Uncanny X-Force #18

So "The Dark Angel Saga" a.k.a. "This is how comics are written" has come to its conclusion, and rather than a review of the final chapter of the story, this is more of a reflection about what went well with this arc.  Was it a problem that encompassed 18 issues, lasting about a year and a half? No.  Was it a problem that it featured more than one artist? No.  Was it a problem that it involved characters from an alternate dimension not every reader is aware of? No.  Why? Because the writing was so well executed that none of that mattered.  Without pretensions, Uncanny X-Force has surpassed the flagship mutant titles, and has certainly put the never-ending Marvel events to shame.  For once, Wolverine was not the last man standing to save them all, and we did not have to be annoyed with companion mini series and tie-ins.  The creative team led by Rick Remender and Jerome Opeña has just schooled everyone on what real comic book writing is *cough, Brian Michael Bendis*.  Hands down this was the best Marvel story of 2011.