• • Comic Book Reviews
• December 16, 2021

Excalibur #26 Review

Written by: Tini Howard

Art by: Marcus To

Coloring by: Erick Arciniega

Lettering by: VC’s Ariana Maher

This is it, Excalibur #26, the final issue of the longest running series of Dawn of X. This has been a controversial series, with many taking issue with the characterization of Betsy Braddock and the pace of the plot. I am not one of those people. Time and time again, this series kept me entertained, putting my favorite franchise at Marvel into a fantasy book. Suddenly, I’m a Captain Britain, something I never thought I’d say.

This series is special to me, but Excalibur #26 feels less so. Excalibur #26 feels like another issue in the best way. Despite being the final issue, it clearly runs directly into Knights of X. I’d be shocked if Knights of X didn’t feel like a direct continuation. This issue doesn’t feel like an ending of series by any means. It feels like a new beginning to a book that still feels fresh several years later.

Betsy Braddock has had several moments where comes into her own as Captain Britain. That’s weird to say, that’s only suppose to happen once, but the creative team always manages to find new ways to pick at Betsy’s brain and make her feel like she still has room to grow. It happens again where, when she finds herself picking Avalon, and being Captain Britain over the whims of Krakoa. I’m a stalwart supporter of the mutant nation, but it felt justified after so long that I’m not even mad.

Don’t expect a real ending in this issue. It may be the end of an arch, but its not the end of the story, and that may be frustrating to some, and relieving to others. The team roster is getting a shake-up, there’s a new villain, and the odds are stacked against them. Excalibur #26 is less a finale, and more of an issue dedicated to setting up Knights of X up to be the best it can be, and I think it will be.