WEAPON X #10 REVIEW

[Brian Wilkinson]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/weaponx10.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/weaponx10t.jpg" align=left alt="Weapon X #10"></a>Reviewer: Brian E. Wilkinson, bewilkinson@xfan.cjb.net
Quick Rating: Great!
Story Title: The Underground, part IV

Agent Jackson makes his move, but was it what any of us really expected?

Written by: Frank Tieri
Pencilled by: Georges Jeanty
Inked by: Dexter Vines & Scott Elmer
Colors by: Tom Chu's Color Dojo
Letters by: Dave Sharpe
Assiant Editor: Warren Simons
Associate Editor: Mike Raicht
Editor: Mike Marts
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas

I gotta admit it, writer Frank Tieri caught me off guard.

And that doesn't happen too often these days. Just when you think you've got a whole series figured out, the characters are fully formed in your mind, and the plot twists obviously coming, Tieri throws a few curve balls in. The brilliant thing about some of these curves are that once they are revealed, you feel like a real dunce for not having seen in coming.

But that's a pleasurable experience. After all, one doesn't want to go into any sort of book, comic or otherwise, and know exactly what to expect. It takes some of the fun out of the whole thing. Still, for fans like that a rough ride, Weapon X should be a clear choice for you to pick up.

It begins nicely enough, with the Director sending out Marrow after Sabretooth. With all the bickering and fighting going on in this series, I had actually forgotten about Marrow being a Morlock, and one of the victims of the Morlock Massacre that Sabretooth played a huge part in. It seems logical to send Marrow after Creed, and even necessary. Perhaps it will finally give her some of the closure the character so desperately needs. This scene alone made the book worth picking up.

I also must admit that I was getting a bit tired of the subplot featuring Agent Jackson recruiting members within Weapon X for a little rebellion. It made sense and fit his character, but his actions this issue make me like him and respect him a whole lot more. After all, his subtle manipulation of the Director was brilliantly and frighteningly done... so much so that it actually left me a little shocked, which is something I thought I had gotten past when reading Tieri's work. This is the sort of story I had been expecting since Day 1, and Tieri delivers with interest.

A few of the other points of the story were also nicely done, such as the Undergrounds continuing interest in finding out about Weapon X. Personally, I'd prefer them to take a more active role in finding things out, but I guess capturing two members of the group and interrogating them to.... I can't spoil EVERYTHING... is more than enough. However, with the big and darned exciting reveal at the end, it almost seems to have been a pointless excercise. Works out great for the plot and to move the story ahead, but sometimes I don't really like coincidences that are so well timed. Especially since Weapon X isn't really supposed to know about Cable and his group.

Tieri does a lot of great characterization in this issue, which I find leaps and bounds ahead of the past couple. Cable shows his stuff (though Meltdown and the rest of the Underground have been vastly underused at this point. Hopefully we'll see more of them soon), Agent Jackson whips up a storm, and the Director shows he's more than just a pretty face.

All in all, I'm still shocked.

And that's what this book needs all the time. Just jaw dropping events and shockers while carefully avoiding stepping over into senseless violence. I must say that I'm impressed at the balance Tieri has managed to find as the book is more than enough action wise, and now truly character wise.

Georges Jeanty once again struts his stuff with style. The characters are brilliantly put together, and his layouts are looking better all the time. Though the book needs to maintain it's dark and gritty style, I wouldn't mind less shaded backgrounds and a bit more color to this book. Blood red will do nicely.

So pick up Weapon X today. You won't regret it, especially with the fantastic reveal at the end, and the wonderful characterization. This book has all the markings of one of the best that Marvel has to offer, and soon enough all kinds of comic fans will share in this great book.

Read it 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)

[Alex Guillen]

well that was one interesting issue. Tieri likes to play with us and Marrow vs. Sabertooth is something I can't wait to see.
Jeanty's art continues to be amazing and what a great Sauron/Mesmero cover.

[Scott Williams]

Good issue, well-written review. I am very much interested in reading the next issue.

I didn't know Meltdown was in the Underground, but it makes sense.

Looking at Reaper and Wildside, I realized that Rob Liefeld, when designing characters, had a real problem with originality. Not all characters should have coloured circles around their eyes......

4/5, indeed. A good job by all involved.

[Riliss]

i enjoyed this issue. lots of stuff coming together. bring it on!

[Hellion]

I hated this issue. ;) How am I supposed to wait a whole month for the next one, after everything that has been built up in this issue? Man! This should be a weekly book. Frank is one of the best writers out there now. Loved everything about this book, except Aurora, if I didn't know better I'd think Frank hated her. Can't get enough of this title.

[TheIronYuppie]

This tears it!! Damn you Frank Tieri, this is now the best book I read, and quite possibly the best of the X. Glad to see Frank's not going to let Cable have full use of his God-like powers thanks to his controls problems. Makes it far more interesting when Cable isn't an unbeatable machine. Agent Jackson is quickly becoming much more interesting and much more dangerous. Good times ahead, very very good times indeed!

[charm]

Hmm, good issue but get Cable's glowing eye right !

I'd didn't feel the reveal at the end was all that unexpected - I just don't believe Jackson! Plus I'm really interested in finding out Mavericks exact motivations. Also has me thinking more that Cable could be the x-man to join WX....

Charm

[Suzene]

Well, I bought the trade a couple weeks back and I've been following the reviews on various sites so I knew the backstory, but this was the first issue I'd picked up off the shelves.

Things I liked:

Everything. Great art. Believable dialogue. A setup that's making the marrow want to crawl right out of my bones and hide under the bed. This book is stark, pulls no punches, and is creepy as all hell. Love it.

Oddly enough, I felt a little twinge of sadness over Reaper. Dunno why. Maybe it's the abused goth-boy look.

And Aurora...aw. Aw, man. Back in the pages of Alpha Flight, I'd always hoped she'd get some well-deserved backlash for stringing along anything with a penis and the poor sense to give a damn about her, but this was like getting my wish from the frelling monkey's paw! *shiver*

Things I disliked:

Having to pony up the money for a subscription.

Off to make minor offerings at the alter of Tieri and Jeanty.

Suzene

[Justclowes]

This issue was great i really like the way Tieri writes his stories (Personally i think he's a little sick & twisted) but that's what makes his stories so entertaining. Out of the 3 X book's out this week - This one impressed me the most.

[Captain America]

Originally posted by Justclowes
Out of the 3 X book's out this week - This one impressed me the most.

But there was 4 :p
Man o man, this issue makes me so angry...at the Director!
I HATE him! Grrr!
I dont know if its that Northstar is with the relative safety of the X-Men(well, its not safe but its...better than this place), unknowing of whats happening to his sister or that but...
So this issue was great, though there are some people that need a good whupping: Director...Sabretooth(I hate the guy, I want Logan to kill him)...uh Jackson I guess!
2 more parts of the Underground to go and, although when this series started I had my doubts(especially with the Draft issues), I cannot wait to see what happens next.
The general concenses(sp?) is that either Cable or Chamber will be the X-Man to join but Mr. Tieri is nothing if not unpredictable so now I dunno...
4 out of 5 is about right!

:)

[Inferno]

I really id enjoy the issue, although seeing what happened with Aurora hurt me and I wa just reading it! Being that Alpha Flight is and always will be my favorite book, I can't stand to see her like that. Does anyone know what the outcome of this will be for her? Wierd as it may seem, I also felt a little sadness over Reaper, and even Wildside. not sure why though. Anyway, overall a great story with great artwork.

Capcrn78

[ahab26]

I have to admit, the fate of Wildside & Reaper saddened me a little too. They've always been my favorites from the MLF & it was good to see them recruited into Weapon X, as I thought there would be some development with them. It doesn't surprise me that it happened, however, because of what Tieri said about the fates of 2 characters in the arc. Technically, these could be it...***he says, hoping beyond hope that Aurora somehow makes it through this:cross: ***

(And where's the Aurora smilie? :? This board needs more Alpha smilies!)

[Suzene]

Originally posted by Captain America



I dont know if its that Northstar is with the relative safety of the X-Men(well, its not safe but its...better than this place), unknowing of whats happening to his sister or that but...



Depends on if we're speaking about the safety of his life or safety of his character integrity. I haven't been overly impressed with his last few appearances in UXM, when he gets any panel-time at all. Story-wise, Aurora has been utterly brutalized, but I can't fault Tieri's characterization of her.

I don't think Northstar is aware that Aurora's missing. So far as he and the rest of the old AF crew know, she's being treated for her MPD at an in-patient place in Canada. I imagine that there was false information planted when she was first abducted, if only because I can't think of any other way that he could not know his own sister was abducted. He's probably getting progress reports from the asylum -- or a place claiming to be so -- telling him that she's a jibbering nut-job and making no progress or something.

