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...
May 30, 2023•4 hr 36 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast 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 de...
Apr 15, 2023•3 hr 4 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast 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 de...
Apr 15, 2023•3 hr 21 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast 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 de...
Apr 15, 2023•4 hr 58 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast 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 de...
Apr 15, 2023•3 hr 28 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast 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 de...
Apr 15, 2023•4 hr 15 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast 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 f...
Mar 18, 2023•3 hr 36 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast 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,...
Mar 06, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 S...
Feb 22, 2023•2 hr 54 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Jan 29, 2023•5 hr 59 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Jan 14, 2023•4 hr 25 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast 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 1:01:0...
Jan 01, 2023•4 hr 54 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast 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 t...
Dec 16, 2022•3 hr 25 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast 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, a...
Dec 07, 2022•4 hr 35 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast 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 leg...
Nov 19, 2022•5 hr 30 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Advis...
Nov 04, 2022•5 hr 10 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast 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, su...
Oct 28, 2022•4 hr 54 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Oct 12, 2022•4 hr 52 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast 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 te...
Oct 03, 2022•4 hr 56 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 86 of CEREBRO, Connor and Sam Guido roar into battle with the courageous Kylun, Hero of the People! Created by Alan Davis, little Colin McKay was a mutant child on the run when he was transported to the mystical world of Ee'rath. After growing into the warrior Kylun, he returned home and joined Excalibur. Most recently, he was a regular cast member in Tini Howard and Bob Quinn's Knights of X . The CEREBRO character file on Kylun begins at 1:06:05. (Content Advisory: Colin'...
Sep 25, 2022•2 hr 54 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 85 of CEREBRO, Connor and tabletop game developer Margot Mutter STEAL THIS PLANET with the lively Lila Cheney! Created by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod, punk rock superstar Lila was introduced as the unlikely love interest for Cannonball of the New Mutants, but became a reliable friend to the X-Men... when she isn't moonlighting as the galaxy's premier interstellar thief! The CEREBRO character file on Lila Cheney begins at 1:11:08. (Content Advisory: Lila's story includes...
Sep 16, 2022•3 hr 41 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 84 of CEREBRO, Connor and cartoonist Darryl Ayo sharpen their claws with Maria Callasantos, the feisty Feral! Created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza as one of the founding members of X-Force, Maria is an antagonist within the team, the problem child who has friction with her teammates. Nicieza quickly wrote the character out by making her a villain, and she's been something of a footnote ever since. The CEREBRO character file on Feral begins at 1:16:12. (Content Advisory: Maria...
Sep 08, 2022•3 hr 52 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 83 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Anthony Oliveira ( Young Avengers: Paradox Lost ) camp it up with St. John Allerdyce, the poetic Pyro! Created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne as an implied gay character, in the 90s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants henchman St. John became the tragic face of the Legacy Virus. Resurrected in the Age of Krakoa, he most recently featured as a regular in Gerry Duggan's run on Marauders . The CEREBRO character file on Pyro begins at 1:08:20. (Con...
Aug 09, 2022•4 hr 7 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 82 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Alex Abad-Santos try to fix Amara Aquilla, the mediocre Magma! The most aggressively mid of the classic New Mutants, Selene's flop granddaughter has a great, iconic design... and that's about it. We promise the episode is funny. The CEREBRO character file on Magma begins at 1:15:53. (Content Advisory: Amara's story includes racism, slavery, and brainwashing.) Thanks to ComiXology for sponsoring the pod! You can sign up for a free t...
Jul 28, 2022•4 hr 57 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 81 of CEREBRO, Connor and fantasy scholar Rebecca Gault howl at the moon with Rahne Sinclair, the wailing Wolfsbane! Introduced as the ingénue of the classic New Mutants, repressed religious Rahne would go on to become one of the X-Men franchise's absolute messiest characters. The CEREBRO character file on Wolfsbane begins at 1:14:18. (Content Advisory: Rahne's story includes child abuse, brainwashing, slavery, involuntary body modification, an inappropriate relationship betwe...
Jul 14, 2022•4 hr 55 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 80 of CEREBRO, Connor and science writer Jordan Blok spin with Spiral, Mistress of the Wildways! Best known as Betsy Braddock's nemesis and Longshot's biggest hater, the wicked time-dancing sorceress was eventually revealed via retcon to be the tortured future self of a decidedly sympathetic character: Longshot's first love, the plucky human stuntwoman Ricochet Rita. The CEREBRO character file on Spiral begins at 1:07:20. (Content Advisory: Rita's story includes violen...
Jun 30, 2022•3 hr 7 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 79 of CEREBRO, Connor and contemporary comics legend Al Ewing ( X-Men Red, S.W.O.R.D. , Immortal Hulk ) survey the schemes of Abigail Brand! The mysterious director of S.W.O.R.D., charged with protecting Earth from extraterrestrial threats, half-alien and half-mutant Brand has always been a prickly ally to the X-Men at best. Now she has secretly betrayed mutantkind entirely, becoming one of the leaders of Orchis. The CEREBRO character file on Brand begins at 1:31:00. (Content Advisory...
Jun 22, 2022•4 hr 7 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 78 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Steph Williams ( Nubia and the Amazons ) scrub in for surgery with Dr. Cecilia Reyes! Created by Scott Lobdell and Carlos Pacheco, Cecilia is a young Afro-Puerto Rican resident hiding her mutant power, with no interest in being a superhero. After a brief tenure with the X-Men she's mostly been relegated to a supporting role, but recently has become the primary medical expert on Krakoa. The CEREBRO character file on Dr. Reyes begins at 1:12...
Jun 15, 2022•3 hr 39 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast 
