Rating: 
Summary: X-Force gets overhauled
Review: Since Joe Quesada became Marvel's new Editor in Chief, many of Marvel's long running books have either taken new directions or have gotten completely overhauled. Writer Peter Milligan and artist Mike Allred were enlisted to give X-Force a facelift just like Grant Morrison had done with New X-Men, and they've done a very commendable job. Towards the end of the X-Force I grew up with, it had become a series of re-hashes and the characters just weren't that likeable anymore; thanks to Milligan we get an interesting core of new characters who aren't here to help save the world or fight for mutantkind, they're here for one reason: to make money. This new X-Force is actually more believeable than some X-Men stuff, I know if I had awe inspiring powers and abilities I'd be exploiting them to make a quick buck. Allred's artwork is decent at best, but it's more of an acquired taste. This new X-Force is an interesting read, but I myself do miss the days of Cable, Cannonball, Boomer, Siryn, Warpath, Shatterstar, Rictor, Sunspot, and Feral, and heck, even Caliban and Domino just a bit. All that aside though, this is a good read that does become a bit addicting after a while. Soon after Milligan and Allred began they're run, X-Force was re-titled X-Statix due to copyright issues.
Rating: 
Summary: spectacular
Review: The only problem i have with this, is that it says the first issue in it says 116, when it should say number 1, because this is quite far from the old x-force series, and now when i recommend it to people i have to explain the whole revamp thing, and its just confusing.But its worth it. The stories here are spectacular, intelligent, and addictive.
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Summary: Long Live The New Flesh
Review: They're rich. They're surrounded by groupies. They're hounded by the paparazzi. They have their own franchise souvenir store. Rockstars? No. Movie Stars? No. Superheroes? Absolutely. Like rockstars they're bought and sold by a multi-million dollar conglomerate. Like movie stars they're pampered and spoiled. That's why the X-Force have to be put away and replaced by a new batch of heroes.Peter Milligan's brilliant story starts out with a bang and never lets up even to the last page. His impressions on the cult of celebrity and how it manages to corrupt even the most noble hero is sheer genius. Mike Allred's art has improved ten-fold since Madman and Red Rocket, and that's saying a helluva lot. The new X-Force seem to be teetering between the forces of sheer greed and vanity against the old school principles of valiant herodom. The age old dilemma: to stay true to your ideals or sell out. The suicidal leader of the team is The Orphan, who bears an intentional resemblance to Kurt Cobain. Standing between her selfish desires for fame and fortune and her need to do the right thing is U-Go Girl, who reluctantly develops a crush on The Orphan. Will she be seduced by the sacred or by the profane? Read on. You won't be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: This book is wonderful. The only problem is once you buy this trade paperback you will have to track down all of the issues you missed.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: This book is wonderful. The only problem is once you buy this trade paperback you will have to track down all of the issues you missed.
Rating:
Summary: New Beginnings is Right.
Review: This is a completely different comic than the old X-Force in just about every way. It probably should have started as a new title and first issue, instead of issue 116 of a current title. But, that is just about the only thing wrong with it. The overall tone is cynical and humorous, but the drama is still effective. The plots are extremely unpredictable, and the art is perfect for the story.
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Summary: Finally, an intelligent X-book
Review: When I was in middle school, I occasionally read X-Men and The New Mutants. Eventually, the latter series became X-Force. I stopped reading all of the X-books by the time I got to high school, and thought I'd never pick up one again. When Marvel decided to revamp several of their series, including X-Force, I was mildly intrigued. Several people recommended this title to me, so I picked it up on a lark. I was glad I did. Milligan and Allred have turned a hackneyed mutant title into a dissection of media culture and celebrity with a twist. Bravo! Any negative reviews will doubtlessly come from nostalgics who don't want to see the comics medium reach its full potential or are trapped in an endless adolescence.
Rating:
Summary: Rating will likely fluctuate a lot due to differing opinions
Review: When X-Force first started it was a bland spin-off comic that seemed to be created for the express purpose to help cash in on the X-Men's popularity. But when issue #116 hit everything changed. With new writer Peter Milligan and artist Mike Allred (best known for his groovy independent comic Madman) had created possibly one of the most controversial comic in Marvel's history, with self-centered characters and mature themes. The book focuses on a team of mutant celebrities/mercenaries.
Using their position on the X-Force for personal and financial gain, these mutants go on missions so dangerous; usually at least one of them doesn't come back alive (so don?t get to attached to any one character). When the team is almost all killed off (there are lots of replacements set up), a new leader named the Orphan takes over. Different from other members, he actually seems to care about people, but suffers from severe depression and plays Russian roulette with himself once a day, miraculously surviving each time. Also on the team is U-Go Girl, who wanted to be team leader and is even willing to kill the Orphan to get that position and the Anarchist, the most uncooperative member of all.
The Orphan changes the team in many ways. His superiors want him dead, but can't reveal their intentions to the public and must be secretive about it. The team itself, while not always agreeing with the Orphan's philosophy, respects him and defends him from his superiors. And U-Go Girl, the most selfish of them all, also seems effected by his appearance. When he cries after a team member is killed, she mocks him for it, then realizes that she can't remember the last time she cried.
The series is both original and unconventional, with a sharp biting satire. The members get away with anything, make it to the tabloids and lie about themselves and their past in order to stay popular. There are also lots of mysteries and conspiracies that make the series intriguing and involving. The rich creep who owns the team is making money on X-Force through both hiring the team out for suicide missions and making X-Force merchandise.
X-Force has been one of the most talked about comic series over the year and with its engaging characters and unique stories may stay that way for quite a while. And Mike Allred's unusual retro-art style adds to the bizarre look and feel to the series. Check this Trade out and you might not be disappointed (popular opinion is 50/50)
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Summary: Disturbed & disturbing mutants
Review: X-Force: New Beginnings collects the first five issues of Peter Milligan and Mike Allred's disturbing recreation of one of Marvel's X-Men spin-off titles. X-Force originally began as just another way for Marvel to cash in on the late 80's X-Men craze, and about the seventh or eighth spin-off title at that. Through a long and unremarkable run, the book has been, well...unremarkable. About a year ago, as a part of Marvel's larger editorial gamble to revive interest in their characters, Milligan and Allred were given a title on life support and free reign to do as they pleased. What the two have come up with simply never been done before. Taking Milligan's predisposition for disturbing, cynical and often downright psychedelic storytelling and adding Allred's almost childlike yet stylish pop culture sensibilities has created something that's hard to believe Marvel didn't reject on principle: A team of mutants calling themselves 'X-Force' (Prof. X and company never trademarked the name) is assembled by a rich young software magnate as a product marketing vehicle. They are media superstars constantly holding press conferences and chased by paparazzi, all the while battling for endorsement deals and air time. The missions they undertake are dangerous enough that team members die almost every time out but fame-hungry young mutants are easy to come by, and more importantly the ratings are good. Enter Mister Sensitive, a.k.a. The Orphan. Given the leadership of the team by their coach and the board shortly after joining, he's clearly the only member with a conscience and seemingly the only well-grounded one to boot. How does he do it? Every morning before he leaves his house he polishes his handgun and loads a single bullet in the chamber. Every night when he returns home, he points it at his head and pulls the trigger. Hopefully this gives you the tiniest glimpse into how twisted this book really is. And while there's no way I would recommend it to everyone, it's also as magnetic as car wreck on the side of the road that you find yourself slowing down for even as you curse the others that did the same before you. Although there are huge differences between the two series, Milligan and Allred's X-Force shares a similar tone with Ellis and Dillon's Preacher. Hard to believe Marvel publishes this near total indictment of the Marvel superhero universe. I'll keep buying, though.
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