Finally, an Avengers team who investigates wrongful deaths and actually, you know, avenges people. Plus, legendary Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano illustrates the western superheroes he loves for the first time, and a brief listener Q&A! Will comics: Daredevil by Saladin Ahmed vol 1: Hell Breaks Loose, Doctor Strange by Jed MacKay vol 2: The War-Ho…

Lots of Moon Knight this week, and then Will and Steve join forces to catch up on the fan-favorite reality hopping series from the 00's, Exiles! And finally, a tragic turn in a silly comic where characters are constantly dying. Will comics: Spine-Tingling Spider-Man, Moon Knight: City of the Dead, Moon Knight vol 5: The Last Days of Moon Knight, Ex…

Al Ewing might be the writer at Marvel with the most Will-friendly storytelling interests and sensibilities. So, with two of his books up this week, we decided to take some time and go deep on him as a creator. Plus, what makes Nightcrawler tick, and who is Amazing Spider-Man for in the 21st century? Will read: Deadpool: Badder Blood, Amazing Spide…

X-Corps! Goblins of all colors! Magical beanie friends! But first... what makes escape rooms so great? Will read Scarlet Witch by Steve Orlando vol 2: Magnum Opus, Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest, Red Goblin vol 2: Nature/Nurture, Blade vol 1: Mother of Evil, and Strange Academy: The Deadly Field Trip. Steve read Uncanny X-Men vol 1 #399-407 and Annua…

Anyone Comics and Everyone Comics owner Dimitrios Fragiskatos returns for the next installment of regularly scheduled Doom Patrol and New X-Men by Grant Morrison. But first, we do our long-awaited draft of the comic book character origin series we most want to see. Reading Doom Patrol vol 2 #27-34 and New X-Men #118-126.…

The Hellfire Gala traditionally has been the big party for mutantkind and the nation of Krakoa to show off their power and innovations for the world. This year, Orchis takes over the agenda. We read X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023, Free Comic Book Day 2023: Avengers/X-Men, X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #100-105, and Invincible Iron Man vol 5 #8-9.…

2001's Origin told the definitive story of Wolverine's childhood, growing up as sickly rich boy James Howlett. But... were we better off without it? Will reads Spider-Man by Tom Taylor, Clobberin' Time, Fantastic Four by Ryan North vol 2: Four Stories About Hope, Avengers: Beyond, Avengers by Jed Mackay vol 1: The Impossible City. Steve reads Origi…

In a huge week of reading, Will starts a brand new run on the Incredible Hulk that's a return to its roots, meditating on rage and self-sabotage, and we're both super in for it. Will read: Ghost Rider vol 3: Dragged Out of Hell, Ghost Rider/Wolverine: Weapons of Vengeance, Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider - Blood and Vengeance, Black Panther by Eve L. Ewin…

It's Fall in Krakoa, and double entendres abound. See, because it means Autumn, and it also means descent. Okay, but do you get it, though? Covering X-Men vol 6 #22-24, Before the Fall: Mutant First Strike #1, Before the Fall: Four Sinisters #1, and Immortal X-Men #12-13.By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

Krakoa is about to fall, and the story starts out with the return of Apocalypse, who's a good guy now, and his horsemen. I mean kids. And his wife, who's not wearing a hat anymore, but she's carrying a staff, which is almost as bad. Listen, it's great — just listen, alright? Covering Immortal X-Men #11, Before the Fall: Sons of X #1, X-Men Red vol …

Crossover time! Nathaniel Essex, aka Mr. Sinister, aka the undisputed #1 pick in the comedic villain draft, sure did sin a lot. There's a lot to like here and a lot that... didn't quite land. Which makes the whole thing even more fascinating to pick apart, so let's go! Covering Sins of Sinister #1, Immoral X-Men #1-3, Storm & The Brotherhood of Mut…

We go deep today on Spider-Man's deep, deep supporting cast, including some regrettable romances. Then, Steve reads an old X-Men series with the tagline, "Revolution, not evolution." Sounds like it should be exactly up his ally. Isn't. Will comics: Amazing Spider-Man by Zeb Wells vol 7: Armed and Dangerous, Spider-Man vol 2: Who Is Spider-Boy?, Sil…

