Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men

<figure id="attachment_23986" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23986" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/X524.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-23986" src="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/X524.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="618" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/X524.jpg?w=1024&#38;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/X524.jpg?resize=300%2C181&#38;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/X524.jpg?resize=768%2C464&#38;ssl=1 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23986" class="wp-caption-text">Illustration by David Wynne</figcaption></figure> <p>In which Xorn goes out on the town; silverware is morally neutral; Cyclops pursues dubious counsel; the X means ten; and Fantomex is eminently enjoyable.</p> <p>X-PLAINED:</p> <ul> <li>The parentage of Hope Summers</li> <li><em>New X-Men</em> #127-130</li> <li>Mutant Town</li> <li>A monster who is not a monster but is, perhaps, a metaphor</li> <li>X-Corporation Paris</li> <li>The whole Phoenix situation</li> <li>Fantomex</li> <li>Weapon XII</li> <li>A gene-hazard</li> <li>Corporal Animal</li> <li>E.V.A.</li> <li>The Weapon Plus program (somewhat)</li> <li>The World (somewhat)</li> <li>The Shi’ar Empire vs. Earth</li> <li>Xorn variations</li> </ul> <p>NEXT EPISODE: A Memorial of Magnetism</p> <hr /> <p>Check out the visual companion to this episode <a href="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/2026/05/as-mentioned-in-episode-524/">on our blog</a>.</p> <p>Find us on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jay-miles-x-plain-the-x-men/id862258051">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3dB4KyeOeylfiIVImshFY2?si=ee5e912a53114820">Spotify</a>!</p> <p>Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men is 100% ad-free and listener supported. If you want to help support the podcast–and unlock more cool stuff–you can do that <a href="https://www.patreon.com/xplainthexmen">right here</a>!</p> <p>Buy rad swag at <a href="https://xplainthexmen.dashery.com/">our Dashery shop</a>!</p>

<figure id="attachment_23958" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23958" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/X523.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-23958 size-full" src="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/X523.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="618" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/X523.jpg?w=1024&#38;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/X523.jpg?resize=300%2C181&#38;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/X523.jpg?resize=768%2C464&#38;ssl=1 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23958" class="wp-caption-text">Illustration by David Wynne</p> <dd></figcaption></figure> <p>In which Wolverine learns to fly; pants are a basic human right; we decide to cherry-pick our Xorn retcons; Xavier’s eyebrows follow his mind; and the first year of <em>New X-Men</em> ends with a bang.</p> <p>X-PLAINED:</p> <ul> <li>The origin of the Shi’ar Imperial Guard</li> <li><em>New X-Men</em> #124-126</li> <li>The current state of Charles Xavier’s body</li> <li>G-Type</li> <li>Neosaurus</li> <li>Plutonia</li> <li>Schism</li> <li>Oracle</li> <li>Stuf</li> <li>Gladiator (more) (again)</li> <li>Angel disambiguation</li> <li>Several plans</li> <li>Mutant justice</li> <li>Several miracles of magnetism</li> <li>Mummudrai</li> <li>Horror movie shit</li> <li>Subtle visual foreshadowing</li> <li>A ruse</li> <li>Education</li> <li>Long-lost family members</li> <li>What may or may not come after this</li> </ul> <p>NEXT EPISODE: Fantomex!</p> <hr /> <p>Check out the visual companion to this episode <a href="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/2026/05/as-mentioned-in-episode-523/">on our blog</a>.</p> <p>Find us on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jay-miles-x-plain-the-x-men/id862258051">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3dB4KyeOeylfiIVImshFY2?si=ee5e912a53114820">Spotify</a>!</p> <p>Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men is 100% ad-free and listener supported. If you want to help support the podcast–and unlock more cool stuff–you can do that <a href="https://www.patreon.com/xplainthexmen">right here</a>!</p> <p>Buy rad swag at <a href="https://xplainthexmen.dashery.com/">our Dashery shop</a>!</dd>

