Synch – Page 6 – Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men

As Mentioned in Episode 318 – Leprechaun Hill

December 20, 2020 Miles Leave a comment

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

We're grateful for the covers, Chris Bachalo, but they mostly just make us even sadder that you don't pencil these issues. (Generation X #7)

Sean's impressively long ponytail, meet Emma's impressively tiny undergarments. (Generation X #7)

Husk is mainly made at Jubilee for forgetting it was Giant Shirt Day. (Generation X #7)

To be fair, those moppets would make freakin' Ultron's heart grow three sizes. (Generation X #7)

We forgot, but Banshee does sometimes where tiny shorts - including in this very issue! Probably for the best he ditched the ponytail; no one would have been able to tell him and Forge apart. (Generation X #7)

From the finest casual fashion of the 90s... (Generation X #8)

To the finest casual fashion of the indeterminate Middle Ages! (Generation X #8)

"Don't worry, elves and/or leprechauns! We'll protect you! With murder!" (Generation X #8)

"You're looking good, Eamon! But didn't you used to be like four feet taller?" (Generation X #8)

Grand Dame (a pixie rather than an elf despite her identical skin tone) and the Glamour Machine. (Generation X #8)

Wait, the caption at the bottom references leprechauns... SO WHERE ARE THE LEPRECHAUNS?! (Generation X #8)

Tom Grummett draws a pretty great Skin. (Generation X #9)

"Acch, humans! I used to be one of you until Scott Lobdell got confused! Or maybe I didn't! It's ambiguous!" (Generation X #9)

"Greetings - we're Clan O'Donnel, and we're not entirely sure what type of fantasy creature we or our newly-retconned relative are supposed to be!" (Generation X #9)

This way, the elves and/or leprechauns can get back to hanging out in Cassidy Keep in the real world and telling readers the secret real names of various superheroes. (Generation X #9)

If Penance could speak, she'd be saying "Tee hee!" (Generation X #9)

NEXT WEEK: Hawk Talk! NEXT EPISODE: Our Seventh Annual Giant-Size Winter Special!

LINKS & FURTHER READING:

We talked about the leprechauns of Cassidy Keep way back in episode 9, Leprechaun Surprise Party!

318 – Leprechaun Hill

December 20, 2020 Jay 11 comments

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In which we are broken by leprechauns.

X-PLAINED:

A very necessary title change
The leprechauns of Cassidy Keep
Generation X #7-9
How to kiss Chamber
Banshee’s epic past ponytail
Thoughts
Amiable grumbling
The evolution of Emma Frost’s ethics
Giant shirts of the 1990s
An unlikely disappearance
Rapid power creep
Another dimension
Whether or not Eamon O’Donnell is a leprechaun
Existential leprechaun uncertainty
Grande Dame
How glamour works, sort of
A dragon
Uncanny X-Men: First Class #8
Uncle Havok
Whether Kid Apocalypse is an External

NEXT WEEK: Hawk Talk.

NEXT EPISODE: GIANT-SIZE WINTER SPECIAL!

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!

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As Mentioned in Episode 307 – Ugly Mootants Only

September 13, 2020 Jay 6 comments

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It's okay. They're just gonna end up in another dimension. Kind of. I guess. (Cable #15)

If Thornn had managed to catch her, would she have joined up with Artie and Leech to become an unstoppable triumvirate of moppets? The world may never know. (Cable #15)

In six years, Paige is definitely going to be the drunk girl standing outside the women's bathroom and very sincerely telling everyone who goes in or comes out how beautiful they are. (Generation X #5)

Just don't try any allogrooming and you'll be okay. (Generation X #5)

Not Davis, and that's okay. (Generation X #5)

There is... a lot going on here. (Generation X #6)

You may have a lot of monitors, Dark Beast, but you'll never top Cameron Hodge as Quintessential Villain with a Roomful of Monitors. (Generation X #6)

Bachalo draws such good Wolverine! (Generation X #6)

Next Episode: holy shit jay wrote an x-men comic

LINKS & FURTHER SHAMELESS PROMOTION:

You can find relevant info about X-Men: Marvels Snapshots #1 over here…
…and find a comics shop from which to purchase it here…
…or just go straight to our favorite, Books With Pictures!

307 – Ugly Mootants Only

September 13, 2020 Jay 21 comments

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In which Cable has clearly inherited his father’s inability to go on a date that doesn’t end disastrously; Husk is a lightweight; we are very taken with a turtle; you really don’t want to run into the other Hemingway in an elevator, either; Jubilee can speak in logos; and Wolverine gives some fatherly advice.

X-PLAINED:

One way to get your powers back
Cable #15
Generation X #5-6
X-Men: Marvels Snapshots #1 (Coming September 16)
Cable, in general
A date
“Sheer” fabrics
What we’d bring to desert islands
Sarah (Marrow)
The Ceremony of Light
Several generations of mutant teenagers
Generation X and its members (more) (again)
Chamber’s socks
Gateway’s taste in television
Husk’s extremely low alcohol tolerance
Some cool lettering
Banshee is to Chris Bachalo as Nightcrawler is to Alan Davis
Fridge wolves
NYC celebrity encounters
The ongoing legacy of X-kids with gross powers
Teenagers
Hemingway, but not that Hemingway
The return of Artie and Leech
Bones
How we would incorporate the X-Men into the MCU

NEXT EPISODE: Snapshots!

