Liefeld, Nicieza Return to X-Force

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

http://www.newsarama.com/pages/Marvel/X-Force.htm

 

Liefeld, Nicieza Return to X-Force 

These folks look familiar? What about these names: Rob Liefeld, Fabian Niceiza?

 

How about the words: They’re back.

 

Head spinning from déjà vu yet?

 

This fall, Rob Liefeld, Fabian Nicieza and X-Force return for a six to eight issue miniseries as announced at WizardWorld LA’s “Cup ‘O Joe” panel with Marvel E-I-C Joe Quesada.

 

Newsarama had the opportunity to speak with Liefeld about the project.

 

Newsarama:  First off, who brought you back to both Marvel and X-Force?

 

Rob Liefeld: No matter who is at the helm of the company, I'll always feel that Marvel is, in many ways, my parent’s house. I feel that I can always re-visit and hang out there so I don't ever have any hesitation about working there. The relationship has never been anything but mutually beneficial to and for me and Marvel despite editorial conflicts along the years.

 

That said, I think Mark Millar was a big factor, sort of nudging the powers that be into putting this together and definitely Bill Jemas and absolutely this doesn't happen without Joe Quesada's stamp of approval. And probably many more people behind the scenes that I'm unaware of.

 

NRAMA: But then, what you say yes to the offer?

 

RL: It was the opportunity to revisit a group of characters that I have tremendous passion and love for and was missing in a really big way. While drawing Youngblood Bloodsport, I really waxed nostalgic for the good ol' days and X-Force was and is the "Grandaddy" to me of all the creations that came next and all the unbelievable events that came about in my career. Without X-Force everything is waaaaaay different. I'm very fortunate to have the chance to sort of re-boot these characters and really, really fortunate that there wasn't another team working on them and directing their path because then I have no opportunity to do this.

 

 

 

NRAMA: Was there any trepidation on your part, in regards to re-treading on ground that you’ve already been on, in name, at the very least? Was there a temptation at least, to let that work stand, and speak for itself?

 

RL: Oh yeah, there was plenty of trepidation. In fact I turned it down twice before finally convincing myself to do it because I was really intimidated and let's face it, it is a gigantic, daunting challenge to see if we can restore this book to anything resembling the glory days when this book was a top seller and the characters were extremely relevant to the Marvel Universe. It's been quite some time since this franchise was a water cooler book and I'd be lying if I told you I have doubts about what we can accomplish. We're giving it our best effort though, trying our hardest to make this as exciting as possible.

 

 

 

NRAMA:  Back in the day, what was your view of X-Force, overall…a family, a paramilitary team, first and foremost? The fist of Xavier’s dream?

 

RL: X-Force was originally imagined as a group of extreme mutant activists that operated outside the parameters of Xavier’s school. Cable believes in being pro-active, striking against the threats to mutants and humans, Xavier is much more subtle, restrained. Cable is not. He has seen the future and it's not a pretty picture. That conflict will once again come to the forefront of their relationship.

 

 

 

NRAMA: Given your druthers, and had a thing called Image not popped up, where would you have ultimately taken the team?

 

RL: Wow, y'know I had a pretty extensive outline that would have developed in a slightly different direction than the book went in, much of it furthering the Stryfe/Cable relationship as well as giving Sam an even bigger role. There was a lot of reveals with Domino as well. I have to say though that Fabe really cemented the book after I left, his run with Greg Capullo was fantastic. Fabe has the same passion for this group as I do. The book has missed someone with a real passion for the characters and their relationships since Jeph Loeb completed his run.

 

NRAMA: While you’ve been away from Marvel (in regards to how deeply you were involved in your X-Force days) for about 15 years, you’ve obviously been watching what they do, both with the characters you created, as well as the X-Universe at large. Compared to your heyday back in the early ‘90s, how do you see the X-universe now? 

