Cable and X-Force, Vol. 2: Dead or Alive

Cable and X-Force (Collected Editions) #2

by Dennis Hopeless (Writer), Frank Tieri (Writer), Salvador Larroca (Artist)

Cable's outlaw team loses a member as Colossus goes to jail - but the armored giant doesn't fare well in the big house! Meanwhile, Cable comes face-to-face with his father...the fallen revolutionary known as Cyclops! And when Cable and his X-Force journey into space to face down an alien armada, will they be forced to clash with the Uncanny Avengers, who are still in hot pursuit?

Collecting: Cable and X-Force 6-9

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, X Men, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes, Comic Book

136 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2013

About the author

Dennis "Hopeless" Hallum is an American comics writer from Kansas City, Missouri who has written for Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Boom! Studios, Arcana Studio, and Oni Press.

See also under Dennis Hallum

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

6.5 out of 12, Three Stars. Interesting but somewhat implausible even for comics. Essentially Cable foresees disasters so has his X-Force act proactively and mostly illegally to save lives; in this case freeing a genocidal alien prisoner! Guests Abigail Brand and S.W.O.R.D. as well as a surprise cameo by a key X-Man.

2018 read

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

[see review for volume one]

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. It's a fun little adventure.

Abigail Brand, like Maria Hill, is a strange character. Always aggressively asserting authority and then failing and getting bossed around by men with superpowers and then making unhappy faces. Well, I'm not sure if that's a character so much as an obstacle. But whatever.

[Krzysztof Grabowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drugi tom przygód Cable'a i spółki jest dla mnie jak bieg na 200 metrów w czasach szkolnych. Miałem z niego zawsze na wychowaniu fizycznym dobre oceny, dawało to satysfakcję i jednocześnie wiedziałem, że na dłuższym dystansie nie byłoby już tak kolorowo. Tak samo mamy tutaj. Wydawca oszczędza nas w zawartości dając nam w podanym tomie tylko cztery zeszyty, ale za to wypełnione po brzegi samą akcją i dziękuję, że nie ma tutaj więcej zawartości, bo bym się przejadł, vide ostatni zeszyt ze spotkania Hope z Uncanny Avengers, którzy przybyli aby wybębnić miejsce pobytu Cable'a a wdali się w zbędną utarczkę z fioletową babką w tle. Już tam miałem dość.

Bo Cable i ex-Siła jest lekturą piękną. Co by nie mówić, ale Larroca i spółka odwalili tu kawał dobrej roboty. Postacie wyglądają mięsiście. Szkoda tylko, że całość utyka jeżeli chodzi o fabułę, ale nie jest aż tak źle jakbyście mogli z całości wywnioskować. Cable znów wplątuje swoją drużynę w kabałę kosmicznych rozmiarów. Forge, Boom Boom, Domino, Dr. Nemesis to skład jaki stanie do walki na przeciwko jednemu kosmicie, którego wpierw zadania oswobodzenia podejmują się najemnicy. A że w tym samym miejscu(więzienie Raft) zbiegiem okoliczności znajduje się też Colossus, to i będzie powód, aby oswobodzić kolegę, który tak ochoczy do opuszczenia przybytku już nie jest.

Cała akcja ma oczywiście drugie dno. Gdzieś tam na uboczu majaczy Cyclops, który pojawi się na uroczą pogadankę z synem. W akcję wplączę się Abigail Brand i to całe jej Sword. Dużo wybuchów, pościgów i mniejszych starć. Szybko, łatwo i przyjemnie. Jak wspomniany bieg na 200 metrów. Niewiele się myśli, nie wiele się poświeci temu uwagi. Niemniej czyta się ekspresowo i czekam na następny tom.

[Silas · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general, this was a pretty fun volume of this rather grim series. There were some interesting moments, with Colossus having turned himself in, and Boom Boom showing up again (and I think she is a pretty good fit for the series), and the catastrophe they avert this time is of a different scope, which is rather interesting (I like that it is branching out beyond just mutant threats). The Cyclops came made a lot of sense, given his similar outlaw storyline at the time. There were parts that didn't make sense to me, like the artist not knowing how to depict Havok's powers (which makes zero sense on any kind of X-book), and some weird characterization of Doctor Nemesis, who, being time-displaced, should not be making pop culture references. While those issues were notable, they didn't keep me from enjoying this storyline.

[Jeff Lanter · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not quite as good as the previous volume, there is still plenty to like about this short story. Peter acts as the moral compass for the group and tries to atone for previous mistakes whereas his connection to the team makes that complicated. The main conflict revolves around an unusual prisoner who is dark for the Marvel universe and this takes X-Force to a completely different environment. It was nice to see Agent Brand who always reminds me of my favorite X-Men series Astonishing X-Men even if she basically is exactly the same as how she acts in that book. The art continues to be fairly strong and while I don't know where is book is going next, I'd still say it is a bit above average and certainly unique among Marvel superhero titles.

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing the great X-read of 2017/18...

I find myself a little confused about how I feel regarding this book. Everything about it seems tailor made for me to love it: A bunch of my favorite characters (Domino, Cable, Boom Boom(!)…) but while I find myself enjoying it, I feel like it is a little bland. Like all of the pieces don't quite fit together.

It's good enough that I want to keep reading but so far it isn't one of the series that has me impatient to get to the next volume.

I did absolutely love the exchange in the prison between Domino and Colossus. The whole thing was well-written and truly funny.

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series has all the ingredients to succeed but just can't put them all together. Colossus wanted to atone is a great idea but how its handled is incredibly weak. The space alien storyline was an unfortunate misfire. I just didn't matter. Editorially, the book ends with a to be continued which is absurd. Larroca's art is still good but not enough to help the book. Overall, a disappointment.

[Jdetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could lump all of these Cable & X-Force trades together, because I feel the same about all of them....they're interesting comics, featuring a fascinating collection of some of the X-Men cast offs. Written well and beautifully drawn, they're an all too rare high point in Marvel's mutant books.

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

cable will explain what's happening and why to Cyclops but not Havok?!
what the hell?

colossus turns himself in to authorities.
boom boom and domino break out an alien whose species will launch an armada at earth if they're not released.

cable explains and even shows what would happen using telepathy into Brand's mind. he could have done that with rhe uncanny avengers. so dumb.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colossus hands himself in and goes to prison. The rest of X-Force have to break out an alien to save the world.

This is a short but fun book. It's nice to see Colossus find some kind of peace, and Cyclops talks to Cable. The dynamics within the group are starting to gel.

A good read.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same feelings on this as the first, except with Abigail Brand, who I can take or leave. Oh, and Boom Boom. Who, when not in Nextwave, I can definitely leave.

[Frans Kempe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colossos goes to jail and the rest of the team tries to stop earth from being destroyed by an alien war criminal

[Steve Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fun reading. Like old school comic book plots from the 80's.

[Alfredo Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

MORE Cable stuff, and now some S.W.O.R.D., which is always good, gives me a feeling of 2000 AD. Anyways, ONWARDS!

[Anchorpete · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is where this book really starts to come together. If you read my review of the previous trade, you will see where my opinions fall on each member of the team. This trade made me change my mind. After this book, I enjoy every character, From Colossus to the newly joined Boom Boom.
This is where we really get the idea behind Cable's plans. Cable has always been one of my favorite characters, even though a lot of people consider him a relic from the grim, 90s era of Super commandos. One of the best aspects of his character is his ability to create plans within plans, and always have a back up for each one. The middle part of this book is a heist of sorts, with each intricate point planned out by Cable, and matched with the strengths of each of the members of X-force. a Really great book. I am becoming more and more of a fan of Dennis Hopeless with each book of his that I read.

[Travis Duke · Rating 4 out of 5]

X-force and cable vol. 2 picks up with the crew trying to rescue an alien before earth loses 6 million people. Dennis Hopeless is doing a great job with the series and I always love Larroca on art, so crisp and exact. Although the story isnt a home run, the smaller stories are pretty darn good with hope, colossus, and even cable. Colossus has turned him self in for the phoenix 5 and the factory disaster, this small part is really a huge character development. Colossus might be the only x-men feeling remorse and I his love triangle with Kitty and Domino adds more to chew. Hope has a hand to play as well and it should be good in the next few issues. Im a sucker for x-force so I enjoyed it, besides the avengers/x-men cameos are fun too. The havok and Cap panels are a good bit of writing.

