The artist-half of the co-creators of this book returns to see if he can make it better. He’s already done a few one-off issues, and now he tries his hand at a whole story.
Thematically, it’s consistent with the book’s title: A savage barbarian (Kylun), wizards, and, as you can tell from the title, satire.
“Crisis of Infinite Identities” is Excalibur–Marvel’s multiverse comic–taking on Crisis on Infinite Earths, which was a DC maxi-series designed to make sense of all the alternate DC universes. Excalibur, on the other hand, has always made maximum use out of enjoying the many permutations of alternate universes.
This story is the first appearance of the sword-wielding Kylun and the magician Feron. Feron is Irish.
Kylun first appears attacking Nightcrawler in a bathroom.
Okay, that’s pretty funny.
It turns out, he’s a kid named Colin who appeared in some earlier issues. He’ll join the team before the story ends.
We also meet another new series regular and castmember, Cerise.
She’s an augmented Shi’Ar.
As the team travels through alternate knights-and-dragons worlds, Rachel Summers finds her Phoenix consciousness getting integrated and tested.
And there’s an anti-Phoenix.
And an X-Fantastic Four.
Eventually, the Phoenix Force overtakes Rachel (and gives her amnesia), which brings Galactus to the scene. G senses the force and is, quite understandably, concerned.
He never likes anyone more powerful than he is, especially if they’re interrupting dinner.
It’s cool to see Galactus in a combat sequence–a rare event–but the stakes are low because this is all in an alternate reality.
She ends up fighting another alternate reality villain, Necrom, saving that universe and, in the process, shedding the Phoenix Force again.
Again, it all feels very underplayed and low-stakes–especially when elements like the Phoenix Force and Galactus are involved.
Overall, it’s fun and fine and the art is stunning, but I just personally don’t like the ideas and overall silliness of this title. It’s never really worked for me.