LIEFELD, NICIEZA, AND A BUNCH OF MUTANTS CALLED X-FORCE

[MattBrady]

Bumped up from a previously announced September/October release, the Fabian Nicieza/Rob Liefeld return to X-Force will now be an August-shipping title. We caught up with writer and artist for some more on the project.

First off, as for the schedule jump, chalk it up to something that Liefeld is sticking to from his old Marvel days – he was on time. Ahead, actually.

“My best guess is that they had enough issues –three - in the can to give them confidence to launch the book,” Liefeld told Newsarama. “It has been pointed out by smarter minds than my own that I've never shipped a Marvel project late, so don't look for that to change with X-Force. It'll be there. I'll be on #5 when #1 ships and that leaves one more to complete after that so it's in good shape.”

While we’ve previously spoken with Liefeld about the project, his partner on the mini has been kind of mum. As for how he got involved with the book this time around, Nicieza’s answer was fairly simple: “Rob called and asked.”

What Nicieza (who's busy with X-Force leader Cable on his own) initially said to Liefeld’s inquiry though, belied his incredulousness at the idea. “I said, ‘You've gotta be ^%$#ing kidding me,” Nicieza said. “The rest of the conversation from my side went like this: ‘You're not kidding? What was that word you said again? Fun? F-U-N. Are we allowed to have that? Yeah? Cool. It'll piss some people off? You mean it'll piss a lot of people off? Okay, let's do it.’ And the rest is history. So yeah, I'm scripting X-Force off of Rob's pencils, just like we did way back when.”

Like Liefeld, Nicieza admitted to feeling some trepidation in returning to the property that the two of them were well-known for over a decade ago. Well – some initial trepidation. “Now, there’s no fear,” Niceiza said. “Refer to the fun portion of what I just said, as well as the pissing off portion.”

As Liefeld explained when he last spoke to Newsarama, the storyline centers on terrorists from the future coming back (for them) to our present. “The terrorist group from the future is hell bent on awakening a terrible menace from our past in the present,” Liefeld said. “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...”

As for questions about how this can be the “big” evil that Cable was sent back in time to stop originally, that, according to Liefeld, is part of the fun of playing with a character like Cable who is still pretty malleable when it comes to memories, missions, and programming. As Liefeld explained it: “When these terrorists come back, something in Cable is awakened. Protocols that have always been there are triggered and he has to act immediately. As for the other threats that he’s faced, Apocalypse and all that 12 stuff has been handled, it's out of the way now, not much of a threat anymore. Bigger stuff awaits.”

As for Cable’s “sins of the past” that come back to haunt him, some of them are his former soldiers, that is, the members of the previous X-Force team whom he has to convince to lay their lives on the line for him again.

“From the start, Cable goes after Sam, Domino, Feral, Shatterstar, Warpath, Caliban, Rictor, Boomer/Meltdown, and Sunspot,” Liefeld said. “Were any of them willing to come back? Not all of them. There's plenty of tension plus some shifting alliances along the way. Are any there in spite of Cable? Yes.”

Or, the recruitment goes something like this, according to Nicieza: “Initially, there's trepidation involved with some of the characters about re-treading old ground, but then Cable tells `em they'll have fun and piss some people off...”

“Story-wise, we're still gathering the Magnificent Seven as I write this, but there will be a variety of perspectives involved. At the end of the day, the overriding threat to mutants and humanity should and will supercede and individual qualms about hooking up again.

“And if we do our jobs right, Cable will come back into each of their lives while in the middle of a ridiculously convoluted life and death struggle that will require lots of open mouth yelling, but very little introspection about the fact that Cable is back in their lives.”

Given his relationships (in a platonic, head-busting way) with the likes of Wolverine, Deadpool, and you know, his father Cyclops, you’d think it might be easier for Cable to gather up a group of adult badass mutant mofos to help him save the world, wouldn’t you? Well, there’s a very, very specific reason that won’t happen.

“If he did that, it couldn't be called X-Force and have that little R in a circle after the logo,” Nicieza said. “Besides, I don't know if he'd be able to find enough bad, adult mutant mofos who don’t hate him to fill up a roster big enough to save the world.”

Yes, Nicieza has studied with the masters of self-deprecating humor and self-parody. Don’t try this at home – he’s a professional.

Back on track - given Liefeld’s description of the story, as well as Nicieza’s earlier explanation of the work duties, the story for the miniseries is Liefeld’s, with the creative process rolling along much in the old school “Marvel Method” way.

“I get the art and I talk it through with Rob in detail, offering suggestions, thoughts, etc. that might or might not influence some of the things he does down the road,” Nicieza said. “I also throw a bunch of things in the script that he doesn't expect, just to keep us all on our toes. This is X-Force we're talking about, wherever there's panel space available, I will fill it with horrifically overblown dialogue.”

Currently, as far as the creators know, this outing with X-Force is just that – a six-issue outing. “Both parties are feeling the other out,” Liefeld said (Liefeld, not Nicieza, so there’s no double meaning there). “Admittedly, there's plenty of trust to be regained on both sides, hopefully things will continue to run smooth and peaceful. So far so good.”

If it does well enough to warrant it, both creators are on board for further tales. But, Liefeld cautioned – wait and see. “Let's see what reaction to the story is. I have no idea how this will be received. I maintain that this is truly an Extreme Make-Over type situation for a group of characters who have not been popular in almost a decade. They've been locked away in a back room, the ugly step children of the X-Universe. So we have our work cut out for us. Seriously.

“Do I think there's room for X-Force? Absolutely. They function best as a roaming aggressive, pro-active group of mutant freedom fighters fighting top flight mutant and human menaces. Cable doesn't believe in sitting still, he believes that peace is not an option for mutants and they must be prepared for the worst that is to come. Some share that conviction while others are either too afraid or too complacent to act on it. There are plenty of stories to tell.”

“Rob's original spin on the book was intended to fill a niche that still exists today,” Nicieza added. “Mutants who kick ass and ask questions later, never quite getting it that a person whose jaw you've broken can't answer your questions...? Yup, looks like the X-Universe still needs that kind of f-u-n.”

[GuitarSmashley]

would some one mind filling me in on the problems with liefeld yeah his art is pretty generic and he can't draw feet but why is he one of the most hated names in comics?

[Chris1]

Kewl.

[Nebula]

I have to say I am excited about this series. I've always liked X-Force because it was simply good ol' mutant action. After this whole X-Men reloaded (or over loaded), this is the one series that I'm looking forward to and would fit nicely next to Uncanny,X-Men,Astonishing....etc. Infact I wouldnt be surprised if this series kicks the other one's to their feet. I hope the sales go strong, because this should very well be a monthly. I'm sure it will become a montly, considering the name it hold dear to.
Fabian has always been an exciting writer and a guy who simply liked to tell stories of action. Kudus to that

Here's to XFORCE!
cheers, drink up

[Jeremy Holstein]

Say what you want about Liefeld, but he sure knows how to make a dynamic page. FUN, indeed.

-Jeremy

[jephyork]

So it's ... six issues now.

Not twelve. Not eight. Six now.

Rob says three are completely done. Write that down, now.

-Jeph!

[Nebula]

guitaryoni, I think why he's the most hated is because of his past of 'not finishing what he's suppose to finish.' I don't think anyone here 'really' hates him. Rob proves that he can draw well and has talent. His art in my opinion is the type of art that I felt wa always suitable for X-books. Something I'm missing nowadays( excluding Alan Davis). Why do everyone hate Chuck Austen? They don't, but it's always funny to nit pick on someone anyways.

Wild predictions: In the near future Jim Lee will do an arc on X-Men that will be HUGE

and Grant Morrison will do a run on one of DC's most popular hero

[Quay Lewd]

Originally posted by MattBrady
"...hell bent on awakening a terrible menace from our past in the present,” Liefeld said.

It's amazing how just a few sample images can conjure up so many negative feelings about the "dark day's" of the '90's.

That said, major kudos to Rob for being AHEAD of schedule - often an anomaly in today's comics. Cheers to him, Fabian, and all you X-Force traditionalist fans for the f-u-n you'll have with this title. Not my cuppa, but it's a big ol' world of comics these days and I'm glad there's something for everybody.

[Jaximus Prime]

If you look at the page layouts, it's also a throwback to the 90's cheesy style. Well, I guess drawing super large characters will cut down on drawing time so this crud can retire to the quarter bins sooner.

[Jimmy_Helter]

I gotta admit - those pictures sure do look FUN. They're like the very antithesis of the Bendis Slow Ass Pacing story telling style currently dragging Marvel down.

I hope this book sells like crazy!

[Ace]

Majorly nitpicky, but as a long time follower of these characters, they should have really used Thorn instead of Feral.

Matt

[Hold Brillan]

O happy days. The samples look really nice. Robs art looks like it should. Lots of lines and gritted teeth. Oversized biceps and strangelooking hairdos. It will be interresting to see how the newbies to comics will react to this though.

[LIEFELDISGOD]

This pisses me off!!!! Why is Marvel giving Liefeld another chance??? It’s well documented he knows nothing of proportion and anatomy, and he’s art is just so 90’s!!! I hate Rob Liefeld (even though I’ve never met him and he’s never done anything to me personally). This book looks horrible.

YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book is gonna kick SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much ass. Not to sound like a virgin, fanboy, Liefeld sycophant (LIEFELDGOD don’t know how anyone could make such and assumption), but I can’t wait for this book to come out!!!! Looks great and I hope it sells through the roof!!!!

[The Warped One]

Is it just me, or is this the sort of sound and fury that tanked the market way back? Not initially at first but eventually.

I guess there is room for everybody's taste though.

Oh, how I long for the days when nostalgia was our king...

[DarthBooji]

So, um, not to jump onto the whole "Liefeld can't maintain consistency in his art at all" bandwagon...

But Shatterstar is from the same world as Longshot, right? And Longshot only has three fingers and a thumb, right? So why does Shatterstar have four fingers?

*shrug* Whatever.

[Robot H Brian]

So whatever happened to the Alias: Sydney Bristow series that Liefeld was working on?

