Dai Thomas – Page 2 – Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men

170 – Minor Punitive Heart Attacks

October 29, 2017 Jay 34 comments

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

In which Miles speculates about superheroes’ sex lives; Doctor Doom is an incorrigible scamp; the Lady of the Lake visits California; Captain Britain lacks basic superheroic social skills; Jay has strong feelings about doggerel; the warwolves know how to commit to a bit; and Excalibur and the X-Men continue to have terrible communication skills.

X-PLAINED:

One aspects of doombot functionality
Excalibur #37-41
The Soul Sword’s origins and current status
Promethium
Semantic disambiguation with regards to Limbo
The West Coast Avengers
The Lady of the Swimming Pool
Doctor Doom’s personal demons
Several team-ups
The heart of Limbo
Phoenix science
Darkoth the Demon (Desmond Pitt)
The Trial of Lockheed
A long-awaited reunion that isn’t actually a long-awaited reunion
A theoretical Frost-Summers wedding
What happened to Jen Askani post- “Endgame”

NEXT EPISODE: X-Factor Forever

You can find 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!

We’re in the process of migrating our official shop to TeePublic! Click over to check it out! (You can still find the designs we haven’t moved yet at Redbubble.)

As Mentioned in Episode 161 – Do You Even Howl, Bro?

August 27, 2017 Jay 6 comments

Listen to the podcast here.

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

FlameCon Saturday: ABD Squad! (Yes, Tea’s shirt says what you think it does. Yes, Jay’s hands light up. Yes, we think we’re funny.)

FlameCon Party: Billy and Teddy from Young Avengers #15

FlameCon Sunday: Mod Silver Age Emma and Scott.

Excalibur #32

Not unprecedented, until you realize that the whole thing is a fantasy Margaret Thatcher is having in therapy. (Excalibur #32)

YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?! (Excalibur #32)

Don’t mess with Kitty’s crushes. She’ll cut you. (Excalibur #32)

That is PERFECTLY RESPECTABLE penmanship, thank you very much. (Excalibur #32)

Welcome to St. Subtext’s School for Young Ladies. (Excalibur #32)

(Excalibur #33)

“Also, I’m a superhero.” (Excalibur #33)

(Excalibur #34)

“But you can call me… MR. RAD!” (Excalibur #34)

Let the hijinks commence! (Excalibur #34)

Well, that could’a gone worse. (Excalibur #34)

‘Kay. (Excalibur #34)

Seriously, if I had a dollar for every time I’d woken up like this… (Excalibur #32)

TOO SOON, MESMERO. (Excalibur #33)

Do those abs go all the way… wait, no, that doesn’t even make sense. (Excalibur #33)

But if he can hypnotize her just by making eye contact, why bother doing this? Just to mess with her for fun? Total dick move.(Excalibur #33)

[Ron Howard voice]: There were mistakes. (Excalibur #33)

Oh, great. These assholes, again. (Excalibur #34)

AND THAT’S WHY YOU ALWAYS LEAVE A NOTE! (Excalibur #34)

GOOD JOB, EVERYBODY! (Excalibur #34)

Trust me, they’re delightful together. (Excalibur #35)

Well, that escalated quickly. (Excalibur #35)

Aw, kiddo. (Excalibur #35)

Right. That guy. (Excalibur #35)

“But not the one from Alaska. The indefinite article.” (Excalibur #35)

And they all lived grumpily ever after. (Excalibur #35)

Our hero! (Excalibur #36)

It’s a nuanced issue, okay? (Excalibur #36)

This is why we can’t have nice… uncontrolled nuclear things? (Excalibur #36)

Best fight dialogue? Best fight dialogue. And check out that word-balloon cut! (Excalibur #36)

We certainly did not see that coming. (Excalibur #36)

And it DIDN’T ONCE OCCUR TO YOU that this might end badly? (Excalibur #36)

I have no idea what the moral of this story is, but it’s sort of heartwarming anyway. (Excalibur #36)

NEXT EPISODE: The angriest naked man!

