Official X-FACTOR Discussion Thread

[Cachete25]

If the skrulls are behind dissassembled then ultimately they are behind decimation directly or indirectly. I think House of M accomplished a goal by decreasing the number of mutant on earth limiting the resistance. So by keeping xfactor from knowing that skrulls are behind decimation she helps them in their efforts.

[Specter313]

Who said that they were behind either? No one yet. And even if they were behind disassembled, that doesn't mean anything about the decimation. The only way they could engineer any of that is if Wanda herself was a Skrull, which would be rather annoying if she was. Sure it reduced the amount of mutants, but with a solicitation coming out this past week about learning what happened to the skrull infiltrators during House of M, I'd say that they had little to no knowledge of what was going on.

[Gilpesh]

If the skrulls are behind dissassembled then ultimately they are behind decimation directly or indirectly. I think House of M accomplished a goal by decreasing the number of mutant on earth limiting the resistance. So by keeping xfactor from knowing that skrulls are behind decimation she helps them in their efforts.

And it was a talking ape that killed JFK. :whatever:

I don't think Marvel has it all that planned out. Although if they want to sweep stuff under the rug, suddenly it will be a plot of the skrulls.

[Cachete25]

I think Wanda was either a skrull or being manipulated by the skrulls. I just re-read Avengers disassembled #500 and there are a couple of panel that kind of nood towards that theory. I think through Bendis, Marvel has planned a lot around the SI.

[Manic]

There was this whole argument in possibly the Secret Invasion thread in the Marvel forum about how ridiculous it is (or how sensible it is) to think the Skrulls appearing for one or two panels in Disassembled somehow means the whole thing (including House of M and M-Day) was all an elaborate plot by the Skrulls.

I'm going to sidestep the argument and just say I don't think that's the case.

[Cachete25]

We'll see. The panel themselves proves that there was a plan in place that caused Dissassembled. If anyone has the comic and can scan that page in that would help. I will try to find a pic on the net.

Bah! couldn't find an image.
Well it's the last page of the comic and there are a series of panels that starts of a black then to word bubbles that state "is it over?" person 1, another bubble states "No."person 2
Person 1 "There's more?"
Person 2 "Much more."
Person 2(new panel you see the lips of of person 1, but not of person 2) "They are many and they have much to answer for"
Person 1 "We should just kill them and be done with it"
Person 2 (new panel and you see the lips of person 2) "And what would that prove? It has no meaning that way. You're so stupid"
Person 2 (new panel that is black w/ text bubble) "But the answer is no. It isn't over"


So this leads me to believe the skrulls are behind disassembled and other events. There are also things said bye Vision and Kree that supports this also.

[Specter313]

That doesn't prove there was a plan at all, just that they happened to be there. For all we know, they could have just stumbled upon the whole thing as it happened and took advantage of it.

[Manic]

Thing is (and I said I wasn't going to get into this), it makes no sense for the Skrull to have been involved in Disassembled. Even if they drove Wanda crazy, there was no way they could've predicted her actions. They couldn't have known that she would've lashed out at her own teammates, kill several of them, or (in the case of House of M) reduce the mutant population of Earth. Hell, there's no way they could've predicted her power would only be confined to Earth. She could've tried to eliminate the Skrull Empire, or use her powers to wipe it from history.

It's like when Emma Frost and Mastermind tried to control the Phoenix. They accidentally drove her insane, and she ended up destroying an entire star system. When one of your enemies is powerful enough to be a primary concern, you don't try to drive it crazy.

[Specter313]

KAAA-BOOOOMM!!

After a series of explosions that wiped Mutant Town from the map and destroyed the X-Factor headquarters, the changes in X-Factor #32 were many. When the flames died down at the end of the issue, the series jumped ahead five months with the turn of a page. X-Factor now works out of Detroit, seemingly functions under the government's radar, and is about to have a new member -- Madrox and Siryn's almost-ready-to-pop-out baby.

As the title heads into a Secret Invasion (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=150738) crossover that will add Longshot and Darwin to the team, Newsarama talked to series writer Peter David about this issue's themes, the sudden changes the team just experienced and what lies in X-Factor's future.

Newsarama: There's a real feeling of mutants against the world in this last issue. Just to bring everyone up to speed, what is the state of mutant-kind at the time this story takes place, and how do the members of X-Factor fit in?

Peter David: Basically the various mutant teams have dropped completely out of sight, at least insofar as the public is concerned. X-Factor is the only group that remains in the public eye, thus making them a significant target.

NRAMA: In this issue, Madrox attempts to rescue Nathan Petrofsky and notices the markings on his arm that brand him as a concentration camp survivor. Later, the nurse who informs Madrox of Nathan's death similarly notices the markings on his face that brand him as a mutant. What do Nathan and his death represent in this story?

PD: The force of history. It's said that there is no future and no present, but instead merely the past repeating itself. Nathan serves as a reminder to Madrox of what has happened in the past when vigilance lapses and the government becomes uncaring of the rights of its citizens.

NRAMA: We're now seeing Layla Miller in Madrox's head, saying she's pointing out things he already knew to be true. It's already been implied in this title that Madrox and Layla will one day marry. Should we trust that this voice is just a figment of his imagination? Or is there more to her presence in his thoughts?

PD: There's actually more to it, as will be subtly hinted in the upcoming Layla one-shot. The easy answer is to say that it's just in his head, but I've never been a big fan of the easy answer.

NRAMA: As we finish the issue, X-Factor's headquarters are no more. Mutant Town, the area they had sworn to protect, is no more. Is the X-Factor of old no more? Is this a whole new direction? What do these changes represent for this title?

PD: I try to ground the series in logic and the real world, and the simple fact was that I felt I had pushed the concept of Mutant Town as far as I could. There's no mutants there anymore. The rationale for all these former mutants feeling compelled to remain in the same area of town was becoming, to my mind, less and less tenable. It seemed forced and labored. So I felt that, with many eyes on X-Factor after "Messiah CompleX," it was a good time to do something about it in as dramatic a fashion as I could.

NRAMA: It looks like X-Factor is working out of Detroit now. Any reason for that city being chosen? And what can you tell us about X-F Investigations? What is their function now?

PD: First of all, why not Detroit? It's relatively unexplored territory in terms of story settings; it has a variety of neighborhoods, plus new artist Larry Stroman lives there. As for their function, XF Investigations has very quickly developed a reputation for being the go-to agency for problems that are somewhat off the beaten path. Not that different from Fox Mulder being the go-to agent when bizarre cases cross the FBI's radar.

NRAMA: After the five-month jump, we see that Siryn's pregnancy has made it to the point that we're going to see a baby here soon. What can you tell us about what's coming for Madrox and Siryn and their child? Was that mention of Mr. Incredible a hint that we're going to see a happy little superheroed family, or is nothing ever that easy for Jamie?

PD: Nothing is ever that easy. I've actually seen a variety of guesses from fans as to what's going to be happening with the baby. I'm pleased to report that no one's gotten it right.

NRAMA: It looks like Val Cooper isn't letting go of her idea to have X-Factor work for the O*N*E doing "special jobs." What can you tell us about the present and future of X-Factor's relationship with Val, O*N*E and the government?

PD: That Val is taking a stronger and stronger interest in the group for reasons of her own that will eventually become extremely important.

NRAMA: Longshot fans were happy to hear that he'll be joining the X-Factor title. What can you tell us about this character as he shows up in the next issue and what he'll be bringing to the team?

PD: X-Factor can sometimes tend toward a very cynical worldview. I see Longshot as the eternal optimist, the guy who literally doesn't know enough to feel dragged down. He's also naturally attractive to women, which will cause some interesting moments between him and Monet. Plus he's got serious combat skills and that handy technique of being able to get psychic "reads" off various objects, which is pretty handy for a detective agency.

NRAMA: Darwin is a fairly unknown entity as he comes into the title. What's this character's status as he appears in the next issue, and will you be exploring Darwin's character a little further? Can you tell us anything about what's coming with him?

PD: He's actually in the company of Longshot when we first encounter him, and he quickly finds himself in over his head. X-Factor is brought into the situation because an important person from Darwin's past is looking for him and hires the team to find him.

NRAMA: For those of us who are missing Layla Miller, what can you tell us about her one-shot coming up in August?

PD: It's set in the future, it features the advent of the fabled Summers Rebellion, and Layla has a significant role in it.

NRAMA: Will she be returning to the regular title?

PD: Yes, she will be back.

NRAMA: What can you tell us about X-Factor #35, the issue that follows the She-Hulk crossover-- and what is the mystery of the Karma Project?

PD: If I told you, it wouldn't be a mystery.

NRAMA: Well, then to finish up, Larry Stroman is starting on the title with next month's #33. How has it been working with him, and what kind of visual tone can we expect from coming issues?

PD: I'm very excited to see how Larry's work has developed and progressed in the time since we last worked together.

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080624-Xfactor32PAD.html

[Colossal Spoons]

Longshot should be interesting. There's a better chance that he'll bore me but who knows.

[Manic]

Hooray! Layla will return to the regular title!

[squeekness]

Yeah, I kinda missed her too. :)

[Specter313]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0807/15/laylac.jpg

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0807/15/layla1.jpg

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0807/15/layla2.jpg



X-Factor Special: Layla Miller, due in stores on August 20.

The special is written by Peter David, with art by Valentine De Landro and cover by Boo Cook.

