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

Captain Britain Slays a Dragon in "X-Men Unlimited Infinity" #139 Cover

Geoffrey Thorne's Q&A on X-Force

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.