Madelyne Pryor – Page 5 – Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men

54 – Who You Gonna Call? (feat. Elle Collins)

April 26, 2015 Jay 24 comments

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Art by David Wynne. Prints and cards available until 5/3/2015 in the shop, or contact David for the original.

In which the X-Men get their third ongoing series; Elle drops in to x-plain the Defenders; the band gets back together; rich people are not like the rest of us; Cyclops is in desperate need of some kind of intervention; and X-Factor is basically Ghostbusters.

X-PLAINED:

Cameron Hodge
The fairly spectacular secret origins of X-Factor
The Champions
The New Defenders
The evolution of Hank McCoy
X-Factor #1
The death throes of Scott and Madelyne’s marriage
Rusty Collins
A really bad first date
The increasingly dubious life choices of Scott Summers
The worst job interview
Sushi-a-Go-Go
How not to have an intervention
X-Factor
The X-Terminators
The Phoenix Force on Earth-811 (and its relationship to Rachel Summers)

NEXT WEEK: The Beyonder ruins everything. Again.

You can find a companion index to the material mentioned in this episode on our blog!

Find us on iTunes or Stitcher!

Rachel and Miles X-Plain the X-Men is 100% ad-free and listener supported. If you want to help support the podcast–and unlock more cool stuff–you can do that right here!

As Mentioned in Episode 53 – Sometimes They Come Back

April 20, 2015 Jay 13 comments

Listen to the episode here!

Cyclops has mixed feelings about fatherhood. (Uncanny X-Men #201)

Rick Leonardi is so good. (Uncanny X-Men #201)

Let’s pause for a moment to admire Rachel’s super sharp outfit. Those yellow shoes! (Uncanny X-Men #201)

Not actually story-relevant. I just really like this panel. (Uncanny X-Men #201)

You do you, Rogue. (Uncanny X-Men #201)

Madelyne Was Right. (Uncanny X-Men #201)

Look at Magneto on the end, like, “I’m a supervillain, and I think these people are out of their damn minds.” (Uncanny X-Men #201)

Like the outcome was ever in question. Also, how awesome is Leonardi’s Storm? So awesome. (Uncanny X-Men #201)

Cyclops’s father issues are basically their own character in this issue.

Grey house break-in #1 of 2. (Uncanny X-Men #201)

Love, love, love the way Mary Wilshire draws contemporary fashion–and uses it as a subtle storytelling element. (New Mutants #35)

This is what happens when, between the inks and the colors, someone decides you can’t show characters in just their underwear. (New Mutants #35)

Lee Forrester has no time for your ridiculous superhero hijinks. Lady’s got a job to do. (New Mutants #35)

Fun Fact: This poppy-field environment first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #175, where Cyclops used it to take down Rogue. (New Mutants #35)

On one hand: poor Warlock. On the other hand: I LOVE THIS PANEL SO MUCH. (New Mutants #35)

THE MIRACLE OF MAGNETISM! (New Mutants #35)

Horses are fucking terrifying. (New Mutants #35)

Warloooooooooock. (New Mutants #35)

Sienkiewicz eyebrows are the best eyebrows. (New Mutants #35)

Magneto is the cool teacher. (New Mutants #35)

This is what happens when you flout FAA guidelines for the safe transport of Kirby dots. (Avengers #263)

GOOD QUESTION, Captain Marvel! (Avengers #263)

Spoiler: This entire plot line is a pointless red herring. (Avengers #263)

Bonus Namor abs for you. (Avengers #263)

WHAT A SHOCKING TWIST! (Avengers #263)

If no one sends in lyrics to “Like a Phoenix,” we’re going to be kind of disappointed. (Fantastic Four #286)

1) Those credits, man. 2) THAT EPIGRAM. (Fantastic Four #286)

Look at She-Hulk and Hercules being all charming in the background. (Fantastic Four #286)

Hi, Jean. We missed you, too. (Fantastic Four #286)

“Also, there’s no way any actual human being would get that haircut.” (Fantastic Four #286)

Grey house break-in #2. Doesn’t anyone ever think to call ahead? (Fantastic Four #286)

Beast X-plains the Dark Phoenix Saga. (Fantastic Four #286)

“I’m a retcon, Jean. Just run with it.” (Fantastic Four #286)

Aw. (Fantastic Four #286)

Classic X-Men #8 does the whole thing over again, somewhat more graphically.

Next Week: X-Factor begins (for real, this time)!

