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 demanded Scott and Jean be reunited in 1986's X-Factor.

A talented and iron-willed pilot bearing an eerie resemblance to the late Jean, Maddie proves herself as a dynamic individual in her own right and becomes Cyclops's first wife, the mother of his son Nathan Christopher — only to be abandoned once Jean returns. Attacked by the Marauders, who steal her baby and leave her for dead, she becomes a loyal ally to Storm's team of X-Men, even sacrificing her life alongside them in Fall of the Mutants to become the Outback Era team's tech-savvy Girl Friday. Sadly, still wounded by Scott's betrayal, she proves susceptible to demonic influence and becomes the twisted Goblin Queen, avatar of Limbo, whose quest to reclaim her child sends all New York spiraling into a fiery Inferno.

After her triumphant return in the Krakoan era in Hellions by Zeb Wells and Stephen Segovia, Maddie is set to star in Dark X-Men by Steve Foxe and Jonas Scharf, part of the upcoming event Fall of X.

The CEREBRO character file on Madelyne Pryor begins at 2:28:58.

(Content Advisory: Maddie's story includes torture, attempted infanticide, self-harm, suicide, and weird vibes with an alternate universe nephew. This episode discusses storylines featuring racism, slavery, and sexual violence.)

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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 file on Nurse Annie begins at 50:03.

(Content Advisory: Annie's story includes domestic violence and an inadvisable nurse-patient romance. This episode also candidly discusses the Armenian genocide and the immediate aftermath of 9/11.)

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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, which technically isn't a Claremont story, but features some of his plot input and begins the sixteen-year run! This issue was written by Len Wein, drawn by Dave Cockrum, colored by Glynis Wein (née Oliver), and lettered by John Costanza.

If you like what you hear, please check out the rest of this series at for $5/month at patreon.com/cerebrocast! We're into the initial Phoenix Saga now.

I do feel the need to preemptively apologize to German listeners; I have been practicing my Nightcrawler voice a lot since this first recording and I am told it is much improved!!

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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 SPOILERS for the whole issue, so you probably want to read it first.

NOTE: Tini and I talk about attending a signing today at Arsenal Comics & Games in Ventura, California. Sadly this week's Marvel shipment to the shop got delayed, so the signing will be next Wednesday, March 1st. Come join us next week if you're in the area!

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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 over the years, the character became more prominent than ever before in the Krakoa era as the first mutant King of Avalon.

The CEREBRO character file on Monarch begins at 1:47:44.

(Content Advisory: Jamie's story includes human trafficking, sexual violence, slavery, classism, racism, ableism, torture, brainwashing, and involuntary body modification.)

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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, working in tandem with the heroes he fought for so many years.

The CEREBRO character file on the Black King begins at 1:37:33.

(Content Advisory: Sebastian's story includes domestic violence, sexual violence, extreme misogyny, classism, and brainwashing.)

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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 Gerry Duggan's X-Men.

The CEREBRO character file on Forge begins at 1:42:17.

(Content Advisory: Forge's story includes racism and severe mental illness.)

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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 disappearing.

The CEREBRO character file on Jubilee begins at 1:23:30.

(Content Advisory: Jubilee's story includes racism, torture, and brainwashing.)

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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 1:01:03.

(Content Advisory: Longshot's story includes slavery, brainwashing, and torture.)

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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 the Shadow King begins at 37:38.

(Content Advisory: Amahl's story includes racism, brainwashing, slavery, attempted suicide, and lots of other unpleasant things!)

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