The X-Files #17 Review

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Chris Carter, comics, Dana Scully, Fox Mulder, Greg Scott, IDW Publishing, Joe Harris, Menton 3, Mulder, Scully, The Cigarette Smoking Man, The truth is out there, The X-Files, The X-Files #17, The X-Files #17 review, UFO

The X-Files #17

Review by Paul Bowler

Everything comes to a head in The X-Files #17 as the pieces of the epic conspiracy FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully have faced begin to fall into place. This case has already tested Mulder and Scully to breaking point in their relentless pursuit of the Truth, and now dark forces have infiltrated the highest levels of government…

The X-Files #17 not only concludes the four part Resistance story-arc by the series’ fabulous creative team of Joe Harris, Matthew Dow Smith, and Jordie Bellaire, it also marks the end of IDW Publishing’s thrilling ongoing X-Files comic book series executive produced by the X-Files creator Chris Carter.

Kicking off with one of Menton 3’s gloriously striking covers; an epic season finale feel permeates every aspect of this issue of The X-Files. From here writer Joe Harris quickly builds the tense, brooding atmosphere that’s become so indicative of this story-arc as military forces in the Sea of Japan experience uncanny systems failures east of North Korea, before the scene shifts to Alexandria, Virginia, where Mulder finds Scully. However, recent events have caused them both to question each others judgement, and the fallout from last issues explosive cliff-hanger inevitably leads to some pretty heated exchanges between them!

Harris has deftly woven the X-Files mythology together with pertinent and contemporary issues over the course of the Resistance storyline, and this issues subtexts of the unpredictable nature of a new administration and rising tensions between the Pentagon and North Korea proved an extremely timely backdrop for Mulder and Scully’s quest for the truth. The schism between the Old Ones and the Black Site is also clarified as events bring Mulder, Scully, and Director Skinner to a secret facility where the fate of the mysterious Firas Ben-Brahim and the full scale of the conspiracy with alien forces collide with startling results.

Matthew Dow Smith’s excellent artwork, as always, superbly recreates the look and tone of the TV series. The finer nuances of Joe Harris’ script are also brilliantly realized, Dow Smith’s art captures that unique chemistry between Mulder and Scully perfectly, and together with Skinner as well in this issue we are treated to some truly fantastic scenes between them. The panel layouts are stylish in their simplicity and give a nice flow to the narrative. The colors by Jordie Bellaire infuse every scene with subtle shades and rich tones, with dusky greys and vivid greens in particular all beautifully accentuating the shadowy settings in this issue. From the scene setting opening on the Sea of Japan, to Mulder and Scully’s visit to Peters Mountain, and the spectacular extraterrestrial tinged finale this issue looks every bit at impressive as the powerful story it conveys.

Although I’m sad IDW’s X-Files ongoing series is finishing, as they say, all good things must come to an end… The creative team of Joe Harris, Matthew Dow Smith, and Jordie Bellaire have collectively done some truly outstanding work on the X-Files comics over the last three and a half years, their contribution to the legacy of the X-Files has been unparalleled, and will always be held in high regard. I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing many issues of The X-Files and I’m genuinely going to miss this IDW series. The X-Files #17 may close the comic book files on UFO‘s, the unexplained, and the paranormal for now but its not the end of The X-Files at IDW Publishing, and just like the spookiest of X-Files TV episodes Harris, Smith, and Bellaire leave us wanting more and sure in the knowledge that the Truth is still out there…

Publisher IDW

Writer: Joe Harris / Art: Matthew Dow Smith / Colors: Jordie Bellaire

Letterer: Christa Miensner / Cover: Menton 3

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The X-Files #11 Review

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Chris Carter, Contrarians Part 2, Dana Scully, Fox Mulder, Greg Scott, IDW Publishing, Joe Harris, Menton 3, Mulder, Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man, Scully, The Cigarette Smoking Man, The truth is out there, The X-Files, The X-Files #11, The X-Files #11 Review, UFO, Wes Dzioba

The X-Files #11

Review by Paul Bowler

Special FBI Agent Fox Mulder unearths more clues in The X-Files #11 about the Cigarette Smoking Man’s and the now defunct Syndicate’s clandestine role during the Iran-Contra scandal. Mulder has been contacted by a man with links to his father’s past, someone who miraculously survived an execution ordered by the Smoking Man, but it wasn’t just an illegal arms deal that brought the CSM and Bill Mulder to Nicaragua in 1987…

Building on the success of the X-Files triumphant return in the Fox TV event series in 2016, Mulder and Scully’s investigations into conspiracies, the paranormal, and uncanny extraterrestrial phenomena continues in this issue of the all-new ongoing X-Files comic book series from IDW Publishing, written by Joe Harris, with art by Greg Scott, and colors by Wes Dzioba, together with the participation of Chris Carter.

The X-Files #11 The Contrarians Part 2 (of 2) is a sublimely crafted issue by Joe Harris. From the opening flashback to 1987, in Nicaragua, we gain further insight into the full extent of the dark machinations, both professional and personal, that have defined the Cigarette Smoking Man’s and Bill Mulder’s dark association, which has ultimately brought them to this secret location at such a critical juncture in history. Meanwhile, in present day Washington, DC, Fox Mulder’s investigation has inadvertently led to him being sought out by the same man who survived a firing squad back in Nicaragua in 1987. It’s an encounter that brings Mulder closer to a secret from the past, one with strong ties to his father and the CSM that will bring him closer to the truth than ever before.

Punctuated by a heavy metal beat that seamlessly splices past and present for Mulder in more ways than one, The Contrarians Part 2 is a bold, grim, and powerful issue of the X-Files. Joe Harris’s story skilfully emulates the same tone and style of The X-Files fourth season episode Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man (written by Glen Morgan and James Wong) from 1996, which also explored the shadowy past of the TV series’ archetypical villain and his part in key historical events and assassinations during his dark rise to power. This time in The X-Files #11 the backdrop is the Iran-Contra affair, as we discover how the Cigarette Smoking Man played a major role in shaping events, as well as his influence over President Regan, who also features in this issue – although to a lesser (yet far more poignant) degree than his appearance in The Contrarians Part 1 last issue.

The artwork by Greg Scott deftly integrates both eras in which the story unfolds. Page layout are clear and stylish, almost giving you the sense that you are yourself leafing through an X-File plucked straight from Mulder’s filing cabinet, striking close-ups, sweeping panoramic flashbacks, and the neat use of perspective all effortlessly serve to immerse you in dark, intricate layers of the plot, and Scott’s rendering of all the characters involved is also uncannily precise. The tension between Bill Mulder and the Cigarette Smoking Man in Nicaragua is almost palpable, with snide asides cutting the air like a knife, and CSM’s vested interest in Fox Mulder’s life and career already clearly evident. The colors by Wes Dzioba blends tone and shade in remarkable ways, heightening the drama, whilst accentuating the extraterrestrial overtones to the max, and the gritty, washed out, newsreel style Dziba uses to embellish event in Nicaragua is utterly sublime.

Scully’s investigation at the FBI Lab in Quantico into the package of metal fibres Mulder was given, yields some surprising results, setting in motion a chain of events that will lay old ghost to rest while a close encounter of the third kind unravels across history as Agent Mulder stumbles into something that will make him want to believe more than ever…

The Contrarians has been a great story from Joe Harris, Greg Scott, and Wes Dziob that exemplifies the distinct blend of fact, fiction, and the unexplained that always makes The X-Files so engrossing and thought provoking. The Truth is well and truly out there in The X-Files #11, so, if, like me, you’re a big fan of the original X-Files TV series and enjoyed The X-Files 2016’s special TV event series, then IDW’s X-Files is the comic book series for you, and I’d certainly recommend it as there’s plenty for new fans to enjoy here as well.

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Writer: Joe Harris / Art: Greg Scott / Colors: Wes Dzioba

Letters: Chris Mowry / Cover: Menton 3

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The X-Files #10 Review

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Chris Carter, Contrarians Part 1, Dana Scully, Fox Mulder, Greg Scott, IDW Publishing, Joe Harris, Menton 3, Mulder, Scully, The Cigarette Smoking Man, The X-Files, The X-Files #10, The X-Files #10 review, Wes Dzioba

The X-Files #10

Review by Paul Bowler

A chance meeting for FBI Agent Fox Mulder in The X-Files #10 uncovers new clues to the secret involvement of the Cigarette Smoking Man’s and now defunct Syndicate’s role during the Iran-Contra affair. Following the success of the X-Files triumphant return in the Fox TV event series in 2016, Mulder and Scully’s investigations into conspiracies, the unexplained, and strange extraterrestrial phenomena continues in this issue of the all-new ongoing X-Files comic book series from IDW Publishing, written by Joe Harris, with art by Greg Scott, and colors by Wes Dzioba, together with the participation of Chris Carter.

The X-Files #10: Contrarians Part 1, marks the start of a new two part storyline, and wrier Joe Harris weaves an ominous blend on mystery, politics, and intrigue with a flashback to a pivotal moment in history during a broadcast from the Oval Office by President Regan… one that it seems was overseen – in more ways than one – by the most nefarious and ruthless member of the Syndicate; the Cigarette Smoking Man!

