Uncanny X-Men #186 — “LifeDeath” — remains one of the boldest creative swings in Marvel history. Instead of battles and villains, Chris Claremont and Barry Windsor-Smith deliver a quiet, emotionally devastating story about identity, trauma, and the cost of rebuilding yourself after everything is taken away.

COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Christopher Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age.

In this video, Chris examines why LifeDeath is such a groundbreaking moment in the X-Men's long, fabled canon — from Storm’s loss of her powers, to Forge’s haunted past, to the painterly visual language Windsor-Smith used to redefine what superhero comics could look like in the 1980s.

If you love the X-Men, Storm, Forge, Claremont’s writing, Windsor-Smith’s art, or deep-dive comics analysis, this issue is essential, and its legacy still echoes today.

#XMen #MarvelComics #comichistory

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See how this run reframes Cap’s identity through the lens of a cyborg from the future.

The Deathlok Saga | CAPTAIN AMERICA #286 – 288 (DeMatteis & Zeck). In this first episode of CRYB! Season 3, Chris dives into one of Marvel’s most haunting time-travel/identity stories. He examines how J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck transform a sci-fi popcorn thriller into a meditation on what makes a hero human.

COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Christopher Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age.

👉 Like, comment with your theories about Deathlok, and subscribe for more episodes!

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©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain!







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https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxONuw60a0sJXul6nw7-lmlyjgB-lkn5C&si=KOQWYJLqYpDi04O2

In this solo episode, Steven excavates the tomb of the ‘80s most obscure proto-influencer/superhero, the weirdo wonder himself, that achingly irreverent NYC hipster super dude… PARADAX! (STRANGE DAYS #1 - 3, Eclipse Comics, 1984).

COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Christopher Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age.

Support Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/ComicsRotYourBrain

The Most Influential Superhero You've Never Heard Of | Milligan & McCarthy's PARADAX!

🎙️ Show Notes ✨

#comics #comicbooks #bronzeagecomics

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©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain!







#comicbooks #comics #graphicnovel

COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions).

In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Chris Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) and Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age of comics.

Steven and Chris enlist in Epic Comics' ALIEN LEGION (1984), created by Carl Potts, Alan Zelenetz, and Frank Cirocco. Later issues are drawn by Larry Stroman and Randy Emberlin.

SHOW NOTES

00:00 - Opening pitch

OO:52 - Theme song

01:06 - Intro to the remarkable ALIEN LEGION

12:10 - How the floppies differ from the collected trade editions, in regard to THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE-style entries provided for the main legionnaires

14:26 - Issue One, "Survival of the Fittest!" Zelenetz and Cirocco’s specific way of approaching this sprawling space opera

28:15 - Issues Two: "Blind Trust!"

40:26 - Allusions to LOST — Did that classic TV series draw inspiration for its “bottle episodes” and their solo character flashback structures from ALIEN LEGION?

51:53 - Torqa Dun & Jugger Grimrod as sketchy legionnaires in the Wolverine and Punisher mold

59:55 - A detour into the challenges of creator-owned comics

1:18:00 - Issue Three, "Last Gamble!” and its Back-up Story

01:31:07 - Era of post-decompressed storytelling and Frank Cirocco’s exquisitely-designed cover art

01:36:27 - Issue Four: "The Killing Zone!” - the big Torie Montroc’s solo issue

01:57:55 - Issue 6: “Operation Nerve Center!” - The character of alien soldier, Dirge, and his all-too-human battle with an addiction to a performance-enhancing drug

01:41:24 - The use of thought balloons as an essential window into the deepest vulnerabilities of our traumatized cosmic battalion. “Soldiers in this insane crucible of battle.”

02:06:28 - Impostor syndrome in ALIEN LEGION -- the neurotic, inadequate, deeply insecure messes who are our main players, along with the increasingly expansive cast of characters in this world

02:25:18 - Issue 12: “Hollow Harvest!” The arrival of the great Larry Stroman brings a distinctly new visual flair to the book and some awesomely stylized hair!