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 279 – Giant-Size Special #8

December 29, 2019 Jay 10 comments

Listen to the episode here!

Seriously, though, that is really gross. (Generation X #1)

I want to read a miniseries about this kid. (Generation X #1)

They are so very, very parents. (Generation X #1)

Sean Cassidy, OF ALL PEOPLE, should know EXACTLY how dangerous trees can be. (Generation X #1)

An old friend--of ours, and apparently of Monet's. (Generation X #1)

Emplate is so cool and creepy! (Generation X #1)

Also cool and creepy: Chamber. (Generation X #1)

The covers of this series are so inviting. (Generation X #2)

For the record, HICK is worth 13 points to LOSER's 5. (Generation X #2)

That horror-movie framing! (Generation X #2)

Chamber is a neat dude. (Generation X #3)

Nanny X-plains puberty. (Generation X #3)

Mondo and Cordelia are... complicated. (Generation X #3)

If it weren't for the two troubles in a row, this cover would be pretty darn near perfect, gradient and all. (Generation X #4)

Bachalo's marginalia is WONDERFUL. (Generation X #4)

Not all the images are gonna be of these guys, but it was tempting. (Generation X #4)

Fortunately, sometimes they intersect with plot. (Generation X #4)

I... I just love them so much. (Generation X #4)

Meanwhile, everything is terrible. (Generation X #4)

Well, maybe not everything. (Generation X #4)

This is one of my favorite scenes in any comic, ever. (Generation X #4)

And then, Legion Quest ended. (Generation X #4)

So, yeah, this is a thing, and you can watch it here should you find yourself so inclined.

LINKS & FURTHER FESTIVITY:

Jay Smooth’s timeless “In Defense of Humbug” turns 10 years old this year!
The movie with the hipster fuckghost is The Spirit of Christmas, which involves disappointingly little ghostfucking but surprisingly accurate 19^th-century bartending.
Tom Otterness’s “Life Underground” statues in NYC’s 14th St./8th Ave. Subway station have a lot in common with Bachalo’s marginalia.
For more on the intersection of mutant and real-world politics, check out our 2017 RCCC special, Welcome to the Mutant Revolution!
Follow Christina Strain on Twitter…
…and check out her upcoming Netflix original movie, Finding Ohana!

The full list of winners of the 2019 Super Doctor Astronaut Peter Corbeau Awards for Excellence at X-Cellence will be posted separately on 12/30.

279 – Giant-Size Special #8

December 29, 2019 Jay 12 comments

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In which Jay would absolutely fight Christmas; we welcome guest X-Perts Christina Strain and Chip Zdarsky; a gift arrives; we consider the relationship of Generation X to Generation X; it is really not okay to leave your discarded skins lying around; D.O.A. is inordinately delightful; Chamber is the punk Shadow; Gateway goes to school; the Generation X TV movie is very, very bad; telepathy is free; the grown-ups are all right; home sucks; freedom rocks; Mondo deserves better; Matt Frewer did most things first; Kevin McNulty has appeared in literally everything; and you remain our favorites, ever.

X-PLAINED:

Mutation, for some value of the term
Holidays and the observation thereof
December 9
Jay’s ideal Christmas
How Chris Bachalo’s name is pronounced (more) (again) (sorry)
Several promotions
Generation X
Generation X #1-4
Generation X
Husk (Paige Guthrie)
M (Monet St. Croix)
Skin (Angelo Espinosa)
Synch (Everett Thomas)
Chamber (Jonothon Starsmore)
The New Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters
Counting Genises
The housekeeping implications of body horror
The M retcon
Continuity in costume design
The Danger Grotto
Emplate (somewhat)
D.O.A.
Penance (not that one)
Scrabble burns
An alternate take on power duplication
Mondo ()
The return of Nanny and the Orphanmaker
Eliot ()
A tentative friendship
How the Age of Apocalypse comes to Generation X
A movie that never fails to disappoint
The vagaries of adaptation
The best on-screen Emma Frost
Gang emails of the 1990s
Refrax
Buff
William Castle
The comedic genealogy of Max Headroom
Hatley Castle
The 2019 Super Doctor Astronaut Peter Corbeau Awards for Excellence at X-Cellence

NEXT WEEK: Jay & Miles go on vacation!
NEXT EPISODE: Bishop goes solo!

Special thanks to Christina Strain, Douglas Wolk, and Chip Zdarsky; and–always–to Matt Hunter, David Wynne, Tea Fougner, Anna Sheffey, and all of our patrons and listeners!

