WEAPON X #7 REVIEW

[Brian Wilkinson]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/weaponx07.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/weaponx07t.jpg" align=left alt="Weapon X #7"></a>Reviewer: Brian E. Wilkinson, bewilkinson@yahoo.ca
Quick Rating: Great!
Story Title: The Underground, part 1

The greatest threat to the program is the Underground, but they don’t know it yet…

Written by: Frank Tieri
Penciled by: Georges Jeanty
Inked by: Norm Rapmund
Colors by: Tom Chu’s Color Dojo
Letters by: Paul Tutrone
Assistant Editor: Nova Ren Suma
Associate Editor: Mike Raicht
Editor: Mike Marts
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas

And we’ll take an already good book and raise it up a notch…

That’s what writer Frank Tieri and artist Georges Jeanty have done with this issue. They’ve taken an already interesting concept, and given it a twist that readers didn’t even know they were missing.

Spending time making a good book out of bad people isn’t an easy task. Yet from the first issue, I’ve found myself enjoying Weapon X for all of its violence, blood, and lack of morals. I suppose it was inevitable that a ‘villain’ of sorts for the book, a countering force, would have to soon emerge to help ground the cast, but it’s odd that the heroes of every other Marvel book are now the bad guys in this book.

It’s enough to make my head swim.

For one, I don’t know who to support. I mean, I love Cable (and no matter what anyone else says, that’s who this guy is), and Maverick, Domino, Meltdown, etc… but if THEY win then who is this book about?

If you look at this book as being something of a parody of The Sopranos then you should be just fine. That show, while brilliantly executed, is essentially about a group of bad guys that you love. Yet it is the approach that makes the show wonderful. It’s about people with questionable jobs doing their best to make their way in a lawful world. The police, the FBI, and other law agencies in that show are something which fans hope the cast will thwart with each episode. For every crime they get away with, we cheer. Justice is left up to them to hand out, and for the most part we’re satisified.

So, what does that then say about us?

Probably that we’re easily entertained. As Cable and his grew make their way into the book to provide the balance the series needs, I feel much more at home and happy with learning about our cast of misfits. Mesmero gets some surprising developments, Aurora and The Director continue to work on their relationship, and it seems as though Wild Child has been pulled into Jackson’s little attempt at a coup.

And I’m loving it.

I’m also impressed with the logic Tieri uses here in this issue. Of course the Underground (Cable’s group) is going to be able to see through Weapon X’s little media conference, but the decision to NOT unmask Mesmero was brilliantly thought through. I shared in Meltdown’s impatience to get things going and to reveal the essence of what was going on, but the simple fact is that you show too much before you have all the information in front of you and you could wind up dead.

The coloring was a bit off in this issue, as the first splash page of Cable in his headquarters is colored differently on the opposing pages. It happens, but this is one of the few times I’ve noticed something like this. This issue is also a great case to make against the recap page as fans were clearly told that Maverick is INDEED part of Cable’s crew, but this negates artist Georges Jeanty’s attempts to keep the character in shadow for much of the issue.
Them’s the breaks, though.

I’ve said it before during his run on Wolverine, but I love how well Tieri pays attention to continuity. The relationship between Domino and Cable is textbook, as are the references to Cable’s past friendship with Kane. Given the dynamics of the members of Weapon X, and some of their past histories as heroes, I can’t wait to see where Tieri is going to lead his readers.

The most interesting part of this book for me wasn’t in the debut of Cable, his team, or in their findings of ‘Neverland’, the mutant concentration camp. It was the simple teaser page featuring two unrevealed mutants walking in to a fast food store and killing the people inside it. Are they on the side of good or evil (though murder would make it seem like they aren’t around to help)?

How will they fit in to the upcoming stories? Are they enemies for the Underground, or Weapon X? How much of a presence will the Underground have in the future of the series?

I have no idea, and I’m loving it. Tieri has always been able to surprise me with how deceptively complex his plots can be, and yet overwhelmingly entertaining at the same time.

Where we go from here is a mystery, though plenty of confrontation, developments, and excitement is sure to follow.

Jeanty is back with this issue, taking a much-deserved break after issue #5. I loved his renditions of Maverick and Cable, and once again his use of shadows is very effective in contrast to his art style. It’s not the best work I’ve seen from him, but the brilliant cover featuring Cable was worth the price of admission.

This arc has all the makings of great comic book storytelling. With Tieri at the helm pulling the strings, and Jeanty working the orchestra of movement and emotion, the show is about to begin.

Take your seats, grab your popcorn buckets, and enjoy the feature.

Make sure you turn off your cell phones, though.

ART:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxnone.jpg

STORY:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxnone.jpg

OVERALL:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wxnone.jpg

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

[Zachary J. Morrison]

Great review, Brian. I would've gotten this issue, but I didn't have enough to buy every book I wanted @ the store. The issue was good and Nathan looked great in his first appearance in this book. Can't wait to see how more he gets involved with more issues to come.

[Hellion]

I agree totally. This is still my favorite read each month. I feel like I should know the fast food killers, but for the life of me I can't even begin to guess. I think it says a lot, that Frank can have such a huge cast, and not have the reader confused. My only complaint is that this isn't a weekly series!

[glacial_inferno]

Aren't the two mystery mutant, simply reaper and wildchild or whatever his name is in the MLF?

[Boyo]

This book is unreal. It has so many twists and turns. My top favorite of comic books. Also and you all thought Mesmero was plain evil.

[theory]

maverick part of the underground? i didnt see that coming at all. i was sold on the bit about him being agent zero. more questions, definitely more intrigued now.

[obstreperous]

yeah i also thought the 2 guys who attacked the burger place were Reaper & Wildside. helping Weapon X with its anti mutant propganda.

[Hellion]

Originally posted by theory
i was sold on the bit about him being agent zero.

He still could be. Double agent.

[Joey Meyers]

My ponderance: Since Risque is dead, and Domino is with Cable, is X-Corp Hong Kong no more?

[ArchangelX]

Is it me or did anyone else notice that at the beginning of the book where the give you a quick run down of who's who in the book, Maverick's identity was listed as unknown? HellO? Wasn't his real name already revealed?

I was also intrigued by the two gentlemen that blew up the cafe. If I'm not mistaken, the arms looked a lot like Bulwark and Random's arms.....Although the smiles have a kind of "Rob Liefeld" familiarity to them which leads me to believe they COULD be Reaper and Wildeside as well.... Then again..... am I starting something here or could I be on the right track? You decide!


It was also amazing how he linked the tip off about the Director's wife getting remarried that came from The Underground. Nice play. That now gives the Cable team kudo points about knowing their enemy.

Maverick......Agent Zero..... here's my two cents. The Director's not stupid. After all, Agent Zero is obviouslt a friend of Wolverine's and couldn't kill him when commanded to. The Director KNEW he wouldn't kill Wolverine. It's as if he had chosen the right "good guy" to be the best "bad guy". I'm sure he probably suspected there would be an uprising against him, and planted Agent Zero to seek it out. That may be why we haven't seen Agent Zero in months!!! Come to find out, there was an uprising and the Director made sure Agent Zero stayed apart of it undercover. Maverick never had any colse ties with Cable, Domino, Meltdown, not even Blaquesmith. So Maverick betraying THEM instead of the Director seems invitable. What do you think?

P.S. This review was awesome!!!!!!

[Mightiest_mortal]

I'm really not into weapon X at all and kindof miss this whole review. Ive been reaing since even the oneshots which i found rather disturbing. I ende up just really resenting sabretooth and KAne, because.. well they are just pathetic losers. Theyre the typical bullies. + I just felt really really sorry for Wildchild and Sauron, they were just blatantly bullied and abused. I only started getting the regular series bacause in the hunt to sabretooth i was hoping to see his butt get seriously wooped but it didnt really happen. Id only really keep getting it if i knew it was a miniseries and the driector would be utterly destroyed.
The only plus side to it is that i find mesmero, agent zero and marrow kinda inriguing.

I think comparing it to the sopranos isnt entirely valid either. The director and mostof weaponX are just hollow evil people. And i think its one thing rooting for criminals, but totally different matter for someone whos been creating extermination camps and is supposedly slaughtering inocent people in the thousands.
Did it explain in the comic why cable doesnt just go and get the X-Men to help stop Weaponx?? It would kindof be the obvious thing to do. You dont really need an underground when a large group of good mutants like the X-men could just defeat them all pretty darned easily.

I hope cable kicks some serious ass + Sabretooth ends up dead as a Dougnut within at least an issue or two.

[TheIronYuppie]

Well I believe the reason Cable hasn't called in the X-Men is because, much like the X-Treme team he is/has cut himself off from the X-Teams. But another reason is a High Profile group of Mutants like the X-Men openly attacking a government-sponsered facility and Program is simply not smart.

[LucasBishop]

It's nice to know my main man Maverick is still alive and kicking ass. There were to many loopholes for him to have really been dead even if he isn't Agent Zero. But then again, it still might not be Maverick. With all this mystery around him, it could be a shapeshifter or anything, really. Gotta love the intrigue, man!

[FranklinRichard]

No Cecelia Reyes in this issue?

