Blog Posts – Page 30 – Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men

As Mentioned in Episode 201 – Pump Up the Jam

June 17, 2018 Jay One comment

Listen to the podcast here.

Art by David Wynne. Wanna buy the original? Drop him a line!

Damn, that’s a nice cover. (X-Men #10)

I mean, one of them is definitely not playing a part. (X-Men #10)

I know, buddy. I know. (X-Men #10)

Wait for it… (X-Men #10)

*snicker* (X-Men #10)

Throwing this in mostly because it’s a gorgeous panel. (X-Men #10)

Not even the end of the issue, really. (X-Men #10)

Wait, wasn’t Jon Bon Jovi blond in 1992? (X-Men #10)

That is some choice sideeye. (X-Men #11)

A little bit louder, and a little bit worse. (X-Men #11)

“Hey, wanna see if we can make the Psylocke/Cyclops sexual tension even MORE uncomfortable?” (X-Men #11)

TFW you’re just thankful the control booth is lined with Mojonium(TM). (X-Men #11)

Toxic masculinity saves the day! (X-Men #11)

Mojo directing his own murder is a little bit creepy. (X-Men #11)

YOU’D THINK ONCE WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH, BUT NO. (X-Men #11)

“Know what would be the worst, though? If we were all characters in a comic book.” (X-Men #11)

I don’t understand what’s happening around Maverick’s crotch; and frankly, I don’t care to. (X-Men #10)

This guy. (X-Men #10)

Can we get a close-up on that caption, though? (X-Men #10)

GOD FUCKING DAMNIT, HARRAS. (X-Men #10)

Thaaaaaat’s our Maverick! (X-Men #11)

It really, really looks like Professor X’s head isn’t attached to his body. (X-Men #12)

Carter Ryking has come unstuck in time, but not really. (X-Men #12)

Aw, man, it’s nice to have a reminder of why I sometimes really like these two together. (X-Men #12)

I mean, Gambit and Rogue are doing okay, so the dysfunction had to go somewhere… (X-Men #12)

ART CHALLENGE: What’s in the file? Fill in those empty pages! (X-Men #12)

And the skeletons are like, “Dude, we’re RIGHT HERE.” (X-Men #12)

While these are all valid concerns, they’d be alleviated somewhat if anyone ever bothered to draw Professor X with a decent wheelchair. Seriously, X-Men artists, DO SOME BASIC RESEARCH ON THIS. (X-Men #12)

Now there’s a guy who knows how to put the “fun” in “funeral.” (X-Men #12)

Yeah, Logan, don’t get into a feels-off with Rogue. You won’t win. (X-Men #13)

Nicieza’s Beast is really, really good. (X-Men #13)

Aw, Jubilee. (X-Men #13)

Show him what he’s won, Rusty and Skids! (X-Men #13)

NEXT EPISODE: A musical interlude with X-Factor!

Mutant, Trans, and Proud

June 15, 2018 Jay 3 comments

We sold out of the pins at ECCC, but this seemed like the right month to put this design on t-shirts (and notebooks, and phone cases, and a bunch of other stuff):

That said, we feel pretty strongly that this is a design that should be in everybody’s hands. You’re of course welcome to buy our merch above; but if you want to DIY your own, you can download a high-resolution stencil below. This stencil is free for use for any non-commercial projects.

It is ALSO free for use on specific commercial projects, with one major caveat (on the honor system):

If your business is not trans-owned, any proceeds from merchandise you sell with this design should go to Trans Lifeline or another trans advocacy organization.

(Also, we’d love to see anything folks make with this, private or commercial!)

Thanks to Dylan Meconis for design and file-formatting assistance!

As Mentioned in Episode 200 – Lightning in a Bottle, with Louise Simonson

June 3, 2018 Jay 3 comments

Listen to the episode here.

LINKS & FURTHER LISTENING:

For the beginning of Louise Simonson’s X-Factor run, check out Episode 64 – Ski Lodge of Apocalypse.
We started covering Simonson’s New Mutants run in Episode 82 – Birds and Boys.
Hear about the aftermath of Doug Ramsey’s death in Episode 91 – The Saddest Story Ever Told.
For a close look at Havok & Wolverine: Meltdown, click over to Episode 114 – Meltdown.
You can learn more about the Judgment War arc in Episode 128 – A Stupid Way to Die, and Episode 133 – Feisty Little Fellow from the Stars.
Louise previously appeared on the show–along with Chris Claremont–in Episode 168 – Live at NYCC.
(We interviewed Chris at more length in Episode 100 – Unexpected Wonder.)
And we talked a lot about the mutant metaphor and current politics in Episode 164 – This Is the Mutant Revolution: Live at Rose City Comic Con.
The new Power Pack podcast we mentioned this episode is Unpacking the Power Pack. Go give ’em a listen!

