X-Force Vol. 1 (1991–2002): The Comic That Defined 90s Marvel
X-Force Vol. 1 (1991–2002): The Comic That Defined 90s Marvel
A polybagged #1, a team of mutant soldiers and a surprising late-life makeover. Here is our guide to the original X-Force series.
If you were buying comics in 1991, you will remember where you were when X-Force #1 landed. It was sealed in a plastic bag with a trading card, it had a cover by Rob Liefeld, and it sold like nothing else on the shelf. X-Force Vol. 1 became one of the most recognisable comics of the early 90s.
We sorted through a good stretch of this run at Siomic Comics, so here is our guide to the series: where it came from, who made it, the characters it introduced, the crossovers and the odd twist that closed it out.
X-Force Vol. 1 at a glance
- Publisher: Marvel Comics
- Run: 129 issues, from August 1991 to August 2002
- Launched from: The New Mutants, which ended at #100 and became X-Force
- Creators at launch: Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza
- Writers: Fabian Nicieza (#1–43), Jeph Loeb (#44–61), John Francis Moore (#63–100), Ian Edginton, Peter Milligan
- Notable artists: Rob Liefeld, Greg Capullo, Adam Pollina, Mike Allred
- Original team: Boom-Boom, Cable, Cannonball, Domino, Feral, Shatterstar and Warpath, with Siryn joining in #3
- Crossovers: X-Cutioner's Song, Fatal Attractions, Age of Apocalypse, Onslaught, Operation Zero Tolerance
- What came next: The title was relaunched as X-Statix in 2002
From The New Mutants to X-Force
X-Force did not appear out of nowhere. Marvel's teen team book The New Mutants ran up to issue #100, and the very next issue was the new book. Out went the old formula and in came a harder-edged group, led by the time-travelling soldier Cable, with a new creative team of Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza. The first issue was dated August 1991.
That first issue was sold in a sealed polybag with a trading card, and it came in several versions, which is a big part of why it is so easy to find today. It sold in enormous numbers, and for a while the series was well above 100,000 copies an issue. Later sales settled down, but for the early 90s X-Force was a phenomenon.
The original team
Cable
The team's gruff leader, a soldier from the future who trained the young mutants to fight.
Cannonball & Warpath
Two survivors of The New Mutants who gave the team a link to its past.
Boom-Boom & Feral
Two more members of the original line-up, bringing a lot of energy and attitude.
Shatterstar
A warrior from another world who became a fan favourite almost immediately.
Domino
The mercenary whose true self makes its first appearance in #8 and who became one of the series' signature characters.
Siryn
Joins the team in #3, adding a more personal side to the group dynamic.
Key issues and first appearances
Our favourite thing about this series is how many characters make their debut in it. Here are the issues collectors look for first.
| Issue | Cover date | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | August 1991 | First issue of the solo series, with the first appearance of G.W. Bridge |
| #2 | September 1991 | Second appearance of Deadpool and first appearance of Weapon X (Garrison Kane) |
| #4 | November 1991 | Third appearance of Deadpool |
| #5 | December 1991 | First team appearance of the new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants |
| #6 | January 1992 | First appearances of Thornn and Phantazia |
| #8 | March 1992 | First appearance of the real Domino (Neena Thurman) and the first team appearance of The Six Pack |
| #10 | May 1992 | First team appearance of The Externals and first full appearance of Tyler Dayspring |
| #12 | July 1992 | First appearance of Crule |
| #15 | October 1992 | The much-loved Cable vs Deadpool battle |
| #19 | February 1993 | First appearance of Copycat as herself |
| #32 | March 1994 | First full appearance of Paige Guthrie |
| #50 | January 1996 | Anniversary issue, Target: Cable |
Crossovers and big stories
X-Force sat at the centre of the X-line's biggest 90s stories. In X-Cutioner's Song in fall 1992, Stryfe frames Cable for an attack on Professor X, which led to X-Men and X-Force fighting each other. Fatal Attractions followed, with Cable coming back with a less hardline approach. The series sat out the Age of Apocalypse in 1995, and then its issues #55 to #58 tied into Onslaught. In Operation Zero Tolerance (issues #67 to #70) the team effectively disbanded.
The creators behind the comic
Rob Liefeld
Co-creator of the book. He plotted and drew the early issues and his covers define the first stretch of the run.
Fabian Nicieza
Wrote the first 43 issues, giving the series its fast pace and sense of humour.
Greg Capullo
Penciled issues in the mid-teens through the 20s, before going on to a long career at DC.
