As the team searches for their lost leader, Betsy tries to fight her way back in Excalibur #17 by Tini Howard, Marcus To, Erick Arciniega, and Ariana Maher.
Charlie Davis: Well Daniel, here we are again, time to get our moving boxes ready as it seems we are going to have an extended stay in a lighthouse…and before you ask, no not that lighthouse. The one from Excalibur, the nexus of realitiesāthe door touching Otherworld. Although, this one might be enhanced by adding Willem Defoe and Robert Pattinson. What do you think?Ā
Dan McMahon: You know how hard it is for me to just not copy and paste Willem Dafoeās āHARK!ā speech here? I actually just bought a lighthouse themed wax melter for my desk so I have a great smell wafting around me as we write this. We should probably get into this though, right? We got some Freaky Friday action, Ric mouthing off, and my new found love for Pete Wisdomā¦.letās go.
Wisdomās Wisdom
CD: You know, I didnāt think Iād be saying this considering Iām not sure exactly where I fall on the āIs Pete Wisdom Good?ā spectrum, but I think I also love Pete Wisdom? He seems salty and untrusting enough that heās scratching my itch for someone to still be rather squinty eyes at Krakoa. Iāve moved pretty far past my original thoughts about how Krakoa makes me feel, but Iām happy to see that someone ANYONE is being represented as not wanting to live there despite everything. Some people just donāt fit into a paradigm or more importantly, donāt want to. I like that even here a little nugget or something like that is being weaved in. Peteās job seems rather thankless too, as heās trying to hold down the fort in England while a bigot is pushing all his damn buttons.
DM: I do love that idea that he thinks that Krakoa is just a āterrible Margaritavilleā that he has no choice but to go to. Having Pete Wisdom refer to the recent anime tournament arc of X-Men as a dozen swords is something that strikes my funny bone. I donāt know enough about olā Pete to comment on if his apprehension is valid but like I get it. They have a bunch of villains on the island who are not really keeping things 100. Plus paradise isnāt for some people. Despite all the good going on, I still cannot fully trust that something bad isnāt coming for Krakoa. Despite his attitude, Pete does seem pretty dedicated to his job and finding Betsy.
CD: Thatās something that always strikes me with characters that are salty, they usually have a heart deep down in there and itās been shown, romance or not, that Pete does care a lot about Betsy and his country for what thatās worth. I think it might be half the reason he doesnāt want to head to Krakoa permanently, itās just not a place where his heart is. A big theme of Excalibur has been the distinction between being a mutant and having still having a duty outside of that. Most of the mutants we have seen are dedicated to Krakoa because of course they are, but Betsy has so much she has to worry about and it splits her time. I think Pete is the same way. I think thatās really what pulls them together. Tell me Dan, have you been to a Margaritaville?
DM: Before I was old enough to enjoy one of the Margaritas actually. Quick side note: I didnāt know āCheeseburger In Paradiseā was legit a song about just that. Back to our Excalibruhās though because I feel that too. They all seem to be sort of split in their dedication, donāt you think? Betsy has Britain/Family/Krakoa, Ric has the Big Sad/Druid Stuff/Krakoa, Rogue & Gambit have their marriage/cats/Krakoa. Itās a team that has a lot more going on just than their normal X-Men stuff. I think itās why I am enjoying it so much. Krakoa and the ideals are more of just a backdrop for their own baggage. I do want to see more magic stuff and I think thatās coming now!
CD: Correct! Just glad weāre here at Margaritaville and not Joe’s Crab Shack. ANYWAY.
Moving Into the Lighthouse
CD: Speaking of the rest of the team, they seem poised to move into the lighthouse which I for one think is a great idea. Not only is it a nexus of multiversal energy, itās the traditional home of Excalibur. Bringing the team out of Krakoa and into a tighter space like this can really work to showcase more character moments. Largely, outside of a few people, these characters have traditionally been on teams together or been friends. I think that gives the book a cool perspective, but it also makes me crave seeing how they all bounce off one another more. We got a tease of that last issue, but Iām ready for more. Too bad it looks like Clan Akabba (the local bigots) are here to stop move in day. How hecking rude. I loved this little scuffle as a showcase for powers, especially when Ric gets to run his mouth and show off. How did you find it?
DM: Ric is what brought us together, seems like he brings you all the best stuff to be honest. I love this groupās dynamics especially in this fight. They get their butts handed to them. When they entangle Ric, Gambit is like āSorta did that to himselfā with what he says. I love that theyāre here for each other but they have some sort of levity in moments like this. They know that they may get beaten sometimes but at the end of the day, theyāre gonna come out on top. I do have a question though. Do Ricās tree wizards buddies just live underground?
CD: Thatās a great question! I think they are trying to not live underground, but Clan Akkaba keep pushing them back there. They wanna do their cool rock magic, but alas. We know that the land the lighthouse is built on is special to a lot of people, not just the druids thoughāit makes me wonder what exactly the druids want to teach Ric and if weāve seen the last of them for a bit. You brought up Gambit and Ricās dynamic and I wanted to just say that itās one of my favorite things. Believe it or not, Gambit could teach Ric a thing or two about being stable. Itās wild that Iām saying that, but I absolutely am.
DM: Gambit has been through the gambit of woe and dealing with his powers. I donāt know where they are at in the Marvel age scale but I could see Gambit as an older brother/mentor type. He has been through it and has found his own identity which he has been steadfast in for a long time. I think Ric is constantly looking for something to guide him because he doesnāt have his own identity for a number of reasons. I do hope we get some more spotlight on these two because their back and fourth is such a great part of the series. But we REALLY cannot forget the Queen in the room…can we?
CD: Not on your life. (Winky face emoji)
Queendom
CD: Well! This all unfolded a bit differently than I had assumed! I admire how clever this reveal was. The last page of last issue had us assuming a lot of things about Betsy and the world that she had seemingly woken up in. This issue doesnāt waste time establishing that this universe that Betsy finds herself in not only was prepared for multiversal shenanigans, but Betsy as Queen and Captain Britain both, was also prepared. I guess we can give alternate Pete Wisdom some credit for that as well. There is a doctrine that was written up and we see it in the form of a data page. Queen Elizabeth III asks Betsy not to pry. Itās probably better that way. I like this as such a small nod to how together this Betsy is in contrast to our own. Every detail thought of and ironed out. Iām sure that doesnāt make Betsy feel bad in any way…yeah. Iām sure.
DM: Unpopular opinion but I would of stayed there. There are hundreds of people outside of her window holding up signs telling her to get better and nice things. Angel told her PR people she wasnāt feeling well and that was the response only hours later. While on our Earth, people are picketing against her and mutants. It shows her sense of duty to her own world that she doesnāt even second guess leaving ASAP. One thing she does have to face is Kwannon who on her Earth, she sort of wore her body for a very very long time. What did you think of this whole back and fourth where she couldnāt outright tell her the truth about their 616 relationship?
CD: I really loved it as both something the readers have been clamoring for and something Betsy has to come to terms with as well. I want to take this moment to actually talk about the art in this issued, because Marcus To does such a great job all issue but itās especially present during the scenes with Betsy and Kwannon. The slight shifts in facial expressions, the drawn out tension that you can tell Betsy wants to brush under the table but canāt. Itās really great. I honestly think that Betsy took an opportunity to apologize, but she didnāt strike up this conversation with Kwannon to finally make peace with it, she did it because that meant that maybe she could exercise her demon here and still not have to talk to Kwannon and iron things out back home. Itās so wonderfully human to just run away from your problems and man Betsy is great, but she has anxiety sheās not working through. A very literal case of imposter syndrome. How did their conversation strike you?
DM: I liked the dynamic of the quiet moments in between moments because Betsy was her for so long that a lot of the things she is doing, we have seen Betsy do. I think the lettering by Ariana Maher sells a lot of it for me because of the word balloons. The psychic effect is the same effect for both of them but different colors. Itās a very slight thing but it works extremely well for me. As someone who doesnāt know the exact ins and outs of this story, I think it helped sell me on the idea even more. Did you like the aggressive bit at the end?
CD: I loved it! You know me though! Haha. Outside of what could otherwise be a bit spicy I think that the end of this issue is what really sold me on just how much of Kwannon was inside of Betsy all those years. The retcon is incredibly confusing, but the trauma associated with everything is absolutely crystal clear to me. How much was the aggression we saw Betsy display for years actually Kwannon? How is Betsy reconciling that? Itās so mixed up still and I donāt think Betsy is all that ready to deal with it all, even if she is going to try to.
DM: I do hope itās something we see more of moving forward to give some closure to that whole…thing.
X-Traneous Thoughts
- This issue was severely lacking in Jamie, I would like that to be rectified soon. I love him.Ā
- Oh Iām sure we havenāt seen the last of Jamie. I would like to see Rictor being gay and mean more. Please and thank you.Ā
- Krakoan Reads: WHOS THERE
Charlie Davis is the worldās premier Shatterstarologist, writer and co-host of The Match Club.
