Now that the "Timebreakers" arc is out of the way, Exiles can embark on its exciting new direction.  So the question on everyone's lips is: just how exciting and new is the exciting new direction?

Um.

In theory, the big change from before is that the Exiles now have control of where they go and why.  Bedard even makes sure to point out that it's not strictly necessary for them to fix all the broken worlds.  The team have the option of simply packing up and going home, and they take a couple of pages to discuss the possibility before putting off the decision until later.  At the very least, this change of set-up should free the Exiles from its Quantum Leap formula of "Arrive on world, receive arbitrary mission, fulfil it, move on."  After all, the book's biggest weakness has been the restrictions of its formula.

So the Exiles start off quite sensibly, wondering what they're going to do with the team members who were mutilated in battle against Hyperion last issue, and searching the omniverse for people who can help out.  In the way of such things, the greatest superhuman doctor in the world turns out to be a counterpart of an established hero, but such is life.

And then the whole thing slides back into formula again.  The answer to the Exiles' problems is apparently to find a version of Curt Connors whose experiments to regenerate his missing arm actually worked.  So far so good - that makes reasonable sense.  Unfortunately, this version of Curt goes on to form a bunch of"science heroes" with other established Marvel names, and they're busy fighting giant monsters and Krakoa the Living Island.  So really, we're back with "visit gimmick world, fulfil mission, go home."  It really seems a bit underwhelming for a first outing under the new format.  (Plus, I've never really cared about these B-movie monster stories.)

It's still a perfectly good issue - readable even when it's being formulaic, and with plenty of promise when it's doing something more imaginative with the set-up.  But it's an underwhelming way to begin the new direction.  I was hoping for something... well, different.

Rating: B+

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