0110. X-Force #4, November 1991, scripted by Fabian Nicieza, plotted and penciled by Rob Liefeld

I forgot to mention previously that this issue and the previous Spider-Man one are printed sideways, so it looks like you are looking at comic book centerfolds nonstop to anyone watching you read these. Also, the issues take place after Black Tom and Juggernaut blow up the top floors of one of the Twin Towers. Knowing what happens when something like that happens in real life…there’s obviously no real ramification or reaction to it in this storyline. Of course not! Property damage in comics is nothing!

Nicieza is trying everything in his power to patch up the plot holes. He crams in explanations for Liefeld completely not knowing where characters ended up at the end of the Spider-Man issue. Domino and Siryn show up outside to battle Juggernaut and Nicieza has to toss in lines about them just arriving. Cannonball and Boom Boom have disappeared between issues, leaving Nicieza to explain in a caption that they are helping the victims of the bombing. Yeesh!

This issue also features some biting, hilarious and sly criticism of Rob Liefeld’s plotting. The first page reads:

Caption: “Manhattan. Pick it up as you go along.”
Warpath: “Does anyone have any idea how tired I am of all this gratuitous fighting?
Shatterstar: “No. Do you have any idea how much I’m enjoying it?”
Feral: “Do any of you think I give a fig? SHUT UP AND LET’S HAVE SOME FUN!”

I also enjoy this exchange after Nicieza explains Domino’s sudden appearance at the battle site…

Domino: “What kind of strategy are you guys employing?”
Warpath: “Uhm…strategy—?”
Domino: “Forget I asked.”

The way I read it, Nicieza is doing the best he can and succeeding in making this book read as well as possible. I just love the idea that X-Force is a team of kids full of heart but not brains. They charge at things, yell, make a fuss, get loud, and get pretty beaten. It’s…endearing to see them fail. And I love Juggernaut’s utter frustration at how insufferable they are. “Maybe I’ll break your jaws so you’ll all SHUT UP” he threatens.

But there’s some really bad stuff in here too. Liefeld’s art is the worst it’s been in four issues. He constantly draws everyone standing on tiny, tight hills even though they are all on the streets of Manhattan. He is obviously avoiding drawing feet. Plot-wise, Cable shoots Black Tom Cassidy in the face as he’s hanging from a cable (not depicted by Liefeld) in an elevator shaft…after he surrenders. Cable shoots a guy who has just surrendered in the face. It’s pretty extreme. Nicieza tries to justify it, but it’s too much.

The issue runs 2 pages short, so there’s a double-page-spread pin-up of the team by Mike Mignola. And it’s gorgeous. It’s for one thing, shocking to think of an artist of Mignola’s caliber ever having to do freelance work for Marvel. It’s also shocking to see how dynamic and cool these characters can look when drawn by someone with talent. Shatterstar looks thoroughly dynamic and dashing, Cable looks like the Clint Eastwood of comics and the use of Cannonball just looks cool. It’s a great spread. And out of nowhere too.

Nicieza’s dialogue really saves this issue.

My Score: 8

0102. X-Force #3, October 1991, scripted by Fabian Nicieza, plotted and penciled by Rob Liefeld

Let’s just forget that X-Force #2 happened, because X-Force #3 sure did. Cannonball is totally recovered from his wounds and Feral is back in action with no mention or punishment for gutting a teammate during a training exercise. This issue also brings the X-Force Fun Locomotion back on track with tons of violence and absolutely bonkers quips from Nicieza. I’ve always said that Nicieza is writing the kind of dialogue here he would never use in his own book. Like the fact that this comic clearly states that he is not responsible for the ridiculous plot gives him free reign to make the dialogue as clever and ridiculous as possible. Like, “Hey, you ask me to attach words to this nonsense? Then bam, here you go.” My favorite quip from this issue has to be:

Cable: “We got suits and ties all around and the media are on this like a lisp on Mike Tyson.”

…closely followed by:

Cable: “No killing. Minimal destruction, for a change.”
Domino: “Quite a bit to ask out of this bunch.”

Lines like this make me think Nicieza gets just how ludicrous a lot of this is, and his dialogue lifts the series to a near parody of gratuitous action comics.

My Score: 8.5

0101. X-Force #2, September 1991, scripted by Fabian Nicieza, plotted and penciled by Rob Liefeld

The first issue’s near-logical plot was a fluke, it turns out. The first half of the issue is spent with Weapon X (Garrison Kane, in his first appearance) and G. W. Bridge (in his second appearance) fighting Deadpool (in his so exciting it’s mentioned on the cover second appearance). I respect a book that takes the time and energy to develop a supporting cast, but not at the cost of developing your main characters in their second issue. Also, it helps to vary up the supporting cast. One mercenary with vague ties to Cable is enough, let’s not go overboard.

Then Feral guts Cannonball during a training exercise and Cable wonders if the rest of his team should be as blood-cravey as she is. Wha-say-what?

This issue does have loads of charisma and energy, and the nonsensical nature of it makes it a fun read. The early issues are like being in an abusive relationship. I know these are good characters that have potential, they’re just not themselves right now. But I still love them.

My Score: 7.9

0086. X-Force #1, August 1991, scripted by Fabian Nicieza, plotted and penciled by Rob Liefeld

You know, there isn’t much wrong with this. It’s actually very, very readable which, for a big dumb early ’90s comic, that’s big. It holds together well, the plot is simple but reasonable, and it’s full of characters that are painfully mysterious, but still ones I like. All of the New Mutants issues leading up to this one were horribly rushed feeling and extremely light on plot. This issue seems a lot more thought out. The art is surprisingly more competent (but that’s not saying much). All of Liefeld’s short-comings are here (horrible costume designs, ridiculous hair, lack of feet, stupid guns) but it doesn’t come across as rushed or lazy, as his New Mutants did. Nicieza has the characters down and manages to get fun moments in during a big fight scene. This is fine, this is fun, I enjoy it, and it gets a lot of points for being a nice start to characters that eventually become quite unique and well-rounded. It’s 1991, there are big guns and everyone has a teleportation device. It’s fun.

My Score: 8.7