eXaMENation

Fallen Angels #2, X-Force #2, New Mutants #2, X-Men #3, Marauders #3, Excalibur #3  This week the guys discuss...SIX ISSUES OF X-MEN, as well as who’s excited about the new Black Widow movie and what we’re thankful for this year in the world of Marvel.  Who ARE these characters butterflies being groomed by Psylocke?  What threat has control of Domino?  Is Sunspot the next featured mutant?  How do you feel about senior citizen women being the newest X-Men super villain?  Will the politics of the Hellfire Trading Company be what tears the island of Krakoa apart?  What’s the better part of Excalibur, Apocalypse or Captain Britain?

Fantasy Score Update:

With six issues, one for each Dawn of X book there has been a lot of points racking up.  Q’s classic team appeared in a lot of comics, while Dane’s strategy of doubling down Psylocke/Betsy Braddock paid dividends, and Kelsey’s surprise first round pick of Krakoa continues to pay off.

Dane - 26

Kelsey - 19

Quintin - 18

New X-Men Cover Silhouettes: https://img.purch.com/h/1400/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5uZXdzYXJhbWEuY29tL2ltYWdlcy9pLzAwMC8yNzAvNDQ1L29yaWdpbmFsL0NsYXNzaWZpZWRYLmpwZz8xNTc1MzIyMjY4

Excalibur #2 & Marauders #2  This week the guys discuss...who is excited for the new Spider-Woman, what other heroes deserve their own number one, and what exactly CAN Scarlet Witch do.  When will Rogue wake up?  What is Apocalypse up to?  What is Shogoin’ on?  Where does Storm fit in with the Marauders?  Who is going to fill in the rest of the Hellfire Trading Company? Will this weeks 20 question be over quick, or will Kelsey and Dane slow play it and drag on?

Fantasy Score Update:

Q - 5

Dane - 15

Kelsey - 8

X-Men #2 & Fallen Angels #1  This week the guys discuss...the anniversary of Stan Lee’s death (and who is playing him in the inevitable biopic), what everyone is watching in their time off, especially with the new Disney plus, and Martin Scorsese’s cinema comments (STILL!  How is this still a thing!?).  Is X-Men’s family dynamic too light-hearted or just the right amount?  What exactly is Apocalypse up to?  Is Fallen Angels revenge dynamic too dark or just the right amount?  Who is Psylocke now?  Can Kelsey and Dane continue their hot as the sun win streak in 20 questions?

X-Force #1 & New Mutants #1  This week the guys discuss...bombs on set, the only thing the guys learned from high school science was how to make hulk babies, how many Spider-Men are enough Spider-Men, and an oddly in depth analysis of costumes (what a surprise, right Ben?) of the Giant Size X-Men #1 cover art.  Did YOU know what Black Tom Cassidy’s power is (be honest!)?  How did Hickman and the X-Team make the logistics and infrastructure of Krakoa so cool?  How much fun is it seeing the New Mutants back together?  But this episode of the podcast is GIANT sized as well, fitting twice the amount of comics into one episode.  Finally, the guys introduce a new on-going game in the first ever X-Men Fantasy Draft!  Which team will win Dawn of X?

Giant Size X-Men #1 Cover Art: https://i.redd.it/xki1jcsa9pu31.png

Marauders #1  This week the guys discuss...sneaky out on their families late at night to watch Marvel movies, Marvel TV, and where to get the best BBQ ribs.  Want to know how that is relevant to an X-Men podcast?  Well, you know where the listen button is located.  How did Kitty break her nose and how does it play into the future of the Marauders?  Which Pyro is that on the cover, and do we like him on the Marauders?  What can you get on the island (hint: it isn’t potato chips)?  Which is more savage, phasing a gun into someone’s leg or shooting them with ‘non-lethal’ rounds?  After a fun new game, the group gets back to the classic 20 questions.  Also, if you make it all the way to the end, Kelsey wanted to make sure you saw this: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/97/Crimson_Dynamo_Armor_MK_I.jpg

X-Men #1  This week the guys discuss...Feige taking the reins at Marvel, what hooks you into a new comic, and the lightheartedness of a new era of X-Men.  This is it, the Dawn of X.  Are there incoming political consequences to the X-Men running into other countries and destroying bases?  Do we like the comic relief of the Summers family home?  How far up the ranks of classic X-Men villains can Orchis rise?  And...what’s going on with one of the X-Men’s oldest love triangles?  Also, Dane and Kelsey do battle in a classic childhood battle of which hero has better stats in a new game called 'Krakoa Card Battles.'  It’s a jumbo issue, so we gave you a jumbo episode!

Powers of X #6.  This week the guys discuss...if the MCU is cinema, Hungarian police dramas that think the X-Men animated series stole their theme song, and what they thought of HOXPOX.  With Hickman's run ending it is a time to reflect what exactly this grand scheme accomplished and where the X-Men go from here.  We couldn't have had more fun bringing this podcast dream to life and we really appreciate all of you that have supported us and joined us for the ride.  We hope you'll stick around as we continue our venture into the Dawn of X.

Hungarian Police Drama Theme Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wc5BsnnTEU&t=

Upcoming Dawn of X Titles - https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-19-dawn-of-x-titles-creative-teams-revealed/

House of X #6.  This week the guys discuss...how Tom Holland danced Marvel and Sony back together, what not to wear X-Men edition, and what this issues means for the X-Men moving into Dawn of X.  Is this who the X-Men are now?  Do we like that?  Can you even call Xavier a good guy anymore?  The dream is dead, but is this a new dream?  When will the X-Men wake up?  Are they even asleep?  And Dane and Kelsey aren't even concerned with the spoiler, they crushed the danger room this week!

Tom Holland Dancing Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgxEnEzJhBA

Yul Brynner Reference: https://static.playbill.com/dims4/default/351725b/2147483647/resize/x450/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplaybill-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2d%2Fa8%2Fe812020c4f2a932b4c92c903e2d6%2FYul-Brynner.jpg

Powers of X #5.  This week the guys discuss the most important MCU film, their fan created five-man X-Men teams and what they thought about this week’s issue.  Where is this House/Powers story going?  Maybe more importantly, when is it going?  Do we really know who the good guys and bad guys are?  What is this new mutant council (MAJOR SPOILERS, even if you’ve read the comic from 43:17 to 45:11)?  Finally, Dane and Kelsey take the 20 questions down to the tutti frutti wire.  Stay tuned to see if they can pull it out!

Forbes Article on most important MCU Film: https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2019/09/24/captain-america-chris-evans-avengers-marvel-rambo-sylvester-stallone-logan-hugh-jackman-jack-ryan-dark-knight-solo-star-wars-star-trek-marvel-disney-paramount-box-office/?fbclid=IwAR0-cgN4plCbee_F3OIzy22GYXr9p7RhmlBHuRm-Aca_T3RPfV_9hE5JCH0#552846c97878

Dane’s Marvel Team-Up Write-Up that he spent way too long on: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C-Nc4kD1v3_BReRWKzFzYnkmv0dWGqUtZ_mnbS2fLho/edit?usp=sharing