Episode 114: Namor McKenzie (feat. Spencer Ackerman)

In Episode 114 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning fan favorite guest Spencer Ackerman live the life aquatic with Namor McKenzie, the studly Sub-Mariner! Created by Bill Everett in 1939, Namor is among Marvel's earliest characters, one of only a handful to be carried over from predecessor imprint Timely Comics. Arguably the first antihero in the superhero genre, the Sub-Mariner was reimagined in the Silver Age as a sometime foe of the Fantastic Four, a romantic complication for leading lady Sue Storm. In the 21st century, after many years of stories technically designating him as a mutant, Namor finally spent a stretch of time in the X-Men franchise in work by Matt Fraction and Kieron Gillen.The result here is a strange, undersea adventure for which Connor is not entirely prepared.First, though, a little chat about Spencer's new gig as the incoming writer of Iron Man!The CEREBRO character file on the Sub-Mariner begins at 1:15:06.(Content Advisory: Namor's story includes racism, colonialism, genocide, and sexual violence.)You can support CEREBRO on Patreon!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Surprise!After some technical difficulties last year, last weekend for the third annual CEREBRO live show at FlameCon we did manage to pull the audio from the sound board. There are a few little hiccups, but overall I am really happy with the sound quality.Here is a quick six-minute teaser of the full live episode, which has a runtime of 1:16:26 and is now available on the CEREBRO Patreon at the House of Zaladane tier ($5/month).This year I was joined by friend of the pod Anthony Oliviera to talk about his new Marvel digital comic Avengers Academy, featuring the mutant character Escapade... and then generally tangent into other things, exactly as one might expect from me and Anthony Oliviera sitting on a stage together. At the halfway mark we pivot to a very fun Q&A segment.This performance was recorded on August 17th, 2024 at the Sheraton Times Square in Manhattan.Thanks to Tony for being my guest, to FlameCon for being my absolute favorite regional convention, and to everyone who attended the show. I wish the audience was more audible on the track! You were amazing.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Hey there, Zalagang!Today I'm joined by Marvel writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing to discuss their new title NYX, which debuts today as part of the From the Ashes relaunch! This new volume of NYX follows a cast of young mutants, including Kamala Khan, Sophie of the Stepford Cuckoos, David Alleyne, Victor Borkowski, and Laura Kinney, as they come to terms with the traumatic loss of Krakoa and try to find a new way forward in New York City. It's a lot of fun despite the heavy themes, and I really dug this first issue.This episode contains FULL SPOILERS for NYX #1, so please read the issue before listening.You can support CEREBRO on Patreon!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In Episode 113 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Kieron Gillen meet their maker with the mutant messiah, Hope Summers! Created as an infant by Mike Carey and Chris Bachalo, then developed extensively by writer Duane Swierczynski, baby Hope was the first mutant somehow born after the Decimation eradicated the future potential of the x-gene, and her prophesied birth made her a target from her first breaths. Quickly orphaned in a massacre and spirited away to the future by her adoptive father Cable, Hope had a number of false starts on her long messianic journey, but finally achieved her cosmic purpose on Krakoa.This is also the afterparty for Kieron's remarkable second tenure on X-Men, and a salute to the First Krakoan Age.Kieron's new creator-owned book The Power Fantasy is coming soon from Image Comics, and the final order cutoff date for issue #1 is today, July 15th! Call your local comic shop and ask for it by name.The CEREBRO character file on Hope begins at 43:19.(Content Advisory: Hope's story includes genocide, suicide, and the mass murder of infants. You know. Messiah stuff.)You can support CEREBRO on Patreon!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In Episode 112 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Alex Segura get down to business with Gloria Dolores Muñoz, the ravishing Risque! Created by Jeph Loeb and Luciano Lima in X-Force, Gloria is a half-Cuban half-Seminole mutant mercenary and thief from Miami, Florida, with the power to condense and implode inorganic matter. When she's assigned to target James "Jimmy" Proudstar, the X-Force member Warpath, Gloria finds herself falling in love with him despite her best efforts. After an unceremonious off-panel death in Grant Morrison's New X-Men a few years later, Risque returned in 2021 as part of Al Ewing and Valerio Schiti's S.W.O.R.D., where she played a major role in Krakoan galactic diplomacy.The CEREBRO character file on Risque begins at 49:54.