266. X-Force vol 1 #12 ... Marvel ...

First 12 issues marking one year in publication and one year of success ... so it's a little disappointing to find that there is no special commemorative effort when this issue first came out ... no momentous storyline ... no one died or left the team ... no double-sized issue or special back up feature ... nothing!

About the only thing special here is that the new artist for the cover is able to channel that Liefeld energy and detail in his work. Check it out. It's awesome

As for the storyline, well, as you can see, we got to learn more about a new sub plot but this is not the end result yet of said sub plot. Basically there is something called the Externals i.e. mutants who are long lived and generally more powerful than most regular breed. They know each other, fight with each other trying to weasel themselves into positions of power. Now with the way they look and dress, one is surprised that no one knew of their existence and where the F is En Sabah Nur, Apocalypse, eh? Or for that matter another protege of his?

Anyhow ... let's move on. So here like in any clan, there are those who are more dog like and those who strut and be the ruling class and so it happens that Krule (wow how imaginative) decided he has had enough being a dog and went against Gideon (guy with long hair) who seemed to be a good fighter and that's all his mutation gave him

So it's a decent slugfest type of tale ... and that's it!

Yes, X-Force does feature but they play a backseat in this issue!

Ratings: 6/10