All-New X-Factor #4 – Review

By:  Peter David (writer), Carmine Di Giandomenico (artist), Rachelle Rosenberg (colorist)            

The Story: Gambit faces his worst nightmare, an enemy who can’t be robbed, blown-up, or seduced. Can he pull off the impossible before Polaris kills a former X-Man?

The Review: Let’s get it out there: All-New X-Factor #4 is one giant battle sequence. If you’re looking for something else, you might be disappointed, but leave it to Peter David to remind us how much fun it can be to just watch our heroes struggle.

Of course in order to struggle X-Factor needs an adversary and one capable of taking on the fledgling team. Fear not on that score, Danger more than adequately fills the role. Possessed of all the powers of the Danger Room itself, the amnesiac android makes for a convincing threat. Her hard-light constructs, in particular, get put to good use.

Unfortunately, Danger isn’t all that much more charismatic than her namesake chamber this issue. Driven by blind anger and lacking memories, Danger is fairly one-note villain. The number of times she declares what she knows or proclaims the time of someone’s demise is simply too high. Like the Terminator or Jason Voorhees, Danger’s…well, danger comes from her slow inevitable crawl towards victory, but while her tactical cleverness makes for some great bits, her intelligence robs her of an elemental charm.

All-New X-Factor #3 – Review

By: Peter David (writer), Carmine Di Giandomenico (artist), Lee Loughridge (colorist)

The Story: Gambit discovers that leading the Thieves’ Guild is as easy as herding cats as we discover that he’s actually pretty good at herding cats.

The Review: The first two issues of All-New X-Factor were somewhat surprising. I’ve always found Peter David to be a very talented writer with a knack for defining his characters and people swear by his second run on X-Factor. All the same, there was a distinct lack of identity in the opening story of this series.

This issue begins to address that concern and wastes absolutely no time doing it. From the first panel, David’s character-driven, old-Hollywood sensibility comes through clearly. In addition to a greater sense of David’s voice, this issue deals with many of the most interesting topics from the first two issues. Big subjects like Serval’s morality and Dr.Hoffman’s obsession with mutant powers get some time to grow, while David set the stage for the introduction of at least one of X-Factor’s missing crewmembers. Along the way, he also makes good on his NYCC promise that Gambit’s leadership of the Thieves’ Guild would come into play, which sets up our newest arc.

As you may have guessed, this issue is the best paced of the short run. The issue is packed with plot progression, but there’s plenty of room to play around. Quicksilver’s personality is still being defined as ‘hated by one and all with good reason’, but he’s much more human than he was last time. We also get some insight into Polaris that certainly frees her from the ‘generic team leader’ role that she seemed in danger of falling into. Though she has a ways to go, the weak link continues to be Gambit.

All-New X-Factor #2 – Review

By: Peter David (writer), Carmine Di Giandomenico (artist), Lee Loughridge (colorist)

The Story: Pietro finds himself dodging bullets, returning insults, and surrounded by people who want him dead, including the ones he’s there to save. So, really, a pretty average day for him.

The Review: Now that we’ve established our team and the questionable multi-national funding them, it’s time for this all-new X-Factor to take on their first mission. In classic Peter David style, the issue pokes all kinds of holes in our preconceived notions of the genre.

One of the most interesting elements of this mission is our antagonist, one Dr. Terrance Hoffman. Though we’re still reading comics awash in a sea of Silver Age nostalgia, it feels like a long time since we’ve had a fair share of old-fashioned ‘mad scientists’. Well Hoffman certainly fits the bill. He lacks some staying power, but he’s a charming opponent with some fascinating theories on mutation that just might come back into play. I can’t help but notice that all his talk of energy conversion contrasts cleanly with Gambit’s abilities.

Speaking of Gambit, he remains our lead character, though David does a good job of spreading the love between his three protagonists. David’s lack of experience in writing Remy is a little more apparent, now that he’s not stealing things left and right. His accent seems to pop in and out, and at times he seems a little too normal. He’s not quite the everyman that Madrox was and, funny as it is to hear he and Pietro argue about Star Wars, I’m not sure that it reads as a convincing Gambit. Polaris, on the other hand, suits David’s style wonderfully. She’s competent without being perfect and relatable without being unfocused.

It will be clear to anyone reading this issue why David’s Quicksilver has a reputation for being a scene-stealer. Pietro’s exactly the sort of character that’s fun to read about because you’d hate him so in real life. The script has a great handle on Pietro’s powers and way of thinking. Unfortunately this story has serious ties to some of Quicksilver’s more questionable recent history. It’s explained pretty well within the issue, but nice as it is that David found a way to make something out of those stories, my opinion has generally been that the less Marvel references its crazy, inbred, decade-long X-Men event conga the better.

All-New X-Factor #1 – Review

By: Peter David (writer), Carmine Di Giandomenico (artist), Lee Loughridge (colorist)

The Story: Gambit finds himse- THIS YEAR GET HER WHAT SHE’S ALWAYS WANTED- you can skip this advertisement in 5…

The Review: The original Peter David X-Factor was a team of mutants assembled by the United States government with mixed results. The next time David assembled the team they were a struggling private investigation firm based in Mutant Town. Now the transformation is complete as X-Factor becomes a corporate entity, bought out by the mysterious Serval Industries.

As he did in the Madrox miniseries that launched X-Factor Investigations, Peter David has chosen to start slow and introduce us to three key members of his new team. Gambit is our protagonist this issue and David proves capable of writing a heroic, yet flawed version of the character. Gambit’s wit and sex appeal are intact and, though he’s a tad more generic than in his recently canceled ongoing, I think fans will be happy with David’s first foray into writing out favorite Cajun superhero.

Fans of David’s Quicksilver may not be as pleased. While Pietro is himself, he’s a fairly unspectacular addition to this particular issue. Polaris is largely relegated to being a plot engine, however David does set the stage for some interesting developments and I expect that future issues will be better for both of Mr. Lensherr’s children.

Exiles #6 – Review

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Salva Espin (Art), and Anthony Washington (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: First Exiles… Then Agents of Atlas… Not cool Marvel… Not cool at all…

The Story: The Exiles go back to finish their first mission. They also find out why Blink has been acting a bit strange…

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: The latest, (and, sadly, last) issue of Exiles is just as satisfying as the others. Writer Jeff Parker finds a nice balance between fun, lighthearted dialogue and somewhat serious, weighty themes without ever allowing Exiles #6 to tip too far into one direction. In addition, Parker manages to give readers a sense of where the series (and character work) was headed, had it been allowed to continue while at the same time bring in an open-ended sort of closure that one comes to expect from a final issue (I believe longtime Exiles fans will find a lot to like). In short, Exiles #6 is pretty much a great example of an early cancellation handled right… Except for the one thing that can’t possibly be ignored.

I totally understand why Jeff Parker drops so much into the issue, especially considering that it’s clear he had a pretty big plan for the series. That said, the pages dedicated to laying out Parker’s vision are pretty dense and a bit boring. While the whole concept is fun to try to wrap your head around, the surprisingly dark, detailed explanation Parker reveals seems somewhat out of place as a whole. Spread out over what I’m sure would have been an arc or two, the whole thing would have probably been much easier to swallow.

Salva Espin’s clean, attractive artwork is, as I’ve said before, a perfect fit for the series. Thanks, in part, to Anthony Washington’s bright, vibrant color work, Espin’s style captures the funny, the sexy, the serious, and the action of Parker’s script incredibly well. While some expressions are a bit off and some of the work seems a bit simplified, Espin is an artist that I’m definitely going to be watching for quite some time. I can’t wait to see what series he lands on next.

Conclusion: Exiles, it’s been fun. You all will be missed.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Exiles #5 – Review

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Casey Jones (Pencils), Karl Kessel (Inks), and Anthony Washington (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’m going to miss Jeff Parker’s Exiles when the series comes to an end next month. It’s had a short, but very sweet, run…

The Story: The Exiles try to escape their robot captors and learn some very startling information about the current reality they are in.

What’s Good: Jeff Parker scores a lot points for taking a fairly basic “robopocalypse” concept and injecting some clever, intelligent (Marvel-centric) twists into the formula. I wish I could go into more detail about what makes the story in Exiles #5 so cool, but it’d be a shame to ruin some of the smartest moments of Parker’s plot. In addition to a cool plot, the latest issue of Exiles also provides the usual dose of humor and personality that has made the series such a fun read since the beginning. It’s clear now that Parker had some sort of character path for each of the Exiles planned (Beast’s, while obvious, works especially well in Exiles #5), which makes series finale all the more disappointing. Oh and another good thing? Morph is as cool as ever!

The artwork done by Casey Jones, Karl Kessel, and Anthony Washington is a breath of fresh air in comparison to all the dark, gritty, moody Marvel books on the stands. While one could argue that the art would look more at home in a Marvel Adventures book, it really brings all the creativity and personality of Parker’s script to the page. And quite frankly, isn’t that what the artwork is supposed to do?

What’s Not So Good: The biggest complaint I have about Exiles #5 really doesn’t matter a whole lot in wake of the series cancellation. That said, here it is: the formula Jeff Parker seemed to have in place for Exiles is more prominent than ever in Exiles #5. If you’ve been a reader since issue one, you’ll have no problem seeing nearly every plot beat before it happens. As a result, some of the storytelling takes a bit of a hit. My only other complaint is that, as far as character work goes, I still prefer Salva Espin’s work to Casey Jones’. I think Espin’s more cartoony style is a better fit than Jones’ more realistic one.

Conclusion: Exiles #5 delivers everything I’ve come to expect (not 100% a good thing) from a Jeff Parker Exiles book. If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, why not stick it out till the finale next month?

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Exiles #4 – Review

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Casey Jones (Pencils), Karl Kesel (Inks), and Anthony Washington (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’m not quite sure what I think about having Casey Jones take over for Salva Espin. However, I’ll save any judgment until after I’ve seen what the artist can do with a full issue.

The Story: The Exiles must overthrow the machines that have made great strides towards killing most of the life on the planet.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: Exile’s #4 delivers in all the ways you’d expect. Jeff Parker introduces an interesting alternate world that seems rather plausible, considering how technology exists in the Marvel Universe. Furthermore, he uses that world to give each Exile a chance to shine (Polaris, as you’d expect, really benefits from the situation). In addition, Parker intelligently uses Blink to add a layer of uneasiness to a series that, so far, has been fairly light-hearted and fun. While I’m not entirely sure if Exiles will actually benefit from the darker tone that’s hinted at (since the series stands out because of it’s tone), I’m confident that Parker will find a way to make the most of it.

The artwork in Exiles #4 works a lot better than I had expected. While I prefer Salva Espin’s style, Casey Jones’ work definitely doesn’t feel out of place. Jones handles all the action well and brings out the personalities of the characters in a way that elevates Parker’s handle on the team. The more I think about it, I feel that Jones’ more realistic style might prove to be more effective than Espin’s in the long run; now that Parker seems to be moving the Exiles down a darker path.

Conclusion: I recommend picking up Exiles #4. It’s satisfying for regular readers and it can function as a nice jump on point for new readers.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Exiles #3 – Review

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Salva Espin & Casey Jones (Pencils), Karl Kessler (Inks), and Anthony Washington (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Clever, funny, and visually pleasing, Jeff Parker’s Exiles series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

The Story: Imprisoned in an alternate-reality Genosha for trying to overthrow Magneto’s reign, the Exiles must think of an escape plan or else the universe will suffer the consequences.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: The best thing about Exiles #3 is how Jeff Parker manages to spin the predictable into the unexpected. While I can’t go into specifics, I can say that (outside of the escape attempt) the Genosha conclusion is likely to disappoint a bit. At least until the characters make the “jump” into the next mission; an event which impressively passes the torch from one art team to the next. That said, the latest issue of Exiles is still quite fun.

Jeff Parker does a great job playing with the alternate-reality concept and characters. Sure, some things never change, but the stuff that does is surprisingly entertaining. I say that because Beast and Black Panther continue to be a highlight because of how much they differ from the established versions. Also, though he only appears to narrate the standard recap, Morph gives Exiles a recap page that manages to match (or even surpass) the Incredible Hercules’ on the entertainment scale. Those of you that read Incredible Herc know that that’s saying something.

