Excalibur

All posts tagged Excalibur

Mya – Case Of The Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do)

Posted by John Klein III on February 14, 2023
Posted in: Fun With YouTube, Songs. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment
Have you seen Mya’s music video for Case of the Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do)?

One of the male dancers is wearing a pretty awesome shirt

That’s right, an Excalibur shirt!

I’m been trying to figure out how this could be, but no reporters were asking the hard questions back in 2009.

Also, where does one buy that shirt? Was it custom made?

I want an Excalibur shirt.

I’m just now realizing this : Case of the Ex, Excalibur, that has to be on purpose, right?

https://community.cbr.com/showthread.php?133864-X-Men(Excalibur)-Monday-With-Tini-Howard/page5

Jbenito suspects the dancer is Janet Jackson’s former dancer, Rob Vinson. Could it be? He isn’t on Twitter, so I’m not sure how to reach out to him. Mya is on Twitter, but did not respond when I reached out to her.

The world is waiting.

Excalibur 40

Posted by John Klein III on June 23, 2020
Posted in: Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Writer Scott Lobdell

Penciler Dave Hoover

Inkers Harry Candelario and Tim Dzon

Colorist Brad Vancata

Letterer Bill Oakley

Cover Dated August 1991

Thanks to Friend of the Blog, MoxieMk5, for suggesting I write the review for this comic.  It has been on my mind to do ever since!

Been a while since I wrote a comic, so let’s give this a shot!

This is the infamous issue where we follow up Lockheed getting hurt from the previous issue.  Since Lockheed is on nearly every page, I thought it would be fun to showcase the Kitty Pryde pages.

Also, special thanks for Marvel Database for having the creative team written out as the comic does not list them out.

https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Excalibur_Vol_1_40

The issue opens with a doctor remembering her cat died on her sixth birthday.  She recalls wishing people heaven and pet heaven was the same, as it doesn’t seem fair to never see your best friend again.

See how the credits don’t give the full names and duties?  I’m sure it made sense at the time.  Plus, that is a glorious splash page!  Actually, this entire issue has some great splash pages, that I’m sure Hoover, Candelario & Dzon have already since sold the original prints.

The team watches on as the operation lasts at least four hours.

Thankfully this is a comic from the early 90s, so I knew there was going to be a recap.  I had forgotten about the Doctor Doom arc of the past three issues, and how Lockheed got injured from trying to save Kitty from an attack by Doctor Doom.

Dr. Edgerton, the vet who lost her cat when she was six, is the lead doctor on the case.  She just patched Lockheed’s fifth lung.  She states that Lockheed’s recovery is up to him now.

Lockheed has an outer body experience that will take the bulk of the issue.  Since this could be seen as a dream sequence, it is hard to know how much of it could be canon.  I know he rarely is ever seen with the Flock outside of having a date to Kitty and Colossus’ would be wedding ceremony.

Lobdell has some fun writing in rhymes this issue.

I like how Lockheed knows his teammates’ names, and it isn’t like he has cute nicknames that he has given them.

It must take a lot of work to just instinctively know how to rhyme.  Lockheed would be amazing in a rap battle.  Though we do hear his thought process before in various future appearances, such as the Pet Avengers and SWORD, that he does not continue this.  It could be the medications he is currently on as well.

There is a lot of purple in this issue, which must have been fun for Vancata.

The Flock are putting Lockheed on trial.

I really miss the editor boxes as they could be fun on an occasion, besides being super helpful.

Lockheed is on trial for being . . . a traitor!  He left the Flock, and that is the highest of crimes.

They give Lockheed the option to defend himself with either science or art, how does that type of system even begin?  Lockheed chooses painting.

Lockheed is held in high esteem for all of his work eliminating the Brood.  He met Kitty in Uncanny X-Men 166, and snuck onto their ship to head home.  He was scheduled to get married the next day, so that isn’t ideal.

We get an awesome panel from Uncanny X-Men 168.

Lockheed must defend his reason for leaving a bride at the alter.

Lockheed states it was so he can join Excalibur, even though he was with the X-Men for years by that point.

He was smitten with Kitty (who isn’t?!), and gets cut off before he can really go into his case.  The prosecutor is really against him.

Lockheed begins to tell his side of Uncanny X-Men 168.  He says some really lovely things about Kitty.

This issue really serves as a great introductory to Lockheed, Kitty, and the entire cast of Excalibur.  The trial is just a framing sequence to do a little catch up for those who jumped onto the title with the Doom battle.

I would totally buy this print if I could.

He met a fellow warrior and he knew then, he had to be by her side.  The X-Men were believed dead, and she went to England, and he followed.

We get a great page of Nightcrawler’s origins.  Lockheed states Kurt is the backbone of Excalibur, which he is, but he is also the team’s heart and a great deputy leader.  This was also at the time when Kurt had a crush on Meggan.  It must be those elf ears!

The prosecutor is upset that Lockheed is revealing information from origins that Lockheed was not present for.  They discuss how humans don’t speak dragon, and Lockheed doesn’t speak human, they can’t communicate at all.  Lockheed reminds him that they are empaths, and that is enough for them to get along and be friends.

The prosecutor is called a casemaker, and his lovely wife explains how Lockheed is so passionate and clearly isn’t lying.  Turns out, the wife is Lockheed’s former betrothed.  Which, really, the casemaker should not be coming at Lockheed as hard in that respect, he got himself a lady out of the deal.  But a job is a job, I supposed.  She calls the casemaker, love-life, so I assume they are romantically paired.

Lockheed is not quite sure of Meggan’s origins, but she isn’t sure of her origins either.

Captain Britain’s origins are quickly recapped.

Captain Britain is searching for Rachel, the staff tell him she is on the roof.  She’s thinking about the events of Uncanny X-Men 207, where she nearly killed Selene, but Wolverine stopped her.  She has decided to not seek revenge against Dr. Doom.  Rachel gives Brian a quick recap of her origins from the Days of Future Past storyline, which I’m pretty sure he knows about by this point.  He’s very polite.

Back at the trial, the casemaker is asking Lockheed about being pals with the Phoenix, as she brings nothing but death.  The issue is really making a big point to remind us that Wolverine stabbed Rachel.

We get a nice recap of an earlier adventure in Excalibur with the Warwolves, Widget, and Colin.

Meanwhile, at Scotland Yard.  Inspector Dai Thomas and Alistaire Stuart are chatting about the wounded Lockheed.  Thomas, who doesn’t prefer superheroes, feels really bad for Lockheed, and doesn’t hold his pals being superheroes against him.  Thomas views Lockheed more as a dragon than a superhero.  Thomas gets a call and orders the roads between Scotland Yard and the hospital to be cordoned off.

I like how the trial is bouncing around Excalibur history, though I would have loved to see every issue recapped.  We cut back to them as they are discussing the Cross-Time Caper.  Lockheed has put the Flock to sleep with his tales.  The ship starts to rumble, as even the pilots are sleeping.  We learn that the Flock on the ship, are souls of the passengers, and their bodies are on their home planet.  Which explains how Lockheed is both on the ship and in the hospital.  If the ship crashes, Lockheed should be find, as his body is relatively close by.

Lockheed goes immediately into hero mode, as he tries to right the ship.  Lockheed could have easily escaped, but he didn’t, so the Flock see him as the hero he is.  Lockheed explains how he is who he always has been, but he’s now . . . Lockheed of Earth!  If his only crime was finding happiness, then he deserves to be sentenced to death.

Lockheed has earned the right to go back his body!  The Flock takes off, and Lockheed is left alone again.  He returns to his body, as a helicopter lands on the roof.

Rachel senses the hospital staff are now in a panic, and directs the team upstairs.  Kitty is worried about leaving Lockheed in his current state.  Brian wants to meet the threat on the roof, and away from the patients and staff.

The issue ends with the X-Men!  Jean Grey, Storm (with a short haircut), Colossus (the worst!), Psylockhe, Rogue, and brown costumed Wolverine!  As soon as the X-Men heard Lockheed was hurt, they were on their way.

The next issue caption hints that it is sort of a reunion.

I really should make a point to review more comics, but this one took a long time for me to find the time to do it, but I could have been better with my time management as well.

What The 7

Posted by John Klein III on February 13, 2017
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

What The 7

Writing / Pencils / Colors Kelly P. Corvese

Inks Jeff Albrecht

Letters Brad Joyce

Cover Dated April 1990

For anyone, like me, who ever wondered why the Marvel 1991 Holiday Special had Merry Mutant Melodies II with no hint of a first part – I found the first part!

What The 7 Kitty Lockheed Merry Mutant Melodies

I like Kitty getting her own parody version of Deck the Halls.

We Three Jeans, is pretty clever too!  Someone should record these!

This was the middle section.

The first story is Revengers v Just-A League (pretty clever parody name)

There is a two part Alpha Flight story that follows the Merry Mutant Melodies.

Patsy “Hellcat” Walker gets a proper story at the end of the issue.

 

Excalibur Volume Two Issue 4

Posted by John Klein III on December 27, 2016
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , . 2 Comments

Excalibur V2 4

Writer Ben Raab

Penciler Pablo Raimondi

Inker Walden Wong

Colorists Avalon Studios’ Matt & Ian

Letterer Tom Orzechowski

Cover Dated May 2001

I got this for the final page.  Widget is reported to being in this issue and I kept flipping through the issue and couldn’t find him.

I was looking for the cute round Widget, not the human form Widget.

Widget two forms

Then I tried Googling it and went to the character’s Wikepedia page :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widget_%28Marvel_Comics%29

At the very end of the four-part limited series Excalibur: Sword of Power, Widget was seen with Kang the Conqueror, observing events from space. Apparently, Kang had orchestrated the events shown in the limited series, but it is not revealed exactly why Widget was with him.

Excalibur V2 4 Widget final page Kang

So that’s him on the final page.

But is this Widget still piloted by Kate Pryde’s consciousness?

So Marvel gave the guy who killed the original Excalibur ongoing, a miniseries.  Marvel circa 2001 was crazy!

So what happens in this issue?  It seems all over the place, but I’ll give the review a chance.  From time to time, I buy a comic for a sole appearance and the rest of the comic doesn’t do much.

The brunette with the white bra slash shirt combo is Betsy Braddock, Psylocke.

Issue opens with Mastermind, a computer humanoid created by James Braddock, the father of Captain Britain, Psylocke and crazy Jimmy James.  So Mastermind got jealous, he took over Otherworld.  Brian is in chains and Roma is in an energy cage.

Meggan, Psylocke and Black Knight are also prisoners.  Psylocke’s chains are built for her telepathic abilities, but she switched those with Jean so now she is a telekinetic.  That swap is still not explained, as far as I know.

Brian is about to get his head sliced off when Sir Benedict (the red skinned guy from the cover) shows up and saves Brian.  Apparently, Brian saved him earlier.

Black Knight breaks Roma out.  Mastermind tries to stab Roma but gets electrocuted.

Captain Britain picks up the legendary sword, the Excalibur, and his eyes start glowing.

On the Marvel Bullpen Bulletins page, X-Treme X-Men 1 is coming out.  Other titles coming out are – Amazing Spider-Man 31 / Cable 93 / Iron Man 42 / Spider-Girl 34 / Black Panther 32 by Christopher Priest / Generation X 75, the final issue – which I forgot that Generation X ended right when X-Treme X-Men started, it feels like two different eras in my mind.

Before the Kang scene, Captain Britain claims the throne of Otherworld, making Meggan the Queen of Otherworld, so that status quo is established.

There is a giant crowd scene and I thought that was where Widget was but nope.

Not sure how Kang the Conqueror is involved nor Widget.

