CEREBRO

In the PHALANX-SIZE Episode 52 of CEREBRO, Connor and Sara Century make a case for Candy Southern! One of the X-Men franchise's most tragic characters, Candy was introduced in 1967 as a love interest for Warren Worthington III. She was a reliable supporting character for decades, eventually becoming a hero in her own right as the leader of the Defenders before her brutal murder at the hands of...

As the Inferno burns, CEREBRO returns! In Episode 51, the SEASON TWO PREMIERE, Connor and critic Vishal Gullapalli fight for the future with Nathan Christopher Summers, the commanding Cable! Created by Rob Liefeld and Louise Simonson and introduced as a proactive new leader for the New Mutants (later X-Force), Cable was later revealed via retcon to be Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor's time-displace...

In Episode 50 of CEREBRO, the SEASON 1 FINALE, Connor and returning guest Spencer Ackerman survey the schemes of Charles Xavier, the persuasive Professor X! Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the X-Men's wise teacher and mentor slowly became a much darker and more foreboding character, a father figure gone wrong. The CEREBRO character file on Professor X begins at 50:12. (Content Advisory: Ch...

In Episode 49 of CEREBRO, Connor and former Marvel editor Chris Robinson play the hand they're dealt with the gregarious Gambit! Introduced as Chris Claremont's last addition to the X-Men in his sixteen-year run, Remy would become an iconic part of the X-Men franchise as a breakout star of the 90s, the focus of several solo titles. In recent years his star has somewhat dimmed, with most of...

In Episode 48 of CEREBRO, Connor and critic and cartoonist Karen Charm get more than skin deep with Paige Guthrie, the heroic Husk! Younger sister to classic character Cannonball, Paige was a protagonist of the 90s book Generation X. Later stories would write the character into some odd positions, and she's struggled to find a stable place in the franchise since.  The CEREBRO character file on...

In Episode 47 of CEREBRO, Connor and critic Elana Levin fall to pieces with Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man! A longtime X-Men supporting character, Madrox rose to prominence in the 21st century as the protagonist of the long-running X-Factor, written by Peter David. After a number of astoundingly complicated stories, he is now part of Krakoa's X-Corp. The CEREBRO character file on Multiple Man...

In Episode 46 of CEREBRO, Connor and writer Kendra James rise from the grave with Everett Thomas, the supportive Synch! Marked for leadership early in the run of the 90s title Generation X, likable power-copier Everett was tragically killed in the final arc of the book. 18 years later, he was resurrected in the Age of Krakoa by writer Jonathan Hickman, and now stars in Gerry Duggan and Pepe Larraz...

In Episode 45 of CEREBRO, Connor and writer Zoe Tunnell are nigh-invulnerable when they're castin' with Sam Guthrie, the caring Cannonball! An original New Mutant, Kentucky coal country kid Sam went on to lead X-Force ⁠before graduating to the big leagues. After some time as an official member of the X-Men, he eventually joined the Avengers under writer Jonathan Hickman. The CEREBRO charac...

In Episode 44 of CEREBRO, Connor and writer Alex Segura soak up the sun with Roberto da Costa, the sensational Sunspot! An original New Mutant, biracial Brazilian babe Beto inherited his father's fortune and continued into X-Force in the 90s. After a stint as Lord Imperial of the Hellfire Club, he eventually joined the Avengers under writer Jonathan Hickman. The CEREBRO character file on Sunsp...

In Episode 43 of CEREBRO, Connor and writer Steph Williams hype up Roxy Washington, the brilliant Bling! While she's a somewhat minor character, lesbian teen Roxy has a unique role in her generation. Plus: Steph's newly-announced DC Comics book NUBIA AND THE AMAZONS! Plus her thoughts on Monica Rambeau, Storm, and whatever else occurred to us to chat about. The CEREBRO character file on Bl...

In Episode 42 of CEREBRO, Connor and his friend Luke Ruddick ( Danger Rooms and Dragons ) swing a bevy of blades with Gaveedra Seven, the sensational Shatterstar! A breakout star of the 90s run of X-Force, interdimensional alien/mutant gladiator 'Star is an escaped slave devoted to the liberation of his people. He has become one of Marvel's most prominent bisexual characters.  The CEREBRO...

In Episode 41 of CEREBRO, Connor and his friend Louis dig the good vibrations of the seismic stunner Rictor! Introduced in the classic run of X-Factor by Louise and Walt Simonson, Julio Richter became a 90s breakout in X-Force before starring in Peter David's X-Factor Investigations. After a lengthy period as one of the biggest characters to suffer from the Decimation, he was eventually repowe...

In Episode 40 of CEREBRO, Connor and writer and editor Steve Foxe ( Spider-Ham , Cheater Code , Razorblades, The Department of Truth ) fly into the fairy kingdom of Alfheim with Jean-Paul Beaubier, the nimble Northstar! The first confirmed gay superhero at Marvel Comics, Jean-Paul originated as a member of Alpha Flight, but became an X-Men mainstay under writer Chuck Austen. His 2012 same-sex wedd...

