Weapon X: Liefeld Style
X-FORCE #2Say the name Weapon X and everyone automatically thinks of Wolverine. Well, not anymore now!
Kane is here and he's here to stay.
Rob Liefeld has taken the tired old concept of Wolverine's origin and updated it, reminding us Logan wasn't the only subject of the Weapon X tests. Kane, the most interesting character to hit comics since Joel Schuster and Jerry Seagull thought up a guy from a planet called Krypton, is the newest--and greatest--Weapon X. Kane has metalic, mechanical arms, but not like Cable's metalic, mechanical arm. With the ability to detatch and launch his hands, Kane holds his own against Deadpool, another of Liefeld's masterful creations.
The art, as always, is ther perfect combination of realism and comic exaggeration. Liefeld may not get the hype Todd McFarlane gets, but his skill with pencil and ink and his dedication to a project is beyond any of his contemporaries. Fifteen years from now, we'll be laughing about the joke Jim Lee has made of his career while Liefeld will be mentioned in the same breath as Kirby, Ditko, and Byrne.
Anyway, X-Force continues to build on its strong first issue, including some very serious drama when Feral slashed Cannonball during their training exercise. I guess my predictions of a blossoming romance between them may have to wait a while. It's interesting that Feral is lashing out so violently. She's a very interesting character and I look forward to seeing what Liefeld and Nicieza have in store for her. At first glance, I know some people have written her off as another Wolverine/Sabretooth animalistic berserker, but that's stupid and short-sighted. Feral is a girl!
I was a little disappointed to find there was no chromium cover nor polybagged trading card with this issue, I fear I may have to wait until a milestone like #25 for a hologram cover. Come on, Tom DeFalco! Give me a glow-in-the-dark Cable before then and make mine Marvel!