X-Factor Forever #1 - Review/Spoilers

[Brian M.]

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/3/33806/1063087-1260994946_super.jpg
X-Factor Forever #1

Written by Louise Simonson

Art by Dan Panosian

The first page of this issue immediately tells me that this will be a different animal than X-Men Forever. I won’t spend the review comparing the two, but it needs to be said up front. This book isn’t a correction on what came after it, it’s not meant to be a tale of “you shoulda done this instead of this”. This is simply if Weezy had one more tale to tell, here’s what it would be. It shows too, b/c this issue is a lot of fun. There is no attempt here to change the status quo, mostly because this is a mini there is no need to really diverge this from the main 616 storyline. I believe it’s because of this that this story comes off pretty smoothly.

We open up with a bit of reintroduction to this time period. Scott and Jean are playing house with baby Nathan, Jean is still reeling from the effects of Inferno and the integration of all those memories. Bobby, Hank and Warren have all been in “stable” relationships and are off to go visit their significant others. Through their interactions with them we are given a pretty easy visual of where their relationships stand. Iceman and Opal aren’t too serious, they are young and in love, Trish and Hank have a pretty easy relationship as well. Warren is slowly adapting to being looked at something more than a horseman of Apocalypse, the scene with him taking Charlotte’s son to school was cute.

In between all of this we are given the beginning of the stories plot. Ship is recording again for the Celestials, it’s got programs X-Factor can’t access and neither can Ship’s sentience. Apocalypse is also watching X-Factor and he wants to know what Ship is recording and what it is answering for the Celestials. In order to do that he must get inside Ship, but he’s not had very much luck with X-Factor throughout the series’ run, so he needs a distraction for them. Cue Caliban.

Caliban here has one of the more interesting subplots going on. He wants revenge against the Marauders for the Mutant Massarce. We’re told that Caliban has already murdered all of the Marauders except for Sabertooth, who he is now stalking. They take the fight to the sewers and it’s a pretty good fight, back and forth and what not, of course Caliban gets the better of Sabertooth, he believes he’s dead but according to future covers…I highly doubt it. It seems that Apocalypse has been testing/watching Caliban and that by murdering the Marauders he hopes to prove himself to Apoc. He does. Caliban is then tasked by Apocalypse to go and retrieve Cameron Hodge’s head that is buried beneath the rubble of Genosha. I don’t know the continuity hear that well but was Hodge’s head immortal or something due to a deal with a demon? I assume this happened in Inferno but I don’t remember, I skipped anything that didn’t deal with Scott/Jean.

Another part of Apocalypse’s distraction is to resurrect the Master Mold unit that Cyclops fought in the earlier issues of the series. So you got Hodge and Master Mold being used so that Apocalypse can get into Ship and figure out what the Celestials are up too. It might seem like overkill, but with Panosian on art I don’t really care, it’s gonna be pretty to look at it.
The issue ends with X-Factor taking a walk…I assume, outside of Ship with baby Nathan. It’s a good reminder that at this era of mutants, X-Factor is beloved by the public. They are treated like celebrities all over NYC. Warren autographs stuff at Officer Jones’s son’s school, a cab driver gushes over Beast, Iceman is loved by Opal’s parents…they really have been accepted into the community. The last scene shows that while Jean discusses her unease about Ship’s recent problems…all while a Celestial ship heads to Earth…

There is also an Apocalypse origin story in the back of the issue, written by Louise as well. I had skipped this on my first read of this issue because it didn’t look too entertaining, but really, it is very good.

Obviously I’m biased because I loved this series; these characters are my all time favorites so my review is going to reflect that. The writing in this issue is dated, it’s not dated to the extreme that X-Men Forever displays, but the longer winded speeches happen a few time. What doesn’t happen is the constant repeating of powers, constant character history given when one character encounters another, it’s all pretty organic and doesn’t feel too forced either. The characters are what shine. When they are on the same page you get that they are basically an extended family unit. They’ve been doing this, together, for a long, long time and they are very good at it. The problems with Ship concern them, but honestly, why should it really scare them? What haven’t they stopped or defeated? The plot is a little overly complicated in places, what with the inclusion of Master Mold and Cameron Hodge it’s really all of X-Factor’s main villains in one place. With the Celestials coming and Mr. Sinister on the cover of the last issue it feels like this is really Louise Simonson’s finishing arc on the series.

The art is great. Panosian has his own style but it really feels like a fit in this story. Apocalypse might tend to look like an over grown blue monkey in places but I don’t really care, it’s his style, it’s still pretty true to the original character design so really…what’s it hurt? Scott, Jean, Hank and Warren all look like older versions of themselves that they should be, only Bobby looks like he’s been de-aged a bit. I don’t really like the ice-hair look on him, but it’s still very good stuff.

Overall, this feels like a very natural extension of the issues of X-Factor I read during Louise’s run. Its fun, it’s loose, but it’s starting to build up that anticipation of something big coming. With the Celestials, Apocalypse, Master Mold and Cameron Hodge all on the way the Original Five have a hell of a battle coming. I loved every page and I’m not afraid to say that this really was some old school goodness done right.

My Meaningless Rating :

O5/5

[harostar]

Caliban is then tasked by Apocalypse to go and retrieve Cameron Hodge’s head that is buried beneath the rubble of Genosha. I don’t know the continuity hear that well but was Hodge’s head immortal or something due to a deal with a demon? I assume this happened in Inferno but I don’t remember, I skipped anything that didn’t deal with Scott/Jean.

Yeah, right before Inferno started, Hodge made a deal with the same demon that turned Maddie into the Goblin Queen. It made him immortal, though stuck as a head after Warren chopped it off. (Always read that fine print.)

Sounds like a really solid issue, which is exactly what I was hoping it would be. I'll have to grab it tomorrow. Thanks for the review!

[CyberHubbs]

This makes me want to not only get the current comic, but also go find the old X-Factor series. Those were some good times that I'd forgotten about.

[Faded]

Caliban. <3

I like that he killed all of the Marauders. It seems fitting for the Mutant Massacre, even though I find it unlikely that he would be able to kill all of them.

[pryde15]

Sounds good, I'll pick it up tomorrow.

[Stephane Garrelie]

Excellent review.
I agree that X-Factor Forever #1 is great.
It felt a lot like the original run, more than X-Men Forever feels like Claremont's original X-Men run (X-Men Forever is on many level a new project -inspired by the original run and more or less chronolically coming after Claremont's original run- more that a real sequel.).

Of course given i dropped X-Factor as a monthly after the departure of Walt from the art, with the objective to buy the issues when -in the french edition- they where republished in book grouping three french issues (6 american issues), but only rarely actually bought it, and also given i didn't reread any X-Factor since the early 90s (excepted Inferno), if there were continuity errors i could probably not spot all of them.

But it FELT true to what i remember, and certainly WAs writen the way i want to see it writen.

Very enjoyable issue.

[jeansbff]

Any good jean moments?

[Flâneur]

Simonson corrects Claremont. <3<3<3

[AcesX1X]

this sounds like a good forever series! i wish x-men forever had been done in the same veins.

[C.Cole]

I was far too young when the original X-Factor was published and it never interested me. When I first saw the preview for this issue I was intrigued, and your review has me even more. This sounds like a book I would like to read, and despite my very tiny liking of the current direction of the X-Men franchise, I believe that it should be more like what this sounds like.

[Brian M.]

This makes me want to not only get the current comic, but also go find the old X-Factor series. Those were some good times that I'd forgotten about.

I highly recommend the issue. I know it's $4 addition, but the back up story really is some of the best Apoc characterization I've seen in a while.


Sounds good, I'll pick it up tomorrow.

Great to hear!


Any good jean moments?

This focused more one Bobby, Hank and Warren and their personal lives. What we got with Jean is what we saw in the preview.


this sounds like a good forever series! i wish x-men forever had been done in the same veins.

In X-Men Forever CC seemed to right for the CHANGE promise, b/c that being an ongoing you needed to really separate yourself from what came after. In doing so it just seems like it was a petty ego trip against other writers. You don't get that here. This story feels like, at least right now, that it could just slip into the end of her run and be fine.

[Vivica Kang]

This focused more one Bobby, Hank and Warren and their personal lives. What we got with Jean is what we saw in the preview.

Great review Brian M! Hopefully they shed some light on the legendary Jean G. next issue.

[BrightestDay]

Sounds cool.

I'll be picking this up later today.

[timbox]

Does it look like Cyclops will be retiring soon?

[Filthy Mutie]

Is Apocalypse as awesome as he should be, or was?

[Aguja]

The art looks amazing and I enjoy the group of characters. Also the story sounds solid. I will be picking this up as soon as I can.

Thanks for the review.

