Era #5, Part 12: X-Factor #63-68

Grade: A+

This is perhaps my favorite run of X-Factor. Louise Simonson's long tenure ends in a bang marking the beginning of the end the original X-Factor team. These two final stories have a much different feel due in large part to the influences of Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio (whose art is fantastic). In the first story, Iceman's girlfriend, Opal Tanaka is kidnapped and taken to Japan. The second story sees the return of Apocalypse who has finally come for his ship -- and baby Nathan.

[4-Stars] 63 - "Family" Opal is kidnapped by cyber enhanced yakuza soldiers of the the Tatsu'o Clan. She is the granddaughter of the Dragon Lord who recently discovered that his sole heir was adopted by a distant cousin in the United States to keep her hidden from him. Marvel Girl accompanies Iceman to Japan where they team up with Mariko and Clan Yashida to save Opal from being forced to marry one of her enhanced captors.

[4-Stars] 64 - "The Price" Iceman, Marvel Girl and Mariko's Clan Yashida storm the Tatsu'o Clan's stronghold to rescue Opal. It is a fierce battle, but the Dragon Lord's favored cyberpunk, Hiro, begins to question his humanity. It is nice to see Iceman out of his element in a more serious role.

[4-Stars] 65 - "Endgame Part 1: Malign Influences" Ship has been an unwitting victim of an infiltration hack by his previous master.  Apocalypse is now ready to take back his traitorous vessel sending his newest team, the Riders of the Storm (or Dark Riders), to ram Ship and eliminate X-Factor.

[4-Stars] 66 - "Endgame Part 2: Heroic Effort" Apocalypse's ramming vessel infects Ship with a deadly virus. Ship is unable to stop itself from destroying New York City or from attacking X-Factor. A new figure arrives from the future. She is Askani, and she has come to protect Nathan from Apocalypse.

[4-Stars] 67 - "Endgame Part 3: Lunar Opposition" Apocalypse is on Blue Side of the Moon recruiting some Inhumans to serve him as his Riders of the Storm and imprisoning others. The Royal Family join X-Factor in an assault Apocalypse's base to find and save Nathan.

[4-Stars] 68 - "Endgame Part 4: Finale" The allies split up. The Royal Family race to save the Inhumans from their captivity while X-Factor confronts Apocalypse in a final showdown. Askani returns offering hope to save Nathan from a deadly virus, but it will require Cyclops to make a difficult sacrifice.