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By Jason Bourgeois
I had plans to take a look back at the original Watchmen trade paperback since the new theatrical adaptation premiers this month, but I couldn't come up with any way to crack into it that hadn't already been done over the past 25 years. At least nothing that would do the thing justice. So instead, it is past time to touch base again with X-Factor by Peter David and Toby Determined, to be determined, since the book changes artists every few issues.
I'm a long-time fan of PAD, stretching back to at least his original X-Factor run in the 90s, if not further. While both titles share many of the same characters and a title, as well as the same writer, there really is no comparing the two books. The 90s version of the title had a lot of goofy humour, with an occasional dark moment and mixed with serious stories. This time around, the balance is almost reversed, and the serious tone with noir detective style takes the forefront, with much of the humour coming from the characters and their dialogue. The book is still very funny, since this is Peter David, but it's a different kind of humour, and less of it, than the previous volume.
X-Factor has been the title that thus far has dealt the best with all the fallout from various crossovers. When House of M ended, and most mutants were depowered, most of the Marvel Universe ignored it, aside from there being less mutants. X-Factor came along and was determined to do something about it. They got involved with the Civil War, and were drawn into the Messiah Complex affair.
It was during that last event that the tone of the book started to become even darker. Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man, sent one of his duplicates along with Layla Miller and her ability to 'know stuff' into the future to try and uncover more information about the various timelines. While there, the two were captured and put into the mutant prison camps that were prevalent in that future. They were shaved, and branded as members of the lower class that mutants had become. In order to return, Jamie's dupe had to die, and send the memories of what he had found back to the original Jamie in the present. The brand over his eye came with him, branding our Jamie in the here and now. On top of all that, Layla remained trapped in the future with no way to return.
However, there was a light of hope when one of the other members of X-Factor, Siryn, became pregnant thanks to Jamie.
The writing quality has been pretty stable since it has had the same writer since its start, but the art has been wildly inconsistent. Around this time in the title's run, the artist from PAD's run in the 90s came on board, Larry Stroman. The man's art is highly stylised, and can get downright weird at times, and that is being kind. However, I always had a soft spot for it back in the day. Well, those days ended somewhere. His return to the book was even weirder looking, and often downright ugly. Backgrounds all but disappeared from the book. Some of his issues were my favourites of the title thus far, writing wise, but the art was hard to stomach.
The most recent turn of events have brought in yet another new artist, Valentine DeLandro, and the art is much improved. There is a definite noir feeling returning to it once again, with a heavy use of shadows. The people look like people, and he is a great storyteller, with a definite style all his own, that I hope to see grow and become even better over the years, This guy is a great find, and he works well with PAD so far.
With the newest issues, Peter David is trying something new. He's keeping things pretty close to the vest, and only saying that he wants each issue to end with a moment that makes the readers want to come back for the next issue, make them want it badly. He wants shocks and surprises to be had once more, and has asked people to not spoil the book for others. I intend to respect those wishes, and will just encourage people to pick it up.
It was surprising enough to have the baby actually be born, but the events that followed were truly shocking, heartbreaking, and in a way, inevitable. They've sent the once goofy Jamie down a very dark path, and it looks like things are only going to get darker before he can be brought back into the light again.
The title is an ensemble cast, but it is truly Jamie's show. Peter has taken this jokey character and truly explored his personality and nature, and made him one of the most three dimensional characters in the MU these days. I've enjoyed the past two twist-heavy issues more than almost any other books I've read in the same time, and can't wait to see where PAD will go from here. Wherever it is, I'm sure it will be exciting, enthralling, and entertaining on every page. And as long as Valentine stays on board, it'll look really good too.
If there's one X-Book people should be buying, X-Factor is that book. The writing has been consistently good since page one issue one, and has even managed to bring the issues with some of the subpar art up to higher standards, and been enjoyable on some level. That takes skill, and more people should be reading it.
Jason M. Bourgeois
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