(Content Advisory: Gloria's story includes racism and torture.)You can support CEREBRO on Patreon!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In Episode 111 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Karen Charm (a.k.a Karen Czap) jump through the timestream with Eva Bell, the tragic Tempus! Created by Brian Michael Bendis, Stuart Immonen, and Chris Bachalo, Eva is one of the signature characters of the Bendis era of X-Men. After some time away from the spotlight, the character found new purpose on Krakoa as part of The Five, the mutant circuit responsible for enabling resurrection.The CEREBRO character file on Tempus begins at 48:31.(Content Advisory: Eva's story includes the loss of a child.)You can support CEREBRO on Patreon!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In Episode 110 of CEREBRO, Connor and returning guest Patrick Sullivan get the scoop with the tenacious Trish Tilby! Created by Louise Simonson and Butch Guice, hard-nosed news anchor Trish debuted in the 80s run of X-Factor as Hank McCoy's love interest. While that relationship didn't survive the turn of the millennium, Trish and her broadcasts have remained a fixture of the broader Marvel universe.In an unplanned and unexpected coup for this episode's timing, she recently had a memorable turn in the animated series X-Men '97.The CEREBRO character file on Trish Tilby begins at 1:55:16.(Content Advisory: Trish and her stories serve to represent the news media's treatment of marginalized people, which is discussed generally in this episode.)You can support CEREBRO on Patreon!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In Episode 109 of CEREBRO, Connor and Marvel editor Annalise Bissa hunt the most dangerous game with the arrogant Arcade! Created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, spoiled brat Arcade never really grew up, instead becoming a whimsical assassin and creating Murderworld, a grisly amusement park of death.The CEREBRO character file on Arcade begins at 58:02, after some hopefully soothing conversation about the new From the Ashes X-Men relaunch taking place this summer.This episode is dedicated to the memory of Steven Attewell, featured in Episode 97 on Sebastian Shaw, who recently died of cancer. Steven was an essential part of the CEREBRO community and wrote in wonderful questions for nearly every single episode, including this one.(Content Advisory: Arcade's story includes child abuse, domestic violence, and torture.)You can support CEREBRO on Patreon!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In the GALAXY-SIZE Episode 108 of CEREBRO, Connor and fan favorite guest Jordan Blok arm up for bird season with the marvelous Mam'selle Hepzibah! Created by Dave Cockrum and Chris Claremont, Hepzibah is the femme fatale of the Starjammers, the Shi'ar galaxy's most notorious space pirates and freedom fighters. An escaped slave who dedicated her life to rebellion against her former oppressors in the Imperium, Hepzibah is also the paramour of Corsair, Christopher Summers — long-lost father to Cyclops, Havok, and another guy it later turns out.Also, she's a skunk person. She's Cyclops's sexy skunk alien stepmother. This is Connor and Jordan's nine hour skunkstravaganza.This is Part Two! Start with Part One, or check out Patreon for the complete Extended Skunkery Mix.(Content Advisory: Hepzibah's story includes racism, slavery, genocide, sexual violence, torture, and a lot of other very heavy stuff.)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In the GALAXY-SIZE Episode 108 of CEREBRO, Connor and fan favorite guest Jordan Blok arm up for bird season with the marvelous Mam'selle Hepzibah! Created by Dave Cockrum and Chris Claremont, Hepzibah is the femme fatale of the Starjammers, the Shi'ar galaxy's most notorious space pirates and freedom fighters. An escaped slave who dedicated her life to rebellion against her former oppressors in the Imperium, Hepzibah is also the paramour of Corsair, Christopher Summers — long-lost father to Cyclops, Havok, and another guy it later turns out.Also, she's a skunk person. She's Cyclops's sexy skunk alien stepmother. This is Connor and Jordan's nine hour skunkstravaganza.The CEREBRO character file on Hepzibah begins at 1:36:46.This is Part One of Two. You can check out Patreon for the complete Extended Skunkery Mix.(Content Advisory: Hepzibah's story includes racism, slavery, genocide, sexual violence, torture, and a lot of other very heavy stuff.)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands