by Craig Kyle & Chris Yost (writers), Mike Choi (artist), Sonia Oback (colorist)
The Story: While the X-Men’s Alpha Team helps Cable act as a decoy to Bastion’s forces and the New Mutants hurry home after one of their own has been gravely injured, Rogue and Nightcrawler race to get Hope to Utopia before it’s too late. However, when confronted with Bastion himself, one of them doesn’t survive.
What’s Good: I’m running out of ways to heap praise on the X-titles these days, but I’ll give it another go. This chapter of Second Coming, the conclusion to the first act of the storyline, comes to a mournful denouement that is every bit as riveting as the previous installments have been. Kyle and Yost, back to form on this title after the shaky Necrosha crossover, deliver a nail-biting script full of (forgive the pun) killer moments that make you happy to be an x-fan these days. From Bastion’s silent tactical epiphany that Hope would be placed with Nightcrawler and Rogue to the variation on the classic Fastball Special to Colossus’ single-minded concern for his sister to Logan’s extending of his claws at the end, this issue is littered with pitch perfect character beats and events that make you smile to yourself in that special way that lets you know you’re reading good comics. The most unexpected bit has to be Bastion’s early entrance onto the theater of war. I’m going to assume most readers, like me, figured we’d have to get through a few more of his cronies until we got to see the big bad show up to chew bubblegum and kick some ass. However, with his sudden appearance and subsequent murder of a beloved X-Man, the stakes have been appropriately raised and things have gotten very personal. And really, what x-fan who slogged through the crap-fest that was Operation Zero Tolerance thought they’d ever think of Bastion as badass? Kyle and Yost did it! They get kudos for that feat alone.
Mike Choi delivers the goods this issue and boy am I happy to see him back on this title. Choi has always been my preferred artist on X-Force. While Clayton Crain has his moments, Choi consistently delivers wonderful artwork that always tells a strong story. From his kinetic action sequence involving Rogue and Bastion to his well-handled “acting” and facial expressions. Take a look at Rogue’s and Hope’s reactions at the conclusion of the battle with Bastion and the look on Wolverine’s face at the end of the issue. The man knows his stuff. Of particular note is Choi’s depiction of Bastion. He truly looks like an artificial man here, and the way that he continuously reforms, bringing him closer and closer to the Nimrod appearance is magnificently handled by the penciller. He also draws a cool-looking Warlock. I’d be remiss to not mention colorist Sonia Oback’s contribution to the artwork. It’s her colors that really make Choi’s pencils pop on the page.
The Death: Okay, here we go: SPOILER ALERT! Do not read any further if you haven’t picked up the issue yet and don’t want to be angry with me. Although you could be angry with me for a completely different reason, so, carry on then. Continue reading
Filed under: Marvel Comics | Tagged: Cable, Chris Yost, Comic Book Reviews, Craig Kyle, Hope, Mike Cho, Nightcrawler, Second Coming, Sonia Oback, Weekly Comic Book Review, X-Force, X-Force #26, X-Force #26 review, X-Men: Second Coming | 3 Comments »
Weekly Comic Book Review 