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Review: X-Factor #244
It’s Banshee’s turn at the plate in Breaking Points, and she knocks it out of the park with a touching, personal look at her character. The mysterious ‘guest’ she’s been hiding the past few issues is revealed, and by the end of the issue, her status quo is changed in a very significant way. It’s a sad change, but still cool in its way. Part of me thinks it’s a little too easy, and a little too apropos of nothing, but it definitely works. Throw in some good art and some strong appearances by the rest of the cast and you’ve got yourself a very nice issue of X-Factor.
X-Factor #244
Who could ask for anything more?
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
For the most part, writer Peter David has been doing an acceptable job of cleaning house in X-Factor. I know that X-Factor is going to remain relatively untouched in Marvel NOW!, but that doesn’t mean he might not give it a fresh coat of paint or something. Ditching a few members of the bloated cast is a great idea, in my opinion, and he’s been doing a fine job in figuring out what to do with these guys. PAD takes a strong, hard look at Banshee in this issue, and the emotions that drive her, but he does so with a character he created only a few issues ago, a character that doesn’t have the history or the impact to be such a big deal in Banshee’s life, in my opinion. But it works. PAD shakes things up, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
PAD also manages to work his magic with Havok and Polaris, two characters who have definitely suffered from being suddenly, unceremoniously dropped into this comic. There are some continuity conflicts with Avengers vs. X-Men, but who cares? I’m curious to see if PAD will play any part in preparing Havok for his upcoming leadership position in Uncanny Avengers. He seems to be doing a nice job of preparing Polaris for her stay in X-Factor.
But more on that later. Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
Review: X-Factor #243
Now we’ve come to the Polaris issue! I think every character who is leaving X-Factor is getting their own issue in this ‘Breaking Points’ storyline, and now we’ve arrived at the Polaris one. It’s a good issue, revealing new facts in Polaris’ already twisted backstory while providing some nice supporting work by the other characters. But it kind of comes out of nowhere. Was anybody really eager to hear some new convoluted twist to Polaris’ life? And other than hardcore Polaris fans, was anybody really interested in seeing a whole issue dedicated to her problems?
X-Factor #243
Polaris, and to an extent Havok, have been non-characters for so long. It’s nice of writer Peter David to try and make something of them, but I think it’s too little too late, especially considering where they’re going.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good.
This is a solid issue of X-Factor. It’s got some good humor, some great character work and tells a complete story. It also builds on a few ongoing storylines and teases the next issue, which looks to focus on Banshee, though I hope she’s staying in the book. My problem is with Polaris, and I’ll explain more after the jump. She’s such a messed up, blank slate character at this point. How does it help her for PAD to add some crazy new wrinkles to her backstory…unless he thinks he’s smoothing them out. Her character has been through Hell, both mentally and physically, over the past few years. She’s due for a smoothing out. But I don’t know if that is accomplished in this issue.
Still, like I said, it’s a pretty fun issue of X-Factor. The team acts like a group of friends/frenemies just trying to help each other get by. And that’s the real strength of this series.
Review: X-Factor #242
The deck clearing continues in X-Factor #242, as writer Peter David removes a few characters, settles several dangling plotlines and offers at least one little hint about future strangeness. It’s an entertaining issue, with more than a couple funny lines, but you’d be hard pressed to find a more by-the-numbers issue. I don’t mean that to be cruel, but look no further than the fact that this issue stars Darwin of all characters to see just how unimportant and workmanlike this is in the grand scheme of things.
X-Factor #242
Darwin is the red-headed step child of the X-Men franchise. And being rechristened as a demon-hunter is either the most brilliant or the stupidest choice possible for the character.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good.
Like I said, it’s a good issue. The story is solid, the characters are themselves and it’s funny in places. The art by Leonard Kirk is also great, as usual. It’s just the fact that PAD is taking care of business is evident on every page. He’s got some plans for the new Marvel NOW! relaunch, which involves a smaller cast for X-Factor and new stories. So this issue, and this Breaking Points storyline, are all about removing characters as safely and calmly as possible. He’s also tying up dangling plot threads that I don’t think anybody particularly cares about anymore, and he’s doing it as quickly and as cleanly as he can.
For longtime X-Factor fans like me, it’s a fine enough issue. No major complaints. Other than that, it’s not much of anything. Unless you’re a huge Darwin fan. Or are excited to see Wolfsbane as a mom.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
Review: X-Factor #241
The action in X-Factor is knocked up a notch with this issue, which kicks off the new Breaking Points storyline. Marvel Comics is rocketing towards their new Marvel NOW! relaunch this fall, and even though X-Factor is going to be relatively untouched, writer Peter David appears to want to use this as a chance to streamline his title. I’m grateful for that. I’ve long complained about too many cast members. David has also had several long running storylines that he’s going to wrap up as well. Basically it seems like Breaking Points is going to be a big wrap up of the past year or so of stories.
X-Factor #241
So it’s a good thing that the first part of the story is an entertaining comic, with some great moments and some fun characterization. All those filler stories are in the past, now we’re back to the good stuff!
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
I’d complained in some of the most recent reviews that PAD seemed to have lost his touch when it came to his usually clever and fun characters. I think the problem was that he really was just spinning his wheels until he could get to this storyline. I had no idea what he has planned for Marvel NOW!, but this is the story that’s going to get us there. And like I said, it’s a good read. PAD expertly juggles his extended cast, mixing both superhero fun and down-to-Earth normal interactions, which I love. When the cast shrinks in the fall, hopefully he’ll have it even easier.
The true appeal of X-Factor has always been that these characters are people first and superheroes second. Sure they’ll fight the bad guys and save the day, but they’ll also get on each others nerves, bicker, bust chops and basically act like human beings. We get a really good taste of that in this issue.
So join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
Review: X-Factor #240
The latest issue of X-Factor focuses on Layla Miller, and it’s a very good issue, even if it’s a little over my head. This issue probably bears repeated readings. It’s a take on the classic film Run, Lola, Run, and I am damn glad I saw that film back in college. If you haven’t, then how about The Simpsons episode ‘Trilogy of Error’ with the robot Linguo? It’s similar enough that this issue will make more sense. It’s basically a look into Layla’s ability to “know stuff” and how that is seriously messing with her head these days. It works well because it’s a very contained story, giving us a lot of depth into a character that we still don’t know that much about.
X-Factor #240
Layla Miller, or Butterfly, is really the only character Peter David created for X-Factor, instead of just re-using old, forgotten X-Men. He’s always had a good handle on Layla, and he really makes her latest problems shine in this kooky story.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
Layla was originally created as just a plot device by Brian Michael Bendis for his event comic House of M. I can still remember Bendis crowing on the Internet about how Layla was going to be the biggest, most important character in the Marvel Universe. In the end, Layla was really only a plot device that magically allowed the heroes to see through the illusion of the House of M and return to their old lives. After that, it seemed like she was added to X-Factor because nobody knew what else to do with her. Once Peter David had his hands on her, he basically ignored everything Bendis wrote for her in House of M, literally using the ‘it was all a dream’ cop-out to explain away Layla’s parents, and I think PAD has even established that Layla was putting on an act when she helped out the heroes.
The whole “I know stuff” schtick is an entirely PAD creation.I don’t think Bendis has given Layla a second thought after House of M. But no biggie. Layla has been very kickass in X-Factor, and this is a fun issue for her and her recent troubles.
Join me for a full synopsis and more analysis after the jump.
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