X #19
Dark Horse
Words: Duane Swierczynski
Pictures:  Eric Nguyen

I’m starting to worry about X.  He may have some issues with positive boy image and self-esteem.  Plus, he doesn’t seem to be making good choices.  Now that I think about it, I should probably be more worried about Duane and Eric.  They’re the ones putting him through all this.

Back in the before time when I was doing the Rockin’ Comics Podcast, I had a feature called The Bad Ass Moment of the Week (or BAM).  This issue is chock full of ‘em. 

BAM #1:  X using his compound fracture to skewer the ear hole of Pig Man Minion #1.  It’s bad enough he gave himself the compound fracture of the wrist to escape his bindings, but then to thrust it into a dudes head… that’s just plain Bad Ass

BAM #2:  Maureen using a bone saw on Non-Pig-Faced Minion #2s skull bone.  I mean she went after it with a vengeance.  I don’t think ol’ boy is getting up from that one.

BAM #3:  When the cops give X a ride to the hospital while he’s on the roof of their car.  Why is he on the roof you say?  Valid question.  He put himself there… when he jumped from a window several stories up to land on the relative safety of the Police Cruisers roof.  Skinny cop guy is holding Xs arm while leaning out the passenger window.  It doesn’t get more bad ass than that.

Duane continues to deliver a bad ass, ultra gritty vigilante story that never lets up on the gas.  And Eric continues to supply the visual fuel to push X over the top with his lusciously violent images. 

So Duane, Eric… I hope you’re happy.  You’ve put X through a meat grinder.  (I probably shouldn’t have said that.  Now you two sickos will probably be like “Meat grinder?!  Hell yes he’s going through a meat grinder!”)  I’m not sure what you have in store for X next, but I’m in. 

4.5 out of 5 Pig Pokes