Excalibur 78

Posted by John Klein III on May 8, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Excalibur 78

Plot Scott Lobdell

Script Chris Cooper

Pencils John Royle

Inks Harry Candelario

Lettering Babcock & Brosseau

Coloring Chris Matthys

Douglock Chronicles Part One of Three

Cover Dated June 1994

We’re celebrating Mother’s Day here at S&FwM with an appearance by the mother of the greatest fictional character of all time!

Unfortunately, we’re in the middle  of the lost years of Excalibur, in the middle of the 90s when Lobdell was trying to force Excalibur to be closer to the other X-Titles but at the same time, keeping an awkward distance between this team and the others.

Here is hoping that with this reread, it is a better comic.  We’ll get around to reviewing parts two and three, at some future date.

Zero is narrating the issue, to an off screen character.  Zero, who is part of a crossover, I want to say, I’m sure the comic will tell us.  He sent a distress signal and this mystery character answered it.

Zero and the character is in Maine.  Zero is on the run from droid destroying drones that Stryfe has sent.  Stryfe’s big crossover was X-Cutioner’s Song but that was two years ago.  This is issue 78 and issue 82 is Excalibur’s tie-in to Phalanx Covenant – which I honestly thought it came before this issue so that would have been the answer.  Maybe he’s just been running for two years.  Though this three parter will set us right to the Phalanx Covenant.

With a page turn, we see Douglock!  Naked Douglock.  He has the memories of Doug Ramsey but he has the powers of Warlock.  This is Douglock’s third appearance, after appearing in Uncanny X-Men 313 – which I own, and will also review one day..  His second appearance is issue 77 of Excalibur.  Douglock is confused by the questions regarding Doug.

Zero and Douglock are going to go on a soul searching mission.

Meanwhile, not that far away.  Britanic (Captain Britain back from the timestream, after swapping places with Rachel), Meggan and Kitty are in a plane, hovering over some trees.  Britanic felt compelled to fly to this spot and now they are waiting to see what caused that.  Meggan, at this time, has dark eyes and talks in fun word balloons.  She’s responding to Brian’s increase in power levels.  Brian came back in issue 75, thanks to the handy editor note.

Excalibur 78 Kitty Theresa Pryde 1

Since they have time to kill, Kitty decides to call her mother, Theresa.  A character we haven’t seen or heard from since Uncanny X-Men Annual 6, in 1994, Uncanny X-Men’s Annual was 18.  In 1995, Marvel switched from the long standing numbering system and switched to naming the annuals after the year they were published.

Kitty calls the South Chicago Clinic, where her mother works.  I’m not sure if we ever knew what she did for a living.  We always knew her father was a banker.

Clearly these two talk, as Theresa knows Kitty lives in the British Isles.  Apparently Moira doesn’t have good phone connections on Muir Island.  Probably because they are always using the computer to communicate.

Theresa hasn’t heard from Carmen in months, so she isn’t going to provide any leads.

The art isn’t all that bad with these pages, I’m not that familiar with Royle but I liked him.

Excalibur 78 Kitty Theresa Pryde 2

Kitty starts crying as she lies to her mother about how her father isn’t missing.  Kitty plans on visiting, once things settle down, but we won’t see or hear from her until issue 107 – which, spoilers, should be the issue we review next year.  107 – 78 is 29 issues, so over two years later.

Kitty recalls how her life never really settles and that takes her back to the classic days of the X-Men.

Brian gets frustrated, with all of this waiting.  Meggan tries to help by sensing for life, and finds a family of four camping.  Brian is sure that the family isn’t who he is looking for.  Brian knows that the stakes are higher than a single family or them in the plane – but involves the entire planet!

Muir Island, Scotland.  Moira is researching the Legacy Virus, as Rory Campbell enters the room.  I get the impression that Rory is new to the research center.  Neither one understands why the other is dedicating so much time to researching the Legacy Virus, it isn’t really in either’s field.  Rory was sent by Xavier, and he implies the Legacy Virus will be the death of Moira.  Cryptic!

Moira is having a dark thought, about how her time may not be enough.  Xavier overhears the thought, as he is always listening.  They hug, like old friends.  Xavier left the X-Men in Hank’s hands, as seen in X-Men 32.  I don’t own that issue, so I’ll take Xavier at his word.  So I should be killing myself for his foolish dream, any day now.

Woods of Maine.  We check in with the family that is camping.  There is the mother, older son Davey and younger daughter, Courtney.  Courtney needs to use the woods and goes out but runs into Zero.  They share  quick moment, no one gets hurt.  Douglock believes that Zero should have deactivated the girl, as she now knows their location.  I’m pretty sure he hasn’t taken the name, Douglock yet.  He’s more machine than man.  Zero is trying to instill humanity into Douglock.  He’s more Phalanx than Doug.  Zero unlocks the memory of Doug sacrifices himself to save Rahne, in the classic New Mutants 60.  Douglock has no emotional connection to that memory.

Stryfe’s droids are attacking the family and Zero charges in the direction to save them.  Before Zero can get there, Brian is making short work of the droids.  One of the droids looks like it blasts a hole through Courtney but don’t worry, Kitty was there to phase their bodies so the blast doesn’t hurt them.

Kitty continues to keep Courtney safe.  Meggan is also laying into the droids.  Douglock arrives and Kitty instantly recognizes the techno-organic nature of the giant arm.  What does surprise her, is the face of her dear friend, Doug, covered in techno-organic flesh.

Issue ends with Zero tired of people fighting his fights for him and he shuts down the droids.  Hundreds are coming, so the threat isn’t nearly over.

Not a bad issue.

Excalibur 113

Posted by John Klein III on February 28, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Excalibur 113

Story Ben Raab

Pencils Pete Woods

Inks Scott Koblish

Letters Richard Starkings & Comicraft / KS

Colors Kevin Tinsley

Cover Dated October 1997

This was during the great time, at Marvel, when they were doing gatefold covers, with a very informative inside cover.  Unfortunately, for Excalibur, this is also the time that Ben Raab was given the editorial mandate to break up Pryde and Wisdom and slowly bring Excalibur to an end.

