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Earth X #0 - Untitled
Importance Rating: 3.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Alex Ross Writer(s): Jim Krueger Release Date: March 1999 Variant Covers: A. Second Print Variant B. Dynamic Forces Variant C. Dynamic Forces Foil Variant D. Dynamic Forces Variant Trade Prints: Earth X and Earth X Hardcover Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Earth X is one of a number of planets implanted with a gestating Celestial egg, and the histories of many inhabitants vary widely from their Marvel Universe counterparts. About ten years after the end of the heroic age, Black Bolt secretly releases the mutagenic Terrigen Mists into Earth's atmosphere, seeking to transform humanity into Inhumans so that his people will not suffer persecution. He has already blinded Uatu the Watcher to prevent the lunar-dwelling alien from witnessing his actions. As the Terrigen Mists become a permanent component of Earth's polluted atmosphere, Black Bolt and the Inhuman Royal Family leave Earth. Unable to operate his observation equipment, Uatu transports X-51 (Machine Man), who has long since given up super-heroics to imitate the life of his human creator, to the Moon to act as Earth's new Watcher. After finally killing the Red Skull, Captain America quits the Avengers, considering himself unfit for the team. Shortly afterward, Reed Richards constructs a worldwide network of vibranium power centers to solve the looming energy crisis, but the experiment fails when one of Reed's scientists falls into the reactor, causing a worldwide explosive chain reaction.

Earth X #7 - Chapter Seven
Importance Rating: 2.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): John Paul Leon Writer(s): Jim Krueger Release Date: Marvelverse Crossover Storyline Variant Covers: None. Trade Prints: Earth X and Earth X Hardcover Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: The Hulk enters death¹s realm as the search begins for the slain soul of Captain Marvel! And what greets him will rock the foundation of the new Defenders! Also, Captain America begins his defense against the coming forces of the Skull! Meanwhile, Reed Richards redesign of the X-Men¹s Cerebro helmet continues as he is reunited with the Thing and meets the Brothers Grimm! And on the surface of the moon, John Jameson makes a terrible discovery!

Excalibur, Vol. 1 #41 - At Last...The Reunion!
Importance Rating: 1.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Dave Hoover Writer(s): Scott Lobdell, Dana Moreshead Release Date: September 1991 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: None. Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Excalibur and the visiting X-Men meet in a rented pub. The atmosphere becomes somewhat tense when the X-Men express their expectation that Kitty and Kurt will rejoin them. Kitty scolds them and leaves to be with Lockheed at the hospital. She is joined by Storm. As the others continue their reunion, chaos erupts in the street outside when passersby are attacked by office furniture which has been possessed by spirits of criminals who have accidentally been freed from a magic gem. The heroes go to help, save for Rachel, who is on the roof with Colossus. They are soon joined by Dai Thomas, who has suspicions about these X-Men and shoots Colossus, revealing what he and the rest of the “X-Men” really are: Warwolves. All five Warwolves try to capture Phoenix to return her to Mojo but the Excalibur members come to her rescue. Ultimately, Excalibur uses the gem the souls were in to defeat the Warwolves. Finally, they decide to call the real X-Men. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Excalibur, Vol. 1 #57 - For Whom the Bell Trolls!
Importance Rating: 3.5 out of 10
Penciler(s): Joe Madureira Writer(s): Alan Davis and Scott Lobdell Release Date: November 1992 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Excalibur Visionaries: Alan Davis Volume 2 Fun Facts: Title Logic: "For Whom the Bell Trolls" is a play on the title "For Whom the Bell Tolls", a novel by Ernest Hemingway published in 1940. -
Comic Summary: The members of Excalibur search the London sewers for traces of the escaped Sat-yr-9 when they come across two policemen changed into golden statues and soon also across the perpetrators, the Trolls Associate. During the ensuing battle, Captain Britain is touched by the mutant boy Tom Jones, aka Alchemy, whom the trolls kidnapped, and turned into gold himself. Afterward, the Trolls escape with Tom, who is helping them because they are holding his mother hostage. Excalibur tries to find the Trolls using Meggan’s enhanced senses but soon she too succumbs to Tom’s touch and turns to gold. Luckily, help arrives in the form of the X-Men, who were called by Tom before the trolls kidnapped him. Cyclops’ blue team and the remnants of Excalibur search for the trolls… and run straight into a trap. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Excalibur, Vol. 1 #58 - Troll Call
Importance Rating: 5.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Scott Lobdell Writer(s): Alan Davis Release Date: December 1992 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Excalibur Visionaries: Alan Davis Volume 2 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Both Excalibur and the X-Men’s blue team are prisoners of the trolls. Nightcrawler suddenly surprises everyone by seemingly switching over to the trolls’ side, explaining his looks have always made him an outsider. He proves his loyalty to the troll cause by leading them to the still free Excalibur members Cerise and Feron. Later, however, he uses his freedom to free his teammates and the X-Men. When the troll leader Phough holds a rallying speech to the other trolls, Kurt confronts and fights him. He and the other mutants manage to free Tom Jones’ mother, who is being held hostage, meaning Tom can end the fight and turn the bad members of the troll group into gold statues. The more peaceful trolls find a home in the Crazy Gang’s Wonderland, where the Jester regales them with tales. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Excalibur, Vol. 1 #96 - Fireback
Importance Rating: 2.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Carlos Pacheco Writer(s): Warren Ellis Release Date: April 1996 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Excalibur Visionaries: Warren Ellis Vol. 3 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: While playing soccer, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat and Colossus discuss Kurt’s new look, Shadowcat’s father and what may be troubling Amanda Sefton. Meggan, also sporting a new look, interrupts, telling her teammates that Jean Grey-Summers is on the phone waiting to speak to them. Turns out that Excalibur’s old ally Alistaire Stuart, showed up at the mansion in Westchester. Somewhat distraught, he begged Jean to get in touch with Excalibur. After explaining that Black Air is after him, Kurt and Meggan prepare to leave for New York to pick him up. Angry that his observers cannot get any useful information on the London Hellfire Clubs Inner Circle, Shinobi Shaw, Black King of the New York branch, decides that he must get in touch with Brian Braddock. He calls Muir island and explains to Brian that since he inherited a membership, he is the only one to investigate the London Club’s activities, which would be in both of their best interests as something strange is going on there and on top of it all, the shapestealer Mountjoy has already infiltrated the Inner Circle, certainly with no good intentions. Reading a file about Mountjoy, Brian debates with Kitty about the possibility of it being a set-up, but decides the only way to find out is to go. He writes a note for Meggan, as they never got to say goodbye. Outside, Pete Wisdom chases Lockheed, who has stolen his clothes, and Douglock decides that the only way to make sense of who he is, is to go by it a different approach – approach it by chaos. Meanwhile tension brews in the London Hellfire Club Inner Circle as the Red and Black Kings accuse each other of various things, and the mysterious Red Queen wants to hasten their plans along. The Club’s assistant, an Albino woman called Scribe, records the entire meeting. Elsewhere, Sebastian Shaw meets up with the mutant agent of Black Air, Scratch, to trade some object hidden in a strange box for some very important information. Several hours later, almost back at Muir Island, the Moonlight Flit, carrying Nightcrawler, Meggan and Alistaire Stuart is shot down by Black Air. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Excalibur, Vol. 3 #1 - Forging the Sword, 1 Of 4 - Paint It Black
Importance Rating: 1.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Aaron Lopresti Writer(s): Chris Claremont Release Date: July 2004 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Excalibur Vol. 1: Forging the Sword Fun Facts: Gambit only appears on the cover of this comic, he is not in the storyline. Title Logic: "Paint It Black" is a song recorded by The Rolling Stones in 1966. -
Comic Summary: In Genosha, Xavier thinks back about the destruction that his twin sister, Cassandra Nova, caused. Resolving his emotions, Xavier opens a secret compartment on the bottom of the coffin near him. He removes an outfit that seems more soldier-like and a handful of electronic devices, including weapons. Trying to pick the coffin off the ground, he is embarrassingly thrown to the ground by his own momentum. A ghostly Moira MacTaggert appears near him and questions him of his intentions in Genosha. Xavier tells the mirage that he plans to figure out what has caused the large spike in mutant births. Elsewhere, Unus watches Xavier from afar and commands his three lackeys nearby him to go to Xavier and teach him a lesson. Back with Xavier, Moira has disappeared and Xavier finds a new mutant named Wicked. Talking to Wicked and seeing her powers in action, Xavier is stopped by Unus and his group as they show up to attack him. Xavier stops the three lackeys, while a new comer named Freakshow easily dispatches Unus. Xavier thanks the two mutants, Freakshow and Wicked, telling them that he would like to teach them, as he once taught the X-Men. After arriving at his destination, he psychically urges Freakshow and Wicked to go to bed. As the two of them walk away, Xavier turns around to meet an old ally, who has been waiting for him to arrive, the man named Magneto. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Excalibur, Volume 4 #1 - Verse I: The Accolade of Betsy Braddock
Importance Rating: 7.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: December 2019 Variant Covers: A. Mike Del Mundo Young Guns Variant B. Mark Bagley Every Mutant Variant C. Tom Muller Design Variant D. Mike McKone Variant E. Alan Davis Variant F. Kris Anka Variant G. Jay Anacleto Variant H. Jay Anacleto Virgin Variant I. Second Print Edition J. Walmart 3-Pack Edition K. Marvel Made Exclusive Young Variant L. Marvel Made Exclusive Young B/W Variant Trade Prints: Dawn of X Volume 1, Excalibur Volume 1 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Morgan le Fay has taken rule of Otherworld, and is disgusted at the mysterious flowers that have begun to grow in her castle – Krakoan flowers. At Braddock Academy in England, Brian, Meggan and Maggie are saying goodbye to Betsy, who is departing for Krakoa. There is a portal at Braddock Manor, and Betsy uses it to travel to Krakoa, where a large party at the mutant nation is currently underway. She is welcomed home, but asks people not to call her Psylocke anymore, preferring just to be known as Betsy. Similarlarly, Apocalypse informs Trinary that he has a new name – a Krakoan name he prefers to be known by. Apocalypse and Trinary are examining a portal that no one can seem to access. Apocalypse reveals that it is the portal to Otherworld, and tries to use a mysterious crystal to activate it, but that fails. In North Yorkshire, the coven known as Solar Blackwood are investigating some ghostly goings-on when Morgan le Fay appear before them. She tells the coven and its leader, Marianna Stern, about the flowers polluting her realm and learns from them that they are mutant flowers. Morgan cares not – she simply wants the flowers and the gate they are connected to destroyed – and until that happens vows that no mortal shall channel the magic of Avalon. As the party continues, Betsy shares an awkward encounter with Kwannon, before Jubilee speaks with her, and then Betsy is approached by Goldballs – who now goes by the name Egg – he needs her to go to the Hatchery with him. When they arrive at the Hatchery, Betsy is shocked to discover her brother, Jamie, has been resurrected and refuses to leave the pod, which needs to be cleaned for the next hatching. Jamie is his usual outrageous self, while Betsy has trouble dealing with his return, considering all the bad things he has done in the past. Betsy isn't sure about when she will tell Brian about their brother's return, while Jamie refuses to leave the island and declares that he doesn't want to see Brian anyway. Betsy storms away, when Apocalypse confronts her, informing her of his new name, he tells her about the portal to Otherworld and explains they need something that has travelled between the two worlds to act as a focal point. Betsy decides to help Apocalypse and returns to Braddock Manor, where Brian is suiting up as Captain Britain to attend to an emergency. Betsy informs him that there is something wrong with Otherworld, and Brian agrees to let Betsy accompany him there. Upon arrival, they find Morgan le Fay has become Queen of Otherworld, and she shows them her scrying pool, which is now a portal to Krakoa – and she is still unhappy about it. Back on Krakoa, Rogue and Gambit discuss the laws of Krakoa, in particular the third law about making more mutants – but their discussion is interrupted by Trinary, who takes them to see Apocalypse, who tells them that it appears Betsy Braddock is stuck on Otherworld, and the gate to it has been throttled with some sort of power. He is hopeful Rogue can use her abilities to drain the energy. Gambit is suspicious of Apocalypse and suggests they talk to Jubilee, as she was the last one seen with Betsy. Jubilee arrives, but she doesn't have anything useful to add to the mysterious surrounding Betsy's predicament, so Rogue agrees to try to use her power on the gate. Back in Otherworld, Morgan's coven battles Betsy and Captain Britain, who Morgan soon takes possession of, transforming him into her dark knight. With his remaining freewill, Brian tries to gives Betsy his amulet, before he starts to fight at her. Betsy shoves a psi-sword into the portal, just as Rogue starts to use her powers to try and drain its energy back on Krakoa – and Rogue is knocked backwards. She is overwhelmed, and reaches out for some Krakoan flowers, which suddenly engulf her, and she falls into some sort of coma. Brian finally succeeds in giving Betsy the amulet, which she puts on, and vanishes. Gambit is about to attack Apocalypse, when Betsy suddenly appears beffore them – dressed as Captain Britain. Back in Britain, Marianna Stern's coven are all dead, and she seeks refuge with a new coven – Coven Akkaba!

