X-Force #27 – Review

by Craig Kyle & Chris Yost (writers), Mike Choi (artist), Sonia Oback (colorist)

The Story: Bastion begins instituting his final plan as he unleashes the first wave of his Nimrod army upon the X-Men, causing several members to suffer devastating losses.  When the mutants discover that the villain has actually opened a portal to a future where humanity has won and is preparing to unleash more than 170,000 of the mutant-hunting robots, they get desperate.  The plan?  Send Cable, Cypher and X-Force into the future to cut off the threat at the source.  The catch? It’s a one way trip, whether they win or lose.

What’s Good: Let’s all breathe a sigh of relief, shall we?  Okay, done?  Good.  This issue of X-Force (along with last week’s X-Men Legacy) signals the return of breakneck awesomeness to the Second Coming crossover, and just in time.  After the saggy beginning to the second act of the storyline, the back-half has kicked us back into high gear as we head into the third and final act.  From the beat-down the X-Men receive at the hands of the Nimrods in the opening pages of the issue to Prodigy’s near-mental collapse at the realization of the odds stacked against them all to X-23’s gentle “hand” gesture to Cable’s farewell to Hope, this chapter returned  the drama,  action and feeling of desperation to the proceedings like nobody’s business!  It’s always a pleasure, as well, to see Kyle and Yost get to bring a small amount of the spotlight back onto their characters from the aborted New X-Men title.  A little Prodigy, Hellion, Surge, and X-23 goes a long way under their pen, and it’s always a joy.  Anyone who might have missed their run on that title should definitely pick it up.  (It’s actually the genesis of the Bastion part of Second Coming, so now you have two reasons.)

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Legion of Super-Heroes – Levitz really came through on Legion of Superheroes #1. The book felt right and started with a bang that left me satisfied with the intro, but waiting for more. Best book for an starved Legion-fan. And in keeping with DC’s marketing, I want my flight ring!Morrison started us slowly in his 6-part saga, but the adventure, and the anticipation built up around it, were enough to propel this book into first place in my pull list.

Most Anticipated: Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #2 – Where and when the heck is Bruce? What’s happening to him and why will his return to the present destroy everyone?

Other Top Picks: Brave and the Bold #34, Green Lantern #54, Green Lantern Corps #58, Power Girl #12, The Thanos Imperative: Ignition #1, X-Force #27

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Ex Machina #49 -Tough one, but despite a valiant effort by American Vampire #3, I have to give it to Ex Machina.  There was no more emotionally significant moment this week than seeing the Great Machine take the skies once again.  Seeing a comic geek like Mitchell Hundred being drawn, and responded to, like Superman is sure to be one of the many great moments this series has given us.  I’ll be sad when this book finally says its farewells in July.

Most Anticipated: Secret Avengers #1 – Ed Brubaker and Mike Deodato.  What’s not to love.  Pair that creative team with a clearly hand-picked line-up and comics gold is all but guaranteed.  The book isn’t even off the ground yet, and I’m already fairly certain that this will end up being the best Avengers book out there.

Other Picks:Batman: the Return of Bruce Wayne #2, Fantastic Four #579, Green Lantern #54, Madame Xanadu #23, Scalped #38, Secret Warriors #16, Thor #610, Unknown Soldier #20, Wolverine: Weapon X #13

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: American Vampire #3 – These aren’t your grandfather’s vampires.  While the more mainstream comics were bumbling around with “good, but not great” efforts last week, Scott Snyder, Stephen King and Rafael Albuquerque gave us a very strong comic with great story and glorious art.  There has been nothing to dislike about this series yet.

Most Anticipated: Thanos Imperative Ignition #1 – I feel like I haven’t gotten a Marvel Cosmic fix in months, so even in a week where Secret Avengers and a few other strong titles are coming out, I am really excited to kick off the next big Cosmic event.

Other picks: Amazing Spider-Man #632, Choker #3, Secret Avengers #1, Wolverine Weapon X #13, 7 Psychopaths #1