Inside gatefold cover ad is for the new TNBC lineup – Saved by the Bell : the New Class / Hang Time / City Guys / NBA Inside Stuff.  I was still watching these first three shows.  I still wish Megan Parlen still acted.  Whenever I see Anthony Anderson, which is pretty regularly, I think of Hang Time.

Excalibur 113 Recap

The cast of the title is – Nightcrawler / Shadowcat / Colossus / Wolfsbane / Meggan and Pete Wisdom.

What happened previously – Colossus and Meggan were traveling back to Muir Island, when a bomb went off in their plane.  Now they are stranded in the Swiss Alps.  Colossus, while carrying Meggan, has lead them to Wundagore, and unless you are going to see Bova, the sweet cow lady – it is never a good idea to go to where the High Evolutionary lives.

Meanwhile, Kurt and Wisdom are in Kassel, Germany – looking for Wisdom’s old Black Air friend, Peckman.  She finds them, before they find her and ambushes them.

Rahne hugs Moira goodbye, as she is heading towards New Mutants : Truth or Dare reunion miniseries.  So great that they are making a point of writing Rahne out of the title, for an issue.  For some reason, Rahne is going to Westchester, on a boat.  I guess if Colossus took one plane and Kurt & Wisdom took another, they don’t have a third plane but that still seems weird.  Moira is worried about Bastion, as this is during the Operation : Zero Tolerance era.  The two ladies are sad, as Moira is dying and her time is limited (though we know, now, that she has a couple more years) but Rahne only sees her former teammates, on rare occasions.

Before her boat can ship, Douglock comes running along, to give her her diary.  They kiss goodbye, which surprises the both of them.  Odd that Douglock isn’t coming along for the reunion – as he counts for two New Mutant members.  Was there ever a follow up story with Rahne and Warlock, about their brief romance during this era?  I don’t recall that.

Wundagore.  Colossus and Meggan are awakened by Bova.  Bova warns that a war is coming and Colossus recognizes the name.  Bova, shyly, brings up that she is a friend of the Avengers.  Sir Ram gives Bova grief for bringing new faces to the tower.  Sir Ram recognizes Colossus and instantly wants to murder him!  Colossus armors up and this surprises Sir Ram, so I’m not sure who he thought Colossus was.  Colossus recognizes the name, Wundagore, but not sure from where.  That guy is the worst.

Sir Ram knows Colossus from his Acolyte days.  By days, I mean, literally days, I don’t think he was a member for that long.  Exodus is running that crew now and he may be at war with the High Evolutionary.

Sir Ram disrespects Meggan by calling her “a little minx” and she tosses him up in the air and he gets stuck on one of the ledges.

Kassel, Germany.  Wisdom is chained to a column.  Peckman has not only tied him up, but placed a neural inhibitor on the back of his neck – so he can’t melt the chains.  Kurt is nowhere to be seen.  There is a splinter group of rogue Black Air that she is a member of.

Wundagore.  Lord Gator and Grizzly Lady Ursula, are leading the troops, as they prepare for battle with Exodus.  Gator doesn’t trust Colossus but he tries to prove his worth with how Exodus’ battle strategy would be.  I can never spell “strategy” right, the first time.  Just then, a voice silences Colossus.

Excalibur 113 Lockheed 1

Back at Muir Island.  Douglock and Moira are talking about how Lockheed is missing and how Kitty is looking for him.  He’s been missing for eleven issues, or almost a year – our time.  Lockheed, who is being drawn like a Disney character.

Excalibur 113 Lockheed 2

Poor Lockheed is being hunted and taunted.  Lockheed is confused, as he thought these peeps were his friends – which makes them laugh.  As we won’t be revisiting this, for some time, these are evil Bamfs that will be coming to their own storyline, soon.

In the air, towards New York.  Rahne is glad to be seeing Cannonball, Sunspot, Karma and Dani again.  She wishes Illyana could be there, but she’s dead now, as is Doug.  Another odd reason for not including Douglock.  Maybe Raab didn’t want to lose two characters for a few issues.  Not like Douglock is doing anything at the moment.  Rahne enjoyed that kiss with Douglock.

Wundagore.  High Evolutionary has two items that Exodus wants – the tower and Magneto’s granddaughter, Quicksilver and Crystal’s daughter, Luna.  Apparently, Crystal is dead and Quicksilver is having High Evolutionary watch over Luna, as he mourns Crystal.  Which is insane to me!  I’m sure Luna is mourning her too and probably wants and needs her father at a time like this.  That Quicksilver is a douche bag!  At this time, I was really enjoying Quicksilver’s solo title but I must not have had this thought, back in the day.

High Evolutionary last saw Colossus during the Evolutionary War, way back in Uncanny X-Men Annual 12.  Which came out in 1988, which was then nine years ago.

High Evolutionary doesn’t need Colossus and tells the two of them to leave.

Bullpen Bulletins.  X-Force 70 starts their “on the road again” storyline.  Men in Black came out.  Spectacular Spider-Man 250 is coming out, with the Green Goblin!  Stan Lee answers a few questions – his thoughts on Heroes Reborn, any regrets not writing novels and any news about the X-Men film which is still three years away.

Comics available August 27 –

Captain America 12
Deadpool 9
Elektra 11
Gambit, 2 of 4
Generation X ’97
Marvel : Heroes & Legends ’97
Marvel Vision 23
Silver Surfer 132
Spectacular Spider-Man 250
Star Trek : Early Voyages 9
Venom : Sign of the Boss, 2 of 2
Wolverine 117
X-Force 70

I don’t own any of these but I know I read Deadpool, Spectacular Spider-Man and the Captain America title.  The Heroes Reborn titles did a silly crossover for their 13th (and final) issues as Lee / Liefeld’s contracts were only good for twelve issues / one year.  I also read X-Force and maybe the Wolverine issue.