Meanwhile, in the present day, Mulder encounters a destitute old man with a message for him. As Mulder and Scully investigate, they discover links that connect the Iran-Contra affair, a strange new metal, and the action of the Cigarette Smoking Man…

Joe Harris has crafted a terrific issue of the X-Files here, one that very much reflects the tone and style of The X-Files fourth season episode Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man (written by Glen Morgan and James Wong) from 1996, which also delved into the sinister past of the series’ most prominent villain and his involvement in key historical moments and assassinations during his rise to power. Contrarians Part 1 is very much in the same vein, only this time we see the Cigarette Smoking Man using his power and influence over a fatigued President, but it is the chilling flashback mid-way though the issue to events in Nicaragua that really show just how far-reaching and manipulative the Cigarette Smoking Man’s grand designs had become.

Greg Scott’s artwork seamlessly brings the separate eras of the story together as one. The panel layout is unfussy, but there is a distinct edge and pace to every scene, bold close-ups, panoramic flashbacks, and the clever use of angles and perspective all conspire to immerse you in the stories multifaceted layers of intrigue. The scenes in the White House are especially powerful. Scott’s rendering of all the characters is also absolutely spot on; and at times the likenesses are quite uncanny. Wes Dzioba’s subtle use of color and shade enhances every scene, ominous tones dominate the White House broadcast, while more vivid hues match the contemplative silence of Mulder’s office, but it is the grainy, almost newsreel-like quality to The Cigarette Smoking Man’s secret meeting in Nicaragua that proves the biggest – and most shocking – highlight of this issue.

The X-Files #10 builds towards a fittingly bizarre and unexpected cliff-hanger, when Mulder’s acquisition of declassified memorandums leads his investigation towards another fateful encounter, one where the past isn’t quite as dead and buried as either Mulder or The Cigarette Smoking Man would like to believe…

This issue exemplifies that unique blend of fact, fiction, and the ambiguous that always makes The X-Files so compelling and thought provoking. The X-Files #10 presents us with yet another fascinating insight into The Cigarette Smoking Man’s actions and motivations, Joe Harris, Greg Scott, and Wes Dzioba have done a fantastic job with this issue, and I’m intrigued to see how the Contrarians story-arc will be resolved next issue. The Truth is out there! So, if, like me, you’re a fan of the X-Files and loved The X-Files 2016’s special TV event series, then IDW’s X-Files comic is most certainly for you, I’d highly recommend it, and there’s plenty here for new fans to enjoy as well.

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Writer: Joe Harris / Art: Greg Scott

Colors: Wes Dzioba / Letters: Chris Mowry

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The Fury of Firestorm #0 Review

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DC Comics, Firestorm, Joe Harris, The Fury of Firestorm The Nuclear Men, The New 52, Yildiray Cinar, Zero Month

The Fury of Firestorm The Nuclear Men #0

Review by Paul Bowler

So far DC’s Zero Month has given us some intriguing prequel stories, offering an insight into the formative years of The New 52. The Fury of Firestorm The Nuclear Men #0 has taken a different approach, using the opportunity provided by Zero Month to act as fitting coda for the current storyline, whilst paving the way for a band new beginning for Firestorm.

A year ago High School students Ronnie Raymond and Jason Rusch were attacked by terrorists and transformed in a freak accident by Professor Martin Stein’s Firestorm Protocols, the powers of Firestorm was divided between them, with physics student Jason acquiring the ability to transmute matter, while the football team’s star quarterback Ronnie became able to throw nuclear bolts of flaming energy.  Together the two Firestorm’s were able to merge into one giant being, Fury, but found this ferocious creature almost impossible to control. Ronnie and Jason where then taken in by Zithertech, the mysterious company responsible for enforcing the Firestorm Protocols, but after being unable to settle their differences Ronnie decided to leave – and was quickly captured and tortured before falling under the corrupting influence of the Russian Firestorm Pozhar.

Professor Stein’s Firestorm Protocols have also been adapted and sold to other governments around the world, allowing them to create their own Firestorms. Terrorist organizations have also stolen the technology to spawn Rogue Firestoms from the protocols, using them as the living weapons of mass destruction. Pozhar is secretly behind the Rogue threat; the Russian Firestorm tricks Ronnie to take control of his powers – forcing them to become the monstrous Scorn. Armed with the uncompromised formula created by the disembodied conciseness of Professor Stein, Jason races to rescue Ronnie – teaming up with his fellow Firestorm’s, Firehawk, Hurricane, and Rakshasi for a long and terrifying battle with Scorn. During the conflict, the Firestorm Protocols are rescinded by the Director of Zithertech, stripping the global network of Firestorms of their tremendous powers and killing them in the process – all except Ronnie and Jason. In a last ditch attempt to save his friend, Jason prepares to uses the canister of uncompromised Firestorm Protocols, and with Firehawk’s help, they destroy Pozhar, sacrificing their own powers in the process.

Firestorm #0 opens with Jason and Ronnie as they adjust to having a normal life back in High School. Ronnie is enjoying his newfound freedom, spending time with his friends, while hoping to forget his life as a superhero so he will be able to commit to a college football program. Jason, on the other hand, is beginning to miss the powers he once had, but when a science experiment has some unexpected results, he realizes the Firestorm Protocols might not be dormant after all. When Jason tells Ronnie that he thinks their powers could be returning, Ronnie wants nothing more to do with his life as Firestorm, and tells Jason he should forget about it and do the same.

But their lives as Firestorm are far from over. When the High Schools football game is attacked by the Zitherteck prototype Helix – who they believed to be dead – Ronnie and Jason are suddenly and inexplicably transformed into a merged Firestorm! It seems that Ronnie is now the physical aspect of Firestorm while Jason has become an ethereal part of his mind – providing his scientific advice and transmutation skills telepathically – leaving Ronnie to harness the raw power of their combined Firestorm Protocols.

Helix has been drawn to the football game by Ronnie and Jason’s latent energy signatures, but he didn’t expect to see them merge and become a new Firestorm. Still reeling from his sudden transformation into Firestorm, Ronnie is quickly overpowered by the lumbering Helix. Trapped in Helix’s deadly stranglehold, Jason quickly helps formulate a plan – transmuting the Nitrogen and Oxygen in the air, along with other trace element, to form a solid sphere around Helix that cuts off his oxygen supply and quickly shrinks and deconstructs the behemoth. Firestorm then flies into orbit where Helix’s atomised remains explode, sending the newly whole and complete Firestorm cashing back to Earth. Ronnie and Jason later regain consciousness on a hillside, having reverted back to their individual human forms. Together they realize that the Firestorm Protocols are now their shared responsibility; and that their lives are once again inexorably entwined as Firestorm The Nuclear Man.

Firestorm returned in September 2011 as part of The New 52 reboot of the DC Universe, co-written by Gail Simone and Ethan Van Sciver. Unfortunately Gail Simone left the title only a few months later, she was then replaced by Joe Harris, but not long after his appointment Van Sciver also left Firestorm. These creative changes in the writing team didn’t initially help the title achieve a real sense of consistency, at least until Harris began to draw together the various storylines that had already been established to form a more coherent plot, one which would steer the title towards a thrilling finale that involved the entire global network of Firestorms.

Yildiray Cinar‘s artwork on Firestorm has also been outstanding, creating a distinctive look for Ronnie and Jason as Firestorm, each with their own unique abilities, as well as the colourful supporting cast of international Firestorm operatives from around the world. Firestorm is a real powerhouse of a character, and has some tremendous abilities. Yildiray Cinar’s art has really captured the furious essence of his nuclear powers, and at times Firestorm almost seems to explode from the page!

This Zero issue of Firestorm sees Joe Harris and Yildiray Cinar at the end of their run on Firestorm, with a story that throws Ronnie and Jason together again as Firestorm – literally this time – to restore the original concept of Firestorm which will be familiar to long term fans of the character. Joe Harris confidently helps usher in this new direction for Firestorm, making this a perfect jumping on point for new readers as well as enticing people back who didn’t enjoy the initial direction the series took. Firestorm #0 also allows Yildiray Cinar the chance to realize a new and more definitive version of the Firestorm costume, melding the red and gold outfits that Ronnie and Jason have worn into one that more closely resembles the original Firestorm costume.

The Fury of Firestorm The Nuclear Men will be taking a whole new direction this October when Dan Jurgens takes over as the new writer / artist for the series. Jurgens was involved last year with The New 52’s reboot of Green Arrow and Justice League International, issue #13 of Firestorm will effectively relaunch the series, beginning a new chapter set in the everyday High School lives of Ronnie Raymond and Jason Rusch  as they learn to work together again as Firestorm. We can expect to see plenty old and new villains for Firestorm to deal with, as well as a guest appearance from Captain Atom.

Editors Rachel Gluckstern and Ricky Purden join Dan Jurgens, along with inker Ray McCarthy and colourist Brian Miller as part of the new direction that will spin out from the pages of the excellent Firestorm #0, and with the exciting new chapter about to begin in Firestorm #13, there has never been a better time to revisit the adventures of Firestorm The Nuclear Man.