Comics: Cable And X-force #1

Cable is back and has assembled a new X-force (Colossus, Forge, Domino, Dr. Nemesis and Hope) to prevent a disaster (or something), being labeled a terrorist in the process – making him a target for the Uncanny Avengers. You learn all of this in the first few pages of the issue before it flashes back to him creating the team and why. The big problem is that Dennis Hopeless hasn’t plotted the story very well; causing this to feel like half an issue. By issue’s end the team isn’t totally created yet. In fact Colossus literally says one word, if you can even call it that. You get no real sense as to why Cable has decided to form a new team. Basically there’s a vague sense that he’s seen a vision of a disaster. There just isn’t enough story in the 20 pages. Also while I’m fairly familiar with many of the characters I can see all the time-hopping being confusing for new readers.

The new X-force team hardly fills me confidence. Cable has never really interested me. They’ve attempted to modernize his appearance and somehow made him look even more ridiculous. I find Forge is best served as the Q of the X-men rather than a key player. I’m only vaguely aware of Dr. Nemesis and Domino; finding myself thrown by the basic lack of introduction to them. I often find the writing of Hope to be too erratic; one minute she’s a tough soldier, the next a whiny teenager. Hopeless attempts to balance out both characterizations, failing pretty miserably. I’m most familiar with Colossus (being a massive X-men fan) and as I said before he hardly appears.

The artwork is good; looking very realistic although quite often the character’s poses are a little off, as if they have been traced from a photograph. Hope is as inconsistently drawn as she is written; she does occasionally look her age (16) but quite often looks about 30. His best work comes in the opening pages, creating the right atmosphere for the series.

Overall the issue is unpredictable, and not in a good way. I can’t honestly tell whether the next issue can iron out the flaws. I just know I will not be reading it.