Tag Archives: inglorious x-force

Mini Reviews: Talespin #1, Spider-Man/Hulk: Fire and Brimstone #1, American Caper #10, Shellshock #1, Inglorious X-Force #8

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Talespin #1

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Talespin #1 (Dynamite) – Amanda Deibert and Carlo Lauro revive the 90s classic in suitably high-flying fashion in Talespin #1. Most of the comic’s page count is dedicated to the aptly named Sky Ryder’s acrobatics as she dazzles Baloo and Kit with her derring do in taking down the villainous Karny. Lauro makes the exciting clean and easy to follow while Deibert adds notes of wistfulness, adventure, and economic anxiety in her script. Re-engaging with this world as an adult, Talespin is definitely Baloo from the Jungle Book getting caught up in Casablanca or The Maltese Falcon. This is a solid first chapter with plenty of Disney Afternoon action. Overall: 7.7 Verdict: Buy

Spider-Man/Hulk: Fire and Brimstone #1 (Marvel) – Spirituality and truly groan worthy puns collide in Spider-Man/Hulk: Fire and Brimstone by Kevin Smith, Andrew McElfresh, RB Silva, and Federico Blee. Seriously, the first third of this comic is an overstimulating flurry of puns and hard to follow crowd scene. However, it locates its heart when Hulk finds peace through a happy childhood memory and then wraps up with a big, high concept swing. The idea of a man of science finding faith is quite compelling, and I’ve always enjoyed Smith’s explorations of religions. However, the inconsistent scripting and poorly blocked action make this first issue not quite a home run, but it does finish better than it starts. Overall: 7.0 Verdict: Read

American Caper #10 (Dark Horse) – Dan Houser, Lazlow, David Lapham, and Chris Anderson has gone from a bonkers guilty pleasure satire comic to just bonkers. Houser and Lazlow continue to pile subplot on subplot including a digression featuring a Kanye parody without tying them together until the very end with some quick violence. Lapham and Anderson’s visuals are pure gleeful absurdity, but I think I have to tap out of this story. (Or lack of one.) Overall: 4.5 Verdict: Pass

Shellshock #1 (Oni Press) – The one-shot Shellshock is a modernization of EC Comics’ Shocking SuspenStories focusing on the horrors of war with emotion and a pinch of dark humor. The first story in Shellshock is from John Arcudi and Shawn Martinbrough and is a harrowing look at the effects of airborne toxins on US veterans during the war in Afghanistan. Martinbrough’s art is hellish, and Arcudi scripts his protagonist Rita with empathy and compassion. The next story “Christmas” from Michael Conrad and Albert Monteys tries to find the shared humanity during World War I as the Germans and English celebrate a Christmas truce. Monteys contrasts the starving Germans and well-fed Englishmen to show how bad the war has gone for them and make the story’s twist hurt that much more while Conrad’s captions are pure anti-war brilliance. Julio Anta and David Lapham’s “Blowback” goes for dark humor over sobering reality as a CIA covert assassination expert tries to weather the family BBQ. The jingoism is turned up to 10, and the absurdity up to 11 in this wild and crazy parable about the perils of trying to outdrink beat cops. Shellshock new stories wrap up with the verbose sci-fi story “World of Wars” by Benito Cereno and Tom Fowler. I’m impressed with the sheer amount of alien races Cereno and Fowler were able to create to illustrate how war and conflict will sadly be never ending even going into the future. Shellshock concludes with its best story yet, “Yellow” from the EC all star team of Bill Gaines, Al Feldstein, and Jack Davis. Their portrayal of a strained father/son relationship is heartbreaking, but there’s still room for that pitch black EC humor. Colonel Henderson remorselessly smoking a cigarette will stick with me for quite some time. As the US fights a senseless conflict in Iran, Shellshock hits home with how war has more of an effect on ordinary folks than the people who declare it, but hey, a crockpot CIA wonk having his head explode can be funny sometimes. Overall: 9.1 Verdict: Buy

Inglorious X-Force #8 (Marvel) – With the exception of a confusing timey wimey final scene, Inglorious X-Force #8 is a solid clash of old school and new school storytelling. Tim Seeley and Luca Maresca have a ripped from the headlines bad guy who uses online video platforms and AI algorithms to make mutant youth hopeless and poison humans against them, but we’ve also got Cable, Boom Boom, and X-Force blowing shit up. This series is more interesting as a black ops team trying to stop mutant threats in extralegal ways and brushing up against even more extreme groups, but the Cable/time travel of it all kind of screws it up. However, the series has enough goodwill and flashy visuals that I’ll give this rabbit hole a shot and maybe re-read Cable’s Wikipedia entry this weekend. Overall: 7.8 Verdict: Buy

Preview: Inglorious X-Force #7

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Inglorious X-Force #7

(W) Tim Seeley (A) Michael Sta. Maria

TEAMWORK MAKES THE NIGHTMARES WORK! CABLE and co. pay the price for a risky move against the MUTANT LIBERATION FRONT, while DOMINO’s unlucky memory loss sends her on a new mission. But could these two clues share more than meets the eye?

