Nicieza X-Force returns in September!

Fabian Nicieza is returning to X-Force in September, for a limited
series. The art for the series will be provided by Rob Liefeld.

http://www.newsarama.com/pages/Marvel/X-Force.htm

Now, I know a lot of people have very strong opinions regarding the art
of Rob Liefeld. I urge each and every one of you to consider, however,
the following:

If this limited series sells well, it may well become an ongoing.

Fabian Nicieza has a better track record at staying on a book than Rob
Liefeld does.

The future of the New Mutants/X-Force family of characters is in many
ways hinging on the sales of this limited series.

If you are content with watching said family make occasional guest
appearances in the X-Men books, using as background fodder, cheap
kill-off material and inept cameos that the 'real heroes', the X-Men
have to save from all kinds of threats -- well, then, don't buy X-FORCE
in September.

But if you miss the family having a book of their own? Some place where
*they* get to be the stars, overshadowed by *no one*. If you love Sam,
Roberto, Shatterstar, James Proudstar, Domino, Deadpool... If you love
any of these... This is the family you will be supporting if you buy
X-FORCE in September.

If the limited series sells well, it may indeed very well become an
ongoing series, and quite possibly even with Nicieza teamed up with
another artist.

If you buy X-FORCE in September, you are investing money in making sure
that the New Mutants/X-Force family of characters will have a book of
their own again. Somewhere that we can see them every month. A place
where we can meet our old friends and watch them develop further under
the hand of Fabian Nicieza once more. The man who made Sam a capable
leader. The man who made Shatterstar more than just a guy with swords.
The man who made James Proudstar more than a Hellion. The man who
basically created Cable and Domino both. The man who made Roberto into
Reignfire. The man who created Feral's entire backstory. The man who
wrote the amazing 'Without A Cable' arc in X-FORCE #19-25 where Sam had
to really assume the duties of a leader in the wake of Cable's death.
The man who brought Dani Moonstar back from Asgard because she wanted to
save her friend from darkness. The man who wanted to do lots of things
with X-Force still, and who was paving the way for all of that during
Age of Apocalypse, but got abruptly replaced with Jeph Loeb.

The members implied by the promo art to be in the limited series are as
follows: Sam, Jimmy, Shatterstar, Cable, Domino, Feral, Caliban. But
remember, if this becomes an ongoing, then *this* book will be the home
for the entire New Mutants family. Considering the past run Fabian
Nicieza had on X-FORCE, I would find it extremely unlikely that he would
not end up using other characters from the family as well, should the
book become an ongoing. Remember that. Buying this book means increased
odds of seeing Dani Moonstar, Xi'an Coy Manh and Rahne Sinclair. Buying
this book means increased odds of seeing Warlock, Hope and Psimon. Buying
this book means increased odds of ever seeing Illyana Rasputina again.

This is the man you will be supporting. A man who made X-Force heroes in
their own right. This is the family you will be supporting. A family
that we watched grow from timid students at Xavier's School, to becoming
a paramilitary strike force for mutant rights. A family that had found
their own niche in the X-universe, as the showcase of youthful
rebellion, a team that was untempered by Xavier's leadership and was
going rough and tumble into bad situations without thinking about the
consequences.

They were distinct from the X-Men. The personalities of established
characters had been respected by the writer. The team had naturally
evolved into the position they found themselves in. That was the Golden
Age of X-Force. Fabian Nicieza writing the team. First, yes, with Rob
Liefeld. But later, with the nothing-short-of-amazing Greg Capullo, and
even later, the astonishing Tony Daniel.

It can happen again. It can all come back. We can go home again. The
family is without a home right now, with their eviction from NEW MUTANTS
(vol.2.) as the book turns into ACADEMY X, and the New Mutant tutors are
replaced by Scott Summers and Emma Frost. The family, the characters that
we love, may fall into limbo again, for *years* to come, even *decades*
if we do not take action *right now*. Show your support for the family.
Give them a home again. Give them an ongoing book to call their own once
more. You can make a difference.

If you buy this book.

I will be buying ten copies of each issue. And that is not hyperbole. I
will literally be buying ten copies of each issue.

Thank you, Fabian. Thank you so much. I have faith in you.

--
Samy Merchi | samy RemoveThis @iki.fi | http://www.iki.fi/samy | #152235689
Reader of superhero comic books, writer of superhero fanfiction
"*Astrolabe*...whirls...*twirls*!"

Samy Merchi (samy@iki.fi) wrote:
No comment on X-Force itself. They've never really done anything for me,
though I didn't really read it much, I was annoyed at Cable and New
Mutants being dismantled for it. Nicieza's done some work I've
liked before though, with the likes of Psi-Force, so I'll probably
give it a shot for that. However...

: It can happen again. It can all come back. We can go home again. The
: family is without a home right now, with their eviction from NEW MUTANTS
: (vol.2.) as the book turns into ACADEMY X, and the New Mutant tutors are
: replaced by Scott Summers and Emma Frost. The family, the characters that
: we love, may fall into limbo again, for *years* to come, even *decades*
: if we do not take action *right now*. Show your support for the family.
: Give them a home again. Give them an ongoing book to call their own once
: more. You can make a difference.

I'm reasonably sure that the New Mutants tutors are not being replaced by
Scott and Emma. If anything, Xavier (who had a supporting role in the new
Mutants Vol 2) is being replaced by Scott and Emma, who are becoming
supporting characters (as the headmasters of the school). From everything
I've heard, Dani, Shan, and Rahne are all still going to be in the book
when it switches over. The creators have discussed upcoming plans for the
characters beyond the current arc. Have you heard something specific to
the contrary?

Peter Dimitriadis