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Uncanny X-Force (2010)
Uncanny X-Force, Vol. 5: Otherworld
The aftermath of the Dark Angel Saga!
A member lost! New members gained! An Avenger discovers the secret of X-Force! Fantomex and Ultimaton must allow the world's most powerful weapon to leave their care. Psylocke must say goodbye to the man she loves. And new friends must stand and make a suicide march. Then, the Trial of Fantomex begins as X-Force journeys to Otherworld! Guest starring Psylocke's brother Captain Britain, and the multiverse-spanning Captain Britain Corps!
Collecting: Uncanny X-Force 20-24, 19.1
A member lost! New members gained! An Avenger discovers the secret of X-Force! Fantomex and Ultimaton must allow the world's most powerful weapon to leave their care. Psylocke must say goodbye to the man she loves. And new friends must stand and make a suicide march. Then, the Trial of Fantomex begins as X-Force journeys to Otherworld! Guest starring Psylocke's brother Captain Britain, and the multiverse-spanning Captain Britain Corps!
Collecting: Uncanny X-Force 20-24, 19.1
136 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2012
14 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
Rick Remender
1,244 books1,422 followersRick Remender is an American comic book writer and artist who resides in Los Angeles, California. He is the writer/co-creator of many independent comic books like Black Science, Deadly Class, LOW, Fear Agent and Seven to Eternity. Previously, he wrote The Punisher, Uncanny X-Force, Captain America and Uncanny Avengers for Marvel Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
May 6, 2015
You know, I didn't hate this one, but I wasn't as wowed as some of my friends with this volume.
Part of the problem, I'm sure, is that I don't know anything about Otherworld. And after reading this, frankly, I don't really care to know anything more about it.
Betsy & Fantomex get dragged off by Captain Britain to this place at the end of the last volume. Betsy, so that she can take her place as Bug-Eyed-Girl, and Fantomex so that he can beerased put on trial for killing baby Apocalypse*.
*see volume 1 - Angsty Anne
It's a race against time once the other members of the X-Force realize blah, blah, blah. Otherworld is in peril from an evil Goat (no, seriously), and if the good guys lose...all reality is in danger of blah, blah, blah.
P.S. - Not a huge fan of some of the art in this one.
In the end, worlds are saved, lives are lost, deals are struck, family are torn apart, friendships are severed, teammates leave, and lessons are learned.
Bonus? Deadpool dresses up like a chick.
It wasn't bad enough to make me want to stop reading this title, but I hope the next volume is a bit better.
Part of the problem, I'm sure, is that I don't know anything about Otherworld. And after reading this, frankly, I don't really care to know anything more about it.
Betsy & Fantomex get dragged off by Captain Britain to this place at the end of the last volume. Betsy, so that she can take her place as Bug-Eyed-Girl, and Fantomex so that he can be
*see volume 1 - Angsty Anne
It's a race against time once the other members of the X-Force realize blah, blah, blah. Otherworld is in peril from an evil Goat (no, seriously), and if the good guys lose...all reality is in danger of blah, blah, blah.
P.S. - Not a huge fan of some of the art in this one.
In the end, worlds are saved, lives are lost, deals are struck, family are torn apart, friendships are severed, teammates leave, and lessons are learned.
Bonus? Deadpool dresses up like a chick.
It wasn't bad enough to make me want to stop reading this title, but I hope the next volume is a bit better.
June 16, 2023
Rick Remender tries something different in the aftermath of Dark Angel Saga, another X-Men mythos staple, the Otherworld. So essentially, this is a love letter to Alan Davis but with less than stellar art. It would have been awesome to have Davis himself do the art, Greg Tocchini’s line art is just too scratchy. I would have settled for any of the artists featured on the covers, Rafael Grampa or Leinil Yu.
Remender continues to pile it on for Psylocke. She just lost her lover. Now, she has to choose between her team and her family. The price to pay for this one would definitely more than she can bear.
This collected edition also features two other stories that are essentially one-shots. The first is a direct epilogue to the last collection and the other is a return to the Age of Apocalypse and sets up an ongoing set in that bleak universe.
Read as individual issues digitally on the Marvel Unlimited app.
Remender continues to pile it on for Psylocke. She just lost her lover. Now, she has to choose between her team and her family. The price to pay for this one would definitely more than she can bear.
This collected edition also features two other stories that are essentially one-shots. The first is a direct epilogue to the last collection and the other is a return to the Age of Apocalypse and sets up an ongoing set in that bleak universe.
Read as individual issues digitally on the Marvel Unlimited app.
June 13, 2018
For me this is the weakest arc out of the 5 volumes so far. Some of that is down to not like Tocchinis style. But when I say weak, it's still readable and I really liked the final part between AoA Nightcrawler and Evil Ice-man.
February 23, 2014
This is the story of a gang who meant to have a three-hour tour of a lovely New Zealand-esque dimension known as the Outworlds, where Captain Britain (that obscure and rather hard-to-take superhero) leads a whole pantheon of family members to defend every dimension in existence from everything harmful. (Could they start with raging Tea Party leaders please? That kind of regressive insanity should be a top priority.)
So for whatever reason, they decide that a single murder by a single member of the mutant death squad is simply egregious, and on the merits of that murder alone they should try that one mutant for the crime. Wut? Out of the millions of deaths in just the 616 dimension alone, this one warrants the attention of multiple of the Braddock family for an extended period? And especially, they chose to spare the time for this trial, months after the crime, while the Outworlds are being besieged by some lunatic goat-headed wizard and his undead army?
Lemme stop right here and emphasize that I love this story - it's got weird, lushly grotesque scenery, bizarre characters, great dialogue and a series of conflicts that makes me genuinely worried for the heroes' ability to triumph. This is another great storyline in Remender's X-Force run, not a problem there.
But when I stop to think about the circumstances that brought out heroes to this bizarre setting, my brain wants to lash out and stab other brains that are making my brain hurt like this.
And here's something else: if *you* were a superhero whose powers got stronger the more confident you got, do you think it would help when you're lacking confidence if your compatriots started yelling at you that you must be confident or else the battle is lost? Almost every story I've seen with this Captain Britain dude, there's someone yelling at him to man up - not telling him things that would *make* him feel more confident (like how handsome or strong he is, or lying about what weak pansies the enemy are), just pointing out precisely how *not* confident he is. I don't know if these characters have ever thought about it, but with that pattern, CB should've been a stain under someone's cloven hoof a LONG time ago.
