X-Force #7-10 (2008-2009)

First of all, I’m reading this while I’m deep in the morass of Secret Invasion and it’s very nice to read a book that has zero skrulls in it.

Because this is truly a team book, there are multiple plotlines that advance in these issues in addition to the main story where Vanisher is hired to steal the Legacy Virus from Mister Sinister. 

Warpath leaves the team temporarily to go home and investigate the murder of his entire extended family, where he gets attacked by Demon Bear and saved by Ghost Rider(!)

After they defeat it, they learn that the Demon Bear was a bunch of innocent animal totems who had been fused by dark magic of unknown origin, and Warpath’s deceased ancestors were implicated as well.  Warpath’s personal journey is largely about his past, and all of this works well–the introduction of Ghost Rider feels right as the agent of vengeance is helping Warpath deal with the effects of his entire family being killed.  He emerges knowing that Eli Bard was behind that massacre.  Don’t know who he is?  That’s okay, I didn’t remember either.  He used to go by Eliphas, and was turned into a vampire by Selene.

In fact, the next issue after this arc is titled, “Who the Hell is Eli Bard”?

Rahne is still troubled by her own wolf-like behavior in prior issues.  She’s also being stalked in the real world by Hrimhari, the Wolf-Prince of Asgard, who was her love interest during the now-classic New Mutants’ adventure in Asgard.

Also: Angel is still Archangel.  SHIELD is looking into the Purifiers.  Various interteam politics create suspicion and character conflict (all great to read, by the way).  Graydon Creed, who has been brought back to life by Bastion, is back to leading an anti-mutant political movement and Bastion has installed Trask into the Department of Defense.  He’s also still using Cameron Hodge for various tasks.  So all those once-dead folks are going to be trouble in the long run.

But again, main story: Vanisher stealing the legacy virus.  

Cool face tats, man.

X-Force pursues him to Japan.  Domino is after him as well and after one of those “oops!” fights based on the fact that superheroes always think with their fists, they team up and capture Vanisher.  To force him to work with them and tell them where he’s hidden the virus, they give him a brain tumor. Because this book is hardcore.

But they’re too late.  He says he was attacked by the Marauders and they now have it.  And also a right-wing paramilitary group wants it.  So, lots of folks fight about it.  Several Marauders die.

During the big fight, the vial of Legacy Virus (inevitably) breaks.  X-23 is infected and tries to literally burn herself in molten steel to kill the virus but Elixir is able to heal her.