X-Statix: Superhero Celebrity Satire

In 2001, writer Peter Milligan and artist Mike Allred teamed up with a completely new take on X-Force which would go on to be retitled X-Statix. It was a look at a team of mutants who were also celebrities. This episode looks at how that works and some of the common techniques of Milligan and Allred.
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[@ChristopherZubin]

frequent collaborator and colorist. I've never heard marriage put so beautifully.

[@alexcurtis4879]

So glad somebody else is talking about this under-read series. Would make a great FX show like Legion.

[@dudeman5_353]

I was thinking it would make a great animated series

[@grahamhume5953]

@@dudeman5_353 Legion is such a strange programme.

[@blackphoenix77]

This run of X-Force was a breath of fresh air compared to the ongoing mutant persecution/extinction storylines constantly going on in the X-books and I wish they'd come back.

[@jessiemchummigbird1493]

Your wish has been granted

[@Argaroth666]

Peter Milligan is terribly underrated. He should be alongside Alan Moore, Grant Morrison and Neil Gaiman as the best of the best from the British Invasion.

[@fad23]

It's odd to consider this book was almost 20 years ago. It feels so up-to-date.

[@Phyrrax]

My god that fight between Sensitive and Stark. 😂 Now I have to read it! I get some strong The Boys vibes from this comic (wonder if Ennis got inspired by X-Statix) and I loved that series.

[@manarayofhope2374]

No the boys is all about hate and rage this book not so much

[@ffejpsycho]

Yeah Boys is far more mean-spirited satire (Though amazing mean spirited satire)...@@manarayofhope2374

[@RickReasonnz]

If there isn't a nude fight with Tony Stark in Endgame, I'm rioting.

[@AdahnFlorence]

That's actually an interesting question. I at least see subconscious parallels with The Boys and X-Statix, though I need to read more from X-Statix and the preceding X-Force run.

[@TheJMuise87]

Mike Allreds art alone would sell this book for me. Such a clean style,making it super easy to follow. Another great informative video Chris!

[@alessiocantarelli7241]

I need to thank you because you made me love comics again.

[@thomasgurburger7580]

Easily the best series on KZbin

[@allluckyseven]

Oh, boy, I love me some Mike Allred. He's amazing, and that style is so distinct from what is usually out there. It's very similar (imo, anyway) to ligne claire. As he uses very few lines, relatively speaking; each line is a statement, and a strong one! Thank you as always for the great episode, Chris, and thanks Craig for the boom mic, the video does sound much, much better than the previous ones!

[@Cjx0r]

Saying "is racism gone?" is like saying "do people still lie?"

[@Dungeonpath]

Yes?

[@Cjx0r]

¿Ok?

[@mr.pavone9719]

This statement is a lie, I always tell the truth.

[@jico5147]

i don’t think racism will ever be gone. it should yeah but i don’t think we’ll ever live in a world that at peace to where people won’t shoot someone for being different.

[@Cjx0r]

@@jico5147 grow up

[@Remholder]

Chris, those cats are absolutely gorgeous! What are their names? In other news, great video once again, and another comic to put on my "read this ya dummy" list.

[@Zsokorad]

"Remember that time Iron Man fought an over-stimulated mutant in a butt-naked slap fight on sacred nudist land?"

[@AWSOMEsauce98]

thanks craig, and this has to be hands down the most underrated comic book channel on youtube. love ya man might have to cop a comic tropes shirt

[@SilvinoGonzalezMorales]

You are one of the best channels in KZbin my friend, any time I feel really down I come here and watch you.

[@crithon]

the U Go Girl story was so amazing, it made me cry when they looked back on her.

[@Heywoooo]

thanks so much for providing such great content whilst not leaning into the whole anti diversity/anti sjw content that a lot of the youtube comics spectrum seems to propagate, i've bought pluto and x force so far on your recommendation, keep up the good work!

[@KhayJayArt]

I never understood how people were against social issues in comics, because comics have been tackling social issues FOREVER. To complain about it NOW is stupid and shows that these comic "fans" don't actually understand or care for the messages or stories of comics and only care about violence and big titties.

[@music-ultra1226]

Gotta say, it's one of the reasons Chris is my favourite comic book youtuber!

[@somerandofilipino6957]

@@KhayJayArt When you read "stories" like Bordertown, Hex Wives and each and every new regurgitation of the Captain Marvel comics, *then* you'll understand.

[@REB3L108]

@@somerandofilipino6957 It's funny that you say that because the moment I stopped following/watching those youtubers, I stopped hearing about the problems you are talking about. The reason for that is the majority of their content is negative or covers bad stories. If a comic is bad don't acknowledge it and don't regurgitate the same exact things your peers are saying because it's redundant. Captain Marvel for example, I can see six different comic youtubers make the exact same criticisms to the point where if you see one video you've seen all of them. I only follow stuff that interests me or I actually care about, I don't need to see complaints about a story I never would have followed or heard of or even known about until comic guy whoever made a video about it.

[@drebodollaz3504]

Agreed. That political talk gets annoying. Especially the NPC’s strawmanning “sjw’s” for everything.

[@marcinagy6468]

Oh god, the memories... This series changed my life. Well, only a little, but still.

[@chrish7983]

Thanks for highlighting an extremely underrated and often overlooked series. Loved this book when it was out. There were so many good X-book runs during that time... X-Statix, New X-Men, Weapon X, Wolverine.

[@andersonic]

Thank you for covering Milligan's X-Force! I hope it motivates people to experience the series. I was never into X-titles and was just lucky some mention in an article got me curious enough to check it out. Also Zeitgeist has his brief role in Deadpool 2.

[@Bronn92]

Peter Milligan is really irregular, but when he is good he is a G.O.A.T. This is one of the cases when he is good. X-Statix is one of the best comic of the 00s in any genre.

[@Jwnior777]

Loved the cats, Mr Sensitive Dude !! Btw, I gonna try Milligan's X-Force/X-Statix since I've been promising myself that in a long time.

[@gaijinplus1]

So happy to see you talk about this. My absolute favorite franchise.

[@drebodollaz3504]

Glade to see your channel growing

[@ShrtRndKid]

I love X-Force/X-Statix. I came on to it late and tracked them all down. One of my favorite series of all time. I think this could make a great series or movie.

[@jasondray2123]

X-statix was one of my favorites back in the early 2000's along with preacher and Authority =)

[@danieljeyn9847]

Thanks for this. I NEVER KNEW MARVEL DID A CHEEKY MUTANT BOOK! I always assumed when I saw a comic with “X” in the title, it was drawn by liefeld and featured a roided Cable with rectangle guns, making an extreme constipation face. I’ll have to check this out. Loved Mad Man!

[@kalebgoldbeck1250]

Yes! X-Statix is my favorite comic of all time

[@fad23]

Thanks for getting that Hewligan's Haircut image in there at the beginning!

[@cruddddddddddddddd]

I actually liked this better when it was X-Force. Those stories were fresh, gritty, and really fun. The first few story arcs blew my mind. One of my favorite x-runs

[@bekbayram3877]

Love this guy Absolutely my favourite commentary on comics series fun intelligent entertaining

[@gg.gama666]

Can't wait, straight up my favorite super hero comic ever

[@fad23]

Haven't watched yet, but X-Statix is wonderful. I'm so glad I was aller to grab the omnibus edition and I still wear my X-Force tshirt with pride.

[@frofrozzty]

This was one of my favorite comics back in the day. Just found out milligan and the allreds are teaming up again to continue it. Gonna have to get the omnibus because I need to re-experience it after 15 years Edit: never watched your videos before but you really nailed this one. Subbing and gonna go down a marathon rabbit-hole

[@mjohnson5030]

Great video and summary of the rare truly original comic idea that was X-statix. Just one "um, actually"... 3:40 "... only one teammate survived." Anarchist, UGoGirl and Doop survived. Still, what a shocker. That was one of the first violent/adult comics I ever read. Crazy subversion of expectations.

[@shadows-sweet-embrace]

Thank you for these fun informative videos, and thank you Craig for helping our boy sound clear and smooooth.

[@andretfg]

This was a really great overview of this series, I had always heard about it as the x book with mutant celebrities, which didn't sound so appealing to me personally, but now I see it's much more than that, I really wanna check it out now.

[@robertweikel5796]

Another awesome show. I'm going to miss waking up Sunday morning and watching the new videos though.

[@prufrock1977]

As a fan of the original run of X-Force, I always wrote off this change (that I never looked beyond the cover) as a mistake. Thanks for sharing this review. I might go back and read it sometime.

[@aprils.]

Superb video. Really loved this one. Thanks for the great work!

[@bronzevillecomics2581]

I'm a big fan of Allred, it was bolstered by his Batman'66 variant covers on a bunch of DC books one month. I;ve been collecting that X-Force arc but haven't had a chance to read it yet. As always, great content!

[@fad23]

Another book I have in omnibus form that I'd love to see you cover: DC One Million!

[@RH-jl8qr]

Super cool beans!!! Ty Chris! My favorite KZbin channel by far!!!!!

[@carlgibson285]

If you want to read peak Milligan check out Bad Company, originally published in 2000AD but also available in a collected edition from Rebellion. It's my favourite 2000AD story, including classics like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and Zenith.

[@nataliealphonse4634]

I love how orange kitty is just like "yes I remember the days when I was allowed to walk on the floor... good times"

[@miggypeso909]

This was a true ahead of its time run. The whole mutant celebs that constantly come back from the dead and are reality tv stars is soooo perfectly now in 2022. Considering reality tv in 01 was still primarily real world/road rules and survivor,this comic was incredibly prescient . Just an awesome and very very underrated comic.

[@Supremmo]

They really missed the boat not making an X-Statix movie.

[@VHShit]

I would love to see that! Especially if it was animated in Allred's style.

[@Blofeld001]

Yes! Thank you! I love X-Statix.

[@antonimobay7334]

I absolutely loved this book! Thank you for covering it!

[@Agamemnon2]

... you know, I'm kind of on Buckingham Palace's side on this. Having someone resurrect a dead celebrity as a comic book character is kind of bizarre and in bad taste.

[@ffejpsycho]

Yes, buck palace would know bad taste after all

[@cyclone927]

Agamemnon2 Fuck’em.

[@42ndblaze43]

Agamemnon2 Like resurrecting a dead celebrity to be badly cgied in a Star Wars spin off?

[@Blannibal311]

I ALWAYS enjoyed X-Statix. Super underrated Marvel Comic Series, underrated in general honestly, and I'm a huge fan of Mike Allred's simplistic yet retro/pop stylized art. I loved it on X-Force/X-Statix, loved it during his FF run in 2013 and loved it during his Silver Surfer run.

[@dynamicpenguin55]

god I love X-Statix so much

[@eliezermexicanimation]

Your are the best comics you tuber i really appreciate you warmly work

[@luimack6205]

Brian Hodge is paying homage to Lady Cop. Chris is punching a lady in one direction but, her face is going the other way. Good job Brian

[@manlystranger4973]

I have viewed a lot of your videos and beyond your impressive knowledge of comics (of which I admit I am a bit jealous as I thought comic history knowledge ranking went Roy Thomas, Len Wein, then me... but somehow you snuck in there), I must say you have the coolest shirts of any KZbinr.

[@mattypow82]

I always enjoy your videos, thanks for another keep it up!!

[@edwarddillon5886]

Great video Chris, really entertaining.

[@210SAi]

I thought I’d read almost all the X-men titles but I need to go back and check this run out. I only know Doop. Thanks Chris!

[@andeven1]

hi, I really enjoy your content. Never stop being so wholesome ^_^ Could you please talk about the comics by Tsutomu Nihei, specially BLAME! and Biomega.

[@Kendallmv]

Thank you so much for making a video on X-Statix, this is on of my favorite comic books of all time and they don't seem to get the love they deserve, also as a huge fan of Mike Allred, would you consider on making a video about Madman or iZombie...or just a video about Mike Allred in general? Again thank you for making this video and keep the amazing job you've been doing

[@neehashaikh8669]

How old was Spidey when Henrietta Hunter joined the X-statix?!🤔

[@royorbit]

Love this book

[@robyoink]

I have the first few issues of X Statix and didn't read the end of that X-Force run, but I loved the comic's approach to fame and media culture, and of course Allred's art.

[@georgelochinski8144]

2 X-Force videos in a row! SQUEEEEEE!

[@Le_Marquis_de_Faux_Images]

Nice! Loving your recommendations

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

1:20 Larry "Bud" Milligans son or grandson. David Letterman's pal

[@jackofallclaws6672]

Ever going to DO a video on Madman?

[@talesfromislandz4844]

soooo this is where deadpool 2 got the kill the team idea from .I never knew,thank you very much ... and thanks craig

[@gratofozbroth]

Great reviews, awesome vids!

[@slothman1016]

Thanks Chris and Craig.

[@quazirej1998]

Here's to hoping Marvel had the good sense to make some TPBs for this very underrated series. X-Statix/X-Force is a pretty good idea, concept -wise.

[@CardboardBots]

I definitely pick this up.

[@chapter11247]

The Milligan/Allred run on X-Force /X-Statix was some of the best stuff that ever came out of Marvel. So naturally, they killed it off. Anyone that hasn't read it is missing out.

[@davidpatrick4871]

I don’t want you to punish yourself, but I do miss the days of a pepper, shot of booze, etc... per trope. The recognition of tropes and comic book history (which you’re still knocking out of the park) is what originally drew me to you. I’ll do a progressively spicy wing video via Skype alongside you per Superman analog/knockoff character we can think of.

