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Essential X-Factor
Essential X-Factor, Vol. 1
The death of Jean Grey re-defined the X-Men, but her resurrection did nothing less! Recovered by the Avengers and revived by the Fantastic Four, Jean's return re-grouped her fellow founders into a supposed mutant-hunting unit that ferreted out some of mutantdom's rising stars - including the devastating debut of the ancient evil everyone identifies as Apocalypse! With Mystique, the Morlocks, and the Master Mold! Featuring tie-ins to the infamous Mutant Massacre! Guest-starring Thor and Power Pack! Collects X-Factor #1-16, Annual #1, Avengers #263, Fantastic Four #286, Thor #373-374 and Power Pack #27.
568 pages, Paperback
First published November 16, 2005
9 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Louise Simonson
964 books100 followersLouise Simonson (born Mary Louise Alexander and formerly credited as Louise Jones, when married to artist Jeff Jones) is an American comic book writer and editor. She is best known for her work on comic book titles such as Power Pack, X-Factor, New Mutants, Superman, and Steel. She is sometimes referred to by the nickname "Weezie".
Since 1980 she is married to comic book writer and artist Walter Simonson
Since 1980 she is married to comic book writer and artist Walter Simonson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 27, 2023
At the heart of this, what became the third main ongoing X-book, is the reformation of the original X-Men which included the cash-focused betrayal to comic book readers with the bringing back of Jean Grey. X-Factor have a believable, but terrible business plan, which sees them find a way of saving mutants by externally being portrayed as human mutant-hunters. I felt that the supposed core main romantic story line lacked real depth, as I can't really believe the way the one-time 'big brother' to all, morally superior Scott Summers behaves. Debuts included Cameron Hodge, Rusty Collins, Artie, Trish Trilby and more. All-in-all it is the X-Men: Mutant Massacre stories in this book that make it such a good read. 8 out of 12 Four Stars. Collects X-Factor #1 to #16, Annual #1 and the cross-overs for 'Phoenix Rising' and 'X-Men: Mutant Massacre'.
2017, 2014 and 2010 read
2017, 2014 and 2010 read
August 2, 2025
X-Factor took a while to get good. The early issues by Bob Layton simply set up the premise--the original X-Men get together again because Jean Grey came back to life and they run a suspicious company that "hunts" for mutants. Cyclops is portrayed very poorly as he does the worst thing ever and leaves his wife and child for Jean. There's a lot of inner conflict as he goes back and forth with Jean who knows something is up. We get it, Cyclops is a sullen character.
It's not until issue 6 when the series improves. That's when X-editor Louise Simonson becomes the writer. Apocalypse is introduced, and subplot begins that shows Cyclops actually care about Madelyne and begins to search for her. Then, the Mutant Massacre begins and X-Factor becomes great with the addition of legendary illustrator Walter Simonson in issue 10. The husband and wife team bring this title to glory, with the sad story of Angel losing his wings... which ties into the growing Apocalypse threat later, as we all know.
There's also the slow burn of the Cameron Hodge reveal which takes its time. It was his idea for X-Factor to disguise themselves as human mutant hunters, and the PR ad campaign just makes humanity hate mutants even more. It's mentioned again and again until the team cannot take it any longer, as the writing begins to fully acknowledge how problematic their premise is. He won't reveal his villainous side until the next volume, but the seeds are planted well here.
It takes a while but eventually X-Factor does become a worthy spinoff to Claremont's X-Men. They wouldn't even meet each other until Inferno years later, which shows how different comics were back then, but it works with each title focusing on their own stories. If anyone wants to streamline the process, just skim the first issue and then read Apocalypse's first appearance and finally go from the Mutant Massacre and on by Simonson & Simsonson. Those are the good ones.
It's not until issue 6 when the series improves. That's when X-editor Louise Simonson becomes the writer. Apocalypse is introduced, and subplot begins that shows Cyclops actually care about Madelyne and begins to search for her. Then, the Mutant Massacre begins and X-Factor becomes great with the addition of legendary illustrator Walter Simonson in issue 10. The husband and wife team bring this title to glory, with the sad story of Angel losing his wings... which ties into the growing Apocalypse threat later, as we all know.
There's also the slow burn of the Cameron Hodge reveal which takes its time. It was his idea for X-Factor to disguise themselves as human mutant hunters, and the PR ad campaign just makes humanity hate mutants even more. It's mentioned again and again until the team cannot take it any longer, as the writing begins to fully acknowledge how problematic their premise is. He won't reveal his villainous side until the next volume, but the seeds are planted well here.
It takes a while but eventually X-Factor does become a worthy spinoff to Claremont's X-Men. They wouldn't even meet each other until Inferno years later, which shows how different comics were back then, but it works with each title focusing on their own stories. If anyone wants to streamline the process, just skim the first issue and then read Apocalypse's first appearance and finally go from the Mutant Massacre and on by Simonson & Simsonson. Those are the good ones.
February 20, 2009
This book barely got saved from 1 star.
This book starts out with one of the harder retcons to stomach as it potentially rips the guts out of the Phoenix story if you let it. And to do this the story runs through an Avengers issue where John Buscema looked like he was really trying to find a new style as it was starting to get very loose and awkward. Then, fittingly, it is given to John Byrne in a Fantastic Four comic. And then X-Factor starts.
And starts terribly. This is the first X-Title that Claremont is not responsible for in elevenish years. And it makes you realize that perhaps Claremont wasn't the greatest of writers, but you can do much much worse (this is pre-90s-hiatus Claremont of which I am speaking).
The premise is, resurrect Jean Grey (aka neuter the Phoenix saga) and put the original five X-Men back together. Have Cyclops get torn between his wife and child and his former love who has now returned to life. (melodrama-me) And top it off with all five mutants being really really stupid and setting up an organization that poses as mutant hunters to save mutants in distress. I realize there is a certain fellow who is trying to take advantage of them and it will be fun to see him turn into a slobbering cyborg with a mug full of crazy, but... yezzifassermackish are these character gullible! This is the type of thing where the reader has to fall for it too or it is just gonna come off as more and more painful and stupid as the lie grows. In this case you don't fall for it one instant. Louise Simonson tries to rationalize it a bit better when she comes on the stage, but it still ain't working.
Which brings me to why this ended up getting two stars. Louise Simonson steps in on the sixth issue and tries to salvage something out of this mess. It takes a little while, but by the end of this essential a number of things are starting to move in a positive direction. I have very little experience with Louise Simonson so this will be an interesting experience.
As for art, the only things of note are Marc Silvestri makes a couple appearances, the second of which really shows his style taking off. I enjoy his old art. The little I've seen of his newer stuff, it may be detailed, but it lost some of the enjoyable flair he put into his late-80s material. He drew the first issue with Boom Boom (I'm sorry, that's her name, blame Secret War II) showing up and just some of the illustrations had me smirking in good humor. He has a comedic edge that I haven't seen in any of his newer stuff. In fact I just smirked at the thought of his Longshot stuff coming up in Uncanny.
The other thing of note is Walter Simonson stepping in to pair up with his wife. I am not all that experienced with his art. It seems strong and consistent. I believe he'll be on the book for a while so perhaps I will get a better feel for his art.
This trade also collects the Mutant Massacre, again which I plan to address in its own review. It also goes on a little further and shows the effects of the massacre on X-Factor.
This book is mostly just for those who need their continuity fix. As stated Jean comes back. Apocalypse makes his first appearance (pretty laughable at first). The mystery of Madelyne deepens. Cameron Hodge doesn't do much yet, but he's around. Mutant Massacre. Cyclops mopes. Jean mopes. Angel mopes. Beast loses the blue. Mastermold comes back. The Twelve first gets mentioned (I think this was the first time). Oh and one of the five main characters "dies" (read finger motions into those quotation marks).
Oh and the best thing about this entire essential is the introduction of Artie Maddicks!
This book starts out with one of the harder retcons to stomach as it potentially rips the guts out of the Phoenix story if you let it. And to do this the story runs through an Avengers issue where John Buscema looked like he was really trying to find a new style as it was starting to get very loose and awkward. Then, fittingly, it is given to John Byrne in a Fantastic Four comic. And then X-Factor starts.
And starts terribly. This is the first X-Title that Claremont is not responsible for in elevenish years. And it makes you realize that perhaps Claremont wasn't the greatest of writers, but you can do much much worse (this is pre-90s-hiatus Claremont of which I am speaking).
The premise is, resurrect Jean Grey (aka neuter the Phoenix saga) and put the original five X-Men back together. Have Cyclops get torn between his wife and child and his former love who has now returned to life. (melodrama-me) And top it off with all five mutants being really really stupid and setting up an organization that poses as mutant hunters to save mutants in distress. I realize there is a certain fellow who is trying to take advantage of them and it will be fun to see him turn into a slobbering cyborg with a mug full of crazy, but... yezzifassermackish are these character gullible! This is the type of thing where the reader has to fall for it too or it is just gonna come off as more and more painful and stupid as the lie grows. In this case you don't fall for it one instant. Louise Simonson tries to rationalize it a bit better when she comes on the stage, but it still ain't working.
Which brings me to why this ended up getting two stars. Louise Simonson steps in on the sixth issue and tries to salvage something out of this mess. It takes a little while, but by the end of this essential a number of things are starting to move in a positive direction. I have very little experience with Louise Simonson so this will be an interesting experience.
As for art, the only things of note are Marc Silvestri makes a couple appearances, the second of which really shows his style taking off. I enjoy his old art. The little I've seen of his newer stuff, it may be detailed, but it lost some of the enjoyable flair he put into his late-80s material. He drew the first issue with Boom Boom (I'm sorry, that's her name, blame Secret War II) showing up and just some of the illustrations had me smirking in good humor. He has a comedic edge that I haven't seen in any of his newer stuff. In fact I just smirked at the thought of his Longshot stuff coming up in Uncanny.
The other thing of note is Walter Simonson stepping in to pair up with his wife. I am not all that experienced with his art. It seems strong and consistent. I believe he'll be on the book for a while so perhaps I will get a better feel for his art.
This trade also collects the Mutant Massacre, again which I plan to address in its own review. It also goes on a little further and shows the effects of the massacre on X-Factor.
This book is mostly just for those who need their continuity fix. As stated Jean comes back. Apocalypse makes his first appearance (pretty laughable at first). The mystery of Madelyne deepens. Cameron Hodge doesn't do much yet, but he's around. Mutant Massacre. Cyclops mopes. Jean mopes. Angel mopes. Beast loses the blue. Mastermold comes back. The Twelve first gets mentioned (I think this was the first time). Oh and one of the five main characters "dies" (read finger motions into those quotation marks).
Oh and the best thing about this entire essential is the introduction of Artie Maddicks!
August 5, 2016
Loved this book! Can't for the life of understand why this series hasn't been reprinted in color yet. This is an overlooked gem in the Marvel archives. Perhaps it will get the Masterworks treatment at some point? Or at least an Epic Collection? Surely, one of these options must be under consideration.
