The Mutant Ages

"The Origin of the Spider-Friends," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Sep 07, 2026

How did Spider-Man, Firestar, and Iceman become best friends and also a superhero team? And how did they afford that massive super-computer in their secret lair, when they're also broke college students who can barely afford to pay their rent to Aunt May? "The Origin of the Spider-Friends" tries to answer these questions, although after watching this episode, we really don't know why Peter Parker is friends with these two. Bobby and Angelica relentlessly bully Peter at school, although it's not entirely clear if they even know they're doing that. Also, Tony Stark is in this episode, because he turns out to be the reason the Spider-Friends have that super-computer. This episode's plot doesn't make very much sense, but we all found it to be a delight to watch... that's classic Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends! We repeatedly refer to the GENO pilot in this episode (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcOGmOX79nw), which was a pilot for a TV show that Ryan and Maddy made in 2016. We never made any other episodes of the show, though. Also, Todd refers at one point to this amazing clip from the Wonder Woman TV show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCJsCM_4BNI Next episode: "Spidey Meets the Girl From Tomorrow," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Attack of the Arachnoid," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Aug 24, 2026

"Attack of the Arachnoid" gives us an evil version of Spider-Man in the form of a villain named Zoltan. We can't help but feel bad for his girlfriend Monica, who wears a yellow jumpsuit just like April O'Neill and seems to have a more brilliant scientific mind than her evil boyfriend. Anyway, Zoltan managed to replicate the circumstances that created Peter Parker's version of Spider-Man (bite from a radioactive spider), but his version just doesn't work as well, and it results in some true body horror and also one of the better episodes we've seen in a while. We all liked this one! Next episode: "The Origin of the Spider-Friends," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Education of a Superhero," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Aug 11, 2026

Video-Man is back yet again in "The Education of a Superhero," but he's not the Video-Man we met twice before. That's because this episode was actually a backdoor pilot for a Video-Man TV show in which Video-Man is a superhero who joins the X-Men, who also appear at the end of this episode. That's right, the formerly villainous Video-Man is now a budding superhero, whose civilian identity is the video games-obsessed nerd Francis Byte. His origin story includes a wholly original villain named Gamesman, who is kind of a rip-off of Arcade, but we actually liked this episode anyway. Maybe because it's about video games, and... zombies, kinda? Next episode: "Attack of the Arachnoid," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Bride of Dracula," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Jul 28, 2026

If there's one thing we know about Dracula, it's that he's supposed to be sexy. Not so much on Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, where the "Bride of Dracula" episode makes the famous vampire decidedly unappealing. Firestar gets kidnapped to be his bride and is therefore out of commission for almost this entire episode, much to our chagrin. Meanwhile, Spider-Man and Iceman spend the whole episode ragging on each other and competing over Firestar in the process of trying to rescue her, which isn't that fun to watch either. We do make it fun to recap, though, and we also manage to make several references to Castlevania and Ryan's self-insert fanfiction about his vampire OC Fearix Wolfgang. Next episode: "The Education of a Superhero," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Seven Little Superheroes" LIVE!! The Chameleon Fundraiser 2026 Jul 14, 2026

Here's the audio-only version of the wild-ass YouTube performance that Maddy, Ry P, Ry T, and Todd did to raise funds for The Trevor Project (https://tilt.fyi/lWsgWRSOJc). We re-enacted the entirety of the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends episode, "Seven Little Superheroes," featuring the Chameleon kidnapping the Spider-Friends along with Doctor Strange, Namor, Shanna, and Captain America. Despite facing a copyright strike from YouTube near the end of the show for showing footage of the original episode, the Mutant Agers persevere and continue their performance in a second video (both available on our YouTube channel, reinstated thanks to fair use guidelines). WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/@themutantages/streams Next episode: "The Education of a Superhero," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Spider-Man Unmasked!," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Jun 30, 2026

Who is Sadie Sink playing in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and why won't Marvel just confirm that the answer is Firestar? We take a minute to discuss this before diving into our review of "Spider-Man Unmasked!" in which the Spider-Friends go on vacation at the same place as Flash Thompson and decide to ruin his life (again). Because Peter Parker decides to change into his Spider-Man costume while hiding behind a sandcastle on the beach, Sandman discovers Peter's secret identity, because of course the sandcastle was actually Sandman (go with it). Angelica's solution is to trick Flash into putting on a Spider-Man costume and put him next to civilian-clad Peter, so as to confuse Sandman into thinking he didn't know what went on. Which was worse for Flash, this or the Video-Man episode? Hard to say. Next episode: July 5th livestream on our YouTube channel!! We're re-enacting the Chameleon episode. E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"A Firestar Is Born," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Jun 16, 2026

This is Firestar's origin story, arguably a more accurate and official one than the (worse) one that she gets in the comic books later on because Angelica Jones was invented specifically for Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. We loved this origin story for her because it involves her pushing back against a sociopathic mean girl at school and, perhaps best of all, the X-Men are in this episode. Storm makes the mistake of asking Firestar for her backstory, which is why we get to hear an extremely lengthy summary of every single time Angelica got bullied for being a mutant (and for being poor). You know who else is in this episode? The Juggernaut, bitch. Further reading: https://screenrant.com/xmen-emma-frost-firestar-horse-butter-rum/ Next episode: "Spider-Man Unmasked," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Along Came Spidey," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Jun 02, 2026

We all know Peter Parker's origin story, but Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends was obligated to give it to us all over again, because this is Spider-Man's show. Before we get to the mandatory flashback depicting Uncle Ben's death, we get a modern-day story about a villain named The Shocker whose superpower involves vibrating people. We make all the jokes you'd expect us to make about that, but also, most of this episode is about how Ryan's apartment has been haunted by an old-timey shopkeeper who was murdered there in the early 1900s. Why is that something we discussed on this episode, and so often? Who knows??? Next episode: "A Firestar is Born," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Crime of All Centuries," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends May 19, 2026

Kraven the Hunter has hatched a plan to breed a dinosaur army that will help him take over New York, and the technology that he's using to do it requires Firestar's heat powers. To Bobby and Peter's chagrin/jealousy, Angelica is easily seduced by Kraven and doesn't realize what's going on until after he's kidnapped her and put her in an airplane hangar. But this isn't just any airplane hangar; it's a glorified Danger Room made up to look like the Savage Land, and it's full of traps designed to stop our heroes. With Ms. Lion in tow, because she gets to go everywhere with them, Spider-Man and Iceman set off to save their BFF. Unfortunately for us, Kraven and his traps are far less entertaining than those of his more beloved sibling Chameleon (or at least, more beloved on *this* podcast). Next episode: "Along Came Spidey," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Quest of the Red Skull," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends May 05, 2026

Currently removed from Disney Plus, "The Quest of the Red Skull" is both offensive and poorly written. The Spider-Friends team up with Professor Hiawatha Smith, an indigenous American version of Indiana Jones who would be a really cool character if he weren't also a Noble Savage stereotype with magic powers based on "Indian lore." In this episode, Red Skull and a couple of Nazis are seeking out an old map to Hitler's hidden stash of missiles and cash, and Hiawatha Smith is the one who's been holding onto the map for protection all these years. Once the Nazis steal the map, our heroes follow them to the island, overcoming a series of Legend of Zelda traps and swastika-based environmental puzzles once they arrive. Next episode: "The Crime of All Centuries," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Pawns of the Kingpin," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Apr 21, 2026

Kingpin makes his debut on Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends and he actually comes off pretty well, devising a plan to brainwash Captain America and steal a multi-purpose ray gun developed in secret by the US military. The brainwashed version of Cap enlists Iceman to help him, and Iceman doesn't need any brainwashing in order to do whatever Steve Rogers tells him to do, including treason and murder. Spider-Man and Firestar have to help their gay BFF out of trouble, as usual. Next episode: "The Quest of the Red Skull," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (note that this episode was removed from Disney Plus because Hitler is in it! Look for it on Daily Motion if you're watching along with us.) E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Knights and Demons," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Apr 07, 2026

Remember the Black Knight from the movie Eternals (2021)? The Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends episode "Knights and Demons" actually does a better job introducing this character. Prior to the events of this episode, the Black Knight banished Modred (not to be confused with Mordred) to the Land of Shades, so Modred sends an enchanted gargoyle statue to Earth to steal the Black Knight's magic sword from a museum at the Spider-Friends' college. The gargoyle and the Black Knight both show up to fight over the sword in the NYC streets (and skies), so the Spider-Friends get involved, but they sure aren't helpful. The entire rest of the episode plays out like a Dungeons & Dragons game in which the Black Knight has surprisingly few points allocated to dexterity. Although, actually, it's not a Dungeons & Dragons game, because in this show, that game is called Sorcery & Serpents. Also, Peter and Bobby and Angelica are all members of the SCA, and we aren't even kidding about that bit. Next episode: "Pawns of the Kingpin," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Vengeance of Loki," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Mar 23, 2026

Many miles north of Norway, a tanker crashes into an iceberg and it's all according to Loki's evil plan. Iceman gets a call from an old hookup and/or government contact to rescue the crew on the sinking tanker; he brings Firestar and Spider-Man along, even though only Firestar is useful at all. Thor shows up for maybe no reason, and it turns out that all of this stuff happened because Loki was trying to steal a magic gem from an ancient Viking vessel embedded in the iceberg. The gem gives him ultimate cosmic power, blah blah blah. What actually matters in this episode is that Bobby Drake meets a Frost Giant queen and then has a full-on panic attack because she wants him to be her king. Poor Bobby... Next episode: "Knights and Demons," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends REFERENCES: An article about Loki: https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/loki-hero-or-villain-comic-book-history The Comphet Google doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vT3f5IIzt5PG-M7G9_Z-gjY4gZaiUneTdMlYrFAcdBGcJo0-N-RDQcj2JfxOaBTxKa6J_DiDQNgqVpg/pub E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Spidey Goes Hollywood," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Mar 10, 2026

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends does a very strange send-up of the film industry in "Spidey Goes Hollywood," in which Mysterio has built an elaborate lair underneath a studio lot on which a famous director named Sam Hollywood is filming a Spider-Man movie. Mysterio kidnaps Sam and forces him to get the real Spidey to star in the film, but Spider-Man won't agree without bringing along his friends Firestar and Iceman. Mysterio's real plan is to make a snuff film in which Spider-Man literally dies on set, and he needs to distract Iceman and Firestar from saving their friend so he creates sexy robots to seduce them. Now, you read all of that, and I bet you were thinking, "You know what this episode needs? For the incredible Hulk to show up!" That's what Marvel apparently thought. Why? Who knows. Who knows! Next episode: "The Vengeance of Loki," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Video-Man," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Feb 24, 2026

Todd, Ryan, and Maddy meet Video-Man for the first time (well, kind of) in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, and we find out that he was originally created by the villain Electro, who may or may not be a video game developer. Either way, Electro lives in an underground lair beneath Manhattan, and he's been sending Video-Man arcade cabinets to select locations. That's because Video-Man has the power to leap out of his arcade machine, suck people into it, and also collect various pieces of metal for Electro to use to build a high-powered transformer. Flash Thompson gets sucked into a game cabinet first, in a game of Pong — actually, uh, it's called Pongo — and soon after, Bobby and Angelica get stuck in a game cabinet as well. It's up to Peter to save them all, which he actually doesn't need to do because everything just explodes at the end and Electro dies. We think? Also a bunch of other random shit happens along the way that doesn't even matter. What is this show?! Next episode: "Spidey Goes Hollywood," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (The next episode chronologically should have been "The Prison Plot," but we already watched that because we watched this show out of order! Yay!!) E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Seven Little Superheroes," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Feb 10, 2026

Ryan, Todd, and Maddy meet their new favorite character, the Chameleon, in "Seven Little Superheroes," the latest wacky episode of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. This supervillain is a gender-fluid shape-changer who has a grudge against Spidey, Iceman, Firestar, and also four other random superheroes (Captain America, Namor, Doctor Strange, and Shanna the She-Devil). All seven of these superheroes get a mysterious invitation to the Chamelon's private island, which is a lot bigger than it looks and is full of traps designed to entice and ensnare them all. We love the Chameleon and we love how goofy this episode is. Next episode: "Video-Man," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Swarm," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Jan 20, 2026

Ryan, Todd, and Maddy watch the Cold War-era horror story that is "Swarm," an episode of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends in which Earth is suddenly under threat from a mysterious object from outer space. The outer space object first lands near a beehive, which results in the bees transforming into a human-shaped swarm that has the power to shoot brainwashing beams at people to turn them into insect-like worker drones. Iceman and Firestar are susceptible to these beams, but Spider-Man isn't, because he's already a bug. Except he's also a free-thinking, individualist human, darn it! Next episode: "Seven Little Superheroes," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Sunfire," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Jan 05, 2026

Maddy and Ryan invite Todd to the wild ride that is Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, specifically the episode "Sunfire" in which, you guessed it, the mutant Sunfire shows up alongside his evil uncle. For some reason, his evil uncle from the comic books isn't in this episode but instead a new character named Uncle Genju is here, with a rather more kid-friendly storyline than Sunfire's uncle had in the comics. Firestar and Sunfire have the exact same power set, and that plays a role in Uncle Genju's evil plot to create a fire monster that will destroy Manhattan and facilitate his world takeover. Once Firestar figures out what's really going on, she gets Spider-Man and Iceman to help her defeat the monster and clear the way for her to hook up with Sunfire. Up until that final battle, Bobby and Peter have mostly spent the episode dicking around and helping out Aunt May with her various helicopter-related foibles. We talk about the helicopter a lot. X-Men spotlight: Sunfire Next episode: "Swarm," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book Season Finale Dec 23, 2025

Ryan, Maddy, and Todd celebrate the holiday season in the best possible way, which is reading the season finale of The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book. Our heroes finally confront the Council of Xaviers, with the help of Cloaky, Pluggy, and any number of our characters with an axe to grind against Professor X. Also, Santa is there, because this is a holiday special. The audio for the reading is ripped from our YouTube livestream on Dec. 21, so it preserves all of our naturalistic interruptions and is therefore a bit more messy than your typical read-through might be, but that's all part of the charm, right? Watch the full livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/live/8RIVmWiRUC8 Donate to our charity fundraiser for The Trevor Project: https://tiltify.com/@the-mutant-ages/the-mutant-ages-holiday-fundraiser-2025 Next episode: "Sunfire," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us questions and feedback at themutantages@gmail.com, or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, December 2025 Dec 09, 2025

Ryan, Todd, and Maddy break open the listener mail vault and answer questions about de-aging Storm on X-Men Evolution and replacing her with a different teacher, the future of live-action X-Men adaptations and the legacy of X-Men (2000), mutants named after brand-new slang terms, what our personal drag names should be, and so much more. We refer to multiple articles in this episode, so here are some relevant links: Christian Cooper profile: https://www.motherjones.com/media/2020/12/heroes-of-2020-christian-cooper/ A comic about Starfire: https://www.shortpacked.com/comic/the-boner The history of the Comics Code Authority and LGBTQ+ characters: https://www.history.com/articles/how-the-code-authority-kept-lgbt-characters-out-of-comics Next episode: Our Dec. 21 livestream on our YouTube channel at 10 am ET! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Fantastic Mr. Frump," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Nov 23, 2025

After a brief detour of Maddy and Ryan sharing some fun facts about Ms. Lion, it's time to get into an episode of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends that is hard to read as anything but gay: "The Fantastic Mr. Frump." The titular Mr. Frump is an old friend of Aunt May's who suddenly finds himself out of a job and down on his luck. Meanwhile, Doctor Doom has cast a magic spell on an amulet that bestows almighty power upon its wielder, and Mr. Frump ends up grabbing the thing by accident. Mr. Frump then decides to use his new godlike power to turn New York City into a never-ending Pride parade, and that would probably be fine with Peter, Bobby, and Angelica, except for Doctor Doom manipulating Mr. Frump into attacking the superhero trio. Next episode: Listener Mail E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Triumph of the Green Goblin," Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends Nov 11, 2025

Maddy and Ryan circle back to the pilot episode of Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends, which you'd think would set up the show's premise and characters, but it doesn't. Peter and Bobby go on a double date to a comic book-themed dance where everybody's dressed up as Marvel heroes and heroines, which results in the most confusing possible introduction of Firestar, who's dressed as Spider-Woman and doesn't start using her actual powers until almost halfway through the episode. "The Triumph of the Green Goblin" is extra fun to watch for The Mutant Ages purposes because it's legitimately hard to tell whether Iceman or the Green Goblin is the more queer-coded character. Next episode: "The Fantastic Mr. Frump," Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Origin of Iceman," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Oct 28, 2025

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981) was not created during a time period when Bobby Drake was canonically gay, but watching "The Origin of Iceman" sure has Maddy and Ryan wondering about that. Thanks to the return of Video-Man (who has his own origin episode earlier in this series), Bobby Drake loses his mutant powers. Under the pretext of researching why this could have happened, Peter Parker straps Bobby into the university lab's memory machine, which allows Angelica and Peter to watch all of Bobby's embarrassing high school social gaffes on a big-screen TV. We soon learn Bobby would rather create a blizzard than dance with a girl, and even now, he can't manage to sit next to a girl on a couch. Also, this episode has some all-time great J. Jonah Jameson comedy in it, so we're excited to see him as a recurring fixture on this show. Next episode: "Triumph of the Green Goblin," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Prison Plot," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Oct 14, 2025

Maddy and Ryan travel back in time to 1981, when Iceman was still closeted and also was one of the three stars of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. This show also introduced a new mutant character named Firestar who got added to comic book canon later on; she sure does look a lot like Mary Jane, who isn't present on this show. Also, she's only here because (once again) the show creators couldn't get the rights to Human Torch from the Fantastic Four. We picked "The Prison Plot" to watch because Magneto is the big villain in this episode, and next time, we'll be watching "The Origin of Iceman," an episode with a title that says it all. But honestly, after watching these two episodes of this show, we've decided we're going to keep on watching the rest. It's just plain fun, and even though Bobby wasn't necessarily written to be a closeted character on this show, it's very easy to see him that way, and that's an unexpected bonus. Next episode: "The Origin of Iceman," Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Deadpool 2 (2018), Part 2 Sep 30, 2025

Ryan, Todd, and Maddy reconvene to discuss the second half of Deadpool 2 (2018), in which Deadpool and Cable do not kiss, to the chagrin of 2018-era Maddy. In 2025, though, we can all recognize what little gayness this movie could manage, which is Cable using his last bit of time travel juice to save Deadpool's life. Of course, after that, Cable would have to fight Colossus for Deadpool's affections, right? Except he's not going to have to, because there were no subsequent movies with Cable in them, even though the character says he's going to "stick around" after this. What happened? Disney bought Fox, that's what happened. We sure wouldn't be mad to see Josh Brolin and Zazie Beetz returning as Cable and Domino in the MCU, though... Next episode: "The Prison Plot," Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Deadpool 2 (2018), Part 1 Sep 15, 2025

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd discuss the first half of Deadpool 2, which is thankfully an improvement over the first Deadpool movie, but it still has a lot of Vanessa and Wade's chemistry-devoid love story that should not be in the movie. Despite that, we finally get to bring back the long-missing "Who's Gay?" section, which says a lot about how much this movie sets up Colossus/Deadpool and Cable/Deadpool flirtations and bits. The first half of the movie is really just a long wait for Domino, the best part of the movie, whom we'll just have to tell you more about next time. Next episode: Deadpool 2, Part 2 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, September 2025 Sep 02, 2025

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd convene to answer listeners' questions, including ones about which five X-Men should go on a cross-country RV trip together, which X-Men would be able to stand eating ten hot wings in 5 minutes (without using their powers), various X-Men novelizations, and even some more discussion of what Magneto was doing in X-Men '97. In our defense, one of you wrote us an email about it, so we had to talk about it again, okay? The episode ends with a rousing game of Two Truths and a Lie, but sadly no episode of The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book. We'll be back with that sometime soon, but we haven't recorded that yet. Instead, what's coming up is... Next episode: Deadpool 2 (Part 1)!!! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Looking back on The Gifted (2017-2019) Aug 19, 2025

Having finished both seasons of The Gifted, Maddy and Ryan get together for a big reminisce about what worked, what didn't work, and the larger legacy of this show as an X-Men adaptation. The disappointing series finale cast a shadow over this recording and our feelings about the show as a whole, but we nonetheless had plenty to choose from when it came to deciding on our favorite episodes and our favorite characters. Also, of course, what song should Andy have beatboxed but didn't? Next episode: Listener mail! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"oMens," The Gifted Aug 05, 2025

The Gifted deserved a better finale for season 2 than "oMens," and it definitely deserved a better series conclusion than this, but "oMens" is nonetheless the final episode of this show before its cancellation. Unfortunately, it's anticlimactic and clunky. We get to see all the plot points you would expect, such as the Mutant Underground finally coming together to face off against the Hellfire Club and Esmee Cuckoo betraying her sisters to join with Lorna, but it all happens so fast and with so little reflection on the part of the characters involved that it's pretty disappointing to watch. There's just one good scene in which John Proudstar uses his super-strength to beat up a shitload of Purifiers, and it's extremely satisfying. Next episode: The Gifted wrap-up/reflections E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Monsters," The Gifted Jul 22, 2025

The second-to-last episode of The Gifted, "Monsters," is mostly about moving chess pieces around the board. That is to say, all of the characters need to be in the correct spots before the finale. The result is kind of boring to watch, and there are a few scenes that get wrapped up in ways that don't quite make sense. Lauren and Caitlin are on the run from the cops, but their escape ends up being surprisingly simple in the end, thanks to Marcos and Reed's help. Reed is finally using his mutant powers, and it's going surprisingly well... so well that he has discovered he enjoys using them to kill people (RIP Wilson, Jace's boyfriend). Jace Turner still can't manage to get on the right side of history, but Esmee Cuckoo sure seems like she's about to. And of course, Lorna and Andy finally leave the Hellfire Club in this episode, a decision that was long overdue since Reeva's plans for world domination have become downright evil. Next episode: "oMens," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"calaMity," The Gifted Jul 07, 2025

Multiple major characters die in "calaMity," the third-to-last episode of The Gifted's final season, except wait, we shouldn't call Sage a major character, should we? It's a damn shame what this show has done to her, and we can't believe how anti-climactic her death scene turns out to be. Sage takes the fall for Lorna's bad spycraft within the Hellfire Club, even though the reasons for her being the scapegoat don't make a lot of sense. The rest of "calaMity" is a thrill ride that builds up to Jace leading the Purifiers in The Gifted's version of the Morlock Massacre, in which a surprisingly high number of Morlocks survive, thanks to Blink calling Marcos (and not her ex-boyfriend John) to bring in all the ex-Mutant Underground folks with some getaway cars. Unfortunately, despite everyone's best efforts, it's Blink who doesn't make it out of this situation alive. But isn't she supposed to be alive at the end of this show? Hmmm... Next episode: "Monsters," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"teMpted," The Gifted Jun 24, 2025

With only a few more episode to go before its cancellation, The Gifted is still chugging along, ramping up the stakes of the Inner Circle's motivations. In "teMpted," Lorna engages in some bad spycraft and learns that the Inner Circle's most dangerous new recruits intend to bomb the Pentagon and the White House. She loops Marcos in on the plan, which leads to a climactic murder at the end of the episode (not of Marcos, at least we hope not). Before we get to that, though, Marcos spends this episode underground trying to help save the life of Glow, who gets shot by police in the process of stealing food for her fellow Morlocks. With the help of Marcos, Blink, and the controversially human Caitlin, Glow survives, and even Erg has to admit that Caitlin helped in the end. Meanwhile, Andy is working with the Cuckoos to brainwash Lauren into joining the Inner Circle, and it just might've worked, if not for Reed stepping in and flourishing the ol' anti-mutant serum. Next episode: "calaMity," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"hoMe," The Gifted Jun 09, 2025

