The X-Men Files

Issue 189: Who the heck is Amara and why is she dressed like that?

Less preparation than usual, but no amount of preparation will help Inessa understand why we spend so much time with a character that we've not seen before in the pages of the X-Men. Is the issue any good? Well, it's certainly got a lot of interesting costume changes. We also talk about the complicated legacy of Pat Morita, the Karate Kid and what's up with the power dynamics in 80's movies.

Issue 188: Dapped with a zose of psionic whatsit

Brian has a Spoonerism while reading his recap, and he follows it up with a bummer story about this childhood. Meanwhile, Inessa looks extra pretty, it's hot in the south and we all need to know more about female character actors. Also, we talk about the X-Men.

Issue 187: What's inside Forge's manhood?

Slightly divergent views on this one. Inessa isn't wild about the action, but Brian thinks it's a proto Die Hard. Neither of us are fans of the dire wraiths or relentless cross promotion. We also spend more time than any person should thinking about the word "paramour".

Issue 186: Claremont > Fellowes

Brian has grown up a lot since he first read this issue. We both love romance in our comics. The plot mechanics weren't perfect, but the X-Men is still better than Downton Abbey. Brian still won't shut up about The Last Jedi, but he's getting closer to processing all of his feelings about it. Or at least one can hope so.

Issue 185: Smashing the Bechdel Test

Action packed! We have a terrific recap followed by musing about slackerdom and Generation X. Inessa is over it with the male gaze, while Ororo and Rogue have a fantastic heart to heart talk. In other news, Brian has had it with Disney and he's got the rants to prove it.

Issue 184: Forge has a cane

We meet the inventor genius Forge in this issue, and get our first look at his questionable fashion choices. He's not alone, though, as club owner Nick commits some sartorial crimes of his own. Brian talks about polar coordinates and thought leadership. Both of us talk about a letter writer who may become wiser, but we hope they don't lose their ideals. Love makes the world go round and we love the X-Men. So when the sun rises for you tomorrow morning: you're welcome!

Issue 183: Broken hearts and broken jaws

We're back! We finally talk through the fallout of Peter's breakup with Kitty and we are ... underwhelmed. Beautiful art and a few nice moments, but we hit the patriarchal speedbump pretty hard. From there, we spend a bit of time talking through our reservations about the latest MCU movie: Black Widow. Spoilers abound there.

The Phoenix Saga

The 3rd biggest event in comics history! It's actually a bit more significant than that non-superlative would suggest. Inessa and Brian finally take on one of the most iconic storylines in comics ever and they conclude that it's about ... sex? Um, okay. We also learn that we'd love to see a dramatization of the Marvel bullpen from the early 80's. Get on it, Hollywood!

X2: United We're Bland

Brian and Inessa (re)visit the film X2. Brian finds it wasn't as good as he remembered. Inessa fell asleep while watching. We also talk about "God Loves, Man Kills", good casting and how the film would have been much, much better as a romantic comedy. It also features some of our raunchiest opening conversation ever.

Issue 182: Keep the change

Rogue isn't an action hero, she's tormented by the weight of her past choices, just like the rest of us. Is the universe a just place? Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. Claremont walks use through the weight of existence in a tremendous solo Rogue issue.

Issue 181: Sleepy dragons

We combat our mutual Sunday afternoon fatigue, while the X-Men combat a couple of dragons. We talk about the 80's, legislated homophobia and cultural xenophobia. Thank heaven for a bit of escape into the magical world of comics!

Issue 180: The Mohawk in the Room

Back from hiatus, we're still looking for our groove. Talking about X-Men was pretty nice, though. We also touch on the work of John Carpenter and, um, other stuff. My brain still isn't all there, folks. Check back next week.

Issue 179: Nothing felicitous for Kitty

It's our fiftieth episode! Time for celebration and we celebrate by discussing ... statutory rape? Ew. OK, I guess that's all in aid of building up to some sort of point. No? Well, enjoy the episode anyway and thanks for listening. On to the next fifty!

WandaVision!!

The week, we talk WandaVision, with Mike, one of Brian's oldest friends. He's on board, but Brian isn't so sure. We also talk about the Disney entertainment hegemon, what critics don't seem to get about the MCU and Herman Wouk's "The Winds of War". It's a treat!

Issue 178: Wolverine is comfortable being Wolverine

This one gets a little raunchy. It takes no more than a few minutes to use a crass euphemism for some forms of cancer and it's only downhill from there. We giggle, espouse our love for the TV show Patriot, Rob Schrab, Lincoln Center and (mostly for Brian) vulgar humor. You've been warned.

Issue 177: The X-Men cannot be indestructible

As Dan Harmon taught us, any undefeatable character is a villain. We watch all of the X-Men get defeated in an imaginary sense, and then we watch Colossus get actually defeated. Brian thought there would be more talk about Lincoln Center, but alas.

Issue 176: Cyclops can never retire

Cyke and Madelyne love to get down, Inessa likes politics, heroes can never retire and Brian rambles on and on and on.

Issue 175: Peak Cyclops

Once again Brian didn't write a recap and we all suffer as a result. Despite that, Inessa's mood improves by the end of the episode!

Issue 174: Spacey Soap Opera or Soapy Space Opera?

This is one is mostly talk and very little action. It's space opera! It's soap opera! It's both! Along the way, we get a window into Brian's sad pathetic life as a lonely comic book reader. But he's feeling great now! (mostly) We also talk about why Joss Whedon feels like the unkindest cut of all.

Issue 173: Everything is socially awkward

One of the best issues of the X-Men is also one of the most awkward. Rogue tries to kiss Wolverine, Wolverine eventually kisses Rogue, Lilandra wants to kill Madelyn, Kitty wants to kill Ororo, Ororo doesn't mind getting killed ... this one is all over the place.