Episode 55 – X-Men Origins

In this episode, Curt and Kevin conclude their trilogy of Marvel origins episodes with a look at the comic book beginnings of everyone's favorite mutants! Then, they gear up for the new season of FX's Legion with a look at the issue that inspired a key moment from the show! First, the comic that started it all: X-Men #1! Who are these mysterious teenagers with bizarre super-powers? Who is their stern, slightly scary taskmaster? And when the mysterious master of magnetism known as Magneto threatens a U.S. missile base, can our milquetoast mutants save the day? Next it's the book that launched the X-Men as we know them today: Giant-Size X-Men #1! When the X-Men are captured by a mysterious foe, Charles Xavier assembles a new squad to rescue them. This international mishmash of mutants—including Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler and Colossus—has some impressive powers and even cooler costumes. But when it comes to defeating Krakoa, The Island That Walks Like a Man, do they have any chance atoll? And last but not least, Charles Xavier recounts his own quasi-origin story in Uncanny X-Men #117, including a no-holds-barred psychic skirmish with the nefarious Shadow King … a mental melee dramatized (after a fashion) in Legion's first season! Do these uncanny tales have what it takes to graduate to the top of that class of peerless periodicals known as … The Comics Canon? Things Discussed in This Episode: Curt's got Legion fever Were the original X-Men a cult? Jean Gray's problematic welcome The disappointing truth about what the "X" stands for The colorful diversity of Giant Size X-Men #1 Aye, an' Banshee sure is Irish, me boyo! The trouble with Thunderbird Kevin questions Krakoa's mutant bona fides The Hollywood backlot version of Cairo Our Jessica Jones episode Curt breaks down the blackboard scene from Legion X-Men: Schism Wolverine and the X-Men Vol. 1 X-Men: Deadly Genesis Join us in two weeks as we make a left turn at Albuquerque to discuss a pair of stories that pair DC superheroes with Looney Tunes characters: The Coyote Gospel from Grant Morrison's Animal Man and 2017's Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1!   Until then, please rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!