The X-Men Files

Issue 172: Brian has a crush on Rogue

Finally back to the Uncanny X-Men, having taken a lengthy Wolverine detour. Brian fails at saying something useful about Black History Month, but Inessa reads an amazing recap! Southwest used to the Hooters of airlines, neither Brian nor Inessa are into sports, but they're watching the Super Bowl anyway. Brian has a crush on the Paul Smith version of Rogue because she's just as socially awkward as he is!

Wolverine 4: Wolverine, the wrath of God

Although we loved this minseries, we've run out of things to say about it. Despite that, we say a few things anyway. We also share a few words about Werner Herzog, and why it's more fun to watch someone get punched in the face than it is to read about it.

Wolverine 3: It's not whether Wolverine wins or loses

We continue to love Wolverine! That love is not shared with Ronald Reagan who gets some choice commentary from Brian. But first, Inessa continues to live recap like a champ. It's not about winning or losing, but she's certainly a winner!

Issue nothing: Thwip vs. Snikt

Our first guests! We don't talk about a specific issue. Or, more accurately, we talk about a VERY significant issue: who would win in a fight between Spider-Man and Wolverine? Our guests have all the answers ... or do they?

Wolverine 2: Women are funny and violent

Women are funny, and they can be violent. Also, we talk about the 1982 Wolverine limited series.

Wolverine 1: Dead bear, dyin' Wolverine

We begin our read of the Wolverine limited series, a titanic meetup between two of the greatest talents in bronze age comics. We talk a bit about xenophobia and US (mis)representation of Japan, ads in comics, holiday gifts, and the Inhumans TV series.

Issue 171: Costume drama

We talk about Rogue, Walt Simsonson and ... Downton Abbey? Also, Brian continues to ramble about toxic masculinity and his fragile sense of self identity.

Issue 170: Dress for Success

Storm is magnificent, Paul Smith can draw women, but can he draw dresses? Incels are terrible people, outsiders might be forced to confront the existence of an inside. We love this issue and we love comics and we love the X-Men.

Issue 169: Gender neutral kidnapping

Two X-Men get kidnapped, but not necessarily in a patriarchal way. Still creepy, though. No recap again, but we promise we'll get professional again next week.

Issue 168: No recap? No problem!

Brian didn't write a recap, but Inessa recaps like a champ. We talk about how to raise children, the weird role of sex and violence, Yukio Mishima, how Americans lost their sense of humor, Ronald Reagan is a dick, and Public Assistance was a fun game made by terrible people.

Issue 167: I think I'm a clone now

Honestly, I have no idea what we talked about apart from the issue. Lenin's preserved corpse and maybe some other stuff. Like, um, clones.

Issue 166: Double-sized Brood fun!

This is almost the end of the Brood saga. We've got one more, but this is the one that settles the question of what happens to all of the X-Men's x-eggs. Brian loved it, but Inessa was less sure. Along the way, we detour to talk about which Doctor Who actor awakens something in Brian and we time capsule the US election.

Issue 165: Without clothes in outer space

We talk religion, adolescent sexual awakening, the Brood as maybe-kind-of a metaphor for abortion, and why Mike Pence is a terrible Christian. Also, we love Ororo. Did we mention that? Because we love Ororo.

Issue 164: Whatever happened to Carol Danvers?

It's Minnesota month! And we spend that time talking a lot about Binary, an incarnation of Carol Danvers that didn't appear to go anywhere in particular. We have some kind words to say about Dave Cockrum, one of the architects of the X-Men, and we both agree that we just can't get enough of Claremont's take on Ororo.

Issue 163: Three's company; the Brood is a crowd

We enjoyed this issue, but didn't have much to say about it, so we talked about Three's Company and zombies instead.

Issue 162: Wolverine vs.The Brood

Everything else has been prologue to this. Wolverine, all by himself fights an entire planet filled with Brood, giant spiders, a space carcass, and a recurrent tummy ache. The roller coaster has crested the hill and we're all shouting "WHEEE!!" as we start The Brood Saga.

Issue 161: Flashback with a side of ick

In this issue, Professor X finally comes out of his catatonic state (um, spoilers?), but not before we learn about how he met Magneto and an emotionally scarred woman name Gabrielle. Chuck abuses his role as her therapist to make out with her. We also talk about Nazis (we're against that) and we learn about Inessa's favorite sandwich.

Issue 160: In just a few seconds, everything changes

It's Missourri week at The X-Men Files, and this week we will "show me" Ororo in various states of undress, an old demon's junk, lots of bone, magic and child endangerment. This is a good one! The stakes are high, the changes are real and permanent and the time travel is done right.

Annual 6: One vampire is great! Two is ... meh.

Drac is back, and we prepare for another Drac attack, jack! This one left us feeling more lukewarm than the prior week. This is all the proof we require that vampire stories need some sort of undead sorbet in between courses. 

Issue 159: Public domain enemy #1!

This is it! The X-Men encounter a deadly foe without the encumbrance of intellectual property law! We discuss the appeal of vampire stories and draw no conclusions and somehow we don't name check Buffy at all. We conclude with a few words about Chadwick Boseman, a hero in every sense of the word who deserves better than our impromptu tribute. Mr. Boseman, we were shocked that you left us so soon. The Earth lost one of its greatest champions. God rest you well.