What do you think?
Rate this book
X-Factor (2005) (Collected Editions)
X-Factor, Vol. 1: The Longest Night
In the fallout from House of M and following the surprise film-noir hit Madrox, a new mutant team is forged! X-Factor is an investigative mutant agency that includes Madrox, the Multiple Man; Guido, the Strong Guy; Wolfsbane, the shape-shifter; Siryn, the chorus girl; Rictor, the living earthquake; and Generation X's Monet, the pompous witch. Drawn together in the heart of District X, this rag-tag band of heroes has a lot of answers to find, and fast! Collects X-Factor (2005) #1-6.
144 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2006
About the author
Peter David
3,542 books1,319 followersaka David Peters
Peter Allen David (often abbreviated PAD) is an American writer, best known for his work in comic books and Star Trek novels. David often jokingly describes his occupation as "Writer of Stuff". David is noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real world issues with humor and references to popular culture. He also uses metafiction frequently, usually to humorous effect, as in his work on the comic book Young Justice.
Peter Allen David (often abbreviated PAD) is an American writer, best known for his work in comic books and Star Trek novels. David often jokingly describes his occupation as "Writer of Stuff". David is noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real world issues with humor and references to popular culture. He also uses metafiction frequently, usually to humorous effect, as in his work on the comic book Young Justice.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
August 30, 2018
X-Factor is a detective agency consisting of quirky B- and C-listers of Marvel's mutant world, like Madrox the Multiple Man, Guido the Strong Guy (literally his superhero alias), Syrin, Wolfsbane and others. They investigate crimes and keep the peace in their neighbourhood after the events of House of M, which left 90% of the mutant population depowered and brought a lot of angry ex-mutants out on the streets. The premise may not sound as exciting as it is, so let me just say — this series is great!
First of all, it's 22 volumes long. I don't know how Peter David does this, because most of his runs I come across are all very long, but it's even more baffling considering that similar underdog titles at Marvel tend to last for 6 to 10 issues max nowadays. But 22 volumes? Holy wow, that's a lot for a western comic from any publisher, let alone the house of prematurely cancelled ideas. I don't know if the series will maintain the same level of quality as seen in this debut volume — probably not — but I'm kind of excited to find out, because I really enjoyed this team.
But yeah, the team! What an amazing ensemble cast. I barely knew any of these characters before, and just from these six issues I feel like they might become some of my all-time favourites. Multiple Man is an absolute blast with a very cool power that is explored in some very interesting ways, it doesn't feel like just a gimmick. Syrin, Monet and Layla reminded me of Firefly's female cast, for some reason — they're all very quirky, independent and each with a whole set of skeletons in the closet. And I absolutely love how Rahne and Strong Guy play off of each other, they're just a really fun duo. Peter David also masterfully juggles this huge team — it never feels overcrowded, every character's voice and personality is distinct, the story flows naturally and nobody feels forgotten or left out in the background. This is especially refreshing to see coming off of Geoff Johns's catastrophically messy and incoherent JSA — see, Geoff, this is how you do a team book of C-listers! Bah, what would he know about it...
Plot-wise, X-Factor develops a bit sporadically so far, which is not a bad thing, it's just the result of all the chaos that House of M brought to this corner of Marvel's universe. It feels like watching a well-crafted TV show in a way, with every episode (issue) going into some new and unexpected direction. I do like it a lot, and especially the overall atmosphere and tone — generally light-hearted and humorous, but with a very serious and mature background and themes.
The artwork is sublime. The majority of the issues here is drawn by Ryan Sook with fill-ins by Dennis Calero, and they both do excellent jobs, and the moody colour palette by Jose Villarrubia makes everything look nice and consistent despite the changing artists.
Overall, Peter David's first volume of X-Factor was an absolute winner for me, and I can't wait to read more of this series. My recent X-Men binge has been going remarkably well so far, but if I had to choose a favourite, it would be this book. Thanks to Chad and Jeff for recommending it to me!
First of all, it's 22 volumes long. I don't know how Peter David does this, because most of his runs I come across are all very long, but it's even more baffling considering that similar underdog titles at Marvel tend to last for 6 to 10 issues max nowadays. But 22 volumes? Holy wow, that's a lot for a western comic from any publisher, let alone the house of prematurely cancelled ideas. I don't know if the series will maintain the same level of quality as seen in this debut volume — probably not — but I'm kind of excited to find out, because I really enjoyed this team.
But yeah, the team! What an amazing ensemble cast. I barely knew any of these characters before, and just from these six issues I feel like they might become some of my all-time favourites. Multiple Man is an absolute blast with a very cool power that is explored in some very interesting ways, it doesn't feel like just a gimmick. Syrin, Monet and Layla reminded me of Firefly's female cast, for some reason — they're all very quirky, independent and each with a whole set of skeletons in the closet. And I absolutely love how Rahne and Strong Guy play off of each other, they're just a really fun duo. Peter David also masterfully juggles this huge team — it never feels overcrowded, every character's voice and personality is distinct, the story flows naturally and nobody feels forgotten or left out in the background. This is especially refreshing to see coming off of Geoff Johns's catastrophically messy and incoherent JSA — see, Geoff, this is how you do a team book of C-listers! Bah, what would he know about it...
Plot-wise, X-Factor develops a bit sporadically so far, which is not a bad thing, it's just the result of all the chaos that House of M brought to this corner of Marvel's universe. It feels like watching a well-crafted TV show in a way, with every episode (issue) going into some new and unexpected direction. I do like it a lot, and especially the overall atmosphere and tone — generally light-hearted and humorous, but with a very serious and mature background and themes.
The artwork is sublime. The majority of the issues here is drawn by Ryan Sook with fill-ins by Dennis Calero, and they both do excellent jobs, and the moody colour palette by Jose Villarrubia makes everything look nice and consistent despite the changing artists.
Overall, Peter David's first volume of X-Factor was an absolute winner for me, and I can't wait to read more of this series. My recent X-Men binge has been going remarkably well so far, but if I had to choose a favourite, it would be this book. Thanks to Chad and Jeff for recommending it to me!
October 29, 2017
PAD returns to X-Factor and it's awesome. There's some lovely artwork here too. Moving straight on to vol. 2 now...
September 25, 2017
Holy shit...I mean I liked Vol 0 (Madrox story) but goddamn, talk about captivating from beginning to end huh?
So here we have the X-Factor group coming together. They are basically a Mutant group trying to work together as a detective agency helping people. So think almost like Angel but darker and hits some great surprise twist as it goes. From issue 1 onward I knew we were in for a treat and once we get into the thick of things, the themes that go so well with X-men (Such as racism and sexism), you really begin to see the bigger picture here. Kidnapping, murder, mystery, this first volume has it all and without spoiling a thing it deserves your attention.
Good: REALLY well done dialog. Each character has their own feel and by the end you can relate or understand to each one. Complexity to each character is there and one by one you learn what they show isn't as simple as what they feel. All of them have dark hidden secrets, while none are perfect, they are all somewhat admirable. The tension and twist in each and every issue really keep you going and had me guessing what would happen next. Laughed, scared, happy, sad, all of these emotions rolled with this volume.
Bad: Uhhh sometimes the art is hard to tell what's happening? That's it.
This is intense, really well done, series that sucked me in 100%. I enjoyed volume 0 but this volume blew me the fuck a way. I think this needs to be read by any comic fan who likes mystery, but also dealing with really well done characters with very very solid dialog. A 5 out of 5.
So here we have the X-Factor group coming together. They are basically a Mutant group trying to work together as a detective agency helping people. So think almost like Angel but darker and hits some great surprise twist as it goes. From issue 1 onward I knew we were in for a treat and once we get into the thick of things, the themes that go so well with X-men (Such as racism and sexism), you really begin to see the bigger picture here. Kidnapping, murder, mystery, this first volume has it all and without spoiling a thing it deserves your attention.
Good: REALLY well done dialog. Each character has their own feel and by the end you can relate or understand to each one. Complexity to each character is there and one by one you learn what they show isn't as simple as what they feel. All of them have dark hidden secrets, while none are perfect, they are all somewhat admirable. The tension and twist in each and every issue really keep you going and had me guessing what would happen next. Laughed, scared, happy, sad, all of these emotions rolled with this volume.
Bad: Uhhh sometimes the art is hard to tell what's happening? That's it.
This is intense, really well done, series that sucked me in 100%. I enjoyed volume 0 but this volume blew me the fuck a way. I think this needs to be read by any comic fan who likes mystery, but also dealing with really well done characters with very very solid dialog. A 5 out of 5.
November 14, 2021
This was a pretty good read!
X-Factor is established and we have SIryn and Monet and Rictor joining in and well Theresa investigates the case of a missing sister and it connects to her previous case and well her new foe "Singularity Investigations" aren't taking lightly to her presence and on the other hand we have Jamie and Monet in some prison thing trying to protect the sister and then enter Dr Leery and her having taken Theresa and an interesting story with Layla miller and her powers?
Its an interesting volume and rather than the team fighting a villain or big bads its mostly them investigating stuff and its very sombre and maybe slow in its tone and can come off as boring but it looks at the characters and I like the way it explores Siryn and Monet and its fun and I loved that part! Okay maybe got a little bored because sometimes it feels like filler but by the end its okay but then again its an investigations book and its all about the process and the little details.
X-Factor is established and we have SIryn and Monet and Rictor joining in and well Theresa investigates the case of a missing sister and it connects to her previous case and well her new foe "Singularity Investigations" aren't taking lightly to her presence and on the other hand we have Jamie and Monet in some prison thing trying to protect the sister and then enter Dr Leery and her having taken Theresa and an interesting story with Layla miller and her powers?
Its an interesting volume and rather than the team fighting a villain or big bads its mostly them investigating stuff and its very sombre and maybe slow in its tone and can come off as boring but it looks at the characters and I like the way it explores Siryn and Monet and its fun and I loved that part! Okay maybe got a little bored because sometimes it feels like filler but by the end its okay but then again its an investigations book and its all about the process and the little details.
June 8, 2021
From a bunch of C-listers nobody cares much about- really, who cares about Monet, Guido, Syrin, Rahne, Rictor and even Madrox?- Peter David manages to build a gang you actually root for!
A-fuckin’-mazing.
In the aftermath of House of M, X-factor opens a kind of P.I. agency-so there’s an immediate cool noir feel- and deals with a diffuse threat from a corporation with an obvious hidden agenda and the more open threats of racism, bigotry and other niceties.
These social issues are brilliantly dealt with, not too heavy-handed, thanks to David’s excellent narration and humor throughout.
The characters all exist in their own selves-except maybe Guido but his few punchlines, well, have punch- and the dialogues are simply excellent, all wit and humor. Special mention to Layla Miller, the girl who "know(s) stuff". Who wouldn’t want to know more about her?
The pacing is top-notch, the intrigue is (very) good and you feel for the characters->I highly recommend to any mutant lover out there.
NB: an easy 5* if better art- Ryan Sook is great but Denis Calero didn’t impress me much.
A-fuckin’-mazing.
In the aftermath of House of M, X-factor opens a kind of P.I. agency-so there’s an immediate cool noir feel- and deals with a diffuse threat from a corporation with an obvious hidden agenda and the more open threats of racism, bigotry and other niceties.
These social issues are brilliantly dealt with, not too heavy-handed, thanks to David’s excellent narration and humor throughout.
The characters all exist in their own selves-except maybe Guido but his few punchlines, well, have punch- and the dialogues are simply excellent, all wit and humor. Special mention to Layla Miller, the girl who "know(s) stuff". Who wouldn’t want to know more about her?
The pacing is top-notch, the intrigue is (very) good and you feel for the characters->I highly recommend to any mutant lover out there.
NB: an easy 5* if better art- Ryan Sook is great but Denis Calero didn’t impress me much.
January 29, 2021
This rules. I might review it later, but if I don't just know that it's real good and I can't wait to continue. I especially love the beginnings of exploring how lowkey fucked up Jamie's powers are.
April 20, 2015
Leído en las 6 revistitas editadas por Panini, las cuales me prestó mi amigo y comiquero de confianza Federiken Masters.
El primer número es tan bueno que opaca a los 5 restantes. El diálogo entre Madrox y Ric, mientras el primero intenta convencerlo al otro de que no se suicide, es de los mejores diálogos que haya leído, como también el dialogo interno de Jamie. El número se sostiene por sí solo sin ningún tipo de problemas. El final del arco también me convenció como así también la investigación que sucede en el medio. Hay cierto toque noir que queda muy bien. Peter David es un gran escritor de personajes.
No me convenció el dibujo, resto una estrellita solo por eso.
Ya veremos que tal está el segundo arco.
El primer número es tan bueno que opaca a los 5 restantes. El diálogo entre Madrox y Ric, mientras el primero intenta convencerlo al otro de que no se suicide, es de los mejores diálogos que haya leído, como también el dialogo interno de Jamie. El número se sostiene por sí solo sin ningún tipo de problemas. El final del arco también me convenció como así también la investigación que sucede en el medio. Hay cierto toque noir que queda muy bien. Peter David es un gran escritor de personajes.
No me convenció el dibujo, resto una estrellita solo por eso.
Ya veremos que tal está el segundo arco.
January 12, 2018
I've known that this series is a fan favorite for years, and I'm only now getting around to reading it. It's really THAT good! It's a bunch of C list characters I've never read before, but they play so well off of one another, and the writing is so great! Madrox is pretty interesting, and I can't wait to see where this series goes. 5/5 stars.
May 17, 2020
Kind of a weak start. Lots of into work & while the artwork is appropriate for the noir theme it's not fun to look at. These characters are an interesting mix & this is one of my favorite comic runs ever so i know it gets better.
Best part is "you and what army?" Hahaha
Reading this now makes me miss Jaime all the more in the Dawn of X books. One-man-security-force doesn't do the work Peter David did here justice.
Best part is "you and what army?" Hahaha
Reading this now makes me miss Jaime all the more in the Dawn of X books. One-man-security-force doesn't do the work Peter David did here justice.
