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Ever since House Of X and Powers Of X ended last October, there have been thirteen series launched for the Dawn Of X, marking a new era for X-books. In total, there are seventy-two single issues, and I have read all of them so far.
Thirteen debut issues have been more hit than miss, but none more of a hit than this one. Full disclosure, I have read X-Factor #1 more than any other issue in Dawn Of X, because it is just that good. X-Factor #1 is written by Leah Williams, with art by David Baldeon, colors by Israel Silva, letters by VC’s Joe Caramagna, and designs by Tom Muller. The main cover is provided by Ivan Shavrin.
Resurrection And You: Bringing Back Your Loved Ones
Turns out, it’s not that simple! X-Factor #1 wastes no time in cutting right to the heart of why we’re here. It’s a premise that we’ve known about for quite some time, being referenced in House Of X #5 initially, as something that would come up “sooner rather than later.” Well, the time is now, because Northstar feels his sister, Aurora, die. But, unfortunately, there is no evidence. That led to a confrontation with The Five, Krakoa’s local miracle workers.
The Five require proof of death before resurrection protocols can be initiated, to avoid clones and other insane consequences that have no choice but to inevitably happen. When you have the history the X-Men do with clones (see: any story containing Mister Sinister), you don’t take chances, especially given what they’ve built on Krakoa so far.
X-Factor’s Place In The Dawn Of X
The nature of their function on Krakoa is repetitive and doesn’t allow for much exploration outside their usual confines. Having The Five as a supporting cast here is more meaningful than it would be in another book as well, as they work hand-in-hand with X-Factor in a way that no other team does. It also provides X-Factor with the unspoken title of definitively being “the resurrection book,” which has honestly been a void in the Dawn Of X line.
A precious few of the books have delved into the mythology of Krakoa, and resurrection in general. Other books have largely dealt with how the world around Krakoa is reacting, and what needs to be done to keep Krakoa safe. X-Factor just hits like a more personal book, that’s interested in exploring its characters and how they feel more than simply what function they serve in this new society. In this, X-Factor feels closest to Excalibur, which is a great look for it.
The New Team
The team falls together fairly naturally, rather than the feeling that a writer or editor made these choices and now has to figure out how to make it work. There’s something truly impressive about having all of the characters fall in around the worst one among them. Of course, I am talking about Northstar (that’s right, not Daken!). He just can’t help being a prick to everyone around him.
My favorite [REDACTED] thot enforcer, Daken, is positively overflowing with charisma in X-Factor #1. He’s so self-assured, setting him a mile apart from most everyone on the team, but comes off as almost endearing.
Polaris, however, is perhaps my favorite choice for the team. Nobody is more primed to be redefined in this new era than her, which is made abundantly clear when she chats with Magneto about what her personality is like. It’s as if Leah is reading every writer who has mischaracterized her over the years, almost giving her a clean slate. There is an enormous potential there especially.
Prodigy, Eye Boy, and Rachel Summers fill out the rest of the roster, which also means the team is gay. This is incredibly welcome news, as there is still a devastating lack of gay representation in Marvel books. The X-office made the right choice in Leah for telling this story, without question, as she went right to the throat and calls Daken a “bisexual disaster.” If anything, this is the energy that has been missing from X-books.
Leah Williams: Marvel’s Secret Weapon?
Have you read Gwenpool Strikes Back? Because you really should, it is an excellent primer for this creative team in general. I’m a firm believer that Leah Williams is one of the greatest comic writers of the modern era. Leah’s greatest skill as a storyteller is her ability to reinvigorate characters in ways that maintain familiarity, but actively look to break new ground.
Her script here has an authenticity to it that manages to be both daring and consistent. She’s able to capture characters in an unrestrained light, without compromise, where they feel true to their messy selves. Each team member has a distinct voice that shines through the entire issue, and this is nothing new in her work. It would be a mistake to skip on anything with her name on it, but X-Factor #1 still manages to be some of her greatest work.
David Baldeon Is The King Of Art
Somebody get David a crown because he is my favorite Northstar artist ever now. His use of motion lines for Northstar is inspired, using them as an extension of the character’s physical presence, rather than some feeble wind whenever he moves. There is power there, and you can feel it coming off the page whenever he uses his speed. The subtle visual when Daken uses his pheromones is delightful and really lends itself to the animated style that David hues so close to.
His expressions are truly a work of art. The way that Rachel’s face scrunches or the way that Northstar’s eyes grow ridiculously wide in reaction to something are really nice touches, on top of the body language incorporated at every stage. Even when characters aren’t speaking, you understand exactly how they feel because David is conveying it to you effortlessly. Even his choices for civvies for the team are impossibly stylish.
David’s panel layout in X-Factor #1 is something I find myself enamored with in particular. The way that he lays panels over larger splashes of scenes maintains the flow of the story beautifully, and it’s so inventive. Panel layout is so homogenized in modern comics, but experimenting and making bold creative choices like these really show how much thought was put into the construction of this book. It’s a much more dynamic look that gives the book another unique voice, separating it from others on the shelves.
Should You Read X-Factor #1?
Yes. Do it for the children. The genius of this book can’t be overstated. Every character gets their moment to shine, to show what they bring to the table. Even Krakoa is treated here as if they are just another character, rather than a setting. There is just so much life, and heart, on these pages. The team doesn’t really know each other, so you get to learn about them as the reader alongside the characters, making it incredibly accessible for new readers, or people who aren’t overly familiar with the X-Men.
Yet, if you’ve been reading all of the Dawn Of X books like me, there’s a lot here to satisfy you as well, with references to other issues that take place before this one, as well as familiar characterizations like Sage, who has appeared frequently among the other books. The timing of the release worked out pretty well, as the storylines up with all the other X-books at the moment. The synergy is working out just as well with the book being released now, as it would have been released in April, as originally solicited. Did the suspense help get people excited about it? I have no doubt. But is it incredibly satisfying regardless? You betcha.
If I have one single, solitary gripe about X-Factor #1, it is the lack of data pages. They’re there, sure, but there isn’t much to go off of. I mostly find this disappointing because Leah holds the record for my favorite data page to date (see: Gwenpool Strikes Back, again). It isn’t detrimental to the story, as all the information you need for this issue is presented plainly on the pages, of which there are many. Leah is a veritable well of X-knowledge, so I look forward to her taking advantage of the space more in the future.
I did my best to leave this as spoiler-free as possible, in hopes that it will urge you to check out this book if you haven’t already done so. This is such a special read and a book that I very strongly feel is exactly what the X-line was missing. If there is one book I could urge you to check out from the whole current catalog of X-books, this is the one to pull the trigger on. I am incredibly confident you will not be disappointed.