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by **LOLtron** » Fri Aug 17, 2012 10:28 pm

GLX gives his take on Uncanny X-Force #29.

Writer - Rick Remender

Artists - Julian Totino Tedesco with John Lucas

Colorist - Dean White

The current arc in Uncanny X-Force entitled "Final Execution" started off a slightly weak note in issue #25 before amping the tension and the quality in issues #26 and #27. Then, issue #28 came out and it did not match the previous two issues before it in quality. Still, the plot was entertaining and the character work was solid. Uncanny X-Force #29 is of similar breed as the issue before it. It may not be as strong as some parts of the current storyline, but it is still worth purchasing.

The centerpiece of the story is Psylocke and her suicide attempt. Rick Remender does a great job of transitioning her from viewing herself at the beginning to another way of viewing herself at the end of the comic. The emotional story beats around this transition are organic, instead of a forced attempt to bring the character to a place that the writer wants them to be. Even though her suicide attempt does not necessarily make the reader wonder if she will survive or not, it works to make the reader feel every bit of pain that she goes through.

What makes the issue fall a little flat is the fact that it is part of a mini-interlude arc within a larger story. Fans who have been reading Uncanny X-Force can sense that the team will eventually make it back to the present day. It is one of the downsides to taking heroes to the future mid-story - the tension is not as strong as it is in the present; however, this issue is still a necessary part of the larger narrative. There is a slight continuity gaff, but it is not significant enough to damage the quality of the comic.

Julian Totino Tedesco handles the bulk of the art and his pencils and inks are solid. His work evokes memories of previous Uncanny X-Force artists such as Rafael Albuquerque and Robbi Rodriguez, yet Tedesco's style is all his own. Normally, Tedesco's art at Marvel is usually painted; however, series staple Dean White provides the colors to the issue and that is not necessarily a bad thing. Tedesco's color palette is brighter, but White's colors maintain a level of visual consistency with previous issues and fit the dark and violent future that the comic takes place in. That is not to say that White is not a suitable colorist for lighter moments. His choice of colors in the interlude of the comic are fitting for the scene.

Uncanny X-Force #29 is a great comic, though not as great as some parts of "Final Extinction". Still, the writing and art are worth the price of admission. Remender and company are building towards a big payoff in the months to come and I will be waiting in anticipation for the next issue.

7.8* out of 10*

Written or Contributed by GLX

READ THIS ARTICLE ON THE FRONT PAGE, HUMANS!

by **Kolimar** » Fri Aug 17, 2012 11:20 pm

Very good review.

by **GLX** » Fri Aug 17, 2012 11:26 pm

Kolimar wrote:Very good review.

Thanks, man.

by **Victorian Squid** » Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:17 pm

Great review. Is RR staying on the book? It seems like he had very long-term plans that would be tough for another writer to pick up and run with at this point.

by **GLX** » Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:21 pm

McDarkseid wrote:Great review. Is RR staying on the book? It seems like he had very long-term plans that would be tough for another writer to pick up and run with at this point.

Thanks. It seems like he's in for the long haul.

by **The Bass** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:07 am

I've never heard of the artist. I'm a huge Marvel fan, but the biggest comics tragedy of the past year is how this book had Jerome Opena on regular art, and fired him, in favour of the gaggle of cheap shit artists who've totally ruined the book.

by **GLX** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:34 am

The Bass wrote:I've never heard of the artist. I'm a huge Marvel fan, but the biggest comics tragedy of the past year is how this book had Jerome Opena on regular art, and fired him, in favour of the gaggle of cheap shit artists who've totally ruined the book.

He's produced the covers for Marvel's Season One graphic novels and the latest John Carter mini-series.

by **e_galston** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 11:07 am

The Bass wrote:I've never heard of the artist. I'm a huge Marvel fan, but the biggest comics tragedy of the past year is how this book had Jerome Opena on regular art, and fired him, in favour of the gaggle of cheap shit artists who've totally ruined the book.

yes because Esad Ribic, Mike McKone, and Phil Noto are "cheap shit artists," and i wasn't aware that being moved to a bigger book was "firing."

by **The Bass** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 11:09 am

McKone did ONE ISSUE. Ribic was the cover for Opena, but both were replaced with Greg f--king Tochhini, which was where I abandoned the book.

by **e_galston** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 11:56 am

just so u realize, that Uncanny X-Force has ALWAYS had a rotating penciler:

Jerome Opeña: Uncanny X-Force vol. 1 #1-4, #14-18 (October 2010-January 2011, August–December 2011)
Esad Ribic: Uncanny X-Force vol. 1 #5-7 (February–April 2011)
Rafael Albuquerque: Uncanny X-Force vol. 1 #5.5 (March 2011)
Billy Tan: Uncanny X-Force vol.1 #8-10 (April–May 2011)
Mark Brooks: Uncanny X-Force vol. 1 #11-13 (June–August 2011)
Robbie Rodriguez: Uncanny X-Force vol.1 #19 (Dec 2011)
Greg Tocchini: Uncanny X-Force vol. 1 #20 - 23
Phil Noto: Uncanny X-Force vol. 1. #24, 26-27
Mike McKone: Uncanny X-Force vol 1 #25
Julian Totino Tedesco: Uncanny X-Force vol. 1 #28-29

by **Chris** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 12:49 pm

The Bass wrote:McKone did ONE ISSUE. Ribic was the cover for Opena, but both were replaced with Greg f--king Tochhini, which was where I abandoned the book.

That was one arc, and while bad, it has returned to awesomeness with some great art.

And Opena wasn't fired. He was promoted to a bigger book.

by **Chris** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 12:49 pm

e_galston wrote:just so u realize, that Uncanny X-Force has ALWAYS had a rotating penciler:

Jerome Opeña: Uncanny X-Force vol. 1 #1-4, #14-18 (October 2010-January 2011, August–December 2011)
Esad Ribic: Uncanny X-Force vol. 1 #5-7 (February–April 2011)
Rafael Albuquerque: Uncanny X-Force vol. 1 #5.5 (March 2011)
Billy Tan: Uncanny X-Force vol.1 #8-10 (April–May 2011)
Mark Brooks: Uncanny X-Force vol. 1 #11-13 (June–August 2011)
Robbie Rodriguez: Uncanny X-Force vol.1 #19 (Dec 2011)
Greg Tocchini: Uncanny X-Force vol. 1 #20 - 23
Phil Noto: Uncanny X-Force vol. 1. #24, 26-27
Mike McKone: Uncanny X-Force vol 1 #25
Julian Totino Tedesco: Uncanny X-Force vol. 1 #28-29

Don't confuse The Bass with facts.

by **Chris** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 12:51 pm

GLX wrote:
He's produced the covers for Marvel's Season One graphic novels and the latest John Carter mini-series.

And on Avengers with Hickman, which likely needed a lot of lead-time considering it will be twice-monthly.

by **doombug** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 12:53 pm

The Bass wrote:I've never heard of the artist. I'm a huge Marvel fan, but the biggest comics tragedy of the past year is how this book had Jerome Opena on regular art, and fired him, in favour of the gaggle of cheap shit artists who've totally ruined the book.

How many times have we explained to you now that it was always supposed to be rotating art teams? :smt011