"hoMe" may not be a five-star episode of The Gifted, but with so many bangers in season 2, we can forgive it. We learn that Evangeline co-founded the Mutant Underground with Erg, the leader of the Morlocks, but then screwed him over. Despite that, she still blackmails him into joining her (along with the rest of our Mutant Underground hold-outs) for a "last stand," although it's not entirely clear that that entails. We'll never get to find out, because it fails, but in the process, Erg and John have a "last stand" of their own and it leads to Blink finally dumping John (long overdue) and joining the Morlocks (also long overdue). Meanwhile, Reed Strucker becomes fascinated by the music box that has his daughter hypnotized, and his daughter and wife go fight some cops and possibly get Uncle Danny killed. Remember Uncle Danny, the lawyer? He's back for some reason. Next episode: "teMpted," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"meMento," The Gifted May 27, 2025

"meMento" is not only an all-time great episode of The Gifted, it's one of Maddy and Ryan's all-time favorite episodes of TV, period. Every single character's storyline comes to a head in some way. Lauren Strucker gets enchanted by the music box that's passed down through her family for generations, and it seems to be kicking off her villain era. Meanwhile, Lorna is questioning the Inner Circle's true motivations now that Reeva Payne has enlisted a trio of serial killers to perform a mysterious mission. And when Lorna reaches out to Marcos, their relationship naturally gets rekindled. With John bedridden and wounded once again, Blink is questioning whether she can stay with someone so self-destructive. Most striking of all is Jace Turner's storyline, in which he decides to stand up for his Purifier cop friend who shoots an innocent mutant child. Jace's mental health takes a real dive after that one. Next episode: "hoMe," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"eneMy of my eneMy," The Gifted May 13, 2025

Maddy and Ryan are in full form for this week's episode of the Mutant Ages, so we hope you're ready for an ADHD roller coaster. Regardless, this week's episode of The Gifted was not exactly an A+ but it wasn't bad by any means. John has been kidnapped by the Purifiers, which means the remaining Mutant Underground members have to get Lorna and Andy's help because they need some serious firepower to overtake a human militia with an organized compound full of guns. Reed and Caitlin are thrilled to have their son back... until they see what he's become, and what Lauren has been warning them about for *months* now. Next episode: "meMento," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, April 2025 Apr 29, 2025

Maddy and Ryan open the listener mailbag to answer questions about The Gifted and Lauren's coming-out story, various video games featuring the X-Men, and more. The second half of this episode is The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book episode in which the team visits the Land of Cloakys, and that's why you're really here, you just don't know it yet. Next episode: "eneMy of My eneMy," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"gaMe changer," The Gifted Apr 15, 2025

Justice for Twist! Ryan and Maddy review "gaMe changer," yet another great episode for The Gifted's second season. The Hellfire Club has apprehended Rebecca and locked her up in a spinning cube, but when Andy tries to rescue her, it doesn't end well. The rest of the Strucker family figures out that the kindly doctor helping them actually has Moira/Dr. Sasaki vibes, which is never a good thing. Clarice and John are still arguing over what's left of the Mutant Underground, and Marcos is the depressed third wheel, although the three of them still manage to figure out the Hellfire Club's next move even if they don't manage to stop it. And what is that next move? Taking out the power source for every mutant collar in America. A very poorly guarded power source. Next episode: Listener mail!! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"the dreaM," The Gifted Apr 01, 2025

Magneto is the most important part of "the dreaM," despite that he never actually shows up in person on The Gifted. This is another amazing episode and this time it's focused on Lorna and her personal journey towards accepting that she's her father's daughter, and that her own daughter Dawn is not going to be safe as Lorna and the rest of the Hellfire Club continue with their violent uprising against a bigoted human supremacist government. Rebecca, AKA Twist, runs away from the Hellfire Club and leaves a trail of destruction in her wake, although when John and Clarice find her, Rebecca actually does decide to help them, suggesting that she's not all bad. Reed Strucker, meanwhile, has decided to work with a woman who bears a striking similarity to Moira MacTaggert, and we all know that's not a good thing. Next episode: "gaMe changer," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"no Mercy," The Gifted Mar 18, 2025

In "no Mercy," the Hellfire Club is ready to perform their bank heist, but it wouldn't be a heist episode if something didn't go wrong. Maddy and Ryan feel like Lorna could have opened this safe herself, but it's Rebecca's job, and Rebecca doesn't just want to steal money from Creed Financial. She wants to steal... human lives. Meanwhile, Reed Strucker is still suffering from mutant denialism, and Jace Turner makes the tough decision to go on TV with a not-quite-William Stryker type character and become the face of the Purifiers. Next episode: "the dreaM," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"iMprint," The Gifted Mar 04, 2025

The Gifted season two keeps on hitting home runs with "iMprint," an episode focused on the Cuckoos and their backstory. Unlike so many other X-Men adaptations, this one closely aligns with the characters' portrayal in the original comics by clarifying the girls are clones and introducing the other two of the five main Cuckoos. Their heartbreaking backstory of growing up in a lab and being tortured by their human captors clearly influences the way they act today, and it's what ends up driving a wedge (and eventually a renewed alliance) between Esme and Lorna in this episode. We've also learned what the Inner Circle has planned: stealing from Graydon Creed (or at least someone with his last name), who is an anti-mutant financial magnate in this universe. Meanwhile, the Strucker family is still falling apart, and Caitlin still can't let go of her denial about it, plus Jace Turner falls even further into the black hole of far-right radicalization with the Purifiers. Next episode: "no Mercy," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"afterMath," The Gifted Feb 18, 2025

The Gifted season two continues its strong pace with "afterMath," which Maddy and Ryan end up rating 4/5 instead of a perfect score but still did enjoy quite a bit. Blink helps the newly escaped mutants who were wrongly imprisoned in a mental asylum find a new home with the Morlocks, and Marcos makes friends (kind of) with one of the escapees named Glow, who isn't from the comics and has a weirdly optimistic attitude. Meanwhile, Andy is getting to know Rebecca, the one mental asylum escapee that the Inner Circle decided to take in, and she seems fun... but also maybe not fun so much as scary. Next week's episode: "iMprint," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"outMatched," The Gifted Feb 04, 2025

Maddy and Ryan get to watch yet another fantastic episode of The Gifted with "outMatched," in which our former Mutant Underground characters are indeed outmatched when it comes to the machinations of the Hellfire Club. Lorna, Andy, and their new friends are breaking into a mental institution that only houses mutants and has been drugging them and torturing them, and their former friends are just trying to keep up with whatever that plan even is. Reed Strucker has decided to down anti-anxiety medication at a steady clip to keep his mutant powers at bay, which obviously doesn't work. Caitlin Strucker goes full torture mode on a mutant drug addict in order to get the information she wants about Andy. And it's all for nothing in the end, because when Lauren finally comes face to face with Andy, he's anything but willing to come back home. Next episode: "afterMath," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"coMplications," The Gifted Jan 21, 2025

The Gifted season 2 keeps on delivering banger episode after banger episode. In "coMplications," Reed Strucker's powers manifest in front of his daughter Lauren, who can't believe he's still keeping secrets from the rest of the family. Jace Turner is still obsessed with hunting down mutants and he's destroying every other aspect of his life in favor of continuing to chase that high. Polaris' baby is sick and only Marcos can save her, which means the Hellfire Club has to go get him and let him meet his child for the first time... and, if they have anything to say about it, the last time. But Marcos has no intention of abandoning his child the way his own father abandoned him. Meanwhile, Blink and John are exploring the Morlock tunnels, and Blink realizes she might have more affinity with the Morlocks than the remaining Underground members. Next episode: "outMatched," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"unMoored," The Gifted Jan 06, 2025

Ryan and Maddy are still loving The Gifted, with season 2 delivering yet another great episode in "unMoored." This episode is brought to us by League of Legends, which Andy is playing every night he spends in the Hellfire Club mansion, apparently. But he's keeping his teenage angst secret when it comes to missing his family and especially his sister, and Reeva Payge isn't going to stand for that, since it's interfering with Andy using his powers. Esme Cuckoo and Lorna do their best to protect Andy in their own ways, but at the end of the day, Andy has to admit what's really going on or else Reeva's going to cut him loose (fatally). Meanwhile, the rest of the Strucker family is in a state of complete emotional turmoil and it's fascinating to watch them fall apart. This show is legitimately well-written now! Next episode: "coMplications," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

The Mutant Ages Christmas Special 2024 / Uncanny X-Men #165 Dec 19, 2024

Ryan and Maddy invite Todd and Ry T back on the show for another reading of a Christmas-themed X-Men comic. This time it's Uncanny X-Men #165 (2009), a surprisingly plot-heavy comic that gets into Laura Kinney's backstory and introduction to the X-Men, plus a side story about Gambit getting back his eyesight (after losing his sight in a battle that wasn't even that interesting, according to Maddy who is writing this description and just looked up the old comic where it happens). After we finish reading the X-Men comic together, Ryan presents us all with a Mystery Comic that none of us could have predicted in advance. DONATE to our Trevor Project holiday fundraiser: https://give.thetrevorproject.org/team/625011 Next episode: "unMoored," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella (plus, FoxHarper and SCnightblade). If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"eMergence," The Gifted Dec 04, 2024

Ryan and Maddy watched the first episode of The Gifted's second season and immediately discover why people prefer season two. Everything is better, most importantly the writing; we already liked the actors, and now they finally have something great to work with. The Mutant Underground has become far more ragtag, working out of a secret room in a hospital and rescuing mutants from the SWAT-team like presence that Sentinel Services has become. Lauren has to teach her parents how to move on from the fact that Andy abandoned all of them. And meanwhile, Lorna and Andy have forged a friendship in the bowels of the Hellfire Club, where Lorna is afraid to deliver her baby but must do so nonetheless. It's a gripping episode with great moments for every character, and we kinda can't believe this is the same show. Next episode: The Mutant Ages 2024 Christmas Special!!!! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Deadpool (2016), Part 2 Nov 23, 2024

Ryan, Maddy, and Todd watch the second half of Deadpool (2016) and realize they probably didn't need to divide this episode into two parts because there isn't that much to say about the second half of Deadpool (2016). Wade Wilson's arch nemesis Francis kidnaps his ex-girlfriend Vanessa for some reason. Deadpool, Colossus, and Negasonic Teenage Warhead team up to save Vanessa and destroy a helicarrier in the process. Why is there a helicarrier? We can't actually explain anything that happens at the end of this movie, and it's not funny enough to justify itself, either. Next episode: The Gifted season 2???? E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Deadpool (2016), Part 1 Nov 19, 2024

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd convene to analyze the first half of Deadpool (2016), which we probably didn't need to divide into two parts because it turns out this movie is really simple. Also, most of these jokes do not hold up! Bounty hunter Wade Wilson meets a hottie named Vanessa, finds out he has cancer, dumps her so she doesn't have to watch him die, then participates in an experimental treatment program that gives him superpowers but also makes his entire body look like shit and gains him a super-powered nemesis named Francis. More in Part 2, such as Blind Al, the best part of the movie! We didn't exactly have a great time watching this, but compared to some of the Fox films we've watched lately, it does at least have a coherent plot that's easily summarized. Next episode: Deadpool (2016), Part 2 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, November 2024 Nov 05, 2024

Maddy and Ryan do a miniature listener mail that is mostly just a return to The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book, because we didn't have that many emails to read this time around. We answer questions about how to fix The Gifted (the question everybody wants to know the answer to) and how we would go about writing Bobby's coming-out story on X-Men '97 if it were up to us. Next episode: Deadpool Part 1 (the first half of the movie) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"X-Roads," The Gifted Oct 22, 2024

Maddy and Ryan finally reached the season 1 finale of The Gifted, titled "X-Roads," and it's not bad. Finally, there's a plot on this show! Lorna breaks with the rest of the Mutant Underground by deciding to resort to violence in respond to Dr. Krieger's evil plan, which then leads to a larger shake-up at the episode's conclusion. Andy and Lauren also end up resorting to violence once Jace Turner discovers the Mutant Underground's hideout. Took him long enough, since it turns out that place wasn't very well hidden after all ... Next episode: Listener mail! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"eXtraction," The Gifted Oct 08, 2024

The Gifted aired its finale in two parts, and this is the first half. Unfortunately it's also the more boring half; we'll get to the real action in the next episode. In "eXtraction," Thunderbird, Eclipse, Blink, Lorna and the Cuckoos work together to break into Humanity Today, an anti-mutant conference that Dr. Campbell (or as we always call him, Dr. Krieger) is attending alongside anti-mutant bigot Senator Montez. But that plotline doesn't come to a head until the last five minutes of the episode. Up until then, this is a meandering episode about the Strucker family trying to reconnect with Reed's mom to save her from getting waylaid by Sentinel Services. This plotline goes nowhere and this episode didn't need to exist. Dang it, The Gifted, why are you like this? Next episode: "X-Roads," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"3 X 1," The Gifted Sep 17, 2024

With a title like "3 X 1," you'd think this episode of The Gifted would be all about the Cuckoos, but mostly this episode is about the Struckers deciding to leave the Mutant Underground only to return once again by the time the episode ends. Why does Reed Strucker love to walk in circles? We do still get to see some fun moments with Esme and her sisters, and we get a little bit of new information about the Hellfire Club and its motivations, but overall this episode could stand to have quite a bit more plot in it. This is also the episode that introduces the plot point that Polaris has bipolar disorder, so Ryan and Maddy do some deep dives into their own diagnoses and the various diagnoses of the X-Men in discussing that. Next episode: "eXtraction," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"X-Terminators" (2022-2023) Sep 03, 2024

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd read the five-issue comic book series "X-Terminators" and loved it. We go over the major plot beats and outline all the reasons why it's great and everyone should read it. Namely that it's four women being hilarious hot messes who love each other and love ribbing on each other. They get into some hot water with Dazzler's shitty ex-boyfriend and then bomb their way out of it. Next episode: "3 X 1," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"eXploited," The Gifted Aug 20, 2024

"eXploited" is by far the best episode of The Gifted yet, with Esme Cuckoo's machinations on full display and tons of other great scenes in the mix. Blink, Dreamer, and the Strucker kids are in captivity at Trask Laboratories, and the torture has begun. The Strucker parents track down Jace Turner and try to convince him he's doing the wrong thing, and it actually works ... but unfortunately, Esme's plan runs in conflict with that. Next episode: We're taking a brief break from The Gifted to do a special episode about the comic series "X-Terminators" (2022). Feel free to read it along with us! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"outfoX," The Gifted Aug 06, 2024

Maddy and Ryan watch one of the best episodes of The Gifted in a long time, in which Esme Cuckoo continues to keep the plot moving along and gets the Mutant Underground on board with breaking in to Dr. Campbell's lab to rescue her family members (the other Cuckoos, not that any of the characters on the show know that). We also talk about Deadpool & Wolverine quite a bit, since Maddy had seen it by this point. There are various other goofy off-topic diversions along the way (idk why we were particularly distractible this week). Next episode: "eXploited," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"threat of eXtinction," The Gifted Jul 23, 2024

Finally, it's an episode of The Gifted that is pretty much okay. Not amazing, but okay! Esme Cuckoo is here at last for an anti-climactic entrance that does not foreshadow how significant her role is going to end up being, but Maddy and Ryan are very glad to see her nonetheless. Reed Strucker tracks down his estranged father and finds out some family secrets, such as the fact that he has a repressed version of the X-Gene. Also sorry to say we have to talk about some Nazi twins in the Strucker lineage who may or may not have engaged in incest and if that grosses you out, this might not be the episode for you, because, well, the show really seems to be implying that's happening. Next episode: We're figuring it out tbh! We might combine multiple episodes of The Gifted in future coverage because the plot moves pretty slowly. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"eXtreme measures," The Gifted Jul 09, 2024

Maddy and Ryan watched an episode of The Gifted together live on the air and review it as they go, because that was a lot more fun than trying to do it any other way. In "eXtreme measures," Reed Strucker finds out that his daughter's new boyfriend Wes used to be a thief in order to survive on the streets, and that's a problem for some reason. Jace Turner continues participating in Sentinel Services' program to brainwash mutants and turn them into slave soldiers, but it seems like he has mixed feelings about it. Marcos lies to Lorna about rekindling his crime drama with Carmen. Blink has the best plotline in the episode, as we finally get to learn more about her backstory prior to the events of this show. Next episode: "threat of eXtinction," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, June 2024 Jun 11, 2024

Maddy and Ryan invite Todd onto the show for a debrief about X-Men '97 and a massive mailbag from listeners with questions about X-Men '97. If we could rewrite the show, what would we have done? Why didn't Morph get a real arc? And where was Storm? All of this and more on a super-long listener mail episode that (sadly) doesn't even contain The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book at the end. Given we spent 2.5 hours answering mail, though, that's probably for the best. Next episode: The Gifted? Who knows!! We're taking the rest of June off. Happy Pride month to us and you. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Tolerance Is Extinction Part 3," X-Men '97 May 28, 2024

Maddy and Ryan settle in for the somewhat anticlimactic ending to X-Men '97, featuring a confusing death scene for Bastion and a lot of leftover questions about what exactly was going on. Magneto's earth-destroying plan from "Part 2" remains unexplained, although his storyline with Xavier is the strongest (and creepiest) part of this finale. The best part of the episode is its ending, which sets up a promising start for season two, although we aren't sure how excited to feel given the whirlwind of season one. If only this show weren't in such a rush and spent more time on its characters' motivations, because the character drama was always its strongest element. Next episode: We're not sure! Either a wrap-up episode or Listener Mail depending on what we feel up for doing next. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Tolerance is Extinction Part 2," X-Men '97 May 21, 2024

Maddy and Ryan analyze "Tolerance Is Extinction Part 2," in which Magneto has some truly epic monologues, but a plan that makes no sense. What did Magneto do to planet Earth, exactly, in "Part 1" of this trilogy? Whatever it is, it's going to cause the world to end in 12 hours, unless Magneto reverses course. He's chosen to return to Asteroid M, but he doesn't seem to care that much about convincing all of the rest of mutantkind to join him in creating a new nation, and instead seems fine with letting both mutants and humans die on a destroyed planet. Would Magneto really do that? Maddy and Ryan say hell no. By the way, the rest of this episode is about fighting Bastion and Mr. Sinister, but that stuff doesn't make any sense either, which is a bit odd since those two were supposed to be the Big Bads this season. Next week's episode: "Tolerance Is Extinction Part 3," X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Tolerance is Extinction Part 1," X-Men '97 May 14, 2024

The first episode in X-Men '97's three-part finale has its ups and downs. The ups: Bastion's Prime Sentinels are here and they're straight out of a horror movie, evocative and cool. Trish Tilby is one of them! Kurt Wagner is also here and he's got three swords (one for his tail). The downs: Storm still isn't back yet, Rogue is asleep (for some reason?), and Jubilee isn't acting like herself. Bastion's Prime Sentinels are a metaphor for radicalization but it's not clear how the process actually works (are people opting in to the procedure? then why didn't Trask know he was one?). And why is Mister Sinister here at all? And, wait, why are Baron Zemo and Doctor Doom here? This show is moving so fast, and even when we slow down and take notes on every single line and plot point, it still doesn't quite make sense... but hey, it's not over yet! Next week's episode: "Tolerance Is Extinction Part 2," X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Bright Eyes," X-Men '97 May 07, 2024

X-Men '97 gets back on track again with "Bright Eyes," an incredible episode about Rogue having a well-deserved mental breakdown in the wake of "Remember It." We get some actual closure in the form of Gambit's funeral and the various characters' reactions to it, then Rogue wrecking shop at a military base and then at Gyrich's mysterious holding facility. The big reveal, which came as a relief but not necessarily a surprise to us, is that Bastion is the one pulling the strings — and Mr. Sinister is just coming along for the ride, except he's being a predictably judgmental bitch about it all. We can't wait to see whatever his ulterior motive turns out to be. (In this episode, we talk about the X-Men: Zero Tolerance trade paperback, which is worth reading for background and is comprised of Generation X #27, X-Force #67–69, X-Men #65–70, Wolverine #115–118, Cable #45–47, and X-Man #30.) X-Men Spotlight: Bastion Next week's episode: "Tolerance Is Extinction Part 1," X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Lifedeath Part 2," X-Men '97 Apr 30, 2024

Ryan and Maddy were expecting "Lifedeath Part 2" to fit what its title suggests, but instead, this isn't so much an episode about Storm and Forge as it is an episode about Lilandra and Xavier. Our least favorite Professor is considering whether he should return to Earth or erase all of his memories of it so he can get married to Lilandra, and we all know which one he'll choose, even before he gets a vision of what happened to Genosha. The Storm/Forge storyline is wonderful, but there's not enough of it. What's with the pacing on this show??? X-Men Spotlights: The Adversary and Deathbird Next week's episode: "Bright Eyes," X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Remember It," X-Men '97 Apr 23, 2024

Now more than ever, Ryan and Maddy are warning all of you about spoilers in this week's review of X-Men '97. You really need to see "Remember It" for yourself in order to understand why, but be warned that it's an absolutely devastating watch, especially when it comes to the queer metaphor in the mutants' story. This is an episode about Genosha, and if you've read the comics, you have some idea of what the means, but the X-Men '97 rendition merges multiple comic book storylines into a heartbreaking masterpiece. X-Men Spotlight: Trish Tilby Next week's episode: "Lifedeath Part 2," X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Motendo/Lifedeath Part 1," X-Men '97 Apr 16, 2024

Ryan and Maddy have hit the first episode of X-Men '97 that they don't completely adore, and it's got a lot to do with the representation of Mojo in this episode. But also, as the world's number one Jubilee fan, Ryan has a lot of thoughts on the writing of Jubilee in this episode and not all of them are positive. We're both not sure what to make of the speedy rendition of Lifedeath that happens in the last couple minutes of this episode. We'll just have to wait for "Lifedeath Part 2" in order to find out where that plotline's heading... X-Men Spotlight: Sunspot AKA Roberto de Costa The X2 blooper reel (this is actually a relevant link to the episode lol): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Ghbo8DIyY Next week's episode: "Remember It," X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Fire Made Flesh," X-Men '97 Apr 09, 2024

Madelyne Pryor has quite the complicated backstory in Marvel Comics, and it's fascinating to see how X-Men '97 chose to shorten and adapt her story. A lot of the changes really work, but the whole episode moves so damn fast that Maddy and Ryan can only conclude that this should have been a two-parter. The Goblin Queen deserved more time to cook!! Perhaps the real star of this episode is Morph, whose relationship with Wolverine has gotten very emotionally confusing for seemingly both of them. Wow! X-Men Spotlight: Madelyne Pryor Next week's episode: "Motendo/Lifedeath Part 1" X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"To Me, My X-Men" + "Mutant Liberation Begins," X-Men '97 Apr 02, 2024

Maddy and Ryan convene for the double-header premiere episodes of X-Men '97, which just may be the best-ever X-Men adaptation in our lifetimes, as well as the emotional pinnacle of this podcast's run up to this point. We analyze every single frame and line of dialogue in both episodes, and perhaps the only problem with that is for some reason we called X-Cutioner by the wrong name (X-Terminator) about half the time. We were just too excited and/or distracted by the fact that Wolverine and Morph are canonically banging on this show. And have you seen that photo of Xavier and Magneto cuddling??? We aren't over it, or really anything else that happens on this episode. X-Men spotlights (yes, plural!): Valerie Cooper and X-Cutioner Next week's episode: "Fire Made Flesh," X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"got your siX," The Gifted Mar 26, 2024

Next week, the Mutant Ages will pivot to X-Men '97 and go back to weekly episodes, but until then, Ryan and Maddy have one more (terrible) episode of The Gifted to recap and review. Is this episode as bad as they say it is? Or are they just impatient to get to X-Men '97? Why not both! In this episode, Blink quits the team (good), Dreamer tries to seduce John (bad), and Reed Strucker has lost his wedding ring (sad). We'll check back in on this crew many weeks from now, and we aren't looking forward to it. X-Men spotlight: John Proudstar, a.k.a. Thunderbird Next week's episode: "To Me, My X-Men" and "Mutant Liberation Begins," X-Men '97 (mega-recap of both premiere eps) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"boXed in," The Gifted Mar 12, 2024

