After a very long and involuntary hiatus, The X-Files: Season 10 is back with its 21st issue. "Elders", the first part of five, kicks off in high gear with a teaser that makes it clear times have changed for the forces in the shadows.
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Since the earlier issues of Season 10, we've gotten brief glimpses of a mysterious figure donning glasses. This figure is back as the driving force behind the plot of "Elders". As it explains in the teaser, he is responsible for bringing back members of the syndicate that we've lost in the past, including Deep Throat and CSM. He's also responsible for pointing out the shadow play that the syndicate has been carrying out all these years is a system that's defunct. "The time for secrets is over..." the mysterious figure claims as we realize that he might be even more dangerous than all the men that once were part of the syndicate. You know you're in for a ride when all of a sudden Spender seems like the most non-threatening person in the room.
Cut to Mulder and Scully ditching work for a day at the fair. It's relaxing fun that's short lived because out of the crowd comes a woman who starts throwing accusations at Mulder... and then she trains a gun on him. "You must remember me, Agent Mulder. I know you do," the woman says as she starts shooting onlookers. She blames him, of what exactly... we're not sure, but she surely seems disappointed in him. Scully screams for her to drop the weapon, but the woman points the gun at herself now, claiming that Mulder is responsible, before she pulls the trigger. "Don't ever forget that..."
In the past, witnesses' accounts would be downplayed or exaggerated because of hearsay, but nowadays we have smartphones, cameras, twitter and facebook. Soon enough, the news spreads everywhere, painting Mulder and the FBI under a negative light.
Back at the office, Morales lends a skewed support to her agent, which makes Scully livid. His records are being examined, any link to this woman will be found, and Mulder is still stunned by what just transpired. The event has uncovered an operation from Mulder's past: "Project Chillmark". This was a side venture that he embarked upon while misusing Bureau funds to interview people that had described themselves as abductees. While he tries to downplay just how much he diverted FBI money into this project, the importance of this discovery is not about the value of that money but about the fact that such an operation ever took place under the veil of FBI related business. The media is eating it up, with dozens of witness videos from the fair surfacing, and reporters ranting, naming FBI Special Agent Mulder as a person of interest. It doesn't look good for the Bureau, not good at all.
The issue gets bigger when Mulder refuses to follow Scully's motivated desire to look for outside counsel in this situation. The truth is that he feels they should leave it alone, confessing that he indeed was somewhat related to the woman. He'd interviewed her many times in the past, corroborating her experiences and making her an active part of his investigations. The problem arised when he discovered that she had a history of mental problems that would discredit his efforts. So he walked away from her, and she felt abandoned in her own pursuit for the truth... rejected and unsupported. He'd even issued a restraining order on her.
Scully tries to ease his feelings about it but then he comes out with the last part of the tale. The woman that had so vehemently pursued him to continue searching the truth with her, had also killed herself... in 1991. The woman at the fairgrounds couldn't be the same woman. Or could she?
As they step out of the Hoover building the media vultures outside wait for a statement and Scully sets off to shield Mulder from them, allowing him to escape their scrutiny. But as he takes the side alley to walk away from the mass of cameras and microphones, he's intercepted by a group of men in trench coats who kidnap him.
In a trashed room somewhere in New York, CSM takes a drag of his cigarette as the media reports on the fairgrounds case and the internal investigation triggered by it. "The time for secrets might be over, my friend... but the time for elders has only begun to dawn."
Glasses man might have a plan, but so does he.
Written by Joe Harris, with art by Matthew Dow Smith and colors by Jordie Bellaire, "Elders" part one will be the first out of five issues that will explore this story. I find it intriguing and interesting, and it's definitely what I come to look for in this comic series. I can't wait for what Spender has to say and do to keep a hold of the reins of the conspiracy, of Mulder's life, on the pieces of this game. I've always appreciated Harris' take on the development of the mythology of the show, even where there are so many angles to cover, it's a bull that he's gotten good at riding and steering.
I enjoy the character development in "Elders"; I find it very natural and in sync with the situation and the stage that we're at. Seeing the planted seeds sprout is great too; finally some explanation might be forthcoming to touch upon the many "dead" characters coming back to play. I also feel giddy about the lengths that "Glasses man" will go to to prove that "secret's time" is over. Where did he come from and how did he evolve to hold this position of power over men that received no orders but from themselves? How did they find someone or something even more threatening than them? I hope we see enlightenment about this soon. Although I'm sure a long road lies ahead.
Another point I'd like to bring up is the cinematic aspect of this issue. The team really excels at this. Dow Smith and Bellaire have established a chemistry with Harris that works seamlessly and that's very satisfying, straying away from the shorthand and relishing in multidimensionality and movement. The work is there to support each aspect of the story; it's brought to life by its art and colors. In turn, each stroke expands delightfully thanks to a story that allows for Dow and Bellaire's best assets to come out and play.
To be honest, and I've said this in the past, I'm no purist when it comes to comic books. Most of my education on them isn't far from sticking to separating this format from any other like TV or Film, and my predilection is for the moving picture. Having said that, I hope not to be offending the comic book professionals out there when I say that this comic series feels like a movie. My purpose with this comment is not to say that a comic isn't good if it doesn't remind me of that, but it's an added bonus for my reading experience.
It feels great to have this series back after the forced hiatus because of the port disputes in Long Beach, CA. Thankfully it didn't happen in between consecutive parts. Which brings me to an issue that we've been talking about amongst ourselves while we waited for IDW issues to be released. I wonder if it's not a better arrangement to have issues every two weeks when long multiparters like this one come out. I find waiting five months to have the storyline presented to me way too long to maintain the hype and edge of seat sensation that we always crave. You could make the argument that you could buy the issues and read them all in five months time, or just read them over and over again, but I wonder if there is a way to find a middle ground about this. I know the speed of content production might come into play, but I think it's a valid point to bring up.
The covers by Francesco Francavilla and Matthew Dow Smith are great, and if I were to pick a favorite, I'd pick Dow Smith's. It tickles me how CSM is portrayed so magnanimous and almost deity like.
"Elders" part two comes out in April. Make sure to visit your local comic book store and support your neighborhood shop! You can also get your hands on these via Comixology. Let IDW know what you think! Write to them to