Comics: Excalibur #5

EXCALIBUR #5
February 1989
"Send In The Clowns"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Alan Davis
Inker: Paul Neary
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Editor: Terry Kavanagh
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

So pretty much all my complaints about last issue are in this one, since it's a continuation and conclusion of the story. Courtney Ross is still a solid character. I think I understand who Meggan was, personality wise. She was just a standard X-Woman when I read Excalibur in the mid-to-late '90s with no personality, but here I think I understand what made Claremont like her. She's very dependent, which is shown through her powers, and doesn't know her own strengths. It's good. The epilogue with Nightcrawler and Captain Britain's discussion about Meggan is tops, where they actually analyze a relationship that has real faults and isn't perfect. This stuff isn't addressed in comics...ever really. People date, then they sorta break up, get back together, etc. Or all their problems are power based or super hero based. Captain Britain and Meggan's relationship has a very real problem (Meggan needs Cap and he fears she doesn't exist outside of him). Nice. Also the ending, with Coutrney getting zapped by her other dimensional twin, is a great twist and pretty dark. Just what the issue needed after a dozen pages of silly running around with Alice in Wonderland characters.

And yeah, that's the problem with this issue. All mind-swapping and brainwashing malarky. I don't even get how Shadowcat frees Phoenix from mind control. She merges with her mind by actually phasing into her? Um? Does that work?

Also, this issue has talking custard pies.

A mixed bag. Claremont should stick to the drama, since that's what he does best.

MY SCORE: 7.8/10