This is an absolute perfect issue of X-Factor. This kind of issue is exactly why I love this series so much, and why Peter David continues to be one of the most popular writers in comics. His work with the characters in this issue is a masterstroke of humor, camaraderie and the general fun of having friends, through good and bad. Breaking Points has been an up and down story so far as David cleans house, but he wraps it up with style and happiness. I am very, very excited to see what comes next for X-Factor.

X-Factor #245

It also helps that this issue seems to read my mind and give Polaris a new, more modern costume!

Comic rating: 5/5: Great.

I feel kind of guilty grading this comic with a perfect score. Like I said, it’s a perfect issue of X-Factor, as long as you love the same X-Factor that I love. This is a talking heads issue, with no superhero fights or really much action of any kind. It’s just this cast of characters butting heads, talking through their feelings and making some legitimately funny jokes. This issue is seriously funny. When Peter David really gets going on the talking heads issues, something about them just triggers his funny bone. This is a great issue of X-Factor, a great example of what makes this comic so much fun and just an all around pleasure to have in front of you. So why do I feel kind of guilty?

Because I think X-Factor has run its course. At least under Peter David.

This sounds like blasphemy, but it’s true. These characters all feel kind of stuck in a rut. All of these big changes that have been happening feel only skin deep. I just don’t feel a deep, emotional connection to these characters like I used to. Or maybe it’s just me. I’ve said this before, and I fear it still stands: Peter David has gotten complacent on X-Factor. So hopefully this new direction and reduced cast will shake things up a bit.

Though Heaven help Marvel if they ever cancel this book or change it in any significant way! I’m a comic book geek, I hate change but embrace creativity! Grrr!

We open with Madrox royally PO’d at Havok, having a shouting match in the main room with everyone watching. Madrox is essentially mocking Havok, because with Havok in charge, they’ve started losing team members left and right.

Or like an 80s sitcom style ‘family meeting’

So far X-Factor has lost Strong Guy, Wolfsbane, Rictor, Shatterstar and now Banshee. Madrox gets mad at Monet when she says “good riddance” to Guido, and that made me smile. The Madrox/Strong Guy friendship was always a favorite of mine, and it was sorely lacking in this series for some reason. Havok gets back in Madrox’s face and accuses him of not caring about anyone but himself. Madrox shoves Havok, makes a joke about Havok’s brother killing Professor X and the two are about ready to get into a fist fight when Polaris storms in and physically separates them.

She tells them to knock it the hell off, and the two agree to set aside their anger.

Polaris tells Madrox that he should be mad at her, since Banshee sacrificed herself to make Polaris’ mental problems go away. They’re not gone for good, but Polaris is thinking more clearly.

Monet’s role in the book is key

Madrox wants to know what exactly happened to Banshee, and Layla is about to step up and tell him…but Havok instead falls on Layla’s sword. He explains about the time he and Banshee fought the Morrigan back in Ulster County. Then he lies and says that he tried to summon the Morrigan so that Terry could force it to help Polaris. Instead, Terry volunteered to become the new Morrigan.

Havok says that everyone deserves some happiness, even Polaris, and even Layla. Havok silently lets Layla know that he’s willing to cover for her. Havok’s speech seems to settle everyone down.

Like the Chinese swearing on Firefly

When Havok and Polaris are alone, he explains that he could easily tell that Layla had been the one to help Terry summon the Morrigan. But rather than have Madrox mad at Layla – his girlfriend – Havok decided to step in to help her. He doesn’t care if Madrox hates him, but he didn’t want Madrox mad at Layla. Then Havok leaves to be alone for a bit.

And then when Polaris is alone, Rictor and Shatterstar magically teleport back! But that’s all we see of them.

We cut to Polaris and Havok in his room, with Havok packing his clothes out of the closet. He sums up what happened to Wolfsbane: she’s decided to hide out and raise her son, but Rictor and Shatterstar have returned to the team. Havok says that should make Madrox happy, while Polaris hopes it will make everyone happy.

Who else but Shatterstar!

Havok tells Polaris that they’re leaving, that it was a mistake to show up and try to lead X-Factor like the good old days. He says they need to move forward with their lives. But Polaris says she’s happy at X-Factor, that she likes it with the team.

Havok begins to pack his costume, but gets frustrated when he realizes that Pip was right: the costume does make him look like Tron. Thank you, Pip.

The two of them get to arguing about their lives, though they’re not mad at each other or anything. Havok is just frustrated at how complicated the world has become. When they were out in space, everything was very black and white, and they were having jaunty space adventures. Now his brother is a murderer, friendships are shattered, alliances are breaking apart; it’s all very crazy for poor Havok. But Polaris is trying to stay positive, even though she went kind of crazy a few days ago when she found out she was responsible for the death of her parents, she’s still trying to keep it together.

Elsewhere, Madrox and Co. have returned from lunch. Layla asks Madrox if he wants some ice cream.

That’s how Longshot rolls

Havok and Polaris continue to discuss Havok being unsure of his place. He tried to help Cyclops during Avengers vs. X-Men, and look where that got them. Havok doesn’t know where he wants to go or what he wants to do, and Polaris tries to comfort him. She loves him, but she also loves being with X-Factor. She likes their stance on the world of mutants, and she wants to stay. In fact, she thinks they could both benefit from a break. She wishes Havok luck on his journey as they split amicably. She also warns him not to go back to Cyclops.

Curse you, Polaris! Just when I was starting to like you.

Elsewhere, Madrox and Layla are enjoying their ice cream.

Why not, it worked for Spider-Man…right?

That’s a little…impulsive. I’m not sure how I feel about this. I prefer the idea of Multiple Man as a swinging single, if only because marriage in fiction tends to really kill momentum. Jim and Pam, anyone? However, it’s not like Peter David hasn’t been foreshadowing this moment since the very beginning of X-Factor. Layla’s pretty cool, so I suppose it works. But again, like I said before, this kind of feels only skin deep. I’ve never really seen the love between Madrox and Layla. Still, Peter David has always had a general theme through the series that Madrox is crippled with indecision, and that both he and Layla are prone to flights of fancy like this, in terms of shaking their fists at the preordained order.

I look forward to seeing where this goes.

There’s a brief moment where Havok tries on a pair of sunglasses before he leaves, but all he sees is his brother’s ruby sunglasses reflection in the mirror. Havok leaves both the glasses and the costume behind.

Havok runs into Pip in the foyer, and Pip gives Havok some petty cash for any expenses. Pip says it’ll be a shame to see them go…mostly because Polaris was easy on the eyes.

Don’t ever change, Pip

Didn’t I tell you this comic was funny? Pip earns his place on the team based solely on his great one-liners.

And then we get a surprise that I’ve been screaming about since Havok and Polaris first joined this team: Polaris gets a new costume! It’s like Peter David has been reading my reviews and decided to follow my explicit instructions!

Tres Chic

I like it. It’s very modern, and green isn’t the primary color, thankfully. When your character has green hair, you don’t want to oversaturate their entire costume with green, that takes away the unique look. This is a nice blend of green and purple, and I really like the black coat/cloak thing. This is definitely an improvement on her old costume. Plus, of course, they found the space to show off her cleavage. That’s always a must in comic books. Sigh.

Havok and Polaris share a hug as he departs, and Havok is a little sad that nobody else has come to see him off. But no one has seen Madrox or Layla all afternoon…still, the rest of the team is nowhere in sight. Ah well, Havok figures they won’t miss him.

And he’s probably right.

Now there’s an ending that tugs at your heart strings.

On a second read through, the issue is better than I remember. The chat between Havok and Polaris is nice, and leads into his new role as leader of the Uncanny Avengers. Exact timing of comics isn’t that big of a deal, and I’m sure this appearance could easily be spliced into Havok’s role elsewhere. And considering how wishy washy he is about his future in this issue, it makes sense that he’d be so reluctant to take Captain America up on his offer to lead in Uncanny Avengers.

Still, such an odd transition for Havok. From middling about in low tier X-Factor to leader of Marvel’s new flagship comic. I wonder how far back in advance the Marvel writers knew that Havok would be leading the Uncanny Avengers. Did they know when they placed him on X-Factor during Regenesis? Did Peter David always know that he’d only have Havok for a short period of time? It would be neat to find out.

Like I said, this was a perfect issue of X-Factor. It was very enjoyable to read, the characters were a lot of fun, and it had some real emotional stakes. Peter David finally did something great with Havok and Polaris after they’d been shoe-horned into the book, and I’m glad that Polaris is staying on the team (and has a new costume). I think it will do both characters a world of good to be separated and to grow as individuals. They’ve been attached at the hip for too long, and both need a freshening up.

If you can handle a comic without any fighting, then X-Factor is the comic for you. Every once and awhile, Peter David settles in with his characters and allows them to be people. And when he does, the series really shines.

Now, hopefully, with fewer cast members and a new direction, this series will be great once again!