Geoffrey Thorne Talks Betsy Braddocks, Addresses Fan Concerns

Geoffrey Thorne, upcoming X-Force writer, recently joined the CBR Forums to discuss Betsy Braddock and address fan concerns.

How would you describe Betsy's personality?

Thorne: Pre-Krakoa, I'd have described her as grounded, focused but, often, puckish. Absolutely not grim dark. But not a wild child by any means. I see her with a smile on her face when I picture her. Post-Krakoa? I'd say she's trying very hard to get back to that place.

Addressing concerns regarding fans' dislike of Betsy's status as Captain Britain and recent characterization:

Thorne: I like Betsy more and more as I write her more and more, and I really liked her already. The Captain Britain thing was a wrinkle I never saw coming as a fan and, frankly, to me, is a much weirder deal than her being with Rachel now. I've given serious thought as to how, if and when the CB aspect of Betsy's life will come into play. I have a sneaking suspicion you will enjoy how we play it (even if you DON'T like her as Captain Britain). I always play the cards I'm dealt by editorial, but I play to win. I never thought I'd ever be on any X-Book, and the fact that it's THIS one with THIS story and THIS team? Cake, baby. All cake. 

Addressing concerns regarding Betsy being reduced to Rachel's girlfriend and token bisexual:

Thorne: The problem, at least in this sort of fiction, is, unlike gender or "race," which are passive presenting attributes, to be seen as bisexual or any sort of queer, you have to demonstrate your status via behavior.

It's doable, but if the character isn't in a relationship with someone (who is present in the book) or the sort of constantly flirty sort (that rubs a lot of folks the wrong way), there are limited means of expressing queerness without making the whole thing political and lecturing. As Rachel and Betsy are both empowered heroes and both in X-Force, I don't have to take time out to remind folks they're queer. I just write two people in a relationship that has ups and downs who spend a lot of time fighting aliens, monsters, and evil super scientists (not a spoiler). If these were novels, it would be cake to write these sexualities even when no one is flirting or dating because we can go in and out of a character's head without screwing up action. A 20-page comic isn't a lot of room.

I don't really think in terms of "inclusion" or "diversity" in any case. I live in a world with people in it, and that's reflected in my work. I think a lot of folks have defaulted to, "well, she likes girls now, so that's it for any hetero relationship." Not so. I think this is a self-limiting view and, in fact, doesn't apply to bisexuals at all. BOTH these characters are established as having intimate long-term relationships with men in the past with which they were, presumably, happy. NOW, they are with each other. Seen as some sort of symbol, and only that way, I suppose one would assume neither will ever be with a man again. I think that's too narrow. I see them as people. Love is love. Bisexuals are not limited to falling for their own gender or to the other one. All choices are on their table. I am hetero, so I'm with the ladies. If I were gay, I'd be with the boys. Rachel and Betsy are BIsexual, not HOMOsexual. Seems to me, being bisexual means they can fall for anyone they think is worthy of that love. Which is how we got here. Since comics are always in some sort of flux, it's doubtful that ANY relationship could be called permanent. Reed and Sue? Nope. Clark and Lois? Nope. So, I think Rachel and Betsy could have a long run but, should a great story come along that breaks them up, that would be allowed too. Just so long as it's emotionally "true." Make sense?

I have no interest in feeding anybody's girl-on-girl fix. Betsy and Rachel are going to be played as a real couple, not softcore porn. Also, they will be spending an awful lot of time fighting monsters, supervillains, and crazy cosmic disasters. Like nearly ALL their time doing that. So... don't worry. I'm not using X-Force to make political statements about bisexuals. Or any sexuals. Couples act like couples. Superheroes fight bad guys.

I know you guys are wary, and it's understandable. All I can promise you is we will not be falling into stereotype and that I will not be using bisexuality as a shield to deflect some idiot's dislike of lesbians. I am doing my best to write people. Just two people who are in love and having to save the world every five minutes.

Addressing concerns about X-Force regurgitating Tini Howard's formula and mistakes:

Thorne: There is no regurgitating old plots or formulae going on. I pitched something new. Marvel said, "Go!" and we're going. Will you like it? No guarantees there, of course, but we hope so. What it will not be (aside from the team members) is anything you've seen before." I'm excited. Marcus is excited. We think we've got something fun here. It will be, for sure, NOT a bunch of soul-broken mutants standing around whining about their shattered hearts and spirits. Nor will it be a slice-of-life story about Lady Braddock and her commoner American lover tidying up things around the manor and having Upstairs/Downstairs intrigue.

Sharing his favorite Betsy stories:

Thorne: I do [have my favorites]: All CAPTAIN BRITAIN (Marvel UK) appearances, all original EXCALIBUR Vol. 1 etc. appearances, the Psylocke & Archangel: Crimson Dawn miniseries, recent Krakoa era stuff, as well as fun bits here and there over the last decade.

