Hype is my Superpower

Remember how Mary Jane has superpowers now? While she and Peter are off-again, she has a team-up book with Spideys fwb, Black Cat. Also more Blood Hunt, more Mary Tyler Moorehawk! Will reading: Jackpot & Black Cat, Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Cody Ziglar vol 4: Retribution, Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt, Doctor Strange by Jed Mackay vol 3: Blood Hunt. Steve reading: Mary Tyler Moorehawk by Dave Baker, cont.

I don't care what they say about us anyway, we're here to read comic books! Will gets past all the vampires to continue three excellent runs on three flagship Marvel characters, and Steve cracks open a new and critically acclaimed graphic novel by Dave Baker. Will comics: Incredible Hulk vol 3: Soul Cages, Fantastic Four by Ryan North vol 4: Fortune Favors the Fantastic, Captain America by J. Michael Straczynski vol 2: Trying To Come. Steve comics: Mary Tyler Moorehawk by Dave Baker, cont.

We embrace the chaos this episode on Hype Is My Superpower, with Steve podcasting while sick and Will having read a whole dang crossover. Will read Blood Hunt and almost all the tie-in books. Steve finished reading the Ultimate books he was supposed to read for the last ep, and then blabs a bit about some Marvel Disney+ TV shows, like Secret Invasion. Blech.

Our creator crush, Jonathan Hickman, went and made a whole new dang universe: the latest incarnation of Marvel's Ultimate line. What were we going to do, not drool all over it? Will and Steve reading: Ultimate Invasion, Ultimate Spider-Man by Jonathan Hickman vol 1: Married with Children. Will solo reading: Ultimate Black Panther by Bryan Hill vol 1: Peace and War, Ultimate X-Men by Peach Momoko vol 1: Fears and Hates. Steve solo reading: The rest of The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters.

Will comes roaring back from his winter break with ten graphic novels in the bag, but he's much more interested in Steve finally starting Immortal Hulk. Will comics: Venomverse Reborn, Edge of Spider-Verse: Spider Society, The Spectacular Spider-Men vol 1: Arachnobatics, Captain Marvel by Alyssa Wong vol 2: The Undone, Scarlet Witch vol 3: Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver, She-Hulk by Rainbow Rowell vol 5: All In, Superior Spider-Man vol 2: Superior Spider-Island, Night Thrasher: Remix, Werewolf by Night: Unholy Alliance, Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII. Steve reading: Severance by Ling Ma, most of The Last Policeman by Ben Winters, The Immortal Hulk vol 1: Or Is He Both?

After the big smashy climax last episode (Uhh, when was that posted? Don't worry about it!) we had a few special comics to read closing out 5 years of X-Men storytelling on the mutant nation of Krakoa. We read, discuss, and look back fondly on one of the best eras of X-Men, ever, and put it in context alongside each other era of the franchise. Comics read: Avengers vol 9 #13, X-Men: The Wedding Special (vol 2) #1, and X-Men (vol 6) #35.

We did it. We got there. Fall of X, and with it, the entire Krakoa era, has come to a close — except for a brief epilogue we'll read next episode. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. Come pull up a chair and enjoy the end of an era with us; an era that's lasted as long as this pod itself has. As always our reading order comes from Reddit user Philander_Chase. Huge shout-out and thanks for their hard work. Comics read this episode: Fall of the House of X #2-5, X-Men vol 6 #32-34, Invincible Iron Man vol 5 #16-18, The Resurrection of Magneto #3-4, Rise of the Powers of X #2-5, Dead X-Men #2-4, X-Men: Forever #1-4.

