X-Men: Die by the Sword
Encyclopedia
X-Men: Die by the Sword is a five-issue comic book
limited series
published by Marvel Comics
in 2007
. It was written by Chris Claremont
, drawn by Juan Santacruz, and inked by Raul Fernandez.
The story featured the teams New Excalibur and Exiles
. It is notable that the storyline is published as its own mini-series, because historically a team-up of two teams is typically published as a crossover within the comic book series of the teams involved.
New Excalibur #24 was actually released one week after X-Men: Die by the Sword #1.
This mini-series served as a conclusion to both Exiles
vol. 1 and New Excalibur, though Captain Britain
and some of New Excalibur continue on in Captain Britain and MI: 13
, part of the Secret Invasion
crossover event. Exiles was later restarted as New Exiles.
answers the door and is surprised that it is his sister, Psylocke
, because he believed her dead after she defeated the Shadow King
. She tells him that she was part of the Exiles for a while, and she introduces her teammate, Thunderbird, to Captain Britain. Thunderbird wanders through the party, and when Nocturne
sees him she jumps on him and gives him a kiss while expressing her surprise that he's alive. (This is because the last time she saw him he was lying in a bed apparently brain dead
while she was pregnant with his child.) Psylocke explains to Captain Britain what the Exiles do, and he is slightly offended because protecting the multiverse
is something that he, as the leader of the Captain Britain Corps
, is in charge of, and he was angry that someone else had taken over the job.
Most of the first issue focuses on James Jasper
. He is dealing with the fact that he had been killed by The Fury
, a creature of his own creation, but somehow he is still alive. He is approached by Merlyn
for a deal, but before the deal is explained their meeting is interrupted by three members of the Captain Britain Corps. Jasper is easily able to defend himself, and he turns two of the Captains into green creatures resembling The Fury. The third Captain is killed by one of the Fury-like creatures. After the battle is over Merlyn proposes an alliance between the two of them.
There is a one page interlude where Roma
tells Saturnyne
to summon the Captain Britain Corps and prepare them for battle, because "The time has come to face the reality that all things--perhaps even all people--are ultimately finite. And must someday come to their end."
Back at the party Pete Wisdom gives Dazzler
a brand new motorcycle, Thunderbird and Nocturne have a long conversation as they restart their relationship
, and Captain Britain goes to answer another knock at the door where he is stabbed by Rouge-Mort, who is accompanied by multiple figures in black military gear.
and Thunderbird join in and are able to easily defeat the henchmen in black while Nocturne gets all of the civilians out of the club. Nocturne tries to possess Rouge-Mort, but her armor prevents that from happening. However, Captain Britain is bleeding profusely because the stab wound is very close to his heart. Dazzler uses her power to create a blinding flash of light as a diversion so New Excalibur and the two Exiles can all be teleported to the Panoptichron.
In the Panoptichron Nocturne is reunited with her friends Morph and Blink
, who are extremely happy to see her. Dazzler is reunited with Longshot
, but his memory has been erased by Mojo
so he does not remember that they are married. Because of this Dazzler contemplates jumping to her death but Mystiq talks her out of doing so. Sage is able to work with the computer of the Panoptichron to help save Captain Britain's life and bring him to a stable condition. Cat checks Roma's headquarters to see what is happening to the rest of the Captain Britain Corps, and the issue ends with the entire Corps attacking James Jasper and his two Fury-like monsters.
Meanwhile, Captain Britain is struggling to stay alive, so Cat visits an alternate dimension set of X-Men (Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colossus) who are very gifted doctors. Psylocke and Sage fight with Pete Wisdom about letting Albion free so that he can help in the fight. Reluctantly Wisdom agrees.
and come to an agreement with Albion that he will help them, but not try to escape afterwards. Dazzler fights Rouge-Mort and the Janissaries (this is the name for the soldiers in black with Rouge-Mort that is finally revealed) while Longshot leads Roma to a secure area. Along the way they are ambushed by more Janissaries and Sage joins the fight to help Longshot defeat them. Unfortunately Roma is stabbed during the fight. Also Longshot's feelings for Dazzler start to return, but he does not understand why since his memories are still not there. Longshot helps Dazzler defeat Rouge-Mort, but they are both knocked out by Merlyn.
The fight against Jaspers is no longer going well, and Jaspers is winning. He is starting to try to turn Morph into a Fury, but Albion arrives just in time to break that up. Albion is able to land some heavy blows, but it seems to have no effect. Then Jaspers slowly turns into the original Fury and kills almost all of the few remaining members of the Captain Britain Corps. The final page of the issue shows Captain Britain ready to join the fight.
at the Panoptichron departs, telling Psylocke that she and her crew have to guard the multiverse now. They vanish, and everyone watches as Roma is about to be buried.
:
Exiles #95-100 are collected in:
New Excalibur #16-24 are collected in:
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
in 2007
2007 in comics
-January:*January 10: Superman & Batman vs. Aliens & Predator released.*January 24: The Boys is canceled with issue #6.-February:*February 2: Newsarama reports that The Boys has been picked up by Dynamite Entertainment....
. It was written by Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...
, drawn by Juan Santacruz, and inked by Raul Fernandez.
The story featured the teams New Excalibur and Exiles
Exiles (Marvel Comics)
The Exiles are a group of fictional characters that feature in three Marvel Comics series, Exiles, New Exiles, and Exiles vol. 2. The Exiles consists of characters from different dimensions, or realities, which have been removed from time and space in order to correct problems in various alternate...
. It is notable that the storyline is published as its own mini-series, because historically a team-up of two teams is typically published as a crossover within the comic book series of the teams involved.
Publication history
The events of the mini-series take place following New Excalibur #24 (the last issue of that series) and between the issues of Exiles #99 and #100. Due to a minor delay in publishingPublishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
New Excalibur #24 was actually released one week after X-Men: Die by the Sword #1.
This mini-series served as a conclusion to both Exiles
Exiles (Marvel Comics)
The Exiles are a group of fictional characters that feature in three Marvel Comics series, Exiles, New Exiles, and Exiles vol. 2. The Exiles consists of characters from different dimensions, or realities, which have been removed from time and space in order to correct problems in various alternate...
vol. 1 and New Excalibur, though Captain Britain
Captain Britain
Captain Britain , briefly known as Britannic, is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe, he first appeared in Captain Britain Weekly, #1...
and some of New Excalibur continue on in Captain Britain and MI: 13
Captain Britain and MI: 13
Captain Britain and MI: 13 is an American comic book series from Marvel Comics, written by Paul Cornell, with art by Leonard Kirk. The series centers on the fictional British government agency MI: 13, which is dedicated to protecting the United Kingdom from supernatural threats...
, part of the Secret Invasion
Secret Invasion
"Secret Invasion" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through a self-titled eight issue limited series and several tie-in books published by Marvel Comics from April through December 2008....
crossover event. Exiles was later restarted as New Exiles.
U.S. release dates
- Exiles #99: October 3, 2007
- New Excalibur #24: October 17, 2007
- Issue 1: October 10, 2007
- Issue 2: October 24, 2007
- Issue 3: November 14, 2007
- Issue 4: December 5, 2007
- Issue 5: December 12, 2007
- Exiles #100: December 19, 2007
Issue 1 "The Sword is Drawn"
The story starts with all of the members of New Excalibur celebrating their recent defeat of Albion. Captain BritainCaptain Britain
Captain Britain , briefly known as Britannic, is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe, he first appeared in Captain Britain Weekly, #1...
answers the door and is surprised that it is his sister, Psylocke
Psylocke
Psylocke is a fictional character depicted in comic books published by Marvel Comics, most notably those comics featuring the superhero team the X-Men. The character has also appeared in licensed adaptations. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Herb Trimpe, she first appeared in the UK...
, because he believed her dead after she defeated the Shadow King
Shadow King
The Shadow King, also known as Amahl Farouk, is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Shadow King exists as an entity of pure psychic energy that feeds on the hatred of humanity...
. She tells him that she was part of the Exiles for a while, and she introduces her teammate, Thunderbird, to Captain Britain. Thunderbird wanders through the party, and when Nocturne
Nocturne (comics)
Nocturne is a code name used by four separate fictional characters in the Marvel Comics Universe. This article deals with Talia Josephine "T.J." Wagner, formerly associated with the reality-hopping Exiles and New Excalibur....
sees him she jumps on him and gives him a kiss while expressing her surprise that he's alive. (This is because the last time she saw him he was lying in a bed apparently brain dead
Brain death
Brain death is the irreversible end of all brain activity due to total necrosis of the cerebral neurons following loss of brain oxygenation. It should not be confused with a persistent vegetative state...
while she was pregnant with his child.) Psylocke explains to Captain Britain what the Exiles do, and he is slightly offended because protecting the multiverse
Multiverse (Marvel Comics)
Within Marvel Comics, most tales take place within the fictional Marvel Universe, which in turn is part of a larger multiverse. Starting with issues of Captain Britain, the main continuity in which most Marvel storylines take place was designated Earth-616, and the multiverse was established as...
is something that he, as the leader of the Captain Britain Corps
Captain Britain Corps
In Marvel Comics, the Captain Britain Corps is a league of super-heroes all known as, or appear as an alternative version of, Captain Britain. They are all essentially the same hero except they each come from an alternative reality.-Fictional team history:...
, is in charge of, and he was angry that someone else had taken over the job.
Most of the first issue focuses on James Jasper
Mad Jim Jaspers
Sir James Jaspers is a fictional character created by Dave Thorpe and Alan Davis for the Captain Britain stories in Marvel UK comics and later developed by Alan Moore....
. He is dealing with the fact that he had been killed by The Fury
Fury (Marvel Comics)
The Fury is a fictional character created by writer Alan Moore and illustrator Alan Davis as an antagonist for the Marvel Comics hero Captain Britain...
, a creature of his own creation, but somehow he is still alive. He is approached by Merlyn
Merlyn (Marvel Comics)
Merlyn is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He claims to be the Merlin of British Legends and has served for many years as the Omniversal Guardian, a function his daughter Roma took from him...
for a deal, but before the deal is explained their meeting is interrupted by three members of the Captain Britain Corps. Jasper is easily able to defend himself, and he turns two of the Captains into green creatures resembling The Fury. The third Captain is killed by one of the Fury-like creatures. After the battle is over Merlyn proposes an alliance between the two of them.
There is a one page interlude where Roma
Roma (comics)
Roma is a fictional character featured in numerous Marvel Comics titles. She is the daughter of Merlyn. Roma is the Omniversal Guardian, charged with the safety of the Omniverse...
tells Saturnyne
Saturnyne
Opal Luna Saturnyne is the name of a fictional comic book character created by Dave Thorpe and Alan Davis for their Captain Britain stories. She is the Omniversal Majestrix of Otherworld, and a servant of Roma, charged with the safety of the Omniverse....
to summon the Captain Britain Corps and prepare them for battle, because "The time has come to face the reality that all things--perhaps even all people--are ultimately finite. And must someday come to their end."
Back at the party Pete Wisdom gives Dazzler
Dazzler
Dazzler is a Marvel Comics superheroine, associated with the X-Men. She first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #130 ....
a brand new motorcycle, Thunderbird and Nocturne have a long conversation as they restart their relationship
Intimate relationship
An intimate relationship is a particularly close interpersonal relationship that involves physical or emotional intimacy. Physical intimacy is characterized by romantic or passionate love and attachment, or sexual activity. The term is also sometimes used euphemistically for a sexual...
, and Captain Britain goes to answer another knock at the door where he is stabbed by Rouge-Mort, who is accompanied by multiple figures in black military gear.
Issue 2 "First Blood"
The second issue starts with Psylocke attacking Rouge-Mort in retaliation for attacking Captain Britain. Psylocke is able to hit Rouge-Mort numerous times but they do not seem to affect her, and Rouge-Mort is able to send Psylocke flying with a hard hit. SageSage (comics)
Sage, also known as Tessa, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. She has most often been associated with the X-Men and the Hellfire Club, whom she spied upon for Professor Charles Xavier....
and Thunderbird join in and are able to easily defeat the henchmen in black while Nocturne gets all of the civilians out of the club. Nocturne tries to possess Rouge-Mort, but her armor prevents that from happening. However, Captain Britain is bleeding profusely because the stab wound is very close to his heart. Dazzler uses her power to create a blinding flash of light as a diversion so New Excalibur and the two Exiles can all be teleported to the Panoptichron.
In the Panoptichron Nocturne is reunited with her friends Morph and Blink
Blink (comics)
Blink is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero featured in various X-Men-related series. Created by Scott Lobdell and Joe Madureira, the character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #317 .-Publication History:...
, who are extremely happy to see her. Dazzler is reunited with Longshot
Longshot
Longshot is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero best known as a member of the X-Men. He was created by writer Ann Nocenti and artist Art Adams.-Publication history:...
, but his memory has been erased by Mojo
Mojo (comics)
Mojo is a Marvel Comics supervillain, primarily an enemy of the X-Men and one of its members, Longshot. Mojo is one of the "Spineless Ones," an alien race that is immobile without advanced technology. He is a slaver who rules the Mojoverse, a dimension where all beings are addicted to his...
so he does not remember that they are married. Because of this Dazzler contemplates jumping to her death but Mystiq talks her out of doing so. Sage is able to work with the computer of the Panoptichron to help save Captain Britain's life and bring him to a stable condition. Cat checks Roma's headquarters to see what is happening to the rest of the Captain Britain Corps, and the issue ends with the entire Corps attacking James Jasper and his two Fury-like monsters.
Issue 3 "When Falls a Dream"
Issue 3 starts a few moments before the last scene of issue 2; the Captain Britain Corps are preparing to fight and Roma tells them that they are fighting to protect all reality. It is revealed that James Jaspers is not necessarily who he appears to be, and that Merlyn was driven mad by his job of protecting the omniverse and now he is attacking to regain what he believes Roma unjustly stole from him. The Captain Britain Corps attacks and gives everything they have. They are making progress against Jaspers army of Furies, but the Furies are able to kill many of the Corps. Saturyne joins the fight and is able to severely hurt Jaspers, and as he is about to retaliate some of the Exiles join the fight. Blink, Sabretooth, Thunderbird, and Morph start a team attack that appears to be beating Jaspers. Meanwhile, Rouge-Mort attacks the bodyguards of Roma, but Dazzler appears to protect her.Meanwhile, Captain Britain is struggling to stay alive, so Cat visits an alternate dimension set of X-Men (Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colossus) who are very gifted doctors. Psylocke and Sage fight with Pete Wisdom about letting Albion free so that he can help in the fight. Reluctantly Wisdom agrees.
Issue 4 "When Is Born the Nightmare"
Psylocke, Sage, and Wisdom go to CrossmoreCrossmore
Her Majesty's Ultimate Security Prison Crossmore is a fictional British prison/psychiatric facility for super-human criminals in the Marvel Universe.- History :...
and come to an agreement with Albion that he will help them, but not try to escape afterwards. Dazzler fights Rouge-Mort and the Janissaries (this is the name for the soldiers in black with Rouge-Mort that is finally revealed) while Longshot leads Roma to a secure area. Along the way they are ambushed by more Janissaries and Sage joins the fight to help Longshot defeat them. Unfortunately Roma is stabbed during the fight. Also Longshot's feelings for Dazzler start to return, but he does not understand why since his memories are still not there. Longshot helps Dazzler defeat Rouge-Mort, but they are both knocked out by Merlyn.
The fight against Jaspers is no longer going well, and Jaspers is winning. He is starting to try to turn Morph into a Fury, but Albion arrives just in time to break that up. Albion is able to land some heavy blows, but it seems to have no effect. Then Jaspers slowly turns into the original Fury and kills almost all of the few remaining members of the Captain Britain Corps. The final page of the issue shows Captain Britain ready to join the fight.
Issue 5 "Dawn of a New Day?"
Captain Britain battles the Fury, shaking Roma's Starlight Citadel apart and trapping Albion and the Exiles. Roma, on the verge of dying, transfers her knowledge into Sage's brain, nearly driving her mad. Merlyn finds Roma and kills her. Psylocke then fights Merlyn and easily gains the upper hand. Albion aids Captain Britain in battling the Fury. Blink teleports a full quill of javelins into the Fury, disassembling it. However, a small piece of the Fury enters Merlyn through a wound given by Longshot. Everyone corners Merlyn, who retreats. Longshot leaves the Exiles to live with Dazzler. Saturnyne chooses Albion to lead the Captain Britain corps, since he is a tougher warrior. She dismisses Captain Britain, telling him to stay with his Earth, saying it is just too dangerous. Psylocke finds Sage, who is barely coherent and sane after the data transfer. She ends up leaving with the Exiles, telling Psylocke that the wrong people could get their hands on the data if she went back to Earth. Psylocke tells Captain Britain that she is staying with the Exiles, saying that Xavier has too many X-Men that he does not know what to do with all of them and he will not need her. Nocturne also returns to the Exiles to be with Thunderbird. The elderly coupleDave Cockrum
David Emmett Cockrum was an American comic book artist known for his co-creation of the new X-Men characters Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colossus...
at the Panoptichron departs, telling Psylocke that she and her crew have to guard the multiverse now. They vanish, and everyone watches as Roma is about to be buried.
Collected editions
The series has been collected as a trade paperbackTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- X-Men: Die by the Sword (March 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2791-7)
Exiles #95-100 are collected in:
- Exiles Vol.16: Starting Over (February 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2391-1)
New Excalibur #16-24 are collected in:
- New Excalibur Volume 3: Battle for Eternity (December 2007, ISBN 0-7851-2455-1)