Exiles, Vol. 2: A World Apart

Exiles (2001) (Collected Editions)

by Judd Winick, Mike McKone (Contributor), Jim Calafiore (Contributor)

Deep in the Canadian outback lurks the gamma-spawned behemoth known as the Incredible Hulk, but can the reality-hopping Exiles and the Canadian super-team called Alpha Flight save an entire nation from the green goliath's rampage? Collecting #5 - #11

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, X Men, Superheroes, Comic Book, Science Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

Judd Winick is an American cartoonist, comic book writer, screenwriter, and former reality television personality known for his diverse contributions to storytelling across multiple media. He first entered the public eye in 1994 as a cast member on The Real World: San Francisco, where he formed a close friendship with AIDS educator Pedro Zamora, an experience that deeply influenced his later work. Winick memorialized their bond in Pedro and Me, a critically acclaimed autobiographical graphic novel that earned several literary awards and became a staple in school curricula.

Winick's career in comics took off with The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius and continued with major runs at DC Comics, including Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Batman. His stories often explored socially relevant themes, such as HIV, homophobia, and identity. He was recognized for introducing gay characters and tackling difficult subjects with empathy and clarity. His work on Batman notably included resurrecting the character Jason Todd as the Red Hood, a storyline later adapted into the animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood, for which Winick wrote the screenplay.

Beyond comics, he created The Life and Times of Juniper Lee for Cartoon Network and served as head writer for Hulu's The Awesomes. In 2015, he launched the Hilo series, an all-ages sci-fi adventure inspired by his own children. The bestselling series has been widely praised and is expected to reach its eleventh volume in 2025.

Winick lives in San Francisco with his wife, Pam Ling, also a Real World alum, and their two children. He continues to create heartfelt and imaginative stories for audiences of all ages.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm having a blast re-reading these old Exiles books. I can't believe it's been two decades since I read them last!

This volume collects a two-part story where the team has to help Alpha Flight take down the Hulk (being a HUGE Alpha Flight fan, I really enjoyed this one; especially seeing how AF was originally intended to be before Wolverine jumped ship to join those posers the X-Men), a one-shot silent issue which gave us a peek into the team's dreams (this was OK; a bit gimmicky but had some nice moments), a three-part story where the team jumped to an Earth that had been conquered by the Skrulls just before the Industrial Revolution and end up having to: a. fight for their lives in a gladiatorial arena before b. Galactus turns up and thing get really bad (I loved this one; just really powerful stuff with a very upsetting ending) and then, finally, another one-shot which is a flashback issue to some events mentioned in passing during the previous three-parter (I'm torn on this one; on the one hand, it seems more than a little creepy seen from today's more 'woke' perspective but, on the other hand, it gives us a nice insight into Morph's past life and how it defined him as a person... plus you get a tiny bit of new info on Sunfire).

So, to break it down:
Alpha Flight/Hulk two-parter: 4 stars
Silent issue: 4 stars
Skrulls/Galactus three-parter: 5 stars
Morph/Sunfire one-shot: 3 stars

Average mark: a gnat's pube under 4 stars, so I'm rounding up.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

Holy shit is Winick self-destructive. He takes a couple of decent stories, the Skrull one with some actual gravitas, and follows it up with a one-and-done about nude sunbathing and gay stereotypes. Really dude? Are you that unable to keep a straight face when cranking out this offbeat storyline?

[Mervi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collects Exiles issues 5-11 from 2001-2002.

Right after their traumatic second mission, our heroes are whisked away to their next task. In the Canadian woods, they meet the Alpha Flight, which is led by Wolverine and the Shaman is John Proudstar, an alternate version of Exiles’ Thunderbird. Their mission is to keep the Alpha Flight alive against a furious Hulk.

The third issue is one of the weird Marvel experiments: an issue without dialog. It works surprisingly well. Our heroes take a well-deserved rest in a hotel and we see their dreams. This was a neat idea, having a bit of a breather between intense storylines, letting us know the heroes better, and even getting in a bit of character development.

Issue eight starts with telling us that the team has been through adventures we don’t see and that they’ve become a solid team. Also, that Blink and Mimic are now a couple. I felt it was something of a cop-out, skipping a couple of years of adventures. But I can understand why Winnick (or Marvel editors) did that.

The last three issues are action-packed. The Exiles have arrived on an Earth which is under Skrull rule, and has been for about a century. Humans have been enslaved and all superhumans are forced to fight each other in arenas for the amusement of Skrulls. When the story starts, the Exiles have been on this Earth for about a month. Thunderbird, Mimic, Nocturne, and Sunfire were captured very soon and are forced to fight. Blink and Morph have managed to stay free, but haven’t succeeded in freeing the others and they’re starting to get desperate. However, the Skrulls aren’t the biggest threat…

The final issue is also a stand-alone.

