Class of X

Deadpool and Wolverine dropped their first trailer this week so there is no better time than ever to learn about where the character came from in the comics. Join me on a brief but moderately accurate attempt at unraveling the convoluted and interesting origins of this character that has been stealing hearts since the 90's.

X-Men '97 episodes 3 & 4 take huge swings at paying homage to Inferno, one of the biggest X-Men stories from the 80's involving a mysterious clone of Jean and a demonic assault on the team. As well as a pixelated take on the famous Konami X-Men game with the help of Mojo, the spineless other-dimensional overlord obsessed with ratings.

It's a glorious day to be an X-Men fan and even better if you're a 90's kid at heart. Disney+ has premiered X-Men '97 with the first two episodes and Professor Risinger is here to feed your minds with sweet knowledge on what the show is pulling from the comics. Let's talk about cartoons, comics and cool Cyclops moments. TO ME, MY X-MEN FANS!

Gambit didn't make his premiere with red eyes, Magik is a lot older than you think and Rogue didn't make her first appearance in X-Men comics. All facts we talk about in this special "first appearances" episode where I asked you the listened who your favorite characters were and then discussed what their first appearance in comics were. This episode we cover Shadowcat, Emma Frost, Magik, Gambit & Rogue. Who do you want in the next episode that I missed?

With the the Disney+ cartoon, X-Men '97, coming out this month I thought now is as a good time as any to walk y'all through what the X-Men were doing in the comics all throughout 1997. This episode we seek to answer questions like "Who is Joseph and why does he look like Magneto?" or "What is Gambit's big secret he can't tell anyone?" or even "Who is this Maggot dude and why does he have pet slugs?" All of this and more as we read through Uncanny X-Men #342-352.

The MCU has introduced the multiverse into the films but what is the history of alternate realities in Marvel comics and what lead them to creating a multiverse hopping team of mutants called the Exiles? Let me introduce you to Morph, Mimic, Nocturne, Thunderbird and the leader of their team, Blink. It's an excuse to talk about "What If...?, "Age of Apocalypse" and the X-Men cartoon. Get in kids, we're traveling the multiverse today! Reading for this episode includes: Exiles #1-6 (2001)

The world saw Cable assassinate Professor X at a live music concert. But was it really Cable? And what connection does the assassin have with Cyclops & Jean Grey? X-Cutioner's Song was the climax of the mystery behind Cable's origins and beginning of the worst pandemic mutants ever experienced, the Legacy Virus. Reading for this episode includes: Uncanny X-Men #294-297, X-Factor #84-86, X-Men #14-16 & X-Force #16-18 (1992.)

A church killed an X-Men team member and a priest is the father of another. Mix that up with a techno organic alien race and Nimrod's queer eye persona, Bastion, and you have the makings of a renaissance painting called "X-Force." Reading for this episode includes: X-Force (2008) #1-6.

Let's start 2024 by getting the record straight. Is Jean Grey the Phoenix? Who is Nightcrawler's dad? What exactly is coming out of Cyclops's eyes? A whole episode tackling misconceptions and myths about the X-Men to prep you for next week's trivia night. Happy New Year, you muties!a

The X-Men are no strangers to celebrating the holidays so this Christmas, Class of X is wishing you a Merry Christmas with a good ol' fashioned Holiday Special Episode! How does Wolverine get his Christmas shopping done? Does Santa looked good in blue fur? Why is Professor Xavier a jerk this Christmas? All of these questions and more will be answered as we discuss 3 fantastic Christmas issues of X-Men comics throughout the years.

To save mutantkind, the X-Men must save the mutant messiah. But Cable has his own plans, the Marauders are still on the hunt, Mystique is weaving webs, the Purifiers won't stop, Predator X approaches swiftly and Bishop himself has entered the arena. Can the X-Men save their kind and if so, at what cost? Reading for this episode includes: Uncanny X-Men #493-494, X-Factor #26-27, New X-Men #45-46 & X-Men #206-207.

It's been 2 years since the Scarlet Witch warped reality with three word, "Now More Mutants", and the first mutant baby since that day has just been born in Alaska. It's a race against the evolutionary clock as the X-Men seek to find and protect this baby while Mister Sinister, the bigoted Purifiers and a mysterious 3rd party all scramble to claim the child. This is Messiah Complex PART 1! Reading for this episode includes X-Men: Messiah Complex One-Shot, Uncanny X-Men #492-493, X-Factor #25, New X-Men #44 & X-Men #205 (2007).

What if the Weapon X in Wolverine's origin story was actually Weapon 10? What if Wolverine's origins were linked to Captain America's creation? What if all of this was revealed by a French mutant thief in a flying saucer? Let's talk about Weapon Plus, Wolverine's true backstory and our titular character of the episode, Fantomex! (This episode discusses New X-Men #128-130 and #142-145)

You wake up tomorrow and find you can split yourself into an infinite number of identical duplicates with a snap. What do you do? Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man from X-Factor, X-Force & the X-Men, is opening a mutant detective agency and using his powers and friends to solve mutant mysteries in mutant town. It's time we talk about the 2005 film-noir style mini series, Madrox!

You've seen him in X-Men: The Animated Series! You've seen him HoX/PoX! But who is this pink robot from the future? And why does he hate mutants so much? And why is just so darn cute? All answers will be given in this character deep dive of Nimrod, the Great Hunter!

X of Swords, a massive crossover event of the Krakoan era, is heating up! Cypher, The Braddock Twins, Gorgon and Apocalypse himself are the remaining Krakoan swordbearers. Arakko has their fighters and we have ourselves a tournament! Let's discuss the thrilling conclusion to X of Swords and more importantly, let's spend a little more time talking about how awesome Saturnyne is. Deal?

Apocalypse, the ultimate 90's villain, gets his own historic retcon with X of Swords, the giant X-Men crossover event that proceeded after House of X/Powers of X. His connection to Krakoa and the mysterious partner island, Arakko, gets fleshed out by Tini Howard and Jonathan Hickman in this massive crossover event that spans more than 25 issues. Which is why I have split this discussion into our first ever 2-parter. Come for the swords, stay for the hot Apocalypse lore. I promise you'll love this one.

Why is Marvel Girl with the X-Men now? Who is Iceman's new boyfriend? Why is Rogue with the Avengers? This year, the Hellfire Gala was the opening salve to the next era of X-Men comics, the Fall of X. The community requested I do an episode on this year's Gala and offer up an explanation on all the crazy shenanigans that happened in it's 78 amazing pages. So here it is, the Jon Risinger exclusive deep dive on the X-Men Hellfire Gala of 2023! Enjoy!

In December of the year 2000, Mark Millar, after only having seen the X-Men film, launches a reboot of the X-Men franchise within the Marvel Ultimate Universe. New cast, new looks, new origins, new everything. And since James Willems did so well covering EXTREME X-Men, it felt right to bring him back to talk ULTIMATE as well. The episode covers Ultimate X-Men #1-6 (2000.)

Do you know what happens when you let Rogue pick her own X-Team to serve as an independent strike force from the school? She ends up using Sabretooth, Lady Mastermind, an Omega Sentinel and her mom, Mystique! Also Cable, Cannonball and Iceman can come too. Let's learn who the Children of the Vault are with guest host, Laurel Rothamel.