Discussing the apex fighting styles available to a telepath:

Thorne: Essentially, it's this (have any other writers done this? I dunno.) Unless you have psi training to resist them, any telepath you fight knows everything you know, if they want to. That means ANY telepath of sufficient strength (it maybe wouldn't be true of a low-level TP) would acquire any fighting style and the expertise of any opponent in about a second. That means EXPERIENCE too. Just like NEO in the Matrix. "Hey, I know kung fu." And, once learned, a skill is kept. So, do the math on how many martial artists and swordsmen Betsy has fought in her storied career. Not to mention Rachel and Sage.

Homo Superior Podcast: Creator Crush - Tom Brevoort Talks X-Books

How would you describe X-Force?

Tom Brevoort: X-Force, in terms of description, is probably closest to Warren Ellis' Planetary. On the surface, it looks like a typical X-Force team, traditionally defined as the X-Men's kill squad. I'm kind of of the belief that the X-Men shouldn't have a kill squad, you know, for all that, our good guys go to Wolverine and say, "Hey, we need you to get a bunch of guys to, like, kill a bunch of people so our hands are clean and we could pretend to be moral while knowing about it and sanctioning it." That doesn't make any sense to me. Anyway, X-Force is centered around Forge. Forge has had a vision, and it's caused him to build something. The thing he's built predicts fracture points, moments and places in the world where a crisis is going to occur if something isn't done. Forge has assembled X-Force as the machine to deal with those crises. So the membership, who's in it, what they do, how they do it, is all built almost on an unconscious level because it's an outgrowth of Forge's maker power to put together the right elements to deal with the situation.

We'll also, fairly routinely in that book, have extra characters as guest stars and hangers-on in the way that Deadpool is in the first issue. But, you know, there's a larger thing going on. In that "Planetary" sense, not only are Forge and the X-Force characters getting involved in all these weird happenings around the world, but they begin to suss out the pattern behind them Da Vinci Code style. There's something bigger brewing behind all of that that we will slowly peel the onion layers back from and get to. But it's, you know, like, literally, they don't have headquarters. Their headquarters is a self-repairing Blackbird that they fly around on. They don't do wheels down unless something's going on. They're just on the go constantly.

X-Men Monday #250 – ‘From the Ashes’ Era Preview With Tom Brevoort

AiPT!: Marvel’s Senior Vice President of Publishing and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort was game to return to X-Men Monday and discuss how the “From the Ashes” era came together, answer X-Fans’ pressing questions, drop some character teases, and more.

AIPT: Welcome back to X-Men Monday, Tom! First, X-Men is a franchise with over 60 years of history, hundreds of characters, and a passionate fanbase transcending comics. So I’m curious — once you accepted the reins of the X-Men at Marvel… what did you do next? Where do you even start?

Brevoort: [...] Then I went hunting for people to make these books. And casting wasn’t me alone — I should mention my office team: Annalise Bissa and Martin Biro, who worked with me on Avengers stuff before this. And Annalise goes back to working on the Krakoa books at the beginning of that era. Then the wider team is editor Darren Shan and his assistant Noah Sharma, who came over with me from the Avengers world where they had been doing Invincible Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and a bunch of things. And then Mark Basso and his assistant Drew Baumgartner stayed on in the X-Office where they had been doing Wolverine and X-Force and are now doing Wolverine and X-Force.

AIPT: Before we get into some X-Fan questions, I’ve been wondering about something. I’ve been an X-Fan for most of my life, and five of those years have been spent writing X-Men Monday and sorting through countless fan questions. In that time, I’ve received a crash course in the many things that matter to this fandom — from the minuscule to the significant. So, since you’ve been working on the X-line, is there anything you’ve learned via X-Fan interactions that’s surprised you?

Brevoort: [...] I saw there were a lot of people who were really invested in Betsy Braddock being Captain Britain, and there were a lot of people who were really invested in Betsy Braddock not being Captain Britain. So that’s a divide where it’s going to be difficult to make everybody happy.