This was a great collection, offering a lot of action and strange alternate realities (which I love), but also character development and emotional moments. Winnick also starts to cast some doubt about just who the Timebroker is and why the Exiles are doing their jobs. Looking forward to the next one.

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

And here we are again folks, Exiles!

I'm beginning to remember why, in the intervening years since I read the series, I always had an overwhelming sense of sadness.

Yeah...yeah this series makes me sad.

Last volume we lost Magnus (Magneto/Rogue's kid), this issue we lose...well... I mean....its kind of a spoiler...but let's just say Skrull Reality was the worst.

So first reality was in Canada involving a rampaging Hulk, a non-War John Proudstar and Wolverine being oddly...reasonable. maybe because he's in Canada?

Also doesn't seem to know Jean Grey and she's like the worst.

We also get to see another Tallus-enabled team of Sabertooth, Deadpool and uh Shaman...maybe.

We get a nice interlude where couples get their thang on (plus some unpleasant nightmares/memories), but its wholly unvoiced. Just images. I liked it.

Second Reality is the bummer one straight from the get go. I mostly didn't enjoy this one except for some Nocturne/Proudstar moments. It ended SADLY.

So they decided to then have an issue that harkens back to a previous reality mentioned earlier (but not seen in full) is weird. It has some perv moments (I really don't like Morph) but him and Mariko have some quiet reflective moments together I enjoyed.

Still an odd way to end after a really sad issue before it.

[JD Waggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the romances in this second collection of Marvel's "Exiles" comics, which was fortunately understated such that none of them felt overwhelming or sappy. I still can't get over how round the animation is for these; it just looks...odd, to me, in a way for which I'm still searching for proper adjectives.

This is a good thing to read having seen "Thor: Ragnarok" because of its subplot regarding the superhero games--also, hello Bruce Banner! Welcome!

I must say I did not at all see the point of the "Play Date" comic; I mean, I appreciate the character development of Morph and Mariko/Sunfire, but the plot vehicle chosen for that is basically just an excuse to draw a mostly-naked Mariko.

Not that I'm against that, because she is quite attractive (and outrageously disproportionate in this rounded style). Just that it seems very...exploitative, which I wasn't expecting from this comic.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this volume the Exiles end up in Canada meeting the Hulk along with Wolverine and Alpha Flight, which ties into the first appearance of Woverine. Then we have a storyline where the Skrulls have taken over Earth and are using Earth's superhumans as gladiators in spectator fights. This didn't seem to directly tie into any past story, but I suppose any of the skrull invasion stories would work. (This was well before Secret Invasion.)

There were a few one shot stories as well.

One thing to note is the team is a rotating group of heroes because some die or become disabled. So spoiler alert, team members do die in this series. That does add a new dimension as you never knew which characters could do away.

This is at least somewhat different than most super team books given the concept, and I'm finding it refreshing.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this volume.

On top of me enjoying the living' heck out of the concept in general, there were some many nice character moments and artistic choices within these pages.

There was a silent issue. No dialogue.

There was a greater narrative introduced outside of the alternate realities.

There was a big ol' battle we'd never see in the 616.

And...so...much...character building. Individuals, romantic coupling, and team-building.

All of this is done in an art style and tone that is right up my proverbial alley.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really loving this series. It's so interesting. I still don't understand how they're going to find their way back to their own times, but I'm here for the journey. Also, I can't believe that they had a chance against Galactus. Also poor John. Where will the baby go? They're from different times too and he's in a coma. So many unanswered questions with this one.

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

People doing things...they're interesting things, but Winick sorely lacks character development. Randomly knocking up a character does mot character development make.

[Amir Mishali · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last issue saves this from being a 2-star book.

[Jason Culpepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morph is hilarious. I love it

[Allan Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving the stories so far
Like the characters and concepts

[Nicolas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the first one to be funny and off-beat. This one was more annoying and a little trashy.

[Lillian Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

More tears.

I'm really enjoying this series but it does have a tendency to make me cry.

I do struggle with Morph and attitude to women though.

[Odo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

[Fizzgig76 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reprints Exiles (1) #5-11. The Exiles are hopping worlds and adjusting to being a team. First they team with Alpha Flight to take down the Hulk but don't realize that that they are being followed by another team of Exiles known as Weapon X. Then, Earth has been overtaken by Skrulls and the Exiles are thrust into a gladiator battle and the liberation of Earth could cost the Exiles another member.

Written by Judd Winick and illustrated by Mike McKone adn Jim Calafiore, Exiles 2: A World Apart follows Exiles 1: Down the Rabbit Hole. The collection includes one of Marvel's 'Nuff Said issues in Exiles (1) #7 (February 2002) which was part of a larger ’Nuff Said month where all series had a silent issue.

I'm not a real Judd Winick fan and felt that the first Exiles collection didn't really do much. This collection does start getting better by developing the characters, and the stories are more rounded. I also like the incorporation of a second Exiles team.

The first storyline involving the Hulk and Alpha Flight is so-so, but I do enjoy the second story with the Skull takeover of Earth. The story ends of course with T-Bird's falling in his take down of Galactus and is followed up by a fun flashback issue that takes place between adventures.

The stand-alone non-action issue in Exiles (1) #11 (May 2002) was really needed. The silent issue gave some insight to Exiles characters, but this one really has them opening up. It also manages to be a bit bittersweet with Nocturne and T-Bird's relationship. Morph and Sunfire are a fun team-up, but Winick almost makes a cliche of himself by making her a lesbian.

Exiles 2: A World Apart is a better follow-up to Exiles 1: Down the Rabbit Hole. The series shows some direction and still manages to have fun by showing "What If" worlds that have a lot of potential. I also like the ability to manipulate the team with a world full of potentials. Exiles 2: A World Apart is followed by Exiles 3: Out of Time.

[Adam Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hulk, Alpha Flight, Weapon X, Skrulls, Galactus, more death, the continuing adventures of a reality-hopping mutant team continues to be fun. Except for the Morph character who continues to distract from an otherwise well-written and well-drawn series.

********************************************

Reread 2022:

This volume attempts to tweak the success of volume one, as we see the team deposited into two stressful situations that lead into A Sacrifice That Will Shake The Team To Its Foundation (which we also had in volume one), and then a more relaxed issue where an attempt is made to humanize the misogynist goofball Morph character. And they do work a little more than they did in the first volume, but not much.

Much like in volume one of Exiles, and reality-based TV competitions, whenever you start to get some background on a previously somewhat mysterious character, you can be pretty sure they're going To Die, or at least be removed from the story.

At the end of the book, the humanization of Morph comes when a character comes out as queer to him. And, sure, it's not a very smooth, realistic coming out, but it's not problematic and the character doesn't immediately become in any way stereotypical. A younger, more cynical me would have been "Here goes Judd Winnick again, he knew a gay guy once when he was on TV and now he's tossing queerness into a story where it doesn't fit." But that's really not fair, and it's not true here. I think the inclusion of a queer mutant who isn't immediately pushed into a romantic relationship, or who announces it in every subesequent issue, was a wise choice. We also get to see that Morph reacts immaturely, but not homophobically or misogynistically, which is a welcome surprise given how the character is usually written.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is where the series really gets going. It manages to keep the same overall quality of the previous volume. Winick is still telling fun stories, Mike McKone is a good as ever. Jim Calafiore does a good job filling in, but I just don't like his art as much. He can tell a story, though, and that counts for a lot. This volume contains a very emotional scene regarding Nocturne and Thunderbird. It's handled just about perfectly. Well done Winick.

[Holden Attradies · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm happy to find this read is just as good as the series goes along. The reality jumping plot device took a bit of a back seat for character exploration in this volume. It also saw the death and replacement of yet another member of the partner (will this be a regular occurrence?) as well as one member getting pregnant. It will be very interesting seeing how that plays out.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing the great x-book chronological read of '17...

This continues to be such a fun read, a great lowkey comic series (that promises with this volume to begin to be something a bit more...). Really looking forward to continuing the adventures of this group.

Reread June 2020. Still quite enjoyable.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stakes are raised as our favorite reality-hopping heroes find themseelves behind some pretty big 8-balls - and not everyone gets out alive. The crew must not only face the might of an enraged Hulk, but also tackle the biggest enemy ever - the mighty Galactus!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Exiles keep jumping realities, and no character is safe. It gives a whole new side to Morph, and you actually start to understand why he always acts like a child. The skrull storyline, and the Alpha Flight one were good variations on a theme. A good read.

[Blake Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 2 in this series continues the fun as it takes on missions including the Hulk, Skrulls, and even Galactus. Judd Winick really makes these characters fun, (even if Morph is a little TOO comedic). Great series to read!

[Jdetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much like the previous volumes there are some great scenes and wonderful ideas here, but the book continues to rely too heavily on narration, telling us things that the story should be showing us instead.

[Jedi Sunni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that the story line was pretty good, but I don't like when it seems like a certain political agenda is being push. There was also to much sexuality were there should have been more action. Overall I give the book exactly 3.0 stars.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exiles is one of the few X-titles that I enjoy. I'd recommend this.

[Shane Findlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fantastic series! Two MAJOR defeats in this volume!