The coda with Phil Noto was another of Remender's good slowdown-and-deal-with-all-the-crazy-shit-that-just-happened stories. Noto is great.
The art in the rest of the book is...interesting. I don't dislike it, and I know that not everything has to go for full realism. The cartooney look was still thoroughly done, but it's hard not to notice places on most pages where some details just look unfinished.
Onwards to... another execution-themed story? Hmmm...
So for whatever reason, they decide that a single murder by a single member of the mutant death squad is simply egregious, and on the merits of that murder alone they should try that one mutant for the crime. Wut? Out of the millions of deaths in just the 616 dimension alone, this one warrants the attention of multiple of the Braddock family for an extended period? And especially, they chose to spare the time for this trial, months after the crime, while the Outworlds are being besieged by some lunatic goat-headed wizard and his undead army?
Lemme stop right here and emphasize that I love this story - it's got weird, lushly grotesque scenery, bizarre characters, great dialogue and a series of conflicts that makes me genuinely worried for the heroes' ability to triumph. This is another great storyline in Remender's X-Force run, not a problem there.
But when I stop to think about the circumstances that brought out heroes to this bizarre setting, my brain wants to lash out and stab other brains that are making my brain hurt like this.
And here's something else: if *you* were a superhero whose powers got stronger the more confident you got, do you think it would help when you're lacking confidence if your compatriots started yelling at you that you must be confident or else the battle is lost? Almost every story I've seen with this Captain Britain dude, there's someone yelling at him to man up - not telling him things that would *make* him feel more confident (like how handsome or strong he is, or lying about what weak pansies the enemy are), just pointing out precisely how *not* confident he is. I don't know if these characters have ever thought about it, but with that pattern, CB should've been a stain under someone's cloven hoof a LONG time ago.
The coda with Phil Noto was another of Remender's good slowdown-and-deal-with-all-the-crazy-shit-that-just-happened stories. Noto is great.
The art in the rest of the book is...interesting. I don't dislike it, and I know that not everything has to go for full realism. The cartooney look was still thoroughly done, but it's hard not to notice places on most pages where some details just look unfinished.
Onwards to... another execution-themed story? Hmmm...
January 7, 2025
2.5 Stars
This volume was a dud. I have zero interest in Otherworld and never really get that part of Marvel lore. The whole sequence of events was to push Bettsy over the edge and I have to say that throughout this series Psylocke has become one of my favourite X- characters so I see there is a purpose here.
Greg Tocchini and Remender worked together on Low and Tocchini's art looked phenomenal on that series with underwater scenes playing with reflections and perspectives, but this was a fairly rough look on land.
Let's hope this finishes on a high note. This series has been really tight so far
This volume was a dud. I have zero interest in Otherworld and never really get that part of Marvel lore. The whole sequence of events was to push Bettsy over the edge and I have to say that throughout this series Psylocke has become one of my favourite X- characters so I see there is a purpose here.
Greg Tocchini and Remender worked together on Low and Tocchini's art looked phenomenal on that series with underwater scenes playing with reflections and perspectives, but this was a fairly rough look on land.
Let's hope this finishes on a high note. This series has been really tight so far
March 18, 2020
The art took a serious downturn but the story was still emotional and brutal as an X-Force ought to be.
October 8, 2013
I admit I was a little confused at first with this volume. The whole Captain Britain Corps thing seems a little weird and forced, and since I've never read anything about it before, it took me a little bit to really understand what the hell it was. However, Remender seems to understand that most people won't know what the CBC is, so he lets out exposition in little short gasps that allow the story and characters to progress without having to sit us down and say "Here's the entire history of the Captain Britain Corps." I respect his ability to do that.
The actual storyline itself is a little weaker than previous X-Force outings, but I still love this series and found this story enthralling, so I can't give it less than 4 stars. This one picks up after Psylocke and Fantomex have been dragged to Otherworld by Captain Britain so that Fantomex can stand trial for killing the child version of Apocalypse. This is where I was like "Really?" I mean, as I understand it, the CBC was formed to literally guard reality. They stand watch over the nexus of every universe, ensuring that all realities and their lifeforms are protected, and yet they want to prosecute one murder in one universe? Seems pretty micro managey if you ask me. But, that's really just a segue into Otherworld and the big, nutso battle that ensues, which I was really into. I also tend to love stories that explore multiple dimensions or timelines (though that is quickly becoming overdone), so I was hooked by this popcorn version of that sort of tale.
Several reviewers have commented on the art in this volume, which I didn't find to be an issue. It's definitely different and weirder than previous volumes, but I found it to be dynamic and interesting. It certainly didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. Overall, I'd say this a minor speed bump in an otherwise fantastic series. And hell, if speed bumps were this cool, I'd drive over them all day.
The actual storyline itself is a little weaker than previous X-Force outings, but I still love this series and found this story enthralling, so I can't give it less than 4 stars. This one picks up after Psylocke and Fantomex have been dragged to Otherworld by Captain Britain so that Fantomex can stand trial for killing the child version of Apocalypse. This is where I was like "Really?" I mean, as I understand it, the CBC was formed to literally guard reality. They stand watch over the nexus of every universe, ensuring that all realities and their lifeforms are protected, and yet they want to prosecute one murder in one universe? Seems pretty micro managey if you ask me. But, that's really just a segue into Otherworld and the big, nutso battle that ensues, which I was really into. I also tend to love stories that explore multiple dimensions or timelines (though that is quickly becoming overdone), so I was hooked by this popcorn version of that sort of tale.
Several reviewers have commented on the art in this volume, which I didn't find to be an issue. It's definitely different and weirder than previous volumes, but I found it to be dynamic and interesting. It certainly didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. Overall, I'd say this a minor speed bump in an otherwise fantastic series. And hell, if speed bumps were this cool, I'd drive over them all day.
August 24, 2015
ughhhhh why? just why?
Uncanny X-Force was on such a role for me, I was far from ever being disappointed with anything in the first 4 volumes. I mean this book is not terrible it's just so mediocre and not necessary to the series, they could have removed this entire volume from the series and it would go un-noticed. all they would have to do is add the last issue into the next or previous volume and it would have flowed together perfectly. I'm not upset I don't even hate the book it was decent but I just feel like my time was a little wasted.
