Is This Canon?

About Is This Canon?

Join Decarceration (writer of From the Yard to the Arthouse) and Skylar Singer (writer of Acquired Tastes) as they journey through the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a fine-tooth comb. Is This Canon? is a loving, irreverent, and meticulous exploration of a shared cinematic continuity, its contradictions, and the real-world implications of the MCU's super-powered antics. skylarsinger.substack.com (https://skylarsinger.substack.com/s/is-this-canon?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Skylar Singer

Category

tv & film · tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Aug 2026

Latest episode

31 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

7 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   31 Oct 2026

   BARACK OBAMA WOULD HAVE NEVER LET IRON MAN 3 HAPPEN

   Some words of introduction from Decarceration (https://open.substack.com/users/123988908-decarceration?utm_source=mentions): It’s time for EPISODE SEVEN of IS THIS CANON! It’s Decarceration (https://substack.com/profile/123988908-decarceration) and Skylar Singer (https://substack.com/profile/126922465-skylar-singer) here, making our way through the MCU! We’re officially in the post-Avengers landscape, which is why we’re discussing Shane Black’s IRON MAN 3! Plenty of issues to discuss here involving the military-industrial complex and its role in Marvel past and present. Within this episode, you’ll find: -The adventures of Man Thing...’s wife! -The truth about Jenna Ortega’s ability to regrow missing limbs! -The villainy of Ike Perlmutter, former Marvel CEO! -The racism of THE MANDARIN! -COOOOOOOOOLDBLOOOOOOOOD! -Shane Black’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang! -Rebecca Hall And The Thankless Task! -Eiffel 65! -Norman Osborn’s relationship with Barack Hussein Obama! -Guy Pearce sex tapes! -China, comin’ atcha! And so much more! Works Mentioned in this episode: * @ 2:15:00: Decarceration (https://substack.com/profile/123988908-decarceration)’s review of The Standoff At Sparrow Creek — https://fromtheyardtothearthouse.substack.com/p/the-standoff-at-sparrows-creek?utm_source=publication-search (https://fromtheyardtothearthouse.substack.com/p/the-standoff-at-sparrows-creek?utm_source=publication-search) * @ 2:25:00: John Cena apologizing in Mandarin — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z88zeQ25pjQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z88zeQ25pjQ) Decarceration (https://substack.com/profile/123988908-decarceration) and I have been working, so more episodes of Is This Canon? are headed your way! Subscribe to Acquired Tastes (http://skylarsinger.substack.com) and never miss an episode! & be sure to subscribe to From The Yard To The Arthouse (https://open.substack.com/pub/fromtheyardtothearthouse) for incredible writing betwixt and between episodes of Is This Canon? Get full access to Acquired Tastes at skylarsinger.substack.com/subscribe (https://skylarsinger.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   7 Sept 2026

   The Avengers: Some Assembly Required, No Manual Included

   Some words of introduction from Decarceration (https://open.substack.com/users/123988908-decarceration?utm_source=mentions): It’s episode six of IS THIS CANON? This week, Skylar Singer and I are taking the deepest of deep dives into the MCU crowd-pleaser “The Avengers”! This was the first billion dollar Marvel movie, and we’ve got plenty to say! In this episode, we’ve got: -The Joss Autopsy!-Why do we need Hawkeye?”-What is a superhero’s theology?-Collateral damage, what is it good for?-Will someone give Scarlett Johansson something to do?-What does it mean to be horny for Death? Looking at you, Thanos!-Jerzy Skolimowski!-The surveillance ethics of SHIELD!-lOKi’S sICkO mODe!-Bruce Banner, Angry White Man!This is a big fat-ass episode! Tune in and enjoy! Did The Avengers come together? Let us know in the comments! Subscribe to Acquired Tastes for FREE to get every episode of “Is This Canon?” & so much more! Get full access to Acquired Tastes at skylarsinger.substack.com/subscribe (https://skylarsinger.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   31 Aug 2026

   Just One Avenger, No Cap - Captain America: The First Avenger

   Some words of introduction from Decarceration (https://open.substack.com/users/123988908-decarceration?utm_source=mentions): It’s Episode Five of IS THIS CANON? And today Skylar Singer (https://substack.com/profile/126922465-skylar-singer) and I are discussing the early stirrings of “The Avengers” in Joe Johnston’s “Captain America: The First Avenger”! This is a loaded entry, mostly due to how much Marvel history we’re discussing, and how much mythbusting we’re here to do. A lot of mythbusting. We’re here to bust myths. Wear protective goggles. In this episode, among other issues, we discuss: -Is Nick Fury just Augustus Gibbons?-What is Pupae Donald Trump?-What does Stan Lee even do?-Did M. Bison really spirit-punch a baby in the womb?-How does the shield return to Captain America, and what aren’t they telling us?-Are boy sidekicks indecent?-When is a Nazi not a Nazi? (Never, btw)-Who was The Rocketeer?All this and WAY more! This is an awesome, supersized episode. We hope you enjoy! “Is This Canon?” is just warming up. Consider sharing this post. It helps immensely. Subscribe to Acquired Tastes for FREE to get every episode of “Is This Canon?” & so much more! Get full access to Acquired Tastes at skylarsinger.substack.com/subscribe (https://skylarsinger.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

4. 

