In Episode 106 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Alex Abad-Santos just want to be popular with Laurie Collins, the wilting Wallflower! Created by Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir, and Keron Grant as one of the new students in the 2003 relaunch of New Mutants , which evolved into New X-Men: Academy X, Laurie is a shy and reserved teenage girl terrified of social contact because her mutant pheromones make her feel like a predator. An interesting arc takes shape as she develops more control o...
Dec 16, 2023•3 hr 57 min•Season 4Ep. 6
In Episode 105 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Anthony Oliveira become huge and unstoppable with Cain Marko, the jealous Juggernaut! Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Cain is the elder stepbrother of Charles Xavier, empowered by an ancient occult artifact and bent on destruction. One of the most famous X-Men villains, over time Cain became a fairly reliable ally, particularly under the character's signature writer Fabian Nicieza. He won the fan vote for this year's X-Men roster before t...
Nov 26, 2023•6 hr 57 min•Season 4Ep. 5
In Episode 104 of CEREBRO, Connor and Oh Gosh, Oh Golly, Oh Wow! co-host Dr. Anna Peppard ( Supersex: Sexuality, Fantasy, and the Superhero) walk the Winding Way with Amanda Sefton, the devil-may-care Daytripper! Created by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum in 1976 as a love interest for Nightcrawler, flight attendant Amanda was later revealed in a retcon to be a disguised figure from Kurt's past: his first love Jimaine, daughter and disciple of his foster mother, the powerful Romani sorceress Ma...
Oct 10, 2023•6 hr 51 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Hey there, Zalagang! Today, for a special interview, Vice President and Creative Executive at Marvel Ryan Penagos joins the show to talk about the new fitness app Marvel Move , a collaboration between Marvel and Zombies, Run! developers Six To Start . Ryan was a major creative coordinator for this immersive game, which features an X-Men scenario, "Age of Orchis", written by friend of the pod Tini Howard. Regular episodes of CEREBRO will return soon! I'm in the middle of editing Amanda Sefton fea...
Sep 29, 2023•42 min
Hey there, Zalagang! You've likely noticed, but a combo of scheduling issues and personal life stuff has led to a brief production delay. The next regular episode of CEREBRO will be Amanda Sefton feat. Dr. Anna Peppard! It should be in your ears about two weeks from now. Trish Tilby feat. Patrick Sullivan will follow later in the month. In the meantime, there will be new bonus content releasing on Patreon — and I'm publicly releasing this past April's CEREBRO Appendix bonus episode on Gosamyr fe...
Sep 07, 2023•2 hr 12 min
Hey there, Zalagang! Today, returning guest Steve Foxe and I dig into his new title Dark X-Men , which debuted last week as part of the Fall of X event! This episode contains SPOILERS for Dark X-Men #1, so please read the issue before listening. This summer con season has been crazy, and I knew I wanted to have some bonus content to hold you all over between regular installments of the pod. I hope you enjoyed the episode with Gerry, and will enjoy this one with Steve — I'd love to incorporate mo...
Aug 24, 2023•2 hr 10 min
Hi everyone! This morning, in a publicly-released CEREBRO Secret File, X-Men and Invincible Iron Man writer Gerry Duggan joins Connor for a postmortem on the cataclysmic events of this year's Hellfire Gala. This episode contains SPOILERS for the giant-size one-shot released today, as well as for the epilogue in Invincible Iron Man #8, so please read both issues before listening. (Content Advisory: A lot of upsetting stuff happens in this comic.) You can support CEREBRO on Patreon ! Our Sponsors:...
Jul 26, 2023•2 hr 50 min
In Episode 103 of CEREBRO, Connor and Graymalkin Lane host Chad Anderson get lost in the woods with Calvin Rankin, the mercurial Mimic! Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby as an antagonist, arrogant power copier Cal briefly joined the X-Men in the 60s under writer Roy Thomas, but ultimately couldn't mesh with his classmates. Over the decades he's struggled to find a consistent role in the franchise, but his popularity was boosted a great deal by writer Judd Winick when the alternate Mimic of Eart...
Jul 17, 2023•3 hr 49 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In Episode 102 of CEREBRO, Connor and fan favorite guest Jordan Blok pay homage to Nekra, Priestess of Hate! Created by Steve Gerber and Ross Andru as a nemesis for jungle heroine Shanna the She-Devil, mutant radical Nekra Sinclair instead became a recurring threat to the broader Marvel Universe. After moving to the X-Men franchise during Matt Fraction's 21st century tenure, she has found new prominence (and new dignity) in the Krakoa Era as one of the protagonists of Victor LaValle and Leonard ...
Jun 24, 2023•6 hr 42 min•Season 4Ep. 2
In Episode 101 of CEREBRO, the SEASON 4 PREMIERE, Connor and Head of X emeritus Jonathan Hickman extend a cautious hand to En Sabah Nur, the atrocious Apocalypse! Created by Louise Simonson, Walt Simonson, and Butch Guice as the central antagonist of 1986's X-Factor , the ancient immortal Apocalypse spent millennia worshiped by many names, secretly cultivating the mutant race. After decades of publication in which the heroes fought his seemingly inevitable ascent to power — particularly when he ...
May 30, 2023•3 hr 36 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In the DOMINION-SIZE Episode 100 of CEREBRO, Connor and fan favorite guest Sara Century paint the town red with Madelyne Pryor, the glorious Goblin Queen! Created by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith, Maddie was introduced in 1983 as a new love interest for Scott Summers following the death of Jean Grey in 1980's The Dark Phoenix Saga . Intended by Claremont to facilitate Scott's happy ending and retirement from the X-Men, Maddie went in a dramatically different direction after editorial demanded S...
Apr 15, 2023•3 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 29
In the DOMINION-SIZE Episode 100 of CEREBRO, Connor and fan favorite guest Sara Century paint the town red with Madelyne Pryor, the glorious Goblin Queen! Created by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith, Maddie was introduced in 1983 as a new love interest for Scott Summers following the death of Jean Grey in 1980's The Dark Phoenix Saga . Intended by Claremont to facilitate Scott's happy ending and retirement from the X-Men, Maddie went in a dramatically different direction after editorial demanded S...
Apr 15, 2023•3 hr 21 min•Season 3Ep. 28
In the DOMINION-SIZE Episode 100 of CEREBRO, Connor and fan favorite guest Sara Century paint the town red with Madelyne Pryor, the glorious Goblin Queen! Created by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith, Maddie was introduced in 1983 as a new love interest for Scott Summers following the death of Jean Grey in 1980's The Dark Phoenix Saga . Intended by Claremont to facilitate Scott's happy ending and retirement from the X-Men, Maddie went in a dramatically different direction after editorial demanded S...
Apr 15, 2023•3 hr 58 min•Season 3Ep. 27
In the DOMINION-SIZE Episode 100 of CEREBRO, Connor and fan favorite guest Sara Century paint the town red with Madelyne Pryor, the glorious Goblin Queen! Created by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith, Maddie was introduced in 1983 as a new love interest for Scott Summers following the death of Jean Grey in 1980's The Dark Phoenix Saga . Intended by Claremont to facilitate Scott's happy ending and retirement from the X-Men, Maddie went in a dramatically different direction after editorial demanded S...
Apr 15, 2023•3 hr 28 min•Season 3Ep. 26
In the DOMINION-SIZE Episode 100 of CEREBRO, Connor and fan favorite guest Sara Century paint the town red with Madelyne Pryor, the glorious Goblin Queen! Created by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith, Maddie was introduced in 1983 as a new love interest for Scott Summers following the death of Jean Grey in 1980's The Dark Phoenix Saga . Intended by Claremont to facilitate Scott's happy ending and retirement from the X-Men, Maddie went in a dramatically different direction after editorial demanded S...
Apr 15, 2023•4 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 25
In Episode 99 of CEREBRO, Connor and living legend Chuck Austen ( She-Ra, Steven Universe, The Draco ) practice their bedside manner with the audacious Annie Ghazikhanian! The signature point-of-view character of the Austen run on Uncanny X-Men , Nurse Annie is prejudiced against mutants due to past trauma, but becomes the school nurse at Xavier's to help her mutant son Carter... and to follow her patient, Alex Summers, with whom she's unexpectedly fallen in love. The CEREBRO character file on N...
Mar 18, 2023•2 hr 36 min•Season 3Ep. 24
Hi everyone! Some scheduling issues with the recording of Episode 99 will be delaying it a little while longer, so I wanted to provide a little extra content this week while I get that sorted. First published on June 16th, 2022, this is the first episode of the CEREBRO Claremont Marathon, a readalong series I do on the Patreon. I read each issue aloud with my best funny voices and provide commentary when I think something is of interest. This episode is a prelude: 1975's Giant-Size X-Men #1, whi...
Mar 06, 2023•36 min
To celebrate the launch of Betsy Braddock: Captain Britain #1 today, Tini Howard stops by CEREBRO for a page-by-page breakdown of this entire 30-page oversized issue! This is the dazzling debut of a new series AIPT says is "set to be the best part of your pull list every single month." Please make sure you pick up Betsy Braddock: Captain Britain #1 this week, and preorder #2 at your local comic shop! New books get extended based on early enthusiasm; the power is yours. This episode has SPOILERS ...
Feb 22, 2023•1 hr 54 min
In Episode 98 of CEREBRO, Connor and Dr. Holly Raymond (Professor of English at Temple University) have their strings pulled by Jamie Braddock, the mercurial Monarch! Created by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe, Jamie is the famous racecar driver brother of aristocratic superhero twins Brian and Betsy. Originally a helpful supporting character in Captain Britain , Jamie shifted over time into an insane, reality-warping supervillain in Excalibur . After several failed attempts at rehabilitation ov...
Feb 21, 2023•5 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 23
In Episode 97 of CEREBRO, Connor and Dr. Steven Attewell (Adjunct Professor of Public Policy at CUNY, writer of Race for the Iron Throne ) get down to business with the unscrupulous Sebastian Shaw! Created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, billionaire industrialist Shaw is best known as the Black King of the Hellfire Club, a political player who for many years concealed his own mutant status while manipulating the mutant struggle for profit. He now serves as part of the Quiet Council on Krakoa,...
Feb 11, 2023•4 hr 25 min•Season 3Ep. 22
In Episode 96 of CEREBRO, Connor and DC/Marvel writer Josh Trujillo ( Blue Beetle: Graduation Day , Wiccan and Hulkling ) get creative with the formidable Forge! Created by Chris Claremont and John Romita, Jr., Cheyenne shaman Forge rejected his people to use his mutant power of invention in the service of the American government. After devising a power nullifier, Forge became one of Storm's most prominent love interests — and, at times, her enemy. He's currently a regular cast member in Gerry D...
Jan 29, 2023•4 hr 59 min•Season 3Ep. 21
In Episode 95 of CEREBRO, Connor and Marvel writer/artist Jason Loo ring in the New Year with the jocular Jubilation Lee! Created by Chris Claremont and Marc Silvestri, teenage orphan Jubilee used her firework powers to become Wolverine's sidekick, a member of the X-Men, and then the anchor of the book Generation X. Wildly popular with younger readers in the 90s, the character has struggled to maintain her place in the franchise since her heyday, but her iconic status has prevented her from disa...
Jan 14, 2023•4 hr 25 min•Season 3Ep. 20
In Episode 94 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Nola Pfau test their luck with the lovable Longshot! Created by Ann Nocenti and Art Adams, Longshot is an amnesiac rebel slave from the Mojoverse, an alternate dimension derived from twisted interpretations of American film and television. After his solo miniseries concluded, he was brought to Uncanny X-Men , where he became Dazzler's love interest and a key player in the Outback Era. The CEREBRO character file on Longshot begins at 1:01:03. (...
