X-MEN: DIE BY THE SWORD #2 ADVANCE REVIEW

[Blake Petit]

Review by: Blake M. Petit Blake@comixtreme.com
Quick Rating: Bad
Title: First Blood
Rating: A

The Exiles and Excalibur fight… who?

Writer: Chris Claremont
Pencils: Juan Santacruz
Inks: Raul Fernandez
Colors: Rob Ro
Letters: Simon Bowland
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Cover Art: Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic
Publisher: Marvel Comics

The Exiles have decided to visit Excalibur, when what starts out as a nice reunion suddenly turns into a bloody fight for their lives, as… someone… sends… someone to fight them.

I’m not trying to be snarky here. I read this issue. At some point, the villain in the ugly mask is somewhat arbitrarily declared to be an alternate version of one of the X-Men characters, but by the time it’s over I don’t have the slightest idea who the villain is, what his motivation is, why he’s attacking Excalibur (or the Exiles) or why on Earth Marvel is even publishing this comic book. The story is all over the place, the characters have no depth, Dazzler walks around in her underwear mourning the fact that Longshot no longer remembers her even though the reason she was in her underwear doesn’t seem to indicate she was missing him very much, if you get my drift…

Okay, let’s find something positive. The art. Except for the bizarre, creepy look of the dominant villain in this issue and Dazzler’s hairstyle, the art by Juan Santacruz is okay.

Other than that… is there anything else to say positive about this issue? Oh, I’ve got it: Moon Knight fans rejoice. For once, your comic is not the worst one Marvel will publish this week.

Rating:


Buy X-Men: Die By the Sword products from X-World and save!

[Adam Chapman]

Of all the titles to publish not only on time but twice a month, why couldn't it be ANYTHING BUT THIS! I know its taking the place of Exiles and New Excalibur on the schedule, but damn, this is painful, and if wasn't for the fact I'm being a completest with this, and probably dropping after #100, I wouldn't even be picking this up. Claremont has flushed down the toilet so much potential, squandered needlessly and stupidly. And honestly, since I didn't read most of New Excalibur, I don't know, but has Allison mourned Longshot's death for a while? When was the last time they actually were seen together? I vaguely remember her being in the storyline immediately preceding Morrison's first storyline, with her being sad about something in the Mojoverse, but don't remember anything else, between that and New Excalibur #1, and also anything about her since then. When was Longshot's last appearance pre-Exiles?

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by Adam Chapman

And honestly, since I read New Excalibur, I don't know, but has Allison mourned Longshot's death for a while? When was the last time they actually were seen together? I vaguely remember her being in the storyline immediately preceding Morrison's first storyline, with her being sad about something in the Mojoverse, but don't remember anything else, between that and New Excalibur #1, and also anything about her since then. When was Longshot's last appearance pre-Exiles?

The answer to all these questions is: I haven't the foggiest idea, and the story doesn't do the slightest thing to tell us.

[Adam Chapman]

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

Other than that… is there anything else to say positive about this issue? Oh, I’ve got it: Moon Knight fans rejoice. For once, your comic is not the worst one Marvel will publish this week.

Probably my favourite Blake Petit quote in quite some time.

[Ben Lehnsherr]

Not for actual Moon Knight fans.

[Adam Chapman]

Originally Posted by Ben Lehnsherr

Not for actual Moon Knight fans.

You mean actual Moon Knight FAN, right? I'm not sure the plural works anymore...

[Ben Lehnsherr]

Originally Posted by Adam Chapman

You mean actual Moon Knight FAN, right? I'm not sure the plural works anymore...

That's low, dude. That's looooow. But that's all good. I think I'm the only Boston Legal FAN, too.

[WhereIsTony]

Boston legal is one of the best shows on TV

[Ben Lehnsherr]

Originally Posted by WhereIsTony

Boston legal is one of the best shows on TV

Thank you!!!! I'm not the only one, they are others! But yeah, back to the issue at hand. I won't be picking it up. I dropped both of these a long time ago.

[Jason Kanno]

Boston Legal is still on the air?

And despite being a Moon Knight fan, I find Blake's comment to be oh-so-true.

[akuma222]

well sage is joining the exiles team!!!!!............ill get my coat

[TobiasJeth]

BAH! That's it. I'm done with all things Exiles until Claremont is GONE. I tried to stick with it, but the guy has ruined everything I loved about the series. RIP Exiles...

[mike trobaugh]

Originally Posted by Ben Lehnsherr

That's low, dude. That's looooow. But that's all good. I think I'm the only Boston Legal FAN, too.

that is one of the best shows on tv.
DENNY CRANE!

[Ryan Broussard]

this looks so bad, I just pretend the exiles and all this do not exist in the x-universe