The House of X is falling, the Powers of X are rising, and Magneto is being resurrected. Why, how, and what does it mean to our favorite mutants? Ahhhh so many feels! Comics read: The Resurrection of Magneto #1-2, X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #121-141, X-Men vol 6 #30-31, Fall of the House of X #1, Invincible Iron Man vol 5 #14-15, Rise of the Powers of X #1, Avengers vol 9 #12, Dead X-Men #1

Will finally got that missing book from Gang War, soooo, we finally get to see how Iron Fist and Shang-Chi fought tanks? And Steve starts what is widely considered to be the worst run on any X-Men title, ever. Will comics: Daredevil: Gang War, Venom by Al Ewing vol 7: Exsanguination, Daredevil by Saladin Ahmed vol 2: Hell to Pay, Spider-Boy vol 2: Fun & Games Steve reading: the rest of Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, Wolverine: Netsuke, Uncanny X-Men vol 1 #410-413

Nightcrawler's parentage recon gets another recon back to what it was supposed to be this whole time, in a surprisingly touching story. Let's talk about it, and a lot of other Krakoa. Comics read: Uncanny Spider-Man #4-5, X-Men Blue: Origins #1, X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #112-120, Uncanny Avengers vol 4 #5, Invincible Iron Man vol 5 #13, Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace #1-4, Realm of X #2-4, Jean Grey vol 2 #2-4, Immortal X-Men #16-18.

Thank the One Above All that this one actually recorded successfully, because we both horribly messed up our backup recordings. Will comics: Blade vol 2: Evil Against Evil, Carnage vol 2: Symbiosis Necrosis, Spider-Punk: Arms Race, Avengers Twilight, Spider-Gwen: Smash. Steve readings: Marvel Team-Up vol 1 #100, Black Panther vol 5 #26-29, the first half of Kindred by Octavia E. Butler.

The Arakko civil war reaches its conclusion and Storm continues to be the world's greatest badass. So let's just talk about that forever. For real though, I'm down. Will & Steve comics: Jean Grey vol 2 #1, Dark X-Men vol 2 #4-5, X-Men: Red vol 2 #14-18, X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #106-111, Uncanny Avengers vol 4 #2-4, X-Men vol 6 #27-29. Thank you to Reddit user Philander_Chase for the read order we've been using for Fall of X: https://www.reddit.com/r/xmen/comments/18w8qb6/comment/kgb7bq8/

Will and Steve separately dive into the history and legacy of Marvel's most powerful, most retconned hero, The Sentry. And Thanos goes to find Death in the city in California she'd be most welcome: Fresno. Thumbnail from Google street view. Will comics: Amazing Spider-Man by Zeb Wells vol 10: Breathe, The Sentry: Legacy, Thanos: Return of the Mad Titan, Vengeance of the Moon Knight vol 1: New Moon. Steve comics: Sentry: X-Men, X-Statix vol 1: Good Omens, Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman.

The rare comics creator who gets both Will and Steve drooling with uncomfortable levels of hype is back at Marvel: don't look now, but Jonathan Hickman has invented some new G.O.D.S.! No, he never explains what the acronym stands for. We don't mind, really. Will comics: I am Iron Man, Immortal Thor vol 2: All Trials are One, G.O.D.S. Steve comics: just G.O.D.S. cuz the episode ran long.

The comics version of Yelena Belova, aka the White Widow, goes full MCU, while Steve digs into something truly bizarre and uniquely Russian in Soldier X. And we continue our ongoing reading of Exiles! Will comics: Spider-Man 2099: Miguel O'Hara, Avengers by Jed MacKay vol 2: Twilight Dreaming, Thunderbolts: Worldstrike, White Widow: Welcome to Idylhaven, and Exiles vol 1 #14-19. Steve comics: Exiles vol 1 #14-19, Soldier X vol 1 #1-6, Agent X vol 1 #1-6.

We're wrapping up all our sidequests before moving on to the main story in Fall of X and the end of the Krakoa era of X-Men! In this, we get the giant finales to two long series: X-Force and Wolverine! And they were better than expected! Will & Steve comics: Wolverine #39-50, Marvel's Voices #95-100, Cable #1-4, X-Force #47-50, Invincible Iron Man #11-12.

