Queer friends review the original X-Men comics from the 1960s
It's Lorelei! Chad and the notoriously drag queen D'Manda Martini delve deep into the history of the flaxen-haired singing siren of the Savage Land Mutates, Lorelei! OooOOOooo! This episode is a blast. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Chad is joined by the wonderful editor Sarah Brunstad, amazing writer Steve Foxe, and incredible artist Jason Muhr (what a talented group!) to discuss representation in comics! And then we review a 2008 book set in the 1960s chronology... X-Men/Spider-Man #1! Our heroes meet Spider-Man and his supporting cast, then they fight the unlikely combination of Kraven the Hunter (complete with nipple lasers!) and the Blob (who is drawn... unfortunately). Plus, Mr. Sinister is in the wings! Advertising I...
Chad and returning co-host Derek Kunsken are joined by the incredible artists of Rage Gear Studios, Eric Guerrero and Rey Arzeno! We talk X-Men, art degrees and styles, and the complex workings of telepathy power sets as they relate to the human brain... then we delve deep into the beautiful origin story of Jean Grey, as portrayed by Sean McKeever and Mike Mayhew! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
Chad and guest Hussein Rashid delve deep into Juggernaut's rage-daddy, Cyttorak, the lord of the Crimson Cosmos! Sometimes he's portrayed as a giant red angry space god, sometimes as a little old jealous man... sometimes he's the god himself, sometimes an 'aspect' of the god... sometimes the Crimson Cosmos is a vast sprawling empire, and sometimes it's in a tiny gem... Come here us delve into the complex history of this minor Marvel character, and get new insight into Jug...
Alex Summers has had a tough life! After losing his parents, he was adopted by a family who put too much pressure on him to be perfect. Then local bullies showed up... some unwelcome mutant powers... and the deadly Mr. Sinister. But first! Chad is joined by Justin Hall (who discusses comics education and erotica), Michael Elliot (who discusses the sociology of fandom), and Anya Prosser (who is put in an impossible ethical dilemma). Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Op...
It's X-Men -1! Set before X-Men #1 in 1963, this issue (from 1997) shows us Professor X and Amelia Voght facing off with Magneto, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch in... Auschwitz? It's a conversation about anti-Semitism, mutant philosophies, and the ridiculous body of Charles Xavier. But first! A conversation about the lives and careers of Joseph Giampietro (amazing artist!), John Smith (the wonderful artist, Vox the Devil), and Phil Ewing (political analyst and former journalist!) Adv...
Unicorn has only fought the X-Men once, as part of Count Nefaria's plot to overthrow the government... and my has he been on a journey since then. A Russian agent with a, ahem, power horn, who went mad when his powers were boosted, who walked into the ocean and returned years later completely overhauled as one of the biggest weirdos in comics. Hear Chad and Daryl (X-Factor Files Podcast) delve deep into one of Iron Man's weirdest enemies. Want an appletini, Spot? Advertising Inquiries: h...
Hold on, True Believers! Stan Lee's here to usher you in to a very complicated X-Men story that is all about the Summers, Greys, Askanis, Trasks, giant robots, the Twelve, mutants who see the future, mutants who travel to the future, and more! We jump WAY forward to 1997 for Flashback month... which takes us into the history before X-Men #1! Chad is joined by the incredible combination of Andrew Drilon! Juan Ponce! And D'Manda Martini, dressed as Madame Sanctity herself! Come hang out an...
Just cry Havok! It's the long-awaited trial of Alexander Summers! The kid brother of Cyclops, Havok is one of the first early additions to the X-Men. A mutant powerhouse with an impossible power, a government agent and team leader, and a man who is so frequently controlled and influenced by others. Havok is a beloved character in the X-Men franchise, and it's his turn to be put on trial! Join Chad Anderson, Anthony Oliveira, Hussein Rashid, Noelle Reed, Andre Mason, and Rob Salerno as we...
Chuck Austen wrote one of the most controversial runs of the X-Men of all time... and he's a genuinely nice guy! Hear Chuck and Chad talk about the infamous moments and relationships from his run, including Juggernaut and Squid Boy! Nurse Annie! Polaris as the daughter of Magneto! Stacy-X! Angel and Husk! The Draco! Nightcrawler, Mystique, and Azazel! Northstar and Iceman! And more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
Bonus episode! The Changeling... a mysterious shape-changing mutant about whom little is known... he was an agent of Factor Three, he died while posing as Professor X, and he inspired the characters Morph (from the Animated Series and the Exiles)... but is there more to him than you realize? Hear Chad and friend George Michael Duve explore all there is to know about this obscure X-Men character! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
It's the first appearance of Chad's favorite villain, Sauron! But first an incredible and inspiring conversation about professionalism, story-telling, and representation with the incredible Steenz (Heart of the City!), Markisan Naso (By the Horns), and artist Jamie Fay! Then we review the insane origin story of Sauron and his first fight with this X-Men, and laugh SO much. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
The Sentinels are back and sassier than ever! The X-Men, plus all the mutants in the world (so far), are captured and only logic will defeat them! (This issue is insane)! Chad is joined by incredible artist Jerry Gaylord (of the upcoming X-Men 92) as well as cosplayer Caroline Bird and podcaster Steve Duda! This episode is all laughs. All that, plus the first appearance of Sauron! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
Bonus Patreon episode! Featuring Grotesk! The man who killed Professor X! (Well, the Changeling...) Prince Gor-Tok is the last survivor of his underground race, and he wants revenge on the surface world! Hear Steve Duda and Chad explore the motivations and power of this intense lesser-used villain. (He's kind of amazing). Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
Larry Trask has weaponized the Sentinels into rounding up every mutant that is out there for containment until he learns he is a mutant himself! Plus, Alex Summers gets his iconic costume, and the codename HAVOK! Plus an interview with the iconic Mike Friedrich! Mike has epic runs on Ian Man, Ka-Zar, and more... and he is the co-creator of Thanos! Mockingbird! Moondragon! And more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
Chad and his friends Sara Century and Connor Goldsmith talk to the legendary writer J.M. DeMatteis about his incredible career, focusing on his work with the New Defenders, a team of complicated dual-natured misfits (like Gargoyle, Devil-Slayer, and the Son of Satan) and characters who would go on to become queer icons (like Valkyrie, Moondragon, Iceman, and Cloud!) Plus, Kraven's Last Stand! The Spectre! And so much more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out...
(Sensitive content warning) Chad hosts a panel discussion featuring Susan Kirtley, Jessica Baldanzi, Carrie Harris, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, and Marsheila Rockwell all about the portrayal of mind control powers in comic books used for sexual assault. Chad (a survivor of sexual abuse) frames the conversation around stories from the 1940s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 2000s, showing the evolution of this topic over time. Following the Trials of Mastermind and Mesmero, which portray evidence of the removal...
It's the Trials of Mastermind and Mesmero! These two villains have similar power sets... the ability to influence minds through illusions and hypnosis respectively. And both have used their powers to awful extent, removing the will of others and ordering them to do as they see fit. (Warning: sensitive content in this episode). Chad acts as judge, and our jury this time includes Cory Thomas! Justin and Alicia Wilder (of the X-Wife Podcast), Noelle Reed (of X-Men Unraveled), and Derek Kunsken ...
