X-Force Holds Steady in November Sales Rankings

In the November sales rankings based on ComicHub POS data, X-Force secured the #34 spot, a steady position compared to October’s #32. Its consistency reinforces its status as the best-selling spin-off title from Wave 1.

The data, collected over a four-week period from November 3 to November 30, 2024, reflects consumer purchases at comic shops worldwide.

Geoffrey Thorne Talks La Diabla Plus X-Force #7 Preview Art

ComicBook spoke to Geoffrey Thorne about adding a new villain to the X-Men mythos, someone else pulling La Diabla’s strings, how La Diabla has been watching X-Force since the very first issue, and his future plans for Tank. ComicBook can also exclusively reveal interior pages for X-Force #7, which feature La Diabla taking an interest in Betsy Braddock and Rachel Summers.

ComicBook: La Diabla seems like the perfect foil for Forge since she deals in alchemy and Forge is all about science. Walk us through her creation and what La Diabla is hoping to achieve with these fractures?

Geoffrey Thorne: La Diabla is formidable and very much designed to give both Forge and Sage fits. I wanted to put some new villains with new agendas and new powersets into the mix and La Diabla is just the first. As X-Force learns more about her, so will the audience but she is absolutely not to be trifled with or underestimated.

As for the rest, “spoilers,” is all I can say.

La Diabla says she “met a boy” who is later teased when she makes her exit after attacking Forge and Sage. What can you tell us about this mystery person and their connection to Forge?

I can’t tell you anything except La Diabla is not her own boss. She’s the Darth Vader to an Emperor we haven’t yet met. Or… have we?

Issue #6 ends with Betsy and Rachel suffering an attack from La Diabla while they’re in the middle of one of their psychic sessions. Why has La Diabla switched her focus to these two? And how will she test their relationship going forward?

La Diabla’s beef is with all of X-Force (with Forge getting special focus for some reason). She’s been monitoring them AT LEAST since Issue #1 and she’s had it up to here with their shenanigans.

Tank has been the wild card of X-Force so far. What do you have planned for the bruiser in upcoming issues?

Oh, quite a lot, I suspect.

X-Force #6 Art

X-Force #6 Spoilers

Spoilers: After Surge’s death and Sage’s departure, the remaining X-Force members—Forge, Betsy Braddock, Rachel Summers, and Tank—spent the next month sealing fractures across the globe, including those in the Mariana Trench, Numidia, and Tibet. Aboard the X-Jet, Forge remains haunted by Surge’s death. Seeking clarity, he activates his virtual reality program featuring holographic simulations of Storm and Mystique. “Storm” tries to reassure him that he is not a bad man, while “Mystique” taunts him, insisting the X-Force members are just expendable pawns in his larger schemes.

Meanwhile, Sage infiltrates Forge’s Aerie in Texas and hacks into his virtual reality. She expresses lingering resentment toward Forge but reveals that she has spent the past few days analyzing data from the fractures they’ve encountered. She’s discovered a common link: Dr. Corazon Estrada, a scholar specializing in quantum physics and alchemy, was present at each fracture site—Japan, Wakanda, Cambodia—just days before they occurred. The twist? Dr. Estrada supposedly died in a car accident five years ago. Sage and Forge deduce that Estrada faked her death and has now resurfaced, tied to these fractures.

At that moment, Corazon Estrada hacks into Forge’s simulation, identifying herself as "La Diabla." Displeased with their interference, she takes control of Forge’s simulations, pitting “Storm” and “Mystique” against Forge and Sage. Sage manages to purge “Mystique” from the system, enraging La Diabla, who retaliates by forcefully ejecting Sage from the simulation. “Storm” turns on Forge, forcing him to confront his guilt over Surge’s death. Accepting his role in the tragedy, Forge shuts down the virtual reality, purging La Diabla from the system. Before disappearing, she ominously warns that the game isn’t over.

Forge awakens on the X-Jet and urgently alerts Tank that they are under attack. Meanwhile, Betsy and Rachel, who had been meditating together with their powers synchronized, appear to be trapped in a catatonic psychic trance.

