In which we introduce the villains of the Silver Age: Magneto makes some valid points, Mastermind is a Nice Guy of OkCupid, the Scarlet Witch predicts Cat Breading, the Trasks should really have known better, and the Comics Code Authority is down with pterosaurs.

X-Plained:

• Common characteristics of enduring X-villains


• Mutant identity politics and moral relativism


• Context-agnostic Juggernaut flashbacks


• An unorthodox approach to anthropology


• Cyclops’s greatest diplomatic achievement


• Silver-Age haberdashery


• An innovative modification to vampire mythology


• Cultural assimilation


• The propaganda-and-sweater-vest machine


• Hex bolts


• Supplemental reading

You can find a visual companion to the episode – and links to recommended reading – on our blog.

Find us on iTunes or Stitcher!