Forgive me fandom, for I have sinned.
My name is Christopher, and I’ve not followed X-Men comics since before Friends was on TV.
So, with that out of the way, let’s shine a little light on what Marvel’s X-Men office is putting out this week as part of its ‘From The Ashes’ initiative: X-Factor #1 by Mark Russell, Bob Quinn and a whole crew of merry mutants. This issue was a fantastic romp, and is my favorite of the new line so far, enough so that it pulled back even this woefully-lapsed reader.
After recent events, mutants the world over are doing their best to cope with their losses while finding a new way forward. Well, for the heroes of X-Factor, that way forward involves international stardom, a phat paycheck and a heavy dose of danger. A Hollywood producer contacts Warren Worthington III (a.k.a. Angel), to lead a new team that will be at the forefront of mutant/human relations through the magic of social media. Faces both old and new join the team, eager to set a shining example.
Spoiler: things don’t go as planned.
If you’re familiar with Mark Russell’s work (Prez, Fantastic Four: Life Story, Traveling to Mars), you won’t be surprised by the mildly absurdist commentary that peppers this book from time to time. Oh, sure, there’s more action and adventure and romance than you can shake a Soulsword at, but it’s all served with a dollop of satire, just enough to make you giggle (which I did a dozen-plus times while reading this). Mr. Russell continues to be a fantastic storyteller; with characters whose actions are completely believable despite their at-times ludicrous (yet hazardous) reality. The pace never wavers throughout the thirty-plus pages, and that’s partially due to his…
… partners in crime, such as Bob Quinn, (Red Sonja, Way of X), who turns in artwork that not only supports the subversive undertones running throughout the book, but does much of the heavy lifting when it comes to both character and action. The colors by Jesus Aburtov vary from the glaring lights of a red carpet to the darkness of a -REDACTED- base, bringing the proper atmosphere to each scene. And the lettering by Joe Caramagna even gets in on the fun from time to time, setting up mysteries to come in the most subtle of manners.
X-Factor #1 is the first issue of a new storyline, and it’s separate enough from the other X-Books that you can read it and not feel like you’re being left out because you don’t understand 60 years of continuity. It’s fresh and funny and it’ll be on store shelves this Wednesday, August 14th for $4.99.
Wondering why Stan Lee never wrote a book called X-Celsior!,
Christopher
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