Reviewer: Andy Logan
Story Title: The World Is Mine
Writer: Chris Claremont
Pencils: Aaron Lopresti
Inks: Greg Adams
Letters: Tom Orzechowski
Colors: Avalon’s Rob Ro
Edits: Stephanie Moore
Publisher: Marvel Comics
If rumours are to be believed that Chris Claremont is unhappy that his long-term plans for this title have been shelved to accomodate “House of M”, then maybe – just maybe – I can forgive the turgid and forgettable pile of crap this book has become in recent issues.
Perhaps Claremont had some sort of broad story in mind that would redefine the comics’ medium forever, a story that would take us beyond the tired cliche dynamic of Xavier trying to reign in the darkness with Magneto’s soul…but ultimately failing. Sadly, however, we’ll never know, as the Marvel Scion known as Bendis has swept all other plans off the board heading into a cross-over storyline that has divided the comic book community before anybody has even read a single issue of it.
This latest issue of Excalibur is, to all intents and purposes, a lead-in issue to House of M, and is defined as such on the cover. As a result, the story-line involving Viper and The Weaponeers attempting to take over Zanzibar feels rushed to a climax that it isn’t ready for. As a result, I was left with a similar feeling to the one I had when I took Sarah S to my Prom. She promised me all sorts of red-hot action, but then changed her mind, and all I got was a slow dance, a peck on the cheek, and, ultimately, a slap around the face…all promise and no satisfaction.
One minute Archangel and Company are fighting for their lives, the next, within the space of a few pages, and with one part of this story arc still to go, everything in Zanzibar is (for now) wrapped up. I was left with an uneasy feeling that a deeper and more invovled story had been initially planned, but editorial dictates had shortened and savaged it, so that we could get to the cross-over action all the sooner.
To be fair, parts of the story work well. Viper, Callisto and Worthington’s three-way conversation whilst sat under a ton of rock is at turns interesting and amusing, and contains some nice characterisation. Also, there are some nice humourous touches of the sort that have been missing from this book for too long, such as Karima collapsing a wall on top of a Weaponeer seconds after he thinks he’s escaped safe and sound.
The ending of the book draws us a step closer to House of M proper, as Xavier enlists the help of Stephen Strange to try and cure Wanda. I’m guessing this is a decision that will cause more harm than good, and may even be the catalyst for the crossover’s events. Time will tell.
Excalibur is a dying book people – sales figures are low, and the standard of writing and plot development has declined rapidly in recent months. As I said earlier, there is a part of me that thinks this may be because the initial, long-term plans of Mr. Claremont have been forcibly ditched to accomadate the House of M story-line. However, if we take a look at Uncanny X-Men – Claremont’s other major Marvel book – we can see just how bad a read that title has been recently…so I don’t think that editorial changes can take the entire blame.
Whatever writing magic Chris Claremont may once have had (and boy, did he ever have a lot of it) appears to now be gone, and Excalibur is as good as finished as a title because of it. Surely, once this summer’s major event is over, Excalibur will be consigned to history. It was a failed, and in many ways, brave, attempt to create a new X dynamic within the Marvel Universe, but editorial manipulation and dictates, saddled with a writer who’s best years appear to have long-gone, have doomed it to failure. May it rest in peace.
