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!

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This! This is what I’ve been talking about! X-Factor #237 is writer Peter David at his finest, writing his characters as people first and superheroes second. Forget the interdimensional super-villains, the Mojoverse and whatever other crazy plots PAD has in store for X-Factor. This is what I want from this comic. The issue starts with a few of his female characters going on a character-building road trip together, and ends with one of them having a huge personal break through. This issue is comic gold.

X-Factor #237

X-Factor doesn’t need costumes, super-villains or an Avengers vs. X-Men tie-in to make for an amazing comic book.

Comic rating: 5/5: Great!

I wish more of PAD’s issues were like this one. But instead he seems to sprinkle these character-based issues throughout his run. They have always been a highlight of X-Factor. And I suppose they’re made all the better because of how rare they are. Plus, having issues like this makes the action issues better, because we come to care more about the characters. Polaris has been a ghost in this series since she joined, so she desperately needed a story like this.

Unfortunately, this issue is far from the best character-based story that PAD has written for X-Factor. After nearly 100 issues writing this volume, his grip on the characters and their personalities is slipping. I chalk this up to having just too many characters and plots to contend with. Back at the beginning he had everything under control. But that’s not to say this issue isn’t great. The dialogue and humor are fun, the characters are written very well and the art is absolutely gorgeous.

And thank the heavens, Polaris has finally changed out of that stupid green costume Thank you for that, PAD!

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I am not a fan of reality television, but the rest of the world is clearly in love. Ordinary people are turned into TV stars in shows like Ice Road Truckers, Pawn Stars or Hoarders. Programs focus on the day-to-day of real jobs or real lives more so than scripted television. Viewers are enthralled by every minute detail of the Kardashian family or the Real Housewives of Wherever for no other reason than the cult of celebrity. There is a show where Steve Urkel and other Z-list “celebrities” dance for our amusement, and a show glamorizing unwed, 16-year-old mothers – and both shows are  incredibly popular. Jersey Shore!

X-Factor #236

We are living in the Mojoverse and we don’t even realize it.

Comic rating: 3/5: Alright.

Writer Peter David throws that bomb at our feet in this issue, and I for on am absolutely blown away. Whereas once upon a time the villainous Mojo’s TV-obsessed world was a parody of sleazy studio executives and bad taste, it has now become the stark, cold reality of our own television programming. We may not have real live gladiatorial combat yet, but how long until it’s here? How long until people are maliciously hurting one another for our amusement on reality TV?

The idea of Mojo being behind the nation’s love of the Kardashians would make a great story. How would our heroes fight against pop culture’s seemingly endless obsession with trashy TV?

Unfortunately, this brilliant idea is wasted and buried in an issue that amounts to little more than an extended fight scene between Shatterstar and the new villain Scattershot, who himself is a parody of trashy comic books. The fight’s OK, if you’re into extended fight scenes. But this issue has little else going for it, with barely any appearance of anyone else from X-Factor. The fight itself is lacking any deep character conflict, with Scattershot being one-dimensional and Shatterstar just showing off his fighting skills. There are a few hints towards Peter David’s larger plans for the series, but those hints continue to be so vague that I just don’t care anymore. So all in all, this is an issue that just doesn’t amount to much.

Other than that amazing Mojoverse idea!

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Now this is the kind of character-based drama I love to see in my comics, especially X-Factor! Peter David finally gives us some real tension between series star Jamie Madrox and his beleaguered usurper Alex Summers, otherwise known as Multiple Man and Havok. I’ve been waiting for this tension to hit for several issues now, and it feels good to finally have something meaty to sink our teeth into at X-Factor Investigations. That coupled with a new and possible entertaining case leads to a damn good issue of X-Factor.

X-Factor #235

This is exactly the kind of comic I want X-Factor to be – minus the blue-skinned, big gun-wielding space maniac.

Comic rating: 4/5: Good!

For the first time in a long while, X-Factor is finally dealing with something on their level again. No interdimensional journeys, no time-traveling duplicates and no evil Reed Richardses. Yes, I realize the Isolationist and his hot demon girlfriend are behind it all, but they thankfully don’t appear in this issue. I also realize that this is an entirely biased sentiment, that I shouldn’t judge a comic book based on what I want it to be, as opposed to what it actually is. And I’m not. The ‘good’ rating isn’t based on my being pleased with the plot. It’s based on the quality of the comic. Trust me.

We have here some Grade A character-based drama, some great scenes with the team, and a fairly unique and compelling mystery to solve. Not to mention the promise of uncovering a mystery that has been around in the X-franchise for decades: just who or what are Shatterstar and Longshot?

And solving those kinds of mysteries involving B and C-list comic book characters is exactly what X-Factor is for!

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In which two members do some soul searching while everyone else enjoys a much deserved group hug. And that’s mostly it. This issue of X-Factor had a few certain story beats it wanted to hit, so it did. Everything else is just kind of fun, generally moving a few different plots along while taking care of the ‘Madrox is back from the dead!’ angle. It’s not the big, emotional scene of awesome I was hoping for, but it’s definitely some good team bonding. We also have Madrox and Havok start butting heads, so that was fun. Though I hope we see some more of this team drama in the issues that come.

X-Factor #234

This issue also featured one of the most adorable superhero group hugs ever.

Comic rating: 4/5: Good.

This issue is also book-ended by the Isolationist’s story, as the mysterious woman is finally revealed in full. But their little segments add absolutely nothing to the overall threat they’re trying to convey, and I find myself rolling my eyes at them even more than last week. They are not threatening, they are not interesting and I have little to no desire in seeing them eventually face off against X-Factor. This book’s greatest strength is when its characters can act like real people, and deal with grounded, street-level adventures. The idea of them facing off against two far-out super-villains seeking world domination just doesn’t interest me in the least.

Fortunately, this issue mostly focuses on the good characters and what their lives are like together. So that’s a plus.

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