Days Of Future Podcast: Examining The X-men

For our fifth annual Halloween episode, we're taking a look at 1985's "Heroes for Hope: Starring the X-Men" one-shot, a special issue put together by Marvel to help raise awareness about hunger in Africa, with all proceeds for the book going towards African famine relief. A surprisingly dark, psychological horror-tinged tale that sees the X-Men battling an ancient demon that can summon their greatest fears, this book was a true all-star effort, with contributions from both numerous famous comic creators (including Stan Lee, Chris Claremont, Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Brian Bolland, Archie Goodwin, Denny O'Neill, John Romita Jr. and many others), AND a few notable authors from outside the industry, such as George R.R. Martin, Edward Bryant, Harlan Ellison, and the master of terror himself, Stephen King. Plus, we try to figure out which X-Men characters would be best suited to play some of our favorite iconic horror movie characters (n case they want to trade in superheroics for acting), and Trev offers some ver

HoX PoX is complete! Jonathan Hickman's epic, and much-publicized 12-issue relaunch of the X-Men universe wrapped up last week, so now - on the eve of the "Dawn of X" series of new monthly X-titles - it's time for us to look back at the complete HoX PoX saga. What did we think of "House of X" and "Powers of X" overall? Who were our favorite characters, and what were the most exciting moments? Do we have any theories or predictions? And how x-cited are we for what is to come next? All of these questions and more are answered, as we get into an in-depth discussion of what truly was one of the biggest and most revolutionary events in X-Men history. facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast

We're back! That's right, it's our long-awaited Season Two premiere, and we're celebrating with a belated, but nonetheless exciting look at the third and final season of FX's LEGION. After a controversial second season, Noah Hawley's mind-bending look at David Haller, the troubled son of Charles Xavier, returned and wrapped up this past summer. Were we satisfied with the resolution? And how do we now feel about the series in total? We answer these questions and more, with an in-depth (sorta) look at the third season. But first, talk of the Disney/Sony Spider-Man brouhaha, the brief rumor of Kit Harrington playing Wolverine, and the X-Men cartoons coming to the Disney+ streaming service. Plus, we check in on HoXPox, and discuss how we're currently feeling about Jonathan Hickman's epic relaunch of the X-MEN comic universe. facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast  

It's the season one finale of Days of Future Podcast (don't worry, we explain within), and we're going out with a bang! First up, we discuss the MCU Phase Four announcements from San Diego Comic Con, assessing the cinematic universe the X-Men will eventually be entering in the (near?) future. Then, we take a look at all of the upcoming X-universe comic titles that were announced at SDCC. What do we think about out first peek at the post-HOUSE OF X/POWERS OF X X-Men landscape? Speaking of HOUSE OF X and POWERS OF X (or "HoX PoX," as the cool kids are calling it), the first issues of both have been released, and we've read them! That's right, Joe is joining Trev in staying current on this epic relaunch of the X-Men universe. We take a deep dive into the first two issues of Jonathan Hickman's bold new take on Marvel's mutants, summarizing the events and then sharing our thoughts and predictions on what's to come. It's an incredibly exciting time to be a X-MEN fan, to be sure, but do we feel the initial issues li

In 2001, writer Peter Milligan and artist Michael Allred took over X-FORCE, ditching the characters fans already knew and loved for a completely new cast and a bold new concept - a satirical book about a mutant superhero team that were also reality TV stars. Eventually re-launching with the new title X-STATIX, this insanely creative title would be ultimately short-lived, but go on to enjoy a strong cult following to this day. Now, 15 years since the original X-STATIX title ended, Mister Sensitive, Doop, Dead Girl, Vivisector, & U-Go Girl are back (along with some new members), in Milligan and Allred's brand-new GIANT SIZE X-STATIX #1. In this episode, we discuss the issue, giving our thoughts on if the return of X-Statix lived up to the hype, and also our excitement over the surprise announcement at the end of the issue. Plus, we've seen the first three episodes of the third and final season of LEGION, so we're checking in with our initial thoughts on the climactic run. Is it still as weird as ever? Is th

The Fox era is officially over (yeah, yeah, we know...NEW MUTANTS...but whatever), and so we figured it was a good time to look at the entire Fox X-Film franchise and offer our definitive rankings of the twelve films. How similar are our lists? Which films do we believe stand above the rest, and which do we consider unwatchable? And what is our overall impression of the entire franchise? Listen on to find out. Plus, with DARK PHOENIX released and already evaporating from the public consciousness, we take a look at the fallout, including details on the original ending, Simon Kinberg assuming personal responsibility for its failure, and what its future reputation might be. Also, new info about a scrapped Beast movie, Joe discusses his excitement about the upcoming Hickman run of X-books, and we offer our thoughts on who Keanu Reeves could play in the X-Men wing of the MCU. All this, and, in the return of Mutant Match-Up, we ponder whether a villainous telepath or a certain snarky mercenary would be the better c

It is finally upon us. Nearly 20 years after it started, the Fox X-MEN franchise comes to a close with DARK PHOENIX, which arrived in theaters this past weekend to an embarrassing critical drubbing and dreadful box office results. But does the film really deserve the reaction it received? We're here to share our thoughts on the highs and lows of the film - What does it get right? What does it get wrong? What did we think of Sophie Turner's titular performance? And is the movie a worthy conclusion to this iteration of the X-Men cinematic saga? We discuss all this and more, in an in-depth review and breakdown of DARK PHOENIX.  facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast  

In 1984, writer Chris Claremont and artist Barry Windsor-Smith offered up a different type of superhero story in X-Men #186. "Lifedeath: A Love Story" finds a recently de-powered Storm being tended to by Forge - the man who, unbeknownst to her, is himself partly responsible for her losing her mutant abilities. How does a woman once worshipped as a super-powered goddess face a future with no powers? Is she more than the sum of her powers? This classic, introspective story sought to answer these questions, in the process further developing Storm into one of the X-Men's best, most complex characters. A year later, Claremont and Windsor-Smith would deliver a sequel story, "Lifedeath II," in X-Men #198, this time depicting a wounded, exhausted Storm tasked with protecting a young pregnant woman in the African plains. In this episode, we take a look at both of these classic stories, examining what they tell us about Storm, and why stories like these manage to resonate and stand out amongst the more common action-pa

In the much anticipated return of the film commentary series, Trev & Joe are once again joined by our friend (and fellow X-Nerd) Tom, to provide a running audio commentary for 2014's X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. This star-studded follow-up to both FIRST CLASS and the original X-MEN trilogy is one of the most successful, critically acclaimed entries in the Fox X-MEN franchise. Why is this particular entry so beloved, and does now knowing where the series was heading after this (not to mention more knowledge about the problematic director) change how one might x-perience the film? Join us as we watch the film and x-plore these questions, and more. As usual with our commentaries, watching along with us is recommended, but certainly not required. NOTE: This audio commentary is for the theatrical edition of DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, not the alternate "Rogue Cut." facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast

In the grand tradition of Marvel's classic "What if" series, which explored alternate versions of beloved characters and stories, this episode takes a look at a world where Trev and Joe don't host an X-Men podcast, but instead have a long-running Avengers podcast. And wouldn't you know it...it's just in time to review the much anticipated AVENGERS: ENDGAME, the 22nd film in the MCU, currently obliterating box office records across the globe. What did Trev & Joe think of this massive hit? Listen on to find out. NOTE: this is a very spoiler heavy discussion, so if you're one of the 17 people who have still not seen ENDGAME, tread carefully here. facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast  

In this episode, we take a look back at the recently completed second season of FOX's THE GIFTED. How did the second year stack up against the "better than you would think but still not GREAT" first season? Which characters were improved, and which lost some luster? Was this year's storyline more compelling? What did we think of the live-action depiction of the Morlocks? Most importantly, is the show still a worthwhile watch for X-Men fans? We answer all of these questions, and more. Also, we briefly discuss the just announced return of Peter Milligan and Michael Allred's "X-Statix," and share our thoughts on the STAR WARS EPISODE IX: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER trailer. Plus...ESPN? NOTE: This episode was recorded before news of THE GIFTED's cancellation...so when we speculate on the possibility of a third season, feel free to roll your eyes in annoyance. facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast

With it now more or less assured that the X-Men will soon be coming to the MCU, in this episode we discuss which directors we would most like to see handed the reins, and why.  Plus, we once again speculate on the future of THE NEW MUTANTS based on Maisie Williams' recent comments about the lack of planned reshoots, and examine the recent news about superstar comic writer Jonathan Hickman returning to Marvel for two new X-books, "Age of X" and "Power of X." And, in one of the most contentious moments in DOFPodcast history, we have an intense, way-too-long argument about Steven Spielberg's recent announcement that he will be working with the new Apple streaming service, and whether or not this makes him a hypocrite. Cause, you know...X-Men? facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast

Last year, we held a Mutant March Madness tournament to determine the best X-Men comic character of all time. This year, the tourney is back, but we're turning our attention to the live-action realm, as we pit 64 of the most iconic live-action X-Universe characters against each other in a last-mutant-standing battle. Included are characters from the X-MEN and DEADPOOL film franchises, as well as TV's LEGION and THE GIFTED. Determining factors include how accurate they are to their comic book origins, how strong the actor's performance is, and - if those aren't enough - the "X-Factor!" Who is the greatest X-Men movie & TV character ever? You might think you know, but we promise there are some surprises along the way. facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast

A brand new DARK PHOENIX trailer (two, if you also count the International version) has dropped, and we're here to share our thoughts. The surprising(?) reveal of a major character death, the continued mystery of who exactly Jessica Chastain is playing, oddly familiar looking setpieces, and a questionable make-up job for Mystique...we eXamine it all, including the overall fan reaction to the trailer. Has this new look at the film made us more or less excited for the final chapter in the Fox X-Men saga? Plus, we also share our thoughts on which characters and storylines we're most surprised and/or disappointed we never got to see in nearly twenty years of Fox X-Men films. And, in another installment of "Mutant Match-Up," a cocky X-student and a villain-turned-X-Men-associate are pitted against each other in an incredibly serious battle to see who could probably best fold a fitted sheet. Also, Weird Al talk, FULL/FULLER HOUSE talk, and...Kirk Cameron talk? All this, and more! facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast Tw

The year is 1980. Mount St. Helens is about to erupt, Ronald Reagan is on his way to being elected President, and over in Hollywood, megastar Bo Derek is preparing to star as Dazzler in what will be the first live-action blockbuster movie from Marvel. That's right, decades before we were all wowed by how impressive AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR was, we almost had an even more ambitious cinematic superhero spectacle - a DAZZLER movie that would have seen everyone's favorite disco-queen mutant, along with Spider-Man and the Avengers, zapped to the far future. Set to star an extremely eclectic cast including Derek, Robin Williams, Cher, KISS, The Village People, Rodney Dangerfield, and more, the DAZZLER movie obviously never actually happened. But in this episode, we take a look at the bizarre treatment written for the film (by comics legend Jim Shooter)...as well as the problematic, but perhaps more-relevant-than-ever 1984 graphic novel, "Dazzler: The Movie" (also penned by Shooter), which details Dazzler's encounters

