Excalibur (comic book)

Excalibur is the name of several superhero comic books published by Marvel Comics since 1988, generally featuring the team of the same name.

The first volumes ran for 125 issues, complemented by several one-shot special editions, between 1987 and 1998. The second was a four-issue limited series published in 2001, and the third an ongoing series printed from 2004 and 2005 before being relaunched as

Meanwhile while plot-lines in Uncanny X-Men had seen the popular characters

full script process rather than the 'Marvel method' considerable leeway and input. Claremont had previously wanted Davis to draw Uncanny X-Men; according to the writer the post was never available at the same time as Davis was,^[2] but the artist would later indicate he was uninterested. Ann Nocenti was given the post of editor, and the trio decided the book would be a "cosmic comedy", both to play to Davis' strengths and to offset the dark tone of the other mutant books. Claremont chose to return Colossus to Uncanny X-Men rather than use him for Excalibur, due to Captain Britain already fulfilling the team's need for a strongman type. Davis' regular collaborator Paul Neary also joined as inker.^[2]

Publication history

Volume 1 (1987–1998)

Excalibur
The cover to Excalibur (Vol.1) #1, art by Alan Davis
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Superhero
Publication date	October 1988 – October 1998
No. of issues	125 + 5 Special editions
Main character(s)	Excalibur
Creative team
Written by	Chris Claremont Scott Lobdell Alan Davis Warren Ellis Ben Raab et al.
Penciller(s)	Alan Davis Carlos Pacheco Salvador Larroca et al.
Inker(s)	Paul Neary Mark Farmer et al.

Chris Claremont and Alan Davis

The series was launched with the lavish Excalibur Special Edition, a 1987 48-page advertisement-free 'bookshelf' comic promoted with posters and promotional carrier bags for comic stories. It was followed by an ongoing series. Despite being priced higher than most of Marvel's regular titles due to using a more expensive paper stock, Excalibur was a strong sales success - #1 was Diamond Comic Distributors' best-selling title for April 1988,^[4] with #2 second-best behind the first issue of the newly-launched Wolverine in May^[5] and #3 third behind Wolverine and Uncanny X-Men in June.^[6] With the creators given a large amount of freedom by Marvel, the series soon received plaudits for its humorous tone and wit compared to the darker turn taken by both the other X-Men related titles and the wider industry at the time.^[1] The success also led to Marvel printing a trade paperback compiling the material Davis had produced for Captain Britain, which was coloured by several artists. Davis and writer Jamie Delano were required to sell their rights to the material to do so; as Alan Moore refused to do likewise, his work on the title was not included in the collection.^[7]

While Claremont and Davis intended Excalibur not to cross over with the other X-Men titles, the series was broadly part of the 1989 "

Art Adams. Excalibur #12 began the "Cross-Time Caper", a planned 9-issue arc sending the characters to a wide variety of alternative Earths. The following issue saw the debut of a new costume for Captain Britain; it had been designed for the character's primarily black-and-white British appearances, but Davis found the American colourists were frequently making mistakes and so simplified it.^[8] However, in 1990 and partway through the storyline Davis fell ill. After a fill-in issue written by Michael Higgins and drawn by Lim, Chris Wozniak provided art until Davis was fit to return on Excalibur #23. However, his return would only last for two issues - after completing the delayed "Cross-Time Caper" arc he left the title, later stating that he was unhappy with the effect compromises he was having to make to get back on schedule were having on the quality of his work.^[7]

Claremont and others

Soon after Davis' departure, Claremont's attention was split by the need to focus on the planned relaunch of X-Men. Other writers including Higgins, Terry Austin, Dana Moreshead and Scott Lobdell contributed issues, particularly when the title went bi-weekly over the summer of 1990. The book was also without a regular artist, instead featuring guest artists such as Barry Windsor-Smith, Colleen Doran, and David Ross. By this point sales had fallen; while still healthy they would never reach the heights of the early issues. Following the three-part "Girls' School from Heck" storyline (with art by Ron Wagner) in #32-34, Claremont left the title.^[7] A third special edition, Weird War III, was released in 1991.^[9]

Alan Davis returns

Claremont's replacement was meant to be a returning Alan Davis, tempted back as writer-artist from #35 onwards. However, other commitments delayed his return and Lobdell contributed a short run to bridge the gap, including a three-part arc featuring the

Feron.^[10] Having concluded his storylines, Davis left again after Excalibur #67 to focus on launching the ClanDestine.^[1] Comic Book Resources suggested the title never recovered from Davis' departure.^[11]

Scott Lobdell

Davis' return had not brought the expected sales increase; subsequently, after a brief tenure under Brian Ashford,

Douglock

added to the regular cast. However, sales only rose slightly.

Warren Ellis

In late 1994

From Excalibur #106 Ben Raab became writer, with Salvador Larroca as artist.^[17] Raab swiftly wrote out Captain Britain to facilitate a storyline featuring Colossus romancing Meggan, a plot point that would also feature in a Colossus one-shot.^[18] Raab would de-emphasise and eventually write out Wisdom too, once again choosing to focus on the X-Men originated characters. However, sales were poor and the title was finally cancelled after 125 issues in 1998.^[19] Critical reception of Raab's material has not been positive, with some feeling it had become a generic X-Men title that was going through the motions. Following the cancellation the characters of Nightcrawler, Shadowcat and Colossus returned to the main X-Men titles.^[20]

Volume 2 (2001)

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The series returned as a four-issue limited series in 2001, again featuring Raab as writer with art from Pablo Raimondi. It was originally solicited as Excalibur - Sword of Power in 2000,^[21] but the final issues made no mention of the subtitle. The series did not feature an Excalibur team or all of the original cast, instead focusing on Captain Britain, Meggan, Psylocke and the Black Knight battling to save Otherworld.

Volume 3 (2004–2005)

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In 2004, Marvel launched a new ongoing series titled Excalibur as part of the

The series' last issue was #14, released in May, 2005. The letters page of the final issue announced a relaunch of the title as New Excalibur in November, 2005.

New Excalibur (2006–2007)

New Excalibur
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Superhero
Publication date	January 2006 – December 2007
No. of issues	24
Main character(s)	Excalibur
Creative team
Written by	Chris Claremont Frank Tieri
Penciller(s)	Michael Ryan
Inker(s)	Rick Ketcham

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2023)

The replacement title featured the return of an Excalibur team, consisting of Captain Britain, Pete Wisdom, Dazzler, Juggernaut, Nocturne and Sage. It was followed by X-Men: Die by the Sword.

Volume 4 (2019–2022)

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Excalibur was relaunched as a part of

Collected editions

Epic Collections

Omnibuses

References