Forum for Geeks

Hey everyone. So... here's the deal: I've started listening to UXC from the beginning and reading most of the issues talked about, mostly via my Marvel Digital Unlimited subscription. Why? Well, coincidentally UXC started around the last time I had any idea of what was going on in the X-Universe, as I stopped buying comics when I went back to school. I've been collecting again but I've avoided touching any x-books. Growing up, I was a huge X-men fan, but I'm not sure if they're for me anymore. I thought this might be a way to catch up and figure out if I want to continue to read the tales of Marvel's merry mutants.

I found the forums here and Mr. Sinister's thread with his recaps, including the mention that his thread containing his notes on the first 52 episodes, so I thought I'd add my notes as I listen to them in this thread. Let me know what you think and if you'd like me to follow through to where Mr. Sinister starts. Thanks.

Episode 1

- Brian declares he'll be a Claremont fan until the day he dies and wonders if he's the "only Cyclops fan in X-men history."
- Rob remarks that reading his first X-book in a decade Uncanny X-Men 475 was "confusing as hell," but feels it's a great time to get back into X-men comics.
- Both are positive about Brubaker's first issue.
- Brian ends up explaining Deadly Genesis and Rob likes the idea of Professor X being seen as less trustworthy.
- Civil War: X-Men #1 results in Brian explaining the 198 and House of M and revealing he's not a huge Grant Morrison fan.
- Rob asks "when did Beast start looking like a cat?" and says characters like Domino and Shatterstar are a big part of why he stopped reading comics.
- Rob requests a buzzer for every time the New Mutants are mentioned by Brian.
- Retro Review of Uncanny X-Men #1, Rob says the issue seemed like a toned down, two-dimension version of what we read today.
- Top Five is Favorite Mutants.
From 5 to 1:
Brian: Angel, Magik, Iceman, Kitty Pryde, Cypher
Rob: Sabretooth, Nightcrawler, Siryn, Jean Grey, Emma Frost
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Episode 2

- Rob has a new mic.
- Initial feedback on the show is positive; the hosts decide to tell listeners what issues they'll be covering in the next episode.
- Rob says Joss Whedon on Astonishing X-Men was a big reason Brian was able to bring him back into comics. They talk issue #14.
- Rob: "Thank God he got me reading again," and "I don't remember all this sex in the X-Men!"
- Both really like the issue, though Brian doesn't like the implication that Professor X gave Cyclops leadership of the team by default.
- Brian explains who Cassandra Nova is.
- Rob asks if New X-Men is Emma Frost's flagship book and Brian explains how much the former White Queen as becoming entrenched in the X-Men.
- They discuss issue #28, including the creation of young mutants just to kill them off.
- Rob calls it "American Idol for X-Men."
- Inside the Mansion of Forge.
- Rob has no idea who Black Panther is. Once Brian explains they discuss the obviousness of the BP-Storm marriage.
- Retro Reviews of Uncanny X-Men #s 2-6.
- Rob comments on the length of time it takes to read the old issues.
- Top 5 is mutant powers.
- Request for Top 5 ideas.

You've brought a tear to my eye.

I've discerned a protege! And a fellow New Yorker to boot.

A piece of advice too: If you wish to get through episodes in half the time, listen on 2x speed.

Episode 3

- Uncanny X-Cast now has a forum.
- In feedback, Brian changes Longshot to Roulette on his Top 5 mutant powers list.
- 1st audio comment from Paul Brown aka The Puffin.
- Rob says "if it weren't for the Internet, the X-Universe would be un-followable at this point."
- Both are positive on X-Men 188, though Brian is not a big fan of Bachalo's art and Rob finds a character with a flaming skull a little unoriginal (i.e. Ghost Rider).
- Rob reveals Cable is another character that caused him to stop reading comics.
- Brian explains Mastermind, Mastermind, and Lady Mastermind, which reminds Rob of George Forman and his kids.
- Rob is surprised to like X-Factor 9 so much and Brian explains who Layla Miller is.
- Inside the Mansion on Madrox; Rob wonders if anything has been done with the first clone created at Madrox's birth.
- Retro Reviews of X-men 7-11. At this point Cerebro is the "biggest pile of crap machine you can imagine," according to Rob.
- Beast becomes a professional wrestler... named The Beast; Angel is mismatched against Thor.
- Brian learns how to say Kazar.
- Top 5 Uncanny covers; Rob curses out whoever suggested the topic; the argument begins over whether UXM #413 features a sunset or an explosion.
- We learn the hosts once convinced a Kinko's employee to blow up X-Men covers into posters for them.

