With Hickman’s Powers of X and House of X having relaunched the X-Men into a brand new status quo, it’s up to each of the X-books to find their way in this new world. With Mutants slowly taking charge of their destiny, where would a book like the uber-violent mutant-saving proactive X-Force belong? Luckily, there seems to be an angle that X-Force #1 is aiming for… and it’s revenge?

X-Force #1 is brought to us by the humans Benjamin Percy (writer), Joshua Cassara (artist), Dean White (Color Artist), and Joe Caramagna (Letterer). Krakoa thanks them for their service.

A cabal of humans hides away in a psionically shielded bunker, waiting to take action against the mutants. However, Domino was hiding out as a spy and was quickly captured. Meanwhile, on the island nation of Krakoa, new species are coming to life as Wolverine and Beast explore their home. Jean Grey and Black Tom Cassidy (not Dracula, as so many guessed) welcome a guest-appearance by Kate Pryde and the Marauders. Intercut between scenes, a team of experienced mercenaries with oddly specific white stripes across their flesh leap out of a passing passenger jet and descend on the island. With the intruders identifying on Krakoan sensors as Domino, there is only one possible answer the reader can come to, War is coming to Krakoa.

This double-sized first issue has a lot going on. It sets up the aforementioned anti-mutant cabal, furthers the current status quo established by Hickman, and creating roles for characters in that new status quo. It is particularly interesting to see Black Tom Cassidy again in the new role as part of Krakoa itself. While Doug Ramsey may be the voice of the island, Black Tom is certainly pulling double-duty as Krakoa’s arms and immune system. Considering the man’s mutation was once “makes wood incredibly hot” before secondary mutations became a thing, it is an utterly fascinating take on the character. While some of the cast is still missing from the book, it looks like Ben Percy and Josh Cassara are taking a story arc to bring everybody in, and the story so far reflects that pacing.

Art is also excellent, with characters looking fantastic in their new element. The action that does appear is fast and frantic, and a special note has to go to Tom Cassidy. His entire character has been revamped in some creative ways, and the art shows him bonded with Krakoa on more than just a surface level. The coloring is exceptionally brilliant during the fight near the end of the book, with Dean White being extraordinarily inventive with unusual colors to show the chaos of the battle.

With one hell of a cliffhanger, X-Force looks to be setting up a rampage of revenge with some of Marvel’s most violent and destructive mutants. While not the best of the relaunch books, it should be one heck of a ride.

Grade: B+