no
miles
seriously
just no
(Unused tag from Episode 45.)
(Unused tag from Episode 45 reviews.)
Month: July 2015
Miles Reviews the X-Men, Episode 45
Week of July 8, 2015:
In which Cassandra Nova is the stuff of nightmares, Inferno remains stellar, Age of Apocalypse is a blast from the past, and everything is late because Rachel is in Alaska (sorry!).
REVIEWED:
- Age of Apocalypse #1 (0:39)
- *Inferno #3 (3:22)
- X-Men ’92 Infinite Comic #4 (5:28)
- Alaska (10:29)
*Miles’s pick of the week (7:57)
Rachel and Miles X-Plain the X-Men is 100% ad-free and listener supported. These video reviews–and everything else here–are made possible by the support of our Patreon subscribers. If you want to help support the podcast–and unlock more cool stuff–you can do that right here!
The Mutant Massacre: A How-To Guide
…wait, that title doesn’t sound right.
Miles here! Our next two episodes will be about the Mutant Massacre, Marvel’s first-ever X-event. It’s super depressing; huzzah! (Just like a lot of other X-events, come to think of it.)
Anyway! Since the Mutant Massacre involves eleven issues of five and a half different titles and doesn’t have distinct chapter numbers the way later events do, we thought it might be helpful to post a reading order for those following along. For the sake of simplicity, I’ll post the order we decided to use in our upcoming episodes.
(Of note: every single one of these except Power Pack #27 is on Marvel Unlimited right now.)
The Mutant Massacre, X-Men side (Episode 65):
- Uncanny X-Men #210
- Uncanny X-Men #211
- New Mutants #46
- Uncanny X-Men #212
- Uncanny X-Men #213
The Mutant Massacre, X-Factor side (Episode 66):
- X-Factor #9
- X-Factor #10
- Thor #373
- Thor #374
- Power Pack #27
- X-Factor #11
Daredevil #238 is technically a tie-in too, but it’s a loose enough one that we’ll be skipping it.
For an alternate reading order–including a very handy flow chart–we recommend the Mutant Massacre guide at UncannyXMen.net.
We’ll see you – and a ton of dead Morlocks – soon!
EDITED TO ADD: Andrew Vestal hooked us up with this perversely cheery Official Mutant Massacre Flow Chart that Marvel published in ’86. So, that’s a thing:
The New Mutants Graduate in Style!
In Episode 63, we asked you to design the New Mutants some alternate graduation costumes, since the canonical ones… left a bit to be desired. And dang, did you deliver! We’ve collected the first batch here, but we’ll be putting up another late this or early next week (or both, depending on volume), so you’ve still got time to get yours in! (E-mail to xplainthexmen(at)gmail(dot)com, with the subject line GRADUATION.)
Magik, by Nelson Hernandez. (TRUE FACT: Superheroes in jackets are the best superheroes.)
Magma, by Kate Schwarz
Wolfsbane, by Scott Sheldon
Mirage, by Casey Cookson. Casey specifies: “Dani’s “X” is actually the flag for the Northern Cheyenne, I couldn’t find out if she is actually Northern or if she is Southern Cheyenne. If you or your viewers know I’d love to get feedback so I can fix it.”
Magik, by Casey Cookson.
Warlock and Cypher, by Casey Cookson.
The full team, by Mike Becker. I particularly love the many subtle nods to future teams and costumes!
Sunspot, by Eric Patton.
An 80s-tastic full team, by Jamie F.
As Mentioned in Episode 64 – Ski Lodge of Apocalypse
Listen to the episode here!
Art by David Wynne. Prints and cards available until 7/12/2015 in the shop, or contact David for the original.
A very happy 4th birthday to the Littlest Consulting X-Pert, Kestrel!
Because she is AWESOME, Kes decided that she wanted a party with all her kid friends and all her grown-up friends as superheroes. Here’s Rachel as slightly off-brand O5 Cyclops, and Miles as DIY Thor.
Full O5 group: Rachel as Cyclops, Dave Proctor as Beast, Douglas Wolk as Iceman, Jesse Miller as Angel, and Katie Proctor as Marvel Girl.