As Mentioned in Episode 199 – Space, Geeks, and Gaveedra Seven

May 27, 2018 Jay 4 comments

Listen to the episode here.

Art by David Wynne. Wanna buy the original? Drop him a line!

It’s weird, but it could be SO MUCH WEIRDER. (X-Men Annual #1)

These two really have their battle banter down to a science. (X-Men Annual #1)

Well, this is awkward in retrospect. (X-Men Annual #1)

Hi, Retrieval Team. (X-Men Annual #1)

Again: I want these characters to be SO MUCH WEIRDER. (Uncanny X-Men Annual #16)

Stop trying to make “bohunk” happen. (Uncanny X-Men Annual #16)

GOOD LORD JOE QUESADA DRAWS A TERRIFYING MOJO (Uncanny X-Men Annual #16)

This comic does not include a countdown of enemies, but if it did, #1 would definitely be condiments. (X-Factor Annual #7)

This actually explains a depressing lot about Mojoworld. (X-Factor Annual #7)

SPIRAL IS SO COOL. (X-Factor Annual #7)

Spiral X-Plains Spiral, Part 1. (X-Factor Annual #7)

Spiral X-Plains Spiral, Part 2. (X-Factor Annual #7)

Okay, getting marginally weirder, but still not quite there. (X-Force Annual #1)

You can tell he’s a big deal now because he wears his hair down. (X-Force Annual #1)

I just realized that the good Spineless Ones are named after Borscht Belt comedians. (X-Force Annual #1)

Behind every Facebook meme about positivity is this panel. (X-Force Annual #1)

Powerpax! (X-Force Annual #1)

Darkchild! (X-Force Annual #1)

Banshee! (X-Force Annual #1)

Cyberlock! (X-Force Annual #1)

Sunspot, but with a mullet! (X-Force Annual #1)

You’d think a guy who grew up on a media-saturated world would know better than to trust an administrator in a fancy hat. (X-Force Annual #1)

Kill your television. (X-Force Annual #1)

I feel really good about the fact that Longshot aged into Estelle Getty. (X-Force Annual #1)

Ignore these blueprints; they will never be followed consistently. (X-Men Annual #1)

SELF-FRIEND (X-Men Annual #1)

Remember the good ol’ days, when comics NEVER dabbled in politics or even direct allegory? *snort* (X-Men Annual #1)

“I can also cross over with DC properties, but that’s not really gonna be on the table for a while.” (Uncanny X-Men Annual #16)

Val Cooper’s subconscious is an appropriately frightening place. (X-Factor Annual #7)

NOPE. (X-Factor Annual #7)

Taki! We missed you! (X-Force Annual #1)

We’re only posting one of the many pin-ups; but DANG, it’s a good one. (X-Force Annual #1)

NEXT EPISODE: Louise Simonson!

LINKS & FURTHER READING:

For more background on Longshot and Mojoworld, listen to Episode 49 – Of Mullets and Miracles.
Get Bishop’s backstory in Episode 180 – Lawful Badass.
The Kobayashi Maru is a really fun book, if you like that kind of thing (which Jay does).
If you happen to end up in New York, the Jim Henson exhibit at the Museum of the Moving Image is AMAZING.
“Send the Marines” is Tom Lehrer’s tribute to American interventionism, and also a very catchy song.
Aside from this Onion article, I could find no information about the alleged Stretch Armstrong recall, so I suspect that story may in fact be apocryphal. -J

The Mutant Fifth Column: Seanan McGuire on Her X-Men: Gold Annual

May 22, 2018 Jay 4 comments

Jay here!

One of my very favorite humans and authors–as well as a long-time friend of the show–Seanan McGuire was just announced as the writer of the upcoming X-Men: Gold Annual #2 (cover above). I caught up with Seanan on Discord for an x-clusive chat about her history with the X-Men and what it’s like to write your childhood favorites.

Keep going for the full interview, as well as the cover to X-Men: Gold Annual #2 (WITH BUNNIES)!

As Mentioned in Episode 198 – How to Destroy the Universe Without Really Trying

May 20, 2018 Jay 2 comments

Listen to the episode here!

Art by David Wynne. Wanna buy the original? Drop him a line!