Top talent creative wise. The main X-men central team. What's not to love. And all that Walt Simonson art! Gimme Vol 2 before I have withdrawl.
Top talent creative wise. The main X-men central team. What's not to love. And all that Walt Simonson art! Gimme Vol 2 before I have withdrawl.
June 27, 2010
2.5 stars. Decent initial run of this X-men spinoff series featuring the return of the original X-men line-up from 1963 (i.e. Cyclops, Beast, Ice-man, Angel and Jean Grey). Best issues are those featuring the arch villain Apocalypse.
August 3, 2020
After Jean Grey aka Dark Phoenix dies the x-men are thrown in Turmoil and their leader professor X disappears into space. This collection of classic X-Factor starts with the return of Jean Grey and the formation of a new group of superhero's called X-Factor and all the original X-men are part of the team, Marvel Girl, Beast, Iceman, Cyclops and Angel.
They hide their mutant identity as the world becomes fearful of mutants and they up the mantle of Mutant hunters while in reality saving mutants from death and persecution. They will be persecuted themselves and find themselves opposed by evil mutants that operate on a license of the government or even those who want to kill of the weaker ones in order to keep the stronger alive. They will also live through the mutant massacre underground.
For fans of the original X-men series an interesting look at where x- factor started and the X-men would eventually get their mojo back.
Good comics and a nice collection
They hide their mutant identity as the world becomes fearful of mutants and they up the mantle of Mutant hunters while in reality saving mutants from death and persecution. They will be persecuted themselves and find themselves opposed by evil mutants that operate on a license of the government or even those who want to kill of the weaker ones in order to keep the stronger alive. They will also live through the mutant massacre underground.
For fans of the original X-men series an interesting look at where x- factor started and the X-men would eventually get their mojo back.
Good comics and a nice collection
February 29, 2024
2.5/5.0
September 3, 2020
Its starts out good. Then it dawdles with scott not revealing his secret for maybe two issues too long. Some cheesy 90s villains cause some trouble. It really picks up when the morlock story starts. Thor is a welcome tie in and i didnt mind the power pack tie in either. The side characters they introduce you warm up too. All the while they introduce Apocalypse and have him operating in the background. At times this was a labor to read but when it finishes you will be excited to read the next volume. A testament to Louise Simonsons abilitiy as a writer to make you care for the characters. Walter Simonsons art work really stands out when you come across the issues he pencils. I found myself flipping back to the start of an issue to find out every time Walt had penciled it... Only for readers who dont mind a dated story and art styles.
December 28, 2023
La verdad es que la aparición de Factor-X es un ejemplo de las movidas y puñaladas traperas que se pueden dar dentro de una editorial como Marvel, y es muy reveladora en cuanto a filias, fobias, y demás. Con Shooter a la cabeza, y sin contar con el gran patriarca mutante (Chris Claremont, por supuesto), se había orquestado el regreso de Jean Grey con Byrne en 4F y Roger Stern en Vengadores, y con Jean Grey de vuelta y la colección Nuevos Defensores (en la que se habían instalado el Ángel, la Bestia y el Hombre de Hielo) recientemente cerrada, todo parecía indicar que había llegado el momento de recuperar a la Patrulla-X original... pero sin Claremont.
Los elegidos para desarrollar esta nueva serie serían Bob Layton y Jackson Guice, y arranca por supuesto con el reencuentro entre Jean Grey y sus antiguos compañeros... incluido Cíclope, arrancado del retiro que Claremont le había dado, para volver y convertirse en el líder de este nuevo equipo. Para conseguir acceder a nuevos mutantes y darles unos cuidados lejos de Magneto (convertido en nuevo director de la Escuela Xavier), a quien siguen considerando un enemigo, los cinco miembros originales deciden fundar Factor-X, una organización financiada por el Ángel y dedicada a cazar mutantes, bajo la premisa de que así podrían acercarse a los mutantes... pero sin tener en cuenta que su propia publicidad y su propia existencia, contribuía al empeoramiento de las relaciones entre humanos y mutantes. En estos primeros números, Layton y Guice nos presentarían a personajes como Cameron Hodge (relaciones públicas de Factor-X y en el que Louise Simonson posteriormente descargaría todas lo que había de mala idea en la creación del equipo por Layton), Rusty Collins, Artie Maddicks (los primeros pupilos de Factor-X), y los miembros de la Alianza del Mal (Torre, Frenesí, Aguijón y Sombra Temporal), así como al líder de estos, Apocalipsis... a quien ya desarrollaría Louis Simonson, ya que el experimento era evidente que no funcionaba, así que en el sexto número, la colección pasó a manos de Simonson, una guionista afín a Claremont, y junto a la que no tardaría en llegar su marido, Walter Simonson, que se convertiría en dibujante habitual de la serie.
