Writer Warren Ellis
Artist / Storyteller Casey Jones
Inker Tom Simmons
Letters Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors Ariane Lenshoek
Enchancement Malibu
Cover Dated September 1996
This is one of those great down time issues, after a big storyline.
Muir Island, Late Morning. Moira has gone back to the crypt and Xavier had recorded a special message, once she was alone in the room. Did he feel super silly making these videos? His video message is essentially that Moira is now the keeper of the dream, also all of his mutant research.
Rory Campbell calls Moira, Excalibur is landing. Moira heads out, to greet them. Rahne is holding Douglock. Meggan is holding Brian. Colossus is carrying Wisdom from his belt, with Shadowcat enjoying this and Wisdom hating it. Kurt is in front of everyone. Wisdom, apparently, hurt his leg but I didn’t notice that, last issue. Moira is overly concern with Brian being shot and that something is clearly wrong with Wisdom’s leg. Kurt asks her to calm down and Moira breaks down – Xavier has gone insane and he is trying to kill all of the American superheroes, including the X-Men.
Everyone wants to get back on the plane and get to America. Moira tells them that they are not going, they are exhausted and wounded – they will be no help to the America teams. Which must have been really awkward, for Ellis, to write his team out of the big crossover. Though, I have to wonder, why he didn’t just set 101 right after the battle in Central Park, instead of writing it as if they could have gone to help but chose to just sit it out because their lady doctor friend told them they couldn’t go.
In a lighter moment, Moira puts her jacket over Douglock, to cover him up as he is only wearing pants.
Excalibur is watching the news and this is how we get caught up on what is happening, in the main event. An EMP is set off, shutting down all electronics on the East Coast. Another reason why Excalibur can’t go, as they would be flying in blind. I like how one newscast shows the logos of the X-Men (X), Fantastic Four (4) and the Avengers (A). Good thing that they have iconography for such purposes. The last newscast implies that a mutant of Magneto level portions may behind the EMP, so one station is already spinning the hate / fear mutant manifesto.
Brian wants to take the Moonlight Flint, as it is a medical vessel and could be of use. Kitty is in plain shock of the situation. Kurt, in all of the excitement of issue 100, hasn’t had a chance to explain what happened to the Flint – it is in the ocean, at the moment. This is fun as Kitty chooses this moment to go get coffee. Meggan sticks around, as she likes Brian’s big Captain Britain voice. Kurt tries to explain what happen.
Actually the Flint only has one engine so it couldn’t make the trip in a timely matter. Also, they couldn’t put the supplies in the Midnight Runner, as there wouldn’t be room for the team.
Meggan takes Brian to the MedLab, so Moira can treat his bullet caused wounds. Cut to the MedLab, and we see that Wisdom’s left leg is torn up. He has a lot of scratches, caused by Scratch. Wisdom explains to Moira and Rory (the future Ahab) that Black Air has been shut down.
Kitty actually did go for some coffee and Colossus has joined her. Colossus is upset, as he spoke harshly to Xavier, when they spoke last. Kitty can relate, as before he showed up on Muir Island – she had tricked him to come to her, so that they could fix his mental trauma. She asks if Colossus is happy here. He’s pretty happy, they saved London and he enjoys seeing Pryde happy with Wisdom. He’s heard them “laugh at night” which seems like code. He recognizes that Kitty is in an adult relationship, something these two never had together. This scene ends on a fun note, with Colossus promising to note beat up anymore of her boyfriends. A promise he has kept, thus far. Whatever happened to this Ellis? He went and gone hard science fiction writer, or something.
Everyone is pairing off, as Rahne and Douglock are walking around the island. Douglock is wearing one of Wisdom’s suits, of which he has fifteen sets of the same outfit. Wisdom has also promised to teach Douglock how to – smoke, drink and say disgusting things. Rahne accepts this, with a nice smile. Rahne recognizes that Douglock is his own person now – no longer a techno-version of Doug Ramsey but also not another member of the Phalanx.