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 275 – End of the Summer

December 1, 2019 Jay One comment

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Look at this charming weirdo. (X-Force #39)

You see what I mean about the frolicking? (X-Force #39)

I'M NOT CRYING YOU'RE CRYING (X-Force #39)

This whole issue has a very Looney Toons vibe. (X-Factor #107)

It's good that they can find common ground. (X-Factor #107)

Gravity: she's a harsh mistress. (X-Factor #107)

Again: I really love the way the art here leans into Strong Guy's inherent cartoonishness. (X-Factor #107)

The choker really does seem to have an extra layer of symbolism, especially considering the color vs. the rest of her outfit. (Uncanny X-Men #318)

Serious X-Terminators vibes, right? (Uncanny X-Men #318)

"But, y'know, good luck with that." (Uncanny X-Men #318)

She's not wrong, Warren. (Uncanny X-Men #318)

...it works, though. (Uncanny X-Men #318)

LINKS & FURTHER CRYPTIDS:

Jay co-wrote a Thor novel! You can pre-order it here, if you are so inclined.
For more on Fred Dukes and confronting and subverting the fatphobic tropes around his characterization, listen to Episode 240 – Live at ECCC, feat. Vita Ayala, Seanan McGuire, & Leah Williams!
“End of the Summer” is a really good song.

275 – End of the Summer

December 1, 2019 Jay 9 comments

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In which Professor is too cool for the Phalanx; fatphobia is significantly more dangerous than Fred Dukes; Strong Guy catches a plane; Emma Frost will not let you coast; Jubilee says goodbye to the X-Men; and it’s probably for the best that we have avoided corporate advertisers.

X-PLAINED:

Mr. M
Thor: Metal Gods
Ship (more) (again)
The Phalanx vs. the Borg
Several cover homages
X-Force #39
X-Factor #107
Uncanny X-Men #318
Prosh
The myriad delights of embodiment
A complex theory about Leprechauns
Benefits of single-issue stories
Strong Guy vs. the Blob
Strong Guy vs. Gravity
Strong Guy vs. an airplane
Strong Guy vs. biology
Several explosions
The kids of Generation X
Deluxe-format comics
The Xavier Institute for Higher Learning
Goodbyes
Dazzler’s relative immortality
Jay’s X-Men Happy Meal Toy wish list
How to make a page-accurate Warlock toy

NEXT EPISODE: The Soul Sword Trilogy

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 271 – Abs for Days

November 3, 2019 Jay 3 comments

Listen to the episode here.

And we open our cover spotlight series with Monet, who is, for some reason, tiptoeing in big clunky boots. (Uncanny X-Men #316)

A name AND implied backstory? Yeah, she's doomed. (Uncanny X-Men #316)

Okay, yeah, Kubert's Banshee can get it. (Uncanny X-Men #316)

This is actually a great look. Too bad it's a Phalanx doppelgänger. (Uncanny X-Men #316)

There they are, folks: Banshee's abs. (Uncanny X-Men #316)

He just looks so wrong with the intact glasses! (X-Men #36)

Showing a bunch of predominantly white cops holding guns on an unarmed black teenager while claiming that superpowers are the only issue in play is a pretty good illustration of exactly how the mutant metaphor fails at intersectionality. (X-Men #36)

Oh, hey, the Phalanx got legit scary! (X-Men #36)

[whispered] but why does the phalanx need abs (X-Men #36)

Heck, yeah, dynamic covers! (Uncanny X-Men #317)

The gang's (almost) all here! (Uncanny X-Men #317)

Seriously, he might as well just wear a t-shirt that says "I'm a supervillain pretending to be a teenager." (Uncanny X-Men #317)

For those of you wondering: Yes, they will eventually hook up. (Uncanny X-Men #317)

What I'm mostly getting from this is that the Phalanx offers great dental. (Uncanny X-Men #317)

Chekhov's teleportation accident. (Uncanny X-Men #317)

Monet is actually both of her younger sisters right now, but try not to think too much about it. (Uncanny X-Men #317)

I liked the last one better. (X-Men #37)

Definitely the French lessons. (X-Men #37)

Husk's powers are so gross and awesome! (X-Men #37)

LINKS & FURTHER TRAVELS:

If you like picture books, it’s worth taking some time to check out the work of Peter Sís.

271 – Abs for Days (The Phalanx Covenant, Part 1 of 3)

November 3, 2019 Jay 18 comments

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In which we’re finally both back in the virtual studio; Generation X is the new Inferno; the Phalanx Covenant begins; we’re not talking about Hickman in our coverage of this story; Banshee is the adult in the room; the Phalanx is pretty sexist; and gross powers are cool.

X-PLAINED:

Blink
Peter Sís
The Phalanx Covenant
“Generation Next” (but not Generation Next)
Uncanny X-Men #316-317
X-Men #36-37
Yet another way to do a crossover event
Some very good visual branding
What we’re not covering
Sexy Banshee
Retired Colonel Gayle Cordbecker
Monet St. Croix (kind of)
Coaxing
Early days of the Internets
Everett Thomas (Synch)
The fate of Sara Grey
Phalanx Phashion
Angelo Espinosa (Skin)
Clarice Ferguson (Blink)
Some guy allegedly named Gregor
Harvest
A very expensive house
An apparent death

NEXT EPISODE: Forge does not get a puppy.

NOTE: Jay was right: LiveJournal first launched in 1999.

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!

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