The first issue of Inglorious X-Force did a solid job of bringing together a new team for Cable to boss around, but the second issue of the Tim Seeley and Michael Sta. Maria’s series was going to be the real test for yours truly. After a solid enough introduction setting the stakes for the survival of another possible mutant future, Seeley and Sta. Maria reveal arguably something even more important for the series going forward in Inglorious X-Force #2, and it was one that I truly didn’t see coming, but said “of course” to myself as it happened. That subtle reveal adds a lot to an already surprisingly fun read, and teases an inevitable conflict to come in future issues.
With the team assembled, Cable takes Hellverine, Boom-Boom, Archangel, and Ms. Marvel on their first “real” mission as the new version of X-Force. After failing to prevent the new Mutant Liberation Front from their goal in destroying the “Mutalert” headquarters, Cable takes the team to the headquarters of the Blasphemy Cartel, where a trapped Ephemera Angel is the latest key to destroying mutants. Home to a forgotten doomsday cult that was once a subset unit of S.H.I.E.L.D. called W.A.N.D. (Wizard Alchemy and Necromancy Department), this supernatural obsessed group has an army of zombies, monsters, ghouls, and all kinds of other things that go bump in the night at their disposal, which they use to vainly attempt to stop X-Force from getting to their goal. But as they get closer and closer, Cable reaches the server room, and his true intentions come to light….
I desperately want to the spoil the reveal behind Cable’s true intentions for this team, but the reveal was so fun (and comes so early) that I don’t want to ruin it for anyone else. I will say that for anyone who picked up the first issue of Inglorious X-Force and went “eh, pretty good” like me, this reveal will most likely turn up your interest in a huge way. I know that when I read it I was shocked at how great of a twist it was, and how it fits perfectly with Cable’s demeanor and leadership skills (or lack thereof). Without going into too much detail, it factors in with the potential killer of the future President Kamala Khan, and how Cable is going to keep tabs on them. Saying even that feels like too much, but it sets the timer on a ticking narrative time bomb that Seeley is sure to have fun playing with as the series goes on.
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Seeley also has fun pitting this weirdo team of mutants against each other, both physically and verbally. Hellverine and Archangel have a friendly sparring match, Boom-Boom and Hellverine continue their weird flirting, Kamala Khan is in over her head, and Domino is waiting in the wings tailing X-Force and wondering just what the hell Cable is up to this time. It already this feels like a team that’s starting to gel in spite of itself, and maybe that’s the actual secret to this book’s surprising success with me. I’ve never been the biggest X-Force or Cable fan, but the sheer willingness to embrace some of the more ridiculous aspects of this particular X-team into one roster is what makes Seeley’s script hit so well for me. There’s a few moments where a line of dialogue reads a little wonky, but the rest of issue is constructed so well at showing us Cable’s true motives versus what the team thinks they are doing that I’ll let some of that slide here. Seeley’s script is also juggling a lot of side-plots already, yet it doesn’t feel overstuffed at all. Really the only character that isn’t given a lot to do this issue is Kamala Khan herself. It’s great seeing her react to everything around her and try to help out, but of her recent appearances this is my least favorite so far.
Michael Sta. Maria really came out of nowhere with the first issue, and with Inglorious X-Force #2 he only gets better. While he already showed a lot of promise as an artist with his fantastic modern but throwback stylings of Cable, Boom-Boom, and the rest, with this issue we get the added bonus of X-Force fighting monsters, something that absolutely appeals to the 7 year old inside of me (and the 39 year old that I actually am). Sta. Maria is relishing his opportunity here and not letting anything go to waste, with some really excellent action set pieces and shocking imagery throughout the issue (once Cable goes through his “ritual” to get to the trapped angel the book gets into “red band” territory surprisingly fast). Sta. Maria is really making a mark with this series, and it’s only two issues in! I can’t wait to see where he’s going next with it.
Despite not having as great of a handle on Kamala Khan as I’d like, Inglorious X-Force‘s second issue is even stronger than its predecessor, and adds a much needed narrative twist that is going to make future issues extremely engaging. I never thought this would be a book where I’d be anxiously waiting for the next issue, yet the work of Seeley and Sta. Maria has really elevated this beyond a mere ’90s nostalgia grab.
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