In X-Men #2, we meet FBI Fred Duncan, a human ally of the X-Men, who works toward mutant affairs. He's super obscure, and rarely used, but he shows up in the X-Men mythos more than you think. Chad and artist Seth Martel (who does the amazing art for this pod!) Come learn a ton about a forgotten character! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
This week, Chad and Rob Salerno are joined by the incredible Ramzi Fawaz, the author of the New Mutants and Queer Forms! After an intellectual and analytical look at the X-Men, we review the amazing X-Men #57, where the son of Bolivar Trask has rebuilt the Sentinels! They are bigger, badder, and capable of adapting to mutant powers! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
This episode is a master class on what it is like to run a fictional universe. Tom Brevoort guides Chad, Noelle, and Daryl in a fascinating discussion about canonization of continuity, sliding time scales, retroactive continuity, alternate universes, and characters used by writers over time. It's nerdy and wonderful and intense. And then, it's a retcon story from a Spider-Man book set in the X-Men's earliest days... they team up with Spidey to fight Menace! A man pretending to be a m...
I've had a deep love for Very Cantor since I was a teenager. First, she's a librarian. Second, she's sassy, and resilient, and tough as nails. Third, her fashion is unlike anyone else. Recording this episode with Sara Century made me love Vera even more. This is a LONG episode, all about what it is like to date a narcissist, and all about the inner lives of characters that exist on the page across decades. (This might be my favorite episode of the podcast that I've ever recorded)...
It's a very special Iceman episode! Featuring talented writer and artist Luciano Vecchio, who recently featured Iceman in his own super hero epic Infinity Comic! As well as returning guests Terry Blas and Josh Trujillo! This episode delves deep into Iceman's origins and history, and talks about being a closeted gay kid, and a closeted mutant... Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
There is so much delightful laughter in this episode! Chad is joined by Anas Abdulhak to interview Bob Quinn (about that legendary kiss in Knights of X) and Renee Witterstaetter (about that time she directed a Madonna video!), then it's a review of the indelible artwork of Neal Adams as he draws Havok (shirtless), the insane Living Monolith, and the coolest Jean Grey telepathy sequence yet! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
Rob Salerno joins Chad in examining the entire history of William and Madeline Drake, the parents of Bobby! This is a long conversation about Iceman, and what it is like to be a closeted teen, and the pressure placed on kids to change themselves, and the difficulties of coming out later in life, and the way queer stories have been told across the decades. Super proud of this wonderful episode. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
Cyclops has a baby brother that he's kept a secret... his name is Alex, and he's a mutant! This week, Chad is joined by returning guests Anas Abdulhak and Seth Martel and we interview the incredible and hilarious writer, Sam Humphries, of Legendary Star-Lord, Uncanny X-Force, and more! And Sam is hilarious! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
This week, Chad interviews incredible artist Sandy Plunkett (of Conan, Scarlet Witch, and more) with guest hosts Markisan Naso (of By the Horns) and Gabriella Garbero! After that, we cover the X-Men's guest appearances in Fantastic Four 35 and 36, including a comparative discussion about the X-Men and FF, then it is the nonsensical and wonderful introduction of the Frightful Four, including new character Madame Medusa! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: ht...
I'm putting out weekly character-focused content on Patreon and it is SO fun! Here's an example... a focused episode on Lucifer, the alien who paralyzed Professor X himself! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Cerebro was introduced in 1963 as a computer with wires used to detect mutant threats. But it has become so many other things over the years... a massive globed room, a sentient Sentinel, a fake-X-Men-creating Founder, and a set of storage bases containing the memories and personalities of millions of mutants. Hear Chad joined by five of his favorite guests, including Ariana Maher, Josh Trujillo, Kevin Gadz, Michelle Waffel, and Noelle Reed recount the entire history of Cerebro, and have a discu...
OHOTMU! It's a very Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe-focused episode of Graymalkin Lane! Featuring Eliot Brown, who worked on the initial Handbook launch with Mark Gruenwald, as well as editor Jeff Christiansen, from the modern Handbooks and owner of the Marvel Universe Appendix website! Plus Chad and Gabriel Shechter, two Handbook profile writers! We delve into the struggles and joys of making an encyclopedia of the Marvel Universe, then delve into X-Men 54, where the Living Pharaoh...
