• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket

Comic Book Review – The X-Files #14

May 31, 2017 by Tony Black

Tony Black reviews The X-Files #14…

“Resistance,” Part 1 (of 4): Scully receives an invitation from Firas Ben-Brahim after months of silence, and she soon discovers the dark secrets he’s been keeping from her… and the rest of the world.

SEE ALSO: Check out a preview of The X-Files #14 here

The final curtain prepares to drop in this latest issue of The X-Files ongoing comic series, not just for this continuation run as it stands from IDW, but also writer Joe Harris’ almost five year tenure as the keeper of the conspiratorial comic flame. Joe and artist Matthew Dow Smith both discuss this on recent episodes of my podcast The X-Cast in more detail, but ‘Resistance’ begins a four part arc which connects back to the mid-season four part story ‘Came Back Haunted’ and the premiere ‘Active Shooter’, continuing the story of a mysterious, seemingly alien presence capable of possessing human beings, and the connection to it of Firas Ben-Mikklesen–uh Brahim, an enigmatic industrialist and philanthropist who here slips neatly into the role of slick informant of the like Agents Mulder & Scully have encountered over the years in their search for ‘the truth’.

Even though part one of ‘Resistance’ is very much an exposition-heavy, scene-setting piece, it nonetheless immediately rewards long time readers by getting straight into the guts of the story; Scully looking into Ben-Brahim, a man there have been past hints she may well be attracted to (hints Harris lightly plays on here, mainly through Mulder’s reactions) and through her interactions, we begin to glimpse connections between what Firas describes as the ‘Old Ones’ and much more familiar elements of the classic X-Files alien mytharc, which should put a smile on the face of any X-Phile purist.

Harris places Scully in the role of deliverer while Mulder remains laconic and distrusting, which fits the older portrayal of Mulder we saw in the recent tenth series; these days he is far less given to lapping up ‘truth’ with a wooden spoon, no matter who may be providing it, while Scully has more of a balanced determination to cautiously head down the rabbit hole and see what they find. Along the way, Harris nicely shows us new sinister governmental forces looking to keep the truth at bay, and once again continues his mission statement of reminding us we live in a murky world where our administration cannot be trusted, and one senses the parallels to our current, real world political landscape may grow less and less opaque the deeper his final arc goes.

As always backed up by Dow Smith with panels filled with shadow and edgy texture, Harris’ first goodbye salvo with ‘Resistance’ is a solid beginning, filled with continuing character and mythology pieces, some dark and nefarious scenes, and a brooding, ominous final moment which suggests some serious stakes are in play. Oh, and, final fanboy geek moment: that mention of Tunisia in Scully’s files connected to Firas – ten to one his father is Conrad Strughold from Fight the Future. Calling it now!

Rating: 7/10

Tony Black

Originally published May 31, 2017. Updated November 21, 2019.

Filed Under: Comic Books, Reviews, Tony Black Tagged With: IDW, Joe Harris, Matthew Dow Smith, The X-Files

FMTV – Watch Our Latest Video Here

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

The Essential Man vs. AI Movies

Ten Action Sequels The World Needs To See

The Most Disturbing Horror Movies of the 1980s

The Contemporary Queens of Action Cinema

Ten Unmade Film Masterpieces

Ranking Horror Movies Based On Video Games

The Essential Indiana Jones Rip Off Movies of the 1980s

The Essential Movies About Memory

Must-See Modern Horror Movies You Might Have Missed

Underappreciated Action Stars Who Deserve More Love

WATCH OUR MOVIE NOW FOR FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

Top Stories:

The Essential Action Movies From Cannon Films

4K Ultra HD Review – Krull (1983)

Eight Essential Sci-Fi Prison Movies

Movie Review – Hamnet (2025)

10 Great Forgotten Gems of the 1980s You Need To See

10 More International Horror Movies You Need to See

Movie Review – Little Lorraine (2025)

Movie Review – Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025)

Movie Review – Night of the Reaper (2025)

Movie Review – Nouvelle Vague (2025)

STREAM FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

FEATURED POSTS:

Godzilla Minus One and the Essential Toho Godzilla Movies

Who is the Best Final Girl in Horror?

Cannon Films and the Masters of the Universe

Max Headroom: The Story Behind the 80s A.I. Icon

Our Partners

  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket