X-Force #56

X-Force #56, published in June 1996, arrived during a transitional period for Marvel's mutant titles as the company navigated the post-Age of Apocalypse landscape. Written by Jeph Loeb with interior art by Anthony Winn, the issue features the team during the 'Onslaught' crossover event, a massive editorial initiative that sought to revitalize the X-Men line by pitting them against a powerful psychic entity born from the combined consciousness of Professor X and Magneto.

The cover art, provided by Mike Deodato Jr., reflects the visceral, high-contrast aesthetic that defined 1990s comic book illustration. The issue is noted for its focus on the evolving dynamics within the mutant paramilitary team and its integration into the wider Marvel Universe narrative of the era. While individual issues of this period were often overshadowed by the larger event arcs, they remain artifacts of a time when the X-Men franchise utilized large-scale crossovers to sustain long-term engagement across multiple monthly titles.