New Beginnings - Cable & X-Force #1

After this year's earlier review of Marvel Now Point One it was safe to say that I was more than a little excited by the prospect of this new title. OK, I admit that Cable and Forge are not characters I have any real knowledge about, however the teaser that we were given was great. Couple that with the previewed cover for issue #1, and I was sold from the moment I saw it. So was I right?

Staying with the artwork, my expectations were quite high. The combination of Salvador Larroca and Frank D’Armata is one that has been seen before on Invincible Iron Man, and it has a huge amount of detail in it. I am biased as Larroca has probably my favourite comic book artist and this occasion is one that will simply further that. The lines are smooth and clean with plenty to take in through every frame. Everything seems to have been carefully considered, all the way down to the reactions and facial expressions of those who aren’t in the forefront of the frame. For me he even managed to make Dr. Nemesis - from behind his mask - appear nervous in a fantastic little section where Hope is reunited with Cable.

The character makeovers are good too. A new version of the team has been designed, without compromising who they are. The attention to detail gives greater depth for this as well, with all the technical aspects of Forge and Cable being further emphasised.

My only complaint is the colouring. Throughout D’Armata's prestigious career his use of colour has been vast, but for whatever reason it appears that all he is left with is mainly green and its various shades to use. It doesn’t lessen the comic but was something that stuck out for me.

The story is written by Dennis Hopeless (X-Men Season One and Avengers Arena - also out this week) and starts with a seemingly destructive scene being broken up by Havok and his team of Uncanny Avengers. There’s actually quite a tongue-in-cheek moment when Alex comments on the bad name the Summers family is getting - referring to Cable’s Dad aka Cyclops. The story skips back to a few days earlier where we learn how Cable received his new arm and also how the team is put together (with the exception of Colossus).

Domino receives the lion's share though as we follow her in a slightly humourous fashion on a job, but this is essentially a bridge to bring her in as well as catalysing the meeting of Cable and Hope. All this capitulates in a vision that Cable has had (complete with severe headaches) as it comes true; a ship wrecks itself on a beach seemingly infected with the techno-organic virus that he recently became rid of.

The story was so good I'd devoured it before I knew it. The old adage of time flying when you have fun was ringing true. I was left wanting to see and know more, which in my book is a very good sign. Admittedly though, there wasn’t much more than set up in the first issue and although you can guess the path that it will go down given Cable’s past. I really enjoyed this title and immediately asked for it to go on my pulllist the moment I got a copy in my paws (without even reading it I have to add too) and I haven’t been disappointed. For old and new readers of X-Force alike I would suggest getting a copy.

Matt Puddy is excited to learn that issue #2 is out next week!

New Beginnings: Avengers X-Sanction

He has been seen as a time traveller and a terrorist, a freedom fighter and a mercenary and most recently a father. Cable has been many things but now how will he be viewed as the main protagonist in the four part miniseries X-Sanction?

Written by Jeph Loeb, the first issue is a varying storyline jumping from present to future and back again, setting up the story. One thing it doesn’t clearly address is how this has all happened, though considering the last we saw of Cable was being fully consumed and ultimately ended by the technovirus he constantly struggled against. This in itself will leave a lot of fans and followers wondering what has gone on, but I also have to ask is it necessary to explain here?

Loeb works very well with the ambiguous nature of Cable by placing him at odds with the Avengers, starting to take them down individually. It only becomes clear later in the story as to why and after seeing him with Falcon and Cap, claiming he will take them all down, it does start you thinking about how he will if that’s the plan (considering there is a Hulk on the team it is certainly an interesting thought)? Cable is a desperate man willing to die once again for the girl he knew as his daughter.

If I'm honest the premise - especially in Cable’s case - is a well used one but the twist to this is the overriding paternal instinct. As Cable is such an intense character it is only amplified which I don’t find to be a bad thing. Using The Avengers as “the Bad Guys” is an interesting move but one which I can’t see carrying considering their high moral standards.

As I’m also aware of the upcoming crossover where the Avengers will be pitted against the X-Men because of the Phoenix Force and using Hope as a vessel for it, I am left asking if this little series is necessary. I feel that this is going to go one of two ways, either as a vehicle which introduces a key factor or as a pointless filler.

Stalwart Ed McGuinness has provided the artwork which I didn’t think matched up to the story. It is true to his previous work but I just felt it lacked depth. Cable has always been depicted as an overly muscular alpha male type with the virus taking a part of him adding to the detail in his persona but here it feels as if the work is unfinished or lacking further detail. It’s only in the close up shots of any character that you get a better look and feel for them. McGuinness is also a foreground artist. The backgrounds are open and are simply there to provide a loose feel to the frame not adding any value.

I think that regardless of the end motivation of the mini-series, anyone who followed Messiah Complex or subsequent arcs will like this. I wouldn’t say it’s a reasonable jump on point but the story is strong enough to carry a reader and possibly hook them for all four issues.

Matt Puddy is gearing up for the end of the year with a look back at some of the best of 2011