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X-Force |
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My thoughts on this series as a whole have not entirely been formed yet,
at least not so far as I would feel comfortable making them public. But anyway, I highly doubt
that you came here to read what it is that I may or may not have thought.
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| Issues Owned: |
-1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,
31, 32
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of ?? |
| #16 | | November 1992 |
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| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | Fabian Nicieza | Greg Capullo | Harry Candelario | | X-Force battles the X-Men Blue team (sans Beast) and X-Factor (sans Quicksilver). The X-Men’s hope is to find Cable through X-Force. At the same time the X-Men Gold team, together with Beast and Quicksilver, is trying to find Apocalypse. However, they only find his Horsemen, who are easily defeated. An automated holo-message starts. It’s from Sinister, who tells the X-Men that they are on the wrong trail. In the mansion Bishop tries to defend Xavier from Sinister, who instead of fighting gives them the name of the mastermind behind their current problems. In his secret hideout Cable readies himself for combat, as he thinks he knows who the assassin is. Meanwhile, the captive Jean and Scott are brought before Stryfe. Eventually, the X-Men and X-Factor defeat the X-Force team and wonder what to do next. |
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December 1992 | | #17 |
| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | Fabian Nicieza | Greg Capullo | Harry Candelario | | Stryfe faces and defeats Apocalypse and takes control over the Dark Riders. Meanwhile, Cable explains his and Stryfe’s history to Wolverine and Bishop; they are both from about 2000 years in the future where they fought on opposing sides. Only recently did he learn that Stryfe and he look identical. Elsewhere the X-Men and X-Factor treat their wounded, while in Styfe’s base, Cyclops and Jean escape from their cells. At the X-mansion, Apocalypse arrives and offers his help. Then he collapses onto the ground. |
| #18 | | January 1993 |
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| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | Fabian Nicieza | Greg Capullo | Harry Candelario | | Archangel leaves Apocalypse to die, while Cable faces his nemesis Stryfe, and Cyclops, Jean and Havok try to ´help him, as best as they can. As ordered by Cable, Cyclops operates his equipment. Cable sacrifices himself to stop Stryfe and both combatants disappear into the timestream. Cyclops knows that he had to sacrifice his son a second time. Mr. Sinister’s assistant, Gordon, opens the container Stryfe handed to him, but it appears to be empty. |
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February 1993 | | #19 |
| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | Fabian Nicieza | Greg Capullo | Harry Candelario | | X-Force is still under house arrest following the events of the X-Cutioner’s Song crossover. Boomer makes herself a new costume with a Shi’ar clothing synthesizer. Lila walks in and tells her Sam is back. Boomer’s a little perturbed because she thinks Lila and Sam have a thing, but Lila assures her that Sam and her are just friends. Roberto is outside mulling things over. Stevie Hunter joins him and they talk about his past and how he feels directionless. Unfortunately, Stevie doesn’t know what to say. Meanwhile, Feral, Shatterstar and Rictor have some fun in the Danger Room. Beast is up in the control deck wondering about X-Force’s current situation. Seeing the three perform, he realizes that they are better fighters than the original X-men when they were at their age, though he wonders about their ethics and morals. Elsewhere in the mansion, Terry and James copy some files from the X-Men. James is trying to get an edge on fighting crime, but Theresa is a little nervous about the whole 'stealing' thing. Inside the Professor’s office, he and Sam have a long discussion about X-Force’s status. Sam makes it clear that he wants his team to be able to leave. While Boomer equips the rest of X-Force with their new costumes, Siryn and Xavier chat outside. Xavier wants to know why she joined X-Force and she says she wanted to be with people like her. A little bit later Sam gathers up the troops for a full confrontation with Charles. He manages to use Xavier’s own words against him. Charles finally decides to let them leave. X-Force exits the mansion and finds Lila outside waiting. She offers to teleport them back to Camp Verde. Before Sam walks through, Charles stops him and they talk about his decision. Is it the right one? Only time will tell. In Massachusetts a confused Copycat is hiding in the apartment of her friend Tina. Above the Atlantic Ocean, Bridge is aboard a SHIELD Helicarrier. He’s getting censured for what happened during the Weapon Prime operation. Bridge, furious, quits. |
| #20 | | March 1993 |
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| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | Fabian Nicieza | Greg Capullo | Harry Candelario | | When SHIELD discovers Cable’s secret orbital space station, they want another crack at capturing Cable and the technology contained within, however, they’re also forced to share the technology with Stark Industries, since it was their satellite which made the discovery. Meanwhile, back on Earth, the members of X-Force get settled into their new home of Camp Verde, Arizona by installing a new communications array. However, no sooner do they activate it than they come across a news broadcast of the discovery found in Earth’s orbit. The members of X-Force recognize the station as belonging to Cable, whom they believe to have perished in the battle with Stryfe. Suiting up, and using Lila’s teleporting ability, the X-Forcers arrive on Graymalkin only to discover that the Station possesses an artificial intelligence… one they’re already familiar with… X-Factor’s Ship. Shortly after that, G.W. Bridge and Nick Fury prepare to board Graymalkin themselves, which gives them prompt attention from X-Force. The two teams clash, but the members of SHIELD find themselves outclassed. However, just when victory seems to be within X-Force’s grasp, the other shoe drops… in the form of War Machine. Meanwhile, back on Earth, in Boston, Copycat continues her long convalescence, by morphing into the likeness of her best friend. Elsewhere, Domino continues her quest for X-Force by tracking down Grizzly, who had battled X-Force as a member of Weapon PRIME. And lastly, not even the Externals are safe from a mysterious malady which ends up killing Nicodemus. |
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April, 1993 | | #21 |
| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | Fabian Nicieza | Greg Capullo | Harry Candelario | | All hell breaks loose on Graymalkin as X-Force battles War Machine, and the remnants of SHIELD. The battle results in massive destruction across the station, and causes the Professor to malfunction. Faced with the station’s eminent destruction, Cannonball begins procedures that will preserve Cable’s technology, including jettisoning major portions of the station to Earth. The team debates whether to abandon the station, but it all seems moot when the entire station suddenly explodes. Back in Camp Verde, Warpath, Siryn and Boomer return to base only to find it all but empty, when they are suddenly ambushed by a shadowed figure and knocked unconscious. Elsewhere, Domino continues her quest to gather the remaining members of the Six Pack, which brings her and Grizzly to Hammer’s home. Vanessa is enjoying her new face, while Deadpool begins his search for her and her connection to the Tolliver Will. |
| #22 | | ?? |
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| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | ?? | ?? | ?? | | A summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to come! |
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?? | | #23 |
| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | ?? | ?? | ?? | | A summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to come! |
| #24 | | ?? |
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| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | ?? | ?? | ?? | | A summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to comeA summary to come! |
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August 1993 | | #25 |
| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | Fabian Nicieza | Greg Capullo | Bob Wiacek | | A visitor has hidden himself in X-Force’s home. When they arrive, they realize this and split up to try and find their unwanted guest. The visitor takes out the whole team, besides Cannonball and Boomer, who both end up figuring out the identity of the guest; it is none other than Cable. The team, besides Rictor and Sunspot, are happy to see their once-thought deceased leader back. Cable is able to rectify Rictor and Sunspot’s animosity for him by explaining that while they thought he had killed both their fathers, it was Stryfe and not he. Believing him, they feel better towards him. Later that day, the team is surprised by the abrupt arrival of Exodus, Magneto’s emissary. After a brief fight, Exodus requests that Sunspot and Cannonball come with him to Avalon to meet his master. They agree, though only if Rictor, Boomer, Rusty, and Skids can go as well. Exodus agrees and takes the Avalon-bound X-Force away. Shocked by Cannonball’s apparent betrayal, Shatterstar begins to feel misgivings towards Cannonball, but Cable explains that before Cannonball left, he placed a comm-link onto Cable’s arm, which will allow the rest of the team members to follow in the IPAC. Meanwhile, Exodus has brought the team to a station that the team recognizes as Cable’s old station, Graymalkin. Exodus also introduces the team to his master, whom they recognize as Magneto. Magneto places his hands, religiously, on Rusty and Skids’ heads and destroys the implants that Stryfe had used on them. They, afterwards, seem to wake up from a dream world and remember nothing about their time with the MLF. Magneto