X-Force Annual #1: All Around the World It’s the Same Song…

Even though we’re at the beginning the new Destiny of X, this annual continues to play with lingering plot threads from the previous era, specifically with X-Force and their dealings with ORCHIS, which reminded me of the classic Uncanny X-Men story where they’re being held captive by a Doombot, and their capabilities are being tested. It’s a pretty standard story where this machiavellian organization is using all of their resources in the name of crushing the X-Men, and the burgeoning mutant nation. 

Nadia Shammas is the guest writer here, and she’s got a pretty good grasp on the cast, especially Beast, whose been going down this dark path for over a decade, and I’m not sure when he’s going to reach a point where the character has to face some of the more unscrupulous decisions he’s taken over the years. It’s becoming quite apparent there’s to be a reckoning coming, and when that happens, the mutant world will be reeling from the fallout. 

X-Force’s role as this shadow cabinet of wetworks for the Krakoan era hasn’t always worked, but Shammas’ work here stays pretty true with Percy’s ongoing narrative that he’s cultivated since launching the book. Especially with Beast and Emma’s heart to heart setting up a future conflict that could shake all of Krakoa, which has to be the most entertaining aspect of the current volume of X-Force. There’s been a real lack of diversifying who it is that X-Force has been going up against, and the issue hasn’t changed in this issue. The issue’s selling point all boils down to what Beast is doing, and what’s the endgame for this chess game he’s playing all in the name of mutant security. 

The story is being dubbed as a brand new era for the team, but it feels like it’s just more of the same. Percy’s work with these differing factions seems to be locked in this perpetual Cold War, moving slowly with each new move. The pacing of this title has been a real hindrance, with lackluster villains for the most part. I could deal with the glacial pace had the antagonists been slightly more memorable or compelling.

Rafael Pimental is on art duties, and it’s quite serviceable, but it’s a tad on the more… whimsical side of cape comics. This book is supposed to be full of subterfuge, but Pimental’s style seems better suited to a light hearted Spider-Man story, or something that’s not quite so dour, which has been the status of this book since launching. I hope to see him on a book that’s better suited to his strengths.