[sequencer]

liefeld was held with such derision because he is one of the worst comic book hacks of all time. he steals ideas, reuses his own "ideas" over and over and can't draw worth a crap. he's half the reason the 90's sucked. anything he touches becomes a pile of turds. it has always happened. it will happen again.
there is no way in hell i will pick this up. and it's not only that liefeld is on this. it's also the comments nicieza made about pissing everyone off. that is just childish and less than i'd expect from a professional. well, someone i'd hope would act like a professional.

[FIG]

Marvel, send Liefeld to art school and make him take figure drawing, storyboarding and perspective.-Theres absolutely no artistic growth that merits being published. Its a sad day for creators with talent that don't get published. No offense to fans of his work either, you either like the work or you don't. I clearly do not. I forgot that Marvel is only interested in money even if that means that quality and innovation suffer.

[brianscottp]

I've always enjoyed Liefeld's art. Is he a technically competent artist? I'm no expert. The main problem w/ Liefeld (and Jim Lee, Todd Mcfarlane and to some extent Marc Silvestri) is that the books they did sold so well in the early 90's that their individual styles became the NEW house styles at Marvel and to some extent even DC. Liefeld's art is fun on it's own, BUT when nearly every johnny-come-lately (some talented, some just hacks) is aping the "look" it's weaknesses become glaring and lose the affect. I mean even, Herb Trimpe (a Marvel veteran and under-appreciated legend with his own distinct look) was left aping a style that did not justify his talents. Then the various Image studios just amplified the problem. Liefled, individually, could stand on his own. Liefeld's approach as practiced by others guaranteed a major backlash.

Liefeld's second perceived problem is inability to follow-through (or maybe it;'s just him over-extending himself.). He cranked out so much product (and solicited even more) before and during the early stages of the last big bust that he literally drowned his wn market (he's not the only guilty party).

Third, Beyond giving many heroes big GUNS (CAble) and battle-gear style uniforms, most of his "ideas" have basically been just really obvious reworkings of 1960's and 1970's Marvel books (okay some DC books too.{Superman vs. Supreme}) Maybe he is very fond of these books and is paying tribute, OR as some have claimed, he is really void of any originality.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to this series. At least this time, it's safe to say, we won't be seeing a lot of Liefeld clones.

[manou]

I'm crazy!!!
I want this so much, I'm so ashamed...

[hunterrose]

Has anyone noticed that Liefeld's art has not improved at all over the years? I liked the original concept of X-force being a pre-emptive strike force so I'm definately looking foward to this series. Would've been better if Adam Pollina did the art as his rendition of the characters such as Warpath was really cool. Even Greg Capullo would've been cool. Oh well, let's hope for the best. :P

[Piferelli]

Interesting interview. I especially liked that Rob was somewhat humble in his description of the title. I've always been a fan of his art, and felt that the 90's put him in the "work-overload" category-leading to people "hating" him. Hopefully, he can keep things together, focused, and not get in the position of being pulled in 10 different directions.

Fabian is really pulling it out, taking on both X-Force and Cable/Deadpool.

How will this effect each of the titles?

Will we see aspects of one story popping into the latter?

I'm only assuming right now that the two stories don't take place in the same time frame, otherwise, I'd have to wonder if Cable is taking Deadpool by the neck, and stuffing him in a closet while he runs with X-Force. Needless to say, I'd love to see some kind of crossover involving the X-Force team's reaction to Cable being "stuck" with DP, but dreams do come and go. Fabian's writing is always a joy to read, and nothing makes a comic finer than an artist that is on the same...well, you know. I noticed that Fabian has added some posts to his interview w/ Matt on Cable/Deadpool- (consepot, still making me laugh) -any address to my questions above would be most appreciative.

Good luck to the both of you. You have me for your six issues, don't dissappoint me.

[pah25]

So that means #4 will be delayed. Going by Robs HR work.

[Brian Langlois]

Originally posted by DarthBooji
So, um, not to jump onto the whole "Liefeld can't maintain consistency in his art at all" bandwagon...

But Shatterstar is from the same world as Longshot, right? And Longshot only has three fingers and a thumb, right? So why does Shatterstar have four fingers?

*shrug* Whatever.

As far as I know Longshot started out as an artificial construct who gained life. His three fingers were just part of that design. It has long been hinted that Shatterstar is the son of Longshot and Dazzler (from some future timeline) so he would also have some human in him.

Anyway, book looks great! It's like the early 90's again for the X Books and that is not a bad thing.

[TVerBeek]

Originally posted by Nebula
Rob proves that he can draw well and has talent.

I think if this bit were true, people would cut him a lot more slack. Folks are a lot more tolerant of a snotty attitude and unfulfilled promises if the guy hits the ball out of the park when he actually bats.

To be sure, he has fans, and he's certainly not the worst professional artist in the business. His art has some good points in terms of "energy" and "flash". But it combines the detailing of an Renaissance engraver with the anatomical accuracy of an 1920's German Expressionist, a conflicting combination that really doesn't say "draws well" or "talent"... at least not enough to make up for his personality.