X-Factor has had a lot of mystical problems of late. There’s Rahne’s wolf-son, Siryn’s ascension to the role of Morrigan, Guido’s resurrection at the hands of Layla. And don’t forget Layla’s earlier mentorship under Doctor Doom and the gang’s dealings with Hela.
As X-Factor reaches issue 250 (thanks in part to legacy numbering), the mutant misfits are probably hoping for some time away from magic. Unfortunately for them, that’s not the case. The story opens with Rahne’s son, Tier, wandering through New York City. Tier runs into Darwin, who has hunted him several months. Darwin believes Tier’s death will avert a magical catastrophe, but before he can complete his mission Rahne arrives to save the day. She hurries Tier to X-Factor Investigations where she hopes they can find safety and welcoming arms.
At X-Factor, Rahne and Tier’s arrival interrupts Jamie and Monet’s argument about Pip the Troll’s departure. Darwin’s relentless pursuit of Tier soon brings about his own reunion with his former teammates—however, this reunion ensues with guns blazing. More familiar faces arrive during the conflict leading to further carnage, which in turn leads to revelations of more antagonists who want Tier dead. These people might be a little out of X-Factor’s league.
“The Hell on Earth War” is told through Tier’s perspective, and while this newcomer’s voice isn’t as intriguing as say Madrox, Guido, or other members of the team, it’s an effective strategy by writer Peter David as it allows the ready to look at the comic’s events through the eyes of a newcomer guiding us into unfamiliar territory.
David has the luxury of crafting long-term plots and narratives in a way many writers aren’t able to do thanks to writing towards trade compilations and universe-wide crossovers. David’s pacing allows him to spread so many plot points through years of issues and then bring them together for a grand conclusion. Readers saw this through the first 50 issues of X-Factor, and we are seeing it again as the Hell on Earth War begins. Now we are seeing the threads of another 50 issues gathered in a masterful way. David is able to do this because X-Factor is mostly left alone, making slight appearances in Marvel’s epic crossovers but usually allowed to exist in their own little world.
Another strength of the series is David’s characterization. He’s able to take marginal characters and make you care about them. Jamie Madrox is a completely new character from his days in a full bodysuit on Muir Island, and readers should be thankful for the development David has brought to the character and many others. David is also a master of relationships. He builds natural bonds between his characters and can torment them and break those bonds just as easily. In many ways X-Factor has been about the character relationships more so than the villains they face. The team lineup has been tampered with over time—Darwin might have been a misstep but for the most part new inclusions such as Shatterstar and Longshot work well. Pip the Troll was the latest arrival and David worked his magic once again, using his wit and taking Pip’s crudeness and grandiosity to new levels that made him a perfect fit for X-Factor. Hopefully Pip’s departure isn’t set in stone and the little guy will return to surf the web for internet porn and occasionally save the day.
While X-Factor #250 missed out on a lot of the humor that usually populates the book’s dialogue, it accomplished its goals in setting up the next story arc. The issue’s reveal at the end should provide David with new fodder for great back-and-forth between characters. Watching X-Factor get themselves out this new—and dire—situation will be a pleasure, as will seeing what David has spent the last four years building towards.
During the holidays, while vacationing with his family, Mr. David had a stroke and is currently recuperating in Florida until he is healthy enough to make the trip back home. Mr. David and his family are in our thoughts and we wish him a speedy recovery. For updates on his progress, please visit peterdavid.net. The site also includes ways to help the family with medical bills through book purchases and donations.
