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New Excalibur (Collected Editions)
New Excalibur, Vol. 1: Defenders of the Realm
Excalibur is back, just the way you like them! From the ashes of House of M a new Excalibur team is formed to combat the aftereffects of this cataclysmic event! Witness the birth of Captain Britain's new team forming, as a sinister force already tries to tear them apart! Starring Dazzler, Juggernaut, Nocturne and Pete Wisdom!! Guest-starring the Uncanny X-Men! Collects New Excalibur #1-7.
168 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2006
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About the author
Chris Claremont
3,280 books889 followersChris Claremont is a writer of American comic books, best known for his 16-year (1975-1991) stint on Uncanny X-Men, during which the series became one of the comic book industry's most successful properties.
Claremont has written many stories for other publishers including the Star Trek Debt of Honor graphic novel, his creator-owned Sovereign Seven for DC Comics and Aliens vs Predator for Dark Horse Comics. He also wrote a few issues of the series WildC.A.T.s (volume 1, issues #10-13) at Image Comics, which introduced his creator-owned character, Huntsman.
Outside of comics, Claremont co-wrote the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy, Shadow Moon (1995), Shadow Dawn (1996), and Shadow Star (1999), with George Lucas. This trilogy continues the story of Elora Danan from the movie Willow. In the 1980s, he also wrote a science fiction trilogy about female starship pilot Nicole Shea, consisting of First Flight (1987), Grounded! (1991), and Sundowner (1994). Claremont was also a contributor to the Wild Cards anthology series.
Claremont has written many stories for other publishers including the Star Trek Debt of Honor graphic novel, his creator-owned Sovereign Seven for DC Comics and Aliens vs Predator for Dark Horse Comics. He also wrote a few issues of the series WildC.A.T.s (volume 1, issues #10-13) at Image Comics, which introduced his creator-owned character, Huntsman.
Outside of comics, Claremont co-wrote the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy, Shadow Moon (1995), Shadow Dawn (1996), and Shadow Star (1999), with George Lucas. This trilogy continues the story of Elora Danan from the movie Willow. In the 1980s, he also wrote a science fiction trilogy about female starship pilot Nicole Shea, consisting of First Flight (1987), Grounded! (1991), and Sundowner (1994). Claremont was also a contributor to the Wild Cards anthology series.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 14, 2020
I'm about the least patriotic Brit you'll ever meet but my one piece of national pride is that I love me some British superheroes, particularly Captain Britain. It's always great when he gets one of his rare outings and I'm loving this run on Excalibur so far. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how I missed this book when it first came out, as I'm usually all over Excalibur like ants on spilled Coke.
While it's slightly annoying that there are so many non-British characters on what is ostensibly supposed to be a British superhero team, I really like the line-up on this one so far. I could do without Sage, but other than that, I think Claremont and co. have put together a good squad. It was nice that the original Excalibur line-up (minus Meggan but she was always my least favourite member of the team anyway) guest starred in the first couple of issues.
I really like Michael Ryan's artwork and, if it weren't for the two issues in the middle of the collection by a fill-in artist, this would have been a five star book for me.
While it's slightly annoying that there are so many non-British characters on what is ostensibly supposed to be a British superhero team, I really like the line-up on this one so far. I could do without Sage, but other than that, I think Claremont and co. have put together a good squad. It was nice that the original Excalibur line-up (minus Meggan but she was always my least favourite member of the team anyway) guest starred in the first couple of issues.
I really like Michael Ryan's artwork and, if it weren't for the two issues in the middle of the collection by a fill-in artist, this would have been a five star book for me.
February 26, 2018
This volume is very odd: Bendis's House of M ends Excalibur III, which was not really an Excalibur book but felt like an attempt to bring about something like the old New Mutants or the Exiles. In response to the lack of popularity, Marvel relaunches a fourth Excalibur line after the end of House of M. Now instead of trying to launch something new off of the old Magneto-Xavier, the editorial focus seem to force Claremont to do familiar, classic Claremont: Captain Britain, Warwolves, Dazzler, Juggernaut, Nocturne, Sage, and Pete Wisdom. The problem is that the plots being resurrected are two decades old.
While there are some interesting themes addressed in Dazzler's performance and her seeming fall from stardom as well as some complications in her identity, the plot doesn't stay with her long enough for her character to get fairly developed. This seems to happen with many plot arcs: Captian Britain's separation from Meggan is under-served as well. While there are interesting characters, all of them feel like fanfiction: Black Cassidy shows up but is under-explored, Albion is under-utilized. Claremont does feel like he is being given enough time for an arc, and it feels rushed. Nothing incompetent about either the writing nor Michael Ryan's art, but it feels like a pale shadow of classic Excalibur.
While there are some interesting themes addressed in Dazzler's performance and her seeming fall from stardom as well as some complications in her identity, the plot doesn't stay with her long enough for her character to get fairly developed. This seems to happen with many plot arcs: Captian Britain's separation from Meggan is under-served as well. While there are interesting characters, all of them feel like fanfiction: Black Cassidy shows up but is under-explored, Albion is under-utilized. Claremont does feel like he is being given enough time for an arc, and it feels rushed. Nothing incompetent about either the writing nor Michael Ryan's art, but it feels like a pale shadow of classic Excalibur.
April 2, 2013
Claremont's writing has become so annoying for the last couple of years. But i have realized compared to other writers he continues having extremely great ideas. ..Great plots. And it's the dialogue thats terrible. Just unrealistic.
To grant my wishes.. Perfectly. Issue 7 is the start of. 'New Excalibur by Chris Claremont, Dialogue: Christopher Yost.'
1-3 Dark X-Men
4-5 Lionheart from Avengers. Albion. Warwolves.
6-7 Black Tom
February 22, 2016
Never thought the day would come when I could say that one of my favorite X-Men was Juggernaut :)
February 21, 2017
Art is nice but story is a bit scattered.
December 31, 2017
Continuing the (sometimes) great x-read of 2017...
Since I am at the very tail end of 2017 and I haven't updated my reading in quite a while so I am "cheating" and just kind of writing one review for all of the volumes that I have read so that I can get them up by the end of the year.
The aftermath of M day has been mixed to say the least. There were a few high points (Cable and Deadpool, the 198, the beginning of the new X-factor series... and more than a fair share of low points (the new Excalibur, Colossus, Deadly Genesis...). It certainly has not come across as a well-orchestrated and planned out event at this point. (And the plot armor of the main characters primarily being the ones that retained their powers is a bit ridiculous, but that is to be expected.)
At any rate, my x-read of 2017 is going to extend into 2018 since I am still not close to catching up. It may have to slow down in velocity a bit so that I can do a bit more "real" reading but the slog shall continue...
Since I am at the very tail end of 2017 and I haven't updated my reading in quite a while so I am "cheating" and just kind of writing one review for all of the volumes that I have read so that I can get them up by the end of the year.
The aftermath of M day has been mixed to say the least. There were a few high points (Cable and Deadpool, the 198, the beginning of the new X-factor series... and more than a fair share of low points (the new Excalibur, Colossus, Deadly Genesis...). It certainly has not come across as a well-orchestrated and planned out event at this point. (And the plot armor of the main characters primarily being the ones that retained their powers is a bit ridiculous, but that is to be expected.)
At any rate, my x-read of 2017 is going to extend into 2018 since I am still not close to catching up. It may have to slow down in velocity a bit so that I can do a bit more "real" reading but the slog shall continue...
August 14, 2019
This is a great startup for the series. It makes you wonder about how easy it was for Brian to neglect his Otherworld duties, but still some fun action and occasional zaniness that you expect from Excalibur. Interesting meeting Nocturne and seeing Juggernaut be good. Lionheart comes back, her name change is never really explained. Great writing with some references to Vol 1. Very enjoyable.
April 25, 2019
This is the fourth incarnation... Captain Britain, Juggernaut, Nocturne, Wisdom, Dazzler, and Sage. They battle dark versions of the original X-Men and Xavier. It was fine. Never cared for the pink hair that Dazzler had.
April 16, 2018
force myself to finish it for wisdom.
February 2, 2023
Pretty good art, pretty good story!
September 9, 2024
3.5/5.0
July 30, 2025
Updated Review From 2025 Reread:
1980s and early 1990s Claremont is just awash in narration boxes and over-explanation. The number of narration boxes depleted during his X-Treme X-Men run, and in this volume it feels like there aren't any. So what you're left with is Claremont's dialogue. Unfortunately, it's really clunky and, I hate to say it, could use more narration boxes. All the dialogue seems like someone Mad-Libsed action movie one-liners over a comic. It just flowed horribly.
My main issue, though, is that I just don't care about Courtney Ross, Lionheart, The War Wolves, or the alternate dimension X-Men. The opening couple of issues were okay, and I understand why Claremont used the Black Cassiday/Sammy storyline from Chuck Austen's X-Men: Day of the Atom but it didn't really click for me.
For an Excalibur fan, this might be a four-star book? Claremont's continuity is all over the place. It's accurate. It just pulls from a varied and weird selection of X-related stories.
I do like the idea of a team that includes Juggernaut, Dazzler, and Nocturne. I just don't care about Pete Wisdom or Captain Britain, and I don't know that I ever will.
***
Original Review:
Picking up threads from his own contributions to the X-verse, as well as a surprising number of threads from Chuck Austen's run, Claremont does a paint-by-numbers Excalibur reunion for a few issues before editorial rightfully returns the main X-Men characters: Kitty Pryde, Nightcrawler, and Rachel Grey back to their respective books.
The premise, that the reunited olds school Excalibur, plus Dazzler from the 80s X-Men, and Nocturne from Judd Winnick's Exiles run, have to battle a group of villains who are powered up like the original X-Men is boring, convoluted, and unnecessary.