<figure id="attachment_23923" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23923" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X522.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-23923 size-full" src="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X522.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="618" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X522.jpg?w=1024&#38;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X522.jpg?resize=300%2C181&#38;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X522.jpg?resize=768%2C464&#38;ssl=1 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23923" class="wp-caption-text">Illustration by David Wynne</p> <dd></figcaption></figure> <p>In which Marvel goes wordless; Cassandra Nova breaks space; none of the X-Men have media training; and Gus was the best dog ever.</p> <p>X-PLAINED:</p> <ul> <li>Erik the Red (more) (again)</li> <li>Kin Crimson</li> <li>A big messy bag of mutant glory</li> <li><em>New X-Men</em> #121-123</li> <li>‘Nuff Said</li> <li>A journey into Charles Xavier’s mind</li> <li>What Emma is drinking</li> <li>A fetus fight</li> <li>The criminal culpability of a fetus</li> <li>Space problems</li> <li>A cosplay challenge</li> <li>Space</li> <li>Charles Xavier’s weird last wish</li> <li>A press conference</li> <li>Teen romance</li> <li>The Stepford Cuckoos</li> <li>Gus</li> <li>Charles Xavier’s age</li> <li>Nanosentinels</li> <li>Stuf</li> <li>Pre-ride safety announcements from the X-Men</li> <li>Whether Cassandra Nova should’ve been a component of Onslaught</li> </ul> <p>NEXT EPISODE: Cassandra Nova vs. the X-Men (Round 2)!</p> <hr /> <p>Check out the visual companion to this episode <a href="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/2026/04/as-mentioned-in-episode-522/">on our blog</a>.</p> <p>Find us on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jay-miles-x-plain-the-x-men/id862258051">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3dB4KyeOeylfiIVImshFY2?si=ee5e912a53114820">Spotify</a>!</p> <p>Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men is 100% ad-free and listener supported. If you want to help support the podcast–and unlock more cool stuff–you can do that <a href="https://www.patreon.com/xplainthexmen">right here</a>!</p> <p>Buy rad swag at <a href="https://xplainthexmen.dashery.com/">our Dashery shop</a>!</dd>

<figure id="attachment_23883" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23883" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X521.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23883 size-full" src="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X521.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="618" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X521.jpg?w=1024&#38;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X521.jpg?resize=300%2C181&#38;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X521.jpg?resize=768%2C464&#38;ssl=1 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23883" class="wp-caption-text">Illustration by David Wynne</p> <dd></figcaption></figure> <p>In which John Sublime sucks; Angel Salvatore rules; trauma does not justify evil; and you should never, ever, <em>ever</em> mess with Jean Grey.</p> <p>X-PLAINED:</p> <ul> <li>A horrifying revelation</li> <li>The universe where Jay and Miles work for Cassandra Nova</li> <li><em>New X-Men</em> #118-120</li> <li>John Sublime (more) (again)</li> <li>The U-Men</li> <li>Psychic energy, gender-reveal party-style</li> <li>The Stepford Cuckoos</li> <li>One way to disperse a mob</li> <li>An uncivil conversation</li> <li>The death and/or discomfort of many U-Men</li> <li>An awakening of sorts</li> <li>Squaring the phoenix</li> <li>Hank McCoy’s “coming out”</li> </ul> <p>NEXT EPISODE: The Shi’ar invade!</p> <hr /> <p>Check out the visual companion to this episode <a href="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/2026/04/as-mentioned-in-episode-521-snowflakes">on our blog</a>.</p> <p>Find us on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jay-miles-x-plain-the-x-men/id862258051">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3dB4KyeOeylfiIVImshFY2?si=ee5e912a53114820">Spotify</a>!</p> <p>Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men is 100% ad-free and listener supported. If you want to help support the podcast–and unlock more cool stuff–you can do that <a href="https://www.patreon.com/xplainthexmen">right here</a>!</p> <p>Buy rad swag at <a href="https://xplainthexmen.dashery.com/">our Dashery shop</a>!</dd>

<figure id="attachment_23831" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23831" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X520.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23831 size-full" src="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X520.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="618" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X520.jpg?w=1024&#38;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X520.jpg?resize=300%2C181&#38;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.xplainthexmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/X520.jpg?resize=768%2C464&#38;ssl=1 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23831" class="wp-caption-text">Illustration by David Wynne</p> <dd></figcaption></figure> <p>In which several individuals are not what they seem; John Sublime sucks; Cyclops talks Xorn down from a cosmic ledge; we meet the inimitable Beak; and Cassandra Nova makes herself (limitedly) known.</p> <p>X-PLAINED:</p> <ul> <li>John Sublime</li> <li>Marvelscope™</li> <li><em>New X-Men</em> 2001 Annual</li> <li><em>New X-Men</em> #117</li> <li>Xorn</li> <li>X-Corporation</li> <li>The U-Men</li> <li>Ao Jun (and his super gross mutant power)</li> <li>Synchronized heists</li> <li>Psychometry vs. telepathy</li> <li>A big eventual twist</li> <li>Beak (Barnell Bohusk)</li> <li>A kiss</li> <li>Some really fucked up use of telepathy</li> <li>Some Moira MacTaggert continuity nonsense</li> </ul> <p>NEXT EPISODE: U-Men vs. X-Men</p> <hr /> <p>Check out the visual companion to this episode <a href="https://www.xplainthexmen.com/2026/04/as-mentioned-in-episode-520-head-like-a-black-hole">on our blog</a>.</p> <p>Find us on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jay-miles-x-plain-the-x-men/id862258051">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3dB4KyeOeylfiIVImshFY2?si=ee5e912a53114820">Spotify</a>!</p> <p>Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men is 100% ad-free and listener supported. If you want to help support the podcast–and unlock more cool stuff–you can do that <a href="https://www.patreon.com/xplainthexmen">right here</a>!</p> <p>Buy rad swag at <a href="https://xplainthexmen.dashery.com/">our Dashery shop</a>!</dd>