X-Force #28 – Review

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

Spoiler Alert, people.

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While in chapter designation, this issue serves as the penultimate installment of the Second Coming crossover, it might as well be the conclusion because the only thing that’s left after the events of X-Force #28 is the clean-up.  Let’s discuss the two big events of this issue.

“Please…  Please…  Please come back to me.”

First, Cable’s death.  It might seem that he died fairly suddenly and ingloriously within the context of the issue, but in the context of the entire storyline, Cable went out like a hero.  If this crossover’s A-plot was all about Hope’s return, then it’s B-Plot was definitely about Cable’s mission being accomplished and his letting her go.  While his death might have been telegraphed like all hell from the beginning, ruining a lot of the emotional weight of the event, it still gave me the necessary pang of sadness.  A lot of that sadness has to do with Kyle’s, Yost’s & Choi’s handling of the sacrifice.  Letting Nathan give in to the techno-organic virus, which has been pretty much a constant since the character premiered, served as a nice reminder of how much the character has struggled and of his long history.  The smile he gives Hope at the end, and Hope’s reactions to her mentor’s return and immediate destruction, also added a huge amount of feeling to the scene.  The cherry on top was the writers’ decision to throw in a flashback after Cable has died, of Nathan explaining to Hope how she’ll know when it’s time to go home.  Letting Cable’s words “play” out over Hope’s confrontation with Bastion  was a smart move, as that final action scene could have been nothing but a loud, colorful dust-up.  This way, Hope’s defeat of the big bad was about Cable as much as it was about Hope.

“It’ll be like a switch turned on inside you.  Like a fire.  And once that fire’s lit, everything will change.”

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Secret Avengers #2 – Although it had a few flaws on art and dialogue, the basic premise, the impending danger, and excellent, understated buddy scene between between Hank McCoy and Steve Rogers moved Secret Avengers #2 to the top of my week. I would have been more categorical about it, but I don’t think that Brubaker has yet found Valkyrie’s character, but hopefully that will come.

Most Anticipated: Brightest Day #5 – Although I’m drooling over the prospect of a Tim Drake/Damian Wayne beatdown (Damian’s obviously going to take it on the chin), Brightest Day #5, with its secret cover, is promising to reveal the truth behind the formation of the White Lantern! Sorry, I’ve got to go with the giant reveal!

Other Top Picks: Red Robin #14, JSA All-Stars #8, Batman and Robin #13, Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier #1, X-Force #28, X-Men #1

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Madame Xanadu #24 -Despite some big releases this week, Madame Xanadu stole this one.  Surprisingly solid artwork and a really anxious story made this a great done-in-one and fantastic start to a new “arc” that I wasn’t initially all that excited for.

Most Anticipated: Scarlet #1 -Bendis and Maleev on a creator-owned project.  That alone is enough to get me pumped.  Factor in what looks to be a cool female protagonist and a dystopian near-future and I’m in.  The first issue isn’t even out yet and already I’m wishing this was a monthly.

Other Picks: Shadowland #1, Avengers: the Children’s Crusade #1, Casanova #1, Batman & Robin #13, Secret Six #23, Scalped #39, iZombie #3, Sweet Tooth #11

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Death of Dracula #1 – Sometimes it’s nice to have a lighter week in comics where something like Death of Dracula can sneak in and steal the cheese for top comic.  I bought this merely because I thought it would tie in with the new X-Men vs. Vampires story line.  It really doesn’t do that, but it gives an unexpectedly deep and rich overview of vampires (in all their forms) in the Marvel Universe.  I’d actually like to see more of this.

Most Anticipated: Amazing Spider-Man #636 – Out of ALL the big books coming out this week, I think I’m most excited to see what really happened when Spider-Man apparently died at the end of #635.  Having had two weeks to think about it, I’m pretty sure that it was Kaine in the suit.  Still, I read ~60 comics per month and I can’t tell you the last time a comic mystery was on my mind for weeks.

Other Top Picks: X-Men #1, Scarlet #1, Shadowland #1, The Walking Dead #74, Batman & Robin #13

Joe’s Top Picks

Best from the Past Week: Death of Dracula #1 – I had nothing but low expectations, both about this one-shot and the X-Men launch starting this week helmed by writer Victor Girschler.  After reading this well-thought out and beautifully pencilled one-shot, though?  I can’t wait to see where this story goes.  I almost wish this was the first issue of just a vampire-centric tale in the Marvel Universe without all the super-heroes, but I’ll take what I can get.  At least these vamps don’t sparkle.

Most Anticipated: X-Force #28 – Really, is there any other choice?  This is the penultimate chapter in the suberb Second Coming crossover, and it’s the final issue of Kyle’s & Yost’s X-Force series before it’s relaunched with a new creative team.  Throw in Mike Choi on pencils and you know this comic, the best X-Title in years, is going out with a hell of a bang.

Other picks: Irredeemable #15, Batman and Robin #13, Absolute Planetary Volume 1 HC, Brightest Day #5, Red Robin #14,
Secret Six #23, Walking Dead #74, Amazing Spider-man #636, Avengers The Children’s Crusade #1, Shadowland #1, Scarlet #1, Thanos Sourcebook, The Stand Hardcases #2, X-Men #1, X-Women #1