X-Factor: Second Coming (X-Factor

X-Factor (2005) (Collected Editions)

by Peter David

You're Bolivar Trask, the reanimated leader of the Mutant Response Division. Your Kill every member of How to accompoish that without collateral damage? hire the tam for what seems to be a routine case that will send them into a certain death trap. Problem solved. And in NATION X, Cyclops invites the world's only mutant detective agency to relocate to their floating island retreat and take up residence there. But will Madrox and his team believe that it's the best place for them? What old faces will pop up, and what old acquaintances will be renewed? And will there even be a Utopia left when the mysterious Crone shows up and threatens to bring the entire place crashing down into the Pacific?



X-Factor #204-206, Nation X Factor

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, X Men, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

112 pages, Hardcover

First published October 13, 2010

About the author

aka David Peters

Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

X-Factor Nation X is a Peter David comedic masterpiece where Cyclops tries to convince X-Factor to join him and the other mutants on Utopia. However the Second Coming stories are the weakest in what is a pretty good X-Men event, as Peter David's team don't get caught up in the main story, but are targeted by a conflicted Trask and his U.N.(!) forces! So overall, just a 7 out of 12, Three Star read.

2018 read

[Nicolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a high school aged teen, I enjoyed Peter David’s work on X-Factor. It was an intelligently written comic book. A highlight of his run, during this era, was X-Factor (1986-1998) #87 with art by Joe Quesada. In this issue, the team undergoes a psychological debriefing. There was no super villain battle or crossover event, but the team, individually, underwent a very challenging yet cathartic experience as they relayed to their psychoanalyst their dream, fears and hopes. It was a standout issue in a well written run. That pretty much stoked my interest in psychology as well.

I managed to get a bargain copy of this hard cover and I took this as an opportunity to sample David’s return to the title. Though the tone is different, some things remain the same like his trademark humor. The main character in his new run was Madrox, formerly the prankster and class clown of the team from his previous run. Madrox was reinvented as private investigator and that gave this new run a noir element.

David’s previous X-Factor run, had the team as a government sanctioned mutant strike force, with all the colorful costumes with belts, pouches and pads prevalent in comic books of that era. This new modern as I have said earlier, is a private investigation agency. It’s a grittier take. Without government funding, the team relies more their clients and they accept anyone, superhero or villain. The setting was different as well, with this new team based in New York City which was far different from federal Washington DC.

I’m getting the feeling that David is enjoying a free hand to script his stories with his second on the title. His run did not end particularly well since he was stifled by editorial interference and the need to fit into his scripts the various crossover events that were prevalent in that era. Here, though he tailors his scripts to tie into the current X-crossover Second Coming, I believe he gets autonomy and the tie in can only help the sales of the title. I find myself enjoying this new run of David I may get more of his collected stories on this title if I can find more at a good price.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. Not a great tie-in to a otherwise really strong event.

So the X-Factor crew decides to say fuck you to cyclops Utopia, but of course in doing so, are now hunted. It's basically a big action set piece of our favorite heroes trying to escape death. Still funny at times, some cool action moments, a few neat twist, but otherwise not as personal or deep as the normal series plotlines are. A 3 out of 5.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume collects the X-Factor Second Coming tie-in books and also the X-Factor: Nation X issue.

The whole volume is solid, though Nation X in particular was great. It was fun seeing how the X-Factor members played off the main team. I also really liked the discussion between Scott and Jamie. The "villain" in this issue was a little unnecessary but not too egregious.

The Second Coming tie-ins weren't bad either, probably due to the fact that have very little to do with the actual event. There are some great moments with the team in this, and I felt very happy to see them all working together, especially after being so splintered the past few volumes.

Very enjoyable, even considering this whole volume ties into a not so good event.

[Scott Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that there was a book within the X family that questioned what was happening with Cyclops as he marched toward Magneto, Jr. martyrdom. I followed the transformation Scott underwent directly in the other X-books, and things always made some sort of sense step-by-step, but I kept looking up, looking at the history of the X-Men as a whole, looking at the transformation Scott had undergone to get where he was, and man from that perspective it all just seemed so bizarre, so ludicrous...tragedy is life viewed up close and comedy is life viewed at a distance I guess. Anyway, finding a book that questioned him, that said all the things that lingered in my mind through all those long years before they offed him following the AvX storyline, was really cool. And David does it in my mind in a manner that is sincere, avoids mockery, and really powerfully captures the bizarre transformation that had occurred, the strangeness of it all. He did it perfectly: X-Factor visits Utopia, they all get along fine with everybody, Jamie and Scott are discussing their differences, and then Magneto walks in with two people following him and says to the members of X-Factor in on the leaders' discussion "Welcome to our brotherhood." totally innocent, but tremendously weighted statement. Best issue of the book. The MRD issues felt more standard bad mutant-hating group comes after our heroes stories, although well-told, and the art was the best in one of these volumes in a while, props to that portion of the team.

