Post by MC on Jan 19, 2010 23:09:53 GMT -5
X-Force by Brent Lambert (#1 - #10)
The Cast: Havok, Blind Faith, M, Marrow, Abyss, Shatterstar, Cecelia Reyes, Pipeline, Madrox, Mikhail Rasputin, White Queen
Antagonists Faced: Dark Beast, Agent X, Selene, Genegineer, Ahab
Stand-Out Character: M, Marrow & Dr. Reyes
Best Moments: Cecelia giving M a much needed tune-up, and Abyss’s capture by Selene.
This is perhaps the most political book on the site without any nations actually involved, as none of the big players on showcase here can call any place home any more and all seem ok with that. Spinning out of X-Men: Alpha, Havok sets up the black ops X-Men team created by him, White Queen and Wolverine to do the work that needs to be done from their base on Muir Island. Gathering other like-minded souls…Blind Faith, Abyss, Marrow, M, Maddrox, Pipeline, Shatterstar and Dr. Reyes…Havok sets out on an almost Ahab-like mission to destroy the evils in the mutant world.
The series stars with an effort to stop the sale of a Phalanx on the black market, one being pursued by both the Dark Beast and Selene, and involves the enigmatic Mikhail Rasputin as an information source with his own agenda. The setup for the mission contained a lot of information and good showcase of each member of the team, some who just don’t like others and some who don’t care what anyone thinks. The group is anchored, in my opinion, by the under-used Dr. Reyes, who is the one with the most heart left unbruised on the team, though when pushed she has a true backbone, as shown in her interactions with Monet and Marrow.
The action in the series is raw and true, but started slowly in the first arc as things were being established. The fact that this team is willing to kill was made clear by Marrow, but even Maddrox is double-fisting pistols and Havok’s counterattack on Selene was creative yet brutal. The Dark Beast was a great character when created in the AoA and he continues to be so under Brent’s hand, and his cruel manipulation of Agent X as his bodyguard shows the depths of his depravity. As a constant thorn in the side of the team moving forward, Dark Beast stands to be a fantastic foil.
But he and Selene are not the only foes for X-Force, as explained by Selene to Abyss there are other dangers in this world, including Eliphas, a lover of hers from back in Rome she had made an Immortal but who surpassed her in power and evil and, fearful, she used her magic to lock him away. He has now returned and Selene, having been denied the Phalanx samples by X-Force, is at a loss on how to stop him on her own. This issue, #7, was one of the more entertaining as the back and forth between Nils and Selene was fun to see develop.
The next and current arc introduced the Genegineer, another depraved genetic manipulator to rival the Dark Beast, and also Ahab and his Hounds, and gave the still-gelling team a chance to strut their stuff as they fought to stop both of these threats while still striving to get to the bottom of the neogenics equipment being sold by the black marketer known as Adel, who has had ongoing business in the series with all parties and was involved in the sale of the Phalanx samples. The ongoing battle between X-Force and Ahab is excellent and gave my second favorite character, M, a chance to shine.
The glimpse of X-Force’s future provided in the Hulk: Spectrum crossover (reviewed separately) was also enlightening as it gave us a glimpse of the Singularity Securities organization, a new threat on the horizon and potentially the most devastating of the assortment they are gathering. It also introduced the Tan Siblings, a mercenary family for hire who aren’t afraid to do what needs to be done, and who hold grudges for a long time. Finally, the true hand behind Singularity was revealed…Eliphas.
This is a complex and very entertaining book and perhaps the most in-your-face ongoing at MA, willing to push the limits in every way imaginable. The characters are vivid and well defined, and watching the stress and obsessions begin to take hold of Havok as he keeps wallowing in the mud will continue to be fascinating in the months to come. Brent has etched out a great niche for himself with this team and I can’t wait to see how he keeps all the balls in the air!
MC
The Cast: Havok, Blind Faith, M, Marrow, Abyss, Shatterstar, Cecelia Reyes, Pipeline, Madrox, Mikhail Rasputin, White Queen
Antagonists Faced: Dark Beast, Agent X, Selene, Genegineer, Ahab
Stand-Out Character: M, Marrow & Dr. Reyes
Best Moments: Cecelia giving M a much needed tune-up, and Abyss’s capture by Selene.
This is perhaps the most political book on the site without any nations actually involved, as none of the big players on showcase here can call any place home any more and all seem ok with that. Spinning out of X-Men: Alpha, Havok sets up the black ops X-Men team created by him, White Queen and Wolverine to do the work that needs to be done from their base on Muir Island. Gathering other like-minded souls…Blind Faith, Abyss, Marrow, M, Maddrox, Pipeline, Shatterstar and Dr. Reyes…Havok sets out on an almost Ahab-like mission to destroy the evils in the mutant world.
The series stars with an effort to stop the sale of a Phalanx on the black market, one being pursued by both the Dark Beast and Selene, and involves the enigmatic Mikhail Rasputin as an information source with his own agenda. The setup for the mission contained a lot of information and good showcase of each member of the team, some who just don’t like others and some who don’t care what anyone thinks. The group is anchored, in my opinion, by the under-used Dr. Reyes, who is the one with the most heart left unbruised on the team, though when pushed she has a true backbone, as shown in her interactions with Monet and Marrow.
The action in the series is raw and true, but started slowly in the first arc as things were being established. The fact that this team is willing to kill was made clear by Marrow, but even Maddrox is double-fisting pistols and Havok’s counterattack on Selene was creative yet brutal. The Dark Beast was a great character when created in the AoA and he continues to be so under Brent’s hand, and his cruel manipulation of Agent X as his bodyguard shows the depths of his depravity. As a constant thorn in the side of the team moving forward, Dark Beast stands to be a fantastic foil.
But he and Selene are not the only foes for X-Force, as explained by Selene to Abyss there are other dangers in this world, including Eliphas, a lover of hers from back in Rome she had made an Immortal but who surpassed her in power and evil and, fearful, she used her magic to lock him away. He has now returned and Selene, having been denied the Phalanx samples by X-Force, is at a loss on how to stop him on her own. This issue, #7, was one of the more entertaining as the back and forth between Nils and Selene was fun to see develop.
The next and current arc introduced the Genegineer, another depraved genetic manipulator to rival the Dark Beast, and also Ahab and his Hounds, and gave the still-gelling team a chance to strut their stuff as they fought to stop both of these threats while still striving to get to the bottom of the neogenics equipment being sold by the black marketer known as Adel, who has had ongoing business in the series with all parties and was involved in the sale of the Phalanx samples. The ongoing battle between X-Force and Ahab is excellent and gave my second favorite character, M, a chance to shine.
The glimpse of X-Force’s future provided in the Hulk: Spectrum crossover (reviewed separately) was also enlightening as it gave us a glimpse of the Singularity Securities organization, a new threat on the horizon and potentially the most devastating of the assortment they are gathering. It also introduced the Tan Siblings, a mercenary family for hire who aren’t afraid to do what needs to be done, and who hold grudges for a long time. Finally, the true hand behind Singularity was revealed…Eliphas.
This is a complex and very entertaining book and perhaps the most in-your-face ongoing at MA, willing to push the limits in every way imaginable. The characters are vivid and well defined, and watching the stress and obsessions begin to take hold of Havok as he keeps wallowing in the mud will continue to be fascinating in the months to come. Brent has etched out a great niche for himself with this team and I can’t wait to see how he keeps all the balls in the air!
MC