December 23, 2023
Sorry, I still love this one! It’s funny and silly. Perfectly captures the feel of an ensemble TV show. Catapulted Madrox to one of my favorite characters.
January 21, 2009
Back in '91 the X-titles had that big ol' shakeup in the midst of their popularity's peak. The one title that initially looked like it got the short end was X-Factor. A group of mostly no name or secondary characters filled out the entire roster of what used to be the original X-Men. And yet one could argue it turned out to be the best of those series while Peter David manned the ship.
So now (or a few years ago) Peter David restarts the title following a successful Madrox miniseries and he returns right back to form. There's a few holdouts from the previous team. The best three picks they could make, I'd argue (Madrox/Multiple Man, Guido/Strong Guy, and Rahne/Wolfsbane). The addition of a couple of former X-Forcers (Siryn and Rictor(who also had connections to the pre-David X-Factor)), a Generation X alum (M), and a leftover plot device from the House of M series (Layla Miller) round out the team.
Now my initial reaction would be yay for the three returning characters, meh for the rest, except perhaps Layla who may have gotten a boo. Yet David takes Bendis' leftover plot device and turns her into one of the most interesting characters running... err knowing... stuff. (Okay Siryn didn't get a meh, but that's just because of her father.)
The X-Factor humor is back but not quite as strong (and I'm okay with that), since Madrox is now in charge and more consistently serious. Guido also doesn't get quite as much panel time and has grown up a little as well. Layla is generally the largest humor device, but it isn't her intention.
I can't say David has succeeded in making me interested in all the characters yet. And Rahne's personal conflicts feel like a pale echo of David's last run, which saddens me. But Madrox alone could carry this book thus far. The rest has been gravy.
I'd say this is probably the best thing to come directly out of House of M.
So now (or a few years ago) Peter David restarts the title following a successful Madrox miniseries and he returns right back to form. There's a few holdouts from the previous team. The best three picks they could make, I'd argue (Madrox/Multiple Man, Guido/Strong Guy, and Rahne/Wolfsbane). The addition of a couple of former X-Forcers (Siryn and Rictor(who also had connections to the pre-David X-Factor)), a Generation X alum (M), and a leftover plot device from the House of M series (Layla Miller) round out the team.
Now my initial reaction would be yay for the three returning characters, meh for the rest, except perhaps Layla who may have gotten a boo. Yet David takes Bendis' leftover plot device and turns her into one of the most interesting characters running... err knowing... stuff. (Okay Siryn didn't get a meh, but that's just because of her father.)
The X-Factor humor is back but not quite as strong (and I'm okay with that), since Madrox is now in charge and more consistently serious. Guido also doesn't get quite as much panel time and has grown up a little as well. Layla is generally the largest humor device, but it isn't her intention.
I can't say David has succeeded in making me interested in all the characters yet. And Rahne's personal conflicts feel like a pale echo of David's last run, which saddens me. But Madrox alone could carry this book thus far. The rest has been gravy.
I'd say this is probably the best thing to come directly out of House of M.
June 20, 2011
I love Madrox. I love Layla Miller. I love Peter David! Which is why I really want his "how to write comics" book, 'cause I'd love to take advice from him.
The art in these is greatly constructed together, the story is interesting and relevant, the characters are well fleshed out and relate able and lovable. And funny. I love Peter David's X-Factor universe, and I just order the prequel to this, which I'm super excited for (and which is semi expensive due to not being in print anymore. :( ) X-Factor is a team of (mostly) mutant private detectives for hire. The leader, Madrox (Multiple Man), is terrified by what his multiple dupes might do because he can't trust them all and can never make decisions because he's got so many different opinions arguing in his head about the right way, etc. It makes for excellent story/thought. It takes place shortly after the devastating incident in which 90% of mutants lost their powers, and that is also an interesting environment for a story. Lots of goodness all around.
I enjoy this X universe more than any current X-Men 'verse, which is hard to do since I didn't know/like any of the characters before I started reading (about 4 years ago I just subscribed to a whole ton of X titles to decide which ones I wanted to keep up with-I kept this one and X-Men Legends-though New X-Men was decent and I stayed with it for a little while and still miss it from time to time). So now I'm starting back at the beginning-what happened before I subscribed. Anyways, if anyone is curios about X-Men spin-off, start with this one. It's superb! Can't wait to keep reading.
The art in these is greatly constructed together, the story is interesting and relevant, the characters are well fleshed out and relate able and lovable. And funny. I love Peter David's X-Factor universe, and I just order the prequel to this, which I'm super excited for (and which is semi expensive due to not being in print anymore. :( ) X-Factor is a team of (mostly) mutant private detectives for hire. The leader, Madrox (Multiple Man), is terrified by what his multiple dupes might do because he can't trust them all and can never make decisions because he's got so many different opinions arguing in his head about the right way, etc. It makes for excellent story/thought. It takes place shortly after the devastating incident in which 90% of mutants lost their powers, and that is also an interesting environment for a story. Lots of goodness all around.
I enjoy this X universe more than any current X-Men 'verse, which is hard to do since I didn't know/like any of the characters before I started reading (about 4 years ago I just subscribed to a whole ton of X titles to decide which ones I wanted to keep up with-I kept this one and X-Men Legends-though New X-Men was decent and I stayed with it for a little while and still miss it from time to time). So now I'm starting back at the beginning-what happened before I subscribed. Anyways, if anyone is curios about X-Men spin-off, start with this one. It's superb! Can't wait to keep reading.
February 3, 2013
This volume collects issues #1–6 of X-Factor (vol. 3), which marked Peter David's return to the team and many of the characters on which he had worked in the '90s. This newer series, however, is much darker, both in tone and actual colouring, and presents an all new X-Factor, lead by none other than Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man. Functioning as detective agency in Mutant Town in the aftermath of the big X-event Decimation (in which Marvel apparently de-powered 90% of their overly expanded mutant population), this X-Factor lends itself to more noir type narratives, which is clear from the very opening issue.
Apart from Madrox, the team consists of previous X-Factor members Guido, the Strong Guy, and Wolfsbane, the X-Man Banshee's daughter Siryn, Monet (of Generation X fame) and a de-powered, now human, Rictor. And then there is Layla Miller ... who knows things.
Like many first collections of series, this one does a lot of setting up, both in terms of (re-)establishing the characters and some main oppositional force (in this case the Singularity Detective Agency), and perhaps it comes out a bit short on account of this. That said, it was an enjoyable read, and I am certainly more than willing to give the series more of a chance and pick up the next volume somewhere down the line.
Apart from Madrox, the team consists of previous X-Factor members Guido, the Strong Guy, and Wolfsbane, the X-Man Banshee's daughter Siryn, Monet (of Generation X fame) and a de-powered, now human, Rictor. And then there is Layla Miller ... who knows things.
Like many first collections of series, this one does a lot of setting up, both in terms of (re-)establishing the characters and some main oppositional force (in this case the Singularity Detective Agency), and perhaps it comes out a bit short on account of this. That said, it was an enjoyable read, and I am certainly more than willing to give the series more of a chance and pick up the next volume somewhere down the line.
