murder – Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men

507 – Comic Book Logic

November 30, 2025 Jay 2 comments

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In which there are a lot of explosions in X-Force; Great Britain-616 is to intelligence as Canada-616 is to military; Alastair Stuart used to be fun; Emma Frost is here to stomp on your dreams; Chamber joins the X-Men; and the Generation X kids graduate themselves.

X-PLAINED:

Revolution (again)
Counter-X (again)
X-Force #114-115
Generation X #75
Yet another origin of humanity and/or life on Earth (again)
The World Engine
Accurate representation of CD-Rs
Genetech
A swimsuit interlude
Agent Corben
Alastair Stuart (more) (again)
A kidnapping
A really amazingly terrible plan
A particularly large explosion
The remaining 14 issues of X-Force vol. 1
An interlude at Applebee’s
Bad times at the New Xavier School
A murder (more) (again)
Intersectional superheroism
An additional bonus murder
An invitation
Many goodbyes
What happens next to the Generation X kids

NEXT EPISODE: The end of Revolution

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Jay 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!

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As Mentioned in Episode 481 – Chekhov’s Butt-Gun

March 23, 2025 Miles 4 comments

Listen to the episode here.

In which Adrienne Frost flirts with a corpse. (Generation X #67)

Oh man, Monet’s left sock is going to be all wet and gross for the rest of the morning… (Generation X #67)

I used to love it when the cafeteria served GReeBo C back in high school. (Generation X #67)

I think those bullies were held back a few years… like maybe 30 or so. (Generation X #67)

Just some really fun faces on this page. (Generation X #67)

NO PRETTY BOYS. (Generation X #67)

It’s like a romance comic cover exploded! (Generation X #68)

Hey, that shirt’s just painted on! (Generation X #68)

Teens are the worst, Jubilee. (Generation X #68)

“And I assure you, that’s far from the most dangerous thing in this skirt.” (Generation X #68)

Everyone reacts to bad news in their own way. Penance’s way is to stick a Mjolnir sticker to her face. (Generation X #68)

Well shit. (Generation X #68)

The snowy calm before the fiery storm. (Generation X #69)

“The Leprechauns of Cassidy Keep never gave me this much grief.” (Generation X #69)

What fighting game is this supposed to be?! And don’t say Ninja Boogie! (Generation X #69)

Effortless. (Generation X #69)

What is this, Black Friday? (Generation X #70)

Kid’s got a point, Sean. (Generation X #70)

You really feel the crush of humanity in this issue. (Generation X #70)

Everett Thomas: hero ’til the end. (Generation X #70)

Bye, Adrienne. See ya never. (Generation X #70)

Left-to-right, the answers will be: make bad decisions as part of X-Factor, become a vampire mom, have sex with Angel in the sky above Ma Guthrie, get crucified on the X-Mansion’s lawn, and find out you’re a descendent of Apocalypse. (Generation X #70)

NEXT TIME: X-Force goes Counter-X!

LINKS AND FURTHER READING:

Episode 303 – No Simple Answers, feat. Laura Hudson

481 – Chekhov’s Butt-Gun

March 23, 2025 Miles 9 comments

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In which Adrienne Frost is absolutely terrible (and so was Ronald Reagan); you should not put guns in your butt; Synch deserved better; and Jay and Miles inventory their favorite dangling plot threads of the ‘90s.

X-PLAINED:

Several potential origins of Havok’s stupid hat
Generation X #67-70
Revolution (more) (again)
Shockwave (more) (again)
Adrienne Frost (more) (again)
The New Xavier School and/or Massachusetts Academy (more) (again)
Possible necrophilia
Dorm life
How not to draw clothing
Rules of entry to Jubilee’s dorm room
The Rich Person Store
How to say the word “consigliere”
The ‘90s
Blackmail
Limits of telepathy
Arson
Ninja Boogie
Panic
How to keep Synch safe
Adultification
Failure to keep Synch safe
Where to pick up to follow along with us
Plot threads we’d like to see picked back up

NEXT EPISODE: X-Force goes Counter-X!

