X-Factor #35 --Discussion and Spoilers

[RickyD410]

X-Factor #35
By Peter David and Larry Stroman

Summary:

It starts off with Darwin. Inside a human test-tube. A sinister man named Mr. Maru is standing either on top of him, or next to him. I dont know, it changes with the angle (hooray for Stroman). He says this procedure that theyre about to embark on will change the way the entire world views mutants. Unfortunately, Darwin might have to die in the process.

Cut to a hospital, Madrox, M, and Rictor meet with Lieutenant Weiss. They found Darwin's father the day that he was reunited with Darwin. He has a bullet in his brain, but is somehow still alive. The incredibly stupid Lieutenant doesnt seem to believe that psychics exist in the Marvel U, and scoffs when Monet tries to discover what happened to him. Either way, she cant, cus he's suffered way too much brain damage.

Back at XF Investigations, the real Longshot shows up. Guido tries to kill him because he thinks its the Skrull again. But as Longshot points out, if he was a skrull, and he can choose to look like anyone he wants, why would he look like the someone whom X-Factor already knows to be a skrull? Guido is still really confused, but Siryn (who looks like a fat medusa/little mermaid hybrid) convinces him to put Longshot down.

Anyway, Longshot came to Detroit because he saw his picture in the paper (actually it was the Skrull) and he was confused because he knew that he wasnt in Detroit then. So he went to hire the help of a detective agency to find out why. Siryn tells him that Madrox is at a hospital, and suddenly Longshot has a hunch that he needs to be there too.

Cut to Darwin again, we see Mr. Maru kill a man as he attempts to do the same thing that Darwin is there to do.

On the way to the hospital, Longshot explains to Strong Guy why he and Dazzler arent together anymore. Basically, the love that was once there isnt, because Longshot lost all his memories. And faking that love just made it hurt even more. And aparently, Longshot has that Gambit power that makes girls fall all over him (I didnt know that). And that annoyed Dazz a bit.

At the hospital, Monet wants to jump Longshot's bones. And... so does Lieutenant Weiss (yipes). Longshot gets a psychic reading off of Armando's father. He sees the last moments of his conscious life. He sees them walk away from XF Investigations, and he sees Mr. Munoz shove Darwin in a van where he's tied up and put in a bag. Mr. Munoz wants his $500,000 that he was promised for delivering his son to The Karma Project, but the men just shoot him and drive away. His last vision is of the Van's license plate.

Longshot tells Madrox what happens, and in a fury, Madrox punches the wall and creates a dupe. The dupe asks Jamie to watch his mouth, and while Jamie calls Terry to run a search on the plate number and the name of the project, Jamie's dupe promply smothers Darwin's father with his pillow.

Review:

Hooray for the return of X-Factor Dupe!! That was, as usual, unexpected and pretty cool.

The art sucked. Every person looked fat and ugly. Everything was clear and understood, but I doubt we could if there were any fight scenes. The angles were very weird and there was lots of unnecessary shading.

I didnt really see the need for Longshot in this ish. I dont know much about him, but he kinda reminded me of Layla from HoM: he just automatically knows how to move the story along. He randomly knew to go to the hospital. And at the hospital, I think if PAD wanted to, M could have done the exact same thing. PAD didnt need to say there was too much brain damage, he could have just had M read Mr. Munoz's mind. That scene was pretty well done, but I think M could have done the exact same thing.

All in all, it was an ok ish... The art was terrible, and that took alot away. Also, I'm probably a little biased, because I really dont like Longshot OR Darwin very much. Not much happened in this ish except for Longshot shows up, and we learn what happened to Darwin. Other than that, people kind of just stand around.

Not one of X-Factor's best issues. It needs Layla Miller back right now. Immediately.

[Pach!]

Yes it definitely needs Layla back.. and Raimondi or Sook or Calero. Anyone would be great at this point.

[Beast]

Longshot's memories were starting to come back at the end of DBTS.

