WEAPON X #6 REVIEW

[Brian Wilkinson]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/weaponx06.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/weaponx06t.jpg" align=left alt="Weapon X #6"></a>Reviewer: Brian E. Wilkinson
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: The Underground prelude

The Director takes the spotlight, but we still can’t see his face… or can we?

Written by: Frank Tieri
Cover by: Georges Jeanty
Pencilled by: Keron Grant and Pop Mahn
Inked by: Norm Rapmund
Colors by: Tom Chu’s Color Dojo
Letters by: Paul Tutrone
Assistant Editors: Mike Raicht & Nova Ren Suma
Editor: Mike Marts
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas

There comes a time in a reviewer’s life, and in every comic reader’s life, when they have to suspend disbelief in order to really get to the meat of a story. Before I mislead you, there isn’t a lot in this issue of Weapon X that I felt I needed to be convinced by, just that writer Frank Tieri is about to make this book a WHOLE lot more complicated (and REALLY fun by the looks of it) and I just hope he can pull it off well.

After the shocking events of last issue, (and the heat that Tieri took from online fans killing of the ex-X-Man, Maggott) we’ve all had a chance to cool down a little and think about what’s going on here. The Weapon X group appear to be a bunch of losers, evil-doers, and villains, and I’m sorry to say that they are. At the top of the pile of filth is the Director, the man behind it all with a grudge the size of a football field against mutants in general.

In other words, this isn’t the kind of daycamp you’d want to send kids to.

This kind of writing works well, though, within the confines of a comic like Weapon X and Tieri is the perfect choice of writer to handle them. From doing grime and grit perfectly in the pages of Wolverine, Tieri manages to make us like the bad guys for their evil sides as well as cheer on the few good guys who appear. It can be confusing, not knowing who to like, but at the same time, it’s engaging material.

And isn’t that the point?

This issue has a lot going for it. For one, the romance brewing between the Director and Aurora finally seems to be going somewhere. The two have very few things in common, but the messy and ugly face thing seems to be a drawing point for them both. This is really the only thing I don’t understand, as Aurora used to be a good guy on the Alpha Flight team. Granted, she’s on record as having gone nuts and been reworked by the Weapon X project, but I just hate to see her go that way. Same thing goes for just about EVERYONE in this cast, and it is the continuing hope for their redemption that keeps me coming back month after month.

The Director takes front and centre for this issue, and gives readers a huge glimpse into the man he could have been, and the twisted mass of evil he’s become. This is also one of the sore points for me in this issue, as the past Tieri gives him makes him infinitely more complicated, and raises more questions that it gives answers to.

For one, it’s revealed that the Director has a wife and kids. Though he’s separated and hasn’t seen his kids in a long time, a message arrives that she’s getting remarried. The Director grabs Sabretooth and heads home for a memorable confrontation.

Now here’s my problem: this guy has/had a beautiful wife and kids. He arrives in the home, has Sabretooth beat up her new boyfriend, and then proceeds to threaten her in some of the creepiest ways I’ve ever seen. In all of this, she seems like a good woman, and the scene with his kids shows a kind side I never thought the man had. Despite whatever Wolverine did to his face years ago, here is a beautiful and loving family, at least from appearances.

My problem comes in with a timeline. It seems likely that he had these kids AFTER the Weapon X incident, as that’s supposed to have happened years ago and these kids are way too young. So either he met his wife BEFORE the attack, or she likes disfigured men. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with physical disfigurement, but after his encounter with Wolverine, this man was left with a burnt and ruined soul. It seems hard to believe she’d fall for him under those circumstances.

His solution to his family problems left me with chills. If a man is willing to go to these kinds of lengths with his families, then I fear for all those left in his wake.

And the moment you’ve all been waiting for: the return of Cable! I’m so excited to see one of my favorite characters again, and looking the way I most fondly remember him. Though many of you are enjoying Soldier X right now, I just couldn’t get into it and had to take a pass. With that series now announced as having been cancelled, maybe Cable can take more of a role in this book.

His mission: take down Weapon X, free the prisoners at the death camp, and basically kick butt. To this effect, he’s recruiting a small army, and though hidden in shadows, it looks like Maverick, Domino, Meltdown, and Blaquesmith are with him! Maverick, huh? Makes the controversy over the true identity of Agent Zero all the more compelling, doesn’t it?

Here’s a problem I have with this, though. It’s great that someone has noticed what’s going on, but given that it’s Cable, and his connections with the X-Men, don’t you think he would have told them what’s going on? Well, maybe he has, and we’ll find out next issue. I hate being left in the dark, though.

And speaking of the dark, artists Keron Grant and Pop Mahn did everything wonderfully in this book except the darkness. Sure, there were great panels, shadows, and an ominous mood to match the tone of Tieri’s script, but doesn’t he know that he’s not supposed to give a clear look at the Director’s face? Though there is a shadow dead centre on the Director for most of the book, side shots, long shots, and other panels show WAY too much of his face, and it doesn’t look that nasty to boot. It’s supposed to be left up to our imaginations, and the artists revealed more than I think they meant to.

Though that’s a minor complaint, it has an effect on the larger focus of the book. The rest of the story is done wonderfully, and I’d love to see Grant or Mahn on the book again.

Weapon X is not a good book. It’s well written, gorgeously drawn, and full of everything you love about comics, but it’s about bad people. That being said, I’m drawn to read it like a moth to a flame. Maybe it’s the bad guy in me, the bad guy in all of us, that loves to see them win in a book like this.

Pick it up today.


ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore)

[Nightingale]

Maverick is back and he is not Agent Zero!!!!!!:O I have to read that!!!!!!:O

[Sivvius]

I am pretty sure the light-haired girl is Meltdown, in previews for the next couple of months of comics have said that they are guest-staring Domino and Meltdown. And that deffinetly looks like Maverick so I hope Tieri finally lets us know who Agent Zero is. Also will we find out how Cable finds out about the Director and Weapon X, I mean it seems weird it just so happens he was keeping tabs on Mutants who are disappearing. Also exactly who were those people in the theater? Mutants that are going to join the Revolution? Also why is it a revolution, its more like a resistance or a jail break kinda group. Anyoen have any answers to the questions i asked? Thanks, great read and series though.

[BamF]

It could be Maverick and it could not be Maverick. It looked alot like Shatterstar. Also I thought it was Shatterstar, Domino, Meltdown and A green guy I have know clue who it is.

[stoney]

I believe the little ET looking guy was Blaquesmith, Cable's mentor.

[BamF]

Ok I never seen him before he seems cool. I can't wait till 7.

I still think thats Shatterstar not Maverick in the backround

[Alex Guillen]

well I think it's Maverick and Blaquesimith sure does look like ET, I agree :LOL:
I guess no matter how scarred we are, both physically and emotionally we never stop having feelings. This was hsown perfectly b tieri and Keron Grant and may I say what a greta treat it was to have Keron on this book.:)

[vengfulgod13]

Good review.
I have to say that Weapon X isn't one of my favorite books, and that Tieri isn't one of my favorite writers. But the series has grabbed my interest, so I'll see where it goes.
A few thoughts though. I think Aurora is going to end up betraying the director. She's getting close to him, hoping he'll put his guard down, and then...boom.
In the Director's final story, Sabertooth is going to rip him to shreds, "off-words" or no.
Aurora, Wild Child, Marrow, and Sauron will join Cable's team, while Mesmero, the water-guy, and kane will not.
Weapon Zero is just going to hang around the in the back ground. I have a feeling that it's Deadpool, but then, I'm more than likely wrong on that. With the hints that were dropped in Agent X, he might be over there. If it's not Deadpool, and it's not Maverick, and it's not Cable....then I have no idea who it could be.
Although, it could still be Cable. We've never seen his face, and how did he learn so much about the Project.
As for "why didn't Cable contact the X-Men...They are a bit more "high profile" now, and they might not be able to make the kind of "suprise attack" that Cable is looking for, or employee the methods he wants *killing first, blah blah blah*
That's all.

[norgsnolan]

Agent Zero cant be deadpool as in the AgentZero oneshot, there was a a shot of Copycat, in the debriefing room.

CopyCat was then killed in Deadpool Agent of weponX #3 by sabortooth.

so the time frame of the issues is out.

[mic]

It will be revealed in the last few issues of Soldier X about how Cable discovers Weapon X and the concentration camp.

[Vash_HS]

I doubt it's deadpool. DP and Wolvie never had a good relationship, see DP#27. DP has more of a relationship with Cable (DP#22)

[Anthony Cordova]

Is this a good jumping on issue? I've heard plenty of mixed reviews about Weapon X, but am still curious to try it out. However, I don't want to get turned off by coming in at the middle of a storyline. And, if this isn't a good jump-on issue, then what would you guys recommend to pick up as a first time reader of this title?

[Filthy Mutie]

I think Cable isn't telling the X-Family about it because he's back to his soldier roots and probably doesn't think they have the stones to deal some justice like he wants to--ergo X-Force's creation.