[@RickReasonnz]

Leave his stomach/liver alone!

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

:04 Abducting is the exact word

[@factotums]

Dammit. I'm a good artist and I love One Punch Man. Missed opportunities.

[@mistamiller]

Loved this this version of X-Force!!!!!

[@HollowGolem]

Millegan's X-Force: Youngblood, but well-written.

[@johnvonachen1672]

Your channel is one of the best. There is more true art happening in comics and they've been thrust into the spotlight because of the success of recent MCU movies. It's too bad that the comics industry is pretty hard on artists, one of the reasons why Alan Moore has kind of dropped out of the scene. Is there some way we could rectify that with technology. I'm a software developer.

[@HashimWarren]

When the anarchist was afraid he'd die because the team got another Black hero, and super hero teams never have more than one black hero. I loved it.

[@supergonk6485]

IDK why, but my favorite comics to read tend to be the ones about more pathetic heros, I’m into X-Statix, NFL Superpro and Inferior 5

[@CODBlackOps6WALKTHROUGH]

this is an incredible story about an incredible story

[@Blaybay123]

I remember seeing pictures of Mr Senstitive‘s and Stark‘s fight I’m glad I now know where that’s from

[@cjdunham3190]

I loved this book. I appreciate your insight.

[@cyclone927]

I love this channel! You are the bestest!

[@Infamous41]

You have the coolest content

[@Bazzo_]

Thx Craig. The sound quality is better.

[@GodLovesComics]

Haven't even watched the video yet, but I already know it's an excellent choice of topic. I've only read a smattering of Milligan/Allred's X-Statix but I remember picking up all 5 issues of the Dead Girl minseries and thinking it was brilliant. Beautifully illustrated, of course, and the writing was so unrelentingly sharp and funny. I continue to be mystified (bordering on anger) that Peter Milligan and Jamie Delano were somehow left behind in the British writer craze that encompassed Moore, Gaiman, Morrison (and whoever I'm forgetting). I'd happily pit Milligan's wit against Gaiman's in a blind taste test any day. Regardless, I thought Milligan and Allred's work on this series would forever remain tragically overlooked, so kudos on your fine eye for good stuff.

[@hix299]

Regarding Peter Milligan and Jamie Delano being forgotten or not being recognized as Comic book Auteurs, it just comes to the sensibilities that you may generally enjoy. In the case of Peter Milligan, most of his well-regarded works do focus on identity and sex (Human Target, Shade the Changing Man, Skreemer, Enigma, the extremist, even his Hellblazer run). Compare him to Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison who are more focused on the fantastic and surreal most of the time. I say that as a reader of Milligan-written comics: some writers are not universally and critically recognized for their works and that is sometime ok (and most of the time not when people frequently talk about already discussed well-received works such as Swamp Thing, Sandman, Doom Patrol, Animal Man).

[@JW666]

I see a couple of comments that wants a X-Statix movie. If that will ever happen or not, the closest to it we got was with Bill Skarsgård as Zeitgeist in Deadpool 2.

[@NewYorkFloridaMan]

Other Little Known Comics: 01. Gas-Man & The Quaf. 02. The Thing From Uranus. 03. Tiny Balls McGee: Jewels From Below. 04. Jizzy Spinster and The Cirle of Jerks.

[@PrazerComFormatinho]

X-Statix was great. And I believe they changed the name because royalties to Liefeld. Even in the history the guy talks "we don't own the name and need to send an incovenient check every month".

[@dcHAUSdesign]

Thanks Craig!

[@johnfarman9804]

I actually sold the original previews advert featuring Princess Di for X-Statix #13 fpr £30 back in the day. The story of the Princess Di story was broken by the Daily Mail in the UK. Love X-Force 116-129, X-Statix is good but for me the heart of the book dies with Edie.

[@Nono-hk3is]

Thanks, Craig!

[@El_oh7199]

I love X-Force/X-Statix. I've got all the original issues

[@Jackknivesreviews]

i wish this was made a series

[@bigboy944]

Oh my god, thanks dude!! I’m just getting back into comics and I remember reading this but I couldn’t remember the name

[@16_bit_bungo]

I've followed Mike Allred for most of my time on Twitter and for about a year I had him muted by accident Don't ask how I do that, because I'm not fully sure myself

[@Elementa2006]

Once you're done with these X books videos could you try doing a video on Elliott S! Maggin's run on Superman during the Bronze Age? I feel the Bronze Age run on Superman during the 70s are criminally underrated.

[@loonyleper]

Merry X-Month!