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #138 Art

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #138 Spoilers

Spoilers: Outside Nova Roma, Saul, in his dragon form, grabs Captain Britain and takes flight. Meanwhile, Rictor and Shatterstar keep fighting against Absalom and Nicodemus. Inside Nova Roma, Mirage leaves Thunderbird to deal with Crule as she heads towards the cells where Selene keeps the mutants imprisoned. Mirage encounters Cerebra and warns that more allies are arriving to join them. Thunderbird and Crule engage in a brutal and fierce yet balanced fight. When Crule gains the upper hand, Warpath shows up and chops off Crule's arm, freeing his brother. Despite Crule's contempt, he decides to face them both, but he's no match for the Proudstar brothers and ends up defeated. Shatterstar and Rictor join the Proudstars in Nova Roma, assessing the losses: with Crule, Absalom, and Nicodemus defeated, Gideon and Burke handled by Sunspot, and Apocalypse and Candra out of the picture, only Saul remains. Betsy continues riding Saul, soaring through the air, and orders him to land. With no choice, Betsy uses her psychic knife on Saul, knocking him out until he falls unconscious to the ground. Betsy informs Mirage that the Externals have been defeated and it's time to bring in the strike team.

Marvel Studios Rumored To Be Developing A Live-Action Captain Britain TV Series For Disney+

ComicBookMovie.com: Comic book fans have been waiting for Captain Britain to step into the spotlight in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and a new rumour claims the character is finally coming to Disney+.

A new rumour shared by scooper @MyTimeToShineH claims that a Captain Britain TV series is in the works for Disney+. The project is a series centered around Captain Britain, potentially replacing the previously rumored MI13 show. That's all we have to go on for now, though we'd be shocked if Marvel's MI13 and Excalibur comics don't influence what we see.

The last significant update on Captain Britain came from Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige nearly seven years ago when he said, "We have discussed it. There are a lot of actors that come in and ask about that part, so we’ll have to see." It's unclear what's taken so long, particularly as there have been several opportunities to add Braddock to the mix.

One actor who may have asked Feige about the role is former Superman, Henry Cavill. "I’m never going to say a Marvel character that is already being played by someone else because everyone’s doing such an amazing job," he said in 2021 when asked about possibly joining the MCU. "However, I have the internet and I have seen the various rumors about Captain Britain and that would be loads of fun to do a cool, modernized version of that - like the way they modernized Captain America. There’s something fun about that, and I do love being British."

Captain Britain was created by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe and debuted in 1976. Endowed with superhuman abilities by the mystical Amulet of Right, Captain Britain is a patriotic hero who defends the UK and the Multiverse; however, it's Alan Moore's work on the character which put him on the map.

MyTimeToShineHello is a Tier 3 – Somewhat Reliable Source as decided by the community. For Marvel, they had a 67.06% accuracy rate from 236 leaks that we can currently verify out of 528 total.

Geoffrey Thorne's Q&A on X-Force -- Round 5

Geoffrey Thorne recently made a return to the CBR Forums to engage with fans and address questions about his highly anticipated X-Force run.

Some people have raised concerns about the portrayal of the "Native American with red headband" imagery, considering its origins in Hollywood rather than specific cultural attire. I'm curious if you and/or Marcus To have delved into this aspect while developing Forge's character.

Thorne: Hm. We had a lot of discussions about Forge. A LOT. I did considerable research on Cheyenne history, traditions, and current status. None of that will make it into these first issues. Once I'm done writing X-Force, I'll tell the backstage stories and post pages from my first drafts. I make a point of almost never describing how the sausage is made while I'm on a book because there are scumbags who will use frank discussions to gin up controversy in order to get clicks. I'm aggressively anti-scumbag. Bottom line: Forge has a few established looks, and in these first issues, we are using a variation of one of them. That said, THIS time, at least, there's a story reason for the headband.

Could you provide more insight into the concept of X-Force having a revolving cast of guest heroes?

Thorne: Heh. Normally, I wouldn't do this, but I got hammered on the Green Lantern run with covers that revealed plot twists, blurbs that were literally false in their descriptions of what the books contained, and covers that sometimes depicted scenes that never occurred and were never even proposed by me. I'm going to caution everyone, once again, about putting too much stock in these marketing blurbs about our book. I didn't write these marketing blurbs and have no input into them. SOME of what they've said is accurate. Some, like this "rotating guest star" thing, is not. I'm not looking to have to defend myself for failing to fulfill promises I never made. This book will absolutely not be a revolving door of mutant guest stars. Nor will it be a plug-in "mutant of the week" book. This is not Mutant Marvel Team-Up. This is X-Force. Our playing field is the entire Marvel universe. Not saying what it WILL be (SPOILERS), but it will not be either of those things. At all. Put that entirely out of your mind.

I find it particularly exciting to hear that there won't be a revolving door of guest characters in this series.

Thorne: We will be FAST. We will be GLOBAL. We will be RUTHLESS. We will be CONTENTIOUS. We will LIE. We will BETRAY. We will ROLL THAT COASTER as hard as we can. Because we are about winning, about solving the problem for good, not slapping a bandaid on it. And we will, most definitely, be STRANGE.

Will Deadpool be a permanent team member or just a guest star for the initial arc?