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Episode 4

- The show is getting way more attention than either of the hosts anticipated.
- Rob apologies for asking Brian to cover Wolverine #44.
- Brian thinks Humberto Ramos draws the biggest feet in comics.
- Inside the Mansion on Juggernaut; Rob wonders what X-Men villains are left as bad guys at this point and gives Juggernaut 2 years before he returns to being a villain.
- Retro Reviews - Professor X mind wipes the Human Torch; Rob predicts the X-Jet will show up soon.
- Top 5 X-characters you'd like to see go bad: Brian threatens to kick Rob off the podcast for including Kitty Pryde in his list.

Excellent work.

Another piece of advice/suggestion: Whenever it comes up, write their predictions, stupid or otherwise. You might just be surprised at what these guys accurately predict....

Good call. I think I have been jotting those down. Since I'm reading along, I don't know, except for a few exceptions and big news items (i.e. schism) what has happened in a lot of the X-Universe over the past five/six years.

Episode 5

- Brian suspects that the "100s of downloads" of the show are all Rob.
- Both hosts are excited for the next issue after reading Uncanny X-Men #476, but note the slow pace and Warpath's vibranium knives for the first time.
- Brian is surprised he likes Carey's X-Men better than Brubaker's Uncanny and catches Rob up on Northstar's history.
- Brian hopes The Children aren't working for an established X-Villain.
- Marvel's rating system is wondered about for the first time. "A" on X-Men #189 is assumed to mean "adult."
- Inside the Mansion on Warpath.
- Retro Reviews of X-Men 17-21; the X-Men fight dude ranchers; Angel calls Cyclops "Gamma Gaze"; and Rob wonders, "who the hell is Irving Forbrush?"
- Top Five is Worst Costumes
- No skimpy female costumes made either list; Brian says it is time for a total revamp of Jubilee.
- Rob complains about Captain Britain for the first time, almost says "...if there was a Captain America."

Episode 6

- They are shocked to discover that the "A" rating is "All Ages."
- Civil War: X-Men #2 was not enjoyed.
- Rob was more confused the 2nd time he read New X-Men #29, wouldn't care if the whole team was killed.
- They discuss the possibility of review three issues during On Shelves Now.
- Inside the Mansion is X-23. Rob wonders why we don't have X-24 through X-4000 and comments that "Wolverine with breasts" is a "fanboy dream."
- Retro Reviews. Rob wishes his girlfriend would think of him as much as Jean does Scott.
- First Chances Are:
- Uncanny X-Men - Professor X stays with Liandra - Brian 80%; Rob 95%.
- Vulcan survives the story and joins the X-Men - Brian 30-35%; Rob 40%.
- New X-Men - X-23 solo title within two years - Brian 15%; Rob 25%.
- David (Prodigy) regains powers and becomes leader - Rob 20% regains / 50% leader; Rob 65% both.
- X-Men - The Children are masterminded by a famous X-Villain - Brian 30%; Rob 10%.
- Rogue and Mystique have a warm make-up within next 10 issues - Brian 40%; Rob 5%.
- X-Factor - The title will last two more years - Brian 85%; Rob 50%.
- the Madrox starring in the title turns out to be a dupe - Brian 20-25%; Rob 20%.
- Astonishing X-Men - Emma Frost has gone/returned to being bad - Brian 10%; Rob 20%.
- Beast returns to his old, pre-Morrison look - Brian 65%; Rob 90%.

it is funny to listen how far away the guys sounded in the beginning

I'll always remember listening to the first episode at work. Brian was more enthusiastic than he has ever been on the show, and Rob had not found his groove yet, so it sounded like Brian was forcing him to do this at gunpoint.

I waited all episode to hear them talk about my favourite characters, and then finally towards the end and they were like... "yeah, Wolverine? I don't care for that guy." "Yeah me neither. There's way to much of him." "And Storm? She's alright... I guess." "Really though, who cares about her?" Like honestly these were without a doubt, the most ridiculous X-men opinions I had ever heard in my life. I have never known anyone who liked New Mutants over then main X-men. It was all very fascinating. They hooked me, and to this day their isn't an episode that goes by, without Brian saying at least one thing, where I have to shake my head in disbelief..