Final Thoughts For The Author:
You gave me gold Rick for 4 volumes not silver, not bronze, gold, gold medals all around.But then you gave me like a 4th or 5th maybe even 6th place book. please don't do it again. sincerely... that guy who can't write but judges others
Uncanny X-Force was on such a role for me, I was far from ever being disappointed with anything in the first 4 volumes. I mean this book is not terrible it's just so mediocre and not necessary to the series, they could have removed this entire volume from the series and it would go un-noticed. all they would have to do is add the last issue into the next or previous volume and it would have flowed together perfectly. I'm not upset I don't even hate the book it was decent but I just feel like my time was a little wasted.
Final Thoughts For The Author:
You gave me gold Rick for 4 volumes not silver, not bronze, gold, gold medals all around.But then you gave me like a 4th or 5th maybe even 6th place book. please don't do it again. sincerely... that guy who can't write but judges others
November 12, 2015
La historia sigue luego de la conclusión de la Saga del Ángel Oscuro. Todos los personajes quedaron bastante traumatizados, sobre todo Beth y aunque no lo parezca Fantomex también (personaje copado si los hay...)
En este tomo hace aparición el entrañable Capitán Britania (le tomé cariño a este personaje en particular después de leer el run de Alan Moore que escribió en los 80 (o eran los 70, no me acuerdo..) en un pelea espectacular en el Otromundo, a la que se unen todos los demás personajes para evitar otra debacle y la pena de muerte para Fantomex.
En fin. Me queda un solo tomo para terminar toda la serie. Ahí vamos.
En este tomo hace aparición el entrañable Capitán Britania (le tomé cariño a este personaje en particular después de leer el run de Alan Moore que escribió en los 80 (o eran los 70, no me acuerdo..) en un pelea espectacular en el Otromundo, a la que se unen todos los demás personajes para evitar otra debacle y la pena de muerte para Fantomex.
En fin. Me queda un solo tomo para terminar toda la serie. Ahí vamos.
May 23, 2012
Remender has had a charmed run on Uncanny X-Force so far, and unfortunately took his first wrong turn here. This story was convoluted with no real reason behind anything, it re-affirmed the long held tradition of Captain Britain being a complete tool, and I was really really not a fan of the art. It takes a lot to make psylocke unattractive - but they managed it here. Looking forward to X-Force getting back on track with the next arc.
December 25, 2012
This is another thrilling, if confusing installment of Rick Remender's Uncanny X-Force which has a four issue story, an epilogue, and a Point One for the new Age of Apocalypse storyline. Storywise, all are enjoyable, but the artwork from Greg Tochinni on the main Otherworld story is bad to the point of distracting. Luckily Billy Tan and Phil Noto's contributions are much better, but the art in Otherworld leaves much to be desired and stops this book getting anything more than a middling grade.
November 23, 2021
After reading Low, this book is more enjoyable. The art isn’t as bad here.
The story is a lot less focused than what came before and Psylocke keeps going through the wringer.
The story is a lot less focused than what came before and Psylocke keeps going through the wringer.
March 1, 2017
I'm not familiar with the Otherworld concept so this run totally eluded me to say the least.
What an illegible mess! X-Force try to exfiltrate Psylocke and Fantomex, kidnapped by Captain Britain, the latter to be executed for killing the son of Apocalypse in vol.1.
But for some reason there's war in Otherworld, the bad guy being a pompous goat (yes, a goat) bleating vain threats and incantations all along.
Deadpool is decapitated (!!), Fantomex gets his face skinned off, but hey, no problem! Everybody gets well at the end. Peachy, ennit?
I won't spoil the end in case someone feels like enduring this rubbish and nonsense.
Tocchini, whom I usually like, delivers an ugly rushed-up job. Dean White tries to save it up but the harm's been done already.
What an illegible mess! X-Force try to exfiltrate Psylocke and Fantomex, kidnapped by Captain Britain, the latter to be executed for killing the son of Apocalypse in vol.1.
But for some reason there's war in Otherworld, the bad guy being a pompous goat (yes, a goat) bleating vain threats and incantations all along.
Deadpool is decapitated (!!), Fantomex gets his face skinned off, but hey, no problem! Everybody gets well at the end. Peachy, ennit?
I won't spoil the end in case someone feels like enduring this rubbish and nonsense.
Tocchini, whom I usually like, delivers an ugly rushed-up job. Dean White tries to save it up but the harm's been done already.
June 20, 2012
There are three (nearly) separate stories contained in this volume: Otherworld, Ghost Reunion, and Frozen Moment.
Otherworld is the main story and takes up a majority of the volume. The premise is Fantomex must be put on trial in Otherworld for his crimes (mostly a crime he has committed in Remender's run of Uncanny X-Force). Continuity wise it is nice to see an event that happened in volume one still having ramifications in volume five. It gets a little convoluted because I am not familiar with Otherworld as a location but apparently Otherworld is based on Avalon and Celtic Mythology and there was a very British run of X-Men where a team named Excalibur was formed and some of that was hinted at here. Despite not really knowing anything about that, I found the story relatively accessible and enjoyable. It gets a little crazy when the Omniverse gets threatened but Doctor Who has prepped me for such events:-) Sci-fi details aside, the story itself is a powerful that focuses on Psylocke's family and it is a very well written one. One that made me gasp out loud at one part. The only real detraction was the art, as people have mentioned. Greg Tocchini's art was very disappointing. It felt rushed, abstract, and frankly amateurish at times. There were moments when I wasn't as distracted by it, but those were few and far between.
Frozen Moments is a single issue plot that involves the Age of Apocalypse Nightcrawler assassinating the AOA Bobby Drake (aka Ice-Man). This issue really helps to establish the AOA Nightcrawler who is not your mama's Nightcrawler. Also, we get a lot of history of AOA Nightcrawler which is wonderfully complicated. Also, Phil Noto does the art which is gorgeous!
Ghost Reunion is another single issue plot that is meant to launch a new Age of Apocalypse title which contains some very different members of X-Force indeed. I think everyone lost their mind a bit when Remender brought in AOA in the Uncanny X-Force storyline and due to its success, Marvel green lit this new title. While I enjoyed this one shot, I don't know that I will pursue this series as the author and artist won't be the same and frankly, I'm picking up too many titles as it is. I appreciate that it was included in this volume and wish the title success!