Thorne: Wade is 100% a guest. He is not on the team on anything resembling a permanent basis. Whether you love Deadpool or hate Deadpool, you will enjoy what we do with Deadpool.

The issue I have is with Betsy retaining her role as Captain Britain. It seems unrealistic for Britain's top hero to be involved in killing. Personally, I much prefer Betsy as Psylocke. Her transition to Captain Britain doesn't sit well with me.

Thorne: Wait and see.

I'm curious about the mechanics of Betsy's role as Captain Britain. Captain Britain is typically seen as the British equivalent of Captain America, a symbol of heroism. Seeing her on a hit squad feels out of place. Additionally, revealing mutants' involvement in killing could exacerbate existing tensions between mutants and humans. This development has dampened my enthusiasm for the book; I'd prefer to see Betsy return to her Psylocke persona.

Thorne: Wait and see.

My concern about the portrayal of killing ties back to Betsy's identity as Captain Britain. As England's premier hero, it's challenging to reconcile her involvement in lethal activities. X-Force traditionally comprises anti-heroes, so integrating a traditional hero like Captain Britain seems discordant. However, I'm open to seeing how this unfolds in the series.

Thorne: The past won't help you. New deck. New dealers. New game.

What are your thoughts on Betsy's psychic weapons? Are there plans to introduce more medieval-inspired weaponry, or will she predominantly stick to the classic sword and shield?

Thorne: Heh. Lady Braddock will be doing some new stuff, for sure.

Are there any unresolved X-issues that you will be revisiting? Additionally, will there be brand-new villains introduced in this series?

Thorne: New villains, yes. And some [I hope, engaging] spins on old ones. I don't plan on revisiting anything, not the way I think you mean. That said, while the Krakoa era will have come to an end by the time we debut, the ripple effect from all that will have ongoing consequences on the characters in the book. The rise and fall of Krakoa is a significant and, I think, traumatic event to many, many mutants in the X-verse. It would be poor storytelling to ignore that.

Is there any possibility of Cable showing up in X-Force?

Thorne: I have no problems with Cable. He can be fun. But he's got too much gravity for the stories I tell. Any book he's in becomes a Cable book and I'm not here to tell Cable stories or have the story I want to tell transformed into a Cable book. I can't speak to what anyone else is doing with ANY of the characters people want to see but there are a bunch of us with a bunch more series and minis to be announced and a LOT of mutants unaccounted for.

Will Betsy's history with Warren be addressed in this series, or will there be any interaction between them? I'm not a fan of Betsy and Rachel as a couple.

Thorne: I dunno about other writers but nobody controls my narratives but me and, to some degree, the editor. Betsy's with Rachel now, that's the canon. Every character carries their personal history with them just like we all do. MANY queer people go through years or even decades pretending to be straight for their own reasons (usually tied to self-preservation in a hostile society) before coming out. Some, tragically, never do. I've got a sibling who went through this and it was extremely painful for them and for me be unable to help them through it beyond just being supportive of their struggle and their decisions. Betsy and Rachel are now canonically bisexual and, currently, in love with one another. Betsy and Warren certainly did happen and, should they meet up again in X-Force, or elsewhere, I like to think they would remember that time with warmth and happiness. But Betsy is in her own body now and Kwannon's back in hers. When Marvel accepted my pitch for what is now X-Force, Betsy and Rachel were already a couple and a couple they will remain unless there's an EXTREMELY compelling reason to break them up (and I mean EXTREEEEEEEEEEEEMELY compelling). I don't see it happening, frankly. Betsy's romance with Warren will not be rekindled or revisited on my watch. Also, while I love the canon, I hate nostalgia like cancer. We will be moving forward, not backwards.

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #137 Art

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #137 Spoilers

Spoilers: Saul warns X-Corps that they shall not trespass any further, with Absalom and Nicodemus by his side. Betsy orders Mirage and Thunderbird to move forward, while she, Rictor, and Shatterstar stay behind to deal with the three Externals. Betsy attacks Saul with her psychic sword, but he stops it in midair. Saul transforms into a dragon, and Betsy jokes that in a fight between knight and dragon, the knight always wins. Meanwhile, Rictor and Shatterstar decide to switch opponents, with Rictor facing Absalom and Shatterstar against Nicodemus. Saul warns that Betsy falls short of her responsibilities and doesn't understand her potential as a vessel for magic. Betsy retorts that she's used to old mages questioning her worth, referring to Merlyn, and defends herself from Saul's attack with a large butterfly-shaped telekinetic shield. With a surge, Betsy climbs up the dragon's body and thrusts her psychic sword into its scales.

