Post by MC on Jan 19, 2010 23:09:16 GMT -5
X-Factor by Brent Lambert (#1 - #4)
The Cast: President Pietro Maximoff, Polaris, Songbird, Sage, Speedball, Guido, Omega, Thunderbird, Slipstream, Wash Out, Proto-Goblin, Professor X, White Queen, Marvel Girl
Antagonists Faced: Exodus and the Acolytes
Stand-Out Character: Polaris
Best Moment: The death of Magneto and rebirth of Genosha.
A political book on the other side of the spectrum from Winter Guard, X-Factor tells the story of Genosha spinning out of the tragic events of X-Men: Alpha, where Magneto died and Polaris was given her first order of business as the leader of X-Factor…bring down Exodus and the Acolytes!
The series itself got off to a quick start with a visit from Charles Xavier, Emma Frost, Rachel Summers, Wanda Maximoff and Rogue, who were attempting to assist with this mission. The telepathic search for Exodus was well handled, and the chaffing at the initial failures to stop him from President Pietro Maximoff was well handled, as his impatience has not been tempered yet by his office. The distrust between Quicksilver and Professor X was established well, as each has their own motivations that may not be mutually beneficial in the long run. Each man has a big stick to bring to the table, Xavier with the X-Men and their new worldwide popularity with the X-Corporation, and Pietro with the densely populated hub of mutant activity in the nation of Genosha. How this relationship continues will be fun to watch.
The actual hunt for the Acolytes was handled well also, as Brent develops their current fixation on their belief that Magneto is actually alive only missing, and they will burn the world down to find him. Their efforts to find a mutant that can track any mutant on the planet were well handled and the lead they developed, be it actually a lead or a figment of their shared desire, was huge and will have long-lasting ramifications not only for this book but for MA in total. Brent’s handle on Exodus and the Acolytes is great, especially Exodus and Cortez, and how that powderkeg of a team moves forward will be interesting.
The first action of the combined X-Factor team was good but short, as their initial battle with the Acolytes was dominated mostly by the guest-staring Phoenix and Polaris, but other members got a chance to shine in personality if not in action, and the team built…Polaris, Songbird, Strong Guy, Speedball, Sage, Omega, Thunderbird, Slipstream, Wash Out and Proto-Goblin…are a varied group that will lead to a lot of great stories, and the attempts to tame the wild Proto-Goblin were interesting and slightly fearful at the same time. The manipulation that went on between the enigmatic Sage and White Queen was also excellent and showed that both characters haven’t quite kicked their questionable pasts, and seeing them clash in the future will be great.
Brent is off to a great start on a book with a wide range of potential storylines and problems to deal with, and the crossover with the Hulk: Spectrum event (reviewed separately) gave the team more of a chance to show their stuff and give Genosha a whole nother problem and weapon to worry about…or to make the world worry about. Keep up the good work, Brent!
MC
The Cast: President Pietro Maximoff, Polaris, Songbird, Sage, Speedball, Guido, Omega, Thunderbird, Slipstream, Wash Out, Proto-Goblin, Professor X, White Queen, Marvel Girl
Antagonists Faced: Exodus and the Acolytes
Stand-Out Character: Polaris
Best Moment: The death of Magneto and rebirth of Genosha.
A political book on the other side of the spectrum from Winter Guard, X-Factor tells the story of Genosha spinning out of the tragic events of X-Men: Alpha, where Magneto died and Polaris was given her first order of business as the leader of X-Factor…bring down Exodus and the Acolytes!
The series itself got off to a quick start with a visit from Charles Xavier, Emma Frost, Rachel Summers, Wanda Maximoff and Rogue, who were attempting to assist with this mission. The telepathic search for Exodus was well handled, and the chaffing at the initial failures to stop him from President Pietro Maximoff was well handled, as his impatience has not been tempered yet by his office. The distrust between Quicksilver and Professor X was established well, as each has their own motivations that may not be mutually beneficial in the long run. Each man has a big stick to bring to the table, Xavier with the X-Men and their new worldwide popularity with the X-Corporation, and Pietro with the densely populated hub of mutant activity in the nation of Genosha. How this relationship continues will be fun to watch.
The actual hunt for the Acolytes was handled well also, as Brent develops their current fixation on their belief that Magneto is actually alive only missing, and they will burn the world down to find him. Their efforts to find a mutant that can track any mutant on the planet were well handled and the lead they developed, be it actually a lead or a figment of their shared desire, was huge and will have long-lasting ramifications not only for this book but for MA in total. Brent’s handle on Exodus and the Acolytes is great, especially Exodus and Cortez, and how that powderkeg of a team moves forward will be interesting.
The first action of the combined X-Factor team was good but short, as their initial battle with the Acolytes was dominated mostly by the guest-staring Phoenix and Polaris, but other members got a chance to shine in personality if not in action, and the team built…Polaris, Songbird, Strong Guy, Speedball, Sage, Omega, Thunderbird, Slipstream, Wash Out and Proto-Goblin…are a varied group that will lead to a lot of great stories, and the attempts to tame the wild Proto-Goblin were interesting and slightly fearful at the same time. The manipulation that went on between the enigmatic Sage and White Queen was also excellent and showed that both characters haven’t quite kicked their questionable pasts, and seeing them clash in the future will be great.
Brent is off to a great start on a book with a wide range of potential storylines and problems to deal with, and the crossover with the Hulk: Spectrum event (reviewed separately) gave the team more of a chance to show their stuff and give Genosha a whole nother problem and weapon to worry about…or to make the world worry about. Keep up the good work, Brent!
MC