In a perfect world, X-Force wouldn’t be necessary. Unfortunately, we aren’t so lucky. In X-Force #8, we continue following the tale of Domino and her lost luck. Domino, Sage, and Colossus tackle the big questions of death, trauma, and trains. Also, can Kenneth and Ari cope with just how BIG Colossus is? All this and more from Benjamin Percy and Oscar Bazaldua.
Kenneth Laster: Welcome back everyone I would like to formally announce that I, personally, cannot cope with how big Colossus is in this issue!
Ari Bard: He is certainly a massive boi and unfortunately, he and Domino are dealing with some equally massive problems. This issue brings us plenty of action and plenty of personal bonding, so it only makes sense to jump right in!
Revenge
KL: This issue is a good focus on Domino and Colossus as they talk together and fight together which I’m sure our editor, canonical Domino/Colossus shipper Zack enjoyed [Ed. note: I did]. I say we start with the latter because this is X-Force after all. This issue starts with bang or should I say “Blam”! After all the time we spent trying to name this Reverse-Domino, she really doesn’t make it past page 5 which is pretty bold. She continues the weaponized body parts that we saw from the strike team way back in #1, with her ear garrote and her arm bone(?) dagger both of which were very gross! While it’s sad to see her cool design go so quickly, Domino’s “Oh, look. We match.” after her death was incredibly satisfying. Anything else to say on this opening scene before chugging to the train in the room?
AB: The ear garrote really grossed me out but was also awesome. Overall, the opening scene ended in a very satisfying way, but it was also very fast. We really didn’t get any explanation or clues as to who or what this reverse Domino was. In fact, the only thing that came out of her mouth was banter. It kind of undercuts the meaning of all this. Reverse-Domino is literally stealing a piece of Domino herself and they don’t even discuss it. It left me feeling a bit empty. Moving on to the train scene, there is one important takeaway: Did you know how MASSIVE Colossus is? He is definitely two Dominos wide and two Dominos tall in certain panels. The man occupies the volume of four Dominos for crying out loud. The action, however, was probably the best I’ve seen in the series so far. That double-page train sequence is really well done from Bazaldua and Guru-FX. It does a great job displaying the scale, chaos,and compactness of the fight all in a short time frame. Do you have any thoughts about the train in the room Kenneth?
KL: Colossus if friggin huge! About the train scene, in a few words: it slapped! Not to immediately compare it to something else, but there’s been a tweet that’s been going around featuring a similar double page spread from Batman Universe drawn by Nick Derrington and the gist was that these types of sequences are entirely unique to comics as a medium and it works so well here. Double page spreads, occasionally lose impact for me but the slow zoom in on the action really sold the momentum and building intensity for the eventual crash. Kudos to Bazaldua and Guru-FX. I will say the only problem for me is Domino’s continuity in the spread. At some point in the spread we lose track on her and on the next page she is lying on the ground dying. Domino’s death had a lot of impact, but I couldn’t help but get distracted by this small thing. On the other hand, it is probably for the best that we didn’t see one of the lead women of the book get killed on panel, which despite the new status quo, DoX has been decent about. All in all, Percy and the various art teams of the book have been in their bag when it comes to action. Any last thoughts before we turn on the tinkly piano music?
AB: I was also thinking about that Batman Universe moment! There is also a similar great one done by Bruno Redondo in a recent issue of Suicide Squad in a submarine. It’s super cool, but you’re right, the fact that another lead woman has to die is pretty ridiculous. This is becoming more than just an uncomfortable pattern. But speaking of discomfort…
Things To Remember
AB: We’ve covered the fists, now time to talk about the words. Domino and Colossus continued their heart to heart in this issue and… it became pretty clear that one person was carrying the conversation, and it wasn’t the one with all the muscles. I’m sorry, but Colossus felt like dead weight for most of this issue. The dude is so afraid of any meaningful confrontation. He has had a large history of problematic behavior and consequences that make him sad, and his response is, “What if we just died, got resurrected, and forgot it all?” That is the most cowardly move I’ve seen from a guy this large and Domino only softly declines instead of calling him out on that. I get that these two issues belong to Domino, but it feels like Percy is really making Colossus look bad here for no good reason instead of offering some good character development. What did you think Kenneth?
