X-Factor #1
- WRITER
- Leah Williams
- Artist
- David Baldeón
- Letterer
- VC's Joe Caramagna
- Cover Artist
- Neeraj Menon, IVAN SHAVRIN, Mark Morales, Tom Muller, Ema Lupacchino, Otto Schmidt, David Baldeón, Jason Keith, Larry Stroman
- Publisher
- Marvel Comics
- Price
- 4.99
- Release Date
- 2020-07-29
- Colorist
- Israel Silva
As Dawn of X continues to march to the upcoming crossover event X of Swords, an unlikely cadre of mutants have been thrown together to form a new X-Factor team.
The new series reunites Leah Williams and David Baldeon, after the pair's fan-favorite collaboration on the miniseries Gwenpool Strikes Back. Carrying over is the creative team's wry wit, giving Dawn of X its most unapologetically sassy, irreverent and comedically cantankerous book yet -- while expanding the relaunched world for the Children of the Atom.
As Northstar settles into domestic bliss on Krakoa, he senses that his twin sister Aurora has been killed. Unable to get the powers that be to move forward with the Resurrection Protocols to bring her back to life without proof of death, Northstar forms a makeshift team to leave the island and determine exactly what became of his sister.
This leads to the formation of a new investigative ensemble bearing the X-Factor name, with a new mission statement from Krakoa's leading council. That is, provided the team's members can overcome deep-seated, interpersonal friction and their own respective hang-ups first.
Ever since the Dawn of X relaunch last summer, Krakoa has been depicted as a relatively utopian society, far more advanced than any other civilization on Earth. X-Factor quickly shows a more comically cynical side of this, bringing together a group of heroes and antiheroes who are decidedly more grumpy than many of their neighbors. The series also sheds light on the more tedious, behind-the-scenes functions of the mutant paradise.
A lot of this comes from writer Williams' own acerbic wit, a little less nonsensical than with her time on Gwenpool but slyly self-aware at the proceedings and each of the main characters' backgrounds and abilities. This pacing is thrown off somewhat when Krakoa's ruling council is brought in, especially given their more self-serious tone and penchant for long monologues -- but with most of the issue focused on the new ensemble, it is thankfully a fleeting concern.
Baldeon's work remains as strong as ever, working with color artist Israel Silva. The art team had developed a natural, creative chemistry working with Williams previously and they continue to build off that foundation here. Baldeon knows when to really help elevate the gags and character moments throughout the issue, while dialing up the genuine emotions when the true, heartbreaking stakes of the new team's mission come into focus.
While this opening issue runs light on conventional action sequences, each of the core ensemble's signature powers are naturally showcased. This demonstrates how well they can work together to solve mysteries that potentially threaten Krakoa and mutantkind across the Marvel Universe.
The expansive difference between tones and themes across each Dawn of X title really is a testament to how the recent X-Men relaunch has taken advantage of the versatility of Marvel's Merry Mutants: There really is a book for everyone.
With X-Factor, Williams and Baldeon have deliver a new team that lives up to its history as the investigative branch of the X-Family, while providing a new roster and mission statement in keeping with Krakoa's overall goals. More than that, X-Factor offers a deconstructive peek behind the vaunted inner workings of the new mutant nation-state in a good-natured, comedic way.
Furthermore, the series assembles a group of apparent ne'er-do-wells who work better as a team than the sum of its parts. Come for the mutant-tinged mysteries, stick around for the self-aware laughs and emotional character moments.