The X-Files: Season 10, Volume 3 by Joe Harris

The X-Files: Season 10, Volume 3 Reviews

• 
  Katie.dorny

  I am always and forever X files trash.
• 
  Stephen the Librarian

  Recycling seems to be the name of the game for author Joe Harris and the rest of those behind this Season 10 continuation of The X-Files. As a long-time fan of the show, I had high hopes for this graphic revival, especially since the '90s comic series by Topps was outstanding in every respect. Unfortunately, the same thing cannot be said for this latest batch of X-Files comics, for which the notion of original stories and characters seems wholly outrageous.
  
  As previously suggested, recycling is Harris' modus operandi and he goes to great lengths to resurrect tired plotlines—and not to mention EVERY character that’s been killed off in the course of the televised series. Either IDW was contractually obligated to squeeze every supporting character and classic story arc into this 25-issue title OR they don’t seem to realize that it's entirely possible to manufacture fresh stories as opposed to rehashing old tropes and dearly departed characters. Cancer Man, the Lone Gunmen, Krycek, Mr. X—these were exceptional characters who helped make the series successful in its heyday. There’s a reason, though, that Chris Carter & Co. thought it best to kill off those characters. The nihilism of bringing them back—especially in vague, outlandish ways—not only reduces the impact of their deaths but serves as an injustice to their memory. As sensational as many of the show’s story concepts were back then—like the Black Oil, the Flukeworm, or even the alien abductions at Skyland Mountain—seeing them reintroduced here reeks of flagrant fan service and does little to draw readers into the book.
  
  IDW’s efforts to keep The X-Files alive after all these years is praiseworthy, yes, but it’s the gratuitous rehashing of well-trodden concepts that gives Season 10 a stale, unrefined taste. For those X-Philes in need of a Mulder and Scully fix, this book may help reduce your craving—that is, if you don’t mind seeing your favorite plots and characters beaten into the proverbial ground. And for those of you who believe these bygone characters and tired alien conspiracy storylines have outstayed their welcome, you'd do well to give this volume a wide birth.
• 
  Quentin Wallace

  This is a full "mythology" volume. It has the return of the "black oil" as well as the origin of it. Also, the return of Krycek, and we get to see how he and the Cigarette Man returned. Overall it was an important piece of the X-Files mythology, but really I didn't like it as much as the previous two volumes. It's a little far out even for this series.
  
  Once again though, if youre an X-files fan you should read it.
• 
  Mel

  Ok I really liked this one too. Another black oil alien, and Kryckeck brought back from the dead. Mulder and Scully investigating in Saudi Arabia. There were a couple sweet moments, but annoyed that the only time they were in bed together Mulder was possessed ;)
  The art isn't great, like sometimes it's a little hard to tell who the characters are but I'm getting used to it.
• 
  Lucy

  I don't even fucking know anymore. The faces are so terrible, and without the vocal cues I don't know who's who half the time.
• 
  Matt

  KRYCEK!!!
• 
  Christopher

  Written again by Joe Harris, The X-Files: Season 10, Volume 3, while still not quite as good as the first volume (which is titled Believers), is an improvement over the second volume. The second volume lacks linearity because it is comprised of four separate stories that are not related to one another, and it is also somewhat jarring because the stories feature different artists, and the art consequently drastically changes at times. The third volume, however, which features a story titled Pilgrims, features one single story over its entire course of five chapters (like Believers), and it also features one single artist, Matthew Dow Smith, throughout its entirety. This makes for more of a page-turner because, as a reader, you are anxious to get to the end of the book to find out how the story ends. Fans of The X-Files should be delighted to see a familiar face return in this graphic novel - none other than Mulder's archnemesis himself, Alex Krycek. Krycek plays an integral part in this story, which is unsurprisingly about the black oil from the television show's alien mythology. (I say that it's unsurprising because Krycek and the black oil often went hand in hand throughout the television series.) While I did enjoy reading this graphic novel as a fan of The X-Files, I cannot bring myself to give it any more than three out of five stars for a couple of reasons. One of those reasons is that there were parts of this graphic novel that were somewhat difficult for me to comprehend. Something that I occasionally struggle with regarding comic books and graphic novels, because your visual perspective is much more limited than it would be watching a television series or a film, it is sometimes difficult to ascertain exactly what is happening in front of you. As I said, you're not getting any movement, just snapshots. The scene that initially confused me the most, for example, was the scene at the very end of the graphic novel, although I won't explain precisely why because there is unfortunately no way of doing that without spoiling the plot. The second reason why my rating is what it is is that, as I had also observed throughout the first two volumes of this series, Harris really seems to struggle with accurately capturing these characters, especially Scully. Scully occasionally does and says things that I cannot imagine her doing or saying on The X-Files, and this is, perhaps, a common struggle for extended universe writers. Several years ago, for example, I couldn't even bring myself to get very far into an X-Files novel (titled Ground Zero) that I was reading because Scully was so grossly out of character. It's not quite as bad here as it was there, but it's enough to bring my rating down. I, as I said, though, overall enjoyed it, especially due to its return to the alien mythology that was mostly absent from the second volume of the series.
• 
  Letande D'Argon

  This volume makes it absolutely clear for the reader - this series sucks and there's no way it'll ever improve. Long story short - instead of trying to actually work with what we already had in the original show and trying to write a smart and interesting ending, instead of trying to get rid of all those pathetic loose ends... Joe Harris just finds the ridiculous excuses for everybody to be alive. And don't get me wrong, I do think that reviving The Lone Gunmen was a good idea. Just because the guys had the most pathetic ending in the original show and they sure deserved better. I mean, come on! They even had their own show that was cancelled for some weird reasons (with 9/11 attack most likely playing a big part in it). So, Lone Gunmen - I'm totally in with the idea. But now it's just that - Joe Harris is trying to undo what has already happened in the show! Just because it looks like he doesn't have enough imagination to work with the actual stuff. Boom! He's alive. Boom! He's alive too. BOOM! EVERYBODY'S ALIVE! What a bunch of nonsense...
• 
  Bicho

  Tercer tomo de la temporada 10 que, como ya dije en el tomo 1 y en el 2, nada tiene que ver con la que se ha visto posteriormente en la tele.
  Cabe aclarar que detrás de estos comics (perdón, perdón, cierto que ahora se les llama novelas gráficas), denominados Temporada 10, estuvo Crhis Carter, y que sucedieron, como si de una continuación se tratase, a la temporada (hasta ese momento) final, la 9, retomando la historia donde esta la había dejado.
  Lo curioso es que Chris Carter continuó la serie en TV, años después, con unas temporadas 10 y 11 que también continúan la temporada 9, pero que nada tienen que ver con los comics.
  Hay teorías muy interesantes sobre esto, sobre una bifurcación en el tiempo, que se produce en la temporada 9, y la partición de la realidad en (al menos) dos partes, una de las cuales sería la los comics (ay, perdón, otra vez: novelas gráficas) y otra la de la serie de TV.
  Es una teoría interesante, sobre todo por los fundamentos que la sostienen y que no voy a mencionar acá.
• 
  Angus McKeogh

  I don't read many graphic novels overall but I loved The X-Files and when I found this Carter approved continuation of the story line I bought the lot of the books. And I actually find them very entertaining. The only knocked, which was unforeseen at the time, is that when the actual show came on again for a brief sequel a year or so back the storyline is naturally very different than what's happening in these graphic novels. But I'd still give it a thumbs up.
• 
  Wolverinefactor

  Mediocre art. Convoluted story. Just a hot mess
• 
  Dony Grayman

  Edición argentina, tomo 3 de 5. Incluye los cinco capítulos de la saga Peregrinos.
• 
  Jeff Jellets

  
  I have questions. I lack answers. And I seek the truth in all things, no matter how elusive … or how much it frightens me to the very core.
  
  Volume 3 of IDW’s The X-Files: Season 10 is a five chapter single-story arc (entitled “Pilgrims”), which sends FBI agents Mulder and Scully to Saudi Arabia to investigate a terrorist attack on an American petroleum site. Of course, introduce ‘black oil’ into any X-Files show, and fans will pretty much guess where this is going: it’s not just Saudi crude that’s been bubbling to the surface, but the goopy, body-possessing alien consciousness (first introduced in season three of the television series) that is about to trouble our two favorite agents.
  
  I was worried that as author Joe Harris slid back into the deep end of the X-Files mythos that this arc would be rather murky, but thankfully, the plot ends up being fairly straightforward: a recently unearthed, alien oil puddle wants to return to his home in outer space, while other aliens -- employing a time-displaced Alex Krycek as an assassin -- try to stop its departure. As in other volumes, Harris does a great job with the ‘voices’ of Mulder and Scully – the first chapter has some particularly good one-liners – and the ‘third generation’ Syndicate – that shadowy group of government puppet masters – is both a sinister nemesis and a nice through-line for the entire series.
  
