X Is For Comics: An X-Men Podcast

2019-2020 changed the X-Men forever, and as such, the X-Pack wanted to celebrate. How? By awarding the best of the X-Men! We polled fans and got 100s of votes, plus our own internal numbers and came up with a what's what of the X-Men to celebrate the REIGN OF X! From most outstanding character in a title to best roster, the team cheers on their favorite characters -- plus the titles! Whether it was an on-going, a mini, part of the original launch or the second wave, the team gives love to every X-Title out there! Featuring a huge roster, come check out the best of the X-Year as voted on by the X-Pack & as voted on by X-Twitter, via public polling!

It's the end of 2020, but the Reign of X is just speeding up! Excalibur takes who is left of the team -- everyone but Apocalypse & Betsy -- and then some (MEGGAN!) as they attempt to find their way and those they've lost. Nico, Evelyn, Dante, Kyle, & Arturo examine the relationships, the challenges, and the evolution of the title from volume one to number one of this volume! Then, Rod & Juan are back to keep the team up to date on King In Black -- and this time, they're bringing the backstory with them. Join the X-Pack for the final episode of the year, as the team discuss these titles, fan response, and the upcoming Platinum Dazzler Awards, on an all new X Is For Podcast!

Change is here -- and old is new and new is old as Vita Ayala & Rod Reis take over New Mutants. The X-Pack react in traditional Xi4P style -- with Josh, Nathan, Rod, Raven, & Arturo talking about New Mutants, the past it conjures up, and the future challenges it presents the Krakoan nation! Then, return to the Savage Avengers -- the team who covered vol 1 are back as Nico, Jonah, Raven, & Nathan dive into the second volume, as the cast changeover sees Conan joined by Dr. Strange, Dr. Doom, Black Widow, Hellstorm, & Punisher in his continued quest to defeat Kulan Gath. Last up, Matty & Kyle join Nico & Jonah to talk about the new found freedom of a world without a set cast roster -- SWORD, New Mutants, & X-Men sport dozens of characters between them and The X-Pack is here for it. All this and more on an all new X Is For Podcast!

The X-Men are facing some dark, bloody times -- and The X-Pack is here for it! X-Force brings the X-Men up against two awful people -- Omega Red & Beast!? Robbie leads a team of Matty, Evelyn, & Nathan as they investigate how the title serves as a view into X-Force's past, Beast's future, and real-world allegories. Then, inspired by editing the a previous segment, Nico takes the reins on Wolverine: Black White & Blood 2, with a look back on issue one, to examine, with the help of Kyle & Jonah, how these 6 stories come together to paint a portrait of Logan for new and old fans. Then, SWORD has been such a massive story, everyone had to weigh in! Arturo & Rod make a demand for more diverse mutants, whether its aesthetics, or the need for more visibility for POC & characters with disabilities. Josh & Raven round out the crew, and together the teams help carry the banner into THE REIGN OF X!

One event ends and the next begins! The X-Pack continue their entry into The Reign Of X with the biggest #1 issue in months! SWORD kicks off a new age of X-Men space adventure and the team, as Evelyn would say, is here for it! From the returning classic characters to the introduction of The Six, X-Pack members Matty, Robbie, Kyle, & Evelyn examine the title's debut, representing different levels of knowledge and experience with the title! Then, in a special feature, regular host Rod is joined by special host, his fiance Juan, as the two breakdown King In Black so X-Fans eager for more mutants can figure out what the what is going on and what's happened to bring us here! Then, our newest feature: The State of X! Sometimes, an issue is so massive it's not enough to discuss the issue -- you need to think about how its going to change the State of X, and SWORD 1 was exactly that kind of issue! X-Pack members Nico, Jonah, & Nathan talk about the past, present, and future of X as the mutants head to space!

