Summary
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for X-Factor #1!As theX-Menenter their new era in From the Ashes, the other X-Men-adjacent off-shoot teams are getting a fresh start as well, includingX-Factor. Originating as a continuation of the Original Five before being converted to a government-backed mutant strike force, X-Factor has had a long history in Marvel Comics, and is an integral part ofX-Mencanon. And now, the team is getting an all-new leader, one who has earned their position since their introduction as afounding X-Men hero: Angel.
In an exclusive preview shared byCBRforX-Factor#1 (with first-looks at the covers forX-Factor#2 and #3, plus an interview with series writer Mark Russell), fans get the best look yet at the all-new team, including and especially its leader, Warren Worthington III aka Angel.
The entire roster is: Angel, Havok (who will be co-leading the team), Pyro, Frenzy, and Feral, with the promise of other mutants joining the team as well. Polaris is also featured in the preview, indicating that she may be an official addition later down the line, but for now, that remains to be seen.
What Marvel Comics Has in Store for Post-Krakoa X-Factor
Just like earlier iterations, this new X-Factor will be a government-backed strike force, only this time, things will look decidedly different. Before, X-Factor was essentially X-Men with human oversight, allowing mutants to use their powers for ‘good’ while also ensuring that the government controlled what ‘good deeds’ they’d be doing (whereas the X-Men simply went where they were needed). This version is going to be similar, but with a major caveat: the new X-Factor will be fighting other mutants exclusively.
Right now in Marvel canon, mutants are more hated than ever before. That has created violent mutant groups that want retribution for the paradise that was stolen from them upon the fall of Krakoa. So, the U.S. government is going to fight fire with fire, while also parading the X-Factor members as tools for propaganda, assuredly with the message of ‘mutants work for humans’. Plus, other countries are forming their own mutant armies, and the X-Factor is America’s contribution to this particular arms race.
X-Factor Accidentally Spoils Another Ongoing X-Men Title
X-Men: Heir of Apocalypseby Steve Foxe and Netho Diaz
In the ongoing storylineX-Men: Heir of Apocalypse, En Sabah Nur is holding a contest to determine who will be his heir on Earth. Apocalypse is going to rule over Arakko (the mutant settlement on Mars), but he needs someone to ensure Earth’s evolution stays on-track. And, while not in the contest per se, Angel - or, Archangel - is one of the mutants Apocalypse is considering. In fact,Angel reclaimed his Archangel form during this comic, and even tried to kill Apocalypse himselfbefore the contest went any further.
Now that fans know he’ll be leading the X-Factor, it’s a safe bet that Angel will have nothing to do with Apocalypse’s schemes moving forward, which is a pretty major spoiler. However, even if it does spoil another storyline, Angel being the leader of the X-Factor is undeniably awesome, and immensely impactful. A mutant propaganda team hunting other mutants for the government, led by a founding member of theX-Men? That’s interesting, and should only make fans more excited about the full release ofX-Factor.
Source:CBR
X-Factor
X-Factor is a Marvel comic series centering on a team made up of popular X-Men characters Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Iceman. In the ’90s, a new X-Factor team was introduced, consisting of Valerie Cooper, Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Wolfsbane, and Strong Guy. Later, Mystique, Sabretooth, Shard, and Wild Child would join the superhero team.