 

RL: Y'know I really don't have a good handle on everything in the X-Universe as I once did. I follow the core books but it has really grown so much that I can't give a really confident comment other than I'm excited about the directions the books are taking. There is so much talent involved in the X-Universe that there is always going to be some good stuff coming to the fans. Bottom line, the X-Universe is chock full of so many multi-dimensional characters that there is no shortage of directions they can be taken in.

 

NRAMA: How about your overall feelings about X-Force? It was work for hire, sure, but is there still that paternal/ownership feeling to both the team and characters? I assume that the power of creation does come with a long-term feeling of intimate knowledge, that is, reading some Sam Guthrie dialog written by someone else, and thinking, “That’s not what Sam would’ve said”….

 

RL: Well, although I have a proprietary interest in Sam as a member of the team, he is primarily a Chris Claremont character but certainly Cable and the gang, Shatterstar, Warpath, Domino, Deadpool, Feral, Stryfe are like my kids.

 

I root for them and feel bad when they struggle. I've enjoyed all the different interpretations of the characters through the year. As a whole, the group has definitely seen better times than the recent years have offered. It's going to be a big challenge to bring them back to being anywhere near relevant again.

 

 

 

NRAMA:  Okay – enough with the past. Specifically, how did this project come together? Did Marvel come to you, you approach them, did Fabian came to you, you to Fabian…what?

 

RL: It all started with Marvel contacting me asking me if I wanted to do the covers to Cable/Deadpool. From there it really started rolling pretty fast. By late summer of last year we had a deal to bring X-Force back together again. Believe me when I tell you how absolutely shocked I was at the whole thing. Hopefully they remembered how popular this franchise once was and wanted to take a chance to bring them back to prominence.

 

 

 

NRAMA: What’s the working relationship like with Fabian – a back in the saddle again type of thing?

 

RL: He's great. I mean, together we created a phenomenon from the ashes of the New Mutants which sales-wise was falling apart when I came on board. I mean no one had any idea who these characters were, they didn't exist prior to drawing them in my sketchbook and we really caught lightning in a bottle. We worked our tales off and we're going at it again with the same zest because we know we have our work cut out for us. I feel these characters lost a lot of momentum through the years and the challenge is what really sparked me. When it came to putting X-Force back together, there was never anyone other than Fabian to consider. X-Force was our success and we should be together for this outing.

 

 

 

NRAMA: So – give me the high concept here…are we back with Cannonball, and the rest, or is this the All New all Different X-Force?

 

RL: There are plenty of new characters that play major roles, but Sam is there big time, he's central to everything going on, but he doesn't come into the picture until the second issue. Shatterstar is a major player and we catch up with him in the first issue. All the old faces are there, though which side they fall on creates plenty of tension. And of course, Cable has some issues with his former soldiers and they aren't entirely trusting or compliant with him.

 

The situation is as follows: there is a terrorist group from the future that is hell bent on awakening a terrible menace from our past in the present. One really cool monster, ninjas, assassins, barbarians, time-travelers and plenty of intrigue.  All the ingredients that set X-Force apart from the pack 13 years ago are front and center here. The sins of Cable's past really come back to haunt him this time around...

 

NRAMA: But how does this all fit in with Cable’s other missions?  Is this another thing he was sent to stop, or, given the changes he’s made in the present, his future, and thus his mission in the present are always adapting and morphing?

 

RL: Nope – nothing like that. This is the thing he came back to prevent. This is his mission. The protocols are revealed to him and he recognizes the sacrifices he's going to need to make. Most everything else he's done has helped prepare him for this conflict.

 

NRAMA: So what is the nature of these threats that he and the team have to stop?

 

RL: I’m not going to spill it all, but it’s a safe bet that a bad ass mutant monster, future terrorist cels, ninjas, yakuza gangs and a former Lieutenant in his command are just the tip of the iceberg.

 

NRAMA: …and Cable has to find all the old team-members. I can imagine the strife for some – last time they went with him, some of them died, and some of them were very nearly killed… It’s a safe bet to assume that the interpersonal relationships and team dynamic will be a little different this time out?

 

RL: That is an understatement. He finds very few allies to give him the support he needs. He is definitely not seen as the good guy to many of his former charges.

 

NRAMA: So how does the first arc play out?

 

RL:  You've got to read the books in order to find out the answers you're seeking. As for cameos, look for Wolverine and Xaiver. Towards the very end, I'm hoping the Avengers or F.F. are on the scene.

 

NRAMA: Bluntly here Rob – it’s a monthly, right? Are you going to be able to keep up?

 

RL: It's monthly. They're not soliciting until September, and right now 3 of the 12 are in the can. Farthest ahead I've ever, ever been on any project.

 

NRAMA: Alright - pitchman time – you think this is something the market is looking for and will accept right now?

 

RL: I have no idea but I'm hopeful people will check out the story and come along for the ride. It's big fun and high adventure with the drama and intrigue that brought the previous run on New Mutants and X-Force to the fore.

 

NRAMA: You going to get a Levi’s commercial out of this deal as well?

 

RL: Yeah, they're re-visiting the old commercial with a new series that asks, "Is your fly still buttoned?" Happily, for me, mine is.

 

Nicieza hopefully writing the book is equals good. I loved his ran on X-Force and I thought the team really grow under him. Liefeld doing the art equals bad. Uh and knowing Liefeld he'll be late with the art and get fired after the first few issues.

 

But, I love X-Force and I really missed alot of these characters and I'm looking forward to this even with Liefeld on it. Now if only this was done by Nicieza/Capullo or Nicieza/Daniel instead.

[starvenger 0]

Sometimes I wonder exactly what kind of incriminating pix of Quesada Liefeld has...

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

Here are some more pics http://www.angelfire.com/home/nikkinova/xforce.htm

 

Good lord for awhile I thought I was looking at Youngblood drawings.

[Steviekick 0]

It's like being in sixth grade over again.

 

Yuck.

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

I swear to god when Liefeld draws Cable he looks like he's pushing 90 and he's losing his hair.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

What is this obsession with turning back the clock to the 90s? It wasn't even good the first time. They could at least try to be more like the old Claremont era of the late 70s-early 80s if they are nostalgic.

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

It's like being in sixth grade over again.

 

Yuck.

::Thinks about the cute girls he went to school with in 6th grade::

 

Well that wouldn't be such a bad thing. Uh...never mind.

[Steviekick 0]

What is this obsession with turning back the clock to the 90s? It wasn't even good the first time. They could at least try to be more like the old Claremont era of the late 70s-early 80s if they are nostalgic.

Maybe they think that if they bring back the artist of the era when everyone left comic collecting, everyone will return like nothing happened...

 

I swear to god when Liefeld draws Cable he looks like he's pushing 90 and he's losing his hair.

 

Cable is supposed to be a bit older than the average super hero, but Liefeld can only draw 20something and old people.

 

Sometimes I wonder exactly what kind of incriminating pix of Quesada Liefeld has...

 

I really remember reading somewhere that they weren't on good terms with each other.

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

Cable is supposed to be a bit older than the average super hero, but Liefeld can only draw 20something and old people.

I know. I have an issue of Cable were in the letter pages were someone asks how old is Cable and Marvel flatout states that he is 34. And when Cable is drawn by a good artist he does look like someone in his early 30s with a full set of white hair, like Storm. But, when he's drawn by Liefeld Cable looks like he should be in a retirement home and he's losing his hair. Like when Cable first appeared in the New Mutants.

[Steviekick 0]

34 sounds about right. I do like the older Cable, but not Liefeld's version.

[JasonX 0]

Sometimes I wonder exactly what kind of incriminating pix of Quesada Liefeld has...

 

It's actually more of a case of Rob Liefeld having sucked Mark Millar's cock so much that he got Millar (who can do no wrong in JQ's mind) to get him work at Marvel again. Which goes towards the power the dumb fucker Millar has at Marvel in that he can get Marvel to take back the fucker that is Liefeld work at Marvel again...

 

34 sounds about right. I do like the older Cable, but not Liefeld's version.

 

Cable's age and portrayal is a tricky bit. When Liefeld created Cable, he was supposed to be an old guy in his 40s/50s. It wasn't until Ian Churchill started drawing Cable in the fall of 1994, that Cable suddenly looking MUCH, MUCH, MUCH younger than he normally was and the whole "Cable is really young despite his white hair" edict came about since they basically wanted to make Cable young so that they could have him have girlfriends without it being creepy....

[Steviekick 0]

I really don't have many comics with Cable in them, but I do remember from my X-Tinction Agenda TPB that Cable looked much older than he did during the Cable regular series.

[converge241 0]

when i saw the pics in wizard or marvel previews or wherever it was i wanted to puke i didnt like his style back in the day and really cant stand it now

 

no more six arm villians/heros, people in the headgear with the big hair/weird hairlines, cat people etc

[tbondrage99 0]

Why? Just...Why?

 

Didnt Marvel learn that Liefeld sucked major ass after that Captain America "Heros Reborn" debocle?

[Steviekick 0]

Cheap nostalgiac pop. Once the book's sales start flatlining, they'll ditch Liefeld.

[Black Lushus 0]

it's been years since i've been in the comic game, but i DO remember how lame Liefield is with drawing small hands, small feet, everyone gritting their teeth, wild hair everywhere, big lame guns, way to long legs, etc. etc.

[Steviekick 0]

it's been years since i've been in the comic game, but i DO remember how lame Liefield is with drawing small hands, small feet, everyone gritting their teeth, wild hair everywhere, big lame guns, way to long legs, etc. etc.

And he still does that.

[Black Lushus 0]

hideous

[Steviekick 0]

The worst was in the art he did for Heroes Reborn Avengers. Everyone had noticable costume changes (belts, accessories, stripes, etc. missing and added) from panel to panel, but the worst was Scarlet Witch. Unbefreakinglievabley bad changes from panel to panel.

[tbondrage99 0]

God I hate Liefelds art, the small hands, feet, and heads, which are always way out of proportion to there massive hulking bodies, and then theres all of that uneeded detail thats always there and serves no point. Thank god this is only a mini-series.

[Guest Cultism Mask I]

Nothing good will come from this. Rob's art looks like crap and Nicieza's writing was never that good.

[starvenger 0]

Nothing good will come from this. Rob's art looks like crap and Nicieza's writing was never that good.

Considering that New Warriors is one of my favourite series ever, I'd have to disagree... but, I think that was a series that maybe he had a bit more freedom to write, so maybe that's why it was better.

 

Of course, he later started writing every other Marvel title, and the quality dropped everywhere. You can see a repeat of that with Chuck Austen, although Austen is merely a good writer, who is at this moment probably getting blamed for Nightcrawler having a shitty costume.

 

Seriously, whose idea was it to give him the costume he wore for about 3 issues in Excalibur?

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

Nothing good will come from this. Rob's art looks like crap and Nicieza's writing was never that good.

 

Considering how great X-Force become after Rob left and Nicieza took over I have to disagree. The team really become more of a family and Cannonball came into his own.

[thuganomics 0]

Nicieza's a decent writer, but not even he can save Liefeld's art and story-telling. Hopefully, he'll keep Feral out of the book though.

[Guest Cultism Mask I]

Nothing good will come from this. Rob's art looks like crap and Nicieza's writing was never that good.

 

Considering how great X-Force become after Rob left and Nicieza took over I have to disagree. The team really become more of a family and Cannonball came into his own.

In regards to Nicieza's writing :

--New Warriors was enjoyable, but went downhill after Bagley left.Decent writing can't overcome crappy art.

--X-Force wasn't that good w/ his writing,IMO.

 

To each their own,but this comic is gonna blow.

[Steviekick 0]

Nicieza is a pretty good writer, but he's going to have to plot his ass off to overcome Liefeld.

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/

 

FABIAN NICIEZA: FORCE OF X

 

Who says you can't go home again? Certainly not writer Fabian Nicieza, who is teaming up with artist Rob Liefeld once more for the return of the popular '90s title X-Force. The new series is scheduled to begin this August as part of Marvel's X-Men: ReLoad Wave 2.