May 27, 2021
Peter David once again surprises me with a great story!
This volume was great! Much like the original "Madrox: Multiple Choice" book written as a sort of volume 0 for this series, X-Factor: The Longest Night is an excellent, tightly written and coherent story.
Plenty of threads are introduced and set-up, and all of them are quite interesting. The humour is on point, and the character's dynamic is interesting.
While the book is consistently enjoyable, I will say that no issue ever reaches the quality of the first one. The first issue of this book being, in my opinion, one of the greatest comic openings of all time. However, I like I said, the book is consistently enjoyable, and still has a few twists and turns along the way.
My only complaint would be that I'd have liked a bit more info on the new members of the team, since I wasn't familiar with them before hand. However, that's minor and this series does well to make you like them anyway.
This volume was great! Much like the original "Madrox: Multiple Choice" book written as a sort of volume 0 for this series, X-Factor: The Longest Night is an excellent, tightly written and coherent story.
Plenty of threads are introduced and set-up, and all of them are quite interesting. The humour is on point, and the character's dynamic is interesting.
While the book is consistently enjoyable, I will say that no issue ever reaches the quality of the first one. The first issue of this book being, in my opinion, one of the greatest comic openings of all time. However, I like I said, the book is consistently enjoyable, and still has a few twists and turns along the way.
My only complaint would be that I'd have liked a bit more info on the new members of the team, since I wasn't familiar with them before hand. However, that's minor and this series does well to make you like them anyway.
September 24, 2015
My first reaction Peter David's X-factor was a sense of annoying that it was more noir fodder. I quickly realised that I was wrong, more elements constantly added to the main plot. Even the small changes to characters like Madrox pay off big as the series progresses. David's vision for the X-factor line is one of the most impressive interpretations that i've seen in the superhero genre. The story is so interesting and it gets better issue by issue. Usually crossover events (in this case the M-Day storyline) are so painfully dull, but David uses the crossover to add more depth to his story. I liked everything about this one, from the art to the characters to the story.
December 14, 2013
Hacía años que no releía esta saga, que la tengo en capítulos en las seis primeras revistas de la edición española de Panini. Y recién hoy noté que nunca los había leído de corrido y en orden.
Si bien en la relectura me hicieron ruido algunas cositas (sobre todo, irregularidades en el dibujo por culpa del baile de dibujantes), el promedio sigue siendo altísimo.
Y aunque no es un comic perfecto, el hecho de tener el mejor #1 que jamás haya leído de cualquier colección que recuerde, amerita bajar un poquito la vara.
Si bien en la relectura me hicieron ruido algunas cositas (sobre todo, irregularidades en el dibujo por culpa del baile de dibujantes), el promedio sigue siendo altísimo.
Y aunque no es un comic perfecto, el hecho de tener el mejor #1 que jamás haya leído de cualquier colección que recuerde, amerita bajar un poquito la vara.
January 31, 2015
The plot in this book is interesting, but the main draw of X-Factor is the character interactions. The fact that I had little to no knowledge of these characters when I initially read X-factor, yet came away caring about them all (well most of them -- Rictor is a cry baby) after just 6 issues should speak volumes about Peter David's ability to make you care about characters. Now, rereading the series, the interactions are as fun and charged as I remembered them being.
May 4, 2008
All credit goes to Tiger. A promising start!
January 21, 2018
Book Info: This collection contains
X-Factor
issues #1-6.
ABSOLUTE RATING: {3.5/5 stars}
STANDARDIZED RATING: <4/5 stars>
On the heels of the mutant decimation, a violent activist movement has traumatized Mutant Town, and divided it's residents on the issue of whether M-Day was a blessing or a curse. But all this commotion must be set aside by Jamie Madrox and his crew at X-Factor Investigations – a private investigator agency recently established by Jamie within Mutant Town – while they tackle a dangerous security outfit responsible for killing an informant looking to expose their corruption. To make matters even more complicated, a young girl waltzes right into the X-Factor office, with the intent of joining the group, and seems to know much more about what's going on (and what's about to happen) than anyone possibly could. And when she's asked who she is and how she knows the things she does, she simply responds by saying "I'm Layla Miller. I know stuff."
The magic about this book – which is implied in the very first page and stated in the book's tagline – is that you can never guess what the story will throw at you next. According to Peter David, the term "x-factor" is defined as follows: "It means something that's unpredictable. The fly in the ointment. The spanner in the works. The baseball fan getting in the way of a play that changes the whole series. It's the thing you beat yourself up over not having anticipated. Even though no one possibly could have." So if I want to trust the accuracy of that definition, I'd say this book has a title that's perfectly suitable for David's artistic direction. While it's true this book has one hell of a plot (as you may have gathered from my intro paragraph), the writer very comfortably orchestrates all these moving pieces, while also transitioning frequently between scenes with both grace and wit. There may be a couple things that have come close (and fewer that matched it), but I can't rightly say I've met a book (of this caliber) that exceeds this one's ability to so effortlessly ooze possibility from its pages. From this volume alone, it's easy to tell that David's already got all the basic material he'll need to maintain a lengthy and eventful run for the series.
And this balance David's struck between levity and seriousness is something that's so rarely found in comic books. It's really a delicate thing to achieve and maintain, but David manages to stand with greats like Transmetropolitan (at times), Preacher , and even Kevin Smith's Green Arrow in that regard. It is my belief that a skillful blend of these two elements can bring out the absolute best that the genre can offer. I think what really gives David an edge over most other writers in this respect is his quality dialogue. Now I'm not gonna say that this is the *best* comic book dialogue I've ever seen, but it *is* among the most cleverly constructed, and it had me laughing aloud with glee on numerous occasions.
On a related note, I thought the mix of the fast-paced thriller and laid-back vibes contributed a lot towards my overall enjoyment of the book. I know it might look like it, but this isn't quite a repeat of my previous point; here, I'm talking about how the story so casually alternated between page-turning suspense and making me feel at ease (which isn't necessarily the same thing as being amused). Maybe much of that feeling of comfort originated from those moments the story spent showing Jamie and the gang bickering in their office like a harmlessly dysfunctional family. I love the clash of vivid personalities David has conceived, as well as how this gives way to a beautifully awkward intimacy and sincerity that's just refreshing. I feel like as long as I've got more issues of this to read, I've got more time to look forward to vicariously hanging out with these guys, braving their misfortunes, and reveling in their victories. All else being equal, any volume that can successfully amp up this interpersonal drama can expect an additional 0.5-1 star boost for my rating; it's quite uncommon for a team-based comic book to be crafted this impressively.
In Multiple Choice (i.e. the six-part miniseries preceding this volume), we are first exposed to David's reimagined world of X-Factor. It's a story that only really features other characters like Guido and Rahne in passing, and is much more concerned with exploring the personality of Jamie and his experience using his mutant abilities. In my review, I discuss my complaints about Jamie's characterization, and I was a little bit discouraged to find thematic parallels to it in issue one of this book. Fortunately, however, David improves a little on his writing of character (and just in general), and – as I expected – delves deeper into the more subtle side-effects of Jamie's powers. Furthermore, he's got a colorful and charming enough supporting cast who more than picks up the slack, so I'm cool...
