Era #6, Part 3: Under the Gun

Grade: B-

Rob Liefeld ends his tenure with the New Mutants / X-Force one a relative high note. Most of the shock and awe of his bombastic approach of turning students into soldiers started loosing some of its steam. I am not positive he would've been able to keep the momentum, but he has enough here to keep my interest.

The transition to Fabian Nicieza is noticeable and disappointing. The direction of the X-Ternals, Tolliver and Weapon PRIME seems to end abruptly and without the oomph that we've come to expect from X-Force.

[3-Stars] 5 - "Under the Magnifying Glass"  The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants are back and under new leadership. To complete his roster that already includes the Blob, Pyro, and Phantazia, Toad forces Karl Lykos to steal the life force of his girlfriend to again become Sauron.

[3-Stars] 6 - "Under the Gun" Toad's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants attempt to form an alliance with Masque's Morlocks. To seal the deal, Toad agrees to eliminate one of Masque's newest enemies -- X-Force.

[3-Stars] 7a - "Under the Knife" The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants attack X-Force at their not-so-secret base in the Adirondack Mountains.

7b - "X-Tenuating Circumstances (Part 1)" Kane's investigation for Canada's Department K into a smuggling ring leads him to the MLF.

[4-Stars] 8 - "Flashed Before My Eyes" This is one of the few fill-in type stories that I absolutely enjoyed. It is a flashback tale where we learn more about the Wild Pack. They are on a mission to steal from Hydra for A.I.M. We also learn more about Cable's origin and his purpose in returning to this time period to lead the New Mutants.

[3-Stars] 9a - "Underground and Over the Top" Masque's Morlocks join the battle between the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and X-Force. Cable reveals that Cannonball is an immortal X-Ternal.

9b - "X-Tenuating Circumstances (Part 2) Kane versus Stryfe and the MLF.

[3-Stars] 10 - "Answers (and Questions)" Cable leads a team into the Morlock tunnels to leave Masque's dead body as a warning. Kane returns to Canada's Department K to join Weapon PRIME after learning that Stryfe is Cable.

[3-Stars] 11 - "Friendly Reminders" Deadpool slips into X-Force's not-so-secret base in the Adirondack Mountains to confront Tolliver's mole within Cable's team. Domino is actually Deadpool's ex-girlfriend, Vanessa. She hasn't been reporting back to Tolliver, and Deadpool was dispatched to give her a clear message.

[3-Stars] 12 - "Traitors to the Cause" Gideon is also an immortal who believed Sunspot was the newest X-Ternal. He was wrong and now considers Sunspot a waste of his time. He sends his former protege to be experimented upon. He then refocuses his attention on acquiring Cannonball from Cable. He seeks out Crule, one of the wildest and feral X-Ternals, for the job. Meanwhile, a new task-force called Weapon PRIME leaves for their mission to arrest Cable. Most of the member holds a personal grudge against X-Force's leader including GW Bridge, Kane and Rictor.

[3-Stars] 13 - "Everything Hits the Fan" Weapon Prime versus X-Force. Fabian Nicieza takes over the title.

[3-Stars] 14 - "Payback!" X-Force must defend themselves against Weapon Prime and S.H.I.E.L.D.

[3-Stars] 15 - "To the Pain" Cable and Vanessa are separated from X-Force after their base is destroyed by Tolliver. Cable takes the opportunity in the chaos to rescue Domino and finally deal with Tolliver. Meanwhile, Cannonball leads the rest of the team to rescue Sunspot from the Gideon's deadly experimentation, but they must first deal with Crule.