Writer: Benjamin Percy
Art: Paul Davidson, GURU-eFX, VC’s Joe Caramagna, Tom Muller, Joshua Cassara, Dean White, and Jay Bowen
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $4.99
Release Date: July 12th, 2023
Beast’s epic long game plays out in the only way it could – with Nimord’s ultimate plan successful, Hank McCoy survives and thrives! But what will this mean for mutantkind, and does X-Force still have time to stop it? Let’s dive into X-Force #42 by Ben Percy and find out!
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read the X-Force #42 Review.
THE DISPATCH
Well, readers get an intriguing new future in X-Force #42 that unravels with a Nimrod-Beast hybrid. Now, as clever as this might all seem, I just didn’t seem to jive with the ongoing Krakoan Era nor does it feel like it fits with any future already outlined since HOXPOX. Again, it’s a pretty wild concept by Percy but I can’t marry the two ideas together. It just seems like Percy is on his own island now. Either way, the story itself moves pretty quickly. For being in a brand new time and reality, X-Force just dives into the deep end, soaks it all in fast, and ultimately tries some good ol’ fashion heroing immediately unfazed.
However, after a ridiculous build-up quickly wraps with Nimrod Beast gaining the upper hand, somehow the climatic moment and huge reveal just… ends with a rather trite ending. Moreover, the special guest hidden amongst Quentin was also quite silly and exploded into what you’d think would be a rather impactful moment yet rapidly devolves into a pointless story beat alongside Nimrod Beast. Readers will probably leave X-Force #42 shaking their heads with confusion and wondering what the point of the issue even was.
ART
Paul Davidson and GURU-eFX don’t do an awful job but they don’t do enough to elevate the story and save the issue either. The line work is blurry at times, too small, and lacks detail where it matters most: the character’s features. On a more positive note, the colors surrounding any of the electricity were bright and vibrant as well as the lettering which was used wisely to amplify some key moments. Nevertheless, the smaller panel work made for poor renderings that lacked sufficient detail in key moments throughout X-Force #42.
FINAL THOUGHTS
What the heck was the dang point of X-Force #42? It was the epitome of a Saturday Morning Cartoon adventure that amounted to absolutely nothing. A possible future romp that merely exposed the lack of continuity amongst the ongoing X-Men titles simply to showcase a cool amalgam of Beast and Nimrod. The story itself oozed with potential solely to be quickly torn down by an otherwise silly moment that later ushers our X-Force team back to the present. Truthfully, X-Force #42 proves that new blood needs to be on this title. The plot’s potential was trumped by its goofy culmination and inadequate storytelling. Readers, X-Force #42 is skippable and doesn’t affect the overall plot at all nor does it impact the other X-books. When you read a comic, you want to feel like the money you spend is worth it… and this just isn’t anymore. Let me know what you think, have a great week, and God Bless!