[Rahne Sinclair (aka Wolfsbane) is the hairy creature squatting on Guido's (i.e. the big guy's) shoulder. While in her wolf-like form, Rahne suffers from a savage, bloodthirsty rage which often makes her do things she might later regret. It's a good thing she's with Guido right now, otherwise there's no telling what she'd do. Guido is the team's Strong Guy – cuz we know every respectable superteam has just got to have one – but he's also the most easy-going of the lot, and serves as the team's moral compass. He's a big softie at heart, though clearly not someone who's afraid to show his teeth, which probably aren't as quite sharp as Rahne's, but still...]
[In this scene, we have Rictor speaking with and Monet St. Croix. You can think of Monet as a mind-reading "Supergirl-meets-Veronica Lodge." Both she and Siryn are very headstrong women, so they're always butting heads with everyone, especially each other. Rictor (i.e. the one on the motorcycle) has just came back from a near-suicidal episode stemming from the sudden disappearance of his mutant abilities. I know he says he has little interest in being around other mutants, but we know he'll be back; as strange as it might sound, a hectic home life with X-Factor, as well as all the other craziness going on in Mutant Town, seem like just the kind of healthy distractions Rictor (and Jamie, to an extent) needs to help him find a reason to live again.]
Like Multiple Choice's Pablo Raimondi, Ryan Sook is another artist who makes heavy use of shadows in his work. But unlike Raimondi, this particular artist has an excellent sense of when and how to apply it. To me, I'd classify him as a cross between Alex Maleev, Chris Sprouse, and J.H. Williams III. Great artists all, and I would have loved to see Sook be Marvel's answer to DC's Williams, but, sadly, he's hardly done any other work with the publisher aside from this. Worse yet, he doesn't continue on to work with David for subsequent volumes, which is tragic, since they make a perfect writer-artist combination. And I don't usually acknowledge the colorist in my reviews – which is something I'll have to work on – but this Dennis Calero guy is the real deal; he's probably among the best in the business, and interestingly, has actually worked with Williams on two previous occasions (for Promethea and Desolation Jones ).
Looking over this review, I'm sure I made it sound to you as if this was my first reading, but it wasn't. Although I rated this higher the first time, I feel like I appreciated it more this time around; it was a much deeper reading experience for me. I imagine it must have taken David a lot of planning, and a lot of refinement during his previous X-Factor run, but I'm sure he's come a long way since then. I'll admit that I didn't expect much coming back from Multiple Choice, but I was deeply pleased to find that this book was nearly as delightful as I remembered it. X-Factor is truly crazy fun, and it feels great to know I have so much ahead to read and rediscover.
<-- Review for X-Factor: Madrox - Multiple Choice
ABSOLUTE RATING: {3.5/5 stars}
STANDARDIZED RATING: <4/5 stars>
On the heels of the mutant decimation, a violent activist movement has traumatized Mutant Town, and divided it's residents on the issue of whether M-Day was a blessing or a curse. But all this commotion must be set aside by Jamie Madrox and his crew at X-Factor Investigations – a private investigator agency recently established by Jamie within Mutant Town – while they tackle a dangerous security outfit responsible for killing an informant looking to expose their corruption. To make matters even more complicated, a young girl waltzes right into the X-Factor office, with the intent of joining the group, and seems to know much more about what's going on (and what's about to happen) than anyone possibly could. And when she's asked who she is and how she knows the things she does, she simply responds by saying "I'm Layla Miller. I know stuff."
The magic about this book – which is implied in the very first page and stated in the book's tagline – is that you can never guess what the story will throw at you next. According to Peter David, the term "x-factor" is defined as follows: "It means something that's unpredictable. The fly in the ointment. The spanner in the works. The baseball fan getting in the way of a play that changes the whole series. It's the thing you beat yourself up over not having anticipated. Even though no one possibly could have." So if I want to trust the accuracy of that definition, I'd say this book has a title that's perfectly suitable for David's artistic direction. While it's true this book has one hell of a plot (as you may have gathered from my intro paragraph), the writer very comfortably orchestrates all these moving pieces, while also transitioning frequently between scenes with both grace and wit. There may be a couple things that have come close (and fewer that matched it), but I can't rightly say I've met a book (of this caliber) that exceeds this one's ability to so effortlessly ooze possibility from its pages. From this volume alone, it's easy to tell that David's already got all the basic material he'll need to maintain a lengthy and eventful run for the series.
And this balance David's struck between levity and seriousness is something that's so rarely found in comic books. It's really a delicate thing to achieve and maintain, but David manages to stand with greats like Transmetropolitan (at times), Preacher , and even Kevin Smith's Green Arrow in that regard. It is my belief that a skillful blend of these two elements can bring out the absolute best that the genre can offer. I think what really gives David an edge over most other writers in this respect is his quality dialogue. Now I'm not gonna say that this is the *best* comic book dialogue I've ever seen, but it *is* among the most cleverly constructed, and it had me laughing aloud with glee on numerous occasions.
On a related note, I thought the mix of the fast-paced thriller and laid-back vibes contributed a lot towards my overall enjoyment of the book. I know it might look like it, but this isn't quite a repeat of my previous point; here, I'm talking about how the story so casually alternated between page-turning suspense and making me feel at ease (which isn't necessarily the same thing as being amused). Maybe much of that feeling of comfort originated from those moments the story spent showing Jamie and the gang bickering in their office like a harmlessly dysfunctional family. I love the clash of vivid personalities David has conceived, as well as how this gives way to a beautifully awkward intimacy and sincerity that's just refreshing. I feel like as long as I've got more issues of this to read, I've got more time to look forward to vicariously hanging out with these guys, braving their misfortunes, and reveling in their victories. All else being equal, any volume that can successfully amp up this interpersonal drama can expect an additional 0.5-1 star boost for my rating; it's quite uncommon for a team-based comic book to be crafted this impressively.
In Multiple Choice (i.e. the six-part miniseries preceding this volume), we are first exposed to David's reimagined world of X-Factor. It's a story that only really features other characters like Guido and Rahne in passing, and is much more concerned with exploring the personality of Jamie and his experience using his mutant abilities. In my review, I discuss my complaints about Jamie's characterization, and I was a little bit discouraged to find thematic parallels to it in issue one of this book. Fortunately, however, David improves a little on his writing of character (and just in general), and – as I expected – delves deeper into the more subtle side-effects of Jamie's powers. Furthermore, he's got a colorful and charming enough supporting cast who more than picks up the slack, so I'm cool...
[Rahne Sinclair (aka Wolfsbane) is the hairy creature squatting on Guido's (i.e. the big guy's) shoulder. While in her wolf-like form, Rahne suffers from a savage, bloodthirsty rage which often makes her do things she might later regret. It's a good thing she's with Guido right now, otherwise there's no telling what she'd do. Guido is the team's Strong Guy – cuz we know every respectable superteam has just got to have one – but he's also the most easy-going of the lot, and serves as the team's moral compass. He's a big softie at heart, though clearly not someone who's afraid to show his teeth, which probably aren't as quite sharp as Rahne's, but still...]
