Scan barcode
stephen_arvidson's review
2.0
This premiere volume, collecting the first five issues of The X-Files: Season 10, is set roughly a decade after the series ended. Former FBI agents Mulder and Scully are living a quiet existence together—that is, until Deputy Director Skinner shows up with a new threat. Scully soon finds that she has a personal stake in the case when it appears that the child she secretly put up for adoption may be in danger.
Much as I appreciate Joe Harris' attempts to bring back beloved characters who perished in the course of the TV show (i.e. Cancer Man, the Lone Gunmen), I'm more bothered that Chris Carter, who lent a contributing hand to these comics, would allow The X-Files to take on the same nihilistic practices so often found in superhero comics and video games. Bringing classic characters back from the dead not only subverts the drama of their deaths but also weakens the impact of any future character deaths because anyone who follows the series knows they'll just be resurrected at a later time. Nevertheless, Season 10 makes clear bids toward legitimacy and relevance with its opening myth-arc, of an ascendant cabal bent on hastening the alien re-population of Earth, and Harris seems bent on assuring readers that this isn't a disposable media tie-in.
The mismatched art styles and varied depictions of Mulder, Scully, and other classic X-Files characters are somewhat jarring, though not as problematic as it is in Volume 2 or the stultifyingly awful one-shot, The X-Files: Conspiracy. If you're looking for better comic stories featuring Agents Mulder and Scully, I strongly recommend the Topps Comics adaptations from the mid-1990s (which is now being reprinted under The X-Files: Classics; the artwork found in those issues is both superior and consistent.
Much as I appreciate Joe Harris' attempts to bring back beloved characters who perished in the course of the TV show (i.e. Cancer Man, the Lone Gunmen), I'm more bothered that Chris Carter, who lent a contributing hand to these comics, would allow The X-Files to take on the same nihilistic practices so often found in superhero comics and video games. Bringing classic characters back from the dead not only subverts the drama of their deaths but also weakens the impact of any future character deaths because anyone who follows the series knows they'll just be resurrected at a later time. Nevertheless, Season 10 makes clear bids toward legitimacy and relevance with its opening myth-arc, of an ascendant cabal bent on hastening the alien re-population of Earth, and Harris seems bent on assuring readers that this isn't a disposable media tie-in.
The mismatched art styles and varied depictions of Mulder, Scully, and other classic X-Files characters are somewhat jarring, though not as problematic as it is in Volume 2 or the stultifyingly awful one-shot, The X-Files: Conspiracy. If you're looking for better comic stories featuring Agents Mulder and Scully, I strongly recommend the Topps Comics adaptations from the mid-1990s (which is now being reprinted under The X-Files: Classics; the artwork found in those issues is both superior and consistent.
hakimbriki's review
3.0
I remember, when I was 10 or maybe 11, that my best friends used to get grounded for bad grades, breaking sewing machines or sneaking into the local mosque to swap the morning prayer tape for a Michael Jackson mixtape (true story). I used to get punished for staying up late at night on school nights to watch The X-Files. The subtleties of the show used to go straight over my head but the "monster of the week" concept was so utterly fascinating, I was willing to risk my monthly allowance to have my mind blown. Years later, and after numerous marathon viewings, I am still an "X-Phile". When I heard that a comic book continuation of the series (and movies) was happening, I was over the moon.
The show ended very poorly and the second movie was rather underwhelming, but Season 10 was an opportunity to start fresh after eleven years of absence of mythology developments.
This first volume is overall satisfying. Chris Carter and new author Joe Harris (Batman: The Dark Knight, Firestorm: The Nuclear Men, Bishop: The Last X-Man ...) start off season 10 with a story arc that might ring a few bells - The "Acolytes", a new group of "ascendant hybrids", aims to bring about the alien re-population of the earth. They seem to be chasing William (Scully's (and Mulder's) son) who appears to be their "Chosen One".
The first volume is action-packed, suspenseful and humorous. The most legendary characters of the mythos make appearances (anyone familiar with the show knows that death means nothing in this Universe) and the book ends with an interesting cliffhanger. However, the feeling of deja vu is just too strong, so far. The first 5 issues just aren't enough to form an opinion on this tenth season.
The show ended very poorly and the second movie was rather underwhelming, but Season 10 was an opportunity to start fresh after eleven years of absence of mythology developments.
This first volume is overall satisfying. Chris Carter and new author Joe Harris (Batman: The Dark Knight, Firestorm: The Nuclear Men, Bishop: The Last X-Man ...) start off season 10 with a story arc that might ring a few bells - The "Acolytes", a new group of "ascendant hybrids", aims to bring about the alien re-population of the earth. They seem to be chasing William (Scully's (and Mulder's) son) who appears to be their "Chosen One".
The first volume is action-packed, suspenseful and humorous. The most legendary characters of the mythos make appearances (anyone familiar with the show knows that death means nothing in this Universe) and the book ends with an interesting cliffhanger. However, the feeling of deja vu is just too strong, so far. The first 5 issues just aren't enough to form an opinion on this tenth season.
colindalaska's review
2.0
This is irritating.
The journey is like a good X-Files episode, and I read it very quickly as there was so much going on.
But the destination is one of those “maybe we aren’t meant to understand” episodes.
The journey is like a good X-Files episode, and I read it very quickly as there was so much going on.
But the destination is one of those “maybe we aren’t meant to understand” episodes.
sarahanne8382's review
5.0
I never thought anything could make me genuinely want to watch the entirety of the last two seasons of my favorite TV show ever, The X-Files, but this story, centering around a mysterious alien group searching for William, may have done it. Also, while I liked I Want to Believe, I didn't even realize how much I missed the alien conspiracy arc that was the core of the show, and updating it to fit in the current day's conspiracy theories was wonderful. My little teenage fangirl heart is totally spazzing.
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a fun and quick read. To clarify, this edition was in French, and I have to say reading French graphic novels/comic books does WONDERS for your reading comprehension! I'm currently in the middle of season 3 of The X Files, so it was really fun to read about Mulder and Scully in a different medium. This comic book gives off the same vibe as the show does, which is how you know it's good. In addition to this, there are so many art styles in this--there's the classic "comic book" drawing style, but dividing the chapters are more realistic drawings of all the characters.
Ultimately, it's a fun throwback to the show, and it's a good vocabulary builder for foreign language learners!
Ultimately, it's a fun throwback to the show, and it's a good vocabulary builder for foreign language learners!
dolcezzina21's review
5.0
I enjoyed this so much, the writing and art were fantastic! Brought me right back to the series. I listened to Cold Cases and Stolen Lives on audio a while back and if I remember correctly, it is the same story line. I loved those stories. So happy to be reading it in this form. I am continuing with the rest of the volumes now. I met Joe Harris at NYCC this year and bought some art prints from the comics and some rare scripts. Great guy!
alethiometers's review
4.0
This is pretty much how the William fix-it fic I wrote in my head went, just with a lot more fake Mulders and Scullys (and magnetite pipelines, because I hadn't paid enough attention to s8 and s9 to remember what magnetite even was.) So, GOOD STUFF!
jonwesleyhuff's review
3.0
In the wake of the revival coming next year (and in the midst of a re-watch of the series) I thought it'd be fun to pick this up and give it a go. It's a quick read. I think I might have finished in an hour and some change? But I enjoyed it overall. The "voices" of the characters are pretty in tact, though I think Scully could be beefed up a bit in that area. But that might be partly because we don't get to see much of her sense of humor here, yet. And that's partly to do with what's happening in the story, I imagine. I've got the other volume released and definitely plan to keep going.