X of Swords Finale (X-Men 15, Excalibur 15, Destruction) Reviews *spoilers*
[B]X-Men 15
[/B]
The final duel between Apocalypse and Annihilation/Genesis begins.
While the fight goes on, Jean and Scott face the council after they make the decision to bring a team to the Otherworld, rescue the mutants and close the gate so the Amenthi army has no way in. The Council disapproves, and Shaw suggests that whoever follows the plan must leave the council. Xavier, Magneto, Exodus and Mystique vote in agreement. Xavier explains that he must think about the majority of the Island instead of the safety of those who entered Otherworld. Emma, Kurt and Kate agree with the plan, but Scott and Jean insist for them to stay.
The council votes for the end of the "X-Men" name, as they should be the major autority in Krakoa.
In the battle, Apocalypse manages to wound his (ex-)wife, but refuses to take the final hit. Saturnyne demands a victor. The Annihilation helm speaks to Genesis, telling her to put it on, and by doing so heals her wounds. This is far from over.
[B]Excalibur 15[/B]
Annihilation starts to raise hell on Otherworld, leading to a fight between the demon armies/the Arakki and the Krakoan swordbearers. Storm keeps the armies at bay using her powers while the others try to strategize. On the Arakki side (sans Solem), The White Sword quits, claiming this was not the fight he came for, and Bei decides to sequester her newly wedded husband. Jubilee also joins the fight with the green Priestess of the Capitol.
After Bei puts him down, Doug manages to convince her to join the other side. In the battle field, both sides come face to face.
Meanwhile, Saturnyne rushes to get Betsy's remains, in
a plan to get her (Brian Braddock) Captain Britain corps back. Her intended spell does not work as planned though, as the call from the Starlight Sword unites the[I] Betsy Braddock[/I] corps (sans 616 Betsy).
[B]XoS: Destruction[/B]
The Captain Britan corps join the fight. Displeased by this, Annihilation and War call on their own army: the school of Summoners.
Cyclops makes a telepathic call to his fellow captain, Magik who creates a massive stepping disk on Otherworld. Enter the Peak, carrying an army of X-Men lead by Jean. However, this is not enough to face all of the dark forces of Amenth.
Cable feels like giving up, but Saturnyne reminds of him of the card he drew: The Fool. And only the fool wouldn't realize what he's holding isn't simply a sword. With the help of Jean, Scott and Illyana, Cable powers up the Peak again and they unleash the Vescora on the army of Summoners.
Apocalypse beats down Genesis again, and takes on the Annihilation helm himself. However, there is a difference in how it affects Apocalypse: he doesn't want to fight anymore. He surrenders himself to Saturnyne, who turns the helmet into a spear.
For the ceremonial end of the battle, Saturnyne requests an exchange: a mutant of Arakko for a mutant of Krakoa. Genesis chooses Apocalypse, and in turn, Apocalypse chooses the entire island of Arakko, uniting the two islands again.
The data pages show some closure on the swords, while the ending pages show some hints towards the future: the return of SWORD, the shattering of the council, the Apocalypse family united, the return of the Captain Britain corps, Solem, Death's rebirth in Sevalith, the co-existence of the Vescora and the Summoners in Blightspoke, the other Otherworld realms... But Saturnyne still stands alone, being the main loser in her own contest.