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Find us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Jay 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!

Buy rad swag at our Dashery shop!

As Mentioned in Episode 407 – Freshening Up

April 16, 2023 Jay Leave a comment

Listen to the episode here.

(He is not in fact here to help.) (X-Factor #138)

Heh. Omega Red, man. (X-Factor #138)

The most threatening destroyed football you’ll see today. (X-Factor #138)

THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. (X-Factor #138)

(Spoiler: That’s Mystique.) (X-Factor #138)

A delightful cover. (X-Factor #139)

This whole sequence is so good. (X-Factor #139)

Ever is weird, and I say that with all respect and admiration! (X-Factor #139)

Dark Beast DEFINITELY has multiple candy-colored iMacs. (X-Factor #139)

Mystique: once again mother of the year. (X-Factor #139)

The preceding page literally had a Slaughterhouse Five reference, and I’m kind of annoyed about it. (X-Factor #140)

Fixx, Greystone, and Archer. (X-Factor #140)

A guy who is probably not Cable. (He’s not; he’s an alternate-future Forge.) (X-Factor #140)

Batman. (X-Factor #140)

There are actually *multiple* people huffing frogs, if you look closely. (X-Factor #141)

SERIOUSLY WHY WOULD YOU EVER TRUST THIS MAN (X-Factor #141)

THE PLOT THICKENS (X-Factor #141)

NEXT EPISODE: Bishop: X.S.E.!

LINKS & FURTHER TIME SINKS

We covered the first X.S.E. miniseries in Episode 340 – Retconaganda.

407 – Freshening Up

April 9, 2023 Jay 11 comments

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In which X-Factor bounces from one rock-bottom to another; Sabretooth gets his (murderous) groove back; Dark Beast embraces the iMac aesthetic; the tip was righteous; Mystique multitasks like a pro; and Shard Bishop has come unstuck in time.

X-PLAINED:

X-Nation
What X-Factor’s been up to
X-Factor #138-141
Omega Red (again)
The Brotherhood’s new hideout
Mallory Brickman
Miles and/or Ralph Brickman
Gloria Brickman
“Freshening up”
Mystique, but a sitcom
Agent Vargas
Ever
The secret purpose of Havok’s Brotherhood
Exhumes vs. emplates
Fixx
Greystone
Archer
The X.U.E.
Bantam
Leisure activities
What would happen if the T-O virus took over Cable’s body
What we want from X-Men #700

NEXT EPISODE: Bishop: X.S.E.

Check out the visual companion to this episode on our blog!

Find us on iTunes or Stitcher!

Jay 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!

Buy rad swag at our TeePublic shop!

As Mentioned in Episode 397 – Mürdr at IKEA

January 9, 2023 Miles One comment

Listen to the episode here.

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

Daydreamers this is not. (Sabretooth: Back to Nature #1)

Chop Chop’s weapon is a machete, Yuri’s weapon is his fist, and artist Frank Teran’s weapon is the color black. (Sabretooth: Back to Nature #1)

I wish Wild Child and Bob Hoskins always looked like this. (Sabretooth: Back to Nature #1)

Sabretooth and Wild Child may look similar in close-up, but there’s never a question of who’s who. (Sabretooth: Back to Nature #1)

When less detail equals more horror. (Sabretooth: Back to Nature #1)

THAT’S WHAT YOU GET FOR GIVING YOUR BAR THAT NAME (Sabretooth: Back to Nature #1)

Yes! Use more black, Frank Teran! More! (Sabretooth: Back to Nature #1)

Scrrfffle. (Sabretooth: Back to Nature #1)

Wild Child is shadowed like a villain… until he isn’t. (Sabretooth: Back to Nature #1)

What are the odds?! (Sabretooth: Back to Nature #1)

