Last issue was a wonderful character-based story where a several members of X-Factor let their hair down, had a good time and settled the darkest demons of their soul. It was great. This issue is very similar, being an entirely character-based story which sees the members of X-Factor acting and interacting like real people instead of superheroes. While definitely a good read, this issue lacks the spark of energy and excitement that the last issue had.

X-Factory #238

Still, any issue where Multiple Man and Strong Guy banter about getting special jackets for their ‘Deathbeaters’ club is a good issue to me!

Comic rating: 4/5: Good!

This is more of a transition issue than anything else, moving characters around to continue with the various stories being told. I wouldn’t say the issue suffers from being a transition issue, it mostly just suffers from mediocre writing and less-than-stellar art. Basically, all of the various members of X-Factor bump into each other and have little chats about what they’re up to and what stories they’re a part of, not all of which are connected. They make jokes, there is some humor, but mostly it’s just light, standard chatter. This issue is another example of why the cast of this book is just too big. With so many people making appearances, they only get a few panels and a few lines to make an impression. It doesn’t work for all of them.

Unfortunately, the art also takes a step back this week with new artist Paul Davidson. The characters are OK, and you can tell them apart thanks to their costumes, but it just looks a little amateurish. The art is just not very good.

Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more!

We open in Ulster County, New York, where a police officer is at a carnival being chased by a shadowy woman. His gun is ineffective, and then the woman uses some kind of sonic screech to kill the poor man – similar to X-Factor’s own Banshee. Over the top of this death, Multiple Man is narrating about how life is pretty much a crap shoot, and the only constant is death.

Cut immediately to Multiple Man and Strong Guy talking about how they’ve both come back from the dead in recent issues. Peter David show off his mastery of comic book transitions in this issue. Madrox and Guido are watching over Longshot, who’s still unconscious from the physic attack he suffered a few issues ago. Guido suggests they have jackets made for their ‘Deathbeaters’ club, and Madrox wonders if vampires should also get jackets. But Guido doesn’t think vampires should get jackets. It’s a fun little scene, but not as funny as these two characters usually can be.

All vampires are named ‘Dracula’

Can I just say that the friendship between Madrox and Guido has been sorely lacking from this series as a whole. These guys were the best of friends back in their old X-Factor days, but they barely spend any time together in this new series, and we’re getting close to 100 issues. Madrox and Guido would make a fantastic comedic pair, especially with PAD’s skills with dialogue and humor. But alas, they’ve been kept apart for some reason. So seeing them together in this issue is great! I’d always loved the idea that Multiple Man, Strong Guy and Wolfsbane had all come from very different origins in the comic book world, but they were randomly slapped together on a team in the 90s, and from that randomness they developed a friendship that stuck with the characters for years. Even PAD recognized this friendship in his MadroX mini-series that preceded X-Factor, when it was the three of them who first opened X-Factor Investigations. Now Wolfsbane couldn’t be further from the two of them, and Madrox and Guido barely hang out.

I wish this trio had become the heart of the series. Oh well.

Madrox and Guido are relieved from Longshot duty by Shatterstar, who volunteers to take over. When Madrox and Guido are gone, Shatterstar stands over Longshot’s body and Shatterstar’s eyes begin to glow. Oooooo, mysterious!

Meanwhile, Madrox and Guido continue their banter over a couple of beers.

Amen, brother

Madrox tells his buddy that everybody pretty much feels like that nowadays in regards to politics, so he’s not alone. This is what I mean about the jokes. They feel a little forced. The writing is good, I like the camaraderie between the two of them, but it’s not up to Peter David’s usual skill.

Then Guido drops the bomb that he knows Madrox is knocking boots with Layla Miller. Madrox eeps and asks how Guido knows. His buddy replies that Layla smiles at Madrox when she thinks nobody else is looking. Adorable.

We cut to Havok’s office, where he’s taking a phone call from Wolverine. In the middle of all this Avengers vs. X-Men nonsense, Wolverine has taken the time to learn about that murder in Ulster County, and he’s given X-Factor a call to investigate. Havok has M in his office for some reason, and they take a moment to give lip service to Avengers vs. X-Men. X-Factor doesn’t have an official tie-in, which is odd considering Havok is Cyclops’ brother. But here it is anyway:

Tie-in achieved!

So much for the tie-in! Though ‘Laser Gazer’ is awesome.

At any rate, Madrox comes in and Monet excuses herself. Madrox wants to discuss Far Sight, the kid from the X-Ceptionals in Seattle who killed himself a few issues ago. Madrox doesn’t think it was suicide – and we, the reader, know it wasn’t – and he wants to investigate. The two bicker a bit about who’s a better leader, and whether or not Havok is there because he believes in X-Factor, or because Cyclops wants to keep an eye on them. The dialogue is fun, but again, it feels subpar compared to what we’ve seen from Peter David in the past.

