Messiah CompleX, X-Force, Rob Liefeld

I read a fantastic little missive in this month's CBG about Rob Liefeld. For those who aren't old enough to remember, Liefield came out of basically nowhere in the early 1990s to become the highest-paid cartoonist in history - he even made a Levi's 501 jeans commercial (he ate too well to do Calvin Klein) - and then he and some of his friends told The Big Two to bite it and formed a little outfit called Image.

Anyhoo, this one guy said he went to a con and saw this guy sitting around, doodling, telling kids to bug-off. He walked over to the guy, recognized his work, and said, "I love your comics," the guy responded, "Yeah, I doubt you buy my comics" and walked off. It was Rob Liefield!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Priceless.

Whatever happened to Savage Dragon? That was fun and Liefield had improved by leaps and bounds by then (he always drew really weak hands); I'll buy your comics, as long as you keep treating people like that! Rock right the heck on, Mr. Man!

Anyway, Liefield founded a team called X-Force, which is still going over to Marvel and this here official Marvel press release has some information on that title just for Messiah CompleX fans:

The newly formed X-Force has found their target—the new mutant child—but with a surprising foe in the way, can victory be achieved? In New X-Men #45, featuring Chapter Eight of the sold-out Messiah CompleX, the mutant strike force battles for their very survival, while the New X-Men are tasked with a mission of grave importance that will determine their futures. But with the X-Men’s ranks depleted, X-Force engaged in mortal combat, Layla and Madrox held captive and Predator X on the move, the future doesn’t look bright for the forces of good!

Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on New X-Men #45 and all upcoming chapters of Messiah ConmpleX, as all released chapters have sold out quickly at Diamond. Once the deadly three way battle for the new mutant concludes, each side must deal with the life-changing consequences. Will this new X-Force survive their first mission? Who has the new mutant? There’s only one place for the answers and it’s New X-Men #45, featuring Messiah CompleX Chapter Eight.

Don’t miss a single chapter of Messiah CompleX.

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 1 of 13
X-MEN: MESSIAH COMPLEX ONE-SHOT NEW PRINTING (SEP078124)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by MARC SILVESTRI
Wraparound Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
Rated T+ …$3.99
On-Sale—11/29/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 2 of 13
UNCANNY X-MEN #492 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (SEP078145)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by BILLY TAN
Cover by BILLY TAN
Rated T+ …$2.99
On-Sale—12/05/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 3 of 13
X-FACTOR #25 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (OCT078038)
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by SCOT EATON
Cover by SCOT EATON
Rated T+ …$2.99
On-Sale—12/12/07

MESSIAH COMLPEX – PART 4 of 13
NEW X-MEN #44 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (OCT078075)
Written by CHRISTOPHER YOST & CRAIG KYLE
Penciled by HUMBERTO RAMOS
Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—11/29/07, On-Sale—12/19/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 5 of 13
X-MEN #205 (SEP072238)
Written by MIKE CAREY
Penciled by CHRIS BACHALO
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by J.SCOTT CAMPBELL
Rated A …$2.99
On-Sale—11/29/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 6 of 13
UNCANNY X-MEN #493 (OCT072133)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by BILLY TAN
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by JIM CHEUNG
Rated T+ …$2.99
On-Sale—12/05/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 7 of 13
X-FACTOR #26 (OCT072135)
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by SCOT EATON
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
Rated T+ …$2.99
On-Sale—12/12/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 8 of 13
NEW X-MEN #45 (OCT072137)
Written by CHRISTOPHER YOST & CRAIG KYLE
Penciled by HUMBERTO RAMOS
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—11/29/07, On-Sale—12/19/07

MESSIAH COMPLEX – PART 9 of 13
X-MEN #206 (OCT072139)
Written by MIKE CAREY
Penciled by CHRIS BACHALO
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
Rated A …$2.99
FOC—12/06/07, On-Sale—12/28/07

X-MEN MESSIAH COMPLEX POSTER (AUG072315)
24x36 Color Poster…$6.99
On-Sale—NOW!

MARVEL SPOTLIGHT: X-MEN – MESSIAH COMPLEX (OCT072141)
Written by JOHN RHETT THOMAS
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—12/06/07, On-Sale—12/28/07

X-MEN: MESSIAH COMPLEX - MUTANT FILES (OCT072142)
Written by ERIC J. MOREELS, CHAD ANDERSON, STUART VANDAL, DAVID WILTFONG, SEAN MCQUAID, CHRIS BIGGS, MICHAEL HOSKIN, MIKE FICHERA, RONALD BYRD & MADISON CARTER
Cover by SCOTT KOLINS
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC—12/06/07, On-Sale—12/28/07