While reading this, I kept thinking about how Apocalypse is a kind of wizard, but in many ways, he's working magic is if it were science. His actions have mystical qualities, but there are also rules that are helpfully laid out in data pages. As we all know, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The events of Excalibur #12 commit to an action, and so it appears X of Swords is that reaction. Nothing is wasted and, much like reading this series, you'll be hanging on every word curious about what the new dawn brings. Read Full Review

Betsy confronts Lady Satyrne, Apocalypse's plans come to fruition, and Gambit makes a hard choice. Read Full Review

Excalibur #12 takes one of the most poorly designed and written relics from Marvel Comics in the 90s and transforms the Externals into a compelling piece of its narrative. Read Full Review

Excalibur #12 (Howard, To, & Arciniega) delivers a fun story- assuming the reader is able to leave their preconceptions behind. Read Full Review

Howard has been taking her time to lay out this story, and that helps this issue pay off more than it might otherwise would have. Read Full Review

While the story of "Excalibur" #12 is not entirely clear, the art creates an engaging story. Read Full Review

Apocalypse: What he doin'?

A really solid issue that I think could have been executed a bit better. I like Apocalypse, Rictor, and Gambit in this issue, but I felt as though the story itself was a bit lacking. I wasn't really all that into the beginning of this book, as much as I enjoy the first two characters I listed. However, this did definitely pick up when things transitioned to Rogue and Gambit.

Brackets (f.k.a. Apocalypse) completes his magic scheme to open a big gate and prepare for X of Swords. I'm impressed with the way the title's other plot threads tie in; Excalibur's Otherworld adventures play a key role in the magic. The prose is rough to me, but the art is smooth and the plotting/world-building holds my interest well.

My first contact with the Externals. Not fully sure i understood all of it, but interesting.

I think this issue was a bit tough to get into. It's throwing a lot at you to convey a story that's honestly not that complicated. And some of the character motivations seem to be all over the place. I didn't mind this issue, but it was kind of a mess.

This was my usual Excalibur reading experience: boring, but never awful.

Characters really act dumb here.
In a moment Rictor is mad at apocalypse and moments later he does what he asks and kill mutants.
betsy doesn't do anything and is bad at her job of being captain britain.
Rogue do nothing.
Gambit has the chance to screw apocalypse plans but does what apocalypse asks, gambit since first issue doesn't trust him.
So they all helped Krakoa enter a war that will have a big costo to krakoa.

I find reading this to be very annoying.