High Evolutionary teleports (with a wave of his hand) Colossus and Meggan to Paris (as the Eiffel Tower is in the background).  This sets up the Colossus One Shot, that guest stars Meggan.  Not sure why they didn’t bill it as “Excalibur : Colossus & Meggan” they would have in today’s marketplace.

SwordStrokes, letters are from – Michael Slark of Mackenzie, BC, Canada and David Newbold of Long Eaton, Nottingham, England.

Next Issue : Pete Wisdom held captive!  Colossus and Meggan back from his one-shot!  Lockheed resurfaces!  And Kitty Pryde is off to become an Agent of SHIELD!  All that in just 22 pages!  In only 30 days!

Except, we won’t be as this the end of our third Lockheed Month!  Thanks for joining us for the fun.

This is also, Post 975!!!

Excalibur 102

Posted by John Klein III on February 26, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Excalibur 102

Writer Warren Ellis

Penciler Casey Jones

Inkers Rob Haynes / Jason Martin / Scott Koblish

Letters RS & Comicraft

Colors Ariane Lenshoek

Enhancements Malibu

Cover Dated October 1996

Look at Lockheed, maybe his second cover of this spotlight month?  It is, as he is on the back cover of issue 100.  Not too bad.

This is the Post-Onslaught issue.  The news reports that – The Fantastic Four, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and other members of the Avengers (those poor no-namers!) – are all presumed dead.  The news makes a big point of stating that the X-Men have been untouched.  ooof!  That is going to play well to the flatscans’ fears!

Kurt can’t believe that these heroes are gone and Moira repeats, that the world needs Excalibur, more than ever now.

The Chalk & Cheese.  Pryde and Wisdom’s favorite place to go.  Wisdom can’t believe that the Prime Minister is going back to only giving Excalibur “some credit” to the events of issue 100.  Now that the world may be angry at mutants, he doesn’t want to come off pro-mutant.  Or “pro-racism” as I like to think of it.  The Labour Leader, on the other hand, is all for Excalibur – which is nice.  Kitty isn’t quite a fan of being a political football.

Kitty isn’t comfortable with having the likes of Cyclops and Wolverine being outlaws and her being beloved by the press.  Wisdom (I imagine speaking for Ellis, who I read is a lot like him – sort of like John Constantine – who Wisdom is the Marvel counterpart of) goes off about how Cable’s gun is the size of him and that comes off pretty scary.  Wisdom goes on to repeat one of the more famous lines about the X-Men – one always knows where they have been, as they leave a trail of destruction, in their wake.

Pryde tries to make the conversation have a lighter tone by pointing out how horrible Wisdom eats, like a man who never knows when his next meal will be or if he will have one.

Muir Island Station.  Brian is telling Meggan of a time where he fought beside Captain America.  As if Meggan doesn’t recall Excalibur 59 & 60!  But Brian’s tale is from before those issues.  Brian talks about how America loved Captain America more so than how Britain loved him, as Captain Britain.  This doesn’t hurt Brian, as the two countries are vastly different, especially with how they treat their heroes.  Meggan hopes that works in the other direction.  That Britain will not hate mutants, as much as Americans do.  Meggan changes the topic and wants to set a date for their wedding.  Which is now, t-minus 23 issues – not like the characters know that.

There is an ad for the film “Alaska” which sounds up my ally.  “A missing father.  A desperate search.  An unforgettable adventure.”  A very young Thora Birch (I assume) is in it, as is Charlton Heston!  Unfortunately, it isn’t on Netflix.  shoot!

On Muir Island.  Moira has agreed to release her prisoner to Alistaire.  The agency he is now the director of, is called “The Department” – I’m disappointed by the lack of a better title.  That mutant is Spoor, and he is very loud.  Rory should have stayed away from that fella!  He would have had his leg still!

A German Countryside.  Amanda has teleported herself, Colossus and Wolfsbane.  Amanda is searching for her mother, Margali, and suspects that she returned home.  Amanda is going to go inside the house but Wolfsbane takes the lead, as Kurt wants Amanda to stay safe.  Once Wolfsbane gets to the door, a siren goes off.

Back at the bar, Wisdom and Pryde are about to leave.  As they head outside, they are confronted by four goons.  This is such a great scene, as the couple has some real fun banter between each other as they don’t take the threat seriously – as they shouldn’t.  Wisdom whispers that Pryde shouldn’t kill any of them. They beat the fools, quick and easy!  Wisdom tells Pryde to watch out, as a guy comes from behind her.  She is fully aware of that guy, as she’s more of a professional than he is!  The two just haven’t worked together, that much.

Pryde goes as far as to say that these fools are a mere workout, and Wisdom only likes to see her get sweaty.  She wouldn’t mind some applause and general worshiping.   I do like how neither of them needed their powers.

Making this comic hard to read, is two trading cards, one of Reed Richards, drawn by Jim Lee.  The other is an Overpower playing card.

The two go to the remaining still conscious guy, for some answers.  He is with the American government, he has a message that they are no longer welcome in America.  The two head back to Muir Island, they gag him and pretend he is the last prisoner that Alistaire needs.  Moira goes along with it, claiming his name is Crimson Goatgouger.

Bullpen Bulletins.  Ghost Rider is getting a new costume.  Adam Kubert gets a spotlight.  There is an Avengers : The Legend, one shot coming out – celebrating 30 years of their history.  Not sure why Fantastic Four didn’t get this type of memorial issue.

Checklist for August 28 –

2099 : World of Tomorrow 2
Avengers : The Legend 1
Iron Fist 2 of 2
Marvel Fanfare 2
Silver Surfer 121
Spectacular Spider-Man 239
Venom : The Hunger 3
Wolverine 106
Wolverine ’96
X-Force 59
X-Force / Youngblood
X-Men : Pryde & Wisdom 2 of 3 – Kitty Pryde and Peter Wisdom’s adventure of epic proportations continues!  By Warren Ellis and Terry Dodson!
X-Men vs. Brood Day of Wraith 2 of 2

Wisdom claims his power is that he controls people with this voice and he breaths through his fingers.  Kitty leaves a note for Alistaire, to let the guy loose, after a bit.  Pryde and Wisdom start cracking up, once the plane departs.

