The X-Files: Conspiracy

by Paul Crilley, Erik Burnham, Ed Brisson

When The Lone Gunmen discover Internet files from the future, they learn that a plague will soon wipe out most of humanity. With Agents Mulder and Scully working one lead, the Gunmen must spring into action and investigate several urban legends: a group of ghost-hunters, mutant turtles that live in the sewers, shape-changing alien robots, and a vengeful spirit from beyond the grave! The X-Files interacts with the Ghostbusters, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and The Crow!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fiction, Tv, Paranormal, Comic Book

152 pages, Hardcover

First published July 15, 2014

About the author

Paul Crilley (who also writes thrillers under the pseudonym Paul Herron) has been writing professionally for the past 20 years. In that time, he has worked on over twenty-seven television shows - one of which was nominated for an iEmmy - as a head-writer, writer, script editor, and story-liner.

His Delphic Division series, Poison City and the sequel Clockwork City, (written as Paul Crilley), about a supernatural police force based in Durban, South Africa, is in development as a television series with Jerry Bruckheimer Productions and CBS. Paul worked on the Bioware MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic and has also written comics for IDW, (most notably, Star Wars Adventures, and The X-Files)

Over the years, Paul has worked with Marvel, 20th Century Fox Television, NBC Universal, Anonymous Content, Krysten Ritter’s production company Silent Machine, Disney, the SyFy Channel, and IDW comics. He has written twelve novels, worked on five computer games, and also novelized Frank Miller’s seminal graphic novel, Daredevil: The Man Without Fear for Marvel.

His new thriller Breakout, (written as Paul Herron), comes out in 2021 from Headline (UK) and Grand Central Press (US).

Reviews

[Stephen the Librarian · Rating 1 out of 5]

There's something inherently fun in mashing together elements that really shouldn't go together. Conspiracy contains a number of fictitious crossovers—some strange mashups, at that—pitting legendary The X-Files characters with those from Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, and even The Crow. The stories are so over-the-top and outlandish that it could only work in this medium. The characters of the Lone Gunmen are always at the forefront of these bizarre goings-on, which serves to complement the increasingly ridiculous and exaggerated stories. Since their conception in 1994, Frohike, Langly, and Byers have constructed their own secret history of Americana, with the U.S. government as an omniscient and sinister force with malevolent designs for the general population; this is especially evident in their short-lived spinoff. While Mulder and Scully have always managed to keep The X-Files anchored in realism, the Lone Gunmen, on the other hand, are the ideal protagonists for this wacky farce.

Conspiracy feels like the sorry by-product of the comic industry's shifting trends, with greater fixation on concepts like shared universes—yet the crossovers seen here are inorganic, lackluster, and fail to deliver on the premise. Perhaps if Paul Crilley & Co. had written Conspiracy with more straight-laced ethos, X-philes like myself wouldn't be so markedly disappointed by this sprawling book. It's a bad parody of The X-Files, and worse, it's a naked attempt by IDW Publishing to capitalize on the commercial success of the critically successful series. As with other X-Files graphic collections released by IDW, the artistic styles vary greatly and gives the volume an absurd, mismatched look. The ham-fisted dialogue does little to help matters, either. In the end, not even the quirkiness of The Lone Gunmen can hold together this abomination.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

What sounded silly on the surface actually turned out to be very interesting. This X-Files series is truly a Lone Gunman series, as we see the three interacting with various other comic series. You get to see appearances by the Ghostbusters, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Transformers, and The Crow. Now, at first glance, it seems ridiculous. But examine it closer and you see it's not really that out of the X-Files realm. Ghostbusters? We know there's ghosts in the X Files. Mutant Turtles? Yes, there's mutants there too. Robots? That fits in. And someone returning from the dead to avenge a wrong? Perfect for the X-Files.

The story linking it all together is a conspiracy theory involving a virus made to combat an alien invasion, which actually goes wrong and threatens to create a pandemic that will decimate the Earth's population.