Further into Nova Roma, Mirage and Thunderbird encounter Orchis zombie soldiers and take them down one by one. The duo finds the pens where the kidnapped mutants are being held. Before they can free them, Mirage and Thunderbird are confronted by Crule, who seeks a rematch against Thunderbird.

Captain Britain Graces the Cover of "X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic" #141

The cover of "X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic" #141 features Captain Britain, signaling a continuation of the External Saga. Initially planned as a 20-part story from issues #121 to #140, the arc has been extended to 25 chapters, as confirmed by Steve Foxe's newsletter. Issue #145 is set to conclude the saga on June 24.

"X-Men: The Wedding Special" #1 Advance Preview

A Betsy Braddock and Rachel Summers adventure by the writer who brought them together—Excalibur scribe Tini Howard! Joined by rising star Phillip Sevy, Howard pits the hot new couple against the Omniversal Majestrix, Opal Luna Saturnyne! Just about everyone in the Marvel Universe is invited to the vow renewal… except for Saturnyne. And she’s not happy. But why is she taking it out on Betsy and Rachel?

Scott Koblish's 'X-Men' Connecting Cover Unleashes Mutant History

Check out the first half of Scott Koblish's connecting cover that will run across four upcoming X-Men titles: 'X-Men' #35, 'X-Men' #1, 'Uncanny X-Men' #1, and 'Exceptional X-Men' #1.

X-Men Unlimited Infinity Teaser

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #136 Art

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #136 Spoilers

Spoilers: Shatterstar teleports Rictor, Thunderbird, Mirage, and Captain Britain to Nova Roma. Betsy notes that Selene's defenses have created a psychic dead zone around Nova Roma, making telepathic contact with X-Corps Island difficult. Mirage recalls how Nova Roma's citizens suffered at the hands of Doctor Barrington recently, emphasizing the need to stop Selene once and for all. Mirage mentions that Magma will soon play her part in the war against Selene.

Meanwhile, amidst the Amazon jungle, the X-Corps encounters an invisible barrier. Betsy identifies it as magic, noting that the Externals are skilled in ancient ways. Rictor raises the earth to gain a better vantage point, revealing that Selene has shielded the entire city of Nova Roma under a dome. Thunderbird considers punching the dome, and Shatterstar suggests blindly teleporting inside, but suddenly the dome opens for them. A blast of fire is launched directly at the X-Corps, and Rictor shields the team by knocking them back to the ground. Absalom and Nicodemus appear, challenging the X-Corps to a fierce battle. Saul intervenes, urging his comrades to calm down, as it will serve him well to unleash the beast within him once again, transforming into a dragon.

Geoffrey Thorne's Q&A on X-Force -- Round 4

Geoffrey Thorne, the creative force behind the upcoming X-Force run debuting in July, revisited the CBR Forums to engage with fans and answer their burning questions.

Have you drawn inspiration from Rachel's earlier days in Alan Davis' Excalibur run for your take on her character in X-Force?

Thorne: Assume I've read (and own) 98% of all X-related material ever printed. And that includes John Byrne's bootleg. Also, assume I'm not paying homage to or emulating any previous version or arc. Further, assume I LOVE Alan Davis's work.

Is there a possibility of seeing Rachel interact with her brother and X-Force founder, Cable, in your upcoming run?

Thorne: I never say "no" to using cool characters, but I wouldn't count on Cable showing up any time soon.

Will X-Force follow a similar release schedule to Uncanny X-Men and X-Men, with 18 issues in its first year and possibly double shipping?

Thorne: With what I'm making Marcus draw already, I shudder to think what his reaction would be to having to draw EIGHTEEN issues in 12 months. How Gail and David Marquez are even doing that...? Yikes, man.

Can we expect the character design sheets for the team to be released?

Thorne: This far out, I doubt it. I'm certainly not allowed to.

Any chance we'll see Hellion make appearances in your X-Force series?

Thorne: I hate to break hearts, but not in the near future. But there are a bunch of other X-Books dropping so it's not unlikely he can show up in one of them.

Will Sage's past be explored in your run, and what are your thoughts on her real name not being Tessa?

Thorne: As far as I'm concerned, Tessa is her real name. Time will definitely be spent on Tessa.

Can you provide any teases about Forge's dynamic with the strong female characters in the team?

Thorne: Forge is... not a nice man. A good man? Absolutely. Nice? Not even close.

Will any character experience a sudden change towards villainy, similar to Beast's heel turn in Ben Percy's run?

Thorne: I write heroes. I have no interest in turning them into monsters. But there are heroes and there are heroes.

Will Rachel's chronal abilities and her identity as Askani still be a focus in your X-Force series, considering her development in recent years?

Thorne: Hmm. Them Phoenix girls got a lot of juice, that's for sure. Rachel's powerset and its effects are something we will definitely be exploring. Saying more constitutes a spoiler. PSIONICS are a weird breed, even compared to other mutants.

