X-Factor (comics)
| X-Factor | |
|---|---|
 The 1990s X-Factor team, art by Joe Quesada | |
| Group publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | (1980s team) X-Factor #1 (February 1986) (1990s team) X-Factor #71 (October 1991) |
| Created by | 1980s team: Bob Layton Jackson Guice 1990s team: Peter David Larry Stroman |
| In-story information | |
| Type of organization | Team |
| Base(s) | 1980s team: Ship 1990s team: The Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Fall's Edge, Virginia |
| X-Factor | |
 | Cover to X-Factor #1 (February 1986). Art by Jackson Guice |
| Series publication information | |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | show
List |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | show
List |
| Number of issues | show
List |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | show
List |
| Penciller(s) | show
List |
| Inker(s) | show
List |
| Colorist(s) | show
List |
| Creator(s) | 1980s team: Bob Layton Jackson Guice 1990s team: Peter David Larry Stroman |
| Collected editions | |
| Essential X-Factor: Volume 1 | ISBN 0-7851-1886-1 |
| Essential X-Factor: Volume 2 | ISBN 0-7851-2099-8 |
| The Longest Night | ISBN 0-7851-1817-9 |
| Life & Death Matters | ISBN 0-7851-2146-3 |
| Many Lives of Madrox | ISBN 0-7851-2359-8 |
X-Factor is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is a spin-off from the popular X-Men franchise, featuring characters from X-Men stories. The series has been relaunched several times with different team rosters, most recently as All-New X-Factor.
X-Factor launched in 1986, featuring the five original X-Men reorganizing as a group in response to the seeming outlaw status of the then-current X-Men team of whom Magneto was a member. In 1991, the founding members were incorporated back into the regular X-Men series, and X-Factor relaunched as a U.S. government-sponsored team incorporating many secondary characters from the X-Men mythos. The series was canceled in 1998 after 149 issues.
The 2005 X-Factor series followed the mutant detective agency X-Factor Investigations. Written by Peter David, the series drew acclaim from Ain't It Cool News, and won a 2011 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book for the romantic relationship between Rictor and Shatterstar. The series ended in 2013 after 114 issues. The following year a new series, All-New X-Factor, was launched featuring a new corporate-sponsored X-Factor team. It was written by Peter David and drawn by Carmine Di Giandomenico. It was cancelled after 20 issues due to low sales.
Publication history[]
Original team (1986–1991)[]
X-Factor launched in 1986 featuring a team composed of the five original X-Men that debuted in X-Men #1 (1963):
- Angel – A millionaire heir, capable of flight by means of two feathery wings extending from his back.
- Beast – A brilliant scientist possessing bestial strength and agility.
- Cyclops – Former X-Men team leader, with the ability to emit powerful "optic blasts" from his eyes (the origin of the optic blast are portals in his eyes from another dimension).
- Jean Grey (Marvel Girl) – The long-time love of Cyclops, possessing telekinetic abilities.
- Iceman – A brash jokester, gifted with (the ability to lower temperature around him and form ice) abilities.
Original writer Bob Layton wanted X-Factor to be a reunion of the original X-Men, an event complicated by the extensive histories of the characters following the initiation of a new team of X-Men in 1975.[1] In the 1970s and early 1980s, Angel, Beast, and Iceman wandered through various superhero teams. By 1985, all three were members of the Defenders. With the monthly Defenders series already due to be cancelled, Marvel's editorial staff elected to have the other members of the group killed off in the final issue in order to free up Angel, Beast, and Iceman for X-Factor.[2]
A more difficult task was the return of Cyclops and Jean Grey. In 1980, Jean Grey was killed during the seminal Dark Phoenix Saga, and since it was considered vital that the team have a female member, Layton opted to use fellow mutant Dazzler.[3] Publicity material for the series began to appear at this time, with images of the team using a blank space or silhouette in place of the female member as a teaser mystery.[1][3] However, writer Kurt Busiek suggested a way to add Jean Grey to the roster that became one of the most significant cases of retroactive continuity in comic book history: Jean Grey had never actually been the Phoenix. Instead, the Phoenix entity copied Grey's identity and form, keeping her safe in a cocoon-like structure beneath Jamaica Bay. Busiek related the idea to Roger Stern, who related it to John Byrne.[4] Byrne wrote and illustrated Fantastic Four #286 (1985), incorporating Busiek's idea. Several panels of this comic were rewritten (by X-Men writer Chris Claremont) and redrawn (by initial X-Factor artist Jackson Guice) to depict the Phoenix entity as less malevolent than Byrne intended.[1]
In order to join the team, Cyclops walked out on his new wife Madelyne Pryor, an Alaskan pilot who bore a strange resemblance to Grey, and their infant son, Nathan Christopher. These events, along with the resurrection of Grey in general, were highly controversial with fans.[citation needed]
The original X-Men disassociate with the current team because Professor X had placed their old nemesis, Magneto, as its leader. The five original members set up a business advertised as mutant-hunters for hire, headquartered in the TriBeCa neighborhood of downtown New York City,[5] posing as "normal" (non-superpowered) humans to their clients. The mutants that X-Factor capture are secretly trained to control their powers and reintegrated into society. Through their "mutant hunting" they recruit a group of young wards:
- Artie Maddicks – A pink-skinned, mute child who could project hologram-like images of his thoughts.
- Tabitha Smith – A young woman who ran away from her abusive father, who can create handheld energy spheres that she can explode at will, which she calls "time bombs".
- Rusty Collins – A former member of the U.S. Navy whose pyrokinesis first manifested uncontrollably, severely injuring a woman.
- Leech – A green-skinned young boy, who can dampen the mutant powers of those around him.
- Rictor – A Mexican teenager who can produce powerful seismic waves.
- Skids – A runaway who could project a protective force field around her body.
Eventually, the team decides that the "mutant hunter" ruse did more harm than good by inflaming hatred, and blames it on X-Factor's original business manager, Cameron Hodge, who is revealed as a mutant-hating mastermind.
Bob Layton and Jackson Guice wrote and illustrated, respectively, the first few issues of X-Factor. They soon turned over creative duties to Louise Simonson (writer) and Walt Simonson (artist). Despite their relationship as husband and wife, both the Simonsons have said they did not approach work with each other any differently than any other collaboration; in particular, though Walt occasionally contributed ideas, he did not co-plot the series with his wife.[6] In X-Factor #6 (1986), Louise introduced Apocalypse, who would appear in multiple issues and become X-Factor's nemesis.
Louise Simonson placed the series in line with the darker tone of most of the X-Men franchise; after a year on X-Factor, she remarked that "in real life all of my friends should be happy, but in comic books all of my characters should be miserable."[6] In X-Factor #10, the Marauders, a group of mutant mercenaries, severely injure Angel's wings, which are later amputated. When an interviewer commented on the brutality of this turn of events, Walt Simonson replied, "Hey, that's nothing compared to what happens to him eventually."[6] Despondent, Angel attempts suicide by detonating his airliner mid-flight, but Apocalypse rescues him and transforms him into Death, one of his Four Horsemen, giving him metal wings and blue skin. Angel escaped Apocalypse's control, but these physical changes remain. He is renamed Archangel and becomes a much darker character, eventually rejoining the team in issue #36. Angel's replacement on X-Factor, Caliban, turns to Apocalypse for more power in issue #24, with Apocalypse leaving X-Factor his ship in return.
In the 1989 crossover Inferno, Madelyne Pryor is revealed to be a clone of Jean Grey created by the mutant geneticist Mister Sinister. Manipulated by demons and tormented by Scott's rejection of her, Madelyne kills herself in a suicide attack on X-Factor.
Wanting to do stories with more focus on X-Factor's teenage wards, Louise Simonson successfully petitioned editor Bob Harras for permission to do a miniseries featuring them.[6] Following the miniseries, titled X-Terminators, the characters left X-Factor and were moved to New Mutants.
In the last major storyline of the first X-Factor series, published in early 1991, Apocalypse kidnaps Nathan Summers, sensing that he would grow up to be a powerful mutant and possible threat. X-Factor rescue Nathan from Apocalypse's lunar base, but find him infected with a "techno-organic" virus that cannot be treated. A clan of rebels from the future, known as the Askani, send a representative to the present time to bring Nathan 2,000 years into the future to be treated. Fully grown, he returns to the 20th century as the antihero, Cable.[volume & issue needed]
X-Factor, the X-Men, and several minor characters team up to fight the telepathic Shadow King in another crossover event, The Muir Island Saga. Afterward, the original members of X-Factor rejoin the X-Men and several characters from various X-Men-related series become founding members of a new X-Factor.
Government team (1991–1998)[]
Rather than end the series, Marvel hired writer Peter David and illustrator Larry Stroman to recreate X-Factor with new members, all of whom were already allies of the X-Men, and three of whom were involved in the Muir Island Saga. The new X-Factor worked for the Pentagon, replacing Freedom Force as the government's salaried mutant team.[7] Their relationship with their benefactors was often strained and complicated. The new X-Factor, debuting in issue #71, included:
- Valerie Cooper – A U.S. government agent with history as both ally and adversary of the X-Men who becomes X-Factor's government liaison, carrying over from her duties as liaison to a prior government-sponsored team of mutants, Freedom Force.
- Havok – A former X-Man and brother of Cyclops who can manipulate powerful, but hard to control, cosmic rays. Havok serves as X-Factor's leader.
- Multiple Man – He can create duplicates of himself on physical impact. He was previously offered X-Men membership, but he declined, opting instead to work at the Muir Island research center.
- Polaris – Havok's long-time lover, and also a former X-Man who can control magnetism. Rumored to be Magneto's Daughter.
- Quicksilver – A long-running Avengers character, and a former foe of the X-Men, who possesses super speed and a difficult temperament.
- Strong Guy – A wise-cracking character who can re-channel kinetic energy aimed at him, transforming it into muscular mass and power. Lila Cheney's former bodyguard.
- Wolfsbane – A Scottish, former New Mutant who can transform into a wolf-like creature. Some artificial manipulation of her feelings cause her to love Havok, bringing her much conflict and frustration because she knows he loves Polaris.
The lineup was selected by the X-Factor editorial staff. Legion was to be a member as well, but was dropped because it was felt the character was not suited to be a team player. David was instead given the option to use Quicksilver, which he has said was a pleasant surprise.[7]
Commenting on his approach to the series, David said that his priority was to tell stories which developed the individual characters of the team, remarking "I feel there's nothing unique to the book if you come up with a generic plot and just plug in these characters."[7]
David left in 1993. The series continued under writer J. M. DeMatteis and artist Jan Duursema, but struggled to distinguish itself among other X-books. Shortly after David's tenure on the book ended, Forge, a former government weapons contractor whose mutant powers were his brilliant engineering skills, was added to the group; first replacing Cooper as their liaison after she had been compromised by one of Magneto's Acolytes, and later as an active member. Cooper later becomes an active member as well, her marksmanship and athletic skills compensating for her lack of superhuman powers.
In a 1995 story, Multiple Man apparently dies of the Legacy Virus, a deadly illness that attacks mutant genes, which is later revealed to have only killed one of his duplicates. Strong Guy is put into suspended animation after suffering a heart attack caused by the stress his extra mass put on his body. Wolfsbane, cured of her artificial love for Alex, transfers to the European mutant team Excalibur. Havok leaves to infiltrate a mutant terrorist ring.
Writer John Francis Moore and illustrator Jeff Matsuda introduced a new X-Factor line-up, consisting of Forge as the team's new leader, Polaris, Cooper, and several new recruits:
- Mystique – A shapeshifting mutant criminal and master of espionage. Mystique is forced to join X-Factor following her capture by federal agents.
- Sabretooth – A homicidal mutant criminal who possesses talons, heightened senses, and a healing factor. Like Mystique, Sabretooth is a captive member that Forge uses special technology to control.
- Shard – A holographic computer program with the personality of the X-Man Bishop's deceased sister of the same name. Bishop is a time-traveler from a distant future, where he and Shard are members of Xavier's Security Enforcers. The holographic Shard was brought to the 20th century with Bishop.
- Wild Child – A former member of Alpha Flight who possesses heightened senses, fangs, and claws.
Afterward, writer Howard Mackie injected more political and espionage elements into the series, a trend that culminated in the team's secession from government sponsorship. Multiple Man and Strong Guy appear again at the same time. Despite Forge managing to fix Strong Guy's problems, he does not rejoin the team. The popularity of X-Factor continued to dwindle and Mystique and Sabretooth, two popular X-Men villains, failed to draw in more readers. Wild Child mutates out of control, Mystique hunts down Sabretooth (who had kidnapped young Tyler Trevor Chase), and Forge breaks ties with X-Factor.
In 1997, Marvel attempted yet another revival. After various stories focusing on individual characters, a new team was gathered consisting of Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Shard, and other members of the X.S.E., Fixx, and Greystone, that are brought to the 20th century. However, this version of the team disbands in the same issue in which they debut. In that issue, #149 (1998), Greystone builds a time machine meant to take him and his compatriots back to the future. However, the device explodes, killing Greystone and Havok. Afterward, X-Factor disbands.
The time machine's explosion transports Havok to a parallel world, populated by twisted versions of Marvel characters. He explores this strange world in the series Mutant X, which lasted from 1998 until 2001. Although Marvel planned to revive X-Factor as an ongoing title after Mutant X ended, this did not happen for another 4 years.
| Issues | Characters |
|---|---|
| #1–9 | Angel, Artie Maddicks, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl, Rusty Collins |
| #10–16 | Angel, Artie Maddicks, Beast, Boom-Boom, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl, Rusty Collins, Skids |
| #17–24 | Artie Maddicks, Beast, Boom-Boom, Caliban, Cyclops, Iceman, Leech, Marvel Girl, Rictor, Rusty Collins, Skids |
| #25–33 | Artie Maddicks, Beast, Boom-Boom, Cyclops, Iceman, Leech, Marvel Girl, Rictor, Rusty Collins, Skids |
| #34–70 | Archangel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl |
| #71–93 | Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Valerie Cooper, Wolfsbane |
| #94–102 | Forge, Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane |
| #103–111 | Forge, Havok, Polaris, Strong Guy, Valerie Cooper, Wolfsbane |
| #112–118 | Forge, Havok, Mystique, Polaris, Valerie Cooper, Wild Child |
| #119–122 | Forge, Mystique, Polaris, Sabretooth, Shard, Valerie Cooper, Wild Child |
| #123–128 | Forge, Polaris, Sabretooth, Shard, Valerie Cooper, Wild Child |
| #129–142 | Forge, Mystique, Polaris, Sabretooth, Shard, Valerie Cooper, Wild Child |
| #143–149 | Archer, Fixx, Greystone, Havok, Polaris, Shard |
Volume 2 (2002 miniseries)[]
A four-issue X-Factor limited series was launched in 2002. This series focused on the government's new Mutant Civil Rights Task Force, which consisted of humans who investigated anti-mutant hate crimes and inadvertently discovered an anti-mutant conspiracy within their own ranks. This series focused heavily on the "mutants as a metaphor for minorities" aspects of the X-Men concept. The series was written by Jeff Jensen with artwork by Arthur Ranson.
Volume 3 (2005–2013)[]
X-Factor Investigations is a detective agency run by Jamie Madrox, also known as Multiple Man. The name is taken from the government-sponsored group the three founders previously served on. The initial staff consists of Madrox's best friend and special enforcer, Guido Carosella (Strong Guy), and former teammate Rahne Sinclair (Wolfsbane). Following the events of the "House of M" storyline, Madrox's new-found wealth from winning a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?-style game show allows him to recruit several of his former colleagues from the Paris branch of the now defunct X-Corporation. New members include:
- M (Monet St. Croix) – a wealthy ambassador's daughter with an array of superhuman powers.
- Rictor (Julio Richter) – A Mexican mutant who can produce powerful seismic waves.
- Siryn (Theresa Cassidy) – Banshee's daughter with similar sonic-based powers.
- Layla Miller – a young mutant who inserts herself into the group to keep them from discovering the truth behind the "Decimation" storyline.
Peter David put a noir spin on the mutant series and dealt with Jamie Madrox as the central character. The new series spun off of the "House of M" and "Decimation" storylines and also "Madrox" mini-series opens with a suicide attempt by Rictor, who has lost his powers. The series deals with the group's attempt to unravel the truth behind the "Decimation" and its aftermath, fighting with Singularity Investigations, and dealing with Madrox's powers and their consequences.
During the "Messiah Complex" storyline, Jamie and Layla travel to a dystopian future in which mutants are persecuted and imprisoned. Jamie escapes and returns to the early 21st century, but Layla is still trapped. Rahne fears (because of a glimpse she has had of the future) that she, while in her wolf shape, will murder Jamie and Layla. To prevent this, she quits the team and joins X-Force. Rictor also quits. Jamie travels to the future with the help of an aged Layla Miller and helps a rebellion led by a cyborg Scott Summers and his daughter Ruby, while the rest of the team is in the present. After battling Arcade, who captured Rictor (who then rejoins), the team meets one of Jamie's duplicates, who calls himself Cortex and is joined by new members:
- Longshot – a genetically-created humanoid from Mojoverse with favorable probability outcomes.
- Darwin (Armando Muñoz) – one of Moira's early recruit with reactive evolution powers.
- Shatterstar (Gaveedra Seven) – founding X-Force member with that can open dimensional portals and channel vibratory shockwave through his swords.
Writer Peter David's decision to explicitly establish male characters Shatterstar and Rictor entering a romantic relationship in X-Factor #45 (August 2009), confirming clues that had been established in X-Force years earlier,[8] drew criticism from Shatterstar's co-creator, Rob Liefeld,[9] though Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada supported David's story.[10] David would eventually be nominated for and win a 2011 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book for this second run on the title.[11][12]
In December 2009, the series adopted a cumulative numbering with issue #200, with 149 issues of the first volume plus 50 issues of the third volume constituting the previous 199 issues.[13] During the Regenesis relaunch, Polaris and Havok joined the team in X-Factor #230.
The series ended with issue #262 in September 2013.[14]
All-New X-Factor (2014-2015)[]
The next incarnation of the series was All-New X-Factor, written by Peter David and illustrated by Carmine Di Giandomenico. This version was announced as a part of the All-New Marvel NOW! initiative at the New York Comic Con in October 2013, and debuted in January 2014. The opening storyline, which continues events from issue #260 of the previous series, and depicts the corporation "Serval Industries" forming a new corporate-sponsored version of the team, which includes Polaris, Quicksilver, Gambit,[15][16] Danger, Cypher and Warlock.[17]
Volume 4 (2020–2021)[]
X-Factor was relaunched in July 2020 as part of Dawn of X written by Leah Williams and drawn by David Baldeon. The new team investigates cases of missing mutants and presumed deaths for Krakoa, confirming if they can be resurrected:
- Northstar (Jean-Paul Beaubier) – team leader and former Alpha Flight member with superhuman speed.
- Polaris (Lorna Dane) – an X-Factor alumna who can control metal.
- Prestige (Rachel Summers) – a telekinetic and telepathic mutant from a dystopian future.
- Daken (Akihiro) – Wolverine's son with similar powers to his father.
- Eye-Boy (Trevor Hawkins) – a young mutant with multiple eyes all over his body.
- Prodigy (David Alleyne) – former Young Avengers and Xavier Institute student that can mimic other skills and knowledge.
- Aurora (Jeanne-Marie Beaubier) – twin sister of Northstar with the same power.
The team works closely with The Five, a circuit of mutants introduced in House of X/Powers of X working in conjunction to resurrect fallen mutants:
- Goldballs (Fabio Medina) – produces a limitless amount of unviable biological eggs.
- Proteus (Kevin MacTaggert) – transforms the unviable egg into a viable one.
- Elixir (Joshua Foley) – biologically kickstarts the process of life, initializing cell replication and husk growth.
- Tempus (Eva Bell) – temporally matures the husk to a desired age.
- Hope Summers – enhances and synthesizes the other resurrection mutants' powers to ensure the success of each resurrection.
X-Factor Members[]
In 1986, the team debuted in X-Factor #1.[18]
| Character | Real name |
|---|---|
| Cyclops | Scott Summers |
| Iceman | Robert Louis "Bobby" Drake |
| Beast | Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy |
| Marvel Girl / Phoenix | Jean Grey |
| Angel / Archangel | Warren Kenneth Worthington III |
| Character | Real name | Joined in |
|---|---|---|
| Caliban | X-Factor #17 (1987) | |
| Character | Real name | Active in |
|---|---|---|
| Polaris | Lorna Dane | X-Factor #71 (1991) |
| Multiple Man | Jamie Madrox | |
| Strong Guy | Guido Carosella | |
| Havok | Alexander Summers | |
| Wolfsbane | Rahne Sinclair | |
| Valerie Cooper | ||
| Quicksilver | Pietro Django Maximoff | X-Factor #72 (1991) |
| Random | Marshall Evan Stone III | X-Factor #92 (1993) |
| Forge | X-Factor #93 (1993) | |
| Mystique | Unrevealed (alias: Raven Darkhölme) | X-Factor #114 (1995) |
| Wild Child | Kyle Gibney | |
| Shard | Shard Bishop | X-Factor #119 (1996) |
| Sabretooth | Victor Creed | X-Factor #120 (1996) |
| Fixx | X-Factor #149 (1998) | |
| Greystone | Devlin Greystone | |
| Archer | Unrevealed (in body of Jude Black) | |
| Allies | ||
| Doc Samson | Leonard Skivorski, Jr. | |
| Character | Real name | Active in |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Man | Jamie Madrox | Madrox #5 (2005) |
| Strong Guy | Guido Carosella | |
| Wolfsbane | Rahne Sinclair | |
| Siryn / Banshee | Theresa Rourke Cassidy | X-Factor, vol. 3 #1 (2006) |
| Butterfly | Layla Rose Miller | |
| M | Monet St. Croix | |
| Rictor | Julio Esteban Richter | X-Factor, vol. 3 #2 (2006) |
| Darwin | Armando Muñoz | X-Factor, vol. 3 #33 (2008) |
| Longshot | ||
| Shatterstar | Gaveedra Seven / Benjamin Russell | X-Factor #200 (2009) |
| Havok | Alexander Summers | X-Factor #230 (2012) |
| Polaris | Lorna Dane | |
| X-Factor Investigations allies | ||
| Pip the Troll | Pip Gofern | X-Factor #213 (2011) |
| Character | Real name | Active in |
|---|---|---|
| Polaris | Lorna Dane | All-New X-Factor #1 (2014) |
| Gambit | Rémy LeBeau | |
| Quicksilver | Pietro Django Maximoff | |
| Danger | All-New X-Factor #4 (2014) | |
| Cypher | Douglas Aaron "Doug" Ramsey | All-New X-Factor #6 (2014) |
| Warlock | ||
| Georgia / Decay | Georgia Dakei | All-New X-Factor #8 (2014) |
| Allies | ||
| Sunfire | Shiro Yoshida | |
| Character | Real name | Active in |
|---|---|---|
| Daken | Akihiro | X-Factor, vol. 4 #1 (2020)[22] |
| Eye-Boy | Trevor Hawkins | |
| Northstar | Jean-Paul Beaubier | |
| Aurora | Jeanne-Marie Beaubier | |
| Polaris | Lorna Dane | |
| Prestige | Rachel Summers | |
| Prodigy | David Alleyne |
Collected editions[]
Oversized hardcovers[]
| Title | Material collected | Pages | Publication Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-Men: Mutant Massacre Omnibus | X-Factor #9-17, Annual #2; Uncanny X-Men #210–219, Annual #11; New Mutants #46; Thor #373–374, 377–378; Power Pack #27; Daredevil #238; Fantastic Four vs. The X-Men #1-4; X-Men vs. The Avengers #1-4 | 952 | November 2018 | 978-1302914240 |
| X-Men: Fall of the Mutants | X-Factor #18–26; Uncanny X-Men #220–227; New Mutants #55–61; Captain America #339; Daredevil #252; Fantastic Four #312; Incredible Hulk #340; Power Pack #35 | 824 | October 2011 | 978-0785153122 |
| X-Men: Inferno Prologue | X-Factor #27-32, Annual #3; Uncanny X-Men #228-238, Annual #12; New Mutants #62-70, Annual #4; material from Marvel Age Annual #4, Marvel Fanfare #40 | 824 | December 2014 | 978-0785192732 |
| Evolutionary War Omnibus | X-Factor Annual #3 (A & C stories only); Punisher Annual #1; Silver Surfer Annual #1; New Mutants Annual #4 (A & C stories only); Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22; Fantastic Four Annual #21; Uncanny X-Men Annual #12 (A & C stories only); Web of Spider-Man Annual #4; West Coast Avengers Annual #3; Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #8; Avengers Annual #17 | 472 | September 2011 | 0-7851-4464-1 |
| X-Men: Inferno | X-Factor #33–40; Annual #4 (C story only); Uncanny X-Men #239–243; New Mutants #71–73; X-Terminators #1–4 | 600 | June 2009 | 978-0785137771 |
| Atlantis Attacks Omnibus | X-Factor Annual #4 (A & D stories only); Silver Surfer Annual #2; Iron Man Annual #10; Marvel Comics Presents #26; Uncanny X-Men Annual #13 (A & C stories only); The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #23; Punisher Annual #2; The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #9; Daredevil Annual #5; Avengers Annual #18; The New Mutants #76, Annual #5 (A & C stories only); Web of Spider-Man Annual #5; Avengers West Coast #56, Annual #4; Thor Annual #14; Fantastic Four Annual #22 | 552 | February 2009 | 0-7851-4492-7 |
| Acts of Vengeance Crossovers Omnibus | X-Factor #49–50; Wolverine (1988) #19–20; Uncanny X-Men #256–258; Fantastic Four (1961) #334–336; Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) #11–13; Incredible Hulk (1968) #363; Punisher (1987) #28–29; Punisher War Journal (1988) #12–13; Marc Spector: Moon Knight (1989) #8–10; Daredevil (1964) #275–276; Power Pack (1984) #53; Alpha Flight (1983) #79–80; New Mutants (1983) #84–86; Damage Control (1989) #1–4; and Web of Spider-Man #64–65 | 752 | August 2011 | 978-0-7851-4488-5 |
| X-Men: Days of Future Past | X-Factor Annual #5 (A story only); Uncanny X-Men #141–142, Annual #14; New Mutants Annual #6 (A story only); material from Fantastic Four Annual #23; Excalibur #52, #66–67; Wolverine: Days of Future Past #1–3; material from Hulk: Broken Worlds #2 | 392 | March 2014 | 978-0785184423 |
| X-Men: X-Tinction Agenda | X-Factor #60–62; Uncanny X-Men #235–238 & #270–272; New Mutants #95–97 | 304 | August 2011 | 978-0785155317 |
| X-Men by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee Omnibus Vol. 2 | X-Factor #63–70; Uncanny X-Men #273–280; X-Men #1–9 and material from #10–11; Ghost Rider #26–27 | 832 | January 2012 | 978-0785159056 |
| X-Men: X-Cutioner's Song | X-Factor #84–86; Uncanny X-Men #294–297; X-Men #14–16; X-Force #16–18; Stryfe's Strike File | 368 | October 2011 | 978-0785153122 |
| X-Men: Fatal Attractions | X-Factor #87–92; Uncanny X-Men #298–305 and 315; X-Men Unlimited #1–2; X-Force #25; X-Men #25; Wolverine #75; Excalibur #71 | 816 | April 2012 | 978-0785162452 |
| X-Men: Phalanx Covenant | X-Factor #106; Uncanny X-Men #306, #311–314 and #316–317; Excalibur #78–82; X-Men #36–37; X-Force #38; Wolverine #85; Cable #16 | 552 | February 2014 | 978-0785185499 |
| X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Omnibus | Factor X #1–4, Uncanny X-Men #320–321, X-Men #40–41, Cable #20, X-Men Alpha, Amazing X-Men #1–4, Astonishing X-Men #1–4, Gambit & the X-Ternals #1–4, Generation Next #1–4, Weapon X #1–4, X-Calibre #1–4, X-Man #1–4, X-Men Omega, Age of Apocalypse: The Chosen and X-Men Ashcan #2 | 1072 | March 2012 | 978-0785159827 |
| X-Men/Avengers: Onslaught Omnibus | X-Factor #125-126; Cable #32-36; Uncanny X-Men #333-337; X-Force #55, #57-58; X-Man #15-19; X-Men #53-57, Annual '96; X-Men Unlimited #11; Onslaught: X-Men, Onslaught: Marvel Universe, Onslaught: Epilogue; Avengers #401-402; Fantastic Four #415; Incredible Hulk #444-445; Wolverine #104-105; Amazing Spider-Man #415; Green Goblin #12; Spider-Man #72; Iron Man #332; Punisher #11; Thor #502; X-Men: Road to Onslaught #1; material from Excalibur #100, Fantastic Four #416 | 1296 | July 2015 | 978-0785192626 |
| Civil War: X-Men | X-Factor vol.3 #8–9; Wolverine vol.3 #42-48; Cable & Deadpool #30–32; Civil War: X-Men #1–4; Blade #5; Civil War Files; Civil War: Battle Damage Report | 520 | March 2011 | 0-7851-4884-1 |
| X-Men: Messiah Complex | X-Factor vol.3 #25–27; X-Men: Messiah Complex (one-shot); Uncanny X-Men #492–494; X-Men #205–207; New X-Men #44–46; | 352 | April 2008 | 0-7851-2899-9 |
| X-Men: Second Coming Revelations | X-Factor #204-206, X-Men: Hope, X-Men: Blind Science, X-Men: Hellbound #1-3 | 392 | September 2010 | 0-7851-4678-4 |
Trade paperbacks[]
Volume 1[]
| Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential X-Factor Vol. 1 | X-Factor #1–16, Annual #1; Avengers #263; Fantastic Four #286; The Mighty Thor #373–374; Power Pack #27 (black and white print) | November 2005 | 0-7851-1886-1 |
| Essential X-Factor Vol. 2 | X-Factor #17–35, Annual #2; Thor #378 (black and white print) | January 2007 | 0-7851-2099-8 |
| Essential X-Factor Vol. 3 | X-Factor #36–50, Annual #3; Uncanny X-Men #242–243 (black and white print) | December 2009 | 0-7851-3078-0 |
| Essential X-Factor vol. 4 | X-Factor #51–59, Annual #4–5; X-Factor: Prisoner of Love; Marvel Fanfare #50; material from Fantastic Four Annual # 23, New Mutants Annual #6, Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 (black and white print) | February 2012 | 978-0785162858 |
| Essential X-Factor vol. 5 | X-Factor #60–70, Annual #6; Uncanny X-Men #270–272, 280; material from Uncanny X-Men Annual #15, New Mutants #95–97, material from New Mutants Annual #7 (black and white print) | December 2012 | 978-0785163534 |
| X-Men: Phoenix Rising | Avengers #263; Fantastic Four #286; X-Factor #1; and Classic X-Men #8 and #43 | June 2009 | 0-7851-3948-6 |
| X-Factor: Genesis and Apocalypse | X-Factor #1–9 and Annual #1; Avengers #263; Fantastic Four #286; Iron Man Annual #8; Amazing Spider-Man #282; and Material from Classic X-Men #8 and #43 | March 2017 | 978-1302900687 |
| X-Men: Mutant Massacre | X-Factor #9–11; Uncanny X-Men #210–213; New Mutants #46; Thor #373–374; Power Pack #27 | October 2001 | 0-7851-0224-8 |
| X-Men: Mutations | X-Factor #15, 24–25; Amazing Adventures vol. 2, #11, 17; Uncanny X-Men #256–258 | October 1996 | 0-7851-0197-7 |
| X-Men: The Fall of the Mutants | X-Factor #24–26; Uncanny X-Men #224–226; New Mutants #59–61 | February 2002 | 0-7851-0825-4 |
| X-Men: Inferno | X-Factor #36–39; Uncanny X-Men #239–243; New Mutants #71–73 | December 1996 | 0-7851-0222-1 |
| X-Men: X-Tinction Agenda | X-Factor #60–62; Uncanny X-Men #270–272; New Mutants #95–97 | December 1998 | 0-7851-0053-9 |
| X-Factor Forever | X-Factor #63–64; X-Factor Forever #1–5 | November 2010 | 978-0785147992 |
| X-Factor: Visionaries Peter David Vol. 1 | X-Factor #71–75 | December 2005 | 0-7851-1872-1 |
| X-Factor: Visionaries Peter David Vol. 2 | X-Factor #76–78; Incredible Hulk #390–392 | March 2007 | 0-7851-2456-X |
| X-Factor: Visionaries Peter David Vol. 3 | X-Factor #79–83, Annual #7 | October 2007 | 0-7851-2457-8 |
| X-Factor: Visionaries Peter David Vol. 4 | X-Factor #84–89, Annual #8 | June 2008 | 0-7851-2745-3 |
| X-Men: X-Cutioner's Song | X-Factor #84–86; Uncanny X-Men #294–296; X-Men #14–16; X-Force #16–18 | May 1994 | 0-7851-0025-3 |
| X-Men: Fatal Attractions | X-Factor #92; X-Force #25; Uncanny X-Men #304; X-Men #25; Wolverine #75; Excalibur #71 | August 2000 | 0-7851-0748-7 |
| The Origin of Generation X: Tales of the Phalanx Covenant | X-Factor #106; Uncanny X-Men #316–317; X-Men vol. 2, #36–37; X-Force #38; Excalibur #82; Wolverine vol. 2, #85; Cable #16; Generation X #1 | June 2001 | 0-7851-0216-7 |
| X-Men: Legion Quest | X-Factor #109; Uncanny X-Men #320–321; X-Men vol. 2, #40–41 | March 1996 | 0-7851-0179-9 |
| X-Men: Prelude to the Age of Apocalypse | X-Factor #108–109; Uncanny X-Men #319–321; X-Men (vol. 2) #38–41; Cable #20; X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Ashcan Edition | May 2011 | 978-0-7851-5508-9 |
| X-Men: The Complete Onslaught Epic Vol. 2 | X-Factor #125–126; Excalibur #100; Fantastic Four #415; Amazing Spider-Man #415; Sensational Spider-Man #8; Spider-Man #72; Green Goblin #12; Punisher #11; Wolverine #104; X-Man #17; X-Men #55; Uncanny X-Men #336; X-Force #58 | June 2008 | 0-7851-2824-7 |
| X-Men Epic Collection Volume 19: Mutant Genesis | X-Men Annual #15; X-Factor #65-70; Uncanny X-Men #278-280; X-Men #1-3; Material from New Mutants Annual #7; X-Factor Annual #6 | December 2017 | ISBN 978-1302903916 |
| X-Factor Epic Collection Volume 1: Genesis & Apocalypse | Avengers #263; Fantastic Four #286; X-Factor #1-9; X-Factor Annual #1; Material from Classic X-Men #8 | May 2016 | ISBN 978-1302900687 |
| X-Factor Epic Collection Volume 7: All-New, All-Different X-Factor | X-Factor 71–83;X-Factor Annual #7; Incredible Hulk #390-392 | December 2018 | ISBN 978-1302913861 |
| X-Factor Epic Collection Volume 8: X-Aminations | X-Factor #84-100; X-Factor Annual #8 | November 2019 | ISBN 978-1302920579 |
Volume 2[]
| Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| X-Factor Vol. 1: The Mountaintop | X-Factor Vol. 2 #1–4 | June 4, 2003 | 978-0785110163 |
Volume 3[]
| Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrox: Multiple Choice | Madrox #1–5 (prelude to X-Factor vol. 3) | April 2005 | 0-7851-1500-5 |
| X-Factor: The Longest Night | X-Factor vol. 3, #1–6 | March 2007 | 0-7851-1817-9 |
| X-Factor: Life and Death Matters | X-Factor vol. 3, #7–12 | August 2007 | 0-7851-2146-3 |
| X-Factor: Many Lives of Madrox | X-Factor vol. 3, #13–17 | November 2007 | 0-7851-2359-8 |
| X-Factor: Heart of Ice | X-Factor vol. 3, #18–24 | April 2008 | 0-7851-2360-1 |
| X-Men: Messiah Complex | X-Factor vol. 3, #25–27; Uncanny X-Men #492–494; X-Men #205–207; New X-Men #44–46; X-Men: Messiah Complex – Mutant Files | November 2008 | 0-7851-2320-2 |
| X-Factor: The Only Game in Town | X-Factor vol. 3, #28–32; X-Factor: The Quick and the Dead | January 2009 | 0-7851-2863-8 |
| X-Factor: Secret Invasion | X-Factor vol. 3, #33–38; She-Hulk vol. 2, #31 | June 2009 | 0-7851-2865-4 |
| X-Factor: Time and a Half | X-Factor vol. 3, #39–45 | December 2009 | 0-7851-3836-6 |
| X-Factor: Overtime | X-Factor vol. 3, #46–50; X-Factor: Layla Miller | December 2009 | 0-7851-3837-4 |
| X-Factor: The Invisible Woman Has Vanished | X-Factor #200–203 | June 2010 | 0-7851-4657-1 |
| X-Factor: Second Coming | X-Factor #204–206; Nation X: X Factor | September 2010 | 0-7851-4892-2 |
| X-Factor: Happenings in Vegas | X-Factor #207–212 | March 2011 | 0-7851-4658-X |
| X-Factor: Scar Tissue | X-Factor #213–219 | June 2011 | 0-7851-5283-0 |
| X-Factor: Hard Labor | X-Factor #220–224 | November 2011 | 0-7851-5285-7 |
| X-Factor: Super Unnatural | X-Factor #224.1, 225–228 | February 2012 | 0-7851-6058-2 |
| X-Factor: They Keep Killing Jamie Madrox | X-Factor #229–232 | June 2012 | 0-7851-6060-4 |
| X-Factor: Together Again for the First Time | X-Factor #233–236, Wolverine 52 (1992) | November 2012 | 0-7851-6063-9 |
| X-Factor: The Road to Redemption | X-Factor #237–240 | December 2012 | 0-7851-6413-8 |
| X-Factor: Breaking Points | X-Factor #241–245 | March 2013 | 0-7851-6512-6 |
| X-Factor: Short Stories | X-Factor #246–249 | March 2013 | 0-7851-6699-8 |
| X-Factor: Hell On Earth War | X-Factor #250–256 | July 2013 | 0-7851-6700-5 |
| X-Factor: The End of X-Factor | X-Factor #257–262 | January 2014 | 978-0785167013 |
| X-Factor: The Complete Collection Volume 1 | Madrox #1–5 (prelude to X-Factor vol. 3); X-Factor vol. 3, #1–12 | January 2014 | 0-7851-5438-8 |
| X-Factor: The Complete Collection Volume 2 | X-Factor vol. 3, #13–24; X-Factor vol. 3, #28–32; X-Factor: The Quick And The Dead #1; X-Factor Special: Layla Miller #1 | May 2014 | 0-7851-5439-6 |
All-New X-Factor[]
| Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-New X-Factor, Vol. 1: Not Brand X | All-New X-Factor #1–6 | July 1, 2014 | Paperback: 978-0785188162 |
| All-New X-Factor, Vol. 2: Change of Decay | All-New X-Factor #7–12 | October 28, 2014 | Paperback: 978-0785188179 |
| All-New X-Factor, Vol. 3: Axis | All-New X-Factor #13–20 | March 31, 2015 | Paperback: 978-0785188186 |
Volume 4[]
| Title | Material collected | Pages | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-Factor by Leah Williams – Volume 1 | X-Factor (vol. 4) #1–3, 5 | 128 | December 8, 2020 | Paperback: 978-1302921842 |
| X-Factor by Leah Williams – Volume 2 | X-Factor (vol. 4) #6–10 | 136 | August 31, 2021 | Paperback: 978-1302921859 |
Other versions[]
- In Ultimate War, X-Factor is a U.S. operated prison camp for mutants in Cuba, which appears to have been named after Camp X-Ray in Guantanamo Bay.[23]
- X-factor appears in X-Men '92 as a peace keeping force after the X-Men disappear.[24]
In other media[]
X-Factor appeared in the X-Men TV series. Its lineup consisted of Forge, Polaris, Multiple Man, Strong Guy, Quicksilver, Havok, and Wolfsbane. In the episode "Cold Comfort", Iceman broke into their facility to find his girlfriend Polaris. Jubilee accompanied Iceman to the facility where they were ambushed. When the rest of the X-Men arrived at the facility, its members Multiple Man, Strong Guy, Havok, and Wolfsbane ran afoul of the X-Men. When it came to a battle against the X-Factor which ended with the X-Men and Iceman being victorious, Forge said to Professor X that the battle was to test them. In addition, Iceman found that Polaris is a member of the group and engaged to Havok. In the episode "Family Ties", Quicksilver was seen as a member of X-Factor. In the episode "The Phalanx Covenant" Pt. 1 & 2, Quicksilver, Forge, and Polaris appear as the featured members of X-Factor.
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Harvey, Allan (August 2008). "Four Men and a Telekinetic Lady: The Birth of X-Factor". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (29): 69–72.
- ^ DeAngelo, Daniel (July 2013). "The Not-Ready-For-Super-Team Players: A History of the Defenders". Back Issue!. TwoMorrows Publishing (65): 3–16.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #161". Comic Book Resources. June 26, 2008.
- ^ "Comics of 1986 #30 X-Factor". Revolution Science Fiction. September 12, 2006.
- ^ Sanderson, Peter (2007). The Marvel Comics Guide to New York City. New York City: Pocket Books. p. 11. ISBN 1-4165-3141-6.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Sanderson, Peter (October 1986). "Walt & Louise Simonson". Comics Interview (39). Fictioneer Books. pp. 42–57.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c O'Neill, Patrick Daniel (February 1992). "Peter David". Comics Interview (105). Fictioneer Books. pp. 19–23.
- ^ In issues such as X-Force #25, 34, 43, 49, 56, and X-Force '99 Annual.
- ^ Melrose, Kevin (July 3, 2009). "Liefeld 'can't wait to someday undo' Shatterstar development". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
- ^ Quesada, Joe; Phegley, Kiel (July 14, 2009). "Cup O' Joe: Thor, X-Factor, Punisher Max". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
- ^ "2011 GLAAD Media Awards Nominees". GLAAD. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
- ^ "Ricky Martin, Russell Simmons Honored at 22nd Annual GLAAD MEDIA Awards Presented by Rökk Vodka | GLAAD". GLAAD.org. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
- ^ Sunu, Steve (August 29, 2009). "Fan Expo: X-Factor Turns 200". Comic Book Resources.
- ^ Ching, Albert. "Peter David Readies The End of X-FACTOR". Newsarama.
- ^ Sunu, Steve (October 11, 2013). "NYCC Exclusive: David Resurrects the Team in All-New X-Factor". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013.
- ^ Sunu, Steve (November 4, 2013). "All-New X-Factor Images Reveal New Team Member". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on November 7, 2013. Archive requires scrolldown
- ^ David, Peter (w), Di Giandomenico, Carmine (a). All-New X-Factor 4–6 (May – June 2014), Marvel Comics
- ^ "Look Forward to 'X of Swords' with a Look Back at 'X-Factor'". September 29, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ "X-Factor". Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ "X-Factor Investigations". Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ Lealos, Shawn (September 12, 2020). "All-New X-Factor: How the X-Men Team Went Corporate". Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ "Preview the Return of 'X-Factor' #1". July 2, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ Ultimate War #4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-men '92 Vol 2 6–10
External links[]
- Brady, Matt (August 22, 2005). "X-ploring the X-Factor with Peter David". Newsarama.
- X-Factor issues on Marvel.com
- X-Factor, X-Factor vol. 2, and X-Factor vol. 3 at the Comic Book DB
- X-Factor, X-Factor vol. 2, and X-Factor vol. 3 at the Grand Comics Database
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- Marvel Comics superhero teams
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- X-Men titles
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- X-Factor (comics)
- Comics characters introduced in 1986
- Comics by J. M. DeMatteis
- Comics by Louise Simonson
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- GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book winners
- X-Men supporting characters