Agent X #7 is the final issue by Gail Simone and Udon, both of whom are leaving the book in favour of... [checks Previews]... in favour of a two-part fill-in by Karl Bollers.  Yup, that's going to send those sales soaring.  Mind you, after that they're giving the book to Evan Dorkin, which might be nearer the mark.

Anyhow, Simone and Udon's run stretches back to Deadpool #65, assuming you're prepared to take Deadpool and Agent X as being the same book in all but name.  While it doesn't have the darker psychological undertones of the early issues written by Joe Kelly, it has gone back somewhat towards the approach that made those issues work - played for laughs, but with genuine characters and stories underlying it all.

To be honest, this isn't the best issue in the Simone/Udon run.  Agent X is hired by demented omnifetishist William (he's aroused by everything) to recover his stolen prize possession: the underwear of Marie Antoinette.  While it's engagingly silly, William and his nemesis are both a little too weird to work as characters - they're overpowered by their gimmicks and don't get to show much personality otherwise.  Having said that, the gimmick still makes for some decent jokes, such as William completely losing interest in the plot so that he can gaze lovingly at a spool.

The issue also ends with a slightly awkward scene in which Alex proposes the formation of Agency X, only for half the cast to turn him down and promptly write themselves out of the book.  This has the distinct ring of a last minute deck-clearing exercise, and feels like it's been bolted on with a rivet gun.  Nonetheless, that tends to be the way with the final issue of cancelled titles, and that seems to be how many people are treating this issue.

It's not a bad issue by any means - it's funny, it's entertaining.  It's just that there have been many better issues in the Simone/Udon run.  Where else were you going to get the Rhino turned into a keyring and trapped in a habitrail?  Precisely.

Rating: B

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