A Ram of a Different Color

X-Force #116
“Exit Wounds”
Writer: Peter Milligan
Penciler: Michael Allred
Colorist & Separator: Laura Allred
Letterer: Michael Allred & Blambot
Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas
Released: May 23, 2001

Finding a comic analogue for the Bengals was easy – I knew the character from “Avengers: The Initiative,” but was not aware of his dark origin or that he was a creation of Fabian Nicieza.

The Rams were tougher. There is a DC character named RAM that was a member of the New Guardians, who were introduced during my mostly Marvel-centric youth. I didn't know they were a thing until the New 52 launched a “New Guardians” title featuring Kyle Rayner.

Marvel, however, has a character called Battering Ram, who looks more like the NFC champs' logo (although his coloring is less fluorescent). And as a bonus, I was able to thoroughly research his history by reading the only issue in which he ever appeared (including a more gruesome picture than I normally post below, so if that bothers you, you might want to skip this one. I will take no offense).

That was “X-Force” #116, which saw the team revamped from the not-so-New Mutants to a star-studded team for a reality TV world. Well, they were star-studded in-story, but the roster consisted of brand new characters: Zeitgeist, U-Go Girl, Gin Genie, Plazm, Sluk, La Nuit, the aforementioned Battering Ram and floating camera... blob, Doop.

The story opens with Zeitgest reflecting back on the manifestation of his mutation, which causes him to vomit forth corrosive liquid and disfigure the girl with whom he was about to have a teenage liaison. The story flashes forward to the character in action with his fellow X-Forcers, attempting to stop a coup in an unnamed North African nation. Sluk's abrupt death in his third panel appearance offers a glimpse of what's to come.

Gin Genie, Plazm, Zeitgeist, Battering Ram, U-Go Girl, La Nuit

His replacement, Anarchist, is introduced at a press conference, and we get a look behind the scenes of this made-for-TV team. Anarchist muses about his future on the team, while Gin Genie claims some of her teammates are trying to destroy her fanbase.

Battering Ram is pretty innocuous through it all, serving as the obligatory bruiser and occasionally telling Zeitgeist he'd like to talk about his role on the team. He tries again in the midst of a mission to rescue the formula-built boy band Boyz R Us. But before he can elaborate, he, Zeitgeist and several others are obliterated by an attack helicopter, leaving only Anarchist and U-Go Girl standing (and Doop floating).

It's a clever take on superheroes-as-celebrities, with the fact that it's a mutant team providing an additional layer. The cover proudly proclaims there's no Comics Code Authority seal of approval, so there's added sex and violence, which is not a bonus feature. But for the most part, it makes sense in the context of the story. Allred's distinctive art is a treat and feels at odds with the surface subject matter, yet perfectly in sync with the satirical nature of the story.

Battering Ram is pretty much a non-factor. Zeitgeist is set up as the point-of-view character, and we get a look into the motivations of U-Go Girl and Anarchist as well. Gin Genie is pretty obviously dysfunctional (if your powers were alcohol-based, you probably would be too). Battering Ram seems like a sensitive, stand-up guy, but we didn't really have time to get to know him before his demise.

That could change with the upcoming revival of the series, which foegoes the second title, “X-Statix” for the new “X-Cellent.” Zeitgeist is on the cover, and the new era of X means death is even less final than it usually is in comics.