Marvel recently unveiled exciting news for X-Men fans with the announcement of a new
X-Force book written by
Geoffrey Thorne. The acclaimed writer took the time to engage with fans and answer their questions on the
CBR Forums, offering insights into what readers can expect from this highly anticipated addition to the X-Men universe.
What can readers anticipate from the upcoming X-Force series?
Thorne: Love the canon, but nostalgia is not my thing, so make of that what you will.
Can you share your thoughts on Marcus To's artwork for the book?
Thorne: Marcus is bringing the heat. Fans and detractors will both be surprised by what we're giving.
Do you like Otherworld?
Thorne: Not to spoil or talk too deeply about projects I'm actively writing, but... I love all that Otherworld stuff. Do what you want with that.
For someone unfamiliar with your writing, which of your previous works would you recommend to provide a glimpse into what to expect from your X-Force run?
Thorne: I try to switch things up from book to book. You won't find much similarity between Green Lantern, say, and Mosaic or Blood Syndicate. I will say it's nothing at all like Green Lantern (which was meant to be a three-part cosmically epic sci-fi novel.) This is not that. KING IN BLACK: BLACK PANTHER and King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes #2 are similar in tempo, but, again, I really don't think any two of my books are alike.
Is Tank a robotic character in the series?
Thorne: Tank is a member of the X-Force team I am currently writing.
Will you explore Surge's friendship with Forge as part of the team dynamics?
Thorne: Short answer is yes.
Thank you for including Surge in the roster; can we expect further development for the Academy X squad?
Thorne: I loved NEW XMEN ACADEMY. Like LOVED.
Are there plans for Betsy to regain her previous martial arts skills in the upcoming storyline?
Thorne: Betsy is not Kwannon. Prior to Kwannon, Betsy knew how to fight and POST Kwannon she knows how to fight. With a sword and everything. And, remember, there are a LOT of apex fighting styles available to a TELEPATH. Lots and lots and lots.
Could you offer insight into the selection process for the cast of characters in X-Force?
Thorne: I've always wanted to do a Forge-centric yarn, and I like these characters. Especially Sage. I think Sage has a lot to offer and a lot to do. Those two were always going to be in it. The others were chosen for different reasons. Some are very story-based so, I can't say.
Are you familiar with Betsy's and Sage's friendship in New Exiles?
Thorne: Yes.
Without giving away spoilers, what can fans of Betsy Braddock expect from your interpretation of her character in X-Force?
Thorne: You can expect Betsy to be a serious, seasoned warrior with a sober mind and incisive attitude. You can expect her relationship with Rachel to have nuance, depth, and complexity. To the best of my ability. She's been in one battle zone or another nearly her entire adult life, and she is still here to talk about it. But somehow she didn't turn into Wolverine or Omega Red. I think that's interesting, personally.
What is your personal journey with X-Men comics? Do you have any favorite runs or memorable experiences as a fan?
Thorne: Until just after the Morrison era, I had an unbroken collection of all X titles starting with X-Men #1 (Lee/Kirby and including the reprint era). I fell off during/after Morrison's run and only came back after that for particular arcs, writers, and/or artists. I loved much of HoX/PoX and liked most of the post-Hickman Krakoa era. This includes all mini-series, solos, and the MARVEL UK stuff as well. Nearly all of them are currently in a storage facility about four miles from my home. Not every book is for every reader, so I won't be saying which ones I didn't like because the internet mob makes too much of a meal of that kind of thing. I have +30k comics, down from +50K, by the way. I loved the entire Claremont/Byrne Era. I loved the Claremont/Cockrum Era (including Len Wein who gave us the all-new all-different X-Men). I loved Age of Apocalypse. I loved House of M. Many of the sidecar titles I bought for the art more than the stories, but it doesn't mean the stories weren't fun. I love anything drawn by Alan Davis or Paul Smith or Chris Bachalo or Sara Picelli or Mahmud Asrar.
Are you familiar with British speech patterns?
Thorne: Are you concerned about dialect? My Impala in TRUTH & JUSTICE was a Londoner. I wrote Sophie Devereaux on LEVERAGE for 3 seasons and Professor Moriarty on THE LIBRARIANS. Don't worry.