Excalibur #11
“The Price”
Writer: Chris Claremont
Pencils: Marshall Rogers
Inks: Terry Austin
Colours: Glynis Oliver
Letters: Todd Klein
Editor: Terry Kavanagh
Original publication date: August 1989
This episode, talking Excalibur #11: “The Price,” is a pod-friends reunion as Anna, Mav, and Andrew are joined by Dr. Michael Hancock, the self-proclaimed “Beta Ray Bill of comics and games research” and co-host of Three Panel Contrast (aka Andrew & Anna’s other/OG podcast!). There’s less Nazis but more (friendly!) griping about another Alan Davis-less issue that focuses on a love triangle (most of us) hate and spends entirely too much time trying to make Nigel Frobisher happen. Also, Anna’s got *lots* of thoughts about a scene where Kurt experiences a world-tilting revelation that ultimately reveals nothing but a bushel of wrong ideas about what makes him tick.
This episode has an enhanced video version! Watch here:
On misguided mythology:
“When Illyana’s Soulsword arrives at the Lighthouse, it arrives in a stone, like the sword itself understands branding. I love Illyana, and hate this. When people mess with her mythology, I’m sad.” -Andrew
On the newest love triangle:
“As creepy as Kitty/Colossus was, the story was better. I don’t need Alistaire to believe Kitty’s jealous of Rachel. And Alistaire’s not Kitty’s type.” -Mav
On Rachel’s character development:
“Rachel’s coolness feeds into the gap in her character. That she comes back a changed character. That she’s not the pensive character she was before. This is someone who’s confident and calm to an almost sociopathic degree.” -Andrew
On Claremont’s kinks:
“Erotic exhibitionist fantasy is a fantasy where your clothes come off, and you have to be exposed. It’s a kink, but also relates to the possibility of alternate gazes.” -Andrew
On *that* scene with Nazi Kurt and Alysande:
“I’m here for critiquing Kurt’s problematic flirting. But this isn’t that. If Kurt manipulated Meggan, it was into consent, out of a desperate desire to be liked. Going straight to rape simplifies and misunderstands him.” -Anna
More gripes:
“The other thing I hate about this scene is we have a female character threatened with sexual assault for the emotional growth of Kurt. And then he learns nothing. I hate it so much” -Anna
On the mysterious appeal of Nigel Frobisher:
“I read Nigel as Renfield to Sat-Yr-9’s Dracula, putting him on the path to villainy. Or it’s setting him up for a hero turn. Apparently, neither are true.” -Michael
Next! The Cross-Time Caper begins...
Want more?
You can find Michael Hancock on Twitter (@Person of Con) and through the podcast he co-hosts with Andrew and Anna, Three Panel Contrast! (@3PanelContrast on the bird app.)
Every 3PC episode is sparklingly perfect in every way, but here’s for some recs for Michael-hosted eps we mentioned on the pod.
Ep 17 – Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck and Howard the Duck (on ducks!)
Ep 23 – Diceman & You Are Deadpool (on gamebook comics!)
Ep 20 – Flinststones & Transformers vs GI Joe (on self-reflexive remakes!)
Ep 9 – Relish & Delicious in Dungeon (on food-based comics!)
Plus!
You can find Anna’s Claremont Run thread about Kurt’s problematic flirting in Excalibur #4 here.
And as usual:
You can find Anna on Twitter (@peppard_anna) and on her podcast with Andrew and Michael Hancock, Three Panel Contrast (@3PanelContrast).
You can find Andrew on Twitter (@ClaremontRun).
You can find Mav on Twitter (@chrismaverick) and on his podcast, VoxPopcast (@VoxPopcast).
Enjoy!
-GGW Team