Spiky hair everywhere! In FFVII remake, that's delightful! In a Deadpool comic? Ehhh... Also, the summer's big crossover, Gang War... happened. Will comics: Daredevil: Gang War, Luke Cage: Gang War, Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Cody Ziglar vol 3: Gang War, Amazing Spider-Man by Zeb Wells vol 9: Gang War, Deadly Hands of Kung Fu: Gang War, and Spider-Woman by Steve Foxe vol 1: Gang War. Steve comics: Deadpool vol 3 #65-69, Wolverine vol 2 #177-180, Sabretooth: Mary Shelly Overdrive #1-4.

We started this one with another draft, picking our first Avengers/X-Men "Uncanny Avengers" unity squad! Who do you think won? Will's team: Iron Man, Forge, Sue Storm, Emma Frost, Sleeper, Darwin Steve's team: Storm, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Kamala Khan, Hulk, Nightcrawler Oh, and we read comics! Will read: Fantastic Four by Ryan North vol 3: The Impossible is Probable, Venom by Al Ewing vol 6: Infiltration, Incredible Hulk vol 2: War Devils. Steve read: M*ties #1-6, Morlocks #1-4, X-Factor vol 2 #1-4.

Krakoa is still falling, X-Force battles a tragic Russian novelist, Nightcrawler is the new Spider-Man, Alpha Flight is responsible for a bunch of idiots, and Bishop and Cable show the Children of the Vault their final comeuppance. Oh, and Wolverine and Ghost Rider... you know what? Never mind about them. Will & Steve comics: Uncanny Avengers vol 4 #1, Ghost Rider/Wolverine: Spirits of Vengeance Alpha-Omega, Ghost Rider vol 11 #17, Wolverine vol 7 #36-38, Alpha Flight vol 5 #1-5, Uncanny Spider-Man #1-3, Dark X-Men vol 2 #1-3, Children of the Vault #2-4, X-Force vol 6 #44-46, and Astonishing Iceman #3-5

Olympic insights, more Exiles, a new Punisher, and Chris Claremont just brazenly putting characters from every single other pop-culture property into his X-Treme X-Men stories. Will comics: Contest of Chaos, Black Panther by Eve L. Ewing: Reign at Dusk vol 2, Capwolf & the Howling Commandos, Punisher: The Bullet the Follows, and Exiles vol 1 #7-13. Steve comics: Exiles vol 1 #7-13, X-Treme X-Men vol 1 #10-19, Taskmaster vol 1 #1-4.

Robert Downey Jr. is no man's second choice for Dr. Doom. Also, we saw Deadpool & Wolverine, and after a break to help you avoid spoilers, we talk about it! But first, Will's favorite comics writer returns to Marvel on a run of Captain America. How does it hold up? Will comics: Superior Spider-Man vol 1: Supernova, Captain America by J. Michael Straczynski vol 1: Stand, Captain Marvel by Alyssa Wong vol 1: The Omen, Daredevil: Black Armor, Carnage vol 1: Born Again.. Steve comics: Deadpool vol 1 #61-64, Cable vol 1 #101-107, X-Men Unlimited vol 1 #34-37

More like Fell of X bc this country of Krakoa is done done. Let's talk, mourn, and see what's next. Covering: X-Force vol 6 #43, Invincible Iron Man vol 5 #8-10, X-Men vol 6 #25-26, Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant #1-4, Astonishing Iceman #1-2, Children of the Vault #1, Immortal X-Men #14-15, Marvel's Voices: X-Men #1, Realm of X #1.

If your name was Emilio Helio, what would be the chances that you didn't suffer a tragic accident that forced you to only breathe helium, the public ridicule of your squeaky voice leading you to a life of wrath, revenge, and villainy. Oh, 0%? Cool, gotcha. Will comics: Silver Surfer Rebirth: Legacy, Spider-Boy vol. 1: The Web-less Wonder, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2: Grootrise, She-Hulk by Rainbow Rowell vol. 4: Jen-sational Steve comics: Elektra and Wolverine: The Redeemer (conclusion), Wolverine vol 2 #170-176, Wolverine/Hulk #1-4.