Overall, I enjoyed this volume more than most. A LOT of people really seemed to HATE the Otherworld arc of Uncanny X-Force, but it wasn't that bad. The art was the worst thing about it, but if you can accept that there is an evil Goat Man trying to destroy every universe on every plane of existence, you can enjoy the series:-)
Still loving Uncanny X-Force!
Otherworld is the main story and takes up a majority of the volume. The premise is Fantomex must be put on trial in Otherworld for his crimes (mostly a crime he has committed in Remender's run of Uncanny X-Force). Continuity wise it is nice to see an event that happened in volume one still having ramifications in volume five. It gets a little convoluted because I am not familiar with Otherworld as a location but apparently Otherworld is based on Avalon and Celtic Mythology and there was a very British run of X-Men where a team named Excalibur was formed and some of that was hinted at here. Despite not really knowing anything about that, I found the story relatively accessible and enjoyable. It gets a little crazy when the Omniverse gets threatened but Doctor Who has prepped me for such events:-) Sci-fi details aside, the story itself is a powerful that focuses on Psylocke's family and it is a very well written one. One that made me gasp out loud at one part. The only real detraction was the art, as people have mentioned. Greg Tocchini's art was very disappointing. It felt rushed, abstract, and frankly amateurish at times. There were moments when I wasn't as distracted by it, but those were few and far between.
Frozen Moments is a single issue plot that involves the Age of Apocalypse Nightcrawler assassinating the AOA Bobby Drake (aka Ice-Man). This issue really helps to establish the AOA Nightcrawler who is not your mama's Nightcrawler. Also, we get a lot of history of AOA Nightcrawler which is wonderfully complicated. Also, Phil Noto does the art which is gorgeous!
Ghost Reunion is another single issue plot that is meant to launch a new Age of Apocalypse title which contains some very different members of X-Force indeed. I think everyone lost their mind a bit when Remender brought in AOA in the Uncanny X-Force storyline and due to its success, Marvel green lit this new title. While I enjoyed this one shot, I don't know that I will pursue this series as the author and artist won't be the same and frankly, I'm picking up too many titles as it is. I appreciate that it was included in this volume and wish the title success!
Overall, I enjoyed this volume more than most. A LOT of people really seemed to HATE the Otherworld arc of Uncanny X-Force, but it wasn't that bad. The art was the worst thing about it, but if you can accept that there is an evil Goat Man trying to destroy every universe on every plane of existence, you can enjoy the series:-)
Still loving Uncanny X-Force!
December 26, 2012
Rick Remender continues his solid run on Uncanny X-Force. Following the events of Uncanny X-Force: The Dark Angel Saga, Book 2, at the end of which Psylocke & Fantomex were abducted by the Captain Britain Corps and taken to Otherworld to put Fantomex on trial, the rest of X-Force use Gateway (who else?) to follow them there and rescue their teammates.
I have never read Excalibur and I'd never heard of Otherworld before, so I'm not sure where the writer took some liberties and where he was faithful to the original thing. Suffice to say that I really enjoyed the [main] story. The one-shot in which AoA Nightcrawler kills AoA Iceman was good as well - with amazing art - but the 19.1 issue (which is basically a set-up for yet another Marvel series destined for cancellation) did not capture my interest in the least. I do NOT care about the characters in that dimension - or the whole AoA, for that matter...
Art-wise, Greg Tocchini's art is an acquired taste. I've read some of his previous stuff and I've both liked and disliked some of it. In this book I found that, even though it was a significant departure from the other, previous artists this series has had, Tocchini delivered the goods.
Based on other people's reviews, I was expecting worse, so I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book (except, of course, for that 19.1 issue).
Next up is Uncanny X-Force: Final Execution, Book 1. See you there...
I have never read Excalibur and I'd never heard of Otherworld before, so I'm not sure where the writer took some liberties and where he was faithful to the original thing. Suffice to say that I really enjoyed the [main] story. The one-shot in which AoA Nightcrawler kills AoA Iceman was good as well - with amazing art - but the 19.1 issue (which is basically a set-up for yet another Marvel series destined for cancellation) did not capture my interest in the least. I do NOT care about the characters in that dimension - or the whole AoA, for that matter...
Art-wise, Greg Tocchini's art is an acquired taste. I've read some of his previous stuff and I've both liked and disliked some of it. In this book I found that, even though it was a significant departure from the other, previous artists this series has had, Tocchini delivered the goods.
Based on other people's reviews, I was expecting worse, so I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book (except, of course, for that 19.1 issue).
Next up is Uncanny X-Force: Final Execution, Book 1. See you there...
December 16, 2019
Ugh! I grew up avoiding Excalibur because of the surreal fantasy elements surrounding the Braddock Family (Captain Britain, Psylocke, and Jamie Braddock). In this collection, we get the entire Captain Britain Corps bringing back that familiar time-travel headache I get when I try to keep up.
Fantomex is taken to Otherworld to stand trial for killing Apocalypse as a child, and it is up to the Uncanny X-Force to rescue him before he is executed. Psylocke's loyalty to the team (and her growing feeling for Fantomex) is put to the test as she must choose a side.
OK, the premise is straightforward, or is it? Why this particular heinous act? Why did Captain Britain and the Captain Britain Corps choose this moment to bring Fantomex to justice -- at the exact same time that they are under attack by the mystic and mysterious forces?
Rick Remember seemed to have deviated from his original direction making this bizarre tale a departure from his other darker X-Force stories. It was hard for me to keep up (or hard for me to care to keep up).
Fantomex is taken to Otherworld to stand trial for killing Apocalypse as a child, and it is up to the Uncanny X-Force to rescue him before he is executed. Psylocke's loyalty to the team (and her growing feeling for Fantomex) is put to the test as she must choose a side.
OK, the premise is straightforward, or is it? Why this particular heinous act? Why did Captain Britain and the Captain Britain Corps choose this moment to bring Fantomex to justice -- at the exact same time that they are under attack by the mystic and mysterious forces?
Rick Remember seemed to have deviated from his original direction making this bizarre tale a departure from his other darker X-Force stories. It was hard for me to keep up (or hard for me to care to keep up).