02:43:21 - Issue 13: “Moonlilies for Cora Cora!” = FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON

03:07:22 - Issue 14: “Reprise!” - the devastating next chapter

03:19:51 - Issue 15: “The Official Death of Jugger Grimrod!” The title says it all.

03:34:11 - Issue 16: “Demons!” - Intro of Tamara, the first woman legionnaire

03:48:25 - Travis Charest & Larry Stroman both drawing DARKSTARS for DC! Discussion of Charest’s early work -- WILDCATS w/ Alan Moore and METABARONS

03:59:30 - You can tell every genre of story as a war story.

04:00:45 - ALIEN LEGION as the ultimate, hyper-compressed metaphor for life. “We’re all in the

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©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain!







#comicbooks #comics #graphicnovel

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxONuw60a0sJXul6nw7-lmlyjgB-lkn5C&si=KOQWYJLqYpDi04O2

In a solo episode, Chris looks at Frank Miller's first published Elektra solo adventure, working for an on-the-run Nazi, in a story called "Cobra" that appeared in BIZARRE ADVENTURES #28 (Marvel Comics, 1981), a black-and-white anthology comics magazine.

COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Christopher Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age.

Support Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/ComicsRotYourBrain

🎙️ Show Notes ✨

00:00 - Intro - where and when this 14-page story appeared
01:09 - Theme song
04:34 - Read-thru of “Cobra”
20:11 - Miller's masterful use of Duotone
44:10 - Miller as a controversial creator

#comics #comicbooks #frankmiller #elektra #bronzeagecomics

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+ We appreciate your support of the show via Patreon: ComicsRotYourBrain

+ For even more cool shit, read Chris's Substack (cinema, comics, and culture) - THIN ICE




©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain!







#comicbooks #comics #graphicnovel

In a solo episode, Steven descends into a “corpse world” in the furthest reaches of the galaxy to examine the infamous GREEN LANTERN CORP story, “Tygers” (GREEN LANTERN CORP Annual #2, DC Comics, 1986), otherwise known as “The Last Temptation of Abin Sur.” Brace yourself for a disturbing ride!

COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Christopher Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age.

You can see art from this controversial comic here on YouTube.

Support Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/ComicsRotYourBrain

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Support the show

+ Check out our YouTube channel to get a look at some of the fantastic art featured in our episodes. Visit ComicsRotYourBrain.com to sign up for our newsletter, Letter Column. You can also find us wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

+ We appreciate your support of the show via Patreon: ComicsRotYourBrain

+ For even more cool shit, read Chris's Substack (cinema, comics, and culture) - THIN ICE




©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain!







#comicbooks #comics #graphicnovel

Steven & Chris explore the rocky emotional terrain winding through the first four issues of Paul Chadwick’s imposingly granite-bodied softie, the brooding giant who is CONCRETE (Dark Horse Comics, 1987).

COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Christopher Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age.

Support Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/ComicsRotYourBrain

#comics #comicbooks #graphicnovel #bronzeagecomics

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+ We appreciate your support of the show via Patreon: ComicsRotYourBrain

+ For even more cool shit, read Chris's Substack (cinema, comics, and culture) - THIN ICE




©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain!







#comicbooks #comics #graphicnovel

Steven and Chris sit down with legendary Mexican comic book artist, Jose Ladrönn, for a lively discussion about his influences, his work with Alejandro Jodorosky on the FINAL INCAL and SONS OF EL TOPO, plus a whole host of indispensable advice.

COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Christopher Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age.

Support Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/ComicsRotYourBrain

Comics Rot Your Brain © 2025

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Support the show

+ Check out our YouTube channel to get a look at some of the fantastic art featured in our episodes. Visit ComicsRotYourBrain.com to sign up for our newsletter, Letter Column. You can also find us wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

+ We appreciate your support of the show via Patreon: ComicsRotYourBrain

+ For even more cool shit, read Chris's Substack (cinema, comics, and culture) - THIN ICE




©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain!







#comicbooks #comics #graphicnovel