MEPHISTO vs the Marvel Universe!

[@comixproviderftw_02]

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he was gonna be on WandaVision.

[@glong4087]

😂😂😂

[@LewisCox]

True lol

[@flywheelshyster]

Haha I LoLed

[@superthorc6894]

And anything else

[@SouthernRam]

So the devil is Erik Voss? 😂😂😂. Jk

[@jclombardi8471]

I still find it absolutely hilarious that Mephisto entered the cultural zeitgeist, not through an appearance in the MCU or in a videogame, but through fan theories about fucking WandaVision.

[@comixproviderftw_02]

That’s impressive. It’s not everyday a comic book character becomes popular in the mainstream BEFORE being adapted, if ever in modern times.

[@TupocalypseShakur]

@@comixproviderftw_02 the only other character to do that is Deadpool and even then it horrible misrepresented the character and turned him into a parody of meta characters

[@-libertyprimev1-902]

Now it's Fan Theories about No Way Home, though I'll give that one credit where it's due cause there's actually some interesting details in that trailer although it doesn't Have to point to Mephisto. In Every Appearance Dr Strange has had in the MCU Movies even outside his own they've always made sure to keep the Detail of his Scared Hands and not being able to keep them still, however in the No Way Home Trailer neither are shown to be present. That's very interesting and most likely will be a plot point because of how much attention to detail they'd put on it before, however beyond everything else is speculation like how Mephisto could be involved whether that is Mephisto in a Disguise or Dr Strange made a Deal with him but that has no information backing it besides this 1 Comic Page where Mephisto is in a Similar Pose to Dr Strange in front of a Fireplace which is kind of a Stretch...

[@megaultradamn]

​@@-libertyprimev1-902lmao it's phase 4. No clever details allowed.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

*Mephisto:* "My job here is done!" *Living Tribunal:* "...But you didn't do anything." *Mephisto:* _dramatically flourishes cape and leaves like friggin' Tuxedo Mask_

[@Exman33x9001]

I kept seeing some guy without a mustache so I thought you had shaved

[@casteanpreswyn7528]

@@Exman33x9001 two different accounts, though they might be the same person cause they have a lot of crossover.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

@@casteanpreswyn7528 We are not.

[@casteanpreswyn7528]

@@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache ya never know...lol

[@bluespaceman7937]

That would be cool.

[@willcrouch2359]

Little known fact: Mephisto was teased in the last 300 episodes of Backissues. This is truly the culmination

[@Deadpoolzilla]

'That's just comics, baby!' should be ComicPOP's new tagline

[@batfreeze56]

Sal: "In fact, he can be even MORE loved as a rock monster! Ben: " They just have to be blind." This is the peak Back Issues we've been waiting for.

[@Depthcharge2030]

I never thought anyone would ever mention Dire Wraiths on the couch. One day, maybe, we'll get a Rom Space Knight discussion. One day!

[@maxwellrauchut7926]

I think they actually did talk about Rom in an episode, I forget which but it’s in like the first 10 minutes of an episode that opens with a robot falling from space or something

[@karimzaid9726]

they talked about that in the age of ultron back issues

[@TupocalypseShakur]

I'm convinced that Mephisto is the one who started the rumors about him being everywhere Also Josh Brolin was in Marvel comics before playing Thanos and Cable 47:34. Wow

[@comixproviderftw_02]

Destiny still arrives…

[@mcmastersbp]

The Wraith War (against the Dire Wraiths) was from the ROM: Spaceknight series. It was actually a pretty cool series that weaved in and out of Marvel continuity through the entire run. Fun fact: When Storm lost her mutant powers because she was shot by the gun designed by Forge, that gun was designed to neutralize the dire wraiths from this event. :)

[@ridge825]

The opening rant about comic book fans being know it all is so fucking accurate.

[@comixproviderftw_02]

Casual fans use CBF’s as a crutch, cause they wanna be IN THE KNOW too because the movies are popular. Which is funny, because I’m pretty sure those same people probably used to make fun of those CBF’s or looked down upon them when they were growing up as well. Especially when Nerd Culture was more underground. Only now that it’s become mainstream, has more and more CBF’s become a little more excepting to a limit.

[@ridge825]

@@comixproviderftw_02 You woke up and chose to speak facts

[@thoarnejones6805]

@@comixproviderftw_02 bruh I gotta friend who swore up and down Mephisto was gonna be in Wandavision. I was like "Bruh they ain't bringing THE DEVIL into this show about Wanda and Vision." Same conversation took place after the 1st episode of Loki. I'm so done with this Mephisto thing. 😩😂

[@comixproviderftw_02]

@@thoarnejones6805 Just look at me, I’m a comic book fan and there’s still things that I don’t know. Hell, I never consider Mephisto to be in WandaVision, my theory was that Wanda and Vision were kidnapped. Maybe SWORD gets involved somehow in saving them. It wasn’t until episode 3 where I was like “okay, we’re doing House of M… Sorta.”

[@thoarnejones6805]

@@comixproviderftw_02 that's a far more sensible take

[@kcjc]

Sal’s X2 experience was basically me with my friends after we saw the first Avengers lol

[@comixproviderftw_02]

“Hey… Who’s the purple guy?”

[@SpiralSine6]

@@comixproviderftw_02 “It all starts with a hot skeleton named Death…”

[@casteanpreswyn7528]

@@SpiralSine6 or "it all starts with these things called Eternals and Deviants..."

[@architeuthis3476]

But oh man, that first 5 minutes of _X2_ kicks the hell out of any other 5 consecutive minutes anywhere in the X-Men film franchise!

[@kcjc]

@@comixproviderftw_02 to make it as simple as possible for them, since the MCU barely touched cosmic stuff at that point, I said something along the lines of “he’s a big strong dude who wants these powered gems to please death, who is a lady in Marvel, but I doubt they’ll use her”. They were a little confused but generally seemed alright with the explanation.

[@flywheelshyster]

Man you guys are on such a streak of awesomeness. There are no bad back issues they just get better and better!

[@architeuthis3476]

Getting closer to 100k!

[@flywheelshyster]

@@architeuthis3476 I know right! Like fucking finally, long overdue. Curse the algorithm gods!

[@ethanrichmond3992]

That first couple of minutes just describes my life. All my non comic reading fans turn to me and go, "okay, what the fuck is this" and then I talk for two to forty minutes about the convoluted history they'll probably leave out when they show up in a movie

[@sircasmanmarvellolover1323]

Llllllloooooooolllll “IT WAS MEPHISTO ALL Along!”

[@pluto9249]

The fact that going through someone’s mail is worth going to hell for was so funny to me

[@priceyyeti4058]

Sue Storm: Oh no! Jean Grey: Oh no! Rogue: Oh no! Living Tribunal: Oh no! Hela: Oh no! Mephisto: OH YEAH!

[@JohnClark-tt2bl]

Kool-Aid Man:..............

[@rileywarner5258]

The fact that this episode exists is hilarious.

[@danielavvollanum1917]

47:15 I love that in a comic book oriented show, when struggling to remember the name of actor Josh Brolin, Ben valiantly mentions The Goonies and No Country For Old Men..... Thanos..? Cable..? No..? ;)

[@thomasarcanine]

At this point I'm pretty much convinced Mephisto Vs story is just Al Milgrom's experience about a bully trying to take his comics collection and bagging it in mylar bags. Then years later, he took this project for a check to buy them back. 🤣🤣🤣

[@ItsTheFizz]

Remember when Mephisto was an interesting character and not just an overblown plot device to handwave away retcons? YEAH, ME NEITHER

[@freack3333]

👏👏👏👍

[@josenieves7514]

Gets harder to remember the more Marvel continues to do that...

[@Grievousish]

The internet: hey ComicPOP say the thing! ComicPOP: Mephisto....... The internet: Yay!!!

