X-Force: Sex and Violence #2 (Not final cover).

Notice the cover has “Explicit Content” written on the front?  They’re serious.  This isn’t one of those blanket warnings because somebody gets a pinky cut – this is for really reals.  You see things inside that Wolverine shouldn’t be able to do.  I’m talking morally, not physically.  Anyone with claws coming out of their wrists could do those kinds of things, but damn.  Wow.

Also ticking the boxes in the explicit column is a certain scene in a quiet hotel.  Not going into this any further but you’ll have been wondering about this since the end of the last issue.

Domino is a bad girl; she took money from bad people who do bad things.  Now they want it back and they’ve assembled a veritable army of pain-bringers to make her say uncle.  But they don’t reckon on her having a certain Logan to assist her.  Granted it’s somewhat against his will.  But she’s a girl, and they have their ways of persuasion.

The writing is slick though what occurs stinks of a fanboy wish list.  Additionally the artwork, while brilliant during the action sequences, with that quick brush action, falls down whenever the camera should be standing still.

Sex and Violence delivers both those promises with all barrels blazing.  I’m left to wonder what’s left in the box of tricks for issue 3.  Death or pregnancy is my bet. -Bretzke

X-Force: Sex and Violence #1

Domino is a foil for the X-Force.  While she participates in their activities she has always been peripheral, somewhat the outsider in the regenerating mutant club; a club of mutants which regenerate, not the club itself.  Laura and Logan have always been close, it’s in their DNA, but Domino has had to prove herself able within the extreme actions of the X-Force.

Lets not forget though, she’s not an exclusive agent.

It’s that alternative work arrangement that’s going to bite this time around.  The story focuses on the relationship between Domino and Wolverine.  Long time readers of the book will see the attempt at a history being painted by Yost and Kyle between the two, but if you go back and look at the books in and of themselves, an hints at this outcome are tenuous at best.  Long story short, it’s about Wolverine having the hots for Domino.

Yes, tenuous.

That doesn’t make the book a travesty however.  If anything it adds to the experience; the sudden revelation of the chance of kink between these two weapons makes for interesting reading.  Dell’Otto uses delicacy and grace in forming the imagery with the accentuation of deep, dark colours.  The book is foreboding, it needs to be.

With only 3 books in the series, any tryst will have to be short lived.  Oh, there’s a reveal at the end which should make you laugh.  Oh Domino, how could you resist? -Bretzke.

X-Men: Hellbound #1

During the Second Coming story arc, the forces of evil had worked out a way to hamper the actions of the X-Men and their allies: take out the teleporters.  You’d wonder why anyone wouldn’t have come to this conclusion earlier, it makes sense.  Should you wish to hinder the capacity for an army to march, you destroy the bridges.  Here, it’s just modernizing the same strategy.  As a consequence of this Illyana Rasputin is banished through spiritual means to another plane.

The premise of this book is a no brainer, the reader goes in with a bunch of excitement.  The story practically writes itself, right?  Go into another dimension, kick tail and come home victors!  Not so much.  Entirely too much time is spent agonizing over the team to be sent to bring our darling Magik back, the primary focus being on whether Pixie will stop being such a whinny brat.  Blah blah she took part of my soul blah blah.  Given the gravity of the entire situation it’s surprising that Cannonball doesn’t warm up his pimp hand and bring some sense to the situation.

Worry not, there is an end to the drivel and action begets action and the team powers through to Limbo.  This isn’t the kind of limbo where you’re at a loose end, or between jobs, this is Limbo.  Note the capitalization.  Bad things happen here, this is the home of bad people.  If you are familiar with Illyana’s return story (X-Infernus) then what is revealed will be old territory.  To the new reader however, the book evolves into a fast paced butt kicking.  You’d think the X-Men would be more prepared.  Rookie mistake.

The cliffhanger has a loved character going a little over the edge and after so many pages, so little has happened!  For a three part series, one is left to wonder if there are sufficient levels to save the princess!

Hope is back, she has the weight of mutant kind upon her shoulders.  That’s no small ask for a young lady, let alone the trauma associated with with a fractured childhood spent further down the time stream.  What could turn into a whine fest from Hope comes across as genuine despair at their ongoing battle; their return was to bring peace, at least that is what Hope was lead to believe.

The action sequences are mature though you could wonder if they will grow tiresome.  The story is important and needs to be told with significant gravity.  So far, so good. -Bretzke

X-Men: Second Coming #1

The story is well driven but the beautifully dynamic art becomes close to indecipherable during the moments when it needs to speak most clearly.  With such buildup, this is only going in one direction; When spoiled brats get their way, it never ends well.  And so with Selene, were she to get her way and Godhood… you join the dots. -Bretzke

X-Force #24

The artistic endeavour in this title has been beyond excellent for it’s duration, however perhaps the envelope has been pushed a bit too far.  Some of the scenes are muddled and while this makes the book no less of a page turner, it is more often than not so you can work out what’s going on, not to enjoy the story.  Enjoyable, just take your time with this one, don’t be afraid to re-read. -Bretzke

X-Force #22

A collection of stories as to how Selene gathers her army.  Been seeing a few of these from Marvel (Collections of half stories) and on the whole they hold up, this one like wise.  The detractor here is that each time you get into a story, it ends.  Towards the end of the issue you can see the pattern and anticipate the conclusion.  Don’t dine near Selene, you’ll see why. -Bretzke.

Necrosha: The Gathering (One Shot)

This feels like every X-Men story that couldn’t fill a book.  Don’t let that turn you off, each is an interesting and poignant glimpse into Utopia (The place, not the state of being) and how tricky running an internationally recognized free state can be.  Magneto guides children (not a joke), Wolverine and Nightcrawler get philosophical  and Johnny saves the day (In a quite literal sense).  Enjoy this for what it is, a peek behind the curtains of the amazing astonishing X-Men. -Bretzke

Nation X #1

The most visually stunning comic of 2009.  Keep up, strap in and hang on! -Bretzke

X-Force #21

This is a fun romp which turns dark quickly. There’s light at the end of the tunnel but some would argue the walk wasn’t worth the view. The artwork is pedestrian at times but not out of touch with what standards have already been set. Enjoyable, but don’t stretch. -Bretzke

Runaways #10