1. X-Force is primo emo.
2. I like when they have these scenes where Wolverine or Cyclops insists on some scenario to see if like Wolfsbane is still a deadly killer, or Archangel is still a deadly killer -- and they go: "okay, let's lock them both in a small room and spray them with hatred and Tabasco sauce and see what happens." And you feel kinda good during the inevitable carnage that follows, because you feel in a way like it was all done for your entertainment benefit.
3. They actually have a parental advisory on the cover to tip off parents to the violence inside.
4. Every damn time Cyclops says: "We're going dark. We're in the dark side now. It ain't pretty. No foolin'."
5. Two Angels for the price of one.
6. Wolverine acts like the den mother in this book; X-Force's Mrs. Garrett.
7. I can almost forget X-23 was a child prostitute.
8. Great coloring. Lots of red.
9. They have all the stabby characters in this book.
10. I can almost forget the X-Force of 1991.
"stabby characters" :)
ReplyDeleteAgreed on all points except the last. The X-Force of 1991ish was great once Nicieza took over full time. Just ask Ben Morse
ReplyDeletehttp://thecoolkidztable.blogspot.com/2008/10/essentials-x-force-16-43.html
X-Force is a fun book. I wouldn't call it good. Kinda like watching a bad straight to video horror or action flick. I just wonder why they dont drop the other shoe and make it the MAX X-Book.
ReplyDeleteNot that I'm sure I want to see where it would go after that considering the carnage they get away with in the reg.
But yes, much better than the old book.
11. I am crazy.
ReplyDeleteNo, actually, the things you like are what the comic is putting out! I sure like x-23. I do, somehow! Despite certain childhood circumstances. Yeah...
I’ve been reading your blog for a
ReplyDeleteWhile but lately, discerning the difference between your opinion and your sarcasm is getting hard. Don't get me wrong, I love your sharp-tongue and edgy style of blogging; why I read you in the first place... But irony does not have the luxury of ambiguity, in my opinion.
Let's assume that your last post was sarcasm.
Do you really think that the violence into comics/movies has any kind of effects in the real world? Isn't it the other way around, actually? Couldn't it be that there is violence in art precisely because there is violence in the world???
Do you really believe that if we were to remove all the violent content from comics, movies, tv, etc., the world would be less violent, without crimes and wars? Isn't it human nature, after all?!?!? I do think it's part of our sapiens...
Also, for somebody who seems to dislike people like Sarah Palin, you sure do sound like her lately.
I mean, there are bad comics out there just as many as there are bad movies, bad books or bad tv shows. But I believe people should be able to choose what they want to read. I think that somebody's worst comics is somebody else's best comics, Comics aren't worse than book; ever read anything by Bret Easton Ellis? I got friends who got hooked on comics because of Y: The Last Man, others because of Preacher, others yet because of the batman “gang war” crossover.
Anyway, it's not like you don't have any choice: the Previews contains thousands and thousands of comics, why not praise those comics instead of bashing the work of others. Do you even look at the back of the previews or are you just stay in the mainstream pages?
Anyway, most of the time, I agree with you but lately it seems to be all about censorship and how the world of comics is tainted and offensive. I just don't get it, it's one thing to denounce DC bad/unethical business practices but acting like Nightwing #149 or X-Force is destroying the business is something else. All in all, it reminds me of the mid-90s debate about Tarantino and Stone's flicks encouraging ultra-violence in teens and young adults... Or Kubrick's recall of Clockwork Orange from the UK because he and his family were getting death threats... Or the Vatican's forbidden long kisses on the silver screen way back when... I mean, isn't art supposed to reflect humanity's great concerns?!?!? And what are bigger concerns than sex and violence, really?!?!?
RE: Wolverene as Mrs. Garrett
ReplyDeleteJeezus, nearly shot my coffee from my nose. Now you've got to do an entry explaining which X-Men are the analogs of the various Eastland gals!
Or if you're feeling REALLY ambitious, hows about a Facts of Life / 80s era X-Men crossover fan-fic?
Man, I may have to write one of those myself!
Actually, I have no problem with the violence in X-Force, and collect the book monthly.
ReplyDeleteThe main reason I have no problem with it is because there is a clear parental advisory regarding said violence on the cover.
Every mainstream superhero comic book that has an excess of either violence or sex should have an advisory or rating of some kind on the cover. There is no excuse not to.
Maybe that is construed as "censorship" -- but better you clearly warn the reader before she or he reads it, than deal with some court case or reactionary boycott later.
