The Beast has gone rogue, and even his own hand-picked strike team may not be able to bring him to justice. Your Major Spoilers review of X-Force #48 from Marvel Comics awaits!
X-FORCE #48
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Robert Gill
Colorist: GUFU-eFX
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Editor: Mark Basso
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 24, 2024
Previously in X-Force: He was their mission commander. Now he is their mission. At last, X-Force takes the fight to Henry McCoy, AKA The Beast… and he will answer for his crimes!
“TRY TO STAY ALIVE”
X-Force #48 opens outside The Greenhouse, the arctic base where X-Force has been headquartered, not long after the massacre at the Hellfire Gala. Even with Omega Red standing guard, there’s nothing to keep The Beast from getting inside, especially when he’s armed with a sniper rifle. X-Force is none the wiser as their former leader waltzes in, steals a Krakoan battle armor, bids them all farewell, then flies away. Even Sage is left gobsmacked, but she reveals to Wolverine that she does have an ace in the hole… but it’s not one he’s going to like. If X-Force doesn’t like the idea of one Henry McCoy running rampant, they’re really not going to like Sage awakening his clone and having TWO.
FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE
A lot of the X-Books that have come out since the Hellfire Gala have been insanely dark and disturbing affairs, full of foreboding and machinations of people I don’t get. This one is much clearer, showing us an X-Force squad where everyone’s role is clearly defined, one that has familiar faces like Colossus and The Wolverines, but also Omega Red, Black Tom, and Quentin Quire, making for an interesting new take on mutant black ops. The sequence surrounding the revival of clone Beast (one whose memories and emotional rot are only updated to his New Defenders days, which makes him a much younger and more idealistic man) is excellent, and ends with an important reminder for Sage and the rest of the X-Force: A genius who’s not evil is still a genius. The art is also noteworthy, with clone-Beast returning to the incredibly stupid-looking John Lennon specs to provide clear differentiation between clones, as well as some intricate/disturbing plant-based Krakoan tech throughout.
BOTTOM LINE: INTERESTING STUFF
The upshot of X-Force #48 seems to be returning an earlier Doctor McCoy to the proverbial chessboard, but whether or not it’s an attempt to unravel some of the horrific things he’s done (like when Iron Man erased his memory to wash away the stink of his fascism during Civil War) remains unclear, but regardless, this issue makes an enjoyable read, earning 3.5 out of 5 stars overall. The promise of Wonder Man and Beast reuniting next issue will have me back for at least one more, but if this keeps up, I may be following X-Force for a bit.
Dear Spoilerite,
At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.
X-FORCE #48
Having not been following anything X-Force for some time, I was surprised how easy it was to slip into their world and how clear the storytelling is, something that not all X-Teams share currently.
-
Writing7
-
Art7
-
Coloring7
Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.