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Comics Catch-Up 064: X-Terminators (2022)
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Based on your suggestions, we caught up with this five-issue romp by Leah Williams and Carlos Gomez. Is it spooky? No. Is it fun? Yeah! Is it good? Listen and find out!
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Transcript
Introduction to the Podcast and Hosts
00:00:00
Speaker
This show is recorded using Zencaster. If you are a podcaster, or you want to be a podcaster, and you want to be able to record remotely, you can do so using Zencaster. They also have hosting options. And you can let them know that we sent you. Follow the link in our show notes, or in the episode description, and sign up for an account on Zencaster now to start recording your own podcast.
00:00:41
Speaker
Oh, hey, Corst! You've been up to my heart!
00:01:01
Speaker
hey, didn't see you there. It's been a while. Why don't we catch up? That's right, everybody. This is Comics Catch Up. It is a spinoff of the War Rocket Ajax podcast where we catch up on comics that we might have missed, whether they're ah from the Golden Age all the way up to I guess 2022.
00:01:24
Speaker
I mean, perhaps even more recent, but this time the comic is from 2022.
Discussion on X-Terminators Comic
00:01:30
Speaker
I feel like it's not, if it's more recent than 2022, that's not catching up. That's just reading it. That, by the way, was Matt Wilson. My name is Chris Sims. ah We are your hosts. And the despite the spoilers, we got a good one coming up.
00:01:45
Speaker
This time, and we got a we got a fun one this time. It is 2022. As we said, ex terminators, which was suggested on our every spooky ever episode, which this is not a spooky comic. This is not a spooky comic in the least.
00:02:03
Speaker
it's not a sp Well, it's spooky in that it is nominally about vampires and Dracula's in it. There are vampires and Dracula in it. that's So, it's kind of as spooky as any given Castlevania game. ah It is by Leah Williams and Carlos Gomez. It is a five-issue series which I think it was intended as a five-issue miniseries from the start? Maybe? There is a bit ah where there's like a frowny face in the last issue that's like the book's ending, but I don't know if that is a and yeah if that is the modern-day equivalent of never the end or not. I don't think it is. I have to imagine this was conceived and pitched as a miniseries.
00:02:59
Speaker
it sir It certainly seems like it, but also, I don't know. like Perhaps there was some intention of making this a longer-running series, because it does create a team, a very fun team, of four members of Dazzler, Jubilee, Boom Boom, and Laura Kenny-Wolverine.
00:03:24
Speaker
We would venture to say even some of our faves. Some of our faves, yeah. I mean, the best X-Men is in there. You're talking about Jubilee. Yeah. Jubilationally. Yeah, I'm talking about the best X-Men. Yeah. Here's what I have to say about this book. It is undeniably fun. It is, I would even go so far as to call it a hoot.
00:03:50
Speaker
It is the kind of superhero comic that I know and understand is not ah necessarily for me.
00:04:00
Speaker
In that superheroes have long conversations about each other's boobs and butts. Yes. I am curious, Matt, because I noticed when I said, we've got a good one, you said we've got a fun one. Yeah. And I'm i'm wondering if you dry distinction there. Do you not think this is good or do you think this is good and fun? I think it's good and fun. I just, I know, I don't enjoy it as much as I know other people do. I think of this in much the same way as, say, the Harley Quinn cartoon, which a lot of people love. And then I tried to watch and then I was just like, it's safe for me.
00:04:50
Speaker
because Which I have not watched yet. Yeah. Because to me, like, I mean, look, obviously, if they were real people, superheroes would absolutely have conversation like boom, boom would actually absolutely have conversations about the size of her breasts. And they would joke about how great dazzler's butt is and or whatever, right?
00:05:17
Speaker
but like, or and call each other sluts and so on and so forth. and enough fun reclamatory In way. In a fun like, girls being gals out for a fun time kind of way. Yeah. And and I like this, the the feeling of this book is like, this is a group of X-Men characters, women in the X-Men,
00:05:45
Speaker
kind of in their off time, right? Like not in their professional setting, except for when they get put essentially, well, Professor Xavier says very clearly that it's not a trial.
00:05:59
Speaker
But like, when they go up in front of the quiet council and all of that kind of stuff. They're where Sabretooth got put in a hole. They're exactly where Sabretooth got put in a hole. Yeah. So that's more of the professional side of things. And it's even acknowledged that like, you know, they're not behaving like X-Men typically behave. And look, fuck, I can't say that this book is bad because and Evil version of dazzler puts her puts the real dazzler in a sharpshooter like yeah, I can't hate that Like I I think I Get what you're saying Okay, yeah, I also think you're overthinking it a little maybe I am I I will say like it it affected me more at the start than it did by the end by the end I was like I
00:06:57
Speaker
on this book's vibe a little bit more, but it caught me off guard a little bit at the beginning. The sort of kind of, I don't know, irreverent, like, irreverent is not the right word.