X-Force #6 Preview

X-Force #6

Writer: Geoffrey Thorne

Art by: Jim Towe

Cover by: Stephen Segovia

The Story: FORGE REUNITES WITH STORM AND MYSTIQUE! The mysterious forces circling X-FORCE since issue #1 begin to come into focus…the fractures were just the beginning! Meanwhile, for all of the pain he's endured, losing STORM may be the biggest regret of FORGE's life. But as Forge reunites with ORORO and MYSTIQUE, this "love triangle" might break more than just a few hearts! Action. Love lost. New foes. Shock surprises. X-FORCE has it all!

In Stores: December 4, 2024

Geoffrey Thorne Talks Betsy Braddock

The Comics Cube with Duy Tano: You’ve mentioned earlier that we have a lot to look forward to regarding Betsy Braddock. Can you give us a preview of what we can expect?

Geoffrey Thorne: I love Betsy. Once issue #5 is done, it culminates in a death and someone leaving the team. We've introduced a few threads—like who the hell Tank is, why Forge is concealing his thoughts from his own allies, and why Rachel needs [Betsy’s] boost to flex. All of that is going to start getting explained or at least addressed in the next five issues.

I like Captain Britain because I’ve liked Betsy for years. I think there’s a lot of potential in her character because she’s secondary, unlike mainstays like Scott, Jean, Logan, Rogue, and the rest. I enjoy those [secondary] characters because you can do more with them. I think there’s a space Betsy can occupy, and I might be the one to figure out what that is. She needs to be unique. We need to resolve this Captain Britain thing. Whether I get to do it or not, it needs to be resolved.

X-Force #8 Solicit for February 2025

X-Force #8
Geoffrey Thorne (W) • Marcus To (A)
Cover by Stephen Segovia
La Diabla Variant Cover by Jay Anacleto
La Diabla Virgin Variant Cover by Jay Anacleto
Animated-Style Variant Cover by Mark Brooks
Animated-Style Virgin Variant Cover by Mark Brooks
Colossal Repercussions!

Can X-FORCE survive a fight with…COLOSSUS?! The mysterious LA DIABLA has X-FORCE on the ropes, and she’s brought some unexpected allies! PLUS – what does FORGE’s ANALOG device have to do with the FRACTURES threatening the planet…and La Diabla’s designs?! The season’s most surprising X-book packs a few more turns…

X-Force Sales Surge in October 2024

According to ComicHub's October 2024 sales rankings, X-Force climbed from #51 in September to #32 in October. These rankings, which track consumer purchases at over 3,000 comic stores worldwide, cover sales from October 6 to November 2. X-Force #4’s early release on October 9 meant that all four weeks of October sales were counted, contributing to the book’s jump in the rankings.

X-Force #5 Art

X-Force #5 Spoilers

Spoilers: Tempest (Alternate Storm) reacts sharply upon seeing Forge, as her own Forge abandoned her with a child. She orders her Avengers to attack X-Force. Betsy and Rachel quickly read their minds, realizing they’re from another universe, and devise a plan to stop them. Betsy amplifies Rachel’s powers, complete with her signature butterfly effect, and Rachel pretends to be the Phoenix—a figure these Avengers revere in their own reality. Once both teams reach an understanding, the Avengers explain that their Nuklo destroyed their Man-Thing, destabilizing ley lines that began releasing destructive energies, devastating cities and killing hundreds in their world.

As the 616 Man-Thing begins to reform, Sage deduces that Nuklo’s next target is another dimensional nexus. Forge theorizes that Nuklo is attempting to link three dimensional points to permanently keep the dimensional rifts open. Running analytics, Sage predicts Nuklo’s heading toward a nexus point in Quebec, Canada, which Loki originally opened years ago (in X-Men/Alpha Flight #1-2, 1985). Meanwhile, creatures are emerging from these portals to attack various regions on Earth.

Upon arriving in Quebec, X-Force and Tempest’s Avengers join forces, battling their way through monsters to reach the nexus. Just as Nuklo is about to open it, Storm and Iron Knight (James Rhodes) decide to attack him directly, knowing he’s vulnerable to electricity. Nuklo retaliates, apparently killing Tempest and Iron Knight. Realizing she may be the key to sealing the rift, Surge prepares to intervene, despite Sage warning her that the power required will be too much for her to endure. Forge charges Surge, who accepts her fate, acknowledging that some choices must be made for the greater good. She unleashes her power, vanquishing Nuklo, but the immense energy consumes her, resulting in her ultimate sacrifice. Forge accepts this outcome as necessary, but Sage confronts him, accusing him of sacrificing Surge and quits the team.