Inglorious X-Force #9: A Course Correction

Issue #9 of Inglorious X-Force follows the perspective of Hellverine, letting the reader take a look into the mind of the demon-possessed antihero. Seeley explores the internal turmoil inside Hellverine: his disregard for the mutant-human struggle and the conflict with the demon Bagra-Ghul. Interestingly, Seeley recontextualizes Hellverine: Akhiro was, for the longest time, an antagonist of Wolverine and the X-Men; now he’s possessed by a demon, and he fights for something greater than himself. There’s this underlying tension that Akhiro doesn’t like his current state, but he’s afraid to revert to his previous one.

While Hellverine is the standout of the issue, every character is given their time to shine, particularly the characters introduced in the previous issue. Warpath, Shatterstar, Rictor, and Pug-Smasher are all given their time to shine. Rather than feeling forced, their banter reads like a conversation between people who have known each other for years. Pug-Smasher’s brawl with Archangel is genuinely funny, with Seeley using both characters’ exaggerated traits as the comedic backbone of their interaction. Boom-Boom acts as the heart of the team and the point of conflict for Archangel and Hellverine. For a character neglected by Marvel for several years, Boom-Boom gets her time to shine in this issue, in combat and as a character.

Michael Sta. Maria’s art in this comic is exceptional, supported by strong colorwork from Romulo Fajardo Jr. The comic opens with a perspective shot of Hellverine. Since his introduction in 2024, the character hasn’t looked this intimidating. The fights between the new X-Force team and the old X-Force members are drawn in a visually engaging style. Panels blend over each other, ditching the typical rectangle and employing dynamic forms to highlight the motion of combat.