Tag: Polaris

X-Factor Reunion Pt 2

 

  I experienced an enjoyable sense of Deja Vu this week from X-Factor #230. It’s a reboot event and some mutants are left without a team for post-Schism dodgeball! Rogue (via writer Mike Carey) brought Havok, Polaris and Rachel Summers back from deep space. Rachel signed up to teach at the Jean Grey School. Havok and Polaris seemingly had no place (or X-title) to call home until this week when Logan brings the long-suffering lovers to X-Factor Investigations.

  I could help but think back to the aftermath of the Muir Island Saga when a second X-Men title was born (and the original X-Men left X-Factor for these books) and X-Force, Excalibur regrouped back in the early 90’s. I was an ignorant youth back then when I thought ‘they just put all the leftover characters in this other title that doesn’t have anybody!’

X-Factor #71 courtesy Marvel.com

  Havok, Polaris, Madox, Wolfsbane, Quicksilver and Guido (I’m the Strong Guy so call me Strong Guy) became the mutant team working for the U.S. government. I was a huge fan of Peter David from The Incredible Hulk so I gave this team of what I thought were leftovers a try – and it was perfect.

  Peter David and Larry Stroman took these refugees from every corner of the mutant-verse to create a team that was compelling and often hilarious.  David transformed background mutants into major characters I cheered for and cared about.

  This X-Factor faced Mister Sinister’s Nasty Boys, Helle’s Belles and even went up against the Hulk and the Pantheon in the “War and Pieces” crossover with The Incredible Hulk. The government team were part of the X-cutioner’s Song crossover with their mutant cousins. Joe Quesada later became the artist and co-created Random, an X-Factor enemy turned ally. 

X-Factor Visionaries Peter David Volume #1 courtesy Amazon

  Earlier I recommended this is the time to join or rejoin the drama and fun at X-Factor Investigation with this week’s #230 but should go back in time to see the rebirth of X-Factor when Alex and Lorna first joined the motley mutants.

  There’s a good reason why they call it X-Factor: visionaries because Peter David is brilliant at taking the oddest assortment of characters and evolving them into a compelling “family” you want to be part of.

X-Factor Reunion Pt One

X-Factor #230 courtesy Marvel.com

  X-Factor #230 wasn’t a point one issue but I felt the urge to pick up the book after a long absence. The stunning David Yardin cover (with Wolverine) was tempting and heck I’m trying everything else with the Regenesis banner. I’m excited to encourage you to book an appointment with X-Factor Investigations. This issue is a lesson in what point one issue should be.

  This is what a ‘jumping on’ or in my case ‘jumping back on’ issue is all about – a character driven story showing just enough to provide an introduction and invitation to learn more about the agency’s diverse, fun, engaging staff.

  Emaneula Lupacchino’s art is gorgeous. She makes the characters expressive with their facial cues and body lanaguage giving you part of the story.

  X-Factor leader Jamie Madrox is dead to the team but really travelling through other dimensions. Wolverine’s guest appearance isn’t just a sales stunt but a critical part of the team’s evolution. Logan and Butterfly share a moving exchange as she grieves for Jamie, but is there for another purpose. Wolverine is recruiting X-Factor for his plan for mutantkind and brings in their newest members – Havok and Polaris – more on that reunion later.

 X-Factor #230 is “my one book you should try this week.” I just made up a new segment! I felt like I never left and I think you’ll want to get to know the enjoyable cast of X-Factor.