X-Force #1 (2008) Recreation after Clayton Crain by Heubert Khan Michael

In 2008 I found this cover on new comic day and stopped cold. I had never seen X-Force look quite this awesome..I knew of them. Read a few stories here and there. But this issue, made me relook at them. 

I hadn't kept with the X books at this time and learned later why X-Force underwent such a Raiders like paint job and was astounded. During the Messiah Complex crossover event, this team was formed with Cyclops acknowledging to Wolverine that some foes cannot be reasoned with and must be taken out. I had never imagined Cyke ever admitting something like that and especially not to Wolvie of all people so for him to do so AND make Wolvie leader of this Black-Ops incarnation of X-Force was everything. 

Now enter, our artist. Clayton Crain. Amazing painter. Always wanted a piece from this run. Lord and behold, all the art was apparently done digitally. To this day, that breaks my heart as the art is biblical inside the books as well as out. Finally, through the almighty Kirk Dilbeck, I was recommended hiring commission master Heubert Kahn Michael. 

My experience was amazing and Heubert was quite a fun artist to hire which lead to a commission type I enjoy...covers I know I can't or will never own!

Enjoy!