AIPT Comics

Creator Spotlight: Gail Simone talks heart, humor, and humanity of the X-Men

Episode Summary

This week marks a major milestone: The 350th episode of the AIPT Comics Podcast, and we’re celebrating in style with one of comics’ most beloved voices: Gail Simone. From redefining Birds of Prey to reshaping Wonder Woman and Batgirl, Simone’s career has been nothing short of legendary. Now, she’s bringing that same emotional power and wit to Marvel’s mutant universe with her acclaimed runs on Uncanny X-Men and Unbreakable X-Men. In this special conversation, Gail opens up about her creative process, the heart behind her take on the X-Men, and what it means to write characters who have always stood for survival, community, and hope. She talks about working with artist David Marquez, making readers feel, not just react, and why she wanted Unbreakable X-Men to be a story about “the light at the end of the tunnel.” It’s heartfelt, hilarious, and unbreakably honest, an episode worthy of number 350.

Episode Notes

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NEWS

  1. NYCC leftovers:
    1. NYCC 2025 featured new wave of Marvel/Disney projects at WEBTOON
    2. Swamp Thing is Killing the Children
  2. PSYLOCKE vs. ELEKTRA?! Marvel reveals a lost chapter of X-Men history in ‘Psylocke: Ninja’
  3. Doctor Strange returns: Skybound to release rare Paul Smith Artist’s Edition for the 1st time ever
  4. Deniz Camp talks about the official end of the Ultimate Universe
  5. Rob Liefeld goes full manga mode with black-and-white “Blood-Red” editions for 'Youngblood'
  6. Hellboy’s family feud erupts! Mike and Todd Mignola unite for 'The Crown: A Tale of Hell'
  7. ‘Archie’s Valentine’s Spectacular’ goes full K-Pop, coming January 2026
  8. ‘TMNT’ #13 received more than 100k orders
  9. ‘Murder Drones’ just made Kickstarter history: $1.5 million raised for Oni Press’ graphic novel

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

  1. Sinister's Six (2025) #1 (David Marquez, Rafael Loureiro)
  2. Unbreakable X-Men (2025) #1 (Gail Simone, Lucas Werneck)

Alex:​​

  1. New Gods #11 (Ram V, Evan Cagle, Denys Cowan)
  2. Iron & Frost #1 (Cavan Scott, Ruairí Coleman, Roberto Poggi)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe #4 (Duggan, Paco Medina, Javier Garron)

Dave: One World Under Doom #8 (Ryan North, R.B. Silva)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

  1. Alex: The Ultimates #17 (Deniz Camp, Phil Noto) & Radioactive Spider-Man (Joe Kelly, Kev Walker)
  2. Dave: The Terminator: Metal #1 (Declan Shalvey, Lorenzo Re)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

  1. Dave: Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #3 (Leinil Francis Yu)
  2. Alex: Absolute Wonder Woman #13 (David Talaski Variant)

Interview: Gail Simone  - Unbreakable X-Men, Uncanny X-Men 

  1. Your Uncanny X-Men story reintroduced you to Marvel’s mutants after a long time away, and now Unbreakable X-Men feels like an even deeper dive. What was it like returning to the X-office — and what new creative muscles did you want to flex with this run?
  2. The title Unbreakable X-Men is powerful — it implies resilience, unity, maybe even defiance. What does “unbreakable” mean to you in the context of this particular team, and how does that theme shape the story’s tone?
  3. Both Uncanny and Unbreakable highlight complex, emotionally rich women like Rogue. How do you approach writing these characters in ways that balance their vulnerability with their strength — especially amid the chaos of mutantkind’s latest era?
  4. You’ve always had a gift for team dynamics — the humor, friction, and found-family energy that make an ensemble tick. What did you want to explore about the X-Men’s internal relationships here, and are there any pairings (friendly or otherwise) you especially loved writing?
  5. The X-Men have always represented survival and identity, and your run lands during a moment when the franchise is reexamining what those mean. How do you see Unbreakable X-Men contributing to that larger conversation about legacy and what it means to be a mutant now?
  6. You’ve written some of comics’ most beloved team books — from Birds of Prey (with an Omnibus out this week!) to Secret Six. How does your time on Uncanny/Unbreakable X-Men compare to those experiences? And if you could take this team of mutants anywhere next, what kind of story would you tell?

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