[@Smeagolthevile]

I love that this has the West Coast Avengers but its after Moonie left, so its clear that Khonshu was like 'marc, you better quit now before you gotta deal with some REAL DUMB SHIT'

[@TupocalypseShakur]

Then years later Khonshu was like "Marc, you missed on some weird shit." And send Marc to experience it

[@brianpierson7658]

My niece gave me these comics a couple years ago as a gift. She found them in a thrift store and bought them for me because she liked the covers.

[@TevyaSmolka]

The dire wrath war is actually a reference to Rom space knight which was a awesome series back in the day and tons of fun.

[@NathanielWinkelmann]

I was wondering that

[@johnbaker1466]

Made me laugh that we’re watching a comic book channel and the two movies that Ben chose to name that Josh Brolin is in were the Goonies and No County for Old Men, and not Avengers and Deadpool. Brilliant.

[@dinosaurusmaximus8506]

Can we get "ridiculously circuitous scheme" on a shirt?

[@TheOverLook]

Ethan: “That’s what I do all the time!”

[@diegobarrera3999]

The first 3 Min of this episode are worth the rest of it, so funny and relatable, like a comic. And also what Ethan said hit me as well. Me too have become the semi knowledgeable guy who knows comics thanks to this show as well. Thank y'all

[@johnk9352]

This episode immediately bought me to tears. This is fucking hilarious, great work.

[@BBest1996]

Ethan and bens reaction to sal explaining x-factor is a mood.

[@chrisdaily2077]

Basically every MCU Theory video.

[@kazual6149]

Man I picked these up from zapp in a set a few years ago and then completely forget about them. Glad to finally see what they're about lol

[@50jakecs]

Zapp in NJ?

[@lordofthereels6790]

Damn James Ganfolfini would have been an amazing Ben Grim. Hell if they ever addressed his Yancy Street Gang past they could have thrown in Sopranos cameos as the members.

[@kobetharp4420]

You guys rule, this streak of amazing back issues has been one of the best! Thank you all for your hard work!

[@Martin_TheCollector]

What a truly "minty fresh" episode guys, lol.

[@andrews4717]

“By the Mystic Mylar bag of Mephisto, this shits in Mint Condish” -Doctor Strange at a comics convention

[@jabcrondstat8591]

Who knew I needed a Devil's Advocate reference tonight? The Mephisto voice was great!

[@EmpressOfDestruction]

I scared my roommates by screaming YASSSSS too loud when I saw the thumbnail. 😂

[@MrAl360]

18:22 No way, was that a Rom Space Knight reference?!?

[@karl_alan]

I chose to believe this is a Morrison-esque statement about the comics industry, where the people above it are convincing you to capture your comics in mylar bags, and all for not in the end.

[@glong4087]

This episode started out amazing with the Xmen story 😂

[@vaggelisbaousis1756]

47:50 Ben recognizes, while being in a comic book show, Josh Brolin from "No Country for Old Men" and "The Goonies". Not from, I don't know, Thanos or Cable. Never change Ben.

[@jpetros25]

Sweet! I sent this to you a few years ago! Proud to have added to the Back Issues lore.

[@ForgottenBud]

This episode was so great! I replayed and laughed at so many hilarious moments. This was Back Issues at it's finest!

[@barraki6706]

(18:20) Rom reference! :)

[@rema999p]

In short, give Mephisto to Taika Waititi. Have Taika cast himself as Mephisto even, and bring Cate Blanchett as Hela back for that show/movie.

[@TupocalypseShakur]

Then who will be Blackheart?

[@nicksmyth4050]

Matt Berry would be perfect casting as Mephisto (he already has experience working with Taika)

[@Albino_Basilisk]

@@TupocalypseShakur nic cage

[@SuperCliffReviews]

“The fucking Devil!!!” - Sal 😂

[@AkiDave]

I was on the floor the entire time, great episode of back issues!