Ryan and Maddy return to The Gifted for an episode in which the characters literally walk in circles. To be fair to Reed Strucker, there is an actual plan involved in doing this, and it does work, but is it interesting to watch? Not really. There are some great moments in this episode, though, such as when Blink finally confronts Dreamer over the brainwashing routine. Next episode: "got your siX," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

X-Men '97 Trailer Feb 27, 2024

Maddy, Ryan, Todd, Katie, and the other Ryan (Truman) convene to hyper-analyze the X-Men '97 trailer, shot by shot. Why is Magneto addressing the UN? Who is the bun in Jean's oven? Is that even really Jean Grey, or is it Madelyne Pryor? We have so many questions, and we can't wait for March 20th. Next episode: "boXed in," The Gifted, for real this time lol E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, February 2024 Feb 13, 2024

Maddy and Ryan respond to questions from listeners and get off-topic even more often than usual, with discussion ranging from their cosplay/convention memories to Ryan's fanfiction.net account and a very real-sounding list of episode synopses for X-Men '97. In the second half of the episode, The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book has become The Mutant Ages: The Manga. Next episode: "boXed in," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"eXit strategy," The Gifted Jan 30, 2024

Ryan and Maddy struggle through "eXit strategy," the fourth episode of The Gifted, which features a prison break that results in Lorna (and Reed) finally rejoining the Mutant Underground. You'd think that would make us happy, and Emma Dumont does get some incredible moments as Lorna, but other than that this episode is a total slog. Blink's character has been completely reduced to "woman who has a crush on John," and John suddenly has a new backstory with the mutant Pulse who can disarm electronics and mutant powers. Marcos briefly revisits his former life as a lackey for a drug ring, which is another side-plot that feels like wasted time. Amy Acker and Emma Dumont are still the best actors on this show, but all the dialogue sounds identical and boring, so it's hard to feel anything other than sorry for the performers doing their best with this material. After recording this, we decided we needed a break, so we'll open up the mailbag. Next episode: Listener mail! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"A Touch of Brimstone," The Avengers (1966) Jan 16, 2024

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd convened in person (!!) to watch an episode of 1960s television that has lived in infamy for Chris Claremont and all X-Men fans. The show is called The Avengers (but not *those* Avengers), and the episode is called "A Touch of Brimstone" because it's about the Hellfire Club. We discuss the incomparable Emma Peel, the inspiration for Emma Frost, as well as all of the other unexpected inspirations in this episode. Next episode: "eXit strategy," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"eXodus," The Gifted Jan 02, 2024

Maddy and Ryan are only on the third-ever episode of The Gifted, and already Maddy is worried that the show has run out of ideas. Not good! Polaris is still in prison; Caitlin is still a privileged white lady who doesn't understand bigotry against mutants (or anybody else, probably). Emma Dumont and Amy Acker are still putting in their best performances, but the writing isn't always there to back them up. Worst of all, Blink's got a new storyline as of this episode and it already sucks ass. It's enough to inspire us to take a little break from The Gifted for our next episode and watch something a lot more fun... Next episode: "A Touch of Brimstone," The Avengers E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"rX," The Gifted Dec 19, 2023

Maddy and Ryan find that the second episode of The Gifted is almost as good as the pilot, with the exception of some superfluous interrogation scenes between Jace Turner and Reed Strucker. This TV show remains a showcase of Amy Acker and Emma Dumont's acting prowess, and it's nice to see both of them getting their chances to shine. We know this show goes off the rails at some point, but for now, it's still thrilling. Next episode: "eXodus," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"eXposed," The Gifted Dec 05, 2023

After a little break to reset, Maddy and Ryan return to a biweekly release schedule and debut their review of The Gifted pilot episode, "eXposed." Emma Dumont and Amy Acker win one trillion acting awards from us for their performances here, but they're not alone -- this is a strong pilot episode! Ryan remembers The Gifted going off the rails at some point, but much like Wolverine and the X-Men, this series opens strong. Next episode: "rX," The Gifted (S01E02) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Menace of Magneto," The New Fantastic Four Nov 07, 2023

Back in 1978, Magneto appeared in animated form on The New Fantastic Four, an animated series by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Maddy and Ryan brought Ryan Truman (a.k.a. Ry T) on the show to dissect the hilarious corniness of "The Menace of Magneto," in which one of our favorite mutants is depicted as a total buffoon. We also discuss the rights issues surrounding Fantastic Four at the time, which led to the creation of H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot in place of the Human Torch on this show. We hate H.E.R.B.I.E., and seemingly so do Sue and Ben. Next week's episode: "eXposed," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

X-Men: Dark Tide (2006) Oct 31, 2023

Back in 2006, animation students at the DAVE School partnered with an X-Men line of toys called Minimates, and this 3D-animated film was the result. It's got the official Marvel Comics license, alongside the toys, so it's official enough to qualify for our purposes. Plus it's pretty fun! It's also only 8 minutes, but don't worry, Ryan and Maddy can always easily talk for over an hour to one another. Next week's episode: A SURPRISE!!! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Logan (2017), Part 2 Oct 24, 2023

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd watched the second half of Logan (2017). Maddy finally confronts her nemesis, X-24, while Ryan continues to question why this version of Logan doesn't match up with any other we've seen. Todd, meanwhile, regrets having watched this film. But we did it! We did it... Next week's episode: X-Men: Dark Tide (2006) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Logan (2017), Part 1 Oct 17, 2023

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd struggle through the first half of Logan (2017). We might be the only Marvel-themed podcast hosts ever to dislike this movie? We do shout out a lot of things that we like, such as the performances (especially Dafne Keen), the fact that Logan and Caliban are definitely married, and the unsettling design of Xavier's psychic seizures, but overall, this movie is a slog and we can barely deal. Next week's episode: Logan (2017), Part 2 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"X-Men: Ghosts That Haunt Us" for the Tiger 2-XL bot Oct 10, 2023

Maddy and Ryan played through another "choose your own adventure" tape cassette for the 2-XL robot (start with last week's episode if you want to know what that is!) and, once again, we got very different storylines. This time, Maddy got a good story, and Ryan got a boring, nonsensical one. Maddy gets excited that "Ghosts That Haunt Us" includes Mystique's love of Destiny as canon (more or less), whereas Ryan is confused by pretty much everything that happened in his version of the story ... up until he circles back with a bonus bit of audio after he replaying the tape and getting a slightly better outcome. Next week's episode: Logan (2017), part 1 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"X-Men: Deadly Games" for the Tiger 2-XL bot Oct 03, 2023

Maddy and Ryan play an official X-Men "choose your own adventure" style audiobook, originally released on a tape cassette for a robot toy called the 2-XL. The robot could skip to different parts of the story depending on inputs, although we played the web browser version on 2xlbot.com. "X-Men: Deadly Games" is a hell of a ride; somehow we both ended up with pitch-perfect plotlines for our preferences. Next week's episode: "X-Men: Ghosts That Haunt Us" for the Tiger 2-XL bot E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

The Mutant Ages X-Men Team Draft!! Sep 26, 2023

Maddy, Todd, Ry P and Ry T (the two Ryans!!) draft their ultimate X-Men teams in a competitive format, despite how nice all of them want to be towards one another's choices. Whose team will be strongest? And wait, why is Cloaky here? Next week's episode: The 2-XL X-Men adventure cassettes E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Looking back on the Marvel Anime series Sep 19, 2023

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd discuss the X-Men and Wolverine seasons of the Marvel anime series, with some brief discussion of Blade and Iron Man as well. We rank our favorite and least favorite characters, best and worst episodes, and what the future of Marvel anime could look like. What if the X-Men could be a magical girl show? We have a great pitch, actually. Next week's episode: The Mutant Ages draft their ideal X-Men teams E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Day Walker and Mutant (Claws and Blades)," Blade (Marvel anime) Sep 12, 2023

Turns out the Wolverine anime had a secret epilogue, and it's episode 7 of the Blade anime. Good news, the Blade anime is a lot better than the Wolverine anime, since it's an action-comedy with fun jokes and an actual plot (or so it seems from what little we've seen). Maddy and Ryan might actually watch the rest of the Blade anime, but we'd prefer to never visit this version of Madripoor again! Next week's episode: Marvel anime wrap-up review E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media @TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks!

BONUS: The Mutant Ages drag names, via RuPaul's memoir Sep 05, 2023

The Mutant Ages hosts take a brief reprieve from the hustle and bustle of reviewing every adaptation of the X-Men to read RuPaul's memoir, specifically the list of drag name suggestions. Maddy has a lot of thoughts. Next week's episode: "Day Walker and Mutant (Claws and Blades)," Blade (Marvel anime) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media @TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks!

"Logan," Wolverine (Marvel anime) Aug 29, 2023

Todd joins Maddy and Ryan for the series finale of the Wolverine anime, which might be worse than any previous episode because it's so unfulfilling. Sure, all the plot points get wrapped up; Yukio even confesses to killing Asano. But the ending is no less frustrating, since it involves Hideki blowing up the entire Dragon Palace while it's full of his own wedding guests (why???). Then, everybody else dies too, except for Logan and Kikyo, who make out in the post-credits scene. What even was this show? Next week's episode: The Blade anime (we decided the Wolverine episode of the Iron Man anime wasn't worth an entire week's worth of analysis) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media @TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks!

"Kurahagi," Wolverine (Marvel anime) Aug 22, 2023

Maddy and Ryan reach the penultimate episode of the Wolverine anime, and they're very excited to reach the finale next week. So close! Luckily, this week's episode had some actual plot in it: Logan, Yukio, and Kikyo have finally climbed the steps to the Dragon Palace, with Yukio's grandfather Koh just ahead of them. Koh gets in a big swordfight with Shingen, then gets interrupted by Yukio, Logan, and Kikyo (although the trio gets lost on the way). Meanwhile, Mariko and Hideki perform their straight, Christian wedding ceremony. Next week's episode: "Logan," Wolverine (Marvel anime) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media @TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, August 2023 Aug 15, 2023

Maddy and Ryan step away (once again) from the Wolverine anime to open up the listener mailbag, answering questions about obscure X-Men who deserve a storyline, Mystique as a trans allegory, the music scene on Krakoa, and more. In the second half of the episode, we've got a brand-new episode of The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book! Next week's episode: "Kurohagi," Wolverine (Marvel anime) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media @TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks!

"Shingen," Wolverine (Marvel anime) Aug 08, 2023

Yukio and Logan still haven't made it inside the Dragon Palace, even though we're all the way up to episode 10 of the Wolverine anime. This episode is called "Shingen," even though it's not about Shingen, and he doesn't even appear in the episode. That makes no sense, but neither does the episode, which features a lengthy fight scene with Vadhaka and the shocking, pointless death of one of the series' characters. At the end of this week's podcast, Maddy gets frustrated enough by the Wolverine anime that she decides to look up who killed Asano, as well as who is (and isn't) responsible for working on this anime. The answers... may surprise you! Next week's episode: Listener mail E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media @TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks!

"Hell Road," Wolverine (Marvel anime) Aug 01, 2023

Every episode of the Wolverine anime has felt more like a video game level than a TV show, but none more so than "Hell Road." In this installment, Logan and Yukio evade a series of traps, all of which play out like quicktime events in a 90s-era action game made by Capcom. Also, Maddy and Ryan lose their minds over the reveal of Koh's "plan," which makes no sense, could barely be called a plan, and probably didn't need to involve Logan's input or awareness in the first place. Next week's episode: "Shingen," Wolverine (Marvel anime) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks!

Astonishing X-Men: Gifted (motion comic) with Connor Goldsmith Jul 25, 2023

Connor Goldsmith of the Cerebro podcast comes on the show to analyze the motion comic adaptation of Astonishing X-Men: Gifted, written by Joss Whedon and illustrated by John Cassaday. This means we analyze all of Joss Whedon's work up to the source comic's original debut in 2004, meaning full spoilers for Buffy, Angel, and even a little bit of Dollhouse and Firefly/Serenity chat. Since Connor's here, we also ask him about his thoughts on Scott/Jean/Emma/Logan, his least favorite X-Men comics, his MCU and Agents of SHIELD opinions, and soooo much more. Find Connor's work and podcast at connorgoldsmith.com. Next week's episode: "Hell Road," Wolverine (Marvel anime) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks!

"Koh," Wolverine (Marvel anime) Jul 18, 2023

The Wolverine anime didn't let us down this week, because this episode has plot points that all follow logically and make sense. We get some character development for Yukio, some goofy antics from Hideki's lackeys (all of whom are Wolverine fanboys, apparently), and an ominous description of what our heroes might face on Hell Road, the "shortcut" to the Dragon Palace. This show might actually be getting good in its home stretch, or at least passable, but we're still taking a break from reviewing it next week to do something else extra-special. Next week's episode: Astonishing X-Men: Gifted (motion comic) featuring Connor Goldsmith!! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks! Cloaky is also on Twitter at cloakycloaks.

"Vadhaka, a.k.a. Statue," Wolverine (Marvel anime) Jul 11, 2023

You know times are tough when Maddy and Ryan start saying they miss when the Wolverine anime was about Omega Red. Hard to believe, right? That's the only conclusion to be had after watching "Vadhaka, a.k.a Statue," a bizarre boss battle between a magical statue and Wolverine, followed by a maze in the sewers that ends with Min introducing Logan to Yukio's grandfather. Logan learns a lot more about Yukio's backstory and the circumstances of her parents' death, although he takes an extremely long time to realize that he's listening to a story about Yukio. Funniest part of the episode, except for the five seconds of Kikyo kicking ass. Next week's episode: "Koh," Wolverine (Marvel anime) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks! Cloaky is also on Twitter at cloakycloaks.

"Min, a.k.a. Girl," Wolverine (Marvel anime) Jul 04, 2023

This episode of the Wolverine anime is slightly better than the norm ... but only slightly. After some hilarious flirting with Cyclops, Logan arrives at Madripoor with Yukio. Soon after that, Yukio abandons him and Logan gets a new female friend -- a teenage girl this time. Took him long enough! Next week's episode: "Vadhaka, a.k.a. Statue" E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks! Cloaky is also on Twitter at cloakycloaks.

Interview: 'Queering Wolverine' author Dr. Christopher M. Roman Jun 27, 2023

Dr. Christopher Michael Roman appears on the podcast with Maddy, Ryan, and Todd to discuss his book, Queering Wolverine in Comics and Fanfiction: A Fastball Special. We discuss the previous scholarship that analyzes Wolverine as the ultimate example of straight male (toxic) masculinity, and the analyses in Christopher's book, which push back against that reading and instead view Logan through a queer lens. We also talk about how Logan is a cyborg pig who wears cowboy drag. Get the book HERE >>> https://www.routledge.com/Queering-Wolverine-in-Comics-and-Fanfiction-A-Fastball-Special/Roman/p/book/9781032120140 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at @TheMutantAges. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks!

"Asano," Wolverine (Marvel anime) Jun 20, 2023

In the "Asano" episode of the Wolverine anime, Logan insists that his fight with Omega Red was "not a complete waste of time." Maddy and Ryan beg to differ in their review. Also, as of this week, Kikyo returns to fight Logan again, but by this point, we're pretty sure they're friends? Or ... more than friends? Next week's episode: Interview with the author of "Queering Wolverine" E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks! Cloaky is also on Twitter at cloakycloaks.

"Omega Red," Wolverine (Marvel anime) Jun 13, 2023

Omega Red and Wolverine have a lot of unresolved sexual tension in this episode, which amounts to a series of fight scenes in which nothing ever gets resolved between them. Half of those fight scenes are in flashback with a voiceover from a nameless SHIELD agent identifying who Omega Red is, and what his powers are. See if you can guess whether Maddy and Ryan enjoyed this episode! Next week's episode: "Asano," Wolverine (Marvel anime) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks! Cloaky is also on Twitter at cloakycloaks.

"Kikyo," Wolverine (Marvel anime) Jun 06, 2023

The Wolverine anime might be getting worse with each passing episode, but onward we go ... or perhaps upward, since most of this episode takes place on a rooftop. Wolverine (and his new pal Yukio) meets and fights a brand-new character named Kikyo, who is a beautiful bishonen hired by Shingen as an assassin. That's the first half of the episode; the second half is a failed drug drop that Logan and Yukio interrupt with Molotov cocktails, only to be interrupted themselves by the Molotov cocktail of Wolverine's love life: Omega Red!!! Why is he here? Once again, we don't know. Next week's episode: "Omega Red," Wolverine (Marvel anime) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks! Cloaky is also on Twitter at cloakycloaks.

"Yukio," Wolverine (Marvel anime) May 30, 2023

The Wolverine anime is still not good, but we're doing our best to goof on it in an entertaining way. This week, that means lots of references to Initial D music, because there is a crappy car chase between Asano and Hideki. Meanwhile, Logan spends most of this episode being passed out and getting saved by Yukio. We're really starting to wonder what this anime is about. Like, really. What is going on??? We can't tell you. We don't know. X-Men spotlight: Yukio Next week's episode: "Kikyo," Wolverine (Marvel anime) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks!

"Mariko," Wolverine (Marvel Anime) May 23, 2023

The pilot episode of the Wolverine anime may be called "Mariko," but that doesn't mean she's going to have any agency or character development on this show. Luckily, her sexist plotline goes down a bit easier this time, because the show is so freakin' goofy. Logan's character is a cross between Gambit and Dante from Devil May Cry; we are pretty sure he doesn't know what sex is. Also, all of the dialogue on this anime may have been written by a 13-year-old attempting to imagine what a bad-ass superhero mutant like Wolverine would say and do. The results are indescribable, and yet also, quintessential 2010s anime kitsch. We find it absurd, and yet we love it with all of our hearts. Next week's episode: "Yukio," Wolverine (Marvel anime) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages. Thanks!

Dark Phoenix (2019), Part 2 May 09, 2023

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd struggle through the second half of Dark Phoenix (2019), which abandons all of the decent ideas set up in the first half of the movie. Forget about Jean's dad, it's all about the D'Bari now ... and also Magneto, who doesn't need to be in this movie, despite that Michael Fassbender provides a great performance. We conclude our revisiting of this movie's failures by asking Simon Kinberg to send us his other script ideas. He listens to the show, right? Next week's episode: We're taking a break for a week, then starting up the Wolverine anime! Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. Our guest Todd Harper is on Twitter as well at @drtoddharper. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Dark Phoenix (2019), Part 1 May 02, 2023

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd dive in to the first half of Dark Phoenix (2019), which is significantly better than the second half of the movie. Despite being the lowest-rated X-Men film in the 20th Century Fox version of the franchise, Dark Phoenix has some good scenes and strong portrayals of Jean, Scott, and Xavier. When the movie sticks with the character drama unfolding between these three characters, it's a strong story. Unfortunately, it's weighed down by the addition of the D'Bari aliens and the shadows left behind by the exclusion of the Hellfire Club from the entire Phoenix storyline. Next week's episode: Dark Phoenix (2019), Part 2 Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. Our guest Todd Harper is on Twitter as well at @drtoddharper. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book (Listener Mail April 2023) Apr 25, 2023

At long last, here's the comic book segment from last week's Listener Mail for April 2023. It's a good one; Ryan fights against Logan's League of Evil Exes (including some exes who are mostly just cute and not that evil). Wolverine can't remember why any of them are there, or that there's a Book of Destiny between himself and Sabretooth that dictates the terms of these fights. Also, Mr. Sinister finally convinces the team to go to Denny's. Next week's episode: Dark Phoenix (2019), Part 1 Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, April 2023 Apr 18, 2023

Maddy and Ryan open the listener mailbag once more to respond to queries about the mutant metaphor as it relates to mental illness, which aspects of airline travel would piss off Wolverine the most, which mutants Mr. Sinister should combine into super-powered chimeras, and so much more. Also, Maddy divided this listener mail into two episodes because Ryan got sick and she didn't want our listeners to miss out on a weekly update :) Next week's episode: The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book segment Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Destiny - Bond," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Apr 11, 2023

Todd reunites with Maddy and Ryan for the season finale of the X-Men anime, during which there's not very much plot, but we still manage to mess things up by describing it all out of order. You won't be confused, though, because again, there isn't much plot. The ghosts of Takeo and Jean Grey bestow their blessings upon all of the X-Men, and Dr. Sasaki doesn't die ... or does she??? We have some theories about what really happens after the credits roll. Next week's episode: Listener Mail! Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Revenge - End," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Apr 04, 2023

The X-Men anime is closing in on its series finale, and in this penultimate episode, Takeo goes full kaiju and takes revenge on Mastermind (but not on his mother, to our disappointment). Before Mastermind gets his comeuppance, he puts on the Dark Phoenix cosplay one more time and tricks Scott into believing he's the cause of mutantkind's destruction. The brainwashing of Scott works weirdly well, up until the real Jean (?!?) shows up to save him. In the background, Beast and Wolverine are creeping out Neuron with their commitment to torture-play. Next week's episode: "Destiny - Bond," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Countdown - Truth," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Mar 28, 2023

Who's the worse villain: Mastermind, or Dr. Yui Sasaki? Maddy and Ryan have to keep re-evaluating that question every week, because the revelations about the extent of their evil have us shocked (and the X-Men, too). Apparently, Dr. Sasaki worked with the U-Men (!!!) in order to develop her mutant "cure," and she was doing it all for her poor son Takeo, who's been living in a glass tube in the basement all these years. Mastermind found that out, so he's been manipulating Takeo secretly on his own time. To quote Logan in this episode: "What the hell???" Next week's episode: "Revenge - End," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Revelations - From Behind the Scenes," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Mar 21, 2023

We aren't sure how Mastermind would describe himself (bisexual? gay? queer?) but after this week's episode, we're certain he's somewhere on the rainbow spectrum. That's not much of a "revelation" (or even a surprise), but this queer-coded super-villain does have plenty to reveal to Emma Frost in this episode, and it's not just fun facts about how much he loves her diamond stilettos. Meanwhile, Beast politely owns Dr. Sasaki several more times, and Logan continues to be the dumbass we love best. Next week's episode: "Countdown - Truth," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Lost - Signs," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Mar 14, 2023

Despite the repeated pleas from the X-Men, and the fact that it's very obvious something horrible is going on at the Sasaki Institute, Dr. Yui Sasaki adamantly refuses to tell anybody what's going on. It's also becoming very obvious that she's involved with whatever it is, because in this episode of the X-Men anime, two of her lab assistants turn into terrifying monsters. The X-Men manage to take them down, but by the time they get to monster #2, everybody is fed up with Dr. Sasaki's lies. Elsewhere, Professor X falls into a portal to hell. Truly, we cannot wait for next week's ep. Next week's episode: "Revelations," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella (and in Todd's case, DrToddHarper). If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Betrayal - Shock," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Mar 07, 2023

Todd rejoins Maddy and Ryan this week as the X-Men anime kicks its plot into high gear. Tons of new characters show up, and we finally learn the identity of the strange little boy that Professor Xavier has been seeing in his mind palace/nightmare realm. It's Takeo, the son of the mysterious and suspicious Yui Sasaki ... and his dad is Xavier! In other words, Dr. Sasaki is basically a rewrite of Moira MacTaggart, and Takeo seems like a cross between Proteus and Legion, which might explain all of the weird shit happening in Dr. Sasaki's lab. Because SHE'S not going to explain any of it. Next week's episode: "Lost - Signs," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella (and in Todd's case, DrToddHarper). If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Conflict - Contested," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Feb 28, 2023

