The X-cellent #1
Illustrated by: Mike Allred
Written by: Peter Milligan
Marvel Comics
2023
*Minor spoilers ahead
Your favorite celebrity super villains are back! Zeitgeist is still on a mission to achieve social media godhood, no matter who he has to kill! But the spotlight won’t be big enough when the next generation of the X-Statix drop in! Join Peter Milligan and Michael Allred for the final half of their mutant celebrity saga!
Marvel Comics has recently released The X-cellent #1, a comic book series that stands out for its unique take on superheroes and villains. The series is written by Peter Milligan and illustrated by Mike Allred, and is a spinoff of the popular X-Statix comic book series. This review is for The X-cellent #1 (which is considered the season 2, to the 2022 The X-cellent series which ended at number 5 but came out of the pages of the 2019 Giant Size X-Statix #1, which was preceded by X-Statix Dead Girl and Doctor Strange to X-Statix Presents Dead Girl, all the way to the original 2002 X-Statix series, and finally to the 2001 X-Force series where the team has it’s first appearances (I may have missed some title mentions as their is now a lot of X-Statix that has been inlaid into Marvel Comics lore here and there, but if you want to know more about these awesome characters, you always have Google and your local comic shop, but you know ask the staff at your LCS first, and if you’re in Florida you can always check here.)
I don’t have the time to do many reviews so I hope you enjoy your time reading my thoughts on this title.
Set in the year 2023, The X-cellent #1 follows a group of former villains who have been recruited by a mysterious organization to become heroes. The team is made up of characters like Uno, Mirror Girl, Hurt John, plus Dead Girl and Zeitgeist, who were previously part of the X-Statix team. The X-Cellent #1 ties up a few unanswered things that we’re left undone in 2022’s The X-cellent #5.
What makes The X-cellent #1 stand out is its approach to the superhero genre. The series is not afraid to challenge the traditional notions of good and evil. The characters are flawed and complex, and their motivations are not always clear-cut. This makes for a much more interesting and realistic portrayal of superheroes. Another great thing about the X-cellent is that these characters are totally untouched by the Krakoan Age of X-Men titles, so both the X-Statix and the X-cellent are in their own playing field, so to say.
Mike Allred’s artwork is also a highlight of the series. His unique style is vibrant and eye-catching, and he does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. The colors are bright and the designs are intricate, making for a visually stunning comic. Personally I have always felt that Mike Allred is a comic book genius, most of his characters are just off the wall and ultimately disfunctional when it comes to the life of a superhero or villain. Hence, I imagine that this is why he and Peter Milligan kill off so many characters when it comes to teams like the X-Statix and the X-cellent. I’m not sure if Mike Allred and Peter Milligan have total control of these characters as the sole creators, although I am sure that Marvel Comics owning the characters that someone else there must have some sort of input.
Also at the end of the movie Deadpool 2, Zeitgeist dies in a wood chipper, and you know he supposedly died with other members of the team in X-Force #116 while on a rescue mission which ended up in a fire fight that came to be known in comics as the Boyz R Us Massacre, and not for nothing but if you don’t know a whole lot about the character Zeitgeist he had previously planned to kill off the team anyway as he made a deal with Coach, the teams mentor.
Overall, The X-cellent #1 is a promising start to what looks to be an exciting series. It offers a fresh take on the superhero genre, and its characters are both unique and relatable. Fans of the X-Statix series will be pleased to see some familiar faces, while newcomers to the series will be able to jump in without feeling lost.
If you’re looking for a comic book series that breaks the mold, The X-cellent #1 is definitely worth checking out. With its engaging characters and stunning artwork, it’s sure to be a hit with comic book fans everywhere.
The X-cellent #1: A Comic Book Above the Rest!
The celebrity super villains are back and Zeitgeist is on a mission to become a social media god. Along with the next generation of the X-Statix also joining in. Peter Milligan and Michael Allred seem to be finishing up their mutant celebrity saga.
Beam Me Up Scotty
Old Metal dude. Out there in the one time 'zine world interviewing Hardcore, Punk and Metal bands since 1984. Long time fan of pop culture. Twenty three years in the comic book business. I love anything Mego, Micronauts, Shogun Warriors and Die-Cast Metal Super Robots. I always have plenty more to say, don't get me going..