[@langleymneely]

43:18 Am I the only person whose thoughts immediately turned to sex when Ben said this?! “Oh Jean, a good girl never allows herself to be OPENED AND READ until she finds just the right READER/COLLECTOR!” 🤣

[@monstermanalex1313]

I'm that guy at work too....and the look they give you...

[@pickedceasar1216]

The Wraith War is basically all of Rom Spaceknight. Which would be awesome to see you guys cover some in the future 😁😊

[@BrowncoatAllywang]

Mephisto didn't need to trick Reed into committing a sin because Reed is already going to hell lol.

[@infernaldisdain8051]

Nah, Reed is going where all asshole scientists go. A world of magic where nothing makes sense and has no concrete rules.

[@JohnClark-tt2bl]

@@infernaldisdain8051 So hell then.

[@jadedragon216]

Well he is an atheist

[@daraghokane4236]

Reed would find the rules of that world e eventually. anything goes no rules would be a rule if its consistent

[@infernaldisdain8051]

@@daraghokane4236 who said anything was going to be consistent in that world. That’s explicitly why I said there would be no rules

[@warriordemon1]

Hell yeah a Mephisto story by Comicpop!

[@monstermanalex1313]

Okay, I gotta stop my chronological watching of Back Issues, because I gotta hear THIS!

[@ftfasttalkfoodreviewsyt]

Dire wraiths are ROM villains. ROM and the X-Men crossed over a lot in the 80s.

[@Neyebureturns]

Loved the reference to Alpacino in Devil’s Advocate 😂

[@adrianvelante8014]

18:03 I think that's Rom the Spaceknight thing.

[@gerasandoval8649]

I love these, just like Secret Wars 2, where you get to explain and react and complain a weird old story with so many ideas in them, while also giving you a snapshot in time of the universe

[@bradcox1668]

This was a great episode guys loved the energy

[@shreyanshdas7481]

Sal has so much comic book knowledge 🔥

[@seankensing]

“Aha, a hole! Well done team, Avengers Assemble!” - Sal is on fire in this episode.

[@alberto1583]

I don't know why but when I saw the title and Mephisto's name this instantly felt like a season finale of back issues. I learned about Mephisto through this awesome channel 😂 and I'm so fucking ready to start this video!

[@julianfalk2645]

Please do X-Men Inferno, and keep up the good work. Also i want to hear Sal explain Longshot :)

[@sergioguzman9736]

This was one of my favourite Back Issues episodes. Freaking hilarious! Loved it

[@toob46]

Some of my favorite moments in back issues is when someone asks sal about a character they don’t really know about, like Longshot, and Sal sighs.

[@weredrago2]

Hey Sal! Since you talked about the Wraith War, I dare you guys to do a Back Issues on Marvel's ROM: SPACEKNIGHT! Consider the fact that its out of print as a challenge rather than a reason not to!

[@Insane-Howl-Cowl]

Nice always good to see more old school stories

[@KalleVilenius]

Reed's reasoning for bringing in X-Factor sounds like a solution to one of the Riddler's riddles in Adam West Batman.

[@philrobichaud3063]

i love episodes of Back Issues! If you guys want to further explore the whole soul stealing story type, you should do an episode on Deadpool Soul Hunter, where Deadpool makes a deal with Vetis (an underling of Mephisto) for his soul in exchange for a laserdisk factory (because Deadpool).

[@dedbatt8869]

This miniseries was made for Back Issues; ridiculous plot and concept, eclectic cast of characters, and ironic meta commentary on comic books.

[@fostertalks2327]

I think the Dyrewraths thing is referring to the events of the Rom comic.

[@VanCantian01]

46:26 "What the fuck your poppin your claws?! What the fuck u wearing a tank top falllng donw an shit?!" It is so random... which makes it hilarious

[@DCReviews4]

This was a BLAST!

[@rabl3535]

Not even 5 min. in and I’m 100% sold on the video

[@vTurlumbulev]

The original DC / Vertigo Lucifer by Mike Carey run was great. All coming out of one of the greatest modern mythologies ever created. Sandman by Neil Gaiman. Ahhh I wish I could read them for the first time again. Loved those books.

