X-Lapsed, Episode 124 – Marauders #15 (2021)
X-Lapsed, Episode One Hundred Twenty-Four
Marauders #15 (January, 2021)
“X of Swords, Chapter 14”
Writers – Gerry Duggan & Benjamin Percy
Art – Stefano Caselli
Colors – Edgar Delgado
Letters – VC’s Cory Petit
Design – Tom Muller
Head of X – Hickman
Edits – Bissa, White, Cebulski
Cover Price: $3.99
On-Sale: November 11, 2020
Who’s hungry?
Today our pre-fight Dinner Party truly commences… with all sorts of Otherworldly “delicacies” (if you enjoy eating beetles and unicorn meat, that is). We also get to watch as our Arraki opponents continue to grow their newfound characters. It’s wonderful that they’re finally giving us a reason to care about these upcoming bouts!
A great issue, packed with drama and comedy – and gives us plenty of interesting “food” for thought.
All that and we got some X-Cellent Mailbag!
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@acecomics / @cosmictmill / weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com
I'm so glad that you enjoyed this Marauders two-parter. I was worried it would have too much Otherworldliness for your liking. I found it delightful. When you said the Arakkoans got more characterisation in this than in all the previous chapters combined I instantly thought of Gorgon. He has been presented to us as an important Krakoan character (he's a Captain) but I genuinely think that this is the first time I have ever seen him be a person.
I feel like I need to take some time to praise the covers. Russell Dauterman is a stone cold genius. He can do no wrong. It's a little too late, but maybe he could run a class for the other artists on how to distinguish Emma and Saturnyne. You could never mistake one for the other.
Whilst I'm talking about artists I should also give some kudos to Stefano Caselli. He really has a lot to do in these two issues and he excels. Dance is very difficult to convey in comics and he really nails it. The movements have fluidity and continuity. He also does a great job with body language. I'm most impressed with his Wolverine. He makes him so expressive and aggressive. I love it.
So many character moments throughout the issues shine. As a Storm fan my favourite is the idea of her spending her life dancing with Death. I love the idea that it is the living who have most experience with Death because they have to get through it. I have complained about Storm being underwritten but this shows that Duggan does have an interesting take on her that bodes well for the Reign of X era.
You are right in identifying Isca the Unbeaten as the stand out new character. She is really developed well and her powers are presented in a way that grounds the high concept. Some really masterful work.
Overall it was a wonderful two parter. Anyway until Jim Jaspers and Wolverine team up to create a chain of Unicorn Burger Bars, Make Mine X-Lapsed!