Excalibur 102 Lockheed 1

What is Colossus doing, putting on his gauntlets while everyone else is relaxing?

Casey likes to draw Lockheed as if he is the size of a dog!  I wish we got more scenes of Moira and Kitty together, I feel like they barely talk to each other.

Excalibur 102 Lockheed 2

Moira reveals that X-Factor’s current mission is to bring in Xavier.  Everyone gets sad, but team morale booster – Pete Wisdom – gets everyone out of the dumps and they head off to a pub, as the issue ends.

SwordStrokes, letters from – Sean Williamson of Freeland, MI and Matt Bib of New Castle, DE.

Next Month : Strange Locales!  Surprising Guest Stars!! and a Final Farewell (*sniff sniff*) from Warren Eliis & Carlos Pacheco!!! Not to be messed!!!!

We will be skipping that issue and going to our last issue of Lockheed Month . . . Excalibur 113.

We get preview pages from Heroes Reborn : Fantastic Four and Captain America.

Inside back cover ad is for TNBC shows – Saved by the Bell : The New Class, Hang Time, California Dreams and NBA Inside Stuff.  Whenever NBA Inside Stuff came on, I knew it was time to turn off the television and get something to eat.

 

Excalibur 101

Posted by John Klein III on February 25, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Excalibur 101

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 –

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.

Excalibur 101 Lockheed

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?

Excalibur 100

Posted by John Klein III on February 23, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Excalibur 100

Writer Warren Ellis

Storytellers Casey Jones, Randy Green and Rob Haynes

Pencils Casey Jones (pages 1 – 14, 17 – 28, 31, 32, 35, 36)
Randy Green (pages 15, 16, 33, 34, 37 – 40)
Rob Haynes (pages 29, 30)

Inks Tom Simmons (pages 1 – 14, 17 – 28, 31, 32, 35, 36)
Jason Martin (pages 15, 16, 33, 34, 37, 38)
Rick Ketcham (pages 39, 40)
Rob Haynes (pages 29, 30)

Lettering Richard Starkings and Comicraft

Colors Ariane Lenshoek & Jim Hoston

Enhancement Malibu

Editor Suzanne Gaffney

Chief Bob Harris

Cover Dated August 1996

Onslaught Impact 1

This issue, when I read this the first time, felt like a real mess.  The double size issue is split from the conclusion of the London Hellfire Club / Black Air subplot that the title has been building to, for quite some time.  The other half of the story, centers around Onslaught, there is a lot of bouncing back and forth.  Let’s see if it reads any better, now that we are twenty years from its publication.

Inside front cover ad is for the film, The Frighteners, a film I only saw like one commercial for.  The film stars Michael J. Fox, it was presented by Robert Zemeciks and directed by Peter Jackson.  Music by Danny Elfman, Jackson also co-wrote and co-produced the film.

Excalibur 100 Recap

A recap page in the middle of the 90s!  I feel like that was a rarity back in the day.  Black Air and the Hellfire Club are working together.  They have Douglock as a captive and Excalibur are on their way to save him.  Brian Braddock is closer to Douglock’s location as he has agreed to become the Red Bishop.  A mysterious mutant named, Mountjoy, is disguised as a member of the club.  The two evil groups’ plans have been executed.

Under the streets of London, is a devil, who is just now waking up after multiple centuries of a deep sleep.  Margali Szardos, birth mother of Amanda Sefton and foster mother of Nightcrawler – its cool.  She was posing as the Red Queen – that’s right, there are now two people masquerading as Hellfire Club members.  That’s not too complicated.

The Red King, none of these characters get name checked, is walking around in a daze.  When the devil first stirred, it sent all of the flatscans into a murderous panic.

Excalibur 100 Lockheed 1

In the Midnight Runner, above the city – Excalibur gets their first glimpse at the chaos below.  I’m so glad that Lockheed was able to make it to the mission.

Excalibur 100 Lockheed 2

Even with all of this destruction, Wisdom takes time out to harass Lockheed.  This is the first time that Kitty has witness the hostility between the man and the legend.  Lockheed totally plays into the fact that Kitty will believe him over her boyfriend.  Kitty will ride and die with Lockheed, and he for her.

They get to the building in the middle of the chaos and it belongs to Black Air.  Even from this distance, Wisdom recognizes the guy running away from the spire.

There is an ad for the Die Hard Trilogy, coming to Windows 95 CD-Rom, Sony Playstation and Sega Saturn.  On the left page of this ad, is an ad for Marvel Subscriptions.  The X-Men line is made of – Cable, Excalibur, Generation X, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, X-Factor, X-Force, X-Man and X-Men.  I do like how they have a note stating that it is okay to photocopy this coupon page.  $21.97 for your first subscription, $20.97 each for two titles and $19.97 each for three or more titles.

The man running away, is Scratch, a man that Wisdom use to work alongside of.  With a kiss to Pryde, Wisdom jumps out of the plane and uses his hot knives power to slow his descent.  This will become the theme of the team splitting off to take out the individual threats.

Kurt isn’t going to wait for Wisdom to come back, so the rest of the team is going to enter the building.  He stresses that everyone needs to be safe but that they do need to find Douglock and Brian.

On Muir Island.  Moira is taking a stroll, as Amanda Sefton teleports nearby.  She’s looking for Kurt as her mother is up to bad news in London.  Moira has to tell her that Amanda is a day late and a dollar short.  Amanda starts the long process of teleporting from Scotland to London.  This storyline has been building since Excalibur 83 – 85, the Soulsword Trilogy.  Wherein Kitty Pryde gave Magik’s soulsword to Kurt, who gave it to Amanda – who in turn, gave it to her mother.  Margali got a new body and starting killing the sorcerers ahead of her, on the Winding Way – growing stronger with each new kill.