[In this scene, we have Rictor speaking with and Monet St. Croix. You can think of Monet as a mind-reading "Supergirl-meets-Veronica Lodge." Both she and Siryn are very headstrong women, so they're always butting heads with everyone, especially each other. Rictor (i.e. the one on the motorcycle) has just came back from a near-suicidal episode stemming from the sudden disappearance of his mutant abilities. I know he says he has little interest in being around other mutants, but we know he'll be back; as strange as it might sound, a hectic home life with X-Factor, as well as all the other craziness going on in Mutant Town, seem like just the kind of healthy distractions Rictor (and Jamie, to an extent) needs to help him find a reason to live again.]
Like Multiple Choice's Pablo Raimondi, Ryan Sook is another artist who makes heavy use of shadows in his work. But unlike Raimondi, this particular artist has an excellent sense of when and how to apply it. To me, I'd classify him as a cross between Alex Maleev, Chris Sprouse, and J.H. Williams III. Great artists all, and I would have loved to see Sook be Marvel's answer to DC's Williams, but, sadly, he's hardly done any other work with the publisher aside from this. Worse yet, he doesn't continue on to work with David for subsequent volumes, which is tragic, since they make a perfect writer-artist combination. And I don't usually acknowledge the colorist in my reviews – which is something I'll have to work on – but this Dennis Calero guy is the real deal; he's probably among the best in the business, and interestingly, has actually worked with Williams on two previous occasions (for Promethea and Desolation Jones ).
Looking over this review, I'm sure I made it sound to you as if this was my first reading, but it wasn't. Although I rated this higher the first time, I feel like I appreciated it more this time around; it was a much deeper reading experience for me. I imagine it must have taken David a lot of planning, and a lot of refinement during his previous X-Factor run, but I'm sure he's come a long way since then. I'll admit that I didn't expect much coming back from Multiple Choice, but I was deeply pleased to find that this book was nearly as delightful as I remembered it. X-Factor is truly crazy fun, and it feels great to know I have so much ahead to read and rediscover.
<-- Review for X-Factor: Madrox - Multiple Choice
February 18, 2022
Welcome back to my Throwback Thursday series, where I republish old reviews, review books I have read before or review older books I have only just had a chance to read. For this Throwback Thursday I look at the start of one of the best comic series I have ever had the pleasure of reading, with The Longest Night, the first volume in Peter David’s impressive and incredible X-Factor series.
X-Factor is back, and this time they are in business for themselves as X-Factor Investigations, the weirdest and only mutant run private investigative agency in New York. Led by Jamie Madrox (the Multiple Man), made up of the ragtag group of heroes including, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane, Siryn, Rictor and Monet, X-Factor investigates the cases no-one else will, especially if it helps current and former mutants. However, X-Factor are about to find themselves investigating the most sinister case of their brief tenure, when a new client walks in the door, accompanied by the mysterious Layla Miller. Following the breadcrumbs given to them by Layla, X-Factor begins looking into the rival organisation, Singularity Investigations, who have dire plans for the future of all mutant kind. At the same time, X-Factor finds itself in the middle of the deteriorating conditions in Mutant Town, as they start their own investigation into what really depowered most of the mutant species.
As their investigations continue, X-Factor find themselves encountering crazy events and dire obstacles from all sides. Forced to protect their client from being arrested for murder, as well as the deadly attentions of Singularity Investigations, X-Factor struggles to solve the case before it is too late. However, their actions have awoken a dangerous enemy whose knowledge of time could prove disastrous. Can X-Factor succeed and become the team the world needs, and what role will Layla Miller play in their future, especially as she actively attempts to hide the events of House of M and Decimation from her new friends?
The Longest Night is a brilliant and intense comic volume that serves as the perfect introduction to this outstanding X-Factor series. Containing issues #1-6 of X-Factor (Vol. 3), The Longest Night contains an incredible and epic story by Peter David that expertly introduces the new team and sets up many of their future adventures, perfectly accompanied by the excellent art of Ryan Sook and Dennis Calero. This incredible comic will really start your fall towards X-Factor obsession.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/02/18/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
X-Factor is back, and this time they are in business for themselves as X-Factor Investigations, the weirdest and only mutant run private investigative agency in New York. Led by Jamie Madrox (the Multiple Man), made up of the ragtag group of heroes including, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane, Siryn, Rictor and Monet, X-Factor investigates the cases no-one else will, especially if it helps current and former mutants. However, X-Factor are about to find themselves investigating the most sinister case of their brief tenure, when a new client walks in the door, accompanied by the mysterious Layla Miller. Following the breadcrumbs given to them by Layla, X-Factor begins looking into the rival organisation, Singularity Investigations, who have dire plans for the future of all mutant kind. At the same time, X-Factor finds itself in the middle of the deteriorating conditions in Mutant Town, as they start their own investigation into what really depowered most of the mutant species.
As their investigations continue, X-Factor find themselves encountering crazy events and dire obstacles from all sides. Forced to protect their client from being arrested for murder, as well as the deadly attentions of Singularity Investigations, X-Factor struggles to solve the case before it is too late. However, their actions have awoken a dangerous enemy whose knowledge of time could prove disastrous. Can X-Factor succeed and become the team the world needs, and what role will Layla Miller play in their future, especially as she actively attempts to hide the events of House of M and Decimation from her new friends?
The Longest Night is a brilliant and intense comic volume that serves as the perfect introduction to this outstanding X-Factor series. Containing issues #1-6 of X-Factor (Vol. 3), The Longest Night contains an incredible and epic story by Peter David that expertly introduces the new team and sets up many of their future adventures, perfectly accompanied by the excellent art of Ryan Sook and Dennis Calero. This incredible comic will really start your fall towards X-Factor obsession.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/02/18/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
January 10, 2018
Now this is pure gold! I'm telling you - pure gold!
I've been hearing how great this book is for over a decade, yet I never had the chance to read it. Well, I finally started it today and finished volume 1 in one sitting it's just that addictive.
The writing is perfect, absolutely perfect. Great characters - heavy and dark and complicated and completely amazing. Great atmosphere - it's a lot like the tv series Angel, only darker. The detective agency and all of that feels really close to the recent tv show Jessica Jones and this volume was written years before that series.
But the best part? The world-building. It's hard for a Marvel comics to have original and fresh world-building, yet this series totally manages to pull it off! The story takes place shortly after House of M - so 99% of the mutant population have just lost their powers and turned into regular humans. I've seen many, many aspects of that story - in many X-titles. I've seen people suffering, I've seen Cyclops being obsessed over the fact that his race is dying out. Yet I've never read anything as human and realistic as this. We have a mutant neighborhood, torn from inside after its residents lost their powers. And human supremacist gangs are already moving in, knowing they could torture the ex-mutants without fearing retribution. The most heartbreaking story is that of a little orphan girl, who got her powers a few weeks before the Decimation day, so every kid in the orphanage started fearing and hating her... and then, just like that, she lost her powers. And everyone was able to express their hate without fearing what she could do to them... It's just a human story, so honest and unpolished. It's just amazing. It's such a raw emotion... I felt as if I'd watched an episode of The Leftovers.
