X-Men - Die by the Sword #3 - Marvel

As I read through this story-line, and this series, I find myself becoming more and more excited to see what's going to happen, and who the players are going to be, in the new Exiles. Chris Claremont is doing a brilliant job of meshing these two stories together. And with a shelf full of characters to deal with, that's no easy task. Really, the only characters that aren't involved in this issue are Captain Britain, who is in need of medical attention. Which Kitty has gone to another reality to find for him . . . and Nocturne and the Juggernaut seem mysteriously absent. Although, I think Juggy has moved on to other things. We even see Dazzler at the end of this issue. However, Longshot is still lost out there someplace. That or he's waiting to make a grand entrance. Most of this issue is about Roma and Saturnye dealing with the threat of the Fury, that James Jaspers is trying to unleash on them. It take the entirety of the Captain-Corps to even hold them at bay. And it isn't until the Exiles get involved that they even seem to have a chance of beating them. But Roma and Saturnye are smart enough to realize that this battle is only the beginning. And they still have the questions of who unleashed this threat on them, and what do they have to gain by it. Ultimately, I think, it comes down to Roma and her father Merlyn. But, we're not really sure what his game is. Is it one of pure conquest, or is there more at stake here? We aren't going to find out this issue. In fact, this issue ends with Rouge-Morte making a direct assault on lady Roma herself, but then Allison shows up to defend her. I have to say, the first time that we dealt with all this Omniverse stuff . . . Roma, Saturnye and the whole deposing of her father, Merlyn . . . back in the original Excalibur title . . . I thought it was kind of boring. In fact I seem to remember perusing through that story-line rather speedily and not really paying a whole lot of attention. But now . . . now that I know it's all leading to the new Exiles book, and a changing face on the protectors of the Omniverse . . . I have to say, I'm very interested. And nobody would be able to pull this off, and put it all together . . . blow it up, and pick up all the pieces . . . like Chris Claremont. I can't wait to see how this all plays out in the end. It's a fantastic story, and a great series. And . . . . it's only the beginning.