If you loved Claremont's original run on Excalibur then you might like this book. Otherwise, it's very skippable.
**************
2023 Exiles/New Excalibur Readthrough:
Yeup. Very skippable.
1980s and early 1990s Claremont is just awash in narration boxes and over-explanation. The number of narration boxes depleted during his X-Treme X-Men run, and in this volume it feels like there aren't any. So what you're left with is Claremont's dialogue. Unfortunately, it's really clunky and, I hate to say it, could use more narration boxes. All the dialogue seems like someone Mad-Libsed action movie one-liners over a comic. It just flowed horribly.
My main issue, though, is that I just don't care about Courtney Ross, Lionheart, The War Wolves, or the alternate dimension X-Men. The opening couple of issues were okay, and I understand why Claremont used the Black Cassiday/Sammy storyline from Chuck Austen's X-Men: Day of the Atom but it didn't really click for me.
For an Excalibur fan, this might be a four-star book? Claremont's continuity is all over the place. It's accurate. It just pulls from a varied and weird selection of X-related stories.
I do like the idea of a team that includes Juggernaut, Dazzler, and Nocturne. I just don't care about Pete Wisdom or Captain Britain, and I don't know that I ever will.
***
Original Review:
Picking up threads from his own contributions to the X-verse, as well as a surprising number of threads from Chuck Austen's run, Claremont does a paint-by-numbers Excalibur reunion for a few issues before editorial rightfully returns the main X-Men characters: Kitty Pryde, Nightcrawler, and Rachel Grey back to their respective books.
The premise, that the reunited olds school Excalibur, plus Dazzler from the 80s X-Men, and Nocturne from Judd Winnick's Exiles run, have to battle a group of villains who are powered up like the original X-Men is boring, convoluted, and unnecessary.
If you loved Claremont's original run on Excalibur then you might like this book. Otherwise, it's very skippable.
**************
2023 Exiles/New Excalibur Readthrough:
Yeup. Very skippable.
July 6, 2011
In New Excalibur: Defenders of the Realm, writer Chris Claremont reunites Captain Britain is reunited with his team, and joined by Nocturne. Together, they fight an incarnation of evil X-Men, Warwolves, Albion, and Black Tom Cassidy as they figure out how to live in the aftermath of M-Day.
The collection focuses on Dazzler and the mystery of how she can survive being killed multiple times. The story also illuminates the pressures of being alienated as a result of her mutant status. As the comic opens, Dazzler is performing on stage at a club, more on display than singing, the crowd enthralled by her tight to the point of restricting circulation costume. As she changes into street clothes, she is harassed by two women for not being a “proper” girl. Then, her manager sexually harasses her and reminds her of the power he has over her because he agrees to represent a mutant. As she leaves the club without payment or dignity, she runs amok of some X-Men who are acting quite funny, only to be killed by Jean Grey.
Once Dazzler meets up with the New Exaclibur team, there is not a whole lot more exploration of Dazzler’s problematic status. What we can take from the story is that her situation improves with the friendship of other mutants, especially Nocturne, with whom she shares a passion for music and motorcycles, and Juggnernaut, who is happy to become her bodyguard. With the friendship of Nocturne and Juggernaut, she not only fights evil, but has moments of normal interaction that are not perverted by her mutant status or sexy appearance.
Clearly, Claremont is laying the ground for a new team and new potential adventures, as well as new exploration of the emotional repercussions for mutants who find themselves marginalized from humanity at the same time that they find themselves defending the people who reject them. An interesting conflict indeed, with potential for character development.
The collection, overall, does not dazzle, but writer Chris Claremont has the potential to entertain at whole new levels.
February 14, 2017
Hmm. There's nothing seriously wrong with this, it's perfectly competent. I like the characters, I like the challenges. Nothing's bad about it, exactly. But something about this whole series doesn't gel. I remember a comment when this was ongoing describing the series as Claremont writing fanfic - it definitely does have that feel. Certainly the team membership feels random in a way the original 1980s incarnation didn't, and there seems to be a lack of tension overall, making it kind of by-the-book. Oh well. (B-)
October 24, 2010
Wow, this was really good. It was my first try on Excalibur, but I liked the team immediately. Captain Britain is just cool, I really like Dazzler and Nocturne, and Pete Wisdom, he's just great.
Oh, and I really liked that scene where Harry, Ron and Hermione were coming out of a wall in an alley. That was fun.
Oh, and I really liked that scene where Harry, Ron and Hermione were coming out of a wall in an alley. That was fun.
June 13, 2012
Such a crazy book! Dazzler is alive and has short pink hair and Juggernaut is a good guy! Very fun.
April 26, 2016
Combining the Otherworldness of Exiles with the government team of Excalibur, this presents an exciting mix of storylines and characters.
June 29, 2012
A new group gets together to defend Britain. A decent introductory story.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews