The Comic Source Podcast

Jace and Manny talk about some lesser known characters they want to see headline their own title. Most have never had a their own title before. Others have had a title but not for many years or only ever had a one-shot. Be sure to reach out to us on social media if there are any characters you think we missed.

Jace takes a look at Next Gen #3. Armor finally gets a chance to confront Anole about his role in the resistance, but Pixie chooses a terrible time to intervene which results in Anole needing to go on the run. Meanwhile Rockslide is beginning to suspect everything is not as it seems. When he confides in Glob about his suspicions, Glob decides it's time to let Rockslide know the truth. Does this mean that the resistance is about to gain several new members? It certainly looks possible. Next Gen continues to be the best of the Age of X-Man titles by the strength of it's characterizations and the interactions between these teammates.

Jace takes a look at Marvelous X-Men #3, as we get our first insights into the thoughts of X-Man. His reasoning for altering the world the way he was seemed flawed. To take it one step farther, his reasons for prioritizing the individual above all else speak to his stunted social development as a child having grown up in the Age of Apocalypse. How ironic that the biggest threat to his control over the new reality he has created is once again Apocalypse, this time going by his given name of En Sabuh Nur. Storm and Magneto also have conflict to deal with and despite their lack of memory, it feel like the old antagonism between Magneto & the X-Men is influencing these two.

Jace dives deep in X-Tremists #2 as Moneta's true colors begin to show. We also so the possibility of a budding romance between two members of the team. A serious breach of the very intimacy laws they are charged with enforcing. Not only that but the treatment of their prisoner raises serious questions in the mind of Jubilee about the whole basis of their goals and the very rules of the world she lives on. As if that wasn't enough we also see the team deliberately set up a "disaster" so the X-Men can swoop in and save the day and earn their hero status for the masses.

Jace and Manny bring you some spoiler-free thought on our last New Comic Book Day before Christmas. They both choose Dark Nights Death Metal: The Secret Origin #1 as their book of the week. Superb job by a whole host of creators to bring us a Superboy Prime story filled with everything that makes the DCU great. Another highlight for Manny is Ice Cream Man #22 which continues to impress. Jace was also a big fan of Miles to Go from AfterShock, a well executed comic you want to be sure not to miss. We also learn the identity of the new Swamp Thing in this week's Justice League Dark, which along with the Black Adam issue both tie into the Endless Winter event. The finale of that story will be out next week. Speaking of finales we have the final issue of Brian Michael Bendis on Action Comics, the final issue of Mariko Tamaki on Wonder Woman, the Final issue of Red Hood and Peter J. Tomasi and Brad walker finish up their excellent run on Detective Comics. Also if you want to take final issues, Christopher Cantwell figuratively takes Doom to Bedford Falls in the final issue of the Doctor Doom series a perfect ending for that series though we were sad to see it go. All this plus Jace gives a run down on some other titles you might want to be on the look out for.

Jace chats with creator Austin Janowsky about his current Kickstarter campaign Stanley the Snowman. It's all about togetherness and the joy of the holiday season with the commercial and materialistic aspects of the holidays left behind. Something we can all do a better job of keeping in mind. Staring a young female character inspired by Austin's own three daughters, who are now grown, it's got all the makings of a holiday classic. Go check out the campaign for this wonderful ALL-AGES project to get a glimpse at the gorgeous artwork and be sure you don't miss out.

Jace dives deep into Prisoner X #2 as Bishop struggles to find answer in one of the most secure prisons in the Age of X-Man world. It isn't enough that he is fighting to survive against the system that imprisoned him there, he also is responsible for the incarceration of a great many of the prisoners he is now trapped alongside. We see him search for answers as to who left him the mysterious note, but unfortunately the powers that be aren't very fond of Bishops looking for answers. Also he is questioning what is real as he continues to have memories of things that never happened, while supposedly significant events in his live are missing. Bishop has been patient in his search for the truth so far, but we get the sense that is about to change.

Jace takes a look at Apocalypse and the X-Tracts #2. While the followers of En Sabah Nur seem to be buying his act, Jace sure isn't. He speculates the Apocalypse still has the desire for power at hsi core. All the talk of love and community is just that, talk. Once he has found a way for all mutants to throw off the influence of X-Man he will be there to pick up the pieces and enslave the population all over again, this time in service to him.

Jace breaks down Amazing Nightcrawler #2. What are the responsibilities that Nightcrawler has to all the mutants who look up to him as the world's biggest movie star? How does he balance that with the feelings he is fighting that are outlawed in the Age of X-Man world? For that matter why is Nightcrawler the perfect mutant to use in this story about forbidden love, duty and love?

Jace continues to explore the world of the Age of X-Man with Next Gen #2. Glob finally has someone to confide in with his knowledge that the world is not as it should be. Can Armor's leadership help to awaken everyone at the Summers Institute about the true fascist nature of the world? Meanwhile Anole seems predisposed to always rebel and his friends worry that this behavior is leading him down the path of being taken away to never be seen again. The young X-Men are shouldering a lot of responsibility with their knowledge, will they be able to handle it?