History ComicBook / XForce

The original X-Force was created when creative control of the ''ComicBook/NewMutants'' series was given to artist Creator/RobLiefeld, with Fabian Nicieza scripting the dialogue. Liefeld immediately set about making the series DarkerAndEdgier, adding several new badass main characters and dropping others, and having team leader ComicBook/{{Cable}} reform the team into an "ends justify the means" militant strike force, culminating with a series relaunch under the new ''X-Force'' title. The character lineup retained Cable, Cannonball and Boom Boom, while adding Warpath (formerly of the rival superpowered team, the Hellions), Feral, ComicBook/{{Shatterstar}} and ComicBook/{{Domino|Marvel Comics}}. Siryn was also added to the team within the first five issues.

Loeb moved the team back to the Xavier Mansion and had them cooperating much more closely with the X-Men and Charles Xavier, as part of a line-wide initiative to bring all the various X-books closer together. Cannonball was shifted to the X-Men and Caliban joined X-Force; Rictor was also written out, but returned the following year. After Loeb's abrupt departure in 1997, John Francis Moore took over writing duties and once again began drawing on the characters' long histories as New Mutants and X-Force. Under Moore's long tenure the team disbanded in the wake of the ''Operation: Zero Tolerance'' storyline and the cast was narrowed down to five, who set off on a roadtrip across America and ultimately established their new base in San Francisco. There, the team took on new member Bedlam and reunited with former members Cannonball and Domino. During this period, sales of the book fell from being one of Marvel's best sellers to being solidly mid-tier.

The series was at first extremely popular, with the #1 issue becoming the second-best-selling comic of all time. Liefeld however quickly became frustrated by working with characters he didn't own, and soon left Marvel to form Creator/ImageComics in 1992. Nicieza took over creative control upon Liefeld's departure and immediately began turning the series into a more natural continuation of ''New Mutants'', including bringing back the characters Sunspot and Rictor. Cable was temporarily written out and X-Force struck out on their own as independent young adults, setting up their new base in the ruins of the Camp Verde reservation in Arizona and at last bonding as TrueCompanions. Cable soon returned in the ''ComicBook/FatalAttractions'' crossover, but with a new and less authoritarian leadership style, and Feral left the team for good; Dani Moonstar, the former New Mutant, was also reintroduced as a recurring character. Nicieza continued to write up through the ''ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse'' storyline of 1995, after which he was replaced by Jeph Loeb.

At the same time as writer Creator/GrantMorrison began his acclaimed run on ''ComicBook/NewXMen'', Marvel's new editor-in-chief Joe Quesada also recruited writer Peter Milligan and artist Mike Allred to take over ''X-Force'' – and they agreed as long as they were free to do absolutely anything they wanted. The result was effectively [[InNameOnly a completely different series in everything but name]] from issue #116 onwards, with an entirely new cast of characters and new premise. The new X-Force was a government-backed team of publicity-hungry superheroes with a severe case of AnyoneCanDie, who had blatantly stolen the name from the original team. Milligan's X-Force was an AcclaimedFlop: although it was praised for being a subversive satire of the excesses of celebrity culture and reality TV, the audience wasn't on board and sales plummeted. The series was cancelled at issue #129 and relaunched as ''ComicBook/XStatix''.

** Benjamin Russell is genetically identical to Shatterstar. Maybe Shatterstar is really Benjamin Russell. Who cares.

** A number of character-centric subplots were abandoned when John Francis Moore was replaced Warren Ellis, and were never properly followed up on by Marvel. These included Siryn being [[ArtifactDomination possessed by an evil artifact]] similar to the villain Malice, the team being stalked by two agents of the [[ChurchOfHappyology Triune Understanding]] (of whom Meltdown's father was a new convert), Sunspot joining the Hellfire Club as the new Black Rook, Julia Sandoval being reincarnated in a new body, and foreshadowing that Domino would soon die in a devastating future conflict.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/X-Force_Vol_1_1_Wraparound_Cover_7192.jpg]]

* CovertGroup: Its team was portrayed as a covert group under the leadership of his character Pete Wisdom starting in 2000.

The original X-Force was created when creative control of the ''ComicBook/NewMutants'' series was given to artist Creator/RobLiefeld, with Fabian Nicieza scripting the dialogue. Liefeld immediately set about making the series DarkerAndEdgier, adding several new badass main characters and dropping others, and having team leader ComicBook/{{Cable}} reform the team into an "ends justify the means" militant strike force, culminating with a series relaunch under the new ''X-Force'' title. The character lineup retained Cable, Cannonball and Boom Boom, while adding Warpath (formerly of the rival superpowered team, the Hellions), Feral, ComicBook/{{Shatterstar}} and ComicBook/{{Domino|Marvel Comics}}. Siryn also joined the team in issue #3.

* [[ComicBook/XForce2013 Two new ongoing series]] were launched as part of the "ComicBook/MarvelNOW" relaunch. In ''Cable and X-Force (2013)'', written by Dennis Hopeless, Cable forms a new outlaw X-Force group. The relaunched ''Uncanny X-Force (2013)]]'', written by Sam Humphries, follows Psylocke's X-Force team. Both titles were then replaced by ''X-Force (2014)'', written by Si Spurrier, which merges the two teams and serves as a continuation of both series.

X-Force then lay dormant for several years until a new ongoing series was launched in 2008, with an almost entirely different team lineup. Since then, all new relaunches of X-Force have had very little connection with the original series, and each have their own pages on this wiki. They include:
* ''ComicBook/XForce2008'' – Starring the sanctioned strike team of mutantdom fighting to stop threats towards what little mutants remain. Written by Craig Kyle and Chris Yost.
* ''[[ComicBook/UncannyXForce Uncanny X-Force (2010)]]'' – Starring a secret strike team as they confront the emerging threat of Apocalypse and the aftermath of what they wrought. Written by Rick Remender.
* ''[[ComicBook/XForce2013 Cable and X-Force (2013)]]'' – One of two X-Force series launched as part of the "ComicBook/MarvelNOW" relaunch, Cable forms a new outlaw X-Force group. Written by Dennis Hopeless.
* ''[[ComicBook/XForce2013 Uncanny X-Force (2013)]]'' – The other of the two X-Force ongoing series launched during ''Marvel NOW!'', following Psylocke's X-Force team. Written by Sam Humphries.
* ''ComicBook/XForce2013'' – Merges the teams of ''Cable and X-Force'' and ''Uncanny X-Force (2013)'' and serves as a continuation. Written by Si Spurrier.

* ''ComicBook/XForce2008'' – New ongoing series with a new X-Force team, written by Craig Kyle & Chris Yost.
* ''[[ComicBook/UncannyXForce Uncanny X-Force (2010)]]'' – The direct continuation from the previous series, written by Rick Remender.
* ''[[ComicBook/XForce2013 Cable and X-Force (2013)]]'' – One of the two X-Force ongoing series following the "ComicBook/MarvelNOW" relaunch, written by Dennis Hopeless. Running simultaneously with...
* ''[[ComicBook/XForce2013 Uncanny X-Force (2013)]]'' – The other of the two X-Force ongoing series following the "ComicBook/MarvelNOW" relaunch, written by Sam Humphries.
* ''[[ComicBook/XForce2013 X-Force (2014)]]'' – The continuation from the preceding two series, written by Si Spurrier.
* ''ComicBook/XForce2018'' – A new ongoing series that reunites the surviving members of the original Liefeld-era team lineup, written by Ed Brisson.
* ''ComicBook/XForce2019'' – Part of the "ComicBook/DawnOfX" relaunch, with a new team lineup closer to the 2008-15 incarnation of X-Force, written by Benjamin Percy.

The original X-Force was created when creative control of the ''ComicBook/NewMutants'' series was given to artist Creator/RobLiefeld, with Fabian Nicieza scripting the dialogue. Liefeld immediately set about making the series DarkerAndEdgier, adding several new badass main characters and dropping others, and having team leader ComicBook/{{Cable}} reform the team into an "ends justify the means" militant strike force, culminating with a series relaunch under the new ''X-Force'' title. The character lineup retained Cable, Cannonball and Boom Boom, while adding Warpath (formerly of the rival superpowered team, the Hellions), Feral, ComicBook/{{Shatterstar}} and ComicBook/{{Domino|Marvel Comics}}.

In 2004, Marvel brought Liefeld and Nicieza back for a six-issue ''X-Force'' miniseries (October, 2004-March, 2005), returning to the original characters, which posted decent sales despite a critical drubbing and Liefeld's using some of his previously unused art for other titles in the book. A four-issue ''X-Force: Shatterstar'' prequel miniseries (April-July, 2005) followed, but neither was followed up on. While new X-Force ongoing series have been launched several times since then, most have had very little to do with the original series.

Relaunches and spinoffs that have their own pages include:
* ''ComicBook/XStatix'' – The direct continuation of the Milligan-Allred run.
* ''ComicBook/XForce2008'' – A new ongoing series with an almost entirely different team lineup, written by Craig Kyle & Chris Yost.