Excalibur, Volume 4 #2 - Verse II: A Tower of Flowers
Importance Rating: 7.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: January 2020 Variant Covers: A. Otto Schmidt Variant B. Mike McKone 2099 Variant C. Lucio Parrillo Variant D. Lucio Parrillo Virgin Variant E. Second Print Edition Trade Prints: Dawn of X Volume 2, Excalibur Volume 1 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: In the Fourth Century BCE, Apocalypse arrived at the English Channel, where he witnessed the deaths of two twin mutants. Today, on the Atlantic Ocean, Betsy Braddock – now Captain Britain - Gambit and Jubilee are being ferried across the ocean by Captain Kate Pryde. With them is Rogue who is in some sort of coma. Gambit is very worried about his wife, when they are suddenly attacked by Selkies, whom Captain Britain assumes were sent by Morgan Le Fay. Captain Britain swims to shore to draw the Selkies away from the others, before telekinetically lifting Rogue over to the shore as well. Gambit and Jubilee join her, and Kate Pryde sails away. The problems continue for the group when they discover the fabled Lighthouse is missing. They carry on across the land in search of some clue, and Captain Britain sees several druids, but the others are unable to see them. The druids show Captain Britain a vision of Marianna Stern and the Coven Akkaba burning the Lighthouse. After placing Rogue and her “bed” of Krakoan flowers on the ruins of the Lighthouse, to their surprise, the Lighthouse materializes, and Rogue is laid at the top of the Lighthouse. Captain Britain, Jubilee and Gambit take time to rest and gather their thoughts. Jubilee is worried about Shogo, while Captain Britain is concerned about the druids and the goings on with Otherworld, while Gambit's thoughts are lost with Rogue. Later, Jubilee wakes from a nightmare in which Shogo was left with Apocalypse, while Captain Britain has a strange dream where an unknown voice speaks to her. She wakes to find that Jubilee has brought her infant son Shogo to the Lighthouse. Shortly, they and Gambit watch as more druids arrive at the Lighthouse, and soon, members of Coven Akkaba appear. A battle ensues, while Captain Britain telepathically converses with Apocalypse, who gives a brief background on the coven, and explains that it seems they are unhappy with a mutant – witchbreed – wearing their flag as Captain Britain. Jubilee is about to take Shogo back to Krakoa when Apocalypse steps through the portal and takes out all of the coven with a single powerful surge of energy. Apocalypse tells Captain Britain that she must return to Otherworld, but Captain Britain is worried for her family's land, here. Gambit doesn't want to leave Rogue with Apocalypse, but has no other option. They step through the portal to Otherworld, along with Jubilee, who refuses to leave Shogo with Apocalypse – but once they reach Otherworld, the trio discovers that Shogo has been transformed into a large dragon.

Excalibur, Volume 4 #3 - Verse III: Three Covenants
Importance Rating: 7.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: February 2020 Variant Covers: A. Khoi Pham Venom Island Variant B. Second Print Edition Trade Prints: Dawn of X Volume 3, Excalibur Volume 1 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Rictor is confined to a ground-floor apartment in some sort of housing complex. He tries to step outside, but his powers are out of control and he creates an earthquake. He receives telepathic requests to join other mutants on Krakoa, but he is unable to get to a portal. He reads discussions on the internet about mutants having trouble with their powers, and watches news articles about mutants going through portals to Krakoa. With nothing left to do, he lays down in a box of dirt and covers his head. In Camelot, Queen Morgan Le Fay is still frustrated about the Krakoan flowers that are polluting her realm, and has a discussion via a magic mirror with Marianna Stern of Clan Akkaba. Marianna informs Morgan that the citizens of the realm are yet unaware that Captain Britain is now a mutant. Morgan becomes distracted by the conversation when a large dragon flies past her castle. That dragon is none other than Jubilee's baby, Shogo, who was transformed when they stepped through the portal to Otherworld. Jubilee is slightly stressed about this, but Captain Britain assures her that Shogo is fine. Gambit is still worried about Rogue, while Captain Britain asks Shogo if he saw her brother at Camelot. Gambit argues with Captain Britain before Shogo offers to take them to Camelot. Jubilee is worried about this, but the three ride the large dragon towards the castle, where Captain Britain finds she is unable to read her brother's mind – but thankfully she can read the minds of the guards outside the dungeon, where Brian Braddock is encased in a dark armor and chained up. Shogo drops the Captain Britain, Gambit and Jubilee onto the roof of Camelot, and they battle the guards. Shogo assists them with some dragonfire, before Brian and several other guards in dark armor join the battle. Captain Britain fights her brother and tries to snap him out of Morgan's control, but is not successful. Before Brian is able to harm his sister, Shogo separates them with some dragonfire, and the mutants retreat, flying away on Shogo, while Morgan telepathically speaks with Captain Britain. On top of the Lighthouse, Apocalypse is studying the crystals that empower the Krakoan gates and notes that their power is finite – they need more. He steps through a portal and arrives at Rictor's apartment, where he learns of Rictor's plight and offers to help him. Soon, they are in the Lighthouse, when Pete Wisdom arrives, announcing that the Queen needs to see Captain Britain.

Excalibur, Volume 4 #4 - Verse IV: Fall Back and Think of England!
Importance Rating: 7.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: February 2020 Variant Covers: A. Kael Ngu Venom Island Variant B. Second Print Edition Trade Prints: Dawn of X Volume 4, Excalibur Volume 1 Fun Facts: Title Logic: "Fall Back and Think of England", and similar versions of the phrase, like "Close your Eyes and Think of England" or "Lie Back and Think of England", were a common bit of advice given to Mothers to their Daughters on their wedding night. It was expression typically attributed to Queen Victoria and Lady Hillington, whom wrote it in a journal in 1912. Not sure how that was brought about as a title in this comic, other than them picking some random English phrase. -
Comic Summary: At Lighthouse, Gambit is worried about Rogue's situation. He vows that he will get her out of the coma she is in, before he steps through a portal to London to help Captain Britain. Upon arrival, he gets into a situation with anti-mutant protesters outside Buckingham Palace. Inside the Palace, Rictor and Jubilee are discussing the United Kingdom, and Rictor's powers, which Apocalypse has fixed. Rictor reminds Jubilee to address Apocalypse by his new name, before the scuffle outside gets their attention. They join Gambit outside, before Captain Britain appears with Pete Wisdom. Captain Britain informs Gambit, Jubilee and Rictor that they are accountable to the Queen now – they are Excalibur. At Krakoa, Excalibur, including Apocalypse, and Wisdom meet to discuss how Coven Akkaba have caused some trouble for Captain Britain, and now the Queen has concerns about her citizenship. Gambit reminds everyone about the issue with Rogue, and Apocalypse agrees that it is a priority. Apocalypse asks Wisdom to assist Captain Britain with her duties, and reveals he has a plan to help Rogue that he needs Gambit and Rictor for. Jubilee leaves with Shogo and comes across a panicked Meggan, who has fled to Krakoa with Maggie after protesters arrived at Braddock Academy. Meggan is worried about Brian, and needed to be somewhere safe – however she is shocked to discover that her brother-in-law, Jamie, has been resurrected. Jamie makes sleazy remarks about Meggan, before Jubilee knocks him out. Beneath the moorlands, Rictor and Gambit are beneath the ground to find more of the crystals that have been powering the Krakoan gates. There, they encounter several druids who feel a connection to Rictor. They locate the crystals and take some, before the druids try to convince Rictor that he, too, is a druid. The druids give Rictor a different crystal, a more powerful one, before they cause the ground beneath Gambit to break away. Rictor tries to help Gambit, but he only creates more trouble when his powers go out of control, and Gambit falls into a chasm. In the meetinghouse of Coven Akkaba, Captain Britain and Wisdom meet with Marianna Stern and a man named Reuben. They briefly discuss how Akkaba was a human name before Apocalypse came along, before Reuben tells Betsy that she is not the right person to hold the mantle of Captain Britain – which they are currently proving to the Queen. Captain Britain and Wisdom learn that their time in Otherworld, and the dragonfire that Shogo unleashed, created a tear in the realm, and several dangerous beasts are now plaguing this realm. Captain Britain and Wisdom storm off, while at the Lighthouse, the tear in the realm can be seen, large, and with dozens of creatures emerging from it. Inside the Lighthouse, Apocalypse speaks to Rogue – who opens her eyes!

Excalibur, Volume 4 #5 - Verse V: Panic on the Streets
Importance Rating: 7.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: March 2020 Variant Covers: A. Will Sliney Marvels X Variant B. Phoenix Saga 40th Aniversary Variant C. Second Print Edition Trade Prints: Dawn of X Volume 5, Excalibur Volume 1 Fun Facts: Title Logic: Panic in the Streets in in reference to The Smiths' song "Panic", which Gambit also makes reference to in the comic. -
Comic Summary: As Gambit falls down a crevice that opens in the cavern, Rictor drops down after him to try and rescue him. They make their way out of the caverns and find strange creatures from Otherworld have begun to run amok. Apocalypse contacts his allies and directs them a Krakoan portal nearby. In London, Captain Britain and Pete Wisdom try to direct civilians to safety as a hydra breathes fire towards them. Captain Britain and Wisdom seek refuge at Wisdom's apartment, before Captain Britain heads back out to deal with the situation, Wisdom unable to join her as he has Black Air authorities to answer to. Rogue has a strange dream where she follows a fox made of fire to ruins that resemble Sentinel heads. Apocalypse takes over one of the Sentinel heads, causing Rogue to scream. At the lighthouse, Apocalypse and Jubilee are joined by Captain Britain as they battle they creatures from Otherworld. Apocalypse explains that it was Shogo's dragonfire that caused the rift in realities, before Gambit and Rictor join the battle. Apocalypse and Rictor argue over what they think is best for Rogue, whose dream continues as she is presented with a sword, and follows the fire fox to a throne, where she decides that it is time to wake up. Apocalypse and Gambit engage in battle, and Apocalypse is furious when he discovers the energy of some of the crystals has been spent. Rictor explains why he had to use the crystal to save Gambit, so Apocalypse ponders if the energy is inside Gambit. Before he can tear Gambit apart to find out, Rogue arrives and knocks Apocalypse away, before she begins to drain energy from Apocalypse, who tells Rogue to complete the ritual, as Rogue kills Apocalypse. The Krakoan gate changes, and Rogue informs the others that Apocalypse doesn't just want to stop Morgan Le Fay – he wants the throne of Otherworld. The heroes all stare at Rogue as her body appears transformed after making contact with Apocalypse.