Alas, the Walter Simonson cover is a false alarm. (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

Sweet threads, Brigadier! (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

Life Model Decoy life is hard. (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

At this point, she should really just change her code name to “Ripley.” (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

Thiiiiiiiiis guy. (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

“Maybe, like, a buck fifty?” (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

And that’s why we don’t experiment on ourselves, Dr. Cayre. (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

Air-Walker is a cyborg who loves his work. (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

And now, a whole bunch of Lockheed making really good shifty faces! (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

Seriously, it’s basically just this for like six images. (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

What, you thought I was joking? (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

I was not joking. (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

(Okay, fine, I also threw in a Captain Britain suit on fire.) (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

But here’s one more Lockheed, for good measure! (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

“Remember when I basically destroyed the universe? Good times!” (Excalibur: Air Apparent)

Well, it’s no Excalibur #41 or 52, but I guess it’ll do. (Excalibur: XX Crossing)

He’s got style, I’ll give him that. (Excalibur: XX Crossing)

Doom is a tough audience. (Excalibur: XX Crossing)

Scott Summers: hopelessly uncool in just about any time period. (Excalibur: XX Crossing)

World War II Angel may in fact be the best Angel. Dang! (Excalibur: XX Crossing)

But what could it be?! (Excalibur: XX Crossing)

IT’S A HONKER OF DOOM! (Excalibur: XX Crossing)

Sure, why not? (Excalibur: XX Crossing)

This is one of those costumes that really only works in specific art styles; but this is one of them. (Excalibur: XX Crossing)

I mean, he is kind of a notorious dick… (Excalibur: XX Crossing)

He died as he lived: crushed under a tower of word balloons. (Excalibur: XX Crossing)

That Kitty and Bobby briefly dated later makes this much funnier. (Excalibur: XX Crossing)

NEXT EPISODE: Shattershot!

LINKS & FURTHER READING:

How to Snakes is one of the best things on YouTube. Watch, listen, and learn.
Our RoboCop Remake is amazing and ABSOLUTELY NOT SAFE FOR WORK. You’ve been warned.
This Monty Python sketch may clarify a few of Jay’s more bizarre moments in this episode.
To learn all about Honkers, listen to Episode 197 – Wolverine and the Honker of Doom.

As Mentioned in Episode 197 – Wolverine and the Honker of Doom

May 13, 2018 Jay 6 comments

Listen to the episode here.

“Just follow your heart,” Jay told David.

We have no idea how accurate this depiction of Kamehameha Day is; but from what we’ve read, it sounds like a really cool holiday. (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

Our villains. (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

Also a villain. (The doctor, not the kid. The kid is just super doomed.) (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

Nick Fury writes like a twelve-year-old girl, and that makes me so happy. (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

Wolverine rising from bodies of water: never not rad. (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

Meanwhile in a history that might have been… (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

“Turtleneck Dracula” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, bro. (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

I really legitimately love this dude’s design. (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

Seriously. Wolverine. Moonlight. Bodies of water. It’s a thing. (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

Despite evidence to the contrary, Shiv’s head is neither exploding nor severed in this panel. (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

It’s hard to be a grown-up, Wolverine. (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

“I’m ALSO sorry that S.H.I.E.L.D. never figured out a less passive-aggressive way to apologize.” (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

“Dear Diary, nobody understands me.” (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

The second-best time Wolverine blew up a helicopter. (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

And they all lived happily ever after. (Wolverine: Bloody Choices)

Damn, Fury, get some better mementos. (Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure)

Dude sneaking up behind Wolverine is about to have the most anticlimactic day of his life. (Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure)

Gahck is awesome. In other news, I’m really upset about the vertical spacing in that third balloon. (Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure)

SPINY HONKER (Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure)

Once more for the back row: THE HONKER OF DOOM! (Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure)

I’m really just including this panel for the phrase “great rogue honker.” (Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure)

THE HONKER OF DOOM! (Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure)

Gahck has no time for your nonsense. (Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure)

He looks so happy! (Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure)

Probably feasible? Maybe? Ehh, it’s Wolverine, we’ll allow it. (Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure)

I feel you, Robopocalypse. (Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure)

“Once you’re one of my horsemen, of course, you’ll have access to an excellent Employee Assistance Program, as well as paid time off!” (Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure)

Wolverine has a LOT of semicanonical kids floating around the Marvel Universe. (Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure)

NEXT EPISODE: Excalibur vs. the X-Men, kind of!

