X-Force X-Statix over new super heroes for Marvel Comics
by Justin Gilmore, reporter

    When Joe Quesada took over as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics in August 2000, everyone knew that changes would come from the struggling publisher. What no one knew was how big those changes would actually be.

   The fate of Marvel was still in the air as the changes began.

   Artists and writers were dismissed from their positions; books were cancelled, and a new breed of talent was brought in to work on some of the most notable titles in all of comics.

   Marvel announced Jan. 8, 2000, that Mike Allred, a well-known independent artist, would take over penciling duties on X-Force.

   The book, an offshoot of the ever-popular X-Men series, had been struggling for some time, and a change was definitely needed.

   Fans, however, were leery of the new artist. Allred’s ’60s pop style was the exact opposite of what X-Force readers were used to seeing each month.

   The second shocking change came when Marvel announced that another independent favorite, Peter Milligan, would be doing the writing on X-Force.

   As news spread, fans grew concerned. No one was sure what the new team would do to the title, but everyone knew that X-Force would be a far cry from what it had been.

   The new X-Force made its debut in July 2001, and while it was a success, some fans were not happy with the new direction. Not only had the style of the art changed so had the story.

   The typical super-group saving world from evil theme was replaced with a wider variety of stories and deeper character development.

   While the action remained, and to some extent increased, the emphasis of the book shifted from what the characters were doing to the reason behind what they were doing.

   It was evident from his first issue that while Milligan wanted the reader to get to know and care for his characters, he also wanted fans to know what it felt like to lose them.

   In his first story arc, Milligan killed off nearly all of the new X-Force team. Since then, no one has been safe.

   For example, U-Go-Girl was around from the beginning of the Allred/Milligan era and had become a fan favorite.

   That status did not last for long because in issue 128, a mere 12 issues into his run, Milligan decided it was time for her to go. Just like that, he killed her off.

   Fans were outraged when the death of U-Go-Girl hit the stands, but Milligan was happy that one of his goals had been accomplished.

   Shane Bailey, a fan of the old X-Force, explained the fan reaction.

   “I think the main reason a lot of the fans were upset about the change is that they [Allred and Milligan] just abandoned the old characters that people had been following for so long,” he said.

   “It’s one thing to launch a new book, another to take an existing book with a built-in audience and totally change what they expect from it,” he said.

   Besides killing off his characters, Milligan also added a level of social consciousness that had been absent before he took over.

   The Orphan, one of the main characters in the book and also the team leader, battled with severe depression and dealt with it by playing a round of Russian Roulette every day until he and U-Go-Girl began seeing each other.

   Once she was killed, he went back to his old habit and continued to gamble with his life.

   Homosexuality provided another theme that has been a major part of the new X-Force.

   Two of the current members, Phat, who was named for his ability to control his body’s size through his fat, and Vivisector, a genius werewolf, revealed that they were gay and involved with each other.

   Their tumultuous relationship has been a back-story in nearly every issue.

   Though they have since split, the tension remains.

   Milligan incorporates other important issues such as racism and America’s obsession with celebrities (all of the team’s exploits are filmed by an alien named Doop) into each issue of the book.

   In the short time Milligan and Allred have been at the reins of X-Force, much has changed, including the name of the book.

   Marvel decided to change the title to X-Statix after complications arose with the original X-Force creator Rob Liefeld.

   The one thing that has remained constant since they took over is sales.

   X-Force/X-Statix remains a top sales performer for Marvel and is on Diamond Distribution’s top 25 comics list every month.

   Some fans of the old X-Force, including Bailey, have revised their opinion on the book.

   “I like the book now ... I didn’t at first,” he said.

   Bailey also shed some insight into why the book was criticized by fans when Milligan and Allred first took over.

   “Most people that I have talked to would rather have one book die and a new one replace it than have it become a new book with an existing name,” he said.

   “Ideas are associated with that name,” he said.

   It may not be what one would expect from a typical superhero book, but X-Force or X-Statix, as it is called now, is well worth the read, even for those who normally do not read comics.