Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Uncanny X-Force #34
Marvel Comics
Remender, Noto & Martin
X-Force has been a saga that has provided entertaining reads while sticking to a core theme. This issue brings together many of the plot threads that have been running throughout this arc, this series and, in some cases, the Marvel Universe as a whole. This isn't the final issue, but it sure feels like it is. This was one of the better comics I have read all year and that is entirely due to how Remender has kept a strong hold on the themes. Tremendous issue and one that illustrates how there can be more to super heroes than just the same old, same old.
The theme in this title has been fairly basic: every decision carries a consequence. No matter how small, how big, how well intended, well thought out or how rash, every decision trickles into something else. This book shows that the line between hero and villain is tiny. Each side makes decisions that lead to bad outcomes. No character is without their flaws, but their flaws are rooted in what they've done and how they further react. This comic book explores many of the final outcome of one or two key decisions made in previous issues and it's a brilliant ending.
The aspect of this book that I also enjoyed is how some of the characters rise to the occasion. That doesn't mean they are heroes, but what it means is they don't give up and even if they can affect the outcome in some, small, positive way then it makes everything worthwhile, good or bad. The book looks exhausting for every single character in the book and it fits the storyline perfectly.
The artwork is very polished and has a shiny effect throughout the book. This works on a super hero level just fine. However, the sadness, the pain in the characters is what makes the artwork special. Identifying select panels that magnifies the character's mental defeat as they make fatal decisions it quite powerful. I had no expectation that the art would rise to this level (or that it was even possible) but I was definitely moved by what this issue contained.
Uncanny X-Force is something that comes along far too infrequently. This isn't a payoff issue as much as it's a final look at the simply theme with complex layers that Remender has been exploring. The only question now is how does the final issue (#35) possibly top this.
5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