Excalibur, Volume 4 #6 - Verse VI: Watch the Throne
Importance Rating: 7.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: March 2020 Variant Covers: A. Mike McKone Marvels X Variant B. Dark Phoenix Saga 40th Anniversary Variant Trade Prints: Dawn of X Volume 1, Excalibur Volume 1 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Apocalypse is resurrected on Krakoa, and forms an allegiance with Jamie Braddock. On Otherworld, Morgan Le Fay continues to quest for dominance over the realm, when she is confronted by Captain Britain, Rogue, Gambit, Rictor, Jubilee and her son Shogo, who is still a dragon. The heroes engage Morgan's forces in battle, putting up a good fight, but they are not able to gain the upper hand. Apocalypse returns to Otherworld, where he proposes to Morgan that their champions battle to the death. His champion, Captain Britain, against Morgan's champion, Brian Braddock. Morgan delights in agreeing to the battle. Before the fight, Captain Britain and Rogue discuss Apocalypse and whether Betsy can kill her brother. Shortly, everyone gathers for the fight, as Betsy and Brian duel with their swords. As the fight goes on, Apocalypse contacts Jubilee and assures her that Captain Britain will triumph, and that when she does, he will need Shogo's flame. The battle continues, until Betsy takes Brian's sword from him, and he falls on it. Jamie Braddock watches his younger siblings battle, and Apocalypse instructs Jubilee to let Shogo release his flame, which he does, against Morgan's horde. Betsy struggles with having killed Brian, while Apocalypse announces that his champion is now ruler of Avalon – and crowns Jamie Braddock King of Avalon. Morgan is furious at being tricked, but isn't able to escape as Jamie places her in a cage. Betsy demands that Jamie revive Brian, which he does. Brian, restored to life, is not happy that Jamie is alive, let alone ruling Avalon, and when Betsy queries Apocalypse as to his decision to make Jamie king, Apocalypse declares that he was very serious. On Krakoa, Gambit and Rogue spend time in a hot tub together, discussing recent events, and Rogue confides that she isn't sure she wants to have children. At Braddock Manor, Betsy finds Brian upset about failing the test to be Captain Britain, reminding her how he chose the sword over the amulet. Betsy consoles her brother, who dons a new costume. Brian then gives Betsy his sword, telling her that he needs her to lock it away. In Avalon, Jamie searches for Apocalypse and discovers him experimenting on the captive Morgan Le Fay!

Excalibur, Volume 4 #7 - Verse VII: The Unspeakable and the Uneatable, Part 1
Importance Rating: 7.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: April 2020 Variant Covers: A. Gwen Stacy Variant B. C2E2 Mahmud Asrar Panel Variant Trade Prints: Dawn of X Volume 7, Excalibur Volume 2 Fun Facts: Title Logic: The title is in reference to an Oscar Wilde quote about fox hunting, 'The unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable!'. -
Comic Summary: At the Lighthouse, Betsy, Rogue and Gambit watch as Rictor buries Brian Braddock's sword under a mound of rock, at Brian's request, although Gambit and Rogue seem concerned about this decision. Betsy then returns to Otherworld, where she finds her brother Jamie sitting on his throne in Avalon. Betsy and Jamie exchange words about Jamie's rise to the throne, before Betsy goes to speak with Apocalypse, who is in a library with Exodus, the two absorbing eons of history from scrolls and books in the library. Betsy is not particularly happy about Exodus being there, before she earns Apocalypse that if she determines that his goals are harmful, she will do her duty as Captain Britain and a member of the X-Men to stop him. Apocalypse reminds Betsy that they are all Krakoan now, but Betsy explains that this is about the protection of Otherworld. Apocalypse then suggests Betsy read his grimoire and hands her some papers which have been kept hidden for centuries – one of particular interest is on the Warwolves, and Apocalypse suggests to Betsy that she investigate them, as they are not native to this realm and nor are they good. Betsy finds Jubilee trying to encourage her son, Shogo, still in his dragon form, to eat. Jubilee laments that Shogo only wants to stay in Otherworld as a dragon, and that he screams every time she tries to take him back to Earth. Betsy suggests Jubilee leave Shogo with Meggan, and Jubilee joins Betsy as they meet up with Pete Wisdom at the London Zoo, where some Warwolves were once left many years ago, and are met by an unhelpful zoo employee who reveals that the Warwolves were not easy to care for, and were sold. The trio move on to a karaoke bar where Cullen Bloodstone is singing. Cullen tells Betsy that the people of London query whether she is the real deal as Captain Britain, and although she seems frustrated, Betsy gets on to the Warwolves, and asks Cullen what he wants for them, as their intelligence discovered his estate bought them from the zoo. Cullen admits he knows the Warwolves are a dangerous species, and that he had planned to hunt them. Betsy, Jubilee, Rictor, Gambit and Rogue soon join Cullen at the Bloodstone Summer Lodge, where they agree to participate in a hunt across the grounds to kill the Warwolves. Gambit is somewhat suspicious about why Apocalypse wants the Warwolves killed, before he runs off, hearing someone in the woods, although Betsy asks him to wait, he ignores her. Gambit finds a woman sitting next to a river – but when she distracts him, she drops her disguise – it's actually a Warwolf who is wearing the woman's skin. The Warwolf attacks Gambit, before the others arrive, and Betsy cuts the Warwolf's head off. Rictor and Gambit discuss Apocalypse's possible motives, before Rictor creates a small siesmic wave, which flushes one of the Warwolves out of hiding. The heroes give chase, with Rogue eventually catching up to it, and she drains it of its lifeforce, although Cullen Bloodstone rides near Rogue on a horse and is not happy to see Rogue using her powers on the Warwolf. Rogue rejoins the others, wearing the Warwolf's skin as a cloak, and a moment later, Cullen appears, demonic tentacles rising from his back, he grabs Jubilee with one of them and tells the heroes that his inner monster wants to hunt mutants.

Excalibur, Volume 4 #8 - Verse VII: The Unspeakable and the Uneatable, Part 2
Importance Rating: 7.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: April 2020 Variant Covers: None. Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 2 Fun Facts: Title Logic: The title is in reference to an Oscar Wilde quote about fox hunting, 'The unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable!'. -
Comic Summary: At the Bloodstone Summer Lodge, two Warwolves scatter when they hear a battle underway. That battle that rages is between Betsy Braddock, Jubilee, Gambit, Rogue and Rictor, who are fighting Cullen Bloodstone, who has decided that he wants to hunt mutants. The heroes restrain him, and when Betsy suggests they need to speak, Cullen agrees and tells the heroes that they will do so over a civilized meal. Later, the heroes sit around the table, none looking overly happy to be there, as Cullen claims that in these politcally-charged times, he had forgotten his manners, and suggests that they continue the hunt but with no mutant powers and he won't use his Glartox monster. That night, Rictor sneaks out of the manor so that he can take a walk to help him sleep – but his walk takes him to where Cullen is speaking to someone over a cell phone, and tells them that he wanted to let their coven know the mutants are here. Cullen sees Rictor and goes over to him, where Rictor speaks briefly about druids, and Cullen claims that his last boyfriend might have known some of the same druids as Rictor. Rictor is confused as to why Cullen is telling him this, to which Cullen explains that he is tired of all the homosexuals with super powers acting like they don't keep track of one another. Cullen then kisses Rictor, but Rictor pulls away after a few moments, and tells Cullen that he will be right back. Rictor races to find Betsy, wearing a strange gown that Cullen gave her to sleep in, and tells Betsy that he overheard Cullen talking to a coven, which he thinks might be Akkaba, and that he thinks Akkaba might be trying to establish themselves as a safe haven for fearmongering anti-mutant sentiment. After querying whether Rictor and Cullen kissed, Betsy suggests that they wait until the morning, raid the armory and go after the remaining Warwolves as planned – but Rictor tells Betsy that if she think they will get out of this without getting provoked to use their powers, just so those who distrust her can say they had a reason to catch her, then she is naive. Betsy realizes that Rictor is right, and ater changing into her costume and gathering the others, the five heroes go quietly and quickly into the night to find the other Warwolves. But before long, Cullen, who is pouring himself a drink in the manor, sees some lights and feels a seismic vibration in the woods. After Betsy takes out one of the remaining Warwolves, Gambit soon rushes to rejoin his teammates, with the second Warwolf chasing after him. An annoyed Cullen Bloodstone finds the mutants and transforms into his large demonic form – but is quickly taken out by Rogue, disguised as one of the Warwolves. In Cullen's satchel, Rogue finds the remaining Warwolf skull, before Gambit alerts the others to something he has found in some shrubs – a Warwolf pup. Later, Apocalypse reminds Betsy that he required the destruction of the Warwolf species, but Betsy refuses to destroy the pup, and suggests to Apocalypse that he show Krakoa his virtue of mercy. Betsy then gives the pup to Prestige, thinking that she is the best person to raise it given her past dealings with the Warwolves. They briefly discuss Apocalypse, Krakoa and the fact that Prestige needs something to do other than look after the Warwolf pup.

Excalibur, Volume 4 #9 - Verse IX: Schools of Magic
Importance Rating: 7.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: June 2020 Variant Covers: A. Marco Martin God Loves Man Kills Variant Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 2 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Apocalypse gives the skulls of the dead Warwolves to Excalibur, who take them to the lighthouse, placing them outside, where they glow on a rainy night. Betsy notices someone outside the lighthouse, but when she goes to investigate and discovers that it is her brother, Brian, he runs away. On Otherworld, the White Priestesses discover an astral projection of Apocalypse looking down at them – and Saturnyne knows he is watching, too. In London, at a meeting of the Coven Akkaba, a young man offers himself as a sacrifice in the name of the imprisoned Morgan le Fay. As he is slaughtered, someone wearing a coven cloak rushes from the ritual – it's Meggan, who had been undercover, investigating the coven for Pete Wisdom, and she thinks the coven are going to target Jamie Braddock, the current ruler of Otherworld. Meggan confides in Pete how upset she is about Brian's current state of depression, before she heads through a portal to be with him, joking to Wisdom about his feelings for Betsy. Betsy, Rogue, Gambit, Rictor, Jubilee and Shogo the dragon arrive on Otherworld, and after setting up camp, Betsy explains how the Captain Britain Corps was destroyed. Saturnyne meets with her White Priestesses and they begin a ritual of power to defend their realm. Betsy discusses with Rogue that she is unsure why she cannot reach the Starlight Citadel, before the priestesses begin to appear around the camp, and attack Shogo while he is mid-flight. Betsy helps telepathically guide him to the ground, while Jubilee lashes out at the priestesses. In her citadel, Saturnyne creates a new Captain Britain Corps – Rogue! Gambit! Rictor! Jubilee!

