At this point, “X-Factor” is one of those books that has found its fan base. If you are a regular comic book reader and are reading “X-Factor,” you are probably going to keep reading “X-Factor” so long as Peter David is writing it. If, of the other hand, you have been reading for at least a few years and haven’t added “X-Factor” to your pull, you probably aren’t going to at this point. Still, it is worth checking up on the X-book with perhaps the most devoted readership every now and then, don’t you think?
Written by Peter David
Illustrated by Paul DavidsonBanshee is suspected of murder and sets out to clear her name! And Madrox investigates a suicide case that isn’t what it initially seems.
Plot-wise, this is one of those seemingly many issues of “X-Factor” that serves as a transition to what’s next. No conclusions are reached, and the new plot directions are only just barely on the horizon; the issue seems like it could have been folded into the prior and — I am just guessing here — following issues and no one would be any worse off. This has been a problem for “X-Factor” since its early days — sometimes it seems like there is so much that is coming up, that is going to happen, and that there is nothing actually happening at the moment. So many comic readers tear up perfectly good comics for being “unimportant,” but the common fanboy’s complaint is unrelated to this issue. “X-Factor” has never been a major influence on continuity, but that isn’t the problem with this issue at all — it’s just another case of an issue that will blend into the others when read in trade, but that leaves the reader wanting in single issue form. There is, of course, also the matter of a single plot thread being casually tossed aside, but… well, spoilers.
The good news, though, is that the main reason that people read “X-Factor” still applies here. Even if they are not forced to react to much in particular, nearly every member of the cast gets a good character moment. Whether or not Havok or Polaris were added to the cast by editorial mandate, they are folding into the comic quite well — granted, Peter David had his hands on them in the original volume of the series, so this should come as no surprise. “X-Factor” also has a reputation as a humorous book, and David makes a few good cracks in this issue’s pages: Madrox and Guido have a great exchange near the beginning, and Jamie and Alex butt heads in a delightful way. There is one particular moment, though, between Jamie and Layla, which is hard to place. Whether it is trying to be a humorous moment or a character-building one, it fails in both departments, and comes off more as… well, kind of creepy.
Emanuela Lupacchino’s artistic presence is missed on this issue, but Paul Davidson’s art certainly is not bad. His lightly stylized, slightly exaggerated look fits a quirky book like “X-Factor” quite well, and that slight step away from realism allows his figures to move in ways they might otherwise not. A common problem for Davidson, though, is his faces, but not how you might expect; unlike many male artists, who seem to be unable to grasp the form of a woman — yeah, yeah, laugh it up — Davidson’s problem is with males. Their lips, in particular. It is a reasonable enough trend: when working in only solid black ink, without seeing what the colorist will do, it only makes sense that a line artist might overemphasize the lips. There are, however, a few fortunate panels — such as the one with Wolverine — that are hard to take seriously because the lips come off as exaggeratedly feminine. When that is the only problem worth talking about, though, you know you’re in a good artistic place.
Yet again, we have an issue of “X-Factor” that is hardly the best, but not even close to the worst, either. This seems to be becoming a trend in the book — sadly, it has been a while since Peter David has served up a zinger of an issue. Still, what was said before applies to this issue, too: if you don’t like this issue, it still won’t be enough to turn you off to the series. Whether or not that is abad thing or a good thing remains to be seen.
Final Verdict: 5.7 – Browse
