'The X-Files: Deviations' #1 Review: Gillian Anderson's Dana Scully One-Shot Comic Book!

IDW Publishing continues their investigations with the paranormal in The X-Files: Deviations #1. FBI agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) takes the first issue reins of this one-shot comic book from writer Amy Chu and artists Elena Casagrande and Silvia Califano. 

As we previously mentioned, we all know the origin story of Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Anderson). When he was a young boy, Fox witnessed the alien abduction of his sister, Samantha. Even though he became a laughingstock, Mulder worked up the ranks of the FBI to create The X-Files program. The Cigarette-Smoking Man and other government officials hired Scully to use her knowledge of science and discredit The X-Files.

Writer Amy Chu deviates (see what I did there) from the origin tale and switches gender. Instead of Samantha being kidnapped, it's actually Mulder who happens to be taken away. Samantha works tirelessly to find out what happened to her missing brother. I loved how Chu puts in the famous lines from the pilot and has Samantha say them now. Chu captures the chemistry right away between Samantha and Dana through their witty dialogue.

Because the script presents a younger Scully, artists Elena Casagrande and Silvia Califano aren't focused to the exact details of Anderson's facial features. Scully is more expressive and vibrant, thanks to the colors by Arianna Florean. Even though there are two illustrators, I couldn't really tell who did what. Maybe that's the point because the drawings felt very fluid. 

After the quick introduction, the story moves away from pilot. The premise feels fresh and new as Samantha and Dana jump into their first case together. 

RATING: SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY

If you need a fixing after the Revival finale of The X-Files, this is definitely what you need. After establishing its premiere I can't wait to see what happens next after The X-Files: Deviations #1.