The X-Files Season 10 #1 Review

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The X-Files Season 10 #1 Review
By Andy Frisk
July 9, 2013 - 22:50

IDW Publishing
Writer(s): Joe Harris with Chris Carter
Penciller(s): Michael Walsh
Colourist(s): Jordie Bellaire
Letterer(s): Robbie Robbins

Picking up after the events of the last (and at this point most likely final) X-Files feature film, The X-Files Season 10 #1 "Believers" Part (1 of 5) reunites long suffering fans with their two favorite sci-fi/horror/thriller characters of all time: Mulder and Scully. Attempting to live as normal a life as they possibly can in Spotsylvania County Virgina under assumed names, Mulder and Scully receive a surprise visit from an old friend from The Bureau who informs them that someone has hacked into FBI files and took a special interest in the X-Files. Maybe it's nothing...but in the world of The X-Files saga nothing is coincidental and the truth is always out there.

Seeing Mulder and Scully portrayed in stories that advance the overall tale of the FBI's most fictionally maligned, yet pop culturally influential, agents is this X-Files fanatic's dream come true, even if, now that Mulder and Scully officially have a "Season 10" COMIC BOOK instead of another film or TV series, we will most likely never see them in live action again. Nevertheless, I will take this very well written, and Chris Carter "executive produced" and co-written, comic book story any day over only being able to watch series re-runs on Netflix (even though I still do that) to get my Mulder and Scully fix. "Believers" Part 1 (of 5) has the look, feel, tone, and gravitas of the original series. Obviously, Chris Carter's influence is strongly felt here. Setting the stage for all new stories flush with new conspiratorial conflicts, while referencing some of the events tied to the series' original overarching mythology, The X-Files Season 10 #1 is the perfect jumping on point to those new to the X-Files mythos and as well as those aforementioned long suffering fans.

Artist Michael Walsh manages to capture the true to life visages of the actors David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, and Mitch Pileggi, as Mulder, Scully, and Skinner, without resorting to simplistic facial reproductions. The characters in the book look like their namesakes (and the actors who portrayed them), but they aren't just obviously hand drawn copies of still shots. They are much more alive looking here than in any other renderings of them I've seen before. Where Walsh succeeds most artistically though is through his panel and perspective layouts. Several times in issue 1, from the introduction of Mulder to Scully's frightening flight through darkened streets, the panel layout is evocative of the brilliant production and direction values that the late Kim Manners brought to the original television series.

So while we might never see another X-Files film, all of us who loved the series and its characters will still have at least an opportunity to believe as long as The X-Files Season 10 is with us.

Rating: 9.5/10

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