next offers the team a chance to stay in his new home he has created and named Avalon. Meanwhile, Cable’s team on the IPAC has made its way to the station and Cable is very distraught about his former base now being controlled by a madman. Siryn calms him down and X-Force gets into the station where Cable tries to override the controls for Graymalkin’s bodyslide technology and put it back under his own command. Exodus, though, senses their arrival and tries to stop Cable from overriding the technology. Exodus fails and Cable teleports himself and all of X-Force, including Rusty and Skids, to a safe place. Cable informs Cannonball of his plans to destroy Graymalkin and, luckily for Magneto, Cannonball is able to talk Cable out of it. Very distraught, Cable allows Rusty and Skids to stay on Avalon, which was their desire, and transports all of X-Force, besides himself, back onto the IPAC, which he commands to head for Earth. Cable runs to Graymalkin’s central core and retrieves the Professor’s programming from the station’s database. After a tense battle with Magneto, in which Cable’s mechanical parts are tore apart, Cable requests that the Professor bodyslide him to the IPAC which it does, leaving Magneto behind. |
| #26 | | September 1993 |
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| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | Fabian Nicieza | Matt Broome | Bud Larosa | | It's been a week since the ill-fated encounter with Magneto, and Cable is still recovering from his wounds. Concerned The members of X-Force gather around and are stunned when Cable suddenly awakens. Days later, Cable surveys the team from a distance, while getting used to the new voice in his head (of the sentient computer), Professor. Cannonball and Sunspot leave for Madripoor to inform Xi'an of Illyana's death; Rictor suggests to Boomer that Cannonball's romantic hesitation may indicate he doesn't return her love and Feral is still pining away for Shatterstar, who is obliviously performing training exercises. He's interrupted by a drunken Siryn, who makes a fool of herself to both Shatterstar and Cable, before Warpath arrives and takes her to her bed. Warpath explains he's the only one who knows about her drinking and helps her as much as he can without confronting her -- he's afraid she'd reject him. Later, Shatterstar irritates a TV-watching Rictor by changing channels constantly, prompting Rictor to storm out and, bumping into Cable, tell him that, even though he believes Cable didn't kill his father, he still hates him. Cable sets the TV to change channels every three seconds (to fit Shatterstar's liking) in an attempt to be a better, friendlier leader. Amid all these events, Cable reflects on his growing sense of irresponsibility as a leader; he tried to turn X-Force into a team of soldiers just like him even though he knew how miserable he was. He's beginning to think this was wrong and that he owes it to them to be much more than he has been. Meanwhile, at the Whitman Maximum Security Federal Penitentiary, a mysterious villain wielding powerful bolts of energy attacks and breaks Forearm, Reaper, Tempo and Wildside out of prison. He explains that his name is Reignfire, that he's recruiting the four of them into a new MLF dedicated to terrorizing humanity for their crimes against mutants and that their first move is going to be to capture Henry Peter Gyrich and flay him alive! |
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October, 1993 | | #27 |
| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | Fabian Nicieza | Matt Broome | Bud Larosa | | Forearm, Tempo, Reaper and Wildside are working their way onto the grounds of Henry Peter Gyrich’s estate. Since Locus’ powers are scrambling the security systems, Gyrich decides to send out Hardaway - a prototype biosentry - to test out his combat effectiveness. Hardaway attacks and takes out Forearm, then switches to his cybernetic brain to avoid Tempo and Wildside’s powers. Before anything further can occur, Moonstar and Locus appear, disabling and murdering Hardway, respectively. Tempo expresses her displeasure with the team’s methods and Locus disappears briefly, returning with Gyrich. Moonstar announces that Gyrich will now answer for his crimes against mutants and Locus teleports all of them away. The next day, X-Force spies on a conversation between Valerie Cooper, Nick Fury, Forge and Professor X; all four are concerned about the new MLF’s actions, but none of them want their teams to get involved. X-Force realizes it’s up to them and they prep for battle. Above the MLF’s island headquarters, Moonstar confronts Tempo about her feelings before hinting that she was cast out of Asgard, before ending up with the new MLF. Inside, Gyrich, within his prison, confronts Reignfire, who explains his plans to rally an army of mutants and take the world from humans. X-Force begins its operation and storms the compound; Boomer, Cannonball, Rictor and Sunspot are shocked to encounter their old teammate, Moonstar, after she shoots Cannonball with a neural arrow. Elsewhere, Warpath battles Forearm, while Shatterstar and Siryn are accosted by Reaper and Wildside. Shatterstar cuts off Reaper’s other hand and is about to kill him when Wildside draws attention to the fact that he has his claws at Siryn’s throat and will rip it out unless Shatterstar puts down his blades. Elsewhere, within the catacomb of prisons beneath the island, Cable and Feral are about to free Gyrich, when Reignfire appears, easily disabling both of them and announcing that Cable can either join the MLF’s cause or try to die with honor. |