Chip Zdarsky's Daredevil saga reaches its thrilling end and the horrifying Weapon X program returns! Will comics: Daredevil & Elektra by Chip Zdarsky vol 3: The Red Fist Saga Part 3, Warlock: Rebirth, Edge of Spider-Verse, and Guardians of the Galaxy vol 1: Grootfall. Steve comics: Wolverine vol 2 #162-169 and Annual 2001, Deadpool vol 3 #54-60.…

Finally, answers about Spider-Man's disastrous time gap! But first, bananas. Will reads Amazing Spider-Man by Wells and Romita Jr. vol 6: Dead Language Part 2, Hallows' Eve, She-Hulk by Rainbow Rowell vol 3: Girl Can't Help It, Captain America: Cold War Aftermath, and Hellcat: Devil on My Shoulder. Steve finishes his volume of X-Force: New Beginnin…

KAY EYE ESS ESS EYE EN GEE! Another excellent week for comics as Will reads Carnage Reigns, Thor by Donny Cates vol 6: Blood of the Fathers, Doctor Strange by Jed MacKay vol 1: The Life of Doctor Strange, and Extreme Venomverse. Steve reads two very different intersections of mutants and celebrity culture with Uncanny X-Men: Poptopia (#394-398) and…

Ready for the most 2001 comic title of all time? Chris Claremont goes back to the well for X-Treme X-Men! As with all things Chris, we invited back The Claremont Run, aka Dr. J Andrew Deman, to help us figure out what the heck is going on here — both in the original 2001 volume (issues #1-9) and the 2023 revival miniseries. Then, Will adds in Spide…

In 1989, Grant Morrison took over Doom Patrol with a mission: to break the genre of superhero team books out of the ironclad grasp established by Chris Claremont's Uncanny X-Men. 12 years later, he took over those same X-Men. We invited our bud Dimitrios Fragiskatos — owner of Anyone Comics and Everyone Comics in NYC — back to the show to talk abou…

The Krakoa era is churning along to its inevitable conclusion — here's the last episode of the mini-era, Destiny of X! Also, Steve got a new cat! Books covered: Wolverine vol 7 #30-32, X-Force vol 6 #39, Immortal X-Men #9-10, X-Men Red vol 2 #10, Legion of X #8-10, Deadpool vol 9 #6-9, and Rogue and Gambit vol 2 #4-5.…

One is actually a fox. Will read Hulk: Joe Fixit, Captain America: Cold War, Tiger Division, Monica Rambeau: Photon, and Moon Knight Vol 4: Road to Ruin. Steve read... nothing!By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

It's the end of the long '90s for Steve, as his reading finally closes out the 3rd era of X-Men comics, while Will tackles a gigantic backlog from winter break. Also, one of those rare graphic novels that makes you remember why you love comics! Will comics: Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis, Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Cody Ziglar vol 1: Trial by Spid…

Working through some side-stories from Destiny of X as we got to record together in person! Covering X-Terminators vol 2 #4-5, Marauders vol 2 #11-12, New Mutants: Lethal Legion, Bishop: War College, and Betsy Braddock: Captain Britain.By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

Oh Emma. Emma, Emma, Emma... Will books: Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Menace on Wheels, Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty vol 2: The Invader, Amazing Spider-Man by Zeb Wells vol 5: Dead Language Part 1, and Avengers Assemble (2023). Steve books: X-Men: The Hidden Years #14-22, Blink, and Excalibur: Sword of Power.…

Ryan North is on Fantastic Four and Steve is excited! Except he didn't read it. In fact, he didn't read anything. Will took up the slack though, with Fantastic Four, Daredevil and Elektra, Hulk, and Strange Academy Finals.By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

Will and Steve made a bet, and Will won. Will's comics: Captain America - Symbol of Truth, Spider-man Lost Hunt, Wasp, Unforgiven, Thor. Steve's comics: Wolverine, Cable vol 2 #88-95, Gambit & Bishop: Sons of the Atom Alpha & #1-6.By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