Guess he didn't get anything more than a few residual memories.

The explaination works well enough, they're no longer together and Pad can play with Longshot.

I guess the 'Charm Power' is just Longshot's luck power allowing him to easily Get Lucky.

[Novaya Havoc]

I do not appreciate this sexist propaganda.

[worstblogever]

Originally Posted by Novaya Havoc

I do not appreciate this sexist propaganda.

It was the boyfriend's half of the breakup, to be sure. But you know what? Longhost's gonna get his own *ss in a sling. Why? Scope this:

Who does he dish to about his dirty laundry with Dazzler?

Strong Guy. Who does Strong Guy keep on speed dial to gush at?

Lila Cheney. Who tours with Lila Cheney, and helps her sub-par concerts become fabulous?

Dazzler.

So how long before Longshot shooting his mouth off comes back to haunt him?

Feasibly, not long. And when Ali grabs him by his mullet and rams him face first into a wall, well, that will be the day the sexism gets reversed.

Patience, Dazzler fans. If we all think very hard, PAD might just write such a scene. I hope.

[worstblogever]

I didnt really see the need for Longshot in this ish. I dont know much about him, but he kinda reminded me of Layla from HoM: he just automatically knows how to move the story along. He randomly knew to go to the hospital. And at the hospital, I think if PAD wanted to, M could have done the exact same thing. PAD didnt need to say there was too much brain damage, he could have just had M read Mr. Munoz's mind. That scene was pretty well done, but I think M could have done the exact same thing.

All in all, it was an ok ish... The art was terrible, and that took alot away. Also, I'm probably a little biased, because I really dont like Longshot OR Darwin very much. Not much happened in this ish except for Longshot shows up, and we learn what happened to Darwin. Other than that, people kind of just stand around.

Not one of X-Factor's best issues. It needs Layla Miller back right now. Immediately.

Making M unable to do her thing via telepathy made Longshot's psychometry upon the check that was written and found with Mr. Munoz a necessity, though. And Longshot explains why he came to Detroit... he saw the Skrull Talisman impersonating him in the newspaper, and being shot at by Jazinda. Once there, him needing to go to the hospital? Longshot often has had a sixth sense that guides him like that. It's part of his luck power, and the psychometry, really.

Which means, in one issue, not one, but two of Longshot's often forgotten powers were used. Which means someone did their research.

[Beast]

Originally Posted by worstblogever

It was the boyfriend's half of the breakup, to be sure. But you know what? Longhost's gonna get his own *ss in a sling. Why? Scope this:

Who does he dish to about his dirty laundry with Dazzler?

Strong Guy. Who does Strong Guy keep on speed dial to gush at?

Lila Cheney. Who tours with Lila Cheney, and helps her sub-par concerts become fabulous?

Dazzler.

So how long before Longshot shooting his mouth off comes back to haunt him?

Feasibly, not long. And when Ali grabs him by his mullet and rams him face first into a wall, well, that will be the day the sexism gets reversed.

Patience, Dazzler fans. If we all think very hard, PAD might just write such a scene. I hope.

Or he's simply stirring the pot with Dazzler fans?

[Flinkman]

i'm a Dazzler junkie & i found that scene to be totally hilarious.

[worstblogever]

Originally Posted by Beast

Or he's simply stirring the pot with Dazzler fans?

Nah. I get the impression that after the She-Hulk "slut" joke in the same conversation, that PAD will make light of characters regardless of fan reaction, or his own love for the character. I mean, they're comic characters, not your lord and savior. Why take them that seriously? Have some fun with it.

Longshot's a bit full of himself. But he'll get his, I'm sure. Hell, Strong Guy got kicked in the nads by She-Hulk during "He Loves You". I'd hardly say this is a case of a writer who's got an axe to grind with women . He makes Shulkie look strong all the time.

I'd give PAD credit for at least acknowledging there WAS a breakup. That takes more stones than a lot of writers have about this stuff. If Longshot doesn't narrate the breakup from a neutral standpoint... well... we kind of know Longshot's an egotist. It's in character.