Finally, an Avengers team who investigates wrongful deaths and actually, you know, avenges people. Plus, legendary Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano illustrates the western superheroes he loves for the first time, and a brief listener Q&A! Will comics: Daredevil by Saladin Ahmed vol 1: Hell Breaks Loose, Doctor Strange by Jed MacKay vol 2: The War-Hound of Vishanti, Avengers Inc.: Action, Mystery, Adventure. Steve comics: Elektra and Wolverine: The Redeemer (mostly).

Lots of Moon Knight this week, and then Will and Steve join forces to catch up on the fan-favorite reality hopping series from the 00's, Exiles! And finally, a tragic turn in a silly comic where characters are constantly dying. Will comics: Spine-Tingling Spider-Man, Moon Knight: City of the Dead, Moon Knight vol 5: The Last Days of Moon Knight, Exiles vol 1 #1-6. Steve comics: Exiles vol 1 #1-6, X-Force vol 1 #121-129

Al Ewing might be the writer at Marvel with the most Will-friendly storytelling interests and sensibilities. So, with two of his books up this week, we decided to take some time and go deep on him as a creator. Plus, what makes Nightcrawler tick, and who is Amazing Spider-Man for in the 21st century? Will read: Deadpool: Badder Blood, Amazing Spider-Man by Zeb Wells vol 8: Spider-Man's First Hunt, Ghost Rider vol 4: Rite of Passage, Venom by Al Ewing vol 5: Predestination, and Immortal Thor vol 1: All Weather Turns to Storm. Steve read: Icons: Iceman #1-4, Icons: Nightcrawler #1-4.

X-Corps! Goblins of all colors! Magical beanie friends! But first... what makes escape rooms so great? Will read Scarlet Witch by Steve Orlando vol 2: Magnum Opus, Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest, Red Goblin vol 2: Nature/Nurture, Blade vol 1: Mother of Evil, and Strange Academy: The Deadly Field Trip. Steve read Uncanny X-Men vol 1 #399-407 and Annual 2001, and Cable vol 1 #96-100.

Anyone Comics and Everyone Comics owner Dimitrios Fragiskatos returns for the next installment of regularly scheduled Doom Patrol and New X-Men by Grant Morrison. But first, we do our long-awaited draft of the comic book character origin series we most want to see. Reading Doom Patrol vol 2 #27-34 and New X-Men #118-126.

The Hellfire Gala traditionally has been the big party for mutantkind and the nation of Krakoa to show off their power and innovations for the world. This year, Orchis takes over the agenda. We read X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023, Free Comic Book Day 2023: Avengers/X-Men, X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #100-105, and Invincible Iron Man vol 5 #8-9.

2001's Origin told the definitive story of Wolverine's childhood, growing up as sickly rich boy James Howlett. But... were we better off without it? Will reads Spider-Man by Tom Taylor, Clobberin' Time, Fantastic Four by Ryan North vol 2: Four Stories About Hope, Avengers: Beyond, Avengers by Jed Mackay vol 1: The Impossible City. Steve reads Origin #1-6, X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land #1-4.

In a huge week of reading, Will starts a brand new run on the Incredible Hulk that's a return to its roots, meditating on rage and self-sabotage, and we're both super in for it. Will read: Ghost Rider vol 3: Dragged Out of Hell, Ghost Rider/Wolverine: Weapons of Vengeance, Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider - Blood and Vengeance, Black Panther by Eve L. Ewing: Reign at Dusk vol 1, Loki: The Liar, Storm: Blowback, Groot: Uprooted, Magneto: Magneto Was Right, Marvel Unleashed, Incredible Hulk vol 1: Age of Monsters, Cult of Carnage: Misery, and Death of the Venomverse. Steve read: Icons: Rogue #1-4 and Icons: Cyclops #1-4

It's Fall in Krakoa, and double entendres abound. See, because it means Autumn, and it also means descent. Okay, but do you get it, though? Covering X-Men vol 6 #22-24, Before the Fall: Mutant First Strike #1, Before the Fall: Four Sinisters #1, and Immortal X-Men #12-13.

Krakoa is about to fall, and the story starts out with the return of Apocalypse, who's a good guy now, and his horsemen. I mean kids. And his wife, who's not wearing a hat anymore, but she's carrying a staff, which is almost as bad. Listen, it's great — just listen, alright? Covering Immortal X-Men #11, Before the Fall: Sons of X #1, X-Men Red vol 2 #11-13, Before the Fall: The Heralds of Apocalypse #1, Wolverine vol 7 #33-35, and X-Force vol 6 #40-42

Crossover time! Nathaniel Essex, aka Mr. Sinister, aka the undisputed #1 pick in the comedic villain draft, sure did sin a lot. There's a lot to like here and a lot that... didn't quite land. Which makes the whole thing even more fascinating to pick apart, so let's go! Covering Sins of Sinister #1, Immoral X-Men #1-3, Storm & The Brotherhood of Mutants #1-3, Nightcrawlers #1-3, and Sins of Sinister Dominion #1.

We go deep today on Spider-Man's deep, deep supporting cast, including some regrettable romances. Then, Steve reads an old X-Men series with the tagline, "Revolution, not evolution." Sounds like it should be exactly up his ally. Isn't. Will comics: Amazing Spider-Man by Zeb Wells vol 7: Armed and Dangerous, Spider-Man vol 2: Who Is Spider-Boy?, Silk vol 3: Nightmare Boulevard, and Daredevil & Echo. Steve comics: Brotherhood #1-9, X-Men Unlimited vol 1 #32-33.

Chip Zdarsky's Daredevil saga reaches its thrilling end and the horrifying Weapon X program returns! Will comics: Daredevil & Elektra by Chip Zdarsky vol 3: The Red Fist Saga Part 3, Warlock: Rebirth, Edge of Spider-Verse, and Guardians of the Galaxy vol 1: Grootfall. Steve comics: Wolverine vol 2 #162-169 and Annual 2001, Deadpool vol 3 #54-60.

Finally, answers about Spider-Man's disastrous time gap! But first, bananas. Will reads Amazing Spider-Man by Wells and Romita Jr. vol 6: Dead Language Part 2, Hallows' Eve, She-Hulk by Rainbow Rowell vol 3: Girl Can't Help It, Captain America: Cold War Aftermath, and Hellcat: Devil on My Shoulder. Steve finishes his volume of X-Force: New Beginning (#117-120) and adds in Deadpool #50-53.

KAY EYE ESS ESS EYE EN GEE! Another excellent week for comics as Will reads Carnage Reigns, Thor by Donny Cates vol 6: Blood of the Fathers, Doctor Strange by Jed MacKay vol 1: The Life of Doctor Strange, and Extreme Venomverse. Steve reads two very different intersections of mutants and celebrity culture with Uncanny X-Men: Poptopia (#394-398) and the first issue of Peter Milligan and Mike Allred's X-Force (#116).

Ready for the most 2001 comic title of all time? Chris Claremont goes back to the well for X-Treme X-Men! As with all things Chris, we invited back The Claremont Run, aka Dr. J Andrew Deman, to help us figure out what the heck is going on here — both in the original 2001 volume (issues #1-9) and the 2023 revival miniseries. Then, Will adds in Spider-Gwen: Shadow Clones.

In 1989, Grant Morrison took over Doom Patrol with a mission: to break the genre of superhero team books out of the ironclad grasp established by Chris Claremont's Uncanny X-Men. 12 years later, he took over those same X-Men. We invited our bud Dimitrios Fragiskatos — owner of Anyone Comics and Everyone Comics in NYC — back to the show to talk about his favorite comic book of all time. Will also threw in Silver Surfer: Ghost Light, for good measure.

