The Exiles was one of those comics you 'just had to be there' to understand and love. It was a series about a team of (mostly) mutant heroes taken out of their own timelines and thrown together to fix various alternate realities. If that hook sounds cool to you, then you'd have loved this book. But really, deep down, the series was, in essence, the story of people lost and far from home who had to work with complete strangers and hope they didn't die or get left behind or worse. A series about people caught up in a cosmic crap-storm, just trying to survive long enough to make it home.
Among some of the best things a comic book about alternate realities can have is a great creative team. Exiles, with few exceptions, always had a great writer, great artists and some of my favorite colorists in comics. Judd Winick and Mike McKone set the series rolling in a dazzling fashion, establishing the concept, introducing and fleshing out the characters and generally making the series shine. Jim Calafiore would often alternate with McKone for the art in the series, as it was often released two issues per month. Jim Calafiore for me is the Exiles. There is something about his dynamic figures that has always left me in awe. McKone may have created alot of the original characters, but Jim's art is what comes to mind when I think of the Exiles.
Chuck Austen took over the writing chores when Judd left the book. I say chores because I've honestly never thought much of Austen's 'writing', especially his depiction of female characters. Google some reviews of his time on X-men or Avengers to get an idea of what I'm referring to. Besides that, Chuck actually did a half decent job on Exiles, he kept the plates spinning, and he played with the concept a little, by having the Timebroker (the apparent entity behind the scenes) become rather mean spirited, pitting the Exiles against their darker counterparts, Weapon X. Clayton Henry turned his hand to art around this time too, and I can say his art is solid stuff.
Judd Winick returned for a half dozen issues to deliver some gut-wrenching moments which made for genuine tears on my part, and I'm sure many others. Mizuki Sakakibara joined the rotating team of artists at this point and delivered some beautiful work. Her characters are a little more 'soft' and, I guess, manga-inspired. An excellent addition to the Exiles credentials.
Tony Bedard would take up the writer's pen to make some serious changes to the series concept as a whole, giving us at first a peak behind the curtain of the Timebroker, dropping favorite characters bringing on board controversial members and generally making the book his own, while still paying his dues to the earlier stuff. Then came the big reveal. Which I won't spoil, but I will go so far as to say it was a squee-tastic moment for me as a younger reader. Where would the series go now? A World Tour. Brilliant! Let's visit all the old favorite alternate reality stories from Marvel's past. I loved the idea. I know many people had a few problems with it, and I will concede that it was too long, lasting for a year of the series in real time. but I enjoyed where it took both the series and the characters, and being as it was supposed to be Tony's last hooray on the title, I can dig it.
Only, Tony didn't leave the title. Chris Claremont suffered health issues prior to his start on the series, meaning that now, Tony had to stretch out his run without changing the status quo. Oi vey. I will give credit where it's due, the Exiles team composed entirely of Wolverines was hilarious as all hell and had me scrambling to find out who Albert and Elsie-Dee were. We also got a sort of 'funeral' issue for all the fallen past members, which was well presented.
Finally, the famous Chris Claremont: X-men visionary, responsible for giving us the version of the X-men that everyone is still clamoring on about to this day, the writer who-to some-is something akin to a god, a never-do-wrong by dint of being Chris Claremont, the man who re-invented the X-men. Problem is, Chris' work has not been good in years. Relying on the same-old stories, using his pet-characters (I'm looking at you, Psylocke and Sage!) and apparently not having any concept of who the Exiles were led me to bite my lip and hold on until another writer would take over. Paul Pelletier at least made the book look gorgeous, as he always does.
'Exiles canceled with #100!' Oh, god! He killed the series! 'New Exiles by Claremont Announced!' The Heck?! Chris would not only end the original series, he'd have it cross over with his own pet-title, New Excalibur, then get to dump all the series regulars in place of personal favorites, and finally lead this 'New' incarnation to it's end. Did I say Oi Vey? Cos, Oi. Vey! Again, the artist saved this from being a total disaster. Hat's off to you, Tom Grummett!
Jeff Parker and Salva Espin, on the other hand were given just six issues to turn the tide of fan-outcry around. Jeff is a clever writer and I always enjoy anything he turns in. He loves playing with all the toys and he writes great characters. Salva....well, let's just say he loved drawing the ladies. His art was a nice change of pace from the previous 'New' styles more 'realisitic' tone. The brighter colors made this title a breathe of fresh air, and the return of some old favorites with a new twist really worked. For six months. Oi Vey.
I guess I should mention that Jim Calafiore also wrote a couple issues back in the day, too. The man is oozing talent. So, I guess 5 out of 6 excellent writers isnt so bad, right? With nary a misstep art-wise, this book was always a pleasure to look at. If the series were to ever come back, I'd love to see Jeff's vision played out fully, as he clearly had a plan and was bristling with ideas.
At it's core Exiles just made me love comics more with it's wide platter of ideas and concepts, it's well-considered characters, it's off-the-wall story telling and it's charm. If you can find the trades, I highly recommend (most of) it!
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