Excalibur, Volume 4 #10 - Verse X: A Crooked World
Importance Rating: 7.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: August 2020 Variant Covers: None. Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 2 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: While London prepares for war against Krakoa and its citizens, London itself is under attack from Otherworld. Betsy, Rictor, Rogue, Gambit and Jubilee defend themselves against military forces but when they try to escape through a portal, they discover the gateway has been destroyed. Betsy can't even take her teammates to Otherworld, something is disrupting her connection there. Fortunately, a large floating ship arrives with a cheery Kate Pryde as Captain and Rachel Summers using her powers to keep the ship afloat. Betsy soon discovers an injured Wisdom is onboard the ship and asks Kate to take them to the lighthouse. On Otherworld, Jamie watches Betsy and her companions, trapped in a pocket reality he has created for them, while tormenting the imprisoned Morgan le Fay. At the lighthouse, Betsy and the others arrive at the lightouse, which they must defend from a missile attack. Betsy is angry that Jamie was allowed to be resurrected, and when he appears before her, she attacks him, but is seemingly killed herself in an explosive attack. Rogue, Gambit, Rictor and Jubilee take an amulet each and are transformed into the new Captain Britain Corps, which, on Otherworld, Saturnyne swears to destroy them.

Excalibur, Volume 4 #11 - Verse XI: Blood of the Changeling
Importance Rating: 7.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: October 2020 Variant Covers: None. Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 2 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Jubilee is distraught after her son, Shogo, was injured by the White Priestesses, so she is placed in a hollow tree by some Green Priestesses. Captain Britain, Rogue, Gambit and Rictor arrive and battle the Green Priestesses, until they discover that the Green Priestesses are not their enemy, and are caring for the injured Shogo. Captain Britain helps to calm Jubilee down and she is released from the tree. The mutants debate what their next course of action should be – they can't go back to Krakoa with Shogo in his dragon form in case he reverts to his human form and his injuries kill him. Captain Britain is inclined to go on to the Starlight Citadel on her own to plant the gateway to Krakoa. The heroes get some sleep, except for Rictor, who goes for a stroll into the woods, and discovers two priestesses standing near some glowing rock. They talk to him about the power within the earth, and when Rictor touches the rock, it puts him in telepathic connection with Apocalypse. Apocalypse talks to Rictor about the importance of the gate being placed at the Starlight Citadel, and reveals some of the history of the Externals, including power transmission and resurrection, and tells him about Candra's power being transferred into a stone. The next morning, Captain Britain, Rogue, Gambit and Rictor say goodbye to Jubilee, leaving her with the Green Priestesses and Shogo. Rictor helps the heroes travel quickly to the Starlight Citadel, riding the earth, but as they get closer, Saturnyne sees them and sends White Priestesses to attack, but the mutants prevail and reach the Starlight Citadel where they plant the flower, and the Krakoan portal grows. To open the portal, someone has to step through it, so Rictor volunteers – but as he steps in, he remembers that gates on Otherworld need crystals. He falls through the gate and communicates with Apocalypse who encourages him to anchor himself to the earth. Saturnyne appears, unimpressed that Betsy is Captain Britain. She dismisses Rogue and Gambit, who begin to explore the citadel, where they find a closet full of trinkets – one takes Gambit's interest in particular, a red stone.

Excalibur, Volume 4 #12 - Verse XII: The Beginning
Importance Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: April 2020 Variant Covers: A. Unknown Comics Variant B. Virgin Unknown Comics Variant C. Second Print Edition Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 2 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Apocalypse gathers the other Externals at a volcano on Krakoa, where he tells them that mutantkind have evolved, and that the Externals are no longer the only mutants granted ever-lasting life. Some of the Externals resent being assembled just to be told they are obsolete, and Candra stands up to Apocalypse, demanding to know what he wants. At that moment, Rictor bursts through the volcano, and lava erupts around the Externals, as Apocalypse tells them they either have a choice – give their ancient bones to empower this gateway, or die denying the inevitable. Crule is the first to fall, and Nicodemus puts up a fight against Apocalypse, who summons Selene and Gideon to his side. Selene is happy to side with Apocalypse – she needs to be around the young mutants of Krakoa, not these old Externals. Saul transforms into his dragon state, but Rictor's powers are vast, and he washes a wave of lava across Saul, Nicodemus, Candra and Absalom. Absalom doesn't die though, and nor does Apocalypse finish him off, needing one more External on his side. They begin to perform a ritual with the bones of the dead Externals to open this new gateway, but Apocalypse realizes that something is wrong with Candra's remains, like her power has been gone for some time. On Otherworld, Gambit and Rogue are walking around the Starlight Citadel after Gambit stole the red stone from Saturnyne's closet. Candra's ghost appears to Gambit, her ex-lover, and she wants her heart gem stone back. Candra tries to persuade Gambit that he doesn't want to give the stone to Apocalypse, a man he hates. Saturnyne continues to belittle Betsy as Captain Britain – she doesn't like her and doesn't want her to be Captain Britain. Saturnyne explains how Otherworld has been in chaos since the death of the Captain Britain Corps, and shows her “abomination” Corps members that were created recently and resemble the rest of Excalibur. On Krakoa, Selene notes how much Apocalypse doesn't like it when things don't go his way, but that he never seems to sacrifice himself. Apocalypse knows that Candra's spirit is elsewhere, and as her ghost talks to Gambit, encouraging him to give her back her soul, Gambit tells Betsy and Rogue what is going on. Gambit is conflicted – he hates Apocalypse, but nevertheless, he hurls Candra's gem into the gate. Apocalypse retrieves the gem and completes the ritual, creating the External gate, which leads directly to the Starlight Citadel on Otherworld.

Excalibur, Volume 4 #13 - X of Swords - X of Swords, Part 9
Importance Rating: 5.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): R.B. Silva Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: April 2020 Variant Covers: A. Lee Garbett Variant B. Alex Ross Timeless Nightcrawler Variant C. Alex Ross Timeless Sketch Variant D. Jay Anacleto Variant E. Jay Anacleto Virgin Variant F. Second Print Variant Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 2 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Brian Braddock and Jamie Braddock arrive at the Starlight Citadel, where Betsy Braddock is not happy to see that Brian is trying to give her the Sword of Might – she doesn't want it. Saturnyne is annoyed to see Betsy aggravating her brothers, before Jamie attempts to woo Saturnyne, but she isn't interested in him – she has her sights on Brian. Saturnyne discusses the history of the Braddock family and takes the Braddock siblings into a memorial garden for the slain Captain Britain Corps members. Betsy and Brian argue some more, with Brian determined to give the Sword of Might to Betsy, and Betsy wanting Brian to use the sword for himself. They fight, until an unimpressed Saturnyne breaks them up. That night, Jamie is woken by some alternate versions of Rogue, Rictor, Gambit and Jubilee – a makeshift Captain Britain Corps. Betsy and Brian hear their brother's cries, and rush to him, once again trying to get each other to take the Sword of Might. They arrive to find Jamie using his reality warping powers against the makeshift Captain Britain Corps members. One of them attacks Jamie, so Brian draws the Sword of Might to protect him – and is transformed into Captain Avalon. The Corps members who survive are taken into custody, with Captain Avalon wanting them to stand trial as all Corps members are entitled to. Betsy destroys the Amulet of Right, annoying Saturnyne further, and as a consequence is placed into custody herself. She is able to telepathically communicate with Jamie, who helps guide her out of the prison, and catches her on a griffin that he is riding on around the Starlight Citadel. Saturnyne is in her quarters with Brian when she reveals to him the Starlight Sword. They make out and Betsy and Jamie rush into her room and steal the Starlight Sword. To Saturnyne's frustration, Brian was only making out with her to distract her. Betsy, carrying the Starlight Sword, and Brian, with the Sword of Might, then arrive on Krakoa and take their place with the other Swordbearers.

Excalibur, Volume 4 #16 - They Keep Killing Braddocks
Importance Rating: 6.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: December 2020 Variant Covers: None. Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 3 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Rogue is having trouble dealing with Betsy Braddock's death, despite Gambit attempting to cheer her up. Jubilee finds Rictor in a forest, trying to get Apocalypse's book of spells to “talk” to him, while struggling with Apocalypse's departure to the Arakko island. Rogue and Gambit go to the Green Lagooon for a drink, and decide to enlist the services of X-Factor to investigate Betsy's death so that she can be resurrected. Rictor and Jubilee join them, and there is clearly some tension between Rictor and Rogue regarding Apocalypse's departure. Gambit reminds Rictor that Apocalypse chose to leave, before the four are summoned to meet with X-Factor, who inform Excalibur that given there is no proof of death, they cannot recommend Betsy for resurrection. Rogue is annoyed, but Rachel Summers is able to calm her down, and suggests to her that Excalibur use this time to investigate Betsy's death themselves, and that they should firstly check out the scene of the crime. Excalibur arrive on Avalon where Captain Avalon and Meggan, their daughter Maggie, and King Jamie meet them. Maggie explains that she and her mother have been investigating Betsy's disappearance themselves, and Meggan reveals that she has had a calling to the wild, like a clue, however she has not been brave enough to go on her own, worried that Saturnyne might appear. Excalibur offer to accompany Meggan, and after she farewells her family, she ventures off with Excalibur into the wilds of Otherworld. Jamie has his own agenda though, and passes through the portal to Krakoa wearing Sinister's cloak. Meggan appears radiant as she explores the wilds of Otherworld, locating the site that she had been pulled towards, her contact with that site causes the area around her to glow, and Rictor pulls out Apocalypse's book of spells which he thinks might help. At Bar Sinister, Jamie meets with Mr Sinister, and returns his cloak to him, in return for Sinister creating a new Betsy body. Back on Otherworld, Rictor, Rogue, Gamibt and Jubilee surround Meggan as she levitates above them, glowing, mutant energy flows around them, the group are able to contact the newly reborn Captain Britain Corps, and ask for their assistance in finding Betsy. The Captain Britain Corps agrees to assist, and begin search their respective realms – eventually, Betsy wakes, with Warren Worthington serving her tea in bed, and a portrait of her dressed as the Queen on the wall.

