Panini has launched a new collection in Spain starring X-Force that deliberately aims to recover the tone and aesthetic of the mutant comics of the nineties. The series, titled Damned X-Force, arrives at a time when many superhero publishers are exploring a return to classic eras to connect with nostalgic readers, and this title joins that trend with Cable as its main draw.
The comic is written by Tim Seeley and drawn by Michael Sta. Maria, with a brief initial contribution from Billy Tan, one of the artists who began his career precisely in that decade. The proposal recovers the mutant group originally devised by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza, but it does so by rebuilding its lineup with characters from different eras of the franchise.
A Cable that returns to his most classic version
The plot begins with a Cable returning from the future with memory gaps and a series of clues that lead him to assemble a new team. His goal is to prevent an attack against the person who, according to history, will be the future president of the United States: Kamala Khan, the heroine known as Ms. Marvel.
That starting point serves to activate a structure very recognizable within the mutant comics of the nineties: team formation, character introduction, a specific mission, and plenty of action over reflection. Nathan Summers' own memory void acts as a narrative excuse to bring the character closer to his version most associated with Liefeld and Nicieza, with marked poses, a defiant attitude, and his arsenal as a hallmark.
Tim Seeley had already shown interest in this specific era of the mutants in the miniseries Shatterstar, created alongside artist Carlos Villa, where he also recovered elements of the tradition linked to Nicieza, Liefeld, and the final issues of New Mutants starring Cable.
A team built with different mutant generations
Since the original X-Force lineup could not be transferred as is—several of its members have died, changed paths, or are unavailable for editorial use—Seeley has chosen to build a group that combines different stages of the team's history.
Alongside Cable appear Archangel, Boom-Boom, Pyro, and Ms. Marvel, characters who represent different moments in the trajectory of X-Force and mutants in general. Marvel has noted that the intention was precisely to mix members from different eras of the collection, with nods such as the equivalence between Daken and X-23 within that selection logic.
Archangel is one of the clearest examples of that retrospective look. Warren Worthington III connects both with the era in which Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost gave weight to his relationship with X-Force and with the subsequent reinterpretation signed by Rick Remender, which makes this character a kind of bridge between several generations of the title.
Art designed for direct action
The graphic section is handled by Michael Sta. Maria, whose linework focuses on offering dynamism and impact in combat scenes. He does not seek to innovate or distance himself from the style associated with nineties superhero comics, but rather to reinforce that same period feel proposed by the script.
That coherence between art and narrative is, according to the editorial proposal itself, one of the points that works best in this first approach to the series.
A nostalgia that still needs to prove its own worth
Damned X-Force makes it clear from its first pages that its main asset is the conscious recovery of a very specific style. The challenge, for the upcoming issues, will be to demonstrate that it can build something of its own beyond that exercise in nostalgia.
For now, the title offers an agile and entertaining read, with direct nods to the readers who lived through that era, although the plot setup is still conventional and leaves little room to delve into the characters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Damned X-Force?
It is a new collection of mutant comics published in Spain by Panini, written by Tim Seeley and drawn by Michael Sta. Maria, which recovers the tone and aesthetic of X-Force in the nineties with Cable at the helm.
Who originally created X-Force?
The team was devised by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza, and this new series seeks to recover the spirit of that original stage of the character.
Which characters make up the new team led by Cable?
Alongside Cable appear Archangel, Boom-Boom, Pyro, and Ms. Marvel, representing different generations of the history of X-Force and Marvel mutants.
What is the main plot of the first issue?
Cable returns from the future with memory problems and must assemble a team to stop a plot that threatens to assassinate Kamala Khan, the future president of the United States according to history.
How many pages does it have and when was it published in Spain?
The first issue of Damned X-Force, published by Panini Comics, has 80 pages and its publication date is listed as July 2026.
Is it worth reading this comic if you don’t know the nineties X-Force?
It can be enjoyed as a direct and entertaining action story, although the nods and references to the classic era of the team are better appreciated if the reader knows that period of mutant comics.
