Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men

I’ve been following the podcast for a couple years now, dipping in and out as I attempt to read the X-Men (et. Al) from the very beginning. I burn out and take a break every so often, but I always come back to the podcast. Not only do they provide helpful reminders of old plot threads getting referenced, as well as insightful commentary, the chemistry between the hosts and natural levity keeps what can be dark material appropriately light for a comic book. I doubt I’ll ever catch up to the current episodes of the podcast, but I don’t have to. There’s very little about the older episodes that don’t hold up. For me it sets the bar for read-along companion podcasts.

The pod itself is ok, most of the episodes are mid but there is some fun and useful info to be had. The latest episode is where I take issue, this show or any other show should not be attempting to mobilize its listeners into a militia. No matter your political cause, asking listeners to usurp federal authority is disguising and dangerous. This type of disturbing rhetoric has taken lives, and is threatening our democracy. In a time where the X-men should draw the audience together the hosts have chosen to divide us, insult our intelligence, and risk their listeners freedom and very lives.

I recently set out to re-read my childhood collection of X-Men comic books. Because I am a normal person I became helplessly confused when I got to Inferno, so I turned to the internet for help. I am so happy that led me to discover this podcast. I went back and started re-reading from the start, listening to each and every episode along the way. As an older person who does not have friends or family who’d be interested in joining me on such a literary journey, it was truly a pleasure to have Jay and Miles act as surrogates. They are absolutely brilliant and this is just an all-around excellent podcast (though I’m still a bit confused about Inferno).

I have searched Apple and Spotify to find a good X-men podcast as a companion to the comics. I started listening to show from episode one a little over a year ago and I feel like I’ve matured with Jay and Miles. I have replayed The Inferno and Age of Apocalypse episodes multiple times because the source material is so dense. I am patron member (a Summer’s sibling-long lost sister) and I have some of their merchandise as well (Yaboo!). I wish there was a comprehensive Avengers podcast I like as much as this one.