Crushing Comics

It's This Week in X for 30 June, 2021 - the final week of The Hellfire Gala! Actually, there's just one Hellfire Gala issue this week - the final issue of X-Factor (2020) #10 - plus, the penultimate chapter of Cable (2020) #11. CONTENT WARNING: This issue contains overt themes of hate crimes, racially-motived violence, and sexual assault, which we begin discussing in specific at the 43-minute mark through 72m. In X-Factor #10, we discuss the structure of this abrupt series finale, as well as its narrative, visual, & editorial flaws - from the passing moments in the party scene, to the resolution of Prodigy's plot, to the major reveal in the final pages. Plus, thoughts on handling unexpected endings and if we care about that final reveal. In Cable #11, we discuss the merits of Teen Cable (Table) vs. Old Man Cable (…OMable?), the Ride of the Summers Clan +2, and how satisfying it is when a story has room to reach its intended ending. Spoiler warning - we discuss everything about X-Men up to and including comics from this week, as well as other current events in the Marvel Universe.

It's This Week in X for 23 June, 2021 - the third week of The Hellfire Gala - plus EVEN MORE X-comics! Join Peter, Fariha, & Tyler as we discuss SWORD (2021) #6 (and Guardians of the Galaxy #15), Wolverine (2020) #13, Way of X (2021) #3, X-Men Legends (2021) #4, and highlights from Marvel Voices Pride. (Wolverine technically comes first, but because it was a briefer discussion we held it between the two more heavy-hitting issues.) In SWORD #6, we explore the intergalactic implications of the Hellfire Gala fireworks as we talk currency, coronations, terrific Captain America monologues, sneakily deleted scenes published in other comics, and the biggest shock of the Gala so far! For Wolverine #13, we debate if a comic that's 30% Logan really ought to be released under his name, and dig into Krakoa's first big "L" when it comes to Terra Verde. Way of X #3 is a heavy one, as we divide in love, frustration, and boredom and unpack our feelings by discussing Nightcrawler's ethics, making more mutants, sex positivity, and so much more. Then, we briefly buy/skip on X-Men Legends #4, and summarize the stories X-fans will care about the most in Marvel Voices Pride. Spoiler warning - we discuss everything about X-Men up to and including comics from this week, as well as other current events in the Marvel Universe.

It's part two of This Week in X for 16 June, 2021 - the third week of The Hellfire Gala! Join Peter, Tyler, & Harry as we discuss New Mutants (2019) #19 and X-Corp (2021) #2. (We discussed the epic Planet-Size X-Men in the previous episode.) In New Mutants #19, we cover the highs and lows of this cast who can so easily undress each other (figuratively & literally) from platonic love triangles to sincere apologies to that shocking finale. And, was X-Corp #2 the sleeper hit of the Gala or a business-as-usual snooze? The panel is split on our reaction. We run through Monet's agenda, discuss potential pitfalls of coloring a diverse cast, and opine on the potential picks for Mutant CXO. Spoiler warning - we discuss everything about X-Men up to and including comics from this week, as well as other current events in the Marvel Universe.

Welcome back to Crushing Comics Book Club for Batman by Grant Morrison! This is the final of our three episodes of pre-reading to catch up on some of the themes, characters, and influences on Morrison's run. Next week, Morrison begins! In this episode, we read the final 3rd of the Tales of the Demon TPB, which includes Batman's unlikely marriage to Talia al Ghul! Then, we take a quick spin through the Demon Trilogy of OGNs (collected together as "Birth of the Demon" TPB), reaping diminishing returns from each one. Harry is our expert - he loves Batman and Morrison, and he has read this run multiple times. Fariha is our intermediate - she has read plenty of Morrison and DC. And, Peter is now the novice - he's read some of this run before, but otherwise this is his FIRST TIME reading pre-New-52 Batman! The stories are: - DC Special Series #15 - "I Now Pronounce You Batman and Wife!" (Summer 1978) - Detective Comics #485 - "The Vengeance Vow" (Aug/Sep 1979) - Detective Comics #489 - "Where Strike the Assassins" (April 1980) - Detective Comics #490 - "Requiem for a Martyr" (May 1980) - Batman: Son of the Demon (September, 1987) - Batman: Bride of the Demon (December, 1990) - Batman: Birth of the Demon (December, 1992) Tune in next week for our first engagement with Grant Morrison material, as we crack open our omnibuses and read Batman (1940) #655-658 & 663-666.

