Writer: Rick Remender Art: Jerome Opeña, with covers and guest art by Esad Ribic, Billy Tan, Phil Noto, Mark Brooks, Mike McKone, Greg Tocchini, Leonardo Manco, Rafael Albuquerque, Robbi Rodriguez, Julian Totino Tedesco & David Williams Publisher: Marvel Comics
WHAT IS IT?
Wolverine, Psylocke, Angel, Deadpool and Fantomex fight Apocalypse and enemies from alternate realities.
It’s dark, violent and for more mature audiences (see the below page for the type of…*ahem* subject matter discussed). It’s like if the X-Men movies were a heavy PG-13.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT? (Minor Spoilers)
So, you may need some light X-Men knowledge for this, but it makes for a really good jumping-on point. If you know who Apocalypse is, the story of Angel & Archangel, and have a rough idea of what the Age of Apocalypse is, you’ll be fine.
As this point in the greater X-Men continuity, X-Force is around to prevent disasters from happening. Apocalypse is one of those potential disasters.
When the team attempts to stop Apocalypse’s rise to power, events happen that throw off the team dynamic and thrust them into a dimension-hopping adventure filled with danger, violence, sex, distrust and potentially world-ending destruction.
The consequences of these books echo through future titles and multiple spin-offs.
WHAT WORKS?
The team members offer an interesting balance of power sets, senses of humor (or lack thereof) and mental and emotional instabilities, making for a darkly fascinating read
Deadpool spends a lot of the book coping with self-doubt, which helps offset his some-times zany, over-the-top
The art is very detailed and high-quality, and it fits the story and dimension the charac-ters are in for each issue, even with constantly changing artists
It has a lot of favorites that are staples for X-Men fans: Apocalypse, star-crossed lovers, a love triangle, dimensional travel and alternate versions of characters we know
A lot of what’s in here makes longtime X-Men fans feel good for knowing characters and their pasts
They pack a ton of issues into these two trade paperback volumes
Grey & black costumes are objectively the best
There’s more, but, well…SPOILERS.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK?
Not for all ages
Constant changes in artist make for a less cohesive feel
You probably shouldn’t read this story with no previous X-Men knowledge, though it’s still fairly accessible
WHY SHOULD YOU READ IT?
Definitely read it if you’re an X-Men fan.
I personally love this run, and I think it’s one of the best runs in recent Marvel history, but I could see how folks might feel lost if this is their first X-Men story. You’ll be the most rewarded if you were a fan of the X-Comics in the ‘80s and ‘90s and/or maybe the ‘90s cartoon.
WHAT DO I READ NEXT?
If you like the writing:
Uncanny Avengers by Rick Remender and John Cassaday
Age of Apocalypse by David Lapham & Humberto Ramos AND X-Treme X-Men by Greg Pak & Julian Totino Tedesco AND Astonishing X-Men 60-65 by Pak, Liu, Lapham, Smith, Beredo & Camuncoli
Cable and X-Force by Dennis Hopeless & Salvador Larroca AND Uncanny X-Force by Sam Humphries & Ron Garney
If you like the art:
Seven to Eternity by Rick Remender & Jerome Opeña
Star Wars: Poe Dameron, Vol. 1 by Charles Soule & Phil Noto
LOW by Rick Remender & Greg Tocchini
ABOUT THE CREATORS
Rick Remender – Writer
Multitalented: Has worked in animation on films like The Iron Giant and Titan A. E. and was a writer on video games (Dead Space and Bulletstorm)
His battle with depression shows through in his stories (especially LOW), which tend to be dark
Syfy just picked up his series, Deadly Class
Jerome Opeña – Art
Dream Team: Often collaborates with Rick Remender
Born in the Philippines, and moved to America at 16
Dean White – Colors
Multitalented: Is a trained painter, and uses these same skills to influence his comics work
Prolific: Has worked on covers and colors for a large number of comics, many for Marvel and DC
Cory Petit – Letters
Most of his work has been for Marvel, and much of it has been through the Virtual Calligraphy lettering studio (which is why you’ll see him credited as “VC’s Cory Petit)
Prolific: Has worked on nearly 3000 issues of comics
HOW DO I BUY IT?
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