Ya con los Simonson al frente, la serie comenzó a repuntar, apuntalándose en dos temas recurrentes: el odio entre humanos y mutantes, y los problemas de Cíclope frente al regreso de Jean Grey y su confusión entre ella, Fénix y su propia esposa, Madelyne Pryor, a la que en un momento determinado comienzan incluso a dar por muerta. Y además, gracias a la cercanía de Louise Simonson y Chris Claremont, vamos a comenzar a ver un acercamiento entre las colecciones, de modo que incluso tendremos diferentes perspectivas de diferentes escenas (el encuentro entre Magneto y Factor-X en las puertas del Club Fuego Infernal lo vamos a ver en ambas colecciones, cada una desde una perspectiva), y cristalizaría en La Masacre Mutante, una historia que se desarrollaría paralelamente en Factor-X, Patrulla-X y Nuevos Mutantes, y en la que un grupo de asesinos llamados "los Merodeadores", siembran el caos bajo Nueva York, asesinando a los Morlocks, lo que va a llevar a que los tres grupos de mutantes bailen de un lado a otro del Callejón, acercándose pero sin llegar a coincidir. A nivel de Factor-X, lo más relevante será que durante la lucha con los Merodeadores, el Ángel será gravemente herido por Arpón, y a causa de sus heridas, terminarían amputándole las alas, lo que va a llevar a un teórico suicidio (todos sabíamos que no era así, no creo que ni siquiera Simonson se plantease hacer creer al lector que el Ángel había muerto), mientras Apocalipsis, derrotada la Alianza del Mal (creo que de este equipo solo Frenesí ha tenido cierta proyección como personaje), va a comenzar a reunir a sus Jinetes...
Una nota bajita para el tomo, pero es que aunque remonta mucho con los Simonson... los cómics de Layton y Guice son verdaderamente malos.
Los elegidos para desarrollar esta nueva serie serían Bob Layton y Jackson Guice, y arranca por supuesto con el reencuentro entre Jean Grey y sus antiguos compañeros... incluido Cíclope, arrancado del retiro que Claremont le había dado, para volver y convertirse en el líder de este nuevo equipo. Para conseguir acceder a nuevos mutantes y darles unos cuidados lejos de Magneto (convertido en nuevo director de la Escuela Xavier), a quien siguen considerando un enemigo, los cinco miembros originales deciden fundar Factor-X, una organización financiada por el Ángel y dedicada a cazar mutantes, bajo la premisa de que así podrían acercarse a los mutantes... pero sin tener en cuenta que su propia publicidad y su propia existencia, contribuía al empeoramiento de las relaciones entre humanos y mutantes. En estos primeros números, Layton y Guice nos presentarían a personajes como Cameron Hodge (relaciones públicas de Factor-X y en el que Louise Simonson posteriormente descargaría todas lo que había de mala idea en la creación del equipo por Layton), Rusty Collins, Artie Maddicks (los primeros pupilos de Factor-X), y los miembros de la Alianza del Mal (Torre, Frenesí, Aguijón y Sombra Temporal), así como al líder de estos, Apocalipsis... a quien ya desarrollaría Louis Simonson, ya que el experimento era evidente que no funcionaba, así que en el sexto número, la colección pasó a manos de Simonson, una guionista afín a Claremont, y junto a la que no tardaría en llegar su marido, Walter Simonson, que se convertiría en dibujante habitual de la serie.
Ya con los Simonson al frente, la serie comenzó a repuntar, apuntalándose en dos temas recurrentes: el odio entre humanos y mutantes, y los problemas de Cíclope frente al regreso de Jean Grey y su confusión entre ella, Fénix y su propia esposa, Madelyne Pryor, a la que en un momento determinado comienzan incluso a dar por muerta. Y además, gracias a la cercanía de Louise Simonson y Chris Claremont, vamos a comenzar a ver un acercamiento entre las colecciones, de modo que incluso tendremos diferentes perspectivas de diferentes escenas (el encuentro entre Magneto y Factor-X en las puertas del Club Fuego Infernal lo vamos a ver en ambas colecciones, cada una desde una perspectiva), y cristalizaría en La Masacre Mutante, una historia que se desarrollaría paralelamente en Factor-X, Patrulla-X y Nuevos Mutantes, y en la que un grupo de asesinos llamados "los Merodeadores", siembran el caos bajo Nueva York, asesinando a los Morlocks, lo que va a llevar a que los tres grupos de mutantes bailen de un lado a otro del Callejón, acercándose pero sin llegar a coincidir. A nivel de Factor-X, lo más relevante será que durante la lucha con los Merodeadores, el Ángel será gravemente herido por Arpón, y a causa de sus heridas, terminarían amputándole las alas, lo que va a llevar a un teórico suicidio (todos sabíamos que no era así, no creo que ni siquiera Simonson se plantease hacer creer al lector que el Ángel había muerto), mientras Apocalipsis, derrotada la Alianza del Mal (creo que de este equipo solo Frenesí ha tenido cierta proyección como personaje), va a comenzar a reunir a sus Jinetes...
Una nota bajita para el tomo, pero es que aunque remonta mucho con los Simonson... los cómics de Layton y Guice son verdaderamente malos.
August 2, 2025
I hopped over from reading Uncanny X-Men to find out WTF is going on - how is Jean not dead and what the hell is X-Factor!
It starts with an extremely forced retcon of the Phoenix Saga in order to bring Jean back from the dead. The Phoenix was never *in* her body, it had stashed her in statis under the ocean and had just copied her body and personality... for reasons, don't worry about it. So when Phoenix sacrificed herself it wasn't Jean that died. It's really stupid and doesn't make sense.
Resurrected Jean also doesn't feel like Jean to me either. Plus conveniently she no longer has her psychic powers (only telekinesis) so she can't read anyone's mind to find out Scott married a woman that looks *exactly* like her and they have a child...?!
The idea behind X-Factor is dubious, and it never sat right with me. They soon realise this though! Things have gotten very messy and confusing in the world with all the different mutant factions. Apocalypse shows up, (ready to collect his horseman) and the story crosses over to the Marauders massacre of the Morlocks. X-Factor are in the tunnels at the same time as the X-Men, which we knew from the X-Men recognising Cyclops optic blast. The X-Men side of the story is much better.