Here's how Marvel describes the book:

"After sacrificing herself in the pages of X-Men: Messiah Complex, Layla Miller has been stuck in a dystopian future. Writer Peter David he picks up right where Messiah Complex left off with Layla Miller incarcerated in a mutant prison camp. Layla Miller is going to find herself smack dab in the midst of the Summers Rebellion! With the help of some old and new faces, the liberation of mutants rests on the shoulders of Layla Miller! Plus, a devastating truth is revealed, drastically impacting the future of the Marvel Universe!

[Specter313]

Also, what'd everyone think of the new issue out today? Great typical PAD stuff, especially the humor, shame the art doesn't fit at all. Didn't really expect to see that Longshot was a Skrull though the preview pages pretty much gave it away if ya paid close enough attention. So what happened to the real one then?

[spark627]

is this artist on the title regularly now? it was awful.

[chamber-music]

The art hurt my eyes. Longshot has got to be one of the few dudes in comics still rocking the mullet

[chris moore]

Longshot's with the Exiles. Apparently renewing his relationship with Dazzler after his memorys started to return at the end of "Die by the Sword" (lets not start discussing that story by the way...). But that begs the question of what she's doing in the new line-up over in Uncanny X-Men.

And the art this issue? Oh my god how bad was that. I really am sorry Mr Stroman. But I could barely follow what was going on every other panel, and the faces on every single character was so distorted and mishapen that I started to think my copy had fallen in a puddle before it made it to the shelf and all the pages had pruned up. Most artists tend to have a very similar facial style between the same sex. This is advantageous for drawing Madrox dupes. But if I didnt know better I would have said a bunch of complete strangers ran into the X-Factor office and threw on Jamies spare jerseys before running out again. Everything was so contorted. And the last page of She-Hulk? Man alive...

[gothicFLAVOURS]

Longshot left the Exiles after "Die by the Sword" to be with Dazzler, but they stayed on Earth, didn't they?

I really hate Stroman on this title, bring Sook back!!!

[squeekness]

Yeah, I agree the art on this was beyond painful. :( I was a little disappointed that Longshot turned out to be a Skrull instead of the real deal (at least I thought it was him changing back and forth. Hard to say for sure with the art being so bad and all....).

[Specter313]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/solicits/marvelcomics/200810-advance/XFACT36_cov.jpg

X-FACTOR #36
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by LARRY STROMAN
Cover by BOO COOK
X-Factor manages to track down Darwin, but will they be able to rescue him before the mysterious Karma organization
completes their experiments? And with it's forces stretched so thin, can our mutant heroes stand up to the U.S. government when it decides to place Siryn and her unborn child in “protective custody”?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

[Colossal Spoons]

As usual, PAD's solicits sound boring but will probably blow me away :D

[Specter313]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0808/15/xfactor34c.jpg

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0808/15/xfactor341.jpg

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0808/15/xfactor342.jpg

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http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0808/15/xfactor345.jpg

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0808/15/xfactor346.jpg


X-Factor #34 will arrive in stores on August 20 from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Peter David, with art by Larry Stroman and a cover by Boo Cook.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"Secret Invasion tie-in. X-Factor is in pursuit of Darwin, whose father is looking for him. She-Hulk and Jazinda are in pursuit of Longshot, who may hold the key to defeating the Skrull invasion. With Darwin and Longshot on the run, neither of them wanting to be found, you'd just assume that X-Factor and She-Hulk will work together smoothly to accomplish both their goals. But what fun would that be?"

X-Factor #34 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.99

[Specter313]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/solicits/marvelcomics/200811/XFACT037_cov.jpg


X-FACTOR #37
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by VALENTINE DE LANDRO
Cover by BOO COOK
It’s a showdown in the Motor City as X-Factor goes toe-to-toe with the mysterious Karma organization. And when it seems the team is at its darkest moment, Madrox loses all control. Meanwhile, Val Cooper and her government forces claim to be working in X-Factor’s best interest. But are they really?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

[El Bastardo]

That cover to 37 is great.

[JustABill]

Are we finally going to be rid of Stroman? Please tell me it's so. I hate everyone looking like they got hit in the face with a frying pan. :(

[Colossal Spoons]

:csad:

[spark627]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/solicits/marvelcomics/200811/XFACT037_cov.jpg


X-FACTOR #37
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by VALENTINE DE LANDRO
Cover by BOO COOK
It’s a showdown in the Motor City as X-Factor goes toe-to-toe with the mysterious Karma organization. And when it seems the team is at its darkest moment, Madrox loses all control. Meanwhile, Val Cooper and her government forces claim to be working in X-Factor’s best interest. But are they really?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

such a gorgeous cover. I'm glad Jamie is being drawn sexy again!

[Kevin]

Layla still knows stuff!!!:woot: Oh, and XF 34 was kinda meh.

[Havok83]

I dropped this book after MC. As Quicksilver shown up since he wa repowered?

[JustABill]

How the hell can you drop the best X-Title on the market? :confused:

[Gilpesh]

Layla still knows stuff!!!:woot: Oh, and XF 34 was kinda meh.

DITTO.


I thank god for that one-shot to give me the X-Factor fix sans Stroman's art.

[Havok83]

How the hell can you drop the best X-Title on the market? :confused:
it does nothing for me. Im surprise I stuck with it as long as I did.

[JustABill]

Different strokes for different folks, but it's still the best X-Title on the market right now. :o

[mightiest_mortal]

not really been THAT fussed on the current arc with the Skrulls... but the LAyla issue was great :D:D

[Manic]

I'm surprised at the lack of outrage in this forum at X-Factor implying that Scott and Emma may one day have a child.

[squeekness]

not really been THAT fussed on the current arc with the Skrulls... but the LAyla issue was great :D:DSame here. The Skrull arc was weak but then they needed a tie in. NOw that it's done it'll get better. The Layla issue was very good. :D

I'm surprised at the lack of outrage in this forum at X-Factor implying that Scott and Emma may one day have a child.It's an alternate reality, right? :p Still might not happen. I do wonder if it was any coincidence that she had Gambit's eyes. :p

[gothicFLAVOURS]

I actually liked Ruby, and I'm a big Jean fan. I'd love to see more of her.

[JustABill]

I loved Ruby, BUT then I've grown to prefer Emma and Scott over Scott and Jean. :o

[Generation Lee]

For the 3rd month in a row my Conic Book Shop FPI has let me down by not having X-Factor in stock, u know from I picked it up from issue 1 during decemation I only missed the second Civil WQar tie issue now I'm down 3 more, I'm very angery to say the least especially when the stock the f***ing one shot which rocked!

This one shot was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than the tripe we were fed regarding quicksliver I just hop Lyla hurries up and come back soon.

[chamber-music]

Poor Scott's children, if you're of his genes you have to live in an apocalyptic future. It's the law of Marvel.

[usagicassidy]

I got lost with X-Factor after MC, I don't think I've read any, but I just picked up Layla #1 and WOW! I absolutely loved it! It'll be sad getting back into X-Factor without Layla there.

[squeekness]

Maybe they'll bring her back soon. She said she was going to marry Madrox after all....

[Manic]

People, one page back...





NRAMA: For those of us who are missing Layla Miller, what can you tell us about her one-shot coming up in August?

PD: It's set in the future, it features the advent of the fabled Summers Rebellion, and Layla has a significant role in it.

NRAMA: Will she be returning to the regular title?

PD: Yes, she will be back.

[UraniaChang]

Poor Scott's children, if you're of his genes you have to live in an apocalyptic future. It's the law of Marvel.

It's more because during times like this, there will be some mutant resisting force, and anyone with a last name of Summers is definitely going to be a key member, if not the leader, of the resisting group, so they will be focused more when the future doesn't look bright, what's the use of heroes if the world is all merry and peaceful?
I'm sure there are couple of more of Scott's children running around in other mutant-friendly futures but there won't be any particular need to introduce them.

[UraniaChang]

anyone finds that Layla is disturbingly manipulative? Especially she does it with an innocent face, I find her scary, I don't want to know what kind of an adult she will grow into, probably even worse the the Prof, since she's already so good at the game.

[Manic]

anyone finds that Layla is disturbingly manipulative? Especially she does it with an innocent face, I find her scary, I don't want to know what kind of an adult she will grow into, probably even worse the the Prof, since she's already so good at the game.
I love Layla because she (and I'm stealing a joke from Matt Gardner, here) is essentially a mix of Drew Barrymore from Firestarter and ET, that little girl from Poltergeist, and Dakota Fanning. She's creepy, seems to be the only one who knows what's going on, and is oddly grown up for her age.

She's going to lose some of that scary charm when she grows up.

[nikbackm]

Which is why she will likely never grow up. The "fact" that she will marry Jamie notwithstanding.

[Colossal Spoons]

What the freak! When did the Layla issue come out?

[Specter313]

Like two or three weeks ago.

[Colossal Spoons]

Oh great

[Kevin]

Oh great
Yes, it was great.:woot:

[Colossal Spoons]

Gotta track it down tomorrow or ebay it

[Kevin]

On the real, i am SHOCKED that No one has commented on how Darwin is once again dark skinned. Awesome!!!

[OutcryX]

lol. a colorist mistake possibly?

[Kevin]

Nope. All PAD.:cool:

[Manic]

lol. a colorist mistake possibly?
A plot point, actually. That one Skrull tried frying him with his wacky energy powers, but in typical Darwin fashion, he just stood there while his body found a way to survive it. In the end, Darwin was cooked to a nice brown color. Whether or not it sticks is anyone's guess.



Now if someone would just do the same to Monet "Vitiligo" St. Croix.

[JustABill]

I swear there was recently a line that was pretty much a bash agains the people who ***** that they've made her too white.

[OutcryX]

well, if they hadn't made her 'too white' then people would gripe. simple as that

[UraniaChang]

You people really have a color issue in your society, among other things, don't you?

[Specter313]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/assets/images/preview/1038/prv1038_cov.jpg (http://www.comicbookresources.com/prev_img.php?pid=1038&pg=1)


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X-Factor #35 will arrive in stores on Sept. 17 from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Peter David, with art by Larry Stroman and covers by Boo Cook.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"Thought everything with Darwin was settled? Thought you knew the full scoop of Longshot¹s showing up? Turns out you're wrong on both counts as the case takes an unexpected turn and X-Factor finds itself drawn into the mystery of the Karma Project."

X-Factor #35 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.99 (http://www.comicbookresources.com/prev_img.php?pid=1038&pg=1)
(http://www.comicbookresources.com/prev_img.php?pid=1038&pg=8)
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[Manic]

It-- it's like Stroman is getting worse.

[gothicFLAVOURS]

Why does he draw women with giant asses?? I don't know who could have thought he would be good for this book.

[Havok83]

It-- it's like Stroman is getting worse.
I loved him back during his first X-factor run but he's gotten bad now

[JustABill]

Dear god. Monet if she were real would sue Marvel for her likeness.

[squeekness]

:( I was hoping the artist would change after that last arc. I was wrong... :waa:

[OutcryX]

You people really have a color issue in your society, among other things, don't you?


...understatement of the century.

Have you ever been to the US? And not just the tourist traps. the 'color issue' in America goes back to its very core, it is entwined in the societal structure...much like 'class' issues are elsewhere (don't get me wrong, those are here too, just as color issues are present in other countries). It is something that we as Americans have been working to overcome for a very, very, very, very long time. Progress has been made but it is faaaar from perfect

[Kevin]

Well, The art is a little better. Very. Little.

[UraniaChang]

...understatement of the century.



Have you ever been to the US? And not just the tourist traps. the 'color issue' in America goes back to its very core, it is entwined in the societal structure...much like 'class' issues are elsewhere (don't get me wrong, those are here too, just as color issues are present in other countries). It is something that we as Americans have been working to overcome for a very, very, very, very long time. Progress has been made but it is faaaar from perfect




Well, sorry to hear that, but at least you're acknowledging the issue rather than sweep it under the rug, I've been to America before, as a tourist to California and SF, but I've seen lots of interracial couples there I wasn't aware of the issue that much, but after spending time among the American boards, well, the issue seems pretty big, among other things.

Besides, no country is perfect anyway, each has its own problems.

[Manic]

In order for me to go into why some of us in the US (or maybe just myself) care so much about Monet's skin color, I'll need to go into the history of it.


In this country's early history, practically every black person was a slave. Soon after slavery became a common practice in the British American colonies, it became enforced based purely on race/skin color. After the United States was formed and the government started basing its number of congressional representatives on state populations, it was decided that since slaves weren't free men, they would only be counted as 3/5 of a person in census counts. This basically said that black people were 3/5 human beings, and about 2/5 property. Long story shot, in early American history, black people were dehumanized.

As you can imagine, society leaned more toward a European standard of beauty than an African standard. Even long after being emancipated, there were many black men and women who grew up wanting to have features similar to white men and women. Our hair naturally grows out as afros if we don't do anything to it. It's just that curly. However, if you've ever looked at pictures of African-American crooners and singers from the 1950s and 60s, they all took steps to straighten their hair so they could sport hairstyles that white men had. People with lighter skin tones were given more attention and considered by others to be inherently better looking just because of the lighter skin tones.

It wasn't until the 1960s that my people started saying "Black is beautiful." This was also around the time that people started proudly sporting afros, and black men stopped "conking (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conk)" their hair so much. Basically, somewhere around the time of the Civil Rights Movement, my people had to campaign to tell themselves that they were beautiful, not despite the dark skin, but because of the dark skin. Why? Because there were actually people who felt bad about themselves for being born darker than others.


READ HERE if you skipped the history and want to CUT TO THE CHASE:
I was raised to always be proud of my skin color (and believe me, I'm only 2 shades lighter than Wesley Snipes). I take offense to the notion that a person somehow looks better or more desirable with a lighter skin tone. Many people take offense to that.

To see one of the few superheroes of African descent (or actually African, depending on whether writers can decide whether Monet was born in Africa or Europe) go from this:

http://www.numutant.net/monet-dark.jpg

to this:
http://www.numutant.net/monet-light.jpg
(note she's now the same skin color as Siryn, who is Irish and practically ginger)

...is just appalling. She used to be the same color as Storm. Now she's hardly recognizable. So yes, I'm outraged.

Racial issues aside, it's a complete disregard for the previous appearances of the character. It's like suddenly giving Cyclops blond hair without an explanation.

[UraniaChang]

People with lighter skin tones were given more attention and considered by others to be inherently better looking just because of the lighter skin tones.

In my country (or almost every other countries in asia) it's the same, I've even heard a girl who got lectured by a taxi driver for being too tanned (because the lighter your skin tone is, the prettier you are in my people's sense of beauty), the sense of beauty my people approve has been in our culture for 5000 years and it's not likely going to change (I am more or less under the same influence myself, can't help if you grow up being taught to stay out of the sun's way and stay pale), so I guess it's not only in US resides the color issue, we're probably just not so aware of it/not talk about it much.





http://www.numutant.net/monet-dark.jpg

to this:
http://www.numutant.net/monet-light.jpg



That's two different people, unless she has taken a Michael Jackson road.
and I definitely say no to Cyclops becoming blond, I prefer brunette anyway. :cwink:

[Specter313]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/solicits/marvelcomics/200812-advance/XFACT038_cov.jpg


X-FACTOR #38
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by VALENTINE DE LANDRO
Cover by MIKE MAYHEW
Siryn goes into labor three weeks early. Could this be the second mutant born since M-Day? Either way, the U.S. government isn't going to sit idle while it happens. Can Rictor and the mother-to-be fend them off? They'll have to, since X-Factor and Longshot are busy fighting an army of Darwins!!
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

[squeekness]

I thought Longshot was a skrull...? Does this mean they dusted off the real one for real?

[UraniaChang]

Eh, I didn't even know that Siryn was pregnant...did her belly even show in this title? and just imagine her *scream* during her labor...

[Manic]

She found out immediately after Messiah CompleX.

[Specter313]

The dialogue in this book is just so crisp and perfect, like the dealing with Longshot and Guido at the beginning of the new issue and their scenes throughout, it's such a shame the art doesn't fit.

[Havok83]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/solicits/marvelcomics/200812-advance/XFACT038_cov.jpg


X-FACTOR #38
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by VALENTINE DE LANDRO
Cover by MIKE MAYHEW
Siryn goes into labor three weeks early. Could this be the second mutant born since M-Day? Either way, the U.S. government isn't going to sit idle while it happens. Can Rictor and the mother-to-be fend them off? They'll have to, since X-Factor and Longshot are busy fighting an army of Darwins!!
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99
that guy does beautiful eyes. Monet's are definetly mesmorizing on that cover

[JustABill]

The dialogue in this book is just so crisp and perfect, like the dealing with Longshot and Guido at the beginning of the new issue and their scenes throughout, it's such a shame the art doesn't fit.
Eh. Buddy/pal/roomie, you forgot the best part:

Strong Guy: You are so my new wing man at the local bars.
Longshot: She said I was born to be a ''****". What's a ''****."?
Strong Guy: Ask She-Hulk.
Longshot: Okay, I'll tell her you told me to ask.
Strong Guy: On second thought, don't ask She-Hulk.

[bryanss3]

Is the gonna be more Layla Miller ones to like explain how she gets back?

the secret invasion crossover was annoying due to she-hulk, she's seriously everyone sloppy seconds, and her conflict in her own books are retarded I'm invincible, but I'm depressed so I'll whine about it.

[Galact-Gal]

I thought Longshot was a skrull...? Does this mean they dusted off the real one for real?

Yes, the real Longshot saw a news photo of himself (i.e.the Skrull imposter) fighting X-Factor in Detroit. So he came to Detroit to find out what was going on.

[squeekness]

Yeah, just read this issue. I love that Lonshot is back -- the real one --even if the explanation is weak and convenient. Thing is, I don't seem to recall him being able to get readings off of objects before. Did I miss something? I thought he was just randomly lucky like Domino.

Still not digging the art. Everyone looks squishy, like they are made of putty. :(

[nikbackm]

Yeah, just read this issue. I love that Lonshot is back -- the real one --even if the explanation is weak and convenient. Thing is, I don't seem to recall him being able to get readings off of objects before. Did I miss something? I thought he was just randomly lucky like Domino.

Still not digging the art. Everyone looks squishy, like they are made of putty. :(

He did it at least once before as I remember. It was in the Australian outback after the X-Men defeated the Reavers and took over their base. Then Longshot read the history of the many of the treasure objects in the Reavers' loot so the X-Men could return them.

[squeekness]

Ah, see I thought it was the treasure that made him see then in the Outback, like it was magic or something, not that he already had the ability. :)

[Specter313]

Yeah, just read this issue. I love that Lonshot is back -- the real one --even if the explanation is weak and convenient. Thing is, I don't seem to recall him being able to get readings off of objects before. Did I miss something? I thought he was just randomly lucky like Domino.