There was still some things about the story that confused me slightly, but overall this was cool just to see the Lone Gunman interacting with the other characters. It sounds campy, but came across well. I recommend it to any fans of the The X-Files, Lone Gunmen, or the other various comics that are represented.

[GONZA · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a Lone Gunman fan ages ago, when I used to see X-Files on tv, so I was happy to have a complete story about him, and yes I was even more happier to get a glance to Scully and Mulder also. Problem was that the drawing were not to good in my opinion so in a way this disturbed me to no end.

I disegni non sono un granché e questo ha inficiato la mia lettura nonostante l'amore per il pistolero solitario e, ovviamente, Scully e Mulder.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND DIAMOND BOOKS DISTRIBUTORS FOR THE PREVIEW!

[Elizabeth Grieve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love The X-Files, I like comics, but found this a bit disappointing. The illustrations are not very good, some obviously taken directly from photos, others just plain bad. Also it was really more about The Lone Gunmen than Mulder and Scully.

Sorry to say that I found the poor illustrations so distracting that I couldn't finish this - I can't comment more on the story for this reason.

Reviewed in exchange for a preview Kindle copy.

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[Sheldon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some of the worst art (from John Stanisci) I've seen on a mainstream book outside of the 1990's, you can barely make out who some of his oddly shaped people are meant to be. Shame the whole book wasn't illustrated by Michael Walsh, who sadly only does one of the comics included in this graphic novel.

Regardless of art, the story goes nowhere as it's essentially a vehicle purely designed to house all of IDW's various franchises in one terrible 1990's style cross over. Go read Season 10 and pretend this doesn't exist.

[Mike Jozic · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. This crossover event had some definite high points and some decent art but, overall, the narrative was weak and just a bit disjointed. The first bookend was decent and the TMNT issue drawn by Michael Walsh and the Crow issue drawn by Vic Malhotra were probably the series' standouts. I'll support just about anything X-Files related but, honestly, I just would have liked to see more from this 'event'.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Lone Gunmen decrypt files that appear to be from the future, they alert Scully and Mulder and then investigate. Their investigation leads them to the Ghostbusters, Mutant Teenage Turtles and then they solve the riddle with the aid of The Crow, manage with Mulder and Scully to stop the conspiracy and then send the message back to themselves. The ending is a nice X-Files twist. Enjoy!

[RoAnna Sylver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a complete sucker for all things Lone Gunmen so me loving this was a foregone conclusion. I really liked the art variety actually; seeing these guys portrayed in wildly different styles was interesting and just hits a very specific happy-nerd spot for me. (I’d love the covers as posters!!) And the sheer wackiness/campy awesomeness of crossing over with all these other universes that apparently share one, which I had never considered, Transformers and The Crow existing in the same continuity and... well now I’m going to be thinking about that for a long time.

4 stars only because there were some clunky moments (some odd panel progressions and story jumps, and some disjointed dialogue; also, call it a nitpick but I have to believe someone mixed up Frohike and Langly’s lines a few times, since “dude!!” Fits the latter so much more than the former lol) and not nearly as much explanation as I would have enjoyed, but all in all, super fun. And Lord knows I love seeing my boys get the spotlight.

(Only thing I could have gone without seeing is on the very last page, which is a personal issue of mine re: deep-seated pain about dead Gunmen, particularly in a really nightmarish body-horror way, EVEN IF THE BAD TIMELINE was reversed! They’re still fine. Shut up.)

Points for Byers and Frohike actually calling Langly “Ringo” at several points. Yes, yes, use the adorable nickname we never really got to hear in either TV show!

I would read endless adventures with the Gunmen and more crossovers (or just them on their own! You think I’ll get bored with them? It won’t happen. I love the Lone Gunmen... a very normal amount. Very normal.) I want more already. Which I guess is the best thing a comic can do!

[Joseph Spuckler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The X-Files: Conspiracy by Paul Crilley is a graphic novel covering the adventures of the Lone Gun Men. I was always a huge X-Files and Lone Gun Men fan. I have read a few novels after the series ended and bought all the seasons on DVD. It has been a while since I read an X-Files novel so I jumped at the chance to read this one.

