Horrors (being very tired)
Olivia is behind on comics and is getting ready to go to FlameCon!

Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon!
Support Capes and Japes by: Checking out our Patreon or donating to the Tip jar

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#436 – Ben Urich

Today we talk about Ben Urich, who is a regular guy with a regular journalism job and he's so good at it that superheroes just seem to trust his integrity, y'know?

What we were up to this week:

Briar picked up Batman/Superman Worlds Finest 2026 Annual and Monsters in Love and has been working on reading books from library such as One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This(https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/777485/one-day-everyone-will-have-always-been-against-this-national-book-award-by-omar-el-akkad/)
Olivia has mostly been reading the Adventure Zone graphic novels for our patreon bonus episode!

Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon!
Support Capes and Japes by: Checking out our Patreon or donating to the Tip jar

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#435 – Buck Cashman

Bullet/Phage

Today we talk about Buck Cashman, who is able to be hired to do all sorts of things, including fight Daredevil.

What we were up to this week:

Briar has been soooooo tired but also went to see the Hadestown proshot in theaters
Olivia kept up with news out of SDCC like what the MCU is up to, not really what Marvel Comics are up to, some trailers for DC properties and especially wtf is up with Absolute Cheetah, some new DC titles and the long-awaited Vixen announcement

Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon!
Support Capes and Japes by: Checking out our Patreon or donating to the Tip jar

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#434 – Guardsman Roundup

Kevin O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, The Guardsmen, Ozcar Waters

Today we talk about the guys who have called themselves Guardsman in the Marvel Universe, which all started with Tony Stark making a suit of armor that turns you evil (accidentally).

What we were up to this week:

Briar went to their local Ren Faire
Olivia went to an Adventure Zone Graphic Novel Release Event

Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon!
Support Capes and Japes by: Checking out our Patreon or donating to the Tip jar

Find out more on the Capes and Japes website.