History Podcast / JayAndMilesXPlainTheXMen

-> Because it's about time someone did!

''Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men'' is a weekly {{podcast}} hosted by Jay Edidin (who you might also know as the guy behind ''Blog/WorstMuse'') and Miles Stokes, covering the "ins, outs and {{retcon}}s" of their favorite {{superhero}} SoapOpera, the ComicBook/XMen.

Each episode sets out to [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin explain the X-Men]] for listeners, usually covering a specific story arc in the team's extensive history, starting from their very first issue in 1963 onwards --- though they sometimes break from their usually scheduled programming with creator interviews, live episodes, and even some TabletopRPG specials.

Some noted creators with experience writing X-Books who've appeared on the show include Creator/AnnNocenti (''ComicBook/{{Longshot}}''), Creator/GregRucka (''ComicBook/{{Cyclops|MarvelComics}}''), Si Spurrier (''ComicBook/XMenLegacy''), Greg Pak (''X-Treme X-Men'', ''ComicBook/{{Storm|MarvelComics}}''), Dennis Hopeless (''X-Men: Season One'', ''ComicBook/AllNewXMen''), G. Willow Wilson (''X-Men'') and Creator/ChrisClaremont.

You can find [[http://www.xplainthexmen.com/ here]].

* AmicableExes: After Jay and Miles' relationship ended in late 2016. Their breakup didn't influence the podcast one bit.
* BigWhat: Miles closes out every ColdOpen (in which Jay describes a particularly convoluted X-Men story element) with one of these.
** On live shows, the whole [[AudienceParticipation audience]] joins in.

* CallBack: In Episode 001 they mention how [[ComicBook/JeanGrey Jean]] is initially a FlatCharacter for being characterized soley as [[TheSmurfettePrinciple "the girl"]]. Miles makes the same comment about her counterpart the ComicBook/ScarletWitch being "the girl" of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. It isn't lost on them how both characters undergo massive development under later writers.
* CanonImmigrant: As of the ComicBook/SecretWars2015 tie-in ''X-Men '92'', versions of Jay and Miles exist in Battleworld, if not the Marvel Universe proper.
* CrossOver: Many storylines covered on the show feature these, crossing over with titles such as ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor'' and ''ComicBook/PowerPack'', among others.
** A meta example: this show is one of the podcasts involved with the ''Secret Convergence On Infinite Podcasts'' crossover show.

* FlatCharacter: Part of the criticism of the [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] characterization is that unlike characters like ComicBook/SpiderMan the first class are basically all "Hey, they're teenagers and they have powers!" with no further development early on. ComicBook/{{Iceman|MarvelComics}} fares a little better, but only because he's shown to be younger and more immature, basically making him a reverse-powered version of Johnny Storm. Jean fares the worst, much like [[ComicBook/FantasticFour the Invisible Girl]] and [[ComicBook/TheAvengers the Wasp]] in other Stan and Jack ensembles simply because her characterization is [[TheSmurfettePrinciple "the girl"]].

** Episode 404 has Miles and Al discussing ''Comicbook/DeathsHeadII'', which has WolverinePublicity but is in no real sense an ''X-Men'' book. They were going to do ''Comicbook/{{Battletide}}'', which has more prominent mutant guest stars, but decided this one was more fun.
* HappilyMarried: Jay and Miles were a married couple, which they've had to explicitly state to confused listeners on at least one occasion.

* IconicItem: Jay is always seen wearing sunglasses in the ''Jay & Miles Review the X-Men'' video series.
** The one time that Jay didn't wear the sunglasses was for [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness a very personal announcement]].

* InsistentTerminology: D'Ken is ''always'' referred to as "The Mad Emperor D'Ken" because he's so crazy that the qualifier is necessary.

* SpecialEditionTitle: The episodes dealing with the last issues of the first volumes of ''Comicbook/XFactor'' and ''Comicbook/{{Excalibur}}'' replace the usual ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' theme with a pastiche of ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' theme (because the ColdOpen pointed out that ''X-Factor'' followed the Creator/JimHenson advice of ending with an explosion) and the British national anthem respectively.
* StylisticSuck: Their physical awards have the distinct quality of "kindergarten craft hour". Like the one for guessing the NoodleIncident (the Comicbook/AllNewAllDifferentMarvel one about Cyclops) was a noodle necklace.

** They compare Mastermind to an [[HeManWomanHater MRA]] in Episode 002.

* WhatIf: Though not covered in full due to not being an X-Men title, the classic Marvel series is referenced several times with individual issues covered every once in awhile.