This isn't great. The writing is nowhere near as good as Claremont's X-Men, the characters don't feel as real. It's reminded me why I didn't click with the original X-Men - they all act so fucking weird about Jean, and she's nothing but an object for their inappropriate comments and relationship drama. Scott acts like a complete dick to everyone (it takes 6 issues for her to find out the truth, and he isn't the one to tell her!), plus Warren is inexplicably also now in love with Jean despite having his long time girlfriend Candy!
Oh yeah also Hank gets turned back to human looking which is boring. I like him blue and furry!
I'll read enough to catch up on what I'd missed and then jump back to where the superior Uncanny X-Men (#221ish) picks this up. I really miss the proper X-Men!
It starts with an extremely forced retcon of the Phoenix Saga in order to bring Jean back from the dead. The Phoenix was never *in* her body, it had stashed her in statis under the ocean and had just copied her body and personality... for reasons, don't worry about it. So when Phoenix sacrificed herself it wasn't Jean that died. It's really stupid and doesn't make sense.
Resurrected Jean also doesn't feel like Jean to me either. Plus conveniently she no longer has her psychic powers (only telekinesis) so she can't read anyone's mind to find out Scott married a woman that looks *exactly* like her and they have a child...?!
The idea behind X-Factor is dubious, and it never sat right with me. They soon realise this though! Things have gotten very messy and confusing in the world with all the different mutant factions. Apocalypse shows up, (ready to collect his horseman) and the story crosses over to the Marauders massacre of the Morlocks. X-Factor are in the tunnels at the same time as the X-Men, which we knew from the X-Men recognising Cyclops optic blast. The X-Men side of the story is much better.
This isn't great. The writing is nowhere near as good as Claremont's X-Men, the characters don't feel as real. It's reminded me why I didn't click with the original X-Men - they all act so fucking weird about Jean, and she's nothing but an object for their inappropriate comments and relationship drama. Scott acts like a complete dick to everyone (it takes 6 issues for her to find out the truth, and he isn't the one to tell her!), plus Warren is inexplicably also now in love with Jean despite having his long time girlfriend Candy!
Oh yeah also Hank gets turned back to human looking which is boring. I like him blue and furry!
I'll read enough to catch up on what I'd missed and then jump back to where the superior Uncanny X-Men (#221ish) picks this up. I really miss the proper X-Men!
April 26, 2018
The set-up chapters for Jean's "resurrection" (Avengers 263 and FF 286) are pretty good. But the opening Bob Layton run of the regular title is pretty dull stuff. Things get better when the Simonson/Simonson team are on the book. The Mutant Massacre stuff is pretty good, as is the drama it unfolds for Angel. However, the Massacre ends abruptly and without much resolution here (if you don't have the linking X-Men chapters to look at). The Thor tie-in issues are good, but the Power Pack chapter is not. Over all, the book at this stage is marred by the drawn-out melodrama with Cyclops--and if you haven't hated Cyclops before, this will clinch it for you. It's telling that the most consistently interesting characters here are those of the supporting cast, the small group of young mutants (inexperienced with their powers) who gather around the X-Factor team.
April 18, 2020
This was a VERY quick read, MUCH quicker than I anticipated! These were all brand-new to me, which may account for at least part of its fascination. During the period from 1985 to 1987, I lost interest in superhero comics altogether with only Dick Tracy reprints & The Watchmen keeping me coming into comic shops at all.
This series introduces a LOT of new characters & at first, I was having trouble keeping up. Once I got in the groove, though, it moved very quickly. Lots of guest-appearances, cross-overs, shocking plotlines, if this was Vol. 1, bring on Vol. 2!
This series introduces a LOT of new characters & at first, I was having trouble keeping up. Once I got in the groove, though, it moved very quickly. Lots of guest-appearances, cross-overs, shocking plotlines, if this was Vol. 1, bring on Vol. 2!
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June 13, 2024El que he leído es el Factor-X omnigold: La caída de los mutantes. Bob Layton resucita a la Patrulla X, le da otro nombre, una chavalada mutante de la que cuidar e introduce al temible Apocalipsis; al frente pone a la editora de Claremont, Louise Simonson, y su esposo Walter se encarga de la (mayoría de) lápices. Es un homenaje muy temprano a los orígenes y una retrocontinuidá en toda regla con el temita de doña Jean Grey, rediviva y resucitada, lo que estropea mucho-bastante el tema de Madelyne Pryor introducido en la Claremontiada.
September 13, 2017
A group of rich straight white mutants create an organization where they hide their mutant-ness and try to get anti-mutants to turn in mutants to their organization so they can help them... I wish the members of X-Factor were a little more strategic about their savior complex, but I enjoyed the ride. Minus one star for ALL THE SCOTT SUMMERS. Did people in the 80's actually like Cyclops? Because I'm tired of him.
July 2, 2018
I had collected X-Factor from after Inferno, thinking the origin story would be interesting. I was quite disappointed. Even the origin of Hodge sucks. And what is this Apocalypse!?! Would not recommend.
January 14, 2019
Not great stuff but introduced some important continuity elements. The writing is inconsistent and this just screams of a cash in during the rise of X-men mania.
Claremont has nothing to do with this book also. Likely do to his frustration over Jean’s retcon.
Claremont has nothing to do with this book also. Likely do to his frustration over Jean’s retcon.
December 7, 2022
Not a fan of the beginning storyline but it does pick up with Jean/Scott and the drama around Maddie. Nice tie in with Mutant Massacre and a myriad of characters that crossover several series later.
A rare shot of Cyclops with his visor off, holding Leech.
A rare shot of Cyclops with his visor off, holding Leech.
July 12, 2025
the start of this is some of the worst shit I've ever read, proper sub-Stan Lee, pre-cancellation X-Men stuff. Thankfully once the Simonsons come in you get some proper storytelling. a shame they had to introduce Apocalypse so early so badly and need to "fix him" later.
February 22, 2023
Man I had never read this complete run before. Fantastic story of The Original X-Men forming a new team in more trying times
February 28, 2025
Just wanna give a quick shout out to Louise Simonson, one of the unsung heroes of the Claremont era
April 24, 2016
This first Essential X-Factor volume collects issues # 1-16 and Annual # 1, as well as the team's "prologue" in the pages of Avengers # 262 and Fantastic Four # 286. Also included are the X-Factor related tie-ins to "The Mutant Massacre" crossover featured in Thor # 373-374 and power Pack # 27.
The return of Jean Grey, a.k.a. Marvel Girl, heralded the making of a new mutant team, or rather the re-assembling of an old one (the original X-Men, though in a very different form). At the time, part of the big news was that it would be Marvel's first mutant title in quite a while not to be penned by Chris Claremont, as the first five issues (and the first Annual) were written by Bob Layton, who in turn was followed by Louise Simonson.
The basic premise is that the original X-Men (i.e. Marvel Girl, Cyclops, Angel, Iceman and Beast) reunite upon Jean Grey return to the land of the living, but as society's fear of mutants is at a peak, the set up is two-fold. Under business management careof Cameron Hodge, an old friend of Warren Worthington, a.k.a. Angel, X-Factor is set up as a team of human mutant hunters, who secretly intend to offer their "captives" training to control their mutant abilities, but when there is need (and isn't there always), a different set of costumes allow the team to operate as mutants under the name of the X-Terminators.
Perhaps mostly (and certainly not incorrectly so) criticised for a not altogether pleasant or in-character portrayal of Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops, the issues in this collection were nevertheless much more enjoyable than I had anticiapted (and clearly I had anticipated some enjoyment or I wouldn't have picked the volume up in the first place). Simonson's choice to alter a background villain from being the Owl (as planned) to the new evolutionary, Darwinian power struggler and mutant Apocalypse was a stroke of genius and I do not think that it is a co-incidence that the issues featuring him are among the strongest. Walter Simonson joining in as penciller from # 10 onwards certainly doesn't hurt either.
A fun read!
The return of Jean Grey, a.k.a. Marvel Girl, heralded the making of a new mutant team, or rather the re-assembling of an old one (the original X-Men, though in a very different form). At the time, part of the big news was that it would be Marvel's first mutant title in quite a while not to be penned by Chris Claremont, as the first five issues (and the first Annual) were written by Bob Layton, who in turn was followed by Louise Simonson.
The basic premise is that the original X-Men (i.e. Marvel Girl, Cyclops, Angel, Iceman and Beast) reunite upon Jean Grey return to the land of the living, but as society's fear of mutants is at a peak, the set up is two-fold. Under business management careof Cameron Hodge, an old friend of Warren Worthington, a.k.a. Angel, X-Factor is set up as a team of human mutant hunters, who secretly intend to offer their "captives" training to control their mutant abilities, but when there is need (and isn't there always), a different set of costumes allow the team to operate as mutants under the name of the X-Terminators.
Perhaps mostly (and certainly not incorrectly so) criticised for a not altogether pleasant or in-character portrayal of Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops, the issues in this collection were nevertheless much more enjoyable than I had anticiapted (and clearly I had anticipated some enjoyment or I wouldn't have picked the volume up in the first place). Simonson's choice to alter a background villain from being the Owl (as planned) to the new evolutionary, Darwinian power struggler and mutant Apocalypse was a stroke of genius and I do not think that it is a co-incidence that the issues featuring him are among the strongest. Walter Simonson joining in as penciller from # 10 onwards certainly doesn't hurt either.
A fun read!
December 23, 2015
The original X-men reform as X-Factor, complete with Jean Gray coming back from the dead! Of course, the first few issues, written by Bob Layton, remind us why the original crew was replaced by the "All-New, All-Different" squad that made up Chris Claremont's legendary run. On their own, Cyclops, Beast, Angel, Jean Gray and Iceman are pretty square. Their powers don't work together in a cohesive way for the action scenes, and their personalities are single-note and repetitive, especially Cyclops' angst about ditching his family and refusing to tell Jean he's married, a crippling--and questionable--decision for a character who's always been so strait-laced about doing the right thing.
This long volume contains the Mutant Massacre, a still-gripping crossover that sees a community of heroes react to a vigilante squad murdering a mutant community beneath the tunnels of Manhattan. X-Factor's in-group soap opera gets a necessary kick forward here, and the momentum carries into the later issues, where Louise Simonson does a good job taking over the writing duties.
The original premise for the series is troubling. The group advertises themselves as mutant hunters, using their vigilante service to collect mutants and offer them a safe haven. Of course, they main accomplishment is to inspire widespread fear about mutants in the populace at large, an outcome that takes them a surprisingly long time to grasp. The futility of their work is especially notable in the early issues; they rescue just two mutants over the first arc of the run. Again, it's only when Simonson comes on that the cast grows and begins to take on the messy interplay that makes X-men series fun and memorable.
