The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 063 - X-Men #48 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Sixty-Three

X-Men #48 (September, 1968)
"Beware Computo, Commander of the Robot Hive!"
"Yours Truly, the Beast"
Writer - Arnold Drake
Pencils - Don Heck & Werner Roth
Inks - John Tartaglione
Letters - Irving Watanabe
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

How can we miss the X-Men if they never go away?

Today we wrap up the "split-up era" for our Uncanny Heroes... just an issue after we kicked it off! This time, we're hanging out high in the desert mountains of New York City with Cyclops and Marvel Girl while they face off with a reject Fantastic Four baddie! It's not ALL bad though, once we get through with our lead feature, we get to watch Hank McCoy write with his feet for a few pages!

There's still the Mutant Mail-Box, the Bullpen Bulletins, and Stan's Soapbox gets relevant! All that, plus some discussion and interview notes about Gary Friedrich and Arnold Drake's little discussed time with the World's Strangest Teens!

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 062 - X-Men #47 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Sixty-Two

X-Men #48 (August, 1968)
"The Warlock Wears Three Faces!"
"I, the Iceman!"
Writers - Gary Friedrich & Arnold Drake
Layouts - Don Heck
Pencils - Werner Roth
Inks - Johns Tartaglione & Verpoorten
Letters - Artie Simek & Joe Rosen
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12c

With the X-Men no more, we check in with the Bosom Buddies and their Belles as they try to get tickets to the theatre! It's the return of the Warlock (not THAT Warlock... or the other one... probably not the third or fourth one yer thinkin' of either!). Also, despite the title of this ish... he's only got one face, and it's very boring!

Also: The Mutant Mail-Box, The Bullpen Bulletins... small-talk on Arnold Drake and Fabulous Flo Steinberg... and, finally, I read Professor Charles Xavier's eulogy! Join us, won't you?

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 061 - X-Men #46 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Sixty-One

X-Men #46 (July, 1968)
"The End of the X-Men!"
"... And Then There Were Two"
Writer - Gary Friedrich
Pencils - Don Heck, Werner Roth, & George Tuska
Inks - John Tartaglione
Letters - Artie Simek
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12c

Back behind the mic after a long hiatus... jumping back in with the Silver Age X-Men, just as they're getting set to split up! This being a Chris-show, expect the first half-hour of it to be full of stuff you probably couldn't care less about... but, once I finally get to the comics-content, it's a pretty good time! Two "ehh" stories, the Mutant Mail-Box, and Bullpen Bulletins are all here!

Huge and sincere THANK YOU for your patience and lack of new episodes over the past few months.

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 60 - Not Brand Echh #4 (1967)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Sixty

Not Brand Echh #4 (November, 1967)
"If Magneat-o Should Clobber Us.."
Writer - Roy Thomas
Art - Tom Sutton
Letters - Sam Rosen
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

There's something to be said about a book that lives up to its tagline... unfortunately THIS book's tagline happens to be: "Who Says A Comic Book Has to be Good??"

So yeah - today we're looking at something altogether different... a "Just the X, ma'am" dive into Marvel's attempt at Silver Age Satire... Not Brand Echh!

I know humor is relative... and I also know that, perhaps yer humble host can be a bit too serious at times... but, hoo boy, we're in for quite the ride with this one!  Thankfully this story is full of weird pop-culture references, which kept me researching and entertained... too bad I had to keep coming back to talk about the story itself!  The Doom Patrol show up... so, at least there's that!

Plus: As I own this physical comic, I'm including our usual Essential back-matter... we've got a Letters Page and smattering of weird ads to talk about!

--

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 59 - Avengers #53 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Nine

Avengers #53 (June, 1968)
"In Battle Joined!"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - John Buscema
Inks - George Tuska
Letters - Artie Simek
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

Not even a two-hour bout of oral surgery could stop your humble host from wrapping up our Magneto arc on time!  Which is to say... I'm a bit more loopy than usual today, gang!