[obstreperous]

i think thats Marvick, but that doesn't mean Zero is not Mavrick. he could be a double agent to take down any threats to Weapon X

[wolviechickie]

best issue on WX ever...me thinks so ever

[Mr. Brootz]

I loved this issue. I call Weapon X one of my favorite comics, yet I can't really seem to put into words why it is. All I know is I am riveted, and that I look forward to it as much as the 3 core X-titles.

[BenedictX]

Kudos on the art. For some reason, Georges Jeanty's art, though beautiful, just doesn't do it for me as far as this series goes. Keron was a welcome change and I actually liked it better, but Georges is also growing on me. Seems like Keron is becoming marvel's pinch-hitter.

looking forward to seeing his stuff in New Mutants.

[gambitX]

Loved this issue... I love Keron so that helped a lot!
and CABLE!!! FINALLY out of that mess that is soldier X (at least for me)... woohooo!!!!

and hey... I agree Brian... I thought the accident with wolverine happened AGES ago (when he was young)... but the picture shows him as already having the kids.. and they looked like they had the same age... that got me thinking as well.. Wolverine probably busted out of the WeaponX thing ages ago... so that is just weird.

[Padan Fain]

Good issue...not quite as moving as I thought last issue was, but good nonetheless.

Yeah, the timeline IS something you have to suspend disbelief for...but what a result you get from it! The fleshing out of the Director's character (as well as his full name, at that!), was well worth any confusion. That IS what's been bothering me during this series...it shouldn't be about Weapon X, because they've been presented as nothing but, 'Grrr, we evil! Hate mutants! Kill things! Grr!' But NOW...the Director has a much more (in his mind, at least) noble goal for Neverland and the Weapon X program as a whole. The villian that isn't neccesarily evil is always the best way to go, in my book. It's what made Magneto so enjoyable.

And YES!! That was Maverick!!! Same armor, same coloring, same hair, same EVERYTHING!! AND, I have a feeling that he actually IS Agent Zero, because...if Maverick's helping out w/ the Underground, why hasn't he been listed w/Cable, Domino and Tabby in the solicts? I can see why they wouldn't list Blaquesmith, because (if they're using Soldier X storylines), it's not really Blaquesmith, it's some guy who had his body made to LOOK like Blaquesmith to get close to Nathan and influence his decisions. But Maverick...he's as popular as Meltdown ever was (heck, he HAD his own series); why wasn't he mentioned in the solicits of the future issues? 'Cause he IS a double agent!! EXXXXcellent...let the clash of ideologies commence.

LIVE FREE OR DIE!!!!!

[Filthy Mutie]

I think that it's possible that the lady didn't actually fall in love with the Director, per se. We see what kind of guy he is--suppose he used similar methods to force some girl that he fell for (but didn't fall for him) into a life of marriage and children? Maybe the timeline isn't screwed up, but this lady's life is?

[Wolverine]

Ooooooooooh these are very good things to hear though the blacksmith guy is probabaly the impersonator from Soldier X. BTW is Cable more like his original Liefeld Future soldier or his Weinburg written version.

[LucasBishop]

If my main man Maverick is a double agent, the question is: Which side is he gonna screw? Interesting, interesting, indeed.

[BamF]

I still stick with Shatterstar it looks like a pony tail for his hair.

I guess the armor is Maverick's though.

I just rather have Shatterstar than Maverick.

[ArchangelX]

Originally posted by Dragonspawn01
Is this a good jumping on issue? I've heard plenty of mixed reviews about Weapon X, but am still curious to try it out. However, I don't want to get turned off by coming in at the middle of a storyline. And, if this isn't a good jump-on issue, then what would you guys recommend to pick up as a first time reader of this title?

I would recommend getting issue #1 just because this whole series is great. But if you had to pick a jump-on issue, I'd recommend picking up issue #5, because from that point on, this series rocks!

[ArchangelX]

I love the idea that Maverick might be Agent Zero and is a double agent. Obviously, he hates Weapon X and would love anything more than to see them sorry sack of losers get it coming to them. But I think he was force to find this resistance and now he has, he's forced by the Director to infiltrate them.....
wowowowowowowowowowowow

[Grail]

I agree that the kids are too young for the timeline the Director mentions that his wife left jim after hid "accident" which I would assume meant becoming disfigured by Wolverine

[GambitXtreme]

I think this is one of the stronger X Titles I've read, and it is really tidying up continuity issues.

Maggot was a god awful creation, he was the worst X-Man of all time. I feel secure in saying that, and I'm counting Longshot and Mimic when I say that!

