X-Force (2nd Series)

(Marvel, 2004–2005)
™ and © 2004 Marvel Entertainment Group

A basic reality of comics, if you read them for a long enough period of time, is “what’s old is new again.” Writer/artist Rob Liefeld enjoyed his first and greatest popular success while working on the mutant team book X-Force at Marvel before leaving to help launch Image Comics. More than a decade later, Liefeld returns to relaunch the title, teaming with Fabian Nicieza to bring back the Cable, Shatterstar, Domino, and all the other heroes, whose popularity at Marvel had been erratic at best in the years since Liefeld helped make them great. Whose desire for a return to former glory was greater: Marvel for its characters or Liefeld for himself?

In any case, the book does have a certain nostalgic feel, both in terms of its storyline—a team reunited—and its visual flair. The tagline says “The Legend Returns,” which is either a reasonable reference to its popular team leader or a somewhat bold one to Liefeld.

— Andy Richardson

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