Writer: Ben Percy

Art: Joshua Cassara, Dustin Weaver, Dean White, VC’s Joe Caramagna, and Tom Muller

Release Date: November 6th, 2019

Price: $4.99

X-Force is the CIA of the mutant world. In this week’s opening X-FORCE #1 by Ben Percy, readers are introduced to this unique squad-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. However, we’re not there…yet. Let’s see how this elite division works within the confines of mutant and human jurisdiction.

If you’ve been searching for your X-book that embodies relentless, high-speed action, suspense, thrills, and extreme violence, then X-FORCE is your X-book. Ben Percy stormed the castle with everything he had in this opening issue and piled on the fierce tactical force that drives comic fans to this medium each and every week. Percy literally flies at fans with guns blazing and gives them more than they can handle. Just wait until you see the epic cliffhanger! This reviewer doesn’t think fans will be able to wait an entire month to see what happens next!

Percy reveals multiple plot threads and angles that this series will grab onto and plow this story forward. From Domino to Colossus, Wolverine and Beast, and guest appearances from other X-teams, this book feels like it will already be the book comic fans can hang their hat on for explosive excitement, tantalizing emotion, and a bombardment of high octane energy that will fuel readers while showing the underbelly and disgust this world has for change, as well as what they don’t understand. Percy hits at the roots of what has propelled the X-Men forward since day one and it’s felt like it’s been like an absent father to this franchise in these past few months.

Moreover, this reviewer admired Percy’s take on Black Tom Cassidy, as well as Colossus. Furthermore, Percy appeared to set the stage well for further character development amongst the core group of this team leading off his opener with a direct, strong, and vicious approach. Additionally, this reviewer loved the climactic battle, how it was orchestrated, who was involved, and the impactful cliffhanger that culminated Percy’s inaugural tale. Readers will undoubtedly become fully ensnared throughout this entire issue.

Now, as sensational as Percy’s story was, the writing was not the only aspect of the issue worth focusing on. Joshua Cassara’s art appeared very rough and gritty. Now, the characters were still recognizable however the darker hues by Dean White drowned out the detail within many of the panels. This reviewer completely understands that the darker complexion choice amplified the tone of the issue. However, the inks and color choices masked some of the details that this reviewer looks forward to in epic comic melees. Regardless of what this reviewer was looking for out of the art, Cassara still developed art that satisfied this critic and grabbed my attention from the opening pages. This issue couldn’t have been so dynamic without Cassara and White’s contributions. Their earthy, aggressive, lively, and naturally rich tone definitely portrayed a somber mood that this reviewer could sense throughout the narrative. Most fans will be overly pleased with Cassara and White’s work. What this reviewer may not see as the strength of this comic, this critic can totally see it be a firm foundation to many other comic devotees.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Percy’s opener wasn’t filled with heavy dialogue and raised the stakes of ALL the X-books only after one issue. His story is extremely well-paced, realistic, and sets the rules and players in line for the story moving ahead. Percy drops fans into the narrative quickly and makes them feel apart of a story that feels important and plausible. What more could an X-Men or X-Force fan ask for? Moreover, if there was an X-book to put on your list and you had to choose just one, this needs to be that book. It is definitely one of, if not thee, best X-book released to date. Add this to your pull list immediately!

9.4/10