Was your Forge-led book pitch in 2020 intended to tie into the Krakoa era, or was it more era-agnostic?

Thorne: Era-agnostic. ALL my pitches have to be independent of whatever's currently going on in a given universe because I am, like everyone else, a minimum of three months behind whatever's going on in the ongoing story. Usually more than three.

Does Surge still rely on her gauntlets to control her powers, or has she overcome that need?

Thorne: She still needs them.

I'm somewhat worried about the creative direction, as it appears to be incorporating elements introduced by Tini Howard, which many feel negatively impacted characters like Betsy, Rachel, and others. How do you address these concerns?

Thorne: The canon is the canon but this is a FRESH start. Whether you loved or hated any previous run on the title, one thing I can promise is this book will not be any of those books. Oddly enough, just like real human beings, writers are not interchangeable. We're presenting our own show, not duplicating somebody else's.

Will Forge continue to address real-world issues such as housing crises, poverty, and climate change as he did pre-Fall of X?

Thorne: New mission. New team. New obstacles. New villains. Many, many new dangers. Issue #1 will tell you what you need to know. Once again, there will be no spoilers. You'll have to actually read it to find out.

What made Surge stand out among the available Academy X crew for inclusion in your X-Force team?

Thorne: I liked Nori. I liked all the NEW XMEN ACADEMY kids. The thing I like about her is she is a grappler, not a hider. Her response to trouble is to punch it in the mouth. Yeah, she had some bigotry issues to work out but those were, I think, the result of ignorance rather than malice. (Yes, there's a difference.) And then Krakoa happened and we're on the other side of all that. I thought it would be good to check in with Nori to see how she's grappling with all that.

Will Forge's invention of Surge's power control gauntlets come into play in the story, perhaps with an upgrade?

Thorne: I would say Forge is always giving folks helpful gadgets.

Can we expect any connective tissue with other X-books in your series, such as specific characters or storylines?

Thorne: There's some. But, in the case of X-Force, it won't be obvious.

Who is Tank, and how do they fit into the X-Force team?

Thorne: I'm not disclosing Tank's identity until it's right for the story. Even if somebody guesses right.

Can you offer any hints about the villains we can expect to see in your X-Force series? Will they be new or classic villains?

Thorne: No hints, but I generally try to do two things in corporate comics fiction: 1) Access the rich and amazing lore of the universe I'm being allowed to play in. 2) Keep Moving Forward. I am not a fan of nostalgia. The vibe is "Warriors" (Imagine Dragons song used to promote the League of Legends 2014 World Championship).

With Betsy as Captain Britain, there are numerous story threads available to explore, correct?

Thorne: My name is Geoffrey Thorne and I endorse this observation.

Would you lean more towards the characterization of Betsy Braddock as written by Chris Claremont, Rick Remender, and Cullen Bunn, as opposed to her portrayal during the Krakoa era?

Thorne: Alas, I am not those men. All I can promise or provide is the From the Ashes era Betsy.

Did you originally pitch the idea for this X-Force series back in 2020?

Thorne: Nope. I've been thinking about it since 2020. It was conceived and pitched early this year without knowing anything about what would happen after Krakoa or how Krakoa would end.

X-Corps Assemble in X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #140 Cover

X-Solicits for July 2024

X-Force #1 Geoffrey Thorne (W) • Marcus To (A) Cover by: Stephen Segovia Foil Variant Cover by: David Nakayama Forge Variant Cover by: Clayton Crain Forge Virgin Variant Cover by: Clayton Crain Stormbreakers Variant Cover by: Chris Allen Variant Cover by: Tony Daniel Variant Cover by: Mahmud Asrar Variant Cover by: Skottie Young Logo Variant Cover Also Available A NEW PATH FORGED! The world is fractured. Forge uses his powers of invention to devise the only fix: an all-new, all-different X-Force! Forge leads a custom-made, handpicked team of mutants – Rachel Summers, Betsy Braddock, Sage, Surge and introducing Tank – in off-the-books missions so dire, so integral to the fate of the Marvel Universe, there’s no time to stop for permission! As Forge detects increasing threats across the planet, he will recruit a specialist for each target – first up: that regenerating degenerate, Deadpool! Be here for an X-Force like you’ve never seen them before, stick around to see who joins, who lives, who dies and uncover the mystery of Forge’s discovery!

