X-Reads is a podcast co-hosted by Chandler Poling & Chris Riley, about classic issues of X-Men comic books from different eras of the series. Guests on the show have included the writers and artists Chris Claremont, Bill Sienkiewicz, Fabian Nicieza, Anne Nocenti, and several of the voice actors from X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men '97.
History Launched during San Diego Comic-Con weekend in 2019, the show's format consists of recapping single issues of comics in the X-Men Universe, page by page, often including the vintage ads of the era. Their first guest appearance was Lenore Zann, the voice of Rogue from X-Men: The Animated Series and now currently voicing the character in X-Men '97. Additional talent from the animated shows later appeared on the podcast including Cal Dodd (Wolverine), Kari Walhgren (Emma Frost), Chris Britton (Mr. Sinister), Matthew Waterson (Magneto), and Isaac Robinson-Smith (Bishop). the podcast was ranked fifth in the "15 Best X-Men (Comics) Podcasts" by Feedspot.
In 2024 Poling and Riley turned the podcast into a virtual and later live annual event called the "X-Men Fandom Panel" held at WonderCon and San Diego Comic-Con, for X-Mens fans and professionals. Guests on the panel have include Shawn Ashmore, Finola Hughes, Gerry Duggan and George Buza.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, X-Reads launched a fundraiser in partnership with other podcasts to raise money for local comic book shops affected by the lock-down. This was done through BINC's Comicbook United Fund, which supplied support to shop owners in need.
In 2021, Poling and Riley hosted a virtual red carpet ceremony for the fictional Hellfire Gala, with Nerdist and Marvel Comics. The Hellfire Gala took place in comics from 2021 to 2023 and featured original fashion designs on superheroes, inspired by the Met Gala in New York City. Featured on the live stream were comic creators, cosplayers and celebrities including by Emma Dumont (now Nick Dumont), Kari Wahlgren, Russell Dauterman, Zeb Wells, Jordan D White, Dax ExclamationPoint, and fashion designer Samantha Rei.
In January 2022, X-Reads Podcast was brought into the AIPT Comics podcast network.
Episodes the podcast has aired 135 episodes, and posts bi-weekly on the first and third Wednesdays of the month.
Special guests Episode Number Special Guest Issue Covered 9 Lenore Zann Uncanny X-Men 173 18 Casper Van Dien, Jenny Van Dien Uncanny X-Men 260 32 Dax ExclamationPoint Uncanny X-Men 312 42 Fabian Nicieza X-Men 100 43 Kari Wahlgren New X-Men 116 44 Anne Nocenti Longshot 3 48 Karen David X-Men Fairy Tales 4 49 Bryan Konietzko Havok & Wolverine Meltdown 1 50 Bill Sienkiewicz New Mutants 21 53 Anthony Oliveira X-Men 46 56 Jack Plotnick Excalibur 32 59 Jordan D White Excalibur 50 60 Bob Quinn New X-Men 38 62 Cal Dodd Wolverine 1 Bonus Leah Williams The Trail of Magneto 1–5 69 Steve Orlando X-Men 79 71 Eric & Julia Lewald X-Men Adventures 1 72 Steve Foxe X-Men 98 73 Steven E Gordon X-Men Children of the Atom 1 74 David Nakayama Generation X 1 76 Josh Trujillo, Terry Blas, Carrie Harris All-New X-Men 40 78 Rod Reis New X-Men 18 84 Chris Britton X-Factor 75 85 Terri Hawkes Sailor Moon 30th Anniversary 86 Kieron Gillen Uncanny X-Men 209 88 Fabian Nicieza (second appearance) X-Men 25 89 Larry Hama Wolverine 75 92 Lucas Werneck New X-Men 121 96 Ryan Penagos Uncanny X-Men 297 97 Stephanie Williams X-Men Unlimited 7 98 Neil Kleid X-Men: Emperor Vulcan 1 99 Alex Segura Uncanny X-Men 237 100 Chris Claremont Wolverine & Kitty Pryde Miniseries 113 Erica Schultz X-23: Deadly Regenesis 1 121 Matthew Waterson Uncanny X-Men 200 122 Steve Foxe (second appearance) X-Men '97 1 124 Isaac Robinson-Smith Uncanny X-Men 283 127 Gui Agustini, Christine Uhebe New Mutants 7 132 Murewa Ayodele Storm 1
References
External links X-Reads on Apple Podcasts AIPT Comics Podcast Archive