[Scott Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than volume one, but once again I read this book about a team taking on the bad guys "by any means necessary" while reading a volume of the newest iteration of the Thunderbolts, and again the Thunderbolts take the prize.

This volume feels stronger to me, although it's mostly dealing with the fall out of the first volume--as far as any character development is concerned. I hope they get past Peter being whiny and blaming himself for everything. I mean, I know Colossus is sensitive, and an artist, etc., but they're over playing it here.

The issue that focused on Hope facing off with the Uncanny Avengers was great for all four characters involved. Just enough action and great character moments for everyone.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eine weitere Vision führt dazu, dass Cable und sein Team einen intergalaktischen Schwerverbrecher aus einem S.W.O.R.D.-Hochsicherheitsgefängnis befreien, was einmal mehr ihren Ruf als Terroristen zu bestätigen scheint. Und erneut geht alles schief, was nur schief gehen kann. Unterdessen hat sich Hope in den Kopf gesetzt, ihrem Vater zu helfen, ob er ihre Hilfe nun will oder nicht.
Wie schon im ersten Band sorgen Forge und Dr. Nemesis für die witzigen Szenen, während Cyclops und einmal mehr die Avengers einen Gastauftritt haben. Überraschenderweise ist es diesmal ausgerechnet Scott der sich, ohne Fragen zu stellen, auf Cables Seite stellt.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first volume was so promising and forward-moving, but this second one didn't deliver. Maybe because it was a lot of set-up, but I'm just not interested after the weird sexual alien art thing with Boom in Issue #7 (seriously, look back at it, it's so uncomfortable). After that, I was just annoyed. Domino is annoyed her booty call doesn't rect to her appearance, anything with Hope stopped making sense. (If the Avengers wanted Cable, why aren't they using her? Why do they keep talking about her being normal after what's already happened.) Mostly the alien thing, because I was so happy about the first volume.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

An improvement upon something that was good to begin with. Glad to see the return of O.G. New Mutant/X-Force member Boom Boom and a continuation of giving these characters great interactions, especially those that place Cable/X-Force into a very clear context within the Marvel Universe. The lighter mood works without losing sight of Cable's character being a stern, focused leader/lifelong warrior.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad second volume, but not too outstanding either. The main story is devoid of characterization bar Colossus (and some fun quips from Doctor Nemesis), whilst the final issue has some great Hope lines, so it's all a bit uneven. Larocca's art is the same, sometimes looking beautiful and others looking ou of proportion or too obviously photo-traced. So overall not bad, but incconsistent.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine comic by Hopeless. This one has some fun action-adventure (in space!), but it also has great characterization — particularly of Peter, but also of Hope. All around, this feels like an interesting look into these peoples' lives [7/10].

[sixthreezy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still a readable comic, but not anywhere near what I wish it would be. I was always a big fan of Cable as a child, but I find that most of his comics have been either really hard to follow, or just unreadable.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice short adventure book. Not high art, but pretty good. The characters in it ring true. The caper basically worked. And Hope's bit at the end was particularly nice. And Piotr and Kitty had there bit as well. And Cable wasn't at all horrible.

[Sonic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This artist can make ANYTHING look good! He is simply awesome!
Good news is this is some fun writing with a good and solid feel for the characters, (with great interactions
amidst some very fun and thrilling plotting, from Mr. Hopeless.

(That is really his name, I guess...)

Great stuff!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

DOMINO AND COLOSSUS!!!!!!!!!!!!

The bromance between Forge and Nemesis is the best thing IN THE WORLD.

ALSO---Boom, Boom---is fantastic.

I also keep forgetting that Havok is a Summer. AHHHHHHHHHHH! I can't wait to read volumes 3 & 4.

[Ryan Viergutz]

Almost too fast to process. Man. It didn't strike me as quite as crazy as the first one, probably because it had much less Hope in it.

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Larroca è in gran forma ma la storia non decolla.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 3 out of 5]

How can they take someone as badass as Cable and make his comic so.. so-so? I see some promise, but Cable and X-Force is not quite there yet.