Cable is back, and assembling a team, but why?

Here is the summary from Marvel:

Cable is back! NOW! with a new X-Force at his side, he must tackle the threats that nobody else can know about. But just who are Cable’s new recruits, and why is his team public enemy number one? Caught red-handed at the scene of a terrorist attack on a major American corporation whose CEO has expressed anti-mutant views, the X-Force is the run, with none other than the Uncanny Avengers in hot pursuit.

Cable has returned to land of the living, and is now without his techno-organic virus which means he can now use his mutant abilities to their fullest extent. With Cable recruiting Domino & Dr. Nemesis, with Hope joining up a bit later. Colossus also appears in the book (since he IS  part of the team) but is only on the 1st couple of pages, so it doesn’t really show how or why Cable picked him up. There are a couple good things about the issue, such as the Uncanny Avengers cameo & the lingering effects of the virus after it left Nathan. Like most team books 1st issues, this is basically set-up for the rest of the series, establishing characters and their mission, but therein lies the problem, the mission itself isn’t stated. Cable’s motives for doing what he is doing & why he assembled his team are completely unknown

Dennis Hopeless is the mastermind behind this new team, and while it does have some interesting moments, not too much is accomplished here & and there are a few plot holes in the book as well. Hopeless does create an interesting development with Cable’s powers & character though, and the dialogue is done relatively well. Character interaction is somewhat natural and the story flows pretty well (Although it is hard for me to adjust to Hope calling Cable “Dad”), but fails to tie the beginning of the book to the end of it.

Salvador Larocca bring his highly appealing visual style to the book, which makes up for a bit of the confusing moments (Pretty pictures and all that). He doesn’t do anything too big or dynamic like he did in issues of Iron Man, instead going for a more subtle subdued look to the book. The best scenes in the issue have to go to Cable’s teams encounter with the Uncanny Avengers & the scenes focusing on Domino, both are drawn really well & fit the tone of the scene that they are trying to play out. Frank D’Armata’s coloring is also something of note in the comic, giving everything a nice muted look, with bright oranges & dull silvers & grays rounding out the teams colors. He also gives the overall look of the book a nice blue-green lighting that gives the book a nice, slightly ominous tone.

Cable & X-Force is nothing spectacular like other NOW! offerings, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad, just average. The first issue does it’s job well enough, setting up most of the team, and having a decent enough end where you want to pick up the second issue. Even with the little plot inconsistencies. If you are a fan of the characters, i suggest it, newer fans made need a bit more to latch on to though.

3/5