Excalibur #117 - "???"

Writer: Ben Raab    Pencils: Mel Rubi    Inks: ???

   First of all, let me apologize for the tardiness of this first review.....I plan in the future to review the Excalibur mag the week (if not the day) it comes out...sorry once again...ok..on to the review

  First let me get it out in the open that yes, I am an Excalibur fan. Of all the X-books (yes, I read them all) Excalibur is perhaps the best title to me. The reason.......CHARACTERIZATION.....For some reason it seems easier to keep these characters saying and doing things that are in synch to their past appearances than it is in most other X-books (i.e. the current use of Storm as the over bearing grumpy chick character...PPPPEEEEUUUUU) Excalibur 117 was to be honest a little disappointing (like every other issues since....hmmmm....103), but there were a few signs of hope. The story line involved the rescue of Nightcrawler from the Sidri Aliens. (Is it just me or is someone begin rescued the main plot point for almost the last year) The story line, or lack there of, was contrived at best, but there was definite character development.

ON THE MINUS SIDE:

1. The giving of Nightcrawler to aliens that the old X-men had somehow wronged in the past is mega hyper lame.....PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get Ellis back to write this thing!

2. The aliens finding what they need to change themselves back to normal INSIDE DOUGLOCK'S BODY, and thus letting the team of the hook was so bogus.

3. Douglock understanding what they were doing, was also a little lame (It looked to me like they were just tearing a huge whole in his chest.)

4. Mel Rubi's rendition of Meggan's Costume. ( I mean please, as a red blooded American male comics fan, I like cleavage as much as the next guy, but this costume would require massive amounts of body paste just to stay up).

5. Mel Rubi's rendition of Douglock. (What the heck is up with that one eye thing.....he looks so much cooler with two normal looking eyes than one normal and one telescopic lens. While we are on that subject...the best Douglock rendition was in issue 82, penciled by Ken Lashley & Steve Epting....you know the phalanx crossover one. In this one he appeared to be way more like Doug Ramsey, although still robotic. I know you are all thinking, BUT THIS IS WHAT DOUGLOCK LOOKS LIKE....NOT DOUG RAMSEY, but geesh, isn't he supposed to look like Doug...and another thing, could Warlock shape shift to appear human...WHY CAN'T Douglock?

ON THE PLUS SIDE:

1. Great interaction between Ex X-men team-mates Nightcrawler and Collossus.

2. Great further characterization of Pete Wisdom (Arrgggh at the rumors he's leaving the book).

3. Great dialogue and interaction between the characters (especially Moira and Rahne).

ON THE "WHAT THE #$% SIDE:

1. What in the world kind of costume is Kitty wearing when they let her off the heli-carrier. I thought it was the return of Illyana. It looked just like Soul Sword armor and nothing like the uniform she had on in The Kitty Pryde: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D limited series (don't even get me started on that mess).

2. What's up with this upcomoing Bamf storyline. Please can we not get a writer to give these great characters what they deserve.

OVERALL OPINION:

  Sort of Lame Story, decent pencils, great characterization (maybe because they are my favorite ones). Yes, I admit this title is floundering, but with the addition of a writer (like Ellis) who could blend both the mystical and super-hero styles of the team, this book can be great again. Keep the faith Marvel fans. I've also been hearing rumors of the addition of Sabra (hyper yummy). Til Next Time, I'm signing off (trying to mentally block out rumors about the cancellation of this title)

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