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EXILES #100

Don’t normally get Marvel or DC here but as one series I’ve followed since #1 I thought I’d take a look at this one.

I have been a reader and fan of The Exiles since issue 1 and,though some may criticise the first issue [rather as I have done with Dan Dare no.1] you have to start somewhere and it did the job.

Not every story has been brilliant but,having said that,I cannot think of one that I thought was bad.  I did not,at first,like the style of original artistic team,Mike McKone & Mark McKenna.  I don’t know why because looking at it again the style is very good.  Must be my age!

The Exiles took us on a roller-coaster ride from one parallel to another and we got re-united with the 2099 line and New Universe amongst others -not to mention characters such as Fing Fang Foom!

I often used to wonder how long the series could go on and when Chris Claremont was appointed new scribe I thought The Exiles was going to become The X-iles!  Why,I have no idea. Claremont writes well,but when a series changes writer and/or artist readers always worry!!  But no problem.

What I found annoying,after avoiding all spoliers,was that the expensive $3.99 “Double Sise” issue had 23pp of new art but 38pp of old art -the reprinted #1!  So,whereas you might think a nice double-sized story to end the current series you get far from it!  It might have been nice to have a preview of the new series,character sketches or maybe even more background on The Exiles ‘base’.

At a time when comics have become more expensive than ever and when those who can ill-afford $3.99/£2.60 for a single comic and have to be very selective you have to think this was not a good move.  For every person able to spend $50-$70 per month on comics there are about ten who are lucky if they can spend $12.00!  I’ve seen and known people [in the UK] who spend £50-70 a month and some respond that those who cannot afford to buy new comics ought to download them off the internet -which is where Marvel and DC are pushing a lot of fans.  But that isn’t up for discussion here.

There is a very good critique by Brian Cronin over at Comic Book Resources and he mentions the very odd [sticking out like a] ’sore thumb’ dialogue used by Rogue -”silly girl” twice in a row.  Check it out at:

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/12/19/exiles-100-review/

That said,why end at #100??  It’s happened so many times before -when the new Fantastic Four was launched,as with Thor and The Mighty Avengers,they all began with #1 but after a while we saw #20 and below what its number would be had it been continually numbered so you got #60 and [would have been]#340 together.  Confusing.

If a series ain’t broke why restart it?

I’m looking forward to seeing the new Exiles series and though enjoyable,there was that tinge of disappointment at most of the issue being reprint.

Does Marvel care what I or any other critic thinks?  Doubt it.