eXaMENation

This is the one where we recap Wolverine #1, Marauders #8, and New Mutants #7.  Plus we play the new dice game featured in New Mutants #7 for the Danger Room Segment.  Join in and listen up for the final episode before season 3.

Season 2: Episode 16: Fetch Quest (Progress: 0/6 Warwolves Heads)

Excalibur #7, X-Force #7, X-Men #6  This week the guys discuss...Marauders #11 cover seems to indicate Kate Pryde is dead.  But it’s comics so, how long will it really last?  And what does DEATH death really mean in a story with ready-made resurrection?  We’ve all got our first look at the X-Factor costumes and logo (https://terrigen-cdn-dev.marvel.com/content/prod/1x/x-factor-costumes.jpg).  What do you think?

Excalibur is on the hunt, but what’s a Warwolf?  Why does --|A|-- need them again?  And why does Avenger Arena’s Cullen Bloodstone have them?  Krakoa is a paradise island, but certain mutants have to may the emotional toll for that paradise, Domino and Colossus among them.  Plus, who is Chronicler and what do these new revelations mean for Domino and the idea of identity in resurrection?  X-Men #6 was worth the wait.  The issue reveals some of the past to set up for the future.  Who is the bigger danger for the X-Men, Orchis or Mystique?

Fantasy Score Finale:

All the Dawn of X #6’s have come and gone which means our first edition of Fantasy X-Men.  Spoilers, Dane claimed the crown, but he also took the opportunity to compile some awards and points of interest to discuss to wrap up the episode.

Dane - 67

Kelsey - 57

Q - 56

Marauders #7 and X-Men + Fantastic Four #1  This week the guys discuss...Dr. Strange has scoured the Multiverse of Madness for his new director and found him in Sam Rami plus the Disney+ MCU schedule and how the Young Avengers are coming.  Callisto joins Emma and things get political on Krakoa while the death of Kate gets investigated.  Franklin Richards becomes the chess piece he’s been teased as from the beginning of House of X.  But can good story, character, and art overcome inconsistencies and how the factor into Dawn of X?  Finally, in celebration of the Superbowl, Kelsey and Dane draft their own team of mutants to compete against each in the first ever Homosuperior Bowl!

Fantasy Score Update:

Dane has a sizable lead with one issue left.  But Quintin and Kelsey are neck and neck for second and X-Men is potentially Dane’s weakest of the six issues.

Dane - 66

Quintin - 55

Kelsey - 55

Marauders #6, Excalibur #6  This week the guys discuss...who are these newly teased Children of the Atom?  Does the future of X-Men in the MCU involve Patrick Stewart?  Do you HAVE to read all of Dawn of X to understand?  Hickman doesn’t think so.  Then the team argues over whether or not we read a death scene and how they felt about the semi-climactic boat battle of Marauders and what that aftermath means for our team.  Then, the Excalibur squad makes a final push to retake Otherworld.  While all agree it may have been a little rushed, a story got wrapped up and some interesting elements for the future got added.  With Marvel 20 questions will Dane and Kelsey shrink when the pressure is on, or grow to match the occasion?

Fantasy Score Update:

Kelsey ties things up with Quintin while Dane pulls further ahead.  But with the end of Marauders and Excalibur, Dane has likely burnt his two biggest scorers (Kate and Betsy).  Will the remaining weeks be enough Quintin and Kelsey to catch up?  NOTE: Quintin is contesting the death of Kate, so those points are still up in the air.

Dane - 59

Quintin - 47

Kelsey - 47

They're here!  The award show you didn't know you wanted by now you have to have, THE EXAMYS!  The guys debate who should win which each award and then harass Quintin for his incorrect choices (the Quiet Counsel will be informed of this!).  Who will taken home the coveted Optic Visors?  Listen to find out.

The Awards Include:

Best Artist

Best Writer

Best Developed Character

Best Character

Best Moment

Best Title

Excalibur #5, Fallen Angels #5, X-Force #5, New Mutants #5 This week the guys discuss...Are we excited about the New Mutants trailer?  What other comic movies are we looking forward to in 2020?  Surprise, surprise, Apocalypse had less than altruistic goals, but you know...Rogue killed him, so there’s that.  Fallen Angels has some new recruits, but where is this going?  It’s a whole issue, but Wolverine only needed half to take care of the mercenaries we find out have been hired by the Man with the Peacock Tattoo.  Everyone is sky high (or, space high as it were) on the return of the original New Mutants team.  The guys rank all 6 X books so far in Dawn of X.  20 questions is anything but a lock as Dane and Kelsey go to war.

Fantasy Score Update:

Krakoa goes quiet and costs Kelsey big, while Q’s tried and true X-Men team pulled himself into second.

Dane - 52

Quintin - 47

Kelsey - 42

X-Men #4, Marauders #5  This week the guys discuss...Is ‘Incoming’ the Marvel toy catalog?  What new character are we going to see in the new Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness?  What Marvel gifts were under our tree this year?  The Autumn Council and their Captains show up to the economic summit looking good in some fine threads.  But do these summit speeches really say the mutant agenda?  How much X-Men history and continuity can Hickman ignore?  Or is he?  The Marauders deal with some internal conflict created by Sebastian 'Sabotage’ Shaw.  How would an average human feel about the Marauders showing up and taking kids off to party island?  What exactly is the relationship between Kate and Emma?  Things briefly get out of Hand in the return of 20 questions.

Fantasy Score Update:

The pace slows down with 2 books, but the points continue to tighten as we close in on our unofficial issue six deadline.

Dane - 44

Kelsey - 42

Quintin - 39

Excalibur #4, Fallen Angels #4, X-Force #4, New Mutants #4, Marauders #4  This week the guys discuss...where they are on Dawn of X, what makes an event comic, what new X-comics are coming out, and some dream X-Men video games!  How many different storylines can Excalibur hold?  Is the main character of Fallen Angels...Apoth?  Will X-Force have the largest impact on the X-Men world as a whole of all the books?  What is the take away from this NEW New Mutants story?  Marauders gets back to what makes it great (hint: It’s kickass, sassy Kate Pryde).

Fantasy Score Update:

5 books in one week means big points.  We had several power plus scores, a big shake up and even the first scoring for a death!  Everyone scored big this week and things are staying tight!

Dane - 39

Kelsey - 35

Quintin - 34

X-Force #3, New Mutants #3, Fallen Angels #3  This week the guys discuss...a little HoXPoX nostalgia, superhero fatigue, the new Hellions cover reveal, and X-Men Pokemon!  How high can X-Force climb and is this the most natural of the new X books?  New Mutants becomes “New Mutants.”  Are these two separate books under one title?  How long will they bounce back and forth and what other young X-Men will we get in the future?  Is Apoth enough to drive Fallen Angels forward?  Or is floating, legless, robot Skeletor the real hero?  The Danger Room wraps things up with a new competition pitting Dane and Kelsey against each other pitching a new Dawn of X comic.

Fantasy Score Update:

This week wrapped up the Dawn of X 3 books.  Q’s classic team strikes again, Kelsey holds stead and the two reach a tie with each other and BOTH close the gap on Dane after a week in which he only scored off Psylocke.

Dane - 28

Kelsey - 24

Quintin - 24