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

[alliterator]

I really don't understand the complaints that the quoter is saying. Yes, Reuben Brousseau is supposed to represent the right-wing reactionaries of Britian, the pro-Brexit, pro-authoritarian contingent that is currently the majority of Parliament over there. They don't have to represent an actual person, though. That's silly.

And so what about the fact that he's a member of a coven? That's part of the mystical element of Excalibur, the sword-and-sorcery element that Otherworld represents.

Tini Howard's Excalibur has been good to great for the pretty much its entire run and I highly look forward to Knights of X, especially since Bob Quinn will be joining her and his artwork is pretty damn amazing.

[redmagpie]

On one hand I've really enjoyed Tini Howard's Excalibur, but I'd agree that it's not as pointed or insightful as it could be when it comes to its depiction of Britain. Like it was clearly written by someone who is not British.

But also like

That is VERY OFTEN the case with comics and depictions of anywhere non western. Just because British writers have more presence on the scene doesn't mean Britain gets to be the exception.

She's still been telling a story I've enjoyed and while the choice to make Excalibur involve ongoing British politics exposes the flaws of an outsider writing a country, I don't think that makes it bad and I don't think that it means people should always write what they know. Nuance etc.

[lilacsigil]

And if nothing else "is openly a member of a mystical coven" is a vastly *milder* version of the "pig's head"/"window smashing"/"burning money in front of homeless people" reality of the Bullingdon Club, provider of Tory leaders and members for a long time.

[lordultimus]

Once again, I can't help but notice that the nanosecond Hickman leaves, we have another "the hated and feared mutants are being hunted to extinction", just in another dimension.

[deh_tommy]

Imperialist colonisers, their actions have finally come home to roost and now everyone, innocent or otherwise, is made to suffer.

[numeronone]

I remember when Cornell introduced Faiza Hussein in "Captain Britain and the MI:13" and got very justifiably angry when someone on the Newsarama forums insisted she wasn't 'legitimate' representation unless she had an evil brother or cousin who wanted to be a terrorist, to balance it out.

It's messy. Our politics are messy. We've never really stopped being racist.

[onsokumaru]

Jubilee is still running around with that poor toddler?
I know heroes being irresponsible parents and endangering their kids is a trope, but usually, they at least wait until they are teens to bring them in missions.

[scorntx]

Not being familiar with Roma beyond an old New Excalibur / Exiles crossover, but, uh... don't recall being Meryln's puppet as part of her characterisation in any prior discussion of her.

[silverhammerman]

Dropping a link to the full Paul O'Brien review that quote is from, in case anyone is interested. I think O'Brien is on the money, pointing out some of the same sticky issues that Alexandra Iciek did back in March of last year.

I don't think any of that means Excalibur is a bad book, but Howard isn't writing with a particularly deft hand and it gets back to my big problem with this era as a whole: exceptions vs execution. So much was made of Krakoa as a big, bold experiment, mutants by way of political hard sci-fi, and then the actual books are just sort of standard, largely uncritical superhero fare and it's difficult not to feel as though readers have been sold a bill of goods.

[tinygaylaura]

I love all the subtext between Betsy and Rachel in this book.

I'm absolutely shipping the two of them now and if they become canon in Knights of X I will be very happy

But then I'm always happy to see a hot woman hooking up with an even hotter redhead in skintight red latex

I approve of Gambit's priorities. First and most important thing: Check that the cats are safe

The kitty putting their paw on Betsy's sword is cute. This cat is now true king of britain

Very excited for Knights of X. I can't wait to see Betsy and her team kick Merlin's ancient fascist ass all the way back to that garbage fire he calls a "kingdom" and taking down that pompous blowhard Arthur.