The X-Men anime finally gives us a big splashy fight scene for Sublime in which he shows off all of the data he's collected on the X-Men across multiple episodes... just in time for the X-Men to kill him. But is he really dead? And what's up with Yui Sasaki, the mysterious redhead who shows up at the very end of this week's episode? Maddy and Ryan are having a lot of fun with this show, because it's pretty hard to predict how all of the threads of this mystery could tie up. Next week's episode: "Betrayal - Shock," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Power - Unity," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Feb 21, 2023

The X-Men anime has some truly stellar writing for Scott Summers, which is to say, he is a massive dick in this episode and it's totally in-character. Instead of engaging with his anger towards Emma Frost (as well as his attraction towards her), Scott decides to take it out on poor little Hisako in the Danger Room. Meanwhile, Hisako comes to terms with her mutant identity after a pep talk from Ororo and Emma, after which Emma decides to use Xavier's telepathy to prove Scott wrong. Not much actually happens in this episode, but it's still satisfying to see the character drama play out. Next week's episode: "Conflict - Contested," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Transformation - Secondary Mutation," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Feb 14, 2023

Emma Frost discovers her diamond powers as a secondary mutation at the outset of the fourth episode of the X-Men anime, and it causes quite a stir. Beast convinces Emma that she must return with him to the Xavier Institute so that he can run tests on her, and Hisako comes along, after getting permission from her parents. Wolverine then fights a mutant on top of the Blackbird, and we have no idea what's going on there. Also we talk about Sonic the Hedgehog characters a lot in this week's episode. That's just the kind of day we were having. Next week's episode: "Power - Unity," X-Men (Marvel Anime) [Watch along with us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/show/SCKI-YJqasV8rmWSelhmkPBg?season=1&sbp=CgEx] Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Armor - Awakening," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Feb 07, 2023

Maddy and Ryan invite Todd Harper back onto the show for the introduction of Emma Frost on the X-Men anime. We talk about her outfit, her boobs, the boob window on her outfit, and so much more (as it relates to Emma's boobs). Scott and Logan continue their sexual tension, and Scott tries to convince everybody else that Emma can't be trusted. This works fairly well until Hisako wakes up and makes it clear that Emma is her favorite person ever, at which point the X-Men realize they're all going to have to work together if they want to save Hisako and escape the U-Men. Next week's episode: "Transformation - Secondary Mutation," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"U-Men - Mutant Hunting," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Jan 31, 2023

After the first episode of the X-Men anime, Maddy and Ryan didn't think they'd be doing much political analysis of what mutants represent in this world, but the second episode introduces anti-mutant bigotry once again. The show's main villains are the U-Men, a group of mutant-hating cyborgs who have been kidnapping mutant kids from a small town in Northern Japan. The X-Men head overseas to investigate, and along the way, there are a lot of anime villains who giggle ominously. (Also, we forgot to do the "who's gay" section, for some reason. It'll be back next week, we promise.) Next week's episode: "Armor - Awakening," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Return - Joining Forces," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Jan 24, 2023

Ryan and Maddy start their tour through the Marvel Anime series, beginning with X-Men. The pilot episode starts right in the middle of the action, with Jean Grey having just transformed into the Dark Phoenix (no thanks to the Hellfire Club's influence). She explodes into fire and seems to be lost forever, after which Scott spends the next year of his life living in a junkyard refusing to bathe. That's right, a full year! Meanwhile, the rest of the X-Men -- Beast, Storm, and Wolverine -- heed the call from Professor Xavier to return to the mansion and investigate the disappearance of a young mutant girl in Japan. Decade-old anime storytelling tropes are on full display here, as well as some of our favorite Japanese horror tropes. This show is already a fun ride! Next week's episode: "U-Men - Mutant Hunting," X-Men (Marvel Anime) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Part 2 Jan 17, 2023

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd manage to finish their review of X-Men Apocalypse (2016), and they're all the worse for wear. What even happens in the second half of this movie? An extensive Weapon X section in which Wolverine runs around murdering people and running into the child version of Jean Grey, who might fall in love with him, except she's busy taking secret phone calls from Xavier, who's trying to avoid Apocalypse's Freaky Friday body switch plan. Cairo gets destroyed and Storm ends up attending Xavier's school because she doesn't have much else to do, and she also doesn't have any lines. Quicksilver is also here for all of this, and we don't know why. Next week's episode: The X-Men anime! Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Part 1 Jan 10, 2023

Finally, we've reached the final X-Men movie directed by Bryan Singer, although the fact that we have Dark Phoenix (2019) does not comfort us very much. Maddy, Ryan, and Todd collectively lose their minds over the sheer volume of characters in this movie, and the number of scenes that don't matter at all to the plot but still didn't get cut out of the movie. This is only the first half of our journey, so we haven't even gotten to Weapon X yet, but please trust that we're already mad about it. Next week's episode: X-Men Apocalypse (2016), Part 2 Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. Our guest Todd Harper is on Twitter as well at @drtoddharper and @arcanistfox. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, January 2023 Jan 03, 2023

Maddy and Ryan dig through the listener mailbag and answer questions about which X-Men have the best butts, which of them have a podcast (and what's it about?), how Wolverine and the X-Men sounded in Scottish Gaelic, one listener's experiences with something similar to Warren's in "Guardian Angel," and so much more. Next week's episode: X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Part 1 of 2 Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

The Mutant Ages Christmas Special 2022 Dec 27, 2022

Maddy, Ryan, Todd, Katie, and Ry T sit down together for a night of Christmas-themed X-Men comics, in which it's revealed that Santa Claus is a mutant. We put on our voice actor hats and do our best to emulate accents from around the world. Our apologies to listeners from the UK, Italy, Russia, and all the other European countries' accents that we butchered in our holiday merriment. We also do our best to recap what's happening on the comic book pages as we read along, although this is our first time doing something like this, so let us know how we fared. Next week's episode: Listener mail! Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us (and our guests) on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers, RyanPagella, drtoddharper (or arcanistfox), and Scnightblade (Katie's on Instagram at Janniewolf09). If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Looking back on Wolverine and the X-Men (2009) Dec 20, 2022

Maddy and Ryan unpack everything they thought about Wolverine and the X-Men, from their favorite episodes to least favorite, as well as the extensive rewrites they have in mind for the show. (Maddy also offers a skip list, which includes almost every episode... sorry.) Despite it all, we still want to see this show get a second season. It would be a lot better without all the 20th Century Fox baggage! Next week's episode: The Mutant Ages Holiday Special 2022 Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Hulk vs. Wolverine (2009) Dec 06, 2022

Remember how frustrated we felt about the "Wolverine vs. Hulk" episode of Wolverine and the X-Men? We didn't know how much worse it could get. This 2009 straight-to-video precursor to the series we just completed is a slog, told out of order and packed with Weapon X flashbacks. Thank goodness Deadpool is in it, or else there would be nothing redeemable about this special at all. Next week's episode: Wolverine and the X-Men wrap-up review E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Foresight, Part 3," Wolverine and the X-Men Nov 29, 2022

We finally made it to the series finale of Wolverine and the X-Men, which features 23 jam-packed minutes of Wolverine trying to cross the front lawn of the Hellfire Club mansion. It takes him the entire time to get there, and meanwhile, Sentinels destroy a major American city and the Phoenix inhabits all five Cuckoos and destroys the Sentinels and also tries to re-enter Jean's body. Emma shows up at the very end to sacrifice herself and save everyone, which is a huge relief, because Xavier and the rest of the X-Men in the future had seemingly no chance of beating Master Mold. The very end of the show depicts Apocalypse, who has a rock star cult leader persona, and we're kinda sad we didn't get to watch THAT show. Next week's episode: "Hulk Vs." E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Foresight Part 2," Wolverine and the X-Men Nov 22, 2022

We made it to the second part of Wolverine and the X-Men's three-part finale, and this episode is even rougher than the first. Magneto leans in to his baffling decision to slaughter his own people with Sentinels, assuring his kids that this makes sense even though it doesn't. Meanwhile, over at the Hellfire Club mansion, Sebastian Shaw betrays Emma Frost (who could have seen that coming?), and in the future, Logan finally shows up to help out and walks really slowly. X-Men Spotlight: Selene Next week's episode: "Foresight Part 3," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Foresight Part 1," Wolverine and the X-Men Nov 15, 2022

Jean Grey has been kidnapped by the Hellfire Club, which means we get a surprisingly sapphic scene between Emma and Jean in which Emma restores Jean's memories and teaches her about feminism. And by feminism, we mean the Phoenix. Meanwhile, Logan and the rest of the X-Men have to deal with a ridiculous B-plot that takes over the episode involving Pietro kidnapping Senator Kelly for Magneto, then Mystique impersonating Senator Kelly to order that the Sentinels attack Genosha. How is this false flag operation going to help Magneto, particularly given that Xavier just showed him a vision of the future in which the Sentinels end all life as we know it? None of that makes sense, but at least the ride is almost over. Next week's episode: "Foresight Part 2," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Shades of Grey," Wolverine and the X-Men Nov 08, 2022

Scott and Jean finally reunite in "Shades of Grey," but this is the X-Men, so one of them has amnesia. Emma Frost helps out with the reunion, but not the amnesia (at least, not until next week's episode). Even though Jean Grey hasn't been on an entire season's worth of episodes of Wolverine and the X-Men, it turns out that she's the most important person in this universe, because the X-Men want her, Mr. Sinister wants her, Apocalypse wants her (he's here now), and the Hellfire Club wants her (they are also here) (and they're called the Inner Circle). You'd think the series, or at least this episode, would spent a lot of time setting up all those new antagonists, but instead, we get a really long chase scene from super-evil Archangel, who acts like the Terminator the whole time for some reason. Next week's episode: "Foresight Part 1," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

She-Hulk, Season 1 (2022) Nov 01, 2022

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd get together for a review of the first season of She-Hulk starring Tatiana Maslany, but before we can get into that, we need to discuss Cheetos, fried pickles, Hocus Pocus (the first one and the sequel), Hugh Jackman reprising the role of Wolverine for Deadpool 2, and so much more. This episode original appeared as a bonus on our Patreon feed, so if you like what you hear, consider subscribing! Next week's episode: "Shades of Grey," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Aces and Eights," Wolverine and the X-Men Oct 25, 2022

Gambit is back, mes chers, and even though the circumstances of his return don't make a ton of sense, we can't help but fall in love with him all over again. That's all according to plan for Gambit, who's seducing his way into Magneto's castle on Genosha, despite that the borders are closed (even for mutants). The weakest link on the island is Lorna, who's so naive and sheltered that she doesn't spot all the red flags in Gambit's story and falls head-over-heels in love with the charming rascal. The episode ends with Lorna learning a hard life lesson about not trusting strange men, and then right before the credits roll, Xavier brainwashes Senator Kelly into becoming a good person. Yeah, it's that sudden. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Rover," Wolverine and the X-Men Oct 11, 2022

Destroy!! Destroy? Destroy ... destroy. Don't mind us, we're just quoting our favorite new character from Wolverine and the X-Men. He's a Sentinel, but he's not a bad guy, thanks to Polaris and Marrow. Bishop and Xavier don't see Rover as a true member of the post-apocalyptic X-Men, but he proves himself in a heart-wrenching act of sacrifice that allows Xavier to collect more data on what caused the apocalypse. Unfortunately, the only new piece of information Xavier collected for Logan is ... what time the apocalypse is going to happen. Not what causes it, not where it happens, but the exact time. Okay! Cool!!! Next week's episode: "Aces and Eights," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Breakdown," Wolverine and the X-Men Oct 04, 2022

Get ready for a deep dive into all of Scott Summers' memories! Luckily we have Emma Frost to accompany us on this journey, as opposed to Xavier, who would delete everything without telling anybody about it. Emma also offers to delete some memories for Scott -- specifically, all memories of Jean, since he's threatening to quit the X-Men due to not being able to get over her. We're pretty sure that Emma was just tricking Scott into doing some therapy sessions with her. The result digs up a big twist... the Phoenix Force?!?!?! Never heard of it. At least, not on this show. Next week's episode: "Rover," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Guardian Angel," Wolverine and the X-Men Sep 27, 2022

This is a rare episode that comes with a content warning for parental abuse and self-harm. It's also an episode of Wolverine and the X-Men that made Maddy and Ryan very sad ... but also very impressed by the storytelling on display here. Warren has finally become proud of his mutant self and wants to use his powers to help other mutants (and/or queer people). Unfortunately, his dad doesn't approve of that, and sets up his son to get arrested and beaten by the MRD; while Warren is in the hospital and unconscious, his father convinces the doctor to forcibly remove Warren's wings, leading to Warren's mental breakdown and decision to turn to Mr. Sinister for help. This may be the best episode of Wolverine and the X-Men yet, but it's a very hard watch. Next week's episode: "Breakdown," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Backlash," Wolverine and the X-Men Sep 20, 2022

Maddy and Ryan have finally hit the home stretch of Wolverine and the X-Men, and it's all uphill from here, at least in the sense of our review scores increasing. In "Backlash," the Sentinels become a true threat, and Wolverine admits Kitty was right when she said they should've trashed the robot manufacturing bay rather than attempting to steal data for later. Most of this episode is a long fight scene between the X-Men and the Sentinels, with the surprise guest of... the Brotherhood, saving the day! Surprise, it's time for Fred and Logan to do a fastball special. Next week's episode: "Guardian Angel," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Code of Conduct," Wolverine and the X-Men Sep 13, 2022

Maddy and Ryan start looking forward to the X-Men anime while watching Wolverine and the X-Men's very clunky adaptation of Mariko and Logan's romance, as well as the Silver Samurai's rivalry with Logan. Unlike in the comic books and the live-action movie The Wolverine (2013), this version of Mariko has a lot less agency and is mostly treated as an object for two men to fight over. The only good part of the episode is the animated swordfights and Rogue one-upping Logan at bushido. X-Men Spotlight: Mariko Next week's episode: "Backlash," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Badlands," Wolverine and the X-Men Aug 30, 2022

We head back to the future (again) in "Badlands," another stellar episode of Wolverine and the X-Men where a traumatized Polaris has filled the shoes of her father, Magneto, and rips apart Sentinels while trying to kill Xavier. Ironically, Maddy and Ryan actually like this show's version of Xavier, who seems a lot more human and well-rounded in this episode, as opposed to the selfish, closeted, rich man he ordinarily is. With no society to be rich, Xavier is pretty much powerless. Also, Wolverine is still doing a terrible job leading the X-Men in the present day, but the results are totally in-character and very funny. X-Men Spotlight: Polaris!!! Next week's episode: We're taking a break because Ryan is sick, but we should be back the week after that with "Code of Conduct" (Wolverine and the X-Men) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

Listener Mail, August 2022 Aug 23, 2022

Ryan and Maddy open up the listener mailbag once more to talk about Monica Rambeau, whether the Marvel universe should still have banks, villain theme songs, and so much more ... culminating, of course, in another episode of The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book. THE MUTANT AGES VILLAINS ALBUM CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6hSPv3PMxlgYKiY2Nytp0H?si=d7214546e40f4767 Next week's episode: "Badlands," Wolverine and the X-Men Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Hunting Grounds," Wolverine and the X-Men Aug 16, 2022

Wolverine and the X-Men returns to the Mojoverse in "Hunting Grounds," an episode named after Mojo's reality TV show in which the Reavers hunt down mutants for sport. It's like the Hunger Games, or Battle Royale, except Mojo did it first, thank you very much. Kurt and Wanda get abducted by Spiral and forced to participate in the deadly game for Mojo's amusement, and Kurt doesn't want to play along. Wanda is happy to play along, because she thinks murder is completely fine, whether it's for a reality TV audience or not. This is why it's never going to work out between those two, and Kurt has to go back to his boyfriend Logan in the end. Spotlight: Spiral Next week's episode: Listener mail! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Stolen Lives," Wolverine and the X-Men Aug 09, 2022

Maddy and Ryan face a serious challenge in "Stolen Lives," what may be the worst piece of X-Men fiction we've ever seen in the history of this show. It has a lot in common with the notoriously bad X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie, except replace Silver Fox with Mystique. That's right! On this show, the love of Mystique's life isn't Destiny, as it was on X-Men Evolution. Instead, it's Logan. Because sure. Next week's episode: "Hunting Grounds," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Battle Lines," Wolverine and the X-Men Aug 02, 2022

The time has come for Rogue and Domino to break up in "Battle Lines," another heart-breaking banger of an episode from Wolverine and the X-Men. If only they were all this good! Maddy sides with Magneto (as usual) on this week's episode, while Ryan deals with his disappointment over his boyfriend Logan's behavior on this show. It's weird to see Wolverine so flustered and out of his depth. Meanwhile, Cyclops is kinda cool now?? The visit to Mr. Sinister's lab put a rebel streak in Scott, and we gotta admit, we like it. He does need to learn how to close his damn eyes, though. X-Men Spotlight: Tildie Soames Next week's episode: "Stolen Lives," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"eXcessive Force," Wolverine and the X-Men Jul 26, 2022

Come up to Mr. Sinister's lab! See what's on the slab. It's Scott Summers, who's only there because he got tricked ... definitely not because he's second-guessing his sexuality. Jean Grey has been missing for two years, and suddenly Scott feels very guilty that he hasn't been looking for her. Sinister takes advantage of the situation, which isn't difficult to do, because Scott's sanity is quite frayed by this point. X-Men Spotlight: Arclight E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Past Discretions," Wolverine and the X-Men Jul 19, 2022

Time for a mandatory episode in which Wolverine fights Sabretooth and has nine flashbacks to Weapon X. Nine! Nine flashbacks! We can't do this anymore, Logan. Neither can Hank, who gets a talking-to from Rogue for putting up with Logan's bullshit. Meanwhile, Kitty and Bobby are organizing the X-Mansion library according to how gay each book is, and we'd rather watch an entire episode about that. X-Men Spotlight: Maverick E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Greetings From Genosha," Wolverine and the X-Men Jul 10, 2022

Magneto has finally achieved his life's dream in founding Genosha, but what exactly does that mean? Kurt tries to figure out his old rival's political motivations, and so do Maddy and Ryan, because Wolverine and the X-Men doesn't make it clear. Meanwhile, Mystique heads to the X-Mansion in disguise and, after messing around and kicking everyone in the face, heads back to Genosha and ensures Kurt's kidnapping. Why is Kurt getting kidnapped? Is this ever going to be explained? We're a little worried the answer is "no." X-Men Spotlight: Dust Next week's episode: "Past Discretions," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Future X," Wolverine and the X-Men Jul 05, 2022

Finally, Bishop gets to be cool in "Future X," the ninth episode of Wolverine and the X-Men. Instead of shooting his gun and never hitting a single target, Bishop actually gets to use his powers to take out a ton of Sentinels and rescue Professor X and Cerebro from getting misused and abused by the robot dictators. Even Xavier gets to be kinda bad-ass in this episode, although he still can't seem to resist the temptation to read the minds of his allies as well as his enemies. Why is he like this? Meanwhile, in the present day, Wolverine has no idea what Charles Xavier is really doing, because Xavier loves to lie about it (again, why? we'll never know). X-Men Spotlight: Marrow Next week's episode: "Greetings From Genosha," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Time Bomb," Wolverine and the X-Men Jun 28, 2022

Wolverine and the X-Men gets back on track with "Time Bomb," a more serious episode about the Brotherhood kidnapping the mutant Nitro from the MRD. The weird part is, Nitro turned himself in; his power is that he explodes, but he can't control when it happens, and it harms everybody except him. Sounds like exactly the type of mutant that Charles Xavier would abandon, and that is somehow what happens in this episode, even though Xavier has to communicate across space and time in order to send Logan that message. X-Men Spotlight: Nitro, who isn't actually an X-Man or a mutant in the comics Next week's episode: "Future X," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Wolverine vs. Hulk," Wolverine and the X-Men Jun 21, 2022

Who put this Avengers episode into our X-Men show? Maddy and Ryan struggle through "Wolverine vs. Hulk," one of the weakest episodes so far in Wolverine and the X-Men. Nick Fury is here, and although he's still Logan's ex-boyfriend, he's apparently regressed into an anti-mutant bigot who is also bad at his job. Meanwhile, the Hulk is also here, and so is... the Wendigo? Sure. Why not! X-Men Spotlight: The Wendigo Next week's episode: "Time Bomb," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"X-Calibre," Wolverine and the X-Men Jun 14, 2022

Maddy and Ryan are witnessing Wolverine and the X-Men go off the rails this week with "X-Calibre," the episode that introduces Nightcrawler and also a ton of other characters who don't need to be there. Somehow, this one episode manages to cram together a storyline about cargo ships mistreating mutants while transporting them to Genosha, plus Nightcrawler acting as a solo vigilante who saves those mutants, while also having flashbacks to his childhood in a version of Germany that looks medieval and also pretty crappy (at least until Professor X shows to "rescue" Kurt by brainwashing the whole town). That sounds like enough content to merit an entire episode, doesn't it? Oh, just you wait, because this episode is actually about the Mojoverse! Yeah. Yeah, we don't know either. Next week's episode: "Wolverine vs. Hulk," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Thieves' Gambit," Wolverine and the X-Men Jun 07, 2022

Gambit makes his official entrance on Wolverine and the X-Men in "Thieves' Gambit," and you know he's sexy, mes amis. Maddy and Ryan talk about his voice actor Phil LaMarr, who makes Gambit sound a bit like his performance of Hermes from Futurama. More importantly, this episode features a lot of flirty cat-and-mouse games between Wolverine and Gambit, because Forge developed an anti-mutation collar and Gambit got commissioned to steal it ... for Bolivar Trask and Senator Kelly's sexy evil henchwoman Sybil Zane. Oh, also, Amara comes back, but not the one we know from X-Men Evolution. (Or is she??? Just kidding. She's not.) Next week's episode: "X-Calibre," Wolverine & the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Overflow," Wolverine and the X-Men May 31, 2022

"Overflow" is the fourth episode of Wolverine and the X-Men, and this show still feels like a continuation of X-Men Evolution (to Maddy and Ryan's delight). Professor X uses time travel and the astral plane to wake Wolverine up in the middle of the night, telling him that Storm is about to destroy all of Africa for no reason. Turns out there is a reason, and it's the Shadow King. This episode lets Storm unleash some terrifying super-powers, and Emma Frost gets some time in the sun as well. What's not to like? (Okay, besides Xavier.) Next week's episode: "Thieves' Gambit," Wolverine & the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Hindsight, Part 3," Wolverine and the X-Men May 24, 2022

Emma Frost is here, at last! Maddy and Ryan watched "Hindsight, Part 3," which is another all-timer featuring a flirtatious Warren, a closeted Bobby, Logan and Beast bickering like a married couple, and Magneto proving he and Xavier are the *original* bickering married couple. Luckily we have the one and only Ms. Frost here to sort it all out, hmm? X-Men Spotlight: Who else??? Next week's episode: "Overflow," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Hindsight, Part 2," Wolverine and the X-Men May 10, 2022

Wolverine and the X-Men plunges into political intrigue in its second episode, featuring young Warren Worthington and his father, who hates his mutant son and is a key donor to Senator Kelly's campaign to introduce mutant registration. Meanwhile, the X-Men are back together, but all that really means is Hank and Logan are dating again, and no one else particularly wants to hang around with them. Rogue gets seduced by Domino into joining up with the Brotherhood, the mutant version of antifa that's making a lot of good points. X-Men Spotlight: Domino Next week's episode: We're taking a break next week because Maddy had to go to a memorial service, but the week after that we'll watch "Hindsight Part 3" E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"Hindsight, Part 1," Wolverine and the X-Men May 03, 2022

Maddy and Ryan review the pilot episode of Wolverine and the X-Men, which feels like X-Men Evolution, except now it's all grown up... and dealing with some serious political oppression. There are multiple flashbacks in this episode, and it moves fast, but somehow, it all works (maybe because these aren't Weapon X flashbacks again). Also, Beast and Wolverine are two gay dads and they do a prison break together and we love that for them. By the way, if you're a new listener, our mascot for the plugs section at the end of the episode is an anthropomoprhic butt plug named "Pluggy," and he's in this episode, and we don't explain it, because this is how our show goes. Welcome to our undiluted gay chaos energy. Next week's episode: "Hindsight, Part 2," Wolverine and the X-Men E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages or our store (teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages). Thanks!

"The X-Factor," Iron Man Armored Adventures Apr 26, 2022

Imagine this: Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, and James Rhodes are all teenagers in high school together, but they're still superheroes... or at least, super-rich, in Tony's case. That's the premise of Iron Man Armored Adventures, starring the teenage version of Iron Man. In this mutant-themed episode, Tony and his pals meet Jean Grey; she's on the run from Magneto, a mutant extremist trying to recruit her to assassinate Senator Kelly. Perhaps the most notable part of this episode is that Pepper Potts is written to be extremely bigoted against mutants. According to her, it's scary and gross to be born with superpowers, but it's totally fine to build a super-suit with your inherited wealth. Okay, Pepper! Sure. Next week's episode: "Hindsight, Part 1," Wolverine and the X-Men [the pilot episode!] Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Part 2 Apr 19, 2022

Maddy, Ryan and Todd continue the second half of their review of X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), so if you missed the first half, go back to last week's episode. We analyze the metaphorical heroin that Xavier and Hank take in order to diminish their powers and the overall impact this has on the mutant metaphor in the film. We also talk about the hit-or-miss portrayal of Mystique in the film, all the way up to the climax in which Magneto drops a baseball stadium onto the White House. A little overdramatic, Erik! Next week's episode: "The X Factor," Iron Man Armored Adventures (S2E17) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. Our guest Todd Harper is on Twitter as well at @drtoddharper and @arcanistfox. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Part 1 Apr 12, 2022

Ryan, Maddy, and Todd reunite for another live-action movie episode, and it's X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). This is our first time splitting a movie episode into two parts, and thank goodness, because we managed to spend the entire first hour of this episode dissecting the first ten minutes of this movie (!!!) and losing our minds over the decision to give Kitty Pryde psychic time-travel powers. We also discuss the abuse allegations against Bryan Singer and the bad atmosphere that many of the actors had described on the set of this movie. Above all, we get to see Bishop's eternal catchphrase in action: TIME TRAVEL IS REAL. Next week's episode: Part 2!! Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. Our guest Todd Harper is on Twitter as well at @drtoddharper and @arcanistfox. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, April 2022 Apr 05, 2022

Ryan and Maddy dive into the listener mailbag to answer questions about other interpretations of the mutant metaphor (such as for autism), which X-Men like to watch bad movies, whether or not Mystique's shape-shifting makes her similar to a lizard, and the ethics of telepathy. We close out with the season two premiere of The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book! Next week's episode: X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Part 1 Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Looking back on X-Men Evolution Mar 29, 2022

Well, this is it. Maddy and Ryan have completed X-Men Evolution (including the spin-off comics), and now it's time for them to bid farewell. We run down our favorite characters, the characters the most surprised us, the best and worst episodes, who's gay, and our favorite ships. It's been real, X-Men Evolution, and we'll miss you! Next week's episode: Listener Mail Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

X-Men Evolution comic series (2001-2002) Mar 22, 2022

With all the X-Men Evolution episodes done, Ryan and Maddy dove into the spin-off comic series written by Devin Grayson and illustrated by Udon Entertainment with Long Vo, Charles Park, and Kidkoum "Saka" Visarutvanit of Studio XD. These comic books are a bit strange because they don't quite line up with the plotline of the TV show, but there are just enough similarities that it feels like getting to spend some more time with the characters we loved. We're going to miss this show! Next week's episode: X-Men Evolution wrap-up Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Ascension, Part 2," X-Men Evolution Mar 15, 2022

It's the series finale of X-Men Evolution, and instead of being sad, Ryan and Maddy get very giggly on this episode. "Ascension, Part 2" answers some of the questions raised in "Part 1" about how Apocalypse's pyramid spaceships work, but the answers don't make that much sense, and the whole episode feels like a countdown to the ending when Rogue swoops in to save the entire planet. The Brotherhood also show up, allowing Toad to have a few more jokes before the credits roll. It's not how we wanted this show to end, but it was fun while it lasted. Next week's episode: X-Men Evolution's comic series (2001-2002) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Ascension, Part 1," X-Men Evolution Mar 08, 2022

Ryan and Maddy have almost reached the end of X-Men Evolution and it's a rough go. This rushed two-part finale is not what the show deserved, although "Ascension, Part 1" does its best to give conclusive arcs to several major characters. Jean Grey gets her time in the spotlight and plenty of Phoenix foreshadowing that won't pay off, and Xavier gets the chance to be an asshole one last time before he dies. Unfortunately, he gets resurrected. Sigh. Next week's episode: "Ascension, Part 2," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Ghost of a Chance," X-Men Evolution Mar 01, 2022

"Ghost of a Chance" is the last real episode of X-Men Evolution before its rushed two-part finale, and we treasure every moment. Danielle Moonstar gets an amazing introduction to the show in this horror-meets-romance twist on her story. Kitty Pryde takes on the girlfriend role that Rahne usually plays, forming a special psychic connection with Dani and discovering that she should never trust Professor Xavier. Also, we make a lot of Silent Hill references in this one. Shout-out to Akira Yamaoka's gorgeous soundtracks! X-Men Spotlight: Danielle Moonstar Next week's episode: "Ascension, Part 1," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Cajun Spice," X-Men Evolution Feb 22, 2022

X-Men Evolution gives us the perfect episode for Rogue and Gambit in "Cajun Spice," in which Gambit plays the Catwoman to Rogue's Batman. Still brooding over her decision to murder her mother, Rogue skips school and gets caught up in Gambit's shenanigans. After some knockout gas, some ropes, and a long train ride, these two disaster bisexuals end up on a date set in the midst of Mardi Gras. It's pretty much perfect, and it all ends with a high-speed motorboat chase in the bayou, because why not? Next week's episode: "Ghost of a Chance," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Uprising," X-Men Evolution Feb 15, 2022

"Uprising" is perhaps X-Men Evolution's strongest episode when it comes to writing, pacing, and the metaphor of anti-mutant hatred. Evan Daniels, a.k.a. Spyke, has been living with the Morlocks for a while, and in that time, he's grown armor all over his body that he can no longer hide. He now sees himself as the guardian of the Morlocks, who are living off of garbage and facing anti-mutant hate crimes in the streets of Bayville. Meanwhile, Xavier is still worried about Apocalypse's domes, not that he's doing anything to help the humans experimenting on them and getting hurt or killed in the process. This episode gets real specific about the hatred towards mutants rising around the world, and the way that extremist views can become normalized over time. It's heavy shit. Next week's episode: "Cajun Spice," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Sins of the Son," X-Men Evolution Feb 08, 2022

We all knew Professor X had at least one notable ex-lover (Magneto), but the big shocker of "Sins of the Son" is that he's got a woman in his past, too, named Gabrielle Haller. Xavier is just as shocked as we are when he learns he has a teenage son with Gabrielle named David. Except how did he miss that memo, especially given how often he uses Cerebro to track powerful mutants? David turns out to be Legion (not that X-Men Evolution calls him that), a mutant with multiple manifested personalities inside of him, each of which with their own powers... and their own axe to grind against Xavier. We can't really blame them, especially upon seeing Xavier's behavior in this episode. X-Men Spotlight: Legion Next week's episode: "Uprising," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Target X," X-Men Evolution Feb 01, 2022

We knew we'd get to see X-23 again in "Target X," but we sure didn't expect X-Men Evolution to bring back one of Logan's weirdest ex-boyfriends Omega Red. The Soviet metal-man has decided to team up with Hydra and Viper, going against his political programming, all to get another chance to "torture" Wolverine. Meanwhile, X-23 destroys all of Hydra by herself, and Nick Fury shows up at the end to get the credit for it. Also Gauntlet is in this episode. He has an iPhone. X-Men Spotlight: Viper, a.k.a. Madame Hydra! Next week's episode: "Sins of the Son," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

MutantVision: A Mutant Ages Comic Special Jan 25, 2022

We interrupt up this week's scheduled program for a very special Mutant Ages: The Comic, brought to you by MOJOVISION! Maddy, Ryan, Todd, Katie and various X-Men have been whisked away into their very own sitcom "Golden Mutants" with none of their memories. Only one person has retained his memories: Logan. Is he going to be enough to save them from this sitcom hell? If you are a little confused, that's okay! Mutant Ages: The Comic is featured at the end of every Listener Mail episode. This season finale highlight episode reveals who has been masterminding plot holes in the X-Men universe, and tells fun jokes on the way. We will back to reviewing every adaptation of the X-Men in... Next week's episode: Target X Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"No Good Deed," X-Men Evolution Jan 18, 2022

X-Men Evolution brings us an entire episode focused on the Brotherhood, and we can't help but sympathize with the "bad guys" once again. These poor kids just need somebody to take care of them, and with Mystique and Magneto having died in the previous episode, they're resorting to a life of scamming people to get money. Xavier is a dick about it, and so is Scott, predictably. Pietro also goes too far. What's his problem? We get into it! Next week's episode: Mutantvision: The Comic Book Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Impact," X-Men Evolution Jan 11, 2022

Wait a second... Maddy and Ryan think Apocalypse is kinda badass? X-Men Evolution achieves the unthinkable in its season 4 premiere episode, which also includes some very dark scenes about Rogue, Kurt, and their relationship to Mystique. Two characters in this episode die, but they both come back later. That doesn't make their deaths any less affecting, though. This episode brings the pain, and it does so in a masterful way. Next week's episode (we're weekly again!): "No Good Deed...," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

The Wolverine (2013) Dec 28, 2021

Finally, a decent live-action X-Men movie! Maddy, Ryan, and Todd all watched The Wolverine (2013), which is a solo Logan action movie that isn't as horrible as X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) and is a lot more free-wheeling and fun than Logan (2017). We get to see Hugh Jackman's naked butt, but the real draw of this movie is actually Rila Fukushima as Yukio. We love her, she's the star of the movie, and she is perfection. Next episode: "Impact," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, December 2021 Dec 14, 2021

Maddy and Ryan dive into the Mutant Ages listener mailbag this week to answer questions about which X-Men villains and heroes they'd allow to crash their birthday every year, which contemporary songs and TV shows the X-Men Evolution characters would be into, and whether Scott Summers smokes weed or not. Next episode: The Wolverine (2013) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Dark Horizon, Part 2," X-Men Evolution Nov 30, 2021

Apocalypse is back, to Ryan and Maddy's dismay. Our suffering is your entertainment in "Dark Horizon, Part 2" which is an episode of X-Men Evolution that no one should watch. We devote plenty of time to the X-Men 97 news, as well. You knew we were gonna be pumped about that one! Next episode: Listener mail! Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Dark Horizon, Part 1," X-Men Evolution Nov 16, 2021

Maddy and Ryan review the first half of X-Men Evolution's two-part finale for season three, and unfortunately, it was not good. We still manage to have a very good time talking about it, though. Enjoy us losing our minds as we discuss the awakening of Apocalypse, Toad getting milk in his eyes, and the Sphinx. Next episode: "Dark Horizon - Part 2," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Cruise Control," X-Men Evolution Nov 02, 2021

Amara and Tabitha finally consummate their relationship in "Cruise Control," a summer vacation episode of X-Men Evolution that aired out of order. We threw it in before the season finale, although technically we should have watched it before "X-23". We'd love to go on a tropical cruise just like the X-kids in this episode, although of course Boom-Boom and Bobby get into a load of trouble for being a little too flamboyant with their super-powered queer selves. It all works out, nobody dies, and the kids get to feel like heroes at the end of it all. X-Men Spotlight: Amara Aquilla, a.k.a. MAGMA!! Next episode: "Dark Horizon - Part 1," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"X-23," X-Men Evolution Oct 19, 2021

We've finally reached one of Maddy's favorite episodes (and favorite characters) in "X-23," a spotlight on the teen girl clone of Wolverine who was first introduced on this show and was later introduced to the comics as well. Ryan and Maddy analyze this episode's introduction to the character and then her comic book counterpart, and why we think this twist on Wolverine's story works so well. X-Men Spotlight: Laura Kinney, a.k.a. X-23, a.k.a. Wolverine!!! Next episode: "Cruise Control," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Under Lock and Key," X-Men Evolution Oct 05, 2021

Finally, X-Men Evolution gives us a fun episode full of homoerotic undertones and overtones. Ryan and Maddy laugh their way through this recap of "Under Lock and Key," in which Mesmero returns and tries to steal some keys to bring back Apocalypse, and also Warren Worthington is here to flirt with Gambit and inspire Bobby to come out of the closet. Also, Xavier and Magneto should never get back together. Next episode: "X-23," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Self-Possessed," X-Men Evolution Sep 21, 2021

For many weeks now, Ryan and Maddy have said that X-Men Evolution is getting dark and intense, but this week's episode deals with suicide, so it's a real heavy experience. Rogue has a mental breakdown upon learning that Scott and Jean are in a relationship, and then she finds out that Mystique has been posing as Risty. This results in Rogue having a full-on identity crisis, with every previous mutant she's absorbed trying to take over her brain. Next episode: "Under Lock and Key," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, September 2021 Sep 07, 2021

Ryan and Maddy open up the listener mailbag this week to answer questions about what it would be like if Xavier were actually a good mentor, which X-Men they'd take with them on a camping trip, and more! We conclude with another episode of The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book, featuring not one but two musical numbers. Next week's episode: "Self-Possessed," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Toad, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," X-Men Evolution Aug 24, 2021

X-Men Evolution's characters need to get out of the closet -- or the wardrobe, as this title suggests. "The Toad, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" is all about Kurt and Toad, two self-conscious characters who want to look different. In Kurt's case, it's because he wants to impress Amanda's parents, even though she doesn't care he's blue and doesn't think they would either. In Toad's case, he's trying to impress Wanda, who doesn't like him no matter what he looks like (because she is gay). Meanwhile, Magneto teams up with Mastermind to kidnap Wanda and erase all of her trauma in a scene that serves as a more dramatic counterpart to the light-hearted slapstick scenes in the rest of this episode. X-Men Spotlight: Margali, Amanda Sefton's mother Next episode: Listener mail! Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"X-Treme Measures," X-Men Evolution Aug 10, 2021

In this episode of X-Men Evolution, we get to meet the Morlocks and learn about their way of life, and we also learn about a new sports drink called Pow-R 8 that's poisonous to mutants. Meanwhile, Evan Daniels is finding that he can't hide who he is anymore. Spikes are growing all over his body, and retracting them feels painful. He's trying to stay closeted, as he must do if he hopes to continue living in Xavier's mansion, but after he accidentally takes a drink of Pow-R 8 at a skateboarding competition, his powers go haywire and only the Morlocks know what to do to help him. This episode is so sad that we couldn't even manage to get through our usual "Who's gay?" segment. It's a great episode, though. In happier news, the Mutant Ages got featured on Inverse.com recently: https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/falcon-winter-soldier-theory-x-men-mutants-marvel-mystique X-Men Spotlight: Berserker, a.k.a. Ray Carter Next episode: "The Toad, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Blind Alley," X-Men Evolution Jul 27, 2021

Finally, Mystique gets her revenge on Scott Summers... or at least, she spends plenty of time torturing him, and totally would have killed him, except that Jean and Scott's sexy psychic connection ruins everything. This episode is really simple, but there is a moment when Scott and Logan are shirtless, and that's important to note. Also important to note? Maddy and Ryan are going back to a biweekly schedule after this. We're just too busy! But we love you and we're still intending to do this show for the rest of our natural lives. X-Men Spotlight: CYCLOPS, a.k.a. Scott Summers (finally) Next episode: "X-Treme Measures," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Stuff of Villains," X-Men Evolution Jul 20, 2021

Bonjour, Gambit has arrived ... to stand outside the high school and pick on anybody who picks on his fellow mutants. Gambit isn't here to attend school, he's here to do the schooling! The Brotherhood gets to learn from this cool older guy, with Rogue and Kitty in hot pursuit. Very hot pursuit. This episode is gay. Next week's episode: "Blind Alley," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Mainstream," X-Men Evolution Jul 13, 2021

Content warning for a lot of discussion of homophobic bullying that Maddy and Ryan experienced as teenagers, because this week's episode of X-Men Evolution took us on a trip back to our saddest memories. That said, "Mainstream" is another incredible episode about what it's like for mutants to re-integrate into society again now that everybody knows who they are. Luckily there's a fun side-plot with Logan hooking up with Colossus, except even that story has a sad ending. Next week's episode: "The Stuff of Villains," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Stuff of Heroes," X-Men Evolution Jun 29, 2021

This week, Maddy and Ryan sympathize with Juggernaut, who just wants to be left alone. The cops won't let him live, and they won't let the rest of the newly discovered mutants on X-Men Evolution live, either. Bayville has become a police state, with heavily armed soldiers patrolling the streets, and Congress is debating whether mutants should be allowed to exist. Storm and Beast stand up for their rights, and meanwhile, the baby X-Men are all grown up, fighting for their rights as well. Then there's Logan, who's the oldest mutant around, but also the biggest baby. Next week's episode: We're taking a one-week break... and then watching "Mainstream" (X-Men Evolution) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Day of Recovery," X-Men Evolution Jun 22, 2021

X-Men Evolution starts off its third season with a bang. The X-Men confront Mystique about where she's hiding Xavier, but within seconds, a bunch of cops and soldiers show up to kill everyone. For the rest of the episode, all of our heroes are on the run from the law. News broadcasts describe the climate of fear and paranoia that has gripped the nation in the wake of all mutants being outed. There's no going back from here. Next week's episode: "The Stuff of Heroes," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, June 2021 Jun 15, 2021

Maddy and Ryan open up the mailbag to answer listeners' questions about who's the scariest X-Men villain, who they'd recruit to be their own personal Four Horsemen, and how each of their respective career paths and personal passions led them to where they are today. Next week's episode: "Day of Recovery," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

X-Men: First Class (2011) Jun 01, 2021

If only X-Men: First Class were a story about Magneto's origin. Or maybe just a catalogue of Magneto's romance with Charles Xavier. That's almost what it is, but then there's a whole bunch of other plotlines and themes in here, and they sure don't fit together. Come along with Maddy, Ryan, and Todd on their quest to figure out where Moira bought those garters, what the hell Emma Frost was doing in a jail cell for two months, and whether Mystique can make a decision without a man's help. Next week's episode: Listener mail! Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers, RyanPagella and DrToddHarper (or ArcanistFox). If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Day of Reckoning, Part 2," X-Men Evolution May 25, 2021

X-Men Evolution brings its second season to a devastating conclusion in "Day of Reckoning Part 2," in which Scott discovers Mystique's master plan, but far too late to do anything about it. Meanwhile, Magneto's master plan is the real concern, since it involves unmasking mutantkind in front of all humanity, and also unmasking Trask and his Sentinels. Shit gets incredibly real in this episode. Next week's episode: X-Men: First Class (2011) Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Day of Reckoning, Part 1," X-Men Evolution May 18, 2021

Maddy and Ryan kick off the first half of X-Men Evolution's season two finale, an incredible double-header that lets Mystique show off the complexity of her long-term plan. "Day of Reckoning, Part 1" starts off with Logan cruising for Sabretooth in the sewers and getting kidnapped by Bolivar Trask, who makes his first appearance on this show and already has Sentinels waiting in the wings to murder all mutants. Both the X-Men and the Brotherhood assume that Magneto was the one to kidnap Wolverine and they plan to retaliate accordingly, but the truth is a lot more complicated than that. We'll wrap it all up next week! X-Men Spotlight: Bolivar Trask Next week's episode: "Day of Reckoning, Part 2" Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The HeX Factor," X-Men Evolution May 11, 2021

Welcome to the show, Wanda Maximoff. We are so excited to see you. Maddy and Ryan recorded a super-long episode to analyze "The HeX Factor," an incredible introduction to X-Men Evolution's take on Wanda as a character. She's a 2000s era goth teen on a revenge quest against Magneto, and she's not a fan of Xavier either. Mystique shows up to help her out, as well as arrange an introduction between Wanda and Agatha Harkness. Thank goodness someone around here cares about Wanda's well-being. X-Men Spotlight: Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. The SCARLET WITCH! Next week's episode: "Day of Reckoning, Part 1" Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Operation Rebirth," X-Men Evolution May 04, 2021

Through a total coincidence, the episode of X-Men Evolution we're reviewing this week is all about stolen super soldier serum, supremacists, and Captain America. We just finished watching The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (check out our Patreon for a bonus ep about it), so we're really feeling the deja vu. The X-Men Evolution take on the story, titled "Operation Rebirth," includes all the same political themes but it's much sillier and a lot gayer. We always shipped Logan and Steve Rogers, but now we know X-Men Evolution does, too. Next week's episode: The HeX Factor Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Walk on the Wild Side," X-Men Evolution Apr 27, 2021

This one's for the ladies ... and anyone else who needs a lesson in early 2000s-era feminism. "Walk on the Wild Side" is a famous episode of X-Men Evolution because it's all about the X-gals teaming up and fighting crime together, no boys allowed. Its portrayal of feminism is pretty basic, tracking with the time period in which it came out. What's really important here is how gay this episode is. Bayville Sirens? More like Sapphic Sirens! Next week's episode: Operation Rebirth Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Retreat," X-Men Evolution Apr 20, 2021

In this episode of X-Men Evolution, Beast takes the X-kids on a field trip to the California Redwoods, and Maddy and Ryan wish they could go along too. This episode looks a lot like Disney's Tarzan (1999), so get ready for a lot of singing and an unexpected amount of clapping. We also talk about environmentalism, the beauty of the natural world, and Beast learning to love his natural queer self. This episode has surprisingly sad moments and it's ultimately very sweet. Character spotlight: Rahne Sinclair, a.k.a. Wolfsbane Next week's episode: "Walk on the Wild Side," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, April 2021 Apr 13, 2021

It's time to open up the mailbag! On this week's listener feedback episode, Ryan and Maddy answer questions about our least favorite X-Men comic book runs, whether mutants are a decent metaphor for disability, which five mutant powers we'd pick for ourselves, and so much more. Then, in the latest installment of The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book, Cloaky makes his big debut. In this episode, we also refer to this video of Brazilian fans acting out the X-Men Evolution opening -- which you should watch, if you haven't: https://www.reddit.com/r/xmen/comments/l9x76r/i_would_watch_this_movie/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 Next week's episode: "Retreat," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Shadow Dance," X-Men Evolution Mar 30, 2021

At Bayville High School, the Sadie Hawkins dance is coming up, and all of a sudden, Scott Summers is in high demand with the ladies. "Shadow Dance" is all about teen drama and romance, especially when it comes to Kurt, who is still in the mutant closet but wants to get a lot closer to a cute girl in his math class named Amanda. This episode is cute as heck. X-Men Spotlight: Amanda Sefton Next week's episode: We're taking a week off, but after that, we'll be back with some listener feedback. Write in! Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Mindbender," X-Men Evolution Mar 23, 2021

If you're afraid of clowns, don't watch the X-Men Evolution episode "Mindbender" (but feel free to enjoy our recap). The show introduces the hypnotic villain Mesmero, who uses his powers to take over Jean's mind and get her to steal a bunch of jewelry for him. Soon, he also takes over the minds of several other X-Men and takes them on epic heists to steal more stuff. Unfortunately, Mesmero does all of that so he can start the process of awakening Apocalypse, but this episode is pretty fun anyway. X-Men Spotlight: Mesmero Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Wandavision (2021) Mar 16, 2021

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd do a spoiler-laden rundown of the first season of Wandavision. Was Wanda the hero, or just the protagonist? Which comic book stories inspired the various threads of Wandavision? Which television show or MCU film will snag that copy of the Darkhold next? Why couldn't media critics just be normal about this show? And is "Agatha All Along" going to be stuck in our heads forever? Join us for this two-hour romp through those answering those questions. Next week's episode: "Mindbender," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks! SHOW NOTES: MTV's segment on X-Men Apocalypse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rFyHJ1pSyg Jimmy Fallon's "FallonVision" segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqzaAgD7jTw

"On Angel's Wings," X-Men Evolution Mar 09, 2021

Uh... Merry Christmas? It's March, but X-Men Evolution's holiday special episode is next on the list, so here we are reviewing "On Angel's Wings." Queer metaphors abound in this melancholy story about Warren Worthington's self-hatred. Xavier and Magneto fight over who gets to welcome Warren to the mutant lifestyle. Also, Nightcrawler and Iceman kiss under the mistletoe. For real! X-Men Spotlight: Angel/Archangel, a.k.a. Warren Worthington III Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Joyride," X-Men Evolution Mar 02, 2021

In "Joyride," Lance joins up with the X-Men because he has a crush on Kitty, but he gets a lot more than he bargained for. Scott takes on the Xavier role in this episode by being a total hard-ass, and meanwhile, the New Mutants prove themselves to be total troublemakers who frame Lance for their shenanigans. Also, Maddy and Ryan share a lot of stories about times when they got in trouble as teenagers. Maddy left all of it in during the edit because it's pretty funny. Next week's episode: "On Angel's Wings," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"African Storm," X-Men Evolution Feb 23, 2021

This episode of X-Men Evolution is called "African Storm," which means we didn't have high expectations for it, and that was the right call. Finally we get a Storm spotlight episode, but it's about a mysterious African tribe trying to kidnap her, brainwash her, and use her powers. Somehow, Xavier manages to co-opt the situation to convince Ororo that they should kick Evan out of the X-Mansion. Is it possible that Xavier was behind this entire charade? Maddy and Ryan have some theories... Next week's episode: "Joyride," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Adrift," X-Men Evolution Feb 16, 2021

Cyclops and Havok get stuck in the opening sequence from Kingdom Hearts, and they need Storm to help them escape, but unfortunately, she has no actual powers on X-Men Evolution. Meanwhile, Beast and Kurt have side-plots about getting more comfortable with their bodies. If only Beast and Kurt's side-stories were more central to the episode and better written. Anyway, watch out for those waves, dudes! Cowabunga! Next week's episode: "African Storm," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, February 2021 Feb 09, 2021

At long last, Ryan and Maddy discuss the fact that they pronounce "Xavier" differently, thanks to a listener email. Somehow, we never noticed this before. Thanks to some other great messages from our audience, we also discuss Nightcrawler's story as a trans allegory, whether New Mutants is better than Dark Phoenix, and so much more. This week also features the next episode of the Mutant Ages comic, in which our favorite podcasters have to help 2 Wolverines remember their spotty past. Next week's episode: "Adrift," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Beast of Bayville," X-Men Evolution Feb 02, 2021

In X-Men Evolution, Hank McCoy is still the guy we know and love: he quotes poetry to illustrate his state of mind, and he struggles with being a mutant and learning to love himself. Professor Xavier doesn't help at all, so instead it's up to a bunch of teenagers to help Hank, which is good because they're all more comfortable with themselves than Xavier or Hank ever will be. This is a very sad and intense episode, so luckily there's also a B-plot about Kitty Pryde wearing a pyramid hat. Next week's episode: Listener mail Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Fun and Games," X-Men Evolution Jan 26, 2021

Ryan and Maddy resist the urge to talk about Wandavision and stay on track this episode, covering the next episode in the X-Men Evolution queue: "Fun and Games." This one is all about Arcade manipulating the X-Men in one of his games, except the true manipulator is Mystique, pulling the strings with Arcade as her personal puppet. This episode is not very deep politically and there's not much of a queer analogy either, but it's very fun to watch, and Mystique's master plan plays out perfectly. X-Men Spotlight: Arcade, a.k.a. Webber Torque (according to X-Men Evolution, at least) Next week's episode: "The Beast of Bayville," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Power Surge," X-Men Evolution Jan 19, 2021

X-Men Evolution's take on the Phoenix saga is a much lower-stakes high school story, but it still hits a lot of familiar beats to Jean Grey's portrayal in the comics and various adaptations. Although for whatever reason, this episode is more about Scott and Jean's high school boyfriend Duncan than it is about Jean. Also... Beast is here now??? And he has, like, six jobs. Anyway, this is a good episode. Next week's episode: "Fun and Games," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Bada-Bing-Bada-Boom," X-Men Evolution Jan 12, 2021

Boom-Boom's bombing in! Tabitha Smith has finally arrived, which means Ryan gets to update his list of favorite X-Men. The X-Men Evolution version of Tabitha's backstory is not as dark as the comic book version but still features her escaping an abusive family, and deciding she doesn't like Xavier much, either. Who could blame her? X-Men Spotlight: Boom-Boom, obviously! Next week's episode: "Power Surge," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Growing Pains," X-Men Evolution Jan 05, 2021

Ryan and Maddy start up the second season of X-Men Evolution, in which Professor Xavier is a pompous know-it-all, but in a whole new and different type of way. "Growing Pains" gives our heroes some complex moral quandaries, and they don't have easy answers. Maddy and Ryan debate the ethics of Avalanche and Professor X in this episode, each drawing different conclusions about their motivations. One thing we can all agree on? Scott is actually right, for once. Next week's episode: "Bada-Bing-Bada-Boom," X-Men Evolution Visit our STORE: Visit our STORE at: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

The New Mutants (2020) Dec 15, 2020

There are two gay bears inside of us all, one who's afraid and one who's proud. Which bear gets to grow big and strong? The one you feed, obviously. Oh, and there's also this other third bear. The Demon Bear. That one's gay too. If this is confusing, just wait until you hear about how all three of these bears factor in to the plot of The New Mutants (2020). Ryan and Maddy bring Todd back on the show to analyze the latest and final live-action 20th Century Fox take on the X-Men. It's got good parts and bad parts. It also has Mr. Sinister in it, kinda? We almost liked this movie, because it's the Generation X of 2020 -- destined to be a cult favorite for X-Men fans in 2044. Next week's episode: The Mutant Ages Holiday Special, live on our YouTube channel on Dec. 20th at 6 pm ET! https://www.youtube.com/themutantages Visit our STORE at: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, December 2020 Dec 08, 2020

Why is this listener mail episode so long? Maybe that's just how it is, now. Anyway, on this week's listener feedback rundown, Maddy and Ryan talk about the various labels that we don't feel fit our sexualities, She-Ra and Steven Universe (again), and also try to cast all of the X-Men using only actors from the MCU films. Then there's a mega-long episode of The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book to round it all out. Enjoy! Next week's episode: The New Mutants (2020) Visit our STORE at: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Cauldron Part 2," X-Men Evolution Dec 01, 2020

Maddy and Ryan have loved watching the first season of X-Men Evolution, but this season finale was... so freakin' weird. Magneto has kidnapped and/or coerced the strongest mutants he knows onto Asteroid M, and now he wants them to step into his special glowing pink chamber, which will elevate their mutant powers. But that's not all it does! If you're a teenager and you walk into this chamber, you become a fully-grown adult(??) and a Dragon Ball Z Saiyan (?!?!?!). We don't understand what's going on anymore and now look forward to season two, which will probably restore sanity. Probably. Visit our NEW STORE at: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Cauldron Part 1," X-Men Evolution Nov 24, 2020

Who even is Magneto on X-Men Evolution? Apparently, he's just Mr. Sinister, which means Maddy and Ryan aren't sure how to feel about him. In "The Cauldron Part 1," Scott learns his brother Alex was alive all these years, and so naturally, Xavier wants to recruit him. Magneto gets there first, but who knows how he found the time or resources to do that, because he's also busy building Asteroid M in space and forcing all of the mutants he knows to fight one another for the chance to go there. This episode is really weird, and not necessarily in a good way. X-Men Spotlight: Alex Summers, a.k.a. Havok! Visit our NEW STORE at: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Grim Reminder," X-Men Evolution Nov 17, 2020

Ryan and Maddy revisit Weapon X (again) in X-Men Evolution, although this show's writers seem just as disinterested in this particular storyline as we are. The framing device here is Kitty writing a LiveJournal entry (a.k.a. an email to her parents)about her and Kurt sneaking onto the Blackbird to follow Wolverine to Canada while he has a panic attack and/or gets mind-controlled. Instead of this being an episode about Kitty and Kurt inspiring Logan to stop going it alone and instead work through his trauma alongside his found family, this episode is mostly about Logan screaming in the woods while fucking Sabretooth. There are also tentacles. Visit our NEW STORE at: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Shadowed Past," X-Men Evolution Nov 10, 2020

"Shadowed Past" is a real tearjerker of an episode, all about how Mystique feels like she can't be a good mother... and maybe she's right. Maddy and Ryan cried along with Rogue and Kurt for this sad journey through the psyche of Mystique, who finally reveals to Kurt that she's his mom, not that it goes particularly well. It may all sound heavy, but it adds up to be the best episode of X-Men Evolution yet. Visit our NEW STORE at: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, November 2020 Nov 03, 2020

Maddy and Ryan recorded a super-long listener feedback episode this week, featuring questions about Magneto and Xavier's politics and whether they would still work in a modern adaptation, analysis of which X-Men remind us most of ourselves, and also, listing off our favorite comics about Storm. The episode concludes, as always, with another thrilling episode of The Mutant Ages comic book. Visit our NEW STORE at: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Survival of the Fittest," X-Men Evolution Oct 27, 2020

Welcome to the Mutant Ages podcast, where we unceremoniously ring in our 100th episode by talking about Wolverine and Nightcrawler slashfiction. Okay, so we didn't realize this was our 100th episode while we recorded it, but it's still pretty special, right? So anyway, X-Men Evolution's "Survival of the Fittest" is about Mystique breaking Juggernaut out of jail to steal Cerebro and maybe also kill Xavier. Wouldn't that have been the perfect centennial wish, if only it had come true? Mostly this episode isn't about Juggernaut at all. It's about the X-Babies and the Baby Brotherhood going to summer camp together and making out. Not what we expected, but we'll take it. Visit our NEW STORE at: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"SpykeCam," X-Men Evolution Oct 20, 2020

In "SpykeCam," Spyke's history teacher gives him a video camera and he immediately uses it to blow up Logan's spot with Sabretooth. And also to make gay music videos in the woods behind the X-Mansion. In other words, Spyke does exactly what Ryan and Maddy did with a video camera when they were his age. This episode is so gay, and sure, we say that every week, but for real this time. Next week's episode: "Survival of the Fittest" Visit our NEW STORE at: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Turn of the Rogue," X-Men Evolution Oct 13, 2020

In "Turn of the Rogue," Professor Xavier finally reveals that he's a huge liar, although he takes his damn time to do it. Still, we're surprised he did it at all! Rogue gets her big turn in the spotlight this episode, showing off her martial arts skills as well as the fact that she can drive a snowmobile(???). Cyclops gets to be the damsel in distress, and also, Magneto makes a great cameo in this one. X-Men Evolution is a fun show. Next week's episode: "SpykeCam" Visit our NEW STORE at: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Middleverse," X-Men: Evolution Oct 06, 2020

Trouble is brewing at Bayville High in the latest episode of X-Men Evolution! The high school's hottest couple, Kurt Wagner and Scott Summers, get into a big fight during lunch hour and Kurt ends up getting teleported into Silent Hill. He meets up with adorable teenage Forge, has a fling, and then has to figure out how to get back home to his boyfriend again. That's exactly what happens in this episode according to canon. X-Men Spotlight: Forge Next week's episode: "Turn of the Rogue" Visit our NEW STORE at: teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Speed and Spyke," X-Men: Evolution Sep 29, 2020

Get ready for another conversation about queer villains, because Pietro Maximoff is here, he's queer, and he's got a big crush on Evan Daniels, a.k.a. Spyke. We're finally back on solid ground with an X-Men Evolution episode that isn't actively upsetting, plus it's a Storm-centric episode, since new character Spyke is her nephew. Ryan and Maddy get to analyze some hard-hitting queer metaphors in this one, as well as the Evan/Pietro ship that was probably popular with queer teen viewers at the time. Meanwhile, Xavier remains the show's most haunting antagonist. X-Men Spotlight: Pietro Maximoff, a.k.a. Quicksilver Next week's episode: "Middleverse" Visit our NEW STORE at: https://teespring.com/stores/the-mutant-ages E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, September 2020 Sep 22, 2020

Ryan and Maddy dig into their email inbox, Twitter mentions, and Discord conversations for some discussions about Mystique and Mr. Sinister's queerness, mental health metaphors in the X-Men, and the question of how the MCU's reboot of the X-Men would portray a character like Magneto, now that we're getting so far away from World War II in our real-life timeline. We conclude, as always, with another thrilling issue of The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book, featuring... Cable! Time travel is real!! Next week's episode: "Speed and Spyke," X-Men: Evolution E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Mutant Crush," X-Men: Evolution Sep 15, 2020

In the fourth episode of X-Men: Evolution, we get introduced to Fred "The Blob" Dukes. This starts out as a promising story about someone who pushes back against his bullies, but then it spirals off into fatphobic garbage and negative stereotypes about fat people. Maddy and Ryan would not recommend that you watch this episode! But please enjoy us tearing it apart... including Ryan's mic sounding a bit blown out the entire time because we had to use backup equipment (and also we were yelling, because we were mad, because this episode is fucked up). Stick around to the end of the episode for a very special segment featuring some insights about bullying via Ryan's sister, who works as a guidance counselor. X-Men Spotlight: Fred "The Blob" Dukes Next week's episode: Listener feedback!! It's been a while. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Rogue Recruit," X-Men: Evolution Sep 08, 2020

Rogue has finally arrived, sugah dumplings, and she has two moms. Two terrible, terrible moms. Professor Xavier would be a better parent, but not by a lot, because he still sucks in this episode. Rogue has to figure things out for herself, as usual. The results are still pretty bad-ass even though she's just a kid. X-Men Spotlight: Destiny, a.k.a. Irene Adler (from Sherlock Holmes?!?!?!?) Next week's episode: "Mutant Crush," X-Men: Evolution E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The X-Impulse," X-Men: Evolution Sep 01, 2020

Enter Kitty Pryde and her valley girl accent on the second episode of X-Men: Evolution. Ryan and Maddy love Kitty even if she has, like, a totally tubular speech pattern. In this episode, Jean Grey and Xavier take the Blackbird to Illinois to recruit Kitty, but they soon get intercepted by teen bad boy Avalanche. Meanwhile, Cyclops and Nightcrawler are hot for teacher Wolverine... who is hot for Sabretooth, as usual. X-Men Spotlight: Avalanche Next week's episode: "Rogue Recruit," X-Men: Evolution E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Strategy X," X-Men: Evolution Aug 25, 2020

Ryan and Maddy settle in for the debut episode of X-Men: Evolution! But first, some reminiscing about the political climate during the time period that this show came out, and also our own experiences as teenagers watching this show. X-Men: Evolution is much more overt about its queer analogy, and also, it's just a damn good show. Oh... by the way? Professor Xavier's still a piece of shit. Just saying. X-Men Spotlight: Toad! Next week's episode: "The X-Impulse," X-Men: Evolution E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) Aug 18, 2020

It finally happened... We watched X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The 2009 exploration of Wolverine's origins disappointed us at the time, and it disappoints us so much more in 2020. With Todd Harper's help, Ryan and Maddy tear apart this notoriously bad movie, which is impressive only in the sense that it manages to offend just about everybody. Next week's episode: The pilot episode of X-Men Evolution! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Mutants' Revenge," Spider-Man The Animated Series Aug 11, 2020

Maddy and Ryan finally close the book on X-Men: The Animated Series with the second half of the show's two-part crossover with Spider-Man The Animated Series. It's a very entertaining send-off. Logan and Beast finally tell everyone they're dating, Spider-Man learns the importance of friendship (or something?) and Hobgoblin uses a CD-ROM. Next week's episode: X-Men Origins: Wolverine (we have to watch this, but you definitely shouldn't!) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Mutant Agenda," Spider-Man: The Animated Series Aug 04, 2020

Back in September 1995, the Spider-Man animated series did a crossover with X-Men: The Animated Series, starting with Spider-Man learning he's mutating and then going to Professor Xavier for help. Unfortunately, instead of just calling Xavier on the phone, Spider-Man breaks into the X-Mansion, and for some reason he's surprised that the X-Men attack him. Good news, though. This episode's really gay. It's also a two-parter, so we'll be back next week with our thoughts on the second half. Next week's episode: "Mutants' Revenge," Spider-Man: The Animated Series E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, July 2020 Jul 28, 2020

Ryan and Maddy open up the mailbag for some listener-submitted questions about the X-Men villains we don't like, some theories about how the MCU might finally go about introducing the X-Men, and discussion about potentially casting actors of color to play X-Men characters originally conceived of as white. Last but not least, we have the second issue of The Mutant Ages Comic Book. Next week's episode: "The Mutant Agenda," Spider-Man: The Animated Series (crossover with X-Men: The Animated Series) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Interview: Cal Dodd, voice of Wolverine on X-Men: The Animated Series Jul 21, 2020

At long last, Maddy and Ryan called Wolverine. Or at least, we called the best-known originator of the character's voice, Cal Dodd, the actor who voiced Logan on X-Men: The Animated Series. We talked to him about Wolverine's emotional vulnerability, the ways that X-Men: TAS refused to shy away from politics, the fact that Cal is a Storm/Wolverine shipper, and also a series of videos in which Cal sings to a Canada goose. Yes, really. The Goose Whisperer YouTube series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP8nSD_VT_evq-7__6ASVXMQnLLZbV2Yn&app=desktop Next week's episode: Listener mail E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Looking Back on X-Men: The Animated Series Jul 14, 2020

Now that Ryan and Maddy have finished watching all of X-Men: The Animated Series, they can look back on the series as a whole and evaluate it. We discuss our favorite and least favorite characters, our favorite ships, the best and worst episodes, and the political allegories that this show has done. We also talk about our personal lives over the past three years since we started this show, and how the X-Men (and The Mutant Ages) made us into our best queer selves. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Graduation Day," X-Men: The Animated Series Jul 07, 2020

Magneto was... right?! We knew that, but we didn't expect X-Men: The Animated Series to tell us that. In the show's stirring series finale, Professor Xavier gets attacked on live television by known mutant hater Henry Gyrich, and Magneto rallies mutants to fight back against the system that has been trying to kill them. When the laws are unjust, you shouldn't follow them. This is a political episode because, well, it has to be. Next week's episode: Looking back on X-Men: The Animated Series as a whole! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Hidden Agendas," X-Men: The Animated Series Jun 30, 2020

What's it like to be the only mutant in a small town in Kentucky? Pretty bad, as it turns out. X-Men: The Animated Series gives us another depressing but realistic analogy for queerness in "Hidden Agendas," plus a storyline about a renegade military off-shoot that convinces the residents of Cumberland, Kentucky to become even more bigoted than they already were. This episode is heavy. Further reading: "Why are white supremacists protesting the deaths of black people?" (https://theconversation.com/why-are-white-supremacists-protesting-the-deaths-of-black-people-140046) Next week's episode: "Graduation Day," X-Men: The Animated Series E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Descent," X-Men: The Animated Series Jun 23, 2020

Mr. Sinister is a bad, bad man. X-Men: The Animated Series sure did remind us of that in "Descent," a truly disturbing origin story about our favorite villain. Apparently, he tortures homeless mutants (typical), works with Jack the Ripper (what, what??), and invents sunglasses. Okay, that third thing was more cool than scary, but still. Ryan and Maddy get pretty deep in to analyzing potential queer themes in this episode. We also try to remember our high school biology classes. Crack open your copy of The Origin of Species, because Mr. Sinister is here to teach us that evil is hereditary. Or, at least, it is in the Xavier family line. (No, seriously, this episode confirms that.) Next week's episode: "Hidden Agendas," X-Men: The Animated Series E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Old Soldiers," X-Men: The Animated Series Jun 16, 2020

Remember when Wolverine fought in World War II along with Captain America and punched out a bunch of Nazis? Well, Logan remembers, even though his Weapon X amnesia should not allow for that. Apparently, an affair with Steve Rogers in Paris is too romantic and too powerful for anybody to forget. This episode is very gay. We enjoyed it, even if it could've gone a bit deeper on its politics, but hey... sometimes you just want to watch a couple of super-powered queer dudes punching some Nazis. Next week's episode: "Descent," X-Men: The Animated Series E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"The Fifth Horseman," X-Men: The Animated Series Jun 09, 2020

Remember Fabian Cortez? It's been a while. The last time Ryan and Maddy saw him on X-Men: The Animated Series, he had just failed an attempted coup against Magneto and gotten kidnapped by Apocalypse. Now Fabian Cortez is in South America, convincing native people to worship the mutant-god villain that Maddy and Ryan love to hate. Jubilee and Beast run afoul of Fabian and Apocalypse's plans in this racist one-shot episode that has all the subtlety of an Indiana Jones movie. We didn't like the episode. But we did enjoy making fun of it. X-Men Spotlight (it's back!): Caliban Next week's episode: "Old Soldiers," X-Men: The Animated Series E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Jubilee's Fairy Tale Theater," X-Men: The Animated Series Jun 02, 2020

Up top, Maddy and Ryan want to encourage their listeners to donate to bail funds and other methods of supporting the protests against racist police brutality (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co) and also to remind any listeners participating in these protests of their rights (https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights). Now it's time to talk about the much-maligned "Jubilee's Fairy Tale Theater" episode of X-Men: The Animated Series, which features a story within a story that takes place in a fantasy world of Jubilee's imagination. Logan is a troll, Jean Grey is a princess, and Magneto is a sorcerer. Meanwhile, Professor Xavier is a pompous dick in both the real world and the fantasy one. Next week's episode: "The Fifth Horseman," X-Men: The Animated Series E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Listener Mail, May 2020 May 26, 2020

Ryan and Maddy do a big listener mail episode to catch up on voicemails, emails, and comments from you lovely Mutant Ages listeners. The most important part of this episode is the listener question that sparks us to tell the story of teenaged Ryan meeting Hugh Jackman, and also teenaged Ryan coming out of the closet. That's all one story, by the way. Next week's episode: "Jubilee's Fairytale Theater," X-Men: The Animated Series E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Storm Front Part 2," X-Men: The Animated Series May 19, 2020

In the second half of X-Men: The Animated Series "Storm Front" two-parter, Ryan and Maddy decide they like this storyline after all, because Storm finally gets to turn the tables on the abusive tyrant Arkon and fling some tornadoes around. Plus, Logan and Jubilee get some great moments in which both of them stand by their friend in their own ways as she works through her feelings. Ryan and Maddy reflect back on the time when Ryan was in an abusive relationship and the realistic parallels that they see here. It's heavy stuff, but also it's us, so there's still plenty of goofing off mixed in there too. Next week: Listener mail episode!! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Storm Front Part 1," X-Men: The Animated Series May 12, 2020

No one should kidnap Storm, but for some reason, that's what happens in "Storm Front," the latest two-parter in X-Men: The Animated Series. Luckily, Jubilee and Logan are amazing in this episode, but it doesn't really make up for the fact that we have to watch some random alien guy treat Storm like crap. She better kick his ass in the second half of this two-parter. Or else!! Next week's episode: "Storm Front, Part 2" E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Bloodlines," X-Men: The Animated Series May 05, 2020

This week, we watched one of Ryan's favorite X-Men: The Animated Series episodes, and we're delighted to discover how well it holds up. It's Halloween night and one of Wolverine's boyfriends shows up at the door: Nightcrawler! With the help of Rogue and Jubilee, Logan and Kurt have to go save Nightcrawler's mother from the Friends of Humanity. Also, it turns out Nightcrawler's mother is also Rogue's mother. Because it's Mystique. This show is a soap opera now, and only Jubilee has the guts to point it out. Next week's episode: "Storm Front, Part 1" E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Longshot," X-Men: The Animated Series Apr 28, 2020

