The X-Files: Season 10, Volume 1 by Joe Harris & Others: Review

The X-Files: Season 10, Volume 1
Title: The X-Files: Season 10, Volume 1
Author:
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Publication Date: December 2013
Length: 104
Series: The X-Files: Season 10 (Volume 1)
Reason for Discovery: Galley

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
 
From GoodReads:
 
For years they investigated the paranormal, pursued the 'monsters of the week,' and sought the truth behind extraterrestrial activity, along with the grand conspiracy surrounding it rooted deep within their own government. But when AGENTS MULDER and SCULLY reunite for a new, ongoing series that ushers THE X-FILES into a new era of technological paranoia, multinational concerns and otherworldly threats, it'll take more than a desire 'to believe' to make it out alive. The X-Files: Season 10 also sees creator Chris Carter return to the fold as Executive Producer!
 
Mulder and Scully are living a nice and quiet life in the suburbs. Fortunately for fans of The X-Files, Skinner visits the two ex-agents and warns them that something dangerous is afoot. Mulder and Scully discover that a strange group of mysterious figures is after Scully's baby! Also, Agent Doggett is on a case of his own. 
 
I discovered The X-Files late into the show's history. Season six was on air at the time. Between Fox and FX, I was able to quickly catch up with the series. I loved the chemistry between Mulder and Scully and the fun adventures they went on. I used to frequent X-Files websites and discussed conspiracy stories about the black oil and grey aliens.
 
Before I review the comic, I should note that this is not a good book for someone who is new to The X-Files. Readers need to be familiar with the basic mythology of the show. As I mentioned in the summary, this adventure focuses on Scully's baby, which was a plot point in one of the last seasons of the show. I didn't see all of the episodes in the final season, but I felt comfortable with what was happening. If you didn't complete the series' run, I would recommend at least reading the Wikipedia page, so you know what is up.
 
This is a tricky book to review, because this is the first volume of the story. There are a few things that bothered me, but these issues may be resolved in the next volume. Let's talk about these issues and end on what I liked. :) First, I am a little iffy on how Mulder and Scully are being written. They don't feel like Mulder and Scully to me, especially Mulder feels a bit off. I have been watching the early seasons of the show, so this might be biasing me as to how the characters act, since Mulder and Scully did grow and change through the series. Second, in the final seasons of the television show, there were several character deaths. Some of the characters appear to have returned from the dead in this comic. One of the characters who has risen from the dead seems a bit off, so maybe the character isn't who the character says the character is. Other characters who have returned from the dead for the comic state in this book that they never died. I find this to be in poor taste. I don't want to say more in fear of spoilers. Of course, this is the first volume in the series, so maybe this situation will change in the later volumes.Third, the text was really hard to read. This may just be a galley/e-book problem; however, I wanted to mention it, especially if you are going to buy the e-book. This text problem is a routine issue in galleys though.
 
Let's discuss what I liked! I was very happy the season appears to be written in one straight forward plot arc. In Buffy: The Vampire Slayer: Season Eight, some of the issues would go off into a weird direction and wouldn't always connect with the rest of the story. Also, some of the issues in Buffy would incorporate a different illustration style. The X-Files had a nice consistency through the book. Although I am a big fan of the monster-of-the-week episodes, I liked that the story is opening with a big conspiracy storyline. I think it is necessary, if we are going to have an X-Files comic. It would be nice to see a separate storyline with just monster of the week episodes. They could even be stories that take place during the television series.
 
Overall, I am cautiously optimistic for this series. I have to give the single volume a 2 out of 5, but I could see myself bumping it up to a 3, if the future volumes are stronger (and my concerns with the current volume are explained away).


 
 

5 comments:

Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer said...
December 23, 2013 at 11:00 AM

Books after the series can be tricky. I adored the television series and this duo. Sometimes fan fic works but this sounds like it has some big issues to get around. Wonderful review! Merry Christmas Pamela :)

Tabitha (Pabkins) said...
December 23, 2013 at 8:38 PM

Thats cool! I don't know if I'd pick it up though since I think I stopped watching XFiles probably around season 6 even...I'm not sure its been years since I watched - though I own all the seasons and movies but just haven't finished lol.

Michelle @ In Libris Veritas said...
December 23, 2013 at 10:34 PM

I use to watch this when I was a kid but it's been so long, I really need to watch the series again. I didn't know they have comic books out, so maybe after I catch up I'll check out some of them. I hope this series gets better for you!

Unknown said...
December 25, 2013 at 12:18 AM

I just couldn't get past some of the characters coming back from the dead. I am hoping that I am just being overly worried and that the story will turn out to be awesome. I will see if the next volume ends up at my library.

Unknown said...
December 25, 2013 at 12:24 AM

Don't worry. I own all of the seasons and movies too, and I don't think I have actually watched all of the DVDs. I think I have seen everything except for chunks of season 9. I watched one episode of season 9 that was the Lone Gunmen TV show finale and the final episode or two of the series (my friend and I went to see the second movie and we thought we should know how the series ended).

I feel like The X-Files could translate really well to a comic book setting. Unfortunately, the TV show decided to go out with a bang and kill a host of main characters in the final season. Now they are left scrambling to figure out how to bring back some quintessential characters to balance out Mulder and Scully.

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