Era #4, Part 03: X-Factor #1-8

My Grade:  C

I didn't read any of the first X-Factor issues saving what little disposable money I had for the Uncanny X-Men. Bob Layton starts the series with an anachronistic feel of the 1970s. The stories get better when Louise Simonson takes the reigns towards the end of this short run.  It sets the foundation of the series with an interesting premise.

[3-Stars] 1 - "Third Genesis" Jean Grey is back from the dead, and the original X-Men rally around her.  All five are unwilling to return to the X-Men with Magneto now the headmaster of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngster, so they form their own team. The choose to pose as mutant-hunters with an aggressive PR campaign to investigate mutant activity.  They will then secretly help the mutant following Professor Xavier's original model.  The issue is very wordy and slow, and I have a difficult time accepting that Cyclops ran out on his wife and newborn child.  Still, the set-up that starts the series shows great promise and introduces Cameron Hodges and Rusty Collins.

[3-Stars] 2 - "Bless the Beasts and Children", 3 - "Regression Obsession" Yikes! The OK start in the first issue goes downhill in this second arc. It is an old-school type of tale that seems to serve a single purpose -- revert Beast back into his original human-looking form (and introduce Artie Maddicks).

[3-Stars] 4 - "Trails and Errors" This issue introduces Frenzy. She is part of some villainous group (shown in the next issue) working for some "master" (revealed in two issues). The plot is a little sketchy, but I am a fan on Frenzy who continues to play a role in the X-Men universe.

[3-Stars] 5 - "Tapped Out" Another formulaic story that introduces a new, somewhat pedestrian enemy -- the Alliance of Evil.  A mutant addicted to drugs to suppress his powers was an interesting twist that I would've loved to see explored more.

[3-Stars] 6 - "Apocalypse Now!" Louise Simonson starts with a bang. I have no idea what Bob planned for Apocalypse (who technically makes his first cameo appearance in the previous issue), but Louise creates one of the biggest X-Men bad guys this side of Magneto. He isn't quite fully realized here using the oddly named Alliance of Evil (really, who calls themselves "evil"?) to do his work, but you can see that foundation.

[2-Stars] 7 - "Fallout!" Tensions rise as both pro- and anti-mutant protesters form outside the X-Factor headquarters. Things go from bad to worse as irradiated mutants Bulk and Glow Worm. Yes, I said "irradiated".  Details aren't important (or provided) in a story that you can miss without feeling guilty.

[4-Stars] 8 - "Lost and Found!"  Remember the climatic Central Park battle in Uncanny X-Men #208 & #209? Well, mutant hunting X-Factor is actually called to deal with the problem, but instead, they run into Freedom Force ready to arrest Rusty. It is a second public battle in Central Park.