If Mojo knew about The Mutant Ages, he would make sure we were canceled. Or he'd force us to pivot into a battle royale. Luckily, he has no idea! Unluckily, we had to watch "Longshot," a very uneven episode about the Mojoverse. Longshot crash-lands in Jubilee's car and has amnesia (of course), and then he falls in love with Wolverine all over again. Beast and Rogue have to put up with everyone's bullshit in the background, and Xavier just can't wait to get into Longshot's brain. X-Men Spotlight: Mojo Next week's episode: "Bloodlines" E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"No Mutant Is An Island," X-Men: The Animated Series Apr 21, 2020

Let's go back in time to season three of X-Men: The Animated Series, when Jean was way off in the universe somewhere protecting the M'Kraan Crystal. In this episode, Scott decides to quit the X-Men and go on a personal journey, revisiting the orphanage where he grew up. "No Mutant Is An Island" is definitely out of sequence, but it originally aired as part of season five, so that's when we're watching it. It's a fantastic episode with some dark themes that resonate, no matter where in sequence you choose to watch it. We also make an important announcement this week: the podcast is going to be weekly now! Or at least, we're going to try. Whew. X-Men Spotlight: Zebediah Killgrave Next week's episode: "Longshot" E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"A Deal With The Devil," X-Men: The Animated Series Apr 14, 2020

You know who Maddy and Ryan forgot about? Omega Red. The communist tentacle cyborg has returned to remind us that people used to spend a lot of time thinking about Soviet Union submarines armed with nuclear weapons. The prospect of nuclear war is still scary even now, but this episode isn't. Omega Red and Wolverine tie each other up in bondage, and in the background, Storm and Rogue have to do all the work. Beast recites poetry as usual, and Professor X tells everybody that if they have to die to save the world, that's fine with him. Just another episode of X-Men: The Animated Series! X-Men Spotlight: Omega Red Next week's episode: "No Mutant Is An Island" E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Phalanx Covenant, Part 2" X-Men: The Animated Series Mar 31, 2020

Here's a first: the second half of a two-parter in X-Men: The Animated Series gets just as rave of a review from Maddy and Ryan as the first half. Thank goodness for that, because "Phalanx Covenant" tells the story of a terrifying virus sweeping over the entire planet, and if this episode was either bad or a downer, we're not sure our poor stressed hearts could take it. Luckily it's got just the right mix of political commentary and mega-queer moments to satisfy our appetites. Also, we recorded this episode late at night, and boy does it show. We get a bit loopy. X-Men Spotlight: Cameron Hodge Next week's episode: "A Deal With The Devil" E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Phalanx Covenant, Part 1" X-Men: The Animated Series Mar 17, 2020

The season five premiere of X-Men: The Animated Series is all about a virus that takes over the planet in a terrifyingly short amount of time. Ryan and Maddy didn't plan to talk about covid-19 this week, but now we kind of have to. But don't worry! Even in the midst of a crisis, Logan is still madly in love with Sabretooth, and Beast is fed up with that bullshit and making a new alien BFF. Also, Mr. Sinister is back at last and ready to steal every scene he's in. X-Men Spotlight: Warlock Next Week's Episode: "Phalanx Covenant, Part 2" E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Generation X (1996) Mar 03, 2020

This week, we watched Generation X, a made-for-TV movie about Emma Frost being amazing and also a bunch of other bullshit. This movie is obscure, and it probably should be. Maddy and Ryan brought Todd Harper back on as a guest for an hours-long breakdown of this very silly movie, complete with our Irish accents (apologies to Sean Cassidy) and tons of reminiscing about the '90s. Ahhh, what a time. Next week's episode: "Phalanx Covenant," X-Men: The Animated Series (Season 5 premiere) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Family Ties," X-Men: The Animated Series Feb 18, 2020

Maddy and Ryan wrap up the fourth season of X-Men: The Animated Series with this acid trip of an episode, in which Magneto finds out that Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are his kids, but also the ThunderCats are there. And they're mad. And then there's a UFO? Wolverine hides behind a tree and live-tweets the whole thing for Beast and Xavier's benefit. If you think this description of the episode is confusing, trying watching it. No, seriously, try it! It's amazing! X-Men Spotlight: The High (Heel) Evolutionary Next Week's Episode: Generation X (1996) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Xavier Remembers," X-Men: The Animated Series Feb 04, 2020

For a Xavier-centric episode of X-Men: The Animated Series, Maddy and Ryan actually had a pretty good time with this one. We would've enjoyed it even more if we'd been high, but the animation is gorgeous even if you're not. If you're watching along with us, strap in for some Shadow King illusions and astral plane fights. Jean screams. A lot. Also, Logan keeps having "nightmares" about Sabretooth. X-Men Spotlight: The Shadow King Next Week's Episode: "Family Ties," X-Men: The Animated Series E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Secrets, Not Long Buried," X-Men: The Animated Series Jan 21, 2020

This episode of X-Men: The Animated Series makes no sense, to the point where most of the recap section of this episode is Maddy and Ryan just debating what literally happened in each of the scenes they have to summarize. "Secrets, Not Long Buried" features Cyclops going to a secret mutant town in the middle of the desert and getting fucked by a bunch of cowboys, but somehow, it also manages to be boring. And confusing. Too bad! X-Men Spotlight: Solarr, a.k.a. Silas King, a.k.a. Bill Braddock, a.k.a. Who Cares Theory Ages (via Todd) gives a shout-out to this article by Nico Deyo: https://kotaku.com/how-an-overwatch-skin-left-some-of-d-vas-biggest-fans-f-1840880191 Next week's episode: "Xavier Remembers" E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Love In Vain," X-Men: The Animated Series Jan 07, 2020

Logan's in a whale! Maddy and Ryan were very punchy while recording this episode because it was late at night. We somehow manage to straddle the line between silly and serious, talking about how Logan's in a whale (no, really, he's inside of a whale for most of this episode) and also about how this episode depicts an abusive relationship between Rogue and her long-lost boyfriend Cody. Also, this episode is about aliens, and it's all very horny. Or maybe that's just us? It might just be us. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Lotus and the Steel," X-Men: The Animated Series Dec 17, 2019

Would it shock you to learn that "Lotus and the Steel" is full of over-the-top Japanese accents and stereotypical storylines? Maddy and Ryan weren't shocked. We've seen X-Men: The Animated Series before. And we know how this works: Wolverine is going to leave the state of New York only to find that the entire rest of the planet is rife with helpless peasants who desperately need his help. We were in a pretty loopy mood when we recorded this, so there's a lot of shouting. Hooray!! X-Men Spotlight: Silver Samurai, Keniuchio Harada's iteration E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Ravages of the Apocalypse Level Designer Q&A Dec 03, 2019

Maddy and Ryan return with a very special listener mail episode focused around a long email we received from a level designer for the Quake conversion game Ravages of the Apocalypse, which The Mutant Ages hosts have been playing on our YouTube channel (youtube.com/themutantages). Join us as we reflect back on what video games and the modding community were like in the late '90s, and also learn a lot of cool information about the creation of this game that has mostly just frustrated us up to this point. Now that we know more, we've softened a bit to its quirks. Here's a link to the Blue's Quake News archive referenced in the episode: https://www.bluesnews.com/archives/feb97-2.html Here's the YouTube playlist of Maddy and Ryan playing Ravages of the Apocalypse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbWgarDiT08&list=PLAyA3L8fgmn76fGAX-So_QIZoshBUYqf_ E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Have Yourself a Morlock Little X-Mas," X-Men: The Animated Series Nov 12, 2019

Finally, an X-Men: The Animated Series episode that does right by the Morlocks. It just so happens to be a Christmas special. Ryan is obsessed with all Christmas specials, so he's on board by default, but Maddy also liked this one since it does the classic X-Men: The Animated Series move of mixing levity with intense political commentary. X-Men Spotlight: Leech! Also Morph? Not really. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Sanctuary: Part 2," X-Men: The Animated Series Oct 29, 2019

After the dark themes in "Sanctuary Part 1," Maddy and Ryan were expecting more political commentary in "Sanctuary Part 2," and it delivers. But we weren't expecting this episode to be so hilarious, and also so... horny? And it's not just our imagination! Although we do realize that's what we do on this show. This episode is an example of X-Men: The Animated Series doing what it does best; it's got all the complicated and unnerving political themes of the first half of the two-parter, but now with way more sexy Gambit in distress. Ooh la la. Unfortunately for Logan, Rogue gets to be the one to take the Cajun home. X-Men Spotlight: Amelia Voght E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Sanctuary: Part 1," X-Men: The Animated Series Oct 15, 2019

"Sanctuary: Part 1" is a very serious episode of X-Men: The Animated Series, so our politics section gets quite serious as a result. Would Maddy and Ryan go to the queer version of Asteroid M, if it existed? That depends on whether it's founded by someone we like as much as we like Magneto. This episode also contains a very lengthy digression about D-Men (if you don't know what that is, you're going to find out) and also The Golden Girls. Maddy could have cut all of that stuff out, but she didn't. Enjoy! X-Men Spotlight: Fabian Cortez, a super-villain who pretty much has to be great at sucking dick or else why would Magneto keep him around? E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Beyond Good and Evil: Part 4," X-Men: The Animated Series Oct 01, 2019

Somehow, Ryan and Maddy survived watching all four parts of X-Men: The Animated Series' four parter, "Beyond Good and Evil," and all of the Apocalypse monologues that entails. Their reward? The fourth part contains a lot of bad-ass Magneto moments. Except there's also Apocalypse doing a PowerPoint presentation about the nature of time and space. Can't win 'em all. X-Men Spotlight: There isn't one! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"Beyond Good and Evil: Part 3," X-Men: The Animated Series Sep 17, 2019

Ryan and Maddy have grown weary of watching X-Men: The Animated Series' four-part chunk of episodes all about Apocalypse's convoluted time travel plan, but at least now they're 75% of the way through it. Part 3 isn't any better than Parts 1 and 2, but we do have a pretty great time mocking it, and Cable's got some great lines in this episode. We also get some great listener emails this week, including one that invites us to play Fuck/Marry/Kill with the Marvel universe. How have we never done that before? X-Men Spotlight: No one new this week, but special shout-out to The Ship, a.k.a. Cable's Cube, which we spotlighted on Episode 40 (https://soundcloud.com/themutantages/episode-40-obsession-x-men-the-animated-series) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

"Beyond Good and Evil: Part 2," X-Men: The Animated Series Sep 03, 2019

The "Beyond Good and Evil" four-part series, originally intended as the finale for X-Men: The Animated Series, continues to trot out more unexpected cameos in its second episode. This time, Psylocke joins the gang and rebuffs Warren's pathetic advances with both backflips and ace political arguments. Also, Magneto is here now, but he's working with Apocalypse, so we're more confused than happy about it. The good news? Sabretooth is also here, and he's ready to get it on with Wolverine. X-Men Spotlight: Psylocke, the hottest brainwashed body-switcher on the block! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

"Beyond Good and Evil: Part 1," X-Men: The Animated Series Aug 20, 2019

Mr. Sinister is back. The Nasty Boys are back. Cable and his cube are back! This episode seems like it would be a huge hit with Ryan and Maddy, and we did indeed enjoy those three aspects. But unfortunately, the rest of the episode is about Bishop getting lost in the time stream and Apocalypse having an existential crisis because it turns out that murdering a bunch of people for no reason ISN'T emotionally fulfilling. No shit, dude. X-Men Spotlight: Not this week! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

"One Man's Worth, Part 2," X-Men: The Animated Series Aug 06, 2019

Time travel is real, and it's still real in the second half of the "One Man's Worth" two-parter of X-Men: The Animated Series. Unfortunately, it's going to continue to be real in the next four-part series of episodes we'll be watching after this, so get ready for more of Maddy and Ryan losing their minds over time travel inconsistencies! That's the only thing that this episode is actually about. Well, that, and Fitzroy and Bantam dating. X-Men Spotlight: Trevor Fitzroy, a.k.a. "Fritzy" E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

"One Man's Worth, Part 1," X-Men: The Animated Series Jul 16, 2019

How much can we really dislike an episode that shows us the death of Professor Xavier not once but twice? Ryan and Maddy watched the first half of the two-parter "One Man's Worth" from X-Men: The Animated Series, and their heads are spinning from all of Bishop's time travel. Also, this one's for all the Logan/Storm shippers out there. You will like this episode for sure, even though most of it doesn't make any sense. X-Men Spotlight: Shard, Bishop's sister (the episode doesn't bother to introduce her, so we do it) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

"Proteus: Part 2," X-Men: The Animated Series Jul 02, 2019

Maddy and Ryan watched the second half of the X-Men: The Animated Series "Proteus" two-parter, and you know what? It sucked. What is up with this show bringing the good ideas in the first half of a two-parter and then dropping a big turd for the second half? In this episode, Logan cries and avoids doing his job, Rogue has some good lines (but she's the only one), and Kevin's conservative father realizes that it's easier to love his son so long as that son doesn't look too much like a mutant. Yikes! By the way, there's a lot more casual f-bomb dropping in this episode than usual, perhaps because we were cranky. The episode was bad. Who could blame us. X-Men Spotlight: Dr. Moira Kinross MacTaggert E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

"Proteus: Part 1," X-Men: The Animated Series Jun 18, 2019

Maddy and Ryan were long overdue for some intense political allegory on X-Men: The Animated Series. Here we go! The first of this two-parter titled "Proteus" delivers some piping hot queer subtext (and text). Moira has a secret son who she's locked in a basement and forced to undergo mutant conversion therapy. Meanwhile, the kid's dad is a conservative politician who wants to make Scotland great again. Throughout it all, Xavier tries to convince Moira (and us) that he's not gay. Sure, Charles. Suuuure. X-Men Spotlight: Proteus, the demon spawn... who is not Legion, don't get confused, okay? E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

"Courage," X-Men: The Animated Series Jun 04, 2019

After enduring X3, Maddy and Ryan were glad to dig into this palate cleanser: it's a sweet one-shot episode about Morph and Wolverine's rekindled love affair. Cyclops is jealous, and who could blame him? Meanwhile, Beast keeps quoting poetry, and Xavier is so nice that it's downright uncharacteristic. By the way, the fourth season of X-Men: The Animated Series was supposed to start with a two-parter, but for some reason we watched this first. Our episode files are mislabeled or something. This one's a mystery. No X-Men Spotlight this week! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), a.k.a. X3 May 21, 2019

We all know that X3 is bad. But we had to watch it anyway, because that's what we do on this show. Ryan and Maddy brought their friend Todd Harper (@drtoddharper on Twitter) on as a guest to help us properly snark our way through this depressing trainwreck of a film. Join us as we reflect back on X3's important themes, such as, "should female characters really have that much power," and "maybe gay conversion therapy is a good thing." Why did this movie happen? E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

"Weapon X, Lies, and Video Tape," X-Men: The Animated Series Apr 30, 2019

Logan's memories, or lack thereof, are on full dramatic display in this week's episode, to the delight of Ryan and Maddy. Beast follows Logan on a wild goose chase to Canada where we meet the rest of Team X (more like "team ex," at least as far as Logan is concerned). Sabretooth is here, along with Silver Fox and Maverick, and there's a whole lot of meltdowns and bad decisions on everyone's part (except Beast). Not a great episode, but an extremely fun one. X-Men Spotlight: Silver Fox, who deserves better... !! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

"Nightcrawler," X-Men: The Animated Series Apr 16, 2019

This might be the episode that Ryan and Maddy have watched the highest number of times in their lives. Is it the best episode of X-Men: The Animated Series? Absolutely not. But it is the episode in which Wolverine meets Nightcrawler... and falls in love... with Jesus Christ. What???? Yeah, we don't know either. X-Men Spotlight: Kurt Wagner, a.k.a. THE AMAZING NIGHTCRAWLER! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

"The Juggernaut Returns," X-Men: The Animated Series Apr 02, 2019

Finally, we reach an actual good episode of X-Men: The Animated Series. And it's an episode all about... the Juggernaut? Maddy and Ryan were as surprised as you. Professor Xavier is still being his usual charming self (ha ha), to the chagrin of the rest of the X-Men. It also takes us almost the entire episode to figure out the real reason why the Juggernaut is at the bottom of the ocean at the beginning of this episode. Do YOU remember that's the last place we saw him? It was a while ago. We forgot. X-Men Spotlight: It's the Juggernaut, BITCH. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

"Orphan's End," X-Men: The Animated Series Mar 12, 2019

"Orphan's End" is the worst episode of X-Men: The Animated Series that Maddy and Ryan have watched thus far. It doesn't make any sense, so if our recap doesn't make sense, it's not our fault okay? In this episode, we find out that the X-Men have a monorail, and also, that every member of the team besides Cyclops and Storm is too busy to be bothered with the alien space battle taking place in New York City. Meanwhile, Cyclops is too distracted by his own daddy drama with Corsair to think straight, and for some reason, Storm doesn't push back against any of his bad decisions. Lastly, who is Jandra? We may never truly know. This episode is bad. Enjoy our pain. X-Men Spotlight: We were too tired. TOO TIRED. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 45 - "Cold Comfort," X-Men: The Animated Series Feb 26, 2019

Iceman changes the whole gravitational pull of X-Men: The Animated Series with his big cameo, because now all of a sudden everyone has a crush on him and can't stop fighting over him and also with him. You'd think that would be a big hit with Maddy and Ryan, except this episode is overwritten and surprisingly boring. Also, Bobby just isn't acting like himself, and neither is anybody else. But, hey, we can make lemons out of lemonade with our new Bobby ships! X-Men Spotlight: Iceman! E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 44 - "The Fate Of The Phoenix," X-Men: The Animated Series Feb 12, 2019

Maddy recorded and edited this episode on her laptop while she was out of town, so her recording quality isn't as good as it should be, but you know what else wasn't as good as it should be? This episode of X-Men: The Animated Series! Xavier is on his worst behavior (as usual), but the rest of the X-Men are all acting pretty self-absorbed, too. All except for Beast and Storm, the only ones who get a believable and touching moment in this episode. The conclusion of the Dark Phoenix Saga is apparently that Jean Grey can be saved through the power of friendship. But does anyone even seem like they *like* each other in this episode? Not really! Oh well... X-Men Spotlight: Not Professor Xavier. Never Professor Xavier. E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 43 - "Dark Phoenix," X-Men: The Animated Series Jan 22, 2019

Technically this episode is titled "The Dark Phoenix Part 3 - Dark Phoenix," but you get it. This episode is about the Dark Phoenix, duh! It's also about Wolverine and Cyclops finding solace in each others' arms, and Xavier trying to convince them both that it would be a good idea to kill Jean Grey. Meanwhile, Gambit is horny, and Rogue has to clean up after everybody else's mess. It's another X-Men: The Animated Series classic episode that switches wildly between hilarious hi-jinks and super-dark sadness. Hooray! X-Men Spotlight: Jean Grey! The retcons, the resurrections, and the romances. E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 42 - "The Dark Phoenix: Part 2 - The Inner Circle," X-Men: The Animated Series Jan 08, 2019

Ryan and Maddy revisit what turns out to be the first episode of X-Men: The Animated Series that Ryan ever saw as a youngster. It's not a bad place to start! We've got the debut of Jean Grey's new mega-goth Dark Phoenix outfit, some fun side-eyeing from Emma, and a power struggle between Shaw and Mastermind that probably wasn't supposed to be sexual but nonetheless is. Or at least, we say it is, because this is The Mutant Ages. Did you miss us? X-Men Spotlight: Mastermind, master of illusions and supposed fakery! E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 41 - "The Dark Phoenix: Part 1 - Dazzled," X-Men: The Animated Series Dec 18, 2018

Ryan and Maddy watch Dazzler's first official appearance in X-Men: The Animated Series, and we are "Dazzled" by how weird her characterization is. This episode is nonetheless a fun watch that also introduces the Hellfire Club (without using a naughty word like "hell" in the process) and a much more faithful adaptation of Emma Frost, everyone's queen. Jean Grey gets tossed from man to man, and the Phoenix teaches her how to stand up for herself, but only a little bit. We can't quite remember where this is all going to go, but it's a strong start to the Dark Phoenix saga. X-Men Spotlight: DAZZLER! This episode doesn't tell the viewers much about her, so we'll do it. E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 40 - "Obsession," X-Men: The Animated Series Dec 04, 2018

Maddy and Ryan were long overdue for a silly and nonsensical episode of X-Men: The Animated Series, so here is "Obsession" to answer the call. In this episode, we see the return of Warren Worthington, a.k.a. Archangel, and his melodramatic monologues about Apocalypse, who also makes his less-than-popular return. We side with Cyclops and Wolverine, who think this whole thing is stupid. Meanwhile, the B-plot of this episode is Beast falling in love with an artificial intelligence that inhabits Apocalypse's spaceship, but like all of Beast's other romances, it's doomed to end in tragedy. This episode doesn't make any sense, by the way. X-Men Spotlight: The Ship, a.k.a. Cable's cube (!!!!!!!) E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 39 - "Savage Land, Strange Heart, Part 2," X-Men: The Animated Series Nov 20, 2018

Before diving back into their analysis of the third season of X-Men: The Animated Series, Maddy and Ryan take a moment to discuss Stan Lee's legacy in the wake of his death. Maddy also finally got a copy of the oral history of X-Men: The Animated Series, so she shares some brief tidbits about the show's beginnings. Going along with the positive theme, "Savage Land, Strange Heart Part 2" happens to be a wonderful episode about Storm and Rogue's mutually supportive love affair. Sauron is also gay, but in a sad way. Everybody learns an important lesson about staying true to themselves, even the parts that they don't like very much, and also there's a huge rock guy at the end. And some energy volcanoes? Okay, that part didn't make sense. X-Men Spotlight: Garokk, the huge rock guy himself! E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 38 - "Savage Land, Strange Heart, Part 1," X-Men: The Animated Series Nov 06, 2018

At long last, Ryan and Maddy have returned to pick up where we left off with X-Men: The Animated Series. It's... back to the Savage Land? We thought we were done with this, but apparently not. Mr. Sinister isn't even here, and instead, Sauron is. There's plenty of good stuff that makes up for that, like the fact that Rogue and Storm get to be gayer for each other than ever before, and Wolverine and Ka-Zar get the romantic reunion they deserve. Plus, Jubilee realizes that pterodactyls can be exciting when you're beating them up, and Beast is still quoting Shakespeare. X-Men, we missed you!! X-Men Spotlight: Sauron, the mega-manly and not at all insecure pterodactyl! E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 37 - "Phoenix Saga, Part 5: Child Of Light," X-Men: The Animated Series Oct 09, 2018

The Phoenix Saga had been going so well, but X-Men: The Animated Series was long overdue for a dud episode. Maddy and Ryan watched "Child of Light," and it was a bad trip. The X-Men, the Starjammers, and Lilandra had to find a way to kill time until the Phoenix regenerated and was able to defeat D'Ken, because heck if they could manage to do it themselves. Meanwhile, we're still wondering how the X-Men went from being a metaphor for human rights to... fighting aliens in outer space? But that's fine! X-Men Spotlight: D'Ken, but... ughhhhh, sorry, we didn't actually care enough to do a real spotlight on him. We already told you everything you need to know about the guy, okay? We use the extra time this week to take Ryan on another date with Wolverine (it's been a while) and delve deep into our official unofficial "What's going on with the MCU" segment. Enjoy! E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 36 - "Phoenix Saga, Part 4: The Starjammers," X-Men: The Animated Series Sep 25, 2018

X-Men: The Animated Series' ongoing adaptation on The Phoenix Saga is still good, but Part 4 started to get a bit confusing with the introduction of 600 more characters, most notably the Han Solo-alike Corsair. Ryan and Maddy make more Star Wars comparisons in both the episode recap and the politics section. We also go off on a tangent about whether Corsair and Cyclops' familial bond is a bit creepy, and also, whether Xavier is creepy to Jean. Speaking of Xavier, we have a particularly long reader mail section this week, a chunk of which gets devoted to the various defenses of Xavier. We're sorry, Xavier fans who listen to our show! We still love you. X-Men Spotlight: Corsair, who is NOT Star-Lord. E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 35 - "Phoenix Saga, Part 3: Cry of the Banshee," X-Men: The Animated Series Sep 11, 2018

