Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men

XplaintheXmen Live in Washington DC!

May 31, 2025 Miles One comment

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Join us for an X-beginner-friendly, mutant-metaphor-focused, live episode of Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men: presented by LC-GLOBE, the LGBTQ+ organization of employees of the Library of Congress!

When: 6:00 PM on Friday 06/06/25

Where: The Mumford Room (LM-649) in the James Madison Building of the Library of Congress in Washington, DC

If you’d like to join the staff in attending, you’d be very welcome – to reserve seats, please email us so we can get a headcount and make sure you’re on the list. Hope to see you there!

As Mentioned in Episode 488 – There Goes the Moon (Mutant X May, Part 3)

May 31, 2025 Miles Leave a comment

Listen to the episode here!

Color-coded Horsemen of Apocalypse! (Mutant X #19)

What’s the magic word? (Mutant X #19)

Someone let that flying aerobics instructor in! The rain is going to wreck her hair! (Mutant X #20)

That A on his belt stands for Ally! (Mutant X #20)

Note that Charles Xavier’s Evil Mullet is never seen outside of these two panels. (Mutant X #21)

Not a bad riff on the Phoenix costume, honestly. (Mutant X #21)

And then Professor X turned into Doctor Fate. (Mutant X #22)

“That’s right, my friends! We must strike Galactus with every color of the traffic light!” (Mutant X #22)

You ever have a dream where someone is mean to you and then you’re still mad at them when you see them in real life? (Mutant X #23)

Behold! Bargain-basement X-Man, with bonus moppets! (Mutant X #23)

Just a hell of a cover. (Mutant X #24)

Why would you put a portal to the Negative Zone in the goddamn FLOOR?! At least put up a guard rail or something! I’m calling OSHA! (Mutant X #24)

Spoiler: they all just go to a bar. (Mutant X #25)

Flowers for Beast-gernon. (Yes, yes, we know Algernon is the mouse.) (Mutant X #25)

ah jeez (Mutant X #25)

It’s cool, Bloodstorm. We’ve all been there. (Mutant X #26)

The Marauders! (Mutant X #26)

Meet Dagger. And also sorta Cloak. (Mutant X #27)

Awwwwww (Mutant X #27)

Okay, that kid is way too chill. (Mutant X #28)

That’s way better than Evil Xavier’s mullet! (Mutant X #29)

Why, it’s the brand new Sabre-Roaster 3000, as seen on TV! (Mutant X #29)

Plus Iron Giant Man, but he’s too big for this panel! (Mutant X #30)

(This caption intentionally left blank) (Mutant X #31)

After this, they blow up the moon! (Mutant X #31)

The Beyonder x-plains Mutant X! And also eats Captain America. (Mutant X Annual 2001)

It’s really hard to pick a favorite! (Mutant X Annual 2001)

Benjamin E. Yonder, you put the population of New York City down right now! (Mutant X Annual 2001)

Well, I would have said “WHAT?!” (Mutant X #32)

Dracula dies not with a bang, but with a PFFFT. (Mutant X #32)

*sniffle* (Mutant X #32)

Goodbye, Earth-1298. It’s been a hell of a ride. (Mutant X #32)

NEXT TIME: Black ops in black leather!

488 – There Goes the Moon (Mutant X May, Part 3)

May 25, 2025 Jay 2 comments

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In which we reap the consequences of our choices; possession is 18/10 of the law; Sinister dresses for the occasion; Hank gets his groove back; Havok of Earth-1298 is a jerk; Hank loses his groove; Captain America blows up the moon; the Beyonder experiences a stirring; Dracula makes a deal; and Mutant X May comes to an end.

X-PLAINED:

The aftermath of Mutant X
Mutant X #19-32
Mutant X Annual 2001
The story so far
Character color coding
Some telepathic misdirection
Apocalypse of Earth-1298
Charles Xavier of Earth-1298
Professor X’s Juggernaut-fightin’ mullet
A whole lot of possession
Fake Galactus
Several fears
X-Man of Earth-1298
Child batteries
The worst place for a portal to the Negative Zone
How Hank McCoy became the Brute
Vampire problems
The Marauders of Earth-1298
The Outcasts of Earth-1298
Cloak & Dagger of Earth-1298
James Hudson of Earth-1298
The Avengers of Earth-1298
The Beyonder of Earth-1298 who is also kind of the Goblin Force
Several additional superheroes
A last stand
The appeal of alternate timelines
Earth-1298’s best glow-ups

NEXT EPISODE: Attack of the Meatspore Stormtroopers!

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

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 487 – The Only Well-Adjusted Cyclops in the Multiverse (Mutant X May, Part 2)

May 18, 2025 Miles Leave a comment

Listen to the episode here.

…the 2025 story. (Mutant X #9)

The Morlocks! (Mutant X #9)

A damned fine Magneto indeed. (Mutant X #9)

Polaris from X-Factor meets Terra from Final Fantasy VI. (Mutant X #10)

Nightcrawler-1298 can buckle our swashes anytime. (Mutant X #10)

The rest of the X-Men! (Mutant X #10)

The weather is wild today. (Mutant X #11)

I think this might be a big deal, you guys. (Mutant X #12)

Drama! (Mutant X #12)

The Goblin Queen falls. (Mutant X #12)

The secondary theme of Mutant X is the relationship between Ororo Munroe and rodents. (Mutant X #13)

Someone missed the memo about Diaphanous Romper Fridays. (Mutant X #13)

Ninja versus vampire: a tale as old as time. (Mutant X #13)

The most well-adjusted Cyclops in the Multiverse (and friends)! (Mutant X #14)

Bros! (Mutant X #14)

Meet Katherine Pryde, Black Queen of the Hellfire Club; Sebastian Shaw in an iron lung; palette-swapped Captain America; and Sunfire! (Mutant X #15)

De T’ieves Guild. (Mutant X #16)

A thief and a t’ief. (Mutant X Annual 2000)

“Dear Diary, only you understand me.” (Mutant X Annual 2000)

The origin of Gampire/Vambit. (Mutant X Annual 2000)

That first panel is just adorable. (Mutant X Annual 2000)

What a great guy, that Cap! Hope he doesn’t blow up the moon or anything later. (Mutant X #17)

And again: bros! (Mutant X #17)

Seems fine. (Mutant X #18)

Hey, that’s our podcast’s schtick! No swiping! (Mutant X #18)

NEXT TIME: The end of Mutant X May!

487 – The Only Well-Adjusted Cyclops in the Multiverse (Mutant X May, Part 2)

May 18, 2025 Jay 3 comments

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In which Mutant X May continues; the X-Men return from space; it’s okay not to fill in every detail of a world; Havok leans into parenthood; we meet the only well-adjusted Cyclops in the multiverse; in any universe, Forge has terrible judgment; and the Six get some new members.

X-PLAINED:

Several notable upcoming events in Mutant X
What’s happened so far
Mutant X #9-18
Mutant X Annual 2000
The Morlocks of Earth-1298
The Mole Man of Earth-1298
The Yancy Street Underground
Magneto of Earth-1298
Superhero costume color theory
Polaris of Earth-1298
The X-Men of Earth-1298
- Magneto
- Polaris
- Nightcrawler
- Rogue
- Mystique
- Quicksilver
The Goblin Entity
Doctor Doom of Earth-1298
Namor of Earth-1298
The origin of Bloodstorm
Dracula’s fellas
The Starjammers of Earth-1298
- Cyclops
- Binary
- Nova
- Lockheed
- Silver Surfer
Space alien problems
A fairly literal deus ex machina
Captain America of Earth-1298
A terrible idea
The United Guild of Thieves and Assassins
Gambit of Earth-1298
Raven LeBeau
The origin of Vampire Gambit
Mister Sinister of Earth-1298
Jean Grey of Earth-1298
Where Scott Summers of Earth-1298 ranks on the Cyclops Has a Good Day scale
Where to put X-logos on a costume

NEXT EPISODE: Mutant X May concludes!

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

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 486 – Welcome to Earth-1298 (Mutant X May, Part 1)

May 12, 2025 Jay 3 comments

Listen to the podcast here.

Welcome to Earth-1298! Hope you survive the–wait, did you survive the experience? I’m not sure the cliche applies if you’re already dead. (Mutant X #1)

Bannerman Castle, headquarters of The Six. (Mutant X #1)

Madelyne goes Goblin Queen. (Mutant X #1)

This issue sets Scotty up to be Creepily Prescient, which he’s really not. (Mutant X #1)

Meet the Six. (Mutant X #2)

Fun times with the Fantastic Four. (Mutant X #2)

Well, THAT can’t be good. (Mutant X #2)

And then: NUDE CANADIANS! (Mutant X #3)

Gothic horror heroine Maddy. (Mutant X #4)

The Fallen is fucking terrible. (Mutant X #5)

Creatures of the night! (Mutant X #7)

Cerebro! (Mutant X #8)

Stingray and Yellowjacket. (Mutant X Annual 1999)

Dr. Strange, Man-Thing. (Mutant X Annual 1999)

486 – Welcome to Earth-1298 (Mutant X May, Part 1)

May 12, 2025 Jay 2 comments

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In which we embark on a Great Work; it remains hard to be Alex Summers; and it’s also always Inferno on Earth-1298.

X-PLAINED:

Mutant X May
Mutant X #1-8
Mutant X Annual 1999
Havok (Alex Summers) (more) (again)
Earth-1298
The Six
- The Brute (Hank McCoy)
- Ice-man (Bob Drake)
- Bloodstorm (Ororo Munroe)
- The Fallen (Warren Kenneth Worthington III)
- Marvel Woman (Madelyne Pryor)
Bannerman Castle
The original five X-Men of Earth-1298
S.H.I.E.L.D. of Earth-1298
Scotty Summers
Elektra of Earth-1298
The Swarms of Moot
The Fantastic Four of Earth-1298
Canada of Earth-1298
The Pack
- Logan
- Sabretooth
- Wild Child
Demon problems
The Goblin Queen of Earth-1298
Kitty Pryde of Earth-1298
Forge of Earth-1298
Man-Spider
Some murders
Alligators of the Night
National politics
Cerebro of Earth-1298
Dr. Strange of Earth-1298
The Nexus of All Realities
Stingray of Earth-1298
Yellowjacket of Earth-1298
Doc Sampson of Earth-1298
Vendetta
Firestar of Earth-1298
A coincidence
Adam X and Vulcan of Earth-1298

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

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 485 – The House of Correction

April 30, 2025 Miles Leave a comment

Listen to the episode here.

Being the boss means you get the yellow pouches! (Generation X #63)

Teenagers! (Generation X #63)

The new and… improved… Emma Frost. (Generation X #63)

DEAR GOD THOSE PANTS (Generation X #63)

Remember, this issue came out before we knew what happened to Synch… (Generation X #63)

NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE (Generation X #64)

Fashion? (Generation X #64)

Fashion! (Generation X #64)

Jubilee, you are the worstbest. (Generation X #64)

The most dangerous game! (Generation X #64)

Super-speed, part one! (Generation X #65)

Super-speed, part two! (Generation X #65)

I see no flaws with this plan. (Generation X #65)

We have our complaints about this era, but… man, it can just be so charming! (Generation X #65)

I have so many questions, and yet I do not want them answered. (Generation X #66)

Miles just saw Eraserhead at a David Lynch retrospective, and you know that mix of revulsion and pity you feel toward the baby in that movie? …yeah. (Generation X #66)

Banshee, you rule and we’re sorry everyone always forgets you exist. (Generation X #66)

An only slightly less abrupt ending than that of X-Factor #149. (Generation X #66)

NEXT TIME: Yes, really.

485 – The House of Correction

April 27, 2025 Jay 11 comments

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In which we go back to the future of Generation X; Jay once again gets pedantic about lettering; Generation X takes on the carceral state; we take a deep dive into the late ‘90s; Jubilee does her best Nick Fury; and superpowers should be noisier.

X-PLAINED:

Earth-14042
Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers
Generation X #63-66
Revolution and Counter X (more) (again)
An evil Oyster
Warden Coffin
The Decency Defecit
Some shit we wish was fictional
Underpants
Souped up powers
Newsgroups
The Columbine school shooting
The Grid
Cable vs. ISDN Internet
Jonathan Somers
Generation X’s new costumes
The House of Correction
Hacking
Trophies
Baxter
‘90s X-Men outside of comics
How superpowers sound

NEXT EPISODE: Mutant X May begins!

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

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 484 – Hell Tuba

April 20, 2025 Miles 2 comments

Listen to the episode here.

A miniseries based on a miniseries! (X-Men: Magik #1)

What are we looking at? Not sure. Is it rad? Definitely. (X-Men: Magik #1)

To paraphrase: it doesn’t have to be practical if it’s AWESOME. (X-Men: Magik #1)

Not the most efficient way to blow up a bunch of Teslas, but certainly stylish. (X-Men: Magik #1)

Only one of them got the note about the dress code. But which? (X-Men: Magik #1)

The Battle for Hell’s Deep. (X-Men: Magik #1)

So, like, what if the sky broke and then cut off your goddamned head, is my question (X-Men: Magik #2)

Everyone’s outfits are very long. (X-Men: Magik #2)

Did we mention that this series is in a hell dimension? (X-Men: Magik #2)

(Pushes up Norse glasses:) Technically, Surtur’s sword Twilight would only be on fire if he’d entered Asgard upon the day of Ragnarök, and… (X-Men: Magik #2)