Inglorious X-Force #7

Exclusive Preview: Inglorious X-Force #6

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Inglorious X-Force #6

(W) Tim Seeley (A) Michael Sta. Maria
(C) Romulo Fajardo Jr. (L) Joe Caramagna
(CA) R. B. Silva and David Curiel (VCA) ACO, Gerardo Sandoval and Erick Arciniega, Luciano Vecchio, Bjorn Barends

THE MUTANT LIBERATION FRONT! CABLE, ARCHANGEL, MS. MARVEL, BOOM-BOOM and HELLVERINE bring the fight to the MUTANT LIBERATION FRONT. The new face of the MLF is KALI… but it’s their deep-seated plans that will put X-FORCE on the back foot!

Inglorious X-Force #6

Marvel’s Pride Variant Covers Return in June. Get a Look at What’s Coming to Shelves

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Marvel’s Pride Variant Covers return in June. This year’s collection consists of five stunning covers of LGBTQIA+ Marvel characters drawn by Luciano Vecchio in his signature character spotlight variant cover style.

Here are the five characters featured this year:

  • Felicia Hardy, A.K.A. BLACK CAT, Marvel’s slyest and most skilled super-thief, currently starring in an acclaimed solo run by G. Willow Wilson and Gleb Melnikov.
  • Akihiro, the lethal mutant warrior and son of Wolverine, now bonded with the Spirit of Vengeance and raising hell in Inglorious X-Force by Tim Seeley and Michael Sta. Maria as HELLVERINE.
  • HELA, the Asgardian goddess of death who—after seizing Knull’s throne and building a fearsome symbiote army—now headlines Queen in Black, this summer’s epic crossover event from Al Ewing and Iban Coello. 
  • Bobby Drake, A.K.A. ICEMAN, founding X-Man and Omega-level mutant, currently using his unmatched experience and power to guide mutantkind in X-Men United by Eve L. Ewing and Tiago Palma.
  • KITTY PRYDE, one of the X-Men’s most dedicated leaders, who also stars in X-Men United as headmistress of Emma Frost’s new Graymatter Lane, the next evolution of mutant education.

Get a look at the covers and don’t miss out when they come to shelves this June!

  • MORTAL THOR #11 PRIDE VARIANT COVER BY LUCIANO VECCHIO – 75960621284201161
  • AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #31 PRIDE VARIANT COVER BY LUCIANO VECCHIO – 75960621001503151
  • INGLORIOUS X-FORCE #6 PRIDE VARIANT COVER BY LUCIANO VECCHIO – 75960621362700641
  • UNCANNY X-MEN #30 PRIDE VARIANT COVER BY LUCIANO VECCHIO – 75960620917003041
  • X-MEN UNITED #4 PRIDE VARIANT COVER BY LUCIANO VECCHIO – 75960621443300441

Mini Reviews: Inglorious X-Force #4, Super Creepshow #2, Batwoman #2, Lobo #2

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Lobo #2

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Inglorious X-Force #4 (Marvel) – Inglorious X-Force is a fun, kick-ass 90s throwback of a comic, especially with Philip Tan taking over art duties. He and writer Tim Seeley throw in a million concepts and lore references, but still have time for genuine bonding and emotions between the team of Cable, Boom Boom, Archangel, Akihiro, and Ms Marvel. I live for the Warren/Tabby/Akihiro love triangle. Inglorious X-Force #4 isn’t essential reading and is more Simonson/Liefeld New Mutants than Ellis/Immonen Nextwave, but finds its footing by the time the final page rolls around. This team is a good hang for sure, but lacking in the bad guy department until that cliffhanger. Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read

