X-Factor #20 - X-Cell Conclusion

[Faded]

Callisto: Who's this?
Quicksilver: Layla Miller. She professes to "know things".
Layla Miller: "Stuff. I know stuff. Don't mangle my catch phrase."

Quick Summary (sort-of but I want you to buy the issue!)

X-Cell (minus Marrow and Callisto) regain their powers via Quicksilver's Terrigen Mist abilities, who channeled his power through Rictor in an attempt to sidestep the often fatal side-effect of his powers.

Monet, Wolfsbane, and hundreds of Multiple Men stampede the streets to the nX-Cell HQ. X-Cell attacks...and let's say Rahne is not a happy camper after last issue. Bitch was hungry blood. Literally.

Meanwhile, Layla Miller reveals to the remaining members of X-Cell the truth about M-Day via a tape recorded conversation with Quicksilver, Cyclops, and Siryn (see the Civil War tie-in issues of X-Factor). A confrontation quickly leads to someone needing a doctor. :(

The rest of X-Factor battle X-Cell, but the repowered "mutants" seem to be experiencing some explosive side-effects of their returned powers and one member bites the dust.

Abyss uses his teleportation powers to help his group flee, but their problems are far from over and their fate is left up in the air.

Back in the X-Cell HQ, Quicksilver threatens Layla's life but Rictor's powers emerge and he basically explodes the Terrigen crystals from Quicksilver's body. He flees and believes he has one more crystal left, but I BELIEVE its unusable.

Elsewhere, Rictor is once again powerless and near death. Rahne is by his side, forgetting their pointless fights from before and being friends once again, maybe for the last time.

Rating: A

Last Thoughts:

What happened to Blob?

And hey, was Elijah Cross' mutation to be black? Did I miss somethig?

[Brian M.]

So a new arc starts right on time w/ ES ?

[Beast]

So a new arc starts right on time w/ ES ?
Yep. Shame they couldn't time the same thing with New X-Men and Uncanny.

[Boogie]

And hey, was Elijah Cross' mutation to be black? Did I miss something?

Yeah, i caught that too.. Thought i was mistaken but cracked open the last few issues and the dude was white. But hey, Monet has gone from white to brown, to white to.. very tanned.. Colouring on this book is never an exact science it seems.

and Blob was captured by X-factor in the last issue, it's how they found out where the X-cell was hiding/Rictor was. Probably sitting in a O.N.E. detention facility now, keep him like that until he can get repowered into blobby goodness.

I very much enjoyed this issue, like i do with every issue of The Factor. Lots of Great Moments.

Madrox - 300 Jamies - Priceless.
Layla Miller - "Stuff. I know stuff. Don't mangle my catch phrase."
Monet - Backing off from Fatale so she doesnt get her blown up chunks on her new shirt (Radiohead baby!)
Rictor- Getting his powers back.. even for a little bit
Quicksilver- His new Time jumping powers are cool. One of the first chances we get to see them in action and it was awesome.
Rahne - Lovin' her some Julio..

[Quicksilver1]

Wonder whats next for Quickie

[The Cool Thatguy]

Hmm, Rahne actually has some good character moments. About damn time.

[Affinity]

The cover stook out to me today! Which is good, because X-Men 200's cover didnt even do that.

Glad the ES tie in is the start of a new arc.

[Grunty]

First THANKS PAD. Maybe he reads this.

Another good issue.

Like i said before the solitcation made it look like this arc had four chapters with this one being the aftermath (because it was already said about last issue that they would fight the repowered X-cellers).

Laylas moments where yet again great.

As a Marrow fan this arc made me quite happy. Not only did she finaly reapeared in a !good! X-men title, as well as being indentified by the X-factor members (there goes my theorie that someone removed all memorys about her from the X-men), she also happens to play a bit of a hero again.

It was cool how she she defeated three Quicksilvers alone before being anbushed by another time dupe. The scene where she comes out of nowhere to stabs that one Quicksilver in the shoulder was pretty cool.

Maybe its just me but it seems like Layla knew that Marrow and Callisto would change sides if they knew the truth. Well after all these two have helped the good guys often enough. Again thanks PAD.
Also this official means that those two are some of the few people who know about House of M as well as Scarlet Witch part in it, now.

Oh and Callisto finaly got her revenge for what Pietro did to her on Genosha (ouch!).

Now just don't let Marrow die PLEASE (well it doesn't look so bad, other characters without healing factor have survived worse and Marrow is pretty hard to kill)!

Poor X-cell members (well that was Cross). Also it seems like PAD now made it official that M has telepathic and healing factor abilitys (at least someone tries to explain which powers she has).
I loved M comment when Fatale said that she was repowered the same way ("This shirt is new.").

And finaly Rictor could show off again by fighting Quicksilver. Now don't let him die either! Oh and his scene with Rahne changing back into human form was horrorbil cute.

In the end my only complains are that the art was yet again kind of strange. I dunno why but its just strange! Oh and the colors changed again. Marrow has her pink skin again and Eljiah Cross is suddently black.

Storywise my complains are, what happend to Blob and how could someone like Eljiah be the leader of a ex-mutant terrorist groups leading people like Abyss, Fatale and Reaper who are kind of pretty heavy criminals.

[Hi-Fi]

I thought this issue was ok. Nothing spectacular, which is weird since X-Factor is always spectacular.

Best part was Monet getting away from Fatale "It's a new shirt" LOL!

[Fede]

Callisto: Who's this?
Quicksilver: Layla Miller. She professes to "know things".
Layla Miller: "Stuff. I know stuff. Don't mangle my catch phrase."


Thanks for the summary Faded!

Lol I love Layla. PAD is such a great writer, i used to hate her back in House of M! Now if he does the same with Rachel, Kitty, Bishop and Sage...:D

[Volk1]

So Layla is NOT a mutant. Hmmm... this confuses me. :(


No JULIOOO! He''s in solicits for future issues tho so I think he survives!:)

And hey, was Elijah Cross' mutation to be black? Did I miss somethig?LOL. I think he could become hard or something. Madrox says something like "I'm being bowled over like pins" or sumthing like that when Cross barrels into the dupes.

I wonder if we'll see Callisto and Marrow in Brubaker's Uncanny arc.

Thank goodness Marrow didn;t let Peitro touch her.

Julio rocks with him taking out Peitro's crystals. That was a sweet, sweet move.

[Pyro]

I thought the issue was good, but I haven't been enjoying Pham's art, and I think that's brought down the whole arc for me. :( I can't wait for Pablo Raimondi to come back.

[CMBMOOL]

Callisto: Who's this?
Quicksilver: Layla Miller. She professes to "know things".
Layla Miller: "Stuff. I know stuff. Don't mangle my catch phrase."

Quick Summary (sort-of but I want you to buy the issue!)

X-Cell (minus Marrow and Callisto) regain their powers via Quicksilver's Terrigen Mist abilities, who channeled his power through Rictor in an attempt to sidestep the often fatal side-effect of his powers.

Monet, Wolfsbane, and hundreds of Multiple Men stampede the streets to the nX-Cell HQ. X-Cell attacks...and let's say Rahne is not a happy camper after last issue. Bitch was hungry blood. Literally.

Meanwhile, Layla Miller reveals to the remaining members of X-Cell the truth about M-Day via a tape recorded conversation with Quicksilver, Cyclops, and Siryn (see the Civil War tie-in issues of X-Factor). A confrontation quickly leads to someone needing a doctor. :(

The rest of X-Factor battle X-Cell, but the repowered "mutants" seem to be experiencing some explosive side-effects of their returned powers and one member bites the dust.

Abyss uses his teleportation powers to help his group flee, but their problems are far from over and their fate is left up in the air.

Back in the X-Cell HQ, Quicksilver threatens Layla's life but Rictor's powers emerge and he basically explodes the Terrigen crystals from Quicksilver's body. He flees and believes he has one more crystal left, but I BELIEVE its unusable.

Elsewhere, Rictor is once again powerless and near death. Rahne is by his side, forgetting their pointless fights from before and being friends once again, maybe for the last time.

Rating: A

Last Thoughts:

What happened to Blob?

And hey, was Elijah Cross' mutation to be black? Did I miss somethig?


Thanks for the summary Faded, also I can't see Rictor die after all PAD did to his character. :(

[Faded]

I just now noticed this was a throwback to Uncanny X-Men 210's cover! LOL, and its like one of my favorite covers of all time. :o

Thanks for the summary Faded!

Lol I love Layla. PAD is such a great writer, i used to hate her back in House of M! Now if he does the same with Rachel, Kitty, Bishop and Sage...:D

No problem!

He should write Bishop! He's one of those characters who I kindasortanotreallybutkindado like, but he needs to get a biiiig push from someone like PAD to really give me reason to like him.

First THANKS PAD. Maybe he reads this.

Another good issue.

Like i said before the solitcation made it look like this arc had four chapters with this one being the aftermath (because it was already said about last issue that they would fight the repowered X-cellers).

Laylas moments where yet again great.

As a Marrow fan this arc made me quite happy. Not only did she finaly reapeared in a !good! X-men title, as well as being indentified by the X-factor members (there goes my theorie that someone removed all memorys about her from the X-men), she also happens to play a bit of a hero again.

It was cool how she she defeated three Quicksilvers alone before being anbushed by another time dupe. The scene where she comes out of nowhere to stabs that one Quicksilver in the shoulder was pretty cool.

Maybe its just me but it seems like Layla knew that Marrow and Callisto would change sides if they knew the truth. Well after all these two have helped the good guys often enough. Again thanks PAD.
Also this official means that those two are some of the few people who know about House of M as well as Scarlet Witch part in it, now.

Oh and Callisto finaly got her revenge for what Pietro did to her on Genosha (ouch!).

Now just don't let Marrow die PLEASE (well it doesn't look so bad, other characters without healing factor have survived worse and Marrow is pretty hard to kill)!

Poor X-cell members (well that was Cross). Also it seems like PAD now made it official that M has telepathic and healing factor abilitys (at least someone tries to explain which powers she has).
I loved M comment when Fatale said that she was repowered the same way ("This shirt is new.").

And finaly Rictor could show off again by fighting Quicksilver. Now don't let him die either! Oh and his scene with Rahne changing back into human form was horrorbil cute.

In the end my only complains are that the art was yet again kind of strange. I dunno why but its just strange! Oh and the colors changed again. Marrow has her pink skin again and Eljiah Cross is suddently black.

Storywise my complains are, what happend to Blob and how could someone like Eljiah be the leader of a ex-mutant terrorist groups leading people like Abyss, Fatale and Reaper who are kind of pretty heavy criminals.

Definitely! She is (or was) in a good book! I hope she's followed up on again, or even made a cast member (though her actions in previous issues might cause some...issues). Her story just HAS to be revisited (drawn by Raimondi?!?) since she was one of the two who deviated from X-Cell, and as you said, now know the truth about M-Day.

Best part was Monet getting away from Fatale "It's a new shirt" LOL!

LOL! I loved that.

I seriously really enjoyed the issue, but it felt like something was cut out (and Blob's disappearance seems to affirm this theory). I think this arc even could've used another issue, but that's just me.

Its really one of the rare times I feel some form of closure in X-Factor, lol, even with the cliffhangers and vague exits. The art was okay; it has more vibrance than Raimondi but not refined in its style and the expressions were a little suspect (ie Callisto looked like a classic Simpson's villain in one panel).

[JBKWaka]

Elsewhere, Rictor is once again powerless and near death. Rahne is by his side, forgetting their pointless fights from before and being friends once again, maybe for the last time.what happened to Blob?
Didn't Rictor actually die though? Also I would like to know what happened to Blob as well

[Monty_Cristo]

Didn't Rictor actually die though? Also I would like to know what happened to Blob as well

if he had died, they probably would have shown him dead on the last page. he is one of the main cast. :)

[talat77]

Good issue.
I also am very glad Raimondi will be back, YAY!!!:D

About Cross being the 'leader' of the former villains, I thought it was cool of PAD to create a character to be killed, instead of killing a better known character.

And glad to see Marrow wasn't touched by Pietro, that leaves her in a spot wich can go many ways now. Maybe she could even be the one joining the team eventually...
I fear for Rictor...

[Scipio72002]

A good issue. Layla was perfect and there seemed to be less about Jamie, which was good because he has been the main focus as of late. I was a little surpirsed by the Rahne/Rictor revelation. I realize they dated back in the day, but I didn't see any indication that she still had feelins for him. I wonder what could happen? Also, Strong Guy said Blork. And I did not even notice the Uncanny similarity with issue 210, grea.t.

[Omega Alpha]

Great stuff. Pietro really screwed up now, didn't he? And Layla was awesome as always.

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Why did they let Pietro walk away? When is gonna pay for the things he's done?! DAMN!

[Chiasm]

There were some very funny moments in this issue like Jaime doing 300, Monet not wanting to get her shirt dirty, and Layla's catchphrase. But plotwise the issue was very meh and it was a disappointing ending to a disappointing story arc.

PAD's humor is still great but storywise I'm just not really getting into X-factor.

[rilokyle]

Hmph. I liked the issue, but it lacked a little umph I guess. I feel like the ending was a bit rushed, and there wasn't enough Jamie in this issue (aside from the 300 of him in the first few pages anyways).

But Layla rocked it as usual. She's not a mutant, huh? This mystery only gets better and better. And Monet was bitchin' in this issue too. HOT.

I'm not sure this storyline worked as PAD had planned- it seemed to lack much depth, and the conclusion was rather bland and anticlimatic.

However, I like this new development with Quicksilver. Where will he go from here?

Overall, it was a good issue- not amazing, but satisfactory.

[Alex A Sanchez]

I just now noticed this was a throwback to Uncanny X-Men 210's cover!

