Ok, first, disclaimers.  I’ve known Rachel for several years, she is awesome, smart, funny and pretty.  And so is Miles.  You might remember Rachel from Podcast #29, which was recorded in the lobby of Geek Girl Con two years ago, so the sound quality is a little meh.  But it’s a great interview.  Rachel is one of the few folks I know who can spout more history of the X-men at the drop of a hat than I can, vastly more than I can, or anyone else I’ve ever met.  Her party trick is reciting the Summers-Grey family tree.  Both she and Miles have worked in the comic industry for years, Rachel as an editor and Miles in IT.  They are both gigantic nerds.

They decided to create Rachel and Miles X-plain the X-men “because someone has to.”  Each episode picks a segment of the X-men’s continuity (or lack thereof) to explain, as well as touching on how it effects coming storylines, or past storylines, and where the movies fit in the continuity.  And I’m really grateful that we can all agree on Chuck Austen’s run on X-men (head on a stick).

Honestly, I’m up to episode 12 and I have to say that they do a damn fine job of explaining the vagaries and twists that the X-continuity takes.  As well as giving me hope that some day Marvel will ret-con Austen’s explanation of Nightcrawler’s parentage.  Seriously, I threw that issue across the room I was so pissed.

I think the best part is hearing Rachel get all excited about things, and it’s kind of like sitting in the room with her when she’s enthusiastically explaining something she’s really into, and that’s awesome!  Because I live 4 hours away and we don’t get to hang out near as much as we should.  The tone is very conversational, and they’re great about not talking over each other.  They both make equal contributions, and on occasion disagree, as most comic fans do at some point, if not constantly.

Also, Miles is the cutest Corsair ever.  And also incredibly knowledgeable about the X-Universe.  Honestly, this is one of the more fun podcasts I’ve listened to.   The two of them obviously love  their subject matter and it shows in the enthusiasm they bring to it.  I’m really looking forward to the beginning of the Dark Phoenix Saga, that was the first X-men story arc I read.  A friend gave me the graphic novel.

I’m also always excited when someone says they like “God Loves, Man Kills,” as I think that was the first graphic novel I bought for myself.  And, well, we’re all on board with Excalibur being awesome.  Seriously, if you don’t like the Cross-Time Caper story arc of Excalibur, I don’t think we can be friends.

I heartily recommend this podcast, even if you’ve not stuck a toe into the great big X-poo, or even if you have and you’ve never really grokked what the hell was going on in the X-men storylines.  I think it will clear a few things up for you, or at the very least, let you know that what makes no sense to you really makes no sense to anyone.   And Rachel and Miles are really fantastic, awesome human beings who bring a wealth of knowledge to the table.  Where comics in general, and X-comics in specific are concerned, they really know their shit.

If you like the blog or the podcast,  please, please, please donate to keep us going, and fund the acquisition of more X-men graphic novels.  Donations go to pay for the podcast hosting and website domain, primarily.

Oh, and Honey Badger’s first two songs are available for download here, for free or pay what you want.  We’re also part of a larger compilation to benefit a local venue, with a song written by yours truly.  Check it out (we’re track 16).   We’re going in to the studio to finish the new EP in late July, I caught the plague, so haven’t been up to vocals.  We’ll also be in Portland, OR on August 15th for a show, and Longview, WA on August 16th. 

Remember we’ve got the GGR Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook page.