Shadow and Flame with Magik

Writer Tim Seeley

Artist Michael Sta. Maria

Color Artist Romulo Fajardo Jr.

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

I think I’m just not a X-Force guy.  There are parts of the issue I really enjoy, and then other parts I just gloss over.  I like the MLF being a thing again.  I like seeing Akihiro and Angel training together.  I like Boom Boom saying they are X-Force on a budget.  So, there is humor here for me to hold onto.

Cable can’t get his memories clear enough to figure out which of these teammates is the one who kills President Kamala Khan.  Which is a big stumbling block I have, as I rather they drop this, and this was a comic abut Ms. Marvel trying to make X-Force better.  We get the vision of what each scenario would be for them each to kill her, but they’re all in such drastically different ways, that one would think (or remember) that’s how she was killed.  A hell claw, an exploding heart, or dagger through the heart.  Actually, that does seem like it wouldn’t be Boom Boom, the other two are very similar. 

Ms. Marvel can join them for the day’s mission, as it is a teacher in-service day, which as a father of a sixth grader, I can tell you this happens quite a bunch, maybe four times a school year? 

My favorite parts of the issue is Domino’s growing friendship with a squirrel.  I truly am a sucker for an animal companion.

X-Force is heading to Blasphemy Cartel, which does sound like a band Boom Boom would wear a black miniskirt to see.  I’m not sure if that was supposed to be that cutting of Ms. Marvel, but Boom Boom plays it off as it DOES sound like band she’ll wear a black miniskirt to.

Ms. Marvel doesn’t love Hellverine just killing goons.  Lots of fighting.

I do like Ms. Marvel trying to be a bright example to follow.  She even stands between Hellverine and a goon to prevent the goon’s death.  Ms. Marvel uses her new powers, which I’m not sure how or what she did.  She brighten up, and force came out of her?  Maybe?

Cable gets the intel he was looking for, and takes Ms. Marvel’s side, she is supposed to be the inspiration for the team, and for humans, and for the world. 

Like most team books, I’m here for the team dynamics, and not quite the fighting, but this issue has plenty of team interactions, which I really like.