Plot and Character Analysis
00:07:14
Speaker
The dirty talk, all of the, you know, censored... The dirty talk? All of the censored cussing. Like, the censored cussing, like, I'm really...
00:07:27
Speaker
ah going back and forth on censored cousin. Because I think it it works pretty well here, probably because it's trying to be fun. And I also like the bit where ah the word ass is censored by a black bar that but with a peach emoji it then put over it. That was a good bit. That's a good lettering joke. That's a good lettering joke, yeah. After Professor X is like, please stop talking about Bazzler's ass in your testimony.
00:07:52
Speaker
Yeah, like, like, ah ah for better or worse, I'm Professor X in this scenario, where it's like... Like, i I'm not approved. I'm not like a person who does... who... who like, I love Berserk, for crying out loud. But this is a Marvel Comics superhero book. So, like, a lot of censored cussing is just like... I don't know. I don't know, like...
00:08:21
Speaker
It's way better here than in, say, the Jenny Sparks comic. I'll say that. Couldn't possibly be worse. Couldn't possibly be worse than it is in the Jenny Sparks comic, yeah. Here's the thing, Matt. The lettering, by the way, is by VC's Travis Lanham. ah tra Travis Lanham lettered ah some of my stuff yeah when I was at Marvel Comics.
00:08:44
Speaker
oh in in my X-Men book that also, ah that definitely had a never the end. And that also had Jubilee. And that had Jubilee, and that had vampires, and that had Dracula. Here's what I will say. The very first thing that happens in this comic is there is a close-up of Dazzler's ass in booty shorts that says Praxis. That is a great joke.
00:09:15
Speaker
But like that's it. like That is maybe the best panel one mission statement. Yes. Since All Star Superman. And that's not a joke. That is absolutely what this book is. like If you want a book to tell you exactly what it is right up front, there you go, bud. Yeah. Yeah. And I feel like like You know, we, I think a thing that you might be struggling with as a ah reader of this is that like, if it was anybody else, it would be a real hard sell. If you took this exact book, but the name Tom King was on the cover,
00:10:11
Speaker
it would We would feel some kind of way about it. But I feel like like Leah Williams is the perfect writer for this book. And could is the only person who could write this book, obviously, because she's the only person who did write this book. But like, Leah Williams, you know, before this even had a reputation as being a very ah smart feminist comics writer. Yeah. And I feel like this book is a very smart feminist goofball comic. but Like, it's bottoms, you know?
00:10:50
Speaker
Yes, and if you've seen if you've seen bottoms, you should see bottoms. It's really good. oh I think I'll make some points that other people may be making right now for me. And and ah this is part of why I came to the conclusion by the end of the book that I was in that I enjoyed it a lot more than I felt like I did at the beginning, where it did kind of feel like My complaint when the book started was that there was this feeling of it trying to be because of like the very first page, like even before you see Dazzler's booty shorts, that's a past practice on them. There's like a mature audiences only page.
00:11:42
Speaker
right That is, that I couldn't figure out if this was actually a mature audience's book or if that's only there as a joke because it's the it's the Hickman graph of this issue. I think it's both. It's very funny. Because it does say on the cover, parental advisory. So I think it is both an actual mature audience's warning and a joke.
00:12:13
Speaker
Because the list of things that it contains are like, apps your favorite mutants acting like absolute dumbasses, right? Yeah. I i actually think, as someone who's a fan of cusses, I actually think that is not a good use of dumbass. It should say bozos. left I don't... ah I don't know if either of those words is right. Dog, they're bozos. They're full bozos in this. I guess. a Yeah, like okay, bozos. So, okay, let me make the points that I was gonna make. Okay. One. One of the characters in this is Boom Boom. And Boom Boom was... Boom Boom was a different kind of character before.
00:13:10
Speaker
And then boom, boom was in next wave. Yeah. And so I came to, I realized like this is just next wave, boom, boom. Yes. and Like that's a thing that I wanted to bring up because if anything, this boom, boom is smarter than next wave, of boom, boom. She's smarter for sure, but she's, she's as crass as next wave, boom, boom. Yeah. And and yeah yeah this is like the next wave sort of crassness, I guess. Um, so like the big panel of her puking,
00:13:41
Speaker
which I didn't love, kind of made but made more sense to me after I like made that point to myself. I also asked myself, like, if this was a book about a team of dudes, would I feel the same way? Like if this was, I don't know, fucking sunspot and
00:14:10
Speaker
ah Name four male X-Men. Sunspot, Gambit, and Chamber, and Wolverine. Well, I don't think Logan would be in it, but, but, Daken. Daken. Wanna be Rockin' Like Dokken? Yeah. Which, I don't know what he's up to lately. Like, if it had been four dudes,
00:14:39
Speaker
I think I would have said, I think I would have also had, I think I would have had the same reaction. I think I would have been like, at first, like, uh, this is trying really hard to be like edgy. You know what I mean? Like, like that was kind of my initial sense is like, like some of the worst Deadpool stuff is like trying so hard.