As the Reign Of X gets into gear, the X-Books begin to ramp up! Things kick off with Marauders -- where the creative team comes due on their promise set forth months ago when Kate Pryde met her end. But the title is back, and so is Kate -- leaving the Xi4P team with a LOT to talk about. Josh, Raven, Rod, & Arturo discuss the emotional complexities of balancing development, character narrative, and the strength of these amazing X-Women, while praising and recognizing it's coming from a writer outside of the experience. Then, Nico, Nathan, & Jonah turn their eyes to the penultimate issue of Juggernaut, examining Cain's history, D-Cel's recent journey, and how this anachronistic retro-styled title is giving hope to Juggernaut's future (even if this title seems as though it came out of nowhere). Lastly, Wolverine's new miniseries catches the attention of Evelyn, Matty, Kyle, & Robbie, as the team talks about the beauty of the art but wonder if there's truly room for more Logan stories. All this and way more on an all new X IS FOR PODCAST!

As the Reign Of X continues to build, the X-Men are EVERYWHERE! First up, the fallout of X Of Swords! Sinister's gambit has never been so...sinister and sassy?! After executing his own team during the recent crossover event, Mister Essex finds himself begging the Quiet Counsel to restore his precious Hellions --well, he wants /MOST/ of them back. And Rod, Raven, & Arturo have a lot to say about it -- from the dynamic transformation of Wild Child to the incredible touchback to Fallen Angels, the team breaks down why Hellions remains a must read for our team each month! Then, the X-Men's reach is increasing by the day, and there's nowhere more evident for that than Savage Avengers. Join Nico, Jonah, Raven, & Nathan as they pour over the first volume -- which true, only features Wolverine of the cavalcade of Marvel's merry mutants -- and the endless buckets of blood involved, and get themselves psyched for the future introduction of major X-chars like Magik & Juggernaut! And lastly, join pretty much everyone as they discuss their best reads of the week -- new and old! You'll hear classic Marvel modern DC, and Nico of course freaking out about Daredevil. 

The swords have been put away and now we begin THE REIGN OF X! As part of the XI4P's expanded coverage, seeking to cover every mutant possible, the team adjusts format and moves forward into this bold new dawn. First up -- X-FACTOR! Always emotional and thought-provoking, this title goes even deeper into the emotional psyche of our crew than normal, leading the room of Nico, Evelyn, Jonah, & Josh to open up about physically abusive relationships, violence against women, self-destructive behavior and more (note: trigger warning on those topics). Then, the team turns to The Union. Marvel's newest UK team. Nathan, Robbie, Kyle, & Matty talk about the title's origins in Empyre and new placement in King In Black, before discussing what they hope to see from the title and characters in the future! Then, catch XI4P's newest segment, where our crew recommends their best pics of the week - newly released or just new to them - as Rod praises Thor, Raven shows a lil more X-Factor love, and Arturo brings us to DC for The Dreaming! All this and more as This Is The Reign OF X BEGINS!

The battle is here! Destruction! The X Is For Podcast team takes a three prong look at the massive finale, from every angle. First up, take a look at how the characters evolved and the significance of the tarot with Rod, Raven, & Robbie. Then, turn to the new Captain Britain Corps and look back at the best moments of the run. Finally, Nico, Kyle, Jonah, and Nathan explore the far reaching implications of how Destruction changes the fate of Krakoa/Arakko/Okkara forever on the FINAL episode of THIS IS X OF SWORDS!

The final act is upon us! This Is X Of Swords finds itself in the midst of a war (and also some Power Pack?)! First up, in X-Men 15, the team discovers what the residents of Krakoa have been up to -- with Josh leading a discussion about the politics of Krakoan-living, X-Men-leading, and what it means to grow up (we're looking atchu Scott)! Next up, in Excalibur 15, we get the recipe for a love spell unlike any other -- and Nico can't seem to stop confusing Maximillion Pegasus with Saturnine (not quite) but Kyle, Nathan, and most notably Jonah can't stop laughing with/at him -- but also, they discuss the redefining of the Captain Britain lore as no longer about a singular male voice echoed through reality and what the new female perspective may mean. And lastly, Rod, Raven, & Robbie crack open the new Power Pack series -- initially each with some reservations, as they discuss the title, they come to realize the power the Pack has over them!