Austin Gorton
@austingorton.bsky.social
Reviewing every X-Book from #1 on. Celebrating #XFactor40. Skeeting [...sigh] a #TradingCardADay. Writing fiction. Co-host @AVSEPod. Editor at ComicsXF. Bylines linktr.ee/austingorton. He/Him.
https://www.therealgentlemenofleisure.com/
https://www.therealgentlemenofleisure.com/
Pinned
New year, new project!
In honor of the 40th anniversary of X-Factor, the second X-Men spinoff and arguably the most successful (at least in terms of issues published), each day I'll spotlight a cover from a comic published on that date featuring a member of the team!
#XFactor40 #XMenADay #XMen
In honor of the 40th anniversary of X-Factor, the second X-Men spinoff and arguably the most successful (at least in terms of issues published), each day I'll spotlight a cover from a comic published on that date featuring a member of the team!
#XFactor40 #XMenADay #XMen
056 - Kingpin
Love seeing not only Romita's classic style in this set, but his pre-Daredevil take on Kingpin as well.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Kingpin #SpiderMan #JohnRomita
Love seeing not only Romita's classic style in this set, but his pre-Daredevil take on Kingpin as well.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Kingpin #SpiderMan #JohnRomita
February 12, 2026 at 3:27 AM
056 - Kingpin
Love seeing not only Romita's classic style in this set, but his pre-Daredevil take on Kingpin as well.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Kingpin #SpiderMan #JohnRomita
Love seeing not only Romita's classic style in this set, but his pre-Daredevil take on Kingpin as well.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Kingpin #SpiderMan #JohnRomita
In which I continue my unofficial celebration of Louise Simonson's X-Factor for @thecomicon.bsky.social by celebrating Valentines with my favorite hard-luck couple, Rusty and Skids! #XMen #XFactor #ComicCouplesWeLove
comicon.com/2026/02/11/c...
comicon.com/2026/02/11/c...
February 11, 2026 at 11:42 PM
In which I continue my unofficial celebration of Louise Simonson's X-Factor for @thecomicon.bsky.social by celebrating Valentines with my favorite hard-luck couple, Rusty and Skids! #XMen #XFactor #ComicCouplesWeLove
comicon.com/2026/02/11/c...
comicon.com/2026/02/11/c...
My staff pick this week is Transformers #29, which promises the first big Autobot/Decepitcon showdown of the Kirkman/Mora era!
Cyclops gets a solo series, the team behind 20th Century Men helps kick off the new Vertigo line, and DC K.O. pits its final four against some Absolute heroes.
Cyclops, Bleeding Hearts and more CXF Staff Picks
Cyclops gets a solo series, the team behind 20th Century Men helps kick off the new Vertigo line, and DC K.O. pits its final four against some Absolute heroes.
comicsxf.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:10 PM
My staff pick this week is Transformers #29, which promises the first big Autobot/Decepitcon showdown of the Kirkman/Mora era!
042 - Strange Tales #120 - 2/11/1964
Iceman's first solo appearance outside X-Men, in a story so obvious it HAD to happen: Fire Guy meets Ice Dude.
Cover by Jack Kirby. Interiors by Stan Lee & Kirby.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #StrangeTales #Iceman
Iceman's first solo appearance outside X-Men, in a story so obvious it HAD to happen: Fire Guy meets Ice Dude.
Cover by Jack Kirby. Interiors by Stan Lee & Kirby.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #StrangeTales #Iceman
February 11, 2026 at 3:19 PM
042 - Strange Tales #120 - 2/11/1964
Iceman's first solo appearance outside X-Men, in a story so obvious it HAD to happen: Fire Guy meets Ice Dude.
Cover by Jack Kirby. Interiors by Stan Lee & Kirby.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #StrangeTales #Iceman
Iceman's first solo appearance outside X-Men, in a story so obvious it HAD to happen: Fire Guy meets Ice Dude.
Cover by Jack Kirby. Interiors by Stan Lee & Kirby.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #StrangeTales #Iceman
One of the X-Men of the future pulls a Thunderbird! It's sort of not who you expect, largely because all the characters are still ciphers! But by the end, we've got our core cast! #XMen #XMen2099 #Xaminations
www.therealgentlemenofleisure.com/2019/01/x-am...
www.therealgentlemenofleisure.com/2019/01/x-am...
X-amining X-Men 2099 #3
www.therealgentlemenofleisure.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:50 PM
One of the X-Men of the future pulls a Thunderbird! It's sort of not who you expect, largely because all the characters are still ciphers! But by the end, we've got our core cast! #XMen #XMen2099 #Xaminations
www.therealgentlemenofleisure.com/2019/01/x-am...
www.therealgentlemenofleisure.com/2019/01/x-am...
*My* favorite Cyclops story is on the list; is yours?
In honor of Alex Paknadel and Roge Antonio's new Cyclops series, we combed Battle of the Atom's Big Ol' List to find the 10 best stories starring Scott Summers.
Cyclops’ 10 best stories according to Battle of the Atom
In honor of Alex Paknadel and Roge Antonio's new Cyclops series, we combed Battle of the Atom's Big Ol' List to find the 10 best stories starring Scott Summers.
comicsxf.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:12 PM
*My* favorite Cyclops story is on the list; is yours?
055 - Deadpool
Deadpool's still in his early, relatively-straight-laced, "mysterious if chatty mercenary" phase in '93, so Jusko plays it straight w/a surprisingly strong card. The sight in the background is a nice touch.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Deadpool #XForce #Xmen #JoeJusko
Deadpool's still in his early, relatively-straight-laced, "mysterious if chatty mercenary" phase in '93, so Jusko plays it straight w/a surprisingly strong card. The sight in the background is a nice touch.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Deadpool #XForce #Xmen #JoeJusko
February 11, 2026 at 4:07 AM
I hope it’s another Beast.
Graymalkin Prison’s INMATE X is revealed at last! Who is this incredibly lethal mutant powerhouse, and what does it mean for the X-Men?
X-Men comics in May have us wondering who Inmate X is again
Graymalkin Prison’s INMATE X is revealed at last! Who is this incredibly lethal mutant powerhouse, and what does it mean for the X-Men?
comicsxf.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:38 AM
I hope it’s another Beast.
Before heading out to the LCS for your new X-books tomorrow, check out all my notes on last week's books, including a Who's Who of Uncanny X-Men's Legion of Monsters & the delightful return of Ashley Allen and German Peralta's Magik (yes, yes, Colossus is there too...)!
comicon.com/2026/02/10/p...
comicon.com/2026/02/10/p...
February 10, 2026 at 11:13 PM
Before heading out to the LCS for your new X-books tomorrow, check out all my notes on last week's books, including a Who's Who of Uncanny X-Men's Legion of Monsters & the delightful return of Ashley Allen and German Peralta's Magik (yes, yes, Colossus is there too...)!
comicon.com/2026/02/10/p...
comicon.com/2026/02/10/p...
041 - The Marvel Saga #18 - 2/10/1987
Still waiting for my Marvel Saga Omnibus...
Cover by Keith Pollard. Interiors by Peter Sanderson & James Fry
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #MarvelSaga #Cyclops #JeanGrey #Angel #Beast #Iceman #Quicksilver
Still waiting for my Marvel Saga Omnibus...
Cover by Keith Pollard. Interiors by Peter Sanderson & James Fry
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #MarvelSaga #Cyclops #JeanGrey #Angel #Beast #Iceman #Quicksilver
February 10, 2026 at 3:31 PM
041 - The Marvel Saga #18 - 2/10/1987
Still waiting for my Marvel Saga Omnibus...
Cover by Keith Pollard. Interiors by Peter Sanderson & James Fry
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #MarvelSaga #Cyclops #JeanGrey #Angel #Beast #Iceman #Quicksilver
Still waiting for my Marvel Saga Omnibus...
Cover by Keith Pollard. Interiors by Peter Sanderson & James Fry
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #MarvelSaga #Cyclops #JeanGrey #Angel #Beast #Iceman #Quicksilver
Before sitting down to watch the new Muppet Show, I had to tell my disappointed five year old no, Scrooge won't be in this one, so I'm either doing everything wrong or everything right.
Anyways, check out this Muppet-tastic interview!
Anyways, check out this Muppet-tastic interview!
Cartoonist Roger Langridge (Fred the Clown, Thor: The Mighty Avenger) joins the show to talk about his new Dynamite Comics series, The Muppets Noir.
TCXFIP 387: Roger Langridge talks The Muppets Noir
Cartoonist Roger Langridge (Fred the Clown, Thor: The Mighty Avenger) joins the show to talk about his new Dynamite Comics series, The Muppets Noir.
comicsxf.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Before sitting down to watch the new Muppet Show, I had to tell my disappointed five year old no, Scrooge won't be in this one, so I'm either doing everything wrong or everything right.
Anyways, check out this Muppet-tastic interview!
Anyways, check out this Muppet-tastic interview!
Am I saying this story involving Rachel Summers in her "future priestess" mode & a random Trask sibling singlehandedly led to The Authority, Ultimates, "widescreen" comics & the MCU? No.
But I'm not NOT saying that...
#XMen #Xaminations
But I'm not NOT saying that...
#XMen #Xaminations
X-amining Uncanny X-Men #-1
So this issue basically established Rachel *could* have returned to the present (publishing) time if she wanted to, she just chose not to…granted, more because the X-office didn’t know what to do…
www.therealgentlemenofleisure.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Am I saying this story involving Rachel Summers in her "future priestess" mode & a random Trask sibling singlehandedly led to The Authority, Ultimates, "widescreen" comics & the MCU? No.
But I'm not NOT saying that...
#XMen #Xaminations
But I'm not NOT saying that...
#XMen #Xaminations
054 - Omega Red
More Blevins, more 90s Wolverine villain glow-ups!
Did Omega Red ever end up in a story w/Cap, given Omega Red was supposed to be the Soviet Captain America at one point?
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #OmegaRed #Wolverine #Xmen #BretBlevins
More Blevins, more 90s Wolverine villain glow-ups!
Did Omega Red ever end up in a story w/Cap, given Omega Red was supposed to be the Soviet Captain America at one point?
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #OmegaRed #Wolverine #Xmen #BretBlevins
February 9, 2026 at 11:00 PM
054 - Omega Red
More Blevins, more 90s Wolverine villain glow-ups!
Did Omega Red ever end up in a story w/Cap, given Omega Red was supposed to be the Soviet Captain America at one point?
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #OmegaRed #Wolverine #Xmen #BretBlevins
More Blevins, more 90s Wolverine villain glow-ups!
Did Omega Red ever end up in a story w/Cap, given Omega Red was supposed to be the Soviet Captain America at one point?
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #OmegaRed #Wolverine #Xmen #BretBlevins
040 - New Mutants #64 - 2/9/1988
Warlock grapples with the realities of Doug's death in a standout issue of Simonson's New Mutants run.
Cover by Bret Blevins. Interiors by Louise Simonson & Blevins.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #NewMutants #Cypher
Warlock grapples with the realities of Doug's death in a standout issue of Simonson's New Mutants run.
Cover by Bret Blevins. Interiors by Louise Simonson & Blevins.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #NewMutants #Cypher
February 9, 2026 at 3:51 PM
040 - New Mutants #64 - 2/9/1988
Warlock grapples with the realities of Doug's death in a standout issue of Simonson's New Mutants run.
Cover by Bret Blevins. Interiors by Louise Simonson & Blevins.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #NewMutants #Cypher
Warlock grapples with the realities of Doug's death in a standout issue of Simonson's New Mutants run.
Cover by Bret Blevins. Interiors by Louise Simonson & Blevins.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #NewMutants #Cypher
053 - Cyber
Cyber's initial glow-up continues! Jusko puts a lot into the curled, sneering expression that really captures his whole vibe.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Cyber #Wolverine #Xmen #JoeJusko
Cyber's initial glow-up continues! Jusko puts a lot into the curled, sneering expression that really captures his whole vibe.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Cyber #Wolverine #Xmen #JoeJusko
February 9, 2026 at 1:00 AM
053 - Cyber
Cyber's initial glow-up continues! Jusko puts a lot into the curled, sneering expression that really captures his whole vibe.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Cyber #Wolverine #Xmen #JoeJusko
Cyber's initial glow-up continues! Jusko puts a lot into the curled, sneering expression that really captures his whole vibe.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Cyber #Wolverine #Xmen #JoeJusko
039 - Uncanny X-Men #169 - 2/8/1983
When I first got into comics I thought this was somehow part of Mutant Massacre cuz it's erroneously referenced as such in Uncanny X-Men #292.
Cover by Paul Smith. Interiors by Chris Claremont & Smith.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #UncannyXMen #Angel #PaulSmith
When I first got into comics I thought this was somehow part of Mutant Massacre cuz it's erroneously referenced as such in Uncanny X-Men #292.
Cover by Paul Smith. Interiors by Chris Claremont & Smith.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #UncannyXMen #Angel #PaulSmith
February 8, 2026 at 11:00 PM
039 - Uncanny X-Men #169 - 2/8/1983
When I first got into comics I thought this was somehow part of Mutant Massacre cuz it's erroneously referenced as such in Uncanny X-Men #292.
Cover by Paul Smith. Interiors by Chris Claremont & Smith.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #UncannyXMen #Angel #PaulSmith
When I first got into comics I thought this was somehow part of Mutant Massacre cuz it's erroneously referenced as such in Uncanny X-Men #292.
Cover by Paul Smith. Interiors by Chris Claremont & Smith.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #UncannyXMen #Angel #PaulSmith
052 - Longshot
Like the construction of this one, the sense of movement & narrative created by leaping over the Mojo statute.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Longshot #Xmen #JoePhillips
Like the construction of this one, the sense of movement & narrative created by leaping over the Mojo statute.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Longshot #Xmen #JoePhillips
February 8, 2026 at 5:11 PM
052 - Longshot
Like the construction of this one, the sense of movement & narrative created by leaping over the Mojo statute.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Longshot #Xmen #JoePhillips
Like the construction of this one, the sense of movement & narrative created by leaping over the Mojo statute.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Longshot #Xmen #JoePhillips
038 - X-Men Annual 2007 #1 - 2/7/2007
This might be the only cover featured this year that includes Northstar, Aurora AND Mystique.
Cover by Mark Brooks. Interiors by Mike Carey & Brooks.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #XMenV2 #XMenAnnual #Northstar #Aurora #Mystique
This might be the only cover featured this year that includes Northstar, Aurora AND Mystique.
Cover by Mark Brooks. Interiors by Mike Carey & Brooks.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #XMenV2 #XMenAnnual #Northstar #Aurora #Mystique
February 8, 2026 at 4:13 PM
038 - X-Men Annual 2007 #1 - 2/7/2007
This might be the only cover featured this year that includes Northstar, Aurora AND Mystique.
Cover by Mark Brooks. Interiors by Mike Carey & Brooks.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #XMenV2 #XMenAnnual #Northstar #Aurora #Mystique
This might be the only cover featured this year that includes Northstar, Aurora AND Mystique.
Cover by Mark Brooks. Interiors by Mike Carey & Brooks.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #XMenV2 #XMenAnnual #Northstar #Aurora #Mystique
Did you know Rogue is, effectively, Wonder Man's sister?
@austingorton.bsky.social does The One-Above-All's work and explains Wonder Man's complicated family tree for folks coming in off the TV show comicsxf.com/2026/02/03/w...
two men are walking down a hallway with wonder man written on the wall behind them
ALT: two men are walking down a hallway with wonder man written on the wall behind them
media.tenor.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Did you know Rogue is, effectively, Wonder Man's sister?
In which I get to carry on about my love of Westerns AND Universal Monsters!
@adamreck.bsky.social & @austingorton.bsky.social covered Uncanny X-Men #23, in which the kids read a Western bedtime story and the adults hold an intervention for Gambit comicsxf.com/2026/02/04/u...
February 8, 2026 at 4:09 PM
In which I get to carry on about my love of Westerns AND Universal Monsters!
051 - Polaris
Rocking the much-improved version of her brief Quesada-designed "sexy" costume. The capitol in the background is a nice touch, too.
Her OG mask/headband always makes me think she has a shamrock on her face.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Polaris #Xmen #XFactor #DanLawlis
Rocking the much-improved version of her brief Quesada-designed "sexy" costume. The capitol in the background is a nice touch, too.
