Credits: Written by Fabian Nicieza, pencilled by Greg Capullo, inked by Harry Candelario and edited by Bob Harass.
Plot: Following the events of the X-Cutioner’s son, the members of X-Force (former New Mutants Sam ‘Cannonball’ Guthrie and Roberto ‘Sunspot’ Dacosta, former X-Terminators Tabitha ‘Boom Boom’ Smith and Julio Esteban Rictor, former hellion James ‘Warpath’ Proudstar, and later additions Maria ‘Feral’ Callasantos, Theresa ‘Siryn’ Roarke and Shatterstar) are under house arrest at the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, under the watch of Professor Charles Xavier and Ororo ‘Storm’ Munroe. Boom Boom (trying to take her mind off her broken jaw being wired shut) is taking advantage by checking out all the Shi’Ar technology under the school, finding a clothes synthesizer and starts redesigning X-Force uniforms. In walks international rock-star, intergalactic rock-star and thief Lila Chaney (whose presence in this issue NOONE EVER EXPLAINS AT ALL!!!!) comes in to talk about Sam, the one thing they have in common and Lila’s ex. She points out that the only thing they have is history and if she wants Sam to go for it. Outside Roberto is struggling with all the changes he’s gone through, lies and experimentation and discusses it with his old PE teacher Stevie Hunter. It’s nice that a writer remembered she’s an actual character that can feature in X-titles. He points out that he doesn’t know what he’s going to do.
Elsewhere Shatterstar, Feral and Rictor train in the Danger Room, something they’ve never had the chance to do before. In the control room, Beast watches them, being more concerned with the world they are living in and what it has done to these kids. In yet another area of the school, Charles is talking with Siryn about how the team has suffered and felt dead, just like her after the Shadow King, but now they are becoming alive again and the possibilities are endless.
Charles and Storm meet with Sam, who after three weeks of being held on the premises without any kind of official charge wants to know what’s going to happen with them. Is X-Force being charged? What have they done that the X-Men haven’t? Charles says it’s more a moral issue and in response, Sam points out Charles’ history with the New Mutants. How he formed them, then left them in the hands of Magneto, let me repeat that part of the show MAGNETO!!. So yes they followed Cable, but now they can lead themselves.
Bit of subplot time, in Boston, Copycat (a woman known as Vanessa who posed as Domino for several months) is struggling to become herself again, worrying her room-mate. In another plot GW Bridge is called to answer for S.H.I.E.L.D.’s involvement in the Weapon P.R,I,M,E, debacle by Henry Peter Gyrich, the Walter Peck of the Marvel Universe (that description is copyright of Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men.) This bollicking causes him to rage quit.
The members of X-Force get new uniforms, almost all improvements across the board and Cannonball realises that maybe it isn’t the X-Men who get the make the call as to what they do next. He then goes to see Sunspot, his best friend and the only person not already with a new uniform and invites him back, informing him that they’re off to tell the professor about their decision.
X-Force confronts Charles in his office and declare that they are leaving. Charles points out the difference in their philosophies, the open hand and the closed fist. Cannonball shows Charles that whilst they closed fist can do damage as Cable taught them, it can also protect. The open hand is also one that can harm. Charles concedes that they have the right to make their own decisions and with Lila Chaney’s teleportation rift opening, prepare to leave. Not one to leave the opportunity of a passive aggressive remark unused, Charles points out the theft of data, but refuses to inform Sam who did it, telling him to be careful as he walks this path. X-Force disappear, no one outside the team, knows where they go.
Notes: It is something of a tradition for X-Men to have their point where they’ve had enough of Charles Xavier’s s**t. This is Sam Guthries “Professor Xavier is a Jerk!” moment and it is a close second favourite of mine. The first is Cyclops after learning that Charles enslaved the AI that ran the Danger Room. “It’s not that simple!” and Cyclops’ reply is “You’re the man who taught me it was!” But this, this was laid out so much better. Sam was the most well behaved of all of Xavier’s students. He never raised his voice, did as he was told and was by all accounts the best kid. Being pushed to this point, to where he gives his old teacher a talking to, this is an important moment and by the end of it, you’re on Sam’s side as he takes the reins of the team and they stop being students and start being their own people. This starts the second era of X-Force and it was an exciting time.
Verdict: Writing 5 out of 5 – Much like Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza tells a good aftermath story. This is a handful of conversations and a fashion show and you’re never bored. The conversation where Sam berates Charles over his feckless stewardship over the New Mutants, comparing it to driving shows how Fabian learned from Claremont, but has his own skills to add. The relative comparison of hurt/harm that X-Force does as opposed to X-Men is an excellent point that comes close to shattering the suspension of disbelief, but never quite does.
Art: 4 out of 5 – Greg Capullo an excellent run with brand new costume designs that are well done and many are massive improvements. Everyone is on model and despite little actually happening, doesn’t get boring. The only thing that takes that final one off the score is that Capullo is great at action and he isn’t given that much to do and so we don’t get the full benefit of his artistic skils.
Overall: 9 out of 5 – This issue showcases how to do aftermath issues and acts as a denouement to X-Cutioner’s song as well as a springboard for the next stage of the series and I am so glad that I added the aftermath issues to the docket.
Next Time: The final nail in the saga of the Scarlet Spider.
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