Ultimate Comics X-Men #24 – Review

By: Brian Wood (Writer), Mahmud Asra (Penciler), Juan Vlasco (Inker), Jordie Bellaire (Colorist), VC’s Joe Sabino (Lettering & Production)

Review: Great Odin’s Raven…I did not see this coming. This issue of Brian Wood’s Ultimate Comics X-Men is nearly everything I was hoping the series would be. Like the planets, every plot point has swung nebulously in its slow, laborious orbit, finally correlating in a revelatory alignment. The effect is invigorating. The terraforming, the missing post-cure mutants, Karen Grant in Tian, Kitty’s leadership and the opposition to it – it’s all culminated in one of most important changes the Ultimate Universe has made in a while. Utopia finally feels like a real thing, one worth caring about. I never thought I’d be writing those words.

After last month’s issue (a brilliant ‘done-in-one’ focusing on Storm’s recent history) I was expecting Wood to embark on a couple more self-contained detours before getting back to the barren landscapes and sullen soliloquies. What a difference a month makes. All that talk’s finally translated into action with Blackheath’s Sentient Seed having born startling results. A massive stretch of overgrown jungle wilderness has sprung up in the midst of Utopia with Kitty’s pioneers building houses in the tress. Mutants from all over the country, once forced into hiding, now make their way to Utopia’s borders seeking refuge and a home free from persecution.

The New Avengers #28 – Review

by Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Mike Deodato (artist), Rain Beredo (colorist), and Joe Caramagna (letterer)

The Story: Spider-Woman, Hawkeye, and Luke Cage try to break out of the X-Brig.

The Review: This is a tough review to write, as I imagine that opinions will really vary on this comic.  The entire issue builds up to a big twist near the end and your enjoyment of it overall is thus largely contingent upon your reaction to that twist.

For me, I literally said, out loud, “oh, come on!” when I turned that page.  Bendis does a good job in tricking you, sure, but it doesn’t change the fact that the twist ending here is the oldest trick in the book.   That said, to his credit, Bendis almost, almost manages to sell it by making the scenario particularly hellish and twisted.  It’s actually surprisingly dark, and a little disturbing, for an Avengers comic.  Still, that doesn’t change the fact that the core concept of the twist is incredibly old, tired, and cheap.

The dialogue is also a mixed bag.  On the one hand, I liked the characterization Bendis does in showing the very different ways that Cage, Hawkeye, and Spider-Woman interact with their guards.  It showcased their unique personalities, and tactics, very well and was a really nice touch.

On the other hand, I could have done without the banter between Jessica and Clint.  Bendis and Deodato have established that this is a very dark issue they’re giving us and Hawkeye and Spider-Woman are in the middle of a desperate escape off of an island guarded by pissed-off gods and….Hawkeye is telling Spider-Woman that she smells nice, while Spider-Woman makes a joke about a birthmark/scar/something on Hawkeye’s butt?  It’s bad enough that the Hawkeye/Spider-Woman relationship still feels forced and underdeveloped, but this banter is really, really inappropriate and out of place.  This is only further evidenced by the fact that it’s really the only spot of humour in what is really a very grim issue, particularly given that dire twist.

New Mutants/X-Force/X-Men Legacy: Necrosha One-Shot – Review

Necrosha: Chapter 1 by Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost (Writers) and Clayton Crain (Art)

Necrosha: Binary by Zeb Wells (Writer), Ibraim Roberson (Art), and John Rauch (Colors)

Necrosha: The Foretelling by Mike Carey (Writer), Laurence Campbell (Art), and Matt Milla (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Since the first chapter of Necrosha takes up the bulk of the one-shot, I will use the regular review format for it. The two smaller chapters that lead into the stories that connect X-Force to New Mutants and X-Men: Legacy will get capsule reviews. Also, as a side note, be sure to read the one-shot after reading X-Force #20 (which I’ll be reviewing by the end of the release week), but before reading New Mutants #6. While it’s not entirely necessary to read X-Force #20, a few scenes simply won’t make much sense unless you do.

“Necrosha: Chapter One”

The Story: Selene builds up her army using an altered version of the techno-organic virus that Bastion has been using and makes her first move against those that have stopped her in the past.

What’s Good: New Mutants/X-Force/X-Men Legacy: Necrosha is, in many ways, a typical Marvel “hey it’s crossover time!” one-shot. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, however, as Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost do a really nice job of finding a balance between getting readers up to speed and getting the Necrosha crossover rolling in a positive direction that makes it seem like Necrosha will be quite the treat for most “X” fans. And, in all honesty, that’s half the battle.

The best thing about the book is that, from start to finish, both visually and as far as the dialogue is concerned, the Necrosha one-shot carries an ominous, creepy tone that never really lets up. I’m all about mood and setting the stage and Yost, Kyle, and Clayton Crain nail it as far as the total creative package is concerned. Even when Kyle and Yost throw in some banter and one-liners, the first chapter of Necrosha manages to really drive home the point that stuff is about to “get real” as all the kids say these days.

Another high point is that the writers instill a real sense of history, as far as lives lived, into the story through both Selene and the various characters that are infected with the “T-O” virus. From Selene’s dialogue about her past to the conversations that take place between the formerly dead and the living, it’s clear that Kyle and Yost did the homework necessary to give Necrosha that extra bit of weight and depth. It’s that something that can turn a solid story into a good, or even great, story.

Visually, Clayton Crain’s artwork is near perfect as far as mood and tone is concerned. It’s dark, it’s heavy, and it expertly captures the horror movie vibe that permeates throughout the entire book. While Crain’s work is definitely flawed (which I’ll get to in a moment), a few scenes, like the birth that opens the book or the arrival of Selene’s army near Utopia for example, show that Clayton Crain is definitely the right artist for the crossover.

What’s Not So Good: There’s a lot to like about the first chapter of Necrosha, but, unfortunately, there’s quite a bit to dislike about it as well. While the good outweighs the bad, nearly every negative is directly related one of the start of the crossover’s strong points. It makes Necrosha: Chapter One feel rather uneven.

