Resurrection in Krakoa has been a complicated process and everyone is looking to recover a loved one. Because of high demand, rules are now in place and first and foremost you need proof of death. Come check out the new investigative team in X-Factor #1 by Marvel Comics!
X-FACTOR #1
Writer: Leah Williams
Artist: David Baldeon
Colorist: Israel Silva
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Editor: Jordan D. White
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: July 29th, 2020
Previously in X-Factor: The resurrection protocols can bring back any fallen mutant but with such a large population; well there are a lot of problems. To figure out how a mutant has died, the Quiet Council has brought back X-Factor to confirm what happened. Join Northstar, Polaris, Prodigy, Eye-boy, Daken, and Prestige and they enter the world of crime investigation and missing persons.
THE MURDER OF AURORA
The comic starts with drama as Northstar can feel his connection to his twin sister evaporate. He immediately heads to the hatchery to try and get Aurora resurrected but unfortunately he needs proof of death to start the reincarnation process. Northstar then seeks to find out where her sister could have gone. She enters the Green Lagoon Tiki Bar to see what the bartender may know but ultimately runs into Polaris. Polaris suggests they form an investigative team to head to Vancouver where she was last seen. They recruit the repowered Prodigy, Prestige, Eye-boy, and Daken.
Using Aurora’s social media, they are able to track her to a motel where she seemed to be having a rendezvous with another man. She then got into a car and drove off a side of the road. Using Eye-boy’s vision, they are able to find the car and the body. They then present the case to the Quiet Council. It seems that the man who Aurora was meeting set up a trap for her that caused her car to be thrown off the side of the bridge. After figuring out the cause of death, the Five decide to bring this group together under Northstar to form X-Factor!
THE BEST PART OF A CRIME SHOW
This version of the comic feels like a crime show/novel. First and foremost, the best part for these crime investigation tropes is that there is a team feel of it. Everyone has a role and they come together as a team to accomplish their objective. From Eye-boy’s vision to Daken’s charisma and tracking; everything came together to form complex relationships and unique cliches.
What I didn’t find very interesting was the crime itself. Northstar leaves the scene to take the body back to the Hatchery and we only hear how they solve the crime as they explain it to the Quiet Council. We took that reveal that is needed for a crime show and simply ignored it for later. I think this is attributed to a lack of space to tell the story. This is a forty page book but it still felt rushed. If they took the first 3-4 issues telling this particular arc they would have had a lot more success.
I liked the dynamic between Polaris and Northstar. They are going to be great foils to each other. Northstar is going to be this straightedge ruler who doesn’t understand people very well while Polaris is the opposite of that. This clash of personalities amongst these two leaders is going to set up a solid foundation for drama later.
BOTTOM LINE: A GOOD START
I admit, the plot doesn’t seem very strong. But the cast of characters they have chosen is a great combination of personalities. Artistically, there were some great moments and the writing showed off the characters and their role in the story well. I have seen enough to get me on board and now that this introduction has been laid, I hope to see a complex story. 3.5 out of 5 stars for X-Factor #1.
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X-Factor #1
X-Factor brings back an old X-men title and gives in a crime investigation flair! Check out Northstar, Polaris, Prodigy, Prestige, Daken, and Eyeboy solve mutants who have been killed.
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Writing6
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Art7
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Coloring7
