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X-Factor #56-58Issue(s): X-Factor #56, X-Factor #57, X-Factor #58 Review/plot: ![]() She's had her eyes on Archangel, who is currently roaming X-Factor under the influence of poison inflicted in a prior battle. When another Raven, competing with Crimson, tries to get to Angel first, he winds up getting decapitated. And there's a rule about when you kill a Raven you replace him in the flock, or something. Crimson doesn't want that because she's afraid he'll be too powerful a rival, but the other Ravens are all for it. ![]() The truth is i can't muster much interest in any of that. It's a perfectly average random story and it's executed as well as can be expected when there's a different penciler on each part. I was just hoping for more from this period in X-Factor when they are public super-heroes. They should be out fighting super-villains to improve the public's opinion of mutants and other stuff like that. So i'm going to focus on stuff around the edges instead of the main story. Just suffice it to say that X-Factor show up and stop the ritual. ![]() ![]() While Angel is poisoned but before the Ravens get him, he winds up attacking drug dealers and other types of criminals. X-Factor worries about the public perception of that. The Beast gets mad at Trish Tilby for reporting on it at all (it's apparently 'in' to be tolerant right now). ![]() The situation puts Hank and Trish's relationship on the rocks. ![]() ![]() It's implied that the public really isn't all that upset about Archangel killing criminals anyway. Angel is also having episodes where he thinks he's still Warren Worthington. ![]() He winds up getting accused of attempting to rob a bank because of that scene. Jean Grey had been on leave of absence and appearing in Uncanny X-Men. She returns in the middle of X-Factor #56. ![]() Scott worries that the costume she's wearing means that she's rejoining the X-Men. ![]() Banshee and Forge later show up to help Angel. ![]() ![]() There's apparently an attraction between Jean and Forge. I didn't pick up on that in the X-Men issues. ![]() It's interesting that we've got some members of X-Factor showing up in issues of X-Men to meet Forge and Banshee, and Forge and Banshee showing up here, but the stories have nothing to do with each other. There's no crossover; it's just an acknowledgement of the current status quo (i.e. Forge and Banshee are in town). X-Factor are attacked by footsoldiers of The Right while they're searching for Archangel (this is before Banshee and Forge arrive). ![]() ![]() This happens in issue #57, which features some early Marvel art by Andy Kubert, son of industry legend Joe Kubert (Andy had done DC work prior to this, as well as some work on Marvel's Conan books). ![]() When the Right attack is repelled, we get our first glimpse of the revived (and not yet identified) Cameron Hodge. ![]() After Archangel is captured by the Ravens, they decide to bring Charlotte Jones to him as part of whatever they're doing, and in the process we learn that Charlotte has a son, Timmy. ![]() In the end her presence is what helps Angel get through his problems (well, that and Forge removing the poison from his system). ![]() Quality Rating: C Chronological Placement Considerations: The MCP have Uncanny X-Men #264 taking place during issue #56. I assume there's a reason for that, but if you're not reading too closely, having Uncanny X-Men #264 just follow this arc works just as well. Either way, i've placed that story directly after this one. References:
Crossover: N/A Continuity Insert? N My Reprint: N/A Inbound References (2): showCharacters Appearing: Angel, Banshee, Beast, Cable (Baby Nathan Christopher Summers), Cameron Hodge, Charlotte Jones, Crimson, Cyclops, Forge, Iceman, Jean Grey, Ship (Prosh), Timothy Jones, Trish Tilby CommentsLouise Simonson didn't seem to like Banshee very much- she had his powers backfire a lot. This story they shatter windows, in X-Tinction Agenda he accidentally topples a statue. Posted by: Michael | May 7, 2015 9:34 PM I actually found the Ravens to be somewhat intriguing. They seem to be chanting a form of ancient Egyptian, they are a type of vampire possibly related to succubi/incubi and are created magically. One wonders what their history was and how they came to have "colour" names. I'd like to see Dr Strange encounter them or some other occult investigator type someday. Posted by: Jay Demetrick | May 13, 2015 6:03 PM Also interesting is, in this story, the public is made aware that Archangel is actually Warren Worthington III and that he isn't dead after all. I don't know if that boosts the importance rating at all but it does begin his process of reclaiming his old life back (that doesn't really get mentioned again until sometime after they rejoin the X-Men). Posted by: Jay Demetrick | May 14, 2015 12:33 AM How do Forge and Banshee know about the evens of the "Meltdown" mini? Weren't the X-Men supposed to be dead to everyone but X-Factor at that point? In fact..isn't the fact that everyone thinks the X-Men are dead the whole reason they are in town right now to begin with? Or am I missing something? Posted by: Jeff | February 28, 2016 1:12 AM @Jeff: Do you recall what poison was used in Meltdown? And how did the Ravens get hold of it? Posted by: Nathan Adler | February 28, 2016 1:33 AM @Nathan- it was Sabretooth that poisoned Warren, not the Ravens. Posted by: Michael | February 28, 2016 8:38 AM How do Banshee and Forge know about the assassination attempt upon Havok and Wolverine from the Meltdown Limited Series when the previous chapter of this story arc, Uncanny X-Men #262, has them both still not entirely sure whether the X-Men are alive until Jean confirms it in that issue? Posted by: Nathan Adler | April 26, 2016 4:38 AM I always assumed they had learned something about the Meltdown story from the X-men mansion computers, that would somehow suggest Wolverine and Havok are still alive, but dismiss the credibility of the evidence until tells them that they are. Kind of farfetched, I know. Posted by: Spikey | December 19, 2016 4:18 AM I can try to No-Prize it as a convoluted explanation: Havok has been shown messing with the sentient computers in the Australian town some time before Inferno. He probably recorded some of his adventures as a X-Man in there, and maybe sent the files to Xavier's computers in the basement of the X-Mansion just in case the New Mutants or X-Factor meet the same foes. Or the Australian computer could have sent the files itself for what we know. And of course, Forge and Banshee later go to what remains of the X-Mansion and learn about Havok's fights. Posted by: Nate Wolf | July 15, 2017 3:24 PM Comments are now closed. |
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