Excalibur Volume 1: Forging the Sword Tpb

This new X-Men spinoff returns fan-favorite Claremont to the characters he made famous and seems to be the beginning of another X-Men mythos. The series takes place on Genosha, an island once idyllically populated by mutants, but since destroyed in an attempt at mutant genocide. Now, three years after the attack, the X-Men's founder, Professor Charles Xavier, journeys to the island to try to rebuild the dream of mutant prosperity. Once there, it becomes evident that he is not alone, and he finds himself embroiled in turf warfare between rival mutant gangs. Claremont is a wordy and somewhat melodramatic writer, but he does convey the gravitas of the situation, and he has a talent for evoking the unique brand of angst that fuels X-Men comics. Lopresti's drawing and storytelling are serviceable, full of detail. Claremont and Lopresti move the story along at a brisk pace, as Xavier teams up with his old foe, Magneto, to form yet another team of mutant outcasts. The idea for this new mutant team, though, is distinctly New Age flavored: instead of fighting, the group will focus on inspiring those around them, hoping to renew the promise of the desolate island. The book will satisfy X-Men devotees, but its dialogue and generic artwork make it less than inspiring.