I want to believe in ‘X-Files: Conspiracy’ but… the truth is not in here

Okay – I’m all for mash-ups but this one has to be read to be believed, and trust me: I want to believe.

X-Files: Conspiracy starts with Mulder, Scully, and fan favourites the Lone Gunmen, who receive an email warning them of a deadly virus. The problem is that this email seems to have been sent from the future.

Okay – typical X-Files story – a great idea based on pop science. Mulder throwing out wild theories that Scully needs to verify. Lots of action. Mysterious characters who either try to kill everyone or provide our heroes with much-needed insight. Clues that seem to be even more impossible than the original mystery. The usual.

Until the Lone Gunmen need to ask the Ghostbusters for help.

Uh, yeah… I’m not kidding. X-Files: Conspiracy is the first issue in a cross-over event that includes four other titles: Ghostbusters, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Crow.

Like I said, I want to believe that this will work, though I can’t quite, at least not yet. I can accept the idea of Transformers, and I suppose I could accept the Crow or even the Ghostbusters. But not the “Manphibians.” It’s too much of a stretch, way too hard to believe for a ground-breaking sci-fi thriller like the X-Files. It’s a bit much.

Unfortunately, not much can be said for the art in this one either. Figure perspectives often seem to be off and characters look different, sometimes embarrassingly, from panel to panel.

The only thing that I can say in defense of this title is that if anyone can eventually pull it off, it’ll be IDW. They have done successful cross-franchise titles in the past before and it’s a testament to their quality that they’ve worked. So, even though the pairing of TMNT and X-Files seems unlikely, they actually might be able to make it worth reading.

I think I’m going to have to open a file on this one and see how it develops.

Believe me.