Welcome to Untold Origin, a podcast where comics and history collide. My name is Al Miller, a historian and lifelong comic book reader, and in this podcast I explore where those two worlds meet. From Marvel Comics icons like the X-men, the Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man to DC legends like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, we will examine how these stories reveal more than just adventure, they mirror pivotal moments and currents in American history. Whether it's the Civil Rights Movement and the Cold War to the evolution of feminism and the War on Drugs, Untold Origin uncovers how superheroes reflect our struggles, hopes, and philosophies over the course of our history.

Intro track: Track: Rush Over Me by Decibel

In our first episode, we revisit some familiar ground: Professor X and Magneto are often described as reflections of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, but the reality is more complicated. Historian Al Miller traces their origins and examines how these characters and their philosophies evolved from rough Civil Rights metaphors into more nuanced icons of Marvel Comics. We explore how the struggle for justice and safety in America is never simple, with no single vision of what justice should look like or how it is achieved. And we see how these characters continue to reflect that complexity over time.