Episode 7

- Brian and Rob recount how they met and how they've kept in touch (mostly via instant messaging prior to starting the podcast)
- Brian gave up comics for 3 months when Cypher died and wrote Louise Simonson a nasty letter
- Both liked Phoenix Warsong #1; Brian explains what happened to the "other two" Cuckoos.
- Both disliked Uncanny X-Men #477; the Shi'ar storyline moving too slowly.
- Both liked X-Factor #10, but Rob wonders, "Why is the creature from the Neverending Story on the cover?"
- Both liked Astonishing X-Men #16, but are uncertain as to what is going on with the Emma Frost / White Queen plot.
- Inside the Mansion on Banshee; Rob brings up Captain Britain again and starts to get political before Brian shuts it down
- Brian tells Rob about the Generation X TV movie.
- Retro Review of X-Men 27-31; Top 5 is favorite X-Relationships, which includes a discussion of gay characters.

Episode 8

- It's noted that this will be the last podcast with Rob a single man and the first with Brian back in NJ.
- UXC has been named in the top 5 best comic book podcasts in an article on Pop Syndicate.
- Rob is baffled by Brian's use of the term "in his wheelhouse."
- X-Men #190: discussion again of the book's all ages rating; both liked but not crazy about the escalation of Iceman's powers.
- Civil War: X-Men: seen as a cash-in without any lasting effect or purpose; Rob's worried Johnny D will end up on an X-team with a code name like "Stomach Guy" or "Gallbladder."
- Uncanny X-Men #478: sentiment about the same, though Brian liked the ending; questionable limits of Darwin's powers are discussed and Brian expects him to die.
- X-Factor #11 liked by both hosts, though it seems more like a Madrox solo title than a team book.
- Wolverine #45 gets lots of hate; Brian says it "feels like fan fiction"; the hosts would like to hear from anyone enjoying the title.
- New X-Men #30 is called "predictable."
- Inside the Mansion on Wolfsbane.
- Top 5 is spinoff series; Rob requests an new Alpha Flight series faithful to the original series.

Episode 9

- Rob is married.
- At this point, Carey's X-Men is Rob's favorite; Brian likes it and Astonishing equally, hasn't written of Brubaker's UXM yet.
- Rob is baffled by Phoenix Warsong #2 and complains that X-Men history has too many white male politicians or scientists causing them problems.
- Brian explains that the X-Men title was once Morrison's New X-Men, which had been formally X-Men, the title kicked off by Jim Lee.
- Rob admits that he actually heard the term "wheelhouse" on ESPN.
- Rob wants Marvel to give him the money back that he spent on Civil War: X-Men, but he loves the "elephant guy."
- Wolverine is described as a "fanboy" comic by Rob.
- Both hosts loved X-Men #191 and Hope that Mike Carey will be on the title for a while.
- Top Five is X-Men Miniseries; Rob thinks Magik will be back soon and describes the Gambit/Rogue relationship as "General Hospital for 13 year old guys."
- Retro Review of X-Men 32-36.

Episode 10

- Rob never thought the show would make it past two episodes.
- Originally planned to be a drinking episode, but Rob is sick and on antibiotics.
- Uncanny X-Men #480 continues to get a lackluster response.
- Both hosts were disappointed that Rockslide wasn't killed in New X-Men #31.
- Inside the Mansion is on M/Monet.
- Retro Reviews of X-Men 37-41. Rob wishes Professor X would mind wipe his memories of reading these issues.
- First Annual X-Awards:

- Comeback X-Man: B= Madrox, R= Sabretooth
- Best Newcomer: B&R = Seraphina
- Lamest Villain: B&R = Johnny D
- Best Villain: B&R = Seraphina & The Children
- Best Writer: B=Whedon, R=Carey
- Best Artists: B&R = Cassaday
- Worst Issue: B= Civil War: X-Men #3, R=Civil War: X-Men #4
- Best Issue: B=Astonishing X-Men #16, R=X-Men #189.
- Best Cover: B&R = Astonishing #16
- Best Fight: B= Kitty Pryde vs. Emma Frost, R= Aurora and Northstar vs. Rogue's X-Men
- Lamest X-Man: B=Gambit, R=Rockslide
- X-Man of the Year: B=Rachel Grey, R=Madrox
- Worst Series: B=Civil War: X-Men, R=Wolverine
- Best Series: B=Astonishing, R=X-Men.

This is a Herculean effort. Well done.