At the same time as writer Creator/GrantMorrison began his acclaimed run on ''ComicBook/NewXMen'', Marvel's new editor-in-chief Joe Quesada also recruited writer Peter Milligan and artist Mike Allred to take over "X-Force" – and they agreed as long as they were free to do absolutely anything they wanted. The result was effectively [[InNameOnly a completely different series in everything but name]] from issue #116 onwards, with an entirely new cast of characters and new premise. The new X-Force was a government-backed team of publicity-hungry superheroes with a severe case of AnyoneCanDie, who had blatantly stolen the name from the original team. Milligan's X-Force was an AcclaimedFlop: although it was praised for being a subversive satire of the excesses of celebrity culture and reality TV, the audience wasn't on board and sales plummeted. The series was cancelled at issue #129 and relaunched as ''ComicBook/XStatix''.

* ''ComicBook/UncannyXForce]] (2010)'' – The direct continuation from the previous series, written by Rick Remender.
* ''[[ComicBook/XForce2013 Cable and X-Force]] (2013)'' – One of the two X-Force ongoing series following the "ComicBook/MarvelNOW" relaunch, written by Dennis Hopeless. Running simultaneously with...
* ''[[ComicBook/XForce2013 Uncanny X-Force]] (2013)'' – The other of the two X-Force ongoing series following the "ComicBook/MarvelNOW" relaunch, written by Sam Humphries.
* ''[[ComicBook/XForce2013 X-Force]] (2014)'' – The continuation from the preceding two series, written by Si Spurrier.

* ''ComicBook/UncannyXForce|(2010)'' – The direct continuation from the previous series, written by Rick Remender.
* ''[[ComicBook/XForce2013 Cable and X-Force (2013)'' – One of the two X-Force ongoing series following the "ComicBook/MarvelNOW" relaunch, written by Dennis Hopeless. Running simultaneously with...
* ''[[ComicBook/XForce2013 Uncanny X-Force (2013)]]'' – The other of the two X-Force ongoing series following the "ComicBook/MarvelNOW" relaunch, written by Sam Humphries.
* ''[[ComicBook/XForce2013]] X-Force (2014)'' – The continuation from the preceding two series, written by Si Spurrier.

The original X-Force was created when creative control of the "ComicBook/NewMutants" series was given to artist Creator/RobLiefeld, with Fabian Nicieza scripting the dialogue. Liefeld immediately set about making the series DarkerAndEdgier, adding several new badass main characters and dropping others, and having team leader ComicBook/{{Cable}} reform the team into an "ends justify the means" militant strike force, culminating with a series relaunch under the new "X-Force" title. The character lineup retained Cable, Cannonball and Boom Boom, while adding Warpath (formerly of the rival superpowered team, the Hellions), Feral, ComicBook/{{Shatterstar}} and ComicBook/{{Domino|Marvel Comics}}.

The series was at first extremely popular, with the #1 issue becoming the second-best-selling comic of all time. Liefeld however quickly became frustrated by working with characters he didn't own, and soon left Marvel to form Creator/ImageComics in 1992. Nicieza took over creative control upon Liefeld's departure and immediately began turning the series into a more natural continuation of "New Mutants", including bringing back the characters Sunspot and Rictor. Cable was temporarily written out and X-Force struck out on their own as independent young adults, setting up their new base in the ruins of the Camp Verde reservation in Arizona and at last bonding as TrueCompanions. Cable soon returned in the ''ComicBook/FatalAttractions'' crossover, but with a new and less authoritarian leadership style, and Feral left the team for good; Dani Moonstar, the former New Mutant, was also reintroduced as a recurring character. Nicieza continued to write up through the ''ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse'' storyline of 1995, after which he was replaced by Jeph Loeb.

At the same time as writer Creator/GrantMorrison began his acclaimed run on "ComicBook/NewXMen", Marvel's new editor-in-chief Joe Quesada also recruited writer Peter Milligan and artist Mike Allred to take over "X-Force" – and they agreed as long as they were free to do absolutely anything they wanted. The result was effectively [[InNameOnly a completely different series in everything but name]] from issue #116 onwards, with an entirely new cast of characters and new premise. The new X-Force was a government-backed team of publicity-hungry superheroes with a severe case of AnyoneCanDie, who had blatantly stolen the name from the original team. Milligan's X-Force was an AcclaimedFlop: although it was praised for being a subversive satire of the excesses of celebrity culture and reality TV, the audience wasn't on board and sales plummeted. The series was cancelled at issue #129 and relaunched as "ComicBook/XStatix".

In 2004, Marvel brought Liefeld and Nicieza back for a six-issue "X-Force" miniseries (October, 2004-March, 2005), returning to the original characters, which posted decent sales despite a critical drubbing and Liefeld's using some of his previously unused art for other titles in the book. A four-issue "X-Force: Shatterstar" prequel miniseries (April-July, 2005) followed, but neither was followed up on.

