About Heroes

Authors: Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost
Artist: Clayton Crain
Letterer: Cory Petit

It seems that the new trend for X-books this week is to put the inkers and some colorist out of jobs. These artists must be getting a heck of a paycheck if they are doing all the work. Anyway X-force # 1 left us with a pretty decent cliffhanger, where Rahne was about to get her brains blown out by Mathew Risman, a Purifier and in this issue we are left with another big cliffhanger, well at least to us New Mutant fans.

It seems that Risman wasn’t aiming at Rahne’s head, but rather her kneecap, I guess I must have missed that panel. Wolverine is finding a difficult time being a leader and keeping X-23 on a leash. The Purifiers end up kidnapping Rahne again, because X-23 wired the house and forgot to mention it to everyone. For some reason Cyclops really didn’t mind at all, because his whole mission was to kill Mathew Risman, not rescue Rahne. There is also the revelation that Reverend Craig was Rahne’s father the whole time and she apparently knew. Bastion wants these mutants dead and not torture and his sole plan right now is to resurrect Magus from the bottom of the ocean.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I really don’t get the premise of the book. I mean it’s a covert ops team that has one of the most recognizable characters in the Marvel U on it? I mean how are they going to be secretive? Maybe Wolverine should get a new costume. Those red eyes aren’t fooling anyone. I know Cyclops is a prick, but when did he stop caring about the lives of his team members and friends. This is what they pulled Rahne from X-factor for? For her to be getting kidnapped and tortured? Judging by the cover of next issue I’m assuming all that is going to change and the character might too forever.

The art was delightful to look at, but like I’ve always said from the start, I don’t think that Crain is the right choice for this book. His art thrives off of intense action scenes, while the slower moments aren't as impressive. I have lots of faith in Yost and Kyle, but really this book would work better as a miniseries or if Cyclops stuck to his “there is no more X-men” statement. Can’t wait for that fight with Magus. B- I would like to mention how stupid those bloody variant covers are by the way. Do people really want to pay additional money to have a little red on their cover?