This is a Lone Gun Men story, but Mulder and Scully do make their appearance. It needs to work out this way because the Lone Gun Men can probably get away with seeing the Ghost Busters (paranormal money grubbers), Ninja Turtles (Manphibians), and Transformers (aliens hiding among us disguised as cars). There are also vampires, but ones that had already made an appearance in X-Files series -- “Bad Blood”, Season five, episode twelve. There is also a lethal virus and an evil corporation to deal with.

I usually don't read graphic novels, so my review does not follow my usual form and probably does not follow your typical graphic novel review. The story was good, a bit campy it seemed at first but not really as the story went on. The Lone Gun Men stayed true to character and the story seemed to fit into the outer reaches of an X-Files storyline. I also think it worked well because it was the Lone Gun Men seeing the fictional characters and not recognizing them for what the reader will know them as. These encounters fit well with their way out theories. The story moves at a good pace and does a great job completing the story arc. Also, since it is a graphic novel, the artwork is also very good.

Conspiracy, although seeming a bit farfetched, will satisfy the longing for an X-Files fix. I enjoyed the story and recommend it to X-Files fans. I still want to believe.

[Pryder · Rating 2 out of 5]

TL;Dr: Just because you have the licence to make comic books featuring The X-Files, Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers and The Crow and can do a crossover with them in it... doesn't mean you should. Mediocre at best.

Mulder and Scully are relegated to cameo appearances in all but the last issue/last part, but The Lone Gunmen Conspiracy crossover wouldn't have enough brand recognition to translate in to enough sales.
The Ghostbusters exist in this x-files based universe but are considered an urban myth? THEY BLEW UP A GIANT FUCKING MARSHMALLOW MAN IN THE MIDDLE OF NEW YORK (which Langley references) and yet they still treat them as frauds. Dafuq? Also why is Egon so buff?
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles chapter is fun. It's the best part. Even references a classic X-Files episode. Noice.
The Transformers are... Just kind of there. It's a nothing chapter. Bumblebee is relegated to a CAMERO appearance. Get it? Call back pun!
The Crow chapter is by the numbers, a stock Crow story that doesn't feel like it deserves to be associated with proper The Crow comics. It furthers the story though so the a plus to get this shit over with.
The final chapter. FINALLY Mulder and Scully get to do something. But it's very stock X-Files an mediocre. Not enough effort put in. Sick of The Lone Gunmen by this point. And THAT. FUCKING. ENDING. It's so generic and stock and tropey and did I mention by the numbers generic wibbly wobbly timeliney whiney bullshit. Uuuurgh.

In conclusion: Generic, by the numbers, poorly executed in the writing for the most part and mediocre. Not worth the price of admission. The only thing that drags this up to a 2 star review is the TMNT chapter.

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and I do love a good Lone Gunmen story and this is almost one. I guess trying to squeeze in a bunch of unrelated intellectual properties that IDW has the rights to publish was harder thanthey thought. The story often took a long time re-introducing characters as if a fan of the X-Files would have no idea who the TMNT or Transformers were or their backstory - time that could have been better spent on the actual story of the book. Oh well.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lone gunmen stories are usually fun, but this one is so crowded with badly executed crossovers that they never get a chance to be themselves, merely acting as a conduit for other, lesser, parts of the tale.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent crossover story. Terrible art for the X-Files books themselves.

[Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a fan of the illustrations in some of the issues but having new content for the lone gunmen just sparks enough joy to ignore that

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weekly Weird News Exclusive: "I PAID MONEY TO READ FANFICTION!!!"

I was overjoyed by the premise of The X-Files: Conspiracy, when I discovered it, and if you're excited by the idea behind this story, then it is worth reading. Conspiracy is true to its X-Files setting, and it was a wise choice, having The Lone Gunmen be the protagonists and encounter the more fantastical mythologies. As well, the front pages of The Weekly Weird News which end each chapter, summarizing what The Lone Gunmen learned of, are delightful!

