WARNING: The following contains spoilers for X-Factor #3, by Leah Williams, David Baldeon, Israel Silva, VC's Joe Caramagna and Tom Muller, on sale now.
As the new X-Factor continues to hunt for a mutant kidnapper and murderer that has been menacing mutants outside of the mutant homeland Krakoa, the X-Men team has found themselves in the media-obsessed Mojoverse. While there, they have encountered several familiar faces as they endure the grueling reality programming that Mojo has concocted for them to drive up his livestream ratings in the parallel dimension.
And as the team of mutant investigators prepare for their next challenge in a world dictated by viewership and ratings, X-Factor #3 sees a fan-favorite X-Factor veteran makes their Dawn of X debut in the strange, cruel world: Shatterstar.
Created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza in 1991's The New Mutants #99, Shatterstar hailed from the Mojoworld, an alternate future of the Mojoverse still ruled by Mojo. Genetically engineered to be the ideal gladiator for the planet's violent reality programming, Shatterstar became a quick favorite for audiences watching the brutal games, disciplined through a strict moral code he had created for himself. Eventually rebelling against his overlords, Shatterstar joined the Cadre Alliance in their desperate effort to overthrow Mojo and liberate the people of Mojoworld. Desperate for reinforcements, Shatterstar transported himself to the Marvel Universe where he quickly became a member of X-Force.
Over the course of his time on Earth, Shatterstar would form a romantic relationship with Rictor and discovered that his biological parents were Longshot and Dazzler, who had their memories of having a child erased after the infant Shatterstar was taken to the Mojoverse. After leaving X-Force, Shatterstar went on to join X-Factor in the wake of "Decimation," serving alongside Multiple Man and Polaris before eventually winding back in the relative past of the Mojoverse, helping the very resistance he would later join. Although he briefly returned back to the Marvel Universe, Shatterstar evidently returned to the Mojoverse sometime prior to the start of Dawn of X and founding of Krakoa.
As X-Factor traverse the Mojoverse, they learn that Shatterstar has since returned to fighting in the planet's gladiatorial games. With his impressive fighting skills and a sterling record of flawless victories, Shatterstar is widely beloved by the crowd and subject to mass adulation. While Polaris attempts to remind him of their past friendship and time together on X-Factor, Shatterstar seemingly finds the allure of the ring too momentous to pass up and insists on staying back in the games where he is regarded as a bonafide superstar, despite the constant death and violence.
When she asks if he can speak freely, Shatterstar responds by saying a Krakoan phrase that roughly translates to "HI," but comes across as an implicit assurance that he still himself, on some level, and possibly being manipulated by Mojo. Visibly frustrated and disheartened by what has become of her friend, Polaris vows to return for Shatterstar once the team's business with Mojo has been concluded rather than abandon him to his gladiatorial fate.
In his Dawn of X debut, Shatterstar has ended up right back where he started: As a popular warrior brutally fighting in the gladiator pits of the Mojoverse. What broke the mutant superhero from leading an insurrection against Mojo to instead become its biggest superstar is not clear, but Rachel Grey noticed that the extra-dimensional world had changed considerably since her last visit. Polaris' journey into the Mojoverse has just become significantly more personal after learning the fate of her old friend. And now, X-Factor's investigation is quickly turning into a rescue mission.