Danielle Moonstar – Page 7 – Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men

91 – The Saddest Story Ever Told

January 10, 2016 Jay 39 comments

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

In which New Mutants #64 is the saddest single issue of any X-book ever; the New Mutants have to grow up fast; Warlock comes to terms with mortality; The Last of Us is harder to play the second time; Tattoo Tales: X-Men: Masquerade is delightfully unhinged; animated Cyclops is totally the worst; Beast probably has a terrible garage band; Jean starts a kitchen fire; and Wolverine saves Jubilee’s birthday.

X-PLAINED:

The saddest issue ever
New Mutants #64
The only okay way to watch Grave of the Fireflies
The aftermath of Doug Ramsey’s death
Several unhealthy coping mechanisms
The Last of Us
Tattoo Tales: X-Men: Masquerade
Some varyingly impressive costumes
General irresponsibility
Why Wolverine is wearing a clown suit
Douglock
The New Mutants’ D&D alignments

NEXT WEEK: You never forget your first Ship.

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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!

As Mentioned in Episode 87 – It’s Always Darkest…

December 14, 2015 Jay 2 comments

Listen to the episode here!

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

Don’t get too attached to these guys. (New Mutants #59)

Roll for initiative! (New Mutants #59)

Lookit this E.C. lookin’ jerk! (New Mutants #59)

Truth. (New Mutants #59)

Seriously, the Ani-mator is so creepy. (New Mutants #60)

Or you could just–you know what? Never mind. Forget it. Freakin’ teenagers. (New Mutants #60)

And that’s why you always leave a note. (New Mutants #60)

Oh, THAT guy. (New Mutants #60)

How many times has he done this so far? Two? Three? (New Mutants #60)

Well, fuck. (New Mutants #60)

Well, fuck. (New Mutants #60)

Later, she justifies this by saying that it’s what Doug would have wanted, which seems questionable. (New Mutants #60)

Meanwhile, in the other 2/3 of the event… (New Mutants #61)

Even horses, Warlock. (New Mutants #61)

Aw, man. These kids. (New Mutants #61)

Aw, man. These kids. (New Mutants #61)

It really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really sucks to be New Mutants-era Magneto. (New Mutants #61)

And to add insult to injury, somehow the graduation costumes got even worse. (New Mutants #61)

NEXT WEEK: The Fall of the Mutants concludes with X-Factor!

87 – It’s Always Darkest… (Fall of the Mutants, Part 2 of 3)

December 14, 2015 Jay 24 comments

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In which the New Mutants learn that they are not, in fact, immortal; Louise Simonson finds her stride; the Ani-Mator makes Cameron Hodge look downright reasonable; hating humans is Magneto’s security blanket; Doug Ramsey dies; and we continue our coverage of the Fall of the Mutants.

X-PLAINED:

Sugar Man
New Mutants #59-61
Bird Brain
The Ani-Mator
The Ani-Mates
Stylistic whiplash
Why you always leave a note
The death of Doug Ramsey
Black Condor’s amazing origin story
Interpersonal dynamics in New Mutants
Parsing ongoing series
Why Doug died
616 characters we’d trade for their Battleworld counterparts
Storytelling trends and the decline of though balloons

NEXT WEEK: …Just Before Dawn

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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!

As Mentioned in Episode 82 – Birds and Boys

November 13, 2015 Jay 12 comments

Listen to the episode here.

Art by David Wynne.

Teenagers, amirite? (New Mutants #55)

This dress was one of the most memorable parts of this issue for both of us. (New Mutants #55)

“Psst, kid. Drugs make you cool. Pass it on!” (New Mutants #55)

One more of the dress. (New Mutants #55)

This jerk. (New Mutants #55)

Raise your hand if you’ve had nightmares along these thematic lines. (New Mutants #56)

That’s… an interesting deck you’re using, Tarot. (New Mutants #56)

Somewhere there’s a universe where June Brigman drew the rest of this arc, and it was roughly a million times better than the version we got. (New Mutants #56)

Line of the issue, EASILY. (New Mutants #56)

I remain retroactively disappointed that they didn’t do a classic romance comic cover for this issue. Art challenge? (New Mutants #56)

I love how weird and elegant Brigman’s Bird Brain is. (New Mutants #56)

That One Time Magneto Said “Heck.” (New Mutants #57)

SIGH. Remember last issue, when June Brigman drew this dude and it was awesome? (New Mutants #57)

Saturday Morning New Mutants. (New Mutants #57)

Forget love: the REAL universal language is squawks. (New Mutants #57)

God damnit. (New Mutants #58)

Nothing is okay. Nothing will ever be okay again. Also, why the hell does Dani sleep in fishnets? (New Mutants #58)

NEXT WEEK: Live from Las Vegas with a space barbarian in tiny briefs!

LINKS:

Louise Simonson’s interview on the Uncanny X-Cast

82 – Birds and Boys

November 9, 2015 Jay 39 comments

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In which Louise Simonson’s New Mutants run gets off to a rough start; drugs are not a reliable way to impress your space girlfriend; Magma gets a character arc; Tarot’s powers are kind of iffy; it’ll take more than a few illegal fish to stop Magik; and Bird Brain thoroughly fails to live up to his potential.

X-PLAINED:

Sunspot’s brushes with villainy
The de-aging of the New Mutants
New Mutants #55-58
A memorable dress
Raek
A cautionary tale
The New Mutants as a Saturday morning cartoon
Bird Boy / Bird Brain
June Brigman
A romantic dilemma
Several alternative foci for Tarot’s powers
Redemption and humanization of villains in X-books
Undignified birds
The best and worst of Bret Blevins
Non-comics writers we’d like to see write X-books
Other teen time travelers we’d add to All-New X-Men

NEXT WEEK: Live in Las Vegas!

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!

We’ll have prints of this week’s illustration up at our shop later this week. As always, you can contact David Wynne to inquire after the original!

As Mentioned in Episode 80 – For the Mutant Who Has Everything

October 25, 2015 Jay 6 comments

Listen to the episode here.

Art by David Wynne. Prints and cards available until 11/1/2015 at the shop, or contact David to purchase the original.

I’d like to point out that when Wolverine gets drunk, he sings show tunes. (Uncanny X-Men Annual #11)

That’s… that’s quite a look, Horde. (Uncanny X-Men Annual #11)

Daaaaaaaaang. (Uncanny X-Men Annual #11)

Dear Everyone Who Thought Wolverine and Storm Hooked Up Out of Nowhere Last Year,
NOPE.
Love, R&M
(Uncanny X-Men Annual #11)

This is like a Highlights for Children “What is wrong with this picture” page, and the answer is “everything.” (Uncanny X-Men Annual #11)

Havok really desperately needs a vacation. (Uncanny X-Men Annual #11)

Every outfit on this page is amazing… (Uncanny X-Men Annual #11)

…but none of them are quite so amazing as this outfit. (Uncanny X-Men Annual #11)

“You don’t do that! You don’t throw your skin at a person!” (Uncanny X-Men Annual #11)

Statue of this now, please. (Uncanny X-Men Annual #11)

The moment where it all went wrong. (Uncanny X-Men Annual #11)

“I feel it! I feel the cosmos!” (Uncanny X-Men Annual #11)

This is actually a pretty good single-panel primer for this X-team. (Uncanny X-Men Annual #11)

Wait, WHAT?! (Uncanny X-Men Annual #11)

Doug. Doug, no. (New Mutants Annual #3)

Oh, hi. (New Mutants Annual #3)

Screw that Mxyzptlk jerk–the Impossible Man is where it’s at! (New Mutants Annual #3)

The Impossible Man X-Plains Uncanny X-Men Annual #7. (New Mutants Annual #3)

The whole issue in a nutshell. (New Mutants Annual #3)

Graduation costumes: definitely still terrible. (New Mutants Annual #3)

‘Kay. (New Mutants Annual #3)

That last panel, tho. (New Mutants Annual #3)

These goofballs. (New Mutants Annual #3)

WELL, THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY. (New Mutants Annual #3)

Game, set, and match. (New Mutants Annual #3)

There’s really no other way this issue could have ended. (New Mutants Annual #3)

We’re going to be guests at Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival on November 7! Come say hi, buy cool stuff, and be part of our second-ever live episode!

The first episode of the Secret Convergence on Infinite Podcasts launches THIS THURSDAY, October 29, on FanBros! For more info, check out the announcement, and be sure to follow the Convergence on Twitter and Tumblr for host profiles, updates, and more!

NEXT WEEK: All-New X-Men, with Dennis Hopeless!

LINKS:

The Secret Convergence on Infinite Podcasts begins THIS THURSDAY, October 29!
Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival

80 – For the Mutant Who Has Everything

October 25, 2015 Jay 64 comments

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In which we go back in time to take a look at two annuals; everyone is really excited about Excalibur; Claremont ups his illusion game; Horde should probably not be allowed to dress himself; Rachel fires the X-Men; Havok needs better role models; Psylocke’s secondary mutation is femme power; Kyle X-Plains giant monsters; we check in with Super Doctor Astronaut Peter Corbeau; and you should totally come see us at Vegas Valley Comic-Book Festival on November 7!