Long before Moira MacTaggert made dying cool in House of X, she died in the comics — OH! but I guess it was fake. Anyway, let's read that story. Will comics: Planet Hulk, Murderworld, Secret Invasion, Spider-Man. Steve comics: Dream's End (Uncanny X-Men #388, Cable vol 2 #87, Bishop: The Last X-Man #16, X-Men vol 2 #108), X-Men Unlimited vol 1 #30,…

Will's comics: Savage Avengers Vol 2, She-Hulk Vol 2, Punisher War Journal, Black Panther Vol 3. Steve's comics: X-Force vol 1 #110-115, X-Man #71-75, Generation X vol 1 #71-75By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

We drafted our favorite comedic villains, a gauntlet Steve laid down in last week's episode. And.... there was a clear winner. But THEN! We talked about comic books. Finishing off Dark Web with Dark Web - Ms Marvel, Mary Jane/Black Cat, and Gold Goblin, then Will also covered Deadly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Carnage Vol 2, while Steve read X-Men …

Spider-Man! X-Men! Lots of dang clones! For some reason we got a crossover to the 1989 crossover Inferno? Let's jump right in to Dark Web. Covering DARK WEB #1, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2022) #15-18, VENOM (2021) #14-15, DARK WEB: X-MEN #1-3, and DARK WEB FINALE #1.By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

The Krakoa-era X-Men return with stories about prison privatization and cool-ass cosmic drama. Covering X-Men vol 6 #19-21, Sabretooth and the Exiles #1-5, Wolverine vol 7 #29, Legion of X #7-8, Immortal X-Men #8, X-Men Red vol 2 #9.By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

Once upon a time somebody put a whole other Earth out there in corresponding orbit to ours and then everyone left but it just kinda stayed out there. Will read Midnight Suns, All Out Avengers, Namor the Sub Mariner, and Strange Vol 2. Steve finished off the parts of Maximum Security left over from last episode, then read the end of Gambit (#20-25) …

I (Steve) really really apologize for the pun. It was covid's fault. Covid makes me make horrible puns. I wouldn't say such things otherwise. Please know this about me. Will read Moon Knight: Black White and Blood, Ghost Rider Vol 2, Wakanda, Shang Chi and the Ten Rings, and Damage Control. Steve read most of the Maximum Security crossover, except …

In loving memory of Bart, perfect angel baby sweetie kitty boy, secret ruler of the world. Comics read: Wolverine vol 7 #26-28, X-Men Red vol 2 #8, X-Force vol 6 #34-38, Rogue & Gambit vol 2 #1-3, Deadpool vol 9 #1-5.By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

We go back to Krakoa for a few more episodes to get ready for yet another incoming crossover, Dark Web! And man, we really keep getting the good stuff, including X-Terminators — a raunchy girl-comedy like Bridesmaids starring some X-Men characters that Steve adored and Will... was indifferent toward. Covering Sabretooth vol 4 #4-5, X-Men vol 6 #15-…

It's half-hype day as Will recorded a solo episode while Steve was off on vacation! Covering Moon Knight vol 3: Halfway to Sanity, The Variants (a Jessica Jones story by Gail Simone!), and Thunderbolts: Back on Target.By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

You know what Disney+ show would be super cheap to make and fun as hell? Marvel Snapshots. On Will's docket we've got that, plus Defenders: Beyond. On Steve's side, well... at least we'll never have to read Mutant X ever again. This episode covers the end of that series (#27-32 and Annual 2001), X-Men: Black Sun, and X-Men: Magik.…

I mean, we talked about a lot of things in this episode but the important one to me is Spider-Punk. And the Ta$kma$ter / Misfits crossover parody I never knew I needed. Will read Avengers by Jason Aaron vol 11: History's Mightiest Heroes, Amazing Spider-Man by Wells & Romita Jr. vol 3: Hobgoblin, Spider-Punk: Battle of the Banned, Gambit: Thick as …