Part of me *so* wants Northstar to make a guest-appearance in Weapon X, but now that I'm getting a better idea of just how casualty-heavy this book is, the rest of me would be worried about whether or not he'd make it out in one piece! Still...it would be suspenseful, wouldn't it?



Suzene

[SmashedPumpkin]

Hellion, I agree. How am I supposed to wait a month for the next part?? My mind is feverishly working up possible scenerios and.....crap I just lost my grasp of the english language, so I'll be quite. But MAN! What an ending. Austen could learn abit from this book...

[gambitX]

I really really hope she is ok... that would **ss me off if she isnt.

I relaly want JP to come and kick someone's @$$.
and regarding Aurora being somewhere and being treated, I would think that JP would want to go and visit AT LEAST once.

[Suzene]

Originally posted by gambitX

I relaly want JP to come and kick someone's @$$.
and regarding Aurora being somewhere and being treated, I would think that JP would want to go and visit AT LEAST once.


Oh, I agree! That was just the only explanation I could think up, but it's still pretty thin. I mean, considering how fast Northstar moves, I don't think that his book-tour or teaching duties would be a good excuse for him not seeing his sister.

Suzene

[TurdFerguson]

It's not like JP is being used anywhere else.

[silverboy]

I admire Weapon X...every month it's solidly written and drawn. However, there's just this coldness to the title that is completely unattractive. Probably because it stars villains, but the whole plotline just feels like it lacks legitimacy. Hopefully it will grow on me more and become more than what it is...maybe I'll start looking forward to it instead of merely enjoying it.

[ahab26]

Originally posted by silverboy
..maybe I'll start looking forward to it instead of merely enjoying it.

I find that Weapon X is one of the only books that I really look forward to reading the next chapter of. I think that it's because it isn't predictable. No one is safe. And you don't know who is going to get sucked into the Weapon X world.
There are few books out there that have me disappointed that they are only monthly. I usually only get around to reading most of them a couple of days after I buy them. With Weapon X, I have a hard time waiting until I get home from the store to read it. Some may disagree with the "predictability" comment but I really have been enjoying this book with all of its twists & turns.

[Inferno256]

this looks really cool, i don't really follow this book, but it looks awesome. i just need a few extra dollars, i am already spending all my money on comics, i don't think i can afford another series. hmph.:(

[Airhead]

I loved this issue!!!!!!!!!
Can't wait for the next issue!!!!!!!:D

[citizenVXV]

Well Aurora showed up at the X-mansion like 5 issues back in Uncanny...i never understood her apparence there and I hope it will be explained.....

[Wolverine]

Great issue. Great Review

[baltiroo]

I really enjoyed this issue and am very interested n seeing its conclusion. I am glad to see Reaper and Wildside go, they were long time hold-overs from MLF with not much interesting about them. I am interested to see who the X-Man to join will be. Also, couldn't Aurora use her powers, jesus! Someone starts wailing on the woman, and she doesn't do anything. I do wonder about Northstar and what is the character reason he hasn't found out about his sister.

[Hellion]

Originally posted by citizenVXV
Well Aurora showed up at the X-mansion like 5 issues back in Uncanny...i never understood her apparence there and I hope it will be explained.....
What issue was that? I don't remember that.

[ArchAngelFan]

To say this series is great would be a huge mis-understatement. This is by far my favorite comic and this issue solidly backs up me feelings for the book. Great plot and character devlopment. I think Jackson is a great character. He's getting on the level of a sinister madman character with the likes of Norman Bates. Some of the Underground characters aren't used too well, but then again when a good guy team (x-men, x static, etc.) fights against a villain team (The Brotherhood, Marauders, etc.) then some of the villains dont get decent enough page time in the heroes book so i don't think the Underground should be a huge part of each Weapon-X issue. It is real cool to see the bad guy's getting the spotlight, although Mesmero was on the cover and not even in the book. (neither was sabretooth or Windsor for that matter) As for Reaper and Wildside they were decent second-rate m,utants at that and with this book killing off alot of the second rate mutants (ie Ape and Maggott) you knew they wouldnt stay long. Cant wait to see what happens with Aurora next issue. If she is back then there should be a nice fight with the Director and her. That'd also leave only Kane backing Director and not Jackson. Very interesting cant wait til the next issue comes out

[Kevin Woodside]

This was a great story. With the fate of Auroa in this issue, I hope it leads to an Uncanny X-Men crossover/appearance. Good stuff, Frank.

~W~

[Anthony Lucynski]

I saw this coming from last issue. This was the least enjoyable issue for me of this series thus far.

Anthony L