We may be in chilly Russia, but we will have the embers that ignite INFERNO to keep us warm. Plus, Mikhail Rasputin returns, the Cerebro Sword is wielded, and the Chronicler…revealed? All this, and tiny men inside Hank McCoy in X-Force #23 by Benjamin Percy, Martin Coccolo and Guru-eFX, and VCās Joe Caramanga.
Kenneth Laster: Nasty X-Force is back! Little nasty men hopping into Beast, dudes with nasty little rocket arms, just a lot of nasty little buff freaks. This is the kind of X-Force we like to read.
Ari Bard: You are absolutely right, Kenneth. Percy and Coccolo decided to turn the dial right all the way to “batshit crazy” so that we have the pleasure of seeing villains trapped in pocket dimensions, Little Black Tom, and as many Russian historical figures as Percy could imagine. Let’s go!
The Body of the Beast
Kenneth: Speaking of little men doing things, two little men are running around in Beast! Having a sense that the X-Force INFERNO chapters will look at Hank McCoyās indiscretions left me jazzed at getting his point of view in X-Force #23. What did you think of Hank here?
Ari: Itās a good one to have, and Percy writes it well, but gosh, I hate that guy. Hank is so full of himself. It literally comes back to hurt him with his secret nesting doll burrowing its way inside him. It’s wild how small those things can get. When does it stop? Also, when Beast quotes Goethe? My eyes rolled. The creative team knows how to emphasize his superiority complex. Midway through the X-Force #23, however, Beastās monologue feels like it turns into Percyās. Iāve read some interviews where he talks about his views on X-Force and Beast, and his opinion on the character could not be more evident than when Beast is explaining Krakoaās need for a bastard. It seems like a direct message to X-fans, the days of a more altruistic Beast are long gone. How do you feel about that, Kenneth?
Kenneth: I love the āI miss the old Beastā moment so much. Percy has been pushing the concept of a morally compromised Beast to its breaking point. It felt nice to see that acknowledged. It also adds another level to him feeling like a parasite. The idea that Beast opposes death on Krakoa out of fear that someone will bring back the āoldā Beast is compelling. It adds depth to the weird path Beast has traveled.
Part of that path includes the nonconsensual reboot of Domino, erasing her trauma, which felt icky. What would happen if someone brought back a former version of Beast without the warts of being a war criminal? Itās a concept that feels like a throwback to Percyās decision to bring back the five original X-Men. Would the reboot be for the greater good? Is it the closest thing to redemption we can hope for with Beast? Itās one of the more interesting moral wrinkles Percy has introduced to the character. Iām super interested to see where this goes, as we delve into INFERNO.Ā
Ari: While I think Iām growing a little tired of Beastās antics, I do agree with you about the larger concept of personalities readers might deem to be āout of character.ā This doesnāt have to pertain to just Beast, and thereās room for a larger metadiscussion about how superheroes might feel about their character evolution. Itās pretty evident Beast will continue doing war crimes for as long as possible and that those often lead to grave mistakes. Weād be remiss if we didnāt talk about Beast needing to rely on wee Black Tom for this latest mistake. Percy gives Black Tom Cassidy the greatest lines, wouldnāt you say?
Kenneth: Percy heard our prayers! We wanted Black Tom back, and boy is he back in a beautifully chaotic way. Black Tom creates a tiny plant version of himself to run around Hank to fight another tiny man already there?! I couldnāt ask for a better return. Every line he says is perfect. I hope that he never leaves us again. I donāt even know if I have anything of critical import to say besides āmore plsā.
Ari: Hopefully, weāll get more soon, but for now, we must turn to someone weāve wanted to learn more about: the Man with the Peacock Tattoo, whose situation has just taken a turn for the worse.
Peacock on Pause
Ari: The mysterious man behind everything orchestrates several plant-based attacks on Krakoa and then, in a stroke of genius, fails to deliver for Mikhail and gets trapped in his own pocket dimension? I have to say, while I am certain this wonāt be the last of our sharply dressed masked villains, it was an unexpected turn of events for a character that always seemed one step ahead. What did you think about the Man with the Peacock Tattooās predicament, Kenneth?
Kenneth: Iām happy something is happening with this guy! It does continue the trend of his loosening threat after driving a sedan last issue. I wonāt be upset if his arc ends with him just getting a wedgie and kicked in the butt like a cartoon. Again, my enjoyment feels like some sort of progress on what to do with this character. Itās not a ton but having his whole schtick of standing next to the villain of the month claiming itās all a part of his grand scheme is something different from his every appearance. After this, weāll likely see him return to his old ways, but itās nice to have the formula shaken up here.
Ari: I see where youāre coming from, but being stuck in your own void is a cruel sentence indeed and not what he was planning. He is good at making things, though! The new nesting dolls with their detachable arms and spiky knees are a special kind of nasty, and what better way to test them out than in a fight with a polar bear? Every new X-Force artist gets a fun action sequence, and this one is Coccoloās.
In Russia, The Story Writes You
Kenneth: Thereās so much to unpack about Percyās very campy Russia in X-Force #23. We get maybe every notable Russian name-dropped this side of Boris and Natasha. We also get quite a few developments on Mikhailās mutant community within Russia. What were your thoughts here, Ari?
Ari: I am pretty certain Percy put every Russian historical figure he knew off the top of his head into this issue. Iām no expert on everyday life in Russia, but Percyās portrayal is so over-the-top. Iām curious as to whether or not anyone is legitimately offended? It crosses the line into being explicitly stereotypical. For example, the iconography used during Mikhailās depiction and schemes. Iām interested in seeing mutant holdouts that do not choose Krakoa, and there appeared to be quite the squadron of Russian mutants under Mikhailās leadership. However, seeing these plans come together has only reminded me of how much Percy has up in the air. You would think, for example, that the Cerebro sword might be a larger priority.
Kenneth: Percyās Russia is very chaotic. In a way, it feels in the spirit of a lot of comics about Russia from the past? Much in how the Canada of the Marvel Universe is radically different from the Canada of our world, I wonder if we can extend that to Russia? Either way, it does feel Percyās over-the-top action figure-mashing tone Iāve been missing a bit from this book. That said, it is still quite silly. I agree.
It is fascinating to see how this plot has returned after so long. It is a bit frustrating how it stretches into Percyās other book Wolverine (which I am unfortunately behind on reading). The plots feel difficult to keep straight across one book, let alone two. Regardless, Mikhailās concept of a mutant community in Russia is compelling. Especially if you consider how the Chronicler seems to be instrumental in either recording its creation or making it happen. What was your take on the reveal of this enigmatic scribe?
Ari: The reveal works for a very cinematic cliffhanger moment, but I need to know a little more to get me excited. There are so many questions pertaining to the entire situation. We know a mysterious figure in a separate pocket dimension manifests them. Is the Chronicler simply a scribe, or can he influence the past or the future? Does the Chronicler āstaying thirstyā affect the work he does? All we know is heās a powerful chess piece Mikhail has hidden away. Iām excited to see how this plot unfolds.
X-Traneous Thoughts
- I simply must bring back āKennethās SFX Cornerā as we return to nasty boy action this week. Thank you, VCās Joe Caramanga, for your service.
- SKELCH
- SPILCH
- & WUMP
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.