[charm]

Ohh!, loved this issue... can't help but feel it's building to something v good. A couple of minor points ...

why does Cable appear to delete the Director's image from the bank of monitors - intriguing, non ?

Cable's left eye glows, not his right

And it's definitely Cable, not Soldier X:p

Charm

[Alex Guillen]

great issue. WX is a great series and at time Frank combines elemnts into his stories. The Underground is the classic resistance group and Weapon X the classic evil group set to take over the world or at least in this case use mutants for their own purpouses.As tot eh Maverick/agent Zero debate, i think Maverick is himself anmd Agent zero might be Shatterstar since in the one shot he was blone and is a kick ass fighter

Lonewolf, I think X-corporation Hong Kong is still running since jean was recently there.

[Brian Wilkinson]

Maverick's real name is David North.

[gambitX]

Really???
Wasn't Maverick German?

OH I just checked.. I think it's David NORD

[Wolverine]

CABLE!
CABLE!
CABLE!
the Champion has returned. Soldier X is no more. hurrah hurrah!

[Justin Braddock]

I'm also on the Cable side. :p

This was a nice set up issue. I enjoyed it. I also think the two unknown murderers were Wildside and Reaper.

I was happy to see Meltdown.

Kotsin- Hmmmm. Intriguing. I never thought of that. Maybe they dyed his hair? :p Shatterstar could shoot energy blasts only through his swords, so maybe the program amped them to where he doesn't need the swords anymore. Just a thought.

Maybe we should check for clues in Wolverine's own book to find out who Agent Zero is.

[LucasBishop]

Originally posted by gambitX
Really???
Wasn't Maverick German?

OH I just checked.. I think it's David NORD


It's actually Christoph Nord. He changed it to David North when he joined the CIA/Team X.

Somehow, I definitely think Shatterstar is involved, it's just a matter of which side is he on? Is he Agent Zero? Is he "Maverick"? It could be possible because why wouldn't they say Maverick's name, and though I haven't seen the ish yet, someone on another board said Maverick had swords in this ish, a weapon that isn't North's speciality (Thermites and depleted uranium, baby!). I'd tend to think he could Zero which is one reason why Cable is after Weapon X, and Shats does respect Wolvie as a warrior, so that could explain the letter in the one-shot.

[gambitX]

Shatterstar? never was really interested in him.

I too am soooooooooooooooooooo happy Cable is back... and SoldierX is done.

[DeadmanWade]

Wolverine was a legend in the time where Shatterstar is from.

[MrHymes01]

Excellent set-up issue. I think I'm going to really enjoy this comic. It also appears that when everything is said and then Cable will be the new Director of Weapon X. This is just going to be a long battle of will and power where Cable will EVENTUALLY come out on top. I hope they go slow with this though and really take their time. This looks to be real good.

[Merlin]

Great review

this was the best Weapon X so far (well there have only been 6 previous issues though)

On thing about the art
marvel get Dexter Vines off of Weapon X Norm Rapmund is much better at inking Georges art than Dexter
the art is much much better.

[Bandoogiemanz]

I definitely agree that the two mutants in the fast food joint are Wildside & Reaper. The news reporter said that the victims were chopped up into bits and that's pretty easy to do when you have a sickle for a weapon like Reaper does. It was a great issue. As far as the Maverick thing goes, I'm not sure who is who, but I have a feeling that the guy posing as Maverick, isn't the actual Maverick. Also, I wonder where exactly is the Underground's base at?

[Wolverine]

Originally posted by Bandoogiemanz
I definitely agree that the two mutants in the fast food joint are Wildside &amp; Reaper. The news reporter said that the victims were chopped up into bits and that's pretty easy to do when you have a sickle for a weapon like Reaper does. It was a great issue. As far as the Maverick thing goes, I'm not sure who is who, but I have a feeling that the guy posing as Maverick, isn't the actual Maverick. Also, I wonder where exactly is the Underground's base at?

I agree I'm sure Maverick is Agent Zero

[Merlin]

If Maverick is agent Zero than that would make Agent Zero the traitor in Weapon X.

[ArchangelX]

Originally posted by Brian E. Wilkinson
Maverick's real name is David North.

I thought so....
Then why did the writer say "Identity unknown" at the beginning of the book?
1. The writer didn't do his homework.
2. It isn't the real Maverick...

which on is it?

[wizzbizz]

what an issue, it was fantastic to see cable play cable not some half witted new age heal the world solider. This leads us ti a very intriguing situation, who will win what defines winning and what price will be paid for that victory.

[Andy James]

Loved the issue, gets better all the time.
I have formualted plenty of Maverick/Agent Zero theories but one has just come to me whilst reading this thread.
What if Maverick IS Agent Zero and the Director has planted him as his Maverick identity to infiltrate The Underground. Mav/Zero couldnt do anything cos of the inhibitors. That would make sense since as far as the reader knows, Mav is dead at the hands of Sabretooth so has obvioulsy had some repairs ala Agent Zero. That way we have a major story shock and makes the Weapon X faction still victorious in the long run.
Im also intrigued as to The Undergrounds ace in the whole which i presume is a mole in the Weapon X team. My current top choice is Aurora, after all, why else would she be wanting a relationship with him?
Im probably completley wrong but i think it makes some form of sense at least

[ArchangelX]

Originally posted by nova
Loved the issue, gets better all the time.
I have formualted plenty of Maverick/Agent Zero theories but one has just come to me whilst reading this thread.
What if Maverick IS Agent Zero and the Director has planted him as his Maverick identity to infiltrate The Underground. Mav/Zero couldnt do anything cos of the inhibitors. That would make sense since as far as the reader knows, Mav is dead at the hands of Sabretooth so has obvioulsy had some repairs ala Agent Zero. That way we have a major story shock and makes the Weapon X faction still victorious in the long run.

I totally agree with you!

I can sense some awseome comings after issue 12.
here is one of my "what if's" about after issue 12.

What if Cable and the Underground defeat the Director and Weapon X which reslts in the death of Mesmero, Washout, Jackson and Sauron. Cable now sees an oportunity take advantage of these resources and become the new Director. This would mean that Cable is now constantly in a book. And he doesn't get rid of all the villains on Weaon X. He tries to reform them and brings on some new blood, Domino, Meltdown, etc.
The series now focuses on taking extreme measures to stoppong threats. Kind of like how he tried with X-Force, but a little for forceful and achievable. And maybe in issue #25 (double issue) their new target is Wolverine for crimes he somehow committed against one of Cable's loved ones.

Make Mine Marvel!!!!!!

[FranklinRichard]

So did Cecilia Reyes come out at all in this issue? I worry for her safety

[Neolithic]

Well I believe the reason Cable hasn't called in the X-Men is because, much like the X-Treme team he is/has cut himself off from the X-Teams.

I think its more like Cable thinks he can take care of it without anyone elses help. You didn't see Avengers calling the X-Men when Magneto came to town or Spider-Man asking the Avengers for help. Otherwise, there would be no point in having distinct and seperate books.

[Phoenix_Force]

No, Cecelia was not in the issue. I too worry for her safety, though . . .

Definitely think it was Reaper and Wildside in the Diner . . .

Definitely think Agent Zero is Maverick and the writer just didn't do his homework with the David North identity . . .

Also theorize that Cable knows more about Neverland than he's letting on. I think that he may have his own plans for the team.

[randymacbastard]

The new Maverick has got to be a red herring, surely. The clues with Agent Zero were so blatant about him being Maverick that it doesn't bear thinking about:
-He is permanently concealed, firstly because Maverick always was and secondly so that no-one who knew him as Maverick would recognise him.
-His armour is vibranium based (mentioned in the one-shot), making even a pinfall work like a herd of elephants; Mav absorbed kinetic energy to power his blasts.
-He has been upgraded to kill Wolverine; who better than someone who was so close to him?
-The first missions he did for Weapon X were all against cartels, crime lords and stuff, the kind of thing Mav used to excel at and which the Director knew he'd have no moral qualms doing.
The new Maverick will probably be someone surprising instead, I don't think someone who's done Tieri's level of research on obscure characters everywhere else would miss Mav's real name.

[Jon]

After the news report about the murders, wouldnt the X-Men investigate?

[lightwards]

Originally posted by nova
Loved the issue, gets better all the time.
I have formualted plenty of Maverick/Agent Zero theories but one has just come to me whilst reading this thread.
What if Maverick IS Agent Zero and the Director has planted him as his Maverick identity to infiltrate The Underground. Mav/Zero couldnt do anything cos of the inhibitors. That would make sense since as far as the reader knows, Mav is dead at the hands of Sabretooth so has obvioulsy had some repairs ala Agent Zero. That way we have a major story shock and makes the Weapon X faction still victorious in the long run.
Im also intrigued as to The Undergrounds ace in the whole which i presume is a mole in the Weapon X team. My current top choice is Aurora, after all, why else would she be wanting a relationship with him?
Im probably completley wrong but i think it makes some form of sense at least

If Agent Zero is Maverick, then perhaps he was sent to join the Underground as a member of Weapon X. Thus, both sides know he also works for the other side, and both sides think he is really a double agent on their side. But which side is he really on???