History ComicBook / Excalibur2019

The fourth ''ComicBook/{{Excalibur}}'' series, and the first in 12 years, spinning out of the status quo of ''[[ComicBook/JonathanHickmansXMen House of X/Powers of X]]''. It is part of the ''ComicBook/DawnOfX'' relaunch, written by Tini Howard (''ComicBook/HackSlash Revolution'') and drawn by Marcus To (''ComicBook/AgeOfXMan: [=NextGen=]'').

* JerkassHasAPoint: When Betsy confronts Jamie about how he has attempted to undermine her as Captain Britain by fuelling the British people's distrust of her, Jamie points out that her own "internal dithering" and refusal to actually pick an allegiance between Britain and Krakoa has done just as much damage in that respect.

* BackForTheDead: Apocalypse calls together the Externals to sacrifice four of them in a magical ritual to establish a permanent portal to Otherworld. The process is stated to [[KilledOfForReal kill them permanently]].

* PowerIncontinence: Rictor is shown in previews as now incapable of stepping on the ground without generating earthquakes.

* XanatosSpeedChess: His full plan is unclear but so far Apocalypse's actions seem to be working to gain a foothold for mutants in Otherworld through conquest. The cover for issue 12 as shown on the preview has Saturnyne moving the team as chess pieces on a board, with the giant hand of Apocalypse above her head as if about to move her as a piece as well.

* SuddenlyAlwaysKnewThat: For this title Apocalypse has apparently been practicing mysticism for an unknown amount of time.

War wages in the Otherworld, just as a new era for mutantkind dawns with the magic connection between the mutants of the world and the Otherworld. [[ComicBook/{{Psylocke}} Betsy Braddock]] takes center-stage as the new ComicBook/CaptainBritain, holding the Amulet of Right while while fighting for the Kingdom of Avalon with her Excalibur by her side. They consist of ComicBook/{{Rogue}}, ComicBook/{{Gambit}}, ComicBook/{{Jubilee}}, Rictor, and... ''ComicBook/{{Apocalypse}}''?!

* TookALevelInJerkass: Cullen Bloodstone is reintroduced with quite a bit of bigotry against mutants.

-->'''Trinary:''' Miss Braddock?\\

'''Apocalypse:''' ''All incorrect.'' You stand in the presence of a hero of legend. Hail ''Captain Britain.''\\
-- ''Excalibur'' #1

* FriendToAllLivingThings: Rogue feels that the war horses didn't do nuthin' to deserve her ire.

* FanDisservice: Morgan [[spoiler:being vivisected, while awake]].

* MandatoryMotherhood: Discussed.

* MamdatoryMotherhood: Discussed.

** Goldballs has considered renaming himself "Egg", with the change of how his powers work. Betsy doesn't think it'll last.

* MultinationalTeam: A England-based team, with very British themes. However, only Captain Britain is actually British. Gambit, Rogue and Jubilee are all Americans (Cajun, Southern but not Cajun, and Chinese, respectively), Apocalypse is Ancient Egyptian, and Rictor is Mexican. Technically speaking, this isn't actually that different to the original ''Excalibur'' team, which had two Americans (Kitty Pryde and ComicBook/RachelSummers), a German (Nightcrawler), and later, a Russian (Colossus), with Brian spending most of 20 issues missing in the far future, before Rachel sacrificed herself by swapping places with him. However, it is also worth noting that in Brian, Meggan (who was British Romani), and later, Peter Wisdom, it had a larger British contingent.

* UnequalRites: The conflict is set up to show the fight between humans and mutants in the world of magic. Morgan Le Fay is given a lot of dialogue scoffing at mutants as vermin witchbreed with obnoxious chaotic powers instead of real witches. At the end the Coven Akkaba is introduced. They are given narration where they describe how their advancement in magic is justified by their humility and therefore only they deserve to wield it, unlike the haughty mutants who don't respect the price of power.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: What Morgan le Fay does to Brian Braddock to turn him against his sister.

** Goldballs has considered renaming himself "Egg", with the change of how his powers work.
* MultinationalTeam: A England-based team, with very British themes. Naturally, only Captain Britain is actually British. Gambit, Rogue and Jubilee are all Americans (Cajun, Southern but not Cajun, and Chinese, respectively), Apocalypse is Ancient Egyptian, and Rictor is Mexican.

* AffirmativeActionLegacy: Betsy, a bisexual (and formerly Asian) woman, taking the identity of Captain Britain from her twin brother Brian, a heterosexual man. For added bonus, she's another one in-universe by virtue of being a mutant taking the legacy from a human.

** The first issue references the rule "As Above, So Below," which had shown up before during Kieron Gillen's ''ComicBook/JourneyIntoMystery'' run with Kid Loki. During that run, it meant that destroying British monuments on Earth affected the magic in Otherworld...while in ''Excalibur'', it's flipped so the introduction of Krakoa and the Krakoan gates means a Krakoan portal appears in Otherworld.

** In Age of Ultron Brian Braddock had described the Black Knight as the dark side of Britain, representing its xenophobia and imperialism. Later, the imperious and xenophobic Morgan Le Fay forces Brian to become her Black Knight.

* FantasticRacism: Morgan le Fay is furious that a Krakoan portal grew insider her scrying pool and decides ''no one'' can harness Avalon's magic until that portal is cut off. Continuing the theme of Hickman's run she is contrast with her praise of the Braddock parents for being "pure" humans whole with Jamie electing to never interact with any other humans for how they treated him.

* TeethClenchedTeamwork: Gambit is understandably ''not'' enthusiastic about Apocalypse being around, and makes it clear if he tries betraying them, Gambit will try to kill him, contrast in power levels be damned.