On this episode, we tackle a complicated topic in the world of X-Men. With a number of new allegations of sexual misconduct against Bryan Singer, it seemed high time to discuss how the controversy surrounding the director/producer affects the legacy of the Fox X-Men films. As the Fox films have been largely shepherded by Singer's vision - even often referred to as the "Singerverse" - does this mean the films themselves will forever be tainted by this controversy? Can one still enjoy the movies Singer was involved with? SHOULD one? There might be no easy answers here, but we still do our best to examine this tough issue. But first, we share our thoughts on recent rumors of NEW MUTANTS possibly debuting on HULU, as well as the apparent mixed response to recent DARK PHOENIX test screenings. We also answer a fan question regarding X-Men recommendations for Spider-Man fans, and - in a long awaited new edition of "Chatting Tatum" - we discuss the rumor of Tatum himself taking over the director's chair of GAMBIT. Al

It's our 100th episode! And we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than to thank our listeners, and give all of you the floor (plus, it allowed us to take it easy and not worry about generating all the content ourselves!). And so, we begin by discussing the x-tremely cool contents of a listener-submitted care package, and then go on to answer a number of questions submitted on our social media feeds. Which X-Men characters do we think have had the most interesting existences, what do the X-Men personally mean to us, what would OUR mutant powers be if we wrote ourselves into the comics...all of these questions and more are answered. Thank you to everyone who chimed in! Then, we move on to discussing issue #100 of the original "Uncanny X-Men" run. From August of 1976, and written and illustrated by the classic duo of Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum, "X-Men #100" sees a battle of X-Men vs. X-Men (at a time when that was still a novelty), as Wolverine, Storm, Banshee, Nightcrawler, and Colossus find them

It's Christmas time, and because we've been good little mutants this year, Santa Fox has gifted us with...a re-edited Deadpool movie? Well, okay, we'll take it. Or, at least, Joe will, as he checked out the new PG-13 version of this year's sequel, ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL. Is it worth the revisit? Listen on to hear his thoughts. But first, we discuss which mutant might make for a good Academy Awards host, and then get into the holiday spirit with a special extended edition of "Mutant Match-Up," in which we pit various X-Men characters against each other and decide which would be best at wrapping gifts, be most likely to go Christmas caroling, would be the biggest Grinch during the season, and more.  Contact Days of Future Podcast at: facebook.com/daysoffuturepodcast daysoffuturepodcast@gmail.com Twitter & Instagram: @dofpodcast

In this episode, we review the 2010 conclusion to the epic trilogy of X-Men crossover events that started with "Messiah Complex" and continued with "Messiah War." In "Second Coming," Cable and a now teenage Hope Summers have finally returned from their time-hopping adventures, and Bastion and his cabal of resurrected X-villains are intent on killing Hope, and with her the potential future of the now extremely dwindling mutant race. With their very existence on the line in a way they have never experienced before, the X-teams are forced to turn to a more militant approach in order to fight back, as Hope wrestles with her status of would-be mutant messiah, in one of the most action-packed X-events of all time. How does the crossover hold up, eight years later? We share our thoughts. Also, we discuss what it might mean that MCU mastermind Kevin Feige apparently had script input on X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX, the importance of DEADPOOL 2's Grammy nomination, and Joe ponders whether or not to see ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL. Al

In this episode, we pay our respects to the legendary Stan "The Man" Lee, co-creator of the X-Men (with artist Jack Kirby). Lee's recent passing was felt all around the world, and of course we'd be remiss if we didn't discuss his role in the X-Universe. He might have only written 19 issues of the original title, but the entire X-Men legacy owes much to Lee...not just many of the classic characters, but also the very ideals of tolerance and acceptance that he crafted into the franchise early on. We share our own thoughts on what Lee meant to us, as well as take an alphabetical look at just some of the many characters Lee helped created during his storied run. Plus, Trev reviews the current "Extermination" event, which is wrapping up the story of the time-displaced original teen X-Men, as well as the first issue of the brand new "Uncanny X-Men," which sees Marvel restore that name as the flagship X-title. What does Trev think of the new direction the X-books appear to be heading? Listen to find out...as well as