[RolandJP]

Excellent review.
I agree that X-Factor Forever #1 is great.
It felt a lot like the original run, more than X-Men Forever feels like Claremont's original X-Men run (X-Men Forever is on many level a new project -inspired by the original run and more or less chronolically coming after Claremont's original run- more that a real sequel.).

Of course given i dropped X-Factor as a monthly after the departure of Walt from the art, with the objective to buy the issues when -in the french edition- they where republished in book grouping three french issues (6 american issues), but only rarely actually bought it, and also given i didn't reread any X-Factor since the early 90s (excepted Inferno), if there were continuity errors i could probably not spot all of them.

But it FELT true to what i remember, and certainly WAs writen the way i want to see it writen.

Very enjoyable issue.


What Steph Said.


Also Eury/ Dan Panosian's art s gorgeous. After this mini maybe we can get this creative team on a Marvel 616 X-book.

[Brian M.]

Is Apocalypse as awesome as he should be, or was?

This feels like the one they had during X-Factor where his schemes gradually got bigger and bigger. Dealing with the Celestials seems like a pretty ambitious project.

[twbasketcase]

I loved this issue. I am so glad to see this team back together, even if it is just a mini. Give me the rest now please.

Also Hodge? Sweet Jesus yes.

[RoguishGurl]

I enjoyed the Angel bits a lot. Why did he break up with Charlotte Jones again?

[twobit]

Yes, this is the forever book I have waited for.Thank You Mrs. Simonson.

[pryde15]

I really enjoyed this, Weezy has managed to stay in form over the years.

[Gene M.]

My LCS was sold out. It felt like a kick in the balls when I saw that empty space on the shelf next to Legacy.

[McFarlane's Green Hulk]

My LCS was sold out. It felt like a kick in the balls when I saw that empty space on the shelf next to Legacy.

Ditto. Bummed me out.

[Jake V]

My LCS was sold out. It felt like a kick in the balls when I saw that empty space on the shelf next to Legacy.
I have that same reaction whenever I see Legacy on the shelves.

[Push You Down]

so what is Apocalypse's origin? Is it the standard 'Egytpian finds Celestial tech' one? Or did she have a different take?

[Brian M.]

so what is Apocalypse's origin? Is it the standard 'Egytpian finds Celestial tech' one? Or did she have a different take?

It wasn't a different take, but it got inside his head a little bit. It shows sorta the beginnings of his "Survival of the Fittest" mentality. He figures that if the Celestials can affect human evolution, maybe he can too. It's about 8 pages, it's good.

[fod_xp]

Any good jean moments?

Actually, yeah there are. I admit I only read the preview, but Jean making breakfast and taking the baby from Scott only using her telekinesis is pretty fucking cool!


Simonson corrects Claremont. <3<3<3

Agreed.

[drwho]

this was one of my favorite eras of X-Factor. i loved caliban apocalyplse,cameron hodge, trish tilby, opal, ship, and warren and his cop girlfriend. dont recall the name. Also i paged through this and wow all in one issue some of my favorite parts of x-men history used. So this is in no way connected to x-men forever?

[coconutphone]

Really, really, really great! Loved this. Weezy really fell back into fine form with this. Great way to re-introduce the timeline and move forward while not being too different from where #64 ended. I' glad they mentioned the Opal story from it.

It had that old-school X-Factor charm that made it my fave book as a kid.

Great job Weezy (and Dan. BEAUTIFUL art).

[Brian M.]

this was one of my favorite eras of X-Factor. i loved caliban apocalyplse,cameron hodge, trish tilby, opal, ship, and warren and his cop girlfriend. dont recall the name. Also i paged through this and wow all in one issue some of my favorite parts of x-men history used. So this is in no way connected to x-men forever?

This has nothing to do with X-Men Forever. Nothing at all.

[Polaris]

Excellent review! I love old school X-Factor. Can't wait to get this issue. Makes me want to dig through my collection and reread.

[coconutphone]

I really loved Caliban in this. I was sad when he went to the dark side but it was well done.

[diablo7]

i thought this was supposed to be an ongoing series?

[Joe Franklin]

i thought this was supposed to be an ongoing series?

I wish it were? :frown:

[Frank]

I'm unsure about this for the same problem I had with X-Men Forever and it's the artwork. Good artwork but I don't get the vibe of the series when the original creators were on it.

[diablo7]

if they do another x-factor forever mini, i'd like to see portacio continue his x-factor run. since it got cut short when marvel moved him over to uncanny.

[Frank]

if they do another x-factor forever mini, i'd like to see portacio continue his x-factor run. since it got cut short when marvel moved him over to uncanny.

I wouldn't mind that.

[Filthy Mutie]

It wasn't a different take, but it got inside his head a little bit. It shows sorta the beginnings of his "Survival of the Fittest" mentality. He figures that if the Celestials can affect human evolution, maybe he can too. It's about 8 pages, it's good.

I like that it's simplified, but I kind of laughed when I saw him turn into a big, blue-lipped bear.

[Carter Hall]

I was very, very pleasantly surprised to read this issue! It was great! I think it is already leaps and bounds better than a lot of Louise's original X-Factor run. She definitely hasn't lost her form over the years.

What I loved most about this book is that Simonson picks up exactly where she left off, without pretending that other concurrent X-books did not exist at that time. I love Chris Claremont, but one thing that really turned me off to X-Men Forever was that he pretends that the original X-Factor run never happened (and other concurrent books, it seems). As such, Chris's book is really not "picking up where Chris left off," but a sequel/re-imagining.

This, meanwhile, is taking place in the X-Universe in 1991 (just with different costumes). Plus every character in this seems very in-character, Apocalypse is AWESOME, and Caliban doesn't suck! And can we talk about the Apocalypse back-up feature? Freaking awesome!! Also, upon reading the first page, I like the fact that it's only going five issues, because as such it becomes like an "X-Factor: The End."

Just a solid read. Good story, good art, good everything. I eagerly await the next four!

[jeansbff]

Actually, yeah there are. I admit I only read the preview, but Jean making breakfast and taking the baby from Scott only using her telekinesis is pretty fucking cool!

Jean will destroy them all! :evilsmile:

[Talisman]

I can't wait to pick this up. I am eagerly anticipating this series.

[Brian M.]

I can't wait to pick this up. I am eagerly anticipating this series.

Don't troll me, not here. Save it for the Uncanny thread. I need this book.

[Talisman]

Don't troll me, not here. Save it for the Uncanny thread. I need this book.
But I am being sincere! I enjoyed most of Weezie's run on X-Factor. She writes the best Angel and Jean.

[Brian M.]

But I am being sincere! I enjoyed most of Weezie's run on X-Factor. She writes the best Angel and Jean.

I'm not falling for this. We don't agree on anything.

[Talisman]

I'm not falling for this. We don't agree on anything.

Sure we do. The ass end of Weezie's run was a bit blah for me, but her final story with the cyborg ninjas was awesome. I just wish we would have seen her final story featuring Apocalypse.

[Brian M.]

Sure we do. The ass end of Weezie's run was a bit blah for me, but her final story with the cyborg ninjas was awesome. I just wish we would have seen her final story featuring Apocalypse.

This feels like a trap...but I will go along with your support.

[Talisman]

This feels like a trap...but I will go along with your support.

Would I possibly try to trap you??? You wound me, Brian!

http://frtim.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/puppy-dog-eyes.jpg

[darknessatnoon]

This was on the third page of the board. I can't believe it. I held off from reading it but this was the best issue of the week. I had forgotten how great X-Factor was back in the day. And even though they made a mistake using Jean Grey instead of Tessa or Dazzler, and got dragged into all her schizophrenic drama, the comic always kept a fresh, superheroic, feel. When I think back to those days, it was a great contrast with CC's X-Men. You could be a mutant and still be an ordinary person instead of walking around with a mohawk or knives in your fists.

And this issue totally captured that feel. The major flaw in Simonson's last arc was the grotesque art which has been corrected now.

The only thing that upset me was the retcon that makes Apocalypse Uzbekistani instead of Egyptian. That was a tad racist.

[Darth Pipes]

I read it today and I have to say I like the set-up. I never read a lot of X-Factor but it felt like the X-Factor comics that I had read. It doesn't feel contrived like X-Men Forever and I'm very much looking forward to more. I thought this issue was marred heavily by the constant, unnatural restating of powers and plots from previous X-Factor comics. It was worse than Claremount's work in this regard. I certainly hope we aren't going to be treated to long-winded dialogue where characters discuss what happened to them in X-Factor #19 and so on.

[RolandJP]

Would I possibly try to trap you??? You wound me, Brian!

http://frtim.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/puppy-dog-eyes.jpg


http://420.thrashbarg.net/barackbar_08_he_knows_when_its_a_trap_barack_obama _2008_campaign_spoof_admiral_ackbar.jpg

[Ping]

I'm loving this Forever line, and hope that much more is on the way! X-Factor was the first X-Men comic that I collected monthly that I rated up with my favorite comics. I didn't read the Claremont/Byrne/Austin stuff when it originally came out, and while I really liked Uncanny X-Men under Claremont and artists like John Romita Jr and Marc Silvestri, it didn't quite rank up there with Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Avengers, Fantastic Four, Hulk, or Spider-Man for me. X-Factor did.

Weezie picks it up and doesn't miss a beat. This was the type of comic that I wish more comics were written like, and Dan Panosian provided some very nice artwork. A part of me does wish that Marvel would have gotten Walt to draw this series, but with his DC exclusive contract, that wasn't happening.

Lots of story, great characterizations, and both Apocalypse and Cameron Hodge! With all due respect to Peter David, THIS was the X-Factor that I love.

[Filthy Mutie]

This was on the third page of the board. I can't believe it. I held off from reading it but this was the best issue of the week.
This is how I feel about Wolverine: Weapon X every month, but it looks like I'll be having more of that while this series runs.


I had forgotten how great X-Factor was back in the day. ... When I think back to those days, it was a great contrast with CC's X-Men. You could be a mutant and still be an ordinary person instead of walking around with a mohawk or knives in your fists.
I used to like how they had a huge landmark base in the middle of the city like a "legitimate" superhero team. When the X-Men went super-underground so they could get their butts handed to them in secret, it stole away some of the appeal of the team.


And this issue totally captured that feel. The major flaw in Simonson's last arc was the grotesque art which has been corrected now.
I can't remember who did the art for that.


The only thing that upset me was the retcon that makes Apocalypse Uzbekistani instead of Egyptian. That was a tad racist.
When was he revealed to be Egyptian, anyway?

[Godlike13]

So far, so good :biggrin:

[darknessatnoon]

When was he revealed to be Egyptian, anyway?

His first appearance. Blue is an Egyptian color.

http://i41.tinypic.com/97iaft.jpg

[Fatguy]

This actually sounds pretty good. I was a HUGE fan of X-Factor, but I hadn't even considered picking this up after how ridiculous X-Men Forever was/is.

[darknessatnoon]

This actually sounds pretty good. I was a HUGE fan of X-Factor, but I hadn't even considered picking this up after how ridiculous X-Men Forever was/is.

It was fun. It will make you feel young again.

[Aguja]

OMG the racial stereotyping in those panels is making me hot. Infidels!!!! <3

[MarvelMaster616]

I finally got a chance to read this issue and in a nutshell, it was everything I wished the original X-men Forever would be. Where Chris Claremont came up short, Louise Simonson passed with flying colors. This issue flowed perfectly from the old school world of X-Factor, setting up a new dynamic to break itself off from the 616 continuity and beginning a fresh story that felt engaging and exciting. This is X-Factor in it's best form. There's a touch of nostalgia, but it doesn't feel like it came from the 80s thanks to the art. While I would argue that the art in X-men Forever is better, it still feels novel and true to the spirit of X-Factor. It feels like a book that belongs in the 2000s and not the 1980s. For something that has a continuity based decades ago, that's quite an accomplishment.

In many ways this issue helped get the reader situated with X-Factor. In a sense they're very similar to what the Avengers used to be like, mainstream superheroes that smiled for the cameras and publicly took on anti-mutant forces like Apocalypse and Cameron Hodge. It also established the relationships of the time with Beast and Trish, Bobby and Opal, and Warren and Charlotte. In some ways it was a recap for those who unfamiliar with the time, but there wasn't too much dwelling. Simonson gave readers just enough to set the tone for each relationship and put it into a context. Scott and Jean were nicely done as well, picking up right where they left off in X-Factor after Jean rejected Scott's marriage proposal but still making it work and raising baby Nathan in the process. It's as if Simonson never left, a feeling that was certainly missed in Claremont's Forever.

In addition to the relationships, Simonson set the stage for Apocalypse to be a major player along with Caliban and Hodge. For anyone who read the original X-Factor, it's a nice blending of the major villains involved in the series. What's truly remarkable is that there was just enough exposition for each character for the reader to understand their motives without having any knowledge of the previous books. Even a casual reader can look at this issue and go "Okay, so this is what happened to Hodge and this is what Apocalypse is trying to do and this is where Caliban and Sabretooth fit into the picture." It all comes together quite nicely and makes the reader look forward to the next issue even more.

If there's any criticism this book deserves, it stems from it's very nature. While Simonson did a good job setting up the exposition to catch the readers up on X-Factor history, it still felt too much like an introduction and didn't move the plot forward as much as it could have. This issue felt too much like a preface, only setting the stage for the next few issues where the meat of the story would emerge. For a book of this nature it's only logical that exposition would be part of it. There just isn't the proper balance of plot to even it out.

In addition to the structure of the issue, the dialogue felt a little flat at times. Through most of the issue the voice of the characters was well done, but in some areas it was a little wordy and there weren't many memorable lines to take away from the issue. X-men Forever had this same issue to a lesser extent. Both do tend to use older styles of dialogue and narration. That may be part of the package to give the comic that nostalgia feel, but it could never her to thrust a bit of the 2000s into the text. The dialogue just wasn't conversational enough and part of that may be to the introductory nature of this issue.

Overall, I really enjoyed this first issue and I definitely look forward to getting the next one. Unlike the first X-men Forever, this comic didn't try to be too radical for the sake of being radical. It didn't force characters into new situations without any development. It didn't try to make a splash on the very first page or shock the readers into accepting this title as something entirely new. It just took what made the old X-Factor great, updated it, and continued the story. For old school fans and new readers, it definitely works. I give it a solid 4 out of 5. It's the Forever title fans have been waiting for and I'm happy to say it was worth the wait. :cool:

[Brian M.]

Good to see many positive reviews. Hopefully this series keeps it up.

[Pro]

tempted to give this a try ...

[Gene M.]

I finally found a copy yesterday. I loved this freaking book. This is exactly what I want to see in the Forever books. Weezie's dialogue is rings true with every line, sounding like the characters I remember reading years ago. The story is fantastic so far, giving a "last hurrah" to the world of X-Factor and creating a sense that anything and everything will happen before the end of series. Panosian's art was spot on. It's a shame the core X-Books don't look this good.

I'm currently collecting the original run of X-Factor, and I can see this series fitting right in with what I've read so far. After this mini is over and I've collected up to issue 64 of the original book, I can see this series being read in the context of those issues without missing a beat. Great stuff.

[Filthy Mutie]

I finally found a copy yesterday. I loved this freaking book. This is exactly what I want to see in the Forever books. Weezie's dialogue is rings true with every line, sounding like the characters I remember reading years ago. The story is fantastic so far, giving a "last hurrah" to the world of X-Factor and creating a sense that anything and everything will happen before the end of series. Panosian's art was spot on. It's a shame the core X-Books don't look this good.

I'm currently collecting the original run of X-Factor, and I can see this series fitting right in with what I've read so far. After this mini is over and I've collected up to issue 64 of the original book, I can see this series being read in the context of those issues without missing a beat. Great stuff.

It's important to me that the sales of this book eclipses the five highest-selling books in the X-Men: Corrections series.

[No Spring Chicken]

X-Men: Corrections?

[diablo7]

finally got the first issue and i thought it was really good. it's ashame that it's only 5 issues. i'd of like to see them keep the x-factor costumes for issue 64, but the new ones look pretty good. except for iceman looking like he's still a teenager, that's the only downside to the book.

[Joe Acro]

There is one major thing for me to like about this issue: Apocalypse. Simonson returns to the character she created and writes him as he should be written. The behind-the-scenes manipulator instead of the world conqueror. That would have been enough. But no! Now we have a better origin for him than the one we've had. He was part of the rise of man, long, long ago! If he's the first mutant and has lived through the ages posing as various gods, it makes sense for him to have been there that long. Also, it's revealed his shape-shifting and immortality were part of his mutancy and not powers of his Celestial technology. It's something I've often wondered, at least.

I like the research that was taken to account for where Cameron Hodge and Master Mold when have been and what condition they would have been in. I certainly didn't recall that Cyclops reduced Master Mold to just a head, but that's exactly what had happened and that piece of continuity is carried through to here.

Yes, there are good moments with X-Factor and Caliban. But it's all these elements with Apocalypse and just general continuity that make me love this comic.

Oh, and the art's nice, too. It seems to be playing off the loose linework Walt Simonson used to provide to the series, and I like it.

[twobit]

I too love it.

[Havok83]

I just read and loved it. Only negative I can say is that there wasnt enough Jean. She like disappeared after the first few pages