Actually, I have no problem with the violence in X-Force, and collect the book monthly.
ReplyDeleteThe main reason I have no problem with it is because there is a clear parental advisory regarding said violence on the cover.
Every mainstream superhero comic book that has an excess of either violence or sex should have an advisory or rating of some kind on the cover. There is no excuse not to.
Maybe that is construed as "censorship" -- but better you clearly warn the reader before she or he reads it, than deal with some court case or reactionary boycott later.
Don't forget the "Everything AND the kitchen sink" approach to the villains. This book resurrected just about every anti-mutant human adversary this side of the Ani-Mator the X-Men & Co. have ever faced in the last arc, not to mention Bastion and the remnants of Magus, Warlock's daddy. The current arc piles on the Vanisher, the Legacy Virus, AND Demon Bear. Shhheeeeeeshhh!
ReplyDeleteLet's just say I don't try to think too hard where X-Force is concerned.
I have no problem with warning and parental advisory on a book or movie. Actually, I think those advisories do the exact opposite of what they meant to do. I think kids or teenagers will be more likely to buy a book or a movie that's telling them: "Hey, this contains violence".
ReplyDeleteBut hey, if it's really help parent and make conservator feel safe, go for it...
Val never calls for censorship, she calls for smarter writing and smarter business practices. Any hack can write uberviolence and rape and death and blood and blah, blah, blah. But a talented writer knows when to step back and say, "Okay, why does this need to be here in the first place?" Now, I still disagree with her about Nightwing #149 because it was repetitive hallucinations and while there was lots of blood in the hallucinations there wasn't much in the way of gore, but I understand why she might call for DC to scratch their chins and say, "You know, maybe we should have a warning on this."
ReplyDeleteNor was she saying at any point that the level of violence in comics somehow correlated to the level of real-world violence. And while you can pull out the tired old "but you can choose not to read it!" defense, believe it or not we do care about these characters. I'm pissed off that I can't read Teen Titans right now because McKeever has forgotten that violence, death, and angst are no substitutes for good storytelling.
11. James Proudstar, ever since John Francis Moore's run on Vol. 1 he's been my favorite X-man. Not only is he stabby (love that term), but he's the strongest, fastest most agile member of the team. He's also just the right ammount of Emo for me (rhane is too much, x-23 is to little).
ReplyDelete"But irony does not have the luxury of ambiguity, in my opinion."
ReplyDeleteThat is one of the most totally insanely wrong statements I've seen in quite some time.
I made my way through the first are because I love Rahne. I thought of dropping it, but I like Mike Choi's art far too much.
ReplyDeleteThe violence doesn't bother me, as long as there's a story-based reason for it [I don't there was enough story in the first arc]. 22 pages of fighting sounds like the worst book possible.
Can the former child prostitute please put on a damn shirt, for the love of corn?
ReplyDeleteI was going to make an actual point but Lewis and Jack already did. So I just second what they wrote. Right here. In this space.
I don't think it's the violence itself in the books. It's the crappy way in which it's presented and the context. And comparing some of the comic books Valerie's ranted about to works by Kubrick and even Tarantino is reeealllly stretching to make a point.
You might be able to compare them to stuff by that "Hey Vern!" guy or maybe the best Yahoo Serious movie.
Lewis: The whole "we care about the characters" is a mentality that need to change because it's wrong on so many level.
ReplyDeleteYou can't except a monthly comic book to always be excellent and going in the direction that you like. Every major comic property was bad at one point of another in his history.
I mean lately a book will have at least two different writers during a year and the story is also influence by the editors and all the people revolving around the comic.
Also it always work in cycle, so sooner or later the Teen Titans is bound to revert to is original team just like sooner or later MJ and Peter will be back together.
To complaining that a book is out of character or that a book is killing a industry or that a george lucas is destroying Star Wars ect..
If wasted time and energy. It also make the fanboy image stick to the comic community.
You don't like what's happening right now. Well don't buy the book, if more people are like you, sales will drop and change will be made.
But during that period go read something broaden your horizon, discover something new.
Comic books are like a passionate lover, a one point you just keep your hands off it and it's the best thing you ever had. Suddenly it stop and you can't stand being with person. Than months or years later you meet this person again and it's love again. it's an endless cycle...
Overanalyzing a post about X-Force?
ReplyDeleteU R DOIN IT WRONG.
:)
OMG... Gotta check this out. I haven't bought a comic in like 6 months but I will now. Hully gee.
ReplyDelete