Great call!


Also, Strong Guy said Blork.

!!!!! I know! That was awesome!

Why did they let Pietro walk away? When is gonna pay for the things he's done?! DAMN!

There's a huge revelation regarding the development of Pietro in the final issue of Silent War (which just came out this week). I will spoil it here, since it is only a panel. Silent War was a fantastic read, by the way, especially with the X-Factor issue. I recommend it to all.

Pietro is under Maximus's control and/or influence. Maximus poisoned his mind somehow, as only Luna can see.

Maybe this was revealed earlier, I dunno. But no one here seems to be aware of the fact, and I've never read it anywhere else.

[Alex A Sanchez]

And yeah, regarding this issue- I really enjoyed it. For once we get to have a lot of action, and the final show down with Rictor and Pietro was awesome!! It was great to see Rictor get his powers back, if even for a moment. I hope the fact that Pietro didn't directly give him his powers back means that he won't die from the terrigen influence.

Also, since X-Factor is supposed to be gaining a new member soon, I wonder if the new member could be Marrow or Calisto?

[Volk1]

And yeah, regarding this issue- I really enjoyed it. For once we get to have a lot of action, and the final show down with Rictor and Pietro was awesome!! It was great to see Rictor get his powers back, if even for a moment. I hope the fact that Pietro didn't directly give him his powers back means that he won't die from the terrigen influence.




He'll be saved, either by Layla or some other force, but he'll survive. Yeah, and his pwoers coming back was pretty exciting as a fan, even for that little bit.

What do you think abotu Layla NOT being a mutant? What is she then? Just a figment of Scarlet Witch's imagination? A leftover of the House of M, an anomaly, a chaotic effect of that event?

I guess I answered my own question...

[DDM]

The cover stook out to me today! Which is good, because X-Men 200's cover didnt even do that.

Glad the ES tie in is the start of a new arc.

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/97792366288.210.GIF

[Weapon Ick]

What do you think abotu Layla NOT being a mutant? What is she then? Just a figment of Scarlet Witch's imagination? A leftover of the House of M, an anomaly, a chaotic effect of that event?



Well aparently Madrox isn't a mutant either. I think some time during the first 12 issues of this X-Factor series PAD introduced a theory about "mutants before mutants" that are called Changelings or something. It has something to do with mutants that have had thier powers since birth. I don't really understand any of it.

Layla is probably one of these beings. Or not.

[Faded]

Well aparently Madrox isn't a mutant either. I think some time during the first 12 issues of this X-Factor series PAD introduced a theory about "mutants before mutants" that are called Changelings or something. It has something to do with mutants that have had thier powers since birth. I don't really understand any of it.

Layla is probably one of these beings. Or not.

I don't understand it either, but whoever tried explaining it to me basically said "changelings" were just a subspecies of mutants. I don't know if all this was directly stated as such, but that's what I'm going with for now.

The only thing is if its just a subspecies with that minor difference, I don't see how it'd be significant. But I think this probably ties into a bigger picture with the upcoming X-Over where Jamie plays a large role.

And yeah, regarding this issue- I really enjoyed it. For once we get to have a lot of action, and the final show down with Rictor and Pietro was awesome!! It was great to see Rictor get his powers back, if even for a moment. I hope the fact that Pietro didn't directly give him his powers back means that he won't die from the terrigen influence.

Also, since X-Factor is supposed to be gaining a new member soon, I wonder if the new member could be Marrow or Calisto?

It damn better be Marrow! ;)

Siryn will get over it.

Why did they let Pietro walk away? When is gonna pay for the things he's done?! DAMN!

Not really. Layla and Rahne were the only ones there and while Rahne wanted to go after him, Layla knew it'd be best to tend to the dying Rictor.

[UniqueFrequency]

exciting issue all round, hurt by the art though (imo)

i wonder what's next in Quicksilver's story. he's been a rather interesting character since Son Of M (even if his power is hard to understand)

[Volk1]

Well aparently Madrox isn't a mutant either. I think some time during the first 12 issues of this X-Factor series PAD introduced a theory about "mutants before mutants" that are called Changelings or something. It has something to do with mutants that have had thier powers since birth. I don't really understand any of it.

Layla is probably one of these beings. Or not.

Yeah, Layla is def NOT a changeling. But now she's not a mutant either so, it's gotta be some mo-jo by the Scarlet Witch.

I think we need a mini-series explaining Layla's journey to Wundagor and visiting Wanda to know WTF is up!!

With Rictor accompanying her so we can have snarky dialogue. :) And along the way they pick up Preview so Wanda can giver her powers back!:)

[Syzygy]

Yeah, Layla is def NOT a changeling. But now she's not a mutant either so, it's gotta be some mo-jo by the Scarlet Witch.)

IIRC, Strange said that Layla was Wanda's creation. So my guess is that she partakes of some aspect of Wanda's original probability-based powers.

[Syzygy]

Why did they let Pietro walk away? When is gonna pay for the things he's done?! DAMN!

Well, now that he's got a "black spider" in him, one wonders....

Speaking of which, maybe Hine and PAD should get together for an Inhumans/X-Factor crossover, where Quicksilver's fate can finally be deterrmined?

[Syzygy]

It damn better be Marrow! ;)


Isn't Marrow still a wanted criminal for murdering all those nightclubbers? So far as I know, Jamie is trying to run a legit outfit....

[The Lucky One]

Isn't Marrow still a wanted criminal for murdering all those nightclubbers? So far as I know, Jamie is trying to run a legit outfit....

After the events of X-Men #200, you'd think the X-teams would be very, very picky about who they offer sanctuary to or allow on their teams in the future.

They won't be, but you'd think it, anyway.

-D

[MakeshiftHero]

What do you think abotu Layla NOT being a mutant? What is she then? Just a figment of Scarlet Witch's imagination? A leftover of the House of M, an anomaly, a chaotic effect of that event?

IIRC, Strange said that Layla was Wanda's creation. So my guess is that she partakes of some aspect of Wanda's original probability-based powers.

I think that maybe she might be part of Wanda's doing and maybe one of the naturaly powered people like Madrox is. But she's always saying different things about her from "I had horns and breathed fire, but after HoM all of that went away" (when she was in the orphanage) or "I sit naked in my room at midnight and say "reaveal" three times and a butterfly comes and tells me what's to come." shortly follwed by her saying that's not true. (issue 13) Not to mention that she brings dead butterflies to life and cant tell anyone what she is or she'll "drop dead" And her having parents is another tricky story. I wonder if PAD knows where he's going with her/what she is or just makes things up as he goes sometimes. Either way the book is outstanding.

I'd like to double check what it is that they found out about her in HoM but I let a buddy borrow my TPB of it about 2 years ago and he hasn't given it back yet :( :mad:

[Greg Anderson]

I'd like to double check what it is that they found out about her in HoM but I let a buddy borrow my TPB of it about 2 years ago and he hasn't given it back yet :( :mad:

You should be ashamed of yourself!:mad:

[MakeshiftHero]

You should be ashamed of yourself!:mad:

Well we went off to college the year I gave it to him and we've been friends since 1st grade. I know where he lives. But he never picks up his phone so I can get it.