Come for the superheroics, stay for the soap opera! (X-Factor #6)
“Sorry I burned down your village. Here’s some gold.” (X-Factor #6)
Oh, THERE’S the Apocalypse we know and love! (X-Factor #6)
Even your villains are fed up with your angst, X-Factor. (X-Factor #6)
Ladies and gentlemen: the world’s oldest and most powerful mutant. (X-Factor #6)
Phoenix flare or pareidolia? YOU BE THE JUDGE! (X-Factor #6)
The Saddest Mutants (TM). (X-Factor #7)
“Look! A distraction!” Cyclops, we love you, but sometimes you really are the worst. (X-Factor #7)
These guys. (X-Factor #7)
SERIOUSLY WHY ARE YOU NOT ALREADY COSPLAYING SKIDS GO COSPLAY SKIDS (X-Factor #7)
Valid. (X-Factor #7)
This is almost embarrassing to read. (X-Factor #7)
X-Factor: fighting themselves metaphorically AND literally! Side note: This scene is funny until you realize X-Factor is turning Bulk and Glow Worm’s last desperate attempt to make a difference before their inevitable death into a farce. (X-Factor #7)
What. (X-Factor #8)
Aw, man. Right in the feels. (X-Factor #8)
Jean Was Right. (X-Factor #8)
VERA. (X-Factor #8)
Freedom Force briefings are so weird. (X-Factor #8)
“An invitation to a crossover? Hot dog!” (X-Factor #8)
I don’t know why I find Spiral just taking off mid-fight for a different comic so funny, but GOD, I do. (X-Factor #8)
“Come with me if you want to be FABULOUS!” (X-Factor #8)
NEXT WEEK: The Mutant Massacre begins!
LINKS & FURTHER READING:
- We’ve linked before to Chris Claremont’s X-Men, but we’re doing it again, because it’s fascinating and you should all go watch it.
- If you are fond of loving snark and deep dives into Marvel continuity, you should really already be reading Max Carleton’s Waiting for the Trade. (If you’re not fond of those things, why are you here?)
64 – Ski Lodge of Apocalypse
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In which Louise Simonson saves X-Factor; Apocalypse gets off to a rough start; Cyclops is bad at people; Apocalypse should be the Kingpin of X-Men; Jean Grey is sick of your bullshit; you should totally cosplay Skids; and Mystique fundamentally misunderstands branding.
X-PLAINED
- The Maximoff family tree
- The Whizzer
- X-Factor as sketch comedy
- Louise Simonson
- X-Factor #6-8
- Apocalypse
- Bulk
- Glow Worm
- Skids (Sally Blevins)
- Weaponized fashion
- Trish Tilby
- Favorite Claremontisms
- X-Finance
NEXT WEEK: The Mutant Massacre!
Special thanks to Master of Maximoffs Max Carleton of Waiting for the Trade.
A very happy birthday to the Consulting X-Pert Kestrel!
You can find a visual companion to 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!
Buy prints of this week’s illustration at our shop, or contact David Wynne for the original!
All-New Marvel Preview
In which we walk through the newly announced post-Secret Wars X-lineup:
- All-New X-Men (1:17)
- Extraordinary X-Men (3:05)
- Uncanny X-Men (4:24)
- Old Man Logan (6:35)
- All-New Wolverine (8:25)
- X-Characters in Other Titles (10:06)
LINKS & FURTHER READING:
- Jeff Lemire on Extraordinary X-Men
- David Uzumeri on transphobia and transmisogyny in James Robinson’s Airboy
- UPDATE: Robinson’s subsequent apology.
Rachel and Miles X-Plain the X-Men is 100% ad-free and listener supported. Our videos–and everything else we do–are made possible by the support of our Patreon subscribers. If you want to help support the podcast–and unlock more cool stuff–you can do that right here!
Rachel & Miles Review the X-Men, Episode 44
Week of July 1, 2015
In which there are suddenly a lot of books; stuff goes down in Secret Wars; Giant-Size Little Marvel remains delightful; and Doc Sampson trumps noir Wolverine.
REVIEWED:
- Secret Wars #4 (0:43)
- X-Tinction Agenda #2 (3:46)
- Giant-Size Little Marvel: AvX #2 (5:46)
- *Years of Future Past #2 (7:25)
- Secret Wars Journal #3 (8:58)
*Pick of the week (10:20)
Check out our rundown of the recently announced post-Secret Wars X-lineup here!
Rachel and Miles X-Plain the X-Men is 100% ad-free and listener supported. These video reviews–and everything else here–are made possible by the support of our Patreon subscribers. If you want to help support the podcast–and unlock more cool stuff–you can do that right here!