Jeph Loeb & Adam Pollina
Loeb wrote #44 to #61 with Pollina on art, bringing a slick look for the mid-90s.
John Francis Moore
Wrote most of #63 to #100, closing out the original team's era.
Peter Milligan & Mike Allred
Took over for #116 to #129 and turned the book into something completely different.
Curiosities collectors should know
A series with a flood of variants
#1 came in several collector versions, which is why finding a copy is easy but finding a particular edition can take some work.
Picking up the numbering
X-Force grew directly out of The New Mutants, with the new book arriving right after issue #100 of the old one.
Pre-Deadpool Deadpool
His early appearances in #2 and #4 make these issues popular with readers who came to the character through the films.
A quiet year
X-Force sat out the Age of Apocalypse storyline in 1995, while the rest of the line was caught up in it.
Two series in one
From #116 the book changed completely, with a brand-new team and a very different tone.
Sales that faded
Sales started above 100,000 copies an issue and slowly declined, which is part of why Marvel tried something new.
The strange finale: X-Statix
The most surprising chapter of the series is the end. In 2001, with #116, writer Peter Milligan and artist Mike Allred reimagined X-Force as a team of media-hungry celebrity mutants. The tone was satirical and unlike anything the title had done before. That version ran to #129 and was then relaunched as X-Statix in 2002. If you like your superhero comics a little off-kilter, those last issues are well worth a look.
X-Force beyond the comics
- Deadpool 2 (2018): the film features an X-Force team that includes Domino, played by Zazie Beetz, and Cable, played by Josh Brolin, both of whom you can trace back to the early issues of this series.
- The wider Marvel family: the characters introduced here, from Deadpool to Domino to Cable, have gone on to appear in later comics, games and animated series.
Where to start reading X-Force Vol. 1
For the launch, start with #1 to #12, where Liefeld and Nicieza set the tone and Deadpool, Domino and the Externals appear. #15 is the Cable vs Deadpool issue. For the crossover era, look at the issues leading into and out of X-Cutioner's Song. And if you want to see the odd late twist, #116 onwards is the Milligan and Allred run.
X-Force Vol. 1 covers through the years
A look at some of the covers from the run. Tap a cover to see our copy if it's in stock.
#4
#6
#11
#12
#26
#32
#51Browse our X-Force Vol. 1 back issues
These are some of the issues we currently have on the shelf. Every copy is photographed so you can check its condition before buying.
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#1
X-Force #1: A Force to Be Reckoned With
The one that started it all, with the first appearance of G.W. Bridge.
View our copy -
#2
X-Force #2: The Blood Hunters
Deadpool's second appearance and the first appearance of Weapon X (Garrison Kane).
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#5
X-Force #5: Under the Magnifying Glass
The first team appearance of the new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
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#8
X-Force #8: Flashed Before My Eyes
The first appearance of the real Domino (Neena Thurman) and the first team appearance of The Six Pack.
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#10
X-Force #10: Answers (And Questions)
The first team appearance of The Externals and the first full appearance of Tyler Dayspring.
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#15
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#19
X-Force #19: The Open Hand, The Closed Fist
The first appearance of Copycat as herself.
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#50
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#116
X-Force #116
The first issue of the Peter Milligan and Mike Allred era, the series' last big reinvention.
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We also have these issues of the series in stock:
You can also search all our X-Force comics.
Frequently asked questions about X-Force Vol. 1
When did X-Force Vol. 1 start?
The first issue is cover-dated August 1991 and followed on from The New Mutants #100.
How many issues are in X-Force Vol. 1?
The series ran for 129 issues, from August 1991 to August 2002.
Who created X-Force?
The series was created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza.
Which X-Force issue has the first appearance of Domino?
The real Domino (Neena Thurman) makes her first appearance in X-Force #8, cover-dated March 1992.
Which X-Force issues feature Deadpool?
Deadpool appears in X-Force #2 and #4 in the earliest issues, and X-Force #15 features a well-known Cable vs Deadpool fight.
What happened to X-Force after #129?
The series was relaunched as X-Statix in 2002, following the reinvention by Peter Milligan and Mike Allred that began with #116.
Where should I start reading X-Force Vol. 1?
Start with #1 to #12 for the launch, then look at the issues around X-Cutioner's Song and the Onslaught tie-ins.
Condition grades on our listings follow our comic & book condition guide. Have X-Force comics of your own? See how to sell your comics to Siomic Comics. X-Force and all related characters are trademarks of Marvel. Cover images are shown for reference.