New Excalibur

[IDistractedYou]

This title's been running over a year now and I've never seen a talkback thread. I'm curious is anyone besides me actually reading it?

[wonderfly]

I was reading it, but just dropped it. I've been meaning to drop it for some time, but couldn't bring myself to do it till now. The "King Arthur" storyline is what did it for me, talk about a silly storyline! :sad:

And with Chris Claremont coming back in another month, I suspect this book won't be getting any better. Really, there doesn't seem to be any point to it, other than, "They're a group of superheroes...IN ENGLAND!!!"

[IDistractedYou]

Oh I agree I mainly picked it up because of Dazzler's presence in the group and a love for the old Excalibur, which when I reread it via trade is still good. (What happened Chris Claremont?) I'm dropping it this week not because of any specific plotline but because no plot seems to last longer than three issues and I think by the tenth issue there should be some sort of overarching plot. The original Excalibur by that point had two overarching plots that were slowly unfurling. I was just curious if anyone else had actually picked it up, I stuck it out for over a year so now its time to drop it like its hot.

[wonderfly]

Well, to be fair, Chris Claremont wasn't the writer of issues 9 to 15. Those were written by Frank Tieri, while Claremont recovered from the heart problems he was having earlier this year. So basically, they're filler issues, with little to do with progressing the overall story...of course, back when Claremont WAS on the book, the first 5 issues were way to slow...(they formed a team, even though there was no real reason for them to be a team...and that was all there was to it).

But yeah, I like Dazzler as well, and Juggernaut, so I was sticking around...but Michael Ryan is moving to take over as artist on Runaways, and to be honest, he was the real reason I picked up the series to begin with, (I really do think he's an "up and coming" hot artist, and I like his work), but now that he's off of this title, I'm off as well...

[IDistractedYou]

Oh I realize that there was a fill-in writer but even Claremonts issues drug on but I stuck with it as you said and now I'm done even if I do really want to know why Dazzler is basically immortal now. Yes I like the reformed Juggernaut as well perhaps if the series improves once Claremont comes back I'll pick it up in trade. By the way, are you planning on picking up the Pete Wisdom miniseries thats coming out? Something about faeries taking over England. I'll give it a skim and maybe pick it up if its worth it.

[wonderfly]

Oh I realize that there was a fill-in writer but even Claremonts issues drug on but I stuck with it as you said and now I'm done even if I do really want to know why Dazzler is basically immortal now. Yes I like the reformed Juggernaut as well perhaps if the series improves once Claremont comes back I'll pick it up in trade. By the way, are you planning on picking up the Pete Wisdom miniseries thats coming out? Something about faeries taking over England. I'll give it a skim and maybe pick it up if its worth it.

Nah, Pete Wisdom really isn't a character I'm overly fond of...though I believe Paul O'Brien of the X-Axis gave it a thumps up. (http://www.thexaxis.com/minis/wisdom1.htm)

I'm not really fond of Captain Britian either...I do enjoy a good "mystical England" story, but Marvel's superhero/fantasy mythology of the British isles just never really appealed to me.

[Hanshotfirst113]

And with Chris Claremont coming back in another month, I suspect this book won't be getting any better.

Uh, isn't Claremont the legendary writer who crafted "Days of the Future Past" and "The Dark Phoenix Saga" (need to read those)? Has he gone Frank Miller and fallen from grace lately? Or is the ignorant newbie completley missing something here? SORRY!

[wonderfly]

Uh, isn't Claremont the legendary writer who crafted "Days of the Future Past" and "The Dark Phoenix Saga" (need to read those)? Has he gone Frank Miller and fallen from grace lately? Or is the ignorant newbie completley missing something here? SORRY!

Well, "Fallen from Grace" is a bit much, but yeah, Claremont's stories are no longer as good as when he was setting the comic world on fire back in the early 80's with his X-Men tales. He still occasionally puts out a decent issue, but his plots are too overly complicated and often revolve around plot points established years ago that only the most devoted fanboys remember.

[DBZALLSTAR]

I will admit that Uncanny X-Men stories weren't that good when he came back for Reloaded, but when Decimation started, his writing got better. His heart problems just stopped him from making more progress. I really want to like New Excalibur because I like The Juggernaut and Nocturne, but if the writing doesn't pick up, I may have to drop it. If Chris ruins Exiles, I will not be pleased.

[Stuckey]

This is one of only two X-books I buy. The other is ASTONISHING. I'm not sure why I'm still buying this. It's completely unremarkable in every way.

[Hanshotfirst113]

Well, "Fallen from Grace" is a bit much, but yeah, Claremont's stories are no longer as good as when he was setting the comic world on fire back in the early 80's with his X-Men tales. He still occasionally puts out a decent issue, but his plots are too overly complicated and often revolve around plot points established years ago that only the most devoted fanboys remember.

I wonder how I'd take him? In plowing through The Essential Fantastic Four: Volume 1, I've yet to get in synch with Stan Lee's bombastic and overexagerated style. There is a slow sense of development, but it has yet to click with me. I wonder how dated I'd find Claremont's legendary run? Sorry, completely off-topic tangent. Just a thought out loud.

[Stuckey]

I wonder how I'd take him? In plowing through The Essential Fantastic Four: Volume 1, I've yet to get in synch with Stan Lee's bombastic and overexagerated style. There is a slow sense of development, but it has yet to click with me. I wonder how dated I'd find Claremont's legendary run? Sorry, completely off-topic tangent. Just a thought out loud.

I read the first ESSENTIAL X-MEN in about a week, and I'm not an X-fan. I've had the first ESSENTIAL FANTASTIC FOUR for years and have yet to get to the half-way mark. I hate me some Stan Lee writing. That's right. I said it.

[Ultra8]

I had tried to get into when it was first released, mainly because I had liked the original series, it was going to have Nocturne, and they'd be showing more of the 2nd Cap.Britain (Lionheart). Plus they had an interesting story idea involving the Captain Britain Corps. where it would explain what happens to the ones who chose the sword over the amulet.

Funny thing, all the time I used to read the old series I always wound up reading the normal adventures and never once touched the multiverse stuff, I didn't find out about the Corps. connection till I got Marvel's AU/Timelines Handbook. I always figured they were some kinda of guards for some dimension not the multiverse police.:p

After reading a few issues I just found it disappointing(it felt rushed, and somewhat confusing like reading something without the necessary backstory). If it get's back to the Lionheart thing I might give it another gander.

[Kyuss]

I'm currently waiting to see when they give Juggernaut his balls back.

[Hanshotfirst113]

I hate me some Stan Lee writing. That's right. I said it.

Honest is the best policy, right?

[DBZALLSTAR]

I'm currently waiting to see when they give Juggernaut his balls back.

I believe the current storyline is making an attempt to do just that, if you're referring to his waning level of strength and invulnerability. If you're talking about his time as a hero instead of a villain, I like Cain Marko as a hero. It was one of the few things Chuck Austen did right during his run on Uncanny/Adjectiveless X-Men.

[Kyuss]

I have no problem with him being a hero. Heck if he wanted to take a stint as an anti-hero (perhaps join up with the Punisher as a kind of Law and Order duo), that's fine.

But the fact is he needs to be the Juggernaut. It's one thing when cosmic beings toss you around (ie Onslaught). It's quite another not to power through little ole dragons.

[DBZALLSTAR]

I have no problem with him being a hero. Heck if he wanted to take a stint as an anti-hero (perhaps join up with the Punisher as a kind of Law and Order duo), that's fine.

But the fact is he needs to be the Juggernaut. It's one thing when cosmic beings toss you around (ie Onslaught). It's quite another not to power through little ole dragons.

I agree with you there. Chuck Austen did make Cain Marko a hero, but he also reduced his power level greatly. It's because the being inside the gem which gave him his power had become displeased with his actions, sort of like what Moon Knight just went through. I'm hoping this current storyline will get The Juggernaut back up to full power. In all honesty, though, I would rather see him dead than allow Chris Claremont a chance to ruin this character. I'm not trying to offend Claremont, but it seems like he can only write good stories when he's writing about characters that he likes.

[Kyuss]

I'm familiar with the circumstances that led to Juggernaut's power being diminished. I just disagreed with such a decision. Claremont's treatment won't bother me that much IF he doesn't mess with Juggernaut's power level. That being said if he does turn evil I'll just sigh and hope some other writer can appreciate the fact of an immortal, superpowered mystical warrior with near-infinite strength but not necessarily good or bad. A little selfishness mixed with the idea that hurting people might be a bad thing, is okay.

Remind me what occurred with Moon Knight. I never did follow that one closely.

[DBZALLSTAR]

I'm familiar with the circumstances that led to Juggernaut's power being diminished. I just disagreed with such a decision. Claremont's treatment won't bother me that much IF he doesn't mess with Juggernaut's power level. That being said if he does turn evil I'll just sigh and hope some other writer can appreciate the fact of an immortal, superpowered mystical warrior with near-infinite strength but not necessarily good or bad. A little selfishness mixed with the idea that hurting people might be a bad thing, is okay.

Remind me what occurred with Moon Knight. I never did follow that one closely.

Khonshu, he god who gave Moon Knight his power and the ability to come back from the dead, abandoned Marc Spector. Marc had no desire to bring about the deaths and blood that Khonshu wanted, and I believe that this is why he was abandoned. Marc learned his lesson after a bit of manipulation by Khonshu, who might need people to believe in him to actually have power. As far as we know thus far into the series, Khonshu has forgiven Marc's trespasses and restored him to full strength.

That's right. I'm a bigger geek than all y'all.:D

[Hanshotfirst113]

That's right. I'm a bigger geek than all y'all.:D

We'll see about that ;)!

[Kyuss]

DBZBaller,

I see. This doesn't sound like the same Khonshu that opposed some of Set's killings. Or has the recent upheaval thanks to M-day changed even the gods themselves?