 

ComiX-Fan recently caught up with Nicieza to find out more about the revivification of the fan-favourite mutant strike team.

 

COMIX-FAN: First and foremost, how did the new X-Force series come about?

 

FABIAN NICIEZA: My involvement began with a phone call. Rob called and asked if I wanted to have some fun and I said, "Let's go!" Before that, I don't know the exact details. I think Marvel and Rob began discussing this a little while ago and worked out their deal. Once that was pretty much hammered out, Rob called me.

 

CXF: How's it feel to be "going home" with X-Force?

 

FN: It's been a lot of fun. You'll hear that word a lot from both Rob and I in the interviews we do, because that's basically our goal. We think it's a relatively safe bet that we won't win any Eisner Awards, but while we won't get accolades, readers will get some popcorn, a cold soda and one of those zany curly straws.

 

Anyone who is in the mood for good old-fashioned snarling action, twists and turns, angst and anguish, well, then they're going to enjoy this book in the same way that everybody needs a Big Mac once in a while. It ain't exactly healthy for you, but you want it, you need it, so you get it!

 

CXF: What's it like teaming up with Rob again on the characters that you both are arguably best known for?

 

FN: I would never have done this five years ago, since I was in a mode to distance myself from that whole early 90's X-stuff, but now that I've outgrown the need to outgrow the work, I'm having a very relaxed, enjoyable time.

 

Rob and I always clicked when it came to talking about character and story and stuff in general. Things got weird when the Image start-up was going down because I was a Marvel guy and there were scheduling issues and stuff like that, but the work was always pure for us – pure goofy sugar-coated cereal – but pure nonetheless.

 

It feels that way again. No bull, just a confident sense that we know these characters, what makes them tick and how to approach this particular kind of book.

 

CXF: Do you think you can catch lightning in a bottle a second time with the new series?

 

FN: Nah. Totally different circumstances. That lightning was Rob's freshness – and the bottle was a WHOLE LOT of 10-14 year old readers. Those readers – the ones still buying comics – are now in their mid-twenties. Of those, many have probably outgrown this kind of book, while the remainder will buy it – and most assuredly like it – for nostalgic value.

 

We have very realistic expectations for this title. Many will buy it simply because they want to hate it, many more because they want to relive their youth. Whatever the reason, is fine with us, as long as you’re buying it!

 

If we can get NEW 10-14 year olds, well, it'll be lightning for them, because it's rocking fun stuff. That demographic – ugh, I just said demographic – always seems attracted to this kind of work. I had company at my house a couple months ago and one of Rob's colored art pieces from the new X-Force book happened to be on my computer screen when a bunch of kids wandered into my office – well, the twelve year old boy was IMMEDIATELY drawn to the screen – that's the kind of effect I think Rob's work has on that particular age group. He had – and still has – the knack then for attracting that just-pubescent male hormonal adrenaline drive.

 

Lots of readers disregard that and don't disrespect it, just because they're no longer that target audience, but they shouldn't, because anyone who does this for a living knows how damned hard it is to attract that audience now.

 

You want to talk about lightning in a bottle? I'm sure EVERY publisher would love to find a way for comics to so strongly break through the clutter of all the entertainment stimuli bombarding young teens today to achieve the circulation we averaged back then. And I'm not just talking Hefty-bag, winky-dink or embossed boob covers, I'm talking AVERAGE circulation in the four to six hundred thousand range for a few years, not a few months.

 

CXF: The series was originally announced as a mini but is being solicited as an ongoing. Can you clarify which it is?

 

FN: I have no clue. I figure it's a monthly comic until it stops coming out. Then it'll be a limited series.

 

CXF: That seems to be your standard answer to that sort of question. So with Hawkeye recently suffering the "ongoing turned extended limited" fate, are you concerned at all that X-Force might end up the same way?

 

FN: Apples and oranges. My standard "every monthly is a limited series whose length has yet to be determined" answer applies to new books like Hawkeye, but my "I have no clue" answer is because I don't know the exact details of Rob's contract. I know it calls for him to draw a certain number of issues, but I don't know about renewing or rolling it over, plotting only vs. plotting & drawing, etc.

 

So when you ask me if it is an on-going or not, well... I have no clue.

 

CXF: Will there be any tips of the hat to that other X-Force team that "stole" their name?

 

FN: I don’t think so. At least not in the first three issues. I don't really think most readers think of them as X-Force, but rather X-Statix. Let's be honest, not to denigrate that work, since it was frickin' fun satire, but when anyone who has read comics in the last fifteen years thinks of X-Force, they think big thighs and open snarling mouths!

 

CXF: What familiar faces can fans expect to see in the reformed X-Force line-up?

 

FN: The usual suspects. Cable. Domino. Shatterstar. Cannonball. Meltdown. Warpath. Sunspot. Feral. I haven't heard a lick about Rictor, but I hope he gets in there eventually. You'd have to ask Rob. He's driving the car. I called shotgun.

 

CXF: Can you foresee any scheduling problems with Cannonball being in Uncanny X-Men and Sunspot, Warpath and Feral (and Rictor) being X-Corps members in different branches around the world?

 

FN: Nope. We make mention of all of that within the context of the first couple of issues. It's a big sandbox, let's all share the toys. This storyline is being presented as a MISSION, not a life choice. When the mission is over, we'll see where it all shakes out.

 

CXF: What of Cable being in both X-Force and your other current series Cable & Deadpool?

 

FN: Because of the original scheduling delays for the Cable & Deadpool book, our continuity {with X-Force} got a bit wonky. I know lots of readers and suit and tie types don't care as much about that, but some of us like to keep it organized, without getting all Felix Unger about it.

 

So X-Force #1 takes place after the next arc of CDP (for reasons that will become apparent to any reading both books). I don't want to say too much more, since it would give away some story points for CDP's next arc, which is called "The Passion of The Cable," but at least now everyone can file that in their mental notebook and it will prevent them from losing sleep.

 

And back to X-Force, we'll be meeting some new characters and new villains as well.

 

CXF: Can you tell us a bit about them?

 

FN: I'll only say we have a new character who is a hunter/tracker type who has quite a bit of experience with Cable's past... and his future. We also have a new villain – a very dangerous threat to humanity and especially mutants – called the Skornn. Remember what I said about how everyone needs a Big Mac once in a while? Well, to the Skornn, humans are Big Macs. And mutants are filet mignon...

 

CXF: And the villains?

 

FN: I will say no more than I already have. Unless you offer to bribe me.

 

CXF: Okay, I'll bite, so what can you be bribed with?

 

FN: You can get Marvel to publish Hawkeye #9 through infinity. That might be a good start...

 

Or a good condition original Mego Superman or Robin figure.

 

Or a cheap way to fill out my Ostrander/Mandrake Spectre run.

 

Or...

 

CXF: Okay, okay. So, ultimately, what do you hope to achieve with the all-new, all-different X-Force?

 

FN: I don't want to speak for Rob or Marvel, but I do think we hope to achieve world peace. Help the average comic industry professional to lose about twenty pounds... Okay, fifty... Regrow hair where long lost hair should be growing. Speed up the course of time so Lindsay Lohan becomes legal.

 

Oh yeah, and have some fun...

[Boner Kawanger 0]

I've heard rumors that a friend of Layfield's would send him the same book every year for Christmas. That book?

 

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

Here's an interesting article about Rob Liefeld, his art, and why he's so hated.

 

http://www.quarterbin.net/talentpo/tp03.html

[Steviekick 0]

from that article, which is pretty dead on in it's assesment...

Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Jim Starlin, and a number of other figures made careers on their cross-disciplinary one-man approach to comics; but that doesn't prove that anyone else can do it. The sentiment of many, many comics readers is that Liefeld's writing is weak.[/]

 

As well as his art and panel-to-panel continuity.