The ominous, creepy tone I talked about earlier? It’s certainly a highlight and quite effective…until you realize that the deadly seriousness leads to a number of groan-worthy lines of dialogue (“She sent us here to remind you of that…And to make you suffer!”) that tend to fall extremely flat. In addition, the seriousness makes some of the banter and humor feel wildly out of place. I’m all for lightening the mood, but the swing from horror to comic book fun and back again is a bit jarring.

Another part that didn’t bode well is the sense of history that Yost and Kyle use to the advantage of their story. It makes some portions of the comic feel too heavy on exposition. It’s understandable considering that chances are good that a large portion of the Necrosha audience isn’t going to know who a handful of the characters are, but it’s also rather annoying.

Clayton Crain’s fitting artwork? It is…well…Clayton Crain artwork. Now I truly find Crain’s work to be absolutely stunning when everything about it comes together. When it doesn’t, however Crain’s work can look muddy, overly dark, and, at worst, totally incoherent. Unfortunately, a large part of the first Necrosha chapter is pretty tough to follow due to Crain’s style. A number of characters look exactly the same (Wolverine? Shaw? Pierce? – Selene? X-23, a Hellion?) and while hairstyle and context make it fairly easy to sort out who’s who, it shouldn’t be a chore to keep characters straight. Also, some of the action that takes place is so darkly colored that it’s next to impossible to figure out what, exactly, is happening.

“Binary”

The Story: Binary is “turned on” by the T-O virus and helps Selene’s slaves get inside Utopia.

The Good And The Bad: I don’t know if this is really a negative (it could be considered to be since it’s not the main event), but Binary is actually the best thing about the Necrosha one-shot as a whole. It’s an extremely good short story all around. Roberson’s detailed artwork is impressive, John Rauch’s colors elevate Roberson’s work to another level, the binary code framed panels are a great touch, and Zeb Wells’ story does a great job reintroducing the character.

“The Foretelling”

The Story: Selene calls on The Crone to learn the future. The Crone then contacts her daughter.

The Good And The Bad: Laurence Campbell’s gritty artwork feels a bit out of place the book, but it still winds up being a nice fit for Mike Carey’s unsettling character piece. I’ve always liked Blindfold and her interaction with her mother does an excellent job of adding another layer of uncertainty to the start of the Necrosha crossover. While I wish there was a bit more to it, the important stuff manages to make quite an impact.

Conclusion: While the first chapter of Necrosha has a few problems it’s still a strong start to what looks to be a memorable crossover. As for the one-shot as a whole, thanks to two excellent bonus stories, the book is a surprisingly great package.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

X-Force #19 – Review

By Craig Kyle & Chris Yost (Writers) and Mike Choi & Sonia Oback (Art)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Things were looking pretty grim for X-23– one of my favorite characters, at the end of last month’s issue of X-Force. Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost wouldn’t actually kill her, would they?!

The Story: X-23 is saved from more torture by an unlikely ally. Meanwhile, Wolverine desperately tries to locate X-23, while Elixir fights for his life. Also, the seeds continue to be planted for the upcoming Necrosia crossover.

What’s Good: X-Force #19 is at its best when the focus is on X-23’s current situation. Thankfully, the bulk of the book is devoted to it. X-23’s scenes are intense, brutal, and executed in a way that takes advantage of the character’s past and unique and slightly odd personality. Now, that’s not to say that the rest of the book is forgettable or anything because on a creative level, X-Force #19 is quite impressive.

Writers Craig Kyle and Chris Yost continue to weave a compelling, ambitious plot threads that take advantage of all different areas of “X” continuity. In that sense, X-Force #19 continues the trend of the series reading like no other “X” book on the stands. With Necrosia creeping closer, Kyle and Yost hammer home the sense that pretty much anyone could make a return (possibly even from the grave).

The artwork in X-Force #19 by Mike Choi and Sonia Oback is as expected, extremely slick, clean, and polished. From X-23’s bloody escape, to Wolfsbane’s battle with the Frost Giants, the cinematic visuals hit all the right notes. The characters look great, the action is executed with style, and the storytelling gets the job done.

What’s Not So Good: The problem with X-Force #19 is that you can’t help but get that sense that Craig Kyle and Chris Yost tried to cram too much into one book. The flow of action is often broken by a jump to either another set of characters or some sort of scene that’s laying the foundation for the near future. While I understand the need to jump around because so many threads are being juggled at once, each jump tends to kill whatever momentum is built up.

Visually, my only complaint is that the art team’s females all look pretty similar. While I’ve noticed that in the past, it’s particularly a problem in the latest issue of X-Force because so many females show up throughout the book. Sure they are all attractive and realistic looking, but they look like they all might be related in some way.

Conclusion: A comic like X-Force #19 is tough to grade. It does a lot right, yet for a couple of reasons, it never manages to come together in a satisfying way.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

X-Force #18 – Review

By Craig Kyle & Chris Yost (Writers) and Mike Choi & Sonia Oback (Art)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The last issue of X-Force gave me the feeling that the creative team behind it was desperately trying to get the series back up to speed after the miserable Messiah War storyline. I look forward to seeing where they take things, now that the series looks to be close to getting back on track.

The Story: X-23 gets taken away by the H.A.M.M.E.R. people. Wolfsbane and her lover deal with the frost giants. The rest of X-Force save lives, human and mutant.

What’s Good: From the awesome opening (nice to see Warpath really making an impact like that) to the brutal ending (not one of my favorite characters!), X-Force #18 delivers all the action, intensity, and violence I’ve come to expect from the series. But, while that’s definitely great and all, the best thing about the latest issue of X-Force is how effective the storytelling is. The threads that got interrupted by the crossover are effortlessly picked back up (and, in ways, wrapped up) while new ones are established in a way that feels natural to the way the series has been playing out since it began. Especially notable is how writers Craig Kyle and Chris Yost once again show their appreciation for recent (and not so recent) “X” continuity by throwing a number of things into X-Force that longtime fans should really enjoy. An interesting character thought dead makes a rather chilling return, X-23’s past catches up with her, and Wolverine’s scene with Cyclops really takes advantage of the tense, respectful relationship they share.

The artwork by the team of Mike Choi and Sonia Oback is, as expected, very slick and incredibly polished. While I still wish the art was a bit more gritty, there’s no denying how great X-Force #18 looks. The character work is particularly impressive as nearly every single character displays a realistic level of emotion in almost every panel. Also worth mentioning is how cool the full page images that are sprinkled throughout the book look.

What’s Not So Good: While it lends itself well to some nice artwork, the whole Wolfsbane storyline continues to leave me a bit bored. Frost giants fighting wolves is cool and all, don’t get me wrong, but it really breaks momentum and distracts from the main plot. The Wolfsbane scenes could easily be cut in favor of something a bit more relevant and therefore, they fall into “Not So Good” territory.

Conclusion: X-Force #18 gives readers everything they should be looking for in an issue of the popular X-Men series. Pick it up!

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

X-Force #17 – Review

By Craig Kyle & Cristopher Yost (Writers) and Mike Choi & Sonia Oback (Artists)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The less said about the Messiah War, the better. I still have *shiver* flashbacks from the trenches. So instead of diving into my nightmares, let’s just move forward…

The Story: X-23 attempts to rescue Boom-Boom from the Leper Queen and, as a result, becomes a H.A.M.M.E.R. prisoner.Meanwhile, Rahne Sinclair and Hrimhari are attacked by Frost Giants. Hellion and Surge are helped by Wolverine and Archangel, but Surge can’t seem to control her powers. As for Domino, she arrives back in the present just in time to see…

What’s Good: Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost write the latest issue of X-Force as though the Messiah War never even took place. A good move that I appreciate quite a bit, especially since it allows the writers to hit the ground running at almost the same speed they were traveling before a brick wall (roughly the size of the Great Wall and with the words “Messiah “War” painted on it) got in the way. The story by Kyle and Yost is frantic, violent, and pretty thrilling, just like an X-Force story should be.

I didn’t realize how much I missed the work of Mike Choi and Sonia Oback until now. The artwork in X-Force #17 is sleek, detailed, attractive, clean, and clear. In other words, it looks much better than the work done for the last few issues of the series. A few scenes, like the Frost Giant attack or the final spread, are great to look at and show the range Choi and Oback are capable of.

What’s Not So Good: The only real problem I have with X-Force #17 is that its storyline never really comes together all that well. It’s a bunch of little segments that continue where the series left off months ago, but it never completely stops feeling disjointed and jerky. It brings a bit of closure to the recent past and sets things up for the future, but there just isn’t a whole lot to really chew on as far as story is concerned. Understandable, but not exactly satisfying.

Conclusion: It’s nice to see X-Force get back into the swing of things. Once it settles down a bit, I’m sure the series will regain its spot as one of the best “X” books

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

X-Force #15 (Messiah War Chapter 5) – Review

By Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost (Writers) and Clayton Crain (Artist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The “Messiah War” storyline has been extremely hit or miss. It’s had a few good moments but as a whole, it’s been rather unsatisfying. I’d love for it to find some sort of consistent, quality groove, but at this point, it doesn’t look like it’s going to.

The Story: Bishop, Stryfe, and Warpath fight over a confused Hope as Cable and the others make their way to Stryfe’s place. Meanwhile, Angel confronts Apocalypse….

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: If you’ve been following the “Messiah War” storyline, X-Force #15 is going to feel like a whole lot more of the same. Hope is in danger, Stryfe talks about how powerful he is, Bishop tries (unsuccessfully) to eliminate his target, Cable tries to rescue hope, Deadpool cracks jokes, Angel talks to Apocalypse….you get the point. The entire issue has a “been there, done that” vibe that makes me feel incredibly bored with the whole “Messiah War” thing.

Sure it has a few entertaining character moments, and sure Clayton Crain’s artwork is pretty cool to look at (when it isn’t completely dominated by darkness and grit), but X-Force #15 as a whole really isn’t worth the time it takes to read. You’ve seen pretty much all it has to offer if you’ve picked up an issue of Cable or X-Force in the last few months, so why bother spending the cash for it?

Conclusion: X-Force #15 proves just how flimsy the “Messiah War” story is. While it’s cool to see Stryfe and Apocalypse back in action, don’t let the nostalgia fool you into thinking the “War” is living up to the hype. The wheels are spinning, yes, but the story is going absolutely nowhere…

Grade: D

-Kyle Posluszny

Cable #14 (Messiah War Chapter 4) – Review

By Duane Swierczynski (Writer) and Ariel Olivetti (Artist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ve pretty much given up on any hope that Messiah War is going to end up being a truly worthy follow-up to the fantastic Messiah Complex event. While the crossover has been entertaining enough, it lacks the sense of urgency and intensity that made Messiah Complex one of my all time favorite “X” stories. Still, I know I’ll stick with the X-Force/Cable crossover regardless of my disappointment. And that’s because I’m genuinely interested in finding out what direction Hope takes following the War being fought because of her.

The Story: Warpath is stuck in a torture device designed by Stryfe. Hope is a captive of both Bishop and Stryfe. Cable, Deadpool, and most of X-Force try to work out a plan to get inside Stryfe’s citadel. On top of all that, Archangel answers the call and confronts Apocalypse…

What’s Good: I’ve been pretty hard on Duane Swierczynski in the past. Most recently, I thought he really dropped the ball when first handed the reigns of the Messiah War crossover (for chapter two). That said, I give credit where credit is due. And credit is definitely due in this case.

In Cable #14, Swierczynski does a really nice job of ramping up the tension of a storyline that definitely needed one more push to get to the next level. He effectively uses a mix of dialogue and internal monologue to bring out the best in a number of the characters. A few scenes in particular really stand out, like Warpath’s reaction to torture, Archangel’s reunion with Apocalypse, Cable’s battle with remorse, and Bishop’s reaction to the current situation. They feature character moments or bits of information that leave me thinking that the Cable/X-Force crossover might actually be able to overcome it’s rocky start.

What’s Not So Good: Unfortunately, there are two things holding Cable #14 from earning a higher grade. One of them is the artwork by Arial Olivetti. The other has to do with how Hope is handled.

The artwork looks either far too static or, in some cases, downright silly. I understand that it can be difficult to show pain or surprise, but a few of Olivetti’s character shots are just simply hilarious. Two choking scenes are the main offenders, but Warpath’s torture scene doesn’t exactly make a great visual impact either. Sure the device looks nasty, but the results are less than spectacular. I mean it looks as though Warpath is just having a particularly nasty visit to the dentist in one panel.

The problem with Hope (outside of looking really odd) is that she is written in a way that is really inconsistent. She is either sounds too much like an adult or too much like a dumb teenager. It’s like Swierczynski sort of dances around a desirable sweet spot for the character, but never really nails it.

Conclusion: Good, but still not great. That’s the best way to describe both the issue and the crossover that it is involved in. A lot of it works, but enough of it doesn’t to keep it from earning higher than a…

Grade: B-

-Kyle Posluszny

X-Force #14 (Messiah War Chapter 3) – Review

By Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost (Writers) and Clayton Crain (Art)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The Messiah War crossover event really hasn’t even started yet. So far, it’s been a whole lot of expositional dialogue and very little action. I’d expect that to change in chapter three, especially considering how chapter two ended.

The Story: X-Force, Cable, Hope, and Deadpool fight off Stryfe’s warriors in a bloody battle. During the fight, Archangel hears a voice calling out to him. Meanwhile, Stryfe waits for the best moment to attack. As for Bishop, well he’s in charge of most of the exposition.

What’s Good: The latest part of Messiah War is definitely a step up from the last one, though that really isn’t saying much. While most of it is driven by crazy action sequences, the writing team does a nice job of balancing the book by effectively using character moments and slower scenes to move the plot along. It helps that Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost have a very good handle on the fairly large cast. The characters could easily be lost among the bloody violence, but that is, thankfully, not the case. Everyone gets a chance to make an impact under Kyle and Yost. Especially in the case of Vanisher, who manages to bring dark humor to the story more successfully than Deadpool, a character that pretty much lives and dies by how well a writer handles his particular style of black comedy.

What’s Not So Good: The artwork in the third chapter of Messiah War is very much a mixed bag. While I firmly believe that Clayton Crain is a great fit for a series like X-Force, he tends to be his own worst enemy. When everything in his work manages to click (which it does quite often), it looks extremely good. But when something is off, an entire panel can be ruined. And too many panels are ruined in X-Force #14. Sometimes the work is far too dark. Other times everything looks very muddy and undefined. The worst though, is when the character work bounces from one extreme to another, sometimes in the same panel. The art looks either too hyper-detailed, and over-exaggerated or so indistinct that characters look like little more than blobs of color.

As for the story, it still feels like it’s plodding along. While the action in X-Force #14 is welcome and the ending is intriguing (if a bit too predictable), the whole thing lacks the kinetic urgency that drove the Messiah Complex along. I find that a bit surprising, especially because the stakes are just as high, if not higher in some ways.

Conclusion: The Messiah War is definitely gaining momentum, but it’s still a ways behind the Messiah Complex in terms of both scope and excitement.

Grade: B-

-Kyle Posluszny

Cable #13 (Messiah War Chapter 2) – Review

By Duane Swierczynski (Writer) and Ariel Olivetti (Artist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Messiah War got off to a solid start last week despite the fact that half of chapter one was spent on recapping the past. Now, with the pieces in place and the main players introduced into the event, I look forward to where the Messiah Complex sequel will go next. Hopefully, it’s somewhere good.

The Story: Much like the first chapter, the second part of Messiah War spends a lot of time going over past events. Only this time, the past events offer up information that’s new, regardless of whether or not the reader has been following X-Force and/or Cable. What that means is that Cable #13 reveals just what future-Deadpool has been up to all these years. Also, the issue reveals how the present future came to be and what is up with the partnership between Stryfe and Bishop.

What’s Good: The Messiah War story continues to hold quite a bit of potential. Thanks to the funny segment featuring Deadpool and the bits of effective narration from Bishop, it’s possible to come up with a fairly clear picture of what type of future the characters are operating in and how it came to be that way. In other words, with the set-up hopefully finally out of the way, it seems as though the X-event can finally start moving forward comfortably.

What’s Not So Good: In my review of the Messiah War one-shot, I expressed concern over how the event would fare in the hands of the Cable creative team. As it turns out, Cable #13 proves that my concern was more than justified. And Duane Swierczynski and Ariel Olivetti are both at fault.

With the exception of how Stryfe is written, Duane Swierczynski does a pretty poor job of handling his series’ guest stars. Deadpool comes off way too strong (his comic fan “in jokes” are more annoying than funny), Wolverine’s dialogue is at times, atrocious (asshat?! honestly!?), and I really can’t picture X-23 expressing much concern about how someone feels when such an important mission is going on. Two chapters in, and I’m already starting to think that Marvel should have just let Christopher Yost and Craig Kyle handle the entire event.

As for Ariel Olivetti’s work…well…he uses a very “love it or hate it” style. As a whole I can’t really stand it and as a result, I’m not a fan of the visuals in Cable #13. That said, I will give him credit for an appropriately hideous looking Deadpool and some pretty cool looking scenery.

Conclusion: Cable #13 pretty much justified and made real my fears about what would happen when Swierczynski and Olivetti took the reigns of an interesting story. I look forward to what’s coming next in the Messiah War, but at the same time, not really because of anything that took place in its second chapter. Consider me currently disappointed, but optimistic for the future.

Grade:  C–

-Kyle Posluszny

X-Force/Cable: Messiah War One-Shot Review

By Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost (Writers) and Mike Choi & Sonia Oback (Art)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The X-event The Messiah Complex was one of the reasons I got back into reading comics. So, needless to say, I’ve been looking forward to the sequel. That said, I’m not really sure what to expect from it, quality-wise. I really like what Craig Kyle, Christopher Yost, Mike Choi, and Sonia Oback (along with Clayton Crain) have done with X-Force. However, Duane Swierczynski and Ariel Olivetti have left me feeling fairly indifferent towards Cable. While I’ll readily agree that Cable has improved quite a bit since its rocky start, I can’t help but wonder if the crossover will maintain a level of consistency between the different creative teams.

The Story: The Messiah War kicks off with…well… mostly a summary to get readers caught up on the events that have lead to the crossover. Cyclops sends X-Force into the future to help Cable protect Hope, where they run straight into a familiar, unstable mercenary. Meanwhile, Lucas Bishop hits a bar in an attempt to persuade a returning “X” adversary to help eliminate Cable and Hope.

What’s Good: Event one-shots are something of a necessary evil. They must accomplish the rather tricky task of explaining enough about the past in order to make new readers feel welcome while at the same time advancing the story enough to satisfy longtime fans. And as far as that task is concerned, I have to consider the Messiah War one-shot to be a success. Simply put, the creative team manages to present a comic that keeps the old information from feeling stale and the new stuff from feeling too stunted. The narration and dialogue from Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost adequately sums things up by establishing what’s at stake. As for the visuals, Mike Choi and Sonia Oback do a nice job telling the story while, at times, putting forth some of the best work I’ve seen them do. Especially worth noting are the scenes featuring Deadpool, as they are almost worth the price of admission alone. Hilarious and disturbing, just like something involving the Merc with a Mouth should be.

What’s Not So Good: Despite being well handled by the creative team from both a writing standpoint and an artistic standpoint, there is no shaking the “been there, done that” feeling the first half of the one-shot gives off. It seems as though the whole section might have been better suited to being part of one of those free Saga releases so more time could be spent on advancing the War plot. In all honesty, the situation is understandable. But it still warrants a mention or else I wouldn’t be doing my job.

Conclusion: Messiah War definitely gets off to a slow start, but things pick up well enough by the time the first chapter reaches its conclusion. I look forward to seeing where things go next. Hopefully it involves more Deadpool.

Grade:  C+

-Kyle Posluszny

X-Force #10 – Review

By Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost (Writers), Mike Choi (Art), and Sonia Oback (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: X-Force is one series that I can’t help but root for. While inconsistent and far from deep, there is almost no denying it’s appeal. A team of X-Men assigned to take down various villains from “X” lore by any means necessary? As an X-Men fan, I find the concept almost impossible to resist despite it’s inherent (or inevitable?) flaws. X-Force #10 marks the conclusion of “Old Ghosts,” the second arc of the series that’s doing a lot to build my confidence in the long term viability of a concept that, admittedly, seems quite shallow at first.

The Story: Warpath and Ghost Rider deal with the rampaging Demon Bear as the rest of the cast battles Cameron Hodge’s Army of the Right over possession of the deadly Legacy virus. I really can’t go into much more detail without heading into spoiler territory since the issue relies so heavily on its twists and turns.

What’s Good: While I still think that the artwork by Mike Choi and Sonia Oback is a bit too slick considering the gritty, violent tone of the series, that doesn’t change the fact that X-Force #10 is one nice looking book. And it’s a good thing too, because the visuals definitely go a long way towards making up for the somewhat lackluster storytelling throughout the issue. That said, there are still enough good plot seeds planted to make the whole thing worth reading despite its hang-ups. In fact, now that I think about it, the future looks pretty bright for X-Force, especially considering that the Messiah War “X”-event is fast approaching.

What’s Not So Good: From start to finish the conclusion of “Old Ghosts” feels rushed. It’s as though Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost were more convinced about delivering in the future than in the present. There is just far too much action, explanation, and set up for the future crammed into twenty-two pages. As a result, the quality of the arc as a whole takes a hit and the individual issue feels less than satisfying.

Conclusion: X-Force #10 is definitely what I would call a (very attractive) mixed bag. Why? Because it disappoints as an ending, but succeeds as a beginning. I like where the series is headed, I just wish it didn’t have to frustrate so much on the way there.

Grade:  C

-Kyle Posluszny

X-Force #9 – Review

By Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost (Writers), Mike Choi (Art), and Sonia Oback (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Despite the problems I have with X-Force from a continuity standpoint, I have found the series to be entertaining and visually impressive enough to keep reading. That said, I am feeling a bit let down by the latest arc. Maybe the addition of Domino will change my opinion of things…

The Story: The latest issue of X-Force juggles a number of story threads at once. One of them follows Warpath as he comes face to face with the Demon Bear and gets a little unexpected assistance from someone who knows a thing or two about taking down a demon. Another gives a brief glimpse of Wolfsbane’s current and worsening situation. The main plot however, is told through Domino’s perspective. It offers a glimpse inside the character as Vanisher informs the team about what really happened to the Legacy virus.

What’s Good: Despite jumping around all over the place in order to fit all the necessary characters into the story, X-Force #9 proves to be mostly satisfying both visually and plot-wise. Domino’s narration is a large part of the reason why. She is written in a way that benefits her (in catching people up with the character) and the team (in relation to the events taking place and her past). Great work all around by Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost as far as Domino is concerned. My verdict concerning the Warpath and Wolfsbane segments is still up the air at this point, but at least they provide some nice-looking artwork. Speaking of which, props to Mike Choi and Sonia Oback for the bloody, brutal fight scene in the issue as well.

What’s Not So Good: I have two main complaints with this issue. The first is that it attempts to fit far too many things into too few pages. For example, the segments featuring Elixir, S.H.I.E.L.D., and Wolfsbane feel more like distractions than additions to the plot. The second complaint is that the artwork, while extremely nice, just doesn’t feel right for the book. While it doesn’t effect my score in any way, I feel it is worth noting. The artwork by Mike Choi and Sonia Oback just feels too…I dunno…pretty and polished.

Conclusion: While it isn’t breaking any new ground or amounting to more than the sum of its parts, X-Force is a solid, dependable source of entertainment for X-Men fans. This is continues that trend.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

X-Force #8 – Review

By Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost (Writers), Mike Choi (Art), and Sonia Oback (Color Art)

The Story: As Warpath continues his journey to his brother’s grave, the rest of the X-Force team hunts down Vanisher in an effort to recover the lethal Legacy virus. It turns out that Vanisher is quite the wanted man, as the team finds that Domino is aiming for the exact same target.

What’s Good: While Clayton Crain’s dark, gritty work is a better fit for the series, there is no denying how nice this issue looks. The violent action flows well and the characters are well done (though a bit shiny). Mike Choi and Sonia Oback make a great team.

What’s also good is the return of Domino and the way the Legacy virus has been injected into the storyline. While I have my issues with how things are playing out, I am interested in finding out where things will go from here.

What’s Not So Good: Simply put, X-Force continues to be an extremely confusing series.  There is little information regarding where the storyline might fit into current continuity, and it seems as though the very concept of the team has been completely forgotten. Angel’s storyline is a complete mess, Warpath seems completely disconnected from the team at the moment, and for a “secret” team, there sure are a lot of people aware of what X-Force is doing.

A lot of stuff is happening in this series, but not enough of it is coming together all that well.

Conclusion: X-Force entertains and frustrates in equal measure. It has interesting ideas and attractive visuals, but really it’s making a mess of things from a continuity standpoint. Average at best.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

X-Force #6 – Review

By Craig Kyle, Christopher Yost (Writers), and Clayton Crain (Artist)

I have to admit, this one surprised me quite a bit. I never thought that Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost would manage to get a satisfying conclusion out of the increasingly convoluted “Angels and Demons” arc, but, lo and behold, they have. While there are a few things keeping X-Force #6 from being truly great, it is easily the best issue yet.

In an effective change of pace, the storyline is framed within a status report given by Wolverine to Cyclops. Long story short, all hell breaks loose at the Purifier base as all the various tensions and plotlines explode into an orgy of violence. Wolverine breaks up a standoff between Risman and Bastion, Archangel goes on a rampage against the choir, X-23 and Warpath kill a lot of Purifiers before facing off with someone changed by Magus, and Rahne stands up to her Purifier father. All of it works extremely well to bring the first arc of the re-launched series to a satisfying and appropriately, open-ended conclusion. That said, I have to acknowledge that are a few gaps in the storytelling that I wish Yost and Kyle would have taken the time to explain. While I won’t spoil anything here, the gaps involve the nature of Magus and transformation of Warren Worthington.

I have to hand it to the writers for changing the storytelling style for this issue. The decision pays off in a big way and allows the few plot holes to be fairly understandable given the context. If I have one complaint, however, it is that Wolverine’s narration is a little bit heavy on the “tough guy” image from time to time. Also, he swears quite a bit (which actually works well in giving the narration a conversational tone) and it made me realize the series would be much better off as a MAX title. Clayton Crain’s artwork (which I’ll get to in a moment) is already shockingly (MAX level) graphic, so why the need for censorship for some commonly used swear words? I know that’s a discussion for another day, but I feel it’s worth bringing up.

Crain’s artwork (see, I told you I would get to it) has never been better. The color palette is still a bit too dark and the characters occasionally look oddly proportioned, but those flaws can’t overshadow how visually compelling the action in this issue is. It is brutal, disturbing, and (oddly enough) beautiful all at the same time. Some of the pages have to be seen to be believed.

I really don’t know how much more I can say. I went into X-Force #6 fearing the worst and came away from it more than pleasantly surprised. If the momentum from this issue can be sustained, X-Force is going to be one series worth keeping an eye on. Action fans and “X” fans, consider this one a must buy. (Grade: B+)

– Kyle Posluszny

Cable #6 – Review

Duane Swierczynski (Writer), Ariel Olivetti (Artist- Cable Scenes), Michael Lacombe (Artist-Cyclops Scenes), & Val Staples (Colorist-Cyclops Scenes)

For fans of the X-Men, Cable # 6 is a must read.

Finally, after five issues of drawn out plot, we get an issue that not only gives us some development, but context and character beats as well. Although Adi Granov’s beautiful cover insinuates that Cyclops and Cable meet physically, the father and son do not. Instead, we follow Cyclops in his struggle with doubt and guilt concerning Cable and the baby, the clandestine mission of X-Force, and the decision to kill a certain traitor.

Cable himself appears sparsely in this issue, but by the end, the reader is reminded how much rides on his success in keeping the messiah child from harm. Furthermore, the focus on Cyclops realigns the series and its title character with the meta-narrative of the X-books. X-Men must protect the mutant race at any cost, even if it comes to murder. As solider, Cable is familiar with those decisions, but ironically its his younger father that struggles with it.

We return to a critical moment in Divided We Stand that causes Cyclops this confluence of uncertainty and guilt. We pick up right where Cyclops sends Wolverine to kill Mystique in Wolverine # 62. As Wolverine heads out to do what he does best, Warpath and X-23 enter and report the escape of Bishop off Muir Island. As Cyclops instructs the two to find Bishop, Warpath asks, “With or without a pulse.” “Either,” he replies. His decision to kill both Mystique and Bishop was in the heat of the moment, kept to himself without query or argument.

So now that he’s had time to mull over his decisions, it eats away at him. And though he may side step the issue with Emma and the others, he cannot escape the guilt of making such decisions and the possibility that they will fail. The resolution is dramatic and touching, and gives the series a jolt of life.

Cable isn’t the same blow-it-up series of the 1990s, but an integral part of the X-Men’s future with emotion and passion. And explosions. And a baby. (Grade: A-)

-Steven M. Bari

X-Force #5 – Review

By Craig Kyle, Christopher Yost, (Writers) and Clayton Crain (Artist)

The previous issue of X-Force was, in my opinion, the strongest yet. Everything about it seemed to suggest that the series was finally moving in a positive direction as the story, characters, writing, and artwork came together really well. Unfortunately, X-Force #5 isn’t quite as strong as I had hoped, but it does take the story in an interesting direction that I believe will pay off well when the arc concludes next issue.

This issue focuses mostly on the division between Matthew Risman and Bastion, the leaders of the Purifiers. Risman comes to recognize the error of his ways in allowing Bastion to seize control of the Purifiers and plans to take action into his own hands by using the winged-warriors (created last issue). Bastion, meanwhile, continues to manipulate the Purifiers through William Stryker in order to bring about the total destruction of the remaining mutant race. For a Purifier-centric issue, the story works well, but it makes the inclusion of X-Force seem like an afterthought. To be honest, the team doesn’t do a whole lot. Wolfsbane is once again in Purifier captivity while the rest of the team chases down an enraged Archangel and that’s about it! The issue lacks any sense of balance between the two storylines and suffers because of it.

By framing most of the issue around Matthew Risman, readers are given a glimpse into the humanity of some of the religious extremists. When Risman is in control of the narrative, things work extremely well. But I must say that Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost disappoint when it comes to everything else. There are a few solid lines of dialogue, but, as a whole, anything outside of the Purifier storyline feels like filler. In short, the storytelling style works well, but the rest of it is average at best.

Visually, X-Force #5 is a pretty good looking book, but a little bit of light would go a long way. I understand the dark, gritty look and it fits the style of this series extremely well, but sometimes it gets a bit out of control. When the action comes across as more confusing and muddy than kinetic and bloody, it might be time to lighten things up. That said, the larger scenes are quite impressive and the character work continues to improve so I can’t come down too hard on Clayton Crain.

Overall I feel that X-Force #5 presents an equal measure of the good and bad aspects of this series. It is a decent, but slightly below-average read. (Grade: C-)

-Kyle Posluszny

Uncanny X-Men #499 – Capsule Review

Ed Brubaker, (Writer) Mike Choi, Ben Oliver, (Artists) Sonia Oback, and Jason Keith (Colorists)

While this arc has felt like every bit of the filler that it is, I’ll be the first to admit that it has been enjoyable. This issue brings some closure to the San Francisco mystery (expect some aspects of it to pop up again later) and allows Wolverine, Colossus, and Nightcrawler to team-up against Omega Red for one last battle in Russia.

As a whole this issue is really nothing special, but it’s still a decent read. Brubaker fits in some genuinely funny character moments and the art teams, different for each storyline, make this a nice looking book. As a whole, this issue’s the same solid we come to expect from the X-Titles, but also completely forgettable. (Grade: C)

-Kyle Posluszny

X-Force Special: Ain’t No Dog #1 – Review

By Charlie Houston (Writer), Jefte Palo (Artist), and Lee Loughridge (Colorist) Jason Aaron (Writer), Werther Dell’Edera (Penciler), Antonio Fuso (Inker), and Andrew Crossley (Colorist)

I am just going to cut right to the chase with this review and say that I have two major complaints about this book.

So here it goes.

This one-shot feels completely unnecessary and, in some ways, incomplete. It’s unnecessary because we already have more than enough Wolverine stories to last the rest of the year both in stores and in the pipeline. While not a total loss, there really is no reason for the Ain’t No Dog tale to even exist. As for the other major complaint, the book feels incomplete because it fails to include a story for X-23, the third and, in many ways, most interesting character of the current X-Force team. Instead of something about X-23, we get another Wolverine story and, to be honest, that just rubbed me the wrong way. With those things said, however, taken as stand alone stories, you could do worse than what’s offered in this book.

Ain’t No Dog is about a Cyclops directed mission for Wolverine to retrieve a computer chip that is implanted inside a person of interest. Needless to say, the “all too easy” capture of the person is a trap and Wolverine must kill a lot of people before figuring out a way to get the computer chip. A simple, brutal story that, as I said, is quite unnecessary. Unlike something like Kick-Ass, which uses violence as a means to tell a story, the insane amount of violence here seems forced. This is shocking violence just to have some red on the page because it sells books and goes well with the X-Force style of violence.

Charlie Houston does a decent enough job setting up and executing the story, even making an interesting point about the phrase “ain’t no dog,” but there is nothing that makes it memorable or unique. As for the art, Jefte Palo draws some ugly, gritty characters (his Cyclops reminded me of Steve Buscemi) and then turns the violence up to eleven. At times there is some well done, though unnecessary, gore and Lee Loughridge does some great work with the bright red blood and dark shadows presented on nearly every page, but taken as a whole, the art is pretty mediocre.

Hunters and Killers is definitely the better of the two stories, though it is predictable and brings little to the character of Warpath that readers of the X-Force series wouldn’t already know. In a nutshell, Hunters and Killers is a tale about Warpath contemplating the difference between a hunter and a killer in relation to his Indian heritage while he goes about stalking a bear. As with his recent treatment of Wolverine during the Get Mystique arc, Jason Aaron does a nice job bringing some depth to Warpath through the inner monologue that drives the story. He brings a philosophic touch to the concept of what a hunt is and what results. It is pretty compelling stuff, even if the ending of the tale can be seen from a mile away. As for the art, the team does a nice job staging the hunt, though there really wasn’t anything memorable about the presentation. This is a more intimate tale and the art reflects that well.

Overall, I can’t help but feel that this X-Force special will only satisfy certain types of people. Wolverine and Warpath fans will get a decent enough fix and those looking for some comic book carnage will find themselves satisfied with the mass bloodletting in the Wolverine story, but all the rest can easily skip this book. There is nothing in this book that adds to the current X-Force storyline, the art isn’t strong enough to elevate the basic tales, and there is no X-23. If you haven’t noticed, I was looking for a lot more than I got. (Grade C-)

-Kyle Posluszny

X-Force #2 – Review

By Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost (writers), Clayton Crain (art)

X-Force continues to stumble along. It’s greatest offense is that its simple storyline could probably easily fit into three issues. Instead, it’s completely drawn out, filled with an overabundance of expository dialog. Heck, within the first 12 pages of this second issue, there’s already two recaps on what happened in the first issue. Is this really needed? It’s most likely because Marvel hopes to collect all six-parts into a trade paperback later.

Continuing where the first issue left us, Risman is holding Wolfsbane hostage and Wolverine’s ready to stand down. But X-23, being the loose canon she suddenly is, goes against Logan’s orders and unleashes a powerful explosion in the church, killing just about everyone. Yet, somehow, Warpath manages to survive unscathed while Risman escapes with Wolfsbane (even though they were pretty much right in the center of the blast). This event plays out incredible stupid and makes Wolverine look like a fool – especially in front of Cyclops when he has to later explain his team’s failure.

After their debriefing, the team goes back out on a murdering spree, destroying Purifier bases across the land in hopes of finding Wolfsbane and Risman. Meanwhile, Risman and Bastion come to the realization that if they want to really destroy the X-Men, they’ll need some serious help. They venture to the bottom of the sea to find Warlock? Yes, that Warlock from the New Mutants!

Okay, the whole Warlock thing surprised me – it even made me grin a little. It’s a character I’ve been missing for a long time. But honestly, concept aside, I don’t trust Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost. Plus, this idea is pretty hokey. So far, this writing team has done nothing but stumble with this story line and the concept behind it. This book is below average on all fronts – art included. Clayton Crain is good with a Wacom tablet, but his art is so inconsistent that I can’t say it’s good. Sometimes it looks decent (though over-rendered), other times it looks like a step up from refined thumbnails. His action sequences are also very stiff. I’d like to see this book succeed, but I just don’t see it happening without a lot of help or new creative team. (Grade: D)

– J. Montes

X-Force #1 – Review

By: Craig Kyle and Chris Yost (Writers), Clayton Crain (Artist)

I thought I was getting a story about a newly formed team of heroes, but the prologue told me that it was formed by Cyclops during the Messiah Complex storyline. From someone who doesn’t read X-Books, I immediately felt alienated. I hate it when publishers make you buy other issues from several different titles in order to understand the story – that’s another reason why I don’t like superhero comics – they’re so unaccessible. They will never bring new readers if they expect them to know all the previous history. And I’m not made of money.

I picked this up because X-23 was on the cover and Kyle & Yost created her. The story tells us how Reverend Risman, leader of the Purifieres, turns himself at a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility only to kill everyone in there with the help of an inside man. He’s after something which is revealed later in the issue. Cyclops sends the team to fight Risman and bloody action ensues. Then, Risman threatens to kill Wolfsbane if the team doesn’t back off. So, take a guess if she survives or not. I don’t see how he can harm her, I mean she’s on the cover of #2!

Is this the same Clayton Crain who drew The Darkness & Universe? I hated the way he drew those books, but this is a great improvement. The techniques he uses here are much different, giving it a more painted feel. Anyway, get this comic only if you’re an X-completist. The rest of us should stay away. (Grade: D+)

-Daniel Yanez

A Second Opinion

Normally lettering in a comic book doesn’t bother me. But Cory Petit’s lettering for sound effects is obtrusive and just plain ugly. Just awful. Clayton Crain’s art is a mixed bag as well. Most of the credit deserves to be given to his coloring and texture techniques, but his storytelling is pretty weak. There’s a few good action shots near the end of the book, but I can’t help but be distracted when he photo traces a lot of his background elements. It’s no where near as jarring as Aerial Olivetti’s crappy artwork (avoid Cable #1 when it comes out – she’s drawing it, if that’s what you want to call it), but I get the same feeling that Crain uses a lot of the same over-rendered techniques.

Craig Kyle and Chris Yost have never impressed me as writers. Their work here is marginal at best. Newly appointed leader of the Purifiers, Matthew Risman, rambles on towards the end of the book. His sermon serves as nothing but a boring history lesson that most readers will probably skip through. X-Force was created by Marvel so our merry mutants could kill people. And kill people they do. But killing two-bit henchmen and C-list characters isn’t my idea of a good time. You want me to take this book seriously? Kill someone more interesting than some dude who amounts to nothing more than a second-rate KKK grand wizard. (Grade: D)

– J. Montes

A Third Opinion

Come on! How could you possibly screw this up? You’ve got the X-Men’s walking murder machine, Wolverine, Wolverine junior (X-23), Warpath (the guy could probably snap someone in half with his bare hands), and a werewolf. Just open the cage, slap the Marvel MAX logo on there, and the book practically writes itself.

What a raging case of blue balls this thing turned out to be. I heard the premise a few weeks ago and started having wonderful flashbacks of Garth Ennis’ Punisher MAX series, but my daydreams were dashed to pieces when I opened this book Wednesday morning. Who thought a mutant assasination squad could be so boring. Sure, maybe it was all build up to a big fight scene for a future issue, but if I say that in next month’s review slap me.

This book is hurt by the artwork. The coloring, penciling, and digital manipulation clashes and it’s more distracting than helpful in telling the story. There were some really nice panels spread out, but not enough consistency for my tastes. Really, the only thing that saved this book for me were the last few pages of all out animal violence.

I don’t mean the creative team too much disrespect, but I think the readers would have reacted better to a really catchy battle in the beginning with about half of the text gone. As a simple man once said, “When you gotta shoot, shoot; don’t talk.” Much like Ultimates 3 I would have been wiling to overlook the shaky aspects, but the artwork has to carry the lion’s share and it really doesn’t. I’m sorry to say this but… (Grade: D+)

-Chris Williamson