Excalibur #124 - "Someone"

Writer: Ben Raab    Pencils: Trevor Scott    Inks: Scott Hanna

Well, what can I say? I'm happy, but I'm sad. They brought one of my favorite characters out of comic limbo, but once again the writing talent of Ben Raab to portray people completely out of character has struck again. Feron's back (and the crowd goes wild), but somehow he's a complete idiot now. Sigh

The story has the Excal gang (with a remarkably well adjusted and calm Calvin Rankin) returning to Braddock Manor to celebrate the impending nuptials of Brian and Meggan. There's also a cool appearance by Captain UK (the female Cpt. Britain that Brian had a fling with). Her plans for a liberated bridal shower with nudie boy dancing get dashed with the cute and cuddly gift giving...I'll have to admit that part is a bit funny.

Collossus actually seems to have a bit of personality while he's agonizing over what to do about Meggan and Brian. Meggan is having difficulty reconciling how she could have been attracted to Collossus while Brian was gone. I mean geez girl, so you wanted him...YOU DIDN"T DO ANYTHING...get over it. Anyway, Collossus, ends up taking the blame for their flirtation when it was really all Meggan's fault. A little of the noble Piotr from the old X-Men days showed through. I'm writing this off as accident though because ofcourse correct characterization can't occur in the current Excal.

The scene with Douglock getting drunk and passing out was also a bit lame. I mean really, he processes light as fuel for his body. Why would alcohol even effect him. SIGH ONCE AGAIN. One of the big disappointments to me is that Douglock was never developed into the character he could have been. The potential for greatness is there, like it is in most of the Excal cast.

I guess the meat of the story is that Feron is leading the CRAZY GANG (YEAAAAH..they're back) on an attempt to kill Braddock and the rest of Excalibur. The reasoning behind this is that he was left alone when he turned catatonic trying to reach Meggan when she had become one with the fountain, and when he disappeared after she was okay again, nobody looked for him. I found this fact odd too, but the way he reacts is horribly out of character for him. I mean I realize it was just an executive decision to drop Feron from the roster, but they could have at least brought him back in a way that makes sense. Sure he was impetuous and uppity, but he was no killer. Then when they discover it's him (as he tries to kill them while jumping out of a surprise cake...NAKED...don't ask), all it takes to calm him down is ...hey.."we like you ...we really like you. You're a somebody." Yeah right. I've seen lots of homicidal rages stopped like that.

All in all, I guess I'm grateful for some resolution to dangling plotlines..and the return of Feron, but I was hoping it would be handled better than this.

GOOD POINTS:

Decent art...Eaglesham is actually a good penciller. The return of old school Excal characters like Captain U.K., Feron, and Crazy Gang was also a nice touch. For once, Piotr seemed at least mildly interesting. And my favorite goody as it has been for the last couple of issues, Rahne was shown in her human form and not just her transitional one

BAD POINTS:

1. Feron's WAAAAAAAAAAAY out of character. 2. The waste of Douglock by using him as comic relief when he has such potential.

3. Somehow the Mimic is just a happy go lucky guy now, even after being held hostage for months by prime sentinels.

4. I realize all of this is because they are trying to wrap up all the loose ends in two issues, and that's the final bad point.......... I love this book, why do they have to cancel it. I'd gladly trade in my Kitty Pride: AOS Limited Series (sadly yes I bought it) for three more issues of Excal, if it meant that the characters would be treated with the care and respect they deserve.

OVERALL RATING:

I'd have to give issue 124 a 6 out of 10. Although Feron returns, once again the out-of-characterness (is that a word?) was too much for me to handle.

Gomurr

Headmaster of the Black Upstart Academy & Number One Feron Fan

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