With Amanda gone, the X-Men arrive.  At this point, the X-Men are – Archangel, Cannonball, Cyclops, Jean Grey and Psylocke.  Poor Cannonball is the only one without a pair.  Jean is there to inform Moira – and get Excalibur onto the mere cusp of Onslaught – that Xavier is indeed, Onslaught.  They are there for the Xavier Protocols, that are buried deep inside Muir Island.

London.  The Black King is lying dead on the floor, his murderer – the Black Queen, stands above him.  Captain Britain, in the classic shirt, with mask but in a pair of black slacks.  The Black Queen fully admits to killing the Black King.  The Red members are behind the plot but she helped.

Brian, the scientist that he is, modified his original costume, so that it has a slight force field – which kept the madness effects at bay.  The Black Queen reveals that she is a mutant, who are not affected by the madness – so Brian assumes she is Mountjoy.  Turns out, the Scribe is Mountjoy!  Pretty smart of him to become the guy in the background of all scenes but in every scene, so that he is kept up with events.

By the River in Flames.  Excalibur enters through the front door.  Meggan guides them, as she is able to track the energy.  They come across some goons, who look like they are going to eat a fellow goon’s face.  Colossus offers to hang back and keep the goons back so that the team and go ahead.  No one regrets leaving him behind.

Beneath Muir.  Moira brings Cyclops and Jean open the door into the crypt.  The computer recognizes the three’s brainwaves and unlocks Xavier Protocol, Zero Zero Zero.  Xavier comes onto the screen, revealing that he spends a lot of his nights, thinking of ways to kill the X-Men (and himself).  Since that is why he suspects they are there, he gives them a schematic on how to create this armor that should put him down.  Lucky, for him, Xavier being evil, isn’t just him – Onslaught is a mixture of Magneto, Nate Grey (X-Man) and Franklin Richards.  That and I’m pretty sure this Anti-Psionic Armor, doesn’t come into play at the climax of the crossover.

Angel walks in, this activates Xavier Protocol Zero Two One – with Jean and Scott.

London.  Wisdom and Scratch are fighting and chasing each other through the streets.  Wisdom use to be like Scratch – maybe even better – but then Wisdom grew a conscious

Amanda keeps teleporting, growing more tired – with each jump.

The Hellfire Club.  The Black Queen is trying to psionic skin Brian but his force field is protecting him.  Mountjoy is trying his best to breach the forcefield but he is having a hard time keeping a grip on Brian.  Brian has, like Invisible Woman, found a way to make his defensive forcefield into an offensive weapon – knocking the Black Queen backwards.

Muir Island.  Xavier Protocol Zero Two One is a how to kill Wolverine.  Essentially, you have to chop off his head, and get it as far away from the body – as possible.   This is an adamantium-less Wolverine.  Jean is shock that Xavier recorded all of these and went as far as to great graphics – then she telepathically summons Psycloke and Cannonball into the room.

In the guts of Black Air.  The team comes across techno-organic Broods and Meggan volunteers to fight them off.

They cross a corner and run into the Red King, who has a sword.  So, naturally, Kurt agrees to fight him.  So the team is now Wolfsbane and Shadowcat.

London on Fire.  Wisdom and Scratch crash into a department stores.  Scratch gets the upper hand on Wisdom.

Kurt v Red King, Kurt isn’t that impress with the Red King’s sword skills.

Brian v Mountjoy, Mountjoy pulls out a gun.  He brags that it is loaded with anti-mutant ammunition that Brian’s father created.  Apparently, when you become a Bishop, that act is called – bishopric.  The Hellfire Club sold these bullets to Genosha and this caused his father to step down.  Mountjoy wanted to join the Hellfire Club so that he could control the British government.  Mountjoy fires several bullets at Brian and jumps out of the window.  Unfortunately, the bullets are able to get through Brian’s forcefield.

Xavier Protocol One Nine Three – not sure who actually activated this one.  The trick is to overwhelmed Cable’s telepathy so that he loses control over the techno-organic disease.  Moira doesn’t want to watch any more of this and downloads the protocols and the schematics onto a giant drawer.  Jean and Moira cry and hug.

Kurt catches up to Kitty and Rahne and sees his foster-mother, Margail, stuck holding Douglock’s head.  It looks like she is frozen in place, as well as aged to her nineties.  Douglock’s head is lifeless.  Kitty has an idea that she can help Douglock, if she can get a laptop.  Rahne is upset, as the Hellfire Club has unraveled him.  I guess they had a laptop on them, as Kitty hocks it up directly into Douglock.  He is the power source connecting the building to the demon below.  Amanda finally teleports into the room.  She catches them up on what they already know  Kitty deletes the last program on Douglock’s root directory.

Mountjoy is running away, when Brian crash lands into him, with a powerful punch.  So this villain that had so much build up, is taken out after essentially doing nothing.  Brian is holding his side, as he is bleeding.

Excalibur 100 Lockheed 3

Scratch is about to end Wisdom when Lockheed comes in for the super safe!  They still hate each other but Lockheed isn’t going to let Pryde’s boyfriend die.

Douglock comes back online, still only a head but in good spirits.  Kitty is a computer genius, something I haven’t really read about her, in a while.  Douglock is still plugged into the building so Wolfsbane is going to cut him lose, with her claws.  Throughout all of this, Margail hasn’t moved – at all.

London’s devil is about to break free but Amanda is able to cast another containment spell.  She’s ready to pass out, afterwards.

Excalibur 100 Lockheed 4

Outside, the team is fully reunited.  Look at Lockheed, so big in Kitty’s arms.  I guess Brian isn’t there. so not completely.  The police show up and they are happy that Excalibur saved the day.  Not a bad ending for this big story, it did feel epic but it felt too fast, too.

Bullpen Bulletins.  Venom is getting another miniseries and George Perez is going to write Silver Surfer.  Excalibur editor, Suzanne Gaffney go married to Kirk Beason.  Carlos Pacheco, Salvador Laarroca and John Royle, all attended.