Crossing paths with the Autobots afforded a chance for the reasonable use of Baysplosions …

The writers portrayed all the characters well. But, between Mulder and Skully's investigation in the framing chapters, the story did let me down. Both the Ghostbusters and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles chapters had a lack of creativity when involving the characters and the overarching plot.
The Lone Gunmen's meeting with the boys in grey is entertaining – casting our three heroes as the ubiquitous trouble-making non-believers was another good decision. But the encounter amounted to little more than Egon providing useful information in the last couple of pages (and this is a formula which persists, to varying degrees, throughout.) The adventure with the heroes in a half shell barely advanced the plot of Conspiracy!

However, the final chapters redeemed the book. Crossing paths with the Autobots afforded a chance for the reasonable use of Baysplosions within an X-Files case, and the dissimilar tones of the two properties were balanced with care. The Crow was my favourite installment. Featuring a protagonist who was not previously established, it was both a stand-alone story and integral to The Lone Gunmen's fight for the future.

In regard to the The time travel in Conspiracy, it made sense but missed an opportunity to be elegant and interesting. I can appreciate the explanatory epilogue, but it was on the border between being appropriate for the style and cliche.

As a comic/graphic novel, The X-Files: Conspiracy has an outstanding flaw: John Stanisci's artwork for the the X-Files chapters. I tried to pretend that there was a second storyline, involving another contagion which caused uncontrollable shapeshifting, but this headcanon couldn't survive. Stanisci was the right person for depicting gore, but another artist was needed for every other visual aspect. Maybe the illustrations were digitally stretched and skewed to fit the panels better (although this doesn't explain the inappropriate facial expressions) but the result was a visually unappealing start and end to the series.

Did I Keep it?
I enjoyed the story, and it has some great artwork (aside from Stanisci's illustrations), but I doubt I'll need to reread it. I intend to resell my copy, possibly to a greater fan of The X-Files/The Lone Gunmen, who might love The X-Files: Conspiray more than I do and want to keep it.

[Katee Scarlett Knittle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will start this off by saying that I have a deep love for the X-Files and for the Lone Gunmen. (I even enjoyed their questionable spin-off.) Even so, I thought that this was a really interesting comic idea.

The Lone Gunman, some time after their supposed death, come across a set of news stories from the future. As they begin to investigate them, a new and crazy virus pops up, causing the Lone Gunmen to search for a cure while pulling Scully and Mulder into the picture.

While investigating, they come across characters from other well-known franchises: The Ghostbusters, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, and The Crow. While this at first seemed a bit crazy, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and found the crossovers to be interesting and fun. There were little references to other X-Files episodes and pop culture references everywhere, which added to it.

Even though I don't normally like multiple dimensions and time travel as a plot device (it is quite hard to do right), I had no problem with how they used it in this. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is I never really like the art style in the X-Files comics. The faces always look super odd to me, no matter which artist it is drawing them. Overall, I really enjoyed it and it is something that I would pick up and read again.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

IDW has been picking up some great properties for their comic books. Probably the top two, in my opinion, are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The X-Files. X-Files:Conspiracy follows the Lone Gunmen as they traverse the IDW comic universe in search of a cure for a mysterious contagion. Along the way they encounter the Ninja Turtles, Transformers, and a version of The Crow. The story is engaging and fun, with some issues definitely standing out more than others.

The First issue, Conspiracy #1, sets up the story involving time traveling documents and gets everything moving in a good direction. It's followed by the absolute best issue of the bunch: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles issue. It's got a great callback for X-Files fans and the turtles integrate quite well. The third and fourth part involve the Transformers and Crow. The stories and art are fine, nothing really stands out (but there is some good continuity between all the issues). The story wraps up back with Conspiracy #2 and finishes off well enough, perhaps a bit too clean, but the X-Files: Conspiracy is a great book for fans of IDW, with a definite emphasis on the X-Files and TMNT. Overall, a very good crossover event.

