There are a lot of comics out there, but some just stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, we look at Xavier’s covert mutant team, “X-Force” by Benjamin Percy, Joshua Cassara, Guru-eFX, VC’s Joe Caramagna and Marvel Comics.
Who Is This By?
“X-Force” is written by relative Marvel and DC newcomer Benjamin Percy. Percy has written various titles for the Big Two and recently came off a stint writing DC comics like “Teen Titans.” Artist Joshua Cassara is another newcomer with Big Two publishers. Cassara previously drew titles like “Marvel Knights: 20th” and “Venom.” “X-Force” initially flew under the radar due to the series starring a creative team raising their profile at The House of Ideas.
What’s It All About?
“X-Force” is a plot-driven series about a group of mutants in Marvel’s publishing line who are looking to defend Krakoa from foreign threats. The series started by introducing a terrorist threat to Krakoa that the mutants attempted to fight back. Marvel chose to unveil this threat that faced grave consequences in “X-Force.” Now that the mutants have an incredibly public profile, the Nation-State of Krakoa is going to face more threats than ever before. At the end of issue #3, Xavier formally identified the squad of mutants making up the cast of the title as the new “X-Force.” This is the select group of mutants who are attempting to save the newly established Krakoa.
What Makes It So Great?
After Jonathan Hickman, R.B. Silva, Pepe Larraz and Marte Gracia did a phenomenal job fleshing out the status quo of Krakoa, Marvel announced an expansion of the line in ‘Dawn of X.’ “X-Force” was a title listed among the books that I didn’t anticipate enjoying. The plot-driven narrative of the title immediately showed readers that they cannot read these X-Men titles and disregard “X-Force.” The title already made important contributions to the continuity of Krakoa that have had lasting limitations throughout the X-Men line of comics. I couldn’t be happier that Marvel is allowing some of the other X-Men titles to contain some huge moments that expand on the other series. This title does a great job showing readers the political state of Krakoa to match up with the typical brand of X-Men superhero noir X-Force comics are made of.
You could make the argument that “X-Force” was business as usual for the ‘Dawn of X’ comic books until the final pages of issue #1. The series took a massive left turn with a title that already struck a perfect tone matching up with the X-Men issues that came before. Author Benjamin Percy crafts understated dialogue peppered in with the occasional joke to match up with the rest of the line. “X-Force” has an extremely ominous tone as well thanks to the clear and present danger of Xeno, the terrorist group threatening the heroes. Percy and artist Joshua Cassara have crafted intriguing villains for the series that already pose a really strong threat to the title.
So far the biggest asset of the series is how it matches up with the line while giving something slightly different than the other books in tone. The biggest drawback to the title is how little the team dynamics have come together over the first few issues of the series. These titles are edited very well within the continuity of the X-Men offices. This series has a huge cast of characters that Percy is only starting to experiment with now. Issue #2 picked up on a few characters who were largely absent from the first series. The title includes interesting foreshadowing by how they have established Domino in the first story. Readers pick up on her next moments in a much different context in issue #2. Percy also establishes something new about Xeno that will make the back of your hair stand up in each issue to-date. Xeno has so much mystery and intrigue behind it.
Continued belowArtist Joshua Cassara’s interior art is a perfect match for the series. The title carries a foreboding, dense feeling carried over from the script to match with the art. Cassara sells emotional moments with huge expressions that are grounded in the noir overtones of the title. Guru-eFX’s colors show off some of the more violent scenes in the title with a darker color palette that clashes with the bright hues of Krakoa beautifully. Readers are able to identify the setting of the scene based on the palette alone. Cassara’s illustrations are also able to depict body language to match up with X’s overly confident new lease on life. Cassara’s work is able to lend the appropriate level of gravitas toward normal conversations and huge action-filled X-Men battles.
When Cassara experiments with nine-panel grids and splash pages the results are astonishing. Cassara is in a unique position where he is matching up the earthy setting of Krakoa with the clandestine world of X-Force and various other locations. Making the title visually cohesive could have proved challenging for some artists, but the shadow-soaked pages of X-Force achieve a cohesive middle ground. The nefarious world of Xeno blends effortlessly into Wolverine and Kid Omega’s investigation of Domino in Seoul, Korea and X in Krakoa. The art direction in “X-Force” is incredible and has elevated Joshua Cassara into one of the most interesting new artists at The House of Ideas.
“X-Force” explores a side of the X-Men property that I would anticipate would be a major factor in the main book. If Jonathan Hickman is pressed for time with other ideas I’m glad he’s given Benjamin Percy and Joshua Cassara a platform to explore the rest of the cast with “X-Force.” To put it simply, if you are a fan of the current X-Men publishing line, “X-Force” is absolutely essential reading. With only four issues currently on the stands now if your time to finally catch up with one of the best new series at Marvel.
How Can You Read It?
“X-Force” is available wherever comic books are sold. “X-Force” #4 is available today. “X-Force” is published monthly from Marvel and you can’t afford to miss a single issue of the important new ‘Dawn of X’ series.