As for the visuals, Salva Espin continues to be a perfect fit for the tone of the series. Some of the smaller panels look a bit rough, but as a whole, Exiles is a very nice-looking book. I’m not entirely sold on Casey Jones’ more realistic style, but I’ll hold judgment until I see his work over the course of an entire issue.

Conclusion: While not quite a strong as the first two issues, Exiles #3 is still well worth your time and money.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Exiles #2 – Review

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Salva Espin (Artist), and Anthony Washington (Colorist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Exiles #1 wasted no time in winning me over. Jeff Parker’s script was informative, surprisingly funny, and featured a solid twist ending. Salva Espin’s lively, expressive artwork proved to be a perfect compliment to the story being told. As for the colors, Anthony Washington’s work made the entire book feel like a breath of fresh air from all the darker, more serious Marvel fare. Simply put, I found Exiles #1 to be quite the creative success because of the fact that everything just came together so damn well. It will be interesting to see if the second issue can keep up all the positive momentum.

The Story: The Exiles mission is to help Wolverine overthrow Magneto’s reign in Genosha. The one catch is that in the reality the Exiles are in, Wolverine isn’t much more than a head on a stick. So what that means is that it’s up to the Exiles to figure out a way to overthrow the royal family of Genosha while blending in with the general mutant population of this alternate reality.

What’s Good: Nearly everything about Exiles #2 works for me. The story that develops successfully threads the line between fun and serious, rarely losing balance. Jeff Parker’s script is clever, humorous (Black Panther has some great lines), and very effective in how it plays around with established character norms. The visuals from Salva Espin look fantastic, especially in regards to the highly expressive characters that show an impressive range of emotion throughout the book. Also, I must mention that Anthony Washington deserves praise for making Exiles one of the most colorful, eye-catching books on the stands.

What’s Not So Good: While rarely losing balance, Exiles #2 does occasionally teeter into melodrama here and there. It doesn’t really hurt things from a story perspective because the drama is used to develop the characters on the team, but it does come across as a bit heavy-handed. Another small complaint is that some panels look a bit rushed. It’s something that’s carried over from issue one and it, while somewhat understandable, still proves to be distracting.

Conclusion: Exiles #2 manages to maintain nearly all of the momentum generated by the strong debut. I highly recommend that you give the series a chance while it’s still early enough (and easy enough) to get into it right from the beginning.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Exiles #1 – Review

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Salva Espin (Art), and Anthony Washington (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ll be totally honest and admit that I’ve never read an Exiles comic before. But since it was a light week for me, I figured a new number one issue would be a pretty good place to start.

The Story: The Exiles are a team of (B, C, and D list) Marvel heroes plucked from their respective realities mere moments before death. The mission? To travel from reality to reality in order to put things right so that existence (as a whole) continues. Beast, Forge, The Witch, Polaris, Blink, and The Panther are given the rundown on the situation in the first issue and then sent to fix the first of many realities.

What’s Good: Exiles #1 really gets the series off on the right foot. From the characterization, to the artwork, to the execution of the necessary plot introduction, everything feels absolutely full of energy. And that, my friends, is a very good thing.

Jeff Parker’s script is clever and humorous while also intelligently dealing with both the dense concept and the unique challenge that comes from introducing characters from alternate realities. It is perfectly complimented by artwork that effortlessly manages to be humorous, clever (Beast’s look rocks), vibrant, and lively all at once. Throughout the book there are great examples of how the visuals can elevate the writing and vice versa. And almost all of those examples involve the brilliant use of the character Morph. I never thought I’d see the “Hitler as a baby” dilemma delivered in such a humorous manner…

What’s Not So Good: Despite the entertaining script and eye-catching visuals, there is no denying the fact that Exiles #1 is a fairly standard “team introduction” comic. The formula is a formula for a reason…because it works. But that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t point out it’s use.

Also worth noting is that some of the smaller panels look slightly rushed and/or lack detail. While excusable for the most part, it proves to be a distraction when the rest of the issue looks so nice.

Conclusion: What else can I say? Exiles is now the latest addition to my pull list. Take a chance with the first issue, I think you will be more than pleasantly surprised.

Grade:  B+

-Kyle Posluszny