Comics: X-Factor #15 "Multiple Issues Part 2"

X-FACTOR # 15
Multiple Issues Part 2
Writer: Peter David
Art: Pablo Raimondi
Colors: Brian Reber
Letters: VC's Cory Petit
Assistant Editor: Sean Ryan
Editor: Andy Schmidt
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

It's been a while since I reviewed a comic through words and not just judgments in my head. I used to do it regularly over at Digsy Reviews, but the release of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith curtailed my reviews for a good while and I got extremely behind. I saw that movie in the theater a lot. Wow, Star Wars got in the way of my comic reviewing. Nerd.

This is as good a place as any to start up again, especially with this issue. Since the third volume of X-Factor started up in late 2005, it has been consistently excellent. After the personal crises of the last arc, Madrox realized (through Doc Samson) that the only way to get himself together is to, literally, get himself together; to gather up all the multiples that he sent out years ago and reabsorb them. Last issue we met Jamie Madrox: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and this issue the main Madrox becomes Jamie Madrox: Prisoner of Hydra.

Hydra's hired the guy who hypnotized Guido in the previous arc to break Madrox down in order to retrofit him with an allegiance and affinity for Hydra. Madrox's prisoner status gives Peter David the perfect opportunity to bring Madrox's old humor back. Since Madrox is the leader of this new team, he rarely gets the opporunity to be the goof-ball-mayo-jar-Jamie of old (which was pointed out in the stellar previous issue). As a prisoner, he freely mocks Doc Locke and ponders the shirt logistics of the motto "cut off a limb and two more shall ltake its place." I've missed this Madrox

Elsewhere, Siryn and M do some bonding and, to prove a point, go to jail after stopping a near riot. This is an okay B-story, but it's elevated by the characterization of M. M has been such a frustration until David started writing her. I mean, when your origin involves being turned into a diamond-hard crimson mute and having your twin sisters go all gestalty to replace you, only to eventually break free of the crimson prison to never really acknowledge it again (thanks Larry Hama and Jay Faerber).....yeah, pretty confusing/bad. David is doing his best to figure out what makes this M work and he's doing it well, especially by contrasting her with Siryn. The two are both strong women with completely opposite viewpoints.

Madrox's parents make their first appearance in his hypnotised state in a scene that is both disturbing and indicative of Madrox's inner problems. The ending of this issue raises many questions and ensures that this arc is going to be interesting, if not the best of the series.

MY SCORE: 9.4 (out of 10)