It’s the last issue of the ‘Came Back Haunted’ story arc…and I honestly have no idea what’s going on. I swear, if this issue doesn’t explain things at least a little bit, my eyes may light on fire.
The X-Files #9 (IDW Publishing)
Observations
- Okay, that interaction between Firas and Scully was way creepier than it should have been.
- Huh?
- Wait…how is that…?
- People getting their eyes gouged out, Firas playing soccer with a bunch of kids, soldiers killing people and turning possessed…what the hell is going on?
- *Eyes light on fire*
The Verdict
Okay, let’s say that for the sake of argument (and because it’s entirely possible) that I’m simply just too stupid to follow along with the current plotline. Even if there is a fascinating narrative to be found, it would be completely undercut by the fact people keep randomly becoming possessed/fire-eyed.
Seriously. You can almost time it out. Every few pages, some random person’s eyeballs will get all glowy, people start screaming, and something bad happens. Rinse and repeat. If there are rules as to who or how these random possessions take place…or a clear reason WHY they’re even happening at all…then it’s way past my ability to comprehend things.
Add in an “ending” that isn’t really an ending at all, and I’m beyond relieved to have this story arc be over—although it looks like we’ll be revisiting it at some point in the future. About the only thing this issue has going for it is a cool reference to some old school X-Files mythology (we’re talking 1998 movie-level old school) and some great artwork by Matthew Dow Smith, particularly on the aforementioned (and nonsensical) possession scenes.
Joe Harris normally does great work, so hopefully this was a case of the story being a bit too avant-garde and not a sign of things to come for the series.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