Still not digging the art. Everyone looks squishy, like they are made of putty. :(

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/spotlight/showquestion.asp?faq=10&fldAuto=117&page=3

About the fifth paragraph down, and the pic of him holding the ring should explain it all for ya.

[OutcryX]

i had to be told that was Monet....thought it was a white girl or Scarlet With or someone, Siryn with black hair

[Colossal Spoons]

Just read the last issue. This book isn't as enjoyable anymore, and it's only 70% b/c of the art. :(:down:

[JustABill]

Stroman really is bringing the book down. I'm getting tired of staring at gigantic asses that put Shamu to shame and faces that make everyone look like they stuck their face in a blender. :(

[spark627]

It takes me about 1/2 hour to read X-Factor, its so hard to figure out whats happening due to the crappy art.

[Colossal Spoons]

The art aside, I just haven't been as into the stories lately.

[OutcryX]

Stroman really is bringing the book down. I'm getting tired of staring at gigantic asses that put Shamu to shame and faces that make everyone look like they stuck their face in a blender. :(

have no problem with big asses...they are sexxy...but this art is sucky

[Colossal Spoons]

Big asses FTW

[MoPlaYa]

I like big butts and I cannot lie....

[Charlie No-One]

The art is vomit-inducing.

[Specter313]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/solicits/marvelcomics/200901-advance/XFACT039_cov.jpg

X-FACTOR #39
Written by PETER DAVID
Pencils by VALENTINE DELANDRO
Cover by MIKE McKONE
Witness the most important event in the lives of Jaime Madrox and Siren—the birth of their baby! What will
happen to X-Factor—and what will be the meaning for mutantkind!...All we can guarantee are that the answers are not what you expect—but that’s what makes it
X-Factor! Don’t miss what is sure to be one of the most talked-about books of 2009!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

[Manic]

I've been saying for months that PAD might do something horrible like have Siryn miscarry the baby. I'm glad to be very wrong.

By the by, that solicit misspells both Jamie and Siryn. Granted, Jaime is a derivative of Jamie and an easy typo, and Siren is how the word is actually spelled.

[TwilightPro101]

Gotta agree. The artwork has just a low note.

[UraniaChang]

When Scarlet Witch said 'No more mutants' did she mean no babies will be born with mutant gene or no mutants will be able to produce? I think it's the former, but has marvel explained why Scarlet Witch's 'spell' is broken yet?

[nikbackm]

Who says it is broken? The MC baby could just have been an aberration or a sign "from above".

[Manic]

I just assumed her "no more mutants" hex was made to simply wipe the x-gene from anyone who has it. No more mutants should have been around because 100% of all mutants were supposed to have lost their powers. However, thanks to Dr. Strange, a few hundred mutants still have their x-genes. There shouldn't be anything stopping two mutants (ie. Terry & Jamie) from producing a mutant baby. And of course, you have to remember that humans occasionally produced mutant children (possibly the case with Messiah's parents).

It's not a broken spell. The spell just didn't touch everybody. The only time I think Wanda's spell was "broken" was when Charles Xavier got hurled into the M'Kraan crystal, and popped out with his powers restored.

[Specter313]

When Scarlet Witch said 'No more mutants' did she mean no babies will be born with mutant gene or no mutants will be able to produce? I think it's the former, but has marvel explained why Scarlet Witch's 'spell' is broken yet?

In the aftermath, they did say that no new children were being born with the x-gene at random from regular parents, but it was never said one way or the other what would happen if two remaining mutants reproduced, so this will be one thing I'm sure a lot people will want to see explained.

[RockSP]

Well looks like the book has a new artist. According to PAD, Valentine Delandro is taking over...supposedly.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18520

[mightiest_mortal]

YAY! This used to be one of my farourite titles, but the Art is honestly killing it for me.
I can't even tell if the writings getting worse/better because im spending too much time trying to work out what the hecks going on in the art.

[squeekness]

Yeah, I hope this artist moves on and soon. I am not enjoying the book as much as I used to though the writing is still good.

[cerealkiller182]

All the characters have weird hands

[Kevin]

This book is still the ****!

[Gilpesh]

Seriously.... Stroman is the last ditch effort of Marvel to get this book to fail...

[Specter313]

Marvel's X-Men have packed up their New York mansion (the parts that hadn’t been destroyed, at least) and moved to San Francisco. As soon as they settled in, they sent out a worldwide telepathic broadcast inviting all mutants to town, and many accepted. However, when the X-Men “zig,” X-Factor has typically chosen to “zag,” and did so once again by moving to Detroit instead.

This “other” X-team is going through further changes as well: old X-Factor members have left, new members are joining, and the arrival of a member’s newborn is nigh.

Joining us today to discuss these events and more is “X-Factor” scribe Peter David, who, much like the noir-esque characters he writes, keeps his secrets close to his vest. Let us see what your piercing questions can solicit from the veteran writer better known as PAD in this week’s all-new X-POSITION.

Our first set of queries comes from RickyD410, who asks a “why,” a “when,” and then chimes in with a request.

1) Why did the team choose Detroit to relocate to?

Bottom line is, everybody's gotta be someplace. They felt it was far enough away from New York that they could stay off the radar (which, as it turned out, wasn't the case, but it worked in theory).

2) When will we see the return of Damien Tryp? That old Dumbledore look-alike is one of the few things to surprise Layla. He would be an exciting villain to see again.

Yes, he will be back in a storyline launching with issue #41.

3) Can you write a Summers Rebellion miniseries (which takes place in the future Layla is stuck in)? I think it'd be pretty cool — and at the end, Layla can come back! Can you at least tell us if we’ll be visiting this future again anytime soon?

I think a miniseries would be pretty nifty too. That's not my call to make, though. I certainly think it's material worth exploring; whether we do it in a miniseries or in the book itself remains to be seen.

Speaking of the one-shot in which we first witnessed this rebellion, Toboe had a few questions:

1) I loved the recent one-shots featuring Quicksilver and Layla Miller. What are the chances we'll see either of them pop up in “X-Factor” anytime soon?

There's always a chance. However, I'm determined that if one or both of them do show up, it will be in the most unexpected manner possible. So if I told you now what I have planned, that would pretty much blow that possibility, right?

2) Was Madrox’s hallucination of Layla (which occurred awhile ago) a one-time thing, or is it going to keep haunting him for some time?

Yes to one question, no to the other.

3) Can we get more Rictor? Please?

You got it. I'll have him gain weight.

Hey, then he can weigh in on a Rictor scale!

Caleb Warren is next, and he’s concerned about an impropriety occurring in “X-Factor.”

Will Jamie and Siryn get married now that she's pregnant? Will they talk about it?

All I'll say is, read issue #39.

And on the topic of the babe’s impending arrival, Marcus Martin was curious…

1) Why don’t the X-Men seem interested in the birth of Siryn's baby? Do they not know?

I have to think at this point that the X-Men do not, in fact, know. Some fences have been mended, yes, but there's still something of a gap between the two teams, and Siryn, Madrox et al simply have not felt the need to let the X-Men know about it. I mean, let's face it: if Emma were pregnant, you think Scott would call Jamie and say, "Guess what?"

2) Once the baby is born, will he or she play a role in X-Factor's future?

Yes. Just not a role anyone is expecting.

It appears Andre4000 is trying to win the betting pool for the baby’s birth date. Can you help him out at all?

1) Do we have a due date for the baby?

Issue #39.

2) Will the team be finding out about Rahne’s involvement with X-Force anytime soon? She’s going through a lot and it would be good to have friends around.

It would be, yes, but there are no immediate plans to have X-Force get involved with X-Factor. I wouldn't rule it out for the future, though.

3) The noir aspect seems to have left book, and it kind of feels more like “A-Team” instead of “Maltese Falcon.” Has the book grown out of the Sam Spade phase?

Honestly? I keep writing the book the exact same way. Part of noir comes down to the visuals, and if the artist conveys that, then the book has a noir feel. If he doesn't, it doesn't. The book is still crammed with dubious people doing things of questionable morality, and no one is painted in strokes of black and white, but instead gray. To me, that's the definition of the noir spirit.

4) And — not to complain — but the book has felt kind of uneven with the team getting tied up in X-events, Secret Invasions, and the like. Will the team have an uber-mission soon t hat will help to drive them?

Yes.

5) Also, will Raimondi be returning to the book soon? I think the recent art changes are part of what’s led to the feeling of “unevenness” and loss of noir…

I wouldn't disagree. My understanding is that Valentine Delandro is going to be doing the book regularly, but the way things go in “X-Factor” land, that could be changed by the time this response sees print.

Excalibur88 wraps things up for us today with a special request:

I remember that back when you were writing “Captain Marvel,” you wanted to put in a letters page. Sadly, the series was canceled. Any chance that you'll be putting one in “X-Factor”?

They canceled "Captain Marvel?" Crap. That explains why I keep getting notes from editors saying, "Stop sending us scripts." Seriously, we had been doing them while Andy Schmidt was editing it. Since then we've had several editorial shifts. I'm hoping that once things settle down we'll see the return of the letters page.

http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18520

[Specter313]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/previews/marvelcomics/xfactor/36/xfac37.jpg

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/previews/marvelcomics/xfactor/36/XFACT037005_col.jpg

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/previews/marvelcomics/xfactor/36/XFACT037015s_col.jpg

[spark627]

Despite the crappy art, this is still the best X-book, IMO, and Jamie is still one of the best characters out there.