KL: Yeah Piotr was very much the SadBoi of the Month this issue (As well as BigBoi of the Decade). While it wasn’t the best look for him, I do think it was necessary in terms of storytelling. Someone has to be the counterpoint in this conversation of whether to hang onto this trauma or to let it go. I do think his way of thinking is justified, with his trauma in Russia before the book started being so scarring, that he doesn’t even want to be in the field this issue. Domino’s death and wanting to retain her pain in resurrection might kickstart Pete’s thinking away from the let’s just die and forget mentality. But speaking of Domino–I just haven’t been paying attention to reading orders and read this issue before X-Men #7 and Domino’s wishes to keep her pain– really made me think of “the wills” [Ed. note: If you don’t know what Kenneth is talking about, check this out.] As quickly as her doppleganger was taken out, I really enjoyed her throughline in these two issues and her dealing with her trauma as an exploration of choice in a world that could heal anything. Without going into too much depth, this week has been a major one for X-Books really digging in with the implications of resurrection and I absolutely cannot wait to see more of this stuff explored, specifically in X-Factor. Any more thoughts on Pioteena or Colossino or Domossus or Neeotr (Cute Couple, Not So Cute Ship Names)?
AB: I don’t want to see Piotr in a relationship until he’s reflected on his problematic past ones. We don’t even know that much surrounding Colossus’ recent events in Russia. I definitely appreciate what Domino had to say, but Colossus’s perspective really doesn’t sit right with me as he tries to justify suicide because it isn’t permanent for mutants. There are definitely other counterpoints to be had in my opinion.
KL: Those are definitely valid points. My prior experiences with Colossus’s relationships are only Claremont era Kitty (which is yikes), his Secret Wars space girlfriend and very sensual panels of him and Domino that Zack has posted on Twitter. So I’m not super familiar with Colossus’s problematic relationship elements he needs to get over besides the weird age difference in Claremont. I also agree with that Colossus’s perspective on death does push up against the uncomfortable relationship with real world death and death under Krakoan resurrection, but as we got into earlier death and resurrection are getting real murky on Krakoa in ways that are sure to resonate and cause discomfort with readers. Which is sure to make Twitter…something.
Declaration of War
KL: Let’s hope Colossus sticks around for the team because, to paraphrase Smash Mouth, the threats start coming and they don’t stop coming as a new shadowy figure emerges. I have to say, I have mixed feelings on the tease of a shadowy figure taking over this organization. On one hand I think this signals a shift into direct aggression which I hope moves this story along and who doesn’t love a good mystery. But on the other hand, the Man with the Peacock tattoo has really been propped up as the core of the threat in this title and it feels weird to introduce a power struggle or to have him become second fiddle to the shadowy figure when X-Force still haven’t really encountered him yet. What are your thoughts Ari?
AB: I whole-heartedly agree. The Man with the Peacock tattoo has acted directly with an X-Men member maybe once and there’s already an internal struggle and he’s no longer the head honcho? This spells trouble for any evil organization. It’s pretty ridiculous that things are already shaking up when X-Force has only had one major success. It’s possible that this scene was supposed to suggest that he was never in charge in the first place, but why even fool us at all then? Some of Percy’s decisions about when he informs us about certain things feels very off. Do you have any theories about who this beefy villain might be Kenneth?
KL: On second skim, I thought it could be the person who poked the Krakoan gate but they weren’t nearly beefy enough. Unfortunately I feel like there are a ton of anti-mutant villains that I am way less familiar with (and that already haven’t shown up in Marauders) so I am at a loss. But maybe…we’ll get more clues next time in X-Force #9 when we enter…The Green Lagoon!
X-Traneous Thoughts
- HOT SQUATS makes the recreational planning page the best datapage ever.
- “Make more mutants” explicitly stated to me s-e-x!
- Oh boy Joshua Cassara has already shown us (twitter) a panel of The Green Lagoon in X-Force #9 and THEY HAVE APOCALYPSE TIKI GLASSES
- The “knocking over Dominos” bit was very good.
- If ya had a chance ta poke the gate wouldja?
- Kenneth’s Sound Effect of the Month is….”SKELCH”! Say it out loud at home!
- Krakoan teaser reads: Welcome to the jungle
Ari Bard is a huge comic fan studying Mechanical Engineering so he can finally figure out how the Batmobile works.
Kenneth Laster writes, draws, and studies Film and Gender Studies so he really hopes you’re hiring!
Ari Bard is a huge comic fan studying Mechanical Engineering so he can finally figure out how the Batmobile works.
Kenneth Laster is a critic, cartoonist, and cryptid with a movie degree.