But what a day it is... we're finally getting Round Two of AvX... and a Silver Age Dagwood Sandwich of a story that will likely leave us all scratching our heads!  It's hero vs. hero... villain vs. villain... tweener vs. tweener -- it's a wild ride all the way though!  Either that, or these painkillers I'm taking are some really wicked stuff!

You be the judge!

--

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 58 - X-Men #45 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Eight

X-Men #45 (June, 1968)
"When Mutants Clash!"
"And the Mob Cried... Vengeance!"
Writer - Gary Friedrich
Layouts - Don Heck
Pencils - Werner Roth & George Tuska
Inks - Johns Tartaglione & Verpoorten
Letters - Sam Rosen & Irving Watanabe
Colors - ?
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

On the eve of Avengers vs X-Men: Round Two -- we get to experience a slapfight between Cyclops and Quicksilver!  Not much more to say about this one!  Our "Origins of the Uncanny X-Men" backup is sillier than ever... and, speaking of silly - boy, wait'll you hear how the X-Faithful eulogized Professor X in the letters pages!

--

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 57 - X-Men #44 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Seven

X-Men #44 (May, 1968)
"Red Raven, Red Raven...!"
"The Iceman Cometh!"
Plots - Roy Thomas
Writer - Gary Friedrich
Layouts - Don Heck
Pencils - Werner Roth & George Tuska
Inks - John Tartaglione & John Verpoorten
Colors - ???
Letters - Sam Rosen & Artie Simek
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

We're finally back for a stint in the Silver-Age... where one of our teen-age heroes meets a fella outta Marvel's Golden Age!  It's the coming (and going) of Red Raven!  Hold on to yer harnesses gang, this one's gonna be a barn-burner!  We've got us a new writer to boot!

Plus - The Origins of the X-Men backup strip focuses on Kid Kool as he gets roughed up by some Strong Island street toughs, and thrown in the clink!

Also - our normal Silver-Age back-matter - Letters Pages (featuring future pros Keith Giffen and Carl Gafford), an abridged Bullpen Bulletins bit, and an absolutely overflowing MIGHTY Marvel Checklist!

It's great to be back in "the long ago", I sure hope you'll join me!

--

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 056 - X-Men #43 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Six

X-Men #43 (April, 1968)
"The Torch is Passed...!"
"Call Him... Cyclops"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - George Tuska & Werner Roth
Inks - John Tartaglione & John Verpoorten
Letters - Sam Rosen & Artie Simek
Colors - ???
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

Back to the flagship... but still with Magneto!  A wildly convenient little ditty today, which starts at Professor X's somber memorial... and ends up on the electrified floor of Island M.  The hows and whys are part of (if not ALL of) the fun...

Also: A backup strip to shut up some of the more annoying... err, prolific... letterhacks, finally explaining how Cyclops' powers work!

Speaking of letterhacks, we'll be covering 7-8 of those, then hopping into the Bullpen Bulletins to talk about the 1968 Marvel Explosion, I kvetch s'more about variant covers... and much, much more!

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 055 - Avengers #49 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Five

Avengers #49 (February, 1968)
"Mine is the Power!"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Art - John Buscema
Letters - Artie Simek
Colors - Oh, yew know
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

Wrapping up our three-issue stint with Earth's Mightiest to discuss the return of Magneto.  Today, he continues attempting to convince Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch into putting the Brotherhood Band back together... with unexpected results.  He also approaches the United Nations Security Council in hopes of... get this... establishing sovereign nation-hood for Mutants!  Wow, where have we heard THAT before (or since)?

Plus, we wrap up our Roy's Recollections feature from Alter Ego #24 (2003), where our Boy gets rather snippy and also discusses the latter-half of his first go-round with the Muties!

I also kvetch for awhile about variant covers... fun times, indeed!

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 054 - Avengers #48 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Four

Avengers #48 (January, 1968)
"The Black Knight Lives Again!"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Art - George Tuska
Letters - Artie Simek
Colors - ???
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

Continuing our sidebar into Avengers, where we're following the grand return of Magneto!  Today's episode answers the question "Is that a microphone down your pants, or are you just happy to see me?", and sees the All-New, All-Different Black Knight take flight!  Also, the Avengers are verrrrrrry sloppy without the guidance and leadership of Captain America!

