Superhero Smash Season III—Audio Issue 49: Back-to-School Super Special II with Special Guest Stars Dr. Sandra Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli

Original Air Date

Aug. 21, 2025

Part 1 Begins

Super Show ID 1: Superhero Smash (0:10)

You’re listening to Superhero Smash on WIUP FM 90.1
- Featuring “The Best in Superhero Music and Comic Book Lore”
I’m your host, Dr. Gian Pagnucci, a.k.a. The New Professor X

Heroic Audio Episode Theme: Back-to-School (1:00)

This is the final Summer 2025 episode of Superhero Smash: Season III!
Yes it’s that time of year again
Summer is just about over, and it is time to get back to school
So this episode is dedicated to all those hard working students and teachers out there who are gearing up for another school year
Including all the students at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Coming up, I’ll be talking about getting back to school with superhero scholars Dr. Sandy Eckard and Dr. Alex Romagnoli, but first, let’s get in one of the greatest superhero songs of all time

Heroic Opening Song (3:45)

“Superman” by Five for Fighting

Super Show ID 2: Superhero Smash (0:20)

Superhero Smash is aired exclusively on WIUP FM 90.1
- Broadcasting from the campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Superhero Smash focuses on current superhero movies and popular culture events
- I also will be talking about comic book history and heroism
- And you can rest assured that no matter how much super cool stuff I talk about during each episode, you don’t have to worry because Superhero Smash is a NO SPOILERS show!
Contact me, the New Professor X, via email: SuperheroSmash3000@gmail.com
- I love to hear from the Legion of Superhero Smash Fans!
And best of all, Superhero Smash and WIUP FM 90.1 feature all kinds of great music you won’t hear anywhere else!

Superhero Smash Guest Stars: Dr. Sandy Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli (1:00)

When last we heard from Dr. Eckard, she was fighting crime in…

Superhero Smash Back Issue Bin (Season I): Audio Issue #12: Supervillains: Bring on the Bad Guys and Girls! — Guest Starring English Professor Dr. Sandra Eckard (07/25/23)
Dr. Eckard is Professor of English and Director of the Writing Studio at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU)
Sandy has explored Lois Lane across the long span of her career
She also has edited The Comics Connections series of books about how to teach using comic books and popular culture
I was pleased to write an article on “Who Is the Greatest Superhero?” for the first volume in the series, Comic Connections: Analyzing Hero and Identity

When last we heard from Dr. Romagnoli he was fighting crime in…

Superhero Smash Back Issue Bin (Season I): Audio Issue #13: The Defenders — Guest Starring Assistant Dean Alex Romagnoli (08/08/23)
Dr. Romagnoli is Interim Associate Dean of the School of Education at Monmouth University
Dr. Romagnoli is also Co-Author with Gian of Enter the Superheroes: American Values, Culture, and the Canon of Superhero Literature

Superhero Smash Guest Stars: Dr. Sandy Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli Interview Part 1 (7:45)

So now, let’s get to my interview with these 2 superhero scholars
Summer Movie Round Up (Superman)

Super Song 1 (4:38)

“Jimmy Olsen’s Blues” by Spin Doctors from the album Pocket Full of Kryptonite
Sandy’s pick

Part 1 Ends (@18 minutes)

Part 2 Begins (@18 minutes)

Super Show ID 3: Superhero Smash (0:30)

Listen to Superhero Smash on WIUP FM 90.1
Featuring “The Best Superhero Music and Comic Book Lore” in the DC Cinematic Universe, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and our Universe too!
Check out pagnucci.org and click the big Superhero Smash button
Or email the New Professor X using the address SuperheroSmash3000@gmail.com
- I love to hear from the Legion of Superhero Smash Fans
If you are enjoying today’s show, you can catch more Superhero Smash on Thursday mornings at 11:00 a.m. all summer long on WIUP FM 90.1

Superhero Smash Guest Stars: Dr. Sandy Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli Interview Part 2 (10:23)

Summer Movie Roundup (Thunderbolts* and The Fantasic Four: First Steps)

Super Song 2 (4:26)

“Everybody Knows” by Sigrid
From Justice League

Part 3 Ends (@33 minutes)

Part 4 Begins (@33 minutes)

Super Show ID 4: Superhero Smash (0:30)