[squeekness]

Is that a different artist, Specs? It actually looks...good. :p

[Specter313]

Is that a different artist, Specs? It actually looks...good. :p

Yeah, that should be the new one, Valentine Delandro. If you want another example of his art, he's the same artist who did the Layla Miller special.

[squeekness]

Awesome. :D I really liked the art in that.

[Manic]

I thought everyone knew. This month's issue was Stroman's last.

[Colossal Spoons]

Thank God!

Art aside, I'm not diggin this book as much these days. I really like Darwin too.

[squeekness]

Longshot has been a fave of mine as well, though Stroman makes him look horrible. :(

[Colossal Spoons]

Stroman gets 1 thing right: Strong Guy's upper body disfiguring. His traps looked as disgustingly bulky as they should.

[Manic]

Yeah, I'll give him Strong Guy's deformed muscles. I just won't forgive the jagged jawlines, cheeks that look like someone took a knife to them, comically large asses that make Raineesha from Reno 911 look like Keira Knightley, horizontal lines used for eyes, or the overall Cro-Magnon appearance everyone seems to have.

I'm serious when I say that one of the higher ups at Marvel doesn't like PAD, and not only tried to saddle him with an artist whose quality is below industry standards, but also told said artist to not bother trying.

[RockSP]

I'm serious when I say that one of the higher ups at Marvel doesn't like PAD, and not only tried to saddle him with an artist whose quality is below industry standards, but also told said artist to not bother trying.

Possibly. Or they thought reteaming PAD with Stroman would recapture their X-Factor run from the 90's.

[Manic]

I don't even remember Stroman's art being this bad during the 90s. Or maybe his art style was just more acceptable in those days.

[RockSP]

I don't even remember Stroman's art being this bad during the 90s.

It wasn't.

[Specter313]

In an era where high-profile creative teams come and go, often not sticking around on a book for more than one or two story arcs, Peter David is refreshingly dependable. When David comes on board, he tends to settle in for the long haul, telling good stories for years at a time. Just look at his Incredible Hulk run, where David wrote the series for a decade and managed to achieve what many consider to be the definitive take on the character.

David is currently doing the same for the troubled mutants of X-Factor. David has been writing these characters for several years running, weathering artist changes, event storylines, and crossovers. As part of our month-long look at the X-Men line, we chatted with David about his thoughts on the various members of X-Factor Investigations. If you were wondering what the imminent birth of a baby or what ramifications Layla Miller's escapades will have for the team, you'll want to hear what David has to say.

And keep checking back as we bring you interviews with other X-writers. We've already interviewed Marc Guggenheim about Young X-Men. You can expect an interview with Matt Fraction regarding Uncanny X-Men tomorrow, as well as discussions with the X-Force and X-Men Legacy writers in the near future.



IGN Comics: The team has undergone several roster changes since the end of Messiah Complex. Did you feel the time had come to shake things up a bit?

Peter David: I'm a big believer in the notion that when there's some sort of major event going on, it should have major consequences as a result. Otherwise it has no real world resonance. We've seen in the past eight years that things don't happen in a vacuum. Whether it's someone attacking us or us attacking someone else, it's impossible to simply return to the status quo after such events. So having X-Factor go back to business as usual didn't seem true to the significant nature of MC.

IGN Comics: In the same vein, you had the team uproot and move to Detroit. Why the change in scenery? Is this your own answer to the "Manifest Destiny" shift going on in the other X-books?

David: It just seemed a natural evolution of the book (or, if you will, intelligent design since there really is a guiding mind behind it, although the intelligence of the guiding mind is certainly up for discussion). Actually, it's a problem that had its roots all the way back in issue #1 and the aftermath of the Decimation. The original concept of the book had been that X-Factor is the first, best line of defense for Mutant Town. But when every mutant in Mutant Town became de-powered, it progressively made less and less sense. Mutant Town was where all these mutants came together for mutual protection; if they were effectively humans, why were they still segregating themselves?

I came up with what I felt were reasonable excuses, but in the end that's all they were: excuses. And with that said, there was no more reason for X-Factor to be where they were than anyone else. Then when all the other mutant teams cleared out of town, the next logical development as I saw it was that X-Factor would become a high-profile magnet (thanks to their actions in Civil War) for all the remaining mutant hatred in the world, which meant that they were more a liability than a help. It just seemed the reasonable direction to go.

IGN Comics: How did you react when you learned the X-Force crew wanted to use Rahne? Are you pleased with how she's been handled in that book so far? Will there be any opportunity for Rahne to reappear in the pages of X-Factor in the foreseeable future?

David: I had no problem with Rahne being in X-Force; I did not, however, realize it meant we were losing her from X-Factor. I just figured that if Wolverine could be in several books at once, so could Rahne. Apparently not, and I admit I was less than thrilled, especially with the loss of Layla as well. But when it comes to writing company-owned titles, you just have to adapt to rolling with whatever punches are thrown at you. As for Rahne reappearing, I'm certainly hoping we do have that opportunity at some point, yeah.

IGN Comics: Darwin and Longshot have come into the fold in recent months. What do they bring to the table in terms of character dynamics? Will they be permanent additions to the cast?

David: They both see the world in a very different way than the more cynical, hardened heroes of X-Factor. My interpretation of Longshot is that he's someone with very fluid morals. He feels the need to serve the public good, but how he goes about that depends on the situation presented him. He's somewhat detached from humanity, and doesn't see all that much need to embrace our morality because he sees it as a mass of contradictions that isn't really worth the effort of expending that much brain power over. He will not hesitate to dispatch anyone who gets in his way, meaning he can go from innocent to lethal in a matter of seconds.

As for Darwin, one of the realities of being a teenager is trying to determine who you are. Teens really do evolve to try and fit in with the world around them as a matter of personal survival. Darwin's power simply takes that to the next level. I see his abilities as a physical manifestation of the moral conundrums that many teens face. So you've got both these guys tossed into the noir-ish world of X-Factor with its heroes and villains who are in shades of gray rather than black and white and constantly shifting moralities. I think they'll fit right in, and yes, for the time being, they are going to be around regularly.

IGN Comics: How did the X-Factor/She-Hulk crossover come about? Do you think the characters would have crossed paths regardless of Secret Invasion?

David: It was literally because fans demanded it. The moment it was announced I was doing both books, fans said they wanted to see the groups meet up, just as I had the Hulk meet up with X-Factor back when I was doing those two titles. Of course, as soon as the crossover was announced there were fans declaring, "Why is he doing THAT? That's so stupid! I'm not going to buy those issues!" So next time you hear fans saying, "How come the creators never listen to us?" just remember there's no "us" to listen to.

The fact that it happened against the backdrop of Secret Invasion was simply coincidence. I was going to do it in those particular issues because that's where it matched up well in terms of overall story arcs. I simply played it against the backdrop of SI because that's what was going on in the MU at the time.

IGN Comics: Madrox and his dupes have shown some pretty unstable tendencies as far back as issue #1. That story element seemed to take a back seat to more pressing matters during Messiah Complex, but then resurfaced when his dupe attacked Hector Munoz. Is Madrox's mental state going to be major aspect of the story in the coming months?

David: Very much so. Madrox is going to have a lot to deal with in terms of what's going on upstairs. But I have no plans to "resolve" it any more than there's a need to resolve the dichotomy anytime soon. The mental war between Bruce Banner and the Hulk served him well for decades; I don't see why Madrox can't get some continued mileage out of this.

IGN Comics: Readers anxious for more Layla Miller finally had their prayers answered with the Layla Miller Special. How much will the plot threads introduced in this story drive the events of the main book?

David: There will be major impact from the Layla Miller special. I'd rather not go into detail beyond that.

IGN Comics: Where will we see Layla next? Are you going to follow her story in a similar series of spin off issues, or is she due to return to the main series soon?

David: I'm thinking a miniseries detailing the events of the Summers revolution would be an interesting way to go. That way we see Layla back in the Marvel Universe. After all, the Madrox limited series turned out to be a back door pilot for X-Factor, so why can't the Layla one-shot serve the same function for a Summers mini or even an ongoing? Certainly the popular response that Ruby received would add fuel to that particular fire.

IGN Comics: What about Quicksilver? Does he still have a place in the series after the developments of X-Factor: The Quick and the Dead?

David: I definitely think so, and he will be back. I just haven't determined when yet.

IGN Comics: Are there any other characters you'd like to focus on in a similar sort of one-shot special?

David: Honestly, I'm not sure that I'm such a big fan of one-shots. I have yet to write a story for one of those that couldn't have just as easily been part of the ongoing series.

IGN Comics: The new solicits have indicated that Siryn will be giving birth to her baby soon. Aside from a load of diaper changing duties, what does this birth mean for Madrox and friends?

David: Let me put it this way: I've seen a ton of speculation on the computer boards as to what the birth of the child will mean. I have yet to see anyone come up with what I'm actually planning to do. So I think it would be counterproductive to give hints now since I've managed to keep everyone in the dark so far. Between previews, the Internet, etc., it's so damned hard to catch people off guard these days that I'm disinclined to pass up the opportunity.

