Marvel has announced The End of X-Factor is coming. Acclaimed writer Peter David will wrap up his incredible run with the misfit mutant detectives and already has a Marvel project in the works but it’s still top secret.
What will happen to the beloved cast of X-Factor Investigations? Time will tell but here are my hopes and dreams for the team. Continue reading X-Factor X-Pectations!
This will truly be the end of an era.
After a decade of writing Peter David is preparing The End of X-Factor.
Back in the early 90’s Mutant Genesis (when Chris Claremont and Jim Lee launched the first X-Men #1) the original X-Men left their series, X-Factor, to join the two new X-Men teams/books.
I remember thinking at the time that they just put an odd mix of characters that didn’t fit into any of the other X-books into this book to keep the X-Factor title going.
I was wrong.
Havok, Polaris, Wolfbane, Madrox, Quicksilver Continue reading Peter David on The End of X-Factor
Once upon a time there were 5 original X-Men (including Jean Grey fresh from her Phoenix cocoon!) in a book called X-Factor. Fans of the title have been on a long strange trip with a wide diversity of team members, leaders and twists in the team’s mission.
Peter David took over the book in the 90’s and X-Factor became the government sponsored mutant team with Havok, Polaris, Quicksilver, Madrox, Wolfsbane and Guido (the Strong Guy!)
The team evolved with different writers and new members (including Forge, Mystique, Sabretooth) but the title came back to Peter David where X-Factor evolved again.
Jamie Madrox founded X-Factor Investigations. The mutant detective agency was born out of the House of M: Decimation and this has been the book’s concept since then. M, Layla Miller, Longshot, Shatterstar and Rictor, Siryn (now Banshee) joined Jamie’s team.
On January 16 the title reached a huge milestone and kicks off a new arc! Marvel shared Clay Mann’s variant cover for X-Factor #250 featuring past and present members of the team in all its variations.
Hell On Earth kicks off in X-Factor #250 on January 16th.
By Editor
Lorna Dane is one of the great tragic heroines of the Marvel Universe. Peter David reveals the truth about the biggest mystery of her life in Day 3 of Breaking Points in this week’s X-Factor #243.
Polaris is the daughter of Magneto. Her mother’s death has haunted Lorna until now. The search for the truth unleashes Lorna’s magnetic fury against her own teammates. Peter David is on fire writing this soap opera packed with drama and great characterization. This issue is tense as Polaris is pushed and pushes back in her obsession to learn the truth about her parents.
Polaris has a history of shock and loss: the airplane crash that killed her mother and the man she thought was her dad, the revelation that the evil Magneto was her real father, being possessed by the mutant Malice, the loss of her mutant powers twice and being dumped by Alex Summers at the altar.
In a series of mind games and magnetic manipulation – M and Longshot finally reveal the truth. It’s worse than Lorna thought!
I LOVE this cover. Polaris was co-created by Jim Steranko. This David Yardin cover beautifully captures the Steranko vibe and how Lorna has been torn and twisted between Havok and Magneto.
The ending of Breaking Points Day Three leaves Lorna and Alex at a major turning point. Havok is joining Uncanny Avengers. I’d like to see Polaris survive and thrive in the Marvel NOW. Back in the early days Lorna chose Alex over Bobby Drake. With the original Iceman coming into the present in All-New X-Men maybe Polaris will have a second chance? I’d love to see Lorna heal the pain, start fresh and become a strong heroine and mutant champion.
By Editor
Peter David is rewarding longtime X-Factor fans for their devotion. The writer is dangling plot threads and long running storylines together in Breaking Points. The first chapters have been excellent regardless of how long you’ve been reading the adventures of X-Factor Investigations.
This week’s chapter is the most anticipated one for me! Marvel teases that a long-buried secret will a member of the team insane.
One of the most tortured couples in Marvel Comics history is Havok and Polaris. The couple recently returned from Shi’ar space and Wolverine placed them with X-Factor Investigations in the book they starred in back in 1990’s also under Peter David’s watch.
Alex Summers will be starring in Rick Remender’s Uncanny Avengers. The younger brother of Cyclops will lead the hybrid team of X-Men and Avengers that will be the first book of the Marvel NOW! relaunch. Will Lorna be joining him? Will there even be an X-Factor title?
Breaking Points appears to be Peter David’s opportunity to wrap up his storylines but is it the end? Lorna’s relationship with Alex and her connection to Magneto will be explored in the storyline. David tells Marvel.com why fans are so obsessed with the Lorna and Magneto and makes a vow.
“Probably because there have been aspects of Lorna’s background that have been left dangling for literally decades. It’s not just Magneto himself; it’s the entire story behind the demise of her mother and father, and whether Magneto had anything to do with it. All of this will be answered.”
Back to the insanity tease…Polaris has been possessed by Malice, became crazy jealous during Chuck Austen’s run (remember Alex and Nurse Annie?)and a pawn of far too many mind games. Will Lorna learn the truth and lose Alex again?
For more of his interview and plans for other members of X-Factor here’s the Marvel.com link. I’m loving the David Yardin cover for X-Factor #243 featuring Marvel’s tortured mutant lovers.
By Editor
Longtime X-Factor fans should prepare to be rewarded for their devotion. Peter David promises bring to dangling plot threads and long running storylines together in Breaking Points.
One of the most tortured couples in Marvel Comics history is Havok and Polaris. The couple recently returned from Shi’ar space and Wolverine placed them with X-Factor Investigations in the book they starred in back in 1990’s also under Peter David’s watch.
Alex Summers will be starring in Rick Remender’s Uncanny Avengers. The younger brother of Cyclops will lead the hybrid team of X-Men and Avengers that will be the first book of the Marvel NOW! relaunch. Will Lorna be joining him? Will there even be an X-Factor title?
Breaking Points appears to be Peter David’s opportunity to wrap up his storylines but is it the end? Lorna’s relationship with Alex and her connection to Magneto will be explored in the storyline. David tells Marvel.com why fans are so obsessed with the Lorna and Magneto and makes a vow.
“Probably because there have been aspects of Lorna’s background that have been left dangling for literally decades. It’s not just Magneto himself; it’s the entire story behind the demise of her mother and father, and whether Magneto had anything to do with it. All of this will be answered.”
For more of his interview and plans for other members of X-Factor here’s the Marvel.com link. I’m loving the David Yardin cover for X-Factor #243 featuring Marvel’s tortured mutant lovers.
By Editor
Steven Soderbergh, Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey are making male stripping cool again in this week’s Magic Mike. When I saw the trailer I was reminded of a comic book Bachelorette party in the pages of The Incredible Hulk.
Rick Jones and Marlo Chandler were friends with Bruce and Betty Banner so when the complicated couple got engaged they got the traditional stag parties courtesy of writer Peter David and artist Gary Frank.
In the classic and offbeat The Incredible Hulk #417 Rick gets a Bachelor party complete with a stripper and stag movie with a surprise. Wholesome Captain America’s discomfort with the naughty proceedings is classic. This is back when Bruce was in control of Hulk’s body but he lost control of the party in a jaw dropping way.
Betty, Scarlet Witch, Invisible Woman, She-Hulk and Crystal of the Inhumans take Marlo out for a wild night too at a male strip club. Betty yells for the dancer to take it off. Marlo gets pulled on stage. Susan Storm Richards wished she was invisible. Sue told Jennifer that the this is not her idea of good taste of a good time. The show is interrupted by would-be robbers who picked the wrong night to try to steal from his joint.
This is not your typical issue and the wedding is even more fun with appearances by Death (of Vertigo Comics) and Peter David himself. I love this Hulk era. Peter David effortlessly mixed heartbreak, humor and humanity among the superheroics and world saving.
Thanks to Marvel.Wikia for assist with the cover.
By Editor
When the Hulk leaps into action to save Iron Man in the Avengers trailer – the screams from the crowd huddled around my computer were filled with joy! The Hulk must really be awesome in Earth’s Mightiest Movie because Mark Ruffalo revealed he’s signed a 6 picture deal with Marvel Films to Collider.
(Ruffalo also reveals there’s a deleted scene with the great Harry Dean Stanton.)
So Avengers 2 is a given but how about a Hulk solo movie? What comic book story would you want to see on the big screen?
I love Peter David’s run on The Incredible Hulk. I especially enjoyed when the merged Hulk – Banner’s mind in control of the monster body – was allied with a group of heroes called the Pantheon. This organization answered to no government and their missions often brought them into conflict with other heroes. I could see a great Pantheon-SHIELD conflict orchestrated by The Leader, a scientist mutated by gamma radiation in a very different way. While the members of the Pantheon took names inspired by Greek mythology, their leader Agamemnon, was half-Asgardian. See the Thor cameo?
Greg Pak’s Planet Hulk would be an out of this world – literally – adventure for the Green Goliath. It’s already an animated movie. The Illumanati (Tony Stark, Reed Richard, Doctor Strange, Professor X, Namor) decide the rampaging Hulk has done enough damage and blast him off to an uninhabited planet to live in peace. The thing about programmed spaceships with a Hulk on board – they can go off course. The Hulk goes through a wormhole and lands on a barbaric world, is forced to become a gladiator, becomes a hero and leads a revolution against the planet’s cruel leader. In the sequel World War Hulk, the Hulk and his Warbound (allies from the arena) come back to Earth to lay down some serious vengeance on the Illumanati. Hulk doesn’t realize until later that he fathered a son on Sakaar until Skaar arrives on Earth ready to resolve his daddy issues with some serious fighting!
By Editor