Excalibur, Volume 4 #17 - QEIII
Importance Rating: 6.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: January 2021 Variant Covers: None. Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 3 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: In another world, Betsy Braddock has appeared in the body of this reality's Betsy, a member of the Captain Britain Corps who just happens to be Queen of England! She brings herself up to speed on this reality by reading a protocol that the real Betsy of this world had written in case this strange event were ever to happen. Warren Worthington isn't bothered by it all, having been a member of this reality's X-Men for most of his life, he is used to strange happenings. The Queen's absence from the public is explained as her having a slight illness, but Betsy watches from the palace window and sees hundreds of well-wishers outside. Betsy determines that she has to get to the lighthouse and use the portal within to travel back to Otherworld. Warren enlists the assistance of his ex-wife, Kwannon, to take Betsy to the lighthouse, which is now the headquarters of British Intelligence, and no longer looks like a lighthouse. Betsy acts strange around this world's Kwannon, who doesn't like Betsy looking at her so intently. Inside the facility, the two women work together to get to the portal, and Kwannon allows Betsy to ask her three questions. Eventually, Betsy informs Kwannon that on her world, she used to exist in her body. Kwannon gets annoyed by this knowledge and practically throws Betsy through the portal. Betsy leaves, telling Kwannon that she is sorry, as she departs. Meanwhile, in London of Earth 616, Pete Wisdom is being questioned by Reuben Brousseau who demands to know where Captain Britain is, and wants information about the four mysterious Captain Britain who recently appeared and resemble Gambit, Rogue, Jubilee and Rictor. Wisdom isn't interested in talking to Brousseau and heads for Krakoa. He arrives to find Rogue, Gamibt, Jubilee and Rictor preparing to move themselves into the lighthouse, and updates them on the trouble Brousseau and his anti-mutant followers are causing in England. When they arrive at the lighthouse, they find it under attack by Marianna Stern and her followers in the Coven Akkaba, who are attempting to demolish the lighthouse in the hope of destroying the gate. Excalibur fight back against the Coven, but Marianna knows magic and casts spells against the team, although Rictor is able to shield the team from Marianna eventually, until they hear a screaming cry for help. Energy radiates from the lighthouse, and something falls into the water off the shore – it's Betsy. Excalibur rescue her from the ocean, and warn Marianna to leave.

Excalibur, Volume 4 #18 - Mad Women
Importance Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: February 2021 Variant Covers: A. Russell Dauterman Incentive Variant Trade Prints: None. Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: At the Starlight Citadel in Otherworld, a petulant Saturnyne receives a message from the Krakoans. She is unimpressed by their request and responds by informing them that since they have no Captain Britain for Earth 616 she cannot meet with them. At the lighthouse, where Excalibur now calls home, Rogue and Rachel Summers look out to the shore, where the newly-returned Betsy stands and looks out across the ocean. Rogue is happy her friend is back, but has a strange feeling that something isn't right with her. Rachel wants to probe Betsy's mind, but Betsy telepathically warns her against it, so Rachel lets Rogue absorb some of her telepathic power should she need it. A furious Emma Frost arrives, demanding to know why Excalibur thought it right to keep Betsy's return from the Council. Rictor and Gambit rush towards Rogue, apologizing for letting Emma get past them. Emma goes down to Betsy and asks her if she wants to go to the Healing Gardens, but Betsy doesn't want Emma talking to her telepathically, or at all it seems, as she walks into the lighthouse. Emma scolds Excalibur and tells them they need to get Betsy to snap out of her current state, and if they haven't done so within a few days, she'll be announcing Betsy's return to the Council. Rogue, Gambit, Jubilee and Rictor gather for dinner within the lighthouse, while Betsy sits in the entrance way where the portals to Krakoa and Otherworld are situated. To her annoyance, her niece, Maggie Braddock, runs through from Otherworld. Maggie sees her aunt and rushes back through the portal to alert her father. Captain Avalon follows Maggie back through the portal, but Betsy has slunk away intro the shadows. Captain Avalon is also annoyed at Exclaibur for not telling him about his sister's return. Meggan joins everyone, and Rogue invites the Braddocks for dinner. Later, Captain Avalon sits by a fireplace and Rogue finds him, where she explains that Betsy just washed up here, and that she seems different. Brian is worried it isn't Betsy, but Rogue thinks it is, only she needs some time to recover. Brian disagrees, and thinks something is very wrong. Rogue leaves him and Brian falls asleep, unaware that Betsy had been listening to that conversation. She wakes him telepathically and forces him to return to Avalon. Betsy then wakes Rogue up, and makes sure that Rogue sees her as she flees through the portal to Krakoa. Rogeu wakes the rest of Excalibur. Rogue and Rictor return to Krakoa, while Gambit journeys to Avalon, leaving Jubilee at the lighthouse. Gambit meets up with King Jamie, who reveals that he had a spare Betsy Braddock body built. Jamie takes Gambit into another part of Castle Avalon, where Gambit discovers Morgan le Fay being held prisoner and warns Jamie that her friends on Earth will not be happy with this. Jamie opens the sarcophagus where they discover the body Jamie had made is missing. On Krakoa, Rogue and Rictor visit Apocalypse's old lab, where Rictor reveals what he has learned about mutant magic and some of the secrets of Apocalypse. Rictor lights up a message that Apocalypse had scribed on the wall of his lab, and Rictor realizes they are close to the secrets of the future, something he never thought he would be around to see. Rogue suddenly realizes someone is watching them, and Betsy, dressed in her Captain Britain costume, rushes from the shadows and attacks them with the Starlight Sword – until she is knocked aside by someone else – Kwannon!

Excalibur, Volume 4 #19 - Wild Violets
Importance Rating: 4.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: May 2021 Variant Covers: None. Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 3 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: In another reality, Elspeth Braddock, one of the Captain Britain Corps members, locates the missing soul of Betsy Braddock, and traps it in a lantern. She assembles the Corps and they arrive at the Starlight Citadel in Otherworld, but Saturnyne refuses to meet with them. The Captain Britains are defiant and inform Saturnyne that they believe they can put Betsy back together, body and soul. Saturnyne still refuses – she doesn't want Betsy Braddock 616 back. The Corps journeys to Avalon where they give Betsy's soul over to Captain Avalon, her brother. In Excalibur's lighthouse, the body of Betsy is laid out on a table, and Gambit, Kwannon, Rogue, Meggan and Jubilee stand around it as Rictor reads from his book of spells. Captain Avalon holds his sister's soul. Rictor becomes upset when the Betsy won't just “come back together” as he has done so much work to try and restore her. The heroes discuss their options and Rogue reminds everyone that unless they can get in touch with Saturnyne, the gate to Otherworld will be closed, even though Meggan needs that gate. Rictor eventually realizes that someone else might be sabotaging his spell, and Kwannon agrees – so she kicks open the lantern containing Betsy's soul, which darts about the lighthouse before escaping through the gateway to Avalon. Rictor is annoyed, but Kwannon offers to go after her. Captain Avalon wants to come, but Kwannon prefers to work alone. Rogue isn't sure about this given Kwannon and Betsy's history, but Kwannon points out that the two of them will always be linked, and heads through the portal. Arriving in Avalon, she quickly locates furious psychic energy which has manifested in a well within the town of Jackdaw's Nest. The mayor, Frogmouth, sees Kwannon wearing the mark of X, and assures her people that Kwannon will save them. In the well, Kwannon finds a skeleton wearing the Captain Britain armor, but knows this is all theatrics, and enters the psychic realm, where she finds Betsy trying to run from her, and Betsy tells Kwannon that she is the last person she wanted going after her. Betsy feels defeated, that she failed, and wants to be left alone. Kwannon concentrates hard and is able to trap Betsy by allowing her to take over her body again. She leaves the well, and informs Betsy that she is taking her home. The village of Jackdaw's Nest is grateful as Kwannon departs, while Kwannon informs Betsy that she actually won, that the Captain Britain Corps were reformed when she took the Starlight Sword, and that she is needed. On Otherworld, Saturnyne looks on in horror as the glass mosaic of Captain Britain begins to glow. The Starlight Sword manifests in Kwannon's hands as she races back to the lighthouse, and places the sword in the hands of the Betsy body. The others gather around her, and Betsy suddenly wakes, and coughs up a choker necklace with a strange face on it. Another lifeforce flies around the lighthouse, passing through Rogue before escaping into the portal to Krakoa. The heroes realize that Betsy had been taken over by Malice – and now Malice is on Krakoa and she could be anyone!

Excalibur, Volume 4 #21 - Don't Feel Like Dancin'
Importance Rating: 5.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: August 2021 Variant Covers: A. Russell Dauterman Rogue Variant B. Marcus To Character Design Variant C. Russell Dauterman Connecting Variant D. Unknown Comics Exclusive Variant E. Unknown Comics Exclusive Virgin Variant Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 3 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: It's the night of the Hellfire Gala, and the members of Excalibur are preparing to travel through the Krakoan gateway to join the festivities, although Rictor is hardly in a cheerful mood. Betsy's return is noticed by many people at the Gala, while Rictor is thinking about someone who isn't present – Apocalypse. Suddenly, Rictor is reunited with Shatterstar, who, drenched in blood, arrives at the Gala to be with him. Rictor is not impressed and storms away, leaving a confused Shatterstar behind. As the night goes on, the new X-Men team is announced – of which Rogue is revealed to be a member. Her Excalibur teammates are happy for her, and Gambit reveals that he plans to stay with Excalibur for now. Jubilee and Betsy try to cheer Rictor up, before Pete Wisdom finds Betsy and tells her what has been going on with Coven Akkaba since she was gone, as well as how Reuben Brousseau has become Britain's ambassador to the United Nations. Betsy strides into a meeting room where Xavier and Emma Frost are meeting with Brousseau, who announces that he is dissolving Great Britain's alliance with Krakoa. He informs the mutants that he will arrange for the documentation to be drawn up and for all of the mutant drugs to be returned to Krakoa. He also warns them that mutants who commit atrocities in Great Britain will face justice – in the form of Britain's own magic. Betsy argues with Brousseau, but it's a done deal. Brousseau starts to leave, only to discover Rictor has been listening in on the meeting. Rictor vows to do something about this. Elsewhere at the Gala, Meggan and Captain Avalon are enjoying some time together. Meggan appears in a strange mood, and Nightcrawler goes over to see her, and congratulates her on her delicate condition, which just confuses Meggan. Betsy and Rachel Summers spend some time together and enjoy a dance with each other. Pete Wisdom returns to England with Brousseau, and they arrive Coven Akkaba's meeting house, where Marianna Stern is waiting for them. Wisdom is then attacked by the Coven and seemingly killed as Marianna shoves a blade into his chest. At that moment, Morgan Le Fay breaks free from her restraints in the dungeon of Avalon – with King Jamie not present to keep her under his control. Morgan then takes out some guards and escapes Avalon through the portal. Rictor returns to the lighthouse and summons the druids. They answer his call and begin to reshape the land that the lighthouse sits on. When they finally finish, Rictor sits on the shore of a new island that the lighthouse towers over, off the coast of the mainland where it once stood. He looks up to the lighthouse as he sees a flare of energy when Morgan arrives, but before he gets a chance to investigate, Shatterstar appears. He apologizes for his actions at the Gala, and suggests they have a drink, holding up some cans of beer. Rictor smiles for the first time as they sit down leaning against each other on the shore of Braddock Isle.

Excalibur, Volume 4 #22 - Treasures of Britain
Importance Rating: 5.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: September 2021 Variant Covers: A. Phil Nato Variant B. Felipe Massafera Variant C. Felipe Massafera Virgin Variant Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 4 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Captain Britain, Gambit, Rictor, Jubilee and Meggan have accompanied the Beast to Blightspoke, on Otherworld, where he takes samples of the earth. They are confronted by Sheriff Whitechapel, who isn't impressed that they are stealing from this realm. The Beast explains the technology he has that enables him to take samples of the dirt without taking it back to Krakoa, so the Sheriff allows him to continue. She warns Excalibur to be careful, as there are people on Otherworld not happy with “witchbreed” running all over the place. Later, on Krakoa, Pete Wisdom is resurrected. Meggan is there to greet him, and informs him that Coven Akkaba killed him as a sacrifice to free Morgan Le Fay – and that the gates between Krakoa and the UK have all been torn down. At the Starlight Citadel on Otherworld, Saturnyne meets with representatives from the various realms within Otherworld. Merlyn seems particularly offended about the “witchbreed” visiting Otherworld. He reminds everyone that he used to be the Omniversal guardian. Jamie Braddock asks Merlyn how he lost that position, however Roma points out that her father won't speak about that – however, she would be happy to talk about it. Merlyn warns the representatives at the meeting that the “witchbreed” will only cause trouble for Otherworld, and that if Saturnyne cannot protect Otherworld, they will all suffer. After the meeting, Captain Britain and Saturnyne discuss Merlyn and agree that he probably schemed some diabolical plan. The two women nearly make peace, but can't quite get there. Captain Britain asks Saturnyne how she took the throne from Merlyn, to which Saturnyne tells Captain Britain that if she can find out what Merlyn has planned next, then she will tell her how she defeated him last time. Pete Wisdom is on Braddock Isle, reflecting on what has transpired. He spends some time drinking, before collecting the images of four dead mutants who have not yet been resurrected. Captain Britain, Rictor, Jubilee and Gambit invade Merlyn's tower on Otherworld, feeing fairies and other prisoners, they make their way to Merlyn's chamber, where they hear voices, like trapped prisoners, within a well. Merlyn confronts Excalibur and attacks them, forcing them to flee down the well. Rictor controls their descent by manipulating the earth around them, and the eventually come to a tunnel underneath the citadel, where they flee on a train. Back on Krakoa, Wisdom arrives at the Hatchery as four long-dead mutants are returned to life – the agents of STRIKE! Merlyn finds his dungeons now empty – save for one person who was hidden in plain sight from Excalibur – a bearded man who Merlyn asks if he remembers who he is – and the man announces that he is Arthur!

Excalibur, Volume 4 #23 - In the Service of Lord Doom
Importance Rating: 5.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: November 2021 Variant Covers: A. Dike Ruan Variant Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 4 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Dr Doom arrives at Excalibur's lighthouse, where he demands access to Otherworld, to find something that his ex-lover, Morgan le Fay, had left in the other realm when she was freed from it. Doom plans to access the Krakoan gateway by means of a mutant infant. Captain Britain doesn't like that idea, and eventually agrees to accompany the arrogant Doom to Otherworld – especially because she also doesn't want him stomping around Otherworld causing trouble. Gambit, Rictor and Jubilee accompany her, and they are soon joined by Meggan, who is excited to accompany her friends. But shortly, an assassin attacks them in the Valley of the Wailing Mists. Doom uses this moment to lose his companions and flies on ahead, while Captain Britain assumes the assassin was after Meggan, so Meggan disguises herself for the rest of the journey. Excalibur eventually find Doom at the location of where Morgan's castle once stood – but it's no longer there. No one knows why, so Jubilee uses her fireworks powers to call for the fairies, hoping they will talk to her again, after Meggan determined from the grass that the castle magically disappeared. Doom thinks his companions are talking nonsense, and wonders where Arthur and Modred could be. Captain Britain tells Doom that Merlyn is not their ally, before Jubilee reports that one of the fairies told her the castle was taken away to sell, and suggests they try the Crooked Market. They arrive at the Crooked Market, and Doom and Captain Britain head to speak with the person in charge of the market, leaving the rest of Excalibur to have some fun. The person is charge of the Crooked Market is Mad Jim Jaspers. He does indeed have Morgan's castle – which has been shrunk to miniature size. Back in the market, Gambit is playing a card game with some locals, which ends when the tavern they are in explodes. Jim Jaspers offers to give Doom the castle, in exchange for his, and Latveria's, help should he ever call on it. Captain Britain forbids them to make that deal as it would involve using Krakoan gateways, which she cannot allow. Doom threatens to have his men march through the gates wearing flayed skin of mutants – but their discussion is interrupted by the arrival of a Fury, who blasts Jaspers' office. Jaspers gives Doom the box containing Morgan's castle, and Doom and Captain Britain fly off into the market where they find the rest of Excalibur under attack by more Furies, who keep calling them “Friends of Modred”. Meggan drops her disguise and tries to talk to the Furies, but they open fire on her – thankfully, Captain Britain is able to protect her. The Furies eventually reveal that they follow the command of the Forgemaster Federal, and that he has sworn fealty to Arthur, the King returned. They claim they are not mindless killers, and promise to talk to the Forgemaster Federal about this conflict in their programming, while warning Captain Britain that other Friends of Modred will not be spared. Doom tells Excalibur that he is not impressed with these preposterous delays. Later, once Doom has returned to Earth, he opens the box holding Morgan's castle. What he wanted lies in the castle – Morgan's scrying pool. He writes a cryptic note to Captain Britain about Arthur and Modred. Captain Britain and Meggan reflect on their recent visit to Otherworld. Meggan recalls her own past, and tells Captain Britain that she thinks Friend of Modred might mean “mutant.”

Excalibur, Volume 4 #24 - By the Pleasure of the Court
Importance Rating: 5.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: October 2021 Variant Covers: A. Rian Gonzales Variant B. Joe Jusko Marvel Masterpieces Variant Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 4 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: KINGDOMS OF BLOOD! The ten kingdoms of Otherworld must decide: Are Excalibur heroes of the realm, or witchbreed to be put to the stake? The peace brought to Otherworld by their X OF SWORDS victory comes to an end.

Excalibur, Volume 4 #25 - Come Fate Into the List
Importance Rating: 5.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus To Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: November 2021 Variant Covers: A. Peach Momoko Variant Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 4 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: THE ONE TRUE KING RETURNS! And he's here to exterminate the witchbreed! King Arthur and his army turn Otherworld into a battlefield-again. Backed into a corner, Betsy Braddock makes a desperate choice that will reshape the realm-and mutantkind-forever. The fate of the Starlight Citadel is at stake, and if the Citadel falls...so falls all reality.

Excalibur, Volume 4 #26 - The Fantasy is Over
Importance Rating: 6.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Marcus Ti Writer(s): Tini Howard Release Date: December 2021 Variant Covers: A. Betsy Cola Cover Trade Prints: Excalibur Volume 4 Fun Facts: This issue is the last of this series, but the storyline continues on Knights of X. -
Comic Summary: OTHERWORLD FALLS! Merlyn and King Arthur have taken the Starlight Citadel. Saturnyne still lives-but not for long. Betsy Braddock must decide once and for all where her loyalties lie. It's all been building to this - the fantasy ends here and reality rushes in. There is no haven for the witchbreed. Can they hold on to their champion, here at the twilight of an age?

Exiles, Volume 1 #1 - Down the Rabbit Hole
Importance Rating: 1.5 out of 10
Penciler(s): Mike McKone Writer(s): Judd Winick Release Date: August 2001 Variant Covers: None. Trade Prints: Exiles Vol. 1: Down The Rabbit Hole and Exiles Ultimate Collection Volume 1 Fun Facts: Title Logic: 'Down the Rabbit Hole' is a reference to the novel 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' commonly known as Alice in Wonderland. Down the Rabbit Hole is the title of Chapter 1 in the book. The chapter tells the story of Alice falling into a rabbit hole to an alternate universe known as Wonderland. -
Comic Summary: Six heroes from different timelines find themselves stranded nowhen and nowhere. They are Blink from “AoA“, Nocturne from “Professor W’s X-Men“, a future son of Rogue and Magneto named Magnus, and alternate versions of Morph, Mimic and Thunderbird. They are welcomed by a Time Broker who explains to them that each their home dimensions have been altered for the worse by a ripple in time, but that they are given the chance to change them back. Therefore they have to jump around various alternate scenarios, guided by a device called Tallus. Even though the realities they will find themselves in have apparently no connection to their own times, they are supposed to repair breaks in time, which otherwise are responsible for their own current condition through a domino effect. The mission is very dangerous as the Exiles can be injured or die along the way. If the are succesful their times go back to normal, and the members will return to the instant they left, if they fail, the altered timelines will become permanent. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Exiles, Volume 1 #14 - I Cover the Waterfront Part 1
Importance Rating: 2.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Mike McKone Writer(s): Judd Winick Release Date: Auguast 2002 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Exiles Vol. 3: Out of Time and Exiles Ultimate Collection Volume 1 Fun Facts: Title Logic: "I Cover the Waterfront" is the title of a book that became a classic movie released in 1933. A song of the same title was written for the movie and became a jazz standard. -
Comic Summary: The Exiles have arrived in the next reality where Namor the Sub-Mariner has declared war on the surface of Earth and already forms a beachhead in Latveria. Despite their negative feelings towards Latveria’s Emperor, the team has to assist Dr. Doom to stop Namor from gaining a foothold on the surface. Namor's troops have captured the Latverian army in a force field, and also taken over Doom's castle, where they are currently working on a technology that will allow the Atlanteans to breathe on the surface, but impossible for humans to do so. Mimic goes to attack the castle while the rest of the team go to the aid of the army. On the way, Mimic flashes back to his native reality. Calvin grew up with the wrong crowd. He came into contact with the X-Men, and followed them because his manifesting mutant power was copying all of their powers. He joined the Brotherhood but they abandoned him when he was defeated by the X-Men. While in jail, Mimic was contacted by Xavier, and agreed to join the school simply because it was better than being in jail. Over time Calvin began to fit in with the X-Men and eventually became their leader. Calvin misses his homeworld, and the only thing that keeps him sane in his current situation of being stuck with the reality hopping Exiles is Blink. Calvin is unsure if he really loves her or just sees her as a safe place. Mimic arrives at the castle and is attacked by a pair of doombots, but easily takes them down. Continuing deeper into the castle, he stumbles on a room filled with doombots. They switch into battle mode and attack. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Exiles, Volume 1 #20 - Legacy, Part 1
Importance Rating: 2.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Jim Calafiore Writer(s): Judd Winick Release Date: February 2003 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Exiles Vol. 4: Legacy and Exiles Ultimate Collection Volume 2 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: In a reality where the Legacy Virus killed thousands of mutants, the techno-organic alien Warlock tried to save the life of his friend Cypher by merging with him. However, this caused the Legacy Virus to mutate and became, although no longer lethal, more contagious. While its victims retained their intellect, they became evil, techno-organic creatures called Vi-Locks. About seventy percent of earth’s population have been transformed into them. The Exiles arrive right in the middle of a conflict between three Vi-Locks and a group of children who have sneaked out the safe city to catch some lizards. At first, the Exiles hold their ground but, when reinforcements arrive, they grab the infected kids and fly to Las Vegas, which is protected by a perimeter fence and a set of Disrupters. Once the Exiles land, webbing appears out of nowhere and wrest the children from them, while the team themselves are stunned and brought to a lab. Only after their bio-scans reveal them to be uninfected do two Avengers, Henry Pym and Spider-woman, show up. They tell the Exiles the world’s history, and that they have a vaccine that only stops, but not cures, the techno-organic infection. Blink hears the Tallus speaking to her; their mission is to locate the merged Cypher/ Warlock, as, with a strand of the original virus, Pym can create an effective antidote. The problem is that he is in the headquarters of the so-called Primes, the Vi-Lock leaders, and almost every superpowered being on the planet has been transformed into one of the techno-organic beings.

Exiles, Volume 1 #23 - With An Iron Fist, Part 1
Importance Rating: 3.5 out of 10
Penciler(s): Kev Walker Writer(s): Kudd Winick Release Date: May 2003 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Exiles Vol. 4: Legacy and Exiles Ultimate Collection Volume 2 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: In an alternate reality, all of Earth is ruled by President Tony Stark, Iron Man, from his Oval Office in New York City. Little does the world know that it was Iron man who formed a secret alliance with Magneto to cause the Mutant Wars. After a huge amount of Earth’s super-beings perished in the conflict, Iron man betrayed his ally and killed him, which the public perceived a heroic act. The last true opponent was Dr. Doom, but Iron man killed him in battle. What the public doesn’t know is a radiation blast from Doom permanently disfigured Stark and that the handsome face is just a holographic projection. Also, he is forced to wear his armor all the time. Right now, the Inhumans are among the last free people, as they turned their city into a giant submarine, hidden well behind a cloaking field. Unfortunately, necessary repairs force them to the surface, where they are discovered. Black Bolt and his wife have only one option: to protect their city by activating the G Barrier. It was a parting gift from Sue’s deceased first husband, Reed Richards. Originally designed to keep Galactus at bay, the shield disintegrates everything that it comes in contact with. Stark’s armed forces learn this the hard way. While Iron Man ponders his next move, after all he needs the Inhumans alive to breed a superhuman army to conquer the stars, a new group of players arrive on the scene – Weapon X, a reality-hopping team of time-displaced operatives. Their mission is to set things right. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Exiles, Volume 1 #24 - With An Iron Fist, Part 2
Importance Rating: 6.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Kev Walker Writer(s): Kudd Winick Release Date: May 2003 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Exiles Vol. 4: Legacy and Exiles Ultimate Collection Volume 2 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Weapon X explains to President Stark, aka Iron Man, that their mission is to help him breach the force field around Attilan, enabling him to capture the Inhumans. It takes a little effort but, with secret information provided by the Tallus, they finally convince him of them really being reality-hoppers with a mission. They even know about a special key that Reed Richards left in someone’s care, just in case that his force field technology fell into the wrong hands. The problem is that this person is Wonder Man, who, after being close to this reality’s Hulk when he was killed by a gamma radiation bomb, absorbed some of the rays and the Hulk’s genetic material, turning him into an amalgam of himself and the green goliath, more powerful than ever. Weapon X secretly enter the home of him, the Scarlet Witch and Dr. Strange, unnoticed thanks to magical talismans created by Storm. However, the Spider gets careless and gives Dr. Strange an opening to rip off his magic necklace, thus setting off the fortification spell cast by Wanda. Now alerted to the team’s presence, Wonder Man immediately shows up to fight them. While Angel and Vision search the house for the strange key, the rest of the group fights Wonder Man. When the Spider threatens his lover, he gets mad and transforms into his Hulk state. The team has no other option than to use a portable gate to the Negative Zone, given to them by President Stark. “Wonder Hulk” is sucked in, but so is the Jen Walters, the Weapon X’s Hulk, because Spider refuses to save her with a webline. Instantly, the team gains a new member in some alternate reality version of Colossus. Weapon X returns to Iron Man with the key. Meanwhile, in Attilan, Black Bolt senses that things are coming to an end and decides that he’ll make sure his race will never be hunted again. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Exiles, Volume 1 #25 - With An Iron Fist, Conclusion
Importance Rating: 5.5 out of 10
Penciler(s): Kev Walker Writer(s): Judd Winick Release Date: June 2003 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Exiles Vol. 4: Legacy and Exiles Ultimate Collection Volume 2 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Dr. Strange and the Scarlet Witch alert the Inhumans that the disruptor is now in the hands of President Stark. The Inhumans wonder what to do. Black Bolt studies several books on races that have been hunted down and, after reading a tale entitled “Masada,” he formulates a plan. Sue Richards, his wife, doesn’t agree with it, but it’s now use, his decision is made. The strongest warriors of the Inhumans await the attacking forces outside the barrier, while inside Black Bolt carries out his plan. Led by Weapon X, Stark’s troops attack Attilan. Vision is maimed by Karnak, but Colossus and Gambit manage to get the disruptor to the G-Barrier. The device works and the force field fades. Weapon X and Stark’s army storm inside, but they find only dead bodies. The Inhumans have robbed Stark of a true victory, as he needed the Inhumans as slaves. With their mission at an end, Weapon X is teleported to the next reality, although they are not aware of the events they really set in motion. Black Bolt, hovering above Attilan, shouts a single word a full force “Masada,” killing himself and vaporizing everything in a certain range, so that Stark can’t even use the bodies’ genetic material. Later, President Stark ponders the situation, when he is suddenly sought out by Sue Richards, who kills him with an invisible force dagger right before being shot by his security. During the battle, Black Bolt made Sue cloak 300 Inhumans, who will secretly rebuild their society in hiding, while, in the following years, all of Stark’s machinations will be uncovered. Thus, the timeline restores itself to what it should be. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Exiles, Volume 1 #38 - King Hyperion, Part 1
Importance Rating: 5.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Jim Calafiore Writer(s): Chuck Austen Release Date: February 2004 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Exiles Vol. 7: A Blink in Time and Exiles Ultimate Collection Volume 3 Fun Facts: Did You Know: Hyperion was one of the twelve Titan gods of Ancient Greece, which were later supplanted by the Olympians. He was the brother of Cronus. He was also the lord of light, and the titan of the east. He was the son of Gaia (the physical incarnation of Earth) and Uranus (literally meaning 'the Sky'), and was referred to in early mythological writings as Helios Hyperion, 'Sun High-one'. -
Comic Summary: Storm is killed and replaced by Hyperion on a mission which required Weapon X to possibly kill Bruce Banner. Gambit is distraught by the death of “his woman” and how they can be forced to work for Timebroker but not be made indestructible. The Weapon X team discuss what they are all going back to in their respective realities and decide that they are working for no reason because their respective realities are all bad ones. Hyperion suggests that they all not go through with the mission and instead stay on this planet and rule it with him as king. Meanwhile, in their current reality most of the mutants have been killed by Sentinels. Magneto and his team of mutants went off into space and plan to send a asteroid to crash into the Earth to ensure that all the humans die. Hyperion and Ms. Marvel have a romp in bed then discover a young Kitty Pryde hiding in a closet. The others plans to kill her but Hyperion blasts Vision and informs them of his new plans. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Exiles, Volume 1 #39 - King Hyperion, Part 2
Importance Rating: 5.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Jim Calafiore Writer(s): Chuck Austen Release Date: March 2004 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Exiles Vol. 7: A Blink in Time and Exiles Ultimate Collection Volume 3 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Hyperion destroys the Mastermold core of the Sentinels and then kills President Kelly and proclaims himself King. As he holds up the dead body of Kelly, Ms. Marvel questions what other countries they’ll need to destroy in order to rule Earth. Magneto appears informing them that they will need to deal with Genosha. Magneto had gone back to Earth to make Weapon X their slaves aboard Asteroid M after Quicksilver informed him of the destruction of the Sentinels and the appearance of more super beings for betraying their race. As they face off, Hyperion kills Wolverine. Hyperion, then flies off into space with Magneto and kills him for refusing to help his destroy the asteroid. Gambit and team meet up with Vanisher outside of Storm’s city as Kitty and Colossus bond then kiss. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Exiles, Volume 1 #40 - King Hyperion, Part 3
Importance Rating: 7.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Jim Calafiore Writer(s): Chuck Austen Release Date: April 2004 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Exiles Vol. 7: A Blink in Time and Exiles Ultimate Collection Volume 3 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Gambit finally meets this reality’s Storm and is greeted by her with a kiss; she too lost the one she loved, her Gambit. They discover that Storm is keeping a bunch of humans safe in her Storm field. Storm rejects the idea of escaping Earth’s destruction aboard Asteroid M, she tells them that she can’t leave behind they people who followed her. Hyperion appears with the remaining Brotherhood mutants, they inform the others of their plan to stop the asteroid by having Rogue absorb some of Hyperion’s power and help him blast the rock. Gambit manages to persuade Storm that he need her to come with them because he doesn’t want to go through losing her again. The group teleports to the asteroid with the exception of Rogue and Hyperion. Rogue absorbs some of Hyperion’s power and they try to blast apart the bigger pieces of the asteroid. While doing so, Hyperion’s power begins to wear off Rogue, as she reaches for him to get a boost, he flies away from her and leaves her to die, deciding that it is hopeless. Above the asteroid they watch the Earth blow up and Kitty takes initiative and tries to get her and Colossus away. However Hyperion catches them and does what Kitty was expecting him to do, he blows a hole in the ship and Kitty and Colossus get blown out and die. The team begins to kill the rest of the mutants so they may move on to the next reality and try to take over the world again. Gambit kills Storm at her plea, she does not want Hyperion doing it. The Weapon X team receives Bruce Banner and Firestar to replace Colossus and Vision. They tell Hyperion that the Timebroker is not happy with them. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Exiles, Volume 1 #43 - A Blink in Time, Part 1
Importance Rating: 5.5 out of 10
Penciler(s): Jim Calafiore Writer(s): Chuck Austen Release Date: April 2004 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Exiles Vol. 7: A Blink in Time and Exiles Ultimate Collection Volume 3 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Blink teleports in to join her teammates as they mourn Sunfire’s death. They are teleported to another reality, the Morlock tunnels, Morph verbally assaults Mimic for being stupid and becoming a murderer. Clarice attempts to soothe over the tension but both Morph and Mimic end up storming away. Weapon X’s Gambit makes his presence known at this time as he introduces himself to the remaining members of the group. Gambit fills them in on what has been happening with Weapon X. Deciding that Gambit could no longer be trusted with the Tallus Hyperion blasted off his arm and took the Tallus. Hulk, deciding that he had enough attacked Hyperion which lead to a full fight within the team. Gambit managed to get away and hide in the Morlock tunnels figuring that sticking around would be suicide. He had been waiting in the tunnels for a while now waiting for something to happen since the Tallus hadn’t given him a mission. At that moment the Tallus gives them their missions, annoucing that of the two teams only six people can move on. Illyana goes after Morph and she shares her past with him and they are able to slightly bond. Clarice and Calvin reconnect and they notice that the Tallus has returned to Clarice. Spider alerts Hyperion to the arrival of the Exiles. He’s grateful as he claims it has gotten boring. Hulk and Firestar are strung up with webbing. All the rest of the super heroes of the area are dead and hanging either hanging by webbing or dumped on the ground. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Exiles, Volume 1 #44 - A Blink in Time, Part 2
Importance Rating: 3.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Jim Calafiore Writer(s): Chuck Austen Release Date: May 2004 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Exiles Vol. 7: A Blink in Time and Exiles Ultimate Collection Volume 3 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Manhattan remains under siege by the defunct Weapon X team with Hyperion demanding President Osborn hand over control of the United States or face the destruction of Manhattan. Meanwhile, the Exiles, along with Gambit, discuss a plan to take down Hyperion. Mimic refuses to kill anymore and Morph agrees with him as the team turns their attention to the problem of moving on to their next reality. But the Tallus is unwavering in its proclamation that only six members of the two teams may live before they may move on. Magik lets her desire to go home take advantage of her and she discusses taking out Mimic and Gambit, to which Morph tells her that they are still heroes and there will be no killing. The group splits up to go take on Hyperion as Hyperion toys with his captives. While on the roof, Illyana tries to get Sasquatch and Nocturne to see the reasoning behind her plan but they ignore her and Illyana ends up cutting Heather across the back in an attempt to kill her. A brief scuffle ensues but Illyana teleports down to Hyperion intending to bargain with him so that they may move on and eventually go home; underestimating Hyperion, Illyana finds that Hyperion is distrustful and not willing to listen as he crushes her neck and kills her to test the truth of her words. Morph and the others watch on in horror and Blink and Gambit go to check on Heather and T.J. Seeing that Illyana is telling the truth about no more replacements being sent, Hyperion begins to kill Hulk and Firestar, she escapes from the webbing and kills Spider in a fiery blast. Morph and Mimic fly in to join the fight ready to take Hyperion out. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Exiles, Volume 1 #45 - A Blink in Time, Conclusion
Importance Rating: 4.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Jim Calafiore Writer(s): Chuck Austen Release Date: June 2004 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Exiles Vol. 7: A Blink in Time and Exiles Ultimate Collection Volume 3 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Gambit and Blink teleport up to the roof to find Heather bleeding to death in T.J.’s arms. Nocturne decides to forgo prior plans to possess Hyperion and possesses Heather and forces her to trigger her Sasquatch transformation to help her heal. Mimic and Morph fly in to fight with Ms. Marvel and Hyperion. They take turns fighting with Hyperion until Carol attacks Morph and Morph decides to take her out by slamming with her into a building. As it looks like Calvin is losing to Hyperion, Nocturne while in Sasquatch’s body, gets teleported in above Hyperion and smashes him to the ground. The fight continues as Nocturne steps out of Sasquatch. Everyone takes their shot at Hyperion only to be tossed aside. Hyperion goes in to finish off Blink, she opens a portal in front of her and one behind Hyperion. Hyperion’s blast ends up hitting himself in the back which ends up crippling him. Gambit takes care of the rest and kills Hyperion and sacrifices himself in the process by charging up Illyana’s sword and stabbing Hyperion with it. As the rest of the group regroups and shares information, Morph is approached elsewhere and a family thanks Morph. The Timebroker appears to Morph and tells him that it is time for him to go home and tries to explain how the events of late have caused him to appear a bit insane. The Timebroker also notes the need to have members expunged in order to have a harmonious team. As Morph sees his teammates, he tells Timebroker that he doesn’t want to go home and wants to stay with his new family. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Exiles, Volume 1 #61 - Son of the Apocalypse
Importance Rating: 5.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Jim Calafiore Writer(s): Tony Bedard Release Date: May 2005 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Exiles Vol. 10: Age of Apocalypse and Exiles Ultimate Collection Volume 3 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: The Exiles are shocked to hear Holocaust’s plan but, after learning that they can use the M’Kraan crystal, the nexus of realities, to teleport to the home base of the Timebroker, they agree to work with him for now. First, they arrive at the Yucatan to secure the notes of the Beast, who studied the crystal and used it a year ago to teleport to a parallel dimension. Namora travels underwater to secure the journal, but is confronted by the Timebroker, who wants her to kill Magneto and the X-Men, who are on their way. Namora returns to the surface, as Magneto, Sunfire, Gambit and Quicksilver arrive. Magneto believes that Sabretooth and Blink are in league with Holocaust and tries to kill them. The Exiles defeat the X-Men with ease and Holocaust is about to kill Magneto, when Namora interferes and reminds him that they cannot do what the Timebroker wants them to do. Holocaust reluctantly agrees and Blink teleports them to the M’Kraan crystal, where a scientist with Beast’s notes calibrates the crystal to send them to the source of the Tallus’ receiving signal, once Blink teleports them into the crystal. Blink does so and the Exiles find themselves in a crystal palace, where Sabretooth picks up the scent of something inhuman. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Exiles, Volume 1 #83 - It’s Your Funeral
Importance Rating: 2.5 out of 10
Penciler(s): Casey Jones Writer(s): Tony Bedard Release Date: August 2006 Variant Covers: A. Newsstand Edition Trade Prints: Exiles Vol. 13: World Tour 2 Fun Facts: This issue features Gambit's send back to his planet for his funeral. -
Comic Summary: The Exiles begin to send home the bodies of the deceased Exiles and Weapon X members, as well as the living Angel and Daredevil. After sending the body of Kane home, Heather pulls Power Princess aside and lectures her on constantly referring to Morph in the past tense. They cannot give Proteus any reason to doubt himself. Spider-Man and Morph walk past the Stasis Gallery and Spider-Man takes note of one body skipped – that of Thunderbird. Morph explains that Thunderbird is an original Exile member, and that they will reawaken him and fix him up themselves. They reach the infirmary where a living Iron Man reasons with Sabretooth to let him stay, but Sabretooth refuses to allow him, so a fight breaks out. Blink buries Mimic in the desert chamber and she and Longshot return as the fight occurs. Longshot and Morph quickly defeat Iron Man, leaving him with a stabbed eye. The team sends Tony Stark home, sans armor, and Heather explain that Iron Man caused a world war on his planet and is a wanted man. The Exiles finish sending the rest of the fallen home, but Power Princess urges Blink to reconsider keeping Mimic there, as the girl doesn’t even know what his funeral wishes were. Realizing that she cannot be that selfish, Blink takes Mimic back to his reality herself, and confronts the X-Men, telling them that, if she tells them everything they need to know about Calvin’s disappearance, they will tell her everything Mimic didn’t have the time to tell her about himself. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Exiles, Volume 3 #8 - None.
Importance Rating: 2.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Joe Quinones Writer(s): Saladin Ahmed Release Date: September 2018 Variant Covers: None. Trade Prints: Exiles Volume 2 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: The Watchers are back! And their all-seeing eyes are fixed firmly on the Exiles. Sure, the team's time-traveling antics saved the Multiverse - but nobody messes with the timestream while these Watchers are on duty. Justice will be served - and you might be surprised who ELSE appears to dish it out. Featuring guest art from beloved HOWARD THE DUCK and PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN artist Joe Quinones!

Exiles, Volume 3 #12 - None.
Importance Rating: 2.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Javier Rodriguez Writer(s): Saladin Ahmed Release Date: March 2019 Variant Covers: None. Trade Prints: Exiles Volume 2 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: The Watchers are back! And their all-seeing eyes are fixed firmly on the Exiles. Sure, the team's time-traveling antics saved the Multiverse - but nobody messes with the timestream while these Watchers are on duty. Justice will be served - and you might be surprised who ELSE appears to dish it out. Featuring guest art from beloved HOWARD THE DUCK and PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN artist Joe Quinones!

Exiles: Days of Then and Now #1 - Exiles: Days of Then and Now
Importance Rating: 2.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Mario Gully, Arnold Pander, Carlos Ferreira, Wayne Nichols Writer(s): Mike Raicht Release Date: March 2008 Variant Covers: None. Trade Prints: New Exiles #0 Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: There exists a reality very similar to 616 where recently the Hulk was sent into outer space. Unfortunately this is where things diverged drastically. Annihilus captured the Hulk whereupon Hulk killed him, took control of the Annihilation Wave and attacked Earth. Almost all of Earth’s heroes were killed. The only ones that remain are a group of youngsters led by Quentin Quire. Following a dream by Sophie, former Cuckoo member, that tells of a group of individuals that help troubled realities Quentin and his friends set about sending him into the dimensional timestream to find them. After repairing Cerebra, and despite the likelihood of a bug attack, the telepaths and Wiccan send Quentin away. He first ends up in the reality once ruled by Hyperion. After Nighthawk helps him battle his other-self and some cronies, Nighty hands over the Tallus he found when he was a boy, which earlier told him to meet Quentin. Quentin teleports away and ends up in the Vi-Lock reality. He meets Mary Watson and Luke Cage after placing flowers on Mariko Yashida’s grave (as per the Tallus). After learning a little bit of their history he teleports away again. He reappears in a world similar to the New Universe. He befriends Jenny Swenson who was attempting to destroy the Spitfire armor her father helped create after learning of the government’s plans to use it to hunt down paranormals. Quentin convinces her to use it to help people and then disappears yet again. This time he finds himself in the Age of Apocalypse timeline. He helps rescue Wild Child from a Friends of Humanity attack. After completing his final mission the Timebroker appears and finally offers Quentin the Exiles he’s been searching for. Quentin steps through the Timebroker generated portal and ends up in the Crystal Palace where he learns that the people he’s been meeting are the Exiles he will lead. Back on Quentin’s world his friends are doing their best to hold back the bugs. Quentin and the Exiles appear in the nick of time and destroy the immediate threat. Back at the Crystal Palace it is revealed that Blink and Sabretooth were behind the whole thing with Quentin. Their intention was to replace the heroes that shouldn’t have been killed if only they hadn’t been so busy chasing around the Mimic-possessed Proteus. (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

Extermination, Volume 1 #4 - Part Four
Importance Rating: 2.0 out of 10
Penciler(s): Ario Anindito Writer(s): Ed Brisson Release Date: November 2018 Variant Covers: A. Mike Hawthorne Connecting Variant B. John Cassaday Variant C. Unknown Comics Altered Barcode Variant Trade Prints: Extermination Fun Facts: None. -
Comic Summary: Ahab and his Hounds are en route to Searebro to put an end to Cyclops once and for all, while Cannonball arrives at the Xavier Institute with the unconscious Shatterstar and finds chaos, as the X-Men there are just recovering from the attack by Ahab. Cannonball explains that Shatterstar attacked his group, and takes him to Dr Reyes in the hope she can reverse the Hound programming, while Kitty prepares a team to go after Ahab. Domino, Boom-Boom and Warpath launch their attack on the younger Cable, who they blame for killing their Cable. Marvel Girl puts everyone in a telekinetic hold, stopping the fighting. Boom-Boom notices that the time-displaced Angel has organic wings somehow attached to his body and thinks that this Cable is experimenting on them. Cable explains that his older self wasn't doing his job to protect the timeline. He did what he had to so that he could save every one of them, revealing that Ahab is here because one of the time-displaced X-Men dies. He explains that it is Iceman, but it doesn't matter who, all Ahab has to do is kill one of them and he completely re-writes their history, they will never be able to go back in time and fulfil the past in the way they are meant to. Cable offers for Marvel Girl to read his mind, and removes his telepathy blocker. Marvel Girl enters Cable's mind and sees reality play out – without Iceman – leading to an earlier, deadlier end to the X-Men because they refused to go back to their true time. Boom-Boom isn't convinced, and as she helps Angel, Cable explains that he had to restore Angel's organic wings because the X-Men had to return to the past exactly as they arrived, so he took Mimic's wings. Mimic appears, and assures the others that he wanted to help in any way he could. Ahab arrives at Searebro, so Jean and her team begin fighting his Hounds, but Manon is able to to turn Honey Badger and Trinary into Hounds during the fight. Jean sends a distress call to Kitty, who is with her team and now en route to Searebro. Jean, X-23 and Gentle rush to the infirmary to protect Cyclos, but Nightcrawler, also a Hound, teleports in – before he can teleport out with Cyclops though, Cable, Domino, Warpath, Boom-Boom, Mimic and the time-displaced Marvel Girl, Angel and Iceman arrive. Jean learns everything from a telepathic sweep of Marvel Girl's mind. Ahab breaks into the infirmary, and Cyclops opens fire at him, releasing a close-range optic blast. Ahab then throws his harpoon, and spikes someone up against a wall and boasts that the battle is over, the X-Men have lost! (Brief description courtesy of uncannyxmen.net)

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