The X-Axis, 24 July 2005
Part 3 of 8: EXILES #67

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Back in more conventional territory, Exiles #67 continues the "Destroy All Monsters" three-parter.

As I've said before, I'm a little disappointed with the theme of this storyline.  This is the first arc of the Exiles' new direction, with the team in charge of their own fates.  You'd have thought it would be sensible to do a story which built on that.  "Destroy All Monsters" only does that to a very limited extent.  In theory, the Exiles are there to meet up with the local version of Curt Connors and get him to cure the Mimic.

In practice, though, it's just an excuse to get them to Earth-3752, so that the creators can have fun with giant monsters.  This is basically a world of Japanese B-movies.  Instead of superheroes fighting supervillains, we've got Krakoa versus Fin Fang Foom, with Red Ronin stuck in the middle.  Now, this isn't an entirely bad idea - in fact, with the current state of pop culture, the time may well be right to dig up Red Ronin, a giant anti-Godzilla robot.  But the selling point is "the Exiles visit a world that does Genre X."  In this case, Genre X is not one that's ever done much for me.  And besides, surely there must be more interesting ways of using the format?

The subplots do in fact offer something a bit more interesting.  The Exiles wonder why they can't get Beak back to Earth - which is obviously leading into the upcoming House of M storyline.  And the Weapon X version of Deadpool is brought back to wreak havoc in the Panoptichron.  That's a little more like it. 

But the giant monsters.... frankly, I can take or leave them.  Your mileage may vary, of course.  If the idea of the Exiles fighting pseudo-Japanese monsters sounds fun to you, then that's what you'll get here.  If not, then the story probably isn't going to win you round.

Rating: B

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Copyright 2005 Paul O'Brien.  This web site is a work of critical comment and review. All characters and publications referred to, and artwork reproduced, are ™ and © their respective owners.
 

EXILES #67
Marvel Comics
September 2005
$2.99 US / $4.25 CAN

DESTROY ALL MONSTERS,
part 2 of 3
Writer: Tony Bedard
Penciller: Jim Calafiore
Inker: Mark McKenna
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Colourist: JC
Editor: Mike Marts

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