[Christopher O]

This has to be my least favorite issue of X-Factor so far. I'm just not into this story or the X-Cell. Seriously, not even Peter David can make me enjoy characters like Reaper and Fatale. Anyway, we saw way too much of Callisto, Marrow, Fatale, and Reaper this story arc and not enough of the internal dysfunction that makes this cast and book work so well. Plus, I wasn't into the art at all. That's a thumbs down from me.

[rilokyle]

This has to be my least favorite issue of X-Factor so far. I'm just not into this story or the X-Cell. Seriously, not even Peter David can make me enjoy characters like Reaper and Fatale. Anyway, we saw way too much of Callisto, Marrow, Fatale, and Reaper this story arc and not enough of the internal dysfunction that makes this cast and book work so well. Plus, I wasn't into the art at all. That's a thumbs down from me.

Agreed. I mean, I don't even KNOW who Abyss or Reaper are! PAD really scraped the D-List bin when he crafted this X-Cell team. But perhaps that was intentional- to show how stupid some characters are. I mean, X-Cell was pretty much a joke. X-Factor rallied them so easily!

And yeah, there wasn't enough of X-Factor this month. Aside from Layla, none of the other team members did much of anything in the book.

The art was okay for me, but not spectacular. I'm glad Ramiondi is back next issue though!

[Christopher O]

I'm glad Ramiondi is back next issue though!
Me too. Raimondi makes everything sexy, especially Jaime.

[Alex A Sanchez]

whoever tried explaining it to me basically said "changelings" were just a subspecies of mutants.

Not a sub-species, but an evolutionary precursor. Evolution works in steps: whenever a new species is born, a new "step" in evolution is taken. If the species is a strong one, it survies. Usually the old "steps" die out. In some cases, the old step does not die out, like the crocodile, which has been around for billions of years.

"Changelings" are one of the old "steps" that did not completely died out when the new step (i.e. "Mutants") arrived.

What do you think abotu Layla NOT being a mutant? What is she then? Just a figment of Scarlet Witch's imagination? A leftover of the House of M, an anomaly, a chaotic effect of that event?

I guess I answered my own question...

I still think she is the same thing as Tryp. I'm willing to bet a past and future version of her exist in the present. Whatever one of her "selves" knows, the other two also know. I'm betting that it is the future version of herself that Jamie marries.

i wonder what's next in Quicksilver's story. he's been a rather interesting character since Son Of M (even if his power is hard to understand)

Read my spoiler above.

Well, now that he's got a "black spider" in him, one wonders....

Speaking of which, maybe Hine and PAD should get together for an Inhumans/X-Factor crossover, where Quicksilver's fate can finally be deterrmined?

Never mind reading my spoiler, Syzygy just spoiled it here. :p :D

It seems that Hine and PAD has a good deal of collaboration which working on their current, respective stories. A crossover would work very well.

Agreed. I mean, I don't even KNOW who Abyss or Reaper are! PAD really scraped the D-List bin when he crafted this X-Cell team.

NO WAY! Aside from being one of the X-men's first villains, the Blob is easily one of the most recognized B-listers. Only his partner Pyro, Juggy, and Mystique are more popular- and they have all been in the movies.

Calisto and Marrow are fan favorites, as you can tell from this board, and Reaper is one of the last surviving members of the Mutant Liberation Front. If you don't know who the MLF is, you need to do some X-men homework. ANY character(s) who was(were) popular during the early 90's is a certified
x-celebrity, as there has never been a period in history when the X-books sold better.

In fact, Reaper made a number of appearances during PAD's original X-Factor run. I think PAD even cut his original hand off.

[Dagger]

Things I liked:
The cover. Georgeousness! Rctor saving the day! Rahne getting some development! FINALLY! Plus, this is the best Rahne has looked in quite a long time. I really hate the way Raimondi draws her. She looks terrible. M was brilliant, as always.

Things I didn't like: Rictor's not powered anymore. How easy X-Cell was taken out. Marrow getting run through. If she dies I'll be pi double s-ed.

[jarrod]

Well aparently Madrox isn't a mutant either. I think some time during the first 12 issues of this X-Factor series PAD introduced a theory about "mutants before mutants" that are called Changelings or something. It has something to do with mutants that have had thier powers since birth. I don't really understand any of it.
Sure, only problems with that theory though....

(1) We have Selene, a mutant who's 12,000-16,000 years old. And she's not the only "ancient" mutant on record (Apocalypse, The Shadow King, etc)

(2) We have records of tons of mutants manifesting abilities from birth and before birth even (Xaiver, Nightcrawler, Meggan, etc) including Nathan and Rachel Summers, who're arguably two the highest evolved mutants yet.

(3) Jamie's still got the same "X-Factor" gene all other mutants do. Hell, if he really had this sort of genetic differentiation, don't you think maybe Moira, oh, might've brought it up during the years he was working for her?



.... I dunno, these "offshoot" ideas almost always end up logically unsound, conflict with established canon and are reconned away eventually anyway (Externals, the Neo, etc). PAD should just move on imo.

[rilokyle]

Me too. Raimondi makes everything sexy, especially Jaime.

Agreed. He's yummy!

[Mikl C]

I'm SO EFFING PISSED OFF Marrow is not repowered. ARGGRGRHRHRGH

[Hi-Fi]

I'm SO EFFING PISSED OFF Marrow is not repowered. ARGGRGRHRHRGH
She was lucky! All the people repowered apparently died!

[Mikl C]

She was lucky! All the people repowered apparently died!

But they got sucked into the hole and will show up sometime repowered I JUST KNOW IT.
But then again Marrow's powers were always causing her pain so it's beyond me why she'd want them. But then she is a proud Morlock. But then she was so happy when the HE depowered everyone. Meh.?

I agree this issue lacked oomph. I liked the issues where nothing even happened more.
Also Quicky losing his mistcrystal powers is bad.

[Hi-Fi]

But they got sucked into the hole and will show up sometime repowered I JUST KNOW IT.
LOL you really think that? I think we'll never see them again. EVER.

[Mikl C]

LOL you really think that? I think we'll never see them again. EVER.

:(
lol.
True.
Cannon fodder.
BUT REPOWERED CANNON FODDER >:o

[Alex A Sanchez]

Sure, only problems with that theory though....

(1) We have Selene, a mutant who's 12,000-16,000 years old. And she's not the only "ancient" mutant on record (Apocalypse, The Shadow King, etc)


There are no problems with the Changeling theory.

(1) If Selene is 16,000 years old, that just means that there were Changelings around 20,000 years ago or so.


(2) We have records of tons of mutants manifesting abilities from birth and before birth even (Xaiver, Nightcrawler, Meggan, etc) including Nathan and Rachel Summers, who're arguably two the highest evolved mutants yet.