   24 Aug 2026

   Don't Be Forlorn, Enjoy The Thor Lore

   Some words of introduction from Decarceration (https://open.substack.com/users/123988908-decarceration?utm_source=mentions): I can’t believe it, we’re up to episode four of IS THIS CANON? Today, Skylar Singer and I are breaking down the first entry of the tale of the god allegedly known as “the strongest Avenger”. It’s Chris Hemsworth in “Thor”. For episode four, we’re juggling a lot of lore for the story of “Thor” so don’t be sore if it seems like a bore – just kidding, it’s not! Among the topics discussed: -”Freejack”! -What does “N.A.R” mean? -What is Stuart Townsend’s problem? -Is Natalie Portman doing actual science, or are they having her only perform “girl science”? -Who was Dr. Donald Blake? -The guys at SHIELD – incompetent, no? Give it a listen, and share with your friends! Equally entertaining for nerds and non-nerds, or your money and coupons back! Get full access to Acquired Tastes at skylarsinger.substack.com/subscribe (https://skylarsinger.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

5. 

   16 Aug 2026

   Larry Ellison, Elon Musk, And Iron Man Two!

   Some words of introduction from Decarceration (https://open.substack.com/users/123988908-decarceration?utm_source=mentions): Welcome to Episode Three of Is This Canon? We’ve fully infiltrated the MCU so far, and this time, we’re tackling “Iron Man 2”. It remains one of the more controversial and challenging films during the early period, and it has only grown more so with the inclusion of Elon Musk, Larry Ellison, and Bill O’Reilly! It’s the Avengers for Jerks! Listen on, too, as we talk about why we believe these movies are, in some ways, essential, and well worth discussing. Comic book movies have become their own economy, and it’s an economy worth discussing, even when the points being made therein (especially in this film) are troubling at worst, ideologically inconsistent at best. We also get to talk about Nick Fury! Black Widow! War Machine! Whomever or whatever Mickey Rourke is supposed to be! Come get lost in the weeds with Skylar and Decarceration as we ask IS THIS CANON? Be sure to subscribe to From the Yard to the Arthouse (https://fromtheyardtothearthouse.substack.com/) for more writing on cinema and criminal justice. Subscribe to Acquired Tastes (http://skylarsinger.substack.com) and never miss an episode of Is This Canon? Get full access to Acquired Tastes at skylarsinger.substack.com/subscribe (https://skylarsinger.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

6. 

   7 Aug 2026

   The Incredible Hulk Doesn't Care About Black People

   Some words of introduction from Decarceration (https://open.substack.com/users/123988908-decarceration?utm_source=mentions): We made it… the second episode of “Is This Canon?” We are about to wade very deep into the world of the MCU. The Hulk is currently at the top of the box office, but we’re delving into his MCU origins this week with “The Incredible Hulk.”There is no shortage of topics to discuss here, so we definitely ran long. Among what was dissected:-The long cinematic history of the Jolly Green Giant.-Edward Norton, Marvel superfan.-Doc Samson, the MCU’s biggest snitch.-And how loaded it is that the Hulk and Abomination destroy Harlem?Join us as we talk about the fraught history of the MCU’s second movie! Subscribe to Acquired Tastes and never miss an episode of “Is This Canon?” Are you a person with thoughts, feelings, or feedback? Join the conversation! “Is This Canon?” is just warming up. Consider sharing this post. It helps immensely. Get full access to Acquired Tastes at skylarsinger.substack.com/subscribe (https://skylarsinger.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

7. 

   2 Aug 2026

   Iron Man, Brought To You By Terrence Howard’s Wet Wipes

   Some words of introduction from Decarceration (https://substack.com/profile/123988908-decarceration): When I arrived at a certain subscriber milestone, I reached out to the heavens. I made a request. I said, “I would love to do a podcast with someone about superhero films, someone who knows the tech, and who can be a great collaborator, and who doesn’t mind speaking in depth about all of them.” I mean, not in those specific words. I also requested the world’s most perfect cheese plate, and the gods have yet to produce in those regards. This comes from a deep well, regarding my time in prison. In my darkest moments, inside my mind, alone and hopeless, I retreated to a happy place inside my head. I retreated to the movies. But because I was so isolated, so abandoned – these were largely times when I was in solitary without pen or paper – I tried to think of the movies I knew the best. Ultimately, these were superhero films, because they were popular, because the behind-the-scenes stories were so well-known, and because I had read comic books as a child. They were not my favorite movies. But they were movies I knew with exacting precision, and in my head, I could piece them together quite easily. I spent entire days recording DVD commentaries in my head regarding superhero cinema. This peculiar behavior most likely saved my life.And so I have met Skylar Singer. He is a good man, a smart man, a younger man with unique, thoughtful opinions unlike mine. And after a few chats, I could see how this would work, two men from decidedly different backgrounds and perspectives, discussing superhero pictures that have shaped our lives for better or worse. He has not provided that blessed cheese plate but I imagine it’s a matter of time, and I am a patient man. Today, we’re bringing you something special. Today, here, is the first ever episode of “Is It Canon?”In Volume One, we start at the dawn of the MCU. We’re discussing “Iron Man”, a big budget independent film that Marvel cobbled together from reputation and moxie, flying blind under director Jon Favreau to create a movie that would directly influence an entire genre but also begin an elaborate mythology that has lasted dozens of movies and television shows. How did “Iron Man” come about? Who developed it first? What are the film’s politics? What have we only noticed in retrospect? And what exactly is an Iron Monger? Please join us for Episode One: Iron Man, Brought To You By Terrence Howard’s Wet Wipes. This is Sky and D. And we hope you’ll join us on this journey. Subscribe to Acquired Tastes and never miss an episode of Is This Cannon? Get full access to Acquired Tastes at skylarsinger.substack.com/subscribe (https://skylarsinger.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.