And most importantly, it makes it clear that Longshot & Dazz? ARE DONE.

Thank all that's holy for that.

[RickyD410]

Originally Posted by worstblogever

Making M unable to do her thing via telepathy made Longshot's psychometry upon the check that was written and found with Mr. Munoz a necessity, though. And Longshot explains why he came to Detroit... he saw the Skrull Talisman impersonating him in the newspaper, and being shot at by Jazinda. Once there, him needing to go to the hospital? Longshot often has had a sixth sense that guides him like that. It's part of his luck power, and the psychometry, really.

I understand his luck/sixth sense powers. I just dont like it very much.

The psychometry was pretty cool though. I didnt really understand that he used the checkbook, and not Mr. Munoz himself, cus he was standing over Mr. Munoz's body when it all happened.

Like I said, it was a very well done scene, I just think we could have had the exact same thing with M, as long as PAD didnt write in the brain damage bit.

Which means, in one issue, not one, but two of Longshot's often forgotten powers were used. Which means someone did their research.

Well if anyone would go all out, it'd be PAD. And it is good that he shows he knows so much about his characters. Its comforting.

Also, I just realized that Darwin is no longer dark skinned in this ish. He's pale again. Didnt he change back at the end of #34? Why is he pale again?

[Beast]

Originally Posted by worstblogever

Nah. I get the impression that after the She-Hulk "slut" joke in the same conversation, that PAD will make light of characters regardless of fan reaction, or his own love for the character. I mean, they're comic characters, not your lord and savior. Why take them that seriously? Have some fun with it.

Longshot's a bit full of himself. But he'll get his, I'm sure. Hell, Strong Guy got kicked in the nads by She-Hulk during "He Loves You". I'd hardly say this is a case of a writer who's got an axe to grind with women . He makes Shulkie look strong all the time.

I'd give PAD credit for at least acknowledging there WAS a breakup. That takes more stones than a lot of writers have about this stuff. If Longshot doesn't narrate the breakup from a neutral standpoint... well... we kind of know Longshot's an egotist. It's in character.

And most importantly, it makes it clear that Longshot & Dazz? ARE DONE.

Thank all that's holy for that.

I pretty much agree with you in every aspect. Bravo and well said.

[worstblogever]

Originally Posted by RickyD410

I understand his luck/sixth sense powers. I just dont like it very much.

The psychometry was pretty cool though. I didnt really understand that he used the checkbook, and not Mr. Munoz himself, cus he was standing over Mr. Munoz's body when it all happened.

Like I said, it was a very well done scene, I just think we could have had the exact same thing with M, as long as PAD didnt write in the brain damage bit.


Well if anyone would go all out, it'd be PAD. And it is good that he shows he knows so much about his characters. Its comforting.

Also, I just realized that Darwin is no longer dark skinned in this ish. He's pale again. Didnt he change back at the end of #34? Why is he pale again?

He's been forced to hang out with too many white people again and has begun accidentally using his power to "adapt" and blend in, would be my guess.

Either that, or inconsistent colorists' palette.

[hermitdude]

I liked the writing, as always. The return of crazy Jaime brought a little smile to my face. Once again though the art annoyed me to no end. The mutants were the only ones who looked human...to a degree. The color choices seem a little off on everything, but that might win me over eventually. If I have to choose between this or pornfaces in uncanny I'll take the pornfaces.

[worstblogever]

Originally Posted by hermitdude

I liked the writing, as always. The return of crazy Jaime brought a little smile to my face. Once again though the art annoyed me to no end. The mutants were the only ones who looked human...to a degree. The color choices seem a little off on everything, but that might win me over eventually. If I have to choose between this or pornfaces in uncanny I'll take the pornfaces.

I call it the "pornface vs. potato-head" debate.

[DarkCrisis]

Yea the art was just awful. I seriously thought M was some random man at point.