New Exiles #6 - Marvel

Jason Castro does the art again this issue. Thomas Grummett . . where art thou? Anyways, I was mildly impressed with Jason's style last issue. It showed promise, but it was inconsistent. I'll have to say the same for this issue. However, this issue . . there were fewer panels that really reached out and grabbed me. There were a few moments of brilliance, but overall . . I really think he pales in comparison to Tom's work. Sorry, but that's my opinion. Also the story this issue, I thought, was a little confusing. Well . . maybe not so much confusing as not really having a point to it. Last issue Cat, Sage and Morph were dragged into this medieval world. Or so they thought. When they first get here its all princes and dragons and such. But as they're here longer, they find out there's planes, cell-phones, and even a sprawling metropolis on the other side of the mountain. However, there's still something screwy with the magic here. Cat, it seems, keeps changing forms. My guess is that they're the various interpretations of her across the omniverse. We don't really know, or find out anything. Also, Sage seems to be struggling harder with her alternate personality here. But it does seem, at one time, that during her struggle, Cat also sees her blond haired nemesis. We don't really know for sure. And Morph? Well . . he's just Morph . . or Proteus . . or whatever. But then . . just as the story really gets going . . they're pulled back to the Crystal Palace. When they get there, Sabretooth, Psylocke, Rogue, Mystiq and Gambit are all already back from their mission. Creed was wondering where they all gallivanted off to. But in the end, all they're really worried about is what their next mission is going to be. As an afterward, we see lady Hydra, in the recently visited medieval Earth, recruiting Venger. He's the brute-for-hire that the Queen hired to take out her son's lover, the Dragon. Apparently the whole point of the trip to this world was to introduce us to this character. He's almost a Wolverine type variation. Almost . . but not quite. It's my guess that we haven't seen the last of this Earth . . wherever it is. I thoroughly enjoy Chris Claremont's writing prowess. However, this particular issue leaves us with more questions than answers. And I'm begging, for all our sakes, please get Tom Grummett back on this book. Please!