Ménage Á Pop is a three times a week intimate discussion between two people and a piece of pop culture.
As kids, the best way to judge a comic was by its cover. These one-sheet spectacles with absolutely no sense of context were our introductions to Spider-man, She-Hulk and (maybe) Top Dog. But, as we aged into die-hard collectors, we began to expect a little more cohesion from issue to issue. So today Tim talks with podcaster Mike Cowgill (BATTLE OF THE NETWORK SHOWS) on whether this uncovered continuity actually broke that initial awe for comics. Its a pretty fan specific conversation as Mike shares the lasting impact of watching Cyclops exit the cover of UNCANNY X-MEN ISSUE #138.
You can listen to today’s guest MIKE COWGILL on his podcast BATTLE OF THE NETWORK SHOWS currently streaming at www.battleofthenetworkshows.com.
POP NOTES
Entitled “Elegy”, UNCANNY X-MEN issue #138 was originally published in October of 1980, written by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, with pencils by John Byrne, inks by Terry Austin and colors by Glynis Wein. It is the closing chapter of the THE DARK PHOENIX SAGA, which began with issue #129.
As originally conceived, Jean Grey was going to survive the Dark Phoenix saga. This would have resulted in issue #138 featuring scenes of her and Cyclops reuniting. However, editor-in-chief Jim Shooter felt that conclusion did not address her homicidal destruction of a star system and demanded she die as punishment.
Jim Shooter’s changes to the Dark Phoenix saga came late in the story’s production, scrapping already penciled art-work for both issues 137 and 138. Much of this original content has since been reprinted as PHOENIX: THE UNTOLD STORY
Another alternate take on The Dark Phoenix saga was published in issue 27 of the speculative anthology WHAT IF?. Through the course of its narrative, Jean does not die but is still corrupted by the sheer magnitude of her Phoenix powers. Upon returning to earth she enters an argument with her team-mate Kitty Pryde. The resulting rage decimates the rest of her team, the earth and, by the story’s end, the universe.
Following his exit of the team in issue 138, Cyclops went on to marry MADELINE PRYOR, a clone of his former love Jean Grey. The two had a child named Nate Summers who, as an infant, was abducted into the future where he would grow up into the adult mutant CABLE.
Upon learning that Jean Grey still lived, Cyclops abandoned his wife Madeline and, with his former love, joined the government sanctioned mutant group X-FACTOR.
Author Chris Claremont was the continual writer of UNCANNY X-MEN from issue 94 in August 1975 to issue 279 in August of 1991. During this formative 17 year stint he launched numerous X-Men spin-offs including a 1982 WOLVERINE mini-series, 1983’s THE NEW MUTANTS, 1987’s EXCALIBER and 1991’s companion X-MEN series.
Tune back on Tuesday as Mike unspools the Lionel Richie song TONIGHT WILL BE ALL RIGHT.
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MUSIC FEATURED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:
“Three Ways To Do That” (opening theme) composed and performed by The Madeline Prior. All rights reserved with Not A Holograms podcasts.
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