This week brings us the first in what will (hopefully) be a series of one-shot anthologies exploring alternate versions of The X-Files mythology. This issue tackles a tantalizing scenario where Fox Mulder was abducted decades ago instead of his sister Samantha
Is it good?
The X-Files: Deviations #1 (IDW Publishing)
The Plot
- Freaking hippies. That’s what you get for running in platform shoes.
- This all seems very familiar.
- Like, super duper familiar.
- Not surprisingly, Samantha behaves a lot like Mulder—but with a much better sense of focus.
- No matter who gets taken, that abduction scene still breaks my heart ☹
- I like Samantha Mulder and Dana Scully working together.
- Wait…what?
Is It Good?
I was pretty excited when I heard Amy Chu was writing this. Unfortunately, the great chemistry she builds between Scully and (Samantha) Mulder is bogged down by a painfully generic narrative.
Samantha is different from Mulder, but not enough to warrant much of a story. And then we have the ‘twist’ ending, which is more random than shocking. I guess it could have been a great springboard for a story arc, but as a one-shot, it feels depressingly lame.
One thing that saves this issue from being a complete disaster is the artwork by Elena Casagrande and Silvia Califano. In addition to the beautiful pencils, their paneling on each page is exceptionally well done. There’s also a great two-page spread with Scully/Mulder’s investigation charted over a map of their various stops and pathways.
This is a great creative team that I would love to see do another Deviation issue. This one, however, made me wish for an alternate timeline where the book gets rewritten with a story that lives up to its compelling premise and potential.
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