Welcome back to Crushing Comics Book Club for Batman by Grant Morrison! This is the second of three episodes of pre-reading to catch up on some of the themes, characters, and influences on Morrison's run. In this episode, we read the first 2/3rds of the Tales of the Demon TPB, which includes the debut of Talia al Ghul and R'as al Ghul. We didn't know what to expect from these Bronze Age stories, but we wound up falling in love! Harry is our expert - he loves Batman and Morrison, and he has read this run multiple times. Fariha is our intermediate - she has read plenty of Morrison and DC. And, Peter is now the novice - he's read some of this run before, but otherwise this is his FIRST TIME reading pre-New-52 Batman! The stories are: Detective Comics #411 - "Into the Den of the Death-Dealers" (May 1971) Batman #232 - "Daughter of the Demon" (June 1971) Batman #235 - "Swamp Sinister" (Sep 1971) Batman #240 - "Vengeance for a Dead Man" (March 1972) Batman #242 - "Bruce Wayne - Rest in Peace!" (June 1972) Batman #243 - "The Lazarus Pit" (Aug 1972) Batman #244 - "The Demon Lives Again!" (Sep 1972) Tune in next week as we wrap up our pre-reading by finishing the final four issues in Tales of the Demon, as well as the Demon Trilogy of Son of the Demon, Bride of the Demon, and Birth of the Demon.

Welcome to a new season of our Crushing Comics Book Club, where we discuss a classic run of comics together as both fans and critical readers. For the next few months we'll be reading Grant Morrison's Batman, but before we get started we'll be doing a few weeks of pre-reading to catch up on some of the themes and influences of the run. Harry is our expert - he loves Batman and Morrison, and he has read this run multiple times. Fariha is our intermediate - she has read plenty of Morrison and DC. And, Peter is now the novice - he's read some of this run before, but otherwise this is his FIRST TIME reading pre-New-52 Batman! Today, we start with a discussion of how we first found Batman (and Morrison), plus a read of Batman's debut in Detective Comics (1937) #27 as well as Batman (1940) #1 - the first appearances of Joker and Catwoman. Then, we all read The Black Casebook for the first time! It's an unusual book - 12 of the most-outlandish Golden and Silver Age stories as selected by Morrison to hint at, explain, or reflect the themes of their Batman run. We'll talk about our FAVORITE Casebook story, the WEIRDEST story, plus give a rundown of EVERY tale in this tome - with a few hints from Harry at how they might be relevant later. The stories are: Batman #65 - A Partner For Batman! from June, 1951 Batman #86 - Batman - Indian Chief! from September, 1954 Detective Comics #215 - The Batmen of All Nations from January, 1955 Detective Comics #235 - The First Batman from September, 1956 World's Finest #89 - The Club of Heroes from July, 1957 Detective Comics #247 - The Man Who Ended Batman's Career from September, 1957 Batman #112 - Am I Really Batman? from December, 1957 Batman #113 - Batman - The Superman of Planet X from February, 1958 Detective Comics #267 - Batman Meets Bat-Mite from May, 1959 Batman #134 - The Rainbow Creature from September, 1960 Batman #156 - Robin Dies at Dawn from June, 1963 Batman #162 - The Batman Creature from March, 1964 Tune in next week as we read the Tales of the Demon TPB.

We're back for our SEASON FINALE of reading classic X-Men! Listen in as Tyler and Peter re-explore the classic Claremont material, with Fariha reading it FOR THE FIRST TIME! This episode is an incredibly deep dive into Uncanny X-Men #137 and Jean Grey, as well as into the version that ALMOST made it to print from Phoenix: The Untold Story, as well as Claremont's 1990 epilogue to the story in Classic X-Men #43. Plus: Have we convinced Fariha to love Jean Grey?! This episode contains full spoilers for House of X and Powers of X and a few comments about the Dawn of X status quo that follows it. And, get ready, y'all - we'll be back next week with BATMAN BY GRANT MORRISON!

We're back for more classic X-Men! Listen in as Tyler and I re-explore the classic Claremont material, with Fariha reading it FOR THE FIRST TIME! In this episode, we discuss Uncanny X-Men #135-136. The Dark Phoenix has taken over Jean Grey's body and mind, and she's HUNGRY - but, can the X-Men stop her when she makes a brief return to Earth to say goodbye to her final human connections? We dig into Cyclops' first psychic dance battle, Phoenix's approximate sense of morality, how classic Sagas and modern Events are different, and more. Plus, we cover a pair of Dazzler stories in Classic X-Men issues - #37-38. This episode contains full spoilers for House of X and Powers of X and a few comments about the Dawn of X status quo that follows it.

It's a special single-issue episode of This Week in X, the first of two episodes for the week of 12 May 2021. Join Peter, Fariha, Tyler, & Harry as we dig into X-Corp (2021) #1. We had a mega-sized discussion for this giant-size debut, tackling each of the board members of this uncanny new corporation: Monet, Madrox, Trinary, & Angel. Plus, we get a little bit heated about horses, UN sanctions, and the big HQ "launch." Spoiler warning - we discuss everything about X-Men up to and including comics from this week, as well as other current events in the Marvel Universe.

It's This Week in X for 5 May, 2021! Join Peter, Fariha, & Tyler as we discuss Marauders (2019) #20, Hellions (2020 #11, and X-Men - Curse of the Man-Thing (2021). Marauders #20 was Storm's issue, but we were fascinated by Emma's parts of it. We tackle our favorite Storm memories, but also dive deeply into what makes Emma tick and her (at first begrudging, but now enduring) respect for Ororo & Kitty. In Hellions #11, we discuss Kwannon's self-sufficiency, Arcade's lack of loyalty, the Mastermind family, Sinister's duplicitous plot (and why it matters A LOT), and more. For X-Men - Curse of the Man-Thing we hold a "BUY OR SKIP" lightning round and discuss the finer points of Magik's status as a lord of a little slice of hell. Spoiler warning - we discuss everything about X-Men up to and including comics from this week, as well as other current events in the Marvel Universe.

It's This Week in X for 28 April, 2021! Join Peter, Fariha, & Tyler as we discuss Cable (2020) #10, New Mutants (2019) #17, and X-Men Legends (2021) #3. In Cable #10, we discuss father/son disconnects, Auntie Emma, Arrakans on the move, and some interesting developments on The Old Guy. For New Mutants #17, we discuss Rahne's weakness, adventures in Otherworld, living your best life, white rabbits, Warpath's journal, and more! Tyler and Peter take a "buy it or skip it" approach to X-Men Legends #3, which Fariha didn't read. Which option will she choose?! Spoiler warning - we discuss everything about X-Men up to and including comics from this week, as well as other current events in the Marvel Universe.

It's This Week in X for 21 April, 2021! Join Peter, Fariha, Tyler, & Harry as we discuss SWORD (2021) #5 and X-Force (2020) #19 - for Way of X #1, check out our previous episode. For SWORD #5, we discuss the issues theme of "murder" and how that plays out across two interwoven plots. We cover the rainbow of data that opened the issue, body language, sartorial choices, the power in a name, suffering competition, the meaning of humanity, beating the odds by changing the game, and more! X-Force #19 split our opinions as we discussed muppet faces, Jean-splaining, the Astral Plane vs. The Dreamscape, long-form storytelling, and more. Spoiler warning - we discuss everything about X-Men up to and including comics from this week, as well as other current events in the Marvel Universe.