Archangel holds the roof from crushing them as Viper and Callisto argue over who gets to claim the winged mutant. Archangel brushes it off as nonsense and questions Viper’s intent with the Weaponeers. An argument arises over the terrorists’ plan which distracts Archangel, causing him to lose his grip. Callisto helps brace the ceiling as Shola blasts in, bringing the three back to the surface. Archangel begins formulating a plan to take down the Weaponeers…with Viper’s help.

An hour later, the Weaponeers pick up Viper who appears to have taken Callisto and Shola captive. Archangel follows the craft back and smashes into the scene just as Scimitar gives the order to capture Viper. The heroes all break free and attack, while Viper orders Shola to cripple the ship with a massive TK blast that completely drains him. Archangel takes the Weaponeer commander by the throat and orders him to surrender, which he complies. Scimitar ignores the order and continues to fight Husk, but is killed from a shot to the back courtesy of Viper.

Later, Askari awards the heroes with medals at an official ceremony. Husk comments to Archangel that she’s a tad jealous about Callisto’s apparent interest in her man, but is more worried that Viper is missing. Elsewhere, Umbaja and Courtney Ross make a deal where her bank will finance the re-development of their nation. As the vice-president leaves, Ross talks to Viper that soon she will be able to control Genosha.

Across the Atlantic, in Greenwich Village, Dr. Strange answers his door to find the astral projection of Charles Xavier, asking for help with his treatment of Scarlet Witch. Strange tells Xavier that to heal Wanda, he has to try to heal himself, which they are going to prepare to do.

Review: Hope you got your fill of the Genoshan mutants, because this looks to be the last place you’re going to be seeing them. After next issue, House of M puts Excalibur on hiatus until it’s relaunched in November as the aptly named New Excalibur, featuring a British-based team with Captain Britain, Pete Wisdom, Juggernaut, Nocturne and Dazzler. Basically it’s what everyone thought this book would be when it was first announced.

Even though there’s one issue left of ‘The Devil’s Own,’ the Zanzibar story has finished, ending as pointlessly as it began. Its lone point – bringing in Archangel – has been rendered pointless by the relaunch, so this story has been a waste of paper. However, let’s look at it for what it is…time-filling crap. More of the same from Claremont as the Weaponeers are supposed to be viable threats but are taken out by four people…six if you count Husk and Askari who kind of stood around this issue. It begs the question ‘Why didn’t they just full out attack to the background?’

As many recent issues of Excalibur have done, this one caused a little eye-rolling. Once again Claremont has villains taking captured people to be used as slaves, and this time we get almost a full page of Callisto explaining why it’s wrong…twisting into why mutants should be replacing humans in the working world. The ruse that allows Archangel to less-than-subtlety smash into the Weaponeers’ ship with a sledgehammer seems pointless as they could have just-as-easily all gone and smashed their way in. The commander seems shocked that Archangel survived the collapsing of the building, even though Viper and Callisto, who were buried with him, made it out fine. Callisto’s sayings were just as bad. ‘You da bomb!’? ‘Bummer!’? Is Callisto suddenly an early-nineties teenager?

I’m still not seeing Courtney Ross’s plan here. Why would her bank get full access to the Weaponeer technology? All they’re doing is financing the rebuilding. For that matter, how does her plan of controlling Genosha directly lead to world domination? Hell, how is Courtney Ross even alive? I’m sure this side plot will be lost in the House of M dealing, so let’s not put much thought into it, okay?

Those of you who picked up this book because it was advertised as a House of M prelude, allow me to apologize. This should have been part 3 of 3 of a story called ‘Generic Fight’, with next issue being perhaps called ‘The Devil’s Own’…if it actually gets around to dealing directly with the Scarlet Witch. Take some solace in the fact that you saw the (not-so) dramatic demise of Scimitar. That’ll be an event that makes this issue’s value soar. Really. I’m not kidding.