Marvel: Contest of Champions Celebrates 'Pride' by Luciano Vecchio

X-Force #3 Variant by Björn Barends

Marcus To Shares Unused 'X-Force' Design

Betsy Braddock Debuts 'X-Force' Costume by Marcus To

X-Force: Geoffrey Thorne and Marcus To Send the X-Men Strike Team on a Global Mission

ComicBook spoke to Geoffrey Thorne and Marcus To about X-Force #1, with the duo offering a look inside what they're cooking for the X-Men super squad.

 

ComicBook.com: How much input did you get to have when selecting the roster for X-Force? And how much will the cast rotate story arc to story arc?

Geoffrey Thorne: Total. Right from the jumpoff. Tom [Brevoort] liked the initial pitch. Mark [Basso] liked it for X-Force. Mark and I clicked and this story and roster are what both of us landed on for this story.

There were a couple of characters we couldn't use because they'd been grabbed up prior to me being pulled into X World. I was pitching blind, going in so I hadn't known they were unavailable. Basically, X-Force would have had three more members otherwise and, no, I'm not saying who. Spoilers for other folks' books are a no-no.

Forge and Sage were always the core and they remain so.

Forge as leader of X-Force comes during a time of increased popularity for him, thanks to his presence in X-Men '97. What's that been like on your end, and what looming threat or threats have forced Forge to build this iteration of X-Force?

GT: As popular as it is, the cartoon has (and has had) zero influence on the book. I've always loved Forge and this was a chance to put him in front. I came to Tom with this almost a year prior to the cartoon's debut. Mark snapped it up about 5 months after that, still months ahead of the TV show debuting.

What 'looming threats...?' Hm...

I don't know what's a spoiler and what's not so... here's what I think I can say.

Forge has, via his powers, become aware of a pretty massive, ongoing threat to the world that is very close to causing a full collapse. He puts this team together to stop that and he, personally, will stop at nothing to prevent these potential armageddons from happening.

For more on that story, please check out X-Force #1.

Rachel Summers and Betsy Braddock fans are understandably pleased to see their relationship continue in a new book. Can you discuss their mindset in being part of an outfit like X-Force?

GT: Well....

This X-Force isn't like any previous version so, while Betsy's not super thrilled to join up, Rachel has the Need for Speed, as the kids said back in the 1990s. They both have their own things going on, as a couple and individually, that make Betsy, in particular thinking wild adventuring might not be the best plan right now but, again, Rachel needs to be out there DOING STUFF so, they jump on Forge's train.

Sometimes you go to a party because your girlfriend wants to, even if you'd rather Netflix and Chill.

What can you tell us about Tank, the newbie of the team? What's their mutant power?

GT: Tank is a member of Forge's X-Force. Tank's pretty big and his name is Tank, so, judging by Tank's looks, I'd say Tank can both take and throw a punch.

What are you most looking forward to readers seeing or experiencing when the first issue of X-Force drops?

GT: I want them to have the same kind of fun we're having taking these crazy mutants in directions they've not gone before. We're trying to provide a rollercoaster ride so occasional screams of delight as the story unfolds would not be unwelcome.

What kind of design notes did you get from Marvel before you started working on the new X-Force costumes?

Marcus To: The team decided that we should stay with a black stealth unified team look. I felt that it was important to have some color that would make them pop. We landed on the red as a uniform color but I threw in a bit of yellow to call back to the classic X looks.

X-Force #3 Solicitation

Main Cover by Stephen Segovia

Variant Cover by Junggeun Yoon

X-Force #3
Geoffrey Thorne (W) • Marcus To (A)
Cover by: Stephen Segovia
Surge Variant Cover by: Clayton Crain
Surge Virgin Variant Cover by: Clayton Crain
Variant Cover by: Junggeun Yoon

The Nuklo Option! From the Ashes
X-Force's biggest mission yet brings them to the brink of destruction at the hands of Nuklo! But when Nuklo's mysterious rampage conflicts with the world-threatening Fracture Node detected by Forge, what sacrifice will X-Force make to complete their no-win mission? Secrets, surprises, team drama and nonstop action make X-Force the hottest book of the summer!

On Sale 9/25

X-Force's Betsy Braddock by Dani Parker

Artist: Dani ParkerDani Parker

X-Force #1 Variant by Skottie Young

The Phoenix Summons Every Mutant in "Rise of the Powers of X" #5

Psylocke (Outback)

Captain Britain

Psylocke (Ultimate)

Psylocke (90s)

Psylocke (Age of Apocalypse)

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #142 Spoilers & Art

Spoilers: The X-Corps drop the floating island on top of Selene, where the thrusters roast her alive. Sunspot joins the others to check if Selene is really dead. Selene resurrects herself and declares that no child will ever be able to kill her.

In reality, Selene is trapped in a stasis chamber developed by Wiz-Kid, Trinary, Tempo, and Somnus. Mirage explains that keeping Selene alive but pacified is the best way to contain her, despite Tempo's protests. The other Externals have also been locked up in stasis chambers where they relive an endless cycle of their worst nightmares.

Most of the X-Corps disband, while Strong Guy heads back to the floating island. Mirage and Sunspot talk and reflect on what their next move should be now that the threat of the Externals and the war against Orchis are over. Sunspot explains that Madrox and Layla are staying on the island with their son because it's their home. However, Cerebra stayed in Nova Roma to catalog all the mutants killed by Selene. Rictor and Shatterstar have taken a break to spend some time together. Betsy reunited with Rachel. The Proudstar brothers went back to Camp Gozhoo to rebuild their village. Sunspot admits he has no idea what to do next. Mirage leaves for a meeting with Karma and Wolfsbane. Meanwhile, Cannonball arrives at the floating island and reunites with Sunspot. The two hug and share a moment of friendship. The future is unlimited.

The Krakoan Era is officially over for Miss Betsy Braddock!

Tom Brevoort Talks Betsy Braddock

Tom Brevoort: I think this [the Betsy Braddock/Kwannon situation] is a situation analogous to the Jean Grey one from a while back. By which I mean that there is a lot of frankly confusing backstory to Kwannon and Betsy Braddock, to the point where they’re literally difficult to describe to people. But rather than try to “fix” any of that stuff or retcon it or whatever (which is very much what got us to this point), I think the only thing to do from here is to go forward. And that means further defining who Kwannon is as Psylocke and who Betsy is as Captain Britain (or whatever she might become in days to come).