The Progenitor has judged our friends Matthew and Paul from Superhero Ethics, and found them worthy! We brought these wonderful fellows on to talk about the ethical quandaries raised in this storyline — punishment, collective responsibility, theology, and more!By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

Judgment Day continues! In this episode we tackle the side stories of the crossover, where the interesting gristle of the story — outside the main plot beats — often gets told. And we couldn't go very far without continuing our love fest for the crossover's breakout character, Syne the Memotaur. Covering A.X.E.: Judgment Day Companion (2023).…

Crossover time! The Krakoa-era X-Men, Kieron Gillen-penned Eternals, and dead Celestial residing Avengers cross paths in a heck of a book. What seemed like a setup for at first a simple brawl, and then a straightforward superhero triumph, twists and morphs into a metaphor for collective moral responsibility and climate change? Whatever this book is…

Destiny of X continues and we are here for it. Here for Storm owning the room. Here for Illyana growing up. Here for random callbacks to Daredevil: Born Again. And here for the new Hellfire Gala, even if it didn't quite live up to the first one. Covering X-Men Red vol 2 #4, Wolverine vol 7 #23, X-Force vol 6 #29, New Mutants vol 4 #27-28, Marauders…

Are we hyped? WE'RE SO HYPED! Covering Giant Size X-Men: Thunderbird, X-Men vol 6 #11, X-Force vol 6 #28, Marauders vol 2 #3, Knights of X #2-3, Wolverine vol 7 #21-22, Immortal X-Men #3, Legion of X #2, New Mutants vol 4 #26, and X-Men Red vol 2 #3By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

Holy freaking cow! Krakoa enters its third age with the revival of the long-dead future seer, Destiny, beginning the aptly named Destiny of X. We wanted to cover Destiny of X the same way we'd read previous Krakoa-era stories, with collected editions collating all the different books. Buuuut those haven't been printed, or even solicited... in Engli…

We're back, again! Will reads Marvel Knights: Make the World Go Away, Daredevil & Elektra by Chip Zdarsky vol 1: The Red Fist Saga Part One, and Avengers Forever vol 2: The Pillars. Steve goes after the awkwardly named non-event "Counter-X: Shockwave" (Generation X vol 1 #67-70, X-Man #67-70, and X-Force vol 1 #106-109…

X Lives of Wolverine/X Deaths of Wolverine, the crowning event that transitions Krakoa from the Trials era to the Destiny era is... kind of a stinker? Whatever, let's hang out and talk comics!By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

Holy crap, we've done a hundred of these! And we celebrate with the end of Trials of X, vols 11 and 12, highlighted by a phenomenal new Sabretooth series!By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

We're back, with more Krakoa! Abigail Brand's machinations are starting to unfold in S.W.O.R.D., and an all-time great X-Book comes to a close with the finale of Zeb Wells's Hellions.By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

Superhero comics subject their characters to a lot of punishment and trauma as a proxy for character growth, but rarely are they allowed to heal as gracefully as in the Shadow King arc on New Mutants by Vita Ayala and Rod Reis — which makes up the centerpiece of our podcast covering Trials of X vols 7 and 8. Also, Wolverine goes surfing!…

I thought we were done with Gnomon over a year ago. So why did Neith show up in this week's comics? Did she... waterfall into the Marvel multiverse? This week Will had a rollercoaster reading Edge of Spider-Verse, most of Avengers by Jason Aaron vol 11: History's Mightiest Heroes, a tiny bit of Amazing Spider-Man by Zeb Wells vol 3, Iron-Man vol 4:…

Jonathan Hickman says his farewell to the Krakoa X-Men and it's, well... fire. Surely we kept our cool about this, right? Like we didn't hype ourselves too hard and end up having to do an entire episode about one miniseries... right???By Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen

Krakoa is blowing our minds left and right! Witness the birth of the new mutant religion in X-Men: The Onslaught Revelation, and the rest of Trials of X vols 5 and 6. We meant to include Inferno in this episode too, but we got a little too hype. As we are wont to do, I suppose. So that'll have to wait for next episode.…