While the late issues show some life, and the Mutant Massacre sections are great, the early going is grim. Worse, the series is collected in black and white, which knocks a star off the rating--these stories are meant to be read in their original, colorful glory. Probably for X-men completists only, as the Mutant Massacre can be read in its own standalone collection.
This long volume contains the Mutant Massacre, a still-gripping crossover that sees a community of heroes react to a vigilante squad murdering a mutant community beneath the tunnels of Manhattan. X-Factor's in-group soap opera gets a necessary kick forward here, and the momentum carries into the later issues, where Louise Simonson does a good job taking over the writing duties.
The original premise for the series is troubling. The group advertises themselves as mutant hunters, using their vigilante service to collect mutants and offer them a safe haven. Of course, they main accomplishment is to inspire widespread fear about mutants in the populace at large, an outcome that takes them a surprisingly long time to grasp. The futility of their work is especially notable in the early issues; they rescue just two mutants over the first arc of the run. Again, it's only when Simonson comes on that the cast grows and begins to take on the messy interplay that makes X-men series fun and memorable.
While the late issues show some life, and the Mutant Massacre sections are great, the early going is grim. Worse, the series is collected in black and white, which knocks a star off the rating--these stories are meant to be read in their original, colorful glory. Probably for X-men completists only, as the Mutant Massacre can be read in its own standalone collection.
February 12, 2016
X-Factor is a serious mixed bag of a comic. It starts off really really bad, slowly gets better, falls off a bit and then ends very strong.
Avengers #263 & Fantastic Four #286 set up the comic but are just dumb as dirt. The resurrection of Jean Grey is a bad idea to begin with and these issues execute it poorly on top of that.
Once X-Factor itself gets started, things don't get any better. The Bob Layton issues are just not good at all (with the exception of the Annual, which is a pretty fun standalone story). Again, X-Factor as secret mutant hunters is just a bad idea and Layton executes it poorly.
When Louise Simonson comes in on issue 6, things start turning around slowly. She has to clean up Layton's mess and the comic doesn't really pick up until issue 10. The Mutant Massacre issues with Walt Simonson are very strong, but the Cyclops/Mastermold storyline that comes afterwards is corny high drama. The storylines with Boom Boom, Rusty, Skids, etc. are much stronger than anything going on with Cyclops, Jean Grey, etc. The best issue in the whole set is #16, which is a Rusty/Skids love story that is genuinely emotional. The fill in art by David Mazzucchelli isn't quite as good as Walt Simonson's art, but Mazzucchelli draws great faces and it really works well for this issue.
Avengers #263 & Fantastic Four #286 set up the comic but are just dumb as dirt. The resurrection of Jean Grey is a bad idea to begin with and these issues execute it poorly on top of that.
Once X-Factor itself gets started, things don't get any better. The Bob Layton issues are just not good at all (with the exception of the Annual, which is a pretty fun standalone story). Again, X-Factor as secret mutant hunters is just a bad idea and Layton executes it poorly.
When Louise Simonson comes in on issue 6, things start turning around slowly. She has to clean up Layton's mess and the comic doesn't really pick up until issue 10. The Mutant Massacre issues with Walt Simonson are very strong, but the Cyclops/Mastermold storyline that comes afterwards is corny high drama. The storylines with Boom Boom, Rusty, Skids, etc. are much stronger than anything going on with Cyclops, Jean Grey, etc. The best issue in the whole set is #16, which is a Rusty/Skids love story that is genuinely emotional. The fill in art by David Mazzucchelli isn't quite as good as Walt Simonson's art, but Mazzucchelli draws great faces and it really works well for this issue.
March 1, 2013
Page Turner und Fortsetzung der X-Men-Erfolgsgeschichte
X-Factor ist letztlich ein Spin-Off der X-Men-Reihe: Die Hauptpersonen, Cyclops, Beast, Jean Grey, Angel und Iceman lassen die Ursprünge der X-Men neu aufleben und geben der ganzen Mutantengeschichte durch ihre Undercover-Operationen einen neuen Twist - die Doppelgeheimidentität der angeblichen Mutantenjäger bringt ihnen aber genausoviel Probleme wie Vorteile.
Die Geschichten dieses Bandes sind ein echter Pageturner, und beständig wird der Leser durch neue Wendungen bei der Stange gehalten. Dabei ist nicht nur das Superhelden-Gekloppe, sondern durchaus aus tiefere Inhalte vorhanden: Die Schwierigkeiten, die Mutanten gegenüber der "normalen" Menschheit haben, werden hier nochmals deutlicher und auf die Spitze getrieben, und stellenweise regt das sogar zum Nachdenken an (was für einen amerikanischen Superhelden-Mainstream-Comic ja schon durchaus eine Leistung für sich ist).
Dazu die sehr schön anzusehenden Zeichnungen von Guice, Simonson und diversen anderen Zeichnern, und man hat mit "Essential X-Factor Vol. 1" einen echt guten Titel der ausgehenden 80er Jahre in der Hand. Empfehlenswert.
X-Factor ist letztlich ein Spin-Off der X-Men-Reihe: Die Hauptpersonen, Cyclops, Beast, Jean Grey, Angel und Iceman lassen die Ursprünge der X-Men neu aufleben und geben der ganzen Mutantengeschichte durch ihre Undercover-Operationen einen neuen Twist - die Doppelgeheimidentität der angeblichen Mutantenjäger bringt ihnen aber genausoviel Probleme wie Vorteile.
