A shit-storm of mediocrity, disappointment and rage.

To put it bluntly, “Cable and the X-Force #1” features some of the worst artistic storytelling in my recent memory (I’m sure there are worse examples, but I tend to avoid buying comics that are, well, shit).

First off, let me be fair to Dennis Hopeless. He’s a promising writer, with a good ability to develop an original voice in his characters–as “X-Men: Season One” revealed–and, at its basic core, there’s nothing wrong, nor exceptional, with the story.

But then there is the art. And I don’t mean the drawing, I mean the ability to pace a story through panel selection and image choice and, ultimately, the ability to tell an engaging story entirely through the art—all abilities which Salvador LaRocca either a.) doesn’t have or b.) chose to ignore in this issue.

90% of this comic is packed with horizontal panels roughly the same size, which renders the pacing the same, even though the pacing in the story has changed.

Most infuriating are the dialogue balloons that literally exit the sides and backs of characters’ skulls. There are multiple panels where the back of heads are all you see, crammed with dialogue balloons to cover up the scene. In addition, most of the conversations, which “Cable and The X-Force #1” are chock full of, take place from a FAR distance. Important dialogue is usually portrayed from a distance, even though what is being said is intimate and close.

Overall, there could be something here, but comics thrive because they can tell visual stories in ways books and, sometimes, movies, can’t. However, when an artist doesn’t understand that, see Greg Land’s ability to weigh down Kieron Gillen in the past years, then the writer—and ultimately—the story collapse under it all.