Super Creepshow #2 (Image) – Super Creepshow is another solid installment of this superhero/horror anthology featuring a story that will make you lose your lunch, and the return of the legendary Marv Wolfman to writing vampire hunters. Gerry Duggan, Scott Buoncristiano, and Mike Spicer lead off the comic with the disgusting “The Creepshow Two-In-One”. A standard issue Midwest superhero parody (I’m here for the Keg ; I wonder if he likes PBR.) turns into body horror comedy, and Buoncristiano pulls the limits of a “Mature” rating while Duggan pokes at fragile masculinity. This one definitely isn’t for the squeamish. Up next is Wolfman, Michele Rubini, and Miquel Muerto spinning a tale of violent vampires and fraught friendships in “Be Careful What You Wish For”. Wolfman hasn’t lost a step in this kind of story giving it personal (Pun intended) stakes and letting Rubini draw some savage, very unsexy bloodsuckers. This team could write one hell of a Blade series, but an action-packed story of kill or be killed is the next best thing. If you like your superheroes a little sick and twisted, then Super Creepshow is the comic for you. Overall 8.1 Verdict Buy

Batwoman #2 (DC) – The second issue of Batwoman is another case of strong visuals from Dani and Matt Hollingsworth, but below average writing from Greg Rucka. Seriously, this feels like reheated nachos from Elegy with a splash of tzatziki sauce. Rucka and Dani do attempt to raise the stakes with the appearance of Jake Kane, but his fate and Batwoman’s subsequent crash out feels rushed and unearned. It’s a reveal or a sake of a reveal not something honest and true to the character. Overall: 5.8 Verdict: Pass

Lobo #2 (DC) – The fun and a a network minimum amount of “frags” keep flying in Lobo #2 from Skottie Young, Jorge Corona, and Jean-Francois Beaulieu. This issue shows the day-to-day of Lobo as reality TV star, and it’s about as pretty as the truly terrible costume the network makes the Main Man wear. Lobo vs AI network suit is the battle royale we need in the age of layoffs, focus groups, and algorithms. Lobo #2 even pulls off a crossover/guest star moment with a delightful caricature of a famous, but not too famous DC hero. I can’t wait to see what comes out of Lobo’s mouth next or his latest fit. Overall: 8.8 Verdict: Buy

Preview: Inglorious X-Force #3

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Inglorious X-Force #3

(W) Tim Seeley (A) Michael Sta. Maria

BOOM-BOOM BOMBSHELL! BOOM-BOOM is one of CABLE’S most trusted allies… or is she? A mission into a secret safe house reveals a startling seed of doubt… but can X-FORCE close in on their killer… before their own assassin catches up with them?

Inglorious X-Force #3

Inglorious X-Force #2 allows the personalities of the team to shine as it builds upon its mystery

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Inglorious X-Force #2

HELL TO PAY… HELLVERINE must face demonic temptation…and it’s all part of CABLE’S secret agenda! PLUS: Meet the HIDDEN AGENT who’s been STALKING X-Force from the shadows. The mysteries deepen, and the action amplifies as the true mission comes into focus… Inglorious X-Force #2 drops the team into another battle but there’s more going on than just another mission.

X-Force has a special place in my heart when it comes to the X-Men. I remember getting that first issue with excitement and reading the series’ initial run for quite some time. I was young, and it all seemed exciting building off of the New Mutants. There’s been numerous teams over the years, with some takes really entertaining and some not so much. Tim Seeley is in the driver seat here as the writer for what has been an intriguing series so far.

Inglorious X-Force #2 has the team together and another mission they have to undertake. What’s interesting so far about Seeley’s take isn’t the mystery of who the next traitor is, that’s been done before, but the focus on each character and what makes them work.

With an initial sequence of Boom Boom commenting on a video from the new MLF and a fight between Arhcangel and Hellverine, we get the sense this is a team that’s full of personality and attitude, much of which is going to clash and create excitement. But Seeley give us a bit more. Through their mission involving a cult, we get to see the focus on just a handful of characters. By the end of the issue, it’s clear what Cable is doing in assessing each member and figuring out who he can trust, but also what really makes them heroes. Ms. Marvel being the outlier of the group creates an interesting dynamic of a bunch of killers and the one person who sticks to their principles, something Cable seems to appreciate. It’s small details like this that make the comic stand out. Add in something more going on, for instance what Domino is doing, and the series has a lot of moving parts that’ll leave readers guessing.

The art by Michael Sta. Maria is good. With color by Romulo Fajardo Jr. and lettering by Joe Caramagna the comic is an interesting one with the usual big guns, pouches, and mutant powers, but going up against what is an undead horde. There’s something visually that makes it all interesting and feels like something a bit different than the usual battles.

Inglorious X-Force #2 has a lot going on for it with what feels like a few mysteries going on at once. Add in some intriguing personalities and dynamics within the team, mixed in with some fun dialogue, and you have a comic that feels like earlier years of X-Force. It hits the nostalgia while also delivering something a little different.

Story: Tim Seeley Art: Michael Sta. Maria
Color: Romulo Fajardo Jr. Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 8.25 Art: 7.75 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

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