Note: I received a free digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

'X-Files: Conspiracy' is an IDW crossover book and it's a strange one pitting the characters in X-Files with those from Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers and The Crow. It works mainly because the characters used in all the books are The Lone Gunmen.

When The Lone Gunmen start getting pictures from the future about a deadly virus about to wipe out humanity, they start investigating. They have crossover adventures with the Ghostbusters, where they inadvertently set a ghost loose, with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, where they need to collect some turtle blood. The Transformers help with to find a suspect and a couple cops protect them, and then are avenged by The Crow.

It's all over the map, and the art styles vary, but the loopiness of The Lone Gunmen hold it all together through this strange mismatched worlds. I ended up enjoying it and while the framing story worked, it wasn't as strong as it could have been. Still, it's nice to see The Lone Gunmen at it again.

I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Martyn Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This standalone entry into the X-Files universe is a really intriguing and unique concept - an exciting mash up of franchises (most of which I adored in my childhood).

The series focuses on The Lone Gunmen from the series, in a story set in 2008. (Spoiler - the gunmen die in 2002 and the X-Files are shutdown, not in this series. This blissfully ignores series 9 of the show and keeps things as they're meant to be).

The series is essentially 4 franchise crossover comics that are bookended with 2 comics containing a loose thread of narrative that connects them all together.

Need a cure for an alien virus instigated by black oil infected aliens? Why not track down Egon Spengler from Ghostbusters for help, he is clever. Why assume the Turtles aren't alien? Or locate the very Alien Transformers? Maybe their DNA has a cure? The Crow making an appearance is probably the weakest link here, but it's all enjoyable enough.

Mulder and Scully finally take the lead in the last comic and you're racing through the pages to the conclusion by the time the final entry wraps the plot up satisfyingly.

Lots of fun!

[Yana Christova]

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[Jon Shanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lone Gunmen uncover a conspiracy regarding an alien virus sending them on a road trip where they encounter The Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers and The Crow before meeting up with Mulder & Scully for the finale! While this was blatantly a ploy by IDW to come up with a story that brings some of its more commercial properties together, it doesn't come off as contrived and despite different creative teams on the various comics, gels together as a pretty decent story. However, I think that, given the nature of The Lone Gunmen, I would've preferred inconclusive investigations into "urban legends" rather then direct contact, but have no idea how they would've pulled the story off then.

[Ystyn Francis · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the high-quality "X-Files Season 10" comic also currently gracing shelves, it is really exciting to return to the adventures of Mulder and Scully, especially when the darkening world landscape still has a distinct place for them. However, the title of THIS series is a little misleading as it is definitely a "Lone Gunmen" narrative more akin to the spin-off show so the gravitas is lessened while the fun-meter is jacked right up. It would not be satisfying on its own, but knowing that it is being released alongside a more serious "X-Files" product makes this enjoyable escapist nonsense.

[Rachel Bridgeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lone Gunmen. Mulder. Scully. Ghostbusters?! In the abscence of any new films/reboots or just being plain fed up of re-runs, X-philes can find new material in graphic novel form to quench their thirst. This story captures the wit of the characters as well as almost spot on facial characteristics. The story is a familiar one but when the quality is this good it doesn't matter at all. Hopefully this is the beginning of a new,long run of mysteries!

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic premise of the book: The Lone Gunmen investigate Ghostbusters, Ninja Turtles, Transformers, and The Crow as part of helping to stop a lethal virus.... plus some time travel. More to it than that, but that's the basic premise.

Art changed from issue to issue, and none of them were great. Was nice nostalgia to bring those all together, and a quick read so it wasn't too bad.

Recommend, if you have time, like the subject material, and feel like it.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wacky tale of the lone gunmen continue a side story of season 10 comics. It has a feel of the old Lone Gunmen series that ran alongside the x files at one point. A good read, not x files at its best but an x files all the same.

[sixthreezy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of late 80's/90's pop culture, this book is a must-read. Or, if you're an X-Files fan, for sure.

[El Neo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and entertaining. Teeming the Ghostbusters and The Lone Gunmen was a natural fit.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was fun!