X-Force #1 Covers Without Trade Dress

Regular Cover: Art by Stephen Segovia & Colors by Bryan Valenza

Variant Cover: Art by Tony Daniel & Colors by Marcelo Maiolo

Variant Cover: Art by Mahmud Asrar & Colors by Matt Wilson

'X-Force' #1 Variant Covers Send Marvel's New Mutant Strike Team into Action

Variant Cover by TONY DANIEL

Variant Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR

Variant Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN

Variant Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA

Fall of the Hose of X #5 Variant Cover by Miguel Mercado

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #135 Spoilers & Art

Spoilers: In a dynamic battle, Sunspot and Solem overpower Gideon, leaving him defeated on the ground. Despite Gideon's resilience and warning of his ability to rebuild, Sunspot cunningly exploits the situation by seizing Gideon's fortune with the assistance of Sebastian Shaw, who gleefully betrays Selene. Meanwhile, Solem confronts Sunspot with the option of decapitating Gideon, leading to a revelation about the Externals' mutant-tracking software, which operates on a dead man's switch. Gideon offers critical information to Sunspot in exchange for his freedom, but Solem severs his hand to prevent further manipulation. As Gideon questions the team's ability to thwart Selene's plans, Sunspot, accompanied by Shatterstar and Trinary, departs, leaving behind a tense atmosphere of impending confrontation.

On X-Corps Island, Trinary and Wiz-Kid use Gideon's DNA to access the Externals' mutant-tracking software, contemplating erasing it to hinder Selene's plans. Layla Miller warns of potential consequences if Selene discovers the disruption to her supply chain, emphasizing the need for swift action. Observing from above, Betsy, Dani, and John recognize the urgency to confront the Externals directly, signaling a shift towards proactive engagement. As tensions escalate and plans unfold, the team braces for the impending clash with Selene and her allies, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown.

Geoffrey Thorne's Q&A on X-Force -- Round 3

Geoffrey Thorne returned to the CBR Forums once again for another round of Q&A about X-Force. Check out his insightful answers below.

Have you been keeping track of Surge's recent appearances here and there?

Thorne: I tracked Nori. She did some stuff in one of the Krakoa books and in that recent Bishop book but, for the most part, people haven't really used her or most of the NEW X–MEN ACADEMY "kids." As with all the characters I take on, I have plans for Nori that may not be readily apparent (on purpose).

Will you be pulling guest stars primarily from the X-Men books, or can we expect some guests from the greater Marvel Universe? How long will the guest characters be joining the team on average, a single issue, a story arc?

Thorne: That is an overstatement. There will be a few guest stars, here and there, but it's not like we'll be trotting them in and out constantly or even frequently. The team is static after issue 1 with guests showing up as needed. It is absolutely not a "guest star of the month" book. This is not Marvel Team-Up or anything like it.

Will Loa join the team?

Thorne: I also love Loa. Sadly, she doesn't fit into this first arc.

Was this initially an X-treme X-Men pitch with Sage, Rachel, and Betsy traveling all around?

Thorne: Nope. All things begin and end with Forge. And Sage. I don't pitch books by title. I pitch stories and let the company decide where they fit. This book has nothing to do with X-Treme X-Men. It's its own animal altogether. You know what happens when you assume.

Betsy has co-led X-Force many times, likely due to her pragmatism and her judgment skills. The incredible Remender run orbited around her, she co-led her own team with Storm, and was second in command to Cable and then Magneto when his Uncanny X-Men were more like X-Force during Bunn’s run. Will she have a similar role this time?

Thorne: Lady Braddock has a pretty full plate when she enters the story. Quite full. The leadership of this X-Force isn't really set up the way it has been for other versions of the team. Forge is the leader for reasons that will become clear in issue #1.

I know that your run will be nothing like Remender’s run, but I’d love to know your thoughts about his Uncanny X-Force.

Thorne: I make it a policy of never discussing my fan feelings on prior creative runs on a book I'm currently doing. That said, I've enjoyed nearly all of Mr. Remender's work since his FEAR AGENT days.

Forge is the longest-running X-Man who has never canonically had his real name revealed. Can we finally get that now that he’s a headliner of a book?

Thorne: I've noticed this too. Forge has used aliases over the years and we've never been told if any of them are really him. Will we find out this time around? Stay tuned, True Believers.

Is this going to be more akin to the original X-Force concept of striking problems before they become a problem or more black ops stuff?

Thorne: Short answer? Yes. But don't take too much from that. THIS X-Force's mission is different and, maybe, much weirder. I write heroes. I don't do nostalgia. X-Force didn't start as a murder squad. This isn't a continuation of the most recent iteration because Krakoa is no longer a controlling influence. Not in that way. This is a new deck with a new deal. This is not a copy or continuation of previous versions of X-Force. New leader. New mission. New solutions.

How does Rachel feel about her tattoos. They're on the cover, but she hasn't had them visible in some time. What do they represent to her in his mind?

Thorne: I doubt very much that Rachel is happy about the tattoos and why they are present at all is part of the story. One of the things I always liked about the X-Books (when they're good) is they're about the characters' internal conflicts just as much as they are about the plots and the fights. All of the characters in this book are carrying major baggage that will influence their interactions and even why they are on the team. The loss of Krakoa is a real thing and its shadow is long. The betrayal of Charles Xavier is a real thing. As is her relationship with Betsy. While this will absolutely not be some ponderous exploration of each character's inner life, those inner lives govern their actions in a very real way for each of them and, in some cases, at great cost. I can't ANSWER these questions here but I promise they have been considered and the answers are part of the story already.

Dead X-Men #4 Preview

Dead X-Men #4

Writer: Steve Foxe

Art by: Vincenzo Carratu, Bernard Chang, David Baldeon

The Story: Everything ends! Prodigy, Dazzler, Frenzy, Cannonball and Jubilee have gone farther and have risked more than any X-Men team before. Now, at the end of everything, the final fate of Krakoa rests on these five mutants. Will the Dead X-Men save the seed of the future…or kill it before it can even be planted? Rated T+

In Shops: Apr 17, 2024

 

Geoffrey Thorne's Q&A on X-Force -- Round 2

Geoffrey Thorne, the writer of Marvel's forthcoming X-Force series, revisited the CBR Forums to delve deeper into fan questions. His return engagement provided enthusiasts with more details about the highly awaited comic book.

How did you present your pitch for X-Force to Marvel Editorial?

Thorne: I pitched them a team led by Forge with ZERO "marquee" characters with a spin nobody else had pitched. I pitch a lot of stories to a lot of people, and most of them get shot down. It's always a surprise when the more offbeat ones are the ones that get traction. How offbeat they remain by the time you see them is another story entirely. Nonetheless, based on the issues that have made it through the editorial minefield intact, I'm excited for July.

Can you elaborate on Deadpool's role in X-Force?

Thorne: I don't know how anybody else is using Wade, but in X-Force, I think both Wade-haters AND Wade-lovers will enjoy what we do.

Is there any significance to Betsy not being referred to as Captain Britain in the solicitations and not wearing her costume? The same with Rachel not being called Askani. Will this be addressed in the book?

Thorne: It's difficult to address certain questions without spoilers or breaching my NDA. All I can say is, I KNOW you're excited and trying to parse every ounce of data out of the smallest announcements, but I would caution everybody against digging TOO deeply into the solicits. They are, by their very nature, a tiny and very shallow overview of the story to come. Sometimes they're straight-up wrong. The way I write superheroes who know each other's AKAs and real names is they sort of switch back and forth between them, depending on the scene. For instance, Rachel's 'hero name' is Askani, but Betsy's probably never going to call her that. Same with Captain Britain vs. Betsy. That would be like me always calling my wife Director Thorne instead of, you know, her name or whatever pet name I have for her. I think you can take comfort in the fact that the FROM THE ASHES initiative (or whatever we call a themed release these days) is not a reboot. Krakoa happened and the events of the Fall of X are canon.

How long have you been developing X-Force?

Thorne: I've been thinking about this since 2020 or slightly earlier.

What settings can we expect to see in your series? Will there be visits to locations like House of Magneto, Age of Apocalypse, or Days of Future Past?

Thorne: Where will it take place? Hmmm. I was going to do a Back to the Future joke, but you lunatics will think I'm hinting at time travel or something (I'm not NOT hinting at time travel). Let's see... [Thorne linked to Cowboy Bebop's opening sequence]. This should stir the pot.

Do you have any specific sources of inspiration for your upcoming run on X-Force? Are there any shows, movies, albums, or other media that you'd use to describe the tone of the team and its mission?

Thorne: Hannah Barbera's Johnny Quest. This for sure...

Will Sage have a more active role in combat this time? She missed out on much of the X-Force action previously!

Thorne: That, I can guarantee. I really believe people have been underestimating exactly what Sage is/can do with her power.

What details can you provide about the character Tank?

Thorne: You haven't even met Tank yet. That guy is FULL of surprises.

Considering Forge's aim to solve the world's problems, how many ethical boundaries will he and his team be willing to cross?

Thorne: He's not fixing ALL the world's problems. That would be crazy. Ethical lines? Where we're going, we don't have ethical lines. Hey, I got the Back to the Future joke in after all.

Can you address concerns from readers about Marcus To's art style potentially not aligning with the tone of a book like X-Force?

Thorne: That panel shared by Marcus To is NOTHING compared to what's happening. Honestly, if you think this is a book about folks standing around talking, you are in for a CRAZY surprise. This one panel does NO justice to what issue one is. Buckle up.

Marcus To Shares "X-Force" Teaser