[Christina Nightengale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another good volume. The art is good too. I really loved Darwin's statement about how the soldiers trying to exterminate mutants are racist and the soldier's try to say they are not racist. I think that was very important to show! Most racist I know don't think they are racist. Amazing job on that scene Peter David! <3 Rictor had some good parts too! Lots of great comedic moments to help off set all the tension that was building in these issues. Loved the Nation X issue sooo freaking much! Jamie and Scott's interactions are always great! It was very nice to see the rest of the cast get to interact with so many other characters they usually don't get to! Seeing Dazzler and Longshot together again was great. Namor and Darwin's scene together was golden! Poor Darwin. It's nice to see Shatterstar and Layla's friendship grow. There were some nice character moments for Monet, who is my favorite on the team and Strong Guy. It's a good read.

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sin ser una saga mala, creo que este "Second Coming" es el peor tomo de todo lo que llevo leído del X-Factor de David. Toda la sub-trama de Monet y Guido en esa tierra de nadie selvática que es Sudamérica, se me terminó haciendo larga (además de medio insultante) e innecesaria. Por suerte el capítulo final (#53 de Panini, el último en ser publicado en revista), con batalla campal incluida, me resultó más entretenido que todos los anteriores juntos. Y, de todos modos, un Peter David a media máquina sigue siendo mejor que varios mainstreameros acelerados.
Ahora que finalmente llené todos los huecos que me faltaban de la serie, espero poder encontrar el tomo 3 (13 yanqui) hasta llegar a El fin de X-Factor para poder ver qué onda el Totalmente Nuevo Factor-X.

[Emmett Spain · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.

A short volume that coincides with the Second Coming event, but is very much on the periphery, this is an enjoyable if forgettable adventure.

The only issue worth mentioning is the final issue, which finally deals with why the X-Factor team haven't banded together with the rest of mutants on Utopia. There are some nice moments here, though the logic of why the whole team decides not to stay is a bit limp, at least where some of the characters are concerned (I think we're supposed to assume that Madrox's logic is everyone's logic).

Overall it's more breezy one liners and clever plot turns from the always reliable Peter David, without this being one of the standout volumes in an otherwise excellent run.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was some super confusing stuff, like the fact that Utopia suddenly happened and there were many things we were just supposed to 'know' about Hope and Cable, etc. (which thankfully I DO because I read that event and all of the X-titles discussing it already).

I am excited to see where Shatterstar and Richtor take off after this. Although I think I *want* to like them more than I actually like them at this point. Shatterstar is emotionally unavailable it seems, but that is part of his backstory. I wish Richtor would actually say out loud "I am bisexual" or whatever he wants to identify as, because I think it would help to see a male bisexual character stand up and identify himself (proudly).

[mkhare · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Alex E · Rating 3 out of 5]

The team is invited to Utopia, where Cyclops asks them to join them on the island to show solidarity between all mutants. X Factor pretty much tells him to kick rocks and goes back to doing their thing. From there, they are hunted by Trask in an effort to eradicate all mutants - one by one if they have to.

I think the thing that strikes me most about the book is how well of a handle Peter David has on all the personalities on the team. The interpersonal interactions between all the members is what I enjoy most. They very much feel like a family, with some members not talking to each other, some missing, some trying to fix everything, etc... This type of relationship between the team really makes them gel well and is something that is missing from a lot of team books these days.

Overall the story was ok, you can pretty much guess at what happened, but it was still entertaining nonetheless. This is a good X Factor story that will please any fans of the team.

[Alex Sarll]

Somewhere in the mid-range when it comes to the crossoveriness of crossovers: Madrox and company are properly affected by the wider plot, but mainly in so far as the wider plot involves some resurrected and mind-controlled fuckos trying to kill mutants, and X-Factor are indeed mutants. Or at least, most of them are – just one of the many ingenious ways in which said efforts get foiled. Considered as part of the wider X-Factor story, it doesn't do a great deal to advance any plotlines, but it doesn't need to – just watching them all work was always enough. Plus, a Nation X issue which is included after the rest even though one of the other issues refers back to it. It's fun watching the New York team interact with the other mutants, especially how flirty much of it is - but dear heavens, the art ain't right.

[Matthew Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

These issues, collected in the trade paperback “X-Factor: Second Coming,” released in early 2011, tie into the overall “X-Men: Second Coming” storyline, but work well enough on their own that you don’t have to worry about following the entire storyline.

Bolivar Trask secretly hires X-Factor for an apparently routine mission that leads them into his planned death trap. A subplot involves Monet, Strong Guy and Baron Mordo. Writer Peter David provides his typically witty dialogue.


In the “Nation X” one-shot, Cyclops invites the team to move into his floating island of Utopia. But while they’re there, they must face off against the mysterious Crone as Longshot rekindles a romance.

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still continuing my great x-read of 2017/2018 and I am WAY behind on reviews due to a move and limited down time. I will be updating everything I have read in the meantime with tiny (or nonexistent) reviews so I can catch up again...

Iparticularly enjoyed Madrox telling Scott (and the rest of the mutants, basically) to go *(&^ themselves. Oh, and Layla's interactions with Scott as well.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent as always! <3

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Publicado en las revistas de Panini en los números 49, 51, 52 y 53 (que traducían X-Factor USA #204-206, y el especial Nation X: X Factor), últimos en este formato, ya que luego pasaron al tomo.

[Adam Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection is mostly unrelated to the big X-Men Second Coming crossover. It does feed into the big crossover, as the main villain of this collection is part of the Big Bads of Second Coming, but you can read this book completely independently of the event, and miss nothing (though you should read the X-Men Second Coming trade, it's one of the better X-Men crossovers from the past twenty years).

This is a ridiculous adventure comic filled with a nice balance of humor and drama. I recommend it (and the preceding nine volumes) to anyone looking for a solid X-book run that doesn't require any previous mutant knowledge...but start with volume 1...or the Madrox Multiple Choice book...don't start here.

Updated During 2025 X-Reread:

As usual, there is a slight problem with the reading order due to Marvel editorial's consistent inability to lay out a story in order. The final issue from Nation X takes place before the preceding issue. Its events are relayed in that previous issue, and there's no cool storytelling reason for it to be told in this order.

[Jeff Lanter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was much less satisfying than the previous volume of X-Factor. So much so, that I've decided this series isn't for me. The story continues over from the last trade, but is not particularly interesting. Someone wants to kill the team and it isn't all that clear why. They outsmart him and then there is a laid back tie-in with the X-Men. Overall, this was a shallow plot and while the interactions with the X-Men were fun, it didn't save this from being forgettable. I get the sense that these tie-ins and crossovers have taken up a couple X-Factor arcs and that is a shame. They clearly hurt the story and make what is a pretty enjoyable book, not worth reading.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the way to deal with a company wide crossover events but keep a series available to those who don;t want to read the event. This X-Man spin-off ties loosely into the The Mutant Messiah crossover event, but it is so far off to the side that you don;t have read the other books. Peter David's witty and intelligent dialogue is quite enjoyable, and dumps some of the angst of preceding volumes (and X-Man books in general). An, frankly I enjoy reading about Jaimie Madrox being the smart guy in the room.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK for Peter David writing, but nothing shocking or spectacular. This is just decent plodding through the motions on characters I could really care little about.

After this book I still have little interest in following this B-team - just needed to complete my reading of the Second Coming epic (yeah, Marvel crossovers still lure me into reading - but not buying, just borrowing - extra books).

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty fun volume of X-Factor that's a little too short. Better than the main story is the Nation X chapter that's included, which gets a little dense into the X-Men's roster, but if you're reading X-Factor, you're probably more okay with that than mosts. And it's pretty cool to see the crew interacting with other members of the X-Men.

[Sonic · Rating 2 out of 5]

Second Coming? heh heh heh, They should have called it SECOND REPRINT! I already read 4/5ths of this in X-MEN: SECOND COMING: REVELATIONS. I do enjoy Peter David's writing as he has a hilarious sense of humor.

[Matt Sabonis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm running out of things to say about this series...David's writing stays consistently engaging, and the army of expressive Italian artists who have joined him on X-Factor are great. Of all of them, De Landro's my favorite.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This pair of crossovers erodes of X-Factor's core strengths of characterization & humor. It's nice to see the interaction with the rest of the X-Universe, but David did it better in earlier volumes of the series.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what the XFactor did during the Second Coming storyline. They weren't on Utopia and tried to survive on their own, with some interesting side effects. And yes, Maddrox does tell Summers where to go. A good read.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Individual issues on marvel unlimited