David is still on vacation. Please enjoy this reasonable gentleman and his fancy accoutrements!

In which the 616 was inside Age of X all along; everyone is very sassy; an attempt at political commentary falls very flat; Wolfsbane kills a straw man; everything is better with Larry Stroman; the Rule of Cool is not transitive; X-Factor Quicksilver is the best Quicksilver; and some allegories are subtler than others.

X-PLAINED:

How to hide a universe

Bees

"War and Pieces"

X-Factor #76-78

The Incredible Hulk #390-392

Open-ended vs. trade pacing

Rick Jones, professional tag-along

Trans-Sabal

The Eisenhower Doctrine

The Reagan Doctrine

The ethics of cannibalism

Fictional pigeon aficionados

As story that isn't about abortion but is definitely about abortion

X-Factor vs. due process

A very hazardous game of tug-of-war

Gratuitous X-planation

An unnecessary but well-intended rescue attempt

The death of Vic Chalker

Irresponsible parenting

The second generation of mutants

NEXT EPISODE: Tom Taylor talks X-Men Red and All-New Wolverine!

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