53 – Sometimes They Come Back

April 20, 2015 Jay 35 comments

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Rachel screwed up and accidentally gave David material for episode 54 instead of 53, so there's no illustration this week. Instead, we offer both our sincere apologies and this photo of Miles dressed up as Mister Sinister at a costume party. — Rachel screwed up and accidentally gave David material for episode 54 instead of 53, so there’s no illustration this week. Instead, we offer both our sincere apologies and this photo of Miles dressed up as Mister Sinister for a costume party.

In which Wolverine doesn’t care about your baby; Storm takes charge; duels are terrible bases for systems of government; editorial mandate is hell on a marriage; Magneto is a pretty cool teacher; Jean Grey comes back; and we have mixed feelings about the Phoenix retcon.

X-PLAINED:

Kenji Uedo
Uncanny X-Men #201
New Mutants #35
Avengers #263
Fantastic Four #286
Classic X-Men #8
The post-Trial of Magneto status quo
Nathan Christopher Charles Summers
A small cross-section of Cyclops’s myriad issues
The wrong means to the right end
Magneto’s educational philosophy
The politics of creative credits
“You Know Who”
The Phoenix retcon
Several unrelated break-ins
The return of Jean Grey
Jean and the Phoenix Force
Alternate-timeline Madelynes Pryor
Jean Grey’s code names

NEXT WEEK: X-Factor begins! (for real, this time – sorry about that SNAFU!)

You can find a companion index to the material mentioned in this episode on our blog!

Find us on iTunes or Stitcher!

Rachel and Miles X-Plain the X-Men is 100% ad-free and listener supported. If you want to help support the podcast–and unlock more cool stuff–you can do that right here!

As Mentioned in Episode 50 – The People Vs. Erik Lehnsherr

March 29, 2015 Jay 4 comments

Listen to the podcast here!

Art by David Wynne. Prints and cards available until 4/5/2015 in the shop, or contact David for the original.

Professor Xavier reacts to the Xorn retcons. (Uncanny X-Men #196)

Someone really needs to make a gif out of those three panels on the left. (Uncanny X-Men #196)

Not satisfied with his own series, the Beyonder derails someone else’s. (Uncanny X-Men #196)

This is so ridiculously rude. I mean, what if Father Bowen had been asleep, or naked, or talking to a parishioner, or something? “SURPRISE!” (Uncanny X-Men #196)

Kurt Wagner echoes some common criticisms of Secret Wars. (Uncanny X-Men #196)

Awkward. (Uncanny X-Men #196)

KITTY’S FACE. (Uncanny X-Men #196)

Given the parallels between Rachel Summers and Magneto’s backgrounds, it would have been really cool to see this relationship developed further. (Uncanny X-Men #196)

So doomed. (Uncanny X-Men #197)

Aw, these kids. (Uncanny X-Men #197)

Oh, hi, Phoenix II! (Uncanny X-Men #199)

While we’re on the subject: Check out Allie Kleber’s gorgeous design for a ballgown version of Rachel’s first Phoenix costume!

Cue-ball special! Take a drink! (Uncanny X-Men #199)

You can almost hear the slash fiction springing into being. (Uncanny X-Men #199)

We’d make “Rachel and Scott Summers pointedly fail to communicate” a drink cue, but no one’s liver deserves that. (Uncanny X-Men #199)

It is super weird how much Val Cooper looks like Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, given that Thiessen would have been eleven years old when this comic came out. Photo-reference of future past? (Uncanny X-Men #199)

“We’ll start by attacking a dude at a Holocaust memorial. It’ll be great practice for your PR team!” (Uncanny X-Men #199)

Rachel Summers was totally the best Phoenix. (Uncanny X-Men #199)

Magneto is a morally complex individual with really excellent hair. (Uncanny X-Men #199)

No matter how much you love your job, you will never love it as much as Mystique loves hers. (Uncanny X-Men #199)

Magneto’s speech here is important, but what you’re really looking at here is his well-tailored suit. You’d expect him to show up to his trial in something like this, right? (Uncanny X-Men #199)

NOPE. Why wear a conservative suit to your trial when you could wear opera gloves and a sleeveless unitard with an M pointing directly to your crotch? (Uncanny X-Men #200)

Neal Conan x-plains Magneto. (Uncanny X-Men #200)

“The counsels for the prosecution and defense have been selected based on the quality of their Joan Rivers impressions.” (Uncanny X-Men #200)

Oh, these assholes. (Uncanny X-Men #200)

So, basically, it’s Tuesday. Also: best editor’s note ever? Best editor’s note ever. (Uncanny X-Men #200)

I don’t think we talked about it in the episode, but this issue has the best damn sound effects. Seriously, I’m just gonna post a bunch of these, because they are great, and the lettering is aces. (Uncanny X-Men #200)

