The X-Men are a group of mutants—evolved human beings born with extraordinary powers—who use their abilities to defend a society that hates and fears them. Claremont had authored their series since 1976, guiding them to tremendous success. He borrowed four characters from the X-Men for Excalibur:
- Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner), a rascally German who possessed the ability to teleport and a demon like appearance
- Phoenix (Rachel Summers), a telekinetic and telepathic young woman from a dystopian future
- Shadowcat (Kitty Pryde), a Jewish teenaged computer expert with the ability to “phase” through solid objects
- Lockheed, her small pet dragon.
A Marvel UK property co-created by Claremont in 1976, Captain Britain is a protector of Great Britain, endowed with superhuman powers by the legendary wizard Merlyn. Alan Davis and Alan Moore, during their joint early 1980s stint, established that the Marvel Universe's Captain Britain was one of many from various dimensions and that one of his main roles is guarding the lighthouse that is placed at the convergence of realities.
Excalibur, which also featured Captain Britain's emotionally unstable, shapeshifter lover Meggan, first gathered together in Excalibur Special Edition #1 (1988) and were soon featured in a monthly series. With the help of a manic, dimension-hopping robot named Widget, they embarked on a series of wacky adventures through parallel worlds, many of which had previously been featured in Captain Britain’s UK-only series.
Davis left with Excalibur #24 (1990), and Claremont with Excalibur #34 (1991) and the series began to flag badly. In addition, various plot points were left dangling and unresolved by Claremont before his departure. A year later, Davis returned to the book as both w
riter and illustrator with Excalibur #42 and rejuvenated it, returning to the (mostly) lighthearted tone of his original run, while resolving many plotlines Claremont had left dangling. He also added several new members, including the mystic Feron, the warrior Kylun, and the alien seductress Cerise, and also introduced the size-shifter Micromax. (In an interview in Wizard #6, Davis said that he was adding four new team members to the team. Presumably if Davis's run had not ended prematurely, Micromax would have become a full member of the team.)
After Davis left in 1993, Uncanny X-Men writer Scott Lobdell filled-in for several months. In a jarring transition, Captain Britain was lost off-panel, Meggan was suddenly catatonic from losing Captain Britain, and the newer members were summarily dispatched. In addition, the tone of the series changed as well, from a lighthearted, fun comic to more grim and depressing series. Marvel stationed the team on the fictitious Muir Island, off the coast of Scotland, and tied the series closer to the X-Men family, casting-off most Captain Britain-related elements entirely, in addition to the characters that did not have close ties to the X-Universe (like Kylun and Feron). In a much-maligned storyline by fans, Phoenix was disposed of to bring a much altered and somewhat despised by fandom "Britannic" (a Captain Britain who was altered) back. Lobdell also introduced Douglock, who was eventually revealed to be the deceased techno-organic alien Warlock of the New Mutants, reborn with the form and memories his former teammate, the deceased Cypher, who joined the team. Also around this time Nightcrawler's former lover, the mystic Amanda Sefton joined the team, using the codename Daytripper.
In 1994, Warren Ellis assumed writing duties and, using his dark sense of humor, helped the book gain its own voice once again. Revisions made in his time on the book included reverting "Britannic" back to Captain Britain once more and adding Pete Wisdom, an often-obnoxious British spy, often considered Ellis’ alter ego, who could manifest solar energy, often in the form of 'hot knives' from his fingers. In a bold move, Ellis made Wisdom (an archetypical chain-smoking sarcastic obnoxious Englishman that Ellis writes into almost all his books) the romantic interest of the once young and innocent Shadowcat. At the insistence of Marvel editors, Ellis also added Wolfsbane (Rahne Sinclair), a Scottish werewolf-like young woman from the X-Men spin-off New Mutants; and Colossus (Peter Rasputin), a Russian X-Man who could turn his flesh into “organic steel.”
Ellis left in 1996 and Ben Raab, his replacement, failed to find a voice for the series, often borrowing plotlines from other X-Books. Sales fell and Marvel cancelled the series, partially so Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, and Colossus could return to the X-Men. The series ended with issue #125 (1998) featuring the wedding of Meggan and a depowered Captain Britain.
The letters page of the final issue of Excalibur (vol. 3) announced a relaunch of the title as New Excalibur in November 2005. This current incarnation of the book is written by Claremont and primarily illustrated by Michael Ryan with a guest stint by Steven Cummings. [1]
New Excalibur appears to have more in common with the original series than the Genosha-based book had, for it features Captain Britain and Peter Wisdom as main characters and takes place in London. Other characters include the reformed villain-turned-X-Man Juggernaut, the former X-Women Sage and Dazzler, and Nocturne, formerly of the Exiles.
As with many of Marvel's late 2005 books, it spun out of the after-effects of House of M. Four issues of Uncanny X-Men[2] laid the foundation for New Excalibur. Captain Britain brought the team together as the new Excalibur in New Excalibur #5, preceding an attack from Lionheart, Albion, and the Warwolves. Later, the team faced an attack by Black Air and Black Tom Cassidy, who was depowered due to M-Day. Black Air retreated after Dazzler, Wisdom, Nocturne, and Captain Britain trounced them. Black Tom surrendered after Juggernaut talked him down and made him feel guilty about killing Juggernaut's friend Samuel Pare. Sage also confronted the Dark Charles Xavier from the Dark X-Men. They got in an astral fight, where Sage shot his astral form and won.
Recently, Psylocke joined New Excalibur and assisted them during an attack by the recently-revived Shadow King who was responsible for the creation of the Dark X-Men. With Nocturne, Juggernaut, Dazzler, and Pete Wisdom under Shadow King's control, Captain Britain being beaten by his own team, and Sage unconscious, Psylocke faced the Shadow King alone, plunging a psi-blade into the Dark Xavier, saving New Excalibur and mysteriously vanished in a flash of light without explanation. Captain Britain believes her to be dead, unaware that she has joined the Exiles. Since the incident with Psylocke, New Excalibur has met up with a repowered Chamber, visited and saved Camelot, temporarily had the Black Knight travel with them, and have attempted to help Juggernaut with some recent troubles. The series also revealed that Charles Xavier was meant to be the Juggernaut. Recently, Nocturne has had a stroke and the team is trying to help her recover.
Later on Albion tells his story to Lionheart. He comes from a world where World War I never ended and chose the sword over the amulet. He brought his world peace but people kept starving and dying until he met a Captain Britain and move onto the latter's world and begun a killing spree on the Captain Britain Corps. He then meets the Dark X-Men and Michelle Scicluna, a Black Air agent, and they prepare to take on New Excalibur[3].
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