The Checklist for June 19 –

Avengers 401
FF 2099 8
Over the Edge 10
X-Men 2099 35 – Last issue!
Silver Surfer 119
New Warriors 74
Spectacular Spider-Man 237
Spider-Man Unlimited 13
Venom The Hunger 1 of 4
Wolverine 104 – Wolverine and Electra head over to the Massachusetts Academy to learn Onslaught’s origins.
X-Force 57 – X-Man guest stars as does Mister Sinister.
X-Men 55 – A crucial portion of the Onslaught storyline.

Most titles are dealing with Onslaught and I don’t own any of these but I’m pretty sure I read most of them.

In an odd choice, there is a page ad of how epic Onslaught’s climax is going to be.  That’s fine but what is odd – is the interview with Jim Lee about his relaunch of Fantastic Four and Rob Liefeld with his Captain America.  Did people know already how Onslaught was going to conclude?

Next review, is going to be for Excalibur 101, in two days!

Excalibur 97

Posted by John Klein III on February 21, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Excalibur 97

Writer Warren Ellis

Pencils Casey Jones

Inks Tom Simmons

Letters RS & Comicraft

Colors Ariane Lenshoek

Enhancement Malibu

Cover Dated May 1996

The Moonlight Flit is going down.  Kurt gets the plane to hover, and tells Meggan to fly out and handle business.  Kurt teleports to one of the two choppers, and knocks out the pilot.  Meggan goes after the second chopper.  The second chopper is able to get a few shots off, forcing Kurt to teleport upwards.  He shouts out in pain, as his power works better, horizontally.  Kurt being hurt, sets Meggan off and she makes sure the second chopper goes down.

London, in the Midnight Runner.  Brian, Kitty and Rahne are on their way to meet the Hellfire Club.  The ladies will stay in the plane and Brian will be in the meeting, by himself.

X-Facts.  The name of the Marvel Bullpen Bulletin.  The X-Offices are having some changes.  X-Factor penciler, Steve Epting, is moving over to X-Men Unlimited.  Taking his place, will be Jeff Matsuda.  X-Factor Editor, Kelly Corverse is getting a new assistant, Matt Idelson, as Jaye Gardner got promoted to Associate Editor for X-Man.  Onslaught’s secret identity keeps being hinted at.  On January 7, 1996 – Joe Madureira married long time sweet heart, Margaret Skeahan.

The Wish List for March

Uncanny X-Men 332
Cable 31
Generation X 15
Wolverine 101
X-Factor 122
X-Man 15
Excalibur 97 – It’s an aerial battle the likes you’ve never seen when Nightcrawler and Meggan go head-to-head with British Intelligence’s Black Air!  Plus, Douglock receives an injury that could very well cost him his life!  And if that wasn’t enough — Alistaire Stewart actually seek’s Excalibur’s help!  By Warren Ellis and Casey Jones!
X-Men 52
X-Force 54
Storm 4
Professor X & the X-Men 7
Askani’son 4

Muir Island.  Douglock is beginning the process of merging with the ground.  Moira checks in on him.

Excalibur 97 Lockheed 1

Moira leaves Douglock’s side and runs into Pete Wisdom.  Wisdom is hunting Lockheed and Moira gives up, as she is surrounded by nonsense.  Lockheed has taken Wisdom’s cigarettes, the one thing he really needs in his life.

Beneath London.  Scratch is in the sewers, carrying the box that Sebastian Shaw gave him, last issue.  He is about to open a century’s old door.

London Hellfire Club.  Rutledge, the manservant, takes Brian to the Inner Circle.  He was a big fan of Brian’s father.  Brian steps right into the meeting and takes his father’s seat.  The Red and Black Kings are in attendance.  The Red Bishoip starts shouting and challenging Brian, as there should only be the one Bishop.  I like how Brian and the Black King ignore the Bishop.  The Black Queen, no one gets named here, states that they wanted to distance themselves from the American Hellfire Club, and so they changed from White to Red.  Brian backhands the Red Bishop and becomes the Black Bishop.  Brian can’t tell who could be Mountjoy, which makes sense, as he doesn’t know how any of them acted before today.

Excalibur 97 Lockheed 2

Muir Island, at the death of daylight.  Must be a British term but I sort of dig it.  Alistaire is holding his head in his hand and now he looks like Wisdom, good thing they gave him the Reed Richards temples, so that we can tell them apart.

Look at that nasty look Lockheed is giving to Wisdom, so great!

Alistaire explains, where he has been since the Davis / Farmer run.  He was watching over the Warpies and WHO was running itself.  Suddenly, Black Air started growing, from within and making changes.  They got in charge, by the Hellfire Club’s influence on the government.

Kitty asks if this information matches with what Wisdom knows about Black Air.  Wisdom was’t there for the first days but it explains a lot, of what he knows.

With one sentence, the Warpies are brutally killed by Black Air, and Alistaire has been running, ever since.  I was’t a big fan of that arc, so I’m okay with this development.

Black Air wants Alistaire and Excalibur dead, as he knows their plans.

Outside, Douglock is still finding himself.  A Black Air jet comes out of the clouds and harpoons him!  As the issue ends.

Swordstrokes, the letters page.  Letters are from – Krista Schneidereit / Catherine D. Kobasiuk of Mastic Beach, NY  11951 / Mike McCullough of Selbyrine, DE / Tody Ingram of Colchester, Essex, England, UK / Olav Beemer of the Netherlands, Europe and Jeff Kozzi of Providence, RI.

Next Month : Carlos Pacheco and Bob Wiacek are back as Excalibur searches for its lost teammate, Brian is seduced by the secrets of the London Hellfire Club, and Nightcrawler takes charge.

We will be skipping 97 and going straight to the big issue 100!

Back cover ad is for Spider-Man cereal, which I’m pretty sure, I ate a bunch of, back in the day.