X-Force #24: The Pen Is Mightier Than the Cerebro Sword

[superboyprime]

"The moral quagmire of X-Force is central to my time on the series. I don't want any answers to be easy, and I want people to be upset. They should be. If you're a close reader, you've witnessed Beast transforming physically not just emotionally. He's bloated with hubris." - Benjamin Percy

Comments

[lordultimus]

Oh for fuck's sake.

[blues32]

Jeez, Hank...is this what happens when there's no longer a Danger Room to work out in?

[cricharddavies]

"See, I meant to do that. All the stuff I said earlier was just setting the stage, I don't approve of any of this at alllllllll!"

[silverhammerman]

If you're referring to Percy condemning X-Force in his quote up top, the impression I've gotten from the start is that that was part of what he was doing. I mean, at least various characters acknowledge Beast using his prerogative from the Quiet Council to do incredibly shady shit. Any comeuppance has been slow coming, but at least the moral quandaries get acknowledged and discussed by the characters, who actually get to have disagreements.

I think it could be argued that X-Force is one of the less "bad things are good when we do them" books to come out of this era.

[cricharddavies]

Uh-huh, and that's why he said "You have to have a bastard, you have to have somebody willing to do the dark deeds behind the scenes in order for a nation to prosper. We've certainly seen that in our own country."

[silverhammerman]

Certainly I don't agree with Percy there, but I give credit for at least acknowledging that Beast is a bastard. The politics of the line at large is the epitome of "gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss" in that the idea of something being problematic isn't even entertained.

[phantomfo]

Am I the only one who finds it weird that death threats are still considered to be stakes on Krakoa? "Beast, don't kill me! I forgot to set my DVR and might miss my shows!"

[shakalooloo]

Well, I mean, it'll still HURT.

[mindsweeper]

That is what I was going to say. Being murdered is still a bad experience. I wouldn't be okay with someone physically attacking me just because I'll recover from it.

Not that you'll remember it. The fact that you lose some memories between your last backup and now is something I would find troubling. Plus, there's always that chance you won't come back any time soon, although likely not for Black Tom who's crucial to Krakoa.

[tinygaylaura]

Plus there's always the chance that something could go wrong with the resurrection process while you're waiting to be brought back. No system is 100% foolproof or safe. What if the earth suffered some kind of worldwide EMP like in Dark Ages? Any mutants who died and hadn't been brought back before that wouldn't be able to brought back, at least not with the resurrection protocols method

[beyondthefringe]

All I know about Piotr's new girlfriend is that her name is... Kayla? And she controls... water? And anyway, he murdered her while under mind control.
We have no emotional connection to her, no reason to care about her, and she's dead as part of his story.

Yay for fridging, however temporary.

[wizardru]

Why do some writers so dislike the characters they've chosen to write?

[tinygaylaura]

Moira MacTaggart: We need someone on the Quiet Council we can absolutely trust

Charles: I've got it

Why not Colossus?

Good to see that they're making decisions as well as they usually do

Also does the mutant traitor working with Mikhail here have the power to make anything he writes come true?

[donnblake]

I'm not sure exactly where the line is between his artistic sensibilities and limitations on his powers, but the vibe I'm getting is that he can directly control one person, and to some degree control of influence events surrounding those people.

[tinygaylaura]

Oh no I got that but I just wasn't sure if Colossus was being controlled by some kind of mind control device/infection here or if all the guy needs is a pen and paper for him to be able to do this 0_0

[shakalooloo]

That text page mentions that it is possible 'through his brother', so presumably he needs as close a connection as that to form a controlling bond over someone's immediate environment, as long as it packs Elan-approved dramatic rhythm.

[tinygaylaura]

I mean it makes as much sense as any other superpower in the Marvel universe so I'll allow it

[donnblake]

He could team up with that guy who makes whatever he reads come true and accidentally created Matt Murdock's imaginary brother.

[tinygaylaura]

I see some problems arising from this

[donnblake]

Nothing could possibly, go wrong.

[tinygaylaura]

Keep them away from Fox News

[laughing_tree]

That's an entirely different abomination named Murdock.

[tinygaylaura]

I see what you did there :)

[agharta75]

Or The Writer from Suicide Squad.

[cygnia]

That's who this guy reminded me of too.

[tinygaylaura]

I wonder if that's where they got the idea

[panthyr]

Hope they got electricity for that fridge in the Savage Land.

[agent8]

the only 2 X-books I am currently buying are Marauders and New Mutants, even though that means I'm missing a lot of the overarching story-arch.

Based on the little snippets I see posted here and reviews/reactions that I've read here and elsewhere (and at the risk of tooting my own horn) I think I've made a wise decision.

[laughing_tree]

Way of X and SWORD are both great.

[tinygaylaura]

Hellions is also good tho it can be a heavy read because behind all the quips and black comedy its a very sad tale about very sad people

Inferno has been great so far but its not over yet so its entirely possble the ending will be bad this is Marvel after all

X Factor was a fun series but it suffered at the end from having to wrap everything up very fast because Marvel is a company that believes the second a series dips below a certain number in sales figures that means "Okay you get between 2 and zero issues to wrap everything up then it is over"

[mindsweeper]

X-Force is the first book I dropped and I've never regretted it.

I think Hellions is the best X-book going. I do like New Mutants. X-Men isn't fresh but I'm liking it well enough. Not a huge fan of Marauders but I keep buying it.

Excalibur needs help and I've not bought the last few issues.

Sword has not worked out like I hoped from the start. I still read it but between the crossovers and this switch to Arakko, it feels directionless and random.

[alliterator]

Hellions and SWORD are also amazing. X-Men is fun. X-Force is...well, it's X-Force. Ever since it became the knifey murder squad, you know what you're getting. Wolverine, however, is better than it has any right to be.

[deh_tommy]

Hellions and New Mutants are probably the only book’s right now I actually like. I’m enjoying adjectiveless X-Men so far, but I’m scared to go on because Gerry Duggan’s other Krakoan stuff that wasn’t Cable bothers the heck out of me.

[numeronone]

Was there a reason she was purple or was that a weird light reflection?

Also, oh wow, the newest member of the Quiet Council is a Russian asset. Yay...

[tinygaylaura]

Turns out Charles "Being creepy and self loathing is my bread and butter" Xavier and his annoying side piece aren't great people to be looking after mutantinds future who woulda thunk it

[sabertoothlotus]

I'm pretty sure her purple skin is just a mutant thing. Wouldn't be the first one: see Nightcrawler, Blink, Maggot, Jazz (whose ONLY mutant power was having blue skin)... it's a fairly common side-effect.

[blues32]

Nightcrawler is a different story. His dad is a demon. I'm sure he'd be red and furry if it wasn't for his mother.

And there's got to be more to Jazz than "having blue skin". Why does she have blue skin? What is her x-gene doing to cause it? Can't people turn blue if they consume pills with silver in it? Is her body producing silver?

[mastermahan]

So when Beast accused Piotr of being a Russian asset without any evidence, he was right?!

Son of a bitch. He's going to be so smug about this.

[tinygaylaura]

"Horrible. The worst person you know just turned out to be right about something"

[dan_ingram]

Is D-bag Hank really growth when he's been that way since Bendis?

[tinygaylaura]

And even if he is is it growth anyone wants -_-;