VYANNG! KRAKOOM! (Uncanny X-Men #200)

SKBOOM! (Uncanny X-Men #200)

RKOW! (Uncanny X-Men #200)

KTHAM! (Uncanny X-Men #200)

ZARK! TUNCH! BDAM! THIS LETTERING, Y’ALL. (Uncanny X-Men #200)

Let’s all take a moment to appreciate Kitty’s hella sweet outfit. (Uncanny X-Men #200)

You’re not wrong, Madelyne. (Uncanny X-Men #200)

There’s something intrinsically hilarious about Starjammers fly-bys. (Uncanny X-Men #200)

KITTY, FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM AT… oh. Sorry. That was in poor taste. (Uncanny X-Men #200)

Pretty sure that last speech balloon was supposed to be Kitty’s, not Scott’s. (Uncanny X-Men #200)

MAGNETO MADE SOME VALID POINTS. (Uncanny X-Men #200)

Agh, god, Tom Orzechowski’s sound effects are SO GOOD. (Uncanny X-Men #200)

Sir James Jaspers: total dick. (Uncanny X-Men #200)

CANON: This lady’s name is Judge Kickass. (Uncanny X-Men #200)

Atonement

Cleric lvl 5 / Druid lvl 5

Range: Touch

(Uncanny X-Men #200)

NEXT WEEK: ECCC special, featuring Kris Anka, Marguerite Bennett, Kieron Gillen, and Peter Nguyen! (No idea why this photo is showing up upside down, but it looks kind of rad, so we’re just gonna run with it.)

LINKS AND FURTHER READING:

We covered Uncanny X-Men #196 in Episode 38, and Uncanny X-Men #198 in Episode 45.
NPR reporter Neal Conan is a 100% real dude! For an extra meta moment, you can listen to him interview Stan Lee over here.

50 – The People Vs. Erik Lehnsherr

March 29, 2015 Jay 22 comments

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In which Magneto makes an official alignment shift; Claremont does a court drama; Professor Xavier makes poor choices; Rachel Summers comes by her communication skills honest; the Strucker kids are the evil Wonder Twins; and the podcast hits a major milestone!

X-PLAINED:

Xorn
Uncanny X-Men #196, 199, and 200
The X-Men status quo circa 1985
Magneto’s alignment shift
Beyonder-related existential crises
A hypothetical murder mystery
Minor vandalism as a harbinger of dark futures
Psi-scream
Brood classified ads
A thematic parallel
The tipping point in Scott and Madelyne’s relationship
The new, improved Magneto
The Professor Who Cried Wolf
Phoenix II
Earth-811/Earth-616 disambiguation
Freedom Force
The Trial of Magneto
NPR-616
James Jaspers
The best editor’s note
The mystery of Magneto’s age
Andrea & Andreas Strucker
What not to wear to court
A super icky sword
Phoenix morality
Sponsorship & conflict of interest

NEXT WEEK: Emerald City Comicon special with Kris Anka, Marguerite Bennett, Kieron Gillen, and Peter Nguyen!

You can find a visual companion to this episode on our blog!

Find us on iTunes or Stitcher!

Support us on Patreon!

Buy prints of this week’s illustration at our shop, or contact David Wynne for the original!

As Mentioned in Episode 47 – The Price of Power

March 9, 2015 Jay 8 comments

Listen to the episode here!

Art by David Wynne. Prints and cards available until 3/15/2015 in the shop, or contact David for the original.

“Is this foreshadowing?”

“Nah. Just a book recommendation.”

“Because it really sounds like foreshadowing, Sam.”

“Former X-Man, huh?”

(X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #1)

Well, that escalated quickly. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #1)

Someone needs to sit Rachel Summers down for a long and serious conversation about proportional force. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #1)

WHOOPS. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #1)

“HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU: DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO!” (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #1)

Those That Sit Above In Shadow. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #1)

Seriously, though, don’t do that shit. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #1)

“Think there’s a twist? “Nah.” (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #1)

A) Scott looks like a doof without his glasses. B) I wonder if Marvel got a lot of pissed off letters about his eyes changing color in this issue. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #1)

“We all got superpowers, but the important part is the AMAZING OUTFITS.” (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #1)

WELL THAT COULD BE LESS AWKWARD. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #1)

SUPER not cool, Xavier. Also: Remember when Scott’s eyes were blue like five pages ago? ‘CAUSE THE COLORIST DOESN’T! *rimshot* (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #1)

I know they all gave the powers back at the end, but I really don’t see why Heather couldn’t have remade this outfit and then worn it ALL THE TIME, because it is awesome. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #1)

THAT CAT, THOUGH. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #2)

Aw, Snowbird. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #2)

There have been near-infinite variations on this gag, and they’re never not great. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #2)

Aw, Jean-Paul. Your team is kind of awful. I mean, so are you, but still. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #2)

COLD, Wolverine. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #2)

Well, shit. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #2)

OH, THAT EXPLAINS SOME THINGS. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #2)

This is about as close as the Summers family ever seems to come to healthy communication, so enjoy it while it lasts. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 1, #2)

I don’t care if they’re not costumes. DRINK ANYWAY. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 2, #1)

Throughout this story, Nightcrawler seems to be in a different genre than the rest of the cast. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 2, #1)

Can’t you just picture John Cassady physically crossing this spread off his bucket list? (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 2, #2)

Also this panel. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 2, #2)

Alberta, in case you were wondering–just a little south of Calgary. (X-Men/Alpha Flight vol. 2, #2)

NEXT WEEK: Asgardian Wars!

Many thanks to Emergency Backup Co-Host and Alpha Flight X-Pert (is there an Alpha-Flight-appropriate portmanteau for that?) Elisabeth Allie! Go check out Elisabeth’s blog, and follower her on Twitter!

47 – The Price of Power (feat. Elisabeth Allie)

March 8, 2015 Jay 21 comments

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In which Emergency Backup Co-Host Elisabeth Allie saves the day; the Berserkers are not the breakout hit you’ve been waiting for; Paul Smith continues to be awesome; nothing good ever happens in the Danger Room; Charles Xavier dabbles in cosplay; Nightcrawler has serious hat game; Rachel Summers lacks healthy coping skills; your life would be way more epic if Claremont narrated it; Northstar is a surprisingly good prom date; Loki is a total dick; and Longshot is totally Miles’s favorite.

X-PLAINED:

Madelyne Pryor
X-Men/Alpha Flight vols. 1&2
The Berserkers
An unconventional model of family therapy
Aggressive foreshadowing
NPC dialogue
Jazzercise superheroes
Superhero color theory
Sasquatch
Aurora
Those Who Sit Above in Shadow
Norse fashion of the ‘80s
Very specific superpowers
Some sweet boots
The price of power
A deus ex machina squared
Kitty and Piotr’s first date
Snowbird’s powers
Miles’s favorite X-Man

NEXT WEEK: Asgardian Wars!

You can find a visual companion to this episode on our blog!

Find us on iTunes or Stitcher!

Support us on Patreon!

Buy prints of this week’s illustration at our shop, or contact David Wynne for the original!

As Mentioned in Episode 29 – Mutant in a Box

November 2, 2014 Jay 27 comments

Listen to the podcast here!

We’re having a stealth / plainclothes cosplay contest, with guest X-Pert judge Kris Anka, and prizes from TVStoreOnline! Submissions are open ’til November 7. JOIN US.

Yep, that’s our Fantomex.

This ridiculous motherfucker who is now THREE PEOPLE. What the hell, Fantomex?

This isn’t Cyclops’s worst vacation. Hell, it’s not even his worst honeymoon. (X-Men #176)

Wolverine and Mariko: dealing with relationship issues like grown-ups. We choose to believe that wearing a mask that looks like your hair is a prerogative of adulthood. (X-Men #176)

You’d REALLY THINK Scott would know what an octopus looks like by now, but I guess he was blindfolded for a lot of his time in Octopusheim. (X-Men #176)

Scott! The sea’s a lovely lady when you play in her. But if you play with her, she’s a BITCH! Play in the sea, yes, but never play with her. You’re lucky to be here! You’re lucky to be ALIVE! (X-Men #176, with sincere apologies to the late, great Spalding Gray. Seriously, go watch Swimming to Cambodia. And Monster in a Box. And Gray’s Anatomy. Now.)

Yeah, good luck with that, Sparky. (X-Men #176)

Val Cooper: Definitely the sister of Special Agent Dale Cooper.

The early ’80s: A more innocent time, when all a hero needed was coke and epic shoulder pads, and you could kill Wolverine by slitting his throat. (X-Men #177)

Why is Alex dressed like an elf? (X-Men #177)

As diversions go, that’s a pretty impressively orchestrated one. Go, Brotherhood! (X-Men #177)

CYCLOPS WHAT THE HELL IS EVEN WRONG WITN YOU (X-Men #178)

“Get the asprin, Rogue. I feel a crossover event coming on.” (X-Men #178)

Awyeah. (X-Men #178)

Why is Kitty wearing an unbranded Fantastic 4 costume? Who the hell knows? Do we even need a reason, at this point? (X-Men #178)

99% sure Cyndi Lauper wrote a song about this. (X-Men #179)

This is innocuous in context, until you realize he’s sniffing a dead teenager in a morgue. (X-Men #179)

Aw, Leech. (X-Men #179)

LOOK AT THIS FUCKING WIZARD LOOK AT HIS HAT LOOK AT HOW HE CLEARLY BELONGS ON THE SET OF FLASH GORDON (X-Men #179)

Professor Xavier engages in a rare moment of being absolutely delightful. (X-Men #178)

I like to imagine that Kitty and Doug’s side adventures are the subject of a mid-’80s feature film starring Jenny Lewis. (X-Men #180)

Sky closure is the best closure. (X-Men #180)

Literally the only worthwhile panel in all twelve issues of Secret Wars. (Secret Wars #1)

“I’ll see she’s raised as if she were my own. HOPE SHE LIKES BEING DROWNED IN PUDDLES.” (X-Men #181)

Oh. That guy. Again. (X-Men #181)

This Erica Henderson drawing of Warlock and Cypher doing Troy and Abed in the Morning may be the single nerdiest thing Rachel owns, and that’s saying something.

Next week: These delightful scamps.

29 – Mutant in a Box

November 2, 2014 Jay 8 comments

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In which Cyclops is the worst at vacations, Mystique is your favorite MurderMom™, Havok is eternally ABD, Kitty Pryde does science, Callisto doesn’t give a damn about her bad reputation, Xavier has a Troy Barnes moment, Miles may be the only person with fond memories of Secret Wars, and Rachel finally gets to make Spalding Gray references.

X-Plained:

Fantomex
Uncanny X-Men #176-181
Reset issues
Scott Summers’s second-worst honeymoon
Cephalopod disambiguation
Project Wideawake (more) (again)
Valerie Cooper
Foreshadowing
Public displays of affection
Leech
How X-Men age
A sewer wizard
Doug Ramsey
Secret Wars
Japan
Mystique’s kids
Douglock
Mystique’s powers
The other X-Men Forever

Next Week: The New Mutants gets weird!

You can find a visual companion to the episode – and links to recommended reading – on our blog.

Find us on iTunes or Stitcher!

Support us on Patreon!

Send us your submissions to the Stealth / Plainclothes Cosplay Contest until the end of the day on Friday, November 7!

As Mentioned in Episode 25 – The Best at What He Does

October 6, 2014 Jay 4 comments

Listen to the episode here!

Art by David Wynne, after Katsushika Hokusai. Prints available until 10/12; or contact David to purchase the original.

Because you demanded it: Probably a Summers Brother t-shirts (light or dark backgrounds) and other gear are now a thing that exist, and which you can purchase using moneydollars!

Welcome to the Wolverine comic that will forever set the bar for Wolverine comics.

Shingen: Totally a dick. (Wolverine #1)

Seriously. This asshole. (Wolverine #1)

Things that never get old: Frank Miller drawing Wolverine beating up on Ninja. (Wolverine #2)

Other things that never get old: Our favorite lady, Yukio! (Wolverine #2)

Okay, look, like 2/3 of this gallery is just going to be us drooling over these amazing Frank Miller fight scenes. Deal with it. (Wolverine #2)

Mariko is less impressed with Miller’s stylish portrayal of gruesome violence. (Wolverine #2)

MORE NINJA! (Wolverine #3)

Yukio, ladies and gentlemen. (Wolverine #3)

Taking a break from drooling over stylish fight scenes to drool over a stylish chase scene. (Wolverine #3)

If you’re not hearing the narration in Steve Blum’s voice, you’re doing Wolverine wrong. (Wolverine #4)

LOOK AT THAT NARRATIVE SYMMETRY. (Wolverine #4)

We were going to choose one or two panels from this fight scene, but, nope, it’s perfect. Deal. (Wolverine #4)

HOLY BALLS FRANK MILLER (Wolverine #4)

The X-Men show up to congratulate Wolverine on the completion of his first solo miniseries. (Uncanny X-Men #172)

Look at that adorable Ninja meet-cute! Also: Pretty sure Smith is taking a cue from Miller with the sudden influx of vertical panels and silhouetted buildings. (Uncanny X-Men #172)

Yeah, look, remember how we said this was gonna all be Miller fight scenes? There will also be a lot of Storm and Yukio, because, Storm and Yukio. (Uncanny X-Men #172)