Obsessively putting our comics in chronological order since 1985.
| 1990-12-01 02:03:10 |
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Marvel Comics Presents #31-38 (Excalibur)
Issue(s): Marvel Comics Presents #31, Marvel Comics Presents #32, Marvel Comics Presents #33, Marvel Comics Presents #34, Marvel Comics Presents #35, Marvel Comics Presents #36, Marvel Comics Presents #37, Marvel Comics Presents #38 (Excalibur story only)
Cover Date: Nov 89 - Dec 89
Title: Having a Wild Weekend: "Having a Wild Weekend" / "Dark Shadows" / "One flew over the cuckoo's nest" / "Like a housewife" / "A day at the circus" / "Keep the fire burning" / "Dragondamsel in distress" / "There's no place like home"
Credits:
Michael Higgins - Writer
Erik Larsen - Penciler
Terry Austin - Inker
Kelly Corvese - Assistant Editor
Terry Kavanagh - Editor
Review/plot:
With issue #32, Excalibur becomes the X-Headliner for Marvel Comics Presents. That lasts until issue #39 when Marvel basically gives up on spotlighting any character (even other X-Characters) besides Wolverine. This silly story is written by Michael Higgins, who is also responsible for some terrible Excalibur fill-ins and graphic novels around this time. The story is the worst kind of inconsequential zaniness that was ruining the main book as well, although it's even more pronounced here. The one thing that the series does have going for it is the art team. Not everyone is an Erik Larsen fan but he was definitely one of Marvel's hot artists at the time, and he's combined with fan favorite inker Terry Austin. Unfortunately they are used here for eeeeeevil. Like making Excalibur fight Looney Tunes knock-offs with names like "Guns Gunny".
This is the work of a mystery villain, who is currently in prison. We'll learn in the final installment that it's Arcade.
Kitty manages to escape capture. But the others are placed in environments where they're forced to deal with evil versions of themselves or other nonsense scenarios.
Kitty rescues everyone, and then they go after Arcade and his Loonies.
Kitty has a team of Merry Maladies to fight Arcade's Loonies.
Despite the fact that i think this entire story is a waste of space, i couldn't help laugh at some of the above images. I'm not heartless, you guys! I just like my super-hero comics to take themselves a little more seriously, and i think Excalibur especially is hurt by the constant goofy humor.
Quality Rating: C
Historical Significance Rating: 1
Chronological Placement Considerations: Widget is fully operational and Kitty is with the team, placing this after the Cross Time Caper and Excalibur #34.
References: N/A
Crossover: N/A
Continuity Insert? N
My Reprint: N/A
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Comments
The dragon appearing in the final chapters is the Train Dragon, so it should be listed as a character appearing.
I thought this was a great story! The artwork by Erik Larsen & Terry Austin was fantastic and hysterical. The chapter where Lockheed and Widget team up was my favorite.
@Michael, i thought maybe he (?) was part of the scenarios since it didn't seem like he was around in the beginning, but i've added him.
I did enjoy the zany fun of this story when it came out, but yeah, it is not very good. In addition, it raises the question that if Arcade has the capability of creating robots with such potent super-powers (the weapons of Guns & Southpaw, Rooster's mind control, etc.), then why doesn't he do that again/more? The Loonies completely shut Excalibur down initially, and they never have a rematch, as the Maladies defeat them at the end of the story.
Doesn't train dragon turn out to be a "she"...?
I wasn't sure, Jay, that's why i put the (?).
Is this the storyline in MCP where Captain Britain ends up on the set of Cheers? If so, that would have been the last Marvel comic I read for about 12 years, because at this point in time pretty much every comic was awful.
I feel really bad for you having to read this stuff, Fnord. I imagine there must have been some dud years in the 1970's, but 1989-90 has to be some pretty atrocious times overall.
Unless i blacked out (entirely possible), he doesn't end up on Cheers. He spends most of his time in a Wizard of Oz scenario and then rejoins the group at the end (and they all go home in a hot air balloon ala Oz again).
So i guess there is more awfulness to come... ;-)
Sorry, fnord, you did black out- at the end of the Captain Britain chapter, he does end up on Cheers. Then it turns out that everything is just an illusion.
I've tried to verify this but i blacked out again.
