Era #7: Part 11: X-Force #39-43

Grade: B-

X-Force continues to have a mixed run under Fabian Nicieza. We start with a goofy but well-meaning story that results in the departure of their super-computer and the destruction of their Camp Verde Reservation base of operations. We end with answers to the mystery of Reignfire and the disappearance of Sunspot.

There is a really good story tucked between those two bookends. We often find tales about villains who are misunderstood, and we get that here with Thornn's backstory. It isn't often that we find an anti-hero who is actually a sociopath. Feral's dangerous antics were much more deadly than anybody realized, and X-Force must now deal with the fact that they harbored a murderer.

[2-Stars] 39 - "Letting Go" X-Force returns to their headquarters to find that their sentient computer "Professor" is running around wildly through the desert. An accident during an off-panel Phalanx attack resulted in a mechanical body for Professor. He joins the team with a new name, Prosh, and an uplifting and enthusiastic attitude. Unfortunately, his physical form is also having a devastating effect on Cable's ability to control his techno-organic body parts. X-Force must make a difficult choose between Cable and Prosh.

[4-Stars] 40 - "Holding On" New York City Detective Jose Hidalgo leads Code: Blue into the Morlock tunnels. Code: Blue is the New York SWAT specially trained and equipped to deal with super-powered criminals, and they have enough information to arrest Thornn for the murder of her family members. She uses her free telephone call to reach out to Cable and X-Force for help, but she has also gotten the unwanted attention of Graydon Creed and the Friends of Humanity.

[4-Stars] 41 - "The Fun House" X-Force and Detective Hidalgo continue their search for the truth behind the murder of Thornn and Feral's family years ago.

[3-Stars] 42 - "A Lie of the Mind" X-Force takes a trips to the Massachusetts Academy to visit Generation X. Warpath resolves his issues with Emma Frost; Cannonball checks in with his sister Husk; and Siryn talks about her alcoholism with her father Banshee.

[3-Stars] 43 - "Teapot in a Tempest" X-Force's search program has finally found Sunspot! The team needs to react quickly without Cable and Domino (both of whom are dealing with Legion Quest). They find Rictor and Shatterstar enjoying a night at the club, and Boomer attempting to help a runaway living on the streets. With the help of the sadistic Locus, X-Force finally arrives in time to find Reignfire -- and Sunspot.