Review: X-Force #5

The Archangel of Death is back, and somebody‘s going to have hell to pay for robbing him of his flesh and blood wings! Using the alien enhanced blood from Angel’s feathered wings, the Reverend Matthew Riseman has made an army of winged warriors called the Choir to help carry out his plan of mutant eradication. But first, the Reverend must deal with the small problem of the recently reactivated Bastion who is using the body of the Purifier’s former leader and Riseman‘s mentor, William Stryker, to carry out his own plans for mutant extermination! As X-Force continues their hunt for the Purifiers, will they be caught in the middle of the extremists groups own civil war? The Angels and Demons arc is racing to it’s bloody conclusion in part 5 of this hot new series from New X-Men scribes Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost and Marvel Young Guns artist Clayton Crain!

When I first heard the premise of this new book, I thought it sounded like a fantastic idea! I was really excited about the more covert, militaristic aspects of the X-team that would be featured. I thought the first three issues of the series were fantastic. Kyle and Yost were doing an excellent job of keeping me engaged in the story and the big reveals at the end of each issue were leaving me wondering what was going to happen next and racing to my LCS to pick up the next issue. However, with the last two issues I feel this series has taken a turn to focusing more on the team trying to rescue and take care of each other and less about the mission they were assigned, which was what I was excited about to begin with. After the big reveal of some of the most prolific mutant killers from the X-Men’s past at the end of issue three, I thought things would really be heating up. But other than a very brief appearance by William Stryker in this issue, we haven’t heard a beep from the mutant killers since. Other than the team fighting among themselves, I feel that the action that was so prevalent in the first couple of issues has been missing. Regarding the series’ art, I feel Clayton Crain started the book strong but believe he has been losing steam with each issue since. While I really liked the new look he has given Archangel, I felt as if certain parts of this issue were rushed and left partially uncompleted. While this issue may not have been everything I’ve been hoping for from this series, I’m definitely not ready to give up on this book yet. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this first arc is going to end with a huge bang and set us up for some truly excellent stories to come!

WRITERS: CRAIG KYLE & CHRISTOPHER YOST
ARTIST: CLAYTON CRAIN
LETTERER: VC'S CORY PETIT
EDITOR: JOHN BARBER
Parental Advisory …$2.99

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Sold Out Issues of X-Force Return With A Vengeance

You wanted it, now you’ve got it! After an overwhelming demand for the sold out issues of X-Force #1-3, Marvel is proud to announce X-Force: Legacy of Vengeance, collecting the first three chapters of this red hot storyline! From the phenomenal writing duo of Christopher Yost and Craig Kyle (New X-Men), featuring, absolutely stunning art by rising star artist Clayton Crain, this X-Men; Divided We Stand tie-in reveals the future of mutantkind! Following the Earth-shattering events of the smash hit Messiah CompleX, Cyclops has put together a brand-new dark-ops team that only he and members Wolverine, X-23, Warpath and Rahne know about. There are lines that the X-Men have sworn never to cross, but the X-Men are no more and some enemies need to be dealt with - permanently. This book has it all: Purifiers, the classic X-villain Bastion, and action that only a team led by Wolverine can bring. All this is wrapped in a new vibrant X-Force cover that you’ll need to see to believe!

Francis Davis of FractalMatter.com says “X-Force is a compelling must read.” and Kevin Powers of Comicsbulletin.com says “Anyone who likes mutants, military operations, Wolverine-esque violence and pure bad-assery is sure to love this title, because you get all of that rolled into one.”

The events in Messiah CompleX shook the X-Men to their core and this special one-shot is a perfect look into how the all-new, all-different X-Force take on their first mission — but will they survive the X-perience? Don’t miss your chance to catch up on these sold-out issues in X-Force: Legacy of Vengeance!

X-FORCE: LEGACY OF VENGEANCE (MAR088081)
Written by CRAIG KYLE & CHRIS YOST
Penciled by CLAYTON CRAIN
Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
Rated T+…$4.99
FOC—5/08/08, On-Sale—5/28/08

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Preview: X-Force #3

X-Force Takes No Prisoners in The War Against The Purifiers!

The red-hot, sold-out hottest X-launch of the year continues as Wolverine’s new team searches for the kidnapped Wolfsbane and continues their merciless attacks on Purifier bases till they find her! Enter X-Force #3, from the fan-favorite writing team of Christopher Yost & Craig Kyle, with rising star artist Clayton Crain, ratchet the action up to 11. Just what does the return of New Mutants foe Magus mean for X-Force? As Matthew Riseman’s plan comes into full effect, it seems he’s gathered just what — or WHO — he needs…but what’s his endgame? And just how does S.H.I.E.L.D. figure into all this? An X-Men: Divided We Stand tie-in, X-Force helps set the stage for the future of mutantkind in a world without X-Men!

“I love where this series is going,” said Kevin Powers of ComicsBulletin.Com. “Clayton Crain’s dark style of painted artwork is absolutely appropriate for this title.”

Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on X-Force and all Divided We Stand tie-ins, as they continue to sell out rapidly! X-Force is on the trail of the Purifiers…but are they too late? Find out in X-Force #3!

X-FORCE #3 (FEB082266)
X-FORCE #3 BLOODY VARIANT (JAN088014)
Written by CHRISTOPHER YOST & CRAIG KYLE
Pencils & Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
Parental Advisory …$2.99
FOC—4/3/08, On-Sale—4/23/08

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Preview: X-Force #2

X-Force To Finish Off The Purifiers

The all-new X-Force has another reason to rip apart the Purifiers after Matthew Risman’s shocking actions! X-Force #2 starts with the newly re-formed X-Force team surrounded by the Purifiers and one of the X-Men’s most feared foes — Bastion! A Divided We Stand tie-in, X-Force #2 comes straight from the phenomenal writing duo of Christopher Yost and Craig Kyle (New X-Men) and includes absolutely stunning art by rising star artist Clayton Crain. This issue, in addition to X-Force #3-4, is also available with a bloody variant cover so intense we can’t even preview it!

Early reviews are in and everyone is raving about X-Force! Francis Davis of FractalMatter.com says, “X-Force is a compelling must read.” and Kevin Powers of Comicsbulletin.com says, “Anyone who likes mutants, military operations, Wolverine-esque violence and pure bad-assery is sure to love this title, because you get all of that rolled into one.”

Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on X-Force and all X-Men: Divided We Stand tie-ins, as the future of mutants in the Marvel universe is revealed and as critics continue to hail the current direction of the X-titles! Now that Risman has resorted to killing humans, there’s no telling how far he’ll go to destroy mutantkind and how does Bastion play into his plan to wipe out mutants? Find out the answers to these questions and more in the high-octane, action packed X-Force #2… along with the return of one of the X-Men’s deadliest foes!

X-FORCE #2 (JAN082186)
X-FORCE #2 BLOODY VARIANT (JAN088013)
Written by CHRISTOPHER YOST & CRAIG KYLE
Pencils & Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
Parental Advisory …$2.99
FOC—2/14/08, On-Sale—3/5/08

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Preview: X-Force #1

The All New, All Different X-Force Battle The Purifiers!

In the wake of Messiah CompleX, the X-Men are no more, but some threats to mutantkind must be dealt with permanently by the new mutant strike force of Wolverine, X-23, Warpath and Wolfsbane! The hotly anticipated X-Force #1, from the acclaimed writing duo of Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost and rising star artist Clayton Crain, brings Cyclops’ mutant black ops team into conflict against the mutant-hating Purifiers… and there are deadly consequences! The all-new X-Force must accept the ramifications of their mission that’s so secret not even the most trusted members of the X-Men can ever learn about it! All this wrapped up in a regular cover by Crain, a “bloody” variant and another variant by superstar artist Travis Charest!

“This series is packed full of action and intrigue,” says series editor John Barber, “If you’ve liked Messiah CompleX, you’ll love X-Force. These are the characters that aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, or to take the fight to the bad guys. And when the bad guys are the Purifiers assembling a truly terrifying group of the worst villains mutantkind has ever faced, no quarter will be asked and none given!”

Perfect for readers new and old, X-Force #1 launches a dangerous new era for mutantkind, featuring the shocking return of a fan-favorite X-villain! Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on this new series spinning out of the red-hot Messiah CompleX storyline and bringing together some of Marvel’s most popular mutants in a Divided We Stand tie-in!

It’s an all-new, all-different X-Force — and not everyone may survive the x-perience of X-Force #1!

X-FORCE #1 (DEC072221)
X-FORCE #1 BLOODY VARIANT (DEC072222)
X-FORCE #1 CHAREST VARIANT (DEC072223)
Written by CRAIG KYLE & CHRISTOPHER YOST
Art and Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
Variant Cover by TRAVIS CHAREST
Parental Advisory ...$2.99
FOC—1/17/08, On-Sale—2/6/08

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