LINKS & FURTHER READING:

Come see us at FlameCon!
We covered Wolverine: Bloodlust in episode 190 – Local Yokels.
Glen Danzig was in fact briefly in the running for the role of Wolverine. (Don Adams, alas, was not.)
Dirty chai is chai tea with a shot of espresso. And now you know.
Sorry about that, Chief!
Here’s the Hawkeye fan film Miles mentioned!
Cargo Cults are really interesting.

As Mentioned in Episode 196 – The Power Is Yours

May 6, 2018 Jay 2 comments

Listen to the episode here.

Art by David Wynne. Wanna buy the original? Drop him a line!

Look at these heroes being all heroic! (Excalibur #48)

Feron. (Excalibur #48)

Poor Rachel; like her *actual* memories aren’t traumatic enough on their own… (Excalibur #48)

Kyluun is a serious hero with serious skills… (Excalibur #48)

…mostly. (Excalibur #48)

Meet the new Widget. (Excalibur #48)

Aw, man, I LIKED that logo. (Excalibur #49)

The cross-time incursions in this issue are really fun. (Excalibur #49)

No, seriously. (Excalibur #49)

I like to imagine them all getting together and drinking tea and just sort of looking shell-shocked in quiet sympathy. (Excalibur #49)

“Quick, check for pouches!” (Excalibur #49)

Meanwhile in the multiverse… (Excalibur #49)

Ugh, THAT GUY. (Excalibur #49)

Props to introducing the new logo as a punchline to the previous cover. (Excalibur #50)

Kitty Pryde running into walls: never not funny. (Excalibur #50)

‘Kay. (Excalibur #50)

And in that moment, we were all Alistaire. (Excalibur #50)

His hands are huge and they can touch anything but themselves. (Excalibur #50)

HELL, YEAH. (Excalibur #50)

And THAT’S how you do an epic space battle. (Excalibur #50)

So there. (Excalibur #50)

UGHHHHH, THIS JERK. (Excalibur #50)

If I could remember the episode where I’d first made the “shoddy capitalist workmanship” joke, this caption would definitely be a callback to that. (Excalibur #50)

*Rimshot* (Excalibur #50)

NEXT EPISODE: Wolverine is pretty short.

LINKS & FURTHER READING

Apparently the dead mail-order monkeys were apocryphal, although we were able to dig up some fairly nightmarish accounts of live mail-order monkeys. …Yay?

As Mentioned in Episode 194 – Brood Trouble in the Big Easy

April 22, 2018 Jay 4 comments

Listen to the podcast here.

Cyclops may not have a lot of people skills, but he’s pretty good at boundaries. (X-Men #8)

Last panel of Forge being awful, I promise (for now). (X-Men #8)

Aw, they all posed. (X-Men #8)

Never meet your heroes. (X-Men #8)

Once you see the Pikachu in Psylocke’s swimsuit, you’ll never unsee it. (X-Men #8)

“We have fun, don’t we?” (X-Men #8)

And that’s why you always leave a note! (X-Men #8)

Meet Mrs. Gambit. (X-Men #8)

Trolling law enforcement is one of the subtler perks of being Ghost Rider. (X-Men #8)

“…Lord Byron!” (Ghost Rider #26)

Oh. Him, too, I guess. (Ghost Rider #26)

I mean, yeah, he’s a dick; but this is pretty excessive. (Ghost Rider #26)

The two most dramatic men in New Orleans. (Ghost Rider #26)

TBH, those outfits are pretty understated by Assassins Guild standards. (Ghost Rider #26)

AND THAT’S WHY YOU ALWAYS LEAVE A NOTE! (Ghost Rider #26)

I give him some flack, but nobody draws grossed out teenagers like Jim Lee. (X-Men #9)

The inside of Ghost Rider’s mind; and, coincidentally, the cover of his first hit single. (X-Men #9)

(It’s okay. She’ll be back later.) (X-Men #9)

Meanwhile in the upside down… (X-Men #9)

Um, yes. She does. You already know that, Wolverine. (X-Men #9)

X-Men crossovers are pretty hard on guest stars. (X-Men #9)

I’m just gonna leave this here, sans comment. (X-Men #9)

NEXT EPISODE: Mike Mignola’s X-Force!

As Mentioned in Episode 193 – Sewers of Tomorrow

April 15, 2018 Jay 8 comments

Listen to the podcast here!

Art by David Wynne. Wanna buy the original? Drop him a line!

On one hand: These dudes are pretty rad. On the other hand: being able to detect normal humans is a pretty ridiculous mutant power. (Uncanny X-Men #277)