Each one of us put a vial of blood into the red ink.
I was really happy they didn't want
anything for the yellow ink.
[THEME MUSIC]
Hi, I'm the Dark Phoenix of just Arizona.
I'm Lorraine.
I want to go on record and say I'm a big fan
of Cyclops' buccaneer boots.
I'm Langston.
This is Earth's Mightiest Show.
Where we talk about all of the biggest
stuff in the Marvel Universe.
Hey, Langston.
Yes, Lorraine?
What do the Dark Phoenix and the band KISS have in common?
Oh, well, they both rock, right?
Yeah.
They're both in Marvel comics.
Mm-hmm.
Scott Summers.
All very close and all kind of true but it's
this week's episode.
Yeah, we're going to be talking with someone from KISS today
and we're going to talk about the Phoenix because X-Men:
Dark Phoenix is now in theaters everywhere.
Yes, and I believe a certain someone
was on the red carpet, yes? - Yeah, me.
Yeah.
That was me.
It was super cool and Cerebro was on the carpet.
Really?
Yeah, the real Cerebro.
I went and I found all of the mutants.
l know where they all are now.
Oh, well, add her to find out if you're mutant or not.
Yeah, @LorraineCink.
Just hashtag--
BOTH: #AmIAMutant?
Very good.
Am I a mutant?
It's a good question.
Should answer that all the time.
Well, you know what?
We love the film.
We're thinking let's talk about some comic books right?
Let's do a Dark Phoenix themed comic book reading list for all
of our friends out there, yeah? - Yeah.
- All right. - Let's do it.
Yeah, well, let's start with Jean Grey's first appearance
in X-Men issue number one.
It's iconic.
She meets Professor Xavier and the X-Men
who are a bunch of dummies over her
because they don't know how to interact with a human woman.
And they're just like--
[BLUBBERS]
--a girl.
And they're all idiots and they're all great.
What a bunch of dummy teenager boys.
They really are, yeah.
But I also appreciate that it sets up how wildly powerful
she is by just like, literally lifting them with her mind.
Like, what are you bozos doing?
Bozos is the perfect word to describe how they are behaving,
yes.
Yes, yeah.
And then you got to read The Phoenix Saga.
It really all starts with Uncanny X-Men number 99
through 108 where the X-Men go on a mission in space
and Jean first encounters the cosmically
powerful Phoenix Force.
And she just has to take it all in
and harness all that power and everybody's
like, say what, including me.
Yes.
I just love that whenever Jean comes into a room,
she's like, I have power.
I am fire.
I am flame incarnate.
At least that's how I assume she says it.
Oh, of course.
And hey, that costume-- you want to talk about iconic?
The green costume with the sash, the sensible sash.
Very nice.
Like a Phoenix I rise from the sashes.
[BUZZER]
Just saying.
She's married, everyone.
Yeah, well then check it out--
The Dark Phoenix saga, right?
Of course, you've got to read Uncanny X-Men issue #129
through issue # 138 where Jean is influenced by the evil
mastermind and he's making her think that she's connected
to her past and sister and going back
and forth in time and living in different time periods--
it's wild
I mean, he really messes up her mind
and unlocks this truly destructive side of the Phoenix
where she goes to Dark Phoenix.
And also, he's a straight of creep because--
I love that they make him look like he's like super foxy
and whatever and then in his shadow
he's like, I'm a gremlin.
LANGSTON BELTON: I'm a gremlin.
Well, listen, we're not going to spoil any more of this
if you never read it, but there are
some iconic Phoenix moments in the comics
that you gotta check out.
Yeah.
And you can read all of these comics
on Marvel Unlimited, the subscription
service that gives you access to 25,000
digital comics and counting.
LANGSTON BELTON: That's right, yes.
Sign up at Marvel.com/Unlimited to get links to all of these
comics in the description.
Yeah, and if you want an even more comprehensive reading list
and play by play of the entire canon of Jean Gray as Phoenix,
then you got to check out This Week in Marvel, episode 395.
It's epic Ryan Penagos, a.k.a.
Agent M, just really shuts it down.
LANGSTON BELTON: Yeah, the man is
a wealth of Phoenix knowledge.
Speaking of epic you talked to a rock icon recently,
did you not?
I did.
Funny you should mention that.
I actually talked with KISS founding member,
Paul Stanley, all about how he put his blood in a comic.
Wait, what-- what?
Watch this, it's lovely.
What?
I am here with the legend, the man, Paul Stanley.
Hello, sir.
It's-- boy, just keep going.
I love it.
A legend, man, I love it.
I have a burning question that I need to ask,
which is there was the old Marvel comic--
PAUL STANLEY: Yes.
LORRAINE CINK: --that had KISS on the front.
And it said it was printed with the band's blood.
PAUL STANLEY: Yes.
In HOWARD THE DUCK number 12, Steve Gerber
had written us in to the storyline, which was amazing.
He was a big fan.
And yes, I was really happy they didn't want
anything for the yellow ink.
LORRAINE CINK: Also glad for that as well.
The band is obviously very much like a Super Hero.
But you, as a person, are a hero to so many.
You do so much awesome charity work
and you talk about it a little bit in the book.
Why do you step up and why do you take action in that way?
Maybe I didn't realize it when I was younger but giving back
is really its own reward.
Yes, it's benefits the person who you're helping
but what it does for you--
it changes who you are.
Gives you a great sense of satisfaction.
And, not to be corny, it really changes
how people view the world and the potential
we all have to change it.
And this book, I really love it.
I was surprised when I first got to pick it up
that it is something that is incredibly
informative about how to kind of be good at life.
Why did you want to write this kind of book?
There's no shortage of people in your life, I'm sure,
or mine or most of the people viewing
who say when you confront them with a problem
you're having they say, well, if I were you, I would--
well, they're not you so how can they ever,
ever imagine being in your shoes?
So for me, what I wanted to do was to say here's what I did.
Here's how I dealt with certain experiences and problems
in my life.
Maybe that can help spur you on.
So that's really what Backstage Pass really is.
It's really about my experiences and maybe
somebody can find something that they can relate to in the book.
Oh absolutely.
And I think you do have such an inspiring story.
Are there certain things that inspire
you in the world, like superheroes
or something towards that?
Oh, I think part of the beauty always of Marvel
has been that the characters behind the heroes,
these amazing superheroes, are complex people.
If KISS were to be Marvel heroes, and we have been--
You are canon.
Truly Marvel is where we belong because I've
always felt that people might put me or other people
on pedestals.
And the fact is that we're really all very, very similar.
And that's part of the Marvel Universe.
I'm here to tell you that we're all complex
and we're all conflicted.
You know, what you just said really just drives home again.
You get to be like, a real life Marvel superhero
because yes, you are of the Marvel Universe
but you do get to have like, a cool alter ego life.
And you get to live both sides of the coin
so I just think it's awesome and I'm thrilled to have you here
today with us.
But I have one more question, which is
would you like to play a game?
I'm always up for a game.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
So this is a game called Rock On or Keep Practicing.
I'm going to show you some of our most,
I think, really rocking styles in the Marvel Universe
and I would love your take on these.
So you can't lose this game you can only do right.
- OK. - All right.
My kind of game.
All right.
So first up we have Malekith.
He's a bad guy but he rocks some great face paint.
Not only does he rock great face paint
but those shoulder pieces, that armor,
reminds me of my buddy, Gene.
So I would have to say rock on.
Rock on.
Yeah, official.
I love it.
All right, next up we've got Crossbones.
You can tell that's his name because he's got some.
[HAPPY GUITAR RIFF]
Wear who you are proudly and he's doing it.
He is.
He's really owning it.
Here we go.
We have got Typhoid Mary.
She's bringing a lot of look to this.
I have to say, you can't argue with the hair.
[HAPPY GUITAR RIFF]
All right, next up Mr. Sinister.
[BUZZER]
Sorry.
Not a big fan of the spiky teeth or--
It doesn't say anything about being an individual.
It's just-- it's a little too generic for me.
All right, ya basic.
But he can really chew a steak.
Yeah.
I'll tell you that.
Great guests for dinner.
Next, up we have Dazzler.
She is our ultimate pop star in the Marvel Universe.
[HAPPY GUITAR RIFF]
Yeah, I can't see the rest of her body
but it looks like it's rocking so we'll go with it.
And then we have Domino.
She's extremely lucky but will she be lucky in your eyes?
[HAPPY GUITAR RIFF]
I'm a sucker for women.
I'm sorry.
They all look good.
And she is our last.
We've done it all.
There are a lot of rocking looks in this.
There were a lot of rocking looks
but that's part of that Marvel Universe.
It rocks.
It sure does.
Thank you so much.
My pleasure.
You guys, go check out this awesome book, Backstage Pass,
by Paul Stanley.
Rock on.
Rock and roll, right?
Yeah, exactly.
So if you want to put your blended comic now?
I'd rather not.
OK, I'll do it by myself.
Just me.
Call the nurse.
No, you leave her right where she is, please.
It's fine.
Team of nurses.
Uh-huh.
All right, maybe not.
All right, you guys tell us if you are team Phoenix or team
Dark Phoenix and why and use the hashtag, #EarthsMightiestShow.
And If you just want to know if you're a mutant,
you can at me @LorraineCink.
I recently saw Cerebro on the red carpet
so I can tell you if I think you're a mutant.
I can't wait to find out.
Don't spoil it for me yet.
I kind of want to see how my powers manifest.
#AmIAMutant?
You've already been through puberty, you would know.
Well, don't forget to tune in next week to a very special
Earth's Mightiest Show all about "Spider-Man: Far From Home",
in theaters on July 2nd.
We will see you then.
Yeah, I'm Lorraine--
And I'm Langston.
And this is Marvel--
Your universe.
I see all of those--
Am I a mutant?
No.
[MUSIC PLAYING]