Plus: We discuss a portion of an essay written by Roy Thomas in 2003 wherein he reflected on his first go-round with Marvel's Merry Mutants.

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 053 - Avengers #47 (1967)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Three

Avengers #47 (December, 1967)
"Magneto Walks the Earth!"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - John Buscema
Inks - George Tuska
Letters - L.P. Gregory
Colors - Stan Goldberg (uncredited)
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

Shifting gears slightly from our flagship X-Men title, we're beginning our three-part detour into Avengers, where we will bear witness to the return of Magneto!  How did he manage to escape the barren world of The Stranger... and what role did Dane Whitman, the eventual Black Knight play in it?

Also: For Silver-Age Avengers fanatics, Captain America resigns from the team, the Wasp buys an airplane, Herc finds Olympus deserted, and Hawkeye feigns a headache to get out of being intimate with the Black Widow!

All that, plus a reading from Titan Books' Comic Creators on X-Men, featuring an interview with Roy Thomas about his time with the X-Men by Tom DeFalco.

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 052 - X-Men #42 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Two

X-Men #42 (March, 1968)
"If I Should Die...!"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - Don Heck
Inks - George Tuska
Letters - Sam Rosen
Colors - ???
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

Not a Dream!  Not a Hoax!  Not an Imaginary Story!  Not a... good story either!

Today we celebrate... wait, that's not the right word for it... we commemorate the passing of the Mentor, Trainer, and Tormenter of the Uncanny X-Men: Professor Charles Francis Xavier!  We will almost certainly never see him ever again.

Plus: We wrap up Cyclops' origin in our Origins of the X-Men backup, we chat up the letters pages, go through the Bullpen Bulletins - have a brief aside about the Somerton Man, check out the new-look MIGHTY Marvel Checklist (now with 2 less anthologies!), hit up out own mailbag... and much, much more!

Join us, won't you?  This probably isn't the best jumping-on point... but, give a listen anyway, you'll be hooked!

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 051 - X-Men #41 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-One

X-Men #41 (February, 1968)
“Now Strikes… The Sub-Human!” & "The Living Diamond!"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - Don Heck & Werner Roth
Inks - George Tuska & John Verpoorten
Letters - Sam Rosen
Colors - ???
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

In our Essentials "October finale... in the middle of November", we're going out with a... meh!  The X-Men fight another interchangeable monster of the month... and Cyclops fears that Professor X might have the not-so-secret hotpants for the lovely Ms. Grey!  Plus: Our Origins of the X-Men featurette rolls on, showing us how Scott and the Prof first met!

Plus - All the usual back-mattery nonsense you've come to know and tolerate!

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 050 - X-Men #40 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 050

X-Men #40 (January, 1968)
“Mark of the Monster!” & "The First Evil Mutant!"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - Don Heck & Werner Roth
Inks - George Tuska & John Verpoorten
Letters - Artie Simek & Al Kurzrok
Colors - Ya know, that guy
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

It's the regular-sized, nothin' happenin' Landmark Milestone FIFTIETH Episode of The Essential X-Lapsed!

And, boy do I wish we had a better story to talk about...

It's the X-Men vs. Frankenstein('s Monster)... by the way, I will refer to him both as "Frankenstein" AND "Frankenstein's Monster"... so, consider that your trigger warning!  Also, we meet the First Evil Mutant, the ridiculous Jack O'Diamonds!

All'at and all of our normal nutty back-matter!

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 049 - X-Men #39 (1967)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 049

X-Men #39 (December, 1967)
“The Fateful Finale!” and "Lonely are the Hunted!"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - Don Heck & Werner Roth
Inks - Vince Colletta & John Verpoorten
Letters - Artie Simek & Al Kurzrok
Colors - ???
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

Finally... our X-Tended stint with Factor Three comes to a close!

Today, your humble host proves that not even threat of illness will keep his stupid ass off the microphone, as we close out this arc, and prepare to jump headlong into the next... even weirder era!