The Krakoa era is churning along to its inevitable conclusion — here's the last episode of the mini-era, Destiny of X! Also, Steve got a new cat! Books covered: Wolverine vol 7 #30-32, X-Force vol 6 #39, Immortal X-Men #9-10, X-Men Red vol 2 #10, Legion of X #8-10, Deadpool vol 9 #6-9, and Rogue and Gambit vol 2 #4-5.

One is actually a fox. Will read Hulk: Joe Fixit, Captain America: Cold War, Tiger Division, Monica Rambeau: Photon, and Moon Knight Vol 4: Road to Ruin. Steve read... nothing!

It's the end of the long '90s for Steve, as his reading finally closes out the 3rd era of X-Men comics, while Will tackles a gigantic backlog from winter break. Also, one of those rare graphic novels that makes you remember why you love comics! Will comics: Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis, Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Cody Ziglar vol 1: Trial by Spider, Scarlet Witch by Steve Orlando vol 1: The Last Door, Red Goblin vol 1: It Runs in the Family, Invincible Iron Man by Gerry Duggan vol 1: Demon in the Armor, Punisher vol 2: The King of Killers Book Two, Bloodline: Daughter of Blade, and Venom by Al Ewing and Ram V vol 4: Illumination. Steve comics: Eve of Destruction (X-Men vol 2 #111-113, Uncanny X-Men vol 1 #392-393) and Eden II by K. Wroten.

Working through some side-stories from Destiny of X as we got to record together in person! Covering X-Terminators vol 2 #4-5, Marauders vol 2 #11-12, New Mutants: Lethal Legion, Bishop: War College, and Betsy Braddock: Captain Britain.

Oh Emma. Emma, Emma, Emma... Will books: Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Menace on Wheels, Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty vol 2: The Invader, Amazing Spider-Man by Zeb Wells vol 5: Dead Language Part 1, and Avengers Assemble (2023). Steve books: X-Men: The Hidden Years #14-22, Blink, and Excalibur: Sword of Power.

Ryan North is on Fantastic Four and Steve is excited! Except he didn't read it. In fact, he didn't read anything. Will took up the slack though, with Fantastic Four, Daredevil and Elektra, Hulk, and Strange Academy Finals.

Will and Steve made a bet, and Will won.  Will's comics: Captain America - Symbol of Truth, Spider-man Lost Hunt, Wasp, Unforgiven, Thor. Steve's comics: Wolverine, Cable vol 2 #88-95, Gambit & Bishop: Sons of the Atom Alpha & #1-6.

Long before Moira MacTaggert made dying cool in House of X, she died in the comics — OH! but I guess it was fake. Anyway, let's read that story. Will comics: Planet Hulk, Murderworld, Secret Invasion, Spider-Man. Steve comics: Dream's End (Uncanny X-Men #388, Cable vol 2 #87, Bishop: The Last X-Man #16, X-Men vol 2 #108), X-Men Unlimited vol 1 #30, X-Men: Declassified.

Will's comics: Savage Avengers Vol 2, She-Hulk Vol 2, Punisher War Journal, Black Panther Vol 3. Steve's comics: X-Force vol 1 #110-115, X-Man #71-75, Generation X vol 1 #71-75

We drafted our favorite comedic villains, a gauntlet Steve laid down in last week's episode. And.... there was a clear winner. But THEN! We talked about comic books. Finishing off Dark Web with Dark Web - Ms Marvel, Mary Jane/Black Cat, and Gold Goblin, then Will also covered Deadly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Carnage Vol 2, while Steve read X-Men Forever vol 1.

Spider-Man! X-Men! Lots of dang clones! For some reason we got a crossover to the 1989 crossover Inferno? Let's jump right in to Dark Web. Covering DARK WEB #1, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2022) #15-18, VENOM (2021) #14-15, DARK WEB: X-MEN #1-3, and DARK WEB FINALE #1.