| #28 | | November, 1993 |
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| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | Fabian Nicieza | Antonio Daniel | Kevin Conrad | | X-Force’s attempt to rescue Henry Peter-Gyrich has gone disastrously awry, and Reignfire gloats over a fallen Cable. Cable recovers and battles Reignfire, while Feral tries to get Gyrich out of the MLF citadel to safety. As they work their way to X-Force’s IPAC rendezvous point, Gyrich continually taunts Feral and tries to goad her into attacking him, thus justifying his views on mutants. Meanwhile, Wildside tricks Shatterstar into surrendering his sword and allowing Reaper to escape, but Shatterstar turns the tables using a hidden mutant power and causes Wildside to inadvertently kill Reaper. On the beach outside the citadel, Gyrich finally prods Feral into attacking him, but she is stopped by Tempo, who switches sides while a scrambled teleport by Locus brings the rest of the combatants to the beach. As a mass conflict breaks out, Reignfire convinces Feral to join the MLF, while denouncing Tempo as a traitor and kicking her out. Moonstar and Locus make one last-ditch attack on Gyrich as the MLF evacuates, but Sunspot manages to use his powers to fly and intercepts the attack. His powers cause feedback with Locus’ and, as a result, Sunspot, along with the entire neo-MLF, are caught in a massive burst of Locus’ “phase-shifting” and sent to parts unknown. In the wake of X-Force’s losses, Gyrich only feels more convinced he has the right viewpoint, leading Cable to realize just how pointless their sacrifices this day have been. |
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December 1993 | | #29 |
| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | Fabian Nicieza | Matt Broome | Bud LaRosa | | While Rictor and Shatterstar are in Phoenix, buying supplies, Shatterstar is captured by Arcade. He is forced to fight soldiers from his homeworld in order to protect a human family that Arcade abducted along with Shatterstar. After defeating his opponents, Shatterstar is given a facsimile of his old brown-and-white costume and informed that Arcade was hired by Major Domo to kill Shatterstar. Before Shatterstar can react further, Arcade also reveals that Shatterstar must now fight someone to the death… and that someone is Adam-X, the X-Treme! At the Camp Verde base, Boomer and Cannonball leave for vacation in Kentucky; Warpath confronts Siryn about her drinking as well as his feelings for her, and is rewarded with a sonic attack. Cable calls Domino and asks her to join X-Force, to which she agrees. |
| #30 | | January 1994 |
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| Writer | Penciller | Inks | | Fabian Nicieza | Antonio Daniel | Kevin Conrad | | Inside Arcade’s Murderworld, Adam-X and Shatterstar battle each other for survival. Adam-X finally explains that he’s fighting to save an innocent’s life, and when Arcade reveals the captive, Shatterstar recognizes her as his wife, Windsong. Tired of Arcade’s games, Adam-X and Shatterstar storm the complex and break into his control room, where Windsong is being held in explosive-equipped manacles and will be killed unless Adam-X and Shatterstar fight to the death. Faced with no way out, Shatterstar stabs his own sword through his chest to kill himself, prompting Arcade to gleefully reveal that they don’t actually have Windsong captive: it was a hologram all along. Adam-X tries to kill Arcade, but Shatterstar recovers and beats him to it; unfortunately, this Arcade is merely a robotic decoy. They escape, and Murderworld is deconstructed. Adam-X learns that the employer who hired Arcade to kill him is named “Milbury,” and Shatterstar explains that he knew Arcade’s plan was a ruse because he’s never met his wife. Adam-X and Shatterstar part ways and Shatterstar is picked up by Rictor, who has finished buying supplies. At Camp Verde, Tempo announces she is leaving and going back to college; Domino arrives and joins X-Force; Siryn decides to go home to Ireland to clear her head a bit, and asks Warpath if he wants to go with her, to which he enthusiastically agrees. In Ireland, Black Tom and Juggernaught arrive at Cassidy Keep, kill the family lawyer who has taken up residence there and take it for themselves. |
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As the editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics from 1978 to 87, he believed that every title deserved a chance to succeed. Abandoning the policy that placed the best writers to the best-selling titles allowed some of the second-string titles, such as The Uncanny X-Men or Daredevil, to reach new heights of popularity.