July 13, 2018
Continuing the great x-read of 2017/2018... (and I am very far behind on reviews again so this batch will once again be short. One of these days I will get back to reviewing each volume as I finish them so they don't all sort of start bleeding together in my head as they tend to do.)
Remember when I went on and on about how Remender could do no wrong with this series? Well, I may have been wrong.
Well, not wrong really. It's still an enjoyable volume with some great character moments. But it is also a bit of a mess and you just end up caring a whole lot less than you do in the earlier stories.
(Also, somehow I end up hating Captain Britain every time he shows up even though I really loved Excalibur back in the day.)
Remember when I went on and on about how Remender could do no wrong with this series? Well, I may have been wrong.
Well, not wrong really. It's still an enjoyable volume with some great character moments. But it is also a bit of a mess and you just end up caring a whole lot less than you do in the earlier stories.
(Also, somehow I end up hating Captain Britain every time he shows up even though I really loved Excalibur back in the day.)
April 1, 2012
There are so many alternate reality tales that I could take and Rick Remender has flown a little too close to the sun with his latest X-force arc. The story is hard to follow since I'm not sure why certain events are occurring such as why Fantomex is put on trial in some other dimension? And why now? The story is pretty limp and is not aided by the horrendous artwork by Greg Tocchinni; if Jerome Opena was still contributing I may have been a bit forgiving but as it stands this book was pretty boring to read. I hope the next X-force storyline explores other areas of the Marvel Universe and has a better artist.
January 8, 2015
I knew absolutely nothing about the Captain Britain Corps. I think I would've been more invested in this book if I'd known the characters already, but it's not confusing to read.
On the other hand, I LOVE the Age of Apocalypse version of Nightcrawler, but he didn't seem quite right. Too light and quippy, not focused and jaded. They keep saying he's dark and vengeful, but not really showing it (although it worked fine in the issue toward the end that's just about him.)
Also people are skinned in this book. If you made it through the Deadpool-cannibalism in the first volume you'll probably be fine.
On the other hand, I LOVE the Age of Apocalypse version of Nightcrawler, but he didn't seem quite right. Too light and quippy, not focused and jaded. They keep saying he's dark and vengeful, but not really showing it (although it worked fine in the issue toward the end that's just about him.)
Also people are skinned in this book. If you made it through the Deadpool-cannibalism in the first volume you'll probably be fine.
September 24, 2012
The X-Force bits are pretty good, but I have no idea what's going on with Captain Britain and Otherworld. I used to read Excalibur and I have the old Captain Britain TPB, so I know about all the different Britains, and Saturnyne, and Megan, but the whole Otherworld plot has me completely lost.
June 17, 2012
Whatever merits the story may or may not have had are lost amidst the turgid, muddy art. I don't remember Tocchini's art being so bad on Last Days. It's the standard of art I expect from lower tier DC books.
August 22, 2014
Some terrific moments, but the weird stuff that dominates doesn't resonate and isn't as awesome as the rest of the Remender/UXF I've read. The change in art styles threw of the pace of the whole series a bit too, which isn't to say it was bad art by any means, because it wasn't.
March 14, 2016
I'm going to finish this entire series because I heard how good it was but this is getting unbearable. Captain Britain Corps, Otherworld, and some Goat Lord? What is this nonsense? They've still done a mediocre job at best developing most of the characters and the plot is tedious and irritating.
November 28, 2012
The art is terrible. Looks like rough sketches instead of finished art.
But the story is great fun.
But the story is great fun.
December 11, 2018
Uncanny X-Force Vol. 5: Otherworld kicks off straight after the previous book with Captain Britain and his M113 gang trying to save the world and getting mixed up in the X-Force's antics as they try to save the multiverse from a maniac Goat I kid (haha lol) you not! :D The stakes are epic from the start in Uncanny X-Force Vol. 5: Otherworld and the pace and dynamic of the story reflects this from the start weaving the threads from the previous books together and then taking the story off in a completely different direction than you are expecting! :D
The whole book throttle along though at a great pace with interludes for various characters like Nightcrawler, Fantomex and Psylocke! :D Captain Britain's arbitrary grabbing of Psylocke certainly puts him on the back foot with her and you can see that he is going to get his comeuppance from that particular action! :D Deadpool lends his unique brand of a aid and this gives Uncanny X-Force Vol. 5: Otherworld it feel of humour! :D
At the same time the action comes thick and fast! :D Tocchini, Remender, Tan et al produce a story that is dynamic and never lets up from the beginning! :D At the same time the books continues on the previous plot themes as well as bringing in new plots that take the story off on different tangents! :D This of course gives us more backstory in regards to the characters! :D We get to see more of an insight in Captain Britain's and Betsey's dynamic! :D The book starts to explore this and is clear that neither one of them wants where things are heading! :D Captain Britain come across as bull- headed and you can see Psylocke really starting to prepare herself! :D The shock twists though certainly sets things up for future books as well! :D You have to of course wonder what the other superheroes in the various worlds are going to make of these arbitrary actions! :D The books succeeds brilliantly at really stirring up the pot! :D You have to wonder what kind of ripple effect things will take after these events! :D All the same though the book doesn't lose sight of who is important to the team and the team dynamic comes across brilliantly I the book! :D The team goes all out for its members so a potential bust up with M113 is certainly in the offing! :D This makes a great spin off events as Marvel, DC and others do like great character conflict! :D
The art is incredible with colour leaping off the page with bright vibrant colours! :D The style really suits the script perfectly with characters being rendered in brilliant lines that really show off their expressions! :D This makes for a book that really captures the emotions of the all the characters as they do their thing! :D Combined with the epic landscapes this really comes across as an epic adventure! :D X-Force as a team due to their wildly unsociable habits really works from Wolverines cutting observations to Deadpool's dead panning! :D The teams personalities are really injected into the story in a way that gives everything they do a visceral quality that will have you in one moment hurting your ribs with laughter to edge of your seat at the odds stacked against them! :D