LINKS & FURTHER READING:

Special thanks to Gavia Baker-Whitelaw for helping us assemble the St. Searle’s marginalia!
Listen to our FlameCon X-Tra Bonus Episode!
The MacDonald Hall books are delightful, and you should read them all immediately.
If you didn’t get Jay’s joke about St. Searle’s, this is for you.
The International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers, and Teachers of Handwriting is the kind of thing you’ll like, if you like that kind of thing.
We talked about Kitty Pryde and asynchronous social development in Giant-Size Special #1!
D’Spayre last turned up on the podcast in Look Upon My Man-Thing and D’Spayre!

161 – Do You Even Howl, Bro?

August 27, 2017 Jay 22 comments

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In which we return to Excalibur, and Excalibur returns to form; “Girls’ School from Heck” is way better than we remembered; Jay has strong feelings about penmanship; we examine the semantics of field hockey; the band gets back together; Dai Thomas has no time for your comic-book bullshit; and you should never, ever install a good/evil switch in your technological abominations.

X-PLAINED

The first appearances of Colonel Vazhin
Perks of home recording
FlameCon 2017
Jay & Miles at Rose City Comic Con
Excalibur #32-36
“Girls’ School from Heck!”
St. Searle’s School for Young Ladies
St. Trinian’s and a large number of references thereto
Regional variations in boarding school hijinks
Miss Rutherford
A poorly staged panel
Phoebe Huntsman
Kitty Pryde’s penmanship
Margaret Thatcher’s weirdly wholesome fantasies
The kinda-reformation of Mesmero
The end of Chris Claremont’s run on Excalibur
Some complicated contradictions related to the ethics of consumption
An abduction
The ethics of psychic interrogation (kinda)
Mariner disambiguation
A rescue
An unlikely partnership
Darkmoor Research Center
Dr. Walshe
A somewhat convoluted plot
Whether the Danger Room could function as a bathroom
The physics of Asteroid M

NEXT EPISODE: Weapon X!

You can find 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!

We’re in the process of migrating our official shop to TeePublic! Click over to check it out! (You can still find the designs we haven’t moved yet at Redbubble.)

Special thanks to Gavia Baker-Whitelaw for helping us assemble the St. Searle’s marginalia!

As Mentioned in Episode 146 – Asshole Factor

February 16, 2017 Jay 2 comments

Listen to the podcast here.

Art by David Wynne. Buy prints at Redbubble, or contact David to purchase the original!

This Sidney Poitier movie has taken an unexpected turn. (Excalibur #25)

Chris Wozniak is not Alan Davis; but then, few are. (Excalibur #25)

Death, Death, Death, and Death. (Excalibur #25)

This cannot possibly end badly, right? (Excalibur #26)

Dark Phoenix Saga callback! (Excalibur #26)

Days of Future Past callback! We’re hitting all the classics this issue! (Excalibur #26)

The best ruse. (Excalibur #26)

“…you asshole.” (Excalibur #26)

Oh, man. Barry Windsor-Smith and Bill Sienkiewicz should draw all the reality warpers. (Excalibur #27)

Nigel is just incredibly persistently awful. (Excalibur #27)

Even odds that they’ll be legitimately intimidated by Vixen’s killer abs. (Excalibur #27)

Meanwhile in Nth Man… (Excalibur #27)

Excalibur in a nutshell. (Excalibur #27)

‘Kay. (Excalibur #27)

I appreciate the de facto citation. (Excalibur #27)

NEXT EPISODE: Yep.

146 – Asshole Factor (feat. Elisabeth Allie)

February 13, 2017 Jay 12 comments

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In which Elisabeth plans for her reign as Omniversal Majestrix; Hulks and moons are two great tastes that go great together; Nightcrawler takes the lead; Alastair gets a new gadget; it’s just not a cosmic event without Alan Davis; Mastermind is still the absolute worst; Excalibur fixes problems by playing dress-up; Moira MacTaggert desperately needs to hire some staff; and Jamie Braddock is legitimately terrifying.

X-PLAINED:

M’gubgub
Nth Man
Excalibur #25-27
Nova (Frankie Raye)
The continually poor decisions of Brian Braddock
A convergence of cosmic forces
Lumberjack Death
Character growth both literal and metaphorical
A cosmic snit
Asshole Factor
A villainous ruse
Several rounds of reality warping
Definitive incarnations of characters

NEXT EPISODE: Rictor has issues!

You can find a visual companion to this episode on the 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!

We’re in the process of migrating our official shop to TeePublic! Click over to check it out! (You can still find the designs we haven’t moved yet at Redbubble.)

As Mentioned in Episode 120 – Observed by a Family of Lizard People

August 8, 2016 Jay 8 comments

Listen to the episode here.

Art by David Wynne. Prints and cards available at the shop, or contact David to purchase the original.

Hi, there. (Excalibur #8)

They’re totally a girl gang, though, right? (Excalibur #8)

Ouch. (Excalibur #8)

Hi, Brian. (Excalibur #8)

Seriously, it’s never not funny. (Excalibur #8)

I want a statue of this cover SO BAD. (Excalibur #9)

Meet Lightning Force: The Nazi Excalibur you really, really don’t need in your life. (Excalibur #9)

The many faces of Meggan (and some slightly disastrous sound effects from Brian). (Excalibur #9)

Alastaire Stuart and his banana. (Excalibur #9)

Kittys Pryde. (Excalibur #9)

HI, BRIAN. (Excalibur #10)

Just gal pals, pallin’ around. (Excalibur #11)

If I had a dollar for every time this had happened… (Excalibur #11)

Well, then. (Excalibur #11)

Sure, why not? (Excalibur #11)

NEXT EPISODE: Deadpool v Gambit, with Ben Acker!

LINKS & FURTHER READING:

How the X-Men’s Blackbird Compares to the Original SR-71

120 – Observed by a Family of Lizard People

August 8, 2016 Jay 24 comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | RSS

In which everything is worse with Nazis; Excalibur gets its groove back; Meggan has an identity crisis; Kitty gets a crush; a dragon gets interdimensional sanctuary; and the Cross-Time Caper starts not with a bang, but a foomp.

X-PLAINED:

The death of Lilandra Neramani
Excalibur #8-11
The best name in Hollywood
Still more of Inferno’s aftermath
A basketball game
Blackbird disambiguation
Several long-delayed reunions and one subsequent resolution
Alastaire Stuart (and his banana)
Tourists who are also lizards
Lightning Force
A number of unfortunate encounters
The difference between Errol Flynn characters and Errol Flynn
The fall of Nigel Frobisher
The switch that turns the engine invisible
What may be the world’s least subtle euphemistic use of the term “roommate”
How the discourse around comics has changed since the ’80s
Jubilee vs. power creep

NEXT EPISODE: Deadpool v Gambit, with Ben Acker!

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

Find us on iTunes, Google Play, 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 prints of this week’s illustration at our shop, or contact David Wynne for the original!

As Mentioned in Episode 111 – You’ll Have to Look Inside for That

May 30, 2016 Jay One comment

Listen to the podcast here.

Art by David Wynne. Prints and cards available at the shop, or contact David to purchase the original.

The greatest comic-book cover of all time. (Excalibur #4)

This guy, man. (Excalibur #4)

The fashion! The feelings! DAMN, I love Excalibur. (Excalibur #4)

SPOILER: This kiss does not actually happen. (Excalibur #4)

It’s awfully nice of Arcade to put those recaps up on the monitors! (Excalibur #4)

Courtney Ross: Just. That. Good. (Excalibur #4)

Excalibur is perpetually one tastefully-framed quick-change away from being a sex farce. (Excalibur #5)

Check out the visual language on the body-swapped Excalibur and Crazy Gang. (Excalibur #5)

Arcade vs. Murderworld. (Excalibur #5)

It’s our favorite fictional-but-also-real band, Cats Laughing! (Excalibur #5)

MURDERWORLD , Y’ALL. (Excalibur #5)

Yeah, Inferno’s basically just gonna be business as usual for Excalibur. (Excalibur #5)

I accept on faith that there are people who read this and assumed that Kitty and Rachel didn’t have a romantic relationship, but it still kind of baffles me. (Excalibur #5)

Bye, Courtney. (Excalibur #5)

Seriously, Excalibur has the greatest covers. (Excalibur #6)

“Oh, yeah, there IS another Summers kid that we kinda forgot about in all the chaos!” (Excalibur #6)

Yeah, I’m with Meggan on this one. (Excalibur #6)

This makes somewhat less sense if you remember that these two have in fact met before. (Excalibur #6)

Evil Meggan is a snappy dresser. (Excalibur #6)

And then that happened. (Excalibur #6)

THOSE COVERS THO (Excalibur #7)

Please take the Billy Idol joke as read. (Excalibur #7)

HEY LOOK IT’S JAY IN COLLEGE (Excalibur #7)

And now for something completely different! (Excalibur #7)

The fact that it’s Doug makes this scene both sadder and creepier. (Excalibur #7)

R.I.P., Best Gargoyle Ever. (Excalibur #7)

And you thought the Goblin Prince’s outfit was scandalous. (Excalibur #7)

Nazi Moira and Callisto: Evil, but fashionable. (Excalibur #6)

NEXT WEEK: Inferno Post-Game, with Sam Humphries!

111 – You’ll Have to Look Inside for That

May 30, 2016 Jay 28 comments

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Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | RSS

In which Wolverine gets a wolverine; the Crazy Gang meets their match; Inferno is business as usual for Excalibur; Alan Davis covers are the best covers; David Wynne makes his on-air debut; Courtney Ross is more competent than you; Murderworld operates on a dubious economic model; Nightcrawler is the anti-Nice Guy™, and everything basically works out for the best.

X-PLAINED:

Wolverine’s wolverine
A subtle but critical spelling difference
Excalibur #4-7
The greatest comic-book cover of all time
Dialogue on covers
Courtney Ross
Edwardian power suits
Arcade (again)
The dubious economics of Murderworld
The Looney Toones school of sexploitation
Search terms
Fashion in Excalibur
A mundane but useful superpower
The death of Courtney Ross
Perils of transatlantic flight
The Goblin Princess
A really excellent gargoyle
Several cinematic references
A very revealing outfit
Brigadier Alysande Stuart
Sinister fashion
Still more Limbo disambiguation

NEXT WEEK: Infero Post-Game, with Sam Humphries

Special thanks to David Wynne.

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

Find us on iTunes, Google Play, 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 prints of this week’s illustration at our shop, or contact David Wynne for the original!

As Mentioned in Episode 103 – Warwolves of London

April 4, 2016 Jay 10 comments

Listen to the episode here.

Art by David Wynne. Prints and cards available at the shop, or contact David to purchase the original.

It’s the front-cover equivalent of the slow-motion hero walk. (Excalibur #1)

Hi, Widget! (Excalibur #1)

Kitty is ridiculous and also awesome. (Excalibur #1)

Nigel “The Worst” Frobisher. (Excalibur #1)

Aw, man. (Excalibur #1)

Welcome to the perfectly ordinary lighthouse full of perfectly ordinary rooms! Hope you survive the… (Excalibur #1)

“No one can move in Rachel’s costume except Rachel” is going to become a running joke over the course of the series. (Excalibur #1)

Somewhere there’s a universe where Meggan grew up watching Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, in which this scene went very differently. (Excalibur #1)