Excalibur #64, April 1993, written and penciled by Alan Davis
The Warpie story keeps chugging along, as does Rachel’s space-capade. Alan Davis’ art is still incredibly strong, as his affection for these characters. None of it is great or really all that important in the grand scheme of X, but it’s enjoyable enough as is. It’s also further proof that this title only mattered when in the hands of Davis (so far; I’m excited to see how well Ellis’ run on the book holds up).
My Score: 8.3
Excalibur #63, March 1993, written and penciled by Alan Davis
I started reading Excalibur during the Fatal Attractions crossover, which starts about eight months after this issue. So because of that, I’m getting some mild pleasure out of seeing where that status quo comes from. I remember Nightcrawler telling Cyclops that Kylun was off looking for his family, and in this issue eight months prior, Kylun’s first step towards reaching out to his parents is interrupted. Nightcrawler gets a slightly new costume in this issue, which is the one that he wears for most of Ken Lashley’s run on the book before reverting back to his classic default. A scientist also speculates that Nightcrawler may be a second generation mutant, which is cool because that’s going to be proven as true in about a year from this book’s publication. And then ten years later that will be undone when they reveal that Nightcrawler is the literal son of Satan. That hasn’t been erased yet. I don’t care if Nightcrawler is currently dead, someone STILL needs to retcon that storyline pronto.
But overall…my general feeling is one of “still?” We’re still dealing with all these weird looking baby mutants and RCX? Rachel is still moping around space, chatting with space entities? Captain Britain and Meggan are still on vacation? Move it along!
My Score: 7.9
Excalibur #62, February 1993, written and penciled by Alan Davis, penciled by Mark Farmer
Another decent issue, although I enjoy this one less because it relies heavily on that ol’ Excalibur staple: gross looking and impractically whimsical looking creatures with ridiculously specific powers. This one just chucks knowingly bland code-names on top of it all (Nightcrawler fights Cabbage and Peanut).
My Score: 8
Excalibur #61, January 1993, written and penciled by Alan Davis
Considering how much I rag on Excalibur for being, well, Excalibur, this issue was pretty solid. Why? Alan Davis. The only real essential issues of this entire series are ones where Alan Davis or Warren Ellis are involved (which is approximately 50 of the 125 issues of this series). This is a standard plot-progressing issue that doesn’t really stand out on its own. There’s a confrontation between Rachel Summers and Galactus told mostly through one-page pin-ups (AMAZING Alan Davis art), a quick bit where Feron actually teaches Kitty a lesson of sorts, and then Captain Britain’s proposal to Meggan. I have never actually read this issue before, so I kinda always thought that their wedding in issue #125 was out of the blue, or that they just got engaged in-between panels. What a fool I was!
So anyway, an enjoyable enough read with the usual amazing Alan Davis art.
My Score: 8.3
0736. Excalibur #60, January 1993, written by Scott Lobdell, penciled by Scott Kolins
Forgettable and inconsequential. Whenever we gripe and complain about comic book delays nowadays and not getting an issue for months, let’s all think back and remember what it was like to read fill-in issues of Excalibur when Alan Davis was running behind.
And this sounds super harsh, which I don’t intend. I love Scott Lobdell. I grew up on his Uncanny and was very vocal about my love of him over Claremont back in 1998 on the old Marvel AOL boards (username WHITE1348 in the house). His work here is void of anything that makes him great because it’s filler. He can’t do anything with these characters. And he’s saddled with Scott Kolins who is years away from developing the style that would come to make me love his work.
So yeah, two great creators well before their prime doing nothing of importance.
My Score: 5.5
0720. Excalibur #59, December 1992, written by Scott Lobdell, penciled by Scott Kolins
My Score: 5.8
0538. Excalibur #58, December 1992, plotted by Alan Davis, scripted by Scott Lobdell, penciled by Joe Madureira
In this issue, Cyclops and Nightcrawler resolve to keep the lines of communication between their respective teams open. This comes while the other four team X-Books are engulfed in a sprawling crossover epic involving the assassination attempt of Professor X. Just a funny coincidence highlighting how out of touch editorial let Excalibur get.
I wonder if “X-Cutioner’s Song” gets referenced in this book at all.
My Score: 8.2
0537. Excalibur #57, November 1992, plotted by Alan Davis, written by Scott Lobdell, penciled by Joe Madureira
See what happens when you right a straight forward superhero story where the good guys fight the bad trolls to save the life of reluctant mutant teen alongside formerly thought dead ex-teammates? THINGS ARE ENJOYABLE.
Joe Madureira makes his big full-length X-Office debut. At this point he’d done some work on Marvel Comics Presents and some bits and back-ups in X-Factor’s 1992 annual and an Excalibur one-shot. Considering how big Madureira became in 1995 and how he single-handedly altered the visual landscape of comics in the mid-to-late-’90s…this is a big deal. The guy’s 18 and his art is already so fully formed. He’s got a clear voice, an artistic vision, strong storytelling skills and a knack for cool poses. His layouts are average and he does owe a lot to Arthur Adams here, but for an 18 year old, he’s light years ahead. GREAT STUFF.
Okay, not great, but enjoyable.
My Score: 8.3
0536. Excalibur #56, November 1992, written and penciled by Alan Davis
If I never read another story about invading parallel timelines and mind control, I would actually be a much happier person. I would stand taller, smile more, eat cheeseburger flavored Doritos less and freely find joy in the success of others. Instead, I have to keep reading issues of Excalibur.
Alan Davis’ art is top notch and his use of alternate timeline mind control blah blahs is more tolerable (and less kinky) than Claremont’s.
My Score: 7.7
0535. Excalibur #55, October 1992, written and penciled by Alan Davis
The best thing about this issue is the cover, which is actually the first panel of the comic. I’m a sucker for gimmicks like that that play with the conventions of comic book without being exploitative. Gimme that over a sideways holofoil cut out pop-up fold out autographed cover anyday! Still, just an okay issue with great art from Davis.
Also, why uh, is Jamie Braddock’s “costume” a bikini? Unsolved mysteries of the Marvel Universe.
My Score: 8.2
