CAJUN FOR BREAKFAST
If you know enough about X-Factor, then you’re likely a fan of X-Factor — certainly making you a fan of Peter David (or a fan of Alex & Sierra, but that isn’t the “X-Factor” we’re talking here). David (Captain Marvel, Incredible Hulk) has blessed us with 30-years in the business, which equates to as many super heroes as Lindsay Lohan has stared at hotel room ceilings. With two substantial runs on the mutant detective comic already in the books — one lasting for nearly a decade, even — there’s no doubt this latest this new interpretation is in good hands. Too soon though? It’s barely been 3-months since David’s last one finished.
All-New X-Factor #1 is “all-new” in more ways than just the title. This go around finds X-Factor hanging up the trench coat (sorry Remy) and P.I. diplomas, rather instead, becoming the first corporate-funded team of mutants. Like David’s prior run, of course, this team will be a combination of lesser used “B” characters and one more known thief. This first issue sees the world from the views of fan favorite Gambit (wildly popular, but still certainly in need of “the Peter David touch”), as he gets scolded one last time by Professor Logan. Hey, you’d think with that accent he would have gotten the boot long before that!
In addition to the latest from Gumbo, the story also picks up from the Polaris drunken end of X-Factor #260, with Lora now the head of the new corporate X-team. Future members include speak cunning linguist Doug, techno dude Warlock, and a costume wearing Danger.
Although this is yet another title in hopes of attracting new readers with the #1, diehard fans of David’s run will be pleased to see glimpses of lingering questions from the previous series. The clean artwork from Carmine Di Giandomenico (Spider-Man: Noir, Martin Scorsese’s storyboard artist.) is also pretty to look at. One scene in particular that caught this Apostle’s attention was that of a destroyed bar, with Remy Lebeau drowning his sorrows — nothing but a great use of space and facial expressions. Lee Loughridge’s yellow and grays (Batman Adventures, Angel) have no problem conveying the sense of an all-new team, to boot.
While Jaime Madrox will be missed (for now, anyway), fans of X-Factor old and new should have no problem finding a place for this new iteration on their pull. While nothing in this first ish stuck out like many of the highlights from the previous run, how can anyone deny the planning of the almighty Peter D?