Listen to Superhero Smash on WIUP FM 90.1
Featuring “The Best Superhero Music and Comic Book Lore” in the DCU, the MCU, and our U-niverse too!
Check out pagnucci.org and click the big Superhero Smash button
Or email the New Professor X using the address SuperheroSmash3000@gmail.com
- I love to hear from the Legion of Superhero Smash Fans
If you are enjoying today’s show, you can catch more Superhero Smash on Thursday mornings at 11:00 a.m. all summer long on WIUP FM 90.1

Superhero Smash Guest Stars: Dr. Sandy Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli Interview Part 3 (10:47)

Back to School
Super Scholarship

Super Song 3 (1:37)

Teacher Appreciation Song” by Ben Honeycutt
Fabulous song writer
You can find him on YouTube

PSA: Visit the IUP Kathleen Jones White Writing Center (1:00)

Superhero Smash Super Shoutout 1
- While I’m talking about heroes, let me give a Superhero Smash Super Shoutout to those hard working tutors at the…
IUP Kathleen Jones White Writing Center
The Writing Center is open all year, and the Writing Center tutors will help IUP students with any writing challenge, no matter how formidable
So head over to the IUP Stapleton Library where the Writing Center is housed or contact them online
Superhero Smash Super Shoutout 2
- And let me also give a Superhero Smash Super Shoutout to Dr. Dan Weinstein, the Director of the Writing Center and LLW Associate Professor
  - Dan’s such a great guy, he’s practially a superhero himself!

Part 3 Ends (@46 minutes)

Part 4 Begins (@46 minutes)

Super Show ID 5: Superhero Smash (0:30)

Listen to Superhero Smash on WIUP FM 90.1
Featuring “The Best Superhero Music and Comic Book Lore” in the DCU, the MCU, and our U-niverse too!
Check out pagnucci.org and click the big Superhero Smash button
Or email the New Professor X using the address SuperheroSmash3000@gmail.com
- I love to hear from the Legion of Superhero Smash Fans
If you are enjoying today’s show, you can catch more Superhero Smash on Thursday mornings at 11:00 a.m. all summer long on WIUP FM 90.1

Superhero Smash Guest Stars: Dr. Sandy Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli Interview Part 4 (12:52)

Back to School
Super Scholarship
Humanities Special Issue: “The Power of Superhero Literature: Applying the Lessons of Superheroes to Real Life”
- A Special Issue of the journal Humanities being Co-Edited by Dr. Gian Pagnucci and Dr. Sandy Eckard
- And including an article by Dr. Alex Romagnoli

Check Out: The Vox PopCast

Brought to you by Christopher “Mav” Maverick
The Vox Popcast website
- e199. Nancy Drew & the Hidden Staircase to Pop Culture Immortality
  - This episodes Sandy Eckard as a guest star
- e378. For Mature Audiences Only: When Nostalgia Grows Up
  - This episodes Sandy Eckard as a guest star

Thanks to Dr. Sandy Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli for a Super Interview (0:30)

Hope you enjoyed that great song and my interview with Dr. Sandy Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli
- Photo (from left): Gian Pagnucci/The New Professor X, Tom Welling (who played Clark Kent on Smallville, Sandy Eckard, Michael Rosenbaum [who played Lex Luthor on Smallville, and Alex Romagnoli)
I’ll have to see if I can bring Alex & Sandy back next summer

Super Show ID 6: Superhero Smash To Be Continued During IUP’s Breaks! (2:00)

Not quite the Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel
Sadly, this is the last Superhero Smash for the Summer of 2025
IUP classes start on Monday, August 25
- Maybe I’ll even get my podcast going!
While Season III is ending, you will be able to hear more Superhero Smash hopefully during IUP’s Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks!
And I’ll be back next summer too!
- Featuring “The Best Superhero Music and Comic Book Lore” in the DCU, the MCU, and our U too!
Meantime, keep listening to WIUP FM 90.1
Check out pagnucci.org and click the big Superhero Smash button
Or email the New Professor X using the address SuperheroSmash3000@gmail.com
- I love to hear from the Legion of Superhero Smash Fans
  - Since I’m talking about Aquaman and swimming, I want to give a Superhero Smash Super Shout-out to Jordan
And remember, while Superhero Smash is about the adventures of amazing individuals,
- “You don’t need superpowers to be a hero. The only thing it takes to be a hero is the courage to do what’s right when someone needs your help.”–Gian Pagnucci

Heroic End Credits Song (4:07)

School’s back, so let’s crack open those books of old and crank up my favorite superhero song!
“Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers & Coldplay

Part 4 Ends (@60 minutes)