Excalibur #26: The Fantasy Is Over

[superboyprime]

"Regrettaby, Excalibur leaves me with the distinct impression that Tini Howard has no real understanding of British identity, and no real interest in the topic either. Since her core theme seems to be some sort of battle against reactionaries, I suspect the idea that Britain is withdrawing from dealing with mutants and so forth is meant to be some sort of Brexit allegory, but what it amounts to in practice is the baffling idea that – without any explanation – meaningful political influence attaches to a weirdo who is openly a member of a mystical coven. Which… again, what? What does any of this have to do with the iconography of the British right? The iconography of the British anything? If Reuben Brousseau is meant to represent Boris Johnson or Nigel Farage or Jacob Rees-Mogg… I mean, that’s like claiming that Dr Druid symbolises Donald Trump. You can say it, but it’s bollocks. And if Reuben’s not meant to represent that then… why does he matter?" - Paul O'Brien

Comments

[redmagpie]

dude I'm literally Scottish. I know how messy and ridiculous Brexit is. I'm just saying that like. Non western countries and cultures are always being miswritten by American and British writers and being so precious about it when it happens to us is kind of hypocritical.

[deh_tommy]

I’m asking rhetorically does Tini Howard know, not you. And I tend to get precious about it when it happens to anyone.

That’s not a problem exclusive to this book, certainly (hello, Russia in literally every other X-book), that’s just… ugh, I’m so sick of things that aim to be progressive accidentally screwing it up by introducing a whole litany of other problematic issues.

[numeronone]

"I’m so sick of things that aim to be progressive accidentally screwing it up by introducing a whole litany of other problematic issues."

When it comes to the post-Hickman era I'm not so sure there was any 'aim to be progressive' so much as 'part the progressively-minded readers from their money while promoting modern-day colonial/fascist cult tactics under a 'Progressive' banner'.

The problematic issues are a feature, not a bug.