Meltdown is a character with limitless potential. I've always liked her, even in her Go-Go's inspired Boom Boom days. But, the events following Uncanny X-Men 328, where her faith in Sabretooth is betrayed, and she snaps and tries to kill him, and winds up being used as a pawn leading to Psylocke's near death, made her such a deeper character!

And Domino is one of my all time favorites, as well.

I'm glad to see Maverick, just because it makes the mystery of Agent Zero that much more interesting. And Cable is always fun.

Now, on to Weapon X...

This is a book about villains, and it gives such a different experience and perpective then any X-Book... ever. It's just so different.

Seeing Kane, Marrow, Aurora and Wildchild, and how twisted they've become, really leaves you feeling hopeless. And Sabretooth? I suggest reading X-Factor #136 for a foreshadowing of what's going to happen to Weapon X eventually. Hell, read that Uncanny X-Men #328, too! That's another great example of what Sabretooth is capable of. I hate Washout, can't wait till he's pushing up daisies. Sauron is cooler than ever, as is Mesmero. Mesmero is great, especially when he seduced Marrow in the Weapon X:Marrow one shot. I feel so bad for Marrow... she's slipped so far.

ANYWAY, I'm rambling. I also wanted to point out that I believe other mutants from the X-Men's past, aside from the worthless sack of crap Maggott, died in Weapon X #5, including Upstarts member Sienna Blaze, X-Factor associate Random, Alpha Flight member Diamond Lil, among others.

Did anyone else notice?

[Padan Fain]

Originally posted by GambitXtreme
I also wanted to point out that I believe other mutants from the X-Men's past, aside from the worthless sack of crap Maggott, died in Weapon X #5, including Upstarts member Sienna Blaze, X-Factor associate Random, Alpha Flight member Diamond Lil, among others.

Did anyone else notice?

It's been talked about...a LOT...over on the Weapon X thread. Sienna Blaze, along with a few other characters (Paulie from Eve of Destruction, Ape and Tarbaby, possibly even Persuasion the Purple Girl), all went into the 'transfer station' w/Maggott, and I believe Marvel (and possibly Frank Tieri) claim they're all dead. Diamond Lil and Random were just ruffed up by a Nimro--err, I mean Boxbot. Frank himself said they didn't die.

[Hellion]

The armor looks exactly like Maverick's, not Shatterstar's. I also thought that Agent X might still be Maverick. We could be looking at a new staus quo for the team after this story line. I am glad to see Aurora's face won't be permently disfigured. The poor girl has been through enough. Another great issue.

[Paladin]

I'd have to say that it looked a lot like Shatterstar to me too. Whatever happened to him after he finally left X-Force? But then, why would Cable surround himself with former X-Forcers anyway??? If it was Maverick, it would be a great play on the double/triple/quad/etc cross...if Mav is Agent Zero, anyway :)

Paladin

[Al Harahap]

After last month's debacle, I see that no one so far has spoken their dislike of this issue. Well, me go firsty then.

I was pulled in when I realised it was going to be an issue on the Director, because I've thought of him as having great potential as a character. But then the kiddies came out and the melodrama somewhat ruined my enjoyment of the issue. I appreciate Tieri's fleshing out of the character, but I honestly think it was taken a tad over the line of keeping the Director the enigma that he is. Being emotional's ok (I never thought that he was a cold robotic person anyway), but to do it in front of Sabretooth brings the character to places I didn't think was suitable. Showing his weakness to the reader is one thing; to do it for Sabretooth is another thing entirely.

And can this series survive without all the gratuitous guest-stars? Only time will tell... Six months ago, I was excited about this series more than X-Statix or any of the core titles because it seemed to shoot for its own identity and feel. So far, I'm not feeling anything more than a villains version of a core X-title. But I'm sticking around for another couple of issues because I'm hoping Tieri will take this somewhere different. The characters and premise certainly have the potential for it.

[WEAPON I]

There seems to be quite a few pointless characters in WX, like for example that Jackson guy. It's been sed many times that he is valuable to the Director, but HOW? He's a useless jack***. And there's Washout, looks stupid and IS stupid. And yet he seems to be able to score his own cover for #9, before much better characters like mesmero. I can't wait for this guy to be "all washed up" and 6 feet under.

But anyway, Soldier x (issue 11 ithink) will be explaining the transition of Cable for SX to WX according to marvel.

(last off: anyone reckon an UNDERGROUND series should be released? - Cable Meltdown Domino Blaquesmith Maverick and maybe some more characters, like good old Silver Fox (from the original WX program))

WEAPON I

[charm]

First iss of WX I've read and I enjoyed it - mainly because Cable was in it :D - tho' he doesn't refer to himself as Cable (presumably a hangover from Soldier X). I thought the disputed character was Shatterstar, because of the ponytail tho' admittedly, I've never seen Maverick and I don't remember ever seeing 'Star in armour. However, I do like the idea of Maverick double / triple / quadruple-crossing!

Cable broke off his ties with the X-Men during Weinberg's run, when Xavier seemed prepared to accept that Cable was responsible for Sen Kelly's death and thus I would not expect Cable to contact the X-Men.

Who are the people in the theatre ?

Charm

[Rimpelwillem Returns]

Ooh! Didn't anybody see it? That wasnt Cable it was Stryfe!!!

And agent Zero also is? Or its Tyler? Or its just Zero, the teleporting android of Stryfe...

Lol!!! I can't wait to see what 'll come out...

And I can't wait to see Nathan kick Kanes Ass!
And I can't wait to see Maverick versus Sabretooth, round two...
And I can't wait to see when Marrow gets to know that MAgot was killed by the directer....

And BTW on the last page that can't be meltdown/boomer/boom boom/tabby cause she's blonde... And this girl has red hair... That means it is Syrin!!! Who has come to find out what happened with Wade Wilson!!! Now that I'd also like to see...

Being emotional's ok (I never thought that he was a cold robotic person anyway), but to do it in front of Sabretooth brings the character to places I didn't think was suitable. Showing his weakness to the reader is one thing; to do it for Sabretooth is another thing entirely.

I did find that odd...

I can't wait for this guy to be "all washed up" and 6 feet under.
Couldn't agree any more...

But anyway, Soldier x (issue 11 ithink) will be explaining the transition of Cable for SX to WX according to marvel
Ooh the marvelous Marketing... Will have to get that too...

And Nate has got to loose these stupid goggles...

[Hellion]

Originally posted by Rimpelwillem Returns
Ooh! Didn't anybody see it? That wasnt Cable it was Stryfe!!!

And BTW on the last page that can't be meltdown/boomer/boom boom/tabby cause she's blonde... And this girl has red hair... That means it is Syrin!!!

Stryfe never had the Techno Organic arm or a scar above his right eye. It is defiantly Nathan. Also it was revealed a while back that Tabatha would be a part of Nathan's team, so despite the hair color I am pretty sure it's not Syrin. Who is still part of the Paris branch of X-Corps I believe.

[havok1979]

A good fall up after last ish which got so much hype. The director was chilling. Imagin receiveing that type of ultimatum knowing just how badly the dude could back it up.

Oh and that was totally Maverick in the shadows.

[Joel Phillips]

First post!!

Pretty good, but the little stuff does kinda weigh it down (the inconsistencies in the timeline, seeing too much of the Director's face, etc.). Of course its hard not to compare to last ish, which set the bar pretty high, whether you're a Maggott fan or not.

Oh, and I've read a whole bunch of takes on the body count from last issue and some names have popped up that have me stumped. Persuasion? I don't see anybody purple anywhere in the issue. Paulie? Even if he's there, how can you tell? He's a generic white guy with 0 identifying characteristics.

The only ones I'm willing to pull the shroud over are Maggott, Siena Blaze, and Bulwark, since we see them IN the gas chamber.

[MrHymes01]

The only thing that irked me about this story is that the Director should have just killed the wife. Truthfully, I like my villians to be villians, not bad guy with a heart. Other than that I'm happy witht the devolopment of this issue and series. Atleast we know Maverick isn't Agent X. Who is? Hmmm...

[-D O M I N O-]

Originally posted by Hellion
Stryfe never had the Techno Organic arm or a scar above his right eye. It is defiantly Nathan. Also it was revealed a while back that Tabatha would be a part of Nathan's team, so despite the hair color I am pretty sure it's not Syrin. Who is still part of the Paris branch of X-Corps I believe.

yea but it still COULD be her, maybe some other mutant with red hair? ya never know! i know tabby is gunna be part of the undertground but it would be so cool to see some other people too

[Phoenix_Force]

Rachel Summers has short red hair......

[-D O M I N O-]

ooo rachel summers!!! I LOVE ITTTT also it still COULD be siren, afterall domino is leader of xcorps hong kong remember!?

[Phoenix_Force]

Yeah, but my money's on either Rachel or Meltdown with just a coloring mix-up.

And about Domino, since she's joined with Cable's Underground, does this mean she's no longer in X-Corps Hong Kong? If so, then that's probably the reason that Jean has spent so much time at that office over in NXM. She may have had to start up a whole new team since Risque is dead and Domino left to be with Cable.

Anyways, let's hope that the guy ina rmor is Maverick, and that the redhead is Rachel :D