In Episode 39 of CEREBRO, Connor and writer and critic Sara Century ( Bitches on Comics ) are possessed by the power of Xi'an Coy Manh*, the courageous Karma! The first confirmed lesbian character in the X-Men franchise, Xi'an was the original leader of the New Mutants, but has never received as much care and attention on the page as her classmates. She is a protagonist of the new run of N...

In Episode 38 of CEREBRO, Connor and celebrated writer Mike Carey ( X-Men Legacy , Lucifer , The Unwritten , The Girl With All The Gifts ) praise the power of Joanna Cargill, a.k.a. Frenzy! A longtime enemy of the X-Men, Cargill decided to change her ways during Carey's beloved time writing the franchise, and is now a fan favorite antihero. PLUS: Tempo! The Children of the Vault! Lady Mastermi...

In Episode 37 of CEREBRO, Connor and Marvel writer Steve Orlando get bad to the bone with the Morlock Sarah Rushman*, better known as Marrow! A breakout character of the late 90s, the rebellious and grisly Marrow's rising star quickly flamed out, but she's endured as a fan favorite. The CEREBRO character file on Marrow begins at 26:58. (Content Advisory: Sarah's story includes genocide...

In the PLANET-SIZE Episode 36 of CEREBRO, Connor and Marvel's Tini Howard praise the perfection of Monet St. Croix! The unlikely breakout of the Generation X class, marvelous mean girl Monet transcended her intended story function to become a leading lady, star of the new book X-Corp. Writer Kendra James also joins Connor to talk about Monet's historical importance as a unique character in...

In Episode 35 of CEREBRO, Connor and MODOK on Hulu co-creator Jordan Blum let down their barriers with Sally Blevins, the slippery Skids! Introduced in Louise Simonson's classic run on X-Factor, teen runaway Skids wants nothing more than a home and a family, but — overshadowed by other characters in her age group — she rarely catches a break. The CEREBRO character file on Skids begins at 1:15:...

In Episode 34 of CEREBRO, Connor and artist Josh Cornillon keep it tidy with Megan Gwynn, the polarizing Pixie! The secret half-faerie daughter of the villain Mastermind (no, really!), after exposure to black magic Pixie became the primary student character of the Decimation period. She now stars alongside her mentor Nightcrawler in Way Of X by Si Spurrier and Bob Quinn. The CEREBRO character file...

In Episode 33 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Alex Abad-Santos shatter the illusions of Regan Wyngarde and her sister Martinique, the ludicrous Ladies Mastermind! Born from an editorial mistake, Regan would rise to prominence in Mike Carey's celebrated run — but wherever these manipulative siblings go, trouble follows. The CEREBRO character file on Lady Mastermind and the other Lady Mas...

In Episode 32 of CEREBRO, Connor and legendary Marvel writer and editor Ann Nocenti chase a ratings spike with her creation Mojo, ruler of the Wildways! Created for the 1985 miniseries Longshot, Mojo became one of the X-Men's strangest recurring foes: the alien despot of a world built on television. As biting meta-commentary on fandom itself, he has become an engine for social satire in X-Men...

In Episode 31 of CEREBRO, Connor and Angélique Roché ( Marvels' Voices , Women of Marvel ) adapt to their surroundings with Armando Muñoz, the ever-evolving Darwin! Created in the controversial retcon story Deadly Genesis , Darwin has nonetheless endured as a fan favorite. The CEREBRO character file on Darwin begins at 1:11:50. (Content Advisory: Armando's story includes child abuse, attem...

In Episode 30 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Anthony Oliveira swish about with STRYFE, the CHAOS-BRINGER! A delightfully fruity megalomaniac in a cape, Stryfe is an iconic X-Villain of the 90s. The CEREBRO character file on Stryfe begins at 1:12:13. (Content Advisory: Stryfe's story includes child abuse, brainwashing, genocide, a suggestion of rape, and incestuous and Oedipal themes. T...

In Episode 29 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Sara Century don their finest spiked leather with Rachel Summers, the second Phoenix! As Scott Summers and Jean Grey's time-displaced daughter from the dystopian timeline called the Days of Future Past, Rachel offers the X-Men a terrifying glimpse of the worst-case scenario for mutants. The CEREBRO character file on Rachel Summers begins at...

In Episode 28 of CEREBRO, Connor and writer Evan Narcisse dance the night away with Alison Blaire, the Disco Dazzler! Born from Marvel's failed first attempt at taking Hollywood by storm, Ali has struggled to find her spotlight in the years since. The CEREBRO character file on Dazzler begins at 1:06:40. (Content Advisory: Ali's story includes domestic violence, spousal abuse, drug addictio...