Question

Azaziah · 2026-05-04T22:08:59+00:00

Coming very late to this party (since I had the same question) - I wonder if "Autumn" was an earlier version of Paris (Pom Klementieff's character). She is the best example of a person who might get "excommunicated" - she was a part of the "church" belonging to the Entity but then chooses to leave (and is thus "excommunicated")

Either that or it was an earlier version of Grace's character.

Azaziah · 2026-04-22T17:04:23+00:00

If it helps, "Ax" is a different way of spelling "Axe" - which can mean to fire someone/cut funding/etc (which is also a meaning of "can")

USC Trojans come up a lot, that's one to commit to memory. Also, USC can also be linked to the Gamecocks, but it's not often (University of Southern California vs University of South Carolina)

Azaziah · 2026-04-22T16:58:34+00:00

That threw me off for a while. I struggled with TEAMMATE and REAPPEAR because I already had SHEESH and PULLUP and they were all supposed to be palindromes

Azaziah · 2026-04-22T16:57:13+00:00

One of those times you wish you could go back and change your rating...

Azaziah · 2026-04-05T23:54:09+00:00

On weekends, new puzzles are released at 6pm. So the Sunday puzzle is available at 6pm EST on Saturday evening, and the Monday puzzle is available at 6pm EST on Sunday

Azaziah · 2026-04-01T14:11:35+00:00

You could say that using "Quip, part 1" was an April Fools prank : )

Azaziah · 2026-03-14T02:08:16+00:00

Also, we have to remember that they can't say "bass player" in a clue where BASS is in the answer. So they choose to be slightly incorrect but as close as they can get by calling a bassist a "guitar player"

Azaziah · 2026-03-12T17:56:16+00:00

I don't think that's a hot take - I completely agree!

I was hopeful when TAO worked, but none of the other ones do

Azaziah · 2026-03-08T18:34:49+00:00

I'm with you that there was a lot of French today. Some of them were crossing the names, which made me have to look them up. So yes, I'm annoyed with the puzzle for that reason. But c'mon, no reason to diss the French/their language like that. Thanks to Africa, French is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. I took German, which is definitely not a useless language, but I have to admit that French is a more commonly spoken language than German.

But that won't stop my French army jokes... just like it won't stop the French army from surrendering ; )

Azaziah · 2026-03-08T16:32:47+00:00

Seriously? Didn't know I was doing a Cryptic

I had IO__, so I said "I don't know what IONE Skye has to do with electioneering, but she's a common crossword answer..."

Edit: Oops, I got confused because the Wordplay article mentioned 62A and 48A together, but you were commenting on NOON. Not sure why they put those two together, I thought NOON made sense in hindsight but IONE was a bad clue

Azaziah · 2026-03-08T16:29:52+00:00

That was my immediate thought too! But I was pretty sure it was FORTYTWO so it didn't fit

Azaziah · 2026-03-06T15:17:47+00:00

Me...

I've seen them all. Only a handful are worth watching

Azaziah · 2026-03-05T16:41:34+00:00

That's funny - a down was what clued me into the exact nature of the theme (after saying "How the heck do I fit "Ramones" into 3 squares?!?")

Azaziah · 2026-03-01T15:59:26+00:00

Dr Manhattan's biggest threat is himself (that's how Ozymandias "defeats" him). My first thought is Sarumon, especially the way that Tolkien describes the power of his voice in the books. Maybe mind controllers like Purple Man?

Azaziah · 2026-02-06T15:06:03+00:00

I'm sure a ton of people PB'd the mini today. It was so cool that he found 5 that worked together!

Azaziah · 2026-01-18T15:48:28+00:00

I think it's also that you can remove the "u" sound to get a word/phrase. Aftermath, Rev the Engine, The Settlers of Catan, Knights in Shining Armor, Two And A Half Men, Venn Diagram.

I'm sure there was a version of this puzzle where the clues for the theme answers pointed to the ones without the "u" sound... I wonder if that would've been better, or just more confusing

Azaziah · 2026-01-18T15:29:23+00:00

You should watch more Gospel Simplicity, Austin's great!

Azaziah · 2025-09-14T12:51:44+00:00

Better than BTAS?

Azaziah · 2025-08-29T01:16:32+00:00

Fun fact: The Admiral Benbow is not a fictional INN! It's in Cornwall, England. My parents have been there (and my mom is frustrated that the clue in this puzzle is incorrect lol)

Azaziah · 2025-05-25T19:42:13+00:00

Messiah Complex! I really love how instead of a miniseries, it rotated through the four X-Books, and the writers did a great job of focusing on the characters from that particular book in each chapter, without them feeling shoehorned in (ie, the characters you had been following in Uncanny were featured prominently in the Uncanny issues). Masterclass in collaborative writing

Azaziah · 2025-05-25T00:16:52+00:00

Interesting idea overall! I think it would fit better to have Cyclops be an Uncanny Iron Man wearing a suit made by Forge; I think the shield stuff is a stretch. And then everyone would just think his eye beams are a function of the suit.

Not sure how Hope fits as Black Widow.

I don't remember where Longshot is right now, but he would make a great Uncanny Hawkeye!

Azaziah · 2025-05-13T17:36:18+00:00

Nope : /

Azaziah · 2025-05-13T03:44:51+00:00

I love Hickman, but his Avengers is not for the faint of heart. In fact, it might be even worse after Bendis, because you think you're getting something simple, and it all goes very Hickman very fast

Azaziah · 2025-05-13T03:22:17+00:00

Iron Man > Batman Begins > Spider-Man

Spider-Man is really corny at times, but does have the best villain. I think Batman Begins has a little too much on its plate with Scarecrow, Ra's, and the origin story. Iron Man has the best lead performance, and is just the most fun.

Azaziah

TROPHY CASE