Rory Campbell is in his (borrowed) office. He is reflecting on the glimpse of the future that he saw, wherein he will become Ahab. Rory has already lost his leg, trying to confront his fear of mutants. He wonders if this Onslaught business will further his fear of mutants, and fear leads to hatred which leads to the dark side. Alistaire is going to become the director of whatever comes of WHO / Black Air / Related Paranormal Activities – he offers Rory a position. Rory accepts, as this will only help mutants and his relationship with them.
Moira, in the MedLab, is happy – she may be on the brink of a breakthrough with her Legacy Virus – which is slowly killing her.
Kurt puts his shirt on, in front of Amanda. He, lightly, confronts her about not telling him about her mother. Amanda was trying to fix the mess she caused. They don’t know where Margali (I always want to spell it, Magrali – is that just me?) is. I really do enjoy these two as a couple.
Also in the MedLab, Brian (with Meggan) tells Wisdom of the events from Excalibur 94 –
https://shadowandflamewithmagik.com/2014/05/24/excalibur-94/
He explains to Wisdom how he was in a wheelchair, in fifteen years. They all lost that battle but Brian thinks that they won, yesterday, because Wisdom was part of the team. Brian hasn’t had any more flashforwards since yesterday. Brian wants Wisdom to tell Pryde, that he loves her. I feel like Brian and Kurt will both (together) confront Wisdom to do this. Which seems cruel, as they break up, like an issue later (or some short time later).
So that is how Excalibur avoids Onslaught.
British news state that a half a million are dead, but it would have been worst – if Excalibur wasn’t there.
Look how great Jones’ draws Lockheed, watching Pryde and Wisdom. Such a perfect moment!
The news turns to America, where there is still a media black out (as well as a regular black out). Kurt still regrets that they are not there. Kitty is ready to go, right now! Brian says that if they can’t provide medical aid, they can be additional muscle.
Moira tells them to all shut up, with that sexy Scottish flair that we all loved from her. If everyone dies (and most will) then all Excalibur will be doing, is adding to the body count. The mutants of the world, need Excalibur on this side of the ocean. Which ends the issue.
Bullpen Bulletins. The 2099 line is becoming a single title – 2099 : World of Tomorrow, it will not last much longer. Iron Fist is getting a new mini by James Felder, Robert Brown and Rey Garcia. The Internet must now be becoming a thing as there is a link to http://www.Onslaught.com (which is no longer a website) but they make a big deal about calling it, the WorldWide Web. Marvel Fanfare is also coming back, for a brief run.
The Checklist for July 23 –
2099 : World of Tomorrow 1
Avengers 402
Fantastic Four 416
Marvel Fanfare 1
Spectacular Spider-Man 238
Iron Fist, 1 of 2
Uncanny X-Men ’96
Wolverine 105
X-Force 58
X-Men 56
X-Men : Pryde & Wisdom – (I’m glad I remembered their order, correctly) – Kitty and Pete leap from the pages of EXCALIBUR into their wildest adventure yet! By Warren Ellis and Terry Dodson! (Such a great mini!)
X-Men Unlimited 12 – A tale of the Juggernaut, trapped in the world of teh Cytorrak Gem, following his confrontation with Onslaught! By John Francis Moore and Ariel Olivetti! There is some fun bonus pages in the back, that involves Kitty, so that’s why I own this issue.
SwordStrokes, letters are from – Wade Boger of Pottsville, PA / Janet Winters / Trevor Bibic of Oxford, England / Brandon Bennett of Port Orange, FL / Jessica Linker of Kensington, CT / Matthew Davidson of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada / Sara Ching of Brooklyn, NY / Richard Denningham III of Cranston, RI / Camilla Shaumburg-Muller of Vedbaek, Denmark and Olav Beemer of the Netherlands, Europe.
Next Month : In the wake of Onslaught, what will become of our favorite UK Mutants, PLUS, there’s a menace on the horizon. Who could it be? Find out in thirty!
Which we actually will, but in two days!
There is a Rise of Apocalypse Preview page. An ad for the upcoming Star Trek titles – Unlimited, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Starfleet Academy. There are pages from the upcoming Heroes Reborn titles – Iron Man & Avengers. I forgot that Swordsman was used in that title. Did that make any sense, at the time?
Shadow and Flame with Magik 