  However, while I generally like the art by Smith and Bellaire, my major gripe is that key characters aren’t always easily recognizable. For example, the pivotal ‘surprise’ appearance of Alex Krycek at the end of the first chapter … falls completely flat … because even with a passing knowledge of the old television show, the character is unrecognizable. This problem could have been easily fixed, with just the addition of a small word balloon from Mulder, exclaiming “Krycek!”, and the pay-off would have been there. Instead, it’s a bit of a crucial, missed opportunity. There are other places in the book where this lack of clarity muddies the storyline and a bit more text could have helped immeasurably by helping us identify who is who.
  
  I still like this series; it continues to do an amazing job of capturing the mood and atmosphere of the original television series while doing its best to tie-up some of the show’s most tantalizing, dangling plot threads. Despite some minor flaws, I found the third volume in IDW’s X-Files revival to be the strongest entry so far.
  
• 
  Musicalfiona

  Endlich geht es mit der 10. Staffel weiter! Dieser Sammelband enthält die Einzelhefte 11 bis 15.
  
  Nachdem ich die ersten beiden Sammelbände regelrecht verschlungen hatte, freute ich endlich den dritten Sammelband in der Hand zu halten. Doch am Ende wurde ich mit mehr Fragen als Antworten zurückgelassen. Das ist zwar so typisch Akte X, aber wenn eine gewisse Wartezeit auf den nächsten Band zu überbrücken gilt, ist das nicht sonderlich schön.
  
  Es fängt wirklich spannend und überraschend an. Auch wenn der Klappentext schon einen Hinweis auf einen Teil der Handlung liefert, habe ich damit nicht wirklich gerechnet. Ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass noch einmal das schwarze Öl aufgegriffen wird. Gerade wo es gegen Ende der Serie eher um die Supersoldaten ging.
  
  Mir fielen fast die Augen aus dem Kopf als ein weiterer totgeglaubter Charakter wieder auftauchte. Auf der einen Seite habe ich die Erklärung um das Erscheinen von Alex Krycek verstanden habe, so seltsam finde ich sie auch. Irgendwie ist das doch ein wenig sehr weit hergeholt. Da ist zwar eine logische Erklärung vorhanden, aber mir persönlich gefällt es nicht. Bei Star Trek geht das für mich klar, aber nicht bei Akte X.
  
  Anfangs konnte ich der Storyline gut folgen, aber gegen Ende hin gibt es immer wieder Sprünge, die ich nicht nachvollziehen kann. Vielleicht bin ich zu blöd dafür... Aber so hat es mir weniger Freude beschert weiterzulesen.
  
  Mich haben jedoch ganz besonders die Zeichnungen gestört. Alles viel, viel zu dunkel. Zu viel schwarz. Oft hatte ich nicht mal das Gefühl Scully und Mulder vor mir zu haben. Auch Krycek wurde nicht sonderlich gut getroffen. Ich fand es einfach enttäuschend.
  
  Alles in Allem ein solider Comic, aber mich hat es einfach nicht befriedigt. Das stimmt mich schon traurig. Daraus kann man wirklich mehr machen!
• 
  Jim C

  My rating is 3.5 stars.
  
  This collection is all about the alien mythology. An oil site in Saudi Arabia has dug up more than crude oil and leads our two favorite agents into an investigation. During this investigation we see the return of some characters but more importantly we do get some answers to questions that have been asked since the first collection.
  
  During the final years of the television show I believed the mythology episodes went off track and didn't make sense. This collection seems to be righting that mistake and I am glad about this development. In true X-Files fashion this collection leads the reader down roads that one cannot anticipate. It also provides us with some answers and even more questions. I do admit that a certain story line might be a little too "out there" even for this show but I do not care as I am so interested in how this all plays out. I still have a complaint about the artwork as I don't think it is the best. Sometimes I will read a certain panel and I have to try to figure out who is the character.
  