Plus: Mutant Mail-Box, Bullpen Bulletins, a radio interview with Stan Lee, and much more!

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 048 - X-Men #38 (1967)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 048

X-Men #38 (November, 1967)
“The Sinister Shadow of… Doomsday!” & "A Man Called... X"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - Don Heck & Werner Roth
Inks - George Roussos (as George Bell) & John Verpoorten
Letters - L.P. Gregory & Sam Rosen
Colors - 90% Accurate
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

Our Factor-Three story rolls on... well, it kinda limps on, but we'll try and remain positive.  Also, for the first time ever, X-Men has a back-up featurette, as we're kicking off the long-promised "Origins of the X-Men" series of stories!

Plus - The Mutant Mail-Box, Bullpen Bulletins, a new (hopefully unsqueaky) chair and all that nonsense!

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 047 - X-Men #37 (1967)

 

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 047

X-Men #37 (October, 1967)
“We, the Jury…”
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - Ross Andru
Inks - Don Heck
Letters - Artie Simek
Colors - blind
Jury-Stacking - Honest Irv
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

Finally... FACTOR THREE!

No more lollygaggin' and beating around the bush... it's time to finally get down to it.  Our heroes are faced with the menacing mutants behind the clandestine organization bent on world domination.  Not only that, they're put on TRIAL by them!

Plus: Mutant Mail-box (featuring a missive by VIP Peter Sanderson, Jr. - and a brief biography of the actual Comics Historian himself... delivered by your favorite Fake-Ass Comics Historian), the Bullpen Bulletins Page (featuring an argument about the MMMS Rankings!), Stan's Soapbox, and much more!

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 46 - X-Men #36 (1967)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Forty-Six

X-Men #36 (September, 1967)

"Mekano Lives!"

Writer - Roy Thomas

Pencils - Ross Andru

Inks - George Bell

Letters - Sam Rosen

Colors - ?

Edits - Stan Lee

Cover Price: 12¢

Today our Merry Mutants are truly down on their luck... not only is the X-Mansion nearly robbed, but the kids realize that, without Professor X -- they're dirt poor!  So, what is a hero to do?  Why, head down to the Welfare Office in your Rolls Royce to beg for some cash!  And no, I'm not joking...

The X-Men also look for some blue-collar work, and take part in the most touching Father and Son reunion this side of that episode of Saved by the Bell when Zack's dad wouldn't take him fishing.

All that, plus our usual back-matter nonsense... including a Letterhack or two trying to get one over on Stan the Man!

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 45 - X-Men #35 (1967)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Forty-Five

X-Men #35 (August, 1967)

"Along Came a Spider..."

Writer - Roy Thomas

Pencils - Werner Roth

Inks - Dan Adkins

Letters - Jerry Feldmann

Colors - ?

Edits - Stan Lee

Cover Price: 12¢

So, Banshee's attacked by a spider right around the same time Peter Parker heads up to Salem Center... what could possibly go wrong?

That's right, folks - it's the first battle between Spider-Man and the X-Men... and it goes pretty much as you'd expect.  At least it's Factor Three-adjacent... looks like we're not too far off from finally kicking that arc off in earnest!

Plus: Mail-Box, Bullpens, Beat Poetry and more!

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 44 - X-Men #34 (1967)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Forty-Four

X-Men #34 (July, 1967)

"War--In a World of Darkness!"

Writer - Roy Thomas

Art - Dan Adkins

Letters - J. Feldmann

Colors - Subterranean Spirograph

Edits - Stan Lee

Cover Price: 12¢

Stan and Roy ain't quite ready to pop the cork on Factor Three... and so, it's Filler Time!  In today's issue-sode, the heroes head underground to rescue Ralphie Roberts, who was caught in a war for the Underworld between Tyrannus and the Mole Man - a battle to see which one of them might bore us more!

(Spoiler Alert: It's a tie!)

All 'at, plus our usual dives into the Mutant Mail-Box, Bullpen Bulletins, the Merry Marvel Marching Society... and much more!

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen