Comic Review: Excalibur #1

Excalibur #1

Marvel Comics

Writer: Tini Howard

Artists: Marcus To & Erick Arciniega

I’m not a fan of any of the previous Excalibur series. I’ve always liked the concept, but the execution has always been heavily flawed. Despite this, I felt optimistic about the new Excalibur series, just like I did for all of the other new X-Men books. Writer Tini Howard is a fine creator, with some of my favorites of hers being Euthanauts and Hack/Slash: Resurrection.  With how great the rest of the X-Men books have been, I have no reason to doubt Excalibur.

Excalibur focuses on Captain Britain and the more magical mutants. While the rest of the Dawn of X line is full of action and some science, Excalibur pulls from strong fantasy themes. The emphasis on magic allows Excalibur to feel completely different from the other books.  Every aspect, from the storytelling to the characters, is unique. Tini Howard does a fine job at establishing the characters and the plot, then ensuring that the action moves at a reasonable pace. A few moments feel just a tad too long, but otherwise, this is an enjoyable read from cover to cover.

Marcus To keeps the magic going with some fantastic art. His art not only moves the comic along successfully but also enhances the script. The action scenes feel massive in scale, and brings just the right amount of tension to the characters’ struggles. Erick Arciniega’s colors allow for the magic to have maximum impact on the pages. There are a few faces that look off, but this is otherwise a great looking comic book.

Those who are wanting an X-Men series that feels fresh will love Excalibur. It has a fun cast, tons of magic, and a great set-up. Be sure to add this to your pull list.

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