Havok tells Madrox that he doesn’t need Havok’s permission to investigate Far Sight’s death. It’s not like Havok controls Madrox’s movements, after all. But Madrox went to him to make sure Havok wouldn’t undermine Madrox’s position on the team. Whatever friendship once existed between Havok and Madrox is now more of a pissing contest. They don’t seem to dislike one another, but the rivalry is there.

Their dispute is broken up by Pip telling Havok that the girls have returned from their road trip last issue.

Business as usual

Elsewhere, Rictor visits Rahne in her room. Last issue, Rahne decided to go and find her son. When Rictor finds her, she’s packing up, and she tells Rictor all about her plans. This is a much more confidant Rahne than we’ve seen in a long time, and she thanks him for being there for her…until she turns and sees that Rictor has left the room.

In another room, Havok is filling Banshee in on Wolverine’s news about the murder up in Ulster County. Madrox, Polaris and Layla are there as well. There’s a brief bit of comedy where Banshee thinks he’s talking about Ulster, Ireland…but he’s not. Also, Guido’s right!

Nobody’s looking!

Adorable.

Anyway, Banshee agrees to take the case after learning that three members of the MacAllister family have been killed by sonic vibrations over the past few weeks. Havok tells her that he’s in as well. They’re going together.

Outside, Rahne starts out on her quest to find her son. She quickly finds Rictor and Shatterstar waiting for her. They’re going with, because that’s what friends and family do for one another. It’s a big adorable teamwork moment.

Inside, Polaris (who is back to wearing her hideous green superhero costume) finds Monet reading. They talk about Longshot and how Monet hadn’t been able to find any trace of him when she didn’t a telepathic surface scan. She’s worried about digging any deeper into Longshot’s unconscious mind, because she doesn’t know how it will effect him. Frankly, as far as she knows, he could be unconscious forever.

Up on the roof, Madrox finds Layla playing golf. Since Layla ‘knows stuff’, Madrox asks if Far Sight really committed suicide or if he was murdered. Layla tells him that Far Sight was indeed murdered. Then they go back and forth about the key evidence. It’s a little confusing, what with time paradoxes being confusing by definition. Layla tells Madrox that he’s going to investigate the death and learn from Far Sight’s teacher that he was illiterate – and therefore he could not write his suicide note. But since Layla just told him all of that, Madrox asks why doesn’t he just go with it? But Layla says that she can’t know about the illiteracy unless Madrox first learns it from the teacher.

Confusing, yes, but they end the conversation by being adorable again.

Adorable and sexy!

Elsewhere, Havok and Banshee are driving towards Ulster County. No Quinjets or Blackbirds for them, they’re just driving in a car. And Havok is still dressed like a superhero. They talk briefly about Havok and Polaris’ relationship. Banshee has noticed that they don’t hold hands or any of the other cutesy things that couples do. Havok says that after spending so much time in space, and their constant on again/off again status, he can never really be sure where they are at any given moment. It can be hell.

But hey, before the issue is over, how about we ruin the fun mood by paying a visit to that red demon lady Jezebel who was visiting with the Isolationist a few issues ago. She flies out to an isolated lighthouse to meet with someone named Morrigan. Jezebel reports that their target is on her way, and she’s bringing one of her teammates.

Just who is Morrigan? Who is killing the MacAllister family?

Why, a real banshee, of course!

With no doubt an awesome Irish accent

Weird. ‘Banshee’ is just a name that Theresa uses, so why would a real banshee care? I dunno, it’s just weird. I have no clue what Jezebel is up to, and that’s a real problem.

I don’t particularly care about any of the various plots that Peter David has cooked up for X-Factor. Jezbel and the Isolationist, Banshee and Havok investigating a real banshee, Madrox investigating Far Sight’s death, Rahne searching for her son, Longshot’s coma…I just don’t care. None of them interest me. I suppose that’s my problem. Peter David is doing a pretty good job building these stories, and it’s good that he’s keeping everybody busy. Maybe now that the team has separated we’ll get some more individually focused stories. There are too many characters in X-Factor. Focusing on only a few at a time will greatly increase their awesomeness.

But other than that, it’s a fine issue. Aside from being poorly drawn, the characters all feel rather unique, and their interactions are normal and entertaining. Peter David is usually great when it comes to the team just hanging out and being friendly with one another. But something felt off about his usually stellar style. Oh well, let’s hope he’s building to something great.