X-PLAINED:

Dazzler’s powers
Uncanny X-Men Annual #11
Uncanny X-Men Annual #7
New Mutants Annual #3
The Hostage, by Brendan Behan
Wolverine vs. Historical Fiction
Horde and his amazing outfit
The Citadel of light and shadow
The fantasy lives of X-Men
Things to do with a shed human skin
The secret origin of Wolverine’s overactive healing factor
The Impossible Man (and how to defeat him)
The Shogun Warriors
What happened to Super Doctor Astronaut Peter Corbeau
Powers we don’t like
Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival

NEXT EPISODE: All-New X-Men with Dennis Hopeless!

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!

As Mentioned in Episode 71 – The Once and Fuchsia King

August 24, 2015 Jay 4 comments

Listen to the episode here!

Art by David Wynne. Prints and cards available until 8/30/2015 at the shop, or contact David to purchase the original.

Spoiler: They will be back next issue. (New Mutants #51)

“If they’d learned anything from me, they’d be faking their own deaths!” (New Mutants #51)

DRAMA! (New Mutants #51)

No, the OTHER Plan Omega. (New Mutants #51)

Kevin Nowlan draws a rad Hepzibah. (New Mutants #51)

PROFESSOR XAVIER IS A JERK. (New Mutants #51)

“Well, I should probably see what the study group thinks, but I’m thinking fuchsia.” (New Mutants #51)

Sebastian Shaw takes dress codes seriously. (New Mutants #51)

She even LOOKS like she stepped off a power metal album cover. (New Mutants #52)

HE’S NOT WRONG. (New Mutants #52)

Aw, kiddo. (New Mutants #52)

Fighting xenomorphs, from the look of it. (New Mutants #52)

Love the body language on this page. (New Mutants #52)

We keep saying that this whole era feels like an inexorable escalation toward Inferno, and, yeah. That. (New Mutants #52)

I was gonna make a “subtext: not just for the ladies” joke, but I’m pretty sure it’s just text at this point. (New Mutants #53)

Aw, man. (New Mutants #53)

TWIST! Don’t worry, this’ll come back up eventually. (New Mutants #53)

“…But can you take them anywhere?” Spoiler: NO. No, you can’t. (New Mutants #53)

Magik intimidating Empath is the gift that keeps on giving. (New Mutants #53)

Make good choices, Cypher! (New Mutants #53)

Or, y’know, not. (New Mutants #53)

Sam Guthrie: Everyone’s best big brother. (New Mutants #54)

“I love you, but I have to leave the team because your costumes are SO BAD.” (New Mutants #54)

SO, THAT HAPPENED. (New Mutants #54)

Has anyone else noticed that Doug’s superhero career is basically a series of dress rehearsals for his eventual death. (New Mutants #54)

I genuinely can’t tell if this is a good burn or not: on one hand, the New Mutants’ costumes are objectively way worse; but on the other hand, the Hellions’ costumes are way more circus-y. (New Mutants #54)

NEXT WEEK: It’s hard to be Havok.

LINKS:

If you’re curious about the Starjammers, go listen to Episode 7 – Cyclops Has a Good Day, in which we discuss them at length with Greg Rucka.
The podcast where two dudes watch and review Grown Ups 2 every week is an actual, real thing, which you can listen to here.

71 – The Once and Fuchsia King

August 24, 2015 Jay 24 comments

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In which the New Mutants return from space; Professor Xavier ruins everything; Magneto is the Craig Pelton of X-Men; Cypher carouses shamefully with Hellfire tramps; Karma quits the team; and we wrap up Chris Claremont’s New Mutants run.

X-PLAINED:

Leong and Nga Coy Manh
New Mutants #51-54
The Starjammers (again)
The paradox of Professor X
Several dramatic speeches
The Hellfire Club for Creative Anachronism
Plan Omega (but not that one)
A fairly epic dress-code violation
Magik vs. Limbo
A very specific bit of fancasting
Best Magneto
What X-fans (may or may not) live for
A well-wrought nightmare
Hellion disambiguation
Doug Ramsey’s Fancy Hair
New Mutants X Frank Zappa
Wacky teen hijinks at the Hellfire Club
Carousing shamefully with Hellfire tramps
A heroic challenge
A counterintuitive heart’s desire
Claremont’s New Mutants run.
Libraries
Emma Frost’s accent
The sounds of blastin’

NEXT WEEK: It’s hard to be Havok.

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!

As Mentioned in Episode 67 – Shadow of the Technarch

July 27, 2015 Jay 3 comments

Listen to the episode here.

Art by David Wynne. Prints and cards available until 8/2/2015 in the shop, or contact David for the original.

And that’s why you always leave a note. (New Mutants #47)

This jerk. (New Mutants #47)

Meet Sad Darin Morgan Magneto. Next issue, he’ll be bathing his corgi. (New Mutants #47)

For the record: We ran this page by Jamie from the British History Podcast, and he says Robert the Bruce’s outfit is super bullshit (but he said it more eloquently). (New Mutants #47)