Frankly, when issues #39 and #40 hit, I would be thrilled if fans resisted the urge to throw spoilers all over the place. I think back to the days of a play (later a movie) called Sleuth, and the producers of both begged audiences not to reveal to anyone the shocking twists of the show so as not to ruin it for anyone else. And audiences cooperated. I would love to see that same kind of consideration extended these days. That might be pie in the sky. It might be too much to expect from comics fans, for them to be able to keep shocking developments to themselves so that all readers can experience the story in the way it was intended. But it would be nice to think it's possible.

IGN Comics: Obviously you don't want to reveal too much of your hand right now, but how major of an event is this for the entire mutant population? Now that one mutant baby was born, is it possible that more can follow, or is the mutant gene still as dead as it was before Messiah Complex?

David: Anything is possible.

IGN Comics: After talking with Nick Lowe we know that the X-writers are planning another crossover storyline for 2010. Would you say you're building towards that crossover now, either with the birth of this baby other plot lines?

David: Nope. I'm just doing my own thing. It's 2008. I'm giving no thought whatsoever to what we might be doing in 2010.

IGN Comics: Counting the initial Madrox mini-series and the various specials, you've written well over 40 issues of this current incarnation of X-Factor. Based on the way you're still building on early plot threads, is it safe you say you always planned – or at least hoped – to be writing for such a length of time? Do you have an eventual end point in mind, or will you just continue until you run out of stories to tell?

David: I try not to plan to write how long I'll be writing a book because there are too many - you should pardon the expression - x-factors involved. Writing a company-owned book isn't like writing a creator owned title like Fallen Angel, where I do indeed have an end-game that I can execute if I feel like it. It's silly to develop an end point for a book that will continue to exist should I decide to leave if Marvel wants to continue it.

[mightiest_mortal]

I had no problem with Rahne being in X-Force; I did not, however, realize it meant we were losing her from X-Factor. I just figured that if Wolverine could be in several books at once, so could Rahne. Apparently not, and I admit I was less than thrilled, especially with the loss of Layla as well. But when it comes to writing company-owned titles, you just have to adapt to rolling with whatever punches are thrown at you.

Hmm strange. Makes it sound like Layla was removed from him by the powers that be. I thought she'd been recieved quite well by fans since her involvement in X-Factor. I wonder why they've taken her off the team.

[Manic]

I can't really think of a good reason for them to have removed Layla from X-Factor. It can't be because of her ability to see the future affecting the new status quo, because Layla only ever says what she's allowed to about the future.

[UraniaChang]

I can't really think of a good reason for them to have removed Layla from X-Factor. It can't be because of her ability to see the future affecting the new status quo, because Layla only ever says what she's allowed to about the future.

Which often doesn't help much anyway, because things have already happened and she just acts smug because she 'knows stuff'.

[Manic]

After reading the Layla Miller Special, I'm not so sure all of it is smugness. She almost never smiles, and she does know all the bad things that are coming up. Like she told Old Cyclops, she "knew" that she wouldn't be able to escape the concentration camp until the day that debris fell from the sky, but she also knew she was going to have to endure all kinds of torture from the guards long before that.

I think (and this is especially sad if Layla is a real person and not a construct made to balance out Scarlet Witch's new chaotic world) Layla is mostly dead inside.

[UraniaChang]

The ending showed how manipulative she was under the disguise of her innocent face, and how she played up Cyke's over-active conscience towards seeing a small girl's tears.
She isn't the only one who goes through one tough time after another, being dead inside is not an excuse.

I don't even want to know how more manipulative she can be when she grows up, seeing how good she already is at the game.

[Specter313]

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Story by
Peter David

Art by
Valentine De Landro, Jonathan Sibal

Colors by
Jeromy Cox

Letters by
VC - Cory Petit

Cover by
Boo Cook

Publisher
Marvel Comics

Cover Price:
$2.99

Release Date
Wed, November 19th, 2008


It’s a showdown in the Motor City as X-Factor goes toe-to-toe with the mysterious Karma organization. And when it seems the team is at its darkest moment, Madrox loses all control. Meanwhile, Val Cooper and her government forces claim to be working in X-Factor’s best interest. But are they really?

[Manic]

Praise Valentine De Landro! He's fixed the art AND given Longshot a decent haircut.

[cerealkiller182]

thank god for that

[squeekness]

Looks yummy. I can't wait! :D

[UraniaChang]

Her belly sure grows fast...just how much time has passed in the storyline since MC?

[JustABill]

Jeez. Longshot got sexy all of a sudden.

[Nature's Rising]

^ Yeah. But I still miss Raimondi's sexy yummy Jamie though.:(

[Manic]

Her belly sure grows fast...just how much time has passed in the storyline since MC?
Quite a bit of time has passed, actually. Terry found out she was knocked up back when they were living in New York. They had been in Detroit for 5 months (there was a "5 Months Later" panel a few issues back) before Val Cooper tracked them down and forced Jamie to secretly work for her. We don't know how much time has passed since then, but considering solicits show that Baby Madrox is due in a few issues, I'd say Terry is in her 3rd trimester.

Who else hopes Terry and Jamie's baby is a Killcrop?

[UraniaChang]

I always thought Madrox was going to be ending up with Layla (a miserable fate, though), when she grows up, of course.

Edit - What's a Killcrop?:huh:

[Manic]

I always thought Madrox was going to be ending up with Layla (a miserable fate, though), when she grows up, of course.
Who knows? Layla can see multiple possible futures.

Edit - What's a Killcrop?:huh:
You know how mutants are supposed to only manifest their powers in their teens? Killcrops manifest their powers right out of the womb. It's long been established that when Jamie was born, the doctor smacked his behind and a dupe split out of him. Professor X met with the Madrox family, and gave Jamie his first impact suit to stop him from creating dupes involuntarily.

Well, way back in X-Factor's first few story arcs, it was revealed that Damian Tryp (head of Singularity Investigations) visited the Madrox family when Jamie was a pre-teen. Tryp told Jamie's parents that Jamie wasn't a mutant, as he had powers at birth rather than adolescence. Jamie was, in fact, like him: a genetic throwback that existed before mutants, commonly called Killcrops or Changelings.

It's a funny little plot thread that has the potential to rock the mutant community, but it hasn't left the pages of X-Factor, and it hasn't been brought up in a while.

[UraniaChang]

Thanks for the explanation. :)
I appreciate it a lot.


Edit - Though I think mutants with mutant parents might develop thier powers earlier than the first generation ones, who have their powers developed when they hit puberty.

[Cachete25]

Thank God for the change in artist. I was seriously thinking of dropping this book. I haven't read the previous books just because I can tell what the hell is going b/c of the bad art. Can't wait for this1

[Kevin]

I think rictor has a crush.:o

[Manic]

On who? Val's subordinate? Because he's going to forget all about him when he runs into Longshot again.

[OutcryX]

rictor has 'gone gay' again?

also...me thinks he should visit Ink's tattoo artist

[Manic]

Between Rictor admitting to guy-on-guy and having boinked Wolfsbane, I'd say PAD has established that Ric is bi.

[OutcryX]

i dunno Manic...Rahne is quite manly or rather, boyish, in appearance...that might have been the cause for the attraction

[Manic]

i dunno Manic...Rahne is quite manly or rather, boyish, in appearance...that might have been the cause for the attraction
But Rahne has a vagina. If Rictor was in the mood for dick, he would've unknowingly used the terrigen crystals in his back to somehow get with Jamie's gay dupe...







...assuming that didn't happen on the night Jamie accidentally slept with both Monet and Terry.

[OutcryX]

um yeah, duh. that and vagina or no...she still looks like a dude...and who is to say she DOESNT have a dick?

[Manic]

Rahne has only had one dick, and that was Rictor's. Maybe Elixir's, too.

[OutcryX]

those were borrowed. im talking about her own

[Manic]

Actually, let's clear something up. Are you implying that Rahne is really a dude, or that she's a hermaphrodite? Because if we're talking about a hermaphrodite, I can see why Rictor's been trying to get all in that since they were New Mutants.

[OutcryX]

whichever helps u sleep better

[UraniaChang]

Maybe Wolfsban being a bit tomboy like is the part which attracts Rictor in the first place.

[Colossal Spoons]

It's a funny little plot thread that has the potential to rock the mutant community, but it hasn't left the pages of X-Factor, and it hasn't been brought up in a while.

Yeah, I really wish they'd do something with that. Same w/ Carey's Children of the Vault.

[OutcryX]

yeah the whole mutant but not really idea. plus the Children of the Vault are awesome. and i guess the messiah baby-doom-bringer would be a Killjoy as well

[Colossal Spoons]

I trust that idea to any current X-writer except for Kyle&Yost. I'm loving X-Force but I don't want such cool ideas being used for killing and stabbing only.

[Manic]

Let's see...

Warren Ellis: Would use it to create a compelling science fiction-type story

Mike Carey: Would use it to further develop at least one of his pet characters like Rogue or Professor X.

Brubaker & Fraction: Would craft an unbelievably long story arc out of it that wouldn't conclude until another writer picked it up

Kyle & Yost: You lookin' at me?! I'll stab ya! HA-HA!
http://www.numutant.net/roberto-f.JPG

[Colossal Spoons]

Beautiful

[Specter313]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/solicits/marvelcomics/200902-advance/XFACT040_cov.jpg


X-FACTOR #40
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by VALENTINE DE LANDRO
Cover by DAVID YARDIN
“SLINGS AND ARROWS”
You remember John Maddox, right? He’s the one dupe that Jaime Madrox never reabsorbed. Family man. Pastor. All around decent guy. Well, he’s having a really really BAD day. And things are going to get worse when an armed Madrox comes knocking on his door. He’s looking for answers that only a man of the lord can provide and if Madrox doesn’t like what he hears, it may very well be the last sermon that John Maddox ever delivers…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

[Kevin]

X-cited!

[Colossal Spoons]

Glad PAD didn't forget about him

[Gilpesh]

Glad PAD didn't forget about him

PAD doesn't write for Heroes, Spoons.

He follows through on his setups.

[Manic]

That is, unless editorial decisions prevent him from doing so. Like being forced to get rid of Layla Miller, stopping any number of plans he had for her, which I'm sure included the one surviving version of Damian Tryp.

[Gilpesh]

That is, unless editorial decisions prevent him from doing so.

Which sucks.... Joey Q needs to be kicked so hard in the testicles that he might actually figure out which books don't need to be messed with... and then doesn't mess with them.

[Colossal Spoons]

PAD doesn't write for Heroes, Spoons.

He follows through on his setups.

Haha, tonight's ep was pretty bad :down:

[Colossal Spoons]

Wait, why was PAD forced to get rid of Layla?

[Gilpesh]

Haha, tonight's ep was pretty bad :down:

But but but Hiro says 'Yatta' more and Sylar is a good guy.... LOVE ME, WHY WON'T YOU LOVE ME!?!?!?!?!? [/Heroes]

[Colossal Spoons]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[OutcryX]

...i liked tonight's Heroes episode.

[Manic]

Wait, why was PAD forced to get rid of Layla?
I have no clue why, but he basically says it wasn't his idea in an interview posted back on page 65.


David: I had no problem with Rahne being in X-Force; I did not, however, realize it meant we were losing her from X-Factor. I just figured that if Wolverine could be in several books at once, so could Rahne. Apparently not, and I admit I was less than thrilled, especially with the loss of Layla as well. But when it comes to writing company-owned titles, you just have to adapt to rolling with whatever punches are thrown at you. As for Rahne reappearing, I'm certainly hoping we do have that opportunity at some point, yeah.

[bryanss3]

Isn't he gonna bring Layla back eventually.
Hopefully when she gets back we'll have some one like Raimondi doing art again.
I can't take the squishy heads anymore.

[OutcryX]

me thinks Layla is going the way of the dodo. they threw her into the future, tied her into the SUmmer's Rebellion and....well that's that

[Manic]

PAD said Layla was going to come back eventually, plus the X-Factor: Layla Miller one-shot implied that she's going to come back to the present.

[bryanss3]

I read somewhere Peter David said
"she may return but if she does it won't be in a way any one would expect"
of course I can't find the interview now.. that always happens.:csad:

but he probably means he wants to, but they haven't thought of a way that'll make sense yet. He likes to finish what he starts so hopefully if she doesn't return we'll at least see what happens in the future past the one-shot.

[Colossal Spoons]

I guess it makes sense though. Having somebody like Layla around would make some stories unbelievable. The team could never really be surprised with her around. This is what happens when a deux ex machina is too deux-y :(

[Manic]

Deus, not deux. Deux is French for "two." Deus is Latin for "God."


Anyway, Layla's knowledge of "stuff" seems to only be limited to what she should know. For example, when she and Jamie's dupe first arrived in the future, she didn't know anything, but just before she blew the dupe up, she seemed to have just come to the realization that she was going to survive the concentration camp. Also, when she talked to Future Cyclops during the one-shot, she told him she didn't know what happened to the X-Men, and that he shouldn't tell her because there's probably a good reason for that.

Also, she's not opposed to letting bad stuff happen to her allies. She knew Damian Tryp was going to mug Siryn back in the first few issues of X-Factor, but she didn't tell anyone. She did, however, make up for it by taking out one of Tryp's goons in the coolest/creepiest way possible.

[Colossal Spoons]

Ah ha, damn 2nd language :O

[Kevin]

Deus, not deux. Deux is French for "two." Deus is Latin for "God."


Anyway, Layla's knowledge of "stuff" seems to only be limited to what she should know. For example, when she and Jamie's dupe first arrived in the future, she didn't know anything, but just before she blew the dupe up, she seemed to have just come to the realization that she was going to survive the concentration camp. Also, when she talked to Future Cyclops during the one-shot, she told him she didn't know what happened to the X-Men, and that he shouldn't tell her because there's probably a good reason for that.

Also, she's not opposed to letting bad stuff happen to her allies. She knew Damian Tryp was going to mug Siryn back in the first few issues of X-Factor, but she didn't tell anyone. She did, however, make up for it by taking out one of Tryp's goons in the coolest/creepiest way possible.
Next to Jamie, Layla is my favorite character in this book. I miss her. And that was her best, creepiest scene ever.

[mightiest_mortal]

Also, when she talked to Future Cyclops during the one-shot, she told him she didn't know what happened to the X-Men, and that he shouldn't tell her because there's probably a good reason for that.


But then maybe she really does know, she just knows that things will work out in her best interest if she doesn't tell cyclops that she knows.


Yeah Layla's awesome.. i miss her :(

[Colossal Spoons]

I was really hoping Layla had some connection to Cable's MC baby.

[bryanss3]

Speaking of people I want to see back in the book aside from Layla I'd love to see Clay return and maybe get to learn more about him other than he's a hit man and he can also make Multiples.

Also do you guys think they are gonna do anything with X-Cell or do you think they were just there for that whole quicksilver thing and now they're gone. I'd like to see some of those characters back in some way especially Callisto, Marrow, and the de-powered Blob.

[chris moore]

Ah Crap! Previews are up on comicscontinuum for the new issue - and although it says art by Valentine De Landro, I'm pretty sure the suck fest on the pages is Stroman! Thought we were free of the melty faced people?

[UraniaChang]

Thought it was his ''butts'' which were disturbing.

[squeekness]

No, with Stroman it's pretty much everything that sucks. :(

[Specter313]

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X-Factor #38 will arrive in stores on Dec. 17 from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Peter David, with art by Valentine De Landro and a cover by Mike Mayhew.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"Siryn goes into labor three weeks early. Could this be the second mutant born since M-Day? Either way, the U.S. government isn't going to sit idle while it happens. Can Rictor and the mother-to-be fend them off? They'll have to, since X-Factor and Longshot are busy fighting an army of Darwins!"

X-Factor #38 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.99.

[Gilpesh]

WHY IS STROMAN BACK?!!?!?!

Oh god it hurts the eyes...

[Kevin]

WHY IS STROMAN BACK?!!?!?!

Oh god it hurts the eyes...
It's only 4 pages.

[Colossal Spoons]

That chickensctratch looks even worse on the computer lol

[Gilpesh]

It's only 4 pages.

BUT! It's still four pages more than he should ever draw on X-Factor again!

[Kevin]

Ha! He does suck.

[Manic]

MY EYES! My pristine eyes!

[bryanss3]

my eyes opened up so wide when I got to page 5 and saw Madrox's head and it actually looked like him. best part of my day.

[Specter313]

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X-FACTOR #41
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by VALENTINE DE LANDRO
Cover by DAVID YARDIN
Maru. Mr. Tryp. X-Cell. The Isolationist. Madrox has gone against his fair share of unseemly and unfamiliar
antagonists of late, but some villains never go out of style. Like Sentinels. Big, honking Sentinels. Oh yes, this is going to be fun!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

[Kevin]

I'm shocked, to be honest.

[Gilpesh]

I'm shocked, to be honest.

I can't wait.

[Gilpesh]

#38 rocked!

Loved:
The fact that it ends with Madrox making a deal with the bad guy to just give him Darwin back... then he lies to the rest of the crew and says the stereotypical "beats up bad guy, bad guy slips away, and vows revenge" happened...

I love PAD and X-Factor is the best book Marvel has.... even when Joey Q tries to make it fail with Stroman. I said it.



It also found away to throw in some Val Cooper thong... seriously.

[chamber-music]

All I have to say is Stromans Art would be ugly even if it was in braille.

[bryanss3]

Yeah I liked the issue I'm just surprised how much Madrox is lying to everyone. issue 41s cover looks insane. I'm excited! I wish we could get 2 issues of X-factor or Uncanny X-men a month, but there are like 5 limited series' right now.

[Manic]

Do we even know how long Jamie's dupe was in that concentration camp in the future? I have a feeling that absorbing that particular dupe has changed the way Jamie sees... everything.

[Gilpesh]

Manic, I think he was in it long enough... just like Layla has been gone from X-Factor.

[bryanss3]

I'm surprised he hasn't tried to go get Layla he really wanted to save her till Emma Knocked him back out. Yet another reason I hate Emma Frost.

[Manic]

How would Jamie go about doing it? The trauma of getting his head bashed in by Bishop twice in the same week has stopped Forge from remembering how to create time travel devices, and Bishop either destroyed or took all of his notes.

Then again, if Jamie would set his pride aside for five minutes and head to San Francisco, he could ask Beast to vouch for him, then head to New York to use Mr. Fantastic's dusty old time machine (that the Fantastic Four only use for cheap tricks).

[Kevin]

Poor Val. I hated the *****, and actually asked for what happened to happen, but damn.

[OutcryX]

Val Cooper is dead? what happened? i so need to read this book, but dont want to

[bryanss3]

How would Jamie go about doing it? The trauma of getting his head bashed in by Bishop twice in the same week has stopped Forge from remembering how to create time travel devices, and Bishop either destroyed or took all of his notes.

Then again, if Jamie would set his pride aside for five minutes and head to San Francisco, he could ask Beast to vouch for him, then head to New York to use Mr. Fantastic's dusty old time machine (that the Fantastic Four only use for cheap tricks).

did this happen in X-Force I'm not reading that yet.

[RockSP]

Val Cooper is dead? what happened?

She was shot. But we don't know if she's dead yet. Highly unlikely, though, IMO.

[cerealkiller182]

She was shot. But we don't know if she's dead yet. Highly unlikely, though, IMO.

I agree

[Manic]

did this happen in X-Force I'm not reading that yet.
The thing with Forge not being able to create time travel devices? That was explained in the 2-part Divided We Stand miniseries that came out immediately after Messiah CompleX.

[bryanss3]

oh thanks no I know what else I need to get.

I don't think Val is gonna die I mean after she got shot they felt the need o make sure we saw her thong, you don't usually do that to a character if they're gonna die next issue.

[Manic]

Val won't die. As mean as she may come off 90% of the time, I get the inkling she's the only reason XF Investigations and Graymalkin Industries are allowed to roam freely.

[Gilpesh]

Val won't die.

1) This isn't an event storyline.

2) It's not even on Marvel's list for books to do big events in.

3) Thong.

4) Joey Q would never let it stick... if PAD killed her, she'd retroactively be a skrull and the real Cooper would show up with no time spared.

[bryanss3]

I like how in X men/Dark Reign Emma is making deals to protect mutants with Norman Osborn, yet the first Issue after the baby's born we get Sentinels way to look out for your own White Queen

[Manic]

Maybe the return of sentinels have something to do with Val Cooper. Like I said, she's likely the only one that lets XF Investigations get away with everything they've been getting away with. Mutant activities are the responsibility of the O*N*E*, and she probably had to pull a lot of strings to stop X-Factor from joining the 198, or getting thrown in prison when they publicly gave the SHRA the finger (whereas the X-Men currently have a few major cities at their back).

[cerealkiller182]

But isnt Trask dealing with the government right now? I bet Trask sics the Sentinels on them and then Osborn, fresh off his alliance with Emma, swoops in for the rescue. Or Osborn sics the Sentinels on them to take them down himself furthering the appearance of him being heroic.

[Manic]

Yeah, and it's not like Emma gives a damn about X-Factor. They're the only X-team that refuses to bow to her's and Scott's mighty egos.

[Gilpesh]

Yeah, and it's not like Emma gives a damn about X-Factor.

Or Marvel... :csad:

[Manic]

X-Factor flies so far under the radar, no other book really has an effect on what happens there unless someone decides to take away their characters.

[Gilpesh]

Or the other books have a stupid event.

[Manic]

Please. Civil War derailed X-Factor for exactly 3 pages, and absolutely nothing happened in X-Factor's tie-in that wouldn't have happened otherwise. X-Factor found out about M-Day, Quicksilver moved to town, and (oh! we forgot about the Civil War!) X-Factor briefly told the news they're rejecting the SHRA.

What exactly happened in X-Factor's Secret Invasion tie-in? A Skrull lured Darwin to Detroit by pure coincidence, and then She-Hulk & Jazinda came up and took him away. PAD still would've found a way to put Darwin on the team-- god knows he put the real Longshot on the team after introducing Skrull-Longshot during SI.

Messiah CompleX was the only crossover that really affected X-Factor, and that's because it was the only event in which PAD had any say. Otherwise, X-Factor uses crossovers to temporarily boost sales while doing its own thing.

[Gilpesh]

Messiah CompleX was the only crossover that really affected X-Factor, and that's because it was the only event in which PAD had any say. Otherwise, X-Factor uses crossovers to temporarily boost sales while doing its own thing.

Yeah... I think that's the only one I complain about when I say stupid events. Cause it took out a good part of the book, Layla. And it also didn't focus solely on the X-Factor team... so for once during an event, you had to find the other issues if you wanted to follow X-Factor's story.

[Manic]

Not to mention PAD had to cut his biggest story arc short because of it. He had apparently been setting up the Josef Huber/Isolationist story since issue #1, but the whole thing ended abruptly over two issues because PAD had to hurry up and get ready for Messiah CompleX.

[Gilpesh]

Not to mention PAD had to cut his biggest story arc short because of it.

:dry: Wow. Its effect was much worse than I thought...

[bryanss3]

so thats why that story wrapped up so fast. i liked Messiah Complex except for the ending. But hopefully the Isolationist/Layla/Tyrp/ come back soon. i want to see more Clay(the assassin who can also make multiples) he is probably likely to appear more any ways when they go into what Jamie really is since he's not a mutant.

Is it just me or is issue 39 one of the cutest comic covers you've ever seen.

I'd like to see X-factor be more of the Marvel Universe or at least more in the X-universe which is pretty much its own for the most part. But if it was it probably wouldn't be as fun/good cause they'd probably limit PAD. I doubt this whole Dark Reign thing will effect them at all. I wish Rhane would come back. I mean X-23 is in Uncanny now and X-force. how is that fair.

[mightiest_mortal]

Latest Issue, LOVED the end. Such a genius way to deal with a villain.

[cerealkiller182]

Not to mention PAD had to cut his biggest story arc short because of it. He had apparently been setting up the Josef Huber/Isolationist story since issue #1, but the whole thing ended abruptly over two issues because PAD had to hurry up and get ready for Messiah CompleX.

I dont think it is necessarily over. Didnt he choose a tactical retreat?

[Manic]

I dont think it is necessarily over. Didnt he choose a tactical retreat?
It's not over-over, but you gotta admit those last couple of issues before Messiah CompleX felt like too much information was being shoved into too little space.

[squeekness]

If Stroman only did four pages of art for this issue does that mean he's off the book for good? I mean, I hate to pick on anyone's art because it's not like mine is any great shakes, but geez.... I hope he moves on to something else. :(

[Manic]

Larry Stroman has convinced me, a man with absolutely no artistic skill, to draw my own comic book.

[RockSP]

If Stroman only did four pages of art for this issue does that mean he's off the book for good?

Delandro or whatever his name is is supposed to be the new artist.

[squeekness]

Delandro or whatever his name is is supposed to be the new artist.
Is the guy who finished the book? He was pretty good. :)

[RockSP]

No he did the previous issue.

[Manic]

You might remember DeLandro from the immediate post-Messiah CompleX issues, where he shared art duties with Raimondi. He also drew the Layla Miller Special.

[squeekness]

Still, good enough. I liked that guy even better than the guy who finished this latest one. Kewl beans. :D

[bryanss3]

what happened to Pablo Raimondi anyways he just was gone out of no where. I really like him, but DeLandro is also good.

[squeekness]

I've pretty much liked everyone who has done the art for this book excpet Stroman. He was so jarring because he wasn't like anyone else and not just because he wasn't that good. His style didn't fit the same way the others did. :(

[bryanss3]

plus every one had weird heads

[squeekness]

They looked like clay people. Even my art doesn't have clay people. :(

[cerealkiller182]

Mine kinda does, Im bad with hands

[Gilpesh]

I wish Sook could do a monthly book... then he could do X-Factor again.

[bryanss3]

I know I'm not good at drawing yet but I'd never send in art for a comic if it looked like that. who was the guy who said use it in the first place? I'd send it back to the artist if he turned in something like that.

[Kevin]

You know, I've always said that Sook was the best artist for this book, but I keep forgetting about Dennis Calero. He was a good replacement after Sook. what happened to Dennis?

[Specter313]

You know, I've always said that Sook was the best artist for this book, but I keep forgetting about Dennis Calero. He was a good replacement after Sook. what happened to Dennis?

Dennis is currently doing the X-Men: Noir mini.

[Havok83]

I hated Calero's work on this book. I thought his was the worst when I was reading. My faves were definerly Sook and Raimondi

[mightiest_mortal]

Raimondi Is my favourite. Sook couldnt even handle more than one issue before he had got so far behind they needed fill in artists. Has he never heard of working to deadlines?

[Havok83]

Raimondi Is my favourite. Sook couldnt even handle more than one issue before he had got so far behind they needed fill in artists. Has he never heard of working to deadlines?
probably thought that if Cassaday could get away with it, then why not him

[Manic]

The difference being Cassaday never shared art with anyone, and Sook was going 50/50 with Calero after issue #1.

[Colossal Spoons]

The last issue was pretty meh. As has this whole series been for a while :(

[squeekness]

Other than the Secret Invasion crossover I've been liking it just fine. :)

[Kevin]

Even at a meh issue it's still the best x-book to me.

[bryanss3]

I'm surprised there isn't an X-men crossover with the baby coming and everything, hopefully they don't do one

[bryanss3]

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/010905-Spec-X.html

Newsarama interview with Peter David about how the next 3 issues are gonna be awesome kinda

[Manic]

I'm both excited and fearful for Jamie & Terry's baby.

[Colossal Spoons]

I'm glad PAD realized that the book has been unfocused for a while. I look forward to the next 3 issues.

[Psykoelf]

I'm glad PAD realized that the book has been unfocused for a while. I look forward to the next 3 issues.

Yeah me too. He was saying that the major point of X Factor was to investigate the Decimation, which quite frankly they haven't been doing (or did they find out from Quicksilver, it's been so long since it started that I can't remember now?).

But my biggest question for these upcoming issues is 'is Madrox and Syrin's kid a mutant?'. Does that make me a ruiner pondering and voicing this question?