* SpecialEditionTitle: The episodes dealing with the last issues of the first volumes of ''Comicbook/XFactor'' and ''Comicbook/{{Excalibur}}'' replace the usual ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' animated series theme with a pastiche of ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' theme (because the ColdOpen pointed out that ''X-Factor'' followed the Creator/JimHenson advice of ending with an explosion) and the British national anthem respectively.

* SpecialEditionTitles: The episodes dealing with the last issues of the first volumes of ''Comicbook/XFactor'' and ''Comicbook/{{Excalibur}}'' replace the usual ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' animated series theme with a pastiche of ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' theme (because the ColdOpen pointed out that ''X-Factor'' followed the Creator/JimHenson advice of ending with an explosion) and the British national anthem respectively.

Some noted creators with experience writing X-Books who've appeared on the show include Creator/AnnNocenti (''ComicBook/{{Longshot}}''), Creator/GregRucka (''ComicBook/{{Cyclops|MarvelComics}}''), Si Spurrier (''ComicBook/XMenLegacy''), Greg Pak (''X-Treme X-Men'', ''ComicBook/{{Storm|MarvelComics}}'' [2014]), Dennis Hopeless (''X-Men: Season One'', ''ComicBook/AllNewXMen''), G. Willow Wilson (''X-Men'') and Creator/ChrisClaremont.

Some noted creators with experience writing X-Books who've appeared on the show include Creator/AnnNocenti (''ComicBook/{{Longshot}}''), Creator/GregRucka (''ComicBook/{{Cyclops|MarvelComics}}''), Si Spurrier (''ComicBook/XMenLegacy''), Greg Pak (''X-Treme X-Men'', ''Storm'' [2014]), Dennis Hopeless (''X-Men: Season One'', ''ComicBook/AllNewXMen''), G. Willow Wilson (''X-Men'') and Creator/ChrisClaremont.

* FlatCharacter: Part of the criticism of the [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] characterization is that unlike characters like ComicBook/SpiderMan the first class are basically all "Hey, they're teenagers and they have powers!" with no further development early on. ComicBook/{{Iceman}} fares a little better, but only because he's shown to be younger and more immature, basically making him a reverse-powered version of Johnny Storm. Jean fares the worst, much like [[ComicBook/FantasticFour the Invisible Girl]] and [[ComicBook/TheAvengers the Wasp]] in other Stan and Jack ensembles simply because her characterization is [[TheSmurfettePrinciple "the girl"]].

Some noted creators with experience writing X-Books who've appeared on the show include Creator/AnnNocenti (''ComicBook/{{Longshot}}''), Creator/GregRucka (''ComicBook/{{Cyclops|MarvelComics}}''), Si Spurrier (''ComicBook/XMenLegacy''), Greg Pak (''X-Treme X-Men'', ''ComicBook/{{Storm}}''), Dennis Hopeless (''X-Men: Season One'', ''ComicBook/AllNewXMen''), G. Willow Wilson (''X-Men'') and Creator/ChrisClaremont.

* TakeAThirdOption: In their video reviews of the current X-Men titles ("Jay and Miles Review the X-Men") they'll occasionally, when the books were especially weak, give "Pick of the week..." to things not even remotely X-Men related. From the Siege tie-in of Comicbook/SecretWars2015 to the pizza they had for dinner.

* FormulaBreakingEpisode: Various special episodes. Form an informal talk with assorted guests to a tabletop [=RPG=] session.

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: Episode 404 has Miles and Al discussing ''Comicbook/DeathsHeadII'', which has WolverinePublicity but is in no real sense an ''X-Men'' book. They were going to do ''Comicbook/{{Battletide}}'', which has more prominent mutant guest stars, but decided this one was more fun.

* CallBack: In Episode 001 they mention how [[ComicBook/JeanGrey Jean]] is initially a FlatCharacter for being characterized soley as [[TheChick "the girl"]]. Miles makes the same comment about her counterpart the ComicBook/ScarletWitch being "the girl" of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. It isn't lost on them how both characters undergo massive development under later writers.

* FlatCharacter: Part of the criticism of the [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] characterization is that unlike characters like ComicBook/SpiderMan the first class are basically all "Hey, they're teenagers and they have powers!" with no further development early on. ComicBook/{{Iceman}} fares a little better, but only because he's shown to be younger and more immature, basically making him a reverse-powered version of Johnny Storm. Jean fares the worst, much like [[ComicBook/FantasticFour the Invisible Girl]] and [[ComicBook/TheAvengers the Wasp]] in other Stan and Jack ensembles simply because her characterization is [[TheChick "the girl"]].

* CoolHat: X-Men villain’s (i.e. Magneto, Juggernaut, the Sentinels) tendency to have ridiculous Creator/JackKirby designed hats is mentioned at several points.
-->Jay: “Yeah, all of the supervillains have the same haberdasher and he is [whispers] amazing.”