X-Factor is a title that the Revolution thinks has tons of potential. I like David’s writing on this title. My only complaint has been that David seems to have a lack of direction on this title. And considering that we are only 5 issues into this title, which is a bit of a concern. Anyway, I have the ESPN on the widescreen here at the Bunker watching the NFL pre-Draft show. Let’s see if we can wrap up this review before the draft starts.
Creative Team
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Dennis Calero
Art Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10.
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Total Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Synopsis: The issue starts with Siryn back at X-Factor’s Brownstown resting in bed. The rest of the team is gathered around her arguing about if she should go to a hospital and who could be responsible for this attack. Rictor blames Layla. That she knew Siryn was going to get jumped and she did nothing to stop it. Layla doesn’t answer. She just walks out of the room. Guido gets in Rictor’s face and tells him to stay out of Layla’s face or he will kill Rictor. (Ooookay, that was a little bit of overkill.)
We then cut to Wolfsbane and Layla talking outside on the steps of the brownstone. Layla tells Wolfsbane that Siryn got beaten up and Rictor blames her for it. Layla then says that Rictor is right. At that point, Mrs. Charnoff from Layla’s orphanage pulls up in front of the brownstone and thanks Layla for calling her. That she has been so worried since she disappeared. Layla tells Wolfsbane that she used to have horns and flame breath, but now she is no longer a mutant. Ms. Charnoff says that now the children will welcome Layla back since she is now “normal.” During this entire scene, Layla had a butterfly on her finger. As she leaves with Ms. Charnoff, she drops the butterfly on the ground saying it landed on her hand and died.
We then shift to Dr. Castillo finishing her examination of Siryn. She tells Madrox that the attacker knew just how to do maximum damage without it being permanent. That this was just a warning. If the attacker had wanted Siryn dead then she’d be dead. Guido tells Madrox that it was Singularity that had Siryn attacked. Guido has an idea for a reply.
We shift to Damian Tryp the son of the head of Singularity taking a job in the park. Suddenly, Guido appears jogging next to Damian. Guido tells Damian that he knows what he did and he is going to make Damian pay sooner or later. Damian responds with “you and what army.” Then Damian looks ahead and there are one hundred Madrox duplicated blocking his path.
We then cut to Madrox and Rahne visiting Layla at the orphanage. Layla is sporting several black eyes from her fellow kids at the orphanage. Layla then explains a little bit about her abilities. That she knows things before they happen and can “flap her wings” like a butterfly to change the outcome. It is basically the Butterfly effect from Chaos Theory. Layla senses things from a distance and how things might turn out and should turn out. If it is not going as it should then Layla “flaps her wings.” Layla tells Madrox that she cannot tell him how she knows these things because if she does then she will be stuck down and will die. Madrox and Rahne then take Layla out of the orphanage and back to X-Factor’s brownstone.
We cut to Layla sitting on the steps of the brownstone with a butterfly on her finger. Rictor tells her that he thinks that her black eyes were self-induced to get sympathy from Madrox and Rahne and that he will be watching her. Layla just sits there and then the butterfly flies away. End of issue.
Comments
The Good: Peter David’s writing on X-Factor #6 was great. David is doing an excellent job fleshing out and developing Siryn, Madrox, Rictor, and Layla. As always, David’s dialogue is fantastic. David’s dialogue is so good that the fact that this issue was dialogue-heavy and had no action at all doesn’t matter. This issue was still very entertaining. That is a tribute to David’s excellent dialogue.
It was nice to finally get some more background information on Layla. Plus, we finally got an explanation of what her abilities are and what she can do. It was just enough of an explanation to satisfy the reader without giving away everything about Layla’s powers. Layla is a very interesting character and she serves as X-Factor’s own “X-factor.” By the way, this is the perfect way to introduce a teen character that is intriguing versus the unimpressive handling of the plastic Supergirl on another title.
The Bad: As much as I enjoy David’s dialogue and as much as I like the offbeat feel to this title, X-Factor is starting to drag and we are only on issue #6. I think that David really needs to pick up the pace a bit and get himself and the storyline a bit more focused. I don’t mind using an issue to explain and flesh out a new character, but, at issue #6 we still really have not progressed in the storyline at all. So far, X-Factor has felt like 6 one-shot issues. That really isn’t a good thing for a new title. I really want this title to do well because I think that X-Factor has tons of potential. I like the general theme that David is creating on X-Factor. I just think he needs to get focused and start to get this storyline moving a bit more.
I seem to be running hot and cold with regard to Calero’s artwork. I liked his work on the last issue. And I like this style of art on such a quirky offbeat comic like X-Factor. However, his art seemed to take a step back on this issue. It just didn’t look as good as it did the last issue. Calero’s art seemed a little more sloppy and rushed. Calero just didn’t deliver as strong a job as he did in X-Factor #5.
4 thoughts on “X-Factor #6 Review”
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I’m gonna go out on a limb here. For some reason, I’ve seen this book reviewed on a lotta sites, and I have ta’ say…I don’t get it. From what I can tell alotta the contreversy is about tehe art. This guys sucks, that guy was great whateva. I’ve read 1-6, 4 of which I borrowed, and I’m done. Where is the great writing everyone is raving about? Pick up the pace? What pace? There’s not even a pulse. Nothing happens in this book. It’s just alking and talking and talking. Yeah sure every once in a while someone says something “cute” but so the fuck what? Nothing happens of any improtance, I don;t see a beginning, I don;t see a middle, and I sure as heck dont see an end.
Thanks for your thoughtful response. The thing is, I don’t have a problem with the art. On the right title, it could be great. But what title is that? Maybe not this one, because all David has given Calero to draw is talking and more talking. Hard to judge what he can do by that.
when i first got the x-factor series, i only did it cuz it was x-men, and i read em a little, and i didnt much care for em. then i actually sat down and read them not to long ago one right after the other, and i’ve come to find that these are actually quite good. a good story isnt always about being repetatively attacked over and over and over LITERALLY, and letting the artist do the work. layla especially leaves you with questions, and thats actually good.
at first glance, it doesnt seem like a good series, but on second glance, you find that its much more complex than you originally thought.
as far as the art. its different than want comic fans are use to. as an artist, i’ve come to respect this style. at first i hated it, but now especially considering ALL of the literary elements, it really fits the story.
i could probably do an entire literary breakdown of this comic book, and actually get an A in class. you cant judge a book by its cover, nor can u judge a comic book by its ‘cute little doodles’. just cuz it doesnt SEEM that anything’s going on doesnt mean that its not. layla’s a big player in this part.
thank you, i’m glad to that you agree with me. the fact that she leaves you scratching her head is what i absolutely love about her character! from what people have said, i have that same effect on people, but nothing to the extent of layla and her cherrios & yogurt mixed with evian water. that’s just plain odd…but odd is good, it’s a nice escape from the droning redundancy of ‘normal-ness’.
as for x-factor, i can’t wait to read #9, even though i know i’m going to be really upset when i’m done, because i KNOW layla’s going to do something else that leaves you with your jaw dragging the floor.