X-Force

So here we are again, watching the middle part of a story unfold. And I'd like to get the stuff I don't like out of the way first. The art is sloppy to me, but I knew what to expect with Crain's work. Don't get me wrong, it fits that mood of the X-Force series, it's just very muddy. The story kind of works better than last issue, it feels like it's going places, but bounces between Cable and Bishop talking about their goals, the paths they've taken to get where they are & who is getting screwed over in the given situation.
The story starts with Bishop explaining that he is right, Hope must die and that all the bad things that have hit mankind in the last few centuries don't matter because he's going to kill Hope and some how that will fit everything. But the nagging question in my mind is, isn't the future we're seeing the future without Hope's influence? Only time will tell.

We then catch up with the X-Force, Cable & Hope... oh and Deadpool. Cable runs down the list of things going down in his mind, the fact that if the people fighting by his side are the current X-Men, the world is a very different place. And not that I don't understand why, but Cable has really become an over-protective dick. If Hope is out of his sight for more than a half second, than he has his gun to someone's head. 

We hear through Bishop's second rant how he was able to get Stryfe to take Apocalypse out of the picture, a plot thread you know will come back to bite him in the butt someday.

We get some interesting conversation between Deadpool and Domino, Stryfe coming to kick some ass and then a cliffhanger.

Not bad. I really want to feel like I'll read X-Force or Cable after this crossover is done, but I get a very strong feeling that neither one of these series is going to be worth reading after this story is over. I want to like X-Force!!! But the art drives me nuts! And the writing is kind of slow, but I have to remind myself that this is a story told by several writers, so I give it credit for being part of a larger story. But as the crossover reaches the mid-point (I think) I begin to wonder if this is going to be worth all the buzz. Still, if  you like the characters or have been following this story so far, pick this up. It did sell out, so good luck.