X-Force #18 - Marvel

Man, X-Force and some of the mutants that were captured by the Leper Queen really took a beating last issue. X-Force saves them all, and ends up killing the Leper Queen, but . . in the process Laura got captured. They saved Tabitha, but she still ends up getting carted away by HAMMER. However, Warpath is quickly there to help her escape. At the end of last issue, Josh had healed Hellion and was beginning to work on Surge when she exploded. We, and the rest of X-Force, expect the worst. However, we find out that Hellion was awake just enough to use his TK to funnel the exploding energy out into space. All 3 of them survived, but they're all knocked out and need time to recuperate. However HAMMER did get away with arguably the most dangerous one of all . . X-23, Laura. We find out this issue that Kimura is back and seems to be working with HAMMER. At the end of this issue, as Laura drifts in and out of consciousness, we see that Kimura plans on taking her apart . . piece by piece. Literally. She's already taken her arm off with a chainsaw. Anyways, we also see that Rahne and Hrimhari are trying to escape from the attack by the Frost Giants. We still don't know what this is all about, but . . they seem to be willing to make a stand and live or die together. It seems like this whole thing is happening to give Rahne the focus that she needs back. We also have a scene that sets us up for Warlock's return in New Mutants. Caliban, Eli Bard and Wither have all gathered at Doug Ramsey's grave in Westchester. It appears that they all have some of Warlock inside of them and are trying to give it back. Even though it'll probably kill Caliban. As Caliban is hugging Doug's tombstone, he says "He is here. This is the first, my master. Now . . now it begins." And Wolverine has finally come back to tell Scott how their mission in the future went. He's on edge. He's not happy about the mission but he's really upset because of Laura's capture. Next issue, I think they'll probably begin the hunt. I like the job that Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost are doing here. By the way, when we're in the cemetery, we see a tombstone that says 'Kyle Yost'. I thought that was funny. Anyways, I like the darker edge that they've given this series, and when they show what these characters are willing to do, and how their actions affect them. Yes this team is different than the X-men. But each of these characters making difficult decisions, and are living with the choices that they've made. That kind of baggage is going to leave them 'darker', and more introverted than the rest of the X-men. The problem I see though is that eventually they'll probably get to the point where they trust no one else but those on their team. They know that 'they' would die for each other. At least to me, it seems like that would be the natural progression. I guess we'll have to wait and see. In the absence of Clayton Crain, Mike Choi and Sonja Oback are doing the art. It looks tremendous. It seems that Clayton needed a bit of a break anyways. So I'm glad to see that Mike is keeping up the stunning quality. Overall, I really enjoy this book . . and these characters.