Hellfire Gala Week two Excalibur Introduces Some new threats

• apkos
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• on Sep 21, 2022

In Hellfire Gala week one, Emma Frost kicked off one of the strangest events in recent comics. A elegant party? exactly how is that going to be interesting? however then again, these are the X-men we’re speaking about, so some things are bound to go wrong. However, the method the X-team structured this event, we feel like we’re always on the edge of catastrophe. as well as in  Hellfire Gala week two, Excalibur #21, the Krakoan agents are starting to ruffle the feathers of the worlds’ governments – as well as vice versa.

Hellfire Gala Week Two: Excalibur #21: The X-Men Make Their very first Enemies of the evening – as well as Rictor gets the very best Moments

Betsy as well as Rachel sharing a dance after some rough advancements in Hellfire Gala week two (Image: Excalibur #21, marvel Comics).

Writer: Tini Howard
Artist: Marcus To
Colorist: Erick Arciniega
Excalibur #21 has a great deal going on, so much to ensure that it’s difficult to understand where to start. There are two huge narratives here. Firstly, we have Rictor getting more character advancement than he has since Peter David’s X-Factor Investigations run. That’s not a slight to other writers; Howard as well as other writers have written wonderful stories with the Earth-moving mutant. however in Hellfire Gala week two, Howard throws a great deal at him: loyalty, anger, love, as well as power. Secondly, there’s the British government as well as the member of Coven Akkaba that is now their ambassador to the UN.  just a reminder: Coven Akkaba wishes to kill Betsy Braddock for ending up being Captain Britain (which wasn’t her option at all) as well as just really, truly hates mutants. Oh, as well as they may be wizards. Let’s begin there.

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A short explanation of Coven Akkaba

If you keep in mind your Akkaba, Krakoa, Okkara, Arakko, as well as Arak Coral vocabulary flashcards, Clan Akkaba was the name of the society made up of Apocalypse’s mutant descendants. however it turned out that Apocalypse had human descendants as well – which he banished from Clan Akkaba. Those descendants developed Coven Akkaba as well as pledged their allegiance to a non-mutant magician. For now, however, let’s look at their actions in Excalibur #21 during Hellfire Gala week two.

An opponent Gains a extremely powerful Political setting in the British Government

The only Ruebens I trust are the ones made with pastrami. (Image: Excalibur #21, marvel Comics).

Ever since the magic of Merlin selected Betsy Braddock, a mutant, as well as Krakoan, as the next Captain Britain, she’s had a target on her. She may be British by ancestry as well as birthplace, however she ended up being a resident of Krakoa. To add insult to injury, the rest of Excalibur featured an Asian-American lady (Jubilee), a deep south southern Belle (Rogue), a Cajun (Gambit), a Mexican (Rictor), as well as an ancient Egyptian (Apocalypse). only Betsy brought any type of British heritage. However, that matter should have been settled method back in problem four, when the Queen sanctioned the team – as well as Captain Britain – as protectors of the realm. She even made all of Excalibur honorary citizens. however none of that mattered to the Coven.

This is with manipulation as well as fear, particularly with Betsy’s disappearance in Excalibur #14: X of Swords chapter Fifteen. Well, to them, she disappeared as well as “abandoned” them. In actuality, she was shattered to pieces, swept into a locked chest, had her conscience lost somewhere in the multiverse, came back possessed by a malevolent mutant spirit, as well as then gained manage of her new body. Excalibur is weird. during that time, the Coven amplified the British’s fear of Krakoa as well as hatred for Betsy, the “false” Captain Britain. as well as eventually, Coven leader Reuben Brousseau ended up being the UN ambassador. poor news for Krakoa. Worse news for excellent Britain, even if they don’t recognize it.

Hellfire Gala Week Two: Excalibur #21 Features the very first Shattered alliance of the evening – most likely Not the Last

Brousseau is as pompous as his name implies, as well as he only attends the gala to try as well as embarrass Krakoa on their huge night, by doing this:

See? No Rueben is a great Rueben. except for the ones at Junior’s in nyc – holy piles of pastrami, are they good. (Image: Excalibur #21, marvel Comics).

This doesn’t really do anything except piss off Excalibur as well as the peaceful Council, leading to excellent Britain losing all of the miracle Krakoan drugs. Rueben even threatens to take over the Excalibur lighthouse – we’ll get to exactly how that ends later. This was a wise move from Tini Howard. Some visitors have complained that Excalibur has been spinning its wheels since X of Swords ended…even though it dealt with a great deal of the after effects of the event. however now Excalibur has a new villain. Well, a new one as well as an old one.

One of Marvel’s most powerful Characters Returns in Hellfire Gala Week Two: Excalibur

Betsy’s hectic dancing with Rachel right now; please try once again later. (Image: Excalibur #21, marvel Comics).

The bad guy in the panel above? Pete Wisdom, the leader of excellent Britain’s MI-13 as well as one of the few mutants who saw the mutant guaranteed land of Krakoa as well as stated “pass.” now he acts as a mediator between Krakoa as well as excellent Britain. Or did. Sure, he’ll come back soon thanks to the Resurrection Protocols, however what we requirement to look at right here is exactly how he died: sacrifice.

Coven Akkaba utilized to have wonderful abilities, however Excalibur cut off their source. Oh, that source? Morgan Le Fey, a magician who can rival Merlin. since the early days of Krakoa, Apocalypse kept her prisoner in a dungeon beneath Avalon. He kept her to life as well as chained up to ensure that he might experiment with her magic nature. When Le Fey lost her thrown in Avalon, the Coven lost their power, as well as they’ve been trying to bring her back ever since.

So does this ritual, sacrificing mutant blood, work to free her? Well…

Oh, this is not going to go over well with Excalibur. (Image: Excalibur #21, marvel Comics).

A powerful opponent with a hundred reasons to dislike Excalibur is back. The future of the series looks awesome. however this is only half of Excalibur  #21 in Hellfire Gala week two.

Rictor already Hates Parties, however What occurs to Him in Hellfire Gala Week Two: Excalibur Doesn’t Help

He’s going to the most important event in his species’ history, in an attire designed by one of the most gifted designers in the world…I’d be upset too. (Image: Excalibur #21, marvel Comics).

As we stated before, a great deal occurs to Rictor in Excalibur #21. as well as the advancements he goes with get bigger as well as bigger with each scene. So let’s begin small.

When Excalibur gets prepared to go to the Gala together, Rictor is already miserable. before X of Swords, Rictor was Apocalypse’s pupil. The ancient mutant assisted Rictor stabilize his power as well as started mentoring him in the methods of magic. thanks to that tutelage, Excalibur was able to restore Betsy. as well as since of that relationship, Rictor grew to like Apocalypse. Not in a charming way, nor in a father/son way. The only method to truly explain it is that Rictor liked Apocalypse the method a dedicate Christian likes Christ. Only, in his case, the Christ-figure was there, mentor him as well as counseling him.

However, X of Swords altered whatever for Apocalypse. As part of the peace contract between Arakko as well as Krakoa, he agreed to leave Krakoa as well as go to Arakko. Unfortunately, the entire world is in financial obligation to Apocalypse, as well as Rictor doesn’t want anyone to forget. His commitment to Apocalypse has only grown since he left Krakoa.

Rictor’s loyalty to Excalibur Grows Too
“Hey, see that guy who can move the land itself? Let’s tell him we’re taking his land.” great job, Ruebs (Image: Excalibur #21, marvel Comics).

When Rictor as well as the other members of Excalibur hear what Rueben states to the peaceful Council, he goes a bit ballistic – particularly when they endanger the land their Lighthouse stands on. He promptly goes back to the Excalibur headquarters to protect it…in the most badass method possible.

Rictor Gains a new Title: King of the Druids

Ruebs is about to choke on his pastrami. (Image: Excalibur #21, marvel Comics).

Man, Rueben is going to eat his words when he discovers out what Rictor’s become. He called him a “false druid” – well, for a false druid, he sure looks quite remarkable as their new king. So when Rictor returns to the lighthouse, he phone calls upon the druids of that land – druids who offered him their assist in the past. After ending up being their new king, they take the lighthouse, as well as the land it is on, as well as move it:

? (Image: Excalibur #21, marvel Comics).

Yeah, he becomes a king of an island of druids. however that’s not the only great thing going for him.

One of the very best Queer Couples in Comics is Reunited – as well as It’s a excellent moment for Pride

exactly how charming – covered in the blood of his enemies. (Image: Excalibur #21, marvel Comics).

In Peter David’s X-Factor Investigations, Rictor lastly determined as gay after years of fan speculation. however that conjecture wasn’t just about him. a number of writers made it remove that Rictor as well as Shatterstar had more than a close friendship, however nobody went the additional step to make it official. David? Yeah, he didn’t just make it official; he had them making out as well as sharing a bed. however as many things go, fates separated the two lovers. up until now. However, their very first interaction doesn’t go all that well. If you look at the picture above, you may be able to assumption why.

Don’t make me choose! (Image: Excalibur #21, marvel Comics).

Shatterstar just escaped from the Mojoverse – literally. He’s still covered in blood as well as cables as well as barely dressed. So obviously, the very best thing he might do is walk into a prominent event as well as grab somebody he hasn’t seen in years. however for some reason, Rictor’s not happy about that:

What will occur to Rictor as well as Shatterstar in Excalibur After Hellfire Gala Week Two?

I’m not sure if I’m utilizing this right, however is this a “squee” moment? If so…squee. Image: Excalibur #21, marvel Comics).

I believe these two will be all right, wouldn’t you agree?

Hellfire Gala Week two Bonus! kids of the Atom #4 as well as Out Merry Non-Mutants

Don’t miss this underrated series! (Image: kids of the Atom #4, marvel Comics)

Writer: Vita Ayala
Artist: Paco Medina
Colorist: David Curiel
According to Marvel’s official Hellfire Gala checklist, kids of the Atom #4 isn’t really part of week two. However, the Gala still features in the issue, even if the COTA youngsters don’t end up there. If you haven’t been reading Ayala’s new series, understand two things. Firstly, it’s a wonderful exploration about feeling different as well as trying to discover the people who are your type of different. Ayala explores this monthly with the eyes of one of the five characters who, with stolen innovation as well as cosplay skills, are pretending to be young X-Men. They see Krakoa as well as the mutant society, as well as it appears like house to them…but they aren’t mutants. even if they are so convincing that the X-Men presume they’ve somehow blocked Cerebro, they just aren’t mutants (yet).

Secondly, any type of reviewer who bashes this series is a troll. They have to be. The art from Paco Medina as well as the character advancement from Ayala are both wonderful. as well as this issue, in particular, shows why. Krakoa is lastly going to open the gates as much as humans – however only a choose few. Meaning, not five youngsters in high tech cosplay. however it doesn’t stop them from trying. They do some unethical things including stealing a shirt from a mutant good friend they upset, however it’s all for nothing. When they show up at the gates, CRADLE, the company policing teen superheroes, shows up as well as kidnaps them…thinking they are mutants. They’ve been as well convincing.

So, while it isn’t technically a part of Hellfire Gala week two, it deserves a mention.

(Featured Image: Excalibur #21, marvel Comics)