X-Force # Review / Spoilers: Tabby's Tale

[Askani's Flame]

It's review and spoiler time. MAJOR SPOILER:


This issue is a snoozefest, even with the battle scenes. Seriously, if it weren't for Tabby this issue could have been the worst.

So from the preview, we see that Nate's in shackles and so are his powers. Which means his TO virus is going crazy. Like full symbiote looking. he's fully enveloped sans like 50% his face. He's chatting with Aliya and those TO tentacles are going through the wall to her cell.

We move to the local medieval Renaissance Faire known as Ebonshire where X-Force has arrived. They split up and go question the locals about Nate. Tabitha really shines here, and I'll quote it all for it's glory:
"Any of you guys see a teen with a scar on his eye and chip on his shoulder? He's probably carrying about a hundred comically large guns. Kinda kid that makes you ask--what's he overcompensating for?"

Robed guy replies and asks if she's there to greet Mother Askani:

"I've already met her. Like a bunch."

Scene continues where everyone extols the virtues and heroism of Nate saving them until Blaquesmith comes out charging. He thins Dom and crew are in league with Strfye. They fight, until Dom realizes this Blaquesmith doesn't know her and gets the upper hand. She manages to convince him they aren't spies...

Meanwhile the MLA is outside the camp. They've reported to Stryfe they are going to attack but X-Force has also arrived.

Dom and Blaquesmith chat some more when he realizes they are X-Men. And if they are there then Nate succeeded in saving the timeline, but if he isn't with them...

cue attack my MLA and New Canaanite forces.

Strfye goes to visit his brother to give a typical villain speech. you know the one, where the villain has a hero locked up and about to die and says like "your friends are here but they won't rescue you because they are going to die" and then it never happens? Yes, that one. But we don't see the end part, just the alien metal tentacled Nate saying "What friends".

Back at the 'Shire, things aren't looking hot for X-Force or the Askani. Giant mutant Swamp-Thing/Bane is about to crush Blaquesmith when he reverts into speaking Romanian and has no clue where he is. Sam goes to try and talk the guy down.

Turns out the Krang-Trio are having some difficulty controlling all the MLA and Rachel (who is slumped on her knees). Stryfe tells them to forget about Rachel as she's useless (I mean, is that just Stryfe talking or is the Marvel Office turning to the camera and saying that to us given the way they write her) and focus on his army. Ray's strings are cut and she falls face down on the floor with a "swump".

And with that Swamp-Thing/Bane goes back to "Hulk Smash". Dom says to not kill them as they are being controlled, Shattybuns doesn't care.

End page is Nate once again cocooned up trying to tell Aliya he loves her, but she can't answer as she's been also cocooned by his TO virus things. then comes the splash page for next months cover featuring Rachel.


Maybe it's me, but I feel kinda drained of this book right now. The story has just dragged, while it's good that X-Force are actually featured and doing things, it still feel like we haven't gone anywhere or done anything.

Tabby was the saving grace. Brisson really has her voice down.

I don't like his take on Blaquesmith though. It reads like the typical cranky sensei from a Cartoon Network show. Maybe it's the art too, but that's what I hear form this Blaquesmith.

4/10 for me
I'd get my hopes up for next issue based on the cover alone, but likely Rachel will wake up from her nap and be instantly imprisoned as she's "useless". Cuz she's still mentioned as being a prisoner.

[Snoop Dogg]

please ed you can write all the glob you want just shill for more tabby stuff

[magneticmushroom]

I've defended Dylan Burnett's art here before. Because he's good. He's not right for this book, but he's good. But man, those panels of Aliya were not great.

I actually was okay with the story this time.

And LOL at the RenFaire crack, although it could be some "Village of the McGuffin" in a Final Fantasy just as easily.

[Snoop Dogg]

Deathlok: "I am in this book and I am good at math"

Tabby: "Shuddup! Chatbot! NERD"

[Harpsikord]

... so I'm the only one that thinks Rachel waking up without the Hound brainwashing is going to be the team's eleventh hour save then?

[Askani's Flame]

I've defended Dylan Burnett's art here before. Because he's good. He's not right for this book, but he's good. But man, those panels of Aliya were not great.

I actually was okay with the story this time.

And LOL at the RenFaire crack, although it could be some "Village of the McGuffin" in a Final Fantasy just as easily.

I agree that his artwork is good, but I just don't feel it meets the need of this book. For me at least. It's not a good match, and it kinda affects the story negatively. It makes things feel too cartoony in some ways. But Lordt, Aliya looks like a human Furby with those eyes.

And if it's going to be a village from the FF franchise it has to be the Village of the Mist.

... so I'm the only one that thinks Rachel waking up without the Hound brainwashing is going to be the team's eleventh hour save then?

Maybe. I mean I would love that, as it would give her some level of redemption. But given her track record in this book and in Extermination by Brisson, I don't know that it's plausible (or even believable sadly). She hasn't spoken a word on her own since Extermination 2 other than "Hssss", "Die", "Mutant", and "Ugghhh". Rachel's characterization in the X-books over the past 2 years has been like riding the Tower of Terror: just when you don't think it could drop lower or faster, SURPRISE it does. And just when you think it's over, it drops again.

[Vaishakh]

... so I'm the only one that thinks Rachel waking up without the Hound brainwashing is going to be the team's eleventh hour save then?

We know that Stryfe has her under his control in last chapter. I think she might end up losing her memories and gets manipulated by Stryfe to fight by his side

[Askani's Flame]

We know that Stryfe has her under his control in last chapter. I think she might end up losing her memories and gets manipulated by Stryfe to fight by his side

Well it's interesting as Stryfe doesn't view Rachel as a threat (I mean who does at this point, a fire hydrant?). So if thinks she's useless and tossed her aside in issue 8, why is she essential in the solicit for Strfye in 10? Answer: she's not essential. It's likely trying to entice readers but not give away the plot surprise from 9. She'll likely wake up on the last page and be "back" and then join the fray in the last book. MAYBE.......