Out Takes

27 May 2016

Cher vs X-Men (!)

Arts, TV & Film

This week on Out Takes we celebrate the theatrical release of X-MEN: APOCALYPSE by asking: how queer are Marvel’s X-Men? Wolverine doesn’t have a shrine to Judy Garland, nor Storm a pink triangle on her costume, but something about this motley band of ethnically diverse rebels taps into a broader queer sensibility. These are (anti) heroes whose super powers aren’t imbued on them by disaster (Spiderman anyone? Or the Hulk?) but conferred on them at birth. Mutants forced by persecution into hiding, who find for themselves in Xavier’s ‘school for the gifted’ a sense of community, and pride. We look at some of the queerest moments in the 15 year long franchise, and wonder at the direction X:MEN will take post Bobby Drake’s coming out in Uncanny X-Men #600.

This week also marks the 70th birthday of one of gay culture’s most loved divas: CHER. We take a brief look at the trend setting Academy Award winner’s illustrious career, and ask what makes her such a formidable gay icon.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:06 — 22.9MB)

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