X-Force #1 – Review

Wow. X-Force #1 really set out to make an impact this week. Let’s take a look at this comic, one of two Dawn of X titles to arrive in shops this week.

Yes, there are spoiler warnings in effect, but I won’t spoil the ending.

X-Force #1

Writer: Ben Percy
Artist: Joshua Cassara
Colorist: Dean White
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Designer: Tom Muller
Cover Artists: Dustin Weaver; Mark Bagley, John Dell, and Israel Silva; Russell Dauterman and Matthew Wilson; Juan Jose Ryp and Jesus Aburtov; Tom Muller; Todd McFarlane and Jason Keith
Rated T+
In Shops: Nov 06, 2019

Solicitation:

THE HIGH PRICE OF A NEW DAWN!
X-Force is the CIA of the mutant world-one half intelligence branch, one half special ops. Beast, Jean Grey and Sage on one side, Wolverine, Kid Omega and Domino on the other. In a perfect world, there would be no need for an X-Force. We’re not there…yet.

Review:

X-Force has traditionally been a throwaway book. It never seemed to affect much in the mutant corner of the Marvel Universe since its debut in 1991. This issue is looking to make an impact within the Dawn of X story. It’s really apparent how interwoven the titles are. Black Tom Cassidy is apparently a lot more important than one would expect. I believe that part of Krakoa’s success is to take former villains and give them trusted roles in the new society. We’ve seen it with Apocalypse and Emma Frost. Black Tom looks a little unstable, but with a rapport with Krakoa, it seems like an answer to the problem of security.

This title does address that the enemies of mutants will not rest just because mutants have formed their own island nation. They also anticipate the mutants spying on them since Krakoa’s defenses detect Domino parachuting in. The dark meeting isn’t so much to plan an attack against Krakoa. It’s a trap to get Domino’s blood for this assault. The assault is vicious, killing mutants that aren’t a threat. This team may have an objective, but the cruelty in their attack is brutal.

The one standout in the art is Dean White’s colors. They are incredibly complex and add so much to the art of Joshua Cassara. The colors added to backgrounds add to the mood. The colors added to the Beast’s fur give a sense of it moving in the breeze. There is simply not a page that he doesn’t enhance. Cassara’s artwork is incredibly intricate, and White’s coloring just adds more detail and mood to it.

I’m impressed by this comic, and while I think where this issue ends is not a lasting effect, I want to read the next issue, for a variety of reasons.

Final Rating: 9.0 (out of 10)

Preview Pages: