Way back on episode 23 we did our first syllabus episode. We got a bunch of comic scholars together and asked the question “if we wanted to teach a class about comics and graphic novels, from scratch, what would be on it?” One of the ideas we had back then was “what if we wanted to do something more specific. How about a comics class based on a specific comic property. Well, we decided this would be a good week to try it out. And why not start with one of the most popular comic series of all time. Marvel Comics’ X-Men? On this week’s supersized episode, Mav and Wayne are joined by an all-star cast of returning guests — Chris Gavaler, Caitlyn Hunter, and Anna Peppard — to work through some of the greatest, most important or most relevant X-men stories of all time. What should be taught in an X-men class and why? Give it a listen, let us know what you’ve read and what we’ve missed and if we’ve turned you on to something you want to give a try.
Citations and Links:
- This episode’s Call for Comments
- Required Texts:
- X-Men vol. 1 # 1-3 by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby
- X-Men vol.1 #56-65 by Roy Thomas & Neal Adams
- X-Men Classics vol. 1 & 2 plus X-Men vol. 1 #141-142 by Chris Claremont, et al.
- X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills by Chris Claremont & Brent Anderson
- Wolverine Limited Series, et al. by Chris Claremont & Frank Miller
- X-men: Lifedeath parts I and II (vol 1. #186 & #198) by Chris Claremont & Barry Windsor Smith
- New Mutants: The Demon Bear Saga (vol 1. #13-21) by Chris Claremont, Bill Sienkiewicz, et al.
- X-Men: The Mutant Massacre Chris Claremont, Louise Simonson, Walt Simonson, et al
- Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn by Chris Claremont, Alan Davis, et. al.
- X-men vol. 2 #1 by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee
- Professor’s Choice:
- Mav: Magik by Chris Claremont, et al.
- Anna: Dazzler: The Graphic Novel/Beauty & The Beast by Jim Shooter, Ann Nocenti et al.
- Chris: Havok & Wolverine: Meltdown by Walt Simonson, Louise Simonson, Jon J. Muth & Kent Williams
- Wayne: The Uncanny X-Men & The New Teen Titans by Chris Claremont & Walt Simonson
- Secondary Comics Theory Readings
- X-Men and the Mutant Metaphor: Race and Gender in the Comic Books by Joe Darowski
- The Claremont Run by Andrew Deman
- The Ages of the X-Men: Essays on the Children of the Atom in Changing Times by Various
- X-Men and Philosophy: Astonishing Insight and Uncanny Argument in the Mutant X-Verse by various
- Chris Claremont’s X-Men by Patrick Meaney
- By Your Professors:
- Superhero Comics by Chris Gavaler
- Rescuing While Black: Unleashing Black Female Superheroes by Caitlyn Hunter
- “‘Til Death Do We Part, at Least for a While: My Undying Love Affair with Undying Superheroes” by Anna Peppard
- Supersex: Sexuality, Fantasy, and the Superhero edited by Anna Peppard
- Three Panel Contrast podcast hosted by Anna Peppard, Andrew Deman and Michael Hancock
- The Patron Saint of Superheroes blog by Chris Gavaler
- Thank you to Maximilian’s thoughtForm Music for our theme
- Follow Mav on Twitter: @chrismaverick
- Follow Wayne on Instagram: @tetroc2017
- Follow Mav’s Personal Blog: http://chrismaverick.com
- Follow Wayne’s Personal Blog: http://wayne-wise.com
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@wayne_wise @chrismaverick @chrisgavaler @ClaremontRun Haven’t listened yet, but one I love that’s not… https://t.co/qR0HPUbQdk
Haven’t listened yet, but one I love that’s not always on these types of lists (the others I’d name are all obvious) is Fatal Attractions, especially X-Men v2, #25. I also really liked the Phalanx Covenant.
The syllabus episodes are my favorite. You know you have to do Spider-Man next.
@wayne_wise @chrismaverick @chrisgavaler @ClaremontRun The syllabus episodes are my favorite. You know… https://t.co/fDOUonQurg
That’s a good idea. I was thinking superman or Batman but I bet @HannahLeeRogers would totally be on your side for this. Thanks for listening.
Batman and Superman would be cool too.