00:15:08
Speaker
to do like a sorta edgy humor and that's like nails on a chalkboard for me. Sometimes. I have i have a counterpoint to that if I may. Okay. Hitman. Hitman, well, hmm. Like, that that's like Zombie Night at the Gotham Aquarium is this with with four dudes.
00:15:37
Speaker
Yes. I think part of it is also I read Hitman when I was 19, and I'm reading this when I'm 41. If I had read Hitman when I was 41, I might have had that reaction to Hitman 2. I don't know, man. Hitman's still pretty fucking good. Hitman's still pretty good. But like, for instance, The Boys, the comic. Not for me. Like Hitman's better than The Boys. Yeah. But like, there's enough stuff that I also have that reaction to, you know? Oh, yeah.
00:16:07
Speaker
Where I'm just like, this is just being edgy for the sake of being edgy. As the book went on, though, and it got more into the actual story of what was happening and sort of unfolding the layers, because this is, this is a story, like, essentially with three layers, right?
00:16:32
Speaker
isn There's the part before they get kidnapped, there's the part while they're kidnapped, and then there's the part after they're kidnapped when they're back on Krakoa. And as, like I said, as those layers started unfolding, I could get more into the story of the book.
Leah Williams' Writing Style
00:16:50
Speaker
And it wasn't just, oh, they're, they're puking and calling each other sluts and drinking drugged drinks, which is not their fault, of course, but like, you know, as a subject matter. um And and cussing.
00:17:12
Speaker
Because because all of that was like a lot at in the very first issue for me. But as it went on, I could get into it more and enjoy it more. So that was my experience with it. And it did, as I said, end up being very fun. And I do think it's good.
00:17:31
Speaker
I just I know it's not exactly the comic for me. And I also know that I'm not the audience for it. And that's okay. You know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, I'm fine with not being the audience for it and can enjoy it for what it is. I just have to acknowledge that. I, e I feel like this is not I am not the target audience of this comic, but I do also feel like it is a comic for me.
00:18:02
Speaker
like ah Like, it is not a comic that, you know, no one was writing this comic being like, wow, I hope a 42 year old man who really likes Goku is going to enjoy this book. Right.
00:18:17
Speaker
ah but like i that There is a reason that I think our listeners recommended it to us because, again, it is a comic where ah Dazzler's evil magic mirror clone locks on the sharpshooter. There's 100% a sharpshooter and i that popped me and was a big part of what turned me around on the book, I have to say. like I mean, Jubilee literally says, I watch WWE. Yeah, yeah. Which if it was for me, she would have said AEW.
00:18:48
Speaker
Or just wrestling. I would have just had your say. I've been walking the King's Road. Or stardom. If she had just said, I watch wrestling so I know what to do here, I would have preferred that. Let's give a quick rundown of the events of the book, just so listeners know. First, there's a cold open word.
00:19:18
Speaker
Dazzler's wearing those Praxis shorts and killing a bunch of vampires. Which again, there it is. Yeah. That's, that's the book. And then we flashback to three weeks ago, she's throwing out her boyfriend, who's named Alex, like throwing his records out onto the street and smashing them because he cheated. And so they're done. They're done. So Finn Dazzler invites Jubilee out to drink at a bar and Jubilee brings Boom Boom along too. And so they're at the bar, they're drinking, they're dancing, and they pass out, or I guess just Boom Boom passes out to start with. And then Alex reveals that he's a vampire, he's got a bunch of vampire buddies, and they've drugged all three of them ah to kidnap them and take them away.
00:20:11
Speaker
then, and I know this is, you know, this is directly targeted at Chris Sims. Uh huh. All three of them wake up in different death traps. In a death trap arena. and In a death trap arena, but they're all in different death traps. So boom, boom is in like,
00:20:33
Speaker
like ah something that kind of looks like a sewer full of vampire-ish monsters. Jubilee is strapped into a monster truck, having to control it, and Dazzler's in a big maze. I do want to say before we get to this, we get the the introduction of what is probably my favorite part of the book. And if if the Praxis booty shorts so funny. If the Praxis booty shorts didn't give you enough of an idea of what this book was gonna be, Jubilee and Boom Boom, the running gag of them like roasting each other, yeah, felt not not only like well written, but also like so authentic to when friends who are funny are like busting on each other, that
00:21:31
Speaker
Like, and it was it was that it was that Twitter thread about shoes. Whose shoes were they? I can't remember whose shoes they were. You know what I'm talking about. Yes, it it it is it does feel feel very true to the way that friends, but a only close friends talk shit about each other. Yeah. To each other. And the the first line of it being Jubilee going to Boom Boom,
00:22:02
Speaker
You look like if Barbie was a sex addict and boom, boom going, Oh, thank you. That is like, it's like, got it. That's what this, that's what this is. Okay. Cool. Yeah. The one that got me the most was boom, boom. You look like the final stop on a bimbo vacation spectrum. That is, that is such a right now joke. It's so funny.
00:22:31
Speaker
I think some of those landeds and some of them don't like the last one where it's like Glenda the Good Witch's porn parody. I don't love that one. But some of them are really good. Yeah. Yeah. So anyway, as they're in these death traps, they managed to break through each one and find each other. Then the by the end of that issue, they meet up with Laura Kenny, who has been here for a while.
00:23:01
Speaker
Yeah. Somehow not the somehow not arcade. Yeah. It feels like arcade stuff, but it's i was real excited that it was going to be arcade. I got a little bit sad. Oh, there is a, okay. So in the second issue, they, they talk with Laura a little bit. Laura says she's, she's been here for awhile. There's a joke where boom, boom is like, Oh, I'm so sorry. You have to wear those clothes. And, and Laura's like, this is my costume. And Like, on the one hand, funny, on the other hand, it's one of those like, haha, the yellow X-Men costumes are stupid jokes. Well, it is and it isn't. Like, because I don't think that's, I don't think that's the Leah Williams. I don't think that's the writer saying that's a stupid costume. That's the writer saying Boom Boom would think that's a stupid costume. Right, yeah. Also,
00:23:59
Speaker
In this issue, it flashes forward to them that they're like, not a trial, but trial on Krakoa, which I kind of appreciate that that's given this early, but it also takes away suspense of them getting out of here. That was the only thing that I would like call a misstep.
00:24:22
Speaker
in like how the story is told. like I don't mind like the the flashbacks. I don't mind any of that stuff. I think it's weird that that early on we get the flash forward. yeah like That was an odd choice to me. It didn't like break the book, but very much like you, it did ah take me out of it. it it's like We know they're not going to die, of course, but the fact that we see them after they get out it the suspense, that that removes suspense, I think. yeah but um It doesn't it does just remove suspense, because again, like i we we all know they're going to win. like This book is silly. yeah like It would be wild if they you know like, yeah, and then Jubilee got killed. That's wild. It is more, for me, a pacing issue.
00:25:19
Speaker
where it's like it disrupts the flow of the scene. Sure. Because that's the first time that we, but I guess like in the opening with the Praxis booty shorts, we're kind of told that like, that, you know, the dazzler is narrating this for someone, but it's not, you know, certainly not clear that she's narrating it for the quiet council. right So it breaks the flow, because it kind of happens in the middle of a scene too, and it it really breaks the flow of the structure relief. But like you know nothing unforgivable, just definitely I also felt that. So it is revealed that there's like a big crowd of vampires watching them in this big arena. And this is where Jubilee's like, I watched do w WWE, I know how to get the crowd on my side.
00:26:14
Speaker
um Alex is very reminiscent of that episode of Voyager guest starring the rock ah very yes very much so um Alex is here working with his dad and we are told that they are this is an offshoot group of vampires from The broader vampire society these are defectors and Dracula doesn't know what they're doing Yeah Because as we all know Dracula took over Chernobyl and found that it is this vampire nation. Because vampires don't get fucked about radiation, they're fine. So a mirror, like basically a house of mirrors descends from the ceiling. And when any of our team looks into these mirrors, a mirror double of them comes out and starts fighting them. And that's where we get that sharp shooter and that rules. That absolutely kicks ass. Yes. No, that's great.
00:27:15
Speaker
ah Ultimately, Boom Boom just uses her powers to destroy or crack this House of Mirrors. ah to to not like It doesn't shatter to pieces, but now all the glass inside is like broken. and And this is where where ah Jubilee calls Boom Boom a dumb tart.
00:27:44
Speaker
which That's a weird one. I feel like that's a weird one. I thought that one was fine. but Tart, the word tart is used a few times in here. I, I feel like it, this is weird to say, I feel like that is a fun thing that in, in the style of, uh, like li lady friends busting on each other. I feel like that when it like it felt fine to me.
00:28:18
Speaker
I, I, let me say fully that things that made me uncomfortable may make people in the target audience for this book not uncomfortable at all. So that's fine. Um, anyway, Jubilee ends up figuring out that they just have to put on blindfolds to not see, not look in the mirrors. And, uh, and that's that, but The game's not over, of course, because some more vampires are coming out to to to kill them. And that's the end of the second issue. And right at the start of issue three, Boom Boom gets bitten by a vampire.
00:29:05
Speaker
ah And they realize they're still wearing the blindfolds, and so they realize that they're not fighting their doubles anymore. and Now they're fighting different beings. This is the issue with the big long run of Jubilee making jokes about ah Boom Boom's breast size. It's so funny to me how uncomfortable you sounded during saying that. It's so funny. We also find out that Alex and his group of vampires have kidnapped some ah beings from other world.
00:29:39
Speaker
who they've conscripted into making these death traps for them or helping them do this stuff. Dazzler ends up pumping up the crowd. Yeah, and what I think is a a genuinely like pretty, like very clever use of Dazzler's powers Dazzler kind of whips up the crowd and then she makes boom-boom do Makes she tells boom-boom. Hey do a striptease booms like alright and the crowd is super stoked To see boom-boom take her top off and we get two really good bits Which is that Dazzler uses all the crowds hollering to power up her own?
