Cable and X-Force #1 Advanced Review

Writer:  Dennis Hopeless
Artist:  Salvador Larroca
Colorist:  Frank D’Armata
Letterer:  VC’s Joe Sabino

I have been a lifelong fan of the X-Force title.  Rob Liefeld’s X-Force #1 was one of the very first comics I ever bought, along with Jim Lee’s X-Men #1.  I’ve seen many writers and artists come and go, from Fabien Nicieza to Jeph Loeb to Tony Daniel to Greg Capullo to Adam Pollina.

Even though Cable was originally the one who created the team, he has not been associated with the name for many years.  That all changes this week as Cable and X-Force #1 hits comic book stores.  The Cable we are presented with looks slightly different than the Cable we are accustomed to seeing.  He is no longer suffering from the techno-organic virus, but his reasons for reforming X-Force remain a mystery that will unfold as the series progresses.  Meanwhile, they are hunted fugitives on the run from the Uncanny Avengers team.

What I Liked

I am a huge fan of Salvador Larroca’s artwork.  He has recently finished a long run on Invincible Iron Man.  I would have thought Marvel would put him on a higher profile book in the Marvel NOW!, but I won’t complain.  Larroca’s art is always so clean, and the colors from Frank D’Armata make every page light up.  The shading and the colors go well with Larroca’s style.

Uncanny Avengers and X-Force are tied together through the relationship between Havok and Cable.  I totally forgot that Cable is Havok’s nephew.  This raises the drama level between the two groups.  Havok even gets to flaunt his leadership by punking Captain America of all people.  Cap, being a good sport, teases Havok about it afterwards.

I like Hope being a supporting character.  After Avengers vs. X-Men I thought Hope would play a larger role in the Marvel universe.  Scarlet Witch is featured in Uncanny Avengers so why not Hope?  She, along with Scarlet Witch, helped put an end to the Dark Phoenix and bring forth the dawn of new mutants popping up across the globe.  But it does make sense to tie Hope to Cable, her adopted father.  Speaking of Cable, the new side-effects of no longer having the techno-organic virus are used in such a way that it brings a new wrinkle to what some consider a stale character.

What I Didn’t Like

Even though Colossus is a member of the team, his presence is kept to a minimum.  And how old is Hope supposed to be?  I know she is of high school age, but in some panels Larroca illustrates her as if she’s a grown woman.

There is one scene where Cable calls Forge “Skitch”, and Forge flips out on him.  Does anyone know when characters started referring to Forge as “Skitch”?

I’m looking forward to seeing what direction Dennis Hopeless takes Cable and X-Force.  Especially since they’ll be crossing paths with the Uncanny Avengers.  And with Uncanny X-Force scheduled to come out in January 2013, its only a matter of time before both X-Force units interact.  For now, we get to follow the adventures of the fugitive X-Force squad.

This review is written in partnership with Pop Culture Network.  They can be found at their website http://www.popculturenetwork.com/

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE