Operation: Zero Tolerance - 25 Years Later Part 10: Is Everyone A Spy?

Like Generation X, X-Force's involvement with "Operation: Zero Tolerance" was on the periphery. Nothing in the two tie-in issues (technically four though two are unbranded) impact the main story or deal with Bastion. But unlike James Robinson's efforts on Generation X, X-Force writer John Moore seems interested in telling a good story. Moore ties the events of "Operation: Zero Tolerance" into ongoing subplots and character development that makes these issues work effectively as part of the larger story while still feeling distinctly X-Force.

Moore uses "Operation: Zero Tolerance" as a way to forward strong character threads for Dani Moonstar, who makes a return in a big way, and Domino with whom he creates a personal connection to one of the Zero Tolerance troops. And perhaps most importantly, the events featured in the pages of X-Force leave a lasting impact on the series.

The following contains major spoilers for X-Force 67-69.

Operation: Non-Stop Intrigue

X-Force 66 ended with G.W. Bridge asking Domino to save Dani Moonstar (who the team thought had gone rogue but was actually an undercover agent for S.H.I.E.L.D.) from getting pulled up in a Zero Tolerance operation. The "Operation: Zero Tolerance" arc begins there. The M.L.F. takes hostages at the Wakeman Oncological Research Center believing that they're engineering their own version of the Legacy Virus. Local police have the center surrounded but are relieved by Zero Tolerance's forces under the command of Ekatarina Grayaznova.

X-Force 68

Domino, Sunspot, and Siryn approach Zero Tolerance posing as reporters and talk their way into the facility (or at least they believe that they do--Grayaznova recognizes them) while Meltdown, Shatterstar, and Rictor watch from inside a nearby van. When their signal to the undercover team is cut, the trio in the van leap into action only to be apprehended immediately by Zero Tolerance. The undercover team has similar luck and are identified by the M.L.F. almost immediately. And worse--as the two teams start to fight--the hostages reveal themselves to be prime sentinels. In the ensuing chaos Forearm of the M.L.F., Dani Moonstar, Sunspot, and Siryn escape while Grayaznova takes Domino prisoner and subsequently lies to Bastion about it.

Grayaznova reveals to Domino that they have a shared history. Years earlier, when Domino was on a mission in El Salvador, she damaged a remote piloted robot, sending an electrical pulse back to the operator: Ekatarina Grayaznova. Grayaznova ended up comatose, received long after as a result of the sentinel prime upgrades she received from Operation: Zero Tolerance.

Gone Rogue

At first the commander's interest in Domino appears to be simple revenge. And while revenge does motivate her, Grayaznova is working for a clandestine unit that helped position her, after her injury, to be "recruited" into Bastion's prime sentinel program. In repayment of that Grayaznova is allowing the medical unit to examine Domino, Shatterstar, Meltdown, and Rictor.

Grayaznova's delay in transporting her prisoners allows Sunspot, Siryn, and Dani to catch up and free three of the four captives (Domino is already lost and on her own, running from Grayaznova and Zero Tolerance but not quite remembering what was done to her).

X-Force 69

The Grayaznova subplot is one of several instances where the prime sentinels are humanized. Once again we have a prime sentinel who didn't volunteer for the program (though Grayaznova seems to have a level of autonomy most prime sentinel sleeper units don't), and in this case it leads to a very complex character. The Zero Tolerance commander is out to betray just about everyone in the interest of revenge, and it's interesting to see how Moore layers in the conflicting priorities as she juggles who she's least loyal to at any given time. For an effectively one-and-done villain (X-Force defeats her in X-Force 70-71 before she reappears and dies in X-Force 82), Grayaznova is compelling and effective.

Back at the Mansion

Cable's involvement with "Operation: Zero Tolerance" takes place primarily in his own series which splits off from X-Force 67 into Cable 45 just as things get going. In X-Force 67 Cable is already at the mansion tending to Caliban who's been suffering from seizures of late. At one point early on, after putting Caliban to bed, Cable is approached through the air by Angel.

X-Force 67

This is a minor but noticeable continuity gaffe because Warren has been away from the team since he got his wings back in Uncanny X-Men 338. He and Psylocke aren't present for the beginning of "Operation: Zero Tolerance"; when they return to investigate the unfolding crisis they are transported to the team from Uncanny X-Men who have just returned to Earth far from the events of the crossover.

Part way through X-Force 69 the issue cuts to Cable and Caliban underneath the mansion as they try to escape. This syncs up the events of X-Force 69 and Cable 46. Cable's involvement will continue in issue 47 of his series before he reunites the team in X-Force 70 as it faces the fallout of these events.

Due Process

Following the resolution of the crisis at the Wakeman Center and after Grayaznova has secured her four X-Force prisoners (Domino included), she is confronted by an F.B.I. agent who disputes her authority to unilaterally apprehend people, even if they are mutants, without due process.

This is a point that has been brought up over and over again as the X books have built up to "Operation: Zero Tolerance." Senator Kelly, during his initial rehabilitation tour back in Uncanny X-Men 299, was harping on this concern even back then and writers have continued to present him as the voice of reason who is greatly concerned about the rights of mutant Americans.

X-Force 68

It wasn't really necessary to include this theme in the story. Anti-mutant X stories have often glossed over the fact that as Americans, mutants would have certain rights under the law--at least theoretically. Lobdell and Hama could have brought "Operation: Zero Tolerance" to essentially the same ending without dwelling on this topic at all (as will be covered in part 12 covering X-Men 67-69). But addressing it bluntly and repeatedly allows the writers to bring in explicit historical comparisons (the call backs to the internment of Japanese Americans and the use of the phrase "final solution"). 

The choice to include it as part commentary within the story also allows the very generalized equality metaphor that is attributed to X books to have greater meaning. Basic due process for all people is something we know should happen because none of us are more than one degree removed from a Law and Order episode. But we also know that things that are supposed to happen don't always happen. It's good that the writers made this theme a significant component of the story, and it's nice to get an example of morality and law actually being on the same side.

X-Force 67

A Tie-In Done Right

I had forgotten how much Adam Pollina's pencils remind of the 90s MTV cartoon Aeon Flux. The way most of Pollina's characters tend to be long and lean is distinctive, and with Madureira's Uncanny X-Men not being involved in the story and Bachalo going through a jailbait phase in Generation X, Pollina's work on X-Force 67 and 69 might be my favorite of the entire event. Pollina is an artist I wish we'd have gotten to see more of after his work on X-Force ended. He obviously didn't stop doing comics, but his ability to diversify his projects means we don't get to see as much comic work from as we might otherwise. Though I certainly don't begrudge him his success. If his work is any indication, he continues to have a very creative mind.

One of the highlights of these issues is the way the story weaves its character arcs alongside its plot point. As already noted, it made Grayaznova a compelling villain. And it keeps a level of tension running through most of the X-Force scenes because Sunspot is not understanding of being kept out of the loop on Dani's undercover mission. This discontent rears its head multiple times.

X-Force writer John Moore expertly threads the needle between telling a story that is completely dominated by a crossover event on one hand and completely disinterested on the other. Not having to write for the varsity team like Lobdell and Hama means that Moore's issues don't have to be dominated by "Operation: Zero Tolerance" even as they're included within the story. But unlike Robinson on Generation X, Moore takes advantage of the possibilities that "Operation: Zero Tolerance" presents in order to advance his own plot threads.

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For an index of the entries in this "Operation: Zero Tolerance" retrospective, jump back to the landing page here. And for an issue-by-issue commentary check out Twitter @theronscomics #XMenOZT.

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