Her OG mask/headband always makes me think she has a shamrock on her face.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Polaris #Xmen #XFactor #DanLawlis
February 7, 2026 at 3:13 AM
051 - Polaris
Rocking the much-improved version of her brief Quesada-designed "sexy" costume. The capitol in the background is a nice touch, too.
Her OG mask/headband always makes me think she has a shamrock on her face.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Polaris #Xmen #XFactor #DanLawlis
Rocking the much-improved version of her brief Quesada-designed "sexy" costume. The capitol in the background is a nice touch, too.
Her OG mask/headband always makes me think she has a shamrock on her face.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Polaris #Xmen #XFactor #DanLawlis
037 - Avengers West Coast #57 - 2/6/1990
I'm sure this will end well for all involved...
Cover & Interiors by John Byrne.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #AvengersWestCoast #Quicksilver
I'm sure this will end well for all involved...
Cover & Interiors by John Byrne.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #AvengersWestCoast #Quicksilver
February 6, 2026 at 10:35 PM
037 - Avengers West Coast #57 - 2/6/1990
I'm sure this will end well for all involved...
Cover & Interiors by John Byrne.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #AvengersWestCoast #Quicksilver
I'm sure this will end well for all involved...
Cover & Interiors by John Byrne.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #AvengersWestCoast #Quicksilver
New "Fire & Blood Files" for @thecomicon.bsky.social, in which I dig into the big reveal of #AKnightOfTheSevenKingdoms' third episode, "The Squire," and why it matters! #AKOTSK #Spoilers
comicon.com/2026/02/05/f...
comicon.com/2026/02/05/f...
February 6, 2026 at 6:45 PM
New "Fire & Blood Files" for @thecomicon.bsky.social, in which I dig into the big reveal of #AKnightOfTheSevenKingdoms' third episode, "The Squire," and why it matters! #AKOTSK #Spoilers
comicon.com/2026/02/05/f...
comicon.com/2026/02/05/f...
050 - Cannonball
Another standout of the set. Dynamic perspective & phenomenal coloring work in the different shades of the blastin' effect.
It's kinda odd Sam's brief history w/the Hellfire Club doesn't come up more.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Cannonball #XForce #XMen #JoeJusko
Another standout of the set. Dynamic perspective & phenomenal coloring work in the different shades of the blastin' effect.
It's kinda odd Sam's brief history w/the Hellfire Club doesn't come up more.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Cannonball #XForce #XMen #JoeJusko
February 6, 2026 at 5:35 PM
050 - Cannonball
Another standout of the set. Dynamic perspective & phenomenal coloring work in the different shades of the blastin' effect.
It's kinda odd Sam's brief history w/the Hellfire Club doesn't come up more.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Cannonball #XForce #XMen #JoeJusko
Another standout of the set. Dynamic perspective & phenomenal coloring work in the different shades of the blastin' effect.
It's kinda odd Sam's brief history w/the Hellfire Club doesn't come up more.
#TradingCardADay #MM2 #Cannonball #XForce #XMen #JoeJusko
036 - Marvel Triple Action #18 - 2/5/1974
Reprinting Avengers #24.
Marvel Triple Action issues were super cheap back in the day; read lots of early Avengers that way.
Cover by Jack Kirby. Interiors by Stan Lee & Don Heck.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #MarvelTripleAction #Quicksilver
Reprinting Avengers #24.
Marvel Triple Action issues were super cheap back in the day; read lots of early Avengers that way.
Cover by Jack Kirby. Interiors by Stan Lee & Don Heck.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #MarvelTripleAction #Quicksilver
February 6, 2026 at 4:20 PM
036 - Marvel Triple Action #18 - 2/5/1974
Reprinting Avengers #24.
Marvel Triple Action issues were super cheap back in the day; read lots of early Avengers that way.
Cover by Jack Kirby. Interiors by Stan Lee & Don Heck.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #MarvelTripleAction #Quicksilver
Reprinting Avengers #24.
Marvel Triple Action issues were super cheap back in the day; read lots of early Avengers that way.
Cover by Jack Kirby. Interiors by Stan Lee & Don Heck.
#XmenADay #XMen #XFactor40 #MarvelTripleAction #Quicksilver