Issue(s): X-Factor #101
Cover Date: Apr 94
Title: "Afterlives"
Credits:
J.M. DeMatteis - Writer
Jan Duursema - Penciler
Al Milgrom - Inker
Jaye Gardner - Assistant Editor
Kelly Corvese - Editor

Review/plot:
X-Factor, and Havok especially, are dealing with the death of Madrox. Professor X and Storm are also in town for the funeral, as is Moira MacTaggert. It's a little disappointing to not see some of Madrox's other past associates, like, say, Siryn (or the rest of the Fallen Angels) or the Fantastic Four. In my head, they all were invited but they all said, "Um, the Multiple Man is dead? Are you sure?"

Anyway, this is a downtime issue. One of the nice bits is showing Wolfsbane bonding with Strong Guy, a development that will continue in future issues.

Really, the writing is bland but the artwork by Jan Duursema really helps elevate it.

It's probably because Duursema did some fill-in work on Hulk, but Duursema's art really makes me wish that Peter David had stayed on. One of the struggles of David's run was the art. David with Duursema doing non-fill-in work would have been an awesome combination.

Not a ton happens in this issue. Xavier gives Moira a telepathic gift that seems to me to be more cruel than kind.

Havok fights a robber. Storm and Forge kiss. The plot about whoever hired Random to kill Polaris is discussed without really moving it forward. At the end of the issue, Havok decides that he's failed as a leader, and he quits the team (or at least tosses away his ID card and leaves without telling anyone).

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Madrox's funeral was this morning, but it seems that Madrox's body was on ice for a while after his death last issue. We know that last arc began during the Bloodties crossover, and X-Men #26 was a chapter of Bloodties. But this issue has to take place after X-Men #30 (the wedding issue) because Havok is a member of X-Factor in that issue and the issue references Madrox's death. In that issue it was said that Havok was putting up a good front regarding the death, which helps explain the contrast between his attitude in that issue and the despondency he shows here.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A