[@loganshirley9058]

It feels like Reed's betrayal of Ben is a much better justification for getting him to hell than mail fraud

[@bradwatkins7564]

The bit with Longshot's soul or lack of one played into his departure from the X-Men. Left to find his soul or some such. I thought it was dumb as hell at the time as Longshot was my favorite member of the team but this helps that make "sense".

[@DailyDeusExMachina]

I have to agree Atlantis Vs Hell sounds rad.

[@putridsunrise192]

Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman handled Hell in the DC universe pretty well.

[@jonfrombuckland_3784]

"Hey Mephisto, we're gonna kick your ass." "FUCK YOU!" A great and hilarious moment that had me laughing so hard I had to stop driving for a minute

[@bornsinner8653]

Nice to see Ben is a man of high culture referencing the Dorkly Magneto/Dazzler skit

[@kurtoogle4576]

This was some fine work, lads. Utterly bonkers!

[@SkylightCiel]

The whole thing about your friends relaying on you to tell them Comic Book facts after a movie so that they can then go home and pretend like they always knew those facts. *Chef Kiss*

[@JohnClark-tt2bl]

Enclosing heroes in protective sleeves? Sounds like a job for, The Collector! That's the Simpsons character......

[@mr.goblin6039]

Funny you mention it: there ARE gods for other planets. Hercules once fought the Skrull gods and Jane Thor fought the Shi’Ar gods. Marvel’s cosmology is really weird.

[@TupocalypseShakur]

There is a whole city where gods from around the universe go for vacation. It's called Omnipotence City

[@mr.goblin6039]

@@TupocalypseShakur That's the place Thor and Loki go to from time to time cause there's like some multiversal magic library, right? I remember it from Jason Aaron's run of Thor and Jane Thor. He really likes using that place. lol

[@ethanwhite8607]

I don't what it was but the jokes were ON POINT this episode. I was laughing so hard the whole time. Maybe Comic Pop made a deal with Mephisto for a hilarious episode.

[@grantnewton4230]

So, Dire Wraiths are the villains in the Rom Spaceknight comic!

[@noahsyer5206]

I don’t know what I’d do without weekly back issues

[@SadikiStGeorgeangemon44]

Would yall be willing to do the Grant Morison run of Animal Man. Im suprised that not many people have talked about it and its one of my favorite story arcs to read

[@davidbreault3283]

Ngl I absolutely loved this episode/issue. It’s so fun and funny and I think I’m actually a mephisto fan now.

[@themilkman5004]

The Dire Wraith stuff is from the Rom Space Knight licensed series

[@The_Retro_Futurist_76]

18:31 is this in reference to ROM the space knight? The dire wraiths were the villains in that series....I might have asked this already, apologies in advance

[@pwngoatjunkie2575]

My understanding is that the Wraith War (ROM) just got collected omnibuses this year for the first time. For being a toy tie-in, the series and the Dire Wraiths as a whole have multiple cross overs with the Marvel universe and importance. One of the ROM issues is a Secret Wars 2 tie in where the Beyonder cures Rick Jones of cancer. It would be cool to have an overview of this series as it is a Bill Mantlo one and given everything he's been through....

[@ziggy_425]

I have that back in black tie in signed by Clayton crain. I love his art lol

[@pay7232]

Summer episodes of back issues are so obscure and awesome.

[@marcamusprime9513]

"I literally just said that." -Ethan's thoughts 1:16:00

[@seankensing]

Two important elements of Mephisto’s stupid-ass 4-part scheme: collecting and trading souls, and laughing.

[@duckcade2855]

I am never calling it One More Day ever again. Mephisto Vs Spiderman is so much better

[@drewchesher3232]

@comicpop isn’t the Wraith War from ROM Space Knight? 18:03

[@uncannyhumantorch3704]

Who’s been pulling those evil strings it’s been mephisto all a longgg