Comical Books: "X Files" in the 90's

The Internet is going nuts about the new "X-Files" episodes currently in production.

But this 90's Topps comics series is as good as, if not better than, the new series is likely to be.¹

They've recently been collected in four hardcover volumes² and if you like yourself some "Files," you will like these here comics.

Not much black oil or high-ranking government conspiracies in sight. We're mostly in freak-of-the-week territory here.

The writing varies. Some of it's pretty cheeseball, with bad puns and weak jokes, such as this gem from Kevin J. Anderson:

Get it? "Dig up"? Can you "dig" it?

There are also some wacky supernatural shenanigans that go way beyond anything you'd see on the show, such as the soul-sucking camera demon that gets defeated by using the camera to suck the demon back into its own camera:

Is that tech based on the Ghostbusters' trap?

And heck, let's talk about the trenchcoat that has a magic mirror inner lining that drains people's lifeforce and transfers it to the coat's wearer:

So yeah, the comics aren't all peaches and cream. There's some sardines in this ice cream treat. But even when it's bad, it's entertaining.

There are a few different artists at work, but the best stuff is by Charlie Adlard. He later became known for the long-running "Walking Dead" comic- maybe you've heard of it?³ His style is so distinctive, parts look like colorized panels from his black-and-white "Walking Dead" work:

Dead-eyed villains are an Adlard specialty.

It's all surprisingly colorful, too. The show was all shadows and dark rooms, but there are plenty of primary colors splashed across these pages. Makes for more of a fun read and it's refreshingly non-gritty.⁴

There's a new series of "X-Files" comics, too. They're called "X-Files- Season 10" and they continue the story from where we left off on the show:

I've read a few volumes of them. They're solid. More long-range arcs and fewer freaks, but fun. They resurrect some of the show's villains, which smells a bit like creative bankruptcy. But hey.

So there you go. Plenty of "X-Files" goodies to tide you over until the new series comes out and we can all nitpick it to our heart's content!⁵

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1. Heck, if it's new "X-Files" stories you want, there are countless spin-off books and two feature films. Did any of you see the 2008 "I Want To Believe" film? I hated it the first time I saw it, appreciated it the second. Very flawed and interesting, lots of odd narrative choices.

2. Available on Amazon as "X-Files Classics" but watch out for the Season 1 comics- they're literally just adaptations of the show's first season. Brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Department.

3. As a bonus, they even foreshadow his work on the zombie comic a DECADE in advance when they drop its title at the end of one of his issues:

4. If you're not experiencing media grittiness fatigue, you're not paying attention.

5. And if you really don't feel like waiting, just re-watch the original episodes. They hold up pretty well! Heck, you probably haven't seen or don't remember seasons 6 through 9 where they were meh with a good episode here and there. Even better- watch "Supernatural" or "Warehouse 13" or any of the infinite number of shows that owe a lot to "X-Files."

6. BONUS FOOTNOTE! I discovered these comics' existence while flipping through old cardboard boxes on a sentimental journey through my hometown comic shop. Public service announcement: Support your local comic shop while you still can! You'll help them stay in business and find all kinds of goodies in the process.

-Phony McFakename

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