Which came first: Princess Lilandra Neramani or Princess Leia Organa? These two space ladies have a lot in common, and they also got created around the exact same time. Ryan and Maddy learned a lot about '70s sci-fi history after watching this episode of X-Men: The Animated Series, which introduces tons of other new elements, including: - Banshee's super-powered scream (and also the great new ship of Banshee/Wolverine) - Banshee's bro Black Tom Cassidy and his big wooden stick (and the Juggernaut/Black Tom Cassidy ship) - Gladiator and his big red gloves (which Erik the Red can't help but crave). This episode is pretty gay. Or maybe it's just us? We never know. X-Men Spotlight: Banshee! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 34 - "Phoenix Saga, Part 2: Dark Shroud," X-Men: The Animated Series Aug 28, 2018

If you think Maddy and Ryan have been harsh on Professor X in the past, just wait 'til you hear this breakdown of "Phoenix Saga, Part 2: Dark Shroud," the X-Men: The Animated Series episode in which Xavier finally shows his true colors. We're not reading into anything this time! The guy straight up admits that he fantasizes about torturing his loved ones. Xavier may be a piece of shit, but this episode is not. It's a thrill ride from start to finish, with plenty of fun Wolverine and Gambit one-liners, Storm rescuing everybody, Jean Grey showing off her new Phoenix superpowers, Cyclops standing up for himself, Beast being adorable, and Jubilee just wishing she could go see a Broadway show. Rogue's still MIA, but hey, you can't have everything. X-Men Spotlight: Lilandra, because why not introduce one of Xavier's love interests in an episode about how much he sucks? E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 33 - "Phoenix Saga, Part 1: Sacrifice," X-Men: The Animated Series Aug 14, 2018

Ryan and Maddy watched "Phoenix Saga, Part 1" and recorded this episode in the humid summer heat, as is fitting for a story about Jean Grey flying through a solar flare. We had to get all our thoughts out before we got burned alive, and we did it! Still with plenty of time to compare this adaptation of the Phoenix Saga to its original 1970s comic book version, as well as take a detour into reminiscing about the Scans-Daily LiveJournal community. X-Men Spotlight: Erik the Red, who is somehow also Magneto, and... Cyclops? Sure. E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 32 - "Out of the Past, Part 2," X-Men: The Animated Series Jul 31, 2018

"Out of the Past, Part 2" isn't nearly as hilarious as "Part 1." It's downright spooky, actually, thanks to some impressive animation and sound design choices on the part of the X-Men: The Animated Series season three creative team. Except, uh... Maddy and Ryan also thought the writing was a bit boring. We wanted Lady Deathstrike to give us more silly monologues about her feelings! At least we still have Gambit pining after his boyfriend Wolverine, plus a fun scene of Beast in an art gallery, and also Jean and Scott trying and failing to go on a date. By the way, Xavier is back on his bullshit again in this episode. Is he ever not? X-Men Spotlight: THE REAVERS! Terminator meets RoboCop meets ... the Cylons? Sure. They're a mishmash of '80s cyborg and robot tropes, and we're still not convinced there's any deeper meaning to be gleaned from them. E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 31 - "Out of the Past, Part 1," X-Men: The Animated Series Jul 17, 2018

Maddy and Ryan strap in for the third season premiere of X-Men: The Animated Series, featuring... an unfair portrayal of Lady Deathstryke and tons of flashbacks to Wolverine's Weapon X trauma? Wait a second, this is X2 deja vu! "Out of the Past, Part 1" also has Jubilee and Gambit in tow to help Wolverine when he's in a jam, but not before listening to him deliver some monologues alone in the dark. Ryan and Maddy recorded this episode really late at night last week, so forgive them for being totally incoherent for most of it, especially during the politics section where we try and fail to come up with something deep to say about the Reavers. In our defense, this X-Men: TAS episode is pretty incoherent too, so we afford it about as much analysis as it merits. X-Men Spotlight: Lady Deathstryke, a.k.a. Lady Deathstrike, a.k.a. NOT YURIKO, Wolverine's self-proclaimed nemesis who deserves better than almost any writer has ever given her! E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 30 - X2: X-Men United (2003) Jun 26, 2018

Maddy and Ryan revisit X2, the live-action sequel to X-Men, and once again they've brought back podcaster and movie critic Mary Ellen (of Let's Watch 2 Movies fame) to provide her unbiased thoughts. Ryan admits he saw this movie eight times in cinemas, and Maddy recounts all of the spoofs that she and Ryan made of this movie's scenes as teenagers. Meanwhile, Mary Ellen has some important questions about how Mystique's powers work. The word of the day is "jet." No X-Men Spotlight or listener mail segments this week, so you'll have to tune in X-time for those! E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 29 - "Reunion, Part 2," X-Men: The Animated Series Jun 12, 2018

Ryan and Maddy reach the end of season two of X-Men: The Animated Series, and as usual, the show brings its two-part finale to a delightful conclusion. We're back to discussing our problematic fave Mr. Sinister and queer-coded villains, for the billionth time, but we spend most of the episode giggling about the over-the-top sex dungeon that the X-Men have ended up in. The Nasty Boys make their final fantastic appearance, Rogue and Gambit share a rare non-lethal kiss, Wolverine gets some jungle strange (bye-bye Morph, helloooo Ka-Zar!), and when all's said and done, Xavier heads home to the X-Mansion. Sigh. The good times couldn't last forever. X-Men Spotlight: Vertigo, the nausea-inducing dominatrix! Next week, we revisit X2, the 2003 sequel to the first live-action X-Men movie. Watch along with us, won't you? E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 28 - "Reunion, Part 1," X-Men: The Animated Series May 29, 2018

Just like Professor X reuniting with the X-Men, Maddy and Ryan have reunited for yet another episode of X-Men: The Animated Series. We're almost as excited to talk to one another as Jean Grey is excited to talk to Xavier, although the two of us aren't also wearing handcuffs placed on us by Mister Sinister. Or maybe we are, figuratively? He has certainly stolen our hearts and minds in this week's episode! X-Men Spotlight: Ka-Zar, who may as well be He-Man E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 27 - "Mojovision," X-Men: The Animated Series May 08, 2018

Maddy and Ryan return to recapping X-Men: The Animated Series, and the latest episode introduces them to Mojo, who they like even though the show doesn't want them to. He may be an evil alien overlord who eats producers for lunch, but he's funny, okay? Anyway, this episode is a fun one-off that gives X-Men: TAS the opportunity to get into meta commentary about 90s TV trends, violence in cartoons, and the showrunners' fear that if they didn't manage to entertain us, we'd start ignoring our televisions and read a book. Perhaps even... a comic book!? X-Men Spotlight: Longshot and his amazing 80s hair and frequent amnesiac issues E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 26 - '90s X-Men Toy Commercials! Apr 19, 2018

Maddy and Ryan look back on a bunch of commercials from the '90s featuring X-Men action figures and games that we wish we'd had... and also, some toys that we actually DID have. These commercials are hilarious. Not always intentionally so. Strap in as we take '90s-era marketing firms to task for not letting Storm and Rogue do enough! Also, predictably, this episode features tons of Maddy and Ryan insisting that everything was both better and worse when they were younger. What is anything actually like for kids today? We don't really know. But we make our best guesses. Please feel free to write in and tell us how wrong we are! E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 25 - "Beauty and the Beast," X-Men: The Animated Series Apr 03, 2018

Ryan and Maddy recorded this episode late at night, and unfortunately for them, X-Men: The Animated Series doled out a serious political episode with a grim Friends of Humanity subplot. Your two favorite insomniacs do their best to analyze the show's deep dive into Hank McCoy, a.k.a. Beast, and his turbulent emotions with regard to a new but all-too-fleeting romance. This episode is a metaphor for racism, probably? And some other stuff. By the way, we get to check in on Magneto and Xavier this week. They're still stuck in the Savage Land. We all know what they're doing to kill the time: making out on the beach! X-Men Spotlight: BEAST! From his early days as a werewolf-inspired sex symbol, to his present-day time travel drama. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 24 - "A Rogue's Tale," X-Men: The Animated Series Mar 20, 2018

At last, Ryan and Maddy got to watch an episode they actually enjoyed again. This time, it's a bit unexpected, given how much they mocked this episode during their jaded teenage years. As adults, Ryan and Maddy liked seeing Rogue's poignant backstory as well as the show's depiction of the inner-workings of her mind. This is also finally an episode where Jean Grey gets to use her powers... which serve as further proof that we don't need Professor X to come back from the Savage Land, ever. Mister Sinister did us all a favor by putting him there! X-Men Spotlight: Rogue!! Of course. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 23 - "Time Fugitives Part 2," X-Men: The Animated Series Feb 27, 2018

Remember the episode "Time Fugitives Part 1"? Ryan and Maddy sure do. We just watched it... twice. "Time Fugitives Part 2" is technically a new episode, but in name only. This week's episode of X-Men: The Animated Series is a real slog, but we watched it so that you don't have to. And, really, you do NOT have to watch it. Allow us to recap the ongoing adventures of Cable and the Cube, featuring Cable's newfound romance with Wolverine. But who isn't getting romanced by Wolverine, these days? X-Men Spotlight: Tyler, Cable's son, who sneaks into this episode for a lightning-charged cameo E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 22 - "Time Fugitives, Part 1," X-Men: The Animated Series Feb 13, 2018

Maddy and Ryan continue their journey through the second season of X-Men: The Animated Series, and they've reached another terrifying and prescient episode about the Friends of Humanity, Marvel Comics' anti-mutant terrorist group. "Time Fugitives, Part 1" weaves a confusing web of time travel shenanigans with our favorite time jockeys, Bishop and Cable, but it also manages to stuff in a metaphor for the AIDS crisis and plenty of reminders of our current divisive political climate. Unfortunately, Apocalypse is also in this episode, for some reason. More importantly, Cable makes friends with a tiny cube, and that cube is our new favorite character. X-Men Spotlight: Graydon Creed, the odious leader of the Friends of Humanity E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 21 - "X-Ternally Yours," X-Men: The Animated Series Jan 23, 2018

THE TITHE! This episode isn't called "The Tithe." But it should be. Ryan and Maddy watched "X-Ternally Yours," an X-Men: The Animated Series episode that tells us Gambit's backstory, but it doesn't make any sense. It's hilarious, though, and who doesn't enjoy hearing voice actors with their best (worst) approximation of Cajun accents telling you about the tithe? You'll never find out what the tithe actually is, but we make our best guesses. X-Men Spotlight: GAMBIT, that slippery Cajun and longtime fling of Wolverine! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 20 - "Repo Man," X-Men: The Animated Series Jan 09, 2018

This week's episode of X-Men: The Animated Series is all about Wolverine, so we can't help but like it, even though it's not THAT good. But Ryan did own a copy of it on VHS as a young boy, so that's important to note. (Maddy didn't, which is very sad.) Anyway, this episode is called "Repo Man," and it's all about Logan's exes trying to repossess him. In other words, it's about Alpha Flight, which is the Canadian superhero team that got created to give Logan a backstory. X-Men Spotlight: Heather Hudson! But also, a summary of Alpha Flight's powers and history. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 19 - "Red Dawn," X-Men: The Animated Series Dec 19, 2017

This week, Maddy and Ryan wish they had paid more attention in history class, because they're pretty sure that X-Men: The Animated Series' take on the dissolution of the Soviet Union didn't involve a tentacled super-mutant laying waste to Eastern Europe. That's what happens in "Red Dawn," but don't worry--the X-Men are on the scene, ready to intervene in an international incident! Meanwhile, Jubilee sets the standard for Nazi-punching bravery in this episode. Hell yeah. IMPORTANT: Sign this petition for Ryan Pagella to be MR. SINISTER!!!! https://www.change.org/p/the-walt-disney-company-reboot-x-men-make-ryan-pagella-mr-sinister !!!!!!!! X-Men Spotlight: Illyana Nikolievna Rasputina, Colossus' sister, a.k.a. Magik, a.k.a. Darkchylde, a.k.a. Lightchylde, a.k.a. X-Men Had A Goth Phase E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 18 - "Whatever It Takes," X-Men: The Animated Series Dec 05, 2017

Sometimes, X-Men: The Animated Series is packed with prescient political allegories. And sometimes... it's not. The third episode of the show's second season isn't political and it's not even accurate to the comic books. In spite of that, we enjoyed the heck out of it. This week, Maddy and Ryan cover Storm's manufactured backstory in X-Men: TAS, as well as her canonical backstory from the comic books, and the various retcons involved. Since there's almost no politics to discuss this week, we spend that time talking about our favorite black female heroines of the '70s and '80s Marvel era (Misty Knight and Monica Rambeau) and, later, detail our frustrations with the current state of the live-action adaptations of the X-Men and the MCU. Sooo, strap in for that rant! Also, we have a special announcement: We will be at Arisia 2018, speaking on panels about the X-Men, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, videogames and horror make-up! X-Men Spotlight: Storm!!! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 17 - "Til Death Do Us Part, Part 2," X-Men: The Animated Series Nov 21, 2017

Welcome to the Mr. Sinister Show! Mwahahhaa!! Maddy and Ryan have a villain-packed episode for you this week. The second episode of season 2 of X-Men: The Animated Series is all about our favorite campy villain and his henchman, who call themselves The Nasty Boys. This episode has some serious moments, but it's mostly goofy and delightful — and the queer subtext is barely subtext at this point. It's just text. X-MEN SPOTLIGHT: The Nasty Boys! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 16 - "Til Death Do Us Part, Part 1," X-Men: The Animated Series Nov 09, 2017

Maddy and Ryan return to X-Men: The Animated Series for the premiere of the second season, a strong episode that walks the line between serious political commentary and goofy fun times. Guess what? Morph's back, and he's ready to play all sorts of mind games on the X-Men. Meanwhile, the Friends Of Humanity are also playing mind games on the X-Men, except that's way less fun to watch. X-MEN SPOTLIGHT: Mr. Sinister, the glam god of plot holes and sexy torture! At last, Marvel's goofiest antagonist has arrived on the scene. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 15 - X-Men (2000) Oct 19, 2017

The Mutant Ages delve into a live-action adaptation for the first time, and they also have their very first guest: Mary Ellen from Let's Watch 2 Movies, the other podcast that Maddy co-hosts at Atomic Blue Productions! Welcome, LW2M fans, to a show that discusses queer subtext in the X-Men and also tries to turn that subtext into text at every turn. We hope you all enjoy this visitation of Maddy and Ryan's teenage years, including a rundown of all the WAV files Maddy had of voice lines from this movie, the mall food court where Ryan first saw the X-Men movie trailer, and Mary Ellen feigning interest in Marvel minutiae. If you enjoy this episode, consider listening to Let's Watch 2 Movies (soundcloud.com/letswatchtwomovies). E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 14 - "The Final Decision," X-Men: The Animated Series Oct 03, 2017

Maddy and Ryan have just wrapped up watching the first season of X-Men: The Animated Series, and they'd like to remind you that Magneto was right... among other things. Magneto has captured Senator Kelly and the X-Men try to intervene, but before they can do that, the Sentinels rush in to capture Senator Kelly themselves. Now that humans and mutants have a common enemy in these big plastic robots, they're able to put aside their bigotry. Is that realistic, even as a metaphor? Maddy and Ryan have some doubts, but nonetheless, they delve into this analogy and many others that have unfolded over the course of the season. They also review their favorite and least favorite characters so far, the episodes that should be skipped, and read some excellent mail from listeners about trans narratives in the X-Men and more! X-Men Spotlight: Master Mold Next week: THE FIRST X-MEN MOVIE! Watch along with us, won't you? E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 13 - "Days of Future Past Part 2," X-Men: The Animated Series Sep 12, 2017

Ryan and Maddy check out the second half of X-Men: The Animated Series' adaptation of Days of Future Past, and it's a lot stronger than Part 1. This episode smooths over the rough edges of Bishop and Wolverine's future together, plus it solidifies the threesome between Bishop, Wolverine and Gambit. And by "solidifies," we mean, "it's not canon, but come on. Just watch that poker scene!" Anyway, this episode manages to juggle its many plot-lines and characters with ease. The only part we don't like is the Blob. We talked about his portrayal in Pryde of the X-Men, and we don't like it here either. X-Men Spotlight: Senator Kelly E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 12 - "Days of Future Past Part 1," X-Men: The Animated Series Aug 29, 2017

This week, Maddy and Ryan watch Part 1 of X-Men: The Animated Series' adaptation of Days of Future Past, and we get amped up about Wolverine's butt. Even more than usual. You know who else is amped about Wolverine's butt? Bishop! According to us. The X-Men: TAS adaptation of Days of Future Past moves fast and takes some shortcuts through comic book canon. In this episode, Bishop acts like a total jerk and makes a bunch of impulsive mistakes, but is that really so different from his comic book incarnation? Ryan says no. Maddy ends up agreeing, but at the end of the episode, she still makes the case that Bishop has potential as a character and deserves more. More of Wolverine's butt! But also better-written stories, and maybe even one of those Netflix shows or something. X-Men Spotlight: Bishop Next week: The assassination... of the 90s!!!! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 11 - "Come the Apocalypse," X-Men: The Animated Series Aug 15, 2017

The "Come the Apocalypse" episode of X-Men: The Animated Series can't possibly be canon. For starters, none of the X-Men remember Archangel, which contradicts future episodes. Meanwhile, Rogue and Mystique don't recognize one another, either. In spite of this episode's plot holes and multiple confusing fight scenes, Ryan and Maddy enjoyed it a lot... because they were laughing at it, not with it. If you want to see an episode of X-Men: TAS that deals with serious political themes, circle back to the episode previous to this one. "Come the Apocalypse" is just plain goofy. X-Men Spotlight: Apocalypse E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 10 - "The Cure," X-Men: The Animated Series Jul 25, 2017

Maddy and Ryan delve into "The Cure," a metaphor-heavy episode of X-Men: The Animated Series that makes it crystal clear how mutant powers serve as a metaphor for being gay. In this episode, we meet Warren Worthington III, a closeted mutant who's super-rich and funding a "cure" for his mutation. The inventors of the alleged "cure" are Mystique and Apocalypse, though, and you just can't trust those two with anything! Meanwhile, Rogue wants the cure for herself, even though Gambit would be happy to risk a kiss with her. Ryan brings out all his best Rogue impressions in the process. X-Men Spotlight: Mystique E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella And don't forget... WARREN'S GONE.

Episode 9 - "The Unstoppable Juggernaut," X-Men: The Animated Series Jul 11, 2017

This week on Maddy and Ryan's X-Men: The Animated Series rewatch, we meet Colossus, from Russia! You know he's from Russia because he just can't stop telling us that. We also meet the Juggernaut, who is the actual focus of this episode, not that we want him to be. Wolverine and Jubilee become besties with a killer sense of teamwork, but aside from that, this episode is a real snooze. Let us recap it for you (with jokes) so that you don't have to watch it yourself, hm? Spotlight X-Men: Colossus E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 8 - "Slave Island," X-Men: The Animated Series Jun 20, 2017

Maddy and Ryan discuss "Slave Island," in which our X-Men: The Animated Series heroine Jubilee puts up with the worst vacation ever, thanks to Gambit. Storm also gets plenty of moments to shine in this episode, and she even gets a cute scene with her girlfriend Rogue. (According to the writers of the show, they're not canonically dating, but they're TOTALLY dating.) This episode also introduces us to Cable, everyone's favorite bisexual time traveler. Maddy gets on a soapbox about the fact that Marvel won't just let Cable and Deadpool date, so strap in for that. Spotlight X-Men: Cable E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com Find Maddy and Ryan on Twitter at MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 7 - "Cold Vengeance," X-Men: The Animated Series Jun 06, 2017

They can't all be winners. "Cold Vengeance" is the first X-Men: The Animated Series episode that Ryan and Maddy would recommend you skip watching. Unless you're hankering to see Wolverine play the white savior role while Sabretooth monologues at a glacier. But, hey, why not save yourself the trouble and let us recap the episode for you instead? Spotlight X-Men: Wolverine E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com Find Maddy and Ryan on Twitter at MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 6 - "Captive Hearts," X-Men: The Animated Series May 23, 2017

Finally, Storm gets to be in charge of the X-Men's new mission in "Captive Hearts." But first, she'll have to endure Professor X being a huge jerk to her about her PTSD, to Maddy and Ryan's chagrin. Is Professor X ever going to stop treating the X-Men like crap? Seriously, it's like he can't even hear us shouting at him through the screen! Anyway, this episode is all about the Morlocks, an "unsightly" band of mutants living in the New York City subway tunnels. They're led by the nefarious and predatory Callisto, who kidnaps Cyclops and tries to make him her sex slave. This is a kids' show, somehow. Spotlight X-Men: Callisto E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com Find Maddy and Ryan on Twitter @MIDImyers and @RyanPagella

Episode 5 - "Deadly Reunions," X-Men: The Animated Series May 09, 2017

Professor X is a jerk. Ryan and Maddy keep telling you that, but in this episode, it's really astounding how much of a jerk he is! We've reached X-Men: The Animated Series' fourth episode, "Deadly Reunions," in which two pairs of boyfriends get reunited: Xavier and Magneto, plus Wolverine and Sabretooth. Except there's one little problem with shipping Sabretooth and Wolverine: it might be incest, depending on varying comic book canons. Oof. Anyway, we'll tell you all about it on this week's THE MUTANT AGES! Spotlight X-Men: Sabretooth E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com Find Maddy and Ryan on Twitter @ MIDIMyers & ryanpagella

Episode 4 - "Enter Magneto," X-Men: The Animated Series Apr 25, 2017

At last, Magneto has arrived to introduce some moral complexity to the world of X-Men: The Animated Series! Maddy liked this episode, but Ryan thought it needed another draft. The show writers went wild with the literary references this time, so get ready for some Shakespeare quotes. This week's spotlight is on Magneto, who has a confusing and contradictory comic book history and is nonetheless one of Maddy and Ryan's favorite mutants! Spotlight X-Men: Magneto E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com Find Maddy and Ryan on Twitter @ MIDIMyers & ryanpagella

Episode 3 - "Night of the Sentinels Part 2," X-Men: The Animated Series Apr 11, 2017

X-Men: The Animated Series gets real heavy in the second episode, because our heroes lose one of their own. Ahh, Morph, we hardly knew you! Ryan and Maddy do a spotlight on Morph's comic book history, and then, analyze whether or not Wolverine and Morph were dating. Because we ask the important questions on The Mutant Ages. Spotlight X-Men: Morph E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com Find Maddy and Ryan on Twitter @ MIDIMyers & ryanpagella

Episode 2 - "Night of the Sentinels Part 1," X-Men: The Animated Series Mar 28, 2017

Ryan and Maddy's second episode of The Mutant Ages features their first foray into X-Men: The Animated Series, with a big spotlight on Jubilee. Did you know that Jubilee is one of Ryan's favorite X-Men? Anyway, this episode is already way longer than we planned for it to be, so bear with us. We had to analyze the opening credits of the show, okay? Enjoy! Spotlight X-Men: Jubilee E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com Find Maddy and Ryan on Twitter @ MIDIMyers & ryanpagella

Episode 1 - Pryde of the X-Men (1989) Mar 14, 2017

Welcome to the pilot episode of The Mutant Ages! Maddy and Ryan's first step on their journey of watching every animated X-men TV show episode, ever, is Pryde of the X-Men. This TV pilot made in 1989 never ended up getting picked up for a full series. Why not? Let us explain why. Oh, and don't forget: Spider-Man wants you to register to vote! Spotlight X-Men: Shadowcat E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com Find Maddy and Ryan on Twitter @ MIDIMyers & ryanpagella

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