Review: Oh No! It’s The Consequences Of Beast’s Actions In ‘X-Force’ #20
by Tony Thornley
Hank McCoy is the absolute worst. And in X-Force #20 he finally faces the consequences of his actions. It’s about time.
The Hellfire Gala is in full swing. X-Force is watching the door. Quentin Quire is arguing with Tony Stark. It’s a whole thing. That means it’s the perfect time for highly immoral actions as told by Benjamin Percy, Joshua Cassara, Guru-eFx, and Joe Caramagna.
The Gala is the perfect cover. For what exactly? Well, for Wade Wilson, it’s the perfect opportunity to slip into Krakoa and finally fulfill his destiny — joining X-Force. Again. Maybe for the third time? I don’t know, who’s keeping track? But for Beast, it’s a perfect opportunity to potentially steal state secrets … At least it would be if someone didn’t hack his sleeper agents…
This is really a pretty funny issue. Is it as funny as this week’s Hellions? No. It’s an important issue, too (although not quite as important as Marauders though). It strikes a solid balance between the two. It’s great to see Beast’s arrogance come back and bite him in the ass (though the actual biting isn’t happening until Wolverine in three weeks). The blue-furred intelligence master has been making morally dubious decisions for so long that he’s crossed too many lines. This needed to happen and I’m excited for the consequences to reach through the series to come.
On the rougher side of the issue though, Deadpool just really was unnecessary. Though Percy wrote him well, it completely pulled me out of the story. The fourth wall breaking was over the top, and it just didn’t fit with the rest of the story so far, both in this individual issue and with the event as a whole.
Cassara continues to put in fantastic work, and the Guru team’s colors really shine in the issue. Of the three Hellfire Gala issues this week, this was easily the best looking of the bunch. Cassara makes the body horror elements of the story stand out, with plant-appendages jumping around the page (which Guru gives an incredibly creepy shade of green). The fight between Wolverine, Domino, and Deadpool was a highlight, as he’s grown in laying out fights and choreographing the movement through his panels. Guru also gave it a great look, avoiding using dark and muddy colors just because it was night time.
It’s about time that Hank McCoy screwed up. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
X-Force #20 is available now from Marvel Comics.
Overview
Beast finally gets what’s coming to him. It’s mostly a very good story, with great art, even with a totally unnecessary and annoying Deadpool guest appearance.