Uncanny X-Force Vol. 5: Otherworld delivers on every level with the character development and world building all up their on there on the page! :D Uncanny X-Force Vol. 5: Otherworld the location are epic and infinite the Otherworld really does get an outing! :D At the same time the character development continues apace making Uncanny X-Force Vol. 5: Otherworld a roller coaster of a ride full of adventure, heroics, moral questions, humour, team dynamics and action packed throughout! :D Crisp high five! :D Highly Recommended! :D Go and Get! :D Make Sure you have the next one Bub! :D
The whole book throttle along though at a great pace with interludes for various characters like Nightcrawler, Fantomex and Psylocke! :D Captain Britain's arbitrary grabbing of Psylocke certainly puts him on the back foot with her and you can see that he is going to get his comeuppance from that particular action! :D Deadpool lends his unique brand of a aid and this gives Uncanny X-Force Vol. 5: Otherworld it feel of humour! :D
At the same time the action comes thick and fast! :D Tocchini, Remender, Tan et al produce a story that is dynamic and never lets up from the beginning! :D At the same time the books continues on the previous plot themes as well as bringing in new plots that take the story off on different tangents! :D This of course gives us more backstory in regards to the characters! :D We get to see more of an insight in Captain Britain's and Betsey's dynamic! :D The book starts to explore this and is clear that neither one of them wants where things are heading! :D Captain Britain come across as bull- headed and you can see Psylocke really starting to prepare herself! :D The shock twists though certainly sets things up for future books as well! :D You have to of course wonder what the other superheroes in the various worlds are going to make of these arbitrary actions! :D The books succeeds brilliantly at really stirring up the pot! :D You have to wonder what kind of ripple effect things will take after these events! :D All the same though the book doesn't lose sight of who is important to the team and the team dynamic comes across brilliantly I the book! :D The team goes all out for its members so a potential bust up with M113 is certainly in the offing! :D This makes a great spin off events as Marvel, DC and others do like great character conflict! :D
The art is incredible with colour leaping off the page with bright vibrant colours! :D The style really suits the script perfectly with characters being rendered in brilliant lines that really show off their expressions! :D This makes for a book that really captures the emotions of the all the characters as they do their thing! :D Combined with the epic landscapes this really comes across as an epic adventure! :D X-Force as a team due to their wildly unsociable habits really works from Wolverines cutting observations to Deadpool's dead panning! :D The teams personalities are really injected into the story in a way that gives everything they do a visceral quality that will have you in one moment hurting your ribs with laughter to edge of your seat at the odds stacked against them! :D
Uncanny X-Force Vol. 5: Otherworld delivers on every level with the character development and world building all up their on there on the page! :D Uncanny X-Force Vol. 5: Otherworld the location are epic and infinite the Otherworld really does get an outing! :D At the same time the character development continues apace making Uncanny X-Force Vol. 5: Otherworld a roller coaster of a ride full of adventure, heroics, moral questions, humour, team dynamics and action packed throughout! :D Crisp high five! :D Highly Recommended! :D Go and Get! :D Make Sure you have the next one Bub! :D
January 9, 2021
Reprints Uncanny X-Force (1) #19.1-24 (March 2012-June 2012). Fantomex and Psylocke discover they’ve been taken to Otherworld and Fantomex might have to face the consequences for the killing of Apocalypse. Unfortunately, Otherworld is under assault from a being called the Goat and Fantomex might have to face off against a member of Project X that he thought he was finished with. Meanwhile, a rescue attempt by Nightcrawler, Wolverine, and Deadpool isn’t going as planned as Nightcrawler tries to adjust to the new world he has entered.
Written by Rick Remender, Uncanny X-Force Volume 5: Otherworld is a Marvel Comics X-Men spin-off comic book collection. Following Uncanny X-Force Volume 4: The Dark Angel Saga—Book 2, the collection features art by Greg Tocchini, Phil Noto, and Billy Tan. The volume contains the four issue storyline “Otherworld”. Also included in Uncanny X-Force (1) #19.1 (March 2012) which contained an Age of Apocalypse storyline and the stand-alone Uncanny X-Force (1) #24 (June 2012). Issues in this collection were also included as part of the X-Force by Rick Remender Omnibus and X-Force by Rick Remember—Volume 1.
Uncanny X-Force is one of the harder Marvel Comics reads out there. Unlike the standard bad-guy fights villain in a six issue story arc, Uncanny X-Force has multiple stories with tons of layered moments. It isn’t a book you can pick-up and put-down easily without a refresher of what is going on. Uncanny X-Force 5: Otherworld continues that cycle.
The prime story (“Otherworld”) deals with the death of Apocalypse, Betsy’s relationship with her brothers Brian and Jamie, Fantomex’s past, and the Nightcrawler of the Age of Apocalypse adjusting to life on Earth-616 (which means also dipping into his past as a member of Excalibur). It isn’t the most coherent stories at time without rereading some sequences, but I like the parallels drawn between the death of Apocalypse at Fantomex’s hands and the final outcome of the storyline…plus as a fan of Captain Britain, it is always nice to see Betsy back with her brother (even if the situation isn’t great).
The stand-alone Uncanny X-Force #24 is Nightcrawler dealing with his Age of Apocalypse friend Iceman. It feels a bit like a throwaway storyline and if you weren’t invested in the Age of Apocalypse, it is a story that has little interest. I never was on the “Nightcrawler from Age of Apocalypse has replaced Nightcrawler-616 boat”, and I have a hard time being interested in this storyline.
Likewise, Uncanny X-Force #19.1 also is a complete throwaway. Marvel came up with the .1 stories as a means for readers to “jump on” initially and marketed them that way. I only picked up a few .1 titles and found them not only stories that didn’t interest me, but also stories that weren’t very inspiring to readers. If I had been excited and bought Uncanny X-Force #19.1 as a new reader, I wouldn’t know what was going on and I wouldn’t care to read another issue. It was a waste of a project and was poorly planned…it is a reason that it is hard for many to get into comics.
Despite two stories that aren’t that great, Uncanny X-Force is still a smart title. It is a title that rewards regular readers and punishes those who don’t keep up with it. This in itself isn’t the smartest way to keep readers, but it is a different approach to the nice and neat story arcs that many titles have. Uncanny X-Force feels like the adult version of X-Men at this point. Uncanny X-Force 5: Otherworld was followed by Uncanny X-Force: Final Execution—Book 1.
Written by Rick Remender, Uncanny X-Force Volume 5: Otherworld is a Marvel Comics X-Men spin-off comic book collection. Following Uncanny X-Force Volume 4: The Dark Angel Saga—Book 2, the collection features art by Greg Tocchini, Phil Noto, and Billy Tan. The volume contains the four issue storyline “Otherworld”. Also included in Uncanny X-Force (1) #19.1 (March 2012) which contained an Age of Apocalypse storyline and the stand-alone Uncanny X-Force (1) #24 (June 2012). Issues in this collection were also included as part of the X-Force by Rick Remender Omnibus and X-Force by Rick Remember—Volume 1.
Uncanny X-Force is one of the harder Marvel Comics reads out there. Unlike the standard bad-guy fights villain in a six issue story arc, Uncanny X-Force has multiple stories with tons of layered moments. It isn’t a book you can pick-up and put-down easily without a refresher of what is going on. Uncanny X-Force 5: Otherworld continues that cycle.
The prime story (“Otherworld”) deals with the death of Apocalypse, Betsy’s relationship with her brothers Brian and Jamie, Fantomex’s past, and the Nightcrawler of the Age of Apocalypse adjusting to life on Earth-616 (which means also dipping into his past as a member of Excalibur). It isn’t the most coherent stories at time without rereading some sequences, but I like the parallels drawn between the death of Apocalypse at Fantomex’s hands and the final outcome of the storyline…plus as a fan of Captain Britain, it is always nice to see Betsy back with her brother (even if the situation isn’t great).
The stand-alone Uncanny X-Force #24 is Nightcrawler dealing with his Age of Apocalypse friend Iceman. It feels a bit like a throwaway storyline and if you weren’t invested in the Age of Apocalypse, it is a story that has little interest. I never was on the “Nightcrawler from Age of Apocalypse has replaced Nightcrawler-616 boat”, and I have a hard time being interested in this storyline.
Likewise, Uncanny X-Force #19.1 also is a complete throwaway. Marvel came up with the .1 stories as a means for readers to “jump on” initially and marketed them that way. I only picked up a few .1 titles and found them not only stories that didn’t interest me, but also stories that weren’t very inspiring to readers. If I had been excited and bought Uncanny X-Force #19.1 as a new reader, I wouldn’t know what was going on and I wouldn’t care to read another issue. It was a waste of a project and was poorly planned…it is a reason that it is hard for many to get into comics.
Despite two stories that aren’t that great, Uncanny X-Force is still a smart title. It is a title that rewards regular readers and punishes those who don’t keep up with it. This in itself isn’t the smartest way to keep readers, but it is a different approach to the nice and neat story arcs that many titles have. Uncanny X-Force feels like the adult version of X-Men at this point. Uncanny X-Force 5: Otherworld was followed by Uncanny X-Force: Final Execution—Book 1.
August 10, 2017
Holy cow is this book good!
If you've been keeping up, you'd know Fantomex killed the child version of Apocalypse. Angel became the new Apocalypse, which X-Force was able to defeat. Now Angel is gone with no more memories of his past. Also, Nightcrawler is back! Say what? He came from another dimension also known as The Age of Apocalypse. Finally, Fantomex and Psylocke were kidnapped by Captain Britain.
What I love about this book is that we learn so much about Psylocke's past. From the previous novels, we already know that Psylocke is Captain Britain's brother, but here we find out that Psylocke used to be Miss Britain, she lived in Otherworld, and she used to have a different body. Say what? Yes! Apparently Psylocke when she was Miss Britain was kidnapped and placed in some other body, the bodacious body in all of its fanservice glory that we know Psylocke of having today.
The other super plus about this novel is how awesome Nightcrawler is. I love Nightcrawler, always have, and I was severely upset when he passed away in Avengers vs. X-Men. At first I was not that thrilled that the Nightcrawler we are getting back is a mock Nightcrawler from another world, but getting to know the "new" Nightcrawler, I am starting to not mind as much.
1) He has an awesome Ziggy Stardust red lightning face tattoo. 2) Without being immortal like Wolverine and Deadpool, this Nightcrawler lifts more weight on the battlefield than all the other team members combined. Yes! He is just that bad ass!
I strongly recommend reading this novel if you are fans of volumes 1-4 of Uncanny X-Force. Otherworld is a great continuation of the series, and I honestly can't wait to read more.
If you've been keeping up, you'd know Fantomex killed the child version of Apocalypse. Angel became the new Apocalypse, which X-Force was able to defeat. Now Angel is gone with no more memories of his past. Also, Nightcrawler is back! Say what? He came from another dimension also known as The Age of Apocalypse. Finally, Fantomex and Psylocke were kidnapped by Captain Britain.
What I love about this book is that we learn so much about Psylocke's past. From the previous novels, we already know that Psylocke is Captain Britain's brother, but here we find out that Psylocke used to be Miss Britain, she lived in Otherworld, and she used to have a different body. Say what? Yes! Apparently Psylocke when she was Miss Britain was kidnapped and placed in some other body, the bodacious body in all of its fanservice glory that we know Psylocke of having today.
The other super plus about this novel is how awesome Nightcrawler is. I love Nightcrawler, always have, and I was severely upset when he passed away in Avengers vs. X-Men. At first I was not that thrilled that the Nightcrawler we are getting back is a mock Nightcrawler from another world, but getting to know the "new" Nightcrawler, I am starting to not mind as much.
1) He has an awesome Ziggy Stardust red lightning face tattoo. 2) Without being immortal like Wolverine and Deadpool, this Nightcrawler lifts more weight on the battlefield than all the other team members combined. Yes! He is just that bad ass!
I strongly recommend reading this novel if you are fans of volumes 1-4 of Uncanny X-Force. Otherworld is a great continuation of the series, and I honestly can't wait to read more.
November 8, 2020
Pues después de la Saga del Ángel Oscuro, X-Force se encuentra con una situación un tanto especial, y es que tiene que hacer frente a las consecuencias del Cisma que ha sacudido a los X-Men. Y aunque el espíritu de X-Force quizá hubiera estado más acorde con el espíritu militarista de la Patrulla-X de Cíclope, el líder del equipo es Lobezno, así que el grupo sigue a Logan a la Academia Jean Grey, donde además convierten en partícipes de su existencia a la Bestia y Gatasombra. Y aunque los miembros de la Patrulla-X de la Era de Apocalipsis deciden marcharse, uno de ellos se convertirá en miembro del equipo, quedándose en nuestra Tierra... y por supuesto, es el Rondador Nocturno de la Era de Apocalipsis, Kurt Darkholme.
Con el equipo tambaleándose debido a la pérdida de Ángel y al descubrimiento de que Fantomex estaba custodiando al nuevo Apocalipsis, llega el momento de que X-Force haga frente a una nueva amenaza hacia su equipo, y es que desde el plano mágico de Otromundo, los hermanos de Mariposa Mental (el Capitán Britania y el poderosísimo Jamie Braddock) deciden que ha llegado el momento de apartar a su hermana del equipo y de juzgar a Fantomex por el asesinato del niño Apocalipsis. Pero cuando Lobezno, Rondador y Masacre acuden al rescate de sus compañeros, se encuentran con que hay una amenaza mágica acecha al propio Otromundo y a la que tendrán que hacer frente...
Otromundo no es la mejor de las sagas de X-Force, las cosas como son, pero no se le puede negar que es entretenida y que el dibujo de Toccini, que en otro momento probablemente pusiera verde, me parece extrañamente apropiado para esta trama de magia e irrealidad. Así que, bueno, se deja leer.
Con el equipo tambaleándose debido a la pérdida de Ángel y al descubrimiento de que Fantomex estaba custodiando al nuevo Apocalipsis, llega el momento de que X-Force haga frente a una nueva amenaza hacia su equipo, y es que desde el plano mágico de Otromundo, los hermanos de Mariposa Mental (el Capitán Britania y el poderosísimo Jamie Braddock) deciden que ha llegado el momento de apartar a su hermana del equipo y de juzgar a Fantomex por el asesinato del niño Apocalipsis. Pero cuando Lobezno, Rondador y Masacre acuden al rescate de sus compañeros, se encuentran con que hay una amenaza mágica acecha al propio Otromundo y a la que tendrán que hacer frente...
Otromundo no es la mejor de las sagas de X-Force, las cosas como son, pero no se le puede negar que es entretenida y que el dibujo de Toccini, que en otro momento probablemente pusiera verde, me parece extrañamente apropiado para esta trama de magia e irrealidad. Así que, bueno, se deja leer.
February 1, 2024
This one has it all - a wizard goat, a headless jester, a skinned man skinning another man, and much more!
I got to say Remender really went for it in this volume. There are so many crazy and dark ideas in this one that it starts to feel a bit bogged down by all the insanity. The book feels chaotic and the pace is constantly at a breakneck speed, so it really does feel like a dire situation when you read it. However, it's hard to see how it all ties in to the overarching plot of Remender's X-Force... until the end that is. Remender manages to end on a high note while at the same time, making a poignant point about the catalyst of his entire run. Remender really saves it at the end here, and honestly, if Goodreads gave half stars, I would probably say this is more of a 3 1/2.
Now the art...sigh. Well, I will say I am a fan of Toccini's art. He has a fluid style that highlights the curve's of the human body really well. However, when he is tasked to illustrate big battle scenes, his style can get very loose and messy. And that's definitely what happened here. The plot revolves around giant battles, so we see Toccini really let loose... and I mean loose - to the point where it seems rushed or not completed. I think a more calmer storyline would've been a better fit. However, there are a couple of issues where Billy Tan and Phil Noto fill in for a couple of issues - and those look great.
Overall, a messy storyline, but one that has a really good ending. I would say if you're a fan of the Remender run, you should definitely take a look at this one.
I got to say Remender really went for it in this volume. There are so many crazy and dark ideas in this one that it starts to feel a bit bogged down by all the insanity. The book feels chaotic and the pace is constantly at a breakneck speed, so it really does feel like a dire situation when you read it. However, it's hard to see how it all ties in to the overarching plot of Remender's X-Force... until the end that is. Remender manages to end on a high note while at the same time, making a poignant point about the catalyst of his entire run. Remender really saves it at the end here, and honestly, if Goodreads gave half stars, I would probably say this is more of a 3 1/2.
Now the art...sigh. Well, I will say I am a fan of Toccini's art. He has a fluid style that highlights the curve's of the human body really well. However, when he is tasked to illustrate big battle scenes, his style can get very loose and messy. And that's definitely what happened here. The plot revolves around giant battles, so we see Toccini really let loose... and I mean loose - to the point where it seems rushed or not completed. I think a more calmer storyline would've been a better fit. However, there are a couple of issues where Billy Tan and Phil Noto fill in for a couple of issues - and those look great.
Overall, a messy storyline, but one that has a really good ending. I would say if you're a fan of the Remender run, you should definitely take a look at this one.
July 10, 2020
The art style was a departure from earlier volumes but I liked it. What I didn't like was the premise and the storytelling. The premise - Fantomex is abducted to the Captain Britain dimension (what?!?!) because he killed a child who would grow up to be Apocolypse. They said "you don't know he would do that". Even though - yes we totally do!!!
So the premise is the stupidest I have ever seen. Millions of children have been murdered in the world and yet THEY (the Captain Britains who look over all realities) are going to focus on Fantomex the one person who did a good thing by killing a child?
But their plans get sidetracked because they are under attack by a Goat-headed guy. Wow they really didn't plan this out well did they? Maybe abduct him when your dimension isn't under an all out attack?
Of course the rest of X Force go to rescue him and futz around for a few issues until the easy solution presents itself and they kill the real secret villain (the ideas behind the villain is a copy of what Starlin did for Warlock...but let's disregard that).
Not the worst story but it is another example of over the top violence - a story expanded to 5 issues when it could be done in 2 - and a premise and characterizations which don't make a lot of sense. Not my cup of tea but I will soldier on because I want to see this to the end! :)
So the premise is the stupidest I have ever seen. Millions of children have been murdered in the world and yet THEY (the Captain Britains who look over all realities) are going to focus on Fantomex the one person who did a good thing by killing a child?
But their plans get sidetracked because they are under attack by a Goat-headed guy. Wow they really didn't plan this out well did they? Maybe abduct him when your dimension isn't under an all out attack?
Of course the rest of X Force go to rescue him and futz around for a few issues until the easy solution presents itself and they kill the real secret villain (the ideas behind the villain is a copy of what Starlin did for Warlock...but let's disregard that).
Not the worst story but it is another example of over the top violence - a story expanded to 5 issues when it could be done in 2 - and a premise and characterizations which don't make a lot of sense. Not my cup of tea but I will soldier on because I want to see this to the end! :)
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