(2) That's sort of the point: Nightcrawler et. al. are not really mutants(!) Notice how none of the Changelings were depowered during M-Day. Sure they were called mutants, but that's only because no one knew any better.

And whatever writer claimed that Rachel and Nathan are more "highly evolved" than any of the other mutants does not understand evolution: it doesn't occur within a species. To be more highly evolved than someone/thing else, you have to belong to a new species. (p.s.- I don't ever recall Nathan ever having powers as an infant? Did they develop in the future?)


(3) Jamie's still got the same "X-Factor" gene all other mutants do. Hell, if he really had this sort of genetic differentiation, don't you think maybe Moira, oh, might've brought it up during the years he was working for her?


No we don't know that he has the same "X-Factor" gene all other mutants do. Mutants have never been identified by their geno-type: its always been there pheno-type. A kid grows wings, everyone just automatically assumes they are mutants. The only people examined on the genetic level were the ones with deseases or who were altered by someone's powers. When Jamie contracted the Legacy Virus, he was never examined because he kept it a secret until the day he died.

Why would Moira know anything about Jamie's genetic make up? He was her lab assistant, not her lab subject. She's never had any reason to to study him on the chromosomal level. When her an Xavier first helped him get his power under control, I'm sure they were far more interested in the physics involved and the molecular rearrangement- none of which call for an examination of his genetic material.


.... I dunno, these "offshoot" ideas almost always end up logically unsound, conflict with established canon and are reconned away eventually anyway (Externals, the Neo, etc).

This is one of the offshoot ideas that makes a lot of logical sense, actually. I admit it may conflict with some established canon. For example: how could Jamie contract the Legacy Virus if he wasn't a mutant?
But even so, these can easily be explained: mutants are so genetically similar to Changelings that the viruses are contagious to both. There are some diseases that we can catch that monkeys can also catch. See? It all makes sense. :)

[The Lucky One]

Madrox does show up on Cerebro, so apparently it detects "changelings" as well as mutants proper.

-D

[Dagger]

Cable as baby Nathan was seen using powers as early as X-Factor 35. Now, what about Franklin and Valeria Richards? Where do they fit in all this, since they both retained their powers.

[Archer]

.... I dunno, these "offshoot" ideas almost always end up logically unsound, conflict with established canon and are reconned away eventually anyway (Externals, the Neo, etc). PAD should just move on imo.

Has Jamie's "offshoot" status been confirmed by anyone other than, you know, the crazy bad guy? Cos crazy bad guys have been known to lie in order to manipulate people.

[Grunty]

(2) That's sort of the point: Nightcrawler et. al. are not really mutants(!) Notice how none of the Changelings were depowered during M-Day. Sure they were called mutants, but that's only because no one knew any better.

Sorry but thats not completly true. Marrow got depowered and she is closer to being a killcrop/ changeling then Nightcrawler.

Because if i remember right, the discreption of a Changeling was that they are mutants whos mutation shows soon after birth or at least before adolesence (which is the time normal mutants show theire powers).

However this only counts to mutants who are born from two humans. Since a mutants as parent often results in the child being mutant from birth (which then are not changling/killcrops).

So because Raven (mutant) is Kurts (mutant) mother he does not fit into the killcrop/changeling mutant species. The same counts for Nathan and Rachel.

*Note that the following is pure theory set together by small details*
Marrow however has her mutantion before she reached adolesence. Since in many flashbacks of her during the Mutant Massacre and when Gambit saved her she was shown with her mutation but often as not older then 8 years (note how small she was when Gambit carried her away in Uncanny X-men 350).
Add to that her parents where not Morlocks or else she would have often talked about them, since she always talked about Morlocks and how Callisto is like a mother to her but never about having parents.
This leads me to belive that her parents where humans who set her out after seeing that she is mutants, so the morlocks found her and raised her.

So its highly possible that Marrow is a killcrop/changeling like Madrox. Yet she got depowered.

[Omega Alpha]

Madrox does show up on Cerebro, so apparently it detects "changelings" as well as mutants proper.


Or simply there is no such thing as a "killcrop", and the concept is just a rationalization by Tryp so he could justify his hate for mutants.

[Faded]

Things I liked:
The cover. Georgeousness! Rctor saving the day! Rahne getting some development! FINALLY! Plus, this is the best Rahne has looked in quite a long time. I really hate the way Raimondi draws her. She looks terrible. M was brilliant, as always.

Things I didn't like: Rictor's not powered anymore. How easy X-Cell was taken out. Marrow getting run through. If she dies I'll be pi double s-ed.

Khoi Pham is not the greatest artist, but his wolfy Wolfsbane and Monet looked leagues better than Raimondi's. I really just don't like his renditions of either character.

Sure, only problems with that theory though....

(1) We have Selene, a mutant who's 12,000-16,000 years old. And she's not the only "ancient" mutant on record (Apocalypse, The Shadow King, etc)

(2) We have records of tons of mutants manifesting abilities from birth and before birth even (Xaiver, Nightcrawler, Meggan, etc) including Nathan and Rachel Summers, who're arguably two the highest evolved mutants yet.

(3) Jamie's still got the same "X-Factor" gene all other mutants do. Hell, if he really had this sort of genetic differentiation, don't you think maybe Moira, oh, might've brought it up during the years he was working for her?



.... I dunno, these "offshoot" ideas almost always end up logically unsound, conflict with established canon and are reconned away eventually anyway (Externals, the Neo, etc). PAD should just move on imo.

Yeah, I'm willing to give it a chance but from this view its not something I'm really interested in.

Isn't Marrow still a wanted criminal for murdering all those nightclubbers? So far as I know, Jamie is trying to run a legit outfit....

Well Monet killed a guy in Paris and Siryn was her accomplice!

She'd fit right in.

Agreed. I mean, I don't even KNOW who Abyss or Reaper are! PAD really scraped the D-List bin when he crafted this X-Cell team. But perhaps that was intentional- to show how stupid some characters are. I mean, X-Cell was pretty much a joke. X-Factor rallied them so easily!

And yeah, there wasn't enough of X-Factor this month. Aside from Layla, none of the other team members did much of anything in the book.

The art was okay for me, but not spectacular. I'm glad Ramiondi is back next issue though!

I just wish X-Cell would've gotten more development. Other than Marrow, they're not characters I'm interested in but I think PAD could've changed that. So maybe they were meant to be throwaway. :\

Conceptually, this was my favorite arc but I don't think it was explored thoroughly enough to maximize on its potential.

I still thought it was fun though.

[Faded]

I'm SO EFFING PISSED OFF Marrow is not repowered. ARGGRGRHRHRGH

She was lucky! All the people repowered apparently died!

Yuh! She can be repowered for real later.

LOL you really think that? I think we'll never see them again. EVER.

I think we will because their end was so open-ended. But then again, since Blob wasn't with them maybe we won't.

As long as Marrow wasn't with them... :D

[Pro]

I really don't see what's so difficult or illogical about the idea of killcrops ..

ES Spoiler

Btw, i'm hoping to see the subject of Tryp being discussed with relation to ES. With the marauders after time-displaced people and talking about a prophesy: "one minute before dawn", which is making me think they're talking about repowerment, it would seem like an interesting time for old man Tryp to make an appearance

End spoiler

[Pro]

maybe we won't.

Pff, calls herself a comic book reader :p. If you don't see the body they will come back. Abbys was a formidable opponent in AoA and he seems to have become a lot colder in this reality after these events, it'll be interesting to see what will happen if Nightcrawler and Abbys meet up again.

[Fatguy]

Madrox is the coolest dude ever. Garbage can shield wall? Priceless!

Also, I actually dont mind Khoi Pham. He has his moments, and I really like his Wolfsbane. The book has coloring issues too, fix that and give him a little more experience on the title, I think he could've been a fine fit.

[Greg Anderson]

Question: ... Why exactly were the repowered mutants dying? :confused: Because I specifically remember when mutants got their powers back from Pietro, it just went nuts than finally faded away. And also, exactly why did they need Rictor? How did him being there work? Fun read, but a little confused about those aspects of the book.

[Greg Anderson]

...sorry...

[Greg Anderson]

One again...:o

[Greg Anderson]

.........heh

[Greg Anderson]

ugh, this is getting annoying... :mad:

[Greg Anderson]

(sighs and just edits)

[Greg Anderson]

One more to go...

[Greg Anderson]

:o Hope you guys enjoyed...

[Syzygy]

Why would Moira know anything about Jamie's genetic make up? He was her lab assistant, not her lab subject. She's never had any reason to to study him on the chromosomal level. When her an Xavier first helped him get his power under control, I'm sure they were far more interested in the physics involved and the molecular rearrangement- none of which call for an examination of his genetic material.

No, I can't see this as bearing any weight. They're both geneticists; of course, if they want to understand his power, an examination of his DNA is one of the places they'd look. And Moira being rabidly curious about such things generally, it's beyond astonishment if she didn't examine his DNA.

Meanwhile, I'm not convinced an examination of Madrox's DNA would have shown anything significant. Some mutants just happen to develop or display powers at birth, and others don't. Those that have, have been weeded out over the centuries, killed in their cribs. So of course the mutants who tended to manifest later survived.

I wouldn't classify the early starters as a separate species or subspecies any more than I'd say mutant telepaths are a separate species from mutants who aren't telepaths. This regardless of what Mr. Tryp says. After all, given the variety of mutants and mutations, and given that they've always been lumped together regardless of obvious, multiple, and extreme differences, I'd say whether a mutant develops their power as a prepubescent, adolescent, or adult (latent) is pretty insignificant.

So, breaking the mutant species as recognized into separate subspecies' based upon when they first manifested their power sounds rather unreasonable to me. This isn't a criticism of PAD; I just don't agree with what one of his characters - a supervillain at that - is saying.

That the difference is significant to Mr. Tryp needn't convince us of anything. I suspect Hank McCoy and Charles Xavier won't find Mr. Tryp's insistance that early-manifesting mutants are a separate species at all convincing. I'm going to wait until I hear it from them before I take Mr. Tryp's word on anything.

Neither is it clear to me how Changelings are an "intermediate step" betwen mutants and humans. It seems just as sensible to suppose it works the other way around, with mutants being the "intermediate step." Since the "intermediate step" thing works both ways, I don't find it as convincing as to suppose vthat early manifestation is just one mutant trait among many, like telepathy or a prehensile tail; some get it, some don't.

[Syzygy]

:o Hope you guys enjoyed...

An Octuple post. You get the prize!

[Slung]

:o Hope you guys enjoyed...

Greg, go check out my posts in the Ramos: famous or Lame-ous. I had a similar problem...

[Faded]

Question: ... Why exactly were the repowered mutants dying? :confused: Because I specifically remember when mutants got their powers back from Pietro, it just went nuts than finally faded away. And also, exactly why did they need Rictor? How did him being there work? Fun read, but a little confused about those aspects of the book.

Good questions. Mr. David?

[Pro]

True, could have been made clearer but we still have an issue dealing with the fallout of the x-cell storyline, right? Rictor's dying and i suspect Rahne will be vital in helping him. With Layla "i know stuff" Miller insisting she stays to help Rictor i'm fairly hopefull he'll survive somehow.

I'm a little worried about future team shakeups. We know the teamwill change soon, some new faces, some old ones leaving the book. Rictor was mentioned as having a role in ES. Hope it's not on Beast's autopsy table ..

Rictor's situation begs the question though:"How gone are mutant abilities really?". If there is no genetic marker for a mutant's power how come they still get their old powers back and not simply an entirely new mutant gift?
It seems to me that there are still genetic traces that hold the template for mutation, the shape a mutation takes is still genetically there even if the genetic marker that activates the mutation is gone. If not then a new random mutant power would be initiated upon restoring the x-gene. In storylines following what happened to mutant energies after M-day we find it is always exactly that: energy.

So the x-gene activates "mutant energy" (whatever that might be) which then is molded into a specific mutation. the x-gene is the trigger, but the form must be dictated by another genesequence.

Following that logic then what Quicksilver did was use Rictor's genetic template to activate it by using his gift of repowering mutants through investing "mutant energy" into Rictor and controlling Rictor's power to channel it into others. Not entirely sure though why he thought Rictor's power would help (which he decidely did not!) because his "connection to the earth" theory sounded pretty flimsy. Instead i pose the theory that mutant energy requires vibration at the exact same frequency as it originally had in the host body otherwise it damages the genetic mold and the power flows out of control, either causing damage to the genetic mold which dictates how the mutant energy manifests in a hostbody, or simply by overloading and exploding its host.

[Greg Anderson]

I'm a little worried about future team shakeups. We know the teamwill change soon, some new faces, some old ones leaving the book. Rictor was mentioned as having a role in ES. Hope it's not on Beast's autopsy table ..



I don't know if this was mentioned already in one of the ES boards, but the panel when Beast is talking to Mr. Fantastic and Stark, there was someone on an autopsy table, it seems. It looked quite like Rictor as that's who I suspected it to be when I first saw the panel. What do you guys think?

[Greg Anderson]

Rictor's situation begs the question though:"How gone are mutant abilities really?". If there is no genetic marker for a mutant's power how come they still get their old powers back and not simply an entirely new mutant gift?
It seems to me that there are still genetic traces that hold the template for the x-gene, the shape a mutation takes is still genetically there even if the genetic marker that activates the mutation is gone. If not then a new random mutant power would be initiated upon restoring the x-gene. In storylines following what happened to mutant energies after M-day we find it is always exactly that: energy.

So the x-gene activates "mutant energy" (whatever that might be) which then is molded into a specific mutation. the x-gene is the trigger, but the form must be dictated by another genesequence.

Following that logic then what Quicksilver did was use Rictor's genetic template to activate it by using his gift of repowering mutants through investing "mutant energy" into Rictor and controlling Rictor's power to channel it into others. Not entirely sure though why he thought Rictor's power would help (which he decidely did not!) because his "connection to the earth" theory sounded pretty flimsy. Instead i pose the theory that mutant energy requires vibration at the exact same frequency as it originally had in the host body otherwise it damages the genetic mold and the power flows out of control, either causing damage to the genetic mold which dictates how the mutant energy manifests in a hostbody, or simply by overloading and exploding its host.

...I'm going to need to read that at least three more times... :o

[Pro]

I don't know if this was mentioned already in one of the ES boards, but the panel when Beast is talking to Mr. Fantastic and Stark, there was someone on an autopsy table, it seems. It looked quite like Rictor as that's who I suspected it to be when I first saw the panel. What do you guys think?

Yea noticed that, though i think he got up at some point. I'll have to reread it.

...I'm going to need to read that at least three more times...

It's a bit complex yea ..

[Grunty]

I don't know if this was mentioned already in one of the ES boards, but the panel when Beast is talking to Mr. Fantastic and Stark, there was someone on an autopsy table, it seems. It looked quite like Rictor as that's who I suspected it to be when I first saw the panel. What do you guys think?

I checked it. Its indeed Rictor in the Endangered Species part of X-200 (its shown on the monitor). However its not an autopsy table. Its kind of a scanner. Also Rictor his pulling his torso up with his ellbows showing that he looks towards Beast and Stark which means he is alive when they scanned him.

However if this research is simply to scan an depowered (so rictor is the easiest to find) or if it was because of what happend in this issue, is not clear.

[Pyro]

Yeah, Layla is def NOT a changeling. But now she's not a mutant either so, it's gotta be some mo-jo by the Scarlet Witch.

I think we need a mini-series explaining Layla's journey to Wundagor and visiting Wanda to know WTF is up!!

With Rictor accompanying her so we can have snarky dialogue. :) And along the way they pick up Preview so Wanda can giver her powers back!:)Theyyyyyy're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz... :p Or rather, the Witch of Wundagore lol. That could actually be a pretty cool story, with Layla as a cynical, witty Dorothy taking a motley crew to go see Wanda.

[Faded]

I checked it. Its indeed Rictor in the Endangered Species part of X-200 (its shown on the monitor). However its not an autopsy table. Its kind of a scanner. Also Rictor his pulling his torso up with his ellbows showing that he looks towards Beast and Stark which means he is alive when they scanned him.

However if this research is simply to scan an depowered (so rictor is the easiest to find) or if it was because of what happend in this issue, is not clear.

How did I miss that?!?! It even says RICTOR in big letters on the screen. :o

I think its wise for Beast to thoroughly evaluate depowered mutants. As mentioned in one of Carey's various interviews, the M-Gene is more complex than just being erased.

Hopefully this means 'survival' for Rictor. For now, anyways.

[Peter David]

I don't know if this was mentioned already in one of the ES boards, but the panel when Beast is talking to Mr. Fantastic and Stark, there was someone on an autopsy table, it seems. It looked quite like Rictor as that's who I suspected it to be when I first saw the panel. What do you guys think?

I'm all for speculation, but I feel no hesitation in nipping this one: Rictor's not dead. He's not on an autopsy table anywhere.

PAD

[Greg Anderson]

I'm all for speculation, but I feel no hesitation in nipping this one: Rictor's not dead. He's not on an autopsy table anywhere.

PAD

Heh, thank goodness!:o I can breathe again.

[Volk1]

Theyyyyyy're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz... :p Or rather, the Witch of Wundagore lol. That could actually be a pretty cool story, with Layla as a cynical, witty Dorothy taking a motley crew to go see Wanda.

lol, you made it that much more FUN.

So, we have Layla, Rictor and Preview...maybe throw in Lady M, Madrox's suicidal dupe, and a special guest appearance by NORTHSTAR as the Wicked Witch of the West.:D

[Volk1]

I'm all for speculation, but I feel no hesitation in nipping this one: Rictor's not dead. He's not on an autopsy table anywhere.

PAD

PAD likes Rictor. I think that's cool. :cool: I bet you in the beginning he was like, wtfRictorlamez?!

But when he started to get into him, this whole story came about with him and now Ric's having a solid role coming up!

I'm glad he rescued him from limbo. :cool:

[jarrod]

(1) If Selene is 16,000 years old, that just means that there were Changelings around 20,000 years ago or so.
Problem with that though, Tryp implied proper mutants were a relatively recent occurance... I guess we may be in for a flurry of retcons then, establishing most of the pre-1950s mutants as killcrops.


(2) That's sort of the point: Nightcrawler et. al. are not really mutants(!) Notice how none of the Changelings were depowered during M-Day. Sure they were called mutants, but that's only because no one knew any better.
If there's really a genetic differentiation, I think people like Xaiver, Moira and Hank would've probably "known better" though. And plenty of mutants whom had their mutations at birth were decimated (Artie, Marrow, Lorna, etc).


And whatever writer claimed that Rachel and Nathan are more "highly evolved" than any of the other mutants does not understand evolution: it doesn't occur within a species. To be more highly evolved than someone/thing else, you have to belong to a new species. (p.s.- I don't ever recall Nathan ever having powers as an infant? Did they develop in the future?)
Evolution doesn't stop at strict Victorian notions of classification... the point was they're more advanced and yet they displayed their abilities at infancy (a suppossed sign of Killcrop "throwbacks"). If we consider Killcrops a separate species to mutants, we could probably make the same artificial differentiator with the Phoenix though, which actually have a specific genetic differentiator.

Nathan was projecting personal forcefields as a baby during X-Factor. So strong in fact, that they capable of repelling Jean's own teke.


No we don't know that he has the same "X-Factor" gene all other mutants do. Mutants have never been identified by their geno-type: its always been there pheno-type. A kid grows wings, everyone just automatically assumes they are mutants. The only people examined on the genetic level were the ones with deseases or who were altered by someone's powers. When Jamie contracted the Legacy Virus, he was never examined because he kept it a secret until the day he died.

Why would Moira know anything about Jamie's genetic make up? He was her lab assistant, not her lab subject. She's never had any reason to to study him on the chromosomal level. When her an Xavier first helped him get his power under control, I'm sure they were far more interested in the physics involved and the molecular rearrangement- none of which call for an examination of his genetic material.
Moira was a geneticist, it was her life's work. She had files on all the X-Men and their associates, I don't really see any compelling reasoning why she wouldn't have Jamie's DNA on file. She was also regularly examing their DNA makeup, which was how she discovered the (unfollowed up on) genetic anomaly in Rachel during early Excalibur.


This is one of the offshoot ideas that makes a lot of logical sense, actually. I admit it may conflict with some established canon. For example: how could Jamie contract the Legacy Virus if he wasn't a mutant?
But even so, these can easily be explained: mutants are so genetically similar to Changelings that the viruses are contagious to both. There are some diseases that we can catch that monkeys can also catch. See? It all makes sense. :)
Well, I agree it makes some logical sense, but then there's just so many immediate conflicts with established canon and continuity... if it holds, we're in for a mass of messy retcons. I'd really prefer the terminology be rooted in a historical rather than scientific basis though, which would fit better with Tryp's setup (and not make a mockery of Moira and Xaiver) anyway.

[Faded]

Random speculation time!

I wonder if there will be any long-term side-effects from Quicksilver's repowerment. There's still a lot of questions surrounding this, but there's gotta be a reason why Rictor wasn't shaking like everybody else or why he was chosen by Pietro. And now he's being scanned by Beast--for whatever reason in ES.

I wonder if the fatal, vibrational side-effect has anything to do with Rictor's original powerset.

Will all our questions be answered soon PAD?!

[MakeshiftHero]

Random speculation time!

I wonder if there will be any long-term side-effects from Quicksilver's repowerment. There's still a lot of questions surrounding this, but there's gotta be a reason why Rictor wasn't shaking like everybody else or why he was chosen by Pietro. And now he's being scanned by Beast--for whatever reason in ES.

I wonder if the fatal, vibrational side-effect has anything to do with Rictor's original powerset.

Will all our questions be answered soon PAD?!

Well didn't Quicksilver say that Rictor was different from the others and thats why he used him to repower the others? So there's probably some kind of immunity that Rictor has.

Maybe he'll just develop a real bad case of parkinsins diesease because of his shake/quake powers and the crystals.

[Alex A Sanchez]

Madrox is the coolest dude ever. Garbage can shield wall? Priceless!

The funny thing about the trash-can lids is that Jamie could have duplicated any number of dangerous weapons. He could have duplicated swords, knives, baseball bats even. But what does he chose? "Sheilds". Flimsy ones, at that. It just goes to show his hesitant nature. His agressive dupe, or his confident dupe would have the balls to duplicate a weapon that could do some damage, but the wishy-washy, insecure Jamie Prime chooses to protect himself instead. It's an interesting metaphor.


Also, I actually dont mind Khoi Pham. He has his moments, and I really like his Wolfsbane.

I don't mind Pham either. I don't love him like I did three issues ago, but he's by no means bad. This issue's cover was fantastic, even if it was a homage. I also love his Wolfsbane best- hopefully Pablo takes note how goofy she DOESN'T look in Pham's issues.

And also, exactly why did they need Rictor? How did him being there work?

I just assumed that Rictor acted as a buffer of sorts. I figured that Pietro's raw power was too much for most depowered mutants to handle, but by channeling it through Rictor, the intesity was dampered and thus the re-powered mutants would not be consumed by their powers as they typically are.

I wouldn't classify the early starters as a separate species or subspecies any more than I'd say mutant telepaths are a separate species from mutants who aren't telepaths.

You definitely are correct that it makes more sense to categorize types of mutants (such as a telepath vs. a shapeshifter) as separate species rather than the age of power onset. BUT, we may have not heard all there is to hear about killcrops. Having powers that manifest before puberty may be one one trait of a killcrop. Tryp may not have revealed the whole story about what makes a killcrop so special or different from mutants. Remember, there was a reason he was after infant Jamie- there was something Jamie had that mutants did not. We all know this concept will be revisited again. When it is, I'm will to bet that we are going to learn there is something special about Killcrops that is different from all other mutants.

So maybe I was wrong (I've concluded after reading other people's replies to my postings). Kurt, Marrow, etc. may actually just be mutants whos powers manifested before puberty and they are not Killcrops at all. Jamie and Tryp may actually be the only Killcrops we've ever seen. Only time will tell.

[Alex A Sanchez]

Theyyyyyy're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz... :p Or rather, the Witch of Wundagore lol. That could actually be a pretty cool story, with Layla as a cynical, witty Dorothy taking a motley crew to go see Wanda.

This would be awesome! PAD?

Remember back in the day when Rhane used to have those dreams where the X-Factor members were in a television show or movie, like Rhane's World or Rhane & Simpy? Some parody skits like that would be cool to see with the current group of X-Factor members.

[Alex A Sanchez]

Neither is it clear to me how Changelings are an "intermediate step" betwen mutants and humans. It seems just as sensible to suppose it works the other way around, with mutants being the "intermediate step." Since the "intermediate step" thing works both ways, I don't find it as convincing as to suppose vthat early manifestation is just one mutant trait among many, like telepathy or a prehensile tail; some get it, some don't.

No, it doesn't work the other way around.

Evolution 202: traits that help an organism to reproduce further the chance that that organism will live to pass their genetic material on to offspring.
Thus, it follows: traits that help an organism to survive increase an organism's chance of passing down its genetic material to its offspring.
Manifesting mutant powers after puberty increases an organisms chance of survival because the organism is old enough and wise enough to A) recognize danger, and B) to use its mutant power to defend itself against the danger.

Now what does having a mutant/killcrop power have to do with its age of manifestation? Simple: both traits are probably located on the same chromosome (trait pairing: a lesson from Genetics 303).

[Dagger]

PAD, while I loved Raimondi's art on the Madrox mini, is there any chance we're going to get that awesome Calero guy back on the book? His mood and characters just seem to fit this title better than Raimondi does, and I was really drawn in by how awesome his work was while he was on the title!!! Please get him back!!!

[Faded]

Speaking of the art, will we ever get the original costumes back? I think they're some of the best uniforms that go together well as a team, but at the same time look very distinct. They've been on some covers and Rictor was in his in the ES back-up, so I've been wondering if we'll ever see them return inside the pages of X-Factor.

And I still love Raimondi, but I just don't like his Monet--who is probably my favorite character on the team.

Calero was a nice fit on the title though. His expressions were great with PAD's humorous moments (though Raimondi wasn't too bad either in X-Factor 14). I hope the next fill-in is Adam Pollina. <3 <3 <3

[Archer]

My theory on Richtor was that Quicksilver wanted to (or told Richtor he wanted to, at any rate) link with him, and use Richtor's powers to spread his own repowering through the ground somehow.

Re the powers being the same even if the mutant gene is gone - is it possible that what power any person will have is encoded in a very large portion of DNA (this seems likely, given there is such a wide variety of powers), and the x-gene does nothing but turn it on? If that's the case, then Peitro could turn powers on even without the genetic trigger.

[stealthwise]

I thought that this latest arc was the weakest one, but still quite enjoyable. The art's not doing it for me perhaps, but I'm still interested in seeing where this book is going. We need some more focus on Guido, methinks.

[Anna]

How about this? Abyss teleports himself and his friends to Daddy, and cuts a deal to save them. Since the X-Men killed most of the Draco's heavy hitters...

[Alex A Sanchez]

I hope the next fill-in is Adam Pollina. <3 <3 <3


I wouldn't mind seeing Pollina on this title. Me likes. :)