X-FORCE #125 REVIEW

[Ben Hutton]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/xforce-125.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/xforce-125t.jpg" align=left alt="X-Force #125"></a>Reviewer: Ben Hutton, bhutton@froggy.com.au
Quick Rating: Excellent!
Story Title: One Of Us

Dead Girl debuts. An X-Forcer is marked for death. And is that some gay romance I spy?

Written by: Peter Milligan
Art by: M.D. Allred
Lettered by: Blambot
Colored by: Laura Allred
Assistant Editor: John Miesegaes
Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas

I like Dead Girl already. I think it’s the eyes. Or her tongue in cheek code name. Plus she’s blue, and well, that’s always fun.

Lots of great stuff here. After last month’s break we’ve jumped right back into the team format, and this book has never been better. My only small complaint is that the Spike isn’t fully three-dimensional for me yet, but considering characters in other comics are lucky to have one dimension it’s a small complaint. Like I said last month, Milligan and Allred have set the bar so high with this title that I find I’m holding it to higher standards myself. And that’s a good thing.

I’m also loving the way that Milligan can craft a self-contained story that also has plenty of leads buried in it. The sort of unobtrusive information that enriches the story as you read it the first time, but really piques your interest the next couple of times.

Case in point, Phat and Vivisector. On first pass there were a few things this month that made me raise an eyebrow. On the first page a reporter asks Myles if he’s ever had a girlfriend. Odd, but I wrote it off as Milligan demonstrating how intrusive the press can be in the lives of public figures. Then Guy mentions that Phat and Vivisector have begun to function as a team within a team, noting “something weird going on”. Again I put this down to their growing resentment towards the alpha three X-Force members.

Then there was this.

Vivisector: “How about… the X-Filiates?”
Phat: “Bro, ain’t that a little too gay?”
Vivisector: “Phat, can anything be too gay?”

I wrote it off as a quirky comment, but the hand slapping, the way The Spike reacts to the comment, the fact that they vote together later in the book… All combined to make me draw the same conclusion: Phat and Vivisector are doing it.

I did not see that coming. But I like it a lot. It makes up for the sudden death of token gay character Bloke, and I can’t wait to see how it’s played out in future issues. It’s always good when a comic or storyline can take you by surprise, and the subtle hinting without use of fan fare or months-in-advance press announcements that usually accompany this sort of thing is a welcome relief. If anyone can handle this in a fun and realistic way it has to be Milligan.

X-Force’s centre stage relationship has some nice subtle moments this issue as well. From Guy trying to protect Edie in battle to her rabid defense of Guy against the CIA rep, the relationship progresses in a very realistic way. The L word is even used in a comic without making me gag, and in a surprising turn a female superhero in a comic book keeps her attitude even after she hooks up with the male co-star.

Edie’s biting wit is one of the things that makes her character great and it would have made no sense for her to turn spineless just because she’s with Guy. Like she says, just because she loves him doesn’t mean she’s left her other aspirations behind. She still plans on being the leader someday.

Oh and thank you Mr Milligan for no forbidden love, mutant angst, will they or won’t they plots.

In a time when a characters death is usually reported on the internet issues in advance of their demise, the big point of the issue, and the covers theme, is handled in an appropriately media savvy way, with Milligan turning the concept on it’s ear by putting the prediction in the very book.

Despite the fact that it’s a prediction of death Guy, Edie and Tike are all such egocentric personalities that they feel the mark of death must be about them.

I could go on and on about this issue, but I’ll wrap it up by mentioning a few other nice moments. A conversation between Edie, Guy and the team’s financier sets up the teams imminent name change turning a Marvel marketing exercise into a viable story point, and the villains of this arc are called Bush Rangers! I couldn’t help but laugh at that one.

Now if someone who speaks Doop could just translate what it says on the cover for me?

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

[ShaggyDiz]

Great review. This issue was really good.

[Elendil]

I kind of thought that the way the Spike reacted to Miles' and Phat's gay joke was kind of evidence that they weren't gay. Since the Spike is a crossdresser, it'd only make sense for him to be offended by their comment, if they were only joking. Otherwise, why else would he take offense to that?

Of course, just how I see it. There can be different opinions, of course.

I just hope these two aren't turned into some sort of "token gay" couple. I'm not homophobic, I just thought that issue was already dealt with?

[Ben Hutton]

How exactly was the issue already dealt with?

[omegastorm]

Cant wait to read this issue.

o

[spinarakboi]

It was super, I see both points thoug: Vivi and Phat or Spike... but I hope its Viv and Phat they make great **** pals at the very least *Shrug*.

[CPunkDude]

Actually, I'm not convinced Myles and Phat are gay. I just didn't see their tone as very serious, however, I have to admit that there were about three examples in this issue that could lead someone to think it, so that's hard to argue against. If it turns out to be true, I think it's a nice development for the comic, as long as their relationship isn't just trite and simplified. That would bore me to tears, because you NEVER EVER see a gay relationship portrayed with any depth in most media, let alone comics. Personally, I think the possibility that it is the Spike who is actually gay is more intriguing and brings more implications. Think of what they could do with a gay black militant mutant?

[lynx]

Now if someone who speaks Doop could just translate what it says on the cover for me?


Doop says

"NOT ME."

[nightcrawler]

I just hope these two aren't turned into some sort of "token gay" couple.

In any other comic I would agree with you, but in X-Force I think they're headed this way. I feel that they will be the token gay couple but with the writing so far I would have to say that it will be explored as such.

[gregorynbaker]

For more on the Phat/Vivisector thing, check out Phat's reaction to Bloke's death in X-Force #118.

[hellshock]

Great review. :)

This is why this book is my favourite. It's always a great read.

[Ben Hutton]

Thanks for the translation lynk.

As for the gay debate... I guess it really could have been about The Spike. That didn't even occur to me. Time will tell.

[j a luzion]

Those items about Vivisector & Phat jumped out at me immediately. It would indeed be interesting to see if it was Spike who was gay, but I doubt that is the case. So folks, I think we're going to be treated to Vivi & Phat together as a couple.

[Stapler]

Just picked this up a couple hours ago. Great ish. Like the way Edie is just rabid now, trying to protect Guy but still wants to be Number One. Just on her own terms, of course. And she gets ****ed if HE tries to protect HER. Very nice dynamic.

I think the Phat/Myles thing is a red herring. Of their design! They want some press, as we saw in the Larry King show ish. They recognize even being a "token-couple" can produce some ink.

As for the Spike, crossdressing does not equal gay. He could be gay in addition to being a transvestite. Doesn't mean its a lock.

I think it was very funny the way the Big Three were arguing about who death was pointing at.

Just a great great issue. Can't wait to see who dies. As always, the letter columns bitching about the revamp are a nice end-cap. :D

[spinarakboi]

;aldfjks;alsdjf what is up with the word token. I dont see how they would be a token couple and are people saying that as a bad thing because it sounds bad but if it's not okay then... but there is nothing 'all gays are that way' about them. Sorry I just take the word token to mean that it's obvious or cliched or something.

[Stapler]

I think most of us are using it to mean "obligatory" (at least, I know I myself am using it in this way). Its been a term in TV casts for awhile and now comic-book casts to describe a character who's gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, et al is used to appeal or to appease certain demographics. A "token gesture," is where it originates.

NOW, I personally don't think Peter Milligan and Mike Allred have token anything. If a character is black or gay, its because they're concieved that way. Not just tacked on by the whim of an editor.

[enzymeXIV]

Originally posted by Stapler
I think the Phat/Myles thing is a red herring. Of their design! They want some press, as we saw in the Larry King show ish. They recognize even being a "token-couple" can produce some ink.

That's sorta how I read it as well. Like they're so attention-hungry that they're willing to try anything to get some press.

Either way, it's fun and interesting and I'm glad to be along for the ride. X-Force is like *THE* one comic I most look forward to every month.

[Benjamin Ong]

You know, I don't preorder X-Force, I still pick it up every month despite thinking that well, this is just a fad and it'll all be old news and would be totally forgotten sometime in the future after I read the previous month's issue.

Does this mean that I like X-Force? Does this mean that I like Doop? Does this mean that I'm looking forward to seeing what Milligan and Allred have in store for us month after month? Does this mean that I'm an x-fan?

All of the above ;)

[King Edward III]

Excellent review, Ben. You are one of the only reviewers on staff here I agree with, I'm really liking Xforce. It's smart, yet silly, it's fun yet it's not action packed(in the sense that there's actual conversation, instead of just fight scenes, which cant' be said for Ultimate X-Men), it deals with some very serious issues but doesn't take itself seriously, it's everything I'm looking for in a comic book right now.

I don't normally find myself attracted to the post mortem, but Dead Girl is kinda cute.:)

[Ben Hutton]

LOL. Just say you're attracted to the unusual and leave it at that.

[jono]

I think it would be awesome to see Phat and Vivesector in a relationship. It would have much more impact to reveal that two characters are gay after they've been introduced to the reader than to give the readers a character like Bloke, who was really only a play on stereotypes.

But I doubt they are actually a couple. This is probably just a media stunt they are pulling (like they did in the Lacuna issues)

Oh well, they would have been a cute couple

[Kent H]

According to the Fourth Rail (which as I understand it we're not supposed to link to) review of X-Force #126, there is a special revelation about Phat and Vivsector. Hmmm, methinks they are a couple!

[jono]

Can I be the first member of the Phat/Myles fanclub?

[Ben Hutton]

You'd probably be the first... And only! :P

These guys remind me a little of the comedy relief guys in sitcoms. Not major players, but they have some very nice moments.