00:30:26
Speaker
her her powers, turning them into light and making laser beams and boom boom when she takes her top off her boobs explode. She makes like big round time bombs. It's very funny.
Climactic Moments and Humor
00:30:43
Speaker
They end up ah destroying the big house of mirrors and the vampires that they're fighting go into a hole in the ground that they make. and Holes in comics. The more we read. Yeah. People going into holes all the time. And then Dazzler discovers these other kidnapped people from Otherworld and that they're essentially on a spaceship. um And
00:31:14
Speaker
The villain of the book is not arcade, but the collector. The collector is working with Alex and his group in all of this. Now that we know the collector's involved, he is making our team of exterminators put on like costumes for display.
00:31:40
Speaker
So like Dazzler is in a cheerleading costume. Boom Boom is in like some kind of clown outfit. Sexy clown, yeah. And and Jubilee is is in a schoolgirl outfit. And then Wolverine ends up putting like a witch ah witch costume on, yeah. um But they realize that they can get out of there because there's a toilet in the little chamber that they've been put in.
00:32:10
Speaker
And so ah Boom Boom can send little, little boom balls down the toilet to explode the pipes, which they do. Well, boom balls, little boom balls, little boom balls. And ah there's also like a, again, genuinely funny bit ah where our heroes are taunting ah their captor.
00:32:39
Speaker
by being like, so how come we're not allowed to use like the costume racks for privacy when we have to pee? Like, you wanna watch us pee? You got piss kink? Some kind of piss kink weirdo? Yeah, that part's pretty funny. It's really funny. And again, like it's one of those things that I feel like, weirdly, it is very of the now to write that joke. yeah But also, like again, if that exact same joke was written by by a Tom King, I'd be like, slow down, buddy. It does look it it is much better that this is written by Leo Williams than the so many other potential writers. like i don't think I don't think Tom King would try to write this. ah but Boy, one never knows these days. That's true. ah Anyway,
00:33:30
Speaker
They managed to find their way out after they destroy the pipes. They like find the the portal that gets them out and they interrupt an X-Men baseball game. One of their... Again, very funny. Love an X-Men baseball game. One of the famous X-Men baseball games. And so that eventually leads to this trial on Krakoa where Dracula is and he's like,
00:33:54
Speaker
Yeah, i I made them call this session because you killed a bunch of vampires. And ah they're like, well, Alex is, is and and his people, they're not even from your country. Like they're they're ah defectors. so So let us deal with them. like They're literal traitors. So then Dracula's like, okay, fine. Yeah, deal with them.
00:34:24
Speaker
And ah then the last issue, which is, ah the last issue is unabashedly great all the way through because it's just this team going back to the bar, finding Alex and and whipping vampire ass for a full issue. And fully murdering them. Yes. They also blow up ah the collectorship.
00:34:54
Speaker
they They get magic involved too, um to like pull a trick that is that is very fun. ah they They get magic, capital M-A-G-I-K. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Iliana Rasputin. In case that wasn't clear. The character magic, yes. Yes. um And Jubilee goes so hard. It's Jubilee, right, that ends up like having no hair?
00:35:21
Speaker
Yes. She goes burns off all of her hair. She burns off all of her hair by the end of it. Yeah. Uh, and, uh, and that's a hoot that the last issue is I have no issues or complaints with it. It's just a hoot. Like I was so totally, totally on board by issue five. Um, which is, a I mean, if the book was meant to continue, that's a bummer that, um, you know,
00:35:50
Speaker
for me, it was just kind of getting off the ground at the end. And, and that was the end of it. So yeah, it's a very, very fun book. And any complaints I have about it, I am more than aware are just about my own hangups, you know, who or like, I don't know, like maybe it is a hint of prudishness where it's like,
00:36:20
Speaker
People in comic books shouldn't be talking about that. it's like It's like the Harley Quinn cartoon, where it's like, she can't be saying that, Batman's around.
00:36:33
Speaker
Yeah, well, I do think like that is maybe the most subjective kind of thing, right? Of like, what is it? Like, like I wouldn't want I wouldn't want Captain America in this book, yeah you know? like and But I feel like there's...
00:37:01
Speaker
who's saying it, what they're saying, how it's presented, who the creators are, that's all going to be stuff that like influences how it's read. And I think that is the most subjective, like the end result of all that is very subjective of whether you like find it funny or appealing. I think all of that stuff absolutely makes a difference. And I actually does think do think it helps even though some of the placement of the flash forwards to the, the tribunal or trial or whatever you want to call it.
X-Terminators as a Unique Sex Comedy
00:37:31
Speaker
are maybe not where they should be, but by having Professor X and Emma Frost there to kind of be like, this is not how X-Men should act, you know? with Which, Emma Frost saying that while wearing her costume that is fully just lingerie? that's Yes, that is a ten cap tiny nothing bikini.