Jan 01, 2023•3 hr 54 min•Season 3Ep. 19
In Episode 93 of CEREBRO, Connor and TTRPG writer/MENA scholar Khaldoun Khelil ascend to the astral plane with Amahl Farouk, the Shadow King! Introduced as the ultimate evil telepath, the Shadow King was steadily developed into the grand antagonist of the franchise until Chris Claremont's abrupt departure in 1991. After a few decades of haphazard publication, the character recently found unexpected new life in Vita Ayala and Rod Reis's run on New Mutants . The CEREBRO character file on the Shado...
Dec 16, 2022•3 hr 25 min•Season 3Ep. 18
In Episode 92 of CEREBRO, Connor, journalist Eoin Higgins, and Connor's laryngitis toast to Thomas Cassidy, the bombastic Black Tom! The black sheep of Clan Cassidy and devoted partner of the Juggernaut, Tom has been a constant thorn in the side of his cousin Banshee. After decades as an antagonist, he has found new heroic purpose on Krakoa in Ben Percy's X-Force . The CEREBRO character file on Black Tom begins at 1:09:09. (Content Advisory: Tom's story includes implied homophobia, ableism, and ...
Dec 07, 2022•3 hr 35 min•Season 3Ep. 17
In Episode 91 of CEREBRO, Connor and aerospace engineer Kaetun Khlynne spotlight two related characters: Eden Fesi, the magnificent Manifold, and his mysterious mentor — the cleverman known only as Gateway! Aboriginal teleporter Gateway was an essential part of the 80s Outback Era during Chris Claremont's X-Men run, but his opaque nature meant he was always relegated to the role of supporting character. Jonathan Hickman and Stefano Caselli's creation Manifold carries on Gateway's legacy while be...
Nov 19, 2022•4 hr 30 min•Season 3Ep. 16
In Episode 90 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Jordan Blok mourn for Melody Jacobs, the theatrical Threnody! Created by Fabian Nicieza and Richard Bennett, tragic Thren's mutation attunes her to death around the world, driving her dangerously insane. After a memorable arc in early 90s X-Men , she became Nate Grey's love interest in the ongoing series X-Man — until her cruel power dragged her into the darkness. The CEREBRO character file on Threnody begins at 1:56:35. (Content Advisory: Thr...
Nov 04, 2022•5 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 15
In Episode 89 of CEREBRO, Connor and Marvel writer Leah Williams ( X-Factor, X-Men: The Trial of Magneto , X-Terminators ) toast to Tabitha Smith, the bodacious Boom-Boom! Created by Jim Shooter and Al Milgrom, explosive street kid Tabby quickly became a mainstay of the X-Men franchise, most notably with a long run on X-Force in the 90s. The CEREBRO character file on Boom-Boom begins at 1:32:45. (Content Advisory: Tabitha's story includes child abuse, domestic violence, survival sex work, suicid...
Oct 28, 2022•3 hr 54 min•Season 3Ep. 14
In Episode 88 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Spencer Ackerman ( Reign of Terror , Waller vs. Wildstorm ) combine their powers to roast Andrea and Andreas von Strucker, the foul Fenris! Created by Chris Claremont and John Romita, Jr., the remarkably evil Fenris twins are Nazi siblings who fuck each other. This one's dark! The CEREBRO character file on Fenris begins at 1:13:38. (Content Advisory: Andrea and Andreas are despicable, incestuous, violent racists. Do you have something you need...
Oct 12, 2022•3 hr 52 min•Season 3Ep. 13
In Episode 87 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Luke Ruddick approach lightspeed with Pietro Maximoff, the questionable Quicksilver! Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Pietro and his twin sister Wanda were founding members of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants but went on to become Avengers, rarely appearing in X-Men titles despite the discovery they were Magneto's long-lost biological children. In the 90s Pietro returned to the world of the X-Men as a member of the government X-Factor team, ...
Oct 03, 2022•3 hr 56 min•Season 3Ep. 12
