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This book is relentless. X-Force just refuses to give up the crown for being the most horrifying X-book. It’s inspiring, albeit sickening, how Ben Percy keeps coming up with these gross ideas.
This may even be the most disgusting issue so far. X-Force #11 is written by Benjamin Percy, with art by Bazaldua, colors by Guru-eFX, letters by VC’s Joe Caramagna, and designs by Tom Muller. The main cover is provided by Dustin Weaver and Edgar Delgado.
What Lurks Beneath
X-Force is an exercise in Murphy’s law more than any other book. Things just go wrong at most every turn, in truly grand and explosive fashion. Starting a comic with an autopsy feels pretty natural to them at this point, and naturally, it only gets stranger from there. There’s tension from the start, as the last autopsy revealed explosives inside intruders. This time, however, there are whole people inside of other people! Well, they’re smaller people I suppose, but the idea is basically a Russian nesting doll of horror. It’s essentially a new breed of resurrection, manufactured by humans as biological warfare.
Humans have yet again taken something that makes mutants special and found a way to distort it for their own usage. Nothing is sacred, and there is no edge that mutants can gain that can’t be replicated by smart people with enough money and resources. X-Force has never stopped fleshing out just how much humanity will not let mutants just be mutants. This is the book where the war never really stops.
Colossus Retired?
X-Force #11 finds Colossus retreating into himself. He has taken himself out of the fight and gone to Savage Land to resume his old life of farming. He’s always been a gentle soul, and the things he has seen and had to endure so far in this book have taxed him unbelievably. He’s now raw from the violence and seeks only peace, for as long as he can. He is a broken man and feels he is unfit for this life. He may be right, but his allies will always need a Colossus to watch their backs and keep them safe. He must choose between doing what is best for him and his peace of mind, or joining the fight to keep his people safe.
The call to action doesn’t wait for Colossus to sort himself out unfortunately, as Domino goes to see him to bring him back into the fold. She’s unsuccessful but the attacks begin almost immediately after anyways, and Colossus knows he has no choice but to battle again. I enjoy this time between battles for reflection, particularly geared towards Domino and Colossus, who have been at the forefront of X-Force for much of the series so far. Percy gets you thinking about the deeper aspects here, like how long will the X-Men fight? When will the fight be over? Can you actually retire? None of these questions have simple answers.
Chaos Breaks Loose
Colossus’ concern that the X-Men have a lack of order when he’s with him is well-founded, as he is thrust into the fight where all hell is breaking loose. The Russian nesting dolls from Hell have caused an immense amount of damage, dragging many of Krakoa’s residents into the fight, and even killing a fair few of them. There’s no room for doubt here, so Colossus does what he must and fights for his friends and his family.
X-Force #11 says a lot about just what kind of man Colossus is, and where his head is at right now. It’s a valued insight that speaks to Percy’s ability to get inside the head of the character.
Should You Read X-Force #11?
While X-Force is easily the darkest among the Dawn of X books, there is still a shocking amount of humor to be found, and Percy strikes a solid balance here. X-Force #11 functions well as not only a single issue, but in furthering the tension in the series as we build up to the conclusion of this second arc. Though as far as I can tell, Omega Red does not factor into this, and so this cover is incredibly misleading.
X-Force continues its run as having some of the most fantastic artists on the X-books right now. The change from Cassara to Bazaldua keeps the books having a similar vibe, but Guru’s coloring really maintains the consistency. It never feels like you’re suffering for swapping artists, which is a hard feat to achieve, but this art team is up to the task. Bazaldua makes the creepy Russian nesting dolls from Hell look horrific despite any real discernible features, and draws a hell of a Colossus in general. Guru’s colors only serve to enhance Bazaldua’s work, with his well-chosen palette.
The data pages are becoming a bit indulgent of Percy’s clear affinity for prose. It’s a handy tool for exposition and the front-loading of information, but in X-Force #11 they feel superfluous. I would still rank X-Force as being one of the top five current X-books, based on the consistency of the issues. There’s only one more issue before X Of Swords begins, so expect some resolution to this storyline next month.