That guy’s mustache is no match for Psychic Paper. (X-Factor #136)

The iPhone 14 Pro’s cameras ain’t got nothin’ on these. (X-Factor #136)

Have you ever noticed that RAD and HAM have the same number of letters? (X-Factor #136)

WAT (X-Factor #136)

Jeff Matsuda stole some of Frank Teran’s black and is using it well. (X-Factor #136)

Put that towel down! You know you don’t sweat! (X-Factor #136)

“Huh?” is right. (X-Factor #136)

This seems way less efficient than leaving a voicemail. (X-Factor #136)

I HAVE QUESTIONS (X-Factor #137)

Best exes. (X-Factor #137)

It’s a little thing, but I like the symbolism of the seemingly arbitrary background shapes. (X-Factor #137)

It’s a credit to Mystique that she can be legitimately scary while wearing that. (X-Factor #137)

Again with the implied gore. (X-Factor #137)

Of course, honey. Of course. (X-Factor #137)

NEXT EPISODE: The X-Men return from space!

397 – Mürdr at IKEA

January 9, 2023 Miles 8 comments

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In which Al Kennedy and Miles enter a somewhat post-OZT world, the art of Frank Teran (whose uncle built a jetpack) elevates an otherwise merely decent story, Puck is played by Bob Hoskins, Wild Child gets a chance to shine, Mystique and Forge are sitting in a tree, and Swamp Thing is amazing.

X-PLAINED:

Spider-Man’s head cold
Sabretooth: Back to Nature #1
Sabretooth (Victor Creed)
Wild Child (Kyle Gibney)
Horrible violence, expertly implied
The ubiquity of sewers
Saturday morning cartoons of R-rated movies
Serial killers with G.I. Joe names
Improbable tracking
Bilingual crime
Chekhov’s waterfall
DRUGS
X-Factor #136-137
The Hound program
Skeumorphism
Doctor Valerie Cooper and Major Edmond Atkinson, excellent exes
Questionable wound-dressing
Holograms
Government jobs
The sad fate of the Chase family
Nimrod disambiguation
The Marvel Universe According to Doctor Seuss

NEXT EPISODE: The X-Men return from space!

Check out the visual companion to this episode on our blog!

Find us on iTunes or Stitcher!

Jay 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!

Buy rad swag at our TeePublic shop!

As Mentioned in Episode 332 – Gideon Falls

May 9, 2021 Jay Leave a comment

Listen to the episode here.

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

Domino is extremely dedicated to her stretching routine, I guess? (X-Force #52)

Not someone you want to fight. (X-Force #52)

I like to think he fell straight out of a board meeting in that outfit. (X-Force #52)

Um, I think you mean “Crule Rules!” (X-Force #53)

YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN ABOUT THAT CIRCULAR MOTIF? (X-Force #53)

None of these are Keyser Soze. (X-Force #54)

She’s evil, yeah; but she’s very good at swooping. (X-Force #54)

The coolest guy in junior high. (X-Force #54)

OH NO (X-Force #54)

NEXT EPISODE: Just the usual Wednesday on the PATH.

332 – Gideon Falls

May 9, 2021 Jay 13 comments

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In which Swimsuit Catalog is not an actual style of martial arts; Onslaught dabbles in vandalism; Crule is a special guy; we identify briefly with X-Force; and Charles Xavier is the Keyser Soze of Onslaught.

X-PLAINED:

Externals on Krakoa
Relative levels of violence in X-books
X-Force #52-54
Camp Hayden, KY
Onslaught-facilitated power-ups
Gideon (again)
At least one apparent death
How it feels to be us
Businesswear
Whether Cannonball is an external
Nazis in the Captain Britain Corps
Doop

NEXT EPISODE: Sinister vs. Public Transit

Check out the visual companion to this episode on our blog.

Find us on iTunes or Stitcher!

Jay 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!

Buy rad swag at our TeePublic shop!