WTF Wednesday: I think I just coughed up a hairball

Sometimes people will stop me on the street and ask, "Max, when did Chris Claremont lose his ever-lovin' mind?"

And usually I'll tell them that it was gradual, the kind of madness that creeps up on a person so slowly that even those around him don't notice they're buying craploads of crappy comics until it's too late. But when the man on the street deems that answer a "bunch of bullshit," well, that's when I say, "Magik #2."

Because when you write a story that takes characters you yourself raised to +2 beloved and throws them into a sorta-alternate universe where they're all dead, that's kinda kooky. But when you top that off by having Belasco, the lord of limbo, turn Sword-Fightin' Action Kitty Pride into an actual cat-woman ... brother, you're officially out there.

Also, Claremont should never be allowed to use the word "stroke" again.

Panel from Magik #2 (of 4)
Chris Claremont, writer; John Buscema, penciller

Emo Storm has something to say

And now, a few words from Storm, courtesy of Chris Claremont:


Man, I hope she wrote that down for open-mike night at the poetry slam later.

Friday Night Fights: Punch!

Digging around in the Post's morgue, I came across a little series full of strangely chatty villains, bizarre accents, and excessive exclamations not seen since the heyday of Chris Claremont's run on the X-Men. Of course, no one can out-Claremont Claremont, so I present to you that X-Men-lite group from across the pond, Excalibur.

And who are the first bad-guys Excalibur goes up against? A gang of silvery "warwolves" who, inexplicably, speak with heavy British accents inspired by Mary Poppins. Eventually the heroes catch up to them, and Captain Britain punches one in the face so hard that he ends up smacking his pancreas.


What'd you think of that, Unreasonably Excited Kid?

Panels from Excalibur #2

Lucky for us, Bahlactus keeps it cool.

And while you're here, why don't you see what else is on the menu?