Exiles #95

Background

The Exiles had saved a world from an evil Susan Storm and her hordes, as well as being erased from existence with the help of its Mr. Fantastic. But, after some down time, it's time to get back to business...

CURRENT EXILES:

SABRETOOTH (Victor Creed): Enhanced senses and healing.

BLINK (Clarice Ferguson): Teleportation

MORPH (Kevin MacTaggert): Shape-shifting.

DR. HEATHER HUDSON: Scientist.

LONGSHOT: Agility and luck powers.

SPIDER-MAN 2099 (Miguel O'Hara): Spider-like powers and talons.

PSYLOCKE (Elizabeth "Betsy" Braddock): Telekinesis.

Story 'Home, Again!'

The Exiles return to find that the Crystal Palace is offline and empty. They search all around and find no trace of Heather or the bugs. After some time while relaxing later, they manage to ask a question that triggers an automated response programmed by Heather to explain what happened via a holographic projection of her known as Icon.

Heather thought the team died when the reality collapsed and fell into a drunken stupor. The bugs did nothing to help her, and eventually packed up and moved on to cut their losses. Heather eventually came to her senses. She cleaned up, fixed whatever damage she caused, and returned home a broken woman. It had been roughly six months since their last mission. The Exiles decide they need to find her and let her know they're alive, and Morph and Blink volunteer.

They track Heather down to her Earth only to find Heather pregnant, and effectively out of commission. They exchange their happiness at finding each other, and eventually their goodbyes. Meanwhile, Sabretooth tries to help Psylocke overcome her fear of Slaymaster, while Spidey tries to restore the Crystal Palace to full functioning order. Once things are back to normal, the Exiles find they have a new mission waiting for them. They're on their way and find themselves in New York, a hysterical crowd looking up at what appears to be She-Hulk and the Mole Man. It's not long after that the Four Fantastics, the heroes of this world appear: Victor Von Doom, The Hulk, The Invisible Woman and the Human Torch!

But will they treat the Exiles as friends...or foes?

General Comments

We've finally gotten away from making Psylocke the central character, but now we're smack dab into ANOTHER Fantastic Four story. While there have been repeated characters over the run of the Exiles, usually they differed with each subsequent story, not done the same twice in a row. Then tone had definitely changed with this issue; the lightheartedness gone even as far as the cover art. Henry's art isn't bad in any way, but the overall story is just running more serious. Even Morph's few jokes fall a bit flat. Also, looks like Claremont's removing characters from the equation already. Not so sure that's a good thing, changing so much in one sitting. We shall see.

Overall Rating

4 Webs. A lot of changes this issue, and yet another Fantastic Four story. A lack of creativity already after only 5 issues?