"X-Force" was relaunched as an ongoing series in 2008 with a substantially different team roster – being essentially a new series with the same name, [[ComicBook/XForce2008 it has its own page]]. All subsequent relaunches of "X-Force" have had very little to do with the first series, apart from [[ComicBook/XForce2018 the 2018 series]] which reunited most of the original team lineup.

Related series include:
* ''ComicBook/XStatix''
* ''ComicBook/XForce2008''
* ''ComicBook/UncannyXForce''
* ''Cable and X-Force''
* ''Uncanny X-Force (2013)''
* ''ComicBook/XForce2013''
* ''ComicBook/XForce2018''
* ''ComicBook/XForce2019''

In 2004, Marvel brought Liefeld and Nicieza back for a six-issue "X-Force" miniseries (October, 2004-March, 2005), returning to the original characters, which posted decent sales despite a critical drubbing and Liefeld's using some of his previously unused art for other titles in the book. A four-issue "X-Force: Shatterstar" prequel miniseries (April-July, 2005) followed, but neither was extended.

Related series:

The original X-Force was created when creative control of the "ComicBook/NewMutants" series was given to artist Creator/RobLiefeld, with Fabian Nicieza scripting the dialogue. Liefeld immediately set about making the series DarkerAndEdgier, adding several new badass main characters and dropping others, and having team leader ComicBook/{{Cable}} reform the team into an "ends justify the means" militant strike force, culminating with a series relaunch under the new "X-Force" title. The character lineup retained Cable, Cannonball and Boom Boom, while adding Warpath (formerly of the rival superpowered team, the Hellions), Feral, ComicBook/{{Shatterstar|Marvel Comics}} and ComicBook/{{Domino|Marvel Comics}}.

* AwesomeMcCoolname: Freaking ''ComicBook/{{Shatterstar|Marvel Comics}}''.

* ''[[ComicBook/DawnOfX X-Force (2019)]]''

* HeroicAlbino: Domino is described as being an albino, even though she has black hair.

* TrueCompanions: Developed into this during Fabian Nicieza's run as writer. In particular, it is referenced by Warpath as a reason why he stays with the team even though he doesn't find being a superhero makes him happy or fulfilled.

** The Reignfire story was cut off abruptly after "Age of Apocalypse", quickly explained as having been resolved off-panel. Again, it was revisited later in the series, but in a clearly different way to what was originally intended.
** After leaving Camp Verde, the team gets a brand-new awesome base under New York that was formerly Arcade's base Murderworld. It lasts for only four more issues before it gets unceremoniously blown up and the team is relocated to Xavier Mansion.

The original X-Force was created when creative control of the "ComicBook/NewMutants" series was given to artist Creator/RobLiefeld, with Fabian Nicieza scripting the dialogue. Liefeld immediately set about making the series DarkerAndEdgier, adding several new badass main characters and dropping others, and having team leader ComicBook/{{Cable}} reform the team into an "ends justify the means" militant strike force, culminating with a series relaunch under the new "X-Force" title. The title was at first extremely popular, with the #1 issue becoming the second-best-selling comic of all time. Liefeld however quickly became frustrated by working with characters he didn't own, and soon left Marvel to form Creator/ImageComics in 1992.

Nicieza took over creative control upon Liefeld's departure and immediately began turning the series into a more natural continuation of "New Mutants", including bringing back the characters Sunspot and Rictor. Cable was temporarily written out and X-Force struck out on their own as independent young adults, setting up their new base in the ruins of the Camp Verde reservation in Arizona and at last bonding as TrueCompanions. Cable soon returned in the ComicBook/FatalAttractions crossover, but with a new and less authoritarian leadership style. Nicieza continued to write up through the ''ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse'' storyline of 1995, after which he was replaced by Jeph Loeb.

Loeb moved the team back to the Xavier Mansion and had them cooperating much more closely with the X-Men and Charles Xavier, as part of a line-wide initiative to bring all the various X-books closer together. After Loeb's abrupt departure in 1997, John Francis Moore took over writing duties and once again began drawing on the characters' long histories as New Mutants and X-Force. Under Moore's long tenure the team disbanded and the cast was narrowed down to five (including former New Mutant Dani Moonstar), who set off on a roadtrip across America and ultimately established their new base in San Francisco. There, the team took on new member Bedlam and reunited with former members Cannonball and ComicBook/{{Domino|Marvel Comics}}. During this period, sales of the book fell from being one of Marvel's best sellers to being solidly mid-tier.