So, all in all, this is PERFECT. I already love those characters to death. I'm gonna start reading the second volume right away!
I've been hearing how great this book is for over a decade, yet I never had the chance to read it. Well, I finally started it today and finished volume 1 in one sitting it's just that addictive.
The writing is perfect, absolutely perfect. Great characters - heavy and dark and complicated and completely amazing. Great atmosphere - it's a lot like the tv series Angel, only darker. The detective agency and all of that feels really close to the recent tv show Jessica Jones and this volume was written years before that series.
But the best part? The world-building. It's hard for a Marvel comics to have original and fresh world-building, yet this series totally manages to pull it off! The story takes place shortly after House of M - so 99% of the mutant population have just lost their powers and turned into regular humans. I've seen many, many aspects of that story - in many X-titles. I've seen people suffering, I've seen Cyclops being obsessed over the fact that his race is dying out. Yet I've never read anything as human and realistic as this. We have a mutant neighborhood, torn from inside after its residents lost their powers. And human supremacist gangs are already moving in, knowing they could torture the ex-mutants without fearing retribution. The most heartbreaking story is that of a little orphan girl, who got her powers a few weeks before the Decimation day, so every kid in the orphanage started fearing and hating her... and then, just like that, she lost her powers. And everyone was able to express their hate without fearing what she could do to them... It's just a human story, so honest and unpolished. It's just amazing. It's such a raw emotion... I felt as if I'd watched an episode of The Leftovers.
So, all in all, this is PERFECT. I already love those characters to death. I'm gonna start reading the second volume right away!
July 31, 2023
Los entendidos en la convulsa historia de los mutantes de Marvel saben que X-Factor de Peter David es un libro de culto, una joya. El primer número apareció el 2005, justo después del evento House of M que puso a los mutantes casi al borde de la extinción, y desarrolla sus consecuencias en un tono realista y algo noir a partir de la agencia de detectives X-Factor, integrada por un puñado de mutantes de clase B y hasta C: Maddox el hombre múltiple, Guido, Rictor (que ha perdido sus poderes), Monet, Siryn y unos pocos más. Peter David nos muestra el drama de los ex mutantes, ahora humanos, que perdieron repentínamente sus poderes (el por qué perdieron sus poderes es algo que aún ignoran), la venganza que los propios humanos urden contra aquellos, y los intentos por sobrevivir de parte de los pocos mutantes que quedan en un mundo que ahora más que nunca los mira como extraños. El inicio es genial: Rictor, que ha perdido sus poderes, quiere suicidarse lanzándose de un edificio. Acude a auxiliarlo Maddox, con sus multiples personalidades, pero todo sale mal de un modo cómico pero también trágico. Ese es el gran mérito de David: el conjugar temas super serios con toques de humor, a veces muy negro. Rictor, finalmente, es invitado a la agencia X-Factor, en la cual reina el caos, pero que aún así logran conseguir trabajos y resolver algunos de ellos. Gran personajes es la misteriosa Layla Miller, quien llega a la agencia sin que el resto sepa cómo, pero manifiesta unos poderes que los ayudan, pero a la vez los intimidan. Todo eso en un contexto en el cual se nos cuenta cómo lo hacen para vivir los mutantes menos conocidos, los que poseen poderes menos espectaculares, pero que aún así intentan usar esos poderes para ayudar al resto. Buenísimo tomo.
November 7, 2019
A solid start. Better art than Madrox: Multiple Choice, and the writing even stronger. Does those inter-scene cuts through thematic line choice delightfully well. And while the subplot in Multiple Choice just went nowhere at all other than to include tragic queer death*, the subplots in these are attention catching. What is up with Laylah Miller, what's going on with Tryp, even Rictor's struggle with no longer being a mutant are handled in a way to keep me reading on. It's a solid story on its own, and that it's working with the often-complicated and frequently-incoherent x-men IP and doing it this solidly is extra impressive. Really good opening volume and putting it down when my lunch break is over is VERY difficult.
*that said this book also opens with tragic and pointless queer death, and like, I know it was written in 2005 and I think that was before the huge protests about bury your gays/dead lesbian syndrome etc, and it def felt like making the character killed off for ratting out to Siryn gay was a blithe attempt to make the world more inclusive, but it was at least after all of the complains about Tara in Buffy, come onnn. Anyway, again, I know this wins a GLAAD award another 6 years into its run, and I am here for improvement, but as someone who reviews queer media on the reg, I would be remiss not pointing this out.
*that said this book also opens with tragic and pointless queer death, and like, I know it was written in 2005 and I think that was before the huge protests about bury your gays/dead lesbian syndrome etc, and it def felt like making the character killed off for ratting out to Siryn gay was a blithe attempt to make the world more inclusive, but it was at least after all of the complains about Tara in Buffy, come onnn. Anyway, again, I know this wins a GLAAD award another 6 years into its run, and I am here for improvement, but as someone who reviews queer media on the reg, I would be remiss not pointing this out.
October 14, 2020
Has there been any X-Team that's changed its fundamental purpose more than X-Factor? It started as a way to get the original 5 X-men back in the game and has the front of being a government backed hunter of mutants. But that actually aimed to save them. Then the Havoc-led team still had the gov't connection but changed it a bit. Now this team is a detective agency. I really liked the twist.
The character-driven stories make it a great read. And since the I've been away from the characters for so long, a couple of changes to powers were new to me. First, Jamie's dupes represent a different aspect of his personality. Not only that but he can send a dupe out to learn something, study a subject or train in some form of combat, and when he reabsorbs them, he knows it to. The second is Siryn's voice manipulation. Like the mythological creatures of the same name she can basically pull off the Jedi mind trick.
This volume centers around two plots that have already developed, the Decimation aka when Scarlet Witch stripped 90% of mutants of their powers (as seen in The House of M, which I highly recommend) and the Singularity Investigations evil corp. I'm not sure if I missed something here or not. But it's easy enough to follow up.
In any case, it's proving to be a good read.
The character-driven stories make it a great read. And since the I've been away from the characters for so long, a couple of changes to powers were new to me. First, Jamie's dupes represent a different aspect of his personality. Not only that but he can send a dupe out to learn something, study a subject or train in some form of combat, and when he reabsorbs them, he knows it to. The second is Siryn's voice manipulation. Like the mythological creatures of the same name she can basically pull off the Jedi mind trick.
This volume centers around two plots that have already developed, the Decimation aka when Scarlet Witch stripped 90% of mutants of their powers (as seen in The House of M, which I highly recommend) and the Singularity Investigations evil corp. I'm not sure if I missed something here or not. But it's easy enough to follow up.
In any case, it's proving to be a good read.
April 2, 2021
Master Class in comic writing
If I were teaching a course on writing cape comics, I would give this as assigned reading. The writing is that good. Up there with Vision and Watchmen for me. Now, the art didn't amaze me. It’s not bad, in fact, the mood is great and fits the tone well. It was just not as captivating to me as the writing. But man, this is some satisfying writing. I could go on. But I’ll just say this.
Imagine you could make multiple copies of yourself, each representing a different version of yourself. Now imagine one of those versions was a wild card. That is an interesting premise. It’s not even really explored in this first volume. But it got me hooked. And the rest was satisfying enough to keep me going. Plus, again, the writing flows like water.
Oh, and aside from God Loves Man Kills, I’ve yet to read an X story that so sophisticatedly deals with the central theme of minority status in America the way that this one does. I don’t know that it has anything significant to say, but it makes mutants as a stand-in for minorities feel believable and authentic. Well, almost. These mutants get what they want. So, this isn’t Invisible Man. But for a comic, it’s as exploratory as it needs to be.
If I were teaching a course on writing cape comics, I would give this as assigned reading. The writing is that good. Up there with Vision and Watchmen for me. Now, the art didn't amaze me. It’s not bad, in fact, the mood is great and fits the tone well. It was just not as captivating to me as the writing. But man, this is some satisfying writing. I could go on. But I’ll just say this.
Imagine you could make multiple copies of yourself, each representing a different version of yourself. Now imagine one of those versions was a wild card. That is an interesting premise. It’s not even really explored in this first volume. But it got me hooked. And the rest was satisfying enough to keep me going. Plus, again, the writing flows like water.
Oh, and aside from God Loves Man Kills, I’ve yet to read an X story that so sophisticatedly deals with the central theme of minority status in America the way that this one does. I don’t know that it has anything significant to say, but it makes mutants as a stand-in for minorities feel believable and authentic. Well, almost. These mutants get what they want. So, this isn’t Invisible Man. But for a comic, it’s as exploratory as it needs to be.
October 21, 2018
One of the best X-books to hand to someone who's never read one before. This superhero noir story features depressed depowered mutants trying to find their place in society, a super powered mutant who can't trust himself when he uses his powers, a mysterious orphan who "knows things", and a series of smaller storyarcs that help brace the larger one.
This is Peter David at his finest, and an artist (Ryan Sook) who has precisely the right style and talent to bring peak David to life.
While it does feed off the continuity from David's previous X-Factor run, a little bit of Generation X and New Mutants, and the Marvel Universe at large, David did his best to fight editorial mandates, and keep his story contained. And it worked. While the series doesn't stay five stars all the way through (and I can't think of a single one that does), I remember it being fully satisfying, at least through Messiah Complex, which is many volumes away.
I recommend this for people looking for intricate noir superhero storytelling, fans of B and C level mutants getting an A+ level story, people who wish The Watchmen had less of a head up its own ass, and anyone looking to try a new series.
This is Peter David at his finest, and an artist (Ryan Sook) who has precisely the right style and talent to bring peak David to life.
While it does feed off the continuity from David's previous X-Factor run, a little bit of Generation X and New Mutants, and the Marvel Universe at large, David did his best to fight editorial mandates, and keep his story contained. And it worked. While the series doesn't stay five stars all the way through (and I can't think of a single one that does), I remember it being fully satisfying, at least through Messiah Complex, which is many volumes away.
I recommend this for people looking for intricate noir superhero storytelling, fans of B and C level mutants getting an A+ level story, people who wish The Watchmen had less of a head up its own ass, and anyone looking to try a new series.
December 31, 2017
Continuing the (sometimes) great x-read of 2017...
Since I am at the very tail end of 2017 and I haven't updated my reading in quite a while so I am "cheating" and just kind of writing one review for all of the volumes that I have read so that I can get them up by the end of the year.
The aftermath of M day has been mixed to say the least. There were a few high points (Cable and Deadpool, the 198, the beginning of the new X-factor series... and more than a fair share of low points (the new Excalibur, Colossus, Deadly Genesis...). It certainly has not come across as a well-orchestrated and planned out event at this point. (And the plot armor of the main characters primarily being the ones that retained their powers is a bit ridiculous, but that is to be expected.)
At any rate, my x-read of 2017 is going to extend into 2018 since I am still not close to catching up. It may have to slow down in velocity a bit so that I can do a bit more "real" reading but the slog shall continue...
Since I am at the very tail end of 2017 and I haven't updated my reading in quite a while so I am "cheating" and just kind of writing one review for all of the volumes that I have read so that I can get them up by the end of the year.
The aftermath of M day has been mixed to say the least. There were a few high points (Cable and Deadpool, the 198, the beginning of the new X-factor series... and more than a fair share of low points (the new Excalibur, Colossus, Deadly Genesis...). It certainly has not come across as a well-orchestrated and planned out event at this point. (And the plot armor of the main characters primarily being the ones that retained their powers is a bit ridiculous, but that is to be expected.)
At any rate, my x-read of 2017 is going to extend into 2018 since I am still not close to catching up. It may have to slow down in velocity a bit so that I can do a bit more "real" reading but the slog shall continue...
February 11, 2022
A group of mutants is working as private investigators and, among other cases, are trying to solve the case of why the decimation of mutants occurred. For some unknown reason, 90% of all mutants suddenly lost their powers. Some mutants are happy with this, as they feel like they will be able to fit in, while others are extremely unhappy and want their powers back. It is members of the latter group that has been reaching out to X-Factor Private Investigators. As the various PIs begin investigating different cases, there seem to be some connections between them - some they see and others they don't. Then throw Layla into the mix, a young girl who shows up and just knows things, and things begin to go sideways.
The story in this volume was compelling, and the artwork was beautiful. For a story about mutants that doesn't just follow the well-known mutants of the X-Men, I enjoyed it even more for that reason. In fact, I already have Volume 2 and I'm ready to read it.
The story in this volume was compelling, and the artwork was beautiful. For a story about mutants that doesn't just follow the well-known mutants of the X-Men, I enjoyed it even more for that reason. In fact, I already have Volume 2 and I'm ready to read it.
April 3, 2020
The 2000s X-Factor series debut, “The Longest Night,” is a masterful work of comics. The premise of a Mutant Detective agency, combined the the literal meaning of “x-factor” being “something that’s unpredictable,” creates a fantastic setup. Adding in a superstar cast of B and C-list mutants, Peter David continues the misadventures of his muse, Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man. Something particularly impressive about this debut volume is how it ties in to the post-House of M consequences without losing its own identity. There’s a lot to love about this book. The characters, the setting, the heart, and the humor. Excited to finally start this series in earnest. Onto volume 2!
May 21, 2020
Tam kde skončil príbeh Madrox, pokračuje tímovka X-Factor. Peter David využíva Multiple Mana tak ako si ho vytvoril a ani zvyšok tímu nezaostáva. Ak vezmeme do úvahy, že ide o skoro až C charaktery, tím šlape ako hodinky. Písal som to myslím už pri sérii Madrox, ale stále sa to dá porovnávať s Bendisovým Alias. Len je to celkovo trochu odľahčenejšie. Aj keď následky Decimácie je stále cítiť vo vzduchu. Úplný top je záhadná dievčina, ktorá jednoducho - "knows things". Množstvo malých príbehov sa vo finále skvele prepletie a zároveň sa toho neprezradí príliš moc, takže človek chce čítať aj pokračovanie. Vrelo odporúčam.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews