What always made X-O a great comic was its attention to the people inside of the characters. These characters are great, and this issue is another excellent example of the distance of these kids. The issue starts with an homage to Paul - and that iconic grave site that's a cover of X-O, as well. The haunting of actions that becomes the armor, Pol Bekhara - feel free to check my spelling on this. It also shows the other sides inside of Orb Industries. If some barbarian were at the helm of some silly corporation, you can rest assured that PILES of bags would be lining up to attack every level of the company. The electrocution - well-timed with the pages - is one of these examples. Excellent comic. Really.
Here come the COMMIES!
Of course Iron Man would agree to a battle Royale sensation to fight some Commie in Albania at some carnival, right? Geez. The premise - and how the characters arrive at this outpost is pretty senseless. Why, oh why? So much of these books have really gone to the dogs lately - it's amazing that either character was really able to survive. Especially comparing the stories to where Spidey was going lately... Great splash at the start of the Cap story, though. Has a ring of Temple of Doom. The issue is a rather good one - by Captain America standards. Bucky is captured - nice. And Cap needs to save him somehow. A little bait and switch in the issue - especially at the beginning - but it's not too bad.