SEASON 10: THE X-FILES

After a 12 year hiatus on television, the X-FILES returned for a 10th season last year.  The supernatural and alien invasion themed stories of the X-FILES though are not continuing on TV but rather through a monthly comic book series by IDW Publishing.  If you missed any of these first issues that have already been published don't fret because IDW has recently published X-FILES SEASON 10: Volume 1 which is a hardcover, or digital if purchased on Comixology, collection reprinting the first 5 issues of this series which is telling the ongoing adventures of FBI Agents Fox Mulder & Dana Scully as though it was presented as episodes of a television program.  Readers are supposed to imagine they are watching an episode of the X:FILES on TV as they flip through the pages of a story arc that is supposed to serve as Season 10 in the franchise's cannon.

X-FILES SEASON 10 takes off telling the tale of Mulder & Scully following the Series Finale in Season 9.  They no longer are FBI agents as the comic book stories begin and have gone underground leading lives as normal people, yet they still can't seem to avoid the paranormal.  If you were a fan of the show when it was on TV check out this new comic book that will wind up some loose threads from past stories as it also expands upon the timeline with new adventures that stay true to the X-FILES that kept so many people glued to the tube each week during its broadcast run.  To keep the comic book true to its roots, IDW has even brought in the X-FILES creator Chris Carter to serve as the comic's Executive Producer.

Fan favorites, The Lone Gunmen, are resurrected for Season 10 [I'm not going to spoil the story anymore than I just have by telling you that so you'll have to read it to find out how] and it is great to have them back in the mix.  There are a few resurrections in the series to bring TV favorites to the print edition, but isn't bringing dead characters back to life a comic book given, as we also witness the return of Cigarette-Smoking Man.  Krycek hasn't been brought back...yet?  The comic book also includes FBI agents, John Doggett and Monica Reyes, into its plot who are the two characters that replaced Fox Mulder and Dana Scully when those characters' actors took a break from the television show.  With FBI Director Skinner jumping into the fray to try and save the day the whole gang is back for Season 10!

The artwork for these new comics is drawn in a sketchy gritty context that really didn't impress me or enhance the visual context of the story, but does fit in well with providing a vibe that matches the tone and flavor of the X-Files franchise.  If you are a fan of the original X-Files television show ( I don't believe there are fans of the movies out there, are there?) than I'd recommend picking up the X-FILES SEASON 10 Volume 1 or the monthly issues of this new story arc.  Unfortunately, if you aren't a long-time fan of the X-Files I'd say this is probably a pass.

Here's a sample from the X-FILES SEASON 10 so you can make up your own mind if you want to check it out:

On another note, if you enjoy the Lone Gunmen in the X-Files, they are my favorite characters, than you may want to check out IDW's cross-over series X-FILES: CONSPIRACY.  In X-Files Conspiracy, the Lone Gunmen are the primary focus of the story as they travel the country hunting down the validity of urban myths that also just happen to be other IDW titles:  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, Ghostbusters, and The Crow. These stories portray these comic crossover characters as real life entities within the X-Files universe.  How fun is that!  You don't necessarily need to be a long time X-Files fan to enjoy this series as long as you are someone who "wants to believe."

Here are a few pages from X-FILES: CONSPIRACY

 

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER:  I received a complimentary digital reviewers copy of X-FILES SEASON 10: VOLUME 1 from the publisher.  The views and opinions in this post are my own.  I was not obligated to post a positive review.