Obsessively putting our comics in chronological order since 1985.
| 1992-05-01 00:10:13 |
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X-Force annual #1
Issue(s): X-Force annual #1
Cover Date: 1992
Title: "The mirror liars / The crush"
Credits:
Fabian Nicieza / Gavin Curtis - Writer
Greg Capullo / Gavin Curtis - Penciler
Harry Candelario / Dan Panosian - Inker
Suzanne Gaffney - Managing Editor
Bob Harras - Editor
Review/plot:
With the decision that every annual be part of a crossover, you have a situation where hot books like the new X-Men and X-Force series had first time annuals that were part of these just inane storylines like Shattershot. I don't know why i bring that up. It's just strikes me as i'm looking at this ridiculous story that takes place entirely in the future, with none of the members of the regular series appearing, that it's the first X-Force annual. Granted it's essentially New Mutants annual #8, but the fact that it is a new #1 makes me think it should have been something special. I guess some people might enjoy the composition of the alternate future team, which includes a member of Power Pack...
...a returned Magik (who judging by the art is the real Spineless One in this story)...
...and a Douglock.
But we've seen all that before.
Anyway, the story here is that a future version of Shatterstar is in charge of a future version of the Mojoverse, and while he's having some doubts he's basically as bad as Mojo was, so a future version of Arize travels to Earth and recruits a future version of X-Force to stop him.
In the end they convince Shatterstar to be cool. In fact, the arrival of the team is really enough to do that, although there's still plenty of random fighting. An elderly Longshot is seen grinning in the distance at the new peace on Mojoworld.
At least i assume he's supposed to be elderly. I guess Greg Capullo could just be doing his best Rob Liefeld impersonation. More lines!
The Spineless Ones in this story have lost all of their Ann Nocenti symbolism. They are just random bug-eyed monsters (or Clockwork Orange-eyed monsters), for all intents and purposes.
A back-up story focuses on Artie, Leech, and (mostly) Wiz Kid at the school that they've been abandoned to. Wiz Kid has developed a crush on his teacher, and imagines that the teacher's boyfriend is really a bad guy.
Which turns out to be the reality.
There's another back-up story which is really a just review of the X-Force's bad guys.
Quality Rating: D
Historical Significance Rating: 1
Chronological Placement Considerations: This is the fourth and final part of the Shattershot event. Note that there's a possible Reference to the events of X-Men #10-11 but since it's being told from the perspective of characters in the future, it doesn't dictate placement (and it may very well be depicting an alternate reality anyway). Note that the only characters appearing are from the Wiz Kid back-up.
References:
- Longshot first fled to Earth in the Longshot mini-series.
- He joined the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men annual #10.
- A panel depicts a scene that may have been from the fight against Mojo in X-Men #10-11 (although the narration describes a battle against Mojo I & II).
Crossover: Shattershot
Continuity Insert? N
My Reprint: N/A
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Comments
Its weird that there's a back-up about Artie, Leech and Whiz Kid in this book of all places. I doubt Liefeld's fans would have wanted to see some quirkier characters from before their time sad to say.
The scene can't be a reference to "our" reality's version of X-Men 10-11, since Arize and Spiral weren't present for the fight.
Interestingly, though, Arize and Spiral aren't actually in the "flashback". It's only said that he "sought to combine" the X-Men and Longshot. so maybe the implication is that they are behind the scenes, having somehow arranged for Longshot and the X-Men to come together again? I've added a scan.
The future Powerpax is not just a member of Power Pack, she is the only (surviving?) one, if we go by her jacket. She's got all the powers of her siblings(she is presumably named for Franklin Richards since her name is Francine). That only one Power child ends up with all the powers is not a new idea, but Nicieza will pursue it in his New Warriors series with Alex heisting his sibs powers and using the name Powerpax as well even wearing a similar jacket.
