Comics : X-Force #3

This story is part of a Lookback Series: Worst of the Worst

Background...

The Jankos Corporation, a cutting edge scientific firm, has been blackmailed into freeing Tom's pal Juggernaut from his dimensional prison to provide the muscle for his latest operation.

In Detail...

"Battlecry"

	X-Force #3  Summary: Spider-Man Appears  Arc: Part 1 of "Sabotage"
	Editor:  Bob Harras Writer:  Fabian Nicieza Plot/Pencils:  Rob Liefeld Inker:  Rob Liefeld	Staff Only Images Review Edit
	Oct 1991 : SM Guest : X-Force  Reprinted In: Sabotage (TPB)

The mutant Siryn, cousin to Black Tom has arrived at the World Trade Center to end the hostage situation. She soon encounters Juggernaut on the roof. He is able to withstand her sonic attacks. Black Tom appears and teams up with Marko to drive his cousin away. She falls back and is quickly contacted by Cable, hovering in a private craft overhead, to join their assault to free the hostages. She agrees.

Inside the building Sunspot and Gideon - mutants-slash-hostages - are met by Black Tom and Juggernaut. They exchange their representative "you won't win" speeches.

Later outside the building, they implement their strategy. Warpath takes Juggernaut off the roof, allowing the rest of the team to knock out the skeleton crew of guards. Once completed, they break into the building and plan to confront Tom.

Inside, Gideon and Sunspot decide to attack their aggressor. This proves to be a poor choice as Tom is more than a match for both of them. Cable and company arrive, informing Tom that his plan has failed. Tom begs to differ and produces a detonator and reveals that he's placed explosives throughout the building to bring it crashing down.

Outside Warpath continues to slug it out with Juggernaut. It's obvious that Warpath has little hope of defeating him, but he doesn't give up.

At this point Spider-Man appears to check on the riot at the WTC and offer assistance if necessary. At this point an explosion erupts from the building as Tom activates his detonator.

In General...

Putting that to the side, the story seems a bit padded. The entire issue can be summed up as follows: Warpath fights Juggernaut while the rest of X- Force confronts Black Tom in the World Trade Center.

There are instances where one sentence summaries can generate interest because it's the proverbial tip of the iceberg. In this case is describes the iceberg almost completely.

Overall Rating...

The dialogue is alternately standard and disappointing. Certain scenes work well, some come across as forced. During one sequence involving the Warpath/Juggernaut fight, Warpath tries to get a bit "meta" calling the Juggernaut's threats "tough guy back talk". While this is supposed to be sarcastic, it fails on many levels. If they actually used tough-guy banter instead of schoolyard insults, then it may have worked. Since they didn't, it comes across in an awkward manner.

By Kevin Hollander (E-Mail)

Footnote...