New Excalibur, Vol. 2: Last Days of Camelot (v. 2) [Paperback]

Chris Claremont (Author), Frank Tieri (Author), Michael Ryan (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: 4 and up

Dazzler died, but for some reason, it didn't stick. How is that possible? Dazzler and her new teammates attempt to find out what happened, and the answer will shock you! Then, New Excalibur is alerted that a de-powered mutant has been returned home to England. Learn the secret history of Chamber - but can the team find out the truth before he's killed?! Also, King Arthur's mighty kingdom lies in ruins! Death is everywhere. The Black Knight guest-stars in a time-traveling tale for the ages! Collects New Excalibur #8-15.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Marvel (March 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785122214
• ISBN-13: 978-0785122210
• Product Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,087,923 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dazzler's death explained? Not here., June 23, 2007

By 

Alexei Tatyanov "A" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Excalibur, Vol. 2: Last Days of Camelot (v. 2) (Paperback)

New Excalibur Vol 2 is simply a hoot.

Realizing that the title has little going for it to begin with, Marvel fudges the solicit for this trade by playing the nostalgia card: Dazzler nostalgia. It's quite an omen when your publisher has to play to the interest of Dazzler fans -- whose star character hasn't really been a big player since 1984 -- to sell copies. But would any fan of Marvel's dynamic diva care about this Dazzler-in-name-only? Highly unlikely.

But 1984 is exactly where Claremont would like us to be with these stories. They don't tread new water, they instead force the reader to ingest backwash. Decades old backwash.

While this trade is slightly better than the first, New Excalibur still lacks any sense of purpose or cohesion. While title creator and primary author Chris Claremont had to leave the book due to medical illness halfway through this trade, the remainder of the title -- picked up by Frank Tieri of WEAPON-X -- does little to advance anything at all.

Chris Yost, providing dialogue for Chris Claremont's haphazard stories, makes them near readable, but the story isn't there. Interested about reading about how omnipotently evil the Shadow King is? You may love it. Tired of plot holes and inconsistencies within an author's so-far-NINE-issue run? Avoid at all costs.

In the beginning of New Excalibur, the doppleganger X-Men (or Dark X-Men) wanted one of NEX's own: Nocturne. Now, Claremont does a 180 with the Dark X-Men, lackeys of the Shadow King, wanting X-Men veteran Psylocke. Where does this come from? Where is it going? Claremont doesn't care to wrap up loose ends for the reader, instead deciding that "Father Knows Best." It all descends into pure inanity.

Then, fill-in writer Tieri grinds to a halt so as not to thwart Chris Claremont's vision, such as it is. Dazzler's "deaths" are NOT explained -- they aren't even referenced. But it's not just Dazzler that gets bylined: the issues focus more on guest-stars and settings (Chamber, The Black Knight, Camelot) rather than our core team. And the team desperately needs SOME characterization outside of "Juggernaut loves Dazzler." Nocturne? Pete Wisdom? Sage? Would someone show one hint of actual character, please?

I'd give the trade a 1.5 stars for the fanciful and satisfying Camelot arc by Frank Tieri. Nothing deep or inspiring, but at least it isn't mired with Warwolves, Shadow King, and other excess Claremontian gobledygook. But as the characters are still imitations of their former selves, acting as placeholders, the trade does not hold as a work. The characters do not drive the story; the story instead drives itself with the characters being largely interchangeable outside of their predefined roles.

Don't waste your money.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Book In Which Things May be Learned, July 18, 2007

By 

Ann E. Nichols (Sierra Vista, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New Excalibur, Vol. 2: Last Days of Camelot (v. 2) (Paperback)

No, why Dazzler keeps coming back isn't one of them. However, readers can find out:

1. What Psylocke did to get moved over to "Exiles".

2. What it took to stop the Shadow King in his host body, which is an alternate universe version of Professor X.

3. How Chamber fared after the horrifying revelation of what being depowered did to him in DECIMATION: GENERATION M (ISBN-10: 0785119582 & ISBN-13: 978-0785119586).

4. How the Clan Akkaba fared after the events of X-MEN: APOCALYPSE/DRACULA (ISBN-10: 0785119485 & ISBN-13: 978-0785119487).

5. More about Sir Percy of Scandia, Camelot's Black Knight, and Dane Whitman, the current Black Knight. The trip to Camelot includes action as well as fun moments.

6. More about the Juggernaut's worries over his waning powers, some nasty information about what it takes to become Cyttorak's Juggernaut, and the start of a sub-plot that could have dire consequences for Cain Marko (not to mention other people). This story arc includes an amusing and painful scene where the Wrecking Crew tell Cain what they think of him for becoming a hero, a heartfelt conversation Cain has when he visits his best friend, Black Tom, in prison; and one of those scenes where teammates argue about what they can't stand in each other.

In short, don't assume that this book is just a waste of paper.