Die Geschichten dieses Bandes sind ein echter Pageturner, und beständig wird der Leser durch neue Wendungen bei der Stange gehalten. Dabei ist nicht nur das Superhelden-Gekloppe, sondern durchaus aus tiefere Inhalte vorhanden: Die Schwierigkeiten, die Mutanten gegenüber der "normalen" Menschheit haben, werden hier nochmals deutlicher und auf die Spitze getrieben, und stellenweise regt das sogar zum Nachdenken an (was für einen amerikanischen Superhelden-Mainstream-Comic ja schon durchaus eine Leistung für sich ist).
Dazu die sehr schön anzusehenden Zeichnungen von Guice, Simonson und diversen anderen Zeichnern, und man hat mit "Essential X-Factor Vol. 1" einen echt guten Titel der ausgehenden 80er Jahre in der Hand. Empfehlenswert.
August 3, 2017
One thing I am enjoying about this series is that it can handle multiple story lines at a time without getting too muddled together.
The character that I'm actually most interested in right now in the story based on the writting is Angel. It's tragic and I'm curious to how it will progress.
I will also say that Scott and Jeans relationship can stop being ao uncomfortable and rather annoying and unrealistic any time. I'd like it to progess faster instead of staying at a passive agressive state.
Merged review:
My baby!
My poor, poor baby!
I have become attached to Angel most of all in this series, most the others feel like background characters and Scott and Jean have their moments, but generally tire me.
But I actually feel for Angel, and the court order leading to this cliffhanging ending is so sad!
Merged review:
Powerful, painful stuff.
My baby.
Angel no more.
Merged review:
A budding romance whose themes remind me somewhat of Gambit and Rogue's relationship, with less definition.
Masque is quite the.messed up character, and I can't see religion being brought to the Morelocks.
The character that I'm actually most interested in right now in the story based on the writting is Angel. It's tragic and I'm curious to how it will progress.
I will also say that Scott and Jeans relationship can stop being ao uncomfortable and rather annoying and unrealistic any time. I'd like it to progess faster instead of staying at a passive agressive state.
Merged review:
My baby!
My poor, poor baby!
I have become attached to Angel most of all in this series, most the others feel like background characters and Scott and Jean have their moments, but generally tire me.
But I actually feel for Angel, and the court order leading to this cliffhanging ending is so sad!
Merged review:
Powerful, painful stuff.
My baby.
Angel no more.
Merged review:
A budding romance whose themes remind me somewhat of Gambit and Rogue's relationship, with less definition.
Masque is quite the.messed up character, and I can't see religion being brought to the Morelocks.
December 16, 2021
Difficult to comment on because of the uneven nature of the issues included. The first half dozen issues of X-Factor are terrible. Layton's approach to the characters and the concept is misguide at best and offensive at worst. Imagine an organization that publicly advertises it's mission of hunting down Jews to remove "that menace from society" while secretly trying to provide a safe haven for Jewish people. I'm sure you can see the problem by publicly fueling the mistrust, at best, and the open hatred and condemnation, at worst, of any minority you only give credibility to bigotry. This is the way Layton approaches the issue of mutants in the Marvel Universe, and it is as much of a fiasco as it seems. Louise Simonson takes over the writing after the first 6 issues or so and refocuses the characters and ends the ill-conceived disaster that X-Factor started out as. Giving those early issues 3-stars is beyond being generous, but the latter issues are able to pull this collected volume together.
April 11, 2015
This book is such a mixed bag: I was so unenthusiastic about the premise when I started reading it. I like some of the original 5, Beast esp, as individuals and these characters work okay on their own but all attempts to revive the original X-Men as a team have always bored me. Plus that they had Cyclops abandon his family to join making him even more unsympathetic really didn't help. The first few issues really aren't good at all but once Louise Simonson takes over there's still a lot I like here: I really love what she does with the teenagers and I like that we get to see another side of the Morlocks which kept me reading through the mess of a soap opera going on in the rest of the comic.
July 20, 2009
The beginning of X-Factor. Jean comes back to life (never really died - Phoenix took her place and left her in a cocoon).
Scott leaves his wife (Maddie) and son to go see Jean, and his wife promptly disappears from the face of the Earth. We have the massacre of the Morlocks in the tunnels under NY, the introduction and appearance of too many to name, the slow buildup to Apocalypse and Angel loses his wings and is exposed as a mutant including his real identity as Willaim Worthington III. This is a first read for me, I didn't own these comics before.
Scott leaves his wife (Maddie) and son to go see Jean, and his wife promptly disappears from the face of the Earth. We have the massacre of the Morlocks in the tunnels under NY, the introduction and appearance of too many to name, the slow buildup to Apocalypse and Angel loses his wings and is exposed as a mutant including his real identity as Willaim Worthington III. This is a first read for me, I didn't own these comics before.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2012
Reuniting the original five X-men was one of the big herald events of the 90's and it was a big disappointment.
The art is so-so, and the writer doesn't seem to know what to do with the team, so we end up with a lot of soap opera, a new rogues gallery that is weak and a great idea that never lives up to the hype.
Shame really.
The art is so-so, and the writer doesn't seem to know what to do with the team, so we end up with a lot of soap opera, a new rogues gallery that is weak and a great idea that never lives up to the hype.
Shame really.
September 23, 2013
This was surprisingly entertaining, but the whole idea of Scott leaving his wife for his resurrected girlfriend really hurts all the characters involved. It was fun seeing Apocalypse make his debut, as corny as it got, and the Mutant Massacre takes place here as well. Decent, considering the strange setup.
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