  This is an enjoyable collection and all in all this season is enjoyable as it carries on the tradition of the show. The voices of the characters are spot on. This collection just heightens my anticipation for the upcoming mini series.
• 
  S

  I tried not to read the whole thing in one go but I failed... I really enjoyed reading this, as with the last two ones. I just terribly miss the show! (But guys- only 16 more days until the new episodes!)
  I found this to be the best one of the Season 10 comics so far! It was like an exciting mythology episode and I really liked Mulder and Scully's voices and their interaction in this. I also enjoyed the art, I thought the main characters were always very recognizable (maybe except for Krycek a few times...). Story-wise, I really hope there are some answers in the next volume, esp. concerning what happened in the last few pages!
  
  
• 
  Aaron

  Hot on the heels of Volume 2's version of the classic X-Files stand-alones/MOTW we are treated to Volume 3's full-blown mythology story which manages to be more interesting than a lot of the mythology episodes from the last few seasons. I was initially disgusted to see YET ANOTHER familiar face back from the dead, but the story on that managed to be way more interesting than I was expecting so I've forgiven it and look forward to more. I'm giving the 4th star for what's probably a 3 star effort because it looked like X-Files and it felt like X-Files, and that's what I was looking for in this series.
• 
  Brooke

  I didn't like this one nearly as much as I liked the previous two. I understand the author's desire to untangle the mess of plot holes and loose ends left behind by season 9, but some things really don't need to be revisited. There was too much going on here. Black oil, faceless aliens, Krycek, inference of time travel (?!)... Confusing. Also, the parts that took place in Saudi Arabia made me slightly uncomfortable. In the second scene of the book, a security guy at the Saudi airport is searching Mulder's luggage, and Mulder is making jokes about underwear and porn. Icky. Hopefully Vol 4 is better.
• 
  Ryan Mishap

  Okay, I'm saying the same things over and over: retains feel of original show, good story, lots of revelations, etc.
  
  So. What was your favorite thing about the X-files? Why did the TV show end in such a horrible, un-follow-able mess? You know, the people who did Lost promised they wouldn't end their show like the X-files--they used it as an example of unsatisfying endings--but they did anyway. Bastards.
• 
  Dave Suscheck

  I like the mythology that this volume deals with and the artwork inside, but there is some very similar moments and dialogue that come right out of the show. It's just repackaged as new. I don't know how I feel about that. And there are some confusing moments in Pilgrims 4 and 5 that jump around and it's not entirely clear what's happening. Then those threads are left unexplained. It felt a bit rushed, but otherwise a solid addition to the storyline.
• 
  Jon Huff

  Still solid. This time we get a single story again. The returning characters don't bother me as their return seems to be part of the point of the story. But, it would be nice to have some more fresh concepts. I like the new artist overall. Everyone was pretty recognizable. But, I will say sometimes the storytelling was muddled. I had no idea what was going on in the pages toward the end of the book.
• 
  Phoebe Jeziel

  More X-files fun! A whole bunch of faces that we thought were gone... BUT APPARENTLY NOT OMG.
  
  This just gives me sooooo many theories for what they're going to be doing for the upcoming mini series ahhhh!!!!
  
  Personally, the second volume so far has been the most creepy and well done, but still really enjoyed this one!
• 
  Isis Molina

  These books feel like an episode of The X-Files. Some of the storylines are pretty unbelievable but I still enjoy them. I love seeing old characters and I am really looking forward to finding out more about William! My dear William. I need him to be okay. Mulder and Scully never disappoint.
• 
  Alex

  I loved the x files season 10! It brought in the old and added a mix of new in almost the only way an x files story could. I would easy read this lot again, it added mystery, questions, answers, shocks, action, geekness, humour, science, adventure and above all else a great read.
• 
  Trae Stratton

  Fans should be enthused by this volume featuring the return of the black oil and new twists concerning the mysterious conspiracy driving the plot. Newcomers might find themselves frustrated by the very same vagaries that old fans are so fond of.
• 
  Ystyn Francis

  I am just loving having new X-Files to read...
• 
  Goosey

  If this is a peek at what's to come when the show comes back... I am SO excited. In true X-files fashion, this volume takes current events and puts its own conspiracy filled twist on them. Great fun!
• 
  Josh

  WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON. WHY IS EVERYONE BACK FROM THE DEAD AND WHO IS THIS MYSTERY BESPECTACLED DWEEB WHO IS PUPPETEERING THIS WHILE OPERATION. AAAAHHHHHH
• 
  Andrew

  It's X-Files. The story goes on.