00:37:56
Speaker
Very funny. There's one part where she is wearing that lingerie costume and she's talking to Dazzler and she goes, darling, I'll forgive the unnecessarily grand entrance, but in a cheerleading costume for a pickup game, you embarrass me. Pretty funny. like That's pretty funny. ah But yeah, like to have you know Professor X and and Storm there to be like, what what were you doing?
00:38:27
Speaker
How did this happen? um I do think that helps, like, kind of bring it in line with the broader X-Men. Yeah. Yeah, like I can see that. ah It's weird that this is happening, like, pretty much at the same time as ah Magneto is crushing that guy's head on Mars. Right. Yes.
00:38:57
Speaker
almost exactly ah the same. Like, yeah, Storm is here talking about like, hey, let's maintain decorum in front of our guests while she's also becoming the regent of Araco, you know?
00:39:19
Speaker
I don't know, it it is a very fun book. By the end of it, I was able to shake off a lot of my hang ups and reservations about it and just have fun reading it. Yeah, i I had a blast with it from from Jump Street, honestly. And i I have already compared it to ah Bottoms. yeah And I feel like that's like, yeah, this is this is the Bottoms of the Marvel Universe. It's in the milieu, for sure.
00:39:55
Speaker
Yeah, and considering like it's competition for being like a fun sex romp, like a fun, sexy, goofy comedy romp story, I feel like the competition there is what, trouble?
00:40:17
Speaker
Whoo, that's not much competition. Yeah, pretty big step up. Pretty big, pretty big upgrade. and ah Maybe that's part of it. A genre you almost never see in superhero comics is a sex comedy, right? yeah like Yeah. Like, there's lots of soap opera. That's been true of comics for many, many years. But like the sort of breakup sex comedy that this is,
00:40:47
Speaker
not something you often see in superhero comics, for sure. But if you are going to see it in superhero comics, it should be in an X-Men book. Sure. Yeah. Comics's weirdest, horniest cast.
00:41:03
Speaker
Yeah, you know what? But ultimately, I didn't think about it this way, but what what this book kind of does is take a lot of the subtext of X-Men comics and make it text.
00:41:17
Speaker
They may not be talking about Boom Boom's boobs all the time, but boy, characters in the X-Men comics are thinking about them. Yeah, because honestly, wouldn't you be? Yeah. Like the X-Men are like, unless it's your entire deal that you're not hot, you are hot.
00:41:44
Speaker
Like, you like the if you're in the X-Men, you're sexy. And that's like canon. Well, it's it's, you know, they've been wearing those costumes for a long time. And Professor X was like, yep, that's fine. It's fine for you to wear that.
00:42:05
Speaker
I mean, it's almost like those comics were made by a bunch of fucking perverts. By, like, real horny people. real Like, starting in 1975. Uh-huh. It's almost like Chris Claremont was getting out some of his kinks. Yeah, it's almost like if you read the Dark Phoenix saga, it's almost... There's almost something going on there. So weird.
00:42:35
Speaker
Let's rank this. I i do like it. i i like quite likely yeah I wanted to acknowledge from the start that, like, I am not the intended audience for this book, and I know I'm not the intended audience for this book, and I understand it, and I have to acknowledge it even though, like, I don't think it's to this book's detriment in any way.
00:43:03
Speaker
it's just weird for me to see a superhero call another superhero a tart multiple times, even as a rib, you know? Like, cause I mean, I, you know, that's a word I'm sure that's been used in comics for a long time is kind of like an insult, but for it to be like friendly ribbing,
00:43:33
Speaker
Like, to me, to my eye, it's like, it's kind of mean. But like like, I know that that's what they're doing. I know that that's like the friendly ribbing. When I see that though, like when I see the word Tarte, which I think is, is, look, it's not a word I use. I'm not gonna call anyone that. It also reeks to me like a money placement. And the Holy Grail, right? Sure. But it also reeks to me as a replacement for a different word.
00:44:05
Speaker
You know what I'm saying? I mean, I guess, but like, what are they not calling each other? Like, they call each other worse names than those. I think there's a handful of words that it could be in place of. and Well, it's weird that this is a, like, has the whole mature readers bit. And one of the reasons that i I wondered why, or wondered if it was just a bit, is that, like, there's a lot of, like, you know,
00:44:30
Speaker
kind of minced cussing and, and sensor bars. And a lot of it is like intentionally funny. Yeah. But a lot of it is, you know, it's like, I don't know. I think again, I would never, I would not call someone this. The phrase that is used in the book, you dumb tart. Yeah. Yeah. Has a very funny rhythm to me.
00:45:00
Speaker
Like that combination of sounds, those are comedy sounds. sure i Like I don't think it's there as a replacement for anything. I think it's just a funny thing to call someone. Maybe so, maybe so. Like like like buffoon, you know? I feel like it is a replacement for a word with a similar cadence. Okay, all right.
00:45:28
Speaker
Uh, but I might be wrong about that. I might be wrong about that. but Okay. Now that you're getting into specifics, I think i've I'm seeing where you're coming from. um Yeah. Uh, in that scene also would have been funny. It would have been funny. They would have had to make it the, what is, what is Chad called the symbols? Uh, uh, Zag nuts. Yeah. yeah know that like they but That ain't code approved. No, that, that would have to be Zag nuts. I would have been shocked.
00:45:57
Speaker
I mean, yeah, with all the the censored cursing elsewhere in the book, ah yeah, for sure. I think this, okay, I think this is a very fun comic. I wouldn't call it like the best, but I think it's fun and good. So what part of the list is that?
00:46:25
Speaker
I mean, ah yeah I had a great time reading it. And, you know, we we we did talk about ah Leah Williams an awful lot. But I also think the art is is really like the art. ah Carlos Gomez does the art. And it's like a joke that we didn't talk about. I think it's it's on. Is it in like the first? Somewhere, this is called ah Grindhouse of X.
00:46:56
Speaker
Uh-huh, yeah. And I feel like Carlos Gomez's art is like perfect for that, because he's drawn sexy ladies. And like, that like like Boom Boom makes fun of what Jubilee and Dazzler are wearing as they're getting drunk, like in the beginning. Jubilee's dressed like a hot streamer.
00:47:17
Speaker
She's wearing like an oversized sweatshirt, no pants, a garter belt, and stockings. Yeah, she's she's wearing a sweatshirt as a dress basically. Yeah, she's she's a full e-girl in this.
00:47:32
Speaker
i oh Yes, it's it's very much that sort of like... Ginzy...
00:47:43
Speaker
sexy, not sexy aesthetic or like casual sexy, I guess you might call it. Carlos Gomez is, is, is the art here. Uh, Brian Valenza is doing the colors. Um, and I think both the, the art and the colors are very important in sort of like establishing a vibe of this book where it's like yes sexy women are like, yeah, sexy young women who were also covered in blood all the time.
00:48:13
Speaker
Yeah, no, like very, like very, very postmodern post exploitation exploitation. Yeah. And but like so again, first thing you see, Dazzler's Ass and Booty Shorts of Praxis written on it. Yeah. the the The big compliment I will give to Carlos Gomez here is that this is a book where the characters look very sexy.
00:48:42
Speaker
But it's not cheesecakey. If that makes sense. Yeah, it is like, it is, it's sexy, but in a way that I think works with and enhances the story and isn't like weirdly distracting and inappropriate for what's going on. At no point do these characters feel, I would say, objectified.
00:49:08
Speaker
it is acknowledged that they're sexy and they owe that, but like there's an ownership of it both in the dialogue and the art that I think helps this book achieve what it wants to achieve. Yeah. Yeah. Because there, you definitely could have had an artist on this comic, which has happened many times before. How many times, like maybe the best example I can think of is when Gail Simone started her run on Birds of Prey. And with Ed Bennis. And the artist immediately was Ed Bennis. And so Gail is trying to write these like fully realized, totally self-reliant, tough women. And
00:50:01
Speaker
The art is like cheesecake up the nines, right? And it's it's cognitive dissonance. And that happens in comics so much, where it's like, these are empowered women. You could see her boobs and butt in the same panel. yeah you know This doesn't fall into that trap. And that is that's great. That means maybe comics have I don't know, overcome a hurdle. Uh, or maybe it's just this one book, and probably just this one book. in you h But, but yeah, like Carlos Gomez has, has done some other stuff that I have enjoyed. Uh, and yeah, I think does a, does a great job here with that. Um, as for ranking, I've like, I don't know, I really liked it. I thought it was an absolute hoot. Yeah.
00:50:59
Speaker
i had like I had zero qualms about it. like
00:51:05
Speaker
like i'm looking I'm looking relatively high on the list. like At number 600, we have Astro City, volume one. It's probably not that good. It's probably not that good, yeah. I was looking in the 500s and I was like, it's this is maybe not to that standard. Yeah, but like at, what do we have at,
00:51:27
Speaker
At $6.50, we have the Multiversity Guidebook. Yeah. Which is pretty good. But this is probably as good as that. Well, Scroll Kill Crew is at $6.49, and I would say this is as fun as Scroll Kill Crew, for sure. I would say it's more fun than Scroll Kill Crew. Yeah, yeah. A book that is, you would really have to have Grant tell you their own dang selves.
00:51:57
Speaker
if that book was fully intentionally funny? Because I like know at least some of it's intentionally funny. I think it's intentionally funny, but... But is it 100% intentionally funny? these These are good questions. These are good questions. It probably is. Karan's pretty smart. um But yeah, I would say that's a... That's where we have Scroll Kill Crew. We have Major Bummer there. I think those are like...
00:52:25
Speaker
kind of very, very much in tune with, with at at the very least, the sort of general tone of what we're looking at. Yeah, I would agree. um I think this probably goes in that in that area.
00:52:43
Speaker
yeah 646 is Batman the Lazarus affair. What do you think? I don't know, man. I think I probably like this better. Okay. Honestly, like I like the Lazarus, I probably like this better. Do you like it as much as a threatening three story from Batman Adventures? I do like the threatening three. Yeah. A lot. yeah Okay. Here's the thing. Hey, I know it's better than season of mouse. Sure. Yeah. I said what I said. Look, if, if I could, I would
00:53:16
Speaker
automatically send down every Sandman entry we have on the list 100 places. Well, well, well. Look who's finally caught up with me. We agreed on these. We agreed on these rankings at the time. Here's what I'm saying. Can we in good conscience, as as people who who try to do our best in the world,
00:53:43
Speaker
Rank this below that story about that fucking freak Hugo Strange. That freakin' weirdo. I will say, that story makes me feel similarly uncomfortable at times.
00:54:02
Speaker
Like, i that this answers my question about whether, if if this story had been about men, would I get weirded squicked out about it the like that you go straight a story I'm like oh god that should not be the superhero comic what a freak that guy's a freak what a freak he's what a nasty boy i but I would put this above that that's what ah that's what I'm saying how can we how can we not put it above that yeah I would put it up as right thinking people yeah
00:54:34
Speaker
Uh, I'm, I'm willing to put it either directly above that. Uh, I honestly, it has not, is not as affecting as cartilage head. No, I love cartilage. That you and I, I'm sure both think about very often. I've, I've considered many times getting a cartilage head. I've told you that I've thought about getting the, a tattoo of the, I proved myself What is it? I proved myself a coward. I proved myself a coward who would desert a dying man. Desert a dying man, yeah. I've thought about getting that tattoo. ah Many, many times. That says so much.
00:55:15
Speaker
I feel like my tattoos, like because I do technically have multiple tattoos of weapons, and like and I have a tattoo that says, if you can't beat them, and the end of that is make them bleed like pigs. yeah Like, I feel like my tattoos come off as way more aggro than I am as just you know someone who likes D and&D and the mountain goats. I feel like if you get a tattoo of the of the cartilage-head card that he leaves, the calling card that says, I proved myself a coward who would desert a dying man. With the picture of Ray on it. With the picture of Ray on it. Yeah, man. like
00:56:01
Speaker
that's is That's the image you're putting out in the world.
00:56:10
Speaker
ah So yeah, like I think that's an absolute ceiling, but I think like it could go anywhere between those two comics. I think we put it above Prey. I think i think we can put it above that Tomb of Dracula issue too. How great would Prey have been if Batman had been like, wait, why don't you piss? You little piss-king boy. You'll piss weirdo. I cannot abide Batman saying that.
00:56:43
Speaker
ah The one time Batman pissed himself in a comic is the worst thing that ever happened. Do not bring that up. Do not. How dare you? We were approaching it. There was no way not to bring it up. All right. Exterminator is 2022.
00:57:00
Speaker
And there's the list at number 642. So it's going just below case of the mystery story. Yes. I think that's a pretty good showing for this book. It is a very fun comic and I allowed myself to shake off any, uh, hesitations I had about it and just, just fully enjoyed it by the end of the end of the book.
00:57:29
Speaker
Thank you for recommending that one, listeners. Yeah, that was that was a good wreck. Again, like if you see a comic where someone locks on the sharpshooter or like hits the Rainmaker or something, yeah and you don't hear us talk about it, let like let us know. And a lot of people are like, hey, I'm sure you've seen this before. And and a lot of times I have not seen it before. Yeah. I i do think, um,
00:57:57
Speaker
I am almost certain that Jubilee, or Dazzler, would call it the sharpshooter, but I would like to know if maybe she would call it the Scorpion Deathlock, because that's important that's important for me. Dazzler's not. Dazzler's from from New York. She's in that New York territory. She's never going to call it the Scorpion Deathlock. Yeah.
Support and Patreon Highlights
00:58:21
Speaker
It's too bad. If you want to recommend something for us to read for Comics Ketchup,
00:58:26
Speaker
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00:59:17
Speaker
Go make that worth our time, please. And listen to that, please.
00:59:26
Speaker
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00:59:49
Speaker
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01:00:09
Speaker
over there on Discord of We're Rocket HX fans. If you want to find me and my stuff, go to MattDWilson.net. It has newly updated links to all my stuff. ah My social media is my comics, my books, my other podcasts. I just updated the link to Copernicus Jones, Robot Detective, my comic, which is now available on Global Comics. So it's finally online somewhere again where you can go buy it. So go check it out there if you've never read it before.
01:00:38
Speaker
Chris, where can people find you? Everybody can find me by going to the-isb.com. That is my website, and it's got links to all the stuff that I do. Thanks for listening, everybody. Yeah, thanks a lot. Hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation. Keep on recommending stuff that we might have missed out on, ah if if you think we'll like it. don't Don't be mad if we don't. But yeah, thanks for listening. Thanks for joining us. And hey,