Comics duel X-Men in comedy melee

Comedians cosplay as their favorite Marvel superheroes and villains at the Roast of the X-Men.

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Physically, no, a comedian wouldn’t stand a chance against any superheroes. But on stage, a good joke can slice through pride like adamantium claws. Sure, Wolverine can physical heal wounds quickly but what about emotional ones? That’s the name of the game when comedians tackle Marvel’s favorite mutants at The Roast of the X-Men. The Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge will sub for the Danger Room as local stand-ups and improvisors dress up to skewer various X-Men in character as other beloved Marvel characters.

X-Men are just the latest victim of Joe Pettis’ character roasts. One of the many shows produced under his 1UP Comedy company, this pop-up show has previously taken on such legends as Macho Man Randy Savage, Donald Trump, and, most recently, Batman. As we segue into the summer blockbuster season, it’s only fitting to keep with the superhero theme. Like all the performers, Pettis hosts the show in-character as the big, blue, and hairy mutant Beast. Other heroes and villains scheduled to take to take a break from saving/destroying the world to deliver some hot riffs are Deadpool, The Hulk, Jubilee, Captain America, and a very special visit from Stan Lee.


“The character roasts are fun, not only because you get to dress up and get into character, but also because you’re making fun of fictional people, so there’s really no hard feelings to be had,” dais regular Justin Harris says. “I know that helps me because my roast jokes for friends go from tame-as-hell to friendship-ending.”

Standard nerds and comedy nerds alike are sure to enjoy this show, just don’t expect DragonCon level cosplay from these comics. In this case, the worse the outfits the better (more to mock). And given the recent sad stream of reviews for X-Men: Apocalypse, this show might just be the best bit of X-Men related entertainment this year. Just don’t expect it to be canon.

Grab your ruby red glasses, hop in your jet, and fly over to the show that tests the true strength of Professor Xavier’s super squad.

Roast of The X-Men. $8-10. 9 p.m. Sat., May 28. Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge, 644 N. Highland Ave. N.E.